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.
Ash gourd halwa and Ash gourd kootu

Ash gourd halwa and Ash gourd kootu

One way to keep stomach worms and stomach ulcer is consuming a good vegetable namely Ash gourd. Winter time of the year we can see Ash gourd or winter gourd often in the vegetable market. Instead of neglecting and walking away from this good vegetable, this year try these two delicious dishes namely ash gourd halwa and ash gourd kootu.

Ash gourd supplies several important nutrients to system – calcium, potassium, iron and some amount of Vitamin C. Ash gourds helps in weight control due to good amount of water content and supplies less or no calorie. Drinking ash gourd juice helps to reduce stomach ulcer.  Another benefit of ash gourd is – its seeds can be used with coconut oil to control dandruff! With all these good health benefit, it has another important role in kitchen. One can prepare various types of curries and sweets using this vegetable!

Ash gourd halwa or Khashi halwa also known Dum root is a sweet dish prepared using grated ash gourd with sugar and clarified butter (ghee). It is a traditional, delicious sweet one can prepare on festival occasion. During winter eating hot khashi halwa gives a kick to the system and keeps system warm!

Ash gourd kootu is similar to sambar and is very delicious. Easy to prepare and can have with chapatti, roti and rice.

Ash gourd halwa

Ingredients:

  1. Grated ash gourd – 8 cups
  2. Sugar – 1 and ½ cup
  3. Clarified butter (ghee) – 6 Tbs
  4. Cashew pieces – 1 Tbs
  5. Raisin – 1 Tbs
  6. Saffron – Few strands – soak in little milk
  7. Cardamom powder – ¼ tsp

 Preparation:

  1. Wash and peel ash gourd skin. Cut and remove seeds. Grate the amount you wanted and keep it side
  2. After few minutes squeeze and remove water from grated ash gourd and transfer grated ash gourd to thick bottom pan.
  3. Place the pan on medium heat and stir it. Let the remaining water evaporate from the grated gourd.
  4. Add sugar and mix well. Continue stirring till you get thick mix.
  5. Add saffron strands with milk, two Tbs of ghee and continue mixing. When the mix starts getting to halwa thickness, reduce the heat.
  6. Add more amount of ghee, followed by cardamom powder. Continue stirring. After few minutes halva mix separates from the ghee. Turn of the heat.
  7. In a frying pan take little amount of ghee and heat under low heat. Add cashew and fry to golden brown color. Add raisin and fry for couple of seconds. Turn of the heat and transfer this nut mix to halwa.
  8. Serve hot ash gourd halva with other snacks – aloo bonda, pakora or it can be a dessert after dinner too!

 

Ash gourd kootu

Ingredients:

  1. Ash gourd – ¼ kg pieces
  2. Green chilli – 4
  3. Grated coconut – ½ cup
  4. Chenna daal – ¼ cup
  5. Cumin – 1 tsp
  6. White rice – 1 tsp (soak for few minutes)
  7. Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
  8. Salt – as per your taste
  9. Small onion – 1
  10. Mustard – 1 tsp
  11. Curry leaves – Few
  12. Coconut oil – 1 tsp

 Preparation:

  1. Remove ash gourd skin and seeds. Cut white pulp into small cubes
  2. Soak chenna daal for an hour and pressure cook daal. It should be soft
  3. Using a grinder, grind coconut, green chilli, cumin and rice to a paste.
  4. In a deep container add little cooking oil and heat on medium flame. Add ash gourd piece and stir it for couple of minutes. Add turmeric powder, salt and little water and cook by covering the lid. Let the vegetable cook soft.
  5. Now add cooked Chenna daal and mix well. Add grounded coconut masala mix, cut onion pieces and mix well. Boil the content for few minutes.
  6. In a small frying pan, heat coconut oil (other cooking oil can be used to too) and add mustard and curry leaves. Pour this seasoning on top of kootu and serve kootu hot with chapatti, rice or as a side dish for lunch or dinner!

Recipe: www.werindia.com


Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: December 5, 2017
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Tired of eating fruits & vegetables, try these tips

Tired of eating fruits & vegetables, try these tips

If you are fed up of eating fruits and vegetables and looking for some change in the way you consume healthy fruits and vegetables, here are few interesting and healthy alternate tips.

