Category Archive: Nutritional Information On Food

April 4th, 2013
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SWEETNESS OF MAPLE SYRUP !

Maple syrup is my latest love at breakfast!  I love drizzling maple syrup on my buttered bread slices.  I discovered my love for maple syrup by accident actually!  You see, there is this big bottle of maple syrup from Canada that my SIL gave me last year and I hardly ever use it as we hardly ever cook pancakes these days, ever since our helper returned home for good.  Since the maple syrup is near its expiration date, I have been drizzling it over my butter bread slices very often. The more I eat it, the more I am falling in love with this syrup that is full of goodness!

Sweet Facts On Maple Syrup:

It is a 100% natural, wholey organic food. There is no way to alter it
Maple Sugar is three times as sweet as cane sugar, AND it has few calories!
Maple Sugar is 100% pure. No reduction, processing or removal of anything
Maple Syrup contains manganese and zinc, natural antioxidents which are good for your immune system, male reproductive systems and helps prevent damage to the heart.

Five compounds have been found in maple syrup that have never been seen in nature before. Pure maple syrup has 20 known beneficial compounds for health and now researchers have discovered 34 more, five of which have never been found in nature before. The health benefits of maple syrup are even better than previously known and might help fight cancer, types 2 diabetes and infection.

Pure maple syrup tastes great, and it offers a myriad of health benefits. Here are just a few:

It’s an antioxidant powerhouse. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island found that maple syrup is filled with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds that may help prevent several chronic and inflammatory diseases like diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s. It also comes packed with phenolics — the beneficial antioxidant compounds in maple syrup — that may help diabetics keep their blood sugar levels balanced since phenolics inhibit the enzymes that are involved in the conversion of carbohydrates to sugar.
Here are more reasons why it’s good for us.

It settles digestion issues. Try swapping out sugar in baked-good recipes for maple syrup, and you may find that the usual gas and bloating you normally experience after consuming processed sweeteners is no longer an issue. If you do replace sugar with maple syrup, just be sure to reduce the amount of liquid the recipe calls for by about a half-cup.

It helps with muscle recovery. Real maple syrup is an excellent source of manganese, which helps repair muscle and cell damage; it also keeps bones strong and blood sugar levels normal.

It is filled with important nutrients. Maple syrup contains essential nutrients like zinc, iron, calcium, and potassium. Zinc not only supports reproductive health, but it also helps to keep your white blood cells up, which assist in the protection against colds and viruses.

As sweet as all of this sounds, keep in mind that at the end of the day, maple syrup is still just liquid sugar. Too much sugar intake can increase your risk of obesity, diabetes, unhealthy blood levels of fat and cholesterol, and high blood pressure, so regardless of its health benefits, be sure to use maple syrup in moderation.

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Nutritional Information On Food
June 20th, 2012
post by admin | | 40

Health Benefits of Eating Raw Garlic

My 4YO baby girl is definitely taking after her health freak mommy for she can eat raw garlic!  Whenever we dine at restaurants, I will surely request for a plate of chopped raw garlic to eat with the dishes.  Not that I heart raw garlic. I hate the aftertaste of garlic in my mouth.  But I heart reaping the health benefits from eating raw garlic.

After being told that raw garlic can heal her from a flu that she was having, my health freak baby girl began scooping raw garlic and ate them with her rice and dishes, as shown in this picture here.  I’ll bet no other 4-year old would eat raw garlic without giving you a disgusted look on his/her face while trying to feign puking. But not my baby girl.  It was only when my mil commented that the chopped raw garlic may not be clean that I stopped Cass from putting more chopped raw garlic into her mouth.    My mil commented that the cleanliness of the chopping board used by the restaurant worker is highly questionable, which is very true.  I wouldn’t be surprised that after chopping raw meat on the board, the restaurant’s foreign worker  chopped  raw garlic on the wooden chopping board.  A damp wooden chopping board, especially one which has contact with raw meat is a very good breeding ground for bacteria.   The next time I chop garlic, I’ll be sure to save some  for Cass to eat it with her rice and dishes.  My 2 older girls are not that adventurous though.

