Wednesday, January 03, 2024

Favorite Traditional Morukari Thrissur style- A Delicious Kerala Cuisine

 Morukari Thrissur style! Now you're looking for a delicious Kerala staple with a unique Thrissur twist. Here's what you need to know:

What is morukari?

Morukari, also known as moru curry or pulissery, is a yogurt-based curry popular in Kerala. It's typically light, tangy, and refreshing, perfect for a hot summer day.

What makes Thrissur style morukari special?

Thrissur adds its own touch to this dish by:

Using coconut: Unlike some other regions, Thrissur morukari often features grated coconut added during tempering or ground into a paste along with spices. This gives it a rich, nutty flavor.

Spices: While the specific spice mix can vary, common ingredients include fenugreek, mustard seeds, cumin, chilies, turmeric, and ginger. This adds a layer of warmth and heat.

Vegetables: While morukari can be made plain, Thrissur often incorporates vegetables like carrots, pumpkin, green beans, or even pineapple for a touch of sweetness.

Thicker consistency: Compared to some other styles, Thrissur morukari tends to be slightly thicker and creamier, almost like a stew.

How to make Thrissur style morukari:

There are countless variations, but here's a basic recipe:

Ingredients:

  1. 2 cups thick plain yogurt
  2. 1 cup water
  3. 1 tbsp coconut oil
  4. 1 tsp mustard seeds
  5. 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds
  6. 1/2 tsp cumin seeds
  7. 1-2 dried red chilies
  8. 10-12 curry leaves
  9. 1 inch ginger, grated
  10. 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  11. 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  12. 1/4 cup grated coconut (optional)
  13. Salt to taste
  14. Vegetables of your choice (optional)

Instructions:

Whisk together yogurt and water.

Heat coconut oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds, and chilies. Once they splutter, add curry leaves, ginger, and garlic. Saute for a minute.

Add turmeric powder and coconut (if using). Saute for another minute.

Pour in the yogurt mixture and stir well.

Add salt and vegetables (if using).

Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the curry thickens slightly and vegetables are cooked through.

Serve hot with rice, appam, or dosa.

Tips:

  • You can adjust the thickness of the curry by adding more or less water.
  • For a richer flavor, roast the spices before adding them to the pan.
  • You can use buttermilk instead of yogurt for a slightly tangier taste.
  • Don't let the curry boil, as it can curdle the yogurt.

Whether you're a seasoned morukari fan or just looking for a new Kerala dish to try, Thrissur style morukari is definitely worth exploring. Its unique blend of creamy yogurt, fragrant spices, and fresh vegetables will tantalize your taste buds and leave you wanting more.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Kerala-style foods good for controlling blood sugar

 Kerala cuisine is known for its use of fresh, flavorful ingredients and spices. However, it is important to note that some Kerala dishes can be high in sugar, especially those that use coconut milk or jaggery (unrefined cane sugar).

 Here are some Kerala-style foods that are good for controlling blood sugar: 

Breakfast: 

Oats upma: This savory porridge is made with oats, vegetables, and spices. It is a good source of fiber and complex carbohydrates, which can help to regulate blood sugar levels.

Ragi dosa: This type of dosa is made with ragi flour, which is a low-glycemic index food. This means that it does not cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels.

Brown rice idli: Idli is a steamed cake made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Brown rice is a healthier option than white rice because it is a whole grain and contains more fiber.

Lunch and dinner:

 Fish curry with brown rice: Fish is a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for people with diabetes. Brown rice is a healthier option than white rice because it is a whole grain and contains more fiber.

Vegetable stew with chapatis: Vegetable stew is a good way to get a variety of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Chapatis made with whole-wheat flour are a healthier option than white bread.

Lentil soup with brown rice: Lentil soup is a good source of protein and fiber. Brown rice is a healthier option than white rice because it is a whole grain and contains more fiber.

Snacks:

 Nuts: Nuts are a good source of protein, fiber, and healthy fats. They can help to keep you feeling full and satisfied between meals.

Fruits: Fruits are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They can also help to satisfy your sweet tooth without causing a rapid spike in blood sugar levels.