  1.  Use dips and spreads on cut vegetables and fruits. Use low fat cheese, pepper jack cheese, salsa or bean dip to mask the taste of fruits or vegetables.
  2. Cut vegetables like carrot, onion, cucumber into small pieces and add it to yogurt with little salt. Give a seasoning using mustard.
  3. Grind cucumber with green chilli and coconut. Add salt and yogurt. Consume with bread, rice or chapti.
  4. Cut vegetables and fruits like apple, pear into small pieces. Spread them on tortilla chips or on crackers. Place cheese cubes and consume.
  5. Puree vegetables and add into soups, pasta and pizza sauce.
  6. To avoid raw odor of vegetables, try Indian curries, stir fries. You can have these dishes with white or brown rice.
  7. Add fruits and vegetables to smoothies. Add milk and create a thick drink. Add cocoa powder or little tobacco sauce and make it little more interesting.
  8. Try baking vegetables and add cheese into it while baking.
  9. Use milder tasting vegetables instead of strong vegetables for raw eating purpose. Try eating pumpkin, avocado, potato, green beans, carrots and corn.
  10. Some does not like herb odor especially cilantro. Instead of putting cilantro at the end of dish, try frying cilantro leaves in oil while preparing seasoning.
  11. Instead of eating individual fruits and vegetables, mix fruit varieties and nuts.
  12. Try mixing fruits in dishes and breakfast items – blueberries, chopped apples, and bananas in muffin, quick bread, and waffle batters.
  13. Try dry fruits – banana slices, sapota (chikkoo) slices, jackfruit slices, fig, dates etc.
  14. While eating olives try some extra seasoning with spices and garlic.
  15. Mix cut fruits, honey and little sugar (optional). Consume half a cup. If you prefer add little milk or yogurt into it.
  16. Place cut vegetables on bread, add little sauce or better is green chutney and consume.

www.healthylife.werindia.com – Grandma’s tips

Image: pintrest


Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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Dragonfly pose

Dragonfly pose

Dragonfly pose or Parsva bhuja dandasana is an advanced yoga pose where entire body will balance on arm strength. It is a difficult arm balance pose and should be performed under guidance of an instructor. The pose relies on arm, core and leg. The pose strengthens body, helps to balance and strengthens spine and back. It is a hip opener and gives flexibility to legs and hip -www.healthylife.werindia.com

 Dragonfly Pose

LEVEL : Advanced

Anatomy :Arms, Back, Hips, Shoulders

Pose Type :Arm Balance, Hip Opener

Sanskrit :Parsva Bhuja Dandasana (pars-vah bhuu-jah dahn-DAHS-anna) parsva = side, flank

bhuja = arm, shoulder danda = staff

BENEFITS

  • Challenges and improves balance
  • Tones the abdominal organs
  • Strengthens the shoulders, arms, and back
  • Opens the hips
  • Tones the legs
  • Boosts confidence and inner strength

CONTRAINDICATIONS

  • Pregnancy
  • Wrist, shoulder, or low back injuries

HOW TO

  1. Stand in Tadasana (Mountain pose). Cross your right ankle just above your left knee and flex your foot.
  2. Lower into a squat, balancing on your left toes. Bring your fingertips to the floor.
  3. Twist your upper body to the left. Position the arch of your right foot against the back of your right arm. Place your palms on the floor to your left, shoulder-width apart.
  4. Bend your elbows and shift your bodyweight into your hands. Extend your left leg to the right and draw your elbows together.
  5. Balance in the pose for several breaths. Exhale and bend your left leg, then slowly release the pose. Change sides.

MODIFY OR REPLACE

Alternatives:

  • Crane/ Crow pose (Bakasana)
  • One-Legged King Pigeon pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)

Modifications:

  • Place a pillow underneath your head to relieve the fear of falling.

SEQUENCING TIPS

Before:

  • Bound Angle pose (Baddha Konasana)
  • Pigeon pose (Kapotasana)
  • Crow pose (Bakasana)
  • Side Crow pose (Parsva Bakasana)

After:

TEACHING CUES

  • Activate your core.
  • Powerfully reach your bottom leg out to the side.

VARIATIONS

  • Find grace and mindfulness coming into and out of the pose.

WATCH OUT FOR

  • Hands too wide or too narrow

This article with image published here with permission from https://beyogi.com


Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 30, 2017
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Brain aneurysm

Brain aneurysm

All types of headaches are not just headaches or migraine.  Sometimes a person can feel the worst headache that is unbearable and if not taken care it could be fatal.

Brain aneurysm is also known as cerebral aneurysm.  It is a weak bulged spot on the brain wall artery which appears like a thin balloon. This building interferes with the blood flow and artery pounds against the weakened wall and results in wear and tear of arteries. This pressure that builds up can result in the rupturing of artery and blood will escape to the space around. Generally, the ruptured brain aneurysm needs an advanced surgery as treatment.

