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The words of elders are like gooseberry: bitter at first, then sweet. This analogy best describes the taste of translucent, nutritious and wonderful gooseberry. Do you know that gooseberry is the most abundant source of Vitamin C among all fruits and vegetables? It contains 20 times more Vitamin C than the juicy orange. Surprised! But it’s true. It’s no wonder that Herbal and Ayurvedic solutions and shampoo manufacturers highlight the presence of gooseberry in their product because it has been found useful for hair, skin and overall health. Herbal products nowadays are full of gooseberry as people are shifting from chemical based solutions to herbal ones. Apart from full with Vitamin C, gooseberry contains calcium, phosphorus, Vitamin B complex, iron, fiber and carotene. 80% of gooseberry is water. It also contains gallic acid and acetic acid. Another very important and unique property of gooseberry is that upon cooking the content of Vitamin C does not get reduced as in other fruit...

Few foods or fruits freshen your mood like a couple of cold slices of a fresh, juicy pineapple do. It's true. And for those of you who aren't quite convinced about it, here's what you can do. The next time you come home after a particularly long and tiring day, and are done with your usual routine of untying your shoelaces and flopping down on the sofa, try this out. Head to the refrigerator, and help yourself to two-three slices of cold (chilled is even better) fresh pineapple. Close your eyes as you savor the sweet, juicy taste of this wonderful fruit. You will find that it instantly invigorates you and relieves you somewhat of your tiredness and fatigue. To be honest, pineapple health benefits aren't limited to just refreshing a person or rejuvenating him/her. There are plenty of other health benefits of pineapple fruit and pineapple juice. Read ahead to know what they are. Pineapple Health Facts For those of you who are extremely calorie conscious and naturally, ar...

Everyone is well aware of the fruit papaya and I guess, I need not give you the description of how does it look like, taste and where it is found. However, you may not know that papaya was attributed by the name "The Fruit of the Angels", by Christopher Columbus [an Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to China (1451-1506)]. Before we head on for the papaya health benefits, here is a brief insight on the nutritive value of the fruit, per 100g. Papaya contains 56 mg of vitamin C and 20 mg of calcium. Carbohydrates in the fruit is of the quantity 10 g and vitamin A, 1750 I.U. 16 mg of phosphorus is present in papaya and 470 mg of potassium. Apart from containing vitamin E and K, papaya has a calorific value of 39. Now, let's study about the many papaya health benefits that you can avail. Health Benefits of Papaya Papaya enzyme health benefits come from papain and chymonpapain, the two very important enzymes of the ...

Diabetes is such a disease which can create a mess in your life, if not handled properly. It is such a disease which not only accompanies you throughout the rest of your life but also affects other parts and organs of your body and gives birth to different diseases and illnesses, making it really tough to lead a normal and active life. Since our fast and busy lives need us to remain healthy and active to shoulder all our responsibilities, thus it becomes essential to take care of yourself properly, specially if you have diabetes. One of the most important things to take care of is your diet. If you are on a wrong diet, not only will it have adverse effect on your diabetes but also your entire lifestyle. So it is important to know, understand and remember about the right kind of food that you should intake while having diabetes. Basically there are a few categories of food that should be avoided completely if you want to keep a check on your glucose levels. Anything which is sweet in ta...

Dried and chapped lips usually happen during winter time, when the lips become severely de-moisturized and the skin starts peeling off. This can also become infectious, if proper care is not taken. At the onset of winter, try to moist your lips with petroleum jelly or what is commonly known as Vaseline. For very severe cases, you can exfoliate the lips by a mixture of baking soda and water, and then rub the lips with a washcloth. This will remove all the dead skin and your lips will be fine once again within just a few days. Prevention of chapped lips Instead of treating chapped lips, try to prevent it happening in the first place. There are many preventive measures which you can adopt. Whenever you go outdoors either during the hot summer or the cold winter wind always protects your lips with a lip balm. This will protect it from being sun burnt and dry. Pick a lip balm that is of good quality, providing moisture and protection, as usually cheap lip balms often peel the skin of the li...

