5 Foods For a Glowing Skin.

You have tried every possible cream and treatment in the world that promises you a healthy glowing skin but still end up looking like a dried peach; trust me I know how it feels. I was one of those kids whose adolescent years were masked by insecurities and acne, and although I have reached an age where these things should be passé, they are anything but! It’s true that beauty comes from within, and while there are a lot of reasons like stress, hormonal imbalance, genetics etc., there are some things that you can definitely do (food wise) to improve the health of your skin. These are my top 5 foods for a glowing skin:

1. Sardines: These little swimmers contain great amount of omega 3 fatty acid that has an anti-inflammatory effect and can greatly uproot the main cause of acne, i.e inflammation. The oil in the fish also restores elasticity in the skin and makes it suppler. Don’t loose heart if you are a vegetarian. You can opt for Flax seeds or walnuts, which are also a good source of omega 3 fatty acids.

2. Green tea: In a study published in the ‘Journal of Nutrition’ in 2011, people who drank green tea daily for 12 weeks had skin that was more elastic and smooth, and had one quarter less sun damage when exposed to UV light as compared to those who didn’t. The catechins in green tea, which are high in antioxidants, boost the blood flow and oxygen to the skin, which makes the skin even more radiant.

3.  Tomatoes: The antioxidant ‘lycopene’ in tomatoes improves skin’s natural SPF thus protecting the skin from sunburn (though they cannot replace sunscreen for a complete protection). Lycopene also help combat acne and reduce blemishes. Tomatoes also contain good amount of Vitamin A and C, which act as great antioxidants. Tomatoes have also proven to be helpful in preventing skin cancer to a certain degree. Now that’s one superfood for skin!

 4. Soy: People who consumed soy or soy products, like soy milk, tofu, tempeh etc., as part of their daily diet, developed fewer fine lines and had improved skin elasticity. This is because of the ‘isoflavones’ present in soy that stops collagen from breaking down which prevents skin from sagging. So bye bye wrinkles and hello younger skin!

5. Brown Rice: If you see the packaging of most beauty creams, you’ll likely find ‘ceramides’ as one of the ingredients. These are lipid molecules that help keep the moisture of your skin intact. Brown rice is one major source of ceramides. When you consume naturally occurring ceramides, these get incorporated in the outer layer of the skin and help it remain hydrated.

Water was an obvious contender for the list above and it goes without saying that drinking enough water is important for maintaining a healthy skin. Along with this it is important to have a healthy diet low in junk food as nothing kills a beautiful skin more than unhealthy fats going in your system. Try and exercise everyday even if it is just for 15 minutes. Along with other benefits, exercising helps regulate hormones in your body and people with hormone related skin issues can greatly benefit from this simple lifestyle change. Exercising also leads to sweating, which opens up the pores and helps remove toxins from the body.

So with the power of these 5 super foods and some useful tips, I hope you get that flawless looking skin soon! If you have any more suggestions from your own experience, do share in the comment section below!

Why aren’t the dietitians going out of business?

I have been thinking about the topic for my blog for a long time. Lets see, weight loss… soo passé. Obesity… even new borns know about it. Benefits of sea food… now even a 5 year old can say omega 3 fatty acid without stuttering. I felt defeated. I have been thinking since then- do we know too much about food now? Everyone you meet these days has some kind of special insight to give you about the new ‘blah blah’ diet he/she has been following and how miraculously it has worked for him/ her. Everyone seems to be ready to pin point on how many calories the pizza, that I am digging on, contains; or how its bad to have solid meals after 7 o’clock at night; or how having 5 meals a day is important; or how avocado is the new magic food and so on. But if we already know so much, why aren’t the dieticians going out of business? 

Its simple. While we know what the general guidelines are, we don’t know how to tailor them and practice them according to our body. And that’s when we need the dietitian who can alter our food choices for us.

