Myths and Facts about Chocolate

When majority of us hear the word Chocolate, we imagine a bar, a box of candy and so on. Chocolate is an important ingredient in lots of foods – chocolate bars, milk shakes, cookies, flavored coffee, even breakfast cereal and medicines. In candy making, chocolate is next only to sugar in significance and incidence of use. Chocolate is exclusive in that it can be equally an essential ingredient and a complete toffee by itself. But yet, not many of us know the distinctive genesis of this popular delight.

Nearly all people wish if they can include chocolate in their diets, that they can eat it guilt-free without having to worry about it. Media headings concerning chocolate regularly feel bittersweet. One week it’s fine for you and the next week, it’s terrible. If you think the chocolate build up, you might worry it’s causing you skin troubles, making you fat etc. Well, in fact people can incorporate chocolate in their diets. Chocolate lovers may be amazed to learn that it’s a lot healthier than other sugary treats. Lots of the aged myths about chocolate and health are collapsing under the influence of scientific truth. New research has shown that chocolate can be a part of a healthy diet.

Here, we tell you with help from an Infographic, some popular myths and facts about chocolate -

 
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Food Nutrition Myths and Facts

There are certain myths which have been floating around the cafeterias, dining rooms, kitchens, restaurants and in the mind of homemakers very frequently for years. And sadly, we believe many of them just because they sound like they could be true. Don’t fall into one of these food myth traps without any logical reasoning added to it. Not only will knowing the truth set you free, but might also help you in solving many of your health problems. So, down here are certain Food Nutrition myths and facts that can open the eyes of maximum population who blindly get influenced and include them in their daily routine.

1. Myth: Milk is the best source of calcium

Fact: While milk is certainly a good source of calcium, it is far from being the best and ONLY source of the stuff. In fact, many yogurts, light creams and cheeses have just as high, if not higher, amounts of calcium than milk. In addition, foods you wouldn’t think of, like spinach and sardines, provide a good source of the bone-builder mineral as well.

2. Myth: Fat free will help you lose weight

Fact: Eating more of a fat-free labeled food can actually lead to weight gain! This is due to the fact that many of these foods are pumped with extra sugars (resulting in more calories) to offset the lack of fat. This results in many of these foods having the same, if not more, calories than the regular variety. In addition, many people eat more of a food labeled fat-free under the misconception that it’s better for them, leading to calorie excess which can cause weight gain.

3. Myth: Cutting Carbohydrates will make me lose weight

Fact: Cutting carbohydrates might help you lose weight in the short term, but it’s mostly because you are eating less food and fewer calories. Drastically cutting carbohydrate means you’ll miss out on the nutritional benefits of healthy choices like whole grains, fruit, starchy vegetables, and legumes.

4. Myth: I Should Cut Gluten Out Of My Diet For A Healthy Diet

Fact: A gluten-free diet is the only healthy way of eating for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, but it’s not necessary for everyone else. Gluten is a type of protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye, and any foods made with these grains. Unless you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, or you are allergic to one of these grains, you don’t need to avoid them. Whether the grain you choose is gluten-free (such as corn, rice, millet or quinoa) or not, enjoying more whole grains is a healthy choice. For good health, make at least half of your grain choices whole grain each day.

4. Myth: Drinking Energy Drinks Will Give Me Energy

Fact: Energy drinks might make you feel a short burst of energy, but it doesn’t last. Energy drinks usually contain lots of sugar; in fact, one energy drink can have up to 14 teaspoons of sugar. Most energy drinks have caffeine, and too much caffeine may cause unwanted side effects such as rapid heartbeat and insomnia. The best way to get energized is to eat well, be active, stay hydrated and get enough sleep.

5 .Myth: Certain Foods Help You  to loose Weight

Fact: There is no food that burns fat or makes you lose weight more quickly. Weight loss diets that focus on single foods, like grapefruit, cabbage soup or celery, are restrictive and lack nutrients needed for good health. It’s true that when you eat only one type of food, like cabbage soup, you might eat less and take in fewer calories than you need and maybe lose weight at first. But in the end, these diets are boring, don’t create healthy habits you can stick with, and don’t help with long-term weight

Therefore with the above myth and facts it concludes that one should give thanks to science and common sense as we’ve found there’s not much truth to these certain myths which are giving wrong knowledge to the population. These diets cause negative effects to your internal health than positive results. One should go the right way when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle.

