Tag: health

Here is why you should stop eating bread

Bread is one such food item which we extensively use in our daily life. It is prepared by mixing flour with water. The mixture obtained is then baked. If you will look at the history of the bread you will find its existence in almost every civilization. People find bread as the easiest food option available in front of them, so whenever they feel hungry, they eat the dishes made using them. But most of the people are not aware that the white bread consumption affects the human health in many ways. It simply means that bread isn’t healthy at all and you should start avoiding bread instantly. Many research conducted on this topic have yielded the same result. It is so recommended by the dietitians to stop eating bread and instead go for other food items which are available. We will hereby give you some of the adverse effect which bread can cause on the human health.

Bread is a rich source of the protein named as Gluten which has the properties found in glue and it is responsible for the viscoelastic properties of the dough. It has been proved in various research conducted worldwide that those people who regularly eat bread have the excess amount of Gluten in their body. This in turn seriously damages the digestive tract which results in lots of pain, tiredness and inconsistency in stool. The Gluten also causes disorder in brain and people get affected by the cerebellar ataxia disease. So you should stop eating bread and go for other options that are available.

People believe that bread is made using grains and is healthy for the body but they are not aware that it is not made using actual whole grains. They are made using grains which have been pulverized so as to get fine flour. Because of this process the breads gets digested easily and moreover the starch present in the bread also breaks down and so they enter as glucose into the bloodstream. This results into the steep rise of the insulin and blood sugar which is not at all good for human body. Again when the blood sugar level comes down we feel hungry. That is why people who are dieting and those who are affected with the blood sugar disease should avoid it instantly. Moreover if the blood sugar level is above the permitted value, it results into the formation of glycation and it is one such component which results into aging.

Bread is deprived of any sort of nutrients which is beneficial for the human body. Bread contains fructose which if present in access amount affects the health. This is proved worldwide that bread has sugar in it which is not at all healthy. They also have phytic acid in it which is generally known as the anti-nutrient. This phytic acid if present in the body makes the minerals required by the human body for growth and development to get stick to each other and so they do not get absorbed. The human body produces two types of cholesterol. While one is bad for the human health, other one is actually good and its presence is required. If you are a regular bread consumer then it is likely that the LDL cholesterol of the body will increase by 60 % which is quite a big figure and for your information LDL cholesterol is in fact the bad cholesterol which we have in our body. So it makes you prone to the different diseases such as the heath and lung diseases.

In all the bottom line is bread is not at all good for you as it is not at all nutritious. If we compare bread with other food items which are easily available to us, bread lie below them in terms of essential nutrition and minerals that they provide. Since the acid formed due to the bread consumption damages the intestinal lining, the absorption of the minerals and nutrients is not carried on by the human body and consequently its deficiency causes various diseases.

While this may be a bad news for all those people who love to eat bread or the dishes made using breads, it is for their own safety and healthy body that we hereby ask them to stop eating bread. It is not that you should completely eliminate it from your diet but then the frequency with which you eat bread and bread products must be decreased. So the next time you feel like eating bread, just remember that it will not only affect the functioning of your digestive system but will also not allow you to lose weight. We have given enough evidence which clearly states the adverse effects the human body. Other than bread there are various food items which are available and if you will eat those then you will certainly have a healthy body. So go for those and stop eating bread. Stay healthy.

June 26, 2014
Red Meat: Is it really bad for your health?

Red meat is certainly one food item which has created a lot of controversies and people are divided on the basis of their opinions id it sis good or bad for the health. When the red meat is raw, it is of red color and moreover its color does not change to white after it is cooked. There had been many reports lately suggesting that red meat is not good for the human health and so people should immediately stop eating it. These reports have been prepared on the basis of observational studies. Almost all the meat which is obtained from the body of mammals is red meat as they have a high concentration of myoglobin in it. The red meat lovers are in dilemma that whether they should eat their favorite food or skip it for the sake of their health. Some people have claimed that these reports are not correct and if you eat unprocessed i.e. the fresh raw meat then there is no harm. You just have to pay attention towards the fat content and the preparation of the dishes made out of red meat as it is the best way you can stay protected and enjoy your favorite food. The processed red meats are the ones which undergo various processes such as the smoking, adding preservatives etc. after it is obtained from the animal’s body. Here we are discussing if the red meat is actually bad for the health or it is just a myth that people have.

