The cacao bean is the source of perhaps the most magical and beloved foods on Earth because it is the source of chocolate. Even the cacao tree's official name, Theobroma cacao, recognizes the long-standing love most of us have for the fruit of this tree. Theobroma comes from the Greek language for "food of the gods." And while chocolate is the most popular and favorite of these foods from the cacao bean, an even healthier choice is raw cacao powder. How Is Cacao Powder Made? To produce raw cacao powder, raw cacao beans are simply cold pressed to remove the fat, and the remaining solids are ground into a fine powder. Cacao vs. Cocoa: What's the Difference? Cacao powder contains all the beneficial nutrients and beneficial compounds of the raw cacao bean minus the fat. In contrast, cocoa powder is made from roasted cacao beans. And even if they look alike, the two are different. In making cocoa powder, up to 90% of the nutrients and beneficial compounds in raw c
The fact that our diets should suit and be tailored to our own body
and that there is not one prescription for healthy eating becomes more
and more apparent as each year passes. We start to understand our body,
we realise certain things work for us and others don’t and therefore
that tuning into and listening to our body is of utmost importance. And
this is exactly how Ayurveda works, an ancient science that is founded
and based on specific body constitutions, namely doshas. I’ve visited
various Ayurvedic resorts both in India and love the analysis and
understanding the doctors provide of the body, what we should eat and
why, but it is difficult to summarise these body types and apply it to
our lives on a daily basis. This explanation from
http://blog.surabhifoundation.in encapsulates the basic principles of
Ayurveda and explains what we need during the winter months with clear
reasons for everything:
A diet that harmonizes with natural cycle will enhance one’s flow
of energy and harmonize the functional activities of all organs. A diet
that is not in harmony with the movements of nature will drain one’s
energy and bring about diseases.
Ayurveda has defined the correct diet and lifestyle in detail, not only according to the individual body constitution but also according to the relationship between the seasonal changes and the person’s constitution. The seasons in India are divided into 6 seasons:
• Early winter (Hemant)
• Late winter (Shishir)
• Spring (Vasant)
• Summer (Grishma)
• Monsoon (Varsha)
• Autumn (Sharad)
Ayurveda has defined the correct diet and lifestyle in detail, not only according to the individual body constitution but also according to the relationship between the seasonal changes and the person’s constitution. The seasons in India are divided into 6 seasons:
• Early winter (Hemant)
• Late winter (Shishir)
• Spring (Vasant)
• Summer (Grishma)
• Monsoon (Varsha)
• Autumn (Sharad)
The Diet for winter season:
Winter Season (Hemant and Shishir)
• Vata constitution: Predominantly, vata people feel very cold in the beginning of this season (Hemant) along with body aches. However, their digestion is good compared to autumn. They should have frequent small meals. They should take plenty of hot soups with carom seeds (ajwain) and asafoetida (hing) to ward off gas problems. Towards the end of the winter, when it rains and is very cold, vata people should eat well all foods as their digestive fire is at the maximum.
• Pitta constitution: These people feel best in the winter season as this is the most comfortable part of the year as far as their health and digestion is concerned. This is because the cold season very naturally balances the hot constitution of the pitta person. The only thing which a pitta person must watch out is overeating as pitta people tend to go overboard with the fried foods etc.
• Kapha constitution: For kapha people, winter is the toughest month because they tend to get problems with their sinuses and also respiratory problem. They must not eat heavy foods and should eat more of hot soups along with a dash of garlic, ginger along with hot spices like cinnamon etc.
• Vata constitution: Predominantly, vata people feel very cold in the beginning of this season (Hemant) along with body aches. However, their digestion is good compared to autumn. They should have frequent small meals. They should take plenty of hot soups with carom seeds (ajwain) and asafoetida (hing) to ward off gas problems. Towards the end of the winter, when it rains and is very cold, vata people should eat well all foods as their digestive fire is at the maximum.
• Pitta constitution: These people feel best in the winter season as this is the most comfortable part of the year as far as their health and digestion is concerned. This is because the cold season very naturally balances the hot constitution of the pitta person. The only thing which a pitta person must watch out is overeating as pitta people tend to go overboard with the fried foods etc.
• Kapha constitution: For kapha people, winter is the toughest month because they tend to get problems with their sinuses and also respiratory problem. They must not eat heavy foods and should eat more of hot soups along with a dash of garlic, ginger along with hot spices like cinnamon etc.
In order to counter the cold weather, the skin pores close to
trap the heat inside our bodies, leading to a heat build-up inside our
body. This is a natural tendency and one tends to feel hungrier in
winters. Our metabolism slows down in winters and our energy levels are
lower than usual. During this season, the human body, in order to keep
itself warm, generates a lot of energy. This warmth intensifies the
capacity of the stomach, which helps digest the food and strengthens the
digestive system of a healthy and strong person.
ROLE OF DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS
Spices
Use spices such as ginger, lemon, cumin, ajwain, turmeric, asafoetida and honey in your food is advisable. These food ingredients help improve digestion. So you don’t suffer from acidity or nausea due to overeating in winters. They help in increasing body temperature.
