Apple tree and humans have a long traced history to which we all connect in one or the other way. No doubt apple is said to be on the top of the healthiest fruits and the phrase “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” has proved itself right several times. Apple and Apple juice both have an extended list of health benefits. Let us look into the Apple juice benefits and find out the nutrition facts along with some interesting recipes we can make with apple juice.

Nutrition Facts related to Apple juice

Serving size: 6 OZ of apple juice

The above mentioned serving size of Apple juice contains 87 calories from which 97.9% are carbs and 2.1% fat. 6 OZ of Apple juice contains 5mg of Sodium and 20 grams of sugar. The values are based on the 2000 calories diet.

Apple Juice Benefits

A research study shows that most of the people drink apple juice in breakfast. Apple juice is rich in Vitamins and contains nutrients our body needs to fight diseases. Let us explore a few Apple juice benefits and find out what our glass of Apple juice actually serves us.

• Apple juice contains an ample amount of Vitamin A and C. Vitamin A helps to improve vision as it contains beta-carotene. On the other hand Vitamin C is a good source of anti oxidant and makes our immune system strong. The anti oxidants are said to help in cancer prevention. Other vitamins found in Apple juice in comparatively small proportion are Vitamin K, Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, B2 and B3.
• Apple juice is a good source of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Apple juice contains pectin which not just flushes the toxic materials from the body but also keeps the intestine in good health and helps in relieving perpetual constipation.
• The insoluble fiber in apple cleans the intestinal track and clears the way for food to travel easily through the digestive system
• Few researches have shown that Apple juice can help in increasing brain power and heals memory loss problems. (discussed below in detail)
• Apple juice benefits the skin too. The minerals such as iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, copper and chlorine makes your skin glow and gives your nails and hair a healthy look.
• The potassium in apple juice makes the bones healthy and reduces arthritis symptoms.
• The sugar content in Apple juice acts as an instant source of energy.
• See how Apple juice benefits for the smokers. Surprised? If you are a smoker (which is not good for health), you should drink apple juice so that the anti oxidants can detoxify and clean your lungs so you can breathe easily.

Apple Juice and Alzheimer’s disease

Human brain has a chemical which is important for a healthy brain and for the memory power. The chemical is called “acetylcholine” which if goes below the required level can cause Alzheimer. A study conducted few years back showed that apple juice can help in maintaining the acetylcholine’s level in the brain. This means a healthy brain which can function well for a longer period now. The experiment was conducted on mice which were fed with apple juice and showed a positive response. Researchers believe that the effects will be same on adults and taking 2 glasses of Apple juice can be good for your health. So the phrase again goes perfect here “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”.

Interesting Apple Juice finding

The foam or cloud on the top of the apple juice is often ignored or filtered while serving. Do you know what are you filtering away? The apple juice foam has a higher proportion of antioxidants in compare to the juice that rests below it in the glass. The filtration removes some healthy elements of the apple juice such as fiber and vitamin. So next time you have your Apple juice make sure to have it with the foamy cloud that has a health value attached.

Tip to find the right Apple Juice

Fresh unfiltered apple juice is the best choice as we have already ready above that filtration or any other artificial process like heating and pressurizing takes away the nutrients from the juice and you will not get the actual apple juice benefits. If you are opting for the packed apple juice, read the label for “100% Apple juice” or “Pure” Apple juice and also read the sugar content in the juice or else you will be drinking the flavored drink with lots of sugar and the result is weight gain.

Interesting Apple juice combinations

Apple juice benefits can be enjoyed by having them pure or mixed with different exotic and yummy flavors. We have some yummy recipes at Zaiqa which you will surely love.

1. Apple and Tomato Juice
2. Yummy Apple Juice
3. Carrot Apple Juice
4. Apple Mocktail

You can also benefit from the apple juice by adding it in different dishes like apple flavored caramel popcorns, Apple honey drumsticks, apple desserts and cupcakes.

Weight has been an important part of our lives even before we are born and it continues to reveal its importance till we grow old. Keeping a check of your weight is mandatory to live a healthy life, and for this you may compare your height and weight to check how fit you are. If the result is not in your favor, you need to work things out to stay in shape.