Citrus fruits which are also called as acid fruits have many therapeutic benefits due to their detoxifying nature. Citrus fruits belong to the family called Rutaceae. Citrus fruit trees are also called as ornamental trees as they give rise to the citrus fruits of various forms and sizes ranging from small to large and round to oval. Citrus fruits are very well known for their flavor, fragrance and juiciness. This may be because of the presence of citric acid, flavonoids and limonoids. These fruits are very much rich in Vitamin C content. Though the exact location of origin of citrus fruits is not known, it is believed that they originated around 8000 years ago somewhere near South-East Asia. Now these fruits are produced in many countries and rank first in international fresh citrus fruits trade. Spain is one of the leading countries known for supplying these fruits. Types of Citrus Fruits There are innumerable types of citrus fruits ranging from small to large ones. It’s not possible ...

Speak of colors, flavors or shapes or for that matter your health and you will find that tropical fruits simply go unchallenged. Remember, tropical fruits are rich sources of vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamin A and C. Quite naturally; these fruits are used to prepare some of the most delicious dishes and drinks. Many of these fruits are used as dressings and marinades too. They make as good salads as pickles. Children are especially fond of tropical fruit spreads. Common Tropical Fruits And The Dishes They Make Avocado, a fruit rich in seventeen vitamins and minerals, is often used to top baked potatoes and omelets. It is also used as a stuffing in hamburgers and sandwiches and makes excellent salad dressing. Banana, the yellow tropical fruit from Southeast Asia, is a rich source of Vitamin C. It can be eaten on its own; however, it makes great puddings, desserts and ice creams. Banana pulp is used in make flavorsome breads and cakes. Carambola or Starfruit, which derives its n...

Everyone agrees on the importance of eating more fresh fruits & vegetables, but not enough people are following this important advice. Dietary experts recommend that every person should eat at least five servings of fresh fruits & vegetables every day. Increasing your consumption of fruits and vegetables is one of the easiest changes you can make to increase your level of health, lose weight and gain fitness. The latest food guidelines recommend that adults eat from five to nine servings of fresh fruit & vegetables every day. While that may seem like a lot, it is an important goal to strive for, and a very reachable one. A serving of a fruit or vegetable is equal to: 1. 1 medium sized vegetable or fruit (such as an apple, orange or banana) 2. 2 small fruits (such as kiwi fruit or plums) 3. ½ cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruits or vegetables 4. ½ cup of 100% fruit juice 5. ¼ cup of dried fruit 6. 1 cup of green salad Study after study has shown that a diet rich in fresh fr...

Organic vegetables are cultivated using the most primitive form of agriculture that is organic agriculture. Organic agriculture or organic gardening for vegetables does not involve the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Naturally, organic vegetables, like all organic foods are considered good for health. Why Are Natural Vegetables Considered Safe For Health? Studies have indicated that organic agriculture renders food far safer for consumption when compared to conventional methods of agriculture. Actually, organically or biologically grown vegetables are free from deadly synthetic chemicals being used in conventional agriculture. Most of the pesticides and insecticides being used for intensive farming have been detected with traces of carcinogens and other toxins. Pesticide exposures, directly in case of the farm workers and indirectly in case of those consuming the produces, have been found to lead to severe health problems like cancer, depression, neurological dysfunction, r...

The protein content in vegetables is of inferior quality when compared to meat fat. Therefore, high protein vegetables need to be combined with other protein supplements to fulfill the complete share of proteins and vegetables. Such a protein supplement is primarily essential for those who are generally vegetarians and have to depend upon low calorie and low fat diets . For instance, if you eat plant protein in form of vegetable curry along with rice or bread then the required amount of protein is surely accessible. The importance of high protein vegetables lies in the fact that often the amino acid content of low protein vegetables cannot properly be utilized for growth or maintenance of tissues. Therefore, during such cases the vegetable protein is either burnt as fuel or stored as body fat. It was often believed that high protein vegetables or high protein diets are extremely beneficial for humans and especially for the athletes. This is far from the truth. High proteins can never m...

