It was late at night when I was about to go to bed with a cup of warm milk with honey in it, and a book tucked under my arm, when I got a call from my mother. After making the usual small talk, she asked me what I put in my milk and when I told her, she asked me to throw the milk away. Taken aback by this sudden reaction of my mother's, I asked her the reason. She explained to me that she had read in the newspaper that very day, that mixing it with hot beverages not only reduces health benefits of honey, but even makes it toxic!Not entirely convinced about the veracity of this claim, I decided to probe it further. There were several queries on the micro-blogging website Quora expressing similar concerns about the supposed 'toxicity' of honey when it's mixed with a hot beverage. The answers were enlightening but vague. However, pretty much all of these answers dismissed the concern about honey, as a myth and an overstatement.
Does Honey Become Toxic In Warm Milk?
Honey has long being hailed as a healing golden liquid, which has many medicinal properties. Raw honey is anti-bacterial in nature and has been proved to be so by multiple studies and experiments conducted on it. It's used in a number of home remedies for beauty treatments for healthy skin and hair, and even for treating small wounds. However, the ancient Indian practice of Ayurveda stressed on the fact that honey should never be cooked with or heated.
Some people are convinced that consuming heated honey can be fatal! That's because heating anything with sugars can release a chemical called 5-hydroxymethylfurfual or HMF, which is believed to be carcinogenic in nature. But this is true for everything that contains sugar, not just honey. So it's established that heating honey can certainly increase its toxicity. But is it toxic enough to actually harm your body?
honey with milk
Does honey turn toxic when mixed with warm milk?A study conducted by National Center for Biotechnology Information on the adverse impacts of heating honey as well as mixing it with ghee, advises against both. The study concludes, "..heated honey (>140°C) mixed with ghee produces HMF which may produce deleterious effects and act as a poison in due course." Note that the temperature increase allowed for honey is less than 140 degrees, which is far less than the optimum temperature at which your glass of milk is probably going to be. This is the reason behind the belief that heated honey can be toxic. (Also Read: Honey, Lemon and Water: Urban Myth or Miracle Potion?)
However, the table comparing amounts of HMF in the study showed only a meagre increase in the amount of HMF in heated honey- from 25 parts per million to 75 ppm. That's far less than the amounts of HMF found in a lot of other foods. Moreover, there is no substantial proof of HMF being carcinogenic for humans.
In Conclusion:
Mixing honey in hot milk may not be as toxic as Ayurveda would want you to believe. Heating honey to temperatures higher than 140 degrees might be less beneficial for your body as some nutrients tend to get denatured, but it's definitely nowhere close to being fatal. The best way to enjoy milk with honey is to make sure the milk is cooled down a bit, before shaking in that spoonful of the natural sweetener in it.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 85% of all CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are disorders of the heart and blood vessels and include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease and other conditions. Heart problems are on the rise, owing to the risk factors for developing heart disease like high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, stress, faulty eating habits, and following a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise. Most of these factors are controllable. Yes, we can choose to avoid problems related to lifestyles. Food is the most important aspect in all societies.
After undergoing heart surgery, your doctor will advise you to opt for a healthy, and a well-balanced diet. This is so because, adhering to healthy eating habits is crucial to your recovery, and to help you protect your heart against further problems. You need to eat well so that your incisions heal well. You should eat homemade food to avoid infections in first few months after surgery.
Most of the people should understand that our Indian homemade food habits are good enough except a few things that we must avoid. I do not advice our patients' drastic changes in their food habits after surgery as then they don't eat because they don't like the food as it becomes tasteless. You require to eat certain portions of food to recover from surgery to heal your incisions. Some food you must totally avoid but there are certain myths, which can be bothersome.
Dr. Bipeenchandra Bhamre helps us clear our misconceptions regarding the diet after heart surgery:
Myth: Eating certain 'super foods' will help you keep heart diseases at bay.
Fact: There is no super food. Yes, you have heard it right! Though, foods like blueberries, pomegranates, walnuts, and fish are good for your ticker. But, they will not prevent you from developing heart disease. Certain diets can, however, help you do so. According to tons of studies, the Mediterranean diet, which consists of whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, and monounsaturated fats like olive oil, once in a week fish and or Poultry chicken, has shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. One must avoid eating red meat as it contains loads of cholesterol.
Myth:Fats are not good for you.
Fact: Our body requires cholesterol in certain amount everyday as most of our hormones are made up from cholesterol. Our brain and some muscles require cholesterol as fuel. So, we need cholesterol or fat but the quality and quantity is important. Qualitatively, you must avoid fast food artificially made fats, some of the baked food, and processed food. Not only this, even high sugar foods like soft drinks etc. have also shown to be bad for heart. Saturated fats, which are derived from animal products like red meat and butter, also tend to raise one's LDL levels. Whereas, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats may lower your LDL levels when used in place of saturated fats. This simply means that eating unprocessed food or natural food will not rise your cholesterol levels. Our daily need for fats should be kept 10% of our energy need, which roughly comes about 30-35gms per day.
