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Wonderful Soy milk!

Something that can prove to be the best alternative for milk is SOY MILK. It is rich, nutritious and very healthy drink. Soy milk has become so famous because of its high quality proteins and anti oxidative qualities. Most of the people drink this milk because of the added health benefits attached to it. As being lactose free, it is primarily used by lactose intolerant persons. It may lack in context of taste, but people consume out of its advantages and nutritive value, but now even the taste is improved since it has been started to produce commercially. This is well known how much beneficial soya and its products are as they are protein dense and can provide all the protein in a vegan diet, that you can get from meat. Similarly, Soy milk is the best substitute for Diary milk (cow milk) and for meat and chicken protein (animal protein). Soy milk or Soya milk is a plant milk, which is produced by soaking dry soyabeans, boiling and grinding them with water. It is a traditional staple in the Asian diet and has the same amount of food value and proteins and even higher as that of cow milk. One can take soy milk as per their taste as there is plain soy milk, which is unsweetened and salted soya milk is also consumed in some countries. Also, many soy products are sweetened. It was first produced in China.
Soy milk is a super awesome drink rich in many nutrients, vitamins and minerals and is a good replacement for animal protein and some sources of dietary fiber. Moreover, it also contains digestible calcium, little saturated fat and no cholesterol and contains no lactose. Soy milk has found many uses in vegan and vegetarian diet and vegan recipes and cooking. Soy milk has versatile uses and is used in making soy cream, soy yoghurt, soy based cheese analogues and tofu is also a product of soya. To know more about the benefits of this wonderful beverage, let’s have a look on these :

It reduces Cholesterol and improves Lipid profile: People who include soy milk in their diet have reduced cholesterol levels as it is unsaturated with no cholesterol, unlike cow milk which is high in saturated fat and is unhealthy and increase your cholesterol. Studies have found significant results in maintaining good cholesterol levels in the blood with the use of soy milk and decreasing LDL which is bad cholesterol. Also, the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid in soy can inhibit the transport of cholesterol in your blood stream and this is why it is recommended to take soy milk as a regular drink and enjoy it.
It helps in loosing weight: Soy milk is really helpful if you want to lose weight as it has natural sugar content and has very few calories almost equal to skim milk. Also, intake of soy milk is high in fiber content which makes you feel full for longer time, and makes you eat less and paves a way for less craving. Moreover, monounsaturated fatty acid present in soy milk can restrain the intestinal absorption of fat.
It is rich in Isoflavones: Presence of isoflavones is a very unique benefit of soy milk and is beneficial like anything. The health benefits can range from prevention of osteoporosis, ease of postmenopausal symptoms, reduction of cholesterol, prevention from risk of certain cancers; breast cancer and prostate cancer. Also, they are antioxidants that protect our cells and DNA against oxidation and this is not found in cow’s milk and that’s why it is sometimes considered as more beneficial than the dairy milk.
It has no lactose: The most beneficial use of soy milk is for lactose intolerant population. This lactose free is preferable by many because of its several benefits. In addition, it has prebiotic sugars, which decrease the toxic substances in the body and boosts immunity.
It Strengthens and nourishes the Blood vessel integrity: Soy milk is extremely helpful in nourishing the blood vessels due to the nutrients present in it as the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and also the Phyto-antioxidants in soy milk protect your blood vessels from hemorrhage. These compounds are helpful because they bind to the blood vessels lining and defend the lining cells from cholesterol deposits and free radicals attacks. The binding action of these nutrients also improves the flexibility and fluidity of your blood vessels. In such a way, it plays an important role and the reason the regular intake of soya milk is recommended.

Woah! So many benefits. No? After all these good facts about soy milk, the one who doesn’t really like having it, will start drinking it. There are many variants of soy milk available in your grocery store with so many flavors, like pistachio, chocolate, almond and plain too. You can pick any flavor of your choice and have it with all your heart for your healthy heart. Now, even if you are lactose intolerant, which has become quite common, you have milk that fulfills your craving for milk with so many other attached benefits, which may not be there in cow milk. Enjoy your Soy milk.

