Lifestyle

Give Your Health A Boost With These Spiced Oils:

Have you tried spicing up the oils you use to add an extra zing to your daily food? Making infused oils will not only enhance the flavor of your food but will also be providing a host of therapeutic benefits because of the herbs and spices that are infused into the oils. There are many health benefits of herbs and spices that help to keep your loved ones be in the pink of health.

How To Make Infused Oils At Home:

When making infused oil at home, you need to ensure that the bottles are clean. Wash the bottles well and rinse with a good sterilizing solution. You can try using the sterilizing solution available at the local chemist for sterilizing baby feeding bottles. To cap the bottles, using cork stoppers is a good choice, as it helps to retain the aromatic flavor of the oil.

Once the spiced oil is ready, you can strain it and transfer it into another clean bottle. This way, the flavor of the oil gets stronger after some time and adds yet another dimension to your cooking. However, it if gets too strong for your liking you can always add more oil to make a milder version.

The Different Types Of Spiced Oils Use aromatic oils for pickling or for Indian, Mediterranean, Chinese, Continental cooking, or even as a salad dressing. They can add a different element to your marinades, gravies, salad dressings, and sauces, etc.

Procedure To Make 5 Different Infused Oils:

1. Spicy Garlic Oil:

In the winter months, most people are prone to upper respiratory tract infections due to the higher amount of pollutant particulate matter in the air. Spicy garlic oil helps in the prevention of colds and can benefit the entire family.

Ingredients:

• 5 red chilies
• 10 black peppercorns
• 1-litre virgin olive oil
• 5 bay leaves
• 4 cloves of ginger and garlic

Preparation:

1. Fill a one-liter clean bottle with virgin olive oil up to two inches below the rim
2. Add 5 red chilies, 10 black peppercorns, 5 roasted bay leaves, and 4 peeled and halved cloves of garlic
3. Cover and store for two-three weeks or until the flavor is well pronounced
4. Use it for lamb, chicken and lentil gravies

2. Star Anise Onion And Ginger Oil:

As energy levels tend to dip during the rainy season, ingredients such as star anise, onion, and ginger oil are perfect for those grey monsoon months as they are particularly helpful in giving you an energy boost!

Ingredients:

• 1-liter sesame oil
• 3-star anise
• 1 onion
• 20 g ginger

Preparation:

1. Fill a 1-liter clean bottle with sesame oil up to two inches below the rim
2. Add 2 inches of cleaned, peeled and lightly crushed ginger, 3-star anise and 1 small peeled and diced onion
3. Cover and leave aside for two-three weeks until the flavor is well pronounced
4. Use to cook Chinese dishes, especially seafood and chicken. It can also be used to cook tofu, paneer, and soybeans

3. Celery Clove And Lemongrass Oil:

All those who need to keep their high blood pressure in check can benefit from this oil.

Ingredients:

• 1-liter groundnut oil
• 2 stalks fresh celery
• 3 cloves
• 2 stalks lemongrass

Preparation:

1. Fill a one-liter clean bottle with groundnut oil up to two inches below the rim
2. Add 2 stalks of fresh celery (after discarding the root and the leaves), 3 cloves and 2 stalks of lemongrass (after discarding the root)
3. Cover and leave aside for two-three weeks or until the flavor is well pronounced
4. Use this oil when cooking vegetables, dals, and fish

4. Orange Walnut And Cinnamon Oil:

This oil acts as an antioxidant and a detoxifier.

Ingredients:

• 1-liter sunflower oil
• 2 crushed walnut halves
• 2-inch quill of cinnamon
• Orange rind

Preparation:

1. Fill a one-liter clean bottle with sunflower oil up to two inches below the rim
2. Add 2 walnut halves that have been slightly crushed, a 2-inch quill of cinnamon and a couple of cleaned orange rind pieces
3. Cover and leave aside for two-three weeks or until the flavor is well pronounced
4. Use this oil to make salad dressings, mayonnaise and also as a marinade for chicken, fish, and paneer

5. Cardamom And Fennel Seed Oil:

When you’re feeling blue, depressed, hurt, or anxious, all you need to do is start cooking in cardamom and fennel seed oil to feel happy again!

