All posts by HealthyLife

HealthyLife is a part of www.WeRIndia.com, an all India – centric website (https://healthylife.werindia.com) and is solely owned and operated by WeRIndia.com. It is a Indian nutritional portal providing educational articles.This nutritional port was launched on February 5th, 2015.
How massaging can help body and mind

How massaging can help body and mind

Monkey mind is the process of jumping from thought to thought without a singular focus. When our busy mind can do nothing but be chaotic, stressed, and scattered, it is in the throes of monkey mind.  According to massage therapist Bruce Hopkins, calming the monkey mind, and realizing instead the massage mind, can have profound effects.

“The mind has a profound effect on all physiological processes” Therapist Bruce Hopkins

Massage experts estimate that high percent of diseases and conditions are stress-related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. Massage is an effective tool for managing this stress, which helps our mind to-

  • Decrease the anxiety.
  • Enhance sleep quality.
  • Get greater energy.
  • Improve concentration.
  • Increase in circulation.
  • Reducing fatigue.

Massage can also help specifically address a number of health issues especially with body –

  • Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
  • Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
  • Ease medication dependence.
  • Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
  • Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
  • Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
  • Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
  • Increase joint flexibility.
  • Lessen depression and anxiety.
  • Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
  • Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
  • Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
  • Reduce spasms and cramping.
  • Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
  • Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
  • Relieve migraine pain.

Different types of massages that are available based on the conditions of body and mind are :

Deep tissue back massage
Like the name suggests, this type of massage targets the back and shoulder areas. The aim of this type of massage is to relieve ache and pain in the muscles. Deep back massage helps to stimulate blood flow by relieving tension in the muscles. The process of carrying out this type of massage usually lasts for 30 minutes for it to be effective. Under this type of massage, specific muscles can also be targeted, depending on the needs of an individual.

Hot stone body therapy
Before the hot stone massage is carried out, smooth round stones are heated in water to a specific temperature. During the massage, the hot stones are then placed on a person’s back, hands or belly to warm and relax the muscles. The hot stones cannot burn you because there is a recommended temperature at which the masseuse carries and places them on a person’s back.

Spa double
During a spa double, two therapists simultaneously rub a person’s muscles to ensure they are relaxed. With this kind of massage, a person gets the same touch, at the same time and this helps to balance pressure on the muscles.

Aroma therapy
Aroma therapy involves blending of essential oils to form scented healing oils. Apart from the massage, the oils such as lavender and eucalyptus have healing properties, which remove toxic substances from the skin and rejuvenate the mind. As such, this type of massage helps to de-stress both the mind and body.

Swedish massage
This is a soothing, relaxing massage that helps a person to relax. When using Swedish massage, therapists use oils to facilitate smooth, gliding strokes over the body. This is usually accompanied by soft music to relax a person’s mind.

Back head and shoulder massage
In short, it is called the BHS massage. It is done on the back head and shoulders to quickly alleviate stress and muscle tension.

Fat reduction massage
This type of massage improves the functioning of the body’s overall metabolism because it targets the digestive system and muscle structure, with the main focus being the abdomen. It is good for people who are overweight.

Sports massage
It relaxes and eases sore muscles after a tough workout. It is also recommended for sports personalities and people who are keen on exercise programmes such as jogging, marathon running and cycling.

After birth massage
The aim of this type of massage is usually to relax the body and help re-align it back to the pre-pregnancy period. It also helps reduce post-surgery adhesions and stretch marks.

Detox massage
Expels toxins, restores balance, reduces muscle pain and aches, rehydrating the body and ridding it of toxins and extreme fatigue.

Resources: http://www.massagetherapy.com/

Body and mind massage therapy (FB page)

 

Image credit: Image by Daniel Köchli from Pixabay  (Free for commercial use)

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 20, 2015
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Chick Shredding

Germany Becomes The First Nation To Ban ‘Chick Shredding’

By  Amanda Froelich at www.trueactivist.com

Newly developed technology will determine the sex of each fertilized egg before the chick inside develops – enabling the removal of all male-identified eggs from the hatchery. This will eliminate the industry’s need to heartlessly grind male chicks once hatched.

