Monsoon has descended on us and it has brought along the promise of gorging on delicious pakodas while sipping your cuppa against the backdrop of pitter-patter of rains. It’s okay to indulge your taste buds  but you also need to exercise discretion because this is the time when instances of water-borne diseases soar. Archana Darshan tells more….   When in doubt, leave it out. Observe the rule without fail when it comes to eating or drinking anything. If you are not sure about the hygiene of the food do not have it. Boil your drinking water and don’t have ice, if the source of water is doubtful. Omit salads and raitas when eating out. Keep it simple and short. The cool weather may

Arthritis is the inflammation of one or more joints. It is characterised by pain and stiffness especially in the morning or after exercise, swelling, deformity and diminished range of motion. There may be audible cracking or grating noises when the joints move. The prevalence of the disease increases with age.   Arthritis is not a modern ailment. Archaelogists have discovered evidence of the disorder in the skeletons of Neanderthals and other prehistoric mammals and even dinosaurs. Conventional medicine is confounded on why arthritis occurs. Since the most prominent feature of arthritis is pain and inflammation, it is important that food helping in alleviating the pain and inflammation

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

‘One cannot think well, love well or sleep well if one has not dined well,’— this statement holds much truth in it. You often blame your act of forgetfulness on a “bad memory”. Otherwise you hold responsible your age and genetics for memory lapses, but the problem may be related to something as simple as what you eat. Recent research suggests what you put into your mouth may affect your brainpower. Eating healthy by incorporating antioxidant-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and fish into your diet helps protect your brain cells and fights off age-related memory loss. Read ahead to learn how some memory boosting foods help your brain to keep functioning at its peak

“Let your food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food”— said Hippocrates. Though, all foods have health-restorative features, there are some that simply stand out. Below, we have brought a lowdown of ten nutritional giants. Keep reading to know more about them– Ten power foods that heal Garlic Since time immemorial garlic has been used to stave off evil spirits, build stamina, enhance immunity, and ward off infections. During the ancient Olympic games in Greece athletes were said to swallow garlic as a stimulant. Garlic is a part of the lily family along with onions and chives. Undisturbed, the garlic bulb has limited medicinal properties. Chopping and

Nutrition is somewhat like fashion. What is in vogue today may not be tomorrow. We have seen coffee, chocolates and nuts move through this. However, the basic principles remain the same throughout. Eating five servings of fruits and vegetables in a day definitely benefits our health and most of us do try to squeeze them in our diet plan, but sometimes we do wonder whether they are packing as much punch as they claim. At GHC we thought to probe a bit— Which colours to pick? Red. Seek the blush of red coloured fruits and veggies to keep cancer at bay. Red pigments may prevent heart disease, lower the risk of some cancers, and perhaps help guard your brain against ageing. Lycopene,

Strange are ways of Cupid. There are times when he ducks the ‘good old arrow’ for a fork to strike at lovebirds. Agreed, today love is in the air and fireworks are flying between couples. But, such is life that passion ebbs and flows with deadlines, to-do lists and overflowing agendas. Need not despair, as we have hunted high and low for an assortment of nourishing ingredients that may stoke the fire of passion forever. To know more, read ahead. To put you in good mood Aphrodisiac comes from the name of Greek goddess of love—Aphrodite—Venus of the Romans. Today, aphrodisiac has acquired the connotation of lust, anything that puts you in good mood. Years ago this was not the case,

Nutrition scientists discovered long ago our moods are linked to the production or use of certain brain chemicals, and they have identified many of the natural chemicals in foods that change the way we feel. Food influences neurotransmitters by attaching to brain cells and changing the way they behave. This opens pathways to those cells so that other mood-altering chemicals can come through the gates and attach themselves to brain cells. If your anxiety is spiralling out of control, food should be your ally, not your enemy. So if you find yourself cranky, tired and even clinically depressed, try these mood-boosting foods– Milk. When you are stressed brain needs an amino acid called

Strange are ways of Cupid. There are times when he ducks the ‘good old arrow’ for a fork to strike at lovebirds. Such is life that passion ebbs and flows with deadlines, to-do lists and overflowing agendas. Need not despair, as we have hunted high and low for an assortment of nourishing ingredients that may stoke the fire of passion forever. To know more, read ahead. Aphrodisiac comes from the name of Greek goddess of love—Aphrodite—Venus of the Romans. Today, aphrodisiac has acquired the connotation of lust, anything that puts you in good mood. Years ago this was not the case, aphrodisiacs were meant to put you in good mood and enhance the functional and pro-creational aspects as

Life moves in circles. There is nothing permanent. What is bad today may not be the same tomorrow. As they say, every saint has a past and every sinner a future. The foods that have a tainted image are not that bad after all. My Health Guardian does a profile of the “so called” diet sinners. Chocolates. This melt in mouth confection came across as a guilty sin. What metamorphosed chocolates from a guilty sin to a superfood? The answer lies in cocoa, a potent antioxidant which fights free radicals. Chocolates, particularly dark ones up your moods, is good for your heart if eaten in moderation. While it is high in fat, research has shown that stearic acid, the main fat in chocolate,