5 Reasons you gain weight in summer( HEALTH +)

When it comes to losing or maintaining your weight, we know it is not a cakewalk, but unknowingly there can be many reasons contributing to sabotaging your healthy intentions.


There are many cues of gaining weight, right from the pill you're popping on regular basis, to the lightning in a restaurant to replacing fats with carbs. Do these habits sound familiar? Browse on to know about our list of top 5 surprising reasons why you gaining weight this summer season.


For days, you tend to give up on fats completely, only to replace them with carbs. In order to lower the amount of fat we eat, we tend to replace fatty foods with carb varieties, such as white breads, rice and white pastas. Simple carbs tend to stimulate your body to produce insulin, which can further lead to weight gain. The best solution is to stick to healthy carbs and fats. Go for grains, healthy fruits and vegetables for healthy carbs, and avocado, nuts and fish for monosaturated fats.


Popping medicines every now and then. It might sound shocking to you, but popping a pill here and a pain-reliever there can be the biggest hidden reason why you're gaining weight this summer.


Types of antidepressants that lead to weight gain, are trycyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Many people believe that migraine medicines can contribute to weight gain as well. Diabinese, Insulase (chlorpropamide) drug, used in diabetes can lead to either weight gain or weight loss depending upon the individual.


It is, therefore, essential to take all these drugs under the supervision of a medical professional and follow a proper diet and exercise regimen.


Overeating outside because of good ambience, music, dim lights and bright colours. According to a study published in the Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, people who eat when the music is fast and loud tend to eat much more and chew their food hurriedly. Same is the case, when you eat at home with the TV on.


Self awareness is the key here, which will help you combat your act of overeating by keeping a tab on the amount of calories you consume. On the other hand, colour therapists believe that warm colours (like red, orange and yellow), mostly used in fast food joints, tend to encourage people to eat more.


Apart from this, dim lights in restaurants make us eat more as one can't judge the quantity of food easily. The best solution is to avoid going to such places and be clear in your head about the amount of calories you would want to indulge in by way of clever portion control.


Drinking too much of cold beer is directly linked to weight gain. The truth is that light beer has only 90 to 100 calories and regular beer generally has less than 200 calories, but this is no licence to drink too much.

Eat almonds for nutrition (HEALTH +)

Almonds are among the most nutrient-rich tree nuts and just a handful a day is a great way to ensure you're getting more of the good things your body needs and you want.


Almonds are an excellent source of vitamin E, magnesium, manganese, and a good source of fiber, copper, phosphorous, and riboflavin. Plus, a one-ounce serving has 13 grams of good unsaturated fats, just 1 gram of saturated fat, and is always cholesterol free. And when compared ounce for ounce, almonds are the tree nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin E, riboflavin, and niacin. Talk about a powerful punch in a petite package.


Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet. Nutrients are important to lead a healthy life. Vitamins and minerals you get from your diet are just as important as carbohydrates, protein and fats; however, you only need them in small amounts. Vitamins and minerals usually function as co-enzymes, which mean they help chemical reactions in the body happen a lot faster. One of the most important vitamins for the body is Vitamin E. In order for the heart to stay healthy the body needs plenty of Vitamin E. Vitamin E is also an excellent option for helping limit bad heart conditions. The body is more prone to certain diseases if it doesn't have a proper amount of Vitamin E.


The tiny almond is a storehouse of nutritional goodness. Each ounce contains 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber, not to mention healthy doses of iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin E and array antioxidants. Snacking on almonds is a great way to help lower cholesterol and high blood pressure, and can smooth out spikes in blood sugar in diabetics. Calcium is an important nutrient found in almonds. A single serving of almonds can contain up to a quarter of one's daily calcium needs. Such high levels of calcium make almonds a tooth and bone strengthening food as well.


Our diet needs to provide adequate amounts of all of these 'little helpers'. Almonds are a power packed nut which provide you with all the good variants of nutrition like carbohydrates, fats, minerals, proteins and vitamins. Since time immemorial, almonds have been cherished, not only for their delicate flavour and delectable crunch, but also for their nutritional benefits. They are a simple, tasty choice that can make a big difference in the way you feel every single day, not a small feat. And that means you can feel good about what you're eating while enjoying their delicious crunchy flavour.


