Welcoming the Harvest Season with Well being, Therapeutic and Happiness

There are quite a few festivals which have graced our land, nevertheless, there are just a few that maintain cultural significance and add to its splendour. The importance of agriculture has all the time been a jewel within the crown for India. Honouring the roots, the whole nation comes collectively in January to have fun the abundance and prosperity introduced by the brand new harvest season.

Each area of India celebrates this and welcomes the brand new harvest 12 months with nice pleasure. Punjab and Haryana have fun Lohri within the north. West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra worships the solar god on Makar Sankranti. Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry have fun Pongal, Gujrat observes Uttarayan and Bihu is well known in Assam. So, this has each a non secular in addition to cultural relevance. Although having completely different names the spirit stays the identical throughout the nation.

This competition additionally marks the tip of winter and the onset of spring which gives numerous seasonal produces which might be contemporary, wholesome and optimum for consumption. From inexperienced leafy greens to vibrant fruits, grains and legumes, this season provides some wealthy finds which might be additionally added to the delicacies of the harvest competition. Let’s make a journey round India and discover the importance of seasonal consuming, its well being advantages. Additionally, we’d certainly be taking a spoonful of all of the delicious meals historically ready for this competition.

Seasonal Consuming

Now we have usually heard nutritionists speak about a rainbow weight loss program that ideally contains vegetables and fruit of varied colors which might be a part of the seasonal produce. Seasonal consuming refers to consuming the suitable seasonal meals at the moment of the 12 months when it’s harvested. The goal is to profit from these contemporary meals which might be at their finest style and supply quite a few phytonutrients. This enriches the thoughts and physique with wonderful dietary advantages and combats illnesses.

Why is Consuming Seasonal Vital? 

The idea of consuming seasonal comes from the truth that seasonal meals are full of tons of vitamins and micronutrients that assist the physique to adapt to weather conditions and stop its respective illnesses. January is the time for flu and fever the place your immunity will get compromised. The chilly winter additionally causes vitamin D deficiencies and illnesses like arthritis. Thus, seasonal vegetables and fruit are required to fulfil the requirement of the time.

Seasonal meals additionally style higher than the saved and frozen meals obtainable available in the market. The pure, newly harvested produce are sweeter, backyard contemporary, unprocessed and enhances the flavour of cooked meals.

Since seasonal meals don’t require storage and transportation, they’re reasonably priced. They’re picked up from native, close by locations and bought at markets. These make them not simply wholesome but additionally cheap than their packaged options.

Additionally, by consuming seasonal, you’re serving to and supporting the native farmers. Saving the setting from pointless air pollution brought on by transportation and refrigeration. 

Well being Advantages of Consuming Seasonal

Winter vitamin is all about citrus and inexperienced leafy greens. Let’s check out the well being advantages that the brand new harvest meals present.

1. Loaded with Antioxidants- There are greens like spinach and carrots which might be wealthy in antioxidants. Whereas spinach has lutein and zeaxanthin in abundance, carrots comprise carotenoids and anthocyanins that assist to neutralize the dangerous free radicals in our our bodies.

2. Supply of Vitamin C- Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that’s wanted for the physique for the expansion and restore the tissues. January is a perfect time to eat fruits like oranges, kiwi and berries to take care of the extent of vitamin c within the physique and keep away from colds and flu that assaults the immune system of the physique.

3. Supply of Vitamin D– Winters make you curl up your blanket and keep inside. Thus, it could decrease the pure vitamin D within the type of daylight and trigger deficiencies. Mushrooms and oranges are meals which might be winter produce and are loaded with vitamin D properties.

4. Improves Cardiovascular Well being– Candy potatoes are potassium-rich greens and mustard are January finds and contribute to coronary heart well being. These additionally cut back the danger of cardiovascular illnesses.

Harvest Produces in January and their Dietary Worth

Fruits (100 grams)

1. Dates: Dates comprise 277 kcal, 74.97 g of carbohydrates, 1.81 g of protein, 0.15 g of fat and 6.7 g of fibre. 

2. Kiwi: This candy unique fruit incorporates 61 kcal, 0.5 g fats, 3 mg sodium, 15 g carbohydrates, 9 g sugar, 3g dietary fibre and 1.1g protein.

3. Oranges: Oranges may be known as a superfood with its great advantages. One giant orange incorporates 88 kcal, 1.3 g of protein, 20.1 g of carbohydrates, 0.4 g of fat and a couple of g of fibre. 

4. Grapes: This excessive water content material fruit has 69 kcal, 0.2 g of fat, 16.5 g of carbs, 1 g of fibre and 0.5 g of protein. 