Talking about the red meat it is a wonderful source of many essential nutrients and minerals which the human body needs. It is in fact the most nutritious food which is available. If you measure 100 grams of red meat, it will have the following minerals and nutrients in it. Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin), Vitamin D, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), Phosphorus, Iron (12 % of RDA), Zinc (32 % of RDA), Selenium (24 % of RDA), Creatine, Riboflavin, Thiamin and Lipoic acid. It also has the high calories and about 10 grams of fats in it. Those people who are vegetarians are deprived of certain nutrients such as Carnosine and Creatine. Red meat is a rich source of both these proteins which is essential for the timely development of human body. Red meat also increases the hemoglobin count in the blood and also helps in building and repairing of the muscles. The meat obtained from the body of the chickens, pigs and rabbits are actually white meat and it is also completely safe to eat.

There has been so many research conducted to verify if the red meat actually causes the so called cardiovascular diseases and diabetes which results into the death of the person. And every research has given us the report that these are just a myth and there is no evidence which can support these claims. But the catch here is that you should eat only those red meats which are unprocessed one. The processed red meats are unhealthy and they can therefore lead to you all these diseases. You have to clearly understand the distinction between the two and choose accordingly.

Another myth that people generally have is that red meat is one such food items whose consumption can increase the chances of cancer in the body. Generally people relate colorectal cancer with the red meat which is one of the most common cancers in today’s time. Although the careful studies conducted by the experts suggests that there is weak link between these two but since there is not enough evidence as the studies which have been conducted so far are the observational ones and so they cannot say that eating red meat will cause you colorectal cancer and this is actually a myth that people generally have.

Now for those people who love to eat red meat we hereby recommend that when you prepare any red meat dish, cook it at moderate temperature. The high temperature cooking can lead to the formation of the harmful compounds such as AGE, HA and PAH. These compounds can then harm your health. Any food item if cooked at high temperature will lead to the formation of these compounds in it. So go for the options such as the steaming and stewing. Further if you want to cook gravy dishes with red meat then first marinate it with the garlic or olive oil or red wine as this will reduce the formation of the HCA to a larger extent. When you start cooking, make sure that the meat is not overcooked and none of the pieces are burnt because of it. The burnt pieces must be thrown away. All these methods that have been mentioned here are for precautions. So eat unprocessed red meat by cooking it gently and make sure that they are not charred. Red meat is actually very healthy and if you are eating it frequently then I bet you will have a healthier body.

June 26, 2014
Different Varieties of Tea

Tea is a form of drink that is enjoyed by people in so many countries. Its popularity has been increased a lot in these years. People love to have a few sips of this amazing drink when they are tired and want to have some freshness. There are many different kinds of tea available in the market like Black Tea, Red Tea, Green Tea and many more. Even though they offer different benefits and have different features they all are originated from the similar plant-‘Camellia sinensis’. It has been found out that tea also provides so many benefits to the health and keeps the body fit and fine. Among the various kinds of tea that we have, some are listed below along with their features and advantages.

Green Tea:

This particular kind of tea is quite prevalent in the regions of Asia and is enjoyed by the people a lot. China and Japan are the chief producers of green tea. It comes in the marketplace with so many essences and tastes. It includes various vitamins beneficial for the health. It’s a sweet smelling and delightful beverage that is relished by the people from all over the world. It is very helpful in burning fat, reducing the danger of strokes and neurological sickness and improving the level of cholesterol. So green tea is a good blend of taste and health benefits. Further if you want to lose weight this is the tea which you need to start drinking.

