5 Must-try superfoods for healthy radiant skin this winter season

Winter is absolutely a pleasant season to enjoy! Though it’s a harsh season and takes a toll on both skin health and immunity. We use dozens of moisturizers to keep the skin soft and hydrated still we feel dull and dry. Rather than selecting costly cream or lotion to keep the skin moisturized, there are a few natural foods when incorporated in our daily diet can help to combat the skin dryness and keeps the skin healthy and glowing.

Here, we have listed out 5 such natural ingredients which are available during the winter season to restore skin health. Yes! Eating the below-mentioned anti-oxidant rich foods keep your skin soft and supple. Let’s dive into the list of superfoods now! Here is our top 5!

Things to remember while maintaining skin health:

    • Consume the foods that are locally available and easy to get
    • Keep your food choices simple
    • Never use hot water to bath
    • Dab coconut oil on the skin to keep up the moisturizer content
    • Drink enough water and keep the skin hydrated
    • Munch on colourful veggies
    • Avoid soaps made with harsh chemicals
    • Gently exfoliate to regenerate the new layers of the skin
    • Limit shower time
    • Apply good brand sunscreen lotion that suits your skin type

If you have severe dryness and have itchy skin, then visiting the dermatologist t is a must. Your doctor will check for the cause and may prescribe lotions or creams based on your skin issues.

Best natural superfoods to boost skin health:

Enjoy the winter season by prepping the below-mentioned foods. Try adding it in your diet every day!

Carrot: Carrots are winter special vegetable. Carrots are packed with minerals and vitamins. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, Vitamin A, lycopene, lutein, which helps to boost skin and nail health. Regular consumption of carrot helps to improve your immune system and fights acne, pimple, cold, flu, pigmentation, scars, wrinkles, and many more.

Broccoli: The cruciferous vegetable, broccoli is loaded with fibre, antioxidants, vitamins, antioxidants, vitamin C, minerals, and bioactive compounds like selenium, phosphorous, etc.

Adding broccoli in the diet maintains collagen production, helps to renew and repair skin cells, slows down the ageing process, and reduces dry and flaky skin. Also, intake of broccoli helps to reduce inflammation in the body, protects the body against certain cancers like breast cancer, prostate, colorectal cancer to name a few.

Orange: The winter fruit, oranges is loaded with vitamin C and adding them regularly in the diet helps to manage daily recommended levels of vitamin c in the body. Also, vitamin C promotes skin health, prevents breakouts, dryness, and hence results in boosting skin health.

Guava: The tasty, delicious guava fruit is loaded with vitamin C, minerals and other essential nutrients required for the body. One of the major function of including the guava in the diet is that it controls the blood sugar levels in the body.

The potassium content in the guava helps to regulate blood pressure levels, improves eye health, relaxes nerves to name a few. The vitamin C content, carotene, and the antioxidants present in the guava play a major role in improving skin health. A few benefits of guava in skincare include:

      • Lightens and improves the complexion
      • Lycopene protects the skin from UV damage
      • The vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the guava protect the skin health from damage, prevents the accumulation of environmental toxins and keeps your skin glowing and free from premature ageing.
      • Enhances skin texture and boosts collagen production in the skin
      • Hydrates the skin naturally

Pomegranate: The water content in the pomegranate fruit helps to hydrate the skin, improves skin health, and tones the skin tone naturally. The fruit is rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, minerals, and other nutrients which help to combat the skin from free radicals and protect the skin from any cell damage.

The use of a dollop of moisturizer on the skin can’t healthily combat dryness. Including the foods listed above in your diet daily can bring back your lost skin lustre.

So, pay attention to your diet and never miss to add the seasonal fruits and veggies this winter season! If you are running out of the moisturizer, order them online store in India and avail discounts on your skincare products.

Cloves: What Are Their Health Benefits and Nutritional Value?

