Health Benefits Of Cool Lassi: Summer Drink

Lassi is one of the most commonly available summer drinks in India. It is filling, tasty and very healthy as well. Lassi has lot of health benefits. The drink is prepared using yogurt or curd. Yogurt is sour fermented form of milk. It has healthy bacteria which helps in preventing or treating urinary infections. One of the main health benefits of yogurt is that it is very good for the stomach. 

Yogurt cools the stomach and helps disperse body heat. So, having lassi rich in yogurt brings it share of health benefits. Another important benefit of yogurt in lassi is that it helps in preventing sun stroke.

There are many ways to prepare the healthy and soothing Indian summer drink, lassi. Ideally, it is mixed with sugar and rosewater. However, you can also use seasonal fruits like mangoes and litchi to enjoy flavoured lassi. 

From preventing constipation to soothing body heat, lassi is one of the healthiest and best summer drinks you must have regularly. Here are some of the health benefits of having lassi. 

Health Benefits Of Having Lassi: 

Prevents Dehydration During summer, water is released from the body in the form of sweat. Having lassi benefits the health as it hydrates the body and balances water levels. 

Beats Body Heat It is one of the best summer Indian drinks as yogurt in lassi provides a cooling effect to the body. This also helps prevent sun stroke. 

Treats Urinary Infections Yogurt has healthy bacteria which treats as well as prevents urinary infections. 

Nutrition Yogurt is rich in potassium, calcium, protein and Vitamins B which like B-12. Thus, it is a nutritious summer drink which keeps you healthy. Regular 

Bowel Movements Yogurt had healthy probiotics which aids digestion and also fights constipation. This helps in having regular bowel movements. 

Aids Digestion Lactose in milk is converted by the healthy bacteria into lactic acid which digest lactose or dairy products. Having lassi every day improves digestion. 

Weight Gain Lassi is often rich in cream and ghee. Having traditional lassi is good for weight gain as it has healthy fats and calories. 

Provides Calcium As lassi is prepared with a dairy product, yogurt, it is rich in calcium. Having lassi ensures calcium absorption by the bones. 

Strengthens Immune System According to many studies, lassi strengthens the immune system. So, have a glass of chilled lassi to beat summer heat and boost the immune system. 

Controls Appetite If you are on a weight loss diet, you must have lassi 30 minutes before a meal. Lassi makes you feel fuller which in turn controls appetite and prevent weight gain.

Get Chubby Cheeks to Fill Up Your Face

 

I have noticed how people with chubby cheeks actually look younger and fresher compared to those who have sunken cheeks. Let's add tips here that can help women get fuller and chubbier cheeks naturally without having to undergo any cosmetic procedures.

Tip 1 - Work your Cheek Muscles

Take a deep breath through your mouth and hold the air in your mouth as if you were about to play the trumpet. Try holding on to this pose for 30-60 seconds and then blow out the air gently. This is the simplest way to work your cheek muscles and jawline.

Tip 2 - Pucker your lips exercise

Place your lips and teeth together. Without opening your lips, smile as broad as you can and count till 15 before you relax. 

Tip 3 - Glycerin and Rose Water Mixture

Both glycerin and rose water can be mixed together in equal parts and applied to cheeks every night before sleeping. This mixture nourishes your skin and gives your cheeks a fresh lift, making them appear fuller.

Tip 4 - Use sesame oil or honey to gargle

Gargling with sesame oil or honey can work for you and make your cheeks chubby. Just gargle twice a day, once in the morning and once at night and note results after 30 days.

Tip 5 - Apply Apple Paste to your Cheeks

Apples are great when directly eaten as they include vitamins and nutrients beneficial for your skin. You can mash apple slices into a paste and then apply it to your cheeks. Leave it for about 15 to 20 minutes and then wash it off. Apples have elastin and collagen, both of which are essential for taut and fresh skin.

Tip 6 - Dry fruits

you need to head over to your supermarket and invest in some dry fruits as they contain essential oils and fatty acids that work extremely effective when you want bigger cheeks. I’m talking almonds, pistachios  

Tip 7 - Try Facial Yoga

Facial yoga is basically exercising your facial muscles. It is believed that this exercise produces collagen and elastin, both of which make your skin firm and your face is consequently fuller. This technique is especially useful if you have sunken cheeks.

Tip 8 - Consider Cheek Implants

Implants are available in different sizes and shapes which depend on your facial structure and will be determined by your examiner. These implants are typically placed intra-orally after the administration of anesthesia and you can fully recover after around 2 weeks.

