FEW FACTS ABOUT THE POTATOES

Yes they are high in starch, means they get digested quickly and can raise blood glucose levels, so why skip the potatoes and its nutrients for the same reason.

A good idea is to combine it with fiber so their digestion gets slowed down and there is no spike in blood glucose levels hence becomes diabetic friendly. So add all kind of vegetables to it in good amount . To make it an ideal balanced meal add a portion of protein like chicken, meat, fish or eggs.

Another myth is that potatoes are high in calories. No, not really. An average potato has around 150 calories, which is normal. In fact the calories are added the way it is cooked. As the most popular way is french fries and deep frying of potato chips.

Potatoes contain acrylamide. This is a toxic substance found in starchy foods only when they are cooked and processed in very high temperature. It is supposed to cause cancer in lab animals. But nothing has been proved in humans yet. Frying potatoes for long time can result in more acrylamide.

Potatoes are not a no no food for diabetics or obese people. What matters here is the amount consumed and its  cooking method.

So enjoy your share of potatoe in right amounts and correct cooking methods

Green tea and its benefits

An interesting fact which is not commonly known is that all teas come from the same plant known as Camellia Sinensis. The way a tea is processed makes it green or black.

Caffeine content is in different proportion in both the teas. Green tea is low in caffeine, so if you want to feel fresh and energetic in the morning then choose black over green. Where as during the day if you want to relax over a cup of health drink then green tea is perfect. Remember if you add milk to any of the teas, then the effect is not the same. Milk reduces the effect of caffeine to a great extent.

When it comes to antioxidants then both the teas are winners. This quality helps in preventing cancer, though green tea is still higher in antioxidants. The absorption of antioxidant is affected by the milk present in it. EGCG is a type of flavonoid present in green tea which regulates the gene activity in cancer cells and can even halt the growth of cancer cells.

The fluoride content of these teas is good for the bone and teeth health. Black tea if made with tap water gives high fluoride. Again here if milk is added the fluoride value weakens.

This drink is heart friendly as the ECGC content creates a lining along the blood vessel to reduce the stress. Black tea improves the working of blood vessels making the cardiovascular system work more smoothly. Both the teas are helpful in reducing the bad cholesterol from the blood, though milk tea does not support the same.

So enjoy the tea that suits your personally.
Green tea not more than 6 cups and black tea not more than 3 cups. To enjoy the full health benefits, add to them a dash of cinnamon and ginger.

Brewing the tea correctly requires 2 gram of tea per 100 ml of water or 1 teaspoonful of tea leaves per 150 ml water. Brewing the tea too hot and too long will result in bitter taste due to the release of extensive amounts of tannins.

One can keep adding water to green tea leaves
until the flavour degrades.

One cup of green tea contains just one calorie
with a caffeine content of `12 mg.

Enjoy this health drink by adding honey and lemon
for a refreshing flavour.

"So enjoy the tea that suits your personally!"

Tofu versus Paneer

These two high protein vegetarian foods come with a lot of benefit.
Tofu is prepared from soya beans and paneer is made from curdled milk.
Paneer or cottage cheese is high in calcium. Around 100 grams of paneer contains 203 milligrams of calcium, so eating paneer is helpful in building strong bones and teeth. But paneer is high in calories too. 100 grams of paneer has 260 calories where as 100 grams tofu has only 60 calories. So if one wants to lose weight then tofu wins over paneer. Though paneer is made from milk but still it is low in carbohydrates so it is considered as diabetic friendly.

Tofu is made from soya beans

Paneer is a fresh cottage cheese

Iron content in tofu is much higher compared to paneer. 100 grams tofu has 5.4 milligrams of iron where as paneer contains 0.2 miligrams making tofu a winner food for anemic patients.

Paneer is a winner over tofu when it comes to protein content. 100grams of paneer has 18 milligrams of protein where as tofu has only 7. So for weight lifters and body builders paneer is recommended. Though for vegetarians both these foods are considered high protein. Not to forget that protein aids in muscle building as well it reduces muscle damage caused by daily wear and tear. 

But if you are looking for weight loss then tofu wins over paneer .100 grams of paneer has 20 grams of fat where as tofu has only 3 grams.

Though both these similar looking foods come with great health benefits, decide which one is preferred for you . If you are looking for body building then paneer is the food and if you are looking for weight loss then tofu is recommended. With paneer moderation is the key to good health but tofu can be eaten bigger servings.