It is important to note that even healthy foods can contain sugar. Therefore, it is important to read food labels carefully and be mindful of the portion sizes you eat.

 Here are some additional tips for controlling blood sugar with Kerala-style food:

  •  Use fresh, whole ingredients whenever possible.
  • Limit your intake of processed foods and sugary drinks.
  • Choose healthy cooking methods, such as grilling, baking, and steaming.
  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.
  • Include a variety of foods from all food groups in your diet.

If you have diabetes or prediabetes, it is important to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian about creating a meal plan that is right for you.

 Ragi Dosa recipe

Ingredients

  •  1 cup ragi flour
  • 1 cup rice flour
  • 1/2 cup curd
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Water, as needed

Instructions

 Rinse the ragi flour and rice flour in a colander until the water runs clear.

In a large bowl, combine the ragi flour, rice flour, curd, and salt.

Add water, a little at a time, stirring constantly until the batter reaches a pouring consistency. The batter should be thin enough to spread easily on a hot griddle, but thick enough to hold its shape.

Cover the batter and let it rest for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.

Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat.

Pour a ladleful of batter onto the hot griddle and spread it out into a thin circle.

Cook the dosa for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy.

Serve hot with your favorite chutney or sambar.

Tips

 For a more flavorful dosa, add some chopped onion, ginger, or green chilies to the batter.

If the batter is too thick, add a little more water until it reaches the desired consistency.

If the dosa is sticking to the griddle, add a little oil or butter to the pan.

Variations

 Moong dal ragi dosa: Add 1/2 cup moong dal to the batter. Soak the dal for 30 minutes before grinding it into a fine paste.

Sambar ragi dosa: Add 1/2 cup cooked sambar to the batter.

Pesarattu: This is a type of ragi dosa that is made with a fermented batter. To make a fermented batter, soak the ragi flour and rice flour in water for 8 hours. Drain the water and grind the ragi flour and rice flour into a fine paste. Add water, a little at a time, stirring constantly until the batter reaches a pouring consistency. Cover the batter and let it ferment in a warm place for 6-8 hours, or until it has doubled in size.

Nutritional information

  1.  One serving of ragi dosa (approximately 1/2 cup) provides the following nutrients:
  2.  Calories: 120
  3. Fat: 2 grams
  4. Carbohydrates: 22 grams
  5. Protein: 4 grams
  6. Fiber: 2 grams

Ragi dosa is a healthy and nutritious option for breakfast or a snack. It is a good source of fiber, which can help to regulate digestion and keep you feeling full. Ragi dosa is also a good source of protein, which is important for building and repairing muscle tissue.

Sunday, June 08, 2014

Three days of fasting can renew your entire immune system

A person’s entire immune system can be rejuvenated by fasting for as little as three days as it triggers the body to start producing new white blood cells, a study suggests
Fasting for as little as three days can regenerate the entire immune system, even in the elderly, scientists have found in a breakthrough described as “remarkable”.

Although fasting diets have been criticised by nutritionists for being unhealthy, new research suggests starving the body kick-starts stem cells into producing new white blood cells, which fight off infection.

Scientists at the University of Southern California say the discovery could be particularly beneficial for people suffering from damaged immune systems, such as cancer patients on chemotherapy.

It could also help the elderly whose immune system becomes less effective as they age, making it harder for them to fight off even common diseases.

The researchers say fasting “flips a regenerative switch” which prompts stem cells to create brand new white blood cells, essentially regenerating the entire immune system.

“It gives the ‘OK’ for stem cells to go ahead and begin proliferating and rebuild the entire system,” said Prof Valter Longo, Professor of Gerontology and the Biological Sciences at the University of California.

“And the good news is that the body got rid of the parts of the system that might be damaged or old, the inefficient parts, during the fasting.

“Now, if you start with a system heavily damaged by chemotherapy or ageing, fasting cycles can generate, literally, a new immune system.”

Prolonged fasting forces the body to use stores of glucose and fat but also breaks down a significant portion of white blood cells.

