HEALTH TIPS

ACIDITY

§         Try chewing on a clove. 

§         Eat a piece of Jaggery or Gur after lunch/dinner.  

ASTHMA

§         Always avoid cold and sour things in your diet.

§         Boil a teaspoon of Bishop’s weed seeds (ajwain) in a cup of water. Add a little salt to this decoction and take it at least once a day for quick relief. 

BAGS UNDER EYES

§         Use cold used tea bags to relieve bags under eyes.  

BRUISES

§         Reach into your freezer. Tap a pack of frozen peas on a hard surface to loosen, then lay the bag on where you are black 'n' blue. The bag fits the contours of your body and the cold melts away the inflammation caused by the bruise.

 BLOOD PRESSURE

·         2 flakes of garlic or 1/4 tsp pepper powder with 1/4 cup curd on an empty stomach.

BACKACHE

§         If you have a chronic back problem, keep yourself warm and eat hot items.

§         Include garlic in your daily diet.

§         A self-massage with eucalyptus oil is known to be beneficial. You could also use mustard oil with some boiled fennel seeds.

§         You could take a mixture of five black pepper corns, five cloves and one-gram dry ginger powder in your tea at least twice a day. 

BODYACHE

§         Boil ten tulsi leaves in one cup of water until the syrup is reduced to half a cup. After cooling, add salt to the liquid decoction. Take this mixture daily to stop body ache. 

§         Alternatively take half a gram of dalchini powder with one-teaspoon honey at least twice a day for best results. 

CONSTIPATION

§         Prunes are a natural laxative as they contain a lot of fiber. Eat 4 to 6 at night.

§         A glass of hot tap water with a teaspoon of honey and a few drops of lemon/lime juice might do the trick

§         Eat a banana at night.

§         Increase your dietary fiber content by eating fiber rich foods - fresh fruits and vegetables.  

CUTS & SCRAPES 

§         For any cut or scrape, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a bandage after applying haldi.

COLD

§         Ginger juice with honey

§         Mix a gram of dalchini powder with a teaspoon of honey to curb a cold. Prepare a cup of tea to which you should add ginger, clove, bay leaf and black pepper. This should be consumed twice a day. Reduce the intake as the cold disappears. 

§         If you want to try alternative treatment for common colds, fever and gas problems then Cumin seeds could be your answer. Add two tablespoons cumin seeds to 4 1/2 cups of water. Let it boil for a minute. Then allow the water to cool and drink a glassful, twice a day for a few days.

§         Indian Chicken Soup for common colds. Indian Chicken Soup : Pressure cook two chicken thighs (with skin) along with 4 cloves of garlic, 1 inch piece of ginger and a few sprigs of Cilantro for 10 minutes. Season with salt before cooking. Remove skin and bones from the chicken. Serve hot.

§         Sipping hot "Ginger Tea" for clearing up a cold.  

§         Add a pinch of turmeric and 1/4 tsp crushed black pepper to a glass of warm
sweet milk. Mix well and drink while hot. It provides immediate relief

§         Stuffy Nose : To clear a stuffy nose mix 1/4 teaspoon table salt in 1 cup of boiled and cooled water. With a dropper, place 2 or 3 drops in each nostril half an hour before meals and at bedtime.

§         Tie 1 tablespoon ajwain in muslin into a sort of bean bag as large as your palm. Run against a hot iron and then place against the chest or on the sinuses. 

COUGH

§         1 tsp honey and 1 tsp lime juice in a glass of warm water.

§         Overnight soak a sliced onion in enough water to cover it. Next day discard onion and strain, add honey and have till cough subsides.

§         Add a gram of turmeric (haldi) powder to a teaspoon of honey for curing dry cough. Also chew a cardamom for a long time. 

CONGESTION

§         To clear a stuffy nose mix ¼ tsp salt in 1 cup boiled and cooled water.  Place 2-3 drops in the nostril.

§         Tie 1 tbsp ajwain in a small potli.  Warm this on tava or hot iron and place on the chest, repeat this procedure several times.

 CRAMPS

§         You must do a self-massage using mustard oil every morning. Just take a little oil between your palms and rub it all over your body. Then take a shower. This is especially beneficial during winter. You could also mix a little mustard powder with water to make a paste and apply this on your palms and soles of your feet. 

