"Soups Up"

blog.sigsiv.com

It’s the perfect meal when you want to go light. It’s the ideal feel-good food when you are feeling far from good. It’s the winter food which keeps you feeling warm. It’s all the nutrients and health you need fitting perfectly in a bowl.


Undoubtedly, one of the nicest benefits to adding soup to your regular diet is the fact that even though it fills you up with its yumminess, it can easily be a low-calorie; nearly fat-free meal in itself. A good example is any clear vegetable soup. Basic rules say if the soup is clear it means it doesn’t contain any cream, butter, or milk --- which means its practically water people! Instead just adding some boiled veggies to some clear vegetable stock soup can make for a super-delicious meal. So not only do you get a taste of something warm and nourishing, adding comfort to your day, you get a healthy way to lose those extra kilos :)

And here’s another reason why you should think about soup. Since soup is more or less liquid in form, you can put all kinds of wholesome goodness into the blender and add it to soup making sure its packed with all the vitamins, antioxidants, and immunity boosting foods you need to keep you fighting fit. Which is why soup is also a smart thing to eat if you are ever feeling a little under the weather. Take your pick from a wide range of ingredients to make tomato, spinach, pea, mixed veggie, broccoli, beetroot, pumpkin, cabbage, even lentil soup! If you are a carnivore who cant do without meat on your plate you could consider adding a little shredded chicken, or some shrimp into your bowl as well. So the next time you are wondering what to have for lunch, just think about all the wellness power in that little bowl of soup and drink up!

"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 Traveller's Diet"

  demelzahill.com

So part of your job requires that you travel. And so you find yourself on a flight once a week. Mumbai-Delhi. Delhi-Bangalore. Bangalore-Chennai. Or maybe it’s a train to Surat, Patna, or Calcutta. Maybe you aren’t one of those (un)lucky people who get to rack up their frequent flier miles. Instead, maybe you deal with a two hour commute to your office desk everyday. And a two hour commute back home. Not to mention the client meetings thrice a week which means another hours taxi/train ride to the other side of town. 

Whatever your choice of vehicle may be, it’s safe to say that you find yourself travelling from point A to point B fairly frequently. What’s the first thing you end up missing out on with all that movement? Yes, that’s right; it’s your regular meals. Inevitably what ends up in your hands is a bag of friend potato chips, or worse a so-called “happy” meal which promises to deliver you from your hunger pangs. Words from the wise girls and boys: the last thing that greasy gunk is going to do is make your body happy. 

So here’s a short list of healthy, sensible snacks you should try and eat while rushing from one airport to the next, or commuting to those endless client meetings without a break!

Nuts – the best energy food there is people. And the best part is, they can be bought in a box, so its mess-free and easy to carry! Try and get a bag of mixed nuts (almonds, pistachios, and cashew nuts are all great) and just eat a handful when you have a few minutes to spare. They fill you up, and work to boost your strength and immunity, not to mention they are a great source of healthy fats!

Biscuits (Marie gold, digestives) – Looking for something a little sweet, but also a little salty? Digestive biscuits are the perfect solution to cravings for some sugar with a hint of salt. Marie now makes low-fat versions which come in a handy small pack, while….Digestives are delicious bites of sweetness with fiber for your nutritional needs.

Fruit - Need I really say more? Apples, Bananas, Oranges, even Grapes, can all be put into your bag and carried just about anywhere (even on a plane!). Eat at least one helping a day while you are on the move and get your fill of vitamins and antioxidants while filling up on something really good for you :)

Granola Bars - Another great source of healthy energy and fuel for your body; these are a great option when you are rushing from one city to the next. They come in individually wrapped bars and in yummy flavors like Honey & Oats and Peanut Butter. A good bite when you need to answer that rumbling tummy.

"Swine Flu Myths"

dionsdailydeal.com

                                         

                 Swine Flu: Now know the Facts from the Fiction

Its much worse than your average flu: In fact most doctors agree that swine flu has the same effect as a normal seasonal flu. It does happen to be slightly more contagious, and that’s because unlike other strains of the flu (to which many of us have been exposed to at some time or the other), we don’t have any immunity against the swine flu. However, the symptoms are very much the same as one has with a regular flu.


Masks protect you: Again, most experts agree that walking around with a mask on when you are not infected with the virus does not make you any less susceptible to it. In fact, many doctors will argue that safer than the mask is to ensure that you are regularly washing your hands with a good anti-bacterial soap. Only if you are infected with the swine flu might it make sense to wear a mask so that you can prevent spreading the virus to others through airborne transmission.

If you get swine flu, go straight to the emergency room: Patients would have a mild case of swine flu would be much better off staying at home and taking the regular medicine for flu they would otherwise take (or else taking those medications prescribed to them by a doctor). Chances are if you go to the hospital, you risk increasing your exposure to other infections, as well and exposing those around you to the swine flu virus. Of course however, if you are concerned about any risk factors you might have which can result in flu complications, its best to contact your doctor and get the right advice.

If you are young and healthy you can't get it: This virus actually tends to infect people under the age of 60 more than those above it. According to doctors its because older people tend to have been exposed to some strain of the H1N1 virus at some point in their lives, which increases their resistance to it. However, regardless of your age, the smartest thing to do would be to ensure you make a habit of washing your hands several times in a day, avoiding people who have the infection, and be aware of any symptoms (body ache, fever, throat ache, cough, cold, fatigue) you might develop. If you begin to feel fluish, do not ignore the messages your body is sending. Be smart: stay at home, talk to your doctor about the right medicines, eat well, drink lots of liquids, and rest until you are well again.

Head back to the office once you feel better: Despite what you might think, the flu virus can stay in your body (and therefore be able to spread to others) for upto 24 hours after your fever has gone and you are off any medications for fever.