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Why self made diet plans fail at weight loss?

When you try to lose weight, the first thing you do, is watch your diet by eating low fat and fat free foods.

Maybe try some of the fad diets like the GM diet (Indian Version), Atkins Diet, Raw Banana Diet or the Lemon Detox Diet, or just a plain crash diet. In the first couple of weeks, you see some weight loss, but in just 2 months, you gain the weight back.

Firstly, all fad diets are extremely unhealthy. Then, everyone’s body has a different chemistry. Due to this, a generic diet plan besides having possible side effects will not result in effective weight loss. Also, many diet plans are not made for Indian diets or vegetarian diets, so many of the diet components either are not allowed in your diet, or are not available in India.

When you decide to try a diet by yourself, you are literally making yourself a guinea pig, since you don’t know if it will work for you. Creating a diet plan is very time consuming. To implement it, is even harder. With the lack of understanding of diets, your body chemistry and lack of experience in creating effective diets, before you start, you’ve already shot your chances of losing weight on the diet.Often self made diet plans are very unrealistic, so they are great to make, hard to implement and even harder to follow.

Besides, many self made diet plans have unbalanced nutrition and thus unhealthy.

Top Immune Boosting Foods

One of the most important steps you can take to maintain good health is to eat a healthy diet loaded with nutrients that will fortify your immune system. Eating wide range of foods can boost your immune system. Our immune system is a balanced network of cells and organs that work together to defend you against disease. Adequately feeding your immune system boosts its fighting power. There are a number of key foods we can consume to boost our immune system. Here are the list of Immune boosting foods that you should eat in your daily lifestyle.

Yogurt: Yogurt is considered as an Immune boosting food. Yogurt is a healthy snack that many people include it in their daily diet. It contains bacteria that your body uses to protect itself from infections and harmful bacteria. Eating yogurt rich in probiotics increases your white blood count, improving the response by your immune system.

Wheat Germ: Wheat germ is not only immune boosting food but it is also a good source of fiber — a dietary essential that keeps your digestive system on track. It’s also packed with protein and vitamins, including vitamin E, and is a great source of choline and zinc, which also help boost immunity. Add wheat germ to your bread, or sprinkle it over yogurt and fresh fruit or your breakfast cereal.

Mushrooms: If you are thinking about immune boosting food then add mushroom in your list. They’re a major source of the immune system-boosting mineral, zinc. Eating mushrooms will help fight off disease, and can boost your immune system.

Garlic: Known as Immune boosting food. Garlic has a long history of use as an immune system booster because of its antiseptic, anti-fungal and nutritive properties. It is a natural detoxicant protecting against bacterial and viral infections without any of the side-effects associated with antibiotics.

Tea: Green Tea or Black Tea, Both loaded with disease-fighting polyphones and flavonoids. These antioxidants seek out cell-damaging free radicals and destroy them. Caffeinated and decaf work equally well.

Broccoli:  Not only super food but broccoli also known as immune boosting food. Incorporate into meals, broccoli is an immune-boosting basic. One study reported a chemical in broccoli helped stimulate the immune systems of mice. Plus, it’s full of nutrients that protect your body from damage.  It has vitamins A, vitamin C, and glutathione.  Add some low-fat cheese to round out a side dish with immune-enhancing B vitamins and vitamin D.

Cauliflower: Cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are all cruciferous vegetables, which means they’re not only rich in antioxidant vitamins that give an immune system boost, but they also contain choline, a nutrient essential to a healthy diet. Include this immune boosting food in your diet and fight with illness.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is an antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial machine, so it does more than just boost the immune system — it actually fights the pathogens that cause illness. Cinnamon is versatile immune boosting food, making it easy to add to your healthy diet

Maintaining a strong immune system doesn’t have to be rocket science, just as long as you enjoy a healthy diet, rich in certain nutrients.  So include some healthy food items in your diet fight off the illness.