Did you know? Every year, millions of tiny male chicks are ground up alive or suffocated because they don’t lay eggs. The little guys aren’t considered ‘commercially viable’ to even be raised for meat and, therefore, are brutally killed shortly after hatching.

It’s an unfortunate side effect of the commercial egg industry which few producers are open to talking about. One can understand why, as half of all chicks born into the egg industry are male – creating an enormous ethical issue.

If consumers were made aware of ‘chick grinding,’ which is commonplace in most egg factories, producers and egg companies would have a public relations catastrophe to deal with.

For this reason, it’s been up to animal rights activists to raise awareness about the brutal conditions chickens often live in when raised conventionally.

Thankfully, efforts have paid off. As Animals Australia reports, scientists and animal rights campaigners have teamed up in Germany to come up with an alternative option to the mass-slaughter of the 45 million male chicks born into the country’s egg industry each year.

The newly developed technology will determine the sex of each fertilized egg before the chick inside develops – enabling the removal of all male-identified eggs from the hatchery. This will leave only the female eggs to hatch, which is much more ethically sound.

Christian Schmidt, Germany’s Agricultural Minister, has advised that ‘chick shredding’ be phased out completely by 2017 – making Germany the first country in the world to stop the practice.

Hopefully, this progressive step forward will inspire other countries to follow suit.  The slaughter of male chicks has, unfortunately, become standard across all types of commercial egg farming – free range included. That means major effort and reform of thought will have to sweep through the industry, but it is possible… Germany is proof of that!

Why Germany took this step? See the video

Egg Industry grinds millions of chicks alive (Disclaimer: Content of this video is hurtful & if you are not strong enough please do not watch the video)

Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/germany-becomes-the-first-nation-to-ban-chick-shredding/

Image courtesy:

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 15, 2015
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HOW TO KEEP YOUR CHILDREN HEALTHY- FEW TIPS

How To Keep your Children Healthy – Few Tips

It is practically inevitable to keep children away from cold, cough and some little health problems. Here are some tips that you can try teaching your kids to keep them as healthy as possible.

1) Washing hands: Tell your kids to wash hands to fight BAC (fight bacteria!). Tell kids to wash hands –

  • With soap and warm water.
  • Before eating a snack or meal, after playing with pets, and after using the bathroom.
  • After playing or at friend’s house
  • After coming back from school
  • Before and after your breakfast, lunch and supper or dinner at home
    Hands before lunch at school.

Do not forget to ask your toddler’s baby sitter or day care person about hand wash policy.

2) Day care policy:

  • Check with day care about how they take care of sick kids and policy regarding sick kids
  • It is a requirement that kids who are suffering from eye infections, fever/flu, vomiting, diarrhea and severe cold should be home

3) Get flu shot or vaccination:

Be up to date on the vaccination of your toddler and young ones. It helps their immune system to fight back any germs, viruses and bacteria.

4) Good amount of sleep:

Make sure your kids get good amount of sleep. They should go to bed early. Babies and toddlers need 11 to 14 hours sleep. This helps their immune system to recover and brain will be rested.

5) Being active:

Regular exercise and outdoor activities with moderate exercise helps children to fight germs -this is what study shows. Do not introduce kids to video games at early stage. Breathing fresh air and exposing to sun light and outdoor activities helps them to be prepared for future allergies that their body might have to fight.

6) Drinking water:

Instead of soda and diet soda, give your kids good amount of drinking water – warm or room temperature. This cleanses their system and flushes any unwanted germs from the body. Children also loosed their body liquid very fast. Make sure to give them plenty of fluid in the form of water or juice to keep their body hydrating.

While most germs like winter viruses clear up on their own within few days, some can turn into more serious conditions that require medical attention. See the prevailing symptoms in your child and see your family doctor or paediatrician.

Image courtesy: Puneeth KR Sringeri

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 13, 2015
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Vegetables Medu Vada - South Indian Style !

