It’s Lord Krishna’s Birthday- 10 things to know about Janmashtami

Janmashtami is one of the India's most popular festivals celebrated across the country with great zest and zeal, to commemorate the birth of Lord Krishna. Considered one of the most powerful human incarnations of Lord Vishnu, Krishna was born around 5,200 years ago in Mathura. The sole objective of Lord Krishna's birth was to free the Earth from the evilness of demons. He played an important role in Mahabharata and propagated the theory of bhakti and good karma. 

10 important facts about Janmashtami

1. The festival of Janmashtami also referred to as Krishna Janmashtami, Saatam Aatham, Gokulashtami, Ashtami Rohini or Srikrishna Jayanti marks the birthday of Lord Krishna, one of the most powerful human incarnations of Lord Vishnu. 
2. According to the Hindu calendar, this religious festival is observed on the eighth day after the full moon of Shravana. It is believed that Lord Krishna took birth at midnight on the ashtami or the 8th day of the Krishnapaksha in the Hindu month of Shravan (August-September).
3. On Janmashtami, a lot of devotees of Lord Krishna observe a fast for the whole day and night, worship him and listen to his tales, recite hymns from the Gita, sing devotional songs, and chant the mantras.
4. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna was born inside Mathura jail on a dark, windy and rainy night. The doors of the jail opened mysteriously, and his father Vasudev, who was imprisoned by Krishna's uncle (mama) Kansa, was released.
5. All over India, this festival is celebrated with great pomp and show. Krishna's birthplace Mathura and Vrindavan observe this day with an unmatched zeal and grandeur. Raslilas or religious plays are performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha. 
6. Song and dance mark the celebration of this festive occasion. At midnight, the statue of infant Krishna is bathed and placed in a cradle, which is rocked, amidst the blowing of conch shells and the ringing of bells.
7. In Maharashtra, thousands of people come out on the streets on Janmashtami to enact the "Dahi Handi " (stealing of  curd) episode from Krishna's childhood. Large earthen pots with butter are kept at great heights in the middle of the roads, and pyramids of volunteers try to break the pots to win prizes.
8. While the Raslila recreates the flirtatious aspects of Krishna's youthful days, the Dahi Handi celebrates God's playful and mischievous side.
9. The town of Dwarka in Gujarat, Krishna's own land, comes alive with major celebrations as hordes of visitors flock to the town.
10. Janmashtami being one of the most popular festivals for the Hindu community, this auspicious day is not only celebrated in India but also observed worldwide across many countries with great enthusiasm.

Lazoi Lifecare wishes everyone Happy Janmashtami! 

How to come out of depression effectively

Depression is a prolonged feeling of sadness, fear, hopelessness, anxiety, anger, guilt, helplessness and emptiness. The person suffering from depression may lose interest in the activities that once used to excite him. They might have problems in making decisions, remembering details and face relationship difficulties. They may even attempt or commit suicide.

A person going through depression might be suffering from insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, digestive problems, loss of energy and enthusiasm.

There is a wide spectrum of things or events which can cause depressions. Some serious hardships during childhood like loss of a loved one, sexual or physical abuse can lead to depression in the later stages of life. Certain changes in human body like the menopause, childbirth, certain medical diagnosis (cancer, HIV); certain medication can be the cause of a depressed mood.

Chronic use of certain drugs of abuse including alcohol, sedatives, and opioids like heroin could aggravate the problem. Financial problems, job related issues, bullying, jealousy, and separation, social isolations are among the other reasons which make people vulnerable to depression.

When you're depressed, it can feel as if you will never be able to get out of this trap. However even the most severe depressions are treatable. If your depression is not allowing you to lead a normal life, don't hesitate to seek help. There are many effective treatments from therapy to medication to healthy lifestyle changes that can help you get better. Here are a few depression treatment tips that can be of great help but keep in mind that there is no "one size fits all" treatment. What is beneficial for one person might not work for the other, so plan accordingly. Remember there is no hard and fast rule to treat depression.