 

How Healthy are Packaged Soups

Positioning of food products as healthy has become as fashionable as people joining a gym. Unfortunately most of these so called health products are not as healthy as the natural counter parts of these. For example packaged soups do not carry half as many health benefits of natural soup simply because nutrition cannot be stored for such a long time. Besides all the preservatives used to improve the shelf life of these perishable goods destroy the antioxidant qualities of the vegetables. The ingredients used are also of not the best quality, leaving the major content of the soup to be actually starch, sugar and sodium.

The vegetable content of any packaged soup is almost negligible besides containing depleted nutrients. Here are the three critical components of a pre-packaged soup that might be causing harm to your family’s health.

• Corn flour- the packaged soups have a very high amount of corn flour for a thick consistency. Some major health hazard of corn flour is that it raises the blood sugar content. It leads to the Yo-Yo effect which is harmful for one’s health. It further leads to fat deposition in the body, which makes one more hungrier and further leads to over eating. Corn flour leaves an adverse effect on the intestine.

• Salt- packaged soups contains very high amount of salt. This is extremely not recommended for people suffering from blood pressure or even those who have borderline blood pressure as high salt will increase their levels. Excess of salt causes is linked with osteoporosis, asthma, kidney diseases and stomach cancer sometimes; it also causes water retention and edema.

• Preservatives- in packaged soups amount of preservatives is also very high. Coal Tar Azo Dyes, sulfites, etc are some kinds of preservatives which are present in soups. Such kind of preservatives can also cause cancer and other health hazards.

Moreover all the nutrients in a packaged soup are in powdered form (dehydrated) and when these nutrients come in contact with heat, they lose all the essential vitamins. Besides these soups only contain empty calories that gets stored in your body and don’t get absorbed immediately as they are void of any nutrition. Most people tend to gravitate towards these products because of fantastic marketing, convenience and affordability of these products. Don’t be short-sighted and only think for now and not the larger picture of good health. The money that you think you are saving on buying these cheap products is actually adding to your medical bills later in life. Read more

How Unhealthy is Gluten

There is a lot of talk about gluten these days. Some people say it’s good for you, some people say its bad for you. So, we decide to decode this gluten madness for you, so can you really know if gluten really is that bad for you?

Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, rye and barley. Gluten is responsible for providing elasticity to the wheat, rye and barley flour which is also now very popularly being used in a larger number of processed food products. It is also used as a stabilizer in some popular products like ice-cream and ketchup.

Why has gluten suddenly become so infamous that people are writing and talking against it. Not only that the whole “Grain” category is getting a bad name. Let us explain to you how and why it all started. We consume food which is then broken down, through a series of complex process, in our digestive system. If there is anything that disrupts the smooth functioning of this process it results in deficiencies and other health disorders. Read more

How Pasta Can Be Healthy

There have been health myths whether pasta is healthy for the diet or not. It could be healthy with the right ingredients and cooking it to the right temperature and softness. Pasta can be made into a complete nutritious meal.

Here are tips on how to cook healthy pasta.

Ingredients:

Go for whole wheat pasta: When you pick your raw pasta opt for whole wheat grain pasta or multi grain pasta which will keep the calorie intake low and provide the body with fiber and absorb the excess water from the body.

Cooking Style:

Do you cook the pasta ‘Al Dente’ ?Pasta when cooked Al dente has a lower glycemic index when overcooked. Pasta when cooked al dente is soft but not too soft and holds the shape and feels just perfect to the mouth while chewing it. Basically, what that mean is that pasta should not be cooked till it is completely soft. When it is ‘al dente’ Read more

Ideal Body Weight

Commonly ideal body weight is calculated  with a formula that takes into consideration your height in accordance to your weight ? But is it the ideal body weight to refer to? Not really, as ideal weight does not only depend on height but on many other factors like the fat percentage in the body, muscles and bone ratio and age and gender. Height can give you an approximate idea but not definite ideal weight. We have repeatedly told you that no two people of the same height and weight can have the same ideal weight. Age and body types are some of the few elements that differentiate two individuals.

Click here to know your Ideal Body Weight

Click Here to calculate Body Fat Percentage

Here is a table for ideal body weight range, for both men and women. You can use it as a height-weight calculator as well.

