"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!

"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"

 

sanfransiscostuff.files.wordpress.com

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.

"Diet Defence!"

healthfoods.com

Tea, garlic, broccoli….sound like I’m making a grocery list? Well, it’s more like a medicine list. You’d be surprised to find how much help we can get protecting ourselves from those horrible infections which always seem to be “going around” from our very own kitchens! Mother nature, in all her wisdom, has created and given us the ability to build our immunity and strengthen our bodies defenses against disease just by eating right. Here are some easy ways to stay happy and healthy all year long.


Almonds – Can you believe this? A yummy snack which is also good for you?? Its true, almonds contain natural ingredients which make this food a great stress buster J Plus with the Vitamin E it contains, it effectively works to help your body combat disease. Need I say more? Just carry a small container with you to work everyday and you have the perfect mind-afternoon snack which also (amazingly) helps you deal with your cranky boss!

Watermelon – besides the fact that it tastes absolutely fabulous (who can resist a slice of cold, juicy watermelon on a hot summer day?),this fruit is also wonderfully hydrating and also works to improve the effectiveness of the digestive system. In fact, being a natural laxative it’s one of the healthiest ways to deal with constipation. On a more pleasant note, it also contains powerful antioxidants which help to strengthen immunity and fight infections.

Oranges - there is a god girls and boys. Because the orange is yet another example of something that not going tastes fantastic, making your tummy smile, but is also super-good for you! Packed with high amounts of vitamin C, your friendly juicy orange is the perfect natural remedy to protect you against colds and flues (of course that doesn’t mean you need to stop your multi-vits coz you need full power strength to fight the flues out there these days!)

Button Mushrooms – filled with B vitamins and antioxidants, these little guys can play a vital role is strengthening your immune system – keeping you flu-free all season while people around you seem to be dropping like flies!

Cabbage – easy to find, especially now in the cold season, cabbage is loaded with disease-fighting agents. Toss it in with a fresh salad, steam it, make it a soup, or serve it as a sabzi, you wont regret getting enough of its green goodness.

"Liquids in your Diet"

dietmag.org

Alright so lets get one thing straight right away. I am the last person to recommend any kind of so called fad diets. None of that weird cabbage soup diet, or eating just carrots for a week thing for me, and not for you either my sweethearts. Truthfully, although these highly exclusive (usually they exclude food of most kinds!) can lead to weight loss, the effects are not very long-lasting (ie you bounce back to your size 10 or worse, to a size 12 within weeks of going back to normal eating) and they can often be downright bad for your health. So this is not a piece on liquid diets. This is about ensuring that you are getting the right liquids in your diet. The kind that lead to higher caloric burning and not a wider waist.

So first things first. Know your liquids. Number one on the no-no list is always the aerated coke, pepsi, seven-up, fanta, Miranda nonsense which is loaded with sugary sweetness that does absolutely nothing good for your body! Even if you do switch the diet variety of these drinks, go easy and remember just because they contain fewer calories does not mean they are good for you. Another dangerously innocent looking liquid is the milkshake also known as the smoothie. Trust me, these guys are almost also filled with full-fat milk, whipped cream, sugar, ice-cream, not to mention the chocolate sauce! One of these is enough to finish your calorie requirement for the entire day. Approach with caution and have them once in a while as a special treat!

Other devils in disguise would include any “fresh juice” drink which contains added sugar (always ask the waiter and ask for 100% pure fruit juice and read all labels carefully) and cocktails (alcoholic more so than non-alcoholic) which taste great but usually contain way too much sugar syrup in them. Where are the heroes in this story of villainous liquids?
Here are some guaranteed good guys to get your fill of:


- Water: not only is it great for your skin and digestive system, it also works to improve your metabolism. Drinking 2 glasses before you eat also fills your stomach ensuring that you keep your meals lighter.

- Green tea: filled with free radical fighting antioxidants which protect your body against disease, this stuff also revs up your metabolic rate allowing you to burn calories faster – yay :)

- Vegetable juices: tomato juice not only contains about half the calories of a glass of orange juice, it also fills you up so that you can eat a light meal followed by it.

