Mint

Mint has medicinal uses and also as a mosquito repellent

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GEEK TALK

Mentha spicata

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Mentha, Spearmint

DID YOU KNOW?

While many simply know mint as the big green leaf used to garnish your mojito or fruits, this healthy and aromatic plant has a delicious taste as well. Very popular in Indian cuisine especially lamb dishes, mint is known to add good strong flavor wherever it is used.

 

It has a distinctive vibrant green leaf and the two most popular varieties of mint are spearmint and peppermint. Used as an ingredient in many chewing gums as well as toothpaste and candy, mint is an incredibly versatile vegetable with a strong flavor.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

  • Long used as a medicinal herb for digestion problems such as stomach aches and chest pains, mint also has many uses medicinally.
  • Mint is believed to help reduce congestion due to its strong aroma and many say it helps asthmatics.
  • Lastly, mint has even proven to be a quality insect repellent.

RECIPES USING THIS INGREDIENT

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Garlic

Garlic helps stop clogging of arteries and reduces stomach related issues

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GEEK TALK

Allium sativum

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Stinking rose, rustic treacle, serpet garlic, rocambole

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

This species is native to Central Asia and spread to the Mediterranean region, China and the western hemisphere.

 

It is cultivated throughout India.

DID YOU KNOW?

Garlic is a small, but a well-known vegetable that certainly packs a punch both with its pungent aroma and vast health benefits. Used as an herb to spice up a wide variety of meals, garlic has been around for over 7,000 years.

 

Native to central Asia and very closely related to onions, leeks, and chives, this herb has been both eaten and been used medicinally across the globe throughout its long history.

CULINARY USES

  • Garlic is used as a vegetable and also as a flavor.
  • It is used to make pickles and syrups.
  • It is used in the garnish along with most of all Indian curries.
  • Garlic chutneys are also used in some parts of the world.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

While it may not thwart off vampires as tales have suggested, garlic certainly does have massive health benefits.

  • Garlic is believed to help prevent colon, rectal and stomach cancer and has even been used to help treat bladder and prostate cancer.
  • It is also believed to promote good heart health by reducing risk for heart disease and heart attack and help stop the clogging of arteries.
  • It has been linked to reducing both blood pressure and cholesterol and is believed to help prevent tick bites and food poisoning.
  • Garlic is even sometimes used to help treat fevers, coughs, headaches, stomachaches, sinus congestion, bronchitis and asthma.

Garlic has many health benefits.

  • One of the most important effects is its anti hypercholesterolemic effect.
  • It also helps to reduce blood pressure thus reducing the chances of cardiovascular diseases.
  • Ayurveda uses garlic as a Rasayana (rejuvenative). There are several Rasayana formulations in Ayurveda with garlic as its major ingredient. Lasuna Rasayana is one of them.

RECIPES USING THIS INGREDIENT

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Potato

Potato promotes cell growth, improves athletic performance and endurance

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GEEK TALK

Solanum Tuberosum

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Potato

DID YOU KNOW?

The potato is native to Peru and was first domesticated between 8,000 and 5,000 BCE. Since then, the potato has become extremely popular around the world and it is now the world’s fourth-largest crop.

 

The potato was not always popular as when potatoes first came to Europe, many thought eating them would cause leprosy.

 

This changed when a French agronomist named Parmentier created a way for peasants to “steal” potatoes from the king’s garden and popularized mashed potatoes.

 

Solanum, the first part of the scientific name for potatoes, means soothing in Latin, which is one of the many reasons many consider potatoes comfort food.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

  • Potatoes are a great source of pyridoxine, which is used to treat high cholesterol, post menstrual cycle symptoms, attention deficit disorder, asthma, cramps, migraines, sickle cell anemia, radiation poison, and helps boost your immune system.
  • Potatoes also contain copper, potassium, manganese, fiber, and vitamin C.
  • In addition, potatoes are known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, promote new cell growth, protect against atherosclerosis and colon cancer, and helps break down glycogen, which improves athletic performance and endurance.

