Spa Water- Health Benefits

Hi Friends! Today I will write about Spa Water & it's benefits. What it is? Why is it good for you? When I say Spa Water you don't need to think that it is something which is very costly or cannot be made at home. Spa Water is just flavored water with natural elements, just add cut lemon pieces, cucumber, limes, mint, watermelon etc. Choose your flavor, just add it to the water you drink, refrigerate it & cold flavored water is ready for you. It actually has some benefits which you cannot deny, especially in summers when you are thirsty and can't just keep on drinking plain water.

Benefits of Spa Water:

1. It is Easy: Your flavored water is ready without any hassle just cut a few pieces of lemon or anything you like the flavor & add it to the water you drink. You do not have to make juices or any other cumbersome process. And readily you have access to a different flavor, in your drink.

2. It is refreshing: Spa Water is much more refreshing as compared to plain water. It is filled with anti-oxidants from the ingredients energizing & recharging your senses. Like cucumber helps fight free radicals & thus slowing your aging. Lime has loads of Vitamin C, important for your body.

3. Get Rid of Soda: This will quench your thirst & will help you get rid of the calorie filled sodas & beverages. You can definitely lose a few inches once you switch your sugar filled beverages with spa water. Also the presence of the nutrients from the ingredients make it power water to lose weight.

4. Heal a Hangover: It is a great way to get rid of head ache from last night's hangover. You replenish your dehydrated body with H2O by drinking spa water. Also essential electrolytes, vitamins & minerals help you detoxify your body.

5. Great for supple skin: Water is great for your skin & so is cucumber, lemon, tangerine etc. why not add their benefits together in the spa water. You will definitely have a supple soft baby skin you always wished for. It increases the moisture & elasticity of the skin by keeping the skin hydrated, also detox yourself with the benefits of the other ingredients.

Hope these benefits will encourage you ditch that cola & help you choose this option. Please do share your views with me, if you want to add anything. Thanks!

Beat the Heat

Hi Friends! With half of May gone all of us are facing the heat wave. Let's list down a few health tips you need to take in consideration for the long summers. Beat the heat with home remedies!

5 Tips to Beat the Heat

1. Drink lot of water: Keep yourself hydrated whether the summers are dry or humid. If the weather outside is dry then the sun tends to suck away the water from your skin. You will feel dehydrated, though you are not sweating. In case of humid summers, you tend to sweat a lot, slowly the body becomes dehydrated & there are chances that you might even faint. So make sure to remain hydrated and keep yourself safe.

2. Eat Onions: Onions are a crucial part of the Indian cuisine, this is because of the medicinal values rather than the taste. They are rich in amino acids methionine & cystine also good amount of Vitamin C, this can help detox the body. Onions are known for treating inflammations & heat stroes almost instantaneously. Not only this our mother always told to carry an onion in the pocket when out in the sun, it is said to save you from the heat wave.

3. Avoid the sun: It is best to stay away from the sun during the summers. If you have to go out make sure you wear a good amount of sunscreen to avoid harmful rays. When inside your home pull the curtains & close the windows as soon as the sun is up. If in a dry place then you can place a desert cooler on your window so that the hot air passing through the water circulated pads can make your home cooler. If you do not have a cooler, then place watered pads on the windows & the wind passing through them will keep your home cool.

4. Eat Light:  Summers are a time when it becomes difficult for your poor stomach to digest easily. It is advised to eat light food. It will help you keep light & cool. Eat more salads & green veggies to keep yourself healthy. Avoid carbonated beverages, they might col you for the time being but the loads of sugar present in the drinks can make you gain weight & lazy. Also it is seen if you eat chilies, the capscain found in them would help you generate & cool your body eventually.

5. Dress Accordingly: Wear clothing which helps your skin breathe, cotton & summer cool allows your skin to come into contact with air which helps you remain cooler as you perspire freely. Silk or thick synthetic clothing covers your skin but meanwhile your skin is not able to come into contact with air & the sweat accumulating can cause rashes & outbreaks. Even your feet should be allowed to breathe & make sure your shoes let your feet passage of air. You will avoid smelly feet & also any kind of fungal infections, taking care for diabetic patients is even more important.

