Apart from exercise and diet, being healthy can be achieved by eating the right kind of food, especially herbs. The medicinal value of many herbs is still being investigated from scientific standpoint, especially for chronic illnesses. But herbs can also help us keep everyday cold, digestive issues, menstrual cramps and gas at bay. Before I go into more details, I'd like to point out that I am not a medicine doctor though I do have the right to add Dr. as prefix to my name. So before you decide to use my experience with herbs for yourself please make sure you are not suffering from any illness which can jeopardize your health due to intake of certain herb. Join me below the fold for some tips on introducing herbs in everyday meals.
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Ginger I always have tubs of fresh and dried ginger in my home. Ginger is an excellent antidote for pains and aches due to arthritis, common cold, nausea due to acidity, gas formation, chemotherapy related nausea etc. More information can be found http://www.umm.edu/.... I use ginger in almost every other thing that I would cook. In the morning I boil water with grated fresh ginger and then add my tea bag to it. Ginger tea in my opinion is an excellent way to ward off those early morning sniffles due to cold or allergies. I add ginger to my soups and stir fry regularly. A nice vinaigrette can also be made :
Adapted from "Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef," by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman (Broadway Books, 1998)
Time: 10 minutes
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Salt and freshly ground pepper.
Combine all ingredients in a blender, using plenty of black pepper. Add 1 tablespoon warm water and blend until dressing is emulsified. Best if left to rest for a day before using, to enhance flavors.
Yield: 1 1/4 cups.
Mint
I love this herb. It helps digestion which is why its offered after dinner in places all over the world. The best way to incorporate mint in food is the Indian chutney. It is a flavorful sauce/dipping. A person may not like it right away but small changes in eating habits can change your pallet. I use it as a dip by adding thinly cut tomatoes to the below recipe, or use the chutney as sauce on vegan/tofu burgers.
Ingredients:
* 1 bunch fresh mint
* 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
* 1/2 inch piece of ginger root
* salt to taste
* 1 green chili
* 2 tablespoons lime juice
* 1/2 teaspoon sugar
* 2 teaspoons coriander powder
* 2 teaspoons amchoor (mango powder from Indian grocery, or substitute more lime or lemon juice)
* 1/2 cup onion
* 1/4-1/2 cup water for blending
Preparation:
- Clean the mint leaves and cilantro leaves.
- Add all ingredients except the water together in a blender or
- Blend/process and add water as you blend to make it the consistency of pancake batter.
Dill
A very strong but flavorful herb that is not so often used. it is a very good stomach ache smoother and anti-gas remedy. Fresh dill gives a different taste to any salad. I also add it to my omelet. There are many recipes for dill dip though I don't find them very healthy. Another way to add dill to every day use is soups. A carrot soup below:
INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
* 1 pound carrots, sliced
* 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
* 2 teaspoons minced garlic
* 1 cup chopped onion
* 3 1/2 cups chicken stock
* 3/4 cup 2% milk
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
DIRECTIONS
1. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add carrots, and cook just until tender. Drain, and return the carrots to the pan. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion and garlic until soft, about 5 minutes. Transfer the onion and garlic to the saucepan with the carrots, and pour in chicken stock. Turn heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 25 minutes to blend flavors.
3. Puree the carrot mixture in a food processor or blender, in small batches if necessary. Return to the saucepan, and stir in the milk, dill and chives. Cook just until heated through, and serve.
Happy herb eating. I know this diary is not about exercise but I thought it would fit in the health criteria. Please add your recipes using herbs or general herb knowledge in the comments.
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