The Summer of Cool - Suchitra Krishnamoorthi on her return to innocence

To many it’s not a big deal. Summer is just another season which will make you sweat a lot and then move on to another season. For me weather really has a direct effect on my lifestyle. So what is the key to a happy summer? A wee bit of change in lifestyle can really ease the heat this summer.
So here are things which can keep you cool this summer
• Cotton is the mantra of this season. Yes its time to take out those cotton kurtas which are the bottom of your trunk. Seriously it really makes a lot of difference even you have a 24/7 air conditioning.
• Go fresh! Eat lots of fresh fruits (melons especially, it is also good to loose those extra kilos) Stuff yourself with fruits. Fruits will keep you cool and fresh. Unlike heavy, spicy food which will trend to make you feel drowsy and heavy.
• Liquids please! Many don’t feel like eating much due to the heat ( I am one of them) and hence skip meals. But a hectic day at work can drain you off all the energy. So substitute your meals (if you’re not in the mood for it) with fresh juices, lime soda and get a bit adventurous with some mocktails.
• Avoid alcohol! It can get you all the more dehydrated (Alcohol dehydrates the body in any weather) and also trigger migraines (if you are prone to migraines)
• Water; No am not talking about Deepa Mehta’s movie here. Drink lots of water. You can lot health problems due to the heat by just increasing your water intake itself.
• Carry an umbrella. Yes umbrellas not only protect you from rains but also from sun.
• Always carry a high SPF sunscreen lotion. Lap it generously whenever you get out.

The Summer of Cool - Suchitra Krishnamoorthi on her return to innocence

Over the coming week, we'll be featuring recent interviews with our latest, coolest author,, in which she discusses her book, the first in the exciting new Swapnolock Society series, and other aspects of her busy life.

Here Suchitra reveals how writing was her attempt to return to innocence:

Sometime in late 2007 I decided to take a couple of months off from painting continuously for the last three years. I was exhausted and needed some refueling. My plan was to sit back and do nothing, except perhaps to read gossip magazines (even a novel seemed daunting) watch the sunset, go for a jog on the beach and spend hours at my local spa.

But I couldn't stick to my plan beyond a week, when restlessness crept in and the compulsive creative need for expression took over once again. I decided to revisit a story idea in my head that I had written a synopsis for many years ago. The story of a ten year old girl looking for her father and her trials and tribulations in that journey. As I started to write, I delved into the rich memories of my own growing years in a very interactive and involved housing society in downtown Mumbai. So, many of the characters and incidents from my childhood emerged (my friends will forgive me for using their names I hope).

There was underwear aunty and underwear uncle, jealous aunty, Haldi maami and her cola water, a khadoos uncle who hated dogs, the building bully, the beautiful confident friend from London, the upstairs boy who flirts with my didi and many more. Of course as the story evolved I found that the characters were speaking words to me that came not only from my memory, of events that had actually occurred but also from the magic of my own imagination. I heard them laugh I heard them cry, I felt the breath in their hearts as they whispered their secrets to me. The process has been fascinating and exhilarating.

What is the series about? Why the name Swapnalok Society? Is it like Harry Potter? Is it a children's book? These are the questions I am frequently asked.

Swapnalok Society is a really metaphor for urban utopia. A world in itself. A parallel universe where all the questions and answers are contained within the four walls of the housing complex. Where people are as nice as they are naughty, as comical as they are conniving, and as good as bad can be. It's a place where children run free, a place where dreams come true.

It's a series of books for children and for the child in every adult. Was "The Alchemist" a children’s book? Or "The little prince" a children’s book? I have no answer. I read them both as an adult and I continue to read them even today so maybe I'm an overgrown kid then. Dang! I hate to admit that my mother is right on that one. I also have to admit that when I was writing(the first in the Swapnalok Society series) I kept in mind that my daughter Kaveri should be able to read it in a few years time. So there are no gangsters, no whores, no swear words and no sex scenes.

was supposed to be a one off thing. I finished writing it in six weeks, and dashed if off to a friend of a friend who happened to be in the publishing world. I was delighted at the enthusiastic response I received from Sudeshna Shome Ghose, the Commissioning Editor at Not only did she love she was asking me to develop it into a series called 'Swapnalok Society' and write three more books along the same lines. The challenge was too great for me to not take it up and I must confess here that I have surprised myself. The process of writing is thrilling and more satisfying than I imagined.

Top-10 Healthy Summer Skin Tips

A little dab won't do you. You want to shield yourself from the sun, but how much sunscreen is enough? "Think of those small paper cups used for holding ketchup at Wendy's or other fast-food restaurants," says Atlanta-based skincare specialist Alison O'Neil Andrew, B.S., M.E., A.R.S., president of Health Aesthetic Consultants. "That's the amount of sunscreen that should be used." Rub on 30 minutes before sun exposure and again every 90 minutes. Even water-resistant sunscreens can be rubbed away when toweling off after a swim, so be sure to reapply.

Shield your skin from dryness and sun damage. DRY SKIN accentuates fine lines and wrinkles, so keep your complexion hydrated to prevent it from looking dull and washed-out. You'll get more face time with a daily moisturizer that contains vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. It protects skin from free radicals (environmental enemies such as pollution) and also repairs past sun damage.

