Pistachios : Get your facts straight !

With a pale green flesh and reddish purple skin, pistachio nuts have been a part of the traditional Indian culinary art. With concerns ranging from high cholesterol and high fat content to their ability to cause obesity, the truth is that pistachios are actually cholesterol-free and are useful in lowering cholesterol levels.

They also have several other cardio-protective elements; such as helping control blood pressure and weight reduction. Owing to their fatty acid profile, nutritional properties and bioactive constituents, pistachios have been found to be useful in the prevention and treatment of several disorders and maintaining good health.

The fat in pistachios is 90 per cent unsaturated. Mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) comprise 55 per cent of the total fat content. This type of fat is found in olive oil and has several desirable effects on our health. It has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol levels and increase good cholesterol. Thus a diet consisting of pistachios favourably improves lipid profile and reduces the risk of heart diseases.

Interestingly, pistachios are one of the richest sources of phytosterols and have been known to be a good source of other antioxidants (natural substances known to fight diseases and delay ageing) including beta-carotene (precursor for vitamin A), tocopherols (precursor for Vitamin E), carotenoids (zeaxanthin and lutein), selenium, and flavanoids. Carotenoids (zeaxanthin and lutein) protect against degeneration of the retina of eye and have a potential contribution in the prevention of heart disease and stroke. Their richness in selenium and other powerful antioxidants also contributes to their role in prevention of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Due to their similarity in structure to that of cholesterol, it is believed that phytosterols "block" dietary cholesterol absorption in the body. They are also a good source of protein, fibre and potassium. Like most tree nuts, pistachios are a good source of arginine (an amino acid) known to have heart protective properties. In addition, this essential amino acid is also necessary for synthesis of neurotransmitters in the brain, helping in alleviating depression, controlling addictive behaviour and encouraging mental alertness. Pistachios also provide B vitamins. Vitamin B6 plays an important role in various biochemical reactions and efficient functioning of the immune system, red blood cell metabolism and haemoglobin production. It is also responsible for synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, both of which are necessary for nerve cell communication.

They have recently been studied for their role in improving glycemic (blood sugar) control and preventing diabetes-related complications. A study conducted by the University of Toronto claimed that pistachios, when eaten with high carbohydrate food items like white bread, may actually slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the body, resulting in a lower than expected blood sugar level.

In fact, they also help in weight reduction. It has been reported that Oleoylethanolamide or OEA, an appetite-suppressing compound in oleic acid, helps one feel fuller longer after a meal. 

The high potassium levels make pistachios a great choice for controlling hypertension and preventing arrhythmias (irregular heart beat). One serving of pistachios contains 310 mgs of potassium, a whopping 36 per cent of the daily recommended amount.

Pistachios can be consumed year round and provide not only nutrition, but also enhance taste and texture of food.

Source: Indian Express

Ways To Look Beautiful - Part 3

12.   Don't worry if you do not have well toned legs. Apply a little oil along the bone of your leg to give a leaner appearance. Polished, shiny legs look slimmer.

13.   Red wine is known to have antioxidants that are good for your skin. To get that fresh look on your face after a tiring day, splash your face with four to five tablespoons of wine mixed with water. Your skin will feel more soft and supple.

14.   Very often nails get stained because of dark polish. The best way to remove them is to rub lemon halves on your nails for about five minutes. It works as an astringent and will brighten them up.

15.   Apply eye shadow with a damp brush makes the color pop.

16.   To make your perfume last longer, apply a little petroleum jelly on your pulse points and then spray perfume on it.

17.   For a quick pedicure, dip your feet in warm water with sea salt and rub them with a dry loofah. Then, massage with a dollop of hydrating moisturiser and coat your nails with transparent nail paint.

Ways To Look Beautiful - Part 2

7.    Have an evening party but don't have time to go for a facial? Take two or three ice cubes in a cloth and add a few drops of aromatic oil to make a round (potli). Rub gently to get a fresh looking face.

8.   Who does not want washboards abs? however, everyone can't hit the gym as often as they want to. So all of you need to do ladies, is to just pull in your stomach tightly everytime you sit or walk. A week's practice works out your muscles to make you look in shape.

9.   For a quick glow and a healthier look, just bend over from your waist and hold this posture for about 30 seconds. The blood will rush to your face giving you that instant glow.

10.  For instant, shiny hair, gently rub a silk cloth over them. The cloth reduces static electricity and makes your hair look neat.

11.  We all go through mornings when we run out of serum. In times of such tragedy use (very) little hand cream or conditioner and rub it on your tresses. it will work wonders!.

To Be Continued....

Source : TOI

Ways To Look Beautiful - Part 1

Look gorgeous this season with this cheat sheet :

1.  To treat a acne a baby anti-rash cream should be used, rather than a pimple cream because baby creams have zincoxide, which helps cure zits quicker than pimple creams.

2. The best way to make your lip color last longer is to apply a little foundation on your lips before using the lip color.

3.  For luscious long lashes, apply mascara on the tips and let it dry. Then, apply a second coat to the lashes covering them completely.

