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FOOD-ball

As the FIFA fever is gripping the world with its flair and fast paced games, it makes us wonder where these players get their stamina from! Most of these players are from European and North American countries where the climate is entirely different from those witnessed in the Samba land. The temperature in Paris at this time of the year would be between 10-15°c which is much lower than the sub 40°c climates in Rio. The players are extremely fit which is natural for sportsmen but the current crop of players are fitter than any of the previous generations because of the importance given to the fitness and diet routines of these players. Every player has his own set of physics and dieticians who monitor his every move and all the food that he eats and they even decide whether the player can play the next match or not.

Sports Diets

An average footballer runs about 9-10 kilometres during the 90 minutes of a match and can lose up to 2kgs during the course of the match in this extreme heat. The amount of workload on the body is immense and in a month long tournament it can be downright gruesome! In order to overcome this, the most important thing for the players is to keep themselves hydrated. Hydration involves drinking the right amount of liquids, never too high and definitely never too low. Dehydration could affect the performance as well adversely affect the body of the player, sometimes even affecting his career. The diet consciousness came about at the end of 20th century and has picked up pace during the 2000’s. Arsene Wenger, manager of one of the most successful teams in Europe inherited an Arsenal team which was fond of eggs, fried foods and junk foods. He took it upon himself to introduce the team to light and healthier foods which saw them transform into a super power in English football!

It is a given that the performance of these players is heavily dependent on their training, skill set and extraordinary workout regimes. But no amount of skill could compensate for the need of a proper diet. A footballer or for that matter any sportsperson cannot have a long career if he/she doesn’t follow a proper and balanced diet.

Gerard Pique, the Spanish defender who is considered to be one of the best in the business, revealed his diet in an interview sometime back. He has six meals a day out of which two are heavy meals and two are snack meals and two meals between the heavy ones. He consumes foods which are rich in carbohydrates but low in calories. He also says that he avoids foods and drinks which have high sugar content.

Generally a good sleep followed by Breakfast comprising whole grain breads, milk and fresh fruits can bring about a prolific uplift in a players performance on field.

Proteins

Proteins are very helpful for a balanced diet. They can be converted to fat and stored like carbohydrates which are very necessary for quick muscle recovery thus reducing the risk of cramps and muscle tears.

Isotonic Sports Drinks

One of the huge improvements in sports diets have been the introduction of isotonic sports drinks. The science behind it is that when sodium is absorbed into blood it takes water with it which replaces the salt that has left the system through sweat. Electrolytes are the salts that are lost through sweating and these are found in isotonic drinks and getting them into the system will aid in digestion and osmosis of fluids entering the body and muscles. The energy within these drinks is in the form of glucose. Drinking this during training will help your muscles work for a longer time and drinking them after training will help your muscles recover more quickly for next training session.

The complete diet

Breakfast should generally comprise of cereals, preferably bran flakes and shreds of wheat. Bagels and blueberries are also considered to be good breakfast supplements. Lunch should generally consist of baked potatoes with beans. Sandwiches are also a good source of nutrition but the butter content should be kept to minimum and the sandwich should be a healthy filling of a proper foods. Dinners can consist of pasta, chicken, rice, baked potatoes and green vegetables.

Snacks such as chocolates can be an energy booster when taken during training but can affect the body and be stored as fats when they are taken otherwise.

The modern sportsman

It is often commented, sometimes with greed about the amount of money the modern sportsmen make through commercials and through sports. But it has to be kept in mind that in order to attain that level these men strive for years putting their minds and bodies in line. These sportsmen keep their body fit and some of them have better physique than models and actors, who spend the entire time trying to look their best. The extreme levels of fitness in modern sportsmen is due to heavy training and workout regimes and very strict and balanced diets which prevents them from eating what they like throughout their professional careers, which begin at early teens and goes on until the late 30’s in some cases. Thus while enjoying a global tournament like FIFA world cup we should pause to look at how these players prepare themselves for the big stage which could even be useful in our own lives where we often get depressed when there is one less chicken piece in our everyday briyani!

June 24, 2014
Get hydrated with fruity Fruits this Summer!

Fruits are lovable part of the diet all over. These are naturally sweetened, flavored palatable to famish over whenever you want and the bonus is the vitamins and minerals we get and other innumerable benefits. They are overloaded with vitamins and other nutrients and antioxidants and keep you fit, healthy, and hydrated and also the pleasurable feeling you get after the consumption. The refreshing experience of the fruits is irreplaceable. The wrenching heat of summer demands hydration of body or otherwise it gets too stressed up and tiring. In summer, your body water levels drop so quickly that you wouldn’t even realize when you are already dehydrated due to sweating. Obviously, water is the best bet for hydration, but you also need to make up for the electrolytes you loose in sweat due to sun or heat. For that, you need fruits to keep you fully refreshed and hydrated. According to the old rule of thumb, one is supposed to drink eight glasses of water per day, which sometimes can’t be fulfilled due to any varied reasons. Though, its really important to drink plenty of water in the summertime, but one can also quench his thirst by having the hugely hydrating foods, which have atleast 90% water content. Hydrating foods provide us with plenty of fluids and nutrients to fuel the hotness of summer. Let’s go through these summer special fruits high in water and nutrients and how they benefit us in so many ways;

Watermelon: It is but obvious that juicy watermelon is full of water. It has almost 90% water content, low in calories and high in fiber, which helps in losing weight and prevents constipation and obviously keeps you hydrated. Afterall, it is the number 1 water containing fruit. They are also rich in Vitamin C, which provides protection against immune system deficiencies and also have Vitamin A which is important for good skin and good eyesight. The red skin of a watermelon is also a significant source of phytochemicals, called lycopene, a nutrient which is cancer fighting anti-oxidant. This fruit is really refreshing is a great incentive to drink more water overall.