"The Power of Fruit"

pollsb.com

Fruit for All Reasons

Red, yellow, green, orange, pink, and even purple. Filled with the goodness of natural nutrients, they come in a rainbow of colors, shapes and sizes. Slice them, dice them, cube them, or even juice them, you can always be sure you are getting all the good stuff you need when you include them in your daily diet. Fruit. This stuff is everywhere. From the phalwalla down the street to the aisles in that fancy new supermarket. From the good old apple, to the exotic kiwi, you can pretty much find anything you are in the mood for. These are also the perfect mid-morning snack, filled with the sweetness of fructose, and miles better than scarfing down those chocolate chip cookies. Instead of waiting for the smell of the office evening pakoras, grab a bowl of grapes. Feeling like something with a salty kick? Chopped guava sprinkled with a little salt and red chilly powder has got to be tried! And guess what? Those digestive problems, that constant acne, the falling hair, those brittle nails and even that extra weight? All gone. IF you take the time and load up on your portions of fresh fruit on a regular basis (and yes, that means upto 3 helpings a day). The best part of this oh-so-important addition to your menus? They taste grrreeat :) Here some reasons to bite into something juicy today…


Apples – great source of fiber, lowers cholesterol, helps with weight loss, and detoxifies the body.

Bananas - potassium rich and very good for the digestion, perfect energy food for pre-workout!

Grapes – besides tasting delicious these little guys are good for fighting fatigue, replenish iron into the body, and have high anti-bacterial properties which fight infection!

Papaya – said to be the best remedy for any kind of abdominal disorders, prevents heart disease, and also effective in lowering cholesterol levels in the body.

Oranges – loaded with vitamins, and especially vitamin C, this juicy fruit helps boost immunity levels, prevents cells from damage through antioxidants, and protects bones and teeth.

"The A to Z of Good Eating"

aroundtheworldproducts.com

Antioxidants – disease fighting substances found in green tea, fruits, even tomatoes!


Bananas – one of the most nutritious meals on-the-go you can so make sure you pack it into your daily schedule!

Calcium – Get your daily dose from milk, paneer, even as cheese spread slathered on your breakfast toast.

Diet food – proceed with caution. Not everything that’s labeled “diet” is good for you, so do your research and stick with the tried and tested fruits and veggies to lose those pounds.

Eggs – High on protein and great for your keeping your brain and muscle power strong and healthy.

Fruit – Grapes, apples, cherries, and oranges: take your pick and have one helping of this source of juicy goodness to keep infections at bay!

Greens – fill up your plate with the colors: make it a salad with pine nuts, or a simple steamed sabzi – what mother nature has given us is the good stuff girls and boys.

Honey – spread it on toast or put it in your tea, this natural sugar tastes good and works wonders on your body too.

Iron - find it in fish, spinach, and other leafy veggies – tres important for your folic acid needs and keeps you anemia-free!

Jam – We all have our moments of weakness…why not eat a little jam when you get a sugar craving? Go for the marmalade (with citrus peels) or even a mixed fruit flavor.

Kiwi – antioxidants, vitamins, you name it, this pretty fruit has it!

Lemon – loaded with vitamin C this is the best way to get your immune systems on high power, while giving your food that extra zing!

Melon - cooling, delicious in winter or summer, and fantastic for your digestion.

Nuts – almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and macadamia: they are all packed with energy, power, strength, stamina so grab a handful the next time you get your 4pm munchies!

Omega 3 acids – fish, shellfish, or even supplements - Essential for a healthy heart.

Pomegranate – want rosy cheeks and extra healthy blood? This jeweled fruit has your answer!

Quaker oats – your best answer to your daily fiber needs.

Rice – probably the best form of carbohydrates you can find: energy, strength, and wholesome nutrition (make it brown rice if you’re looking to avoid the starch!)

Spinach – Popeye lived on the stuff, big muscles, super strength, need I say more?

Tea -said to have healing, cancer-fighting, super powered medicinal properties, I say go for the green kind 

Unprocessed – anything which hasn’t been “genetically enhanced” or “artificially colored/sweetened” is generally your best bet people – go natural!

Vitamins – Got your daily multivitamin covered? A, B12,B, D, C, E, K – Look them up, and make sure you are getting what you need.

