Because, Every day is Women's Day!

There are a lot of strong women you do not see who are guiding, helping, mothering, inspiring and much more in everyday life. They want to remain unseen, behind the scenes...So this one goes for all you ladies out there, doing your thing.

Although this year's theme was "balance for better" in terms of Gender Equality, I would like to highlight the #balanceforbetter in context of how women strike a balance in everyday life!

#balanceforbetter #internationalwomensday #internationalwomensday2019 #IWD2019 #celebratingwomen #allwomenaresuperwomen

Healing Powers of WATER

I hear ya, water isn’t the most exciting drink in the world…

YET, drinking water is one of the best things you can do for your body. It’s very simple: Drinking water helps you lose weight. But sipping on the same old thing all the time can get boring, right? So how do you drink that much water, if you don’t like the taste of plain water?

Water is the easiest and most effective detoxification weapon. Get Creative! Trick your taste buds!

I am NOT a qualified nutritionist, nor an expert. This is just from my experience and experiments. Drinking water early morning on an empty stomach brings about great health benefits. 2 to 3 glasses miracle water is how I start my day! If you are wondering how to find time to practice the below, let me tell you it doesn’t take extra time or effort from your daily schedule.  

Turmeric

Turmeric, a spice commonly used in Indian curry, has a long history of medicinal use.

Different ways of Drinking Turmeric:

Half spoon Turmeric in a Glass hot water

Half spoon Turmeric + honey in hot water

Benefits:

• Boosts your body's natural healing powers
• A powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that help protect your body from unstable molecules that can damage cells.
• Lowers cholesterol level
• Beneficial herb in cancer treatment.
• Anti-aging supplement
• Good for skin
• A weight-loss tea

NOTE: Use PURE Turmeric. Turmeric bought in supermarkets are usually adulterated.

Saffron

In India, elders advise you to drink a glass of saffron milk every day to give your baby fair skin(!) But there is no evidence to support this belief.

But drinking saffron water does have other health benefits.

Different ways of Drinking Saffron

5-6 strands of saffron in hot water

5-6 strands of saffron in hot water + Honey

(Saffron can be consumed with hot milk as well but since this post is about WATER consumption we stick to water J also for lactose intolerant people like me, water is the best bet)

Benefits

• Appetite Suppression
• Strengthening the circulatory system preventing heart disease
• Have an uplifting mood effect.
• Intestinal antiseptic
• Good for skin
• A weight-loss tea

I have been drinking saffron tea at least twice a week and can definitely feel the effects…I’m a pretty happy person but the tea lifts my spirits even more. Although a bit expensive, an ounce of Saffron will last for 2-3 months!

Lime/Lemon

Everyone has tried this at least once in their lifetime. And everyone swears by the results achieved.  I wont delve into this topic much for the reasons stated above.

Different ways of Drinking

Lime /Lemon juice + hot water

Lime /Lemon juice + hot water+ honey

Benefits

• Stimulates the gastrointestinal tract.
• Aids in detoxification.
• A storehouse of vitamin C
• Antioxidants revive dull skin and keep it healthy.
• A weight-loss tea

Cinnamon

Sweet, soothing, spicy, and a little bit exotic. My favourite!

Different ways of Drinking

Hot water with Cinnamon powder or stick + Honey

Hot water with Cinnamon powder or stick

Benefits

• Lowers cholesterol - and protects heart health
• Filled with potent antioxidants
• A natural blood thinner
• Appetite Suppression
• Boost metabolism
• A weight-loss tea

Infused Waters

To fully fuse the flavors, combine your choice of fruits in a pitcher and let them sit for up to a day before drinking. If you're looking for a more flavorful way to get your H2O, try infused waters! Loaded with fruits, veggies and herbs, these supercharged waters will help you stay hydrated while relieving some of your biggest health complaints.

Different ways of Drinking

Different combinations of fruits

Different combinations of fruits + 1 Cinnamon stick

Different combinations of fruits + a spoonful of Apple cider vinegar

Different combinations of fruits+ an inch of ginger

Benefits

• Boosts your metabolism.
• Flushes toxins from your system
• Good for skin
• Great for weight loss

SO……Sip up, slim down!

