Food Tips

Why brown rice is healthier than white

Brown rice doesn't taste as good but is nutritionally superior to white rice

There has been constant debate over white rice versus brown rice for decades. Although white rice seems to be a favourable choice for the majority of people for its appetising taste and appearance, brown rice wins hands-down when it comes to health benefits.

Says holistic health guru , "Brown rice is healthier since the refining process only removes the hull of the rice kernel, leaving its nutrition intact. On the other hand, the milling and polishing used to make rice white, strips off its essential nutrients and vitamins."

Technically speaking...
A cup of brown unpolished rice contains 88 per cent of manganese, 27.3 per cent of selenium, 20.9 per cent of magnesium, 18.7 per cent of tryptophan and only 12 per cent calories. The conversion of rice from brown to white destroys about 60 per cent of iron, 80 per cent of vitamin B1, 67 per cent of vitamin B3, 90 per cent of vitamin B6, 60 per cent of iron and almost half the phosphorous, manganese and dietary fibre naturally present in the rice.

Nutritious and wholesome
Packed with natural oils, brown rice is extremely heart-friendly. Due to its fibrous concentration, brown rice facilitates healthy bowel movement and promotes weight-loss.

A cup of brown rice fulfils about 80 per cent of the daily requirement of manganese in the body. Manganese helps in the formation of healthy cholesterol. Brown rice improves metabolism and keeps you feeling fuller for a long time.

Replacing white rice with brown rice in your diet can help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. "Like wheat, brown rice is also a type of whole-grain. Organically grown wild brown rice is the best as it is packed with all the essential nutrients and vitamins."

Health Tip

Top 8 home remedies to reduce belly fat

Belly fat is a return gift that our haphazard lifestyle and wrong eating habits give us. Belly fat has always been a major concern area.

It not only destroys your image but also increases your risk to many health ailments. Try these Ayurveda tips to lose the fat deposits around your belly.

Start your day with lemon juice This is one of the best therapies to eliminate belly fat. Pinch some yellow juice into a glass of warm water and add some salt to it. Continue drinking this every morning to boost your metabolism and to get rid of that paunch.

Stay off from white rice Replace white rice with various wheat products. Include brown rice, brown bread, wholegrains, oats and quinoa in your diet.

Avoid sugary substances Stay away from sweets, sweetened drinks and foods rich in oil. Consuming these foods can increase body fat around various areas of your body like abdomen and thighs.

Drink plenty of water If you want to get rid of your belly, then drink sufficient amount of water every day. Drinking water, after regular intervals will help to boost your metabolism and remove toxins from your body.

Eat raw garlic Chew two to three cloves of garlic every morning, and drink a glass of lemon water after that. This treatment will double up your weight loss process and make your blood circulation smooth in your body.

Avoid non-veg food To eliminate belly fat, it is recommended that one should avoid non-vegetarian food as far as possible.

Load up on fruits and vegetables Eat a bowl of fruits daily in the morning and evening. This will fill you up with many antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

Spice up your cooking Use spices like cinnamon, ginger and black pepper in your cooking. These spices are loaded with health benefits. They help to improve your insulin resistance and reduce levels of sugar in your blood.

Food Tips

8 superfoods that cut belly fat

Battling stubborn belly fat? Try the following superfoods to Cut belly fat and inflammation.

Green tea: This mild beverage is great for helping shrink your waistline as well as for decreasing inflammation. The flavonoids in this tea have natural anti-inflammatory properties. And the compound EGCG in green tea has been shown to help reduce body fat.

Foods rich in Omega-3: Research has shown that a diet with a high percentage of omega-3 fatty acids and a low percentage of omega-6 fatty acids has been linked with decreased inflammation. Food sources of omega3s include walnuts, flaxseed, and fish, such as wild Alaskan salmon.

Garlic: Consume garlic as a natural antibiotic and blood sugar regulator. By controlling blood sugar and insulin level, your body can maximize fat burning for energy, resulting in reduced belly fat. Garlic is also a thermogenic that boosts metabolism.

Mint: Add one tablespoon honey, a pinch of pepper, and some crushed mint leaves to a cup of hot water. Let it to steep for five minutes. Strain and drink the liquid to get a flat tummy. Mint soothes the abdomen while honey and pepper dissolve the fat and boost metabolism.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon works as a great fat burner. Take ½ tablespoon of cinnamon powder and steep it in water for five minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of honey after straining the cinnamon water. Drink this before breakfast and before going to bed.

