Health Bytes
Are you giving up on rice because it does not go with weight loss plan or for curing diabetes and cholesterol? You’re wrong! There are various types of rice available in the market for you to enjoy the dishes and not worry about health. Brown rice is probably the healthiest alternative. Compared to white rice, it has low GI and its bran contains oil which is highly unsaturated. Thus, Brown Rice helps you to maintain your blood sugar levels and reduce cholesterol levels.
There have been limited studies which say Yoga can cure diseases but it has been observed that it definitely helps you deal with it and manage the condition. Recently, it was found that practicing yoga can also help you prevent cancer. The Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, which is a yoga institute in Bangalore, claims to have cured cancer through yoga. Shripad Naik, Union Minister of state for AYUSH, said that it will take about a year to document the yoga technique they have found to help prevent and cure cancer, but yes, it is possible.
It’s summer! You should eat food which is not only healthy for your body but also for your skin. Food items which are rich in antioxidants, fibre, vitamins C and E and proteins like Blueberries, Tomatoes, Green Tea, Legumes etc. which protect your skin by preventing cellular damage from free radicals. Pomegranate and walnuts are also very healthy for the skin as the former helps the skin to create more collagen for faster recovery and the latter makes it smoother. So eat healthy and flaunt your beautiful skin!
Turmeric (Haldi), a popular ingredient in Indian curries, may also be helpful in fighting drug-resistant tuberculosis. Researchers said that it has many health benefits as it contains anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and now even anti-cancer properties. The curcumin content present in the turmeric was found effective to remove Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria which causes TB. If this research is found to be successful, it would give us a new vital way to cure TB, which would be less prone to the development of drug resistance.
Do you think your metabolism is stuck in slow-mo, creating a distance between you and your fitness dream? These ten simple lifestyle changes can help your body increase its metabolic rate. Consuming Protein rich foods, Spicy food, Oolong Tea, Coldwater, Coffee and using coconut oil for cooking can upsurge your metabolic rate. Standing more often, lifting heavy things, inducing a high-intensity workout in your regime and not discounting your nap can do wonders on your metabolism.
World's most frequent nutritional deficiency disease is seen in women and children is the iron deficiency anemia. Anemia is the result of gastrointestinal bleeding, hemorrhage, loss of blood from menstruation, injury, impaired iron absorption or an insufficient amount of iron intake. Dark Leafy Greens, Fortified Cereal, Beans, Sesame Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds are top five foods that are the greatest vegetarian sources or iron and should be included in your regular diet.
Ketogenic diets and low-carb diets are similar in various ways. Although, as the name suggests, the former leads to a substantial increase in the blood levels of ketones and provides comparatively fewer carbs. A myth says that to provide the brain with sufficient energy, one must consume 130g of carbs/day. In a low-carb diet, up to 70% of the brain is fueled by ketones and the rest by glucose produced in the liver. However, both these diets have many other health benefits for improving brain functioning in adults.
Sometimes the life is so messed up that you are not able to spare even thirty minutes for a meal but you do desire to eat something healthy. During such times, the nutritionists resort to three items namely Banana Choco-chip pancakes, Whole wheat pasta mixed with lots of vegetables and brown rice noodles. They seek to keep the ingredients ready as to whenever you want to cook quickly. You can have additional healthy toppings if the time permits.
If you are feeling sleepy or taking long snoozes during the day, it could lead to an increase in bad cholesterol, hypertension, an increase in blood sugar levels and obesity. Such manifestations are collectively known as the metabolic disorder which increases the danger of coronary illness. Thus, daytime tiredness, sleeping for more than 2 hours may prove to be unhealthy. However, sleeping for less than 30 minutes is healthy.
Star Fruit, also known as carambola, is a sweet and sour fruit which looks like a star, hence the name. Rich in dietary fibre and vitamins like vitamin C, this fruit is low in calories as well as carbs. Not just that, it is also rich in plant-derived compounds gallic acid, quercetin and epicatechin which are incredible in maintaining overall health and wellness. So, next time you feel bored eating the same fruits and vegetables, try Star Fruit!
A new study suggests that antibiotics can cause obesity in children. The risk of obesity increases with repeated doses of antibiotics. Research conducted in the UK says that there is a 25% increase risk of obesity which exposed to antibiotics under the age of 2. Researchers recommend that children should not be given antibiotics unless necessary as antibiotics alter the functioning of the gut microbiome which increases the chances of obesity.
