Tag: health

CHIA SEEDS. Have you tried it?

I know you have heard of it. Now, it has become very popular because of its super awesome health benefits. Yes, I’m talking about- The Chia Seeds. They have being regarded as the healthiest food on planet, loaded with all the essential nutrients. The fuzzy green novelty item, very tiny items are what chia seeds are. Nowadays, they have become all the more famous and is becoming better known because they are a great source of healthy omega-3 fats and fibre and they are quite an easy food to include in your daily diet. Salvia Hispanica, being scientific name and called as chia, commonly, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family and are native to central and Southern Mexico and Guatemala. History suggests that in 16^th century, it was very important food for Aztecs. Now, chia is grown commercially and are typically small, oval, tiny seeds. According to USDA, a 1 ounce, i.e. 28 grams serving of chia contains, 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, 5 miligrams of sodium, 11 grams of dietary fiber, 27% phosphorus, 30% manganese. The nutrient values in Chia, as mentioned are similar to other edible seeds, as flax or sesame. Chia seeds are recommended to be added in your diet and these can be added to other foods as a topping in your breakfast cereal, smoothie, energy bars, yoghurt, sprinkled whole on top of salads or can be added on icecream or just consume it raw. As these seeds are tasteless, they hardly affect the flavor of your food, when added. Just have some and get ultimate benefits.

Read on and you will know how chia seeds have become elixir for life and give so many benefits to your body and maintains your health. I can bet, you will be amazed.

Low in Calories: Chia seeds, being full of nutrition, has very low calorie content. This is such an added bonus which helps in decreasing belly fat. So, if youe exercise daily and are eating chia also, alongwith, this can prove excellent in getting a perfect shape of body. Chia’s stabilizing effect on blood sugar also fights the insulin resistance which is responsible for belly fat and this type of resistance is harmful for your health. So, if you are concerned abput your belly fat, go start consuming chia seeds.

High in Antioxidants: Chia seeds also shine in the area of Antioxidants and this is well known that consuming antioxidant rich food can have ultimate positive effects on health. Chia seeds, being high in antioxidants help to protect delicate fats in the seeds. Most importantly, antioxidants fight in the production of free radicals, which contribute in aging and diseases like cancer. This is remarkable as chia seeds have an ability to fight such deadly diseases.

More Fiber: They have loads of fiber. This is clear from the nutritional information above, that just one ounce contains 11 grams of fiber, which is about a third of the recommended daily intake of adults. Moreover, almost all the carbohydrates in the chia are fiber. Because of this fiber, it gives them ability to absorb 10-12 times their weight in water, Chia are low carb- friendly food, and are 40% fiber, by weight, which makes them best sources of fiber in the world. This great content of fiber in chia seeds have excellent beneficial effects on health.

Stock of Omega-3: Chia seeds are fully packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, like flax, which is nearly 5 grams in one ounce of serving. Isn’t that a good stock in such tiny items. The Omega-3 fatty acids are very important for brain health. However, humans are not good in converting this into DHA, and there’s better conversion of omega 3s into plasmas than with flax.

Improves Heart Health: Chia seeds have been shown to increase Healthy cholesterol, thereby balancing blood pressure and lowering LDL and triglyceride cholesterol and reduce inflammation. Also, as they are high in fiber, protein, omega 3s and antioxidants, they are very well source of heart healthy nutrients thus maintain overall heart health.

Combats Diabetes: For diabetic patients, it’s a good news that chia seeds can improve blood sugar levels and combats diabetes. The study shows that in type 2 diabetic patients, chia seeds can significantly lower blood pressure and diabetes.

Strong Teeth and bones: Chia seeds have many nutrients which are important for bone health. As one ounce serving of chia contains 18% of the daily recommended intake of calcium and has phosphorus, manganese also in good amounts. All of these are really essential for bone health and strong teeth and are an excellent source of calcium for those who don’t eat diary products.

Makes you feel Full. Faster: Chia seeds are incredibly easy to incorporate it in your diet and adding chia seeds in your daily recipes will dramatically improve the nutritional value. Also, tryptophane, an amino acid, found in chai seeds help regulate appetite, sleep and improves mood. So, eating it with your regular foods incur you so many benefits.

So, as now, you know so much about chia, go get some from your grocery store and continue reading and eating them. Don’t be fooled by their size, these tiny items are a powerful nutrition punch. Chia seeds are one of those you shouldn’t to miss to have.

Healthy Eating. Happy Life.

September 14, 2014
Chutneys are Yummy! Part 1
Often while having food, you find that the dish lacks a certain punch. A flavor so to speak. You wonder how to solve this problem. Well, worry no longer. There is a solution at hand which will leave your taste buds tingling in the process. What can that be you ask? One word we say in reply. Chutneys!

Chutney (also translated as chatney or chatni) is a family of condiments mainly associated with South Asian cuisine that usually contain some mixture of spice(s), vegetable(s), and/or fruit(s). Chutneys may be either wet or dry, and can have a coarse or fine texture. There are various types of chutneys.

The name “chutney” covers a wide variety of foodstuffs. The common element which makes them all “chutneys” is that they are added to meals to add flavor; the best English “translation” of “chutney” is “relish”. As such, they can be, and are, eaten with a wide variety of foods.

