What is Gas or Flatulence?

There is air in every ones digestive system. It may be eliminated by burping or passing it through the rectum. When air in the intestine is passed through the rectum, it is called gas or flatulence. If air is passed from the digestive tract through the mouth, it is called belching. Gas is usually made of odourless vapours i.e. carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and sometimes methane. Unpleasant odour of flatulence is caused because of sulphur formed by bacteria in the large intestine. Gas is a common condition that is not fatal, but can be uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Causes

Gas can be caused because of several reasons. Some of the common causes of gas include: 

• constipation
• taking antibiotics
• eating foods that are difficult to digest, such as fibre or foods with unabsorbable carbohydrates, such as beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, raisins, pulses, prunes and apples
• intestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), malabsorption, (a medical condition in which the intestines are unable to absorb nutrients properly)
• eating foods that you cannot tolerate that cause problems, such as gluten intolerance  (a type of digestive problem caused because of intolerance to a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye and barley) and lactose intolerance (in this condition, the body fails to digest lactose i.e. a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products)
• swallowing air while eating.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of gas include:

• abdominal bloating,
• abdominal pain,
• passing too much gas (flatulence) and
• belching.

It is possible to not experience all the symptoms and the severity of symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Severity and nature of symptoms depends on how much gas your body produces, the amount of fatty acids the body absorbs and your sensitivity to gas in the large intestine.

Treatment

Treatment of gas or flatulence aims to reduce discomfort and symptoms. Treatment includes:

• diet changes (avoiding foods that are high in unabsorbable carbohydrates),
• eating and chewing slowly,
• lifestyle changes (such as exercising regularly, quitting smoking) and
• taking medicines. Some medications that are useful for gas are alpha-galactosidase, charcoal tablets and probiotics.

Symptoms of Gas or Flatulence

Gas or flatulence is a common medical condition for which people visit their doctor. Common symptoms of gas are abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, passing a lot of gas (flatulence) and belching. You may not experience all the symptoms and the severity of symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Severity and nature of symptoms depends on how much gas your body produces, the amount of fatty acids the body absorbs and your sensitivity to gas in the large intestine.

• Belching: Gas is a common cause of belching. Most people belch occasionally during or after meals to release gas when the stomach is full of food; this is considered normal. Some people, however, belch more frequently, which may be because of swallowing too much air and releasing it before the air enters the intestine. Chronic belching may be caused because of upper gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, such as peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying. Some people may belch deliberately or inadvertently develop a habit of belching to relieve discomfort.
• Flatulence: Another common symptom of too much gas is flatulence. Most people do not know that healthy adults pass gas about 14 to 23 times a day, but if you pass too much gas, it can be a problem and source of embarrassment. Too much gas may be caused because of many conditions, such as lactose intolerance, carbohydrate malabsorption, etc.
• Abdominal Bloating: Some people with gas may feel that their abdomen is bloated while others may complain of bloating from gas even when they have normal amount and distribution of gas.

Bloating may be caused because of an intestinal disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The cause of IBS is unknown, but it may involve abnormal movements and contractions of intestinal muscles and increased pain sensitivity in the intestines. These disorders may give a sensation of bloating because of increased sensitivity to gas. Some other conditions that may cause bloating include many operations of abdomen, internal hernias or formation of bands of internal scar tissue called adhesions. Eating a lot of fatty food can also cause bloating as stomach emptying is delayed making one feel uncomfortable. Bloating may be caused as a complication of fundoplication surgery to correct GERD. In this surgery, a one-way valve is created between the oesophagus and stomach to allow food and gas to enter the stomach, but often prevents normal belching and the ability to vomit. In most cases, however, the symptom improves with time.

• Abdominal Pain and Discomfort: Gas in the stomach can cause pain and discomfort. The pain may be experienced in the abdomen or on the left side of the abdomen and chest. In such cases, it may be confused with a heart disease. If the pain is on the right side of abdomen and severe, it may mimic gallstones or appendicitis.

These are some symptoms of gas or flatulence, though all the symptoms can be caused because of many other conditions of the abdomen. Your doctor can examine you and diagnose the cause of your symptoms and treat it appropriately.

Prognosis of Gas or Flatulence

Gas or flatulence is a condition in which excessive air is passed through the rectum (air passed through the rectum is called gas or flatus). Gas can be caused by many causes, such as eating foods that are difficult to digest, such as fibre, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, gastroenteritis, and malabsorption. Prognosis of gas is affected by the cause of flatus.

Prognosis of gas or flatulence

Flatulence because of foods: Flatulence is most often caused because of foods you eat and sometimes, by habits that cause a person to swallow air. Prognosis is good if there is no other problem that is causing gas. In these people, diet and lifestyle changes and self-care can significantly improve the symptoms. Avoiding eating foods that cause gas is important. One should avoid eating foods that are high in unabsorbable carbohydrates. Since different people react differently to certain foods, even when you eat foods that usually do not cause gas, you may continue to experience flatulence.

Flatulence in constipation: Many people experience gas because of constipation. They may pass gas often, which may be foul smelling. Flatulence may get relieved with the control of constipation by taking measures, such as drinking plenty of non-alcoholic fluids, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and if needed, taking medications for constipation and gas.

Flatulence in irritable bowel disease and other intestinal problems: Prognosis of flatulence because of irritable bowel disease may not be so good as flatulence caused because of diet. Such people may have recurrent episodes of flatulence (when there is flare-up of symptoms of primary disease). Even in these people, however, it may be effectively controlled by diet changes and over-the-counter medications, such as alpha-galactosidase and probiotics.

Flatulence in food intolerance: Gas because of eating foods that you cannot tolerate, such as lactose intolerance or celiac disease improves as soon as the person avoids eating food that is problematic. Coeliac disease is a type of digestive problem caused because of intolerance to a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye and barley.  Lactose intolerance is a condition in which the body fails to digest lactose i.e. a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products.

