Make your New Year Diet Plan more exciting with these Natural Sweeteners and Drinks!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Let’s see what Iram Zaidi, an eminent Nutritionist and Fitness trainer with an expertise in Sports Nutrition, Fat-Loss, General well being, Makeover and Transformation has to say. Her inspiring tale of overall transformation from an overweight girl to a fit and fab nutritionist is something that inspires people to take every word of her training as a mantra for fitness and weight loss.

We are all set to welcome the New Year with new pledges and resolutions to stay fit and tune in to a healthy lifestyle. To beat a big hurdle in your healthy resolution i.e. dieting boredom, one needs to keep the diet plan and healthy eating target as exciting and simple as possible. Nature has blessed us with few natural sweeteners which can best fit into our healthy diet.

Stevia-Plant based, zero calorie, easy to use and safe sweetener

Stevia is widely getting popular across the world as a natural sweetener. There were certain misconceptions with its bitter taste as a majority of products were based on traditional stevia sweeteners offered in the form of high purity Reb A molecule. A recently developed variety of Stevia called Star Leaf sweetener tastes exactly like sugar, so that our taste buds should not compromise. Given stevia can replace some unwanted sweetener calories, it can be one tool in the toolbox for cutting calories from your daily diet without affecting blood sugar or insulin levels.

Sugarcane juice-Natures Superfluid and a great sweetener

From thousands of years Sugarcane juice has been a part of Indian culture. Ayurveda acharyas prefer the juice to be extracted from healthy canes and consumed in hygienic form. A great energy drink, skin toner, body cleanser and loaded with a variety of medicinal properties to fight a majority of diseases, unfortunately Sugarcane juice was missing from our diet plans. One of the biggest reasons was the hygiene concern. Products like OMG (Oh My Ganna), a bottled sugarcane juice with 3 months of non refrigerated shelf life or Rawpressery’s cold pressed sugarcane juice are good pickups for a healthy start.

Honey- Nature’s best antibiotic and great sweetener

Natural honey is loaded with nutrients, and is an essential part of Indian home remedy solutions from ages. It has in the form of proteins, minerals, and vitamins. The plant enzyme amylase present in the raw honey is effective in breaking down and helping the predigestion of the starches and also helps to raise the level of antioxidants required in the body. One teaspoon of honey is only about 20 calories.

Coconut sugar- lower glycemic index and great nutritional value

Coconut sugar is also called Coconut Palm Sugar. It is a natural sugar made from sap, which is the sugary circulating fluid of the coconut plant. It is a good source of minerals like Iron, Zinc, Calcium and Potassium, along with some short chain fatty acids, polyphenols and antioxidants. Coconut sugar and coconut nectar contain a fiber known as inulin. This fiber may help slow glucose absorption, offering an alternative for those dealing with diabetic concerns.

Go ahead with these natural sweeteners as there is no need to put extra efforts to fight your sweet tooth by eliminating sugar from your meals.

You can reach Iram Zaidi on Iramzaidi092@gmail.com for any diet/nutrition related query

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Painless delivery is not a myth anymore..!!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Giving birth to a child is one of the most cherished experiences in a woman’s life. Her ability to give birth to another life in itself is her biggest achievement ever. It is one of those things that make a woman stand out from men.

 

With changing times, women have also modernized and they are still able to multitask effortlessly. They’re involved in a lot of other things in life such as career, profession, goals and meeting targets.

Pregnancy is a crucial phase as it involves taking utmost care and precautions when it comes to her nourishment, health and care. Some women think of childbirth as an enriching experience while some often feel afraid and tensed when it comes to giving birth. Most women opt for a Caesarean Section as they feel that the normal delivery method is too painful for them to handle.

But all these are a thing of the past! Today, painless deliveries are common and easily possible. All you need is an expert’s help and your baby can be welcomed into the world easily and painlessly.

Hence, choosing your doctor and hospital is an important decision. Never compromise on choosing the hospital and expert when it comes to delivering your baby. Of course, you want the best for your baby, don’t you?

BirthRight by Rainbow Children’s Hospital, is one such medical care center, which provides state of the art facilities for women and children. The hospital has the best doctors and is fully equipped with the most technologically advanced equipment and procedures.

Birthright is the perinatal division of Rainbow Hospitals providing Antenatal Services and Gynecological Endoscopic Procedures to women. The team specializes in tertiary level of care extended to both, the women who have high-risk pregnancy as well the ones with normal pregnancy.

