Fenugreek - Home Remedy for Diabetes, Stomach Ailment & Lactating Women

Know what you Eat - Fenugreek (also known as Greek Hay and Fenigreek), is an herb that is commonly found growing in the Mediterranean region of the world. While the seeds and leaves are primarily used as a culinary spice, it is also used to treat a variety of health problems. Recent studies have shown that Fenugreek helps lower blood glucose and cholestrol levels, and may be an effective treatment for both type 1 and 2 diabetes. Apart from a home remedy for Diabetes, in India it is used as a homeremedy to treat infected tonsils, improve digestion and as a remedy to Aid Milk Production in Lactating Women.

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Home Remedy for Infected Tonsil - Take a Table Spoon of Fenugreek and add 8oz(1 Cup) of water and boil for 5-7 minutes till fenugreek doubles in size and the water becomes brown in color with the extract of the fenugreek seeds mixed with the water. To this add 1/2 tsp of salt and gargle. Repeat this every one hour, this will lessen the pain and clean the tonsil.

Home Remedy for improving digestion & relieve digestion related stomach cramps - Soak 1 tsp of fenugreek seeds in 1 tablespoon of water and leave it overnight, next day morning drain the water and add 1 tablespoon of yogurt and eat it in empty stomach.  Repeat this for 2 more days and by the time, all your symptoms will be gone.

Remedy to Aid Milk Production in Lactating Women - Soak 1 tsp of fenugreek seeds in 1 tablespoon of water and leave it overnight. In the morning eat half the soaked seeds and in the evening consume the remaining half seeds. Repeat this for 4 more days(a max of 5 days). Within 24-72 hours, the lactating Mom will see increase in milk production.

Remedy for Diabetes & lowering blood sugar levels - Fenugreek is used extensively in Indian cooking and also as a remedy for treating diabetes in India. Grind 1 cup of fenugreek seeds in a blender to a coarse to fine powder. Take 1/2 tsp of fenugreek powder once in the morning and once in the evening. Apart from a balanced diet, exercise and taking fenugreek may also increase the number of insulin receptors in red blood cells and improve glucose utilization in peripheral tissues, thus demonstrating potential anti-diabetes effects both in the pancreas and other sites. The amino acid 4- hydroxyisoleucine, contained in the seeds, may also directly stimulate insulin secretion. If you are already taking medication for diabetes(to prevent any drug interaction between your medication and fenugreek) or pregnant please consult your physician as fenugreek is believed to produced to uterus contractions.

Event Participation: Goes straight to our home event "Home Remedies" Series -1

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Eggless Gluten free Oat & Almond Ginger Bread Cookies with no refined sugar

Wishes for a very Happy, Healthy New Year 2010.

Know what you Eat - Almonds are low in saturated fat and contain many other protective nutrients - protein, calcium and magnesium - for strong bones, vitamin E and compounds called phytochemicals, which may help protect against cardiovascular disease and even cancer. Oats are an excellent source of iron, dietary fiber and thiamin. They also contain antioxidants that are believed to protect the circulatory system from diseases such as arteriosclerosis, which affects the arterial blood vessel.

My kids love cookies, but one thing which scares me is the increased chance of cavities apart from all the other health problems when consuming refined sugar. This is one more experimental attempt by me to create a nutritious cookie without any refined flour, and by adding maple sugar, molasses and using xylitol(for icing) in place of refined table sugar.  This was a sure hit among mine as well their friends.

Preparation Time - 15 mins
Cooking Time - 10 to 15 mins
Makes around 6 to 8 cookies

Ingredients

Gluten Free Oats Flour - 1 cup
Almond Flour - 1/2 cup
Clarified butter(ghee) - 1/8 cup
Honey - 1/8 cup
Molasses - 1/8 cup
Baking powder - 1/2 tsp
Grated ginger - 1 tsp
Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp

Method

1) Combine the Oats flour, Almond flour, salt, cinnamon powder and baking powder.
2) To this add clarified butter, honey, molasses and grated ginger.
3) Roll the dough and take a small ball and flatten it.
4) Using a cookie cutter cut out the desired shapes.
5) Pre heat an oven to 350 degrees Fahrenhiet.
6) Line a cookie tray with parchment paper and bake the cookies for 10-15 minutes till they are fully baked.
7) Once the cookies are well cooled stored in an air tight container.

For the icing

Cream Cheese - 2 Tbsp(Organic without animal rennett)
Butter - 1 Tbsp
Xylitol(powdered) - 2 tsp or to your taste

1) Beat the cheese and butter, to this add xylitol.
2) Fill a ziploc with the icing and decorate the cookies.

