Category: Food

Go Healthy with these Superfoods!

Superfoods, as the name says are super-awesome in their own way. They are super healthy, super awesome… SUPERFOODS. Superfoods are something that are nutrient dense and scarce in calories. They are special category of foods found in nature have all the health benefits and richness of nutrients which our body needs but cannot make those nutrients itself. They possess goodness of all the essential nutrients and antioxidants, which our body longs for and that is the reason it is so desperately recommended to have them and live healthy with them. Superfoods are like multi-taskers, they solve disease-fighting purpose, then have less calories, so helpful in weight loss too, and above all, they are delicious, have good taste. Though we have many other healthy eating recommendations, these Superfoods are easy-to-find and easy-to-eat everyday superfoods to keep eating healthy, simple and delectable. Superfoods are pleasurable, soothing, refreshing, appetizing, healthy and whatnot!
So, let’s have a look on these extra special superfoods which serve a plethora of benefits. Trust me, its much easier and tastier to eat these superfoods rather than munching on the burgers or French fries, which have no food value. Have a craving, eat them:
Nuts:

Go nuts with nuts! Yes, nuts are way healthier than you think. If you have fallen prey to this myth that they have fat content, then that is wrong, because when eaten in moderation, handful of nuts everyday can serve us with plenty of health benefits. Nuts are high in antioxidants, contains proteins, heart healthy fats and fiber. Among the nuts, walnuts are of little more importance, as they have high levels of ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid which elevates the mood and heart health. It is also associated with maintaining healthy levels of good cholesterol (HDL). So, you just can’t ignore your nuts.
Eggs:

Eggs, being a source of high class protein, are nutritious, economical and versatile. Studies show that if you eat eggs in breakfast, you may eat less calories during the day and lose weight without affecting the cholesterol levels. The yolk of an egg contains lutein and zeaxanthin; which are antioxidants that helps in keeping our eyes healthy. You can take egg at any meal and they are always tasty. Make a sunny side up and enjoy your egg.
Berries:

Berries have got all the nutritional goodness along with utter sweetness in a small package. Be it strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, cherries, all have the same amount of nutrients and antioxidants. Their flavor can satisfy your sweet tooth and can deal with your craving in a healthy way. Berries are full of phytonutrients, low in calories, high water content and fiber, which keeps the blood sugar level under control. These berries can be added to anything and they enhance the flavor of any dish ranging from smoothie, syrup, yoghurt or your morning cereal. Got a sweet tooth? Try berries!
Sweet Potatoes:

They are delicious and are a rich source of potassium and have fewer high calorie sodium content. A baked sweet potato is loaded with Vitamin C, calcium, potassium and is really sweet which makes it all the more desirable. Just think how much calories you can save by having your dose of baked sweet potato. They are brilliantly equipped with alpha and beta carotene and our body will convert these compounds into Vitamin A and it keeps our eyes, bones and immune system healthy. So, Bake it and eat it.
Beans:

Being quite popular in the vegan diet, beans are a good source of plant based iron, which is a mineral that transports oxygen from your lungs to the cells of your body. Beans have a good amount of soluble and insoluble fiber, which lowers the cholesterol and has laxative effect also. They also contain heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids and they can prove to be a very good substitute for meat and poultry. Beans are good in all the ways it can be taken, be it stewed, sprouted beans, as a side dish or tossed in soups. Have it as you like.
Broccoli:

This greeny green veggie is loved by many and is available all year long. It is a powerhouse of Vitamins and nutrients. It is a rich source of Vitamin A, C and K and also folate which helps in bone health. Also, broccoli is famous for its cancer fighting properties and also stimulates the body’s detoxifying enzymes. You can have broccoli as you like, be it steamed, raw, grilled or roasted, but don’t forget to eat it.
Yoghurt:

It is an excellent source of calcium, which helps in keeping away osteoporosis. Yoghurt is said to have good bacteria which is very good for our gut health and is also a great package of potassium and proteins. Yoghurt is versatile and have many uses in all the cultures. Just one cup of yoghurt a day is suffice to have all the nutrients in your diet. So, don’t forget to include yoghurt in your daily routine.
When you have so many Superfoods, what to worry about? Moreover, all these are tasty and hard to ignore. They gain a respectable place in our lives and we will keep eating them and enjoying. After all, it is for our own good.
Eat Super foods. Get Super healthy.

July 1, 2014
That Nutty, Creamy Peanut Butter!