Lychee: It is very sweet flavored, all time favorite fruit of old and young. It is a great source of Vitamin C, which helps to prevent cold, gum bleeding, heal wounds, build collagen for skin and bones, protects the heart and prevents infections and also helps the body to fight against cancer. They are very rich in polyphenols, which help to protect against heart problems, cancer and infections and lychees also help to improve bowel movement and digestion. Lychees are also a good source of potassium, an electrolyte that helps to control blood pressure, contract muscles and maintain fluid balance.

Pineapple: Pineapple has anti-inflammatory properties and growth of cancer cells and is a good source of energy. It is a great digestive fruit as contains enzyme bromelain, which softens the food in the stomach and is rich in fiber and relieves constipation. It is also rich in manganese that is necessary to build strong bones and connective tissues. It has high Vitamin C content which strengthens the immune system and improves hair, skin and nails.

Mango: The king of all fruits, Mango is very tasty, juicy, versatile fruit and is loved by everyone. The enzymes in mango help to improve digestion, and the Vitamin A in mango is like a power supply for your eyes and skin, improves acne, clears complexion, helps to prevent eyesight related issues and gives a glow to your skin, with anti ageing benefits. The vitamin B6 content helps to improve brain function and memory and Vitamin C helps to boost immunity. It also keeps the body cool and refreshed.

Honeydew Melon or Cantaloupe: This moist, luscious melon provides a big nutritional payoff for very few calories. It is a refreshing fruit filled with water give you cool feeling on a summer day. It is high in Vitamin A and C which helps to neutralize toxins and also helps in the synthesis of collagen, which is used to support blood vessels, ligaments and skin. It also improves skin texture and complexion. The potassium in the cantaloupe helps to lower high blood pressure. If you have a sweet tooth, it will definitely satisfy.

Peaches: The peaches, being naturally sweet, high in fiber and low in calories helps in weight loss. Also being a good source of Vitamin B provides energy. Peaches also provide magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, iron and calcium, and they work to support red blood cells, bone and nervous system health. Peaches are rich in Vitamin A, a great antioxidant, which helps in protecting the body against cancer, skin, eyes from damage. The fiber in peaches helps to lower cholesterol and they are a super source of potassium for normal BP, heart disease and muscle function.

Amla: Something that is extremely rich in Vitamin C is, amla. It is a powerful antioxidant and helps to prevent gum problems and prevents common cold and cough by boosting immunity. It has many benefits ranging from improving vision and cataracts and improves skin texture and act as anti ageing, also strengthens nails and prevent hair fall. It helps in the absorption of iron thereby preventing anemia and increases your digestive power and helps in weight loss as well. It also acts as a detoxifying agent for the liver and kidneys, prevents cancer, mouth ulcers and also enhances mood. Amla is really worth having.
Now, you can enjoy so many fruits this summer as per your choice and taste and keep your body healthy and hydrated, to keep your water levels high and feel refreshed at any time of the day in this hot summer.
Love fruits. Happy Summertime.

June 24, 2014
Home made vanilla ice cream

Ice cream is a frozen dessert that is made from the dairy products like milk and cream and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavors.Most of these ice creams contain sugar and few uses some other sweeteners.While few of them uses artificial colors and flavors in addition to the natural ingredients.These mixture of ingredients are stirred slowly in order to incorporate air and to prevent formation of large ice crystals.The obtained product in semi solid state and is served as scoops.

So yummy and delicious Ice cream

History:

Ice creams origin took place almost far back in second century BC., Although we dont know the specific date of discovery and by whom but we know that the great Alexander enjoyed snow and ice flavored with honey and nectar.Biblical references also show that King Solomon was fond of iced drinks during harvesting.Also we know that during the Roman Empire, Nero Claudius Caesar frequently used to sent runners into the mountains for the snow and is flavored with fruits and nuts.The historians say that the recipe evolved during 16th century.England have discovered ice cream even earlier than the Italians.

Ingredients:

1) Take one cup of whole milk

2) Take about 3/4th cup of sugar

3) Take one vanilla bean and it is split lengthwise

4) Take two cups of heavy cream

5) Take five large egg yolks

6) Take one teaspoon pure vanilla extract

7) Take a pinch of salt

Ingredients that are required for making vanilla ice cream

Preparation:

There is a delightful taste for the home made vanilla ice cream.This can be served alone or even along with the fruit salad which is even tastier.This vanilla ice cream can be prepared by using a ice cream maker or even with out using it. All you need is the best quality ingredients you can find and a little patience.Once you have prepared this at home you will never eat ice cream that is brought from out.When ever the climate is hot ,there is nothing better than a frosty scoop of home made ice cream that is pulled right from your freezer.