During each cycle of fasting, this depletion of white blood cells induces changes that trigger stem cell-based regeneration of new immune system cells.

In trials humans were asked to regularly fast for between two and four days over a six-month period.

Scientists found that prolonged fasting also reduced the enzyme PKA, which is linked to ageing and a hormone which increases cancer risk and tumour growth.

“We could not predict that prolonged fasting would have such a remarkable effect in promoting stem cell-based regeneration of the hematopoietic system,” added Prof Longo.

“When you starve, the system tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged,” Dr Longo said.

“What we started noticing in both our human work and animal work is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged fasting. Then when you re-feed, the blood cells come back. So we started thinking, well, where does it come from?”

Fasting for 72 hours also protected cancer patients against the toxic impact of chemotherapy.

“While chemotherapy saves lives, it causes significant collateral damage to the immune system. The results of this study suggest that fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy,” said co-author Tanya Dorff, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital.

“More clinical studies are needed, and any such dietary intervention should be undertaken only under the guidance of a physician.”

“We are investigating the possibility that these effects are applicable to many different systems and organs, not just the immune system,” added Prof Longo.

However, some British experts were sceptical of the research.

Dr Graham Rook, emeritus professor of immunology at University College London, said the study sounded “improbable”.

Chris Mason, Professor of Regenerative Medicine at UCL, said: “There is some interesting data here. It sees that fasting reduces the number and size of cells and then re-feeding at 72 hours saw a rebound.

“That could be potentially useful because that is not such a long time that it would be terribly harmful to someone with cancer.

“But I think the most sensible way forward would be to synthesise this effect with drugs. I am not sure fasting is the best idea. People are better eating on a regular basis.”

Dr Longo added: “There is no evidence at all that fasting would be dangerous while there is strong evidence that it is beneficial.

“I have received emails from hundreds of cancer patients who have combined chemo with fasting, many with the assistance of the oncologists.

“Thus far the great majority have reported doing very well and only a few have reported some side effects including fainting and a temporary increase in liver markers. Clearly we need to finish the clinical trials, but it looks very promising.”

Monday, December 10, 2012

LEMON - 10,000 times stronger than Chemotherapy

Well - what a remedy for the disease unbelievable - There is no harm just drinking this water as a normal water, day to day.?   Please pass this on to your family and friends
 hello!!!  just want to share this good information

Just cut 2-3 thin slices of lemon in a cup/container and add drinking water so that it will become "alkaline water", drink it for the whole day, just by adding drinking water further more.Take it as drinking water everyday is good for everybody.

The surprising benefits of lemon! I remain perplexed!
 This is the latest in medicine, effective for cancer!
Read carefully & you be the judge

Lemon (Citrus ) is a miraculous product to kill cancer cells .   It is 10,000 times stronger than chemotherapy     Why do we not know about that? Because there are laboratories interested in making a synthetic version that will bring them huge profits.
You can now help a friend in need by letting him/her know that lemon juice is beneficial in preventing the disease. 

Its taste is pleasant and it does not produce the horrific effects of chemotherapy.

  How many people will die while this closely guarded secret is kept, so as not to jeopardize the beneficial multimillionaires large corporations?   As you know, the lemon tree is known for its varieties of lemons and limes. 

You can eat the fruit in different ways: you can eat the pulp, juice press, prepare drinks, sorbets, pastries, etc...

It is credited with many virtues, but the most interesting is the effect it produces on cysts and tumor.   This plant is a proven remedy against cancers of all types.

  Some say it is very useful in all variants of cancer . It is considered also as an anti microbial spectrum against bacterial infections and fungi, effective against internal parasites and worms, it regulates blood pressure which is too high and an antidepressant, combats stress and nervous disorders. 

The source of this information is fascinating: it comes from one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world, says that after more than 20 laboratory tests since 1970, the extracts revealed that : It destroys the malignant cells in 12 cancers
including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreas   The compounds of this tree showed 10,000 times better than the product Adriamycin, a drug normally used chemotherapeutic in the world, slowing the growth of cancer cells.

And what is even more astonishing:   this type of therapy with lemon extract only destroys malignant cancer cells and it does not affect healthy cells.

