Spice n Sweet

Unique health foods as well as traditional foods need to be promoted

2014-12-04T23:41:00.000-08:00

Kambu rice or koozhu with pacha payaru kadayal is a famous dish in Kongunadu Cuisine.
Unique health foods as well as traditional foods made from pearl millet need to be promoted.
In the northern states the millet seeds are ground and used for making the bajra roti.

Kambu Rice

Kambu- 1 cup
Water- 3 Cups

Cleaning Kambu
Blend kambu in a mixer for two to three seconds and break it into a course kurunai form and clean it with water.
Cooking Kambu rice
Add 3 cups of water to 1 cup of kambu and cook it in a pressure cooker till 4 whistles like rice.
Can also be cooked in a thick bottomed vessel in low flame instead of pressure cooker.
Cook well. Uncooked grains may cause an upset stomach.
Allow it to cool.

Pacha Parupu Kadayal

Ingredients
Pacha parupu or Moongdal(full)- 1 cup
Small Onions -10 (chopped)
Tomatoes- 2 big or 3 medium sized cut into same size
Green Chillies- 5 (Slit vertically lengthwise)
Few Curry leaves and coriander leaves
Turmeric powder- 1 pinch
Cooking oil- 3 teaspoons
Salt- to taste.

For seasoning:
Red chillies - 2
Jeera - 1 teaspoon
Mustard seeds- 1/2 teaspoon

Soak the payaru overnight. (Sprouting is optional)
Cook the soaked payaru with 21/2 cups of water in a pressure cooker.
Allow it to cool.
In a kadai add 2 teaspoons of oil to fry chopped small onions, tomatoes, and green chillies. (1 teaspoon of garlic and ginger paste is optional)
Add the cooked parupu to this smashed mixture.
Add salt, turmeric powder and mix well. Add curry leaves and coriander leaves.
Allow it to boil for 5 minutes in low flame.
Transfer the parupu kadaisal to the serving bowl.
Add 1 teaspoon of oil and let the mustard splutter, add jeera, redchillies and pour/add it to the parupu kadaisal.

Version 2 (in apressure cooker)
Add 2 teaspoons of oil to fry chopped small onions, tomatoes, and green chillies. (1 teaspoon of garlic and ginger paste is optional)
Add the soaked parupu to this smashed mixture and 21/2 cups of water.
Allow it to cook till 4 to 5 wishtles.
Open the cooker when cool and add the salt and seasoning to it.

Yummy parupu kadaisal is ready to serve with kambu rice. This can also be served as an accompaniment to rice, rasam and roti.

Kambu Kozhu is delicious when consumed the next day with butter milk.Add salt, raw chopped onions and green chillies to add flavour. Serve as porridge.

2014-08-17T21:45:00.000-07:00

A neglected cereals and called as the poor man’s grain  with marvelous health benefits

Kambu- Pearl millet is one of the primary food grain produce in Tamilnadu, now neglected by the elite and called as the poor man’s grain is high in iron and zinc.

Millets, currently consumed in the rural and tribal areas of india, need to be popularized. Pearl millets rotis are recommended by many Health professionals, Dietitian and Nutritionist.They are trying to promote this grain and have started advising their patients to include pearl millet in their diets on alternate days.

Pearl millets are small in size, greenish brown in colour and has a sweet nutty flavor. It was the staple food for most of our ancestors. The earliest archaeological evidences show that pearl millet was cultivated in India around 2000 BC. But it is popular as birdseed and livestock fodder in Western Europe and North America and considered as grown in the poorest countries and consumed by the poorest people

India is supposed to be the largest producer of Pearl millet. It can withstand climate change risks. Also called as Kambu or  Bajra adapted to production by low rainfall , low soil fertility, and high temperature, and can be grown in areas where other cereal crops, such as wheat, maize or rice, would not survive. In its traditional growing areas, pearl millet is the basic staple for households. It is also one of the most drought resistant crops among cereals and millets.

Studies say severe anemia in women and school children in India is because they mostly eat wheat and rice based foods which are very deficient in iron. Women aged between 18-45 will need more iron. 160 grams of iron-rich pearl millet flour is enough to provide 70 percent of their iron needs in daily diet. Significant quantities of  Iron and Zinc are present in animal based food sources. Bajra will help women depended on plant based food sources in improving nutritional anemia.

Carbohydrate content in kambu is lower than wheat and rice.It helps to reduce the bad cholesterol level in our body. Its a great body coolant. Its consumed as porridge during summer in tamilnadu.

It is consumed in variety of dishes in Tamilnadu Kerala, Andhra Maharashtara, Gujarat, Bengal, Orrisa, Punjab.