The word “chutney” is derived from the Sanskrit word caṭnī, meaning to lick. The first chutneys in India would have been sticky fruit based preserves. Sugar, although available in India, was not widely cultivated and honey would have been used to sweeten dishes, this leading to the chutneys being used as more of a dipping sauce rather than a condiment. It is written differently in several North Indian and South Indian languages.

Let’s have a look at some popular Indian chutney recipes!
- Peanut Chutney:
Peanut Chutney, a versatile and easy-to-make spicy chutney, is a must-have accompaniment in South Indian cuisine. It can be of two types, wet and dry. This recipe is for making wet peanut chutney for Dosa and Idli, and it can be used either as spread or as an accompaniment.
- Ingredients:
1) 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, skin removed.
2) 3 garlic cloves.
3) 1/4 teaspoon tamarind paste.
4) 4 dry red chillis.
5) 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds.
6) 4-5 curry leaves.
7) 2 teaspoons oil.
8) 1/2 cup water.
9) Salt to taste.
- Directions:
1) Put the roasted peanuts, garlic, 3 dry red chillis, tamarind paste and salt in the chutney jar of the grinder.
2) Grind them together till a medium coarse powder.
3) Add 1/2 cup water to the mixture, and grind again until a smooth paste is formed. Transfer the paste to a serving bowl, and proceed to prepare tempering.
4) Heat oil in a small pan. Break 1 dry red chilli into two pieces. Add the mustard seeds. When they start to crackle, add curry leaves and the remaining 1 dry red chilli. Sauté for 10 seconds and turn off the flame.
5) Pour the tempering over the prepared chutney paste. Peanut chutney is now ready to be served along with steamed Idli and Dosa!
- Tips:
1) If roasted peanuts are not available, then you can dry roast them over low flame in a heavy based pan for 7-8 minutes. Let them cool for 3-4 minutes and remove the skin.
2) Increase or decrease the amount of red chillis to make more or less spicy respectively.
3) You can avoid topping it up with mustard seeds tempering if you are going use it only for making Dosa.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 2 minutes.
- Servings: 2.
- Coconut Chutney:
Making South Indian Coconut Chutney for Dosa and Idli is very simple. Just blend fresh coconut with chillis, curd and ginger, and mix tempered mustard seeds. However, the real taste differentiators in this recipe are roasted chana dal, tamarind paste, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Follow this recipe and discover how good the chutney tastes. But yes, don’t blame us if you get addicted to it!
- Ingredients:
1) 1 cup roughly chopped fresh coconut.
2) 1 teaspoon grated ginger.
3) 2 green chillis, chopped.
4) 1 tablespoon roasted chana dal.
5) 1 tablespoon curd.
6) 1 teaspoon lemon juice or tamarind paste.
7) 1/2 cup water.
8) Salt to taste.
- For Tempering:
1) 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds.
2) 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds.
3) 4-5 curry leaves.
4) 1 dry red chilli.
5) 1 teaspoon oil.
- Directions:
1) Take chopped coconut in a small chutney jar of the food processor or grinder.
2) Grind it to make a medium coarse paste and transfer on to a plate.
3) Add green chillis, roasted chana dal and ginger to the same chutney jar.
4) Grind mixture to a smooth powder.
5) Add crushed coconut, curd, lemon juice, salt and 1/2 cup water.
6) Grind them to make a medium coarse paste. If required, add more water to get the desired consistency of chutney and grind again. Transfer to a bowl.
7) Heat oil in a small tempering pan. Add mustard seeds. When the seeds begin to crackle, add cumin seeds, dry red chilli and curry leaves and sauté for 10 seconds.
8) Take the pan away from flame and immediately pour tempering over the prepared coconut paste. Mix well. Delicious Coconut Chutney for Idli and Dosa is now ready to serve!
- Tips:
1) Adjust quantity of water accordingly to make it thick or diluted.
2) Avoid the addition of green chillis while making coconut paste, and avoid dry red chillis in tempering while making white Coconut Chutney.
3) Consume fresh chutney immediately or refrigerate it, and use it for up to 3 days.
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes.
- Cooking Time: 2 minutes.
- •Servings: 6.
Watch this space for recipes of more mouth-watering chutney recipes. Coming soon!
September 14, 2014
Benefits of Pomegranate juice for health

Pomegranate is a thick skinned seedy fruit.The name pomegranate is derived from the french word “pomegranate” which means seeded apple.Pomegranates are originated in Iran and are brought to Egypt in 1600 B.C.This is not only used as a food source but it is also used as a medical source.Inside the fruits we can find jewel shaped seeds covered by a natural red rind.Drinking pomegranate juice helps our skin and hair in many ways.Of all the fruit juices, pomegranate juice is having special importance.This is because the peel contains the maximum amount of antioxidants which are released in abundance when the fruit is squeezed while juicing.Few people feel uncomfortable while eating the fruit with the little seeds.To such people pomegranate juice is the best way to enjoy the benefits of the fruit.In comparison to other fruits, pomegranates contain the maximum amount of anti-oxidants.The number of anti oxidants in pomegranate are nearly three times more than that in green tea and oranges.One glass of pomegranate juice will provide 40 percent of the body requirements.The juice must be taken without adding extra sweeteners to it, as it may counteract with some of the health benefits present in it.

