Yogacharya Sandeep, a yoga instructor and a yoga psychologist, is from Bihar Yoga Bharathi, a yoga educational institution, dedicated to the study and practice of yoga, in the gurukul tradition.

He has developed specific corporate training programs to meet the requirements of the modern professionals, customised modules for schools and also personal training programs. A few modules are on stress management, improving productivity, managing work life balance, healing spondylitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, managing acidity etc.

Yogacharya Sandeep answered Sify readers’ queries related to the above in an exclusive chat. Read the transcript below.

How many times kapalbhati can be done.

First of all why are you opting for Kapalbhati? Are you inspired or do you really need it? Kapalbhati is a heating pranayama which boosts up the blood circulative system and thereby you experience extreme heat in the body, and you are not aware your body can withstand this amount of heat.So my advice would be not to opt for Kapalbhati without expert guidance. All the best!! : )

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Work conditions can predict development of diabetes in healthy employees, a new study has found.

Cases of type 2 diabetes continue to rise in the US. And while the development of the disease is more commonly associated with risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity, research has shown that stress can also have a significant impact.

Now Dr. Sharon Toker of Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Management has found that low levels of social support and high levels of stress in the workplace can accurately predict the development of diabetes over the long term – even in employees who appear to be healthy otherwise.

The study contributes to an ongoing body of research linking work conditions to physical and mental health.

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Rapid technological and industrial developments have made our lives easier, causing a steep rise in the occurrence of lifestyle related diseases. Childhood obesity, one of the leading causes of concern among many, can be stopped in its tracks. Read on to find out how.

Diabetes, obesity and heart disease are among the three most prominent health issues today, all of them are linked to certain lifestyle factors and improper diet. Watching your child put on kilos rapidly can be scary, which is why it’s exceptionally important to keep a watch on your child’s eating habits and lifestyle.

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Your skin can be a crucial early-warning system for a range of health problems, according to doctors.

They said signs of brittle bones, diabetes and vitamin deficiencies may surface on skin before other symptoms appears, the Huffington Post reported.

A study of 114 recently postmenopausal women found that deep wrinkles on the face and neck could indicate an increased risk for broken bones.

The reason is that women with such wrinkles were more likely to have lower bone density in areas like the hips, spine and heels.

Estrogen promotes the production of the protein collagen, which your skin and bones both rely on to maintain density. So as a woman”s level of estrogen declines in menopause, said Dr. Ronald Young, co-director of the Menopause Center at Texas Children”s Pavilion for Women in Houston, “collagen in the skin is depleted, which means the skin isn”t as firm and elastic, and wrinkles develop.”

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Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be prevented. Whether you fall in the high-risk category for diabetes, or are simply concerned for your health, do read the top 10 ways in which you avoid getting this disease.

A healthy diet and exercise can help prevent diabetes

According to the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Education and Training in Diabetes, diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the world. This disease is of special relevance in India, as Indians tend to develop diabetes at an earlier age and at lower levels of obesity.

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Everybody’s heard of the adage “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But is it really true?

Apples have, for ages, been associated with temptation. Adam and Eve certainly couldn’t resist it, neither could Snow White. And why would they? This fruit is packed with nutrients and antioxidants which help your body fight and avoid many ailments.

Apple and its nutrients

Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus! You name it and this fruit has it! Apart from minerals, an apple is rich in a number of antioxidants which neutralise a number of harmful and reactive compounds that our body creates during it normal processes. Apples are also rich in pectin, a soluble fibre which is helpful in maintaining digestive health.

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Eat more carrots to keep your eyes healthy and a lot more

Have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses? No, right? It is  because carrots are vegetables packed with nature’s goodness. Apart from boosting your eyesight carrots have various nutrients which make it a must-have in your regular diet.

