Make stock everyday!

I do not mean the financial stock here, but the 'health' stock or vegetable stock.
Vegetable stock is the nutritious water got by boiling vegetables. Mostly it is a base for soups and dishes. But we can use the stock in our day to day curries, doughs for chapathi/puri, batters for chillas, idli-dosas etc. to enable our children and other memebers of our family get the vitamins and other nutrients from the vegetables they do not like. (I have also mentioned its usage in my earlier post "IF YOUR CHILDREN/GROWN-UPS DO NOT EAT VEGETABLES" dt. 26th Sept. 2009).

Its part of my cooking job (now a pleasant one) to boil daily, any number of available vegetables like carrots, beans(these two I always stack in my refrigerator) peas, pumpkins, gourds, tomatoes, cauliflower, anything from onions to ginger-garlic, bay leaf to coriander and use the stock to make soup for my MIL(I get all the blessings as she feels energetic) and use the rest of the strained water in making the dough for chapatis, curries or any snack I make for my kids( they do not like to eat pumpkins, gourds, courgettes/zucchini/turai, tindas and other greens) and get utmost satisfaction that my family is not deprived of the essential nutrients from vegetables!
Its winter time and time to consume lots of fresh vegetables.

So make the 'health' stock everyday(the baby one litre cooker I bought for my kids 23 years ago is coming to use now). Boiling vegetables cannot be tedious once you bring it in your routine. You can also try innovative methods of using stock in your dishes.
HAPPY COOKING!

Wonder remedy for melasma, pigmentation

Take equal quantities of
Cudpahnut (chironji also called chiroli)
Red lentil (masoor dal)
Almonds
Turmeric
Powder together and store.
Take 1tsp.of the above powder+1tsp. honey, mix and apply on the pigmented areas. Wash after 20 minutes. Apply twice a day and see the wonderful results!!
Start with honey for 3 days and then with aloevera/milk/raw milk/fresh cream(malai)/neem leaves powder or honey whatever you feel that suits you.
This natural pack is useful for normal skin also as it clarifies and lightens, giving a lovely glow to the skin.

Pigmentation , melasma on face

DEFINITION: Melasma is a type of pigmentation appearing as brownish patches on the forehead, cheeks under the bridge of the nose, near the jaws usually in a butterfly shape. It is a condition of the skin where the pigment, melanin is unevenly distributed in the skin.

CAUSES: Anyone from teenage to oldage can get pigmentation, melasma or chloasma. The main cause in women is harmonal imbalance and aggravates due to even little sun-exposure.
Many women get pigmentation marks in pregnancy, called mask of pregnancy; these fade away slowly. It may also occur when a woman is on birth control pills or after HRT.
Men may also suffer with this problem due to hereditary reasons or diabetes and it triggers with stress and overexposure in sun.

REMEDIES:
1. First and foremost consult a  doctor for the exact cause of melasma before going for any remedy.
2. Application of creams with Hydroquinone and Tretonoin. They contain bleaching agents which reduce the production of melanin, responsible for the brown colour of the skin. The results may start coming after 3-4 weeks. These can be irritable to the skin and can have adverse effects with the slightest increase in concentration. 
3. Laser treatment in removing brown pigment, melasma.
4. Use sun screen lotions daily.

HOME REMEDIES:
All Skin lightners like vinegar, lime, papaya(unripe) are useful remedies in the treatment of melasma. Although these things are very good for the entire face, but apply them only on the affected parts as a treatment. If any sort of irritation occurs by applying any of the products, discontinue its usage:
1. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water and clean the pigmented parts of the face. Vinegar has acetic acid which helps to burn old skin cells and form new light ones. Apple cider vinegar can be used.
2. An excellent remedy : Mix equal parts of vinegar and onion juice and apply with a cotton ball twice daily. Wash after some time, say 20 minutes,
3. Application of papaya juice or 'papaya + yoghurt' a wonderful remedy. This is an exfoliant too. Here also unripe papaya is used. Grate a piece of papaya, squeeze out the juice and mix with curd. Apply and wash with warm water after sometime. It will not be tedious if made into a habit.
4. Lemon slice(contains citric acid which lightens skin) can also be rubbed on the area twice daily.
5. Similarly, juice of mint leaves/onion juice/piece of raw papaya/aloe vera gel (massaged gently in circular motion for 15 minutes and left overnight)/turmeric+milk/milk+oatmeal(uncooked)/almond and honey paste /whichever suits your time and skin, can be massaged gently over the patches and washed after 20 minutes.
Stick to one or two remedies that suit the skin and be regular. Make it into a habit until the pigmentation disappears.
6. Kapalbhati pranayam is a great yogic breathing exercise which helps to fade away melasma completely. High BP and heart patients must do it slowly, otherwise there is no harm at all. Learn properly from an expert.

