10 nutritionally terrible foods to avoid

Not just junk, keep junior off these 10 nutritionally terrible foods

So you make endless mental notes of fried snacks and sweets that your kid gorges on, but what do you know about foods laden with sodium, fat, sugar and other unsavoury ingredients? We run you through 10 unhealthy children's foods that you'd rather avoid:

Fruit snacks 
For long, food and beverage giants have been pulling a fast one on you by using the word 'fruit' to sell nutritionally suspect products. Fruit cakes or fruit gummies, for instance, are as sugar-filled as a candy. The fact that they stick to kids' teeth make them a harbinger of cavities.

French fries 
With the mushrooming of fast food joints, French fries have befriended children's taste-buds more than ever. The problem with fries is not just the unhealthy trans fats and calories it's loaded with, but also how easy it is to gobble too much of it at once. Fries are known to dominate the palate to an extent where the child may not really develop a taste for other vegetables. To rein your junior in, try baking your fries at home or rustle up sweet potato fries, which are packed with fibre, vitamin C and potassium.

Sugar cereals 
It's no more a secret that most sugary cereals are hopelessly low on fibre and high on sugar. The trick then is to choose cereals that contain less than 10 grams of sugar and at least three grams of fibre.

Deli meals 
Multiple research say that processed red meat, such as hot dogs or bologna, can up the risk of diabetes, heart disease and colon cancer. Hot dogs, for instance, are loaded with sodium, fat and nitrates which have been linked to cancer. Stick to chicken instead of beef, and if you buy deli meats, go for low-sodium, organic variants that are free of added nitrates. The best option is to always opt for fresh meat.

Sweetened drinks 
Almost all the hype around the health risks that soda poses is sadly true, and more so for kids. Drinking soda or cola increases their odds of developing type-2 diabetes and ending up obese. Not to mention the cavities they will cause. Fruit drinks too can be just as bad as soda. Scientists say that if they aren't made from 100 per cent juice, their nutritional worth is as low as soda. In any case, limit your child's intake of packaged fruit juice, and encourage her to drink a lot of milk and water.

Granola bars 
They have been hailed as the ultimate health snack, but many varieties of the granola bars have ingredients that make them more of a dessert than a nutritional delight. The catch is again on the cover. Hunt for bars that contain at least two grams or fibre and less than 10 grams of sugar, and also for those that have little or no saturated fat, and no high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners.

Sports drinks 
Your child might be drained after that gruelling session of cricket or badminton, but don't let him or her glug down sports drinks. Kids can become easily used to the taste and stop preferring water. Whip up a glass of chocolate milk instead, as it packs just the right mix of protein and carbs to help repair muscle.

Honey 
Until she is at least a year old, don't give your child honey as they can contain spores which can cause botulism — symptoms include dry mouth, vomiting, paralysis, and breathing problems. Since infants have immune systems that are relatively weak, they're at the highest risk for botulism. This is why doctors often recommend that babies avoid products that contain honey.

Packaged noodles 
Not only are noodles low on nutrition, they come with a lot of sodium. Children between the ages of two and three should have no more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium per day, while kids up to age eight shouldn't exceed 1,200 mgs per day. However, one serving of most packed noodles or pasta has more than half of a child's recommended limit.

Cheese
While cheese is a fabulous source of calcium and protein, you need to watch your child's portions. A slice of cheese can contain over 100 calories and 10 grams of fat, so regularly having more than that for a snack can add the numbers up fast. The daily recommended amount for dairy is two cups for age 2-3, and two-and-a-half cups for age 4-8. Just one-and-a-half ounces of cheese counts as one cup of the recommended amount of dairy.

For questions specific to your health conditions, please write down in the comments section and we will answer it as soon as possible. Thanks

Foods that make you radiant and detoxify your System

Superfoods that detoxify your system...

The festive season is over and so should be the over-indulging in sweets, fried food and snacks. This is the perfect time to recharge your body and detoxify it. Here are a few superfoods that can help...

Eggs
With their rich protein, vitamin and mineral content, eggs contribute significantly to improving your concentration, maintaining healthy weight, developing the brain, strengthening eyesight, clotting the blood as well as preventing both birth defects and breast cancer.

Quinoa
This resembles couscous when boiled and can be used as a substitute for rice. Like egg, Quinoa is a 100% reference protein which has all nine essential amino acids, including lysine, which no other cereal has.