Health benefits of carrots:

1. They work wonders on the skin: Carrots contain beta- carotene, a form of vitamin A called retinoic acid, potassium, calcium, zinc, vitamin B, vitamin E, iron and phosphorus. These vitamins and minerals have powerful anti-oxidant properties. Hence carrots are an effective natural remedy for dry skin, chapped lips and dry skin conditions like eczema. A fresh grated carrot makes for a superb beauty face mask.
2. Help fight cancer: Carrots also have anti-cancer properties. They cut down cancer risk by preventing and helping in treating cancers of the lung, throat, stomach, intestine, breast, bladder and prostate.
3. Immunity builder: Carrot juice is beneficial as the indigestible fibre is removed by juicing. It is a miracle drink which boosts immunity, provides a daily dose of vitamins and minerals and is naturally sweet as compared to colas and artificially flavoured commercial drinks. The amount of beta carotene available in carrot juice is almost 100% as compared to only 10%  in a raw carrot.
4. Good for your eyes: Carrots contain a form of vitamin A which prevents night blindness. They also reduce the risk of developing a condition called Age Related Macular degeneration (AMD) due to carotenoids present in them. They don’t improve your eyesight but they keep the eyes healthy. They also fight eye infections like conjunctivitis and blepharitis (inflammation of eyelash follicles).
5. Prevent and treat lifestyle diseases: Carrots are beneficial in various lifestyle diseases like diabetes mellitus, heart disease, gout and dyspepsia. They are known to reduce blood cholesterol levels, reduce stroke and reduce symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in which the prostate grows in size and causes urinary problems in older men.
6. Soothes your stomach: Carrots are a wonder cure for gastro-intestinal ailments and have been used for these conditions since ancient times. They relieve gastritis, an upset stomach, peptic ulcers, coeliac disease (seen in children where digestion is affected) and Crohn’s disease (a chronic inflammatory disorder of the entire alimentary tract). Carrot juice combined with spinach juice and lime juice helps in curing constipation. Carrot soup is also used to treat diarrhoea. It has also been used in olden times to remove worms from the body as a vermicide.
7. Improves fertility and more: Coupled with the fact that carrots have absolutely no fat that make it a dieter’s delight, raw carrots help in improving fertility and stimulate the secretion of milk in breast-feeding mothers. They also help if a woman has excessive bleeding during menses, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and combat vaginal and urinary tract infections due to their antiseptic and anti-bacterial properties. They are  considered anti-anaemic and helpful for osteoporosis.

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Sugar-sweetened sodas, sports drinks and fruit drinks may be associated with about 180,000 deaths around the world each year, according to a research.

The study presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions pointed pit that sugar-sweetened beverages contribute to excess body weight, which increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers.

The data collected as part of the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study.

Researchers linked intake of sugar- sweetened beverages to 133,000 diabetes deaths, 44,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 6,000 cancer deaths.

Seventy-eight percent of these deaths due to over-consuming sugary drinks were in low and middle-income countries, rather than high-income countries.

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A group of students from University of Karachi has explored health benefits of papaya and discovered some facts about the delicious tropical fruit, including its usage in lowering chances of heart attack and controlling diabetes.

During the research, final year students of BS, Agriculture and Agribusiness Department, KU – Mariam Naseem and Muhammad Kamran Nasir – also discovered numerous advantages of papaya seeds.

Speaking to Pakistan Daily Times, Naseem explained that juice of papaya seeds is every essential to protect kidney from becoming dysfunctional because seeds contains flavonoids and phenotic, which provides prevention from germs of such diseases.

Besides this papaya seeds can also protect from number of infections and could also be used to clean intestines insects, she added.

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This native herb has been adding a dollop of flavor and a king-sized serving of health in our diet for centuries.

Did you know that ginger, turmeric and cardamom come from the same family? With turmeric and cardamom being loaded with goodness, could ginger be left behind?

Ginger use was initially restricted to South Asia, but is now cultivated all around the world because of its rich and pungent flavour.  It is an important part of Indian cooking, adding that dash of spice in our curries and sabzis. Apart from being flavourful, this herb has immense medicinal properties and is one of the most widely used roots in Ayurveda.

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