Amidst the rich palette of <keyword id="19920824" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="north-india" source="keywords">North India</keyword>'s culinary legacy, where each dish tells a story of tradition and taste, food reigns as a revered art form. From the fiery allure of Chole Bhature to the velvety richness of Dal Makhani, every bite is a symphony of flavours that tantalises the senses and leaves an indelible mark on the palate. Yet, amidst this gastronomic paradise, a recent dietary study has uncovered a sobering truth that lurks beneath the delectable surface. Focused on sodium, potassium, phosphorus and <keyword id="2955085" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="protein-intake" source="Orion">protein intake</keyword>, the study delved into the dietary habits of North Indian populations, shedding light on the risks of prevalent <keyword id="473390" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="non-communicable-diseases" source="Orion">non-communicable diseases</keyword> such as hypertension, cardiovascular issues and chronic kidney disease. Over 400 adult participants, including both healthy individuals and those with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD), were meticulously analysed using 24-hour urinary excretion analysis. This method provided precise insights, avoiding the inaccuracies often associated with dietary recall. The analysis uncovered unsettling trends: protein consumption falling below the recommended dietary allowance, <keyword id="16922798" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="excessive-salt" source="Orion">excessive salt</keyword> consumption far beyond recommended levels and <keyword id="21123602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inadequate-potassium" source="Orion">inadequate potassium</keyword> intake. The latter two are particularly linked with the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. These findings underscore the necessity for optimal nutrient intake to maintain cardiovascular and kidney health. They also stress the urgency for personalised dietary interventions to mitigate the risks of prevalent non-communicable diseases. Emphasising the need for targeted interventions to address the alarming dietary patterns, Prof. Vivekanand Jha, lead researcher and Executive Director at The George Institute for Global Health, India, said: “A poor nutritious diet is a major risk element for non-communicable diseases (NCD), which are of considerable public health concern. “In India, people eat different foods, so it is important to know exactly what nutrients they are getting to help prevent and manage these diseases. The high salt intake and low potassium intake point to the need to develop interventions targeted to individuals and societies.” In combating the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, researchers have advocated for multifaceted strategies. These include enhanced food labelling to empower healthier choices, reducing salt content in processed foods, and promoting the consumption of potassium-rich fruits and vegetables. In embracing an informed and holistic approach to dining, where taste and nutrition harmonise, the populations can not only savour the essence of North Indian cuisine, but also nurture their well-being with every delectable bite. The study was published in the journal <keyword id="21002179" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="frontiers-in-nutrition" source="keywords">Frontiers in Nutrition</keyword> and can be accessed <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2024.1312581/full">here</a>.

Consuming excessive salt and inadequate potassium, protein is making North Indians prone to life-threatening diseases: Study

Protein is often called the building block of life, and for good reason. It's a crucial nutrient that plays a pivotal role in maintaining and repairing our bodies. In a country as diverse as India, the culinary landscape offers a treasure trove of high-protein dishes that are not only delicious but also nutritious. This article explores the importance of protein, how to consume it effectively, and presents a delectable selection of <keyword id="730552" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-dishes" source="Orion">Indian dishes</keyword> packed with high protein to keep you in good health and satisfy your taste buds. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The Importance of Protein" comment="subhead" text="The Importance of Protein">The Importance of Protein</cmsannotation> Proteins are essential for the growth and repair of tissues, the production of enzymes, and the formation of hormones in the body. They are the key players in maintaining muscle mass, healthy skin, hair, and nails. Additionally, protein aids in the synthesis of antibodies, bolstering our immune system. For those aiming to shed a few pounds, protein can also help with weight management by promoting a sense of fullness, reducing cravings, and boosting metabolism. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Consuming Protein Effectively" comment="subhead" text="Consuming Protein Effectively">Consuming Protein Effectively</cmsannotation> While protein is crucial for overall well-being, it's equally important to consume it in a balanced and sustainable manner. Here are some tips to make the most of your protein intake: Diverse Sources: Variety is the spice of life. Include various protein sources in your diet, such as lean meats, dairy, legumes, and plant-based proteins like tofu and tempeh. Portion Control: Balance is the key. Be mindful of portion sizes to avoid excessive calorie intake, particularly from high-fat proteins. Hydration: Adequate water intake is vital for protein digestion and absorption. Make sure to drink enough fluids throughout the day. Balanced Diet: Don't focus solely on protein; ensure a balanced diet with sufficient fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Cooking Methods: Opt for healthy cooking methods like grilling, roasting, steaming, or boiling instead of frying. Now, let's explore some of the <keyword id="14746727" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Protein-rich-Indian-dishes" source="Orion">protein-rich Indian dishes</keyword> that not only offer a culinary journey but also a nutrient-packed one: <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="High-Protein Indian Dishes:" comment="subhead" text="High-Protein Indian Dishes:">High-Protein Indian Dishes:</cmsannotation> Tandoori Chicken: This popular North Indian dish involves marinating chicken in yogurt and a blend of spices, then roasting it in a tandoor (clay oven). It's a lean source of protein and packed with flavor. Chana Masala: A vegetarian favorite, chana masala features chickpeas cooked in a flavorful tomato-based gravy with spices. Chickpeas are an excellent source of plant-based protein. Palak Paneer: A classic Indian dish, palak paneer combines soft cottage cheese (paneer) with a creamy spinach (palak) sauce. Paneer is a protein powerhouse. Soya Chaap: Soya chaap is made from soy protein and is a perfect substitute for meat. It's often marinated and grilled, creating a savory and high-protein delicacy. Mutton Rogan Josh: This Kashmiri specialty features tender pieces of mutton slow-cooked in a rich and aromatic gravy. It's a delectable way to enjoy animal protein. Masoor Dal: Lentils, especially red or brown masoor dal, are a staple in Indian households. They are rich in protein and can be prepared in various styles. Egg Curry: Eggs are a versatile source of high-quality protein. Egg curry, prepared in various regional styles, is a favorite among non-vegetarians. Quinoa Biryani: For those looking for a healthy twist, quinoa biryani is a protein-packed alternative to traditional rice-based biryani. It's both nutritious and flavorful. Tofu Tikka Masala: Tofu, a plant-based protein source, is marinated, roasted, and served in a luscious tikka masala sauce. It's a protein-packed delight for vegetarians. Fish Curry: India's vast coastline offers an abundance of seafood. Fish curry, prepared in different regional styles, is a delicious way to enjoy marine protein. Protein is a vital component of our daily diet, and in a country as diverse as India, it's celebrated through a multitude of mouthwatering dishes. From tandoori chicken to lentil-based dal, these high-protein Indian delicacies not only tantalize your taste buds but also provide the essential nutrients your body needs. So, as you embark on a culinary journey through India, don't forget to savor these protein-rich dishes that not only fuel your health but also nourish your soul. Bon appétit! Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/food/webstories/10-best-foods-for-vitamin-c/slidelist/104799205.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">10 foods that are nature's best source of vitamin C</a>

