Category: Traditional Food

Learn about our ancient food ingredients that is preserved till day and appreciate its health benefits.

Health-Mix made from traditional ingredients

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Today our kids are not getting their sufficient energy through their irregular food habits. So we are feeding unnatural food, drinks and so on.

Many times, the greatest secrets to our healthy living is with our granny. In our house, we never had those modern so called health drink. Many people do not have time or know to get these forgotten natural food ingredients to make a health mix that we can consume daily. When I was connecting farmer’s traditional products to parenting community, one of the key questions all the parents or old age people ask me was, can I recommend a good natural health mix. So I decided to get my granny’s recipe we used for ages. Not to be surprised, it was a big hit! Now, I am honored to share this recipe to our holistic parenting group.

Ingredients

S.No Ingredients Description
1 Mapillai Samba (traditional rice) Known as Bridegroom’s rice :). It helps in increasing Ojas in our body (energy). This rice is said to improve digestion, cure mouth ulcers, Fight against cancer, Increase haemoglobin content in blood and peoples with diabetic also can consume this rice.
2 Kodo millet Known for medicinal properties (including anti-diabetic and anti-rheumatic attributes), helps heal wounds and has a tranquilizing effect.
3 Little millet Known help prevention of constipation & heals all the problems related to stomach. It improves the semen counts of men. It also helps for women with irregular periods problems. Its high fiber helps to reduce the fat depositions in the body.
4 Barnyard millet Known to have 6 times high fiber content when compared with wheat. Its a gluten free millet with high calcium, phosphorous & fiber. It is high in carbohydrates and fat too. It helps to maintain the body temperature. It acts as a good anti oxidant too.
5 Foxtail millet
Known for its rich in dietary fiber and minerals such as copper & iron. It helps us to keep our body strong and immune. It helps to control blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
6  Pearl millet  Known for have 8 times more iron of the rice. It is very rich in Calcium, Protein, Iron & Magnesium. It helps to reduce the bad cholesterol level in our body. Its a great body coolant. It helps to improve the digestion power & heals stomach ulcers too. It helps to improve bowel movements & prevents constipation. It makes our body strong. It helps to increase the secretion of milk for lactating mothers.
7 Ragi It reverts Skin aging, Increases Lactation, Helps Digestion, Treats Anemia, good Source of Protein and Amino Acids, Aids Relaxation, Reduces Cholesterol, Controls Diabetes, Increases Bone Strength and Helps in Weight Loss.
8 Sorghum It has vitamins like niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin, as well as high levels of magnesium, iron, copper, calcium, phosphorous, and potassium, as well as nearly half the daily required intake of protein and a very significant amount of dietary fiber.
9 Green gram Known for its rich in Vitamin A, B, C and E and also in many minerals including iron, calcium, potassium vegetarian protein. As per Ancient Chinese medicine it also contains anti-cancer properties.
10 Black gram  Known for Anti inflammatory properties and strengthens nervous system cure male and female sexual related problems.
11 Horse gram  Known for its rich in iron, calcium and vegetarian source of protein.
12 Bengal gram  Known as Energy booster, Diabetics, Digestive system, Treat anemia, Eliminates stones,  treatment of curing skin problems like acne, pimple, dermatitis, eczema and scabies etc.
13 Roasted gram  it prevents constipation and lessens the risk of heart disease also a good source of calcium, potassium and magnesium.
14 Ground nut  Known for health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins that are essential for optimum health.
15 Dry ginger  Known to relief from gastrointestinal distress, very beneficial in the prevention of motion sickness. It reduces nausea and cold sweats, dizziness and vomiting.
16 Pepper  Known to relief from cold, detox your skin, and even help fight cancer and lot more.
17 Cardamom  Anti-Carcinogenic Properties, Good for Cardiovascular Health, Control of Cholesterol, Anti-Depressant, Treating Urinary Disorders, Anti-Asthmatic Property and Anti-Inflammatory Properties and lot more.
18 Flax seed Know for its omega 3, Reduce Hypertension, Depression, Liver Disease and lot more.

Apart from this we have added the dry nuts like badam, pistas, Cashews, peanuts and many other healthy ingredients too. The full list of ingredients can be read here.
These ingredients are taken in a definite proportion – sprouted, roasted and grinded to powder so that it stays fresh for long time without adding any preservatives or additives. The ingredients and the process is from the ancestral recipe book. It was followed and benefits were reaped by many generations.

It takes 3 people as a team to work for at least 7 days to prepare this mix, end result is 54 kg to 72 kg pack. Since there are no preservatives, buy only the quantity that you plan to use within few weeks.