I have been following this for almost a year now.. AND

I get asked these a lot:

1)   I don’t get time for all this.. I have kids and a family to take care of. How do I take time off to plan the schedule for this?
Honestly, I felt the same way. How do I find time amidst my busy schedule and work stress. And I can tell you, that my work or domestic life hasn’t suffered due to this. It’s simple. Do your regular chores. While in kitchen when you wait for your breakfast to get heated or while your coffee is boiling or even when you are sterilizing your baby’s bottles - just warm up a glass of water for yourself and mix your favorite ingredient and sip while you wait! Sip while you work on your desktop, sip while you watch TV, sip while you spend time with your kids! How hard can it get? I suggest easier combos listed below (hot water with turmeric/cinnamon/saffron during your busiest days.  Fruit infused waters don’t take time out of your schedule too. Before you hit the sack, just throw in some fruits/herbs of your choice in a mason jar to make your miracle water and refrigerate overnight. Sip on it next day whenever you like!

2)   How do we continue the habit and keep the momentum going?
No matter what, you will feel thirsty sometime of the day, right? Keep your bottle of warm water concoction beside you. If you do it for a week, I guarantee you, it will be a part of your daily schedule. Drink after a good workout, a walk, or for no reason at all!

3)   Do you do this only for Weight loss?
Yes. But NOT only for weight loss. Drinking water has a lot of benefits. Adding these ingredients just makes it even healthier. Not only do you hydrate your body, you also increase the intake of nutrients, antioxidants and lose weight.

4)    Does it really work?
YES IT DOES! You will see the difference in the second week. You will feel the increased energy, the supple skin and maybe even a pound lighter!  

NOTE:

ALWAYS use pure form of these ingredients to get best possible results.

May not be suitable for pregnant women. ( Consult your doctor )

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 28

1Beetroot - 34 calories

I usually use 2 or 3 beetroot while juicing!

Beetroot is simply amazing for the skin. It purifies the blood from within and cleanses toxins and excess water from the body, imparting a healthy glow to the face.Beetroot juice contains carbohydrates, protein, potassium, phosphorus, calcium and Vitamin B and C. All these nutrients enable blood circulation in the scalp which promotes healthy hair growth.

It's always good to drink this juice raw as cooking beetroot loses its nutritional value. This juice is on the sweeter side, so it is delicious and palatable. Sometimes I mix carrot juice to make it better! 

Beetroot juice is a powerful detoxifying agent, It helps in lowering blood pressure, clearing the blood, intestines and kidneys. 

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 26

Cucumber – 100gm -16 calories

Lettuce – 100gm - 15 calories

2 Green apples - 52 calories

 

Green apple contains a lot of Vitamin A,B as well C, it is very good for the nourishment of skin and also has a whitening effect on it. It purifies the blood as it contains a lot of minerals.

Lettuce is bulky, low in calories but high in nutrient value. Consumption of lettuce stimulates appetite and removes toxins from the body. Furthermore, it can also cure deficiency of hemoglobin and mineral salts resulting in clear and radiant skin.

Cucumber contains no saturated fats or cholesterol. Cucumber contains 95% water which hydrates and replenishes the body by eliminating the toxins. The high water content in cucumber acts as a system cleanser and sweeps the waste products out of the system.

There are so many benefits that these veggies encompass. This juice is easy to drink as it tastes very good too. Adding a lemon or ginger only enhances the flavor.

I love juices. Especially green ones!

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 25

Spinach – 100gm - 23 calories

Stink Beans – 100gm – 2 calories

Ginger - 1 inch - 2 calories

2 Lemons - 17 claories(each)

Why would anyone want to eat something often referred to as "stinky bean"? Well, the beans themselves are not particularly stinky at all. But once you eat them, you will begin to notice things. The effect on your breath will be more worrying.

Petai/ Stink beans are a powerhouse of healthy nutrients. Like other beans it is a useful source of protein. In comparison apples, petai has got protein Four times more, carbohydrates over double the amount, 3 times the phosphorus, 5 times the vitamin A and also iron, and two times as many vitamins along with other minerals.

Leafy greens are very light in calories. And that’s is why I love Spinach! Spinach is also important due to its chlorophyll content, and also supplies an abundance of nutrients such as oxalic acid, which is beneficial in the cleansing and healing of the intestinal tract.

All said and done, I wouldn’t recommend this combination for juicing… I hated it! I can tolerate anything that is least tasteful as long as it is healthy. But I guess I did finally find something I truly cannot tolerate. STINK BEANS! I sure won’t be trying it again.Even after adding lemon I could smell and taste the stink beans. The smell is just overpowering. 

