13 TOTALLY EASY BEAUTY HACKS TO TRY

Hi friends,

Can't resist to share this, particularly check the longevity massage, face massage and ideal brushing techniques.

I 'YAM" HEALTHY with YAM

YAM, popularly known as kanda in Telugu, jimikanad in Hindi, chenai kizhangu in Tamil,  and Surrangadde in Kannada, is a very healthy vegetable with loads of vitamins, minerals and promising health benefits!

As a  child I've never really liked YAM, but have to eat it on my mother's insistence. Once the Health Enthusiast in me woke up, I've realized YAM is not only healthy but actually offers a range of tasty recipes. And like all Andhras, I love the KandaBachalli curry (YAM cooked with Malabar Spinach). This iron rich curry tastes heavenly!!

What makes YAM so healthy and what are the health benefits of eating YAM? Lets find out.

YAM is a starchy tuber, rich in dietary fiber, B-Complex group of vitamins, folates, niacin and pantothenic acid. The tuber is also a good source of vitamin C and contains Vitamin A.

An abundance of minerals such as iron, calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus and manganese  make YAM a medicinally significant vegetable. The tuber is widely used in traditional medicinal practices across India, Japan and China. The presence of a cell-proliferate, allantoin makes YAM very useful in healing boils and ulcers.



Essential Health Benefits of YAM

The antioxidant -rich YAM offers essential benefits for heart care, skin care, hair care, immune system, nervous system, digestive system.

HEART HEALTH
YAM is a good source of dietary fiber, which is known to lower bad cholesterol, while the potassium in YAM neutralizes the ill effects of sodium thereby balancing blood pressure and maintaining heart beat rate.

SKIN HEALTH
The antioxidants, especially the B-Complex vitamins and vitamin C demonstrate excellent antioxidant power in checking the free radical movement in the body to protect the skin cell damage. The vitamin C rejuvenates the skin and keeps the skin free of wrinkles.

HAIR HEALTH
Besides skin care, the antioxidants in YAM also help in addressing the hair problems such as dandruff, hair loss and dry hair. The presence of iron in YAM improves the red blood count and thereby blood circulation. Improved blood circulation becomes visible in glowing skin and vibrant healthy hair!

IMMUNITY SYSTEM
Antioxidants are powerhouses of nutrients that offer manifold health benefits, The nutrients present in YAM strengthen the body's immune system to fight against the harmful viruses and bacteria.

NERVOUS SYSTEM
The abundance of B-Complex group of vitamins in YAM have proven to be helpful in reducing the incidence of Alzheimer's disease and enhancing cognitive response. This is achieved by Folate, which is known to cause improved blood circulation in brain thereby stimulating cognitive abilities such as concentration and neural responses.

WOMEN HEALTH
Women suffering from menopausal  and premenstrual symptoms such as nausea and depression would largely benefit by including yam in their regular diet. Though certain studies indicate that yam contains an enzyme, diosgenin which stimulates the hormonal patterns, research proved that this enzyme is used to artificially produce the hormone progesterone but does not cause an increase the levels of progesterone in the body.

The main benefits of yam to women's health is in the form of rich B-complex vitamins, especially vitamin B 6, which addresses premenstrual syndrome.

WEIGHT REDUCTION
The low calorie factor and high fiber in yam makes it an excellent food option for people seeking to reduce weight. Yam meal is very fulfilling and controls the frequent hunger pangs.

DIABETIC BENEFITS
People with diabetics can add yam to their daily diet to balance the blood sugar levels. The high fiber content and low glycemic index rates make yam a super food for diabetics to prevent the unnecessary variations in blood sugar levels.





How to cook and eat yam;

Always eat yam cooked as yam in raw form is known to be toxic. Best way to cook yam is either boil in water or just bake in the oven.
I want to share two interesting and simple yam recipes

1. Kanda bachalli kura
Ingredients:
yam or kanda - 1/5 kg
malabar leaves (bachalli kura) - 3 bunches
soaked rai with 5 red chillies (2 tsp)
green chillies  4- 5
curry leaves - few
tamarind paste - 1 tbsp
jaggery - a little
oil
seasoning items  all 1 tsp
oil
split urad dal
channa dal (split bengal gram)
jeera (cumin)
rai (mustard seeds)
red chillies  - 2

Method:
Clean and cut yam to small chunks and boil them to two whistles. Keep aside.
Clean and chop the greens and boil them separately, for 1 whistle and keep aside.
make a paste of rai (mustard seeds) mixed with red chillies.
In a deep bottomed pan, take oil and add all seasonings.
fry for 2 minutes, then add chillies, curry leaves and fry for 2 minutes.
Add the rai paste to the above mixture and let it cook,.
now add salt, haldi and the cooked yam and greens.
Mix well, add tamarind pulp and jaggery.
cook for 2 min and remove from stove.
Serve hot with rice and fryuums as accompaniment.

The second recipe is more like aloo tikki, with the only difference is that we will be boiling and using yam instead of aloo.
ingredients:
yam 250 g
rice flour - 2 tbsp
garlic pods - 4
chilli powder -1 tsp

greens  - dhania (coriander), spearmint or pudina, green chillies, grind them altogether and keep aside.
Clean, cut yam to small pieces and boil.
Remove from stove, discard excess water and add all the ingredients such as garam masala, salt, chilly powder, rice flour and mix well.
Make small balls, flatten them and shallow fry on a tava using oil.
when the two sides are well cooked remove from stove and serve with either ketchup or any homemade chutney.