Black Tea:

It has been widespread in the marketplaces of Europe and US. ‘Chai’- a very much liked drink all over the world is made from black tea. In India Darjeeling and Assam are the biggest producers of black tea. It is gaining popularity and love for its deep and intense flavors. From children to adults, it is appreciated and liked by all. The greatest amount of caffeine is found out in black tea. It is too beneficial for reducing the amount of strokes and offers a great amount of protection to the lungs too.

White Tea:

As the name suggests it is the cleanest type of tea, it is the purest of all the kinds. It is processed in a slightest amount as compared to other kinds of tea and this kind of tea is produced in the rarest amount. The drinks formed from white tea possess a bright color and taste. It has become so prevalent and common recently. It is quite similar to green tea except its light color and flowery taste. The sprouts of the plants are included in the white tea which gives a way to floral taste. It possesses strong and powerful anticancer characteristics. Antioxidant as well as detoxifying advantages is delivered by white tea.

Oolong Tea:

It is quite popular among the people as the Chinese drink as it basically comes from China. It is dissimilar from the others of its kind. It has very intense and powerful flavor in addition with sugary and sweet smelling fragrance. Oolong tea is a kind of semi fermented tea. It is extensively utilized by the in people as it offers great amount of digestive advantages. It is moreover famous as ‘Wu long’ tea with deep essence and delightful smell. It is also considered as a supplement for the loss in the weight.

Red tea:

It is another tea which comes with purity as the additives are not included in it. It is known for its clean and genuine form with no preservatives. The amount of caffeine is quite low in it. This drink is quite suitable for the people having hectic and occupied routine life. All over the day, it can be consumed numerous times. It acts as eminent drink to quench the thirst. Apart from using it in the various drinks it is also utilized in baking as well as cooking. This tea has a gentle and relaxing effect and is sweeter as compared to usual tea.

Herbal Tea:

It is also known as ‘tisane’ and it usually does not include any caffeine in it. Apart from using it as a drink it is also utilized for various medical advantages offered by it. It is an easy and efficient tea that is available to the people at a very low cost. It is very enjoyable and pleasurable in flavor and provides so many advantages of the herbs. Similar to other drinks, it can be served up as hot and cold both. So it is a very pleasant beverage to enjoy along with its medicinal advantages. Herbal tea is highly preferred in most parts of the world.

So as you can see there are so many kinds of tea which are available now days. Every tea has its own advantages and flavors. Drinking tea is the part of the daily routine and it leaves behind a very soothing and relaxing effect which is required in such as busy routine. In the market you are provided with a great deal of different kinds of tea. So you certainly have many options to select from and enjoy the benefits of that particular type of tea.

June 24, 2014
Tea: A Drink for Every Season

Tea, as evident by the consumption in an average Indian’s household, is most widely consumed drink- after water. Tea is found as an important part in every house and that is what I am taking about today. It is the only beverage commonly available hot or iced for every occasion.

It is not just a beverage for the sake of drinking, but it also has numerous health benefits. Oolong tea and White tea, for example, help in weight control. Black tea helps to reduce stress. Various flower teas help to increase metabolism and reduce stress. There are various reasons to drink a cup of tea everyday and to make your tea experience rich and interesting, here is a list to different type of teas you can try in every season.

Summer:-

We can never give up on drinking tea let it be the 45⁰C heat of summer. For this summer, we have got Iced Lemon tea for you. It is easy to make, cool and refreshing; perfect for a summer evening.

Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients needed:-

1 Lemon

Sugar to taste

½ cup fresh Mint Leaves

1 Black tea bag

Directions to make:-

Using a vegetable peeler remove bright yellow peel from lemon. Combine lemon and sugar in a medium saucepan with 1/2 cup water and boil. Stir to dissolve sugar. Lower the heat and let it heat for one more minute. Remove from heat and add mint. Cool to room temperature.