The integrated team consisting of Obstetricians, Fetal Medicine Specialists and Geneticists, working closely in conjunction with Neonatologists, Pediatric Subspecialists and Maternal Intensivists to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes.

BirthRight, the perinatal division of Rainbow Hospitals has a team of well-qualified Obstetricians and Fetal Medicine specialists with rich experience of having worked abroad and at reputed corporate hospitals across the country. They are ably supported by their in-house Neonatal team and round-the-clock Obstetric Anesthesia and Epidural facilities. Their services are effectively delivered by childbirth educators and lactation consultants.

Support services:-

  • Pregnancy Counselling
  • Childbirth Preparation Classes
  • Breastfeeding Support
  • Postpartum Care
  • Nutrition and Dietary Support
  • Yoga and Fitness Counselling
  • Well-qualified Obstetricians
  • Fetal Medicine specialists
  • In-house Neonatal team
  • Round-the-clock Obstetric Anesthesia
  • Epidural facilities

Diagnostic procedures:-

  • Amniocentesis
  • Chorionic villus sampling

Therapeutic procedures:-

  • Selective reduction
  • Multifetal pregnancy reduction
  • intrauterine transfusion
  • Therapeutic pleurocetesis
  • Thoracoamniotic Shunt

 

BirthRight recognizes that childbirth is one of life’s major events, sometimes complicated, but mostly a natural process involving intense emotions and physical experiences. It is an event which profoundly changes people’s lives and is very fulfilling for both the mother and father. Therefore they place emphasis on safety and quality as well as providing a premier service to ensure that your birthing experience is memorable for all the right reasons.

At BirthRight they provide care for you right from conception to delivery. During your pregnancy, they offer antenatal classes which are conducted by an expert childbirth educator.

They also have a friendly outpatient department for your check-ups backed by a full range of laboratory services inclusive of fetal medicine and ultrasound services for monitoring the health of your unborn baby (fetus). They believe that information empowers pregnant women to handle their pregnancies without fear and anxiety. They ensure that all the going-to-be-mommies have an adequate supply of information throughout their pregnancy.

The diagnostic procedures include tests like Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling to ensure a smooth birth process and get an in depth knowledge on any genetic disorders, abnormalities, birth defects or down syndrome etc.

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder which is caused due to a defect in the 21st chromosome. It generally occurs due to an excess of genetic matter in the chromosomes. Children who have Down syndrome tend to have certain features, such as a flat face, a short neck, longer forehead and short fingers. They also have some a degree of intellectual disability. Down syndrome is a lifelong condition but with care and support, children who have Down syndrome can grow up to have healthy, happy and productive lives. Tests and diagnosis can help in evaluating these conditions at an early stage and thus precautionary methods can be brought into practice, thereby, reducing the risk.

Also the facilities like Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction, Intrauterine Transfusion, Therapeutic Pleurocentesis and Thoracoamniotic Shunt which ensure least risk in the pregnancy and smooth delivery.

Hence, to conclude, choosing the right hospital for pregnancy and delivery is imperative to both the mother and child’s health so be wise and choose BirthRight.

 

 

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Modi Jacket’s – Make a fantastic comeback at GES By StitchMe

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

The ongoing eighth annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) 2017 held in Hyderabad, India celebrates the flavour of unity with its- Women First, Prosperity for All campaign focusing on supporting entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth globally.

The summit was addressed by our hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and US President’s advisor Ms. Ivanka Trump. At GES 2017, over 2500 attendees, including entrepreneurs, foreign & national delegates received the iconic Modi Jackets designed by StitchMe, a bespoke clothing start up by young entrepreneurs from Delhi .

These Modi Jacket’s have made a fantastic comeback in navy blue vest with electric blue GES logo and pocket square. Each jacket is hand-sewn by Indian artisans. All delegates will be wearingthesejackets through the summit as a token of respect, unity, and culture.

Emerging fashion trends and fads have created an audience eager for distinct and contemporary pocket friendly clothing and StitchMe is the one-stop shop which caters to all your fashion needs to make you stand out.

About StitchMe

http://www.stitchme.co.in/

 

StitchMe is an upcoming bespoke clothingbrand that provides the charm and convenience of made-to-measure at your doorstep with a styling session with one of our expert stylists and hassle-free delivery.

Our team helps you find your right fit, select the perfect fabrics and customise the design of your choice-all with the aim to provide a unique experience of creating your own made-to-measure clothing.

It entails a creative process which reinvents the way men shop for formal & ethnic wear providing them the right fit and trending designs. It helps you curate fabric and style for clothing of your choice and even request a designer to measure you while you enjoy an evening at home.

