Nutrition

3 Reasons People Are Switching To Natural Products

More and more people these days are choosing to shop ethically in order to be more sustainable, to support their health and to protect the environment.

If you’ve been on the fence, here are four legit reasons you should switch to natural products along with the rest of the world:
They are eco-friendly

Choose to live a lifestyle that respects the environment by buying and using products that don’t hurt the earth. For example, buying and eating foods with labels like ‘natural,’ ‘organic,’ and ‘locally sourced,’ will help you feel more satisfied that you are contributing to a larger cause.

They are chemical free

Almost 80% of the packaged food we get today contains a variety of chemical preservatives that are harmful for our health. Buying foods without pesticides, chemicals, or processed additives can help you live a healthier life.

They are non-factory made

Because natural products are what they are – natural, they are not made in factories. Products that are organically made are of better quality and are absolutely free from pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

The world is slowly realizing the value natural and sustainable products. Not only does it feels good to shop ethically and contribute to local sellers, it helps sustain the environment. Let’s make a conscious effort towards saving the environment and promoting healthy living. Are you in?

References:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/wellness/article/5-reasons-people-are-turning-to-natural-products/articleshow/66271837.cms

The 2018 Diet Tsunami

The year 2018 saw a sudden rise in people who researched and followed a host of diets suited to their body goals. Although most of the diets have been around for a while, this year saw the most number of people conforming to it with gusto and sticking to their guts.

Here, we present you with a peek at all the diets that made 2018, the year of the diet tsunami:

Keto or Ketogenic

The keto diet is very low in carbohydrates (under 50 grams per day — the equivalent of 2 slices of bread and a banana) and very high in fat. Eating this way aims to send the body into a state of ketosis, which means your body is using fat and its by-products (ketones) as its primary source of fuel.

Mediterranean

The Mediterranean diet is based on the largely peasant-style diet eaten in traditional areas of Italy, Greece, Spain and Morocco. It includes eating more fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and nuts, using olive oil for cooking and dressing foods, eating fermented dairy like yoghurt, lowering the amount of meat you eat and upping your fish intake. This makes it one of the healthiest diets to follow. It is said to help one live longer, and ward off many lifestyle diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Paleolithic or Paleo

The Paleo diet claims to be based on eating principles from the Palaeolithic period (approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago), where primary food sources were vegetables, fruit, nuts and meat. It is high protein, high fat and low in carbohydrates, recommending an increase in meat consumption and removal of dairy foods, legumes and whole grains. Doesn’t really sound ideal, right?

Vegetarian/vegan

Once a fringe diet, being vegetarian is now mainstream and hugely popular, especially because of its benefits to the environment and your body. Following a vegetarian diet has been linked to including more energy, a better complexion, a healthier weight and a reduced risk of chronic disease like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some types of cancer.

Also on the rise is the vegan diet (vegetarian minus eggs and dairy) with many high profile sports people and celebrities adopting the lifestyle change, including Ellen DeGeneres, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth.

Low carb

A very popular diet fad in the last decade, think GM or Atkins, this diet has had people running away from carbs! This diet tends to focus on a high intake of meat and completely omits or limits carbohydrates, including whole grains, breads, legumes and fruits.

This diet is popular because of quick weight loss results. This is achieved because people cut out highly refined, high-sugar carbs like soft drinks, lollies, biscuits, and chips – a great idea for anyone looking to lose weight or adopt a healthier lifestyle. However, they also cut out good carbs like whole grains and those found in some fruit and veggies.

Now that you have a fair idea about the kinds of diets that took 2018 by storm, we wonder what 2019 is likely to bring with respect to new eating ideas and habits. Do you have an inkling? Comment and let us know!

Here’s how much sugar you should be eating in a day!

Saying no to that piece of cake and not eating your favourite ras malai for days is not easy.

As for sugar? Most of us don’t have dessert everyday—and when we do, we try to make it healthy—so we can’t be eating too much of it, right?

Wrong. There’s a lot of sugar hiding in everyday food. The amount of sugar in a day’s worth of meals and snacks can be shocking! Yogurt with fruit, whole-wheat bread or even homemade stir-fry – everything counts!

What is a safe amount of sugar to consume per day?

According to experts, the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day are:

For Men: 150 calories per day (37 grams or 8-9 teaspoons)
For Women: 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6-7 teaspoons)

To put that into perspective, a 350ml cup of coke contains 140 grams of sugar while a regular Snickers bar contains 100 grams of sugar.

Startled? Let’s help you cut down sugar from your diet!