Do you like peanuts? Do you love peanut butter? I know most of you do and why not, it’s way too delicious and can make anything more tastier. Peanut butter is too good for you and your diet. One superb thing is its filling, appetite satisfying and healthy too, with suffice nutrients. A bread piece or a cookie or anything with peanut butter spread on it is a perfect snack for your evening or morning. It can be a good substitute for any sweet, sugary or salty thing. It can go with anything and can be taken with anything. If you think that peanut butter sandwiches are for kids only, you are missing out something really good for your health and body. As, this protein rich, creamy delight is suitable for everyone and has become very popular now.
Peanut Butter is a rich, creamy paste made primarily from ground dry roasted peanut, which is actually a legume and not a nut. It is very popular in many countries and The United States is a leading exporter of peanut butter. It is mainly used as a sandwich spread along with other variants as chocolate sauce, jam or jelly, cheese or vegetable. The peanut butter originated by the Aztecs, who ground peanut butter into a paste. In the United States, January 24 is observed as National Peanut Butter Day. Generally, there are two types of spread; Crunchy and smooth. The crunchy one has little chunks of peanut butter in it and smooth one is creamy, smooth paste. Both are loved and eaten by all. These are a good source of unsaturated fats. However smooth butter doesn’t have as much fiber as crunchy one. The peanut butter has many nutrients and vitamins, which makes it a healthy choice. It contains proteins, Vitamin B3 and E, magnesium, folate, arginine, dietary fiber and also high levels of antioxidants p-coumaric acid. It also contains saturated fat and some amount of sodium. Having all these essential nutrients, let’s go through some of the key benefits of peanut butter, which will make us famish it more.

Why peanut Butter is so good for you and your health:

The enviable combination of protein and fiber in peanut butter is awesome and way healthier and prove to be a very good substitute for meat protein. Just 2 tablespoons full of peanut butter have had 188 calories, 6 grams of carbohydrates, 8 grams of protein, and 16 grams of fat. Each serving of protein, is really beneficial for the body as it uses amino acids to build and repair muscle tissue and helps in building metabolism-boosting muscle and such protein rich food also keep you feeling full for longer and in turn helps in losing weight. Alongwith this, peanut butter, having high content of mono-unsaturated fat, is really good for the heart and reduces the amount of harmful cholesterol in the bloodstream and even help in balancing the good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Many studies have shown that regular peanut taking can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health conditions. Peanuts also contain high amount of poly-phenolic antioxidants, which has shown results in reducing the risk of stomach cancer by decreasing the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines. This spread is an excellent source of Resveratrol, which is an antioxidant and provides protection against heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s (Neuro degenerative disorder) and fungal and viral infections. Also, peanut butter is a great source of iron, which helps in maintaining blood circulation throughout the body. Being so rich in nutrients and proteins, it gives you energy and boosts your metabolism and keeps you active for a long time.

So, what are you waiting for? Go enjoy your healthy favorite spread. It’s worth it.

Things you can do with your Peanut Butter:
Well, I recommend one should buy natural and organic peanut butter from the grocery store as it will really benefit your health. Also, you can do a variety of things with this incredibly versatile ingredient and can enjoy that big jar of creamy, crunchy spread with your creativity and as per your taste in many ways. Here’s some easy quickies you can do with your favorite peanut butter;
You can use it as a filling in your grilled desserts as it gives your dessert a creamy richness. Just pair a spoonful of spread with bananas, chocolate, honey, brown sugar and toss it into toasty bites.
Top it on your morning cereal and drizzle it nicely on the cornflakes or salad and enjoy the creaminess and nuttiness.
You can stir the creamy butter in the stew, which is slowly cooked and it will make it velvety smooth and just too delicious to resist.
You can glaze your vanilla or chocolate chip cookies or even your frost your teatime cake with this creamy spread and enjoy the lusciousness.
You can even add the peanut butter to your smoothies, whether its banana or vanilla or strawberry or any smoothie and give it a protein boost and even add it to maple syrup and improve its taste.
You can use it as a base dressing for a salad or use it as a spread in your world-famous traditional sandwich with chocolate or jam or even in your veggie burger and sandwich.
Enjoy it as you like. Even if, peanut butter has fat content present in it, the health benefits and versatility of it is enough to adopt it with a happy heart and spread its deliciousness on breads, cookies, waffles, toast, apple slices, celery, carrots and so many other foods. It can prove to be healthy and yummy choice for everyone.

Keep munching on Peanut Butter!

July 1, 2014
Culinary- An exquisite art

Culinary is the art of cooking. It doesn’t involve just cooking but also preparation and presentation of a particular dish. A culinary expert is commonly known as a chef. He/she must be well versed with most of the cuisines. The world famous cuisines are listed below.

Cuisines famous all over:
1. Italian:

The first thing that comes to our mind when we hear about Italian food is Pizza and Pasta. The dishes are characterized by simplicity and use maximum 4-8 ingredients. The main ingredients are tomatoes, fish, potatoes, cheese and all kinds of meat. Olive oil is the major vegetable oil used for cooking. Herbs, vegetables and spices are used for toppings. Sauce also forms a major ingredient, mainly in pasta.

Pasta: Pasta is one of the main cuisines made out of wheat. There are different types of pasta; there is the spaghetti, fusilli, lasagna etc. There are two styles of pasta, the dry, which can be stored for a long time and the fresh one which can be stored only for a short period of time. You can make bland pasta with a lot of cheese and herbs as topping or you can make tangy pasta using tomatoes and spices.

Pizza: Pizza is flat bread that is baked and often has tomato and cheese with vegetables or meat as toppings. You can create a lot of different varieties of pizza as per your tastes.

Wine: Italy produces the largest amount of wine in the world. In Italy wine is commonly consumed (alongside water) in meals, which are rarely served without it.

