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 CABBAGE

CABBAGE


The most disliked vegetable by the kids,they can give you the weirdest excuses for not having their meals if you have cooked cabbage today.

History says that Greeks in ancient times used cabbage juice to treat soreness or infection in the eyes.Cabbage is full of nutritional values and has various medicinal properties too. Cabbage can be eaten raw in the form of Salad or can be cooked. Studies suggest that it should be brought to our table 2 to 3 times a week

#Presence of Vitamins in cabbage :-

Vitamin A - Good for your eyes and skin

Vitamin B - Sustains veracity of nerve endings as well as boosting of energy metabolism

Vitamin C - Helps in burning body fat...Are the weight lossers taking note of it

Vitamin D - Helps in maintaining skin vigor.

# Cabbage contains phytonutrients that helps the body in fighting against the free radicals responsible for damaging the cell membranes. At the same time, phytonutrients aids the production of enzymes that help in detoxification.

# Raw cabbage juice is well documented as being remarkably effective in treating peptic ulcers.

#Consumption of cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, is known to reduce the risk of a number of cancers, especially lung, colon, breast, ovarian and bladder cancer

#Cabbage has anti-inflammatory properties. It also contains lactic acid that acts to disinfect colon

#Drinking 25-50 ml of cabbage juice helps treat headache, asthma, bronchitis and digestion problems

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF CABBAGE :-

• Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter). Cruciferous vegetables, including cabbage, contain goitrin, thiocyanate, and isothiocyanate. These chemicals, known collectively as goitrogens, inhibit the formation of thyroid hormones and cause the thyroid to enlarge in an attempt to produce more. Goitrogens are not hazardous for healthy people who eat moderate amounts of cruciferous vegetables, but they may pose problems for people who have a thyroid condition or are taking thyroid medication.
• Intestinal gas. Bacteria that live naturally in the gut degrade the indigestible carbohydrates (food fiber) in cabbage, producing gas that some people find distressing.

Nutritional values :-

- Calories - 26
- Vitamins B - high
- Beta-carotene - 385mcg
- Calcium - 52 mg
- Folate - 75 mcg
- Potassium - 270 mg
- Vitamin C - 50 mg
- Vitamin E - 0.2 mg

RICY RICE

RICE.....

Rice is the most affordable food available to everyone right from the rich to the poor.Rice in itself is a complete food, which goes well with other foods very easily to end up adding nutrients,bulk and flavor to our meal.
Rice doesn't require expensive, complicated cookware and much time spent on preparation, and cooking.
-Rice has been found to be very easy to digest.
-It is low in fat, low in cholesterol, high in starch, and has a high nutritional content.
-Rice is also an excellent source of energy. It is comprised of 77.5% carbohydrate.
-Rice also contains a range of important nutrients, including B and E vitamins, protein and minerals, especially potassium which helps the body reduce toxins.

Nutritional values of rice :-
Per 200g cooked brown rice

• Calories - 282 mg
• Fibre - 1.6 mg
• Iron - 1 mg
• Magnesium -220 mg
• Niacin - 2.6 mg
• Potassium - 198 mg
• Vitamin B1 - 0.3mg
• Vitamin B2 - 0.04mg
• Zinc - 1.4 mg

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.

OATS THE GATES TO HEALTH

OATS

The origin of Oats goes back to the fifth century B.C, Hypocraites the father of healing arts has written about Oats and its benefits.
Oats are now-a-days becoming popular among health concious people. . In the form of oatmeal they are rich not only in carbohydrates, 67 percent, but also in protein, 16 percent; fat, 7 percent; minerals, 2 percent, and the rest moisture or water. All told, a pound of oatmeal contains 1,850 calories. It follows that a judicious use of oatmeal can cut down on the use of more costly foods.


