All posts by Sumana Rao

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Paan Sandesh

Paan Sandesh

Paan Sandesh is another speciality paan served after meal or one can have it any time of the day.

It is sweet and contains good amount of protein in the form of paneer and condensed milk.

What you need? 

  • Finely chopped betel leaves – 10 ,
  • Paneer or cottage cheese – 200 gram,
  • Condensed milk – 3 Tbsp,
  • Desiccated coconut – 3 Tbsp,
  • Gulkand – 2 Tbsp,
  • Roasted, sweet fennel – 1 Tbsp,
  • Sweet mix mouth freshener (mukhwas) – 1 Tbsp,
  • Pieces of Cherries- few.

It is easy to prepare…

  • Blend panner using a blender.
  • 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.

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: January 31, 2018
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Traditional Paan

Traditional Paan

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.

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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All seeds mouth freshener

All seeds mouth freshener

To get benefits from goodness of different seeds one should have this all seeds mouth freshener.

It contains following ingredients:

  • Sesame seeds – 1/2 cup,
  • Fennel seeds – 1/2 cup,
  • Roasted coriander seeds (Dhana dal) – 1/2 cup,
  • Flax seeds – 1/2 cup,
  • Carom seeds – 2 tsp,
  • Lemon juice – 2 tbsp,
  • Black salt  – 1/2 tsp,
  • Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp,
  • Salt – to taste

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.

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Roasted Variyali Fennel seeds

Roasted Variyali – Fennel seeds

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.

How much one should consume? 1 tsp after a meal

Benefits: Fennel seeds have been in use in traditional medicine from decades.

  • 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.

Reference: http://www.stylecraze.com/

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

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.
Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Dhana Dal - Split Cilantro

Dhana Dal – Split Cilantro

Coriander seeds give multiple health benefits. Apart from traditional medicines like Ayurveda, in India people use coriander herb and seeds in many home remedies as well. These seeds are spherical and end is slightly pointed.

Dhana Dal is famous Indian mouth freshener consumed after meals and snacks. It has a nutty flavor that blends very well with other aromatic ingredients.

When crushed seeds give lemony citrus flavor and bit of spicy odor. Unshelled coriander seeds split into two halves is called dal. It is the core of cilantro seeds.

Dhana dal is prepared by roasting these split coriander seeds and adding pinch of salt.

How much to consume: One tea spoon after meal.

Benefits:

  • Freshens breath: It contains citronellol compound. It is antiseptic in nature and keeps mouth ulcers from getting worse. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.
  • Digestion: Fibrous content of coriander makes it easy on digestive system.
  • Boost immune system: Prevents body from infections as it contains good amount of zinc needed for body to fight against microbes.
  • Helps to sleep: It has sedative property. The essential oil present in seeds has sedative-hypnotic effect on body. It calms the nerves.
  • It is diuretic and removes toxins from the body

Reference: http://www.thehealthsite.com

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Baby’s oral health care

Baby’s oral health care

During babies teething time not only babies, but parents also suffer. Some babies will have sore and tender gums. Cleaning gums can be difficult. Here are few tips to take care of baby’s oral health and how to clean the teeth.

Baby’s 20 primary teeth that is hidden in jaw during birth will start appearing between 6 months to one year.

By age of three most children will have all 20 primary teeth. Usually the first teeth are the one to come in in the top and bottom front of baby’s mouth.

When the teeth start coming out babies will feel sore and become cranky due to pain. As soon as teeth comes out baby may develop cavities.

In several cases, infants and toddlers have experienced severe tooth decay, that teeth needed to be extracted. It is important to take care of baby’s teeth from the beginning.

Kids need strong, healthy baby teeth not only for chewing but also to speak and good-looking smile.

Cute babies smile is attractive and to keep the smile clean baby’s mouth in following ways:

  1. Decaying of teeth can happen as soon as it appears. At age of 6 months in baby’s front teeth may appear. Clean baby’s mouth from the beginning after few days of birth. Wipe the gums using clean, moist gauze pad or wash cloth. A clean teething ring will help. Don’t forget to clean the tongue too.
  2. For children under age three, start brushing teeth as soon as all appear use fluoride toothpaste.
  3. Smear rice size paste on baby’s brush and brush teeth twice a day. Brush for 2 minutes, 2 times a day.
  4. If children want to brush hold their hands and guide them. For children aged between 3 to 6 years, use pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Have them brush twice a day – morning and night. Supervise brushing and remind them not to swallow toothpaste.
  5. When child start having two and more teeth, help them to clean between teeth.
  6. When you feel comfortable then have children brush on his or her own. If not, brush your child’s teeth twice a day using children brush.
  7. Give healthy foods and limit sweets, avoid sugary juices. Say no to soda and sweetened liquids for your baby.
  8. Kids should use a soft toothbrush. The size and shape of the brush should allow them to reach all areas of their mouth. This will help to avoid plaque that can lead to cavities.
  9. Schedule regular dental checkup – Have a dentist examine your child no later than their first birthday.