Cloves

Cloves are the dried flower buds from the clove tree. Many people use them as a spice in sauces, stews, rice dishes, and soups. The word clove comes from “clavus,” a Latin word meaning “nail”, probably owing to the fact that a dried clove looks like a nail. For many years, people have used cloves in traditional medicines and cooking. However, scientists have lately started to ponder the possible health advantages of cloves.

Continue reading to find out what health benefits and possible risks cloves may have, as well as learn about how to use them. However, first, let’s take a look at the nutrition facts of cloves!

Nutrition information

As per the Department of Agriculture of the United States “National Nutrient Database,” 1 teaspoon or 2.1 grams (g) of ground cloves contains:

  • 0.7g of fiber
  • 0.27g of total fat
  • 6 kilocalories (kcal)
  • 1.38g of carbohydrates
  • 0.13g of protein
  • 1.263 mg of manganese, (63% of the daily value).

Health Benefits of Cloves

Thanks to all these amazing nutrients, cloves provide a wide assortment of health advantages. Some of the most significant health benefits of cloves include:

Oral Health:

To maintain Oral Health, researchers recommend clove oil as a natural remedy because it affects gingivitis, bacteria, and plaque in the mouth. Scientists even compared the efficacy of commercially available oil mouth rinses with an herbal mouth rinse made of basil, tea tree oil, and cloves.

Both mouth rinses were efficient against gingivitis and plaque, aiding in fighting oral bacteria and reducing inflammation. The scientists also found that mouth rinses containing cloves killed more harmful bacteria than commercial mouth rinses.

Diabetes

According to recent research, nigericin and other extracts of cloves decreased the resistance of insulin in muscle cells of mice. Diabetic mice that consumed nigericin also showed enhancement in beta cell functions, glucose tolerance, and the secretion of insulin.

In a separate study, diabetic rats were given powdered cloves. In the end, these rats had a lower level of blood sugar in comparison to the rats that were not given the clove powder.

Cancer

Various spices and herbs are rich in antioxidants, which helps in decreasing damage to the cells that can cause cancer. According to an expert dietitian:

“There are more antioxidants in ½ teaspoon of ground clove as compared to a ½  cup of blueberries.”

In lab research, researchers found that clove extract can delay the growth of different forms of cancer cells. It can also destroy the cancerous cells that may cause colon cancer or Bone Cancer. The same research also concluded that rats that received clove extract had a lower growth of tumors in comparison to rats that didn’t.

Another study sheds light on the positive impacts of clove extract on human breast cancer cells. This study showed that ethanol extracts of clove and essential oil are toxic to breast cancer cells.

The researchers stated that cloves might play a constructive role in the future of cancer treatment as they can delay the multiplication of cancerous cells as well as destroy them.

Obesity

Researchers also examined the effect of cloves on obesity. In a study conducted on mice, scientists observed that clove extract decreased the incidence of obesity arising due to fat-rich diets. Mice who received the clove extract were lower in weight and had less abdominal fat in comparison to the control group.

Considerations, risks, and side effects:

As per the National Center for Biotechnology Information, clove oil has a few negative side effects. It may cause allergic reactions on the skin or cause respiratory irritation. It is also combustible, and it can be lethal if it gets into the airway when swallowing.

According to a case report, a 15-month old child suffered from liver failure after consuming 10 ml of clove oil. In another incident, a 2-year-old child consumed 5-10 ml of clove oil and ended up with serious medical issues such as liver damage and blood clotting problems, along with ending up in a coma.

So, it’s essential to seek expert medical advice before consuming any herbal products to protect yourself from side effects.

Uses

You can purchase whole or ground cloves to use in cooking. You can include cloves in various cuisines. Moreover, it is also an essential ingredient in Worcestershire sauce and ketchup.

Cloves are also used for aroma in some perfumes. Clove oil has been used in traditional medicine for oral health and has been used in Ayurveda (a classical medicine of India). Cloves also provide a soothing effect and may cause a numbing sensation to relive pain.

How to use cloves?

As with ginger and cinnamon, you can use ground cloves in cooking. Moreover, you can use it to enhance the flavor in cookies, muffins, and oatmeal. It is also an active ingredient in gingerbread.