Food For Thought
Below are some main health and medicinal benefits of garlic.
Note: To get the full health benefits of raw garlic, you have to do just that – take it RAW! Commercial garlic pills, tablets, oils and capsules, especially the odorless ones, are often devoid of the active enzymes that provide the benefits. Crushed, raw garlic may be mixed into virtually any meal, or put in gelatin capsules for easy swallowing, or drunk as a tea by simply crushing 1 or 2 cloves and adding hot water.

Health & Medicinal Benefits of Garlic

Powerful immune system enhancer

  1. Antibacterial, antiviral
  2. Antifungal – effective remedy for yeast infections & candida
  3. Clears boils & infected sores
  4. Improves appetite
  5. Digestive aid – especially good if eaten with meat
  6. Increases libido – take several raw cloves a day
  7. Expels intestinal parasites & worms
  8. Reduces high cholesterol
  9. Health Remedies Using Garlic Cloves

Below are some Chinese health remedies using garlic cloves as the main ingredient. These are common, traditional ways that Chinese people make use of the health benefits of raw garlic.

Garlic Tea:
Put 1 or 2 cloves of crushed garlic and 1 or 2 grams of loose-leaf green tea in a teapot. Add a teaspoon or two of unrefined brown sugar if you wish. Pour in boiling water that has been left to cool slightly. Stir the mixture and let it steep for several minutes before drinking. After wards, leave the ingredients in the pot, as you can top it up with more water once or twice throughout the day. This is a common folk remedy for killing germs and resolving toxins in the body.

Garlic Nose Drops:
This is a preventative for the common cold and sinus problems. Crush several cloves of garlic to obtain the juice. Mix with warm water at a ratio of two parts water to one part garlic juice. Lie down and use an eye-dropper to place a couple of drops into each nostril as soon as you feel any symptoms coming on. Continue for as long as necessary. If the drops overly irritate your nostrils, stop, or reduce the number of drops.

Garlic Paste:
Crush 2 garlic cloves and mix with several drops of pure sesame oil to make a paste for external application to boils,carbuncles and infected sores. Cover then reapply when the paste becomes dry and falls off. If the skin becomes overly irritated discontinue use or wait for a day or two and try again.

Maximizing the health benefits of raw garlic to get the full health benefits of raw garlic, whether in salads, as tea, or in capsules, it’s important you eat less refined, processed and canned foods, and more foods in as close to their natural state as possible. Afterall, what’s the point in taking fresh, raw garlic to improve your health while, for instance, continuing to eat nutritionally-dead, toxin-producing junk foods?

According to Traditional Chinese Dietary Therapy, garlic is warm in nature (i.e. heaty) and a strong stimulant. Therefore, people who have excess heat in their body should first balance their system. Excessive internal heat comes from eating too much heaty food and drinks, e.g. meat, fried foods, coffee and alcohol. This causes symptoms like red eyes, bad breath, constipation, yellow urine, a yellow tongue moss and acne. If you have these kinds of symptoms, eliminate or greatly reduce the above items from your diet for a few weeks before you start eating garlic regularly, or it will just make your body hotter and your symptoms worse.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/256012




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Cassandra, Nutritional Information On Food
July 22nd, 2011
post by admin | | 37

Quail’s Eggs Wonders

Baby prefers quail’s eggs over chicken eggs. She calls them baby eggs and is intrigued that the eggs are so tiny and cute. I feed her with eggs everyday so that this petite girl is pumped up with enough protein. This girl’s waist is so tiny that most of her pants often drop off her waist and she’s wearing clothes meant for much younger girls! On some days, I give her free-range chicken eggs and on other days she gets to eat quail’s eggs. She likes her eggs with loads of butter or a dash of organic soy sauce. For me, I love quail’s eggs in tong sui or in skewers from those ‘loke loke’ vans 😀

She loves shelling the eggs too…

Food For Thought

The quail egg is prized as a dietary and healing food. It is recorded that Chinese medical practitioners have used quail eggs for thousands of years to remedy aliments such as rhinitis, asthma, hay fever, spasmodic cough along with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. More recently the benefits are found in quail egg capsules sold online.

