Sanda_ISSUE_July-2018

When Your 

Teen Is Making 

Wrong Friends 

How Family 

Meals Help 

Kids Grow 

Up Better 

Exercise Of 

The Future? 

Genomics-based 

& Customised! 

Will You 

Rent A 

Friend? 

Eat Right 

For Great 

Hair 

Focus On 

Hair Care 

wellness nutrition // wellness debate // relationship wellness // emotional wellness

LUCKY Draw 

FRIDAY

publisher’s note 

3 

Publisher, Editor & Printer 

Rakesh Dharavat 

Staff Writers 

Gayatri Pagdi 

Francine White 

Kirean Ball 

Jenny Catton 

Vaidehi Phansalkar 

Steven Miscandlon 

Advertising Sales 

shankar@yourwellness.com 

Senior Graphic Designer 

Mukesh Patel 

Owner : 

Health Media Publishing Pvt Ltd. 

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RMOSS Prints Pvt Ltd. 

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Mumbai 400059 

Place of Publication : 

Health Media Publishing Pvt Ltd. 

G2, Akruti Centre Point, MIDC, 

Andheri (East), Mumbai 400093 

Hair is a sign of our general overall health. For most people, especially women, 

it is their crowning glory, defining their appearance and personal style. Yet, hair 

and scalp are routinely subjected to significant challenges and damage. This 

month we focus on hair and scalp wellness and get to the root of caring for them. 

Our nutrition section helps you eat right to have great hair at every age. 

Elsewhere, we ask if you will rent friends or a romantic partner for a special 

occasion, investigate what the physical exercises of the future will be like, offer 

pointers on what to do when your teen is making wrong friends, and debate if 

juicing is really good for you. We also weigh new research, which claims that 

regular family meals help kids grow up better, and offer quick tips for timepressed 

gardeners. Our experts, in the meanwhile, advise on the ways to deal with 

annoying and painful night leg cramps that many of us suffer from. 

Yourwellness is unique in covering all aspects of wellbeing, from health and 

relationships, through fitness and family, to work and finances. What’s more, we 

also explore all the options available, from Ancient to Modern and Scientific to 

Holistic. 

If you enjoy reading this issue, look for similar articles and features at 

www.yourwellness.com. Why not tell your friends so they can also sit down, take 

a well-earned break and browse our pages? 

Until next month, 

Publisher 

PS.: You may notice these three symbols 

appearing throughout the magazine. These 

reflect which features relate to psychological, physical, or physiological wellness. 

With best compliments from 

reach us 

Subscriptions & customer enquiries: 

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All rights reserved. 

Reproduction in part or in whole, in print, 

electronic or any other form, is strictly 

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This issue contains 52 pages including cover. 

Disclaimer | yourwellness is dedicated to providing useful, well researched information on every aspect of your 

wellness. We do not pioneer any particular therapy or school of thought instead we offer all the options to allow 

our readers to make an informed choice. All our contents are not intended to provide medical advice or diagnosis 

of individual problems or circumstances, nor should it be implied that we are a substitute for professional medical 

advice. Readers are always advised to consult their healthcare professionals prior to starting any new remedy, therapy 

or treatment. 

yourwellness.com

4 

contents 

10 wellness focus on 

Hair Care 

24 emotional wellness 

Will You Rent A Friend? 

28 family wellness 

How Family Meals Help 

Kids Grow Up Better 

32 exercise wellness 

Exercise Of The Future? 

Genomics-based & 

Customised! 

36 relationship 

wellness 

When Your Teen Is 

Making Wrong Friends 

40 wellness nutrition 

Eat Right For Great Hair 

05 wellness news 

07 kitchen wellness 

08 garden wellness 

yourwellness.com 

26 

It’s Ok To Be 

A Bit Weird! 

wellness debate 

27 Is Juicing Really Good 

For You? 

family wellness 

30 Are You Feeding Your Pet 

‘People Foods’? 

exercise wellness 

35 Ways To Improve Fitness 

Among The Fittest 

relationship wellness 

38 Can You Fix A Lie? 

39 holistic wellness 

44 wellness experts 

46 wellness reviews 

48 modern wellness 

49 ancient wellness 

50 scientific wellness 

47 

For Silky 

Smooth 

Skin 

34 

31 

When Parents 

Play Favourites 

Work Out For 

Peace Of Mind 

Shiny Hair 

42 Shakshuka

For Perfect 

Skin Diet More 

Important Than 

Supplements 

A review by researchers at the British Nutrition 

Foundation suggests that buying expensive 

beauty supplements to achieve flawless skin 

might be a waste of money. The team says that 

eating a balanced diet, using sunscreen and 

not smoking are more important than the 

supplements many buy. 

Oral beauty supplements often make 

grand promises, suggesting they can 

improve skin tone, reduce wrinkles 

and even turn back the signs of ageing. 

But experts say that they often contain 

vitamins and minerals that can be 

consumed much more cheaply and 

effectively, simply by including 

lots of natural produce in the diet. 

- Colleen Quigley 

Eating well is a 

form of self-respect. 

Fathers Spend 

More Time With 

Babies Who Look 

Like Them 

According to new research by faculty at 

Binghamton University, State University of New 

York, infants who resemble their father at birth 

are more likely to spend time together with their 

father and, in turn, be healthier when they reach 

their first birthday. Says researcher Solomon 

Polachek, “We find a child's health indicators 

improve when the child looks like the father... 

The main explanation is that 

frequent father visits allow 

for greater parental time for 

care-giving and supervision, 

and for information gathering 

about child health and economic 

needs. Having an involved father 

certainly helps.” The study 

appears in the ‘Journal of Health 

Economics’. 

news 

Is A First Date 

As Thrilling 

As Extreme 

Sports? 

wellness 

A first date is usually filled with 

excitement and apprehension. Now 

researchers have suggested that the 

exhilaration felt ahead of a first date 

could be as intense as that felt when 

skydiving. During the 

research, conducted 

by the University 

of Wolverhampton, 

participants wore a 

heart rate monitor 

while undertaking a 

range of experiences. 

The team found that 

when on a first date, 

the average heart rate was 106 beats 

per minute – just slightly less than 

the 111 beats per minute experienced 

by people taking part in an indoor 

skydiving experience. The findings could 

explain why many people are addicted 

to the rush of a first date. 

Sibling 

Bullying 

Linked To 

Schizophrenia 

Sibling rivalry between brothers and 

sisters is not uncommon. But when it 

turns into more serious bullying, it can 

be cause for concern. New research 

has suggested that those who are 

bullied within the family home are at an 

increased risk of developing psychotic 

illnesses such as schizophrenia. 

Researchers from Warwick University 

say being bullied at home means 

children lack a ‘safe space’ to withdraw 

to which can be damaging. 

They found that 

children who regularly 

experience bullying 

at home are two to 

three times more 

likely to develop 

psychotic disorders 

than other children. 

yourwellness.com 

5

6 wellness 

news 

Headache? Your 

Perfume Might 

Be The Culprit! 

More and more people are reporting that 

artificial scents, found in many beauty and 

homecare products, are triggering headaches 

and other ailments. In one study of 1,000 

people, it was found that over 30% experienced 

unpleasant reactions when exposed to 

fragrance. Meanwhile, another study found 

almost 35% of participants reported headaches 

or respiratory problems when exposed to 

perfumed products. Furthermore, a study 

by Harvard Medical School found scented 

products triggered migraines in 60% of 

migraine sufferers. 

If you find you suffer adversely from 

chemical scents, it may be difficult to 

avoid them when out and about. But the 

good news is that manufacturers are 

increasingly developing non-fragranced 

versions of popular products for you to 

choose for your own home. 

- Eckhart Tolle 

If you get the inside right, the 

outside will fall into place. 

TV Raises Blood 

Clot Possibility 

If you’ve found a new television series or box 

set that you love watching it might be tempting 

to watch just one more episode (and then 

perhaps a couple more). But new research 

by the University of Minnesota suggests that 

sitting in front of the television for hours on 

end could increase the risk of developing a fatal 

blood clot. During the study, 15,000 adults 

were analysed and divided into four groups 

depending on how much TV they watch. Those 

who said they sit in 

front of the television 

‘very often’ are 1.7 

times more likely to 

develop certain types 

of blood clots. The 

results were consistent 

even when weight and 

exercise levels were 

taken into account. 

Night Light & 

Preschoolers 

A new study by University of Colorado 

Boulder research, published in the journal 

‘Physiological Reports’, says that exposing 

preschoolers to an hour of bright light 

before bedtime almost completely shuts 

down their production of the sleeppromoting 

hormone melatonin and keeps 

it suppressed for at least 50 minutes 

after lights out. Because of structural 

differences in their eyes, children may 

be more vulnerable to the impact light 

has on sleep and the body clock. Says 

study author Monique LeBourgeois, “The 

preschool years are a very sensitive time 

of development during which use of digital 

media is growing more and more pervasive. 

We hope this research 

can help parents 

and clinicians make 

informed decisions 

on children's light 

exposure.” Parents, dim 

the lights in the hours 

before bedtime. 

Get A Pet For 

Better Mental 

Health 

Dog owners have long known the benefits 

of getting out and about for a walk with 

their pooch. And cat lovers often testify 

to the relaxing benefits of stroking 

their favourite feline. But now research 

published in the journal ‘BMC Psychiatry’ 

suggests that what pet owners have 

claimed could be true. Of course, using 

pets for therapy to improve mental health 

is nothing new; many hospitals, care 

homes and respite centres regularly use 

pets as part of their service to treat anxiety 

and help patients and residents relax. In 

this latest research, a team from three 

universities looked at 17 international 

studies and found that 

all the pet owners across 

each of the studies stated 

that their relationship 

with their pet helped 

them through the ups and 

downs of everyday life as 

well as providing comfort 

in more difficult times. 

yourwellness.com

kitchen 

wellness 

7 

10 Healthy Kitchen Swaps 

You Can Make Today 

Looking to overhaul your diet? 

Trying to eat healthier meals? 

Want to ensure your family is 

getting five portions of fruit and 

vegetables each day? Well, it’s no 

surprise that healthy eating habits 

begin with a healthy kitchen. 

But, if you find you’re constantly 

making unhealthy choices, it might 

be time to introduce a few swaps. 

Here are 10 quick and easy 

swaps you can try to improve your 

family’s eating habits: 

1 

Swap the biscuit 

barrel for a fruit 

bowl 

Is your biscuit stash more 

accessible than your healthy 

snacks? If you find you’re always 

reaching for chocolate, sweets 

or biscuits, try moving your fruit 

bowl so that it’s the first thing you 

see when you’re deciding which 

snack to grab. 

2 

Swap salt for herbs 

Too much salt in the diet 

can lead to high blood pressure. 

If you’re looking to reduce the 

amount of salt you use in your 

cooking, try flavouring meals with 

dried or fresh herbs instead. 

3 

Swap the frying pan 

for a steamer 

Fried food might be tasty but 

it’s also high in fat and calories. 

Try steaming ingredients instead 

to create a healthier option. 

4 

Swap mayonnaise 

for lemon juice 

Keep calorie-laden mayo as 

a treat and instead use lemon 

juice to dress salads or mix 

into sandwich fillings. 

Swap sunflower oil 

5for olive oil 

There are lots of different 

cooking oils in the market and 

some are healthier than others. 

Try swapping sunflower oil for 

healthier olive oil where possible. 

Swap meat for 

6 

beans and pulses 

Meat can be enjoyed as part 

of a healthy diet but eating too 

much meat on a regular basis 

can be detrimental to health. For 

a healthier and cheaper option, 

try swapping meat for beans and 

pulses a couple of times a week. 

7 

Swap jam for honey 

While both jam and honey 

taste delicious, honey is less 

refined and has a lower GI value 

than jam, so it won’t raise blood 

sugar levels quite so quickly. 

Remember however, honey is still 

a sugary treat so add sparingly. 

8 

Swap ice-cream for 

yogurt 

If you’re craving a cold sweet 

treat, try frozen yogurt 

rather than ice-cream. It’s 

lower in calories and 

saturated fat making it a healthier 

option. Add a serving of fruit on 

the side to boost your vitamin 

count. 

9 

Swap frying for 

grilling 

Frying food increases the 

calories and fat in a dish because 

of the oils used during the frying 

process. You can make dishes 

healthier by grilling ingredients 

instead – with no need for oil. 

10 

Swap the takeaway 

menu for a 

recipe book 

After a busy day, it’s all too 

easy to reach for convenience 

food or dial for a take-away. Why 

not create your own recipe book 

filled with quick and easy recipes 

that you can prepare in just a few 

minutes? Then next time you find 

yourself lost for inspiration, you’ll 

have a ready supply of recipes on 

hand. 

yourwellness.com

garden 

8 wellness 

Be A 10-Minute Gardener 

Would you love a beautiful 

garden but just don’t have the 

time? Long to grow your own 

produce but a busy schedule 

makes it impossible? Well, 

don’t despair. Even the busiest 

individuals can find the time to 

enjoy gardening with the right 

routine. 

