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Quinoa: The Ancient Seed Making a Modern Comeback What is Quinoa? Quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) is a highly nutritious seed that is often used as a grain in cooking. It is native to South America, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years. Quinoa seeds come in different colors, including white, red, and black. White quinoa is the most commonly available type and has a mild, nutty flavor. Red and black quinoa have a slightly earthy taste and are often used for their attractive color in salads and side dishes. 10 potential health benefits of consuming quinoa High Nutritional Value: Quinoa is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it a highly nutritious food choice. Gluten-Free: Quinoa is naturally gluten-free, making it an excellent option for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Rich in Protein: Quinoa is an excellent source of plant-based protein, providing all nine essential amino acids. Helps Control Blood Sugar Levels: The high fiber content in quinoa can help regulate blood sugar levels, making it an excellent choice for individuals with diabetes. Supports Digestive Health: Quinoa is high in fiber, which can help promote healthy digestion and reduce the risk of constipation. May Lower Cholesterol Levels: Quinoa may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, which can help lower the risk of heart disease. Supports Weight Loss: The high protein and fiber content in quinoa can help reduce appetite and support weight loss. Provides Essential Minerals: Quinoa is an excellent source of magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, which are essential minerals for bone health and other bodily functions. Antioxidant Properties: Quinoa contains plant compounds called flavonoids that have antioxidant properties, which can help reduce inflammation and protect against chronic disease. Versatile and Delicious: Quinoa is a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, making it an easy and convenient way to add more healthy foods to your diet. Blog Quinoa: The Ancient Seed Making a Modern Comeback Blog Millet Marvels: Why Pregnant Women Should Add Them To Their Diet Blog From Ancient Medicine to Modern Marvel: The Wonders of Turmeric Unleashed Blog Why you should consume organic food? Blog Organic Jaggery- Making your sweet treats healthier​

Millet Marvels: Why Pregnant Women Should Add Them To Their Diet What are Millets? Millet is a group of small-seeded grasses that are widely grown around the world as food crops. They are used as a staple food in many parts of Africa and Asia, and are also gaining popularity in other parts of the world due to their nutritional benefits. There are several different types of millets, including pearl millet, foxtail millet, finger millet (also known as ragi), and proso millet, among others. Millets are typically gluten-free, high in fiber, and a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium. They can be consumed in a variety of forms, including whole grain, flour, flakes, and puffed grains, and can be used in a wide range of dishes, from porridge to bread to desserts. Health benefits during Pregnancy High in fiber: Millets are high in fiber, which can help to regulate digestion and prevent constipation, a common problem during pregnancy. Good source of protein: Millets are a good source of plant-based protein, which is important for building and repairing tissues in both the mother and the developing baby. Rich in vitamins and minerals: Millets are rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and folate, which are essential for the healthy development of the baby. Gluten-free: Many millets are naturally gluten-free, making them a great option for pregnant women who may have celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Low glycemic index: Some types of millets have a low glycemic index, which can help to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. Benefits of different types of millets for pregnant women Foxtail Millet: Foxtail millet is a good source of iron, which is essential for the formation of red blood cells and for the delivery of oxygen to the developing baby. It is also a good source of calcium, which is important for the development of the baby’s bones and teeth. Finger Millet (Ragi): Finger millet is high in calcium, which is important for the development of the baby’s bones and teeth. It is also rich in iron, which helps to prevent anemia, a common problem during pregnancy. Pearl Millet (Bajra): Pearl millet is rich in folate, which is important for the healthy development of the baby’s brain and nervous system. It is also a good source of iron and calcium. Barnyard Millet: Barnyard millet is rich in fiber, protein, and iron. It also has a low glycemic index, which can help to regulate blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. Sorghum: Sorghum is a good source of protein, iron, and B vitamins. It is also high in antioxidants, which can help to protect the mother and the developing baby from oxidative stress. Blog Quinoa: The Ancient Seed Making a Modern Comeback Blog Millet Marvels: Why Pregnant Women Should Add Them To Their Diet Blog From Ancient Medicine to Modern Marvel: The Wonders of Turmeric Unleashed Blog Why you should consume organic food? Blog Organic Jaggery- Making your sweet treats healthier​

