Sauerkraut is the well-known lacto fermented vegetable. The finely chopped cabbage salted and fermented in its own juice. Usually it is made by placing salt between layers of chopped cabbage and pressing that helps to bruise the cabbage and squeeze the juice. The surface of the cabbage contains beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus also present in yogurt and various cultured products. In brine when submerged, the bacteria starts to convert sugars in the cabbage to lactic acid which prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. It is also a specialty of Pennsylvania Dutch. American immigrants carried barrels with them on ship…
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Oriental radish (scientific name Raphanus sativus L. var longipinnatus Baile) is a winter radish with mild flavor featuring fast growing leaves & long, napiform and white root. It is native to continental East Asia, it is consumed throughout the region and South Asia. It has many variations and has different names such as Chinese radish, Japanese radish, Korean radish and others. The roots are elongated like carrots, plump and oblong. Oriental radishes takes 55 or 60 days to 120 days to fully mature. Seeds are sown in early fall or summer in order to 2 to 3 months of adequately…
Iceberg lettuce is also known as crisphead which includes the varieties such as Imperial, Great Lakes, Western and Vanguard. This is the only variety of lettuce that do not have a red variety. It is available year round in California. Iceberg lettuce has firm and tight head with crisp and pale green leaves. Heads are tightly compacted and leaves usually light green to white have cool moisture and mild flavor. It is a perfect base for heavy and creamy dressings. The round and dense shape helps it to sustain trip to the market in right condition. Health Benefits of Iceberg…
Escarole is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the member of chicory family with endive, frisee and Belgian endive. It is also known as Bavarian endive, broad leafed endive, scarole having broad and curly green leaves and possess slightly bitter flavor. It could be consumed raw, sautéed, grilled and cooked in dishes. Escarole tastes less bitter in comparison to other chicories. The bitterness varies throughout the head with inner and lighter colored leaves less bitter than outer and darker green leaves. Inner leaves are added to salads and outer leaves are cooked in form of dishes. Escarole has wide…
The green tops of carrots are edible, super delicious and packed with nutrients. Carrot greens possess sweet earthy flavor similar to carrots. Carrot greens contain alkaloids like other vegetables in nightshade family such as tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers and potatoes but are regarded to be safe and nutritious for consumption. Carrot greens are the leaves on the top of carrot’s taproot. There was widespread belief that greens were toxic due to its bitter flavor as humans associate bitterness with toxicity. These greens are edible and do not have threat to health. When consumed, carrot greens are leafy, delicate and have…
Why do people take protein or amino acid supplements? Athletes often take them when trying to build muscle. Dieters may take them to spare their bodies’ protein while losing weight. Some women take them to strengthen their fingernails. People take individual amino acid supplements, too—to cure herpes, to improve sleep, to lose weight, and to relieve pain and depression. Do protein and amino acid supplements really do these things? Probably not. Are they safe? Not always. Protein Supplements Though protein supplements are popular with athletes, well-fed athletes do not need them. Dietary protein is necessary for building muscle tissue, and…
Fasting has been practiced since time immemorial for religious, spiritual, physical, and psychological purposes. Historically, fasting was an ancient and universal practice. The Romans, Babylonians, Cynics, Stoics, Pythagoreans and Neoplatonist philosophers extolled fasting. Adherents of Zoroastrianism practice it. Jews observe an annual fast on the Day of Atonement in commemoration of the descent of Moses from Mount Sinai after having spent 40 days fasting in order to be able to receive the divine revelation. Jesus observed fasting for 40 days in the desert and commanded his followers to fast. In brief, the practice of fasting has been common in one…
