Buckwheat (Kuttu) Benefits And Its Side Effects Tips

कूटू का वैज्ञानिक नाम फैगोपाईरम एस्कुलेंटम है. त्रिभुज की आकृति जैसा दिखने वाला कूटू गेहूं के समान ही होता है. भारत में कूटू की उपज हिमालय क्षेत्रों में ही की जाती है. कूटू का इस्तेमाल व्रतों या त्योहारों में विशेषरूप से सबसे ज्यादा किया जाता है. भारत में ये हिमालय के तराई क्षेत्रों में ही उगाया जाता है. दुनिया के अन्य देशों में चीन, रूस, कजाकिस्तान, यूक्रेन आदि में भी कूटू की उपज होती है. व्रत में इस्तेमाल किए जाने का मुख्य कारण कूटू का ऊर्जा में निहित ऊर्जा का महत्वपूर्ण स्रोत है.

कूटू लस से मुक्त होता है जिसके कारण यह गेहूं और राई का सबसे बेहतर विकल्प माना जा सकता है. जिन लोगों को गेहूं से एलर्जी होती है उनके लिए तो यह एक बेहतर विकल्प होता है. कूटू में पाए जाने वाले खनिज पदार्थों और पोषक तत्वों में मैग्नीशियम फाइबर लोहा और प्रोटीन प्रमुख है. इसके अलावा इसमें 8 तरह के एमिनो एसिड पाया जाता है. आइए कूटू के फायदे और नुकसान के बारे में जानें.

1. हड्डियों के लिए
कूटू का उपयोग हम हड्डियों को स्वस्थ रखने के लिए कर सकते हैं. क्योंकि कूटू में मैग्नीशियम कैल्शियम और फास्फोरस आदि की प्रचुरता होती है. इसके अलावा कूटू हमारे शरीर में ऊतकों के विकास में भी काफी सहायक साबित होता है. इससे ऑस्टियोपोरोसिस और गठिया जैसी बीमारियों को दूर करने में भी काफी मदद मिलती है.
2. शुगर के उपचार में
कूटू में टैनिन नाम का एक एंजाइम पाया जाता है. यह शरीर से स्टार्च के अवशोषण को रोकता है. इसके अलावा इंसुलिन एवं ग्लूकोज के स्तर को भी नियंत्रित करता है. जिससे शुगर के मरीजों के ग्लूकोज के स्तर में निरंतरता बनी रहती है. यानी ग्लूकोज के स्तर का बढ़ना यह घटना रुक जाता है.
3. ह्रदय से संबंधित विकारों में
फाइबर से समृद्ध कूटू हमारे हृदय को स्वस्थ रखने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाता है. क्योंकि इसमें पाया जाने वाला फाइबर हमारे शरीर से खराब कोलेस्ट्रॉल को दूर करने में सहायक होता है. इससे हमारे हृदय को स्वस्थ बने रहने में मदद मिलती है. कूटू के सेवन से धमनियों को सख्त होने और दिल के दौरे एवं स्ट्रोक जैसी स्थितियों से भी निजात पा सकते हैं.
4. पाचन तंत्र के लिए
कूटू में पाई जाने वाली फाइबर की भरपूर मात्रा हमारे शरीर के पाचन तंत्र को भी दुरुस्त करने का काम करती है. दिन में एक बार कूटू के सेवन से हमें पूरे दिन का लगभग 48 प्रतिशत फाइबर प्राप्त हो जाता है. इससे हमारे पाचन तंत्र को तेजी से काम करने में मदद मिलती है. पेट से संबंधित तमाम बीमारियां जैसे सूजन, कब्ज, पेट में दर्द, गैस, दस्त आदि से छुटकारा मिलता है.
5. कैंसर के उपचार में
कूटू का चोकर एंटीऑक्सीडेंट्स का समृद्ध स्रोत है. इसमें पाए जाने वाले एंटीऑक्सीडेंट्स कैंसर होने की संभावना को काफी हद तक कम करते हैं. क्योंकि एंटीऑक्सीडेंट्स हमारे शरीर में फ्री रेडिकल्स के प्रभाव को खत्म करके कोशिकाओं को पुनर्जीवन देने का काम करते हैं.
6. गेहूं के विकल्प के रूप में
कई लोगों को गेहूं खाने से एलर्जी की समस्या आने लगती है. ऐसे में लोगों लोग गेहूं के विकल्प के रूप में कूटू का इस्तेमाल कर सकते हैं. इसके इस्तेमाल से आप सूजन, मतली और जठार तंत्र संबंधी समस्याओं से भी छुटकारा पा सकते हैं.
7. उर्जा को बनाए रखने में
कूटू का नियमित सेवन हमारे शरीर में ऊर्जा के स्तर को लगातार बनाए रखता है. क्योंकि कूटू में नियत से या विटामिन बी 3 पाया जाता है. जो कि भोजन को ऊर्जा में परिवर्तित करके शरीर तक पहुंचाता है. यही नहीं यह कई पोषक तत्वों को ऊर्जा में बदल कर शरीर में उर्जा के स्तर को बनाए रखता है.
8. मोटापा कम करने में
कूटू का नियमित सेवन मोटापा कम कम करने वाले व्यक्तियों के लिए काफी लाभदायक होता है. कूटू में पाया जाने वाला फाइबर भूख को नियंत्रित करता है. जिससे कि आपको जल्दी जल्दी भूख नहीं लगती है. इसके अलावा इसमें अन्य पोषक तत्वों की भी मौजूदगी होती है.
9. लाल रक्त कोशिकाओं की वृद्धि में
कूटू में पाए जाने वाले खनिज पदार्थों में मैग्नीशियम और कैल्शियम भी होते हैं. इसके अलावा इसमें कॉपर और आयरन भी पाए जाते हैं. जो कि हमारे शरीर में एनीमिया की संभावना को खत्म करते हैं. शरीर में पर्याप्त मात्रा में कॉपर और आयरन की मौजूदगी हमारे रक्त में लाल रक्त कोशिकाओं के निर्माण को बढ़ाते हैं. जिससे हमारा रक्त संचरण में मदद मिलती है.