Diagnosis of Gas or Flatulence

Gas or flatulence is a common condition for which a person visits the primary care doctor. It is diagnosed based on signs and symptoms, such as abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, passing too much gas (flatulence) and belching.

Medical history and physical examination: Your doctor will take a detailed medical history and do physical examination with special attention to your abdomen. Some of the questions that your doctor may ask include:

• What types of food do you eat usually?
• Have you made any changes in your diet recently?
• How long have you had the problem of gas?
• Do you have any other problem, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, early satiety (premature fullness after meals), bloating or weight loss?
• What foods have you eaten in the past few days?
• Have you recently increased fibre in your diet?
• Whether you chew and swallow slowly or fast?
• Is your gas problem mild or severe?
• Do you think that eating any specific food, such as eating milk products, increases your symptoms?
• What improves your gas and other symptoms?
• Are you taking any medication?

Your doctor may ask you to keep a food diary. This can be helpful in reviewing your dietary habits and symptoms.

Diagnostic tests: Treatment for gas is usually started based on clinical diagnosis, but if the diagnosis is not clear or some other medical condition is suspected as the cause of your symptoms, tests may be done.

• Lactase deficiency: If deficiency of lactose enzyme is suspected as the cause of gas, the doctor may take blood or breath test to diagnose lactose intolerance and suggest avoiding milk products.
• Hydrogen breathe test: The doctor may take a test to measure the amount of hydrogen in your breath after you eat suspected foods. As bacteria mostly produce hydrogen, an increase in hydrogen level in the exhaled air as measured by the breath test will suggest food intolerance. Breath test is done a few hours after eating the food that is suspected to be the cause of the problem as an increase in hydrogen level becomes evident in as little as 2 hours.

Some other tests that may be performed include:

• abdominal CT scan
• abdominal ultrasound
• barium enema x-ray
• barium swallow x-ray
• blood studies such as CBC or blood differential
• sigmoidoscopy and
• upper endoscopy (EGD).

Treatment of Gas or Flatulence

Treatment of gas or flatulence aims to reduce discomfort and symptoms. Treatment involves self-care and diet changes, taking medicines and reducing the amount of air swallowed. Your doctor will prescribe medicines if flatulence and other symptoms are severe.

Diet changes: Flatulence is most often caused because of foods that one eats and sometimes, by habits that cause a person to swallow air. Avoiding problematic foods in the diet are important to prevent excessive gas. Some of the problematic foods include those that are high in unabsorbable carbohydrates. Some foods high in unabsorbable carbohydrates include:

• beans
• broccoli
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• artichokes
• raisins
• pulses
• lentils
• prunes
• apples and
• brussels sprouts.

Eating a healthy balanced diet, which includes at least five portions of fruits and vegetables a day is important. Your doctor or dietician can help you choose foods to avoid. Some foods that contain carbohydrates and are easy to digest include:

• potatoes
• rice
• lettuce
• bananas
• grapes
• citrus fruits, such as oranges and
• yoghurt.

As different people react differently to certain foods, even when you eat foods that usually do not cause gas, you may continue to experience flatulence. Keeping a food diary can help you to find out the foods that make your symptoms better or worse. Besides changes in what you eat, eating six small meals a day rather than three large ones can also be helpful. Eating small meals makes it easy to digest and help produce less gas.

Swallowing air

When eating, chew your food properly and make sure that you eat slowly. This helps reducing the amount of air that you may swallow, thereby improving digestion. Avoid chewing gum as it makes one swallow more air than usual.

Exercise

Doing exercises regularly improves the functioning of digestive system and bowel movements. It also improves symptoms, such as bloating and clearing of gas. Exercising for 20 to 30 minutes on most days of the week is adequate.

Quit smoking

Quit smoking if you are a smoker as it can cause you to swallow more air than usual. In addition to the likelihood of swallowing more air, tobacco smoke has substances that can irritate the digestive system.

Medication and other remedies

If diet and lifestyle changes do not improve gas and bloating, you may need medicines. Several over-the-counter remedies are available to help treat symptoms of flatulence. Some medications that are useful for gas include:

• Alpha-galactosidase: It is a dietary supplement, which has been shown to improve digestion of carbohydrates and reduce the symptoms of flatulence.
• Charcoal tablets: Charcoal absorbs gas in the digestive system and reduces the symptoms of flatulence.
• Probiotics:  Probiotics can encourage the growth of 'friendly bacteria' in your digestive system. As 'friendly bacteria' aid digestion, probiotics can reduce the symptoms of gas and flatulence.

Tips to Prevent Gas or Flatulence

Flatulence is a common problem, which is not life–threatening, but can be a major cause of discomfort and embarrassment for the person experiencing it. Here are some tips to prevent gas or flatulence. 

• Eat slowly: When you eat, a little bit of air goes down every time you swallow. Eating slowly and chewing the food properly can reduce the amount of air that you swallow and improve digestion. Avoid chewing gum as it makes one swallow more air than usual.
• Avoid airy drinks and foods: Air also gets into one’s stomach and intestine when one eats food and has drinks, such as beer, soda or sponge cake that contain air.
• Don’t smoke: Quit smoking if you are a smoker as it can cause you to swallow more air than usual while smoking. In addition to this, tobacco smoke has substances that can irritate the digestive system.
• Avoid sulphur: Bad smell of flatus is caused because of gases that contain sulphur. If you ingest less sulphur, the smell of the flatus would not be as bad. Avoid foods that contain sulphur, such as eggs, meat, and cauliflower.
• Cook your beans: Bacteria in colon feed on the carbohydrates in beans and produce a gas by-product. The gas making potential of the beans can be reduced by boiling the beans briefly, letting it stay in the water and cooking them after changing the water.
• Consider Beano: According to research, high doses of the over-the-counter product Beano reduced flatulence and digestion of carbohydrates. Beano (is alpha-galactosidase) is a dietary supplement.
• Exercise regularly:  exercising regularly is helpful in improving the function of the digestive system and bowel movement. It also improved symptoms, such as bloating and clearing of gas. Exercising for 20 to 30 minutes on most days of the week is adequate.To prevent flatulence, proper digestion of food is prerequisite.

