Indian Mutton biryani recipe : How to make mutton biryani

Mutton biryani recipe of India: how to prepare mutton biryani

Mutton biryani - Easy and fast lamb biryani recipes. This dish is ideal for inexperienced cooks and those who are short on time. In India, a BIRYANI can be prepared in a variety of ways. In this article, I'll show you how to cook mutton biryani. This is an easy recipe for making Hyderabadi pakki dum mutton biryani.

Tender meat and proper cooking on a low temperature or heat are the keys to preparing any perfect lamb or mutton biryani.

Due to poor meat selection, most people struggle to cook a perfect mutton Biryani. Using meat that isn't very tender. Overcooking or cooking over a high heat can also make the mutton hard.

In this recipe I have also given step-by-step directions on how to cook mutton soft, delicate.

Mutton must be marinated in yoghurt and oil, which aids in tenderization. Use meat tenderizer, which is available in most grocery shops, if you're using meat that isn't tender or if you're not sure how tender it is. Alternatively, you may marinate with grated raw papaya, which also works wonders to tenderise the meat

This recipe will make the best mutton biryani you've ever had.

How to Make Mutton Biryani

Ingredients

• Marination
• ½ kg lamb or mutton
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon biryani masala powder or garam masala
• 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ cup curd or yogurt or dahi
• 1½ tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon oil
• ½ teaspoon salt

For the rice

• 2 cup basmati rice
• 8 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 cloves
• 3 green cardamom
• ½ teaspoon shahi jeera
• 1 cinnamon

Whole spices (for gravy)

• 3 tablespoon oil or ghee
• 2 inch cinnamon
• 1 bay leaves
• ¾ teaspoon shahi jeera
• 8 cloves
• 4 green cardamoms
• 1 star anise

Other ingredients for lamb biryani

• 1 cup onions sliced thinly
• ½ cup mint leaves or pudina & coriander leaves
• 2 green chilies slit
• 1 pinch saffron soaked in 2 tablespoon of hot milk
• ½ cup yogurt

Marination

1. Thoroughly wash and drain the meat. Combine the ginger garlic paste, salt, turmeric, biryani masala, red chilli powder, and lemon juice in a large mixing bowl.

2. After that, add the curd and the oil. If you're using raw papaya paste, add it now.

3. Marinate the meat well with the above and cover. Refrigerate this for at least 4 hours. The meat is tenderised using this marinade. As a result, the longer the flesh is allowed to rest, the softer it will become. You may merely leave it for 45 minutes if you're using papaya paste. I prefer to marinate for at least 24 hours and then refrigerate. 

4. Remove the mutton from the fridge before beginning to prepare the other ingredients for the biryani. Before cooking, it's a good idea to let it come to room temperature. The onions and chilies may be sliced, and the rice can be soaked for 30 to 40 minutes. Also soak the saffron strands in milk.

Preparing Mutton Gravy for Mutton Biryani

5. Melt ghee or oil in a heavy-bottomed pan or pressure cooker. Toss in the spices.

6. Add the chopped onions and green chilies right away. 

7. Fry the onions till golden brown. Keep Half of the fried onions a side.

8. At this point add the marinated mutton.

9. Now Add some mint and coriander leaves.

10. Next, start sauteing on a low temperature for 3 to 4 minutes.

11. Cook for 10 minutes on low heat, covered.

12. Now at this point you can choose to Cook it for 2 to 3 whistles in a pressure cooker. or if you are cooking in a pot, cook until the meat is soft and tender. We're not going to use any water to make this. If you're cooking in a pot, make sure to stir it every now and again to avoid the mutton from sticking to the pot and burning.

Preparing Rice for Mutton Biryani

13. In a seperate pot, bring water to a boil for the Biryani rice and to it add the bay leaf, shahi jeera, cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon while the meat is cooking.

14. Add salt to the boiling water.

15. Add the soaked rice and simmer until it is al dente. 

16. Using a colander, drain the rice and keep it aside.

How to make this Easy Delicious Mutton Biryani

17. When the mutton is cooked nice and tender, you'll have a rich gravy on your hands. At this p Toss in the rest of the curd.

18. Add the fried onions, coriander, and mint leaves to the gravy.

19. Now taste the gravy a Salt or green chilies need to be added as per your taste.

Layering the Mutton Biryani

20. Now is the time to layer your Biryani. Add the first layer of rice on top of that Add the prepared mutton gravy, Another layer of Rice on top of that add some mint, and coriander leaves. You can also add  Ghee on this layer.

21. Now to finish off yoyr easy mutton biryani Pour in the saffron milk over the Biryani. Cover the pot with foil or a kitchen cloth and Cover it with a heavy lid. If you don't have a heavy lid you can keep a heavy pot filled with water on top of the lid to add the weight.

22. Preheat an old tawa, griddle, or pan to high heat. Over the pan, place this biryani pot. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the pot rest on the hot tawa for another 15 minutes.

Because of the prolonged cooking, this mutton biryani recipe is particularly very tasty. This Biryani is best enjoyed with Raita or Salan.

How to Make Kashmiri Chicken Curry

How to Make Kashmiri Chicken Curry

Kashmiri Chicken curry is a kashmiri specialty, which is known to be one of the spicy Indian dishes. Today I will share with you'll a step by step recipe of how to make Kashmiri chicken curry. Lets look at the ingredients we will need to make Kashmiri Chicken Curry.

Ingredients for Kashmiri Chicken Curry:

Red chilli Paste Ingredients for Kashmiri Chicken Curry
8 to 10 Garlic Cloves
10 Red Kashmiri Chillies
1/2 cup Water

Kaju Paste Ingredients for Kashmiri Chicken Curry
15 Kajus
1/4 cup Water

Other Ingredients for Kashmiri Chicken Curry
2 tbsp Oil
1 tbsp Jeera
2 Onions Finely Chopped
500 gm Boneless Chicken
Salt as per taste
1 tsp Garam Masala
1/4 cup Chopped Coriander

How to make Kashmiri Chicken Curry

Step 1
Grind the ingredients under red chilli paste ingredients to form a smooth red shilli paste and set it aside.

Step 2
Grind the Kajus with some water to form a smooth Kaju paste.

Step 3
Now in a Kadai heat some oil and add jeera to it. Once the jeera starts to crackle add the chopped Onion and fry till golden brown.

Step 4
Once the onions are fried golden brown add in the boneless chicken and fry it along with the onion for 4 to 5 minutes.

Step 5
Now add in the Kashmiri chilli paste and let it cook for 5 minutes with the lid on. Now open the lid give everything a stir and cover it again to cook it for another 3 minutes.

Step 6
Now add in the chopped coriander and mix it in the masala and let it cook for another 5 minutes.

Step 7
Finally add in the Kaju paste, Salt and some Garam masala. Give everything a good mix. Add some water as per the consistency of the curry you require. Bring the curry to a boil and then put of the heat.

Your Delicious and Spicy Indian dish "Kashmiri Chicken Curry" is Ready to be served. Kashmiri Chicken Curry goes well with Jeera Rice or any type of Roti's.

How to make Chicken Patiala or Murg Patiala

How to make Chicken Patiala or Murg Patiala

Chicken Patiala or Murg Patial is an amazing punjabi chicken curry which is full of flavours. Chicken Patiala has a very creamy gravy with a nutty flavour as we use a lot of nuts to prepare it. It's one of my most favourites dishes to eat at a dhaba when on a road trip. Today I will be showing you'll how t make this delicious Chicken Patiala at home.

Ingredients for making Chicken Patiala or Murg Patiala

1 Kg Chicken (with Bones/Boneless)
4 finely chopped Onions
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
1 cup pureed Tomatos
3 Kashmiri Chillies
4 tbsp curd
2 tsp red chilli powder
2 tbsp Kitche King Masala
1 tsp Garam Masla
2 Bay leaf
2 1 inch Cinnamon sticks
5 clove
3 elaichi
4 cloves
Oil for cooking
Salt as per taste
1 1/2 cup Water
3 tbsp fresh cream
few Coriander leaves
1 tbsp of Magaj seeds
5 Raisins
10 Almonds without skin

How to make Chicken Patiala or Murg Patiala

Step 1
In a grinder make a smooth paste of Magaj seeds, Raisins and Almonds, using some water and keep it aside.

