
Friday, March 6, 2009
Petty Shop Sweets!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tender Coconut Benefits
- Good for feeding infants suffering from intestinal disturbances.
- Oral rehydration medium for various diseases such as diarrhoea.
- Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties.
- Keeps the body cool and prevents dehydration.
- Application on the body prevents prickly heat and summer boils and subsides the rashes caused by small pox, chicken pox, measles, etc.
- Kills intestinal worms.
- Checks urinary infections and effective in the treatment of kidney and urethral stones.
- Excellent tonic for the old and sick.
- Cures malnourishment by meeting the energy requirements.
- It acts as a Diuretic balance your pH and reduce risk of cancer.
- It can be injected intravenously in emergency case.
- Found as blood plasma substitute because it is sterile, does not produce heat, does not destroy red blood cells and is readily accepted by the body.
- Aids the quick absorption of the drugs and makes their peak concentration in the blood easier by its electrolytic effect.
- Urinary antiseptic and eliminates poisons in case of mineral poisoning.
- Coconut helps detoxify and flush toxins out of the body and cleanses your digestive tract.
- Coconut heals hot flashes and restores emotional stability in menopausal women.
- Boosts immune system.
- It has more potassium and lesser sodium than any sports or energy drink .
- Coconut water contains high levels of lauric acid which is what is used by the body to make monolaurin -– a disease fighting fatty acid derivative. Lauric acid has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties which protect the body against various infections and boosts the immune system.
Coconut water also helps relieve constipation, improves intestinal function and promotes digestive health -– it is often recommended to people suffering from acidity and ulcers.
Constipation, sluggish digestion and heartburn
are common problems during pregnancy and can be helped to some extent by drinking
coconut water. Thats the reason doctors recommend pregnant women to drink tender coconut water during pregnancy.
In the heat of summer when you are looking for something other than water to quench your thirst, you can have this nutritious and refreshing beverage instead of sugar and calorie laden aerated drinks and fruit juices. It is naturally sterile and so perfect for drinking while travelling without the fear of contamination.
Image Courtesy: Internet
Content Courtesy : Sanjana Dietician , Manipal Group of Hospitals , Mangalore, India.
Friday, February 27, 2009
First Birthday for my Blog!

Thanks everyone once again. And again. Happy Birthday abigeeth.blogspot.com !!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Herbs of India - Part 4

Monday, February 16, 2009
Herbs of India - Part 3

Indian gooseberry has been used as valuable ingredient of various medicines in India and abroad. Indian gooseberry also called Amla in Hindi, increases red blood cell count. It is one of the highest natural source of Vitamin C (3,000 mg per fruit) .Amla is known as amritphala in Sanskrit, which literally means "the fruit of heaven" or "nectar fruit." It is so called because it is rich in many desirable properties. It was described in a 7th century literature that several scholars and sage the sage is reputed to have restored their vitality with this fruit.
Beneficial points :
Respiratory disorders:
Indian gooseberry is beneficial in the treatment of respiratory disorders. It is especially valuable in tuberculosis of the lungs asthma and bronchitis.
Diabetes:
This herb, due to its high vitamin C content, is effective in controlling diabetes. A tablespoon of its juice mixed with a cup of bitter gourd juice, taken daily for two months. Will stimulates the pancreas and enable is to secrete insulin, thus reducing the blood sugar in the diabetes. Diet restrictions should be strictly observed while taking this medicine. It will also prevent eye complication in diabetes.
Heart Disorder: Indian gooseberry is considered an effective remedy for heart disease. It tones up the functions of all the organs of the body and builds up health by destroying the heterogeneous or harmful and disease causes elements. It also renews energy.
Eye disorder: The juice of Indian Gooseberry with honey is useful in preserving eyesight. It is beneficial in the treatment of conjunctivitis and glaucoma. It reduces intracular tension in a remarkable manner. a cup of juice mixed with honey can be taken twice daily for this condition.
Rheumatism: To treat rheumatism a teaspoon of the powder of the dry fruit mixed with 2 teaspoons of jaggery can be taken twice daily for a month.
Scurvy:As an extremely rich source of vitamin C, Indian gooseberry is one of the best remedy for scurvy. Powder of the dry herb, mixed with an equal quantity of sugar, can be taken in doses of 1 teaspoon, thrice daily with milk.
Ageing: Indian gooseberry has revitalizing effects, as it contains an element which is very valuable in preventing ageing and in maintaining strength in old age .It improves body resistance and protect the body against infection. It strengthens the heart, hair and different gland in the body.
Hair Tonic:
Indian gooseberry is an accepted hair tonic in traditional recipes for enriching hair growth and pigmentation. The fruit, cut into pieces is dried preferably in the shade. These pieces are boiled in coconut oil till the solid matter becomes charres. This darkish oil is excellent in preventing graying .The water is which dried amla pieces are soaked overnight is also nourishing to hair and can be used for the last rinse while washing the hair. Indian gooseberry is used in various ways. The best way to take it with the least loss vitamin C, is to eat it raw with a little salt. It is often used in the form of pickles and it is dried and powdered. The berry may also be used as a vegetable. It is boiled in a small amount of water till soft and taken with a little salt.
Other Uses:
The root bark is astringent and is useful in stomach ulcers.The bark is useful in gonorrhea, jaundice and diarrhea.
The leaves are useful in curing conjunctivtis , inflammation, indigestion, diarrhea and dysentery. The fruits are sour, astringent, bitter, sweet, cooling, digestive, laxative, anti pyretic, diuretic and tonic. Amala fruit aids digestion, cures flatulence, helps correct body functions and metabolism
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Herbs of India - Part 2

