Tag: Cooking

Essential oils have a wide range of uses. They are usually topically applied or inhaled. However, in recent times, a lot of interest has been generated around using them for cooking. When added to recipes, it doesn't do anything more than enhance flavors. A very minimal amount is enough as it's quite concentrated. Not all essential oils are safe for consumption hence discretion is needed.

Gas and bloating are the signs of a healthy, working digestive system, but some foods and habits can increase the frequency. Certain foods like potatoes, brussel sprouts, beans, and broccoli can cause gas. Cooking method, low water intake, food allergies like lactose intolerance and celiac disease, can affect the digestive system and cause indigestion. There are ways to combat gas with natural foods like papaya, peppermint, and fennel.

If you've lived in a student's hostel or traveler's digs, there must've been times when you had to dry your clothes inside. Combine this with other common winter habits like keeping your windows sealed or running the humidifier and you might as well allow mould to settle in your place for the cold season. From improving your home's ventilation to checking your walls or roof for leaks, the only way to fight the annual mould attack is by reducing condensation on your property.

To prevent cognitive decline, exercise the brain each day. Make creative projects even if you're not artistic. The process will strengthen neuron connections and reduce stress. Do puzzles, read, or write in a journal. Push your brain even further by taking up a new language or skill. Cooking can also engage the mind, especially if you try new techniques or ingredients. Libraries, community centers, and the Internet are amazing educational sources.

Teenage years are a time of transition and a time when teenagers figure out their personalities, likes and dislikes. Teenagers at this junction often...

The benefits of chicken range from boosting immunity to being high in protein. However, if you're cooking your chicken the wrong way, it might lose its nutrition. The best way to cook chicken, according to nutritionists, is to poach or boil it. Grilling comes a close second, followed by slender sauteing. However, it is best to avoid frying your chicken as increases the saturated fat content.

Age can certainly pose a threat when it comes to losing weight. We all must have noticed how the pounds are gained easily but...

Reap the benefits of tea by adding them to your dishes. Make your breakfast oatmeal more flavorsome adding tea leaves to the water or milk you use. Add ground tea leaves to the marinade you use for meat or vegetables. Enhance the flavor of your baked goodies like cookies, desserts, and smoothies with tea leaves.

You could have a vegetable basket with the most colorful fruits and vegetables, but if you eat them the wrong way, you might still...

Genetically modified foods are all around us. There's an increases awareness about how to choose GMO-free produce these days, thanks to several scientific reports that brought to light the health risks of GM foods. While buying organic produce, choose foods that are labeled with "certified organic" or have the PLU number starting with 9. As much as possible buy from local farmers and consumer more seasonal produce.

Turmeric is a popular spice native to Southeast Asia and has been used in ayurvedic medicines for thousands of years to treat various ailments. It contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, besides many other curative powers. It has even been known to inhibit the growth and spreading of cancer cells. Turmeric contains curcumin and can be used in cooking or consumed as a supplement.

It is ironic that many food habits that we consider healthy are not actually healthy. Dig a little deeper and many such food habits will prove to be just myths that you should be aware of. Skipping breakfast is the worst idea ever. Eating protein from non-organic meat like chicken and beef can be bad for your health. It is not true that a cooking spray adds lesser oil to our food. A cleansing diet may not always do what it claims to do.

Meal prep will fail if you don’t plan recipes before grocery shopping. Instead of focusing on one part, do everything at once. To avoid getting bored, make each meal a little different with spices or sauces. Make sure to count how many days you actually need food. Don’t add sauce and dressing too soon, because this will make meals soggy! When it’s time to store food, split into individual servings and organize the fridge.

Heating is the largest energy expense in houses, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Stay warm by wearing layers, but don’t forget hats and socks. Fingerless gloves will make it easy to clean and type. To naturally increase body temperature, move around and stay active. Cook, bake, and enjoy hot drinks. Spices like turmeric and ginger make it even better. Lay out a rug, block drafts, and close the doors of empty rooms.

Some cooking methods are as bad as smoking cigarettes. When foods are deep-fried, the oil oxidizes and creates toxic chemicals. Pan frying has a similar effect, especially at high temperatures. Grilling red and processed meat forms carcinogens, while smoking transfers chemicals from smoke and flames. Microwaving also emits radiation which the food absorbs, and “microwave-safe” containers actually leach BPA when heated, so it’s best to avoid.