Protein-rich Indian dishes: Fuel Your health and palate

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Ayurveda is a traditional Indian medical practice dating back 5,000 years.</li><li>Ayurveda is growing in popularity among American <keyword id="12046488" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wellness" source="Orion">wellness</keyword> celebrities, and demand for its services could reach $6 billion by 2026.</li></ul>The wellness industry is becoming inundated with products marketed as having roots in Ayurveda, a traditional medical practice originated and established in Indian.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/kourtney-kardashian-recently-tried-a-sex-fast-and-said-it-felt-crazy-to-forego-orgasms-but-it-made-everything-better-in-the-long-run/articleshow/89978695.cms">Kourtney Kardashian</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/gwyneth-paltrow-shares-lockdown-wellness-routine-gemstone-mat-sex-oil-2020-7">Gwyneth Paltrow</a> have said they practiced certain Ayurvedic treatments, including a multi-day cleanse and eating foods meant to restore the body's imbalances. The two sell products linked to Ayurvedic <keyword id="12037532" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="medicine" source="Orion">medicine</keyword> — including a <a href="https://shop.poosh.com/products/sustainable-ayurvedic-oral-care-set">tongue scraper</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reviews/out?u=https%3A%2F%2Fgoop.com%2Fwellness%2Fhealth%2Fmetabolism-boosting-superpowder%2F">basil supplements</a> — on their respective wellness sites, Poosh and Goop.American celebrities bringing the practice to their audiences depicts the growing demand for Ayurvedic treatments and services. French market research firm <a href="https://www.reportlinker.com/p06208015/Global-Ayurveda-Market.html?utm_source=GNW">ReportLinker</a> estimates the global Ayurveda market <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/now/global-ayurveda-market-expected-grow-110300562.html">could grow by $6.81 billion</a> between 2022 and 2026. The World <keyword id="11894571" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health" source="Orion">Health</keyword> Organization announced in 2020 plans for a <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-to-set-up-centre-for-traditional-medicine-in-india/article33091388.ece">global center</a> dedicated to studying and teaching Ayurveda in <keyword id="11892747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>.According to two practitioners who obtained Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery degrees from schools in India, interest in Ayurveda has ballooned in the last decade, but misconceptions about the practice remain widespread in the US.Here's what you need to know about the practice:<h2>The two words that underpin Ayurvedic principles, and what they mean</h2>Ayurveda is a traditional Indian medicine practice that dates back 5,000 years. The main principle of Ayurveda is restoring a person's prakruti, or their body's original state at the time of birth, said <a href="https://www.coloradoayurveda.org/bharat-vaidya.html">Dr. Bharat Vaidya</a>, a Colorado-based practitioner with both a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery degree from India and a medical degree from Catholic University in Belgium. Vaidya said a person's prakruti can become unbalanced by unhealthy diet and <keyword id="11893304" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="lifestyle" source="Orion">lifestyle</keyword> choices. The Ayurvedic doctor's job is to locate where the imbalances lie and offer treatments bring the body back to its original state.Ayurveda views human beings as a microcosm of the universe, said <a href="https://ayurvedaforhealing.com/aboutus/">Ashlesha Raut</a>, an Illinois-based practitioner with a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery who has served as an executive on the <a href="https://www.aapna.org/">Association of Ayurvedic Practitioners of North America</a>.Raut said the framework of viewing humans as part of the universe means the elements we use to analyze the outside environment — fire, wind, and water — should be applied internally to humans. The "bioenergies," or the elements of fire, wind, and water that exist within the body, are called doshas.In Ayurveda, doshas comprise a person's entire physiology. "As you move, whatever happens to your body is because of these three doshas, and that is the whole basis of Ayurveda," Raut said.An Ayurvedic doctor's job is to study their patient's doshas and determine which ones are out of alignment, causing an imbalanced prakruti. The Ayurvedic doctor restores the balance by prescribing herbal remedies and changes to diet and lifestyle.Vaidya said modern medicine has added context to Ayurvedic's reliance on diet and lifestyle treatments. For example, evidence that eating poorly disrupts the <a href="https://www.insider.com/microbiome-based-drugs-in-development-seres-second-genome-2018-2">microbiome</a>, or the assortment of microorganisms that live in our gut, contributes to our understand of balance in the body. <keyword id="12602488" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="gut-bacteria" source="Orion">Gut bacteria</keyword> manufactures most of the body's <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-increase-serotonin">serotonin</a>, a chemical that aids in motor skills, cognition, mood, healing, and a variety of other functions. He also pointed to the fact that studies have repeatedly shown eating more vegetables and exercising can <a href="https://www.insider.com/plant-based-diet">prevent against diseases</a> and <a href="https://www.insider.com/less-exercise-linked-to-higher-risk-of-depression-anxiety-study-2020-11">improve mental wellbeing</a>."Restoration of the balance of mind and body is the key line of treatment in Ayurveda," Vaidya said.<h2>Ayurvedic doctors have adapted to work within Western medicine</h2>Raut said she assess a patient by observing their body and emotions by interviewing them during an initial consultation. She then runs physical tests to check a patient's pulse, tongue, nails, skin, facial expressions to determine the body's imbalances.After getting an assessment from the patient, Ayurvedic doctors will suggest changes to their diet, lifestyle, and "thought process," Vaidya said. Many vaidyas, or Ayurvedic doctors, practicing in the US work within allopathic medicine, meaning they do not ask patients discontinue using pharmaceutical drugs and other modern treatments, Vaidya said. He said he makes recommendations within Western diets and does not tell his patients to stop eating meat, even though traditional Ayurveda suggests following a <keyword id="13368749" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="vegetarian-diet" source="Orion">vegetarian diet</keyword>.<h2>Ayurveda is not religious</h2>Furthermore, Vaidya said Ayurveda is not bound to any religion, and he treats clients of many different faiths.Raut said a common misconception about Ayurveda is that it's a "folk medicine," which implies something passed on by word of mouth. Ayurvedic doctors have documented their practices for centuries, she said, and written their findings in reference books.Raut said people who have obtained a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from an accredited school in South Asia must spend eight to 10 years after graduating high school to learn the entire curriculum. After graduating, Raut then spent years in residency learning from other Ayurvedic doctors."One has to understand that this is a complete, defined science," Raut said. "People many times just think, 'Oh, it's some folk medicine from India.' It is really not like that."

Ayurvedic medicine is taking the wellness industry by storm. Here's what you need to know about the traditional Indian practice.

<ul><li>This <keyword id="51518" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="world-heart-day" source="Orion">World Heart Day</keyword>, <keyword id="242406" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="dhara" source="Orion">Dhara</keyword> urges the youth to take care of their health. </li><li>The ad is conceptualised by <keyword id="2849281" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ddb-mudra-north" source="Orion">DDB Mudra North</keyword>. </li></ul>Dhara has rolled out a digital film on the occasion of World Heart Day 2021, advocating the importance of heart health, especially amongst young Indians under the age of 40 years. The digital film artfully highlights the fact that today’s adults, specially under the age of 40 years, are vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases owing to the varied inconsistencies settling in modern day lifestyles. The digital film by Dhara edible oils takes the leap from its latest brand proposition of ‘Zara Sa Badlaav’, with the essence of bringing a healthy positive change in one’s daily routine. The film subtly points out the urgent need for physical exercise, reduced stress and enhancing the intake of oryzanol in daily diet as key to heart health. The film also shares an alarming message that 25% of heart attacks in Indian men occur under 40*, which needs more awareness amongst masses. Dhara’s digital film features famed actor <keyword id="201000" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shishir-sharma" source="Orion">Shishir Sharma</keyword>, who was also featured in Dhara’s popular ‘Jalebi ad’. <div type="Youtube" id="pHGWN_yzqec" title="Dil Ka Khayal With Dhara" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pHGWN_yzqec/mqdefault.jpg"></div> Elaborating on the initiative, Dinesh Agrawal, Business Head – Dhara, Mother Dairy Fruit &amp; Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. said, “The modern-day course of life has inflicted various inconsistencies in our lifestyle and the events of the past two years have unfortunately compounded it. Brand Dhara has always endeavoured and supported healthy lifestyle practices such as usage of oil in moderation and adopting routine of physical exercise. Through this film, we aim to spread awareness amongst our current and future nation-builders to have a healthy lifestyle with due attention to heart health. We are really glad to associate with an artist who made the brand popular in its initial days and together, we hope that our message will reach out to the desired audience, inspiring them to be more active to lead a healthy lifestyle.” The film opens with a frame featuring an active and fit senior citizen father (Shishir Sharma) landing at his regular heart clinic with his son. Usually, he has been visiting the clinic all alone for over 20 years and is well versed with the flow around. While the son who has accompanied his father for the first time, tries to lend a helping hand to his father for either getting down from the vehicle or to even use a wheelchair for movement, the father mentions that he has been visiting the clinic for years and is well aware of the routine including the Doctor’s regular advice. The frame then features the duo sitting outside the Doctor’s room, and then there is call from the nurse for Mr. Shastri. Both father and son look at each other and his father gestures the younger Mr. Shastri to go inside. And in a surprise to viewers, this time his 32-year-old son undergoes a consultation. The frame then lays out a super mentioning “25% of heart attacks in Indian men occur under 40*”, while the voice over stresses on having a healthy heart and advise viewers to make a shift in routine by doing exercise, reducing stress and further increasing the intake of oryzanol in their diets. The film towards the end also showcases Dhara Refined Ricebran Oil, which has gamma oryzanol, a natural antioxidant that improves HDL/LDL ratio &amp; lowers bad cholesterol &amp; supports heart health. Commenting on the digital video, Vineet Kindra, Sr. Vice President &amp; Business Partner, DDB Mudra North said, “Contrary to general perception, people under 40 are extremely vulnerable to heart diseases. We felt that World Heart Day is the right occasion for the brand to ask people to carry out small changes in their lifestyle and oil usage for better heart health. With “Zara Sa Badlaav” people can work towards a healthy heart.”

On World Heart Day, Dhara puts the spotlight on importance of heart health amongst young Indians