Almonds promote a healthy heart in many ways. The cholesterol-lowering effects of almonds can also help almond snackers maintain healthy hearts. Alpha-tocopherol vitamin E found in Almonds are one of the leading food sources of the important antioxidant, which helps neutralize harmful free radicals in your body and help you feel your best day and night. So what are free radicals? They're unstable molecules that form as your body burns oxygen. Free radicals can damage your cells, tissues, and even your DNA.


So make a healthy resolution this nutrition week and keep yourself healthy for the rest of the year. Eat almonds and make yourself stronger forever.    

Fight heat with cucumber, citrus fruits(HEALTH +)

Summer's set in early and the scorching heat is unavoidable. Yes, it's the hottest time of the year. But it's also the season to have the king of fruits - mango.




So go ahead, indulge and relish the fruit as much as you want. The temperature could be soaring, but this is the only time you can vacation with your family, so staying outdoors is inevitable. Here are ways to enjoy the summer.





-Heat-related ailments are common around this time - sunstroke, dehydration, skin diseases. If you know how to tackle these, the battle is half won.




-Most importantly, keep yourself hydrated through the day by consuming a lot of fluids. Gulp down as many gallons of water as you can and avoid aerated drinks




-Barley water is a coolant and so is tender coconut water. Drink these at least twice a week.


-If heat stroke hits you, then make sure you apply an ice pack as a first-aid but consult a doctor immediately because it could turn fatal depending on its intensity.




-Fruit juices too are a good option. Eating fruit as a whole is even better. You could perhaps try citrus fruits like orange, lemon and sweet lime. Water melons too are abundantly available in the market.




-Avoid eating spicy food and reduce your salt intake. Consume a lot of vegetables that is high in water content - cucumber, bottle gourd, celery, tomatoes.



-Never step out in the sun between 10 am and 3pm. If you must, then apply sunscreen on your face and body. Also, use an umbrella to protect yourself from the harsh UV rays of the sun. 

Health benefits of curry leaf (HEALTH +)

Curry leaf is an essential ingredient in Indian cooking especially in South India. However, it's customary for most of us to simply remove and throw the leaf from our food and not consume it. Well, you shouldn't be doing that! Wonder why? Read on...



Curry leaf has many medicinal properties. It stimulates digestive enzymes and helps break down food more easily. Have a glass of buttermilk mixed with a little hing (asafoetida) with a few curry leaves thrown after meal for good digestion.






- A good remedy for nausea and indigestion. Extract juice of curry leaves, squeeze a lime and add a pinch of sugar.


- Chew a few leaves every day to lose weight



- Curry leaves are also known to improve eyesight, so make sure you do not throw away the leaves while eating. It is also believed to prevent cataract.




- Curry leaves are also good for hair growth and colour. If you don't like its raw taste, you can buy the curry leaf powder widely available in the market and have it with dosa or hot rice. You can also make it at home. This will prevent pre mature greying of hair.




- Alternatively, you can also add a few curry leaves to your hair oil and boil it for a few minutes. Applying this hair tonic will keep your hair healthy.



These are just few of the many benefits that the curry leaves possesses. Include this in your daily diet for better health.

Formula for fitness (HEALTH +)

The words ‘Plus exercise, minus obesity, divide your meals and multiply your quality of life' in bold letters adorn the walls, apart from posters on healthy eating, cooking and living.




A mathematical formula is what the Centre for Food, Mood and Exercise that recently opened its doors on Santhome High Road promises.




Specific to individuals


“This centre,” says Radhika G., chief clinical dietician and research nutritionist, and managing director, “is about lifestyle modification with evidence based on measurable outcome.




We have no general recommendations and our services are customised. We have a bio-chemical lab where we collect blood samples, analyse them and put together a course that is unique to that individual.”




It has a ‘Healthy Supermarket', where products are categorised under three colours; orange, green and blue. “The products under green are mostly brown rice, whole wheat atta, lentils and so on — what one must consume.




The blue products comprise breakfast cereals and other alternatives to the green section. The orange marks supplements, food with high sugar and salt content — basically, food that must be consumed with caution,” says Raisa Anna Philip, research nutritionist.



An in-house nutritionist is around to help. “What we do here is plan your grocery list and help you select healthier options,” says Raisa. “Often, people know something is healthy, but don't know how much to consume. We help them decide what to buy and how much to take.”