Institute  of  Health  Sciences,  
819 N. L.L.C. Cause Street ,  
Baltimore , MD1201

Monday, June 18, 2012

Fresh Vegetable Marinade

Portions: 12
Serving size: 3/4 cup per serving
Ingredients
  •     3 cups raw broccoli flowerets
  •     3 cups cauliflower broken into flowerets
  •     2 cups mushroom, sliced
  •     1 cup green pepper, sliced
  •     1 cup celery, sliced
  •     1/2 cup sugar
  •     2 teaspoons dry mustard
  •     1/2 teaspoon salt
  •     1/2 cup vinegar
  •     1 cup olive oil
  •     1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
  •     1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Preparation

    Cut broccoli and cauliflower into bite-sized pieces. Combine with mushrooms, pepper and celery.
    In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients to make marinade. Mix well and pour over vegetables. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving.
    Use a slotted spoon remove vegetables from marinade before serving.

Nutrients per serving*

  •     Calories: 174
  •     Protein: 2 g
  •     Carbohydrate: 10 g
  •     Fat: 14 g
  •     Cholesterol: 0 mg
  •     Sodium: 112 mg
  •     Potassium: 250 mg
  •     Phosphorus: 50 mg
  •     Calcium: 33 mg
  •     Fiber: 1.9 g
* Analysis adjusted for portion of marinade not consumed
Recipe submitted by DaVita dietitian Joyce from Texas.

Tuesday, August 02, 2011

Chicken Pepper Fry -Ramadan Special

Ingredients:

  • For the Chicken:

    • 1 kg chicken, cut into pieces
    • 1/2 lemon, juiced
    • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
    • 1/2 tsp black pepper powder
    • 3/4 tsp salt
  • For the Masala:

    • 3 tbsp coconut oil
    • 2 medium onions, sliced
    • 2 green chilies, slit
    • 1.5 inch ginger, crushed
    • 1 pod garlic, crushed
    • 1 tsp whole black peppercorns (coarsely ground)
    • 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (coarsely ground)
    • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
    • 1/2 tsp coriander powder
    • 1 tsp garam masala (optional)
    • 1 tbsp coconut vinegar
    • Salt to taste

Instructions:

  1. Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, combine the chicken pieces with lemon juice, turmeric powder, black pepper powder, and salt. Mix well and set aside for 10-15 minutes.

  2. Prepare the Masala: Heat coconut oil in a pan or kadai. Add the onions and green chilies. Saute on medium heat until the onions are light golden brown.

  3. Add the ginger, garlic, and curry leaves. Saute for another minute until fragrant.

  4. Add the ground black peppercorns, fennel seeds, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and garam masala (if using). Stir well and cook for 2-3 minutes.

  5. Pour in the coconut vinegar and season with salt to taste.

  6. Cook the Chicken: Add the marinated chicken pieces to the pan and coat them well with the masala.

  7. Cover the pan and cook on medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

  8. Uncover the pan and increase the heat slightly. Stir occasionally until the gravy thickens and oil starts to separate.

Tips:

  • You can adjust the amount of black pepper according to your spice preference.
  • For a richer flavor, use coconut milk instead of water. Add it after the chicken is cooked and simmer for a few minutes.
  • This dish is traditionally served with steamed rice, parotta, or appam.
  • During Ramadan, this dish can be enjoyed for Suhoor (pre-dawn meal) or Iftar (evening meal).

Ramadan Special Touch:

Since this is a recipe for Ramadan, you can add a few special touches:

  • Dates: Finely chop a few dates and add them to the masala along with the spices. This will give the dish a hint of sweetness that complements the peppery flavor.
  • Fried Shallots: Fry a handful of thinly sliced shallots until golden brown and crispy. Sprinkle them over the cooked chicken pepper fry for a bit of extra crunch and texture.

Enjoy this delicious and flavorful Kerala-style Chicken Pepper Fry during Ramadan!

