Germany 's Influence on World Cuisine - Beyond Beer and Sausages

Germany is known for its Oktober fest and the beer loving population. There is more to Germany and its cuisine. It may not be as popular as its snooty counterpart - French food!!...but the German Kitchens have contributed more than fair share to the world cuisine.

Interested in knowing more about German food??

If you thought German cuisine was nothing more than Beer and Sausages. Then you definitely need to see this episode of Planet food - Germany special!!

The n number of bread varieties and the desserts are to die for...If you have eaten Black forest cake and love it..It is good to know that it is from a region by the same name- Black Forest in Germany..Here is how its made...


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PS: I am in the process of researching more on similarities and variants of vegetarian dishes from Germany (Oh yes! there are quite a few of them !!). I ll be back with a post soon :")

Going Nuts?!! - Have a Banana

This may come as a surprise to many, I was too. A very dear friend of mine sent me an article on benefits of banana and I had to share it on Avial and Rasam

 Pic source: uberreview(dot)com

Going Bananas

Bananas... This is very interesting. 

After Reading THIS, you'll NEVER look at a banana in the same way again -

Bananas. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. 

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: 

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: 

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 

200 students at aTwickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: 

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: 

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: 

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: 

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood  sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

 Mosquito bites: 

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

 Nerves: 

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

 Overweight and at work? 

Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

 Ulcers: 

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

 Temperature control: 

Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

 Seasonal Affective Disorder 

(SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

 Smoking: 

Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

 Stress: 

Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

 Strokes: 

According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: 

Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

 

PS :

Bananas must be the reason why monkeys are so happy & Healthy all the time!

Source of the article unknown...any input appreciated!!

Blogosphere finds - Little Food junction

I came across this wonderful food blog...Little Food Junction and bookmarked for future use! ;-). I dont have kids as of now, but I am sure it would be useful someday :-). I loved the author Smita's approach to manage picky and fuzzy eaters (Kids in particular!!). (Arthi this post is specially for you and Shruti kutty.)


Check out her blog and the CSN giveaway (I think for US and Canada residents).

I am sure, after my amma's techniques to get people to ear food the fun way, this blog is going to be a major source of inspiration for me.