• Try to find the root cause of your depression: It is important to know whether your depression is due to an underlying medical condition or some personal problem and then try to find the treatment accordingly.
• Don't rely on medication alone: it can help you treat the symptoms of depression for short or moderate term, but usually not suitable for long term use. You can ask for professional help.
• Get social support: start sharing your problem with your friends, family or you can even join some support groups. Joining a support group is a great idea because all the members there can easily relate to your problem and can help you get better by sharing their personal experiences.
• Exercise: lifestyle changes like doing regular exercise can be as effective as medication. During exercise a number of chemicals like endorphins, serotonins are released inside the brains which help you feel good. Even a 30-60 minutes workout can do wonders. Going for a walk in nature, spending time amongst the plants and trees have also benefited people suffering from depression.
• Nutrition: Eating a healthy and balanced diet will help you stay energetic the whole day and would avoid frequent mood swings. People who are constantly on a diet are usually very irritable and tend to look at things negatively, that is because we need a certain amount of good fat for our brain cells to function properly and when we are devoid of the same our whole system goes into low energy leading to a depressive frame of mind.
• Sleep: Sleep directly affects your mood. Sleep deprivation exacerbates irritability, moodiness, sadness, and fatigue. Make it very sure that you take at least seven hours of sleep a day.

An estimated 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression globally. Half of the people suffering from this disorder don't seek any medical or professional help because of the societal stigma associated with it. Our society need to be a little open minded and should accept them the way they are.

How to Avoid Child Obesity

Children of any age do not feed themselves; they don't go to the supermarket and buy their food. They do not decide on the weekly menu. They do not buy sodas or artificial snacks; they eat what you, as a parent, give them to eat. We all know that school meals lack a lot in nutrition and are abundant on carbohydrates. As parents we also know that many times it has been easier to buy fast food on the way home after a tough day than it is to cook something nutritious and healthy. We are responsible for our children's well-being; it is our hands to prevent our child from becoming a diabetic at an early age.

There are things you can do before it is too late, now is the time to do them. There isn't much you can do about the school menu, but you can speak with the person in charge of the cafeteria to keep your child away from the mashed potatoes and fried food. Ask this person to help you by giving your child salad, fruit and food which has little or no fat and carbohydrates. If this does not work, pack him a lunch to take to school. A little sacrifice on your part will go a long way for your child's health.

Plan your dinner menus ahead of time. Keep the carbohydrates down and add more fresh products like salad and less pasta and fatty foods. We know you are tired after a long day at work so program to do part of the week's cooking on Saturday or Sunday, put it in the fridge so all you have to do is warm it up and serve. This will save you preparation time and will be easier on your tired feet and brain. Avoid second servings for the children and taking their dinner to their rooms. Dinner at the table allows for family time and it also permits you to control food intake.

If your kids do not like sports, it is fine too. Take them for a walk in the park, or cruise the mall with them for half an hour to one hour. Believe it or not, walking is a great exercise and calorie burner. Keep a tight control over games, computers and television sets, assign your children shores in the garden and pay them a little something when these shores are done. The exercise, the sun, the job and payment will do wonders for their spirits and bodies too. You have to be creative to keep them on the move, hibernating or hanging out on a cushion or bed is bad for them. Plan trips to the local museum or amusement park, or swimming pool; make them walk, make them move around, exercise is the key to health.

Sweets, junk food and sodas are your greatest enemies. Do not keep them at home, this does not mean you will never eat or drink them; sure you can, but do it occasionally and not as a routine. Kids do not need dessert every night, leave it for special occasions. They do not need sodas, sodas do not even quench your thirst, help them to get used to drinking water, lots of water every day. The same thing goes for junk food; leave it for the times you are out of the house, at the mall, or the movies anywhere but inside your house. Teach your kids to eat well and they will live well.

Go the extra mile today and your children will get used to good food and drink. They will grow stronger and feel better when they exercise and spend time outdoors. They will learn to manage their time better and will become better students and will communicate better with you and between themselves when they lose that horrible addiction to video games and television. Restraining their gaming and television watching time will help them to learn communication and interaction skills they do not need now because they communicate with machines, not people.

It is not easy and we know that the younger generations have fallen into a lethal trap. They have lost their ability to express feelings and to communicate thoughts. If this goes on for too long it is possible that they will not speak or think anymore. They themselves will become machines. Some of horrible episodes we see today on the news have started with a lonely kid who is locked within himself and his mind; a kid who hates himself because he is fat or different from his peers. This is the age of communication, it is true, but we should be communicating between us not with machines. We should use all these contraptions to improve human communication not loneliness.