Kerala Beef Fry recipe -Ramadan Special

Ingredients
1.Beef -1kg
2.onions -2medium(sliced)
3.green chillies -6-8
4.ginger -1 chopped
5.coriander pwdr -2tsp
6.Garlic -8 pods
7.Tomatoes -2chopped
8.Cinnamon -1
9.Cloves -5
10.cardomom-5
11.Perunjeerakam 4 tsp
12.Blackpeppercorns 20
13.turmeric pwdr 1/2 tsp
14.pepper pwdr 1/2 tsp

Preparation Method
Mix meat with all ingredients except cardomom, cloves, pepper corns & perunjeerakam.
•Grind the above 4 spices to a masala.
•Now cook the beef with the ground masala & salt in a pressure cooker till cooked(appr. 15 min.) around 80% cooked.
•Heat the oil & splutter mustard seeds &add the chopped onions & saute & then the coconut peices & curry leaves till light brown.
•Now add the meat &cook till gravy is dry & dark brown  

Ramadan special -Beef Ularthiyathu

Ingredients
1.Beef (trimmed) ½ kg
2.Red chilli powder ¾ spoon
3.Coriander powder 1 tsp
4.Turmeric powder ½ tsp
5.Pepper powder ¼ tsp
6.Cummins (Jeera) 1 pinch
7.Cinnamon 2 pinch
8.Cloves 3-4
9.Cardamom 2
10.Shallots (sliced) 100 g
11.Garlic (flakes) 1 big clove
12.Ginger 1 piece
13.Curry leaves 2 sprigs
14.Coconut (cut into small pieces) 100 g
15.Vinegar ½ tsp
16.Salt to taste
17.Coconut oil 50 ml
18.Mustard seeds 1 tsp
Preparation Method
Grind all spices together into a fine paste.
•Marinate beef with the spice paste and keep aside.
•Add ginger, garlic, shallots, curry leaves, coconut, vinegar and salt to the marinated meat and mix thoroughly.
•Cook meat on a slow fire till tender.
•Temper beef with coconut oil, mustard seed, curry leaves, shallots and crushed garlic.
•Serve hot.

Nombu Kanji - Ramadan special Recipe

Ingredients for Nombu Kanji 
  •   Lamb or beef(minced) – ½ cup
  •  Broken rice – 2 small cups  (soaked in water and later drained)
  •  Green gram(Cheruparipppu) – ½ cup  (soaked in water and later drained)
  •  Vegetables(chopped) – 1 cup
  •  Onion(medium) – 2 nos  (thinly sliced)
  •  Tomato(medium) – 1 no  (finely chopped)
  •  Green chillies – 2 - 3 nos
  •  Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tsp
  •  Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
  •  Chilly powder – 1 tsp
  •  Cumin seeds(Jeerakam) – ½ tsp
  •  Coconut – ½ no
  •  Cinnamon(Karugapatta) sticks – 1 – 2 nos
  •  Cloves(Grambu) – 3 - 4 nos
  •  Salt – As reqd
  •  Coriander leaves(chopped) – A little
  •  Mint leaves – A few
  •  Ghee/oil – 1 – 2 tbsp
Preparation Method of Nombu Kanji - Ramzan special Recipe
1)Heat oil or ghee in a pressure cooker.
2)Splutter cumin seeds followed by cinnamon sticks and cloves.
3)Add onion and green chillies and sauté till the onions turn light brown.
4)Add the meat and sauté again till it too turns light brown.
5)Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté till you get rid of the raw smell.
6)Add tomato and sauté well till it gets blended well.
7)Add turmeric powder and chilly powder and stir well.
8)Add the vegetables, mix well and sauté for a while.
9)Add green gram and broken rice and mix well.
10)Fry the rice and dhal for a while. 
11)Add about 4 cups of water and mix well again.
12)Add salt and mix well.
13)Pressure cook for 5 –10 mins or till done.
14)Add thick coconut milk and mix well, if more water is reqd.:- Serve hot or warm.

