Black pepper is one of the healthiest ways to spice up your food! Plus it aids digestion, helps break up congestion, regulates pulse rate & blood pressure.. and a lesser known fact? It can be used effectively on nicks and cuts just like turmeric!

Tomatoes contain lycopene that helps ward off cancer, antioxidants beneficial against age related diseases, nutrients that reduce risk of heart disease, protect against thrombosis and help prevent degenerative diseases such as alzheimers, osteoporosis etc. Hot tip? Do remember to add a dash of olive oil to increase absorption of lycopene ;-)

Did you realise how amazing Garlic is?? It has antibiotic and antifungal properties; has antioxidants, detoxifies, lowers blood pressure, boosts the immune system, lowers cholesterol, protects against heart disease, strokes & blood clots, provides relief from rheumatism, protects the body against damaging "free radicals", helps with skin problems such as warts and other skin infections; and even reduces the risk of esophageal, stomach and colon cancer!

The best sugar substitutes are fresh stevia and pure honey... so keep a plant of stevia in your garden and a pot of organic honey in your kitchen and you're good to go!

Tulsi, or Holy Basil is a great herb for winters. If you have a sore throat, boil 8-10 leaves in a glass of water for 5 minutes and sip slowly. For relief from coughs, simply chew 4-5 leaves a few times a day.

Resolve to make 2012 a year of healthy food choices. Grab a healthy snack on the go; fruits, nuts, trail mix, roasted grains or low-fat cheese. Your body will thank you for it!

If you are trying to lose weight, a serving of legumes like Rajma, beans including soy beans will help you to feel full more quickly. The rich fiber content fills your stomach and causes a slower rise in blood sugar

Tips to avoid type 2 diabetes: Eat in a routine, include lots fibre in your diet, try and get plenty of physical activity, and lose extra weight. It's also advisable to go for regular medical check ups.

Winters are coming, & here are some surprising moisturising tips:
DON"T bathe in very hot water - keep it warm, continue to DRINK lots of water and KEEP ON using sunscreen before you go out in the sun.
Happy winters!

Got Cloves in your kitchen? You all know that gently chewing a clove can ease tooth ache, but did you know that a quarter spoon of ground cloves in your food daily can help stabilize blood sugar and slow down cholesterol build up?