Food that aid in weight loss

Chillies

Chillies are a part of "Capsicum" Family and are used in savoury dishes all over the world. The amazing fact is that the chillies are highly nutritious. 

Chillies are usually used fresh, dried and also as ground powders. It is staple in most of the Asian countries and the highest production and consumption is in India. 

Calorie content

A 100 gms of chillies contain only 40 calories with the content of 9% potassium, 6% dietary fibre, 23% Vitamin A, 4% Protein, 404% Vitamin C, 6% Iron, 15% Vitamin B-6 and 6% Magnesium. It also contains little amounts of carotene and fat free making it a highly nutritious part of food. 

Medicinal Uses

The chemical Capsaicin found in green chillies are used as a remedy for relieving pain from arthritis, diabetes and headaches. 

They are also used as painkillers to relieve the pain caused after diabetic neuropathy and mastectomies for breast cancer. Capsaicin also prevents the fungal infection on skin caused by insects.

It improves and stimulates the blood circulation in the entire body and thus preventing the diseases caused by the poor blood circulation. 

It can also keep the body away from heart diseases and blood pressure by improving the circulation of blood to the heart. It is also know to ward off the bad cholesterol from the body.

The consumption of chillies increases the secretion of saliva and digestive juices improving the digestion and keeping colon healthy.

It is also good for lungs and stomach because of it's anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. It detoxifies the digestive system.

Some of the studies even claim to have proved that it can also control the growth of cancer cells. 

Weight loss effects

Capsaicin in Chillies controls your appetite and hunger pangs. It gives you satiety and hence you will feel full for a long time. You will tend to eat less than usual.

The "heat" in the chillies is caused by the chemicals called capsaicinoids. These capsaicinoids activate the taste buds to sense "heat" in the food. The taste buds sends a signal to the brain and the brain responds to the signal by raising the heart rate and also increase perspiration.

So the temperature of the body increases and makes it burn fat 20 times faster than usual.

Cautions

With all these amazing health benefits, there are few cautions to be followed as well. Chillies in excess can cause stomach ulcers and inflammation.It increases the heart burn in people who are already suffering from it.  

Keep it moderate and stay healthy.

Beauty tip for the day

A tip for Shiny and thicker hair

In photo: Srividhya Vijai

Eggs are not just used to make omelettes but can be used a beauty product for your hair too.

It is a common thought that applying egg to your hair may give it a bad smell. That is not entirely true unless you are planning to leave the egg on hair without washing it off.

Method: 

Beat one or two eggs in a bowl according to the length of your hair. Apply it on scalp and hair and leave it for 20 minutes. 

Do not let it dry completely. Wash it off with cold water and your usual shampoo. It not only conditions your hair but moisturises and helps it grow thicker and healthier.

Food that aid in weight loss

Cinnamon

Cinnamon sticks are obtained from the bark of some trees and is used as a spice in several dishes including desserts. Cinnamon also has anti-viral properties and hence used in medicines as well as cosmetics. It is also used to flavour alcoholic beverages because of it's unique taste and aroma.

A natural medicine

Cinnamon is used in Indian/Ayurvedic traditional medicines because of it's anti-viral properties. It is also used to cure viral fever. 

Improves digestion

The anti-bacterial properties of cinnamon helps keep intestine and colon healthy and clean from bacterial infections. It helps to slow down the passage of food in intestine thus controls the quick increase of glucose levels. It also helps in soothing your stomach and improves colon function.

Gives satiety 

It improves metabolism and controls your appetite and hunger pangs. It gives you satiety and hence you will feel full for a long time. You will tend to eat less than usual.

Super food for Weight loss 

High blood sugar levels increases the fat storage in the body. Cinnamon consumption reduces blood sugar level and hence it is in turn helping body to store less fat.

Cinnamon also is proven to improve your energy level in the body. So, you will be able to exercise regularly and also stay in a better mood.

Controls Cholesterol

Cinnamon is high in anti-oxidants and flavanols like catechin and afzelechin hence controls bad cholesterol. So, it prevents the body from heart diseases.

Prevents alzheimer's disease

Consuming cinnamon regularly is known to prevent alzheimer's disease by some of the experiments. 

Methods of consumption

• Try mixing honey with cinnamon powder and take it before breakfast. It works better with honey.
• Add some cinnamon powder to your morning tea or coffee. 
• Use it as a spice in your meals either in a savoury or a dessert.
• Easy way to consume is to just chew a piece of stick instead of gums.

Keep cinnamon in moderation with all other healthy habits for better results.

Beauty tip for the day

Lemon water for feet

In photo: Piki Nath

As we all know, lemon is used in cosmetics, face washes and beauty treatments because of its clarifying and cleansing properties.

Here is a tip to cleanse your feet and make it smooth and cracks free.

Squeeze the juice of 1 whole lemon in a bucket or a tub. Fill half of that tub with warm water and soak your feet for half an hour.

After the soak, scrub the feet with a pumice stone gently. That will remove the dead skin and dirt. Wash in cold water and do not use soap. 

Pat it dry and apply moisturiser. Do this once a month to keep your feet clean and smooth. 

You can also add some bath salts and olive oil for better results.

Food that aid in weight loss

Garlic

Garlic is known for it's pungent smell and is used in all types of food worldwide. It is called as "one of the world's healthiest" super foods since it has a lot of health benefits and used for medicinal purposes as well.

There are innumerable benefits of garlic but I will try and list as many as I can.