How to Minimize Sugars in Your Diet

Avoid these foods, in order of importance:

Soft drinks: Sugar-sweetened beverages are a no-no. Avoid these as much as you can.
Fruit juices: Fruit juices actually contain a similar amount of sugar as soft drinks! Consider having a whole fruit instead.
Candies and sweets: Try to limit your consumption of sweets on a regular basis. These can be consumed on your cheat day; in a moderate amount of course.
Baked goods: Cookies, cakes, bread etc. tend to be very high in sugar and carbohydrates.
Low-fat or diet foods: Foods that have had the fat removed from them are often have high sugar.

At the end of the day, it’s for you to figure out how much sugar intake is right for you. Some people can handle a little bit of sugar in their diet, while others crave it. Every individual is unique and you need to figure out what works for you.

References:
https://greatist.com/eat/how-much-sugar-per-day

Why Buttermilk can be your Rescue Drink this Diwali!

The festival season is here, and food and drinks are bound to flow freely. Even the strictest diets take a hit this season, but you can pass through the season with ease!

How exactly?

The answer is buttermilk!

Chaas or buttermilk is one of the most common drinks in Indian households. Made of watered down curd, mixed with spices like pepper, jeera, ginger, kadi patta, coriander leaves, salt and green chillies, this drink is usually consumed right after the meal. Though buttermilk is mostly thought of as a digestive, this drink has many more health benefits. Here are a few reasons why your chaas or buttermilk can be your rescue drink this festive season.

#1 Washes down fats
Had a heavy meal last night at the diwali party? If you feel bloated or simply have eaten too much then drink a little bit of chaas. The spices in chaas help improve digestion and make you feel less uncomfortable. Apart from that buttermilk helps in washing down fats that you may have consumed in form of oil or ghee that normally coats the inner walls of your food pipe and stomach – making you feel instantly lighter.

#2 Helps calm the stomach after a spicy meal
Made with cool, watered down curd, this drink is perfect to soothe the stomach. As you drink it, the cool buttermilk tends to wash down the spices and calms an irritated stomach lining.

#3 Aids in digestion
When made with ginger, pepper and jeera, which are known for their carmative properties, it makes the best natural digestive out there. So, If you feel the symptoms of indigestion coming on, try sipping on some chaas for instant relief.

#4 Acidity
A potent tool to fight acidity, chaas has essential condiments like pepper and ginger that help beat the burning sensation you feel during a bout of acidity. Moreover the chaas cools the stomach and reduces the irritation in the stomach lining due to acid reflux, giving you relief from the discomfort.

With its cooling effect on the digestive system, buttermilk can be your wonder drink. So, stock it up in your refrigerator, your water bottles and where ever you find it handy!

3 Healthy Halloween Treats You Will Love

It’s Halloween already and your body nearly goes into a sugar shock out of sheer anticipation. If your usual pick is candy corn or chocolate, we’re here to offer a few yummy alternatives you can share with your friends that are festive enough to earn an invitation to a Halloween party.

So, Here you go! 3 healthy Halloween recipes that are delicious enough to be served as treats:

Spooky ‘Boo’ Nana Pops
These treats are perfect for kids, or anyone whose eyes light up at the sight of something festive.

Ingredients:

2 medium bananas
1 cup white chocolate
8 mini chocolate chips
4 popsicle sticks

Directions:

Cut bananas into half and stick them into the popsicle sticks. Lay them on aluminium foil or a baking sheet and put them in the freezer for a couple hours.
After the bananas are frozen, heat up the white chocolate on the stove or the microwave till it gets melted.
Dip bananas into the melted white chocolate, then quickly stick two chocolate chips on as eyes.
Lay them back on the tray when done and put them in the freezer. Enjoy frozen.

Toffee dip with apples
Crunchy toffee bits stirred into a creamy dip make this treat impossible to resist. Good news? It’s kid and adult friendly too! Coat the apples with pineapple juice to prevent them from browning.

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 spoons low-fat cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup toffee bits
1 cup pineapple juice

Directions:

Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl
Beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth
Add toffee bits; mix well. Cover and refrigerate.
Combine juice and apples in a bowl; toss well.
Drain apples; serve with dip

Halloween Sweet Potato Fries

Okay, maybe sweet potato fries aren’t on your list of classic Halloween treats, but believe us, they are one of the most delicious treats out there.
Ingredients:

2 large sweet potatoes
1/2 teaspoon spices- chilli powder/pepper
1 tablespoon maple syrup or sugar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 tablespoon salt

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Slice the potatoes
Use mini cutters to cut pumpkins or use a knife to create jack-o-lantern faces.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, than assemble the sweet potatoes on it.
Sprinkle potatoes with olive oil and maple syrup, then sprinkle with pumpkin pie spice and salt. Cook until tender, for 18-22 minutes.

So shake it up this year, and surprise your friends with unexpected tricks & treats! Have any other fun recipes to share with us? Comment below!

