Diet Plans | Women Blog

The University of California Davis Health System conducted a study with autistic kids born in the 1990s and noticed that they tended to suffer gastrointestinal problems such as constipation, diarrhea, food allergy, vomiting and the like. It is felt that persons suffering PDD (pervasive developmental disorders) and autism may have problems digesting gluten and casein as these substances form peptides that act much like opiates within the body.

It is not an allergy or sensitivity to these foods. It is largely due to their inability to properly break down certain proteins. This results in altered behavior, perception and responses. These findings have recently been confirmed by researchers at Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. In fact research done in the US and Europe reports that in a significant number of autistic children, their urine was noticed to contain peptides.

When children with autism are given a diet free of gluten and casein, they are likely to show reduced symptoms and improved social and cognitive behaviors and speech. Eliminating gluten and casein from the diets of autistic children has shown improvement, ranging from mild to tremendous. But there is a lot of skepticism about whether a gluten and casein free diet (GFCF diet) can help at all since clinical trials have not been conclusive. While there are reports of parents having reported improved eye contact and better behavior, others have noticed minor or no difference at all.

Gluten is found in wheat and most grains, starches, malt etc. Casein is found in milk and milk based products like cheese, butter, ice cream, yogurt and whey. It is indeed a hard task to work on a diet that is completely free of gluten and casein. Check for products that are gluten free targeted at those who suffer gluten intolerance as in Celiac Disease. These days the products also come in casein-free options.

Consult your physician before you embark on a GFCF diet. Ensure that the child gets sufficient fiber, vitamins and minerals. Foods that come within a GFCF diet include eggs, meat, poultry, fish, nuts, rice, quinoa, potato, soy, fruits, vegetables, oil and corn, among others.

Don’t relegate pumpkins to just the Halloween season – to carve out faces and use as lanterns. Instead this time round, enjoy the benefits of pumpkins… and you would not believe the ways in which this humble vegetable can help our bodies!

Nutritious and delicately flavored; pumpkins are rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, calcium, potassium and minerals; low in fat and sodium and cholesterol free. Pumpkins are popular as the dieter’s best pal. Pumpkins are a good source of fiber; the beta-carotene in pumpkins delays aging and prevents cancer as well as heart disease. Water content in pumpkins is about 90%. One cup of pumpkin contains about 180 calories. Fresh pumpkins can be used for cooking; canned pumpkin purée can serve well for cakes and pumpkin bread. Fresh pumpkin purée can be made by roasting the pumpkin.

Choosing pumpkins

In case you decide to use fresh pumpkins instead of canned pumpkin puree, make sure you choose the right pumpkin.

• Sugar or pie pumpkins are the best varieties to make bread, muffins, pie, etc. They have thick stems and more flesh.
• Choose pumpkins that weigh heavy.
• Choose pumpkins that are evenly colored.
• Choose pumpkins that are small and sweet.
• Avoid large field grown pumpkins as they are very fibrous, these pumpkins are used mainly as jack-o-lanterns for Halloween.
• Pumpkins should have dark orange flesh.
• A medium sized sugar pumpkin weighing about 4 pounds will yield about 11/2 cups of purée.
• Make sure there are no soft spots on the pumpkin.

Fresh pumpkin puree

• Heat oven to 350 F.
• Divide the pumpkin into halves and remove the seeds.
• Remove the fibrous/gristly pulp.
• On a baking sheet place the pumpkins (cut side downwards).
• Bake for about an hour, check if the pulp is tender and soft, by piercing it with a fork.
• Spoon out the soft pulp and use it for any recipe.

Benefits of pumpkin seeds

The seeds found within the pumpkin are chockfull of nutrients too. Roast them, even season them and you have a wonderful snack that is full of goodness. Pumpkin seed oil is said to have health-promoting potential. It is believed to have curative properties for urinary tract infection as well as unsaturated fatty acids and most vitamins.

If you thought that the benefits of pumpkins were restricted to health issues, you couldn’t be further from the truth! Use it as a beauty aid to soothe and protect your skin.

In keeping with our focus on physical and mental wellbeing, we throw light on healthy recipes that we can incorporate into our mealtimes. With women juggling so many roles, the need is felt for healthy dinner time recipes that promise wholesome meals to enhance family meal times. Eat healthy to stay healthy. After all you are what you eat. Combined with a regular fitness regimen, make healthy recipes a part of your lifestyle. In this way, your body thrives on the goodness of wholesome nutritious meals. Keep your heart happy too.

Healthy recipes help you gain control over your weight and medical conditions. Over time, these healthy options will become a part of you! With a bit of ingenuity with ingredients, you can work wonders with food. Go in for whole grains and whole grain products. Cut out unhealthy fats. Work plenty of color into your meals with colorful vegetables and fruits. With skillful use of herbs, you can kiss goodbye to oily and overspiced dishes. Dont give deserts the go by any longer. With our range of low-fat desserts and tips on substituting high fat ingredients with healthier options, you can indulge your sweet tooth!

It is indeed sad to see growing kids getting overweight and obese. Any mom would be happy with some healthy recipes to feed her kids. Opt for healthier snacks over packaged snacks that are high on fat and salt. Beware of sauces and dressings that are loaded with MSG, margarine, oil or butter. Go in for low-fat dairy products. Make healthy cooking a lifetime plan!

Healthy Food - An overview of healthy food options for our body requirements …
Healthy Heart Recipe - Heart friendly dishes …
Healthy Dinner Recipe - Enjoyable and wholesome mealtimes …
Healthy Dessert Recipe - Indulge your sweet tooth sans the guilt …