FOOD for HEALTHY SKIN

Chocolate 
Who thought that chocolate could be considered part of a nutritious diet? Well, you are in luck, because dark chocolatecontains lots of flavanoids. These are a super active type of antioxidant, which means that they help prevent free radical damage from the environment and pollutants.

Not only will flavanoids help you slow down skin ageing, they may also be effective at counteracting some of the negative oxidative effects of the sun's UV rays. (Don't get too excited though; you still have to wear your sunscreen, no matter how much chocolate you eat!)

However, remember that chocolate should be pure for the best results, so dark chocolate is the best kind to eat. One square is more than enough to get some antioxidant action without packing on the pounds!

Walnuts 
This super food has vital omega-3 fatty acids, which are extremely important lipids that are necessary to maintain the skin barrier, hydrate it and make it more supple and pliant. And, as an added plus, omega-3 fatty acids are fantastic for your cardiovascular health and have recently been shown to reduce your risk of cancer! Have about 8-10 walnuts a day to get the benefits, without having to worry about the extra calories.

Kiwi 
The unsung heroes of vitamins, kiwis pack a powerful punch of Vitamin C that is more than any other fruit! Vitamin C is a vital active that is important in two functions. Firstly, Vitamin C is needed for the production of collagen, which is a protein that keeps the skin tight and firm. Second, it is a potent antioxidant, helping to counteract all the damage your skin suffers from exposure to pollution, the sun and the environment.

Sweet Potatoes
This miracle vegetable not only tastes good, it is also a good source of Vitamin A! Vitamin A helps resurface your skinby making old skin cells self-exfoliate. It also enhances the skin's color and appearance, giving you a healthy glow.

Sunflower Seeds
These little guys look innocuous, but they are super strong providers of Vitamin E! Vitamin E is a fat soluble active that your body cannot produce on its own. It is essential to eat, and has the added benefit of being a powerful antioxidant! Vitamin E can help prevent premature ageing and reduce DNA damage. In the long term, it can reduce your risk of sunburns.

Oats
This surprising food works in two ways. First of all, it is low-glycemic, meaning that it does not spike your blood sugar very high. High glycemic foods can worsen your risk of wrinkling and of getting acne! Second, it has a natural plant chemical that prevents damage to your skin while also soothing irritations. So, don't forget your oatmeal for calm skin!

Avocados
A favorite in Mexico, avocados are full of healthy fats known as monounsaturated fats. These lipids help keep your skinhydrated so that you maintain your healthy glow! Avocados can also help you absorb needed vitamins and nutrients. Add them into your salads or sandwiches to enjoy this skin-healthy treat!

PALATE CLEANSER IDEAS

Foods that Cleanse Your Palate 

Milk

If you have eaten something spicy, avoid drinking water as this will only aggravate the burning sensation. Drink some milk instead, since studies have shown that the fatty acids in milk neutralise spiciness. Milk also cleanses the palate after you have eaten foods that have a high fat content. 

Foods that Cleanse Your Palate 

Crackers

Crackers, or plain wafers made of water and flour, are very effective at cleansing your palate. They can be used to get rid of all the tastes in your mouth, including spicy, cooling, fatty, bitter, astringent or sweet. 

Foods that Cleanse Your Palate 

Bread and water

The combination of bread and water is a handy palate cleanser, since you are more likely to have them at home than crackers. The bread absorbs the flavours from your mouth while the water rinses them away. 

Foods that Cleanse Your Palate 

Celery

You can even munch on a piece of celery to cleanse your palate, since the rough texture of this vegetable scrapes away the flavours lingering on your tongue. In fact, celery is even recommended as a means to prevent halitosis, since it scrubs off the bacteria that linger on your teeth and tongue.

Foods that Cleanse Your Palate 

Apples

Apples have similar palate cleansing properties to celery. Interestingly, both these foods even freshen your breath and are recommended as a substitute in case you are stuck without a toothbrush, since they cleanse not only your palate but your gums and teeth as well.

