Thursday, March 27, 2014

Benefits of Coriander / Cilantro

Coriander (also known as dhaniya) is an almost inevitable spice of daily Indian cooking. Coriander seeds and leaves both are used equally in Indian cooking. Coriander is also known as Cilantro in some parts of the world. Both the coriander seeds and coriander leaves have a pleasant smell which is why they are used as spices in cooking. Coriander seeds and oil have been used in ancient traditional medicines since old days.
Coriander is a humble backyard herb which can be grown in every household. They grow up to 2 feet in height and is vibrant green in colour. Coriander is grown extensively in the countries of Europe, Middle East, China, India, and Turkey.

Health Benefits of Cilantro


Like we have said earlier, coriander is used in ancient traditional medicines which imply the fact that coriander has a number of health benefits. Coriander leaves and seeds are an essential part of the Indian Kitchen. In India, coriander is used extensively as a spice and garnish in salads, soups and lentils. Coriander is a great source of Calcium. Potassium, magnesium, folic acid, Iron, vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin C. We have mentioned some of the health benefits of Coriander seeds below :


Helps in digestion :
Coriander seeds and leaves both help in digestion equally. Its antioxidant properties, promotes healthy bowel movement and functioning of the liver. It promotes digestion by production of digestive juices and enzymes.

Rich Source of Vitamin C:
Unlike other dried spice seeds, dried coriander seeds are a huge resource of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folic Acid and Beta Carotene all of which is very beneficial for the skin.

Anti-diabetic:
Coriander is said to stimulate the production of insulin, thereby help to maintain blood sugar levels. It increases the amount of HDL (good cholesterol) and decreases the amount of LDL (bad cholesterol) in the blood.

Antibacterial :
Coriander is anti-bacterial in nature and property. Daily intake of coriander may help in the protection from many of the water and food borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, food poisoning and dysentery.

Anemia : 
Coriander or Cilantro is high in iron content which helps in the prevention of anemia. Daily inclusion of coriander seeds and leaves in food is beneficial in cases of anemia in women.

Eye Care : 
Coriander is considered as one of the best remedies of conjunctivitis. Its high antioxidant content helps in the prevention of infection in the eye.

Women's Health :
Heavy menstrual flow can be controlled by including coriander seeds in our regular diet.

Remedy for detoxification : 
Coriander seeds help us to detoxify our bodies and remove all traces of heavy toxic metals which lead to dangerous diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, loss of memory and eyesight, improper functioning of cardiovascular and neurological system.


Anti Inflammatory :
Coriander’s anti-inflammatory property may alleviate symptoms of arthritis.

Urinary Tract Infections : 
Coriander protects from Urinary tract infections.

Anti-nauseatic:
Coriander helps in the prevention of nauseatic bouts.

Anti-gas: 
Coriander seeds help to get rid of intestinal gas.

Pimple and Acne :
Coriander may be used to reap benefits in acne and pimple-prone skin.

Keep a pot in your backyard and plant cilantro or coriander. Soon you will get to see your own cilantro plant and can reap the benefits of including them in your regular diet.

Affordable and attractive wall art

Ever felt that something was missing to make your room complete? If you are surrounded by four blank, white walls, then it is probably time to inject some life and color to your home, and you may find that wall art is what you are looking for. Today, wall art is a vital part of interior design. It can be used to brighten and give character to almost any room in the house. Wall art has been used for centuries to improve the atmosphere of the rooms. Proper early wall art however was very exclusive and expensive. But now, proper wall art comes at reasonable prices that almost anyone can afford. This is mainly because it is now cheaper and easier to produce great pieces of wall art.

When it comes to choosing the right piece of wall art for your home, there are several things you would need to consider. You must take into account the surrounding colors, lighting, size of the painting and its placement.  It’s important to get these things right because a piece of wall art is meant to become the center focus and give character to the room. It is always prudent to consult and interior designer or someone with related experience on what the best thing is to get. But it’s your room; you’re going to live in it, so always chose whatever agrees with your preferences. Ideal for achieving a contemporary touch to your home or office, wall art generally works best for oversized spaces which act as a foil to this unique art form.

When choosing wall art, it is also important to select an appropriate medium that does not clash with the room or space in consideration. A myriad of alternatives confront  the would-be purchaser when selecting  a medium of choice, for it can be in the form of  3D art, art constructions, friezes, panel art, scroll art, shadow boxes, oils, water color paintings, vinyl art, posters or even wall sculpture. Wall art also comes in a variety of layouts such as horizontal, square, vertical, oval and round; and once chosen, it should complement the setting and fixtures of the room it is to be placed in. Similarly, size too plays an important role when selecting appropriate wall art, as a small space would be cramped by the selection of a very big item of art, and vice versa.