It is hard to differentiate between brain aneurysm and a migraine. However, if a person feels a sudden rushed and exploding headache it could be due to brain aneurysm.

Symptoms of Brain Aneurysm

  • Blurred or double vision
  • Feeling numbness in the face
  • Often becoming unconsciousness
  • Seizures attack
  • Becoming overly sensitive to light
  • Severe headache that is unbearable
  • Localized Headache
  • Dilated pupils
  • Pain above and behind eye
  • Weakness and numbness
  • Difficulty in speaking

When to seek medical help?

If a person is experiencing any or all of these below mentioned symptoms it is better to contact your doctor.

  • Sudden severe headache, the worst headache of your life
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Stiff Neck
  • Sudden blurred or double vision
  • Sudden pain above/behind the eye or difficulty seeing
  • Sudden change in mental status/awareness
  • Sudden trouble walking or dizziness
  • Sudden weakness and numbness
  • Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
  • Seizure
  • Drooping eyelid

Treatment options:

Treatment for brain aneurysm is more promising than it was before. If aneurysm is detected and the artery is not ruptured then the option is either open surgery or endovascular approach. Surgery should be performed to prevent the bleeding or hemorrhage or immediately after hemorrhage to prevent further bleeding. In either treatment preventing bleeding or further bleeding by sealing off the aneurysm is the goal. Several factors decide the treatment options – patient age, location and size of the aneurysm, shape of aneurysm, neurological condition, other medical condition and patients’ health history.

References:

University of Miami Health system

https://www.bafound.org

 

Image credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cerebral_aneurysm_NIH.jpg

Attribution:en:National Institutes of Health / Public domain

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wikipedia_intracranial_aneurysms_-inferior_view-_heat_map.jpg

English: Nicholas Zaorsky, M.D. / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)


Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 28, 2017
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Indian gooseberry rice

Indian gooseberry rice

Amla or Indian gooseberry is known for its rich nutrients and medicinal properties. It supplies vitamin C in abundant. Benefits of consuming amla is good for eye sight, hair health, reduces blood sugar, good for skin, supplies digestive fiber, cures sore throat, diuretic activity, increases metabolic activity and immune system booster.  Amla is not only has medicinal properties and is a good home remedy herb, it is also used in Indian traditional cooking. Try simple yet delicious gooseberry rice. It is a good festival item in place of lemon rice.

 Ingredients:

  1. Rice – 2cups
  2. Gooseberry – 3 or 4
  3. Green chilli – 3
  4. Red chilli – 2
  5. Grated coconut – ¼ cup
  6. Peanuts – 2 Tbs
  7. Mustard – 1 tsp
  8. Curry leaves – Few
  9. Urad and Chenna daal -Each 1 tsp
  10. Salt- as required
  11. Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
  12. Asafetida – a pinch (optional)

 

Preparation:

  1. Wash and cook rice – rice should not be overcooked and not sticky. Transfer rice to a plate and spread it to cool.
  2. Wash and grate gooseberry – remove seed.
  3. Take a frying vessel and add about 1 to 2 Tbs of cooking oil. Use medium heat.
  4. Add mustard, peanuts, urad daal, chenna daal, red chilli and fry. Add green chilli and curry leaves followed by turmeric powder and pinch of asafetida – continue frying for few more seconds.
  5. Turn of the heat and transfer rice to the seasoning container.
  6. Add grated gooseberry and salt – mix rice well on low heat. Continue to mix and heat simultaneously for couple of more minutes.
  7. Serve gooseberry rice as a lunch item. It can be a festival item too!

www.werindia.com


Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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First Urban Agrihood in America

First Urban Agrihood in America

First Urban ‘Agrihood’ In America Feeds 2,000 Households For Free

By Amanda Froelich in Trueactivist.com

The agrihood is located in Detroit, Michigan, and feeds thousands of families in the area. Children and adults can learn about sustainable agriculture when they take part in the food forest’s development.

Have you ever contemplated the fact that humans are the only species on Earth that pays to live on the planet? This continues, despite the fact that there is presently more than enough resources to care for every citizen.

As a matter of fact, enough food is produced around the world to feed 10 billion people. However, because 70% of the mono crops which are grown are  feed livestock intended for slaughter, a distribution problem exists. In effect, 795 million people go to bed hungry each evening.