Foods that Cleanse Your Palate 

Lemon water

Fine dining restaurants usually serve lemon sorbet in between courses to cleanse the palate, but it is not practical to keep it around the house every day, unless you’re having a dinner party and want to impress your guests. Instead, you can take a shortcut and use water with a dash of lime or fresh orange juice to cleanse your palate. 

Foods that Cleanse Your Palate 

Green tea

Green tea is another palate cleanser, which you can drink in between or after your meal. Don’t brew it too strong, instead keep it light and add a little bit of sweetener if necessary.

Foods that Cleanse Your Palate 

Pickled ginger

Pickled ginger is typically served in Japanese restaurants in order to cleanse the palate in between courses of sushi, but it happens to be a staple found in many Indian households as well. You can make your own by marinating slices of ginger in vinegar and consuming it in between courses. 

MUSTARD SEEDS HEALTH BENEFITS

Known as rai or sarson in Hindi, mustard is an ingredient that is commonly used in Asian, French, Greek, Roman, American and African cuisines. Available in white, black and brown varieties, these seeds are very versatile and are used in different forms by different cultures. While some people use them whole, others use them in powdered form. The oil extracted from the seeds is also used for cooking and mustard paste or sauce is popularly used as a condiment. Here are some of the amazing health benefits of mustard seeds.

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Enable weight loss

Mustard seeds are packed with several B Vitamins that help speed up your metabolism and therefore enable weight loss.

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Slow down ageing

Mustard seeds contain flavonoid and caretonoid antioxidants in addition to significant amounts of Vitamins A, C and K. These slow down the ageing process, keeping your skin and tissues younger for longer.

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Prevent cancer

The phytonutrients in mustard seeds prevent bladder, colon and cervical cancer. They restrict the growth of any existing cancer cells and prevent the formation of new ones.

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Lower cholesterol levels

Eating mustard seeds helps lower your cholesterol levels and clears the plaque build-up in your arteries. It also regulates your blood circulation and lowers your blood pressure.

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Improve heart health

Patients recovering from serious heart conditions like acute myocardial infarctions or heart attacks have shown significant improvement if they have eaten food cooked in mustard oil. This is because mustard contains omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients essential to heart health. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Reduce symptoms of asthma

Mustard seeds are rich in selenium and magnesium, which have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce the symptoms of asthma. For relief during an asthmatic attack, mix a little mustard oil and camphor and massage them on your chest and upper back to help decongest your system. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Cure respiratory conditions

In addition to asthma, mustard seeds also help prevent and cure several other respiratory conditions like colds, coughs, sinus and bronchitis. If you have sinus, soak your feet in a mixture of water and mustard powder, and for a cough, try gargling with tea made of mustard seeds. Be careful, as it could burn your throat in areas where there isn’t mucus to coat it. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Relieve constipation

Mustard seeds contain plenty of fibre and a thick and slimy substance known as mucilage, both of which improve your digestion and help relieve constipation.  Mustard seeds are also effective in treating other gastrointestinal conditions like piles and fissures. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Relieve aches and pains

In addition to their anti-inflammatory properties, mustard seeds also have the ability to produce a lot of heat. In order to relieve muscle and joint pain, a paste can be made of mustard seeds and water and applied to the body. It can burn your skin if applied directly, so use a thin sheet as a barrier in between. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Stimulate hair growth

Mustard oil is packed with iron, fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, several vitamins and a hefty amount of beta carotene. Massaging this oil into your scalp nourishes it and stimulates hair growth.

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Strengthen and condition hair

The nutrients in mustard oil also strengthen your hair and reduce hair fall. They also condition your hair from within and give it a healthy shine. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Cure acne

Mustard seeds can be used to cure acne and obtain a clear, glowing complexion. Just heat some mustard seeds in sesame or coconut oil, strain the oil and apply it to your face. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Hydrate skin

A combination of mustard seeds and aloe vera gel can be applied on your skin to hydrate and nourish it, while simultaneously removing all the impurities from within.  

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Detoxify your body

Mustard seeds have poison repelling properties, so they help detoxify your system of the harmful toxins from cigarettes and alcohol. 