Step 1:

At first take a medium sauce pan and heat up the milk, sugar and salt in it.By using a knife scrape the seeds from vanilla bean carefully.Add the seeds that are scraped to the milk.After that the flamed is turned off and the sauce pan is covered by using a lid and leave it undisturbed for at least one hour.The next thing we have to do is to keep the heavy ice bath chilled.Take a large bowl and fill it with chilled water and ice cubes and let the heavy cream sit in the ice bowl until it is cooled.Take a bowl and whisk egg yolk until it is combined.Now again heat the vanilla mixed milk.After it is heated mix it with the egg yolk little amounts and stir it continuously.After they are mixed take the mixture into a saucepan and heat it on a low flame. Place the saucepan on a low heat and stir the custard constantly.When the custard forms a light coat on the back of the spoon or spatula, it is ready. Strain the custard into the heavy cream, and then stir in the vanilla extract.Now take the mixture in a container and refrigerate it overnight.

Heating the ingredients milk sugar and salt in a saucepan

Step 2:

Take out the ice cream mixture from the refrigerator and stir it continuously with a rubber spatula.Now transfer the mixture into a bowl and cover it with a plastic cover and make it air tight and place it back in a refrigerator.

Take out ice cream mixture from freezer and stir using rubber spatula

Step 3:

After forty five minutes take it out when the edges of the mixture started to freeze.At this stage take it out and mix it with a handheld mixer.After stirring well keep back in freezer for two to three hours and stirring should be done for every 30 minutes for soft taste.Stirring continuously is important when we are not using a ice cream maker.

Take out ice cream mixture from freezer and stir using rubber spatula until the freezed edges are softened

Step 4:

After the two hours is completed take it out from refrigerator and beat the mixture again with a hand mixer.The mixture should be thick but still too soft to scoop which is prominent for making an ice cream with good taste.If the ice cream is not so thick return it back to the freeze and leave it to freeze for some more time.If the ice cream has become thick then at this stage we can add some ingredients like chocolate chips, cookies, dry fruits to it.

Take this type of container and fill the ice cream in it

Step 5:

This is the final step and here we can take the mixture into plastic container and close by using a plastic wrap and keep it in a refrigerator.Make sure that we have left some gap while filling the ice cream in the plastic container.That’s it yummy delicious vanilla ice cream is ready.

June 24, 2014
Ten Minutes or Less: Food Tips and Tricks
We live in a fast track world where things happen like… whoooosh. There are mornings when one doesn’t have enough time to make a breakfast and there are nights when after a hard day’s work no one has enough energy to stand in the kitchen and cook food for one more hour. In the age when Pizza comes under 30 minutes, who wants to wait for 1 hour for the food? So, here we are today with tips and tricks of Food meals that can be cooked in 10 minute or less.
1. Cereal Breakfast:-
This is the easiest thing that can be made in less than 10 minutes. Even you can get time to read your email and wash the dishes while you complete the 10 minutes of this dish.

Ingredients needed:-

1 cup low fat yogurt

1 tbsp honey

1/2 cup corn flakes

Sliced almonds to taste

Directions:-

Put 1 cup low-fat yogurt in the cereal bowl (we are using this instead of milk). Add 1 tbsp honey to it. Now put the ½ cup corn flakes and sliced almonds for the extra flavor if needed.
1. Egg Toast:-
Egg is simply the easiest food item for any meal. It hardly takes any time to cook and is always a great source of energy.

Ingredients Needed:-

2 Eggs

Salt (as required)

2 Bread slices

1 pinch Nutmeg

2 tbsp Butter

Direction:-

In a bowl whisk the eggs. Add together salt, other spices (if required) and a pinch of nutmeg. Put the bread on this mixture and let it absorb the mixture. Now turn the bread over and let the other side absorb.

On a pan, put 2 tbsp butter and let it heat for a minute. Now, put the well soaked bread on the butter and cook until golden brown and crispy on both sides. Repeat the same steps with other bread slice. Serve with tomato sauce. Enjoy the food.
1. Fried Rice:-
You can prepare a delicious meal with last day’s leftover rice without a fuss. Follow these steps.

Ingredients Needed:-

Cooked rice

½ cup finely cut Tomatoes

½ cup finely chopped Onions

Salt and spices as required

2 tbsp Oil or butter

Directions:-

Put 1 tbsp oil or butter in a pan and heat for 1 minute. Now add ½ cup onions to it and finely cook till it is golden brown in colour. Add tomatoes to it as soon as the onions change the colour. Add salt and other spices to taste. You can add a little Soy sauce too for the taste. Now let it cook and turn into a thick paste and in the mean time, in another pan put 1 tbsp oil or butter. When it is hot, Add cooked rice to it and let mix it well so that every grain of rice has a little oil over it.

Now, Put this rice in the paste and mix it well. Cook it for 4-5 minutes. Taste and add a little more soy sauce if needed.
1. Scrambled Eggs:-
The secret to cooking egg is that you can do anything with them. But in case you are not in mood to do anything, just break the eggs in the pan and get done with them.