कूटू के नुकसान

• जिन्हें इससे एलर्जी है वो लोग कूटू का सेवन न करें.
• ज्यादा पुराने कूटू के आटे का प्रयोग करने से समस्या हो सकती है.
• अधिक मात्रा में कूटू के सेवन से बचें.
   

You know about your vitamins and proteins. But do you really? not many of us are aware of the nutrients that our body needs and their functions. But unless we understand the value of the nutrients, we’ll never be able to appreciate their need in our diet. Vitamin b17 is one such nutrient which is often overlooked.

Known more commonly as amygdalin, this anti-cancerous vitamin is a member of the vitamin b-complex family. A well-known alternative cure for cancer, vitamin b17 is quite effective in lowering tumors and curbing metastasis. It terminates the cancerous cells, safeguards the body from the onset, development, and spread of cancer in future, and gives your immune system a good boost. The foods that contain this vitamin are known as nitrilosides. Before getting to know about the vitamin b17 foods, lets take a closer look at how beneficial this vitamin is for us.

Vitamin b 17 - benefits for health:

Along with being an acknowledged alternative medicine for cancer, this b 17 vitamin is believed to render other health benefits too:

• The anti-hypertensive properties of this vitamin help in keeping the blood pressure levels under control, which in turns help thwart off various cardiovascular diseases.
• Vitamin b17 is known to boost the potential of the immune system.
• This vitamin is also used as a complete tonic to boost your overall health.
• Laetrile is also known to help the body with its detoxification and cleansing process.

An interesting fact:

If you do a google search on vitamin b17, many results that pop up contain a word called laetrile, which is used as a synonym for this vitamin. However, in reality, laetrile is the synthetic form of b 17 and is derived from amygdalin. Laetrile is available in various forms in the market, including injections, lotions, tablets, and even suppositories.

