GOOD MORNING WITH OATS

Nothing says "good morning" like a warm bowl of oatmeal. Whether slowly cooked and creamy or blended with fresh fruit in a smoothie, oats provide your body with many benefits. If you're not eating oatmeal for breakfast, you're missing out on a delicious way to add fiber and nutrients to your body first thing in the morning.

• Oatmeal is a whole grain, and eating whole grains can lower your risk for several diseases, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. Oatmeal also contains lignans, a plant chemical that has been found to prevent heart disease. The food label on your package of oats should list one ingredient: whole grain oats.
• Eating oatmeal can lower your cholesterol, especially your LDL, or "bad" cholesterol. If you've been diagnosed with high cholesterol, consider adding oatmeal to your daily menu.
• Oatmeal is a source of fiber. That means when you eat oats for breakfast, you're going to feel full for a long time. Breakfast foods high in sugar and fat can make you feel full for a brief period, but then you're hungry again. A breakfast smoothie, consisting of blended oats, fruit and ice, can satisfy your hunger easily until lunch.
• One cup of oats contains 16.5 grams of fiber, which is roughly half of a person's recommended daily intake of fiber.
• Oatmeal and oat bran are significant sources of dietary fiber. This fiber contains a mixture of about half soluble and half insoluble fibers. One component of the soluble fibre found in oats is beta-glucans, a soluble fiber which has proven effective in lowering blood cholesterol. 

"What better way to gain the strength and energy to carry you through a hectic morning schedule than with a steaming bowl of freshly cooked oatmeal. Oats are harvested in the fall but are available throughout the year and can add extra nutrition to a variety of healthy dishes."

• Oats, like other grains and vegetables, contain hundreds of phytochemicals (plant chemicals). Many phytochemicals are thought to reduce a person's risk of getting cancer. Phytoestrogen compounds, called lignans, in oats have been linked to decreased risk of hormone-related diseases such as breast cancer. Most of the research has been focused on breast cancer, but similar effects are expected on other hormone-related cancers such as prostate, endometrium and ovarian cancer. International research has shown that women with a higher intake of dietary fibre have lower circulating oestrogen levels, a factor associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. The insoluble fibers in oats are also thought to reduce carcinogens in the gastrointestinal tract.
• Oats have a high fiber content. Fiber is necessary in keeping bowel movements regular. Oats are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It is spongy and absorbs many times its own weight of liquid. It makes stools heavier and speeds their passage through the gut, relieving constipation.
• Oats, like other cereal grains, are valued primarily as a source of carbohydrates which provide calories for energy needs. Oats have been shown in scientific studies to favorably alter metabolism and enhance performance when ingested 45 minutes to 1 hour before exercise of moderate intensity.
• Oats are a good source of essential vitamins such as thiamin, folic acid, biotin, pantothenic acid and vitamin E. They also contain zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium. Oat beta glucan also appears to help speed up response to infection, which may result in faster healing. According to a new study, it was discovered that beta glucan can enhance the ability of certain human immune cells to navigate to the site of a bacterial infection, resulting in faster healing. 
• Oat of all the grains, oats have a higher better balance of protein, and a good balance of essential fatty acids. Oats have a great range of vitamins and minerals and beta glucan which helps the body to heal quickly.

If you've tried oatmeal before and didn't like it, reconsider. Combining fruit or nuts with your oats while they're cooking adds more nutrients. Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg give great flavor to your oats. Limit any sugars and let the natural flavor of the fruits and spices take over. Blend your oats with different fruits into a healthy oatmeal smoothie. Because oatmeal is such a beneficial food, try to find a different way to eat it every day.

COOKING OILS AND THEIR FACTS - 2

continuation of the previous post..

Sesame oil

Made from pressed sesame seeds. Sesame oil comes in two varieties: light (made with untoasted sesames) and dark (made with toasted sesames). Light sesame oil has a nutty flavor and is especially good for frying. Dark sesame oil (Asian) has a stronger flavor and should only be used in small quantities for flavoring foods - not cooking. Both varieties are high in polyunsaturated fat. 

Sesame oil
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Both types of oils are high in polyunsaturated fat but they should never be heated for too long. Sesame oil also contains magnesium, copper, calcium, iron and vitamin B6. 