Solving the conundrum of world hunger has been many peoples’ dream. Hopefully, it will be remedied within the next century or two. Perhaps one of the ways inspired activists will make this ambition a reality is to install more community gardens which can offer nutrient-dense food to local civilians for free!

If it sounds too good to be true, look no further than what has developed in Michigan. Inhabitat reports that in the city of Detroit – which is recognized as a location where many families are affected by economic imbalance, America’s first urban ‘Agrihood’ exists and it feeds approximately 2,000 households.

The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) is responsible for implementing the three-acre project. Two acres of the land is devoted to growing crops, such as fruits and vegetables, and the remaining one acre allows for a fruit orchard with 200 trees. Additionally, a sensory garden has been constructed for kids to experience and learn more about sustainable agriculture.

MUFI explains its project as an alternative neighborhood growth model which centers around urban agriculture. Co-founder and president of the non-profit, Tyson Gersh, explained in a statement:

“Over the last four years, we’ve grown from an urban garden that provides fresh produce for our residents to a diverse, agricultural campus that has helped sustain the neighborhood, attracted new residents and area investment.”

Volunteers are essential for MUFI to flourish. Reportedly, plans are in the works to construct a 3,200 square-foot Community Resource Center at the agrihood. The building will serve as a colorful headquarters and education center. Nearby, a health food cafe will also be built, and it will likely utilize crops grown in the urban food forest.

Every individual and family deserve to have abundant access to nutrient-dense, life-saving foods. Please like, comment on, and share this article if you think more cities need similar initiatives.

Read More: http://www.trueactivist.com/


Author: HealthyLife | Posted on:
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Delicious and healthy buttermilk rasam

Delicious and healthy buttermilk rasam

During winter time we hesitate to drink cold buttermilk yet we feel like drinking buttermilk. Here is a way to drink buttermilk during winter -try this delicious recipe – buttermilk rasam and get all the benefit of buttermilk. It slightly warm and tastes delicious because of another wonderful ingredient namely coconut milk. Both together give not only good taste also provide all the benefit that they are known for. Buttermilk is good for digestion and helps to lighten the system. Coconut milk contains nutrients that are unique and helps in boosting our energy.

Why delay… try this simple recipe today at home!

Ingredients :

  1. Buttermilk – 2 cups
  2. Grated coconut – ½ cup
  3. Salt – as per taste
  4. Asafetida- little
  5. Clarified butter / ghee – 1 tsp
  6. Mustard – 1 tsp
  7. Cumin 1 tsp
  8. Urad daal – 1 tsp
  9. Green chillis – 1 or 2
  10. Warm water – 1 cup
  11. Chopped cilantro – 2 Tbs
  12. Curry leaves – few

*One can add chopped onion – 2 tsp (optional)

 Method:

  1. Grind grated coconut in warm water and squeeze to get the milk. Collect the milk and keep away the left over aside.
  2. Now, mix coconut milk, butter milk and salt in a container.
  3. In a pan heat clarified butter on medium heat and add urad daal, mustard, cumin seeds and green chilli. Add asafetida and curry leaves and turn off the heat.
  4. Add this above seasoning to buttermilk rasam and sprinkle chopped cilantro. If you prefer you can add cut onion too.
  5. One can drink this buttermilk rasam or mix with white rice along with pickle on the side!

Recipe: www.werindia.com


Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 20, 2017
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Remedies For Menstruation Problems

Remedies For Menstruation Problems

Apart from taking tablets and medicines there are several grandma’s remedies easily available at your home kitchen. Try these remedies next time and see how it works out for your condition. If the problem that you are facing not reduces within a day or two then contact your family physician.

Here are home remedies and tips to take care of yourself during your period times.

Periods (Menstruation) getting slightly delayed – How to get periods on time?

It is due for your monthly periods, but you still have not got it and you are having slight stomach ache only i.e., there is a slight delay of periods (menstruation).There is a simple grandmas home remedy to get your periods, almost immediately within a day. Sesame and jaggery are the magic home medicines. There are 2 ways in which one can consume this. -Sesame seeds for delayed periods and sesame seeds and jaggery.

  1. Sesame should be dry roasted in a frying pan, ground with jaggery and eaten. This has a very a yummy taste and it is really unstoppable. You don’t need to stop. You can simply eat 5 to 6 tablespoons in a day and if you have still not got it, you can eat the next day also.
  2. Sesame and jaggery are mixed and sold as nutri bars (popularly known as chikki in India) in many supermarkets which can be readily eaten.