Where is the Problem?

• The current life style is leading more towards the problem of overweight than being underweight.
• Usually people have too much body fat due to the excess intake of calories from foods and drinks than they burn through physical activity.
• The unhealthy fat stored in the body not just hinders the way a person gets around and makes him lazy but also adds up the health risks like Cardiovascular Disease, Osteoarthritis, and Diabetes etc.
• Fast food popularity in children has resulted in an increase in kid’s obesity count.
• Less physical and outdoor activities have resulted in fat storage in our bodies.

How to Lose Weight

The answer to all this trouble is “Weight Loss” which is a test of your commitment, hard work, motivation and dedication. You need to be serious in your action of losing weight which does not mean crash diets and weigh loss pills but a simple combination of ‘exercise and controlled diet.’

Those who think they have not time for bodily exercise will sooner or later have to find time for illness. ~Edward Stanley

Some Activity is Better Than None

We are not asking for long park walks and hour long aerobic classes but the only requirement is MAKING A DIFFERNCE in your routine by:

• Going for a physical activity like swimming, bowling, soccer for a replacement of a movie night out.
• Taking stairs instead of the elevator and a little walk than opting for a taxi to cover short distance.

Healthy Intake:

This another element of staying fit. Body’s metabolism gets disturbed with unbalanced eating behavior and makes it harder to lose weight.

• You need to reduce the amount of calories intake and burn the already existing fats.
• Drop the sugar intake in your diet.
• Try to eat fruits and green vegetables when you have inappropriate cravings.

Do Not Skip Meals

To lose weight fast people start missing their meals. This is not good for your health as there is no short cut to “Weight Loss”. Such meal skips may trim down your calorie intake for that time but the outcome will be leaving you hungrier soon after.

Avoid Mistakes

• You may have water half an hour before meal but remember not to drink water after your meal.
• Do not take diet pills and slimming capsules to reduce weight.
• Avoid over exercise by hurting your muscles and focus on reduction of bad calories.

Healthy Alternative Chart

Consistency of these efforts will bring a positive change and a healthy tomorrow. So let us pledge today that we will try staying positive, focused and keep our reasons and motivation close to our heart to get thinner as its better to lose pounds than losing health. Share your experiences with us and help others to lose weight by motivating them.

Oily and fried stuff with a lot of sweets and drinks is a regular iftar menu. But a very important question we need to ask ourselves is about the health concern. We surely need energy to regain the body strength but the fast we keep from dawn to dusk is a regular time in which body utilizes the food energy stored from the consumption of sehri. Once the food energy ends, the body uses fats to provide energy and we reach the time to break the fast. This proves that overeating is not a solution to regain energy for the whole day as body has its own mechanism.

Food to be consumed in Sehri

Slow digesting foods which are also called complex carbohydrates, should be consumed more in sehri time as they take longer time to digest while making you feel less hungry during the day time. Few examples of such food are: lentils, oats, bran, skinned potatoes, beans and fruits.

Food to be avoided at Iftar

Fast burning food which include white flour or fried and oily food should be avoided. Items like sweets, cakes and biscuits are not an ideal choice either. You should also restrain from very spicy food.

Food advice for the weight watchers

Weight watchers are over concerned about the food intake. What they want is a diet which can provide them high energy with a low calorie intake. Let us look into some snacks and meals that provide us with high energy while keeping the calorie count low.

1. Fruit salad: a bowl full of fruits like apple, watermelon, banana, and pear can give you a bowl full of energy.
2. Cereal: a cereal bowl high in fiber with some raisins mixed with honey and milk is a tasty yet energy filled meal.
3. Peanut butter: spread some peanut butter on your bran bread and here you go!
4. Almonds: eat a handful of almonds to maintain your energy level.
5. Yogurt: 8 ounce of yogurt if included in your diet can provide you with a good source of vitamin B. You can add fruits in your fresh yogurt to give you a different taste.
6. Boiled egg: Boil your egg and eat the egg white which will provide you with a great source of protein.
7. Red or green beans: one cup of beans can easily cover half of your daily requirement of potassium. You can simply boil the beans and add them in your pasta or salad to enjoy the energy food.
8. Smoothie and Shakes: milk and fruits combined is a nutrition bomb. Add a few seedless dates to your drink before you blend it to make a delicious fruit shake, to provide you with more power and taste.
9. Berries: yummy and scrumptious berries are a massive source of nutrients and antioxidants. Be it fleshy red strawberries or tasty blue berries, add them in your fruit bowl, cereal, shake or salad and benefit from the tasty source of energy.
10. Dates: they provide quick energy as they are digested easily and fast. Consumption of dates after breaking your fast, provides you with a balanced and healthy diet.