Pomegranate juice is having many health benefits

Health benefits of pomegranate juice:

Over thousands of years in the middle and east regions pomegranate is used for medical purposes.Pomegranate juice is used as tonic for healing the frequently occurring body disorders like ulcers and diarrhea.The anti oxidants that are present in pomegranate juice offers protection against diabetes, heart diseases, osteoarthritis and several kinds of cancer.

Fruit with strong outer layer and red rind inside

Benefits for heart:

Pomegranate juice helps in keeping the arteries flexible and maintain perfect functioning of heart.Atherosclerosis, which is one of the main reason for causing heart disease, can be reduced by taking pomegranate juice.It lowers the amount of bad cholesterol that is retained in the body and increases the amount of good cholesterol.

Health-Benefits-of-Pomegranate-for-better-functioning-of-heart

Maintains blood sugar levels:

Pomegranate juice contains fructose, but it does not increase the blood sugar levels which the other fruit juices do.According to few studies it is observed that people who took this juice daily for a period of two weeks, had no effect on their blood sugar levels.

health benefits of pomegranate juice for maintaining blood sugar levels

Maintains blood pressure:

Pomegranate juice is helpful in reducing high blood pressure.The problems that are present in the blood vessels of heart patients can be reduced.This helps in coagulating blood and forming blood clots.It even acts as a blood diluting agent, and does not allow for an unrestricted flow of blood through the body.

Pomegranate-juice-control-high-blood-pressure

Protects from Cancer:

Pomegranate juice eliminates free bonding of atoms and it also reduces the growth and development of cancer tissues.The anti oxidants present in the fruit are helpful in promoting strong immunity system.Daily intake of a glass of pomegranate juice can slow down the growth of cancerous cells in prostate cancer.Pomegranate juice blocks aromatase and reduces the chances of getting breast cancer.

Pomegranate juice protects from cancer

Soothes the stomach:

Pomegranate juice is used in the treatment of diarrhoea.Digestion problems can overcome by taking pomegranate juice.This can be more effective by adding one teaspoon of honey in a glass of pomegranate juice.

Pomegranate-juice-resolves-digestion-problems

Boosts immunity:

Taking pomegranate juice boosts our immunity system, as it contains strong anti bacterial and anti microbial properties.The microbes that are responsible for forming cavities in the mouth can be reduced by taking pomegranate juice daily.Of all the fruits pomegranate is having the capacity to oppose the transmission of HIV.

pomegranate juice improves body immunity

Prevents anemia:

Anemia is caused due to the deficiency of red blood cells in the body.As pomegranate juice is rich in iron,it helps in developing the red blood cells in the body.By adding few sugars to the pomegranate juice and taking few drops of it in the nostrils, can reduce nose bleeds.It is used as a remedy for red eyes.

Chances of getting anemia can be reduced

Improves digestion:

Pomegranate juice aids in the smooth functioning of the stomach, heart and liver. This juice induces hunger and can even control thirst. Therefore it is a great choice of drink during summers. It also soothes urinary tract infection and eases the flow of urine. The high amount of dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble in pomegranate juice helps to improve digestion and regulate bowel movement. Since it has no saturated fats or cholesterol, it is highly recommended for those aiming to lose weight.

Pomegranate is good for digestion

Helps in cartilage regeneration:

Pomegranate juice helps in regulating the enzymes that damage the cartilage.So people who are suffering from bone disorders, joint pains and cartilage problems can overcome them by taking a glass of pomegranate juice.This is also observed by few studies.Bone inflammation can be relieved by taking unsweetened pomegranate juice.Taking pomegranate juice regularly dissolves the stones in kidneys and also cures the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis during sexual activity.

August 4, 2014
4 Efficient methods to Meditate
The post informs about “4 Efficient methods to meditate” and is drafted after discussing all the Pros and Cons in the post before of why there is a need for meditation? For all the people down for it do need to know proper techniques and different types of meditation. As mentioned in the earlier post regarding meditation, it is not a onetime cure. It should be a lifelong habit. So after saying that, we should not be looking for any sorts of shortcuts to perform the task dutifully. Meditation is all about focusing your mind on anything that calms your mind, whether it may be listening to soft music or focusing your breath and stare on a burning flame. One can start either from baby steps to more focused approach or directly start with the demanding focused meditation.

There is no measurement as in which technique is better as all lead to the same result, it all goes down to what technique is one comfortable in. Just as you would be the one to practice meditation, you should be sure which technique resonates with your lifestyle and you. This will make sure the continuity of the practice for life long.

So, starting with listing below mentioned are some of the most efficient techniques to perform meditation mentioned in no particular order, But before that please not that information given here are just some brief introduction about different techniques and gist of the procedure.
1. MINDFUL MEDITATION
One of the most popular meditation practices especially in the west, mindfulness meditation is about staying in the present moment. Being aware of the moment and focusing only on one object while regulating your breath is what mindfulness meditation is all about. Also known as Vipassana meditation, it is rooted from the Buddhist traditional practice. It is often used in psychological treatments to get rid of many mental conditions like OCD and anxiety.

