Food
Cozy Rainy Day Recipes To Warm You Up
Rains make our minds thoughtful. On a rainy day, the common wish comes to mind is to eat some special foods. Cozy but yummy foods can warm you up from the inside out in such gloomy weathers. Check out these 7 Rainy day recipes to enjoy the weather.
Top 7 Rainy Day Special Recipes
Khichuri Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup basmati rice, 1 cup moong dal, 3 tablespoons Ghee/2.5 tablespoon oil, 1-inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms, 3 cloves, 1 tej patta, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 1-inch grated ginger, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, ½ teaspoon red chili powder, 2 tomatoes, (chopped), 1 green chili (chopped), 2 potatoes, ½ cup cauliflower and ½ cup green peas, ½ carrots, salt (as required), 5 cups water
Instructions
First, wash the rice and soak it for 20 to 30 minutes and then drain. Meanwhile, roast the dal till they turn light golden. Then wash the dal and drain. Now take a pan and heat ghee/ oil and fry the whole spices. Add the grated ginger and fry for 5 to 6 seconds. Mix turmeric, and red chili powder and cook for 2 to 3 seconds. Add vegetables and cook for a minute.
Now add the moong dal ( roasted, cleaned) and for 2 minutes. Next, add the soaked rice and mix well. Add the water and salt and coon on a pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles on medium heat. When the pressure settles down on its own, open the lid and the khichuri warm with baingan bhaja or fried egg.
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Masala Tea Recipes
Ingredients
2 cups water, 4 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons black tea leaves, ¼ cup milk/ as per taste, 1-inch cinnamon, 2 to 3 green cardamoms, 2 cloves, 1-inch ginger
Instructions
First, crush-coarsely the cinnamon, green cardamoms, and cloves. Now heat water in a pot and add the crushed spices when the water boils. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes and then add the sugar. Next mix 2 teaspoons of tea leaves. Boil for 1 minute. However, if you prefer a strong tea (intense), then boil it for some extra minutes. Add milk and boil for two minutes. Now your tea is ready. Serve with snacks or cookies.
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Coriander Chutney Review
Ingredients
1 cup chopped coriander leaves, 2 teaspoons chopped green chilies, 1 chopped ginger, ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 2 to 3 pinches salt, ¼ teaspoon chaat masala, 1 to 2 tablespoons water.
Instructions
First, take a blender and add the chopped coriander leaves, chopped ginger, and green chilies. You can add or subtract green chilies according to your and your family's taste. Add lemon juice, roasted cumin powder, black salt, and chaat masala. Add water and blend as long as the mixture is smooth. Add more salt or lemon juice if you feel required.
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Singara Recipe Review
Ingredients:
For the singhara dough
1 cup Flour, 2 tablespoons Oil, ½ teaspoon Kalonji seeds, ½ teaspoon salt, 50 ml water (room temperature)
For the Bhaja masala
¼ teaspoon cumin seeds, ¼ teaspoon fennel seeds, ½ teaspoon coriander seeds, 1 clove, 1 small cardamom, ¼ inch cinnamon stick
Other ingredients
2 potatoes, ¼ cup peas, 1-2 green chilies, ½ tablespoon ginger,1 teaspoon panch phoran, 2 dry red chilies, 2 tablespoons peanuts, ¼ cup water, 1 teaspoon sugar, ½ teas salt, 2 tablespoons oil, Oil (to deep fry the Singara).
Read More: Khichuri Recipes: 7 varieties of yummy nutritious Khichdi to try at home
Instructions:
First, prepare the dough with the given ingredients and cover the dough nicely with a wet cloth and keep it at rest for 1 hour.
For the bhaja masala
Now take a pan and fry allspice until a nice smell comes up. Put them on a plate to make them cool. Then grind the spices and keep them aside.
For the potato filling
Heat oil in a pan and then add peanuts and fry for 1-2 minutes and remove to a plate. Now add red chilies, panch phoran, and then grated ginger, and green chilies and cook them for 1-2 minutes. Add potatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes. Mix turmeric powder, and salt and mix well. Now water and mix nicely and cook as long as the potatoes become tender. Add peas, sugar, fried peanuts, and finally the bhaja masala and mix it properly. Remove it from the stove when it is done.
