Author: Sylvia

Oxalis corniculata also known as creeping wood sorrel, procumbent yellow-sorrel or sleeping beauty is a species of perennial, flowering, low-growing, herbaceous plant in genus Oxalis and Oxalidaceae family. The plant resembles the common yellow wood sorrel, Oxalis stricta. The plant is native to the hillsides, in gardens, grassland, agricultural fields and lawns in temperate and subtropical regions across Asia, Europe and North America. Other popular common names of the plant are Yellow wood-sorrel, Creeping oxalis, Creeping lady’s sorrel, Ihi, Sour-grass wood-sorrel, Yellow oxalis, Creeping ladies’-sorrel, Creeping yellow wood-sorrel, Yellow procumbent wood-sorrel, Creeping sorrel, creeping woods, Inda, Indian Sorrel, Jimson Weed,…

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Soap nut or Reetha scientifically known as Sapindus mukorossi is a common Ayurvedic medicinal herb native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, the Americas, and islands of the Pacific. Soap nut tree is a member of the sapindus genus and belongs to the lychee family, Sapindaceae comprising about 12 species of shrubs and trees. Few of the popular common names of the plant are Chinese Soapberry, Soap Berry, Chinese Soap berry, Soap nut Tree, Dodan, Dodani, Reettha, Soapnut, Thali, aretha mota, bhakri, chhopra, dodan, gundarasi, hathan, indian soapberry, jharlyang, kalalgera, makalawa, mukuroji, ritha, aritha, Reetha, North Indian soapnut, Washing…

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Betula utilis commonly known as Himalayan birch is a birch tree native to West Himalaya of Nepal and northern region in India growing at elevations up to 4,500 m (14,800 ft.). The tree is a member of the Betulaceae family of trees and is also closely related to the beech and oak family. These trees can be found in temperate climes the world over and are particularly extensive throughout the Northern hemisphere. Other popular common name of the plant includes Indian Paper Birch, White barked Himalayan Birch, Jacquemontii Birch, Himalayan Birch, Himalayan silver birch and cao pi hua. Genus name…

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Eclipta Prostrata commonly known as False Daisy or bhringraj is actually a plant belonging to the family Asteraceae (sunflower family). The plant is commonly found growing in tropical areas as well as warm temperate areas throughout the world. Yet it is widely distributed throughout India, Thailand, China, Nepal and Brazil. It is also known with the name of Eclipta Alba and other popular common names of the plant are Eclipta, tattoo plant, White Eclipta, White twin heads, swamp daisy, white heads, Bhringaraj, Congo lana, Thistles, Trailing Eclipta, yerba de tago and yerba de tajo. The generic name Eclipta comes from…

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Chamber bitter scientifically known as Phyllanthus urinaria is a member of the Spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) and is native to Asia and has spread as a weed all the way through the tropics. It also occurs in tropical Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, but it is not common there. Other popular common names of the plant are gripe weed, little mimosa, Chanca piedra, shatter stone, meniran, stone breaker, quebra pedra, zhen chu cao, ye xia zhu, chamber bitter, kilanelli, leaf flower and komikansou. It is a warm-season broad leaf annual and typically appears around May or June when the soil…

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Elephant apple, binomially known as Dillenia indica is an evergreen large sized shrub that belongs to the Dilleniaceae family. The plant is native to southeastern Asia, from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka east to southwestern China (Yunnan) and Vietnam, and south through Thailand to Malaysia and Indonesia. Other Common names of the plant are Chulta, Hondapara Tree, Ma-tad, Elephant Apple, Simpoh Air, Simpoh Kuning, Simpuh, Chalta, Indian Simpoh, Chimpoh, Simpoh, Simpor, Peradun and Tipor. English name, elephant apple came from the fact that in its native range, it is quite popular fruit among local wild elephants. Fruits are enjoyed and…