Desserts:
• Cassata: Cassata is one of the most famous desserts; it is a cake which contains different kinds of nuts. The round sponge cake is moistened with fruit juices or liquor and layered with ricotta cheese, candied peel, and a chocolate or vanilla filling similar to cannoli cream. It is covered with a shell of marzipan, pink and green pastel colored icing, and decorative designs. The cassata is topped with candied fruit depicting cherries and slices of citrus fruit.
• Cannoli: Cannoli is Italian pastry dessert. It consists of tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough, filled with a sweet, creamy filling usually containing ricotta.
• Gelato: Gelato is Italian for ice cream.
• Tiramisu: Tiramisu is a popular coffee-flavored dessert. It is made of Ladyfingers (soft sponge cake) dipped in coffee, layered with a whipped mixture of egg yolks, egg whites, sugar and mascarpone cheese.

2. Chinese:

There are different culinary in China, the Eight Culinary Traditions of China are Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Szechuan and Zhejiang, out of which Szechuan is most famous in the world. It includes noodles, Manchurians, fried rice etc.
The main ingredients in Chinese Cuisines are vegetables, rice, noodles, sauces, herbs, spices and beans.
A lot of sea food also forms a major part of their cuisine like sushi and tofu. They make prawn crackers as snacks. Dim sums and dumplings are also very famous.
Their major drinks are tea and liquor like Baijiu (white liquor) and Huangjiu (yellow liquor). Tea is given a lot of importance in China. They have ceremonies where tea forms a major part.
Baijiu is made out of distilled wheat, corn or rice while Huangjiu is a strong rice wine.

3. Mexican:

Mexican cuisine is closely tied to the culture, social structure and popular traditions of the country. Corn, beans, chilli peppers and rice form a major part of the Mexican cuisine. It includes dishes like tacos, nachos, burritos etc. The dishes are tangy and spicy. Tomatoes are used in abundance in Mexican dishes.
Mexicans have a lot of festivals where food is given major attention and one of the major dishes is called Mole, it is prepared only during special occasions since it requires a lot of time.
Another important food during festivals is the Tamal or Tamale, it is a filled cornmeal dumpling, steamed in a wrapping (usually corn husk or banana leaf) and one of the basic staples in most regions of Mexico.
Beverages:
Corn in Mexico is not only eaten but also drunk. Corn is the base of a lot of drinks which is mixed with other ingredients. They make tea using a lot of ingredients; hibiscus, herbs, tamarind, rice etc. Chocolate also is a major part of the Mexican cuisine.
Alcoholic beverages from Mexico include Tequila, Pulque, aguardiente and mezcal, with brandy, wine, beer and rum. The most common alcoholic beverage consumed with food in Mexico is beer, followed by tequila.

4. Indian:

It is very hard to generalize Indian cuisines because India is a vast country and has many states and each state has many regions and each region has a variety of dishes that are considered famous in that particular region.
Indian cuisine is majorly divided into North Indian and South Indian Cuisines.
• North Indian:

North Indian food again has a variety in them, the Paranthas, Chana bhatura and lassi of Punjab, the Churma and Gujia of Rajasthan, the dhokla, thepla and kachori of Gujrath, the Rasgullas of Calcutta etc.

• South Indian:
The south Indian dishes include Idli, Dosa, Pulav, Upma, Chapathi, Puri, Hyderabadi biryani, chutneys, pickles etc.

The coastal regions make scrumptious sea food. There are many other dishes that form a major part of the Indian cuisine but these are some of the major dishes.

Sweets:

In India sweets are also an important part of our food. Gulab Jamoons, Kheer, Rasgulla, Paisam, Firni, Falooda, Ladoos, Mysore pak, Gajar ka halwa, Jalebi, Peda, Sohan Papdi, Coconut barfi, Obbattu, Kaju katli etc. are the major sweets savored both in South and North India.
Tea, coffee, badam milk, ragi and wheat malt are the major drinks in India.

5. Arabian:

The Arabian cuisine includes a lot of meat. Wheat, barley and rice are major ingredients. Dairy products such as yogurt and white cheese are most commonly used in their dishes.biryanis and shawarmas are major dishes. They use hot drinks rather than cold ones and coffee is the major drink there.
Lamb, chicken, beef and camel are major meat products used in the dishes, fish is also used sometimes but is not very important. A lot of herbs and mints are used in their dishes to give an authentic flavor. Sauces are also used to make a dish spicy and tangy. Fruits, nuts, greens, parsley and olive oil are major ingredients in most of their preparations.

July 1, 2014
Essential Muscle Nutrients Which Are Found Only in Animal Food

Muscles are every much important for the human body as they perform several essential functions such as breathing and allow us to do physical labor. Every man today wants to have a body full of muscles so that they can look attractive and powerful. Muscles burns calories and so if you are planning to build a powerful body you need to pay special attention towards the food that you eat as the consumption of right food is very important. In order to build and later maintain these muscles there are some essential nutrients which your body requires and more importantly these nutrients are only found in the animal food. For the non-vegetarian people this is not a problem as they eat flesh but the vegetarian people look around for the replacement of this option. So they go for supplements which are available in the market today. These supplements are made up of artificial ingredients which causes harm to the body if you take it regularly. So it is recommend that if you want to build muscle and maintain your body, then you should start eating meat. Hereby we are mentioning some of the nutrients which are only found in animal food i.e. meat and are essential for muscle building.