 

RECIPES USING THIS INGREDIENT

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Drumstick


Drumstick regulates sugar and has anti inflammatory properties

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GEEK TALK

Moringa Oleifera

BUT WE TALK

Drumstick, Nugge (Kannada), Muruṅkai (Tamil)

GEEK TALK

Moringa Oleifera

BUT WE TALK

Drumstick, Nugge (Kannada), Muruṅkai (Tamil)

GOEGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

DID YOU KNOW?

Globally this species is found in India and Pakistan. It is indigenous to the sub-Himalayan tracts of Northwest India. This species is cultivated throughout India and in many other tropical countries.

CULINARY USES

Drumstick is a fast-growing and drought-resistance tree. It is grown in tropical and subtropical regions of South Asia. It is long and slender with triangular seed pods. The plant called Moringa has leaves that have myriad health benefits.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

Drumstick is an important vegetable used widely throughout India in different cuisines.

  • it is used for water purification.
  • it controls blood sugar and blood pressure.
  • The calcium in it has strengthen bones.
  • It is rich in vitamins and it helps skin and hair.
  • Drumstick is good for immunity, skin and is a good source of macro and micronutrients.
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Snake Gourd


Snake Gourd helps in smooth working of digestive and excretory system

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GEEK TALK

richosanthes cucumerina

BUT WE TALK

Calabaza de la serpiente (Spanish), Padwal (Hindi), Pudalankaai (Tamil)

DID YOU KNOW?

Snake Gourd is a creepy looking vine having an appearance like a snake, hence the name Snake Gourd. It is a subtropical plant that grows in a warm climate. It can grow up to 6 ft long and it induces a cooling effect on the body due to very high water content in it.

 

Snake gourd belongs to the cucumber family and is native to India. It is widely grown in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, China, Australia, and Africa.

 

It requires insect/manual efforts to carry out the pollinating process for setting fruits. Snake Gourd has a very high nutritional value and it comprises of protein, fat, carbohydrate and solution fiber.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

  • Snake Gourd contains a lot of fiber, and thus it helps in the smooth working of the digestive and excretory system.
  • Snake Gourd majorly consists of water, and thus it has low fat and cholesterol. Thus, it is good dietary food.
  • The snake gourd is highly rich in minerals like Calcium, Magnesium, and Phosphorous. Calcium and the other minerals are all essential for our body in optimum quantity.
  • Prevention of Gallstones
  • Cardiovascular
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Radish


Radish regulates sex harmones, blood sugar, and the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates

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GEEK TALK

Raphanus Sativus

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Radish

DID YOU KNOW?

In Greek, Raphanus means “quickly appearing” and it fits perfectly for the fast sprouting of the Radish plant which can last a mere 3 days. Due to the lack of archeological evidence, no one knows for sure where radish is native to, but economic botanist Daniel Zohary believes it originated in West Asia and Europe.

 

Radishes have numerous varieties consisting of many colors including red, pink, white, grey, and yellow; sizes, and durations of cultivation time. The bulb of the radish is often eaten raw or steamed to soften it up.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

  • Radishes are a great source of Manganese, which helps ensure a healthy bone structure, helps the body absorb Calcium, regulates sex hormones, blood sugar, and the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.
  • Radishes also contain Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Fiber, Vitamin C, and Potassium. Radishes can be used as a treatment for many ailments including whooping cough, arthritis, liver problems, constipation, dyspepsia, gallstones, kidney stones, and intestinal parasites.
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Escarole

Escarole has a crisp texture and prevents muscular degenaration

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GEEK TALK

Cichorium endivia

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Broad-leaved endive, Bavarian endive, Batavian endive, grumolo, scarola, scarole

DID YOU KNOW?

