Cloves for Flavour and Health

Cloves are known for their exceptional aroma.  It is an ancient spice which holds an important portfolio in every kitchen.  Clove trees are a more common site in Indonesia.  Cloves are mainly grown in the Islands of Pemba today.  Cloves are also grown widely in the Madagascar. Cloves are the flower buds of  the clove tree.  They are pink in color when fresh and turn into a dark brown color when dried.  Cloves are sweetly pungent and aromatic.  Cloves retain their flavour when whole.  The flavour tends to deteriorate quickly when powdered.  The cloves are quite hard in nature and cannot be pounded easily.  Cloves should be stored in dry air tight containers. When powdered and added only a small quantity should be added as it has the tendency to overpower a dish.  They are usually added to the food for flavour.  They are used in number of spice mixtures like curry powders etc.,   Chinese have been using cloves to treat various conditions like indigestion, ringworm, athlete's foot  and other fungal infections.  Ayurveda uses cloves to treat digestive and respiratory disorders.  German herbalists regarded clove as a part of anti-gout mixture.  The Americans used clove to flavour the bitter medicines to make them palatable. Clove oil is used to treat tooth ache.  Popular mouthwash products contain clove oil as an important component.  Clove oil also provides relief from nausea.

Thyme

Thyme is an ancient aromatic herb. The Egyptians used Thyme in embalming. The Greeks used thyme as incense in temples. Thyme was considered as a source of courage in the ancient times. It was kept under the pillows to ward off nightmares, gifted to warriors to bestow courage and it was placed witht he dead to assure passage for the dead to next life.

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Thyme is a perennial herb and is known for its strong flavour. The flavour of the plant is due to the presence of 'Thymol'. Thyme like hot sunny climate and is a drought tolerant plant. Thyme is available both fresh and dried form. Thyme retains its flavour in dried form than any other herb. Powdered thyme is also available in the market. The leaves can be easily removed from the stem.

Thyme also has some medicinal uses. Thyme tea is a good cure for many respiratory infections. In Jamaica thyme tea is given to the mother at child birth to enhance the uterine contractions for a rapid delivery. Thymol is used in mouth wash. It possesses anti-oxidant and anti-microbial properties.

Thyme was primarily used for flavouring food in Lebanese and Caribbean cuisines. It is often used to flavour meat preparations and soups. It blends well with other spices and does not overpower.



Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris
Hindi: Banagwain

Herbs & Spices

This section provides you with information about various herbs and spices.

Thyme Thyme is an ancient herb majorly used for seasoning.

Cloves for flavour and health Cloves are known for their exceptional aroma. It is an ancient spice which holds an important portfolio in every kitchen.

Health benefits of SAGE: Sage is used to cure variety of conditions like sore throats, mouth inflammations, coughs, liver disorders, and upset stomach.

Health benefits of Cumin:Cumin is a spice that is available in every kitchen.  It is an important ingredient in seasoning food.  It is also very well known for its curative properties.

Health benefits of Rosemary:Rosemary is known for its culinary and curative properties from ancient times. It is a perenial herb which was primarily used for flavouring food.

Oregano Uses Oregano is a perennial herb. It is mainly used for flavouring food.

Ginger Ginger is an ancient spice which is an integral part of every kitchen. It is known for its curative properties and flavour.

Health benefits of Ajwain : Ajwain popularly known as Bishop's weed is a very common spice found in the kitchen. Ajwain is known for its medicinal properties. There are numerous health benefits that are offered by Ajwain apart from being a very famous flavoring agent.

Zucchini Health Benefits

Zucchini belongs to the squash family. It is sometimes mistaken for cucumbers. Zucchini like other varieties of squash was cultivated in North America. Although its a summer plant its available all through the year. Each zucchini can grow unto a meter long. But usually its harvested when it is about 30 cms long. Zucchini has a delicate crisp flavor. Zucchini grows well in temperate climates and gives overwhelming production. Zucchini are mostly dark green in colour. The hybrid variety is golden yellow in colour.