 Limit high-fructose corn syrup: Foods that contain this sweetener may cause gas and bloating (especially when large amount of fructose is ingested) as it does not get absorbed by the small intestine.

• Take probiotics: If there is too few or too much of a particular bacteria in the intestine, one may experience flatulence. Consult your doctor for probiotics. Probiotics are available both as solids and liquids. They encourage the growth of 'friendly bacteria' in the digestive system. As 'friendly bacteria' aid digestion, probiotics can reduce the symptoms of gas and flatulence, especially if flatulence is caused by irritable bowel syndrome.

Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

How to Get Rid of Gas Pains Naturally

A painful pang in the chest sometime during the day can cause you to wonder, heart attack? Yes, they are very painful indeed, and no, it is probably not a heart attack! Before you press the panic button and create a hullabaloo, you should learn about what is known as gas pain. This usually affects the chest and the stomach area, and can drive you insane. Normally this is not a sign of any disease; however abdominal pain or pressure can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, and may incorrectly suggest appendicitis or gallstones.

Here are some ways in which you can get rid of gas pain naturally, but before that we should take a look at the causes for gas pain.

Causes:

• Swallowed Air:  The air that you swallow every time you eat or drink, feel nervous, eat fast, or chew gum could reach your lower digestive tract.
• Antibiotics: Antibiotics disrupt the normal bacterial flora in your bowel, and may cause excess gas.
• Laxatives: Excess gas can also be caused due to excess of laxative use.

Apart from the above mentioned causes of  gas pain you are also susceptible to it if you eat too much of high fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans, carbonated beverages such as soda and beer, and if you are intolerant to certain foods.

Remedies:

• Tea: Drinking a cup of warm peppermint tea helps to soothe gas pain. It has also been found that chamomile tea could also ease stomach discomfort.  Chewing on fennel seeds after meals can also reduce gas formation.
• Charcoal Tablets: Consuming activated charcoal tablets before and after meals has been found helpful in healing gas pain. You can try probiotic supplements as well.
• Massage with Fennel Oil: Massage your stomach with fennel oil to treat gas pain and bloating.
• Exercise: You may also try and do some exercise, like the side twist, where you will need to get in the boxing stance and twist side to side. Repeat this 10 times.
• Deep Breathe: You also can raise your hands over your head and take deep breaths. You must breathe in your nose and then exhale from your month slowly. Repeat for a count of 10 times.
• Smaller meals: Try and induct a new routine that would have smaller meals instead of the traditional three meals a day. Also, be sure to eat slowly, and to chew the food well.

It is however important to visit a doctor if the pain persists and if it aggravates to greater heights, this is because the gas pain you are experiencing may not just be any gas pain. Be safe and take help.

Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

Home remedies for Kidney Stones:

Home remedies for Kidney Stones:

Kidney Beans: Soak some kidney beans in water and keep it overnight. Next day cut these kidney beans and add them into about four liter of water and keep them for boiling. Boil them for about six to eight hours. Then strain this liquid and allow it to cool down. Once again strain it with the help of muslin cloth and drink one glass of this solution. After every two hours drink one glass of this liquid. Remember, as much you will drink this solution that much easily your kidney stones will get destroyed.

Celery: Regular intake of celery will prevent kidney stones from occurring. If you have got kidney stones, then increase your intake of celery, as it is very effective in removing the kidney stones.

Holy Basil: Prepare juice form fresh holy basil leaves and take about one teaspoon of this juice by mixing one teaspoon of honey into it. You will need to follow this remedy without fail for about six months to see the desirable results. Many patients of kidney stones have got relief from kidney stones using this remedy.

Apple: Apples are very useful for healthy life and same is the case when t comes to deal with kidney stones. Regular apple eaters have less chances of getting kidney stones. Start eating apples on a daily basis, as it will cure your kidney stones very effectively.

Pomegranate: Eating pomegranate is also very effective in the treatment of kidney stones. Add paste of one teaspoon of pomegranate seeds into gram soup and drink it. This is one of the very effectivehome remedies for kidney stones. To prepare the gram soup first roast the gram flour and then use it to make soup.

Grapes: Eating grapes and drinking grape juice both are equally effective in the treatment of kidney stones.

Watermelon: Watermelon has rich water content and hence is very effective in diluting the kidney stones, so that they can pass through the urine without causing any pain.

Diet: Say no to smoking and drinking alcohol, as this will add to the trouble of kidney stones. Drink plenty of water to maintain the water contents of the body. For the same purpose include fruits and vegetables that are rich in water content. Avoid oily and spicy food. Make your calcium and phosphates intake less by avoiding eating spinach, cauliflower, carrots, almonds, peas and soyabean.



Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

Some of the health benefits of celery juice:

Some of the health benefits of celery juice:

Acidity: The important minerals in this magical juice effectively balance the body's blood pH, neutralizing acidity.
Athletes: Celery juice acts as the perfect post-workout tonic as it replaces lost electrolytes and rehydrates the body with its rich minerals.

Cancer: Celery is known to contain at least eight families of anti-cancer compounds. Among them are the acetylenics that have been shown to stop the growth of tumor cells. Phenolic acids which block the action of prostaglandins that encourage the growth of tumor cells. And coumarinswhich help prevent free radicals from damaging cells.

Cholesterol: This humble pale juice has been shown to effectively and significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Colon and stomach cancer: The phytochemical coumarins prevent the formation and development of the colon and stomach cancers.
Constipation: The natural laxative effect of celery helps to relieve constipation. It also helps relax nerves that have been overworked by man-made laxatives.

Cooling: During dry and hot weather, drink a glass of celery juice two or three times a day, between meals. It wonderfully helps to normalize body temperature.

