You already know that certain foods are bad for your waistline and heart, but recent research confirms that junk food and other culprits may up your risk for cancer, too. There are plenty of reasons to improve the quality of your diet, but researchers have recently confirmed that lowering your risk of developing certain types of cancer may be the best reason of all. Here’s what you need to know. 

1)    Pickles 

Fermented foods have grown popular lately because they’re said to have digestive benefits thanks to their supply of healthy bacteria. But some preliminary research suggests that their high salt content may be linked to stomach cancer.

2)    Barbeque 

High intake of meat, particularly well-cooked meat, has been associated with increased risk of cancers! The problem seems to be that cooking meat on a grill leads to the production of carcinogenic compounds known as PAHs. Essentially, the mouthwatering char marks on a flame-broiled burger or steak are the sign of chemicals that may not be as good for you as they taste.

3)    Alcohol

When it comes to alcohol, it’s more about quantity than quality. There are strong links to increased risk of cancer with moderate to high alcohol intake. That’s why experts recommend no more than one serving of alcohol—the equivalent of a 12-ounce beer, 5-ounce serving of wine, or 1.5-ounce shot of liquor per day for women; men can double those servings on account of their higher body weight.

4)    Microwave Popcorn

Often, microwavable popcorn bags are lined with a nonstick coating that contains PFOA, a chemical that has been shown in animal studies to increase the risk of liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancers, among others. Popping your own may take longer but is worth the trouble. Some brands offer alternative liners, too.

5)    Canned Tomatoes And Sauce

Manufacturers use bisphenol A (BPA) in certain kinds of plastics and—until recently—the linings of cans used for canned goods. The problem? BPA can interfere with the body’s natural production of sex hormones, upping the risk for breast and prostate cancer. Because of their high acidity, tomatoes tend to leach the chemical from the can lining, making them a much more concentrated source of BPA.

6)    Hot Beverages 

There’s been a lot of debate over this because coffee and tea have other health advantages. Recently, the World Health Organization removed coffee from its list of potential carcinogens. But there is still evidence suggesting that serving beverages at 149° F or higher could elevate the risk of esophageal cancer, which is deadly.

The vegetarian diet is commonly regarded as one of the healthiest diets for humanity. Many studies have found that vegetarian diets reduce the likelihood of prevalent diseases like heart disease and diabetes and improve health more than the average non-vegetarian diet. However, this doesn’t mean that the vegetarian diet is the best diet for everyone’s health.

The Ketogenic diet, for example, has been found to be more effective than the vegetarian diet for weight loss! And Just because you don’t eat meat doesn’t mean you can’t try this high-protein plan. Here’s how to turn the Keto diet vegetarian:

What is Keto diet?

With no carbs for fuel, the body produces ketones by breaking down fats in the liver. This helps burn excess fat and jump-start your metabolism, and it can lead to weight loss and increased energy. There is also an emphasis on whole foods with the Keto diet, which means that many types of processed foods are off-limits. 

The original Keto diet is extremely high in fatty meats, which is not good for our cardiovascular system, the vegetarian version eliminates these meats and allows for more plant-based options, such as avocado and nuts and seeds. In general, the population is going towards a more plant-based, whole-foods diet, which is why the Ketotarian diet is emerging.

Going Ketotarian:

The diet of the moment is the Ketogenic plan, people turn to it to lose weight, to manage chronic illness, or to find a healthier lifestyle. This high-protein plan focuses on meat, however. The goal is to eliminate carbs, jack up the protein, and force the body to burn fat for fuel (instead of its preferred source: carbohydrates). This phenomenon is called ketosis, but the meat focus prevents vegetarians from experimenting with the plan.

How does a vegetarian Keto diet works?

First, even non-vegetarian Keto eaters shouldn’t focus too much on meat: The misconception that Keto diets require huge amounts of meat or meat products may scare off vegetarians, those concerned about the environment, or people that want to eat healthier. A vegetarian version of the Ketogenic diet may be appealing for its weight loss and other health benefits.

What can you eat as a Ketotarian?