Men			Women
Height	Weight		Height	Weight
4’5	28-35 Kg		4’5	28-35 Kg
4’6	30-39 Kg		4’6	30-37 Kg
4’7	33-40 Kg		4’7	32-40 Kg
4’8	35-44 Kg		4’8	35-42 Kg
4’9	38-46 Kg		4’9	36-45 Kg
4’10	40-50 Kg		4’10	39-47 Kg
4’11	43-53 Kg		4’11	40-50 Kg
5’1	45-55 Kg		5’1	43-52 Kg
5’2	48-59 Kg		5’2	45-55 Kg
5’3	50-61 Kg		5’3	47-57 Kg
5’4	53-65 Kg		5’4	49-60 Kg
5’5	55-68 Kg		5’5	51-62 Kg
5’6	58-70 Kg		5’6	53-65 Kg
5’7	60-74 Kg		5’7	55-67 Kg
5’8	63-76 Kg		5’8	57-70 Kg
5’9	65-80 Kg		5’9	59-72 Kg
5’10	67-83 Kg		5’10	61-75 Kg
5’11	70-85 Kg		5’11	63-77  Kg
6’1	72-89 Kg		6’1	65-80 Kg

According to a study women tend consider ideal weight for their height and age lesser than what is medically recommended forcing them to resort to yo-yo diets to achieve their target.While men tend you lean towards the higher range working on building more muscle through supplements or a high protein diet. Read more

Food With Fat For Health Benefits

Fat has an important role to play in the smooth functioning of body just like how protein is important for muscle building, carbohydrates for energy and vitamins and minerals for other nutrition. The minimum requirement of essential fat for men is 2-5% and women is 10-12%, anything below which physical and psychological health would be effected. When one consumes fat more than the daily requirement it then it gets stored in the belly, thighs and all over the body. Fat helps in healthy cell function and keeps the skin healthy and stores energy in the body and provides 9 calories per 1 gm of fat.

Essential fat is required for brain functioning, bone marrows, central nervous system muscles and healthy functioning of the body

It provides cushion to internal organs of the chest and abdomen.  These essential fats are often confused with the bad fats that increase the LDL bad Cholesterol. Essential fats actually increase the HDL good cholesterol levels improving heart health and improves the flow of blood in the arteries.

Here is a list of Fatty foods for good health

 

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Can Exercise Make You Fat

Some researchers are of a belief that exercise makes you fat. And if we continue to be moderately physically active it is enough to maintain the weight. According to them sweating it out in the gym only makes you fat and does not really help in any weight loss.

We partially agree to this theory about moderate physical exercise is enough to keep you fit. Like most things there is a condition that too applies to moderate physical activity, which is  if you are also watching what you eat. Even if you are exercising and at the same time eating more than you are actually burning you are bound to not lose any weight. Keeping this logic in mind we further explain how exercising is really making you fat.

We see a lot of people compulsively exercising at the gym over a period of time without losing any weight. Well there could be two reasons for it. First either you are following a wrong routine which is similar to ‘eating empty calories’ or you are still eating more than you are burning. Like doing a twist with a long rod on the shoulder or walking on a high incline while holding the rod in front. Infact  talking on the phone while walking on the treadmill, elliptical, slow cycling is as useless as sitting on a chair. There is a study that states that while you exercise you need to focus at the activity at hand for best results.  Have you ever seen a sports or a fit person be on a phone while exercising ?

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Lose Weight and Stop Snoring

Snoring is a result of blockage or obstruction of breathing. It is not as big a problem as it may seem but can be irritating at times when you want to sleep and the person next to you is snoring. Snoring is a sign telling us that there is a problem in breathing while one sleeps and take action in curbing the problem before it becomes big and chronic.

Some people have a problem that they can not breathe during sleep due to snoring. This is called Apnea. Body takes immense pressure on the body, unable to take in oxygen properly. Hypertension, hyperactivity and heart problems are more common in people who snore. People who snore probably don’t get good quality sleep due to breaks during sleep because of
breathing. For people with greater difficulty in snoring can cause problems to the brain due to lack of oxygen going to it.

Sleep researchers in Israel examined more than 2,000 sleep apnea patients, for example, they found that 54 percent were positional, meaning they snored only when asleep on their backs and the rest were non positional.

Other studies shows weight plays a major role. According to the National Sleep Foundation, in people who are overweight, slimming down is generally the best way to cure sleep apnea and end snoring for good. People who were overweight saw reduction in snoring when they lost weight.

