The Healthy Nail Guide

  Experts also give you solutions to some common nail problems:

    * Yellow nails:
This probably means that you have been abusing your nails. "Frequent change of nail polish and no basecoat leads to yellow nails. We advise customers to change nail colour only after 15-20 days.
   
   * Take a break from polish for a couple of days. Your nails need a breather too!

   * Polish removers can dry your nails, so don’t use it too often. Also avoid the cheaper Acetone and opt for nail polish remover instead.
  
   * Chipping nails:
Including nuts in your diet will solve the problem of chipped nails. Apply an acrylic coat to protect the nails from chipping.
   
   * Ingrown nails:
This phenomenon is usually seen in toenails. The nail grows into the skin along the edge of the toe instead of over it. Go to a professional every 20 days to get the part penetrating the skin removed. The nail should to be filed in a round shape.

Finally, filing nails every week to make them look neat. Also don’t ignore the dirt stuck in your toe-nails, scrub it off daily for that well groomed pretty look! Follow these tips and let your hands do all the talking.

The Healthy Nail Guide

Pamper those nails

Nail specialists stress the importance of regular nail care. "Moisturise the cuticle regularly as it’s the most important part of your nail. If that is healthy, the nail will be healthy. Many people peel off dry cuticles. Instead they should oil them regularly.

The Healthy Nail Guide

You want to be perfectly groomed - your hair is never out of place, your face shines, make-up dare not smudge but one look at your nails, and they go "Eeeww"!! Those ugly, chipped nails can ruin it all.

If you thought getting dainty and pretty nails is difficult, you can’t be more wrong.
Follow this nail care guide for pretty nails ( also next 2 days):

Feed your way

Your nails and hair is an indicator of how healthy your body is. Nutritionists recommend including calcium in your diet along with other vitamins and minerals.

"Eat calcium-rich food like turnips, ragi, dry lotus stem and cow’s milk. You could take calcium supplements though it is better to get your calcium naturally."

Include plenty of nuts in your diet since they provide natural oils for the skin and nails. Soya protein will get you healthy nails. One can have it in the form of milk and tofu.

Ways to work out at home

Marching dishes 
 
Life is busy, so try to multitask if you don't have time to fit in a proper workout. When you are stuck in front of the sink doing dishes, march in place. You should try to incorporate exercise into your daily tasks whenever possible.

Follow these simple steps and you will feel fit.

Ways to work out at home

Commercial break exercise 
 
If you are a couch potato, then commercial break exercise bursts are right for you. When a commercial comes on, get up for a burst of intense exercise. Do some sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, or crunches. Get your heart rate up. When the show comes back, you can go back to it. Continue the cycle throughout your shows.

Ways to work out at home

Rolling chair presses 
 
If you have an office chair with wheels then you can do some arm workouts right at your desk. Just hold onto the edge of your desk while you are seated in the chair, and use your arm muscles to pull yourself close to the desk, and then push yourself back away. This will work your biceps.

Ways to work out at home

You don't need an expensive membership to a fitness club or a personal trainer to be healthy and fit. Some easy workouts can be done from the comfort of your own living room.

Not only does it give you privacy, but also a certain level of convenience and a relaxed ambience. You could exercise alone or call a friend over but always check with your doctor before starting an exercise program. Here are a few simple things you could do.

(Will also be discussed in next three days)

Stair climbing 
 
If you have a staircase at home, you can get a great workout by simply climbing the stairs. To start, step up onto the first stair, and then back down. Repeat this move on the first stair ten times. Then walk up the first two stairs, and then back down. Repeat this ten times. You will definitely feel the burn by the end of this step routine. If you feel winded or dizzy, start slow. Stick with the first three stairs, and gradually build up your endurance over the weeks and months to come.

Time to get a detox plan

 Tips to be followed under detox plan 
 
Gradually reduce drinks that contain caffeine to no more than four a day. Replace with water or herbal teas.

Eat porridge, muesli, apples, pears or pulses such as beans and lentils once a day.

 
Cut out as much processed food as possible, including most ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, all ready meals and all fast and junk food.

Avoid adding salt to your cooking and at the table, to shed up to 1.36 kg of excess stored water.

 Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Have orange and beetroot detox juice once a day.

Try fruit or a handful of unsalted nuts if you want a between-meals snack.

Time to get a detox plan

How and when...
 
Ideally one should be on a detox diet for a week, every three months, but you can also detox every weekend. 