I also have another philosophy. I do feel that we know a bit too much about food and are now finicky and picky about little things. Look at our forefather; they didn’t have access to so much of detailed information about each and every food stuff. They didn’t know what is whole grain bread or what happens if you have the yolk of the egg as well, or why you should avoid rice at night.

My advice, keep it simple and easy. Have home cooked meal as much as you can. If you are a horrible cook, even better, dig on raw foods! Walk till the mall. Go vegetable shopping with your wife/ mom. Drink water instead of Cola. Take time out and relish a heavy breakfast and enjoy it; make it look pretty with colourful fruits, juice, slice of bread, egg some nuts etc. It is ok to have a meal after 7, if you keep it light. And importantly, allow yourself a treat once in a while. You are not alive to punish yourself to death.

I know a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but trust me having a lot of knowledge and not knowing how to use it, is probably a bigger danger. So go back to basics and keep it simple.

The Fast and the Furious Feasters.

Since the time mankind has come to believe in religions, ritual fasting has become an imperative part of most cultures; be it for Hindus who fast during Navratra, Muslims who fast during Ramadan or Jews who fast during Yon Kipper. And since we never back down to start the mud slinging about how bad a particular religious way of fasting is, I decided to look at the whole matter rather objectively and solely from health point of view. Now let me tell you that I have never fasted in my life. Not because I am not spiritual but because I love food way too much; but after knowing what good fasting can do to your body, I am tempted to test my will once again.

Human body is well equipped to handle periods not eating, thanks to our history of our forefathers being hunters and gatherers. Search 'fasting and health' online and you will get more than 34 million results in less than 0.32 seconds, most of them talking about the doctor recommended benefits like how fasting helps in removing toxins, resting your vital organs and weight loss. Now I for once will never recommend fasting as a means to lose weight (I'll tell you why by the end of the post), but I for sure will vouch for the other health benefits that accompanies a fast.

• Burns Fat! Let me explain how our body works. when we eat food, our body utilizes carbohydrate to produce glucose in the body which gives energy. In the absence of food, the stored up glycogen is used to produce energy. When that gets over, our body starts to burn fat. However if you prolong the fast to few days, Ketosis kicks in, meaning the body is using fat as a primary source of fuel. In the short run, it leads to fatigue, soreness and bad breath. In the long run it causes additional stress on the liver and kidney and can cause damage. 
• Fasting may help your heart: Fasting for shorter duration may prevent heart diseases and insulin resistance which is a pre-cursor of diabetes.This again goes out to the fat burning effect of fasting. If you are burning fat cells, chances are your heart will remain block free for longer. 
• It can cut down the risk of cancer: Although still in nascent stages of research, it has been proven that fasting decreases the growth and division of malicious cells in humans. So fingers crossed.

Now the reason I mentioned that I would never fast for the 'weight loss' is because of the tittle of my post. Most of us get so excited by the thought of food after a fast that we forget the whole purpose of a fast. We become voracious eaters and dig on anything and everything. That kills the whole purpose of fasting and shoots down the fundamental theory of '5 small meals a day'. Your body is going to stack up all the calories in double the amount when you feast after a long fast. My advice to those who are fasting- Break your fast with more of fruits and liquids and less of fried and heavy meals. Take a break once you are thorough with the fruits. Take a walk, rest for a while and then sit for the main course. This way you are not only spacing out your meals, but also getting satiated early and avoiding the binge calorie intake. 

Make Your Winter a Healthy One!

I yawned again and sleep walked till the coffee machine for my 3^rd cup of extra strong coffee that day. I cranked up the noisy machine and watched it pour the espresso in my big Soup mug. I stared at the mug trying to convince myself that the caffeine is not all that bad after all. A, It helps boost metabolism, B its winters, C…Damnit, I ran out of excuses there. Truth to be told, coffee is not one of the best things to be consumed in winters. Sorry, coffee machine gossipers.