Pearl millet serves as a major staple food for many populations around the globe, however, it is still considered poor man’s food and does not find place in the food purchase lists of the elite

The objective should be to eat a more balanced diet with considerable portion of millets in our daily meal. It is better to consume it once in 15days by all age group

Parenting a buzz word

2014-01-26T21:02:00.002-08:00

We cannot go back to the time when we grew up even though traditions are passed on from one generation to the other. The values and attitudes of both the parent and the child have changed. We can still find great values in our parenting experience.

Recently parenting has become a challenge. The definition of parenting has changed. Beyond love and care the guidance of parents and utilizing it to play a very important role is an honor. The matured personality perfects and contributes to the parent- child relationships.

Supportive environment is vital for the performance of both parents and the child. Child willingly approaches the easily accessible parents. The emotional bond developed between the child and parents ensures the safety and peace. Instead of being lenient and spoil the children try to communicate effectively. Teach the child to stay calm and realize some things can wait.

Parents should understand the developmental changes happening within a child.

Growing child will slowly minimize the interaction time. As a child grows older he is influenced by the society. The inherent curiosity and the parenting style of others will impact the child’s behavior. Each child will have its own way of reacting to events. Parents will have to be more patience and the child should assess the situation. Being more protective will not allow the child to learn on its own.

It’s all just learning from experiences.

How do I know if I’m getting enough vitamin D?

2008-11-06T02:16:00.000-08:00

In reality, there is no sufficient dietary source. Sun exposure was sufficient to our ancestors. Human beings spent a great deal of time outdoors. So naturally they got enough sun exposure to generate vitamin D.

Increasingly industrialized society spend less time in the sun. Many of us work inside the sealed buildings with glazed windows, and we wear sunblock and drive everywhere in cars instead of walking outdoors.

Any glass windows or sunblock with an SPF above 15 will block the UVB rays necessary for vitamin D conversion. Vitamin D deficiency may lead to muscle pain, weak bones/fractures, low energy and fatigue, lowered immunity, symptoms of depression and mood swings, and sleep irregularities. Women with renal problems or intestinal concerns can neither absorb nor convert the nutrient. As we age, our bodies slowly lose the ability to mobilize vitamin D, a process that lowers our calcium absorption rates.

Vitamin D seems to be very important in regulating our weight. People who have a reduced capacity to mobilize vitamin D often weigh more and have more body fat than those with full capacity. Studies have shown higher blood levels of vitamin D in leaner body mass. Situational mood disorder is also brought on by decreasing daylight.

Vitamin D deficiency Groups includes people with limited sunlight exposure, those with dark skin pigmentation, maternal vitamin D deficiency, iron deficiency, and low dietary intake of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is recognized as an important cause of muscle pain and weakness.

Vitamin D is a part of a far greater whole-health picture. It’s impossible to get vitamin D, vitamin D supplements, vitamin D-fortified foods. With vitamin D deficiency the body fails to mineralize the bones. They are most fully present in wholesome food, nutrient-dense fatty fish , Egg yolks, fortified organic milk and other dairy products. Most of us can sense the positive influence of sunlight in our own lives by the immediate lift we get from taking a walk outdoors on a beautiful sunny day. Soaking in the warmth of the sun is one of the most relaxing activities we share with all living creatures.

It is never a healthy practice to burn your skin. Vitamin D supplements may benefit muscle strength and balance, helping older adults stay steadier on their feet. So how do I know if I’m getting enough vitamin D? As little as 15 minutes in the sun without sunblock in the early morning and late afternoon is enough for most light-skinned individuals to create an ample supply of vitamin D.

My Maiden Cartoon jokes

2008-10-21T02:40:00.000-07:00

Kids are our gifts, and we need to protect them.

2008-10-17T23:54:00.000-07:00

Media violence affects children's behavior.
A child is safest if she knows she can come to you without fear of reproach with her problems and concerns. Teach them what they need to know to keep themselves safe in the future, how to respond to emergencies and threats. Involving youth in organized activities allows them to channel their aggressions constructively and potentially prevent violence.
The key abilities to effectively manage life are the abilities to motivate himself, to persist against frustration, to delay gratification, to regulate moods, to hope, to empathize, and to control impulse.
Children learn by observing and imitating. Media violence affects children's behavior. Children are affected at any age, but young children are most vulnerable to the effects of media violence. They are more easily impressionable and have a harder time distinguishing between fantasy and reality, they cannot easily discern motives for violence.
Children watch an average of three to fours hours of television daily. Children with emotional, behavioral, learning or impulse control problems may be more easily influenced by TV violence. Aggressive behavior on screen that lacks consequences, portrayed as justified, or is rewarded will have a greater effect on children.
Children as young as preschoolers can show violent behavior. A study found that violence against women in a family has serious consequences for the children's growth, health, and survival. Children are likely to act more aggressively with peers and tend to assume the worst in their interactions with peers.
Pay attention to the programs your children are watching and watch some with them. Set limits on the amount of time they spend with the television. Refuse to let the children see shows known to be violent, and change the channel or turn off . Point out that such violence in real life results in pain or death. Disapprove the violent episodes in front of the children, stressing the belief that such behavior is not the best way to resolve a problem.
Discuss with them and agree to enforce rules about the length of time and type of program the children may watch. The amount of time children watch TV, regardless of content, should be moderated because it decreases time spent on more beneficial activities such as reading, playing with friends, and developing hobbies.