Water – stick to the 8-glass a day rule and your skin will stay clear, your tummy will stay “clean” and your body will thank you.

Xtra - TLC: tender loving care for your body and its needs. Always remember, you have only one body, treat it with respect and it will stay strong for you for life.

Yoghurt – filled with the “good bacteria” that helps us fight virals, bugs, and other nasties which tend to float around every change of season.

Zucchini - the perfect diet food – filled with water, vitamin C, and antioxidants, it fills you up and helps you lose!

"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 :)

"Get Your Daily Dose"

smallbites.andybellatti.com

You know how mom always nags you about " An apple a day, blah, bhah," keeping the doctor away? Turns out, she's sorta, kinda, ummm right!!! who knew??


But its true guys, ever since I started taking my daily multi-vitamin (just one cute pink pill), I feel like my energy levels have been amped, my naturally cheerful personality seems to have developed an ever sunnier disposition, my skin, hair and eyes are literally shining, in short, I feel fantastic! But the best part is that I honestly cannot for the life of me, remember the last time I was home sick with a dreaded nasty, achy-painy, life-sucking,feel-like-u-want-to-cry-for-mommy flu.


And even if i ever do get bitten by some strange mutated new syndrome, "viral fever", crazy rat/bird flu,or any other kind of bug, I seem to bounce back from it, and back to my healthy energetic self in a maximum of two days....this I have tested people. Long story short, taking your regular dose of a multivitamin is good for you all round. These little pink/white/you pick your shade capsules are packed with antioxidants, minerals, and of course vitamins which basically optimize the functioning capacity of your body's organs while strengthening your immune system. And the stronger your immunity, the easier it is for you to totally resist any infection attempting to attack your body.

So be smart in these days of swine flu, and take your daily dose of the good stuff!

You can find multivitamins for both men and women at your nearest GNC, or just talk to your doctor for some more brand options.

"Taste the Rainbow"

upload.wikimedia.org

Who says the healthiest thing you can put on your plate is a helping of boiled, bland and honestly inedible gook (ummm, did someone say brussel sprouts)? According to nutritionists today, your plate should actually be loaded with a whole rainbow of colors – from red to purple and yellow to blue! By including fruits and vegetables from all color groups (listed below) in your daily diet, you will ensure that you are getting enough of the different nutrients and phytochemicals you need to live a healthy and energetic life. And what exactly, might you ask, are these phytochemicals? They are the substances which give fruits and veggies their bright, beautiful, and varied shades of color and also happen to be essential in keeping our bodies strong and free from disease…how’s that for a mouthful to chew on?


Here’s a little color coded help to give you the juice on why certain shades might just do more than look good on you!!


Green: Broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cauliflower, cabbage, green beans, peas and other leafy vegetables all contain infection-fighting nutrients and compounds that prevent diseases including cancer. Green foods also contain the detox mineral sulpher, water and fiber making them great cleansers ridding the body of the toxins that build up due to stress, the intake of alcohol and tobacco, and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. They also are a rich source of vitamins C and K.


Red : Tomatoes, strawberries, red peppers, and raspberries are all loaded with antioxidents, which are the guys that help trap and absorb free radicals which can cause heart disease, cancer, and other illnesses.


White: Milk, white meat (chicken, turkey), shellfish, seafood, dairy products. White foods contain protein packed power that help the body to build muscle to stay strong, active, and ready to go. Dairy products also contain calcium which is an essential mineral for healthy teeth and bones and also may help weight loss.


Purple-Blue: Eggplant (Brinjal) and blueberries. These fruits and vegetables are known to have both antioxidents and phytochemicals which help protect against ulcers, cancer, and bacteria.


Orange-Yellow: Carrots, mangoes, oranges, yellow peppers, melons, peaches, bananas, these sunshine coloured foods are all packed with the super antioxidant beta-carotene and vitamin A, which strengthens the immune system and is also very good for the health of your bones and eyes. Potassium, found in high amounts in bananas, is proven to prevent as well as decrease high blood pressure (think all those stressful deadlines at the office!). Not to mention all the power of vitamin C (ie prevention against infections like flus, colds, sore throats) you can find in your everyday orange!


So ahead and enjoy your next meal in technicolour