Coffee and other caffeine containing beverages, dehydrate your body. They have a diuretic effect on your system, meaning you’d need to visit the washroom more often; having said that, it also kills your thirst for water. Coupled with this, the long hours of spending time in air conditioned office rooms, one tends to get dehydrated more. My advice, restrict yourself to one cup of coffee per day.

Here is my list of food that you should pig out in winters. ( coz appetite somehow triples in this season)

•  Oranges and Guava- Nature has its own way of taking care of us. These 2 fruits, found only in winters, are extremely rich in Vitamin C (especially guava, which is the best source of Vitamin C). Amongst other qualities, Vitamin C helps protect you from infectious diseases by boosting your immunity. Also they are not heavy on calories, so eat to your heart’s content.

• Potatoes- Yup that’s true. Potatoes sometimes get a bad rap for being a white starch, thrown into the same category as white rice or white bread. But unlike those starches, potatoes are whole foods that contain several beneficial nutrients. They are an excellent source of two immunity boosters—vitamins C and B6, delivering 25% and 29% of your daily needs per medium potato, respectively.

• Avocados and Almonds- One thing that you can never miss about winters, even if you are on the equator, is the chapping skin that it brings along with it. Having vitamin E rich foods like Avocados and almonds, help retain the skin’s collagen and elasticity and prevent it from chapping.

• Tofu, Soyamilk, anything Soya- Soya may help to preserve skin-firming collagen because it is rich in isoflavones. You will have fewer wrinkles and smoother skin even when exposed to UV rays.  And lets’ face it; you tend to expose yourself to sun more in winters than in summer.

These are just some tips to combat winters. Believe me, seasonal fruits and veggies are the best bet for any season as they have just the right nutrient required for the season. So stay smart and pick out the right food this winter. You can always have reasons for coffee machine gossips, but if you don’t make the right choices, you might not always have your health!

Why I love Weddings! (Read the article before Judging me)

Ok so yes i am writing after what seems like a decade to me. And ok I admit this has also been my opening
line in most of the posts. But honest to god i have been extremely busy planning my life. And you would be happy to know that after months of struggle i have managed to conclude that planning really is crappy exercise to kill quality time, and that it should only be left to corporate strategy makers for the never ending boardroom discussions ,because hey, lets face it, they get paid for it!

Any ways let me not set the tone of the article as frustrating. Moving on to what i actually did in the past few months. I happen to attend a lot of weddings..a hell lot (read half-wardrobe-now-filled-with-clothes-i-would-never-wear Lot) Now don't judge me for being judgmental but i hate the whole paraphernalia surrounding Weddings. The extravagant obnoxiously priced outfits, the meeting of distant relatives whom you wish never existed, the fake hello how are you, you have grown so big (like thats against nature), the fake muah muahs, you get the tone. But one thing i love about the wedding is the  pre- prep that goes behind the making. And i am Not talking about the shopping and card printing, I am talking about the phase where the bride and the groom get on to the  mission of ..WEIGHT LOSS!

Now i really don't understand the point of trying to get in shape just because one is getting married. I mean isn't the whole point of getting married that you take the other person in health and sickness? Anyways, it still heartens the fitness freak in me, a little that at least there are 2 more people in this world, at this particular time, who are trying to get fitter (Always find a silver lining in every negative thing- check)

What dissapoints me a wee bit more (apart from the short term fitness fad) is that, in a hurry to lose weight, people go on all sorts of crazy diets and start expecting wonders. While the crash diet might even work, you actually loose a lot of muscle mass, feel weak and end up looking much older than you actually are. All thanks to lack of nutrition which is much needed by your skin and hair as well. So all you pretty brides to be, you don't wana look 5 years older on your D-day do you?