Ingredients Needed:-

2 eggs

2 tbsp cream

A little salt

¼ cup finely chopped Onion

1 tbsp butter

Direction:-

Add eggs, cream, onion and a little salt to a bowl and whisk.

Put butter on a pan and let it heat for a minute. Now put the eggs mixture in the pan and cook on medium heat. Use a wide spatula to scrape the mixture off the pan and turn it over. Cook until it gets creamy and take it off the head.

Serve with toast if you wish.
1. Pasta:-
No doubt, it is the undisputed master of 10 minutes club. It is tasty, least fussy and also classy serve to show off.

Ingredients Needed:-

350 gm pasta

½ onion finely chopped

3-4 tomatoes finely chopped

1 tbsp oregano

1 tbsp red pesto

2 tbsp vinegar

Directions:-

Cook pasta according to instructions in the pack.

In another pan, put 1 tbsp butter and heat the onion and tomatoes. Now, put all the ingredients including onion and tomatoes to a mixer and mix them well into a paste.

Tip the paste into the pan again and bring to boil. Reduce the heat and cook for 5 minutes. Drain the pasta, put into this gravy mix it well and serve.

It isn’t over yet. As the food is incomplete without dessert, here is the recipe of a dessert as a bonus that can be cooked in less than 10 minutes too.

Instant Chocolate Cake:-

This is the easiest and tastiest chocolate cake that can be cooked in such less time.

Ingredients Needed

½ Cup Flour

¼ cup Sugar

4 tbsp Cocoa Powder

Egg

¼ cup Milk

4 tbsp Vegetable Oil

3 tbsp Vanilla Cream

Pinch of Salt

Direction:-

Beat flour, sugar, cocoa powder and egg in a bowl. Add milk and vanilla cream when it is made into a thick paste. Now add the vegetable extract and a little salt. Keep mixing it till it is made into a smooth mixture. Put the mixture into the microwave until it is smooth and puffed. It will take 2-3 minutes. Take the dish out and enjoy.

Now, what are you waiting for? Go, make the dishes in 10 minutes or less and enjoy life without any compromise with taste due to time constrain.
June 24, 2014
Producing Marvels in the Cottage! – India’s indigenous industries

Talk of India to an American and the first few things that cross his mind will be great food, beautiful handicrafts and marvelous cultural heritage. India is known for its gorgeous art and craft forms, be it the woolen carpets of Kashmir, or the metal artifacts of ……, these form the pride of a curators’ collection.

What makes them worth the value they have is the years of experience and skill that goes into mastering the art. Indian cottage industries have not just kept these arts alive but have also helped them reach out to a wider spectrum of audience. They play the role of a window to the age-old cultural heritage of Indian civilization for the outer world.

Right from the time of Indus valley civilization dotting the face of India, clay and mud pots portray a magical coalescence of design and purpose. The excavation of ancient cities like Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro have revealed some of the finest forms of this age-old art. Indian villages have carried the patrimony of the art and have amalgamated immense thought and concept with picturesque aesthetics that appeal to the audience. Indian pottery produces two types of products viz. glazed and unglazed pottery. Depending on the origin, the artists and the type of clay found in a particular region, every state has a unique sense of this art. While the villages of Alwar and Kutch are known for very fine paper-thin pottery with incised designs, the villages of Nizamabad in Uttar Pradesh are famous for black pottery with silver intricacies worked in it, thus striking a resemblance with the Bidar work of Andhra Pradesh. Some villages of Delhi, Jaipur, Amritsar and Tamil Nadu are known to produce gorgeous pieces of glazed pottery with white background and blue and green designs on them. The utility factor of this art is not just limited to pots or vessels; it offers a plethora of decorative items made like paper weights, flower vases, tea sets, ashtrays, pen stands etc. to choose from. These are examples of Karigari pottery which is famous in many Indian villages.

Terracotta is another art villages of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Bihar are famous for. While women in Bihar, Gujarat and Bengal prepare clay figures using this art to propitiate their deities, Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh has villages where clay figurines of animals are made.

Wood, cane and bamboo crafts also feature among the multitude of art-inspired cottage industries. Bamboo carving was first introduced in the Sattras of Brahmaputra Civilization in Assam wherein the disciples would carve miniatures of gods, goddesses and their incarnations. The intricately and exquisitely carved figurines can still be seen in Majuli where the Sattras are housed. In the modern days, Indian artisans produce stunningly beautiful utility articles out of bamboo. Objects like baskets for storing clothes, vessels for carrying water, bamboo fans and furniture are some of those. Toys made by carving bamboo stems are also a symbol of excellent craftsmanship.

Wood-carving like bamboo-art was also started with an impulse to decorate places of worship. The availability and easy accessibility to timber made it an excellent medium for artisans to portray their skill. Wooden idols of Hanuman, Garuda and other Indian deities are seen in various temples of Assam. Besides these, decorative and utility items like lamp stands, storage boxes and even wooden ornaments are a rage among art curators. Wood is also used to make the much famous and vibrant hued puppets of Rajasthan; and who doesn’t spend a buck or two to spectate a nice puppet act?