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Sideritis scardica commonly known as Ironwort is a low growing, perennial plant from family Lamiaceae. The plant is native to the Balkan and occurs in south-west Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Turkey. Tea made from its flowering tops is very popular in Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey and Albania, where it grows in wild on high altitudes in mountainous regions and in last century become a cultivated herb. Other Common names of the plant are Balkan Sideritis, Bulgarian Viagra, Ironwort, Greek Mountain Tea, Mountain Tea, Pirin Tea, Mursalski Tea and Shepherd’s Tea. Even though the knowledge about its medicinal values…

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Horny goat weed, which has the scientific name Epimedium grandiflorum, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the Berberidaceae family. It is also known by many other names such as Fairy wings, bishop’s hat, rowdy lamb herb, randy beef grass, and Barrenwort, xian ling pi chien-hsieh, yin-yang-hua, Horny Goat Weed, Inyokaku and Herba Epimedii. Its origins are rooted in China but it is also cultivated in other parts of Asia as well as the Mediterranean. The genus of these herbs contains about 60 different types of plants. This herb is traditionally used for its aphrodisiacal qualities and is often…

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Snow pea scientifically known as Pisum sativum var. saccharatum is a legume in the Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae (Pea family) native to south-western Asia, possibly northwestern India, Pakistan or adjacent areas of former USSR (now Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Krgystan) and Afghanistan. It is a cool season vegetable more specifically a variety of pea eaten whole in its pod while still unripe. Other popular common names of Snow pea are Chinese Pea, Chinese Pea Pod, Chinese Snow Pea, Dry Pea, Edible-Podded Pea, Edible Pod Pea, Field Pea, Garden Pea, Green Pea, Honey Pea, Pea, Peas, Podded Pea, Round-Podded Snow Pea, Round-Podded…

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Applesauce or Apple sauce is a semi-solid food typically made from apples, a liquid (apple juice, cider, water, and/or vinegar), spices, as well as added sugar or honey (optional). The combination is cooked down until the apples soften so that it can be mashed or pureed and the cooking time ranges from less than an hour to a couple hours. Apple sauce is inexpensive and is widely used in North America and some European countries. It has been made for hundreds of years, being cooked in the medieval period in Europe, and it was an efficient process to keep uneaten…

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Guar gum also known as Guaran, gellan gum, Goma Guar is the term used for the fiber which can be derived from the seed of the guar plant, Cyanaposis tetragonolobus of family Leguminosae. This plant is abundantly found in many countries in Asia Minor and in several places in the United States of America for centuries, where it is one of the most important crops, used as a food for both humans and animals. Guar gum is frequently used as a food additive in many processed foods. It’s especially useful in food manufacturing because it’s soluble and able to absorb…

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Beef broth is essentially a soup base made by boiling the bones of beef. It is typically made with bones and also contains a small amount of meat sticking to the bones. It’s then strained to separate the solids from the liquid. The liquid, often salted and seasoned, is the famous bone broth. It has been a staple in many diets around the world for a very long time. It allows us to use more of an animal, wasting less. It also contains many of the meat’s nutrients in an easy-to-digest liquid form. Commonly used in soups and cooking, beef…

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Kava, scientifically known as piper methysticum, is a small shrub native to the islands in the South Pacific, where it has been used for thousands of years as the source of a narcotic sedative drink derived from its roots and used during celebrations and other events (traditional preparation involved chewing or pounding the roots to a pulp and mixing it with cold water). The root and stems are made into a non-alcoholic, psychoactive beverage that has been used socially and ceremonially for hundreds of years in Hawaii, Fiji, and Tonga. Kava belongs to the pepper family (Piperaceae) and is also…

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When cashews (Anacardium occidentale) are blended with water, the result is a creamy off white liquid commonly known as cashew milk. Cashew milk is lactose-free, but the nutrients may vary according to whether you make it at home or buy a commercially prepared product. You’ll even find differences between store-bought brands because they’re fortified with varying amounts of vitamins and minerals. Cashew milk is made by soaking raw cashews in water, rinsing them off, blending them together with filtered water, and straining the pulp to achieve smooth liquid milk. Cashew milk is full of redeeming nutrients, like magnesium, phosphorus, iron,…