Step 2
In a Kadai or any hesavy bottom pan heat some oil. To the hot oil add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, clove and green cardamom and fry them till they become fragrant. Now add in the broken red chillies and fry them slightly.

Step 3
To the Kadai now add garlic ginger paste and fry it till the raw smell goes away.

Step 4
Add the chopped onions and fry them till they turn golden in colour.

Step 5
Now to the onion add red chili powder, Kitchen King Masala and Tomato puree and mix everything well and let it fry till the oil starts to seperate.

Step 6
Now add in the curd and mix well, make sure there are no lumps of curd. Cook it till the oil seperates again.

Step 7
To the cooked masala add the washed chicken and the nut paste we had made in step 1. Let the chicken fry in the masala for atleast 5 minutes.

Step 8
Add in 1 ½ cups of water, salt and Garam Masala powder and mix everything well. Let the gravy come to a boil on high flame and then cover the kadai and let it cook on low flame for another 30 minutes so that the chicken gets cooked nice and tender.

Step 9
Now once the chicken has cooked add the fresh cream and Chopped coriander and serve.

Chicken Patiala or Murg Patiala goes well when served with Parathas, Naans or Jeera Rice.

How to make Tandoori Pomfret | Grilled Pomfret

How to make Tandoori Pomfret | Grilled Pomfret

We all love Tandoori dishes as they are full of aromatic flavour. Today I will share with you an amazing tandoori dish, Tandoori Pomfret or Grilled Pomfret. Pomfret is the perfect fish for making a tandoori fish dish because it's nice and fleshy with very few bones. To make Tandoori Pomfret or Grilled Pomfret you will need an oven or a tandoor. This recipe needs very few ingredients but tastes amazing. So lets look at the ingredients we will need to make Tandoori Pomfret or Grilled Pomfret.

Ingrediebnts for Tandoori Pomfret or Grilled Pomfret

1 Big Pomfret
2 tbsp Butter
juice of 1/2 Lime
Salt as per taste

Marinade ingredients
1 Egg
1/2 cup Yogurt
1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
2 tbsp Besan
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp garam masala
Salt as per taste

How to make Tandoori Pomfret or Grilled Pomfret, Step by Step

Step 1
First cut of the Pomfret's fins and then Thoroughly wash the pomfret.

Step 2
Using a sharp knife make incisions on both sides of the pomfret, so that we can apply the marinade inside aswell.

Step 3
Now apply Lemon juice and salt to the pomfret and keep it a side for about 20 minutes.

Step 4
Now in a seperate bowl mix all the ingredients mentioned under marinade above.

Step 5
Apply this marinade mixture on top of the pomfret and inside the incisions made and keep the fish a side inside the refrigerator for an hour.

Step 6
Pre heat the oven at 180ºC for 10 minutes. Now once the oven is hot place the marinated pomfret on the grill and baste it with some butter on both sides. Now let the pomfret cook for a good 10 minutes. Now remove it and turn it over and baste it with butter on both sides and let it cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 7
Remove it from the grill and keep it in a serving dish and garnish it with onion rings and lemon wedges.

Chicken Recipe : Spicy Chicken Kheema Recipe

Spicy Chicken Kheema Recipe

Spicy Chicken Kheema is an amazing chicken recipe made from minced chicken cooked in spicy masalas. This is an easy to make chicken dish and is very delicous. Today I will share with you a step by step guide for making Spicy Chicken Kheema. I have used this kheema for making my homemade chicken Kheema Pizza. Let move on to the ingredients we need to make this amazing spicy chicken kheema.

Spicy Chicken Kheema Ingrediets :

250 gms of minced chicken
1 finely chopped onion
1 tomato finely chopped
2 chillies slit lenght wise
1 tbsp oil
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
2 tbsp finely chopped coriander
1/2 tsp Garam Masala powder
2 tsp kitchen king masala
1/4 tsp - Red Chilli powder
1/2 tsp - Lime juice

How to Make Spicy Chicken Kheema :

Step 1 :
In a kadai add oil and saute the onions till they turn golden brown on a low flame. Now to the onion Add some ginger-garlic paste and the chopped tomatoes.

Step 2 :
Mix every thing well and add all the dry masalas and let it cook on a low flame till the oil starts separating.

Step 3 :
Now its time to Add the minced chicken and cook it all on low flame for about 45 minutes.

Step 4 :
For the final touches add chopped coriander leaves, green chillies, and lime juice. Give everything a good mix and let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Your amazing spicy chicken kheema is ready to be Served hot with along with pao.

Sauce Recipe : Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce

Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce

Hey Guys today I'll be sharing with you an amazingly simple and easy to make Honey Mustard Sauce. This amazing sauce can be used as a dip, in sandwiches or in chicken marinades. I used this easy to make honey mustard sauce to make delicious Honey Mustard chicken in sweet and sour sauce. This sauce is very easy to make and needs only a few ingredients and is ready in very less time. I will be sharing many recipes which will include this delicious sauce, so stay tuned for more. Lets move on to making this amazingly easy and delicious Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce.

Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce Ingredients :

2 Tbsp English Mustard
Less than 1/4 Tsp chilli powder
3 Tbsp Mayonaise
2 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Vinegar
Salt as per taste

How to Make Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce :

Using whisk mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Now set it a side in the refrigerator to chill. Your Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce is ready for you to use. This amazing sauce can be used as a spread in sandwiches and pizzas. This sauce is also used in preparing Honey Mustard Chicken.

Chicken Recipe : Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce

 Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce

Are you Tired of having the regular chicken recipes and want to try something new? Today I present to you a very simple homemade Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe. This is an amazing oriental chicken recipe which is very easy to make at home. Honey Mustard Sauce fried Chicken has a very different taste, unlike the simple masala fry that we generally make. The sweet and sour sauce actually adds to the flavor of the chicken. Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce goes well with any type of fried rice or noodles. This recipe needs very few ingredients and is very easy to make. Lets have a look at the ingredients needed to make the homemade Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe.

Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe Ingredients :

Chicken Marinade :

1/2 kg cleaned and cut chicken

2 tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup coriander

1 small cup of Honey Mustard Sauce (Do try our Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce Recipe)

1 tbsp mixed dried herbs

salt and pepper as per taste

Sweet and Sour Sauce :

3 tbsp dark soy sauce

1/2 cup spring onion greens and white mixed

1 tbsp red chilli sauce

1 tbsp english mustard

2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp butter

How to make Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce

Step 1 : Marinating the chicken

In a large bowl take the cleaned and cut chicken. To it add all the marinade ingredients as per the order given above. Do check out our Homemade Honey Mustard Sauce which is very simple to make. Once you add all the ingredients, mix all the bowl contents till all chicken pieces are coated well with all ingredients. Now keep this honey mustard marinaded chicken a side for at least 2 hours.

Step 2 : Sweet and Sour Sauce

In a sauce pan add some butter. once the butter melts, add spring onions and fry it. sprinkle some salt and Now add in the soy sauce and chilli sauce and mix well to coat the onions. Add in the mustard and honey and let the sauce cook for 2 minutes. Add in some water and bring the sauce to a boil. finally add in some cornstarch mixed in 2 tbsp of water. Bring the sauce to a boil again and the sweet and sour sauce should be ready.

Step 3 : Frying the Honey Mustard Chicken

In a pan add some butter and fry the Honey Mustard marinaded Chicken till its golden brown. Once fried remove the Honey Mustard chicken in a serving plate.

Step 4 : Serving the Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce

Drizzle the sweet and sour sauce over the Honey Mustard Chicken. Top it off with some spring onion greens and some fried Potato wedges or Fries. Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce is ready to be served.

Honey Mustard Chicken in Sweet and Sour Sauce

Pizza Recipe - Homemade Chicken Kheema Pizza

Hey Guys Today I will share with you a very yummy pizza recipe. This recipe involves my special homemade pizza sauce and spicy chicken Kheema. Do check out our Homemade pizza sauce recipe and Spicy Chicken Kheema Recipe. So this was more of a left over recipe made by me, as I had a little spicy kheema left from last nights dinner 😜

Lets look at the ingredients for making this homemade chicken kheema pizza.