Quail eggs are packed with vitamins and minerals. Even with their small size, their nutritional value is three to four times greater than chicken eggs. Quail eggs contain 13 percent proteins compared to 11 percent in chicken eggs. Quail eggs also contain 140 percent of vitamin B1 compared to 50 percent in chicken eggs. In addition, quail eggs provide five times as much iron and potassium. Unlike chicken eggs, quail eggs have not been know to cause allergies or diathesis. Actually they help fight allergy symptoms due to the ovomucoid protein they contain.

Health Benefits
Regular consumption of quail eggs helps fight against many diseases. They are a natural combatant against digestive tract disorders such as stomach ulcers. Quail eggs strengthen the immune system, promote memory health, increase brain activity and stabilize the nervous system. They help with anemia by increasing the level of hemoglobin in the body while removing toxins and heavy metals. The Chinese use quail eggs to help treat tuberculosis, asthma, and even diabetes. If you are a sufferer of kidney, liver, or gallbladder stones quail eggs can help prevent and remove these types of stones.

Complementary Benefits
Children eating quail eggs are less inclined to suffer from infectious diseases than other children do. In men, quail eggs provide the prostate gland with phosphorus, proteins, and vitamins that can be a powerful stimulant for sexual potency. Women find that the egg improves skin color and strengthens hair. This is why quail eggs are in facial and in hair care products.

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Cassandra, Nutritional Information On Food
July 2nd, 2011
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Grilled Portobello Mushrooms With Garlic And Olive Oil

I am a big fan of mushrooms, all kinds that is. I love fresh mushrooms, Portobello mushrooms in particular. There are countless number of ways of preparing a mushroom dish.  You can stew them, stir fry them, add them into salads, used as an ingredient in other dishes like in bak kut teh, vegetarian dish, roast them, bbq them and grill them.  Some species of mushrooms are even used as supplements.

One very easy, tasty and healthy way of preparing a fresh Portobello mushroom dish is to grill the mushrooms in the oven. My favorite way is to grill the mushrooms with chopped garlic, drizzle of olive oil, ground black pepper and cheese.  You can even sprinkle some chopped spring onions on the mushroom caps after they are out from the oven.  I normally grill the mushrooms for about 15-20 minutes or until the garlic and olive oil sizzle. Do try out this very easy and wholesome dish for your family.  Mushrooms are bursting with anti-oxidants too.

My grilled Protobello mushrooms with garlic, olive oil, black pepper and cheese.

Food For Thought

One cup of sliced portobello mushrooms, approximately 121 g, makes up a single serving and has only 42 calories. There is 1 g of fat and 5 g of protein in a cup of sliced portobello mushrooms. The total carbohydrate content of a serving of portobello mushrooms is 6 g, of which 3 g is fiber. Water makes up 108 g of the total weight of a 1-cup serving. There are only 12 mg of sodium in a cup of portobello mushrooms, so it is considered a low-sodium food.

A 1-cup serving of portobello mushrooms supplies 31 percent of the daily recommended intake of selenium, or 21.4 mcg. It also contains 30 percent of the recommendation for copper and 18 percent of the requirement for both phosphorus and potassium. Other minerals in portabello mushrooms include iron, magnesium, manganese, calcium and zinc. In a serving of portobello mushrooms, there is 7.2 mg of the vitamin niacin, or 36 percent of the daily recommended intake, and 0.6 mg of riboflavin, or 34 percent of the recommendation for that vitamin. Portabello mushrooms also contain the vitamins pantothenic acid, folate, choline, vitamin B6 and thiamin, also known as vitamin B1. The nutrient betaine is also found in portabello mushrooms

Phytochemicals
Portobello mushrooms are a source of phytochemicals, food components that are not considered vitamins or minerals. Mushrooms, including portobello mushrooms, are one of the best sources of L-ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant. Other antioxidant phytochemicals in portobello mushrooms includes a group called polyphenols. These compounds give portobello mushrooms an extremely high ORAC rating, a measurement of the antioxidant capability of a food.

Normal Physiological Effects
The selenium in portobello mushrooms operates in DNA repair in the body and also helps the body produce its own antioxidants. The iron and copper in portobello mushrooms aid in hemoglobin synthesis, which is needed for the transportation of oxygen through the blood. The high level of riboflavin in portobello mushrooms contributes to cellular energy production, and the pantothenic acid provided by these mushrooms aids adrenal gland function. Zinc, also found at high levels in portobello mushrooms, plays a role in immune function, wound healing and cell division. The consumption of niacin, found in high amounts in portobello mushrooms, has been linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease, explains World’s Healthiest Foods.

