Eat Right

Tasty can be healthy too

Did you know that you may have enough magnesium or iron in your diet but still your body may not be absorbing it? Maybe another food needs to be introduced to facilitate the process of absorption. We tell you some food combinations that are not only easily digestible but also have great nutritional benefits. Read on...

One must eat a variety of fruits and vegetables to stay healthy. However, certain foods together can exponentially increase the health benefits compared to eating the foods alone. Even multivitamins that offer many nutrients together in one capsule cannot duplicate this apparent synergy of nutrients.

Tomatoes and broccoli
While both tomato and broccoli are highly nutritious on their own, when combined they offer supercharged cancer fighting ability. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an important nutrient that is a natural cancer preventative. The sulphur contained in broccoli helps to eliminate tumor-causing toxins. Together they offer a powerhouse of nutritional protection. According to research published in the journal of Cancer Research, this combination has a startling effect on the slow- down of prostate tumour growth in rats. Researchers say that this happens because the different bioactive compounds in each food work on different anti- cancer pathways. Chopping and heating the vegetables makes the cancer fighting compounds more active. Pasta with fresh tomato sauce eaten with a plate of steamed broccoli is a good way of packing in the punch of both vegetables.


Green tea and lemon
Green tea is very high in antioxidants. However, just by adding a little bit of lemon to your tea you will absorb up to 13 times the amount of antioxidants you receive. The citric acid and vitamin C in the lemon increase the efficacy of the catechins in the green tea. This is beneficial in boosting immunity, reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular problems and Alzheimer's disease.

Carrots and oils

Carrots offer betacarotene or provitamin A, which, according to research offers protective benefits against cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer. Nutrition scientists say that the betacarotene in carrots and other coloured vegetables ( bell peppers, cherry tomatoes) are oil soluble, so adding olive oil to your vegetables will enable you to absorb more of it, as the betacarotene dissolves in oil, facilitating its take- up by the body. Having a bowl full of grated carrot and apple salad with an olive oil dressing is one way of packing in plenty of nutrition. Carrots sautéed in olive oil is another option.

Almonds and apricots

Apart from providing your body the perfect mix of nutrients and oxidants, almonds are good for the heart since they have been shown to lower LDL or “ bad” cholesterol, important for heart health. The apricot is rich in easily- digestible natural sugars, vitamins A and C, riboflavin ( B2) and niacin ( B3) and is also an excellent source of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, iron and traces of sodium, sulphur, manganese, cobalt and bromine. Almonds are rich in vitamin E and when paired with apricots that are rich in vitamin C, provide a boost to both the cardiovascular and immune system: The uptake of vitamin E is enhanced by vitamin C and almonds have both vitamin E and selenium. Both apricots and almonds come from the same family- the prunus group- which also contains plums, cherries and peaches, so it’s perhaps not surprising that they should work so well together.

Green vegetables and curd

The colour of green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach can be attributed to their high chlorophyll content. These vegetables are rich in magnesium, which is essential for healthy metabolism as well as strong bones, healthy muscles and nerves. Sources of probiotics such as live yoghurt boost the bioavailability of magnesium because they help ‘release’ the mineral in the food, say nutritional experts. Yoghurt also helps in the absorption of magnesium, calcium and iron though interest is focused on calcium since a lack of this damages the bones, often irreversibly. That’s why green vegetables and calcium rich yoghurt are an ideal combination.

You could dress a green bean or broccoli salad with a yoghurt dressing or make a cold yoghurtspinach dish with raisins.

Fish and chips

This extremely popular combination is a favourite in Britain. The balance of protein, carbohydrate and vitamins makes it a hit among British. The essential fatty acids in the fish help protect the vitamin C in the potato chips. Also the fish fats contain vitamin E, which is complemented perfectly by vitamin C, to some extent recycling each other and extending each other’s life.