Rice bran oil

A fairly new kid on the block and a fast rising favourite amongst the manufacturers, rice bran oil is made from the outer layer (bran) of the grain of rice. Health experts claim that it's the healthiest oil on the planet. While I cannot vouch for that, I do know that while trying it out on my food show series, called Guilt Free, the taste was did not clash with Indian food and it worked pretty well in cookies and cakes.

Apparently, rice bran oil has a chemical called oryzanol which is good for your cholesterol. It is high in monounsaturated fats and has a fair amount of polyunsaturated fats too, both the good type of fats. Since it has a high smoking point, it works well for deep frying chips and all.

Soybean oil

Soybeans contain oil that is inefficient to extract in a natural manner; therefore, unrefined expeller-pressed soy oil is rather expensive. Unrefined soy oil has a strong, distinctive flavor and aroma -- some like it, some don't. It has a dark yellow color with a faint green tint. Unrefined soy oil is more susceptible to oxidation and rancidity than sesame, olive, or corn oil.

Cooking Oil to Skip: Soybean Oil : Soybean oil—often labeled as an ingredient in vegetable oil—is high in omega-6 fats, which compete in your body with healthy omega-3 fats (the kind that benefit your heart and brain). Many nutrition experts say that Americans get too many omega-6 fats in their diets, mostly from processed foods, including Joe Hibbeln, M.D., a Captain in the United States Public Health Service. He takes it a step further and blames alcoholism, depression and a host of other illnesses on the excess of omega-6 fats in our diet. 

Palm Oil

A yellowish-orange fatty oil obtained especially from the crushed nuts of an African palm. While you can find palm oil for cooking, you’re more likely to find it in packaged foods as many food manufacturers are replacing heart-damaging trans fats (hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils) with palm oil. 

While palm oil is trans-fat-free, about half of its fat is saturated, adding about 1.5 grams sat fat to each 2-tablespoon serving—and a diet high in saturated fat has been linked with elevated cholesterol levels and increased risk for heart disease. Though you may have heard that palm oil has less of a cholesterol-raising effect than other tropical oils, the research isn’t conclusive. Your best bet is to choose natural products that contain neither added palm oil nor trans fats.

In addition, recent research shows that palmitic acid, a saturated fat found in palm oil (and beef, butter and cheese), caused mice to become resistant to the appetite-suppressing hormones leptin and insulin, which in theory could make them eat more.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is an edible oil that contains lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that has germ-fighting, antiviral and antifungal properties, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Coconut oil will not only help rid your body of bacteria and viruses, it is also rich in monounsaturated fat, which helps to reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels. 

Coconut oil
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The “Ceylon Medical Journal” notes that coconut fats do not contain artery-clogging trans fats, making coconut oil a healthy choice for those with heart problems. Unrefined coconut oil smells and tastes like raw coconuts and adds tropical flavor to foods.

Storing Oil

All oils remain liquid when kept at room temperature so it is best to store oil in a dark, dry place, such as your pantry. Oils that are high in monounsaturated fat will keep up to a year, while refined olive oil, having the highest of monounsaturated fat, can last a few years. Extra virgin and virgin olive oils will keep about a year after opened. The shelf life of most other oils after opened is usually six-eight months.

Another important fact to note is how to properly discard used cooking oil. It should never be poured down your kitchen sink. Oil can congeal and block pipes. The best way to discard of it is to pour it into a leak-proof container and discard it with the rest of your garbage.

Butter

This the preferred fat for baking as it adds the most flavour. It's not idea for frying since it will burn at a lower temperature than most oils, but can be used for sauteing. Try adding butter to oil for the flavor benefit of butter and the higher temperature range of oil.

Whole butter is a mix of fats, milk solids, and moisture derived by churning cream until the oil droplets stick together and can be separated out.

Ghee (Clarified butter)

Ghee has a higher smoke point than butter since clarification eliminates the milk solids (which burn at lower temps). Instead of ghee, we can use canola oil.

Edible Oils to Avoid

Look for “hydrogenated oil” or “partially hydrogenated oil” in the ingredients of the oils you select, and avoid purchasing oils containing them. These oils are high in trans fats, which solidify around your arteries and blood vessels, causing them to become inflexible. When your arteries and blood vessels stiffen, the amount of blood traveling through them can decrease, which limits the blood flow to your heart, brain, kidneys, eyes and other organs. Oils containing monounsaturated fats minimize artery blockage, which supports the health of your brain, heart and other organs and minimizes your risk of developing many diet-related ailments.