If you use SPF 15 foundation after you rub on an SPF 30 sunscreen, don't think you're getting 45 digits worth of protection, says O'Neil Andrew. In fact, you only get the protection of the highest number, in this case SPF 30. But as an extra perk, the moisture provided by the sunscreen will result in a smoother application of the foundation. No more unsightly foundation creases!

Or, go for two-in-one coverage. Look for a moisturizer that contains an SPF of 15 or higher. If you opt for an SPF-free lotion, make sure you also use a sunscreen, no matter what the season. UV rays are a hazard all year, and sun damage is the number-one cause of premature aging.

EAT RIGHT. A healthy diet can work wonders for your skin. Stimulate your complexion's collagen growth with foods rich in antioxidants, including leafy green vegetables, blueberries, cantaloupe and other melons. Salmon and egg whites are excellent sources of protein, which helps nourish skin and repair damage.

Simplify your makeup routine. Stick to the basics: mascara, lip gloss, concealer and switch to a bronzing blush to show off your natural beauty this summer.

Cool tips to beat the summer heat in India

Summer time in India is far from being a pleasant time if you are in the plains and are not heading for the hills. In fact, a typical Indian summer day in a city such as Delhi can feel like an oven that has been put on a really high pre-heated temperature mark! Yet, if you follow some simple tips, you can remain as cool as cucumber. Read on to know more. So, how do you cope with the heat while visiting India this summer? Besides the essentials, like applying tons of sunscreen lotion and wearing loose fitting, preferably cotton clothes, here are a few tips that will keep help you keep your cool in the sweltering Indian summer! Besides drinking plenty of water, drink a lot of fluids to avoid dehydration. The ever-popular nimbu pani or lemonade is an excellent drink to feel refreshed. If you are cautious of drinking lemonade, then the natural thirst-quencher is tender coconut water. Tender coconut water contains sugar, fiber, and proteins along with vitamins and minerals. Eat a lot of salads and fresh fruits that naturally contain water, like water melon – in fact this fruit contains nearly 92% water and up to 14% of vitamin C. This will add to the moisture content that you will lose through sweating. Small amounts of vitamin B and potassium are also found in this fruit. Drink water that is stored in earthenware pots. This method is popular in rural India so that they can beat the heat with cool drinking water. Avoid eating oily food and especially avoid eating cut fruit from vendors as it may have been exposed to flies and dust. For long lasting make-up, avoid moisturizer, especially if you have oily skin, and dust on some loose powder to seal the oil in. Try to get some parking only in shady areas! This will ensure that your car does not heat up while you are out! Keep a hand held fan to use so that you can keep cool when you are outdoors. A parasol is very helpful to remain cool when you go outdoors. A pair of sunglasses will also help tremendously to keep the glare out. You can wear golf caps to avoid getting sun burnt. When you feel warm indoors hang a wet sheet by a window, which is open. This way you will get cool air from the water as it evaporates and blows toward you from the open window. Close your windows before it gets too hot outside. The heat will otherwise get sucked in, especially if the temperature outside is over 77 degrees Fahrenheit. You could keep a spray bottle filled with water in the refrigerator so that you can spray yourself at regular intervals. The evaporation of the water will cool down the blood flowing through your veins. People who live in India enjoy a spicy meal even when it’s hot, since the capsaicin in the hot peppers will make them perspire and when the sweat evaporates it makes one feel quite cool! So do try a spicy dish on a hot summer day in India to experience this magic! If all else fails, why don’t you take a break and head to any of India’s hill stations and refresh yourself with its breathtaking beauty? Got any more tips to remain cool on a hot summer’s day in India? Have you experienced a summer in India and sailed through it without letting it get under your skin? Do let us know how you beat the heat! Summer Care - Beat the heat with Fruit Juices Try out juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple during summer. Consumption of fruits and juices reduces body heat and benefits in controlling body temperature. SUMMER is one of the six seasons of the year. Every two months will make a season or Ritu. Summer is in between the 16th May to 15th July. The strength of the body will be lost during this period. People feel tired and exhausted during the season due to extensive heat rays of the sun, the watery portion (or Kapha) of the body of people, animals, plants, foods and the entire environment will become dry and the vata will become more in the body and the atmosphere. The skin will become dry and may precipitate skin diseases as eczema.. What to Drink and Eat: One must drink the juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple. This is to say foods and juices of sweet and cold and easily digestible must be consumed. The preparations of sugar, barely/green gram, sharbats, buttermilk with sugar candy are to be used daily to cool the body. One must take the food of white rice with meat soup of meat of animals reared in cold areas. The juices of dry grapes, cucumber, kharjura with Dalchini, Cardamom must be drunk along with pure cold water kept in a pot or a freezer or these must be kept at night in moon light and used along with buffalo's milk. Water with parijatha flowers and usheera can also be used for drinking. - One must not take foods of pungent, sour, dry and salty foods. Foods of rice with milk, sugar candy, butter milk, lassie are good for good health. Ghee can be used. - Coffee and tea are not all good as they stimulate the central nervous system. Taking them on empty stomach is harmful as they mix with acid and circulated all over the body producing several diseases. - Alcohol is a hot drink and must not be used druing this season, either avoid it or drink it with plenty of water. REGIMEN One must spend time in a place surrounded by water and green trees, or mountains, with the family and children. Must sleep during day. Swimming is also advisable in a pond, lake or river. Stay exposed to moon's rays at night. Should wear light cotton clothes. Must have minimum coitus during this period. Wear Pearls and flower garlands. Body must be anointed with sandal and usheera paste which cools the body. Cold-water bath is good for the body. Exercise must be limited. Avoid exposure to sun's rays especially during peak hot time. Man is a microcosm of the universe that is macrocosm. Man is made up of Panchamahabutas in mini form and the universe is made up of Panchamahabutas in mega form. Any changes in the environment of nature will have deleterious effects on the health of people. So one must adjust and adopt measures suitable for the particular season for maintaining good health. In this season satvic type of foods is advocated to promote and to preserve good health.