Blueberries 
Blueberries has the highest antioxidant content of all fresh fruit and is rich in Vitamins A, B Complex, C and E as well as in anthocyanin, copper, selenium, zinc and iron say experts. It is one of the best sources of antioxidants in the world has been known to fight superbattles against disease, ageing, heart ailments and belly fat.

Pumpkin
Both the seeds and the flesh of this Superfood are bursting with benefits. The fruit itself is high in antioxidants, Vitamins A, C, K and E and is a rich source of magnesium, potassium and iron. Pumpkin seeds have been associated with treating osteoporosis, prostate problems, depression and preventing cancer.

Oranges 
What people do know is that oranges are a wonderful source of Vitamin C. What they might not know is that this simple fruit helps with asthma, kidney stones, high BP and arthritis as well as assists in the lowering of cholesterol and the prevention of diabetes.

Broccoli
Nutrient rich, this superfood helps those with blood pressure, diabetes, osteoporosis. Pooja says, "It is believed to contribute to the control or prevention of cataracts, stomach and colon cancer, arthritis, heart disease, Alzheimer's, tumours, as well as ageing.

Walnuts
This nut, which looks like a brain, is actually good for your brain. Walnuts have also been known to do wonders for your heart, mood, bone health and weight loss as well as help with insomnia, gallstones, diabetes and cancer. Nuts are calorie dense foods packed with protein, healthy fats and some essential vitamins and minerals and one must include a handful of these daily.

Yogurt
There's such a thing as "good" bacteria and your dahi has an abundance of it. Additionally, yogurt with active cultures helps with gastrointestinal conditions to include constipation, diarrhoea, lactose intolerance, colon cancer and bowel disease as well as in the prevention of osteoporosis and regulating blood pressure.

Green tea
Having two cups of green tea can do wonders for your skin and also increase the efficiency of our immune system. It also helps in lowering your risk of cancer, easing arthritis pain, regulating your cholesterol, preventing heart disease, boosting the immune system, losing weight, having healthier teeth, fending off allergies and infections and reducing or preventing acne.

Spinach
Spinach is a nutrient-dense food, loaded with not just iron but a whole host of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. This vegetable protects your heart, promote gastrointestinal health and keep your brain young and active.

Oats 
If you want to have a better chance at fighting high cholesterol and heart disease, regulating your blood sugar, blood pressure and bowel movements, reducing the risk of getting cancer or controlling your weight, eat more oats.

Flaxseed 
Flaxseed is a wonderful source of fibre, omega 3 and is a natural laxative. It also helps with lowering bad cholesterol and protect against diabetes as it decreases insulin resistance.

Wheatgrass 
The Wheat-grass is always greener! This food has been known to cleanse the liver, boost production of haemoglobin, increase immunity, heal wounds, purify the blood and improve digestion.

Salmon 
Salmon's high Omega-3 fatty acid content makes this an unbeatable Superfood. Salmon has been known to fight heart disease, decrease cancer risk, protect joints, improve mood and cognition as well as treat eye problems like dry eyes.

Tomatoes 
This superfood derives its luscious red colour from lycopene, an antioxidant which does not occur naturally in the body and has to be derived from an external food source. Tomatoes are associated with prevention of cancer and heart disease as well as the lowering of cholesterol.

Bananas 
A rich source of potassium and fibre, go bananas if you want to work on lowering your blood pressure, maintaining the health of your bones, having a healthy digestive tract and preventing the development of cancer.

Strawberries 
The delicious strawberry doesn't just look and taste good. This is an antioxidant superfood and has been associated with cardiovascular benefits, blood sugar regulation (and is therefore good for diabetics) as well as with fighting cancer.

Painful Joints affect your Sex life

Painful joints have become a bigger and more real reason than the good old excuse of "having a headache" for people abstaining from physical intimacy, according to new research.

Arthritis Research Britain conducted the survey to reveal the everyday challenges couples face in their relationships, and to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people with arthritis and joint pain to stay intimate in their relationships.

Two-thirds of the respondents between the age group of 55-69 felt that their relationship was less intimate than when they first got together and nearly a quarter of married couples say they're unsatisfied with their current love life.

Nearly a third of the couples surveyed don't cuddle or hold hands enough anymore, nearly half feel that they aren't having enough sex and have sex less often than once a fortnight.