Creatine:

Creatine is extremely important for the body and is one of the most popular supplements used for the muscle building. If your body has adequate amount of Creatine in it, then it not only improves the mass of your muscles but also the strength. Creatine forms the energy reserve in the muscles which helps in its maintenance. The energy in the body is provided by the Adenosine Triphosphate and the cells in the body have them in limited quantity. In the process of building muscles, people perform complex and vigorous exercises and so the amount of Adenosine Triphosphate in their body is not enough to last long. Creatine provides the phosphate in the cells and helps in producing the required extra energy. Although human body produces Creatine on its own but it is not enough and you need them in your diet. All the vegetarian foods are deprived of Creatine. So you should go for the meat and other animal foods.

Carnosine:

Carnosine is a dipeptide made with the help of the two amino acids. These amino acids are beta-alanine and histidine. Carnosine is highly popular as one of the wonderful anti-aging food supplement which stops the degenerative processes in the body and helps in maintaining the muscles. They are also required to keep your muscles in shape. When you perform intense workout the body releases lactic acid which stops the muscles from functioning normally and you experience fatigue. Carnosine is required as it helps in stopping the formation of this acid in the body by acting as a buffer. If the formation of the lactic acid is kept in check, there is no hindrance in the functioning of the muscles and you can carry out with your work with ease. This nutrient is only found in the animal food or else you will have to take supplements.

Animal Protein:

Proteins are the basic building blocks of muscles and they themselves are made up of amino acids. In total there are 21 essential amino acids required by the human body to synthesize proteins. Out of which only few of these amino acids can be produced by the body itself, rest all are provided in the diet. Those amino acids which the body cannot produce on its own are called as the essential amino acids. The best source of all these essential amino acids is animal food. Fish, meat and eggs have tremendous amount of proteins in them and they can easily compensate for the amino acids which the body requires. The proteins found in the plants lack some of the amino acid profiles and so the animal food is essential. Simply a vegetarian diet cannot provide you with the proteins that your body requires.

Vitamin D3:

Vitamin D3 is extremely essential for the human body. The proper functioning of the muscles and other body organs are very much dependent on it. There should be adequate amount of Vitamin D3 in the bloodstream. If your body is deprived of Vitamin D3, your muscles will decease and they will stop functioning properly. Although supplements are available to maintain the amount of Vitamin D3 in the body, the best source of this essential nutrient are fatty and the cod fishes. Moreover if you stay in such a place which receives less sunlight then you must start eating animal foods as the plants foods do not offers Vitamin D3.

Saturated Fats and Cholesterol:

Generally people believe that saturated fats and cholesterol are very much harmful for the human body and they are also the reasons for various dysfunctions in the body. So people opt for the low fat foods. But such food items have tendency to reduce the testosterone hormone in the body which is very much essential for muscle building and their maintenance. The testosterone hormone is required to increase the muscle mass and libido. The animal foods have large amount of saturated fats and cholesterol required for muscle building and that is why you should eat them.

July 1, 2014
Truth about the Vegan Diet

Veganism is a special type of vegetarian diet in which people completely exclude eggs, meats, dairy products and all those ingredients which are derived from the animals. In veganism, people completely boycott the processed foods such as the white sugar and wines as well. Those people who follow such diet as called as vegans. Vegans generally give several arguments so as to why you should stop eating the animal foods. There are many myths in the mind of the people regarding the vegan diets. Some believe that the vegan diet is the best way a person can lose weight and fight the life threatening diseases. Every now and then you will be inspired to follow the vegan diet as it is highly beneficial for the human body. But the reality is completely different from what is presented in front of you. Vegan diet has in fact lots of side effects as well on which people don’t pay much attention and these side effects deteriorate the health of the individual. Here we will be talking about such lies and myths people have regarding the vegan diets.

People generally believe that since the vegan diet is completely free from animal foods, they offer several health benefits and are in fact healthy compared to the other food items that we eat in our daily life. The proponents of the vegan diets have whole foods in them. Vegan diet completely boycotts refined sugar, refined grains, Trans fats, vegetable oils and other processed foods. Consequently many food items which offers fewer nutrients and have chemicals that are harmful for the human body gets eliminated. The health benefits of the vegan diet is due to the fact that they consume only the whole food and eliminates the processed food items as they have harmful ingredients in them. It is nothing to do with the elimination of the animal foods from the diet. None of the studies have been able to prove that animal food is bad for the human health.

The other reason which people give for you to encourage in joining the vegan diet club is that the animal foods have huge amount of fats in them which is extremely harmful and is the root cause of the heart disease. The truth is that the cholesterol and the saturated fats which are present in the animal foods improves the blood cholesterol profile and offer several health benefits. They both give rise to the HDL and not the LDL which consequently helps in protecting the heart from diseases. Some of the recent advanced studies conducted in this field have proved that there is absolutely no connection among the heart disease and the consumption of the saturated fats and cholesterol. Vegan people use this myth to attract people but this myth has now been completely debunked.

