Friday 18 November 2011

Benefits of Spring Onion


Spring onions add great nutritive and taste value to a dish and can be used in different ways.
Spring onions were grown in Chinese gardens 5000 years ago! Do you know the onion bulb was worshipped as the symbol of the universe by ancient Egyptians? Nutritionally, green onions have a combination of the benefits of onions and greens. They are an excellent source of vitamin K and vitamin C, and a very good source of vitamin A too.
Spring onions can be added to dal and make it a much tastier dish. Similarly, you can add it to vegetables like cauliflower and potatoes and it will make an excellent dish. Mushrooms go very well with spring onions and interestingly spring onions can be added to soy nuggets while making a Chinese dish. Spring onions are used in salads as the flavor tends to be milder than other onions. It is used widely in oriental food both as an ingredient and as a garnish.
Spring onion is a nutritious plant, and therefore it provides a host of health benefits to us. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals which aids in curing the various ailments. It is seen to have helped in reducing the harmful impacts of various diseases.
Some of the health benefits of spring onions are as follows:
- Spring onion lowers the bl
ood sugar level.
- It is a support against gastrointestinal problems.
- It is often used as a medicine for common cold.
- It is used as an appetizer as it helps digestion.
- It speeds up the level of blood circulation in the body.

Prolong veggies ....in the times of inflation...


Fruits and veggies
According to a study, more than a third of oranges and apples you buy for consumption get thrown away every year because they are past their best.
But fruits will last up to two weeks longer if you remember to keep it in the fridge, instead of the fruit bowl, as many of us do, at room temperature.
Even if fruit and vegetables have started to shrivel up inside the refrigerator, it is not always too late to save them. You can revive produce, like carrots or cucumbers, simply by putting it in a bowl of ice-cold water. Just because it's shrivelled doesn't mean it's lost its nutritional value.



Milk & Diary
To save electricity many people keep their refrigerators at a very high temperature of about seven degrees. This temperature does not always preserve the food for longer durations. By turning the temperature down by two degrees to five degrees, food will stay fresher for long, without having much effect on your electricity bill. Lowering the temperature could improve the shelf life of milk by a quarter and meat by half



.
Petrol
With the cost of fuel rising, we dread a visit to the petrol pump. But there are ways of making those trips to the pump fewer and farther between.
Cars use the most fuel when the A/C is switched on and you are waiting at a signal which has a countdown time of three minutes. Make a habit to switch off the A/C at the signal to save fuel. But there is nothing better than turning down the engine.
Also if you don't speed on empty roads, you probably won't have to fill up your tank so often. Driving at 60 kmph, you car will give much better average than driving at 80 kmph. You can use up to about 20-50 per cent less fuel by keeping these points in mind and without affecting you journey time





Printer ink
While the cost of printers has gone down, ink cartridges can cost up to Rs 2000-3000 each.
To cut back, try using smaller, slimmer fonts in typefaces such as Garamond and Courier - and try setting your print quality to draft. Do not use colour print outs when not necessary.



Clothes
Taking more care when washing and drying clothes will keep them looking good for longer. Using very hot water with lots of detergent speeds up the breakdown of fibres of your clothes and fades colour. Air dry as much as you possibly can because less heat is involved and use only half a spoon of detergent when possible




Make up
Women typically spend more than Rs five lakh on make-up during their lifetime. One of the best ways to preserve cosmetics is to apply products like lipstick and foundations with a brush. For example, using a special foundation brush rather than your fingers, or a sponge, will help you to use less. Use a little bit at a time and press and roll into the skin so you don't waste it.
It's also essential to seal bottles and lipsticks every time after they are used in order to stop them drying out and letting in bacteria



Fresh flowers
Cut flowers should last around five to seven days. But to make them survive for even longer, pick flowers while they are still buds and keep them out of bright sunlight. As soon as you get them home cut the stems, which will have sealed over, to help give the flowers more moisture. Take off any leaves that will be under the water line. The leaves will rot away, which will in turn pollute the water and flowers need fresh water to survive. They will also take up valuable water and nutrients that should be going to the flowers to keep them alive.

