Why Millets ruled the Kingdom in India?

Millets – heard of them, haven’t you? While millets aren’t a very common kitchen or meal staple globally, they ought to be, considering the numerous health benefits they carry and the fact that India is one of the primary producers of this grain crop! Cultivated mainly in developing countries, its quick growing season and ability to survive in harsh arid environments and high nutritional content makes it one of the perfect crops.

The versatile grain can be used in cereals, porridge, breads and snacks. A rich source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and organic compounds that are beneficial for health, millets are receiving their due credit lately due to their inherent gluten-free nature, making them perfect foods for those with Celiac disease. Besides this, millets possess the ability keep other health issues and diseases at bay.  It is no wonder that millets are popular health grains in India!

1. Improves heart health:
Millets is one of the best possible grains to include into your diet, if you seek heart health protection and maintenance. Rich in magnesium, millets help in reducing blood pressure and therefore reduce the risk of heart attacks or strokes. Moreover, millets are a great source of potassium that works as a vasodilator to keep your blood pressure in check.

2. Keeps cholesterol levels in check:
Their high-fibre content makes millets the ideal food for lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. Furthermore, the dietary fibre in millets work to eliminate bad cholesterol or LDL from the system, while simultaneously promoting the influence of good cholesterol or HDL.

3. Boosts digestive health:
Incorporation of millets into your daily diet can improve your digestive health by keeping gastrointestinal problems like gas, bloating, constipation and cramps at bay, due to their high fibre content. Improvement of digestive health assists your body’s nutrient retention and absorption ability, thereby reducing the risk of serious problems such as gastric ulcers and even colon cancer. Moreover, proper digestion optimizes the health of kidneys, liver, the immune system and other organs that have a close relationship with metabolic activities of the body.

4. Provides protection against diabetes:
The magnesium-rich millet is beneficial in reducing the risk of Type II diabetes. Magnesium is considered one of the most vital minerals for increasing the efficacy of insulin and glucose receptors in the body, thereby preventing diabetes.

5. Keeps the risk of cancers at bay:
According to a recent research, dietary fibre is one of the best ways to prevent breast cancer, so much so that by consuming at least 30 grams of fibre a day, women can reduce their chances of breast cancer by at least 50%! Millets are loaded with dietary fibre goodness, so including them into your diet in various forms can greatly assist in preventing cancers.

6. Detoxifies the body:
Millets are rich in antioxidants – they work to neutralise free radicals which could be cancer-causing and further flush out other toxins from the body. Beneficial catechins found in millet such as quercetin, ellagic acid and curcumin help in ridding the body of toxins and foreign agents, thereby promoting healthy digestion, elimination and neutralisation of enzymatic activity in the liver and kidneys.


7. Benefits the respiratory system:
Modern research explains the benefits that millets can have on the respiratory system, particularly in improving the quality of life of those suffering from childhood asthma. An early incorporation of millets can also help prevent childhood asthma from developing further. Moreover, millets are a safer bet as they do not contain the allergens as wheat does, which can aggravate wheezing and asthma; millets do not have this negative effect.

10 Oragnic Foods that can reduce your stress

Our hectic lifestyles and busy schedules have left us with little room to unwind and relax, while creating ample room for stress, particularly distress. Stress can have several implications on your health, taking a toll on your physical, mental and emotional well-being. Common symptoms of stress include faster heartbeat, headaches, stiff neck or tight shoulders, sweating or sweaty palms, nausea, irregular sleep patterns, mood swings and so on. Another well-known symptom of stress is overeating, particularly high carb and high sugar ‘comfort foods’. These foods, in large quantities tend to create a metabolic imbalance, leading to weight gain, high risk of obesity, cardiovascular problems, high blood sugar levels, and ultimately, more stress.

Calming Organic foods, on the other hand help soothe and calm you, and are a healthy source of energy. Here is a list of 10 calming Organic foods that help reduce stress and keep you feeling focused and balanced.

1. Avocados:
Avocados are a treasure-trove of stress-relieving B Vitamins; they also contain monounsaturated fat and potassium, which help lower blood pressure. Vitamin B boosts nerve and brain cell health; studies show that anxiety can be caused by B Vitamin deficiency. Glutathione, a substance that specifically blocks intestinal absorption of certain fats which can cause oxidative damage, is present in abundance in avocados, along with Beta-Carotene, Lutein, Vitamin E, Vitamin B and Folate.

2. Asparagus:
Low levels of folic acid have been attributed to depression; asparagus is super-rich in folic acid, so much so that a single cup can provide two-third of your daily folic acid requirement. You can incorporate asparagus into almost any meal – add some to your breakfast omelette or steam it with some poultry or fish. You can also enjoy some steamed spears of asparagus with a dip of your choice.