<ul><li>Nutrition expert Dr. <keyword id="4449519" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="nandita-iyer">Nandita Iyer</keyword> shares her views on what the term ‘<keyword id="1695225" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Superfood">superfood</keyword>’ actually means, and whether we need to indulge in the trend or not. </li><li>Any food that has a high proportion of one or more of these nutrients — such as vitamins, minerals or antioxidants — qualifies to be known as a superfood</li><li>"If you look at Indian superfoods, something like <keyword id="6400986" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="amla">amla</keyword> clearly tops the list because if blueberries are topping every international listicle on superfoods, amla has fifty times the antioxidant capacity of blueberries." - Dr. Nandita Iyer </li></ul> From <keyword id="55635" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Turmeric">turmeric</keyword> to <keyword id="6446946" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ghee">ghee</keyword>, Indians often tend to undervalue their historic possessions, but the moment it starts making waves abroad, we are more than willing to embrace something that was available to us all along. And strangely enough, some also resort to splurging copious amounts of money on imported fruits, vegetables, seeds, oils and whatnot while ignoring the real gems our land provides us. Business Insider spoke to nutrition expert Dr. Nandita Iyer who, after her first book — The Everyday Healthy Vegetarian — is set to launch her next book Everyday Superfoods in March, this year. She shares her views on what the term ‘superfood’ actually means, and whether we need to indulge in the trend or not. <div type="Video" msid="81211869" hostid="261" title="Dr. Nandita Iyer weighs in on how Indian cuisine is and always has been packed with 'superfoods'" dataSource="BUSINESSINSIDER" thumbUrl="https://denmark.timesinternet.in/cmslite/api/app/images.jpg?msid=81211869"></div> In her book, she has a section on 'Superfood Compendium' in which she lists out 39 of the most potent superfoods grown in India. These include: <div type="image" title="Superfoods" msid="81242013" hostid="261"></div> <div type="image" title="Indian superfoods" msid="81241421" hostid="261"></div> Edited excerpts of the conversation with Dr. Nandita Iyer follow: What is your definition of a superfood? When I was researching my book Everyday Superfoods, the first question that came to my mind is, how did this word come into being? And what I discovered was quite funny. The first-ever recorded usage of this word was in a Jamaican newspaper, and it was actually a reference to a wine brand — they just got creative. And the second known instance was in 1949, where another Canadian newspaper was advertising a muffin using the word superfood. So I think that the whole thing of using this term for marketing is definitely not a new thing because even before the term started being used in its true sense of the word, it was actually being used by brands. The definition of a superfood is pretty simple — it is any food that is nutrient-dense. Any food that has a high proportion of one or more of these nutrients — such as vitamins, minerals or antioxidants — qualifies to be known as a superfood, which is the well-accepted definition in the scientific community. Some believe it is just a marketing gimmick. Would you say otherwise? A true superfood will definitely have health benefits that are good for general health and boosting immunity. But to loosely use this term for processed goods, packaged foods, is definitely, I would say, a marketing gimmick. In the pre-Covid times, I used to love walking around supermarkets and see what new products were there. And invariably, there would be a whole bunch of new products that called themselves superfood, which is pretty misleading. It is the worst possible way to mislead people who may not be aware of nutrition and who may not be having a scientific bent of mind, so they may believe what is written on the packet. It is just a way to jack up the price of any product — if a regular food item costs X, by calling it a superfood, you can easily charge 5X. Considering the environmental cost, what are your thoughts on imported food items like avocados, <keyword id="573117" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Quinoa">quinoa</keyword> etc. In my book Everyday Superfoods, I have a whole chapter on sustainability. Anything that gets the label of a superfood does benefit the farmers who are growing that particular superfood. However, it also leads to a whole bunch of other unpleasant side effects. Instead of focusing on what is local, instead of focusing on what is in season, everybody starts rushing towards buying that one thing because it is in trend, it is popular, and it is getting a lot of attention and likes on Instagram, and that is not a good way to eat at all. If a lot of farmers start growing turmeric alone because it is the next big thing it will lead to monocropping - where farmers, instead of growing a variety of foods, grow one kind of food in one place. And that means the soil gets depleted, so they are adding extra fertilisers, further polluting groundwater. So it is like a vicious cycle. When it comes to quinoa, I think it started getting popular in the 1980s in the US because it began getting imported from Central America etc. Then the United Nations (UN) declared 2013 "The International Year of Quinoa." That just led to prices going up, and every farmer in South America was growing quinoa, and they did not even want to eat it themselves because they said, 'I could sell it for so much more so why should I eat into my own earnings, right?' The locals themselves stopped eating their ancient grains, something they were so used to, and they started eating wheat and other grains. It just destroys the balance of things in nature. This is why the emphasis is on - what is local, what is in season, and what have your ancestors been eating? Michael Pollan is someone I really consider a guru, and he says, "Don't eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn't recognise as food." And did my great, great grandmother know about quinoa? That said, this is a complex issue. Quinoa is now well grown in Karnataka. That is why the prices have fallen from what used to be like Rs 1500 or kilo to now it is literally Rs 200 a kilo. The good thing is that the crop does not consume as much water as rice because it is a pseudo-grain and grows in slightly harsher conditions. So it is okay for me to buy quinoa, which is locally-grown and it has not travelled 10,000 miles to reach me. So there is no binary in this aspect, which is why this whole subject is so complex and so tough for people to decide what to eat, what not to eat. It takes a few extra seconds to see the back of the pack and see where it is grown because it will definitely be mentioned. <div type="image" title="Amla" msid="81241745" hostid="261"></div> Can you give us a bit of a primer on Indian superfoods? Since we talked about how it is not really a label that matters, the questions we need to ask are, is this a nutrient-dense food? Is this locally available? Is it readily available? Because anything you label as a superfood is usually costly, it is not available round the year and is often imported from far away. These will be very difficult to include in your daily diet, and like we already discussed, no superfood is a miracle pill that you eat once a year, and your life will be sorted. So, whatever it is, it needs to be consumed in a fairly regular way. It needs to be part of your lifestyle, and for that purpose, these can only be readily available and affordable foods. If you look at Indian superfoods, something like amla clearly tops the list because if blueberries are topping every international listicle on superfoods, amla has fifty times the antioxidant capacity of blueberries. And it is so cheap, local, and though it is seasonal, the beauty in Indian food and Indian cuisine is that there are at least five different ways in which amla is preserved - it is dried, it is made into a supari, it is preserved in honey, it is preserved as a sharbat, and of course, pickled. So while amla is available possibly for three months in a year, we can actually eat it round the year by just using our traditional preservation techniques. We do not need any factory or industry to be preserving it, these are all home-based preservation techniques. Fermented drinks like kombucha seem to be all the rage. What are the Indian alternatives to the same? So, we have our chaach, and there is a kaanji made in the North using mustard seeds and carrots fermented over two to three days. In the South, you have kanji, which is nothing but rice that is overcooked and soft and some buttermilk is added to that, and it is actually kept overnight to ferment. Sometimes it is also hard because when there was rice leftover the previous night and there was no refrigeration in the earlier days, so people would just add water to the rice and leave it outside on the counter. Next morning, it will be slightly fermented, and they will have it with some chopped onion or pickle. In Odisha, you have the pakhala bhata, which is again a similar thing where it is an overnight fermented rice gruel. This is a double dose of probiotics from fermenting the rice itself, and you are adding buttermilk, which is also a fermented drink. Do you believe that those who are not buying into this trend are destined for doom? I definitely think they are not doomed. But the superfoods I have mentioned in my book are so every day that invariably, people living in India are eating many of them in their standard diet. Like dark green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, lobia (black-eyed peas), green moong, these are all everyday ingredients but poor things — they do not come with this crown or this fancy label, but they are superfoods. Whether you buy into the trend or not, if you are eating Indian cuisine, you are already eating many of these things. We eat turmeric every single day, and black pepper is there in our masalas, plus our chai masala has so many ingredients. So Indian cuisine is so rich in superfoods by itself that even if someone is a non-believer in this trend, they are already eating it. I am sorry to disappoint them. However, it is definitely not true that they are doomed if they do not buy into the trend because, anything that we adapt, it has to be a gradual change in lifestyle itself, and that is what we need to believe and invest in it rather than just flipping from trend to trend because a trend is very temporary and a lifestyle is forever. In life, health and nutrition, there are absolutely no binaries. People want binary answers because it saves them from analysing their own life and health problems. They need to think for themselves and find out, 'Am I able to do this? Is this sustainable for me?' This is why I get quite frustrated when I see a YouTube video saying, 'drink this pink tea and you will lose 20 kilos'. Which is one of the reasons I wrote this book. It is not fancy, it is not clickbait, and it is not anything shocking. It is pretty much everyday knowledge, but definitely, that common knowledge and moderation seem to be somewhere lurking in the background. It is not convincing enough for people to follow a more moderate path. Also, our health is heavily dependent on our genetic lottery. I may abuse my health in every possible way, and I may still live to 100 with absolutely no problems. And someone who is so careful about their health does everything right and suffers a cardiac problem in their 40s. I am not saying follow the trend and go after every superfood you see, but try to take some baby steps towards a good lifestyle that you sustain for life. Not something you do because it is in the news today. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">EXCLUSIVE: Ignore low CIBIL score for street vendor loans, work on holidays, and other diktats from Indian government to banks rushing to meet March target</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/bharat-bandh-over-eight-crore-traders-across-india-shut-shop-in-protest-against-rising-fuel-prices-and-changes-in-gst-rules/articleshow/81223361.cms">Bharat Bandh – over eight crore traders across India shut shop in protest against rising fuel prices and changes in GST rules</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-wants-you-to-memorise-all-your-debit-and-credit-card-numbers/articleshow/81186570.cms">RBI wants you to memorise all your debit and credit card numbers — Amazon, Zomato, Netflix and others argue this will make online payments more tedious</a>

Whether we like it or not, Indians are already partaking in the superfood ‘trend’

<ul><li>The affordability improved by 29% in the last 13 years for a veg thali. For a non-veg thali, it has improved by 18% for the same time period. </li><li>Jharkhand has the cheapest veg thali. </li><li>Jammu and Kashmir and Telangana have the costliest non-veg thali. </li></ul> The economic survey tabled in the Parliament today gave the average prices of a veg and non-veg thali, and claims that it has turned affordable over the years. As per the survey for an average family of five which has two meals a day, the affordability improved by 29% in the last 13 years for a veg thali. For a non-veg thali, it has improved by 18% for the same time period. Affordability is a function of food prices with average salaries. However, the survey admits that thali prices have gone up in 2019. Here are the average prices of thais and how they differ across states. Jharkhand has the cheapest veg thali while Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir have the costliest non-veg thali. Here is how thali prices vary across states in India in 2019-20: <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Veg Thali Prices </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">States </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹0-₹50 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Jharkhand </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹50-₹75 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, and Odisha </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹75-₹100 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Above ₹100 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Tripura and Bihar </td></tr></tbody></table> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><colgroup></colgroup><col /><col /><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Non-veg Thali Prices </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">States </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹0-₹50 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Jharkhand, Chattisgarh </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹50-₹75 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹75-₹100 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Above ₹100 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, Assam, Telangana </td></tr></tbody></table> The survey states that across India and also the four regions - North, South, East and West - it is found that the absolute prices of a vegetarian 'thali' have decreased significantly since 2015-16 though the price has increased in 2019. This is owing to the sharp downward trend in the prices of vegetables and dal in contrast to the previous trend of increasing prices. As a result, an average household of five individuals that eats two vegetarian 'thalis' a day, gained around ₹10,887, on average per year, while a non-vegetarian household gained Rs 11,787, on average per year. The survey states that 2015-16 can be considered as a year when there was a shift in the dynamics of 'thali' prices. Many reform measures were introduced since 2014-15 to enhance the productivity of the agricultural sector as well as efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural markets for better and more transparent price discovery. It says that food is not just an end in itself but also an essential ingredient in the growth of human capital and therefore important for national wealth creation. "Zero hunger" has been agreed upon by nations of the world as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). (With IANS) See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/article/healthy-diets-are-hurting-coke-pepsi-amul-sales-as-well-as-the-economy/articleshow/72976410.cms">Your ‘healthy’ diet is making the Indian economy leaner ⁠— but it’s not for you to change</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/rbi-survey-says-households-expect-inflation-to-go-by-40-bps/articleshow/71441312.cms">Tweak your diet to control your food budget— the RBI guide on what to eat</a>

