The Papadum Show- Health Book: Day 52

The crispy, crunchy snack is a store house of benefits, which many are not aware of. As a child I loved the fried papad served with Khichri or during evening snacks. Now when I am on the healthy track, I was taken aback by what I researched on Papad. No, don’t mistake me for a PhD holder in papad, but I am only adding value to your healthy life style.

Papad is made of lentils or chickpea flour, hence it is a healthy thing to consume. However, the way you cook it, gives direction to the nutrition of the same. Many people deep fry it (Like my my Mom did when I was young). Refrain from deep frying that kills the nutrients of papad and adds cholesterol.

The healthiest way of preparing is to roast it on stove or microwave it.

• Papad is very low on fatty acid and cholesterol. Hence recommended for heart patients or those on dieting plan.
• It is high in carbohydrates hence a rich source of energy for daily activities or exercising.
• Papad has dietary fiber content that can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It normalizes bowel movements and helps maintain bowel integrity and health. Because of its fibers, papad is useful for controlling blood sugar levels and it lowers blood cholesterol levels.
• This is rich in folate which is beneficial especially for expecting ladies, for whom folic acid tablets are recommended. Papad is a good snack for the same.
• 1 ounce or 28 g of papad contains 48 mg calcium and more than 70mg Magnesium.
• Other essential dietary vitamins like Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc and copper are also present in parts.
• The fact that papad is made of lentils, makes it a healthy eating option for all. However, the only disadvantage in papad is a high presence of sodium (489 mg in 28 gm)

You can add chopped onions, tomato, chillies to the papad which is popularly called Masala Papad. Savor the great flavor while eating right!

Get a packet of papad from the grocery store next time and make it a part of your healthy snacks. However, DO NOT DEEP FRY it please!

Stay healthy stay blessed!

Toast to roast- Health Book :Day 50

Did you know that roasted grams or bhuna chana has several benefits that can meet the deficiencies of your body? Don't tell me that you didn't know that! Okay you can raise a toast to the healthy roast then :-)

Well, roasted gram or bhuna chana is a healthy snack for everybody. Why should you eat roasted grams, let me cite few reasons in my Year Health Book -

It is an outstanding source of manganese, folate and protein ,copper, phosphorous and iron. I really don't need to quote the benefits of these minerals for you, however let me do that for few of them.

-Maganese contributes to formation of bones, blood sugar control and production of collagen in skin.

-Folate aids fetal development in pregnant woman's womb, production of red blood cells, controls heart diseases and reduces depression.

-Phosphorus forms healthy bones & teeth, improves digestion and helps the body absorb Vitamin B.

-Roasted grams have loads of dietary fiber which and this helps prevent constipation as it promotes easy bowel movement.

-Roasted gram is very low in fat and this is one of the main reasons that many people eat it.

-It is low in calories and controls cholesterol level.

-Maganese contributes to formation of bones, blood sugar control and production of collagen in skin.

-Folate aids fetal development in pregnant woman's womb, production of red blood cells, controls heart diseases and reduces depression.

-Phosphorus forms healthy bones & teeth, improves digestion.

• Roasted gram has lots of dietary fiber and this helps prevent constipation as it promotes easy bowel movement.
• Roasted gram is very low in fat and this is one of the main reasons that many people eat it while dieting or those who have been diagnosed with heart diseases.
• It is low in calories,high in protien & iron.
• Roasted gram Control Cholesterol level.

Dieting or no dieting, you should eat healthy and exercise- The only mantra of a healthy life. Hence stay healthy stay blessed.

Cornot Snack- Health Book- Day 43

"Let's go for coffee!"

"Lets have tea and biscuits"!!!

"How about cold drink and bread pakoda"?

I grew tired of listening to my energetic colleagues during every break that we take. While I had shunned unhealthy eating a long time back, it becomes difficult to keep the temptations under control. I chalked out an easy way for these tea/coffee breaks. Instead of throwing trash in my body, I'd rather eat something healthy and nutritious. And this is what I made- Cornot Salad! Wondering what it is? It is a mixture of corns and carrots, the term Cornot was of course devised by me!

Method- Pressure cook a cup of corns. (Corns are easily available in Safal/Mother dairy stores and even with the local vegetable vendors)

Chop 1 medium or 2 small sized carrots.

Squeeze lemon juice and add chaat masala.

Cornot

You can make the mixture and store in refrigerator overnight. Carry it to your office next day and enjoy a healthy snack. I certainly don't need to cite the benefits of cornot, but for the sake of humanity I will.

1. You get Vitamin A & C from this dish.
2. Corns is fibrous and super nutritious.
3. No fat or cholesterol in this chaat mixture.
4. Fills your stomach without letting fat accumulate.
5. Better than tea/coffee or high calorie snack/beverage.

Stay healthy stay blessed !

The action reaction theory

She is getting married in February and has become extremely conscious about her appearance. She wants to look good and thin, hence has started skipping meals. Breakfast was never on her list. Now lunch follows. All she has is a good quantity of rice in dinner. How does she expect to stay healthy like this? We, (her colleagues) have been trying to convince her to eat right. But our advice seems to fall on deaf ears.

Did you know that skipping meals is as harmful as over eating? Did you know that dinner should be the lightest meal of the day? Did you know about the repercussions of missing breakfast? Okay, I do sound like a Nutritionist or a college professor, but come on, this should be your basic knowledge!

· Never miss breakfast. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why it is called break-fasting after the night’s sleep.

· Try to begin your day with fruits or cereals.

· Do not hog! Have small meals 5-6 times a day instead of one large meal. (Carry fruits if you don’t have time to cook. Explore options like brown bread sandwich, sooji/rawa pasta, nuts, wheat biscuits, sprouts, popcorns, roasted chana, salad, soup, corns, battered rice and so on)



· Breakfast and lunch can be heavy, dinner should be the lightest. That’s because your physical activities during the day aids in digestion. The 6-7 hours of sleep during night is the time when our body is not physically active and the process of digestion is slow. Eating heavy at night may cause acidity, restlessness, indigestion and accumulation of fat.

· Have evening snacks 2-3 hours before dinner, It fills you and you don’t over eat hence. A good option is to have salad or soup pre-dinner.

· Avoid cheese, high protein diet, pizza or junk, deep fried, high calorie items in dinner.


Skipping meals is not cool at all. It may give rise to many life style diseases that are beyond our imagination! Eating right is the key to good health. What goes in reflects on your body because every action has equal and opposite reaction!