Amazing Health Benefits of Mustard Seeds

Heal nerves

The heat in mustard seeds helps heal nerves, thereby benefitting individuals suffering from nerve damage. 

Treat diabetes

Eating mustard helps reduce the oxidative stress that diabetics face because mustard has anti-oxidative properties. 

Reduce the risk of menopause-related osteoporosis

Mustard contains plenty of magnesium and calcium, which is beneficial for menopausal women as it prevents bone loss and osteoporosis

ATKINS DIET INDIA

What is the Atkins diet? Officially called the Atkins Nutritional approach, it is a low carbohydrate diet created by Robert Atkins. The Atkins diet involves restricting carbs to aid the body's metabolism from burning glucose as fuel to burning stored body fat. This process, called ketosis, begins when insulin levels are low; in normal humans, insulin is lowest when blood glucose levels are low (mostly before eating). 

There are 4 phases in the Atkins diet. Phase 1 Induction phase – Here carbs are cut back to 20 gms a day. This phase has the most rapid weight loss and allows foods that are quite filling, while restricting many others.
What do you eat? Your carbs come only from vegetables in this phase.  Your menu will look like this: 2 eggs in the morning, a bowl of vegetables and  grilled chicken for lunch, snack - cheese or nuts, and dinner  will comprise of just the meat cooked in your favourite style and a bowl of yogurt. Oil and fats are encouraged in this diet. 

Phase 2 Ongoing weight Loss – Here Carbs are slowly and carefully added to the diet.
What do you eat? One rule of thumb - First add the veggies and then whole grains later to increase carbs. Sample menu: 2 eggs for breakfast with either orange juice, or a fruit. A huge bowl of vegetables for lunch with one chapatti and a bowl of dahi. For snacks again nuts and cheese. Dinner is a small bowl of salad with fish or chicken curry, or grilled meat. This phase continues until you are 5 to 10 pounds (3 to 5 kgs) from your desired weight loss goal.

Phase 3 Pre Maintenance - As dieters near their goals, weight loss slows down, with more carbs added to the diet. Individuals figure out how much carbohydrate each can safely eat without gaining weight.
What do you eat? The goal here is to figure out what is that state of equilibrium that you can maintain without gaining any weight. Sample menu – breakfast – oats with milk or 2 eggs with a slice of bread, and fruits. Lunch – 2 chapatis, a bowl of vegetables and some chicken. Snacks – an occasional treat of dosa or 2 idlis, or a bowl of moong everyday. Dinner – rice or one roti with salad/ veggies/ meat.

Phase 4  Maintenance - Atkins Maintenance brings together all that is learned in the first three phases to the diet regarding the individual body's response to carbs. Armed with that knowledge, weight loss can be maintained permanently, according to Atkins.
What do you eat? This is a continuation of the end of Pre-Maintenance, where the carbohydrate level "balance" is found - as you can now eat many carbs without gaining weight. Sample menu - Similar to the one in phase 3, but if you think that you are able to maintain your weight by eating rice everyday, you may. If after 2-3 months you feel a slight weight increase you can cut back on the carbs.

The Atkins diet is great for someone who is keen on losing weight quickly, because after the initial 1 or 2 months the long term plan of weight maintenance is quite achievable. But, as with the Mediterranean diet, and the South Beach diet, the Atkins diet also has a lot to do with perseverence and portion control. We say, try it only if you understand that you must eat well-balanced meals, and exercise as well.

BEEF STEW in BELGIAN BEER- Belgian Beef Bourguignonne courtesy ManilaSpoon.Com

Ingredients

1 Kilo/ 2.2 lbs  Stewing beef (pref. chuck steak or roast), cubed
2 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 large Onion, chopped
4 Garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
1 (12 oz) Bottle of dark Belgian Beer
1 Bouquet Garni*
2 Tablespoons Vinegar (pref. wine vinegar)
2 Tablespoons brown Sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste

*Bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs usually tied together with a string or placed inside a small sachet and is cooked with the other ingredients but is removed before the food is served. The herbs may vary but the usual ones are  thyme, bay leaves and parsley. You can use fresh like the photo below or buy the dried ones in sachet.

