Preserving Food Grains

Are you tired of keeping your food grains free from insects? Food storage and preservation is the biggest challenge a housewife faces. Cereals and cereal products are one of the most important food items consumed worldwide. The biggest threat to food grains and dry foods is infestations which may be in the form of live insects or insect eggs. Bacteria are surface contaminants of food grains and the main spoilage organisms in grains are moulds.

It is very important to store and preserve food grains so that they are free from micro-organisms that can impact health. Sun drying is one of the oldest methods used from time immemorial for preserving food grains. Drying removes moisture from the food stuff and prevents spoilage of food. This method has been also used for preserving certain vegetables, fruits, meats, dried fish, shrimps, tamarind, papads etc.

Besides sun drying, here are other simple ways of storing and preserving food grains so that they remain fresh and do not lose healthy nutrients present in them.




Wheat:
Believe it or not, a simple match stick can become a savior of your wheat stock. Simply buy a pack of match sticks. Wind cotton thread around the match sticks. Cluster these together and put them in the wheat container. One such pack of 50 match sticks is enough for 20 kg wheat. Change this every three months to keep moths away from wheat.
Dried neem leaves added to wheat stock also keeps the worms away from wheat grains.

Rice:
We experience rice becoming infected with worms very fast. Here are two tips to keep worms at bay.
10 small pieces of camphor tied in a piece of cloth will be good enough to keep worms away from rice.
Boric powder mixed with rice will also keep it fresh and free from insects and worms. For long-term storage, put rice in containers that are clean and completely dry. Any trace of moisture or contamination can cause bacterial growth and spoilage of rice. Spread boric powder at the base. Mix boric powder with rice and store in the container. Sprinkle a little boric powder on the top layer of rice. Seal the container and make sure it is airtight. You may use candle wax to seal.

Tip: Store the containers in cool dry place away from sunlight.

Jowar (Sorghum):
Dried neem leaves can by handy in preserving jowar. Store the grain in air tight containers. Spread dried neem leaves at the base of the clean and dry container. Mix dried neem leaves in the grain and put jowar on the dried leaves base.
Before closing the lid of the container spread a few dried leaves at the top.
Red chillies can also be used for storing this grain. You will require 200 grams of dried red chillies for storing 20 kg Jowar.
Boric powder mixed with the grains can also be used to store the grains.

Pulses:
The method of drying pulses in the sun has been used for ages. Sundried pulses stay fresh and worm free. After drying in the sun cool the pulses before storing them in airtight containers.
If drying in the sun is not possible, you can put them in an open vessel or a heavy-bottom karahi and roast them on a slow fire. Stir continuously to avoid burning. The purpose is to remove moisture from the pulses. Cool the pulses before storing. Roasted daal will taste better when cooked.
Boric powder mixed with pulses can help them stay fresh and keep worms at bay. But remember to clean them well before cooking to remove any traces of boric powder.
Microwave the pulses for three four minutes, cool and store them.

Remember: Pulses that you are likely to use for sprouting should not be roasted in the microwave.

Beans:
Simply add a few dried chilli peppers to the dried beans and store in an airtight container. Red chillies will not flavour the dried beans but will definitely keep the pests away.
Add boric powder to the dried beans and mix well. This will keep the beans insect-free. Wash well before use.

Bajra:
Purchase bajra is small quantities as chances of getting spoilt are very high. Store in an airtight, clean and dry container and keep away from sunlight.
Add a few cloves to the stored grains to keep worms away.
Store with dried neem leaves to protect from insects.

Peanuts:
Mint leaves can be used for preserving peanuts.
If you are staying in a highly humid area, store them in the freezer. They will remain fresh for months.

Chick peas (Chhole):
It is often seen that chick peas get infested with worms very fast especially in the rainy season. The best way to store them is to keep them in an airtight container in the freezer. Mix boric powder before putting in the containers.
Before using wash well to remove boric powder.

Semolina (Suji):
Roasting semolina on a slow fire in a non-stick pan is the best way to protect semolina from insects. Cool it and store in an airtight container.
If you want to keep it fresh for months, put the container in the freezer.

