The truth about organic prevails…

The latest episode of Satyamev Jayate beautifully captures all that Pro Nature has been trying to tell the world since its inception!  You don’t believe us when we tell you that pesticides have horrific long term effects, but you believe it because Amir Khan said so. Jokes apart, the issues talked about in the programs have serious ramifications on the world we live in now and hope to live in the future.

Yes, the manufacturers of pesticides and chemicals are misleading the farmers by trapping them in the vicious cycle of chemical use on their fields. Yes, the government policies are not encouraging farmers to go organic. But the higher injustice happens when a farmer goes the extra mile to challenge the norm; he goes organic and we as consumers do not appreciate that.

It takes a healthy dose of courage for a farmer to convert to organic practice, especially if he aims to get his produce certified organic. There is a gestation period of about 3 years before he can start selling as a certified organic producer. And in that time frame he invests labour, money and more importantly hope to nurture his field for a better tomorrow.

But you mar his dreams and disparage his effort because you think organic "is so expensive" and you’d rather spend an upward of Rs. 18,000 for the latest smartphone, because “it is so worth it”! Have you once thought how far the ripples of that decision go?

Think of a situation when you slog it off for a project in your office and you boss still promotes the guy who never forgets the boss’ birthday and sometimes even does his laundry. What do you do? You either quit or become unproductive. You have done exactly the same thing to the farmer. You have not appreciated all that he did, for your health, and not incentivized him to keep going at it.

In the absence of a demand in the market, the farmer is forced to sell his produce in a regular mundi and cannot claim the premium he deserves. The premium, companies like us will pay him for his efforts, on your behalf. But you are convinced that we are conning you off your money. Here are the reasons why organic products that are retailed are expensive as of now. However, if you trust in the mechanism of economies of scale, the price differential will come down with the increase in the demand for organic.

You want better health, a better environment, more diversity, for yourself and your children. But the minute you put that packet of organic food product back in the shelf you reduce the chance of achieving that by half.

What to expect from Organic food products

It is a generally accepted phenomenon that consuming organic comes with a wealth of benefits. But often we expect organic foods to behave like regular ones. One must understand that the organic trade is going through its adolescence stage and like any parent of a teenager that means a little bit of adjustment. This blog is an attempt to help you better understand and appreciate the world of organic.

1. Price – Many times “organic” is associated with expensive. This is because of a dozen reasons explained here. But if you truly believe in uncompromised quality of food sans all the harmful elements that you otherwise ingest, you will appreciate the value it brings to you.

2. Diversity – We live in a world of uniformity when it comes to food. We have been trained by processed foods on what to expect and to expect it all the time. Conventionally grown produce shows similarity as large scale commercial farmers strive for standardization of their products. Organic food shows diversity which is NOT a bad thing, but rather, a very good thing.

Organic farmers preserve old fashioned methods and heirloom varieties and even oddities such as slightly crooked beans or smaller grains or non-uniform pulses. Although these varieties sometimes do not meet the appeal of standardized, processed, mass-produced foods by big sellers, diversity in organic produce is a mark of the free hand the natural process takes with organic produce.

3. Certified Organic – No matter how “green” the farming methods may be, true organic foods are those that are certified organic. There is no way a company can sell anything but pure organic if the company is certified organic. It is wise to always check for this on the pack.

4. Shorter Shelf Life – Organic foods take pride in the fact that they are chemical free and this leads to a shorter shelf life of the produce. To get the freshest organic food possible, always check the expiry date on the pack and plan to use your food in a few days.

5. Bugs! – That's right! If you find a bug or two in your organic food products, don't panic! Instead of being one of the cons of organic food, realize that if the little bug finds your food safe for him to eat, it is safe for you, too. Just flick the buggy out the door before you wash your food and then enjoy it to your heart’s content.

What are these Antioxidants?

The health and science news is buzzing about antioxidants and just how important they are for us. But what are antioxidants and just what makes them so valuable? Is this just another fad to get consumers to cash in on the latest hype or is this really something to pay attention to? We decided to take on the challenge to discover the truth behind the buzz and enlighten you in the process

Antioxidants are naturally found in basically every edible item that God made when the earth was formed: fruits, vegetables, grains, spices, nuts and pulses. Antioxidants wage a powerful and vengeful warfare against the free radicals in your body, destroying them and consequently releasing a sort of magical healing juice – the proverbial "fountain of youth".

