Healing Through Food

Enzymes Behind the Scenes: Making Food Tasty, Fresh, or Spoiled When we are eating a plate of juicy mangoes during summer, or have smelt that fresh loaf of bread in the bakery, we are seldom thinking of those little helpers at work in our food. These helpers are enzymes. Not to be seen with the naked eye, they nonetheless silently dictate taste, the duration of food preservation, and even when food begins to go bad.  In this paper we shall consider what enzymes actually are, what their effect is on our daily food, and why they are our friends and at times our enemies. I will do it plain--no serious science vocabulary. You can always think of it as a friendly conversation with the secret workers of your kitchen table.   What Exactly Are Enzymes? Imagine a group of workers in a factory. Every employee has special occupation--some cut, some join, some clean up. Enzymes are such employees, it is within our food. They are protein compounds of nature which accelerate little rea...

Do You Know That Microbes Fight for Food? The Hidden Battle Behind Spoilage      We open the fridge and find that the milk has gotten sour, the bread has spots on it, the fruits have gone mushy, and we tend to think, Oh, no, it is spoiled! But have you ever wondered what is really going there? Not only food spoiling on its own--it is, in fact, a hidden battlefield where tiny microbes are fighting over food , space, and existence. Sounds surprising, right? We will simplify it down into simple words.   What Are Microbes and Why Do They Matter? Microbes are small living organisms that are not visible to the eye. There are good ones, such as those in curd that make it taste good and healthy. Others are not good, such as the ones that lead to food poisoning. And then there are some that just fight with each other as children over the remaining bit of cake.  Any piece of food--be it rice, bread, fruits, or even that packet of chips--can be turned into a play...

Does Sugar Choice Affect Stress? White vs.    Brown Compared   We are all aware of the fact that we have a craving of sugar. Sugar is present in our lives in many forms like in a hot cup of chai till us sweets during festivals. However, might you ever have thought about whether or not the color of sugar you consume, white or brown sugar , could make a difference to your stress level? This has been a question many people may ask as more of us seem to be turning into health-conscious people.  So we are going to deconstruct it in an easy manner, as we would do over a tea.  Why We Link Sugar and Stress   Many of us who have stressful life situations reach out to comfort foods when the day becomes too hectic, with demanding work requirements, family commitments, and traffic jams. And so frequently than others, those comfort foods are sweet: chocolate, desserts or even a spoonful of sugar added to tea.   What Studies Have Reported on Sugar an...

Pomegranate Leaves vs Flower vs Fruit: Which Has the Most Health Benefits?  Pomegranate Fruit When one hears about pomegranate, one immediately thinks about the juicy red fruit with juicy seeds. Pomegranate is considered as a refreshing snack and has been a part of our lives in many ways growing up in India. But little did you know that it is not only the fruit that is health carrying? The pomegranate tree also contains good stuff in their leaves and the flowers. As a matter of fact, pomegranate has always been viewed as a health giving fruit in typical Indian families. Whenever we suffered stomach ailments, my grandmother used to provide us with pomegranate seeds, as well as in some cases boil its leaves to make a herbal tea. I used to think very little of it then but in the present time it is also the modern research that confirms much of these practices which are a part of the tradition. Now the great question is, which of the three,-the leaves, flowers and fruit of the pomegra...

How Slicing Fruits, Vegetables, and Cooking Spread Invisible Bacteria in Your Kitchen — And Why It Matters for Hygiene  Hello friend! Have you ever thought of how bacteria- small invisible organism spreads all over your kitchen as you prepare your food? One would tend to believe that cleaning can kill all germs, but there is a twist to the statement. Raw ingredients easily transfer invisible bacteria onto your cutting boards and knives and to your already cooked food, placing people at a higher risk of foodborne illness. Today, I would like to tell you how bacteria are dispersed when cutting and cooking including those surfaces of fruits and vegetables and how keeping a healthy kitchen is important to your health.   So what are these Otherwise Invisible Bacteria? Bacteria are living organisms that cannot be seen with a naked eye, but which are present everywhere in soil, water, and above all on food. Not every bacteria is dangerous, but there are certain types which are known...

 Avoid These 10 Fruits and Vegetables That Can Stress You Out   Shocked? Not all fruits & veggies are calming. In fact, they might be making you anxious!  Introduction: This is what we have heard since childhood  “Eat your fruits and vegetables!” And sure, majority of them are vitamin, minerals and fiber packed. But what would you say, had I told you that some of these claimed healthy foods, are actually way of protesting discreetly in your illness and anxieties? I did not think so myself till a few months ago. I was eating clean, exercising, drinking plenty of water, everything was correct. However, after some meals I still would feel jittery and restless. Upon further research into this, and having chatted with a nutritionist friend, I had discovered something that boggles my mind; certain fruits and vegetables can over stimulate our nervous system, overload our blood sugar, or even affect our hormones.  Perhaps we should make it easy and examine the...