Soaked Vs Raw Almonds: We Unveil The Truth

February 29, 2020Leave a comment

Widely known for its numerous benefits, Almonds are seeds or nuts of a tree called Prunus dulcis. They are native to Iran and its surrounding regions but are cultivated worldwide. We have all been recommended to eat almonds at some point in our lives as they promote a healthy lifestyle.

Packed with vitamin E, almonds act as an immunity booster. Apart from being a rich source of proteins, nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, almonds are also one of the tastiest and most versatile tree nuts.

Due to its versatility, people are often confused about the best way to consume almonds. There is often a debate regarding the benefits of having soaked almonds over raw almonds. Soaking almonds overnight for at least a period of 6-8 hours before having it is often recommended.

Here are 7 reasons why you should soak almonds before eating them.

Eases Digestion: Almonds may be difficult to digest because of their hard texture. Soaking almonds overnight softens them making the whole process of digestion a lot easier [1]. Soaking almonds also leads to the release of the enzyme called lipase which stimulates the digestion of fats in the body.
Nutritional Content: Our body can absorb more nutrients from soaked almonds than raw almonds. The soft texture of the almond after soaking will facilitate chewing which in turn leads to the absorption of more nutrients. The outer brown peel of almonds contains a substance called tannin. Tannin is said to prevent nutrient absorption and inhibits the release of enzymes until proper sunlight and moisture conditions are reached. Once the almond is soaked in water, due to moisture the outer peel comes out easily allowing the nut to release more nutrients. Soaking almonds overnight also reduces phytic acid which inhibits nutrient absorption [2].
Weight Loss And Aging: Soaked almonds are rich in antioxidants [3] which eliminate harmful free radicals from the body and prevents inflammation. Antioxidants like vitamin E delays the process of aging and help you maintain your younger-looking self. Soaked almonds also aid in weight loss. They are rich in monounsaturated fats because of which you can munch on almonds and satiate your midnight hunger pangs without gaining additional weight [4].
Regulates Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Level: Soaked almonds help regulate cholesterol levels and blood pressure. They are rich in protein, magnesium, folic acid, potassium, which helps in combating heart diseases and reduces the chances of artery congestion [5]. Moreover, they help regulate blood sugar levels, which reduces the risks of diabetes [6].
Better Taste: Some people prefer soaked almonds as they taste much better than raw almonds. Soaking the almonds makes it softer and gives it a better texture and taste. They are also easier to chew. Raw almonds are hard and have a bitter taste making it less appealing to eat.
Skin and Hair: Soaked almonds can be blended with milk to be used as a face scrub and body moisturizer. This scrub acts as a great exfoliating agent and can also be used to treat skin inflammations. Using a hair mask with soaked almonds will give luster to your hair and help in preventing hair fall and hair damage due to their high nutrient profile.
Other Health Benefits: The high content of folic acid in soaked almonds helps in reducing birth defects during pregnancy. They are often recommended to pregnant women as they are nutrient-rich and provide ample energy for the healthy development of the baby. Vitamin B17 present in soaked almonds helps to fight cancer and tumor growth [7]. Children are also encouraged to eat soaked almonds as they are said to boost their memory and act as a tonic for the brain. Constipation can also be treated with soaked almonds due to high fiber content.
References:

8 Foods To Eat Your Way Out Of A Hangover

December 28, 2019August 27, 2020Leave a comment

Sometimes (often during weekends) you wake up with a terrible headache, dizziness, dry skin, and little memory of the previous night’s binge drinking with friends. Maybe you didn’t need to have that fifth drink, even though it tasted delicious. Now, we can’t do much about last evening’s embarrassing videos and photos, but we could help you with the hangover, by suggesting these nutrient-rich foods.

What Happens in a Hangover?

That soul-crushing hangover is nothing but the alcohol interfering with the neurotransmitters of your brain. Alcohol is known to release reward chemicals like dopamine, hence you feel happy when you have a drink or two. Now, when the drinking stops your brain takes time to regain its regular balance of these happy chemicals, making you feel confused and sometimes sad.