Monday, July 04, 2011

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties of Barley

Barley US Penny ($.01) for size comparison (pe...Image via Wikipedia Barley has many medicinal virtues. Pearled barley, which is the form the grain is largely eaten and consumed as a food by invalids. The malt prepared from barley is used in the preparation of malt extract for the incorporation in the diet of the infant and the invalid.
 The partially germinated and dried grain is the source of malt extract which is more nutritious than the un malted barley. Malt extract consists chiefly of dextrin and malt sugar and contains the ferment diastase enzyme which is developed during the malting process. This ferment diastase possesses the power of converting starch into dextrin and sugar, thus assisting in the digestive of starchy or farinaceous foods.
•Digestive System Disorders :- The pearl barley has always been used by orient traditional physicians for the healing and the rejuvenation of the digestive system. A simple, yet effective folk remedy was to make a barley
Barley contains eight essential amino acids.[35][36] According to a recent study, eating whole grain barley can regulate blood sugar (i.e. reduce blood glucose response to a meal) for up to 10 hours after consumption compared to white or even whole-grain wheat, which has a similar glycemic index. The effect was attributed to colonic fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates. Barley can also be used as a coffee substitute.

Hulled barley (or covered barley) is eaten after removing the inedible, fibrous outer hull. Once removed, it is called dehulled barley (or pot barley or scotch barley).Considered a whole grain, dehulled barley still has its bran and germ making it a nutritious and popular health food. Pearl barley (or pearled barley) is dehulled barley which has been steam processed further to remove the bran.[38] It may be polished, a process known as "pearling". Dehulled or pearl barley may be processed into a variety of barley products, including flour, flakes similar to oatmeal, and grits.
Barley—Low GI, Low GL
Now let’s get back to barley, an exceptionally nutritious and healthy food for humans. On average, pearl barleys have an extremely low GI—25—and a relatively low GL—11—an excellent combination. We say “on average” because for most foods, many factors can affect these values, e.g., age, ripeness, processing method, cooking method, the presence of additives (salt, sugar, spices, butter, etc.), and the presence of other foods in the same meal. Any of these could significantly change the GI and, therefore, the GL of the individual food in question—and, therefore, of the overall meal. For that matter, these values can vary from person to person and even in the same person from day to day. So averages are all we can go on.

There are also differences among the different varieties of a given food, such as the cultivars of barley (cultivars are to barley as varietals are to grapes—they’re members of the same species, but with significant, sometimes dramatic, differences in composition and appearance). One barley cultivar that stands out is called Prowashonupana.  “Prowash,” as it’s called for short, was developed in the 1990s by plant breeders at Montana State University as a hulless cultivar that’s low in starch, high in protein, and very high in fiber—it has two to three times the amount of fiber as most other cereal grains.2

Prowash Is Naturally Rich in Healthful Beta-Glucan

A major portion of the fiber in Prowash is a highly beneficial soluble fiber. It takes the form of viscous polysaccharides called beta-glucans, which are known for their ability to reduce cholesterol levels.*3 In barley, the beta-glucans are found throughout the entire kernel, whereas in most other grains, they’re concentrated in the outer bran layer and can thus easily be lost in processing.

brew and sip throughout the day, while restricting intake of other foods. This folk remedy has helped many people even to this day.
The barely brew is prepared by boiling one-quarter cup of all natural pearled barley in about 2.5 litres of water. When the water has boiled down to about 1.25 litres, it should be strained carefully. This all natural barley brew helps digestive rejuvenation in two ways. It has a demulcent or soothing
 response and relieves the burning digestive actions. It has also a mucilaginous response and introduces a natural oily substance which helps to protect the abraded mucous membrane of the digestive system. Once the digestive system is thus soothed and healed, it can promote better assimilation of foods.
•Fever :- Barley is also useful in fever and all inflammatory conditions on account of its soothing properties.
• Urinary Disorders :- Barley gruel with butter milk and lime juice is an excellent diuretic carbohydrate food. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of urinarv disorders like nephritis and cystitis.
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Cranberry juice-The health enhancing benefit