Now in 1 cup hot water put the tea bag for 5 minutes. Then remove the tea bag and add the syrup, 1 cup cold water and ice cubes.

Serve in tall glasses filled with ice cubes and a few mint leaves on the top.

Autumn:-

In autumn, there is nothing as delightful as sitting at the balcony in the cold breeze with a hot cup of tea nearby. Cinnamon Apple tea is a perfect tea to sip in the autumn-ish cold morning. As evident from the name, it is an apple based tea and doesn’t need tea bags.

Cinnamon Apple Tea

Ingredients needed:-

½ teaspoon honey

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of nutmeg

1 cup water (boiling)

Directions to make:-

Cut the apples and mash lightly with a fork in the bottom of a mug. Add the dry ingredients on top. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the apples and other ingredients and stir. Let it simmer in the boiling water for about 5 minutes. Top with whipped cream and enjoy.

Spring:-

It is the most interesting season for trying new tea flavors. In the flowery spring, add some new flavors to the life with some flowery drink.

Lavender Tea

Ingredients needed:-

3 Tablespoons fresh Lavender flowers or 1 1/2 Tablespoons dried Lavender flower

2 cups boiling water

Honey and Lemon (optional)

Direction to make:-

To make Lavender tea put the flowers in a teapot or container along with the boiling water allowing them to stay for a good 4 to 5 minutes.
Pour into cups straining if necessary to remove the flower buds. Drink Lavender flower tea with honey and sliced lemon for better taste.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile tea has a naturally sweet tasting drink with a tinge of apple flavor. It is a good source of Magnesium and is used as a soothing and relaxing herb.

Ingredients needed:-

1 chamomile teabag or 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers

1 cup fresh water, brought just to the boil

Optional additions to taste such as honey, lemon, or mint

Directions to make:-

Add the teabag or dried flower to a cup. Cool the just-boiled water slightly (chamomile tea is best when steeped in hot – not boiling – water), and then add to your cup. Let it steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Its taste and benefits improves with longer steeping time. Remove the teabag or loose tea leaves. Drink it this way or add extras, like honey, lemon, or mint, if you wish.

Winter

Winter, no doubt, is the perfect season for drinking a hot cup of tea every morning and evening. To make winter more healthy and delicious, there is green tea for you to try.

Green Tea

Green tea, with its incredible taste, has many health benefits. Drinking green tea increases metabolism. Also, it helps to maintain a healthy heart. You can also say ‘A cup of Green Tea a day, keeps a doctor away.’

Ingredients needed:-

Green tea leaves- 1 tsp
Water – 1 cup
Honey to taste
Fresh lemon juice to taste

Direction to make:-

Heat 1 cup of water. Do not bring it to boiling point. Switch off before that stage to reduce bitterness. Add 1 tsp green tea and brew it for about 2-3 minutes. If you brew it longer, the tea will taste bitter, so just 2-3 minutes is sufficient. Strain the tea into a cup.
Add honey and a few drops of lemon juice to taste. Do not add milk in this tea. You can use 2-3 fresh mint leaves to get a minty flavor.

So, what are you waiting for? Go make a nice cup of tea for yourself and others. Drink your health and taste at the same time and Enjoy.

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
Weight loss 101

With the comforts offered by the modern technological innovations and the decline of labor-intensive jobs, staying fit and active has become a major challenge. Rise in cases of obesity and diabetes has created immense pressure on us to constantly adopt life-style changes to stay lean. The flood of slender models and bulked-up dudes on electronic and print media doesn’t help either. In wake of this, the health conscious and even the not-so-conscious try almost everything, they hear or learn from friends and internet about weight-loss, in bits and pieces- dieting, gym, running and what not. And most of the time, even after days and weeks of struggle with their cravings and laziness, they are left disillusioned. So what goes wrong?? Why is losing those few extra pounds so difficult?? The answer is – the lack of understanding of the mechanism of loss. The absence of the complete picture is a major reason why people often make wrong choices while deciding their plan of action. But you need not worry. Coming up in the paragraphs to follow is everything you need to know about body weight, fat and how our body responds when we lose weight.