A person practicing this meditation needs to only focus on the ongoing happenings around and in his or her mind, like emotions and thoughts. This awareness sure has to be approached with no mental judgments whatsoever.
1. TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION
Primarily originated from the Hinduism was later promoted extensively throughout the world for its deep spiritual approach. A very simplified practice rooted from the Vedanta, in Transcendental meditation a person needs to chant mantra or a sacred word and focus is on being uplifted from all that belongs to the material world. Posture for the meditation is preferred to be sitting cross legged with back straight. This posture is known as “Lotus asana”, this asana is said to resemble a lotus and is said to encourage breathing proper to associated meditative practice and it also foster physical stability.
1. GUIDED MEDITATION
Another excellent technique to pursue meditation for the beginners, guided meditation takes an individual to a journey of guided visualization of different imageries and situations. The guidance usually consists of stories and set of sceneries described in a narrative sense. This technique is very powerful to experience one’s own psyche and thinking pattern. A person can truly introspect their daily activities and keep track of their doings and if they are doing it right through the regular practice of guided meditation. This will help your subconscious to solve some of the tangled issues which seems impossible to rationally be handled by the conscious brain. The meditation exercise starts with resting in any suitable and comfortable position, and then the person has to relieve all the stress stored in the different parts of the body from the head to toe. After the relaxed stage is reached, person is usually guided through stairs and doors to reach a peaceful place where colors and lights heal the self. Individual is allowed to relax there for few moments and asked to resolve any issues or find any required answers from the conscious life. It is believed that in this relaxed and calm state of the body the subconscious brain starts working which helps to increase our ability to see a situation from different perspectives; this resolves half of the problems.
1. CHAKRA MEDITATION
According to Hindu beliefs “Chakras” are believed to be the energy centers or spots are located at the physical counterparts of the major plexi of arteries, veins and nerves in the human body.

So, it is believed that opening and activating chakras will contribute to overall well being of an individual. In chakra meditation focus is given to the breathing of the individual while he or she is visualizing a spinning light that is connected to each chakra. Start from the root or base chakra (Muladhara) and then slowly move your way up through to the crown chakra (Shasrara). Each chakra has their specific colors.

At last, no method is difficult or easy to practice. They just differ in their approach. So, after finding the suitable type of meditation that relates to you, begin the practice! Meditation is not a onetime cure for anything and should be considered as a lifelong practice for the overall personality transformation. It affects the society in general if the individuals in it practice the same. The increased awareness in the society is beneficial for everybody on our planet as the very process of meditation brings unity and brotherhood among people.
July 30, 2014
Universal Truths in Nutrition That People Actually Agree On

There are lots of controversies on the facts about the nutrition. People generally believe in what they hear without authenticating the source and consider the facts as truths. It is a common human tendency and happens with almost everyone. You hear the views of the elders or some learned person and try to follow them without making any efforts to make sure that the facts mentioned are correct or not. We are hereby talking about those universal nutrition truths which people generally believe is correct and try to find out if they are correct or just myths.

Added Sugar is Unhealthy: Well, if you are believer of this fact that added sugar is unhealthy, then you are correct. The addition of sugar gives rise to the blood sugar level, which affects the normal functioning of the human body. The added sugars are in fact sucrose or fructose corn syrup which is very much harmful for the human body. Not only they have empty calories in them, they are also the source of various harmful metabolic toxins which causes serious harm to your health. Many researchers believe that the added sugar is the prime reason for the spread of the western diseases among the people.

The Artificial Trans Fats are Unhealthy: There are lots of controversies about the artificial Trans fats. While some people believe that the Trans Fats are healthy, a major section of the people believes that they are not good for the human body and their consumption is like inviting the diseases to attack you. Trans Fats are actually unsaturated fats, which are created by altering the saturated fats chemically. In the process of manufacturing of the unsaturated fats, the saturated fats are exposed to the high pressure and high heat in the presence of the hydrogen gas acting as a catalyst. Because of the hydrogenation of the fats the LDL cholesterol level, which is bad for the human body increases while the HDL cholesterol which is good decreases. The highly processed foods are the ones which have the artificial Trans fats. So it is a wise step to avoid these artificial Trans fats.

Green Tea is one of the Healthy Beverages: Most of the people have this mindset that the coffee consumption is not at all good for the human body as it contains caffeine but on the other hand the consumption of the green tea is healthy. While there is a controversy on the consumption of the coffee, the intake of the green tea is actually very much beneficial for health. Green tea is a rich source of the antioxidants and the EGCG, which is a bioactive compound. If you regularly drink green tea, then there are strongly protected against the chronic heart diseases and cancer. Green tea not only boosts the metabolic processes in the body, but also helps in burning the fats. Moreover, they also have specific amino acids which play a major role in maintaining the proper functioning of the brain. So it’s time you start drinking it as it will help you to stay fit and healthy.

Olive Oil is Healthy: Most of the people consider olive oil as healthy and this is absolutely correct. They are very much beneficial in maintaining good health. Olive oil is actually one of the gifts of the Mediterranean diet and is used in almost every corner of the world. The most tedious task in today’s time is getting the right kind of olive oil from the market as there are so many adulterated olive oils being sold throughout the world. Olive oils offer several advantages. They have a large amount of monounsaturated fats and powerful antioxidants, which gives the much desired boost to the metabolic health. Further, the presence of the anti-inflammatory compounds in the olive oil makes it very much beneficial for the heart. If you can get the quality olive oil then it will be optimal as they have the healthy fats in them.

