MUSTARD.....

MUSTARD....
Mustard is one of the ancient spices used by almost every country in the world. Other than adding flavor to your food it is also known for its curative power.The unique healing properties of mustard seeds can partly be attributed to their home among the Brassica foods found in the cruciferous plant family.

Mustard has the following nutrients in it..the nutrients are arranged in ascending order of their % in the seed -
-Selenium,Tryptophan,Omega-3 fatty acids,phoporous,manganese,magnesium,dietry fibre,iron,calcium,protein,niacin,zinc and lastly calories.

-Selenium is a nutrient that has been shown to help reduce asthma, arthritis and certain cancers.

-Magnesium also reduces asthma and lowers blood pressure.

Some of the health benefits of mustard's are :-

-Increased rate of metabolism

-Speeds up digestion process by increasing saliva as much as eight times more than normal

-Inhibits cancer cell growth and possibly prevents other types of cancer as well.

-Treatment of skin diseases through the application of sulfur found in mustard.

The four powerful qualities in mustard is antibacterial, anti fungal, antiseptic and has anti-inflammatory properties.

So don't go by the size,just see the amount of benefits given to us by the tiny tot.

TANGY TOMATOES

TOMATOES......
The tomato not only thrills the taste buds and brightens the dinner table, it also helps fight disease.They are the fourth most loved vegetables in the world.This ia mainly coz of the health awareness of the vegetable.

To begin with the health benefits services rendered by tomatoes they have rich content of vitamin C. They also contain vitamin A and potassium along with substancial amount of iron.

-The red pigment contained in tomatoes is called lycopene. This compound appears to act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells in the body. Only recently, studies have revealed that lycopene may have twice the punch of another well-known antioxidant betacarotene.
-Eating tomatoes in case of congestion of liver gives you fruitful results. Tomatoes also aids in dissolving of gallstones

-Nicotine acid present in tomatoes reduces the cholesterol level of body. This way tomato keeps the body away from heart ailments like hear attack, heart blockage etc.

-Tomatoes are very effective in purifying the blood.

-Regular intake of tomatoes also improves the texture of your skin and color. It provides natural redness to your cheeks. You can prepare various face-packs in your home using tomatoes as per your skin type that can rejuvenate and refresh your skin.

-Since ages, tomato is known to be a natural antiseptic. Intake as well as application of tomatoes works wonders for your body both internally as well as externally
As tomatoes are rich in all these above nutrients doctor recommends regular intake of tomatoes to people, suffering from high homocysteine level.

HEALTHY NUTS

WALNUTS - THE HEALTHY NUTS

Walnuts a delicious way to add nutrition and flavor to your maels.This nut is available round the year. It is a huge store of Omega acids,very much essential for our body.

- Omega-3 fatty acids :-

Ample of scientific evidences are there to prove that omega-3s lower cholesterol, protect the heart, protect against some cancers and help ease symptoms of inflammatory diseases like arthritis.

Polyunsaturated fats, like you find in walnuts, are high in essential fatty acids. These are called essential because you must get them from your diet. As an added bonus, fat makes food taste good. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold water fish, such as salmon, as well as in plant foods including walnuts, leafy greens, soybeans and flaxseed.

- Ellagic and gallic acid :-

Supports the immune system and appears to have several anti-cancer properties. Monounsaturated fats - has favorable effects on high cholesterol levels and other cardiovascular risk factors.

-Alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) :-

Lowers levels of C-reactive protein, increases levels of protective omega-3s.

- Manganese and Copper :-

Are two minerals that are essential cofactors in a number of enzymes important in antioxidant defense

- Increases the elasticity of arteries

-Provides antioxidant protection

-Helps prevent gallstones

-Eating Nuts Lowers Risk of Weight Gain :-
Although nuts are known to provide a variety of cardio-protective benefits, many avoid them for fear of weight gain. A prospective study published in the journal Obesity shows such fears are groundless. In fact, people who eat nuts at least twice a week are much less likely to gain weight than those who almost never eat nuts.

Chocolate: luscious, lumpy. load of love......

CHOCOLATES

A chocolate has been one of the most popular treats in the world for centuries. It's really difficult to find a person who is not fond of eating chocolates. Everybody is crazy about chocolates due to its mouth-watering taste and fascinating appearance. Kids cannot control their temptation about chocolates and many parents experience that kids can be stopped from crying with a gift of chocolate. As chocolate is available in different attractive colors, shapes and sizes, it has gained extreme popularity all over the world and it has become integral part of any kind of celebration.

It’s great news for chocolate-lovers that eating chocolates can be advantageous for health. Now you need not prevent yourself from eating chocolates, as there are numerous health benefits of chocolates.

• It consists of vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E as well as iron, calcium and potassium.


