Switch over to jackfruit and cactus juice if you want to lose weight

Leading nutritionists have indicated that the top food and drink to help you lose weight in 2017 will be jackfruit and plant water. These will replace the coconut water and baobab. All of these have slimming properties and fall in the category of superfoods.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 22 December 2016.

Products like jackfruit and cactus juice will be flying off the shelves next year - they possess slimming properties and can also help boost digestion, lower cholesterol and even banish hangovers.
Nutritionists refer to jackfruit as "pulled pork for vegetarians" and is a popular substitute for meat. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is an important aspect of preventing obesity. Seeds of the jackfruit are a strong source of Vitamin C and antioxidants and can also help to prevent cell damage. The seeds are also beneficial for blood circulation and also vital for hair growth.
After the coconut water boom, one can expect to see more plant waters being added to our diets than ever. One of these is cactus plant water. It has immense health benefits that include helping fight high cholesterol levels and curing hangovers. It is high in fibre and low in calories which means it can also help one to stay fuller for longer - making it an excellent weight loss aid.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Bhubaneswar promoting cycling as a part of its Smart City initiative

Cycling is a healthy and non-polluting way of travel and Bhubaneswar is promoting this activity as a part of its Smart City initiative. One of the key initiatives among Bhubaneswar's smart city proposal include construction of dedicated cycle tracks and pedestrian footpaths along key transport corridors. The civic body has already identified spots for construction of the tracks.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 17 July 2016.

Such cycling tracks already exist on the stretch between AG Square and Capital Hospital Square and some more tracks would be constructed. The civic body had been promoting cycling at the weekly Raahgiri event. Here bicycle rides are offered in partnership with an NGO. People were allowed to hire bicycles against a refundable fee of Rs 100 by producing identity proof.
Moreover, there is a cycling club where members have cycled at night from Bhubaneswar to Puri to Konark and back, covering 160km. Cycling not only helps to maintain fitness but is also a great way to experience nature. It seems people of the city are no longer averse to buying high-end cycles.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org


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Walking is the best exercise in polluted cities

Research carried out by University of Cambridge has found that walking or cycling is good for everyone, even if one is living in polluted cities. In their opinion, the health benefit of physical activity far outweighs the harm caused to the body because of by chemicals and dust that is continuously puffed out by traffic and industry.
This has been reported in dailymail.co.uk dated 6 May 2016.

Air pollution is a major problem in British cities, and this is a major factor that results in 40,000 early deaths in Britain every year. Moreover, only a handful of cities (one percent!) are so polluted that the risks start to overcome the benefits of physical activity within half an hour of cycling. As the study leader has indicated - in London health benefits of active travel always outweigh the risk from pollution.
Even in a city like Delhi which is believed to be one of the most polluted cities in the world – with pollution levels ten times those in London – people would need to cycle over five hours per week to enjoy the health benefits.
A general conception is that those who exercise in polluted areas put themselves at increased risk since they take deeper breaths, thus inhaling more of the toxic pollution and particles that do such damage. But, a new study suggests that the act of exercising outweighs this risk - physical activity reduces the risk of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and several cancers.
The bottom line is - invest in infrastructure to get people out of their cars and onto their feet or their bikes – such a double pronged attack would reduce pollution levels and simultaneously, support physical activity.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Secret to a long life – go for brisk 20-minute walks every day

#briskwalk #healthbenefits #obesity A study carried out by researchers at University of Cambridge on 334,000 European men and women has concluded that a brisk 20-minute walk on a daily basis can actually make a lot of difference on one’s longevity – such brisk walks can, in fact, add years to one’s life.
The researchers analyzed the over 334,000 European men and women, and found that twice as many deaths may be attributable to lack of physical activity compared with the number of deaths attributable to obesity.
The study was the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study and, over an average of 12 years, the researchers collected data on height, weight and waist circumference and used self-assessment to measure levels of physical activity.
The researchers discovered that the greatest reduction in risk of premature death occurred in the comparison between inactive and moderately inactive groups – this was judged by combining activity at work with recreational activity.
Professor Ulf Ekelund from the Medical Research Council (MRC) epidemiology unit at University of Cambridge has expressed his opinion that just 20 minutes of brisk walk would make a difference. The health benefits of physical activity are well known and should be an important part of our daily life.
It is interesting to note that based on the most recent available data on deaths in Europe, nearly 337,000 of the 9.2 million deaths amongst European men and women were attributable to obesity. But – nearly double this number of deaths (676,000) was attributable to physical inactivity.

Ginger is beneficial to health and ginger tea tastes wonderful also

#healthbenefits #gingertea #KolkataMaidan Ginger is loaded with high levels of Vitamin C, magnesium and other minerals and is extremely beneficial for health. A cup of piping hot tea with ginger in it is a great treat, especially during the winter season.
It falls into the category of Auyurveda medicine but, once made into tea, one can add peppermint, honey or lemon to mask the taste of the ginger. It used to, once upon a time, be a much favored hot drink for couples in the sprawling Maidan of Kolkata – the tea seller would be carrying a huge brass container of tea and, when hailed by the customer, would lower it and pour put the ada-chai or ginger-tea. The container would have a long spout for ease of pouring.
Anyway – the benefits of ginger are to relieve nausea, improve stomach performance, reduce inflammation, fight respiratory problems, improve blood circulation, relieve menstrual discomfort, strengthen immunity and relieve stress.
On the whole, it is a soothing drink, and helps to provide relief from the irritating coughs one usually experiences during winter or the rainy season.