The energy generated in our body, from the food that we eat, is utilized for various internal and external activities like walking, running, maintaining metabolism etc. The excess energy that remains unutilized even after successfully carrying all these activities is stored as fat in specialized cells called fat cells or Adipocytes. The fat cells develop in our body during childhood and for the rest of our life, their number remains almost constant. Thus, weigh gain is associated not with the number of fat cells present (since their numerical count remains constant even when we lose/gain weight) but rather with their size. When the body consumes more food than is required and consequently produces more energy than it dissipates (via various physical activities or body functions), more of it gets stored as fats. This causes the fat cells to swell up and appear as bulk.

Apart from the stored fat, the body has another source of energy stored in the cells called glycogen which is nothing but excess blood sugar acted upon by the enzyme insulin (responsible for regulating blood sugar levels). Whenever, energy shortage occurs in our body, the body first uses this glycogen followed by the utilization of stored fat. The released fat is acted upon by various processes and finally converted into heat, water, carbon dioxide and ATP i.e. adenosine triphosphate (energy). ATP is used by the body to meet its energy requirements, water leaves the body as sweat and urine and carbon dioxide is exhaled. This explains where the lost fat “goes” when we lose weight. So, in order to devour fat, we need to create an energy deficit in our body which can be accomplished in two ways- by consuming less food or by dissipating more energy. This brings us to the universally known mantras of weight loss i.e. dieting and exercising. So far so good.

Then why these obvious methods don’t seem to work that smoothly?? Why is losing weight so frustrating, so say the least?? Well the answer is that there are related mechanisms that interfere and affect the whole process and if not understood clearly, can greatly reduce the benefits of dieting and exercising.

1. Firstly, after the commencement of dieting, your body first loses water weight before glycogen and fat is burnt. This is why it is fairly easy to lose weight in the first few weeks and after that, it gets increasingly frustrating each passing day. The key to success here is to stay resilient and not stray in the times of difficulty. Patience always pays off.

2. When the body senses that it is getting fewer calories, it responds by storing more fat to prepare itself for famine-like situations. So, cutting too many calories or eating too less can prove to be suicidal in these situations. Don’t starve yourself, instead eat healthy food.

3. Eating too less or not indulging in weight training can make you lose muscles along with fat. This is not good news. Always remember- excess of anything, dieting included, is bad!!

4. Recent studies also suggest that high calorie and high fat food evoke responses from the brain that are similar to cocaine addiction. Consuming them in greater quantities causes compulsive eating habits. So, abstaining from such food causes very strong cravings for them. Therefore, one must not lose control during the tough times and stick with the diet plan. An alternate way is to never really turn away from such food items completely, rather cut their quantity and restrict their consumption to just once a day.

5. Weight loss has many other related implications. It might make you feel sleepy or cause you to lose sleep. Like mentioned above, weight training stresses our body. So, one need not fight sleep too much. Lying lazily for long hours should definitely be avoided but a minimum of 7 to 8 hours of sleep must be ensured so that the body gets the rest it needs. On the contrary, if you are not consuming enough calories, you will find it harder to sleep. A good solution to this problem is to have a hearty (and healthy) dinner or a glass of almond milk before you doze off.

6. Dieting can cause physical and mental stress. All this can trigger the secretion of the stress hormone cortisol.Thus, it is essential that one indulges in some sort of stress management activity like yoga or meditation.

With a little bit of self-control and discipline, you can easily get that flat belly you always wanted. So the next time you decide to put on a saree at a wedding or a bikini on beach, you don’t have to feel conscious. And remember, nutritious and tasty food choices are not mutually exclusive. They can and do go hand-in-hand. Nature has rewarded us with a host food of products that are delicious and healthy at the same time. The choice is ours to make.