Now that you know what is vitamin b17 and what its benefits are, let us see where this vitamin is found naturally:

Top 7 natural vitamin b17 foods:

1. Seeds:

Seeds, especially apricot seeds, top the list of rich vitamin b 17 foods. You can also find this vitamin in the seeds of prunes, pears, peaches, nectarines, cherries, and even apples. Flax seeds, squash seeds, millet seeds and buckwheat seeds also contain this vitamin in moderate amounts.

2. Nuts:

Nuts are rich of assorted nutrients, including minerals and proteins. Almonds, especially the bitter ones, along with macadamia nuts and cashew nuts, contain vitamin b17, with bitter almonds leading the list. Macadamia comes next and finally the cashews. However, researchers have indicated that these nuts are highly toxic and have been banned in the us. Nevertheless, bitter almonds are used for manufacturing extracts and to give liqueurs that distinct flavor.

3. Fruits:

Berries – including raspberry, strawberry, currants, cranberry, and blackberry – contain admirable quantities of this anti-cancerous vitamin. Not to forget quinoa, gooseberry, and mulberry! however, the surprising fact is that the wild berries contain vitamin b17 in quite high amounts.

4. Sprouts:

Bamboo spouts lead this list with a high dose followed by the sprouts of alfalfa, garbanzo, and whole green gram.

5. Leaves:

The leaves of alfalfa and eucalyptus contain high amounts of vitamin b17. Spinach leaves are also potential sources of this vitamin, but in traces.

6. Tubers:

Check out your favorite yam, cassava, and sweet potato. They all contain this vitamin, with cassava leading the list. Despite being a rich source of protein, cassava leaves should be cooked properly to avoid the conversion of cyanogenic glucosides into cyanide.

7. Beans:

Opt for assorted beans to get vitamin b17. Choose for fava, black, kidney, lima, and garbanzo that are rich in this vitamin. Cook them or just sprout them and include them in your diet to get this vitamin.

Apple

Apples have a rounded shape with a depression at the top where the stem is attached. Some apples are almost perfectly round, while others are more rounded at the top and narrower at the bottom. In addition, some have knobby lobes at the calyx end (bottom) of the fruit. Apple fruits are firm and the skin is shiny and smooth. The color of the skin can be red, green, yellow, or a combination of those colors. The flesh is white or ivory.

Health Benefits of Apple

Bone Protection
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.

Asthma Help
One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.

Alzheimer's Prevention
A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.

Lower Cholesterol
The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.

Cantaloupe

Fresh, juicy cantaloupe with slices ready to eat

The cantaloupe is a melon that belongs to the same family as the cucumber, squash, pumpkin and gourd, and like many of its relatives, it grows on the ground on a trailing vine. It is round or oval in shape and usually has a ribless rind. Having a distinctive netted skin, it is also referred to as netted melon. Many of the cantaloupes available today are hybrids of muskmelons and true cantaloupes and have qualities that reflect both.

Cantaloupes range in color from orange-yellow to salmon and have a soft and juicy texture with a sweet, musky aroma that emanates through the melon when it is ripe. Cantaloupes feature a hollow cavity that contains their seeds encased in a web of netting.

Health Benefits of Cantaloupe

• Cantaloupe is very helpful in improving lung health for smokers.
• Cantaloupe is a Superfood for skin because just one serving (1/4 medium melon) is an excellent source of vitamins A and vitamin C. These vitamins encourages the skin cell turnover and supports the formation of collagen the connective tissues that give your skin its elasticity and youthful fullness.
• It is good for complexion and digestion.
• Cantaloupe has potassium. It helps in rebalancing the heartbeat and sends oxygen to the brain and regulates the body's water balance.
• It has high content of folate (folic acid), which prevents neural tube defects in infants.

Beneficial in the Following Illnesses

• Fever
• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Rheumatism
• Arthritis
• Disorders of the kidneys and bladder
• Constipation
• Abdominal and stomach gas
• Skin diseases
• Blood deficiencies
• May help prevent cancer in organs and glands with epithelial tissue due to its high Vitamin A content.

