Since our body can directly absorb vitamin D, fat-soluble vitamin from sunshine, hence the name. The Need Vitamin D is critical for bone health. In children it promotes bone development and growth. In adults, it is necessary for bone maintenance. In the elderly, vitamin D helps prevent bone loss and fractures. Most importantly vitamin D works with parathyroid hormone to regulate blood calcium and phosphorus levels in a normal range. With parathyroid hormone, vitamin D stimulates the body to move calcium back and forth between the blood and the reservoir of calcium in bone.  Vitamin D enhances the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the small intestine.  It protects against muscle

There is more to summer than muggy afternoons and parched throats. Summer offers unique bounty of fruits, like—mangoes, melons, litchis and watermelons. True to its name watermelon has an extremely high water content, approximately 92%, giving its flesh a crumbly and subtly crunchy texture and making it a favourite thirst-quenching fruit. In the capital during the months of summer you can see giant green melons sitting pretty on the sidewalks, perched one on the top of another in neat rows. As a member of the Cucurbitaceae family, the watermelon is related to the cantaloupe, squash and pumpkin, other plants that also grow on vines on the ground. History–Originating in Africa,

Come summer and gourd family—bottled, ribbed and ridged, dominates the vegetable market. To make matters worse, they are extremely high on nutrition quotient and guilt gnaws you each time you avert their stare while looking for more options. Capsicum—the curvaceous, crunchy veggie not only rescues us from the gourd fare but also adds fire, zest and colour to our culinary skills. Besides the well-known, green-coloured capsicum, there are other kinds too, in richer hues, like—yellow and red, and for family has potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant, because they all belong to the nightshade family. Latino link Like other relatives of the chilly family, capsicum originated in South America

 Cantaloupe–a fruit with a fascinating name, refreshingly rich flavour and aroma is a dieter’s delight and an antioxidant powerhouse. The fruit derives its name from the ltalian papal village of Cantalup, where it was first cultivated around 1700 A.D. It belongs to the same family as the cucumber, squash, pumpkin and gourd, and like many of its relatives, grows on the ground on a trailing vine. What’s in a name? Cantaloupes are also referred to as a netted melon because it has a rib less rind with a distinctive netted skin. Inside of the melon there is a hollow cavity that contains seeds encased in a web of netting. Cantaloupe is also known as rock melon and muskmelon in

Sink your teeth in a pear and the taste of soft buttery flesh with somewhat grainy texture overwhelms your palate. Pears are one of the oldest cultivated and beloved fruits. Greek poet Homer lauds pears as “gift of the gods.” Pears are members of the rose family and related to the apple and the quince. Pears generally have a large round bottom that tapers towards the top. Depending upon the variety, their paper-thin skins can either be yellow, green, brown, red or a combination of two or more of these colors. Like apples, pears have a core that features several seeds. Nutritional profile    Pears are an excellent source of fibre. An average pear provides 6 grams, which amounts to

Iron is among the most abundant minerals in the earth’s crust. Yet, iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world. Functions • Transporting oxygen in the blood. • Co-factor in energy metabolism • Plays a role in brain development • Builds immunity • Fights fatigue Total body iron averages a little less than 4 grams in men and a little more than 2 grams in women. Iron Absorption When it comes to iron absorption intestinal cells act as gatekeepers. People short on iron soak more of it. Depending on need, iron absorption can vary from less than 1 percent to greater than 50 percent. Once intestinal cells admit iron, they can use it immediately, release it in

Festivals bring in good cheer, happiness and mouth-watering varieties food. The sweetmeats during holi are made exclusively for this season and it is truly difficult to resist this temptation—Gujia, Jalebi etc. The delicacies are endless and so is the indulgence. Moreover holi is the time for alcohol, bhang. Families and friends come together and one tends to indulge in them more than it is needed. So, what to do to come out of that hangover…… A detox diet can help you begin a healthier eating plan by making you feel cleaner and lighter. Once you feel your body rid itself of all those toxic chemicals, and you enjoy the benefits such as regular bowel movements, a clearer

Creamy, rich and sweet banana, wrapped in biodegradable wrapper from nature, banana is a huge favourite with adults and children. Whoever termed banana as common man’s fruit was ignorant of the nutritional advantages of it? Though banana doesn’t have proverbs indicating its virtues like apples, but who cares as long as there is a whole country named after you—Banana Republic. And, then the fruit itself is an epitome in multitasking that can help you rein in high blood pressure, nudge bowels, build bones and soothe hyperacidity and improve eye sight all at the same time. Impressed! Well, looks can be deceptive and this is the case with banana. • Banana is a good source of

Antioxidants interact with and stabilise free radicals. Thus, they prevent some of the damage that free radicals may cause. Free radicals can alter the way in which the cells code genetic material. It can eventually damage immune system and lead to leukemia and other types of cancer as well as to many other diseases. 12 Super antioxidants 1. Berries act as antioxidants, thus as anticancer substances that may help protect cells. Berries are also rich in soluble fiber, which may help reduce cholesterol. 2. Chilli peppers have capsaicin which gives peppers their heat. Capsaicin may interfere with cancer development and are also rich in vitamin C. 3. Citrus fruits have flavanones. They can

Supplement as the name suggests is an addition to nutrition. Ideally, we should get all nutrients from food, but this doesn’t happen in real life, where stress, deadlines, overdose of tea and coffee, smoking and junk food get in. Hence, recommendations of food-guide pyramid become text-book matter, which hardly get translated in real life. People who abide by food-guide-pyramid too need to worry, because the soil in which crops are grown has become depleted with minerals and each serving of fruits, and vegetable fails to deliver the nutrition as promised. In that scenario, which sounds like a slice of life from all of us, nutritional gaps build. Do I need to worry about nutritional