Hope these simple tips help you have good summers. Also share your tips! Thanks!

Healthy Vegan Recipe: Spicy Okra

Hi Friends! Today I will share a great recipe with you with less oil & fats with the benefits of Okra or Lady's finger. It is filled with nutrients Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, Vitamin-C & folates without any fats. It has good amount of dietary fiber with a very low calorie composition of 30-35 cal per 100 g. Along with this it is also rich in minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium & manganese. The usual Indian recipes use a lot of oil to cook okra, this is a simple & low fat spiced version.

Spicy Okra
Ingredients:
Okra: 250 g
Olive oil or Rice bran oil: 1 tablespoon
Turmeric: 1 teaspoon
Kashmiri Red Chili powder or Paprika powder: 1 teaspoon
Corriander Powder: 2 teaspoon
Cummin Powder: 2 teaspoon
Aam chur powder or Dried Raw Mango Powder: 1 teaspoon
Lime juice: 1 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Preparation:
1. Wash the okra well & slice of a part of it's top, not exposing the inner edible part. Now make a long slit across the length of each of the okra. Dry them in a towel & keep them aside.
2. Take a mixing bowl & mix all the spices  and salt well. Now add the lime juice & some oil to get a paste, it should avoid being too liquid to avoid spilling over.
3. Start filling each okra with this paste. Make sure that the filling is not too much, it should not come out. Press the okra well after filling to bind it. Once all is done just add the rest of the oil to the mixing bowl & let all the spices be in the oil now take the okra in the mixing bowl, toss it so that it gets coated with the oil & spices.

4. You can now preheat the oven or airfryer (3min) at 180C or 355F.
5. Place the filled okra in the oven or the airfryer & cook for 7 min. And your Spicy okra is ready. If you want it crispy like chips can continue for another 2-3 min.

You can enjoy this recipe with Indian bread or Roti & yogurt. Also if you made it like chips, go snack them any time. I find this recipe very tasty & easy to cook. You can make simple changes as per your taste & you can have variety of okra chips. If you don't like spices just go ahead with the lie juice & salt. Share your ideas with me. Thanks Friends!

Healthy Vegetarian Recipe: Dahi Parwal

Hi Friends! Here is a tasty & healthy recipe you will love. This recipe is light for the summers and easy to digest. Let's see how it is made:

Dahi Parwal:

Ingredients:
Parwal or Pointed Gourd: 6-8
Onion: 1
Ginger: 1/2 inch
Chili: 2
Yogurt:1 cup
Corriander powder:1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder: 1/2 teaspoon
Cummin Powder: 1 teaspoon
Cardamom: 2 small
Cinnamon: 1 inch
Olive oil: 2 teaspoon
Salt to taste

Preparation:
1. Take the Parwal or pointed gourd, Cut the ends, peel off the skin. Make side-slits on the side on the body of the parwal for the cooking to take place properly.
2. Chop the onion and slit the chili.
3. Mix the yogurt with ginger paste, and corriander, turmeric, cummin powder.
4. In a heated pan, add the olive oil. Then add cardamon & cinnamon after making it into small pieces.
5. Then add the chopped onion, once light golden in color add the parwal  & chili and after mixing it well cover it for some time on low flame.
6. When the parwal becomes tender add the yogurt with spices. Add the salt to taste.
7. Let it cook for a while on low flame. You will see a uniform mix in the gravy.

It would taste awesome. Serve hot! You can enjoy this recipe with rice. This would be a light & healthy recipe. Hope you like it friends!

Healthy Egg Recipe- Scrambled Egg with boiled Potatoes

Hi Friends! Welcome to you a fresh new week, will start your week with a healthy egg recipe, you can enjoy any time of the day. It is a very simple & easy recipe.