For shaping the singhara
Divide the dough into 4 equal parts and make flat dough balls with them. Roll the ball into a 1.5-2.0 mm thick oval-shaped chapati. Cut the chapati horizontally. Now fill each chapati with the cooked filling and seal the sides. Deep fry each singhara for 10 minutes or till golden brown. Serve warm with sauce.
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Best and Worst Foods for Brain, Memory, Focus
The brain is the control center of the body which makes humans think, and feel. It keeps the heart beating, lungs breathing and allows the body organs to move, and sense. Although there is no magic pill to prevent cognitive decline, nutritionists emphasize that the most important strategy one can follow to boost the brain, memory, and focus is to take a healthy diet plan including a lot of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Let’s find out the beneficial and harmful foods and drinks for the brain health.
What Is Brain Food?
Brain foods are those that are packed with antioxidants, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals and provide the brain with energy. These foods also help in protecting brain cells, which helps ward off the development of brain diseases. A nutritious diet can create a considerable number of essential hormones and neurotransmitters which can influence cognitive abilities.
Top 10 Foods for Brain, Memory, & Focus
Fatty fish
Fatty fish is at the top of the list of brain foods that are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. About 60% of the brain is made of fat, and half of that fat consists of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s help to build brain and nerve cells, and these fats are essential for learning and memory. Plus omega-3 fatty acids may slow age-related mental decline and help ward off Alzheimer’s disease.
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Oily fish like tuna, salmon, trout, sardines, mackerel, etc contain omega-3 fatty acids. Among the local fishes, Hilsa fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA.
Coffee
Coffee’s two main components namely caffeine and antioxidants can help support brain health. Caffeine has a number of positive effects on the brain. It can increase alertness by keeping the brain alert by blocking adenosine (a chemical messenger that makes One feel sleepy).
Moreover, this beverage can improve mood by boosting some of the “feel-good” neurotransmitters like dopamine and sharpened concentration.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a deep-yellow spice that is a main ingredient in curry powder. It has huge health benefits for the brain as it has curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) helps to cross the blood-brain barrier, which means it can directly enter the brain and benefit the cells there.
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It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that can benefit memory, eases depression, and helps new brain cells grow.
Broccoli
Broccoli is rich in amazing plant compounds, including antioxidants, and vitamin K. It has a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for forming sphingolipids (a type of fat) that are massively packed into brain cells and vitamin K intake to improve memory and cognitive status.
Pumpkin seeds
One will get powerful antioxidants from pumpkin seeds that protect the body and brain from free-radical damage. One will also get magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper from these seeds.
Zinc is an important element for nerve signaling and zinc deficiency can cause many neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and Parkinson’s disease.
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Magnesium is also essential for learning and memory and low magnesium levels can cause many neurological diseases such as migraine, depression, and epilepsy. Copper helps control nerve signals and iron deficiency is often characterized by brain fog and impaired brain function.
7 Healthy, Delicious Egg Recipes for Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and many good reasons are behind this. One of the important things is that breakfast breaks the overnight fasting period and refills your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness. Breakfast also provides other essential nutrients required for good health. Eggs for breakfast are uniquely delicious and protein-packed and making them a powerhouse for starting off your morning. Here are the 7 yummy and healthy egg recipes for breakfast.
Health benefits and nutrition of eggs
Eggs are packed with protein. You will also get heart-healthy unsaturated fats and important nutrients from eggs. From one big size boiled egg, you may get about 77 calories including vitamins A, B5, B12, D, E, K, and B6, folate, phosphorus, selenium, calcium, and zinc.
Eggs provide you with good cholesterol. Eggs have choline that helps maintain your eyesight. The proteins and amino acids available in eggs are not bad for the heart. Most importantly, eggs are the filling meal.
