Archives for July 2015

July 31, 2015 By Vrushali Athavle Leave a Comment

Decoction Syrup (Kadha) – Out of Grandma’s books

It’s been pouring cats and dogs for the last few days thus giving us relief from the scorching heat of the sun. With the full fledged rains on, most rush to open their doors and windows of their house to let the cool breeze enter. One’s hands automatically get out of the window to feel the water droplets on their hands and face. The smell of the mud, the pleasant environment, the children happy and wanting to dance in the rain every time it rains, making paper boats makes us all feel rejuvenated. These are the little pleasures that the monsoon brings with it and there is no denying.

With all this pleasure, fun, greenery and cool climate, the rains also brings with it a bunch of illnesses like fever, cough, cold, infections, stomach disorders etc. Everyone from kids, adults and old gets trapped in it.

The quick fix which most choose in these conditions is to visit a doctor who prescribes us an antibiotic for quick relief. The medicines will definitely give you relief but, the relief is just temporary. Medicine suppresses our immunity and gives us temporary relief. In most cases the illness relapses.

I have a simple solution on to this ongoing monsoon illness. I try to keep myself and my family away from medicines as much as possible. My grandma has passed on her home remedial diary or more popularly known as “Dadiji ka batva” or ‘Grandma’s Home Remedy Tips’. It consists of natural remedies for many such illnesses.

Let me share one of those home-made natural herbs medicine for cough, cold, fever, stomach pain.

This special medicine is known as decoction syrup or KADHA (Decoction of Herbs) . Check out this recipe. It’s simple to prepare, tasty and kids too will like it. So you can avoid running behind them for medicines.

INGREDIENTS:

Garlic:

Amount: 1 clove of garlic. Crush it or slice it.

Properties: It contains sulfur compound known as Allicin which is anti-viral, antibiotic, and antiseptic.

Ginger:

Amount: 1 inch. Wash it properly, remove the skin and crush it a bit before adding.

Properties: Ginger is an excellent anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory herb known for suppressing nausea and vomiting, reducing fever and coughing, treating inflammation, congestion, cold, diarrhea, indigestion, and flatulence.

Cardamom:

Amount: 2 to 3 cardamoms

Properties: It stimulates digestion. It also helps to reduce body temperature and congestion of lunges.

Black Pepper :

Amount: 3 black pepper whole or crushed

Properties: It is loaded with antioxidants and relieves many pains including headaches

Jeshtimadh/ jyeshtamadhu (Liquorice Root)

Amount: 1 small stick

Properties: It is an excellent herb for getting relief from cough.

Cloves:

Amount: 2 Cloves

Properties: contains an anti-inflammatory chemical called Eugenol. The combination of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties spells heaps of health benefits.

Black Tulsi ( Basil)

Amount: 4 to 5 leaves

Properties: Black Tulsi or Basil leaves is an excellent anti-fungicidal, anti-bacterial and anti-biotic properties to fight fever. It is also know you reduce your fever.

Raw Honey/ Jaggery:

Amount: 1 teaspoon

Properties: Honey is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic.

Lemon:

Amount: Half lemon

Properties: high in vitamin C, lemon may help decrease the strength of the cold and flu virus in the body and reduce phlegm.

METHOD:

Take 2 cups of water in a vessel
Add all the above ingredients (except honey/jaggery and lemon) into the water
Let the mixture boil, till the amount of water reduces to half
Switch off the gas and now add honey/jaggery and squeeze lemon
Strain it
Sip it hot

Try it and let us know if you did get relief from this simple Grandma’s home Remedy

Pls Note: Do visit a doctor in case of severe illness but, if you feel things are under control, try managing them with natural sources. Your body is designed to heal by itself.

July 30, 2015 By Payal Choudhury Leave a Comment

Carbohydrates-“Your diet’s fuel”

The way carbohydrates are demonized today, it’s no wonder that so many people actually fear eating them. I used to be one of them. As a recovering “carb-o-phobe,” I’m now on the flip side and advocate eating complex carbohydrates for optimal nutrition.