Considerations
More antioxidant activity is found in the caps of mushrooms than in the stems. Unlike many other foods, most of the antioxidant level in mushrooms is not destroyed by cooking. Mushrooms also contain compounds called purines, which may cause health problems in individuals with gout. People with this condition may want to avoid eating portobello mushrooms.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/279766-portobello-mushroom-nutritional-value/#ixzz1QwBMj75c

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Nutritional Information On Food
March 30th, 2011
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Maple Syrup Health Benefits

My brother and sil returned from Canada recently and gave us a few bottles of maple syrup, maple butter and maple cookies. My mom did a google search on maple syrup and found out that this nice smelling syrup is more than just sweetness.

Maple syrup is one of the many wonders of the world. When you want to satisfy your sweet tooth, don’t forget to consider using maple syrup which contains fewer calories and a higher concentration of minerals than honey.

Food For Thought:

Cancer Prevention
Researchers have suggested that the compounds contained within pure maple syrup offer cancer prevention benefits. A study performed at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi in Canada revealed that the antioxidant capabilities of pure maple syrup were effective at inhibiting the damage that is caused by nitric oxide. The ability to inhibit overproduction of nitric oxide will also prevent the proliferation of cancer cells. This study also suggests the cancer fighting properties are greater if the syrup is of darker color rather than a clear color.

Diabetes
Recent studies also suggest that the consumption of pure maple syrup may also be effective in lowering blood glucose levels. According to United Press International, pure maple syrup contains a significant concentration of abscisic acid. Abscisic acid is a chemical that promotes insulin secretion of the pancreas and increases the insulin sensitivity of fat cells. The presence of abscisic acid and the qualities it possesses allow pure maple syrup to be an effective treatment against diabetes.

Cardiac Benefits
Pure maple syrup is very rich in many essential vitamins and minerals, especially zinc. A study performed by the Department of Medicine at the University of Turku in Finland suggests there is a direct relationship between low serum zinc levels and incidence of cardiovascular heart disease. The results of the study confirmed that low serum zinc levels is a risk factor for cardiovascular heart disease in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The zinc concentration in pure maple syrup can regulate serum zinc levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular heart disease.

Men Benefit From Maple Syrup
Maple syrup may help to support reproductive health and provides special benefits for men. Zinc is concentrated more highly in the prostate than in any other human tissue, and low levels of zinc in this gland relate to a higher risk for prostate cancer. In fact, zinc is a mineral used therapeutically by health care practitioners to help reduce prostate size. Manganese may also play a role in supporting mens health since, as a catalyst in the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, it also participates in the production of sex hormones, thus helping to benefit reproductive health.

Here’s Baby enjoying maple butter spread on a slice of wholemeal bread, cut into strips.

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Cassandra, Nutritional Information On Food
March 23rd, 2011
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Health Benefits Of Eggs

Babies loves eggs – chicken eggs and quail eggs. I started feeding my 3 girls eggs as soon as they turned 1 year old. Baby still eats an egg a day, most of the time she feasts on free range chicken eggs. Each week, we consume 2-3 crates of eggs. We love eggs cook in any style and shape – fried, boiled, half boiled, omelette, curried, scrambled, poached, steamed, chawan mushi style, added into pancakes, french toast and the list goes.

Baby enjoying her daily dose of free range chicken egg…

Food For Thought :
(article extracted from http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-eggs.html)

1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person’s lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.

10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

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Nutritional Information On Food
January 18th, 2010
post by admin | | 34

Organic Buckwheat Noodles

One of my 3 gals’ favorite noodles is buckwheat noodles. When there is green tea noodles or buckwheat noodles served, meal times are such a breeze – no coaxing, no bribes, no threats and no yelling at rascal #2 to finish her food.

Here’s one of the ways I prepare buckwheat noodles for Baby.  Boil the noodles al dente and season with a little Bragg’s liquid amino acid, toasted sesame seeds and a little ground almond (both for added calcium).