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7 Easy Egg Recipes for Breakfast
Mughlai Paratha Recipe
Ingredients
3 Cups wheat flour, 1 cup flour, 2 tbsp ghee, 2 cups water (for the dough), dry flour (for rolling), ghee (for frying), 4 Eggs, salt (as required), 1/2 cup onions (finely chopped), 4 green chilies (chopped), 4 tbsp coriander leaves (chopped)
Instructions
First, mix the wheat flour, refined flour, and two tablespoons of ghee together. Prepare a soft, sticky dough and cover it and let it rest for 2-3 hours. Then divide the dough into 4 parts and rest again for about 15 minutes. Heat oil in the pan and meanwhile roll one part of the dough to give it a round shape.
Place the roti on the pan, put the beaten eggs in the center, and then add 2 tsp of onion, salt, green chilies, and 1 tbsp of coriander leaves. Minimize the heat and fold the roti four ways and give a squire shape. Add ghee around it and fry as long as it becomes crispy. Follow the same process and prepare the rest of them. Garnish and serve warm with sauce or chutney.
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Egg Benedict Recipe
Ingredients
2 slices loaf, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 tomato, sliced, 50-gram spinach, little amount of nutmeg powder, 100-gram seasonal fruits ( diced), 2 tbsp sauce
Instructions
First, toast the slices of the loaf and let them warm. Boil water in a pot and break the egg to plunder.
Have a small pot of water boiling and break the egg to plunder. Heal olive oil in a pan and cook all the veggies for around 2 minutes. Now place the veggies mixture and nutmeg, and poached egg on top. Season with sauce over and serve hot.
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Scotch Eggs Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups loaf ( roughly torn), 6 large eggs, 1 lb. ground beef, 3 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp. finely grated lemon zest, salt, and pepper (as required), 1/2 cup flour, oil, for frying, salad, for serving
Instructions
First, prepare the oven to 425°F and bake the torn loaves on a baking sheet for about 6 minutes or as long as they become dry. Now take a food processor and blend well the dry-torned loaves to form small crumbs. Remove from the food processor and put it in a bowl.
In the meantime, boil water in a pot and gently add 4 eggs. Cook for 6 minutes, set aside, and then peel.
In a bowl, mix beef, garlic, lemon zest, 1 raw egg and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Take one-fourth of the beef mixture, create a disk, and put 1 soft-boiled egg in the center. Wrap beef around the egg nicely. Repeat the process to prepare the rest.
Take another bowl and mix flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a second bowl, beat an egg with 1 tsp water. Take breadcrumbs to a third bowl. Heat oil in a pot. Overlay wrapped eggs in flour, then egg mixture, and finally breadcrumbs. Now fry as long as it becomes golden brown. Serve warm with salad.
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Egg Quesadilla Recipe
Ingredients
2 tablespoons finely diced red bell pepper, 2 eggs, ¼ cup black beans, 2 tablespoons butter, divided, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ground black pepper, ⅓ cup cheddar cheese, 2 6” tortillas
UN-Myanmar expert calls on member states to reverse the cuts to food rations for Rohingyas
The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews on Thursday made an urgent appeal to member mtates to reverse “the shameful, catastrophic cuts” to food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh that began to be implemented on Wednesday.
“These rations cuts are a stain on the conscience of the international community,” said Andrews.
“I have spoken with desperate families in the camps who have already had to cut back on essential food items due to a spike in prices. Reversing these cuts in food aid is literally a matter of life and death for Rohingya families,” the Special Rapporteur said.
He said many UN member states have offered rhetorical support for the Rohinyga but Rohingya families cannot eat political rhetoric.
"It is past time for UN member states to replace empty declarations of support with life saving action,” Andrews said.
“Unless they are quickly reversed, the impact of these cuts will be catastrophic and long-lasting,” he said.
According to the expert, malnutrition and adverse health outcomes could spike in the community and the development of Rohingya children could be severely impaired.
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The consequences of these cuts are likely to be carried by the Rohingya people for generations.
The UN expert issued the plea in a letter to UN member states to what could be a series of cuts in food rations for Rohingya refugees in Bangaldesh by the World Food Programme (WFP).
The cuts could exceed 30 percent of current allocations to Rohingya refugees.
“These cuts will be devastating for a traumatised population that is already suffering from widespread malnutrition,” Andrews said.