Tips for the month of Ramadan

• Avoid over eating
• Consume a good amount of water during iftar and sehri time, to avoid dehydration
• Eat slow digestive food in sehri
• Eat high energy food in iftar
• Avoid fried, oily and spicy food
• Reduce caffeine and smoking habits before Ramadan to avoid addiction issues
• Adjust your medication schedule if you are on any special medication
• Diabetic patients should keep a regular check on their sugar level to avoid high or low level of sugar in blood

If we take special care of our health in the holy month of Ramadan and keep a balanced diet, while eating all we wish and want we can end up maintaining our weight yet being healthy. Determining the right quantity and the calorie count is the key to do this! Do share with us your views on the article and also add your tips for the month of Ramadan in the comment section.

Your body needs care and proper diet so that you can stay fit and healthy. Breakfast is often missed by many people and they do not realize how important your meal to start your day is. Being too busy, waking up late for the office or school, morning sickness and desire to lose weight are some common reasons why many people neglect their breakfast.

Importance of Breakfast

1. Morning fuel will help you to regain the glucose level in your blood.
2. Breakfast provides you nutrition to start your day well.
3. If you do not take proper breakfast you will feel tired and low the whole day.
4. Morning meal improves your concentration level.
5. It provides you with energy to work.
6. Eating in the morning keeps you away from overeating later in the day.
7. A proper healthy breakfast can help you to reduce weight.
8. Habit of taking a nutritious breakfast keeps you healthy.

Quick and Healthy Breakfast Ideas

• Cereal with strawberries/bananas and milk
• Oatmeal, orange/apple and milk
• Pancakes topped with fruit and skimmed milk
• Boiled egg with bran, banana and milk
• Apple and yogurt
• Bowl of mix fruit salad. Try to add a combination of fresh fruits in your morning diet.
• Cornflakes and high fiber cereals with dry or fresh fruits and milk
• Bran bread with a fruit jam/marmalade and a glass of juice/milk
• Omelets with juice and bran slice
• Waffle with fruits
• French toast with a shake

Easy and Scrumptious Breakfast Recipes

Strawberry Breakfast Sundae

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup cereal
• 1/2 cup vanilla or strawberry flavored yogurt
• 1 Tablespoon strawberry jam
• 4 big fresh strawberries – sliced
• 1 big fresh strawberry – whole

Method:

1. Place a tablespoon of strawberry jam and 2 sliced strawberries in bottom of a glass.
2. Put 1/4 cup of the cereal on top of jam and cover that with 1/2 of sliced strawberries.
3. Put 1/4 cup yogurt over strawberries. And then again make a layer of the cereal.
4. Garnish top with the whole strawberry

Fruity Porridge

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of rolled porridge oats
• 1 cup of water
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 small eating apple
• 3 strawberries

Method:

1. In a pan, slowly bring the porridge and water to boil.
2. Blend the banana, apple and strawberries in a blender until liquidized.
3. Pour into the porridge and bring to a boil again.
4. Serve with plain yogurt.