Watermelon: Watermelon contains 82 per cent water, which helps your stomach not to crave for food. Watermelon is rich in vitamin C, which is beneficial for health. It is one of the healthiest foods to have if you are planning to go on a healthy diet. It is also a good mid-day snack.

Apple: Eating apple regularly can help in fighting many diseases and it can also help in reducing the fat from your belly. Apple helps your stomach to feel full because it contains potassium and many vitamins. So, eat an apple in breakfast to get the desired tummy size.

Bananas: Like apples, bananas are also rich in potassium and contain multivitamins. They are filling and help you to resist the cravings for fast food. Moreover, banana boosts the metabolic rate, thereby melting the belly fat.

Food Tips

CLEAN YOUR KIDNEYS

Years pass by and our kidneys are filtering the blood by removing salt, poison and any unwanted entering our body. With time, the salt accumulates and this needs to undergo cleaning treatments and how are we going to overcome this?

It is very easy, first take a bunch of parsley or Cilantro ( Coriander Leaves ) and wash it clean
Then cut it in small pieces and put it in a pot and pour clean water and boil it for ten minutes and let it cool down and then filter it and pour in a clean bottle and keep it inside refrigerator to cool.

Drink one glass daily and you will notice all salt and other accumulated poison coming out of your kidney by urination also you will be able to notice the difference which you never felt before.

Parsley (Cilantro) is known as best cleaning treatment for kidneys and it is natural!

Food Tips

Make blueberries a part of your daily diet

Health benefits of the fruit
Firm, little blueberries are packed with anti-oxidants, which strengthen the immune system. They are also low in fat and provide almost 25% of the daily requirement of vitamin C. They also have folate and niacin. A study suggests blueberries reduces the risk of heart disease and can ward off urinary tract infections. They also slow down the loss of vision. Research confirms that blueberries not just slow the ageing process but can also reverse it. For a refreshing face glow, try a strawberry-blueberry mask, made by blending the two fruits. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off with warm water.

5 delicious ways to add them to your dessert
- Use them in a sauce over your ice cream or pie.
- Stew them with sugar and top them with cream and shortcake.
- Add them to fruit compote with cream and chopped nuts.
- Warm blueberry muffins or cupcakes can also make for be an ideal tea-time treat.
- Make blueberry ice pops with honey for a natural fruit fix. And, if you're serving guests a cheese platter, serve the French brie cheese with blueberries and strawberries.

Food Tips

6 breakfast cereals healthier than others

Did you know that even a bowlful of 'healthy' breakfast cereals could add to your calorie count?

Doctors, for sometime now, have debated on the permissible level of sugar in breakfast cereals, especially of the coloured and sugar-frosted varieties. While it is advisable to check the nutrition value of the breakfast cereal before buying it, one should also consciously make healthier lifestyle choices by having all cereals with skimmed or semi-skimmed milk, and avoiding to add extra sugar among others, but if you still like a bit of sweetness in your breakfast substitute white sugar with fruits (even dry fruits) like banana, dates, raisins, or any citrus fruit. A wholesome breakfast it would make for, while staving off your urge for midday snacking. Even those maintaining a workout routine can derive maximum benefit from this habit, as it also helps them get past their weight loss plateau.

Wellness expert helps us list breakfast cereals that are healthier than the rest. 

Porridge

Porridge is the most healthy breakfast idea. It is rich in minerals and has high fibre content that keeps blood sugar under control. Use a little jaggery if you wish to sweeten it, otherwise you can top it with fresh fruits or sprinkle some raisins and almonds.

Cornflakes

Abundant in carbohydrates, iron and Vitamin B complex, cornflakes work very well for school kids and elders too. It is a particularly good breakfast in the rainy months because the body starts holding water owing to high moisture in the air.

Wheat flakes

It is a modification of wheat porridge and is a nice change from run-of-the-mill breakfast cereals. But unless fortified with extra calcium, it is not much use having just wheat flakes for breakfast.

Oatmeal

A bowl of oats in the morning is great for those suffering high cholesterol and diabetes, provided you don't add extra sugar to it. The high fibre content in oats balances the blood sugar, and relieves people prone to depression.

Muesli

Muesli is a great breakfast choice as it has raisins, almonds and four different grains. The comparatively high sugar content in muesli keeps growing children and those into sports, energetic. It can be served with both milk and yoghurt. You can creatively garnish the muesli and serve it up as a quick evening snack to kids.