Voice your concerns, Explain nonviolence. Channelize their aggressions constructively. We need to protect them and Kids are our gifts.

Vilambazham Pachadi

2008-10-14T23:57:00.000-07:00

1 ripe villambhzam(cut open and scoop out the inner portion )
1/2 cup smashed jaggery
1 teaspoon feenugreek/methi seeds
10 green chilies slit
2 teaspoons of tarmarind paste or 1/2 cup of the extract.
A pinch of hing and termeric powder.
Few curry leaves.
Heat 1 tablespoon of gingely oil and allow muster seeds to spluter.
Add fenugreek and curry leaves.
Add green chilis, hing, and termeric powder.
Add the fruit and saute well for 3 minutes.
Add tarmarind paste, salt and water to cook.
Allow it for 5 minutes and add the jagerry.
When the pachadi resembles jam remove it from fire and cool it.
Could be used for a week if refrigerated.
A best accomplishment for curd rice, poori,bread, and other rice varieties.

Sleeping is the most important functions in life. Learn to spot the most common sleeping disorders.

2008-07-24T01:45:00.000-07:00

How much sleep does a person need? Enough to feel alert during the day.
Typically a good quality sleep is for 7 to 9 hours. The amount of necessary sleep varies from person to person. Poor quality of sleep and waking pain can create a vicious cycle affecting mood and fatigue levels. Experts say increased risk for disease starts when people get less than six or seven hours of sleep. Right amount of sleep is essential for anyone who wants to do well
Sleeping problems or trouble sleeping has become a common complaint of late. Sufferers report poor and interrupted sleep, early or delayed sleep , mood changes, headaches, irritability and gastrointestinal difficulties. The combination of pain and sleep problems is often related like a two-way street. Sleep deficit increases the production of stress hormones and drives up the blood pressure that leads to a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
More than 100 different disorders of sleeping and waking have been identified. Most common sleep disorders like sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, disturbances caused by shift works, and restless legs leads to serious health problems and illness.
Sleep could be affected because of circadian rhythm and the body's core temperature. Menstrual cycle problems and transient psychotic disorders are just some of the other disordes to be considered. Several studies found that people who work at night appear unusually prone to breast and colon cancer.
Few types of sleeping disorders are difficulty in falling asleep, no problem in falling asleep but difficulty in staying asleep (many awakenings), and waking up too early.
Medications, herbs and caffeine can cause insomnia, a sleeping disorder. Daytime symptoms of sleeping disorders include Sleepiness, Anxiety, Impaired concentration, Impaired memory, and Irritability.
The Side effects of medications will report possible sleeplessness, Life events could be an another cause for insomnia but it is usually temporary, Anxiety about falling asleep can be responsible, Physical problems such as pain can cause this disorder, but you need to find out what is the underlying cause. There is also the possibility of mental problems. This problem can be treated by a good doctor using many different techniques. People with insomnia can be made worse by worrying about the insomnia itself. A brief period of insomnia can build into something long lasting when a person becomes anxious about not sleeping or worried about feeling tired the next day. Once the sleep is restored, good health could be maintained.
Getting medical treatment for your sleep disorder is important in maintaining good health. If your doctor suspects a sleep problem, he will do a a physical examination and look at your overall health and sleep habits. Medical history about any concerns and symptoms, your past health, your family's health, any medications you're taking, any allergies you may have, and other issuesalso plays a vital role in this treatment.
Different sleep problems are treated differently. Some can be treated with medications, whereas others can be helped by special techniques such as light therapy (where someone sits in front of a lightbox for a certain amount of time each day) or other practices that can help reset a person's body clock. Create the right sleeping environment. Wake up with bright light. Bright light in the morning signals to your body that it's time to get going. Sleeping is the most important functions in life. Learn to spot the most common sleeping disorders and more than all these, it's a good idea to visit your doctor.

Colourful Carrots and Tomatoes, delightful recipes to your eyes and your tastebuds too...

