Bottle Gourds are very beneficial to our health. Lauki, dudhi or bottle gourd holds pride of place in the Indian Ayurvedic medical system. Here is why our ancestors included it in their regular diet, and why it still makes sense to do so. Lauki is 96.1% water, so is light on the stomach and aids digestion. A 100 gm serving of lauki contains just twelve calories and is ideal if you are watching your weight. You...

There is nothing as refreshing as a cold “Masala butter milk” on a hot summer afternoon. Butter milk has wonderful qualities in it that its a no wonder a popular drink in India. Gulp down one glass of “Masala Butter Milk” and have a nice afternoon siesta. Well! That’s what people in India do. This is one of my moms recipes and I thought sharing this would be a good idea.  So lets...

Serves: 1 glass Ingredients 1 apple 1 cup pomegranate seeds 1 medium-size tomato  1 cup crushed ice Method Wash, peel and dice the apple. Dice the tomato and add it to the apple and pomegranate in the blender. There is no need to de-seed the pomegranate, just remove it from the skin and put it in the blender. Add water for a fine consistency. Do not strain the juice. Add crushed ice and serve Health tip:...

Serves: 1 glass Ingredients 1 cup papaya 1 medium-size orange 1 small carrot   Method Wash the carrot and dice it. Remove the seeds from the orange and papaya and dice them. Add the diced carrot along with the papaya and orange in a blender. Blend well. Add water for fine consistency. Add crushed ice and serve. Health tip: Papaya, orange and carrot juice are rich in beta carotene and vitamin C. Beta carotene...

Serves: One glass 1 sweet lime 4 pineapple slices Crushed ice Method Remove the skin and seeds from the sweet lime and put it in a blender. Clean and chop the pineapple and it to the blender. Blend well and add enough water for fine consistency. Do not strain the juice. Add crushed ice and serve. Health tip: Sweet lime and pineapple juices are good sources of vitamin C and are rich in fibre. This juice is delicious, ...

Ingredients: 8 cups – watermelon cubes, deseeded 1 cup – lime juice 1 1/2 cups – water 1 cup – sugar Method: Blend watermelon and lemon juice till smooth. Dissolve sugar in water on low heat. Heat till mixture boils (approx. 5 minutes). Remove from and heat and cool till warm. Add it to watermelon juice. Chill the lemonade. Pour into glasses filled 1/4th with crashed ice. Serve immediately...

Ingredients 1 tsp salt ice cubes 1 cup curd few sprigs of mint ½ tsp black pepper 2 tbsps lemon juice 2 cups chilled water 1 cup papaya; ripe, well mashed Method: Blend curd, then add water and blend again. Add mashed papaya, lemon juice, salt and black pepper. Beat or blend again. Pour in individual glasses and add ice cubes. Garnish with mint and serve cold. For sweet lassi add 2 tbsp sugar instead of salt,...

The water of tender coconut, technically the liquid endosperm, is the most nutritious wholesome beverage that the nature has provided for the people of the tropics to fight the sultry heat. It has caloric value of 17.4 per 100gm It’s a natural isotonic beverage with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It’s the fluid of life. Numerous medicinal properties of tender coconut water...

1/2 cup orange juice 1/2 banana, frozen 6 strawberries, frozen 1/2 cup water 1 tbsp. skim milk powder 1 heaping tbsp. high- quality protein powder (optional) 1 tsp. flax oil (optional) In a blender, process all the ingredients until thoroughly mixed and serve. This is a yummy frothy shake and can act as a wonderful post exercise drink.    

2 Fresh Carrots 1 Tomato For all of you tomato juice lovers out there, here is a great juice combo to get you going. Wash the tomatoes thoroughly, remove the stems, then juice with the tomato skin still intact. Do not juice the stems or leaves of the tomato plant, as they are extremely bitter and will ruin the flavor of your juice mixture. Tomatoes are full of vitamin C, one medium size tomato can contain...