Here is what i would rather suggest. What people don't understand is that getting into shape is not by just not -not eating, on the contrary its actually eating all the time. Remember the good old diet rule of eating small meals 5-6 times a day? Well that is a rule for a reason- because that works. And trust me if you have 4-6 months time in your hand, this kind of a diet and a good workout plan will actually work wonders for your weight and your skin.
As far as diet is concerned, cut all the whites out (bread, maida, rice,sago etc) include a whole lot of fruits (read less calories for your body but loads of antioxidant and vitamins for a luscious skin), Eat as much raw vegies as you can. Replace caffeine with green tea, go very low on sweets (only to be later forcefully fed by your delightful relatives at your wedding), drink atleast 3-4 ltrs of water (coz no detox diet works better than flushing down your toxins with plenty of water). Remember this Rule of ratio- Proteins: Carbs: Fats- 3:2:0.5 (strictly for those who are on a weight loss diet). Most important of all, bring a change in your diet every fortnight and especially at that juncture where your weight refuses to go down further after losing a little. This change could be anything, like changing your snack timings, introducing salads as dinners, high liquid diet or cutting down that one favorite sinful delight you just can't stay without (yes with great body comes great sacrifice...umm Did i just revamp Spiderman's quote?!)

Do not forget exercise. This has always been my mantra. Never ever let diet alone play a part in your weight loss, you lose muscle mass which make you look saggy older and weaker. Exercise in some way- go for a run, hit the gym if that is convenient, go for brisk walks, do yoga, pilates, take a dance class, join a sport- there are endless ways to get fit, you just have to explore them. And trust me with all the wedding stress and anxiety , you could really take the happy hormone endorphin's help which gets released as a result of workout :)

So to all my beautiful ladies and all the dashing debonaire men, hope you take a leaf out of this article and not go insane in the battle against weight. And for God's sake don't let your heart sink if you are not able to achieve what you aimed for; the expensive facials and spa treatments will any ways make you look your best on the D day! And oh yes your going to be spouse's love will help too :)

Note to self:  never write a blog about marriages again. Their population is on the higher side and you might get seriously hurt.

Don't Wait to Loose Weight! See results in a week!

You know you have done everything possible on this earth to make sure that the weighing scale actually favours you. you have tried all sorts of weird diets GM diet, maple syrup diet, detox diet, all liquids diet et.al; but nothing seems to work out for you. Or worst still, you loose pounds real fast only to realize that you have gained double the weight that you had, before you started your adventure with food! I believe, the best way to ensure you get that fab bod, is to start treating your body as friend and not making it your worst enemy, and yes you will still be able to see results in a week's time. Here are some tips to torture the the fat in your body:

1. Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate but only with water:

65-90%of your body is made up of water and there is a reason to that. A fruit smoothie, sports drink, beer, or any other drink can hydrate your body but they also contain 100 or more calories. Moreover these drinks do not satisfy you the way 100 cal of food does, so basically, they are waste. Also these drinks are also high in sodium and carbs which retain water, making you feel puffed out. Water on the other hand is zero in carbs, makes you feel full, hydrate you and detoxify your system. Also water is the most important item in fat mobilization and fat metabolism, i.e without water, fat will not get degraded no matter how much you run on the treadmill! And hey, if water is boring, add a slice of lemon sweet lime or orange.

2. Switch one meal/Snack with fruits:

This can even be your evening tea snacks or your morning breakfast or dinner. Fruits contain more fibre( read fat killers), more water and more vitamins as compared to breads, rice etc. Instead of having that sandwich in the evening have an apple, or instead of having croissant jam and toast in breakfast, have a fruit plate and juice, or instead of having bread, veggies and sizzler at night, have a big bowl full of fruit/ sprouts and salads. The dinner switch is my personal favorite as the lighter you go on your stomach during the later part of the day, the more chances of you losing weight faster and better the chances of you getting up in the morning with a healthy glow! 

3. Drink Coffee 30 minutes before workout:

This is an exception to rule one. Coffee is said to have metabolism inducing power and also help you metabolize fat faster. But this coffee doesn't mean a big cuppa of cappuccino. Preferable that you have black coffee with very little or no sugar. If you must add milk, add skim milk to the tune of 3-4 tablespoon. Coffee also helps you jump-start your body and gives you the additional kick while working out so that you workout better and don't get fatigued soon. Word of caution- Do not go overboard with coffee, it also has dehydrating effects on your body.

