Watermelon Rind Pickles

The best way to beat the heat of summer is with some cool refreshing watermelon. But what of the watermelon rind? That's the white part left over after the sweet part of the fruit is gone. Most of the time we throw it away but that’s because we never understood the benefits of watermelon rind. It is jam-packed with Vitamin B6, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C, as well as potassium and magnesium and natural sugar, which can even alleviate many pregnancy-related discomforts.

 

The best way to enjoy this “leftover” is to pickle it, a dish originally made popular in the southern states of America. First, cut out the dark green and red parts from the rind and chop them into bite-sized cubes. Add 3 cups of water and salt to an air-tight container with the rind and let it soak overnight. 

 

The next day, lightly heat the soaked rind for 10 minutes, until it’s tender. You can prepare the brine simultaneously by dissolving sugar in a boiling mix of a cup of vinegar and water, along with cloves and cinnamon. Strain out the solids. Then add the watermelon rind and the hot brine to the jar or container, and let the rind sit in the hot solution. Your pickle will be ready to go after it cools. 

I use at times the white part to make a gravy along with dal, cook it, grind coconut with green chilies and cumin, add to the cooked dal and rind, season it with little oil, cumin and urad dal, curry leaves, garnish with lots of finely chopped coriander leaves. It tastes good with hot rice, roti,  dosa, adai.

 

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From A to K: The Complete Guide to Vitamins in Everyday Foods

   

Vitamin A

• What It Does: When your parents told you to eat your carrots for your vision, they were right. That’s because the root vegetable is among the orange-hued foods rich in vitamin A. According to Heather Fiore, M.S.Ed., RD, LD, CDCES, vitamin A also supports your immune system and skin health. You may recognize the names beta carotene and retinol. Both are converted in the body to vitamin A.
  
• How Much You Need: 700 to 900 mcg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Weakened immune system, dry eyes and poor night vision
  
• Food Sources: Sweet potatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, leafy greens and eggs. Because vitamin A is fat-soluble, it’s best to combine it with healthy fats. An ideal pairing would be sautéing kale in olive oil.

Vitamin B1

• What It Does: Also known as thiamin, vitamin B1 helps convert the food we eat into energy. Like all B vitamins, B1 is found mostly in animal products, but there are vegan sources, too.
  
• How Much You Need: 1 to 1.2 mcg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Confusion, muscle weakness, enlarged heart and short-term memory issues2
  
  
• Food Sources: Pork, beans, and grains (like bread and pasta) that are fortified with the vitamin

Vitamin B2

• What It Does: You may already know B2 by its other name, riboflavin. Like B1, it helps turn food into fuel for our bodies, and it keeps our skin and eyes healthy, among the many other cells in the body that it helps to grow and restore.3
  
  
• How Much You Need: 1.1 to 1.3 mcg daily
  
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Anemia, migraines, cataracts and skin problems
  
  
• Food Sources: Milk, yogurt, eggs and almonds

Vitamin B3

• What It Does: Alternatively known as niacin, when vitamin B3 is absorbed, it’s converted into a form that is used by more than 400 enzymes to spur reactions. And like other B vitamins, B3 helps metabolize food into fuel. 
  
• How Much You Need: 14 to 16 mg daily
  
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Extreme deficiency can lead to pellagra, which causes skin to become rough (like a sunburn) and brown when exposed to the sun. It can also cause depression, headaches and fatigue
  
  
• Food Sources: Poultry, fish, peanuts and whole grains

Vitamin B5

• What It Does: Pantothenic acid, as vitamin B5 is also known, is a standout among B vitamins. “This one actually plays a bigger role in our hormones, and then again, with turning food into energy, it helps break down and metabolize our food like fats and carbohydrates,” says Rancourt.
  
  
• How Much You Need: 5 mg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Gastrointestinal issues, sleeplessness, numbness or burning in the extremities
  
• Food Sources: Organ meats, fortified cereals, mushrooms, sunflower seeds

Vitamin B6

• What It Does: Also called pyridoxine, the role of B6 is to convert food into fuel to help grow and regenerate our brain cells. It also supports immune function. 
  
• How Much You Need: 1.3 to 1.7 mg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Low immunity, depression and anemia
  
• Food Sources: Chickpeas, bananas, potatoes and fortified cereals

Vitamin B7

• What It Does: Also known as biotin, B7 supports brain health and, like other B vitamins, helps create fuel from the carbs, protein and fat that we eat.
  