Thulsi or Holy Basil
Holy Basil is commonly grown in Hindu homes and it is a sacred plant in the Hindu religion. Native to India , Tulsi has a long tradition of use in ayurvedic medicine.Holy Basil has been used for thousands of years as a prime herb in ayurvedic treatment, and is mentioned in the Charak Samhita (the central teaching of ayurvedic medicine) which was written at least two thousand years ago.
Beneficial points:
1.Used in ayurvedic medicine for common colds, headachesstomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning, and malaria.
2.considered an adaptogen, which means that it assists the body adapt to stress (environmental, physical, or chemical), restore balance in the body, and normalize body functions
3. It is currently being studied for its beneficial properties and has been found to be effective for cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, stress, wound healing, the immune system.
4. Research has proved that liver support and protection, hypoglycemic conditions, ulcers, digestion, chronic fatigue syndrome, arthritis, radiation poisoning, cataracts, the memory, respiratory system, urinary problems, eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions, been treated successfully.
5.It is an antioxidant.
Contraindications:
Not recommended for use if pregnant, nursing, or are considering becoming pregnant (may have an anti-fertility effect). Do not administer to infants or toddlers. May lower blood sugar, consult a doctor if hypoglycemic (in separate studies, it has also been shown to be beneficial for those with hypoglycemia). Holy Basil has mild blood thinning properties.
To be continued ................................
Courtesy : Pacific Botanicals.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Herbs of India - Part 1

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.
To be continued.....................
Courtesy : http://www.indiabook.com/
Image Courtesy : Internet.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Guilt free snacks :

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Body Butter

There different types of skin types but basically they can be categorised into 3 namely
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Vaccation 2008
Disneyland Castle dec 2008:

Friday, January 16, 2009
Pongalo Pongal

Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy NewYear 2009
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Christmas Shopping
Friday, December 12, 2008
Calcium & Bones -Part 2

If your daily diet alone does not provide adequate Calcium, it is recommended to take a multi-vitamin supplement that contains Calcium and Vitamin-D. At the same time, latest research suggests that food items that are rich in calcium help to strengthen bone better than supplements taken in the form of pills.

As i said earlier, Vitamin D is essential for Calcium absorption in the body. The amount of Vitamin D required for Calcium absorption grows with age. If you get adequate sunlight, taking a walk out in the sun with light clothing for about 30 minutes gives you enough Vitamin D for the day.
The vitamin D is measured in terms of international unit called IU. Daily recommended intake quantity of vitamin D is shown in the picture below.

