10 cleansing foods to get your body back on track

Top 10 detox foods

Recently overindulged? Feeling a bit sluggish? Or just not looking your best? It could be that your body is in need of a detox. Fortunately, there are many foods around that can help counteract the effects of a toxic lifestyle. Whether you want to lose weight, feel more energised, improve your complexion or boost your mood, check out these top 10 foods to cleanse your body and boost your health.

1. Lemon: Lemons are a staple of many detox diets, and there is good reason for this. Firstly, lemons are packed with antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the skin and for fighting disease-forming free-radicals. Furthermore, the citrus fruit has an alkaline effect on the body, meaning that it can help restore the body's pH balance, benefiting the immune system. Try starting your day with hot water and a slice of lemon to help flush out toxins and cleanse your system.

2. Ginger: If too much fatty food or alcohol has caused problems for your digestive system, it may be worthwhile adding some ginger to your diet. Ginger is not only great for reducing feelings of nausea, but it can help improve digestion, beat bloating and reduce gas. In addition to this, ginger is high in antioxidants and is good for boosting the immune system. To give your digestion a helping hand, try sipping on ginger tea or adding some freshly grated ginger to a fruit or vegetable juice.

3. Garlic: Garlic has long been known for its heart benefits, however the pungent food is also good at detoxifying the body. Garlic is not only antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic, but it contains a chemical called allicin which promotes the production of white blood cells and helps fight against toxins. Garlic is best eaten raw, so add some crushed garlic to a salad dressing to boost its flavour and your health at the same time.

4. Artichoke: If you have recently been overindulging in fatty foods and alcohol, adding some steamed globe artichoke leaves to your meals is a great way to help get your body back on track. Globe artichokes are packed with antioxidants and fibre and can also help the body digest fatty foods. On top of this, globe artichoke is renowned for its ability to stimulate and improve the functions of the liver - the body's main toxin-fighting tool.

5. Beetroot: For those needing a quick health-boosting shot of nutrients, you can't do much better 

than beetroot. Packed with magnesium, iron, and vitamin C, the vegetable has recently been hailed as a superfood due to its many reported health benefits. Not only is beetroot great for skin, hair and cholesterol levels, but it can also help support liver detoxification, making it an ultimate detox food. To enjoy its benefits, try adding raw beetroot to salads or sipping on some beetroot juice.

6. Green tea: While it's not technically a food, no detox plan would be complete without regular consumption of essential liquids. Fluids are essential for keeping our organs healthy and helping to flush toxins from the body, and drinking green tea is a great way of boosting your intake. Green tea is not only a good weight-loss drink, but it is extremely high in antioxidants. Research has also suggested that drinking green tea can protect the liver from diseases including fatty liver disease.

7. Cabbage: Many celebs have resorted to the cabbage soup diet to help lose weight and get in shape quickly before a big event, however cabbage is not only good for weight loss - it is also an excellent detoxifying food. Like most cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli and sprouts), cabbage contains a chemical called sulforaphane, which helps the body fight against toxins. Cabbage also supplies the body with glutathione; an antioxidant that helps improve the detoxifying function of the liver.

8. Fresh fruit: Fresh fruits are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre and are also low in calories, making them an important part of a detox diet. If you're after brighter eyes and skin, shinier hair and improved digestion, try boosting your intake of fruit and eating from a wide variety of different kinds. The good news is fruit is easy to add to your diet, so try starting your day with a fresh fruit salad or smoothie and snacking on pieces of fruit throughout the day.

9. Brown rice: If you want to cleanse your system and boost your health, it is a good idea to cut down on processed foods. Instead, try supplementing your diet with healthier whole grains such as brown rice, which is rich in many key detoxifying nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and phosphorous. Brown rice is also high in fibre, which is good for cleansing the colon, and rich in selenium, which can help to protect the liver as well as improving the complexion.

10. Watercress: Like most green herbs and vegetables, watercress is an excellent health-booster and detox food. Firstly, watercress leaves are packed with many vital detoxifying nutrients, including several B vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamin E and vitamin C. Secondly, watercress has natural diuretic properties, which can help to flush toxins out the body. To reap the benefits of this nutritious food, try adding a handful of watercress to salads, soups and sandwiches.

Weight Maintenance Tips

Every people dreams to get a good figure. So to reduce their growing weight they take care of every small thing. But it is very important to maintain normal weight after the weight loss. Let us know about some tips to maintain weight:-
Fruits, vegetables, beans and beans are low in fat and rich in carbohydrates. These are very important for good health. Do not use excess oil, ghee or butter to prepare them.

Eat more grain as they are low in fat and they contain more carbohydrates.

Use processed foods such as chapattis instead of bread, etc. You can also stuff vegetable in chapatti.  They are nutritious. Avoid biscuits and other high fat foods.

Other food items that can be used in order to maintain weight are fruits, soup and salad. Jelly, jam, cream or cheese, butter are harmful in terms of health as Carbohydrate level is much higher.

Uneven eating habits also affect your weight. Focus only on eating food while eating, just eat, and avoid doing something else. Do not read, work or see TV. Avoid eating after fights or depression. While eating avoid fights because in these situations you tend to eat more.