DIARRHOEA (WATERY STOOLS0

§         Eat yoghurt or banana

§         Mix arrowroot in water and boil till thick, add a pinch of sugar or Kadi Shakkar for taste.

§         Water, Sugar and Salt solution.This solution is an essential medicine for diarrhoea.  It is necessary for adults as well as children and infants.   After preparing the solution, make sure that you taste it.  The solution should not taste too salty.  Add lime juice (sour/sweet) or orange juice to taste.  Some children prefer to have this solution without orange juice. 

§         Keep this solution in a refrigerator or cold place. Make fresh solution after 24 hours.  Wherever possible, boil the water and cool it before adding salt and sugar. Once the solution is ready, do not boil it.

Adults For 1 litre of water (roughly three soft drink bottles or cans) add 1 level teaspoon of salt and 8 level teaspoons of sugar.  Mix and taste

Children For 1 litre of water, add ¾ teaspoon of salt and 8 level teaspoons of sugar.  Mix and taste.

Infants For 1 liter of water, add ¾ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of sugar.  Mix and taste.

§         Mix 1 tablespoon powdered cinnamon bark with one cup of hot water. Steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Cinnamon, a natural astringent, dries up your bowel.

§         Banana is good therapy for constipation as well as the runs. Boil a raw banana, mash, add a pinch of salt and butter, eat. 

§         Blend 1 teaspoon cumin-seeds, 1/4 tsp methi seeds, 1/4 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp dil (suwa) seeds, 1/2 tsp ajwain seeds. Roast on a low flame. Add a pinch of hing / asafoetida and salt and stir for a minute. Make a  course powder when cool and store in an air tight jar. Mix 1/2 tsp of powder with 1 tsp of curd. Eat twice a day for quick relief.

DIABETES

§         Eat Grapefruit 3 times a day

§         Drink the juice of Amla or 1 cup Karela juice

§         The best remedy for this disease is the bitter gourd, better known as ‘karela’. Eat this vegetable as often as you can or have at least one tablespoon of karela juice daily to reduce blood sugar levels in your blood and urine.

ELECTRIC SHOCK

·         Try to remove the victim from the source of electricity as soon as possible with the help of a dry wooden stick, Rubber gloves, Thick bulk of dry cotton,Dry cloth, Avoid direct contact.

·         Turn off the master switch to disconnect the power 

·         If he is not breathing, begin rescue breathing immediately.

·         If there are any signs of respiratory distress start mouth to mouth respiration at once.

·         Take him to the doctor as soon as possible

EPISTAXIS (Nose bleeding)

If it is a chronic problem, a daily intake of gulkand is extremely beneficial. Or make a murabba out of amla and have it every morning. For immediate relief, apply a bandage dipped in ice water on your forehead and nose. 

HEADACHE

§         If you have a regular migraine problem, include five almonds along with hot milk in your daily diet. You could also have a gram of black pepper along with honey or milk, twice or thrice a day. 

§         There are also a lot of external applications that have proved to be beneficial. Make an almond paste by rubbing wet almonds against a stone. This can be applied to your forehead. Alternatively neem powder applied gently on the forehead is known to make you feel good. Or a wet cloth bandage dipped in water with a few drops of eau-de-cologne is also known to be very effective. 

HICCUPS

§         Swallow sugar and hold breathe for 30 sec

§         swallow 3 sips of water. Do this 3 times. Seems to cure hiccups.

§         Chew on a small piece of fresh ginger.

§         Take a warm slice of lemon and sprinkle salt, sugar and black pepper on it. Then suck on the  lemon, until the hiccups stop. 

ITCHING

§         Apply neem oil to the affected area. Or make a fresh paste of some neem leaves and apply externally. Boil neem leaves in the hot water used for your bath. Also eat a teaspoon of neem juice along with sugar for quick relief. 

INJURY

§         For any cut or wound, apply turmeric powder to the injured portion to stop the bleeding. It also works as an antiseptic. You can tie a bandage after applying haldi.