Dalia (Broken wheat):
Simply roast it on slow fire in a heavy-bottomed vessel or in the microwave to prevent insect infestation. Cool and store in an airtight container

Life's Special Moments

Determination



Hope



Contemplation



True Love



Excitement



Security



Scary



Adventure



Contentment



Curiosity



Confusion



Honor



Accomplishment



Perseverance



Companionship



Caring



Relating



Loneliness



Tenacity



Friendship

11 Habits That Will Help You Live to 100

One of the biggest factors that determines how well you age is not your genes but how well you live.Not convinced? A study published in 2009 in the British Medical Journal of 20,000 British folks shows that you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.

While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Of course, getting to age 100 is enormously more likely if your parents did. Still, Thomas Perls, who studies the century-plus set at Boston University School of Medicine, believes that assuming you've sidestepped genes for truly fatal diseases like Huntington's, "there's nothing stopping you from living independently well into your 90s." Heck, if your parents and grandparents were heavy smokers, they might have died prematurely without ever reaching their true potential lifespan, so go ahead and shoot for those triple digits. Follow these 12 habits and check out Perls' lifetime risk calculator to see how long you can expect to live.

1. Don't Retire


"Evidence shows that in societies where people stop working abruptly, the incidence of obesity and chronic disease skyrockets after retirement,"says Luigi Ferrucci, director of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The Chianti region of Italy, which has a high percentage of centenarians, has a different take on leisure time. "After people retire from their jobs, they spend most of the day working on their little farm, cultivating grapes or vegetables," he says. "They're never really inactive." Farming isn't for you? Volunteer as a docent at your local art museum or join the Experience Corps, a program offered in 19 cities that places senior volunteers in urban public elementary schools for about 15 hours a week.

2. Floss Every Day


That may help keep your arteries healthy. A 2008 New York University study showed that daily flossing reduced the amount of gum-disease-causing bacteria in the mouth.This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, a major risk factor for heart disease. Other research has shown that those who have high amounts of bacteria in their mouth are more likely to have thickening in their arteries, another sign of heart disease."I really do think people should floss twice a day to get the biggest life expectancy benefits," says Perls.

3. Move Around


"Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists," says Jay Olshansky, a professor of medicine and aging researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "It's like the oil and lube job for your car. You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better." Study after study has documented the benefits of exercise to improve your mood, mental acuity, balance, muscle mass, and bones. "And the benefits kick in immediately after your first workout," Olshansky adds. Don't worry if you're not a gym rat. Those who see the biggest payoffs are the ones who go from doing nothing to simply walking around the neighborhood or local mall for about 30 minutes a day. Building muscle with resistance training is also ideal, but yoga classes can give you similar strength-training effects if you're not into weight lifting.

4. Eat a Fiber-Rich Cereal for Breakfast


Getting a serving of whole-grains, especially in the morning, appears to help older folks maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day, according to a recent study conducted by Ferrucci and his colleagues. "Those who do this have a lower incidence of diabetes, a known accelerator of aging," he says.

5. Get at Least Six Hours of Sleep Each Night


Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get more to add years to your life. "Sleep is one of the most important functions that our body uses to regulate and heal cells," says Ferrucci. "We've calculated that the minimum amount of sleep that older people need to get those healing REM phases is about six hours." Those who reach the century mark make sleep a top priority.

6. Consume Whole Foods, Not Supplements


Strong evidence suggests that people who have high blood levels of certain nutrients—selenium, beta-carotene, vitamins C and E—age much better and have a slower rate of cognitive decline. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that taking pills with these nutrients provides those anti-aging benefits. "There are more than 200 different carotenoids and 200 different flavonoids in a single tomato," points out Ferrucci, "and these chemicals can all have complex interactions that foster health beyond the single nutrients we know about like lycopene or vitamin C." Avoid nutrient-lacking white foods (breads, flour, sugar) and go for all those colorful fruits and vegetables and dark whole-grain breads and cerealswith their host of hidden nutrients.