How to Use/Cook?

For single person – Take 250ml of water, make it warm, put 2 spoons of this health mix, stir with warm water for 2 minutes. After that, add little organic jaggery and drink it.

You can make Porridge, Adai dosa, Puttu, Paayasam, laddu etc.

We are part of HLP.World/Store , a community driven shopping project, that revives Indian indigenous traditional organic food. A project initiated exclusive by parents for parents at whatsapp holistic group.

The miracle rice “Karuppu Kavuni Arisi”, Black Kavuni Rice.

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In olden days, the Chettinad community in south India were known for their wide spread of trading network ranging from Arabia to South East Asia. During their business travel to sell our Indian spices, precious stones, and so on, there was huge cultural exchange of value and knowledge. Best example is Burmese teak to adorn their palaces, and less known rice to south India, which has become a part of their cuisine as well, Karuppu Kavuni Arisi, black kavuni rice.

All these ancient rices are packed with health benefits than these Modern day supplements. There is rice for every human need. Sample this, there is a rice called a maapillai samba, given to married people or people trying to conceive, fundamentally it increased the ojas in the body. There is another rice variety called as Neela samba, which would increase lactation for feeding mothers. The list goes on and on.

Black Kavuni Rice was once served only for royal family in china. General public was denied access to this rice, probably merchants were always friends with royal families that’s how they got their hand with this rice varities. Even today there is no chettinad wedding without black kavuni rice desserts.

Black rice, white dishIn ancient days, when a girl attends puberty, they used to make black rice pudding (called as puttu also known as Rangoon puttu). This is because this will help her stabilizes her body and increase the iron in blood and stops accumulating fat in back and hip region, a place women add more fat. Over a period of time, we forgot the black rice and we only followed the ritual and pudding part. Even today, in some part of villages, when a girl is getting ready to be married, they used to give black rice based food to rebuild her into proper shape.

American Chemical Society (ACS) says, one spoonful of black rice contains more anthocyanin antioxidants than a spoonful of blueberries.
Today lot of scientific data points are surfacing about this miracle rice, American Chemical Society (ACS) says, one spoonful of black rice contains more anthocyanin antioxidants than a spoonful of blueberries. Until then, blueberries was considered the richest source of anthocyanin antioxidants. Black kavuni has 18 amino acids, zinc that counts for immunity, iron that counts for carrying oxygen and the list goes like, copper, carotene, anthocyanin and several important vitamins. Our ancient healing text says, black rice helps to prevent cancer, diabetes and heart disease. This is very good for your kidney, stomach and liver. Another beauty of this is. Due to high fibre content, consuming just 1/3rd the quantity is more than enough for the day and you will not feel hunger. It is amazing to see how our ancestor’s contribution for balanced holistic life. That is why they say, food is our medicine and medicine is our food!
How to Use/Cook? (Recipes) You can prepare Sweet Pongal / Adai / Puttu / Dosa. Check here for some quick recipes. 
One of the purpose of our group is to create awareness of our ancient rich food habits, that can be incorporated in our daily life to keeps us healthy, and avoid those junk, cereals, chemical based food. If you like to order this rice, Mr.Mani has got a commitment from farmers to supply 108 kgs to our parenting group. Each family can order either 1kg or 2kg max. This is more than enough for a family for 4 members / month. Click Here to Buy
HLP Store, a community driven shopping project, that revives Indian indigenous traditional organic food. A project initiated exclusively by parents for parents at whatsapp holistic group.

Cow’s Ghee – The Super Food.

Ghee/Clarified Butter: Ghee, Cooled

One of the primary ingredients of Suvarnaprashana or Swarnaprashana is ghee, along with swarna (Gold) bhasma,  Madhu (honey), herbs, arka and so on. Cows ghee is the satwik sacred food commonly used in Ayurvedic medicines. This is also called super food.

Plain cow’s ghee itself is medicine in Ayurveda. It improves digestive fire, memory, intelligence, voice, luster, skin softness, immunity, strength, lifespan, eye strength. Traditional ayurvedic practitioners used old ghee or Puranic ghee  such as 1 year, 10 year old and even 100 year old ghee as medicines. It was used in treating intoxication, epilepsy insanity poison fever etc.100 times washed ghee is commonly prescribed for treatment of wounds, burns, scars herpes leprosy and other skin diseases. It is a very good anti-aging moisturizer.

