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Eating Behaviour to lose weight and fats

June 20, 2008

People on diets often find themselves on a rebound — a perfectly good diet goes for a toss. You don’t actually need a diet plan — what you need is an eating behaviour insight.

What is eating behaviour?

• Eating behaviour is all about the way we relate to food. Another popular work life related behaviour is “I have no time to eat’ — what with the pressure of work”. An eating behaviour develops and arises from subconscious thoughts that precede or accompany the eating occasion. We try to define our eating behaviour relating it to the way we are.

How do I recognise eating behaviours?

• Eating behaviours are thoughts and feelings that bring about an emotional payoff. They are deeply embedded in our minds and the act of eating certain foods, or events trigger these in a subconscious way. For example people with weight issues display periods of great control along with periods of indulgence as a way of dieting. Others set themselves up for an evening time ‘good food’ after a hard day’s work. Yet another way is to make the weekends count. It’s the typical fasting–feasting way of eating. Another demonstration of an eating behaviour is when food is used to bond. How can I say ‘no’. Quite often emotions of anger, fear, anxiety, shame and sadness, trigger a compelling desire to eat. Most eating behaviours create a self perpetuating cycle leading to weight rebound. We shouldn’t blame ourselves for failed diets – it’s a feedback to us that food requires a more sensitive approach.

How do these behaviours lead to weight gain?

• If we accept emotions have an influential role in what and how we eat – we should accept that this is where weight gain begins. During a day at office we drink 3-4 cups of tea or coffee — subconscious reasoning is either busting, courtesy, or bonding with workmates —while at home it’s just the breakfast cup. So we eat when hungry and when we are not. A full milk cup of coffee or tea packs about 120 calories so you can calculate your calorie intake from 3-4 cups – and 5 days a week. If we look into daily routines we would find many such ‘nonhungry episodes’.

How can Kaya life help me in my eating behaviours?

• Kaya life makes the complete shift from mere diet plans to focusing on eating behaviour. In a sense it moves away from the commonsensical way of doing – which is why it is a new approach. Every client gets a life coach and dietician who take an inventory of foods and eating behaviours. Through several sessions your coach motivates you to see the mindbody split that pleases the mind but distresses the body. Simple changes in the way we think can change behaviour. For example shifting the mind from ‘why am I fat’ to ‘how did I get so fat’ moves our thinking to new possibilities instead of resigned acceptance. Kaya life invites you to look at new behaviours in a warm and sensitive partnership - new eating behaviours that settle comfortably with the mind – this is the keystone for sustainable .

Written by James · Filed Under Fats 

Low carb diet is bad for your Hair

June 18, 2008

Many of today’s low-carb diets may lead to steady , but it may come at the price of the health of your hair. Carbs help in the growth of body tissues, and they are also the body’s primary source of B vitamins, which your body needs. That’s why it’s not recommended to stay on carb-free diets for long periods of time; even South Beach recommends that their ‘First Phase’ be limited to three weeks.

Instead, opt for smart carbs, meaning you cut out sugars and white flour, and get healthy carbs from vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. Too much fat is bad for you, but you need a little fat in your diet to stay healthy and to keep your hair healthy, too. To avoid health risks associated with a fat-heavy diet, get it from lean meat that is grilled or braised rather than fried. Needless to say, eating that hamburger fried in lard is not a healthy option. For one thing, your body will need the right amounts of vitamins and minerals to be able to create strong cells. People who go on crash diets will often report hair loss. Strands may be brittle and easily damaged, and will look dull despite all efforts to condition and style. Thus, for healthy hair, you need to invest in good hair care products and a good lifestyle. Eat right, and find ways to relax after a long day at work to minimize the effects of . Of course, a good shampoo never hurt.

Written by James · Filed Under Tips for Good Hair 

Intermittent Explosive Disorder

June 17, 2008

It’s common to read in newspaper stories about a usually calm and intelligent person who “snaps” and commits a violent act. Some people lose their tempers in this way, repeatedly and dramatically, causing serious physical harm to others. It’s a pattern in which tension builds until an explosion brings relief, followed eventually by regret, embarrassment, or guilt feelings. In this sudden outburst, people might do things they normally would not even think of doing —they might break things, abuse others, hurt or try to hurt someone else or even try to harm themselves. The degree of aggressiveness expressed during the episodes is grossly out of proportion to any precipitating psychosocial stressors. Yes, we are talking about a disorder called Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

What is intermittent explosive disorder?
On the way to work, you hurl abuses at the driver who just cut you off. At the office, a trivial problem gets your blood pressure high. That night at home, you fight with your spouse and throw a bottle of water against the wall.We all have a propensity to get angry and upset. But then, there are people who react to situations with a sudden outburst without thinking about repercussions. This little-known disorder marked by episodes of unwarranted anger is more common than previously thought, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) has found. Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) affects as many as 7.3 percent of adults in their lifetime.

Why people suffer from IED
Research findings suggest that IED may result from abnormalities in the areas of the brain that regulate behavioural arousal and inhibition. Impulsive aggression is related to abnormal brain mechanisms in a system. Persons with IED have a set of negative beliefs strongly embedded in their personality, often resulting from harsh punitive methods inflicted by the parents. The child grows up believing that others “have it in for him” and that displaying anger is the best way to restore damaged selfesteem. There is some evidence of that the neurotransmitter serotonin may play a role in this disorder.

