health tips and tricks.

Fight Holiday Weight Gain With This Tasty Root
 

Ginger isn't just for cookies this time of year—it can also prevent you from packing on pounds, says new research from the European Journal of Nutrition. Researchers found that women who consumed dried ginger daily for 12 weeks significantly lowered their body mass indexes, compared with a placebo group. For that, credit ginger's ability to reduce insulin, the body's fat-storing hormone. Previous studies showed ginger also curbs hunger. Both fresh and dried varieties will do the trick, but for max flavor, fresh is best.

Lose weight this Ramadan with 6 easy food tips

Ramadan may be a chance for you to indulge in your favorite foods. That’s the least you’ll deserve after a day of fasting, right? On the other hand, it can also be the perfect opportunity for the new healthy beginning your body has been craving. If you want to lose weight this Ramadan, you simply have to follow these six must-dos!

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

Although it may seem like mission impossible with the long fasting hours this year, hydration is key to weight loss this Ramadan. Drinking enough fluids will not only keep you from becoming dehydrated while you fast, but it will also control your sugar cravings after you break your fast. How much should you aim for? A good two liters or eight glasses of fluids a day will suffice, and it can be broken down like this:

• Two glasses at iftar (the breaking of the fast)

• Four glasses in between iftar and suhur (the meal before the fast) - not more than one glass per hour

• Two glasses at suhur

Keep in mind that caffeinated drinks such as coffee or black tea do not count and it would be best to avoid these diuretic drinks all together. Instead, herbal teas make a great alternative to water and may aid your digestion.

Have a light, balanced iftar 

In Ramadan, your metabolism slows down and your energy needs decrease as a result. The iftar meal isn’t supposed to make up those hours you spent without food. Forget that you haven’t eaten all day and imagine you have sat down for your dinner meal and eat accordingly.Break your fast with dates as they are a quick source of the sugar your body needs after a fast. You don’t need to have more than one date as dates are quite high in sugar. Then, go for a small portion of soup, such as a vegetable or lentil soup, and avoid cream based soups. Follow it with a mixed vegetable salad and limit the amount of olive oil in the dressing to 1-2 teaspoons. Skip all other appetizers including the carbohydrate rich ones.

When you are done with your appetizers, it is important to take a break. You don’t want to overwhelm your digestive system. Complete your prayers, take a five minute walk, or hold a conversation. When you’re ready to resume your meal, choose only one main dish, choose wisely and avoid fried dishes, make sure it is balanced in carbs and protein, and most importantly control your portions.

Don’t skip Suhur

It’s true that your “eating hours” are quite limited this year, but this doesn’t give you an excuse to forgo your suhur meal, the pre-dawn breakfast before the fast. Skipping your suhur will get you hungrier the next day and you will end up overeating for iftar.

When choosing your suhur however, make sure it is limited in salt to avoid getting thirsty the next day. It should also be composed of complex carbs such as whole grain bread, instead of white refined bread, and it should contain a good source of protein such as labneh, cheese or eggs. This combination will ensure you have a stable level of glucose in your blood so you don’t get hungry the next day.Fasting is not an excuse for us to sleep all day or be lazy. In Ramadan, you should maintain your usual daily activity level to a certain extent, but do avoid the sun and heat at its peak.

  Remember that you’ll be burning more fat than ever on an empty stomach. After you break your fast, aim for 30 min of vigorous exercise a day that you can do from home such as burpees, lunges, sit-ups and squats. Ask your trainer for a personalized home plan that is suitable for you.

Skip processed sugar

It seems the number one cause of weight gain in Ramadan is not the food you eat for iftar. You guessed it, it’s the sugar you consume from Ramadan beverages and sweets.

This Ramadan, challenge yourself to only eat naturally occurring sugar such as fruits, dried fruits, molasses and honey. This will be life changing and oh so effective in ensuring a nice surprise the next time you stand on the scale.

 

12 Strange-But-True Health Tips

 

Crazy health tricks that really work

Many methods to improve your health are pretty straightforward: to lose weight, eat less and exercise more; to boost your energy, get more sleep; to prevent dehydration, drink more water. Others, however, are totally counterintuitive. The following 12 tips really do work—but they may leave you scratching your head.