Beans and rice

Rice is rich in starch, iron, vitamin B and protein, while beans are also protein rich and contain a good amount of iron and other minerals. The consumption of two in tandem provides essential amino acids, creating a complete protein not available in either alone. Essential amino acids are the building blocks of protein, available in different foods. Combining sources of proteins from cereals with those coming from pulses provides the full complement of essential amino acids.

Other such nutritious combinations are a whole meal peanut butter sandwich, beans on toast or whole wheat pita bread and hummus.

Spinach and orange
Spinach and oranges are both considered to be superfoods because of their antioxidant capacity and superior nutrition. But if you really want to boost your ability to absorb the iron that is contained in your spinach salad, add some oranges to it. They taste delicious together but more importantly the vitamin C will help your body to absorb up to twice as much iron from the same amount of spinach.


Apple and catechin
Apples are high in quercetin, a powerful antioxidant, which when combined with the catechins in blueberries, grapes or acai berries will react together in the body to stop platelet clumping, which can prevent heart attacks and strokes. When you combine apples with the berries you will absorb more of the important antioxidants in a much smaller serving than if you were to consume either the berries or the apple on their own.

Food combinations to avoid

1. Don't eat fruit, especially melons, with any other food (including vegetables). They're too acidic. They sit and ferment while slowing digestion of the other foods.

2. Don't combine proteins with starchy carbohydrates. They interfere with each other's digestion. Hence, eat protein-only or carbohydrate-only meals. For example, breakfast might be an egg omelette with turkey bacon, or a fruit smoothie with a banana.

3. Drink only pure water before, during, and after a meal – neither soft drink nor squash.

4. Do not add excessive fats to proteins (i.e. cooking fish and chicken in excessive butter, or serving with a creamy sauce).

5. Do not consume starch and sugar foods together, like jam on toast or honey on oatmeal.

Based on these rules, food combinations to avoid would include bread or potatoes with butter, rolls or toast with bacon, cereals with cream or milk, steak, chicken or fish with potatoes, bread, or rice, rolls and hot dogs, ice, whipped cream or any cream on starchy desserts, pork with baked beans, or vinegar and oil dressing with chicken on a salad.

If you want to live long and healthy, there couldn’t be a better alternative than help your body absorb vital nutrition through such time-tested food combinations.

AEROBICS: Your Way To Fun & Fitness

By Shilpi Shukla Alexander

Is 30 minutes a day of aerobic exercise the magic bullet you’ve been looking for? With benefits ranging from heart disease prevention to stress reduction, it’s one of the best things you can do for your health…

If you have a hard time exercising, but wish to have a beautiful body, that you can flaunt, then the perfect idea to keep yourself in shape is to have an aerobic workout…

Read further to explore the various benefits of this enjoyable exercise…

Aerobic dance and beyond…

For those of you who thought aerobics was all about dancing, here’s a check… Aerobic exercise is a moderate intensity workout that extends over a certain period of time and uses oxygen in the process. So there are not one but many kinds of aerobic exercises… Here they go…: There are different types of aerobics like fitness walking, jogging, swimming, kickboxing, fitness walking, skiing, inline skating, bicycling, ‘aerobic dancing’ and more.

In line skating or rollerblading is one of the most popular sports that are luring millions of people into trying it. It helps to strengthen lower back and works a great deal in enhancing cardiovascular development. Kickboxing is extremely useful for quick weight loss, as it helps in burning about 350-450 calories during a 50-minute workout session. At the initial level, kickboxing consists of some basic stretches and cardio warm up. But as one proceeds to advanced levels, punches, hand strikes and kicks are incorporated.
If you are among the types, who always tend to escape from exercising, then the right aerobic type for you is fitness walking. You can start off your walking program from a 10-minute stroll and then gradually increase your level. In later stages, when you have built up your stamina for a higher intensity workout, then you can go in for jogging. For the summer season, swimming acts as an excellent way to overcome the scorching heat.

Shake your body… stay fit: Dance aerobics is the most famous form of aerobics. The craze for this dance_cum_exercise is such that it has become quite synonymous with dancing itself. Aerobic dance steps are actually a blend of distinctive dance forms like jazz, disco and ballet. It’s best for those who love to dance. So why not use hobby to keep one fit and healthy.

