I am trying a lot of cruelty free and natural based products which i have never used. Since going vegan i have focused on the diet but i am slowly incorporating my ethical lifestyle into products. I have always used products which had so many chemicals and was also not aware of animal testing. I have researched and found few companies which uses natural ingredients which i am very happy to share with you all.
Biotique Bio Kajal Nourishing & Conditioning with Almond Oil
I love to wear kajal. It defines your eyes and give smokey look. I don't like to wear too much makeup. Just kajal and lipstick and that's makeup for me. I was in two minds of buying this or Himalaya Herbals Kajal. I decided to try this one first.
As you can see, no chemicals whatsoever. It does feel light at first but stays longer. Only issue is the smudging which i know happens in most of the kajals. It's a good kajal. It's priced at 109rs for 3g. You can buy this product at a lesser price from here
Iba Halal Care PureLips Moisturising Balm, Cocoa Vanilla
I have posted few iba halal care products review before and this time i have tried lip balm range (cocoa vanilla). I have used Maybelline and Lotus Herbals lip balm while former was not vegan and i didn't liked the latter. Iba Halal Care also has strawberry range which i am going to try later.
Ingredients : Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E
Price: 105/- for 4.2 gm
The colour is off white and it's great for daily use. The scent is good too and moisturises the lips well. The products from this brand are vegan and cruelty free. Must try product. You can buy this product here
If you know any vegan brands let me know! Soon will be sharing another review!
When I say "weight loss", it means healthy weight loss with no diets or starving oneself. Healthy eating should be a part of one's life. People choose to emphasise more on body than on nutrition and health that's where ignorance starts. I have struggled with my weight and after adding these superfoods to my diet, my health has been better than before and it helped me in my fitness journey.
1. Green Tea
Green tea has antioxidants that helps in metabolism, reduces risk of cancer, burns fat and helps in losing weight. I have lipton's flavoured green tea with lemon where i can have both the effects as lemon water aids in digestion. Most of the fitness enthusiasts have green tea regularly and it gives great start to your morning instead of regular tea and coffee.
2. Oats
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and what's best than oatmeal to start your productive day. Oats have fiber which keeps you full for longer. Oats can be also used in making cookies, energy balls, pancakes, etc. The best way to consume oats is porridge with fruits on top and people are getting creative with it also adding it to smoothies with nuts, chocolate, berries on top. Flavoured oats are also easy available in the market but i recommend not to have this as it contains added sugar.
3. Whole Grains
We Asians love rice but the white ones we eat is low in nutrition. Brown rice is highly nutritious and has fiber which helps in managing weight. Whole grains are unprocessed while white rice/ bread are refined and are stripped of its nutrients in the process. Though once in a while having white rice doesn't harm but opt for whole grains to get maximum nutrients and for healthy body. Some people get bloating after having bread so choose gluten free bread.
4. Lentils and Beans
Lentils and beans are good source of protein which are essential for vegetarians and vegans. They are cheap and are easily accessible in the market. Lentils are essential part of meals in India and having it with rice makes a complete meal. Consuming beans at night is not recommended as some may have digestion issues. Beans need to be soaked overnight and cooked the morning after. Canned beans have sodium and preservatives so it's best to avoid that.
5. Bananas
Bananas makes great pre and post workout snack. It is the most nutritious among the other fruits. It tastes great in smoothies. You can add in oatmeal and make a healthy addition to lots of recipes. It is the most consumed fruit and are available in all seasons. Good source of fiber and potassium.
Let me know if you like such posts, soon going to post recipes here :)
Being Vegan has changed my life! Lot of people doesn't know the term 'vegan' and are not aware of the dairy industry specially in India where milk consumption is more here. I want to share my experience on how i came across the feeling of compassion towards animals and how it's important to treat them as living beings not things.
I belong to Bengali family so fish and meat eating is natural over here. My mom use to make fish and egg curry regularly, though i enjoyed having eggs but i disliked the taste of fish. I once visited zoos and circus when i was a child and i was sad when i saw the animals being chained and kept in captivity. Then i visited a temple where goat was being sacrificed and the blood kept flowing like river on to the streets. That day I decided to not eat mutton or lamb, but i kept eating chicken, egg and fish. I never liked milk, but my family had the perception that milk gives you energy. In my native place my grandfather had dairy business where he used to keep cows behind our house, but i never felt the connection or the need to avoid milk.