7. Be Less Neurotic


It may work for Woody Allen, who infuses his worries with a healthy dose of humor, but the rest of us neurotics may want to find a new way to deal with stress. "We have a new study coming out that shows that centenarians tend not to internalize things or dwell on their troubles," says Perls. "They are great at rolling with the punches." If this inborn trait is hard to overcome, find better ways to manage when you're stressed:Yoga, exercise, meditation, tai chi, or just deep breathing for a few moments are all good. Ruminating, eating chips in front of the TV, binge drinking? Bad, very bad.

8. Live Like a Seventh Day Adventist


Americans who define themselves as Seventh Day Adventists have an average life expectancy of 89, about a decade longer than the average American. One of the basic tenets of the religion is that it's important to cherish the body that's on loan from God, which means no smoking, alcohol abuse, or overindulging in sweets. Followers typically stick to a vegetarian diet based on fruits, vegetables, beans, and nuts, and get plenty of exercise.They're also very focused on family and community.

9. Be a Creature of Habit


Centenarians tend to live by strict routines, says Olshansky, eating the same kind of diet and doing the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is another good habit to keep your body in the steady equilibrium that can be easily disrupted as you get on in years. "Your physiology becomes frailer when you get older," explains Ferrucci, "and it's harder for your body to bounce back if you, say, miss a few hours of sleep one night or drink too much alcohol." This can weaken immune defenses, leaving you more susceptible to circulating flu viruses or bacterial infections.

10. Stay Connected


Having regular social contacts with friends and loved ones is key to avoiding depression, which can lead to premature death, something that's particularly prevalent in elderly widows and widowers.Some psychologists even think that one of the biggest benefits elderly folks get from exercise the strong social interactions that come from walking with a buddy or taking a group exercise class. Having a daily connection with a close friend or family member gives older folks the added benefit of having someone watch their back. "They'll tell you if they think your memory is going or if you seem more withdrawn," says Perls, "and they might push you to see a doctor before you recognize that you need to see one yourself."

11. Be Conscientious

The strongest personality predictor of a long life is conscientiousness that is, being prudent, persistent, and well organized, according to The Longevity Project, coauthored by Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin. The book describes a study that followed 1,500 children for eight decades, collecting exhaustive details about their personal histories, health, activities, beliefs, attitudes, and families. The children who were prudent and dependable lived the longest, Friedman says, likely because conscientious types are more inclined to follow doctors' orders, take the right medicines at the right doses, and undergo routine checkups. They're also likelier to report happier marriages and more satisfying work lives than their less conscientious peers.

Best Foods for a Healthy Heart

Wherever you turn, you hear about problems of heart and cholesterol! What actually happens to your heart and why are so panicked about heart disease? Is there any natural way to keep your heart healthy and safe from the danger zone? Yes, you can, if you follow certain food tips to check your cholesterol and keep your heart normal in its functioning.



Try Soluble Fiber!

Soluble Fiber is very important in controlling the LDL cholesterol in your body. Oatmeal is the first food to occupy your dietary chart. It contains a lot of soluble fiber called Beta- glucan, which reduces the bad cholesterol in the body and regulates the heart's functioning. Along with this, you can try barley and beans, which are equally good in absorbing the bad cholesterol. You feel light and fit in the body to work fast and energetically. There is no room for saturated fat and your heart also feels healthy. Nuts such as walnuts and almonds are rich in fibrous contents and make way for a heart healthy diet for you.
A Hearty meal with Fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are abundantly rich in antioxidants and carve a healthy dietary life for you to make you feel safe and secure. You can give a big nod to fruits like apple, orange, blueberries, papayaand vegetables like carrots, asparagus, sweet potato, spinach and broccoli in your breakfast and lunch. You can feel the way they absorb the bad cholesterol and boost the good cholesterol levels. The heart doesn't struggle to pump the blood as there is no room for saturated fat diet and you make a life pattern smooth and hassle free. No emergencies and no fluctuations in your blood pressure levels.
Switch over to smart fats