Tips for Easy and Fast Weight Loss:

Tip 1: Must drink minimum 8 glasses of water in a day.

Tip 2: Juices, cream, sugar in your coffee or tea all add up.

Tip 3: Water helps in reducing weight in effective manner.

Tip 4: Have 5 to 6 small meals or snacks in a day.

Tip 5: Make habit of walking. Walk for at least 45 minutes.

Tip 6: Eat more vegetables like zucchini, tomatoes.

Tip 7: Eat only when your stomach wants food.

Tip 8: Avoid package (processed) and convenient foods.

Tip 9: Take stairs instead of taking elevator.

Tip 10: Eat fruit rather than juice, low in calories helps.

Tip 11: Eating whole foods will keep you satisfied for longer period of time than juice.

Tip 12: Eat equal portions of vegetables and grains at dinner. Prefer not eating with a large group.

Tip 13: After every 2 hours, get up and walk around the office or your home for 5 minutes.

Tip 15: A brisk five-minute walk after every two hours will your body active.

Raw Sauerkraut Boosts Immunity And Promotes Good Health

Sauerkraut is an ancient dish made by fermenting and pickling cabbage. Sauerkraut has been used for cooking purpose for thousands of years, plus it is very good for health. Sauerkraut word has been derived from the German language and it means sour plants. Sauerkraut has been used for many years in China and European places. As of date sauerkraut is popularly used in European cooking and Chinese dishes. The Korean version of sauerkraut is referred to as Kimchee.

Originally, making sauerkraut was a way of preserving vegetables, especially cabbage, to store them without refrigeration in just cool places.

What exactly is sauerkraut?
Sauerkraut is simply chopped cabbage fermented in cabbage juice and pickled with salt. Other vegetables as well as spices are sometimes added for taste and variety. Fermenting the cabbage for three to seven days makes it soft, sweet, tangy, pickles and very delicious. Sauerkraut is usually used for garnishing dishes with meat and it is also added in salads and sandwiches. Sauerkraut is now sold commercially in the markets, however, you can even make it at home.

Health Benefits of sauerkraut

Sauerkraut, when in raw form, is extremely good for health. It is a very good source of Vitamin and several other nutrients. Raw sauerkraut has more lactobacilli than that present in yogurt. Before refrigerators were invented sauerkraut proved to be a good source of nutrients during harsh winters. Sea captains used to take sauerkraut on their voyages as it was good for health and is also a good cure against scurvy.

1. May be helpful in fighting CANCER
Definite research is yet to be conducted to establish the connection between sauerkraut and slow cancer growth. However, many diet experts have expressed their opinion that sauerkraut can be extremely beneficial in curing cancerous growth. Fermentation of cabbage produces a substance called isothiocyanates which can help avoid the growth of any kind of . Sauerkraut is rich in isothiocyanates. Women who eat raw sauerkraut on daily basis have less incidence of breast cancer as compared to women who do not eat sauerkraut.

2. Helps prevent diarrhea:
Diarrhea is caused due to an extremely upset digestion, and it is very tiring for the patient. Sauerkraut is made with cabbage and it is extremely rich in dietary fiber. Fiber is essential for proper health of the digestive system. Sauerkraut is rich in lactic acid which is good for digestion. Lactic acid improves the health of bowels and intestines thus helping in treating diarrhea fast.

3. Good bacteria:
Yogurt beats all food for the presence of good bacteria in it; however, the good news is that Sauerkraut also has those good bacteria in very good number. The main function of the good bacteria is to enhance the functioning of intestines and bowels and make them healthy. Healthy bowels and intestines results in a good digestive system which helps avoid many digestion disorders. Having Sauerkraut on daily basis will help you keep many digestion related disorders like IBS or constipation away.

4. VITAMINC
Sauerkraut is rich in many nutrients, but the most prominent one of all is Vitamin C. vitamin C improves the IMMUNITY and helps avoid many infections. Have sauerkraut everyday and you will be blessed with a super cool immunity which will keep you fit and always on the move.

Tips To Healthy Eating

Experts agree the key to healthy eating is the time-tested advice of balance, variety and moderation. In short, that means eating a wide variety of foods without getting too many calories or too much of any one nutrient. These 10 tips can help you follow that advice while still enjoying the foods you eat.

1. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and no single food supplies them all. Your daily food selection should include bread and other whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods. How much you should eat depends on your calorie needs. Use the Food Guide Pyramid and the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels as handy references.
   
2. Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Surveys show most Americans don't eat enough of these foods. Do you eat 6-11 servings from the bread, rice, cereal and pasta group, 3 of which should be whole grains? Do you eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables? If you don't enjoy some of these at first, give them another chance. Look through cookbooks for tasty ways to prepare unfamiliar foods.
   
3. Maintain a healthy weight. The weight that's right for you depends on many factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other illnesses. But being too thin can increase your risk for osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities and other health problems. If you're constantly losing and regaining weight, a registered dietitian can help you develop sensible eating habits for successful weight management. Regular exercise is also important to maintaining a healthy weight.
   
4. Eat moderate portions. If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it's easier to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Did you know the recommended serving of cooked meat is 3 ounces, similar in size to a deck of playing cards? A medium piece of fruit is 1 serving and a cup of pasta equals 2 servings. A pint of ice cream contains 4 servings. Refer to the Food Guide Pyramid for information on recommended serving sizes.
   
5. Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you're very hungry, it's also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but don't eat so much that your snack becomes an entire meal.
   
6. Reduce, don't eliminate certain foods. Most people eat for pleasure as well as nutrition. If your favorite foods are high in fat, salt or sugar, the key is moderating how much of these foods you eat and how often you eat them.
   Identify major sources of these ingredients in your diet and make changes, if necessary. Adults who eat high-fat meats or whole-milk dairy products at every meal are probably eating too much fat. Use the Nutrition Facts panel on the food label to help balance your choices.
   Choosing skim or low-fat dairy products and lean cuts of meat such as flank steak and beef round can reduce fat intake significantly.
   If you love fried chicken, however, you don't have to give it up. Just eat it less often. When dining out, share it with a friend, ask for a take-home bag or a smaller portion.
   
7. Balance your food choices over time. Not every food has to be "perfect." When eating a food high in fat, salt or sugar, select other foods that are low in these ingredients. If you miss out on any food group one day, make up for it the next. Your food choices over several days should fit together into a healthy pattern.
   
8. Know your diet pitfalls. To improve your eating habits, you first have to know what's wrong with them. Write down everything you eat for three days. Then check your list according to the rest of these tips. Do you add a lot of butter, creamy sauces or salad dressings? Rather than eliminating these foods, just cut back your portions. Are you getting enough fruits and vegetables? If not, you may be missing out on vital nutrients.
   
9. Make changes gradually. Just as there are no "superfoods" or easy answers to a healthy diet, don't expect to totally revamp your eating habits overnight. Changing too much, too fast can get in the way of success. Begin to remedy excesses or deficiencies with modest changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. For instance, if you don't like the taste of skim milk, try low-fat. Eventually you may find you like skim, too.
   
10. Remember, foods are not good or bad. Select foods based on your total eating patterns, not whether any individual food is "good" or "bad." Don't feel guilty if you love foods such as apple pie, potato chips, candy bars or ice cream. Eat them in moderation, and choose other foods to provide the balance and variety that are vital to good health.

Figuring Out Fat

With so much information available about the effects of dietary fat on health, understanding the role fat plays in a well-balanced diet can be pretty confusing. To cut through the confusion, it's important to remember that fat is an essential nutrient that everyone needs to stay healthy.

Fat is a valuable energy source and carries fat-soluble vitamins needed for proper growth and development. It also contributes important taste and textural qualities that are part of enjoying food.

Too much fat, however, can increase the risk of heart disease, obesity and other health problems. When moderating fat intake, it's important to consider these points:

• Health authorities recommend Americans consume 30 percent or less of their total daily calories from fat, with 10 percent or less of those calories from saturated fat. Remember, the 30 percent refers to your total fat intake over time, not single foods or meals. Use the following chart to guide your fat intake.
  
• If you eat this Total fat Total saturated
  number of calories per day fat per day
  per day: (grams) (grams)
  
  1,600 53 or less 18 or less
  2,000 65 or less 20 or less
  2,200 73 or less 24 or less
  2,500 80 or less 25 or less
  
  
• Use the Nutrition Facts panel on the food label to help determine how much fat is in foods. Remember, it's the total fat intake over time that's important. A food high in fat can be part of a healthy diet as long as it's balanced with other lower-fat food choices.
  
• All fats are a combination of saturated, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. Each of these types of fats have different effects on the body, but all contain nine calories per gram.
  
• Blood cholesterol levels are influenced by family history, weight, age, smoking, physical activity and eating habits. Studies have shown that diets which are too high in certain saturated fatty acids and dietary cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol.

• The Food Guide Pyramid

  The Food Guide Pyramid is a practical tool to help you make food choices that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Using the Pyramid enables you to eat a variety of foods daily so that you can get the nutrients you need.

  To make the most of the Pyramid, you need to know what counts as a serving.

