Monica's Archives

Cowpea contains almost all essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, folic acid, iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, selenium, sodium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, etc. It is also beneficial for our skin and hair. Cowpeas health benefits include improving digestion, supporting heart health, detoxifying the body, treating insomnia, managing diabetes and supporting blood circulation. Ingredients: Cowpeas ( lobhia, black eyed pea ) – 1 cup Whole red chilly                                  - 3-4 Whole coriander seeds                     - 2 spoon Fennel seed powder (Saunf)            - 1 spoon Dry mango powder (Amchur)          - ½ spoon Green chilly                                        - 1-2 Green coriander (Hara dhania)      Salt                                                  - to taste Method: Soak cowpeas in water for 4-5 hours or overnight. Grind these soaked cowpeas coarsely in a grinder without water. Take out

Our organs and tissues work together as body systems in our body. We have 10 body systems. Today we will discuss mainly digestive system. The digestive system is a group of organs that work together to change the food we eat into energy and nutrients our body needs. After we consume food and liquids, the digestive system breaks them into their basic parts: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins. These basic nutrients are then absorbed into the bloodstream, which carries them to cells throughout the body. Nutrients provide the cells with the energy they need for growth and repair. Everything in our body, from our hormones to our heart, need the nutrients from the digestive process to work correctly. It involves a number of organs. Most absorption of nutrients and water happen in the intestines which include small intestine, large intestine and rectum. The small intestine is 20 feet long and an inch in diameter. The small intestine is the portion of the digestive tract that co

Seeds are powerhouse of nutrients and have a number of health benefits. They contain healthy fats, vegetarian protein, fibre and many important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. They reduce the risk of certain diseases as well. Some important features of these 5 seeds are: Flax seeds – Rich in fibre and omega-3 fats. Helps in reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer,        lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. Pumpkin seeds – Good source of phosphorus, magnesium, manganese. They help in improving heart health and urinary disorders. Sunflower seeds – Rich source of healthy fats and vitamin E. Helps in reducing cholesterol levels and inflammation. Sesame seeds – Along with other nutrients it has zinc and calcium. Helps in bone health. Muskmelon seeds – Enriched with vitamin A, C, E. Improves vision, fights cold. INGREDIENTS: Flax seeds                – 3 tablespoon Pumpkin seeds        – 3 tablespoon Sunflower seeds

Air pollution is a mix of particles and gases that can reach harmful concentrations both outside and indoor. It’s effect can range from higher disease risks to rising temperatures. Smoke, soot, mould, pollen, methane and carbon-di-oxide are just few examples of common pollutants. One of the simplest ways to reduce the effects of pollution is to increase flora. Today we will discuss how to keep good quality air inside our homes/offices. Reasons for keeping plants in home: 1)       Reduces carbon-di-oxide levels. 2)       Provides more oxygen for home. 3)       Reduces levels of some pollutants, such as benzene and nitrogen-di-oxide. Purifies the air in your house and office by absorbing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and xylene. It can even filter tiny fecal matter particles out of the air. 4)       Increase humidity. This is good during the winter months when the air in the home is very dry or in summer when there is excessive use of AC’s. 5)       Reduces air

Ingredients for pancakes: Ragi (Nachni/red millet) flour- 1 cup Soya flour                                 - 1 tablespoon Green chilly                              - 2 (finely chopped) Sesame seeds(Til)                     - 1 teaspoon Onions grated                           - ½ cup Ginger grated                          - 1 teaspoon Salt                                           - to taste Oil for cooking                       - 2 teaspoon Ingredients for Carrot garlic chutney: Carrot grated                     - 1 cup Garlic chopped                  - 2 tablespoon Lemon juice                       - ¼ teaspoon Chilli powder                     - 2 tablespoon ( can adjust to taste) Salt                                    - to taste Oil                                     - 1 teaspoon Method for pancakes: Mix ragi flour, soya flour,sesame seeds, onions, green chilli, ginger, salt and some water in a bowl to make loose smooth dough. ( 4 por

How often do we wish that the day had more than 24 hours? But we can’t have it. The answer is proper time management. Time management is the ability to use one’s time effectively or productively. Here are some tips that will help you to organize yourself better. But the most important thing to keep in mind is Never put off for tomorrow what you can do today. It’s not about how much time you have, it’s about how effectively you manage your time. These tips apply for everyone whether you are a homemaker or a working person. The importance of plans and lists Planning your day and making lists may take some of your time but it helps to sort out your thoughts and put things in order of priority. Preferably make your “TO DO” list in the morning. Plan your day An established routine gives us best results. Each activity fits together into the next one for a smooth changeover from one task to the other. You need a year planner for the master plan and a daily planner f

Mango Squash Mango is one of the most popularly consumed fruits in the world. It has sweet and juicy flavor. Mango is a symbol of love in India and a basket of mangoes is considered a gesture of friendship here. In India, mango is commonly known as the “king of all fruits”. Mango has a number of health benefits, but five important health benefits of mango that characterize it as a little-known super food are:    Body fat reduction    Blood sugar regulation    Natural digestive aid    Delaying ageing    Vision protection Today let us see how we can add it in our daily routine by making mango squash. INGRIEDIENTS Mango pulp   - one glass (preferably “Safeda” variety) Sugar             - one and a half glass Water             - a little less than a glass Citric acid      -  one tea spoon METHOD    Cut mangoes and blend them to get 1 glass pulp.      In a saucepan, add sugar and water, heat till sugar melts. Keep the sugar syrup as