bad cholesterol

what is good and bad cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad cholesterol" because too much is unhealthy.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance which is made in the body by the liver but is also found in some foods. It plays a vital role in how every cell works and is also needed to make Vitamin D, some hormones and bile for digestion. However, too much cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of getting heart and circulatory diseases.

It must be transported through your bloodstream by carriers called lipoproteins, which got their name because they're made of fat (lipid) and proteins. The two types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol to and from cells are low-density lipoprotein, orLDL

A bagel with cream cheese for breakfast, a piece of fried chicken for lunch, a steak in sautéed in butter for dinner, and a bowl of ice cream at night are not ideal for your cholesterol. These are sources of saturated and trans fat, and they can increase your LDL levels.

what is bp

what is high bp

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure, sometimes called hypertension, happens when this force is too high. Health care workers check blood pressure readings the same way for children, teens, and adults.

Normal Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure for adults is defined as a systolic pressure below 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure below 80 mmHg. It is normal for blood pressures to change when you sleep, wake up, or are excited or nervous. When you are active, it is normal for your blood pressure to increase. However, once the activity stops, your blood pressure returns to your normal baseline range.

Blood pressure normally rises with age and body size. Newborn babies often have very low blood pressure numbers that are considered normal for babies, while older teens have numbers similar to adults.

Types of High Blood Pressure

There are two main types of high blood pressure: primary and secondary high blood pressure.

Primary High Blood Pressure

Primary, or essential, high blood pressure is the most common type of high blood pressure. This type of high blood pressure tends to develop over years as a person ages.

Secondary High Blood Pressure

Secondary high blood pressure is caused by another medical condition or use of certain medicines. This type usually resolves after the cause is treated or removed.

The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, but several factors and conditions may play a role in its development, including: Smoking. Being overweight or obese. Lack of physical activity.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

The exact causes of high blood pressure are not known, but several factors and conditions may play a role in its development, including:

Smoking
Being overweight or obese
Lack of physical activity
Too much salt in the diet
Too much alcohol consumption (more than 1 to 2 drinks per day)
Stress
Older age
Genetics
Family history of high blood pressure
Chronic kidney disease
Adrenal and thyroid disorders
Sleep apnea

precious stones set

A Touch of Colour for the Stately Look

There is no disregarding the beauty that is gold jewellery. Yet, the glamour that a little colour adds to these precious metals cannot be denied. No matter what jewellery trends are currently on in the market, you will find that precious stones set in these metals add a new dimension in terms of colour and beauty. Here are some ways in which coloured stones make for some beautiful jewellery:

Rubies: Uncut or polished, you will be able to place these in chokers, necklaces and finger rings. They can be moulded into a range of shapes to suit the setting they are placed in. They look great in single stone settings for a finger ring, or as the focal point of dangling earrings. The great thing about rubies is that they can be paired with emeralds to make them look even more gorgeous in their precious metal settings.

Emeralds: The deep green of these stones have charmed many a jewellery lovers. Set in gold or platinum, they work very well in intricate temple jewellery and jhumkis as well. Wrist cuffs, solitaires, ruby and emerald earring settings all make for pretty designs.

Sapphires: The blue hues of a sapphire can be exceptionally mesmerising when placed in platinum. Set them in a ring with diamonds surrounding them. This enhances the colour of the sapphire and makes it the perfect accessory to an evening gown or a saree. Whether ensconced with other precious stones or stacked together in a range of precious metal settings, sapphires lend themselves to a rather regal look. They look especially beautiful in Victorian style intricate jewellery as well as in chokers and heavy set Indian jewellery.

Pearls: This white gift of the sea is by far a popular coloured precious stone that is used in Indian jewellery. Especially in cities like Hyderabad where cultured pearls are a thriving industry, these have found their way into a number of jewellery pieces—pearl necklaces and bangles in a range of designs are extremely popular for traditional Indian attire. Pearls are also used to accentuate other stones that may be used like rubies, garnets, sapphires and even diamonds. In fact, pearls are also available in pink and black among a few other rare colours which further enhances the look of jewellery.

Adding colour to traditional jewellery has been an age-old concept as seen in Kundan and Meenakari sets. Over the years, jewellers have moved with the times and create pieces that incorporate coloured stones and stains to create unique pieces unlike any other.

josalukkasonline.com

Know your diamond

Why you pay more for some diamonds

A diamond sure is a woman’s best friend. So, it is only judicious to choose a rock that is best in quality and would not let you down.

Gold has, time and again, proven to be a valuable investment proposition. But what about diamonds? Diamonds are no longer considered to have no resale value. Good quality diamonds with a high grading go up in value year-on-year, which makes them wise investment options.