For the busy gardener, little 

and often is the key to success. So 

rather than putting jobs off until 

you have a full day to spare, break 

activities down into small tasks 

that you can complete in just a few 

minutes. This means you can check 

on your garden a couple of times 

a day and achieve a lot of care and 

maintenance without it impacting 

on your other commitments. A 

quick whizz around the vegetable 

plot once or twice a day is all it 

takes to keep on top of things – so 

even with a busy schedule, you can 

still enjoy your garden. Here are 

our tips: 

Plan ahead. The types of 

jobs that need doing in the garden 

vary from month to month. Keep 

a diary or set reminders on your 

smartphone so that you know 

exactly what needs doing when. 

Then when you have a spare ten 

minutes, you’ll be able to jump 

straight in, with everything you 

need to complete the task. 

Keep on top of pests. 

One of the most important jobs 

for any gardener, but particularly 

those with little time, is to check 

for pests. Slugs, snails, flies and 

other bugs can all destroy a crop in 

a matter of hours. The good news 

is, it only takes a few minutes to 

check for pests and, with a range 

of natural pest control methods 

available, you can put a stop to the 

nasties in next to no time. 

Create a watering 

reminder. In dry weather, 

it’s important to keep plants well 

watered. Keep your watering can 

or hosepipe ready to go so that 

you can keep your garden watered 

in just a few minutes. 

Harvest regularly. 

Whether it’s a morning stroll 

around the garden while you enjoy 

a cup of coffee or a quick whizz 

round after work, regularly check 

your garden when vegetables or 

fruits are ready to harvest. 

Enlist help from 

family and friends. If 

you’re really struggling to keep 

on top of your garden tasks, ask 

family or friends if they’d like 

to help out. Many will love the 

opportunity – particularly if you 

promise them free produce in 

return. 

Have your tools 

ready. Keep your tools and 

garden accessories organised and 

ready to use so that you don’t 

waste precious time when popping 

into the garden to complete a 

quick task. 

Schedule in more 

time at weekends or 

holidays. Keep bigger jobs 

such as repairing furniture, 

digging, or planting a new crop for 

when you have a little more time 

to spare. 

Eat outdoors. If the 

weather is fine, why not enjoy 

your meals outdoors? It will give 

you the opportunity to check the 

garden and give everything a quick 

water or remove weeds before you 

return inside. 

Choose plants wisely. 

If you know you won’t have a lot 

of time to tend to your garden, 

choose plants that will happily look 

after themselves rather than those 

needing lots of attention. 

yourwellness.com

10 

focus 

- Alexander Pope 

Beauty draws us 

with a single hair. 

Hair is a cornerstone 

of self-esteem and 

identity for many. 

Hair is jewellery; an 

accessory, an important 

determinant of physical 

attractiveness and 

a way of expressing 

individuality. Strong, 

thick, shiny and long 

hair goes a long way 

in making you feel 

confident. It defines 

the way you want to 

come across in life. 

However, hectic, chaotic 

lives, overuse of styling 

products, incorrect 

eating and stress can 

take their toll on hair. 

No matter what the 

type, everyone can have 

healthier hair and, if 

we treat it right, it can 

become a crown we 

never take off! 

Focus On 

Hair Care 

yourwellness.com

11 

Losing hair can be emotionally 

traumatic and can lead to depression, 

anxiety and loss of confidence. It can 

change your appearance significantly, 

making you look much older. Hair 

loss sufferers are frustrated at the 

time and trouble they need to take 

to camouflage thinning hair and the 

inability to style their hair as they 

would like. 

It has been scientifically proven 

through studies that women tend 

to suffer more emotionally and 

psychologically than men on 

losing hair. A 1992 study, in the 

‘Journal of the American Academy 

of Dermatology’, that compared the 

psychological impact of hair loss on 

men and women found that women had 

a more negative body image and were 

less able to adapt to the loss. 

Why Are You Losing Hair? 

We normally shed 50 to 100 

hairs a day. This does not cause 

thinning of hair because at the 

same time new hair is growing 

on the scalp. But sudden hair loss 

is something to take seriously. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, this 

loss of hair occurs when the cycle 

of hair growth and shedding is 

disrupted or when the hair follicle 

is destroyed and replaced with 

scar tissue. Hair disorders like 

alopecia (hereditary thinning or 

baldness) are the most common 

cause of hair loss, affecting 

millions. 

However, there are other 

reasons that can result in hair loss, 

including: 

Family history: 

According to a Harvard Medical 

School report, hereditary-pattern 

baldness is the most common 

cause of hair loss. Hereditarypattern 

baldness is not really a 

disease, but a natural condition 

caused by some combination of 

genetics, hormone levels and the 

ageing process. 

Age: Hair thins as you age. 

Although the amount of hair 

loss due to ageing is largely 

determined by genetics, 

nearly all people experience 

some hair loss due to ageing. 

As you age, the hair begins to 

fall out. Normally, hair falling 

out would be replaced with 

new hair growth; however, 

as we age, this happens 

less and less. As you 

age, your hair also 

loses some of its 

elasticity causing 

it to become brittle 

and break easily. 

It’s not uncommon for menopausal 

women to experience hair thinning 

and hair loss simultaneously. The 

hair follicles also get smaller and 

smaller so that they produce very 

fine hair. This can happen in both 

men and women. 

Pregnancy: According to 

americanpregnancy.org, “During 

pregnancy, an increased number 

of hairs go into the resting phase, 

which is a part of the normal 

hair loss cycle. This condition is 

not serious enough to cause bald 

spots or permanent hair loss, and 

it should begin to diminish within 

3-4 months after delivery.” 

Certain medical 

conditions: Diabetes, 

thyroid disorders, and lupus are 

known culprits. Alopecia areata 

is an autoimmune disease that 

attacks hair follicles. Certain scalp 

infections too are responsible for 

hair loss. 

Medications or major 

surgery: Certain medications, 

especially those for acne, oral 

contraceptives, antidepressants, 

antibiotics and antifungal 

medicines, blood thinners, some 

cholesterol-lowering medicines 

and immunosuppressants 

are known to cause hair loss. 

Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, 

and major surgery can cause 

temporary hair loss. This should 

reverse when treatment is stopped. 

Poor nutrition: If you do 

not follow a healthy, well balanced 

diet, there are going to be a 

number of health consequences, 

one of which could be hair loss. 

Vitamin C helps hair remain 

healthy because it helps produce 

red blood cells that keep hair 

follicles blood-enriched and vital. 

A few symptoms of vitamin C 

yourwellness.com

12 wellness 

focus 

deficiency are anemia (iron deficiency), 

an inability to fight infections, and 

hair loss. It is known to be important 

to the production of tyrosine in the 

body, and tyrosine is needed to give 

strength to hair strands and nourish the 

cells of hair follicles. Biotin deficiency 

will lead to hair loss and brittle nails; 

inadequate zinc in your diet may 

lead to hypothyroidism, which can 

cause hair loss. Researchers at Cairo 

University have also found a strong 

link between vitamin D deficiency and 

hair loss among women. Vitamin E 

increases blood circulation, especially 

near the scalp, which is necessary 

for healthy hair follicles, because it 

provides them with enough oxygen. 

When the follicles are better able to 

regenerate, hair continues to grow. A 

deficiency of vitamin E can cause hair 

loss. In addition to vitamins, there are 

many other nutrients like essential fatty 

acids and minerals that need to be a 

part of your diet to promote healthy 

hair growth. 

Stress: Hair loss can be related 

to emotional stress or anxiety. There’s 

usually about a 3 month delay between 

the stressful event or time period and 

your hair falling out. During this time, 

more hairs on your head are in what’s 

known as the ‘resting stage’. This 

doesn’t mean your hair follicles are 

dead or that your hair will stop growing 

permanently. Unless there’s another 

underlying medical reason for your 

hair loss, it should only last for as long 

as you’re going through that particular 

period of stress or anxiety. 

Stress can also lead to alopecia, 

which causes white blood cells to 

attack the hair follicles in the scalp, 

leading to very instantaneous hair loss. 

Stress-related hair pulling, which leads 

to hair loss, is also possible. 

Hair Fall In Fall! 

A 2017 study in the ‘British 

Journal of Dermatology’ explores 

the relationship between 

seasonality and hair loss. It has 

found that summer and fall 

are the seasons for maximum 

hair loss. The findings support 

previous studies that were 

constrained by small sample sizes 

or homogeneous populations in 

limited geographic locations. The 

physiology of hair loss as related 

to seasonal variation is unknown, 

however. 

“This study synthesised digital 

epidemiological data from both 

hemispheres to confirm the 

clinical suspicion that the summer 

and fall seasons are associated 

with greater hair loss,” says 

senior author Dr Shawn Kwatra, 

of the Johns Hopkins University 

School of Medicine. “This finding 

is clinically relevant for patients 

presenting in the summer and 

fall months with worsened hair 

loss and has implications in 

assessing the effectiveness of 

therapies. Future research will 

further clarify this association 

and examine the physiology of 

the hair cycle.” 

yourwellness.com

13 

Bald Men & 

Heart Trouble 

Men who are balding on the top of 

the head (not those with only a receding 

hairline) are at increased risk for coronary 

artery disease, according to an analysis 

of six large studies, published in 2013 

in BMJ (British Medical Journal) Open. 

The researchers looked at 850 studies 

published between 1950 and 2012 and 

involved just under 40,000 men. Three of 

the studies were cohort studies – where 

the health of balding men was tracked for 

at least 11 years. Analysis of the findings 

from these showed that men who had lost 

most of their hair were a third more likely 

(32%) to develop coronary artery disease 

than their peers who retained a full head 

of hair. 

When the analysis was confined to men 

under the age of 55-60, a similar pattern 

emerged. Bald or extensively balding men 

were 44% more likely to develop coronary 

artery disease. Analysis of the other 

three studies, which compared the 

heart health of those who were 

balding with those who were 

not, painted a similar picture. 

The risk seems to increase 

with the severity of hair loss. 

There’s no clear explanation 

for the association, though 

it is thought that systemic 

inflammation, insulin 

resistance and hormones 

(androgens) may be directly 

or indirectly involved 

with both heart disease 

and baldness. The study 

concludes, “The findings 

suggest that vertex 

baldness is more closely 

associated with systemic 

atherosclerosis than 

with frontal baldness. 

Thus, cardiovascular 

risk factors should be 

reviewed carefully in 

men with vertex baldness, 

especially younger men, who 

should probably be encouraged 

to improve their cardiovascular 

risk profile.” 

yourwellness.com

14 wellness 

focus 

Is Colour 

A Hairy 

Issue? 

Hair colours 

containing PPD are safe 

to use, providing safety 

instructions are followed. 

Some people are sensitive 

to hair colour. If you’re 

mildly irritated to PPD, 

you may find that your 

scalp, neck, forehead, 

ears and/or eyelids 

become irritated and 

inflamed after using 

the colour. The skin 

exposed to the PPD may 

burn and become red, 

swollen and blistered. 

If your symptoms are 

mild wash your hair and 

scalp thoroughly with 

mild shampoo to remove 

the colour. Try gently 

applying an emollient 

(moisturising treatment) 

like aloe vera gel to the 

affected skin. If your 

skin is very red, sore and 

inflamed, you will need 

to talk to your doctor. 

He may suggest an OTC 

steroid cream (topical 

corticosteroid). 

Always carry out a 

patch test before using 

a permanent or semipermanent 

hair dye, 

even if you are using 

your regular brand. If 

you don’t develop any 

reaction from the patch 

test, you can continue to 

use the colour, but make 

sure you: 

• carefully follow the 

instructions included 

• don’t leave it on 

for longer than the 

recommended time 

• rinse your hair 

thoroughly afterwards. 

yourwellness.com

15 

Untangle These Secrets 

How you wash your hair and 

the products you use can go a long 

way toward maintaining smooth, 

shiny, gorgeous hair. According 

to the American Academy of 

Dermatologists (www.aad.org), 

here are some top tips for healthy 

hair: 

• Wash oily hair more frequently. 

How often you wash your hair 

should be based on how much 

oil your scalp produces. 

• If your scalp is oily, you may 

need to wash it as often as once 

a day. 

• If you have chemically treated 

hair, your hair may be drier, so 

you may want to wash it less 

frequently. 

• As you get older, your scalp 

makes less oil, so you may not 

need to shampoo as often. But if 

you see flakes in your hair, you 

may not be shampooing enough. 

This can lead to dandruff and 

other scalp diseases. 

• Concentrate shampoo on the 

scalp. When washing your 

hair, concentrate on cleaning 

primarily the scalp, rather than 

washing the entire length of 

hair. Washing only your hair 

can create flyaway hair that is 

dull and coarse. 

• Use conditioner after every 

shampoo unless you use a 

‘2-in-1’ shampoo, which cleans 

and conditions hair. Using a 

conditioner can significantly 

improve the look of damaged 

or weathered hair by increasing 

shine, decreasing static 

electricity, improving strength 

and offering some protection 

from harmful UV rays. 

• Concentrate conditioner on 

the tips of the hair. Because 

conditioners can make fine hair 

look limp, they only should be 

used on the tips of the hair and 

not on the scalp or length of 

the hair. 