Carbohydrates are nutrients that act as a good source of energy for our body. It is made up of sugar, starch and cellulose and it contains hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio 2:1which is the same as that of water. Although carbohydrates can be digested a lot easier than fats or proteins, they aren’t considered indispensable for the body.

While some carbohydrates make us healthy, others can be harmful to our health, if taken in excess quantities. For example, certain carbohydrates increase the risk of diabetes and heart ailments. So why are certain carbohydrates are beneficial and others adversely affect our health?…We need to go deeper and learn about the different forms of carbohydrates.

There are many forms of carbohydrates, but the three common forms are sugars, starches, and fibres. The basic unit of all carbohydrates is a sugar molecule. Then there are simple and complex carbohydrates. While sugars are simple carbohydrates, starches and fibres are classified as complex.

We generally consume simple and complex carbs. To understand what they are about, we’ll look at the list of carbohydrate rich foods and all that is essential for.

Simple carbohydrates are sugars composed of monosaccharide (single sugar molecules) or disaccharides (two joined sugar molecules) such as glucose, sucrose, lactose, and fructose. This category of carbohydrates is best found in fresh fruits.

On the other hand, however, there is another grade of foods that contain simple carbohydrates. This class of foods is processed foods. The trouble with these foods is that they provide energy and calories in abundance. It is for this reason that these high-calorie products must be kept away. Apart from that, simple carbohydrates that the body obtains from natural foods are also easier to digest than those obtained from processed foods.

Simple carbohydrates contain one or two sugar molecules linked together and are digested or broken down into glucose faster, because the bonds in these small molecules are easily accessible to the enzymes of the digestive tract. Hence, these carbohydrates are readily absorbed.

Complex carbohydrate:

Complex carbohydrates (or polysaccharides) are made up of three or more sugar molecules that are bound together. Since these carbohydrates get digested slowly, they release sugar into the system very gradually, thus allowing the body a consistent level of energy.

Often referred to as starch, foods that contain these complex carbohydrates are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fibres. The old belief that starch is bad for the body is rapidly dying, because starches by themselves contain only 4 calories per gram, while fat contains 9 calories per gram. Also, the advantage with complex carbohydrates is that they fill you up quicker, thus allowing a reduced intake of food, which very simply leads to a reduced calorie intake.

In addition, refined carbohydrates may contain hydrogenated vegetable oils, additional fat, and processed sugars. Eating refined carbohydrates like a cookie in the morning will neither give you the energy nor give you the nutrition to maintain a balanced body.

Benefits of simple sugars:

Eating sugar gives you immediate access to fuel. There are times when this is an advantage. When the level of sugar in your blood drops, you may feel sluggish or even ill. Eating a simple carbohydrate, such as a fruit, may raise your blood sugar and give you the burst you need.

Simple carbohydrates may have the advantage over complex when it comes to preparing for exercise. Before a training session, race or game, many athletes eat a large amount of carbohydrate to provide energy. So before any workout, simple carbohydrates are your best choice. Due to the fact that they’re digested more quickly, simple carbohydrates are good for athletes who need short bursts of energy, as opposed to endurance athletes who need longer-term energy from slow-digesting carbohydrates. Examples of pre-workout meals that contain simple carbs are bananas with honey, low-fat yogurt with jelly or chocolate milk.

Complex Sugars:

There a number benefits of eating more complex carbohydrates, so it might be necessary to make some switches. Here are some examples of easy substitutions:

Instead of white bread and pasta, switch to whole grain bread and pasta (if the switch is intimidating at first, try mixing half whole grain and half white when making your pastas).
Instead of munching on chips, try raw vegetables.
Instead of rice, try eating more beans as a base for dishes.

