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Showing posts with the label Nutrition Health & Recipes

Rice or Wheat? Ending the eternal dilemma.

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What I didn’t know? Glucose is a type of sugar and not sugar itself. Insulin- a hormone that gets secreted when glucose level rises in the body. High blood glucose levels over an extended period of time have damaging effects on the eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, and nerves. Sweet food is high in carbohydrates. All carbohydrates are sugar, whether it is fruit, table sugar, bread, or vegetables. The total carbohydrate content includes all three types of carbohydrates: sugars, starches , and fiber . STARCH A grain contains three parts: · bran · germ · endosperm The bran is the outer hard shell of the grain that provides the most fiber. This makes the grain so beneficial because it is hard to digest, takes longer to digest, and therefore affects blood glucose more slowly (i.e., whole wheat bread, wheat flour, brown rice, red rice oats, vegetables, etc. It also contains the maximum part of Vitamin B and minerals.) The germ is the next layer and is packed with nutrients

Nutrition and Health Nugget- HDL -The good fat needed for our body-Taking control of Cholesterol

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Have you gone for a full-body check-up? Four health numbers tell us how healthy or not healthy we are. Blood Pressure-Which we have already covered in previous articles. The other three are Cholesterol, Blood Sugar, and BMI or Body Mass Index. HDL is good fat which should be higher than LDL, the bad cholesterol. The Cholesterol and HDL ratio should be - total cholesterol below 200 mg/dL LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dL HDL cholesterol above 40 mg/dL The actionable in 'mindful eating ' includes - Raising HDL Eating more fruits and vegetables and the good fat found in avocados, fish, and walnuts. Fruits-Avocados, apples(Be cautious with the serving since fruits have their portion of natural sugar too). All kinds of beans and legumes(Kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, red beans, black beans, etc.). Whole grain anytime every time-Bread or flour. Shift from whole milk to reduced-fat or fat-free. Some people also add water to their half glass of milk and then

Omega 3 fatty acids-The wonder of Flaxseeds

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I will be honest here. I had no idea about Omega 3 fatty acids. When my son was born, I started hearing from the pediatrics just how important omega 3 fatty acids are. In a layman's language, this is one good and important fat for the body that it cannot make itself and hence has to rely on food sources from outside. It is basically a form of fatty acids that helps keep the brain healthy, avoid cardiovascular diseases, and lower triglycerides. For growing children, it helps in their brain development. Research has shown that Omega three has been linked to various benefits ranging from eye function to certain behavioral and psychological well-being. While these are part of various studies with varying degrees of success, what is important to note is that it is essential nutrition for kids and adults, and we should be incorporating it into our diet. The types of omega-3 fats are: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). EPA

What you must do this winter season for your child

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Help boost their immune system Winters are knocking, and we better get prepared. While it's festival and holiday time in India and the United States, let's also give some thought to living healthy and living natural this winter season and many more to come. Let’s look at some  small, everyday  healthy practices which can go a long way in making them stronger and their immune system better. Age three and above The immune system  is everything. In layman’s terms- It’s our defense system to protect us against all kinds of diseases. It detects and distinguishes between pathogens, viruses, and parasitic worms (all that make us ill) and our own healthy tissues. It goes without saying that a healthy functioning immune system can go a long way in keeping ourselves and our children safe. A  newborn’s immune system is not nearly as effective as an adult’s or even an older child’s. Many a time, we see babies and toddlers falling sick more often than older kids and adults. That’s becaus