• Choose a shampoo and 

conditioner formulated 

specifically for your hair type. 

For example, if you colour your 

hair, use a shampoo designed 

for colour-treated hair. If your 

hair is damaged or chemically 

treated, consider a ‘2-in-1’ 

shampoo. 

• Protect hair when swimming. 

Protect your hair from the 

damaging effects of chlorine by 

wetting and conditioning your 

hair before swimming. Wear a 

tight-fitting swim cap and use a 

specially formulated swimmer’s 

shampoo and deep conditioner 

after swimming to replace lost 

moisture. 

If you have questions about 

caring for your hair, you should 

make an appointment to see a 

dermatologist. 

yourwellness.com

16 wellness 

focus 

How Often Should You 

Wash Your Hair? 

Your hair gets greasy because 

the glands in the skin produce 

an oily substance called sebum. 

Each of us produces a different 

amount of sebum. Everything from 

genetics and hormones affects 

how much sebum we produce at a 

given time. So how much washing 

is right for you? Hair experts have 

a few pointers for you: 

• Don’t wash every day. Washing 

too often can do more harm 

than good. People who wash 

their hair a lot to get rid of oil 

end up drying out their scalp 

and producing more oil. 

• What’s your skin type? If your 

skin and hair are anywhere 

from normal to dry, and not too 

oily or too dry, you probably 

only need to wash it once or 

twice a week. If you have a 

greasy scalp, you probably 

need to wash your hair more 

often. 

• Texture matters. Texture affects 

how quickly sebum spreads 

from your roots through the 

length of your hair. Curly hair 

slows down the spread, so if 

you have curly hair you may 

only need to shampoo once a 

week. On the other hand, if your 

hair is fine and straight you will 

need to shampoo twice a week 

or more. 

• Over-treated hair? If your hair 

is processed or damaged by 

styling, you should wash it less 

frequently. In general, avoid 

overusing hair products like 

gels, hairspray, and hair waxes, 

which can build up on your 

hair and make your dandruff 

worse. 

yourwellness.com

17 

Choose The 

Right Shampoo 

Know your hair. Understand 

how it behaves in different weather 

conditions. You can also take 

the help of a dermatologist with 

identifying your hair or in selecting 

the best shampoo. 

What’s your scalp 

type? 

Shampoo for oily scalp 

You need a shampoo best suited 

for oily scalp. If your scalp is oily 

but hair is dry, you still need to 

use a shampoo that is good for oily 

scalp and condition your hair to 

manage its dryness. 

Curly hair: Avoid shampoos 

that are labelled as hydrating, 

moisturising or smoothing. 

Try clarifying shampoos. They 

penetrate and emulsify better than 

sulfate-free shampoos. Keep in 

mind that you shouldn’t wash your 

hair excessively or overdrying can 

actually stimulate more oil and 

sebum production. 

Fine hair: You need a formula 

that provides volume without 

creating build up, and deals with 

grease without drying you out. 

Try a volume-enhancing shampoo. 

According to the American 

Academy of Dermatology, 

volumising shampoos help make 

your hair look fuller. They contain 

protein, which coats your hair and 

thicken your hair shaft. 

Shampoo for dry scalp 

If your scalp is dry or itchy, 

choose a shampoo that doesn’t 

strip your scalp of necessary 

moisture. Look for a shampoo 

that promotes moisture, hydration 

and smoothing. Ingredients like 

argan oil and tea tree can help 

moisturise. Avoid shampoos that 

contain sulfates, which will further 

dry out your scalp and hair. 

Curly hair: Curly hair is more 

prone to dryness because it does not 

wick oil from the scalp to the ends 

of the hair shaft as easily as straight 

hair. Shampoo and condition your 

hair weekly with a gentle, sulfatefree 

product that offers moisture to 

the scalp and hair. 

Fine hair: reduce the build-up 

use a professional deep-cleansing 

shampoo once or twice a week. 

Use a shampoo that helps remove 

follicle-clogging sebum, fatty acids 

and other environmental residues, 

helps provide hair resilience and 

control moisture balance and 

increases the fullness of each hair 

strand. 

How frequently do 

you shampoo? 

Choose the shampoo according 

to the frequency you use it. It 

also depends on the weather 

conditions and your routine. Do 

you work outdoors a lot? Do you 

work out regularly? Shampoos 

that are used frequently need to 

be lighter and weaker in nature. 

Their effect lasts for a short 

period. Shampoos that are used 

once or twice a week are stronger 

and can damage the hair if used 

frequently. 

Have you checked 

the ingredients? 

Check the ingredients that are 

added in the shampoo. Do all the 

ingredients suit you or are you 

allergic to any of them? If you 

need to understand them better 

do your research or talk to your 

dermatologist. Always check the 

pH level of the shampoo. You may 

arrive at the right shampoo after 

some trial and error. 

Do you choose good 

brands? 

Don’t try to save money and 

look for cheaper variations. A 

shampoo takes care of the health 

of your hair and scalp. Give them 

what they deserve. Read product 

reviews carefully and make your 

decision. 

yourwellness.com

18 wellness 

focus 

Dandruff: 

Those Pesky Flakes 

Explains a report from the 

Harvard Medical School, dandruff 

is a condition in which dead skin 

cells are shed from the scalp 

in large enough amounts to be 

noticeable. When these dead cells 

stick together, often because of 

surface debris and oil in the hair, 

they are noticeable as flakes in the 

scalp and on clothing. 

Dandruff is a mild form of 

seborrheic dermatitis (a common 

skin disorder that mainly affects 

the scalp, usually causing itchy, 

scaly, red skin and stubborn 

dandruff) of unknown cause. It is 

more of a nuisance and a cosmetic 

problem than a medical one. 

Many people believe dandruff is 

caused by poor hygiene, but this 

isn’t true. 

Many researchers believe it 

may be due to hormone levels, a 

weakened immune system, a lack 

of certain nutrients, or nervous 

system problems. Those pesky 

white flakes of dry skin, annoying 

as they are, especially if you’re 

wearing dark colours, are fairly 

easy to treat. This is how you 

could beat dandruff: 

Follow the 

instructions: There are many 

different dandruff shampoos, 

and each contains different 

active ingredients for controlling 

symptoms. To get the best results, 

always follow the instructions 

on the bottle. For example, some 

dandruff shampoos require that 

you lather the shampoo into 

the hair and scalp and leave the 

shampoo in for about five minutes 

before rinsing. Others should not 

be left on the scalp. 

Alternate: If using one 

dandruff shampoo does not bring 

relief, try alternating between 

dandruff shampoos with different 

active ingredients. Or you could, 

after four weeks, alternate the antidandruff 

shampoo with a gentle 

shampoo once or twice a week, 

and keep using the treatment 

shampoo between outbreaks to 

lessen their severity. 

OTC shampoos: Overthe-counter 

dandruff shampoos, 

containing zinc, selenium, or 

ketoconazole are good for 

dandruff. For maximum benefit, 

leave them on the scalp for 

yourwellness.com

19 

five minutes before rinsing. Coal tar 

shampoo is also effective. However, it 

may discolour light-coloured hair. 

Prescription medication: 

If the dandruff shampoos don’t work, 

you need prescription-strength 

medication. Talk with your doctor 

about these options. 

De-stress: Stress will make your 

outbreaks worse. It can increase oil 

production. Stress weakens the body’s 

natural defenses, so it’s more difficult for 

your body to deal with the presence of 

Malassezia globosa (the most common 

cause of dandruff) and scalp irritation. 

Typical dandruff symptoms like dryness, 

flakes and itch become even more 

pronounced when you are under stress. 

Use natural dandruff 

remedies: 

Some shampoos and conditioners 

on the market contain harsh chemicals 

that can irritate the skin on your scalp, 

which can increase your symptoms. 

Choose products that use natural 

ingredients, as well as those that are 

labelled appropriate for sensitive skin. 

Here are a few natural remedies to deal 

with dandruff: 

Tea tree oil 

This essential oil is known for its 

antibacterial, antifungal, and antiinflammatory 

effects. It effectively fights 

Malassezia, which can help improve 

symptoms of itchiness and greasiness. 

In a 2002 study, published in the 

‘Journal of the American Academy of 

Dermatology’, a 5% tea tree oil shampoo 

applied daily for four weeks helped 

to reduce dandruff symptoms by 41% 

without any adverse effects. 

Honey 

Honey has antibacterial, antifungal 

and antioxidants activities and has high 

nutrient value. According to a 2001 

report in the ‘European Journal of 

Medical Research’, crude honey could 

markedly improve chronic dandruff and 

seborrheic dermatitis and associated 

hair loss and prevent relapse when 

applied weekly. You could also look for 

natural shampoos that contain honey. 

Lemon 

Citrus fruits, especially lemon, may 

be effective against dandruff. High in 

What you can do 

in emergency 

Dandruff is most visible on sleek, 

straight hair, so during bouts of 

flaking, if you need to attend a 

social event, hair experts suggest 

that you resist the urge to brush 

out the flakes. Instead, use a 

round brush or a curling iron to 

create bend and body, which will 

hide it. Adding a little height also 

helps. You could also sprinkle a 

tinted hair powder that matches 

your shade onto the flaky spots to 

camouflage them. 

vitamin C, it helps to restore the pH 

balance of the skin. You could add 

drops of lemon to a herbal shampoo. 

Eucalyptus 

Eucalypyus is not only anti-fungal, 

it is also a good anti-inflammatory to 

combat the inflammatory chemicals 

that your immune system produces in 

response to the dryness and fungus. 

How Hair Oil Helps 

Different oils have different 

advantages and you may want to 

choose between them or simply 

alternate them as per your needs. 

Apply oil at least three to four 

inches away from the scalp, but 

all the way to the ends. Here are 

some oils that you can use to get 

rid of your hair problems: 

Coconut oil is known to 

be an excellent hair conditioner. It 

possesses best moisture-retaining 

capacity as compared to any other 

oil. Coconut oil not only cleanses 

but also moisturises your scalp. It 

easily penetrates into your scalp 

and stimulates the growth of hair 

follicles. If you have dry hair, it’s 

the best for you. For hair that 

is fine or limp, it might get 

too heavy. 

Argan oil is extremely 

rich in beneficial nutrients 

including fatty acids and vitamin 

E. It is proven to make hair softer, 

silkier and shinier. It can even 

help to treat split ends and tame 

frizzy hair. It makes hair more 

manageable and adds a healthy, 

attractive shine to any hair style. 

Rub a few drops of argan oil over 

your palms and then comb your 

fingers through your hair to apply. 

Olive oil possesses 

antifungal and antibacterial 

properties that aids in destroying 

bacteria in your scalp thereby 

promoting hair growth. It also 

helps to nourish and condition 

your hair at the same time, 

improving its elasticity and 

strength. It assists in restoring 

the overall scalp cell health of 

chemically-treated hair, thus 

promoting healthy hair growth. 

Almond oil is a rich source 

of Vitamin E, Omega-3 fatty acids, 

phospholipids, and magnesium. 

Using almond oil nourishes 

and strengthens your hair, 

and is optimal for treating 

hair loss and damaged hair. 

Massaging your hair with 

almond oil makes your hair 

strong, long, shiny and thick. 

yourwellness.com

20 wellness 

focus 

Brush Up On Your 

Supplements 

Vitamins help you maintain 

shiny, healthy hair and provide 

the nutrients your hair needs. 

They don’t replace food so be sure 

to maintain a balanced diet and 

top them with these vitamins to 

promote healthy hair. 

Vitamin A: Vitamin A 

and its derivatives (retinoids) 

are critically important in the 

development and maintenance of 

skin and hair. Vitamin A also helps 

skin glands make sebum. Sebum 

moisturises the scalp and helps 

keep hair healthy. According to 

the ‘American Journal of Clinical 

Nutrition’, diets deficient in vitamin 

A may lead to several problems, 

including hair loss. Studies have 

also shown that an overdose of 

vitamin A can also contribute to 

hair loss. 

Vitamin B-Complex 

(Biotin & B5) 

B-vitamins help carry oxygen 

and nutrients to your scalp, which 

aids in hair growth. Vitamin B3, 

also known as niacin, helps the 

body to use proteins and fats, 

and it keep the skin, hair, and 

nervous system healthy. Biotin 

and pantothenic acid (vitamin 

B5) have been used as alternative 

treatments for hair loss. Biotin 

benefits your hair by rebuilding 

hair that has been damaged due 

to over-shampooing, exposure to 

the sun, blow-drying and ironing. 

Vitamin B5 supports the adrenal 

glands, which helps stimulate hair 

growth. 

Vitamin C: It is responsible 

for creating and maintaining 

collagen which makes up about 

one-third of our body, including 

skin, ligaments and hair. Vitamin 

C is water-soluble with antioxidant 

properties, helping us to protect 

against the damage that free 

radicals can cause to body tissues. 

Free radicals can damage hair, 

making it brittle and weak. Vitamin 

C deficiency may lead to dry and 

splitting hair, hair loss or excessive 

hair shedding. Vitamin C plays a 

necessary role in absorbing iron, 

which keeps our locks strong and 

healthy. 