 

''Lip Lip sort and save''

Lip Lip sort and save

 

Winds out of the frost, winter set in after a few days of fun and rightly basalei smoke lifted bhapa eating cake. But without the constraints put warm pithaya bite! Have burst lip. Rather than start from now, whether to attend the winter to protect the lips. Ranate choose any colors in the lip, too, experts say. It is in this context with Ayurvedic rupabisesajna Rahima Sultana. He said, the lips dry weather, lack of moisture and dehydration in the body. The lips are gonna go up to the coarseness of our lips. How to take care of lips fresh and tender, and the advice he gave.Lip Balm Lip Balm moisture karunathomte use all the time you need to use or petroleum jelly. After the rupture of the lips, but will start using it already, then you will not be afraid of the lips burst.Many vegan lips dry lips with the tongue, it can not be done at all. Lip Balm can be with all the time. Lip Balm with SPF 15 is available to buy on the market. It protects the lips from the sun's heat.The equivalent of one day a week, and petroleum jelly mixed with honey on the lips and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Then gently remove with a clean cotton, it will soften the lips.Keep lips soft sesame oil may be used.
The equivalent of glycerin and olive oil mixed together mayescaraijarera grids will work perfectly.
Those people have the tendency to burst extra lip, the rice powder mixed with a little water and put it on the lips of 15 to 0 minutes, the mixture. The skins are easy to come up with the lip die.
The extra cold, dark lips can be a lot of time. Rahima Sultana, extra tea, coffee, drinking and smoking may also have black lips.
.Lip Maintain normal color and pink tint in some way suggests Rahima Sultana.
Bethe honey mixed with rose petals 0 minutes, put it on the lips, the lips will appear in a pink coloring.
 

Tulaya raw milk, rub, soak for 10 to 15 minutes.Nigrescent almond oil in order to prevent the lip is quite beneficial.The Holy Family Hospital, Professor, Department of disease Afzalul with confidence. He said, this time because of moisture in the air is less dry and rough skin of their feet was like the lip. Lipajela or cream on the lips when the time-out he said something to use. However, there was an increase in the incidence of gel-national prasadhanite dhulabalura more may be trapped in the dust. So out came the first or thin cotton cloth can clean wet lips. After planting, water again and put petroleum jelly or glycerine should be of good quality.Panisunyata the body to remove large amounts of cold water, hot soup, fresh fruit juice experts advise eating.

Use bold lipstick colors that go perfectly ekhanathomta ranabaPersona Nuzhat Khan told reporters, shocking or too high for a long time is the color of lipastikagulo, lately has been more than a little dark shade ranguloi. Dark purple, berry color, brick red, coffee, berry color is now. The omabre calao now popular style of lipstick. Lip around the middle part of the same color by using bold colors to give a relatively light shade of lipstick omabre style. Nuzhat told, the colors are beautiful as it could be mixed very well.This season Matt lipastike lips may feel more dry. So, before applying lipstick lips moist and tender with petroleum jelly can be. However, weather conditions applied lipstick is glossy or worms.Tulaya olive oil to come from outside the plant to make sure the full impact of lipstick. There are many delicate lip skin, so it should not be rubbed out, gently remove any definition ghasei.

Health Benefits of Green Tea.11 Benefits of Green Tea That You Didn’t Know About

  

 

Why Green Tea? 

Green tea has been used as a medicine for thousands of years, originating in China but widely used throughout Asia this beverage has a multitude of uses from lowering blood pressure to preventing cancer. The reason that green tea has more health benefits attached to it than black tea is (apparently) due to the processing. Black tea is processed in a way that allows for fermentation whereas green tea’s processing avoids the fermentation process. As a result, green tea retains maximum amount of antioxidants and poly-phenols the substances that give green tea its many benefits.Here’s a list of some of its amazing benefits — benefits that you may not have been aware of. Some of these benefits are still being debated, so please do your own research if you want to use green tea for medicinal purposes.

