Quarantine 15

Green peas, or “garden peas,” are the small, spherical seeds that come from pods produced by the Pisum sativum plant. They have been part of the human diet for hundreds of years and are consumed all over the world. Strictly speaking, green peas are not vegetables. Green peas are quite filling, low in calories, and high in fiber. Thus help in weight loss. Contain several minerals and vitamins. Enriched with proteins and antioxidant, these are heart healthy, control blood sugar levels, and prevent from cancers.

Fenugreek is an annual plant with leaves consisting of three small obovate to oblong leaflets. It is cultivated worldwide and its seeds, plus leaves are pretty common ingredients in dishes from the Indian subcontinent.

Fenugreek has many health benefit. Such as lowering blood sugar levels, increasing milk production in breastfeeding mothers, reducing cholesterol levels, lowering inflammation, and to help with appetite control

Mustard greens contain many health-boosting antioxidants like beta carotene, which can protect our skin and lower risk factors of diabetes. The greens are also a great source of several B vitamins, including thiamine (B1,) niacin (B3,) and pyridoxine (B6.) A serving also offers high amounts of Vitamin K.

Mustard greens are rich in fibre that facilitates weight loss. They also make for a good detox food. According to the book, ‘Healing foods’, “the antioxidant beta-carotene and vitamins C and K help neutralize toxins and remove them from the body, providing effective detox support’.

Tinda also known as round gourd or apple gourd in English is a small green gourd vegetable available for hardly two months during monsoons in India.

Round gourd or tinda contains vitamins and carotene that boosts the immunity and keeps you healthy. Its antioxidant property protects you from pathogens that affect our body thus making it one of the best vegetables to eat during the monsoon. It’s pulp is less fibrous which is why it can be easily digested.

Green Chickpeas are an incredible source of vitamins like B6, C, folate, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin and minerals including manganese, phosphorus, iron and copper.

The wealth of nutrients in green chickpeas is beneficial in boosting the immune system, promote muscle mass, regulates diabetes and enhance hair, skin and nail health. Here, I am creating a very easy breakfast or anytime recipe from it.

Bottle Gourd or Lauki is extremely beneficial for keeping our heart healthy. Consuming lauki juice twice or thrice in a week will support in maintaining a healthy heart and will also regulate blood pressure. Drinking lauki juice is believed to help lose weight. Bottle gourd is loaded with iron, vitamins and potassium.

It also helps reducing stress, treating sleeping disorder, preventing premature greying of hair, improving skin quality, and great digestion.

Chana dal, with distinctive nutty flavor, is rich in protein and is consumed by people for weight loss. The USDA data says, one mere cup of chana dal has 39 grams of protein, 121 grams of carbohydrate and 35 grams of dietary fibre.

Cabbage, and especially red cabbage has many health benefits. It seems to raise levels of beta-carotene, lutein, and other heart-protective antioxidants. It also helps lower something called “oxidized” LDL, which is linked to hardening of the arteries. And since it eases inflammation, it can help prevent heart disease.

Steaming was found to retain the most antioxidants and vitamin C compared to other cooking methods, making this a good option if you don’t like it raw. Here, I am sharing a very flavorful cabbage recipe with some basic spices.

Avocado is a source of vitamins C, E, K, and B6, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and potassium. It also provides lutein, beta carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids. Avocado contains high levels of healthy, beneficial fats, which can help a person feel fuller between meals.

Radish is rich in antioxidants and minerals like calcium and potassium. Together, these nutrients help lower high blood pressure and reduce your risks for heart disease. The radish is also a good source of natural nitrates that improve blood flow.

Cantaloupe is vitamin C enriched, a powerful antioxidant that protects our cells from damage. Also has enough vitamin A for our daily needs, which helps keep our eyes, skin, bones, and immune system healthy.

The fiber, potassium, and vitamin C present in cantaloupe are vital nutrients for your heart health. Potassium can help to lower high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Fiber helps to decrease levels of “bad cholesterol” in your body. It can also keep our blood pressure in check.