Healthy Freak

Worked out your abs recently or had a lavish late lunch last evening on an empty stomach?  Most rigorous ab days at the gym or those acidic untimely meals on the go lead to nagging twitches or spasmodic cramps in the stomach, making our work days truly uncomfortable. Whether caused due to muscular strains or an upset digestive system, sitting through these sharp to dull stomach cramps is hard. While most stomach cramps occur commonly and are harmless, they could also signal an underlying condition. Read on to know more about some common causes of  stomach spasms and remedies to relieve the same. Cramps Stemming from Exercise  Overworking the abdominal muscles often leads to spasms. If you do strenuous exercises like high intensity sit ups or high-rep crunches, you may often complain of stomach spasms or cramps that get worse with movement. The sensations of such cramps oscillate between soreness and tenderness in the abs to sharp pain in the stomach. Muscular cramps that stem from exer

How many times have you experienced indigestion, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea or bloating? While an upset stomach increases your restroom runs twice the usual, it also affects mental health. Rooted in the connection between mind and body, Ayurveda emphasizes on improving digestion and metabolism for overall wellness. The science of Ayurveda focuses on enhancing life with food nourishment and other restorative as well as therapeutic practices.  Here’s a list of easy to adopt Ayurvedic practices to restore gut health: Sip on fluids through the day  Power up your body with time-to-time hydration, boosting metabolism and overall health. Ayurvedic principles concentrate on drinking room temperature or hot water to ease indigestion. Especially on hot days, when our bodies sweat excessively, it becomes important to replenish the lost electrolytes to maintain energy levels. Adding a hint of lemon juice, cucumber slices or rose water to your bottle of water will help in maintaining the m

‘ You have to finish your glass of milk ’ has been a phrase we all have heard as we grew up. And a lot of times it was combined with a few others ‘ Don’t leave any food on your plate, eat it! ’ or ‘ Sleep now! You have to wake up early ’. As we sit and think, numerous instances cross our mind where our parents ensured our well-being. Now the roles have swapped, it’s our turn to check on their health for their happier and wholesome lives ahead.  Here’s a list to ensure that your parents stay in the pink of their health for long:  Spend quality time together Giving a portion of your daily routine to connect with your parents can do wonders in uplifting their spirits. Lend your hand in daily chores or take out an old family photo album to rekindle their fond memories. Make sure you spend quality time with your parents, be it over a call or a cup of tea in the balcony. Especially in times when social-isolation is taking a toll over our mental and social health, a gesture of care and concer

Piercing, dull, burning, stabbing, choking, squeezing or crushing are some of the commonly experienced sensation of chest pain we all experience at some point in our lives. You’d agree, the very sensation of pain around the left hand side of the  body triggers anxiety in most of us. While chest pain is often taken as one of the characteristic symptoms of a heart ailment,  not all chest pains  may accompany or are followed by a heart attack. Often chest pain is  a result of muscular or digestive reasons that  may have nothing or very little to do with the heart.  Commonly, problems in other parts of the body including nerves, ribs, lungs, esophagus, and the like may also cause chest pain.  Inflammation or other types of discomfort in the GI (Gastrointestinal)   tract or in the area between the neck and upper abdomen may often be accompanied by frequent episodes of chest pain. In cases of the gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), many patients may complain of a burning pain or a naggin

While bad breath after consuming certain beverages or a day’s meal is common, but did you know that your stomach could be a cause too? Having a stinky breath gets embarrassing and even frustrating at times. Well, it’s time to find out the reasons and work towards its cure.  Commonly, a lot of times the bothersome breath is caused by excessive smoking, alcohol consumption, having a meal with garlic or other spices. Whereas for some it could be a result of the underlying health issues like acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). When the food is not digested properly, it starts to decay which causes the stomach acid to move back into the food pipe resulting in a burning sensation. Some medical professions ascertain GERD to be a serious medical issue that causes tooth decay, damaged oral structures and heartburn in the stomach further leading to bad breath, nausea and even vomiting.  After a proper diagnosis, a dentist will identify if your bad breath and GERD are connecte

Are you always battling between what to eat and what not to eat because of that sudden burning sensation in your stomach? A lot of times it is followed by nausea, headaches, bloating, burps and even vomiting. Well, these could be recurrent signals given by your body pointing to a health issue long ignored.  Our stomach is a small sack between the oesophagus and the small intestine. The times, when our stomach is unable to break down food properly, it clogs along the intestines causing heartburn and sometimes severe indigestion. While a lot of times the reason is a combination of factors including an ever-changing diet, lifestyle habits like smoking, consuming too much alcohol, extreme stress, a sedentary lifestyle, sometimes it has deeper roots and bringing the exact reason behind the symptoms is the first step towards its cure.  Here are a few underlying causes for gastrointestinal problems resulting in burning stomach: Acid Reflux  There are times when you feel a painful burning sens

Remember what follows after gorging on those irresistible mango treats or those extra servings of desserts we overeat? Be it indulgent holiday feasts or mindless snacking, giving in to sumptuous spoonfuls of bliss often does not go down well with our digestive system. Such overindulgences end up in bathroom runs, nausea and bouts of upset stomach. And this is what is indigestion in a nutshell. Dyspepsia or Indigestion is any discomfort in the upper abdomen. While indigestion is not classified as a disease in itself, it may be a result of an underlying digestive disease. Generally, indigestion is an umbrella term used for all gastrointestinal tract related issues that one experiences. While the condition is very common, the way it is experienced by each person may vary. The condition may be episodic or occasional for many or a regular ordeal for some. Identifying indigestion is rather easy. Here are some of the common symptoms of indigestion that you may have experienced: Abdominal pain

Heartburn, constipation, gas or bloating, do they seem like commonly used words when you visit a doctor or you rush to a medical store for a tablet? How many times have you experienced acidity and stomach ache because of a heavy dinner or even a healthy meal? If you have affirmative answers to these questions, it’s time you take hold of your lifestyle and eating habits.  Well, due to the ever-changing weather, routines and diets, there is a constant shift in stomach acid, gut immunity and digestive enzymes. Many times it leads to gut bacteria imbalance, where there aren’t enough good bacteria and bad bacteria thrives. Our bodies signal gut imbalance with irritable bowel movements, constipation, acid reflux, allergies, sleep issues, sluggishness, anxiety, unintended weight gain or weight loss and even sugar cravings.  As we pace on with our daily lives, maintaining the right balance of gut health is essential for physical and mental well-being, it even boosts immunity. Here’s a list of