Cane culture of Arunachal Pradesh is another vibrant craft tradition. Dyed cane strips are used to make parts of attires and other articles like baskets, bags etc. For instance, the Wanchos, a local tribe of the north-east, use dyed cane strips to make head gears, waist bands, armlets or even dancers’ baskets. The most common colours used for dyeing are red, yellow and black though the Monpas paint their strips in a variety of colours like red, pink , brown yellow, green and blue.

Carpet weaving is an ancient craft that originated in Persia which was introduced by Emperor Akbar in India. Years later, it has now flourished as a significant cottage industry in remote tribal and rural areas. Carpets, durries and rugs produced in villages of Kashmir, Punjab, Uttaranchal and Haryana cater to the international and indigenous markets alike. Be it the hand knotted silk carpets of Amritsar or the warm woolen carpets of Kashmir, place one of these in your drawing room and lighten the entire ambience up with the exquisite piece of art!

Handloom industry is one cottage industry we are proud of. We boast about it as an ancient craft form that flourished as an industry between 5000 and 3000 BC. There are vivid accounts about this art form in our fables and epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharat. The cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro have had evidences of the use of woolen and decorative embroidery in handloom. Hand-spinning, hand printing and hand typing are the skills required to master the art. Besides providing employment to scores to people in the country, the industry also transcends linguistic and communal barriers. With Mahatma Gandhi preaching the concept of ‘Swadesi’ in his freedom-movement, khadi gained popularity as an indigenous fabric. Today we see Indians and foreigners of all classes sporting attires made of this handloom fabric with great pride.

Ayurveda (Sanskrit for ‘life-knowledge’) or the Hindu tradition of medicine is another indigenous tradition that is native to the Indian subcontinent. Using natural plant products and elements of nature to cure or improve mental, physical and emotional health of a person is what it is known for. People practicing Ayurveda or under its’ influence seem to be content with it.

Among other main cottage industries of India are metal-molding to produce beautiful artifacts like idols, coir industry etc.

These industries not only reflect the richness of Indian culture but also provide a means of livelihood to a large chunk of the Indian population. Appreciation and promotion of such arts will help them grow and flourish, and that is precisely what we need to do.

June 24, 2014
Kentucky Fried Chicken: finger lickin’ good

Kentucky Fried Chicken which is most commonly known as KFC is an international fast food restaurant which currently has presence in about 118 countries. This fast food chain is specialized in preparing and serving delicious fried chickens to their customers. Currently there are approximately 19,000 outlets of KFC in different parts of the world and this shows the enormous name and success this fast food chain has achieved since it opened its first outlet in the year 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah. After United States, KFC opened its first international food store in United Kingdom and then in various parts of the world. Today it is the second largest food chain in the whole world and is only behind the McDonalds.

The main product of this food chain is fried chickens which are prepared using 11 secret herbs and spices. The recipe is a secret which has not been disclosed till date. Today they also offer chicken burgers, French fries, salads, desserts, wraps and soft drinks. People are just crazy about their trade mark bucket fired chicken which is simply luscious in taste. If you have not visited KFC yet then this is one such place where you should surely visit and for sure you will feel like eating fried chicken sold here again and again. “finger lickin’ good” is the official slogan of KFC which can be seen with its logo. Yum Brands now owns this brand and has a clear cut motive to expand this internationally acclaimed food chain to each and every corner of the world. The total revenue of KFC is 23 billion US dollars for the year 2013.

One of the reasons why KFC fried chickens are so popular among the masses is that they are served fresh to the customers. If the prepared chicken is not sold within 90 minutes then according to the company’s policy, it is simply discarded. People love to eat here as the chickens sold here are exquisite and appetizing. You will simply love the crispy chicken legs, chicken nuggets, hot wings, zinger burgers and other dishes here as they taste succulent and luscious. KFC has simply redefined the way the chicken is prepared and eaten in different parts of the world.

Harland Sanders is the person who started this business. He is commonly called as Colonel Sanders by his lovers. Initially he used to sell fried chickens in his restaurants at Corbin, Kentucky. His restaurant was named as Sanders Court & Café. Harland Sanders used to cook the fired chickens with the help of his secret recipes which his mother taught him and people used to love his cooked chickens. His success story is simply amazing and we should learn from his life and struggles. Harland Sanders had a dream to expand his empire and sell his delicious chickens in different parts of the country. The struggle that he went through and still where this food chain stands today is unbelievable. It shows that if you are determined to work hard and chase our dream then nothing can stop you from attaining success. He was determined to use the franchising concept in his fried chicken business.

Before opening his first commercial outlet he had to travel to almost all the parts of the United States where he tried to convince the restaurant and business owners to use his recipe and start selling fried chickens. In return he asked for a small amount of share from the profits made. The restaurants and the business owners thought the Harland Sanders idea’s to be a flop one and he was rejected by almost everyone. It is said that he faced over 1000 rejections. Just imagine his will to taste success. His strong will power made him a known figure in the whole world. By the year 1963, Harland Sanders managed to open a whopping 600 franchise of KFC in the United States alone but his growing age forced him to stop indulging into business any further and so he sold the KFC Empire to the group of business enthusiastic people in the year 1964. The reigns of the empire has been many shifted a times since then but the picture of Colonel Sanders still lies in its logo. He is synonym to the brand KFC.