COOKING OILS AND THEIR FACTS - 1

If you frequently cook in the kitchen then you are probably familiar with using oil. Oil is used as an ingredient and is also used for frying. One of the most common cooking oils is vegetable oil, but do you really know what that is? Do you know what oils are best used for frying or the proper way to store it? Here you will find different types of common cooking oils and the proper use of each of them.

Different types of oils used for cooking
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SMOKE POINT OF COOKING OIL

'The temperature at which a given oil will start to smoke is called its smoke point. To say that an oil has a high smoke point means that it can be heated to a relatively high temperature before it starts to smoke.'

If you are cooking with oil and it begins to smoke, you have reached its smoke point. At the smoke point, the oil begins to emit unpleasant odors and impart unsavory flavors to your meal. Watch out for the smoke point signs as it means you are getting close to the flash point, which is when the oil can erupt into flames. Knowing the smoke point warn you about the flash point and fire points. At the flash point, there are tiny wisps of flame; at the fire point a fire is blazing. The best oils for cooking and frying are those that have a high smoking point – that is, they can be heated to high temperatures before burning.

Vegetable Oil

Vegetable Oil is probably the most commonly used of all the oils. It can be found frequently for use in recipes and can also be used for frying. Vegetable oil is actually a blend of several oils, such as corn, soybean, palm and sunflower. Designed to have a mild flavor and a high smoke point.

Canola Oil

Canola oil has been said to be one of the most healthy of the cooking oils because of its low saturated fat content and high mono unsaturated fat. It is commonly used in frying, but only with medium frying temperatures, about 450 degrees F.

A light, golden-colored oil, similar to safflower oil. Low in saturated fat. Extracted from the seeds of a plant in the turnip family (the same plant as the vegetable broccoli rabe). Used in salads and cooking, mostly in the Mediterranean region and India; also used in margarine and blended vegetable oils. It has a mild flavor and aroma. It is most commonly available in a refined form. Its mild flavor and relatively high smoke point make refined canola oil a good all-purpose oil. Of all the oils, it has the least amount of saturated fat and is one of the least expensive.

Canola oil
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Neutral flavor and a high smoke point—the point at which an oil literally begins to smoke—make canola an excellent choice for baking and sautéing. Smoke point is an important consideration if you’re planning to cook at high heat—as you do when you’re frying or grilling. At an oil’s smoke point, nutrients are destroyed and potentially health-harming compounds are formed. Canola oil generally doesn’t have many antioxidants, as olive oil does, but it does have a relatively long shelf life. In addition, canola is the richest cooking-oil source of alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fat that has been linked to heart health.

Corn Oil

Corn oil is relatively low on both saturated and mono unsaturated fats. It is popular in margarine and used in both frying and baking. It should only be used when frying on medium temperatures. A mild, medium-yellow color refined oil. Made from the germ of the corn kernel. Corn oil is almost tasteless and is excellent for cooking because it can withstand high temperatures without smoking. It is high in polyunsaturated fat and is used to make margarine, salad dressings and mayonnaise.

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower Oil is low in saturated fat and high in Vitamin E. Many food manufacturers are recognizing the health benefits of sunflower oil and are using it as the preferred oil in such snack foods as potato chips. It can be used in the home to fry, cook, and for use in salad dressings. A light, odorless and nearly flavorless oil pressed from sunflower seeds. Pale yellow and versatile.

Olive Oil

There are different varieties of olive oil: extra virgin, virgin, extra light, and refined. Extra virgin olive oil is the most common of those used. There are many uses for all varieties, such as stir-frying, cooking, sauteing and as an ingredient in recipes.Olive Oil is also frequently used in salad oils. It is the most healthy of all the oils as it is high in mono unsaturated fat which has been shown to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Many people use it daily in their meals, drizzling it over a wide variety of foods.

Olive oil
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It can be used very well for salads and appetisers. Monounsaturated fatty acids like Omega-3 give olive oil its anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamins, minerals and proteins present in this oil suggest that it can be used for application on hair and skin treatments. Olive oil also aids in calcium absorption along with lowering the LDL or "bad" cholesterol.

Mustard oil

Its characteristic flavour brings a unique taste to dishes. A high smoke point makes it ideal for frying. It can be also be used as a stimulant to help digestion and circulation. Due to its antibacterial properties, this oil can help protect the skin.