In future we look forward to expanding our sphere to Womenswear and opening a chain of retail stores.

 

 

 

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Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi- luxury and food experience at its best!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

I am a sucker for luxury and a five star hotel is one of the best ways to indulge in some luxury, leisure and one is lucky enough if the hotel also offers some great food. I recently stayed at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi and I can easily say, that it gave me a perfectly balanced experience of everything. The comfortable stay in a spacious room, culinary delights at Dilli 32 and Cafe Knosh and immense hospitality throughout. Read the full story here

The culinary experience at Dilli 32 was indeed a special one, as the restaurant was running a food festival, Dining with the Maharajas, serving the royal food from Mahmoodabad. Read my complete post here 

I had a very pleasant and fulfilling experience at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel and I look forward to a visit again soon and also recommend the place to all my readers, I am sure you too will love it.

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Experiencing Naga Cuisine at Nagaland’s Kitchen!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

The native cuisine of the Naga people, Nagaland food comprises primarily of Meat and Fish which is usually either smoked, dried or fermented. The use of chillies is exceptionally high in the cuisine especially the world famous Bhut Jolokia. Replicating such traditional food and retaining authentic taste always comes as a challenge when exploring the cuisine outside the region, but Nagaland’s Kitchen has completely emerged as a winner in this case. They have not just replicated the dishes, but also taken utmost care to retain the authenticity of tastes by sourcing some of their ingredients right from the base region.

I recently went to explore the cuisine, which I had only heard about and I would say that in spite of having a lot of apprehensions, I found myself really enjoying the Nagaland food. Like mentioned above, smoked food is a traditional way of cooking in Nagaland, and they enjoy their meats and veggies with a smoked flavour. This particular style of cooking was brought alive at the Smokey Delight Festival at Nagaland’s Kitchen.

The ambience of the place was warm and comfortable and the festive vibes to it as Christmas is just around the corner. I was welcomed with a Jolokia Vodka Shot, with a word of caution. Yes you read it right, a word of caution here is imperative at Jolokia is one of the spiciest chillies found in the world, and this vodka shot was infused with the same. But I was really up for the challenge and wanted to try it out for sure.

So as it was a shot, and meant to be had in one shot, I gulped it down, I would say it wasn’t as spicy or bad as I was warned about. It surely hits the back of your throat and stomach for a few seconds, but thats about it. The best part was that it did not have any after taste, so i didn’t feel the spicy sensation on my tongue at all.

Coming to food, I started the culinary experience with a very nice Soup, it was available in both Smoked Pork and Smoked Chicken option and I settled for Chicken. It was called the Amrosu Soup and I found it perfect for that chilly winter evening. The taste of the soup was mild and the smoked chicken enhanced its flavour multifolds, I really enjoyed having it. Up next was Smoke Chicken and Dry Bamboo Salad and it too was very well prepared. I loved how the other flavours were kept mild in this too and the smoked chicken did its wonders yet again. Smoke Pork with Dry Bamboo Shoot was another amazing preparation.

In starters I tried Smoke Chicken Chilli and Pork Chilli, though I am not too fond of pork, but trust me, one bite into this and I could not stop myself. It was so so delicious.

The main course offered Smoke Chicken, Smoke Dry River Fish, Smoke Pork Anishi and Smoke Eel. I restricted myself to pork and chicken, but those who fancy having a dried fish and eel, should definitely try it here. Served with sticky boiled rice, both the dishes in gravy were tasteful.

For desserts, I had the traditional plum cake, which was prepared keeping the festivities in mind.

I would say, I had an extremely pleasant and wonderful culinary experience at Nagaland’s Kitchen and its one place that surely is worth your time and money.

Nagaland's Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Festive After The Festivities: Why You Need A Friendmas

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Christmas is a time for family. We travel back to our home towns, see our parents, swap gossip with old acquaintances. This is all absolutely lovely, but it does mean that — year after year — we don’t see our friends on Christmas Day itself.

 

Thankfully, there’s a perfect solution: Friendmas, which can be to Christmas what Friendsgiving is to Thanksgiving. Get together with your friends before New Year and recreate the magic of Christmas Day in five easy steps.

 

Step One: Cook something everyone likes

 

Ham, turkey, or vegetarian options; find a big ‘roast’ style meal that you can all help to prepare, and can be served while seated around a standard dining table. This really does create a Christmassy feel, and you’ll be guaranteed great food too.

 

Step Two: Swap gifts

 

Sure it’s nice to be able to open your friend’s gifts on Christmas Day when you’re with your families, but it’s even nicer to be able to open them together on your own special Friendmas.