If you consider diamonds to be more than just a piece of jewellery in your collection, you would like to know how to purchase the best quality ones. It is imperative to understand the process of quality grading of this precious stone. The secret lies in the 4Cs of diamonds: Colour, Clarity, Carat and Cut. These grading parameters were developed by the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) and are accepted as the most respected standards of evaluating diamond quality the world over.

Know your diamond

Why do diamonds that look the same have different price tags at different stores? The answer lies in the grading of the diamond.

The clarity of a diamond is considered to be the primary determinant of the stone’s quality, and, consequently, its price. Clarity, in common parlance, determines the refractive index and thereby the shine and lustre of a diamond. Considering the fact that the brilliance of a diamond lies in how well it shines, you should give clarity the utmost importance while purchasing diamonds as an investment.

The clarity of a diamond is determined by the level of inclusions and blemishes in the stone. Most diamonds have natural inclusions, which determine their clarity. The lower the level of inclusion, the more the clarity of the stone.

The GIA grading process is considered to be the most flawless system of grading where the stones are inspected by experts under a microscope that is equipped with darkfield illumination. On a 10X magnification scale, if inclusions are not visible, the stone is considered to be flawless or internally flawless. It is extremely rare to find a diamond that has zero inclusions/ blemishes; which is why the next level of VVS1 and VVS2 (Very Very Slight Inclusion) grade diamonds are considered to be of excellent quality and have high value in today’s market.

There are various characteristics of testing the clarity of diamonds.

Size: whether the inclusions/ blemishes are of large or small size – larger inclusions obviously scoring lower on the quality grading scale

Number: number the inclusions present in the stone

Position: if the blemish is directly under the table of the diamond – which is the flat surface on the top – then the quality score is lower

Nature: this determines the nature of the blemish – abrasions, polish lines, polish marks, etc are all types of blemishes

Colour or Relief: coloured inclusions naturally hinder the flawlessness and hence have a lower grade point

Diamonds at Jos Alukkas

At Jos Alukkas, we take pride in our diamond collection. All our diamonds are certified and graded by International Diamond Grading laboratories like GIA, IGI etc., and come in round, princess-cut, Asscher-cut and emerald-cut shapes. We have one of the highest clarity graded diamonds in our stores, which is the VVS1 grade. This assures you get the best sparkle that is worth every penny you spend on it.

loss of feeling diabetes

Neuro problems diabetes
Diabetic neuropathies are a family of nerve disorders caused bydiabetes. People with diabetes can, over time, develop nerve damage throughout the body. Some people with nerve damage have no symptoms. Others may have symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness—loss of feeling—in the hands, arms, feet, and legs.

Symptoms depend on the type of neuropathy and which nerves are affected. Some people with nerve damage have no symptoms at all. For others, the first symptom is often numbness, tingling, or pain in the feet. Symptoms are often minor at first, and because most nerve damage occurs over several years, mild cases may go unnoticed for a long time. Symptoms can involve the sensory, motor, and autonomic—or involuntary—nervous systems. In some people, mainly those with focal neuropathy, the onset of pain may be sudden and severe.

Symptoms of nerve damage may include

numbness, tingling, or pain in the toes, feet, legs, hands, arms, and fingers
wasting of the muscles of the feet or hands
indigestion, nausea, or vomiting
diarrhea or constipation
dizziness or faintness due to a drop in blood pressure after standing or sitting up
problems with urination
erectile dysfunction in men or vaginal dryness in women
weakness

Neuropathy Affects Nerves Throughout the Body

Peripheral neuropathy affects

toes
feet
legs
hands
arms

Autonomic neuropathy affects

heart and blood vessels
digestive system
urinary tract
sex organs
sweat glands
eyes
lungs

Proximal neuropathy affects

thighs
hips
buttocks
legs

Focal neuropathy affects

eyes
facial muscles
ears
pelvis and lower back
chest
abdomen
thighs
legs
feet

Can diabetic neuropathies be prevented?

The best way to prevent neuropathy is to keep blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible. Maintaining safe blood glucose levels protects nerves throughout the body.

How are diabetic neuropathies treated?

The first treatment step is to bring blood glucose levels within the normal range to help prevent further nerve damage. Blood glucose monitoring, meal planning, physical activity, and diabetes medicines or insulin will help control blood glucose levels. Symptoms may get worse when blood glucose is first brought under control, but over time, maintaining lower blood glucose levels helps lessen symptoms. Good blood glucose control may also help prevent or delay the onset of further problems. As scientists learn more about the underlying causes of neuropathy, new treatments may become available to help slow, prevent, or even reverse nerve damage.

As described in the following sections, additional treatment depends on the type of nerve problem and symptom.