This oil has about 60% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), 21% polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) and about 12% saturated fats. A higher amount of MUFA and PUFA distinguishes it from other types of fats. These fatty acids are also called “good fats” as they do not get deposited on arterial walls. Mustard oil contains Glucosinolate, which basically works against microbes and adds on to the oil’s health benefits.

Peanut Oil

Peanut oil is a great oil to use when frying in high temperatures. It is a common oil during the Thanksgiving holiday as many people are using turkey fryers to fry their turkeys, but can be used anytime when frying. 

Made from pressed, steam-cooked peanuts. Peanut oil has a bland flavor and is good for cooking because it doesn't absorb or transfer flavors.. Its smoking point is slightly lower than corn or safflower oil.

                                                                          To Be Continued...

USEFUL KITCHEN TIPS

Working in kitchen can really be fun if you know some basic keys. Here are some special tips to make your work interesting and comfortable.

1. Soak the Almonds in the Water for 10-15 minutes , Now we Can Remove the Skin of Almond Easily
2. Add some Boiled rice with the Wheat Gram and Rice when Grinding.This gives you a Soft Dosas
3. Applying Lemon juice for the cut in the Apple for Browning.This helps in Keeping Apple fresh For a long time.
4. Garlic skin can be Easily peeled, when it is Slightly Warmed up Before Peeling
5. Add a pinch of Corn flour to Jar of Salt which Prevents it from Getting Damp
6. Applying oil in the sides of the vessel which we use to Boil milk will avoid the Overflowing
7. To avoid Crying in chopping Onions, cut them into two pieces and keep them in Water for 15 minutes and chop.
8. Adding a pinch of turmeric powder to the Oil in the cooking before the addition of Green Vegetables.It will retain the Greenness more even after cooking
9. Wrap the Paneer in Blotting Paper and keep in Refrigerator for Keeping fresh for So many Days
10. Keep the Green Peas in the Polythene Bag and Place in the freezer for Freshness
11. Place Tomatoes in the Water for 10 minutes, it makes it to easily peel them off and gives good taste in the cooking too
12. Tamarind is an Excellent Polisher in Copper and Brass items.Rub the desired shining part with wet slab tamarind and some salt sprinkled on it will give you total new look
13. Burn a Small grain of Asafoetida over the Burning coal and invert the empty pickle jar for some times before putting the pickles will avoid the growth of Fungi in Pickles
14. Putting 3-4 cloves in sugar container will keep the ants at bay.
15. If you keep a piece of blotting paper at the bottom of the container, it will keep biscuits fresh for a longer time.
16. If you keep a piece of blotting paper at the bottom of the container, it will keep biscuits fresh for a longer time.
17. To keep celery fresh for a long time, wrap it in aluminium foil and place in the refrigerator.
18. Place some chopped onion in the vessel having burnt food, pour boiling water in it, keep 5 minutes and then clean.
19. Keeping a small piece of hing (asafoetida) in the same container will store chili powder for long time.
20. You can use dried coriander and mint leaves in coarse powder form in vegetable curry or chutney, if fresh ones are not available. To keep them fresh for longer time, wrap them in a muslin cloth and keep in a fridge. 
    
    

    

    Kitchen tips and tricks

    
    
21. Put some boric powder in kitchen in corners and other places. Cockroaches will leave your house.
22. Immerse the egg in a pan of cool salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh; if it rises to the surface, it is certainly quite old.
23. To keep the chillies fresh for a longer time, remove the stems before storing.
24. Place a betel (paan) leaf over the leftover idli and dosa batter to prevent them from becoming sour.
25. Do not beat idli batter too much, the air of which has been incorporated during fermentation will escape.
26. Avoid deep frying. Substitute deep frying with stir frying or even bake. Don`t pour the oil, but make a habit of spraying the oil in utensil for cooking. Heat the utensil first, then add oil. This way oil spreads well. You will use less oil this way.
27. Moisten the base of the vessel with water to reduce the chances of milk to stick at the bottom.
28. Grind some common salt in your mixer/grinder for some time every month. This will keep your mixer blades sharp.
29. Adding half of teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate in the milk while boiling will not spoil the milk even if you don`t put it in the fridge.
30. When the noodles are boiled, drain all the hot water and add cold water. This way all the noodles will get separated.
31. To bake potatoes quickly, place them in salt water for 15 minutes before baking. Use the skin of boiled potatoes to wipe mirrors to sparkling clean.
32. Don`t store potatoes and onions together.Potatoes will rot quickly if stored with onions.
33. Tamarind is an excellent polish for brass and copper items. Rub a slab of wet tamarind with some salt sprinkled on it on the object to be polished. Gargles with tamarind water is recommended for a sore throat.
34. To keep the vegetables fresh for longer time wrap them in newspaper before putting them in the fridge.
35. Chop the vegetables only when you are ready to use them. Don`t cut them in too advance. It would spoil their food value.
36. Place a raw peeled tomato in the bow, it will absorb the extra salt.
37. A handful of well-soaked moong dal added to any salad will increase the proteins and make it extra nutritious.
38. Avoid cooking sour dishes (like tamarind based dishes) in a non-stick pan as the sourness will remove coating faster.
39. Always keep dough covered with a moist cloth to avoid a dry crust from forming on it. 
40. Add cardamom peels to the tea canister, instead of throwing them away. It will lend a very subtle flavour of cardamom to every cup of tea you brew!

