5 effective ways to burn fat

Eat dairy

A lot of people wrongly assume that in order to burn fat you ought to steer clear of foods that contain dairy. Yet a study that was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating dairy helped to reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs.
Similarly, a study in Denmark found that those participants who ate a lot of calcium in their diet tended to excrete more fat in their feces. This means that people who eat foods high in calcium will absorb less fat.
Just before you go out and gorge on cheese though, we have to state that eating foods that are high in kilojoules, despite their calcium content, can still lead to obesity. Instead of eating calorific foods such as cheese, opt for yoghurt, sesame seeds or tofu. Interestingly it is thought that eating yoghurt daily can lead to a two-pound drop in weight per year. 

Lift weights

You may not want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but lifting weights can help you to burn fat and lose weight, and just because you do the odd bench-press doesn’t mean you’ll get arms like Arnie. It is though that weight training is great for burning fat and losing weight because it helps you to build lean muscle and every pound of muscle you have burns around 27.5 kilojoules per hour.
In addition to burning more kilojoules, weight training will give your metabolism a boost for up to two hours after your weight training session, which again means you will burn more.

Exercise before breakfast

It can be hard for some people to find the motivation to get out of bed early and exercise, but hopefully a study conducted by the University of Northumbria will help give you the incentive to throw back the covers and get moving.
The researchers who directed the study found that the participants who worked out before they ate breakfast burnt twenty per cent more fat compared to those participants that worked out after their breakfast.
If you fancy doing an early morning workout before your breakfast you could go for a gentle jog, do an exercise DVD or go for a morning swim – you can’t get a much better start to your day.

Do some interval training

One of the best ways to burn fat and lose weight is to fit some interval sessions into your training plan. Interval sessions are great because they force the body to burn fat for fuel because training at a high intensity causes you to use up your carbohydrate stores and your body then burns fat for energy.  
If you want to burn fat by doing some interval training sessions you should aim to work at a high intensity, for example sprinting for a minimum of 10 seconds and a maximum of three minutes. Then you should take a rest period where, for example, if you had been running you would walk. You would repeat this run/walk scenario until the end of your session.

Eat regularly

Good news for us food lovers, if you want to burn fat you can eat more meals. It is thought that those who want to lose weight and who want to burn fat should eat three meals and three snacks throughout the day. This is because eating regularly maintains your blood sugar levels. If you did not eat regularly these levels would dip, resulting in your body burning valuable muscle tissue instead. Consequently, as a result of this lowered muscle mass you would have a lower metabolism and not be able to burn as much.
Although eating regularly seems to promote fat burn, the type of food you put into your body still matters. Try to eat some fiber and lean protein within each of your meals and snacks and steer clear of foods containing ‘empty kilojoules’ such as chocolate and cakes.

8 ways to get strong without the gym

1.Run There can be no better form of exercise or method of building stamina, than regularly running. Not only does running help you burn fat and calories, it also tones the muscles of your legs and butt. So, wake up an hour earlier than usual, and make running a part of your life

2.Swim Regular swimming and doing at least 40 laps in the pool can help build stamina, gain strength, flex muscles and also be blessed with a more streamlined body. The energetic and youthful feeling that you get along with it is a bonus!

3.Push-ups One of the most basic methods of strength training, push ups can be performed anywhere and anytime. You do not need any equipment for doing them. All you need is half hour of the day, preferably in the morning. With push ups, the muscles on your chest, shoulders and triceps get stronger.

4.Sit-ups To strengthen the muscles of the abdomen, sit ups are another basic strength training form of exercise. You must, however, be careful not to focus on the neck or back muscles while performing sit ups.

5.Take the stairs Is your office on the 8th floor? Take the stairs. Do you live on the first or second floor? Run on the stairs each time you need to go upstairs or downstairs. Not only does taking the stairs give you a stronger heart, it also enhances the heart rate and builds up the muscles, over a period of time.