2008-07-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

Quick Lunch in no time and a healthy lunch box recipe for the school kids.It is traditional in south india to prepare a mixed rice for a feast like puliotharai, coconut rice,or a pulav. Instead you can try this at your home to make a difference.
Carrot rice:
Rice (Basmati Rice)1 cup,Carrots grated 4 Nos medium sized, 1 big Onion chopped lengthwise, Bay Leaf, 1 green chilies slited lengthwise, 2 tablespoon Butter, Salt, 4-5 curry leaves, corriender leaves for garnish, 1 tablespoon Roasted Peanut coarse Powder, 6-7 cashewnuts, 6 nos raisins, 2 pods Garlic(optional), 1 inch piece ginger chopped fine, 1 tablespoon grated coconut, Garam Masala Powder 1 tsp. and a pinch of Tumeric Powder, 1 teaspoon home made Masala powder (Roast 1/2 teaspoon Cumin Powder, 4 Red chillis, 2 teaspoon urad dal and grind it in a mixer or coffee grider to a coarse powder).
How to prepare:
Wash and Soak the rice for 1/2 hour in water.Heat half the butter in a deep frying pan, kadhai or a nonstick pressure cooker. Add bay leaf add thinly sliced onions, green chillies, chopped ginger and garlic(optional).Fry till pink. Add grated coconut, cashewnuts, raisins, gratted carrots and curry leaves. Saute for a while and then add salt, turmeric powder, masala powder, and garam masala. Add rice and gently mix well. Add 2 cups of water, Cover the pan and cook on a low flame for about 15 minutes. Remove from fire, add the remaining butter,peanut powder and garnish with corriender leaves.
Carrot Rice is ready to serve.
Tomato Rice...
1 1/2 cups long grain rice-basmati rice(even ordinary raw rice will do)1 cup tomato puree(Put 2 big tomatoes in boiling hot water for 3 minutes, Put it in cold water for 5 minutes, remove the skin and grind it in a mixer), 2 medium sized onions chopped, 2 green chillies slit lengthwise, 1 inch ginger gring into a paste, 1/2 teaspoon garlic paste, coriander leaves finely chopped for garnish, 2 clove, 1 inch cinnamon, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon red chilli powder(optional), 1 teaspoon sugar to enhance the taste, 1 teaspoon ghee or butter, 1 tablespoon coconut ground to smooth paste or 2 tablespoon coconut milk.
How to prepare:...
Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes. Heat 2 teaspoon cooking oil in a large saucepan, kadai or a pressure cooker. Add all dry masalas, ginger, garlic pastes, stir well to fry. Add chopped onions, green chilli, stir fry till light pink. Add tomatoes puree, chily powder, garam masala, sugar and salt. Add rice, coconut milk and 1 and 1/2 cups of water, stir gently. Bring to a boil, Cover, and cook on a low flame for 15 minutes. Remove from fire, add ghee and garnish with corriender leaves.
Serve hot with or without a gravy vegetable, or with chilled raitha and enjoy!!!
For easy side dish check here >>>

Pay attention to your kids and be there when he needs you.

2008-07-15T04:14:00.000-07:00

When your child wants to converse put off the TV, your cellphone or paper down and listen to them.

Kids remember everything.

Communicate with the kids effectively.
Create a healthy family environment at home.
Build a good rapport with them and become their confidant.

Kids take their parents for role models, so make sure you are a good one. Always encourage your kids even for small deeds. Focus on his positive aspects. Try to let him know both his weakness and strenghts. Help him to develop.Concept based studies always help.

To enhance your kids memory ask them to prepare a list for shopping. Check your pantry/kitchen cupboard and tell them what you need. To understand calculations practically take them with you and let him calculate the change. It develops his memory.

Teach them concentration building exercises and do not overdo it.
Create a healthy environment and discuss with them, their likes and dislikes.
Do not make him cram instead help him to understand the basic concepts.

Help them to focus better. Explain them the positive gain they can acheive if they listen to your suggestions. Hear their pains too.Start from an easier technique and then proceed to the tougher ones.

Give them rest or time to relax between the studies.
Teach them how to relax effectively.
Check their diet if it is rich in essential protiens, vitamins, and minerals. Keep them well hydrated.
Paint the wall in the kids room in violet or blue to calm their senses.

If your kid is troubled by a harsh treatement meted out towards him be helpful to him. Kids have lot of pressure today from studies to sports to extracurriculams. Pressure to excel can be positive but it also break the kid. Your encouragement should moralize the kid. Explain them why you deny something or restrict them from doing something. Help them to develop a sporting nature. Get along with their friends too. Help them to find out their passion and encourage them to pursue on it. Do not force them to do what they are not interested in. Explain them your expectations are reasonable. Pay attention to your kids and be there when he needs you.

