Shrimp Curry

Ingredients:

1 lb. shrimp (tail on)
Salt to taste
3 oz. red onion (raw)
2 oz. tomatoes
1 tbsp. ginger and garlic paste
1/2 tbsp. ground turmeric
1/2 tsp. ground fenugreek
4 tbsp. soybean oil
2 tsp. black mustard seeds
1 sprig curry leaves
1/2 tsp. garam masala powder.
1 tbsp. ground coriander
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 bunch fresh coriander leaves

Masala Preparation:

1 tbsp. black peppercorns
3 tbsp. poppy seeds
4 tbsp. raw unsweetened grated coconut
2 sprigs curry leaves
10 dry red chilis
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds


Preparation:

1. In a small frying pan over medium heat on top of the stove, dry roast the whole spices for the masala for a few minutes, until golden brown.

2. Wet-grind the ingredients to a fine paste by combining them with 1/2 cup of water in a blender.

3. Chop the red onions and tomatoes separately.

4. Chop the fresh coriander leaves finely.

5. Shell the shrimps, retain the tail and de-vein (remove vein and clean in water). Keep them aside.

6. Heat a thick-bottomed pot, add oil, mustard seeds and curry leaves. Saute until the seeds start to pop.

7. Add chopped onion and saute, add chopped tomato and saute for five minutes.

8. Add ginger and garlic paste and saute. Add coriander powder, fenugreek powder, turmeric powder and salt to taste, saute and add the water.

9. Bring the mix to boil, then add the masala and mix well. Add the shrimps now.

10. Cook for three to four minutes on high heat.

11. Remove from heat, and add garam masala powder and chopped coriander leaves. Serve with steamed rice.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is a staple in any kitchen. It's the base of many salad dressings and is also used as an ingredient in sauces and marinades; as a dip for bread; and for sautéing, roasting, frying and baking. Extra-virgin olive oil can be used as a condiment when drizzled over a bowl of pasta or platter of roasted vegetables.

• Olive oil is an excellent source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats that may lower the bad cholesterol and raise the good cholesterol.
  


• It contains Vitamin E and antioxidants.
  


• It's an excellent replacement for unhealthy saturated fats like butter.

Tea

Tea is the second most popular drink in the world (water is the top choice). Although most people think of tea as a soothing and delicious beverage, it possesses a remarkable wealth of antioxidants. All teas, whether black, green, oolong or white, are harvested from the leaves of a variety of plant known as the camellia sinensis. The primary distinction between the different teas is the amount of fermentation they undergo. Black teas are the most fermented, white teas the least. Herbal teas are not technically teas since they do not include camellia sinensis leaves.

• All true teas contain polyphenols, powerful antioxidants believed to protect against heart disease, certain cancers and stroke.
  


• The various levels of fermentation affect teas in different ways. Recent studies have shown drinking green tea might boost metabolism, oolong teas can lower blood sugar, and black teas can promote oral health.
  


• Tea contains half the caffeine of coffee.

More info : http://www.okinawangreentea.com/?gclid=CMGcsunToIsCFQ3XgAodqG1Ugw

Lean Proteins

Protein is an important part of every diet and is found in many different foods. Lean protein, the best kind, can be found in fish, skinless chicken and turkey, pork tenderloin and certain cuts of beef, like the top round. Low-fat dairy products like milk, yogurt, ricotta and other cheeses supply both protein and calcium.

• Protein is crucial for tissue repair, building and preserving muscle, and making important enzymes and hormones.
  


• Lean meats and dairy contribute valuable minerals like calcium, iron, selenium and zinc. These are not only essential for building bones, and forming and maintaining nerve function, but also for fighting cancer, forming blood cells and keeping immune systems robust.

Nuts

Although high in calories, nuts often enable people to maintain or lose weight. A small handful eaten between meals or added to salads, grains or vegetables gives a sense of satiety and results in less total food intake. Nuts have great nutritional benefits, as well.

• Almonds, pecans and pistachios are rich in protein.
  


• Walnuts contain omega-3 fatty acids.
  


• Toss sesame seeds in a meal for extra calcium and vitamin E.
  


• Sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seeds are particularly good sources of phytosterols, also known as plant sterols, which promote heart health.

Legumes

The inexpensive legume family, which includes beans, peas, peanuts and lentils, has priceless benefits.

• Legumes are rich in folic acid, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc and antioxidants.
  

• Their high protein and complex carbohydrates provide steady energy that lasts for hours.
  

• They are especially high in soluble fiber, and a daily serving of cooked beans may lower blood cholesterol by as much as 18 percent, decreasing the risk of heart disease.
  

• Most legumes also contain protease inhibitors, compounds thought to suppress cancer cells and slow tumor growth. And then there are the prebiotics in beans, substances that aid in beneficial bacteria growth in the intestine.
  

• All legumes, and especially soy, are important in vegetarian diets for their high protein content.

Salmon

All fish are great sources of protein and low in saturated fat. But cold-water fish, like salmon, mackerel and herring, are premiere sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids. These are fats our bodies can’t produce, so it’s essential we include them in our diet. Omega-3s offer many benefits.