6.Aerobics Aerobics are an excellent way of building bodily strength. Moreover, they are also beneficial in enhancing the strength of heart muscles and overall health. You could either join aerobic classes or get a video and do the exercises at home.

7.Lift dumbells Spend about 15 minutes of your morning lifting weights and experience the strengthening of your muscles over a period of time. Keep increasing the weight of the dumbbells as you feel your muscles growing stronger.

8.Yoga Yoga, as we all know, has a host of health benefits. What you perhaps did not know is that it also is a great way to build physical strength, if practiced regularly and diligently. Along with strength, it can also help you develop flexibility and balance. Practicing some or even one of the above methods of exercise is certain to help you enhance your bodily strength. However, learn to be patient and diligent as any form of exercise takes a certain period of time before the results begin to show.

10 ways to look and feel 10 years younger

tip 1: Get active more often 
Not only is exercise essential for good heart health and for keeping off the weight gain that many of us experience as we get older, staying active is also important for good posture and skin. Improving your core strength and your body’s flexibility through exercises such as yoga and Pilates can help to improve postural problems and correct spine curvature. Exercise also increases blood flow to the skin, which helps to nourish skin cells.
tip 2: Adopt the Mediterranean diet 
The Mediterranean diet has long been renowned as one of the healthiest diets in the world and, unlike with many faddy weight loss plans, the reported health benefits are more than just hype. This healthy diet is rich in oily fish; a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to prevent cardiovascular disease, wrinkles and joint pain and which are beneficial for your brain and eyesight. It is also packed with antioxidant-rich fruit, veg and olive oil, which can help to protect against age-related illnesses and keep your skin wrinkle-free. 
tip 3: Think positively 
If you want to look and feel 10 years younger, adopting a positive mindset can make all the difference. Not only does positive thinking cut stress (which can increase your risk of heart disease and speed up cellular ageing) but a ground-breaking experiment by psychologist Ellen Langer studied the effects of positive thinking and found that when elderly participants were treated as physically capable and encouraged to think of themselves in this way, their bodies actually followed suit. Tests showed that the men showed remarkable improvement in many areas, including dexterity, speed of movement, memory, arthritis and blood pressure, and they even had better hearing and eyesight.
tip 4: Pay special attention to problem areas 
Certain areas of our bodies – including our eyes, hands and neck – commonly begin to show signs of ageing before others, and these are often also the areas that are most neglected. To stay looking youthful whatever your age, make sure you pay special attention to these areas. Moisturise your neck every time you apply your face cream and apply a separate eye cream to the sensitive under-eye area. To look after your hands, try washing with a gentle hand wash and applying hand lotion after every wash. You can also give your hands an overnight treatment by slathering them with olive oil and putting on some softening gloves before you go to sleep.
tip 5: Reduce your sugar intake 
Not only will reducing your sugar consumption help to improve your appearance by keeping off any excess pounds, it can also help to reduce one of the most bothersome signs of ageing – wrinkles. When blood sugar levels are high, a process called glycation occurs which damages the collagen in your skin, leading to wrinkles and sagging. This process also makes the skin more vulnerable to other ageing factors such as smoking and UV light.
 tip 6: Stop smoking 
Not only does smoking increase your risk of many serious illnesses, including cancer and heart disease, it is also a major factor behind many common signs of ageing. Smoking can irritate the skin and deprive it of oxygen and nutrients, leading to wrinkles and dull skin. It can also increase risk of many common eye conditions and, according to research by the Erasmus Medical School in Rotterdam, can double your risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease.
tip 7: Wear an SPF lotion every day 
One of the most visible signs of getting older is ageing skin. While this is often seen as an unavoidable part of getting older, there are many things you can do to help keep your skin looking youthful. While certain amounts of sunshine are beneficial for your health and skin, too much sun exposure is a major cause of ageing skin and wrinkles, so make sure you wear an SPF of at least factor 15 when exposed to the sun for over 15 minutes at a time. Switch to a higher SPF in hotter climates and when the sun is at its strongest.
tip 8: Makeover your makeup bag
If you’ve been choosing the same makeup products since you were a teenager, it may be time to invest in something new. While vibrant eyeshadows and setting powders may have looked great when you were younger, after a certain age heavy products can actually add on the years. To instantly look younger, make sure your skin is primed with a nourishing moisturiser, then apply a liquid foundation and blusher; steering clear of powder products which can settle into fine lines and wrinkles on the face, exaggerating their appearance. Opt for a sheer, plumping lipgloss and a volumising mascara for a wide awake, youthful look.
tip 9: Get more sleep 
Most of us lead busy lives, and this can mean that we cut back on our sleep. However, researchers believe that this could actually accelerate the speed with which we age. Researchers from the US Department of Medicine in Chicago found that the hormonal changes resulting from a lack of sleep trigger changes in the body similar to ageing, meaning that ongoing sleep deprivation could exacerbate or speed up the onset of many age-related conditions such as memory loss, obesity and diabetes. To look and feel younger, try to implement a regular bedtime routine and make sure that you are getting enough sleep
tip 10: Take up a hobby 
Research suggests that frequent participation in mentally stimulating actives can reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, while separate studies show that the wider the range of relationships a person has, the less cognitive decline they will experience with ageing. To keep your brain young and healthy, try to take up a hobby that will both challenge your brain and ensure that you spend time with a wide range of people. Games such as chess or cards are good sociable activities that are beneficial for the brain, or you could consider doing some voluntary work or joining a book club, writing group, orchestra or language class to stay sociable and engage your brain.