Food that help you to feel beautiful:

2008-07-09T02:01:00.000-07:00

Fenugreek has many traditional uses, including nourishing the skin, respiratory system, and the pancreas. It helps the body to expel mucus and toxins. Fenugreek dissolves fat and is high in nutrients.
Yellow dock root is a bitter herb noted for its high iron content. It nourishes the skin, stimulates bile production, tones the liver and gallbladder and purifies the blood.
Fresh plums, nectarines and peaches are useful for skin as they has low glycerin as compared to juices and other fruits.
Take coconut as sprinkle over the dish and extending the pieces of fruits on the plate. Antioxidants and natural acids in yogurt and fruit will lightly and nourish the skin during oil removed from walnuts will lend sheen and softness.
Berries are also the source of antioxidant and elements of natural anti-inflammatory are used to prevent and repair the damaged skin.
Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach are the main source of antioxidants, take these vegetables for reducing blackheads, inflammation and pimples from the surface of the skin.

Take fresh fruits for making salads sensational and the dressing. One should take fresh fruits and vegetables that are the sources of Vitamin A, C and E.

The simplest and healthiest morning breakfast,

2008-07-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

The simplest and healthiest morning breakfast, Idly or Dosa, is the basic food for most families that hails from South of India.
The parboiled rice, raw rice, urad dal and fenugreek/methi seeds are the basic ingredients to make idly and dosa batter. Now you can get readymade Idly/Dosa batter too in all super stores. Idly batter is steamed in a steamer, in an oven for 10 minutes, or a traditional idly cooker, and dosa batter are spread over a tawa into a thin crispy round shaped dosas that are roasted with a little ghee or cooking oil and turned over.
Traditionally, Urad dal and Rice are soaked for a time period. Then these two items are ground together and the batter is left to ferment overnight. The rice is very finely ground for dosa and coarsly ground for idly. Furthermore, the rice-to-lentil ratio varies in both.
Cooking is an Art. To expertise this art you need some passion, and love to learn or know few easy techniques. Try these methods, tips to get soft idlis and crispy dosas. The secret hides behind the proposition and type of the ingredients, soaking time, grinding methods and fermenting.
Proposition and type of the ingredients .
For Idly:
Idly rice 3cups,(preboiled or parboiled)
This rice is different from the parboiled rice that we use to make steamed rice. This variety is called rose kar and we even we get white variety. This is bigger in size than ordinary rice used for steamed rice.
Raw rice 1 cup,(Flour rice)
This raw rice is also different from the ordinary rice we use for steamed rice.
Urud dal 1 cup(whole is better than broken)
Salt as per taste.
Fenugreek/methi seeds is not necessary for idly instead use it for dosa.
For dosas:
Idly rice 4cups,(preboiled or parboiled)
This rice is different from the parboiled rice that is used to make steamed rice.
Raw rice 1 cup,
This raw rice is also different from the ordinary rice we use for steamed rice.
Urud dal 1 cup,
Salt as per taste,
Fenugreek/methi seeds 2 tablespoons.
Soaking time, Grinding methods and Fermenting. .
Soak idly rice and raw rice in the water for about 5-6 hrs. Soak urad dal in the water seperately for about 3-4hrs. Grind the urad dal for about 30-35 mins adding required quantity of water until it becomes a thick batter. While grinding keep adding 1 table spoon water at regular intervals - about once in every 5 minutes. This is very crucial to get the best batter. Urad dal requires more water to grind than the rice. Transfer the batter into a vessel. Grind the rice next for about 20-25 mins adding required quantity of water until it becomes a thick batter. The rice in idly batter is ground more coarsely than the dosa batter. Now add the urad dal batter into the rice batter and mix well by adding salt. Cover and keep aside for 7- 8 hrs, undisturbed to ferment.
It is better to measure the amount of water if you are new indian cooking . If you soak 4 cups boiled rice (idli rice) and 1 cup urad dal, drain water completely before grinding, then add 1 cup of water to urad dal first . And add another 1/2 cup while grinding as the batter absorbs. For rice first add 1and 1/2 cup and keep adding the remaining 1 cup as the batter absorbs.This quantity may vary with the quality of rice and dal.
How Dosa Batter differs from Idli Batter?
The Dosa batter is thinner than than the Idli batter. This consistency is required to make it crispy. Fenugrek is a best coolent for our body and it gives a beautiful brown colour for the dosa. For Dosa:
Soak the rice and urad dal together for 5-6 hours for dosa. Soak 2 tablespoon of methi/fenugreek seeds overnight. Grind the fenugreek/methi seeds with the water used to soak it first. Add the rice and urad dal next. Grind it for about 30-35 mins adding required quantity of water until it becomes a thick batter. The rice is finely ground than the idly batter. This will definitely give you the right consistency. Mix with salt and leave for fermenting.
It is better to measure the amount of water if you new to cooking . If you soak 4 cups boiled rice (idli rice) and 1 cup urad dal, drain water completely before grinding, then add 2 and 1/2 cups water. First add 1and 1/2 cup and the remaining keep adding as the batter absorbs. Fermenting:
I would suggest that mix the batter with hand and it helps to ferment better. In cold climates, preheat the oven to 215F and switch off. Place the batter and leave it over night for fermentation. Next morning it is ready to prepare soft idlis or crispy dosas. For soft idlis you need to ferment the batter but for the dosas you can make it even without fermenting, but tastes well when fermented.
Enjoy your breakfast with hot steaming idlis and crispy ghee dosas.

