Nutrients & more...

“The  food  you eat can be either the safest & most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of  poison ” ~Ann Wigmore Food can be medicine or poison depending on the choices you make. Anything in excess is harmful for the body. Here are a few things which we all need to chuck out for a healthier living. 1. Refined sugar pic Sugar is everywhere! Apart from the obvious jams, nutella spread and juices; they are present in foods like  ketchup, bottled salad dressings, various types of packed sauces, peanut butters, biscuits, breads, even breakfast cereals.  We even sweeten our veggies and savory dishes with it! Research indicates that high sugar consumption is related to increased incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes , cardiac disorders, dental caries , acne , depression , ageing  and   gout . It even changes the gut bacteria and affects our immune system in a negative manner. Choose:  Jaggery/ Gur and honey are natural...

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. – Buddha" Most of us seek a miracle cure for our ills. There are a lot of "Superfoods" in the shelves of the supermarkets today which claim eternal health. But why look at the supermarket, when you can find them in your own kitchen?? Here's a list of some natural superfoods: 1. Yogurt - Forget that prebiotic drink. Home made dahi /curd is a good source of pro & prebiotics which protects the gut and helps the immune system. It provides with a rich source of calcium, protein and is easily to digest. 2. Sprouted grains - Give your kids these grains for increasing protein in their diet. It provides easy to digest proteins (as it has active plant enzymes), micronutrients and fiber. Not to mention that you need variety for kids to eat well. They can be sun-dried and pounded to make baby food too! 3. Seasonal Fruits - Apart from giving us the taste of the season they enrich us with essential vitamins, ...

Banana is one of the most abundant, easily available and inexpensive fruit in the Indian market. It is practically available throughout the year. This humble fruit can boast of having several health advantages. Here I list a few: 1. Keeps blood pressure in control - They have a high potassium content which is required to balance the high salts in our diets. 2. Soothe ulcers and heartburn -They have antacid properties and hence recommended for ulcers. A banana shake does wonders for the heartburn. 3. Helps to normalize your bowel movements -They are good for stool formation and are easily digested hence ripe bananas are very helpful in both diarrhea as well as constipation. 4. Combat hunger pangs - It makes you feel full but not lethargic. Way better than a bag of chips or cookies. 5. Cure hangovers - A banana and a tall glass of water takes out the sting of a hangover. 6. Makes you happy - It has known to stimulate neurotransmitters, which give you a feeling of happiness i....

One of my friends told me that she had this tendency of munching on junk food in between the meals. While its healthy to have between-meals snacks, it's actually counterproductive if we indulge in highly fatty, salty and sugary foods. The easiest and the best option was (and is) fruits. Fruits as snack have a multitude of advantages: They are full of essential nutrients - From simple carbohydrates to fight off those hunger pangs to antioxidants which protect from cancer; fruits have a wide array of nutrients packed in them. Easily available - From the street vendors to a five star hotel, fruits are available at all places. Tasty - They are a treat for the taste buds. Sweet, sour, tangy , nutty , you name it and you get it. Not to mention that you can mix and make a fruit salad for a melody of flavours. Guilt free snacks - With most fruits having a benefit for high fiber, dieters will not have trouble keeping their calorie intake in check. Happy fruit snacking!! Pic ...