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Blue cheese also called Blue vein cheese is a general term used to describe cheese produced from cow’s milk, sheep’s milk, or goat’s milk and ripened with cultures of the mold Penicillium. It is a semi soft cheese that is described by green, grey, blue or black veins or spots of mold throughout the body. These veins are created during the production stage when cheese is ‘spiked’ with stainless steel rods to let oxygen circulate and encourage the growth of the mold. This process also softens the texture and develops the characteristic blue flavor. Types of blue cheese include Roquefort…

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Ricotta is actually not a cheese but it is a creamy curd. The curd is literally cooked twice hence the name “ricotta,” re-cooked. Ricotta cheese is made from sheep, cow, goat or buffalo’s milk whey left over from the production of cheese. Since the casein is filtered away from whey during cheese making process, Ricotta cheese is suitable for persons with casein intolerance. Being low in fat and high in protein, Ricotta is a dieter’s dream cheese. Ricotta is grainy and creamy white in appearance, slightly sweet to taste with just 5% fat. It’s easy to confuse Ricotta with other…

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White kidney beans scientifically known as Phaseolus vulgaris is an herbaceous annual plant in the Fabaceae (legume or bean family) that originated in Central and South America and is now grown in many parts of the world for its beans, which can be harvested and eaten immature, still in the edible pod, or when mature, shelled, and dried. Other common names of the beans are Cannellini beans, Italian kidney beans, Northern beans, Fasolia beans, Lobia, Safaid Lobia, Haricot Blanc, Lingot Mogette, Coco and Flageolet. Genus name comes from the Greek word for fava beans or an ancient Greek one for…

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Durum wheat scientifically known as Triticum durum is an annual grass in the Poaceae (grass family) native to the Mediterranean region and southwest Asia, which is one of several species of cultivated wheat, now grown in temperate climates worldwide for its cereal grain, which is one of the top two cereal crops grown in the world for human consumption, along with rice (Oryza sativa). It is the second most cultivated species of wheat after common wheat, although it only represents 5% to 8% of global wheat production. Other Common names of durum are Durum wheat, hard wheat, pasta wheat and…

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Corn starch, sometimes referred to as Corn flour, cornstarch, maize starch and maizena, is a carbohydrate extracted from the endosperm of corn. It is ground from the endosperm or white heart, of the corn kernel. Since corn starch is made from corn and only contains carbohydrates (no protein), it is a gluten-free product. It is not a rich source of vitamins and minerals, it may help boost calories for those who need it, act as a source of energy and prevent low blood sugar in people with nocturnal hypoglycemia. This white powdery substance is used for many culinary, household, and…

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Poppy seed is an oilseed obtained from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), an annual herbaceous plant in the Papaveraceae (poppy family) that originated in southeastern Europe and western Asia, and are now widely cultivated in Europe, Asia, China, and North Africa for their seeds, which are used in baking, as a condiment, and for their edible oil. It is also widely (and often illegally) cultivated for the production of opium, heroine, and morphine derived from the latex of the unripe fruit capsules. This species, along with numerous other Papaver species, are planted as an ornamental for its attractive flowers and…

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Cream cheese is a fresh, soft mild tasting cheese produced from a combination of milk and heavy cream and by definition must consists of at least 33 percent milk fats and less than 55 percent moisture. Stabilizers such as carob bean gum and carrageenan are typically added in industrial production. Since it is made from a combination of cream and milk, the cheese has a high fat content. In the US, cream cheese need to contain at least 33% fat content while in Britain it should be a minimum of 45-65%. In German, it is also called Doppelrhamstufel meaning cheese…

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Soy sauce also called soya sauce in British English is actually a liquid condiment of Chinese origin, made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds. Soy sauce in its current form was created about 2,200 years ago during the Western Han dynasty of ancient China, and spread throughout East and Southeast Asia where it is used in cooking and as a condiment. Soy sauce is extensively used as an important flavoring and has been combined into the traditional cuisines of many East Asian and Southeast Asian cultures. Despite their rather similar…