  • Food Group--Serving Size
    
  • Bread--1 slice bread, 1\2 bagel or English muffin, 1 ounce ready-to-eat cereal, 1\2 cup cooked cereal, rice or pasta, or 5-6 small crackers
    
  • Vegetable--1 cup raw, leafy vegetables, 1\2 cup cooked or chopped raw vegetables or 3\4 cup vegetable juice
    
  • Fruit--1 medium piece of fruit, 1\2 cup mixed fruit or 3\4 cup fruit juice
    
  • Milk--1 cup milk or yogurt, 11\2 ounces natural cheese or 2 ounces process cheese
    
  • Meat--2 - 3 ounces cooked lean meat, poultry or fish (about the size of a deck of cards)
    
  • Other foods which count as 1 ounce meat: 1\2 cup cooked dry beans, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons peanut butter or 1\3 cup nuts

  If You Want To Know More

  A nutrition expert can help you develop a personal action plan for improving your eating habits while keeping the fun in food. A registered dietitian (R.D.) is an authority on food, nutrition and health, and can provide valuable information and advice.

  To locate a registered dietitian in your area, ask your physician, or call the consumer nutrition hot line (800/366-1655) of the National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics, the public education center of The American Dietetic Association. Registered dietitians are available to answer your food and nutrition questions Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. central time. In addition, you can listen to nutrition messages in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. central time.

  While it is a well known fact that rosemary can be found in a variety of culinary dishes, you may not realize that it can be used for health benefits as well. In fact rosemary has quite a history for medical uses. Rosemary has been known for treating digestive disorders and headaches.

  

  The best way to ensure that you are getting rosemary in your daily diet is to incorporate the herb into your foods. For example, you can add rosemary leaves to stews and soups as well as fish and meat to not only add flavor but to help your health as well. You can also add the leaves of rosemary to beef, lamb and pork dishes to help speed up digestion if you suffer from any digestive disorders.

  Rosemary leaves can also be added to tea to give it a boost in flavor as well as omelets and frittatas. You can invigorate the senses by adding rosemary to chicken as well. This wonderful herb can also butter your bread if you mix the leaves with some olive oil.

  The herb can also reduce the effects of Alzheimer’s disease because it aids brain circulation. If you suffer from skin conditions, you can use rosemary to help promote blood flow and also use the aromatic plant as an antibacterial.

  Introducing rosemary into your diet can also help your gallbladder by producing higher amounts of bile and it can also help with IBS symptoms like bloating and intestinal cramping. Because rosemary can flush out yeast causing bacteria’s it is great for fighting yeast infections. Due to the fact that it reacts as a fungicidal it can also destroy cells infected with yeast and it destroys candida yeast as well.

  By making the decision to add rosemary to your daily diet you will find that you will start noticing that you feel better and your body will thank you for it in the long run. It does not require a major diet change as you can simply add a little of the herb to your tea and some food dishes as well.

  Durian is the Healing King of All Fruits

  Durian is a little known fruit from Asia that has an extremely pungent smell and an amazingly sweet taste. The durian fruit has an unpleasant smell that many hotels in the areas where durian grows will not allow their guests to have the fruit in their rooms. But those who have the courage to bear the smell are quickly won over by its beautiful taste and amazing health benefits.

  Unlike most fruits the durian is left to fall from the tree as this is a sign that it is ripe to eat. People in the local villages of South East Asia, where the durian is most common, call it “The King of Fruits,” and they will clear the floor under the trees near to harvest time and then camp near them for up to two months just to make sure they get the fruit at its peak. This is a truly exceptional and healing fruit.

  

  Health Benefits of Durian

  Traditionally the durian fruit was seen as a powerful aphrodisiac, while women would eat the ashes from burnt durian skins to help them recover after child birth. But concoctions made from the leaves of the durian tree were also used to help reduce swelling and cure skin disease. More recently nutritionists have claimed that the durian fruit can help lower cholesterol and cleanse the blood as well as cure jaundice and alleviate fevers.

  This is the secret health tip that experts even say that you can rid yourself of yeast infections such as thrush through eating the durian fruit. This is because of the durian’s high iron content that helps the white blood cells in our body make specific chemicals that kill off the infection.

  The durian is also packed with amino acids as well as Vitamins B, C and E and many people are even comparing the sweet custard like centre of the durian fruit to the goji berry for its high levels of anti oxidants. These anti oxidants help slow down the destruction of cells from free radicals such as pollution and smoking; in doing so, they decrease the effects of aging on the skin giving you a younger more refreshed look.

  Among the amino acids found inside the durian is tryptophan. Tryptophan is essential for making and maintaining serotonin levels in the body. Serotonin is the hormone in the body that regulates our happiness. People with low serotonin levels tend to have short tempers, are often moody and suffer from depression. This means that not only will eating the durian fruit help keep your body running smoothly but it will also increase your general happiness and well being.

  Benefits of Eating Bananas

  While monkeys are notorious for eating bananas, one may not realize that there are additional benefits for humans that eat this delicious fruit regularly. Let us take a look at this yellow confection and see the benefits from this fruit that you may be missing out on.

  Research has proven that due to the sucrose, glucose and fructose natural sugars, that banana’s can offer you up that pick up that you may find that you need throughout the course of your day. Women can appreciate this treat as it is beneficial to regulating blood glucose that will help with those mood swings during PMS. Because this fruit is high in iron, it is also ideal for those that suffer from anemia.

  Those who suffer from high blood pressure will also be able to rejoice in the fact that by eating a healthy amount of this yellow fruit that they will be able to beat high blood pressure due to the amount of potassium combined with low salt. Due to this fact, the FD has allowed for banana advertising to state that eating this delight can reduce chances of stroke and blood pressure issues.