Event Participation

1) This goes to the Cakes & Cookie event hosted by Mahimaa .

2) This goes to the Oats Feast & Cakes-n-Cookies events both hosted by Sara's Corner.

3) This goes to It's time to Jingle hosted by Asankhana.

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Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide Home Remedy

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking soda for home remedies?  If you've never used either of these compounds you are overlooking two of the most powerful healing tools ever discovered. The baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is a very effective home remedy was suggested by our Doctor** and i am using it for past few years. It surely works.

Hydrogen Peroxide used for two things in our home

1)  When you get the symptom of cold or flu, administer 1 drop in each ear and leave it for 5 minutes, now repeat the same thing on the other ear and wait for 5 minutes. Do this twice day and do for a maximum of 3 days and your symptoms will be gone.  It works for ear wax too.
2) Rinsing mouth mixed with baking soda for swollen gum, gum infection etc. 1/4 tsp of baking soda, 1 tsp of hydrogen peroxide and 6oz of warm water. Mix everything and rinse your mouth twice a day for seven days.

Name & Reason for which the remedy is prepared: To treat Common Cold, flu & gum infection
Oral consumption or topical application: Not for Oral consumption
For whom Kids/Adults/ALL/Specific Gender: for adults and children above 3 years( I started this when my younger one was 3 and 1/2years when i did a search on this subject, it is said to be fit for infants too). I am summarizing an article from Mercola

Baking Soda Remedy - I use it for two things.

1) Mix 1/4 tsp of baking soda with 3oz of water and drink twice a day for acid reflux. Use only aluminium free baking soda.(See Notes)
2) Mix 1/4 tsp of baking soda with 1tsp of hydrogen peroxide and rinse mouth for swollen and painful gums twice a day for maximum 7 days.

Name & Reason for which the remedy is prepared: For acide reflux and gum infection

Oral consumption or topical application: For Oral consumption & mouth rinse
For whom Kids/Adults/ALL/Specific Gender: for adults and children above 3 years( I started this when my younger one was 3 and 1/2 years).

Notes - My younger was really suffering from severe acid-reflux and lot of feeding issues, extreme pickiness about foods, gagging, spitting and was having a tough time to eat. We started this home remedy year and half before and still continue and pretty much her feeding problems are resolved. We still continue this for her as baking soda will make your body more alkaline and a more alkaline body means less infections and diseases. Check ** at the bottom of the page.

After using these two remedies for past one and half years i came across couple of articles in Mercola.com one on hydrogen peroxide and another on baking soda few weeks back and i am glad we are following this simple and effective remedy and very thankful to our Doctor who suggested it. Pleasedo go and check out more in this website where you will find lot of useful information. The hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is used in treating lot of simple problems, if you have used it as home remdies and found it effective instead of leaving comments, please post it in your blog for which you used them or send us an email a2zvegetariancuisine@gmail.com so that we and our readers will know how effective it was.


**Our Doctor's approach is very unique, he is one of the person who does treatment based on a Holistic approach. He very rarely suggest any off the counter or prescription drug and doesn't treat problems but treat the root cause suggesting a diet change or with supplements. This home remedy really worked for us and i am sharing it with you, this is not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, if you have any medical history or concerns before taking any home remedies.

Event Participation: Goes straight to our home event "Home Remedies" Series -1

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Turmeric Power-Home Remedy for Cough & Cold with Turmeric

Do you know which is "The Spice that Ignites Your Body's Astonishing Immune System, 5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E and stronger than vitamin C, this 'antioxidant breakthrough' may help boost your immunity, maintain normal cholesterol levels, and put the brakes on aging'.
None other than the "TURMERIC" we use everyday at home. One of the main healthful ingredients in turmeric is curcumin (a curcuminoid), which gives turmeric its yellow color. These curcuminoids deliver antioxidants that may be:
•5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E -- and also stronger than vitamin C
•3 times more powerful than grape seed or pine bark extract
•Strong enough to scavenge the hydroxyl radical -- considered by many to be the most reactive of all oxidants
Believe it or not, the organic ingredients found in turmeric can help promote your healthy skin.
Curcuminoids support important blood and liver functions, healthy joints, and your overall well-being, which in turn helps promote radiant, supple skin.Turmeric has been considered to be ‘skin food' for thousands of years in India and other cultures. So, turmeric can act as your one-two punch against normal aging with its skin promotion and antioxidant capabilities -- outer beauty plus inner purity
Remedy for dry cough and cold.
Ingredients
Dry Raw Turmeric - 1 piece
Dry Thai Ginger(chitharathai) - 1 piece
Palm Sugar - 2 cubes
Water - 1 cup
Boiled Milk - 1/2 cup

