Health benefits of Corn

Health benefits of Corn

Monsoons are incomplete without a dose of lemon rubbed butta.

With bhuttawalas putting up makeshift stalls at almost every corner in the neighbourhood during the rains, isn’t it difficult to pass by them and not be captivated by the delectable aroma of roasted corn. The way a vendor dips half a lemon in chilli-salt powder and then assaults the corn cob with it sets you salivating in anticipation.Apart from the charcoal roasted variety, there are many who like their bhuttas boiled.This delicious snack has great health benefits.

1. Corn is rich in fiber which aids in digestion.One cup of cooked yellow corn provides 3.6 g of dietary fiber that helps to control your hunger and keeps your digestive system functioning smoothly

2. It is a good source of vit c, niacin n folic acid, which helps prevent heart disease.

3. It contains thiamin that helps maintain memory
and other valuable B-complex group of vitamins such as pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and pyridoxine. 

4. It lowers cholesterol and prevents the risk of colon cancer.


5. It is loaded with lutein,zeaxanthin and ß-carotenes (esp the yellow ones), these phytochemicals promote healthy vision.

 

One of most common myth and fear people have is - corn is fattening and sugary.
Truth: An cob of corn has about the same number of calories as an apple and less than one-fourth the sugar. In other words, it can be one of the healthier foods! Just remember: while sweet corn is healthy, some of the fried preparation made out of it or toppings people like to put on it aren’t, but still at times an cob of corn slathered in butter and doused in salt is still a healthy option.

Still waiting go ahead and enjoy this guilt free snack

Enjoy rains with healthy Monsoon snacks

Enjoy rains with healthy Monsoon snacks 

Monsoon means - Rain, Chai and Pakodas ! Isn’t it especially after getting wet.

Who doesn’t love monsoons? The smell of wet earth, watching the raindrops, getting wet and finally unwinding with a steaming cup of chai or kaapi along with a nice hot snack. While it won’t hurt to occasionally give into your temptations of those crisp onion or chilies bajjis , samosas but yes moderation is a must. 

While you are tempted to eat some hot snacks during the rains, why not try some naturally healthy snacks, so for all those who are looking for healthy snack options that you can munch on those rainy days, here are a few:

Corn on the cob: Or bhutta/ makkai. Its fun standing in the rain and watching the corn being grilled over red hot coals! Have it with just salt, red chilli and lime juice.

Peanuts - boiled /roasted . boiled salted peanuts are perfect protein rich snacks for a rainy afternoon.

So give this regular pakoras, smaosas, kachori a twist and try healthy snacks like makai, peanuts

Plums Health Benefits

Plums Health Benefits

Plums also Known as Alu Bokhara.Plums are relatives of the peach, nectarine and almond. They are all considered "drupes," fruits that have a hard stone pit surrounding their seeds. When plums are dried, they are known as prunes.

• Helps in constipation
• cleanse your intestine
• help keep a healthy heart
• maintain blood sugar levels
• help keep wrinkles at bay
• good source of vitamin A and beta carotene.
• good source of vitamin C, which is also a  
  powerful natural antioxidant.

Very important tip..do not peel your plum,you must eat the skin because that is where many of the colour agents and antioxidants are and darker the plum richer it is in antioxidants.

Healthy fasting during Ramdan

Healthy fasting during Ramadan

Ramadan is a month of  blessings, of piety and of enlightenment. Ramadan holds a lot of importance for Muslims because this month gives them an added likelihood of being closer to their creator; Allah. Even if you are generally healthy, recognize that Ramadan will take a toll. Plan your schedule and meals ahead of time in order to make sure you get the nutrients, hydration, and rest that you need.

AVOID

Fried and fatty foods. They cause indigestion, heartburn and weight problems.

Foods containing too much sugar like sweets.

Over-eating especially at suhur.  

Anything hot, spicy, hot or salty. Too much salty food will make your body retain water and give you the feeling of being bloated, while spicy foods also induce thirst.

Drinks with high caffeine content (coffee, tea, chocolate, sodas and even decaffeinated teas and coffees) should be avoided. Caffeine leaches calcium from your system, which means you feel less full all the time.

