“Never say a lie”

“Finish your home work in time”

“Obey your parents”

“Never touch chocolates”

These were some of the initial lessons which I learned as a small kid. If there is a book of eternal truths which every mom would pass on to her children, it would definitely have lessons on the above statements. However I would differ in this trend, to a slight but significant extent. The difference lies in the perception about eating chocolates. I would not deny the sweetness of indulging in chocolates.

Chocolates spoil the teeth and are bad for the overall health. This is a myth and no more a reality. There are millions of research papers which reveal the benefits of chocolates. The cavity causing problems associated with these are not account of the cocoa but the sugar mixed with it. This sugar when taken in form of ice creams, puddings, cakes, juices, beverages and candies are equally bad for the teeth as chocolates. Here we do need to understand that the risk of having cavities in the teeth increases on consuming sugar rich edibles and treats. However this can be avoided by brushing and cleansing or at least flossing the teeth after the treat. Hence the habit of cleaning the mouth well after relishing desserts is to be propagated and developed rather than inhibiting kids to munch chocolates.

Some benefits of chocolates which would encourage more moms to take my stand are:

1. Chocolates have antioxidants. Consequently they destroy the free radicals and hinder the oxidization of lipids into the body.
2. Chocolate has cocoa butter to a certain degree and these aids in salvaging the exhausted elasticity in the body.
3. Cacao, the main ingredient of chocolate, has antibacterial agents that combat tooth decay. So if you are eating dark chocolate with more cacao you can perhaps be rest assured that the sugar content wont do as much harm as in the lighter chocolate.
4. The cocoa butter in chocolate has oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may possibly increase good cholesterol. Chocolate has stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn’t increase bad cholesterol
5. The aroma of chocolate may augment theta brain waves, giving rise to relaxation. Chocolate has phenyl ethylamine, a docile mood elevator. The carbohydrates in chocolate increase serotonin concentrations in the brain leading to a feeling of happiness
6. In addition to these traits, chocolate functions as a remarkable medicine for depression. Many advocate that individuals eat a chocolate any time he or she feels like consuming it. One can actually spend one’s time in an exceedingly attractive manner and stop thinking about all the tribulations of life when one savors tasty chocolate.
7. The stimulants caffeine and bromine are present in cacao in such little amounts that they don’t result in nervous excitability.
8. Contrary to popular perception studies confirm that chocolate is not a contributing factor in acne.
9. Dark chocolate has plant phenols which lower blood pressure.

What is the best time to eat chocolates to minimize the ills of sugar and maximize the benefits of chocolate?

According to one school of thought, it is better to eat chocolates before food, as later when you eat food, all the stickiness will be washed down and the pearlies will be cleared off the sticky residue completely.

So keep munching chocolates, the right way.

Tags: alternative, herbs, weight loss, obesity, chinese

Many of my friends do not eat nuts because of health consciousness. They do not want any extra pound and do not savor many of their favorite high-calorie dishes. Makes sense. My association with almonds began only a few years ago, during my graduation days. I eat almonds, use them as an eye pack for dark circles (thanks to the long hours of reading) and also used almond oil for skin and hair. Once my cousin told me that eating almonds is just not enough. You have to chew them into a milk like consistency to ensue maximum absorption. I am normally fond of nuts like my father whose favorite is cashew. Many people asked me avoid eating nuts as they are high-fat foods. So did my friends who told me “I am nuts”. They say almonds are nutrition bombs but only for children. I am sure I have to write an article on the health benefits of almonds to convince them.

Studies bear witness to the fact that eating a few almonds daily can lower the LDL cholesterol in your body. This applies to people who have low saturated fat diet. Almonds are a great source of vitamin E, lots of protein, magnesium and manganese, fiber, copper, riboflavin, and phosphorus. It is abundant in heart-healthy unsaturated fats.

The presence of magnesium in the body will resist any free radical injury to the heart while calcium will provide strength to the bones. Potassium in proportion would aid to maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular functions. Alpha-tocopherol in almonds can deal the Vitamin E cravings of your body. Alpha-tocopherol is the kind of vitamin E the human body absorbs best for its daily functions.

Almond skins are found to contain 20 potent antioxidant flavanoids which are highly essential for our good health. After a meal, there is an increase in the blood sugar level. Experts say that almonds can decrease this blood sugar level and also help to destroy the free radicals to some extent. And the fun part is, a regular intake of almonds even can protect you from the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Almonds also help you lose weight while helps to prevent weight gain. Most of the nuts have a positive impact on cardiovascular health but they are much avoided in fear of weight gain. A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition found a positive change in the health of people who had a diet of 2 ounces of almonds daily.

Raw almonds have a healthier fatty acid composition than roasted almonds. They make a nutritious and
stomach-filling snack. Enjoy a spread of almond butter on your toast for a wholesome breakfast.

Almonds are not just for children, they are great for adults too.

-Aparna K V

Tags: herbal, acupressure, herbs, remedies, acupuncture

Once, a senior colleague started a Women’s Exercise Center in our office. After the office hours, all the women staff who were “interested” in abdominal work-outs were to meet in the common room for exercise. It was an enlivening but painful experience for some people including me. During those mornings we usually greeted each other with a convulsive smile and would involuntarily ask “how’s the pain today?” perhaps to ensure that the pain was not individual. While it helped a few ladies to lose their extra fat, it triggered the food cravings and hunger in some others. To every body’s amusement, my friend would sneak in to the nearby store and discretely relish bars of chocolate after her ‘abs’.

Our sessions would certainly begin with warm up exercises and would end with a relaxing Shavasana of 10 minutes, often guided by the Lady-trainer. Well, during the Shavasana session I would go in to a trance not discernible from sleep. Lying ‘dead’ thus on the cold tiles of the silent building brought a lot of peace and tranquility within.

As a child, I had seen Shavasana being practiced by my father and believed to be a joke. Only when I grew up did I know that it was a real Asana!

Generally practiced to remove strain, exertion and fatigue, Shavasana is said to be the best exercise for cardiac problems, hypertension and