Ghee balances vata dosha and pacifies pitta. Medicated ghees form the major part of treatment in problems  arising out of vitiated pitta dosha. Along with balancing the doshas it also acts on increasing the ojas – the subtle essence of the tissues that is responsible for life, radiant health, strong immunity, vigor, longevity and overall well being of an individual. The ageing factors in the body reduces ojas that is overcome by adding ghee in food. Ghee increases longevity slowing down the ageing process .

Ghee Candles
Cow’s ghee enhances physical as well as mental strength building the aura. Modern science says ghee lit lamp emit maximum satwik frequency that remain for hours even after the lamp stops burning. The subtle frequencies emanating from the ghee lamp activates soul energy of the worshipper and purifies the chakra. Ayurveda also mentions that ghee acts as aphrodisiac, relieves sins, poverty, toxicity and evil spirits.

It is the best  fat suitable for human consumption. Children should always have ghee in their diet as It helps to promote better health, strengthen the body, improves the memory power. Cows ghee is very good source  of nourishment of  mother and baby. It can ensure the normal growth and development of the infant and prevent birth defects when taken during pregnancy.

Ghee is proved to beneficial in controlling cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid dysfuntion, weight loss anti inflammatory and lot more. Our India’s indigenous desi cow’s ghee is a boon to us in treating many medical conditions where modern medicine has found no complete solution. Ghee is caesin free, gluten free and lactose free and very high in fat content. It is very good natural ketogenic diet.  Ketogenic diet forces the body to burn fats rather than the carbohydrates.and diet is seriously recommended by many physicians worldwide for treating especially epilepsy and ADHD and there has been evidence of benefit in treating obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease with this diet. These conditions are treated traditionally in Ayurveda using ghee preparations.

Ghee or Clarified Butter
Ghee is known for the healing properties. It facilitates fast recovery from wounds and bedsores. It reduces inflammations by reducing the leukotriene secretion as well as prostaglandin. Majority of the fat content in the ghee consists of saturated fatty acids that contains  85%  short chain fatty acids which are are easily digestible and immediately utilized by the body. So the medicated ghee used in ayurvedic treatments is absorbed into the system very fast and facilitate the transport of active principles of the herbs.

Ayurveda says ghee is yoga vahi that means it is used as carrier media for the transport of active principles in herbs and it assimilates the properties of the herbal ingredient without losing its own properties. The ghee being very good lipid base is used for transport of the active principles across the cell membrane even the blood brain barrier. Mostly memory & cognitive power enhancing medicines are ghee based.

Our body loves ghee because of its primary ingredient the butyric acid. Butryic acid is produced by the intestine on their own. The microbes  of the gut breakdown the ingested fibre content in the food and convert them into butyric acid and this butyric acid supports the gut related immunity which delivers up to 80% of body’s overall immunity. The high concentration of butyric acid is believed to inhibit cancerous growth .Ghee is the most concentrated source of butyric acid.

Organic ghee is one of the highest natural sources of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) It is  a special type of fat and has anti-oxidant property which promotes the healthy metabolism. which aids weight loss, prevents onset of diabetets with lowering insulin resistance .

The traditional ayurvedic cleansing technique known as panchakarma uses ghee for detox. It is given over series of morning in increasing amounts day after day.This ghee  penetrates into nourishing and lubricating GI mucosa, stimulates biliary secretion and releasing more enzyme and hormones. It has lipophilic effect on other fatty acids and fatty toxins, it pulls out fat soluble toxins out of body. In ayurvedic terms, the vitiated doshas are pulled out and brought into the koshta for elimination. These wastes and toxins are brought back to the intestinal tractand expelled by procedures like vamana, virechana vasti, etc. This method also improves the ratio of HDL or good cholesterol to LDL the bad cholesterol.

Ghee has the ability to increase the level of  fat soluble vitamins A,D,E,K in the blood by attracting them and making them digested along with itself. These micronutrients are important antioxidants and very essential for the healthy growth and development body as well as reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

Ghee cooling
Ghee is the best oil for cooking and frying as it has the high smoke point and  stable at high temperature.It doesnt break down to form deadly free radicals.It  also has a  long shelf lifeIts alkaline nature also helps to offset the acidity in the blood and  maintain good health. According to Ayurveda, Ghee is the best among the four fats as it gets digests faster compared to others and also increases the digestive fire.

The benefits of using ghee is endless, consumption it on daily basis especially for children, old children and weak. It should be an essential ingredient in their food. The ingestion of Ghee is like offering the finest of fuels into the fires of digestion-Agni. Ghee is one of those dietary ingredients that can be consumed by all at all times. Make sure you add this in your life daily!