People believe that the vegan diet is the only way one can reverse the heart disease. There is a huge contradiction on this fact. Till date no major prove is present which can support this fact. While this is true that a diet which has low fat content in it can be helpful in reversing the heart diseases but it is not necessary for you to completely adopt the veganism.

There is a very famous China Study associated with the vegan diet. China Study is in fact a world famous book written by the veteran biochemist T. Colin Campbell. In this book the author has claimed that the animal protein is the reason people suffer from the cancer and various heart diseases and lose their precious life. He stated the facts by examining the results of the survey conducted in the Cornell Oxford Project in China. But many researchers and biochemists from around the world have expressed their unhappiness over the content written in the book and have contradicted the facts given by T. Colin Campbell. They believe that the book China Study is in fact a science fiction and there is not enough evidence to accept the claims made by T. Colin Campbell.

People opt for the vegan diet as they believe that the animal protein is bad for their health. But this is not true. The animal protein is in fact useful for the human body. Several researches made in this regard confirm the same. The diet which has high protein in it acts as a wonderful appetite suppressant and this eventually helps you in losing weight. If you want to shed some kilos from your body then you must opt for the animal proteins instead of ignoring them. Further the animal protein also lowers the blood pressure and helps in building muscles.

The vegans argue that the human body is naturally herbivore and so people should not eat the animal flesh of any type. This is rather contradictory. We people are consuming animal flesh from generations and our body is well adapted to consume and digest the animal flesh. The humans on the other hand are omnivores. There are lots of nutrients and minerals obtained from the animal foods which are good for us. Moreover the claim that the person opting for the vegan diet live longer is also not true. No study has been able to prove that vegan diet is superior and is more beneficial for health.

July 1, 2014
Foods that can actually kill you

We have several food items in the market which people believe are very healthy and essential for the human body. But there are not aware that these food items can cause serious damage to their body. The result of which can even lead to death of the person. You must be aware of the side effects of such food items so that you can stay protected. Here we are mentioning some of those foods and you should stop eating immediately as they can kill you.

Sports Drink:

Today we have several sports drink in the market and people believe that they are highly beneficial for the body. These types of drinks are specially designed for the people who get involved into the training sessions or play different sports. Due to the intense workout and physical labor they sweat a lot and the level of glycogen in their body goes down. The sports drink contains water, sugar and electrolytes which compensates for the loss of fluid, energy and the electrolytes. If you are not getting involved in any intense workout sessions then this drink can be highly dangerous for your body as you don’t need any additional sugar, fluid and electrolytes. So please avoid drinking it.

Heart Healthy Vegetable Oils:

People are so much influenced with the heart healthy vegetable oils that are present in the supermarkets. They believe that with its consumption, they can protect their heart and keep it healthy. But it is not necessarily true. The methods performed in their extractions are quite complex and involves several processes such as bleaching and addition of hexane which are very much harmful for the human body. As a result these oils have a large amount of Omega 6 fatty acid and trans fats in them which are not at all beneficial. There are chances that you may get diagnosed with the chronic diseases if you consume these types of oils.

Agave Nectar:

You must have seen several advertisements in which the manufacturers claim that their product is sugar free. It is because it contains Agave Nectar and it gives the sweetened taste. While people prefer it as Agave Nectar has low glycemic index and it acts as a wonderful replacement to the actual sugar, they are not aware that it contains unnatural fructose which cause several damages to the human body. Those people who are not very much active or say don’t exercise much, high fructose can lead them to serious diseases which are life threatening. Agave Nectar has 40 % more fructose in it than the actual sugar. So it is better to avoid them.

Energy Bars:

Energy bars are not for such people who have a normal routine. They are very much similar to the sports drink. The ingredients that they have are required only by the specific peoples and if you are not among them, then you should avoid it so that you remain protected. The sports personalities need extra protein intake so as to make them fitter and gain energy. So they eat it in 2-3 hours intervals. If you don’t have such work then there is no need for you to eat these energy bars. They have a lot of ingredients which are harmful for a normal person.

Fat Free Foods:

Today people love to eat those food items which have less fat or absolutely no fat in them as they believe that it is the best way they can keep a check on their health. But this is not at all a wise decision. The absence of fat in the body also leads to several diseases. The fat free foods have several disadvantages. Since they are highly processed and several chemicals and sweeteners are added so as to get rid of the fat contents, they are extremely dangerous for the human body. It is advised that you stay from such food items as their adverse effects can take your precious life from you as well.

Foods Having Low Carbohydrates:

People generally believe that it is good to eat those food items which offer low carbohydrates as they offer several health benefits. The market today is full of such food. For the companies which manufacture such food items, they find it a perfect opportunity to make some cash as people prefer them without knowing that such foods harm them and make them prone to the diseases. The artificial ingredients added in them can cause some serious damage and you can eventually get yourself killed because of its side effects.

Gluten Free Foods:

People today have started to eliminate gluten from their diet completely as they find it one such ingredient which causes them serious trouble. Gluten is found in wheat and barley. So the food items in the markets today are gluten free. But the point which needs attention here is that gluten free foods are not at all healthy. They contain starch and other artificial chemicals which causes several adverse effects on the health. Moreover they also have large sugar content. So you should understand that gluten containing food items are much healthier and the complete absence of gluten can deteriorate your health and cause you trouble.