A discussion of protein requirements must include the assumption of adequate energy intake to match added physical activity needs. If energy intake falls below total energy expended during intense training, even augmented protein intake above recommended values may fail to maintain nitrogen balance. This holds true because a disproportionate quantity of dietary protein catabolizes to balance an energy deficit rather than augment tissue maintenance and muscle development. The common practice among weightlifters, bodybuilders, and other power athletes who consume liquids, powders, or pills made of predigested protein represents a waste of money and actually may be counterproductive to achieve the…
The basic qualities of food products, such as aroma, flavor, pungency and color must be conserved for value-added products and this must start at the farm level. The first spice, oil and oleoresin industry was launched in 1930 in India at Calicut. An extract of ginger was manufactured for therapeutics during World War II. The major oils extracted for therapeutic purposes were from black pepper, chili seed, capsicum, clove, nutmeg, mace, cassia, juniper and peppermint. Pepper, ginger and peppermint oils are the major oils exported from India. The food spices exported from India are black pepper, chilies, capsicum, ginger, turmeric,…
Russet potato is a type of large potato which is usually oblong in shape with few eyes and dark brown skin. This potato is widely grown in North America. It has white flesh which is really dry and mealy that makes it suitable for baking, mashing and French fries. In United States, it is also known as Idaho potatoes. Sometimes it is known as baking potato or old potato. There are two varieties of Russet potatoes: Russet Burbank and Russet Norkotah. Russet Burbank is oblong in shape with light brown skin. It has white flesh that bakes up light and…
Generally, poi is the traditional staple food in native cuisine of Hawaii which is made from underground plant stem and corm of taro plant. Traditional poi is made by mashing cooked corm on wooden pounding board, papa ku‘i ‘ai with a carved basalt pestle. These days, industrial food processor is used to produce extensive quantities for retail distribution. Crushed taro without adding water is highly starchy and resembles dough. Add the water during mashing and before eating to get desired consistency which ranges from highly viscous to liquid. Poi is also called one finger, two finger or three finger that…
Sweet onion is a variety of onion which is not pungent. The mildness in Sweet Onion is due to low sulfur content (especially pyruvic acid) and content of water when compared to other onion varieties. Pyruvic acid accounts for bite in the mouth, pain in stomach, tear in eye after intake of raw onions. It does not necessarily have sugar in them in comparison to other onions. It has less pungency than others. Sweet onions are less tearing and a perfect choice to consume raw. Sweet onions are also called Mauis, Vidalias, OsoSweets, Walla Wallas and Texas sweets. The shape…
Basically, mustard spinach is an Asian green which is neither a mustard nor spinach. It belongs to the cruciferous family which also includes cabbage and broccoli. It prefers cool weather which makes it suitable for fall, spring and winter in mild climates. Japanese mustard spinach scientifically known as Brassica rapa var. pervirdis is a leaf vegetable. Commercially, it is cultivated in Taiwan and Japan. Also known as komatsuna, the name is derived from Japanese komatsuna which refers to the greens of Komatsu, Komatsugawa village where it was cultivated heavily during Edo period. Leafy greens are cooked or also consumed fresh.…
Cremini mushrooms are similar portobellos and white button mushrooms. All mushroom varieties belongs to the same species of fungus known as Agaricus bisporus. Cremini mushrooms are brown in color and small to medium in size which possesses earthy and mild taste. Research has uncovered the protective effects of adding mushroom to the diet. Cremini mushrooms are sometimes known as mini bella, baby bella or portobellini mushroom. Recently focus is given to mushroom as the part of diet for preventing cancer. Intake of mushroom is related with slowing down the growth of cancerous cells and reducing tumor size. Studies shows that…
Yellow onion (Allium cepa L.) is a dry onion having strong flavor. It is greenish to white, light yellow and white inside with layers of papery skin usually yellow to brown or pale golden in color. When compared to white onion, it has high content of sulfur that provides strong and complex flavor. Various varieties of yellow onion are cultivated following time of the year. Yellow onions are found throughout the year and grown between spring and fall. In northern Europe, it is commonly cultivated and makes 90% of onions grown in the United States. Store it at cool room…