Vegetables Medu Vada – South Indian Style !

Recipe by : Ms. Kalyani Kutagolla

Looking for good recipe for this Deepavali (Diwali) ? Then, here is one tasty Medu (soft) vada recipe easy to make. This is kids friendly, as it requires vegetables and less spice. Try this recipe this Diwali day!

Ingredients:

  • Urd daal (split black gram) (1 cup)
  • White rice (1/4 cup)
  • Coconut pieces (1/4 cup)
  • Grated carrot (1/4 cup)
  • Green peas (1/4 cup)
  • 1 tsp Cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • Green chilies – 4 to 5
  • Cooking soda – A pinch
  • Ginger – 2 inches ginger
  • Chopped coriander -1/4 cup
  • Curry leaves – 1 or 2 strings
  • Cut onions – 1/2 cup
  • Salt to taste
  • Oil for frying

* One can make 16 vadas from this suggested quantity

Preparation Method:

  1. Soak urd daal and rice for 3 hours.
  2. Coarse grind with less water (1/4 cup) – to get soft vadas grind the batter with just enough water to make soft but not watery dough. When you put the batter on your palm, batter should hold its shape.
  3. Add all ingredients – vegetables, curry leaves, coriander, salt, cumin, black pepper, coconut piece and start frying vadas.
  4. Do not ferment the dough as fermented dough takes more oil. Instead, after adding all the ingredients to dough fry the vadas.
  5. In a deep pan heat oil to medium high heat. (If oil is too hot vadas will turn brown soon but inside content will not cook).
  6. Grease a plastic sheet with oil. Take a bowl of water wet your hands and place a portion of dough over your palm. Make a hole in centre and flatten it to round shape. Then drop it slowly in heated oil, deep fry until vada turns to golden brown color on both sides.
  7. Place them over paper towel to drain excess oil.
  8. Serve hot vadas with coconut chutney.

*This vegetable medu vada can be a good appetizer too – decorate on dining table as it is shown in the image!

 Image copyright : Kalyani Kutagolla (@ www.werindia.com)

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 9, 2015
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Tattoo Safety

Tattoo Safety

The word tattoo, or tattow in the 18th century, is a loanword from the Polynesian word tatau, meaning “correct, workmanlike”.

There are varieties of tattoos depending on the art- Black and Gray Tattoos, Color Tattoos, Portrait and Fine-line Tattoo, Tribal Tattoos, Freehand Custom Tattoos, Cover-up, Touch-up, and Rework Tattoos. Tattoo artists and parlors across the country follow a strict set of regulations in order to prevent infections and transmissions of diseases, such as HIV and hepatitis. Leger, however, believes that the tattoo inks artists use are not closely monitored. Tattoos can be allergic to many.

“During 2003 and 2004, FDA became aware of more than 150 reports of adverse reactions in consumers to certain permanent makeup ink shades, and it is possible that the actual number of women affected was greater. The inks associated with this outbreak were voluntarily recalled by the company that marketed them in 2004. In the spring of 2012, FDA received reports of infections from contaminated inks, resulting in their recall and market withdrawal. In addition, concerns raised by the scientific community regarding the pigments used in tattoo inks have prompted FDA to investigate their safe use”.

Tattoo pigments & colors: The oldest pigments came from using ground up minerals and carbon black. Today’s pigments include the original mineral pigments, modern industrial organic pigments, a few vegetable-based pigments, and some plastic-based pigments. Allergic reactions, scarring, photo toxic reactions  and other adverse effects are possible with many pigments. The plastic-based pigments are very intensely colored, but many people have reported reactions to them. There are also pigments that glow in the dark or in response to black (ultraviolet) light. These pigments are notoriously risky – some may be safe, but others are radioactive or otherwise toxic.

Following are some reactions that can happen to people by tattoo.

Symptoms:

  • Redness
  • Swelling
  • Flaking
  • Scaly appearance
  • Rash or bumps
  • Purple or red nodules around the tattoo

Reactions:

Acute Inflammatory Reaction: Most people who get a tattoo experience an acute inflammatory allergic reaction. This is when the skin becomes red, irritated and mildly swollen after coming into contact with the tattoo needle and the ink. This is not a serious allergy and will often subside after two to three weeks.

