Eating Indian Curry can help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and Dementia

A US researcher suggests that eating a curry once or twice a week could help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

The Indian curry contains the key ingredient i.e Curcumin, a component of the spice turmeric that appears to prevent the spread of amyloid protein plaques - thought to cause dementia - in the brain.

Professor Murali Doraiswamy, of Duke University in North Carolina, said there was evidence that people who eat a curry meal two or three times a week have a lower risk of dementia" "If you have a good diet and take plenty of exercise, eating curry regularly could help prevent dementia", he said.

Dr Susanne Sorensen, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "Indian communities that regularly eat curcumin have a surprisingly low incidence of Alzheimer's disease but we don't yet know why

Source : Eating curry can prevent dementia

Healthy herb/food series - CUMIN

Cumin in India is known as Jira,its botanical name is Cuminum cyminum L. It is a annual herb.Basically Cumin is the native of eastern mediterranean region. Other places where Cumin grows are Iran, Morocco, Indonesia, China, India and Egypt.

Cumin seeds possess 6.2% of moisture, 35.5% of carbohydrates, 17.7% of proteins, 23.8% of fats, 7.7% of minerals and 9.1% of crude fibre with vitamin B1, B2, A and C.

Cumin as a healthy food!

1). Cures diarrhoea: Mix cumin seed powder with curd. Take 3 times in a day.

2). Cures stomachache: Mix equal amounts of honey and cumin powder, lick the mixture slowly.

3). Stops dysentery: In one cup of curd, mix one spoon of cumin powder and 4 spoons of water. Take it 3 times in a day with a gap of 4 hours.

4). Treats dyspepsia: Mix cumin powder with jaggery. Take twice in a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

5). Cures anuresis: Mix equal amounts of cumin powder and sugar candy, powder it, take one full spoon of this mixture with cold water. Repeat it after every 4 hours.

6). Cures menorrhagia: Mix equal amounts of cumin powder and sugar candy with ghee, take twice in a day.

7). Stops vomiting: Mix cumin seeds with salt in the lemon juice.

8). Neutralises spider poison: Make the paste of cumin powder and dry ginger with water. Apply it on the affected part.

Healthy herb/food series - MINT

Mint in India is known as Podina,it's botanical name is Mentha longifolia,it is a perennial herb.Basically Mint is the native of Europe and Asia--France,Germany,Indonesia,China and India.

MINT green leaves possess 92% of moisture, 3% of carbohydrates, 2% of proteins, 0.5% of fats, 2% of minerals and 0.5% of fibres with vitamin A, B1 and C.

MINT as a healthy food!

1). Powder of dry mint leaves with 10 gm of water before cohabitation checks conception in women.

2). Take 2 spoons of dry mint leaves,boil them with water till the water quantity reduces to half, add 1 spoon of sugar, drink one cup of this mixture when migraine occurs,surely it will help.

3). Take 3 gms of cardamomum with 6 gm of mint leaves, boil them in water till amount of water reduces to half. Cool it and then filter it. Take this filterate at intervals of 1 hour, it cures cholera , stops vomiting and provides relief.

4). Take few mint leaves,grind them with water, put 2 or 3 drops in the nostrils, this will kill worms in the nose.

5). Take few mint leaves and grind them in wine to make a fine paste, apply it over the face, it removes pimples and frackles on the face.

6). Mint together with rosemary in vinegar is effective in controlling dandruff, only precaution keep this prepared mixture in a cool dark place. This mixture generally lasts for a week.

7). Mint herbal tea acts as a after dinner stomach soother. It is effective in curing digestion problems.


Hey guys and something more, believe it or not -- mint is considered to be auspicious to carry in wallet,so keep few leaves in your purse next time you move out as it attracts both money and prosperity.
Your comments and views are most welcome at all times, if you want to share something on healthy foods again you are most welcome, I HOPE it would be great fun and lot of learning.

Healthy herb/food series - CLOVE

CLOVE in India is known as Laung. It's botanical name is Syzygium aromaticum. Clove is basically the native of small island of Moluccas. East India Company introduced it in India in 18 century A.D. Other places where Clove grows areTanzania, Madagascar, Indonesia,Malaysia, Srilanka, Haiti and Pemba islands.