Ingredients:

• 1-liter rice bran/ groundnut oil
• 5 green cardamom
• 1 tbsp. roasted fennel seeds

Preparation:

1. Fill a one-liter clean bottle with rice bran or groundnut oil up to two inches below the rim
2. Add 5 green cardamoms and 1 tablespoon of roasted fennel seeds
3. Cover and leave aside for two-three weeks or until the flavor is well pronounced
4. This oil is best suited for Indian gravies

7 Promising Benefits Of Marula Oil For Skin And Hair:

Marula oil is obtained from the Marula fruit kernels, a fruit native to South Africa. It is considered as an elixir that has been used for centuries to treat different skin conditions. amazing oil has many benefits to offer and also helps rejuvenate the skin. Here are a few marula oil benefits.

What Are The Benefits Of Marula Oil?

1. Fights The Signs Of Aging:

Has Anti-ageing Properties. Are you struggling to get rid of those wrinkles that appear on your face as you age? Marula oil is a wonderful elixir with antioxidants and for its ability to fight different signs of aging. By applying this oil regularly, you can retain the suppleness and the lustrous look of your skin.

2. May Protect Against Environmental Damage:

Fights off Environmental Damage. Our skin is prone to many damaging effects of the environment like pollution, sun rays, cold wind, etc. Marula oil defends our skin against these environmental damages and helps rejuvenate it, by bringing back its natural luster.

3. May Suit All Skin Types:

Benefits All Skin Types. Whether your skin type is dry, oily, normal, or even sensitive, you can apply this oil without any worries, as it heals all types of skin. Men too can use it for softening rough skin.

4. May Smoothen Skin:

Makes Your Skin Smooth. Marula oil penetrates deep into the skin and reaches even the thickest areas. The presence of some skin-boosting elements like vitamin C and monounsaturated fatty acids replenish and help regain the skin’s elasticity. This oil also helps fight acne, pigmentation, and scars and gives you smooth and flawless skin.

5. May Keep Your Hair and Scalp Healthy:

It Benefits The Hair And Scalp Too. The benefits of Marula oil is not only for the skin. This oil can also give you shiny and lustrous hair. The presence of some powerful nutrients, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants in this oil fight against UV rays damage. Additionally, the cellular regenerative properties of Marula oil keeps your scalp healthy, promoting hair growth. So, massaging your hair regularly with this oil will give you gorgeous hair.

6. May Heal Chapped Lips | May Treats Brittle Nails:

Good For Your Nails And Lips. If you have brittle nails that are prone to crack or break, a regular massage with Marula oil will help nourish and regain the vitality of your nails. Moreover, applying Marula oil on chapped lips makes it soft and supple.

How Do You Use Marula Oil On Your Face?

Simply massage 3-4 drops of Marula Carrier Oil twice daily into the preferred area of skin.

As Facial Moisturizer:

• Marula oil, as a daytime and nighttime moisturizer, irrespective of your skin type. Pout a few drops of cold-pressed pure marula oil on your fingers and apply it on your face.
• Apply before makeup because it is nongreasy and absorbs quickly.

As Body Lotion:

Marula oil, with its oxidative stability property, is an ideal ingredient for many cosmetic formulas such as skin lotions, scalp conditioners, and eyeshadows. Use as an overall body lotion. Try applying it after bathing for better results.

How Do You Apply Marula Oil To Hair?

Rub a few drops of marula oil into the ends of your hair to help eliminate split ends and dryness. It also works well on dry and irritated scalps. Try applying a few drops of marula oil to your hair prior to heat styling to use it as a heat protectant.

More Info About Marula Oil:

Historically, the marula tree played a major role for nearly 10,000 years. It is known as the “marriage tree” symbolizing purity and fertility. That is why it was used in purifying rituals before a wedding.

The marula nut was the food of kings, and it is from this the “miracle oil” (i.e., marula oil) comes and continues to be a cold-pressed oil.

Before you start using marula oil on your skin and hair, check out the safety precautions you need to keep in mind.

Safety Precautions

There are no proven specific and scientific risks of using marula oil yet. But, people who are nuts allergic may tend to be allergic to marula oil.

As the first precaution of using any new product. A patch test is recommended before using marula oil. Here’s what you need to do:

• Apply 3 or 4 drops of marula oil on your inner forearm and wait for 24 hours.
• You can use marula oil on other parts of your body only if there is no sign of hives, redness, or irritation.