Thalinomics: Here is the price of a thali in Indian states — and Jharkhand has the cheapest

The standard American <keyword id="6358230" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="diet">diet</keyword> needs to be revamped. Aside from <keyword id="6370402" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="eating">eating</keyword> more fruits and vegetables and less sugar, there are many less mainstream (and often misunderstood) foods that we should be eating - either for <keyword id="6354750" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="health">health</keyword>, environmental, or economic reasons - but are not.
Here's a short list.
1. Lionfish
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/527ab05ceab8eaad6a5cceb8-1200-924/lionfish-3.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="Lionfish" width="800" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35456872@N00/8350963742/in/photolist-dHWSzu-bkG8sp-dqzRtD-dqzRLT-dqzRcZ-fGvajc-aaCFKi-98JoJi-agjwPb-bbbJHx-cwf4tw-948Rzd-dTQCfn-abWDov-ad7x38-acxXMJ-acfPMJ-fHiDK6-9UcXyU-9TAx3v-8DJqUS-7zLadE-a5ZE5S-87jJyw-9ADnbQ-8Ch7J1-aB1qHd-azh2bS-azdoJZ-b5m1H8-aL6Nbi-asykfp-9AAskZ-abTGBQ-abTGDd-9UEkzt-cCt4oY-cCt4jq-cByZNQ-dKWuTL-fGMJM7">Michael Bentley/Flickr</a></div></div>
Lionfish are native to the western Pacific Ocean, but have found their way into the Caribbean, Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico, creating chaos in those waters by devouring anything and everything in its path.
The best way to control the lionfish population - which scientists say will continue to grow uncontrollably - is to eat them.
The red-and-white-striped fish are prized in the aquarium trade. Experts blame the ocean invasion on a two-decade-old practice of dumping unwanted aquarium fish into the water. Although lionfish have venomous dorsal fins that can be painful to humans if stung, the meat is edible. It's tasty, too.
National Geographic <a href="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/10/lionfish-gotta-eat-em-to-beat-em/" target="_blank">describes lionfish</a> as having "moist, buttery meat that is often compared to hogfish, one of the most popular reef fish served in restaurants."
Fishermen in Florida are <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/26/3709262/florida-starts-planning-to-attack.html" target="_blank">trying to build a commercial market for lionfish</a>, which are mostly caught in lobster traps. Divers can also spear the fish.
Following an aggressive "<a href="http://www.ccfhr.noaa.gov/docs/EatLionfishPullCard.pdf" target="_blank">Eat Lionfish</a>" campaign launched by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2010, many restaurants have started <a href="http://lionfish.co/eat-lionfish-here/" target="_blank">putting lionfish on their menus</a>. For home chefs, there's also a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lionfish-Cookbook-Tricia-Ferguson-Akins/dp/0615428924" target="_blank">Lionfish Cookbook</a>.
2. Goat
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/527ab241eab8eac76d5cceb0-1200-924/goat-meat.jpg" border="0" alt="goat meat" width="800" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/39718079@N00/267037504/sizes/l/in/photolist-pACWU-pAD6h-pADdn-sertV-uGnEj-EJkBE-27vkgG-2PE12T-34M3Wm-34RYgb-3fwsi4-3fwsia-3gzdvU-3U878g-4eLYrR-4eLYLp-4eLZE2-4eM2bp-4eM3Nt-4eM5hV-4eM8et-4eM8Zv-4eM9YP-4eQXxY-4eR1HS-4eR2WQ-4eR4e1-4eR5Gy-4jq4hH-4u6ZKN-4xwQWX-4xB34J-57Caw4-57Cbr2-57CbFR-57CcH2-57GkLw-57Gmbo-57Gnmd-57GnZ5-5cMcAC-5zV1GP-5E5KdK-5E5L98-5GNA3j-5P6qGx-5YN8tP-61j5LQ-61Us3V-666QQc-6oFQ8d/">David Blaine/Flickr</a>Apricot-glazed goat chops</div></div>
Goat is the most widely-consumed red meat in the world, a staple of Middle Eastern and Asian counties where large herds can graze on mountainous pastures. Ounce-for-ounce, goat meat has less fat and calories than poultry, beef, or pork. But within the United States, goat meat is still a rare sight in mainstream grocery stores.
As Andrew Zimmern, the host of the Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods," explained to <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-05-01/entertainment/bs-fo-table-talk-zimmern-preview-20120501_1_foodie-experience-max-s-empanadas-portalli" target="_blank">The Baltimore Sun</a> last May: "It's delicious, and it's inexpensive, but goat is like soccer in <keyword id="20819" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="America">America</keyword>. It's growing. We like it, but we don't get it."
Goats have long been perceived as the low-class animal of agricultural world, according to J.J. Jones, an agricultural economist at Oklahoma State University."Up until the '90s, when you pictured a goat, you pictured one of the billy goats, with the horns standing on top your car hood, eating a tin can," he said.
Although the demand for goat meat has risen with a growth in U.S. ethnic populations, it's still an underexploited meat. (The United States Department of Agriculture <a href="http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/livestock/goats/meat-goats-profile/" target="_blank">doesn't even track U.S. goat consumption</a>). One problem is that goats are not ideal for factory farming. A 70-pound goat will yield around 35 pounds of meat (50% of the animal), whereas a 1,100-pound beef cow will yield 700 pounds of meat (around 60% of the animal), says Jones, who has his own farm.
There's also a perception that has to be changed. "People think of [goat] as an exotic meat," David Martin, the owner of a goat-meat distributor in Georgia <a href="http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21581748-why-dont-more-americans-eat-goat-kids-are-all-right" target="_blank">told The Economist</a>.
In taste, goat is similar to wild game such as deer. <a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-04-05/lifestyle/35416024_1_goat-meat-red-meat-pork-and-lamb">According to Washington Post writers</a> Mark Scarbrough and Bruce Weinstein, goat meat is "neither buttery nor beef-tenderloin tender, but it offers a wider palette for culinary foreplay in the kitchen."
You can grind it, or eat the chops or loin.
3. Bugs
<div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/528bad38ecad04230a1544b2-1200-924/eating-insects-locusts-in-olive-oil.jpg" border="0" alt="Eating Insects locusts in olive oil" width="800" />REUTERS/Francois Lenoir</div></div> Roughly two billion people around the world, mostly in tropical regions, consume insects as a viable protein source. But in the United States, edible insects like beetles, wasps, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and worms, have yet to shed their "yuck" factor.
In May of this year, the United Nations <keyword id="6181" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Food">Food</keyword> and Agriculture Organization <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3253e/i3253e00.htm" target="_blank">reported</a> that eating bugs could reduce world hunger (insects are easy to raise and there are lots of them), help the environment (insects use less water than pigs or cows and feed on waste materials), and provide a good source of nutrition (insects are packed with protein).
At home, there is growing interest in specialty items like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cricket-protein-bars-made-by-exo-2013-7" target="_blank">granola bars made with cricket flour</a> and scientists are working on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-edible-insects-2013-5#">creative recipes</a> to make insects more appetizing. Insect farming, however, is not a big business and "consumer disgust" is still a barrier to getting Americans to regularly eat insects.
4. Beans
<div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/528baca669bedde65b64fadb-800-536/bean-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Beans" width="800" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58545726@N02/5684475596/in/photolist-9EjqxW-9EgvEt-a6vqf7-a6vpL3-cpkvJq-e1X6X4-9NoDvZ-cYAios-f6Gue8-8mrLZU-8moFQx-cFPKKo-f3yyGA-8vHu2t-9kZuw2-9m3yzb-cq3Fwj-9QSdAY-9XD791-9XJXrA-bAhcPQ-cF42tN-8moBdT-7Ctux3-cAfCth-8nsTbb-dQzwM1-8dT4Lg-91uT8G-9dU7Xx-cxKVQd">cookbookman17/Flickr</a></div></div>Beans are cheap, easy to prepare, and <a href="%20http://www.businessinsider.com/foods-with-a-long-shelf-life-2012-12#canned-or-dried-beans-7">have a long shelf-life</a>. Yet most Americans don't get enough of these nutrient-dense legumes in their diet, a panel of experts said last year at the <a href="http://www.ift.org/Newsroom/News-Releases/2012/March/30/Beans-Pulses-Legumes.aspx?view=print&amp;page=viewall" target="_blank">Institute of Food Technologists' Wellness 12</a> meeting.
Edible dry beans include pinto beans, black beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), kidney beans, and many other varieties. A serving of dry beans is rich in B-vitamins, iron, calcium, fiber, protein, and is low in sodium and calories.
Beans are a unique food. Under the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, beans are listed as either a vegetable or a protein (with the exception of green beans which are grouped with other vegetables). Many consumers still don't realize that beans are a vegetable.
Consumption of white beans, like navy beans, Great Northern beans and lima, is now less than half of what it was in the 1960s, <a href="http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/vegetables-pulses/dry-beans.aspx#.UozN5JTwJgI" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>. Nonwhite beans have followed a similar pattern.
5. The Buffaloberry
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/528ba472eab8ea9a181544b9-1200-924/buffaloberryjpg-2.jpg" border="0" alt="buffaloberry.JPG" width="800" />Neil Reese, South Dakota State University</div></div>
The buffaloberry - a slightly sour fruit that is roughly the size of a currant - could be the next "superfruit," according to researchers who recently published their findings in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1750-3841.12265/abstract" target="_blank">Journal of Food Science</a>.
The little-known berry has historically been eaten by Native Americans and flourishes on the marginal lands of Indian reservations in North and South Dakota.
New research shows that the buffaloberry contains high amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant that appears to <a href="http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/lycopene" target="_blank">lower the risk of certain types of cancers</a>. Lycopene is one of the pigments that also gives tomatoes and bell peppers their deep red colors. According to the study, the lycopene content of buffaloberries tends to be "high in comparison to tomatoes and other commercially available fruit."
On top of the health benefits, buffaloberries can thrive pretty much anywhere (even in dry environments with poor soil quality), making it a potentially valuable food crop, according to the study.
6. Seaweed
<div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/528bab916da811926862580f-1200-800/seaweed-6.jpg" border="0" alt="seaweed" width="800" />Ken Hawkins/Flickr</div></div>
Sushi may be making steady strides on the American <keyword id="99696" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Dining">dining</keyword> scene, but seaweed consumption is still "minimal" compared to Asian countries, a study in the <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224412000544" target="_blank">journal Trends in Food Science &amp; Technology</a> reported in 2012.
Our oceans are full of seaweed, the name for countless species of marine plants and algae. Although molecules from seaweed have traditionally been used as a thickening agent in food, the edible red, brown, and green varieties are gaining attention as a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, calcium, and protein. A popular red seaweed, better known as nori, can contain as much as 47% protein, according to a study published in the <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/jf201114d" target="_blank">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a>. If prepared with just a light amount of olive oil, seaweed is also low in calories and fat.
Raw seaweed still isn't easy to find in the regular supermarket here in the U.S., though the nutrient-dense food is increasingly being sold as a <a href="http://www.seasnax.com/" target="_blank">convenient dried or roasted snack</a>.
"There's a whole world of algae out there that can be developed," Ole Mouritsen, a professor from the University of Southern Denmark <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17870743" target="_blank">told BBC News</a>. In 2011, Mouritsen authored a <a href="http://www.flavourjournal.com/content/1/1/4" target="_blank">study</a> describing new ways to enhance the flavor of seaweed as the product finds its way into Western cuisine.
There are some concerns about <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;ved=0CCsQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.food.gov.uk%2Fscience%2Fresearch%2Fsurveillance%2Ffsis2004branch%2Ffsis6104&amp;ei=9M-LUprEHKLA4AOSuYHoCA&amp;usg=AFQjCNEWxFEW5rDyedF6wQzObzmBILtZ2w&amp;bvm=bv.56643336,d.dmg" target="_blank">arsenic in seaweed</a>, namely hijiki, a type of seaweed that is distinguished by its <a href="https://www.fsai.ie/faq/hijiki_seaweed.html" target="_blank">black and shredded appearance</a> and is not used in rolling sushi.
7. Fruit and vegetable skins
<div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/528ba71c6da811af58625817-1200-924/kiwi-5.jpg" border="0" alt="Kiwi" width="800" />Kyle McDonald/Flickr</div></div>The skin, cores, or stalks of fruits and vegetables - parts that we normally throw away - can be full of nutrients. Take the hairy skin of a kiwifruit, which is completely edible and "contains three times the anti­oxidants of the pulp," according to Marilyn Glenville, former president of the Food and Health Forum at the Royal Society of ­Medicine.
Glenville <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1325741/Eating-skin-fruit-vegetables-combat-cancer.html" target="_blank">told The Daily Mail</a> that the brown fuzz "also fights off bugs such as Staphylococcus and E-coli, which are responsible for food poisoning."
To make the skin easier to eat (it is slightly tart and some people might not like the texture), the <a href="http://www.kiwifruit.org/about/faqs.aspx" target="_blank">California Kiwifruit Commission</a> suggests leaving the skin on and slicing the fruit into thin pieces, so you only get a small amount of skin with each bite.
Potato skins, orange peels (an unpeeled orange can be thrown into a juicer), and broccoli stalks are also good sources of nutrition.