A leaf vegetable and a member of the Chicory family, Escarole is a dark leafy green known for its bitter taste, crisp texture and crinkled leaves. A unique feature of Escarole is that you can achieve different layers of flavor and color by peeling back layers.

 

As each outer layer is removed the color will become a lighter shade of green and the taste will become less bitter. Best eaten during spring through summer, Escarole is commonly used raw in salads but can also be cooked and will still hold its form.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

  • Escarole is believed to have anti-cancer properties, most helpful in fighting stomach, lung, colon, skin and breast cancer.
  • In addition there is belief that escarole can help prevent macular degeneration and that it boosts DNA repair.
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Broccoli


Broccoli supports immune systems and prevents heart diseases

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GEEK TALK

Brassica Oleracea

BUT WE TALK

Broccoli

DID YOU KNOW?

Broccoli originated in Italy during the ancient Roman times. The name was derived from the Latin word Brachium, which means branch or arm. This is due to the fact that Broccoli resembles a tree with florets (which look like leaves) and a small stalk (the trunk of the tree).

 

The three most popular Broccoli types are the Calabrese Broccoli, which has large green heads and thick stems; Sprouting Broccoli, which has a larger number of heads and thinner stems than the Calabrese; and the Purple Cauliflower, which has the head of cauliflower but has many small flower buds.

 

Broccoli has a unique taste due to the “soft and flowery” taste of the florets, and the crunchiness of the stem.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

  • Broccoli contains carotenoids, which helps treat skin problems form overexposure, supports the immune system, and helps prevent both cancer and heart diseases.
  • Broccoli is also a rich source of calcium, manganese, iron, magnesium, fiber, zinc, antioxidants, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
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Spinach


Spinach promotes eye health and strengthens bones

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GEEK TALK

Spinacia oleracea

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Spinach

GEEK TALK

Spinacia oleracea

BUT WE TALK

Spinach

DID YOU KNOW?

Owing much of its fame to Popeye’s excessive eating of it, spinach has far more benefits than helping you get strong. Native to Asia but popular worldwide, spinach is very popular cooked or even used in some salads or sandwiches.

 

The three most common varieties of spinach are savoy spinach, flat-spinach, and semi-savoy spinach.

 

Spinach is another dark leafy green vegetable but its taste separates it from the rest of the pack.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

  • Perhaps spinach’s greatest health benefit is that it has been seen as very helpful in preventing aggressive prostate cancer.
  • In addition, Spinach can help lower blood pressure, promote good eye health, help strengthen bones and help the skin to prevent wrinkles.
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Coleus


Coleus is grown for its ornamental value and it is used in alternative medicines

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GEEK TALK

Coleus aromaticus

BUT WE TALK

Coleus, Patharcur (Hindi), Dodda pathre (Kannada), Karpuravalli (Tamil)

GOEGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

This species is present in the tropical regions of the world extending to subtropical zones. It is cultivated in many regions. This species is probably native to East Indies, globally distributed in tropical Asia and Africa. Within India, it is cultivated as an ornament.

DID YOU KNOW?

Coleus is grown in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, mostly in Asia and Africa, areas bordering the equator. This plant gives us all-season color in full sun and in shade. There are more than 300 varieties of coleus. In India, the plant is grown for its ornamental value because of its brightly colored leaves. There are 90 varieties in India.

CULINARY USES

Leaves are used as a flavor in food like for example in tea.

KITCHEN PHARMACY

  • The plant is used in Ayurveda and other alternative medicines.
  • It is used in different forms in treating some health conditions like Asthama, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, urinary tract infections, and glaucoma.
  • Used as a home remedy for fever, cough, and common cold in children.
  • It can also help to improve digestion.
  • Abdominal disorders e.g Colic: Crush leaves to extract the juice and take in a dose of 5-10 ml twice a day.
  • As carminative: Crush leaves to obtain the juice. Mix it with sugar and take in a dose of 5-10 ml.
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