Tip 9 - Eat Bigger Portions Less Frequently

Instead of eating 5 times a day, focus on eating more but only 3 times a day. This will slow down your metabolism and your body, including your cheeks, will fill up

Tip 10 - One Tablespoon Olive Oil Everyday

I used to drink one table spoon of olive oil everyday to get bigger cheeks. It is healthy and is great for building skin fat. Just drink one spoon everyday and results will be visible in about 15 days, after that you can continue till you want.

Tip 11 - Drink two glasses of milk everyday for 3 months

I tried this and it worked for me. Just drink two glasses of milk (full cream), once in the morning and once at night. Do this for 3 months and your face will fill up nicely.

Tip 12 - Sleep soon after Dinner

If you have dinner at 8pm for instance, you should be in bed by 8:45pm and sleep early. Sleeping right after dinner promotes fat buildup in the body and ideally you should sleep around 9 - 10 hours. If you keep this up you will see results in 2 weeks.

Tip 13 - Take Supplements for Concentrated Calories

Supplements are usually dense with calories and are great for quick weight gain without eating much. Moreover, even if your regular eating habits are not helping your weight, supplements will cover any deficit and you will start to fill up all over.

Tip 14 - Eat carb-rich foods like rice, pasta, bread

Carbohydrates are essential for meeting your body's energy requirements. If your diet lacks carbs your body starts burning up the fats under your skin, which can prevent your cheeks from getting full. In order to keep your cheeks lush you should focus on eating foods which are rich in carbs, like pasta, lasagna, rice, bread etc.

Tip 15 - Quit Smoking and Drinking

Smoking and drinking both harm your skin a lot. If you notice the skin of people who regularly smoke, it has low elasticity, which means it starts to sag and sink. Quit these habits and start using sunscreen to protect your skin against damage from sunlight.

Tip 16 - Gain weight by healthy high calorie foods

You should try gaining some weight but don't resort to junk food for it. Try smoothies and carbs like pasta and bread. You can also use flax or olive oil for healthy weight gain. Soon you will start seeing a fuller face.

Tip 17 - Butter-sugar paste method

This one should be done before you shower or take a bath.... Apply butter sugar paste on your cheeks every single day without a miss! How do you make the butter sugar paste? Simply add some butter and a little bit of sugar in a mixing bowl – stir till it becomes smooth, if you’re a girl or a guy you must pin up your hair... no hair should be touching your face. Once you’ve made the mixture you need to put your fingertips inside the bowl and apply on your cheeks – DO NOT TOUCH YOUR EYE AREA OR YOUR EARS! Leave this for around 15 minutes before washing it off. 

Tip 18 - Drink Lemon juice mixture

Take a bowl and place three properly peeled slices of apple and three slices of carrot in it. Top the fruit wedges with half cup of freshly extracted lemon juice and drink it early in the morning to get chubbier cheeks. Gulp this mixture on daily basis.

Tip 19 - Use Honey Papaya Paste

A paste made using honey and papaya can actually help you develop a fat layer on your cheeks and make them look fuller. Just take a few slices of papaya, mash them and add a spoon of honey. Now mix both until a paste is formed. Rub this paste on your cheeks properly and let it stay for about 15 minutes before washing. Do this everyday to get chubby cheeks.

Tip 20 - Aloe vera works like magic!

his is magical stuff right here you can either choose to rub this into your cheeks as a form of gel or you can drink the Aloe Vera juice either one works but seen as I was personally already doing a lot of rubbing I decided to drink mine (both work).

6 Hidden Facts Why You are Gaining Weight

 
Starving your body
If you think that by eating sparingly for fifteen days, you will get in shape, then it is utter rubbish! Bodies that go into the sudden starvation mode end up saving more calories than burning them. Your body is like a system, which needs fuel to conduct its basic metabolic activities, including burning the fat. Hence, when you move towards a crash diet, your body starts saving up the existing energy instead of dispersing it.


Watch what you eat!
Binging on food labelled as ‘low-fat’ can also make you gain weight. Such products often have high levels of sugar, which add to the calorie count and therefore, leading you on to gain weight on a sly. Hence, instead of going for such items, resort to fresh home-cooked foods to aid your weight loss.



Sedentary lifestyle
Are you are eating right, but still failing to lose those kilos? It is about time you pay a close attention to your lifestyle. Having a sedentary and lazy life or being a couch potato can be a major reason behind those excess tiers around your tummy. Switch to an exercise regime that is well-suited for your body or cultivate an interest in few sport activities. Try yoga, swimming, jogging or dancing to lose weight. Even a simple brisk walk for 30 minutes every day can help you in a big way.