From Ancient Medicine to Modern Marvel: The Wonders of Turmeric Unleashed Turmeric is a spice that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine. It contains a compound called curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.  The top health benefits of turmeric: Anti-inflammatory: Turmeric has potent anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it effective in reducing inflammation in the body. Chronic inflammation is linked to several chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Antioxidant: Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to cellular damage and aging. Pain relief: Turmeric is a natural pain reliever and has been shown to be effective in reducing pain and inflammation in conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, and back pain. Improved brain function: Curcumin has been shown to increase levels of a hormone called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes the growth of new neurons and improves brain function. This can help reduce the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. Reduced risk of heart disease: Turmeric has been shown to improve several risk factors for heart disease, including lowering cholesterol levels, reducing inflammation, and improving blood vessel function. Improved digestion: Turmeric has been traditionally used to improve digestion and treat digestive issues like bloating, gas, and indigestion. Immune system booster: Turmeric has been shown to have immune-boosting properties, which can help protect the body against infections and diseases. 5 ways to use turmeric In golden milk: Golden milk is a popular Ayurvedic beverage that has been used for centuries to promote health and wellness. To make golden milk, combine turmeric with coconut milk, honey, ginger, and cinnamon, and heat it up until warm. This comforting and nourishing drink is a great way to wind down before bed and boost immunity. In a face scrub: Turmeric can also be used as a natural exfoliant for the skin. Mix turmeric with honey, sugar, and coconut oil to create a gentle face scrub that can help remove dead skin cells and reveal brighter, smoother skin. In cooking: Turmeric is a popular spice in many cuisines, particularly in Indian and Middle Eastern dishes. It can be used to add flavor and color to curries, soups, stews, and rice dishes. You can also use turmeric to season roasted vegetables or sprinkle it on top of scrambled eggs for an added boost of flavor and health benefits. In tea: Turmeric tea is a popular beverage that can be enjoyed hot or cold. To make turmeric tea, simply boil water with turmeric, ginger, and honey, and let it steep for a few minutes. This warming and soothing beverage is great for reducing inflammation and boosting immunity. In smoothies: Adding turmeric to your morning smoothie is an easy way to incorporate this healthy spice into your diet. Simply blend turmeric with other fruits and vegetables like bananas, mangoes, and spinach, and enjoy a delicious and nutritious breakfast. Blog Quinoa: The Ancient Seed Making a Modern Comeback Blog Millet Marvels: Why Pregnant Women Should Add Them To Their Diet Blog From Ancient Medicine to Modern Marvel: The Wonders of Turmeric Unleashed Blog Why you should consume organic food? Blog Organic Jaggery- Making your sweet treats healthier​

Why you should consume organic food? Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.                                                                       – Hippocrates In the modern world, what could be more important than your health and well-being? The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought the topic of ‘health’ and ‘immunity’ to the forefront. Be it a newsroom or a common household, focus on increasing immunity has gained major attention. People have now realised that immunity is the strongest armor against the dreadful attack of several diseases, health problems and infections. But, How do you build your immunity? Immunity cannot be built by will or overnight. There is no drug that can make us immune from all the diseases. It is built by the food that we eat, by the balanced intake of macro and micronutrients present naturally in various foods, if grown in accordance with nature. Unfortunately, current conventionally grown food lacks the micronutrients in it because the soil in which it is grown is devoid of essential micronutrients. Due to the continuous application of inorganic fertilizers in the same piece of land, the organic characteristics of the soil is lost. Hence the crops grown in it lack essential micronutrients. As a result, these micronutrients are now being taken as food supplements. Wouldn’t it have been nice if all our nutrient requirement could be fulfilled by the food that we consume and the