Easy to follow Home Remedies

2008-07-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

Face Smoothies:
Mix 2 teaspoon of gram dal powder, 2 tablespoon of fresh and thick curd, and 1 teaspoon of apple smashed. Apply in face for 10 minutes and wash with cold water.
The Dry Skin Brushing:
Apple Cider Vinegar soothes and heals sunburn, takes the pain and heat out of it. Swab over the area for 4 times a day.
Sunburn Soother Lotion:

Chop an unpeeled cucumber into milk and simmer. Cool and apply to the affected area.Take bath with bath aromatic salts, it will relax your stress levels and Relieve Itching.
Squeeze a washed, chopped, unpeeled cucumber through cloth to extract the juice. Mix equal parts of cucumber juice, milk, strong tea and witch hazel and apply to the affected area.
Cold chamomile tea, watermelon juice, slices of cucumber laid on the area, or cold black tea will soothe sunburn.

Toner to remove Wrinkles:

Mix 2 teaspoon tomato juice and 4 tablespoon buttermilk. Applyover the affected area. Wash after 1/2 hour in cold water.
Combine 2 Tablespoons vodka, 1 Tablespoon fennel seeds, and 1 1/2 teaspoons honey. Stir well and allow to sit for 3 days. Strain mixture. Use a cotton ball to apply to face as a toner. This removes wrinkles.
Apply coconut oil on the portions of skin and face where wrinkles set in and gently massage every night at bed time.
Make a paste with pumpkin, papaya and rosewater. Apply on your face, neck and hands.

For smooth skin:

Mix sugar and olive oil and spread on skin in a circular motion. It gets rid of dry skin as well. Shining Skin:

Take cold milk add two drops of Lime juice, apply this mixture to your face and keep it for 5-10 min. later wash off with cold water. This make's your skin supple and shining.

For a glowing complexion:

Take 1/2 tablespoon turmeric powder and milk cream, keep it overnight, the colour changes to green. Apply this in morning on hand and face.

Take lime and cucumber juice in equal amounts. Add some drops of rose water. Apply this mixture to your face and keep it for half an hour. Wash off with cold water and your skin shines clear and soft.

You can maintain perfect eyesight for most part of your life by following some simple remedies.

2008-07-04T21:09:00.000-07:00

Want to give up the use of spectacles forever? Ayurveda advises, to wake up before sunrise.

Exercise : Simple way of protecting of eyes is through 'palming'. Rub the palms of both hands for about 30 seconds, close the eyes and gently place the warm palms over the eyes.

Every morning after waking up, fill your mouth with water, close the eyes and sprinkle water on them about 10-15 times.
Diet : Eating cabbage and carrots is very beneficial for the eyes. These should be eaten raw or drink cabbage and carrot juice mixed together or separately.

Drink a cup of water often after each hour or half hour.
Medication : Triphala is an Ayurvedic preparation, you can wash the eyes with 'Triphala water'. Put a teaspoonful of Triphala powder in a glass of water, and let it stay overnight. Strain the water and wash the eyes with it.
Home remedy : Putting one drop of honey in each eye once a week is beneficial to the eyes. It causes a bit of irritation, but cleans the eyes.

Precautions : Do not use hot water to wash the eyes. Do not wash the eyes or face aftert hard physical exercise or after being exposed to heat and sun. Blinking or giving rest to the eyes is good. Do not look at the objects in bright sunlight.
Take a break and give rest to the eyes if you feel heaviness or tiredness in the eyes.
Staying up late in the night and sleeping after sunrise is harmful for the eyes.
Protect your eyes from dust, smoke, strong sunlight and strong wind. Blink often and massage the closed eyes gently with your palms.
Try to maintain regular and clean bowel movements. Constipation weakens the eyesight, too much anxiety, mental stress, grief, anger and worry are harmful for the eyes.
Regular eye exercise maintains perfect eyesight.