When purchasing the right wall art, you have many options available. Unlike traditional wall art that is slowly painted onto a canvas, wall art can be printed onto the canvas. This way you can conveniently choose the design you like, size it to your requirements and print it on within minutes. The printing method is used to print photos that can be used as wall art. But if you like, you can still shop for unique wall art at galleries and stores. Another place to look for art pieces is on the internet. This is because a lot of interesting artists who can’t afford galleries yet, always put their work up in online galleries.

The material used to create wall art is indeed diverse, and includes, but is not limited to, wood, pottery, bamboo, silk screen, glass, stone, canvas, and metal. Of these, metal and its constituent elements such as copper and brass evoke a high demand in today’s market, readily apparent when surveying the many stores that carry wall art products made of these aforementioned materials. Another critical factor that merits consideration, prior to purchase, is the quoted cost of the item in question. This is of special importance when ordering from a distant store and particularly if the item bears considerable weight, as sometimes shipping costs can be prohibitive.


Whichever way you choose to do it, searching for the right piece of wall art for your home or office, is always fun. One thing to keep in mind thought is that the print-to-canvas pieces are easier to maintain. While the painted on canvas ones are harder to maintain because they tend to fade as time goes by. In all, a piece of wall art is a great way to enhance the atmosphere in any room. Would-be purchasers can choose wall art, by visiting local stores/galleries that have such fare on offer, ordering on-line, or maybe even creating a notable piece themselves. Whichever way you choose to do it, searching for the right piece of modern wall art for your home or office, is always fun. One thing to keep in mind thought is that the print-to-canvas pieces are easier to maintain. While the painted on canvas ones are harder to maintain because they tend to fade as time goes by. In all, a piece of wall art is a great way to enhance the atmosphere in any room.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Benefits of Mustard Greens

Mustard Greens also called the “Sarson Ka Saag” is a very popular diet among the Punjabis of India. As the Punjabis have spread across the world, so have spread their “Sarson Ka Saag”.  As the mustard greens spread to the West, the research related to its health benefits have also reached its peak. No doubt that this particular green leaves have tremendous health benefits but the Indians consume it unknowingly.

The Mustard greens are one of the most nutritious green-leafy vegetables. They are highly rich in vitamin A, carotenes, vitamin K, and flavonoid anti-oxidants. Mustard greens are generally cultivated in the sub-Himalayan plains of Indian sub-continent during the winter season, i.e. from November until March. The mustard greens are most flavourful at that time of the year. The mustard seeds are used in various recipes and the seeds are also used for oil production in many parts of the South-Asian region.

Health Benefits:


Mustard Greens are a healthy option of leafy vegetables. Mustard greens have many Phyto-nutrients which help in the prevention of various dangerous diseases and promote good health of human beings.

Increases protection from Bacterial and Viral Infections

Consumption of mustard greens in regular diet helps in increased protection from bacterial and viral infections. Vitamin C is a powerful natural anti-oxidant present in the mustard greens, provides protection against toxin injury and flu-like infections.

Increased Immune Function

Regular intake of mustard greens helps to develop a stronger immune system. The levels of Vitamin C in mustard greens are almost the same as oranges. So, it is great for keeping the immune system healthy so it does not easily hurt.

Reduced Cancer Risk

The high fibre content of the mustard greens helps in smooth bowel movements and thereby reduces the risk of colon cancer. Daily intake of mustard greens in diet has proven benefits against prostate-cancer, breast-cancer, colon-cancer and ovarian-cancers due to inhibition in their cancer cell growth and also for their cytotoxic effects on the cancer cells.

Protection against Heart Disease

The high vitamin K content makes mustard greens a heart-healthy food. Mustard greens are low in calories and very high in dietary fibre. As a result they are recommended in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction. Its green leaves contain excellent amount of dietary fiber that can help control cholesterol level as well as help protect against hemorrhoids.

Regulating Blood Sugar Levels

The mustard greens high fibre, low calorie and no sodium content helps to reduce the blood sugar level. Lower sugar levels help to maintain a healthy heart.

Slowing the progression of AIDS

Mustard greens slow the progression of AIDS.

Slowing Aging

The anti-oxidants present in mustard greens helps to slow down the aging process. Vitamin A which is found in the leaves is essential nutrient for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin.

 

Protection Against Conditions of Alzheimer’s and Dementia

Severe conditions of Dementia and Alzheimer’s can be protected by regular consumption of mustard greens.

Alleviation of Cardiovascular Disease

Steamed mustard greens help inhibits the oxidation of LDL and HDL thereby ensuring alleviation of cardiovascular disease.