Cranberry juice was first made by American settlers in 1683. It is a love it or hate it beverage. For those who like it, it has a number of health benefits. Let me share some of those.
Emulsifies Fat
This is for all of you that have some excess fat to lose. According to Nutritionist Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S., Cranberry juice contains high levels of organic acids, which have an emulsifying effect upon fat deposits. She generally suggests it along with some flax seed or flax seed oil.
Urinary infections
When it comes to urinary tract infections caused by a strain of E coli bacteria, cranberry juice compounds may help. Some of the compounds in the juice block the bacteria from sticking to the cells in the body, so that the body can more easily flush the bacteria out.
Respiratory Infections
Study results in 2002 suggest that cranberry juice may inhibit a type of bacteria that is a common cause of ear and respiratory infections in children. This is according to researchers at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
In this study it was found that cranberry juice can inhibit certain strains of Haemophilus influenzae, a type of bacteria found in the nose and throat of 75% of healthy children and adults. The bacteria can also cause infections, and may be responsible for up to 40% of bacterially-derived middle ear infections.
In this study, the researchers found that the juice could prevent certain strains of the bacteria from sticking to red blood cells or mouth cells, a step that can allow the bacteria to linger in the body. It seemed that the juice inhibited the bacteria's pili, the hair-like structures that allow them to adhere to surfaces. The juice had no effect on strains of Haemophilus influenza that lacked pili.
While the results took place in test tubes, this certainly would be something to keep in mind for children and adults who get throat and ear infections.
Don't overdo the juice!
I do want to warn you that excessive consumption of juices. Drinking too much fruit juice can contribute to obesity, the development of cavities (dental caries), diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems, such as excessive gas, bloating and abdominal pain. Children especially, as their bodies are smaller for the amount of juice ingested.
Recipe
Consider this more of a medicinal drink than a beverage, and you will do fine. Probably 3 cups a day for an adult, and a half cup 3 times a day for a child, until symptoms abate. 
1 tea bag of Green Tea or Chai Green Tea
(Chia green tea contains ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and clove along with green tea)
2 cups unsweetened Cranberry Juice
Bring one pint of water to a rolling boil. Insert your tea bag and steep 3 to 6 minutes. Pour into a one quart container. Add two cups of unsweetened Cranberry Juice. Store in the refrigerator and use within three days.You can drink this cold or warm it up and drink. If you have used regular green tea you can add a very small pinch of any of the spices mentioned above that is in the Chia tea, for more flavor.
Health benefits
Cranberry juice is known to have various health benefits. These include: Cranberry juice contains phytochemicals, which may help prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cranberry juice is high in oxalate, and has been suggested to increase the risk for developing kidney stones, although more recent studies have indicated it may lower the risk.Cranberry Juices are usually free from artificial colourings, making them suitable for those who do not consume food dyes.
 Cranberry juice and urinary tract infection (UTI)
A known claim is that cranberry juice may help prevent and relieve the symptoms of urinary tract infections by primary and secondary means. The primary means works on the bacteria directly by altering the molecular structure of the fimbriae on the pathogenic strains of the bacteria that cause the infections.The properties of the proanthocyanidins in cranberries prevents the bacteria from adhering to the surface of the bladder and urinary tract.[5] The secondary means works indirectly on the bacteria by changing the intravesical pH (the pH of the bladder's contents) making it more acidic.
However, a recent randomized control trial was unable to show that among women with an acute UTI, drinking cranberry juice (8 oz of 27% twice daily) would reduce the incidence of a second UTI.
 Health issues
Although cranberry juice may help prevent growth of bacteria, its pH may be as acidic as 2.3–2.5, which is more acidic than most soft drinks, which could potentially dissolve tooth enamel over time.
Historically, cranberry fruits and leaves were used for a variety of problems, such as wounds, diarrhea, diabetes, stomach ailments, and liver problems. Most notably, cranberry products have been used in the hope of preventing or treating urinary tract infections. The berries are used to produce beverages and many other food products, as well as dietary supplements in the form of extracts, capsules, or tablets.
Research has examined the use of cranberry in preventing urinary tract infections but study sizes have been too small to provide a definitive answer. Recently, an NCCAM-funded study in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that cranberry juice—given to college-aged women who just recovered from a bladder infection—did not prevent urinary tract infections from coming back. 
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