Supplements Cannot Be Used to Compensate the Unhealthy Diets: It is extremely important for you to choose and eat the right food items as they have a direct impact on your health. Any negligence in this regard is not accepted and it can be dangerous for you. The composition of the whole food is very much complex. They have so much of vitamins, proteins and other essential minerals in them. Quite frankly, we are not at all aware of the total compositions of most of the food items and so the supplements cannot be used to compensate for the real healthy foods. Science has progressed a lot but still we do not have the supplements for the traces of unaccounted minerals found in the real food items. So it lies in your hand to select the food best suited for your health. If you believe that you can eat anything, even if it is unhealthy and not fit for your body and in order to compensate for the essential nutrients you will eat supplements, then you are wrong and you need to change your attitude quickly before it affects your health.

July 30, 2014
The So Called Heart Healthy Food Which Can Actually Clog Your Arteries!

You must have been often recommended by your doctors or elder to eat those food items which offer essential nutrients and minerals required by the human body as it helps in proper growth and development. And in order to follow those advices you often go for those food items which have healthy tag on them. You choose food items which are processed or chose oils which have the healthy tag on them. This is one of the marketing strategies of the companies manufacturing these food items so that they can attract innocent people towards their products and make some easy money. You as a health couscous personally believe that those food items are actually good for your health. But the reality is somewhat very much different from what is presented in front of you. There are several food items which you believe are healthy for your body, but generally they harm your body. We are hereby mentioning some of those food items which are not at all good for you and their side effects can eventually clog the arteries present inside your body. You should immediately stop eating these food items so that live longer and stay protected.

Healthy Breakfast Cereals: Currently there are endless brands in the market which offers the breakfast cereals. The way they are presented in front of us is quite surprising. If you are not aware of the consequences of these cereals, then you may easily get into its trap. A normal person who does not know about it believes that these cereals are extremely beneficial and provides the essential minerals required by the body. In reality, these breakfast cereals are one of the highly processed food items which have a very large amount of refined grains. Further the amount of the sugar present in them is also high. The manufacturers attract people by mentioning the “whole grain” tag. But what really happens is that these whole grains are first pulverized to form the fine flour, which has the similar effects on your blood sugar level as a refined food does. It also affects the metabolism processes inside the human body. These manufacturers add several other ingredients so that the actual quantity of the sugar added to these breakfast cereals can be kept a secret. What is more surprising is the fact that these breakfast cereals are marketed as a healthy food for the children. Parents believe that these food items will help their child with proper growth and their child will be protected against the diseases.

Low Fat Dairy Products: Now again low fat dairy products are the ones which are in so much demand now a day. Since the dairy products have a rich amount of saturated fats in them, people go for lower fat dairy products, considering them best for their health. The problem is here is that it is not the saturated fats which creates a problem in your heart. The actual problem maker is the low fat food products. If you are among such people who opt for the high fat dairy products then there are more chances that you will not be affected by obesity and the heart diseases are also avoided. You are also protected against the diabetes. The dairy products are beneficial to the human body only because of the presence of the fatty components in them. If you remove these fatty components, then they are of no use. Further, in low fat dairy products there are high amounts of added sugar, which not only affect the metabolism, but also increases the risk of abdominal obesity and heart disease. Moreover the LDL cholesterol level in the body is also disturbed and affected.

Heart Healthy Whole Wheat: Go to a grocery store and you will find several different brands offering the heart healthy whole wheat. This modern version of the wheat is not healthy and they have been actually created by the scientists by altering the genes of the plants so that a new breed can be generated which can offer much more yield. The main motto of this step was to increase the yield so that the starvation can be reduced in different parts of the world. But now this is done for economic gains. So much tampering with the genes of the wheat plant is actually making them less healthy and so there are unforeseen consequences which we didn’t want in the first place. This wheat is called as the semi-dwarf wheat and is significantly low in nutrition level when compared to the older varieties. The recent studies have shown that this semi-dwarf wheat can increase the level of the cholesterol inside the human body and also increases the inflammatory markers. The acute inflammation is the major reason for the heart diseases. The LDL particle count is also high and they also have gluten in them. All these constituents are very much harmful for your heart and you can end up losing your precious life. It’s time you stop using all these mentioned food items and protect yourself so that you can live happily.

July 30, 2014
Why are juices turning out to be unhealthy?

We all know that fresh fruits are very useful for our body and they provide us with various health benefits. We can ingest more fruits at a time by drinking fruit juice. Consumption of juices of various fruits as well as vegetables is very prevalent now days. We normally think that drinking juice is quite advantageous. But there are certain demerits associated with the juicing as well.

Lack of fiber: Fruits are filled with various necessary constituents that go away during course of juicing. During this process, fiber is eliminated from the fruit which has a significant role in the betterment of the body. We can suffer with digestion difficulties with the absence of fiber. Fiber supports in attaining satisfaction. We generally can’t eat a lot of fruits at the same time because of the fiber which is present in them. Hence consumption of fresh fruits does not lead to the danger of sugar. In contrast to fruits, juices wipe out the fiber. The shortage of fiber leads to consumption of more amount of juice to fulfill our hunger.