Avoid contact with eyes and stop using it in case of irritation.

Conclusion:

Marula oil is rich in essential nutrients with numerous benefits. Several cosmetic products use this ingredient. It has anti-aging properties and protects your skin from getting damaged. Take the safety precaution test only then use the marula oil is recommended quantities to reap its benefits. Consult a doctor in case of any side effects.

Brain Exercises To Strengthen Your Mind:

The brain is a ‘control room’ that helps the rest of the organs and limbs to coordinate seamlessly. Therefore, it is the most important part of the body. However, with time, it loses its strength due to overuse and lack of stimulation which may, in turn, cause dementia or memory loss, lack of motor control, seizures or difficulty with speech and comprehension.

The brain’s cognitive reserve, i.e. its ability to withstand neurological damage due to aging and other factors without showing visible signs of slowing or memory loss, diminishes over the years, making it difficult to perform mental tasks. Nevertheless, with some simple activities, this issue can be addressed. Regular, targeted brain exercises can also increase the brain’s cognitive reserve.

1. Brain Nourishing Diet:

We all know eating healthy is vital for our mental and physical wellbeing. Know more about gut brain connection. One sure-shot way of increasing your brain’s cognitive ability is through healthy lifestyle choices like not smoking, optimal weight and height ratio of the body (BMI), high fruit and vegetable intake, regular physical activity and low-to-moderate alcohol intake. Additionally, a well-balanced diet low in fat, low in cholesterol and high in antioxidants helps the brain to remain active.

But there’s more to this process, learn the benefits of probiotics and there is a strong gut brain connection. Not only probiotics there are other foods too, some foods that reduce stress and some brain foods to have at the moment of stress to calm down.

2. Exercises That Stimulate The Brain:

Only good nutrition is not enough – the regular exercise of the brain promotes vascular health to help protect the tissues in the brain.

Besides, the brain wants to learn new things so avoiding boredom is also critical: A brain that is passive is more likely to degenerate. Therefore, prolonged sedentary and relatively passive activities, such as sitting in front of the TV for hours a day, can be detrimental to brain health.

Real-life activities that need your brain to strain a bit are a good tool to start with – for instance driving home via a different route.

3. Sudoku And Mental Maths:

The morning newspaper can be a good place to start this practice. Try to complete a sudoku table or word puzzle, as solving a puzzle keeps you practicing logical thinking processes and eventually improves your number skills and reduces the chances of you developing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s by keeping your brain active.

Doing simple maths in your head also helps — without the aid of a pencil, paper, or computer, your brain will work harder to solve a problem. You can also make this more difficult and athletic by walking at the same time.

4. Learn Something New:

Music, martial arts, cooking, painting, and foreign languages the list can be exhaustive when it comes to what interests you. Whatever it is, go for it, as learning a new skill or language stimulates the brain. Cooking uses a number of senses like smell, touch, sight, and taste, all of which involve different parts of the brain. While learning a foreign language, the listening and hearing involved stimulating the brain, while a rich vocabulary has been linked to a reduced risk for cognitive decline.

5. Practice Recall Exercises:

Make a list of grocery items, things to do, or anything else that comes to your mind, and memorize it. An hour later, try to recall it and see how many items you can remember. A more challenging list will promote greater mental stimulation. Similarly, visualize the spelling of a word in your head, then try and think of any other words that begin (or end) with the same two letters. Or, draw a map from memory after returning home from visiting a new place and repeat this exercise each time you visit a new location.

6. Positive Thinking And Continuous Practise Of Brain Gymnastics:

Your mind is at times as good as you are. So, remain positive and push your brain to think positively. By doing this, you will boost your confidence level, improve self-esteem, revitalize natural healing mechanisms and thus, restore health and harmony.

Some of the common ways of practicing brain gymnastics are by doing neck rolls, belly breathing, brain buttons, and cross crawl to name a few. Brain gymnastics also improve eyesight and increase creativity and communication skills. However, make sure you regularly practice brain gymnastics to reap the maximum benefit.

In conclusion, don’t forget that adequate sleep is a prerequisite of a healthy brain. So, make sure you get seven-eight hours of sleep every night.

