Vitamin- D is "D- lightful "

Vitamin D has been having quite a moment recently on the news, this has something to do with the growing evidence that the "Sunshine Vitamin" helps protect against a wide range of conditions, including cancers.

5 Healthy Foods That Satisfy Salt and Sugar Cravings

Healthy Foods That Satisfy Salt And Sugar Carvings

Mediterranean Diet May Be Good For The Brain

A Mediterranean diet includes higher amounts of olive oil, vegetables, fruit and fish. Higher adherence to the diet involves more consumption of fruit and vegetables and fish, and less consumption of meat and dairy products.

Amazing Health Benefits Of Beer..!

Apart from Beer's bad reputation, surprisingly Beer has several health benefits too, it actually has a lot of antioxidants, apparently more than wine, also several vitamins that can help prevent certain heart diseases and even help in rebuilding muscles, not only that it also has one of the highest energy contents of any food or drink.

Dark Chocolate's benefits are released by the good gut microbes

Dark chocolate has been know for it's good healthy effects, and recently researches have found it's beneficial properties are released in the human body.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Lowering Cholesterol Levels Without Medication

Other than medications there are many other natural ways to bring down cholesterol levels.
A diet without saturated fat will help you decrease LDls (bad cholesterol)
HDL and LDL cholesterol

You can avoid saturated fat by avoidng foods like:

-Egg yolks ( 1234 mg cholesterol per 100 gram)

-Caviar (100 gram of Caviar has 588 mg of cholesterol)

-Butter (100 gram of butter has about 215 mg ofcholesterol )

-Shrimps ( 100 gram of shrimp has about 195 mg of cholesterol )

-Cheese ( 125 mg cholesterol per 100 grams servings)

-Processed Meats( Sausages, Lamb, Duck) (has about 158mg of cholesterol per 100 grams)

Apart from this try to consume more of foods that help lowering cholesterol levels, for example:

oatmeals help lowering cholesterol naturally

Oatmeal - 

Oatmeal contains soluble fiber,  whichreduces your low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Soluble fiber can also be found in foods like apples,  pears,  barley,  kidney beans.

Fish and Omega-fatty acids help lowering cholesterol levels naturally

Fish and Omega-Fatty acids-   

Eating fatty fish  can be very healthy because it contains high levels of omega- 3 fatty acid,  which can help reduce blood pressure and decrease the risk of developing clots. Fish containing high levels of omega -3 fattyacids include : Mackerel,  Lake trout,  Herring, Sardines, Alba coretuna, Salmon, Halibut.

Walnuts, almonds and other nuts- 

Walnuts, almonds and other nuts can reduce the blood cholesterol levels. They are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid,  and they also help keep blood vessels healthy.

Olive oil helps lowering cholesterol levels naturally

Olive oil- 

Olive oil contains a potent mix of antioxidants that can lower LDL cholesterol. The cholesterol-lowering effects of olive oil are even greater if chosen extra-virgin olive oil,  which means that the oil is less processed and contains more heart-healthy antioxidants.


Other changes to your diet :

For any of these foods to provide their benefit, you need to make other changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Cut back on the cholesterol and total fat — especially saturated and trans fats — that you eat. Saturated fats, like those in meat, full-fat dairy products and some oils, raise your total cholesterol. Trans fats, which are sometimes found in margarines and store-bought cookies, crackers and cakes, are particularly bad for your cholesterol levels. Trans fats raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the "bad," cholesterol, and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good," cholesterol.

In addition to changing your diet, keep in mind that making additional heart-healthy lifestyle changes are key to lowering your cholesterol. Talk to your doctor about exercising, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight to help keep your cholesterol level low.


Saturday, April 12, 2014

Surprise ! Surprise ! 5 common food labels that doesn't mean what you think they do..!!

nutritional-labels-doesn't-mean-what-you-think-they-mean



The Food and Drug administration (FDA) are in-charge of defining food labels, and  now-a-days it seems like every food label is designed to make you think its contents are healthy (or at-least not all that bad), so for this purpose manufactures are constantly coming up with new labels that  aren't regulated, don't have any real definition, but are very eye catching for the customers. And the one's that have been defined by the FDA are rarely explained on food packing - so the chances of you know what it means is slim- says Nicolette Pace, founder of NutriSource in Great Neck, New York.


Walking through a grocery store, we took a look at some of the most common labels you'll find on foods and broke down what they typically mean, when it matters, if the claims are regulated, and most importantly, if the labels are worth paying more for.

1. "Made with.." :

What we think:
It's a good source of whatever ingredients they labeled under "made with"

What it actually means : It contains at-least a bit of these ingredients, but since this label is not defined by FDA, we can only guess the actual amount of the ingredient present.