Pusa Chickni is the common variety in use. The crop is planted in February-March and May-June at a spacing of 2 x 2 m. The seed rate is 2.5-3 kg/ha. The crop is trailed over pandal, stakes or trellis. FYM at the rate of 25 t/ha is given in two doses. N: P2O5: K2O recommended for the crop is 70:25:25 kg/ha. No serious pests or diseases are reported. The average yield is 10-15 t/ha.

The Ivy Gourd (Coccinia grandis), also called tindora (tindori, tindoori), Tondli (तोंडली in Marathi), Toroda/Kunduri (oriya), ghiloda, kundri, kundru, kowai, kovai, kovakkai (Malayalam - ,kovakka (Tamil), dondakaya (Telugu - దొండకాయ), tondekayi (Kannada), manoli, tindla, gentleman's toes (compare lady's fingers), tendli, thendli, thainli, tam lueng (ตำลึง), baby watermelon or little gourd is a tropical vine. Local varieties are grown in May-June and September-October by trailing over pandals and stakes. Stem cuttings with three or four nodes and 30-40 cm length, selected from high yielding female vines, are used as planting material. These are planted at a spacing of 4 x 3 m. Farm yard manure at the rate of 25 kg per pit is given in two doses. No serious pests or diseases are reported except mild attack of fruit flies and gall insects.

Clove bean (Ipomoea muricata) The crop can be grown throughout the year and are trailed over trellis or stakes. The seeds @ 6-7 kg/ha are planted at a spacing of 1.0 x 0.6 m. FYM is applied at the rate of 10 t/ha. N: P2O5: K2O recommendation for the crop is 35:50:25 kg/ha. There is no serious pest or disease incidence in the crop. Average yield is 5-6 t/ha.

"Sword Bean" and variants redirect here. This term is also used for other legumes, notably the Common Jack-bean. Canavalia gladiata, usually called Sword Bean, is a domesticated plant species in the legume (Fabaceae) family. The fruits are eaten as a vegetable in Africa and Asia There are two types of sword bean based on seed colour. White seeded varieties are bushy in nature whereas red seeded varieties are trailed over pandals. Pole type varieties are to be planted at a spacing of 4 x 3 m whereas bush type varieties are to be planted at 60 x 60 cm. May-June and September-October are the usual sowing time and the seed rate followed is one or two seeds per pit. FYM is applied at the rate of 5 t/ha. The N: P2O5: K2O mixture (7:10:5) may be applied as basal dose and top dressing at several splits. There is no serious pest or disease incidence in the crop. Average yield is 10-15 kg per plant.

The guar bean or cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonolobus) is an annual legume and the source of guar gum. It grows best under conditions with frequent rainfall, but tolerates arid conditions well.[1] 80% of world production occurs in India, but, due to strong demand, the plant is being introduced into new areas. It is known as गवार् Gawaar in Hindi and Marathi, గోరు చిక్కుడు "Goruchikkudu kaya" or "Gokarakaya" in Telugu, Gorikayie in Kannada, and kotthavarai (கொத்தவரைக்காய்) in Tamil.

Seasons/Availability Wing beans are available from Florida during the summer months. Current Facts A computerized Winged Bean Information and Documentation Center has actually been established by the Agricultural Information Bank for Asia. Description/Taste Peculiar-looking for a legume, glossy bright green wing beans average about six to nine inches in length. Four equally spaced slightly ruffled fins or wings run the length of each pod, the apparent reason for its descriptive name. Light in weight and squarish in shape, wing beans are larger than common string beans. Starchier and meatier than string beans, the flavor is similar but somewhat blander. Combining the optimum characteristics of the green snap bean and the pea, the wing bean's flavor also reveals the tasty traits of soybeans, bean sprouts, potatoes, mushrooms and spinach. Because of all these vegetable virtues, scientists have dubbed it "a supermarket on a stalk". Nutritional Value Nutritious wing beans offe...

