Milk is the best and most widely consumed source of calcium out there, but sadly it also lists in the category of the top food allergens out there. Calcium is an important mineral that is required throughout the life. Here are some top choices to supplement your calcium intake, dairy free!

1) Soy milk
Soy Milk is a great replacement for milk. It contains fairly similar nutrients in comparison to regular milk, one of which is calcium. A 100-ml serving of soy milk contains around 120 mg Calcium which is comparable to same amount of skimmed milk.

2) Ragi
When compared to other grains, Ragi is the best one out there as a non-dairy calcium source. It is loaded with calcium, in fact it has 30 times as much calcium as in rice, and more than 10 times the fiber. It is also rich in other micronutrients. Ragi features a lot in the South Indian cuisine in the forms of Ragi Malt, Dosa and even Ragi rotis, It is a versatile grain and can be included in the diet in more than one ways.

3) Black eyed peas
Popularly known as Lobhia, or Raungi or Chawli, this bean is a good source of calcium. It can be made into a soup, boiled and used in salads or in a more traditional Indian way, made into a spicy stew which is eaten with rice. Despite the method of preparation, this is a tasty bean which will help you fulfill your recommended intake of calcium.

4) Black eyed peas
Popularly known as Lobhia, or Raungi or Chawli, this bean is a good source of calcium. It can be made into a soup, boiled and used in salads or in a more traditional Indian way, made into a spicy stew which is eaten with rice. Despite the method of preparation, this is a tasty bean which will help you fulfill your recommended intake of calcium.

5) Good old orange juice
The breakfast staple of many of us is not only a fix for Vitamin C, it also is a good source of calcium.

If you’re trying to lose weight cutting down on high-calorie foods seems like a good idea, but you’ll be surprised to know that some high calorie foods are actually good for weight loss journey.

1) Don’t say bye to all high calorie foods
If you're trying to lose to weight, the first thing you decide to cut off from your diet is high calorie foods. And why not? You're better off without things that could jeopardize your weight loss plan. But, it is imperative to under that calories are an important part of weight loss journey and should not be ignored. Your body requires foods that are high in calories to replenish, refuel and recover. Here are some high calorie foods that can aid weight loss.

2) Ghee
Contrary to many theories, ghee contains good fat and nutritious calories. Just a tablespoon of ghee on regular basis is not only healthy for you but its calories will help you in losing weight.

3) Banana
Banana is another food that is being dissed for its high calories. Banana is great for weight loss. You can eat it before workout and post workout. So, if you’re trying to weight loss make sure bananas are an essential part of your diet.

4) Full fat milk
You may have been told to go for skimmed, low fat, fat-free, organic options instead of full fat milk as these variants are considered healthier. However, full fat milk is the best option for those who are trying to shed pounds.Intake this high-calorie milk does not only provides you with protein but it also gives you good fat that help cut the bad ones.

5) Egg yolks
Have you ever noticed that some diet plans include egg white omelettes and scrambled eggs but not egg yolks? But egg yolks are packed with nutrients like vitamin A, K2 and B vitamins that increase your metabolic function. If your metabolism increases, you will burn more calories.

Bay leaves are commonly found in biryani, pulao, soups, curries and most Indian dishes. Also known as tej patta, this culinary herb makes for an integral part of the Indian cuisine, thanks to its distinctive flavor and fragrance. Apart from this, it is also known for its age-old medicinal properties.

The presence of vitamin A and C along with folic acid and various minerals in bay leaf makes it a nutrient-dense herb.
1. Helps In Improving Digestion
Bay leaf is said to have strong effects on the gastrointestinal system. It helps decrease the toxicity of the body and further helps the body in functioning well.

2. Heart-Friendly
Organic compounds including caffeic acid and rutin that are found in bay leaves enhance our heart health. They both strengthen capillary walls in the heart and further eliminate LDL or bad cholesterol from the cardiovascular system.