4. Make thy Sacrifice:

Make one food sacrifice. Simply by Cutting out one favorite sinful indulgence from your daily list of must haves can create wonders for you. Like stop eating chips  or finger fries or chocolate, whichever is your must haves. Also if you succeed at this the first week, continue with one more food item the next week. This way you'll eliminate all your evils out slowly but surely, and boy will that work wonders!

5. Cardio for just 30 minutes:

 Yes there is no escape to workout, if you want a fit body. Do cardio once in 2 days atleast. Your body will love you if you do this everyday though. Cardio can be in any form- be it running for 20 minutes, brisk walk, jogging, climbing up and down the stairs instead of using the stairs, getting off the bus one stop earlier so that you get the extra mile to walk back home, skipping,  or jumping...anything. But yes make that body work.

And yes here is a special tip- if you want to look slimmer in for the camera, stand in a slightly diagonal angle, chin up and hold your hands slightly away from your body- this should do the trick ;)

Happy slimming!

Choice is Always yours!

Do I stay in this blood sucking job or move out? Do I go to this party or catch up on the much needed sleep? Do I meet my friend for drinks or do I go for my jog? These are just one of the million questions that puts you in that tug of war situation every day . But the most important thing is YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE, no matter what the situation is.

Same goes for your food too! you always have a choice to cutting down on some unwanted calories and instead eating something much healthier...the only problem here is do we realise how much of junk are we actually consuming? And what is the better alternative to that. So I did a little research (in my fridge ) and these are some of the foods I found worth the battle.

1. Red Meat V/S lean Meat or chicken

If you are a beef/ mutton/ pork lover, a word of caution-You run the risk of all the fancy diseases in the world like CVD, Diabetes, of and not to mention Obesity of course.The plain reason for this is its high cholesterol and saturated fatty acid content. Switch to lean cuts of meat, cold cuts and chicken. when you go shopping, look for labels like low fat pressed meat (in meat). This simple switch will help you a dratically in your quest to stay fit and glowing.

2.  Wine V/S light beer:

I know most of you answer of choice would be wine coz we all know and have read about wine being oh so healthy (I vouch for that). But the winner here is light beer, i.e if you are trying to drop a few kilos. Most light brews have fewer calories than wine- 103 calories, on an average, per bottle versus 125 calories for a medium glass of wine. Plus light beer contains roughly two and a half times more water than wine does, which will help you feel more hydrated and full and less inclined to go to the snack bar!

3.Pasta with white sauce V/S Pasta with red sauce:

Always go for pasta with red sauce rather than one with white sauce.White sauce pasta has mayonnaise(read FAT) and refined flour. So this time don't stop when you see red!


4. The Breakfast swap

Swap from whole milk to semi-skimmed, 1% fat or even skimmed milk.Swap a sugar-coated breakfast cereal for a wholegrain breakfast cereal such as porridge or shredded wholegrain wheat cereal, with no added sugar.Swap a sprinkle of sugar on your breakfast cereal for a topping of fresh or dried fruit, which counts towards one of your five a day.

5. Mint Chutney V/S Coconut chutney:

One teaspoon mint chutney- 3 kcal Approx, one teaspoon cocnut chutney- 24 kcal.( the figures are approx) the choice is yours now!

These were just some comparisons which will come handy to you next time you are stuck in food dilemma. Now the choice is yours.
Happy eating! 

Zeroing down at 'Size Zero'

Size zero, size zero, size zero...seems to be the buzz word everywhere, whether its the bollywood beauty Kareena Kapoor who just got famous because of it, or Louise Redknapp who dieted till she starved to get into a size zero! The fad is spreading out fast ( or maybe I am a liltle wrong at saying 'spreading' because it has already spread and is now killing people around!)