1. Weight Loss. Green tea increases the metabolism. The polyphenol found in green tea works to intensify levels of fat oxidation and the rate at which your body turns food into calories.
2. Diabetes. Green tea apparently helps regulate glucose levels slowing the rise of blood sugar after eating. This can prevent high insulin spikes and resulting fat storage.
3. Heart Disease. Scientists think, green tea works on the lining of blood vessels, helping keep them stay relaxed and better able to withstand changes in blood pressure. It may also protect against the formation of clots, which are the primary cause of heart attacks.
4. Esophageal Cancer. It can reduce the risk of esophageal cancer, but it is also widely thought to kill cancer cells in general without damaging the healthy tissue around them.
5. Cholesterol. Green tea reduces bad cholesterol in the blood and improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
6. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It is said to delay the deterioration caused by Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Studies carried out on mice showed that green tea protected brain cells from dying and restored damaged brain cells.
7. Tooth Decay. Studies suggests that the chemical antioxidant “catechin” in tea can destroy bacteria and viruses that cause throat infections, dental caries and other dental conditions
8. Blood Pressure. Regular consumption of green tea is thought to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
9. Depression. Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in tea leaves. It is this substance that is thought to provide a relaxing and tranquilizing effect and be a great benefit to tea drinkers.
10. Anti-viral and Anti-bacterial. Tea catechins are strong antibacterial and antiviral agents which make them effective for treating everything from influenza to cancer. In some studies green tea has been shown to inhibit the spread of many diseases.
11. Skincare. Green tea can apparently also help with wrinkles and the signs of aging, This is because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Both animal and human studies have demonstrated that green tea applied topically can reduce sun damage.

How Much?

These are some of the many benefits but the reality is one cup of tea a day will not give you all the abundant gains. The jury is out on how many cups are necessary; some say as little as two cups a day while others five cups — and more still say you can drink up to ten cups a day. If you are thinking of going down this route, you may want to consider taking a green tea supplement instead (it would keep you out of the bathroom).
Another thing to point out is that there is caffeine in green tea — so if you are sensitive to caffeine then one cup should be your limit. Green tea also contains tannins (which can decrease the absorption of iron and folic acid), so if you are pregnant or trying to conceive then green tea may not be ideal for you. You can try mixing green tea with other healthy ingredients such as ginger.

''5 Reasons to Eat Watermelon ''

5 Reasons to Eat Watermelon

Reasons to Eat Watermelon:

Watermelon evokes the perfect summer day; golden sunlight, green grass, the smell of sunscreen, and the refreshing splash of the lake. From hydration to heart health, here are 5 reasons to eat watermelon at your next picnic or party, or as your new summer snack:

1. Hydration 

Eating a slice of watermelon is basically like having a glass of water (they’re 90% H2O, after all). Not only that, this hydrating snack also contains electrolytes, important minerals that help your body keep the water it needs. Electrolytes are an often-overlooked part of staying properly hydrated, especially in the sweaty summer months. Snacking on watermelon is a tasty way to ensure your body is getting the electrolytes it needs.

2. Nutrition

Watermelon may be 90% water, but the other 10% is full of nourishing goodies – a fair size wedge of watermelon can contain about a third of the vitamin A and C you need daily. Sounds pretty good, right? Add in B vitamins, copper, magnesium, and plenty of fibre, and watermelon is a treasure trove of nutrition. Plus, it’s extremely low in calories. Don’t forget to eat the seeds –  they’re a valuable source of zinc and iron.

3. Antioxidants

From vitamins A and C to a wealth of phytonutrients, watermelon is one juicy antioxidant bomb. The antioxidants in watermelon fight free radicals throughout your body, protecting your cells, supporting healthy inflammatory processes and your body’s systems.

4. Heart Health

If you’ve heard of the antioxidant lycopene, you’re likely thinking about tomatoes right now, but watermelon also contains a lot of this beneficial phytonutrient – that’s where the red hue comes from. You can thank lycopene for fending off free radicals and promoting cardiovascular health. For the best benefits, be sure your watermelon is quite ripe, as lycopene is highly concentrated in ripe fruit. Watermelon is also high in potassium, a mineral vital to healthy heart function.