Another of my gals’ favorite and quick-to-prepare dish is onion omelette.   

Baby’s bowl of wholesome dinner – buckwheat noodles with onion omelette and veggie.


Baby enjoying her dinner.

Some interesting facts on buckwheat extracted from http://www.healthyreader.com/2006/07/19/the-health-benefits-of-buckwheat/:

It may surprise some people to learn that buckwheat is actually a fruit even though it is commonly thought to be a grain. Buckwheat is a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel.

Whole buckwheat is a very nutritious food. The protein in buckwheat contains the eight essential amino acids and is also high in lysine. Buckwheat is also rich in many B vitamins as well as phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese. Buckwheat is also a good oil source of Alpha-Linolenic Acid, which is one of the two essential fatty acids we must have to be healthy.

Health Benefits of Buckwheat
1.  Buckwheat is high in fiber. 1 cup of cooked buckwheat groats contains over 4 grams of dietary fiber.
2.  Buckwheat contains the eight essential amino acids.
3.  Buckwheat contains many minerals including: phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese.
4.  Buckwheat contains a rich supply of flavonoids, particularly rutin.
5.  Buckwheat lowers glucose levels and is beneficial for managing diabetes.
6.  Buckwheat has been found to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.
7.  Buckwheat is a fruit seed and is a gluten-free alternative to grains.

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Cassandra, Nutritional Information On Food
January 15th, 2010
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Kombu Health Benefits

I am sure many of you have never seen or heard of kombu.  Kombu (pronounced as khuan poa in Cantonese) is a type of seaweed that is cultivated in Japan. Kombu is available fresh, dried, pickled, and frozen in many Asian markets. It is sweet and it is used mainly to flavour broth, soups and sauces. My mil would never fail to buy packets of dried kombu whenever she goes to Japan. She has 2 ways of preparing the kombu. One is to boil it with lean pork to prepare soup and the other way is to make kombu salad, ala Japanese. The kombu salad is really delicious and no cooking is required. When she returns from HK, I will ask her to whip up a kombu salad for dinner.

Here’s the double boiled kombu soup with lean pork.

When I was shopping at Jaya Jusco several days ago, I saw a booth promoting kombu from Korea. I bought a packet for my mum. My mum has goitre and kombu, which is rich in iodine is good for goitre patients.

Health benefits of Kombu

Kombu seaweed is a very nutritious food and is high in protein, calcium, iodine, magnesium, iron and folate.

i) Reduces risk of cancer
Lower rates of breast cancers have been reported in Japanese women eating a diet high in kelp. It is claimed that Lignans, which help to fight cancer are found in high quantity in kelp and may provide protection against certain cancers.

ii) Good for Iodine deficient individuals
Seaweed can be treated as an energy booster in those who are iodine deficient and have underactive thyroids.

How to select and store
Very often you will notice a fine white film which appears on the surface of kombu. This is entirely normal and is not harmful. You just need to wipe the sheets of kombu with a damp cloth or wash it before use. Pickled kombu can be stored for long periods under refrigeration but it need to be finished within short period of time once opened.

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Homecooked Food, Nutritional Information On Food
January 11th, 2010
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Sesame Seeds Health Benefits

I have always been worried that Baby C is not getting enough calcium as she does not drink enough formula milk. She is still very much addicted to my boops and I am worried that my breast milk is not enough to provide her with the nutrients, vitamins and minerals that her body needs. Baby C is 21 months now and my milk supply has dwindled ever since Baby C was hospitalized for 3 weeks after her 2 surgeries last year. During that period of time, she could not eat or drink and I had to express my milk and pour the milk away.

Baby C does not eat much either and she’s a very small eater, with a pretty small tummy.To ensure that Baby C gets sufficient calcium, I try to include as much calcium-rich food as possible in her diet. One of it is sesame seeds.  I always toss in a spoonful of sesame seeds into her green tea or buckwheat noodles, homemade breads and homemade pancakes.  I also spread sesame seed paste (Tahini) on her bread.  I also add about 1/2 a teaspoon of sesame seed oil into the chawan mushi (Japanese steamed egg) that I prepare for her about 3-4 times a week.