Poha/rice crispies

The poha version of rice crispies is popular in Indian households, and makes for a light and healthy breakfast. But make sure your poha is only lightly sauteed.

Aside from the usual cornflakes and oats, there is a whole assortment of chocolate, honey and fruit-flavoured breakfast cereals that find takers among young kids. Just how good or bad an idea is it?

Although it is best to go for natural cereals, it is alright to break free from the mundane breakfast chart once in a while. The purpose is to serve up a good mix that is both appealing to the taste buds and has nutritional value.

Next time you are at the departmental store picking breakfast cereals, don't get carried away by the glossy packaging.

Food Tips

Should you have 6 meals or 3 meals a day?

Healthy eating and healthy living revolves around having sufficient food.

But how many meals should you have per day? Healthy eating is a key component of weight loss and muscle building for those who want to maintain a healthy weight. Our strength and conditioning expert, lays out the benefits of three meals versus six meals. He also tells you when you should have three meals and six meals for optimal health benefits.

As per popular belief "going more than three hours without eating anything would lead to a drop in energy levels, loss of lean muscle tissue, increased fat storing, etc,". Hence it was always important to eat every three hours. So, three good meals in a day is a good option since fasting experts reveal that six meals is responsible for body fat and poor hormones.

"One of the major claims for three meals a day being better for fat loss is that it helps to keep insulin and blood sugar levels low and thus bodyfat is lower. In my personal opinion, however, this is where most people make a major mistake. They do not take the total caloric intake into calculation," .

The benefits of eating 3 meals a day:

• Easy to follow in the long term - All offices, schools and colleges give people time to have breakfast, lunch and dinner — meals that you can eat at home. There are also those who do not feel like eating first thing in the morning, and generally do not feel like eating till lunch. If this is the case, then do keep in mind that breakfast does not have be eaten immediately upon waking up. You can eat your breakfast even a couple of hours after waking up. So no need to miss breakfast altogether.
• Allows you to eat bigger meals - This is where six meals a day becomes a problem for those who love to eat big and are trying to lose weight. Six small meals never make one mentally feel like they have eaten a meal, they always feel that they are snacking, and thus mentally are always craving for a meal.
• Teaches you to control hunger better - In most cases, eating six times a day tends to make one eat more, since they tend to mentally crave food every 2-3 hours whether they are actually hungry or not. So when they decide to eat only three times a day, they slowly start to control their hunger better as they now go longer without food and develop better mental control.

The benefits of eating 6 meals a day:

• Ideal for eating a lot of calories - If you need to eat a lot of calories to gain weight or because you are an athlete who burns a lot of calories, then frequent meals is ideal for you.
• Great to follow when trying to consume high amounts of protein - Our bodies were not designed to be able to digest 70-80 gms or more of protein in one meal easily. It's always best for most people to keep protein to about 15-40 gms at each serving, and maybe a bit more for really big guys who exercise a lot. Great to follow when trying to consume large amounts of carbs.
• Helps avoid drops in energy/sugar levels - Some people truly cannot go on for more than 3-4 hours without eating anything and still be able to perform well. For these people, smaller frequent servings work well and help to keep their energy/sugar levels stable.

It has been chalked out and elaborated the importance of three meals and six meals; it is up to you to decide what are your needs and which meal will supplement it.

Food Tips

Pumpkin seeds wondrous benefits

Pumpkin may not be a favourite vegetable for many but its seeds have an abundance of amazing benefits that will do wonders for your health.

Healthy heart
Pumpkin seeds are high in magnesium, which is imperative for adequate physiological body function. This includes the proper pumping of your heart, as well as tooth and bone formation, DNA synthesis and bowel function. Magnesium is also a natural relaxant.

Sleep
Being high in the amino acid tryptophan, pumpkin seeds help you to have a restful night's sleep. They're literally nature's sleeping pills.

Stablilising blood sugar
Due to being high in protein, pumpkin seeds help to regulate your blood sugar levels. This has two particularly great potential benefits—weight loss and diabetes prevention. It's also said to help the latter by decreasing oxidative stress.

High in Omega-3
Pumpkin seeds are one of the most notable plant-based sources of obtaining omega-3. This is a fatty acid that's essential to metabolism health, as well as brain and cognitive performance.