Spicy Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients:

• 1 medium potato; diced
• 1 medium onion; chopped finely
• 2 tomatoes; blanched, peeled and chopped finely
• 1/2 cup chopped chives
• 2 cloves garlic; minced
• 1 inch ginger; grated
• 2 chilies; chopped finely
• 1 tbsp coriander / cumin powder
• 1/2 tbsp turmeric
• 3 eggs; beaten
• 1/2 cup chopped coriander leaves
• salt – to taste
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Method:

1. Heat oil, and sauté the potatoes until cooked, remove and set aside.
2. Fry the onions until golden brown, add garlic, ginger and tomatoes. Fry for a few minutes.
3. Add cumin/coriander and turmeric powder, stir and fry for 1 minute.
4. Add potatoes, salt, chives and stir and cook for A minutes.
5. Add eggs, stir until cooked.
6. Add coriander, mix and serve hot

Cheese Omelet

Ingredients:

• Eggs – 2
• Cottage Cheese – ½ cup
• Pepper – 1 tbsp
• Salt – to taste
• Oil – 4 tbsp

Method:

1. Take a bowl and beat two eggs in it.
2. Add cottage cheese, pepper, and salt in it.
3. Mix it well.
4. Take a frying pan and heat oil in it.
5. Pour the mixture in the frying pan.
6. Fry the omelet until slightly brown.
7. Serve hot.

Deviled Eggs

Ingredients:

• 3 Large Hard Cooked Eggs
• 2 tbsp Mayo or Salad Dressing
• 1/2 tsp Prepared Mustard
• 1 Dash of Pepper

Method:

1. Cut eggs lengthwise into halves.
2. Slip out yolks and mash it with a fork.
3. In a separate bowl, mix in remaining ingredients and then add the mashed yolk
4. Fill the egg with the mixture heaping it up lightly.

Whole Wheat Puri

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 tbsp salt
• ¼ tbsp ajma / ajwain
• 1/2 tbsp roughly ground black pepper
• Vegetable or olive oil – for frying

Method:

1. Mix the dry ingredients, add oil and mix, add water to form a firm dough and knead till smooth. Let it rest for about 30 minutes. Make small balls about walnut size.
2. Roll out into 4 inch diameter circles.
3. Fry in hot oil, one or two at a time, holding them under the oil on the first side until they puff.
4. Turn and fry till golden brown; remove onto paper towels

Fruit Shake

Ingredients:

• 4 oz. Orange Juice (Frozen)
• 1 Banana
• 1 cup(s) Fruit Yogurt (Your choice)
• 1/2 piece(s) Fruit (Apple, pear, pineapple, strawberry etc)

Method:

1. Blend with 6 ice cubes until smooth.
2. Serve chilled

Remember! Healthy start of the day will keep you moving the whole day. Make sure you take care of your body as much as you take care of how you look. After reading this article set your alarms for half an hour early so that you can have your breakfast. Make a difference in your life to remain fit and strong!

Have you ever been in a situation where there are guests at home and you need to serve something for dinner and the time is less? You come home late from work and realize there is nothing for dinner? What to do and how to manage? We have a solution for you and some ideas to make your work easy and quick.

Tips for Quick Serving

1. Chose chicken or fish for cooking as they take less cooking time.
2. Marinate your chicken or fish a day before.
3. Refrigerate the paste of garlic and ginger to be used whenever needed.
4. Prepare your juice or drink a day before and freeze it.
5. Collect all your ingredients to save end time trouble.
6. Cut vegetables and prepare things beforehand.
7. If you plan to fry things like nuggets, cutlets, chicken etc. you can prepare them and freeze them in a ready to fry state.
8. For rice you can prepare the stock before.
9. Pasta is a quick and easy option for dinner serving.

Ideas for Quick Serving

There are some food items that can be easily used when you want something quick and fast if they are prepared and kept in the freezer. Below are some ideas for such food items

1. Kebabs
2. Chicken strips
3. Meat balls (KOFTAY), you can prepare meat balls by adding all the spices and freeze them. Whenever needed you can take them out defrost and add them in the curry or pasta.
4. Spinach can be fried or braised in some oil and after all the water in it evaporates completely it can be frozen in a container for later use. You can add it in chicken or potatoes for a quick, tasty and healthy meal.
5. Fries and boiled egg slices along with green salad leaves or coriander are the best quick dish garnish.

Quick Dinner Recipes

Following are some quick recipes that can easily be made in short time and taste yummy.

Cheese Sticks

Preparation Time: 10 min
Cooking Time: 15 min
Serve: 9 persons

Ingredients

• 1 jar (5 ounces) sharp American cheese spread
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg white
• 1 loaf unsliced bread (1 pound)

Method

1. In a bowl, beat cheese spread, butter and egg white until fluffy.
2. Cut crust from bread. Slice bread 1 in. thick; cut each slice into 1-in. strips.
3. Spread the cheese mixture on all sides of each strip and place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
4. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. Serve warm.

