CINNAMON or DALCHINI or DARCHINI

I went to a supermarket a few days ago, I was amazed to see hundreds of packs of cinnamon in the diet section. It is good to be diet conscious and now sneaking into anybody's diet and following it blindly is so common that I am scared of the consequences.

Cinnamon is really good for health but isn't it a spice ? Isn't it used in a particular quantity? Isn't the spices used in more than the prescribed quantity harms the body ?

People should consume it but after asking certified nutritionist or certified dietitian. If you do not want to consult then treat cinnamon like any other spices .

Cinnamon is the inner bark of the young shoots of the cinnamon tree.It contains cinnamic aldehyde , cinnamyl acetate and cinnamyl alcohol, a volatile oil. It also contains coumarin , too much of coumarin is toxic.

It is aromatic, astringent and stimulatory. Used to impart flavor to food.

Cinnamon may help to strengthen the cardiovascular system, shielding the heart from disorders. It has cholesterol lowering effects.

The spice also acts as a blood thinning agent that increases circulation. So it has to be used cautiously with blood thinning medicine.

It also acts as a carminative.

May also reduce discomfort from heartburn.

Cinnamon tea helps prevent motion sickness. Take it in a small thermos flask and sip slowly. Pour boiling water over one small piece of cinnamon bark and steep for 10 minutes and strain.

Have antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

May ward off bacteria such as H. pylori which has been linked to ulcers.

May relief from menstrual cramps.

Sniffing of a mixture of cinnamon with other spices is often helpful and is particularly useful in blocked nose.

Due to it's sweet aroma and flavour it can be added to food for diabetics to impart sweetness in milk or desserts. It may help in reducing blood sugar in diabetics. It can mimic the effects of insulin. While a small amount is beneficial ,there will be a sudden drop of blood sugar if taken more than prescribed.

Use cinnamon as a spice , it will benefit but if used as a supplement it can create side effects and harm. It may cause liver damage. May increase the risk of cancer. May cause mouth sores. May interact with certain medication. So if under certain medications ,the dosage has to be checked. It causes low blood pressure. May cause breathing problems if inhaled. It is also not advisable for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in high doses.

Enjoy cinnamon to flavour Indian curries , pulao , biriyani , kahwa but to use as a supplement, please think twice.

NUTMEG and MACE: Indian cuisine really relies on the flavours due to fragrant cornucopia of spices

Nutmeg is the dried seed derived from the tree Myristica fragrans . It's sweet, aromatic, warm flavour tends to be strong so it is advisable to use small amounts. Mace is the scarlet fleshy covering called the aril enclosing in a network the seed , the nutmeg. Mace is carefully removed, flattened and dried.

The most important part of the nutmeg and mace is the volatile oil which contains terpenes and aromatics. Nutmeg yields about 25 per cent fixed oil known as nutmeg butter.

It is an important element of the world's cuisines. Best freshly grated , it imparts a delicate taste and colour to a variety of dishes. It is used as a

Flavouring agent.

Dental preparations.

Essence.

Confectionery.

Vegetable dishes.

Beverages.

Drugs.

Archeologists have found nutmeg spiced food from an Indonesian island. They were using nutmeg as a spice 3500 years ago.

Medicinal properties

Carminative.

Feeling a bit down, eating nutmeg -cinnamon biscuits might lift your spirits. Adding 1/2 tsp each of nutmeg and cinnamon to the biscuit recipe will help to reduce mild depression. But don't overeat.

Contains a monoterpene eugenol.

Prevents heart disease by preventing blood cells from forming too many clots.

May have antibacterial properties that may destroy the food borne bacteria E.coli.

Nutmeg poisoning

The active toxic factor is myristicin. Excess of nutmeg can cause hallucination. Even a teaspoon of nutmeg can produce toxic symptoms. It is a potent inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis and in high doses has an anticholinergic effect resembling atropine toxicity.

It has been self administered to induce menses or abortion.

Beware :

Nutmeg is poisonous when eaten in very large quantities so should be stored well out of the reach of the children.

Nutmeg and mace are used in many Indian dishes like mutton curries , pulao , sweets , desserts etc . Spices should be eaten in moderation so nutmeg and mace when used in moderation gives maximum benefits and flavour to the food.

