Most nuts and seeds are deemed as powerful superfoods and why not? These tiny delights can do wonders to your health and wellness. One of the best nuts to consume regularly is almond or badaam as we call it in Hindi. Almonds are one of the most nutritious of all nuts and come power-packed with protein, fibre, vitamin E, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium and zinc. Most health experts suggest eating a few almonds daily for a healthy mind and body. Most of us like eating them raw (meaning un-soaked or roasted) considering most benefits lie in the almond peel. However, a common belief suggests that one shouldn't eat raw almonds, especially in summers. Let's find out why.Almonds are believed to produce heat in the body and hamper your digestion process. One should ensure eating almonds soaked in water, especially when the weather outside demands you stay cool on the inside. According to the Health Practitioner and Macrobiotic Coach Shilpa Arora, "Almonds should be soaked and consumed as the nutrients are then more easily absorbed by the body. In summers, soaking is a good idea as they produce heat in the body. This is even more important for people with pitta dosha, they should soak almonds before consumption as it may create imbalances in the body leading to boils, piles and other conditions." However, think twice before letting go of the peel. As per the book Healing Foods by DK Publishing, "Eat with their skins on, as the flavonoids in the skins work synergistically with the vitamin E to more than double their antioxidant power."

How To Soak Almonds The Right Way?

In order to soak almonds in water, follow these steps and ensure you extract all the goodness from the superfood that almond is.
Place a cup of almonds in about two cups of water. Make sure you use filtered water to ensure that the flavour of the almonds is not affected. Also ensure that the almonds are completely soaked in water.
Leave on the counter overnight, for about eight to 12 hours.
Drain and rinse the almonds.
You can immediately eat them or remove the skin and store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
Almonds are healthy superfoods and they should be a part of your daily diet. So, ensure adding at least five to six soaked almonds in summer to avoid any complications in your tummy.

Used extensively in Asian and oriental cooking, baby corn has been touted as one of the healthiest veggies you can add to your stir fries and salads. Baby corns are just regular corns which are picked before maturing. In terms of nutritive profile too, baby corn and corns vary very slightly. In fact, for those trying to lose weight baby corn may just prove to be a better bet, because of its relatively lesser starch content. Baby corns have found a popular fan following in the west too. It is one of the most imported vegetables across the world. Here are some essential benefits of baby corn you must know.

1. Low In Calories

Baby corn is very low in calories. 100 grams of baby corn has only 26 calories. Adding the lovely veggie to your weight reduction diet may help you shed some quick and easy pounds.

2. Rich In Fibre

Baby corns picked in the correct age are full of beneficial fibres, notes the book 'Healing Foods', by DK Publishing. Soluble fibre helps control blood sugar levels, and is also good for heart. Fibre adds bulk to the stool and aids in bowel regularity. Fibre takes the longest to digest, thereby inducing a feeling of fullness. This feeling prevents you from bingeing into other high-fat foods.

3. Low-Carb Veggie

While corn is famous for its high starch and carb content, baby corn is less starchy. It has 0.9 grams per one serving (28 grams). It also has negligible fat content, which makes it a better bet for weight loss.

4. Nutrient Dense

Baby corn is an extremely nutrient dense veggie. In addition to essential fibres and proteins, baby corns are packed with vital antioxidants too. It is said that just half cup serving meets 4 percent of the daily body requirement of vitamin A and iron, and 2 percent of the daily requirement of vitamin C.

5. Stimulates Digestion

Baby corn is packed with both soluble and insoluble fibres. Fibres help stimulate a healthy digestion. A healthy digestive system may also help in healthy and effective weight loss.

6. Promotes Healthy Vision

Yellow baby corn, much like the matured corn has a decent amount of carotenoids. Carotenoids support eye health and lower the risk of cataracts.

7. Rich Source Of Folate

Baby corns are a rich source of folate. The folic acid is said to play an important role in preventing neural-tube birth defects in the foetus. Pregnant women may want to add baby corn in their pregnancy diet for healthy nutrition.

From weight loss to healthy vision, baby corn is a storehouse of health benefits. Don't let its mini size deceive you into believing otherwise.

Desi gheemakes for an indispensable part of most Indian households. You may agree that a generous helping of ghee on rice, chapattis and dals made them taste amazing. In fact, our grandmothers swore by this greasy delight and used it in most 'gharelu nuske'. Desi ghee is made with cow or buffalo's milk, and is generally churned at home by heating white butter or malai. In the Ayurveda wisdom, ghee is considered to be a rejuvenating ingredient that is used to cure most ailments. Ghee, an unprocessed fat is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acid along with vitamin-A, which helps to keep your body healthy. Its anti-inflammatory properties keep you free from various ailments.

While ghee is revered as one of the healthiest ingredients in the Indian kitchens and mostly enjoyed during winters, its edibility during summers is generally questioned. If you think ghee can only be enjoyed during winters, then you might be wrong. Here's what our experts have to say.

According to Ayurvedic expert Dr. Dhanvantri Tyagi, "Ghee is loaded with healthy fats, and a human body needs some amount of fats to keep it going. This is why we recommend having ghee during hot days. Also, since our body gets dry in summer, consumption of ghee will help balance the internal moisture."