 
Check your meds
Certain prescription medicines have side-effects that can lead to sudden weight gain as well. You need to check with your doctor, to confirm your fears. If possible, get him to prescribe other medicinal substitutes that do not have such drastic side-effects on your body and its metabolism.



Sleeping patterns
Does sleep elude your eyelids, during the night? You may not realise this but this too can be a reason behind your love handles! Your body functions perfectly only when it is well-rested. Irregular sleep patterns disturb your body’s metabolism and, thus, result in weight gain.

 

Quit drinking
Did you think that ‘beer belly’ was a joke? Unfortunately, it is not. Liver is your body’s chief blood detoxifier and fat metaboliser; due to alcohol it becomes unable to perform these functions efficiently. Alcohol spoils your liver, thus, leading to weight gain.

It is always good to get a better understanding of your body’s metabolism. So, next time when you feel that you have tried everything and are still unable to lose weight, then try shedding some light on these factors, as well.

Top 10 Healthy Foods to Gain Weight Fast

Healthy food has always been the secret of attaining a healthy body. While many strive to lose their weight, many are craving to gain a few pounds as well. You might think it is easy to gain weight; just swallow all sorts of oily, fried and fatty foods. But, that is definitely not a healthy way. To gain weight while staying healthy is a challenge, which is not difficult to overcome. Just stick to foods that are rich in calories and have right nutrients. High-protein foods help to increase your body muscles and gain weight effectively. So, here are a few such foods that are rich in right nutrients and calories.
 

Dried fruits and nuts
Dried fruits and nuts are rich source of calories, nutrients and fibre. So, add some raisins, almonds, walnuts and cashews in your diet. One cup of raisins has about 449 calories, while a cup of almonds has around 529 calories. You can enjoy them as a topping on ice creams and yoghurts, or can toss them in salads and cereals.



Cheese
Like all dairy products even cheese contains all essential nutrients. It is rich in fat that is healthy if you want to gain weight quickly. Along with calories, it is rich in protein, calcium, and cholesterol. So, sprinkle some cheese on your dishes to make them even more mouth-watering. A single serving of cheddar cheese contains around 69 calories.


 

Peanut butter Peanut butter is a rich source of protein and fat and can be a wonderful choice for people trying to gain weight. A tablespoon of peanut butter contains approximately 100 calories. It has numerous essential nutrients. The fat in peanut butter is more of unsaturated type, which is healthy for your heart. You can enjoy peanut butter on wholegrain breads or as dips for appl

 

Whole milk
Whole 'fat' milk can be used with oatmeal, cereals or can be enjoyed as just a glass of milk with an extra boost of chocolate. It is rich in calories and also contains vitamin D and A. Instead of skimmed milk opt for whole milk with all the fat in it and you can gain weight fast. A glass of whole milk has about 120-150 calories.

 

Potato
Potato is a common vegetable that people usually avoid when they want to lose weight, but what is keeping you away from it? It is a rich source of complex carbohydrates and helps in gaining weight. It has great nutritional value, rich in starch, fibre and vitamin C. Have potatoes with its skin as it is rich in protein along with its skin or add it to your different veggies. A medium potato has around 150 calories.

 

Pasta
Pasta is a delicious and calorie dense food. It is a rich source of carbohydrates as well. Add to it a lot of veggies and it becomes rich in essential nutrients. A cup of macaroni contains around 390 calories, whereas a cup of cooked spaghetti has approximately 220 calories in it.

 
 

Butter
Butter is a source of saturated fats and a small amount of it can be used for cooking. It can be enjoyed on bread or to fry snacks and added to rich delicious dishes for tasting. Butter or ghee has a concentrated flavour and good calories to make you gain weight fast. 

 

Healthy sugary fruits
Fruits like mango, papaya, bananas and pineapples can help you gain weight. These contain natural sugars and are a great source of energy. Avocados are the best option for those trying to gain weight. It is rich in fat and calories. An avocado contains around 300 calories. So, add these sweet and healthy fruits in your diet as fruit salads, desserts and smoothies.


 

Eggs
Eggs are rich in calories and also contain nutrients and protein. One egg on an average contains around 70 calories and 5 grams of fat. That is why, it is a favourite with body builders. They are also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and the egg yolk contains high amount of cholesterol that is not unhealthy. So, enjoy scrambled egg, boiled eggs or sunny side up to gain weight fast.


