|
 |
|
Actor Nicole Kidman loves South-east Asian cuisine, that incorporates a majority of black foods as ingredients. | If you've had enough of everyone telling you to gorge on greens, it's time you underwent a goth makeover. iTALK tells you why eating black-coloured food is the new health fad
Black could easily be the new green. And we don't just mean on international fashion runways. Now, together with dawning black for a slimmer look, we suggest you stock up on black-coloured foods give your body that much-needed nutrition. Japanese scientists, who were the first to discover the magic of black foods, say they have higher health benefits than any other coloured food since they contain more minerals, isoflavones and antioxidants, that strengthen the human immune system.
iTALK gets Dr Richa Anand, dietician with LH Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, to tell you all you need to know about the unusual food group what to eat, how to eat it, and what it can do for you.
Black Tea
Black Tea is an extract of the Oolong tea, a traditional Chinese Tea. The leaves are fermented and dried, which is why they turn black. Drinking black tea keeps your heart healthy. The tea contains amino acid theanine, which reduces stress hormone levels, thereby reducing the burden on the heart.
Black Sesame Seeds
Black sesame seeds are rich in protein and iron and work on ulcers, burns and scalds. They even cure dysentery and diarrhea by moistening the intestine. The Chinese traditionally begin their day by consuming a drink made from ground black sesame seeds mixed with hot water as they are a rich source of calcium.
Black pepper
Black pepper results in higher hydrochloric acid secretion by the intestines, leading to improved digestion. Ayurveda says, black pepper helps ease earaches, gangrene, heart diseases, hernia, insect bites, tooth decay and liver problems. Black pepper oil is used for external application to treat skin diseases and prevent hair loss.
Black Grapes
Black grapes detoxify all tissues and organs in the body, and restore organic integrity to starved cells when eaten for a prolonged period, thus preventing growth of cancer cells.
Hot Tip: Avoid eating seedless grapes since they lack the phytochemicals which act as an antioxidant.
Black Vinegar
Black vinegar is a combination of rice, wheat and sorghum. Acetic acid in vinegar helps lower blood pressure, improves blood circulation and fights cholesterol. It even reduces hypertension, promotes the function of the liver, and helps the immune system work better.
Rock (black) salt
Rock salt is easily absorbed and metabolised by your body. You can use it in a bowl of hot water to help with sinus, as a warm compress for pain or injuries, as an eyebath, for gargling, to heal cuts, and even as a skin scrub.
Why the Japs love black
The black-food craze started in Japan a few years ago, when a company called House Food introduced a cocoa drink spiked with black soybeans. The trend was fueled further when a black-soybean tea was given the status of a health drink. Black ingredients are now added to all types of beverages in Japan, including black vinegar drinks that are being promoted as a tonic to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Other popular black foods in Japan are black rice, black sesame biscuits and cereal, black soy milk and black soybean coffee.
They can increase your sex drive!
Want to steam up your sex life? Bypass the bedroom and head straight to the kitchen. Certain black foods like grapes and black pepper, are believed to enhance sexual pleasure. They have a direct impact on your sex life since they affect your hormone, energy and stress levels.
The Chef recommends
Chef Shailendra Shahi Senior Chef, Palms Hotel Tower and Villas
Black-coloured foods are a hot craze in South-east Asia and form an integral part of Italian cuisine. Soya sauce, used often in Japanese and Chinese dishes, is black.
Cucumber Sesame Salad
>>Take 1 tsp of oil in a vessel and add salt, garlic paste, ginger and dry chili powder to it.
>>Add roasted black sesame seeds to the paste.
>>Add the cucumber pieces and toss it well. |
