Eliminate GMO food from your diet

Yes, you’ve switched to organic food, eliminated processed junk from your diet and are trying to live the wholesome life as far as your food intake goes. But one factor that most of us are just beginning to wake up to, is the fact that even the most organically-grown food can be potentially bad for you over a sustained period of intake – if it’s been genetically modified or GMO.

What is genetically modified or GMO food?
These are foods created in a lab, which fuse genes from one species with another, in a bid to inhabit the best characteristics of these foods.

Why is GMO food bad?
Tampering with DNA has stripped the product of its natural goodness, and the side-effects of consuming GMO food include bad heart health, premature ageing, infertility in men and women, lowered immunity, the risk of diabetes, among other ills.

Which foods should I say no to?
Eliminate zucchini, squash, edamame and a host of other veggies and fruits not native to India. These tend to be GMO foods in order to keep their shelf-life longer. Also, additives like corn, canola, sugar and beets are all GMO, and the worst of them all is soy/tofu! Some fish are also GMO, so be aware of what you’re buying. Eliminate all varieties that say ‘hybrid’ on the label.

What are low-risk foods that I can choose instead?:
Consume nuts, seeds, Indian rice varieties, grains (except corn), and locally grown fruits and veggies. Also, organic milk products from cows that graze on healthy fodder.

Read More »

5 Foods that every woman should include in her diet

        

While it is imperative to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, there are certain foods that every woman should include in her diet — foods that are excellent not just for overall health, but ones that can actually safeguard you from a number of ailments.

Spinach
It may not be the most tempting thing to eat but spinach has so many assorted mineral and vitamins that not eating it would be a big mistake. Packed with magnesium, which is said to lower symptoms of PMS, spinach is also good bone health, keeps blood sugar in check and lowers the risk of an asthma attack.

Flax seeds
With generous doses of omega-3 fatty acids, flax seeds are excellent for your heart and blood sugar levels. With powerful anti-inflammatory properties, eating flax seeds daily will be great for your health. Apart from this, the innocuous looking seeds are also good at reducing episodes of irritable bowel syndrome.

Cranberries
Apart from being tasty, cranberries can actually protect you from heart disease and tooth decay, and to an extent, urinary tract infections. This is because
they are packed with phytonutrients, and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties protect you from a host of ailments.

Tomatoes
While tomatoes are a staple in most Indian homes, many people underestimate the power of this fruit. Containing lycopene, a pigment, an increasing number of studies say that tomatoes reduce the occurrence of breast cancer and heart disease. They also improve bone health and help lower cholesterol.

Oats
Apart from being good for your heart, improving digestion and keeping blood pressure in check, oats also help prevent mood swings associated with PMS. Loaded in dietary fiber, oats can also lower cholesterol and keep your gastrointestinal tract running smoothly.

Read More »