Cheese and Macaronis Cutlets

Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 20 min
Serve: 4 persons

Ingredients

• 100 gms Mozzarella Cheese.
• 100 gms any kind or size Macaroni.
• 1 med size Green Onion
• 3 to 4 Green Chilli.
• 1/2 a cup Mint Leaves.
• Black pepper to taste.
• Salt to taste.
• 1 cup Corn Oil.
• 1 tsp Lemon juice.
• 1 small Red Onion Chopped.
• 2 Eggs
• Bread crumbs 1 to 2 cups.

Method

1. In hot boiling water add macaronis and boil until it becomes over sized.
2. Crush Mozzarella cheese and add to macaroni.
3. Chop all other ingredients and put it in to the mixture of cheese and macaroni.
4. Make small any size of cutlets and keep it in the refrigerator for about ten minutes.
5. Then dip the cutlets into the well beaten Eggs and cover it with Bread crumbs and fry until it becomes golden brown.
6. Serve hot with chilli garlic sauce.

Chicken Lollipop

Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 20 min
Serve: 5 persons

Ingredients

• Chicken, wings.
• 2 Eggs.
• 6 Green chilies, ground.
• ¼ tsp Ajinomoto.
• ¼ tsp Pepper powder
• ¼ tsp Garam masala
• ½ tsp Chili sauce
• ½ tsp Soya sauce
• 1 tbsp hot sauce
• 50 gms. flour ( maida )
• 1 tsp Ginger paste.
• 1 tsp Garlic, paste
• A pinch Yellow color or red color
• ½ cup Water
• Oil for deep frying As required
• Salt ½ tsp.

Method

1. Cut the wings into two, chop the end bone, pull the flesh up with the skin and remove the thin bone and mould into a lollipop.
2. Boil the lollipops with ½ cup water, ½ tsp salt for 5 minutes. Remove and cool.
3. In a bowl, mix all ingredients thoroughly, but not the lollipops and prepare a thick batter.
4. Heat oil in a deep pan, dip lollipop into the thick batter and fry on medium heat to a light brown color.
5. Serve hot

Chicken Chowmein

Preparation Time: 15 min
Cooking Time: 30 min
Serve: 5 persons

Ingredients

• Boiled noodles – 1 packet (200 grams)
• Boneless chicken – ½ kg
• Salt – to taste
• Garlic paste – 1 tbsp
• Pepper – 1 tbsp
• Vinegar – 4 tbsp
• Sugar – 1 tbsp
• Spring onions (chopped) – 4
• Soya sauce – 4 tbsp
• Corn flour – 2 tbsp
• Oil – 4 tbsp

Method

1. In a wok, heat oil and sauté garlic for a minute.
2. Add chicken and stir fry on low heat.
3. Add noodles, salt, pepper, sugar, soya sauce, vinegar and mix well.
4. Add spring onions and sprinkle corn flour.
5. Stir constantly and mix well.
6. Add spring onions and sprinkle corn flour.
7. Stir constantly for 2 minutes before removing from heat.
8. Garnish with chili sauce.

Fish Achar

Ingredients

• ½ kg fish fillet
• 1 finely chopped medium onion
• ¼ bunch coriander
• ¼ cup oil
• 3-4 green chilies
• 10-12 dry red chilies
• 1 tbsp dry red chilies
• 1 tbsp cumin powder
• 1 tbsp turmeric powder
• 2 tbsp medium pickles spices
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
• Salt to taste

Method

1. First cut ½ kg fish flay into small pieces moist with little oil and keep aside.
2. Then in pan heat ¼ cup oil add 1 finely chopped onion and 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste and fry for 2 minutes.
3. Then add 10-12 dry red chilies, 2 tbsp dry achar masala, 1 tbsp red chili flakes, and ¼ bunch green coriander and fry for 2-3 minutes.
4. Then add 2 tbsp tamarind paste.
5. When the entire ingredient appeared one soul add fish pieces and mix well.
6. Ready to serve.