Lazoi Lifecare takes online doctor appointment booking mobile

Lazoi Lifecare today announced the launch of a mobile application, a free integrated tool that allows patients to book online appointments with their chosen doctor via an Apple iPhone or Android device. The new application, available through the Apple iPhone “App Store” and “Google Play,” takes online doctor appointment booking services to the next level, where patients can easily search doctors as per their location, experience, consultation fees etc from over 60,000 medical professionals and instantly book appointment.

“The mobile app is a digital gateway to the many services we offer at Lazoi Lifecare,” said Mr. Suvro Ghosh, CEO and Founder, Lazoi Lifecare Pvt. Ltd. “”We continue to use advanced technology to engage patients while reforming their know-how within our health system.”

Some of the interesting features of the mobile application include:

• Find doctors and book an appointment quickly for any speciality. Select from 60K+ doctors from 75+ super specialities.
• Access doctor’s professional information such as appointment timings, place of practice, visiting hours, consultation charges etc.
• Easy payment options through online payment gateway, i.e. debit/credit card, net banking.

“We're always looking for ways to save patients’ time and enhance their experience with the doctors- and that starts with this mobile application.” said Mr. Suvro Ghosh. “This Android and iPhone mobile app is a fast and user-friendly option to book appointment with the doctors when you're on the go- in a matter of few taps. We are always looking for creative platforms to give our patients all healthcare solutions under a single umbrella. The app will connect patients with our prominent doctors while empowering them to impeccably pursue their healthcare requirements.”

In upcoming months, the app will introduce additional features such as online diagnostic lab test booking, online purchase of medicines, online consultation with the doctors and many more. 

Vital Tips for Couples Struggling to Conceive

There comes a point in the year, when, after trying for so long, you still aren't getting pregnant. If you have systematically been following your ovulation cycle with no success as yet, then you may be disheartened. There is no worse feeling than thinking you may not be able to have children. The path to success lies in evaluating every option open to you - and proceeding with the choices that are best for you.

Fertility treatment has come along leaps and bounds in the past 30 years. There are now so many options when it comes to fertility doctors and clinics that you may feel like you don't even know where to start.

Fortunately, you can follow below steps to start you on your journey. Once you've had a read, make an appointment with your infertility specialist to chat further about the options open to you.

Counselling

The first port of call when having fertility issues is to chat with a professional who is skilled in the area. They can help you with doubts, questions and misconceptions that you may have to do with fertility and IVF.

Lifestyle changes

Our lives these days have a lot of external stressors involved. Whether it's mental health or physical health, they can both have effects on both male and female fertility. There may be medications that are affecting your fertility too. Chatting with a trained professional will help in determining which, if any, lifestyle changes you should think about making if you'd like to increase the chances of conceiving.

Hormone therapy

For those women experiencing problems with egg development and subsequent release, hormone therapy can be a good way to coax the egg along it's intended path. For further information, again, chat with a professional at the fertility centre.

IVF

IVF is often thought of as a cost prohibitive procedure, but this isn't necessarily true - costs have dropped significantly across the years. IVF costs are a lot lower than they used to be, and many couples experience success with this technique who wouldn't otherwise have been able to conceive naturally.

Experiencing fertility problems can cause a lot of stress and heartache - but it's best to think of it as a challenge that can be overcome. Visiting an infertility specialist will give you all the information you need to make informed decisions about the future and your body, so don't be afraid to book an appointment.

7 Foods That Every Expectant Mother Should Avoid

Whenever one finds out that she is pregnant, there is a lot of joy that comes with that. The family also comes up with safety measures and daily routines that will keep her and the baby safe including a change of diet. Although you need to eat a bit more than before, you have to be very careful of your food choices during pregnancy and below are some of those foods that are not recommended at this time.

Pineapples

Pineapples are rich in minerals and vitamins, with some that can even cure stomach infections, but they are not safe for your pregnancy. It is believed that they can cause a miscarriage, especially in the early stages of the pregnancy. Furthermore, they have an element known as bromelain that causes diarrhoea.

