Thursday, March 3, 2011

Tomato Rasam

Description :

"Rasam" is a spicy Indian soup.Drinking "rasam" is extremely beneficial to your health as spices are used to make this soup.Besides pepper and cumin which are the main spices used,there is also a dash of turmeric  and garlic as well.





Ingredients:
Tomato - 1 (Big Size)
Tamarind - 1 (Large Lemon Size)
Turmeric Powder - 1/4 tsp.
Salt -  According To Taste


Grinding Ingredients:
Jeera/Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp.
Black Peppercorns - 1 tsp.
Garlic Cloves - 6 to 8
Coriander Leaves - Few Stalks


Tempering Ingredients:
Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp.
Cumin Seeds - 1 tsp.
Methi/Fenugreek Seeds - 1/4 tsp.
Asafoatida - 2 Pinches
Whole Red Chillies - 2
Curry Leaves - Few
Oil - 1 tbsp.


Method:

Soak tamarind and tomato in lukewarm water for 30 mins.

Then squeeze and take the juice from the tamarind pulp.Repeat it for 2 to 3 times and set it aside.

In a mixie,blend all the grinding ingredients coarsely.

Then add the grounded rasam powder(cumin seeds,black peppercorns,garlic cloves and coriander leaves) in the tamarind extract/juice along with some turmeric powder and salt and stir it well.Keep it aside.

Heat a pan and add mustard seeds and let it pop.

Then add cumin seeds,methi seeds,whole red chillies,asafoetida and curry leaves and roast for few seconds.

Add this to the tamarind extract/juice and let it boil for 5 to 10 mins.

Turn off the stove and garnish the rasam with cilantro/coriander leaves.

Serve it hot with rice and papad/appalam.

Note:

Pepper  not only stimulates the taste buds but benefits our body in various ways.It improves digestion, prevents intestinal gas,and has antioxidant and antibacterial effects.

Cumin stimulates the appetite,increase lactation and reduce nausea in pregnancy.

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin.

Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet :

1.It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent,useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

2.When combined with cauliflower,it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

3.Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.

4.May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.

5.Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.

6.Is a natural liver detoxifier.

7.May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.

8.May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.

9.It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.

10.Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.

11.Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.

12.May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.

13.Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.

14.Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

15.Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.

16.Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.

17.Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.

18.Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.

19.Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.

20.May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis,it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes.

Contraindications:

Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction.

Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women,it is important to consult with a doctor
before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.


Health Benefits of Garlic :

So you think garlic gives you nothing but bad breath?Well,ok,OK, it does,but it’s also one of the healthiest foods you can eat.For centuries,garlic has been considered a “cure-all” and is said to be able to treat just about every ailment from the cold to the Plague !I don’t think there are too many plagues about it these days. So here are a few other ways you can use garlic to improve your health :

Acne :

Most people at some point in their lives suffer from acne to some degree.Companies make a fortune selling facial washes and creams to help.The problem is that there are many reasons for acne including hormones, diet and stress.Although garlic on its own is unlikely to cure acne,it can certainly be used in conjunction with other treatments.Garlic is thought to work because of its antibiotic and blood cleansing properties.When using garlic in your food,make sure your crush and chop it up.This will help release the active compounds. Another way to take garlic is by placing a few cloves in a bottle of olive oil and then drizzle it over a salad.

Cardiovascular Health and High Cholesterol :

If you enjoy eating Mediterranean or Far Eastern food you’ll notice that garlic is used a lot.The good news is that people from areas also have low incidences of cardiovascular disease.Cholesterol can be a confusing area of health.On one hand it is essential whilst on the other hand it can kill us.This is because there are two types of Cholesterol – HDL and LDL.The latter type is considered bad.Modern medicine has found that garlic contains allicin which scavenges hydroxyl radicals (OH).This is turn is thought to prevent LDLs from being oxidised.Unfortunately a number of studies that have been carried out have shown mixed results.It only goes to show how much more seriously natural remedies needs to be taken.Of course,we all know that there’s no incentive for drug companies to research natural products due to the lack of financial reward.If you have problems with high cholesterol go ahead and take some garlic.Just make sure it’s part of a balanced diet and you don’t ignore your doctor’s advice.

Antioxidant :

Allicin naturally increases antioxidant enzymes atalase and glutathione peroxidase in your blood.

It can help against the damaging effects of nicotine and slow the aging process of your liver.

Anti-Bacterial :

Garlic has 1% of the potency of penicillin and can ward off a number of bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella,E.coli,Cryptococcal meningitis,Candida albican and Staphylococcus.

These benefits were first realized back in the early 19th century when English priests caught infectious fever.The French priests,who ate garlic everyday,didn’t.

Blood Clots :

Clinical trials,which were published in the Journal of Hypertension,showed that the blood pressure of volunteers was reduced 1 – 5% after taking garlic supplements.This may not sound a lot but this small reduction can reduce the chance of a stroke by 30-40% and heart disease by 20-25%

What about Garlic Breath?

Despite all the health benefits of garlic you may feel that “garlic breath” is too much of a deterrent.

If this is the case you can take Odorless Garlic Supplement instead.

Some Pointers about Garlic :
  • Garlic is most effective when crushed or chopped and when raw.
  • One clove a day will improve your health and 2-3 cloves will help prevent a cold.
  • When cooking garlic wait until the last 10 minutes of cooking to add the garlic.
  • Be careful about taking too much as it can irritate your digestive system.
  • Don’t microwave garlic as this kills the active ingredients.
  • Don’t take garlic instead of a healthy balanced diet.
  • Garlic supplements may interact with certain drugs such as anticoagulant.

Suggestion - Always consult a doctor if you are unsure about anything.

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