Dermatitis: Tattoos are also known to cause allergic and photo allergic contact dermatitis. Similar to an acute allergic reaction, dermatitis often starts out as an irritation and swelling of the skin, followed by severe itchiness. The allergies then develop into blisters and crusting or flaking of the skin. Dermatitis is often caused by red tattoo ink because it contains mercury sulfide.

Photo sensitivity: Tattoos created using yellow ink sometimes get irritated when exposed to direct sunlight. This is because of the cadmium sulfide used in most yellow and some red tattoo inks.

Granulomas: These are nodules that may form around material that the body perceives as foreign, such as particles of tattoo pigment that contains red, green, purple and blue inks.

Other severe reactions from tattooing:

  1. Allergic reactions: Red dye in particular can cause allergic skin reactions resulting in itchy rashes even years after getting a tattoo. It is true that some red inks used for permanent tattoos contain mercury, while other reds may contain different heavy metals like cadmium or iron oxide.
  2. Skin infections: Tattooing can lead to local bacterial infections characterized by redness, swelling, pain and a pus-like drainage.
  3. Blood-borne diseases: If the equipment used to create a tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, various blood-borne diseases including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tetanus and HIV can be contracted. Unsterile tattooing equipment and needles can transmit infectious diseases, such as HIV, hepatitis, and skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus (“staph”) and other bacteria
  4. Damage to nerves: There is a possibility of the loss of the sense of touch in the area pierced.
  5. Keloids: Thick scarring at the piercing site can cause keloids, which is nothing but raised scar tissue due to excessive skin damage.

Before getting a tattoo or piercing, make sure to check off the following safety measures:

  • Always find out whether the tattooing studio is trustworthy and has properly trained and certified employees.
  • Make sure the studio and staffs are very clean. If they have body piercing in their business, tattooing and body piercing should be in separate areas.
  • Make sure the studio uses an autoclave to sterilize the instruments.
  • Make sure the artist washes his or her hands and wears a fresh pair of protective gloves for each procedure.
  • Check whether the artist removes needles and tubes from sealed packages before your procedure begins and the needles should be opened from sealed packages and thrown away in a bio hazard container after the use and in front of you.
  • The ink used in tattooing should be taken in a disposable cup and be disposed after use. It should never be taken directly from the bottle or returned to that bottle.

Care for reactions:

Contact your physician immediately if you find any of above symptoms.

  1. If, your tattoo artist has given any instruction follow that carefully.
  2. Stop any bleeding: By putting pressure on the wound.
  3. Apply a cold pack to help reduce the swelling, bruising, or itching. Never apply ice directly to the skin. This can cause tissue damage.
  4. Take an antihistamine, to help treat hives and relieve itching. Be sure to read and follow any warning on the label. Do not use strong soaps, detergents, and other chemicals, which can make itching worse.
  5. Protect your tattoo with a bandage to avoid any further irritation.
  6. Apply an antibiotic ointment to avoid infection.
  7. Apply a clean bandage once a day and change the bandage if it gets wet
  8. Expose tattooed area to good air/ Sun so that the skin will breath fresh air and warm temperature to heal.

References:

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 5, 2015
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DIWALI SPICY CORN MIXTURE

Diwali Spicy Corn Mixture

Another important festival is in the corner for all Indians – Deepavali or Diwali The festival of Lights. Deepavali brings joy with crackers, new clothes, holidays and many yummy foods – both sweets and spicy foods ! We always worry what to eat because most of these sweets and spicy foods contain lot of fat and brings more calorie to body. Here is one simple recipe with fewer fats and is also very tasty – corn flake mixture.

Preparation Time: 15 to 20 minutes.