“The impact of the already inadequate level of food support for Rohingya refugees is unconscionable: 40 percent of Rohingya children are currently suffering from stunted growth; 51 percent of Rohingya children and 41 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding Rohingya women are anemic; 45 percent of all Rohingya families in the camps are living with insufficient diets.”
Andrews said the food ration cuts will impact nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who fled genocidal attacks by the Myanmar military.
“Tragically, the WFP has announced that cuts to the already insufficient food rations will be only the first round of ration reductions if additional funding is not forthcoming. The value of the monthly food ration allocation for each Rohingya refugee in the Bangladesh camps has been reduced by 17 percent,” the Special Rapporteur said. “Without additional support, these cuts will be even deeper over the next two months, with food rations reduced by a third. That would mean that, on average, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh camps would need to try and survive on $0.27 USD per day,” the Special Rapporteur said.
“The consequences of these additional cuts will be catastrophic for a population that has already been forced to endure immense suffering,” he said.
The World Food Programme reportedly needs $125 million USD immediately to halt the ration cuts.
Andrews noted that the food crisis was merely “the tip of the iceberg,” as the overall Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis Joint Response Plan (JRP) has been sorely underfunded for a number of years, and remains at risk of significant underfunding in 2023. The 2023 JRP will likely be published next week.
Andrews told member states that he will be closely monitoring all contributions by governments to food and nutrition for the Rohingya refugees and how these amounts compare to previous years’ contributions.
He announced that he will provide regular updates to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.
Top Traditional Bangladeshi Foods You Must Try
Bangladeshi cuisines are defined by the country’s tropical geography and diverse array of influences, from Persian to Indian. Especially, the traditional foods of Bangladesh whizz with the richness of spices, versatile flavors, aromatic qualities, and mesmerizing tastes. Here are some of the best traditional Bangladeshi foods that you shouldn't miss.
Most Popular Breakfast Dishes to Try in Bangladesh
Panta Bhaat (Water Rice)
This dish is popular in Bangladesh as well as Eastern India. Panta Bhaat or water rice is prepared from fermented rice and people eat it with mustard oil, onions, chilies, or an aloo bharta. Research has shown that panta bhaat is in micronutrients and so it keeps the body cool during the hot and humid summer months.
In rural regions of Bangladesh, the farmers eat Panta Vaat before going to work. This food gives them the energy to work throughout the day even if on hot weather days. This food is poplar in urban areas too.
The portion of ingredients depends on the individual's precise choice. The recipe can vary by region also.
Read More: Panta Bhat: The Amazing Health Benefits of Water Rice
Luchi and Alur Dom
Generally made for puja, this dish is a favorite breakfast for a lot of Bengalis. Luchi is one type of deep-fried puri that is prepared just using flour, a pinch of salt, and oil. Alur dom is a spicy seasoning. It is made with potatoes and spices including chili powder, turmeric, and garam masala. Serve with hot luchi and every Bengalis love to enjoy this dish, especially the Hindu community.
Moglai Porota
Moglai porota or paratha is traditionally famous. It is filled with mutton or chicken and is a wrap made with seasoning, flour, and beaten eggs. It is a perfect breakfast dish that can keep you full till your next meal.
Nehari
The word “Nihar” comes from the Arabic word, “Nahar” meaning “morning”. The Nawabs in the Mughal Empire took this dish as a breakfast item after their morning prayers. Nihari now becomes popular in almost all Asian countries, especially in Bangladesh. The main ingredients are the paya of cow, goat, and lamb. This dish is served with paratha or roti.
Read More: Easy Chicken, Beef and Mutton Nihari Recipes Everyone Will Love.
Beetroot: Nutrition, Health Benefits, Doses, Side Effects
Beetroot’s scientific name is Beta vulgaris. It is a root vegetable. It has numerous health benefits because of the huge amounts of phytochemical and nutritional components available in them. So, it is called functional food. Let’s check here the health benefits, uses, and side effects of beetroot.
Vitamins and Nutrients of Beetroot
Beetroot is a colorful vegetable that has carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber, and various types of vitamins and minerals also.