Clove constitutes 5.5% of moisture, 6.5% of protein, 15.3% of fat, 10.9% of crude fibre, 5% of mineral matter, 57.9% of carbohydrates and vitamins B1,B2,C and A.
Clove oil is 65% to 90% eugenol which is responsible for its antiseptic and anesthetic properties.

CLOVE as a Healthy herb

1). Boil 3 gms cloves in 3 kg of water till the content of water becomes half. Sipping it slowly curbs vomitting in pregnant women.

2). Roast 3 cloves and mix these in jaggery, Lick it , it will cure cough.

3). Rub clove over stone and then put the paste on pimple. It will cure the pimple.

4). Take 2 cloves in a betel leaf twice a day, it will make sore throat better.

5). Boil 3 cloves in water , filter it and suck throgh nostrils, it will provide relief in cold.

6). Take 2 cups of hot water and put 4 cloves in it for 30 minutes. Filter it after 30 minutes. Gargle twice a day it stops bad breath.

7). Take 2 cloves inside your mouth and suck slowly, do not chew them. It checks carvings for alcohol for sometime.

8). Take an apple and peel it. Insert many cloves from lower end inside the fruit. Keep it for 40 days in a well protected place. After 40 days take out all the cloves and store them. After meal take one clove and suck slowly, it definitely provides relief in all types of stomach ailments.

9). Take clove oil or paste in cotton and place over the aching tooth, it provides relief from pain.

10). Clove as antioxidant helps prevent the cell damage that scientists believe eventually causes cancer. On the other hand, in laboratory tests, the chemical eugenol, has been found to be a weak tumor promoter, making clove one of many healing herbs with both pro- and anti-cancer effects.

11). 3 to 5 drops of clove oil mixed with honey and a clove of garlic together help to alleviate painful spasmodic coughs in tuberculosis, asthma and bronchitis. It should be taken once before going to bed.

12). A teaspoon of decoction prepared by boiling 6 cloves in 30 ml of water taken with honey thrice daily as an expectorant, is an effective remedy for asthma.

13). Saute a clove in a teaspoon of sesame (til) oil, Put 3 to 5 drops of this warm oil into the ear, it cures earache.

14). Muscular cramps are often relieved when the oil of clove is applied as a poultice near the affected portion.

15). Apaste of clove and salt in milk is a common household remedy for headaches.

16). Clove is one of the best remedy for styes which is an inflammation around the eyelash. A clove stub rubbed in water and then applied over the stye gives relief.

Clove is magical in the way that it stimulates memory and helps to cure negative feelings. Clove oil, applied outwardly, has stimulating effects on the skin, producing heat and redness.

Pareekh Sandwich

Pareekh Sandwich

Ingredients -

Small cabbage (finely chopped) - 1
Onion (sliced) - 2
Carrot (grated) - 1
Potato (boiled) - 1
Peas (semi - boiled) - 1/2 cup
Cheese slices - 3
Bread loaves - 6
Olive oil - 1 tablespoon
Pepper for sprinkling
Salt to taste
Mint coriander chutney

Process -

For the stuffing mixture -

1). Heat oil in a non-stick pan for 10 seconds. Add sliced onions to it. Keep stirring onions for 30 seconds.

2). Add semi-boiled peas and grated carrot, stir for 15 seconds.

3). Now add cabbage to the above mixture on low flame. Also add salt to taste.Stir for 2 to 3 minutes till the cabbage becomes soft.

4). Mash the potato and add to the above ingredients. Stir for next 1 minute.

The stuffing is prepared.

5). Take a loaf of bread.Spread mint coriander chutney on 1 side of the loaf, then spread the stuffing mixture over it.Sprinkle bit of pepper over it.

6). Cut the cheese slice in two and spread half the slice on the above loaf.Cover the above with another loaf of bread.

7). Keep the above sandwich in pre heated grilling machine/oven for 2 minutes and if it is not preheated keep the same for 6 minutes.