ONE SPICE A DAY - CLOVES

Cloves - Nature's Top Source of Antioxidants

• Clove is a black dried aromatic flower bud of a tree. Cloves are used in various food and medicinal drinks. Clove is strong and spicy to taste so it is used in small quantities in food.
• Cloves have antiseptic and germicidal properties that help fight infections, relieve digestive problems and arthritis pain. 
• Cloves provide only around 50 calories for 100 gram of its consumption. It is high in carbohydrates and also contains high amount of protein and dietary fibre. Cloves do not contain any cholesterol. 
• Although most spices are excellent sources of antioxidants, cloves rank as the richest source of them all. Chemical analysis shows that cloves have at least 36 different ingredients, the most important being an essential oil called eugenol. Cloves also contain a variety of flavonoids which contribute to clove's abundant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 
  
  

  

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• Antioxidants are nutrients that help protect your cells against oxidative stress from free radical damage. *Free radicals are highly-reactive oxygen molecules in your cells, created as a byproduct of your metabolism; an excess of free radicals is considered to be the primary cause of many health problems associated with aging.
• The benefits of antioxidants include powerful protection against all types of degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, and many more.
• Cloves are an excellent source of manganese, a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin K and C and omega-3 fatty acids, and a good source of calcium and magnesium. Cloves also have a significant amount of protein, iron, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and hydrochloric acid.
• Cloves have analgesic properties that can be used for treatment of various dental problems like tooth aches. They also boost memory and blood circulation, and are beneficial for the heart, liver and stomach. 

  
  

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  Image Source : Google

• Cloves can effectively cure many digestive problems like stomach ulcers, flatulence and dyspepsia, since they stimulate your body's enzymes and boost digestion.
• Because of the antiseptic and germicidal benefits of cloves, they help fight infections like cold, flu, bronchitis, arthritic pain and athlete’s foot.
• An essential oil in cloves called eugenol and other components of clove combine to make clove a mild anaesthetic as well as an anti-bacterial agent. For these reasons, you'll often find clove oil in natural sore throat sprays and mouth washes.
• Cloves can effectively cure many digestive problems. Cloves are known to have medicinal qualities to cure flatulence, loose stools, indigestion and nausea. Cloves are useful in relieving the symptoms of diarrhea, gastric irritability and vomiting. 

Appearance : Cloves are aromatic , dried flower buds which are 1.5 -2 cm in length and brown in color .The flower buds are picked up before they bloom into flower. Each bud consists of long calyx with four sepals and four unopened petals which form a small dome like structure in the centre. Initially they are green in color but they change into brown by becoming pink or red in color.

• Clove oil is very beneficial for dental care. It helps in keeping the harmful microorganisms away from mouth. Acetyl eugenol, beta-caryophyllene and vanillin, crategolic acids are the essential oils found in clove which can suppress toothache and gum bleeding. It can be directly applied on to the affected area to get instant relief. It can be chewed after meals to remove bad breath and odour.
• Essential oils present in clove helps in preventing fever and sore throat. They have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties which help in keeping away germs from the body. Cloves aid in preventing phlegm from the respiratory system. Clove intake promotes sweating thereby helps in reducing fever. Cloves are often slowly chewed to provide relief from sore throat and prevent cough. 
  
