HEALTHIER EVERYDAY

 Introduction Water is second only to oxygen in its vital importance to the body. One can live without food for a longer time than one does without water. Our body contains about 65% water. An infant's body contains more water than that of an adult. A thin person has a higher percent of water than fat person. Men have more water than women.  Dehydration is nothing but depletion of water in the body. A 10% loss of body water causes very serious symptoms while 20% loss often results in death. Functions of Water 1. Water is more important than food. In the human body it is found as intracellular fluids and also around organs as extracellular fluid and between the cells as intercellular fluids.  2. It acts as a solvent in all stages of digestion. We feel more thirsty after a meal. 3. It keeps nutrients in solution form so that they may be absorbed through the intestinal walls. 4. It transport nutrients through blood to all tissues. 5. It acts as a vehicle for the waste produc...

 What do you mean by choice of food? According to us choice of food is the taste of food. We chooses our food according to taste without knowing the nutrient value of food and even we do not care about its after effect on our health. The basic misconception  about food is that we crave for the food which our body needs. We very often hear 'Let him eat ( whatever food he likes most ). If he likes it so much, may be he needs it more.' We humans are considered to be the most advanced where our intelligence is compared to that of animals, but as far as food selection is concerned, man does not retain this position. Choice of foods relating  to the body's requirement is more accurate in the case of animals. The food choice of a human is influenced by his social life and cultural background as well as learning. Learning profoundly influences our food selection. It is interesting to note that infants show a natural ability to select foods needed by their body. This ability is lo...

 Introduction It is necessary to plan foods needed daily by the family properly in order to ensure good nutrition. Good meal planning is both science and art. Science shows us the way to include nutritious foods in the diet, while art  is involve in combining the needed nutritious foods into meals that are attractive, appetizing and satisfying in all ways. In this blog we will learn about 10 tips to homemaker and working women to improve nutrition for the family. Tips  1. Eating mixed daal is a better wat of combining various daal in every meal. Depending on which daal is consumed more in the family, a mixture can be made and stored for use. 2. A pressure cooker is meant to reduce the cooking time and conserve nutrients. It is not necessary for the cooker to blow whistles. Whistle is just an indicator of off-loading the pressure that is built inside the cooker. To use a pressure cooker optimally, soak the material like grains and daal previously for about half an hour at ...

 Introduction Vitamin is a word which is commonly heard. Advertisers claim that their products contains some vitamins or the other which is good for health, etc. But what is a vitamin? Does it play an important role in our health?  A vitamin is a vital substance. It is needed in a very small quantity for growth and good health. Vitamins are vital regulator. They are present in foods and are in minutes quantities for specific body functions of growth , maintenance and reproduction. Most of them are not synthesized by body and must be supplied through diet, except few whose requirement may be partially met by synthesis in the body, such as folic acid and vitamin D. Vitamin A Functions Vitamin A helps form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucus membrane and skin. Vitamin A promotes good eyesight, especially in low light. Also helps in healthy pregnancy and breastfeeding. Sources Food items rich in vitamin A are liver, fish, eggs, leafy green vegetables, dair...

 Introduction Fad diets have evolved for a fast, quick instant answer to the problems of losing weight. Nothing can be a more distant dreams. Fad diets now become the solace for shedding the extra fat gained. The weight that you lost comes back even faster because you go back to your old eating habits. There are many diets which make the rounds of the various social media platforms available today. But the question that one should ask are as follows: 1. Is it safe to follow the diet? Like medicines, it is important to take the advice of your family doctor and also a nutritionist/ dietitian before embarking on a diet. 2. Is it practical? Eating only two meals, skipping breakfast, surviving on a fat-rich diet, only fruits, only milk, etc. are not practical and can have adverse effects. 3. Is it sustainable? A good diet plan must be balanced, practical, sustainable, economical and effective in imparting good health and good immunity. Let us have a quick look at the various diets that ...

 Modern foods can be grouped into two categories: 1. Convenience foods 2. Fast foods Convenience Foods These foods are the result of modern technological advances in the field of food processing, preservation techniques and invention of various newer food additives. The list comprises: 1. Instant dry mixes such as those of gulab jamun, pulao, biryani, idli, noodles, soup and so on. 2. Canned products, which need only to be warmed for a few seconds in microwave oven before being served piping hot.  3. Frozen foods are available in the market in a wide variety such as all types of vegetables, chicken, meat, fish and their products. 4. Pre-prepared or fabricated foods such as laddos, chiwda, vadis are age-old preparations. Soybean is today used to make texturized products, which are similar to meat products and are popularly known as meat analogous e.g. nutrela, soya chunks, nutrinuggets. Fast Foods Nutritionally, fast foods contributes to several nutrients, mainly calories, ...

 Vegetarian Diet A vegetarian diet consist of only foods of plant origin, and no meat, fish, eggs or other animal products are allowed. Types of Vegetarians 1. Ovolactovegetarians This diet consists of plant foods, along with eggs, milk and milk products. 2. Lactovegetarians   This diet is of plant origin, supplemented with milk and milk products. 3. Pure vegetarians or vegans Eat only plants food and plant derived products. 4. Fruitarians These vegetarians consume raw or dried fruits, nuts, honey and olive oil. They may supplement their diet with grains and legumes. Healthful Vegetarian Diets This requires care in planning and knowledge of the strength and weakness of the various foods. For this purpose, the following steps should be taken: 1. Reduce substantially all high-calories, low-nutrient density food like soft drink. Such foodstuffs have empty calories. Instead use unrefined food as far as practical, which on a caloric basis supply their share of nutrients. 2. Replace...