Happy drinking. Happy Life!

July 1, 2014
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
Water: The Most Essential Requirement for the Human Body

It has been proved that the human body is 60 % made up of water. Water is the most essential requirement for any individual. Different people have different opinions on how much water you should drink each day. Generally it is recommended that you should drink about 2 liters of water per day. There is an 8×8 rule which says that a normal human being should drink 8 ounce of water, eight times a day which adds up to form about half a gallon water. Although this rule is arbitrary and there is no scientific explanation behind it, it is very much useful. The human body requires this much of water daily as it constantly loses water in the form of sweat and urine. But some people have the opinion that in order to avoid the dehydration, you should drink water throughout the day even if you are not thirsty. There are certain internal and external factors which play a vital role in an individual’s need for water. The important point is that without water the survival of the human beings is not possible. You cannot survive long if we do not drink water daily in the adequate amount. For most of the body organs to work properly and the various metabolism functions in the body, water is extremely essential.

If the human body is not provide with adequate amount of water, the energy level of the body comes downs and so as a result the functioning of the brain is affected. There are unexpected mood swings and headaches. Even the mild dehydration of the human body gives rise to the several problems. People start to lose weight and the brain consequently experiences its negative impact. If you are among such people who perform vigorous exercises then you must stay hydrated all the time as the less water content in your body will affect your physical performance and will eventually decrease your endurance.

Many people believe that drinking lots of water help them in losing weight because the water reduces the appetite and it increases the metabolism activities in the human body. This is actually true. When you drink water the metabolism of the body increases by about 25 % which is a very significant figure. Now again if you drink the prescribed amount of water daily, the energy expenditure of the body which is measured in the term of calories increases by about 96 calories per day. The key point here is that you should drink water prior to your meals as it will help in reducing the amount of the calories that you will consume during your meals. In this way you can keep a check on the amount of calories you consume and lose weight as per your requirement.

Now there are many health benefits of drinking water and it also helps you in avoiding many life taking diseases. According to the studies conducted in the various parts of the world, if you consume water in the prescribed amount daily, then you can avoid constipation, formation of stones in your kidneys, skin hydration, formation and spread of acne and most importantly you can also protect yourself from and bladder cancer. If you are among such people who do not drink water in desired quantity then, you must start doing it as it is extremely beneficial for your health.

Now it is also not necessary that you should drink the plain water to complete the daily dose of your water requirement. You can also drink tea, coffee and eat water rich foods to compensate for the water required by the human body. There are many vegetables and fruits which are very much rich in water content. Meat, eggs and fish are some of the examples of such foods. All these food items also contribute in maintaining the fluid balance in your body. But you must protect yourself from sweating a lot.

Maintaining the water balance in the body is one such aspect where you must pay special attention. We feel thirsty when the water balance in your body goes below the accepted level. If you feel thirsty, then you must immediately find a water source and drink it in appropriate amount. You should never ignore such feelings as it is highly essential for your survival. In a normal human being the thirst instinct is so strong and reliable that it is sufficient to pay attention towards the water requirement of the body. The water need of the body varies from individual to individual. For some people 2 liters is more than enough while for some people they feel like drinking water on very small intervals. In certain case such as ladies who get involved in breastfeeding their child should drink a lot of water. Similarly if you had vomiting or if you are suffering from diarrhea, then you must increase the amount of water that you drink daily.

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
Bloody Mary: One of the Most Popular Cocktails

Bloody Mary is of the very popular cocktail among the alcohol lovers. Both men and women love to have a sip of this popular cocktail occasionally. Bloody Mary is prepared by mixing vodka along with tomato juice, cayenne pepper, olives, celery salt, black pepper, lemon juice, horseradish, piri piri sauce, celery, Tabasco sauce, beef consommé and Worcestershire sauce. There are so many ingredients and they must be mixed at right time to get the best variety of Bloody Mary. It is so considered as one of the most complex cocktail drink. The final drink which is presented is marvelous in taste and the pleasure that one gets by drink Bloody Mary is simply amazing. Bloody Mary’s lovers term this drink as the most refreshing alcoholic beverage. The reason is that it not gives you the much desired buzz but also offers healthy serving of the various juices added to it.