July 1, 2014
Interesting facts about chocolates

HISTORY- The secret of cacao tree was discovered around 2,000 years ago in Central American rain forests. At that time tropical mix of rainfall combined with humidity and temperature provided the climate for cultivation of the plant from which chocolate is derived, called cacao tree. Cacao was an essential and important part of Mayan culture. The Mayan also used Cacao beans as currency. The first people who made chocolate were the cultures of America and Mexico. They mixed Cacao seeds with various seasonings to make spicy drink. Later, the drink’s popularity spread throughout the Europe. Since then, new experiments and techniques have brought changes in the tastes of chocolates. The taste of chocolate depends upon proportion of cacao and other integrands used in the mixture.

Studies have proved that dark chocolate which is sweet and delicious is good for curing heart stroke. Dark chocolate is made from cacao beans. It has coconut palm sugar and it is high in nutrients. It contains high level of flavonoids and antioxidants. It contains low glycemic index so it doesn’t raise your sugar level. Dark chocolate reduces insulin resistance and helps your body to efficiently use the insulin. It stimulates the production of chemicals in the brain that brings you the feeling of pleasure. It also works as an anti-depressant. Flavonoids in dark chocolates helps in protecting and increasing blood flow in skin and improves skin’s complexion. It contains a chemical which is effecting in treating cough. Dark chocolate is considered as one of the best food for fighting against cancer. It reduces inflammation and inhibits cancer cell division. Dark chocolates have positive effects on blood pressure, stress, circulation and energy. The dark chocolate antioxidants and other phytochemicals can balance blood pressure and promote general health by reversing heart disease.

Researchers have found that chocolates can protect against tooth decay. Even someday its components may be added to face wash and tooth pastes. Scientists have discovered that the outer part of the cacao bean which usually goes as waste during chocolate production has an anti-bacterial effect on mouth and it can fight against dental plaque and other damaging agents. The foods which contain carbohydrates are cavity causing culprits whereas cacao butter in chocolates coats your teeth and make them less likely to cause tooth decay. Chocolates may be high in sugar but they melts in very much less time in your mouth giving no time to bacteria to cause tooth decay or any other damage.

Chocolate contains the stimulant Theobromine and also phenylethylamine, which stimulates the same hormones as lovemaking. There are some small amount of a substance in chocolates which gives a feeling of wellbeing. Chocolate triggers the brain and releases a hormone which speeds up your pulses and give you a pleasant high feeling, rather like being in love. Studies have shown reduction in stress hormones and other stress-related changes in those who eats chocolates regularly than those who does not. Some substances in cacao affects the levels of serotonin – which can ease depression and boost your mood.

Cocoa chocolate was known not only for its good taste but also for its effective health effects. It improves the heart function and relieves stimulation of the nervous system, facilitated digestion, and improved kidney and bowel function. In addition, cocoa was used to treat, mental fatigue, anemia, tuberculosis, gout, fever, kidney stones, and even poor sexual appetite. Foods rich in flavonoids were associated with a decreased risk of death caused by heart disease. Dark chocolate prevents arteriosclerosis, lowers high-blood pressure. Chocolate contains a molecule that can easily cross the blood-brain barrier, the levels in chocolate are probably too low to produce an effect on our mood by itself. Chocolates contain magnesium salts and its absence in elderly females may be responsible for the post-menopausal condition known as chocoholism. Chocolate contains a molecule that resembles psychoactive stimulants.

There is one more interesting fact which is not known to most of the people i.e food also promotes skin health. Chocolate is a skin-friendly ingredient which helps your skin to stay healthy, glowing and just flawless.Flavonols found in dark chocolate helps your skin to protect itself from sunburn, redness and other signs of UV damage. Cocoa helps in reducing stress hormones, which means less collagen breakdown in the skin and fewer wrinkles. It removes the dead skin cells and allows the newly exposed, fresh skin to breathe freely. Dark chocolates are found to be rich in copper, zinc and iron which promotes the cell renewal growth process. So eating at least 2 chocolates every day will increase oxygen and blood flow to the scalp and lead to healthier and strong hair. Chocolates have a low glycemic index which helps in reducing huge spikes in sugar level. Dark chocolates contain theobromine, a chemical which is found to harden our tooth enamel.

June 28, 2014
6 Motivational ways to stay healthy

Eat a healthy breakfast –

Most of us are unaware of some facts about breakfast. Even I used to think that taking breakfast daily will lead to me putting on weight and taking an egg and milk daily is so boring. But this type of thinking got clear when I came to know some interesting facts about breakfast. Now a days foods are high in calories and low on nutrition. A healthy breakfast is the cornerstone of a good and perfect diet. It sets you up so that you are full of energy and fuel for physical and mental performance. A healthy breakfast includes high fiber cereal which keeps diabetes, heart disease and stroke away from us. Researchers have shown that the one who take breakfast as a routine is leaner than who skip the morning meal.

Adding a little lean protein to the breakfast works as a booster of energy and helps you feeling full until lunchtime. Protein blunts your hunger and is the most satiating. The human body uses up a massive 440 calories during eight to nine hours sleep, that’s why breakfast in morning is so important.