Scrambled Egg with Boiled Potatoes
Ingredients:
Potato: 1 large
Eggs: 2
Condensed milk: 2 teaspoon (unsweetened)
Onion: 1 medium
Tomato: 1 medium
Cilantro: A few springs
Chili: 1
Dried Oregano: 1/2 teaspoon
Dried Basil: 1/2 teaspoon
Paprika Flakes: 1/4 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Olive oil: 2 teaspoon

Preparation:
1. Boil the potato with skin, cut into half in a bowl with water @ 100% Microwave for 8-10 min
2. Beat the egg with little bit of salt & condensed milk.
3. Pour it into a heated pan  with 1 teaspoon of olive oil & slowly stir it as it condenses to get a perfectly scrambled egg. After finishing keep it aside in a plate/ bowl.
4. Chop the onion, tomato, cilantro & chili finely. Take the boiled potato & cut into cubes of 1/2 inch each.
5. In the same pan add oil. Then add Onion, when it starts getting little light add the cut-boiled potatoes & mix well. Add the spices (dried oregano, dried basil, paprika flakes & salt as per taste). Add half the tomatoes to the same and after a min add the scrambled egg & turn off the burner.
6. Serve it on the plate & garnish it with chili, cilantro & rest of the tomato pieces. And serve it with love!

This can be had any of the meals & is filling for a person. Enjoy this recipe & let me know how you like it. Thanks Friends!

Pranayam (Yoga) for Healthy Life-2

Hi Friends! This post is in continuation to my previous post on Pranayam. I had informed about three ways of doing Pranayam to be healthy & will continue with the rest of the three. To read about the previous ones already discussed & benefits of Pranayam please click here.

Bahya Pranayam
1. Sit with cross legged on the floor or ground.
2. Inhale fresh air & fill your lungs, hold.
3. Exhale the air forcefully (do not make it uncomfortable)
4. Now touch your chin to the chest & pull your stomach in so that it feels that you are trying to touch your back with your stomach.
5. Next lift your chin & breathe in slowly, hold it. Then exhale.
6. Repeat this 5-6 times.

Brahmari Pranayam
1. Close your eyes & start breathing.
2. Close your ears with the thumb & place the index finger above the eyebrow. Place the rest of the fingers on your eyes & face.
3. Keep your little fingers near your nostrils.
4. Now start breathing & fill your lungs with air.
5. Partially close your nostril with your little finger & breathe out with a humming sound like a bee originating from the throat.
6. Repeat thhis 3-5 times.

Udgeeth Pranayam
1. Breathe into fill your lungs with air.
2. Then slowly breathe out chanting "Om" originating from the throat with an emphasis on O and a short M.
3. Repeat this 5 times.

Enjoy doing Pranayam daily & let me know how you feel. Thanks Friends!

Healthy Chicken Recipe: Herb Grilled Chicken Breast

Hi Friends!! Today I present to you the very tasty healthy herb grilled chicken breast recipe. Chicken is high in proteins & has high tryptophan (amino acid) which helps in production of serotonin to help fight depression.

Herb Grilled Chicken Breast

Ingredients:
Chicken Breast (boneless): 3 pieces
Dried Oregano: 1 teaspoon
Dried Basil: 1 teaspoon
Dried Parsley: 1 teaspoon
Lime juice: 1 tablespoon
Garlic: 1 clove grated
Raw Papaya Juice: 1 tablespoon
Olive oil: 2 teaspoon
Salt: as per taste

Preparation:
1. Take the chicken breast pieces, and place it on the slab to tenderize the pieces. Use a tenderizer or the blunt side of the knife & pound it for a while.
2. Take the pieces in a vessel & mix it with the papaya juice (can grate the raw papaya & press it to get the juice). Cover it with a lid & refrigerate for 1 hour. Your chicken breasts will be very tender.
3. To the same vessel add the other ingredients herbs, salt, lime juice, garlic, olive oil. Mix it well & refrigerate the marinade.
4. Grill the chicken for 20 min approx at 300 F. Check if cooked with a fork.
5. Serve it with mustard sauce.

Let's enjoy a healthy grilled chicken today. Thanks!!