Women Lines brings health section for benefit of its readers. Every month one disease will be taken in consideration and Ms Ketki Vinayachandra, a trained Naturopath in Singapore, Herbalist, Nutritionist and Iridologist will be sharing her opinion about the disease.Trained in Sydney, Australia and is registered with the Australian Body NHAA – National Herbalist Association of Australia – the only association that registers herbalists in Australia.
Q-How Naturopathy can help in control of Depression in women? 
Depression is a mood disorder where the individual feels sad or irritable, or experiences a general lack of enthusiasm in normal daily activities. If an overwhelming feeling of sadness persists, treatment is necessary as in severe cases, it may lead to suicidal thoughts.
Daily exercise increases the body’s natural production of endorphins, which naturally help improve the mood. Exercising outdoors is preferred, so that the individual can take in fresh air and sunlight. Sunlight helps one feel happy and also gives vit D.
In terms of nutrition, the body needs carbohydrates to manufacture serotonin – a happy hormone – good e.g. are dairy products, salmon and turkey. However one must careful not to take consume too much carbohydrates especially refined crabs.
Whole grains, dairy products, nuts, seeds, green leafy veggies are foods rich in calcium, magnesium and B vitamins help to maintain proper nutrient balance and help prevent depression.
There are also natural supplements to consider for treating depression e.g. St. John’s wort, but one must take supplements only under supervision as they can have potent effects. For instance St Johns wort interacts with many drugs so one must be very careful before taking it.
Aromatherapy may help in elevating moods , mental tension. Essential oils can be added to massage oils, bath water, put in a diffuser, or diluted and applied to the skin. Lavender is known to help elevate moods. Yoga therapy , Soft relaxing music and visualization therapy have also shown to help people with moods. There are many avenues, and one has to see which is the best fit.
For details about Ms Ketki visit-
Womenlines brings health section for benefit of its readers. Every month one disease will be taken in consideration and Ms Ketki Vinayachandra, a trained Naturopath in Singapore, Herbalist, Nutritionist and Iridologist will be sharing her opinion about the disease.Trained in Sydney, Australia and is registered with the Australian Body NHAA – National Herbalist Association of Australia – the only association that registers herbalists in Australia.
Q-How Naturopathy can help in control of Osteoporosis in women?
As a Naturopath I would approach Osteoporosis wholistically, not causally. There are many factors to consider. Firstly, diet must be reviewed to ensure that enough calcium is being consumed via food. Next one must consider if digestion is at its optimum because otherwise calcium may not be properly absorbed in the body. Digestion can be affected by inappropriate diet, diseases and especially stress. Stress has a big impact – long term chronic stress would actually release the hormone cortisol, which affects the absorption of calcium. Excessive salt in the diet and acidic diet would also affect the absorption of calcium in the body, or even deplete it further. If there is not enough calcium, the body starts withdrawing calcium from the bones and you have the start of Osteoporosis. Lack of exercise , especially weight bearing excersises will further compromise the density of the bones, which actually starts to decrease as we start ageing, it can even start as early as from the age of 40.
For details about Ms Ketki visit-
Vacation time has always been fun and you never want to come out of it, and this was the reason for my long absence from the blogging world! 
Work-life balance, kids, office, health, friends, whole year we go around with them planning, managing, discussing and carrying our duties and thus at times we get exhausted. Vacation comes as a blessing to us as it helps to rejuvenate every member of the family. Kids come out of their school world, parents come out of their work environment and grandparents also get a chance to have some fun outside their regular routine.This change fills them with fresh energy to face rest of the year with firmness.Thats’s why always enjoy your vacations and never let those moments go waste in life. Most of the time vacations are planned while keeping in mind the location of the place, may be you want to explore some new country or some new city. But besides this one place should always be their in your list which is the native place where you belong. That place should always be in the list as that place connects you th place of your origin. Where you can take your child and show his roots and cultural values.
This topic can never come in my mind if I would have been staying in India.But when we are far away from our country then we really miss the love and warmth of our near ones back home.Our kids are growing up in such an isolation that fills me with fear about their future that they won’t be aware of the love we got. That’s why its very important for them to visit their native place once a year so that they never feel alienated there.The charm of once native place is incomparable with some other place in world.Where ever you go in this world you will be alone only. Or you may have a circle of friends. But the love which your near and dear ones shower at you has no comparison in this whole world.
The point is to enjoy those precious moments. Don’t waste it in doing those tasks which are not relevant at that time. Prioritize having fun with near ones. Spend time with them and catch up with their life, plan big family outings together, play games together, and moreover do plan a party.