Also diets rich in fibre help to keep us ‘regular’ which also promotes greater intestinal health and, in turn, helps to guard against a number of illnesses including colorectal cancer. Immunity is strengthened. It contributes to Energy, Digestion, Metabolism, Sleep, Filling fibre, Brain function, and Nervous system function.

Well, to distinguish simple and complex carbohydrates and how they are processed by the body, one might think that foods containing complex carbohydrates are actually healthier than those that have simple carbohydrates. However, this is not always true. Rice is rich in starch which is a complex carbohydrate, while fruits contain fructose which is a simple sugar. But we all know that between the two, fruits are a better option when it comes to eating healthy.

Thus, we see that not all carbohydrates are bad. In fact, a balanced diet that has a fair share of carbohydrates, is essential for a healthy you. So let go of your carbohydrate fears and feel good about including some of these foods and reap the benefits that good carbohydrates have to offer.

July 29, 2015 By Neha Morche 1 Comment

Tips for Healthy Skin

Having flawless skin is every girl’s dream and why not? It only adds to the beauty of her personality. Most girls and women especially try every possible thing to make their skin look healthy and glowing. However, all these efforts are only for the betterment of the outward appearance which means that the actual overall nourishment that is required for the skin is not met. Let me inform you that skin is the largest organ of the body so you can imagine the urge of nutrients that skin needs.

So many people visit dermatologist for some or the other reason and they do prescribe medicine or foods accordingly. Every now and then you will find a column written on skin in newspapers and magazines for every season. Still we don’t pay heed and try to follow the artificially made or let’s say wrongly marketed products for instant results.

There are three types of skin: dry, oily and normal. So accordingly we must look after it in a natural way.

As it is said that ‘You reflect what you eat’.. quality of food does matter to skin. Here are the precautions we can take to make our skin healthy.

Drink 2.5 liters of water every day to eliminate toxins, to clear your bowel movements, to increase blood circulations.
Include fresh fruits and vegetables like oranges, all types of berries ,tomatoes, leafy vegetables etc, Oil seeds, green tea to get anti-oxidants, vitamin A,C,E, zinc which also protects your skin from free radicals produced in your body and from aging.
Wash your face twice a day at least to keep it clean from dirt and sweat.
15 minutes of activity daily will improve blood circulation and hence provide nutrients to the skin.

5 . Do include Amla juice, Aloe Vera juice early in the morning on empty stomach. You can revisit my blog on Aloe Vera

Try and include variety of foods to receive variety of nutrients.
Be patient for at least 3 months to a year to see the improvement in your skin.
Include first class proteins and good quality proteins in your diet like milk and it’s products, eggs, chicken etc.
Include whole grains cereals to get good amount of fibre to improve digestion.
Include omega 3 food items like flax seeds, fish, walnuts, soyabean etc.

Things to Avoid

Avoid meat, fish, eggs, fried foods, white flour and it’s products, coffee, tea, soft drinks, alcohol, tobacco.
Avoid wearing too much of make- up .and do use mineral rich products if you do have to wear make- up.
Avoid long exposure in the sun (10am to 4pm). Do apply sunscreen even if it’s cloudy..
Avoid dehydration as dryness as it leads to wrinkled skin.

You have got an idea on how maintain healthy skin but, the most important aspect that one should not forget is ‘Keep Smiling’ the best exercise for the face because happy face will always make you look beautiful.

July 28, 2015 By ASHWINI PRAKASH CHAUDHARI 4 Comments

Fat Burning Foods

In my previous blog, you read about 5 easy ways to cut down on fat. When we are talking about burning that extra fat from our body, we need to take care of our food too. Let’s understand what are these fat burning foods?

I have chosen some fat burning foods that we use in our daily routine but, unaware of its impact on our health.

When we talk about fat burning food, the first thing that comes to mind is Green Tea.