According to Debjani Banerjee, HOD, Dietetics at PSRI Hospital, "Ghee is highly nutritious and consists of various nutritional benefits. It is rich in butyric acid that helps to improve our immune system. It also helps keep our body cool. I recommend taking half a spoon of ghee daily on an empty stomach in summers. This can improve digestive functions by stimulating secretion of gastric acids."
As per the book, A Historical Dictionary of Indian Food by K.T. Acharya, in Ayurvedic terms, ghee is a 'sweet food' - it is strengthening, aids digestion and tempers the over-activity of all the three bodily doshas.

The best form of ghee that can be consumed during summers is prepared from cow's milk, as it is sweeter in taste, cold in nature, light on stomach and makes for an excellent pacifier of aggravated vata dosha and pitta dosha. Pitta dosha is hot in potency by nature, and during summer this heat is aggravated causing heat related ailments in the body. For effective results, ghee should be added separately after cooking as foods cooked in ghee may have completely different effects.

In fact, applying ghee directly on skin and hair may not only cure dryness problems, it may also help you get some sound sleep. Generally, it is said that raised levels of pitta dosha manifests disturbed sleep.

So, go on and add desi ghee to your food, and enjoy it in summers as much as you love it during winters.

Kachchi kairi, or raw mango, is etched in all of our summer memories, as strongly as are the scorching winds, the uncomfortable heat and the relentless Sun. One of the perks of living in a tropical country like India is the opportunity to indulge in yummy thirst quenchers prepared from summer favourites, of which raw mango has the widest appeal.

Here are some amazing raw mango health benefits:

1. Protects From Intense Heat And Dehydration

Drinking juice of raw mango during summers is more than a mere exercise in palate pleasing. The drink reduces the effects of intense heat and prevents dehydration, by stopping excessive loss of sodium chloride and iron from the body. These minerals often tend to leach out into your sweat, during summers, making you dehydrated.

2. Cures Stomach Troubles

Raw mango is also consumed for its action against gastrointestinal disorders, which tend to go up during the summers. Raw mangoes are often prescribed to people with morning sickness, constipation, diarrhoea, chronic dyspepsia and indigestion.

3. Good For The Heart

The presence of niacin makes raw mangoes heart-healthy fruits. Niacin reduces risks of cardiovascular ailments and improves blood cholesterol levels.

4. Treats Scurvy

Raw mango powder, or amchur, is believed to be an effective treatment for scurvy, which is often characterised by bleeding gums, rashes, bruising, weakness and fatigue. This is because raw mango is extremely rich in vitamin-C, the deficiency of which causes scurvy. The same vitamin also promotes elasticity in blood vessels and promotes formation of red blood cells.

5. Promotes Health Of Liver And Intestine

Raw mangoes are great for the liver, and are believed to treat liver ailments. Chewing on raw mango pieces initiates bile secretion into the small intestine, where it increases the absorption of fats and also kills harmful microbes present in food.

6. Gives An Energy Boost

Having a little bit of raw mango powder cures the afternoon drowsiness that often takes effect after your meals. This is because raw mango gives your body an energy boost that wakes you up and helps you perform well.

Nature has fortified raw mango with a number of vitamins and minerals, which make it an effective antidote for a lot of summer ailments. Not that we needed any more reasons to consume raw mango chutneys, pickles and drinks, but these health benefits are certainly encouraging, aren't they?

Cumin and its contribution to an Indian household is immense. Cumin, or zeera, is an integral part of a majority of our curries and stews.

Not just in India, across Asia, cumin is a spice widely used in variety of preparations be it appetisers or mains.

Cumin is basically the dried seed of the herb Cuminum cyminum, and is typically brown in colour.

The black variant is called black cumin. It has a distinct aroma, woody and hot flavour that is unique to the spice.

Here are some benefits of cumin you must know:

1. Boosts Digestion

One of cumin's most significant features is its role in aiding digestion. For centuries, light gravy flavoured with cumin or a glass of zeera water has been used in Indian household as a fool-proof remedy for digestive issues.

2. Good for Immunity System

The presence of vitamin C in cumin seeds helps bolster the immunity system. It also has many antibacterial properties that keep infections and diseases at bay. Dr. Manoj K. Ahuja, Fortis Hospital says, "Zeera is an excellent source of iron and dietary fibre.

3. Treats Anemia

Anemia is a condition that is characterised by acute deficiency of iron. Iron is one of the most vital minerals and plays a key role in the proper functioning of the body. It is essential in formation of red blood cells.

4. Good for Detox

Cumin aldehyde, thymol and phosphorus are components of cumin that serve as good detoxifying agents. Ayurveda expert Dr. Ashutosh Gautam says, "Zeera water flushes out toxins from the body and facilitates the production of bile. Hence, it is extremely beneficial for the liver."

5. Good Skin

Cumin has decent amount of vitamin E, one of the most skin friendly antioxidants. It helps to keep your skin tight and moist, giving you a healthy youthful skin. Cumin also helps battle skin inflammation. Its antibacterial and antifungal activity helps prevent skin infection too.