Year: 2017

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Quick and useful tricks with coconut oil

Ever since we have gathered our consciousness, our parents have always inculcated the idea of healthy and productive living. No wonder, why we keep looking for health benefits of every ingredient we come across. It is actually good to read and know what you use and intakes in daily life. Just to help you a little more, we will tell you the benefits of one of the most known ingredients of our kitchen and cosmetic shelf. Today, we will be disclosing some of the magical benefits of coconut oil which are not known by everyone. So, let us get started!

coconut oil

Things you must know about coconut oil

Undoubtedly, coconut oil is blessed with innumerable elements that prove to be healthy for us. Before we focus on the remedies and uses, it is important to know a little more about these ingredients because, why not? When you know the intricate details of your ingredient, it will be easier for you to adapt to it. Also, you will be able to use it in a more effective manner.

  • Remineralizes your teeth
  • Increases absorption of calcium and magnesium
  • Supports healthy thyroid function
  • Boosts hormone production
  • Helps with depression and anxiety
  • Assists in removal of cellulite from skin

These are some of the facts which you must know about coconut oil and adopt its nominal intake in your diet.

Myths and Facts

Now, every coin has two faces. There are facts and then there are myths. It is high time to rubbish them and be the eye opener for our readers. Check this out!

  • It has complex and unhealthy facts
  • Increases cholesterol
  • It can cause excessive weight gain
  • Makes the skin oily
  • Everything tastes like coconut oil when cooked in it

 

Let us give you an exact overview of this!

  • It does contain fats, but the healthy ones. Hence, it does not lead to accumulation of cholesterol or thick fibres in and around muscles and blood vessels.
  • It does not cause excessive weight gain. However, we always enforce the idea that too much of anything is bad. The same goes here. If you continue to consume without checking the quantity, it may obviously get accumulated and make you obese.
  • Coconut is rich in anti-fungal and anti-bacterial substances. You can apply some amount of it on your face and it will only make it healthy, not oily. Use in considerable amounts.
  • Just to let you know, well-refined organic coconut oil will not make everything taste like coconut. You just need to choose the right product such as snacks fried in pure coconut oil or traditional dishes prepared in the same. They will only have a soothing essence of coconut.

 

Coconut oil for hair

If it is oil, it has to have experimented on your hair. And this one rocks as a hair oil. We will share some of the tricks that will fetch you amazingly desirable outcomes for strengthening your hair.

coconut oil for hair

  • Anti-dandruff solution

Mix half the amount of lemon juice as compared to coconut oil. Massage your hair gently and leave it for about two hours. Wash it with your regular shampoo and see the difference. This is one of the best tricks. It is not just useful for getting rid of dandruff but also for removing the oily texture of your scalp. Also, as a bonus, it will give a shiny appearance to your hair.

  • Relief from stinky hair

If you are someone who has a sweaty scalp and it releases odour, then this trick is for you. Just crush a camphor tablet of coconut oil and mix it well. Again, massage your hair gently and leave it for two hours. Wash your hair gently with shampoo and you will find a cool sensation on your scalp. It will do away with the odour of your hair and will also fight the scalp-related infections to some extent.

  • Hot oil massage

It is one of the simplest tricks to prevent hair fall. Just warm up the oil, along with few curry leaves in it. You can also add grounded curry leaf powders or crushed curry leaves. Massage your scalp with lukewarm oil and leave it for an hour. Wash your hair with shampoo. This will primarily prevent hair fall but has several other benefits. By doing this, your hair will become black and shinier.

 

Coconut oil for skin

As we have already mentioned that this wonderful oil is good for your skin too. It does not make it too oily. You must apply it in the considerable amount to have healthy skin. This is because it is more of a mineral oil than a usual one. Let us explore few skin remedies.

coconut oil for skin

  • Moisturizer

Cleanse your skin and dab it with the help of a towel. Apply a small amount of coconut oil and massage your face or any part of skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Allow it to get absorbed into your skin for 10 minutes and then remove the excess oil using a tissue. It will moisturize dry skin and fight against bacteria that cause skin infections.

  • Face Scrub

Mix a teaspoon of sugar and an equal amount of honey in double the amount of coconut oil. Make it a little grainy like scrub and apply it on your face. Let it dry and dab it with water before removing. Massage your cheeks and rough areas with the circular movement of hands. Do it gently and wash your face with warm water. This will clean your face and give it a glossy appearance.

  • Reduces acne and skin infections

If your skin is prone to acne and likely to be vulnerable to infections, then this is for you. Just add tea tree oil to coconut oil. Keep the proportions 4 drops of tea tree oil and one tablespoon coconut oil. Apply it at least 3 to 4 times in a day over your acne or infection prone area. It will neutralize the bacteria and restore the skin follicles like before. Also, it reduces wrinkles!

pure coconut oil

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Thus, after closely looking at these amazing uses of coconut oil, it is evident that it has an important role to play in our lives. Let us not ignore this godsend ingredient and start using it as per the ideas presented above. Also, we are open to your new ideas. So, if you have got some, then please share it in the comment section below. Spread a word, we are waiting!