Some helpful tips in maintaining weight:-
Reduce the amount of fat in your diet but do not disappear it completely from your diet. 15% of total calories of should be in your diet. Cookies, baked foods, chips, etc. are very high in fat content.

Reduce the amount of food that contains sugar. Avoid sugar from chocolate, candy, cookies and white or table sugar. Rather intake complex carbohydrate-rich food.

Avoid repetitive food. Instead use different types of food so you can get all the nutrients.

Do not skip meals. Eat four or five times a day but in small amounts.

Use high fiber rich diet (30 to 40 grams). Fiber increases the amount of food and protects from diseases. Fiber slows down the digestive process which helps to maintain insulin levels and it helps to convert food into energy than fat.

Increase your physical activity by the help of aerobics exercises such as jogging, walking, cycling and swimming, etc. Go on long walks and exercise at least 30 minutes, as well as bring a change in diet.

Health Benefits Of Chocolate

Healthy chocolate sounds like a dream come true, but chocolate hasn’t gained the status of health food quite yet. Still, chocolate’s reputation is on the rise, as a growing number of studies suggest that it can be a heart-healthy choice.

Chocolate is good for your heart. A small bar of it every day can help keep your heart and cardiovascular system running well. Health benefits of chocolate are:

The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.

Studies have shown that consuming a small bar of dark chocolate everyday can reduce blood pressure in individuals with high blood pressure.

Regular chocolate eaters who had heart disease were less likely to die following a heart attack compared with the people who didn’t treat themselves to the dark and dreamy stuff.

Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. However, chocolate with high sugar content will negate this benefit. Dark chocolate contains significantly higher amounts of cacao and lower amounts of sugar than white chocolate, making it more healthful.

Dark chocolate has far more antioxidants than milk or white chocolate. These other two chocolates cannot make any health claims. Dark chocolate has 65 percent or higher cocoa content.

Chocolate also has not been proven to cause cavities or tooth decay. In fact, there are indications that the cocoa butter in the chocolate coats the teeth and may help protect them by preventing plaque from forming. The sugar in chocolate does contribute to cavities, but no more than the sugar in any other food.

Popcorn for Good Health

Can you imagine a movie interval or cricket match without popcorn? When weather gets cool and you spend time watching movie or match on TV, then a tasty and yummy container of popcorn makes your entertainment double.

You love to eat popcorn and it is a favorite snack of many, but do you think is it healthy?

Many people think that popcorn is not a healthy treat but the fact is popcorn prepared without lots of butter and salt may not be so unhealthy at all.

Popcorn is a healthy whole grain and a best source of fiber. Popcorn is a very nutritious choice so long as you go natural. According to a study, people who eat popcorn consume 200% more whole grains and 20% more fiber than those who do not eat popcorn.

Popcorn can help to prevent cancer as research suggests. Popcorn is good healthy food which contains health-boosting antioxidants called polyphenols. It helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Health benefits of popcorn:

• High in antioxidants
• Contains polyphenols that protect against cell damage
• Popcorn is whole grain similar to oatmeal and brown rice
• Popcorn is also a good source of fiber
• Popcorn without butter is low in calories
• The endosperm located in the center of popcorn contains nutritional carbohydrates, high energy proteins and healthy vitamins.

Hot, Fresh, Delicious popcorn is a healthy snack and better for your health. All popcorn fans who love to eat popcorn can gift a healthy popcorn box to their friends.

If you are planning to make a healthy birthday bash then popcorn can be a yummy treat for your crew.

So be ready to serve popcorn balls at your next party!!

Summer Fruits For Good Health

Summer is upon us and with the warm weather comes a cornucopia of delightful fruits and vegetables that not only taste great but are excellent health boosters as well!

Try out juices of grapes, watermelon, banana, jack fruit, lemon and pineapple during summer. Consumption of fruits and juices reduces body heat and benefits in controlling body temperature. Fruits are packed with powerful antioxidants that can lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes-related damage and even slow down the body’s natural aging process. The Many Health Benefits of Our Favorite Summer Fruits

Summer Fruits for Good Health
Watermelon

Watermelons are a significant source lycopene, a carotenoid only obtainable through diet, known to help prevent and treat many types of cancer, including prostate cancer.  A watermelon contains about 6% sugar and 92% water by weight making it a perfect snack for any outdoor summer activity due to its natural hydration. Watermelons are rich in electrolytes, sodium and potassium which are lost through perspiration.

Mango

Mangoes, though difficult to peel (see picture for easy slicing method), contain more beta-carotene than any other fruit, which helps to prevent cell damage leading to heart disease and stroke.  These multi colored fruits also contain high levels of fiber which help to control appetite and aid in metabolism. One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, important for the promotion of good eyesight.

Raspberries

One cup of raspberries has 64 calories and is a great source of fiber some of it soluble in the form of pectin, which helps lower cholesterol and an excellent source of vitamin C. The gorgeous red color is from anthocyanins, an antioxidant. Choose juicy-looking, brightly colored raspberries, as raspberries do not continue to ripen once picked.

Papaya

Papayas make for a great summer fruit as they can easily be added to your salads or eaten on their own with low-fat vanilla frozen yogurt for dessert. The nutritional highlight of papaya is its vitamin C content, providing over 300% of your daily need.