Thursday, July 16, 2009

calcium in a balanced way - Health and Beauty Tips

Our bones and teeth contains 99 percent of total calcium of our body and only 1 percent goes in the rest of the parts like muscles, blood, cells etc.

We need very good care of our bones and teeth and should take that diet which is full of calcium supplements. Do not ever hesitate to take those food items, which contain calcium in excess. Some people wrongly assume that some food items like drinking milk make us fat. If we will finely drain the cream and reduce the calorie level from milk then it will not make as fat.

Any food item having calcium in it actually helps our body to reduce the fats level. Calcium increases our digestion process and helps to reduce or finish fats. If we will make calcium one of the necessary elements of our everyday life, then it will help us in reducing extra weight.

We have so many sources to get calcium, like green vegetables, almonds, oranges, some other fresh fruits, and especially dairy products, milk, yogurt, cheese, ice-cream etc.

So if you will eat & drink any source of calcium in a balanced way, you will not face any problem.

What colour are you eating

What colour are you eating?


The colour of the food you eat affects your mind and body
Every living being on this planet carries a different vibration, so colours really do play an important role in our life. The body’s functions are dictated by the chakras , the main energy centre of the body. If you are eating the same foods all the time you will not be providing your body with the colours and vibrations which it requires. Eating different coloured food can keep you healthy, as well as change your mood and behaviour.

Here is a list of colours, which can change your life.

Blue/Purple
Blue is considered to be peaceful and calming and they have same affect on our health. The blue/purple colour in food is due primarily to their anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins are antioxidants that are particularly heart healthy and may help support healthy blood pressure. Out of all the blue and purple food available, blueberries are considered to have the highest antioxidant activity. An analysis of the latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study (NHANES), a survey of eating and health habits, found that people who eat purple and blue fruits and vegetables are at a reduced risk for both high blood pressure and low HDL cholesterol and are also less likely to be overweight.

Dr. Bhavesh Saxena, a food and health expert, says “The darker the blue colour, the more beneficial it is. Blue and purple colour foods helps people suffering from heart diseases by preventing clot formation, and they also lower the risk of cancer.”

Foods that contain blue and purple colours are raddish, eggplant (especially the skin), blueberries, blackberries, prunes, plums, pomegranates and purple grapes

Green
We all know that we should eat our greens as green symbolises nature. The natural plant pigment chlorophyll colours green fruits and vegetables. The green foods represents foods rich in isothiocyanates, which induce enzymes in the liver that assist the body in removing potentially dangerous compounds. Green vegetables and fruits contain isothiocyanates, which have anticancer properties

Dr. Ashok Agarwal, a food and nutrition secialist, explains “They are excellent sources of vitamin K, folic acid, potassium, as well as carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. Folic acid is needed to prevent neural tube defects during pregnancy, while vitamin K is essential in blood clot formation. Diets high in potassium are associated with lowering blood pressure. The colour green makes you feel healthier overall and has the potential to help you eat healthier foods. “

Foods that contain the green colour are: Broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, brussels and sprouts

Red
It is known fact that restaurants usually splash red colour around the décor since it encourages patrons to eat more and to eat faster. Lycopene is the predominant pigment in reddish fruits and veggies. It is a powerful antioxidant that has been associated with a reduced risk of some cancers, especially prostate cancer, and also provides protection against heart attacks. Tomatoes help support the health of prostate and breast tissue.

Dr. Ashok Agarwal, food & nutrition specialist, says, “Cooked tomato sauces are associated with greater health benefits as compared with the uncooked version as the heating process allows lycopene, to be more easily absorbed by the body, Obtaining optimal benefit from nutrients in food, especially produce, depends on proper selection, storage, and cooking of the produce.”

Foods that contain red colour are: Tomatoes and tomato products, watermelon, guava, cranberries, red onions, red chili peppers, red apples, red grapes, cherries, etc.

Yellow/Green
Yellow is an energising colour, it stimulates the appetite and is said to help improve memory.

Dr. Bhavesh Saxena, M.B.B.S & food expert says, “With a variation of the green colour, these foods exhibit a richness in lutein, which is particularly beneficial for eye health and is also high in vitamin C.”

Foods that contain yellow/green colours are: Avocado, kiwifruit, spinach, pistachios, etc

Orange
The orange group foods are also rich in beta-carotene, which are particularly good antioxidants. These foods are commonly considered eyesight foods because they contain vitamin A.

