Medical tourism is the latest craze - recuperate in new environments

#medicaltourism #cosmeticsurgery #liposuction The popularity of medical tourism is on the rise. The need is fueled by new methods of treating disease that are coming into focus. Some of these are unconventional methods that involve alternate medicines which have their origin in nature like herbs.
There is another factor for people to opt for medical tourism. That is the cost factor. The rapid growth of international healthcare is seeing people traveling to other countries to lay hands on general medical surgery, cosmetic plastic surgery and dental surgery at a fraction of the cost of healthcare in their home country.
And, it provides the added advantage of experiencing the interesting alien culture and attractions that the destination country offers.
Currently medical tourism patients are traveling in large numbers to countries like India, Thailand, South Africa, Argentina etcetera. These are places where the quality of affordable healthcare is comparable to that anywhere else in the world and the cost is significantly lower. These regions also offer numerous options for touring, sight-seeing, shopping, exploring, and relaxing.

Medical Tourism in India –
The amount of money needed for a complex transplant or bypass procedure will be considerably less if done in India rather than in the US. Moreover, the physicians who practice in these hospitals and clinics possess experience of working in the U.S. and Europe before returning to India – hence, the patient will be in safe hands.
Then there are the alternate medicines like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Meditation – these help in speeding up the healing process and bring the mind and body together as one. Kerala is famous for its Ayurveda and the message has spread to all corners of the world.
Medical Tourism in Thailand –
Thailand is another country that offers a wide range of medical treatments. Some of these are cosmetic surgery, orthopedics, cardiology, IVF/reproductive medicine, spine surgery, and dentistry. There are world-renowned spas and wellness resorts. These are set in breathtaking coastal surroundings which make it a wonderful holiday getaway. Its excellent medical infrastructure attracts US expats and cross-border patients from nearby countries where the healthcare choices are limited.
Medical tourism in South Africa – Christiaan Barnard had brought recognition to the healthcare services of South Africa because he was the doctor who performed the first ever heart transplant in the world in Cape Town.
Among health services offered by South Africa are affordable cosmetic surgery procedures apart from fertility treatment, breast enlargement, and cosmetic dentistry etcetera.
A large number of medical tourists arrive here from countries within Africa, particularly for affordable infertility treatments. There are also patients who hail from US, Australia, Germany, Italy, Britain, Netherlands, and other European countries.
In passing it may be noted that South Africa offers attractive ‘surgeon and safari’ packages that combine affordable treatments at a cosmetic plastic surgery clinic with exciting features such as 5 star accommodation in and around Cape Town.
Medical tourism in Argentina -
67% of people visit Argentina for medical surgery and treatment, while the balance of 33 % come to the country for cosmetic treatment that include cosmetic surgery, liposuction, weight-loss programs and cosmetic dentistry.
During 2014, there were more than 14,000 foreigners who had spent an estimated $182 million on medical tourism in Argentina. This data has been furnished by the National Institute of Tourism Promotion. The government hopes to increase these figures.
Breakdown of countries that come to Argentina are 41% are from Chile, 29% from Uruguay, and 30% distributed between Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and other Central American countries.


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The FMCG world belongs to Baba Ramdev - worship noodles instead of yoga

#BabaRamdev #patanjali #healthylifestyle #FMCG Baba Ramdev has become a name to reckon with and, from all appearances, he is taking the Fast Moving Consumer Goods FMCG world by storm. His Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd has now switched to worshiping noodles instead of yoga. This is because it has become the biggest FMCG advertiser.
For the seven days period to January 29, TV commercials (TVCs) of products under the Patanjali brand have outnumbered those from big consumer goods brands such as Cadbury, Parle and Pond's.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 6 February 2016.

As per data collected by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC), TVCs for Patanjali products were played more than 17,000 times between January 23 and January 29 - against this, the figure was just under 16,000 times for products under the Cadbury brand.
The Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) is the joint industry body that compiles and publishes TV viewing data and monitors nearly 450 channels.
It may be recalled that in 2015, Baba Ramdev had predicted that his company will be India's biggest fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) player in five years and for its TV blitz, it had selected seven products from a 30-strong product portfolio. These are clarified butter (ghee), shampoo, biscuits, noodles, honey, dental cream and aloe vera cream.
As explained by Baba Ramdev's spokesperson, it was a conscious decision on the part of the company to show its ads largely in news channels in order to attract and win over the "intelligent audience." Patanjali has apparently earmarked Rs 300 crore for ad spend because, if the people want to adopt a healthy lifestyle, which will also fit their budget, they must go for Patanjali products.


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New role for Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev - promote medical tourism for foreigners

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev set to embark on a new role with his assistant Acharya Balkrishan - the Centre has found a new role for both of them. They will help frame a policy to attract more foreign patients to India. The duo has been drafted into the fledgling National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board. It is headed by tourism minister Mahesh Sharma and the team has government officials, travel operators and senior doctors from leading hospitals.
The Prime Minister's Office had cleared the plan for the board and its proposed members in September.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 19 December 2015.