Baby teeth are key for chewing, speaking and appearance. Baby teeth also hold space in the jaws for future adult teeth. It is critical to take good care of baby’s teeth and gum to avoid future dental problems. From around age 6 to 12 children gradually lose their baby teeth and adult teeth start to appear & by the time you would know better how to take care of little one’s teeth.

For more information visit:

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: January 30, 2018
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Detoxifying helps to reset body

Detoxifying helps to reset body

Do you know detoxifying helps to reset body for better? One reason we all feel fatigued, tired, bloated and lethargic is due to consumption of foods that are loaded with toxins.

Processed foods, alcohol, caffeine, street foods, excess sugar, fast foods – all these are loaded with toxins.

These toxins interfere in our system and create havoc in the balance of bacterial population that live in our gut. Gut inflamed by these foods resulting range of symptoms.

It is important to cleanse body time to time to turn off the fire that is causing the problem and bring back normalcy. This whole process of detoxification need to happen with help of good foods.

What happens to body when toxins accumulate? Toxins enter our body through food, inhalation or through blood (sometimes). These harmful toxic chemicals interfere in body system by reducing the function of various organs.

Lymph, kidney, liver, intestines, circulatory systems all are designed to naturally detox our body. By too much toxins accumulation all these organs will be overwhelmed and may not able to detoxify efficiently. This causes toxemia- build up of toxins in the body eventually causing various diseases.

Liver: High amount of toxins will store in liver creating fat and causes inflammation. Detoxification helps liver to do its job more effectively turning toxins to substances the body can excrete.

Skin: Looks aged, results in pimples with oil accumulation, color change and sick look. Cleansing helps skin to excrete toxins such as lead, cadmium etc. This brings back bright skin, healthy look and freshness.

Brain: Feeling low energy, sleepy, mental fogginess is result of toxins. Detoxification helps to pick up energy and all those worst symptoms will diminish. Brain boost is result of balancing gut and removal of toxins from liver.

Mind and mood: Eliminating toxins acts as a mood buster. It helps to maintain positive attitude and encourages to have healthy habits. One can notice positive attitude and improvement in sleep and person will be cheerful.

Following seven methods helps to detoxify the system to bring back normalcy.

  • Smoothies: Start your day with fresh fruit and vegetables filled smoothie. Smoothies help to detoxify body naturally while supplying enough nutrients and energy for the day. Prepare smoothies with kale, parsley and, green apples or bananas. Every one of these ingredients have detoxifying factors. Looking for more smoothie recipe? Click here.
  • Super foods: Include foods that supply vitamins and nutrients that also help in weight loss by boosting metabolism. Phytochemicals and antioxidants present in super foods help body to get rid of toxins and keeps our immune system strong. Super foods like black beans, red lentils, blue berries, milk, kale, quinoa, almonds, broccoli, apple, avocado, garlic, pomegranate, flax, sweet potato, oranges are few examples of super foods. Include these vegetables and fruits in your everyday meal. Eat those super foods that are available in that season.
  • Green tea: If you want to replace coffee with something good, then green tea should be your choice. It gives several health benefits while improving immune system. Green tea removes toxins with its antioxidant property.
  • Water: Of course, water is the one universal liquid that keeps us alive. It helps in weight loss, reduces thirst and keeps cells hydrated. Increasing drinking water amount bit everyday helps in body to flush more amount of toxins and constantly it throws toxins. Understand how much water you should be consuming based on your age and activities.
  • Eat organic: Forget about processed food for a while. Eat colorful varieties of organic produces and organic whole grains. Eat whole plant foods that are organic – this will not only supply micronutrients also, will not add toxins to the body as it is organic food.
  • Sweat in Sauna or in Sun: Exposing your body in hot sauna leads to sweating. Sweat removes toxins. Avoid Air conditioner for some time and step out in hot Sun for few minutes. Sweating is one of the best way to detoxify the body.
  • Exfoliate: Oil massages and skin brushing helps to exfoliate the toxins skin and refreshes blood circulation.
  • Regular exercise: Exercising every day for few minutes, enhances metabolism, digestion and increases circulation in blood and lymph system. It reduces stress, tension and helps in removing toxins by sweating. It means people who exercise regularly will accumulate less amount of toxins in the system.
  • Regulate food intake: Follow a balanced diet that is rich in fiber, protein and carbohydrates. Control your portion intake. You can try intermittent fasting once a while.

Detoxification is nothing but clean eating habit or diet.  It means when body feels worst, it needs a vacation from those foods that makes it cranky and unhealthy. It helps to clean up the junk sitting in our system. It is nothing but resetting the button to feel better about yourself.

Healthylife.werindia.com

Image credit: Photo by Mariah Hewines on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: January 29, 2018
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