Aerobic versus Anaerobic Exercises

Most of us are unaware as to what is the actual difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise. Well, it is interesting to look into the difference…

“Aerobic exercise is an energetic form of physical activity that fastens your heartbeat to about 65 per cent of the maximum rate. This exercise is performed for a period of time extending up to say at least 20 minutes. Well, the functioning of aerobics begins with the burning of stored sugars and gradually it attacks on the fats that are stored in the body,” explains Shelly D’Souza, a fitness expert.
She adds, “On the contrary, anaerobic exercise takes place in quick span of time and includes activities like sprinting, weight lifting etc. Basically, activities that rely on brief or discontinuous bursts of energy are called anaerobic (without oxygen). They help in strengthening muscles and joints.”
If you are just a beginner, you should better get started with aerobic exercises rather than anaerobic exercises, so as to ensure an overall fitness.

Attire to un-tire

A perfect attire to carry out your aerobic session, enables you prolong your endurance for the exercise, without feeling tired or drained. Firstly, it should be loose fit, so that there is adequate provision for free flow of air and unrestrained body movement.

It is preferable to wear light color clothing in summer season, as it absorbs heat and also it gives a cool feeling to beat the scorching heat. “Whether its summer time or the time of chilly winds, it is advisable to wear some sort of hat or cap over the head, so that you can cope up better with the climatic conditions. You should avoid wearing plastic or rubberised clothing, because such clothes are likely to cause a rise in your body temperature, which can be hazardous,” says aerobics trainer Suzanne Alex.
Prefer attiring several light layers of clothing, rather than going in for one heavy cloth layer. The clothing layer touching your skin should be moisture absorbent. T-shirts or sweatshirts teamed with tights or drawstring pants serve as the perfect clothing for aerobic workout.

Shoes: Aerobic performance encompasses of quick lateral movements with lots of jumping and leaping for a particular period, so it becomes all the more necessary to take proper care of your feet.

Don’t mix up running shoes with aerobic shoes, because they are not one and the same thing. Shoes should be such that, they provide a soft cushioning effect to your feet. They should have a strong supportive sole, so that the risk of injury due to slippage is minimized. There should be adequate provision for airflow on the toe side, so as to let the toes breathe. Always shop for shoes during afternoon, when your feet size is largest. Wear the shoes and roam about for a while to ensure it’s fit and comfortable

The many benefits of aerobics…

The ensuing demand for a continuous supply of oxygen creates the aerobic training effect, physiological changes that enhance the ability of the lungs, heart, and blood vessels to transport oxygen throughout the body.

Especially, aerobic exercises reduce our chances of developing many common illness and diseases.

Here’s a quick listing of the various merits of regular aerobics ---

• The heart enlarges and increases its blood stroke volume; more efficient cardiovascular system
• Resting heart rate slows, less than 60 beats per minute indicates good physical fitness
• Oxygen is used more efficiently resulting in increased fat burning during exercise
• More available energy due to greater amounts of ATP and PC for immediate power needs
• Increased endurance and lower blood pressure
• Reduced risks in developing diabetes and other diseases
• Increase in good cholesterol, decrease in bad cholesterol
• A positive body composition change, more muscle less fat
• Better chance of maintaining healthy weight later in life
• A great stress buster; help in coping with all other emotional and psychological stress

Most of the aerobic benefits begin to kick in within four weeks of starting an exercise program. Within three months of consistent training under a professional trainer, there should be a well-developed level of physical fitness with the more dramatic benefits taking place. The changes in the cell’s energy system can start to speed up the reduction in total body fat levels. The training effects of exercise do however start to reduce after about 48 hour so it’s important to be consistent and make your chosen activity fun!

So let’s make staying healthy our New Year resolution! Enjoy the experience of performing this wonderful workout and lead a healthy lifestyle. And don’t forget to share your experience with us… Healthy Living!