NATURAL HEALTH & BEAUTY

Yet another ‘fact’ that we grew up with has been turned on its head. We knew always, even as we snacked on toast generously slathered with Marmite, that there were four basic tastes - sweet, salty, sour and bitter. Recently a fifth taste has been identified- Umami – also found are specific receptors in the tongue to identify this special taste.

But what is this taste? Think Anchovies, Parmesan, rich broths, meaty mushrooms, Worcester Sauce… and Marmite. The full-bodied, glutamate-rich, satisfying taste that underlines each of these foods is umami, the fifth taste. In brief, umami equates to Savouriness!

Although newly discovered in the Western world, umami has been known in Asia over 100 years, since it was first identified by a Japanese scientist in seaweed, a local culinary staple.

Its discovery has opened up huge possibilities to the packaged-food trade. Recipes can integrate umami-rich ingredients to reduce the fat and salt content of foods without sacrificing flavor. In homes too, cooks well-versed in umami can boost flavor by adding ingredients rich in glutamate. Flavor-enhancing ingredients found in most refrigerators and kitchen cupboards are Parmesan and other aged cheeses; soy sauce; tomato juice, paste or ketchup; Worcester sauce, Anchovy and Thai fish pastes, meat extracts and mushrooms.

And, since we are on the subject of sauces, let me share a recipe for Worcester sauce we came across in an antique cook-book we have in our library:

Recipe for Home-Made Worcester sauce

Ingredients: 4 shallots; 1 quart brown vinegar; 6 tbsp walnut ketchup; 5 tbsp anchovy essence; 4 tbsp soya sauce; ½ tsp cayenne pepper; salt to taste.

Method: Chop shallots very finely. Put all ingredients, including shallots, into a large bottle and cork it closely. Shake well 3 or 4 times daily for 14 days. Then strain the sauce into small bottles and cork tightly. Store bottles in a cool, dry place.

Here’s to ramping up your Umami and cutting back on sodium for better health.

Roshmi & Jay
www.youngagainforever.com

Try doing as many household chores as you possibly can to remain healthy, flexible and young.

Making beds, mopping the kitchen floor, cleaning the loo, scrubbing down the bath, vacuuming cat hair off the couch – these are the everyday chores that we tend to whinge and whine about. Stop right now! These are the very actions that could add years to your life and keep your joints flexible, apart from forcing some movement into sedentary lives. The average person can burn over 250 calories in an hour of medium intensity household tasks such as these. Manually washing clothes, dishes or utensils will tone up your arms; kneading dough exercises your wrists and fingers and will keep them flexible; reaching for items stored on the top shelves makes you stretch your muscles and improve balance.

And if you would like to do a little bit more for your health than depend only on everyday household chores we suggest that you try the Tibetan rejuvenation yoga exercises – 30 minutes a day of low intensity yoga which you practice at your own pace and at the level you feel comfortable with.

Here’s to starting regular autumn cleanings in addition to spring cleanings.

Roshmi & Jay

One of our greatest fears as we get older is about the condition of the eyes. How long can we sustain our vision?

Few treatments exist for a condition that is likely to affect as many as 10 million plus seniors in North America – age-related macular degeneration. And, even more worrying is the fact that such treatment is available only for the advanced forms of the condition.

Under the circumstances, some hope for prevention of onset of macular degeneration is offered by the results of a study funded by the National Eye Institute. One of the findings of this study is that high blood levels of the amino acid, homocysteine, may contribute to age-related macular degeneration. In addition, the report also mentions the possible benefit from taking folic acid, vitamins B-6 and B-12. These vitamins are known to reduce blood levels of homocysteine.

Most reports are circumspect when reporting their findings and far from free with their recommendations. But reading between the lines one can safely deduce (without being Sherlock Holmes) that upping your daily dose of Vitamin B complex may be one route to putting off the onset of macular degeneration as long as possible.

Of all the senses, eyesight is one of the most precious – do everything possible to ensure better vision naturally, as long as is possible.

To your better eyesight,

Roshmi & Jay
http://www.youngagainforever.com
The Natural Health Website

Achieving the absolute perfect smile may seem like a harmless preoccupation, but the condition has been termed an obssessive, compulsive disorder termed ‘Smilorexia’. I have to confess, the first time I heard the term I did smile very broadly! But jokes apart, if you spend hours agonizing about how to achieve the dentistry that could rival a red-carpet celebrity’s, its possible that you have been afflicted with ’smilorexia’.

Thinking of going in for cosmetic dentistry just so you can flash your pearlies at all and sundry, and even when you’d rather be scowling? You have smilorexia without doubt. But, a small suggestion here - why think about such extreme solutions as recaps, transplants etc? Try tooth soap first. Consider cosmetic dentistry only if tooth soap does not work for you.  I haven’t , till date, been disappointed with the whitening and gum strengthening effects of tooth soap, but then I’m realistic enough not to aspire to Farah Fawcett’s smile. And I don’t seem to have smilorexia.

Roshmi

Tooth Soap for the perfect smile,