The ingredient in the Bloody Mary together makes it an excellent restorative beverage and so it is an excellent drink using which you can get rid of your hangovers. People generally prefer this alcoholic drink in the morning or during the afternoon hours. It is mostly preferred with the brunches. Bloody Mary can be prepared in various manners by the varying the ingredients that are added to it. There are dozens of Bloody Mary variants today and different people have their different choices. Some of those methods have been described below.

Simple Bloody Mary: To prepare a simple Bloody Mary take the ingredients in the following quantify. 4 oz. vodka, Worcestershire sauce, 1/16 cup oz. tomato sauce, 2 oz. dill pickle juice, 3 tablespoon lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, ½ tablespoon each of celery salt and horseradish sauce and lastly 2 tablespoon of coarse salt. Mix the sauces along with the salts in the highball glass and then add all the other ingredients. Gently stir the mixture for about 25 seconds so that all the ingredients get mixed properly. Cover the rim of the glass in which the drink will be served with the lime juice and then apply coarse salt over it. Pour the drink in it and serve it with ice cubes.

Spicy Bloody Mary: Spicy Bloody Mary is different from the Simple Bloody Mary as the quantity of the ingredients in this variety is completely different. To prepare this drink take the following ingredients in the following quantity. 1 ½ oz. of vodka, 1 large lime wedge, 4 oz. tomato sauce, coarse salt as per taste, a very little fresh pepper, celery salt, 8 shakes of Worcestershire sauce, 2 dashes of hot sauce, 1/8 teaspoon of horseradish, green olive and spicy pickled asparagus. Mix them well with the crushed ice and then add the toppings. Squeeze a lime wedge and apply salt on the top of the glass along with coarse salt. The final drink will have a spicy taste. If you want to make it extra spicy then you can also add green beans to it.

White Bloody Mary: It is yet another popular version of Bloody Mary. The quantity of the ingredients in White Bloody Mary is 3 oz. vodka, 4 chopped tomatoes, 1 chopped cucumber, 2 cups green grapes, seeded jalapeno, 2 peeled celery, 2 lime wedges and 1 tablespoon each of salt, fine sugar, horseradish and pepper. You can also add cucumber spears to it. First of all take the chopped tomato, celery, cucumber, grapes and jalapeno in a blender and crush them completely. Then finely take out the juice prepared in a bowl and keep it in a refrigerator till it stains. Now in a pitcher add this prepared juice along with the vodka, ice and various other mentioned salts. Gently stir the mixture obtained and then finally pour it into a glass whose top is again rubbed with the lime wedge. You can now garnish the drink as per your choice and then serve it.

People believe that Bloody Mary drink was first prepared by a bartender named as Fernand Pete Petiot while working in the very famous New York Bar which is located in Paris. Just with the motive of creating a unique drink and to keep the clients interested, he prepared Bloody Mary for the first time. The drink was highly appreciated and everybody who got chance to drink it were highly impressed. His colleagues named it as Bloody Mary. Some people also believe that this alcoholic drink was invented by the veteran comedian George Jessel during his stay in the 21 Club. In one of the life magazine published in the year 1942, this drink was also named as the “Red Hammer”. The IBA claims that name Bloody Mary is nowhere related to the Queen Mary I of England and has also not been named after the waitress who used to work at the Chicago Bar. It was named as per the suggestion of the Petiot colleagues. Whatever may be the story behind this drink, just try this drink and I bet you will surely like it.