Possible Solution  You can get an idea of the amount of ingredient the food contains, by looking into where it stands on the ingredient list, the closer it is to the beginning of the list the more of it the food contains.


2."Natural" :

What we think : It's not processed and doesn't contain any synthetic or artificial ingredients.

What it actually means : It probably doesn't contain any added colors, synthetic or artificial ingredients, but FDA hasn't been able to agree on a proper definition of "natural ingredients", so they have set some standards according to which they look for the food that has these ingredients less than natural ingredients, so it's hard to define a product as natural, as it might be processed and might not be truly natural.

Possible Solution: Check  how long the ingredient list is, generally less ingredients indicate that the food is less processed.


3."lightly sweetened" :

What we think: It has very little sugar.

What it actually means : Since FDA doesn't regulate this label, so it can possible mean that the product can still have a lot of sugar or artificial sweeteners.

Possible Solution: Watch out for the ingredient containing the ending  "-ose", they indicate that it contains some or the other form of sugar.



4. "Low Fat ,Fat Free or Reduced Fat" :

What we think: It is free from fat or has very less grams of fat.

What it actually means:  According to FDA To be considered low fat, foods must have three or less grams per Reference Amount Customarily Consumed (RACC aka serving size). For Fat Free, the food must be completely free of fat. However, the companies are allowed to use the term "reduced" if they have 25% less than the original product or other similar products, but it should be kept in mind that the other 75% still there. Also, when companies remove fat or salts form their products they might add extra sugar or additives to still keep the product tasty.

Possible Solution: Before buying the product, it is recommended to compare the nutritional labels of  "Low" , "Reduced" and "Fat Free" products with the original product, this will get you an idea of the type of fat which is less and also the amount of calories. This is important to know specially when you're trying to lose weight or being health conscious.


5. "High in Fiber" :

What we think: The product is loaded with natural fibers.

What it actually means : For a food to be labeled as high in fiber, it should provide more than 5 grams of fiber per serving. However, that doesn't mean that the fiber can be all natural, it can be additive too.

Possible Solution: Look for whole grain label, if it is present in the top three ingredients, there is a high chance of most the the fiber to be natural.



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

7 simple tips that will help you lose weight

simple tricks that will help you loose weight now
There are a lot of diet plans available now, and it has become really difficult to choose one out of them. Going for a low-calorie diet can be trouble as if you reduce your calorie intake too much, you might start feeling tired and irritable.

So it is important to continue taking the required amount of calories/day, to keep your energy going through out the day. In order to lose weight many physicians recommend you to lower your calorie intake and exercise regularly, but whats important here is, that it's not only about the quantity of calorie intake but also the quality of calories.
And this doesn't have to be complicated at all, we just need to exclude some bad calorie choices from our diet.

1. Eat Apples before Every Meal : 
Eating apples before meal might help you loose weight

For loosing weight try eating an apple before each meal. Since it takes about 20 minutes to realize that you’re not as hungry as you were before eating, you should eat the apple at least that many minutes before you plan to have a meal. One medium-size apple with skin has approximately 100 calories, so eating one doesn’t add much to your caloric intake.

Apples have no fat, sodium, or cholesterol, and they are rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber. Lots of varieties exist, and each of them offers a unique quality of flavor and crispness.


2. Don't Drink Calories : 

Some beverages other than water contains a lot of calories, and depending upon how much you consume them in a day, you might be taking in more calories from them throughout the whole day, so it is very important to know the amount of calories your favorite beverage contains, specially if you are planning on loosing some weight.
Few of them are as follows:
Don't Drink your calories- 12 ounces (350ml) of Orange juice has about 160 calories.

-A cup of coffee with half-and-half and sugar for breakfast has about 90 calories.

-Medium cafe latte has about 250 calories.

-Large soda with lunch 300 calories

-Beer or a glass of wine during dinner about 150 calories.

If you add all this up throughout a day, just imagine how much calories you are getting just from the beverages you drink.




3. Avoid White carbohydrates : 
Avoid white carbohydrates
Most of these White carbohydrates are processed to the point that they have lost much of their nutritional value.Bread, rice, pasta, cereal, crackers, and bread crumbs made from white flour have been linked to an increased risk of obesity when excessive amounts are ingested. Eating white carbohydrates on occasion is not a bad thing, as long as it is done in moderation.

The human body needs a certain amount of good carbohydrates to function properly. However, it is healthier for people to eat simplecarbohydrates rather than those found in foods made from white flour.

Simple carbohydrates include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes. Eating simple carbs and foods made from unrefined flour will keep you feeling full longer, helping you to limit your caloric intake.

4. Drink a lot of water : 
Drink a lot of water helps reduce weight

You should drink about eight to ten 8 ounce glasses (230ml) of water each day.