Vacation can be planned to a tourist destination also which you explore with your family. It can be a good time to spend some quality time with your kids and help them to gather knowledge about the new place. Where is the place located on map, what are special feature related to place like weather, food, people etc. You can explore tourist activities at that place with your kid which can give you some relaxing time together.
Romantic vacation is the other type which helps to create a special bonding between you and your partner and it has also to be planned periodically. Time passes off and you never realize that you have missed some fun time together as a couple. Exploring new country together can really add value to your relationship in a better way as don’t be surprised to come to know the real funloving side of your partner(which is not reflected in routine life).
Start planning all types of vacation yearly. After all we have to make our life fill with happy memories!
Charu Mehrotra
Promoting Excellence in Women!
Womenlines brings health section for benefit of its readers. Every month one disease will be taken in consideration and Ms Ketki Vinayachandra, a trained Naturopath in Singapore, Herbalist, Nutritionist and Iridologist will be sharing her opinion about the disease.Trained in Sydney, Australia and is registered with the Australian Body NHAA – National Herbalist Association of Australia – the only association that registers herbalists in Australia.
Q-How Naturopathy can help in control of Diabetes in women?
Diabetes is now an epidemic worldwide primarily because the risk increased exponentially each time you put on more weight.
To say cure diabetes is not accurate as it is a lifestyle disease. If diabetes is borderline – it can definitely be maintained and managed via natural means and if one is on medicine – there could be possibly reduction of drug dose provided the patient adheres to basic rules i.e reduction in weight – a must, exercise – a must,a good and healthy diet low carb, low fat,lots of veggies high protein blood sugar management via natural supplements and herbs e.g. like bitter gourd and others.
Diabetes is one disease that can be easily managed ,unfortunately because of lifestyle and dietary habits we are seeing a phenomenal increase. Naturopathic medicine utilizes the body’s natural ability to heal itself , thus it is more effective. Naturopathic medicine helps you strengthen the natural healing powers of your body with a focus on three main lifestyle factors: diet management, weight control, and stress relief.
For details about Ms Ketki visit-
Womenlines brings health section for benefit of its readers. Every month one disease will be taken in consideration and Ms Ketki Vinayachandra, a trained naturopath in Singapore, Herbalist, Nutritionist and Iridologist will be sharing her opinion about the disease.Trained in Sydney, Australia and is registered with the Australian Body NHAA – National Herbalist Association of Australia – the only association that registers herbalists in Australia.
MIGRAINE PAIN
Migraine is a debilitating condition characterized by moderate to severe headaches, and nausea, about 3 times more common in women than in men.
The typical migraine headache is unilateral pain (affecting one half of the head) and pulsating in nature, lasting from 4 to 72 hours; symptoms include nausea, vomiting, photophobia (increased sensitivity to light), phonophobia (increased sensitivity to sound), and is aggravated by routine activity. Approximately one-third of people who suffer from migraine headaches perceive an aura—unusual visual, olfactory, or other sensory experiences that are a sign that the migraine will soon occur.
Q.How to control Migraine Pain following naturopathy ways?
Ketki:Migraine pain can be due to various factors. it can be hormonal changes that induce such changes especially prior to periods or one of the accompanying symptoms for severe PMS ( premenstrual syndrome). The other factors we need to consider for migraine pain can be due to skeletal issues or misalignment , which then requires some adjustment. It can be dehydration, food allergies, constipation , lack of sleep. So a Naturopath would look at various factors and rule them out before deciding the treatment approach through diet, supplements and herbs.
For details about Ms Ketki visit-
http://www.alternative-naturalmedicine.com/about_us.html
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001174265880
Andre Maurois, French novelist, and essayist wrote, “A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems too short”
Do you agree with it! Well, ideally every couple should be talking to each other rather than talking to each other. But life is not that ideal my friends and every couple goes through up and downs of relationships where at times it’s challenging to come over few issues. I really find it interesting to observe how various couples interact with each other and how well they know about each other. When as a couple we are talking to each other then we are giving undivided attention to our partner. Reason for a proper communication is to remain connected to each other. When we communicate as a couple we have our feelings and thoughts heard and respected. Whenever any problem or issues arise then we can sort out through positive communication. In fact to reach out to solutions also we have to communicate properly so that we can reach an understanding of one another.
There are few topics which are common among couples to always discuss like- weather, kids, jobs, money, health issues, friends etc. But the effort should be made that always we are not talking about same issues every day. Life will become monotonous, isn’t it?
1.Couples can plan their future trips and vacations.
