Tips to reduce your sugar consumption

Sugar added to foods makes them taste sweeter, but a healthy diet can sour from too much usage of it.

The American Academy of Family Physicians suggests few tips on how you can limit added sugar:

• Cut back on candy, baked goodies, desserts and other sweet treats.
• Hold on to fresh and healthy foods, such as vegetables, fruit, whole grains and lean forms of protein.
• Drink water instead of sweetened drinks.
• Avoid foods that are processed.
• Go for lower-sugar recipes when baking.

Health tip for managing Dietary Fat

Some fats are an vital part of a balanced diet, but there are "good" fats and "bad" fats.

The American Academy of Family Physicians proposes few ways to manage your consumption of fat:

• Shun fast foods that contain unhealthy trans fats.
• Don't eat too much red meat. Instead, opt for leaner sources of protein such as fish, poultry and vegetables.
• Avoid too many potato chips in favor of soy or peanuts without salt.
• Top a salad with nuts, avocado or garbanzo beans.
• Opt for margarine that's liquid or in a soft tub container, in place of butter. Choose margarine that is low in saturated fat and doesn't contain trans fat.

Health Benefits of Cashew Nuts

Cashew is a bean shaped nut that grows on a tropical evergreen tree. Cashew nuts are loaded with “good” fats and are a rich source of phytochemicals and antioxidants. These chemicals protect us from cancer and heart disease. Here are some important health benefits of cashew nuts.

• Cashew is a good body builder
• It has no cholesterol.
• It helps maintain healthy gums and teeth.
• It is an energizing food.
• It contains healthy monounsaturated fat that promotes good cardiovascular health, because monounsaturated fats reduce high triglyceride levels which are associated with increased risk for heart disease.
• Cashew is rich in antioxidants that help in the elimination of free radicals that may cause some cancer.
• Magnesium works with calcium to support healthy muscles and bones in the body. It also helps promote normal sleep patterns in menopausal women.
• Cashew nuts have a high energy density and high amount of dietary fiber, both have been attributed to a beneficial effect on weight management, but only when eaten in moderation
• Cashew's high copper content is vital in energy production, greater flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.
• Cashew nut consumption helps the body utilize iron, develop bone, eliminate free radicals and connective tissue, and produce the skin and hair pigment melanin.

Health & Nutritional benefits of eating Mangoes

One of the most delicious and most fattening fruits, mango is truly called the ‘King of Fruits’. Mangoes are one of the best sources of betacarotene, quercetin and astragalin. These are powerful antioxidants that neutralise free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells and lead to heart disease, cancer, premature aging and degenerative diseases.

• Mangoes, being high in carbohydrates and calories, are good for those who are trying to gain weight.
• The phenolic compound present in mangoes has been found to have powerful antioxidant and anticancer properties.
• Being rich in iron, mango is said to be very good for pregnant women as well as for people suffering from anemia.
• Mango is supposed to be effective in relieving clogged pores of the skin.
• The vitamin A (beta-carotene), vitamin E and selenium present in mangoes provide protection against heart disease.
• Mangoes have been found to be quite useful in treating acidity and poor digestion.
• The anti-inflammatory properties of mango might help to alleviate asthma symptoms.
• Mango has been found to be beneficial for people suffering from the following ailments - Bacterial Infections, Constipation, Diarrhea, Dysentery, Eye Disorders, Hair Loss, Heat Stroke, Leucorrhea, Liver Disorders, Menstrual Disorders, Morning Sickness, Piles, Prickly Heat, Scurvy, Sinusitis, Spleen Enlargement, Vaginitis.