Ingredients:

  • Plain cornflakes : 3 cups
  • Peanuts: One cup
  • Dry Chenna daal : 1/2 cup
  • Cashew nuts: 1/4 cup
  • Raisins: Few
  • Red chilli powder: 1.5 tsp
  • Turmeric powder: One tsp
  • Curry leaves: Two strings
  • Red chilli – Two
  • Green chilli – Thinly sliced – two
  • Dry coconut pieces (copra) – 1/4 cup
  • Mustard: for seasoning
  • Salt : to taste
  • Oil: One tablespoon

Preparation:

1. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard, dry chenna daal, red chilli, green chilli and curry leaves and fry. Let green chilli becomes crispy.

2. Add peanuts, dry coconut pieces and fry until both turn brown

3. Add cashew nuts and raisins – let cashew nuts turn golden brown and raisin bulge- turn off the flame

4. Add turmeric powder, chilli powder and salt, followed by cornflakes

5. Toss and mix well. Allow it to cool and store in airtight container.

6. Serve corn mixture as a snack item on Deepavali day.

Happy Deepavali to all our readers !

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 4, 2015
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SMART PHONES & ONE SIDED RELATIONSHIP

Smartphone & One Sided Relationship

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“Whether we admit it or not, we’re in a serious relationship with our smartphones. That relationship, however, is often one-sided,” according to Motorola.

Recently a story was going around on Social media. An old man takes his mobile to repair shop and request the person in the shop to look at the phone saying, “why it is not working”? Shopkeeper checks the phone and says, “It is absolutely fine and is working”. Then the old person asks, “Then why I am not able to receive any calls from my children?” This story was about a basic phone. Other day my friend was asking me – can I text you? I said no. She was like – why not? I told her that I prefer talking with you than texting and when I hear your voice, it makes me feel better! We are in the century where we cannot live without smart phones. If a person uses basic mobile phone in public, people look at him/her differently and in addition, many prefer sending text or messages rather calling. This puts pressure on the person and eventually he /she will end up buying a smart phone.

“We compare ourselves to the people around us. Even when we are reasonably happy with what we have, we become unhappy when we see devices, tools or the so-called better life that someone in our social circle has”.

Because of technology, everybody is connecting so fast through text and messages but … talking! Texting is considered efficient and if someone has to say Thank you -they just use TY ! Reason is, there is not time to acknowledge with “long sentences”. That means we are also moving (fast) away from relationships. We do not want to talk to our elders on dinner table, do not want to communicate with the person who is sitting next to us and do not want to see a vehicle that is approaching us while walking ! We have our smart phones in our hand 24/7 all-time and even while in toilet!

What is happening here? Let us see.

A smart phone is a simple little device that is supposed to make life easier. But convenience is not always the shortest route to happiness. It turns out; cell phone might be increasing your anxiety and decreasing your happiness. We all in different occasions talk about how smart phones making us dumb and less connected. This is not a joke anymore. Research shows that (as if we do not know) that little phone may have lasting consequences on our emotional well-being.

Mobile phones can be a source of great disruption in workplaces and classrooms, as they provide individuals with access to texting, games, social media and the Internet. Research conducted on Kent State University students showed that students who are continuously on phone ended in getting lower GPA and are always anxious and unhappy. Cell phone addiction is such that, recently in New Jersey, USA a student beat up a senior teacher because the teacher tried to take the phone away from the student during class hours! There are several reports showing how smart phone usage can cost your life. People forget to switch off the phone during meeting or during important discussion with boss or continuous browsing on phone while at work. This kind of behavior can cost you your job before you notice.

Talk about relationships – there are many stories about increasing divorce and breakups. While it helps to track and understand what your kids are doing, smart phone also makes kids move away from the parents. You will notice change in kid’s behavior once they get smart phones. They will not receive phone calls, always browsing, taking endless selfie, eating less, no interest in outdoor sports or not ready to take any advice as they have online advisors namely friends! Similarly, relationship between couples will suffer too due to less and less interactions.