• How Much You Need: 30 mcg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Hair loss, brittle nails, seizures, depression and fatigue
  
• Food Sources: Eggs (especially the yolk), nuts and seeds

Vitamin B9

• What It Does: Anyone who’s been pregnant knows B9, also called folate. “This one’s especially important during pregnancy in particular, because it does help with cell growth and DNA production,” says Rancourt.
  
• How Much You Need: 400 mcg (600 mcg during pregnancy) daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: It can cause neural tube defects in fetuses. For adults, anemia and fatigue are the main potential issues
  
• Food Sources: Leafy greens, beans and lentils

Vitamin B12

• What It Does: Perhaps the most famous of the B vitamins, B12 is a powerhouse for creating energy, but it also supports nerve health and the formation of red blood cells. 
  
• How Much You Need: 2.4 mcg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Anemia and fatigue
  
• Food Sources: Meat, fortified cereals, blackstrap molasses and nutritional yeast

Vitamin C

• What It Does: There’s more to vitamin C than staving off colds. It also helps our bodies absorb iron and plays a role in producing collagen. 
  
• How Much You Need: 75 to 90 mg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Yes, scurvy is a possibility, but it’s more likely that you’ll notice your gums bleeding when you brush your teeth or that you bruise more easily. 
  
  
• Food Sources: Kiwi, citrus, strawberries, bell peppers, tomatoes and broccoli. Pairing iron-rich foods with a food rich in vitamin C can help with iron absorption. 

Vitamin D

• What It Does: Vitamin D helps absorb calcium, which keeps our bones and teeth strong. It also helps reduce inflammation.

  National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Vitamin D.

  
  
  
• How Much You Need: 15 to 20 mcg (600 to 800 IUs) daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Low energy, higher risk of depression and osteoporosis
  
• Food Sources: Fatty fish (like salmon), egg yolks and fortified dairy

Vitamin E

• What It Does: Vitamin E is an antioxidant. “These little things are these tiny warriors, if you will, that help protect our cells from damage. So it’s helpful for a number of reasons at the cellular level,” says Rancourt. This includes helping with both immunity and blood flow.
  
• How Much You Need: 15 mg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Low immunity and nerve damage
  
• Food Sources: Nuts, seeds, olive oil, leafy greens and avocado.15 Like vitamin A, it’s best to pair vitamin E with healthy fats for optimal absorption. Making a healthy vinaigrette with olive oil for your salad will do, says Fiore.

Vitamin K

• What It Does: Instrumental in our bone health and blood clotting, vitamin K might not be as much of a household name as many of the other vitamins, but we still need to include dark-green vegetables in our diets to make sure we get enough of it each day.
  
• How Much You Need: 90 to 120 mcg daily
  
• What Deficiencies Cause: Uncontrolled bleeding and osteoporosis
  
• Food Sources: Kale, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Vitamin K is also fat-soluble, so Rancourt recommends side dishes like roasted broccoli drizzled with olive oil. 

Our Expert Take

The takeaway here is that you can get what you need to power your body on a daily basis through everyday foods. Each trip to the grocery store is an exercise in both art and science—planning your meals with vitamin intake in mind should be a color-filled palette for your creativity. As long as you keep your diet varied, you will likely get the vitamins you need. 

Dietitians encourage mixing and matching whole, minimally processed foods to create a rainbow of flavors and nutrition that covers the entire spectrum of our vitamin needs. 

 

 

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Super Juice- Apple- Carrots, Beets

In the field of Chinese medicine, a juice that contains apple, beet, and carrot has, for centuries, been regarded as a "miracle drink", due to the wealth of benefits it provides for both mind and body. The wonderful effects of this drink and the simplicity of these common ingredients have made it a very popular remedy in many countries around the world. 

 

To prepare this drink you just extract the juice from each of the ingredients and mix it together. The vegetables and fruits should be fresh and the juice must be consumed immediately. Generally, the best time for drinking it is in the morning on an empty stomach.

The compounds in each of the juice's ingredients make it an extremely nutritious drink: 

 

 • Apples - This fruit is packed with beneficial antioxidants for the body as well as vitamins such as A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, and K. Apples also contain plenty of other nutrients, such as folic acid, zinc, magnesium, fiber, calcium, and iron. 

 

• Carrots - Carrots are known to be an excellent source of vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, and K. In addition, the carrot has huge amounts of niacin and pantothenic acid in it, which support the buildup of minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and selenium. 