KFC entered into the Indian environment by opening its first outlet in Bangalore in the year 1995. The company had doubt that about its success in India as people living here as so much indulged into the religious work and so the success of the brand was under severe spotlight here. Today there are about 370 KFC outlets in India. In India where we eat so much of spices in our food, KFC chickens are wonderful options for those who want to try something different and a food with fewer spices and more nutrients. For the Indian public, KFC has also started the vegetarian products in their menu such as the vegetarian burger, paneer burger, paneer wraps and so on with a motive to pull the vegetarian crowds to its restaurant.

June 24, 2014
Health Benefits of Eating Eggs

Eggs are excellent source of vitamins which helps the body in functioning appropriately and so doctors often recommend people to start eating egg regularly. Not only vitamins, eggs are also rich in essential nutrients which are very much required for the proper growth and development of the human body. You should daily eat eggs to stay healthy. Some people just eliminate the yellow yolk which is present inside the egg and eat only the outer whitish portion. This is not a good as the yolk is the only one which provides the essential fats, vitamins and nutrients to the human body. But that does not mean that the whitish portion of the egg is not important. They provide the proteins to the body.

A normal large egg contains the following: Selenium (22 % of the RDA), Vitamin A (6 % of the RDA), Vitamin B5 (7 % of the RDA), Vitamin 2 (15 % of the RDA), Vitamin B12 (9 % of the RDA), Vitamin E, iron, Folate, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and many others essential nutrients. Just imagine a single eggs is how much beneficial. If you eat eggs regularly then you are surely not going to get deficiency of any of the above mentioned vitamins and minerals. Further a single large egg also has 77 calories, carbohydrates and 5 grams each of fats and proteins.

Much people are not aware of the Choline, which is a very important nutrient considering the fact that it is responsible for the growth of the brain. It is often named with the B-complex vitamins. Egg is a tremendous source of Choline. This nutrient is required for various metabolism processes that go inside a human body. The synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is only possible if the body has adequate amount of Choline in it. If your body is deficit of Choline, then you are prone to cardiovascular and liver diseases. Also there are chances that you may suffer from neurological disorders. All these can be avoided if you eat egg as one egg contains about 113 mg of Choline. So go for it and stay away from these life threatening diseases.

One egg has about 212 mg of cholesterol in it, so often people have this doubt in their mind that it will affect their body in negative way. In a human body it is the responsibility of the liver to maintain the amount of cholesterol. If you consume less cholesterol food then liver compensates for it and if you are eating foods such as eggs which are rich in cholesterol, then liver produces less cholesterol. One of the biggest advantages of eating egg is that it raises the level of the HDL cholesterol which is very much required by the body and reduces the LDL cholesterol which is responsible for the various diseases that occurs in the body. This will in turn helps in keeping the cardiovascular disease away from you.

We have not mentioned about the antioxidants which are present in the egg so far. So let me tell you egg is a wonderful food item which has two most essential antioxidants required by the human body and they are Zeaxanthin and Lutein. Both of them are present in the yolk of the egg and are excellent for the proper functioning of the eyes. In the recent times cataracts is one such disease because of which many people have lost their eyesight. These antioxidants which we have mentioned here reduce the risk of cataract by providing power and stamina to the eyes.

You must have read it in your books that proteins are must for the human body as they are considered as to be the building blocks and performs several work in the human body which is very essential for its proper growth. There are 21 amino acids which the human body requires and out of these 21, there are quite a few which the body cannot produce on its own and so the protein rich foods are eaten to compensate for them. Egg provides all those amino acids which the body requires. In short if you want to stay healthy, then continue eating eggs regularly.

If you daily eat eggs in your breakfast then it can help you in losing your body fat and you can easily become fit and slim. When measured on the Satiety scale, an egg gets a reading of 19 which is quite high. This proves that eggs helps in shedding weight and improving the body mass index by a whopping 61 percent. If you have obesity problem and you do not eat eggs then this is one such food item which you should start eating. With so many health benefits that it provides and considering the fact that it is easily available and pocket friendly food item, one should include eggs in their diet chart. Moreover there are so many egg recipes available, so just try them and stay protected.

June 24, 2014
DETOX YOURSELF

The connection between the body and mind is really strong, the way your body feels plays a great part in the functioning of your brain whether or not you experience a state of well being. Keeping your body free of toxins and other harmful nasty things will help you maintain a healthy living.

Thinking of doing a detox and wondering how to start? Detoxing the body is effective for starting a new diet plan. Detoxing with various foods that is the best way to help give your body the nutrients required also helps your digestive system to take a break from having to break down and digest food.

Are detox programs really good for your health?

Along with recommendations for detoxing comes warning, which makes the would-be-detox dieter totally confused.

1. Detoxing helps you boost energy

By cutting out the sugar, fats, Trans fat, saturated fat, caffeine and replacing them by fruits and veggies gets you a natural energy boost.

2. Help you get rid of excess waste

One of the greatest benefits of detoxing is that it helps you get rid of excess waste that your body had stored earlier.

3. Better immunity

While you are on a detox program, it frees up the organs to function the way they should. Through this it gives your body a boost and absorbs nutrients better.

4. Help to lose weight

A detox program would help you reduce weight in a short term and get rid f unhealthy eating habits.