Protection from sun is extremely important. You will have to apply a sunscreen daily.
Drink plenty of water to flush off toxins.
Wash your face with mild soap and let dry it on its own.
Diet can also effect melasma. Consult your doctor about the intake of calcium/iron. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables will improve the skin overall.
Start the home remedies now and they will really work. The pigmentation is quite stubborn, so it takes time. Remember ROME was not built in a day.

Ginger + tulsi + pepper in tea = Relief from cough + cold + fever

A cup of tea/coffee made by adding crushed ginger, black peppercorns and leaves of tulsi (Holy basil) will cure and prevent cough, cold, sore-throat and fever.

Ginger has properties of ibuprofen and aspirin; is a remedy not only against cold and flu but also helps in muscle or body pain.

Tulsi, the most important medicinal herb is a preventive as well as cure for various ailments like cough, cold, fever, flu, kidney, heart, and skin problems.

Pepper, the king of spices is also anti-bacterial which not only prevents diseases, but aids digestion, improves appetite and soothes sore throat.


Try to be close to nature.

Switch to mobile blogging

shall I switch to mobile blogging? it is a bit discomfort to use, but I guess I will get used to it as I continue with it.

Mobile Blogging from here.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPod touch]

Spinach forever!

I have put some spinach seeds in three of my pots. Within a few days, I have started plucking few leaves and using them in my day to day curries, soups, salads, snacks,(sandwiches, parathas, batters, doughs, koftas etc.etc.)  Even a tinge of green colour(coriander is not always available especially in summers) in the dish makes it appetizing, presentable and healthy. If I do not pluck leaves for a few days then I get a chance to make some palak paneer for my kids.

The fresh, green, organic spinach leaves not only provide me and my family with calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, manganese, protein, phosphorus, zinc, copper, folate, omega-3 fatty acids, dietary fibre, beta-cerotene and vitamins like K, E, C, B6 and A which not only improve eye sight, bone health, learning capacity, reduce migraine attacks, but are also a protection against osteoporosis, arthiritis, asthma, heart diseases, cancer etc.

Spinach has not only added greenery to my garden, but also given me immense satisfaction that my family will not be deprived of the essential nutrients. Spinach is grown all the year round, why don't you try it too?

P.S. EAT EVERYTHING IN MODERATION AND STAY HEALTHY.

Treat under eye puffiness the natural way!

Puffiness and under eye bags can also age you as much as deep wrinkles around the eyes. Under eye puffiness is caused mainly due to the following reasons:
1.Water retention in the body.
2.Taking too many steroids.
3.Hereditary factors.
4.Growing age.
5.Lack of sleep.
6.Allergies.
5.Heart problems.
6.Using a very low pillow.

Reduce the puffiness by trying to follow as many below-mentioned ways as as possible:

1. Remain hydrated by drinking plenty of water. When enough water is not provided to the body, it starts retaining water as a defense mechanism, causing puffiness or bags under the eyes. Try drinking 4 glasses of water as you get up in the morning without brushing your teeth and the rest, throughout the day.
2. Press very gently the under-eye area with your ring finger(this finger gives the least pressure on the delicate eye area) as you get up in the morning.
3. Keep a set of six to eight spoons in the freezer and press gently the upper and lower eye puffiness with them or dip spoons in cold water and press gently.
4. Rinse used tea/chamomile/green tea bags in cold water and keep on the closed eyelids for 15 minutes daily. The tannin and caffeine present in tea help to reduce puffiness under the eyes. Tea bags can be stored in plastic bags in the refrigerator.
5. Cucumber or potato slices placed on the eyelids reduce swelling and puffiness.
6. Take two or one higher pillow to sleep if you have puffiness.
7. Do not drink much water just before bedtime.
8. If applying or massaging the under eye area with almond or any other cream, make it a point to wipe it off softly before sleeping.
9. Avoid oily, heavy and food especially in dinner.
10.Keep a gap of atleast 3 hours between dinner and sleep.
11.Try not to sleep on your stomach.
12.Have adequate sleep. Early to bed, early to rise as a right adage. The sleep before 12 in the night is very important; the ratio of sleep before and after 12 being 1:2.
Your eyes are the window to your soul! Take care of them in every respect.