Pusa Early Prolific and Arka Vijay are the common pole and bush varieties, respectively. Pole varieties are sown in pits (three plants per pit) at a spacing of 1.25 x 0.75 m and bush varieties in ridges and furrows at a spacing of 60 x 15 cm. Seeds are to be sown during July-August. The plants are trailed over pandals, trellis or stakes. FYM is applied at the rate of 20 t/ha. N: P2O5: K2O recommendation for the crop is 50:100:50 kg/ha. The leaf caterpillar is a common pest of the crop. It is also affected by Fusarium wilt, collar rot, anthracnose and powdery mildew. Average yield is 6-10 t/ha.

Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Garlic has been used throughout history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The garlic plant's bulb is the most commonly used part of the plant. With the exception of the single clove types, the bulb is divided into numerous fleshy sections called cloves. The cloves are used for cloning, consumption (raw or cooked), or for medicinal purposes, and have a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking. The leaves, and flowers (bulbils) on the head (spathe) are also edible, and being milder in flavor than the bulbs, they are most often consumed while immature and still tender. Additionally, the immature flower stalks (scapes) of the hardneck and elephant types are sometimes marketed for uses similar to asparagus in stir-fries. The papery, protective layers of "skin" over ...

The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family (also known as the nightshades). The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species. Potatoes are the world's fourth-largest food crop, following rice, wheat, and maize.Long-term storage of potatoes requires specialised care in cold warehouses and such warehouses are among the oldest and largest storage facilities for perishable goods in the world. Wild potato species occur from the United States to Uruguay and Chile. Genetic testing of the wide variety of cultivars and wild species suggest that the potato has a single origin in the area of southern Peru, from a species in the Solanum brevicaule complex. Although the region known as Peru is the birthplace of the potato, today over 99% of all cultivated potatoes worldwide are descendants of a subspecies indigenous to sou...

The radish (Raphanus sativus) is an edible root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family that was domesticated in Europe in pre-Roman times. They are grown and consumed throughout the world. Radishes have numerous varieties, varying in size, color and duration of required cultivation time. There are some radishes that are grown for their seeds; oilseed radishes are grown, as the name implies, for oil production. The descriptive Greek name of the genus Raphanus means "quickly appearing" and refers to the rapid germination of these plants. Raphanistrum from the same Greek root is an old name once used for this genus. The common name "radish" is derived from Latin (Radix = root). Although the radish was a well-established crop in Hellenistic and Roman times, which leads to the assumption that it was brought into cultivation at an earlier time, Zohary and Hopf note that "there are almost no archeological records available" to help determine its earlier history and...

The beet (Beta vulgaris) is a plant in the amaranth family. It is best known in its numerous cultivated varieties, the most well known of which is probably the red or purple root vegetable known as the beetroot or garden beet. However, other cultivated varieties include the leaf vegetables chard and spinach beet, as well as the root vegetables sugar beet, which is important in the production of table sugar, and mangelwurzel, which is a fodder crop. Three subspecies are typically recognised. All cultivated varieties fall into the subspecies Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris, while Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima, commonly known as the sea beet, is the wild ancestor of these and is found throughout the Mediterranean, the Atlantic coast of Europe, the Near East, and India. A second wild subspecies, Beta vulgaris subsp. adanensis, occurs from Greece to Syria. The beet has a long history of cultivation stretching back to the second millennium BC. The plant was probably domesticated somewhere alon...

The carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus, Etymology: Middle French carotte, from Late Latin carōta, from Greek καρότον karōton, originally from the Indo-European root ker- (horn), due to its horn-like shape) is a root vegetable, usually orange in colour, though purple, red, white, or yellow varieties exist. It has a crisp texture when fresh. The edible part of a carrot is a taproot. It is a domesticated form of the wild carrot Daucus carota, native to Europe and southwestern Asia. It has been bred for its greatly enlarged and more palatable, less woody-textured edible taproot, but is still the same species.