External references

Coconut oil uses

Top 5 myths about coconut oil

Coconut oil for face

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5 Pickles that will impress your taste buds

Canning pickles

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Today, we will disclose some of the amazing pickles which are super yummy but are not so mainstream like lime and mango pickle. Every meal is incomplete without pickles and hence, it is considered as the soul food. It has a magical ingredient which tickles your taste bud like no other food. The combination of native spices and oil along with blessings from lord sun renders a perfect pickle. Before we tell you about our unique pickles, let us ponder upon some of the health benefits of same.

 

 

Unknown health benefits of pickles

Pickles

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Due to overflowing oil and stuffed spice, pickle is not considered as healthy. But is it true? We know you are hoping for a ‘no’ and it is certainly a ‘no’. We do agree that it has an excess of spice and oil with extremely tangy flavour. But, it also possesses some unbelievable health benefits that you will love reading about. So let us get started with a handful of them!

  • With so much of sun’s energy trapped into it, pickles are amazing antioxidants for a human body. The raw fruits and vegetable are preserved as it is, and hence their true nutrient value remains intact. It prevents the cellular activity from getting damaged by the attack of free radicals. Pickles have micronutrients which can neutralize the free radicals.
  • A pickle, due to prolonged preservation, becomes a source of probiotic bacteria. These are extremely helpful for your intestine and digestive system. Due to fermented salts and minimum chemical content, the digestive system function is restored.
  • In case you didn’t know, pickle is like a reservoir of nutrients and minerals kept in a jar. It has vitamin A, C, K, folate, iron, calcium, and potassium. All these nutrients combine to cure anaemia and improve your immunity system.
  • For some reason, the acetic acid present in vinegar-based pickles is helpful in improving the haemoglobin content in the blood of diabetic patients. Just make sure, you do not consume salted ones because that may elevate your blood pressure level.
  • Regular consumption of pickles will reduce the effect of highly acidic gastric fluids. It will further protect you from gastric ulcers too.

 

Now, that you are well-versed with amazing health benefits of pickles, we can list out some yummy pickles for you. Check them out below!

 

Banana flower pickle

This is an authentic pickle which is prominently available in southern part of India. Banana flowers have a pungent flavour which can add taste to any dish. It is also used to make gravy side dish, but pickles will take your rice and bread to another level. It is helpful for the reproductive health of both men and women. The string-like texture soaked in tangy spices will give you an unbelievable flavour. So grab this pickle recipe as early as possible or buy pickles from a reliable online store.

 

Curry leaves pickle

Needless to mention, curry leaves are a backbone to entire dishes made in south India. It has a unique flavour which takes any dish to another level. Just imagine the wonders it will do in pickled form! It is rich in fibre, vitamin C, E, and B. It has the capability to reduce hair fall and improve the shade and texture of your hair as well as skin. It also helps in protecting your body from skin and scalp infections.

 

Stuffed red chilli pickle

It is undoubtedly the best choice when someone is so much into the spice and pickles. Not everyone can complete the red chilli pickle because, though tasty, it is extremely hot. With an amazing blend of spices and naturally fermented salts, the stuffing adds a bonus to your pickle. Red chilli being packed with vitamin C helps in reducing migraine and joint pain. Also, due to its spicy flavour, it relieves you from sinus congestion.

 

Stuffed olive pickle

Buy pickles online

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So you thought olives are good on pizza bread? You might have certainly not tasted the stuffed pickle made out of it. We already know the importance of olive oil, hence, it would be needless to elaborate its significance. It is already rich in healthy fat which reduces the risk of atherosclerosis as well as coronary artery disease. The natural tangy taste of olives with finely roasted and grounded spices will be worth spending money on. The natural fermentation of this pickle will increase its shelf life as well as taste.

 

Bitter gourd pickle

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It is obvious that bitter gourd is not a favourite vegetable to many of us. But, its pickle can be pinned on your cravings’ list if you give it a try. We are all aware of the incredible benefits of this vegetable from Cucurbitaceae family. It is a reservoir of all subdivisions of vitamin B, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, and fibre. Although it tastes bitter, with the combination of aromatic spices and salts, it is worth tasting. It is prepared with a tedious procedure to ensure that only required bitterness is retained in the pickle. Once you taste this pickle, you will never want to run away from bitter gourd.

Bonus Tip: As we are discussing pickles, we would like to give you a small tip for its longevity. Do not touch your pickles with bare hands. Canned pickles are extremely sensitive to fungus, bacteria, and microbes. The ones present on your hand may spoil the entire bottle of the pickle. So take care of that.