Vitamin D: Vitamin D 

keeps the bones and skin healthy 

and, in recent years, it’s also been 

linked to hair growth. A 2012 

study suggests that the vitamin 

can help create new follicles. 

Salmon, mushroom and grains 

are great alternative sources of 

vitamin D. 

Iron: Iron deficiency has been 

related to hair loss. Iron carries 

oxygen to hair and promotes 

growth. If ferritin, a protein in the 

body that binds to iron, is lower 

than normal, it indicates that you 

have iron deficiency. Research 

has shown that ferritin level is 

significantly lower in patients with 

hair loss. Women with an iron 

deficiency are at a higher risk of 

hair loss. Talk to your doctor about 

how much iron (or any mineral) 

you should take every day. 

Zinc: It is a vital mineral 

for healthy hair, skin and nails. 

Zinc deficiency leads to hair 

loss. Research has found that the 

deficiency leads to changes in the 

protein structure of hair follicles, 

leading to weakening of their 

structural integrity. This means 

new hairs will fall off quicker 

than they should. A good 

zinc supplement for hair 

loss will supply a good 

amount of the mineral, 

as well as other key 

hair nutrients such 

as biotin, vitamin C 

and iron. It is very 

important to make 

sure that you are 

getting the right 

amount of zinc, 

and not to have 

too much or too 

little. 

yourwellness.com

21 

Yoga: Rapunzel 

Meditates! 

Yoga has many 

wonderful benefits for a 

healthy body, healthy skin 

and healthy hair. A healthy 

diet and eating habits, 

coupled with yoga practice, 

keeps your hair healthy. 

Yoga has been proven to 

be an effective method for 

improving overall health. It 

will benefit your hair by: 

• Lowering stress & 

anxiety 

• Enhancing blood 

circulation to your scalp 

• Increasing oxygen 

transport to the brain 

• Improving nutrient 

absorption 

• Balancing hormones 

• Improving digestion 

• Improving physical, 

mental and spiritual 

health 

Vajrasana: It 

helps improve digestion 

and increases the blood 

supply to all parts of the 

body. With the increased 

supply of blood, our dermal 

papillae cells (scalp cells) 

get nourished, resulting in 

hair growth. 

Uttanasana: It 

improves blood circulation 

in the upper half of the 

body. It also helps relieve 

stress, which is one of the 

main causes of hair loss. 

Adho Mukha 

Shvanasana: 

It improves blood 

circulation to the 

head which enables 

hair growth. It 

also compresses 

the muscles in 

the abdominal 

region and improves 

digestion. It stretches 

neck and spine, 

releasing stress and 

calming you down so stress 

doesn’t lead to hair loss. 

Ushtrasana: 

It increases the blood 

circulation to the brain and 

scalp cells, leading to hair 

growth. It also regulates 

the thyroxin hormone of 

the thyroid which could 

prevent hair loss. 

Shirshasana: 

Sirsasana helps revitalise 

the brain by directing 

an enriched supply of 

oxygenated blood to the 

brain cells. This helps the 

scalp cells get nourished, 

which leads to hair growth. 

Kapalabhati 

Pranayama: With 

this, the brain cells receive 

more oxygen which is good 

for the nervous system and 

hence enables better hair 

growth. It aids digestion, 

strengthens lungs, and 

increases their capacity. It 

also removes toxins from 

the body. 

yourwellness.com

22 wellness 

focus 

Eat This And Never 

Have A Bad Hair Day 

Though factors like age, 

genetics and hormones affect 

hair growth, optimal nutrient 

intake is key to improving the 

strength and condition of your 

locks. There are many nutrients 

that are important to healthy 

hair growth that can be obtained 

from the food we eat. Since hair is 

practically entirely protein, eating 

good quality sources is a must for 

healthy hair. Organic eggs, dairy 

and poultry, wild-caught fish and 

grass-fed lamb are super animal 

sources of protein. For vegans, 

sprouted pulses, nut and seeds as 

well as tofu and tempeh should be 

consumed. 

Collagen is one of the 

most abundant proteins 

in the body and it 

makes up a large 

part of our skin, 

hair and nails. 

While beauty 

treatments and 

shampoo laud the benefits of 

collagen on their labels, the real 

benefits come from increasing 

collagen internally, not from a 

topical treatment. Collagen plays 

a big part in renewing cells and 

is responsible for maintaining 

the strength and elasticity of 

bones, joints, tendons, skin, eyes, 

internal organs, nails and hair. 

Our body’s ability to produce 

collagen starts to decrease after 

the age of twenty-five, causing a 

continuous decline of the collagen 

levels in the body. That is why 

you get wrinkles, hair that loses 

its thickness, colour and lustre 

and what leads to weakness of our 

bones, cartilage and other body 

parts. It’s important to eat food 

sources of collagen like a good 

bone broth, foods with gelatin and 

also eggs. It is also important to 

eat foods containing nutrients like 

vitamin C, vitamin A, zinc, sulfur, 

vitamin E that activates the body’s 

production of collagen. 

Vitamin A is needed by all cells 

to grow, including hair. It also 

helps skin glands to make an oily 

substance called sebum which 

naturally moisturises your scalp 

and hair. Sweet potatoes, carrots, 

pumpkins, spinach, and kale all 

contain beta-carotene which the 

body converts to vitamin 

A. Vitamin A is also 

found in milk, 

yoghurt and 

eggs as well 

as cod liver 

oil. 

B vitamins 

help to create 

red blood cells 

that carry oxygen 

and nutrients to your 

scalp and hair follicles. One of 

the best-known B vitamins for 

hair growth is biotin. A deficiency 

in which can cause hair loss. 

Whole grains, almonds, meat, 

fish, seafood and dark leafy green 

vegetables all provide B vitamins. 

Since free radical damage can 

block growth and cause hair to 

become dull, lifeless and brittle, 

it is important to eat plenty of 

antioxidants to protect against 

oxidative stress. Vitamin C is a 

powerful antioxidant, important 

to hair health also because of its 

ability to help the body absorb 

iron as well as create the protein 

collagen (an important part of hair 

structure). Berries, bell peppers, 

amla and citrus fruits are good 

sources of vitamin C. 

Low levels of vitamin D are 

linked to alopecia and research has 

shown this nutrient is involved in 

helping create new hair follicles. 

Daily exposure to sunlight can 

help your body to produce 

vitamin D and dietary sources 

include fatty fish, cod liver oil 

and mushrooms. Vitamin E, like 

vitamin C, is a potent antioxidant 

that can increase hair growth. 

Sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach 

and avocadoes are good sources to 

include in your meal plans. 

Minerals are also important to 

hair growth, in particular iron and 

zinc. Zinc plays an important role 

in hair tissue growth and repair. 

It is also needed by the oil glands 

and follicles to work properly. Zinc 

deficiency can also cause hair loss 

but supplementing with too high 

a dose can also cause hair fall so 

it is ideal to get your zinc from 

the foods you eat. Oysters, whole 

grains, nuts and seeds provide zinc. 

Silica has been garnering a 

lot of attention over the past few 

years for thick healthy hair. This 

nutrient helps to deliver the other 

vital vitamins and minerals that 

are ingested to the hair follicles. 

Silica also helps to balance 

hormones which can in turn 

affect hair growth. Good dietary 

sources include bell peppers, soy 

yourwellness.com

23 

bean, oats, brown rice, barley, apples, 

oranges, raisins, cucumber, grapes, 

horsetail, spinach, radish, flaxseeds, 

tomato and millet. 

A healthy scalp is also crucial for 

healthy hair. Dry itchy scalp, greasy 

roots, dull lifeless hair can all be treated 

with what you eat as well as what you 

put on your head and hair. Foods you 

consume can help to fortify follicles of 

each strand of hair and nourish the skin 

on your scalp. 

For a lustrous shiny head of hair try 

adding the following foods to your diet: 

Wild-caught salmon – It’s 

rich in protein, omega 3 fatty acids 

and vitamin D. Your body cannot 

make omega 3 so you must obtain 

it from your diet, it is found in the 

cell membranes of the skin on your 

scalp as well as in the natural oils that 

moisturise your hair. Salmon helps to 

prevent hair loss and dandruff and keep 

the scalp and hair shaft well hydrated. 

Grass-fed red meat – Lamb 

and goat meat can help to prevent 

hair loss as they are a great source 

of protein, iron, zinc, B vitamins and 

other vital minerals. Iron helps to 

promote circulation to the scalp helping 

transport of nutrients to your scalp and 

hair follicles. 

Organic eggs – Hair is mainly 

made of protein and keratin so a diet 

rich in protein will help encourage 

hair growth. Eggs are a great source of 

protein, B12, iron, zinc, sulphur, biotin 

and selenium, helping to nourish your 

roots to grow stronger hair strands. 

Dairy – Yoghurt, cottage cheese/ 

paneer and milk are a great source of 

protein and calcium. Try to use grassfed 

organic dairy products to avoid 

unwanted hormones and antibiotics. 

Sprouted beans – Sprouting 

beans like mung, peas, aduki, gram and 

such increases their nutrient content, 

protein content and makes them easier 

for body to digest and thus access 

these nutrients. Adding a small bowl 

of sprouts to your daily diet is superb 

not just for healthy, strong hair but for 

overall wellness too. 

Avocadoes – They are rich in 

vitamin B and E. They help make the 

scalp healthier and stimulate hair to 

grow faster. High in monosaturated 

fats, they also help to moisturise the 

scalp and hair follicles for naturally 

shiny and conditioned hair. 

Almonds – These nuts contain 

protein, healthy fats and vitamin E. 

Vitamin E is great for thick lustrous 

locks and stimulating hair growth. 

Other nuts and seeds, including 

pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, pistachio and 

walnuts, provide hair-strengthening 

nutrients. Try making mixed nut and 

seed butters to spread on wholegrain 

bread, apple slices or celery sticks for 

hair-healthy snacks. 

Citrus fruits – Oranges, 

tangerines, lemons and such are a 

great source of vitamin C which the 

body needs to make iron absorption 

easier. B12 also promotes hair growth, 

reduces hair loss, and slows down the 

greying process of hair. 

Amla berries – Amla or 

Indian Gooseberry is a sour little 

fruit high in antioxidants, particularly 

vitamin C. Amla berries are prescribed 

by Ayurvedic doctors for glowing skin 

and hair. You can buy the powdered 

form and add to water or smoothies 

and even use as a hair mask. 

Green leafy vegetables – 

Kale, spinach, chard, watercress and 

arugula are great for iron, magnesium 

and calcium. When your body is low 

in iron, oxygen and nutrients are not 

properly transported to the hair roots 

and follicles which can inhibit growth 

and make your hair strands weak. 

Whole grains – Wheat, 

barley, oats, buckwheat, millet and 

such are great sources of biotin, iron, 

zinc and B vitamins. All are essential 

for building stronger hair follicles 

and hair. 

Orange vegetables – 

Carrots, sweet potatoes and pumpkin 

help boost vitamin A which is 

important to the formation of sebum 

oil in the scalp and helps to keep it 

moisturised. 

yourwellness.com

emotional 

24 wellness 

Will You Rent A Friend? 

Do you want to appear surrounded by friends so you look popular on the 

social media but don’t have enough of them? Or perhaps you can’t seem to 

find a boyfriend or girlfriend while all your friends have them and you seriously 

miss a date for a special occasion? 

yourwellness.com

25 

A Japanese business called Family 

Romance, which describes itself as 

Surrogate Attendance Service, offers à 

la carte human relationships to solve 

relationship problems of those in Japan. 

The company offers everything from 

fake wedding dates, fake boyfriends 

to bring home, fake colleagues for 

conferences, and even fake newborn 

grandchildren for a dying grandparent. 

You can always choose the age, 

appearance and fashion sense of these 

rented friends and family members. 

The company, founded by a man 

called Ishii Yuichi, has at least 800 

employee-actors to fulfill every role 

imaginable. The website www.familyromance.com 

has a listing of the kinds 

of services available. You could hire 

wedding guests and friends for 10,000 

yen each to have a mix of staff and 

guests of both genders. You could 

have among them corporate officials, 

relatives and even rented parents. The 

company promises to send the right 

people taking into consideration your 

social and financial status. You can 

use just a handful or even hundreds 

of people to appear popular. There 

will even be affectionate speeches and 

entertainment provided. 

While parents, on private visits, 

would cost 2,000 yen per person, 

rented friends would be available for 

12,000 yen each. If you have shifted 

to another city and don’t have enough 

friends, you can keep away from 

loneliness by hiring these friends. They 

will be fun, friendly and encouraging. 

You could even get these friends on 

hire to give you likes on the social 

media at a certain fee. In a 2017 

interview to www.theatlantic.com, Ishii 

Yuichi explains that prices can vary 

based on the role the actor will fill, and 

for how long. He also says that he feels 

fulfilled by just feeling needed. He also 

predicts the exponential growth of his 

business and others like it. 

