Foods that help to lower cholesterol levels and control heart disease

#heart #health #cholesterol It is a well known fact that certain types of foods have the power to decrease heart disease risk by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and raising HDL (good) cholesterol. Cholesterol-busting powers of fish, oatmeal, red wine, beans, and olive oil is not new but, there are other foods that can also help the cause.
This has been reported in foxnews.com dated 23 January 2016.

Some of other foods that can help reduce bad cholesterol are Indian gooseberry (amla), barley, avocado, strawberries, probiotics and grapes.
Indian Gooseberry - it is a round, green fruit that is sour, bitter, and quite fibrous. It is found in India, the Middle East, and some southeast Asian countries and is used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. It functions by reducing total cholesterol levels, including the fatty acids called triglycerides, without affecting levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. It can be eaten fresh, as chutney added to steamed vegetables, or in powdered form added to a smoothie.
Barley - we know that oatmeal has numerous benefits because it lowers blood cholesterol levels, but barley is equally good. Like oatmeal, barley is high in soluble fiber which helps to reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood. Barley can be taken at breakfast time. Or - cold barley salad tossed with some olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs for a tasty cholesterol-lowering lunch. It is also delicious in soups and can be eaten for breakfast with a splash of milk and honey instead of oatmeal.
Avocado - it is a high-fat food but could be considered for inclusion in a cholesterol-lowering menu. Go in for avocado instead of mayonnaise on your sandwich, topping off your omelet with avocado slices, or making a guacamole to snack on with high-fiber crackers or sliced vegetables.
Strawberries - it is sweet and, while the berry season is in the summer, frozen berries are an affordable substitute that can be enjoyed all year long.
Probiotics - these are live microorganisms that naturally occur. Yogurt falls in this category. Other common sources of probiotics include kefir, and fermented foods (like sauerkraut, tempeh, and pickles).
Grapes - red wine is said to be good for the heart. Grapes are not far behind. The heart-healthy polyphenol found in red wine, resveratrol, is also found in grapes of all colors. Moreover, fresh grapes provide other heart-protective nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin B6, potassium, and flavonoids.

Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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India is 2nd largest fruit producer in the World - grapes top the list

India is 2nd largest fruit producer in the World with grapes topping the list as well as Maharashtra. As per a handbook, published by the Oxford University Press, grapes occupy the premier position in exports with 107.3 thousand tonnes valued at Rs 1,086 crore in 2014-15. Behind grapes come are banana and mango.
This has been reported in timesofindia.indiatimes.com dated 18 January 2016.

The green revolution initiated in the 1960s and 1970s had brought to an end the chronic food deficits. Cereals still command the attention of policy makers, but, fruit production has also surged impressively. As a result, India is now the second largest global producer behind China.
However, while India commands the second position in the list of major fruit producing countries that feature China, the US, Brazil, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Indonesia, the Philippines and Turkey, the productivity in India lags behind most of these countries.
The state-wise breakdown is - Maharashtra is Number 1 followed by Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Over the last decade, the area under fruit production increased by about 2.7% per annum and annual production increased by 7%".


(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

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Kumbhmela 2015 in Nashik – guided tours to wineries and vineyards

#nashikgrapes #vineyard #sulawines #nashik #kumbhmela2015 Nashik is well known for its temples as much as for its grapes – we have seen the numerous temples and places of worship in and around Nashik and now, let us make a trip to the vineyards to check out on the grapes. Nashik is also known as the Grape City and, during season, its grapes make their way every morning in shipping containers to Mumbai from where they are airlifted to countries in the Middle East and Europe.
There are two major varieties of grapes produced in Nashik and both are equally delicious. The abundance of supply has led to export houses being set up that have started sending grapes to foreign countries apart, of course, from consumption in the country itself. In Kolkata, the fruit stalls announce fresh arrivals of Nashik grapes and sell them at a premium.
The grapes identified for export must meet certain very strict criterion – like the size and, its sugar content. For size, the berries have to pass through a template test. The diameter of the berries must be larger than the diameter of the hole in the template. Those that fail the test are discarded and find their way into the local markets.
The black variety is converted to wine and the wineries in and around Nashik love to show off their wineries – there are guided tour of wineries as well as the grape crushing ceremonies where anyone can participate.

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