7 Foods We Should All Be Eating, But Aren't 

<div class="KonaFilter image-container full"><div class="image on-image"><img src="http://static2.businessinsider.com/image/528536456da811226dc8114b-1200-924/buffaloberryjpg.jpg?maxX=800" border="0" alt="buffaloberry.JPG" width="800" />Neil Reese, South Dakota State University</div></div>A relatively unknown fruit, called the buffaloberry, could be the world's next big superfruit, according to a new study published in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1750-3841.12265/abstract" target="_blank">Journal of Food Science</a>.
Researchers who collected wild buffaloberries in North and South Dakota found the tiny red, slightly sour fruits are rich in lycopene, an <keyword id="57572" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Antioxidant">antioxidant</keyword> that appears to <a href="http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/lycopene" target="_blank">lower the risk of certain types of cancers</a>, as well as an acidic compound called methyl-lycopenoate that can be used as a natural <keyword id="6181" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Food">food</keyword> colorant. They are a type of pigment called carotenoids that give fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and carrots their red or orange colors.
The fruits are also a good source of other phenolic antioxidants, the compounds responsible for their tartness and generally thought to play a role in preventing cancer and slowing cellular aging.
According to the study, the lycopene content of buffaloberries tends to be "high in comparison to tomatoes and other commercially available fruit."
<a href="http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/lycopene" target="_blank"></a>The shrub on which the edible berries grow is native to North America and is found growing on many Indian reservations, land that's unsuitable for most other crops. The hardy shrubs can grow pretty much anywhere, even in dry environments with poor soil quality.
These berries have traditionally been eaten by Native American people, but the new findings suggest that it could be a valuable food crop, especially for regions in need of economic development. 
Buffaloberries are high enough in sugar to taste good as a fresh or dried fruit (they have the consistency of a raisin when dried) and its acidity makes it desirable for wine makers.
Although commercial production of these fruits is currently very limited, researchers believe that the "potential for growing, consuming, and marketing buffaloberry fruit on and around Midwestern Native American Reservations provides both and economic and nutritional opportunity that should be exploited."

The Next Big Superfruit: The Buffaloberry

As winter envelops us in its chilly embrace, there's a certain warmth and nourishment found in embracing vibrant and nutrient-packed <keyword id="14366" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Palak" source="Orion">palak</keyword>, or <keyword id="93280" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Spinach" source="Orion">spinach</keyword>. Beyond its delightful taste, this leafy green brings a treasure trove of health benefits, making it an ideal companion for the winter season. In this culinary exploration, we delve into a spectrum of recipes where palak takes center stage, transforming ordinary meals into extraordinary dining experiences. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Nutritional Value of Spinach:" comment="subhead" text="Nutritional Value of Spinach:"><keyword id="18787751" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nutritional-Value-of-Spinach" source="Orion">Nutritional Value of Spinach</keyword>:</cmsannotation> Before we embark on this gastronomic journey, it's essential to appreciate the nutritional powerhouse that spinach truly is. Packed with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, magnesium, and folate, spinach contributes to overall well-being. Its high fiber content aids digestion, while antioxidants help combat oxidative stress. Moreover, the versatility of spinach makes it a valuable addition to various diets, whether you're a vegetarian seeking iron or someone aiming to boost their immune system during the winter months. Now, let's savor the diverse and delectable ways in which palak elevates our winter tables. Palak Paneer: A quintessential North Indian delicacy, Palak Paneer unites creamy spinach with tender cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese). The velvety spinach puree, enriched with aromatic spices like cumin, garam masala, and coriander, creates a harmonious blend that tantalizes the taste buds. Palak Soup: To warm your winter evenings, indulge in the comforting embrace of Palak Soup. Blended spinach, seasoned with garlic, onions, and a hint of nutmeg, results in a silky-smooth and wholesome soup that is both soothing and nutritious. Palak Paratha: Revolutionize your breakfast routine with Palak Parathas. These unleavened Indian flatbreads, generously filled with finely chopped spinach, spices, and whole wheat flour, provide a delightful twist to your morning repast. Palak Pakora: Raise your snacking experience with Palak Pakoras. Spinach leaves, coated in a flavorful gram flour batter, are deep-fried to crispy perfection. Enjoy these crunchy delights with a side of tangy chutney for a satisfying treat. Palak Pulao: Give your rice dish a nutritional boost with Palak Pulao. Fragrant basmati rice cooked with spinach puree, aromatic spices, and an assortment of veggies creates a colorful and wholesome meal. Palak Dal: A hearty and nutritious dish, Palak Dal seamlessly blends the goodness of lentils with the richness of spinach. The creamy lentil stew, infused with garlic, tomatoes, and spices, promises a comforting and filling dining experience. Palak Corn Curry: Embrace the sweet notes of corn in a vibrant Palak Corn Curry. The luscious spinach sauce, paired with sweet corn kernels and aromatic spices, delivers a delightful fusion of flavors. Palak Tofu Stir-Fry: For a healthy twist, savor the Palak Tofu Stir-Fry. Tossed in a medley of spices and spinach, this quick and easy dish combines the goodness of tofu and leafy greens for a nutritious and flavorful delight. Palak Raita: Refresh your palate with Palak Raita, a yogurt-based side dish infused with finely chopped spinach, cumin, and a hint of mint. This cooling accompaniment perfectly complements spicy meals, providing a refreshing contrast. Palak Makhana: Indulge in a delightful crunch with Palak Makhana, where fox nuts (makhana) are roasted and combined with a savory spinach seasoning. This guilt-free snack not only satiates your cravings but also adds a nutritious and flavorsome touch to your winter evenings. As we savor the diverse tapestry of palak-infused delights, it's evident that spinach transcends its role as a mere ingredient, becoming a culinary maestro in the winter kitchen. Beyond the delightful flavors, each dish presents a wholesome and nutritious experience, enriching both the body and soul during the colder months. So, embrace the goodness of palak, and let its vibrant green hues brighten up your winter dining repertoire. Note: SEE ALSO:

10 amazing Palak (Spinach) recipes you must try this winter

New Delhi [India], February 4 (ANI): India will see a surge in cancer cases in the coming years which can go upto 20 lakhs per year by 2026, as estimate by <keyword id="40458" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="aiims" source="Orion">AIIMS</keyword> based on the data provided by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Dr S V S Deo, Professor of Surgical Oncology at AIIMS Delhi, while speaking to stated that India is witnessing a surge in the number of cancer patients. He further stated, "13-14 lakh people are getting affected by the deadly disease each year and the figure could go in excess of 20 lakhs by the year 2026." The AIIMS doctor mentioned that the theme for this year's World Cancer Day, being celebrated on February 4, is 'closing the gap'. He explained that the theme has been chosen keeping in mind the lack of awareness about the myths surrounding cancer and the need to educate people regarding the disease. Deo stated that people have the misconception about Cancer being incurable which is completely dubious. He explained that the disease can be cured if diagnosed on time and this is why an awareness campaign is being run to impart this information to the public. Explaining the details of the campaign, he said, "different activities have been planned to raise awareness. Doctors will be interacting with people and rallies will be taken out to educate and disseminate information." Sharing tips on how to keep cancer at bay, he said that people need to realise the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and keeping a clean healthy diet. He further explained that processed and packed food items should be avoided as it enhances the risk of cancer. He further said that smoking and consumption of alcohol account for 30 per cent of total cancer cases. Speaking on the rise in gallbladder-related illness, Deo said, "Cases of gallbladder cases in women has been on the rise especially in the north-eastern parts of the country and settlements beside rivers." The doctor said that North-East accounted for the most number of cancer cases related to stomach, gallbladder, neck, head, food pipe etc pertaining to their unhealthy lifestyle and consumption of unhygienic water and food. <keyword id="11889336" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sushma-bhatnagar" source="Orion">Sushma Bhatnagar</keyword>, the head of <keyword id="16351049" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="national-cancer-institute-of-india" source="Orion">National Cancer Institute of India</keyword> told ANI, "Cases of genetic cancer in children below the age of 16 has increased in the country." She also stated that a major chunk of cancer cases are a result of air pollution, water pollution and an unhealthy lifestyle. Highlighting the spike in air pollution, the doctor said, "It has caused an increase in the cases of cervical cancer. <keyword id="674224" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="delhi-ncr" source="Orion">Delhi NCR</keyword> witnessed 22000 cases of cancer last year of which 50 per cent of cases were treated at the National Cancer Institute, AIIMS." She stated that earlier the majority of cases were recorded in people above the age of 50, but now the younger generation has fallen prey to the deadly disease. The doctor also informed that joint research with IITs is being carried on to develop technology that will help in the treatment of cancer and the negative after-effects of the disease. (ANI)

India's cancer cases will surge to 20 lakh per year by 2026: AIIMS

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c7679262628980e41392095-2400/2019-02-27t114216z1656711897rc1b6b8382d0rtrmadp3northkorea-usa.jpg" border="0" alt="Trump and Kim" data-mce-source="Reuters/Leah Millis" data-mce-caption="North Korean leader Kim Jong Un looks at U.S. President Donald Trump before their meeting during the second U.S.-North Korea summit at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam." />Reuters/Leah MillisNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un looks at U.S. President Donald Trump before their meeting during the second U.S.-North Korea summit at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam.</div></div></div>Here is what you need to know. <ol><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pakistan-closes-airspace-claims-shoot-down-two-indian-jets-2019-2">Tensions are flaring between India and Pakistan</a>. Pakistan's civilian aviation authority closed its airspace after shooting down two Indian jets it says crossed into its side of the disputed Kashmir region.</li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/federal-reserve-system-jerome-powell-says-conflicting-signals-crosscurrents-in-economy-2019-2-1027985875">Powell goes to Capitol Hill for a 2nd day</a>. "While we view current economic conditions as healthy and the economic outlook as favorable, over the past few months we have seen some crosscurrents and conflicting signals," Fed Chairman Jerome Powell told the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-economy-qinghai-first-state-owned-firm-debt-default-since-1998-2019-2">A Chinese government owned company missed a debt payment</a>. Qinghai Provincial Investment Group missed an $11 million interest payment on an offshore $300 million bond Friday, the first time a state-owned Chinese company has done so for 20 years. Then, it missed another one on Monday. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-market-outlook-3-events-scenarios-that-will-shape-the-future-bank-of-america-2019-2">3 events will determine the stock market's fate this year</a>. Bank of America Merrill Lynch says the outcome of trade negotiations between the US and China, the Fed's next move, and whether there's a hard or soft Brexit will be the key drivers of the stock market in 2019 - and explains the market impact of each. </li><li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-27/futures-on-s-p-500-treasuries-oil-pause-in-cme-outage">The world's biggest exchange operator suffers an outage</a>. Futures contracts for the S&amp;P 500 and US Treasuries, among others, went offline for about three hours Tuesday evening.</li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/weight-watchers-earnings-q4-2019-2-1027986470">Weight Watchers crashes after earnings guidance comes up well short of expectations</a>. Shares of the diet-program provider plunged 30% in after-hours trading Tuesday after the company said it sees full-year earnings of $1.25 to $1.50 a share - well shy of the $3.36 that analysts surveyed by Bloomberg were expecting. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-founders-fund-delivering-huge-returns-to-investors-2019-2">Peter Thiel's VC fund reportedly made money hand over fist</a>. Thiel's venture-capital firm Founders Fund is returning $4.60 for every $1 invested as part of its fourth round in 2011, The Wall Street Journal says. </li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/indices">Stock markets around the world were lower</a>. China's Shanghai Composite (-0.42%) led the losses in Asia and Britain's FTSE (-0.8%) trails in Europe. </li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/earnings-calendar#date=02/27/2019&amp;name=&amp;countries=&amp;eventtypes=99&amp;tab=ALL">Earnings reports keep coming</a>. American Tower, Best Buy, Campbell's Soup, and Lowe's report ahead of the opening bell while Fitbit, L Brands, and Wingstop release their quarterly results after markets close. </li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/economic-calendar#date=02/27/2019&amp;name=&amp;countries=us&amp;eventtypes=&amp;tab=1,2,3">US economic data remains heavy</a>. Pending home sales, factory orders, and durable goods orders will all be released at 10 a.m. ET. The US 10-year yield is little changed near 2.63%. </li></ol> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/virgin-cruises-adults-only-cruise-ship-look-inside-2019-2">Take a look inside the 'Scarlet Lady,' Virgin's first adults-only cruise ship sailing to the Caribbean in 2020</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/qIq0g3AT-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