Try these remedies and keep your eyes healthy and beautiful. These remedies can be used by everyone, including those having weak eyesight. Through these methods, one can even improve one's weak eyesight and maybe even give up the use of spectacles forever.

for more articles on health tips click here>>> for health tips and home remedies >>>

CHECK YOUR PANTRY AND CUPBOARDS FOR BPA PRODUCTS:

2008-07-02T23:20:00.000-07:00

Bulk purchasing now has become out of the way, but to build a supply of food that will last long, can help you to stay alive for longer-term needs.
I rember those days when my grandmother used to buy groceries in bulk. She preserves and stores them for an year or more. It will be shared within the family too. Food storage was routine and practised in every indian households in old days. To preserve certain food products for an year or more large earthenware, clay pots and ceramic storage containers were used. These products can last for 30 years or more when properly packaged and stored. Now we have come a long way from all those practices.We feel that storing and preserving food products is a labourious work. Still we store rice, wheat, pickles, and food grains. But, instead of earthenwares used in earlier days we use plastic buckets for convenience.
Large plastic food storage containers on rollers to save us from back strain and keep unwanted pests from the contents are available in markets. We also use a variety of plastic food containers to carry our lunch or picnic food. But plastics are dangerous, if moist products are stored that reduces oxygen Botulism poisoning may result.
Dangerous plastic is used not only in food containers, baby feeding bottles, soft drink containers, but also in children toys too. Chemicals that have been outlawed in Europe for a long time are still being sold to us. BPA, even in low doses, disrupts our estrogen hormones.
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration says that chemical components can possibly migrate into food from plastics at microwaving temperatures. The worst thing you can do with plastic is to heat/re-heat food in your microwave. The microwave apparently does things that make even more chemicals leach into the food. It is better to use glass and ceramic containers to microwave food in.
CHECK YOUR PANTRY AND CUPBOARDS FOR BPA PRODUCTS: Courtesy: The Consumer Reports article
Identify which containers might have the chemical. Polycarbonate is usually clear rather than cloudy, although it may be colored.
If the container carries a recycling code, it will be marked with the number 7 or the letters “PC,” or both. Number 7 bottles made with BPA-free polyethersulfone (PES) won’t have the PC marking.
Other BPA-free plastic alternatives include polyethylene, which may be marked with recycling codes 1 (PET) or 2 (HDPE), and polypropylene, 5 (PP).
For baby bottles, glass or BPA-free plastics such as polyethylene are the safest choices, as Consumer Reports has advised in the past.
For those who reuse water bottles frequently and want to avoid BPA, consider polyethylene, stainless steel, or aluminum with BPA-free liners.
Use ceramic bowls to re-heat food.
The temperature of the storage container maintains the quality.The storage area should be free from moisture and should be dry. Certain products should be protected from direct sunlight for example, cooking oil, pickles, etc... Protection from rodents and insects plays an important role while storing food prodects for long time. Storage can significantely impact the life of the products.

Fight and win hair loss. Educated shampooing is important to the life of the hair

2008-07-01T01:11:00.000-07:00

Hair loss is a complex condition that will trouble the majority at some point in their lifetime.
Early recognition of the problem will give an end to fallout, grow hair or restore its glory.It is believed that washing hair often could cause hair fall and baldness. But it is not true. Too much of washing with wrong shampoo's and other products can affect the hair.
As we age, the hair on our heads becomes more precious and deserving of our full attention. Educated shampooing is important to the life of the hair. Sensible shampooing is a good first step in avoiding calamitous hair loss. The goal is to keep both the hair and the scalp clean without robbing its natural moisture. the simplest way of controlling a dandruff problem is by frequent shampooing. A good protien conditioner will help seal the moisture inside each hair on the head.
Methods to follow for Sensible shampooing

Select a mild, nondetergent shampoo sutiable for your hair type-oil, dry, or normal.
Oily hair can be washed everyday with a mild shampoo and dry hair should be limited to two to three a week.
A shower using warm water is the best routine for shampooing because it offers maximum soaking and rinsing.
Always use shampoo in wet hair and that too dilute a little bit with water in your palm and begin to work with the lather.
Massage gently through the hair and over the scalp, using the fingertips.
Use more water to increase the lather.
Applying shampoo once and lathering with more water is enough to clean the hair and the scalp.
Rinse throughly, so that no residue is left on the scalp or individual strands of hair.
Gently pat dry with a towel.
Excessive heat is potentially harmful both to the scalp and to the hair. Avoid dryer orelse hold it from eight to twelve inches away from the hair to be dried on its lowest heat cycle.
Strong brushing and rough combing put excess stress on the hair. So occasional gentle brushing of the hair with a good natural-bristle brush is best to set your hair.

Follow these defensive methods, Fight and win hair loss.