need of supplementing them through the external and synthesized sources become irrelevant? But How? The answer is – Organic Food. One of the best way to build a strong immune system is the intake of healthy, nutritious and natural food. Food that is grown in nature, food that is hygienic and safe to consume. In organic food, along with the external hygiene, the internal and intrinsic hygiene of food is also ensured. You are not only avoiding the harmful chemicals that have potential to cause life threatening diseases like cancer etc., but also getting replenished by the nutrients present in plenty in the organically grown food. Several researches in the European countries have shown direct link between immunity and organic food. Along with better immunity, there are several other benefits that are linked with organic products. Benefits of organic food Health:  Consumption of organic products saves us from the exposure of poisonous chemicals used in the conventional farming. These chemicals have the capacity of weakening your immunity and triggering various unwanted changes in the body. The changes could be in the form of imbalance of hormones that control a lot of functions (including the physical growth and mental health) or triggering the uncontrolled growth of the cells, also known as Cancer. Some of these chemicals have also been linked to trigger psychological disorders like depression and lifestyle diseases like Diabetes and High Blood Pressure. In organic products, the use of these chemicals is avoided at any stage of production and preparation. It starts with soil with natural characteristics and ends in your plate, which means that it is from “farm to fork” and the food is never exposed to any chemical. Besides, researches have shown health benefits of consuming organic food. Organic food contains higher amount of certain micronutrients (Vitamin C, Polyphenols and flavonoids) and minerals, as well as have higher dry matter content than the conventional ones.  Moreover, there is a lower level of pesticide residues, nitrate and some heavy metal contaminations in organic crops compared to conventional ones. (See : Source) 2. Taste: Organic food is generally grown with traditional profile of the soil through the traditional methods and hence it is found that the taste of the organic food is much superior to conventionally grown food. There have been some studies where it has been found that babies have liked organic baby food better than the conventional baby food. 3. Environment: Traditional agriculture is hit as science and mankind bring out modern ways to improve it. But the addition of synthetic chemicals in the ecosystem, in the form of fertilizers and growth enhancers do more damage than good as it destroys the quality of soil and the produce, putting ours and the environment’s health at risk.  To counter all the corrosion, adopting and continuing sustainable organic practices is the only answer. Chemicals sprayed in the fields ultimately get into the water (either the groundwater or the rivers), which affects the aquatic life and create larger uncontrollable harm to the whole environment. The organic characteritics of the soil is hampered, resulting in more dependency on chemical inputs year-by-year, for the same yield. Organic itself means that the origin is from the living beings and the natural characteristics of soil is being conserved. Hence the use of organic products help in reducing the negative impact on the environment.   4) Socioeconomics: Due to various diseases, arising from the use of the chemicals and pesticides, there is more health burden in the society. A weak society creates more stress on the health infrastructure. Besides, there have been many cases where farmer suicides have been linked with the use of chemical pesticides. From a financial standpoint of the farmer, Organic is the only sustainable farming method. This is specifically true for the small land holders where the new-age machines could not be of much help. Hence, most of the times the small holder farmers are dependent upon the incomplete knowledge and end up spraying a lot more chemicals than needed. In the organic farming there is no need for any external agri-inputs and the farmers can generate natural inputs in their fields itself hence breaking the dependency on any external inputs and money. So even from a financial standpoint, organic practices and products can create better wealth for the whole society. The world is moving at such a breakneck pace that we, at times, forget to pause and reflect upon our action. This,