The vegetarian Keto diet menu will include leafy greens and aboveground vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, and green beans, as well as high-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, avocados, berries, sweeteners, oils, and fats. Ketotarians should ensure that they fit plenty of nuts, seeds (including flax and chia), tofu, eggs, cheese, cream, vegetables, avocados, olives, olive oil, canola oil, and butter into their diets for optimal results. You can make “treats” to help cravings, like chocolate avocado ice cream, from compliant ingredients.

What to avoid?

The list is very similar to the regular Keto diet (except you’re avoiding meat): Be sure to steer clear of grains, sugar, fruit (except for occasional berries), and tubers, like yams and sweet potatoes, while following the vegetarian Keto diet.

What are the benefits of vegetarian Keto diet?

One of the most beneficial things about the vegetarian Keto diet is that it incorporates fresh foods and eliminates many processed foods. The parameters of a Ketogenic diet are simply grams of macronutrients—protein, fat, carbs. The vegetarian Ketogenic diet tries to also focus on the quality of foods eaten, increasing the micronutrient content of the diet.

How challenging is it?

Those who are doing the vegetarian Keto diet will have to pay extra attention to what they are putting in their mouths. It can be harder to manage your diet because you might have to spend more time calculating your carbohydrate intake and spend a lot of time planning meals and considering the foods you are eating. Many plant foods contain carbs so it could be challenging to stay balanced, satisfied, and achieve Ketosis. Another challenge is not falling into the trap of eating foods that may be compliant but aren’t actually healthy. As with any diet, the label itself does not make it healthy. The labels of ‘vegan,’ ‘vegetarian,’ ‘Keto,’ ‘gluten-free,’ and many others include a range of food choices that fit the standards of the diet but aren’t necessarily healthy. This is especially true of processed foods that may carry these labels.

Winter is here and everyone loves to sleep in the comfort of their blanket during winter. It is the best time of the year when we get good sleep and don’t feel like doing anything, have a warm coffee or tea or some hot chocolate and binge on to something yummy. 

We even get an excuse of not workout or skip workouts because we don’t feel like or basically feel lazy. But whether it be winter, rainy or summer or how much busy you might be one must never miss their workout. Be it for an hour or even half an hour. Working out doesn’t only mean going to the gym but you can do any physical activity like dance, jog, walk, play sports. 

So let me list down 5 main benefits of working out:

1.    Boost happiness levels

The most important thing that we need in our life is happiness. We’re always looking for how to be happy. And exercise is one of the most obvious steps to take, as it’s not a coincidence that you feel better after a good workout. Working out can make you happy long term adding extra intensity can make you feel even better.

2.    Sweet Dreams:

Exercising helps to sleep peacefully. Exercising can help keep you more bright-eyed during the day and bring on sleep at night. You will get a sound sleep. The reaction won’t be instant but after 2 days or so you will experiment it. So exercise and say bye bye to those dark circles. 

3.    Improve memory:

Exercising regularly can help jog your memory. You don’t need to have almonds every day in the morning to boost your memory. A walk or any physical exercise daily is enough to improve your memory.

4.    Bye Bye Stress:

Work stress is the most common thing nowadays. But you can say bye bye to it by working out. It is found that those employees who worked out before work or even after work reported feeling less stress and being happier and more productive than days when they skipped a workout. 

5.    Live longer:

Keeping your body happy and healthy to help you live a longer, fuller life is one of the biggest benefits of exercising. According to reports, exercising for just 10 minutes a day, or 75 minutes a week, can earn you an extra 1.8 years. The more fit you are, no disease can harm you then. 

There are more benefits but these 5 will be enough for you to start working out. So don’t just sit in front of your phone, laptop or TV, go out and refresh yourself and have a healthy mind and body.

Happy Exercising ?

With the help of science, THANKFULLY, HIV and AIDS are not what it was back in the decade that preceded it. Yet, it is a horrible disease with no cure. With the help of proper medication, patients affected by HIV and AIDS are living longer and stronger, whereas the facts have changed. What the disease was back then is nothing that it is TODAY. Let’s find out more!

What is HIV?

HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. The immune system helps the body fight off infections. Untreated HIV infects and kills CD4 cells, which are a type of immune cell called T cells. Over time, as HIV kills more CD4 cells, the body is more likely to get various types of infections and cancers.

HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids that include – Blood, semen, vaginal and rectal fluids and breast milk.

What is AIDS?

AIDS is a disease that can develop in people with HIV. It’s the most advanced stage of HIV. But just because a person has HIV doesn’t mean they’ll develop AIDS. HIV kills CD4 cells. Healthy adults generally have a CD4 count of 500 to 1,500 per cubic millimeter. A person with HIV whose CD4 count falls below 200 per cubic millimeter will be diagnosed with AIDS. A person can also be diagnosed with AIDS if they have HIV and develop an opportunistic infection or cancer that’s rare in people who don’t have HIV. An opportunistic infection, such as pneumonia, is one that takes advantage of a unique situation, such as HIV.

Updated facts?

1)    Time

For Gen Xers, millennials, and the generations that follow, AIDS looks completely different than it did to those who were full-blown adults in the mid-80s. Case in point: If you were diagnosed in 1985, you almost certainly died, but if you were diagnosed in 1995, you may very well still be alive. This is because it took eight years from the identification of the virus for the first drug (AZT) to be approved, which was 1989. 

2)    People ARE aging

As people living with HIV are living longer, thanks to highly effective antiretroviral treatment, the overall population of persons living with the condition are aging. In a few years, it’s estimated that more than half of all people living with HIV will be over 50 years of age. Also, older people may not consider themselves to be at risk of HIV infection or may mistake HIV symptoms for those of normal aging. 

3)    HIV tests

There are different kinds of HIV tests, the HIV antibody test and the HIV antibody/antigen combination test, each with its own testing window and detection method. Basically, the body has to develop an immune response to the virus before the tests can work. The HIV antibody test is a blood test that searches a blood sample for antibodies that were created by the immune system in response to HIV. It can take three to 12 weeks for your body to produce enough antibodies for the HIV virus to get an accurate test result. The HIV antibody/antigen test, on the other hand, can detect antibodies plus parts of the actual virus called antigens, so this combination test is able to reveal HIV earlier. 

4)    The treatment

In the past, taking a cocktail of drugs required regimens consisting of many pills, multiple times a day, and these regimens were associated with many side effects including chronic diarrhea, nausea, redistribution of body fat, increase in cholesterol levels, dizziness, vivid dreams, depression, etc. Now, we have multiple regimen combinations that are very potent and produce minimal, if any, side effects. Today’s AIDS patients can get all the meds they need in a convenient, one-pill-a-day regimen.

5)    If recently exposed, IT CAN BE TREATED IMMEDIATELY 

It might sound like miracle work, but there is an antiretroviral treatment cocktail that, if ingested and continued to be taken within the first 72 hours of exposure, can significantly reduce an individual’s risk of acquiring HIV. This type of medical HIV prevention is called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and must be taken for 28 days to be fully effective.

6)    HIV + to HIV + organ transplantation 

It’s no surprise that there’s a severe shortage in this country of organ donors. It’s a dire situation even if you have a clean bill of health. Those HIV+ recipients in need of organ transplantation (e.g. liver or kidney) are often less prioritized than those without HIV. To fill this gap, the HOPE Act was signed into law allowing HIV+ organs to be transplanted into HIV+ recipients given the success of treatment regimens for HIV. 

Which of these facts were you aware off?

We all suffer from some pain or another that we wish would just disappear as soon as we start experiencing it. You might’ve just stubbed your toe or that little pinky finger over a furniture, stepped on a lego or well, it was your first day at the gym. These kinds of pain are cruel and sometimes long-lasting. So, here are a few proven home remedies that will help you in the time of PAIN, but these aren’t applicable for your aching heart, sorrryyy…..

1)    Hot Water 

A heating pad is nice, but hot water might feel even better. Heat loosens up stiff or tight muscles. Use heat before stretching or exercising the muscle. And if you’re short on time, you can let a hot shower do the work for you. If you have time, soak in a hot tub.

2)    Ice Cup

Ice is best used for acute pain relief rather than general muscle soreness. Think of ice as a pain reliever or something that can reduce visible swelling, but it may not help the muscle heal, still, you can massage the tender area by freezing water in small paper cups and then peeling back the paper to expose the ice; limit the massage to 15 minutes a session.

