Guavas build immunity

Along with apples, another delicious and nutritious winter fruit is the guava. Its high in fiber, but its Vitamin C content is what is out of the ordinary. Orange is the fruit synonymous with Vitamin C- but a guava contains 5 times the amount of vitamin C as an orange.

Guava by arletepqt@flickr

Its also high in potassium, which helps to reduce blood pressure. Guava is among the few fruits that provide calcium, iron and carbohydrates (good carbs, since they are not quick dissolving).

So dig in to those guavas!

Apples reduce risk of cancer, heart disease

As the Indian summer is going away, apples are in season (as is running- you do know about the Delhi Half Marathon right?). Apples are delicious fruits and they provide a whole lot of nutrition. We’ve all heard that apples are good for you. Lets find out how.

Shundiin @ flickr

First, they’re loaded with fiber- both soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber helps to reduce your bad cholesterol, and the insoluble fiber keeps you regular. The fiber keeps you feeling full for longer, so apples are a great snack for people trying to lose weight.

Besides that, they provide a rich dose of vitamin C, which boosts the body’s immune system. Apples are also loaded with flavanoids and antioxidants that reduce free radical damage in your body (free radical damage can cause premature aging of skin, cancer, etc). Multiple studies have linked regular apple consumption to lowering heart risk disease and cancer.

Maybe there is truth to the old adage- an apple a day, keeps the doctor away.

Health Benefits of Yogurt

Milk and Yogurt (curd) are the essential part of the recommended “healthy Indian diet”. We’ve all heard about the calcium in milk and yogurt and how it makes our bones stronger, but there are so many health benefits of Yogurt than having it only as a rich source of calcium. Can yogurt help you lose belly fat?

Yes, latest research shows that yogurt can even help you lose weight. The calcium in yogurt not only helps to make your bone stronger. A study at University of Tennessee found that participants who consumed 3 daily servings of fat free yogurt on a 12 week basis gained less fat around their mid-section than those who didn’t consumed dairy products containing less calcium. The mineral appears to help curb production of the stress hormone cortisol, which has been linked to the accumulation of abdominal fat.

Yogurt provides essential carbohydrates and a punch of protein. The carbohydrates are good since they provide you the energy you need to get through the day. And the protein is good for building those muscle and their regular functioning. Yogurt with fruits makes for a great post workout meal.

It’s a good source of your daily vitamin needs like vitamins B6 and B12. The Health benefits of Yogurt don’t stop here, it is also a good source of Potassium. Studies have shown that potassium consumption helps with reducing hypertension and increase muscle retention. The bacterial cultures in yogurt help to keep you regular.

There are plenty of ways to consume yogurt – If you don’t like plain yogurt, then you can always throw in some fruits and nuts or try low calories yogurt smoothies.