 

Step Three: Play a board or card game

 

If you want to recreate the true Christmas Day experience, then a board or card game is an absolute must, and a round of charades is a great idea as well. This helps to bring a real sense of authenticity to the day itself, and it’s a lot of fun for all involved.

 

Step Four: Movies and conversation

 

Finish off the evening in front of a Christmas movie you’ve all seen a thousand times before, idly chatting about what your dream Christmas movies would be. What would your choice be? Sunny have come up with the idea below and it’s a cracker, don’t you think?

 


Infographic Design By Sunny

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Breaking Out: Controlling Sudden Facial Outbursts

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

You’re off to a party or going to meet your in-laws for the holidays, and you wake up to find something has happened to your face. Here you were ready to get going only to see you have some form of facial outburst. An outburst could be acne, eczema, infected eyes, dry eyebrows, swollen cheeks, toothache and even an inflamed nose cartilage. Our faces are very important as they are the most distinctive symbol of our identity. When something happens to us facially, we can’t hide it, and we have to bare the embarrassing situation. You may find that women put on makeup to hide flaws such as spots and blotchy skin, and men grow beards to hide from much the same thing. However running away from the concern isn’t going to make it go away indefinitely. You have to take charge of the situation right then, and there are perform measures that will alleviate the problem quickly and effectively.

Image by Kjerstin_Michaela 

Sudden acne or spot breakout

If you’re in your teenage years or just getting into your early twenties, your body is still producing a lot of hormones. Your skin is going to be more sensitive and easy to break than usual and thus more susceptible to infections. Firstly if you see you have lumps and white spots on your face in the morning, it’s time to throw your pillowcase in the laundry as bacteria has caused this flare up. Try and be prepared for this situation with the best aloe vera natural skin creams that you can buy. Don’t use chemical-based creams as your skin might not react to the compounds as the product might suggest. An acne face scrub is quite an effective way to dampen down the spots that are filled with pus. By exfoliating the skin, you’re rubbing away the dead skin cells and bacteria while also reaching deep into your pores to clean out the infection. Rub in circular motions and only with low to medium pressure. Flaring up of the muscles and glands due to prolonged compression forces will cause your face to swell if you do.

Photo by Free-Photos

Mouth inflammation

Waking up to a toothache can be at first confused with a normal headache. Since the sensory nerves live so close together, it’s easy to be misled by your own nerve endings. However, flaring of the gums is a painful experience as the inside of your mouth becomes red and raw. Again this is due to some kind of infection, and it could be due to a cavity and or even triggered by a loose filling. It’s hard to enough to get an appointment to see your local health services as it is which is why the market of an emergency dentist is alive and well. You can pop in the same day and get treated, no matter if you have a root canal, mere toothache, swollen jaw, issues with crowns and bridges, have a broken tooth that needs fixing and or needs a common extraction. The great thing about this kind of service is that it’s open seven days a week from 9 am all the way to 9 pm so getting an appointment quickly is easy.

Credit stux

 

Dry and cracked skin

 

One of the banes of all humanity is dry skin. The largest organ we possess is also one of the most sensitive. A sudden outburst of dry skin can be linked to many different things. It could be too little or too much moisture in the air which leads to skin secreting too many oils or it drying off the surface. It may also be due to miniature critters such as dust mites that eat dead skin cells and excrete out a substance that causes itching. It may just be because you haven’t been consuming enough water which your body needs not just to lubricate itself but also to maintain temperature. Either way, you need to act quickly but calmly. Firstly do not take a shower or bath as the water and soap will accelerate the drying of your skin. It’s wise to keep some form of moisturizer in ointment form in your room. Creams are mostly made out of the water and thus don’t stay on your skin for very long. Ointments are thicker, and although they take longer to penetrate your skin, they act as both the under and above layer of natural skin oil.

Take care of your body in the first place, and these sudden outbursts will be rare. Even still, reacting to the outburst effectively and quickly is the best form of defense. Dry skin is easy to handle if you have the right kind of treatment so plan ahead. Acne is more circumstantial but vividly a more urgent issue but can be solved with a good natural scrub. Inflammation and or aches in your mouth can be solved with same-day dentistry if you need convenience right away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Why The Centrepiece Should Steal The Show

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Source

When you are planning any wedding, it can be hard to know what should really take up your attention – and the attention of the guests. It goes without saying that the bride and groom should be the most important factors in the whole day, but the truth is that you also want to make sure you are giving other elements some air to breathe as well. A good example is the centerpiece, and actually this is a part of the wedding which people often think of too late and end up having to rush, to the point where the centrepiece does not have the full effect it should have. In this post, we are going to look at what a centrepiece should actually do in order to be successful.