Method
1) Cut the turmeric and dry thai ginger into small pieces.
2) Add the palm sugar cubes, raw turmeric pieces, dry thai ginger pieces into water and let this boil for 10-15 mins.
3) Let the essence of both the turmeric and ginger get extracted to the water and you will get a brown colored liquid and meanwhile the palm sugar will also be dissolved.
4) Now add the milk and simmer it for 5 minutes and switch off.
5) Filter this and drink this extract.
Note - You can use the turmeric and dry ginger pieces atleast two times and them powder the pieces and then boil and take the extract one more time. So don't throw away the after using it once as they still have the essence that can be reused.

If you want to avoid dairy, take a tsp of sugar and saute in a small pan till it becomes black yes carbon black, now add the pieces of turmeric , dry thai ginger and boil it with enough water. Filter and drink the extract without adding milk.

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Bell Pepper & Almond Chutney/Dip/Spread

Know what you Eat - Let us color our life healthy with this brightly colored vegetables which are high in Dietary Fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Manganese, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Folate, Pantothenic Acid and Magnesium. The Vitamin A in these peppers are (through its concentration of carotenoids such as beta-carotene), two very powerful antioxidants. These antioxidants work together to effectively neutralize free radicals, which can travel through the body causing huge amounts of damage to cells. Free radicals are major players in the build up of cholesterol in the arteries that leads to atherosclerosis and heart disease, the nerve and blood vessel damage seen in diabetes, the cloudy lenses of cataracts, the joint pain and damage seen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and the wheezing and airway tightening of asthma. By providing these two potent free radical destroyers, bell peppers may help prevent or reduce some of the symptoms of these conditions by shutting down the source of the problem.







This recipes was passed on to me by my sister. Usually split and roasted chick peas are used for this kind of chutney/dips. But the addition of the Almonds gives a very creamy texture and an awesome taste. Try it to find out.

Preparation Time - 15 mins

Cooking Time - 10 mins

Serves - 4

Ingredients

Bell Pepper - 1 if big or 2 if small

Toasted Almonds - Handful

Tamarind/Tamari - 1 inch piece if using raw tamarind soaked in little water or half tsp pulp

Green chili - 1 or 2 to taste

Salt - 1 tsp or to taste

Oil - 2 tsp

Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp

Split Urad dal - 2 tsp

Asafoetida - very small piece or if using powder 1/4 tsp

Method

1) Wash and Chop Bell pepper into 1 inch cubes and set them aside.

2)  Toast the almonds in a toaster for 5-7 minutes till they become slightly brown and are crispy.(Make sure not to burn them).

3) Soak the tamarind in 2 tbsp of warm water and keep it aside, if any impurities are there it will settle down at the bottom. Filter and discard the impurities.

4) Heat oil, once hot add asafoetida piece and mustard seeds.

5) Once the mustard seeds stop spluttering add the urad dal and green chili.

6) Once the urad dal is slightly brown take half of it mustard seeds and urad dal alone and keep it aside and to the rest add the cubed bell pepper pieces and stir fry on high heat for 5-7 minutes till they are slightly tender. Set it aside to cool down.

7) In a blender first powder the toasted almonds and then add the stir fried and cooled veggies, salt and tamarind and blend to a fine paste. Add 2 tbsp of water when blending. If you don't want a thick consistency adjust by adding more water.

8) Use this as spread it in a pita bread and stuff it with veggies and beans.

9) Add the kept aside mustard seeds & urad dal to the chutney. If using as a spread, do not keep the mustard seeds & urad dal but grind everything together.

Event Participation - This goes to Yasmeen's Health Nut Challenge - 3 Healing Foods.

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No Bake Almond Date Energy Bar

Know what you Eat - Are you the kind of person who loves to snack on Energy, Granola or Cereal bar. Then try this easy to make energy bar and i doubt if you will go for the pricey bars at the store anymore. Filled with the goodness of Almonds, Dates, Coconut and Omega-3 rich Chia seeds and calcium rich Sesame seeds they are very easy to make, super nutritions and taste awesome without any additives.