List of ingredients for Homemade Chicken Kheema Pizza

2 Pizza breads
1 bowl spicy chicken kheema (Check our Spicy Chicken Kheema Recipe)
1 bowl homemade Pizza sauce (Check our Special Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe)
4 slices of cheese or 1 cup shredded cheese

How to make Homemade Chicken Kheema Pizza

Step 1 :

With a table spoon spread the homemade pizza sauce on the pizza base. I really like this pizza sauce as you can make it as per your taste buds, and is super easy to make.

Step 2 :

Now add the grated cheese or the cheese slices and heat the pizza base in the microwave for 15 seconds. This will ensure that the cheese melts and mixes with the sauce.

step 3 :

Its time to add the spicy chicken kheema topping on the pizza. Do check out our recipe of spicy chicken kheema whic has an irresistable taste.

Step 4 :

Top the pizza with some more grated cheeese or a slice of cheese and heat in the micro wave for another 30 seconds so that the cheese melts. Your deliciously yummy homemade spicy chicken pizza is ready for you to gulp it down.

Hope you guys have enjoyed this amazing homemade spicy chicken pizza recipe. Do try it out and let us know how you guys liked it in the comments below.

Chicken Recipe : Chicken Masala Gravy Recipe

Homemade Chicken Masala Gravy Recipe

Feeling like having a mildly spiced chicken gravy, Try out our home made Chicken Masala Gravy Recipe. Chicken Masala Gravy is a mildly spiced Indian chicken gravy recipe which has an amazing flavor and aroma. To cook this gravy at home is quite simple and requires only a few everyday ingredients. This amazing chicken gravy recipe goes well with rice and rotis.

Ingredients for making Chicken Masala Gravy:

1/2 Kg Chicken washed and cut into pieces
2 Onions finely sliced
1 Tomato finely chopped
2 cloves of Garlic
Oil/Ghee for cooking
7 to 8 Curry leaves
4 to 5 Soaked Almonds
1 Teaspoon Kitchen King Masala
1 1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
Pinch of Turmeric
Pinch of Garam Masala
1 Tablespoon Kasuri Methi
1 Cup Coconut Milk
Salt as per taste

How to Make Chicken Masala at Home

Step 1 :
In a pan heat some Oil or Ghee and fry the Onions till lightly brown. Add the Tomatoes and fry till they become soft. Finally Add the Garlic Cloves and fry till fragrant. Now set the pan a side to let them cool. Once cooled down grind the fried onions, tomato, garlic and Kasuri Methi along with the cleant soaked almonds and very little water to form a paste.

Step 2 :
Now in a Kadai heat some oil or ghee. Once the oil is hot add the curry leaves and fry them till fragrant. Now add the paste we had made in step 1 in the kadai and let it fry. Now to the paste add the Kitchen King Masala, Red Chilli Powder, Turmeric and garam masala. Fry the paste well for a minute on medium heat.

Step 3 :
Add the cleant chicken pieces to the masala paste in the kadai. Cover all chicken pieces with the masala and let it fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Now add 1 1/2 cups of water and cover the kadai. let the curry come to a boil on high heat for 7 to 10 minutes.

Step 4 : 
With a sharp knife check if the chicken has cooked. Once the chicken has cooked add salt as needed and give the curry a stir and cook for 2 minutes. Now add the coconut milk and stir well. Top the gravy with some fresh cut coriander leaves and let it come to a boil once more. Check for salt once more and add if needed. Your homemade chicken masala gravy is ready to be served.

Homemade Chicken Masala Gravy

10 Amazing Sodium Rich foods

Top 10 Sodium Rich foods

Eating healthy can be tricky and frustrating at times, especially if you don’t know where to begin. A good place to start is by consuming sodium rich foods in your diet. However, it is true that too much salt in your diet can lead to a myriad of health problems like hypertension and high blood pressure, which can cause several health diseases. So, it is always better to use sodium in a right amount to gain its numerous health benefits.

Sodium is a macro mineral that despite many claims to the contrary is essential for good health. It has a number of roles in the body, including supporting proper muscle contractions and nerve transmissions. The sodium is mainly found in extracellular fluids and inside the cells.

How Sodium rich diet foods benefit your body?

Sodium is very essential for digestion, as well as for elimination of Carbon dioxide. It works in the body either as sodium compounds or sodium ions and offers tremendous benefits to your body:

• Beneficial for the normal functions of the cells.
• Initiates and regulates contraction of heart.
• Helps in absorbing glucose and in transportation of other nutrients across cell membranes.
•  Balance water level in the body.
• Regulates the reaction of pancreatic juice and bile due to sodium carbonate.
• Alters the proportion of acid and alkaline phosphatase in the kidneys, thus helps in controlling the reaction of urine.
• Essential in maintaining the contraction of the muscles.

Here are the top 10 Sodium Rich Foods that you should include in your diet:

1. Salt-

Salt is one of the most beneficial discoveries of early human civilization. It is not just a flavoring agent, but is a good source of sodium too. The amount of sodium you consume is directly related to the quantity of salt you intake. So always make sure that you consume salt in the right amount to balance the level of sodium in the body.

2. Seafood-

Believe it or not, seafood is the best source of sodium that naturally offers your body several health benefits. Some of the different types of sodium rich seafood that you can include in your diet are lobsters, clams, oysters, octopus, scallops, cod, mussels, crabs etc.

3. Dairy Products-

Most of the dairy product nowadays contains salt and preservatives which help in increasing the level of sodium in them. The good thing about dairy products is that they are easily available. You can include curd, paneer, buttermilk, cheese, and various other dairy products in your diet.

4. Star Fruit-

Starfruit, also known as Carambola, which are not only rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C, but are a great source of sodium also. This star fruit also contains a certain amount of sodium, sugar as well as citric acid.

5. Vegetables-

There are many vegetables that naturally contain sodium that they get from the soil like eggplant, peppers, potatoes, dandelion, turnip greens, mustard, spinach etc. However the quantity of sodium content also depends on the area where the vegetables are grown.

6. Meat-

Salt is often used as a preservative to prepare meats due to the rich amount of sodium found in Salt. Some of the meats that you can include in your diets include salami, beef jerky and bacon for its good sodium content.

7. Spices-

Not many people know this, but there are many spices that contain a good amount of sodium and is highly beneficial for life. Some of the spices that you can use to increase your sodium intake are cloves, cumin, saffron, chilli powder, mustard, spearmint, coriander leaf, curry powder, onion powder, dill, mace and many others.

8. Fruits-

Fruits are a wonderful source of sodium and contains many other vital nutrients and minerals that provide uncountable health benefits to your body. Fruits are also a rich source of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, as well as sodium. Watermelons, figs, grapefruit, plums, grapes, banana, cantaloupe, are some of the fruits that are not just beneficial, but offers innumerous benefits to your body. You can also drink fresh fruit juices like orange juice, grape and pineapple which also contain sodium because of the presence of salt and preservatives.

9. Coconut Milk-

Coconut Milk is one of the most nutritious drinks we have around us. It contains many vital nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, calories as well as sodium.

10. Beverages-

This might surprise you, but beverages like tea, coffee, black tea, beer and wine have large amount of sodium present in them. Hence, by consuming adequate amounts of sodium required by your body is the best way to provide your body optimal health.

11. Cheese-

Many studies and researches conducted on Cheese reveals that cheese contains disodium phosphate, which in turn increases the sodium content. There are many high sodium content cheese available for use like Cheddar, Parmesan as well as American. You can also use cheese spreads which are also a good source of sodium.


Before you start consuming sodium and sodium rich foods in your diet, there are few things that you must know about consuming sodium:

• Do you know, under-consumption of sodium can cause health problems like Hyponatremia? So make sure that you are consuming enough salt to maintain the proper functioning of your body.
• It is suggested that sodium consumption should be below 2300 milligrams, or just 1 teaspoon per day. People with low blood pressure, kidney disease or any kind of heart problem should always try to consume 1500 milligrams of sodium or less each day.
• Avoid consuming processed and packaged food items like vegetables, canned soups, frozen dinners, pudding, sauce mixes, instant cereals etc.
• It is advisable to check the sodium content of the product before buying it.
• Do not consume too much sodium to avoid any type of health complications and problems in future.

Bottom line:

Not many people realize it, but maintaining a proper sodium level is very vital for many chemical reactions inside your body. So now that you know the benefits of sodium and the best foods to consume for the sodium intake, you must include these foods in your diet.