5. Better breath

One of the contributors to bad breath is backed up colon. When you cleanse it and get your digestive system function properly, you will find your breath improves.

6. Glowing skin

You can expect a glowing smoother radiant skin at the end of your detox program, you can add sauna to your detox plan to help the body sweat out additional toxins.

7. Healthy living

A detox program is like a bridge between your old habits and new ones towards a healthy living. Once if you quit eating your weakness foods and replace those with healthier choices, you will be moving towards a healthy life.

8. Anti-aging benefit

By reducing the toxins you will see long term benefits in an increased longevity.

10 foods that will detox your body

1. Beet

It is mentioned as one of the super food. You should make an effort to include in your regular meals and definitely have it if you are planning a detox diet. It helps in making sure that the toxins you are getting out of your body are actually getting out.

2. Broccoli

Even though you are sick of seeing broccolis when health food is mentioned but actually it is a nutritional punch in a mini tree shaped veggie. It works with the enzymes in your liver to turn toxins into something your body can eliminate easily.

3. Cabbage

Cabbage helps your liver with the byproduct being lower cholesterol and also helping you expel the toxins getting them out of your system so you can start fresh.

4. Garlic

Garlic is of those crucial pieces in the puzzle of your detox plan. it helps you in boosting your immune system.

5. Ginger

Ginger has also been given the status of a virtual medicine chest, it has digestion friendly properties. It is considered as a staple in any health diet. It is one of the best detoxifying herbs as it stimulates digestion.

6. Green tea

It is great for cleansing the body from toxins and impurities. It purifies the whole to create a healthy circulation system and complexion as well. Adding a cup of green tea with each meal for daily detoxification will show improvements in health and physical appearance as well.

7. Lemon

It is very common to hear to begin your day with warm water because it improves digestion. They help to detox your body.

8. Olive oil

It is used for cleansing the colon. It has a lot of health properties and makes a good choice than most other options.

9. Turmeric

It is called the “detox diva”. Turmeric helps as liver cleanser and can rejuvenate the liver cells and recharge their capacity to break down the toxins. You can detox using a turmeric tea and substitute it for any other beverage to make the most of its health benefits.

10. Water

On a daily basis drinking water all by itself is one of the best ways to flush out the toxins. You can use any of the other detox foods along with water and get even more benefit from it.

Make sure to avoid alcohol as it has a very toxic effect on the liver and will fail your detox program. Also avoid caffeinated beverages as it can have a dehydrating effect on the body. Cut out on sweets, chocolates and sweets as excess of sugar will cause excess stress on the liver and your cleansing efforts will be a waste. Also avoid overeating as it leads to accumulation of toxins.

June 24, 2014
Food Items Best for Children

For parents, it is very comfortable to purchase and prepare nutritious food for your kids but the difficult part is to make them eat it. It is a very difficult job for the parents to provide their kids with the necessary nutrients. This job becomes so frustrating because the parents can’t compel their kids to eat those nutritious foods. These days’ kids are much happy with the food stuff like pizzas, burgers and many more but these items does not provide the essential nutrients to the body. Parents must ensure that their kids get the supply of all the required vitamins and minerals from their meals as it is very vital in the growth of the child. So below there are some super nourishing food items that are best for the children.

Milk:

it is most essential drink for the kids. It is well liked by the kids but as they gradually grows up they tends to like it less. The reason behind it is that they start drinking so many other drinks which are obtainable in the homes. But milk is fundamental source of protein, calcium and so many vitamins. So make sure that milk is included in the diet of your child. You can add so many flavors to the milk in order to make it more likable by your kid. If the child is taking in foods that are rich in calcium then milk is the best source to compensate for that.

Apples:

Similar to many other fruits, apples are greatly enjoyed by the children. Apart from being sugary and juicy it is an immense source of nutrients that are very essential for the healthy wellbeing. The amount calorie in it in low and it is rich in Vitamin C. It is very important to know that the apple loses its fiber after peeling it off. So it is much better to provide your children with unpeeled apples rather than peeled apples in order to deliver them with the essential and needed fibers. Children tend to enjoy eating apples so it is necessary to include it in your kid’s diet.

Yoghurt:

It is another food that is very rich in calcium and hence it is quite beneficial for that child who doesn’t like drinking too much milk. So you should make sure that your child’s intake includes a good amount of yoghurt. The children usually enjoy eating it and hence it becomes so easy for the parents to make their kids eat it. But it is necessary that one should select the appropriate yoghurt for their kids with low fat and which does not include huge amount of added sugar in it.

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Vegetables:

As everyone knows that vegetable plays a very significant role in supplying nutrition to the body, but parents usually end up forcing or tricking their kids to eat them. Generally kids don’t enjoy eating spinach, sprouts etc. which are very nutritious and beneficial for the body. But apart from these vegetables, there are so many other that the children tend to relish. The vegetables that are usually friendly to children are pea, potatoes and carrots. Apart from this, it is very vital that the parents familiarize their kids with a lot of vegetables starting from the initial stage as gradually they will start eating them.