June 20, 2014
Foods that have the healing powers

Eating proper food is very important in maintaining a healthy body as it helps the body organs to function appropriately. Treating the diseases with the healthy food is one such method which we have been following from a very long time now. A normal person is generally aware of such food items which give the essential required nutrients to the human body and so they love to eat them. But they are not necessarily aware that there are few food items as well which have high healing capacity in it. This simply means that if you eat these food items then your body will have the enough power to fight the diseases and will heal automatically. All these food items which have been mentioned here have several distinct properties in them which help in maintaining a healthy body.

There are hundreds of food options that are available and so people have the liberty to choose the food as per their liking. But eating a food which has the healing power in it has several advantages. Firstly it helps in treating the diseases without the need of medicines. Secondly it slows down the aging mechanism of the human body. So you will fell fresh and young. Thirdly it helps the body in gaining the energy required to fight the disease causing germs and bacteria. Today science and medicine has progressed a lot and all these facts that we are going to mention in this article have been proved in various research conducted by the scientists. Start eating these foods and protect your body from any harmful disease.

Spinach: You must have seen the Popeye cartoon series in your childhood where he eats the spinach and gets the strength to fight against the enemies. It is because spinach has tremendous amount of Folic acid, Fibre, Vitamin A and Vitamin C in it which has several positive effects on the human body. The fibre present in the spinach helps in controlling the condition of constipation and is a very essential mineral for the proper functioning of the eyes and the digestive system. Spinach also has the anti-inflammatory properties in it which stops the cancer causing cells in getting replicated and protects the body from the prostate and breast cancer. Several eye and heart disease can also be avoided with the help of spinach. It also helps in keeping your bones strong as it has Vitamin K in it. So it is advised that you should eat spinach on a regular basis.

Carrots: Carrot not only has an adequate quantity of Vitamin A in it but is also very much rich in antioxidants. It has carotenoids in it which makes it an excellent food if you have an eyesight problem as it helps in maintaining the proper vision and protects you from the postmenopausal breast cancer which is very common now a days in the ladies. It also helps in regulating the blood pressure of the body. One can eat carrot daily and stay away from all these health problems. Carrots also help in stimulating the body’s immune system which fights with the disease causing germs and bacteria.

Beans: Beans has several essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals in it which makes the body stronger and helps in fighting the harmful effects of the diseases. Beans have very low glycemic index level in it which helps the human body in regulating the insulin production and maintaining the sugar level in the blood. Beans are actually low in energy density level which is a good sign as it helps in sustaining the energy and maximizing the positive effects on the human body. To your surprise beans is also equipped with rich amount of magnesium, fatty acids and potassium which provide several benefits to the human body. Where else will you find so much essential nutrients together in one place? So it is often said by the learned people that you must start eating beans to stay healthy.

Cherries: Cherry is one such fruit which has lots and lots of antioxidants and various vitamins in it. One of the biggest benefits with cherry is that they are themselves very rich in sugar which acts as an excellent source of fibers which are required by the human body. Further they have low carbohydrates content in it which again proves to be good for the body. All these help us in getting our body shielded from the harmful effects of the various diseases. Cherries can be consumed daily.

Kiwis: Kiwis is one such food which is often recommended by the doctors as it has the excellent healing capacity. Kiwi has the perfect amount fiber, potassium and phytonutrients in it which help in protecting the body against the heart stroke, respiratory diseases and cancer. It has the natural property of making the blood thin so that it can easily flow through the heart and also checks the formation of the blood clot as they are extremely dangerous for the body. It helps in lowering down the cholesterol present in the body and also maintains the blood sugar. Kiwi also helps damaged cells to get repaired and protects the DNA from getting damaged.

June 19, 2014
Green Tea: The Elixir!