Benefits of Glucose for Hair, Health, Skin

Amazing Benefits of Glucose for Hair, Health and Skin

A common saying goes “excess of everything is bad”, this could not be any truer, if you are talking about substances like sugar and glucose. It is true that if you consume anything in more than necessary amounts, glucose can cause problems like diabetes, however, what is important to note is, absence of sufficient glucose in the body, also leads to several health problems. Glucose deficiency is often the cause of several disorders and imbalances in a human body.

Given below are a few of the most important health benefits of glucose and why you must include it in your diet:

Health Benefits of Glucose

1. Source of Energy

Glucose is nothing but simple carbohydrates, and if you skip carbohydrates from your diet, you will feel low, and lack energy. All the energy bars, and energy drinks are basically rich in glucose.
 

2. Source of Endurance

This is similar to what has been mentioned already. The greater the energy in your body, the greater will be your endurance, and longer it will take for you to reach exhaustion.
 

3. Boosts Cognitive Functions

To be able to function properly, your mind needs sufficient amounts of glucose, a lack of the same will lead to learning disabilities and poor memory retention.
 

4. Helps in Recovering Energy

Glucose does not only help you generate energy, but also helps you recover the lost energy.
 

5. Helps in Psychological Processes

We do not only need energy for physical activities, but also for psychological processes like breathing, muscle contraction, heartbeat etc. Glucose is an important source of psychological energy.
 

6. Regulates Body Temperature

The temperature of the body, mainly depends on the glycogen in our muscles, and energy is needed for regulation of temperature as well. In the absence of glucose you will have an unfavorable body temperature, which will make you feel sick. This can be avoided by maintaining appropriate amounts of glucose in the body.

7. Natural Preservatives

Glucose oxidants can act as natural preservatives, it should not be considered as glucose, because it is an enzyme. This enzyme can act as natural anti - bacterial agent, and can be used for preservation of food products.

8. Glucose As Fuel

Lack of glucose in the body can restrict your muscle movements; it acts as a fuel for your muscles to move, in the absence of oxygen in the body.
 

9. Glucose for Muscle Building

Your intense workout will never be successful if you do not pair it with the necessary amount of glucose. It is not only required during the workout, but also after a workout, to rebuild the muscle.
 

10. For Optimizing Cretin Absorption

During your body building sessions, muscle building can happen, only if creatine is absorbed by the muscles. Glucose helps in optimizing the creatine absorption by the muscles.

Benefits of Glucose for Skin

1. Sugar is Natural Humectants

Sugar is the main source of glucose, and if consumed in sufficient amounts, it acts as natural humectants. This means it can draw moisture from the environment and release it on your skin. This ensures proper hydration of your skin, thus keeping it moisturized always.

2. Source of Glycolic Acid

Sugar can act as glycolic acid, thus glucose derived through sugar intake can be used by the body. Glycolic acid is basically an Alpha Hydraulic Acid (AHA), which goes deep in your skin to break the glue bonding the skin cells. This leads to faster growth of new cells, thus leading to fresher looking skin, this is mostly used for curing skin burns.

3. Can Protect Against Sun Burns

Glycolic acid is supposed to be used in very limited amounts when used externally, i.e. through cosmetic products. Many spas and dermatologists use it for skin and hair benefits, it can also be an active ingredient in sun creams.

4. Sugar as Exfoiliant

Instead of benefiting from glucose, you can also benefit from sugar, in its raw form. Sugar is one of the best natural skin exfoliaters, often recommended by experts. Sugar scrubs are very common, and more effective than salt scrubs. A brown sugar scrub is more advisable than granulated sugar scrub.

Benefits of Glucose for Hair

1. Sugar as Hair Scrub

Apart from benefiting your skin, you can use sugar for hair benefits as well. Adding a spoonful of sugar in your shampoo can provide natural ex-foliation to your scalp, allowing your hair to breathe and to maintain greater oxygen levels.

2. Hair Cleanser

Sugar in the shampoo can act as a natural cleanser for your hair along with being used as an Exfoliator. However, make sure you are using it with a moisturizing shampoo, or you might end up making your hair dryer. Although these are home remedies, they should be practiced with the necessary precautions.

3. Healthier hair

When making use of sugar in your shampoo, you not only allow exfoliation, and proper cleaning, but also a better overall health of your hair. Since sugar allows better cleaning of hair, it also allows for greater penetration of oils and conditioners, thus improving the health of your hair.

4. Sugar and Water Hairspray

For adding natural shine to your hair, you can create a mixture of sugar and water, and use it as a Hairspray, however, make sure that the amount of sugar is not too much as it will make your hair sticky. So it is advisable to add more water and less sugar. This will not only save you from the damage of artificial hair sprays but will also be cheaper as well as healthier.

Glucose can be easily obtained naturally using certain whole foods like fruits, dairy products, and vegetables. Glucose powder is also highly beneficial for athletes, as it is rich in nutrients, and helps your body to recover and repair quickly. So let your imagination go out on chase and try these fabulous ways to incorporate this healthier sugar in your life. You will surely love the difference.

Benefits of Carbohydrates for Skin, Hair and Health

Importance of Carbohydrates and its Health Benefits

It is an undeniable fact that the popularity of proteins is creating quite a lot of confusion regarding the consumption of carbohydrates. You will also come across people who will keep telling you that eating carbohydrates can lead to weight gain, but that’s not completely true. Not all carbohydrates are bad for you, especially if you eat healthy carbohydrates as they play a vital role in optimizing your overall health.

Why Carbohydrates are important in a diet?

Carbohydrates are chemical compound that contains hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. It is in fact the primary source of fuel for energy in your body. When consumed in the right amount, carbs avoid many health problems like dehydration, boost energy level, maintains stamina as well as allows greater recovery and well-being. Not only this, it also offers you many essential nutrients that prevent muscle breakdown.

Here we are providing some of the mind blowing benefits of Carbohydrates for Health, Hair as well as Skin:

Health Benefits of Carbohydrates

1. Provide Better Cognitive Abilities-

Fat and carbohydrates are not as bad as we think, in fact, carbs are the healthy addition to your diet. Healthy fats are great for boosting brain function and for regulating hormones. Low carb diet can also help you promote more healthy fats in the body.

2. Prevent Metabolic Syndrome and Heart Diseases-

When you consume carbohydrates in the right amount, it helps your body to prevent certain metabolic and heart disease risk factors.

3. Helps in treating Type II Diabetes-

Carbohydrates are very important for preventing the risk of Type II diabetes. Healthy carbs also shows improvement in the dyslipidemia of diabetes as well as metabolic syndrome.

4. Fights Cancer-

Some researches and studies on carbs has shown that low carb diet or healthy carbs prevents the risk of cancer and helps in treating the disease too. So always go for low carb diet in order to protect your body from severe diseases.

5. Aids Better Digestion-

Having a fiber rich diet can also help you prevent digestive disorders like infrequent bowel movements, constipation and indigestion. The carb rich diet also speeds up your digestive process and helps pushing the food along the digestive tract.

6. Control hunger pangs-

When you go for low carb diet, your body controls the hungry hormone called ghrelin that help you prevent your untimely food cravings. But what you need to remember is that overconsumption of carbohydrates also leads to weight gain, so in order to lose weight, you must go for low carb diet.

7. Offers Better Hormone Regulation-

When consumed in the right amount, carbs do wonders in controlling insulin and appetite hormone. Low carb diet also helps in balancing neurotransmitter function in some people, which in turn elevate moods and regulates hormones.

8. Elevates Mood-

Carbohydrates are the best way to elevate the mood. Consumption of Carbohydrates also helps in stimulating the production of serotonin hormone, which promotes the feel good feeling inside the body. Right consumption of carbohydrates also prevents the signs of depression and anxiety and boost the mood by keeping the stress away.

9. Reduce foul breath-

Not many people know this, when you do not consume an adequate amount of carbohydrates, Ketosis is developed due to the production of higher amounts of ketones in the body, which makes your blood more acidic. This in turn causes headache, foul smelling and dry mouth. Whereas sufficient level of carbs regulates the amount of ketones and prevent foul breath.

10. Prevent Blood Clots-

Carbohydrates are a rich source of dietary fiber, which does not only help you lose weight, but also prevents the occurrence of blood clotting. Fiber rich carbohydrate diet also helps you prevent the formation of accumulated fat and cholesterol in the body. So always make sure, you consume adequate amount of carbohydrates in the diet to prevent the formation of blood clots.