To be continued............................
Calcium & Bones Part - 1

I used to think that women don’t have to worry about frail bones until they get older. I was wrong! I found out too late that women of all ages need to take steps to keep their bones strong. Unfortunately, like me, many more women already are at risk for bone weakness. Bone strength in later life depends on the development of bones earlier in life. Adequate calcium intake during youth is essential to achieve peak bone mass.
Everyone knows that calcium is essential for building strong bones and teeth. But did you know that it is also important for maintaining a normal heartbeat and regulating blood pressure – and it even helps with the healthy functioning of your nerve system
There are many diseases that is associated with bone weakness, but to name a few which is very commonly found in women (especially in old age, but not necessarily) are osteoporosis , osteopenia etc.
How can I find out if I have weak bones?There are tests you can get to find out your bone strength, also called bone density. There are also other types of bone strength tests too. Talk with your doctor about which type of test is best for you. Don’t wait until age 65. You have a higher chance for breaks.
How can I prevent weak bones?
The best way to prevent weak bones is easy―start by building strong ones.
No matter how old you are, it is never too late to start! Although building strong bones during childhood and adolescence is the best. But there are steps you can take to stop your bones from becoming weak and brittle.
- Get enough calcium each day (Just a rough estimate) - about 1000 mg till age 50. After which it may need to be increased to 1200 mg.
- Get enough vitamin D each day - which helps your body to absorb the calcium.
- Healthy diet
- Be active
- Avoid smoking/alcohol/caffeine
Examples of Calcium-rich Foods
Dairy Foods
(for overall health, choose fat-free or low fat products)
Milk
Yogurt
Cheese (5 grams fat or less per ounce)
Non-dairy foods
Chinese cabbage (bok choy), cooked
Figs, dried
Greens (dandelion, kale, mustard, turnip), cooked
Salmon, Sardines, canned with bones
Soy nuts
Fortified foods
(be sure to select foods with calcium added)
Breakfast bars, Granola bars, Cereal bars
Cereal
Juices
Soymilk
Rice milk
Tofu
Waffles
To know more varieties of food that contains different amount of calcium content in it you may visit / click this link in blue color.
Reading food labels for calcium content
The food label does not list calcium in milligrams. Instead, the label lists % Daily Value (%DV) for calcium in each serving. 100% of the DV for calcium is equal to 1000 mg of calcium per day.
To find the calcium content (mg per serving) from %Daily Value:
Read the %DV for calcium per serving.For example: 1 serving (1 ounce) lowfat cheese contains 20% Calcium.
Determine the calcium in each serving (mg/serving): Simply replace the % from the DV with a "0."For example: 20% Calcium = 200 mg calcium.
Terminology & Definitions
A "Calcium-fortified" or "Calcium enriched" food has 10% or more of the calcium DV added (100mg or more of calcium is added when compared to the same serving of a similar type of non-fortified food).
An "Excellent source" of calcium contains 20% or more of the calcium DV (200mg or more).
A "Good source" of calcium contains 10% to 19% of the calcium DV (100 to 190mg).
NOTE: At the same time excess of calcium intake may be unwise too. It may result in kidney stones, cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and so on. So it is advisable to stay within the range of daily calcium intake quantity.
To be continued .........................................
Source courtetsy - NY state department of health
Image sourcee - Internet
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Happy Happenings!
1st Place Winner: Srinidhi Suresh - Middle.Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Naming the natural calamities :
I was pretty unhappy during the long weekend becoz of two major incidents that happened in India. 1. Mumbai terror attack 2. Cyclone Nisha in Tamilnad.The name of the cyclone, sounded funny to me at first. But later i was thinking about it and realised that there should be a reason behind it. And then did some research on it, and here comes the result. Presenting with humble, the few bits of knowledge that i read out of curiosity.
What is a tropical cyclone?
A tropical cyclone is the generic term for something like a thunderstorm activity.The terms hurricane and typhoon are regionally-specific names for a strong tropical cyclone.
Tropical cyclones are categorised below based on their intensity:
Hurricane - in the North Atlantic Ocean and the north-east Pacific Ocean regions
Typhoon - in the north-west Pacific Ocean region
Tropical cyclone - in other regions, including the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean.
How do they get their names?
Tropical cyclones are named to provide ease of communication between forecasters and the general public, regarding forecasts, watches and warnings. Since the storms can often last a week or even longer, and more than one can be occurring in the same region at the same time, names can reduce the confusion about what storm is being described.
Who name them ?
The lists are decided on, depending on the regions, either by committees of the World Meteorological Organization (called primarily to discuss many other issues), or by national weather offices involved in the forecasting of the storms. Each year, the names of particularly destructive storms (if there are any) are "retired" and new names are chosen to take their place.
Source courtesy : world wide tropical cyclone center.
Image Courtesy : Internet
Friday, November 28, 2008
My favourite clicks - Part 2
1. Long shot - Lake George , NY.
2. I just fell in love with this lovely bike with a bull's horn at the bottom of the handle bar.(Lake George NY - 2004):
Ganesh Chathurthi at our house:
This is a private residence for Dr. Emlen Physick and his family built on 1879. The 18-room mansion is now Cape May's only Victorian house museum and is administered by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts. Entertaining and educational guided tours of the Estate run year-round.
Took this picture from our garden , a beautiful Old-garden-rose plant on 2006:
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Haphazard Unelightened!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Hurray Long weekend!
But im planning to take lot of pictures so u can expect some pictures on my next post. Have a great long weekend folks.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Noneother than Nambiar!

Monday, November 17, 2008
What is black friday?