"As we rush around leading busy lives, it's easy for relationships to suffer. The survey shows that couples want to be more physically intimate with one another, holding hands, having a cuddle and having sex are all important to keep a healthy relationship," said sex expert Tracey Cox.

Joint pain can affect many parts of the body including hands, hips, knees, fingers, back and neck. This makes movements that many of us take for granted, like having sex, holding hands or cuddling incredibly painful.

Previous studies have shown that 13 per cent of people with Arthritis found joint pain impacted their sex life.

Strawberries for a healthy skin

Fruits have innumerable benefits when it comes to skin care. Not only eating them is beneficial but applying them as scrub, mask or facial has remarkable effects on any skin type.

One of the most effective fruits one can find in an orchard is the luscious red wonder berry — strawberry. Delectable and yummy, it is a favourite of both grown-ups and kids. If used regularly, strawberries can work wonders in giving your face a shine and healthy glow. Here are a few methods in which you can use strawberries to get the most out of it:

Boost your complexion
Beauticians have found out that the juice of this berry is rich in skin lightening and also cures blemishes and acne marks effectively. Mash three to four strawberries in a bowl and filter the juice with a clean muslin cloth. Apply the juice all over he face. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off with cold water. Use this mask thrice a week to reap the best benefits. It also reduces sun damage and minimizes the effects of ultraviolet rays on the skin.

Treat acne
Mix half a cup of sliced strawberries with a spoon of sour cream. Mix it well. Apply the mixture as a mask and leave it on for 10 minutes. Since this berry has cleansing properties and contains salicylic acid, it helps in removing dead cells from the skin. It also tightens the pores and prevents further break outs. Strawberries have been hailed for their effectiveness in removing impurities and are thus, used in a lot of face washes as an active ingredient.

A great toner
Grind a handful of strawberries and extract the juice. Add two tablespoon of this juice to 100 ml of cold rose water. Apply it with a cotton ball all over your face before going to bed. This is a great toner for every skin type. For best results, do it daily and do not follow it with any night cream. The best thing about this homemade mix is that you can store it for 15 days in the refrigerator.

A strawberry scrub for a youthful skin
Take five to six strawberries and add two tablespoon of honey to the mixture. Mash the strawberries in a way that the seeds remain. Do not do off with the seeds. Add around three drops of warm water to the mixture. Massage your skin with the mixture for 10 minutes in circular and semi-circular motion. Then wash off with cold water. If done thrice a week, this scrub results in a youthful and glowing skin.

Strawberry milk mania
Two great ingredients come together to gift you flawless skin. Take three strawberries and add seven spoons of milk. Crush them in a blender and use the mixture on your face as a mask first thing in the morning. You will not need any cream to pull you through the day. An easy-to-do mask, this is helpful for people with a dull and tired-looking skin.

Strawberry and carrot juice cleanser
Mix a cup of strawberry juice with a cup of fresh carrot juice. You can replace your usual cleanser with this excellent homemade one. For people with oily skin, this cleanser can be a saviour.

Lose Belly Fat- Fast and Easy

Here's your quick guide to a flat, toned stomach

Losing weight on your midriff can seem very challenging, but if you push yourself a little further, you can easily shed those extra kilos from your abs and flaunt an envious one.

Side plank
This abs exercising is known to be the most difficult one than a traditional plank one because you are supporting your entire body on two points of contact instead of four. Thus you must work your core harder to stay stabilised.

How to do it: Lie on your left side with your elbow directly under your shoulder and legs stacked. Place your right hand on your left shoulder or on your right hip.

Next brace your abs and lift your hips off the floor until you are balancing on your forearm and feet so that your body forms a diagonal line. Hold position for 30 to 45 seconds. Switch sides and repeat.

Walkout from push up position
This exercise needs a full body movement such as using your arms and legs while incorporating resistance to strengthen your entire core too.

How to do it: Start in a push up position with your hands two inches wider than your shoulders. Now walk hands out as far as possible then walk back. Repeat this for 12-14 times.

The alligator drag 
This exercise uses your entire core to keep your body stabilised and burns additional calories by adding movement. It mixes stability, cardio and strength training to get you the fast results.

How to do it: Look for a stretch of floor where you can move 10 to 20 yards forwards and grab anything that will slide over the surface with minimal friction. Now start in push up position with your feet on slides or towels behind. Walk yourself forward with your hands to the end of the runway and repeat the alligator back walk from where you started.