Now you can have the benefit of the recipes above and enjoy speedy cooking. If you have any other rapid recipes, ideas or tips; do share with us and share the article with your friends to help them with quick dinner preparations too.

Summer vacations leave your child with plenty of spare time to play games and enjoy life with no homework and no early morning wake-up alarm. This summer make some special kitchen plans with your young ones. Cooking with kids is a fun experience that teaches your child a lot more than how to cook.

Importance of Cooking with Kids

1. Asking the kids to prepare their own juice snacks and helping them in the kitchen with the work will give you a quality time with your child.
2. Children will understand the importance of food and will also realize how much efforts their moms put in while cooking.
3. Kids love baking and making their hands dirty the dough and creams. This will make their learning process a bundle of fun.
4. Kids can be taught measurement, patience and obedience in the procedure of cooking.
5. Kids can learn about different places, cuisines and ingredients while having fun in the kitchen.
6. Experimenting with different utensils and ingredients the child will be able to stimulate the creative skills within.
7. Children enjoy the food.
8. Appreciation by the elders will boost their confidence level.
9. Teaching about the presentation of the food will polish the intellectual power they possess.
10. Being in the kitchen, the kids will understand about sharp knives, hot dishes, stove and will learn to be more cautious about any accidents and hazards.

Easy Recipes for Kids

Following are some easy to make recipes for kids which they will enjoy making and eating too:

Smiley Face Pizza

Flatten the dough or take pizza base available in the market and cut it into a 6-inch circle.

Place on oil sprayed baking sheet. Poke several times with a fork to prevent bubbles from forming. Bake at 350°F 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.

Spread with sauce and chicken cubes or deli line sausages if your child likes and top with grated cheese. Bake at 350°F 8- for 10 minutes or until cheese is nicely melted. Remove from oven and make face using sliced mozzarella rounds with olives for eyes, pepperoni for nose and eyebrows and a green pepper slice for mouth.

Banana Smoothie

• 1 Banana (sliced)
• Milk-1 cup
• Yogurt-1 cup
• Pineapple slices-2 big
• Ice cubes
• Sugar-1 tsp(optional)

Directions

take all ingredients and put in a blender until smooth!

Colorful Fruit Skewers:

(Serves 12)

• 12 wooden skewers
• 1 large ripe mango, peeled
• 2 large oranges, peeled
• 2 large bananas, peeled
• 250g small strawberries, hulled
• 1-2 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 cup vanilla yoghurt

Soak skewers in cold water for 20-30 minutes. Cut mango and oranges into 3cm chunks. Cut bananas into 3cm slices. Thread fruit onto skewers, alternating the varieties, and place on an oven tray. Combine butter, lime juice and honey in a small saucepan and stir over low heat until butter has melted and mixture is smooth. Pour mixture over fruit, turning to coat.

Cook skewers on a lightly greased barbecue or grill plate until warm.

Cool and serve with yoghurt. You can use any other combination of fruits too. Strawberry, kiwi, pineapple are ideals for kids skewers to add colors.

Videos of Fun Kids Recipes

1. Crispy Fried Chicken Burger and Mini Nugget
2. Strawberry Mini Fay
3. Chicken and Cheese Mini Paratha
4. Chicken and Corn Bake
5. Ribbon Sandwich and Desk Sandwich
6. Cookies and Strawberry Soda
7. Mouse Potato

Millions of people consume tea daily in different parts of the world. Green tea has been consumed all over in India, China, Japan, and Thailand and is now becoming popular in the whole world due to its health benefits and researches that prove that green tea holds solutions to a lot of mankind problems.

How to Make Green Tea

1. Take a cup of water and bring it to boil in a kettle.
2. After the water comes up to boil, turn off the gas/plug.
3. Add a green tea bag in a cup and pour the water on it.
4. Leave the bag in the cup for about 2 to 3 minutes and then remove it.
5. If you using open green tea crushed leave, than take 1 tea spoon or about 3 to 4 grams, depending on the type of green tea you use. Strain the tea into another cup after leaving it for 2 to 3 minutes.
6. To enhance the taste you can add fresh lemon drops in your tea or add one small Cardamom or a pinch of cardamom powder.
7. Now enjoy your green tea and stay healthy. You can take about 2 to 3 cups of Green tea in a day.