For skin care look here >>>

Mambhaza arachuvitta kulambu

2008-06-30T01:02:00.000-07:00

Tangy arachuvitta kulambu is a traditional southindian recipe.
4 to 5 very small tangy mangoes(ripened), 1/2 cup toor dal, teaspoon tarmarind paste, few curry leaves.
Roast 1 teaspoon gram dal, 1 teaspoon corriender seeds, 4 to 5 red chilies, 1/4 teaspoon of fenugreek/methi seeds, 1 tablespoons scrapped coconut, 1 a pinch of termeric powder and hing to light brown and grind it well either with or without water to a smooth and fine paste.
Wash and Pierce the mangoes with a fork on all side or slightly slit on all sides.
Cook this mangoes in 1 teaspoon of tarmarind paste and 1 cup of water.
Cook 1/2 cup of toor dal in a pressure cooker and add it to the cooked mangoes.
Add salt and the paste.Mix well without breaking the mangoes.
Allow to cook for 5 minutes in low flame.
Season it with 2 teaspoon of gingely oil, 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, 2 redchillies,1 greenchilies slit, and few curry leaves.
Delicious and tangy arachuvitta kulambu is ready to serve.
Try this kulambu with any other vegetables like pumpkin, brijal, drumstick or capsicum.
Click here >>> for Mambhaza mor kulambu.

How to have faith. The hard way by trial and error in my personal search for a way of life.

2008-06-27T00:04:00.000-07:00

The greatest secret for eliminating the inferiority complex, deep and profound self-doubt, is to fill your mind to overflow with faith in yourself.
Believe in yourself. Live more effective life without pain, difficult and struggle of human existence. Learn some simple techniques that give you a never ceasing flow of energy and accomplish worthwhile creative values in life. Channelising the power of your thoughts is logical, simple, and understandable. You could visualize an amazing improvement within yourself and become an esteemed and well liked induvidual. These assertions, which may appear extravagant are based on bonafide demonstrations in actual human experience. Self-confidence leads to self-realization and success in acheivement. But it requires analysis and will take time. Learn to practice faith and believe yourself, then success flows towards you rather than away from you. Faith in yourself no longer repels success, on contrary draws it to you.
Some may talk too much because of their inferiority complex, simply to compensate the temptation of parading their knowledge. To enhance their self-esteem, the sub-conscious mind, which always seeks to provide a compensatory mechanism, must be supplied with a means for raising their ego. Then they will let out just enough of their inside information to cause everyone regard them with admiration. This will serve to elevate their self esteem and satisfy their desire for recognition. Self-knowledge together with a sincere practice will elevated them.
To learn and practice faith that elevates our ego here are Ten simple workable rules for overcoming inadequacy attitude.
1. Never think of yourself as failing. Always picture success and hold this picture tenaciously.
2. Whenever a negative thought interferes, comes to mind, deliberately voice a positive thought that cancels it.
3.Difficulties must be studied and effeciently dealt to be eliminated and do not be inflated by fear thoughts.
4. Do not copy other people. Believe nobody can be you as efficiently as you can.
5.Make a true estimate of yourself, your ability, raise it slowly by 10%. Do not become egotistical.
6.Start repeating dynamic words confidently.
7. Have faith in yourself.
8.Believe the powers you are receiving now and feel it flow into you.
9. Fill your mind with thoughts of faith and confedience. Force out or expel the thought of doubt and lack of confidence.
10. Condition your thoughts and you will be a confident and inspiring personolity.
Belive in yourself and recieve the power of your mind. Fill your mind to overflow with faith in yourself.
For more articles on decision making click here >>>

Tips to building a high traffic blog. Optimize your blog posts for search engines...

2008-06-24T23:11:00.000-07:00

A blog is a great way to advertise, it is easy to get free traffic to any blog.
Make a positive contribution to the world, write and help people become more conscious and aware, to grow as human beings. The content you write would provide value to others.
Is your content read by millions of people? Is your content worthy? Unique and important content is getting buried. Submit your posts to various bookmarking sites like Digg, StumbleUpon.
Attract viewers to your blog and this is relative to its traffic levels. Make your blog simple and informative. This strategy would generate more search engine traffic. A lot of tips has been written and available about the optimal strategies for strong search engine rankings in terms of posting frequency and post length. Many successful bloggers would recommend to write shorter entries (250–750 words) and post more frequently, since that creates more search engine seeds.
It’s important to generate some money too from your blog. Making a positive contribution to the world is a lot more important than money. Money can be useful in achieving your objectives, but human relationships are far more important. See money as a tool for enhancing and expanding your contribution. The reason to build a high-traffic blog, to increase in profits, is simply a means to those are in big stakes. More web traffic means reaching more people through your valuable content.
To increase your traffic, submit your posts to various bookmarking sites like Digg, StumbleUpon, IndianPad, Humsurfer etc. A search in Google will bring you a flood of results.It is free and easy to submit your post to DIGG.
How to add a DIGG Submit button to your post.

Sign into Google Webmaster Tools with your Google Account
Now Go to the layout of your blog and click the Edit html tab.
Save your template before adding any code or script.
Click the expand widget template button.
Look for:
b:includable id='post' var='post'
div class='post-body'
------------------------Include the code(below) here
(