Danger while driving – There are many incidents where many teenagers, young adults and parents lost their loved ones, infants or became victim of cell phone texting. There are several stories about -while on phone, people pass through red light (texting or talking) and colliding with upcoming vehicles causing deaths of infants. Things can wait but people are not ready to wait. With increasing awareness hand held phones are banned from many states and countries.

Medical experts at Pennsylvania State University say that everyone should stop using electronic devices such as smart phones at least an hour before bedtime so the glow emitted by the devices does not disturb the ability to produce melatonin, a natural hormone that’s vital to regulating our sleep cycles.

How are we going to solve these growing problems?

  • Do not allow smart phones to take over your life. Take control of your life. Here are few tips to disconnect with technology and to connect with life:
  • While sleeping turn off the phone or keep your ringer low -this will reduce your anxiety
  • While at work – keep your phone away in the bag or inside desk. Stick a note for yourself to take the phone when you head home.
    Leave your phone behind when you are going for a walk, while discussing with friends, while dining, in library and during family vacation.
  • Call your parents, grandparents and friends instead of texting and trying to send messages. Hearing to your voice will make them happy.
  • Minimize texting – have a limit – how many times you want to text in a day.
  • Things can wait – if you do not get updates about friend’s life for few seconds or minutes -it is okay.
  • Get a phone plan that has minimum browsing data or texting plan. This will also help you to take control of overshooting bills.
  • If you are a professional and have to be in contact with your clients – allot contact timings for customers and clients. They should contact you only during emergency.
  • Do not chase people- what is yours it will come to you.

Smart devices have taught us something good in life…. (Anonymus)
Whatever makes you happy — save it…save contact… Keep up relationship live.
Whatever makes others happy — forward it… spread the love… be available
Whatever will make no one happy — Delete it or minimize its use….!
Enjoy the journey called life…

(Author: Sumana Rao at WeRIndia.com)

References:

 

Image credit: Image by Mircea Iancu from Pixabay  (Free for commercial use)

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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TRADITIONAL DAL MAKHANI

Traditional Dal Makhani

Dal makhani (“Buttery Lentil”) is a popular dish originating from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. The primary ingredients in dal makhani are whole black lentil (urad) with red kidney beans (rajma), butter and cream.

Dal makhani is now universally recognized as a quintessentially Indian dish, and variations of the fare are served in a wide variety of eateries and restaurants internationally.

Dal Makhani’s popularity is due in part to its versatility and the rich vegetarian dish can be served as a main meal, included in a buffet (thali) or as an accompaniment to a principal meal (Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

  • Serving size: 1/2 cup =113 grams =120 cal
  • 1 cup whole black urad dal
  • 1/4 cup split Bengal gram (Chenna)
  • 1/2 cup rajma (kidney benas)
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1-2 tsp green chillies, sliced thinly
  • 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
  • 1 tsp cumin-coriander powder
  • 1 tsp cardamom powder
  • 1 tsp dried Kasuri Methi powder (fenugreek leaf powder)
  • 2 tsp of vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp of butter
  • 2-3 cloves
  • 2inch cinnamon stick
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 cup tomato puree
  • 1 milk
  • Salt to taste and cilantro to garnish

Method

1. Soak the dal and rajma overnight.

2. Rinse and cook both dal and rajma together in a pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles. Mash using masher after it cooled.

3. In a saucepan, heat oil and add cloves, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, cumin-coriander powder, bay leaf, ginger-garlic paste, and chillies.Add the tomato puree, close the lid and cook for 5 min until the raw tomato smell disappears. Add dal, reduce the heat to simmer, add salt, then close the lid and slow cook for 15 minutes under low flame.

4. Add the kasuri methi powder along with cardamom powder, stir and then add milk and butter for flavor.

5. Cook for 5 more minutes and garnish with dhania leaves. Serve with naan, chapatti, roti or white basmati jeera rice.

*Black urad dal and rajma are full of fiber, protein, calcium and minerals. Why people hesitate make this dish is because of butter. The secret to make dal makhani without having to add too much butter, is the number of hours you cook the lentils.

Image courtesy: http://www.thelunchbelle.com/storage/

Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: October 29, 2015
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