• They reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
  

• They minimize the symptoms of arthritis and inflammatory diseases.

• They contribute to healthy skin and hair.
  

• They may help with depression.

Whole Grain

Whole grains are often in the news these days, and for good reason.

• They’re delicious, inexpensive and packed with protein, B vitamins, minerals and fiber.
  


• Grains contain many of the same antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables.
  


• Research shows a diet high in whole grains may help prevent heart disease, some cancers, obesity and diabetes.

Vegetables

Stock your fridge with a rainbow of vegetables and you'll have a natural pharmacy in your kitchen.

• Orange and yellow-hued veggies like winter squash, carrots and sweet potatoes and leafy greens contain carotenoids, a pigment our body converts to vitamin A. Eating lots of these vegetables will help maintain healthy skin and hair, protect against prostate cancer, promote healthy vision and even provide protection from sunburn.
  


• Lycopene, the plant chemical responsible for the ruby red of tomatoes and watermelon, is believed to fight cancer and promote heart health.
  


• Green vegetables like broccoli and spinach are sky-high in potent anti-cancer compounds like sulforaphane and quercitin.
  


• Although garlic and onions may lack the vibrant colors of other vegetables, they contain diallyl sulfide and saponins, compounds that add distinctive flavors to our recipes and fight cancer and heart disease.

Citrus

We all know citrus fruits are loaded with vitamin C; one orange has a whole day’s requirement. But that's not all citrus fruits have to offer.

• Citrus juice contains flavonoids, a phytonutrient that lowers the body's production of cholesterol, inhibits blood clot formation and boosts the bang of vitamin C.

• They’re also loaded with soluble fiber which lowers cholesterol, maintains healthy blood sugar levels, and helps you to manage your weight.

• That explosion of scent that erupts when you grate a citrus peel is produced by limonene, an oil found in the peel that might inhibit a variety of cancers.

Berries

All fruits are stellar sources of nutrients, but strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries stand out from the pack.

• They're high in vitamin and fiber content.

• They're an excellent source of antioxidants, compounds that protect our bodies from the stress of day to day living. The antioxidant anthocyanin has triple the stress-fighting power of vitamin C and is known to block cancer-causing damage as well as the effects of many age-related diseases.

• They give your memory a boost. The antioxidants in berries are believed to enhance brain function.

• Fresh berries are kind to the waistline; they are naturally high in water and low in calories. Dried berries also provide excellent nutrition, but since most of the water is missing, their calories are more concentrated and you’ll usually wind up eating more of them.

Paad-Pashchimottanasan

Time: 2 minutes

Method:
Lie on your back, legs straight, arms overhead, hands together, palms facing up.
Sit up, take hands overhead, back straight,
Then bend forward to hold the big toes, head between arms and touching the knees.

Benefits: Reduces abdominal fat. Removes wind from the intestines and increases appetite.

Vajrasan

Time: 2 minutes

Method:
Sit on your heels.
Hands on knees, abdomen drawn in, chest up, back straight, shoulders squared, head erect.
Normal breathing.

Benefits: Aids digestion and helps cure sciatica.

Mayurasan

Time: 1/2 minutes

Bhadrasan

Time: 2 minutes

Method:
Sit holding feet together, heels as close to body as possible
Head up, chin down
Normal breathing.

Benefits: Specially recommended for those suffering from urinary disorder. The pelvis, the abdomen and the back get stimulated through a plentiful supply of blood. Keeps the kidneys, the prostate and the bladder healthy.

Chakrasan

Time: 1/2 minute

Method:
Lie on your back.
Bend knees, place feet apart and close to hips, place hands overhead, palms besides ears and shoulders.
Push with hands and, without moving feet, raise trunk as high as possible to curve the back into an arch.
Look on the ground between the hands.

Benefits: Builds a flexible back, stimulates the nerves of the spine. One of the powerful back bending postures.

Dhanurasan

Time: 1/2 minute

Method:
Lie on your stomach.
Bend knees, hold the ankles.
Pull your hands and push with your legs, knees together, till the trunk forms an arch with only the stomach on the ground.
Look up.
After releasing the posture lie for a while in Shavasan.

Benefits: Reduces abdominal fat. The compressing of the spinal column, pressing the nerves with the scapulae (the winged bones at the back attached to the arms) minimizes blood circulation while in the asan. But when the pose is released a greater supply of blood is endured to those very regions increasing spinal flexibility and definitely raising the vitality.

Bhujangasan

Time: 1/2 minute

Method:
Lie on your stomach, forehead on the ground, hands under shoulders.
Raise your upper body by the strength of the back muscles, head up.
Don't take help of the hands, they may remain on the ground or held on the back over the hips.

Benefits: Helps in keeping the dorsal spine elastic and strong. Backache due to overstrain can be thus relieved. Helps considerably in reducing abdominal fat.