  Know any students? In recent study researchers found that 200 students that consumed bananas for breakfast, snacks and even lunch were able to successfully boost their brain power for better concentration. By consuming this fruit that is full of potassium, they were able to stay more alert and also were able to learn more.

  They are also good for what ails such as constipation. Due to the fact that this delicacy is chock full of fiber, it can help with restoring the natural movement of the bowels which is a natural laxative and therefore overall better for the body. This produce is also helpful with hangovers if the banana is made into a milkshake with a touch of honey added. This can help sooth the upset stomach that occurs and also will build the blood sugar back up in a natural way. This is also true for heartburn.

  Mom’s to be can also consume this healthy snack or breakfast in order to help avoid that inevitable morning sickness that goes hand in hand with pregnancy as it will help to keep sugar levels up. This is also a great way to provide necessary nutrients to the unborn child.

  In conclusion, there are multiple benefits to introducing bananas into your daily diet either as part of a meal or a healthy snack in between. There are other added benefits in addition to the ones listed here. Make sure to enjoy your banana!

  Drink plenty of water – On an average, a person should drink 6 to 8 glasses (1.2 liters) of water every day to avoid getting dehydrated. The body demands more water when we work hard or the weather is warm. However, one should refrain from drinking soft and fizzy drinks, which contain high amount of sugar. We lose some amount of water every day from our body by way of perspiration, respiration and urination. Therefore, we should replace this to stay healthy.

  Do not skip breakfast – Skipping breakfast is bad for health. Breakfast is an essential meal of the day, which not only gives us the energy we require through the day but also a lot of minerals and vitamins we need for good health. There have been instances which suggest that people can even control their weight by eating breakfast. Therefore, for a healthy start to the day one should take a glass of fruit juice along with a bowl of wholegrain cereal with some low-fat milk.

  Eat lots of fruits and vegetables – Everyone is aware of the fact that we should eat more vegetables and fruits. However, most of us do not eat enough. We should try and eat minimum 5 different kinds of vegetables and fruits every day. We can also add up the portions in a day. For example, we can have a banana or a glass of juice along with cereal at breakfast and a mixture of fruit and vegetable salad at lunch. As an afternoon snack, you can have a pear and for your evening meal vegetables or a portion of peas.

  Eat less salt – Adults – and children over 11, on an average, should not consume more than 6gm of salt in a day. People do not add salt to their food and think that they do not eat much salt. However, the food we buy already contains enough salt, like soups, ready meals, sauces and breakfast cereals. So, without realizing you could actually be eating too much salt.

  Low on Sugar – Most people across the world eat a lot of sugar. All of us should try and eat minimum foods that contain added sugar, such as biscuits, cakes and sweets. We should also drink less sugary and soft drinks. Frequent consumption of sugary foods, especially between meals, can cause tooth decay. Most of the foods that have added sugar are high in calories. Therefore, cutting down on sugar intake can help control weigh.

  Meals should be based on Starchy foods – Starchy foods such as potatoes, pasta, rice, cereals and bread are an essential part of a healthy diet. Whenever you can, try to choose wholegrain varieties of starchy foods. They are a major source of different nutrients and a good source of energy in our diet. Majority of us should eat more starchy foods. With each of the main meals, try to include at least one starchy food.

  Intake of fish – Fish contains many minerals and vitamins and is an excellent source of protein. Two portions of fish daily are what a person should aim for. You can select from canned, frozen or fresh fish – but keep in mind that smoked and smoked fish can be high in salt. Anyone who eats fish regularly should choose to eat as wide a variety as possible.

  Be active and have a healthy weight – It is not advisable to be either overweight or underweight. Being overweight can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease. At the same time, being underweight can also affect your health. You can take advice from your dietician in case you are worried about your weight. However, if you think you just need to lose a little weight, the main things to remember are eat less, eat right and be active. Physical activity helps control weight and is also a good way of using up extra calories.

  n the United States, The US Department Of Agriculture has devised a Food Guide Pyramid, which serves as a guide for people to figure out how to eat healthy. The Food pyramid guide features a chart full of vertical stripes that represent the five major food groups, plus oils and fats. The color stand for: Green – vegetables, red – fruits; yellow – oils and fats; Blue – milk and dairy products; Orange – grains; Purple – meat, fish, beans and nuts. Here are other pertinent facts about the food guide.

  What The Food Pyramid Speaks Of

  In 2005, the US Department of Agriculture revised the food pyramid, as they wanted to show American citizens a better way of how to eat healthy. The food pyramid has other communications for all of us. It tells us to eat a wide variety of foods, as well as eat less of some foods and more of others. In the illustrated food pyramid guide, eating a wide variety of food indicates that a well-balanced diet is achieved when you include all the food groups. This means that you ought to have foods of every color, everyday. In the illustrated food guide, you will see that as the colored begin to become thinner as they reach the top, this shows that there is a difference between food groups, even though they all belong to a certain food group.

  Food Serving Samples

  The food pyramid guide offers a few ideas for achieving a well-balanced and satisfying diet. Her are some food serving suggestions.