3)    Bag Of Frozen Peas Or Corn

Hurt your hand? Once again, treat it with cold. A bag of frozen peas or corn is perfect for joints and hands because you can mold the frozen veggies around the area.

4)    Bike

So, you went too hard playing cricket yesterday. There’s no reason to sit on the sidelines today. A light aerobic activity like cycling will improve nourishing blood flow to your achy muscles, plus activity stimulates hormonal responses in the brain that reduce the sensation of pain.

5)    Child’s Pose

Yoga moves your body in a gentle manner to improve flexibility and strength. While the mind-body practice offers stress relief via relaxation, it can also be nearly as effective as physical therapy at providing low-back pain relief.

6)    Self-Massage

If you’re dealing with pesky inside-of-the-knee pain, let your hands work it out. Massaging the inner thigh and inside of the back of the thigh, as the muscles here connect to the inside of the knee. You can also grab a lacrosse ball to get the job done.

7)    Hot Towel

Another option for heat therapy is a nice, hot towel. Throwing a damp towel in the dryer for 20 minutes and applying to the aching area. It’s a great way to address tightness that you may feel more acutely in the morning.

8)    Pineapple

Your hands hurt and tingle when you type. The perfect snack? A bowl of pineapple—it’s exactly what your body needs right now to feel comfortable. Research shows that eating the tropical fruit, which contains an anti-inflammatory enzyme called bromelain, can help decrease swelling in carpal tunnel syndrome.

9)    Daily Stretching

If you have low-back pain but don’t want to practice yoga, try basic stretching instead. Research shows that a weekly intensive stretching class in addition to 20 minutes of daily stretching at home reduced pain almost as well as yoga did after six weeks.

10)    Sleep

It’s an unfortunate reality that pain decreases your ability to sleep—yet sleep is necessary to reduce pain. The theory is that impaired sleep prompts your brain to perceive a much stronger pain signal compared to getting a sufficient amount of sleep. Adults should aim for at least seven hours per night.

Consulting a doctor or a dietician is the smartest way of losing weight to achieve the proper and RIGHT guidance towards your goal weight. But often 20-30 minutes of meeting isn’t adequate enough to know everything there’s to know about losing weight. We asked doctors, dietitians, therapists, and other weight loss experts the key facts their clients most often miss. Make sure to master these often misunderstood facts if you’re looking to shed a few pounds.

1)    Food that seem healthy may also make you gain weight 

Many people think if it’s healthy, you can eat as much as you want, but it’s important to limit ‘recreational’ eating, no matter how healthy the snack is. When you do snack, make sure you’re choosing the right kind.

2)    WHEN you eat is as important as WHAT you eat

When you eat is important for weight loss. Starving all day and eating a big meal at the end of the day is counterproductive. No matter how nutritious a meal is, if eaten too late in the day, one does not have the time to burn it off and use it for fuel for the day. It ends up being stored in a body gas tank (the fat cells) you can’t readily access.

3)    Reaching your goal end isn’t the end

It takes fewer calories and more energy expenditure to maintain weight loss than it takes to initiate weight loss. So if you let up once you start losing weight, you will gain it all back and then some! The good news is that when you start losing weight, it becomes easier to do more things like spending extra time on the treadmill or doing more resistance training reps. The idea is to continuously challenge yourself.

4)    The right thyroid test

If you’re having a hard time losing weight, get a proper thyroid assessment. Most people need a test that goes above the standard medical thyroid profile. A standard thyroid test reads as ‘normal’ in 80 percent of overweight individuals, which is incorrect. A proper thyroid assessment includes checking eight different parameters of thyroid function and comparing them to optimal, not normal, values. Evaluated this way, over 80 percent of overweight individuals will actually be properly identified as being hypothyroid. This is a key contributor to overweight.

5)    Alcohol prevents weight loss

Alcohol does not only empty calories but also has a huge effect on the weight loss process. It can interrupt and inhibit fat metabolism, making it harder to lose weight. Alcoholic drinks also contain a lot of added calories and carbs that will make it harder to lose weight even when you’re reducing your caloric intake. At the very least, order something you sip slowly, such as wine, rather than something you may drink larger amounts of such as beer.