5 Best Home Remedies to Cure Dark Circles

5 Best Home Remedies to Cure Dark Circles

Most of the cosmetic products designed to remove them are expensive and laced with chemicals that can be harmful to the delicate skin under your eyes. However, there are certain effective natural remedies that can help you greatly in getting rid of these awful marks around your eyes and will also prevent its occurrence in the future. Here are five natural remedies for treating dark circles around your eyes.

1.Tomato paste:

Tomato paste is one of the most effective remedies for dark circles. You can make it easily at home. Take one or two fresh tomatoes, one tablespoon of lemon juice and a pinch of gram flour and turmeric powder. Blend these ingredients nicely until they become a thick paste and apply it very gently around your eyes. Rinse it off gently with clean water after 10 or 20 minutes. Repeating this process twice or thrice every week will make your skin tone around your eyes lighter and will eventually make your dark circles go away completely.

2.Cucumber and Potato:

Putting slices of fresh cucumber or potato over your eyes can help reduce dark circles to a great extent. It also provides your eyes a soothing touch which further prevents the occurrence of dark marks around your eyes. Besides the slices, you can also apply fresh juices of cucumber or potato around your eyes with the help of a cotton ball. It will better to apply the juices for entire night for quicker and more effective results.

3.Almond oil:

Almond oil is another natural ingredient which is very beneficial for the delicate skin around your eyes. All you need to do is to apply a little almond oil over the dark circles before going to bed and wash it off with cold water the next morning. Repeating this for at least a month will make your dark circles disappear almost entirely.

4.Crushed mint leaves:

Applying crushed mint leaves over your eyes will not only soothe your eyes but will also help you in getting rid of dark circles. Apply freshly crushed mint leaves all around your eyes and leave it for 5 or 10 minutes. Then gently wipe it off with a clean and cold cloth. You will feel extremely relaxed and will also get rid of under eye circles gradually.

5.Orange juice and glycerin:

Regular application of orange juice mixed with glycerin is an effective way to get rid of dark circles. However, besides removing your dark circles it will also provide your overall skin with an inner glow and will make your skin around your eyes smoother and softer than before.

Steps to combat premature ageing

1. Diet

As age progresses, making healthy alterations to your diet is not only crucial for your internal health but also how you look externally. Eating a nutritious diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables like strawberries, blueberries, green leafy vegetables can help you combat premature aging problems.

