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Benefits of eating Indian mouth fresheners and paan
Mouth fresheners are available in different forms in market. Chewing gum is also a type of mouth freshener. When you are in India, you will see people chewing “pan or paan” after meal. Or you might also see roasted seeds in restaurants kept in a bowl.
While stepping out after heavy meal or snacks you will take a teaspoon of these roasted seeds and put in your mouth. Within an hour of eating these mouth fresheners you will start feeling better. They get rid of bad breath, heaviness in the system and helps in digestion.
Varieties of mouth fresheners are available in our kitchen itself: Cardamom pod, mint leaves, pomegranate seeds, anise seeds, guava seeds etc.
But, some mouth fresheners are more popular and prepared in different ways. These generally mixture of different ingredients and offer different benefits.
Here are few examples presented in next few slides…
Remember:Quantity of paan that should be consumed is one or two per day after meal. Too much paan consumption is not recommended. If not, we get addicted to paan which is not good for oral health. Similarly, eating mouth fresheners also should be limited to 1 or 2 tsp after meal. Similarly, too much of eating seeds can also result in constipation!
Generally regular meetha paan stains the mouth and teeth. For those who does not want to stain the mouth much, there is an option.
Gilori calcutta paan is as delicious as regular paan and it has several health benefits.
What it contains?You need beetle leaf, dry dates, gulkand, anise seed, little sugar, Indian gooseberry, wood apple pulp, menthol a little, cardamom and little dry coconut flakes.
How to prepare:Wash betel leaf and cut into half. Take half leaf and add all ingredients one by one. At the end add coconut flakes, close the leaf and serve by inserting a clove or cherry on top.
Health benefits:This paan apart from helping in digestion, reduces heaviness of system. It also supplies dry fruits – dates, Indian gooseberry and wood apple pulp. All these dry fruits stimulates digestive system and enhances metabolism. Along with it also supplies iron and helps in blood circulation.
This is world famous mouth freshener and promotes digestion.
It helps in increasing appetite and promotes secretion of saliva.
What it contains?
Fennel seeds – 4 tsp ,
Betel nuts – 2 tsp,
Colored sugar- 2 tsp,
Cardamom powder – ¼ tsp
Clove powder – ¼ tsp,
Nutmeg powder – ¼,
Cinnamon powder – ¼ tsp,
Dry coconut powder or flakes – 1 tsp,
Menthol – little powder,
Camphor – little powder,
Gulkand – 2 tsp,
Dried fruit & nut mix – 1 tsp
How to prepare at home?
Wash betel leaves and dry using a paper towel
Mix all above-mentioned ingredients
Apply a little of slaked lime on two betel leaves and place on a flat surface. Place one tsp of mixture on the leaves.
Fold leaves into triangle shape and insert a toothpick or clove to hold the shape.
Serve after meal
Benefits:If you see the ingredients you will understand why people like to have Banaras leaves after meal. All ingredients presented in Banaras paan helps in digestion and promotes metabolism.
Clove and cardamom refreshes mouth. Betel nut and nutmeg helps in liver health.
Cinnamon reduces cholesterol and keeps heart healthy. Fennel seeds good for intestine and removes toxins from the body. Dried fruit and nut mix supply protein and minerals. Betel leaf of course, supplies vitamins, thiamine and iron and it works on salivary gland!
In a vessel, mix paneer, betel leaf, dessicated coconut and condensed milk. Keep it on low flame and mix well. Let the contents cook and form a dough.
Remove the dough from heat source and allow it cool. Knead it and divide it to small balls of equal size.
Mix both mouth refresher. Take the dough ball and slightly flatten it and create a dent in the center. In the dent add little mouth refresher mix. Close the dough ball and place a piece of cherry on top.
Paan bahar Sandesh ready!
Benefits:Not just digestion aid, this also supplies protein and because it contains roasted seeds and sweet, helps to calm system after heavy meals. It is kind of dessert with digestive material.
Paan leaf and supari together called paan in India and neighboring countries.
Paan lead has several health benefits and supari too. Not only for medicinal purposes, both these have cultural and religious importance in festivals and functions.
In India, one can see paan shops outside restaurants or in markets. There are many varieties of paan leaves and betel nuts.