Common Cold ...Prevention


The human rhino virus, as it is clinically known, is an air borne virus, which makes chances of its transmission from person to person quite high. How, then, does one avoid a common cold, especially in the fast approaching winter months? Here are a few tried and tested methods of preventing the common cold that could reduce the number of visits it makes to you in a year.


Maintain basic hygiene
We were taught hygiene as kids, so we maintain it in adulthood - or do we? Those basics are very useful in preventing a cold. Wash your hands at regular intervals, specially after being in public places, like at the gym or mall. Carrying a bottle of hand sanitizer along is quite helpful too, moreso if there are kids around. At the risk of being paranoid, maintain a safe distance from an infected person.


No touching!
Since the virus spreads through the air, it is also present on the surfaces around an infected person in the form of small mucus droplets, which the eyes cannot see. The virus can be transmitted through accidentally touching the surface and then touching facial features like the nose and the mouth. Touching or rubbing the eyes constantly should be avoided.


Stub the cigarette
Smoking is injurious in more than one way, not just to you but also to people around you. The smoke causes irritation in the airway, making it prone to the rhinovirus attack. Also susceptibility to other kind of viral infections increases. Inhaling smoke passively could also lead to throat infections.


Load up on vitamin C
The debate between whether vitamin C really prevents cold or not has been long on. But drinking a glass of orange juice will certainly do no harm on either side. Some doctors even prescribe chewable vitamin C supplements for curing the common cold.


Reduce stress
While your mind is stressing over issues, the body is busy backing it up. Therefore, the immune system is weakened with large stress loads. That makes it prone to virus attacks. Sleep for at least 8 hours in a day. Relax and unwind whenever you get a chance.


Keep fit
A fit body is usually capable of countering a lot of ailments. Maintain a regular fitness routine, and a healthy lifestyle. Drink a lot of water and eat right. Building a strong immune system is the best prevention against the common cold.

Thursday 3 November 2011

Fiber Chart from different Foods

Add Health to your Meals....!

We are a health-conscious generation and in theory, know the nutritional value of almost every food. But our taste buds are not slaves of the information we've gathered. In fact it's clearly the other way round! Some fruits are just non-seasonal the year round, while some veggies can never make it to the menu. If we don't like the taste of one, the smell of the other makes us say "eew" (the calcium-rich milk has my vote!). Well, we all may just get to keep our lists of outcasts without having to ever hear the doctor announce the deficiency we invited ourselves. Just grasp the tricks 
of food fortification.


 
A pinch of this and a pinch of that! 
Fortification is not new to Indian cuisine. Our spices are a storehouse of vitamins and other nutrients, informs nutritionist Naini Setalvad. Think of an ailment, and our good old turmeric's ready to fight. She reminds us of its anti-septic, anti-histamine and even cancer fighting properties. And indeed, the yellow power is rich in tonnes of nutrients - dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin B6, niacin, manganese, iron, potassium, magnesium, omega 3 fatty acids, omega 6 fatty acids and 
phytosterols.



 
Sow the seeds for a healthy heart 
Cardiologist Dr Dhanashri Chonkar prescribes sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds to ensure that bad cholesterol doesn't come knocking. These seeds contain good monounsaturated fats that help keep cholesterol levels low and also lower blood pressure. While in the Western countries these seeds often land on buns and bakes, she suggests that we can incorporate them in our chutneys. "In fact, the traditional Maharashtrian diet serves interesting 
chutneys made from these seeds with bakhri."



 
Substitute nutrition 
While for the non-vegetarians, fish serves as a great source of the very important omega 3 essential fatty acids not produced by our body, those not into seafood can include in their meals flaxseeds, says Setalvad. "And to ensure that your family's diet in rich in calcium, mix oats and barley to the flour," she suggests. For sulphur, onions are very good, woch the Indian cooking uses almost be default. For a dose of zinc, she counts the other seeds already suggested by Dr 
Chonkar




Fortifying desserts 
Nutritionist Namita Jain says honey makes for the perfect topping sauce thanks to glucose, B complex, C vitamins and some antioxidants. What's more, honey is always welcome to our taste buds, and works well practically with all the desserts says, Chef Arindam Bahel. More concerned with the taste aspect, he suggests marrying honey with cream, nuts and even chocolates. 





