The Hindu Business Line : Let's face it

Go for fibre-rich foods — fresh fruits, raw vegetable salads, whole grains and sprouted moong. These provide all the nutrients without clogging your oil glands or hair follicles with grease and bacteria.

Healthy reflection: A sensible diet and lifestyle will work wonders for your skin. - A. ROY CHOWDHURY

I keep getting boils on my face particularly on my chin. It's uncomfortable and a displeasing sight as well. Where do you think I'm going wrong and how should I correct it? Is it safe to burst a boil? Please guide me.

Sonali Masurekar

Yes, you can burst a boil. But, first place a moist, hot cloth over it to soften it. When it gets a white pus-filled head, you can squeeze it. Make sure you drain the pus entirely. Then apply an OTC antiseptic cream like Boroline.

To lessen the frequency of the boils, use an antiseptic soap (available with a chemist) to wash your face.

Your diet could be causing your boils. A winning cleansing combination is healthy food and regular exercise. Go for fibre-rich foods — fresh fruits, raw vegetable salads, whole grains and sprouted moong. These provide all the nutrients without clogging your oil glands or hair follicles with grease and bacteria.

A regular walk improves blood circulation as also lymph circulation. Lymph is the transparent watery fluid in the body that cleans out all wastes and accumulated toxins.

For good measure, have a laxative like kayam churan every weekend to cleanse your system. Once your skin clears up, have this churan once a month. Avoid oily, spicy foods. Drink 10 glasses of water daily.

My blood test shows my triglyceride levels are 260. Is that dangerous? Please suggest ways to lower the levels.

Vipin Shah

It's not life threatening. Levels between 250 and 300 are considered `borderline'. To be safe, lower and maintain your triglycerides (TG) levels to a healthy 150 or lower.

The do's and don'ts to lower TG levels are the same as for lowering cholesterol levels.

Ban booze: Most doctors will tell you that alcohol boosts TG levels to unimaginably high levels. So, say no to beer, whisky etc. You could be drinking more than you realise.

Fend off fats: Refuse to eat oily morsels, and curries swimming in grease. Aim for zero-fat meals. Fresh salads, dals seasoned sans oil, sabzis roasted or cooked in tangy ground oil-free masalas. It takes just three days to lower your TGs to 150, if you really stick with this diet.

Siphon out sugar: Candies, chocolates and all sweets in general are a no-no. For the simple reason that they are simple carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are second to alcohol in elevating your triglycerides.

Rev up your metabolism: Fire your metabolic rate with a brisk 42-minute walk five days a week. The good news is that even if you don't lose weight as fast as you'd like to, just exercising persistently without weight-loss still lowers your TG levels.

Tip: Don't aim for 42 minutes right away. Start with 15 minutes and increase every few days.

I exercised and dieted for a month and lost 4 kg. Now I find I'm hungry all the time. I've already regained 1 kg. How do I stop myself from craving for food? Please advise.

Dina V.

A sudden craving for food all day long is a common occurrence. It is all in the mind. It often stems from an undercurrent of thought: "I've been depriving myself." Bring this thought upfront. It will lose its power over your appetite.

Eat well-balanced low-fat meals. Snack on fruits. The fructose in them will sate your appetite.

Avoid sweetmeats as they intensify craving.

Add more abdominal crunches to your exercise regime. Don't give food such undue importance.

Every day, listen to motivational tapes or CDs. When your mind gets on a higher frequency and is full of inspirational energy, your body too feels sated. Above all, continue to exercise.

Recently I read that cataracts are part of the normal aging process. Is that true? Both my parents had cataract surgery.

Are there any preventive measures I can take to have healthy eyes all my life? I'm 35 years old. I already wear spectacles; the power -1.5.

Sailesh Deshmukh

Cataracts are not part of the aging process as is commonly believed. They occur due to poor lifestyle choices — what you eat, how you read, etc. Take preventive measures on four fronts:

Food: Eat green vegetables (spinach, methi leaves, mint, and French beans) and carrots.

Exercise: Walk or cycle daily to improve circulation of the aqueous liquid, which keeps your eyes well nourished.

Light: Make sure you read with sufficient light.

Meditation: At night, before you sleep, lie comfortably on your bed. Close your eyes. Focus attention on your eyes. Silently tell your eyes: "Relax and heal. Please regenerate cells when required."

You can also meditate on improving your eyesight and restoring it to 6/6.

The writer is co-author of the book, Fitness for Life.

Sonali Masurekar