While jamun has always been on the top in fighting diabetes, its seeds are believed to be no less. Jamun is an evergreen tropical tree in the flowering plant family, Myrtaceae, that is native to India, Bangladesh and Indonesia. Jamun seeds are known to be used in various alternative healing systems like Ayurveda, Unani and Chinese medicine, especially for digestive ailments. Moreover, they are known to combat diabetes and health experts suggest consuming them as a part of managing the condition. So, what makes jamun seeds so special for diabetics? How to use jamun seeds for managing diabetes?

We have all the answers!According to Macrobiotic Nutritionist and Health Practitioner, Shilpa Arora, "jamun seeds are known to be great healing medication for diabetics. Both seeds and the fruit have substances called jamboline and jambosine that slow down the release of sugar into the blood. Jamun seeds also increase the availability of insulin. It is best to snack on jamun for effective results. You can let the seeds dry and make a powder that can be consumed regularly before meals to fight diabetes very effectively."

According to a study published in Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, jamun seeds reduce the blood glucose level significantly and also regulate the insulin levels in hyperglycaemic rats. The conclusion said that jamun seeds have potent prophylactic role against hyperglycaemia. In this respect, diet-based regimen may be tailored using jamun seeds.

Jamun Seeds For Diabetics: What Does Ayurveda Suggest?

According to Ayurveda Expert at Nirog Street, Ram N Kumar, "Jamun seeds make up a major of Ayurvedic diabetes medicines. Jambu is Sanskrit name of Jamun and it has special mention in various classical texts of Ayurveda. India's other name is Jambudweep or nation with so many trees of Jambu (Jamun) or Indian Blackberry. As per Ayurveda Jamun is astringent, anti-diuretic, which helps reduce frequent urination, has hypoglycaemic properties, which is the ability to reduce sugar in blood and has antioxidants that make them amazing for diabetics. Jamun seeds and pulp both have these properties."

Here's How You Can Use Jamun Seeds For Managing Diabetes:

Clean jamuns and keep them in a container.
Squeeze out the seeds from the flesh part with your fingers and store them in another container.
Wash the seeds thoroughly so that none of the flesh is left on them.

Now, spread the seeds on a clean cloth and keep it under sun for drying. Please note that it takes about three to four days for them to dry out.

Once they are dried, peel off the outer shell and collect the green inner core of the seeds.

The green inner core of the seeds can be broken into half easily just by pressing your fingers. Once you break them down, keep them in the sun for a few more days till they are dried.

Now, powder the dried seeds in a grinder. You will notice coarse powder.

Sieve the crushed seeds and repeat the same method till most of the dried seed powder passes through the sieve.

Store the jamun seed powder in an air-tight container and use it as and when you'd want to.

Take a glassful of water and a teaspoon of jamun seed powder every morning on an empty stomach.

Sugar cravings are extremely common and, hence, are bound to knock your door at some point of the day (read midnight). Did you know that the sugary treats that we eat are mood enhancers, they bring about a pleasurable feeling and soothes our mind, especially after a stressful day? But, we usually end up kicking away our sugar cravings in order to stay fit and follow a healthy diet. However, ignoring your sugar completely is not a great idea, as your body needs a minimal amount of sugar in your diet for that energy boost for the day. So, let's switch to some healthy options for your sugar cravings that are not just good for your health but also good for your taste buds too. So, all the sugar lovers, this article is just for you. Keep aside your sugar-dipped jalebis, churros and gulab jamuns and try these healthy options for your never-ending sugar cravings.

1. Chia Seeds: Chia seeds are a good source of many important nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to raise HDL cholesterol that protects against heart attack and stroke. Chia seeds comprise 40% fibre, meaning adding them to your pudding or smoothies will give you a healthy dessert and keep your hunger pangs at bay.

2. Dates: Dates are a great source of fibre, potassium and iron, moreover, they are also known to boost energy level in people. Having a few dates, instead of the junk sugary food, will help give you a sugar fix with an energy boost for the day. You can also pair them with nuts like almonds for a sweet and crunchy treat.

3. Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potato is a starchy, sweet tasting root vegetable, which is rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. Sweet potatoes are also known to promote a healthy digestive system.
Moreover, they are a good source for your carb intake, which would help you to stay on your balanced diet quotient while providing you the sweet taste that you're craving. You can have roasted sweet potatoes with a pinch of cinnamon for an enticing treat.

4.Snack Bars: Yes, you heard it right! Snack bars can be healthy too. But, you'll have to pick the right one as not all snack bars are healthy. From the wide variety of snack bars available in the market, pick the ones that are made with oats and sweetened with dried fruit. But, if you're not able to find the perfect healthy snack bar for your sugar cravings, you can always make one by yourself at home.

5.Smoothies: If you need a quick snack to get over your sweet tooth, a healthy smoothie could be a great fix for your sugar cravings. This on-the-go drink is a mix of healthy and nutritious fruits, with the filling effects of yogurt. While curbing your quest for sugar, it also provides you all the goodness of fruits, especially if you use the whole fruit instead of the juice and retain all the fibre.

Now, that we've shared a list of healthy sweet substitutes, you can satisfy your sugar cravings without any guilt!

Rainy season does not only bring in some respite from the sweltering heat, but also brings along the risk of weakened digestion, allergies and food-borne diseases. The urge to binge on fried snacks from outside can become a nightmare during this time. Adding to this, the humidity levels take a toll on overall health. High humidity levels reduce the capability of the body to digest at its lowest, which is why most health experts suggest avoiding heavy and oily snacks as they could lead to an upset stomach. The gut serves many essential roles in sustaining and protecting the overall health and wellness of our bodies; therefore, it is imperative to keep our guts happy and healthy this monsoon. We suggest some tips to keep your gut healthy this rainy season.

Tips To Maintain A Healthy Gut This Rainy Season
The damp and filthy conditions in monsoon play host to various diseases - causing germs that can be harmful for your health. Here are some tips that are key to a healthy gut.

Do not eat heavy foods no matter how irresistible they are. The highly humid monsoon weather tends to cause our digestion process to slow down, which can cause problems like bloating, gas, acidity and indigestion.

Don'ts-

You may love gol gappas, but the water used can be a host to bacteria that can cause severe stomach infection. For that matter, avoid drinking water from any source other than sealed bottles and water purifiers.

Toss your batch of fizzy drinks as they reduce the mineral content in our body, which in turn leads to reduction of enzyme activity. Mineral loss is undesirable with an already weakened digestive system.

Avoid dairy products like milk as they take time to digest and are heavy on your gut.

Make sure you are not eating a lot of sea food. During rainy season, water tends to get contaminated; the fish you eat could possibly cause cholera or diarrhoea.

Fresh juices are great as long as they are made at home, especially during monsoon. Roadside vendors tend to cut their fruits well in advance; however, these fruits come in contact with the contaminated air.

While all vegetables are healthy, one should avoid buying leafy greens. The grime and dampness present in them can make them high susceptible to germs.

Dos-

Eat in moderation; consume lighter foods that can be easily digested and are gut-friendly.

Drink lots of herbal teas like chamomile tea, green tea, or even ginger lemon tea that can help improve digestion and also boost immunity.

Load up on lots of probiotics; consume more yogurt, buttermilk, cheese kefir, cultured vegetables, kombucha and natto (fermented soybeans). Probiotics contain good bacteria that acts on our digestive system, supporting nutrition absorption and the immune system.

Choose lighter cooking oils that are easily digestible. Use oils that include olive oil or sunflower oil that help manage your digestive system.

Drink lots and lots of water so as to help flush out toxins from your system. Drinking water can also help boost your digestive system.

Consume more bitter foods like bitter gourd or karela, bottle gourd or lauki, neem, methi seeds, et al that are responsible for keeping your digestive system in check. They also help improve your immunity.

Have steamed or boiled veggies rather than raw ones as the latter may contain bacteria and virus, which could lead to stomach infections, making it worse for your gut.

Eat lesser refined sugar as it may cause inflammation and promotes the growth of bad bacteria and upsets the gut flora balance.
Make monsoon a better experience and a less nightmare by bringing these handy tips to your use. Happy monsoons!

For most of us, our smartphone is the first thing we look at in the morning and the last thing we check before going to bed. But, is it a right practise? Well, it is not. As per a recent study published by the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, using a smartphone right before bedtime actually reduces the overall quality of sleep.