Diuretic: The potassium and sodium in celery juice helps to regulate body fluid and stimulate urine production, making it an important help to rid the body of excess fluid.

Inflammation: The polyacetylene in celery is an amazing relief for all inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis.

Kidney function: Celery promotes healthy and normal kidney function by aiding elimination of toxins from the body. While eliminating toxins, it also prevents formation of kidney stones.
Lower blood pressure: Drinking celery juice every day for a week significantly helps lower blood pressure. A compound called phtalides help relax the muscle around arteries, dilating the vessels and allowing blood to flow normally. To be effective, drink the juice for one week, stop for three weeks, and start over.

Nervous system: The organic alkaline minerals in celery juice has a calming effect on the nervous system, making it a wonderful drink for insomniacs.

Weight loss: Drink celery juice frequently throughout the day. It helps curb your cravings for sweets and rich food.

Urinary stones, breaking of: The diuretic effect of celery juice also aids the breaking and elimination of urinary and gall bladder stones.


Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

THE POWER OF A SMILE

THE POWER OF A SMILE

THE POWER OF A SMILE


A Smile is a curve, that sets everything straight



A smile starts on the lips. A grin spreads to the eyes.A chuckle comes from the belly.But a good laugh burstsforth from the soul, overflows, and bubbles all around.



If you see a friend without a smile,give him one of yours.



Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.



Too often we underestimate the power of smile,which has the potential to turn the life around



A good friend is a fellow who smilesat you over the back fence,but doesn't climb over it!



Everyone smiles in the same language.



The real man smiles in troubles,gathers strength from distress,and grows brave by reflection.



Smiles are the language of love



A Smile is a powerful weapon youcan even break ice with it..



Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile.

Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

TREATMENTS USING BASIL

TREATMENTS USING BASIL
1. Healing: Sharpen memory, use as a nerve tonic, and remove phlegm from your bronchial tubes. Repeat up to once an hour. Leaves can strengthen the stomach and induce perfuse sweating. The seeds can be used to rid the body of excess mucus.
2. Fevers: Basil leaves are used for quenching fevers, especially those related to malaria and other infectious, eruptive fevers common to tropical areas. Boiling leaves with some cardamom in about two quarts of water, then mixed with sugar and milk, brings down temperature. An extract of basil leaves in fresh water should be given every 2 to 3 hours; between doses you can give sips of cold water. This method is especially effective for reducing fevers in children.
3. Coughs: Basil is an important ingredient in cough syrups and expectorants. It can also relieve mucus in asthma and bronchitis. Chewing on basil leaves can relieve colds and flu symptoms.
4. Sore Throat: Water boiled with basil leaves can be taken as a tonic or used as a gargle when you have a sore throat.
5. Respiratory Disorders: Boiling basil leaves with honey and ginger is useful for treating asthma, bronchitis, cough, cold, and influenza. Boiling the leaves, cloves, and sea salt in some water will give rapid relief of influenza. These combinations should be boiled in about two quarts of water until only half the water remains before they are taken.
6. Kidney Stones: Basil can be used to strengthen your kidneys. In cases of stones in your kidney, the juice of basil leaves mixed with honey and taken daily for 6 months will expel them through the urinary tract.
7. Heart Problems: Basil can be used to strengthen those weakened by heart disease. It can also reduce your cholesterol.
8. Children’s Illnesses: Pediatric complaints like colds, coughs, fever, diarrhea, and vomiting have been know to respond to treatment with the juice of basil leaves. Also if the rash associated with chicken pox is delayed, basil leaves with saffron will bring them to the surface more quickly.
9. Stress: Basil leaves can be used as an anti-stress agent. Chewing 12 basil leaves twice a day can prevent stress. It will purify the blood and help prevent many other common ailments.
10. Mouth Infections: Chewing a few leaves twice daily can cure infections and ulcerations of the mouth.
11. Insect Bites: Basil can be used preventatively and as a curative. A teaspoonful of the basil leaf juice taken every few hours is preventative. Rubbing the bites with juice can relieve the itching and swelling. Also a paste of the root is effective for treating the bites of insects and leeches.
12. Skin Disorders: Basil juice applied directly to the effected area is good for ringworm and other common skin ailments. Some naturopaths have used it successfully in the treatment of leucoderma (patches of white or light-colored skin).
13. Tooth Problems: Dry basil leaves in the sun and grind into powder for a tooth cleansing powder. You can also mix with mustard oil to make herbal toothpaste. Both of these methods will counter bad breath and can be used to massage the gums, treat pyorrhea, and other dental health problems.
14. Headaches: Basil is a good headache remedy. Boil leaves in half a quart of water, cooking until half the liquid remains. Take a couple of teaspoons an hour with water to relieve your pain and swelling. You can also make a paste of basil leaves pounded with sandalwood to apply to your forehead to relieve headache and provide coolness in general.
15. Eye Disorders: Basil juice is a good for night-blindness and sore eyes. Two drops of black basil juice in each eye at bedtimes each day is soothing.



Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

Saving Money in the Kitchen

Introduction

You’ve heard, over the past years, of "30 Minute Meals" (or less), home cooking with nearly-home made style prepackaged and pre-processed foods, and you’ve seen the trend toward supermarket delis offering many more pre-prepared take home dinners.

These conveniences can be a great time saver when you’ve had a busy day at work and don’t want to face the task of putting a good meal on the table for the family and it seems to be a simple choice.

But when you consider the extra expense these take home meals add to the weekly food budget and tally it with the normally smaller food portions, and the unknown ingredients and food additives brought to the table, you’ll no doubt sharpen your pencil and red line these purchases as nothing more than the extravagances they always have been.

In the new economy and for the health of our planet, it may be time to reconsider the value of home cooking from scratch, using whole foods and unprocessed ingredients and locally grown fresh produce. Wise cooks have always known that when we have someone else do part or all of the cooking or food preparation, the sacrifice will be either in extra cost or diminished nutritional value; what is gained in time savings may not always outweigh these costs and might not turn out to be a good bargain when all things are considered.