Energizing
Pumpkin seeds are full of iron, which will give you a fantastic energy boost throughout the day. This is a great alternative to sugary snacks that will only give you energy for a short period of time before resulting in a sugar crash.

Lowers cholesterol
In addition to omega-3, pumpkin seeds are also rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid. This helps to lower bad LDL cholesterol and therefore helps prevent stroke and coronary artery disease.

Food Tips

Why lemon is good for you!

Here are some benefits of lemon you probably didn't know.

Do you ignore the small yellow rounds lying in your fridge? Do you not like the citric taste that a lemon has? Well, as they say, it is not just about the taste. Lemon comes with a host of health benefits too! Here are some secrets of a lemon spilled, which will make you include it in your daily diet -

Skin problems: Lemon consists of citric acid, which helps in treating acnes. The vitamin C one gets from a lemon also helps in keeping skin fresh and maintains the glow.

Relieves from stress: Research shows that lemon has a calming effect on a person's mind and so, helps in relieving a person from stress and anxiety.

Antiviral properties: Research also shows that the use of lemon is good for curing a cold and fever as the vitamin C it has, boosts one's immunity.

Fights fatigue: Lemon juice is always recommended to people who have tiring jobs or people who travel long distances. It can boost one's energy and fight fatigue.

Good for your stomach: People who are looking at losing weight and are on a diet must have lemon everyday. Even for other people, squeeze some lemon in a glass of lukewarm water and have it after each meal. This will help in easy digestion and boost metabolism.

Food Tips

How often should you eat?

In our race to be the biggest loser, most of us go after different diets. The trusted and age-old three-meals-a-day concept works for some, while others swear by the new-age eight-meals-a-day. Most of us have been brought up on the notion that having untimely in-between meal snacks, is one of the major causes of weight gain. Of late, however, a number of trainers, nutritionists and dieticians have come up with the 'six-to-eight-meals-a-day' plan. And many Bollywood actors and actresses claim that following such diets have made them the biggest losers.

They believe that in-between snacks help them stay slim and this regular intake also boosts metabolism. However, there are health gurus and trainers who believe that eating too many meals may just work against you and increase your weight. Read on to find out what the experts have to say...

Eat six to eight meals a day 

Eat to burn! This can be one of the easiest and most reliable ways to ensure fat loss. Digestion itself is a calorie-burning activity. For every calorie you ingest, your body uses some to burn what you are eating. The question is, how do you make this wonderful feature of your body work for you? This is the essential principle behind the practice of frequent eating where eating at shorter intervals (six to eight meals a day or more!) enables your body to use more calories to aid digestion. When you constantly provide fuel to your body, it means you are also tickling your body to work. Keep working, keep burning. This is called the thermogenic effect of food and it is not only an incredibly smart way of losing weight, it also helps you increase your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate).

I like to call this the Internal Workout — because by continually making it work for digestion, you're giving your body a workout. And while you may not be able to see the furious digestive activity going on in your body at any point in time, trust me, your body is working way harder than if you eat at longer intervals (three-to-four meals a day).

- says Consulting Nutritionist and Clinical Dietitian

More meals means less stored fat

Eating six to eight meals a day rather than three, is better because it boosts metabolism, controls blood sugar levels and helps in weight management.

Consuming three meals increases the likelihood that one will start an exercise regime with a low blood sugar level. For instance, if we eat lunch around noon, generally our second meal of the day, we would not have much energy for an optimal, calorie-burning workout in the evening.

On the other hand, if we follow a six-meal-a-day plan and have a small meal around noon and another meal around 3 pm, our blood sugar level would be more stable, providing us with more energy for our workout. Cortisol, a hormone, breaks down body fat. However, if we eat a large, high-calorie meal, cortisol is produced in large quantities, but transports the fat from under the skin to deep within the abdominal cavity. This increases the risk of chronic diseases including abdominal obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Incorporating a six-meal-a-day plan into one's routine decreases the magnitude of cortisol production.

Eating within 30 minutes of every exercise session enables our muscles to maximally replenish the glucose we used during the workout. Consuming another meal two hours after the post-workout meal further enhances post-exercise recovery and replenishment.

Eating every three-to-four hours can ward off hunger and prevent binges that lead to weight gain. It also maintains metabolism and can help regulate proper digestion to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.

When people consume the same number of calories in one single daily meal rather than three, they show significant increase in blood pressure, total cholesterol levels and levels of 'bad' LDL cholesterol.