Oatmeal:

A nutritious breakfast is very important for the kids so they can perform very well at their schools. It has been found out that the breakfast helps in improving the memory of the children. Oatmeal can be treated as a very healthy breakfast your kid as it is very rich in fiber. In addition to that the cognitive functioning and implementation is also increased. It is not compulsory to serve oatmeal only during the breakfast. We can prepare it as more edible and appetizing by accompanying it with honey, berries and walnuts.

Eggs:

They are a perfect blend of taste and nutrition. Eggs are greatly enjoyed by the children and in addition to that they are very rich in vitamins as well as minerals. Moreover they provide proteins to the body. They include vitamin D and iron. They also contain choline. Eggs play a very crucial role and help to build and repair the muscles. They support the body in absorbing the calcium. A little amount of cholesterol is present in the eggs but they don’t include a great amount saturated fat. And hence eating an egg normally is acceptable. So serving the kids with scrambled eggs in the breakfast is a great source of nutrition.

Cheese:

Calcium is very essential for the body and hence parents must include calcium rich foods in their kid’s regime. Low fat cheese provides a great amount of calcium to the body. One can come out with various methods to include it in your kid’s diet. You can serve the kids with the vegetables topped with melted cheese. It is quite evident cheese sandwiches are very famous among the kids, so it can act as a delightful lunch.

June 24, 2014
Good Morning, Breakfast!

Did you have your Breakfast today? If yes, then good going! But if not, C’mmon! You can’t skip it. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. You should prioritize it, even when you’re late or even when you’re not willing to have it. Yes, your mom is right. Breakfast is something which gives life to your day. It is actually important and is the first and foremost meal of the day. To have a fresh start in your lovely mornings, breakfast is must for everyone. Not only it gives us energy to start a day, it is also linked with many health benefits, which we can avail. Eating breakfast is important to everyone, especially to children and adolescents as they are in their growing stage. According to American dietetic association,”Children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom and on the playground, with better concentration, problem solving skills and eye-hand coordination.” Even there’s one theory that suggests that eating a healthy breakfast can reduce hunger throughout the day and also help you to make better food choices on other meals and also control cravings and thus in turn makes your weight less instead of those who are breakfast skippers. Obviously, your breakfast must be rich in protein or whole grain and vitamins and nutrients and not the ones loaded with fats and calories.
With all this, unavoidable stuff morning, I am enlisting some of the key benefits of Breakfast. If you are trying to maintain a healthy diet, consider the following reasons to have your fancy breakfast each and every morning.
Weight control: Many studies have shown that people who eat breakfast tend to weigh less than the ones who skip their breakfast. It’s worth noting that the studies linking breakfast to weight control loss looked at a healthy breakfast routine containing protein and whole grains; not meals loaded with fats and calories. So, breakfast eaters are leaner and this pretty good reason to always have a healthy happy breakfast.
It keeps you in a good mood: First and foremost, since your body won’t think that it’s starving after a nutritious meal in the morning, it’s easier to get in a good mood and stay that way. This also provides you with needed energy to help you get throughout the day, which can keep your mood bright and optimistic. Feeding yourself in the morning will keep your spirits up and can also help to regulate your blood sugar levels through lunch time, which plays a vital role in your mood upliftment. Overall, eating something for breakfast is always better than eating nothing at all.
It keeps you from Binging: Obviously, if you eat up good in the morning, you won’t feel the urge to famish on something or binge eating can be avoided. As, not eating breakfast can save you from some calories for the time being, but it prepares for the day failure as you won’t feel energetic. This is because not feeding your body for several hours overnight, a lack of food in the morning will leave you hungry very early in the day and then when lunch time rolls down, you’re more likely to choose a food high in fat and calories to satisfy your food cravings. If you hold off till dinner, you will most probably feel an overwhelming urge to snack all night along, which is just a bag of calories.
It increases your Metabolism and makes you feel more energized: When your body receives food in the morning, it tells your brain that you’re going to need to start working to digest it which warms up the metabolism so it’s ready to work throughout the day. But when you don’t eat breakfast in the morning, slows down your metabolism, which results in a decrease in the amount of calories you burn all day long. Eating breakfast is a great way to get your metabolism working well for the day.

Here are some creative, simple-to-make, healthy ideas for maximizing the most important and the first meal of the day.
Breakfast Sandwich: You can make it by topping English whole wheat bread or Indian chapatti with 1 ounce ham and a flavored mustard. Pair it with fresh fruit and low fat cheese.
Berries and muffins: Split open a small bran muffin (you can get it easily from supermarket) and place on a plate. Top it with a fresh berries an some nuts and a dollop of fresh yoghurt.
Bagel and chutney: its very tasteful for anyone and especially for one who loves mangoes. Spread mango chutney on a small bagel, and pair it with a cottage cheese sprinkled with cinnamon.
Breakfast Shake: Blend 1 cup fat free milk or plain yoghurt with ½ cup fruit, 1 teaspoon wheat germ and add 1 teaspoon nuts or nut butter and whirl and your shake is ready.
Big Breakfast is way healthier than big dinner. You must have heard that saying, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper.” This simple quote is a great way to remember that how to eat throughout the day and balance your diet. Not only it gives a nice and peaceful start to the day, but it is also good for brain and bodily health. So, never forget or skip your super-awesome breakfast.

Happy and Healthy Breakfast. Happy Life.

June 24, 2014