The ideas for economy offered here are not to be considered hard and fast rules suitable for everyone’s schedule, but feel free to pick and choose those which fit your lifestyle; adapting as your days and free time permits. Some of us can devote part of our weekends to cooking meals for the freezer or to refrigerate for the upcoming week; others, without a work schedule, may be able to save the most on the food budget by taking the time to cook from scratch daily, and by shopping often to take advantage of “Manager’s Specials” and sales at the supermarket.

Those of us who are dedicated to a lifetime of eating foods devoid of chemicals and harmful additives meant to preserve shelf life at the expense of nutrition will adopt the methods of, and relearn the skills and kitchen arts of our grandmothers and great grandmothers. We will learn, as they did, how to choose fresh foods and prepare these foods at home to make tasty, wholesome meals for the family in the most economical ways possible. In this capacity, we have an advantage over cooks of the past; the cook of today has, at her disposal, tools of convenience which can help make cooking from scratch rival the simplicity of preparation offered by many convenience foods. So, even when we are on a tight budget, the biggest savings in the kitchen may be the purchase of some of these tools. And remember, when purchasing kitchen tools, quality is not an option and cheap tools are not a bargain, since they will not stand the test of time and might not even do their job at all.

There are tools which are basic, such as a good quality chef’s knife and paring knife, and others which will help save money on food purchases directly.

Tools of the Trade

The Stand Mixer

A stand mixer will aid in the preparation of home baked breads, fruit cakes, soufflés, muffins, pastas, pancakes, biscuits, scones, waffles, crackers, pastries and so many other bakery staples - all of these (and many more) prepared using a small amount of skill and a bag of flour!

Extra accessories may be purchased for the stand mixer to help prepare purees (such as tomato sauce, pie fillings, jams and jellies, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies and vegetable soups) and don’t forget a meat grinder attachment so that tough roasts and economical meat cuts may be ground into the freshest hamburger possible. Meatloaf, meatballs, home-made sausages, pork patties, ground veal, turkey, fillings for stuffings (raviolis, cabbage leaves, peppers, empanadas, to name a few) can then be made at home with an hour of well-spent time. A meat grinder (or even a food processor) is also wonderful tool for transforming leftovers.

A grain mill is available for the stand mixer which can be an advantage if you enjoy baking from scratch and using whole, fresh grains. It may also be used to grind your own cereals (such as cream of rice or cream of wheat) or grind your own corn meal, corn flour or fresh whole wheat or rye flours. This is the one way you’ll know for sure what the ingredients are in that loaf of bread.

A pasta attachment can be obtained for some stand mixers to enable the making of pasta, lasagna and ravioli from scratch. There are rollers for cutting lasagna, angel hair, and fettuccine; or just leave the pasta in wide strips to make ravioli, cannelloni, or manicotti for stuffing.

Pasta Makers

Free standing pasta machines are also available; some have rollers with crank handles and may be bought for under $50; still other, more elaborate machines for extruding pasta shapes by pressing dough through brass or plastic disks and these also work very well.

There is a small learning curve to making pasta at home, but the skill, once learned, will bring you the confidence of knowing that you have the ability to feed a large family with style and nutrition for just pennies!

Money Saving Tips

Here are some easily implemented tips for shaving dollars from the monthly grocery tab.

First, and foremost, keep it fun. Decide at the onset that you are embarking upon a new culinary adventure and that having a smaller budget in the kitchen is not a burden but an opportunity. This will be a new start, and when you emerge at the other side, you will have acquired valuable new skills and expertise which will be useful to your time spent in the kitchen and at the supermarket for a lifetime. Extra time spent in the kitchen will be time well spent when time is what you are rich in.

Not all of these steps may be practical in your own situation and so we encourage you to read through this list and adopt only those elements of the plan which you feel might be helpful. Some ways to save money at the checkout require extra preparation time in the kitchen; if time is what you are rich in, then these extra minutes spent in food preparation may prove to be a boon to your budget (and often a beneficial upgrade to your diet and nutrition). Otherwise, skip past the fresh groceries aisle; we trust you will still find a few tips here you can use to save on your next shopping trip.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Clean as you work; be considerate of the dishwasher (often yourself!) and try to use fewer dishes. Put dirty dishes in the dishwasher as you work, or wash up small items while waiting for the various stages in the cooking process to complete. Measure ingredients over the sink or a sheet of wax paper to avoid having to clean up the inevitable spills. Rinse and re-use the same measuring cups and bowls, food processor and blender.

Save time by cooking several meals at once when you have an afternoon free. Prepare large meals on weekends and freeze or refrigerate well-labeled portions. Weekends are also a great time to prepare lunch box meals and snacks for the upcoming week, freezing in tightly wrapped individual serving sizes, ready to pack. Whenever possible, cook double batches and freeze half.

At The Supermarket

The first thing and most important thing to remember when shopping is: Convenience Costs. For every step of food preparation that you can do for yourself, you will usually save money, gain nutritional value, and benefit from improved freshness and flavor. When trimming the food budget is important, it helps to steer clear of the prepared foods sections (both frozen and fresh) and the deli. When purchasing items from these sections of the store, your grocery budget is being spent not only on food, but on food preparation and an extra profit margin for the store. You can easily prepare food at home and serve fresher, more flavorful and nutritious meals for a far better price than can be found pre-made at the supermarket.

Read the supermarket flyer before your shopping trip. Schedule trips to local supermarkets during sales and plan, whenever possible, to shape the general menu around foods that are in season.