Elimination of the fruit’s skin: Our body receives rarer benefits while drinking juice as the skin of the fruit is eliminated during the method of juicing. Every single fragment of the fruit is important and each fragment is packed with major nutrients which are necessary for the body. Fruit’s skin is that part which interrelates with the sun light and develops pigments. These particles are valuable in protecting our body from the harm. Generally the fruit’s skin possesses extra nutrients as compared to the flesh. Hence the intake of fresh fruit is healthier then the consumption of freshly prepared juice.

Rise in the sugar content: All the people who are suffering from diabetes and want to control their sugar content must cut out the consumption of juices. Juices are capable of providing a lot of sugar. Sugar is present in fruits and as the juices contains many fruits as well as vegetables at the same time, the sugar level increases. Hence the juices increase the risk of sugar.

Time consuming task: It is a little time consuming and problematic to prepare juices in our daily routine. Juicing involves slicing and peeling of fruits along with vegetables. It’s quite easier to consume the fruits as a whole rather than producing the juice out of it. People who are occupied with work load find it hard to include juicing in their routine.

Freshly prepared juices are of the finest quality: It is best to consume the juice when it is fresh. The juices turn out to be less flavorsome and healthy with time and so preparing the juices in advance is not be suitable. Hence it becomes troublesome for the people to prepare juices regularly because time is involved in juicing.

Juicing is pricey: Preparation of juices is costlier then the intake of fresh fruits as a whole. The process of juicing involves juicer to extract the juice out of the fruits and vegetables. These juicers are generally costly and as per their qualities and brand their costs varies.

But there are certain advices that make the consumption of fresh juices suitable for us.

Go for the pure juices: Whenever you feel like drinking juice makes it sure that it is freshly prepared from the pure and genuine fruits and vegetables. Avoid buying treated juices from the store. The freshly prepared juices are best for our health.

Cut down the usage of fruits for sugariness: The juices made out of vegetables are much better and healthier for us as compared to the fruit juices. Only slight piece of fruit must be added to the vegetable juice in order to increase its sugariness. Try to stay away from the juices that are exclusively prepared from fruits as they very high in sugar content.

Drink in moderation: The major problem with the consumption of juices is the risk of sugar. Juices are beneficial for us provided that the level of sugar content is not surpassed. Hence it is necessary to consume the juices in a controlled manner. Try not to outstrip the sugar level.

Usage of fine quality juicer: As I have already mentioned above that fiber is eliminated during the process of juicing. Hence try to find the juicer with finest quality which preserves the fruit’s skin during the course of juicing. Blender is one of the best options in this respect as it retains the fiber completely.

Now you have learnt about the fact that juices are filled with nutrients but in a lesser amount as compared to actual fruits and vegetables. Fiber which is so essential is not present in the juices. The sugar level is also enhanced in the juices. Hence it is better to directly consume the fruits rather extracting the juice out of it to enjoy the major health benefits.

July 30, 2014
Here’s all about HONEY!

Normally, honey is consumed by every household and is considered to be better than table sugar. The disntictive sweet flavor of honey with so many health benefits is the reason that people consider it over sugar and other sweeteners. Honey has medicinal effects on our body is really best alternative to satisfy our sweet tooth. I really like the flavor of honey on almost anything; be it in milk, on buns or bread or on cookies or pastries. I like it ,actually love it. Its doesn’t give sweetness, but the rich look to the food when its drizzled and is just lovely.

Honey is made by bees using nectar from flowers. The honey bees transform the nectar collected into honey by process of regurgitation and evaporation and then they store it as a primary food source in wax honeycombs inside the beehive. The sweetness of honey comes through monosaccharides fructose and glucose and has same degree of sweetness as granulated sugar. It can be a very effective replacement of sugar and must be consumed on daily basis. Just a spoonful everyday can do wonders. Honey is nutritious food; it contains 21 calories in a teaspoon and contain vitamins and minerals in v ery trace amounts, because it mainly has high fructose and glucose content and little sucrose, maltose and has small amount of Vitamin C and folate and minerals such as magnesium and some water content while, white sugar is devoid of any kind of such nutrients. Yes, it may be recommended by nutritionists to replace table sugar with honey but it is not highly recommended for diabetic patients who are advised to limit their carbohydrate intake as honey has carb content in it. Honey even have antioxidant properties. However, the composition of honey depends on the flowers available to the bees that produced honey.

When reaching for honey, always prefer raw, organic honey for maximum perks. Now, Come, let’s take a defined and clear look at the nutritious and health benefits of honey;

Antioxidant Function: Honey is proven to have powerful antioxidant properties which may slow down the cellular damage caused by unstable molecules or atoms called as free radicals, while sugar has no such nutrients and antioxidants. Though, honey has fewer antioxidant function as compared to other well known sources of antioxidants like blueberries, walnuts etc. but is still better than white sugar. Consume it.

Best for Skincare: Honey can prove to be best for your skin and can make awesome skin facials and face masks. The antibacterial and antifungal constituents of honey make it a ultimate skincare poduct. Apply a dab of raw, organic honey on the blemish or scars on youir face and let it do its work overnight. Wash it off in the morning and see the wonder. Do it regularly and make your face glow like anything.

Effective in cough, cold and fever: Many evidence have shown that honey is wonderful for treating cough and cold infection in children and help them to sleep. It soothes the throat and hlps in relieving the sore throat. It is recommended to give a teaspoon of honey half hour before bedtime is really effective in reducing coughs and inducing sleep.

