http://www.blogdash.com/full_profile/?claim_code=988601e0cc15d4646e0aae1097ed9979

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.

The Man Friday of Rains!

Everything about the rains is just so beautiful! The cool weather after the scorching heat, the wind in your hair, the little drops of water trickling down on the cheeks, the trees swaying in happiness, little kids hoping in the puddle, young couples entrenched in the moment of love..everything about the rains makes you fall in love with it. The last thing you ever want to happen is to fall sick and miss all of it, and unfortunately this is the first thing that happens to most of us :) 

What we forget is that while rains bring a lot of relief from the heat, it also makes our body highly susceptible to infections.This is majorly because the air around us becomes moist and humid, which makes the environment very conducive for infectious germs and micro organisms to breed multiply and spread around. The best way to prevent getting bed ridden is to build your immunity and let your body's defense mechanism take care of you.

Ascorbic Acid Or Vitamin C is the easiest way to make sure that your Body is well guarded and Immune to most of these common infections and illnesses. Its the Man Friday of Monsoons! Vitamin C being an anti oxidant, also helps in preventing carcinogenic cells to multiply hence reducing the risk on cancer in your body. And since we are talking about anti oxidants, say hello to a young and beautiful skin too!;)

Recent studies show that a dose of 500 mg per day is required to take care of an adult body requirement. This is way higher than the RDA prescribed 75-90 mg / day. So unless you are having enough portions of raw fruits and vegetables in your diet, It is recommended that you take supplements of Vitamin C. Also, being a water Soluble nutrient, it can very safely be consumed even in a little excess as any additional amount will get passed out from your body in the form of urine. So don't worry, it is the safest nutritional supplement :)

Some quick tips to pump up vitamin C in your diet-

•  Include a lot of Fruits and vegies in your diet, specially raw. But make sure you clean them well before eating coz hello, its the season of germs. 
• Include- Indian Gooseberry(amla), Lemon ( you can use the juice to sprinkle over food preparations), orange, bell peppers, Guava, Kiwi, Cabbage family, Papaya and Strawberries.
• Do not re- heat, over heat and over cook food. This leads to lot of wastage of essential vitamins, especially water soluble vitamins.
• Do not throw away the water after boiling vegetables. Use the water in the preparations or use it in soups.
• Try to keep the length of the vegetables in salads as long as possible. Chopping the veggies finely make them loose their vitamins more easily. Also cut them just before you are about to eat them
• you can opt for Vitamin C supplements if you think you are not doing justice to your dietary consumption.

So stack up on that Vitamin C this monsoon and don't let your sneeze ruin a romantic moment :) Stay healthy, stay happy!

Drinking is always good!

Now that the tittle got your attention, let me tell you, it's drinking water that we are talking about. Celebrities seem to be carrying a bottle of water everywhere they go. In fact it has become the second most popular drink (after soft drinks). There is an increasing buzz about the benefits of having oodles of water and how it is 'the' solution to all the health problems. While a recent study shows that benefits of water may have been over sold, the hype is still well deserved, and we tell you just how-

• Helps maintain the water fluids in the body:  75% of the Human Body is composed of water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature. Every important function in the body needs water. This explains why, your body can stay without food for days together but it cannot survive for more than 3 days without consuming water.

• Water helps loose fat: If you are on your mission to loose weight, you might want to keep your water intake high. The simple reason is that water plays a very important role in metabolism of fat in the body. So don't forget to sip on water while you sweat it out in the battle of the bulge.

• Your skin will thank you:Your skin contains plenty of water, and functions as a protective barrier to prevent excess fluid loss.Dehydration makes your skin look more dry and wrinkled, which can be improved with proper hydration. water helps to dilute and flush out toxins out of your systems, thereby minimizing the chances of zits and acne.

• Helps Your Kidneys:Body fluids transport waste products in and out of cells. The main toxin in the body is blood urea nitrogen, a water-soluble waste that is able to pass through the kidneys to be excreted in the urine. Your kidneys do an amazing job of cleansing and ridding your body of toxins as long as your intake of fluids is adequate.

• Alcoholics take a note: While 'alcoholics' might be a strong word, the tip goes out to everyone who drinks, even in moderation. Alcohol tends to dehydrate the body, and it is this dehydration that also leads to a more concentrated blood alcohol level thereby causing hangover the next day. So if you want to enjoy your drinks and still be sane the next day, keep sipping water in between your drinks.[might cause you to visit the washroom often, but trust me, its worth it ;) ]

It might not be a magic bullet that cures you instantly, but it is surely your long term companion which will never fail your body if you give your due time and attention  :)

Want To Keep Your Skin Healthy? The Answer Might Be In Your Fridge!

Do you hate your skin during winter? That stretchy, itchy, dry feel, when even smiling seems like a trouble? If you are done trying all the expensive creams and oils, you might as well check your fridge! Science has it that  certain food stuff when consumed in right proportion can make your skin soft supple and moist even in the rough winters; and yes Nature agrees to it! We make it simpler for you. Here is a bunch of power punch nutrients to eat that can make your journey through winter smooth and supple:)

• Vitamin E:  Vitamin E is a very powerful antioxidant which means it can scavenge away free radicals that harm your skin via the process of oxidation. These free radical also damage collagen thereby causing skin dryness, fine lines and wrinkles. Also Vitamin E helps protect the lipids (read oil for keeping skin Supple) from breaking down thereby maintains skin oil quotient and glow. Good sources are: Nuts like Avocado, watnut, hazelnut, peanuts. Oilseeds like sesame, flax seeds. Vegetable oil.

• Vitamin C: It's been centuries since British sailors discovered the key to avoiding scurvy: vitamin C. You probably grew up being told that getting enough vitamin C would ward off colds and other ailments, but now the word is out that vitamin C also plays a big part in maintaining the health of your skin too.  That's because vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is key to the production of collagen, a protein that aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels and gives skin its firmness and strength. Guava and Amla (Indian Gooseberry) are one of the excellent sources of Vitamin C. Bell Peppers, dark green leafy vegetables, Citrus fruits like oranges and sweet lime, Kiwi, Strawberry are amongst others.

• Omega 3 Fatty Acid: another Amazing thing to consume in abundance during winter. Omega 3 fatty acid has become the Tom Cruise of the food kingdom in the past few years. The popularity is well deserved as well. Omega 3 fatty acid is a very important nutrient when it comes to skin (apart from being great for the heart) It is essentially a good oil that will keep your skin healthy, moist and supple. Fishes like tuna, macarel, and sardine are excellent source of Omega3 fatty Acid.  Flax seeds, walnuts, soybeans, tofu are good vegetarian choices for this.

• Water Water Water: There is no other great thing as water. No matter how much ever healthy food you eat or creams that you apply, you will not see a great change in the health of your skin if you do not consume water in sufficient. This is specially more important in winters to keep a check on your water intake because we tend to not feel so thirsty in this season as there is no sweating and the weather is cold, hence we end up postponing that glass of milk. One must consume atleast 3 litres of water everyday ( value for a sedentary adult). Water makes your skin moist and also helps in flushing out impure toxins out of your systems thereby giving you a healthy glow and radiant skin in winters.

A word of caution since most of vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acid rich food stuffs are usually also high in fats, you can opt for supplements of vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids. this way if you are tryng to loose weight, the dietary intake will not affect your weight loss goals. But yes do try to go as Natural as you can :)