The board will have to devise strategies to increase the number of foreign medical tourists at the country's hospitals and wellness clinics, and issue guidelines to regulate the services that these establishments will offer. The new board will have to help interlink all the key players in this sector to provide seamless services to patients.
Since one of the objectives is to promote naturopathy and yoga in a big way, Baba Ramdev and his associate have been inducted in the board.
It may be recalled that Baba Ramdev had openly backed Narendra Modi ahead of last year's general election and the Baba will now be entitled to perks and allowances as board member. Haryana's BJP government had appointed Ramdev the state's brand ambassador for yoga and ayurveda and had granted him the rank of a cabinet minister with all the perks such as cars, a bungalow, staff and Z-category security.
However, a request from Ramdev for no-frisk status at airports across India is pending with the government.

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Prime Minister Modi to attend yoga classes for top cops

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would attend a yoga session for top cops at the All-India Conference of Directors General/Inspectors General of Police at Dhordo village in Kutch district from December 18-20. Five yoga instructors have been hired to conduct daily yoga sessions for cops at 6am and the Prime Minister is likely to participate in the 45-minute yoga session.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 9 December 2015.

There would be nearly 400 dignitaries - including 50 DGs and ADGPs along with their families. They would participate in the program to be held in the desert venue located about 170-Km from the Pakistan border. About 650 tents are being erected in Dhordo along with a helipad and a large conference hall as informed by the Kutch collector.
The agenda of the conference would includes internal security, coastal security, deradicalization of youths amid the IS threat, misuse of social media and crimes against women.
The food served would be vegetarian and the menu would be Gujarati khaman, dhokla and Gujarati thali will be there for lunch. Dinner would be a mixed spread of regional flavors - pure vegetarian.

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After yoga, central government promotes outdoor sports like jungle safari, rafting

After yoga, the central government is keen to inculcate the habit of healthy living among its employees. Therefore, it is now promoting outdoor activities among its employees. These outdoor activities include trekking, mountaineering, rock-climbing, cycling in a difficult terrain, skiing, surfing, boat sailing, snorkeling, rafting, parasailing ballooning, paragliding, jungle safari, desert safari, beach trekking and environmental awareness camps.
This has been reported in ibnlive.com date 4 October 2015.

There are about 50 lakh central government employees and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) will be making available financial assistance of up to Rs 20,000 and special casual leave to the employees so that they can participate in such activities.
Six institutes have been approved for this purpose by the government. These are – 1 Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, Himachal Pradesh. 2 Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering, Gulmarg, Jammu and Kashmir 3 National Institute of Water Sports, Vasco da Gama, Goa 4 Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand 5 Swami Vivekanand Institute of Mountaineering, Mount Abu, Rajasthan 6 Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Moreover, a decision has also been taken to open gyms at workplaces – these would help the employees increase their productivity and lead to "decreased absenteeism and reduced usage of sick leave".
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Indian influence on the West from Yoga to turmeric

It is usually accepted that Indians love to ape the West in not just dress and lifestyles but even in food habits – proof is the growing popularity of fast food joints and the craze for burgers and pizzas and fizzy drinks.
However, things appear to be changing and the West is gradually switching to Indian lifestyles like going in for yoga. Yoga is just one of many home remedies for health that the West has taken a liking to and have adopted as a part of their daily routines.

Use of turmeric in food is another area on interest. Turmeric is a staple spice in every Indian households and is an integral part of the food chain because this spice is loaded with anti-inflammatory properties. Realizing this important aspect, the West have embraced it and it has become extremely popular in the West.
The ginger s yet another item gaining popularity. Tea is the popular drink of the British. And, we Indians have added herbs and spices to it. Ginger tea is one of the most popular drinks in the west because it is considered to be a great source of detox. It also helps to fight cough and cold.
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How to improve digestion through proper food items

Digestion is a major area of concern for many and, the makers of those wonder pills and tablets that guarantee instant digestion in the twinkling of an eye, keep dishing out super-fast selling products from the shelves of the medicine shops.
There are the any number of allopathic remedies and, ayurvedic remedies are also fast catching up – thanks to the sudden focus on Ayurveda.
The point to note is that indigestion can spoil anyone’s day – therefore, following some normal tips can help solve the problem.

