Drumsticks for health

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” goes a popular proverb. How true! Health conscious people, who are busy counting calories and spending a fortune on expensive and nutritious foodstuffs, hardly spare a thought to the humble drumstick (sahjan) tree which is a common sight in the gardens of so many Indian homes. They don’t mind consulting dieticians who charge exorbitant amounts for chalking out a suitable diet chart but are hesitant to make use of any home-grown, nutritious or cheaply available vegetable. Why the special emphasis on 'drumstick' ? Simply, because it is loaded with all the vital health ingredients. Read on to find out more…

Drumstick or Moringa Oleifera is named so for its long bean-like fruit. Just about the whole plant is edible. The roots, flowers, leaves, pods are used in curries, salads and soups. The leaves are the most nutritious of all, and hence worth including in one’s diet. However, for maximum benefit, it should be consumed raw or in raw form. Don’t be put off by that characteristic aroma of the leaves. Just take a look at their nutritional value and then decide for yourself.

Nutritional value of drumstick leaves

* Seven times more vitamin C than oranges to fight many illnesses including cold and flu.

* Four times more vitamin A than carrots to protect against eye disease, skin disease, and heart disease.

* Four times more calcium than milk to build strong bones and teeth.

* Three times more potassium than bananas essential for the functioning of the brain and nerves.

* Nearly 2 times the protein in milk and almost equal amounts of proteins as in eggs basic building blocks of all our body cells.[Source 1 & 2]

Medicinal uses

*The bark contains a gum that is used as a seasoning and a treatment for some stomach ailments.

*The seed is often used to purify dirty or cloudy drinking water. It is pounded into small fragments, wrapped in some sort or cloth, and then placed into water jars or containers.

*This pounded seed acts as flocculent, taking impurities out of water solution.

Home remedies

* For loss of appetite, colic pain and flatulence, seeds are found to be highly beneficial.

* The decoction of the seeds is found to be useful in dysmenorrhea or scanty menstruation. Papaya and aloe vera are also useful in such cases.

* A hot infusion of the leaves provides relief in skin diseases.

* The same infusion as mentioned above can be used in fevers to reduce temperature.

* Externally, the paste of the roots can be used in swellings and abscesses.

* Applying the oil obtained from the seeds reduces arthritic and rheumatic pain and swellings.

* Pound drumstick pods and/or leaves to form a paste and then mix it with lemon juice and get rid of pimples and the scars left by them.

Pic credits:fotosearch.com

Aspirin for acne-prone skin

Aspirin has been around for a long time and its health benefits are wide and varied. Aspirin , or acetylsalicylic acid is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains , as an antipyretic to reduce fever , and as an anti-inflammatory medication. Aspirin's greatest benefit is reducing cardiovascular events including heart attacks and strokes. According to the American Heart Assoc. virtually all women are at risk of heart disease and doctors should more strongly consider prescribing a daily aspirin for their female patients. There is growing evidence to suggest regular aspirin use may reduce cancer and dementia as well. Investigators from the Women's Health Study have reported important new findings demonstrating that aspirin reduces the risk of a first stroke in women. When given to someone immediately after a heart attack, aspirin decreases death by 25%.

Kapalabhati Pranayam for wrinkle-free, radiant complexion

Did you know that Kapalabhati Pranayam / kriya can also be used to enhance your beauty and ward off skin aging? Done the right way, Kapalabhati Pranayam can be used as a beauty aid - it can give you a wrinkle-free, luminous forehead and radiant complexion. Kapalabhati For Beauty ‘Kapalabhati’ Pranayam breathing exercise is an excellent way of maintaining good health and fighting diseases. ‘Kapala’ means ‘skull’ (and ‘forehead’ also) and ‘bhati’ means ‘shining’. By doing kapalabhati, the ‘nadis’(nerves) of the brain get good exercise. This is achieved by exercising the diaphragm. There will be a glow on the forehead. After the age of 25, the tell-tale signs of ageing start making their appearance in the form of fine lines on the forehead. A regular practice of Kapalabhati for 10-15 minutes everyday will give you a tight forehead sans wrinkles for many years to come. Avoid Botox, try Kapalabhati Why resort to Botox and other expensive chemical or surgica...

Simple ways of acquiring a clear & blemish free skin

It is not necessary to go to expensive beauty parlours or buy expensive creams and lotions to acquire a blemish free & clear complexion. A few homemade remedies are provided below which will serve the purpose equally well. Hope this will benefit the readers. 1. Always wash your face with mild soap so that the pores breathe fresh air. For a clear and attractive skin mix besan, turmeric (haldi), lemon and milk together. Make a paste. Apply it on the face. Let it dry. Wash with clean water. Wipe your face with a soft towel and pat it dry.

Lemon as a beauty aid

The diminutive lemon is a very versatile beauty-aid and this cheap and golden-coloured fruit has excellent properties for enhancing your looks. Simple lemon-based preparations, you can mix in your own kitchen, will surely bring a dramatic transformation in your beauty regimen.

The ache of acne (pimples)

Acne is often the bane of a pretty face. It is painful more emotionally than physically, for the scar that it leaves behind can last for a lifetime, adding to one’s miserable look & feeling. No doubt many expensive skin care clinics have mushroomed in ever nook & corner, offering to clear all the scars & blemishes on the face, but they are very expensive & charge exorbitant price for each sitting; not everyone can afford them. So why not try out this simple skin care regimen to minimize the damage caused by acne & as far as possible prevent its eruption.

Comments

Naomi4:46 PM
That's a very interesting article. I love trees but had never heard of that one before. Thanks for sharing that with us. I'm visiting you from the carnival.
Aparna3:33 PM
Thanks for visiting my blog, Naomi. Do try recipes with drumsticks if you can get them in England.
Anonymous6:11 PM
Interesting post. I look forward to seeing this herbal supplement in the U.S.
Anonymous11:04 PM
You did a great job with this post. I really didn’t know anything about drumsticks, although they look familiar so I may have seen pictures somewhere. I can’t believe how much I am learning from blogs these days.
Anonymous9:23 AM
Drumsticks or Moringa are high in calcium and dietary fibre, so it basically helps in bone development/nourishment & flushing out toxins from your body. It's part of a balanced diet regiment, and therefore a boon to you.
It wouldn't help you get thin, but will defintely help in keeping you healthy.
Anonymous8:38 AM
Drumstick pods are excellent cardio-protectors as they contain certain hypotensive compounds like thiocarbamate and isothiocyanate glycosides which help to lower blood pressure along with potassium. The fiber in the pods helps to lower cholesterol and prevent arterial clogs, thus reducing incidence of heart attacks and stroke.