3. A Herb Perfect For Diabetics
According to the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 1-3 grams of bay leaf per day for 30 days experienced a drop in blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides.

4. Acts As A Stress-Buster
The presence of linalool can lower the level of stress hormones in the body. These leaves help you calm down and combat symptoms of depression.

5. Protects Your Body From Inflammation
One of the important benefits of bay leaves is that it has anti-inflammatory properties; thanks to the presence of a unique phyto-nutrient called parthenolide that can reduce inflammation significantly, further reducing the chances of developing conditions like arthritis.

6. Natural Wound Healer
According to BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, bay leaves have antimicrobial properties that help the wound heal completely.
Make bay leaves a part of your daily diet; add 2-3 dried leaves in your delicacies and experience health at its best

Health experts have always advised eating nutritious foods, considering they promote health and help in the proper functioning of your body. While healthy foods are deemed important, what is the limit of eating them? Did you know eating excess of it can be equally dangerous as junk food? Someone has rightly said- everything of excess is bad, which clearly means overeating healthy foods may also harm your system in more ways than one. For people who are looking to lose weight, this piece of information may be helpful for you.

Here are foods that you should definitely not overeat-

1. Nuts
Nuts have recently gained the reputation of super foods.
However, due to their high protein and fat content, over-indulging in them may not be a good idea. Moreover, avoid packaged nuts as they are loaded with sodium content that can be harmful for your health.

2. Fruits
Fruits are delicious and super-healthy; thanks to the presence of several vitamins, minerals, fiber etc that reduce the risk of various health hazards, only if eaten in moderation.
Eating large amounts of these goodies, especially those with high glycemic index like banana, dates, pineapples, mangoes and grapes, may raise blood sugar levels, provoke insulin and increase the chances of developing type-2 diabetes.

3. Protein Rich Foods
Proteins are deemed as the building blocks of tissues, cells and hormones, without which the body cannot function. Too much protein can put excessive strain on the digestive system, especially the kidneys that are responsible for eliminating the nitrogen waste products from the blood.

4. Water
You heard us! Proper hydration is necessary for optimal health; however, drinking too much water can dilute the sodium levels in the body and further affect the functioning of the cells. Low sodium levels can trigger water to rush in the cells causing the brain to swell.

If a T-shirt says that it will make you lose weight, you will buy it. It’s not your fault, the weight loss industry is so big that it can make a fool out of even the sanest people. One of the biggest issues today is to look good and anyone who gives us advice on how to lose weight, we listen to them. The problem? We gain weight and lose our health in that process. One such trend to decipher is of digestive biscuits.

Digestive biscuits ideally came into existence due to doctors who wanted to make biscuits for their constipated and bad digestion patients. Now, in the 21st century, digestive biscuits are ‘healthy snacks’ one can consume with a cup of tea. The issue? We are also eating a bunch of hidden sugars, fats, sodium and refined flour!

Contrary to popular belief, digestive biscuits are not as healthy as they propose to be. Here are reasons which make digestive biscuits a big NO:

HIDDEN INGREDIENTS: As mentioned before, digestive biscuits contain refined flours, sugar, fats, and sodium. These are combined to form a product you can gulp down with your tea. If a packet promises that it is rich in fiber, proteins and vitamins and minerals, read the label once again. Find out what the Greek names in the ingredient lists actually mean. There are taste enhancers involved to get you addicted to these biscuits.

HIGHLY PROCESSED: Digestive biscuits being sold in hundreds of quantities are bound to be processed. There is no way of making a biscuit in such a large quantity without having them processed. Chances are that they are processed and filled with ingredients to make them sustain for days.

UNHEALTHY CALORIES: A digestive biscuit typically consists of a minimum of 50 calories. These are not healthy calories which will accelerate your weight loss.Rather these are calories which will hamper your weight loss and you wouldn’t even know why! Unhealthy calories from sugars, flours, and sodium are not needed in your body and only deteriorate your health.