Benefits of Oats :-

• Eating oat regularly will lower your blood cholesterol level
• A very good anti-depressant. It will make you calm and releive you from depression.
• Oats also prevent bowel cancer because of its high fibre content.
• Having oats can cure constipation.
• Oats also help in lowering chances of heart-disease
• A godown of vitamin B1
• On a per gram basis, oats contain a higher concentration of protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, manganese, thiamin, folacin and Vitamin E than any other unfortified whole grain, such as wheat, barley, corn or rice.
• Oats contain one of the best amino acid profiles of all grains. Amino acids are essential proteins that help facilitate optimum functioning of the body.
• Oats are naturally low in fat. Researchers agree that nearly everyone – men and women of all ages and races – benefits from eating a low-fat diet.

The best way to include Oats in your day-to-day diet is to have it at breakfast...

HEALTHY GINGER

GINGER

Ginger the root has its root in the history for more than 25oo years. Researchers state that this herb was first found in South-east Asia.

Ginger has long been known as a very healthy food. It has anti-cancer properties and is recognised as healthy by both modern and ancient systems of medicine.

Now let us see what the root has in it that it has become so very popular in medical books.

The health benefits of ginger come from chemicals called volatile oils, specifically gingerols and shogaols, that also give ginger its spicy, pungent taste. Those oils stimulate your body to produce more digestive juices and help neutralize the stomach acids that cause cramping, nausea and diarrhea. Ginger is also a natural decongestant and antihistamine, which makes it a natural treatment for head colds.

Some other health benefits of Ginger are stated below :-

· Ginger Root tea / capsule is beneficial in suppressing nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy.
· Ginger is better in preventing postoperative nausea than the often used injections of the tranquilizer metoclopramide.
· Helps lower cholesterol
· Helps in anti motion sickness
· Helps in rheumatism - is can also be use to cover the affected area with crushed and heated gingerroot. The natural warming agent of ginger root can bring an immediate relief on rheumatic attack.
· Helps prevent morning sickness nausea and vomiting during an early stage of pregnancy.
· Ginger is effective against hyperemesis gravidarum ( a severe type of nausea and vomiting related pregnancy). In the study there is no harm on fetus found in the use of ginger. But it is still recommended to consult your herbal doctor.

The great thing about ginger that allows it to be so potent is that it is the one natural ingredient that does not cause any known side effects. This is because it does not have the tendency to interact negatively with other drugs present in the body. In a sense, this makes ginger pretty safe to use for natural medicinal purposes.

So now I guess that after reading this article you have ample of reasons to start eating more Ginger.

But a few cautions are in order. Since ginger helps thin the blood, don’t take it prior to surgery. Ginger may interfere with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and dietary iron, and may actually cause an upset stomach if too much is taken. Those taking blood thinners, barbiturates, beta-blockers, insulin or diabetes medications should consult their doctor about ginger since it could conflict with these medicines. Ginger may stimulate uterine contractions so pregnant women should be careful how much ginger they ingest.

CARDAMOM THE QUEEN OF SPICES

CARDAMOM

When I hear the name Cardamom the first thing that comes to my mind is a hot cup a Tea with a aroma of cardamom....But other than just adding aroma to the food this "Queen of spices " is having a huge range of medicinal benefits... Found predominantly in Indian cuisine and used in Ayurvedic medicine, the ancient Greeks and Roman appreciated this spice as well. They thought it was an aphrodisiac and put the spice in their "love" potions.

It is found that the origin of Cardamom is in India and hence it dominates the spices used for cooking in India. These are the few medicinal properties of cardamom :-

- Detoxifies the body of caffeine

- Cleanses kidneys and bladder

- Stimulates digestive system and reduces gas

- Expectorant action

- Improves circulation to the lungs and thus considered good for asthma and bronchitis

- Antispasmodic

- Can counteract excess acidity in the stomach

- Stimulates appetite

- Remedy for tendency to infection

- Cures halitosis (bad breath)

Now you know that this cute little spice has so many good things to be neglected. Next time you drink tea, remember Cardamom!!

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