The elixir you have been looking for!

Here is a little experiment that will convince you that we are the next generation of awesome scientists.

How often has the apple you just sliced turned brown? This browning process is caused free radicals. Simply rub lemon juice on an apple slice. The antioxidant loaded juice stops the apple slice from turning brown. You see, antioxidants work by slowing down or preventing the oxidation process!

This same process takes place in your body. Free radicals can lead to cell dysfunction and the onset of problems like heart disease and diabetes. Antioxidant work in your body very much the same way they protect the apple slice.

How to get more Antioxidants in my diet?

You can eat a diet that is rich in antioxidants by following some smart and simple strategies:

• Serve colourful vegetables. Tempt hungry kids (and adults too) by serving a tray of veggies and dip whenever they are hungriest.

• Go for whole grains. Buy whole grain cereals, breads, whole wheat pasta, brown rice and barley.

• Fill up on vegetables and fruit. Try to fill half your plate with vegetables and or fruits at each meal. Have a fruit or vegetable with each snack too.

• Enjoy a small handful of nuts (60 ml or 1/4 cup) in salads, over cereal or yogurt.

• Choose the whole fruit over the juice. Often the best health benefits come from the edible skin or peel. (Remember to wash it!).

We can also control the level of free radicals we are exposed to by avoiding smoking, harmful chemicals in our food, and other environmental hazards like UV radiation and pollution. But we cannot completely escape either free radicals or their effects. We would be immortal if we could. That will not be nice.

Health Benefits of Ragi

Ragi is one of the most favorite cereals in the South Indian cuisine and has many health benefits. It is a nutritious millet and it is easy to digest as well. Since it does not contain gluten, it is a wonderful grain alternative for people who are gluten-sensitive. Ragi is rich in calcium, fiber, protein, iron and other minerals. It is a low fat cereal and most of the fats are in the unsaturated form.

Not all foods which are good for health would prove to be bad for your taste buds! You can enjoy the taste of Ragi by including it in various meals. Healthy ideas include ragi porridge, ragi roti, ragi ball, upma, steamed cakes and biscuits.

Below is a quick checklist of how Ragi is beneficial for you.

• Aids in Bone Development: Ragi, an excellent source of calcium, contributes towards bone health. The cereal is beneficial for growing children and older people who need a constant supply of calcium for healthy growth and maintenance of bones. Consumption of Ragi can reduce the risks of fractures and osteoporosis to a considerable extent. 
• Aids in Weight loss: Ragi reduces excess appetite and helps to control weight gain. Fibers in ragi give you a feeling of fullness, and the slower digestion rate of the cereal allows you to take less calories. This supports the process of weight loss.
• Acts as a Relaxant: The amino acid called Tryptophan present in Ragi acts as an excellent natural relaxant and helps to fight anxiety, insomnia and depression. The amino acid also helps in treating migraine headaches.
• Reduces High Glucose Levels in the Blood: Ragi shows antioxidant properties and contributes towards a slow digestion process. Hence it helps to control blood glucose levels in a diabetic. 
• Acts as a Good Source of Protein/Amino Acids: Ragi is a rich source of amino acids which is beneficial for the human body. Valine is an essential amino acid which helps in repairing tissues, metabolism and muscle coordination. It is also vital for maintaining the nitrogen balance of the body. Methionine is another essential amino acid lacking in most of the other cereals. Methionine helps the body process and eliminate fat, and is the primary source of sulfur in the body. Isoleucine is good for blood formation, muscles repair, bone and skin health.
• Lowers Blood Cholesterol Levels: The essential amino acids present in Ragi help to reduce cholesterol by removing excess fat from the liver. Threonine, another amino acid, prevents the formation of fat in the liver and this, in turn, brings down the cholesterol level in the body. 
• Prevents and Treats Anemia: Ragi, being a good source of iron, can be considered as a useful cereal for anemic patients. 
  
