5 scents that can calm you down

While yoga, relaxing music and calming foods may relieve stress, certain scents can also help you unwind and soothe your nerves. Here's looking at these relaxing smells.

Lavender: 

A popular ingredient in most spa massages, the aroma of lavender is known to help one relax and also sleep better. Opt for a bedtime lotion or spray with this scent for a beauty sleep.

Mint: 

Besides including mint in your diet, applying a mint-based fragrance can have a soothing and purifying effect on your mind.

Citrus fruits: 

Citrus fruits are not only good for your skin and health, but also great mood lifters. Inhaling lemon zest can help soothe stress, grapefruit smell is known to curb depression and enhance memory, and smelling oranges including the rind can make you feel more energetic. Soak up in a bath with an orange-scented candle by your side.

Roses: 

According to a recent study, the sweet fragrance of rose is popular because the flower is associated with happiness, love, and joy — all emotions that help relieve stress. Use a rose-scented soap or body oil in your shower.

Green apple: 

Is the summer heat giving you a headache? Sniff a green apple. According to research, smelling a green apple can actually help alleviate headaches.

Why dark chocolate is good ‘heart’ food

It's everyone's favourite guilty pleasure. A rich bar of chocolate — with nuts, or caramel, fruit or simply had on its own — is a comfort food and can score all the brownie points with someone special when it comes to gifting him/her.

But if chocolate is your lure, the next time you decide to have some, go dark. Scientists and researchers are increasingly looking at the health benefits of the dark variety of chocolate, espceially with regard to heart health. Here's why you can enjoy a guilt-free binge...

Health benefits:

There are several benefits to dark chocolate. Says dietician Priya Karkera, "It's a storehouse of iron, copper, magnesium as well as manganese and has been proven to help in lowering blood pressure." (She also presents some benefits, see below). While folks have been talking of its advantages for a while now, you might wonder how dark should dark chocolate be? A normal dark bar has 70% cacao, but experts are also extolling virtues of a bar with 100% cacao chocolate that offers a burst of antioxidants. It also has lower quantities of unhealthy ingredients, like fat and sugar.

Converts the 'bad' to 'good': 

Dark chocolate (with over 75 gms of cocoa) is loaded with antioxidants preventing the bad cholesterol to form plaques or blockages in the arteries of the heart. It contains 2/3 of MUFA — mono unsaturated fatty acids — which are the good fats essential for our body.

Can harden tooth enamel: 

Sure, chocolates are enemies to the dentists. However, the theobromine content in dark chocolates actually aids in hardening of the tooth enamel. And it is the sugar content in the other variety that causes all the harmful effects.

Can make you live longer: 

That's apparently true! Researchers at Harvard University studied 8,000 men for 65 years and they found that those who ate reasonable amounts of chocolate thrice a month, lived almost a year longer than those who didn't eat any. They came to the conclusion that it this could be due to the fact that cocoa has antioxidants called polyphenols, which can prevent the oxidation of bad or harmful cholesterol. Having a dark variety is even better.

Helps with stroke: 

As per a study, dark chocolate is said to lessen brain damage risk, following a stroke. Scientists found that a compound called epicatechin, found in dark chocolate, can protects the brain against strokes by shielding nerve cells.

Avoids macular degeneration: 

Dark chocolate could also help stave off age-related macular degeneration, regarded as the common cause of blindness in older people as well as those suffering from dementia.

Reduces clot risk: 

Dark chocolate is also said to act like aspirin where it thins the blood and lessens the time it takes for the blood to clot. Apparently, it is the chemical in cocoa beans responsible for this.

Is a stress buster: 

Did you know that munching on a small 20g bar of dark chocolate can help with anger management and hold off the stress? Dark chocolates are rich in Phenylethylamine (PEA) the chemical which stimulates the brain cells to release endorphins, sets in a feeling of happiness and helps to curb depression.

Lesser caffeine: 

Though it is said to contain caffeine, the percentage of this is 10 times lesser than the amount found in coffee.