Caution:

A word of caution to expecting ladies. Women who doubt if they could be pregnant should avoid this before confirming pregnancy. If it is confirmed that they are pregnant, then they should stay away from this.

For cramps and bloating :

  1. To warm water add little asafetida powder, salt and lemon juice. Mix well and drink slowly. This reduces bloating and cramps.
  2. To one cup of plain yogurt add a tea spoon of cumin powder and eat.
  3. Boil water and add coriander powder and cumin powder for couple of minutes. Strain the water and drink.
  4. Chew few cumin seeds.
  5. Drink buttermilk with asafoetida and cumin powder: Add little salt for taste. This one is always a winner.
  6. Ginger – ginger is a tummy tamer!

Drink ginger tea – add one or two inch ginger to water, boil and add sugar. Drink.

Add few drops of honey to fresh ginger/ ginger powder and consume it.

  1. Keep heating pad on your lower tummy where you get pain.
  2. Apply lavender oil on the lower abdomen and gently massage for 3-4 minutes. Do this every half an hour till the pain reduces.
  3. Drink basil leaves tea to reduces stomach cramps.
  4. Have hot water bath and expose lower abdomin portion to hot water, followed by slightly cold water. Drink plenty of warm water to reduce the pain.
  5. Drink turmeric milk with little ginger and sugar.

To control heavy bleeding:

  1. Try using cold compress. The cold temperature will cause vasoconstriction, which means constriction of the blood vessels. This will help reduce the flow of blood as well as pain in the lower abdomen.
  2. Add a pinch or two cayenne peppers to water with a tsp of honey and drink 2 to 3 times a day.
  3. Add crushed coriander seeds to boiling water. Bring the water to half and drink with little sugar.
  4. If you are lucky and banana flower is available then, use it. Eating cooked banana flower with a cup of curd increases progesterone and helps control excessive menstrual bleeding.
  5. Foods like sesame seeds, water melon seeds, oat, cocoa, pumpkin, squash must be included in the diet. These are magnesium rich foods. Magnesium helps in stopping menstrual bleeding.
  6. A mixture of 10 ml of liquid extract of mango bark in 130 ml of water is effective in arresting excessive periods. Take one teaspoon of this preparation every hour.
  7. Take 40 grams of dried mustard seeds and grind to fine powder. Take 2 grams of mustard seed powder with milk twice a day before or during menstrual cycle to arrest excessive bleeding.
  8. Keep consuming iron rich food – leafy vegetables, molasses, pumpkin, raisin, apricot etc. will help to control iron leach from the body.

If the bleeding does not come to control in 5 to 6 days and you need to change your pad 5 times a day then contact your doctor for further care.

To control Nausea:

  1. Try frozen ginger chips. First, infuse fresh ginger in hot water. Strain, and then freeze the concoction in ice cube trays. Crush the cubes and suck the icy chips throughout the day to provide your tummy with a steady soothing dribble. Ginger’s anti-nausea properties are particularly effective during pregnancy or after surgery.
  2. Drink lemon juice with sugar and a pinch of salt.
  3. Drink warm water.
  4. Drink ginger tea as explained in controlling bloating.

Yoga practice:

Several yoga poses helps to strengthen the uterus. Understand which yoga pose is good for your problem. Practice yoga minimum 30 minutes a day. This will help you to improve health related to uterus. Boat pose, chair pose, child pose, pelvic tilting pose, bridge pose – these few poses that helps to strengthen uterus. Yoga poses that promote circulation to the uterus are slanted plane, cat/cow pose, pigeon, the squat and butterfly. Also, circling your hips to the right and then left in the hands and knees position really gets the blood flowing down there. 

Personal care:

  • Take care of used pads. If possible wash the pad in the sink and then cover with a waste paper and put it in a garbage bag.
  • If you have normal periods change your pads minimum 3 times a day.
  • Carry pads in your handbags all the time. Put it in a Ziploc bag or buy a small pad bag for your usage.
  • Take a shower twice a day during period time.
  • It is important to take rest – sleep minimum 7.5 hrs during period days. Drink plenty of water.
  • If you are not upto then, skip your gym. But go for short walks to keep your muscle active.
  • Do not lift heavy items during blood flow time to avoid any risks to your uterus and back.
  • Drink cumin tea two to three days your PMS to reduce pain during the period time.
  • Keep your leg elevated to avoid edema during periods.

 

Read more at: Healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: Image by Foundry Co from Pixabay 


Author: HealthyLife | Posted on: November 17, 2017
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