Food
Black Sesame Seeds a.k.a kala til, are one of the oldest condiments known which are highly valued for their oil. They are widely used across India. They are often blended with sugar, palm sugar or jaggery and made into delicious snack balls. These seeds have several health benefits to offer. They have anti-ageing properties. They are known to stabilize the blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of cancer. The snacks made from these seeds provide a relief to constipation and indigestion.
Every year several health issues are observed during this festival mostly because of improper diet and lifestyle. Hence, here are some tips to keep this festival a healthy one. Avoid overeating even if you have hunger pangs. Choose your food slowly to avoid indigestion. Have low-calorie items first which will keep you full. Drink abundant water Drink fresh and natural juices with no additives. Opt for low-fat dairy products and lean meats. Walk regularly or exercise Divide your meals into regular intervals.
Fasting during Ramadan can be beneficial to one’s health but only if it is done in the right manner otherwise it may backfire. The very first thing to keep in mind is that you must only eat food items that are prepared in a healthy manner using fresh ingredients. Some tips for Ramadan diet include: Start your meal with dates, always stay hydrated and avoid thirst, break your fast slowly, your iftar must contain a source of grains, fruits, veggies, proteins etc, avoid salty and sugary foods, divide your meals and do regular exercise.
Memory plays a key role in cognitive functions of the brain which includes learning, recognition, skill development, conscience etc. Weak memory results in the lack of brain development functions. A brain needs enough nutrient supply to enhance memory power and the best natural way to do it is this homemade drink. A mixture of 3 tablespoons of fresh tomato juice, 3 tablespoons of spinach juice and 1 tablespoon of olive oil should be consumed regularly to enhance memory.
Vegetables have low caloric value and high nutritional value including vitamins and minerals. Besides, they have high fiber content and are low in carbs. This makes them perfect for low-carb diets. The best vegetables to include in the low-carb diet are bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, spinach, avocados, cauliflower, green beans, lettuce, garlic, kale, cucumbers, brussels sprouts, celery, tomatoes, radish, onions, eggplant, cabbage, and artichokes.
In India, Cayenne Pepper is widely used as a spice to turn a regular dish into a hot and spicy one. It has several names and is available in fresh, canned, powdered or dried form. Some ancestors claim that it aids well in digestion and weight loss. If it is consumed with lemon juice and warm water in the morning, it helps in detoxification. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It helps prevent cancer and protects the heart.
Men should wash their face at least twice a day with face wash or products with natural ingredients to fight the pimples. This helps to remove the dust particles and energizes their skin. If shaving is done on a daily or a regular basis, a good quality electric shaver or razor should be used. Before shaving, apply warm soapy water on the skin to soften it. Moreover, experts say that men should keep themselves hydrated and should not touch the pimples.
Whether the fats are good or bad for your health also depends on how you like to have it. For example, sweets, desserts, and other processed foods are all unhealthy sources of fats while eggs, avocados, and dairy products are healthy sources of fats. Besides, ratios, quality and type of fat all make a difference here. Fats should always be consumed from natural sources. Butter, processed meat, olive oil, ghee, yoghurt, red meat, eggs, milk etc should be consumed on a regular basis for healthy fats.
Now a variety of cooking oils have been suggested by the nutritionists and health experts but when it comes to deep frying, experts still seem to vouch for the efficacy of traditional cooking oils even though many urban households switched to olive or sunflower oil. Hence, people who have given up on ghee completely might just want to think about it again. Refined oils should not be used for frying as they degrade easily whereas oils which are in saturated fats such as ghee or coconut oil are stable during frying.
Bread was one of the very common items dieticians asked to avoid long before the CSE report came up. Centre for Science and Environment conducted tests indicating that pre-packaged bread in India may have chemicals causing cancer. Various reports have shown that more than 80% of the branded bread tested positive for two ingredients which are banned abroad but permitted in India. These studies included samples of pizza bases, packs of Britannia and Harvest Gold and fast food chains such as KFc and MacD.