Per 100 grams of beetroot, you will get Calcium 8%, Vitamin C 4%, Iron 5%, Vitamin B6 5%, energy 43 kcal, Carbohydrates 9.56g, Proteins 1.61 g, Fibre 2.8 g, total fat 0.17g, Calcium 16g, Iron 0.8g, Magnesium 23 mg, Sodium 40mg, Potassium 325 mg, Phosphorous 40mg, Vitamin C 4.9mg, Thiamin 0.031mg, Riboflavin 0.4 mg, Folate 109 ¼ g, Vitamin B-6: 0.067 mg.
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Top 10 Health Benefits of Beetroot
We have already got the nutritional value of beetroot, let's check out now the top health benefits of Beetroot.
Lower blood pressure
Beetroot naturally occurs in nitrates which are diverted into nitric oxide in the human body. This nitric oxide can relax and expand blood vessels and so helps to improve blood flow and reduce blood pressure. In fact, beetroot is an excellent source of blood pressure by lowering blood pressure within a couple of hours.
Grows stamina
The nitrates in beet get converted into nitric oxide in the human body which helps to reduce the potential amount of oxygen. This oxygen can be expended for low-intensity exercises and also increases tolerance to high-intensity exercises. Research has shown that people who eat beet juice just before taking exercise are able to exercise for a longer period of time.
Good for heart patients
Prominent amounts of triglycerides in your body cause consequential problems to the heart. Beetroot helps reduce triglycerides and cholesterol by increasing the amount of HDL cholesterol, namely good cholesterol. Besides, beetroot decreases the level of homocysteine as it contains the nutrient betaine. So, you can prevent the risk of heart attacks and strokes by taking beet regularly.
Reduce birth defects
Beets are packed with Vitamin B folates and so it helps to form a baby’s spinal column. So you can add beetroot to your diet if you are pregnant as folate deficiency can lead to a number of complications including defects in the neural tubes and ultimately defects in the brain, spine, or spinal cord. However, you need to consult with your doctor when you are pregnant.
Prevent cancer
The pigment betacyanins which are available in beetroot can prevent the growth of cancer cells. Beetroots are great to prevent colon, lung, and skin cancer. Meats are preserved using nitrates and the consumption of these meats may result in the formation of nitrosamine compounds in the body which ultimately leads to cancer. In this case, beetroot juice may reduce the cell mutations caused by these compounds.
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Beetroot juice for dementia
With age, the blood flow to certain areas of the brain decreases which can lead to loss of cognition and eventual dementia. Studies have shown that drinking beetroot juice can improve the supply of oxygen to your brain and slows the progression of dementia as beetroots have high nitrate concentration.
Iron Deficiency Anemia: What to Eat, Drink and Avoid
Iron deficiency anemia is a medical term discovered by Karl Vierordt and his student H. Welcher in 1852. Anemia means your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells and it is caused due to iron deficiency. Let's find out what to eat and what to avoid when you experience iron deficiency anemia.
What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most usual types of anemia. It is a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body's tissues. Iron deficiency anemia is caused because of inadequate iron.
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
In the primary stage, iron deficiency anemia may feel mild. So, many people tend to ignore the symptoms. But when the body becomes more deficient in iron and anemia worsens, the signs and symptoms are as follows:
-Extreme fatigue
-Weakness
-Pale skin
-Chest pain or shortness of breath
-Headache, dizziness, or sometimes lightheadedness
-Cold hands and feet
-Soreness of your tongue
-Brittle nails
-Abnormal cravings for non-nutritive substances; ice, dirt, and starch
-Infants and children feel poor appetite.
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The best food and drinks to avoid Iron Deficiency Anemia
When you have anemia, you need to take foods rich in iron and other vitamins essential to hemoglobin and red blood cell production. Add the following foods to your diet so that you can get more iron to fight iron deficiency anemia:
Leafy greens
Leafy greens like spinach, cabbage, and green vegetables are the best sources of iron. Dark, leafy greens are also high in oxalates that can bind with iron and prevent the absorption of nonheme iron.
You also need Vitamin C which can help your stomach absorb iron. So, when you experience iron deficiency anemia, it is recomemded to take leafy greens with foods that contain vitamin C including oranges, red peppers, and strawberries.