To get you started here’s an idea of breakfast meal –

1egg

Oatmeal

Flax seeds

Almond slivers

1 glass milk

Fruits

Physical Exercise-

It is world known that physical activity is vital for your health. Regular physical activity both moderate and vigorous bring health benefits. Exercise can improve one’s performance by as much as 50% if they eat dark chocolate regularly. Regular exercise results in increased energy, increased metabolism, stress reduction and increased muscle tone, controls blood pressure, healthy weight etc. It also keeps you in shape so that you can enjoy leisure activities and offers great mental and social benefits. It protects you from stroke and heart diseases. Physical activity also stimulates various brain chemicals which may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. Exercise and physical activity delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system to work more efficiently. Get ready to work out with the given best exercises for heart health-

Walking

Cycling

Swimming

Yoga

Weight lifting

Regular Sleep hours-

Although most of the people are fond of sleeping but some of them are too busy in their work that they don’t find enough time for sleep. They don’t have any idea that lack of sleep can increase a person’s risk of serious health problems. Lack of sleep can make you put on weight by slowing the metabolism down. Researchers have found that getting good sleep works as a supplement medication for pain. Sleep also increases blood supply to our muscles, allowing our body to recover from the day’s stresses. When you are in a good sleep, your body temperature lowers, and this energy is utilized on growth and repair of tissues and cells.

So it’s an advice that make sleep a priority. Naps can help pick you up and make you work more efficiently.

Drink water at least 8 glasses a day-

Today most of the people prefer cold drinks over water. Drinking coke, Pepsi, etc. daily is their routine. There is something interesting which they are missing out. Let them think over this habit after reading the article. A human body is from 55% to 78% water. Every cell in your body needs water from head to toe. It is essential to consume water every day to prevent dehydration. You will look younger when your skin is properly hydrated. Water works as moisturizer for skin and increases skin elasticity. The waste is thrown out of the body in form of sweat and urine which reduces the risk of kidney stones and urine infections. It helps you in losing weight, building muscles, and is healthy for your joints. Also it saves your money as Water is FREE!

Eat fruits and vegetables-

Now a days whether he is a kid or adult, everyone like to eat junk food like burger, pizza, etc. They are unaware of the fact that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits may reduce risk of heart diseases and protect from cancer. Fruits and vegetables provide fiber that helps to maintain your digestive system. Freshly squeezed juices from fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of minerals and vitamins that catalyzes chemical reactions in the body. Also, fruits promote detoxification in the human body.

Food to maintain healthy joints-

Bone and join pain is common when you have reached on the age of 40. But here is something for your joint pain which really works. What you eat has direct effect on your joints and bones. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet really help you to keep your joints healthy. Several scientists have proved that tart cherry juice and fresh cherries may curb inflammation. Vitamin C helps your body to make collagen which is a part of our ligaments and cartilage which cushion your joints and hold them together. Calcium and vitamin D makes your joints strong.

June 28, 2014
Foods which are best for skin

The nutritious and healthy food is all that you want to have a perfect and blushing skin. Not only it protects the inner body but also shields from the outside. The better and more nutritious food stuff we take in results in more beautiful and vibrant skin. Now a day’s people spend a lot amount of money in buying skin products, but the results out of them are not found to be satisfactory. We can protect our skin by proper exercising, sleeping for adequate amount, avoiding damage from the sun and most importantly by eating healthy and nourishing food items. The right kinds of food items can certainly shield the skin from the effect of environment, location and time. People have become less concerned of what they eat and hence they end up buying expensive cosmetics for their skin. Taking all the necessary nutrients in your diet definitely results in glowing, healthy looking skin. So if you really want the radiant and shining skin then you have to make sure the food items you take in.

Drink a lot: In order to make your skin more flexible, drink a lot to provide it with moisture. Deficiency in the amount of moisture can lead to dry, dull and drained skin. It has been found out that it is necessary to drink around 6 to 8 glasses of water every day. If you are working or move out of your house, make it a habit to carry a bottle of water along with you. Consuming alcohol is damaging for the skin, so avoid extreme amount of it. Teas which do not contain caffeine are also good for the skin.

Almonds: Almonds are rich in Vitamin E and because of that it helps in protecting the skin from the damage of the sun. It has been found out that the people who ingest about 20 almonds a day are more resistant from the exposure to the sun as compared to the people who do not consume almonds. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant and hence it is quite beneficial for the skin. So don’t forget to eat almonds every day to have a beautiful and vibrant skin.

Fruits and Vegetables: Effective and necessary antioxidants are present in fruits and vegetables that provides shield to the skin from the cellular ravage that is triggered by the free radicals. These free radicals can lead to wrinkles and age marks on the skin. They are produced by contamination, effluence, smoking as well as sunlight. Proper amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet are very important for healthy and fit skin. Try to include papaya, spinach, pumpkin and sweet potatoes in your diet as they rich in all the necessary nutrients which the skin wants.

Green Tea: Green tea has many benefits like it provides relaxing and soothing effect. Apart from that it contains antioxidants that fight with tenderness, swelling and inflammation. It is also studied that the consumption of green tea may diminish the danger of skin cancer as well. Because of the high amount of antioxidant present in the green tea, it helps in reducing the redness. So it is advised to consume 1 cup of green day every single day.