Organic Jaggery- Making your sweet treats healthier Blog From Ancient Medicine to Modern Marvel: The Wonders of Turmeric Unleashed In India, Jaggery or Gur has been used since centuries.  Known as ‘sharkara’ in Sanskrit, its name was synonymous to ‘sweetener’, as once it was the only known sweetener to the people in the subcontinent. The mentions of gur/guda has been found in ancient Ayurvedic scriptures, Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hrudayam dating back to 1st Century and before. Used for its medicinal and sweetening properties, Jaggery is still a major ingredient in most of the traditional Indian sweet dishes. Its general use as a sweetener in India was somehow lessened after the introduction and large scale processing of refined/white sugar, introduced by various European colonisers at around the late 19th century. At present, India is the largest producer and consumer of Jaggery and its products. Out of total World Production, more than 70% of Jaggery is produced in India. When seen as a whole industry, the Jaggery Manufacturing Industry is still facing a lack in the standardization process, quality control and transparency, due to various reasons, ignorance being the primary one. The haphazardous use of chemicals, without proper regulations in the conventional manufacturing units has led to the degradation of the traditional product – the authentic Jaggery. However, Just Organik Organic Jaggery Products are processed and packed as per NPOP, NOP and EU Organic standards in a FSSAI and BRC licensed unit, which not only maintain the original, traditional jaggery’s quality but also guarantee standardization and hygiene during the whole preparation process. Just Organik Jaggery : A Powerhouse of Health Benefits In Ayurveda, Jaggery is said to have anti-allergic properties, it improves digestion and immunity, cleanses lungs and the bladder, purifies blood, and is an excellent energy source. It is considered a powerhouse of many nutrients. Just Organik Jaggery contains a lot of these nutrients including iron (11mg/100g, 30% of RDI), calcium (8%), potassium, magnesium and antioxidants, which helps to boost the immune system and supports the body to fight against several diseases. Numerous health professionals recommend replacing sugar with Jaggery to obtain nutritional value from a sweetener. The total calories in Jaggery and sugar is almost the same but the nutritional elements like iron, potassium and magnesium, present in jaggery products are reasonably beneficial than the empty calories provided by refined sugar. Besides, Jaggery comprises of complex carbohydrates, the longer chains of sucrose which takes relatively longer time for the complete breakdown, hence releasing  energy slowly, when compared to refined sugar.  However, it has to be noted that jaggery is a good replacement for sugar among non-diabetics. In traditional medicine, Jaggery is considered to have warm potency, hence helpful to produce warmth in the body during winters, which is considered a Kapha dominant season. Ayurvedic text Ashtanga Hrudayam Sutrasthana explains that regular consumption of Jaggery decreases Kapha dosha and serves as a diuretic. It is also known to be an excellent healer for people with respiratory issues including asthma, allergy and bronchitis among others. According to Nutritionist and Macrobiotic Health Coach, Shilpa Arora, “Jaggery is exceptional for breathing disorders. Its anti-allergic properties detox and relax the respiratory muscles”. The presence of Magnesium in Jaggery strengthens and relaxes the bronchial muscles which further help regularize breathing in asthmatics. Jaggery also helps to dilate blood vessels by producing warmth and cleanse the respiratory tract. Just Organik Jaggery is rich in Iron. Iron helps improve the blood Haemoglobin levels and improves blood circulation. It is essential for the formation of healthy blood and muscle cells. Several Studies have concluded that Jaggery or combination of jaggery with raisins/sesame seeds/ghee proved to be a better natural food supplement to overcome Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) than others. However, it is very important that all these health benefits can be intact only if jaggery is consumed in its purest, unadulterated form. Without any involvement of any chemical or unnatural aid at any point of time, prepared in a standardised and certified environment, Just Organik Jaggery products therefore are the best choice for organic, unadulterated Jaggery. All the products are packed in a BRC certified unit ensuring that the globally highest standards of production and packaging are met to prepare the final Product. Just Organik Jaggery Products are available in 3 forms. Jaggery  – Available only during the winters, Just Organik Jaggery is one of the seasonal favourites, which goes out of stock as soon as it arrives in the shelves. Available in blocks, it is obtained by cutting cubical pieces of solidified, cooled Jaggery with a considerable amount of moisture. Usually consumed as a sweet snack or an after-meal sweetener.  Jaggery Powder –.With less moisture content and relatively high shelf life, it is characterized by very soft texture and color varying from yellowish to dark brown. Used in Several traditional Dishes like Modak, sandesh, patishapda, etc. . It can be used in summer or winter drinks, with milk, in teas, desserts, shakes, etc. Jaggery Pearls –  The perfect ‘sweet snacks’, rich in taste, convenient to handle and easy to store. Munch them as a sweet snack or use as a post-meal sweetener, Just Organik Jaggery pearls will be delightful every time.