I am sure by now everyone knows about the size zero; and even those who prefer to remain untouched by the 'health world terms' have a fair idea as to what it is..thanks to our celebraties. So I really won't bother to talk about that here.What really amuses me is that how fast people get carried away by such fads and become desperate to achieve a phsique like their much hyped celeb idols!I have come across various  perfectly healthy people come up to me and beg and plead to shell out the secret of getting into a size '0', and i find myself a little 'word deficient' when I want to tell them that You are mad! It's plain stupid, I would say to, to want to achieve something worse when you already have the best.Celebs, I can still understand, not because it is harmless for them  but because -
a. They have a cut throat competition around and being a good actor is just not enough.
b. They do not have to travel in rush hour by trains, or do any laborious work- they have helpers for everything.
c. It works as a free and the best PR tool for them; and finally
d. They get paid for it !


So it's irrelevant for the common realistic people to even want to achieve such insensible aims in life! It will only leave them struggling with food and exercise, or impatient, or depressed or in worst case fatter if you succumb to binging! We also hear news about celebs suffering anorexia nervosa and bulimia due to the killing competition, yet this evil doesn't seem to drill in our heads. We only like to be associated with the more socially appealing and acceptable ways.


We have better things to do in life than being stick things and looking like hangers in the wardrobe.Why don't we aim for more realistic and achievable things like eating healthy and staying fit, by simple everyday measure of keeping a check on our diet and making sure that include little bit of exercise in our schedule.
So forget the size zero, the curves are back ladies...ask any man and he would second me! 

Your Health Is In Your Hands

HEALTHY EATING-A WAY OF LIFE:
In our day to day life where most of us don’t even have the time to breathe, we often tend to forget one of the most important aspects of our life….food…no no, not food, our eating habit! We are in a constant pursuit of meeting targets and meeting deadlines, and in this fast life, many of us have resorted to the simpler way of having meals and that is Fast Food; which according to me is the fastest way to all our health problems.

There are actually some easy ways through which we can inculcate good eating habits. Some simple health tips which can be easily adapted by us in our busy lifestyle:

• Spread your meals-have 4-5 meals a day. Eating throughout the day causes stable moods and a healthier metabolism. You can include food items like sprouts, skim milk, fruits and fresh fruits. Avoid cola drinks, burgers, chips, candy bars and fried foods.
• Have your breakfast: Literally translated it means “Breaking the fast”& supplies energy to the body for the day. So it is the most important meal of the day. Those who eat breakfast consume fewer calories than those who skip it. It Increases concentration and problem solving ability. Always have a nutritious breakfast, as the body is most receptive to nutrition during this time.
• Healthy snacking:Choose wisely: Snacking becomes integral part of our diet and it is during this meal when we tend to binge on to extra calories. Substitute those fried French fries with something healthier like roasted nuts or khakra; skip the colas and coffee and sip the juice.
• Eat as much natural and raw foods as possible. Consume seasonal foods because they are at their maximum nutritious value during this time.
• Drink atleast 10-12 glasses of water every day. This helps to flush out the toxins and also helps in the process of fat metabolism.

Apart from the above general good eating habits its also important to Exercise regularly. Join fitness program combine with cardio, strength training and stretching for a balanced approach. Learn how body will gain strength and improve mood and sleep patterns. If joining a gym or yoga classes sounds like too much work, make easier options in your daily life- take stairs instead of elevator, use public transport and walk till the stop (will be better for your monthly budget too!),walk while you are on the phone, stretch yourself every 30 minutes during your work etc.

Habits matter! The choices you make each day impact your body and effect how you feel. It can feel difficult to make right choices, but mostly it is just our ideas that make it seem hard. As you follow your own inner wisdom, you will find that it gets easier. Instead of forcing yourself to do the “right” thing, you are able to tune in to what works for you.

On a final note I would only like to say : Your body is the only place you have to live so take care of it!