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
The most Refreshing Yogurt : Lassi

Lassi, a yogurt based drink which always leaves you wanting more. In this summer nothing can be more refreshing than this coolant drink. Yogurt drinks are widely popular all over the world. In India people referred this yogurt based drink as “Lassi”.

Lassi is also known as buttermilk is a traditional drink in India and Pakistan. It was originated in Punjab and is an age-old custom in Punjab to serve this coolant drink after the meal in huge glasses. It consist of Yogurt or curd, water, sugar, pepper, raisins and sometimes salt too. Lassi can be salty or sweet and it depends on our taste which one we would like to have. Different flavors of it can be generated by adding seasonal fruits. To give a creamy taste it is topped with clotted cream. Lassi is chilled with ice-cubes and served during or after the meal as a refreshment drink.

Lassi along with refreshment also helps in maintaining our digestive system and enzymes. Lassi being an item prepared from curd helps in alleviating problems related to stomach such as constipation etc. It helps in generating healthy bacteria and decreases the number of bad bacteria. Being rich in proteins it is a main intake of bodybuilders to keep their muscles stiff. Whenever we feel low a glass of Lassi can work and increases our energy level. It is also used to provide strength to our bones as it is a good source of calcium. It also decreases building up of bacteria and gastrointestinal problems.

Lassi is of only two types: Sweet or Salted…Really is it so?? The answer is NO..Lassi comes with its variants…it mainly depends on our taste and ingredients we would love to have. Like Sweet Lassi is a flavoured form of lassi with sugar and different form of flavours added to it e.g. Rose, Lemon, Strawberry or any other juices. Saffron Lassi is a type of this which has saffron as a special ingredient in it. This is popular in Pakistan and Rajasthan. Makkhaniya lassi is lassi topped with a layer of butter over it.

Preparation of lassi is quite easy. You just want some ingredients and blender with you. Ingredients required are: 1.5 cups curd, 7-8 tbsp sugar, 1/2 cups water, saffron (optional), 6-7 almonds/nuts, I tbsp rose water, ice cubes. Initially take the curd, sugar in a blender and blend it. It is blended until an even mixture is obtained. Make sure that it is not blended for a long time otherwise butter will start to float on the top. Now lassi is ready and pour it into the tall glasses. Sprinkle the nuts and pieces of almonds over it. Saffron is added if required.

Mango Lassi is prepared from mango pulp and yogurt. Sugar is optional ingredient in it. It has gained its popularity all over the world including UK, Singapore, Malaysia. In Canada this lassi is treated as a cold drink with kesar mango pulp added to it along with the cream and there it is served with an ice cream. To make it more delicious nuts are also sprinkled at its top.

Bhang Lassi, the name itself creates an image of Punjab’s culture. This lassi contains bhang as an ingredient in it. Bhang is a type of liquid derivative of eaten forms of Cannabis. This is mainly taken during Holi and it is served with pakodas. In Uttar Pradesh there are some bhang shops and they all are licensed so you people can visit, can buy some bhang products in case you want to and can enjoy bhang lassi.

Chaach is another form of lassi which is salted in form. It is diluted in form and contains salt and jeera for giving salty taste. Some people used to add green chillies as a seasonal element. In Gujarat and Rajasthan it is served along with the meal and especially during summers. It acts as coolant drink during this hot season.

In the hot summer, chilled Lassi is served in tall a glass which is topped with clotted cream. In Punjab, the demand is getting so high day by day that shopkeeper started using washing machines for blending curd instead of mixers. With these maximum demands can be easily fulfilled. Lassi so prepared is very thick and spoon is served with it to make it easy to drink. Firstly, you can have the taste of buttery cream and then drink that lassie. People in Northern India preferred to have lassi with samosa, paranthas and sometimes with chat too.

Lassi must be prepared in a proper way like never add lassi with the fruit because curd and fruit always contradicts each other so it can indirectly harm our immune system. Reduce the consumption of lassi in winters and especially at late nights because it increases the concentration of phlegm in our body.

June 28, 2014