All supermarket aisles are bursting with “low fat”, “sugar free” or “high in fiber” food products these days. Are these products as healthy as they claim to be? Or are the manufacturers feeding you misleading information? We decode the nutrition label code and tell you what to look for. The Serving Size Serving sizes are […]
In India, makhanas are commonly consumed when fasting, thanks to their strong nutritional value. Commonly known as lotus seeds or fox nuts, they are also used as an ingredient in several foods or sweet dishes of the Indian cuisine. In addition to being an extremely popular ingredient in various recipes, fox nuts can also be […]
By Ritu Puri
You’re not really hungry but you still accept another piece of pizza or the last helping of dessert. It’s not you. A hormone deficiency in your brain could be causing you to overeat for pleasure. A Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School study published in Cell Reports has revealed that the reduction of glucagon like […]
Through the year, you find yourself sifting through mounds of dry, shriveled pieces of ginger. But during the monsoons, the roots are moist and full of flavor. Which is why now is the time to get inspired by ginger and its weight-loss properties, and incorporate it in your daily diet. Fresh ginger has several health […]
By Alpa Momaya
It’s a butter that can help you lose weight. Sounds nuts, right? Well, two things you need to know at the outset about almond butter is that: It contains no butter It may be creamy and delicious but it’s also great for weight loss. Almond butter, a paste with almond, salt and oil (see recipe […]
By Alpa Momaya
Carbohydrates are a very important part of our diet. Found in foods like fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta, and dairy products, their main role is to provide energy. The body converts carbs to glucose, a kind of sugar that can be used right away or stored to be used later. The problem is if you consume […]
By Neha Jain
Who says you have to eat meat to build muscle and gain strength? A balanced vegetarian diet that includes plant-based protein can help facilitate muscular development and provide minerals that are essential for lean tissue growth. In a country like India, where almost 20-40% of the population is vegetarian, a diet of egg whites and […]
By R. Kalpana
Doctors say office-goers should stand or walk for five minutes every half hour of an eight-hour work day. That would put them on their feet for at least an hour and 20 minutes daily and help burn 2,500 calories every month.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But wolfing down a plate of aloo puri or buttered toast, standard morning fare in many homes, will do you more harm than good. If you can’t do without a hot Indian breakfast, there are several healthier options to choose from. Take a look: Parathas? No, […]
Protein smoothies are a great breakfast option. Quick and easy-to-make, they also keep you feeling full for longer than a regular smoothie. Plus protein is a building block for cells, so it’s important for your muscle health and immunity. You can use protein powder, or almond butter if you’re looking for a natural option. Here […]
By Alpa Momaya
One of the biggest concerns many of my clients have is how to stick to their diet when they are traveling. If you’re catching early morning flights, staying in hotels and scheduling back-to-back meetings, it can be challenging to find time to eat the small meals that form part of your daily diet. Of course, […]
By Neha Jain
Staying focused on a plan is always the hardest part about losing weight. While positive feedback does provide encouragement when you first start dropping sizes, it inevitably wanes. And with our tendency to use food as emotional support, slipping back into old eating patterns when we’re stressed, makes it doubly difficult to stay on course. […]
Milk is one of the most common and significant foods we consume on a daily basis. Be it in its raw form or its by-products like curd, cheese or butter, we Indians are very articulate when it comes to incorporating milk into our diets. Since the white revolution in 1970, India is the largest producer […]
At HealthifyMe, it’s Fiber and Protein Week. While we’ve already written about how to increase your protein intake through snacks, fiber is equally important for achieving weight-loss. What is fiber? Fiber is the element in plants (fruits, vegetables and whole grains) that, unlike most other foods, is not absorbed or digested. The fact that fiber […]
We’ve all been told that protein is important for weight-loss. But for vegetarians, finding a good source of protein is always a big challenge. Protein-rich foods leave you feeling full for longer, burn fat while preserving lean muscle and promote muscle repair and growth. Proteins should make up 20% of the total calories you consume […]