To prepare paan you need following ingredients:
Paan(Betel leaves) – 1 or 2,
Betel nut – pieces – 1 tsp,
Gulkand – 1 tsp (for sweet paan),
Mouth fresheners– 1 tsp,
Sweetened coconut flakes – 1/2 tsp,
Cardamom powder – 1/2 tsp,
Glazed cherries – few,
Chunna (lime) – very little (say a pinch)
How to prepare paan?Wash and dry paan leaf using a paper towel. Remove midrib and stalk of paan. Spread little slaked lime (if you prefer) and roll one edges to form a cone shape or spread the leaf on counter top. Smear chunna on leaf. Inside the cone or on the surface place all ingredients one by one. Close the cone or fold the leaf. Eat this sweet paan after meal. If you don’t want sweet, then don’t add gulkand. How much to consume ? Generally one. If you love it you may eat two.
Health benefits are:
Digestion improvement: Chewing paan helps in easy digestion. It promotes secretion of saliva which is needed for digestion
Removes bad breath & odor: Helps to reduce bacterial effect on breath and mouth cavity
Aphrodisiac: It is known for aphrodisiac effect on humans!
Anti-diabetic: Paan without sweet is preferred for diabetes. It reduces blood sugar level
Stomach pain relief:Indigestion related stomach pain can be reduced by chewing paan and it also cures constipation.
To prepare:Mix lemon juice, turmeric powder, black salt and salt in a bowl. Let salt dissolve. In individual plates take all different seeds. Divide the salt dissolved lemon liquid and add it to seeds. Mix well so that seeds should coat with lemon and salt liquid. Allow all plates to dry for few hours. Now, dry roast all seeds separately, one by one on medium heat. While roasting fennel seeds mix carom seeds. All seeds will release different aroma during roasting. Take a larger bowl and add all roasted seeds and mix well. Allow roasted seeds to cool. Store in air tight container.
How much to consume? After meal about 1.5 tsp.
Benefits:Main benefit is easy digestion and boosts metabolism. Apart from this you will receive benefits of good heart health, reduces sugar level, for ladies strengthening of bone, removal of toxins from the body and supports liver health.
Roasted fennel is another popular mouth freshener one can see in many Indian restaurant.
To prepare this all you need is one cup of fennel seeds, 1.5 tsp of lime juice, ½ tsp turmeric powder and ½ tsp salt. Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Close the lid and leave it for couple of hours to bind the flavor of all ingredients.
Take a non stick paan and using medium heat roast the fennel mixture till it becomes crispy. Don’t over roast and burn the mix. Allow it to cool down for an hour or so and store in airtight container.
Good remedy for flatulence and indigestion – It contains good amount of dietary fiber that helps in digestion. In turn it removes toxins form the body and keeps body energetic.
Fennel seed decoction found to increase breast milk in new mothers.
It relieves colic pain and helps in digestion. It has calming effect on intestine
It also has soothing effect on nervous system and reduces body pain
It absorbs cholesterol and helps in excreting extra fat through body and keeps arteries healthy
It is also diuretic and helps in proper urination.
Pumpkin belongs to cucumber family and has less calories like any other cucurbitaceae members.
Pumpkin fruit is popular in both eastern and western countries. Sale of pumpkin fruit is highest during Halloween season.
People carve pumpkin and usually throw the seeds. But, you know pumpkin seeds can be a good digestive aid?
What you needs is:For roasting pumpkin seeds, one can use either fresh or dried seeds.
Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add butter (or oil) and melt it. Now add, rinsed and dried seeds (or sun-dried seeds). Allow it to cook while stirring frequently.
Pumpkin seeds will turn golden brown in next 22 minutes and puffed slightly. Continue stirring, add salt and cook for another one minute. Remove roasted, cooked pumpkin seeds and cool for an hour or so. Store in an air tight container.
Health benefits:
It contains protein and zinc -acts as an energy booster.
With skin intact, it helps in digestion.
Contains magnesium and promotes heart health.
It contains omega 3 fats and good for liver, heart and prostate health.
It has anti-inflammatory properties.
Good for restful sleep because of good amount of tryptophan.
Helps women body during and after menopause.
Studies say it might help in insulin regulation and good for diabetes.