You can use cloves in several hot and cold beverages such as tea and lemonade to enhance their taste. Moreover, you can include it in many types of dishes. However, it is best suited for slow cooking.

Conclusion

As a fragrant spice, cloves can add a rich taste to various dishes. Its medical advantages are being reviewed, but there is room for more research. We highly recommend you to consult with medical experts about the safety and uses of cloves before using it or any other herbal product.

Eat These Healthy Foods to Get Rid of Acne

Bone Broth Collagen

We are living in a time where eating fast-foods, and unhealthy foods is quite common. People eat all kinds of unhealthy foods that might taste good or cost less. They are harmful to your health in the long run. You might suffer from some chronic health issues that can cost a lot.

So it’s better to consume foods that are healthy and won’t cause any damage to your health. These foods are usually rich in nutrients and vital for your health. Foods like bone broth, salmon, tuna, mackerel, spinach, and berries. All these food contain several nutrients and antioxidants that can help in making your life better.

The most common issue that we can deal with unhealthy food and diet is that it will affect your skin health. Eating foods that contain processed meat and oil will trigger the inflammation in your body.

Due to this inflammation, you can have acne problems. Although sometimes it can be embarrassing to have acne on your face. There are several ways in which you can prevent it.

Keeping your self-clean, avoiding foods that might trigger inflammation in your body, doing regular exercise, and sleeping properly. These are some of the things that you should keep in mind. These things are very important to prevent acne.

Apart from all these, you should follow a healthy diet that will improve your immune system and will reduce the inflammation of your body. The following foods are rich in antioxidants and several other nutrients that will improve your skin health.

BONE BROTH:

Bone broth is cooked on a slow heat. It is kept on a slow heat for several hours and this allows the nutrients of bone to mix in the broth. Bone broth is rich in minerals and vitamins that help in improving your skin quality.

bone broth
Bone broth is made by simmering the bones and connective tissue of animals.

There are several types of bone broths that you can drink. The most beneficial bone broth is beef bone broth. It hold an good amount of nutrients in it. Bone broth is also rich in collagen and protein both of which help in making your skin better and healthy.

BLUEBERRIES:

Citrus fruits are very important for your skin as it contains a good number of vitamin C that improves your skin quality and also helps in getting rid of acne on your skin. There are different types of berries that you can try. The other 2 berries that you can consume is raspberry and strawberry.

Berries contain anti-inflammatory properties that help in reducing the inflammation of your body. People who have low inflammation levels don’t usually suffer from acne. Although there are several other reasons that can cause acne, the most common one is inflammation and berries can help in reducing it.

LEAFY VEGETABLES:

Vegetables like spinach and kale are high in anti-inflammatory properties. So if you want to reduce your acne and oily skin then consume these veggies on a daily basis. Eating 1 or 2 bowls of salad every day will help in making your digestive health better and this will affect your skin.

eat healthy foods
Green Leafy Vegetables

Vegetables are rich in vitamin C and fibers. Collagen is very important for our skin and vitamin C helps in producing more collagen in our body. This is why citrus fruits and vegetables are beneficial for your skin health.

SEAFOOD:

Fish like salmon and sardine are rich in collagen and omega-3 fatty acids. These two are helpful in reducing the inflammation and toxins that can cause an acne breakout. Consuming seafood every 3-4 days is good for your health.

There are several other kinds of seafood that you can try. Tuna is another example of a food that can help in preventing acne and oily skin. It helps in boosting your immune system so that bacterias or viruses don’t attack your body.

CONCLUSION:
These are some of the foods that are rich in collagen and antioxidants that help in reducing the inflammation of your body so that it can get rid of your acne.

Foods like beef bone broth, salmon, and mackerel are rich in collagen that helps in improving your skin and can also help in reducing the risk of acne due to inflammation. So start consuming these foods and improve your overall health.

Vital Ketosis

vital-keto

What is Vital Keto?

It is a metabolic state of the body when it is able to burn fat in the body. This state is considered to be very beneficial, since it assists in lowering the blood glucose levels.