Alleviation of Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Prevention of High Blood Pressure can be done by daily consumption of mustard greens.

Promoted Eye Health
Mustard leaves are a rich source of vitamin A which is an essential nutrient for maintaining healthy mucous membranes and skin and is required for good eyesight.

Osteoporosis Protection
Vitamin C rich food such as mustard greens provides defence against inflammatory polyarthritis. These leaves contain Vitamin k. Vitamin K supplement has found to have potential role in bone mass building function and osteo-trophic activity in the bone. Daily intake of mustard greens can help reduce the chances of osteoporosis from occurring.

Antioxidant Protection
Mustard greens are a very good source of anti-oxidants which stimulate liver detoxification.

Stroke Prevention
High vitamin C content in mustard greens helps in prevention of stroke.


Other ailments which can be helped with mustard greens are risk of type II diabetes, the frequency of migraine headaches, prevention of alopecia (Spot Baldness), inflammation and epileptic seizures. The use of mustard greens in daily will not only help us remain healthy but also will help us control the conditions of our prevailing ailments. Not only mustard greens, any leafy vegetables help us to get relief from constipation. Nowadays doctors also refer regular intake of leafy vegetables to pregnant women due to high iron and other vitamin and mineral content



Tuesday, October 29, 2013

A look into Wall Art


‘Wall Art’ is actually what we usually call ‘wall decoration’ or ‘wall paintings’. Wall Art dates back to the pre-historic times when the people used to paint on the walls depicting their daily activities, pictures of gods and goddesses and animals. If we look into the pages of history carefully, cave paintings, temple paintings, temple sculptures, church paintings, wall paintings (mainly prevalent among the Romans as they drew on the walls of the buildings they conquered) was an integral part of the ancient society. However with the advent of modern ages this tradition of wall art gradually subsided, and now it is considered as a type of luxury.


The oldest form of Wall art that is still surviving the wrath of time include cave paintings and forms of wall art that were used by the civilizations of Egypt and Rome. These have become the source of many fascinating ideas of the Wall art designers even today. William Morris first started the idea of Wall art in the nineteenth century which has become a form of Fine Art today.


Internal designing and house makeover are on a buzz currently. The industry instantly got a significant increase when most fashionable people used new techniques and components which created a positive effect to the customer in the market. "Simple yet elegant" - In my view, this indubitably is a term that may best describe the modern era of interior designing. These days, contemporary wall arts, modern wall art and modern wall paintings are fast-becoming the decorations associated with choice, especially among home lovers. Even average property owners are now gradually getting themselves acquainted with them.

However, the idea of modern Wall art and modern wall paintings are not primarily targeted on having the newest house styles. Instead, most developers relate it for the "mid-century" style which means you can merge components of style of 60s or 70s together with your choice of the present modern wall decor and modern wall paintings.
Everyone wants the place where one lives, to look beautiful and stylish. For this, it is required to give the rooms some special personalities or themes by bringing out the creativity in decorating the boring walls and make them converted into masterpieces of art. Walls are considered to be the blank canvases on which one can paint his/her imagination. One needs to collect interesting home design ideas from any sources so as to provide the homes a dazzling look.


You may have beautiful furniture in your house but it may look a bit boring if your walls are empty. You can make your home look stylish and interesting if you add a bit of wall art. You can convert a blank and boring wall into an interesting artwork with great ideas. Hanging framed photographs on the wall also makes the wall interesting. You get a lot of great designs for the frame. You can also hang beautiful paintings or some other piece of art of your choice.

Now-a-days you can also get one of the walls of the room computer-carved with different interesting patterns. They are not very expensive and can be done quickly with the help of professionals. There are a wide range of designs and patterns in different colours that you can choose from.

Around thousands of ideas are there for one to have his/her home decorated. One can use simple ideas like adding photos of family members or some abstract paintings, etc., to the wall. Internet can also be taken help of to get some amazing ideas or inspiration for home décor. Many brilliant wall art designs or ideas can be applied like coloring the wooden chops and hanging them on the wall. These wooden chops can be made with music prints, ceramic prints, tree prints etc. Geometric pattern wallpapers may also prove to be a good idea or go for some more complex art like Sequins wall art, 3D Colorblock wall art, Postcard wall art, Clipboard wall art, Ombre quote wall art and many more.

If you are an artist, you can also paint the walls of your bedroom or your kid’s bedroom as per your liking and add your personal touch to the room. You can also collect beautiful pictures from magazines and newspapers and make a collage work on the entire wall. It takes some effort but the result would be really great.
If you invest some time, effort and thought you can have stylish wall displays and wall art which will add to the beauty of your home.