5. Chikoo: Although having a excessive GI rating, chikoo has different dietary worth. 100 g of chikoo incorporates 98 kcal, 0.7 g of protein, 21.4 g of carbohydrates, 1.1 g of fat and 10.9 g of fibre.

Greens (100 grams)

1. Spinach: Iron-rich meals that has 26 kcal, 2 g of protein, 2.9 g of carbohydrates, 0.7 g of fat and a couple of.5 g of fibre. 

2. Radish: 100 grams of radish incorporates 17 kcal, 0.7 g of protein, 3.4 g of carbohydrates, 0.1 g of fat and 1.6 g of fibre. 

3. Carrot: Carrot incorporates 48 kcal, 0.9 g of protein, 10.6 g of carbohydrates, 0.2 g of fat and 4.4 g of fibre

4. Candy Potato: This vegetable has a wonderful quantity of carotene that advantages eye well being. It has 86 kcal, 1.6 g of protein, 20.1 g of carbohydrates, 0.1 g of fats and three g of fibre. 

Well-liked Harvest Recipes

1. Sarson Da Saag

A preferred recipe from Punjab and a delicacy for Lohri, sarson da saag incorporates all that’s wanted to fulfil one’s dietary requirement.

Substances

• 1 bunch mustard leaves
• ½ bunch spinach
• 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 2 inch ginger (chopped)
• 1 ¼ onion (chopped)
• 4 chilli
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp. cornmeal
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• A pinch hing / asafoetida

Technique

1. Firstly, wash and finely chop 1 bunch of mustard leaves and ½ bunch of spinach.
2. Put the chopped leaves in a stress cooker together with 2 cloves of garlic, 1-inch ginger, ¼ onion, 2 chilli and ½ tsp salt.
3. Now add 1 cup water and stress prepare dinner for 4 whistles.
4. Then, mash till coarsely floor.
5. Subsequent, add 2 tbsp. of cornmeal and blend effectively.
6. Cook dinner for five minutes or till the combination thickens. hold apart.
7. Now in a big pan, warmth 2 tbsp. ghee, and sauté 2 cloves of garlic, 1-inch ginger and 1 inexperienced chilli.
8. Subsequent, sauté 1 onion till it turns golden brown.
9. Add in cooked and mashed leaves and blend effectively and proceed to prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes
10. Lastly, get pleasure from sarson da saag with makki di roti or with chapati.

2. Til Laddu

A well-known wholesome candy for Bihar, Jharkhand and a favorite throughout Makar Sankranti. 

Substances:

• Sesame Seeds/ Til- 1 ¼ cup
• Ghee- 1 tbsp
• Jaggery- 1 ¼ cup (chopped into items)
• Peanuts- ¼ cup (roasted and chopped)
• Cardamom Powder- ½ tsp 

Technique: 

1. Dry roast the components one after the other on medium-low warmth stirring continuously
2. Enable the roasted components to chill down earlier than processing
3. Grate the jaggery or break it into small items utilizing a pestle
4. Merely pulse 1 to 2 components at a time and grind the whole lot in a number of batches
5. Therapeutic massage the ultimate combination effectively to assist launch the oils from the sesame seeds and peanuts which can assist bind the ladoo

3. Candy Pongal

Vital throughout Pongal, candy pongal is an ideal steadiness of wealthy and candy.

Substances:

• Rice – ½ cup
• Moong dal / paasi paruppu- ¼ cup
• Jaggery -1 cup grated
• Cashew nuts- 2 tbsp
• Raisins- 2 to three tbsps
• Cardamom- 4 pods
• Ghee- ¼ cup

Technique:

1. Dry roast rice and dal individually till it’s sizzling to the touch
2. Stress prepare dinner rice and dal along with 2 1/2 cups water. Mash effectively and hold apart (for brand new rice, add solely 2 cups water)
3. Warmth 1/4 cup water in a pan and add jaggery to it. When it dissolves, pressure it to take away any impurities
4. Boil jaggery water with one teaspoon of ghee on medium warmth. Take a cup of water, add a tsp of jaggery syrup to it. If it doesn’t dissolve then it’s the proper stage so as to add mashed rice and dal
5. Add mashed rice, dal combination and prepare dinner for a couple of minutes till the whole lot will get blended. Add cardamom powder at this stage.
6. Fry cashew nuts in a teaspoon of ghee. Take away from the pan and add to the rice dal combination.
7. Add the remainder of the ghee and fry raisins till they puff up and add it to the rice dal combination together with ghee
8. Cook dinner for a couple of minutes on low warmth till the whole lot will get blended effectively. serve sizzling.

Among the many festivities full of enjoyable and laughter, don’t forget to maintain your self wholesome and protected. We at HealthifyMe additionally want you good well being and a really affluent harvest competition.