  * Grains: Grains are in general measured in ounces. An ounce of whole grains could be reminiscent of 1 a slice of bread, half a cup of cooked cereal, half a mug of pasta and 1 cup of cold cereal. 4 to 8 year-old children require at least 4 to 5ounces of whole grains everyday, while 9-13 year-olds need at least 5 ounces.

  * Vegetables: Dark green and orange veggies are best for consumption. Vegetable helpings are by and large measured in cups, Children from 4- 8 years of age need with just one and a half cups of vegetables everyday, while 9 to 13 year olds need 2 ½ cups of veggies each day.

  * Fruits: Sweet, juicy fruits should share in the daily diet. Children from 4- 8 year-old need at least 1 cup of fruit each day, while 9-13 year old adolescents need to consume at least half a cup of fruit each day.

  * Milk And Calcium-Rich Food: Calcium is a mineral that helps strengthen bones, and stop osteoporosis and different bone deficiencies. 4-8 year-old kids need at least 2 cups of milk everyday, while 9-13 year olds need to have at least 3 cups of milk daily. Apart from milk, you can likewise exchange cheese, yogurt, calcium-fortified orange juice and others.

  * Milk, Beans, Fish And Nuts: An ounce equivalent of this group would be equal to 1 ounce of fish, poultry and fish, ¼ cup cooked dry beans, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon peanut butter and half an ounce of nuts and seeds.

  Keith has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in health matters you can also check out his latest video on Personal Injury Lawyer.

Best Diet Tips

Balanced Diet, Health And Nutrition

A BALANCED DIET comprising of diverse and healthy foods is key to promoting good health. After all, we are what we eat - Research continues to prove that eating healthy food promotes good health and unhealthy food habits lead to a diseased body. Foods contain vital nutrients that aid our body’s metabolic function. However, a lack of consumption of these nutrients or feeding upon the wrong kinds of food leads to an accumulation of toxins within the body, resulting in chronic diseases in the long run.
A nutritious diet while ensuring overall well being, helps to maintain a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), reduces the risk of several debilitating diseases like cancer, cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, osteoporosis and stroke. Thus a nutritious & healthy diet is important in the prevention and cure of various diseases.

Diet for diseases
There are several health conditions that can be caused or aggravated by the food we eat. However, there are also several foods that you can include in your diet to help prevent or treat diseases. It is simplest to draw up a balanced diet chart as this will ensure that you get all the nutrients you require on a regular basis. A nutrition diet chart is a diet chart that helps you to keep a track of your nutritional diet requirements and is a very useful tool when drawing up a personalized diet plan.

Heart diseases: Coronary heart diseases are a very common health problem and they are closely linked to a diet that is high in unhealthy fats. Decreasing one’s intake of fatty foods, especially fried food, will go a long way in preventing heart diseases. On the other hand, a healthy diet chart with an adequate amount of high fiber foods is seen to prevent heart diseases. People who suffer from heart problems are often advised to follow a specific high fiber diet for heart diseases that is rich in raw fruits and vegetables.

Diabetes: While genetics does play an important role in the onset of diabetes, an unhealthy lifestyle and bad eating habits are also contributing factors. A diabetes diet chart is a diet plan that is high in fiber and low in fat with a minimum amount of saturated fats. A Vegan diet is very effective in controlling this problem.

Anemia: Anemia is generally caused by nutritional deficiencies and is most commonly associated with a diet that is low in iron. Iron rich foods such as green leafy vegetables should be included in a diet for anemia.

In addition to these diseases, conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gout, and even cancer are affected by the individual’s diet. There are several diet plans such as the Alkaline Acid Diet plan, the Low Glycemic Index diet and the DASH diet plan that are meant to treat specific medical conditions.

Healthy Food Groups
Since no single food group can nourish the body with all the vital ingredients it requires, it is important that we consume a variety of healthy foods to derive the nutrition our body needs. There are five main food groups, they are:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Cereals and Pulses
• Dairy
• Poultry, Fish and Meat products

A healthy balanced diet of these five food groups ensures essential vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. The food group serving size will depend upon various factors like age, activity level, body size and gender. It is also important that one eat a variety of healthy foods from within and across the food groups. As some foods from within a food group provide more nutrients than others. This will ensure that one gets the maximum recommended nutrition from the food group; besides the food variety will make for an interesting meal.

Diet for weight loss
Problems related to excessive weight gain are commonplace as we tend to lead a sedentary lifestyle and have unhealthy eating habits. People with excessive weight gain often try to crash diet in the hope of obtaining a svelte figure. However, this type of a restrictive diet chart for weight loss is extremely unhealthy and not easy to stick to and so the individual succumbs to temptation and goes back to his/her unhealthy eating habits. The cycle of repeated trial and failure can leave the individual disillusioned and finally the person stops trying to lose weight. However, a simple and easy weight loss diet chart can work wonders for overweight and obese people. It is best to follow a daily diet chart as this will help you to stick to your diet. In order to balance a diet chart, it is important to take into account your physical activity levels as a person who exercises daily will have a higher calorie need as compared to a person who leads a sedentary lifestyle.