  

  

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• Cloves help in improving blood circulation, which is important for the proper functioning of the organs and the cells.
• Another one of the health benefits of cloves is its ability to delay as well as minimize the formation of skin cancer. Cloves are also known to have chemo preventive properties against lung cancer.
• Medicinal uses of cloves and clove oil also include it being an effective and potent platelet inhibitor which essentially means that it helps in the prevention of occurrence of blood clots thereby ensuring good cardiovascular health. This is mostly on account of eugenol that is found in cloves.

Though clove has many medicinal uses and regarded as safe to use, it has some disadvantageous reaction in young children, pregnant and nursing woman, people with kidney and liver disorders, bleeding disorders, diabetes, and skin allergies. So caution is advised before taking food or medicine or Ayurvedic mixtures that have clove as a component.

THE AMAZING TOMATOES

Nutritional Facts of Tomatoes

Tomatoes are often considered a vegetable, though in actuality they are a citrus fruit. Tomatoes are an incredibly versatile food. They are delicious eaten raw, in salads or on sandwiches, and take on a wonderful sweetness when cooked. Their high acid content makes them a perfect food for canning.

They’re sweet, juicy, and delicious.Does everyone know specifically why tomatoes are a healthful food? They have vitamin C? They’re low in calories? They’re fat-free? Yes, yes, and yes, but that’s not all!

• Tomatoes have been used in tests against cancers of the cervix, stomach, mouth, colon, and even rectal cancer. The results of the tests done using tomatoes have been positive to the point where it's astounding, making tomatoes one of the top 100 healthiest foods in the world today.
• One serving of red, ripe, raw tomatoes (one cup or 150 grams) is a good source of Vitamins A, C, K, folate and potassium. Tomatoes are naturally low in sodium, saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories. Tomatoes also provide thiamin, niacin, vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus and copper, all of which are necessary for good health.
• On top of that, one serving of tomatoes gives you 2 grams of fiber, which is 7% of the daily recommended amount. Tomatoes also have a relatively high water content, which makes them a filling food. In general eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, confers protection against high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes, and heart disease.
• Tomatoes build strong bones.The vitamin K and calcium in tomatoes are both very good for strengthening and repairing bones.
• Lycopene also has been shown to improve bone mass, which is a great way to fight osteoporosis.
• Tomatoes are a natural cancer fighter. Lycopene (again!) can reduce the risk of several cancers, including prostate, cervical, mouth, pharynx, throat, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectal, prostate and ovarian cancer. Tomatoes’ antioxidants (vitamins A and C) fight the free radicals which can cause cell damage.
• Tomatoes can keep your blood sugar in balance. Tomatoes are a very good source of chromium, which helps to regulate blood sugar.
• Tomatoes can improve your vision. The vitamin A that tomatoes provide can improve vision and help prevent night blindness. Recent research shows that consuming tomatoes may help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a serious and irreversible eye condition.
• Tomatoes can help prevent kidney stones and gallstones. Some studies suggest that kidney and gall stones are less likely to form in people who eat tomatoes without the seeds.
• Tomatoes can reduce chronic pain. If you are one of the millions of people who deal with mild to moderate chronic pain (such as from arthritis or back pain), tomatoes may be a pain-buster. Tomatoes are high in bioflavonoids and carotenoids, which are known anti-inflammatory agents.
• Chronic pain often involves chronic inflammation, so attacking the inflammation is a good way to fight the chronic pain. (Many commercial drugs that fight pain are actually anti-inflammatory drugs.)
• Tomatoes can help you lose weight. If you are on a sensible diet and exercise plan, build lots of tomatoes into your everyday eating. They make a great snack and can be used to “bulk up” salads, casseroles, sandwiches and other meals. Because tomatoes contain lots of water and fiber, they are what Weight Watchers calls a “filling food,” one of those foods that fills you up fast without adding a lot of calories or fat.
• Tomatoes are high in important antioxidants such as vitamin C and Vitamin A. These vitamins work to fend of DNA damage from free radicals. Consequently, tomatoes may help to ward off age related diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes.
• Another study showed that drinking 8 ounces of tomato juice daily reduced platelet aggregation significantly, among study subjects. Those drinking a placebo showed no benefit. It’s important to drink low-sodium tomato juice if you are trying to protect against thrombosis (blood clots in the blood vessel) , as high sodium levels can cause negative effects for this type of disease.
• A double blind study found that drinking a glass of tomato juice a day can reduce blood levels of TNF-alpha by 34 percent. TNF-alpha causes inflammation. High levels have been found in individuals with most chronic, degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s.

