"The Salty Facts"

todaysseniorsnetwork.com

Today I want to talk to you about one instance where you can literally have too much of a good thing. Salt. Containing the ingredient sodium, salt is actually very good for our bodies when consumed in moderation. Sodium helps the body to balance its fluid absorption and also works to help muscles and nerves to perform their functions effectively. In short, we do need the stuff in our daily diets. About a teaspoon or so every day is probably the healthiest amount of us to intake on a daily basis.


So where’s the problem? And why avoid the salt anyway? For starters, too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, an increased risk of heart disease, kidney problems, and stroke. Additionally, it also causes water retention which can make you feel and look bloated – not so nice when you are working hard trying to lose those extra pounds, or even trying to maintain your weight levels.

Ah ha. Well the problem lies in the fact that even when we are careful about the amount of salt used in our own kitchens, it is not always possible to know the salt content of other foods. In fact, you would be surprised to discover the unexpected places we can find this tasty fiend.

Breakfast cereal: always read the label. Some brands of corn flakes can contain up to 340mg of sodium per cup serving! And if need be, buy a sodium-free option so that you can enjoy your morning meal without worrying about upping your salt intake.

Soups: they may taste the nicest on a cold winter day but those packaged soups promising health and fitness usually come loaded with sodium. Again, check your labels twice before you decide you want soup for lunch every day. And if so, make it a home cooked option!

Sauces: ketchup, chilly sauce, teriyaki, mustard, sweet sauce, even your mum’s home made pickle all tend to contain huge amounts of sodium so watch the general amount of dousing you do on a regular basis. Looking for an option to make your meal more interesting? Try a little lemon or even some vinegar.

Nuts: although nuts are generally a great choice when you are looking to carry a healthy snack on the go, buyer beware. Some of the packaged nuts sold in the stores have a ginornous amount of sodium in them, literally making it a health hazard to eat too much of them! So next time, just look for the label that says ‘low-sodium” or even better, buy the unsalted variety and munch away :)

Other “goodies” you would be smart to watch out for when it comes to the salt factor include all your regular potato chips, baked snacks, pre-cooked meals like instant noodles and “ready to eat” foods of any kind!

"Can you Chew on this?"

peopletv.org

Ever wonder why certain foods are almost always shown in those advertisements for eating healthy and living longer? Usually there are a bunch of the greenest vegetables ever shown falling into a pan, and often to break up the green, you see a hint of colors, usually red or yellow. More often than not, that flash of red is our familiar old carrot. Which got me thinking…what is really the big deal about these long, semi-sweet, not really detestable, but then again not really loveable, vegetable?


Honestly speaking, the only thing that really comes to my mind when I think about your average carrot is the fact that Bugs Bunny was obsessed with them. Which prompted me to dig a little deeper, and boy, do I have news for you!! Here’s why we need to give those simple little carrots on our plates some more credit!

Antioxidants: just like we hear about the innumerable benefits from sipping of green tea all day long, carrots also contain a large amount of disease fighters including the super star beta carotene. This substance has been linked to the prevention of heart disease, proven effective in lowering cholesterol levels in the body and has even been shown to ward off certain kinds of cancer.

Improves eyesight: no, it’s not just an old wives’ tale girls and boys. Munching on carrots regularly, which happen to be rich in vitamin A, has shown to benefit the vision.

Anti-aging: another plus from eating something containing those antioxidants, which also prevent cell degeneration. Translation? You get to keep your youthful looks longer!

 Skin saver: Making a tasty mix of carrot juice and drinking it with your breakfast in the morning is also a great way to keep your skin looking fresh and acne-free. Added bonus? It’s also keeps your hair and nails looking strong and healthy!

"Sink or Swim"

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These days people are constantly talking about one of two things. Working out and eating right. Everywhere you go, all you hear are the names of the latest machines which can miraculously literally melt all of your body fat right off or the names of the latest diets which magically make you lose 10 kilos in 10 days (god, please don’t go anywhere near that one if you are smart girls and boys!). Its all about the newest gadgets and the latest scientifically proven research to show what foods combine to get you the maximum weight loss!


But how about going back to the classics? Something which has been tried and tested and always proven to show effective results giving you a fantastic body with curves in all the right places without even going near a machine of any kind? In fact, this form of exercise burns hundreds of calories without you feeling a moment of sweaty heat and ickiness! You’ve all seen it, and most of you have probably even done it a couple of hundred times in your lives. Swimming. One of the most effective ways to get a total body workout. How so? Simply because it forces ones to exert every single part of the body while practicing it. Besides the fact that swimming is great for increasing lung capacity as well as for the cardiovascular system as a whole, it also increases the flexibility and strength of the body as a whole (which is why it’s a great TOTAL body workout!).