Procedure

Liberally season the beef cubes with salt and pepper. You can also roll it in flour, if you wish. I wanted a thinner stew with lots of sauce and also a gluten-free version so I didn't bother with adding the flour.

Heat a deep pan like a Dutch oven. Melt the butter and oil using medium-high heat. Brown the cubed beef in batches to seal. Place the beef cubes in a large platter as you cook.

Saute the onions in the remaining fat in the pan until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or 2.

Return the meat to the pan and mix well with the onions and garlic. Pour in the beer. Add the bouquet garni, vinegar and brown sugar. Stir everything.

Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until the beef is fork tender. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Remove the bouquet garni. Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

Serve with fries, bread or rice! Pour all that yummy sauce on top!

Source - ManilaSpoon

Amazing Health Benefits of STINGING NETTLE - from Amazon Warriors

Super foods. They seem to be trending. So much ado about consuming these preciously nutritious products as part of our daily diets. Acai berries, quinoa, chia seeds, matcha, hemp seeds, raw cacao… It’s great that we are becoming more aware of the role good nutrition plays in our lives and that the accessibility of highly nutritious food is slowly improving. All great things for society!

POWERFUL LIVER DETOX JUICE and SCRUBBER - JUICE RECIPES

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• The Liver Scrubber

• Ingredients

  • Apple - 1 large (3-1/4" dia) 223g
  • Beet Greens (optional) - 3 leaf 96g
  • Beet Root - 1 beet (3" dia) 175g
  • Carrots - 4 medium 244g
  • Celery - 1 stalk, large (11"-12" long) 64g
  • Ginger Root - 1/2 thumb (1" dia) 12g

  Directions

  Process all ingredients in a juicer, shake or stir and serve.
  
  LIVER CLEANSE 
• The cleansing benefits of beet juice is very healing for liver toxicity or bile ailments, like jaundice, hepatitis, food poisoning, diarrhea or vomiting.
• Blood Cleanse
  Beets have been shown to help cleanse the blood, cleanse the colon and strengthen the gall bladder and liver.

  The high content of iron in beets regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells and supplies fresh oxygen to the body. The copper content in beets help make the iron more available to the body. A great blood builder.
• Weight Loss
  Beets are useful in helping cleanse the liver, and the liver helps metabolize fat.
• Energy
  Beets are high in carbohydrates which means they are a great instant energy source, but unlike processed foods which are high in carbohydrates, beets will energize your body. Beets can be regarded as body fuel.
• Digestion
  One of ginger's most touted health benefits is its ameliorating effects on digestive ailments. It can help digest fatty foods and break down proteins. It is excellent for reducing gas. Many people report that it will also relieve nausea, and can be effective in treating morning sickness as well as motion sickness.

  Apples contain a natural laxative. When juiced, it helps aid bowel movements. It is most effective when mixed with carrots and spinach juices, you can expect bowel movement the next day. Regularly eating apples also will ensure bowel movements due to its gel-forming fiber, pectin. It improves the intestinal muscle's ability to push waste through the gastrointestinal tract.

  Carrots have a cleansing action on the liver and helps it to release more bile, which will cause peristaltic action. This can help to relieve constipation and help with digestion.

  The cellulose content in beets help to ease bowel movements. Drinking beet juice regularly will help relieve chronic constipation.
• Colon Cancer Prevention
  One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.

  The pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color betacyanin-is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent. Beets' potential effectiveness against colon cancer, in particular, has been demonstrated in several studies.
• Detoxification
  The choline from beet juice detoxifies not only the liver, but also the entire system of excessive alcohol abuse.
• Improved Complexion
  The high quality vitamin C and other rich nutrients in carrot juice efficiently nourish the skin, preventing dry skin, psoriasis and other skin blemishes. It also has powerful cleansing properties that are effective in detoxifying the liver, which is overall effective for acne which can be caused by toxicity of the blood.

