Homemade Ginger Ale

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup peeled, sliced fresh ginger
• 1 cup water
• 12 cups club soda, chilled
• 12 lemon slices or candied ginger pieces

Preparation

Combine the sugar, ginger, and water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes; strain through a fine sieve into a pitcher, and cool. Add the club soda; garnish with lemon or candied ginger.

Note: Syrup can be made and refrigerated, then combined with soda 1 serving at a time, using 2 tablespoons syrup per 1 cup soda.

Berry-Lime Liquado

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups blueberries
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons agave nectar or sugar
• Garnish: fresh mint

Preparation

Purée strawberries and blueberries in a blender. Place in a fine mesh sieve over a bowl, and strain juice into bowl; discard seeds and pulp. Rinse blender, pour in juice and blend with 1 cup ice, 1 cup water, lime juice, and agave nectar or sugar. Serve over ice, and garnish with mint.

10 Benefits of Lemon Water for Health

1 — Good for stomach

Lemon can help relieve many digestion problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently. Lemon acts as a blood purifier and as a cleansing agent. The intake of lemon juice can cure constipation. It is even known to help relieve hiccups when consumed as a juice. Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. It is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.

2 — Excellent for Skin Care

Lemon, being a natural antiseptic medicine, can participate to cure problems related to skin. Lemon is a vitamin C rich citrus fruit that enhances your beauty, by rejuvenating skin from within and thus bringing a glow on your face. Daily consumption of lemon water can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Lemon water if applied on the areas of burns can fade the scars. As lemon is a cooling agent, it reduces the burning sensation on the skin.

3 — Aids in Dental Care

Lemon water is used in dental care also. If fresh lemon juice is applied on the areas of toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. The massages of lemon juice on gums can stop gum bleeding. It gives relief from bad smell and other problems related to gums.

4 — Cures Throat Infections

Lemon is an excellent fruit that aids in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property. For sore throat, dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water and gargle frequently.

5 — Good for Weight Loss

One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves way for losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight loss remedy. If a person takes lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey, it can reduce the body weight as well.

6 — Controls High Blood Pressure

Lemon water works wonders for people having heart problem, owing to its high potassium content. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea as well as provides relaxation to mind and body. It also reduces mental stress and depression.

7 — Assist in curing Respiratory Disorders

Lemon water assists in curing respiratory problems, along with breathing problems and revives a person suffering from asthma.

8 — Good for treating Rheumatism

Lemon is also a diuretic and hence lemon water can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps to flush out bacteria and toxins out of the body.

9 — Reduces Fever

Lemon water can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration.

10 — Acts as a blood purifier

The diseases like cholera or malaria can be treated with lemon water as it can act as a blood purifier.

Benefits Of Nellikai or Amla

The powder of the dried amla fruit is an effective remedy of hyperacidity, ulcers and blood impurities. It is also used both internally and externally as a decoction and paste. Some of the common uses of amla fruit are as under:

Amla strengthens the body, expel toxins from the body and improves defense mechanism of the body.

It is an essential vitamin to improve eye sight

Weakness of body, heart and mind shall be dispelled by taking frsh amla juice in betwen meals.

Massaging the head with amla oil, induces sound sleep and is good for hair. prevents premature graying of hair.

Wash eyes daily, in the morning with amla water, soaked in water and drink the water to improve the eyesight and remove constipation.

Insert 2-4 amla juice drops into each nostril to cure bleeding for nose.

Regulates Blood Sugar

Very Powerful anti-inflammatory herb.

A wonderful antioxidant and a natural Source of Vitamin C. Amla helps scavenge free radicals.

Amla is powerful food for the brain.

Studies show that Amla helps lower cholesterol

Amla also helps maintain the functioning of the liver

Increases Hemoglobin, Red blood cell count

Useful for Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma

Amla cleanses the mouth, strengthens the teeth

Its decoction is used in hyperacidity and with honey as an anthelmintic. The presence of Amla resulted in an enhanced cell survival, decreased free radical production and higher antioxidant levels similar to that of control cells.

There are various classic ayurvedic preparations, such as chyawanprash in which amla is used as a chief ingredient. It help improve intelligence and memory power. Triphala and Brahmrasayana are other classic medicine in which amla is being used since time immemorial

Diet Tips

If you are positive in your attitude, you diet will remain effective forever. The key to your success lies basically in your mindset.If you want a diet plan that sticks, it has to be a long-term one. Drastic crash diets never work. Your weight will just yo-yo up and down.

* Never starve yourself. It’s depressing and ineffective. Your energy level will be the only thing that falls significantly.

* Always eat enough to keep you going through the day. Just cut down on the amount you eat. Eat smaller meals. Eat till you are no longer hungry. Not till you are stuffed and can’t eat any more.

* Eat different kinds of food. Stay off greasy food. Ensure that your food is steamed, boiled or baked. Binge on salads and fruits. They make you feel light even as they give you extra energy. You feel good about yourself.

* Find a friend or two to diet with. It’s fun then. Comparing notes, making plans and exercising together makes you feel better about the whole process. Walking this road all by yourself can get a bit lonesome. You need to enjoy your diet and fitness regime.

* Be positive about your diet. Don’t get depressed about all the food you are giving up. Focus instead, on what you will achieve. Remember, you are just changing bad eating habits for good ones.

* Don’t swallow your food or eat in a hurry. You end up eating more that way.
Chew your food slowly and make each mouthful a small one.

*Eating the right foods will give you more energy. Lead an active life. A sedentary lifestyle is for the frail and ill only.

*Even if you slip up occasionally, don’t give up your diet. Remember you are on your way to good health.