Studies have shown that learning more languages is not only impressive but greatly helpful to increase cognitive functions of the brain and also the problem-solving abilities of people. According to the study, children who spoke more than one languages possessed more potential to solve critical problems than who spoke only one language. Also, better intellectual growth and mental development were observed in the former case. For adults, learning another language helps challenge the brain to recognize and interpret different concepts and sounds. It was also found that this skill could help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Juicing is a process of extracting the juice from fresh vegetables and fruits which is usually done by people for detoxification or to supplement their diet. It is preferred by people who are not able to eat enough fruits and vegetable every day to get enough nutrition. However, eating whole fresh vegetables and fruits is a far better and healthier option than juicing because juicing rids you of beneficial antioxidants and fiber. Juices are unable to provide you with adequate fat or protein and hence, are nutritionally unbalanced. So eating these items directly much healthier.
Keeping your bones strong is as essential for maintaining the overall health of our body for everyday living. The best way to do that is to consume foods which are rich sources of calcium and vitamin D in our regular diet. This helps to prevent diseases like osteoporosis which makes our bones break and brittle. Top foods which provide sufficient calcium and vitamin D are Milk, Yoghurt, Soya Beans, Ladies Finger, Cheese, Sesame Seeds, Oranges, Cinnamon and Almonds. Apart from that, eggs and spinach are also good sources of Vitamin D.
Turmeric, also known as Haldi is a powerful and healthy spicy ingredient in Indian cooking and it's medicinal properties go back to Ayurveda. Adding turmeric milk to your regular diet has various health and lifestyle benefits. It improves memory and the quality of sleep. It helps in faster healing especially after illness, physical trauma or surgery. It has anti-allergic, antiseptic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory properties and also acts as an anti-ageing tonic. However, only a pinch of turmeric should be added in the milk for regular consumption.
The refined coconut oil has been considered bad because of high saturated fat content. But studies have proved that the organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil is healthy for cooking which is commonly available in stores. A population who regularly consumes coconut is in great health. Coconut oil is a great source of saturated medium chain fatty acids which boosts energy, improves satiety and helps to lose weight. They resist high heat and help to kill pathogens. They are found to improve blood lipids in both, humans and animals.
No cure has been discovered yet for treating Alzheimer’s disease, but there are treatments available to restrict its growth. In all of those treatments, there are only a few natural treatments available and blueberry might just be one of them. In a recent study, it was found that this super fruit can be used to prevent the hazardous effects of this dementia as it fully loaded with healthy antioxidants. Blueberries also help us to develop the cognitive functions of the brain and improve memory in older adults.
The dry Gulaal and well colors used during Holi are not derived from natural sources and are extremely harmful to skin as they contain mica and lead which are collect on the scalp and irritate the skin. Apart from that, exposure to the sun tans the skin and makes it dull after playing. The basic precautions are applying a sunscreen before going out, conditioner on hair, transparent nail varnish on nails etc. After returning, use a cleansing cream or lotion after washing your face with plain water. You can use Sesame seeds and Vegetable oil to make your own cleanser.
Summer is here! As usual, we see an increase in the mercury levels and in the number of people suffering from heat stroke and dehydration. According to the nutritionists, seasonal foods and a lot of purified and boiled water should be consumed. Our body loses a lot of essential nutrients due to excessive sweating which causes a headache, blood pressure fluctuations, fever, rapid heartbeat and drying of skin. So seasonal vegetables and fruits such as muskmelons and watermelons are internally refreshing. Juices of Amla and Aloe, chaach, lime juice, faloodas, coconut water, etc. are the best bet.
The Indian Council of Medical Research recently submitted a report stating that more than fifty percent of women (particularly pregnant women) and children suffer from the deficiency of iron. Most of them are anemic and suffer the deficiency of Vitamin D because of poor diet and lack of nutrition. According to a nutritionist, during pregnancy and menopause and also during every monthly cycle, a women’s body goes through a lot of effort and hence, it is vital to maintaining a dietary balance by consuming nutrition-rich foods. Whole grains, diary products, fish, flax seeds, green leafy veggies, ginger, garlic, oranges, amla etc are good for regulare consumption.