"If you are obese and suffering from chronic diseases then you are vulnerable to bingeing. So you can detox every weekend. If you have high cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure, detox every two months. And if you are leading a stressful life, make sure you do it on quarterly basis."
 
And while on a detox diet, you must avoid caffeine, food stuff with preservatives, sugar and fatty junk food. So no alcohol and so smoking.

Time to get a detox plan

Warning 
 
Not everyone can hop on the detox wagon.

"Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and those diagnosed with thyroid, liver and kidney problems should not go on a detox diet." 

Meanwhile those on multi-vitamins can avoid their medication while on detox. 

"However, one should not detox for long term without medication. And medicines for diabetes, hypertension, thyroid and heart problems need to be continued while on detox. In such cases, it is best to consult an expert, so that a detox diet can be modified to meet the needs of the patient."

Time to get a detox plan

If you love your body, learn to listen to it. Because if you've been feeling stresses or lethargic, or have an irritated skin or bags under the eyes, it's probably time to go on a detox diet. In fact it is recommended once every three months, "After all, we breathe polluted air, and consume food derived from farms treated with pesticides."

Though our body is somewhat protected from toxins by barriers like our skin, lungs and gastrointestinal system, the foreign compounds that cross these barriers are shuttled to the body's detoxification system." Yes, our body has a mutlilayered mechanism to keep harmful elements at bay, and even flush those, that make their way in. And a detox diet helps put the latter mechanism to better effect by helping flush the chemicals that make their way into our system. 

"In fact the idea of fasting in many cultures helps to cleanse the system of the toxins. For those who aren't comfortable with fasting, an easy alternative is to eat right." 

Including today and the next four days i will be providing you with a detox plan...

Diet plan
A good detox plan should contain 60 per cent liquids and 40 per cent solids, according to experts. Rule number one is to hydrate your body. Drink lots of juices of fruits like watermelon, papaya, even cucumber. "However, avoid grapefruit juice, as it contains certain compounds that act as a blocking agent to body's detox mechanism."

And for the solid constituent,most advises to concentrate on a menu of veggies. 
 "Dark green leafy vegetables and the varieties from the cabbage family. Also include berries, onion and seeds like flax, sesame, sunflower and pumpkin. Some of the essential herbs like Angelica root, birch leaves, chamomile, parsley and red beet root help detox the liver." Among the fruits, pineapple and payaya are great for cleansing.

Indian foods that cut fat

 

Cinnamon and cloves:

 Used extensively in Indian cooking, the spices have been found to improve the function of insulin and to lower glucose, total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes.

Indian foods that cut fat

Millets : 

 Fibre-rich foods such as millets - jowar, bajra, ragi, etc - absorb cholesterol and help increase the secretion of the bile that emulsifies fats.

Indian foods that cut fat

Moong dal : 

The bean sprouts are rich in Vitamin A, B, C and E and many minerals, such as calcium, iron and potassium. It is recommended as a food replacement in many slimming programes, as it has a very low fat content. It is a rich source of protein and fibre, which helps lower blood cholesterol level. The high fibre content yields complex carbohydrates, which aid digestion, are effective in stabilising blood sugar and prevent its rapid rise after meal consumption.

Indian foods that cut fat

Honey : 

It is a home remedy for obesity. It mobilises the extra fat deposits in the body allowing it to be utilised as energy for normal functions. One should start with about 10 grams or a tablespoon, taken with hot water early in the morning.

Indian foods that cut fat

Buttermilk : 

It is the somewhat sour, residual fluid that is left after butter is churned. The probiotic food contains just 2.2 grams of fat and about 99 calories, as compared to whole milk that contains 8.9 grams fat and 157 calories. Regular intake provides the body with all essential nutrients and does not add fats and calories to the body. It is thus helpful in weight loss. 

Indian foods that cut fat

Mustard oil :

This has low saturated fat compared to other cooking oils. It has fatty acid, oleic acid, erucic acid and linoleic acid. It contains antioxidants, essential vitamins and reduces cholesterol, which is good for the heart. 

Indian foods that cut fat

Curry leaves : 

Incorporating curry leaves into your daily diet can help you lose weight. These leaves flush out fat and toxins, reducing fat deposits that are stored in the body, as well as reducing bad cholesterol levels. If you are overweight, incorporate eight to 10 curry leaves into your diet daily. Chop them finely and mix them into a drink, or sprinkle them over a meal.