“People don't know how to use healthy products. For example, most people consume oats as porridge, but that makes blood sugar rise almost immediately. A healthier option would be to have oats in a semi-solid form; or mix it in idli / dosa batter.



You can even try out oats upma. That way, the sugar level rises gradually. We demonstrate alternative recipes for such products,” says Radhika.



The Centre also has a gym, physiotherapy room, yoga classes and counselling, for, as Radhika puts it: “We believe in taking a holistic approach to solve any problem.”   

Foods that keep you hydrated(HEALTH +)

Listed are some of the food items that keep you hydrated if you are not much of a (water) drinker




We all know that our body is 70 per cent water. We need to keep ourselves hydrated in order to keep our body functioning properly.

There are mostly three types of food categories: fresh juicy fruits, green leafy vegetables and water based soups.





There are a variety of fruits that you can choose from if you do not drink water that much. The best pick is a watermelon which has the maximum water content in it. Fresh fruits will give you the needed hydration to feel better and be healthier.


Some more examples are: apples, kiwi, grapefruit, coconut, strawberries, and any type of berries.




The second food group is vegetables. The green fresh vegetables provide nutrients that help the body to stay hydrated and not get too heavy with other foods. It is better to eat the vegetables raw. Cooking them will take out the natural moisture and hydration.





The third category is soup or a broth. They can give you some liquid that your body needs and will therefore hydrate you.

A good soup to try is a vegetable chicken soup. If you don't like chicken, get vegetable soup. 

Top 7 healthy cooking oils (HEALTH +)

With a wide range of cooking oils on market shelves, it's easy to get confused about which oils are healthy for daily use. Even more confusing is the way each oil can and should be used.




Always remember that oil by itself does not contain 'cholesterol', but it helps to promote its formation in the body. In order to get the maximum benefit from the oils, one could use a mix of oils - use different oils for different methods and purposes in cooking. We asked Delhi-based nutritionist Mrs Himanshu Kapoor about her top picks of healthy cooking oils, and these are the top 7 healthy cooking oils she recommends.



Sunflower/Safflower oil: The most commonly used oil in Indian kitchens, this oil is rich in PUFA, particularly linoleic acid, which lowers the levels of good as well as bad cholesterol. So it will be a good idea to use this oil in combination with other oils as Palmolein oil. We can alternate the cooking with different oils.


Ghee: Also called clarified butter. This, being animal fat, contains saturated fat and cholesterol. According to Ayurveda, ghee contains some medicinal properties, so to get the benefits of its qualities use sparingly in your food as excess would lead to heart disease.


Coconut oil: Mostly used in southern parts of India, unfortunately Coconut oil is sometimes considered unhealthy. While this oil contains saturated fats, they are different from those present in animal fats and like other vegetable oils, coconut oil does not contain cholesterol hence it can be consumed for cooking in combination with other oils in the kitchen. But always remember moderation is the key word.


Groundnut oil: Groundnut or peanut oil contains heart friendly MUFA that lowers levels of bad cholesterol in our body without lowering the levels of good cholesterol. It is available in filtered and refined form. The filtering process is nutritionally superior, but may contain toxic compounds, so preferred should be filtered and refined groundnut oil of reputed brands. This oil is suitable for all types of cooking - frying, grilling and tempering or seasoning.


Mustard oil: Loved and also hated by some for its pungent and sharp flavor, mustard oil is available as filtered oil, and refined mustard oil is sold as vegetable oil. This oil has higher proportion of Mono-unsaturated and Poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Thus should be used in small quantities for certain vegetables only. As it may have undesirable effects on health if used in large quantity.


Rice bran oil: This oil is rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol lowering properties due to the presence of a component called oryzanol. It also contains natural vitamin E - an antioxidant and is also good for the skin. This does well in high heat cooking as it does not decompose at high temperature to form toxic compounds, hence suitable for deep frying. Experiments in the kitchen have shown that snacks fried in this oil absorb 12-25% less oil than those prepared in Groundnut oil.


Olive oil: This mono-unsaturated oil helps lower bad cholesterol levels and triglycerides without lowering good cholesterol levels. Different stages of pressing and processing yields different varieties of olive oil. Extra virgin is excellent for salad dressings. Do not use for cooking anything on high heat. Virgin Olive oil is the yield of the second press. In the pure stage, the Olive oil goes through a certain amount of processing - filtration and refining. Pomace- Processed and refined to be used for Indian cooking.