2. Drink Water

The simplest yet extremely crucial point to be borne in your mind is consciously telling yourself to drink a lot of water. It is recommended that you drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of water each day to keep the glow on your face alive regardless of your age.

3. Beauty Sleep 

Sleeping for a minimum six to eight hours a day plays a vital role in keeping you de-stressed and also keeps you away from wrinkles and aging skin.

4. Sun Protection

Sun exposure is a prime cause of aging, black spots and other grave diseases like skin cancer. In order to protect your skin from the intense rays of the sun, you must use a good sunscreen lotion. Also, try to avoid direct exposure especially during the peak afternoon hours.

5. Moisturizing

Following a strict skin care routine and moisturizing the skin every night before sleeping is important for the overall look of your skin. Choosing the right products for your skin can show best results for soft, clear skin.

6. Exercising 

A healthy body results in healthy glowing skin. Following a strict workout regime in any form can facilitate the cell renewal process and repair of your skin.

7. Controlling Smoking and Alcohol consumption

Anything consumed in excess quantities can be harmful for your skin and the overall health of your body. Smoking and drinking in an uncontrolled fashion can make your skin dry, patchy and full of wrinkles due to reduced supply of oxygen and essential nutrients. Neglecting skin problems at nascent stages can be a cause of unwanted stress related to premature aging. Follow these golden rules to have radiant, luminous skin no matter how old you are.

5 Best Homemade Face Masks for Acne

5 Best Homemade Face Masks for Acne

Although many people including both teenagers and adults suffer from acne problems all around the world, surprisingly only a handful know how exactly to deal with them. Applying homemade facial masks is one of the greatest ways to treat acne as they can be developed at home easily and are purely natural and harmless for your skin. So, here are some of the best homemade acne facial masks for successful acne treatment.

1.Salt mask

Salt mask is not only effective for treating acne but also can be developed very easily. All you need is a little sea salt/cooking salt and water. Mix salt in water and leave it for 20 minutes. Apply this salt mask to the acne spots and then wash it off with clean water after 10 to 20 minutes. Salt is an effective natural cleanser which reduces the oil in your skin to a considerable amount thereby leaving your skin oil as well as acne free.

2.Egg white mask

It is one of the most simple and frugal natural acne masks that you can develop at home. Take an egg and nicely separate the egg white from the yolk and then apply the egg whites all over your face and leave it for 20 minutes. But before applying this mask, make sure that your face is cleansed and always wash it off with lukewarm water. However, people allergic to eggs are not recommended to use this mask.

3.Baking soda mask

To make this mask, all you need is baking soda and water. Clean your face with a gentle cleanser and apply this mixture of baking soda and water all over your face and leave it for 10 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. This homemade mask makes your skin clear and regular application will help you get rid of acne easily and rapidly.

4.Yogurt mask

Yogurt mask is another effective mask which works wonder for acne ridden skin. All you need is one teaspoon of honey and one teaspoon of yogurt and mix them until they become a paste. However, it is better advised to pre-heat the honey before mixing it with yogurt. Apply this paste to your face for 10 or 20 minutes before washing it off with a washcloth and you will notice immediate changes in your skin tone.

5.Oatmeal mask

Make a paste of oatmeal and water and apply it on your face and then leave for 20 or 30 minutes. After washing it off with lukewarm water, you will feel your skin smooth and soft.

Note:People suffering from acne forever remain in the quest for best acne treatment. If you also have to deal with acne ridden face every day then try these amazing homemade face masks to get rid of acne naturally and quickly.

Six shocking foods that are bad of your skin

Six shocking foods that are bad of your skin

1.Caffeine
Gulping down cups of coffee or cola might be something you enjoy doing. However, you must familiarize yourself with the damage it is causing to your skin. Experts state that excess caffeine dehydrates the skin and also expedites the process of ageing and result in damage to the overall appearance of the skin.