5. Taste!

This should really be number one, because a truly healthy diet is also one you enjoy, and watermelon was made for your taste buds!
Eat watermelon the same way you embrace other pleasures in life – with plenty of enthusiasm, and good friends.

10 Incredible Health Benefits of Oranges

 

Renowned for their hefty concentrations of vitamin C, oranges are one of the juiciest, sweetest, and most delicious fruits out there! The incredible health benefits of oranges not only help energize and revitalize the body, but they help remove excess mucoid plaque from the digestive tract and lining of our arterial walls.It’s no wonder that these orange globes, vibrating with only the purest of life energy, are one of the most popular fruits in the world! Here are 10 reasons you should start eating more oranges, if you haven’t already! 

 

 1. Heart Protection

Heart-healthy phytonutrients called herperidin’s in oranges have been shown to lower high blood pressure. This citrus fruit also offers protection against cardiovascular disease, thanks to the high folate concentration in oranges (a compound necessary for lowering homocysteine levels, a cardiovascular risk factor).

2. Anti-Cancer

Studies have shown cancer-risk reductions of over 40-50% in individuals who consumed citrus fruits! Oranges contain limonoids, which help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. These little guys hang around for a long time in the body (up to 24 hours!), which explains why they are such potent anti-carcinogens that help prevent cancerous cells from proliferating.

3. Cholesterol-Lowering

Limonin in oranges is also a great cholesterol-lowering compound. LDL, or “bad” cholesterol as you might hear it called, requires Apo B (a structural protein) for LDL production, transport and binding. Limonin, thankfully, helps reduce Apo B levels, and thus, reduces LDL cholesterol levels.

4. Kidney Support

Oranges are great for helping prevent kidney stones, and to keep toxins filtering out of the kidneys at a steady pace. Drinking 1/2 – 1 litre of orange juice (or grapefruit/apple juice) per day, can help reduce the pH value of your urine, while increasing citric acid excretion. This will, in turn, drop your risk for forming kidney stones!

5. Digestive Health

Tired of getting ulcers? Or maybe you just want to prevent one from happening. Well, oranges will be your new best friend! The high vitamin C levels in oranges help protect our body from the Heliobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria responsible for causing peptic ulcers. Recurrent peptic ulcers can increase your risk for developing stomach cancer later in life, so making sure you avoid ulcers altogether is crucial in terms of maintaining good digestive health. Drink at least 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice a day! Your tummy will love you for it!Not to mention, oranges are also loaded with fibre, which means a healthy colon too

6. Anti-Inflammatory

Oranges are loaded with anti-inflammatories. They contain beneficial phytonutrients like carotenoids, zeaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin, which can significantly reduce your risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (an inflammatory disease). In fact, individuals who had the highest zeaxanthin intake were 52% less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis!In fact, vitamin C prevents the free radical damage to DNA, which normally triggers the inflammatory cascade associated with conditions such as asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Drinking 1-2 cups of freshly squeezed orange juice per day, will help your body stay healthy, and ward off any inflammatory conditions waiting to arise

7. Immune Support

Oranges are renowned for their vitamin C content, and we all know that vitamin C helps steer away nasty bugs, bacteria and viruses. Vitamin C is important for helping prevent cell damage by eradicating free radicals and protecting our DNA (aka. cancer prevention). Not only that, but vitamin C helps in the functioning of a healthy immune system and is great for preventing colds, flus and ear infections.

 8. Vision Protection

That bright orange colour is a good sign that these tasty fruits are loaded with carotenoid compounds which are converted to vitamin A in the body and help prevent macular degeneration and night blindness.

 9. Healthy, Happy Skin

Oranges are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, all crucial components of ensuring beautiful, problem-free skin! The carotenoid antioxidants in oranges also help give the skin a beautiful glow and can help you look sun-kissed year-round.

 10. Alkalizing

You might be thinking, “but wait, oranges are super acidic!” Well, yes, they are, outside of the body. Once these fruits enter into our digestive tract, their rich alkaline minerals help to balance out the body, ensuring our pH levels are in tip-top shape. Similarly, lemons, which are highly “acidic” are actually one of the most alkaline foods out there!