Food and Health

Buy fresh produce that’s in season, and avoid processed and packaged items, even if they are organic. Be vegetarian A plant-based, whole-food diet is essential for yogis. Slowly explore and add more changes as you can. It’s based primarily on the yogic principles of ahimsa, sattva, and saucha. Ahimsa is commonly translated to non-violence. The purpose of fasting is to cleanse the body, seek a spiritual goal, or express devotion to a chosen deity. The different fasting methods also vary in their requirements–from abstinence from all food and liquids to abstinence from only certain foods, for example. Raw vegetables and difficult to digest proteins are best suited for a yogi‘s lunchtime meal. When you develop peace of mind about food, you can start to learn how to eat mindfully, control how much you eat, and understand what your body needs to maintain balance and health. Fasting for more than a few days is not recommended as it puts excessive stress on your body’s systems. Fasting is not...

  Foods to eat before and after your yoga session Since its inception in the year, we celebrate International Yoga Day, commonly known as Yoga Day, on June 21 every year. Yoga expounds 'a healthy mind in a healthy body and is a powerful tool to deal with stress and isolation, as well as to maintain physical well-being. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reasoning for picking the date for honoring yoga was on account of the fact that this day marks the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is considered as the longest day of the year and has special significance in various parts of the world. A balanced diet in yoga is very important as it improves health, increases energy levels and maintains overall well being. To ensure good stamina, a complete meal should include good fats, proteins and carbohydrates, nutrients, both before and after yoga sessions. This International Yoga Day, let us have a look at what to consume before and after yoga to make it more effective. What to ...

 If any of the underneath symptoms are noticed from 30 minutes to around two hours after consumption of any dairy product, then your body might be lactose intolerant. This helps in preserving milk for a longer period. In this dairy product, the milk solids are toasted away from the fat. It is put in a separate category since condensed milk now is used interchangeably with sweet condensed milk or sugar condensed milk. • Milk Powder When the water content of milk is completely evaporated, then the resulted powder or granular milk is called milk powder. It is also easily available. • Yogurt It is made when milk is fermented using bacteria namely Lacto Bacillus. It is used as fat for cooking especially in the Indian subcontinent. Various products fall under this category include Buttermilk, Sour cream and other regional drinks like Dick Milch, Lassi, Blaand, etc. • Cheese Cheese is a dairy product which is produced by coagulating the milk protein and fat. It is available as is or flavo...

  Chocolate: Are There Health Benefits? You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t like chocolate. While it's mostly known for its taste (and the associated cravings), it’s also a good source of nutrients when in its pure form and eaten in moderation. This well-loved food, once called the "drink of the gods" by the Maya people, has a rich history as well. Chocolate comes from the seeds of the cacao pod, which grows on the cacao tree. Theobroma cacao is native to the tropical rainforests of Central America, where it has grown for thousands of years. It was likely cultivated by the Olmecs and Maya peoples about 2,500 years ago. By about 2,000 years ago, the Maya were experienced cacao bean farmers, and were fond of grinding them up for a refreshing hot beverage. Aztecs later continued this love of chocolate, and the Spanish then discovered the drink in the 1500s and passed it around the world. There are three main varieties of cacao bean: Criollo from Latin America, F...

  The mode of nutrition changes from one species to another species. Later when plants require energy, it will be derived from the stored starch in plants. Nutrients are the kind of substances that provide the necessary energy and biomolecules for carrying out various body functions. All the three events discussed above are not a continuous process and they may or may not take place sequentially. Some of the animals feed on inorganic compounds to meet their requirement of nutrients, while others utilize the complex compounds. There are different heterotrophs based on their mode of nutrition given below: Types of Nutrition Generally, there are two types of nutrition among living organisms, namely: Autotrophic mode Heterotrophic mode Autotrophic Nutrition In this mode of nutrition, organisms use simple inorganic matters, such as water and carbon dioxide in the presence of light and chlorophyll to synthesize food on their own. All the organisms in the universe need nutrients for prope...

The healthiest fruits you should eat more of, according to dietitians Fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals, making it a staple of a healthy diet. Plus, it's high in fiber, which helps support digestive health while controlling blood sugar.  While the number of servings you aim for will vary depending on your caloric needs, Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, a registered dietitian nutritionist in private practice, advises aiming for three. Below we compiled a list of the healthiest fruits based on their fiber content and concentration of essential vitamins. Apples Apples are not only high in gut-friendly fiber but are also a rich source of a flavonoid called quercetin, a plant compound that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, says Harris-Pincus. Cranberries Cranberries contain some of the highest concentrations of a flavonoid called Pro anthocyanidin. This flavonoid prevents E. coli from adhering to the walls of the bladder, says Harris-Pincus. E. coli is one of the most ...

  HOW MANY VARIETIES OF VEGETABLES ARE THERE? A recent study by Biodiversity International scientists identified a total of 1097 vegetable species cultivated worldwide. Furthermore, there are thousands of different varieties of vegetables with many different uses and growth forms.  Despite the great diversity of vegetables, it’s estimated that we are familiar with less than seven percent of all vegetable species. In fact, most people base their diets primarily on commercial vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and carrots. WHAT ARE THE 8 TYPES OF VEGETABLES? Vegetables can be classified in many ways. So, you’ll likely hear about different classifications, groups, and types of vegetables depending on who you’re talking to. Most commonly, vegetables are grouped into eight main types based on their edible parts.  FLOWER VEGETABLES  Flower vegetables are plants that produce flowers that are commonly used for culinary purposes. In most cases, flower vegetables a...