For the kids 
It's the kids who are the most fussy, agree all mothers worried about ensuring that their little ones receive a balanced diet. Paediatrician Dr Deepa Bhandarkar shares some sneaking tips for them, "Mix jaggery in dal. It's a rich source of iron." She also says that if kids don't like vegetables, prepare a blending and knead the dough in that liquid. "Like this you can sneak in their requirements of vitamin A and B, she says. And according to her, allow them to indulge in bhel. If made with chana, peanuts and sprouts, it's not really junk food." 

Saturday 29 October 2011

Sun Signs and Foods to Eat.....



Health and diet go hand in hand, astrology acknowledges this fact and recommends different types of food to suit different star signs.

Aeries
march 21 - april 19
ruled by
: mars
status
: I am
You’re first in the Zodiac for a reason... the rest of us depend on you to take the lead and field the hits. Mars in your ruling planet intensifies your already abundant energy and draw on the spotlight. You’re foodie birthrights are no exception... furious hunger, fast food, no fuss. Keep the flow balanced by embracing leisure time. Your playful spirit makes you a joy to be around when you can slow down long enough for others to see it. The entrance of Uranus in Aries for the next seven years spurs curiosity in unique areas - the perfect time to explore new hobbies. Enter a local cooking contest. Food is the perfect outlet for your creativity and it doesn’t talk back! Win, win.

Your pairing: Flame grilled, cocoa-spice rubbed NY strip and lobster tail with roasted asparagus and caramelized lemons paired with a peppery Zinfandel.
StarLite!
• You can’t always fight illness with willpower… force yourself to rest more to keep energy charged.
• Hungry in a hurry isn’t a healthy combination, try to plan for meals ahead of time to mitigate crankiness!
• Make sure you have lots of bright color on your plate: spices and ethnic foods, or just put purple food coloring in your oatmeal!
Aries
Ariens are more prone to headaches and blocked sinuses. When levels of salt in the body goes down, they may feel down and depressed.
Should have: Dried apricots, bananas, figs, broccoli, beans, brussels sprouts, spinach, cauliflower, cucumber, pumpkins, brown rice, lentils, veal, swordfish and walnuts.


Taurus

Hear's a tune you'll soon be humming!
april 20 - may 20
ruled by: venus
status: I have
quickfire:
You are a musical being who loves potatoes. Yes, even though you tend to be a mass of contradictions
, it's that simple.
You love beauty, converastion, and fine things. These traits transfer nicely to your foodie birthrights... good service, good food, good value. You equally embrace traditional or exotic cooking and you don't like to repeat your recipies. Of course, you're so stubborn, your best bet is to host the dinner party so your guests can't disagree with you!
The bonus is... you're GREAT COOKS!
Of course, Chef Cosmo is a Taurus!
Taurus
Taureans can bloat when stressed out.
Should have: Nuts, eggs, seafood, spinach, green salads, cranberries and kidney beans.


gemini

Two by two you travel through life!
may 21 to june 20
ruled by: mercury
status: I think

quickfire: Whoa! You're probably reading this on your iPhone en route to your next 'to do'... stop for just a minute and breathe. I promise your world won't disolve like a warp in the Matrix. You are constantly on the go, multi-tasking with moody flair.
By all foodie birthrights, your favorite foods can be eaten while walking, blogging, or debating. Your liberal nature and quick mind makes you a sought after companion for all entertaining activities. Learn to graze, you'll love the scenery.
The triple wallop of two eclipses and Mercury entering your sign this month deepens the depth of your duality. People perceive your extra easygoing charm, but your relentless pursuit of life is fully engaged. Talk less, listen more. Shifting the focus away from you actually reaps many benefits.
Continue your quest for work/life balance by making summer vacation plans early and be sure to include lots of me-time. Since you are happier reading a cookbook on your iPad than actually cooking a meal, maybe a trip to one of the trending food truck Meccas like Portland, Austin, or San Francisco is in order.