Myth: Salt is not dangerous as it is a natural product.
Fact: Excess salt is more dangerous than fats and sugar. It not only rises your blood pressure but also puts lots of load on your kidneys. You must be aware that salt is naturally found in most of the food items, which we opt for. We should not add salt. But, when speaking about processed foods, the amount of salt is often above naturally occurring levels. Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure due to the extra water stored in the body. High blood pressure can put a strain on your heart, arteries, kidneys, and brain. Moreover, it can also increase your risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease. Thus, you must monitor your salt consumption, and eat foods, which contain less amount of salt. Also, speak to your expert regarding the amount of salt you should eat per day, as going overboard is a strict no-no.
Take-away message: Eat well, sleep well and exercise well after open heart surgery. Avoid oily fried junk foods. Control the quantity of food. The quantity of food is also important as the quality of food. Do not fall prey to fad diets. Our Indian eating habits are reasonably satisfactory. Try to eat homemade food all the time while recovering from surgery. Restrict your fat and salt intake. Likewise, cut down on alcohol and quit smoking and follow healthy habits to keep your ticker in top shape, and stay hale and hearty!
Yoga is an age-old holistic practice, yet it has often meshed into newer forms. We'd like to throw the spotlight on an interesting form of yoga known as Vinyasa which involves the transition from one posture to another without resting or taking a break. The practice of breathing in and breathing out while getting into and out of a posture has great importance while practicing Vinyasa yoga. The term Vinyasa is derived from the words Vi and Nyasa which means, 'to place in a special manner'. This denotes that the practice of Vinyasa yoga involves the body to get into specific postures, to place each limb in a particular position, synchronized with your breathing and to be mindful of the entire physical kriya. The idea is to be aware of all different parts of the body, feel them while getting into a posture, derive the most from an existing pose and move on to the next one.Breathing Technique
Your breath is the connecting thread between two postures and this is why Vinyasa yoga is also known as 'flow yoga'. Ujjayi breathing is practiced while performing Vinyasa yoga - which means that you first fill your stomach up followed by the rib cage, chest and then the throat. This form of a breathing technique is practiced throughout while performing Vinyasa yog.
The Vinyasa Effect
Since Vinyasa yoga is a quite a dynamic form of yogic practice (and you can always play around with the intensity and speed of getting in and out of the postures), it is something that will generate heat in your body. Vinyasa yoga is excellent for body strengthening, flexibility, shedding weight, boosting metabolism and gaining muscles. It combines various classes of postures together - from standing poses to forward and backward bends, bodily twists et cetera. Therefore, it is like a complete body workout. You become more aware of your body and more mindful of its capabilities. Vinyasa yoga challenges your physical limitations and prepares the body for more strenuous experiences.
The Flow
An ideal sequence of postures in a Vinyasa practice can be a product of various poses tailor-made by your instructor. The thumb rule is that you begin and end on the same posture, always. For example, you can begin with the Four-limbed staff pose (Chaturanga Dandasana), move on to the Upward Facing Dog Pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana), then on to the Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) and finally back to the staff pose. Many instructors may take you through the Child's Pose to the Corpse Pose to actually exhibit various stages of life through yogic expression.
"Vinyasa means arranging something in a special way. It is a flow form of yoga that coordinates the movements with breath. Each step is a breathe in followed by a breathe out. Here the heart opener postures follow the forward bends," shared yog expert Manisha Kohli who also co-owns a The Yoga Chakra studio in Delhi.
Yoga is something that can easily be included in your daily routine. All it takes is a yoga mat and some dedication and persistence. Any form of physical activity is great for you to break the vicious cycle of a sedentary lifestyle. Get in touch with a certified yoga expert to learn more about Vinyasa yoga and how can you reap maximum benefits by practicing it.
Weight loss diets are a dime a dozen and it can be very confusing for someone wanting to shed those extra kilos, to process all that information and settle for a diet plan that actually works. Diet is crucial for weight loss and is known to be even more important than exercise, if you want to shed a few pounds fast. A number of so-called health influencers and celebrities will try to convince you that the diet they follow or the weight loss products they consume really work, but it's difficult to ascertain whether their claims are truthful or not. Certain diets can be quite distressing as they tend to be quite restrictive in nature. However, the dopamine diet for weight loss is one that promises not just slimmer body, but also a happier mind.
