Tomato - Fat Zero , Weight watchers check out..

People say that 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' but I would substitute  tomato for apple in this saying. A century ago the tomato was considered poisonous and acidic. Today we know that it actually has the most amazing health properties and is alkaline in nature. Did you know that tomato is actually a fruit and not a vegetable?

Due to its highly versatile preparation options - Tomato soup,puree,salsa,gravy,chopped in salads and as a juice,cooked in your vegges,used in pulaos, dals etc.- It can easily be included as part of your diet.

A weight watchers delight, the tomato has zero fat content. The fruit has a very powerful anti-oxidant called lycopene that cuts the risk of prostrate cancer. In fact the cooking process released more lycopene. Due to its powerful anti-oxidant content, the tomato is very good for cardio-vascular diseases.

The vitamin C content in tomato increases immunity levels and keep common colds abd coughs at bay. It also helps in cases of congestion of liver (protects liver from Cirrhosis) as well as dissolving gallstones.

The tomato is a treasure house of nutrients, including vitamin A for skin and eyes,potassium for muscle cramps and folic acid. Tomatoes are especially recommended for people with high Homocysteine levels because of all these nutrients

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Movie popcorn not good for health

Ready to make and eat stuff is what we gorge on these days. Our good old snack 'Popcorn' also fell in this line. You get ready-to-pop kernels with butter smeared sumptuously.

When you put them on pan, your heart pops as you see the kernels pop up in beautiful patterns. At the cinemas, you finish off a big pack of it, followed by an ice cream, a cool or got beverage. But what you had finished off contains large amounts of sodium and saturated fat, and the butter flavor is not really butter.

Popcorn which formed an essential selling stuff was part of a South American menu some thousands of years ago. Pop kernels are stores of starch, sugar and water, the energy a plant needs to grow. The water in it turns into stream when heated and pops the corn.

The early populations that had to indulge in quite a lot of physical activity, burnt up the energy easily. But for people like, say present generation, whose physical activity is restricted, popcorn is very rich snack. Popcorn energy is simply stored body fat. Movie popcorn is still more harmful.

 The XL size super pack sold at cinemas and shopping malls smells heavenly, crunchy. Though it is softer than sugar-rich boiled sweets, store-bought pack of junk, it should be consumed with some limitations.

 This fluffy delight can be consumed if you skip the butter and stick to healthy, old fashioned, air-popped corn. You can air-pop raw kernels in a cooker, with a spot of vegetable oil. Add only natural salt. This air popped popcorn is a good alternative to other snacks such as potato chips, candy or cookies.

According to the experts, microwave pack, no doubt contains less fat, but the inner lining of the bag has cancer causing chemicals that leach into the pops and its savory aroma is linked to lung disease called popcorn-workers lung - which is under intense study.

 Corn as a Vegetable:

Actually corn is a natural vegetable. Raw corn kernels are rich in fibre which is good for the system. They are low in calories too. One cup of air popped corn has 30 calories. Contains no saturated fat, trans-fats or cholesterol. Besides fibre and protein, it has traces of manganese, folate, niacin, vitamins, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, copper, and selenium.

Which is better, home made air popped popcorn or the pack of popcorn you munch at the theatre or shopping malls. Now you decide your choice.

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Women and Silent Heart Attack

We generally feel that men are more prone to heart attacks. Think again to think so! Recently statistics show that  women are nearly as much at risk of heart diseases and fatal attacks as men.

There could be many reasons for this - complaints in women often go undiagnosed until it is too late for effective treatment.

Studies show that heart diseases kills six times as many women than breast cancer. Also the number of women affected by heart disease is growing with changing lifestyles. Women today cope with increasing pressures. Coronary Artery disease (CAD) is mostly seen in post-menopausal women. Diabetic women get affected even at younger age.

What is CAD? 

CAD is a condition where cholesterol deposits at the lining of the coronary arteries that supply to the heart. This narrows arteries and obstructs blood flow to the heart. The blocked artery thus causes a heart attack.

Interventional cardiologists opine that unknown to many people, heart disease is the number one killer of women and often acts differently than the way it affects men. Risk factors include diabetes, hypertension, hyper lipidemia,smoking,obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. Family history also plays a role. During heart attacks women experience nausea, vomiting,indigestion, shortness of breadth or extreme fatigue- but surprisingly many times no chest pain.