Gastrointestinal Problems

To relieve mild symptoms of gastroparesis—indigestion, belching, nausea, or vomiting—doctors suggest eating small, frequent meals; avoiding fats; and eating less fiber. When symptoms are severe, doctors may prescribe erythromycin to speed digestion, metoclopramide to speed digestion and help relieve nausea, or other medications to help regulate digestion or reduce stomach acid secretion.

To relieve diarrhea or other bowel problems, doctors may prescribe an antibiotic such as tetracycline, or other medications as appropriate.

Dizziness and Weakness

Sitting or standing slowly may help prevent the light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting associated with blood pressure and circulation problems. Raising the head of the bed or wearing elastic stockings may also help. Some people benefit from increased salt in the diet and treatment with salt-retaining hormones. Others benefit from high blood pressure medications. Physical therapy can help when muscle weakness or loss of coordination is a problem.

Remember

Diabetic neuropathies are nerve disorders caused by many of the abnormalities common to diabetes, such as high blood glucose.
Neuropathy can affect nerves throughout the body, causing numbness and sometimes pain in the hands, arms, feet, or legs, and problems with the digestive tract, heart, sex organs, and other body systems.
Treatment first involves bringing blood glucose levels within the normal range. Good blood glucose control may help prevent or delay the onset of further problems.
Foot care is an important part of treatment. People with neuropathy need to inspect their feet daily for any injuries. Untreated injuries increase the risk of infected foot sores and amputation.
Treatment also includes pain relief and other medications as needed, depending on the type of nerve damage.
Smoking increases the risk of foot problems and amputation. A health care provider may be able to provide help with quitting.

A cooler home in summer

summer cooler decore

Simple hacks for a cooler home this summer

Summer this year has been quite punishing with the mercury slowly but steadily rising. Air coolers and air conditioners are working overtime to make things more comfortable in most homes and offices. But there are a few other things you can do to make your home a cooler place.

Clean up: The first step is to go minimalistic with your décor. Pack away those rugs and carpets. Take down heavy curtains. Remove your sofa backs and chair covers. If you must have sofa covers and cushions, pull out your cotton ones. These will help your body breathe better when you are seated on them.

Rather than have heavy drapes, invest in a set of light curtains that are thick enough to block out the heat, but not light. When cleaning up, make sure that your newspapers and magazines are not piled high blocking ventilation from a window. Reduce clutter in every room.

Doors and windows: Closing doors and windows during the harshest part of the day will reduce the amount of heat that gets into your home. This may, however, work against circulation of air in your home. What you can do is to open up all the doors and windows in your home during the early hours of the morning. This will bring in fresh air and keep your house cool. As the temperature rises, start closing them.

With windows, you can keep them open as long as your curtains are thick enough to keep the heat out. If you have light curtains, close windows and draw the curtains and perhaps keep a main door or a window that does not face the sun, open. Close doors to the rooms you are not going to use much. This will prevent any cool air circulating in your rooms from being spread out during the hot parts of the day.

Fan trick: Turn on the exhaust fans in your bathroom and kitchen. These are designed to take hot air out of the house. In the room that you are spending time in, place a basin of ice at such an angle from the fan that it is able to blow a generous blast of air on it. This will instantly cool down the room and keep it so for a while.

Go cotton: In your bedrooms, switch to cotton sheets. If you can get your hands on buckwheat-stuffed pillows, they are ideal for better circulation of air. They also help your body release heat when you are sleeping. You may also want to sprinkle your sheets with a bit of water before you go to bed. This instantly cools your body for a short while.

Lights: Switching to CFL lighting will also help you bring down the temperature in your house. Work on getting this done gradually.

These are some of the simple ways of beating the summer heat and staying cool in your home. If there are any tricks you have tried, let us know!

luxury living in thrissur

Jos Alukkas Properties gives you an address of luxury

For people, especially non-resident Keralites, looking to invest in real estate in their home state, Thrissur is fast emerging as a readily available and viable option. Jos Alukkas Properties, one of the premium builders of the state, is constructing luxury villas and apartment complexes in Thrissur to cater to the ever-growing demand. In the current scenario, properties in Thrissur and its suburbs are top on the list of potential buyers.

So what is that makes Thrissur such an ideal real-estate investment location? The reasons are many. The first reason is its location. Thrissur is located close to the Cochin International Airport, which is a great advantage. The second factor is that all amenities like schools, hospitals, shopping malls etc are strategically located and hence one saves considerable travel time. And finally, Thrissur is known as the cultural capital of Kerala. Proximity to the famous Guruvayoor temple and the presence of many famous religious and cultural institutions is a big plus.