Guava, Orange, papaya: Vitamin C is considered as an excellent antioxidant. It is very essential for us and provides us with many benefits like it plays a vital role for the robust immune system. It makes the skin glowing, shining and healthy looking. It helps in the healing of the blemishes and the marks. There is wide range of vitamin c rich food items that you can consume. Some of the finest sources include guava, orange, papaya, kiwi and many more. Hence, make your skin looks vibrant and lively as a result of vitamin c rich food stuff.

Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate proves to be very valuable for the skin. The antioxidant present in the dark chocolate is ‘flavonols’ that helps in reducing the coarseness in the skin. It also provides protection from the sun. It acts as a sun blocker. The skin becomes more flexible and agile as the cocoa provides moisture to the skin. A little amount of it every day certainly improves the glow and shine on the skin. The person who consumes it has an advance texture of the skin and he or she is more resistant to the sun rays.

Walnuts: Omega -3 fatty acids are very important for us as it helps in improving the flexibility and agility of the skin. Walnut is very rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Apart from that walnut also contains copper, which is a useful mineral that increase the creation of collagen. So in order to get a better skin texture and to make the skin more refreshing eat walnuts every single day.

We all have various creams as well as skin treatments but the skin becomes more beautiful with the intake of nourishing and healthy food products. It is essential that we include the desirable nutrients in our everyday diet to make the skin radiant and fabulous. So make sure that you consume the vital nutrients every single day.

June 28, 2014
Mainstream Nutrition Myths

People generally have a lot of nutrition myths in their knowledge and they follow it as they have heard it from somewhere and consider it as a true fact. But today science and technology has progressed a lot. We no longer live in the world where facts cannot be verified. The scientific studies have proved that the following mentioned myths are baseless and people should ignore them completely. So here we go.

You should eat less salt so as to prevent the heart attacks: Yes you may have heard this myth from a lot of people advising you to eat less salt as in helps in preventing the heart attacks. While this has been proved that eating less salt reduces the blood pressure of the human body to a very slight level, there has not been any link established between the heart attacks and the salt consumptions. If you are suffering from hypertension then salt intake should be restricted to prescribed limit. So don’t go for the boring and tasteless food. Eat as such as salt you feel like.

Having several small meals is more beneficial for health: people often argue that that those who eat several small meals in a day are more active as their metabolism rate is higher than the people who eat at the fixed timings. This is again a myth and it is not correct. The activeness of the human body depends upon the calories that are burnt throughout the day. So if you are having 6-7 small meals or going for the regular 3 meals, the effects will be same. Eating very often can also increase the abdominal fats which is very harmful.

You should go for foods which have high carbohydrates and low fats: Now this is one such myth which is extremely popular. You must have often heard people saying that one should eat food items which have high carbohydrates and low fats, as in this way you can prevent the body from any sort of disease and stay healthy. Further they also help in losing weight and prevent the risk of cancer. This is completely baseless. There has been several studies conducted on this myth but none has been able to give results which can support this claim.

Avoid eating yolks in eggs as they have high cholesterol and causes heart disease: I mean seriously you believe this myth. Yolk has the tremendous source of essential vitamins and minerals which the body requires for proper functioning. It has a high amount of good cholesterols which are essential for the human beings and clearly it does not cause the heart attacks. If you are diabetic then surely you should not eat eggs. But if you are healthy then you must eat eggs as they are among the most nutritious foods that we have. So who so ever tells you to stop eating yolk or eggs, ask them to read about the benefits of eating eggs and get their facts corrected.

Avoid coffee as it is unhealthy: You must have been advised by your loved ones that you should not drink coffee too much as it contains caffeine which is not only dangerous for the health but also gets you addicted towards it. But the latest studies conducted have yielded different results. According to them, coffee offers several health benefits and so you should drink it more often. It is a wonderful source of the antioxidants and helps people in getting rid of the depression and diabetes.

Say no to high protein diets: Most of the people believe that diets which are high in proteins such as the chickens and meats causes the extra strain on the kidneys and make it prone to the diseases. Result of which can lead to the kidney failure. But this is not at all true. The protein intake is completely safe for the people who are healthy and only those people who have kidney diseases should stop themselves from eating protein rich foods. Proteins act as a wonderful agent which suppresses the appetite and helps in the weight loss process.

Avoid full fat dairy products: you must have seen people opting for the toned milk instead of the full cream milk. It is because they believe that fully fat dairy products have a high amount of the calories and saturated fats present in them which results in the increase of obesity and the risk of the heart disease. But none of studies conducted so far have not been able to prove these myths as a true fact. The dairy products are preferred as they have high amount of fat in them and so if you choose to go for the less fat products then it is surely a bad idea.

Sugar is not harmful for the human body: We use sugars in several drinks and food items daily without paying attention towards the amount of sugar that we are consuming. Excess sugar consumption has several health disadvantages. You should check the consumption of sugar as it provides the empty calories which are not good for the healthy body. Not only it can cause you obesity, diabetes but it also affects the metabolic reactions going inside the human body.

June 28, 2014