Unfortunately these symptoms are easy to attribute to something other than the heart. Women are also more likely than men to have 'silent heart attacks' - an attack without any acute symptoms, that are diagnosed only later when subsequent cardiac symptoms are re-evaluated  and tests are performed.

Before menopause, the estrogen hormone plays a vital role in protecting and maintaining adequate levels of 'good' high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol, which inturn protects the body's overall cardio vascular health.

Estrogen also works to relax the smooth muscle of arteries helping to maintain normal blood pressure and prevent some forms of blood vessel damage.

There are many factors that can contribute in increasing risks of heart diseases in post-menopausal women - diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are the main culprits. Other factors include stressful lifestyle, women with a family of the disease, ones who do not indulge in any physical activity and those who use birth control pills indiscriminately. 

What should we do?

Dietary changes, weight loss, lipid lowering medications, quitting smoking, and under taking regular exercise are important lifestyle measures. Heart attacks in women often strike without any warning, so make sure we go for regular health checks.

Prevention is better way to deal with health conditions. 

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Make your nails stronger...

Many faces problems with brittle nails. Besides good nourishment, a little more care is what is needed.
When your nails are too brittle, soak the fingertips for 10 mins in warm pure almond oil or olive into the nails. Then massage the oil into the nails.

The best source of heathier nails is your diet. So include adequate protein and calcium in your diet, such as skimmed milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, egg, fish and sprouts. You can even dissolve a teapoon of gelatin in a little boiling water, then cool it and to fruit juice. You can do so for about ten days. So instead of applications, nourish yourself with balanced diet.

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How important is Breakfast

Eat Breakfast like a king, lunch like a Prince and dinner like a Beggar, so goes on old saying. But in today's world of hurry, breakfast is the biggest casualty.

People often ask as to why breakfast is important. The answer lies in the word 'breakfast' itself. The word originated from the fact that after dinner, we do not eat whole night (minimum 8 hours) and this is a long time for a body to go without food. During daytime, we keep on eating and munching after every 3-4 hours. But the duration between dinner and breakfast is often long, sometimes even 12 hours. So it is equivalent to a fast. Hence the meal that is taken in the morning is breakfast.

Those who avoid breakfast are less productive and less efficient than those who eat breakfast. Children who regularly eat breakfast think faster and clearer, solve problems more easily and are less likely to be restless and irritable early in the day. So the message is loud and clear to 'be particular about breakfast'.

Many people skip meals to lose weight. But the first meal of the day is important for a healthy start. The reason for it is simple. Skip breakfast, and the gap between dinner and lunch next day is almost 16 hours. During this time the level of blood sugar drops. Glucose, the principle fuel for the brain and the central nervous  system helps, carry on routine activities like talking, thinking, even walking. For effective functioning of the brain, any stored carbohydrates have to be broken or fat and protein turned into a usable form. Without breakfast the body is deprived of vitamins C and D, calcium, iron and fibre.  This is the one reason people find it difficult to concentrate, solve problems, memorize things and often become moody. A Canadian study says breakfast boosts memory and those who eat breakfast perform better.

A study also found remarkable improvement in those people suffering from memory problems and those with early signs of adult-onset diabetes. Another report states that school students consuming breakfast were less absent and had higher math grades and were less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and hyperactivity. Moreover, breakfast helps determine and maintain a desired weight. A wholesome breakfast ensures one does not indulge in calorific-ally dense  food or overeat later in a day. Due to prolonged hunger one eats more food higher in calorie count.

Eating something is better than nothing. It helps raise blood sugar levels. So have an apple on the way to work.

This proves that why we should eat a proper and wholesome breakfast. The body's stress hormone levels are highest in the morning due to hunger. Eating food helps the body to overcome this stress. Try not to skip this most important meal of the day and see how your health and performance at work improves.

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Ginger - Effective Curative

Ginger is considered as small medicine cabinet by itself. It is effective in lessening motion and morning sickness and protect one against stomach upset.

A cup of ginger tea or a glass of ginger ale can quicken relief from stomach flu.

Ginger herb is richly loaded with anti-viral compounds that help fight rhinovirus which causes common cold. But if we take beyond a certain dose, it might overheat our body.

When we are down with a cold, intake of water wherein which, a piece of ginger is well boiled and a table spoon of honey added, will have a soothing effect.

The same ginger tea can be made with a table spoon full of ginger added to water and let it steep for 10 mins and then drain it.

Ginger tea, which is free from caffeine is an ideal drink for the cold and flu season.

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