It also helps in strengthening the body muscles and getting rid of toxins from the body.

However, there are some factors that can prevent the normal activity of this state. If this state is inhibited, it will lead to an unhealthy body.

The Vital Ketosis state is induced when the amount of body fat in the body is less than 6% of the body weight.

This is possible only if you are able to perform physical exercises regularly.

When this state is induced, the level of care in the body is increased to such a high level that it can be used for metabolism in the building and repair of the body tissues.

This can be achieved by eating some carbohydrates daily. But, the essential carbohydrate should be only 25 grams of high glycemic.

The higher level of glycemic content in the carbs will not result in the development of the Vital Ketosis state.

You can also induce the normal functioning of the state by increasing the activity of the body in the metabolizing the glucose.

You can do this by doing high intensity exercise, such as walking or running.

But, it is not advisable to combine those activities with the intake of too much carbohydrates.

Importance of Adding Calcium to Your Diet

calcium-diet

Calcium is an essential nutrient for strong bones and lifelong bone health. It is an important building block for our body in order to stay strong and healthy. However, amount of calcium you need depends upon various factors.

Every one of us can reap great benefits from eating calcium rich foods and getting sufficient amount of Vitamin D and K and Magnesium that help preserve calcium in your body and perform its functions.

It seems confusing that how much calcium you should get? Where should you get it? How much quantity of Magnesium, Vitamin D and K is required to restore calcium in our body? But once you get the basics, it will become simple to add calcium in your diet and get the correct amount you need.

But before including calcium in your diet, you should understand the importance of this key nutrient. It is the most abundant mineral found in your body that plays various dynamic roles. It helps build strong teeth and bones and send messages through nervous systems, reduces blood clot formation, keeps your bones strong and healthy as you age and also improves your heart rhythm.

How Your Body Gets Calcium?

Your body gets the desired amount of Calcium in one of the two ways:

  • The most effective way of consuming Calcium is through the super healthy foods you eat.
  • The second way of getting Calcium is through the supplements you take.

If you are not consuming enough Calcium from rich foods, then your body will extract it from your bones, where it is preserved. So, it’s essential to add Calcium in our daily diet. Consuming right amount of nutrient is specifically important when you are under the age of 30 and still developing bone mass. Eating calcium rich foods can seriously help you avoid bone loss later in life.

Explore Good Food Sources of Calcium:

Your body is able to preserve more and more Calcium from healthy foods than it can consume it through supplements.

Dairy Products:

Dairy foods are highly rich in Calcium in a way that they are easily absorbed and digested by your body. Main sources of dairy products are as follows:

  • Milk
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese

Non Dairy Food Sources:

Here are some healthy Non Dairy foods that help store greater quantity of calcium in your body.

  • Dried beans
  • Pompano Fish
  • Broccoli
  • Figs
  • Turnip Greens
  • Mustard Greens
  • Kale
  • Black Strap Molasses
  • Refried Beans
  • Bok Choy
  • Almonds
  • Corn Tortillas

Medium Calcium Foods:

If you eat half cup of the following super foods, you can consume enough quantity of calcium in your diet.

  • Cream Soups
  • Ice Milk
  • Frozen Yogurt
  • Ice-cream
  • Non-fat or Low-fat Cottage Cheese
  • Non-fat Cream Cheese
Low Fat Cottage Cheese

Increased intake of Calcium for a limited time period has no side effects on our body. Although, consuming higher quantity of calcium for longer time can increase the risk of kidney stones in some cases.

So, include dairy products in your everyday diet, consume leafy vegetables, eat more fish and snack upon calcium rich nuts to stay healthy and strong.

Also read: All You Need To Know About Liquid Amino

All You Need To Know About Liquid Amino

liquid-amino

Liquid amino, maybe some of you already use it, or you don’t even know what it is. Being a vegan, or gluten-free diet, you might be aware about liquid amino. Many use it as an alternative for soy sauce. But to people who haven’t know it, let’s take a look about this!