Here's how:

Difficulty in falling asleep - We feel sleepy when our brain releases a hormone called melatonin, which is determined by the body's circadian rhythm. The blue light emitted by the screen of the smartphone interferes with this rhythm and the secretion of melatonin, which makes it difficult for us to fall asleep, even after we keep our phone aside.

Poor quality of sleep - Using a smartphone before going to bed also hampers the overall quality of sleep because, when we check an office email or a text message as the last thing before we sleep, it gets difficult for our brain to relax, due to which we are unable to sleep peacefully.

Decreased attention span - Our productivity suffers during the day, due to lack of proper sleep at night. Also, not getting enough sleep is known to hamper our decision-making skills, impair our long & short-term memory, which leads to unnecessary stress and anxiety.

Increased risk of weight gain - Our body is more likely to feel hungry when we don't get our due share of sleep, as sleep deprivation slows down our metabolism. Thus, use of smartphone right before bedtime can induce cravings, which lead to snacking and weight gain.

Weak immune system - While we are asleep our immune system produces antibodies that help fight infections, it also releases a protein known as cytokines. This protein not only promotes sleep but also fights inflammation and other problems caused by stress. Lack of sound sleep decreases the production of cytokines and increases the risk of falling sick, it also slows down our recovery cycle. Further, long-term sleep deprivation can raise the risk of diseases, such as diabetes, heart problems and obesity.

Skin damage - Sleeping late at night and not getting enough sleep can lead to dark circles, puffy eyes and fine lines across our face. The blue light emitted by our smartphones triggers the secretion of cortisol, which can damage our skin's smoothness and elasticity.

Thus, even if we are spending only some time on our smartphone before going to bed, it affects our overall mental and physical well-being.

Sweating is a normal function of the body, but some people sweat so much that their clothes are often drenched in sweat. Hyperhidrosis is a condition where the amount of sweat produced by the sweat glands cannot be regulated. It is characterized by excessive sweating commonly seen in the underarms, palms and soles. This disorder can affect a person at any age and if left untreated, can become a lifelong condition. Though this condition is not a serious threat to your health, it can be quite embarrassing and can hamper your lifestyle.

In many cases, there is no obvious trigger for Hyperhidrosis, and it is caused by the malfunctioning of the nervous system. This is known as primary Hyperhidrosis. Sweat is a function which helps the body cool itself. In cases of primary Hyperhidrosis, the brain sends a message to the sweat glands to produce sweat even though the body does not need to be cooled. A genetic mutation may also be the cause for some cases of Hyperhidrosis.

Hyperhidrosis with obvious trigger factors is known as secondary Hyperhidrosis. While primary Hyperhidrosis mostly affects the underarms, groin, palms and soles, secondary Hyperhidrosis can affect all parts of the body.

Some of the common triggers for this condition are:

Pregnancy
Menopause
Anxiety
Low blood sugar
Hyperthyroidism
Medication side effects
Alcohol or drug withdrawal
Parkinson's disease
Hyperhidrosis can be challenging to diagnose and treat. Lifestyle changes are the easiest way to address this disorder. Some changes that can help you fight Hyperhidrosis are:

Avoid spicy food and alcohol
Replace deodorants with antiperspirants
Choose cotton fabrics over synthetic fabrics
Wear loose fitting clothes.
Try using armpit shields and wearing absorbent socks.

Anticholinergic or antimuscarinic medicines can also help treat Hyperhidrosis. This keeps the nervous system from activating the sweat glands. Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, abdominal cramps and difficulty in passing urine are some of the side effects associated with this medication.

Iontophoresis is a more aggressive form of Hyperhidrosis treatment. This involves passing a weak electric current through a wet pad to the affected area to block the sweat glands. It is usually used to treat excessive sweating in the palms and soles.

Botox injections can also help treat Hyperhidrosis by blocking the brain signals to the sweat glands. However this is not a permanent cure and may need to be repeated after a year or so.

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy or a surgery to remove the sweat glands may also be recommended in extreme cases of Hyperhidrosis. This is usually seen as a permanent solution for excessive sweating, but are relatively new procedures and hence not very common.