Tomatoes for Skin

Ever since the ancient Romans and Greeks, tomatoes have been used to promote a healthy and shiny complexion that brings out your skin's natural beauty. Tomatoes contain anti-aging agents that far surpass those of other fruits and veggies; the combination of lycopene and beta carotene make it a wonderful and tasty way to fight off wrinkles and sun damage! The skin of the tomato has also been known to help clean your teeth and gums, and ingesting tomatoes has long since been said to have excellent benefits for your hair, giving it a natural shine and bounce that you normally need to pay far out the butt at a salon to achieve. Not only is the tomato a great beautifying agent, but when ingested it also promotes good bone health!

Not only do tomatoes taste great but they also keep the skin healthy. It is necessary to consume tomatoes as they have lycopene, which is an antioxidant and hence works as a sunscreen from within. These antioxidants make tomato an anti-aging product as they help in fighting cellular damage and reddening of skin. It is recommended to have at least 16 milligrams of lycopene per day as they reduce the number of free radicals in the body and also help to retain the moisture in people who are used to sitting in air-conditioned environs. 

Tomatoes make your skin look great. Beta-carotene, also found in carrots and sweet potatoes, helps protect skin against sun damage. 

Tomatoes’ lycopene also makes skin less sensitive to UV light damage, a leading cause of fine lines and wrinkles.

Big pores? Shrink Them 

Big pores provide easy access to dirt and grime thus increasing the chances of infecting the pore. Take a tablespoon of fresh tomato juice. Add two to four drops of fresh lime juice to this. Use a cotton ball to apply this mixture on your face. Massage it in circular motions. Leave it on for about 15 minutes and then wash off with cool water. Regular application will shrink pores greatly. 

Acne healing 

The acidity in tomatoes helps in reducing and clearing up your acne. Vitamin A and vitamin C are commonly found in a lot of acne medicines and tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin K. If you have mild acne, cut a tomato in half and apply the inside on your face. For severe acne mash a fresh tomato and use the pulp as a pack on the face. Leave it on for an hour. Rinse it off and moisturise. Do this on a regular basis or as many times as you can. Your acne is bound to dry off soon. 

Astringent 

If you have oily skin and struggle to keep your face from shining like a fried papad, tomato is the solution to your agony. Crush a fresh tomato and strain it. Make a little cucumber juice and add it to the tomato juice. Apply this juice with a cotton ball daily to control excessive oiliness and acne. 

Good to eat, great to clean 

A tomato and avocado mask works wonders on combination skin. This is because tomato works as an astringent as well as a blackhead and oil-reducing agent while avocados have an antiseptic and moisturising effect. A pack of mashed tomatoes and avocados help in soothing and cleansing combination skin (oily and dry), as they are rich in vitamin A, C and E. Apply this pack and wash off after 20 to 30 minutes with lukewarm water. 

Burns no more 

Summer is fast approaching and with harsh summer comes burnt, inflamed skin. A lot of people's skin gets sunburnt, raw and itchy due to exposure to the sun. Crush half a tomato and mix it with two tablespoons of plain yogurt. Apply this concoction on face, neck, hands and feet. Wash it off after 20 minutes. Tomato cools the skin and neutralises the surface while yogurt gives it a much needed protein boost while leaving it soft and supple. 

Glowing skin 

Mix honey with tomato juice until you get a thick paste. Apply this mixture and wash off after 15 minutes for smooth and glowing skin.

About 45-50% of your daily healthy amount of vitamin C can be found in one single tomato. Keeping at least one or two tomatoes in your diet daily will also help to rid the body of many cancer causing free radicals, which is notably one of the more amazing benefits of the tomatoes astounding combination of lycopene, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Keeping tomatoes in your diet every day will help you maintain a lifestyle that's healthy, active, and free of many preventable illnesses.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY

42 Lesser Known Amazing Human Body Facts

1. Children grow faster in springtime

2. It is not possible to tickle yourself.

3. All babies are color blind at birth, they see only black and white.

4. Each person sheds 22 kilograms of skin in his or her lifetime.

5. Average life span of a taste bud is only 10 days.

6. Your teeth start growing 6 months before you are born.

7. Largest muscle in your body is one on which you are sitting on.

8. Children have more taste buds than adults.

9. Eyes stay the same size throughout life but nose and ears never stop growing.

10. There are approximately 96,000 km of blood vessels in the human body.

11. Heart circulates blood in your body about 1000 times each day.

12. When you blush, your stomach lining also reddens.

13. When you sleep, you grow by about 8mm (0.3in). The next day you shrink back to your former height. The reason is that your cartilage discs are squeezed like sponges by the force of gravity when you stand or sit..

