Medicinal value of turmeric

In Indian society, turmeric is known for its anti-septic and healing properties. During my childhood turmeric milk was given to us, along with medicines, every time I fell ill or got hurt. Now research is uncovering several benefits of the same.

Turmeric is extracted from the roots of a plant called curcuma longa, which is a member of ginger family. It is widely prescribed in Indian medicine as a potent remedy for liver disorders, rheumatism, diabetic wounds, runny nose, cough and sinusitis. Traditional Chinese medicine uses curcumin as a treatment for diseases associated with abdominal pain, and it is used in ancient Hindu medicine as a treatment for sprains and swelling.

Recent research has uncovered that turmeric prevents the aging of brain and inhibits Alzheimer’s disease that is prevalent in other parts of the world but not in India. It is also making headlines for its newly discovered anti-cancer properties. It is known to stop cancer before it becomes detectable. It also prevents the recurrence of tumor in cancer patients after radiation treatment.

With so many reasons to include turmeric in your diet plan, you wouldn’t want to give it a miss.

Why you should eat tomatoes!

Tomatoes get their red colour from a naturally occuring pigment called lycopene. Lycopene, is an excellent anti-oxidant and prevents cell damage. This in turn is supposed to protect us from some forms of cancer and heart disease. It also helps in maintaining a healthy looking skin.

It has very little calories and contains more than 90% water. It is also a rich source of Vitamin C and A making it a perfect ingredient for low calorie diet. Best of all, this vegetable is more nutritous when cooked.

So what are you waiting for, make tomatoes a part of your daily diet and stay healthy.

Garden Pasta

This is a cheesy pasta with lots of veggies. It's ideal for kids who wouldn't eat veggies on their own. You could use any combination of veggies depending on availability.You could even add chicken or fish to this.

White sauce-
2 teaspoons plain flour
2 cups milk
1 cup water

2 1/2 cups macaroni
olive oil
1/2 bunch spinach
coriander or cilantro
2 medium sized tomatoes
1 carrot
1/2 cup peas or beans
1 onion
1/2 capsicum
1 cup cabbage or cauliflower
1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
salt
pepper
cheddar cheese

White sauce-
1) Heat oil and add plain flour, stir for 3-5 minutes.
2) Add milk while stirring continously. Add water to obtain a not so thick white sauce.
3) Add salt and pepper

Pasta-
1) Boil macaroni in sufficient water with some salt.
2) Heat oil and add all the veggies and salt; simmer for 15-20 minutes.
3) Mix boiled macaroni, fried veggie and white sauce.
4) Add cheddar cheese and cook till it melts.