8). Repeat the process with other four loaves.

Serve hot with sauce and cucumber - tomato salad.

It tastes yummy and is healthy too as fat content is low.

If you are too health consious you can avoid cheese.

Pudina Paneer OR Mint Cottage cheese recipie

Ingredients:

Fresh Mint (Pudina) leaves chopped = half bunch or approx 2 cups.
OR
Dried Mint = 1/2 cup.
Onions sliced finely = 4.
Cottage cheese = 250 gms.
Mixed spices OR Garam masala = 3/4 teaspoon.
Turmeric powder = 1/2 teaspoon.
Red chilli powder = 3/4 teaspoon.
Tomatoes = 3.
Salt to taste.
Oil = 2 tablespoon.

Process:

1). Cut cottage cheese into cubes of 1/2".
2). Cut tomatoes into tiny pieces after removing the pulp,keep pulp aside.
3). Heat oil,add onions ,cook till onions become light brown in colour.
4). Add turmeric,red chilli powder and salt.Cook for 35 to 40 seconds.
5). Add tomato pulp.Cook till pulp appears to be dry.
6). Add cottage cheese, mint and tomato pieces.Mix them with light hand.
7). Add mixed spices.Cook for 2 minutes.

Serve hot.

Below are given equivalent english names of some indian names used in the recipie.

Indian name------------ English name

1). Pudina---------------- Mint
2). Garam masala------ Mixed spices
3). Haldi------------------ Turmeric
4). Paneer---------------- Cottage cheese

Embassy Paneer OR Embassy Cottage Cheese recipie

Embassy Paneer Or Embassy Cottage cheese recipie

Ingredients:

Cottage cheese - 250 gms cut in cubes or strips
Butter - 4 tablespoons
Onions (chopped finely) - 3
Green chilli (chopped finely) - 2
Ginger piece (chopped finely) - 1"
Crushed garlic flakes (optional) - 2
Plain flour - 3 teaspoons
Pepper - 1/2 teaspoon
Mixed spices - 3/4 teaspoon
Chilli powder - 1/2 teaspoon
Tomato ketchup - 3 teaspoons
Fresh coriander (chopped finely) - 1/2 cup
Tomatoes (finely chopped) - 3
Salt to taste
Mix 3/4 cup of milk in 1/3 cup of water and keep aside.

Process:

1). Take butter and heat it, add onion, garlic, ginger and green chillies. Stir constantly till the onions turn translucent.

2). Add plain flour and cook for 30 seconds.

3). Add milk and water mixture and stir continuously for 3 minutes on low heat.

4). Add tomatoes, ketchup, pepper and salt. Cook for 3 minutes.

5). Add paneer and coriander.Mix with a light hand.

6). Add garam masala and red chilli powder evenly, mix properly and serve hot.


Below are stated few equivalents of Indian names in English used in this recipie

Indian name ------- English name

Paneer---------------- Cottage cheese
Maida ----------------- Plain flour
Kali mirch ----------- Pepper
Garam masala ----- Mixed spices
Dhaniya -------------- Coriander
Lehsun --------------- Garlic
Adrak ----------------- Ginger
Mirch ------------------ Chilli

Instant Dhokla

Dhokla is a gujarati food, recipie is simple,so it is easy to prepare,for a change it is a good snack.


Ingredients -

1 cup - Gram flour (Besan)
½ tsp - Ginger paste or crush 1/2" piece of ginger
½ tsp - Green chilli paste or crush 2-3 chillies to paste
½ tsp - Turmeric powder (Haldi)
1 tsp - Sugar
1 tsp - Eno fruit salt
1 tsp - Salt
1 tbsp - Oil
3/4 cup - Water
1/2 cup - Sour curd OR 1/4 tsp - Soda-bi-carb and 2 tsp lemon juice

For Tempering (Tadka)

3/4 tsp - Mustard seeds (Rai)
3-4 - Curry leaves
2-3 - Green chillies-slit into long pieces
1 tbsp - Oil
1/2 cup - water
1/4 cup - White vinegar
1/2 tbsp - Sugar (optional)

Method -

1). Grease a 6" diameter round, flat dish with oil. Keep aside.

