Tag: Vegetables

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Health Lite Blogs

Switching to Veggies Can Cut Grocery Emissions by 26%

Dr Gaines stressed the “need to put emissions information onto product labels”. Importantly, she said that the swapping may also prove to be healthy and nutritious…reports Asian Lite News

Switching meat with more vegetables and fruits may help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from household groceries by more than a quarter (26 per cent), according to a new study on Tuesday. 

In the study, researchers from the George Institute for Global Health and Imperial College London showed that swapping a frozen meat lasagne for a vegetarian option could push the reduction to as much as 71 per cent.

“Dietary habits need to change significantly if we are to meet global emissions targets, particularly in high-income countries like Australia, the UK, and the US,” lead author and epidemiologist Dr Allison Gaines said.

However, she lamented that even though many people “are willing to make more sustainable food choices”, they “lack reliable information to identify the more environmentally friendly options”.

For the study, published in the journal Nature Food, the team calculated the projected emissions of annual grocery purchases from 7,000 Australian households using information on ingredients, weights, and production life cycles. The results showed that making switches within the same sub-categories of foods could lead to emission reductions of 26 per cent in Australia, equivalent to taking over 1.9 million cars off the road.

Dr Gaines stressed the “need to put emissions information onto product labels”. Importantly, she said that the swapping may also prove to be healthy and nutritious.

In the study, the team found that meat products led to almost half (49 per cent) of all greenhouse gas emissions, but only 11 per cent of total purchases. Conversely, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and legumes represented one quarter (25 per cent) of all purchases, but were responsible for just 5 per cent of emissions.

“We found swapping would lead to a slight reduction in the proportion of ultra-processed foods purchased, which is a positive outcome because they’re generally less healthy,” Dr Gaines said.

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Health Lite Blogs

Organic vegetables are alive

Numerous studies have revealed that diets rich in freshly harvested fruits and vegetables help avoid several fatal diseases and are also beneficial to the skin and hair…reports N. LOTHUNGBENI HUMTSOE

As more people become cognizant of what they buy and put on their plates, there is a growing demand for farm-fresh vegetables and healthy alternatives. Organic vegetables are alive, as opposed to conventional vegetables, which are waxed and sprayed with chemicals, effectively mummifying them. Making chemical-free fresh veggies commercially feasible may sound unreasonable, but this does exist in the market.

Food not only nourishes our bodies but also our minds and souls. A toxin-free diet is the simplest approach to a healthy body and a happy mind. That’s why treating nature the way it should be treated, homegrown e-commerce platforms are allowing us to give the freshest produce possible, free of harmful pesticides and chemicals that disrupt our physical and mental wellness.

The process that these organic sources follow is, that they handpick farm-fresh vegetables from authentic and trusted aggregators who work with organic farmers and put them through their three-stage cleaning process to completely remove any pesticides and chemicals that may have been utilized. These vegetables have traveled from locally farmed fields across India and are rigorously checked in the warehouse before being delivered to customers’ doorsteps. The vegetables are then transported to our warehouses, where they are processed, graded, and packaged in various sizes.

“The safety of everyone involved in edobo’s delivery chain is our priority,” claims Ravi Jadhwani, the Founder & CEO of edobo, who aimed to get something new to the table for the public in a country like India, where there are numerous startups in every sector. He further explains, “We follow the Best Safety Standards, which includes mandatory temperature checks at warehouses, periodical cleansing of storage facilities, and UV-controlled sanitization and packaging of items.”

One significant advantage of using a UV light for disinfection is that it is chemical-free, which protects the staff, customers, and equipment from the potentially dangerous effects of certain chemicals. It successfully eliminates up to 99.9% of the most dangerous foodborne bacteria. This provides insurance not just against regions that may have been missed during routine cleaning, but also against areas that may not be easily disinfected with chemicals. UV-C successfully sterilizes and extends the shelf life of vegetables without compromising their structure or taste, demonstrating that it is a valuable option to chemical alternatives.

Numerous studies have revealed that diets rich in freshly harvested fruits and vegetables help avoid several fatal diseases and are also beneficial to the skin and hair. By opting for organic vegetables, we make a commitment to live sustainably for our world and ourselves. We take an extremely significant step toward safeguarding our families, our farmers, and our soils.

One-touch delivery is made possible by e-commerce platforms that offer organic vegetables by serving as a direct link to farmers. The vegetables are delivered straight from suppliers that employ sustainable farming methods and best practices to avoid using pesticides and other chemicals and to maintain the nutritious value of all the vegetables grown on their farms.

So, why wait? Order a basket of the choicest, chemical-free greens and leafies from the comfort of your home.

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India News Lite Blogs

Purvanchal emerging as hub of vegetable export

Besides, 532 metric tonnes of regional rice, including 12 metric tonnes of the famous black salt rice of Chandauli was exported to Qatar in December 2020…reports Asian Lite News.

The Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh is emerging as the export hub for vegetables.

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, huge consignments of fresh green vegetables were flown from Purvanchal to the Gulf countries, for the second time in less than two years, benefitting farmers substantially in terms of income.

According to a state government spokesperson, an Air India Express’ aircraft carrying two metric tonnes of vegetables from Prayagraj, Bhadohi and Varanasi took off from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport to reach Dubai and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Regional in-charge of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), C.B. Singh, said: “The vegetables being exported include okra, sweet gourd, pointed gourd, ivy gourd and elephant foot yam (jimikand).

“Last year, three metric tonnes of langda mangoes were flown to London from Varanasi in April and over one metric tonnes in June. We also exported nearly three metric tonnes of green chili to Dubai in May and black salt rice to the UK, Qatar and the UAE.”

Furthermore, exporters also purchased 80 metric tonnes of black salt rice from farmers of Chandauli district, popularly known as the ‘rice bowl’ of Uttar Pradesh, with the help of APEDA in June 2020.

Around Rs 68 lakhs raised from the export of the rice was directly transferred to the bank accounts of 152 farmers.

Besides, 532 metric tonnes of regional rice, including 12 metric tonnes of the famous black salt rice of Chandauli was exported to Qatar in December 2020.

Oman’s Global Logistics Group also visited Varanasi in order to boost exports.

Farmers are now exporting food items directly without the involvement of middlemen which is bringing them more financial benefits while ensuring transparency in the system. They are exporting their farm produce through the Farmer Producer Organization (FPO).

The FPO also facilitates training of the farmers and ensures availability of good seeds and fertilisers to them. In times of calamity and natural disasters, they also are provided with adequate compensation.

To increase the income of farmers significantly, export licences are being given to more and more FPOs since July 2020.

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Food Lite Blogs

Magic foods to relieve stress

Spinach is a nutritious leafy green vegetable high in calcium, B-vitamins, iron, and antioxidants. One of the foods that can help with anxiety is spinach…writes Puja Gupta.

There are a number of reasons to get stressed in daily life. A healthy diet, exercise, yoga, meditation, listening to music, or engaging in a hobby are all known stress-reduction strategies. Vitamins are an essential component in your quest for perfect glowing skin, as well as numerous other health benefits. It boosts the immune system and increases the body’s ability to withstand stressful situations. Dietician Vidhi Chawla lists down a few vitamin-rich food items to include in our diet:

Oranges

Oranges, which are high in vitamin C, can help to lower stress hormones and strengthen the immune system. According to research on high blood pressure patients, increasing your Vitamin C intake can lower your blood pressure and levels of cortisol, or stress hormone.

Spinach

Spinach is a nutritious leafy green vegetable high in calcium, B-vitamins, iron, and antioxidants. One of the foods that can help with anxiety is spinach. Magnesium is found in 157 mg per cup of spinach, which is 40 per cent of your daily requirement. In fact, a lack of magnesium can cause headaches, fatigue, and stress-related symptoms. They are low in carbs, can be used as part of a weight-loss diet, and are beneficial to people with high blood pressure.


Eggs

Because of their high nutrient content, eggs are often referred to as nature’s multivitamin. One of the few naturally occurring sources of vitamin D is whole eggs. Whole eggs are high in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants, all of which are required for a healthy stress response. Whole eggs are especially high in choline, a nutrient found in high concentrations in only a few foods. Choline has been shown to be beneficial to brain health and may protect against stress.

Nuts

Nuts are high in nutrients, including B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. B vitamins are an essential part of a healthy diet and can help with stress reduction. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts may even aid in the reduction of blood pressure. Nuts and seeds are also high in magnesium, which is beneficial because magnesium has been linked to improved anxiety management.

Avocados

B vitamins are necessary for the health of our nerves and brain cells, and a B vitamin deficiency may cause anxiety. Avocados are high in B vitamins, which are known to help with stress relief. They’re also high in monounsaturated fat and potassium, both of which help to keep blood pressure down.

Blueberries

Blueberries may appear small, but they are high in antioxidants and vitamin C, making them effective stress relievers. Our bodies require vitamin C and antioxidants to repair and protect cells when we are stressed. While blueberries are delicious on their own (try freezing them for a cold berry snack), there’s no better way to boost the nutrition in a serving of yoghurt or high-fibre cereal than to add them to it.


Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb that can help you cope with physical and mental stress. Here’s a unique way to incorporate ashwagandha into your diet. Take a 1 teaspoon of ashwagandha powder in ghee and mix in some date sugar, honey, jaggery, or coconut sugar (any one of these sweetening ingredients). Consume the mixture approximately 20 minutes before breakfast or later in the day with a cup of milk. If stress is making it difficult to sleep, it is best to take ashwagandha at night as it can help induce sleep. Ashwagandha has also been linked to lower cortisol levels in the morning.

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