The business seems to tap into our 

emotional need for companionship and 

friendship. “I want to improve people’s 

lives,” says Yuichi on the website. While 

some might feel that this is a terrifying 

reflection of the world we live in, 

others, especially those who struggle to 

be socially connected, appear to have 

found a solution that will ensure them 

better emotional wellness, especially 

during important occasions of their 

lives. It might even help them break 

through their social inhibitions and 

some day find real friends. 

- Jean de La Fontaine 

Rare as is true love, 

true friendship is rarer. 

yourwellness.com

emotional 

26 wellness 

It’s Ok To Be 

A Bit Weird! 

If you have always been an 

oddball, often been considered 

strange or eccentric, or are 

regularly called a weirdo, don’t 

feel bad about it. Some variability 

or non-standard behaviour can, 

actually, be healthy and adaptive, 

say mental health researchers. In 

a review published in the journal 

‘Trends in Cognitive Sciences’, 

researchers argue that healthy 

variation is the raw material that 

natural selection feeds on, but 

there are plenty of reasons why 

evolution might not arrive at 

one isolated perfect version of a 

trait or behaviour. “I would argue 

that there is no fixed normal,” 

says clinical psychologist and 

senior author Avram Holmes 

of Yale University. “There’s a 

level of variability in every one 

of our behaviours.” He adds, 

“Any behaviour is neither solely 

negative or solely positive. There 

are potential benefits for both, 

depending on the context you’re 

placed in.” 

Say the researchers, impulsive 

sensation seeking, a willingness 

to take risks in order to have new 

and exciting experiences that 

has its roots in our evolutionary 

history as foragers, is often 

thought of negatively. But if 

you flip it on its head and look 

at potential positive outcomes, 

those same individuals may 

also thrive in complex and 

bustling environments where it’s 

appropriate for them to take risks 

and seek thrills. They often have 

more social support, are more 

outgoing, and exercise more. 

The same is true for anxiety. 

“You might be more inhibited in 

social situations and you may find 

it harder to build friendships,” 

Holmes says. “However, that 

same anxiety, if you think of it 

in a workplace setting, is what 

motivates you to prepare for 

a big presentation. If you’re in 

school, that’s the same anxiety 

that motivates you to study for an 

exam.” 

Researchers believe that 

we’re all striving towards some 

artificial, archetypal ideal, 

whether it’s physical appearance 

or youthfulness or intelligence 

or personality. But we need to 

recognise that one size doesn’t 

fit all. We need to recognise the 

importance of non-standard 

or atypical behaviour, both in 

ourselves and in the people 

around us. It does serve an 

adaptive purpose in our lives. 

yourwellness.com

Is Juicing Really 

Good For You? 

wellness 

debate 

Against 

For 

27 

Are you For or Against? 

For – Samaira Philip, Student, Health Enthusiast 

Fruits and vegetables are great sources of vitamins, minerals, and 

antioxidants. In your busy day it’s simply not possible to get in all the 

immune-boosting vitamins within fruits and veggies. You don’t have the time 

or enthusiasm for it. In juicing, you can pack them all into one glass. You body 

gets all it needs quickly. I personally prefer cold-pressed juices. Because they 

are exposed to minimal heat and air, they’re able to hold onto more vitamins, 

minerals, and enzymes present in the whole fruit or veggies. Even if you don’t 

like fruits and veggies, when you juice the right recipe of them together, you 

can actually create something yummy. The best time to drink juice is on an 

empty stomach or at least an hour before eating a meal. This maximises the 

amount of nutrients absorbed into the body. Juices are also great for a detox. 

Managing my weight is much easier with juicing. My skin has never been 

this good and my friends often compliment me on it. Juicing also improves 

your blood circulation; you feel more energised, alert, lighter and can bounce 

through your day. I love it! 

Juicing is trendy. You 

can find juice bottles 

anywhere from specialty 

juice shops, both online 

and offline, to chain 

grocery stores. But are 

the health benefits of 

liquefying our fruits and 

veggies worth the hype? 

Against – Nina Shah, Mother, Health Researcher 

I think the juicing trend is just hype. A juice-focused diet can’t provide all 

the nutrients our bodies need. Most fruits and vegetables contain very little 

protein or fat and the juicing process removes much of the fibre found in the 

whole produce. When making at home it’s also tempting to put too many 

fruits into the juice for more sweetness. My daughters do it all the time. Most 

fruits contain a lot of sugar. You might end up with a lot of calories. Too many 

fruit sugars will spike your blood sugar levels, increase insulin secretion, 

and consequently promote fat storage and fluctuating energy. If you choose 

readymade cold-pressed juices, you have a different set of problems. They 

have a very short shelf life. Drinking them beyond their expiry date can be 

dangerous, especially for young children or pregnant women. And have you 

seen the price tag on these products? These juices can send your grocery bills 

through the roof! I have four people in my family. If all of us were to drink coldpressed 

juices, can you imagine how much money we’ll end up spending on 

juices alone? It’s just a fad. It’ll pass! 

What do you think? Is Juicing Really Good For You? 

Visit www.yourwellness.com to register your vote! 

yourwellness.com

family 

28 wellness 

How Family Meals Help 

Kids Grow Up Better 

Eating family meals seems to be more important than merely for the family 

ties. New research says that regular family meals help the kids grow up 

better physically and psychologically. Says new research in the ‘Journal of 

Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics’, children who routinely eat their meals 

together with their family are more likely to experience long-term physical and 

mental health benefits. 

yourwellness.com

29 

- Michael J. Fox 

Family is not an 

important thing. 

It’s everything. 

There is a handful of research 

suggesting positive links between 

eating family meals together 

frequently and child and adolescent 

health, the researchers observe. 

Says researcher Linda Pagani of 

the Université de Montréal, “In the 

past, researchers were unclear on 

whether families that ate together 

were simply healthier to begin with. 

And measuring how often families 

eat together and how children are 

doing at that very moment may 

not capture the complexity of the 

environmental experience.” 

The study looked at children who 

had been followed by researchers 

since they were five months old as 

part of the Quebec Longitudinal 

Study of Child Development. At age 

six, their parents started reporting 

on whether or not they had 

family meals together. At age 10, 

parents, teachers and the children 

themselves provided information 

on the children’s lifestyle habits and 

their psychosocial wellbeing. 

The researchers found that when 

the family meal environment quality 

was better at age six, the levels of 

general fitness were high while the 

levels of soft-drink consumption 

were low at age 10. The children 

also seemed to have more social 

skills, as they were less likely to 

self-report being physical aggressive 

or oppositional at age 10. Says 

co-researcher Marie-Josée Harbec, 

“Because we had a lot of information 

about the children before age 6 like 

their temperament and cognitive 

abilities, their mother’s education 

and psychological characteristics, 

and prior family configuration 

and functioning, we were able to 

eliminate any pre-existing conditions 

of the children or families that could 

throw a different light on our results. 

It was really ideal as a situation.” 

The study notes that the presence 

of parents during mealtimes 

likely provides young children 

with firsthand social interaction, 

discussions of social issues and 

day-to-day concerns, and vicarious 

learning of pro-social interactions 

in a familiar and emotionally secure 

setting. Experiencing positive 

forms of communication may likely 

help the child engage in better 

communication skills with people 

outside of the family unit. The 

findings suggest that family meals 

are not solely markers of home 

environment quality, but are also 

easy targets for parent education 

about improving children’s physical 

and mental wellbeing. 

yourwellness.com

family 

30 wellness 

Are You Feeding Your 

Pet ‘People Foods’? 

Most people consider a pet a 

member of their family. We don’t 

stop at giving our pet dogs and 

cats a place in our homes, beds 

and sometimes even in wills; we 

also share with them our foods. 

But this is not a good idea because 

the diet that we feed them can 

directly impact their health, 

exposing them to or keeping 

them free of sickness, allergy and 

obesity. Here are a few things that 

you should not share with your pet 

dogs or cats: 

Chocolate & coffee 

Caffeinated drinks and foods 

can cause your cat or dog to 

become restless, have rapid 

breathing, heart palpitations and 

muscle tremors. That is because 

these products contain substances 

called methylxanthines. When 

pets ingest it methylxanthines 

can cause vomiting and diarrhea, 

panting, excessive thirst and 

urination, hyperactivity, abnormal 

heart rhythm, tremors, seizures 

and even death. Dark chocolate 

is more dangerous than milk 

chocolate. 

Raw meat & eggs 

Raw meat and eggs always carry 

the risk of Salmonella or E. coli 

associated with these foods. There 

will be vomiting and diarrhea for 

some animals. Consult your vet 

before you add them to your pet’s 

diet. 

Milk and dairy 

products 

Like people, pets can be 

lactose-intolerant too. Because 

pets do not possess significant 

amounts of lactase (the enzyme 

that breaks down lactose in 

milk), milk and other dairy-based 

products in significant quantities 

might cause some of them 

gastrointestinal distress. There 

will be abdominal pain, bloating, 

nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in 

some while some may not have 

any discomfort at all. 

Grapes & raisins 

Cats won’t eat these but if you 

feed them to your dogs they can 

suffer acute kidney failure. 

Citrus plants 

Pets show obvious revulsion 

for citrus plants. The American 

Society for the Prevention of 

Cruelty to Animals considers 

lemons, limes, oranges and 

grapefruit to be toxic to dogs and 

cats. The offenders in the citrus 

fruits include essential oils and 

psoralen, a naturally-occurring 

compound in some plants. The 

essential oil, limonene, is toxic 

to pets. Citrus oil extract can be 

particularly dangerous, causing 

depression, drooling, falling, 

weakness, hypothermia and low 

blood pressure. 

Onions & garlic 

A staple in many human diets, 

onions and garlic can cause 

gastrointestinal irritation and could 

lead to red blood cell damage in 

pets. Cats are more susceptible 

but if consumed in significant 

quantities dogs are also at risk. 

Despite all the precautions that 

you take, you might just miss a 

treat your pet has sneaked from 

the table or counter. If they show 

restlessness, are vomiting or 

whining or have diarrhea, call up 

your vet immediately. 

yourwellness.com

31 

When Parents 

Play Favourites 

Research published in the 

‘Journal of Adolescence’ shows 

that if a younger sibling feels like 

they’re the favourite and their 

parents agree, their relationship 

is strengthened. Surprisingly, with 

older siblings, whether they feel 

favoured or not, it has no major 

effect on the relationship. This 

is because, say the researchers 

from Brigham Young University, 

social comparison - one sibling 

comparing himself to the other - is 

the culprit. “It’s not that firstborns 

don’t ever think about 

their siblings and themselves in 

reference to them,” says researcher 

Alex Jensen. “It’s just not as active 

of a part of their daily life.” 

The researchers collected data 

from more than 300 families, each 

with two teenage children, and 

found that while parents may think 

treating their children equally is the 

best way to mitigate any negative 

effects, this is not the case. 

Adds Jensen, “When parents 

are more loving and they’re more 

supportive and consistent with 

all of the kids, the favoritism tends 

to not matter as much. Some 

parents feel like ‘I need to treat 

them the same.’ What I would 

say is ‘No you need to treat them 

fairly, but not equally.’ If you 

focus on it being okay to treat 

them differently because they’re 

different people and have different 

needs, that’s ok.” 

yourwellness.com

exercise 

32 wellness 

- Carol Welch 

Movement is a 

medicine for creating 

change in a person’s 

physical, emotional, 

and mental states. 

yourwellness.com

33 

Exercise Of The Future? 

Genomics-based & 

Customised! 

For years, scientists have 

studied the effects of different 

types of exercise on the human 

body, but never before at the 

level of molecular precision, 

says new research. 

Exercise in the future 

could be customised for 

people based on genomics, 

according to a study by 

Arizona State University and 

the Translational Genomics 

Research Institute. Their study, 

published in the ‘Journal 

of Applied Physiology’, has 

characterised some of the 

molecular changes that happen 

in muscle tissue following 

different types of exercise, 

specifically resistance exercise 

like lifting weights, versus that 

of aerobic exercise (in this 

study, cycling). 

Researchers used advanced 

technology like Whole 

Transcriptome RNA Sequencing 

(WTSS), which is nextgeneration 

sequencing to reveal 

the presence and quantity of 

RNA in a biological sample, 

to identify genes that were 

affected uniquely by each type 

of exercise. The researchers 

took muscle samples from six 

men, between the ages 27-30, 

before their exercises, and 

again at one hour and four 

hours following both weight 

lifting and cycling. 

The study found 48 unique 

genes following aerobic 

exercise, and 348 unique genes 

following weight lifting, that 

were ‘differentially expressed’, 

meaning the exercises made the 

genes more powerful or less 

powerful, like a dimmer switch 

on a chandelier. 

“This data shows that 

different exercises elicit 

unique molecular activity in 

skeletal muscle,” says Dr Jared 

Dickinson, the study’s lead 

author. “These findings support 

the need for additional research 

that better identifies how 

exercise strategies can be used 

to target specific molecular 

responses in the muscle tissue, 

which could have implications 

for those that suffer from 

abnormalities in muscle.” 

The use of RNA sequencing 

in the research was significant 

because it provided a broader 

range of analysis, especially for 

genes expressed at low levels. 