INSOMNIA

§         Do you have a thandai mix at home? If not, just crush about 10 almonds and mix this powder in your milk and drink it warm just before hitting the pillow. Even plain warm milk is known to induce a good night’s rest. You could also apply pure cow’s ghee to the soles of your feet just before bedtime. Or mix coconut oil with water and apply on your head, palms and soles before going to bed. It ensures good sleep. 

§         Eat plenty of curs or a glass of water with 2 tbsp honey.

JAUNDICE

Mash a ripe banana with 1 tbsp honey or 1/2 tsp ginger juice, 1 tsp lime and mint.

LEG CRAMPS

§         When you awaken with a leg cramp, put a stainless steel spoon on the cramp and it will un-cramp instantly. 

§         As a preventative measure, wear thick long socks when you go to bed.

LOWERING CHOLESTEROL

§         Many Indian people eat raw onions with their meals. It has been shown that when a person eats at least 1/2 a raw onion a day, their good type HDL cholesterol goes up an average of 30%.

MOTION SICKNESS

§         Ginger has demonstrated to be far superior to dimenhydrinate, the active ingredient in anti nausea medications such as Dramamine and Gravol -- without the side effects of drowsiness, dry mouth or blurry vision. The ginger works by dampening impulses to the brain that deliver messages about equilibrium. You need to give it time to kick in. 

§         So one hour before your trip grate 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. fresh ginger steep in one cup of water for 10 to 15 minutes, strain and drink. Or eat some candied ginger.

REDUCE FEVER

§         The juice of the Sweet basil or Tulsi leaves can be used to bring down fever. Extract of tulsi leaves in fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 hours. In between one can keep giving sips of cold water. In children, it is every effective in bringing down the temperature.  (Saroj, India)

REDUCE FACIAL HAIR :

§         Take a spoonful of Barley powder add milk and lime juice. Apply on face and leave on for 20 minutes. Wash with warm water. Doing this daily or thrice a week shows great results.

PHYSICAL WEAKNESS

In order to reduce weakness and increase blood circulation, make a dry fruit milkshake made out of ten dry grapes, five  dates and two dry figs along with a glass of milk. Have it once or twice a day to feel fresh and energetic. 

SMALL CUTS

§         Turmeric powder has been used as an antiseptic for years. Use clean turmeric powder (not one that is in a frequently used spice box) to heal a small cut.  

STOMACH ACHE

§         Rub a little Asafoetida on the stomach around the navel.

§         Use a hot-water bag on your stomach and lay on your stomach.

§         Ajwain or Carom seeds have been known to cure or lessen a stomach ache. Chew on a few carom or ajwain seeds. Then drink a cup of hot water.

§         Ginger also helps. Have ginger tea without milk and sugar. 

SUNSTROKE

§         The best remedy for sunstroke is a little juice of raw mango along with salt and sugar. Have this twice or thrice a day. You could also apply onion slices on your head and forehead as this has a cooling effect. Drink lot of fluids.

TOOTHACHE 

§         Chew on a piece of clove to relieve a toothache temporarily.  

§         Chew a clove or dip a piece of cotton wool in clove oil and place on the aching tooth for best results. 

URINARY TRACT INFECTION

§         Drink 2 to 3 cups of cranberry juice per day. Cranberry juice's ability to change urine acidity, kill harmful bacteria has been proved time and again. Another study of bacteria shows cranberry juice interferes with the bacteria's ability to stick to bladder cells.

BEAUTY TIPS

HAIR

Split ends : 2 tbsp olive oil, egg yolk and honey

For Soft Hair : You need to take an egg yolk and add to it a teaspoon of any hair oil of your choice. Mix it well and then apply the mixture to your hair. Cover your hair taking that the mixture doesn’t spill down. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then rinse and shampoo the hair.
Damaged Hair: If your hair has is damaged, it would benefit a lot from the application of some curd that has turned slightly sour. Here you have to be careful to apply the curd only on the hair shaft and not on the scalp. Leave it on for 20 minutes and later on you can shampoo your hair.