Your pairing: Grilled turkey and Swiss burger with fennel slaw and a grassy Fumé Blanc
Gemini
The people belonging to this star sign get easily stressed out. They should stay away from caffeine and too much alcohol.
Should have: Asparagus, grapefruit, almonds, shellfish, apples, oranges, peaches, plums, milk, buttermilk and cottage cheese.



Cancer
cancer - june 21 - july 22
ruled by: the moon
status: I feel

quick fire: Our crab-people LOVE their shells and rely on their whole astro-chart to crack them open. The rest of us couldn't survive without these home-loving, sensitive, nurturing, possessive, domestic crustaceons. You are at your best when you are comforting others with food. You derail everyone's diets with love. Your friends will have to drag you out to restaurants, but once there, you are the lifeline of the party and grateful that they made the effort (as long as no one hurts your feelings!)
Cancer
Those belonging to this star sign need to watch out for overeating especially when emotionally worked up.
Should have: Grapes, oranges, melon, strawberries, blueberries, lettuce, parsley, lemongrass, fish and shellfish.



Leo
leo - july 23 -august 22
ruled by: the sun

status: I will
quick fireMangiare is not just the Italian verb for 'to eat'.
Mangia! is the passionate cry that sounds the beginning of every Italian meal with outstretched arms and huge smiles. A Leo must have started this tradition. You are a community cat, magnetic and generous... especially when you have an audience. You love the best of everything and your foodie birthright is no exception. Bask in the warmth of hosting great meals, you're always a crowd pleaser!
Leo
Low-fat levels are essential to keep you healthy.
Should have: Almonds, whole wheat, dates, walnuts, raisins, beetroot, coconuts, lemons, peaches, pears, figs, beef, seafood, lamb and asparagus.


Virgo
virgo - august 23 - september 22
ruled by: mercury
status: I analyze
quick fire: Recipe dissection is a favorite pastime for our analytical Virgoans. You are likely to be a vegetarian or have acute tendencies toward certain food philosophies. Your foodie birthright is a nourishing diet of nuts, grains, beans, seeds and plain yogurt... boring! It's okay, someone has to keep us healthy! Avoid noisy crowds, they cause stress and disturb your perfectionist eating rituals. You are benevolent to a fault... tweeting your generous spirit helps our world evolve.
Virgo
Virgos tend to worry easily and this takes a toll on their digestive system. They also have to watch out for flaky scalps, fatigue and dry skin.
Should have: Oats, whole wheat grain breads, melon, papaya, oranges, bananas, cottage cheese and eggs.

Libra
september 23 - october 22
ruled by: venus

status: I balance

quickfire:
Libra's proverbial passionate soul makes them the ultimate foodie. You require lots of texture in your foods, friends, and environments. Your need to constantly engage your senses motivates you to experience many cultural and exotic foods and just as many variations of people.
You love to orchestrate events and create experiences, engaging your vast networks. We all appreciate these skills, but please... learn to reign in your inner-control freakieness and the world will truly see through your rose-colored glasses and enjoy the social ride.
Libra StarChefs:
Emeril Lagassi, Robert Irvine, and Thomas Keller
Libra
Libras should avoid drinking too much and consuming processed foods in excess.
Should have: Strawberries, beetroot, corn, carrots, apples, raisins, poultry, seafood, low-fat cheese and yoghurt.



Scorpio
october 23 - november 21
ruled by: mars
status: I create
quickfire:
Scorpio is the only Sun Sign that can make sleazy the new fine dining experience. You love dark, secluded, mysterious places where you can be incognito and embrace your wild side.
Your intense extremes motivate you toward harsh diets. Give yourself a break and indulge in more of your favorite foodie experiences, which will include spicy red sauces, rich seafoods, and lots of proteins... oh, and cocktails.
You keep us on our toes and enrich our spheres!
star bytes:
Determined and forceful
Powerful and passionate
Exciting and magnetic
Jealous and resentful
Compulsive and obsessive
Secretive and obstinate
Scorpio
Scorpios have to deal with emotional stress and also suffer from infections.
Should have: Cheese, artichokes, watercress, milk, yogurt, walnuts, almonds, pineapple and prunes.