There are a number of potential benefits from corn oil, including its ability to prevent oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, lower “bad” cholesterol, protect the skin, boost vision health and minimize allergic reactions, among others. However, there are also some side effects you need to consider, including weight gain, a higher risk of cancer, and potential toxicity. Some of these side effects are heavily dependent on the type of corn oil you use, and the manner in which it was extracted from the corn itself.

Corn oil is derived from the germ of the corn plant, one of the most widely grown and relied on crops in the world. Due to this huge availability, corn oil is one of the most inexpensive vegetable oils, and thus one of the most popular. Corn oil can be acquired through an extended process of expeller pressing, refinement, and steam distillation. While this creates an oil that has a very high smoke point, making it ideal for cooking purposes, it also saps many of the beneficial compounds from the oil, in which case, there are few health benefits. That being said, even the unrefined version of this oil is very high in fat and calories, and is considered less healthy than many other vegetable oils, such as olive or almond oil. If you want to benefit from using corn oil, seek out varieties that have been cold-pressed, and are labeled organic or unrefined. These will have a lower smoke point, but will also possess the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that provide corn oil’s various health benefits.

Uses, benefits and nutrition facts of corn oil

• People primarily use corn oil as a cooking oil, due to its semi-neutral flavor and cost, in comparison to other vegetable oils. However, some people use organic corn oil in medicinal or topical applications, and even as a massage oil. The efficacy of this oil for health depends on the source and processing method of the oil. Unrefined, organic corn oil delivers some benefits, as explained below.
• Cholesterol levels: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are both needed by the body, as they can help to control inflammation and excess cholesterol. However, these fats aren’t balanced in most forms of corn oil, particularly in refined varieties. Therefore, this oil can reduce blood pressure and balance cholesterol in very limited quantities, so use the oil sparingly when cooking.
• Inflammation: both omega-3 and omega-6 are known to work against inflammation, when consumed in moderation in the body. This can help relieve symptoms of arthritis, as well as headaches, gastrointestinal problems and even inflammatory conditions of the skin. 
• Vision health: there are other ingredients besides fats in corn oil, such as flavonoids and antioxidants, such as lutein, which can reduce free radical activity in the body. Specifically, lutein is able to protect vision health and prevent the development of cataracts.
• Antioxidant effects: monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, flavonoids, and vitamin e all have antioxidant properties, which can help reduce oxidative stress throughout the body. When used in moderation, this oil can help to prevent chronic disease, and even lower the occurrence of certain cancers, while also helping to make the skin look and feel younger.
• Allergies: some of the compounds in corn oil have been known to reduce allergic reactivity in the body, helping to keep symptoms of asthma and rhinitis at bay. Although corn oil is rarely used as a topical oil, it can help allergic reactions on the skin when applied directly.
• Skin conditions: whether you use corn oil directly on your skin or consume small amounts of it, the antioxidants and tocopherols in the oil will help prevent skin infections and help to relieve irritation, blemishes, eczema and psoriasis. It can even help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other age spots. However, remember that this oil is very high in fat, and should always be consumed in moderation, no matter how good it makes your skin look!

Nutritional facts

Although there is some debate about the health effects of corn oil, the nutritional facts of this oil are quite clear, and when used in responsible amounts, this oil can provide certain key nutrients to the body. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can be found in high levels in unrefined corn oil. This includes linoleic and oleic acids, although when it comes to the balance of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in corn oil, the ratio is far from ideal. There are nearly 50 times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, whereas the recommended ratio is 1: 1. You can also benefits from the high levels of vitamin e in this oil, as well as limited levels of vitamin a, xanthins and trace amounts of other antioxidant compounds.

Side effects of corn oil

There are numerous side effects of corn oil, including potential toxicity, increased risk of cancer, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stomach irritation, and weight gain. Even when used in small amounts, people seeking a healthy vegetable oil are typically directed away from corn oil. If you are going to use this oil, however, be sure to use organic and unrefined corn oil, which will have the highest level of potentially beneficial compounds.