  Celery contains sodium, which has been called a youth maintainer in the body. It's loaded with minerals and contains vitamin C as well, which helps maintain elasticity of the skin.

  Ginger helps improve circulation to the skin. It is also a powerful cleansing agent that helps keep the skin free of blemishes.

  Apples contain vitamins A and C which prevent sagging skin, as well as copper for brightening and toning.
• Lower Cholesterol
  The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.

  Recent studies show that ginger might also have a role in lowering LDL cholesterol because the spice can help reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed.

  Pectin in carrots lowers the serum cholesterol levels.
• Lung Cancer Prevention
  According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.

  Beta-carotene consumption has been linked to reduced risk of several cancers, notably lung cancer. British researchers discovered that increasing beta-carotene consumption from 1.7 to 2.7 milligrams a day reduced lung cancer risk more than 40 percent. The average carrot contains about three milligrams of Beta-carotene. In a study, researchers found that eating fiber rich carrots reduce the risk of colon cancer by as much as 24 percent. Another study shows that women who ate raw carrots were five to eight times less likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not eat carrots.
• Heart Disease Prevention
  In a study meant to reveal therapeutic value of carrots researchers at the Wolfson Gastrointestinal Laboratory in Edinburgh, Scotland revealed that cholesterol level reduces by 11 percent if seven ounces of raw carrots a day is taken for three weeks. High cholesterol is a major factor for heart disease. Since regular consumption of carrots reduces cholesterol level it is good to prevent heart related problems. A group of Swedish scientists discovered that root vegetables can reduce the chances of having a heart attack. A study conducted at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Italy found that those who ate more carrots had one third the risk of heart attack as compared with those who ate fewer carrots.

  Medical studies have also shown that including beets in your diet helps protect a body against heart disease.
• Lower Blood Pressure
  Celery calms the nerve because of the high calcium content & helps in controlling high blood pressure. Raw celery should be eaten to reduce high blood pressure.

  All of the beet's healing and medicinal values effectively normalizes blood pressure, lowering high blood pressure or elevating low blood pressure.
• Stomach Cancer Prevention
  Beet root is a traditional treatment used for leukemia. Beet root contain an amino acid betaine which has an anti cancer properties. Red beet therapy, consisting of consumption of approximately two pounds of raw, mashed beets daily, has been favorably reported for cases of leukemia and tumors (includes cancer). Research also shows that beet juice can help inhibit the development of colon and stomach cancer.
• Improving Eyesight
  Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light. Since carrot is rich in vitamin A it is good for improving eyesight.
• Macular Degeneration Prevention
  This is a common eye disease of elderly. It impairs the macula. Researches found that people who ate the most Beta-carotene had a forty percent lower risk of macular degeneration compared with those who consumed the least.
• Reduce Water Retention
  Carrot juice is diuretic and helps to eliminate excess fluids from the body, reducing water retention, especially for women during their monthly menstruation cycle and in pregnant women.
• Stroke Prevention
  A carrot a day reduces stroke risk by 68 percent. Many studies have strengthened the “carrot effect” on brain. Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that those with highest levels of Beta carotene have the best survival rate.
• Alzheimer's Prevention
  A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.
• Asthma Help
  One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.
• Bone Protection
  French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.
• Breast Cancer Prevention
  A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.
• Increased Blood Circulation
  Being a warming herb, ginger can help knock out a fever. This property also makes it effective in stimulating circulation of the blood. It can also help relax muscles around the blood vessels and is said to help prevent blood clots from forming. The warming effects make it a natural decongestant as well as an antihistamine, making it the perfect remedy for colds.
• Liver Cancer Prevention
  Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.
• Immune System
  Carrots do wonders for boosting the immune system by increasing the production and performance of white blood cells; building resistant to various kinds of infections.
• Reduce Inflammation
  Ginger can also help reduce inflammation. So it can be used to treat any disease that is caused by inflammations such as arthritis or ulcerative colitis. Some studies show that it can even help inhibit the replication of the herpes simplex virus.
• Source : - Juice Recipes