Make a list of what’s on sale and for the meals you’re planning, but keep it flexible. Don’t feel as though it’s imperative to stick to the list. If you see a good buy that you didn’t expect when consulting the sales flyer, don’t hesitate to take advantage of the deal and adapt your menu. As in any plan, be flexible and allow for variability. If, while at the supermarket, you come upon Manager’s Specials, markdowns, or other unexpected opportunities to cut costs for items you can use but which are not on your list, feel free to modify your menu and your shopping list on the spot.

Purchase the local newspaper on those days when food sections are published (Sundays and Wednesdays in some areas). Clip coupons for items normally used and keep them handy at the store. Find local stores which allow for doubling and/or tripling of coupon values. If you use products which frequently offer rebates (such as disposable diapers), save boxtops, UPC codes, points and labels for those products and keep them filed away. The next time a rebate comes up, you’ll already have what you need!

Take advantage of seasonal values. Foods that are in season (many of which are locally grown) are often the best value.

Buy the foods you use most often in larger quantity. Some foods store well; others don’t. Let that be your guide. For example, potatoes, which can be purchased most economically in 50 pound bags can be stored for many months under the right conditions (a cool dark cellar). Onions, apples, and eggs can also be stored for longer periods of time. Rice, grains, white flour and dried beans can be kept indefinitely in a cool, dry environment in tightly sealed plastic storage bins. These easily stored goods are a much better value whenever they are purchased in bulk.

Plan to make more frequent trips to the local supermarket to pick up highly perishable items such as fresh fruit and vegetables, but limit yourself to the outer aisles (usually the meat, fruit, and vegetables are located there). When at the local supermarket, avoid the center aisles containing the processed foods whenever possible; you’ll save money and add nutrition to your diet whenever you choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead.

Frozen vegetables are the best value in 5 (or more) pound bags if you’ve got the freezer space. The added convenience of having the vegetables ready to prepare is usually not had at extra cost since freezing vegetables for transportation is a convenience for the packer (they absorb the extra cost in order to be able to ship in quantity over a wide area), so take advantage of this “Convenience Costs” rule breaker. If you have the time for the extra preparation required using fresh vegetables, they are always a good value and a great nutritional choice.

Don’t shop hungry. Shopping hungry leads to impulse buys and the purchase of foods which are generally not a good value. Don’t let your purchases be influenced by hunger, so eat a good meal before heading out to the supermarket. Shop early and shop often to take advantage of Manager’s Specials. Check out the dented and surplus can sections - avoid cans with sharp dents because corners may be a place where leakage can occur, but slight and rounded dents and corner pings can be a good deal. Use dented cans right away.

Be Your Own Butcher

Cut up your own chicken and turkey and you’ll often find that you’ll be paying just for the breast portions, while all the other parts are had (for free) for the equivalent price of the “boneless-skinless-breast” version at the supermarket or butcher shop. Even if you don’t particularly care for the rest of the chicken, since they are yours at little extra cost, it pays to use them to make a flavorful broth that will be the starter of the gravy to serve alongside the chicken breast dish you’ve planned.

Slice chicken or turkey cutlets from the breast portion, use them for breading or stuffing and keep the rest for soups or chicken salad or to stuff ravioli, pierogi or empanada. Use the sausage stuffing attachment of your meat grinder to make chicken or turkey sausages, or season it well with herbs and spices and make meatballs or patties.

Pork, beef and veal may be combined when making meatballs, meatloaf and meat fillings. If you are running short on meat for the number of people you are feeding, the budget may sometimes be stretched (depending upon the dish you’re making) by adding eggs, bread crumbs, crushed cracker crumbs, oatmeal (whole or ground in a processor), grated cheese, cooked rice, herbs, spinach, chopped onions, mushrooms, or peppers, or even TVP (texturized vegetable protein - a soy extender and meat substitute).

Learn Knife Skills

A butcher knows how to wield a knife, but you don’t need to be your own butcher to have a need for knife skills. The first rule of saving money in the kitchen is to buy the best knife that your money can afford. And the second rule is to spend time learning how to use it. The more comfortable you become in using a knife in the kitchen, the more food you’ll be able to prepare in less time, while saving on costs associated with ready-made and processed foods. In order to be proficient in preparing fresh produce and meats for different dishes, knife skills are a necessity.

Start with one 6-8 inch chef or Santuko knife, one 3-4 inch paring knife (ceramic works well as a paring knife). For cutting up meat you’ll need a longer slicing knife; for chicken, use an old knife to slice between joints in separating pieces. A flexible fillet knife will help make boning chicken and filleting fish easier but is not absolutely required. A sharpening steel will help keep an edge on these tools, so that you’ll always be working with the sharpest knife in the drawer. A sharpening stone can put a new edge on your knife after the sharpening steel is no longer enough.

To some extent, a food processor may be used to supplant knife skills, but a good cook will often prefer the use of a sharp knife, even if it takes a little longer to get the job done, just to avoid the extra dishes after the meal preparation is complete.

Be Your Own Food Processor

If you have the proper canning equipment and the time, put foods by. You’ll need a pressure cooker to can meats, broths, and low-acid vegetables, but a very large water pot can be used for making tomato sauces and salsas, pie fillings, applesauce and fruit butters, jams and jellies, pickles and relishes, flavored vinegars and other gourmet treats with bushels of fresh local harvest.

As an alternative to canning jellies, there are natural products available that make it possible to prepare your own jelly using fruit juice. Some specially marketed pectins don’t require processing in a boiling water bath because they are stored in the refrigerator or freezer. These products have their place when preparing small batches of jellies and provide an exceptionally fresh fruit flavor. Pectins of all types may be found in the canning section of your local supermarket. (Of course, jelly may be made without any pectin, but that is a subject for another article!).

When shopping for canning jars, be aware than some canning jars (usually straight-sided) may also be used in the freezer. Canning jars are also good for storing dry items such as beans or even coffee and can be used with some vacuum attachments for sealing out air without canning.

This is an excellent way to store dry beans, coffee, nuts and grains and other items that need to be stored in a dry environment.