Boosts Immune system: Raw organic honey is full of vitamins, minerals and enzymes and it is antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral and thus protects the bosy from harmful bacteria and as a result contributes in boosting the immune system of a person. Many diseases like cold, cough, thrat infections and irriattions are kept at bay when honey has a major role play in your kitchen.

Good for heart: Honey is really good for your heart health. Honey and cinnamon has long lasting positive effects on your heart, Honey mixed with cinnamon shows that it will revitalize the arteries and veins and reduce the cholesterol by certain levels. This mixture , when taken daily can reduce heart risk and prevnt it from occurring.

Some quick servings with Honey:

Mix a spoonful in your morning milk or night milk and enjoy the exotic sweetness.

Spread it on your cookies or marielite biscuits or toasts and sandwich them and then eat them or lick it . It will taste yum. I, myself do that.

Put it in your cornflakes or oatmeal and will be great start for the day and keep you energetic the whole day.

Drizzle it on your banana cupcake or toast spread with ricotta cheese and honey is best to serve or eat all by yourself.

In your herbal tea or green tea dip a spoonful with lemon and it will do wonders for you , if consumed regularly and your tea will be tasteful than ever.

On your chocolate coconut oat bars or peanut bars or sandwich on bread toast with peanut butter and honey. Just simply awesome.

When ill, take a teaspoon of honey with raw minced garlic and swallow it. May taste horrible but is really healing for your body. Also, for losing weight you can drink warm lemon water with hoey every morning before eating anything.

Truly, with no doubts, we can say that honey is a superfood, a nectarian delight and amazingly healing. Now, its upto you how to and when to consume honey and how to maximize its benefits in your life for your body.Use it as a sweetener while eating or as a face mask, either way its going to serve you well. So, Go on, enjoy the sweet, sweeter, sweetest Honey.

Sweet. Healthy. Food. Called.Honey!

July 27, 2014
Miraculous ALOE VERA!

Yes, Aloe Vera! That green spiky edged, gel filled plant, almost every garden of every household have is incredibly awesome. This wonder plant is put to plethora of practical uses and its application is worldwide. Like Cleopatra, who applied the middle gel to her body as part of her beauty regimen, this plant and its juice is incredible natural remedy having internal and external applications. Aloe vera is a plant that thrives in tropical areas and can work as a houseplant in warm environments. Aloe vera, being antiseptic, anti-bacterial gel is proved wonderful in treating many infections, number 1 thing for skincare and the aloe vera juice is simply superb to keep many diseases in check and maintain the healthy body. Just simply splitting the leaf downwards lengthwise and take out the gel and use it. Aloe vera alone produces six types of natural antiseptics which are able to kill bacteria, virus, funguses and scientists are carrying out researches to find out its potential for diseases like AIDS and cancer.

This health elixir can be put to versatile uses from beauty aid to health tonic and I’m enlisting the benefits of the miraculous, variety oriented aloe vera;

High content of Vitamins, Minerals, Amino acids and fatty acids: Aloe vera is rich in many vitamins like A,C,E, Vitamin B1,2,3 and Vitamin B12 and minerals like calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, selenium, copper, manganese and many others. Many studies have proven the rich composition of vitamins and mineral in aloe vera. Estimates have found there are around 18-20 amino acids and all 8 essential amino acids. It also contains an impressive range of fatty acids which are helpful in reducing symptoms of allergies and acid indigestion. Having all the goodness of essential elements, aloe vera is just unexpectedly healthy.

Adaptogen: It means that a thing that boosts the ability of the body to resist illness and adapt to external environment. It stimulates the adaptive and defensive mechansims of body. Aloe vera’s adaptogenic powers allows you an increased ability to deal with physical and emotional stress. Being adaptogen, it has gind so much popularity in health world.

Antioxidant properties: Aloe vera ia unique which is gelatinous and gives the benefit of absorbing toxins in your digestive tract and having antioxidant properties, it is helpful in proper elimination of toxins and waste from body and thus benefits the liver and helps in detoxification of body.

Great for skin: Because of its anti-healing properties, it is excellent for skin care and really popular among women. The gel part of aloe vera is really effective and provides glowing, healthy, supple skin when applied and even drinking aloe vera juice in morning can do miracles for skin. It is one of the primary compounds used in cosmetic industry. Having high water content, over 99%; it is a great way to moisturize, hydrate and rejuvenate you skin and it also increases the elasticity of skin through collagen and elastin repair. So, certainly aloe vera is best for skin maintenance.

Boost for Immune System: the aloe vera juice contains polysaccharids which stimulates macrophages (white blood cells) of your immune system that fight against viruses. Also, because of its anti-oxidant properties, aloe is an immune enhancer. As it is antipyretic, it is also used in treating fever. Thus, the compounds and nutrients present in aloe vera helps in immune boost.

Cardiovascular health maintenance: Aloe vera has potential benefits in treating heart disease and has positive effects on cardiovascular health. In a research, it was shoen that aloe vera extract injected into blood greatly enhances oxygen transportation. Also, consuming aloe vera gel regulates blood pressure, improving circulation and oxidation of blood and lowers the cholesterol. Blood sugar levels are also increased in diabetic patients.

