Grandmas Pouch

How Do Different Utensils Impact Your Health?

Stainless Steel: It is the most commonly used iron alloy made up of chromium, nickel, carbon and silicon and has aluminium or copper coating at the bottom for heating purposes. Stainless steel is considered the safest metal to use for cooking as it does not react with food or flake or leach harmful chemicals into the food leading to no adverse effects on the immune system.

Aluminium: Our baking utensils are mostly made up of aluminum as the metal is ideal for high temperatures. Aluminum also has a larger than life use in our Indian Kitchen, in the form of utensils or a foil wrap. Food cooked in aluminum utensils tends to absorb aluminum because aluminum dissolves into food and water during the cooking process. But cooking alkaline foods in aluminum is completely safe for our immune system as the amount of aluminum soaked is very less. It is always better to avoid cooking acidic food like tomatoes or sauerkraut in aluminum as it can react quite badly with the metal and may release harmful compounds in your meal, making it dangerous to consume.

Cast Iron: A very popular metal for our kitchens. All our kadhai, tavas and skillets are made of Cast Iron. Cooking in iron is an excellent way to add some iron in our diet as it leaches iron into our food. Iron is not only a metal but also an essential mineral required by the body. Imagine cooking an iron rich food in an iron pan, this would help you add value to the daily required Iron for your body. For example , premenopausal women require 18mg of iron per day and A serving of scrambled eggs cooked in a cast iron skillet increased from 1.49 mg to 4.76 mg of iron. And along with it, we can prepare tomato sauce in an iron pan that can provide 5mg off iron which is 60% of RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance). Infact, cooking regularly in iron utensils can help you hit the struggle to achieve daily iron RDA.

Non-Stick: Mostly called as Teflon coating, this is an easy cookware to use and clean. But unfortunately, as a Nutritionist, I do not recommend excessive use of these utensils as the chemicals used to manufacture the non-stick coating can harm human health by causing abnormal thyroid hormone levels, liver inflammation, cancer, elevated cholesterol and reduced immune system response. We can use non-stick for a few recipes like pancakes, cheela or dosa which is not a daily staple meal. But, I would not recommend making paranthas or subzis on a daily basis.

Glassware: Considered another Neutral cookware and a good heat conductor to consider for baking your dishes. Although a few unhealthy components such as lead and cadmium leach out in food while cooking but the amount is minimal to harm human health.

Ceramic: is considered to be the safest when it comes to healthy cooking. An environment friendly cookware made using all-natural clay, water and gas. This can be a great replacement for dishes we cook in Teflon non-stick pans and pots as it does not affect the immune system adversely.

Copper: An excellent metal to promote health from your kitchen. Copper utensils with tin or nickel coatings can be used for cooking rice due to its antibacterial properties or storing drinking water due to its medicinal properties, the ability to improve the digestive system, slow down ageing and heal wounds faster. Copper can also detoxify the body and increase Hemoglobin. But you need to take care while cooking in copper as acidic foods react with copper and can hinder the taste.

Every metal has its own pros and cons. The ideal way to cook is to choose the perfect cookware as per the recipe. Try some more ancient methods of cooking in iron, clay/earthen pots as they are not only safe but loaded with various health benefits like retaining/adding nutritive value to the food and helping the immune system.

Drink plenty of water keep your self hydrated
Lemon juice
Fresh fruit juices

Sleep
Is very important to rejuvenated
8 to 10 hours

Air
keep windows open
Visit a beach or garden once a week

Sunshine
Daily Expose your arms legs hands face to early morning sunlight

Diet
Let food be your medicine and not medicine your food
Let your kitchen be your clinic

Exercise
Deep breathing
Stretching
Walking

Carrot-Orange Juice (Boost your immunity)

Ingredients:
Half kg tender carrots wash and peeled if required and soak in water for 30 mins.
3 oranges peeled and deseeded.
1 inch fresh ginger.
1 cup boiled and cooked water.
Preparation:
Cut the carrots, oranges and ginger in cubes and blend in mixer.
Filter and drink the juice immediately.

AROMATHERAPY

Aromatherapy, or essential oil therapy, refers to a range of traditional, alternative or complementary therapies that use essential oils and other aromatic plant compounds.