Sagittarius
november 22 - december 21
ruled by: jupiter
status: I understand

quickfire:
Encarta defines abundance as a fullness of spirit that overflows. That is you, Sag, in loads. Your free spirit craves travel and you adore foreign foods as long as you can find the locals' hangout. You love to be entertained while eating... good jokes or dinner theater, either works fine. Keep the overindulgence in check, except for your famous, first-class backyard barbecues!


Sagittarius
People belonging to this star sign tend to gain weight on the thighs and hips. They should also lower their alcohol intake and keep fat levels low.
Should have: Oranges, plums, strawberries, figs, brussels sprouts, cherries, asparagus, green peppers, potatoes and tomatoes, oats, eggs, whole grain cereal, skimmed milk, fish and yoghurt.


Capricorn

december 22 - january 19
ruled by: saturn
status: I use
quick fire: Who says you can't mix business with pleasure? You are a networking, connecting, climbing, dogmatic, misunderstood overachiever! In order to sustain this momentum you need hearty traditional sustenance. You are uncomfortable with self-indulgence and whims... so ask your friends to calendar reminders to inspire you to treat yourself. A great meal is the perfect reward for all of your hard work!
Capricorn
Capricorns should have foods rich in calcium.
Should have: Broccoli, figs, oranges, lemons, cabbage, peas, potatoes and spinach, brown rice, oats, almonds, walnuts, eggs, fish, cheese, buttermilk and yoghurt.



Aquarius
january 20 - february 18
ruled by: uranus
status: I know

quickfire: You are living in a time zone ahead of the rest of us happily surrounded by a fray of eclectic friends and family dysfunction. You are innovative, smart, rebelious, and talkative. You will try anything and hate breakfast (for breakfast). You love all of the cooking gizmos, gadgets, and futuristic methods, especially when you can use them to remake a tradition. Your foodie birthrights feed this stream with lots of weird food, strangely connected dinner guests from a smartphone full of great friends who adore hanging out with you.
More than any other sign, Aquarians bring humans together, so what better way to accomplish that than to cook for them!
Aquarian StarChefs!Paula Deen (1/19)
Guy Fieri (1/22)
Michael Chiarello (1/26)
Lydia Bastianich (2/2)
Ina Garten (2/2)
Aaron Sanchez (2/12)
Paul Bocuse (2/11)
Aquarius
Aquarians may suffer from high blood pressure.
Should have: Peaches, pears, figs, lemons, dates, figs, pomegranates, cabbage, strawberries, corn, celery, peppers, radishes, tomatoes, lentils, brown rice, walnuts, almonds, chicken, veal, clams, lobster and tuna.



pisces
february 19 - march 20
ruled by: neptune

status: I believe

Quickfire:
Pisces all-stars are the compassionate psychic blend of all the Sun Signs paired with uncany insight and imagination. You believe in everyone and everything, which makes you a sensitive, caring friend. People love to share meals with you, there's always great music, warm aesthetics, and lots of bubbles. Luckily they will always be patient while you change your mind on which entrée 
to have... several times! If you could have dinner and a massage at the same time, you'd totally do it!
Your month:Two important concepts for you to embrace right now: 1. Relax-time grounds you so creativity can harvest greatest results… spend time away from the fray with simple pleasures like cooking, writing, mixology, and dancing, and 2. You never know which hobby will become a career; use your innate über instincts to open the possibilities. A beach picnic with oysters and bubbles is the ticket in any season… the full moon in Virgo on 19th illuminates relationships – bundle up and enjoy time with friends!
Your pairing: Plank grilled trout with Asti caper tapenade and a spicy arugula salad paired with a crispy Tyler Florence Sauvignon Blanc.

StarSight:
Purpose: envision, we depend on your magical insight to spark creativity
Gift: empathy, your compassion gives safe haven
Challenge: indecision inhibits your forward movement
Affirmation“I am true to myself and grateful for my resources.”

StarChefs: Tyler Florence, Jeff Smith, Anne Burrell, Scott Conant, Jean-Christophe Novelli
Pisces
People belonging to this zodiac sign are prone to colds, flu and infections.
Should have: Lamb, chicken, oysters, dried beans, whole grain cereals, oranges, beetroot, lettuce, onions, spinach, apples, dates, apricots, grapes, lemons, peaches and prunes.