What is Liquid Amino?

Liquid amino is an ingredient or condiment that is used as an alternative to soy sauce. It is made from soybeans and contain complete proteins. Overall, it looks and tastes just like soy sauce, though it is a little sweater.

Human body can’t function without proteins. There are 20 amino acids that the body need to function normally. 12 of it comes from human body, while the rest of it, called essential amino acids, is come from what we eat. The essential amino acids are very vital for protein synthesis, tissue repair and nutrient absorption.

Essential amino acids comes from animal sources of protein such as milk, eggs and meat. For vegetarians and vegans, it comes from plant-based proteins such as beans, nuts, whole grains and seeds.

When you eat a protein food, the natural hydrocholoric acid in your stomach digest the protein and releasing amino acids.

Liquid amino contain 16 amino acids: arginine, aspartic, lysine, glutamic, serine, threonine, alanine, glycine, proline, isoleucine, methionine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine. And 8 of its is the essential amino acids.And liquid amino is one of the perfect sources of essential amino acids for vegans without having to consume animal products.

What Makes Liquid Amino Special?

Even though liquid amino, soy sauce and tamari are made from soybeans, there are several differences that makes liquid amino special, which is:

Gluten free: It doesn’t contain wheat like soy sauce.

Alcohol free: Because it is not fermented like soy sauce, liquid amino don’t contain alcohol

Lower in sodium: Because it is natural unlike soy sauce. Soy sauce often added salt and preservatives. Liquid amino is not added any kind of salt. Its 1:2 comparison with soy sauce. One tablespoon of soy sauce contains 920 milligrams of sodium, while one tablespoon of liquid amino only contain 480 milligrams of sodium.

No MSG: Liquid amino is free of added MSG, unlike soy sauce.

Liquid Amino Benefit

Liquid Amino Acids for Weight Loss
  • Promote weight loss: Studies shown that essential amino acids increase fat loss on obese adults.
  • Makes skin and hair healthy: Research has shown that use of amino acids supply provide nourishment to hair, nails and skin to your body. Threonine in liquid amino play a principal part for collagen and elastin.
  • Stimulate muscle growth and regeneration: Valine that contained in amino acids play a role in this.
  • Stimulate protein structure and enzymes: phenylalanine in liquid amino plays an integral role of this.
  • Stimulate for tissue growth: Methionine plays important role for metabolism and detoxification and necessary for tissue growth.
  • Regulate blood sugar levels, stimulates wound healing and process growth hormones: Leucine plays a role for protein synthesis.
  • Energy production: Lysine that contain in liquid amino plays a major role for energy production, protein synthesis and absorption of calcium.

How to use Liquid Amino?

Liquid aminos can be used to substitute soy sauce in any recipe. You can add it to your food, stir fries, soups, salad dressing, meat or tofu for a delicious but healthier umami taste.
If you want to spray it on food, you should take 2/3 liquid aminos to 1/3 distilled water. Don’t drink from the bottle, because they also contain a very high salt from its own concentrated sodium.

How Much Liquid Amino You Should Eat a Day?

Recommended Daily Intake standards is 2400 milligrams a day.
1 teaspoon of liquid amino contain 320 milligrams of sodium, 580 milligrams of protein, 200 milligrams of carbohydrate and zero calories.
If you are in a low salt or sodium diet, you can take just a few teaspoons a day for seasoning.

How to Preserve it?

You don’t need to store liquid amino on refrigerator. But it is recommended to keep it in cool and dry places, and out of direct sunlight. It is better to use liquid amino in 3 to 6 months after you open it to maintain its quality. If you haven’t open it, it has 3 years shelf life from the production date.

Note

Don’t drink directly from the bottle, because it is still high in salt. Liquid amino is not recommended for people who is on no sodium or no salt diets.

Conclusion

Liquid amino can be a great substitute for your soy sauce. This way you can still have the delicious flavor you are looking for when cooking, but in a healthier way. Natural health food is a good way to improve your health without worries of any negative implications to your body.