Drumstick leaves are packed with calcium, protein, beta carotene, iron, Vitamin C and more. Leaves are small, ovate to obovate, tear-drop shaped with leaflets about 1 to 2 cm long and 0.5 to 1 cm wide. Leaflets are feathery, vibrant green, smooth, thick and firm usually in tripinnate structure. Drumstick leaves possess slightly bitter flavor having grass like undertone and often with horseradish like heat. While cooking, it releases distinct grassy like aroma. Medicinal Benefits and Uses Rub drumstick leaves on the temples to get relief from headaches. Apply the leaves to wounds or insect bites as it possess antibacterial…
Cowpeas also called black eyed peas usually cultivated for its edible beans but few grow it as a vegetable. The tender leaves and young pods are used for preparing nutritious vegetable dishes. In contrary to other leafy vegetables, cowpeas requires less maintenance. It thrives in poor soils as well and also a drought resistant. It does not require huge acres of land for its cultivation. In countries such as Kenya, Southeast Asia and other African countries, cowpeas farming has become more prevalent. In Kenya, cowpeas leaves are known as kunde. Nutritional experts have discovered that leaves encompass more nutritional value.…
A bounty of herbs that have been tested by various world cultures over the millennia can help to boost immune health. These herbs are antimicrobial and stimulate both macrophage and T-cell activity. A health practitioner, herbalist, naturopath or local health food store owner can guide one in purchase and tell how to use each herb and what to expect. Note: If you are pregnant or have a specific condition or health issues, consult with the health practitioner before using these herbs. Ashwagandha Ashwagandha is a strengthening tonic that helps to calm the mind, promote exhaustion, fatigue. It is an adaptogen,…
Usually people could not remember where one has left the keys, or checkbook or phone. Nutritional deficiencies; eating the wrong foods and the free-radical damage and inflammation that result; aging; and even conditions such as hypothyroidism and Lyme disease can affect the ability to think clearly and remember important things and can sometimes lead to chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. One can improve the way of brain functions by choosing a better diet for brain, along with helpful herbs, supplements and other natural remedies. Brain Boosting Foods The specific foods and the nutrients here can make a difference…
A multitude of herbs have been used to help weight loss. The easiest way to start using them is to spice up meals with flavorful culinary herbs such as cayenne, cinnamon, coriander, garlic and ginger. These herbs are warming, strengthen the spleen, improve circulation and encourage metabolism and the burning of brown fat and are thus referred to as thermogenic or metabolism increasing. These herbs can help to lose weight by providing important nutrients, improving digestion and curbing cravings. Start with one and add more as needed. People with medical condition should speak to a health practitioner before taking any…
Nutrition therapy can improve glycemic control and slow the progression of diabetic complications. As always, the nutrition care plan must consider personal preferences and lifestyle habits. In addition, dietary intakes must be modified to accommodate growth, lifestyle changes, aging, and any complications that develop. Although all members of the diabetes care team should understand the principles of dietary treatment, a registered dietitian is best suited to design and implement the nutrition therapy provided to diabetes patients. To read more about what to drink or eat for a diabetics, you might want to check out https://zakka-lab.com Macronutrient Intakes The recommended macronutrient distribution…
Nutrition care for cirrhosis depends on the patient’s general health, extent of liver damage, and accompanying complications. Common problems include protein energy malnutrition and muscle wasting; thus, protein and energy intakes must be sufficient for maintaining nitrogen balance and body weight. Dietary substances that may cause additional liver injury should be avoided; examples include alcohol, some herbal supplements, and vitamin or mineral megadoses. If esophageal varices are present, a soft diet (which contains only moist, soft-textured foods) may be prescribed to reduce the risk of bleeding. Energy Energy needs range from 25 to 40 calories per kilogram of dry body…
