Bread Pokoda

Ingredients

Bread slices

Gram flour ( Kadala mavu/ Besan)

Oil

Salt

Preparation

*Cut the bread slices in triangular shape

*Take the gram flour in a bowl

*Put salt

*Add water slowly and mix thoroughly to  get a thick batter

*Heat the oil in a frying pan on medium high  heat

*Dip the bread slowly into the batter one at a time

*Drop the slice slowly into the oil in the frying pan 

*Fry both sides until it is brown golden colour

*Take it out and keep it in a plate

* Have it with chutney or sauce

Optimum Nutrition

Optimum Nutrition for a Healthy Living

Tags: nutrition, balanced food, processed foods, metabolic diseases

It is very essential to maintain optimum nutrition for sound health. Actually to a large extent our food habits depend on the environment in which we are born and brought up. It is conditioned by our parents and society.

With the knowledge available about food and the nutrition values, we can design our food style based on scientific principles. For maintaining sound health, a healthy nervous system, healthy glands and organs, arteries free from too much fat are required.

Tips for Optimizing Nutrition

The following steps will help in optimizing nutrition.

Balanced Diet: Have a balanced diet with sufficient vitamins, fat and minerals. The diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Fat and Sugar: Reduce the consumption of fat and sugar to the bare minimum. More fat causes the clogging of blood vessels resulting in various diseases and premature aging. Excess sugar causes different metabolic diseases and tiredness.

Processed Foods: It has become a tendency to consume more processed foods. This leads to many diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer, arthritis and dental decay. The fast food in general contains too much fat, sugar and preservatives.  As such avoid processed foods as far as possible.

Eat Slowly: Chew the food properly. This results in thorough break up of the food particles and release of more nutrients.

Combination of Different Foods

It is not advisable to eat lot of different foods at one meal as it puts too much strain on the digestive system because different foods require different enzymes for digesting.

More Intakes of Fibers: Try to include more fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet. Fiber reduces cholesterol and blood sugar.

Aerobic Exercises: Aerobic exercises such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling etc help in increased blood circulation to all parts of the body including digestive glands. This helps in better assimilation of food nutrients.

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Air Pollution - Its bad effects

Air Pollution and its bad effects

The other day there was a  report in the  news paper –

“Air pollution is the largest cause for strokes, says a study.”

There are different types of pollution – Water pollution, air pollution , soil pollution etc. The causes and effects of pollution are many. In good olden days our ancestors led a calm and peaceful life. They breathed fresh and pure air, drank pure water from streams and raised crops from unpolluted soil. Now it is very difficult for us to even imagine such a situation.

What is pollution?

 It is the contamination of the environment due to introduction of different contaminants and causes various ill effects on humans, animals and existing structures. Pollution happens in different forms, types and  intensities. The main causes for the pollution are large scale industries and the ever increasing number of vehicles on the road. Burning of fossil fuels like coal and petrol emits sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.

The effects of air pollution are different types of lung problems like asthma, cough and, burning of eyes. But as per the above mentioned  paper report air pollution is a major contributor. for stroke leading to death and different disabilities. The other factors contributing to heart problems are smoking, poor diet and lack of physical exercise.

The control methods of air pollution are: Use of public mode of transport, reduce the use of electricity and follow the 3R principles of Reduce Reuse and Recyle.

Vishu – The Malayalam New Year

April 15 is being celebrated as Vishu, the Malayalam New Year (First of Malayalam month Maedam). As for the Bengalis it is Pohela, for the Tamilians it is Puthandu and for Kannadigas it is Bisu. Celebrations may vary slightly depending on the regional flavor.