15 Benefits of Green Tea

1. Green tea reduces the risk of cancer. Being it bladder cancer, Breast cancer, Lung cancer, Stomach cancer, Skin cancer or ovarian cancer; green tea prevents the growth of the cells.
2. Green tea is good for diabetic patients as it helps to control blood sugar level in the body.
3. Green tea helps in weight loss as it boosts metabolism rate that in turn helps to burn fat down.
4. Green tea helps in skin treatments like acne and can be used as a toner or cleanser to keep your skin fresh.
5. Dental health and green tea are also linked together as some studies proved that green tea helps in preventing plague and tooth decay by avoiding the bacteria growth.
6. Green tea lowers total cholesterol levels and perks up the good cholesterol against the bad cholesterol.
7. Heart patients are benefited by green tea as it lowers the cholesterol level.
8. Studies show that Green tea is effective in cold and flu.
9. It has a soothing effect and relaxes the body.
10. Green tea helps in reducing Belly fat. Losing the fat on your belly is a very difficult task but it is proved that green tea includes an antioxidant Catechins that helps in reducing the fat around the abdominal region.
11. The presence of antioxidants in green tea helps to slow down the signs of aging.
12. Green tea helps in reducing Blood pressure.
13. Green tea helps in re-hydrating the body.
14. Green tea refreshes Soar eyes. You can soak cotton in green tea and apply it on soar eyes to revive the freshness.
15. Left over green tea leaves can be a good quality plant food. Place the leftover liquor or green tea leaves on your plants pots to get the maximum benefit.

Mango is called “The king of all fruits” due to its strong flavor, rich fragrance and a vitalizing taste.

Mangoes are readily available in June and July and are thought to be native to India; mangoes have been cultivated for more than 4,000 years and is said to be the most popular fruit of the season.

Mango season brings in a lot of new recipes, smoothies, juices, pickles, cocktails, jams, jellies, cakes, pie, muffins, sauces, ice-cream, salads and a never ending list of mango celebrations.

Mango Nutrition and Diet Notes

• One cup of sliced mango contains 107 calories with 4 calories from fat.
• We can say that mango is low in calories and fat.
• Iron in mango is said to be suitable for pregnant women as well as for people suffering from anemia.
• It is a great source of fiber which is said to be approximately 3 grams.
• Mangoes are high in Vitamin C and B6 along with a decent amount of minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium and copper.

Mango Selection

• There are hundreds of different varieties of mangoes available in different colors, so a yellow color alone cannot indicate that the mango is correct for selection and is properly ripe.
• The best way is to feel the mango by taking it in your hand, smelling it and pressing it gently. The soft mushy feeling and the strong sweet smell will be a sign of a perfect well done mango that is ready to eat.
• If the mango is not fully grown, it should be folded in a paper bag or a news paper and should be placed in a warm place for a few days.
• A regular check should be maintained to pick the ripe mangoes out of the bag.

Links to Tempting and Scrumptious Recipes Prepared with Mangoes

1. Mango Cake
2. Mango Chutney
3. Mango Ice cream 1 & Mango Ice cream 2
4. Mango Pickle 1 & Mango Pickle 2
5. Mango Mousse and Juice
6. Mango Fruit Salad
7. Mango Vermicelli Delight and Mango Tango
8. Mango Kheer
9. Mango Tart
10. Mango Souffle
11. Mango Pudding
12. Mango Cheese Cake
13. Grilled Chicken with Mango Sauce
14. Mango Fry Noodles
15. Mango Peanut Chaat
16. Mango Muffins
17. Mango Banana Delight
18. Mango Lemon Chicken
19. Diet Healthy Drink

Enjoy the mango season and tantalize your taste buds with the delicious recipes and flavors of mango.

WELCOME TO THE MANGO SEASON!

Terrible smell of the refrigerator is a common problem of every household. There are very simple natural solutions to this issue which are easy to apply, but before moving on to the solutions it is very important to understand the causes of this unpleasant smell and the significance of keeping your fridge hygienic.