Matsyasan

Time: 1/2 minute

Method:
Sit with legs an in Padmasan - knees bent, feet on opposite thighs, heels towards the abdomen.
Lie on your back. Placing hands near the head for support
Lift your back above the ground, keep the top of your head on the ground over a padded surface, e.g., a towel.
Keep your hands an your feet.
Normal breathing.

Benefits: Makes the neck flexible and strong, increases the size of the rib cage, widens the windpipe and thus helps deep breathing. Relieves the neck after Sarvangasan

Pavan-Muktasan

Time : 1/2 minute each leg

Method :
Lie down on your back.
Breath in.
Then fold the left leg from the knees.
Hold the fingers together and bring the folded leg to touch the stomach.
Lift the head and touch the nose to the knee. The other leg remains straight. Hold the breath.
Come to original position and leave the breath.
Follow the same for the other leg.

NOTE: This asan can also be done with both the knees folded.

Benefits: Removes gas from the abdomen and reduces abdominal fat. Increases the flexibility of the knees and hips.

Halasan

Time : 2 minutes

Method :
Lie on your back, arms alongside.
Raise legs an in Sarvangasan (you may take help of hands on the hips), then lower them overhead, knees straight, ankles stretched, toes pointed and touching the ground.
Arms stay on ground as in the beginning, palms on the ground.
The posture resembles the shape of a plough.

Benefits: Makes the spine flexible, creates energy, and blood of the muscles of the back. Aids the functioning of the thyroid and thymus glands thus helping retain the individual's youthful physical characteristics for a longer period.

Sarvangasan

Duration : 2 minutes

Method:

Lie on your back, arms alongside. Raise both legs together - taking support of hands on the hips and the elbows on the ground.
Straighten the body - feet, knees, hips and back form one vertical column from the base of the neck to the tip of the toes, feet stretched, toes pointed, chin pressed against the chest.
Normal breathing.
Lie on your back, arms alongside.
Raise both legs together - taking support of hands on the hips and the elbows on the ground.
Straighten the body - feet, knees, hips and back form one vertical column from the base of the neck to the tip of the toes, feet stretched, toes pointed, chin pressed against the chest.
Normal breathing.

Benefits : Promotes healthy secretion of the circulatory, respiratory, alimentary and genito-urinary systems. Keeps the spine flexible preventing the bones from early ossification. Supplies large quantity of blood to the spinal roots of the nerves, thereby giving them sufficient nourishment.

Ardha-Matsyendrasan

Duration : 2 minutes each side.

Method :

Bend left knee, place left foot under right hip. Bend right knee, place right foot on left side of left knee. Hold left knee or right foot with the left hand - keep right knee on the left of left arm. Turn tunk to right, look back over right shoulder, right hand on ground or on waist as close to left thigh as possible. Repeat with left knee bent and trunk turning to left.

Note: You may also hold hold hands through the gap below the raised knee.

Benefits: Increase the elasticity of the spine, and massage the abdomen and internal organs

Sexy Lips

• Massage your lips with coriander leaf juice for soft and rosy lips.
• Apply the juice of lemon skin for avoiding black colour of lips.
• Apply Chapstick and massage into lips with your finger tips. Then let it sink in for a few minutes.
• Small blemishes in the form of lip lines can be annoying...To make them less noticeable, here's the trick to try. Instead of applying your lipstick horizontally, apply it vertically.

Good Bye to Dark Circles & Puffiness

• Dab vasaline (dont rub) under your eyes before you go to bed, you can put it on your lips too! This is a trick models use, do this nightly you'll never get the dark circles again.
• Massage a few drops of coconut oil around the eyes. This will get rid off dark circles gradually.
• To reduce puffiness of your eyes, grate a potato; tie in a cloth and place the cloth over your eyes for about 15 minutes.
• Place cotton wool swabs dipped in cold milk on closed eyes for removing dark circles.
• Crush a cucumber and take the juice. Add a little rose water and apply around the eyes and wash it after 30 minutes.
• Make a paste of sandal wood and nutmeg. Apply the paste around the eyes before sleeping and wash it off in the morning.
• Every morning, tap your eyes gently with your finger tips when you wake up.
• Keep used black teabags under the eyes. The black tea gives the skin below the eyes a tight appearance and your eyes will have a beautiful glow. Brew a cup of black tea, take out the tea bag, allow it to cool down sufficiently but not completely such that you can easily bear it and place it on the eyes.
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily. It will retain the elasticity of your skin, thus reducing the dark circles, besides clearing up various skin problems.
• Sleep well for minimum of 7 hours each night.
• An all natural remedy for getting rid of dark circles under the eyes, is to pat a small amount of honey under the eyes and leave it there for as long as you can stand it (do a test on your arm first to make sure your skin is not allergic to honey before doing this).
• Beat an egg white with a small amount of lemon juice and pat this under the eye (or over the whole face) to lighten any dark areas or pigmentation.

Does your eyes look dull ?

• Dip wads of cotton in a chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off. Apply a little baby oil.
• Mix tomato juice and lemon juice in equal quantity and apply around the eyes. After 30 minutes wash it off with cold and hot water alternatively.
• Add a small pinch of salt in water and wash