It may sound like an oxymoron, but the dopamine diet is based around the principle of consuming foods that boost the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. The diet is therefore, also known as the 'happy diet'. The diet is also called the Tom Kerridge Diet, after the Michelin-starred chef who claimed to have lost almost 70 Kgs in three years by following the diet! Most diets seem to be very hard to follow in the long term, as they restrict the consumption of healthy carbohydrates or eliminate entire food groups from your meals. But the dopamine diet seems to be different as it doesn't eliminate carbs, proteins or fats, but instead just bans the consumption of alcohol and starchy carbs. The dopamine diet includes working around recipes that include a lot of fresh produce including fruits, vegetables, as well as plenty of protein.
Dopamine Diet For Weight Loss
So what are the main foods that dopamine dieters should consume more of? Chef Kerridge believes that his 'dopamine heroes' are foods like dairy products including yogurt, good quality meat products like beef, chicken and turkey, and even chocolate! The diet seems to be based around the growing research evidence that suggests that certain foods are capable of triggering happy hormones in the body. Some studies have even suggested a link between body weight and the production of dopamine in the body. The studies have suggested that an exposure to excessively sugary and fatty foods may impair dopamine release pathways in overweight people. This may lead to depressive symptoms and low feelings, as well as habits of overeating in people with a high weight.
On the other hand, it has been found that eating protein-rich meals may curb your appetite, whilst also increasing the production of dopamine in your body. This is because proteins are made up of amino acids, which are important for release of dopamine. The dopamine diet may work, as it doesn't deprive you of any particular food, although it does encourage reducing the consumption of carbohydrates.
Does The Dopamine Diet Work?
Any diet that promotes the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables over starchy carbohydrates may work by making you eat healthy and cleaning up your meals. Most health experts will advise you to include more fresh produce and proteins in your diet and eliminate alcohol, and sugary and fatty foods. But there is limited evidence to suggest that the diet will surely leave you with feelings of happiness. The dopamine diet is based on the fact that the amino acid tyrosine converts to dopamine in the body, but there is not enough scientific evidence to suggest that eating more proteins will definitely result in more release of dopamine in the brain.
Daily exercise and a generally healthy diet including less sugar and less fat is said to be better for your overall health, whether a celebrity chef condones it or not!
Butter can make anything taste better. From sandwiches and pizzas to cakes, brownies and even chapatis and parathas, butter can liven up the taste of any food. A lot of people use this creamy dairy product as their favoured grease for cooking, grilling, basting or frying various foods. Butter is also used in making sauces and cake frosting, as well as pan-frying and roasting food and snacks. It seems to be all-pervasive in cooking and baking and is one of the most important and widely available milk products out there. Whether you like to spread it on breads and sandwiches, or like to use it instead of oil for cooking, butter is an essential ingredient that all functional kitchens have a stock of.
But there are plenty of reasons that one may want to move away from the use of butter in cooking and baking. A lot of people are allergic to dairy and dairy products and may not be able to use butter in cooking and baking. Too much butter in food is a cause for concern for a lot of people suffering from or are susceptible to cardiovascular diseases or high blood pressure. Butter is extremely high in saturated fat, which may clog up arteries and lead to plaque build-up when consumed daily and in excess. Moreover, a lot of commercially available butter brands contain too much salt and artificial flavour.
Here are three alternatives or healthier substitutes to butter that you may use while cooking and baking:
1. Ghee
Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is heated to 120 degrees C after the water is evaporated, turning the milk solids brown. This process enhances the rich flavour of ghee and is also said to increase the level of antioxidants in it. Ghee can be used exactly like butter for grilling and roasting, but may have more moisture than butter when used in baking, so you may need to alter the ratio of liquid to flour in cookies and cakes. However, even ghee is rich in saturated fats and must be used judiciously while cooking on a daily basis.
2. Coconut Oil
Recently hailed as a superfood, coconut oil has been used for cooking in Asian cuisines for centuries now. Coconut oil is said to have a number of health benefits, including suppression of appetite and an improvement in level of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol. Coconut oil is also said to improve immunity by killing harmful micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses, due to the presence of lauric acid in it. The only downside to coconut oil is the strong 'coconutty' flavour and taste that it comes with and that takes time to get used to. However, due to the high viscosity of coconut oil, it can used in a 1:1 ratio in the place of butter.
3. Olive Oil
For the longest time, olive oil has been considered as one of the healthiest cooking oils out there and it can be used to replace butter as grease as well. It contains high amounts of antioxidants, due to which it has anti-inflammatory properties. Olive oil is a rich source of healthy fats, which is also said to offer protective benefits for the heart. For every cup of butter that you may use in a recipe, you may replace it with three-fourth cup of olive oil. Since olive oil is liquid, your baking recipes may require some adjustments in order to accommodate olive oil in the place of butter. But wherever you need to use butter as grease to cook foods, olive oil may function exactly like butter.
If you need to replace butter as a spread for sandwiches and toasts, then there are plenty of options, including nut butters, avocado mash, Greek yogurt and even applesauce. Know of any more healthy alternatives or substitutes to butter that may be used in cooking and baking? Let us know in the comments section below!