14. A mans testicles manufacture 10 million new sperm cells each day – enough that he could repopulate the entire planet in only 6 months!

15. Scientists say the higher your I.Q. the more you dream.

16. You lose your taste buds as you age

17. Food takes 7 seconds to reach stomach from mouth.

18. The largest cell in the human body is the female egg and the smallest is the male sperm

19. The female ovaries contain nearly half-a-million egg cells, yet only 400 or so will ever get the opportunity to create a new life.

20. The human feet have 500,000 sweat glands and can produce more than a pint of sweat a day.

21. The only part of your body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It gets its oxygen directly from air.

22. There are 500 hairs in an eyebrow.

23. Human skull is made up of 26 different bones.

24. You are born without knee caps and they don’t appear until age of 2 to 6 years.

25. Your heart beats 100 000 times a day.

26. Your blood has same amount of salts in it as an ocean has.

27. Men lose about 40 hairs in a day and women lose 70 hairs in a day.

28. In your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill two swimming pools.

29. Your nose can remember 50,000 different scents.

30. Eyelashes last about 150 days.

31. The kidneys filter your blood up to 300 times per day.

32. Tongue is the strongest muscle in human body.

33. The average human body contains approximately 100 billion nerve cells.

34. The air from a sneeze can travel at unbelievable speeds of 100 mph or more.

35. When you were born, you had 300 bones. Now you have 206, if you are an adult. The rest of the bones have not disappeared – they have merely fused together.

36. The nail on the middle finger grows faster than the other fingernails.

37. Hair is made of same substance as fingernails.

38. Smallest bone of body is in ears.

39. It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

40. Our entire body functions stop when we sneeze, even your heart beat.

41. The average man has about 11 erections each day and several more at night.

42. 80% of the brain is water.

MIRACLE JUICE - DRINKS

MIRACLE JUICE - DRINK - CARROT, SWEET POTATO AND APPLE

(JUICE THEM TOGETHER) !! :)

This MIRACLE JUICE has been circulating for a long time long long ago. It is worth your while to take note

Thanks to this drink! It does not hurt for you to try.

It is like a Miracle Drink! It is simple.

You need one potato, one carrot and one apple that combine together to make the JUICE !

Wash the above,cut with the skin on into pieces and put them into the juicer and immediately you drink the juice. You can add some lime or lemon for more refreshing taste.

This Miracle Drink will be effective for the following ailments:

1. Prevent cancer cells to develop. It will restrain cancer cells to grow.

2. Prevent liver, kidney, pancreas decease and it can cure ulcer as well.

3. Strengthen the lung, prevent heart attack and high blood pressure.

4. Strengthen the immune system

5. Good for the eyesight, eliminate red and tired eyes or dry eyes

6. Help to eliminate pain from physical training, muscle ache

7. Detoxify, assist bowel movement, eliminate constipation. Therefore it will make skin healthy & LOOK more radiant. It is God sent for acne problem.

8. Improve bad breath due to indigestion, throat infection,

9. Lessen menstrual pain

10. Assist Hay Fever Sufferer from Hay Fever attack.

There is absolutely no side effect. Highly nutritious and easily absorbs! Very effective if you need to loose weight. You will notice your immune system will be improved after 2 week routine. Please make sure to drink immediately from the juicer for best effect.

WHEN TO DRINK IT;

DRINK IT FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WITH THE EMPTY STOMACH! AFTER ONE HOUR YOU CAN EAT BREAKFAST. FOR FAST RESULTS DRINK 2 TIMES A DAY, IN THE MORNING AND BEFORE 5 P.M.

YOU WILL NEVER REGRET! IT DOES NOT COST YOU MUCH MONEY! PLEASE CIRCULATE TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Article Source : http://htlinkzone.blogspot.in/2014/02/miracle-drink-carrot-sweet-potato-and.html#sthash.2EoSWs3o.dpuf