BENEFICIAL ITEMS - SEEDS

BENEFICIAL ITEMS - SEEDS

Seeds are a concentrated source of protein and should be eaten only in the raw form, never roasted. Also they should be had only in small quantities daily.

• Caraway seeds.
• Poppy seeds.
• Pumpkin seeds.
• Sesame seeds.
• Sunflower seeds.
• Watermelon seeds.

BENEFICIAL ITEMS- VEGETABLES

BENEFICIAL ITEMS- VEGETABLES

Vegetables should be bought fresh. They should either be had raw, baked or lightly cooked. There are certain vegetables that should never be cooked like the  avocado, cucumber and especially the tomatoes (since cooking will make them very acidic and will destroy their nutritional value whereas when eaten raw they are very alkaline and beneficial for the body).  Never use cucumber and tomato for toasted or grilled sandwiches. 

Artichokes. 
Asparagus. 
Avocado. 
Beet roots -the red and the white variety. 
Broccoli. 
Brussels sprouts. 
Cabbage. 
Carrots. 
Cauliflower. 
Celery leaves (ajwan-ka-patta). 
Corn. 
Cucumber. 
Eggplant (brinjal- the small variety). 
Fennel (the root can be sliced raw into salads and the leaf and seeds are used as herbs). 
Garlic. 
Ginger. 
Green beans (French beans, papri, etc.). 
Kale. 
Ladyfingers. 
Lettuce. 
Mushrooms -either fresh or dried. 
Onions - Bermuda (red), spring  or  scallions, white and yellow varieties. 
Peas. 
Peppers -Bell (green or red), green chili. 
Potatoes- new (red-skinned), sweet potatoes, Russet Burbank and Yams. 
Radishes. 
Spinach (palak). 
Sprouts - alfalfa, buckwheat, fenugreek (methi), lentil, mung bean, pea, radish, red clover, red lentil and sunflower. 
Suran (elephant root yam). 
Tomatoes.  
Turnips. 
Watercress (Jalkumb). 

BENEFICIAL ITEMS - FRUITS

BENEFICIAL ITEMS - FRUITS

Earlier certain fruits were available only in certain seasons. But now with widespread importing, we have an access to a wide variety of fruits all year round.Importing also allows us to benefit by providing different types of nutrients from a variety of soils and different farming techniques. It should always be remembered that fruit should never be cooked but should be eaten fresh and raw. The process of cooking transforms the alkalinity of the fruit to acid and also destroys most of the nutrients. Never purchase fruit in bulk as storing fruits for a longer period destroys not only its nutritional value, but also causes fungal infection of the fruits. Buy only those fruits that you are going to consume within twenty four hours. 

1. Apples -The varieties are New Zealand Gala (yellow) and Red delicious (Himachal Pradesh).
2. Apricots.
3. Bananas - especially the yellow variety (elaichi of Vasai or from Madras). Always buy bananas that are ripe  or else the consistency will be very starchy.
3. Berries- Raspberries and strawberries.
4. Dates - Khadrawi (the dates are soft and almost skinless), Medjool (the largest of all dates, also called as "the king of all dates").
5. Dried fruits - especially the ones that are sun-dried - apricots, currants, figs (anjeer), prunes (dried plums), raisins, etc.
6. Figs (anjeer) - Kadota.
7. Grapes - grapes from Nasik are excellent quality-wise.
8. Guava (a shiny green-skinned fruit, oblong in shape).
9. Kiwi (a fuzzy fruit, brown-skinned but bright lime-green inside, the
size of a lemon, with tiny edible black seeds).
10. Lychee (a small nutlike fruit with a hard brown or reddish skin, which when peeled, a juicy white pulp is discovered with a brown seed in the center).
11. Mango - Alphanzo from Ratnagiri.
12. Melons - Cantaloupe, muskmelon (kharbooja) and watermelon.
13. Oranges - Blood and Valencia.
14. Papaya (a yellowish orange fruit when ripe, which is round or oblong in shape, with black seeds in the center which are bitter and should not be eaten).
15. Peach - Indian red.
16. Pears.
17. Pineapples - Hawaiian variety.
18. Plums- That are also called as prunes.
19. Pomegranate (a pinkish or reddish fruit about the size of a tennis ball with a hard skin. The fruit should be cut into quarters and then the tiny juicy segments with seeds should be eaten).