 

Therefore, after having a look at these 5 unique pickles, we know you would definitely want to try them all. There are innumerable varieties of pickles available to us and the most loved are sweet pickles. But, when you will try the above mentioned which are prepared with a different major ingredient, you will love it. Even though it has several benefits, we would request you to consume it in considerable quantities so that it does not create an imbalance in your digestion. Excessive consumption of pickles can harm the enamel of your teeth and also cause piles. So eat wisely and live well. Grab your set of pickles and enjoy the meal with your loved ones.

 

External references

7 Surprising Benefits of Pickles

Pickle Archives

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7 Unexpected snacks to recreate with banana chips

banana chips

Who does not like to cheer up their mood with banana chips after a long tiring day? It has always been the most preferred snacks of all time. Be it with tea or coffee; banana chips goes along with all types of drinks and beverages perfectly. Since we are already impressed with this versatile snack, we thought of trying it in different ways. Now that will create a pop-up in your mind asking what are those different ways. Let us make it clear for you!

Usually, banana chips are taken in baked, salted, and fried form. And it is so yummy that we hardly thought of recreating something with banana chips. But now, to enhance your snacking time we have recreated the form in which banana chips are consumed. But before that, let us take a look at few points about banana chips.

An overview

Banana crisps

Banana chips are commonly used as a snack in India, Indonesia, as well as the Philippines. Most of the times, it is prepared with unripe bananas by frying the sun-dried bananas. It is one of the most nutritious snacks because banana chips are loaded with potassium, magnesium, and carbohydrates. The best of banana chips are found in Kerala when they come out freshly fried in coconut oil. It is worth a try!

Recreations with Banana chips

As we already mentioned, here we will let you know about some of the amazing snacks which you can prepare with the help of these chips. Take a look and serve a fantastic delicacy to your kids every evening. Check them out!

Spicy banana crisps

It is one of the easiest things to try when you are bored or hungry. Just mix half teaspoon chilli powder, pepper powder, black salt, dried mango powder, and homemade cumin powder. Take a bowl full of banana chips and sprinkle this mixture. Toss the banana chips and serve these spicy wafers during the rainy season along with hot coffee or tea.

Caramelized chips

Doesn’t it sound interesting? Yes, certainly! Anything in caramelized form reaches to another level without any doubt. All you have to do is melt 3 tablespoons of sugar and add 2 tablespoons of milk cream in that. Prepare caramel and toss one by one banana chips in the caramel. You will get a delicious combination of sweet and salty snacks.

One can also use jaggery, which is really common in Kerala during Onam. Sweet banana chips are really yummy when the sweet part is added by jaggery.

Honey chilli banana wafers

Fried bananas

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This is just another form of caramelized chips with a small twist. But, the point is that you will love having this wonderful snack. Just heat few teaspoons of honey and add chilli flakes to it along with some soy sauce. Again, toss chips into it and have it before it becomes soft. You will love the tangy and sweet flavour in the crispy chips. Can you imagine the taste right now? We hope you have added this recipe to your to-do list.

Banana chips and sauce

This is already a much-known method of consuming chips in Mexican culture. So why not try it in Kerala style? It will be yum! Add olive oil, chilli flakes, sauces, mayonnaise, and chopped tomatoes. Mix it well to prepare a yummy side dish for your Indian nacho. Now, you can use it as a dip and it will go perfectly with banana chips.

Cheesy fried banana chips

Banana chips

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Who doesn’t love cheese? It has the power to take anything to another level. Ever thought of adding a bonus to your chips with the help of cheese? If not, then do it now! Add a layer of mozzarella cheese along with red pasta sauce and oregano sprinklers. Then spread a layer of banana chips properly and then add cheese spread along with another layer of mozzarella and oregano sprinklers. This will prove to be a yummy combination of chips and it can cheer up the mood of any person. Bake it accordingly and serve it hot. This is undoubtedly the best way to have banana chips in a crisp form.

Double fried banana chips

This may seem a bit oily but not unhealthy. If you have baked chips, then you can heat 3 teaspoons of olive oil and add oregano and chilli flakes to it. Then turn off the gas and add two tablespoons of cheese spread. Mix it well to prepare the thick mixture and toss the chips in this while it is hot. This will definitely provide a yummy coating to your chips and you can enjoy it like never before.

Indian style masala chips

There are innumerable fans of Indian pickles and one cannot deny this fact. So we thought of bringing a fusion of chips and pickles. Just coat the layer pickle on banana chips and bake it for about 4 minutes. Allow it to dry over the chips and then you can have it with mayonnaise or some other dip. This can be your Indian style masala chips and you can serve it in crispy form.

 

Hence, after looking at all these recreations of banana chips, we can come to a conclusion that taste buds have no boundaries. One can experiment as many things as possible. Little did we know that banana chips could be used in such wonderful ways. If you are already a fan of banana chips then you will love trying out these new recipes which are yummier than before. So try out these amazing tricks and let us know few more if you have any. We would love to publish another set of recreations in the same way!