References-

https://www.annmariegianni.com/healthy-halloween-recipes/

4 healthy alternatives to water that you need to be sipping on!

“I’ll just have some water, thanks!”

Haven’t you said that a lot of times when the waiter comes to take your beverage order? Water is healthy and safe. It’s a sure bet. But what do you do when you want more options? Healthy ones!

Luckily, we have listed down several beverages that can do you one favor or another while spicing up your waterlogged palette.

Beetroot Juice

A healthy and delightful thirst-quencher you would want to indulge in. Beets are packed with healthy benefits as they maintain a healthy blood pressure, increase your stamina, increase the blood flow to the brain in older adults, and make for a healthy liver.
The only downside? Canned beet juice is a little hard to find in stores, so you may need to make this one at home or order it from a juice bar.

Hot Chocolate

Yes, cocoa has a place on this list! How is that possible? It might not have made it if it weren’t for your least favorite monthly friend. If you’re dealing with menstrual cramps, drinking beverages with high magnesium content can help ease the pain naturally.

Make your own homemade hot chocolate with raw cocoa powder. To sweeten it up a bit, try almond milk and honey or a little bit of maple syrup.

Kale Juice

Kale, kale, kale. Everybody loves kale. It might seem annoyingly trendy, but there are reasons why so many people are in love with this stuff. The dark, leafy green vegetable is packed with vitamins and minerals that help with everything from bone health to regulating your stomach – and drinking your veggies is an great way to get multiple nutrients in one drink!

Avoid buying bottled drinks as those varieties tend to be pretty high in sodium. It might not be a bad idea to invest in a juicer and start making kale juice, and other vegetable juices, at home.

Infused water

Do not underestimate the power of throwing a bit of fruit into your water.

Infused water is a great way to make your normal glass of water a bit more exciting while still keeping things healthy. It’s super easy to make, and it’s seriously very refreshing.

So break out your monotonous beverage routine and try these options out. If you have any recipes to share with us, let us know!

References-
https://www.bustle.com/articles/27917-the-10-healthiest-beverages-other-than-water

Do Potatoes Deserve their Bad Rap?

What do the following delicious foods have in common?:

French fries
Hash browns
Au Gratin

Yes, that’s right—they’re all made out of potatoes, the world’s favourite food!

Unfortunately, potatoes don’t have the best reputation for being that healthy, and with all that starch content, you can’t help but wonder how many calories you’re consuming. Well, let us put your mind at ease: Potatoes aren’t all that bad.

A potato’s calorie count depends on the variety and size of the potato. To get an idea, here’s what you get in a medium potato:

Calories: 168

Fat: 0.2 g (0 g sat fat)

Carbohydrates: 38 g

Sodium: 11 mg

Sugar: 1 g

Fiber: 3 g

Protein: 5 g

So, do potatoes deserve their bad rap?

The short version? No. “Potatoes are a rich source of many important nutrients. Potatoes contain high amounts of keto-acids, which once digested are converted into amino acids (the breakdown product of protein). They are a great form of energy for the heart and brain when they are in form of keto acids. Potatoes and milk have a similar protein content making them a great source of extra protein, especially for those on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

One medium potato contains 70% of your daily recommended vitamin C, 30% of your daily recommended Vitamin B-6, and 25 percent of your daily recommended potassium.

Also: Potatoes are one of the most affordable vegetables!

How can I cook potatoes healthier?

Baking a potato with the skin adds no extra fat or calories. Serve baked or boiled potatoes with plain, non-fat flavoured yogurt, salsa dip or fresh herbs, instead of cheese, sour cream and chilli. If you enjoy french fries or potato wedges, baking is another healthy alternative. Bake it at 450-degree for 15-20 minutes, turning it once to ensure browning on all sides.

The takeaway

So, invite the humble potato to your dining table on a regular basis and help regulate your digestion, contribute to feelings of satisfaction and potentially lower your cholesterol.

References:
http://www.seven-health.com/2013/10/an-ode-to-the-potato/
https://www.livestrong.com/article/428223-how-to-cook-raw-carrots-in-the-microwave/

How Long Does It Take to Digest Food? All About Digestion

A good meal that looks delightful and tastes amazing is worth indulging in. But we have a tendency to consume more than what our body can digest easily.

Have you ever thought how long the digestion process can take?

In general, food takes twenty four to seventy two hours to move through your gastrointestinal tract. The precise time depends on the amount and kinds of foods you’ve eaten . The digestion speed additionally depends on factors like your gender, metabolism, and whether or not you have got any digestive problems that might slow down or speed up the method.

What happens throughout digestion?

As you chew, glands in your mouth secrete saliva. When you swallow, the food moves down your food pipe- oesophagus that connects your mouth to your stomach. When acids in your stomach break down the food even more, then the mixture moves to your small intestine. In your small intestine, your pancreas and liver help break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
The undigested part that remains moves on to your large intestine.