It might sound like a lot, but drinking that much water each day can boost your body’s metabolism, which helps you to burn more calories each day whether or not you exercise.












5.Eat only Lean Proteins : 
Eat only lean proteins helps you loose weight

It is necessary to understand the importance of lean proteins when trying to lose weight, While sources of lean protein (meat, fish, beans, and dairy products) might have a higher calorie count than fruits and vegetables, they are an important part of losing weight.

Eating lean protein allows you to feel full longer than you would if you ate an orange or handful of raw snow peas. This is because protein remains in the stomach longer than most fruits and vegetables.

From the moment you eat it, protein begins to help you to lose weight. It takes longer to digestand metabolize protein, so your body uses more energy and calories to do so. Lean protein sources allow you to avoid the extra calories that are found in animal fats, so you should choose skinless chicken or turkey, lean cuts of beef, and pork tenderloin.

6. Include more Vegetables to your Diet : 
Include more vegetables to your diet

Fresh, unprocessed vegetables are low in cholesterol, salt, and fat. Choosing fresh vegetables is better than selecting frozen or canned versions that might have added salt in them, and since they are so low in calories, you can eat as many vegetables as you want as long as you do not add butter, dressings, or sauces.


Not only can a diet rich in vegetables help you to lose weight, but it also provides lots of nutrients.These nutrients include vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and folic acid.

7. Exercise Several Times a Week :
Exercise several times weekly and regularlyOf-course we all know, in order to lose weight it is necessary to exercise several times weekly, but now that we have know about our food intake, exercising would be more effective.

Each time you exercise, will burn more calories, hence helps you lose weight faster, you should find time to participate in a regular physical activity for at-least 30-minutes a day, and if you can't find a block of 30-minutes straight, you can always break your routine into a 10 minutes session each.


Friday, April 4, 2014

5 Healthy Foods That Satisfy Salt and Sugar Cravings


Healthy Foods That Satisfy Salt And Sugar Carvings





1.Sunflower seeds :


The sunflower is one of my favorite flowers, and its plentiful seeds are packed with health benefits that can help you from head to toe. They’re easily available all year round, and just a scant handful of them can mean dramatic improvement in the way you feel.
Benefits of sunflower seeds
Here’s a short list of what they can do for you:

-They control cell damage, thus playing a role in preventing cancer. This is because sunflower seeds are a good source of selenium, which is a proven enemy of cancer.
-They contain bone-healthy minerals. Besides calcium, your bones need magnesium and copper to stay strong. Sunflower seeds have both these minerals. As a bonus, they also contain Vitamin E, which helps ease arthritic pain.
-They keep you calm. Yes! The magnesium in sunflower seeds is reputed for soothing the nerves, thus easing away stress, migraines and helping you relax.
-They bring a glow to your skin. The star in this role: Vitamin E again, which combats UV rays and keeps skin youthful.
-They ease every condition that’s inflammatory in nature, such as joint pain, gastric ulcers, skin eruptions, asthma and such. That’s because sunflower seeds are loaded with antioxidants.
Just ¼ cup of sunflower seeds a day can keep heart troubles away. These small seeds disallow ‘bad’ cholesterol from sticking to the walls of your arteries, thus preventing heart attacks.

Plain Yogurt with fresh fruits
2. Plain Yogurt with fresh fruits :
It has less fat than ice cream but five grams of filling protein per serving. Fruit gives it more flavor, texture, and vitamins.It can also help you lose weight and fend off a cold.
Most brands of yogurt contain good-for-you bacteria, also yogurt helps you recover faster after a workout.
Recommended - 1 1/2 cups / day.






3. Dark Chocolate :
Benefits of Dark Chocolate
Just a small portion of this antioxidant-filled treat satisfies a sweet tooth, plus it has got a lot of health benefits, like :

- Dark chocolate improves blood flow and and helps lower blood pressure and protects from clot formation.

-Dark chocolate is good for your brain, as it increases the blood flow to the brain and hence helps decrease the risk of stroke, it also has slight amount of caffeine in it, which acts as a mild stimulant.

-Dark Chocolate is loaded with antioxidants, which helps decreasing the aging process and also protects us from different types of cancer.

Recommended-1 oz dark chocolate with 65 percent (or more) cacao



4. Pistachios :

Benefits of Pistachios


They satisfy a salt craving while delivering more natural antioxidants than most other nuts, also contains a lot of vitamins like vitamin E, A, C and minerals like Copper, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc. Plus, the shells will slow you down.

Recommended - about 30 in-shell nuts/ day







5.Mini Whole-Wheat Pretzels:


Mini Whole-Wheat Pretzels is packed with fibers
Crunchy and packed with fiber to keep you fuller longer, so you won't reach for a higher-calorie food.

Recommended : 1 oz pretzels (about a handful)