Symptoms of IED
Many people diagnosed with IED appear to have general problems with anger or other impulsive behaviors. They may experience racing thoughts or a heightened energy level during the aggressive episode, with fatigue and depression developing shortly afterward. Some report various physical sensations, including tightness in the chest, tingling sensations, tremor, or a feeling of pressure inside the head.

Diagnosis
A psychologist who is evaluating a patient for IED would first take a complete case history. One has to rule out head trauma, epilepsy, and other general medical conditions that may cause violent behavior. Series of psychological tests are conducted to rule out other personality disorders.

Treatment
Anger management skills through a combination of cognitive restructuring, raising endurance levels, and relaxation training looks promising. And because intermittent explosive disorder often begins in early adolescence, parents need to be vigilant in tapping aggressive symptoms in their teens. Treatment could involve medication, with the best prognosis utilising a combination of the two.

Some

Better Communication:
Angry people tend to jump to and act on conclusions and some of those conclusions can be very inaccurate. The first thing to do if you’re in a heated discussion is slow down and think through your responses.

Get away from the Situation:
Sometimes our immediate surroundings give us cause for irritation and fury. Problems and responsibilities can weigh on you and make you feel "trapped"; making you resentful." Give yourself a break.

Be tolerant:
All you have to do to practice tolerance, accept other people as they are, not as you would like them to be. When you are tolerant, your actions will almost always become more logical and reasonable.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” (The writer is a clinical psychologist)

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

How to avoid Allergies at Workplace

May 28, 2008

Sharon has watery, itchy eyes and she coughs incessantly as though she were breathless. She suspected something serious until the time when her doctor told her she had “occupational asthma”, related to her workplace. Now if you have an allergy to prawns, you stop eating them. You are allergic to pollen, you stop going near flowers. But what if you are allergic to your work like Sharon? What options do you have? You cannot just stop going to work, can you? Read on to know the potential work allergies and what precautions you can take to avoid them.

Learning the basics:

Basically there is confusion between allergic reactions and allergic sensitivity.
An allergic reaction is an over-reaction of the immune system that causes anything from rash and itching to a life-threatening condition —anaphylactic shock, which develops after repeated exposure. An allergy can kill. Allergic sensitivity on the other hand is when you are allergic to a specific allergen for instance pollen, dust, perfume or any non-specific irritant, which can make you feel miserable. Both these terms are, however used interchangeably.

The ‘sick building syndrome’:

Modern office buildings today are all tall with several cubicles and cabins, which may be filled with allergens and irritants. Chemical residues from carpet cleaning chemicals lurk around; mold
spores may be circulating in the continually running moist air conditioners. These allergens can surely trouble your sensitive noses. The photocopy machines and papers too may emit allergic substances.

Experts call this as the “Sick building syndrome” that causes environmental allergies in closed spaces. According to researchers at Public Health department of University College London and Singapore, however, sick building syndrome may be a related disorder, rather than a fault of the building or workplace.

Here’s a list of workplace allergies that you may face:

The chemical formaldehyde is present in rugs, upholstered furniture, wallpaper, draperies, paint, cigarette smoke. It can cause cough, cold, sneezing, wheezing, sore nasal passage, flu-like symptoms, asthma, irritated throat or watery eyes. Poor air quality due to poor ventilation. Toxic gases including formaldehyde lurk around your computers and desks causing respiratory illnesses. Health care workers at the hospitals so also cafeteria workers are at a risk of allergies from powdered latex gloves. The powder is the culprit, which has several allergens or allergy triggers. People working at food processing factories are at a risk of several potential allergens. One of them is peanut products, which can be allergic to some. Dust mites and other small insects are allergen carriers. Places where pesticides are not used, this can be a cause for allergy Pets and laboratory animals can give rise to allergies.

Veterinarians dealing with pets are prone to allergies arising from the fine hair covering the animals, urine and faeces Pungent room freshener or a specific perfume are common irritants that give headache and cause sneezing Bakery workers working with flour and grains can develop allergies because of the husk and the dusty granules of flour.

parlour workers are at a risk of allergies from the constant use of hair dyes, chemicals for hair perms or nail polish removers. Act now. Discover and identify the source of allergy Wash your hands before or after doing something or going somewhere Wear a protective mask if there is a need Use a damp cloth to remove dust from your desk Keep your desk clean and uncluttered. Keep the piles of paper, books, files properly Wipe clean your computer, keyboard, mouse etc. Keep them dust-free Improved air-quality and air circulation can help reduce symptoms Work in a smoke-free environment If you cannot escape the exposure to workplace allergens, consider changing your job. This could be the ultimate option.

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

How to beat Stress

May 26, 2008

Try a new sport or any form of physical activity. Exercise is probably one of the best ways of beating . Delegate don’t try and take on responsibility for everything where you can share the burden. Get a massage regularly. Go dancing. Research shows that it is a great destresser. Give your mind something new to do regularly, like learn a craft or a new language. Make sure you get enough sleep. Talk any problems you have through with other people and feel happier.

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

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