 

Lean red meat
Lean meat is rich in calories and increases weight fast. This can be taken with a healthy diet for a healthy body. They are also a rich source of proteins that are good for building muscles. Relish it roasted or cooked and gain weight fast.

By adding these foods to your regular diet you can gain weight in an efficient and healthy way.

8 Easy Ways to Gain Weight Quickly

If overweight is undesirable, so is underweight. A considerable percentage of population is underweight or skinny due to illness, bad eating habits, hormonal imbalance or inadequate food intake. A thin and lanky body is not only unappealing, but also quite unhealthy. There are certain easy tips that can help boost up the weight gaining process.
Calorie Watch

A body mass ratio, determined by the weight, height, gender and age, gives a clear idea as to how much weight you actually need to gain. The first step towards weight gain is to increase your daily calorie count. According to College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, NCSU, one should increase the food intake with an addition of 500 calories a day, which gives around 0.5 kg increase in a week. The total calorie consumed needs to be higher than the calorie spent.
Proper Nutritional Diet

Your main aim should be to increase your body weight in a healthy way. A heavy intake of fatty and junk foods will lead to health complications later as they are very low in nutrition content and add no value to your diet. Moreover, junk food intake will affect your energy levels too.

So, opt for a balanced diet, which includes four parts of carbohydrate, four parts of protein and two parts of fat in your daily diet. This combination helps to stimulate the weight gain process faster.

Frequent Meals
Apart from the standard breakfast, lunch and dinner, include small meals or snacks in between. It helps you stock more calories and gives positive results.
Calorie-dense Food

Since you need to boost up your calorie intake, opt for foods that are rich in calories. Slight variations in your food habits can create huge difference. A broth-based soup has more calories than a clear soup, nuts are denser in calories than popcorn, and raisins are a wiser option than grapes owing to their rich nutrient content.

Must-Try: Some of the foods that can boost your calorie intake are bananas, pineapple, jam, peanut butter, potato, frozen yogurt, oatmeal raisin cookies, cheese, ice cream, etc.



Fat Consumption
Fat is highly responsible for weight gain. However, you must understand the difference of between harmful fats like trans-fat and healthy fats like monounsaturated fats.While the former poses risk to your heart, the latter is good for body. Fat present in fish, olive oil and almonds are healthy for your body.

Milk and Smoothies
Drinks like milk and smoothies are high in calories and can be replaced in place of water. This way, your calorie count rises and your weight is bound to increase. Do avoid soda based drinks as the sugar content is high with very little nutrition content.



Strength Training
A regular physical exercise not only helps to achieve a toned body but also gives adequate flexibility to your skinny frame. According to McKinley Health Center, strength training helps gain weight faster. Heavy weight lifts and stressful training helps to add lean muscle tissue to your frame.The muscular exercises also enhance the hormonal secretions and boost the body metabolism.

Smart Eating!
When you are underweight, you tend to feel fuller faster. Mayo Clinic nutritionist suggests adding calorie-dense snacks in between meals to help gain weight faster. Also avoid drinking water immediately before your meals and also during food intake. This hampers the digestive process and you end up eating less.

Weight gain does not happen in a week, especially, if you have a naturally thin body. However, by following a regular exercise and diet regime, your muscle mass develops and you put on weight.

So, be consistent in your efforts. Give it a month or two. You are sure to experience some healthy bulk in the right places. Most importantly, appreciate your body to feel your best always!

Top Exercises to Increase Height

 

We all want to grow taller and sometimes just need the correct guidance in order to do so. The basic question in this case that is asked by almost everyone is how you get tall. One more question that is asked by teenagers, especially boys is that what are the exercises to grow taller? Hence if you are really worried about your height and want to increase your height, try doing any of the following exercise to increase height.

#1 : Stretching is really good for health

If you have not done stretching before, here’s how you do it. First of all, you need to stand vertically on your feet. Once done, you will have to lift your body with both your arms facing up. Try and remain in this position as well as try and stretch your body as much as possible. You should remain in this position from 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat this process couple of times and you are done. You can also try out different variations of Stretching like the vertical stretching, the bow down, the bridge and the super stretch.

#2 : Hanging exercises if done in proper way are good for health

Hanging exercises are the exercises that can be considered as universal in nature. This means they can be done by people of all ages. If done correctly this is really helpful to keep you fit as well as help you grow up in height. All you need to do for this is hang on a horizontal bar with your arms and your spine stretched out. You can stay in this position for 10 seconds and can repeat this exercise 5 to 6 times without exerting yourself.