Hair Fall: If you are suffering from hair fall this is one remedy that could be very useful. Use coconut milk to which you could add some limejuice. Apply this mixture and massage your hair thoroughly. Later on wash the hair thoroughly. You should follow this treatment for a while to see the desired result

FACE

Prepare a solution of tea leaves and water to which mint leaves and fenugreek seeds have been added. Boil this solution and steam your face with it in a manner similar to taking steam inhalation during a bad cold. Make sure the steam reaches all areas of your face. This acts as food for the skin as it is very nourishing and refreshing.

To help reduce puffy eyes

·       Place chilled cucumbers or cold tea bags on the eyes. Both contain anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling.

·       Place cotton balls dipped in cold milk on your eyes. Milk protein has a soothing quality.

FEET

§         For tired feet, soak in warm salted water

§         Rub pumice stone regularly

Cracked Heels: It is commonly found that ladies who are very finicky about their overall appearance are least bothered about their heels. There is nothing more off-putting than a cracked and dark heel. These can be treated with the application of the pulp of a ripe banana on the affected area. This has to be left on for 10 minutes, after which the area should be cleaned properly.

COOKING TIPS

§         Add oil and haldi to dal to cook it faster

§         For good tandoori color – mix lime water and haldi

§         Roll puris and place in the fridge before frying to consume less oil

§         Soft Idlis – Add poha or cooked rice

§         Add hot oil to the pakoda batter to make it crispy.  Also, add salt to the oil while frying to consume less oil.

§         Add little salt to the washing powder to clean vessels.

§         To slice almonds and pistas, soak in hot water and slice.

§         To enhance taste / health add 2 spoons of barley water to any dish.

§         To preserve coriander leaves, clean and store in an airtight box with tissue papers at the top and bottom.

§        to presrve green chillies for a longer time, cut off the stems and store the chillies in an airtight box in the fridge. they will not spoil or change colour for a longer time.  to prevent green chilies from turning red keep them in a jar with a little turmeric powder 

• To make dosas crispier instantly, add pappads(poppadums) soaked in water and methi seeds to the Dosa Batter
• If you plan to make some dhal, roast the dhal first on low heat, and then go ahead preparing the recipe. 
• To sharpen the blades of the mixer jar, grind crystal salt in it two to three times in it. The blades can be reused.
•  Curd sets faster if dry red chilli halves are added to the milk. The same principle can be used while making Dahi wadas .If you fall short of curds add some milk to get the required quantity and add 2 to 3 red chilli halves to it It will set soon.Soak almonds, pistachios in hot water for a few minutes to ease slicing them. Drain and dab dry with a kitchen towel, before cutting. 

§       If the lemon seems to dry out, or the skin is too stiff, either soak in hot water for 10 minutes or microwave for 30 seconds. You will be able to extract maximum juice this way. 