The large intestine absorbs any leftover nutrients from the food. The rest becomes solid waste.

Tips for better digestion

Eat a lot of greens, fruit, and whole grains
Limit meat and processed foods
Exercise daily
Manage stress
Get lots of sleep

The takeaway

You might not think much about your digestive system on a daily basis nonetheless you’ll understand once it’s not working optimally if uncomfortable symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea occur.

Watch what you eat and keep active to keep your digestion smooth and feel your best.

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/digestive-system/expert-answers/faq-20058340https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-it-take-to-digest-food

Super Healthy Seeds You Should Eat Daily!

Seeds are packed with nutrients and have a myriad list of health benefits to offer. They also hold healthy monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and other essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. You can incorporate small amounts of seeds in your diet to enjoy their health benefits by adding it to your daily food consumption.

Chia seeds-

These are best known as a super food, and with good reason. Just 2 tablespoons have nearly 10 grams of fiber.

How to serve-
Grind them in a blender and use the crunchy chia seeds as a topping for yogurt or vegetables. To get them to soften, soak them in a liquid, such as juice or almond milk and use them as a smart topping for your pudding.

Pomegranate seeds-

Also known as arils, these are the red ,sweet, jewel-like beads you strip from the inside of the fruit. They contain vitamin C and antioxidants. They will make a good light snack as a full cup of pomegranate seeds has fewer than 150 calories.

How to serve-
Toss it in a salad or a whole-grain dish, they add a juicy pop of flavor and color to your dinner plate.

Quinoa-

Quinoa has got you covered if you’re looking for healthy sources of protein. It cooks like rice and can fill in for pasta and other grains in many of your favorite dishes.

How to serve-
You can also use it as a gluten-free breading for dishes like chicken fingers. Instead of oatmeal for a breakfast porridge, make a batch of quinoa and kick start your day with more protein, fiber, and iron.

Flax seeds-

We have been consuming these for good health since as far back as 9,000 B.C. If you don’t consume fish, adding flax to your diet can compensate and help you get omega-3 fatty acids – the healthy fats that are good for your heart. When the seeds are ground into flax meal, they may help lower blood pressure and they also give a good dose of fibre.

How to serve-
Flax has a nice, nutty flavor. You can add a scoop to your oatmeal, pancake batter, or salads.
The Bottom Line

Seeds are a great source of healthy fats, vegetarian protein, fibre and antioxidant polyphenols. They are extremely easy to add to salads, yoghurt, oatmeal and smoothies, and can be an easy way to add healthy nutrients to your diet.

References:
https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-seeds-healthy-diet

3 Drinks to Lower your Blood Pressure Naturally

Cutting salt and calories from your meal is a very one-dimensional way of looking at controlling your blood pressure. It isn’t just about reducing and cutting out unhealthy items; adding healthier foods is more effective in the long run for overall health.

This can be made easy by just adding any of these drinks to your diet:

#1 Hibiscus Tea

Anthocyanins and other antioxidants in hibiscus tea make it a perfect drink to lower your blood pressure! These work together to resist damage caused by the narrowing of the vessels. A whole range of herbal teas have Hibiscus in them; these brew to a light shade of cherry red. Make sure you soak the tea for at least 6 minutes. You can enjoy this tea hot or cold!

#2 Cranberry Juice

Cranberry is a superfruit! Its high anti-oxidant properties go a long way in reducing blood vessel damage. Apart from this, cranberry juice has also been known to reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow. With its abundance of vitamin C, cranberries are a super friend in the fight to lower blood pressure. You can drink the stuff until your heart’s content because there is no set standard or recommendation for the amount of cranberry juice necessary as part of a daily regimen. However, because many varieties of cranberry juice can have high sugar and calorie content, it is best to opt for an unsweetened version of the juice. Also, adding sparkling water to a cup of cranberry juice is another way to make it a lighter, refreshing drink!

#3 Milk

Low-fat/Skimmed milk contains potassium and calcium, two nutrients that are associated with healthy blood pressure, and are fortified with vitamin D—a vitamin that new research suggests promotes healthy blood pressure. Experts have found that high blood pressure is linked to calcium deficiency. So, the more calcium you consume, the more you decrease your risk for developing hypertension

Outlook

A healthy diet and lifestyle can help to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Include foods like fruits, vegetables, oats, nuts, lentils, herbs, and spices. Including these into a balanced diet and engaging in physical activities can treat hypertension and improve overall health and wellbeing.

References:

http://www.eatingwell.com/article/15805/three-drinks-to-lower-blood-pressure/

« Older Entries Recent Entries »