We also use the smaller 1/2 pint straight sided freezer-type jelly jars for preparing individual puddings to take along on picnics and for baking small cakes to pack in a lunch. These jars are also good for making yogurt for easy storage.

One of the most valuable skills you can acquire for kitchen economy is how to bake. If you’ve had your share of fallen cakes and tough cookies, remember that in the past there were no alternative ready-mades easily available (Grandma didn’t often run out to buy a bag of cookies or box of brownies). This meant that Grandma would try and try again until she had reached her goal of edible perfection. And thus, the skill of baking was learned. The same holds true in baking as it does in the acquisition of all other culinary skills: "Practice Makes Perfect".

Have patience with your failures and don’t be set back by them. Soon, and with practice, your baked creations will be a great improvement, and so much fresher and more nutritious than their store-bought counterparts. We will explore creative ways to re-purpose failures and discover what causes them below and on TalkFood.com

Be Your Own Bakery

Practice Makes Perfect! Here are a few Quick Tips for dealing with baking failures: Process dry or stale cookies in the food processor to make no-bake pie crusts or the bottom layer of bars.

For years, bakeries crumbled yesterday’s cakes and tossed them into today’s cake. Crumbled brownies, cakes and cookies make great ice cream and other dessert toppings, too (nobody will know those were cookies that didn’t turn out). Crumble a fallen cake and bake it at the bottom of a pudding, refrigerator cake or Apple Betty. Process day-old bread along with fresh herbs in the food processor to make stuffings for stuffed peppers, stuffed artichokes and cabbage leaves, Shakin’ and Bakin’ (shake and bake) breadings for cutlets and buttered toppings for casseroles and baked mac and cheese.

Did you prepare a cake but the right size pan wasn't available, leaving you with too much batter? Add a little milk or buttermilk to thin it out and use it to make pancakes or waffles! Or pour it into foil or silicone cupcake liners or aluminum mini loaf pans and bake for packing in a lunch or to wrap up for freezer storage.

Go Back

There were times, when fast food places were not on every corner, when it was common to pack a lunch, take along a thermos filled with steaming coffee, hot soup or pasta, or just pack up the kids and go on a picnic. Thermos’ have come a long way since those times, and now there are even versions which will cook your meal in a few hours (similar to using a slow cooker but without the electricity). This is a great energy saver, and is a convenient way to pack a lunch for a picnic (it will be ready in time if you pack it in the morning). It can even be used for cooking pasta. The long, slow, cooking tenderizes lean, tough cuts of meat and makes for wonderful soups with that long-cooked goodness.

Go back to your mother’s old recipe file (or to ours!). Many older, and authentic recipes which have been handed down from generation to generation were borne of the necessity to conserve tight financial resources in tough times. A good number of recipes from the Great Depression still survive as family favorites today. Numerous dishes with ethnic roots make frugal use of meats, substituting and supplementing quality proteins such as eggs, grains and beans in order to stretch the meat budget. These long-time favorite recipes are big on flavor and easy on the pocketbook and thus have remained popular with cooks and their families over the years.

To stave off sudden fits of hunger before the days of fast food and pizza deliveries, Grandpa often kept a hearty soup or pot of beans simmering on the back burner of an old black stove. When the need arose, a handful of rice or a pot of pasta could be conjured up and the soup stirred in for a quick meal. Then came the era of canned soup. When canned soup was introduced to the market, it was a novel and economical way to put food on the table in record time. At only 10 cents a can when introduced, canned soup became an affordable staple found in every pantry, ready to dress-up casseroles, gravies and stews. At today’s price which sometimes approaches $3.00 and up, it will pay now, more than ever, to acquire the knack of the art of creating home made soup and broth.

Go Ahead

Grandma didn’t have a lot of gadgets and would have been amazed at all those new-fangled small kitchen appliances. But if you have these sitting in the attic, take them down and learn to use them for those quick lunches and snacks which tempt you to run out to the fast food joint or supermarket deli. If you’ve lost the manual and the recipes for these gizmos, have heart; many can be Googled and found with a few minutes of searching. Or, be brave and invent your own recipes (and share your inspirations with us at Cooks.com). These appliances can help bring the fun back into the preparation of a quick lunch or snack. It’s an easy way to incorporate leftovers and keep meal making fresh, using real ingredients without additives (and as an extra benefit, save gas and time by staying home).

Don’t hesitate to plan a meal around your food processor, blender, stand mixer or other time-saving appliance. Plan to process foods that can be simply rinsed out of the processor bowl first (without using soap) and line up the appliance for a second and third use, keeping the messier foods to process for last. For example, in a food processor with a slicing blade, slice vegetables first, then blend the ingredients for the sauce by removing the slicing disc and fitting in the chopping blade. Rinse out the bowl and process a batch of cookies or a one-bowl snack cake.

And, speaking of easy clean-up, make use of aluminum foil or parchment paper for lining baking pans to save on cleanup costs (use less hot water and soap). Aluminum foil packets make flavorful, moist fish and poultry dishes packed before baking with a few sprigs of fresh herbs and chopped vegetables as a side (cooked right in the same packet). Cleanup is a breeze - just eat right out of the packet and dispose when done. This is a streamlined solution for take-along lunches, picnics and barbeque cooking (cook right in the packet).

Parchment muffin liners can be purchased in larger quantities at restaurant supply stores for great savings and easy cleanup. Sometimes, a bargain will be had when disposable aluminum pans are purchased by the case. Some disposable foil pans may be reused if they can be easily washed, but discarded if scrubbing is required. Silicone bakeware makes for easy cleanup when baking. Single silicone cupcake cups make it easy to prepare one muffin at a time in the microwave (you can make up a batch and refrigerate or freeze them until ready to use).

