CHOLESTEROLE: Why you need it !!

Fats from animal and vegetable sources provide a concentrated source of energy in the diet; they also provide the building blocks for cell membranes and a variety of hormones and hormonelike substances. Fats as part of a meal slow down absorption so that we can go longer without feeling hungry. In addition, they act as carriers for important fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Dietary fats are needed for the conversion of carotene to vitamin A, for mineral absorption and for a host of other processes. Politically Correct Nutrition is based on the assumption that we should reduce our intake of fats, particularly saturated fats from animal sources. Fats from animal sources also contain cholesterol, presented as the twin villain of the civilized diet.

An onion a day keeps the doctor at bay!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. So do onions. Onions are one of the most widely used medicinal vegetable and it dates back to the Mughal Empire in India and the Puranas. The pungent smell of onions are because of all the medicinal contents that it has.

Onions help in keeping the body tones when used with various spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon etc. the oil extracted from onions is very strong and volatile and serves as a medicine for a variety of illnesses. Onions are especially helpful in terrible cold and winters where cold and cough is a common occurrence. Onion oil can help remove the phlegm. The juice extracted from onion can also be rubbed over various body parts or simply the entire body when the temperature gets too cold and the feet and hands get very cold. This juice can also be orally consumed. Ear aches due to extreme cold and exposure to chilly winds can also be healed by putting a couple of drops of onion juice into the ears. On the other hand, in extreme heat during summers where sun strokes are a common occurrence, onions reduces thirst and reduces the harsh effects of the sun on the individual.

The pungent odor of onions also helps in getting an unconscious person back to consciousness when the person is exposed to the fumes. Onion and jaggery with water will help increase the stamina and reduce fatigue due to overworking. It also helps women with painful menstrual cycles by mitigating the pain caused due to the cramps.

Onions thus seem like an all rounder when it comes to treating various ailments.  It is a pity that the prices have drastically shot up these days for the vegetable. But the price you pay for this might just save you the price you may have to pay for your medicines!

Doodh hai wonderful!

Doodh doodh doodh doodh doodh hai wonderful, pee sakte hai roz glassfull, doodh doodh doodh doodh… goes the ad jingle which sings about the benefits of drinking milk everyday. It is a song that we will sing along but it should become a habit that we consume cow’s milk everyday.

Ayurveda doesn’t just place the cow in the place of a Goddess but gives the cow’s milk utmost importance for the overall well being of humans and helps in healthy growth. Boiled or pasteurised cow milk is more digestible since the proteins would already be converted to amino acids. Cold milk consumption is not adviced as it is knows to reduce the effect of the digestive enzymes which in turn causes the formation of mucus.

Milk is a rich source of Vitamins A, B2 and B3, calcium and proteins. It is very beneficial for pregnant and nursing mothers and children. Expectant mothers can also consume yoghurt, a product of milk to prevent miscarriage, premature delivery or any other birth related complication. It is also known to reduce and even prevent acidity. Boiled milk with a pinch of turmeric, black pepper. ginger and cinnamon is an easy to prepare medicine to reduces the heaviness of the stomach by hindering the production of mucus.

An exhausting day can be ended with a glass of milk as it not only helps in digestion of food but also helps in getting a sound sleep.

So the next time your mother asks you to drink that glass of milk before you run off into your routine, listen to her for your own good!