Chicory scientifically known as Cichorium intybus is a woody and perennial herbaceous plant belonging to family Asteraceae with bright blue flowers which is rarely pink or white. Various varieties are cultured for salad leaves, chicons and roots which are ground, baked and also used as a substitute for coffee and also as food additive. In 21st century, an inulin which is an extract from chicory root is used in food manufacturing as a sweetener and dietary fiber source. Chicory is also cultivated as forage crop for livestock. It acts as a wild plant on roadsides in native Europe and is…
Amaranth is an annual, upright, tall and broad leafed plant. Amaranth species have huge number of varieties. The greens are edible leafy vegetables and nutritious. Leaves and grains are staple foods of Incas and Aztecs in pre-Columbian times. In present days, the growth is reduced in tropical climates of Asia, Latin America and Africa. Amaranth belongs to Amaranthaceae in genus Amaranthus. Amaranth shows the features such as short spike inflorescence, brownish to black seed and indeterminate growth habit. Grain amaranths have apical large inflorescence which comprises of aggregate of cymes and white or cream colored seeds. Grain Amaranths consists of…
Alfalfa Sprouts, also known as Medicago sativa, is a flowering plant that belongs to the pea family. Also known from common names such as California clover, Buffalo herb, Lucerne, Spanish clover and Purple clover. The plant originates in eastern Mediterranean and western Asian areas where it is cultivated for more than a millennium. It bears tiny violet flowers when plant reaches to full maturity. Alfalfa is used as fodder for feeding cattle in form of alfalfa hay. Alfalfa sprouts are the germinated alfalfa seed which forms a shoot when harvested before the plant is fully matured. It is found in…
Bitter melon leaves grow on herbaceous vine and attached to vine with long and thin stems. Leaves are medium in size about 4 to 12 centimeters wide and are made up of 3 to 6 veined lobes having jagged edges. Tender ones are bright green to light green and are pliable as well as soft. The leaves are also bitter in flavor. Botanically bitter melon leaves are classified as Momordica charantia and is the member of Cucurbitaceae. Bitter melon is a tropical vine which is extensively found throughout Africa, Caribbean, India, China and Southeast Asia. Leaves are dried, encapsulated and…
French toast is a bread dish soaked in eggs and milk and then fried. It is alternatively known as eggy bread, German toast, Bombay toast, poor knights, gypsy toast, Torrija and Eggs-oh-Lay. Sugar, milk and cinnamon are also added. The dish is topped with powdered sugar, fruit, butter, syrup and other items. In United Kingdom, it is known as Eggy Bread. In Portugal, it is a Christmas time dessert and called rabanada in Brazil. In Spain, it is an Easter dessert known as torrijas. History The collection of Latin recipes dates back to 4th or 5th century is simply described…
Rye bread is a bread type prepared with assorted proportions of flour obtained from rye grain. It is light or dark in color that depends on the flour type and also use of coloring agents. Customarily it is denser than bread prepared with wheat flour. It has high content of fiber when compared with white bread and is often dark in color and possess stronger flavor. Rye bread in dark is considered to be predominant food through middle Ages. Various types of rye grain has come from North-central, Eastern Europe such as Finland, Scandinavia, Russia, Poland, Baltic countries, Belgium, Netherlands,…
Pancake is a flat cake which is thin and round and made from starch based batter containing milk, eggs, butter and cooked on griddle or frying pan with butter or oil. Evidence shows that pancakes are earliest and most widespread cereal food consumed in prehistoric societies. The shape and structure of pancake varies worldwide. In North America, leavening agent is used to create thick fluffy pancake. A crepe is a thin Breton pancake of French origin is cooked on one or both sides in special pan to obtain lacelike network of fine bubbles. Palacinke is a well-known variety, a thin…
Oatmeal is coarse flour which is made from hulled oat grains that is milled, rolled or steel cut. Ground oats are known as white oats. Steel cut oats are called Irish oatmeal, coarse oatmeal and pinhead oats. Rolled oats are thick, thin and old fashioned, instant or quick. The word oatmeal is used in U.S. and parts of Canada as word for oat based porridge popular in countries prepared from either steel-cut, ground and rolled oats. Oatmeal is found in several varieties such as oat groat, steel-cut, crushed and rolled. Food uses Rolled oats are consumed uncooked as muesli or…