Take
orange peels/
Lemon peels/
Sweetlimes/
Ginger slices/
Tulsi leaves/
Neem leaves /
Curry leaves/
Marigold flower petlals/
Rose petals

Boil for 15 mins and add to your bath water

You will feel relaxed
Rejuvenated
And refreshed

Increased blood circulation

Skin texture.
Healthy hair and skin

Why Clean Your Glass Stove?
As this is an essential appliance for making food, it should be one of the most hygienic pieces of equipment in your kitchen. But a lot of people often overlook the stove when cleaning. Your stove tops can look beautiful if kept clean and shiny. What’s more, keeping it clean is also hygienic.

Ingredients to Keep Handy:
a) Warm water

b) Large bowl or small bucket

c) Dishwashing liquid

d) Cloth

e) Vinegar

f) Baking soda

g) Toothbrush

h) Sponge

Step 1: Remove Detachable Parts
Remove various parts of the stovetop that are detachable. These would include the burner grates and the rings of the burners. Once the burner rings have been removed, the burners themselves will be exposed. Refer to the user manual for instructions, if needed.



Step 2: Soak Them
Make a mixture comprising 8-9 cups of warm water and 2 tbsp. of dishwashing liquid in a small bucket or even a bowl large enough to hold these parts. Our preferred choice is Vim Dishwash Gel, which is easily available in the market. Refer to the instructions on the pack to understand the correct usage method. Soak these removable parts in the warm, soapy water while you get on with the rest of the cleaning.

Step 3: Wipe Your Stove
While the burner elements are soaking, clean the rest of the stove surface. Start by wiping away any loose pieces of food or dirt using a cloth.

Step 4: Use Vinegar and Baking Soda
Make a mixture of 1 cup of water with 1 cup of vinegar. Put this solution into a spray bottle. Spray the solution on your cooking stove and sprinkle some baking soda on the solution. The soda will react with the vinegar solution and loosen the grease.

Step 5: Use a Toothbrush
Use an old toothbrush to clean any areas around the burners that are difficult to reach.

Step 6: Wipe Your Stove
Wipe away the remnants with a clean sponge or cloth, so that the surface of the stove is clean.

Step 7: Scrub the Detachable Parts
While the burner grates and the burner rings are soaking in the bucket, take a toothbrush and scrub them. This helps remove any stubborn dirt stuck to them.

Step 8: Rinse the Detachable Parts
Take the burner grates and the rings of the burners out of the bucket and rinse them under your tap. Ensure you rinse them thoroughly to ensure all the dirt has been removed.

Step 9: Re-attach the Detachable Parts
Next, put these detachable parts back in their respective places on your stove.

Step 10: Wipe Dry
Finally, take a clean, dry towel and wipe your stove completely dry. Focus on any areas where the dirt is really stuck to ensure there are no stains left behind.

How do you know that the surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom have been disinfected?

They smell nice

They look shiny

They make a squeaky sound

There are no stains
Maintenance

To keep your glass stove top spotless and shiny, clean it with lemon juice once a week. Once the burners cool down, clean the debris with a cloth. Dilute 3 tsp. lemon juice in 3 tsp. water and liberally pour it over the surface and clean with a sponge. Clean again with a damp cloth. Remember to never use abrasive cleaners on the surface as it could cause damage to the glass finish.

APRICOT BENEFITS

Nutritious and low in calories.

High in antioxidants

promote eye health

boost skin health

Good Source of Vitamin A

Rich in Fiber

Good for Your Heart

Good for the Skin

It Strengthens Your Bones

Apricot Nutrition Value
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a 100-gram serving of apricot has 48 calories, 1.40 grams protein, 0.39 grams fat, 11.12 grams carbs, 2 grams fibre, and 9.20 grams of sugar.

Eat fresh apricots during season
Or 3 to 4 dried apricots

AROMATHERAPHY is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being.

GINGER BATH

* Calm digestive discomfort
* Aid in proper digestion
* Increase blood circulation
*Aid in reducing inflammation
* Help improve metabolism
Take a few pieces if Ginger sliced boil in water
To reap the most benefit from the bath, the temperature of the water should be as warm as you can handle without discomfort. Keep in mind that the ginger will raise your body temperature, causing you to sweat,

LEMON PEELS BATH

Benefits of a Lemon Bath- Lemon baths are especially refreshing in hot weather. The healing agents in lemons will refresh and revive tired skin. Lemons will also cool the skin, and help tighten large pores.
* Removes dark spots and patches
* Combats odour from the body
* It's good for oily skin
Take a few lemon peels slice them boil gem in water for 15 mins and add to your water for bath .