2.Fried Food

French fries, chips and dumplings are certainly a treat to the taste buds. These fried foods contain fractionated oils, which can injure the free radicals in your skin, which ultimately leads to premature aging. The fat also makes it difficult for the nutrients to be absorbed by the membranes that can lead to poor circulation in your skin and be the source of acne.

3.Salt
Salt is believed to bring about swelling and puffiness to your face. Also, eating salt in too much quantity can exacerbate the occurrence of acne. Canned, processed and ready-to eat packaged food contains a lot of salt and hence should be avoided to keep your skin away from increased sodium levels.

4.Sugar
Consuming too much sugar on a daily basis can result in your skin looking dull and with wrinkles. Sugar is known to destroy the collagen and elastin that make your skin look firm and radiant. This ultimately results in the skin to become listless and appear saggy.

5.Dairy Products

In the world where every product you consume is either adulterated or processed, even cows are not spared. In order to increase the production of milk they are given certain hormones which when you consume in the form or milk, curd, cottage cheese are transferred to you. Experts believe that these hormones can cause the occurrence of acne.

6.Processed meat
Processed meat like bacon, sausage, ham are certainly convenient to prepare and delicious to eat. However, it is important to note that the salt and preservatives that they contain end up making your skin look lackluster due the moisture absorbing property they have. Also, the nitrate they contain are known to cause cancer.

Benefits of cocumber

5 Amazing Superpower Foods

Tomatoes

If tomatoes were a superhero they would definitely be Superman because, like this spandex-wearing superhero, tomatoes have more than one superpower. A recent study conducted by the Tianjin Medical University found that people who ate tomatoes two to six times a week were 46 per cent less likely to suffer from depression than those participants who only ate tomatoes once a week. 

The researchers believe that the antioxidant called lypocene, which is found in tomatoes, might be the ingredient that helps protect against depression. However, the researchers also found that tomatoes could reduce people’s risk of developing heart attacks and prostate cancer. Therefore they could not conclude whether participants were less depressed as a result of the lypocene, or whether they were less depressed because they were not developing these fatal diseases.

How to eat: Add some fresh tomatoes to a stew, to your sandwiches or to a salad.  

Spinach

If you want to find a food with superpowers then look no further than spinach. This green stuff is low in calories but rich in nutrients and has a wealth of benefits for you and your body. Not only does spinach contain heaps of vitamin A and K, it also keeps you young. The green leaves contain iron and vitamin C and both of these nutrients encourage collagen production, which keeps your skin looking youthful.

Apparently spinach can also protect your brain from the ageing process because it stops the oxidation process, which can lead to age-related problems such as dementia.

How to eat: Swap the lettuce you normally add to your salads for spinach, or whip up a tasty spinach curry.   

Blueberries

When you hear that a food is full of antioxidants and phytoflavinoids you know that it is going to be a food with real life superpowers. Although small, blueberries are packed full of antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, which means they have many health benefits. One big health benefit you get from eating blueberries is that they can lower your risk of heart disease. 

Blueberries can help to protect your heart because they help to reduce inflammation, which can cause many serious chronic illnesses, such as heart disease. Research into the health benefits of blueberries lends support to this theory. Researchers found that women who ate more than one and a half cups (or three servings) of blueberries or strawberries were at a lower risk of a heart attack. It is thought that the berries improve ‘good’ cholesterol and reduce inflammation, which both help to reduce your risk of heart disease. 

How to eat: Make a blueberry smoothie or eat blueberries for breakfast with some nuts, natural yoghurt and honey.    

Salmon

If you want to lose weight, you should think about tucking into some salmon. Salmon contains high levels of protein (in every 4oz serving you can get 58 per cent of your recommended daily intake of protein) and this protein helps the body to maintain the metabolism levels it needs to encourage weight loss. Also salmon helps you to shed the pounds because the high levels of protein keep you fuller for longer, which means you won’t feel the need to eat as much.

