The advantages of aloe vera

Aloe vera is known as the plant of immortality among Egyptians. It is one of the best medicinal plants available in nature and the Greeks have recorded its various benefits as long as 2,000 years ago. Its medicinal benefits apart, aloe vera also helps enhance beauty.

Here are some of the benefits of aloe vera, you may not have known:

Aloe vera is fortified with a host of vitamins like vitamin A, B, C, and E. It also has calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, sodium and zinc, among others. These minerals are vital for the smooth functioning of the body.

The juice of aloe vera helps maintain dental hygiene. It’s especially good in treating mouth ulcers, sores and cankers.

Those who are facing hair loss can apply aloe vera gel to boost hair growth.

Aloe vera juice is known to be an excellent aid in controlling blood sugar levels. This is beneficial for those suffering from diabetes. Fortified with anti-bacterial properties, the pulp of aloe vera can be used to take care of wounds, burns and infections. Aloe vera is a good remedy in treating sunburns, as it soothes and heals the affected skin. Drinking aloe vera juice is good for detoxing, as it improves bowel movement, boosts immunity and protein absorption in the body. It helps to flush out harmful bacteria from the digestive system.

Lose weight like a man

He drops kilos overnight, but you gain weight just by glancing at a pastry or a bowl of french fries. Here are a few of his habits you should steal.

We may hate to admit it, ladies, but we could all learn from men when it comes to reducing weight. Though guys are far less likely to diet than girls, when they make the effort, they are more successful.

Research by Slimming World found that nine out of 10 men on a diet managed to lose five per cent of their body weight over 12 weeks while only just over half of women lost that amount in the same time.

Unfair though it is, men have the physiological advantage when it comes to ditching flabs. “Men tend to be larger and have a higher proportion of muscle than women. More muscles mean higher metabolism and therefore more weight loss," says Payal Banka, Lead Dietician, LifeMojo. “On the same calorie count, a man generally loses weight faster than a woman.”

HE JUST GETS ON WITH IT

Most men approach losing weight as another job they have to tackle. They don’t obsess about the fact they got fat in the first place, they just acknowledge that they’ve got to get the weight off, then knuckle down and do it.

Feminise it...


» You can do the same – just
make this your mantra… » Of course I can lose weight. » Will it take longer than it does a
man? Yes. » Will I slip up sometimes? Yes? » Does it matter? No. » I’ll just get straight back on
track.

HE PUMPS IRON

Men are usually more ready to tackle the exercise side of weight loss than women, especially by lifting weights. And that’s a real advantage because this type of resistance exercise increases muscle mass and the more muscle you have the more calories you will burn – all day, every day – even when you’re asleep.

Feminise it...

If you’re a gym-goer, incorporate weights that make you struggle to do eight to 10 repetitions. If the gym’s not your bag or it’s too expensive, find a body pump class or do simple resistance exercise at home such as lunges, press-ups and stomach crunches.

DIFFERENT LOOK

Austrian researchers found “men’s approach to nutrition is uncomplicated and pleasure-oriented”. Although this is probably why more men are overweight than women, it’s possibly also why they can tackle their weight more easily. "Women who are “restrained eaters” deprive themselves of “forbidden foods”. For instance, homemakers sitting idle will tend to munch a little more than those working outside. Men are physically more active than women. Therefore, women don't burn enough calories. Weight also depends on hormonal change in women," says Payal.

Feminise it...

Use female food know-how to choose treats that can be factored into your diet so you don’t feel deprived. A calorie counting approach can help you feel in control, say nutritionists. You won’t feel guilty if you know the treat you’re enjoying is accounted for in your daily allowance (1,500-2,000 calories for maintaining weight or 1,000-1,500 calories for losing it).

HE IS NOT AS BOTHERED

Even if he cares quite a bit about the shape he’s in, he’s less likely to be obsessed by every lump.

Feminise it...

You’ll never be as blase about your bingo wings as he is about his beer belly, but his attitude should help put things in perspective. If you need to slim for health reasons you’ll benefit from a 10 per cent cut in body weight – it’s better than focusing on squeezing into a size 8 or 10 (medium). So stop obsessing about very mouthful and start enjoying a healthier lifestyle – weight loss should follow naturally anyway.

THE EMOTIONAL EATING

Both sexes comfort eat, but whereas men are more likely to consume food to boost positive emotions, women seek comfort food to stop feeling low. And we are twice as likely to experience depression, so that’s a lot of emotional eating.

Feminise it...

Cheer yourself up with a non-food distraction. And make it enjoyable – no man in his right mind would do chores to avoid overeating. Choose a more hedonistic distraction such as a night out with friends or a manicure.

HE LIKES STEAK, NOT SWEETS

Men’s comfort foods include protein-rich foods like steak whereas women prefer high-calorie sweet snack foods, according to researchers at Cornell University in America. The advantage of his choice over yours? Protein helps fill you up far better than sugar and fat. In fact higher protein is the real reason why lower carb diets work according to recent research from the University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health. Protein promotes satiety, the scientific term for fullness, which curbs overeating.

Feminise it...

Pre-empt a sugar craving by getting in a handful of protein-rich prawns or marinated mini chicken fillets before you succumb.

Also men rarely have the emotional -attachment to food that we do. “Women have traditionally been much more involved in buying, cooking and preparing of food,” says an expert. “We equate food with love and use it as a prop for our moods more than the opposite sex.”

So, guys are just better at getting trim than us.