Originality

Most of all, you want it to be original, in a way which means that nobody has ever seen anything quite like it before. If you can achieve that, then you will find that it really does make a difference to how well it is received, and it will mean that you are much more likely to enjoy it yourselves as well. Originality is of course one of the hader things to get down, so it is worth asking any creative or artistic friends you might have if they can provide a design or even the centrepieces themselves. With a touch of originality, the whole thing will be much more successful, and enjoyable for everyone to look at too.

Linked To Favors

If you really want to make it memorable, you need to find a way to link the centerpieces thematically to the favors on the same table. Your favors should really be considered a part of your centrepiece, and they themselves need a lot of thought and effort put into them in order to be quite right. If you are unsure of what you should give as favors, you should try to think of something that your guests will appreciate and yet is likely to be a fairly safe gift option. This means you could consider something along the lines of getting some Giftsin24 stationery personalized for each place at each table, or anything else of equal value. This is bound to go down well and will make the centrepiece all the more memorable as well. 

Thematic

Your centrepiece, above all, should be linked in some way to your theme for the day. If it is not, then it might well not go down so well, and it is something which you might want to make sure you have got right from the start. Thetroublewith trying to make your centrepiece thematic is that it is almost impossible to get it perfect – but with the right approach there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to end up with a centrepiece which you can be proud of, and which everyone will love. Do this, and the whole day will also seem much more successful on the whoel too.

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Christmas Recipes from The Bristol, Gurgaon

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Christmas Recipes

 

Red Velvet Pancake

 

 

Ingredients                                              Quantity

 

10 cups all-purpose flour- 1/2 Cup [Chopped]

Sugar- 1-1/4 Cups

Baking Cocoa- 2/3 Cups

Baking Soda- 6 tsp

Baking Powder- 4 tsp

Salt- 5 tsp

 

Additional Ingredients (for each batch)

 

Buttermilk – 2 cups

Eggs -2

Red food coloring – 2 tsp

Butter and maple syrup

 

Method

  • In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking cocoa, baking soda and salt all together.
  • Place 2 cups in each of five resalable plastic bags or containers.
  • Store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months

To prepare pancakes

  • Pour the mixed ingredients into a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, whisk the buttermilk, eggs and food coloring.
  • Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
  • Pour batter by 1/4 cupful’s onto a greased hot griddle; turn when bubbles form on top.
  • Cook until the second side is golden brown.
  • Serve with butter and syrup.

 

Mocha Cashew Butter

Ingredients                                                              Quantity

 

Salted Cashews -3 cups

Softened Butter- 1/2 cup

Semisweet Chocolate Chips- 1/2 cup

Instant Coffee Granules -2 tsp

Water -2 tsp

Salted Cashews (optional)

 

Method

  • Place cashews in a food processor.
  • Cover and process until finely ground.
  • Add half of the butter; process until smooth.
  • Transfer to a small bowl.
  • In a small saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, coffee granules, water along with remaining butter.
  • Cook and stir over low heat until smooth.
  • Stir into cashew mixture.
  • Top with additional cashews if desired.
  • Store in the refrigerator.

 

Mother Christmas Cake

Ingredients                                                              Quantity

 

Chopped Peeled Tart Apples (about 2 large) -3 cups

Sugar -2 cups

Apple Juice – 1/2 cup

Eggs -3

Vegetable Oil -3/4 cup

Vanilla Extracts- 1 tsp

All-purpose Flour -3 cups

Apple Pie Spice (Cinnamon)-2 tsp

Salt -1 tsp

Coarsely Chopped Pecans -2 cups

Candied Red Cherries, halved- 1/2 pound

Candied Green Cherries, halved- 1/2 pound

Diced Candied Pineapple – 1/2 pound

Salted Cashews (optional)

 

Method

  • Line three 8×4-inch loaf pans with waxed paper
  • Grease the paper and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar and apple juice; let stand for 15 minutes.
  • In a bowl, combine the eggs, oil and vanilla.
  • Add to apple mixture; mix well.
  • Combine the flour, apple pie spice, baking soda and salt; add to apple mixture and mix well.
  • Fold in pecans, cherries and pineapple.
  • Pour into prepared pans.
  • Bake at 350° for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  • Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.
  • Remove waxed paper.
  • Cool completely.
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