EAT

Eat more of complex carbs

Due to the long hours of fasting, we should consume slow digesting fibre rich foods i.e Complex carbohydrates esp at suhur so that the food lasts longer making you less hungry (called complex carbohydrates), like grains and seeds like barley, wheat, oats, millet, semolina, beans, lentils, whole meal flour, unpolished rice, etc 

Vegetables like green beans, peas, spinach, beetroot

Fruit with skin, dried fruit especially dried apricots, and prunes, dates, almonds, etc.

Bananas are a good source of potassium, magnesium and carbohydrates.

Drink sufficient water or fruit juices between Iftar and bedtime to avoid dehydration.

Eat suhoor(sehri) just prior to dawn. Yes, it's hard to get up at that hour, which is why it has many benefits and rewards. And this morning meal is generally recognized as the single most important meal of the day. as this is needed to get you through the day. Many people eat a late night meal and sleep through till the dawn prayers. This is not advisable.

Also do some light exercise, such as walking for 15-20 minutes especially in the evening hours.

Enjoy Happy Healthy Ramadan

Eat Healthy stay healthy say no to junk lifestyle

 Eat Healthy stay healthy say no to junk lifestyle

Would you ignore any of this?

Blood Pressure
Cholesterol
Blood Sugar
High Body Mass Index (BMI) (above 23)

Your body comes with key health indicators that let you know how healthy you are and what you can do to prevent problems down the road.

Pick one of the following options to get started

5 or more fruits and veges a day
2hrs or less of screen time, computer games, mobile games
1hr or more of physical activity
0 sugary drinks, more water intake

Eat Healthy stay healthy say no to junk lifestyle

Childhood obesity consequences

Childhood obesity consequences

Obesity among children and adolescents is emerging as a serious health burden. It’s a time bomb waiting to explode once these children become adults, making obesity one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century.

Childhood obesity is associated with a number of health problems such as hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and impaired glucose tolerance that were once confined to adults are now being diagnosed to children.

Likelihood of obese adolescent girls to suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, a syndrome of variable combinations of menstrual irregularity, acne with obesity and insulin resistance.

Childhood obesity is associated with significant other morbidities including gallstone, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, early puberty or menarche, eating disorders, skin infections, orthopedic disorders, asthma and other respiratory disorders.

To ensure that kids grow up fit and slim, parents need to be committed to building their health. We can't collude with our children when it comes to choosing between getting through the daily pile of homework that brings them close to scoring 99 per cent in their finals instead of spending an hour playing badminton in the park outside with them.

Please do think and act now

Is their a difference in obesity beginning in childhood and adulthood

Is their a difference in obesity beginning in childhood and adulthood.

Nowadays with multiple foods easily available, children and also adults hardly like to eat home food. The dietary habits have shifted from eating fruits, vegetables, whole grain preparation, milk and products to caloric dense (either loaded with fat or sugar) highly processed foods and drinks which just have calories and very less nutrition in proportion to the same.

The fat cell theory is one of the mechanisms that explain obesity in children due to overfeeding in early years of life. The fat cells are distributed throughout the body. The depot expands either by increasing the size of fat cell or by increasing their number. According to the theory the percentage of body fat is determined by the number of fat cells which is either influenced by genetic inheritance or eating habits.

The size of fat cells gradually increases if the energy balance is positive. If the energy or caloric intake continues to be high, cell number begins to increase. Once fat cells increase their number seems to be fixed and they cannot be lost even if weight is lost. In general, cells proliferate most rapidly from birth to 2 years of age and during the late childhood and puberty.

During childhood, chronic overfeeding leads to increased number of these fat cells. Fat cells once formed cannot be decreased. In the long run if positive energy balance (you take in more calories than you expend) continues, fat cells would keep increasing in size further leading to obesity in adulthood as well. Thus, good eating habits during childhood are of great importance.

This is the difference in  from obesity beginning in adulthood and childhood.  In adulthood, obesity begins due to increase in the fat cell size and in childhood the number of fat cells also increase.

So please pay attention to what your kids eat, they may not understand now but  will definitely thank you in future for developing healthy eating habits.