Consequently, it protects the body from heart disease, stroke and diabetes while working to control blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition, regular swimming also means the body will benefit from a higher muscular stamina, which basically means you are able to work that much longer without muscle aches and pains. Swimming also helps when recovering from certain kinds of back injuries (even a slipped disc) because it works to strengthen the muscles around the spine in a safe and gentle manner.

So this spring don’t wait for the latest weight control fad to burn a hole in your wallet. Join your neighborhood swimming club instead and enjoy your water therapy coz trust me, it’s the coolest one :)

"The Goods on Green Tea"

topnews.in

So how many of us don’t quite feel completely human (or at least not ready to have a sane conversation with anyone) until we have had that daily morning fix? That oh-so- familiar whiff of chai floating around the house, or maybe if you lived down south, it was the strong smell of a good cup of coffee, just the right stuff to get your day off to a kick start! Or is it?? Guess what guys, there’s a new kid on the block of morning/afternoon/break time beverages…and its called Green tea.

The last decade has seen researchers discover benefit after benefit of green tea, with particular emphasis on its potential to fight cancer and heart disease. It has also been linked with the ability to lower cholesterol, aid in weight loss and possibly preventing diabetes and stroke. Its biggest claim to fame is the fact that it is filled with powerful antioxidants, that help the body build resistance and fight off all kinds of harmful infections and disease. Sounds like its worth a try right?


Having been a regular drinker of green tea for the last five years, I could definitely claim to be a convert to the stuff. It does, however, have a different flavor, a little bitter depending on the kind of green tea you are drinking, which could take some getting used to. Most importantly though, ever since I began to drink it, I have seen an improvement in my digestion (particularly if you drink a cup after your lunch and dinner) as well as general feeling of calm and balance in my body in general. Maybe its psychological, but hey, maybe not! Generally I would not suggest mixing it with either sugar or milk, rather I would say, just add hot water to the leaves or dip the tea bag in a cup and leave it to brew for about 5 minutes. Then just sip and enjoy your cuppa :)

You can buy Twinings Green Teabags in two flavors (Lemon or Mint) from your neighbourhood store for Rs 110/pack.

"Its All About the Honey"

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I am one of those people who is all about healthy living. Words like “natural remedies” , “preservative free” and “Organic” are amongst my favorites and not just because they’re the latest craze in Hollywood AND Bollywood (everyone who’s anyone is talking about “superfoods” and their connections to glowing skin and toned thighs!), but because I have personally experienced the benefits of switching to natural!


So hey, lets make it simple and talk about some “magic healers” much closer to home…I’m talking sitting on your kitchen shelf!

So whats the magic word?? Well, two words actually. According to many doctors, when taken as a combination, the mixture of honey (yup that sweet, sticky stuff we all know and love!) and cinnamon, is a super-strong multi-ailment cure for all kinds of awful aches and pains including heart disease, high cholesterol, bad breath, toothaches, weight reduction and even hair loss!

Many naturalists claim that consuming a mix of honey and cinnamon paste on a regular basis is an efficient way to boost the power of the immune system, reduce feelings of low energy and fatigue and even works to help us live longer!

Here are some easy recipes using these 2 super”natural” ingredients as remedies for common problems we all face:


Colds: To get rid of that constant sniffling-sneezy feeling just take one tablespoon of lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days. This process is said to cure most chronic coughs, cold, as well as clear the sinuses.

Acne: Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the areas with acne before sleeping and gently rinse with warm water the next morning. If done daily for two weeks, it claims to clean out skin pores all the way to their deepest roots, where the acne-creating bacteria is lodged!

Weight Reduction: Drinking a mixture of a teaspoon of honey with half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder boiled in water (to make a small cup) on an empty stomach first thing in the morning about half an hour before breakfast is said to work to metabolize fatty acids in foods faster, allowing you to burn more calories!

A bit of friendly advice: always remember, to lose those extra kilos and sustain that weight loss in a healthy way you need to focus on a balanced combination of a nutritious diet and regular exercise!

Finally, I would recommend you try and buy an organic brand of honey if possible, and use freshly ground cinnamon whenever available.