Eight meals increase our energy levels, accelerate muscle growth, and speed up our metabolism without storing fat. In fact, frequent eating will actually allow us to eat up to 50 per cent more calories without storing an ounce of it as fat.

- says MBBS Doctor and Wellness Expert

Follow your hunger, don't eat mechanically

It is very important to understand the circadian rhythm of the body. As per our ancient science, Ayurveda, it is all about appropriate time for appropriate food in appropriate quantity.

It is also important to understand that the body needs time to utilise the fuels released from our food. Our body has its own natural rhythm which is as follows:

- 12 pm to 8 pm is the ideal period for human digestive capability. So, most nutrients must be consumed at this time.

- 8 pm to 4 am is assimilation time, where the body begins to slow down.

- 4 am to 12 pm is elimination time/detox time, if you are following a proper and disciplined lifestyle.

The body's digestive process slows down after sunset as the energy on that side of the earth is ebbing. So, all the food eaten post sunset becomes difficult to digest. The later you eat, you must make sure to choose your food sensibly.

The thumb rule of eating small meals six to seven times a day, which occidental science suggests is rooted only in the shallow system of addressing the BMR / calorie counting.

Even the book Fit For Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond suggests the vedic principles of food discipline.

Always remember, to never eat by the rule of the thumb. Go by the bio-feedback and follow your hunger needs. Hunger is the need of the body, and appetite for more meals, is the greed of the body. Eating mechanically should never be the case. Eat with awareness as you are not only consuming cosmic energy but cosmic intelligence too.

- says Holistic Health Guru

Our body was always accustomed to being fed at regular intervals 

There is this common perception that I have come up with this radical idea of multiple meals a day. But most of us, apart from the three main meals, have always eaten in between, just that we never thought of those as "meals", a terminology of the new age nutrition. By default, the body was and is accustomed to being fed at regular intervals as evident in newborn babies who need to be fed constantly. At the basic physiological level, this ensures a steady level of blood sugar in our body and sends a signal that 'all is well' and it can continue with its regular processes. On the other hand, not eating for long hours sends the body into a state of panic and it reacts by converting food into fat for any eventuality (read — scarcity of food).

The act of eating often during the day can only happen when communication is established with the stomach, the biggest diet guru on earth. This process is facilitated by the four principles of eating right.

Eating as soon as we are awake kickstarts our metabolic rate and signals our bodies that our nightly fast is broken. Tea, coffee, or any other stimulant, does the exact opposite by suppressing the signals of hunger.

Eating at regular intervals post this reassures our bodies that nourishment is readily available and that it no longer has to convert every meal into future fuel i.e. fat.

Eating more when we are more active and less when less active will happen naturally once we are in tune with our appetite. Everybody is unique so we can't standardise the number of meals a day. For most of us there is the call of hunger every two-three hours. It is up to us whether we want to listen to it or ignore it.

Of course, as all good things come to an end, eating the last meal of the day a few hours prior to bedtime allows our body to digest and assimilate all the nutrients it needs before focusing on its essential function of recovery during our sleep. If the last meal is too heavy or eaten too close to bedtime, the body will be unable to carry out its recovery and thus will leave us feeling uncomfortable the next day.
- says Celebrity nutritionist and author

'Breakfast kickstarts your metabolism' is utter nonsense 

London-based personal trainer Venice A Fulton negates the notion of six-to-eight meals a day and says that one should only eat three good meals a day and no in-between snacks. In his book Six weeks to OMG: Get Skinnier Than All Your Friends. Venice (real name Paul Khanna), claims he can help you lose upto around 10 kgs in six weeks. Venice states that the belief — "each time we eat we boost our metabolism and our chances of losing weight' — is wrong and just wishful thinking". He adds that our snacks have become meals and we eat more than we realise during the in-between-meal times. There is no point in eating six or more times a day because just sticking to three meals also controls our appetite as it releases leptin (a chemical that tells our brain we are full). Venice says in an interview on a video-sharing website, "The belief 'breakfast kickstarts you metabolism' is utter nonsense", and goes on to state that metabolism begins the moment you wake up. A cold bath or shower in the morning helps burn calories too.
- says Personal Trainer and author

Why no more than three meals

- You will end up in the toilet more often.

- You will be fatter because your in-between snacks may be much bigger.

- All that food will make you visit your dentist more often!

