Friday 30 January 2015

Foods You Should Eat Every Day

Eating healthy is an important part of life. Many of us strive to eat as healthy as possible every day, but are you really consuming the best nutrients for your body? There are countless “superfoods” on the market. These foods boast so many health benefits that they’re referred to as superfoods because of their many super powers.

With the help of several nutrition experts and the right kinds of foods, you can stave off heart disease, stay slim and boost your immune system. So what follows is a list of the healthiest foods you should be eating now.

Broccoli

Consider broccoli your number one cancer fighter, thants to its sulfur compounds, such as sulforaphane, which you can smell as broccoli cooks. These compounds signal our genes to boost production of enzymes that detoxify potentially cancer-causing compounds. Eat more broccoli and you could slash your risk of everything from breast and lung cancer to stomach and colon cancer.

Berries

All berries are great sources of fiber—a nutrient that most Americans don’t get enough of and one that is important for a healthy digestive system. Fiber may help to promote weight loss. Raspberries boast the most at 8 grams per cup—and also contain ellagic acid, a compound with anti-cancer properties. The same amount of blueberries has half the fiber (4 grams), but is packed with anthocyanins, antioxidants that may help keep memory sharp as you age. A cup of strawberries contains 3 grams of fiber, but more than a full day’s recommended dose of skin-firming vitamin C.

Oats

Oats’ cholesterol- and blood pressure-lowering powers come from beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre. One cup (250 mL) a day of cooked oat bran, 1 ½ cups (375 mL) of cooked oatmeal or thee packets of instant oatmeal provide enough beta-glucan to lower blood cholesterol by about five percent and heart attack risk by about 10 percent.

Beans

Beans are a good plant-based source of iron (up to 13 mg per 3/4 cup), a mineral that transports oxygen from your lungs to the cells in your body. Because your body can’t absorb the form of iron in plant-based foods as well as it can the form found in beef and poultry, pair beans with a vitamin C-rich food, such as sweet potatoes or lemon juice, to boost your iron absorption.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a great source of bone-building calcium, but its real strength lies in live beneficial bacteria, know as probiotics, that keep down the growth of harmful bacteria in your gut. Eating more yogurt could help with inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, urinary tract infections and vaginal yeast infections.

Monday 12 January 2015

The Health Benefits of Buttermilk

Buttermilk is fermented milk, usually made by adding lactic acid bacteria to regular milk. The good bacteria in the buttermilk boost the digestion, providing low calorie nutrition to the body. Buttermilk is sought after by health conscious individuals as it contains less fat than milk; the fat has been taken off to prepare butter, though it is rich in lactic acid.

In a pinch, you can use a small amount of vinegar or lemon juice mixed with milk and left sitting for about 10 minutes to thicken in place of buttermilk. Using buttermilk along with baking soda in recipes provides an effective leavening agent without having to add yeast, giving you light and fluffy baked goods. Buttermilk may also provide some health benefits.

Aids in digestion

Ginger, pepper and jeera all make excellent digestive agents. Known for their carmative properties individually together in a tall glass of chaas, they make the best natural digestive out there. So, If you feel a bout of indigestion coming on try sipping on some chaas for instant relief.

Weight Maintenance

Many people are learning the weight loss benefits of buttermilk as compared to regular whole milk. It is also a great snack to ward off hunger between meals or as a meal replacement altogether. People who drink buttermilk regularly tend to get full quicker and weigh less.

A great tool against dehydration

It has salt, water, curd, and spices – all mixed into it make a delicious drink. Packed with electrolytes and lots of water, chaas is the best thing you can give your body to fight dehydration. With the summer sun beating down on us, invest in a glass of chaas every now and then for some much needed relief from the punish weather.

Healthy Skin

Another benefit to drinking buttermilk is the benefits to the skin. Regularly drinking buttermilk keeps the digestive system healthy, which show up in clearer, healthier skin. Some people even use buttermilk baths to improve skin health and appearance. It moisturizes the skin, adding a natural glow and elasticity; not to mention that a buttermilk bath is extremely relaxing and soothing.

Reduces blood pressure

Buttermilk is rich in unique bioactive protein that has cholesterol-lowering, antiviral, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. In this study, scientists found that drinking buttermilk significantly lowered blood pressure, if had on a daily basis.