Foods that Heal is a series that brings into light various herbs, veggies, spices, nuts, seeds and fruits which have healing properties. We can get numerous health benefits by including them into our daily diet.

Sunflower seeds are one such goldmine of nutrients. The seeds are extracted from the sunflowers after removing the petals. These seeds are slightly gray in color enveloped in a dark brown shell.

Where an apple a day keeps the doctor away, Garlic will surely keep everyone at bay The stinky herb which has acquired a mixed reputation due to its strong & pungent flavors and the various health benefits associated with it.

For many it’s a wonder food while for others Garlic does not exist! My grandmother has never touched a garlic pod in her life due to ethical reasons. But my father, a doctor by profession always made sure that garlic is an integral part of cooking at our home.

Yes the staunch aroma and pungent taste is good enough to deter many health enthusiastic from trying out this super food. But the medicinal benefits attached to the humble herb are a perfect reward to your health.

“Don’t cook this cauliflower Madam, it has gone bad” was the reaction from my maid after looking at the pretty veggie Broccoli sitting on my chopping board! Yes, Broccoli is not indigenous to India and many are not familiar with this goldmine of nutrients.

The exotic and healthy veggie Broccoli is worth trying, and can be adapted to various forms of cooking and cuisines.

A low-key healthy grain, Soybean is slowly gaining popularity in the circle of health conscious people. The wholegrain is still a mystery in many remote places, for whom this protein rich grain is a good fodder for animals only! Not many include soybean in their daily grocery list, let alone cooking the same.

A prudent way to healthy-living is to include wholegrain in daily cooking. Read about the benefits of wholegrain.

A refreshing summer drink made with fresh mint leaves, lemon and ginger. This minty-lemony drink was a huge hit in one of the parties we arranged for my husbands’ colleagues. Most of whom who were used to colas, got little hesitant to try out the green color welcome drink. But after the first sip no one could just stop with one, and the huge piles of empty cups in my backyard were telling the success story.

In India turmeric holds the crown in the spice market. Be it any festival, a religious ceremony or for simple health reasons, turmeric is a consistent winner.

A lump of turmeric is always placed in a prayer prior to invoking the deity. The bride & the groom are smeared with turmeric paste before calling for the wed- lock.

An ode to Oats is a compelling saga of transition of my family to healthy eating. It took many a persuasive attempts to win over their confidence and change that ‘No! Not again’ to getting hooked to the mighty oats.