1 Chew the food properly and do not just gulp it down – chewing ensures that necessary juices get released through the saliva and that, in turn, helps digestion
2 Ensure that fermented food items are there in the menu – items like pickles and curd should be obvious choices
3 Take care of the liver – abstain from alcohol and, go in for boosting the intake of liver-loving foods like carrots, beetroot and green leafy veggies and freshly squeezed juices.
4 Drink plenty of water – water is always useful for indigestion. It can be in the form of plain water or in the form of fresh nimbu paani, coconut water or fruit juices. Other options are herbal green teas
5 Learn to keep stress under control – life minus stress is unthinkable today. No one can live in isolation like the sages of yore who used to go to an isolated spot to meditate. Today, meditation is a part of everyday life. Stress can wreak havoc on the mind and affect digestion. Apart from meditation, a few other methods to release stress are pranayam, yoga, listening to soothing music, walking and short naps.
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How to do away with belly fat through diet

#bellyfat #health #diet #cravingforfood Accumulation of fat in the mid-section is something that worries every one and we resort to various methods to get rid of the obnoxious stuff. We go to the gym, we do yoga exercises and aerobics, we go for jogging – all to keep our body in shape.
However, studies have revealed that the belly fat can be controlled through diet also and, four items that can help us out in this respect are broccoli, cinnamon, avocado and eggs.
The logic is to have something in the diet that would reduce the craving for food and these four food items do just that. Broccoli – is rich in vitamin C and calcium and these increase the absorption of chemical elements in the body to give a boost to metabolism. The water content and fiber content in broccoli is high and that property means you feel full fast and will prevent you from overeating. Broccoli, steamed or microwaved, can be included in meals four times a week.
Cinnamon - is loaded with antioxidants and can help to control blood sugar and, hence, directly affects the insulin level which, in turn, controls your appetite. Hence, this is good for reducing belly fat because once the craving for food is controlled, the body automatically uses up stored fat, especially from the mid-section.
Avocado - the fat content in avocado is slightly higher than that in other 'healthy foods'. However, studies have revealed that monosaturated fats in avocado helps to control cholesterol and blood sugar. Moreover, the fruit has high content of potassium plus higher fraction of fiber, vitamin B and amino acids. These convert nutrients into energy.
Eggs – there is a school of thought that eggs are not good because they add to cholesterol levels. But, the whole eggs, especially its whites, are rich in protein. And, in order to burn fat, it is necessary to add more protein-rich food to the diet. Further, eggs are low in calories, and are believed to be a good source of vitamin D too. As a famous tag line goes – Sunday ho ya Monday, roj khaye andey.

Follow the Yoga way to be healthy – it helps weight loss and reduces blood pressure

#yogaforall The UN has announced June 21st as the International Yoga Day – it was a major victory for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi because 175 out of 193 members of the UN accepted the proposal – the acceptance was given by countries like the US and Syria, Russia and Britain, and China and the Philippines.
This acceptance gave recognition to Yoga which is an ancient Indian science's "holistic approach to health and well-being" - #yogaforall is the message.
Research carried out by Myriam Hunink, of Erasmus University in the Netherlands and Harvard University in the US has concluded that yoga was as good as conventional physical activity in improving heart health. Yoga could provide the same benefits in risk factor reduction as traditional physical activity such as cycling or brisk walking.
In the opinion of the NHS, no one is too old to take up yoga because yoga classes are there for every age group and those who find it difficult to sit down on the floor can do chair-based yoga.
Maureen Talbot, of the British Heart Foundation, adds - any physical activity that can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and #hearthealth and developing these should be encouraged, and the benefits of yoga on emotional health are well established.

How to maintain good health – a few tips that could change your life

This is something that I have learnt through my personal experiences and that I follow even today – these have helped me in maintaining a relatively trouble free life that is, a life free from any recurring diseases.
My first tip is ‘water therapy’ – nothing to do with yoga in which one takes in water through one nostril and releases it through the other. I have left that to experts in yoga. My water therapy is simple enough. Anyone can do it. It involves drinking one glass of water on an empty stomach. Then use cold water to wash the face, behind the ears and the neck and also, the hands up to the elbows. Immediately you dry yourself, you will feel a surge of energy run through you. Water therapy is followed by garlic therapy – take two pods of garlic, remove the skin, chew them raw with a couple of salted biscuits, and wash them down with tea. Garlic has fantastic medicinal properties and is good for not just reducing cholesterol levels but also removes joint pains.
The next tip is the quantity of food you eat.
This is very important for maintaining good health because we always have a tendency to overeat and proof of that is in the innumerable number of digestive tablets, powders and liquids that have flooded the market. Such items are good for those who manufacture them, they allow a few models to show off their assets and also helps ad-agencies to make money but is bad for you.
Incidentally, when I was in service, I use to take my lunch in the executive canteen. The food would be kept on the table in casseroles and one could have his full without any eyebrows being raised. Well – I had seen one gentleman who loved to eat. He would keep eating even when others had left. Unfortunately, he has passed away before retirement.
Always eat in moderation and never succumb to desire - check the impulse and control the urge, even if the items on offer are tempting.
Another tip is to eat fruits every night – that is a rule I have been following for years. Seasonal fruits after dinner is always good for health. It need not necessarily be ‘an apple a day’ to keep the doctors away but any fruit will do. And the most important tip is to avoid temptation. Once you can conquer that, you would have won a major battle.