4.  For a shiny look, apply a little transparent gloss on the eyelids to achieve beautiful eyes in seconds.

5.  No time for waxing? And not a big fan of razors? All you need is to apply a little bronzer to your moisturizer and apply all over your arms and legs smoothly. It effectively camouflages body hair while making you look like a sun-kissed goddess.

6.  A home made mixture of crushed oats and honey works as well as session of body scrubbing in a salon.

To Be Continued....

Source : TOI

Three Steps for getting Soft Lips !

1.   Just the way you exfoliate your arms and legs, do the same with your lips as well. But remember to be slow and gentle while scrubbing.

2.   After exfoliation, apply a good lip balm with SPF. just like your skin, lips too require protection from the sun.

3.   Lastly apply a moisturising lipstick. For a natural look, apply a shade that is closer to your original lip color.

Always apply a lip balm before applying any lip color or lip gloss for super soft lips.

Source : TOI

Cholesterol Tests

What cholesterol is, and what it does to our bodies.

Cholesterol Test

Our liver produces a wax like substance which is also found in some foods. This waxy substance called cholesterol is needed in order to produce vitamin D. It is also used by our bodies to build walls around cells, and to make bile salts that will allow us to digest fats. A thousand milligrams of cholesterol is produced by our liver each day, which is enough to sustain us without ever eating another cholesterol loaded thing. There are so many foods that contain cholesterol that it is not easy to avoid it. A cholesterol test helps that.

Heart disease is only one of the problems that can come from too much cholesterol, but there are ways to contain it. The one thing you need to do first is talk to your doctor and have a cholesterol test. A cholesterol meter, monitor, or other testing kit, can be used at home to monitor levels on a regular basis, and so adjust your lifestyle to improve your health and lessen the chances of getting a life threatening illness in the future.

The test is different from most of the other medical tests any adult might undergo, as it is not necessarily used for diagnosing disease, or to monitor a disease.

The cholesterol test is used for noting whether the patient is at risk for a disease such as heart disease or atherosclerosis, or perhaps death from a stroke or heart attack. An important part of preventative health is the cholesterol test.

There are two types of cholesterol (also known as lipoproteins) and they are HDL which is the high density, and LDL which is the low density.

HDL is considered to be the good cholesterol, and LDL is considered to be the bad cholesterol. The bad cholesterol will block the blood vessels and keep the blood from flowing through the body properly.

A routine cholesterol test is done during a patient’s routine physical at least once every five years. This is so unless the patient has a history of having a cholesterol problem; then it is suggested that the patient have a cholesterol test several times throughout the year. This is to monitor how well the cholesterol is being held at bay.

There is much talk these days about high cholesterol and the diet, and sometimes altering eating and drinking habits can make a big difference. Many patients that have been diagnosed with high cholesterol will need to have medication and diets prescribed for them.

A cholesterol test may be needed more frequently if the patient is at higher risk for heart disease because one of these factors which are considered to be major :

• The patient is a smoker,

• The patient is over the age of forty five (men) and fifty five (women).

• The patient suffers from hypertension with a blood pressure of more that 140/90,

• If the patient has a family history of premature heart disease,

• If the patient has already had a history of heart problems, or

• If the patient has diabetes.

Cholesterol Meters - Test Cholesterol at home !

A cholesterol meter (or cholesterol monitor) is a handy new tool to help. Cholesterol testing meters are an easy way to do a cholesterol check at home. A cholesterol check meter can produce results in minutes, and some are known as a glucose cholesterol meter because they can check your glucose levels too. Cholesterol meters are fast becoming a tool commonly found in the home of health conscious individuals, and are used as a part of a stay healthy regime.

Although everyone needs cholesterol to help the body build new cells and produce hormones, high cholesterol levels can be harmful. The body gets its cholesterol (a fatty substance) via the diet and the liver. While the liver produces around 80 percent, foods such as meat, fish, cheese, and animal products provide the rest.

Foods that contain saturated fats result in the body producing more cholesterol. Many people think that avoiding animal products is the answer for how to reduce cholesterol, but there are foods that don’t contain animal products but do contain trans-fats which will still lead to the body making more cholesterol.

Cholesterol travels around the bloodstream by latching on to specific proteins.

Very bad cholesterol is known as VLDL or very low density lipoprotein.

Bad cholesterol is known as LDL or low density lipoprotein.

Good cholesterol is known as HDL or high density lipoprotein.

Chylomicrons carry a small amount of cholesterol but a large amount of fat known as triglycerides. High LDL cholesterol levels is often a factor in coronary artery disease such as atherosclerosis. This sort of disease can lead to strokes and heart disease, etc. High fat diets, obesity, stress, and inactivity, are all contributing factors in raising cholesterol levels. The problem can also be hereditary. Hospitals frequently advise doing a cholesterol check on these vulnerable groups of people, and they use very similar machines to the cholesterol meters you would use at home.

Many people are unable to pay for frequent cholesterol testing and this is where a home blood cholesterol meter comes in very handy. A cholesterol monitor (such as a home cholesterol meter) allows you to see what is actually going on inside your bloodstream and make any necessary adjustments, such as trying a cholesterol diet where you introduce foods to lower cholesterol. Using a cholesterol test meter will allow you to take control of your health and you should then take steps to find out exactly how to lower LDL cholesterol.