Enjoy food and the spices and live healthy.

Nothing better than a plate of kothimbir vadi with green chutney. Kothimbir vadi??

Kothimbir is coriander in Marathi. It's an awesome snack served with green coriander chutney. Absolutely lip smacking chickpea , coriander fritters.

Coriander is the delicate plant Coriandrum sativum. Enjoy it's leaves , stem and the dried seeds. The leaves and the stem is used as herb and the dried seeds as spice.

The dried seeds are used in cooking. It is a part of curry powder and as a pickling spice. The seeds are best bought whole and ground as needed. It is the base of most curries and can be used for meat , poultry, fish and vegetables.

The fresh leaves are used as a garnish on veggies or chutneys for aloo parathas or cutlets.

Thought to be helpful in relieving stomach cramps and may have the ability to kill bacteria and fungus.

Relieves from constipation.

Relieves from piles.

Coriander seeds are a treatment for diabetes.

It is a help for people suffering from rheumatism.

Coriander leaves can be used in prevention of dietary deficiency anaemia.

Carotene is present in coriander. It protects against cancer . It helps to prevent wrinkles

Finely ground caraway and coriander with a little water before every meal will help to get rid of flatulence.

Contains limonene which is a flavonoid thought to help fight cancer.

The leaves should be used fresh so that the nutrients are retained.

Coriander leaves lose their aroma when air dried so it is better to preserve in the refrigerator.

Coriander is used in Spanish, Middle East, Asian and South American cuisine.

Coriander is a food item so please do not use it as a medicine or supplement.

If it is taken as a supplement then it may create side effects. If it is taken in excess it may cause severe diarrhoea, stomach pain , darkened skin , depression, lapse of mensuration , dehydration.

Spices are meant to add flavour and taste of food. It is not a medicine so there is no evidence that only a single spice or herb will cure any problem.

Enjoy your stuffed parathas , sabji , pakodas , kothimbir vadi with generous helping of coriander with a good helping of dhania chutney.

Black gold of India. "The King of Spices"

India has been famous for her many and varied spices for many centuries. India exports most of its spices to different parts of the world. One such spice which is also known as the "king of spices "has been exported for many years. This "black gold of India" is black pepper . Kerala is the leading producer and exporter of black pepper followed by Karnataka. We Indians have a love for our spices. But WHY?

It's not because it imparts flavour but has many health benefits.

It has many pharmacological actions.

It stimulates the heart.

It improves the function of the kidneys by increasing the amount of urine excretion (diuresis ).

It improves the gastrointestinal functions.

It aids in digestion, reduces the formation of gases , improves appetite and increases the flow of bile .

It acts as a nerve tonic.

It induces sweating. Prescribed for fevers.

It is a respiratory stimulant and promotes the expulsion of the secretion in the bronchial tubes (expectoration). Prescribed for common cold , cough , asthma and bronchitis. A hot cup of milk with black pepper powder and sugar is effective relief against runny noses. Black pepper tea is also useful. It can also be taken with jaggery in the cold. It is also useful in blocked nose.

It has anti-inflammatory properties.

It is believed to have anti malaria and antitumor actions.

Black pepper is a preventive spice for cataract.

Black pepper has these pharmacological benefits because it contains an alkaloid 'chavicin'. It also has piperine , piperidin , volatile and fixed oils , starches, gums , and inorganic salts . It has a high chromium content.

Chromium is an essential trace element which plays an important role in the prevention of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It prevents the liver from many toxicities. It is preventive against the development of nerve disorders and against certain conditions which lead to mental confusion. It protects the cornea of the eyes against development of opacity giving rise to defective vision. It increases life span and improves fertility.

For its pharmacological actions black pepper is prescribed in Ayurveda for the prevention and treatment of heart diseases , kidney, joints, gastrointestinal, respiratory and skin diseases and for hair growth . It is also prescribed against malaria and as a general tonic. It is an antidote to the effects of arsenic poisoning.

It boosts the immunity and guards the lungs in air polluted areas.

(But it is complete no no for the people suffering from piles.)

So welcome to India, and enjoy the spicy black pepper in your chutney, sambhar , curries , namkeens and many more. .