10 things you need to know before the opening bell

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c5c9d8e936c0e31c264c419-2400/columbustakingpossession.jpg" border="0" alt="Columbus" data-mce-source="Gergio Deluci/Courtesy of L. Prang &amp; Co., Boston/Wikimedia Commons" data-mce-caption="An illustration of Christopher Columbus arriving in North America in 1492." />Gergio Deluci/Courtesy of L. Prang &amp; Co., Boston/Wikimedia CommonsAn illustration of Christopher Columbus arriving in North America in 1492.</div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Following <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/columbus-believed-find-monsters-not-people-new-world-2018-10?r=UK">Christopher Columbus' arrival</a> in North America in 1492, violence and disease (is this reiterative?) killed 90% of the indigenous population - nearly 55 million people - according to a new study.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/diseases-columbus-brought-to-americas-2015-10">Diseases</a> like smallpox, measles, and influenza, which colonizers brought to the Americas, were responsible for many millions of deaths.</li><li>The new research also reveals that following this rapid population decline and the subsequent reduction in land use, there was a global cooling trend.</li></ul>Prior to Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492, the area boasted thriving indigenous populations totaling to more than 60 million people.A little over a century later, that number had dropped close to 6 million. European contact brought with it not only war and famine, but also <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/diseases-columbus-brought-to-americas-2015-10">diseases like smallpox that decimated local populations</a>. Now, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379118307261">a new study</a><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379118307261"> published in the journal Quarternary Science Reviews</a> shows that those deaths occurred on such a large scale that they led to a "Little Ice Age": an era of global cooling between the 16th and mid-19th century.Researchers from University College London found that, after the rapid population decline, large swaths of vegetation and farmland were abandoned. The trees and flora that repopulated that unmanaged farmland started absorbing more carbon dioxide and keeping it locked in the soil, removing so much greenhouse gas from the atmosphere that the planet's average temperature dropped by 0.15 degrees Celsius.Typically, experts look to the Industrial Revolution as the genesis of human-driven climate impacts. But this study shows that effects may have began some 250 years earlier."Humans altered the climate already before the burning of fossil fuels had started," the study's lead author, Alexander Koch, told Business Insider. "Fossil fuel burning then turned up the dial."<h2>More than 50 million indigenous people perished by 1600</h2><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Experts have long struggled to quantify the extent of the slaughter of indigenous American peoples in North, Central, and South America. That's mostly because no census data or records of population size exist to help pinpoint how many people were living in these areas prior to 1492.To approximate population numbers, researchers often rely on a combination of European eyewitness accounts and records of "encomienda" tribute payments set up during colonial rule. But neither metric is accurate - the former tends to overestimate population sizes, since early colonizers wanted to advertise riches of newly discovered lands to European financial backers. The latter reflects a payment system that was put in place after many disease epidemics had already run their course, <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/02/european-colonisation-of-the-americas-caused-global-cooling/">the authors of the new study noted</a>.So the new study offers a different method: the researchers divided up North and South America into 119 regions and combed through all published estimates of pre-Columbian populations in each one. In doing so, authors calculated that about 60.5 million people lived in the Americas prior to European contact.Once Koch and his colleagues collated the before-and-after numbers, the conclusion was stark. Between 1492 and 1600, 90% of the indigenous populations in the Americas had died. That means about 55 million people perished because of violence and never-before-seen pathogens like smallpox, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/measles-outbreak-portland-not-vaccinated-2019-1">measles</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-shows-simulation-of-flu-pandemic-killing-millions-2018-5">influenza</a>.According to these new calculations, the death toll represented about 10% of the entire Earth's population at the time. It's more people than the modern-day populations of New York City, London, Paris, Tokyo, and Beijing combined.<h2>The disappearance of so many people meant less farming</h2>Using these population numbers and estimates about how much land people used per capita, the study authors calculated that indigenous populations farmed roughly 62 million hectares (239,000 square miles) of land prior to European contact. That number, too, dropped by roughly 90%, to only 6 million hectares (23,000 square miles) by 1600. Over time, trees and vegetation took over that previously farmed land and started absorbing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c5ca2675a148f4096379ac5-2400/2019-02-07t165441z1lynxnpef161dfrtroptp4brazil-indigenous.jpg" border="0" alt="brazil indigenous" data-mce-source="Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters" data-mce-caption="Julia Pareci of the indigenous Pareci community stands iin front a corn field planted within an Indian reservation, near the town of Conquista do Oeste, Brazil," />Ueslei Marcelino/ReutersJulia Pareci of the indigenous Pareci community stands iin front a corn field planted within an Indian reservation, near the town of Conquista do Oeste, Brazil.</div></div></div>Carbon dioxide traps heat in the planet's atmosphere (it's what human activity now emits on an unprecedented scale), but plants and trees absorb that gas as part of photosynthesis. So when the previously farmed land in North and South America - equal to an area almost the size of France - was reforested by trees and flora, atmospheric carbon-dioxide levels dropped. Antarctic ice cores dating back to the late 1500s and 1600s confirm that decrease in carbon dioxide.That CO2 drop was enough to lower global temperatures by 0.15 degrees Celsius and contribute to the enigmatic global cooling trend called the "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/industrial-pollution-ended-little-ice-age-2013-9">Little Ice Age</a>," during which glaciers expanded.<h2>Lingering doubts </h2></div></div><div dir="auto">Not all scientists are convinced by Koch's explanation.</div><div dir="auto">"The researchers are likely overstating their case," Joerg Schaefer from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, <a href="https://www.livescience.com/64723-great-dying-little-ice-age.html">told Live Science</a>. "I am absolutely sure this paper does not explain the cause of the carbon dioxide change and the temperature change during that time."Koch said that some of the drop in carbon dioxide could have been caused by other, natural factors like volcanic eruptions or changes in solar activity. But he and his colleagues concluded that the death of 55 million indigenous Americans explained about 50% of the overall reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide."So you need both natural and human forces to explain the drop," he said.Koch said the findings revise our understanding of how long human activity has been influencing Earth's climate."Human actions at that time caused a drop in atmospheric CO₂ that cooled the planet long before human civilization was concerned with the idea of climate change," he and his co-authors <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/02/european-colonisation-of-the-americas-caused-global-cooling/">wrote</a>.But they warned that if a similar reforestation event were to happen today, it wouldn't do much to mitigate the Earth's current rate of warming. The drop in atmospheric carbon dioxide that happened in the 1600s only represents about three years' worth of fossil fuel emissions today, Koch said."There's no way around reducing fossil fuel emissions," he said, adding that reforestation and forest restoration remain crucial, too.</div> <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/keto-diet-ketogenic-what-happens-to-your-body-2019-2">The popular keto diet can help you shed weight, but it comes with some serious side effects</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/nfLxhgb8-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

European colonizers killed so many indigenous Americans that the planet cooled down, a new study reveals

<ul><li>India’s has the disturbing distinction of having the highest number of stunted children. </li><li>The government has launched a scheme to combat undernutrition in the country. </li><li>But the scheme must provide for women’s well-being, says a study.</li></ul>India has the dubious distinction of ranking number one when it comes to the number of children exhibiting stunted growth. The condition is caused by chronic undernutrition in children in their most formative years - from the start of pregnancy to the age of two. According to a report released by <a href="http://unicef.in/Whatwedo/10/Stunting" data-type="tilCustomLink">UNICEF</a> last year, a staggering 38 percent of children in India, younger than five years, are stunted. Stunted children are quick to contract illnesses and disease and easily succumb to them. It is also associated with an underdeveloped brain that leads to reduced mental ability and thereby resulting in a domino effect of poor learning capacity, poor performance in school, lower earnings and they are eventually more susceptible to chronic nutrition-related diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. A new study by the <a href="https://www.ifpri.org/country/india" data-type="tilCustomLink">International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)</a> centred around understanding the geographical burden of stunting in India reveals that for the country to effectively combat stunting, the government must focus on women’s well-being and education. Low body mass index (19%) and education (12%) in women contributed to almost three-fourths of the differences in childhood stunting between low and high burden in Indian districts. Other factors contributing to this difference include adequate diet for children (9%), assets (7%), open defecation (7%), age at marriage (7%), antenatal care (6%), and household size (5%). The <keyword id="6557928" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="ifpri">IFPRI</keyword> study is based on the recently-released <keyword id="6557929" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-and-family-health-survey">National and Family Health Survey</keyword> (2015–2016) that covered 601,509 households in 640 districts. The researchers studied the determinants of stunting across the country’s diverse states and districts. The number of stunting cases varies substantially across districts. 239 of 640 districts have stunting levels above 40% whereas 202 have recorded 30–40% stunting in children. Districts with high numbers are heavily clustered in the north and centre of the country. 
	
	
	
	<div type="image" title="Screen Shot 2018-05-24 at 16" msid="64306622" hostid="261"></div>









 Source: Understanding the geographical burden of stunting in India: A regression-decomposition analysis of district-level data from the 2015–16; Authors: Purnima Menon, <keyword id="6557927" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="derek-headey">Derek Headey</keyword>, Rasmi Avula, and Phuong Hong Nguyen In order to address the problem of malnutrition, the government has launched a scheme called POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) Abhiyan or <keyword id="1577971" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="National-Nutrition-Mission">National Nutrition Mission</keyword> with a three year budget of Rs. 9046.17 crore (approx. $1.3 billion) commencing from 2017-18. This study aims to help the government prioritise actions to combat undernutrition by improving the socioeconomic, nutritional and health status of girls and women. The study suggests that the POSHAN mission will work if the government applies a district-wise targeted method to improve in women’s health, women’s education and women’s access to antenatal care and other services. According to Derek Headey, co-author of this study, “Our study highlights, yet again, the importance of gender-related factors, especially in South Asia. Any efforts to address stunting in high burden districts in India that do not explicitly consider the multiple ways in which women’s status and poverty play out, will likely fall short.”

Lack of focus on women’s well-being, education is leading to stunted growth in India’s children