Meat and eggs are high in saturated fat and make you plump and unfit for health, if you do not go in for a lot of exercise. Simpler fats can be the alternative as you find in fish and fish oil, which are packed with Omega 3 fatty acids. Say no to sweets, fried things and snacks which are full of trans fats. Include more of unsaturated fat items in your diet. Olive oil does wonders for your heart with its abundant monounsaturated fat. You can have it as the right substitute for vegetable oil and butter on your table and enjoy your meal at its best with the finest flavor the food renders. Let your meal be good and tasty as well. Take a lot of plant food like flax seeds and soy beans, which contain much of Omega 3 fatty acids. You may also take a glass of green tea to detoxicate your body in the morning and allow it to function normally without complication in the long run.
Prepare different heart healthy meals

You need not feel bad that your taste buds are prohibited and you lose half of the charm of your life. You can try different meal patterns, which are less in saturated fats and high in fibrous content. Why don't you try pumpkin ravioli, instead of the one with mutton? Instead of French fries, you can make sweet potato wedges. Brussels sprouts and hazelnuts can be there to decorate a little piece of meat and push your way for a sumptuous dish. Lots of salads with oranges, red onions and mint give a rich flavor and stomach filling effect.




In general, less of sugar, salt, fats and more of fiber, unsaturated fat and omega 3 fatty acid items pave way for a healthy heart meal and take your life from risk to safe domain in terms of health concerns. Avoid risk, feel brisk and work with energy with the help of smart fats