Food For Thought
Did you know that half a cup of sesame seeds contains three times more calcium than half a cup of whole milk? In addition to being an excellent dietary source of calcium, sesame seeds are also a good source of manganese, copper, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1 (thiamin), zinc, vitamin E, healthy protein, and fiber.Sesame seeds also contain sesamin and sesamolin, two substances that are thought to prevent high blood pressure and protect the liver against oxidative damage. Sesame seeds are also a good source of both dietary fiber and monounsaturated fats.

Sesame oil rubbed on the skin may soothe a minor burn or sunburn as well as help in the healing process.

Sesame seed oil is said to remove wrinkles when applied to the skin in a facial massage.

Eat some sesame seeds to relieve constipation and to remove worms from the intestinal tract. They’re an aid to digestion, stimulate blood circulation, and benefit the nervous system.

Sesame oil makes ideal massage oil because of its excellent emollient properties. Applied topically, sesame oil is thought to aid in healing chronic diseases of the skin. With its vitamin E content, it’s also a benefit to the heart and nervous system.

Nutrients from the sesame seed are best absorbed in the form of sesame oil, tahini or sesame butter.The whole seeds do not break down readily and release all their nutrients.

There is a little bit of controversy about sesame seeds and calcium, because there is a substantial difference between the calcium content of hulled versus unhulled sesame seeds. When the hulls remain on the seeds, one tablespoon of sesame seeds will contains about 88 milligrams of calcium. When the hulls are removed, this same tablespoon will contain about 37 milligrams (about 60% less). Tahini-a spreadable paste made from ground sesame seeds-is usually made from hulled seeds (seeds with the hulls removed, called kernels), and so it will usually contain this lower amount of calcium.

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Interesting Information, Nutritional Information On Food
December 6th, 2009
post by admin | | 2

Chinese Basil Leaves Omelette

My mil loves cooking chicken with Chinese basil leaves or kau chung thap  (“Nine-Storied Pagoda” in Cantonese). The minty flavor of the leaves, together with the flavorful taste of sliced ginger and Chinese cooking wine make the Sam Pei Zhi chicken dish (a Taiwanese chicken dish) really delicious.

Last week, she cooked Chinese basil leaves omelette :

The kids didn’t quite like it because of the texture of the Chinese basil leaves (which can be pretty rough and hard to chew) but I love it.

Chinese basil leaves can also be used to make soup with fried anchovies and beaten eggs.

There are several varieties of basil grown in many regions of Asia. Most of the Asian basils have a clove-like flavor that is generally stronger than that of the Western basils. Basils are very popular in Thai cuisine. Vietnamese and Chinese also use fresh or dried basils in soups and other foods. In Taiwan, people add fresh Chinese basil leaves to thick soups. They also eat fried chicken with deep fried Chinese basil leaves.

Here’s a little interesting information on basil leaves extracted from http://www.healthcareandlife.com/ayurveda-life/heath-benefits-of-basil-leaves.html:

Do you know that basil leaves can do wonders for your health? Since ages, basil leaves have been known for their positivity. Basil leaves are the must have item for preventing the wide-spreading swine flu. Basil leaves helps in enhancing body’s immunity manifolds. You all will be glad to read that basil leaves are the most amazing miraculous herbs ever known. Here are ways in which basil leaves can do marvelous health effects to your body, have a look!

Basil leaves are highly rich in potassium, vitamin C and A, antioxidants, thus having antiseptic, anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Isn’t all this wonderful?

For treating yourself from seasonal fever, sneezing and cough ailment, you can prepare a concoction by boiling 20 basil leaves in 200 ml of water. Drink this warm concoction in morning for early relief.

The good news is that basil leaves are equally great for you heart’s health too. Drinking a glass of basil juice as the first thing in morning on daily basis helps in keeping your heart healthy and in great shape.

For treating the feeling of nausea and diarrhoea, make a basil juice by grinding 10-12 basil leaves with water. Strain it and then add a pinch of black pepper powder to it. Now, drink the juice for an early relief.

Basil leaves also helps in treating eye infections. For this, soak some basil leaves in water for a night. Next morning, strain the solution and wash your eyes with the same.

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Healthy Food, Homecooked Food, Natural remedies, Nutritional Information On Food
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