By Neha Jain
Are you trying to eat healthier, but not sure where to start? If you’re not ready to invest in a professional nutrition plan just yet, keep these five tips in mind to get your diet right: #1 How much you eat is more important than what you eat You can eat everything when you’re on […]
Most diet and fitness experts recommend restricting serving sizes to anyone who wants to lose weight. And measuring your food is the best way to do that. But what’s an accurate measure? Serving sizes, for instance, are a standard measure of food, in cup or gram weight. That doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing as […]
The best diet for weight loss is one that includes plenty of high-fiber, low calorie recipes . Because they’re made up of ingredients that are filling, even small portions of these meals are satisfying. Even adding one meal of this kind to your daily diet will, along with exercise, help you lose weight. These meals […]
We all think baby fat is cute. But when you find rolls of fat under your child’s arm or back, it’s cause for concern as it is most likely a sign that your child is obese. Childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate in India. According to the Obesity Foundation of India, childhood obesity […]
By R. Kalpana
Hoping a cup of coffee, or energy bar, can kick-start the day after you’ve woken up feeling sapped? Well, think again. These mid-meal snacks may give you a temporary burst of energy, but the crash afterward leaves you feeling even more tired, fatigued and lethargic. What you need are foods that will make you feel […]
You start your day with a glass of milk for calcium and regularly add palak to your rotis and salads to ensure you get enough iron. But are you having enough zinc? This lesser-known mineral is one of the most important nutrients for human health. It is vital for over 200 chemical reactions in our body and […]
Where’s the fun in dal without a dollop of ghee? Those on a diet may have read mixed opinions about whether clarified butter is good or bad for weight loss. But the simple truth is that, like many traditional foods, ghee is good if consumed in very modest quantities, and when derived from the right […]
By Alpa Momaya
Tummy tires and a double chin don’t look good on anyone, be it a man or woman. But when men want to go on a diet, they have to aim in the dark. Magazine and diet books offer heaps of weight-loss advice for women but there is little for men. What men should eat to […]
By Alpa Momaya
These days, when someone asks for a cola, it is common to hear an add-on, ‘Make that a diet, please’. From Coke to Pepsi and Sprite, almost every popular sugar-sweetened beverage on the market has a “light” or a “diet” version. But are they really good for weight loss? Diet sodas are carbonated beverages. Instead […]
By Ritu Puri
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A bowl of quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) a day does that and much more. A recent study by Harvard Medical School has shown that eating the tiny, tasteless food daily significantly reduces the risk of premature death from cancer, heart attack, respiratory disease and diabetes. Consider the fact that quinoa […]
By Alpa Momaya
Are you someone who turns your nose up at the sight of Tinda? Think again because this light summer gourd, popularly called Tinda, is a superfood and has numerous health benefits. Tinda consists of 94% water and has very few calories, approximately 66 cal in 100 grams per serving. That is what makes it a […]
By R. Kalpana
Soft puffy chawal with rajma, chicken curry, chole or sambar is a source of comfort on the toughest of days. Rice is an intrinsic part of the diet of most Indians. Unfortunately, it is unhealthy as it is laden with starch and empty calories. Wouldn’t you like it if there was a way to cut […]
Who says pizza only makes you pile on the pounds? You can enjoy a healthy version of this tasty treat just by tweaking the recipe slightly. For starters, changing the pizza base can make a lot of difference. If you’re making it at home, use wheat flour mixed with refined. Or buy a whole-wheat pizza […]
By Neha Jain
Though often dismissed as a fatty meat, in flavor, not much can compete with a good mutton curry. The meat from an adult goat, mutton has its benefits too – it contains high quality protein, essential amino acids and high levels of valuable micronutrients including iron, zinc and vitamin B. You can prepare a low […]
By R. Kalpana
We’re all of the opinion that fruits are healthy and can keep you fit and strong as they contain anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and fiber. But can overeating certain kinds of fruit lead to weight gain? As most fruits contain high amounts of natural sugar, if you do not watch out, these can be converted into […]
By Ritu Puri