How to eat: Serve salmon with a squeeze of lemon, green beans and new potatoes. Or you can add salmon to a salad along with sweetcorn and new potatoes.     

Pumpkin seeds

Pumpkin seeds taste amazing and are full to the brim of useful nutrients such as: phosphorous, iron, copper, zinc, protein, vitamin K and magnesium. Fantastically each of these nutrients is useful for something. Zinc, for example, improves your thinking skills and it is also great for your memory. The magnesium and phosphorous present in pumpkin seeds can help to keep your bones strong, whilst the protein present in pumpkin seeds has antimicrobial benefits, which means that it can destroy or limit the effects of those microorganisms that can cause disease.

How to eat: Add a handful of pumpkin seeds to your muesli or eat pumpkin seeds as a snack.

A 7-day weight loss plan

Monday
Breakfast: 3/4 cup bran flakes, any one fruit like apple or banana, 1 cup fat-free milk. 
Lunch: Replace white carbohydrates like rice, bread, potato or pasta with whole wheat bread or chapati, 1 piece of cheese, chicken, 1 teaspoon light mayonnaise, and salad greens or fruit. 
Dinner: Fish, steamed broccoli, grated cheese and fat free ice cream. 
Tip: Make sure to eliminate high carbohydrate foods and include fruits, vegetables and high protein food. Eating food in smaller portions rather than one big meal will be beneficial.

Tuesday
Start your day with a table spoon of lemon juice mixed with honey. 
Breakfast: Cereal with fat free milk. Lunch: 2 chapatis or a small bowl of rice with vegetables. 
Snack: Oat meal biscuits with tea (Try green tea, which is highly recommended for weight loss and health.) 
Dinner: Light dinner of salad or whole wheat bread sandwich. 
Tip: You can follow an easy diet plan in the following line. You are free to make minor changes to suit your tastes.

Wednesday 
Start your day with black coffee or tea. 
Breakfast: Cooked oatmeal in fat free milk, half apple or banana topped with a teaspoon of honey.
Lunch: 1 cup rice, and dal, vegetable curry, any fruits like grapes, or bananas. 
Dinner: Steamed shrimp, vegetable curry, chapatis, and baked or steamed potato. 
Tip: Include five small meals per day including breakfast, lunch and dinner along with two snacks in between. A meal should ideally contain 400 to 500 calories and snacks less than 200 calories.

Thursday 
Green tea is a good option to kick off your day. 
Breakfast: Fruits like apples, banana, and fat free yoghurt. 
Lunch: Tomato soup, roasted beef, radish, lettuce, tomato, pear and whole wheat chapatti with 1 cup of chopped vegetables. 
Dinner: Cooked brown rice and pineapple/apple/orange pieces. 
Tip: Eat your food slowly. For snacks instead of fried items or sweets, try nuts or fruits and protein shake, or salads. Settle for sugar free and low carb options while buying ice creams and cakes.

Friday 
Breakfast: 1/2 cup berries, a few almonds and 1 pint of fat free milk. 
Lunch: Fat free beans and 1 chapati with vegetables or cheese, cucumber slices. 
Dinner: Green salad with fat free dressing, chapati. 
Tip: Drink fresh water all through the day. Avoid soft drinks and soda instead includes tomato or lemon juice in your diet.

Saturday 
Breakfast: 1 Idli or chapati, with vegetable curry. 1/2 sliced banana, skimmed milk. 
Lunch: 1 chapati, 1 cup of rice, light yoghurt, fish curry, mustard, cucumber, tomatoes and onion slices. 
Dinner: Brown rice, steamed spinach and an apple. 
Tip: Spicy food containing chili pepper is thought to have weight reducing properties.

Sunday 
Breakfast: Muesli with skimmed milk or chapati with cheese, tomato slice. 
Lunch: Rice, salads, vegetables. 
Dinner: Grilled chicken, chapati, pineapple slices. 
Tip: Drink lots of water to lose weight fast. Make sure to consult your doctor before starting any diet plan. Denying food to your body is not the solution to lose weight. Instead choose your menu carefully and see the pounds drop slowly yet steadily!