3. Milk:
Rich in antioxidants, Vitamins B2 and B12, calcium and protein, a glass of warm milk is an age-old remedy for insomnia. Milk is also high in the protein Lactium, which is known to have a calming or soothing effect due to its ability to lower blood pressure. The potassium in milk is known to help relieve muscle spasms that are triggered by physical tensing.

4. Almonds:
Enjoy a daily helping of a handful of almonds to keep stress at bay! Almonds are rich in Vitamin B2 and Vitamin E, both of which are known to boost the immune system when the body is stressed out.

5. Oatmeal:
This high-fibre complex carbohydrate food helps boost serotonin production in the body, a hormone that essentially creates a calming effect in the body. Enjoy a bowl of warm oatmeal in the morning for breakfast, especially on days when you are feeling stressed. Moreover, oats help in maintaining cardiovascular health as they absorb bad cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) from the body.

6. Spinach:
Green-leafy vegetables are a dietary must-have; what is great about spinach is that it is loaded with magnesium, a mineral that works to regulate cortisol levels in the body. A single cup of spinach provides you with 40% of your daily requirement of magnesium. You can have it in the form of a fresh salad or steam it with some pulses and enjoy with Rotis or steamed rice.

7. Salmon:
This fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that help control cortisol and adrenaline levels in the body and prevent them from spiking when you are feeling tense or agitated. Additionally the omega-3 fatty acids are excellent for heart health and salmon is one of the richest sources of this heart-healthy fatty acid.

8. Green Tea:
Replace caffeinated beverages with green tea, which contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation. Consume a few cups of warm green tea daily for that much needed calming and soothing feeling that a stressed you craves for!

9. Oranges:
This citrus fruit is a rich source of Vitamin C, which helps control the levels of cortisol in the body, strengthening the immune system and helping maintain the blood pressure. Incorporate oranges into your regime, replacing high carb snacks, to reduce your stress levels daily.

10. Bananas:
Bananas contain ample amounts of dopamine, a chemical that is known to uplift your mood levels. Moreover, they are rich sources of B Vitamins, including Vitamin B6, that work to soothe the nervous system. They are also loaded with magnesium, a mineral linked with mood positivity.

These 10 Organic foods, when consumed regularly, can help reduce your stress levels. Incorporate these superfoods into your diet and focus on a regime that includes meditation, physical exercise and a regular sleep cycle.

Organic Food for Kids and its Advantages

Eating healthy and eating right are key pillars of a healthy life; it is essential that we make the right nutritional choices for ourselves and our families. That is why organic foods have been gaining tremendous popularity, primarily because of their clean farming and rearing practices, making them safer for consumption than conventionally produced foods.

They command a premium in the market. However, the advantages they bring to the table more than make up for the price premium. In light of the nutritional requirements of children,  organic foods are better and safer for their overall health and development.

1. Organic is a safer bet:
“Organic” refers to produce and ingredients cultivated minus the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, sewage sludge or radiation. In case of animals and livestock that produce meat, eggs or dairy, they are not given antibiotics or growth hormones. In short, organic foods are a great choice for kids, considering their increased susceptibility to the negative effects of chemical and synthetic additives. Switching to organic foods reduces the level of food-driven pesticide ingestion by kids. Moreover, organic food consumption significantly reduces ingestion of chemicals that have been linked to cause certain types of cancer.

2. Reduces your kids’ exposure to harmful hormones:
Prolonged exposure to chemicals and hormones in food, be it in low or high concentrations, can result in damaging effects in children. Typically, non-organic meats are injected with hormones and endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as oestrogen to aid quicker development of the animal. These artificially induced hormones and chemicals can result in early onset of puberty in children, thus hampering their natural development. Organic foods are devoid of any artificial or synthetic additives, thus reducing such risks by a significant margin.

3. Prevents chemical induced neurological disorders:
It has been observed that a switch from conventional foods to an organic diet reduces kids’ exposure levels to organophosphates. These are a group of pesticides that include toxic chemicals such as chlorpyrifos and malathion. These chemicals are known to negatively impact nervous system and hamper nervous system development in children. Switching to a diet consisting of organic food results in a drastic drop in organophosphate levels, thus fostering normal development of the brain and nervous system.

4. A conscious choice to make kids more conscious!:
Besides the obvious health advantages that organic foods have on your kids’ health, it is important that children know where their food is coming from. Informing them about the right foods and why organic is right for them creates a consciousness in them towards a healthier meal choice. Moreover, organic farming and rearing practices are ecological and environment friendly. Inculcating eco-friendly practices in children at an early age fosters their appreciation for and acceptance of clean and green practices, thus ensuring that they will opt for organic foods when it comes to them making a choice over what foods they would like to eat.

Organic foods are the right choice for your whole family, if you seek wholesome, safe and chemical free options at your meal table. While they do cost more than conventionally grown foods, they more than compensate it through safety and nutrition. This factor is particularly vital for children, as they are more susceptible to the negative effects and potential dangers that chemical and synthetic additives and hormones present. Going organic is safe, healthy and kid-friendly!