2.Share about some new thing you discovered throughout the day
3.Take out time to share your childhood memories.
4.Share about things you would like to experience in life.
5.Have an interesting discussion ‘If you could? Do you believe…..
Whatever topic you are taking up think out of the box how to add spice to your relationship and how to make communication fun between you and your partner!
Charu Mehrotra
Promoting Excellence in Women!
Womenlines brings health section for benefit of its readers. Every month one disease will be taken in consideration and Ms Ketki Vinayachandra, a trained naturopath in Singapore, Herbalist, Nutritionist and Iridologist will be sharing her opinion about the disease.Trained in Sydney, Australia and is registered with the Australian Body NHAA – National Herbalist Association of Australia – the only association that registers herbalists in Australia.
THYROID
The thyroid is a small gland resting in the middle of the lower neck. Its primary function is to control the body’s metabolism; the thyroid does this by producing T4 and T3 hormones, which tell the body’s cells how much energy to use. A properly functioning thyroid will maintain the right amount of hormones needed to keep the body’s metabolism functioning at a satisfactory rate. As the hormones are used, the thyroid creates replacements. The quantity of thyroid hormones in the bloodstream is monitored and controlled by the pituitary gland, located in the center of the skull below the brain. When the pituitary gland senses either a lack or a high level of thyroid hormones, it will adjust its own thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and send it to the thyroid to tell it what to do.
Q.How to control thyroid related diseases following naturopathy ways?
Ketki:Thyroid is like a chief operating officer of our endocrine system and it controls lots of important hormones like the thyroid hormones – which in turn control lots of our body functions including metabolic rate and even hormones that affect our female reproductive system.
The thyroid gland is also highly sensitive to many factors, especially stress, be it physical , emotional or mental as well as environmental toxicities. I have repeatedly seen with my female thyroid patients that usually some huge stress has occurred at the time their thyroid function malfunctioned, which then gives to weight gain, fatigue, difficulty in losing weight, cholesterol and many other complications.
Naturopaths would look at the holistic picture, understand the causes, and then would start addressing the thyroid conditions via diet, supplements, herbs and stress management. Women are particularly susceptible to stressful emotions and this needs to be handled. Taking synthetic thyroid hormones like thyroxine only address the symptoms short term but it does not address the underlying cause. Its difficult to detail what therapies are used, as each individual is different, an experienced naturopath would address case by case basis, and good results are achievable.
For details about Ms Ketki visit-
http://www.alternative-naturalmedicine.com/about_us.html
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001174265880
Necessity is the mother of invention and it holds true for our entrepreneur of the month, Renuka Arora Bhagat, who co-established our ONLY Hindi radio station Masti 96.3 FM in Singapore!
Renuka is a Delhiite and she’s always loved music. When she moved to Singapore she really missed her radio channels back home. She took a step and started exploring the media world around. That’s when Renuka was introduced to Rafiqul Haque, who after successfully running 8 radio stations back in Bangladesh, was pursuing his interest in expanding his radio business in Spore. Together, they worked towards the establishment of Masti 96.3 FM, on AIR from 28 Nov 2009. Masti 96.3FM, the ONLY Bollywood radio station in Spore, broadcasts Hindi programmes LIVE daily from 5 pm to 8 pm. A variety of programmes catering to all age and interest groups, regular updates on weather in Singapore and the main cities of India, traffic, business, sports, all within the blanket of not only the latest Bollywood music but also the golden music from yesteryears! Radio Masti 96.3FM has LIVE streaming (www.xfm963.sg) too. It is available for iPhone and selected HTC phones too, under the umbrella of the MeRadio app.
Like most other entrepreneurial ventures, Radio Masti also faced the initial challenges of establishing themselves and creating a “brand”. However, with focus, hard work and dedication of the team, things have certainly started working positively for them. Today, advertisers are happy to endorse for using Radio Masti as the medium to reach out to a large number of target audience out there. MediaCorp estimates Radio Masti’s listeners’ base to be approx 1.4mil, which includes not only the expat Indians but also a percentage of Sri-Lankans, Pakistanis, Nepalese, Bangladeshis, Malays, and local Singaporeans – all with a common passion for Bollywood music.
The partners, Renuka and Rafiqul complement each other in many ways – be it managerial, technical, production, sales, strategy and much more! Of course, the team consisting of RJ Mehak, production lead, Dewan Hasan along with others – continue to be strong pillars in their own areas as well!
Hats off to Renuka’s multi-faceted, entrepreneurship and hands-on managerial skills. Mind you, she is a high profile corporate lady, really proud of her current global position at a large MNC where she manages multi-million projects. A Business management degree from Delhi and an SAP certification to her credit, Renuka loves the voice of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the king of Sufi!