2). Sift gramflour to make it free from lumps.

3). Mix gramflour, ginger paste, chilli paste, salt, turmeric powder, sugar and oil and beat them in the curd. Beat till the barter turns smooth. Add water and mix .

4). Add eno fruit salt, stir gently .( If not taking curd then here pour lemon juice and add soda bi carbonate to the barter).

5). Now put this barter into the greased dish and place in the steamer.
Place a thin cloth between the lid and the steamer and close tight. Steam for 20 minutes.
OR
Microwave uncovered for 5 minutes.

6). Remove dish from the steamer / microwave and keep aside.

7). Heat oil for the tadka, add mustard seeds, curry leaves and green chillies. Sauté till slightly colored, add vinegar and water.
OR
Microwave oil,greenchillies,mustard seeds,water,vinegar and sugar for 31/2 minutes.

8). Pour the above over the dhokla and wait for 5 to 10 minutes till the dhokla absorbs the tempering mixture.

9). Cut the dhokla into desired sized pieces.

10). Garnish with chopped coriander and coconut (optional).

11). Serve with coriander mint chutney.

Corn Stuffed Tomato Salad

Salads - means if you love cooking, this is one area where you can be innovative to your heart content. I just tried fresh corn combination with tomato and it tasted awesome and looked great too.

Ingredients: Serves 2

Tomatoes - 2

Onion (chopped finely) - 1/2 tbsp

Green pepper (chopped finely) - 1/4 of the total length

Basil (Tulsi) leaves (finely chopped) - 2 or 3

Canned corn - 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup according to requirement

Vinaigrette - 1/5 cup

Tabasco sauce - 1/6 tsp or just a pinch of it
Salt - to taste

Black pepper - to taste

To make Vinaigrette at home: 1/4 cup

Any mustard ---- 1 and 1/4 tsp -

Sugar ---- 1 and 1/4 tsp

Salt ---- 1/5 tsp

Freshly grounded pepper ---- 1/5 tsp

Vinegar ---- 1 and 1/2 tbsp

Olive oil (ratio of vinegar:oil = 1:3) ---- 4 and 1/2 tbsp

Put all the above ingredients together in any bottle and shake well.

Salad Preparation:

1. Peel the tomatoes and scoop the pulp out.

2. Chop the pulp - do not mash it.

3. Add onion, cor, basil, pepper, salt and pepper

4. Add Tabasco sauce to vinaigrette and mix well.

5. Add tabasco sauce and vinaigrette mix to the mixture.

6. Toss all the ingredients together - do not let it crush or turn into paste.

7. Chill and serve

Top 10 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep

The secret to getting a solid 7 to 8 hours? About 90 minutes before you want to nod off, head for the kitchen and make yourself a sleepy-time snack. Keep it light (around 200 calories), so you don’t overload your digestive system. And include one or two foods from the list below. All help to relax tense muscles, quiet buzzing minds, and/or get calming, sleep-inducing hormones -- serotonin and melatonin -- flowing. Yawning yet? Courtesy: realage.com