                           
                                

On the previous night (April 14), vishukani will be arranged and kept ready in the Puja ( prayer)room or in the Sitting room. For this, in a circular flat bottomed bronze vessel (uruli), different items – vegetables, fruits, rice, jewellery, betel leaves, coins, sacred book like Bhagavad Gita, Photo of Srikrisha etc- are decoratively arranged. On the wee hours of April 15, lights are lit and kept by the side of  vishukani at the prearranged place. Each member of the family is brought to this  place , closing their eyes. They are then asked to open their eyes, see, touch and feel each item in the vessel and pray to god for having sound health, a happy and comfortable year ahead. The senior most member of the family then gives cash (coin) to each member.(kainettam) Fire crackers are burst and sparklers are lit. All the family members have their bath and  may visit the near by temple. At midday, there will be a feast with special dishes including payasam (sweet porridge). The festival is being celebrated on a large scale at Guruvayur temple and other temples.

Water Conservation

Water conservation – the steps to be adopted

Water conservation refers to the preservation, control and development of water resources, both surface and groundwater, and prevention of pollution.

Water is very essential for humans as well as other living beings for their sustenance.  It is also required for irrigation and for different industries. Water is a precious natural  resource and it should be used cautiously. We have to depend on rain for the water. The wastage of water should be minimum  and at the same time the possibility of using recycled water should be explored.

Water saving Tips

·         Check all faucets, pipes and toilets for leaks.

·         Install water saving shower heads and ultra-low-flush toilets.

·         Take shorter showers.

·         Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving.

·         Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator.

·         Rinse vegetables in a full sink or pan of water.

Life and Death

Life and Death

Key words - life, death, happiness, tension, worry

Everybody come to this world with a return ticket but only the date and time of return is not stamped on the ticket. All persons want to lead a happy and healthy life devoid of any disease, worry and tension. But that is only a wish. In the early period it is the worry of the parents to bring up the child, give good education and then get them married. The cycle of life then continues in its usual stride.

But unfortunately the things are not so bright as one  thinks.  At every stage of life one is required to undergo various trials and tribulations. In the present  day world, it is seen that many youngsters are suffering from various diseases and in consequence they are not able to lead a normal life. Though lot of progress has been made in various fields, there is no remedy for many diseases. Nature quite often exhibits its fury in the form of earthquake, drought, flood, land sides, tsunami etc. Very large number of people lose their lives, houses and other properties are destroyed leading to colossal financial losses.

What is that thing which disturbs everybody? That is the greediness for money. No doubt one requires sufficient money to lead a normal life - food, shelter and clothing. But there is no limit for the requirement of money. – the more one earns , the more he wants to accumulate. Family relations are in a quandary now; there is no respect of parents, women and senior citizens.

An awareness of death enables us to live each day -- each moment--filled with happiness and joy. In order to enjoy true happiness, we should live each moment in its true spirit, forgetting the past and without worrying about the future.  Realising the actual fact  of death  enables us to bring out the creativity, courage and joy into each minute of our lives.

“Death,”

 Rainer Maria Rilke

Before us great Death stands

Our fate held close within his quiet hands.

When with proud joy we lift Life’s red wine

To drink deep of the mystic shining cup

And ecstasy through all our being leaps—

Death bows his head and weeps.

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Happiness through positive thoughts

Happiness through Positive Thoughts

Key words:  positive thoughts, happiness, healing power, affirmations

Thoughts have enormous powers. It can shape and mould one's life. Thoughts can be positive or negative. Positive thoughts can create happiness, health, overcome fear and inferiority complex. Scientific studies have proved that affirmations have got healing powers. No doubt medicines have got their own role to play in curing diseases.

Words saturated with sincerity and faith are like highly explosive vibration bombs and can bring desired changes. Affirmations repeated regularly can move the cosmic vibratory force to help in solving personal problems. All affirmations in order to reach the super consciousness must be free from doubts and uncertainties. Affirmations for curing physical and mental illness must be repeated continuously at regular intervals.

Lord Jesus said:" Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeded out of the mouth."

 Avoid using unpleasant words even if they are true.

 Remember- A word spoken once can't be taken back.

It is very important to understand that in the use of thought as medicine, it should be seen that right thoughts are not neutralized by wrong thoughts.

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