Unripe Papaya

Papaya and fruits, in general, have to be washed before you eat because they have parasites on the surface. Unripe papaya is even worse since it can lead to uterine contraction that may harm the baby. If you must eat this fruit, then make sure it is ripe.

Meat

No matter how much you love meat, you have to put your unborn baby first and avoid it. This is because meat has coliform bacteria and salmonella that is not suitable for pregnant women. Freshly cooked meat is fine, but you have to be wary of reheated meat because it may contain harmful Listeria.

Fish

Not all fish are bad. In fact, having it in your daily diet is perfect for you and the baby, but you should avoid sea fish due to its mercury content. If this mercury builds up in the body, it will harm not only your brain and nerves but also the unborn baby.

Cigarettes and Alcohol

For a long time, smoking and alcohol have been known to cause a host of health issues. You need to avoid them, especially when pregnant, to avoid hindering the development of the baby's brain.

Milk and Juice

Pasteurised milk and yogurt are the only exceptions when it comes to milk for pregnant mothers. Anything else with raw milk is not safe including cheese. If you have to take juice then ensure that it is also pasteurised.

Caffeine

It is recommended that you take only a cup of tea, coffee or chocolate a day. Going beyond that robs you the all-important sleep that you need. Too much caffeine can also cause abortion and also inhibit normal weight gain in the child.

You must be careful when pregnant, and above foods need to be avoided at all costs. On top of that, change your routine and habits to ensure that you and the baby are safe.

Everything you need to know about eating disorders

We live in a strange world. It seems that everyone has to be skinny to be beautiful. And the constant popping up of new trendy diets (usually bad diets) almost every week that promises you'll lose weight fast, it might seem anyone can lose weight quickly and without many efforts. The problem with these diets is that they tend to be ineffective and they might even be dangerous for your health, both on short and long term.

There are many products in the market, and many marketing campaigns designed exactly to convince you to give these products and diets a try. From diet pills, juice cleanses lists of good foods vs. bad foods for weight loss to supplements that replace or boost natural ingredients. And what may simply start as a way to lose just a few kilos, it may quickly turn out into an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are very serious and can, in some cases, even cause death. They cause severe problems to your eating behaviours and they need to be treated.

Eating disorders are more commonly developed during teenage and young adult years, and they are more common among girls and women. Although no one knows exactly what causes them, researchers believe it's a mix of behavioural, biological, psychological, genetic, and social factors. They also usually coexist with depression, trouble coping with emotions, anxiety, low self-esteem and substance abuse.

There are some signs and symptoms people experience when they have an eating disorder:

• Continue with a strict diet even when they are already underweight.
• If someone keeps gaining and losing weight, constantly.
• When someone is obsessed with calorie counting.
• Some people just cut their food into tiny little pieces and avoid eating when they are with others. This might be another sign of an eating disorder.
• If they try to avoid family and friends; they just tend to become isolated.
• When people are depressed.

This might help you find out if someone you know has this problem and helping him/her look for a treatment.

When you hear about eating disorders, there are mainly three that are referred: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder.

Anorexia Nervosa

When someone has anorexia nervosa, they usually see themselves as overweight, even if they are under-weight. You can identify this mental illness if you notice the person just keeps weighting, eat a small amount of food and are very pick with certain foods.

Anorexia nervosa can cause menstruation to stop, loss of skin integrity, bone loss, and even increases the heart problems risk. It has the highest mortality rate amid all mental disorders and it's not only because of complications associated with starvation. On extreme situations anorexia can be the cause that leads to suicide.

Bulimia Nervosa

When someone has bulimia nervosa, they usually eat a lot of food, and just can't help themselves. After that, they feel so guilty about what they've done and just force vomiting. Others even go further: they practice too much exercise, take diuretics and laxatives, or a combination of both.

The problem in recognising someone suffers from bulimia nervosa is that these people usually maintain their weight. So, unless you are around them for long periods during the day, you might not even be aware they have this problem.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is related with bulimia nervosa. The difference is that when someone suffers from binge eating, they just eat without having any control. But they won't vomit or take any medicine after it. So, they are usually obese or overweight.