Indian foods that cut fat

Garlic :

 An effective fat-burning food, garlic contains the sulphur compound allicin which has anti-bacterial effects and helps reduce cholesterol and unhealthy fats. 

Indian foods that cut fat

Chillies : 

Foods containing chillies are said to be as foods that burn fat. Chillies contain capsaicin that helps in increasing the metabolism. Capsaicin is a thermogenic food, so it causes the body to burn calories for 20 minutes after you eat the chillies.

Indian foods that cut fat

Cardamom : 

This is a thermogenic herb that increases metabolism and helps burn body fat. Cardamom is considered one of the best digestive aids and is believed to soothe the digestive system and help the body process other foods more efficiently.

Indian foods that cut fat

 You don't have to acquire a taste for olive oil, seaweed or soya to maintain a low-fat, healthy diet. Indian cuisine can be healthy too, if it's cooked with oil and ingredients that take care of your heart and health.

Ayurveda suggests you include all tastes — sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter and astringent — in at least one meal each day, to help balance unnatural cravings. Here are 11 foods that can help you lose weight and gain health, that we l be telling you in the next 11 days from now :

Turmeric : 

Curcumin, the active component of turmeric, is an object of research owing to its properties that suggest they may help to turn off certain genes that cause scarring and enlargement of the heart. Regular intake may help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol and high blood pressure, increase blood circulation and prevent blood clotting, helping to prevent heart attack.

5 Tips for eating out

The idea here is to be realistic with your self. If you do eat out frequently (yes once a week is frequent enough), don’t lie to your self by saying, ‘it’s ok, just this once, this doesn’t happen everyday’. No it does not happen everyday, but remember that even once a week over time adds to those stubborn pounds.

If you eat out infrequently then by all means indulge your self every once in a while and feel free to ignore the tips below.

Here are some tips on what to order (or what not to order) when you’re going out to eat.

1) Say no to the drink

If the agenda is to step out for a good meal, then say no to the afterthought drink. When the waiter asks you if you would like something to drink, firmly shake your head and say no. Those mocktails, soft drinks, and fruit punch glasses add a huge number of empty calories to your meal in a very subtle way. Before you know it, you will have consumed enough of calories to overtake your entire home cooked meal and then some. Whatever you eat after that is just extra. Keep this in mind the next time a pink creamy drink with an umbrella entices you with her feminine wiles.

2) Eat the appetizers

The appetizers, unless they're fried, are healthier (the paneer, mushroom, or chicken kebabs) than the main meal of creamy gravies and butter soaked naans. Make sure, you eat the appetizers well. There are always healthy choices on every menu for people who are watching what they eat. Try and order some mixed veggies, some greens, and some white meat for starters so that you are 80% full by the time the main course comes around.  Needless to say that if you order fried cheese balls for appetizers, the above does not hold true and you only have yourself to blame.

3) Eat the salads

Nowadays, because presentation is king, most meals come with pretty side salads. Help your self to the salads on the table even if everyone else is pretending that they have not seen it and are trying their level best to ignore its existence. This will help satiate your appetite and you will not end up over eating on other far less healthy food.


4) Don’t over eat

If you’ve come to dinner after a long day, hungry, then chances are you will over-eat by eating quickly. Instead try a soup first or grab a handful of nuts before getting to dinner. This will ensure that you can eat slowly without swallowing your food and your stomach will tell you when to stop. Make sure you listen to your body and stop when it tells you to.

5) Avoid the Dessert

Ok I’ve hit on a nerve here. This is, by far, the hardest of them all, isn't it? Well, how about sharing. A couple of bites will not harm you too much, but an entire dessert? After eating a sumptuous and satisfying meal, do you really need to eat another meal? How many times have you gone home holding your stomach, groaning and vowing that you will not over indulge the next time? Well now’s the time to make amends. You can substitute dessert by carrying a bar of dark chocolate or some chocolate-coated nuts with you. You can satisfy the sweet craving without going all out. Maybe ask for a cup of coffee instead. It leaves a great after taste and while everyone else is chomping down the dessert you can busy yourself with exploring the exotic flavours of rich coffee.


So here they are: 5 practical ways to avoid feeling guilty when you eat out. You will be surprised to see how easy they are to implement when you decide to give these 5 tips for eating out a shot.

Cut out the preservatives

Our ancestors used natural methods of preserving foods. Among the earliest preservatives were sugar and salt.