#3 : Swimming makes it easy for you to grow

We all are familiar with swimming. The process is very simple. All you need to do is remain floating on water. However, it is only simple when you know how to swim. So, the first step for you if you do not know how to swim is to learn the procedure from a trainer. Even if you swim for 5 hours a week, you will find that you are feeling more fresh and rejuvenated. Hence, if you are looking for a full body exercise, try out the breast stroke, which provides exercise for each and every part of your body.

#4 : Inversion tables can be a bit risky

Using inversion table without proper expertise and supervision can be considered as a risky affair. But if you know the procedure of the same, it will look very simple. All you need to do is hang upside down from the “inversion table”. This particular exercise is helpful for stretching all the parts of your body, especially your knees, your vertebrae and your thighs.

#5 : Leg kick is a less known exercise but works better

The name of the exercise suggests what you need to do. You need to stand on the floor and then kick your lower legs vigorously without moving your thighs. This helps the cartilage present in your knees to grow in mass and eventually helps in your growth. This is the exercise that is performed regularly by the martial arts fighter.

#6 : Basketball is a great way to grow up

Have you ever heard that basketball helps you grow up? If the answer is no, then it is true in both senses. When you play basketball you can grow in height as well as grow up mentally. Hence it is a great way to grow up as an adult.

#7 : Cobra pose is a new way of stretching

One of the exercises that help you grow up is the cobra pose. In this, you need to lie down on your stomach and keep your upper body still. After that lift your upper body and try and stretch as much you want. This pose resembles the snake cobra and hence is named after it.

#8 : Ankle weights can serve as a good way

One more way to grow up is perhaps using ankle weights. This is done by tying small weights to your ankles and it helps in the growth of your knee cartilages which in turn help in the growth.

Conclusion

Thus, if you try out the above exercises, you are bound to find an improvement in terms of growth. In addition to this, you must follow a proper balanced diet. So, start your workout routine today and grow up. All the best!

Now It’s Your Turn

Choose two or three exercises above you are interested in and make it a habit to take them and leave a comment to let me know what are your choices. After you are taller, remember to share your experience here.

Home Remedy for Gaining Weight

 

The problem of being underweight has become a common phenomenon. It is a condition, when a person does not have an ideal weight, according to his/her height and sex. A person, who weighs almost 10 to 20 percent below the average, is termed underweight. Some of the causes for underweight problems are rise in the stress level, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, exposure to pollutants, lack of exercise, etc. Bad eating habits also add to the causes for the occurrence of the problem. Being underweight can also arise due to hereditary reasons. Apart from being skinny, a person starts facing a number of health problems. However, gaining weight is not as major problem and can be treated by indulging in the right kind of eating habit. In the following lines, we provide some of the ways to gain weight.

 

Home Remedy For Gaining Weight

• The most effective and simple remedy to gain weight is to consume banana milk shake. It is a fast way to gain weight. 
• Another effective way would be to have banana thrice a day. This should be followed with curd or milk.
• Muskmelon is beneficial in treating underweight problem. Have muskmelon three times a day as it helps in gaining weight.
• Another effective way to cure underweight problem would be to have fruit diet with milk. While fruits nourish the body with sugar, milk provides the proteins.
• An effective way to gain weight would be consume a glass of hot milk with a tablespoon of honey.
• Take a cup of milk and put some almonds, date palm and anjeer in it. Boil this milk and have it when warm. This is helpful in treating underweight problem.
• Mangoes are useful in gaining weight. Have a mango followed by a glass of milk. The other way would be to have a glass of mango milk shake every day for a month.
• Raisins are beneficial in solving underweight problems. Have 30 grams of raisins every day for about a month. This would surely cure underweight problems.
• Take 3-4 dry figs and immerse them in water. Keep them overnight. Have this twice a day to get cured of underweight problem.
• Combine equal amounts of pomegranate seed powder, white muesli powder and Indian ginseng root powder. Intake this mixture, twice a day for about a month, along with a glass of water or milk. Not only does it helps gain weight, but also tones up the body.
• Intake 100 to 150 grams of bran with fruits. The best deal would be to take it with papaya. It works as an excellent appetizer improving digestion and reducing constipation.
• Increase in the intake of fatty foods such as flour, rice honey, raisins, figs, dates, butter, germinated wheat, etc.