"In a Nutshell"

 

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There are a few moments of truth in life when you experience a joy which you can really, truly relish. For me, one of these moments was the day when I discovered that nuts --- wait for it --- are actually good for you. Hold the phone, not only are they good, they’re freakin GREAT for you.  

Coming from someone who has had to spend more or less all of her adult life (am talking college years and on!) battling to keep my jeans the same size, this is fantastic news baby. The thing is, I know I have lots of company out there. Almost every adult I meet deals with the same issue: how the heck to figure out whether what you are putting into your mouth is going to save you from god-knows-what-new-disease , or if its going to, simply put, kill you. 

So how wonderful is it that I can share these tasty nuggets of information about our crunchy friends with you? Salted, roasted, toasted, or even eaten raw…just a handful of nuts every day is proven to be able to reduce cholesterol levels from two percent up to a whopping 16 percent! 

Here’s the scoop on the best of the superfood snacks.

Almonds: jam-packed with calcium and antioxidants (as much as found in a cup of green tea!), they also contain high amounts of Vitamin E which help maintain the health of the hair, skin and nails.

  

Pistachios: Filled with lutein and beta carotene, antioxidants which are known to lower cholesterol levels in the body. Some studies even claim that eating up to three servings a day can help reduce the physical and mental effects of stress on blood pressure– hmmm, know anyone who might need some of that?

Walnuts:  its not called brain food for nothing people, these nuts contain the highest concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids, proven to improve the health of the heart and strengthen the body’s immune system.

Hazelnuts:  Another great source of “good fats” these nuts are also a rich source of disease-fighting antioxidant power. Grab a handful everyday and keep all those nasty flues far away!

So what are you waiting for? Get out there and GO NUTS!

"The Good News on Chocolate"

rivercitygiftco.com

I am a foodie. My mom is a foodie, my dads a foodie, even my dogs a foodie. One thing about us as a tribe (and indeed, foodies make connections in the most random parts of the world over things like a love for blueberry smoothies!) is that we are emotional eaters. And no, by that I don’t mean that we raid the fridge every time life gets tough or use snickers to fill our inner void (trust me, that habit can come with a big, big price – not to mention waistline!). What I mean by emotional eaters is simply this; that eating good, tasty food, makes us happy :)


So you can imagine the super warm and fuzzy feeling I got in my belly when I discovered the news about chocolate. Turns out, the stuff is not all trans fat, acne, and butt enhancing after all! Actually, researchers have discovered that eating chocolate can have the effect of relieving aches and pains in the human body. In fact, they go further to say that eating or even drinking anything for pleasure (read chocolate, caramel custard, honey nut crunch ice-cream) can literally act as a natural painkiller, and thus make us feel a little better when dealing with physical discomfort. Now you know why its called comfort food. Or why it just feels better to eat something a little decadent when you are dealing with those awful monthly cramps ladies.

And getting back to the matter at hand, chocolate (specifically dark chocolate) also contains antioxidants which protect the body from the damage done by free radicals (which cause aging and cancer among other things). Studies have found that consuming a bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals who suffer from high blood pressure. They also say that eating moderate amounts of the dark stuff is good for the cardiovascular functioning of the heart and that consuming it regularly has been shown to reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) by up to ten per cent! Chocolate also contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant, and stimulates the production of endorphins in the body, which give you that “feel good” sensation. And now for the best part : it tastes grrrrreat :)

"Go Bananas"

medicalcravings.com

If there was ever a food which could be called an “all-rounder” this would be it. It’s a whole mini-meal in one neat package. Athletes swear by it. Sportspeople cant do without it. You can put it in a shake. You can add it to a fruit salad. You can mash it. You can slice it. The birds love it. The bees love it. Even the chimps in the trees love it.


Introducing the one and only, superfood in yellow (or maybe green!) --- the Banana.

And guys, here in the motherland, you can get them just about anywhere. Bananas are often amongst the cheapest fruits you can buy in the market. You can also carry it easily since its peel keeps it fresh and protected until eaten. Even eating it is easy and fuss-free, you can finish it without getting even a fingertip messy! And best of all, they taste great! So now what’s your excuse?

Here are just some of the health benefits of eating the fruit on a regular basis:

- It gives you a healthy digestive system (improves the function of the bowels)

- It boosts energy (used by many runners as a pre-run energy snack)

- It helps reduce water retention (so that you can look fitter and slimmer)

- It makes you Happy (bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin. Serotonin is a hormone that is known to make you feel good and improve your mood)

- It’s a rich source of Iron (which helps prevent and reduce anemia)

- Its loaded with potassium (prevents kidney stones, helps carry oxygen to the brain)

- It helps alleviate the symtoms of PMS (a little extra something for the ladies!)

- Its brain food! (has been shown to help students be more alert and learn better)

"Let the Sunshine In!"

coolrain.44.files.wordpress.com

Today, with all the hype about skin cancer, people have taken to avoiding the sun as much as possible. In addition, we happen to live in a country which is sadly obsessed with the “gori mem complex” where women are encouraged to slather on so called “fairness” creams which promise to change their complexions to a snow-white like hue, therefore ensuring them handsome husbands, successful careers, and fantastic luck for the remainder of their lives.

Well, here’s a news flash: according to recent studies limited (and sunscreen safe!) exposure to sunshine might help you live longer and for some people, the health benefits possibly outweigh the risks of skin cancer! The reason? Sunshine happens to be one of the best sources of Vitamin D, which protects the body from a number of diseases. How, you might ask? Sunlight stimulates the body to produce Vitamin D, which has been proven to protect the body from ailments like diabetes, osteoporosis, and even some forms of cancer. Research shows that modest amounts of sunshine produces the critical amount of vitamin needed to help the body’s immune system function properly.

Vitamin D can also be found in foods including cod liver oil and milk, or could be taken in supplement form. But the way I look at it, why waste your money buying expensive supplements when you can get your daily dose of D for free?? All it takes is spending a few minutes in the sunny outdoors. And whats that magic number? 20. Yup, 20 minutes is all the time it takes for your body to be able to get enough sunlight to manufacture the Vitamin D it needs, without which you risk a whole host of unfun (yes it’s a word) stuff from brittle bones to kidney stones. And in 20 minutes, even in the hottest sunshine (think Delhi in May), you are unlikely to risk burning or damaging your skin through harmful UV exposure because of the short time spent it the sun. The best part? You don’t have to bother changing into your shorts or bathing suit to get these rays! Exposure of just your face and/or arms is plenty!

And just in case I haven’t given you enough reasons to grab some shades and get outside, here’s the icing on the cake. Sunlight also enables the brain to boost its production of serotonin, the feel good hormone, which keeps you feeling good and thinking positive, something you just don’t get being stuck indoors all day long. So go out there and get some sun.....