Do you drink green tea? Yes, I know everyone has heard about the potential benefits of this beverage. After all, it has become all the new way of getting refreshed replacing the traditional caffeine containing tea or coffee. Well, I’m an avid green tea drinker and my family has also become a fan of green tea. And I can definitely claim the benefits of this super awesome tea. By the time, I have developed the taste for green tea and now I really like it. If you have been ignoring this bliss drink for the issue of taste, you’re being silly! Trust me, you will start liking it automatically as soon as you realize the health benefits of green tea and that refreshing feeling you experience after its consumption. It is like an inside bath of body as it flush out the toxins and makes you feel light and nice. The reason to drink green tea may be anything but yes, you should drink it everyday for maximum benefits. Just two glasses of green tea are so much more than this caffeine drinks or carbonated drinks. To satisfy your sweet tooth, one can add honey to it, which can reap other benefits too.

Why Green Tea?
Green Tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis that have undergone minimal oxidation while processing and avoids fermentation process, which is the reason that green tea retains maximum amounts of antioxidants and poly-phenols that gives green tea, its many benefits. Green Tea has originated in China, but it has now become associated with many cultures throughout Asia. It has been used as a medicine for thousand of years and has multiple uses ranging from lowering blood pressure to fighting cancer.
While looking deeper into the advantages of green tea, I have enlisted some of the super awesome and amazing benefits of green tea, if you’re not aware of. So, go through them and surprise yourself.

Improves Dental Health and prevents tooth decay: It has been proved by various studies that chemical antioxidant “ catechin” in tea may inhibit the growth of bacteria and virus, which in turn lowers the risk of infection. It leads to improvement in dental health, reduced bad breath and lowers the risk of dental caries.

Lowers Blood Pressure: It can prove to be a perfect drink for people having problem of high blood pressure as regular consumption of green tea reduces the risk of high blood pressure.

Combats Depression: As green tea has such a refreshing effect, it helps in curing depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves which provides a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and can be great for tea drinkers.

Lowers the risk of various types of Cancer: Green tea is an excellent source of antioxidants and cancer develops due to oxidative damage and uncontrolled growth of cells. Green tea is thought to kill cancer cells without damaging the healthy tissue around them. Many observational studies have found that green tea drinkers are significantly less likely to develop various types of cancer as they have powerful antioxidants that may protect against cancer.

Helps in losing weight and prevents obesity: Some studies show that green tea leads to increased weight loss as it increases the metabolism. Green tea leads to decrease in body fat and is particularly effective in reducing abdominal fat. The poly-phenols in green tea boost levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which body converts food into calories.

Reduces cholesterol: Consumption of green tea reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good and bad cholesterol. Thus, it lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s : Many studies have found that the “Catechin” compounds in green tea have various protective effects on neurons in animal models, potentially lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Green tea is said to delay the decay of cells caused by these diseases.

Lowers the risk of Diabetes: Green tea apparently helps insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar levels. It helps regulate glucose levels and prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage. It may also lower the risk of developing type II diabetes in the long run.

Excellent for Skincare: Green Tea is an excellent potion for skin and helps in maintaining soft supple skin. Drinking green tea can make your skin shine. It also helps with wrinkles and signs of ageing because it has anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory activities and is also rich in flavonoids. It also provides protection against sun damage.

Well, If we consider how much is apt for a day. You can say just one cup is enough for some days, but if you’re feeling anxiety or tired or want to enjoy its extra-benefits, there is no limit to the cups. You can consume from 2 to 5 cups a day and feel the refreshment and energy. Green Tea is the most preferable drink on the planet. These loaded bags of antioxidants and nutrients are much sought after option for maintaining good body with overloaded health benefits. In order to feel better, lose weight and to reap other benefits, you should consider making it a regular part of life. It is truly an Elixir of life.

Consume it, drink it. Everyday.

June 18, 2014