This, along with increased 

specificity and the ability 

to identify novel genes that 

otherwise might not be detected 

through lesser technologies. 

The study has also found 

that aerobic exercise increased 

expression of one specific 

gene associated with greater 

oxygen capacity. The ESRRG 

gene improves endurance, 

enhanced development of blood 

vessels and is also important 

in improving function of 

mitochondria, the powerhouse 

of cells. 

The researchers hope to find 

better ways to promote muscle 

health by better understanding 

the unique molecular processes 

stimulated by different types 

of exercise. They also maintain 

that this research could lead 

to more effective exercise 

interventions that target 

abnormalities associated with 

specific muscle dysfunctions. 

Says senior author Dr 

Matt Huentelman, “We hope 

to leverage these findings 

into more precise exercise 

recommendations in the future 

- ones that are tailored to an 

individual not only based on 

their physiological needs but 

also based on their molecular 

response to exercise.” 

yourwellness.com

exercise 

34 wellness 

Work Out For 

Peace Of Mind 

By Jasmin Waldmann 

Physical exercises are very 

beneficial in many different ways; 

this is common knowledge. But 

not many realise that they do far 

more than affect just the physical 

body; they influence the mind 

significantly too. 

When you work out, without 

distractions (you will need to 

leave your smartphone at home 

or in the locker, avoid idle 

chatting, as also not listening to 

music) you will have amazing 

outcomes. Because of the 

awareness of both your mind and 

body, you will be able connect 

the two together in a single 

harmonious unity. When you 

are not thinking of anything 

specific but are simply following 

one exercise after another, you 

get into a meditative mode. 

This creates a feeling of being 

energised and satisfied. 

Exercising can have a highly 

positive impact when it comes 

to protecting your mind against, 

among other things, anxiety, 

ADHD and even depression. It 

improves your memory, recalling 

ability, helps you to sleep better, 

and boosts your overall mood. By 

boosting your mood, exercising 

can help you become more 

balanced and contribute to your 

contentment. If at all you need 

to, it can also get rid of your 

accumulated anger, providing 

a safe passage to your intense 

emotions - working out relieves 

stress by using the accumulated 

stress-hormones in your system. 

Exercises like weight lifting, 

walking, swimming and running 

are also associated with cell 

growth in the hippocampus, 

an area of the brain, which 

is responsible for memory. 

Exercising improves your 

coordination, which will help you 

in your daily activities to work 

more effectively. 

When you know how much 

a workout helps your mind, 

you might find it even more 

compelling to hit the gym or to go 

out for a good run! 

Jasmin Waldmann is an 

international Mind & Body 

Transformation Expert. 

She is the author of the book 

‘Change Me’. Visit www. 

jasminwaldmann.com 

to know more. Book available on 

amazon. 

yourwellness.com

35 

Ways To Improve Fitness 

Among The Fittest 

Having protein regularly 

throughout the day (proteinpacing) 

combined with a multidimensional 

exercise regimen 

improves fitness among the 

fittest, say exercise scientists 

from Skidmore College, USA. The 

exercise regimen has to include 

resistance exercise, interval sprint 

exercise, stretching and endurance 

exercise. The researchers, in search 

of the most effective lifestyle 

strategies to improve health and 

physical performance, have found 

that this routine, when followed 

for 12 weeks or more, shows 

improved fitness, decreased total 

and abdominal fat, increased lean 

body mass, and optimal metabolic 

and heart health in people. 

To make the diet and exercise 

regimen easy for the public to 

remember, exercise scientist Paul 

Arciero has coined the acronym, 

‘PRISE’: P stands for proteinpacing, 

R stands for resistance, I 

stands for interval, the S stands 

for stretching, and the E stands for 

endurance. 

“Whether your goal is to 

improve fitness or heart health, 

the quality of your diet and a 

multi-dimensional exercise training 

regimen (PRISE) can make all the 

difference, says Arciero. “It’s not 

about simply eating less calories 

and doing more exercise. It’s 

about eating the right foods at 

the right time and incorporating a 

combination of exercises that most 

effectively promotes health and 

fitness.” 

The researchers enlisted 30 

women and 20 men between the 

ages of 30 and 65 who could 

clearly be described as being 

physically fit. 

Dividing the subjects randomly 

into two groups, the scientists 

conducted a 12-week trial in 

which all subjects consumed the 

same amount of calories and 

performed the identical exercise 

routine, but their diet quality 

differed. One group consumed 

commonly-recommended protein 

and fitness/sport nutrition 

products and the second group 

consumed a slightly increased 

protein intake and antioxidantrich 

supplements. 

When the trial ended, the 

researchers found that although 

both groups improved on nearly 

every measure, those who had 

followed the protein-pacing and 

antioxidant-rich diet showed 

the greatest improvements in 

fitness, including upper body 

muscular endurance and power, 

core strength, and blood vessel 

health (reduced artery stiffness) 

among female participants; and 

upper and lower body muscular 

strength and power, aerobic 

power, and lower back flexibility 

among male participants. They 

observed that the PRISE protocol 

of protein-pacing with either whole 

food sources or whey protein 

supplementation, were equally 

effective at improving physical 

fitness, as well as decreasing 

total, abdominal and visceral fat, 

increasing the proportion of lean 

muscle mass and significantly 

reducing blood glucose, insulin and 

cholesterol levels. 

Overall, the study encourages 

rethinking of current assumptions 

about diet and exercise, which 

place too much focus on the 

quantity of calories eaten and 

amount of exercise people do, 

rather than the quality of the food 

eaten and the exercise. 

yourwellness.com

elationship 

36 wellness 

When Your Teen Is 

Making Wrong Friends 

Teenage years 

are a difficult 

time for both 

adolescents and 

their parents. One 

common cause 

of disagreement 

is the friendships 

and relationships 

that your child 

makes. 

While in the past you might have been 

able to control who they hung out with, 

once children become teenagers, they 

gain the opportunity and the confidence 

to form their own friendships – and these 

are not always ones that parents approve 

of. Perhaps you’re worried that your teen’s 

friends are leading them astray, or maybe 

you’re not happy with their behaviour 

when with certain friends. 

Fears not baseless 

Your fears regarding the company 

your teen keeps are not unfounded. Says 

a 2013 study published in the ‘Journal of 

Adolescent Health’, friends’ cigarette use 

behaviour may have a stronger influence 

on youth who start smoking at a younger 

age and that friends’ influence is generally 

higher in high school. The study noted that 

boys tend to foster friendship by engaging 

in shared behaviours, whereas girls are 

more focused on emotional sharing. So, 

it is possible that boys are adopting their 

friends’ risky behaviours, like smoking, 

as the groups grow together over time. 

Another study, in 2014, from the Indian 

University, adolescents’ alcohol use is 

influenced by their close friends’ use, 

regardless of how much alcohol they think 

their general peers consume. The study 

observed that working to encourage teens 

to make friendships with non-alcoholusing 

friends could be one of the more 

effective things parents can do to help. 

yourwellness.com

37 

What to do 

Watching your child become close to 

people you disapprove of isn’t easy but 

it’s important to tread carefully to avoid 

arguments with your child. Teenagers 

also love to rebel against their parents 

often so the best course of action is to say 

nothing at all. If your child picks up on 

the fact that you dislike their friend it can 

often backfire and drive them closer. As 

they grow older children confide in their 

parents less, but showing them that you 

understand and are open to listening will 

encourage them to talk to you more. Show 

an interest in their new friend and your 

child is more likely to confide in you. 

Remember that teenage friendships can 

be abandoned overnight so often it pays to 

be patient. You may find that in a couple 

of months, the new friend is off the scene 

and by keeping quiet you’ve managed to 

maintain a good relationship with your 

own child. 

The only time to intervene is if you 

suspect a friendship is causing harm to 

your child. If you think they are being 

bullied or are being led into dangerous 

behaviours involving crime or addictions, 

then you will need to sit down and have 

a chat with your child. But rather than 

using this as an opportunity to attack 

their friends, take the chance to talk about 

general behaviour and staying safe. 

- Phil McGraw 

It’s better to 

be healthy 

alone than 

sick with 

someone else. 

yourwellness.com

elationship 

38 wellness 

Can You Fix A Lie? 

Have you ever told a lie thinking 

that it won’t matter but then come to 

regret it later? Whether it’s fibbing 

about your occupation to a blind 

date, embellishing your CV in a job 

interview, or bending the truth about 

how you spent your weekend, we 

often tell little lies in the heat of the 

moment without thinking through 

the consequences. Sometimes telling 

a fib helps smooth over the current 

conversation that you are having but 

then spirals out of control. 

If you’ve told a lie in the past, you 

might come to regret it once you 

realise that your untruth is likely to 

be exposed. It can be embarrassing 

to admit to telling a lie but trying to 

maintain a lie can be stressful and it’s 

usually best to come clean as soon as 

possible. 

So what can you do to reverse a 

lie? Well, you could take the route 

of denial. “You thought I said I was 

the director of my company? Oh no, 

I only meant I spent a lot 

of my day directing 

others!” Or you could 

try honesty to get 

you out of a sticky 

position while 

admitting that you 

lied: “I’m sorry, I was so nervous in 

the interview, I don’t think I was quite 

clear about my experience.” 

And then, of course, there’s good 

old-fashioned humour: “I was so blown 

away by your beauty on our first date, 

I might have got carried away when 

talking about my career.” 

Whatever approach you take, the 

best solution is always to tell the 

truth. It might not go down 

well but at least your 

conscience will be clear 

and you’ll be able to get 

over the stress of trying 

to maintain a lie. 

yourwellness.com

Wash Your Herbs 

Herbs like basil, cilantro, and parsley are served fresh. 

This means that if you let them go unwashed, eating 

them can potentially expose you to harmful bacteria 

like salmonella and E. coli. Herbs that are eaten raw 

may have had contact with bacteria in soil or water 

that could make you sick. To avoid getting sick from 

your herbs, always wash them properly. Dunk them in 

a bowl of cold water. Discard the water and repeat this 

a few times, swishing the herbs around. After the water 

runs clean, fill the bowl again and add a splash of white 

vinegar. Mix it carefully and then rinse the mixture 

twice or thrice again. Dry the herbs on a clean kitchen 

towel before use. 

Tai Chi For Better 

Posture 

Poor posture is the source of a lot of pain and body 

aches. If you have poor posture, you should consider 

trying Tai Chi. Tai Chi, a slow and deliberate, flowing 

movement of the body, aims to align the body in ways 

that can improve your posture in a safe, unstrained, 

and graceful way. Many of its benefits are consistent 

with other forms of low-impact exercise. A proper body 

alignment can also relieve stress on joints, bones, and 

muscles. Consider working with a Tai Chi professional. 

As always, check with your doctor to make sure you 

are healthy enough and to address any underlying 

causes of your pain and posture. 

holistic 

wellness 

Take A Sauna 

The health benefits of a sauna bath 

are well known. A sauna makes you 

feel reinvigorated, eases tension and 

helps muscles to relax. It reduces 

stress and can induce a deeper 

sleep. That’s not all. Researchers 

have found that saunas can also 

reduce cardiovascular risk. Says a 

2017 study in the ‘American Journal 

of Hypertension’, people who most 

often use saunas have a reduced 

risk of developing hypertension. 

The study believes that saunas may 

reduce blood pressure by promoting 

relaxation and by improving blood 

vessel flexibility. Another 2017 

study, published in the ‘European 

Journal of Preventive Cardiology’, 

has found that middle-aged men 

and women had reductions in blood 

pressure and blood vessel stiffness 

after spending 20 minutes in a 

sauna. 

39 

- Stefan Emunds 

Why holistic? Because it 

involves your entire being. 

yourwellness.com

40 wellness 

nutrition 

Eat Right For Great Hair 

Improving the strength 

and condition of your 

hair and encouraging hair 

growth starts from within. 

A diet of fresh whole foods 

that provide nutrients like 

collagen, protein, zinc, iron, 

omega 3, sulfur, omega 

3 and vitamins A, B, C, D 

and E is essential if you 

want luscious locks. Bovine 

collagen is one of the 

best sources for healthy 

hair. You can also try fish 

stocks for marine collagen. 

It’s important to eat 

plenty of foods like leafy 

greens, orange vegetables, 

sprouted pulses, fish, 

organic eggs, avocadoes, 

nuts and seeds that all help 

to encourage your body’s 

own collagen-making 

abilities. 

Try some of the 

following recipes to 

nourish your scalp and 

beautify the condition of 

your hair. 

- Carolyn Aronson 

Hair is a beautiful form 

of self-expression. 

yourwellness.com

41 

Healthy Mane Mung 

Bean Salad 

(Serves 2) 

Every single ingredient adds nutrients important 

for a healthy body as well as a marvellous mop. 

Silica, omega 3, protein, vitamins E and C, zinc – it’s 

all here in this energising salad. 