Renuka loves challenges and aims to come out of them successfully with her sheer dedication, focus, and determination to succeed…Masti is her foray into the media world and not only does she work hard towards managing the station but also towards establishing herself as an RJ! Her weekend program Hafta Wasool is quite popular with the listeners too!
While answering the question of requirements to be a good RJ, Renuka answered: “Voice is no more the triumph card for winning listeners on the radio”. The job of a radio jockey involves much more today. Ready wit, smiling voice, extempore ability, humor, knowledge, and, of all things, a genuine effort to closely associate yourself with the listeners – all this put together with help play the perfect tune for radio jockeying. “Your personality must be portrayed through radio”.
Being the only Hindi radio station in Spore, there’s a lot of personal touch and openness to interaction with the audience in each program. RJs become a part of many listeners’ lives and there is an unspoken emotional bond that binds audience with the RJs.
Her corporate life satiates her intellectual competence and her media life helps in building social capital as she loves music. Being an HR professional, Renuka loves to interact with people too!
The sky is the limit when you are determined, committed and have the support of your family! Who says it’s difficult to pursue your passion for your profession? Here is Renuka, who is successfully pursuing both – besides of course the personal commitments and challenges all women have! After all, she is a true face of an Indian woman, a successful multi-tasker! Cheers for Indian superwomen!
Charu Mehrotra
Promoting Excellence in Women!
I always felt that it is so boring always to be strict with your kids and act like a policeman to them. Always we are asking to them they have you brushed their teeth properly, have finished their homework when you will get up, etc. Kids will be so bored always seeing mummy placing an order for something or the other. I can understand that how important it is to raise kids in a certain disciplined way but we should not forget the importance of fun elements in life. Here are some ways in which you can spend some fun moments with your kids-
1. Play indoor picnic with your kids. You can properly plan your menu with your kid’s help and then have fun the way you have in an outdoor picnic.
2, Share your childhood stories with your kid. I just love doing this. Share the way you were scolded by your parents, how you spent your holidays, and how you played with your friends, there are so many things to share, you know better, right?:)
3. Wrestle with your kids, have pillow fights, do lots of cuddling and jump together.
4. Play board games and card games, for example, hearts and let them win at times.
5. Sing songs together and sing loudly.
Charu Mehrotra
Promoting Excellence in Women!
It sounds strange that why I am announcing to the whole world that I am a Vegetarian and Non-Alcoholic person! I am choosing not to drink option!
“Oh you don’t take alcohol, you don’t eat meat…aye how you survive in this world la!” ….these reactions have become part of my life now, particularly while I am staying in Singapore-the world’s most happening place known for its seafood and nightlife. I am so happy that people around me have started accepting that it is possible to survive in this world without eating meat and without taking a drop of alcohol. I don’t want to sound like a preacher who talks about the harms which we do to our body while practising those habits. I just want to share with all my readers that it’s fantastic to be a vegetarian and non-alcoholic person. I really mean it, it feels great and I feel so nice about it.
After being questioned every time I thought of knowing why the prevalence of intake of alcohol is rising among females. I asked my Google uncle and he reported that-
Alcohol is a depressant drug-not a stimulant as many people think. Alcohol slows down activity in the central nervous system, which means it slows down the messages going between the brain and the body.
In small quantities, depressants such as alcohol cause people to become relaxed and lower their inhibitions. They feel more confident and often act in a more extroverted manner. It is the latest thing in town – to chill out after work in the pub. Many young women in have picked up on this new way to socialize. Kept in control, the occasional alcoholic drink will not hurt. But, the unfortunate thing is that alcohol is addictive and, many young women indulge in frequent bouts of binge drinking to keep up with their peers, just to fit in with the crowd or drown away their fears and sorrows.
In nutshell, women drink to show that they are part of the crowd and also to forget their sorrows. As when they intake alcohol they feel relaxed and confident. I question that why we don’t emphasize in searching other options to enhance our confidence and feel relaxed. I don’t have to elaborate on the harm to our health done after intake of alcohol. I suggest that it’s a beautiful life given to us by God and why we spoil it by intake of alcohol. I consider the soul as a temple and if I intake something which makes me forget who am I, I am certainly not interested in the intake. We should strive for that confidence and happiness with all our sorrows and bad experiences without the intake of a single drop of alcohol.
To drink or not to drink, the choice is yours….but why not we make such choice which helps us improving upon us for we love our family, or not?
Charu Mehrotra
Promoting Excellence in Women!