Zucchini tastes best when they are small. They tend to lose their flavor as they grow larger. They can grow very large sometimes gigantic in size. They have very less shelf life. They have to be used within two days of harvest.
Unlike cucumbers Zucchini is usually cooked. When used for cooking its picked when still immature. It can be prepared using various cooking techniques like steaming, baking, blanching, stir fry. Stuffed zucchini is a delicacy. It makes the salad platter pleasant if added.
Zucchini provides innumerable health benefits. Zucchini is rich in vitamin C and helps cure asthma. It is known for its anti inflammatory properties. Zucchini is a powerful antioxidant. The vitamin C present in Zucchini helps prevent scurvy. Zucchini is a good source of magnesium and phosphorous which helps build bone health. It is also a rich source of riboflavin, manganese and Vitamin B6. Regular consumption of Zucchini helps prevent colon cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The dietary fiber present in Zucchini keeps the cholesterol levels under control . Zucchini contains Beta-Carotene thus protects cell damages. The Potassium found in Zucchini helps prevent hypertension. Zucchini is rich in folate
Zucchini contains about 94% water and this makes it a low calorie vegetable. Its is the best snack for weight watchers. Most weight loss programs recommend Zucchini for snacks.

Health Tips and Technics - Amazing Amla (Gooseberry)

Amla (Gooseberry) is a potent gift of Mother Nature to mankind. Humanity has utilized its benefits for decades, and it forms an indispensable part of the ayurvedic and unanai medicine. You must have seen your granny using Amla (Gooseberry) for pickles and murabas and its formulations for treating many common diseases. Amla or Gooseberry has many nutritious benefits. The Amla (Gooseberry) has been found to be the most abundant source of Vitamin C in the plant kingdom.

---containing as much as 20 times that of an orange. What makes this even more extraordinary is that unlike many other natural sources, the vitamin C content in Amla (Gooseberry) or gooseberry does not diminish with cooking. It was used successfully in the treatment of scurvy during the Hissar (Haryana) famine of 1939-40.

Amla (Gooseberry) is a medium sized deciduous tree which can be successfully grown in cariable agro climatic and soil conditions. It can tolerate climates as high as 45 degree celcius and freezing temperatures too. Its natural habitat is Burma in the east to Afganistan in the west.

Though every part of the tree possess therupetic potentials, it is the fruit which constitutes the main drug. Amla (Gooseberry) is an unusual fruit as it contains gamut of tastes, except the salty taste. With sourness as the foremost taste , it is sweet, astringent bitter and pungent too.

The fresh fruit contains more than 80% of water besides protein, carbohydrates, fibre, minerals and vitamins Minerals and vitamins mainly include cacium, phosphorus, iron, carotene, Vitamin C and B complex. It also contains gallic acid, which is a potent polyphenol.

Amla (Gooseberry) is the most widely used herb in ayurvedic medicines. Charak and sushrut widely mention the use of Amla (Gooseberry) for curative purposes.

Amla (Gooseberry) is used in innumerable Auyrvedic formulations. Here is how you can alleviate some of the common ailments through these time-tested decoctions. Put your body back into action following these tips.

The cholesterol in our body is a very essential component. The human liver is the main source of cholesterol. The amount of unused cholesterol gets collected in the blood vessels , Thus resulting in heart attacks. The Vitamin C in Amla (Gooseberry) helps in dilating the blood vessels and there by reducing the blood pressure.

Prepare a powdered mixture of dry Amla (Gooseberry) and sugar candy. Mix one teaspoonful of this mixture in a glass of water and consume daily in empty stomach. This decoction helps in stabilizing the blood cholesterol level.

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas fails to regulate the blood glucose levels. It is the talk of the world today as the number of diabetic patients is rapidly increasing due to the adoption of western food habits aerated beverages, tobacco and alcohol.

If you suffer from this disease trust the anti-diabetic potential of Amla (Gooseberry) and prepare a mixture by mixing equal quantities of Amla (Gooseberry), jamun and bitter gourd powder. A teaspoonful of this mixture once or twice a day is effective in checking diabetes.

Of the numerous diseases attributed to the modern life style acidity is one which all of us might have suffered from at different times. In majority homes we find strips of antacids adorning the medicine cupboards.

Frequent intake of sweet, sour and spicy and oily food causes acidity. Excessive coffee, tea and smoking are other causative agents. Psychological reasons for acidity include anger, grief and depression.

When your belly is on fire reach for Amla (Gooseberry). In acute or chronic acidity, simply take one gram of Amla (Gooseberry) powder with a little sugar in milk or water twice a day.

Hair, your crowning glory, turns grey with ageing and lusterless due to pollution. All traditional recipes for promoting hair growth contain Amla (Gooseberry) as the chief ingredient.