Uses of Cinnamon Oil

Health Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water

Top 12 foods that help FIGHT cancer

Top 12 foods that help FIGHT cancer…. 

According to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), plant-based foods offer protective effects against a variety of cancers, including that of the esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas, ovary, endometrium and the prostate gland.
Experts suggest that a person suffering from cancer should focus on healthy foods that are high in protein and calories to provide energy. During the cancer treatment which includes procedures like radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy and surgeries, it is very important to maintain energy and a healthy immune system to fight against the disease. The chances of success may increase if cancer fighting foods are included in the diet.

1. Dietary fiberFiber protects and helps in clearing off the disease causing wastes and toxins from your gastrointestinal tract. It promotes weight loss by making you feel fuller for longer. Being obese or overweight will put you in a greater risk for cancer.

2. AvocadosThese fruits are rich in glutathione, a powerful anti-oxidant that attacks the free radicals in the body by blocking the intestinal absorption of certain fats. They also supply potassium (more than bananas) and are strong sources of beta-carotene.

3. VegetablesVegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale and Brussels sprouts contain cancer fighting anti-oxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin. Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower have a chemical component called indole-3-carbinol that can combat breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting estrogen into a more protective variety.
Broccoli and especially sprouts have the phytochemical called sulforaphane, a product of glucoraphanin, which is believed to aid in preventing some types of cancer, like that of the colon and the rectum. Scientists have recently estimated that approximately 30 to 40 percent of all cancers can be averted if people eat more fruits, vegetables and plant-based foods while minimizing the intake of high-fat, high-calorie edibles.

4. CarrotsResearch have found that falcarinol, a fatty alcohol, found in carrots can reduce the risk of cancer. Moreover, beta carotene present in carrots helps to reduce the risks of a wide range of cancers including that of the lung, mouth, throat, stomach, intestine, bladder, prostate and the breast.
According to the researchers at the Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences (DIAS), isolated cancer cells grow more slowly when exposed to falcarinol.

5. Chili Peppers and JalapenosThese vegetables contain a chemical called capsaicin which may neutralize certain cancer-causing substances (nitrosamines) and may help prevent stomach cancer.

6. Allium VegetablesA 2002 study published in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute," stated that the intake of allium vegetables like garlic, onions, chives and leeks can significantly lower the risk of prostate cancer. These vegetables contain immune-enhancing allium compounds (dialyl sultides) that appear to increase the activity of the immune cells that fight cancer.
These compounds help in blocking carcinogens from entering into the cells apart from slowing down the development of tumors. Another study in china has shown the protective effect of the immune-boosting allium vegetables against both stomach and esophageal cancers. A study of 41,000 women in Iowa found that eating garlic for at least once a week reduced the risk of colon cancer by 35 percent.

7. TomatoesTomatoes contain Lycopene, an anti-oxidant known for its anti-cancer properties. Recent studies have proved that an increased intake of lycopene can help reduce the risk of breast, prostate, pancreas and colorectal cancers.
One such study at Harvard University found that men who include tomatoes in their meals twice a week can reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer by one-third compared to men who do not consume tomatoes.

8. Soy ProductsThese foods are rich in nutrients especially in several types of phytoestrogens -- weak, non-steroidal estrogens -- that can help prevent both breast and prostate cancer by blocking and suppressing the cancerous changes. A study has shown that the intake of soy protein by cancer patients can lead to the lowest mortality rate along with the lower probability of recurrence.

9. Turmeric (Haldi)Turmeric, containing curcumin, is the main ingredient in Indian cooking. And curcumin is a potential cancer fighter. Studies have shown that it can suppress the transformation, proliferation and the invasion of cancerous cells.

10. GrapesGrapes contain bioflavonoids, the powerful anti-oxidants that work as cancer preventives. Grapes are also rich sources of resveratrol, a natural phenol, which inhibits the enzymes that can stimulate cancer-cell growth and suppress the immune response.