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5 Yummy Homemade Pizza Recipes for Kids
Pizza which has a long history was first introduced in 997 AD in Gaeta in Italy. Then this food was found in different parts of Central and Southern Italy. Mainly the Italians and emigrants in these regions used to eat Pizza. The ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks used to eat flatbreads with toppings just like pizza. The modern pizza was found in Naples, Italy, in the 18th or early 19th century. Pizza is a very healthy, tasty, and nutritious recipe that you can prepare at home. Let’s find out 5 hearty pizza recipes for kids.
5 Healthy Pizza Recipes for Children
Pizza with Tomato Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
300g flour (white bread), ½ cup flour for dusting, 1 tsp yeast, 1 tbsp olive oil
For the tomato sauce
One tbsp olive oil, 2 garlic cloves ( Chopped), 200ml (passata).
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For the topping
8 mozzarella pearls, halved a small bunch of fresh basil.
Best Foods for Hair Growth: What to Eat, Drink and Avoid
Who doesn’t dream of healthy, strong, and shiny hair? However, many of us experience untimely hair fall due to diverse reasons. For natural hair growth, it's important to keep the scalp healthy by maintaining a balanced diet and avoiding some foods. Here is a list of the best and worst foods and drinks for hair growth.
Best Foods for Healthy Hair Growth
Eggs
Protein is known as the building block of hair. Lack of protein in hair may lead to hair fall. Biotin is the main source of the production of a hair protein namely keratin. If you have a biotin deficiency, you need to consume foods that contain more biotin. Essential protein and biotin can be consumed from eggs.
Spinach and Other Dark Leafy Greens
Spinach and other dark leafy greens provide iron which is one of the basic minerals required for your hair cells. Research has shown that if you have a deficiency of iron in your body you may lose hair. If your body cannot run sufficient iron, oxygen and nutrients cannot be transported to the hair roots and follicles adequately which can ultimately hamper growth and make your strands weak.
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Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits give you the Dose of Vitamin C that your body requires for iron absorption. According to nutritionists, one lime each day is sufficient to get your daily dose of Vitamin C. You can take it as lemon juice with honey or refined sugar. You can take an orange which is also a good source of Vitamin C.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and Seeds are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids that nourish the hair and support thickening. Your body cannot produce these healthy fats naturally, so you need to gain them from your diet. Almonds and walnuts are enriched with Omega-3 fatty acids. Likewise, you can take flax seeds as a mid-meal healthy snack to get essential fats to your hair.
Carrots are Rich in Vitamin A
Carrots are a good source of Vitamin A and the hair contains the fastest-growing tissues in the body. Vitamin A is required for the growth of every cell. Drinking carrot juice regularly can help with the quick growth of your hair. Vitamin A helps the scalp to produce natural sebum oil which keeps the roots of the hair healthy and boosts hair growth.
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Almond Butter
Almond butter has a huge range of nutrients like protein, healthy fats, and certain vitamins and they all have been linked to hair health. Almond is an excellent source of vitamin E that is extremely good for keeping your hair thick and glossy.
From one tablespoon of almond butter you will get around 3.87 milligrams of Vitamin E and the recommended daily Vitamin E allowance is 15 milligrams. So you will be all set if you can eat more than one tablespoon per day.
Yogurt
Do you know the misty thick, full, wavy hair of Greeks? Perhaps, it's due to the thick, protein-rich yogurt that Greeks and other cultures have been taking for hundreds of years because Greek yogurt contains vitamin B5, also known as pantothenic acid, and B vitamins. Pantothenic acid and Vitamins B can help you maintain healthy skin and hair.
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Oatmeal
Oats contain iron, fiber, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids that revive hair growth, making it thick and healthy.
You can take a bowl of oatmeal along with some chia seeds in the morning if you want to up the hair-boosting power. Oats are called nutritional powerhouse and they are considered a complete protein that can help promote beautiful and shiny locks.
Lentils
Lentils are enriched with folic acid which helps your body produce red blood cells. Those red blood cells bring oxygen to your organs, including your skin and scalp help grow and strengthen your hair.
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Liver
We have already mentioned that iron deficiency can lead to hair loss, especially in women. Organ meats- the liver has iron in abundance.