Use spices such as ginger, lemon, cumin, ajwain, turmeric, asafoetida and honey in your food is advisable. These food ingredients help improve digestion. So you don’t suffer from acidity or nausea due to overeating in winters. They help in increasing body temperature.
Cow Milk
Consuming butter milk with cumin powder while eating or after meals is beneficial. It is better to reduce the intake of non-vegetarian and oily foods in winters. Milk, clarified butter, mawa, rabri, kheer, cream and sweets are foods that provide energy.
Moderate consumption of fat, especially 2 tsps of ghee from cow’s milk daily, helps produce enough heat in the body and is good for skin and joints.
Consuming butter milk with cumin powder while eating or after meals is beneficial. It is better to reduce the intake of non-vegetarian and oily foods in winters. Milk, clarified butter, mawa, rabri, kheer, cream and sweets are foods that provide energy.
Moderate consumption of fat, especially 2 tsps of ghee from cow’s milk daily, helps produce enough heat in the body and is good for skin and joints.
Grains
Wheat, millet, maize, gram, moong, black gram and masoor are especially beneficial.
High-energy-dense wholegrains, especially bajra and makai (corn); energy and protein-dense whole legumes, nuts and oilseeds help increase the body temperature.
During winter, one likes to eat gajar halwa and dishes prepared with sesame seeds and jaggery.
Wheat, millet, maize, gram, moong, black gram and masoor are especially beneficial.
High-energy-dense wholegrains, especially bajra and makai (corn); energy and protein-dense whole legumes, nuts and oilseeds help increase the body temperature.
During winter, one likes to eat gajar halwa and dishes prepared with sesame seeds and jaggery.
Seasonal fruits and vegetables
It is best to consume seasonal fruits and vegetables, as they are loaded with nutrients. For example, orange, sweet lime and amla that are available in winters are rich in Vitamin C, which helps build immunity. Juices of amla, carrot and tomato are highly beneficial. Amla products like murabba, amla juice and chawanprash are beneficial in winters.
Leafy vegetables like methi, palak and sarson that are rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C are good antioxidants.
Root vegetables such as carrots, white radish, onion and garlic are preferable, as they are warm in nature. You should also consume carrot, radish, tomato and cucumber in form of salads.
The body needs more calories to keep warm during the winter season. This can be provided by consuming starchy roots like potato and yam.
Other food items like groundnut, date, papaya, banana, apple, pomegranate and cheeku are also beneficial. It is good to eat dates boiled in milk for two hours after evening meals.
It is best to consume seasonal fruits and vegetables, as they are loaded with nutrients. For example, orange, sweet lime and amla that are available in winters are rich in Vitamin C, which helps build immunity. Juices of amla, carrot and tomato are highly beneficial. Amla products like murabba, amla juice and chawanprash are beneficial in winters.
Leafy vegetables like methi, palak and sarson that are rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C are good antioxidants.
Root vegetables such as carrots, white radish, onion and garlic are preferable, as they are warm in nature. You should also consume carrot, radish, tomato and cucumber in form of salads.
The body needs more calories to keep warm during the winter season. This can be provided by consuming starchy roots like potato and yam.
Other food items like groundnut, date, papaya, banana, apple, pomegranate and cheeku are also beneficial. It is good to eat dates boiled in milk for two hours after evening meals.
Soups
Soups are an excellent and easy way to incorporate all the dietary elements of the winter diet; and soups cooked in a slow-cooker are ideal. Baking or roasting vegetables and meats will give you the added benefit of warming your home and filling it with an aroma that will nourish your spirit.
Soups are an excellent and easy way to incorporate all the dietary elements of the winter diet; and soups cooked in a slow-cooker are ideal. Baking or roasting vegetables and meats will give you the added benefit of warming your home and filling it with an aroma that will nourish your spirit.
The following diet is advisable in winters:
- A cup of herbal tea infused with ginger, tulsi, lemon grass, cardamom, pepper & honey
- A warm cup of cow’s milk with haldi at bedtime
- A bowl of lentil soup
- Make sure that you drink enough water (8-10 glasses of water daily) even if not thirsty
It is important to incorporate sesame seeds and groundnuts in
your food during winters, as they are rich in proteins and help overcome
the cold. Many Indian dishes use groundnuts as the main ingredient.
Sesame seeds can be used to make til laddus.
COOKING
It is best to bake, broil, roast and slow-cook foods in winter season.
It is best to bake, broil, roast and slow-cook foods in winter season.
Oil
Mustard oil is great for winter season as it is rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Being high in calories, it is good for the season and it is recommended in cholesterol reduction programs.
Flaxseed oil, very rich in omega-3 is recommended for seasoning of salads.
Mustard oil is great for winter season as it is rich in vitamins and antioxidants.
Being high in calories, it is good for the season and it is recommended in cholesterol reduction programs.
Flaxseed oil, very rich in omega-3 is recommended for seasoning of salads.
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