Drinking juice on an empty stomach allows the vitamins and minerals in the juice to go straight to your bloodstream. Having fiber or a meal already in your stomach prevents your body from quickly absorbing the nutrients from the juice. Especially weird tasting veggies have more nutrients! And that is why I drank it without any qualms. But never again!

Yet, am satisfied. Because juicing is MY vitamin pill!

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 24

4 large 12" (30cm) stalks of celery - 40 calories.

Carrot - 100 gm - 42 calories

Celery is a good source of Folic Acid and Vitamin A with smaller amounts of Vitamin C and the B complex vitamins.Particularly high in Potassium and Sodium celery juice also contains calcium, carotene, magnesium, phosphorus and silicon.  Celery juice is
delicious on it's own, and it is easily combined with other fruits and vegetables to produce tasty and nutritious juice mixtures.

Carrot juice is a lovely fresh juice that is naturally sweet and so smooth it's almost creamy. Very high in Vitamin A - this comes in the safe form of beta-carotene which the body is able to convert to Vitamin A as required. Also contains Vitamin K and Vitamin C, plus smaller amounts of the B complex vitamins and Vitamin E.

I did break my fast today by having a few veggies and a fish. Due to health reasons and also due to no weight loss in the past week. Body gets so used to fasting that weight loss reaches a plateau. To break the cycle I had a meal today and continued juice fasting again. 

Hopefully this week I should see some weight loss.

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 23

Pomegranate – 100gm - 83 calories

Strawberries - 100gm - 33 calories

This juice so far, was the best tasting! The combination of pomegranate and strawberry is sweet tasting and sweet smelling. I suspect must be a little higher on the sugar side though. The rich beautiful colour and the flavour is just blissful.

According to my research on the internet, It seems to cleanse the circulatory system by helping to unclog the arteries, prevent blood clotting, increase oxygen flow to the heart and lower blood pressure. The benefits of pomegranate juice are many. Pomegranate juice is packed with antioxidants, which help rid the body of free radicals

Strawberries have immense benefits to your health when juiced. Strawberries are rich in many minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, all of which are easily absorbed by your body when juiced.

This combination of juice is incredibly beneficial to heart health, skin, immune system and weight loss.

 So bottoms up! Enjoy Juicing!

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 22

Brussel sprouts - 100gm - 58 calories

1 cucumber - 45 calories

Parsley - 100gm - 36 calories

1 lemon - 17 calories

Today I juiced Brussel Sprouts, 1 cucumber, lot of parsley and lemon together. I filled 3 bottles with the concentrate and filled it up with water to dilute. This way I make sure I drink enough water too. 

It was so refreshing! 

Cucumber is good for the skin while brussel sprouts contains more iron than spinach! Parsley is rich in many vital vitamins, including Vitamin C,  B 12, K and A. This means parsley keeps your immune system strong, tones your bones and heals the nervous system, too. It also adds flavour to the juice. Lemon assists in weight loss. Lemon makes the tasteless juice tangy. What a combo!

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 21

I am half way there!

Yesterday was the 20^th day of my juice fasting. I celebrated by buying myself a JUICER! I was using a blender for juicing all these days. A blender is useful but I have to separate pulp from the juice that gets a little tedious. A juicer separates pulp from the juice by default.

I used the juicer today and found that it was so easy. Yet again I used the pulp in water and sieved more juice from it. I feel the pulp still contains some amount of juice in it, which goes wasted if thrown straight away! And I for one would not waste the nutritious juice by throwing it away!

I juiced 2 beetroots first. Then I juiced an inch of ginger and 2 Zucchinis with a cup of Kale and Mint leaves. I realized that juicing green leaves doesnot extract much juice. Hence, I extract juice again by sieving the pulp.

You can see the juice extracted out in the image. I squeezed out more juice out of the pulp and filled half a bottle with the juice. I am satisfied with the results! A great investment indeed! It cost me only $69 and I know I won’t regret!

And so, I have decided that even when the fast ends I shall use the juicer everyday and juicing will be a routine no matter what. 

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 19

Today marks, officially, 19 days since I decided to go on a juice fast. I’d like to say it’s been a wild ride, but honestly? This was one of the easiest and most successful diets I’ve ever done. It’s a perfect way to cleanse, something to “reboot” my system.

I am 5'4 and weighed 130 pounds. I love food so much. It's an addiction. I might not be obese, but I am not slim either. I looked fat although the weighing scale didn’t think so. It was all water weight which made me look pudgier. As of today, I have lost 3.5 kgs(7.7 lbs). My clothes fit better, I’m wearing my black outfit, I haven’t worn in years. My weight loss is not that significant, as I don’t have much to lose. Yet, the overall appearance has certainly changed. My face is glowing, my eyes gleam and the double chin has just disappeared.