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Lemon cucumber, also known as Garden Lemon, yellow cucumber, Apple cucumber, Budamkaya, Dosakai, Crystal Lemon, Crystal Apple, is part of the gourd family, which includes squashes and melons. Lemon cucumber, botanically classified as Cucumis sativus var. sativus, get their name from the lemon-yellow color of its skin but does not have a flavor similar to an actual lemon. A slightly sweeter version of the green cucumbers you’re probably used to, lemon cucumbers are spherical in shape and bright yellow, giving them the appearance of a lemon. Due to their slightly sweet nature, lemon cucumbers are more adaptable than their traditional…

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Feta cheese also known as pickled cheese is a Greek soft brined cheese made either from pure sheep’s milk, or a combination of sheep’s and goat’s milk (and no more than 30 percent goat’s milk) and is characterized by few to no holes, a tangy taste and no skin. The word “feta,” used by Greeks to describe this extremely popular cheese, comes from the Italian word fetta, which means “slice.” While the European Union now has specific qualifications of feta cheese, it’s possible to find “feta” cheese in other parts of the world that is made from cow or buffalo…

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Red grapes are synonymous with good health. Although it’s true that white grapes also are beneficial to our well-being, darker grapes possess a greater number of antioxidants. There are people who don’t distinguish between the flavors of different grapes. Those who do understand the difference appreciate a nice bunch of red grapes above any other type. Red grapes are not just meant for making the world’s finest wine. There are more than 200 varieties of red grapes all over the world. Red varieties include red globe, cardinal, emperor, and flame seedless. Having been cultivated for thousands of years, dating back…

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Skimmed milk commonly known as skim milk, fat-free milk or nonfat milk is one of the most popular varieties of milk on the market, but many people don’t understand the exact benefits of skim milk versus other forms of this popular beverage. It is made when all the cream is removed from whole milk. It tends to contain around 0.1% fat. It is a lower calorie and low-fat version of traditional full-fat milk. The majority of low-fat milk is fortified with vitamin A and vitamin D since these fat-soluble vitamins are often lost when the fat is extracted from whole…

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Kosher salt commonly known as cooking salt, flake salt, rock salt and kashering salt is a coarse-grained salt made from the salt crystals, used in the process of koshering meats by removing surface blood. It has a much larger and more porous grain size than common table salt. Kosher salt consists of sodium chloride, but it normally does not contain the mineral iodine, so it is not considered iodized salt. Some kosher salt contains anti-clumping agents in small amounts. It is considered a useful salt for sodium reduction. One teaspoon of kosher salt contains about 1,120 milligrams of sodium. In…

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Pork is the culinary name for meat from a domestic pig. It is the most commonly consumed meat throughout the world, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC. Pork is eaten freshly cooked, preserved and minced. Pork Mince is usually made from pork shoulder, also known as pork butt or Boston butt, and occasionally includes trimmed ends of the loin. When sold at the supermarket pre-ground and packaged, ground pork is not often labeled with fat and lean percentages (the way ground beef is). It usually contains about 15 percent fat. Regular ground pork works well in…

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Vegetable are nutritious and healthy foods for everyone. It helps to maintain your health and supply important nutrients. The same way of gaining health benefits of drinking vegetables broth. Not only delicious to try, it also brings many benefits. Vegetable broth is easy to make. Just collect some slices of vegetables such as carrots, green vegetables, garlic and onions. Add some tomatoes, salt and peppers for more flavors. Cook it all together with maximum of one hour. Wait until it is cold, put in a jar and you can keep it for months! Simply enjoy the benefits of vegetable broth.…

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Cheddar cheese is a popular cheese that originated in the village of Cheddar, England. It is a firm, cow’s milk cheese that ranges in flavor from mild to sharp and in color from a natural white to pumpkin orange. Cheddar cheese consists of a high concentration of essential nutrients, in particular high quality protein and calcium, which are great for your health. These are the reasons that it is so important to eat dairy, and cheddar cheese is better than almost every other dairy product out there. It is a type of hard cheese with a sharp or acidic taste.…

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