Due to increasing obesity rates snoring is picking up with kids too which is not a healthy sign. If you snore at night then try sleeping on your side and not your back, it may help. If that is not of any help to you then reduce your weight maybe you get away with the problem and sleep tight.

With the help of some breathing exercises and reducing alcohol and smoking snoring can be curbed. Sleeping on the side can help in reduction of snoring. Most importantly a healthy diet and some exercise plays a great role in maintaining a balance in the body.

Why Do Some People Never Get Fat?

You surely know a few people around you who are extremely thin and eat much more than you do but never get fat. They eat all kinds of foods and never add an inch to their waistline. Well just to make you feel better its because there are certain enzymes in our bodies which regulate the body metabolism. When these enzymes are not present in the body it keeps a man thin says a study.

The enzyme MGAT2 is found in the intestines and determines the fate of our food by regulating how it is metabolized: It either makes fat go straight to your waistline, or converts it into energy. Scientists in California have discovered that when mice are missing the gene for MGAT2, they can eat whatever they want and never have to worry about getting fat.

Another common misconception amongst people is that thin people have Read more

Raw Vs Cooked Food- Which Is Healthier?

Ever wondered that why is it that we eat some foods raw and some that we cook before eating. The health myth around it is that cooking the food kills bacteria and it is not safe to eat it raw. Firstly not all foods can be eaten raw for eg. meats. Meats can’t be eaten raw as it might contain the bacteria borne by the animal itself and need to be boiled and cooked to free it of the bacteria. Secondly its completely healthy to eat raw or slightly cooked vegetables as not only that they are healthiest in their natural form but each of these vegetables have distinct flavors that can only be tasted when eaten raw. Overcooking the vegetables kills the enzymes present in it making it not so nutritious and good for the health and digestion.

Here are a few tips on why to eat this and not that

Read more

Build Muscle With Your Mind

We want an ideal body to look muscular and be in shape but just cant do it. If you give up your resolution by the end of the day then you probably lack the imagination of seeing your self like how you want to be. Do you have the power to think, imagine and picture about what you want?  Well, if the answer is yes, then you could build muscles with your mind and enhance your training to next level. A recent study concluded that people who are able to imagine about the kind of body they desire are able to achieve their targets much sooner than those who can’t imagine. We look for miracles when it comes to staying fit, but it is in your mind. Picturization in your mind can help you achieve the body you crave for.

Think Positive: Building mind muscle will help you build real muscles. Spending so much time exercising everyone wants it to show physically. Think positive about the exercises that you do, irrespective if it is showing results. Feeling positive about your workouts will show better and effective results.

Priority: You have many thoughts running in your mind simultaneously. Clear your head of all the thoughts. Concentrate and start thinking about your workout. If you are looking to build muscle than visualize your target muscle gaining size or simply focus on the target area where you need to lose weight and imagine the fat melting away.

Acceptance or Denial: Our minds accept or denies, when our mind accepts we move forward with the thought and if it denies we quit. Imagining the workout pattern before helps the mind accept to the challenges it will face and thus becomes prepared to take it on. Imagining also tells the mind what to do and what not to do.

Eat Fuller Calories: Pre-imagining  of fruits, vegetables and other nutritious foods in your diet helps you to eat it more often than people who can imagine. Seeing yourself eating healthier options helps you consume more of it. Eat in smaller plates to psychologically feel that you are eating a lot. Same portion of food in a smaller plate gives you a sense of feeling fuller.

Thinking of the workout pattern before hand gives you the support and advantage to execute and reach the goals. Thinking prepares you for the challenge you will face. A quick tip to try next time you are working out: While running focus on your core muscles. At the end of the workout you will feel the difference!

Side Effects of Unhealthy Fad Diets

Any average person suffering from weight issue has at least once in their life have given a shot and tried these fad diets. Its natural for anyone to first indulge in self help before they fail, or their situation in some case worsens, that they seek out professional guidance. Take a minute and reflect on what might you have exposed your body to unintentionally.

Most of the fad diets are popularly termed as “yo-yo” diets that give you a short term solution to quick weight loss but do not guarantee any long term sustenance of the weight loss. Besides it deprives body of nutrition resulting in low blood pressure, reduced energy and fatigue. If you continue to under nourish your body with an unbalanced diet your metabolism also starts to slow Read more

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