Why Should You Eat Organic Cereals?

What has made cereals enter the mainstream of food and why is every food marketer jumping on the bandwagon? There must be something significant that is making every food category vying to include this element in some form or the other. From products made for kids to items intended for adults hitting the gym or sports-ring, they are a part of every package today.

The interesting twist is that food marketers in our households have been selling us this power-source for many years, but we have not been listening carefully.

• Cereals like Upma, Poha provide not only taste but also immense health benefits. Nowadays you can access ready to cook Upma mix.
• Foxtail Millets Upma Mix: Regular use of foxtail is a good guard against coronary diseases and reduces chances of cardiac arrest and fatalities. Being a diabetic friendly food, it contains a fair amount of phenolic (a strong anti-oxidant) used to get rid of toxins in the body. People who cannot consume wheat are left with very few options as most of the products in the market like biscuits, bakery items like bread, etc., are made from Wheat. As a gluten free diet, foxtail millet is a perfect food for people suffering from Celiac, promoting digestion, increases energy levels and helping in maintaining cholesterol levels.
• Sooji Rava Upma Mix: Sooji is very good for diabetics or those who wish to lose weight. Sooji is made from the durum wheat and is slow to digest, thus sustaining energy for a longer period of time.
• Wheat Daliya Upma Mix:  An excellent source of dietary fiber, Daliya is one of the best alternatives to wheat. It aids in weight loss, diabetes and prevents constipation. It is also used as a weaning food, to transition babies from breast milk to semi-solid food. Being rich in proteins it helps in building muscles.   
• Cereals need not be equated to Oats. Cereals like puffed paddy are simply store-houses of health. When one has to control weight without starving too much and without letting the stomach run empty, the best way is to eat a good organic cereal like puffed paddy, also called nel pori or aralu in the local language. It is a very good source of potassium, zinc, copper, thiamin, niacin, Vitamin B6 pantothenic acid, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and manganese. The presence of magnesium aids in enzyme function, energy boosters, strengthening heart muscles, preventing strokes and avoiding heart attacks. Magnesium is also linked to treatment of depression. You can make Bhel Puri with this puffed paddy.  

Many recipes that are usually sacrificed by weight-conscious people can be easily remade with cereals like Wheat Daliya, Foxtail Millets, Rava Sooji and Puffed Paddy.

It is an added advantage when the cereals are organic. Organic crops are not exposed to synthetic pesticides, GMOs, and fertilizers that are petroleum-based or sewage sludge-based. Organic farming practices include the usage of natural fertilizers such as compost and manure to feed soil and plants. Crop rotation, mulching and tilling are used to control weeds, while insects are controlled using natural methods such as traps and birds.

Enjoy the comfort of organic cereals and the health that accompanies them.

3 HEALTHY BREAKFASTS THAT MAKE YOUR BUSY MORNINGS DELICIOUS

We all know that mornings are breathlessly busy. The plans made up on the night before somehow fail either because of the missing vegetables or the clock ticking way too fast. And, this is how the ready-mix breakfasts have entered our lives. They take just a few minutes to prepare, but the point everyone misses is that they are designed to be cheap, tasty and non-perishable, but not healthy. Named as Convenience Foods, they use corn syrup to make a product taste sweet, use salt to add flavor and the trans-fat usually present in these products make them non-perishable. It’s doesn’t take a lot of logic to conclude that  of these ingredients are undoubtedly inorganic and unhealthy.

Everyone is slowly realizing the options of healthy foods, thanks to the internet. Don’t fall behind others in terms of health-consciousness. New varieties of breakfast cereals are now replacing the shelves of ready-made mixes. A few healthy, organic breakfast cereals that fall under the category of ‘quickie food’ and are also health-boosters are here. One of these is Upma, which is a South-Indian favorite. These organic upma varieties are sure to enthrall your taste-buds:

Sooji Rawa Upma Mix
Sooji is a coarsely ground durum wheat, a variety of hard wheat. It has a great taste and a crunchy texture. It has a low glycemic index (GI) and is an ideal food that helps with weight loss. One of the best features of Sooji is that it is low on fat and high on carbohydrates. It is also an energy-booster, which makes an ideal breakfast for an active day. It has a good combination of vital vitamins, minerals making it a balanced diet. Most, importantly, it boosts the immunity system. A morning could never get any better when combined a SoojiRawa Upma Mix with a steaming coffee.

Wheat Daliya Upma Mix
Daliya is cracked/broken wheat obtained by milling whole kernels roughly. It is usually the next step after its clean-up and husking and hence it is considered as just another form of wheat with all nutrients intact. A cup of Wheat DaliyaUpma, everyday lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol and high blood pressure by nearly about 21 percent. Daliya is said to have the essential minerals that activate enzymes in our body. So, it is a great source to prevent the attack of type 2 diabetes by 30 percent. Try Daliya Upma with a dollop of coconut chutney, and see it how it melts in your mouth.

Foxtail Millets Upma Mix

Foxtail Millets is the showstopper among all the healthy foods. It has all the qualities of above mentioned grains. Additionally it is known to reduce the effects of migraine and heart attack. It has a special mineral that calms the mood of the consumer. It covers for the missing proteins in a vegetarian’s diet. Foxtail Millets is a superfood and a smart carb with lots of fiber and fewer sugars. Foxtail Millets Upma with organic green tea as a side drink would make your day perfect.

Organic ready-mix breakfast cereals are a boon for the this generation. All the ingredients are organically produced, processed and packed unlike the convenience foods, which completely shoves aside the concept of healthy food. Convenience foods are expensive, high in calories, fat, sugar and salt which are difficult to control once the standard levels are crossed. Choose the healthy way of life with healthy breakfast choices.