Ingredients 

2 cups sprouted mung beans 

Half a cucumber, sliced and quartered 

½ cup green peas 

½ cup chopped nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachio 

etc) 

½ cup chopped flat leaf parsley 

1 avocado, chopped into cubes 

For dressing and garnish 

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil/hemp oil/or any cold 

pressed nut/seed oil 

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 

2 tbsp chia seeds 

Method 

1. Mix all the ingredients except dressing and 

garnish in a large bowl. When ready to eat divide 

into two bowls. Sprinkle with chia seeds. Mix the oil 

and vinegar together and drizzle over both bowls. 

Hairtastic Omega 3 And Vitamin C Salad 

(Serves 2) 

This sweet and savoury 

refreshing salad is not only 

beautiful to look at but every 

exciting mouthful provides 

hair-strengthening nutrition. 

Ingredients 

2 wild caught organic 

salmon fillets, roasted 

1 pink grapefruit, peel and 

pith and seeds removed 

1 red pepper, chopped 

80g mixed herb and babyleaf 

spinach salad 

2 tbsp pine nuts (roasted 

optional) 

2 tbsp chopped pistachio 

nuts 

1 cup steamed green beans, 

halved 

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 

(or oil of your choice) 

A pinch of rock salt 

1-2 tsp honey 

Grapefruit juice 

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 

Method 

1. Divide the grapefruit 

into segments over a bowl 

or mixing jug to collect 

the juice. Set aside for the 

dressing. 

2. In a large bowl add herb 

salad, grapefruit pieces, pine 

nuts, pistachio, green beans 

and flaked roasted salmon. 

3. Add oil, salt, balsamic and 

honey to grapefruit juice in 

mixing jug and combine well. 

Drizzle over salad. Divide 

into two bowls and serve 

immediately. 

yourwellness.com

42 wellness 

nutrition 

Shiny Hair Shakshuka 

(Serves 4) 

This makes an incredible start to the day 

with protein and collagen from eggs, 

cholorophyll, vitamin A and iron (to name 

a few) from the leafy green veggies and 

herbs, as well as sulphur from the garlic and 

onions. 

Ingredients 

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 

2 onions, thinly sliced 

100g spinach or baby spinach 

100g kale leaves, stems removed 

250g frozen peas 

2-4 garlic cloves, minced 

1 tbsp cumin seeds 

Large handful parsley leaves, roughly 

chopped 

Large handful coriander leaves, roughly 

chopped 

Large handful mint leaves, roughly chopped 

8 medium organic eggs 

Salt and pepper to taste 

150g pot natural yoghurt 

1 tbsp harissa paste or chilli flakes (optional) 

Method 

1. In a large skillet over medium heat 

soften the onion in the oil with a pinch of 

salt. Gradually add in the spinach and kale, 

allowing to wilt and make room for more 

leaves. Add the peas, garlic and cumin 

stirring constantly. Add the chopped herbs 

and continue to stir and cook for a few 

minutes until all the greens are wilted. 

2. Make four wells and crack two eggs into 

each. Cover and cook for around 10 minutes 

until the whites are set but the yolks are still 

runny. 

3. Remove the lid and season with salt and 

pepper and chilli flakes or dots of harissa. 

Dollop on a few spoonfuls of yoghurt and 

serve. 

A traditional Tunisian recipe from 

North Africa, Harissa is great as a 

marinade for meat and seafood, a 

ketchup alternative or a base for dips. 

Spicy, savoury and delicious! Add to 

soups, pasta sauces or couscous; mix 

a teaspoon into some olive oil and 

use to dress roasted root vegetables. 

Trader Joe’s Traditional Harissa is 

prepared in small batches with fresh, 

red chilies that are grilled in a tumbler 

over an open flame, and blended with 

a traditional mix of herbs and spices, 

including garlic, cumin, and caraway. 

Available on amazon. 

yourwellness.com

43 

Treat Your Tresses Cheesecake 

(Serves 8-10) 

This delicious guilt-free dessert is 

gluten-free and rich in omega 3, 

zinc, protein, magnesium, iron and 

so much more. Gelatin is basically 

boiled down collagen so it’s great 

for hair, skin and nails - try to 

source a good grass-fed version if 

possible. 

Ingredients 

500ml Greek yoghurt, excess water 

removed 

Fresh home-made paneer from 

750ml milk and 2 tsp lemon juice 

200ml fresh cream 

A pinch of rock salt 

2 tbsp – ¼ cup maple syrup or 

agave syrup 

1 ¾ tbsp gelatin 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

¼ cup warm water 

For base and topping 

2 cups mixed nuts and seeds 

(pumpkin, flax, cashew, hazelnut, 

almond etc) 

½ cup pitted dates, soaked in warm 

water 

½ tsp cinnamon or ginger powder 

(optional) 

2 tbsp agave or maple syrup 

Method 

For paneer: In a pan bring 750ml 

of milk to the boil. Add 2 tbsp fresh 

lemon juice when the milk is boiling 

and about to bubble over. Stir with 

a spatula for 1 minute until the milk 

curdles. Remove from the heat and 

strain the mixture. You will be left 

with soft paneer. Set aside to cool. 

For the crust: Place all the nuts and 

seeds in a food processor and pulse 

two to four times. Remove half a 

cup to top the cheesecake and store 

in airtight container. Continue to 

pulse the rest until a finer powder 

and beginning to stick together. 

Use a hand blender to make a paste 

with the soaked dates. Mix with the 

nuts powder and spices if you are 

adding. Press base mixture evenly 

into the cheesecake tin using the 

back of a spoon and place in the 

fridge. 

For the filling: In a cup mix the 

gelatin with warm water and 

set aside for 5 minutes, mixing 

occasionally so it is well blended. 

Blend paneer, yoghurt, cream, agave/ 

maple syrup, salt and vanilla extract 

in a processor until smooth. Add the 

gelatin and mix well. Pour into cake 

tin and refrigerate for 6-8 hours. 

For the topping: Mix 2 tbsp agave/ 

maple syrup into roughly-chopped 

nuts and seeds and sprinkle over the 

top of cheesecake before serving. 

Cultures For Health Real Greek Yogurt You Make At 

Home is a complex blend of bacteria that boosts nutritional 

content and promotes easier digestion. Deliciously rich and 

tangy, this heirloom, thermophilic starter can be re-cultured 

indefinitely. Drain whey from the finished product to make 

thick, creamy Greek yogurt. 

Each box contains two packets of 

yogurt starter culture. Activate one 

packet using one quart pasteurised 

milk (store 2nd packet in the 

freezer as a back-up). It cultures 

at 110ºF using a yogurt-maker or 

other appliance. It’s suitable for 

use with pasteurised whole milk 

and with raw dairy milk or nondairy 

milk with special care. Avoid 

ultra-pasteurised milk. Available 

on amazon and ebay. 

yourwellness.com

44 wellness 

experts 

Dr Tiejun Tang, 

Traditional Chinese Medicine Expert 

Dr Vidhya Pathare, 

Family Physician 

I’m a 42-year-old woman who suffers from severe leg cramps at night. 

They’re mostly calf cramps but sometimes my feet and thighs cramp 

too. What could be the reason for this and what can I do for relief? 

Dr Subodh Naik, 

Homeopath 

Francine White, 

Nutritionist 

Dr Tiejun Tang says: Many people have experienced leg cramps during sleep. 

These cramps actually are due to muscles spasms caused by abnormal activity of 

nerves and muscles. The reasons of this symptom are: Leg muscles overstrain in 

the daytime; cold stimulation; hypocalcemia, which is more common in calciumdeficient 

pregnant women, post menopausal women, and the elderly. Improper 

sleeping posture, too, leads to vein compression and blood circulation stasis. 

No matter what the reason of leg cramps, they will produce severe pain and 

discomfort. You must pay enough attention to this condition. To prevent the 

leg cramps you should: Do a few minutes of self-massage on the legs before 

sleep; keep your legs warm and covered during sleep; test blood calcium. Take a 

calcium supplement if your blood calcium is low; have a right sleep posture and a 

comfortable sleep environment. 

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that liver dominates all the ligaments 

and tendons. Liver blood deficiency will cause leg cramps. Cold evil can also 

cause muscles spasms. Tui na massage on certain points can prevent and release 

the cramp. Any herbs for the nourishment of liver blood can prevent leg cramps. 

Dr Tiejun Tang has a PhD in Chinese Medicine. He has over 30 years of clinical 

experience, authored several papers and books, and is Clinical Tutor & Senior 

Lecturer at Middlesex University, UK. He is Fellow of ATCM (The Association of 

Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, UK) and practices in Central London. 

Visit www.harleystreetchineseacupuncture.co.uk. For online consultation mail him on 

knowhowacupuncture@hotmail.co.uk or call Tel: 0751 600 8921. Visit his blog http:// 

chinesemedicinesalon.blogspot.co.uk 

Dr Bina Wadhawan, 

Alternative Medicine Therapist 

Dr Vidhya Pathare says: You are 42; that means you are perimenopausal. It 

signals depleting estrogen stores; this means diminished calcium absorption. In 

fact, bones start losing their calcium magnesium deposits. Menstruation cycles, 

yourwellness.com

45 

childbirth and menopause are stressful 

stages in a woman’s life. Calcium, 

magnesium, vitamin D, K, E, and other 

micronutrients are found deficient 

in most women. These deficiencies 

cause night cramps in legs, calves, 

toes and thighs. To solve this issue 

we can begin with a nutritious diet of 

plenty of green leafy vegetables, salads, 

coloured vegetables, nuts like almonds 

and walnuts, whole grains rather 

than refined flour, oils like olive and 

groundnut (even better if they’re cold 

pressed), oily fish, white meat, eggs and 

dairy products. A balanced meal will 

ensure the body of its required daily 

dose of nutrients. 

Exercise, walking, jogging, yoga, 

or any form of exercise, preferably 

outdoor for at least 30 minutes per 

day, will give you vitamin D which 

is necessary for the absorption of 

calcium. 

If you are doing all of this and 

yet see no improvement, visit your 

physician who will run some tests to 

determine your calcium, vitamin D, 

B12 and hemoglobin levels. If you’re 

deficient in any of these, they will 

advise oral or injectable medicines to 

overcome the deficiencies. That should 

free you of the cramps. 

Dr Vidhya Pathare is a Family Physician 

Dr Subodh Naik says: Along with 

the habit of sitting improperly, sitting 

for long periods and overexertion 

of muscles, medical conditions 

such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, 

Parkinsonism, different neuromuscular 

disorders, electrolyte imbalance, 

structural disorders like flat feet, 

alcoholism, use of different medicines 

like diuretics, beta agonists, etc are 

the different reasons for leg cramps at 

night. But radiculopathy and electrolyte 

imbalance, being the most common 

causes, get the following investigations 

done first: X Ray L S Spine - AP and 

Lateral and serum electrolytes. If they 

are normal, get yourself checked by a 

physician for the underlying cause. 

Homoeopathy would use two 

approaches: Acute and Chronic. It 

has many medicines for leg cramps. 

It would take into consideration the 

affected side, the exact part of the 

leg involved, the time, the type of 

pain, sensation, the aggravating and 

ameliorating factors and concomitants, 

if any. This will guide the selection of 

remedy for acute attack. Mag Phos, 

Bryonia, Causticum, Agaricus, Agnus 

Cactus, Plumbum Met are the common 

remedies that will help. 

Dr Subodh Naik is a Homeopath 

Francine White says: There can be 

many possible causes of leg cramps, 

including dehydration, strenuous 

exercise, lack of exercise, lack of 

certain minerals, pregnancy or even 

a trapped nerve in your spine, for 

example. If the cramps are severe 

and prolonged it’s important to get 

yourself checked but you can also 

make sure you drink plenty of clean 

filtered water daily, at least 2 1/2 litres. 

A lack of magnesium, potassium or 

calcium can commonly trigger cramps, 

especially if you take cholesterollowering 

medications, which have 

a diuretic effect and are known to 

deplete minerals. Make sure you 

eat plenty of mineral-rich fruits and 

vegetables like spinach, Swiss chard, 

arugula, watercress, broccoli, celery, 

bananas, watermelon, cucumber, 

zucchini, sweet potato, winter squash, 

potato (with skins), avocado, beetroot, 

oranges, tomatoes and white beans. 

Sprouted beans, lentils, nuts and seeds 

are also great sources of minerals. 

Taking a superfood supplement like 

wheatgrass powder, moringa powder, 

barley grass or alfalfa powder in a 

little water daily can also help to 

boost your mineral intake and prevent 

cramps. If you do not exercise, try to 

do some gentle stretching and increase 

your daily number of steps. If the 

cramping is from your workout, make 

sure you are adequately warming up 

and cooling down from your sessions 

and increasing your mineral intake. 

Coconut water is rich in electrolytes 

and so is also great for replenishing 

minerals. 

Francine White is a Nutritionist and 

Columnist with Yourwellness Magazine 

Dr Bina Wadhawan says: A leg 

cramp is an episode of sudden pain 

in the muscles of the leg caused by 

involuntary contracting of the leg 

muscle. The muscles of your calf, 

thigh or foot suddenly become hard, 

tight and painful. This usually lasts 

for a few seconds to a few minutes. 