Anyone worried about graying hair would be delighted to know Amla (Gooseberry) powder soaked in water and left in an iron utensil is a 3-in-1 preparation--- shampoo, conditioner and hair-dye.

Regular application of this mixture for a few hours at a time is ideal.

Health Tips and Technics - Eat Mushrooms, Stay HEALTHY

Mushrooms help keep a healthy body and ward of diseases. Mushrooms have high medicinal value and can help lose weight also. Mushrooms are gaining importance as health food and source of valuable medicines. It is estimated that there are 100,000 different kinds of mushrooms, of which 700 can be used as food. They are nutritious and rich in minerals.

They are rich in minerals, vitamin D (ergosterol), thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), dietary fibre as well as all the essential amino acids and are low in fat and calories.

Approximately 200 species appear to have medicinal value, each with its own unique chemistry.

Extensive research on medicinal mushrooms has been going on since the past 20 years in many countries. There are many plants that act as adaptogens (also known as biological response modifiers) to assist the body in adapting to environmental and psychological stress. All the important systems of the body including the nervrous, endocrine, adrenal, and immune systems benefit from adaptogens by increasing or decreasing their function as needed.

Studies suggest that mushrooms are pro-biotic. They keep our body healthy and ward off diseases by maintaining physiological homeostasis. The compounds they contain have been classified as Host Defence Potentiators (HDP), which enhances the immune system. Researches also show that there are thousands of semi essential, non-vitamin factors in mushrooms that protect the body against many diseases including cancer. 

Medicinal mushrooms such as Reishi, Shiitake and Maitake enhances immune function by stimulating cell-mediated immunity. Such mushrooms seem to turn on cells in the immune system called T-cells that appear to have significant cancer-fighting properties. Three different anticancer drugs extracted from mushrooms have been approved by the Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry. They are Lentinan, derived from Shiitake, Schizophyllan, derived from Suehirotake and PSK, derived from Kawaratake. PSK sold in Europe and Japan, is the best-selling cancer drug in the world. In Japan, only 30 percent of cancer treatment includes radiation, chemotherapy and surgery.

Maitake

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is a mushroom highly regarded in Japan for its medicinal and culinary properties. The studies show that the extracts from Maitake protect against hepatitis, tumours, and are effective in regulating blood presure, blood sugar, cholesterol and obesity. A polysaccharide known as beta-glucan, which activates immune cells, is believed to be largely responsible for Maitake's anti-tumour effects. Japanese physicians are using a Maitake extract for tumour inhibition, potentiating shark cartilage supplements, inhibition of cancer metastasis (cancer spreading), cancer prevention, and reversing HIV positive status to HIV negative. Cancer Treatment Centres of America, with hospitals in Chicago, Los Angeles and Tulsa, Okla, is now undertaking clinical double-blind placebo tests using Maitake D-fraction combined with chemotherapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Data collected from 250 cancer patients indicate that side effects from chemotherapy, such as nausea and hair loss, are significantly reduced by it Maitake is also showing promising results with the HIV virus.

Reishi

Reishi (ganoderma Lucidium) meets all the qualifications of being both a tonic and an adaptogen. A tonic strengthens and invigorates organs, and an adaptogen helps the body adapt to stress by readjusting to altered body conditions. In China, many pharmacological, chemical and biochemical studies have been conducted with Reishi. Reishi appears to strengthen the immune system and improve overall healthe. Specifically, it improves or prevents a variety of diseases and conditions including viral hepatitis, allergies, insomnia, neurasthenia (fatigue due to exhaustion of the nervous system) as well as some types of cancer. Reishi has also been clinically demonstrated to alleviate high blood pressure in humans. Reishi is rich in active organic compounds such as polysaccharides, amino acids, proteins, triterpenes, ascorbic acid, sterols, lipids, alkaloids, glucose, courmarine glycoside, volatile oil, riboflavin and more. These compounds are being studies for their positive effects on the immune system, including anti-tumor activity. Reishi is used as a daily tonic to maintain and improve good health increasing longevity, in the treatment of cancer and resistance to and recovery from diseases.

Shitake

The shitake mushroom (Lentinus Edodes) is closely related to Reishi. Shitake is Japan's largest agricultural export and is now the most popular and most cultivated exotic mushroom in teh world. In China, Shitake has a history that dates back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D). The mushroom was used not only as a food but was taken as a remedy for upper respiratory diseases, poor blood circulation, liver trouble, exhaustion and weakness and to boost chi, or life energy. It was also believed to prevent premature aging.