Cauliflower is one of several vegetables in the species Brassica oleracea, in the family Brassicaceae. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed. Typically, only the head (the white curd) of aborted floral meristems is eaten, while the stalk and surrounding thick, green leaves are used in vegetable broth or discarded. Cauliflower is nutritious, and may be eaten cooked, raw or pickled. Its name is from Latin caulis (cabbage) and flower,[1] an acknowledgment of its unusual place among a family of food plants which normally produces only leafy greens for eating. Brassica oleracea also includes cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli and collard greens, though they are of different cultivar groups. With the development of tropical varieties, cauliflower cultivation has spread to the nontraditional areas in South India including Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The high range regions of Kerala offers ample scope for the cultivation of cole crops, which in turn would reduce the consumer depen...

Cabbages (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is one of the oldest vegetables grown in the world. The crop require cool moist weather for producing best quality heads, and therefore its cultivation in the state is limited by climate and is restricted to the cooler tracts in the high ranges of Idukki and Wayanad.

Ash gourd (Benincasa hispida) is a popular vegetable cultivated throughout Kerala. The fruits are cultivated mainly for culinary purpose. The fruits are covered by white, chalky wax, which deters microorganisms and helps impart an extraordinary longevity to the gourd.

Pumpkins are a tasty source of vitamins and minerals, particularly beta-carotene, vitamin C, and potassium. It also helps prevent arterosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which can lead to strokes and/or heart attacks. Pumpkin seed oil and pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc and unsaturated fatty acids which are effective help for prostate ailments. A study by the USDA indicated that diets high in pumpkin as a fiber source tended to curb the appetite, yet provided more food for the same calorie count. The subjects in this study also absorbed less fat and calories from their food. As with all homeopathic treatments, consult your physician before dosing yourself.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) is a popular vegetable of Kerala. It is a rich source of potassium and Vitamin A. The bright orange color of pumpkin is an indication of an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is the precursor of vitamin A in the body, which performs many important functions in overall health. The name pumpkin is originated from "pepon" – the Greek word for "large melon." Central America is the centre of origin of pumpkin.

The bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is probably one of humankind's first domesticated vegetable species, providing food, medicine and a lot more. It probably originated in Africa, from where it got distributed, perhaps by floating in sea to India, China, and as far as New Zealand. The gourd is now widely cultivated throughout the tropics, especially India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, tropical Africa and South America. In Kerala, it is mainly used as a culinary vegetable. The cooked vegetable has cooling, diuretic, sedative and anti­bilious action. The bottle gourd has been used by many societies in diverse and interesting ways. It probably was first used as a water carrier, but quickly found diverse uses in making pipes, snuffboxes, musical instruments, cricket cages, and even life jackets. Containers crafted from the fruit rind of the gourd were in constant use as bottles for carrying wine and water, making the name "bottle gourd" especiall...

Refuse: 48% (Rind, seeds, and cutting loss) Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus NDB No: 09326 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion) Nutrient Units Value per 100 grams Number of Data Points Std. Error Proximates Water g 91.45 14 0.316 Energy kcal 30 0 0 Energy kJ 127 0 0 Protein g 0.61 11 0.041 Total lipid (fat) g 0.15 10 0.037 Ash g 0.25 11 0.038 Carbohydrate, by difference g 7.55 0 0 Fiber, total dietary g 0.4 10 0.051 Sugars, total g 6.20 6 0.143 Sucrose g 1.21 6 0.859 Glucose (dextrose) g 1.58 8 0.433 Fructose g 3.36 8 0.322 Lactose g 0.00 8 0 Maltose g 0.06 8 0.043 Galactose g 0.00 7 0 Starch g 0.00 4 0 Minerals Calcium, Ca mg 7 42 0.322 Iron, Fe mg 0.24 45 0.015 Magnesium, Mg mg 10 45 0.356 ...

One generous slice of watermelon (about 1/16th of a melon) contains large amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene which may help protect against various forms of cancer due to their antioxidant properties. Watermelon is also high in potassium which helps regulate heart functions and normalize blood pressure. It is a good source of fiber which helps maintain bowel regularity and works to prevent colon and rectal cancer. Watermelon seeds contain cucurbocitrin to aid in lowering blood pressure and improve kidney function. The sweet watermelon surprisingly has only half the sugar content (5 percent) of an equivalent-sized apple. It tastes sweeter because the sugar is its main taste-producing agent. Two cups of watermelon has only 80 calories, no fat, and no cholesterol.