“Orange fruits and vegetables also play a part in preventing cancer, particularly of the lung, esophagus, and stomach. They may also reduce the risk of heart diseases and improve immune function," adds Dr. Agarwal.

Foods that contain the colour orange are: Carrots, mangoes, cantaloupe, winter squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, apricots, etc.

70 Uses Of Salt

Soak stained hankies in salt water before washing.
Sprinkle salt on your shelves to keep ants away.
Soak fish in salt water before descaling; the scales will come off easier.
Put a few grains of rice in your salt shaker for easier pouring.
Add salt to green salads to prevent wilting..
Test the freshness of eggs in a cup of salt water; fresh eggs sink; bad ones float.
Add a little salt to your boiling water when cooking eggs; a cracked egg will stay in its shell this way.
A tiny pinch of salt with egg whites makes them beat up fluffier.
Soak wrinkled apples in a mildly salted water solution to perk them up.
Rub salt on your pancake griddle and your flapjacks won't stick.
Soak toothbrushes in salt water before you first use them; they will last longer.
Use salt to clean your discolored coffee pot.
Mix salt with turpentine to whiten you bathtub and toilet bowl.
Soak your nuts in salt brine overnight and they will crack out of their shells whole. Just tap the end of the shell with a hammer to break it open easily.
Boil clothespins in salt water before using them and they will last longer.
Clean brass, copper and pewter with paste made of salt and vinegar, thickened with flour
Add a little salt to the water your cut flowers will stand in for a longer life.
Pour a mound of salt on an ink spot on your carpet; let the salt soak up the stain.
Clean your iron by rubbing some salt on the damp cloth on the ironing surface.
Adding a little salt to the water when cooking foods in a double boiler will make the food cook faster.
Use a mixture of salt and lemon juice to clean piano keys.
To fill plaster holes in your walls, use equal parts of salt and starch, with just enough water to make a stiff putty.
Rinse a sore eye with a little salt water.
Mildly salted water makes an effective mouthwash. Use it hot for a sore throat gargle.
Dry salt sprinkled on your toothbrush makes a good tooth polisher.
Use salt for killing weeds in your lawn.
Eliminate excess suds with a sprinkle of salt.
A dash of salt in warm milk makes a more relaxing beverage.
Before using new glasses, soak them in warm salty water for awhile.
A dash of salt enhances the taste of tea. ?
Salt improves the taste of cooking apples.
Soak your clothes line in salt water to prevent your clothes from freezing to the line; likewise, use salt in your final rinse to prevent the clothes from freezing.
Rub any wicker furniture you may have with salt water to prevent yellowing.
Freshen sponges by soaking them in salt water.
Add raw potatoes to stews and soups that are too salty.
Soak enamel pans in salt water overnight and boil salt water in them next day to remove burned-on stains.
Clean your greens in salt water for easier removal of dirt.
Gelatin sets more quickly when a dash of salt is added.
Fruits put in mildly salted water after peeling will not discolor.
Fabric colors hold fast in salty water wash..
Milk stays fresh longer when a little salt is added.
Use equal parts of salt and soda for brushing your teeth.
Sprinkle salt in your oven before scrubbing clean.
Soaked discolored glass in a salt and vinegar solution to remove stains..
Clean greasy pans with a paper towel and salt.
Salty water boils faster when cooking eggs.
Add a pinch of salt to whipping cream to make it whip more quickly.
Sprinkle salt in milk-scorched pans to remove odor.
A dash of salt improves the taste of coffee..
Boil mismatched hose in salty water and they will come out matched.
Salt and soda will sweeten the odor of your refrigerator.
Cover wine-stained fabric with salt; rinse in cool water later.
Remove offensive odors from stove with salt and cinnamon.
A pinch of salt improves the flavor of cocoa.
To remove grease stains in clothing, mix one part salt to four parts alcohol.
Salt and lemon juice? Removes mildew.
Sprinkle salt between sidewalk bricks where you don't want grass growing.
Polish your old kerosene lamp with salt for a better look.
Remove odors from sink drainpipes with a strong, hot solution of salt water.
If a pie bubbles over in your oven, put a handful of salt on top of the spilled juice. The mess won't smell and will bake into a dry, light crust which will wipe off easily when the oven has cooled