5 healthy reasons to eat mangoes

Health benefits of mangoes

Aids digestion: 

Mangoes contain several enzymes that help in breaking down protein. This is the reason people eat mangoes after a hearty meal. The fibrous content of the fruit along with vitamins, minerals and probiotic dietary fibre help digest food easily.

Helps in diabetes: 

The fruit also contains a surprisingly low glycemic index (41-60), thus eating it in moderate quantities will not suddenly elevate your sugar levels.

Lowers cholesterol: 

The fiber, Vitamin C and pectin in mangoes helps lower serum cholesterol levels, especially the harmful Low-Density Lipoprotein commonly known as bad cholesterol.

Good for eyes: 

The high content of vitamin A found in Mangoes is great for eyes since the vitamin can help prevent night blindness and dry eyes. A cupful of the fruit supplies 25 percent of the daily need of vitamin A.

Aphrodisiac: 

Besides having high vitamin E which is a mild form of aphrodisiac, mangoes also have compounds that act like the hormone estrogen and thus has an aphrodisiac effect for both men and women.

Juice veggies, be fit

Looking for vegetarian, gluten-free, nourishing, green food? Well, vegetable juice is the answer. 

They are packed with essential vitamins and minerals and when consumed once a day, they shows visible results in a month or two on your skin and hair, when accompanied with a healthy lifestyle. Here are a few recipes you can try at home.

Cool cucumber

Take two medium sized washed and peeled cucumbers and grate them (you could also cube them and then pulp them in a blender).

Strain the pureed/grated cucumber and serve over ice in a tall glass. You could add a few small cubes of cucumber to the drink.

Nutritional content

100 gms: 

- Vitamin K - 21%

- Vitamin C - 5%

Tangy and green

Peel and cube kiwis and green apples. Blend in a food processor with a few mint leaves and pour in a glass to serve. Garnish with a sprig of mint leaves.

Nutritional content

1 cup or 177 gms: 

- Vitamin C - 273%

- Calcium 6%

- Iron, Vitamin A - 3%

A glassful of health

Wash and blanch handful of spinach and a few florets of broccoli. Chop and put in a processor to blend. Add a few sprigs of celery and a dash of lemon juice.

Spinach nutritional content

1 cup or 30 gms:

- Vitamin A - 56%

- Vitamin C - 14%

- Iron - 5%

Broccoli nutritional content

100 gms:

- Vitamin C 149%

- Vitamin A 12%

- Calcium 5%

Don’t throw those watermelon seeds away

While the sweet and juicy watermelon is full of nutrition, did you know that the seeds of this fruit are also beneficial? 

A rich source of iron, potassium, and vitamins, these seeds are great for your health, skin and hair. So, chew on the watermelon seeds or use their oil, the next time you gorge on this fruit.

Good for your heart: 

A rich source of magnesium, the seeds help in maintaining normal heart functioning, blood pressure and support metabolic processes. They can also treat cardiovascular diseases and hypertension.

Control diabetes: 

Boiling a handful of watermelon seeds in water and drinking this liquid every day like tea is said to control your blood sugar levels.

Moisturise skin: 

Containing unsaturated fatty acids, the seeds help keeping your skin moisturised. 

 

Delay ageing: 

Due to their antioxidant properties, eating these seeds can make your skin look younger and healthier. 

Clear acne: 

Take a swab of cotton and apply watermelon seed oil on your face to remove the dirt and sebum from your skin as well as clean the pores. Suitable for all skin types, this oil also helps treat skin infections.

Strengthen your hair: 

Due to a high content of protein and essential amino acids, eating watermelon seeds can strengthen your hair. Also, having roasted watermelon seeds can add shine to your hair as they contain copper that produces melanin, a pigment that provides colour to your hair.

 

Treat itchy scalp: 

Since watermelon seed oil is light in texture, it gets absorbed easily without clogging the pores of your scalp. It acts as a moisturiser for your dry and flaky scalp.

Prevent hair breakage:

Providing your hair with essential fatty acids, consuming the seeds regularly can help prevent breakage.