The more than 500 varieties of watermelon grown worldwide give consumers many choices, with a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors from which to choose. They are generally divided into icebox and picnic categories. The icebox category is so called because the size of the melons, ranging from 5 to 15 pounds, allows them to fit more easily into the refrigerator. Picnics are larger, weighing from 15 to 50 pounds, yet they can grow much larger. In 1991, Bill Rogerson of North Carolina, USA, won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for his gigantic 279-pound watermelon! We are most familiar with the vivid reddish-pink flesh dotted with black seeds, but there are also white-, pink-, yellow- and orange-fleshed varieties, both with seeds and without. Color, size and shape have little bearing on the flavor of the flesh between differing varieties. Seedless varieties are not truly seedless, but actually do contain tiny, white, edible immature seeds in lesser amounts than traditiona...

Watermelons, botanically called Citrullus lanatus belong to the family of Cucurbitaceae. They are thought to be native of South Africa, in particular the Kalahari Desert, where several acient varieties (such as the Tsamma melon) are still present today. The flowering watermelon plant produces a fruit called by botanists "pepo", characterized by a hard rind and a fleshy pulp: this fruit is derived from an inferior ovary and is characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae. Fresh Watermelon Fresh Watermelon Watermelons are largely made of water (more than 90%), and that's the likely reason for their name: they have been used as an easily transportable source of water for centuries in ancient history, and Asian cultures tell of several legends about watermelons. Today, there are several hundred different cultivars, mostly due to the different needs of regional markets: genetic manipulation has allowed for the cultivation of giant watermelons (the largest weighed in at approximately 26...

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and oriental pickling melon (Cucumis melo var. conomon) are important cucurbits grown in Kerala. Cucumber is mainly used as a salad crop, whereas oriental pickling melon is largely used after cooking.

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) is one of the most popular vegetables in Kerala. The fruits are used in a variety of culinary preparations and possess high nutritive and medicinal value. The fruits are rich in vitamin C and folate, and contain alkaloids likely momordicine, saponine and albuminoides, which are medicinally important. Juice extracted by crushing bitter gourd fruits is most commonly used for treatment of diabetes.

Karela or Bitter Gourd, Bitter Melon has many health benefits. The main being regulate the blood sugar and hence it is very good for diabetic patients.These are few sites that give good information about bitter gourd and home remedies using them. Bitter melon has many therapeutic properites. It is packed with nutrients and health benefits. Due to these constituents, bitter melon is quite widely used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Research studies have shown that bitter gourd contains hypoglycemic principles in it and thus it helps to lowers the blood sugar levels just like insulin.It is useful in reducing hypertension, eye disorder and cough and enchancing digestion, metabolism and immunity. The juice of bitter guard is used for relieving constipation. Bitter melon is noted to be an effective component in herbal medicine, and the fruit is known to help treat, or alleviate the symptoms of rheumatism and gout and ailments of the spleen and liver.Bitter gourd is a blood purifier, ...

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most widely grown vegetables in the world. It is very popular among consumers and is commonly used as a salad vegetable in raw form. The fruits are also processed into juice, ketch-up, sauce, soups etc. It is the most extensively canned vegetable. Tomatoes form an important source of vitamins A and C in diets. Interestingly, tomato is one of the newest plants to be used on a large scale for human consumption. It was once believed to be poisonous and was more used an ornamental plant. The perceived poisonous nature of tomato was due to its association with many toxic plants. Tomato is a member of the family Solanaceae, commonly referred to as the ‘deadly nightshade’ family because it has many poisonous members, several of which produce toxic alkaloids. It was only after 1820, when Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson disproved the myth during a public demonstration in New Jersey; tomato acquired the status of a valuable food item. Tomato is a shor...