  Regular intake of ragi can prevent many health conditions such as malnutrition, premature ageing and the development of degenerative diseases. Green ragi is a remedy for blood pressure, heart weakness, liver disease, asthma and lack of milk production during lactation period.
  
  

Make your skin glow

We all agree that Indian kitchens are unique. Not only because of the wide variety of ingredients but if you go back to the permutation combination classes the sheer number of dishes that you can whip out because of these ingredients are astounding. But the beauty of the Indian kitchen is not limited to just satisfying your taste buds. They are also great for your daily skin care requirements.

Coming to think of it our grandmothers never had the luxury of a parlour, yet their skin glowed (part of it has to be attributed to the physical exercise they got doing home chores alone). But as a kid I have sneaked on my Granny applying whatever she was cooking with on her face (much to the amazement of my grandfather of course). 

Today we are bombarded with hundreds of products that promise miracles. So here I am rephrasing the questions Olay has been asking lately, “Do we need to smear chemicals on our face for a healthy and glowing skin?”

The latest in the cosmetic industry

Not really. Explore the corners of your kitchen and you will see that:
  1. A paste made with besan, milk and ground almonds is the best face scrub you could find
  2. Chandan with a little bit of camphor will fix pimples more naturally
  3. Rubbing tomato skin on your face makes it glow
  4. Applying a paste of neem leaves cleans and disinfects your face
  5. Massaging your skin with olive oil will keep it supple
  6. Massaging your knuckles with coconut oil will keep them from drying and hardening to a brown patch

In addition to all of the above, maintain a good diet and a do a little exercise everyday, even simple walking helps!

Turmeric: The wonder spice

Tumeric has been used for over 2500 years in India, where it was most likely first used as a dye.

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.

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.

Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. My favorite way to use it is to add a pinch of it to egg salad. It adds a nice flavor and gives the egg salad a rich yellow hue.

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.

The right food choice for your children

Raising a child well enough for him/her to grow into a non-self-destructing human being is the biggest challenge a parent faces. Among other lifestyle lessons that a parent (hopes to) impart, eating habits comfortably sits within the top 5. And why not? These habits will shape the most important aspect of their life – health.

Very often kids nag, and not because they like to generally make our lives difficult, but that is their way of asking for love and care. And love and care we give…often in the way of bad eating decisions for them! Just consider, how many times you “reward” your children with chocolates or ice creams or just give in to their feet-stomping demands of sweet treats at the grocery stores.

For your child, many lifelong food habits are established between the ages of 6 and 12. And in this day and age of KFC and Mc Donald’s corrective measures have to be a part of everyday life. So here are some tips on how to steer their affinity towards the healthier eating options out there.

• Allow your child to eat only when they are hungry. Make sure they eat slowly. The brain takes a good 20 minutes to register that you are full. Eating in a hurry often leads to over-eating. This can be a life-long weight control habit.

• Using food to bribe or reward makes the child ignore hunger cues. Buy your child a book or small toy instead of an ice-cream cone when you want to show them you are pleased.

• Make sure junk food is clearly categorized as “indulgence” and must be consumed only once in a while.

• Drinking milk is the easiest way to build strong bones because it provides both calcium and vitamin D. There are a zillion ways to make milk taste better. Just ensure that you do not add access sugar.

• Getting children involved in food choice and preparation is one of the best strategies for helping them eat right.
• Take your child shopping for groceries and make sure they are allowed to choose only among healthy options.
• Involve your child in cooking healthy meals. Let him make a brown bread sandwich or other easy-to-cook food like chaat. Appreciate the effort and taste to continue the trend.

• Kids who eat breakfast take in more of the nutrients they need. Breakfast skippers typically do not make up for the missed opportunity the morning meal provides and also tend to over-eat during other meals.

• Hungry kids will eat whatever is available, so stock the kitchen with healthy snacks.

Kids are like soft clay, ready to take up any shape you give. It is entirely up to you to give them the right guidelines. Hence, teach them the importance of healthy eating and let them know how good food can help lead a better life. And yes, pour in some amount of your endurance and patience since parenthood is pretty much synonymous with these two words.