NEEM LEAVES BATH

Neem acts as an antimicrobial agent and works wonders for no-infectious, autoimmune skin disease too, like psoriasis and eczema.
* Taking a bath with neem water also cures acne, scars and blackheads.
* It removes body odour naturally

During winters, a lot of people complain of developing flaky hair. Wash your hair with neem water.

Take a hand ful of neem leaves add in water boil for 15 mins and as this water to bath water .

BASIL LEAVES BATH

It has a calming effect on the body, but at the same time its uplifting.

Take a handful of Basil leaves boil in water and add to bath water.

Basil create a stimulating, energizing bath. The pleasant aroma will wake up your senses and leave you feeling refreshed.
Try combining basil with orange peel for an even more invigorating scent.

ROSE PETALS, HIBISCUS FLOWERS, MOGRA, CHAMPA, MARIGOLD
boil flowers strain and add in bath water.
Relaxing
Refreshing

Health benefits of Soyabean

Helps in gaining weight
Increase body metabolic rate
Improves heart activity by efficiency in blood circulation
Reduces risk of cancer
Helps to relieve menopausal symptoms
Improves bone health
Improves digestive activity
Lowers risk of diabetes
Helps in cell growth and regeneration
Improves sleeping disorders
Low in fat
Rich mineral profile
Rich in protein it is the only vegetarian food that it contains all eight essential amino acids.

SOYA KEBABS
Ingredients

2 cups soya bean

Water to soak soya granules for 1/2 hr at least, and drain

2 tsp vinegar

4 bread slices, crumbled fine

1 tbsp salt

2 tsp garlic paste

1/2 tsp pwd black pepper

1/4 cup onions, chopped

2 tsp chopped green chillies

1 tsp chilli powder

Oil

Preparation

Mix all the ingredients except the oil

Shape the mixture into flat rounds and refrigerate for an hour or so.

Heat oil in a frying pan and start frying in low flame

Serve with onion rings and lemon wedges, accompanied with a green chutney.

SOYA BEAN MANCHURIAN

Ingredients

2 cup soyabeans

1 onion chopped finely

4 tbsp corn flour

2 tsp ginger paste

2 tsp garlic paste

2 capsicum chopped in cubes

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp green chilli sauce

4 tbsp tomato ketchup

2 tbsp white vinegar

1 spring onions chopped finely

salt fir taste

3 tbsp refined oil

6 cup water

4 tbsp refined flour

2 tsp Kashmiri red chilli pwd

4 cloves garlic chop finely

Preparation
In a deep-bottomed pan over medium flame and add soyabeans along with 5 cups of water in it. Let the soyabeans boil. Once done, take it off the flame. Drain the and keep them in a bowl.

Add ginger paste, garlic paste, 2 tablespoon corn flour, refined flour, Kashmiri chilli powder and sallt to the bowl containing soyabeans. Give it a toss to coat each piece with the marination. 1 tbso water, if required, can be added to combine the mixture. Let it Stand for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp refined oil in a medium sized pan over full flame then lower the flame to medium and, one by one, start pouring the marinated soyabeans. Fry these till they are properly cooked and crispy. Transfer in a plate with tissue paper to soak up the extra oil.

In a deep-bottomed pan over medium flame and add 1 tbsp refined oil in it. Once hot, add 4 finely chopped garlic cloves in it and saute for 1 minute. Add finely chopped onions, spring onions and capsicum cubes in it and saute well. Once they are tender, add chilli sauce, vinegar, soy sauce, tomato ketchup and salt to taste in it and mix well.

Dissolve 2 tbsp cornflour in 1 cup of water and add it to the pan with vegetables and cook till the mixture thickens slightly. Once done, add the fried soyabeans in the sauce and let them cook for some time. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped spring onions.

Serve hot with fried rice or noodles to enjoy!

SOYA SNACK

100 gm soya beans

1 potato boiled

2 tbsp paneer

1/2 tsp garam masala powder

10 coriander leaves

2 garlic chopped fine

2 green chillies chopped

1/2 inch ginger chopped

1/ 2 tsp chaat masala

A big pinch of white pepper powder

Salt - to taste

Oil for frying

Preparation

Boil soya nuggets in enough water and drain.

Mash boiled potato and add to soya along with paneer with chopped ingredients, chaat masala, salt and white pepper. Mix well.

Pass the mixture through a mincer.

Divide into small portions and fry in shallow oil

Serve hot with mint chutney or tomato ketchup