1.	Bananas -- They’re practically a sleeping pill in a peel. In addition to a bit of soothing melatonin and serotonin, bananas contain magnesium, a muscle relaxant.
2.	Chamomile tea -- Chamomile is a staple of bedtime tea blends because of its mild sedating effect, which makes it the perfect natural antidote for restless minds and bodies.
3.	Warm milk -- It’s not a myth. Milk has some tryptophan, an amino acid that has a sedative-like effect, and calcium, which helps the brain use tryptophan. Plus, there’s the psychological throwback to infancy, when a warm bottle meant "relax, everything’s fine."
4.	Honey -- Drizzle a little in your warm milk or herb tea. Lots of sugar is stimulating, but a little glucose tells your brain to turn off orexin, a recently discovered neurotransmitter that’s linked to alertness.
5.	Potatoes -- A small baked spud won’t overwhelm your gastrointestinal tract as it clears away acids that can interfere with yawn-inducing tryptophan. To up the soothing effect, mash the potato with warm milk.
6.	Oatmeal -- Oats are a rich source of sleep-inviting melatonin, and a small bowl of warm cereal with a splash of maple syrup is cozy -- and if you’ve got the munchies, it’s filling, too.
7.	Almonds -- A handful of these heart-healthy nuts can send you snoozing because they contain both tryptophan and a nice dose of muscle-relaxing magnesium.
8.	Flaxseeds -- When life goes awry, and feeling down is keeping you up, try sprinkling 2 tablespoons of these healthy little seeds on your bedtime oatmeal. They’re rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a natural mood lifter.
9.	Whole-wheat bread -- A slice of toast with your tea and honey will release insulin, which helps tryptophan get to your brain, where it’s converted to serotonin and quietly murmurs "time to sleep."
10.	Turkey -- It’s the best-known source of tryptophan, credited with all those Thanksgiving naps. But that’s actually modern folklore. Tryptophan works when your stomach’s basically empty rather than overstuffed and when there are some carbs around rather than tons of protein. But put a lean slice or two on some whole-wheat bread midevening and you’ve got one of the best sleep-inducers in your kitchen. I am a pure vegetarian so the last tip doesn't goes as an option for me...

Healthy herb/ food series - FENUGREEK

Fenugreek in India is known as Methi. It's botanical name is Trigonella foenum-graecum L. Fenugreek is basically the native of eastern Europe and Ethiopia. Other places where Fenugreek grows are Brazil, Argentina, India, Poland, Russia, China and U.S.A islands.

Fenugreek constitutes 8.6% of moisture, 10.4% of protein, 15.9% of fat, 20.1% of fibre, 6.5% of mineral matter, 35.7% of carbohydrates and vitamins B1,B2,C and A.

FENUGREEK as a Healthy herb:

1). To cure diabetes: Soak 2 spoons of fenugreek seeds in water for a night. Take them before breakfast in the morning. This reduces the sugar level in blood and in urine within two months.

2). To reduce cholesterol: Soak fenugreek seeds in water for a night. Take wet seeds orally with water twice during the day. This will reduce serum cholesterol level.

3). To control blood pressure: Mix fenugreek seeds with dill seeds in equal amount and crush them to powder form. Take 2 spoons of in the morning and evening with water. This will help to make the blood pressure normal.

4). To treat asthma: Boil seeds and then crush them to a paste. Mix with honey. Take the same two times a day for a month.

5). To stop bleeding: Boil seeds in milk. Cool then strain. Mix sugar candy and then take the mixture. Bleeding from any part of the body will stop.

6). To keep joints fit and fine: Powder the seeds. Take 5 gm regularly 2 times a day with water.

7). To cure hay fever: Place seeds in cold water for 5 hours. After that boil for 2 minutes. Take one cup/ day. This will help to cure hay fever.

Food terms you should know

antioxidant (nutritional) — a chemical that slows down a type of chemical reaction called oxidation, which can cause damage inside the body. Examples are vitamins A and C, and the mineral selenium. Antioxidants are essential in the fight against cancer and aging. See free radical.

antioxidant (food additive) — you sometimes see antioxidants listed in the ingredients on food labels of processed food. They are added to help make the food stay fresh longer - they are not necessarily beneficial to your health.

bile — a greenish liquid made by the liver, and stored in the gall bladder between meals. During digestion, bile leaks into the small intestine, where it helps to break up fat globules.

calorie (cal) — a unit of energy, the one most often used when dealing with food. When people say, “calorie,” they normally mean “kilocalorie.” So, if someone tells you a chocolate bar has 200 calories, it actually has 200 kilocalories (200,000 calories).

carbohydrate — any chemical compound made up of the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and no other elements. Sugars, starch and dietary fiber are examples of carbohydrates. Those that can be digested are used by the body to provide energy.

cholesterol — a soft, waxy substance that plays an essential role in many body processes. In the blood, it is carried in globules called lipoproteins. A high level of one form of lipoprotein (called low density lipoprotein, or LDL) is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. LDL is often called “bad cholesterol,” while the other main lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is often called “good cholesterol,” because it is not associated with health problems.