Nowadays, it’s all about tapping our goddamned mobile screens, snapping pictures, recording videos, & trying different filters on our faces. There’s hardly any physical movement at all.  Earlier as kids, we used to leave our homes early in the morning to play with our friends only to return in the afternoon & go back to play in the evening. Now it is hardly the case. We all have become couch potatoes, including kids of this generation.


Why is it happening? What’s the case? But at least we must try to ‘revive’ our inner child. Glued to one place playing video games in a room whole day long does no benefit our body.


We at The Brunette Diaries know quite a few exciting sports & games that’ll make you jump off your feet & run towards the ground right now!

1.    Basketball
All you need is a high raised net basket, a ball & few friends to enjoy the game. The running, the coordination, the judgment to make the ball pass through the hoop, everything about this game is a perfect match if you want to build team spirit & sweat your laziness off! 

2.    Badminton
Two people, a pair of bats & a shuttlecock. You can play it in a park, or by beachside, or even on someone’s terrace if you can’t go out. This game is fun to learn & more engaging to play once you smash it. 

3.    Skating
You have to learn this talent. Motor balancing is an important skill which skating teaches us. For the first few weeks, you’ll trip a lot. Injuries are part of learning how to skate, but once you learn to balance & glide along, then believe me you won’t feel like taking off those roller skates! You’ll feel like talking to wind & speed will become your best friend! But we recommend you to wear a helmet.

4.    Swimming 
During summers, everyone feels like jumping into a pool & staying in there until & unless someone screams at us to get out of the water body. If you are a ‘water baby’ then I suggest you learn swimming, & try diving, deep diving, & even scuba diving if you’re intrigued by marine life. PS: Swimming is a life skill. 

5.    Soccer
Our hormones can be quite outrageous sometimes.  But we seldom know how to vent them. Soccer can be one game where you can channelize your adrenaline perfectly, learn those dribbling, tackling, & passing skills. Most importantly, goal scoring! How can that feeling be missed? 

Ya, this listicle is over now! Don’t keep swiping your screen simply,  instead call up your mates & hit the ground (or water) ASAP!

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is something that is being talked about across the globe. This virus, that first emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has effected over 1,26,000 people across the different continents and claimed the lives of more than 4.600 people. With many people being tested positive with the virus daily, the news that Forrest Gump actor, Tom Hanks too is done with it is in the news. 

Tom Hanks revealed to the world, via a social media post, that he and his wife Rita Wilson have been tested positive for coronavirus. He Twitted: 

Their son Chet Hanks took to Instagram and shared an update on his parents. He posted a video about his parents being diagnosed with Coronavirus. The 25-year-old begins his video saying:

Tom Hanks was in Australia for the shoot of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic. The film, which also stars Austin Butler, sees Tom as manager of The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll – Colonel Tom Parker. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pre- production of the movie has been halted because a ‘company member’ has been tested positive for coronavirus and is currently receiving treatment.

On the other hand, Rita performed her songs from her latest album, Halfway to Home at Brisbane’s Emporium Hotel and even made her debut at Sydney Opera House.

Kangana Ranaut is 13 years old in this Bollywood industry, but already has that female superstar vibe emanating from her. She made her debut alongside Emraan Hashmi & Shiney Ahuja in the movie Gangster, & now her recent release Manikarnika did wonders at the box office! She rose to fame after the movie Fashion, but ‘Queen’ gave her the required fame in Bollywood. She really then stated to be included in the list of successful actresses. 


On her 32nd birthday, we at The Brunette Diaries bring to you her top five looks which stood out, & made us realize that she’s a superstar in making!

This formal attire shows that she has a no-nonsense attitude, yet daring enough to think out of the box!

This baby pink frilled two-piece, makes Kangana look girly but at the same time, super chic!

This silvery-shimmery outfit worn by Kangana shows that she’s daring enough to go an extra mile to show that she has it all!

This red royal floor length gown perfectly describes her ‘Boss Lady’ attitude! 

This net saree with floral embroidery suits Kangana beautifully, & shows her as a symbol of grace!


These pics surely did justify Kangana Ranaut’s sass, & her vibe which cannot be ignored! We at The Brunette Diaries, wish Kangana a Very Happy Birthday! You rock it, girl!