But after Louis Pasteur proved that it was the presence of bacteria that caused food to spoil, there is a tendency to consider all microorganisms harmful. Today, food industry uses nearly 6,000 chemicals to preserve foods. Highly attractive food packaging, taste-enhancers and convenience for the busy mothers are making our next generation dependent on packaged and processed which is taking them towards many health-related disorders.

But do you know the Ill-effects of artificial preservatives... here are some: 

- Benzoic acid or sodium benzoate
  is added to margarine, fruit juices, and carbonated beverages. It can produce severe allergic reaction.

- Sulfur dioxide
 is a toxin used in dried fruits and molasses (jiggery or gur) as well as to prevent brown spots on peeled fresh foods such as potatoes and apples. It bleaches out rot, hiding inferior fruits and vegetables. In the process, it destroys the vitamin B contained in produce.

- Colouring agents
Many colouring agents are derived from coal tar, and nearly all colouring is synthetic. Though some artificial food dyes have been banned because they are believed to cause cancer, most dyes used today are of the artificial variety. They are also linked to allergies, asthmas, and hyperactivity.

- The long list of foods and beverages in which colour is altered includes butter, margarine, the skins of oranges and potatoes, popcorn, maraschino cherries, hot dogs, jellies, jellybeans, carbonated beverages, and canned strawberries and peas.

- Even the chicken feed on large-scale egg farms is coloured so that chickens will lay golden-yolked eggs similar to those laid by free-range chickens.

- Sweeteners
 Most processed foods contain sweeteners, many of which are artificial sugar substitutes containing no natural sugars, such as saccharine and aspartame.

- Artificial sweeteners present in aerated drinks and artificially coloured and flavoured beverages are linked to behavioural problems, hyperactivity, and allergies. Because saccharin was shown to increase the incidence of bladder cancer in animal testing, all foods containing this sugar substitute are required to carry a warning label.

- Emulsifiers, thickeners and stabilisers 
 used in cream, butter, mayonnaise and ice-creams are known to cause neurological disorders and skin allergies.

- MSG (monosodium glutamate) 
is a popular flavour-enhancer. It causes common allergic and behavioural reactions, including headaches, dizziness, chest pains, depression and mood swings, and is also a possible neurotoxin.

- Potassium bromate 
is a chemical added to flour to make bread rise better and give it a uniform consistency. Most of what is added to flour breaks down during the cooking process into bromide. An excess intake of bromide has been associated with the inhibition of iodine enzyme metabolism, which weakens the thyroid and kidneys. The potassium bromate that isn't broken down remains in the baked good and is a known carcinogen. Numerous petitions have been made to the FDA to ban this ingredient and many flour mills have voluntarily stopped adding it to their products. This food additive is banned in most countries.

- Diacetyl
is a chemical that imparts the buttery flavour in microwave popcorn. It has a disease named after it because many microwave popcorn factory workers exposed to it have developed a lung condition called diacetyl-induced bronchiolitis obliterans or "Popcorn worker's lung".

- Ehedrine
is a stimulant that works on the central nervous system. It is a common ingredient in energy drinks, weight-loss products and decongestants, but it often poses a threat to the health of the heart. It should not be taken without proper guidance and after reviewing the medical history of the person consuming it. 

It's time parents and all the health professionals take serious responsibility to protect our youth from the dangerously harmful effects of the processed and preserved foods, and it is the duty of the youth to understand the consequences of these preservatives...

Eat your way to a healthy life!

 Yogurt

Yogurt or dahi is a great source of calcium that is essential for maintainence and strengthening of the bones. A good source of proteins, they are especially good for vegetarians who are deprived of proteins from eggs and meat and people who are lactose-intolerant. Yogurt also helps in digestion and weight loss. Opt for low-fat yogurt for best results.

Eat your way to a healthy life!

 















Grape fruits
Grape fruits are great if you want to lose weight. They also help lower blood sugar levels, which is beneficial to diabetic patients. This is because grape fruits contain pectin, a substance that helps in lowering the rate at which carbohydrates (glucose) in the bloodstream.

Eat your way to a healthy life!

 












Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away' isn't just a proverb, it is quite true! Apples contain fibre that is good for maintaining your digestive system. They are rich sources of vitamin A, C and E, phosphorous, magnesium and potassium and contain anti-oxidants that help prevent and fight cancer.