Go ahead, try YAM!

Diet for Glowing Skin

We are in a generation where we have a plethora of skin care products ranging from acne-control products, sunscreen lotions, anti-ageing products, fairness products, skin rejuvenating products alongside the most common moisturizers, cold cream  and vanishing cream products.

Though the availability of such broad array of skin care products is good news, there is no such product that promises complete skin care, while choosing the right product is another task. So, the best solution for complete skin care is HEALTHY DIET!

Your skin needs adequate doses of antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin E, vitamin A, Vitamin C, vitamin K, selenium, zinc, iron to stay healthy and glow. A healthy skin reflects the healthiness of the body. Consuming diet rich in antioxidants addresses even the most stubborn of skin ailments including acne, sunburns, dark patches and even psoriasis.

Here is a comprehensive list of the foods that help greatly in skin care. All the products listed here are rich in either one or more than one of the essential antioxidants. Again the items listed here are easily and economically available.

CARROT
The one food that tops my list of healthy foods for skin care is CARROT
- Rich in betacarotene, vitamin A and vitamin C, consume carrots either in juice form or salad on a daily basis to experience the improvement in skin health. Cooked carrots also offer equally good results.

-TOMATO
Packed with a bunch of antioxidants such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C and especially lycopene, tomatoes prove to be a great help in addressing acne and anti-ageing issues.

- PUMPKIN
An abundance of zinc alongside vitamins A and C, makes pumpkin an ideal food for regeneration of skin cells and improving complexion. Grab few pumpkin seeds as a daily snack and see the visibly improved skin tone!

- PAPAYA
Rich in vitamin A and papain enzyme, papaya helps in hydrating the skin and removing the dead skin cells. The sweet juicy fruit is in itself so tempting, one doesn't need a mentioning of its varied benefits. Eat it right away!

-LEAFY VEGETABLES
Leafy vegetables, including Kale provide the skin with the much needed iron and zinc alongside vitamin A.

LENTILS, PULSES, BEANS, WHOLE GRAINS
Dietary fibers found abundantly in pulses, lentils, beans and whole grain essentially offer B vitamins that help skin retain moisture and look healthy.

ALMONDS, WALNUTS
Almonds and walnuts are  powerhouses of vitamins, protein, soluble fiber and insoluble fiber and vitamin E. Regular consumption of these nuts bestows you with healthy skin that is devoid of acne, anti-ageing and other issues.


- POMEGRANATES
Packed with tannins and an abundance of vitamins, make pomegranate an excellent food for anti-aging and acne problems.


KIWI ,STRAWBERRIES

The presence of essential vitamins such as vitamin E make these products the perfect solution of daily skin care regimen.


DARK CHOCOLATE
This is another healthy option, which no one can ever resist! The antioxidants present in the dark chocolate not only provide  tasty indulgence but also provide protection against sun burn and improve blood circulation.
But regular chocolates with high (more than 70%) of milk and caramel content do not provide any of the above benefits.

BELL PEPPERS
The vitamin C found in bell peppers provides tremendous skin care benefits including protection against skin cancer.

The list is not exhaustive, other food products such as SALMON, EGG, SOY, STRAWBERRY, AVOCADO, ONIONS, GARLIC, ORANGE, BANANA, SPROUTS are powerhouses of essential vitamins and nutrients.

Consumption of naturally available foods such as the above mentioned list provides tremendous health benefits, while keeping diseases at bay.
A strict adherence to healthy and timely food, regular exercise and pranayama technique would yield great results in terms of improved skin tone and healthy glow.

Quick Fixes for Glowing Skin

While every woman, desires a glowing, flawless skin, why only few achieve this...
Also it has nothing to do with cosmetics ...
Why is the difference...
The difference lies in the approach to skin care. Yes! skin care should be a routine thing and not a random, once in a fortnight task.
That is the secret to 'Always Glowing Skin'.

Yes, it is possible to achieve a glowing, flawless skin with just a few everyday DIY tips.

Firstly prioritize skin care as an equally important task just like all other tasks you perform on a daily basis.
Then identify what exactly you desire to improve or correct.
If you wish for a flawless, glowing skin, the following tips would definitely yield desired results.

1. Saffron & Milk
Soak a few strands of saffron in 3 tbsp of milk or honey overnight or about an hour. Then apply the saffron milk evenly on the face and neck. Let it stay for some time and then rinse.

Do this for about 3 days to actually see results.

2. Lemon & Milk
Add few drops of lemon to 2 tbsp of milk and leave it for 5 minutes. When the milk curdles apply the mixture all over the face and neck. Let it stay for 20 minutes and then rinse.

Do this for 3 days to see a visibly glowing skin.

3. Cucumber & Yogurt
Grate a small piece of cucumber, mix it with 2 tbsp of yogurt. Apply the mixture evenly on face and neck. Let it stay for 20 minutes or longer.

4. Banana & Milk
Mash a small piece of banana, add 2 tbsp of milk. Apply the mixture evenly on the face and neck. Let it stay for 20 minutes.

You can replace banana with papaya or tomato.

5. Orange peel & Rose water
Grind orange peel, mix with rose water. Apply evenly on face and neck, let it stay for 20 minutes.

These are a few effective tips for glowing skin.

The tips also help in removing tan and sun burns.

Besides the above tips, few changes in diet and exercises help achieve a flawless, glowing skin.

My next post will discuss about diet for healthy glowing skin.