11. Berries and RaspberriesThese fruits are rich in ellagic acid, one of the most powerful anti-oxidants which help in preventing the growth of cancer cells. Studies at the Ohio State University showed that animals whose diets are supplemented with black raspberries had a 60% reduction in the tumors of the esophagus and up to 80 percent reduction in colon tumors.

12. Green Tea and Black TeaThese teas are rich in polyphenols (catechins) which are known for preventing cancer cells from dividing. According to a report in the July 2001 issue of the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, these polyphenols -- abundant in green tea, red wine and olive oil -- may protect against various types of cancer.
A healthy diet and inclusion of these specific cancer fighting foods may help an individual in his recovery process. But side by side, he has to adopt a healthy lifestyle as well! This will require him to stay away from smoking and drinking. These are the two practices which increase the risk of cancer.

5 strange fitness tips that work

5 strange fitness tips that work

1.Keep your hands cold

Ever thought about adding ice to your water bottle? If you haven’t and you want to improve the amount of time you can exercise for, it might be worth giving a go. A study conducted by a researcher at Stanford University School of Medicine found that obese female participants held a hand-cooling device they were able to exercise for longer, compared to other obese women who did not hold onto a hand-cooling device.

It has been suggested that those women who held onto the hand-cooling device were able to stick at their workouts for longer because the speed that their internal temperature raised was reduced. This meant that the women did not store as much heat and were therefore more comfortable. 

2.Ditch your shoes

One strange fitness tip that is thought to work is to ditch your shoes and go barefoot. Going barefoot has been a hotly debated topic since the publication of a running book called Born to Run back in 2009. Since then, many people have begun to think that exercising without your shoes on is beneficial to both your training and your health; especially for injury prone runners. Yet the research is limited and the debate ongoing.

Those that support barefoot training, such as the group called Barefoot in Toronto, claim that going barefoot gives you better circulation, stronger bones and can even improve poor posture. Another study that lends support to the benefits of barefoot training found that running barefoot led to a decrease in energy expenditure by four per cent. This suggests that running barefoot could help improve the amount of time you spend running and possibly your race time.

3.Drink coffee or take caffeine supplements

If you’re a coffee fan this fitness tip is for you. Research has found that caffeine taken before a training session can help to burn more fat during your workout. Incredibly caffeine can also decrease the amount of pain you feel in your muscles when training. This is great news for those who want to work out for longer or for those who want to do more reps.

The study behind this theory comes from the University of Nebraska, which found that those participants who took a caffeine supplement pre-workout increased the maximum weight they could bench press by five pounds.

4.Get vocal

Getting vocal could be very beneficial to your workouts. A fitness program called IntenSati asks its participants to shout out encouraging phrases when exercising, such as ‘I can do this’ and ‘I am strong’. Whilst saying these positive affirmations, class members perform a variety of exercises including yoga postures, dance moves, martial arts and interval training.

The theory behind IntenSati is that by shouting out these mantras people alter their mental attitude towards their training, which in turn makes them feel positive about their abilities. As well as receiving a boost in motivation, shouting out these phrases is thought to distract class members from the pain or tiredness they might be feeling during their workout.

5.Drink chocolate milk

Although not the healthiest of drinks, chocolate milk is thought to help you recover after a workout. A study conducted by Indiana University found that those athletes who drank chocolate milk did not become as fatigued in their second intense workout, compared to those athletes that drank a sports drink. Similarly, researchers at the University of Texas found that those participants who drank chocolate milk had improved race times compared to those participants who were given a sports drink.

It is thought that chocolate milk has such a positive effect on athlete’s recovery because it is full of protein, calcium and antioxidants (the antioxidants are the result of the chocolate). If you want to make this drink healthier you could always swap the cow’s milk for soy or goat’s milk and add dark chocolate, which contains more antioxidants than regular chocolate.