 

• Beets - Beets contribute to cardiovascular health and provide nutrients such as vitamin A, C, B, iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, and other anti-aging compounds. 

 

The combination of these three powerful ingredients provide the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy body throughout the day, promote good health and prevent a variety of diseases.

The Benefits 

 

 

1. It's believed that the antioxidant compounds of this juice can help prevent cancers and restrict the growth of cancer cells, protecting them from the harm of free radicals. By doing this, they are preventing accumulative damage to the cells that may eventually evolve into cancerous formations. 

 

2. This juice is known to contribute to the health of different body organs such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, and prevent the onset of disease. It does this by purifying your body from toxins, thereby making the organs' jobs easier so there's less strain on them to perform. When organs like the liver don't have to work so hard, they stay healthy - and so do you. 

 

3. The beta-carotene and lutein present in carrots, coupled with the powerful properties of beets, help promote cardiovascular health. Furthermore, the properties of the apple help reduce cholesterol and keep blood pressure stable - two conditions that can potentially lead to heart problems. Combined, this juice is one of the best things you can do for your heart. 

 

 4. In Chinese medicine, this drink is associated with many skin health benefits. Regular consumption helps remove pimples and blackheads, moisturizes your skin, combats dryness, improves the appearance of wrinkles, and revitalizes old tissues.

5. Many people have testified that this juice provides excellent support to the functioning of the digestive system, especially for people who suffer from ulcers, intestinal problems, and chronic constipation. Drink it several times a day for regular bowel movements. 

 

6. The juice provides all the nutrients needed to maintain good cognitive functions, enhance memory, and promote concentration. In the long run, the ingredients in this juice may even help prevent the onset of some of the neurological diseases that occur with age.  

 

7. For people who work in front of a computer for long periods of time, drinking this juice regularly will moisten your eyes and help you avoid irritation, fatigue, and dryness. 

 

8. The combination of the vitamins and nutrients in these three foods is an excellent way to strengthen and stimulate the immune system. This is vital when it comes to fighting and preventing diseases, allergies, and infections. 

 

 9. The drink acts as a natural detoxifier that promotes blood purification and the elimination of toxins. As a result, the production of red blood cells, that carry oxygen to all of our body parts, increases – making sure our entire body stays healthy and ‘fed’. 

 

10. Women with intense menstrual symptoms can drink this juice to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and prevent menstrual cramps.

 

 

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Here are 10 reasons why you should include more asparagus in your diet this season:

This bright green veggie has been deemed a spring superfood with good reason. It is packed with goodness - vitamins A, C, E, K, B6 and folate, as well as essential minerals like iron, copper, calcium, protein and fiber. In addition, there are many ways this nutritious vegetable can be enjoyed.

1. They may help you lose weight 

Asparagus is low in fat and calories (one cup is a mere 32 calories). It is also packed with lots of soluble and insoluble fiber, making it a good choice if you are trying to lose weight, primarily because your body digests fiber slowly, helping you feel satiated in between meals. In addition, asparagus can also aid constipation and studies have shown that it may help lower cholesterol. 

 

Recipe tip: Grill a couple of asparagus spears, lightly drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Top with a perfectly poached egg. 

 

 2. They may prevent urinary tract infections 

 Asparagus contains the amino acid, asparagine, making it a natural diuretic. A diet rich in asparagus could therefore prevent urinary infections from developing as it helps flush excess fluid and salt from the body. 

 

Recipe tip: Sauté a bunch of fresh asparagus and 3 cloves of garlic with 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. 

 

3. They are packed with antioxidants  

Purple asparagus is packed with anthocyanins (an antioxidant that gives this type of asparagus its purple hue) which could help your body fight damaging free radicals. 

 

Recipe tip: Cook this veggie on low heat, but do not let it boil or sauté for too long. Doing so may negate some of its nutritional benefits, causing its vitamins to be lost into the water.

 

 

4. They are a great source of vitamin E 

This important antioxidant helps strengthen your immune system. Vitamin E also protects the cells from the harmful effects of free radicals. 

 

Recipe tip: To better absorb the benefits of vitamin E, pair this nutritious veg alongside some fat, by cooking it with olive oil. 

 

5. They are a great aphrodisiac  

Asparagus is a great source of the vitamins B6 and folate, both of which have been found to help boost feelings of arousal. In addition, vitamin E has also been shown to stimulate sex hormones, including estrogen in women and testosterone in men.

Recipe tip: In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons sesame oil, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 crushed garlic and 2 tablespoons sesame seeds. Brush the mix over the asparagus and grill for about 4 minutes on each side. 