Buy in Bulk

Whenever possible, buy foods which store well in bulk, or larger quantities. Find a wholesale food club or restaurant supply outlet in your area, and plan a monthly trip to save on staples which can be purchased and stored in bulk such as rice, potatoes, butter, onions, eggs, flour, dry beans and grains, pasta, beverages, cases of canned foods, etc. If you have a large freezer, frozen foods may also be purchased in 3-5 lb bags for great savings. (Be careful, however, in dividing them into smaller freezer bags for storage as this can become expensive and your savings will be lost). Pack frozen vegetables in a cooler (with ice, if possible) to keep them from thawing on the trip home.







Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

Papaya leaves can cure dengue:Health Remedies

Papaya leaves juice are a possible cure for dengue fever, a recent study revealed.

It has been reported that many people consume papaya leaves or pegaga juice to increase their platelet count after they contract dengue fever.

A recent study, conducted by a group of researchers from local and foreign universities, indicated that the powder from papaya leaves has substances responsible for the release and/or production of thrombocytes (platelets).

The study was initiated and led by Dr S. Kathiresan of AIMST University. Dr Kathiresan said the leaves of papaya fruit were high in complex vitamins that might help bone marrow to rapidly increase blood platelet production.

“The dengue virus’ main effect is on platelet production. Nor­mally, a platelet in our body lasts for about five to 10 days and the body replenishes them when required,”

“This virus destroys the body’s capacity to produce new platelets (during the period the virus is effective). The platelet count for a normal person varies from 150,000 to 250,000 per micro litre of blood. On becoming infected, a patient’s platelet count starts falling.

“A platelet count below 100,000 per microlitre is alarming – immediate medical attention is required. A platelet count below 50,000 can be fatal,” he added.

A fall in the platelet count prevents formation of clots and this leads to haemorrhaging, which results in both internal and external bleeding.

How should Take:-

Accordingly it is raw papaya leaves, 2pcs just cleaned and pound and squeeze with filter cloth. You will only get one tablespoon per leaf.. So two tablespoon per serving once a day. Do not boil or cook or rinse with hot water, it will loose its strength. Only the leafy part and no stem or sap. It is very bitter and you have to swallow it like that.

Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

A Handful of Pistachios Can Decrease Glycemic Response

A Handful of Pistachios Can Decrease Glycemic Response
A couple of handfuls of pistachio nuts eaten with a high-glycemic meal such as pasta can do wonders for postprandial glucose and insulin levels, especially in people with metabolic syndrome....
The study, sponsored by the Western Pistachio Association, Fresno, California, included 20 patients with metabolic syndrome (12 women; average age, 54 years) and an average body mass index of 37.5 kg/m2, reported lead investigator Cyril W.C. Kendall, PhD, from the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
In an expansion of research recently published Dr. Kendall described how pistachios (84 g) were served to fasting patients, either alone or in combination with white bread (50 g) or white bread with butter and cheese.
Venous and finger-prick blood sampling was used to assess glucose and insulin responses over 3 hours, as well as glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and ghrelin.
The study found that when carbohydrates were consumed with pistachios there was a blunted postprandial glycemic response, suggesting a beneficial effect for patients with the metabolic syndrome.
A previous paper published by the group showed the glycemic response to meals of rice and pasta was similarly blunted by pistachio nuts, and the response approached statistical significance with instant mashed potatoes.
"These data demonstrate that the addition of pistachios to foods with high available carbohydrate content reduces the overall glycemic impact of the foods studied [parboiled rice, pasta, white bread, and mashed potatoes], despite increasing the overall available carbohydrate content," the authors wrote.
"We're looking at mechanisms," Dr. Kendall responded in an interview. "Nuts have healthy protein and healthy fats and they're low in available carbohydrate, so hopefully they're replacing available carbohydrate, which tends to have a high glycemic index in North America. The effects are quite modest, but these are some of the mechanisms by which nuts — and pistachios in particular — help to improve glycemic control."
Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison

Blood Group Tells Personality

Blood Group Tells Personality BLOOD GROUP O BLOOD GROUP A BLOOD GROUP B BLOOD GROUP AB In a nutshell Cannot stand people who hide the truth Pessimistic and too sensitive Cannot take orders easily Romantic and sentimental Basic Behavior Make objectives clear Careful about decision-making Make decisions fast Extremely practical Possess great deal of confidence Make things clear in black and white Can be flexible Excellent in analyses Honest, optimistic and energetic Care too much about social rules and standards Do not care about rules Give fair criticisms Respect scientific and practical findings Cannot decide when it comes to important issues Tolerance Strength and endurance depend on their aim High tolerance for physical or repetitive work Maintain the longest interest in what they do Try to be hard-working Give up easily if they find the job meaningless Cannot take changes easily Seem impatient Tend to be impatient Lose interest in a hobby easily Dislike repetitious work How do they see their future and past? Positive about the past, thus do not regret about the past Try hard to forget the past Hard to forget recent affairs, but able to forget past and memories Sentimental about the past Seek financial stability for the future Pessimistic about the future More concern about the immediate problems than anything else How do they express their emotions? Usually stable and calm Able to display cool outlook even though angry Expressive Sentimental Sensitive towards sincerity Short-tempered Cool and objective Usually cool and steady, but can get upset with an immediate, unsolved problem Give frank, direct opinions Take longer to heal a broken heart Although joke a lot, could actually be very shy Can get moody easily Sensitive to others' opinions Change moods like the weather Cannot stop complaining when they are upset How do they work? Ability to concentrate vary from time to time, depending on aim Perfectionist Creative and possess new ideas Able to handle a wide scope of jobs Mostly prefer to lead Handle one thing at a time Cannot differentiate between work and hobby Value hard work Can overlook details Work a line between work and personal affairs Cannot take orders Quick in understanding Highly responsible Do not hesitate to introduce innovative changes and are not worried about theirs criticisms Not highly responsible and unable to follow-up on a project until its completion Tend to choose hobbies which help them release stress Tend to be artistic in approach

Feel Free To Leave Comments To My Posts,Its Always Nice To Get Feed Back!:) “The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.”~ Thomas Edison