Saturday, November 15, 2008
Children's Day - Nostalgia !
And now, they pronounced my name & said that I was a winner. I was happy but not surprised. Because i was so confident. Wish i have some now. My dad was so happy when he heard the announcement. And then my dad asked me to send the speech in written format to the prime minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi at that time . I did what my dad said ( at that age ! :-))) And to my surprise i was happy when i saw a congratulating letter from Rajiv Gandhi's personal secretary, which came to me within a month. I still have that letter. I would definitely post it in my blog later. All such sweet memorable events, happened during our childhood stays forever. Wish we could have a rewind button in life !
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
veterans day2008

Its a day where they show their gratitude for the people who have served the country (in military)and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This is something good about the country & their people's attitude towards their countrymen. Well , this gave me an insight that , we do not have something like that in our country. Surprising huh! Though we have honored few from the huge amount of freedom fighters like Gandhiji & Nehruji & others. But why dont have honor everyone? Some might say that we have the Independence day where we honor them all. But wait all the countries in the world has an Independence day. Why would they(some of them) have allocted a day seperately & specially for veterans. I have no answer!
Hate Mondays ? Love Fridays !

Well i hear some people (mostly men!) often saying this word "I HATE MONDAY", they just hate geting up, shutting down the alarmclock, hate the taughts of a weeks work/school/college. Sundays make them angry and depressed because a whole week has gone by and they have to get back to work/school the next day. They might also fantasize and wish mondays were a day of rest.And that fridays make them feel so relaxed.
I personalized not hate all Mondays, but sometimes i just feel a little bit lazy to start a new task in the morning esp. after a long weekend.
New research shows that people's beliefs about being in a better mood at the end of the week than at the beginning is really just a bias in the way human memory works. In reality, people's moods do not change dramatically over the course of the week, and people are not vastly happier on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings than they are on Mondays.
Stereotypes like 'Monday morning blues' and 'TGIF -- Thank God It's Friday' are largely inaccurate theories of how moods vary" day by day.
The reason lies in the difference between people's actual moods on any given day and how they remember them later, and it reflects the difference between two different mental processes. Memory is partly about recollection and partly about the meanings we associate with events. Fridays mean liberation from the chores of the workweek, and Mondays mean putting on the yoke again. Those meanings influence our recollections of our moods: When a conflict arises between meaning and memory, meaning usually wins.
Now please take a look at the funny video below:
Hate Mondays? Love Fridays
Source courtesy : Department of Human Behaviour by Shankar Vedantam.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Winter Blues

- A change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods
- Weight gain
- A drop in energy level
- Fatigue
- A tendency to oversleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability and anxiety
- Increased sensitivity to social rejection
- Avoidance of social situations and a loss of interest in the activities you used to enjoy
So there are several treatments for this depression which includes, light therapy, anti-depressive drugs, and counselling. Since its a new thing for someone from tropical countries like India, we find it little weird. Although most of us would not go for anti-depressive drugs/counselling it is real simple to get rid of such a feeling but invloving ourselves into as much activities as we could and make use of the day light time, from my personal experience. Well , after all, we people are super smart adaptive to any places, regions, situations!!!
Source Courtesy - webmd.com
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Static

Almost all of us are familiar with static electricity especially during the winter. On dry winter days, static electricity can build up in our bodies and cause a spark to jump from our bodies to pieces of metal or other people's bodies. We can see, feel and hear the sound of the spark when it jumps. you come inside from the cold, pull off your Jacket and......there you go Static electricity makes your hair stand while removing your jacket on end. Or You walk across people, or atleast sit beside them, again you get a static shock. What is going on here? And why do static problems only seem to happen in the winter?
Everything around us is made of atom, which is the smallest part of any element that can no longer be divided. An atom is composed of charged particles called Protons, Electrons & Neutrons. Where ,
Protons - are positively charged
Electrons- are negetively charged and
Neutrons - have no charge they are neutral.
Now, positive and negative charges behave in interesting ways. You might've probably heard that the opposites attract? Two things with opposite, or different charges (a positive and a negative) will attract, or pull towards each other. Things with the same charge (two positives or two negatives) will repel, or push away from each other. A charged object will also attract something that is neutral.
So what does all this have to do with static shocks? When you take off your wool hat, it rubs against your hair. Electrons move from your hair to the hat. A static charge builds up and now each of the hairs has the same positive charge. things with the same charge repel each other. So the hairs try to get as far from each other as possible. The farthest they can get is by standing up and away from the others. And that is how static electricity causes a bad hair day! Now lets see hoe to reduce the occurance of static.
Stating eliminating tips :
1. Increase humidity using humidifiers
2.Change clothes - switch to natural fibers, since synthetics pick up more of a static charge.
3. If your skin is very dry - try an anti-static hand lotion or atleast any moisturising lotion.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama Wins !

Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.

Please take a look at the video below. I found it real funny.