Aloe Vera Uses:

Pamper yourself by using aloe vera as a soothing body scrub. Slice it lengthwise and and use inner sides as a body scrub in shower.

Use it as an antidote for allergic skin infections or use is as a good moisturizer in place of creams and lotions.

Treats acne and eczema.

Speed up your hair growth by massaging aloe into scalp and also use it as a conditioner for silky, smooth hair and it also reduces dandruff.

Take it orally to treat number of diseases from diabetes, asthma, inflammation, indigestion, ulcers, dental conditions, arthritis etc.

Treat burns from minor mishaps or cuts or scars and also treat insect bites, itches and prevent stretch marks. Can make foot baby soft by preparing foot mask. Treat the sunburns and soothe the skin in good way.

Aloe Vera is a miraculous plant, a health supplement and a super food. Though plant is incredibly medicinal, there are little precautions that one must take. Its okay to apply it to your skin or drink aloe vera juice 3-4 times a week. If you cant cope with taking it straight as it has strong taste, you can add it in smoothie or mix it in your green juice. But Avoid taking aloe vera internally as consuming gel orally or as aloe juice during pregnancy, menstruation or degeneration of the liver and gall bladder.

Well, be little cautious and Enjoy all the goodness and big benefits of aloe vera it has to offer and be healthy and beautiful always.

Healthy Eating. Happy Life.

July 27, 2014
Maple Syrup: Is It Healthy or Unhealthy for your Body?

Maple syrup is one of the widely used sweeteners today. The manufacturers claim that it is 100 % natural and is in fact far healthier than the regular sugar that we use. They also claim that maple syrup is also better in terms of the nutrition provided to the human body. Believing these claims, people have started to use it in their day to day life without even making any efforts in authenticating if the claims made are genuine or not. Maple syrup is actually manufactured using the sap of the maple trees. These saps are actually sugary fluid which comes out of the maple trees. Its use has been mentioned in various history books making it one of the food items consumed for many centuries now. Currently Canada is the country which produces almost 80 % of the total maple syrup used in the whole world.

There is a two-step process involved in the manufacturing of the maple syrup. Firstly a hole is made in the trunk of the maple tree and the sugary fluid circulating is collected in these holes. Then the next step involves the process in which this syrup is boiled till the water present in it evaporates and sugary syrup which is thick in nature is left behind. Then with the help of the filtration, the impurities present in them are removed. Now depending upon the color of the final syrup obtained, the maple syrup is then classified into Grade A and Grade B. In the Grand A variety, we further have the Light, Medium and Dark Amber category. The Grade B category maple syrup is the darkest syrup obtained and so they have the strongest flavor. This is the reason they are generally used for baking while the Grade A category ones are directly used as the syrup. The darker maple syrup or the Grade B maple syrup is generally manufactured using the sap obtained in the harvesting seasons. It is very important to have prior knowledge before buying the maple syrups from the market. You should select the actual maple syrup and not the flavored maple syrups as they offer more health benefits. Moreover the flavored maple syrup is loaded with the fructose corn syrup or the refined sugar which not only affects your health but also invites various diseases towards your body.

The reason why maple syrup is preferred over the refined sugar is the presence of many essential nutrients, minerals and antioxidants. A fresh and pure 100 grams of maple syrup contains the following minerals. Potassium: 6% of RDA, Zinc: 28% of RDA, Calcium: 7% of RDA, Iron: 7% of RDA and Manganese: 165% of RDA. Further the 100 grams of pure maple syrup also has 67 grams of table sugar. This high percentage of the sugar is not at all appropriate as they can lead you to type 2 diabetes, obesity and heart related diseases. If you go for the maple syrup considering that it has good amount of minerals in it and ignore the sugar content, then it is not a wise step and you need to think again on your decisions. The only other healthy way by which you can get the right quantity of minerals is by eating the real foods as they are not adulterated and are perfectly natural. Choose a balanced diet of both the plants and animals and you will surely be protected against the diseases.

But if you are anyway going to eat the artificial sweeteners then maple syrup is the best option in front of you as they have about 1/3^rd sugar content compared to the refined sugars available these days. Another good thing about the maple syrup is that its glycemic index is 54 which is less than the table sugar and is a good sign. The table sugar has the glycemic index of 65. This low level of glycemic index helps in maintaining the blood sugar level inside the human body. The less the glycemic index, the better it is for your health. Another advantage of using the maple syrup is the presence of the 24 different varieties of the antioxidants. Yes, this is absolutely right. They have 24 varieties of antioxidants. The oxidative damage inside the human body makes it prone to the diseases and also fastens the process of aging. Actually there are some of the unwanted chemical reactions which happen inside the body involving the free radicals that harms you severely and these chemical reactions are called by the name of the oxidative damage. The antioxidants present in the maple syrup helps in neutralizing these free radicals which eventually helps in getting rid of these oxidative damages. The darker maple syrups have more percentage of antioxidants in them than the lighter ones and so you should opt for the darker ones.

The final verdict is that although the maple syrup contains the nutrients and essential antioxidants, it also has the high amount of sugar content in it which is not good for your health. You can call maple syrup as slightly better than the actual sugar. So its use should be limited so that you stay protected. Do not use it regularly as it may harm your health.

July 20, 2014