Boosting your metabolism rate...

What’s your metabolism rate? Well, this is a question we often ask each other specially those concerned about their weight issue. But what is a metabolism rate? Hmm, metabolism is the process by which, what we eat, is converted into life-giving energy. There are various steps before food turns into energy and many organs play a vital role in this process, including the mouth, the liver and associated systems like the endocrinal system and the kidneys.

Keeping our different organs active and efficient is the key to reviving up our metabolism. Now the question is how to keep the organs active or boost the metabolism rate? Well, to ensure a healthy digestive system, one can do a light detox once a fortnight. For this you can avoid non-vegetarian food, eggs, paneer, dals, pickles, colas etc once a fortnight. Instead, drink lukewarm water, vegetable juices, herb infusions and soups, eat a lot of fruit and have a light vegetable for lunch. Increase fibre intake as it helps the body to control weight, sugar and insulin levels. Fibre is present in the peel of fruits, in oats, brown rice etc. Also eat frequent small meals this also helps in keeping the digestive organs active. Last but not the least never forget to exercise...

The healthy red bell pepper...

Who doesn’t know this bright red colour vegetable often used to spice up bland dishes? Yes, we are talking about bell pepper that comes in a beautiful array of colours and shapes. But do you know this vegetable can be magic wand for those trying hard to lose weight? Wondering how? 

Well, red bell pepper has very few calories.  This makes it an ideal snack for dieter, children and just about anyone that wants a tasty, healthy treat. One cup contains about 24 calories. You could eat two red bell peppers sliced and not make a significant impact on your calorie count for the day. Isn’t that great? Apart from this like many brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, bell pepper is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, but red peppers are simply bursting with them. Antioxidant vitamins A and C help to prevent cell damage, cancer, and diseases related to aging, and they support immune function. Red peppers are a good source of the carotenoid called lycopene, which is earning a reputation for helping to prevent prostate cancer as well as cancer of the bladder, cervix, and pancreas. Beta-cryptoxanthin, another carotenoid in red peppers, is holding promise for helping to prevent lung cancer related to smoking and second hand smoke. Besides being rich in phytochemicals, peppers provide a decent amount of fiber also.   

So what say ready to spice up your dish with some bell peppers?

Do your diet plan include sufficient amount of fibre?

“Eat more fibres”, have you heard this earlier? Probably not. This is because fibres aren’t generally given much importance, but do you know including an adequate amount of fibre in your daily diet is a must...

Virtually indigestible in nature, fibre is found mainly in the outer layers of plants. It is a special type of carbohydrate that passes through the human digestive system virtually unchanged, without being broken down into nutrients. The main function of fiber is to keep the digestive system healthy and functioning properly. Research suggests that those who follow a high-fibre diet have a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease. Studies show that it also decreases the risk of diabetes. Such foods have a low glycemic index which gives better lasting blood-glucose control in the body.

There are plenty of foods that have high-fibre content, including whole wheat breads, green vegetables, cereals, pasta, fruits and even nuts. Fibre-rich foods also help in absorbing fat. High-fibre actually traps fat and keeps it from being absorbed into the system. Therefore, you can actually eat more food without worrying about gaining extra weight :-)