• To enhance the taste and for health add two spoons of barley water to any soup dish. 
• Roast saffron very slightly before crushing into milk or water, for better absorption and color. 
• Do not throw away the green tender stalks of cauliflower base. Chop fine and use in soups like other vegetables. You will be adding fibre to your soup. 
• before peeling garlic cloves, dip them in little warm water for few minutes. then take them out and peel them. this is very useful when you have to peel a lot of garlic for making garlic paste etc lightly roast garlic flakes, rub between the folds of a piece of cloth. The skins will come off easily. 
• For a more refreshing cup of tea, add a few leaves of mint to the usually prepared tea and keep covered for a few minutes. Then serve the tea with or without milk. 
• Always mash potatoes when they are still quite hot. They mash more easily and can be finely mashed too or else they can be grated too to get a smooth texture. 
• While cooking plain rice add a few drops of fresh lemon juice and a tsp of ghee. The grains will expand more, separate from each other and taste better.  Before cooking the rice, soak it for one hour. This soaked rice will get cooked within 5 minutes and will remain very grainy with its tenderness. 
• To keep curry leaves fresher for longer period of time, wash and wipe them clean with kitchen towel to remove all water. Put it in an airtight container in which a tissue or kitchen towel is placed in the bottom (to absorb the moisture) and refrigerate. Curry leaves will be fresher for more than 15 days. Take care to open the container once in while and wipe out any moisture. 
• When cooking bitter gourds (karela), slit them and apply salt. Keep overnight or at least a few hours. Then wash and cook as per the recipe. The bitterness will be less and will taste better. 
• To prevent eggshells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling. 
• Lemon juice when added to fruit like apples, bananas after cutting, and tossed lightly will prevent them from turning blackish immediately. 
• Always garnish a dish just before it is ready to serve. If you are preparing any vegetable few hours ahead, then reheat and refresh before pouring into serving dish. Then garnish to give that attractive just-made look and taste. 
• Keep a little powdered cashew nuts handy in a bottle to thicken gravies, milk, etc. 
• Powdered dry poha may be used for coating cutlets, croquettes, etc. before frying to give a wonderfully crisp crust. 
• One may cut and keep vegetables like cabbage, beans, carrots, etc. previous night for an early meal next day. But put them in a bowl, not tightly packed, and slip the bowl into a polythene bag, knotting the mouth loosely. This way the chopped vegetables will stay crisp and fresh until used. 
• To get a smooth cream from top malai of milk, run in a small mixie for just 4-5 seconds, before chilling. This will give a smooth texture cream, which may be used exactly like commercial fresh cream. 
• Place chopped veggies for salads in a large bowl of ice-cold water before preparing salad, to give that fresh, crisp, crunchy feel 
• Cheese will stay fresh longer if wrapped in Clingfilm once seal is broken 
• To store homemade pastes of garlic, ginger or green chilli, add a tsp. of hot oil along with salt. They will last longer and taste fresher. 
• While making cutlets, if the mixture is too soft to shape, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes, it will be easy to reshape them. 
• To reduce the sharpness of extra salt which may have been added in the gravies, roasted wheat flour can be used in small quantity. 
• Powder vermicelli or sago and roll patties or croquettes in this powder before frying, to get a crisp crunchy cover. At the same time, much less oil will be absorbed while frying. 
• When you buy shrimp, select the ones that have the shell closely fit to the body. Loose shells are a sign of shrinkage, and they are probably not fresh. 
• Put lemons in a glass jar; fill it with water, screw lid tight. Refrigerate. Change water every 3rd day. Lemons stored this way will keep good for almost a month.  If just a few drops of lemon juice are required do not cut whole lemon. Roll lemon on a hard surface to soften the skin, prick a hole with a cocktail or skewer. Press out required drops. Leave a toothpick in the hole or wrap it in a piece of foil. This will keep it from drying out. 
• Deep-fried sweets taste as good as fresh, if placed on a tissue paper in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. 
• Crumble leftover bread, buns, etc. which may have become too dry or a bit stale, add green Chillies, salt, ginger, garlic, onion chopped, chopped coriander and a bit of water. Mix to form a sticky gooey Batter. Deep-fry dumplings in hot oil, till golden and crisp. An excellent alternative to bhajias. 
• FRENCH FRIES :
  To make better French fries just soak fresh-cut potatoes in water for five minutes, drain and pat dry before cooking to remove the excess starch that causes them to clump together (and from keeping them from sticking to the pan while cooking). For extra crispy fries just dust them lightly with flour before you fry 
• Sub : Protect rice from insects :
  Dry 50 g. of mint leaves, powder them and add to 10 kg. Of rice. Not only will the mint leaves keep insects at bay, they will also impart a delicious flavor to the cooked rice 
• If there is excess oil in your vegetable cooking, sprinkle a little gram flour over the vegetables. Gram flour absorbs the excess oil and will make the vegetable tastier 
• When making stuffed parathas, apply a little ghee or oil on the rolled out dough before putting in the stuffing. This will prevent the stuffing from coming out while rolling the parathas. 
• make ripe tomatoes firm again, dip them in cold water, add some salt and leave overnight.
• Vinegar brought to a boil in a new frying pan will prevent foods from sticking. 
• If fruit like peaches, apples, pear, etc. turn out to be sour, do not throw them away. Dice, add chaat masala, sugar, salt, pepper and toss, adding cucumber, chopped coriander leaves. Will transform into a tingling, and interestingly refreshing salad. 
• If you have forgotten to soak the chickpeas or pulses overnight, just put them in a flask full of boiling water for an hour. Then continue the cooking process. 
• Clean vegetables and make them germ free by adding some salt or vinegar while washing them 

§         EGGS

• To determine if an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh; it it rises to the surface, throw it away.