You can include healthy snacks in your daily diet charts as this will allow you to snack without having to worry about excessive weight gain. It is important to have realistic goals and dieticians often suggest that overweight individuals should not concentrate on weight loss but rather try to follow a healthy diet plan. Once a person has decided that sticking to a healthy diet chart on a daily basis is their main goal, they will not unnecessarily fret over their progress in terms of weight loss. This will allow a person to lose weight at a steady pace with a higher chance of sticking to their diet plan. Once an individual has lost a considerable amount of weight, they can then use a follow-up diet chart to ensure that the weight loss is permanent. Keep in mind that a healthy balanced diet will lead to a slimmer and healthier you!

In conclusion, it must be noted that allopathic medicine treats the symptoms rather than the root cause of the disease, which is usually caused by wrong eating habits leading to an accumulation of toxins within the system. Whereas a nutritious healthy diet can rectify underlying causes of diseases and restore one to wholeness of mind and body. Once we realize the connection between a wholesome balanced diet and good health, our food will be our medicine and maintaining good health will be a matter of making the right food choices and leading a healthy lifestyle.

In the beginning it's barely noticeable, but after a few months pass by of little to no use, it begins to take longer to get going and start up. Then of course the real problems set in and you have to take it to the mechanic (or doctor) to be fixed.

I think you get the point, but the fact is that many joint ailments or pain, including many cases of arthritis, can be tied in part to a stagnant body.

It's also not shocking why many people who are over weight tend to get arthritis as well.

We all know that nutrition plays a paramount role in maintaining proper body weight and health, but exercise often gets greatly overlooked. Without moving your body sufficiently each day you are allowing toxins to build up.

These toxins can lead to both being overweight and disease.

In order to protect your joints, health, and metabolism in the long run it is important that you follow a few general rules in terms of how you exercise:

1. Break a Sweat

What I mean by this is that your exercise routine should be challenging enough to cause you to begin to sweat. This doesn't mean you need sweat pouring off your body (which is not necessarily healthy), but you should be able to visibly see sweat forming on your skin.

This is important for 2 reasons. The first one is that it lets you know that you have achieved the right workout intensity. The second is that by sweating you are allowing built up toxins to be released from your body.

2. 80% Compound Movements

If at least 8 out of your 10 exercises aren't compound movements (multi-joint) then you are missing out on a lot of benefits. When you use multi-joint exercises like ...

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Stress or hypertension is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment; it has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence, stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a new awareness and an exciting new perspective. As a negative influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. Discover the novel way of combating stress through our self help tips and diet for stress, a tailor made diet and lifestyle change program as per your individual body type (which also determines your response to stress) to help your body to combat stress and repair the damage done. Stress Reducing Diet Tips by Lifecentury for reducing stress on your own: Learn to Relax throughout the day - take mini-breaks. Sit down and get comfortable. Slowly take a deep breath in, hold it, and then exhale very slowly. Practice Acceptance- Many people get distressed over things they feel they can’t accept. Often these are things that are not under their control, like someone else’s feelings, beliefs, or behavior. Get Organized - Develop a realistic schedule of daily activities that includes time for work, sleep, relationships, and recreation. Try Physical Activity - Physical activity has been proven to provide relief from stress. Develop a regular exercise program to help reduce the effects of stress before it becomes distress. Try walking, aerobics, jogging, dancing, and swimming. Balance Work and Fun - Balance school and work demands with some fun and private time. Hobbies are good antidotes for daily pressures. Unwind by taking a quiet stroll, watching a sunset, enjoying time spent with friends or simple activities. Watch your eating habits - Stress Reducing Diet : Eat sensibly a balanced diet suitable to yourbody type. Avoid non-prescription drugs and minimize your alcohol use. Add wonderful anti-oxidants in your daily diet – Anti-oxidants are easily available in dark color fruits and vegetables. Basically anti-oxidants lower blood pressure and also detoxify the body, which in turn helps in stress management. Best Diet Tip No. 1: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages. People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need. "If you don't like plain water, try adding citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories," says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Best Diet Tip No. 2: Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away. Start by focusing on getting the recommended 5-9 servings of FRUTIS AND VEGATABLESeach day. "It sounds like a lot, but it is well worth it, because at the same time you are meeting your fiber goals and feeling more satisfied from the volume of food," says chef Laura Pansiero, RD. You're also less likely to overeat because fruits and vegetables displace fat in the diet. And that's not to mention the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. More than 200 studies have documented the disease-preventing qualities of phytochemicals found in produce, says Pansiero. Her suggestion for getting more: Work vegetables into meals instead of just serving them as sides on a plate. "I love to take seasonal vegetables and make stir-fries, frittatas, risotto, pilafs, soups, or layer on sandwiches," Pansiero says. "It is so easy to buy a variety of vegetables and incorporate them into dishes." Best Diet Tip No. 3: Consider whether you're really hungry. Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger, suggests Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry? "Hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it," she says. When you're done eating, you should feel better -- not stuffed, bloated, or tired. "Your stomach is only the size of your fist, so it takes just a handful of food to fill it comfortably," says May. Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullness. Best Diet Tip No. 4: Be choosy about nighttime snacks. Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax. "Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit," says American Dietetic Association spokesperson Malena Perdomo, RD. Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream. Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-cal snack, try a cup of zero-calorie tea, suggests Perdomo.