Additionally, when your body processes alcohol it creates a substance called acetaldehyde, which makes you feel nauseated and gives you those neverending headaches. If you drink moderately, your liver can get rid of acetaldehyde, however, when you binge it puts pressure on your liver, causing the sick-in-the-stomach feeling, literally. Of course, the dehydration and acidity due to lack of water and food, doesn’t help.

How Can You Fight Hangovers?

Since you can’t turn back time and drink in moderation, eat these foods the next morning to get rid of the hangover.

1. Bananas: When you are dehydrated, your body loses electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. [1] One banana has almost 12% of the potassium that a person needs daily [2]. Bite into this yellow fruit and see the magic.

2. Eggs: Your morning omelet is packed with amino acids that help produce antioxidants in your body. Now when you drink, it depletes your body of these powerful fighters that aid your liver to process alcohol. Eggs help fuel-up these antioxidants in your body, making you feel healthier and full [3].

3. Nuts: Alcohol stays in your bloodstream for 24 hours. Almonds, walnuts, and other nuts contain magnesium, which helps break it down for your liver [4]. This eases hangover symptoms.

4. Leafy Vegetables: Alcohol is known to attack the iron storage in your body, hence you feel fatigued the next day along with having a pale, dull skin [5]. Spinach, kale, and other leafy vegetables are rich in folate or iron and help replenish this nutrient in your body.

5. Ginger: This amazing root has a host of health benefits. It is ideal to cure a sore throat, nausea, and upset stomach that come with hangovers. It has anti-inflammatory properties and calms the acidity [6] in the body, soothing the throat and the stomach.

6. Coffee: If you’re severely dehydrated, coffee may not be the best option, but it might be a boon if you have it an hour after drinking enough water. It has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the stomach [7]. If you need to get to work, you will definitely need a caffeine pick-me-up after a fatigued and confusing morning. Stick to a light one with milk.

7. Other Fruits: Have water-rich and citrus fruits like orange, pineapple, watermelon, and berries that are packed with vitamin C and fiber to help your body recover. This vitamin helps slow down the conversion of alcohol into acetaldehyde easing symptoms of a hangover [8].

8. Oatmeal: Complex carbs in oatmeal provide a slow and steady release of sugar into your body, helping you avoid the spikes of high or low blood sugar [9], common after an alcohol binge.

References:

Why some people never fall sick

June 20, 2017March 1, 2018Leave a comment

I often wondered how all my life, I had never seen my grandmother spend a single day in bed or experience a bout of cold, cough or fever. So, one day I asked her “What is the secret to your good health?” She replied, “I sleep by 9 pm, wake up by 5, eat fruits daily, eat only home-cooked food and go for a walk every day for 40 minutes.” Evidently, her disciplined lifestyle is the secret to her strong immunity.

As like any other system of our body, a strong immune system calls for a healthy lifestyle which comprises of adequate nourishment, sleeps and exercise to function to its optimum capacity.

Now, we are aware that habits inculcated during childhood stay with us throughout life. Hence, it is important to ingrain healthy habits at a tender age.

While I have briefly touched upon the factors that are essential for staying away from ailments, let’s look at what factors should you look at for ensuring you stay as healthy as my grandma: Continue reading →

Exercise and Eat Right for a Fitter You!

May 22, 2017May 21, 20181 Comment

Exercise is King, Nutrition is Queen. Put them together and you have a kingdom. For you to climb to the zenith of fitness, you need to get that combination of exercise and nutrition spot on!

Exercising is not only about a slimmer waistline or ripped physique, but also about a lowered risk of lifestyle diseases and improved mood and energy levels. And to ensure that you are gaining maximum benefits from that grueling gym session, it is important to fuel your fitness with proper nutrition. Continue reading →

EATING FOR TWO: DIET FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY!

May 12, 2017February 26, 2018Leave a comment

Pregnancy Nutrition is essential for a healthy baby. Without a doubt, a well-balanced eating plan can be one of the best gifts you can give to your developing baby. A healthy wholesome eating plan can not only keep you feeling healthy during pregnancy but also pave the way for an easier labour. It also helps to establish essential building blocks of growth and overall health of your child.