• The compound "Allicin" present in garlic gives it a pungent smell and is a miracle drug. It has anti-bacterial properties and is known to reduce bad cholesterol. Hence it prevents from heart diseases.
• Garlic contains a lot of antioxidants and hence makes a "must" in your weight loss diet.
• The antibacterial properties of garlic are also known to prevent lung and colon cancer since garlic destroys cancer cells.
• Try taking garlic when you have common cold and flu. It reduces fever temperature.
• You can also apply garlic on your skin infections and they will be healed because of Garlic's antibacterial properties.
• Regular consumption of garlic will help you lose weight and maintain the same weight for long time. It burns fat and helps you reduce your Body Mass Index.
• Including garlic in your regular meals helps in avoiding stomach infections.
• Garlic soup is also called the "best remedy" for stomach gas.
• It boosts your immune system by defeating bacterial and fungal infections
• Make a paste from peeled garlic cloves and apply it on the pimples overnight and they will get dry and fall off in 2-3 days. 

Garlic can be included in your salads, soups and almost all the spicy dishes. Again, keep it moderate with all your healthy food habits and regular exercises for better results.

Beauty tip for the day

To heal damaged hair from Straightening and hair colouring

In photo: Srividhya Vijai

Hair becomes dry and damaged when straightened or coloured. A nurturing way to heal this damage is to apply oil. 

My hair usually becomes too oily even after the wash but if washed again, hair goes to that dry and damaged state again. So I started using this method.

Here is a tip to help hair absorb oil and heal from the damage as well. 

Method:

Apply coconut oil an hour before you wash your hair. Soak a towel in hottest water you can bear to touch and crush to take out the excess water. 

Wrap the towel around head. Cover a big plastic bag around the towel to seal the steam and wait for 30-45 minutes. Wash hair with warm or cold water using your usual shampoo.

The steam helps the hair to absorb oil. Washing hair with cold water after steaming will close the pores and locks the moisture.

You will see your hair becoming soft and healed.

Food that aid in weight loss

Ginger

Ginger elevates the taste of the dish to which it is added and has an amazing aroma of it's own. Who does not like ginger tea, ginger bread or ginger beer? I can still feel the taste of that ginger peppermint candy I used to eat in my childhood days.

• In ayurvedic and ancient medicine, ginger is used to diagnose stomach infections, constipation and diarrhoea.
• It helps control nausea.
• It improves digestion and also maintains PH balance in the body.
• It boosts the metabolism in the body.
• Try drinking fresh ginger tea with lemon to detox your body.
• When added to your meals, it gives the feeling of fullness and controls hunger pangs.
• It is also a remedy for common cold and sore throat.
• It burns fat and hence is a catapult to your weight loss diet. 
• Regular consumption gives you glowing and healthy skin. 

Ginger tea recipe

Peel the ginger skin and grate it. Boil it for 10-15 minutes in low flame. You can boil it for 20 minutes for strong flavour.

Add lemon and honey and serve hot.

You can add as much ginger as you want and as much lemon and honey as per your taste.

Enjoy your hot cup!!

Beauty tip for the day

A home remedy for pimple scars and burn marks

In photo: Piki Nath

A simple and home made remedy for pimple and burn marks which has been used from ages and is even a part of ayurvedic medicines.

Mix a tsp of Milk cream with 1/4 tsp of pure turmeric powder and make a paste. Apply it on the skin where there is a pimple/pimple scar/burn mark and wash it after an hour.

Do this for a month for smooth and glowing clear skin.

Food that aid in weight loss

Lemon

My mum used to tell that if I just include Lemon in my food with the regular physical activity, I will not need anything else to stay healthy and lose weight. I did not know how much of a boost it is for a weight loss diet until I tried it.

• Try drinking lemon water(Lemon juice + Warm water) every morning as soon as you wake up. It helps in detoxing and cleansing  your body from chemicals and toxins.
• Try Lemon tea instead of coffee or tea. It improves the digestion and boosts your immune system.
• Add some lemon juice in your regular drinking water (Just a drop or 2). It keeps you hydrated all day.
• Regular lemon consumption gives you a smooth, healthy and glowing skin.
• Lemon is rich in Vitamin c which helps in burning fat in the body hence using lemon in your diet help you lose weight.
• Lemon juice contains citric acid and hence helps maintain and balance PH level in the body.
• Lemon water also acts as an antibacterial and hence controls bad breath.

There is a quote saying "All good things come with a price" and it is true with lemon as well. There are some side effects of consuming too much lemon that you need to know. 

• If lemon juice is consumed more often without diluting, it causes the erosion of tooth enamel.
• The citric acid can cause acidity and ulcer if consumed too much.

So keep it in moderation along with all the other healthy habits and you will see that you can lose weight and also stay healthy at the same time.

Beauty tip for the day

Fair and lovely trick for pimples and scars

In photo: Srividhya Vijai

If there is a Pimple, pimple scar or a burn mark that is troubling you for a long time, try this trick.

When I was in college, I burnt my forehead badly and after it healed, there was a big depressing dark mark on my forehead like a headband. So, I tried massaging Fair and lovely every night and that scar vanished like magic. Am glad this cream still works as good as before even after so many years.


For Pimple: Wash your face with warm water, use face wash if required. Apply a dot of Fair and lovely on the pimple and don't rub it. Leave it overnight and wash it off in the morning. Do this for 3-4 days and your pimple will dry and will fall off when you scrub your skin.

For Pimple marks or Burn marks(Minor): Wash the skin with warm water, use face wash if required. Apply and massage Fair and lovely cream over the scar/mark for 2-3 minutes. Leave it overnight and wash it off in the morning. Do this for a month and your marks will clear away. The duration may vary for different types of skin but it works.

Make sure to use Advanced Multivitamin fair and lovely. Somehow it works on all skin types. I sometimes use this cream as a base before applying make-up to mask the pimple scars that are still clearing.