DNA — stands for deoxyribonucleic acid; often referred to as the molecule of life. It carries information from generation to generation, and acts as a blueprint and template for building your body.

enzyme — a type of protein that plays a part in important chemical reactions inside living things. There are digestive enzymes, for example, which help to break down large, complex molecules in food into small, simple molecules that can be absorbed into the body.

fat — one of the macronutrients (along with carbohydrates and proteins). It accumulates in fat cells, most of which are just under the skin and around your internal organs. Fat provides insulation and shock absorption. Your body manufactures fat, as an energy store, if you take in more calories than you use up.

fiber — any indeigestable carbohydrate, such as cellulose found in plants. It absorbs water and it passes through your digestive system, preventing your feces from being too dry. Some fiber feeds beneficial bacteria in your large intestine. A high-fiber diet has many health benefits.

free radical — a chemical that easily takes part in chemical reactions. Inside your body, free radicals can damage your cells, contributing to aging. See antioxidant.

glucose — a simple sugar that is the body's main ready supply of energy. When you eat foods with carbohydrates in them, the carbohydrates break down in your digestive system to form glucose, which is absorbed into the blood.

glycogen — a chemical compound similar to glucose, and formed from glucose inside cells in the liver and muscles. When there is more than enough glucose in the blood, the excess is stored away as glycogen; when there is not enough, the glycogen forms glucose again, and is released into the blood.

glycemic index (GI) — a measure of how quickly a carbohydrate-rich food increases your blood sugar concentration. Pure glucose, which dissolves rapidly into the blood, is used as a reference, with a GI of 100. Low GI foods, which release glucose slowly, include apple juice and pasta.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) — see cholesterol

insulin — a hormone produced by the pancreas, and released into the blood when the concentration of blood sugar rises after a meal. It causes cells to absorb glucose.

kilocalorie (kcal) — see calorie

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) — see cholesterol

macronutrient — any of the three most important families of substance in food; carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

metabolic rate — the rate at which the body uses energy, usually expressed as kilocalories per day.

micronutrient — any important chemical compound in foods that is not a carbohydrate, fat, protein, water or fiber. Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are examples of micronutrients.

mineral — chemical element essential in our diets (except carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen, which are found in abundance in all foods). Most dietary minerals are metals; examples include iron and calcium.

monosaturated fat — a type of unsaturated fat founds in some foods, including mayonnaise, sunflower oil and oily fish, and generally regarded as a healthy type of fat. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats.

protein — one of the macronutrients (along with carbohydrates and fats). Digestive enzymes break down proteins into smaller molecules called amino acids. Inside your body's cells, amino acids join together to make new protein molecules. Proteins make up about half the dry weight of every cell in your body; enzymes are proteins, and hair and nails are almost pure protein.

saturated fat — a type of fat found commonly in meat, cheese and butter, and generally regarded as unhealthy in large quantities. The consumption of high levels of saturated fat is associated with heart disease.

starch — a carbohydrate common in many foods, including bread, rice and potatoes. It breaks down easily to form glucose. Plants make starch as a way of storing glucose - it is the plant equivalent of glycogen.

trans fats — a type of fat normally made by reacting vegetable oil with hydrogen (they are then called partially hydrogenated vegetable oils). Trans fats are soft, and ideal for baking, and they do not spoil as quickly as vegetable oils. They are found in fast foods and confectionery, although they are becoming less common, because they are the least healthy type of fat. Trans fat in your diet increases your risk of developing heart disease.

unsaturated fat — a type of fat that is most often found in fish and vegetables, and is regarded as healthier than saturated fats.

vitamin — a micronutrient essential to the human body, and found in food (in particular, in fruits and vegetables). Some vitamins are antioxidants, others take part in important chemical reactions. A deficiency of each vitamin causes disease; for example, if you do not eat enough vitamin C, you will develop a disease called scurvy; lack of vitamin D can lead to rickets.

Courtesy: Discovery Health