Jos Alukkas Properties has many ongoing projects in and around Thrissur. Here’s a look at some of them:

Imperial Towers, Kuttenellur: Located just 1 km from National Highway 47, Kuttenellur is an upcoming town. The Jos Alukkas Properties project, Imperial Towers, is ideally situated with all amenities like educational institutions, places of worship, hypermarkets, hospitals, and banks in close proximity. Imperial Towers is constructed with top-quality materials—teak wood for the main frame, vitrified tile flooring, good quality electrical connections and sanitary fittings. The project also benefits from basement car parking, play area for kids, 24-hrs security and a separate space for waste disposal.

The Platinum City, Poochatti: A township project, The Platinum City is Jos Alukkas Properties’ latest offering. Away from the hustle and bustle of the main Thrissur town, Platinum City offers buyers a serene spot. All the units of have been designed keeping in mind the requirements of potential customers.

Emerald Villas, Vellangallur: This property has been specially developed for people who love a touch of nature. Located near Irinjalakuda town, this Jos Alukkas project offers customers a calm environment with all modern amenities. This property is ideal for those wanting to get away from the rush of city life.

Silver Square, Near Govt Medical College, Thrissur: Scheduled to be completed by May 2016, this project includes 66 1-2 BHK apartments with all modern facilities. The apartment complex is very close to the Thrissur -Shoranur State Highway and a 20-minute drive from Thrissur town and Amala Medical College. The major benefit of investing in this project is that it is ideally located near the upcoming Kerala University of Health Sciences Campus (KUHS). This translates into good returns on the property.

protein need per day

protein need per day
0.8 grams of protein perkilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound . This amounts to 56 grams per day for the average sedentary man. 46 grams per day for the average sedentary woman.

Although this meager amount may be enough to prevent downright deficiency, studies show that it is far from sufficient to ensure optimal health and body composition.

It turns out that the “right” amount of protein for any one individual depends on many factors… including activity levels, age, muscle mass, physique goals and current state of health.

So… what amount of protein is optimal and how do lifestyle factors like weight loss, muscle building and activity levels factor in?

While you do need more protein when muscle building, the total amount needed is less than many people think. A sedentary person needs to eat about 0.8g of protein per kg of body mass each day. Athletes, and people who want to build muscle, need about double this (1.2 – 1.7g of protein/kg of body mass).

don't eat bananas on empty stomach

eating banana on empty stomach hurts
There's no obvious reason that a healthy person should absolutely not do this. One caution I'd give is that bananas can increase blood sugar a little more than many other fruits, and having them on an empty stomach (or just not in conjunction with other foods that contain protein and fats in general) can make this effect can be a little more pronounced.

Banana contains a high content of magnesium. If you eat a lot of bananas with an empty stomach, it will make the amount of magnesium suddenly increase in the blood, and then lead to the imbalance of magnesium and calcium in human blood. This will bring an inhibitory effect on the cardiovascular and cause damage on the health of human body.

Some people have a difficult time digesting and absorbing fructose, and this can lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea.While bananas aren't a significant source of fructose, eating too many may lead to stomach pain.

One large banana contains 3.5 grams of fiber. If you don't normally get a lot of fiber or if you've eaten a few too many bananas, you may experience abdominal pain due to its fiber content. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate in the banana that your body is unable to digest. When adding fiber to your diet, do so slowly to limit abdominal pain, gas and bloating.

if you feeling abdominal issues and vomiting .. its better to drink one spoon ginger + half lemon mix together with one glas water and drink

after 15 min eat any low potassium based food ..

and avoid banana in moring section or empty stomach ..

how many potassium daily need

potassium daily requirement
Potassium is an essential mineral required for normal functioning of the human body.

Potassium has a role in the synthesis of proteins and muscle tissue. Potassium also works inside every cell to maintain the pH and act as an electrolyte, a molecule that transmits electrical activity between cells. Heart activity depends on potassium, as does muscle contraction. Because many bodily activities are controlled by muscle activity, potassium is essential for many normal body functions such as digestion.

The adequate intake of potassium as established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine is 4,700 mg per day for males and females over the age of 14. Children between the ages of 9 and 13 need 4,500 mg per day of potassium. The daily intake of pregnant women is also 4,700 mg and breastfeeding mothers need 5,100 mg a day. Children between the ages of 4 to 8 require 3,800 mg of potassium every day. Toddlers between 1 and 3 years old need 3,000 mg daily. Babies between 7 months and 1 year old need 700 mg and babies under 6 months require 400 mg daily, which can be supplied through breast milk or fortified formula.

jos alukkas - Grand Aristo luxury flats

GRAND ARISTO from josalukkas properties - thrissur

Alukkas luxury flats- ongoing project in thrissur

Aristo Road, a premium residential area in Thrissur now gets the best in fine living. A 20 storied project with 89 spacious 3BHK sky villa apartments with terrace courtyards and private gardens. Grand Aristo will make luxury you’ve seen till date, look ordinary. Feel Above All

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