Strawberries
From a cup of strawberries, you can get more than a day's worth of vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed to form collagen, which is the main component of your hair.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts have multiple nutritional benefits that make them exceptional food for your hair growth. A cup of Brussels sprouts meets your daily vitamin C requirements in maintaining healthy hair.
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Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and this compound is converted by the body into vitamin A, which is linked to hair health.
Sweet peppers
Sweet peppers have antioxidant-rich vitamin C, which may support hair growth. In fact, one yellow pepper provides up to 456% of the daily vitamin C needs of women and 380% for men.
Soybeans
Studies have shown that compounds namely spermidine abundant in soybeans help hair growth.
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Meat
Meat, especially red meat, is rich in nutrients that assist hair growth because the protein available in meat helps repair and strengthen hair follicles.
Fish
Fatty fishes are excellent sources of nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids that may prevent scalp drying and promote hair growth. Deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids may result in dull hair, dry scalp, or lifeless hair.
Thrive: A Non-Profit Organization’s Attempt to Answer Hunger
Food is one of the most important basic human rights. Even though global food production is more than the demand, the geopolitical and distributional bureaucracy causes 10% of the global population to go hungry each day. Against the backdrop of such a pressing issue, one organization is aiming to challenge the status quo with one child and one meal at a time. Here’s the inspiring story of Thrive.
What is Thrive?
Thrive is a 501c3 and Bangladesh Registered Trust that currently operates in Bangladesh and the Philippines. Thrive was co-founded and started by Priscilla Heffelfinger, Regina Landor, and Gina Gabel. The main goal of the organization is to provide nutritious meals to school-going children every day.
The Story of Thrive
It all started back in 2012. Priscilla Heffelfinger has just moved to Dhaka, accompanying her husband, who was the country director of CDC and had a role with ICDDR, B. Priscilla Heffelfinger, along with Regina Landor and Gina Gabel, saw hungry children and knew they wanted to help.
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They asked local schools what they needed most, and the resounding response was food. The children were either not showing up or were too hungry to learn took the first initiative for a definitive answer to student hunger.
Thrive grew, but not overnight. It took the work and dedication of many volunteers willing to give their time to help hungry kids. While Thrive began as an expat start-up, it grew due to the generous support of the Bangladesh community.
Local leaders Amna Rahman, Sadia Moyeen, and Kanwal Bhagat, who joined in 2013, propelled Thrive’s work by engaging local individuals and companies to commit financial support, in-kind donations, and their volunteer talents to expand our work to feed more needy schoolchildren.
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But there were a lot of constraints while starting. The idea was to help socially neglected children by means of support. But support how exactly?
The Need for Food
While doing groundwork, Priscilla and her team found that the most pressing need for growing children is the lack of adequate micro and macro nutrients. Social welfare schools set up for economically challenged students pointed out that the immediate need for such institutes isn’t often money. Rather a meal since a fair share of students are unfed or half fed.
Going hungry often challenges these students to reevaluate their priorities. As a result, there are a large number of student dropouts who opt for wage-earning instead of going to school.
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Priscilla and her team thought of this as the exact opportunity. Having worked in the development sector for over 20 years, Priscilla understood the imminent need. A mix of two basic human rights is fulfilled through food.
How Does Thrive Work?
Thrive is different from traditional NGOs or INGOs in Bangladesh in the sense that it was initially an expat-led social venture that aimed to work with students from slum areas. The venture has been supported by both local and international well-wishers and has seen rapid growth over the years.
Currently, Thrive serves nutritious meals to over 12000 students each week in Bangladesh and the Philippines. Thrive claims that there is an imminent wait list of another 3000 students waiting to be incorporated into their meal plan.
Read More: Global hunger numbers rose to as many as 828 million in 2021: UN Report
Now feeding hungry children and school performance may seem unrelated. But from the socio-economic concept of Bangladesh, where 50 million people live in extreme poverty, it's not surprising that child labor is ever so prevalent. These children turn into breadwinners for themselves and their families while they should have been studying.
With a nutritious meal each day, hunger is addressed. The balanced diet ensures children are getting their essentials which act as brain fuel. The culmination is increased concentration, focus, physical and mental development as well as increased attendance in classes.