I loved sweets and chicken biryani. I gorged on meat dishes after college and i gained my weight. And then something changed my life. While i was at home, i heard cat crying and after seeing out from the window, i found kitten who had her leg injured so my father took her home. My mom was against this as all are terrified of dogs and cats. There was a dog in my neighbour's house and whenever he came out we would not come out from our home. I did had interaction with cats at my native place but i was too scared to even touch them.
The next day when i was about to give the kitten to my friend, mom wasn't happy and we chose to keep her. We played with her and she used to sleep with me, she became part of our family. We weren't aware of spay or neuter and after 1 year she gave birth to beautiful 4 kittens. I took care of the kittens. When they were 3 months old, we chose to set them free to roam outside to play. One dog attacked one kitten and she died and it made my heart broken. I couldn't control my tears and was sobbing uncontrollably and then my family decided to leave them on streets. I was against it but i couldn't do anything and i had to let them go. My brother left them inside a building and used to go often to see them. They did saw afterwards but i couldn't see them. I moved on and then there were small puppies outside my building and they grew up and more dogs came . I used to feed them but people in my locality were against it, some even gave a warning to kill them, then i got support from a lady who was a dog lover too and had 4 rescued dogs herself.
We managed to feed them and treat them whenever possible and then i happened to have special bond with them. I had issues with my health by then and whenever i used to eat chicken i felt guilty. Then on March 2014 i became vegetarian and nobody believed it would last longer. I felt healthier but something was missing. I came to know the horrors of dairy industry and i went vegan after 6 months. After becoming vegan i explored different varieties of food and my family sometimes wanted to taste my food too. I began working out and i lost inches. People were complimenting me but i knew this wasn't just for health but for ethics too. I can't have dead animals on my plate. My friend recently turned vegetarian and feeling lighter too. My whole family feeds stray dogs near their locality.
People are getting diseases but can't get enough of dairy and meat. My family has health issues but still not giving up. What people need is awareness, we don't need meat and dairy to survive, this industry is damaging environment, slaughtering the animals and making profits. Not just food, but using cruelty free products and helping animals is what veganism is about!
Have a heart, go vegan for sake of the animals and planet. Do let me know if you like this post!
You must have read my last review on iba halal care products which is right here if you haven't gone through it Vegan Products in India: Iba Halal Care's Fairness Face Wash & Nourish and Shine Shampoo.
This time i will be reviewing the Conditioning Shampoo, Aloe Aqua Face Spray and Fragrant Body Soap (Arabian Oudh). Since the brand is vegan, i am so excited to try all the variants. The previous shampoo that i bought was not upto the mark. My hair got oily after only two days and it made me use more. I was waiting for this shampoo to finish so that i can try the other one. It was a mild shampoo which didn't work for my hair.
So this conditioning shampoo contains kalonji, amla, neem and aloe extracts and claims to remove oil, dirt and prevents dandruff and hair fall which are main problems with oily hair. It is not chemical free though but does not include parabens. Neem and Amla has always worked wonders for hair. I always wanted shampoo made specifically for oily scalp.
The texture is similar to Pantene lively clean shampoo which was my favourite before as it cleaned my oily scalp. After using it, I felt the same. My hair looked clean and the scent was similar too. I am happy with this shampoo as it does what it says and it's Vegan! What more can i ask! The shampoo is affordable, priced at 150/- rupees. You can buy this shampoo by following this link Iba Halal Care Covered Hair Conditioning Shampoo, 180ml.
Next is the Aloe Aqua Refreshing Face Spray which i use as a toner. I used Himalaya toner before this which made my face dry and more susceptible to acne. This is the only spray available from the brand and it is available with the aloe aqua combo here http://fkrt.it/oGPyPuuuuN The spray is good foam based, has floral scent and does make my skin clean. It contains aloe vera and cucumber both are known for their cooling properties. I really like this toner and i am going to stick with this for a while till something better comes up! It is priced at 99/- rupees.
Last but not the least is this Fragrant Body Soap Arabian Oudh . I have been using Khadi soaps which are made by natural ingredients and are easily available in supermarkets. I thought to try out Iba halal's soaps for a change. As you can see the soap is vegetable oil derived, so no animal products included!