Causes of leg cramps can be due to 

overexertion, dehydration, side effects 

of certain drugs and medication, and 

an imbalance of sodium, potassium, 

calcium, and magnesium. Certain 

medical conditions like inadequate 

blood supply, pregnancy, structural 

disorder (flat feet) and endocrine 

disorder can also cause nocturnal leg 

cramps. 

Always try to treat the underlying 

cause first. Make sure that you stay 

hydrated. Drink six to eight glasses 

of water each day. Eat more foods 

that are high in vitamins, magnesium, 

calcium and potassium. Bananas, sweet 

potatoes, spinach, yogurt, nuts are 

rich in those minerals and nutrients, 

and may ward off the deficiencies 

that would cause leg cramps. In 

addition, take Vitamin E, B complex 

and magnesium supplements. Make 

sure you are nourishing your body 

and getting enough rest. Spend a few 

minutes riding a stationary bicycle 

before going to bed. Stretch properly 

before exercise and wear appropriate 

footwear that supports your feet. 

Forcefully stretching the affected 

muscle, jiggling your leg, massaging, 

applying ice and standing straight 

on the ground are usually the most 

effective ways to relieve the cramp. 

Straighten the leg and pull the toes up 

towards the knee. Walk on the tiptoes 

for a few minutes. Remember to act 

quickly as it can substantially reduce 

the duration of leg cramp and provide 

relief promptly. 

Dr Bina Wadhawan is an Alternative 

Medicine Therapist, Naturopath and 

Reiki Master. To know more, 

visit www.drbina.com 

Do you need expert advice? Send your problem, in confidence, to: ask@yourwellness.com. Problems can only be 

answered on the page, we are unable to answer personally. You can also visit the forums at www.yourwellness.com and 

ask advice from other readers online. 

yourwellness.com

eviews 

Take A Coffee 

Break! 

Stop the worry of hot 

beverages going cold and 

keep your favorite mug of 

coffee, tea or cocoa hot 

when you want it with Mr. 

Coffee Mug Warmer. The 

convenient on/off switch 

with on light indicator lets 

you know when it’s hot. 

With its extended cord 

length to use almost 

anywhere, this will 

be your favorite 

gadget! Available on 

amazon and ebay. 

Visit www.mrcoffee.com. 

46 wellness 

Bigger, Better, Stronger 

Yourwellness verdict: It’s easy to tote, take 

and use just about anywhere. Surface wipes 

clean easily. 

Come Clean 

ECOS Earth Friendly Parsley Plus All Purpose Cleaner 

is made of purified water, parsley essence, natural 

anionic coconut 

kernel oil-based 

surfactant, and hence 

is very gentle on 

skin. You can use it 

on countertops, ovens, 

appliances, sinks, walls, 

floors, ceramic tile and 

clothes. It leaves no 

toxic residue on surfaces 

cleaned, penetrating grease, 

oil and grime. It also doesn’t 

strip the finish of wooden 

furniture and you can use it 

on painted surfaces, vinyl, 

linoleum, clothing, metal 

and porcelain as well. 

Available on amazon. 

Quantity: 32 Oz. 

Visit www.ecos.com. 

Yourwellness 

verdict: Its plantbased, 

sustainable 

ingredients make 

cleaning an 

enjoyable and safe 

experience. 

Now get bigger, better, full-on glamorous hair. Oribe Dry 

Texturizing Spray is an invisible dry hair spray that builds in 

incredible volume and sexy texture. Patented polymers absorb 

oil at the roots, without powdery residue, leaving you with juststyled 

hair for days and nights. The Oribe Signature Complex 

(watermelon, lychee and edelweiss flower extracts) defends 

hair from oxidative stress, photo-aging and the deterioration of 

natural keratin, all while protecting from the drying, damaging 

and colour-depleting effects of the elements. Available on 

amazon and shop.nordstrom.com. Quantity: 8.5 fl. oz. 

Visit www.oribe.com. 

Yourwellness verdict: It’s a brilliant alternative to dry 

shampoo. Read this month's Focus on Hair Care. 

yourwellness.com

47 

Whispers 

Of Healing 

The Whispers of Healing Oracle 

cards set is here to help you nourish, 

strengthen and restore yourself to 

emotional, physical, and spiritual 

wellness. Whether you wish to heal a 

broken heart, resolve a work challenge 

or discover ways to fine-tune your 

beliefs and attitudes, this deck, created 

by Angela Hartfield and Josephine 

Wall and published by Llewellyn 

Publications, is your source of support, 

guidance and insight. Available on 

amazon. Visit www.llewellyn.com. 

Yourwellness verdict: The cards are numbered and there is a table 

of contents in the guidebook, which makes it easy to look up more 

detailed meaning of each card if you need further clarification. 

There are card-spread suggestions as well. 

Wear Aromatherapy 

Now enjoy mini-size aromatherapy with GerTong essential oil diffuser 

necklace all day without the trouble of carrying your big diffuser-noils 

set everywhere. Made of hypo-allergenic premium 316L stainless 

steel, it is durable and never fades or dims even with long-time use. The 

magnetic closure solid back design prevents your favorite essential oil 

from leaking out. Available on amazon and ebay. 

For Silky 

Smooth Skin 

TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C Serum is 

an advanced antioxidant serum. An 

indispensable nutrient for collagen 

production, vitamin C synergistically 

blends with Botanical Hyaluronic Acid 

and Vitamin E in this advanced formula 

designed to target the most common 

signs of ageing including brightness, 

firmness, fine lines, wrinkles, dark 

spots and sun spots. A plant-based 

formulation, which contains aloe vera, 

witch hazel, organic jojoba oil, among 

others, it is free of synthetic colour 

additives, fragrance, and stabilisers. 

Available on amazon & ebay. Quantity: 

1 fl oz. Visit www.truskinnaturals.com. 

Yourwellness verdict: Skin 

treated with TruSkin Vitamin C 

Serum looks brighter, fresher, has 

improved tone and clarity, smaller 

pores, less breakouts, fine lines 

and dark spots. 

Yourwellness verdict: It makes a great 

gift for aromatherapy fans and anyone who 

wants to enjoy benefits of essential oils. 

yourwellness.com

modern 

48 wellness 

IBD Related To 

Heart Disease 

University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular 

Institute researchers have concluded a study of 

more than 22 million patients that 

suggests a strong connection 

between Inflammatory 

Bowel Disease (IBD) and the 

development of heart disease 

and heart attacks. IBD is an 

umbrella term for two chronic 

inflammatory conditions that 

affect the gastrointestinal 

tract - Ulcerative Colitis 

and Crohn’s disease. 

The researchers say 

that clinicians who 

care for patients 

with traditional 

cardiovascular 

risk factors, 

who also have 

IBD, should 

recognise IBD as 

a cardiovascular 

risk factor as 

well and treat it 

appropriately. 

- Mahatma Gandhi 

There’s more to life 

than increasing its speed. 

Good Boy! 

Scientists from the University of York 

have shown that the way we speak 

to our canine friends is important in 

building a relationship between the 

pet and the owner, similar to the way 

that ‘baby-talk’ is to bonding between 

a baby and an adult. In the study 

some of the participants used dogdirected 

speech like “You’re a good 

dog”, and “Shall we go for a walk?” 

and some used adult-directed speech 

with no dog-related content, like “I 

went to the cinema last night.” The 

researchers found that adult dogs were 

more likely to want to interact and 

spend time with the speaker that used 

dog-directed speech with dog-related 

content, than they did those that used 

adult-directed speech with no dogrelated 

content. The study appears in 

the journal ‘Animal Cognition’. 

Do You Know When 

Your Partner’s 

Feeling Down? 

A new study finds that couples do badly when it comes to 

knowing their partner’s soft negative emotions like sadness 

or feeling down. This means, according to lead author and 

Psychologist Chrystyna Kouros, “They might be missing 

important emotional clues.” Even when a negative mood 

isn’t related to the relationship, it ultimately can be harmful 

to a couple, adds Kouros, since a spouse is usually the 

primary social supporter for a person. “Failing to pick up on 

negative feelings one or two days is not a big deal but if this 

accumulates, then down the road it could become a problem 

for the relationship, she says. “It’s these missed opportunities 

to be offering support or talking it out that can compound 

over time to negatively affect a relationship.” 

yourwellness.com

Heal The 

Sword To 

Heal The 

Wound 

In the 17 th Century 

Englishman Sir Kenelm 

Digby, a state-sponsored 

pirate, compiler of 

recipes, a collector of 

antiques, and dabbler in 

philosophy and alchemy, 

science and magic, food 

and flavours, developed 

the idea of the ‘powder 

of sympathy’. It was a 

form of ‘Sympathetic 

medicine’, popular in the 

17 th century in Europe, 

whereby a remedy was 

applied to the weapon 

that had caused a wound 

in the hope of healing 

the injury it had made. 

So, if someone was 

wounded by sword, this 

powder, a green vitriol 

that was first dissolved 

in water and afterwards 

recrystallised or calcined 

in the sun, was applied 

to the sword. Digby 

believed that the sun’s 

rays extracted the spirits 

of the blood and the 

vitriol, while, at the 

same time, the heat of 

the wound caused the 

healing principle thus 

produced to be attracted 

to it by means of a 

current of air. 

Medicine At Midnight 

All ancient civilisations believed in the medicinal properties of 

roots, stems, flowers, fruits and barks of different trees. Some 

of the plants used for curing illness were considered magical. 

One such plant was Mandrake. The magician-physician believed 

that the plant could only be 

plucked in the moonlight 

or at dawn when the dew 

was still fresh on its leaves. 

If this wasn’t followed, 

the plant was said to give 

out a piercing scream and 

whoever heard it dropped 

dead. The physician hence 

preferred to approach the 

plant at midnight, his ears 

covered with wax, and the 

plant was tied to the dog’s 

tail. When the man ran 

away, the dog followed 

him, dragging with him the 

uprooted plant. Needless to 

say, no physician ever heard 

the plant scream! 

Kiss The Skull 

ancient 

wellness 

Ancient Babylonian and Sumerian physicians were also magicians, 

who often prescribed strange cures to their patients. If someone 

complained of their habit of grinding their teeth, the physicianmagician 

would ask him to sleep with a human skull next to him 

and, from time to time, wake up and kiss the skull seven times 

per night. This, according to the physician, would cure the teethgrinding 

because, according to them, every ailment was a result 

of demonic afflictions and kissing the skull would ward off the 

evil powers. 

49 

- Confucius 

He who 

conquers 

himself is 

the mightiest 

warrior. 

yourwellness.com

scientific 

50 wellness 

Holding Hands Can 

Sync Brainwaves To 

Ease Pain 

When you reach for the hand of a loved one in pain, not only will 

your breathing and heart rate synchronise with theirs, but also 

your brain wave patterns will couple up, according to a study 

published in the ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences’ 

(PNAS). The study, by researchers with the University of Colorado 

Boulder and University of Haifa, also found that the more empathy 

a comforting partner feels for a partner in pain, the more their 

brainwaves fall into sync. 

And the more those brain 

waves sync, the more the 

pain goes away. “We have 

developed a lot of ways to 

communicate in the modern 

world and we have fewer 

physical interactions,” says 

lead author Pavel Goldstein. 

“This paper illustrates the 

power and importance of 

human touch.” 

New 

Method To 

Disinfect 

Water 

In spite of good progress 

in water hygiene during 

the recent decades, 

contaminated water still 

causes millions of diseases 

every year. Most of these 

diseases are caused by 

enteric viruses. Better water 

disinfection methods can 

help prevent disease and 

even save lives. A new 

study from the University 

of Eastern Finland, and 

published in the ‘Journal 

- Thomas Berger 

The art and science of asking questions 

is the source of all knowledge. 

What Does Your Smile 

Say? 

A new study of nonverbal feedback, published in ‘Scientific 

Reports’ by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison 

and Bar-Ilan University, finds that smiles may reduce or increase 

physical stress depending upon how they are perceived. The 

researchers found that ‘dominance’ smiles, that 

challenge social standing and signal 

disapproval, evoke stress in the one 

they are aimed at. By contrast, 

‘reward’ and ‘affiliation’ smiles, 

which reinforce behaviour, 

signal lack of threat, and 

facilitate or maintain social 

bonds respectively, exert 

influences similar to the effects 

of displays of friendliness 

and positive social 

evaluation 

and buffer 

physiological 

activity. 

of Water and Health’, 

and ‘Water’ shows that 

a combined disinfection 

treatment with chlorine 

and UV radiation can be 

highly effective in water 

disinfection. The study 

has found that it is more 

effective to first use a low 

dosage of chlorine followed 

by a low dosage of UV 

radiation than to use either 

of it alone. The order of 

treatment is also important: 

Using chlorine first and UV 

later can be recommended 

as a disinfection method for 

viruses. 

yourwellness.com

Our approach towards 

Talent Management 

We identify Associates on the basis of their Potential and 

we invest further more in developing their Knowledge, Skills & Attitude. 

Our talent framework enables our leaders and high potential associates to 

maximize their potential. Our culture empowers 

Associates to take additional accountabilities in different verticals and 

our Senior Management Team provides complete support and guidance 

to deliver those accountabilities. 

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