• Heart health – although there are some monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in corn oil, the balance of omega-3 to omega-6 is wildly skewed, and this oil remains very high in fat. A single tablespoon contains more than 20% of your daily fat allowance. It can cause cholesterol problems for some who use an excessive amount, particular those who are already dealing with cardiovascular issues.
• Cancer – some studies have found a connection between excess levels of omega-6 fatty acid and increased levels of prostate cancer. While certain elements of corn oil can help prevent cancer, others may increase your risk in other ways.
•  Toxicity – due to the high level of herbicide and pesticide use in agricultural practices, and the various countries where corn oil can be produced, there is a chance of toxicity in this oil. This can manifest in trouble with your liver and kidneys. As mentioned before, it is important to know exactly where your corn oil comes from.
• Obesity – corn oil may have some health benefits, but it is also very high in calories (more than 120 per tablespoon, compared to 40 per tablespoon of olive oil). As a result, excessive use of this oil can significantly boost your daily caloric intake, and you may not even realize it, easily compromising your weight loss goals.

Turmeric is a root which is used in our kitchen and lives widely in various forms.It is staple in all Indian Cooking and used to fix health problems in every Indian household.With its primary compound curcumin,it gives the dishes that lovely yellow tinge. 

This golden spice is known for its health benefits but because of some of its side effects, turmeric may not be worth taking for some people.And hence it is always better to speak with your doctor before you use turmeric to treat any health condition that you have.

Turmeric is available in the powder form which is used for cooking and supplements also available in the capsule form, but out of all raw turmeric is considered to be the most effective.

Daily walnut consumption could have beneficial effects when it comes to delaying age-related health issues. Findings from walnuts and healthy aging study indicate that eating the nuts could positively impact blood cholesterol levels without adverse effects on body weight among older adults.

The trial, conducted by researchers from the hospitals clinic of Barcelona, Spain, and Loma Linda university, us, saw 707 healthy older adults divided into two groups. One group added daily doses of walnuts totaling around 15% of their caloric intake to their diets while the other group stayed off the nuts. The walnut-eating group experienced significant LDL cholesterol reductions.

Carom (ajwain) is a crucial herb that is found in all Indian kitchens and is used primarily as a taste enhancer. Carom has numerous medicinal properties that make it beneficial for maintaining a good condition of your health. Dietary regime that utilizes carom on a regular basis can derive a lot of health benefits in the long term.

The following are some of the benefits of carom:

1. Acidity- Carom has anti-acidity properties that can prove beneficial in providing relief from the symptoms of acidity and enables you to control your problem your acidity effectively. A solution made from a pinch of salt, carom and lukewarm water, when consumed every morning or post meal on a regular basis, works wonders.
2. Asthma- The smoke of carom seeds act as a bronchodilator that is effective in easing the breathing pattern. If an asthma patient utilizes the mixture of carom seeds and jaggery twice daily on a regular basis, it will provide considerable relief from the discomforts that are associated with asthma.
3. Diabetes- Carom has medicinal properties that aid you to control your blood sugar level. Consumption of a solution made from a tsp of neem powder, half tsp of cumin powder, carom seeds and a glass of hot milk on a regular basis can help you manage your blood sugar.
4. Cold and migraine- Carom can be utilized for the treatment of recurrent and persistent cough and cold. Inhalation of grounded carom seeds is effective in providing relief from constant headache, cold and migraine.
5. Stomach problems- Carom seeds have mild alcoholic properties that can be utilized to treat the problem of stomach pain and indigestion. A mixture of carom seed and salt when consumed with a sip of water is effective in providing relief from the symptoms of indigestion and stomachache.
6. Menstrual cramps- Application of carom seed oil can help you achieve speedy relief from the discomfort of menstrual cramps. The seeds of carom act as an effective nerve tonic and reduce the intensity of menstrual cramps.
7. Sperm count- Carom seeds are effective in increasing sperm count and can also be utilized to treat sexual dysfunctions. Roast a mixture of tamarind kernel, carom seeds and clarified butter; add a tsp of the mixture and honey to a glass of milk and consume it on a regular basis prior to sleep to achieve speedy results.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!