Your body will gain weight during your pregnancy which is proof that your body is nurturing your growing baby. By the time you are ready to deliver the baby, your total blood volume will increase by as much as 60%, your milk production will be optimum, your uterus will grow to accommodate your baby who will grow 2-4 kgs (on an average). Thus, to accomplish this, the body needs that extra wholesome nutritious dose of food to lay the ground for these productive changes. Continue reading →

Post Pregnancy Weight Loss and Beyond

May 12, 2017February 26, 2018Leave a comment

Having a baby is a beautiful experience and you find your world revolving around your baby. Now that your baby is here, you have a lot to think and do. In addition to this, you are eager to look like your old self again or even better than before.

The number one thing you must have is a certain amount of patience with your body. It took you nine months to get there and what you eat now affects the quality of nourishment you give to your baby through lactation. It may sound strange, but going on an official “diet” could derail your post-pregnancy weight loss goals and affect the nourishment of your baby. Continue reading →

EAT A RAINBOW – THE SMART WAY OF EATING!

February 14, 2017August 24, 20182 Comments

Imagine eating only dal-rice for several days! The thought itself is horrifying, isn’t it?

Just like our tongue, our eyes, nose etc. also participate actively when we eat our food. Hence, it is highly important that the food should appeal to all our senses, especially eyes! Because, according to a popular adage, ‘We eat with our eyes first’! Our meal should be enticing enough for our eyes to feel hungry. And the easiest way to do it is by making our plate look colourful. Different colours have different effects on our eyes and soon enough, we will be relishing our food. However, the effect of colourful food items is not only limited to our eyes!

When I was a kid, my mom always ensured that my platter was colourful and her reason was completely different from the one stated above! Eating different colours of food is not only a treat to our eyes but also to our body!

Continue reading →

TOH KUCHH MEETHA HO JAYE

February 12, 2017March 1, 20181 Comment

Have you eliminated yummy pedhas, delicious rasgullas, luscious jalebis from your life? Do you find it difficult to resist scrummy desserts and pastries during parties? Have you substituted sugar with ‘sugar-free’?

If your answer for the above questions is ‘Yes’, here’s a last question for you –

Are you happy with such a restrictive attitude towards sweets? Has it aided phenomenally in your weight loss journey?

And if your answer has now switched to ‘No’, you should definitely find out where you are going wrong!

Whenever we are trying to lose weight, sweets and desserts are the first things we stay away from. But do you know that a small serving of dessert every day can really be beneficial for you? Yes, it’s true! If you have a small portion of sweets today, you won’t feel deprived and will be less tempted to hog on it tomorrow. Continue reading →

Be a Yummy Mummy (with our easy peasy tips!)

January 20, 2017January 3, 20182 Comments

“Wow you are a Mom to a 5 year old? You don’t even look married!!”

Compliments like these make my day. I am sure any mom would love to receive such compliments. We all would love to look young and cool just like our celeb moms Malaika Arora, Karisma Kapoor, Mandira Bedi to name a few. Well, just because they are in media we feel its very easy for them to do it or that it’s a mandate for them. On the contrary, I feel it’s a “conscious choice” you make to stay fit and healthy even after a child birth.

Looking good and feeling confident go hand in hand, the sooner you start some physical activity which fits into your schedule the faster you will reach your pre-pregnancy weight. After 9 months of being pampered, eating for 2, eating whenever and whatever comes to sight, giving in to your tiniest craving thinking you so deserve it … it’s now time to get back to reality and step out from your comfort zone, wear your workout gear and get going to achieve your post pregnancy weight loss. Continue reading →

Why should you eat little but often?

November 11, 2016January 19, 20183 Comments

“Eating a proper breakfast is a challenge. Forget that mid-morning meal at 11!”
“I don’t feel like eating anything with my evening chai, but when I sit for dinner, I can’t resist that extra roti/helping of rice/ dessert.”
If you are someone who gets caught in similar situations on a regular basis, you are inviting acidity, bloating, deranged sugar levels and weight gain!
Surprised? It’s the long gaps between meals that are the root cause of this problem.
Just make a small tweak to your lifestyle by eating a small meal between your main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and you will reap innumerable benefits!

Chalo, let’s talk about the benefits that these mid-meals have to offer: Continue reading →

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