 

6. They can ease a hangover  

Research has shown that a side of asparagus may be a better remedy for curing a hangover than a greasy breakfast. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Food Science found that the minerals and amino acids in asparagus extract may help ease a hangover and protect liver cells from the toxins in alcohol. 

 

Recipe tip: Drizzle the asparagus with some olive oil and season with salt and pepper, placing them in a pre-heated oven until tender. Top the asparagus with soft and custardy scrambled eggs. 

 

7. They beat bloating 

Asparagus is an anti-bloating superfood. It promotes overall digestive health (due to its soluble and insoluble fiber benefits) and is packed with prebiotics (non-digestible carbohydrates that act as food for probiotics - providing a healthy balance of good bacteria in your digestive tract.) Asparagus can reduce gas, and as a natural diuretic, it can help flush excess liquid reducing a belly bulge. 

 

Recipe tip: Infuse some olive oil with orange zest and red pepper flakes and drizzle atop a handful of asparagus spears and green beans.

8. They are a great source of folic acid  

Folic acid is essential for women who are trying for a baby, because it can help protect against neural tube defects. According to a study published in 2009, PLoS Medicine found that folic acid can help reduce the effects of premature birth by 50% when taken for at least a year before conception. Just four asparagus spears contain 22% of your recommended daily allowance.

Recipe tip: Asparagus is best served alongside some fat. Combine a tablespoon of butter with some chopped fresh mint and drizzle over a handful of steamed asparagus. 

 

9. They are packed with vitamin K  

Asparagus is a good source of vitamin K - a crucial nutrient for coagulation (it helps the body stop bleeding after a cut) and it also contributes to bone health. While calcium is essential for healthy bones, vitamin K can actually help your body absorb calcium. 

 

Recipe tip: Combine some mayonnaise, olive oil, white wine vinegar and dijon mustard over a bunch of steamed asparagus. 

 

10. They boost your mood 

Folate - a B vitamin found in asparagus - has been shown to lift your spirits and help keep irritability at bay. Studies have shown that low levels of folate and B12 among people who suffer from depression. In addition, asparagus contains high levels of tryptophan - an amino acid that has also been linked to better mood. 

 

Recipe tip: Bacon is a good source of vitamin B12 and pairs exceptionally well with a handful of asparagus.

Bonus: Here's a delicious way to enjoy asparagus! 

 

Here's How: Simply roll out a rectangular sheet of puff pastry and make a border. With a fork, poke holes at the bottom, allowing the pastry to cook through. Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes then brush a honey dijon mix atop, followed by some balsamic vinegar. Top the pastry with a good amount of grated Swiss and Parmesan cheese (or as much as desired) then layer the asparagus over the cheese, brushing each spear with some olive oil. Season with a pinch of salt and some pepper and bake for a further 20 to 25 minutes. Drizzle some Hollandaise sauce over the pastry and serve!

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https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement

https://cancersupportindia.blogspot.com  for info on cancer and health related topics

https://GSiyers home remedies.blogspot.com   is the latest addition to my blogs.

Three-Ingredient Apple, Carrot and Beet Superjuice

In the field of Chinese medicine, a juice that contains apple, beet, and carrot has, for centuries, been regarded as a "miracle drink", due to the wealth of benefits it provides for both mind and body. The wonderful effects of this drink and the simplicity of these common ingredients have made it a very popular remedy in many countries around the world. 
To prepare this drink you just extract the juice from each of the ingredients and mix it together. The vegetables and fruits should be fresh and the juice must be consumed immediately. Generally, the best time for drinking it is in the morning on an empty stomach.
The compounds in each of the juice's ingredients make it an extremely nutritious drink:
• Apples- This fruit is packed with beneficial antioxidants for the body as well as vitamins such as A, B1, B2, B6, C, E, and K. Apples also contain plenty of other nutrients, such as folic acid, zinc, magnesium, fiber, calcium, and iron. 
Carrots- Carrots are known to be an excellent source of vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, and K. In addition, the carrot has huge amounts of niacin and pantothenic acid in it, which support the buildup of minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and selenium. 
Beets- Beets contribute to cardiovascular health and provide nutrients such as vitamin A, C, B, iron, copper, magnesium, potassium, and other anti-aging compounds. 
The combination of these three powerful ingredients provide the nutrients needed to maintain a healthy body throughout the day, promote good health and prevent a variety of diseases.

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