11. Beneficial for Athelete-

Carbohydrates possess many such properties that boost endurance, energy levels as well as physical stamina. It is also highly beneficial in stimulating the activity of central nervous system in the brain, which offers better focus and concentration in athletes.

Benefits of Carbohydrates of Skin

1. Provide Healthy Skin-

Foods rich in carbohydrates are undoubtedly the best food to consume for healthier skin. Fiber rich diet is also highly effective in getting rid of harmful toxins, chemicals as well as substances in the body. Carbohydrates also help in purifying blood which promotes healthy and gorgeous looking skin.

2. Fights Free Radical-

This might surprise you, but carbohydrates contain many essential minerals and nutrients that provides tremendous benefits to your health as well as skin. Having enough carbohydrates in the body also helps in fighting free radical which in turn prevents aging and provide smooth and healthy skin.

3. Offers Glowing Skin-

As most of the carbohydrate rich food helps in releasing a good amount of antioxidants, it also helps your body to fight against free radicals and offers glowing and youthful skin.

Benefits of Carbohydrates for Hair

1. Boost Hair Growth-

Nutritional deficiencies can cause damage to your hair and can lead to problems like dryness, brittleness etc. But right consumption of carbohydrates promotes Hair growth and also protect your hair from several damages.

2. Strengthens Hair-

Carbohydrates are very essential to improve hair texture as well as to strengthen hair. So include foods like oatmeal, brown rice, yams, sweet potatoes, and many other foods that are rich in carbohydrates to get stronger hair naturally.

Now that you know the numerous health benefits of Carbohydrates, you must consume carbs in balanced amount to gain its benefits. In case you are wondering, what amount of carbs you should consume, then here is what you need to know.

According to dietary guidelines for Americans, the daily calorie intake for healthy body should be:
For women- It should be about 1,600 to 2,400 calories per day.
For men- It should be about 2,000 to 3,000 calories per day.

So always try to intake healthy carbohydrates and eat fresh fruits, vegetables and grains, rather than refined carbohydrates present in cookies, cake, and carbonated drinks. Just remember to get a healthy body, you must eat healthy.

Benefits of Amino Acid Supplements for Health, Hair and Skin

In the world of supplements, protein is considered as the king. However, what most people tend to forget is that the proteins are made up of amino acids.

Amino acids are the building blocks of life. Whatever we supply to our body, our body breaks it down into aminos, and then reorders these aminos to form new compounds that are needed for the bodily functions.

Now why are amino acids so important? Why you should also take amino acid supplements other than just taking all the protein from one supplement?

Well, in case you are wondering why, following are some of the reasons why you must include Amino acids in your diet:

Amino Acids Supplements Benefits for Health

1. Fights Arthritis

A large number of the population suffers from arthritis, every passing year. Arthritis causes the cartilage of a particular joint to become thinner. This causes stiffness, pain, inflammation, and swelling. Amino acids play a vital role in fighting arthritis.
L-methionine (M) is an important amino acid that encourages the development of the cartilage in between bones and joints. Good dietary sources of methionine are fish, sesame seeds, Brazil nuts, meat, and soy. Apart from this, one can take supplements as well. The major pro of this acid is that it does not have any side effects.
L-arginine, Glucosamine, Chondriotin, and Collagen hydrolyzate are other amino acids that help fight arthritis.

2. Stronger Immune System

Amino acids help boost the immunity. The amino acids commonly found in our bodies are arginine, glutamine, and cysteine. These acids have some important roles in order to increase the growth of immune cells of the body. Taking supplements of these acids will definitely boost your immune system. When taken in controlled amounts, these acids have applications in the treatment of cancer.

3. Muscle Growth

Today’s athletes take a large amount of supplements in order to enhance their muscle growth, and avoid unwanted muscle shrinkage due to overtraining or poor nutrition. Amino acids are effective in growing muscles and repairing them, because they mainly contain proteins. BCAAs enhance the production of proteins in the body and hence help in muscle growth.

4. Helps with Weight Loss

Obesity is one of the major concerns of the developed and developing countries. It brings along many diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, joint problems, etc. Amino acids increase the ability of the body to burn fat. Obesity is associated with low levels of carnitine in the body. Carnitine is responsible for burning body fat. Hence, taking supplements of this acid will help your body switch to fat for fuel.

5. Enhance Sperm Levels

Child birth is a very complex process. The question is not about whether you are pregnant or not. It is about a healthy pregnancy.
L-carnitine is an amino acid that helps burn body fat. Hence it is also associated with the production and movement of healthy sperms. A low level of carnitine usually indicates a low level of healthy sperms. Taking supplements of this drug will definitely help you increase your fertility.

6. Manage Menopause

Menopause is a tough phase of every woman’s life. It brings along mood swings, and immense hormonal imbalance. Some women opt for hormonal replacement therapy. However, this therapy does not come without side effects of its own. It has been a topic of significant controversy lately.
A common complaint during the menopause is of the hot flushes. This involves dilation of muscles. This occurs due to insufficient dissolved nitric oxide in the blood. Arginine is a very important amino acid that helps in the production of nitric oxide. Hence, taking supplements of this acid is helpful.

7. Treatment of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a condition where the affected individual suffers perceives noises in their ears. This occurs mainly due to vascular disorders, or malformations. There has not been a cure as such for this condition. It is believed to cure on its own accord. However, some drugs have been synthesized that help individuals suffering from this condition. Arginine is an amino acid that helps increase blood circulation, and oxygen and nutrient availability in the ear.

8. Blood Sugar Management

Diabetes has now become a pressing issue nationwide. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common among the kids and the youth, which is a matter of huge concern. Although it is said to be heredity, diabetes is caused due to many other external factors like poor metabolism, hypertension, etc. According to studies, amino acids like arginine and carnitine are said to have a positive influence to glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Sufficient intake of these acids helps in keeping diabetes under control.

9. Reduce Cholesterol

In today’s fast life junk food has become a lifeline. Excessive consumption of such fatty food leads to increased levels of cholesterol. High levels of cholesterol lead to various other problems, like cardiovascular problems, weak joints, etc. Arginine, carnitine, and taurine are known for their cholesterol lowering effects. Hence, apart from keeping a healthy diet, you can pop these supplements too.

Amino Acids Supplements Benefits for Hair

Amino acids are very important for the hair. Taking supplements of these, or a suitable diet can make you look more prettier.

1. Improves the Hair Texture

Keratin is extremely essential for hair. It helps treat hair with the problems like hair fall, rough texture, etc. Its components are mainly amino acids like arginine, methionine, and glutamine. The top acids for hair growth are arginine, cysteine, methionine, tyrosine.

2. Promotes Hair Growth

Arginine is important for good hair growth and smooth texture. Glutamine is indispensable for hair growth. Methionine is responsible for the formation of chain compounds, thereby strengthening the hair structure.

3. Prevent Hair Loss

Methionine found in Amino acids strengthens the hair structure, which in turn prevent your hair from falling out and help them regrow naturally.

Amino Acids Supplements Benefits for Skin

Amino Acids can do wonders to your skin and make it look shiny and youthful naturally. Here’s how Amino acids can help your skin become healthy.

1. Makes Skin Smooth

Creatine is an important amino acid in the skin. It helps the skin to function properly, and helps in collagen formation. Collagen keeps the skin fresh and firm, thus keeps the skin hydrated and moisturized.

2. Prevents Aging

Glutamine is an antioxidant. Hence, it helps prevent ageing of the skin. Therefore, a good intake of glutamine enhances anti ageing effect. It also keeps your skin basic by balancing the pH, and making your skin feel and look fresh.

Amino acids have a large number of benefits for our bodies. When taken from the right sources, in the correct amount, they can be immensely beneficiary. However, if you are on supplements, please refer to your doctor for a prescription.

9 Foods Rich in Amino Acids

Foods Rich in Amino Acids

Our body does require important nutrients such as Proteins in the desired amount as Twenty percent of the body is made up of only protein. Talking about protein we should remember that this particular nutrient plays an important role in almost every biological process. The building blocks of proteins are the amino acids. These Amino acids give body cells their structure and carry out other important bodily functions. The functioning of glands, tendons, organs, and arteries is highly influenced by these amino Acids. From healing the wounds to repairing of tissues, especially in the bones, skin, muscles, and hair, the amino acids regulates the important metabolisms of the human body.