The soap smells like sandalwood and it feels good. But it does make the skin dry so you might follow up with a moisturiser. I use aloe vera gel for smooth skin. This soap is priced at 55/- rupees and you can buy it here http://fkrt.it/TsWZkuuuuN
Let me know if you have tried this products and what were your experiences? Follow me on instagram where i post everything vegan and my facebook page and twitter name Mosh Mitra for updates:)
I wanted to post this soon after i shared my day 3 of the meal plan but i had issue with my phone and i couldn't get backup of the pictures. Somehow i managed to take few pictures and got relieved. Now my phone is in the service center for 6 days so no instagram and snapchat :(
Anyways i am sharing the remaining days meal plan.
Day 4
After lemon water in the morning, I had 1 cup of papaya for breakfast. Papayas helps in digestion and are rich in potassium. It is also said to relieve menstrual pain.
For lunch i had dal and brown rice. We indians can't get enough of dal, there are so many ways to make dal. I made masoor dal. You can have this dal with any veggies to complete your meal.
Apples with cinnamon makes a great snack. I try to have two servings of fruit every day.
For dinner i made cabbage peas curry with carrots and potato and had this with chapati and little pickle.
Day 5
For breakfast i had overnight oats that i prepared the night before with soy milk, chia seeds, sliced mango and papaya. The mixture was so creamy and tasted delicious the next morning. I recommend overnight oats for breakfast when you are in a hurry and you want to eat healthy and stay productive all through out the day.
For lunch i had brown chickpeas with brown rice.
For snack i had hummus with carrots, my new snack obsession!
I made mushroom with peppers and and leftover rice for dinner.
I don't necessarily tell you to follow all the food included in the meal plan. It is just for inspiration. You can add your meals and make it healthy depending on the region you live. I did 20 mins of workout every day of pilates, weight training, cardio and yoga. I follow blogilates and tone it up workouts. I don't weigh myself often as i don't focus on weight loss but toning my body and feeling healthy and fit.
So if you like this meal plan, do let me know! Thank you so much for reading this post! :)
Okay, so here's the day 3 meal plan. You can check out my previous posts Day 1 of 5 Day Vegan Healthy Meal Plan and Day 2 of 5 Day Healthy Vegan Meal Plan .
As usual i take warm lemon water in the morning on an empty stomach.
For breakfast - I had smoothie with mango banana and oats which was very fulfilling and i could barely taste oats as it was so delicious.
I didn't feel hungry till 3 hrs. The texture was so smooth just like ice cream.
For lunch i had chickpeas with spinach curry and brown basmati rice.
For snacks i had slices of 1 medium apple with cinnamon.
For dinner i made bhindi or okra with yellow and red bell peppers a bit different from other recipe styles with leftover rice.
I will soon share the other days in my next post. Be sure to follow me on instagram, twitter, facebook and google plus @moshmitra. Thanks for checking out my blog!
I really appreciate liking my previous post. As a healthy food eater, i recommend all of you to eat whole foods. I learnt that to be fit and having a healthy body comes from 80 percent of clean eating and 20 percent exercise. When i went vegetarian i was feeling better from the inside but not showing results outside. Though looks don't matter, but everyone wants a toned body which motivates us to be fitter. After exercising, I lost inches and people were complimenting me which gave me the push to be healthier in the long run.
So here is what i ate on the 2nd day:
Breakfast - So oats are the perfect choice for breakfast, it keeps you full and satisfied till lunch. It is full of fiber and having with fruits and nuts makes it more healthier. Oatmeal variations are endless, you just have to try. I had oatmeal with banana and cashew nuts. I have added unsweetened soy milk but you can have any other milk alternatives and i have added organic sugar just little for sweetness.
The picture doesn't look pretty though but it tastes delicious!
Lunch - Again beans and rice. I have cooked black eyed beans or chawli which i had with brown basmati rice.
Snacks - I again had hummus but this time i had it on multi grain bread. Can't get enough of hummus!
Dinner - Cabbage and peas with leftover brown rice. Though cabbage is not for this season, but i like to have all the veggies that i can get easily and mix it up every day.
I referred to Manjula's kitchen for recipes of main meals. And after dinner had few dark chocolate pieces for my sugar cravings :)
Hope you like this post! Do comment! Any feedback or suggestion is most welcome.