Significance of Keeping the Refrigerator Clean

• It keeps the bacteria away.
• The food stored remains hygienic.
• You get rid of the awful smell.
• Better circulation of the airflow will help in keeping the eatables fresh.

Causes of the Awful Smell

• Stale food leftovers result in the unpleasant smell and the bacteria found in such food items are injurious to health.
• Spilled milk stench is very strong and turns the whole fridge into a rotten box.
• Bacteria start to grow in the stagnant water which in turn causes odor.
• Electricity failure makes the frozen stuff soften and this sometimes results in the unpleasant smell.
• Uncovered items diffuse their strong smell.
• The thermostat issue can also result in stinky fridge as the temperature control gets disturbed and the frozen food gets defrosted.
• Fruits and vegetables get rotten and smell really dreadful if not treated right away.
• Going on vacations, leaving the fridge unattended can result in the unpleasant smell too.

Natural Remedies to Keep the Refrigerator Odorless

• Prevention is the first and foremost action to be taken. Keep your refrigerator clean and this will surely keep the bad smell away.
• A piece of coal in a small cup or plate, if placed in the refrigerator will help keep the aroma off eatables away.
• Mix some baking soda in warm water and clean your fridge by dipping a sponge in the water. Baking soda has an odor absorbing elements and is a very effective way and an inexpensive solution to the problem.
• Covering the eatables properly will help to keep their strong smells away.
• When you go for vacations, clean your fridge and make sure all the perishable items that can go stale are out of the refrigerator.
• White vinegar can also be used to clean the fridge and keep it fresh.
• Coffee beans in a jar are used in perfume shops to neutralize the strong perfume smells when you go to choose a perfume. The same technique can be used for your refrigerator. Put a small cup or jar of coffee beans with its lid open to defuse the smell.
• Do not over load your fridge with stuff as this hinders the circulation of the airflow which causes food spoilage.
• Be careful of the expired products. Keep the products with close expiry in front so you can use them before they perish.
• Spread a thick paper or newspaper on the shelves. This will ease the cleaning if something spills on it.

All the above tips to keep your fridge fresh are natural, affordable and easy to apply. It is very important to clean your fridge regularly but do not use dangerous chemicals, bleach and other such products to clean the fridge as this can be harmful for your health.

Being on the table is more than just eating. People judge you by the way you eat and behave on the table, so it’s very important to be kind, considerate and courteous while eating.

Begin with the Seating

• Wash/clean your hands before eating.
• Make sure that the elderly people are well seated before you jump on to your seat.
• Put a napkin on your lap so you can later use it to wipe your mouth in a decent way.
• Make sure that the plate is placed in the middle, glass at the top right, folk on the left and spoon along with the knife on the right side of the plate.
• Sit with your back straight and do not bend on the table.
• Keep your hand bag and stuff away from the table to create space for the food.

Food Serving

• Be patient – wait for your turn and let the elders fill their plates first, it shows respect.
• Avoid making impolite remarks about the food.
• If you need something, ask some to pass it to you instead of bending onto their plates.
• Say considerate words like “Thank you” and “please” when you are served food.

Eating Food

• Do not dish out more than what you can finish.
• Use proper cutlery meant for eating that kind of food. For example use a knife and fork for Pizza and a spoon for rice etc.
• Enjoy your food and eat slowly, without making sound while you eat.
• Take small bites and avoid filling your mouth with food as it gives a very disgusting look.
• Keep away from talking when your mouth is full.
• If by mistake you eat something hot, do not spit out. Instead drink a sip of water to cool down the effect.

Finishing Up

• Gently wipe your mouth with the napkin and keep it on the side.
• Put your used cutlery on the plate when you finish, and not on the table again.
• Do not light a cigarette on the table as this can disturb other people around.
• Lipstick marks on the glass are not considered good manners.
• If something bothers you in your teeth, go aside and use a toothpick. Do not pick it on the table, it looks nasty.
• Praise the food and the person who made it for you. This is surely a healthy gesture and will please the people who cooked food with great effort.

A meal with etiquettes is a whole new experience. These few quick tips will surely make your dinner table a more refined and sophisticated place.