Why a Healthy Breakfast is Important to Lose Weight?

Most of the overweight people tend to skip meals. Breakfast is the most easier meal to be skipped. Everyone is in a hurry. We do not have time in the rushing hours of morning to listen to demands of our body. Hunger can be easily suppressed at this time of the day. This is a simple fact- you eat less, you weigh less but is it that simple? Do you really lose weight by not having breakfast, leave alone a healthy breakfast? Let us find out why mom (even ancient Ayurveda practitioners) used to say- Breakfast is the most important meal of the day!

What Does Breakfast Do?

Just try to take out the average time of your meal gap everyday. Suppose you eat between 8 to 9 pm every night and then wake up between 6-7 am in the morning, you have already not eaten anything for about 10 hours. Your body needs to recover from this brief period of starvation (thus the name breakfast) but then you skip your breakfast and have your lunch between 12-2 pm (depending upon the work load at your office). Now the meal gap has gone up to 16-17 hours. Till now you have not supplied the fuel to your body that keeps you running throughout the day. This might backfire on you because skipping meals almost always leads us to overeating. Now try to remember, did you had anything in between- not having breakfast and lunch? May be a handful of peanuts or popcorn, shared sandwich with colleagues, a number of tea or coffee (with all those teaspoons of sugar)? These things that seem to be little in amount, contain lots of calories and fat.

• Breakfast, in the first place stops us from having junk food in between. It provides us with glucose- the fuel that keeps our motors running. Our brain and nervous system need glucose to work- for walking, speaking, stretching and for all activities.
• When we eat early in the morning and gather the fuel right at the start of the day, we ensure that we use  it up all. It speeds up our metabolism You will work for the whole day long and burn up your calories. Just imagine, not having a breakfast but having a rich dinner after which you will go to sleep. How will you burn up all those calories gained from delicious dinner? It will all be stored as fat in your body.
• Breakfast ensures that we do not consume lots of calories during the day. If you will not feel hungry, chances are you will not eat those popcorn, chocolates, and in between snacks and avoid those calories.
• An early meal also increases the leptin output of our body. Leptin is a hormone that suppresses appetite. Eating a wholesome meal early in the day ensures leptin production in our body. Researchers at the University of Texas, El Paso, studied the food diaries of 586 men and women and determined that the more food people ate in the morning, the fewer calories they consumed in an entire day.

These are enough reasons to be convinced about the importance of breakfast to lose weight. Eat your breakfast right and lose weight. Know some more tips to Reduce Weight by Natural Ways

Natural Home Remedies For Flu

Influenza or flu is the most common disease during winters. All types of flu are caused viruses. There are about 200 known flu viruses. These viruses not only cause fever but also congest throat, nose, lungs, bronchial tubes, and middle ear making even breathing difficult for the patient. The drugs and medicines seem to be ineffective for flu as whenever you stop taking these medicines, flu comes back and makes the patient's life very uncomfortable. Ayurveda believes that the cure for flu is precaution. One has to prevent flu by increasing body immunity against viruses and other harmful outer elements. However, Ayurveda also suggest home remedies for getting relief from flu conditions like fever, cough, sorethroat, nasal congestion etc.

• Vitamin C, garlic, honey, cinnamon etc. are all immune boosters. Try to take them regularly as a part of your diet.
• Mix some fresh lemon juice with lukewarm honey and take it daily to increase immunity against viruses.
• To get relief from sore throat, gargle with lukewarm water after adding salt to it for 3-4 times a day.
• You can even gargle with 1 drop each of tea tree oil and lemon mixed in glass of warm water. Remember not to swallow the solution.
• Mix 10-20 drops of one of the following- tea tree, eucalyptus, lemon or lavender oil- to your hot water bath. This strengthens immune system.
• Mix 1 tbsp of lukewarm honey with 1/4 tsp of cinnamon powder. Take this mixture daily for 3-4 days to improve immunity.
• Take steaming water in a big bowl and add 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh ginger in it. Lean your head over the vessel and drape a towel over head in such a manner that the steam doesn't escape. Inhale the steam to get relief from congestion of nose, throat and chest.
• You can even add eucalyptus oil or menthol to the water and then take steam. You can breathe easily after such a flu treatment.
• Drink lots of water during the day. It keeps respiratory system hydrated and helps to liquefy thick mucus built up. Don't drink too much of coffee, tea, or alcoholic beverages and quit smoking as they may lead to dehydration.
  
  
  
  
  
• Ayurveda suggests 'Neti kriya' (nasal saline intake) for clearing of the nasal passage and getting relief from congestion. Get a 'Neti pot'. Mix 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in 8 ounces of warm water. Fill the Neti pot with this saline solution. Lean over the bathroom sink, tilt your head to one side and pour the solution directly into one nostril with the Neti pot. Solution will go into nasal cavity and run out the other nostril and the back of throat. Spit out the drainage, and gently blow nose to clear the nasal passages. Repeat the activity twice or thrice a day.
• Take half teaspoon each of sitopaladi powder, sudarshan and honey. Mix them well and have it every few hours.
• Avoid fried and cold food and liquids. Switch to a bland diet and take fresh and hot food and liquids like soups and herbal tea.
• Include garlic in your diet. It is one of the best immune boosters.

Know more home remedies for fever