The human body has a requirement of 20 essential Amino acids and these are Phenylalanine, Glutamine, Glycine, Proline, Glutamic, Serine, ThreonineIsoleucine, Lysine, Methionine, Arginine, Histidine, Tryptophan, Valine, Alanine, Aspartic Acid, Cysteine, and Tyrosine. But the important thing is that our body is capable of producing only 10 out of these 20 essential amino acids. Thus it is necessary to have a balanced diet consisting specific fruits and veggies which contain the remaining Amino acids.

We are mentioning here a list which includes the best source for having Amino Acids in your diet. Let us have a look: It may be hard to believe that in this list of top 10 foods that are sources of amino acids:

1.  Acai

This fruit is also known as Brazilian miracle berry and the latest studies confirm that Acai berry is one of the sources of essential Amino acids. The Acai berry is not only good for protein building but its consumption will also help in the energy generation for the body.

2. Olives

Olives are not only a tasty ingredient for seasoning in Pizzas and other tasty meals but also is great for your health. Olives are known as the great source of the essential amino acids and it also help in the production of the Oleic Acid. The oleic acid further helps in the control and regulation of the blood pressure.

3. Bananas

Alexander The Great and his army when invaded India discovered this amazing fruit in the Indian Valleys. Eat it raw or ripe as this fruit is for your good health. Apart from having a great taste and great energy booster, the fruit has wondrous properties which help you in controlling cramps. Bananas are rich source of Potassium and Tryptophan

4. Peach

Having a Chinese origin this fruit is now easily available in markets of every country. It is not only a good source of over 18 essential amino acids but also contains roughage and dietary fiber that is very healthy for you and your body. This peachy plum will fulfill the need of your body and it tastes great too.

5. Durian

directly From Indonesian and Malaysian Islands, this exotic fruit has been famous for its incredible taste but it smells bad too. It has a thick thorny appearance but mushy fruit on the inside which often makes it look like Grapefruit. Forget about how it smells as it known as of the best sources of Amino Acids. Durian is also rich in energy, Vitamins A, B, C, and E, Carbohydrates, Proteins and loads of Amino Acids.

5. Broccoli

Closely related to Cauliflower this vegetable is not a favorite one of young ones. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore it as according to the latest claims by the researchers Broccoli is the richest source of essential amino acids like Phenylalanine, Histidine, Arginine, Lysine, and Isoleucine.

6. Carrots

Carrots are the best seasonal vegetable which suits everyone in the budget. In winters the arrival of carrot confirms the arrival of nutrition and a great taste. You should not have any silly reason to let it go. Eat it raw as roughage or cook favorite dishes using it. Carrot is also very good for your eyes and skin. Try having fresh carrot juice with Amla and a little mint.

7. Sweet Corn

Love having Sweet Corn in your favorite soups, puddings, desserts? You should enjoy having them more as Sweet corn not only makes your food better but it also takes the important care of your health as it has essential amino acids for your body.

8. Cherries

Cherries are very common on Cakes and pastries but you can have them on other desserts too. As these little yummy berries are a rich source of Amino acids like Alanine and Aspartic Acid, which are not easy to find in other fruits and veggies.

9. Lentils

Sprouted lentils are not only a tasty breakfast to have but they are also rich in all nine amino acids and high in protein. Black lentils are highly recommended for good health as it contains important antioxidants which help in the protection against cancer, heart disease, and aging. Lentils also have most type of folate and vitamin B.

Top 10 Glucose rich foods

Glucose rich food

We are not going deep in the Organic Chemistry but Glucose is a simple sugar. Having Glucose rich diet is important as it is an important source of energy for our body. The formation of glucose mostly occurs due breakdown of complex sugars and carbohydrates from our food. But you can fulfill the instant requirement of your body by consuming the following important sources of glucose.

1: Honey

It contains Up to 35.8% Glucose and it easily available in markets. Try to have naturally extracted honey instead of artificially processed. It has great taste and amazing nutritional and medicinal value.

2: Dried Fruit (Medjool Dates)

Talking about dry fruits and especially the Medjool Dates we can confirm that they contain Up to 33.7% Glucose. Tasty dry fruits are sources of instant energy the Other Dried Fruits which are high in Glucose: Dried Apricots (43%), Raisins (40%) Pitted Prunes (44%), Figs (34%), and Deglet Dates (29%)

3: Sauces (Barbeque)

Love to have sauces? You should know that Barbeque sauce contains Up to 16.4% Glucose. Some Other Sauces which are high in High in Glucose: Catsup (1.7%), Sriracha (1.5%).

4: Salad Dressings (Low Fat French)

Salad dressings are yummy and are containing Up to 15.7% Glucose. Other Salad Dressings which are High in Fructose: Low Fat Thousand Island (1.4%), Balsamic Vinegar (1.2%), Italian (0.7%).

5: Energy and Cereal Bars

Energy Bars and also the new introduced Cereal Bars are specially manufactured to meet the instant Hunger and energy needs of your body. They contain Up to 11.9% Glucose.

6: Processed Cereals (Kellogg's Raisin Bran)

Kellogg's Raisin Bran contains Up to 10.1% Glucose and some Other cereals which are high in fructose: Lucky Charms (1.7%), Frosted Flakes (0.8%).

7: Grapes

Either Black or green, the ripe grapes are a great source of fructose as they contain Up to 7.2% Glucose. Other fruits which are high in fructose (grams per cup): Cherries (9.1%), Plums (8.4%), Bananas (7.5%), Blueberries (7.2%).

8: Cakes and Pies (Sponge Cake)

You can consider having cakes and pies when you need instant glucose for your body. The very tasty and everyone’s favorite sponge cake contains Up to 5.8% Glucose. One slice of Pecan Pie 133 grams approx contains 7.4% of glucose.

9: Sugary Drinks (Cola)

Cola is great in Glucose as it contains Up to 4.5% Glucose content. Other drinks which are high in fructose : Rockstar Energy Drink (29%), Lemon Lime Soda (Sprite) (21%), Sweet Tea (20%).

10: Fruit Juice (Grape Juice)

The Grape juice is very tasty and contains Up to 6.8% Glucose. Other fruits juices which are high in fructose: Cranberry Cocktail (34%), Orange Juice (34%), Pomegranate Juice (31%), Pineapple Juice (19%), Sweetened Cranberry Juice (19%).

Super Health Benefits of Jowar/Sorghum and Nutritional Value

Jowar, also known as white millet has been popular among humankind since ancient times. It is a cereal grain widely known as Millet Sorghum. These cereal grains contain 70 percent carbohydrates, 12 percent protein, along with 3 percent fat and low Vitamin Content. It also offers an economic and excellent nutritive value.

Jowar, if grown organically, offer uncountable health benefits. These gluten free millets are also loaded with high amount of fibers which helps in losing weight. The most amazing thing about white Millets is that it can easily be consumed by making several healthy and delicious recipes.

Sorghum serves as a perfect meal for people of all age groups. Below we have listed some of the most amazing health benefits of Jowar and the reasons why you must include this nutritious variety of wheat grains in your diet:

Jowar/Sorghum Benefits for Health

1. Prevent the risk of Heart Diseases-

Rich in antioxidants, Jowar is known for its high nutrient value that protects your heart from several cardiovascular diseases. It also contains essential minerals and vitamins like Vitamin E and B, Iron, as well as magnesium. Its ability to prevent the clumping of platelets also reduces the risk of getting strokes and heart attacks.

2. Fights Obesity-

As we all know Jowar is gluten free millets which are loaded with high amount of fiber. It keeps your stomach full and helps in maintaining the proper functioning of the digestive tract. White millet is also great for lowering the risk of obesity, stroke etc. It also helps you control your hunger pangs which in turn help you lose weight effectively.

3. Balance the Cholesterol Levels-

Free radicals are really harmful for our bodies as it causes several health conditions like cancer, boost ageing, heart diseases, and much more. But Jowar contains a compound called Anthocyanins, which prevent the occurrence of free radicals, which in turn maintains the cholesterol level in the body.

4. Treats Diabetes-

Jowar is also a rich source of antioxidants and phenolic content that helps in regulating insulin and glucose level in the body. Regular consumption of Jowar is also great for people suffering from diabetes.