How To Keep Body Cool In Summer Naturally:

Summer and heat go hand-in-hand. With the mercury rising, the scorching sun has the potential to deplete us of our energy, and drain us completely. Many fall under the sun’s spell experience dehydration, suffer from a heat stroke and exhaust themselves. Hence, it is crucial for everyone to take extra care during the summertime. Making dietary changes and adopting new lifestyle changes can help you beat the impact of the sun. Let’s get into the list of best foods that reduce body heat this summer.

Cooling Foods List | Body Cooling Foods | Summer Foods List:

Here the cooling foods list or rather the summer foods list that reduce body heat.

1. Cucumber:

Cucumber is rich in fiber and contains properties that keep the body from being constipated and dehydrated. Cucumbers contain a great amount of water, which is highly essential during the summer season.

2. Watermelon:

Watermelon is rich in antioxidants and contains 91.45 percent of water. Watermelons are a great snack that provides your body with a cooling effect. It is one of the most famous seasonal fruits especially in subtropical regions, which is prominently visible in every fruit stand or store.

3. Mint:

Mint is an inexpensive herb, which assists in keeping the body cool and refreshed. This inexpensive herb can be consumed in many ways such as a chutney, in a beverage, or just by itself.

4. Green leafy vegetables:

All around the year green leafy vegetables have a multitude of health benefits. They are filled with a high amount of water, that keeps the body cool. Avoid overcooking vegetables as this causes a loss in water.

5. Onions:

Onions, surprisingly contain a high amount of water which automatically results in cooling the body. Red onions are a great anti-allergen and shield you against a sunstroke. There are various ways to consume onions such as; in a salad, in raita or by mixing it with lime.

6. Melons:

Melons contain 95 percent of water, which keeps the body cool. It quenches thirst and is abundant during the summer months. Melons help you stay hydrated and refreshed throughout the day.

7. Celery:

Celery contains essential nutrients and has a water content of 95 percent, which can easily power you through summertime. It is loaded with iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, calcium and zinc. You can enjoy celery in salads, by itself or have it steamed with other vegetables.

8. Bananas:

Bananas are sweet in taste, dispel toxins from the body, minimizes the effects of any bacterial infected skin diseases or fungal infections. So, add a banana to your fruit salad or make a sorbet.

9. Romaine Lettuce:

It reduces heat, nourishes the liver and purges toxins out of the system. It’s scrumptious, easily digested, light on the stomach and delicious in salads.

10. Mushrooms:

Mushrooms may be are small, but are a valuable source of 15 essential minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. Eating them raw can help the body stay cool and retain essential nutrients in the body.

11. Yogurt:

Yogurt is an excellent coolant for the body. The best part is, that it can be consumed in many forms such as; raita, it can be accompanied by food, or had as buttermilk. Curd tastes great with seasonal fruits and can be added to smoothies to make our breakfast interesting.

Beat The Heat With These Beverages In Summer:

Don’t wait any longer. Diversify your summer diet by filling your refrigerator with these food items.

Coconut water:

Coconut water is one of the most preferable drinks during summer. It is loaded with essential vitamins, nutrients, and minerals that possess cooling properties.

Lime water:

Simple to make and extremely refreshing in the summer. It provides the body with many health benefits such as; avoiding dehydration, keeping the body cool and refreshed.

Buttermilk:

A natural coolant for the body. It is extremely refreshing after a long day at work, it replenishes the body with required fluids and is a great way to lose weight.

Iced Green Tea:

It helps you keep cool, stay hydrated and refreshed during the summer. It is also a great evening drink to have during the summer.

Ginger Cooler:

It regulates the body’s temperature while keeping the body hydrated, during the hot weather.

Melon Puree:

A great source of Vitamin C, incredibly scrumptious and full of fiber.

Foods To Avoid Causing More Body Heat During Summers:

Apart from taking foods that reduce body heat, reducing the intake of a few food items can help reduce the heat content in the body. As some food items contain a lot of heat. These food items can increase the body’s temperature, and trigger unnecessary health concerns during summertime.

Here are a few food items which you can limit or avoid during the summer, to ensure your body stays cool:

• Fatty foods
• Pepper
• Cinnamon bark
• Soybean oil
• Chicken
• Brown sugar
• Mangoes
• Peaches
• Grapes
• High sodium content
• Fried food items
• Red meat on a daily basis
• Extremely spicy food