Almonds are low in saturated fat and contain many other protective nutrients - protein, calcium and magnesium - for strong bones, vitamin E and compounds called phytochemicals, which may help protect against cardiovascular disease and even cancer. Dates are very good source of iron and one of the best natural sugar substitute anyone with a sweet tooth can go for. Chia seeds are very good source of Omega-3 fatty acids and sesame seeds are good source of calcium. The darker the seeds higher their nutrition profile is. Coconut is a good source of Iron, Vitamic C,  Protein and Calcium.



Who Should avoid Dates - Even though dates are very nutritious, large portion of its calories come from sugar. One pitted date contains 16gms of sugar, so if you are on a weight loss goal, portion this energy bar accordingly.



Cooking Time - 5 Mins

Preparation Time - 10 mins

Makes - 12-15 bars(depending on the thickness of the bar)



Ingredients



Toasted Almonds - 1 Cup

Dates - 3/4 cup Chopped and Packed

Grated and toasted Coconut - 1/4 cup

Chia Seeds - 3 Tbsp

Toasted Sesame Seeds - 2 Tbsp

Honey - 2 Tbsp



Method



1) Grind Chia Seeds into a fine powder.

2) Toast the Almonds for 5 mins in a toaster.

3) Now add Almonds, Coconut, Sesame seeds, dates (except for the honey) to the powdered chia.

4) In a food processor blend all the ingredients into fairly fine but still having some texture.

5) Add honey and process just long enough for it to blend in.

6) Press into a square about 3/4-inch thick on a plate or square pan and refrigerate for about an hour or more.

7) Cut into 2-inch squares and enjoy this guilt free snack.



Variations - You can use any combination of nuts also check out 10 Minute Peanut Raisin bars and No Bake Healthy Granola bars for other ideas.



Note - Since there is no baking involved, these bars will lose their shape when kept outside in very hot weather for a long time. When refrigerated they are good for atleast 2 weeks, they might be good even after that but it never lasts, no matter how much i make.



Event Participation



This goes straight to EC's WYF Time Snack.



Sending this to Food for 7 Stages of Life - Healthy Fast Food hosted by Radhika and Sudeshna.

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Glutenfree Eggless Oats & Almond Candied Fruit Cookie

Know what you Eat - Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in wheat, barley, rye, kamut, spelt and triticale, but unfortunately most oat stock has been found to be contaminated with wheat because of processing methods. But you can find gluten free Oats in your health food store or online. These contain oat gluten but not the type of gluten that can harm people with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Now coming to the nutrition in these cookies Almonds are low in saturated fat and contain many other protective nutrients - protein, calcium and magnesium - for strong bones, vitamin E and compounds called phytochemicals, which may help protect against cardiovascular disease and even cancer. Oats are an excellent source of iron, dietary fiber and thiamin. They also contain antioxidants that are believed to protect the circulatory system from diseases such as arteriosclerosis, which affects the arterial blood vessel. Preparation Time - 20 mins





I stick on to Oats because of their high fiber content and Almonds because of its high nutritional content. The cookies being a part of my kids daily snack , i no longer need to feel too guilty to give something with empty calories and they taste great too.





Cooking Time - 20 mins

Makes - Around 30 Cookies



Ingredients



Oats  Flour - 3 Cup

Almond Flour/Meal - 1 1/2 cup

Butter - 3/4 cup(room temperature)

Raw Sugar - 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp (if you want a more sweeter version otherwise keep it to 1/2 cup)

Tutti Fruity(Candied Fruit) - 1 cup

Almond Extract - 1 tsp

Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp



Method



1) To get Oats flour in a food processor grind the Oats to fine flour consistency.

2) Add 1tsp of sugar to the Almond and grind to a fine powder, adding the sugar will prevent the almond flour from becoming sticky.

3) Combine the Oats flour, Almond flour, Salt, baking soda and the candied fruit pieces.

4) Cream the butter and sugar together and add the almond extract to it.

5) Slowly add the Oats and Almond flour to the butter, sugar mixture and make a dough.

6) Preheat an oven to 350degrees Fahrenheit.

7) Line a cookie tray with parchment paper.

8) Take a small amount of the dough, roll it and flatten it with hand.

9) Place them in the cookie sheet leaving enough space for the cookies to expand.

10) Bake for around 10-15 minutes till they are slightly brown and completely baked.

11) Cool them completely(this is must as they will be very crumbly even to touch) and transfer them to an airtight container.









Event Participation



1) This goes to the Oats Feast & Cakes-n-Cookies events both hosted by Sara's Corner.



2) This also goes to Eat Christmas Cookies event hosted by Susan.



3) This goes to It's time to Jingle hosted by Asankhana.

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