5. Good for Immune System-

Jowar is definitely one of the best foods to consume, which helps in boosting immunity naturally. It contains many essential minerals and vitamins like magnesium, calcium, and copper that offers stronger bones and tissues as well as boost your energy levels.

6. Maintains Blood Sugar Level-

White Millets or Jowar is the natural source of protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, proteins and phytochemicals, which offers you balanced diet as well as helps in balancing blood sugar level in the body.

7. Fights Cancer-

The bran layer of Jowar contains many cancer-fighting antioxidants that are vital for the body. Some of these antioxidants are only found in this cereal and thus, Jowar becomes an effective anti-carcinogenic. Frequent consumption of Jowar also helps in reducing the risk of Cancer like colon cancer, breast cancer, digestive tract cancer, abdominal cancer as well as breast cancer. Jowar is also beneficial for people seeking rid of hypertension.

8. Treats Constipation-

Constipation is one of the most common problems faced by individuals nowadays. To treat the problem naturally, you must consume Jowar in order to treat the digestive problems like constipation, hemorrhoids, Diverticular disease as well as infrequent bowel movements. Jowar is loaded with a good amount of dietary fiber which helps in improving digestion. This Dietary fiber present in it works to add bulk to the stool and helps it pass smoothly through the digestive tract.

9. Provide relief from Gluten Senstivity-

Quite a few people know this,Jowar is free from gluten, which helps in preventing Celiac disease. It is, in fact, a boon to all those people suffering from gluten sensitivity.

10. Strengthen Bones-

Phosphorus is one of the most essential nutrient required by our body that helps in the growth and maintenance of the bones as well. Jowar also contains a rich amount of Calcium as well, which helps our body by strengthening bones. Magnesium is one of the major constituent of Jowar. The presence of magnesium increase the level of calcium absorption that is helpful in maintaining calcium level. It further helps in promoting bone health.

11. Boost Energy Level-

Jowar contains a compound called Niacin also known as Vitamin B3, that helps our body to convert the food we eat into the energy, which in turn boost the metabolism and help the body to function properly.

12. Treats Melanoma-

Jowar is one of the best remedies to prevent the risk of Melanoma, which is a special type of skin cancer. These cereals contain many cancer killing antioxidants that does not only treat cancer, but also kills the bacterias that possess the ability to cause cancer.

13. Improves Blood Circulation-

Being overloaded with mineral, iron, and copper, Jowar is one of the best foods that improves blood circulation. Increase in iron level leads to better oxidization in the body that leads to improved oxidization of muscles, organs, tissues, and various other organs in the body.

14. Essential for cellular membranes-

Jowar contains phosphorus that is quite helpful in promoting cellular growth and repair of bones. It contains essential nutrients that play a vital role in building the cell membrane DNA, RNA and phospholipids.

Nutritional Value:

As we all know Jowar is rich in nutritional value and the health benefits that it offers to our body cannot be ignored. If taken regularly, Jowar can be your best source of nutrients. It is also a good source of Vitamin B like Niacin, Thiamin, and Riboflavin. It has also a high level magnesium, copper, iron, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. It has more antioxidants as compared to Pomegranates and Blueberries.

To sum it up -
In this era, people are quite concerned about their health. Dietary supplements and fitness capsules have become a part and parcel of life for many of us. But, these supplement sources can never compete with the health benefits of natural food like Jowar.

It is interesting to know that Jowar is the fifth most grown grain crop in the world after rice, wheat, barley and corn. But many a times this delicious and gluten free grain is overlooked in western countries. Jowar comes with a plethora of health benefits that makes it a must include food items in the diet. More than 30 different species of Jowar are found in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Believe it or not, Jowar is truly a blessing for human that offers a considerable amount of nutrition and improve your overall health.

Benefits, Uses, Side Effects and Where to Buy Citric Acid

What is Citric Acid

If you have studied Chemistry in your elementary classes then you probably heard about acid, bases, and salts of different kinds. Citric acid is one such acid but is an organic one. The popular source of Citric acid is citrus fruits. This acid is a component of all aerobic living organisms. Considered as a weak acid due to its high pH, this acid has been consumed as an additive in processed foods from more than century onwards. It is used an emulsifying agent, as a preservative or a sour flavoring because of its excellent preservative properties In most jarred and canned foods you can find citric acid as it useful to prevent botulism. Carl Wilhelm Scheele first isolated this acid from lemon juice in 1784. This doesn’t mean we don’t know about its usage. But this achievement confirmed the nature and properties of this acid. The industrial-scale production of this acid began in the late nineteenth century and for this Italian lemons were used.

Why is Citric Acid essential for the body?

Citric acid is also found in the human body and it is highly important for producing the energy that keeps your body active and healthy for all day long. Citric fruits are tasty and safe for human consumption. Another most important thing about this acid is its antioxidant nature. These antioxidants are necessary for building up the immune system of our body and further help to maintain the pH levels of your digestive system.

 

Benefits of Citric Acid for health

1) Improves Mineral Absorption

According to the Experts, citric acid easily mixes with minerals and essential metals and thus facilitates their absorption in the body.

2) For Healthy Kidneys

Consumption of Citric acid and its presence in adequate amount in your body ensures proper functioning of the kidneys. It further prevents the formation of kidney stones. It contains alkalizing properties and has a unique ability to bind to calcium. Thus it is high of useful for treating kidney ailments.

3) Counter Free Radicals

This organic acid is an antioxidant and can successfully neutralize the life-threatening effects of free radicals. These Free radicals are a type of unstable compounds which are the main reason behind the growth of cancer and other tumors.

4) Revitalizing The Skin

In face packs and skin products, Citric acid is a common ingredient. It has positive results on human skin and hence it has wide applications too. From slowing down the aging process to the regeneration of skin tissue we will discuss all it.

5) Soothing a Sore throat

Ever noticed Citric acid is one of the important ingredients of cough drops and other Sore throat medications. This is so because it can successfully reduce the inflammation which is usually caused by tonsillitis. It is recommended to gargle with the combination of water and citric acid to clear the throat infection. Doing such will killing infection-causing germs.

6) Curbing Nausea

By reducing the gastric acidity Citric acid can alleviate nausea.

CITRIC ACID USES FOR SKIN

1) To Treat Acne

For acne prone skin we will suggest you go for a simple citric acid & milk mask. In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons citric acid powder, ¼ cup water, ¼ cup low-fat milk then stir. After mixing well you can apply the mixture and leave for 15 minutes.Then wash off gently with lukewarm water.

2) For Clogged Pores

Fist, take a saucepan, add, 2 tablespoons citric acid powder,½ cup orange juice, ½ cup water and also a packet of gelatin(unflavored). Stir this mixture on medium heat until all the ingredients dissolve and mix well. Then put the gas off and let the mixture cool down. After that refrigerate it for 20-25 minutes. Use this mix as a face mask and put it on for 30 minutes.

3) For Even tone Skin

You can easily make a scrub for uneven skin tone using citric acid.
To do this take a bowl and add ¼ cup plain curd, 1 tablespoon of citric acid powder and 2 tablespoon oats. Then just Mix all of them well. Before application, Firstly Moist your skin a bit then apply it and Gently massage in circular motions.

4) Anti-Ageing

A good anti-ageing face mask can be prepared by combining Citric acid with other ingredients. First, crush some citric acid crystals into a fine powder. Add this powder with some yogurt and honey and also add a vitamin E capsule. Mix all these ingredients well in a bowl and then you can apply it on the skin.

 

 

CITRIC ACID USES FOR FOOD

 

1) For Flavouring

For providing a Tangy Sour flavor the Citric acid is usually preferred in many beverages too. The speciaIity of this acid is that it has a natural sour taste. Hence it is widely used for flavor the candies the orange or like the lemon.

2) For Food Preservation

Citric acid is added to processed food and this is done during the canning process. The addition of this Citric acid helps in maintaining a healthy pH balance inside the foods products and also helps to increase their shelf life.

3) To prevent sugar crystallizing

In the preparation of homemade jams, sugar syrups or ketchup, you can add the citric acid powder to prevent your sugar being crystallized. This will also improve color and flavor of your dish.

CITRIC ACID USES FOR CLEANING

1. General disinfecting and cleaning: 

As citric acid is a natural disinfectant it can be used for cleaning purposes as it effectively kills bacteria, mildew & molds.