Food Tips

Calcium-rich foods for your bones

Include these calcium-rich foods in your diet to maintain healthy bones and joints.

#Milk: Milk is the best source of calcium, not only for children but also for adults. Moreover, the calcium is in a form that can be easily digested and absorbed by your body.

#Yogurt: High in protein and containing healthy bacteria for your gut, yogurt is said to offer 400 mg of calcium in a single serving. Choose non-fattening flavoured yogurt for a satisfying and healthy snack. Besides milk and yogurt but dairy products like cheese is also a good dose of calcium.

#Leafy Greens: Many vegetables, especially the leafy green veggies, are rich sources of calcium. Opt from spinach, turnip, kale, romaine lettuce, celery, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus and mushrooms or toss all of them into a salad.

#Beans: For another rich source of calcium, try kidney beans, white beans or baked beans.

#Herbs and Spices: Herbs like basil, thyme, cinnamon, mint and spices like garlic not only enhance the flavour of your food but also provide calcium to your body.

#Oranges: Citrus fruits like oranges are not only rich in calcium but also contain vitamin D that is essential to absorb the calcium in the body. Have it as a fruit or squeeze out its juice and have it as a breakfast.

Food Tips

HEALTH BENEFITS OF GINGER-GARLIC PASTE 

Garlic ginger paste is commonly used in Indian food and combines two of nature’s most powerful healers.Use garlic-ginger paste in your diet to provide significant health benefits. CLICK LINK FOR THE RECIPE. http://youtu.be/YurbC_hrefQ
Pain Relief and Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Both garlic and ginger have been proven effective in treating pain and inflammation. In a study conducted by the Nursing and Midwifery School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, ginger proved as effective as ibuprofen and mefenamic acid at relieving the pain symptoms related to premenstrual syndrome. Similarly, in a double-blind trial conducted by the Headache Center in Springfield, Missouri, ginger proved effective at relieving migraines when taken at the pre-migraine headache stage, thus preventing sever attacks. Garlic is traditionally used to treat tooth pain, migraines, back pain and a number of other pain-related conditions.
Cancer Treatment and Prevention
Garlic and ginger are both effective at fighting and preventing a wide range of cancer-related issues as well. Rex and Christine Munday, a research team from New Zealand reported in 1999 that garlic causes the digestive system to produce an enzyme that readily attacks cancer. Similarly, a study conducted at the Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition at the University of North Carolina concluded that garlic intake was effective in battling colorectal and stomach cancers. MedLine, a publication by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, suggests that a variety of studies have shown interest in garlic as a treatment for breast, lung, prostate and bladder cancers too. Ginger has also been linked to effective treatment of multiple cancer varieties. According to USA Today, a study conducted by the University of Michigan shows that ginger may reduce the inflammation caused by colon cancer. Professors at Harvard opine that these findings may hint to ginger’s effectiveness as a preventive measure for those at risk of colon cancer.
Nausea 
Ginger can also be used to treat the nausea associated with chemotherapy and radiation treatments. According to the New York Times, the American Society of Clinical Oncologists reported that patients taking ginger experienced roughly 45 percent less nausea and vomiting. The Mayo Clinic conducted a study that found that ginger, when combined with traditional anti-nausea medications, were more effective than either treatment on its own.
Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
There is evidence that ginger and garlic are effective in lowering blood pressure and limiting cholesterol. A study conducted by the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at the Aga Khan University Medical College, concluded that ginger lowers blood pressure by blocking the voltage-dependent calcium channels that regulate blood flow. In another trial, carried out at the Department of Biological Sciences by the Faculty of Science at Kuwait University, ginger proved effective at lowering the blood serum glucose level and cholesterol in diabetic rats; leading the biologists to conclude that ginger can reduce both blood glucose and cholesterol. Similarly, according to the University of Chicago, garlic has been studied as a method of controlling the development of atherosclerosis because it both reduces blood pressure and lowers blood serum cholesterol levels.

Food Tips

After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again!!!

This is interesting. After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

DEPRESSION

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:

Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

ANEMIA

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

BLOOD PRESSURE:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

BRAIN POWER

200 students at a Twickenham school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

CONSTIPATION

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

HANGOVERS

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

HEARTBURN

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

MORNING SICKNESS

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

MOSQUITO BITES:

NERVES

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system..

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort foodlike chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

ULCERS

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chroniclercases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Many other cultures see bananas as a ‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!’