Day time at work, I drink at least 2 liters of Honey dew, Papaya, Soursop etc juices. After I come back home, I make 2 litres of mixed-green juice( only green veggies like lettuce, spinach, celery, mint leaves, watercress, parsley etc with 1 inch ginger and 2 spoonful of apple cider vinegar and sometimes lemon) and drink it all before I fall asleep.

Do I crave for food? Sometimes I do. But a glass of juice is so filling. Yet, the taste buds crave for something spicy or salty. At times like that, I lick off a spoon of tomato ketchup or chilli sauce. And oh boy! Do I feel better!

My friends are quite surprised that they have not seen my energy levels go down. I am still a hyperactive person not showing even a sign of fatigue. Where I get the energy from, I may never know. Sometimes, I feel it is about having the right attitude. As long as you stay positive, nothing can stop us from achieving the goal!

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 15

Call me a "food hippie." I am so into natural foods, Chinese herbs and a plant-passionate lifestyle! However, I didn't choose the healthy approach until a year ago. And I am so glad that I turned totally natural and herbal. Now I am a food weirdo and have bizarre taste buds. As long as it's healthy, I can tolerate it.

Today, I stocked up the kitchen with some new veggies along with the regular ones. The new ones to experiment with are:

Brussel Sprouts: They are jam packed with numerous vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals which are known to support a properly functioning body.

Water Cress: Watercress is extremely high in chlorophyll which helps to build healthy red blood cells. It is packed with minerals so is great for mineral deficiencies. Good for any detox program.

Baby Kale: Kale has nutrients that make people feel healthier, lose weight, and just kick more ass! But go easy with Kale. Twice a week is advisable.

Kelp buds: Juicing seaweeds results in a highly concentrated concoction of vitamins and minerals, that can also assist in weight loss.

I am so in love with green veggie juicing! I’ve been drinking it every day for the past 15 days and have noticed a visible improvement in my skin, mood, and energy levels.

Crisp, refreshing and oh-so-good-for-you, this super-green juicing might just be the best thing you can put in your body. Replace your coffee each morning with a green drink! Trust me, you wont regret!

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 14

ONION JUICE 

A proper and well balanced diet is an important part of staying healthy. Raw vegetable juices, fruits and fruit juices are extremely beneficial to health and should form a large part of a diet. I find adding strong raw flavors like onion to veggie juices takes a bit of getting used to. So it’s best to start off with just a little. You might think this type of juice would make your breath smell, but the savory-sweet juice has many medicinal effects.

Onion juice can help remove toxins from the body and stimulate blood circulation which is essential for strong and healthy hair roots. Onion juice is a natural Ayurvedic healer. Health benefits of onion include anti-inflammatory properties that helps to soothe aches and pains in the body. Onions are also anti-fungal and anti-bacterial; thus they can heal infections.

I intend to introduce garlic into my veggie juicing routine soon. Not only am I losing weight, I am also gaining nourishment and warding off all illnesses by making my diet complete. My friends think if I am starving myself I would eventually become weak or faint. But the truth of the matter is that I am consuming more veggies than I usually do. Maybe in liquid form, but  especially green veggies are more nutritional after juicing. Cooking veggies loses most of it's nutritional value. So I am basically not starving myself but providing my body more nutrition, minus the fat and carbohydrates! 

I have not felt weak in anyway so far. On the contrary, I only see a glow in my skin, loss of weight and more energy!

40 Days Juice Fasting - Day 13

I hardly have the time to update nowadays. So sometimes have to make do with a picture :)

Anyway, Its my 12th day now and I have learnt a few things! Practice makes a man perfect, they say. I know for sure that it's true. I have been juicing for the past 12 days and now I have a perfect juicing recipe to make this fasting effective!

The secret? Ingredients! I used to combine 4-5 veggies and blend my juice. Now I have found a way to make juicing healthier.

Recipe = 1 or 2 varieties of veggies + 2 tbsp onion juice + 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar+ lemon juice(for taste and vitamin C)

Onion juice is very healthy and keeps us away from diseases. ACV of course helps in weight loss and more!

So I get all the nutrients from 3 different ways in 1 glass of juice. How cool is that? Am glad I have been experimenting to make my life healthier and happier. 

And the experimenting continues...