2. Green Cleaning: 

We often hear in the advertisement the dish washing bars having the lemon but it actually the Citric acid which does the job. In lemon or lime soaps and bars, citric acid is added.

3. Other cleaning products: 

Citric acid is widely used in auto cleaning products all-purpose cleaners, soap scum removers, air fresheners, window cleaners, stain removers, metal cleaners, oven cleaners, tub & tile cleaners, carpet cleaners, dishwasher cleaners, bathroom cleaner dish soaps, laundry detergents etc.

Side Effects of Citric Acid

Yes, It is true that excess of everything is bad and it is equally applicable in this case too.
• Weak hair: breakage, discoloration and hair degradation.
• Negatively affects infant health: can lead to absorption of heavy metals
• Discoloured stools and also frequent need to urinate or decrease in the amount of urine
• Excessive consumption and Application of citric acid may cause:
• Dizziness and drop in blood pressure
• Skin irritation: burning sensation and irritation

Where to Buy Citric Acid?

You can buy pure citric acid in any drug store, Local health food stores near you. Some natural sources of citric acid are oranges, lemons, limes, and tangerines. Online you can buy citric acid from Amazon, ebay etc.

Health Benefits of Dried Coconut/Copra, Nutrition Facts, How to Dry Coconut

Dried Coconut/Copra Health Benefits

If you are living in a country like India where Food is not eaten for energy but to celebrate and thanks for the gifts of Mother Nature then you definitely know about Nariyal or Coconut. It is easily available in coastal areas and very common to be used in Hindu culture and different ceremonies. The fruit is equally tasty and healthy for your health as it is a gift from Nature. You can Enjoy Nariyal Burfi, Nariyal Paani, Fresh Cream of Nariyal, Coconut oil and the Husk can be used in the preparation of many traditional medicines. All in one this fruit is strong both from the outside and the health benefits are equally stronger from the inside. More over dried coconut or copra has even more benefits for health.

In English it is known as Dried Coconut, in hindi, marathi and gujrati it is commonly known as Copra, in Tamil it is known as Ular tenkay, in Telugu they call it Endu Kobari and in kannada they call it Vona kobari.

Nutrition Facts of Dried Coconut

We would like to share that dried coconut contains high nutritional value. However, if you are planning to lose some serious weight then you need to consider carefully the fact that While Dried Coconut contains healthy fats; they still can cause some fat issues. So, you’ll need to count your calories when adding coconut dishes into your daily meal plan.

The nutritional value of dried or desiccated coconut (1 ounce) is:

• 185 calories
• Manganese: 38% RDA of the required daily amount (RDA)
• Dietary fiber: 18% of the required daily amount (RDA)
• Vitamin E: 1% RDA
• Riboflavin: 2% RDA
• Vitamin B6: 4% RDA
• Selenium: 7% RDA
• Vitamin C: 1% RDA
• Iron: 5% RDA
• Copper: 11% RDA

Health Benefits of Dried Coconut/Copra

1) Fiber content

Coconuts are the best source of dietary fiber and provide almost 61% of fiber. Coconut fiber is healthy for your body as they slow down the release of glucose effectively and transports the glucose to the cells where it is then converted into energy. This process assists in relieving stress on the enzyme systems and pancreas.

2) Beneficial during pregnancy

Dry coconut is very useful during pregnancy as it helps in improving the immunity of the mother and baby. This helps them to prevent any infection and other diseases related to birth. The levels of amniotic fluid also get boosted which is good for the overall health of the fetus.

3) Fights bacteria

Monolaurin and lauric acid are present in Coconuts in an ample amount which helps to kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

4) Good for oral hygiene

Coconut will definitely help you to reduce bad breath, kill mouth bacteria and to improve your overall dental health.

5) Healthy bones and teeth

Those people who are lactose intolerant eating coconuts regularly is a healthy alternative. This not only supports the proper development of bones and teeth but improves the ability of the body to absorb manganese and calcium which aids bone development. Thus consumption of Dry coconut also prevents osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones becomes thin and fragile and also loses their density.

6) Controls diabetes

Coconut are good for Diabetics too as it helps in improving the insulin secretion and the blood glucose utilization. By positively affecting the hormones responsible for blood sugar it controls control diabetes. This helps to reduce glycemic cravings and slows down the rise in blood sugar level effectively. Other benefits of desiccated Coconut are quick digestion and treatment of other symptoms which deals with digestive and bowel disorders. Consumption of coconuts supports absorption of essential minerals and nutrients while providing dietary fiber.

7) Anti-ageing

Dry coconuts are definitely healthy for your skin and body organs. trans-zeatin, kinetin, and Cytokinins present in desiccated coconut have anti-ageing, antithrombotic and anti-carcinogenic effects on your body.

8) Immunity Booster

Dry Coconut nutrition in your food is excellent for your body’s immunity system. It is antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral and antifungal. Intake of coconut oil can definitely help your body to mount a resistance against urinary tract infection, tapeworms, throat infections, bronchitis, and various other ailments which are caused by microbes.

9)Treats abdominal fats

In the treatment of dangerous fats especially in the abdominal cavity, the Coconut is highly beneficial.
Overall health
10) Fights cancer
In the prevention and cure of the world’s deadliest disease, Coconut nutrition can definitely help you. It has been already proven successful, that this fruit has anti-cancer properties. Especially in the treatment of colon and breast cancer this fruit is highly beneficial.

11) Nutritious and healthy

Freshwater of Coconut is always considered to be nutritious and healthier.But that doesn’t mean dry coconut has no value. The desiccated Coconut has the high nutritional value which can be easily observed in the beginning of this blog. It contains the following
• Vitamin E: 1% RDA
• Riboflavin: 2% RDA
• Vitamin B6: 4% RDA
• Selenium: 7% RDA
• Vitamin C: 1% RDA
• Iron: 5% RDA
• Copper: 11% RDA

12) Prevents urinary tract infection

The coconut contains a natural diuretic property for the treatment of urinary tract infections. It amazingly improves the flow of urine to prevent any type of infection naturally.

13) Improves blood cholesterol

Desiccated Coconut is useful to improve the blood cholesterol levels of your body and it also minimizes the risk of heart diseases. The coconut contains saturated fats which raise the good cholesterol and regulates LDL to a benign subtype. This type of improvement in your cardiovascular risk factors leads to reducing the risk of heart diseases.

14) strengthens connective tissues.

What are connective tissues? our skin, bones, ligaments and tendons all of them come under the category of connective tissues. These tissues have a lot of minerals, and any deficiency of these elements affects the body. Desiccated coconut is loaded with minerals, which the body can easily absorb and process. Including dried cocnut in your diet prevents the deficiency of these minerals and reduces the risk of many serious diseases, such as arthritis and osteoporosis.

15) It promotes your brain function.

Dried coconut is known to improve and promote a healthy brain function. Dried coconuts contain chemicals that promote the production of neurotransmitters as well as myelin. Myelin is the fatty coating over the neurons which allows them to transmit electrical signals to the brain more efficiently. Any damage to the myelin cover of your neurons leads to severe neurological problems. Coconut works amazingly in protecting the myelin cover and promotes your brain health. As per recent research, coconut oil is found to be efficient in the treatment for Alzheimer’s. It helps in slowing down the progression of the disease as well as prevents it.

How to Dry Coconut

And now welcome to this last and interesting section of this blog. We can easily get a Coconut having water but for seasoning and various other purposes, we require only to have the dried one. We are telling you two different ways to do that :

A) By Dehydrating

1. Break the coconut with a hammer.
2. Open it up. Peel the white flesh out.
3. Using a cheese grater, grate the flesh.
4. Dehydrate the grated flesh for about 8 to 10 hours at 135 degrees F.

B) By Oven Drying

1. First, preheat the oven to 177 degrees C.
2. Then Drill the coconut through the eyes. You can use a mechanized tool too. And then extract the coconut water in a dish or cup.
3. Then place the empty coconut directly in the preheated oven. Heat it for 20 minutes.
4. Now remove the coconut from the oven and carefully wrap it up with a towel. Hit the coconut with a hammer gently and constantly, till it breaks.
5. Pry the flesh out using a strong knife
6. Reduce the oven temperature to 121 degrees C.
7. In a food processor, Shred the coconut flesh into pieces and spread them on a tray. Dry this plate having coconut pieces in the oven for 10-15 minutes.
8. Let cool. Use it all according to your need.