#GreenTea is packed with antioxidants but, did you also know that it can help you shed the fat? It’s the Catechins-(a type of an antioxidant which found in tea). These are a part of green tea that gets your body to switch over to burning more calories, as well as fat. Several studies suggest green tea may promote weight loss by stimulating the body to burn abdominal fat. It temporarily speeds metabolism after sipping it. To get the most benefit of it, you may need to drink green tea 2-3 cups per day.

#Bulletproof Coffee-I am sure you will love this one. Your favorite beverage may actually help rev the metabolism and help you lose weight. Try to have a cuppa coffee first thing in the morning but, try this new and healthier version of the coffee-‘the bulletproof coffee’. For this coffee cut out the sugar and cream and add 1tsp of virgin coconut oil or our very own desi-ghee or unsalted butter and get your daily dose of MCT’-(Medium chain triglycerides, it’s a type of fatty acids. It helps in food absorption, decreases body fat and increases lean muscle mass), the good fats which helps you in reducing cholesterol, controlling hunger pangs and helps in fat burning.

#Egg whites : One of the best source of protein. It is also known to be rich in branched-chain amino acids, which keep your metabolism boosted for several hours.

#Chicken, Lean meat and Fish- Excellent source of protein, they help us pump up our muscles. More the muscles in body, higher is the metabolism and higher is fat burning. Protein has a high thermogenic effect: You burn about 30% of the calories the food contains during digestion. They are also rich in Iron. Iron deficiencies often make our metabolism sluggish refraining from fat burning. Grab on these protein-iron rich combo foods at least twice a week. Skinless chicken breast is a great choice. Lean meats are full of protein and less fats. Then there are fishes that are rich in omega-3 fats, proteins and iron- look out for salmon, herring and other fatty fishes.

#Fiber– High fiber foods tend to be less “energy dense,” which means they have fewer calories for the same volume of food. Most of the fiber rich foods have the thermogenic affect which increases energy expenditure by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system to cause enhanced metabolic activity. When metabolic rate enhances, fats breakdown rapidly. Example, Fruits, green leafy veggies like spinach, Whole wheat, nuts, beans, oats, etc

As I have mentioned in my earlier blogs, that I have been on a healthier side. So, to cut down the extra fat from the body,I have increased the fiber intake in my meals. Most of us begin their day with oats and even I did the same. I started having oats in my breakfast. Oats are a fiber-rich whole-grain. Your body burns twice as many calories breaking down whole foods (especially those rich in fiber such as oatmeal and brown rice) than processed foods. To make it healthier, I started adding nuts in it. They’re high in protein, fiber, and heart-healthy fats. The combination of oats and nuts were so impactful that it helps me blow up the fats.

Nuts are an excellent way to curb hunger between meals. They’re also rich in calories, so limit your portions. So, you can have handful nuts in a whole day. If you don’t like eating nuts for snacks, chop them and sprinkle over main dishes or side items. You’ll still get the good fats, they bring, and they help to flavor up the meal.

Similarly, the other raw vegetables make for an outstanding snack. They satisfy the desire to crunch, they’re full of water to help you feel full, and they’re low in calories. When you’re in the mood for chips and dip, replace the chips with raw veggies. Another way to fill up before a meal is by eating salad. Make your salad interesting by adding a variety of fruits and vegetables or pomegranate, corn. Be careful about dressing, which can add a lot of fat building foods.

Water: For all the above listed foods, water is the most wanted nutrient. Without sufficient water intake, your body goes into dehydration and we very well know “Dehydrated body almost kills your metabolism”. 3 liters of water every day is ideal. Also to digest of the above listed foods and get the maximum benefit of them, water is required. While reading this article too, grasp a glass of cold water, which forces your body to use more calories to warm it up.

There are many other foods which you can add to your daily routine which can help you to burn fats like berries, especially blueberries, chilli peppers, grapefruit, olive oil, Enova oils (soy or canola), whole grains, beans and legumes, low fat dairy products, yogurt, flax seeds, etc.

So let’s start adding these foods in our daily routine and start en-kindling the fat.