100 Ways To Keep Yourself Always Happy

1. Never put yourself last.

2. When you extend a helping hand to one person, be careful not to kick someone else in the teeth.

3. Always own a pair of old, faded jeans.

4. Count your blessings every day.

5. Acknowledge your successes along with your downfalls.

6. Burn the candle that has been in storage for the last two years.

7. Strive for progress, not perfection.

8. Remember, the voice telling you that you cannot do something is always lying.

9. At least once a day sit and do nothing.

10. Don't close your heart so tightly against life's pain that you shut out life's blessings.

11. Celebrate all your birthdays no matter how old you get.

12. Examine your life for limitations and ask yourself why you put them there.

13. Plant a tree, pull weeds, or get your hands dirty.

14. Diminish your wants instead of increasing your needs.

15. Cry when you feel like it.

16. Rejoice in other people's triumphs.

17. Don't wait for someone else to laugh or express joy.

18. Forgive yourself for any mistake you make, no matter how big or small.

19. Keep good company.

20. Never take a pill for a pain you need to feel.

21. Use your enthusiasm to put yourself in forward gear and give yourself a spark to move ahead.

22. Look in the eyes of the ones you love when you are talking to them.

23. Remember that one is a whole number.

24. Walk in a summer rain shower without an umbrella.

25. Do a kind deed for someone else.

26. Keep your eyes and ears open to get the messages you need from people and events in your daily life.

27. Be patient.

28. Eat something green.

29. Change what you can and leave the rest alone.

30. Walk hand and hand with truth.

31. Make laughter an d joy a greater part of your life than anger and grief.

32. Embrace solitude instead of running from it.

33. Be zealous, not jealous.

34. Forgive anyone you've been holding a grudge against.

35. Slow down and enjoy the present.

36. Walk in others' shoes before judging them.

37. Send yourself a kind message.

38. Remind yourself that the company you keep is a reflection of what you think of yourself.

39. Go on a picnic.

40. Accept your fears, no matter how crazy they seem.

41. Don't let other people's opinions shape who you are.

42. Say a prayer.

43. Never attribute your accomplishments to luck or chance.

44. Know when to say no.

45. Look at the positive side of negative situation.

46. Remember that you are a spiritual being in a physical body.

47. Avoid seeking out other people for constant approval, because it make them the master and you the slave.

48. Go fly a kite.

49. Avoid fads and bandwagons.

50. Accept the things you cannot change.

51. Look inside instead of outside yourself for answers to life's problems.

52. Remember that all feelings are okay.

53. Shield yourself from bad influences.

54. Stand up for what you believe in.

55. Respect the wishes of others when they say no.

56. Seize every moment and live it fully.

57. Give away or sell anything you haven't used in the past five years.

58. Never downgrade yourself.

59. Take responsibility for what you think, feel, and do.

60. Pamper yourself.

61. Never say or do anything abusive to a child.

62. Let yourself be God powered instead of flying solo.

63. Volunteer to help someone in need.

64. Refrain from overindulging in food, drink, and work

65. Finish unfinished business.

66. Be spontaneous.

67. Find a constructive outlet for your anger.

68. Think about abundance instead of lack, because whatever you think about expands.

69. Think of yourself as a survivor, not a victim.

70. Cuddle an animal.

71. Be open to life.

72. See success as something you already have, not something you must attain.

73. Experience the splendor and awe of a sunset.

74. When you score a base hit, don't wish it were a home run.

75. Learn to be in the present moment.

76. Instead of believing in miracles, depend on them.

77. Take a child to the circus.

78. Change your attitude and your whole life will change.

79. Never turn your power over to another person.

80. When your heart is at odds with your head, follow your heart.

81. Always remember that the past is gone forever and the future never comes.

82. Live your life according to what is right for you.

83. Acknowledge your imperfections.

84. Plant a tree and watch it grow.

85. See "friend" instead of "enemy" on the face of strangers.

86. Watch an army of ants build their houses and cities and carry food ten times their weight.

87. Believe in something bigger than yourself.

88. Let the playful child within you come out.

89. Make haste slowly.

90. Work through your problems step by step and one day at a time.

91. Accept compliments from others so you can see the truth about yourself.

92. Sit on the lawn without worrying about grass stains.

93. Don't condemn yourself for your imperfections.

94. Do a humility check periodically by loving the truth about yourself.

95. Tell someone you appreciate them.

96. Never live your life according to what is right for someone else.

97. Talk less and listen more.

98. Admit your wrongdoing and forgive yourself for it.

99. Thrive on inner peace instead of on crises.

100. Affirm all the good things about yourself.

Good Ideas

Toilet paper rolls used to organize wires

Turning Credit cards into guitar picks to

Covering doors with old photo negatives

Lanterns with burned oil lamps

Adapting packaging CDs as pots donuts 

Fill a box with chopsticks and has a block of knives multipurpose 

Converting old frames on trays 

Reusing bottles of ketchup as a tube of pancakes 

Using clips to organize your cables 

Transforming old keys on wall hooks 

Reusing old briefcase as drugstore 

Using the old tower computer as mailbox 

Use marbles to plug holes in fences 

Reusing old boxes of Kleenex as dispensers bag plastic 

Turning an old door frame on the coffee table 

Converting pinboard in a jewelry organizer 

Using a post-it like dust collector in drilling 

Adapting a catalog card as a mini-bar 

Using old pieces of Lego to support key 

Transformed into a shopping cart in a wheelchair 

Converting old suitcases dumb created in 

Transforming mugs, bottles and glasses on old fixtures 

Using lighters and candles on cakes stand 

Using a paper clip as a keychain and money clip

Using a tube with valves such as hanger 

Using old books as shelves 

Reusing boxes of old cassette tapes as cartons 

Leveraging packaging CDs to store and organize cables 

Transforming an old bicycle on a bathroom counter 

Converting a fridge in a TV stand and storage unit 

Transforming old kitchen utensils on wall hooks 

Leveraging a box of wine as old shoe 

Using the hooks bathroom curtains as purse hangers 

Transforming old suitcases into folders 

Leveraging rackets as mirrors 

Using corners of old pictures as tiles 

Transforming an old door into a frame for mirror 

Leveraging a tower of paper tapes as 

Transforming an old bathtub on a couch 

Use frisbees to strengthen disposable plates 

Adapting old barrels on a battery 

Using packages of sweets to prevent dripping ice cream 

sing a shoe rack to organize the World Cup

Making a chair snowboards old 

Using old books to create a counter 

Transforming box products on a conveyor condiment 

Turning a chair into a shelf and towel 

Using a tray of cakes as a jewelry organizer 

Using glass to keep the salad 

Transforming an old piano in a water fountain outdoors