• Phosphorus is important for teeth and bone formation in children. . In combination with calcium, it helps to keep the bone healthy and strong


• Magnesium can maintain normal functioning of muscles and nerves. It is beneficial for strong bones and healthy immune system.


• Flavonoids in chocolate possess antioxidant properties, which offers wonderful health benefits such as reduced cancer risk


• Serotonin present in chocolate acts as anti-depressant. It can increase happiness and alertness and many experience pain reducing benefit


• Caffeine, theobromine, phenylamine and tyramine found in chocolate can decrease fatigue and offer extra boost


• Good news for health conscious people is that some fats in chocolate don’t impact cholesterol. Three types of fats are found in chocolate such as oleic acid, which is healthy monosaturated fat, stearic acid and palmitic acid. Out of them, only palmitic acid can be bad for your health.

Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate!

HEALTHY ONIONS

ONIONS

We cannot imagine cooking without Onions. Most of the recipes cooked by most part of the world has Onions as their important ingredient.Tears and bad breath-these are the two things usually associated with onion . But there is much more to this popular vegetable, which are known not only for their unique flavours but also for their therapeutic benefits. Onion is guaranteed to transform any meal into a profoundly aromatic culinary experience.
Onions are believed to have originated from Egypt.Although it has a very strong pungent smell that can be overwhelming, it contains curative values.

• Fresh as well as cooked onions have anti-platelet adhesiveness, which helps in preventing thrombosis.
• Onion has been found to be very good for those suffering from high blood pressure.
• Onion helps reduce inflammation and is therefore, beneficial for those suffering from Neuritis, Vertigo and Bronchitis.
• Onion, being a diuretic, increases the secretion of urine.
• Onions are rich in flavonoids and thus, provide protection against cardiovascular disease.
• Onions are very good for the health of hair, finger and toe nails and even the eyes.
• Onions contain a number of sulfides that help in lowering blood lipids.
• Onions have anti-allergy properties, apart from being slightly laxative.
• Onions help drain out mucus from the cavities and loosen phlegm, in turn alleviating the symptoms of sinus.
• Onions help the body in destroying worms and other parasites.
• Researches have revealed that onions prolong longevity.
• Since onions have the property of helping lower blood sugar, they are good for those suffering from diabetes.
• The extracts of onion, being rich in a variety of sulfides, provide some protection against tumor growth.

Nutritional Value of Onion :-

- Vitamin A - 75 IU
- Vitamin C - 9 mg
- Calcium - 48 mg
- Proteins - 1 gm
- Phosphorus - 66 mg
- Carbohydrate - 16 gm
- Sodium - 5 mg
- Potassium - 200 mg
- Dietary Fiber - 3 gm
- Calories - 60
- Total Fat - 0 gm
- Saturated Fat - 0 gm

Onion is Benenificial in the following conditions:
.Asthma
· Influenza
· Colds
· Tuberculosis
· Insomnia
· Pneumonia
· Antiallergy
· Obesity
· Reduce inflammation
·Slightly laxative
· High Blood Pressure
· Lowers cholesterol
· Prolong longevity
. Helps destroy worms and other parasites.
· Bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial tube)
· Neuritis (inflammation of the nerves)
· Vertigo (inflammation of nerves)
· Diuretic (increases the secretion of urine)
· Diabetes mellitus - lowers blood sugar.
· Valuable for the hair, nails of the fingers and toes, and for the eyes.
· Sinus conditions - helps to drain mucus from the cavities and loosen phlegm.
· Whether fresh or cooked onions have antiplatelet, adhesiveness, thus preventing thrombosis.

THE GOODNESS OF BEETROOT

BEETROOT

Beet root is gone out of fashion vegetable for those in the antiseptic west. It's a messy vegetable to be dealt with,it's juices can stain your clothes,it needs alot of cleaning coz of it's soil dressing and above all people don't know how long it is to be cooked... Well,well but it's health benefits are legion.

Beetroot's pigments come from a set of compounds known as betalains which are thought to have powerful and diverse antioxidant effects including preventing the oxidisation of LDL cholesterol.Beetroot's main benefits are that it contains no fat, very few calories and is a great source of fibre.Great news isn't it :)

It is one of the richest sources of folic acid, which helps to protect unborn babies from spina bifida, and is also thought to help lower homocysteine levels in the blood.Beetroot contains copious amounts of vitamin C, folic acid and potassium, and silica which makes it a useful antidote to eating too much salt and a contributor to lowering blood pressure. Silica aids the uptake of calcium.

Moreover it is also helpful in curing Anaemia,Digestive disorders,Constipation & piles,kidney & gall bladder disorders and above all the most common problem of Dandruff,isn't it amazing....

So the next time you see beetroot don't forget to include it in your salad plate.