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
Scientific Name: – Zingiber Officinale
Ginger is used widely in most Eastern forms of medicines like Ayurveda, Chinese, Unani and Tibetian medicine.
Latest research has shown that it has immuno-modulatory, anti-tumorogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperglycaemic and anti-emetic actions.
- It is a digestive stimulant. In Ayurveda it is said that it promotes digestion and also helps in whetting the appetite. It also improves the assimilation and transportation of nutrients. Fresh ginger can be cut into strips. These can be soaked in lime juice and salt and then dried in the sun. These pieces of dried ginger can be eaten before lunch to achieve the results.
- It is very useful in colds and coughs. Whenever a cold begins, drinking ginger tea helps. Ginger can be cut into slices and boiled with water on a low heat for at least half an hour. To this cooled decoction add some honey. Drinking this will help relieve colds and coughs.
- It is very useful in treating nausea. Just boiling fresh ginger in water and drinking this throughout the day will help in morning sickness and also motion sickness. Chewing fresh pieces of ginger is very helpful in post operative nausea.
- It is also very helpful in relieving flatulence.
- It is very helpful in relieving muscle cramps especially exercise induced muscle cramps. In such cases fresh ginger juice is extracted and this is rubbed on the cramped muscle. Even when there is tightness of the cervical muscles in cervical spondilitis it helps.
- It is very useful in migraines. Here fresh ginger juice is extracted and this is then applied over the forehead.
- It also helps in the production of saliva. Hence chewing of ginger whenever there is a dry mouth is very helpful. It has also been effective in cancer patients who suffer from dry mouth after radiotherapy.
Make ginger a part of your everyday life. Use it in teas and in your cooking and reap the benefits.
Mira Swami, Director,
The Ayurvedic Centre
http://hihtindia.org/ginger-and-its-uses-from-an-ayurvedic-perspective/
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