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b59fa5da592a51d008b46ea-1400/turmeric in food curry.jpg" border="0" alt="turmeric in food, curry" data-mce-source="Shutterstock" />ShutterstockMany curries and stews around the world are made with turmeric, which gives them a yellowish hue and a ginger-like, peppery taste.</div></div></div><ul><li>Turmeric, and the chemical compound derived from it, called curcumin, have some amazing health benefits.</li><li>In addition to being a proven anti-inflammatory that helps boost circulation, turmeric may also be an anti-cancer, antioxidant therapy that can fight off brain plaques, possibly helping prevent diabetes, Alzheimer's, and more.</li><li>Unlike a lot of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/vitamins">other vitamins and supplements</a>, it's cheap.</li></ul><hr /> Doctors are increasingly embracing the idea that the food we eat may be as good as any disease-fighting, immunity-boosting drug.This isn't a new strategy. "For centuries, diet was the only kind of medicine," cancer researcher Siddhartha Mukherjee <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ketogenic-diet-boosts-cancer-treatment-in-mice-2018-7">recently told Business Insider</a>. Lately, Mukherjee and other doctors have started leaning into using more targeted diets as medicine, for everything from improving <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-slow-down-aging-with-a-reduced-calorie-diet-2018-3">longevity</a> to developing <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ketogenic-diet-boosts-cancer-treatment-in-mice-2018-7">better cancer care</a>. It turns out that one such healthful food comes from a root we pull right out of the ground.It's a bright yellow, inexpensive plant called turmeric. You could probably it buy in the grocery store right now, either ground up in the spice aisle, or whole near the onions, garlic, and ginger.Turmeric has been consumed by massive swaths of people for centuries around the world. It's baked inside many curry dishes and slurped down in turmeric teas and creamy golden milks. But it's not just a spicy flavoring treat. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b59fa5d959f345d118b457c-1400/turmeric.jpg" border="0" alt="turmeric" data-mce-source="Shutterstock" />ShutterstockTurmeric root, a member of the ginger family, gets its yellow coloring from a chemical called curcumin.</div></div></div>"It's probably, to the best of my knowledge, the most potent naturally occurring anti-inflammatory," biophysicist and cancer researcher Ajay Goel told Business Insider. Goel, who grew up in India but started his research in the US over two decades ago, wondered why, in the medical research capital of the world, cancer and disease rates were <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/map-of-cancer-rates-in-the-united-states-2017-5">so much higher</a> than in his home country. His <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=curcumin+ajay+goel">research here</a> over the past <a href="http://www.baylorhealth.edu/Research/BSWRI/Dallas/InstitutesCenters/GICancerResearch/Staff/Pages/AjayGoel.aspx">two decades</a> suggests that curcumin - the bright yellow chemical that gives turmeric its characteristic hue - has serious health-promoting properties that can play a key role in keeping people disease-free. Turmeric has been shown to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26007179">reduce inflammation and nix free radicals</a> in the body that can damage our cells. But that's not all. <h2>What turmeric does for your body and your brain</h2>The curcumin compound found in turmeric is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407780">powerful enough</a> that it can help relieve <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407780">arthritis pain</a>, break up <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25884903">tumors, </a>and control <a href="https://jim.bmj.com/content/early/2016/09/28/jim-2016-000272?utm_source=trendmd&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=jim&amp;utm_content=americas&amp;utm_term=1-B">diabetes.</a> It promotes <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29968913">good blood flow</a>, which helps protect against heart disease. The plant may even keep some <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=curcumin+amyloid+goel">brain plaques</a> from forming, though more research on that front is needed.Some of Goel's studies, both in animals and humans, suggest that curcumin can also <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25712055">help kill stubborn treatment-resistant cancer cells</a>, and might <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25238234">make some cancers less resistant to chemotherapy</a> in the first place. In some instances, patients can reduce their toxic chemotherapy doses as much as 10-fold simply by coupling their treatment with curcumin, Goel said. In <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17900536">one 2008 study</a>, he even suggested we start calling it "cure-cumin" for its wide-ranging health benefits, promoting healing and improving conditions as diverse as <a href="http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/23/4/835">osteoporosis, chronic kidney diseases</a>, and Alzheimer's. Goel isn't the only one who's picked up on the medical effectiveness of the spice. The <a href="https://nccih.nih.gov/health/ayurveda/introduction.htm#hed4">National Institutes of Health</a> says research on the chemical compound is "limited" but acknowledges that turmeric and the curcumin inside "may help with certain digestive disorders and arthritis."In 2016, a team of scientists from North Carolina and South Korea (not including Goel) completed a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27533649">systematic review of evidence</a> to date and found that a one-gram dose a day of turmeric could help treat arthritis. That's the same dosage Goel recommends to his patients. It's a much better track record than other popular supplements on the market today, including <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/most-vitamin-supplements-are-useless-according-to-new-study-2018-5">multivitamins, which many recent scientific studies suggest</a> are essentially useless. "Show me a single study ever done saying people who took a multivitamin pill… did better? There's no study," Goel said. Still, many Americans pop non-herbal supplement pills like multivitamins and fish oils. The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-vitamins-should-i-take-2015-10">unregulated</a> US market for these non-herbal supplements is roughly $11.3 billion dollar a year, according to Euromonitor International, while the herbal supplement market in the US, largely composed of botanical ingredients (including roots like turmeric) is much smaller, around $3.8 billion. There is growing evidence that people are starting to come around to turmeric's benefits. Today, BioSchwartz's half-gram turmeric curcumin pill is the number two bestseller among vitamins and supplements on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Health-Personal-Care-Vitamins-Dietary-Supplements/zgbs/hpc/3764441">Amazon</a> (behind collagen, but more popular than probiotics, fish oil, or multivitamins.)<h2>Supplements will never be as good as the real thing</h2>Taking supplements won't ever be as good as eating whole foods. Studies show that whole turmeric provides an extra <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28400554">anti-inflammatory</a> boost over curcumin alone. But Goel says taking a one-gram supplement is a lot better than nothing, and he's a realist: he knows Americans won't ever eat yellow curries every single day. That's not the case in India. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5755afd9dd0895a8618b491b-1024/376969805171438de2e3b.jpg" border="0" alt="Turmeric" data-mce-source="Consumer Reports" />Consumer ReportsTurmeric powder</div></div></div>"Every meal is yellow," Goel said it's simply part of the traditional Indian diet, as ubiquitous as salt and pepper. "They don't even recognize, but it's protecting them from a lot of disease."The yellow root is also in many other foods across Asia. The Chinese call it <a href="https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-beauty/article/1983991/turmeric-wonder-food-should-be-every-hongkongers-cup-tea">jiang huang</a>, and it's in tons of Thai dishes too, from chicken soups to fried fish.Goel suggests that every adult could probably stand to get a little daily dose of turmeric or a curcumin supplement, after consulting their physician. It's an even more important ingredient for aging populations, as a potent antioxidant that helps protect cells. It's anti-microbial, too.At home, Goel gives it to his 13 and 15 year old boys. He says he doesn't want to sound like a turmeric salesman ("I am not!" he emphasized.), but he acknowledges the health benefits of the yellow-orange stuff cannot be denied. "Its super safe, there's no toxicity," Goel said. "It's dirt cheap, it comes from food, so why not?" <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lobster-curry-crave-fishbar-nyc-2016-3">This lobster curry is some of the best seafood we've ever had</a></h3> <div> <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/VIMZIoXd-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script> </div> </div>

A natural yellow chemical compound you can find in any grocery store could help fight cancer, diabetes, and even Alzheimer's

The standard Western diet needs to be revamped.Aside from eating more fruits and vegetables and less sugar, there are many less mainstream, misunderstood foods that we should be eating but are not.Here's a short list of foods to considering putting on your plate, either for health, environmental, or economic reasons.1. Lionfish<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5774f42add0895bb3e8b480a-1422/lionfish-2.jpg" alt="Lionfish" data-mce-source="Michael Bentley/Flickr" data-link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35456872@N00/8350963742/in/photolist-dHWSzu-bkG8sp-dqzRtD-dqzRLT-dqzRcZ-fGvajc-aaCFKi-98JoJi-agjwPb-bbbJHx-cwf4tw-948Rzd-dTQCfn-abWDov-ad7x38-acxXMJ-acfPMJ-fHiDK6-9UcXyU-9TAx3v-8DJqUS-7zLadE-a5ZE5S-87jJyw-9ADnbQ-8Ch7J1-aB1qHd-azh2bS-azdoJZ-b5m1H8-aL6Nbi-asykfp-9AAskZ-abTGBQ-abTGDd-9UEkzt-cCt4oY-cCt4jq-cByZNQ-dKWuTL-fGMJM7" /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35456872@N00/8350963742/in/photolist-dHWSzu-bkG8sp-dqzRtD-dqzRLT-dqzRcZ-fGvajc-aaCFKi-98JoJi-agjwPb-bbbJHx-cwf4tw-948Rzd-dTQCfn-abWDov-ad7x38-acxXMJ-acfPMJ-fHiDK6-9UcXyU-9TAx3v-8DJqUS-7zLadE-a5ZE5S-87jJyw-9ADnbQ-8Ch7J1-aB1qHd-azh2bS-azdoJZ-b5m1H8-aL6Nbi-asykfp-9AAskZ-abTGBQ-abTGDd-9UEkzt-cCt4oY-cCt4jq-cByZNQ-dKWuTL-fGMJM7">Michael Bentley/Flickr</a></div></div></div>Lionfish are native to the western Pacific Ocean but have found their way into the Caribbean, Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/lionfish-have-invaded-the-mediterranean-2016-6">and most recently, the Mediterranean</a>. Lionfish create chaos in those waters by devouring anything and everything in their path.Experts blame the ocean invasion on a two-decade-old practice of dumping unwanted lionfish, previously kept in home aquariums, into the water.The best way to control the lionfish population - which scientists say will continue to grow uncontrollably - is to eat them.Although lionfish have venomous dorsal fins that can be painful to humans if stung, the meat is edible. It's tasty, too.National Geographic <a href="http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/10/lionfish-gotta-eat-em-to-beat-em/" target="_blank">describes lionfish</a> as having "moist, buttery meat that is often compared to hogfish, one of the most popular reef fish served in restaurants."Fishermen in Florida are <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/26/3709262/florida-starts-planning-to-attack.html" target="_blank">trying to build a commercial market for lionfish</a>, which are mostly caught in lobster traps. Divers can also spear the fish.Following an aggressive "<a href="http://www.ccfhr.noaa.gov/docs/EatLionfishPullCard.pdf" target="_blank">Eat Lionfish</a>" campaign launched by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in 2010, many restaurants have started <a href="http://lionfish.co/eat-lionfish-here/" target="_blank">putting lionfish on their menus</a>. For home chefs, there's also a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lionfish-Cookbook-Tricia-Ferguson-Akins/dp/0615428924" target="_blank">Lionfish Cookbook</a>.2. Goat<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5774f42add0895bb3e8b480b-892/shutterstock_94247731.jpg" alt="Goat meat" data-mce-source="tonfon/Shutterstock" data-link="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-899116p1.html" /><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-899116p1.html">tonfon/Shutterstock</a>Goat meat stew.</div></div></div>Goat is a staple of Middle Eastern and Asian countries where large herds can graze on mountainous pastures. Ounce-for-ounce, goat meat has less fat and calories than poultry, beef, or pork. But within the Western world, goat meat is still a rare sight in mainstream grocery stores."It's delicious, and it's inexpensive, but goat is like soccer in America. It's growing. We like it, but we don't get it," Andrew Zimmern, the host of the Travel Channel's "Bizarre Foods," once explained to <a href="http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-05-01/entertainment/bs-fo-table-talk-zimmern-preview-20120501_1_foodie-experience-max-s-empanadas-portalli" target="_blank">The Baltimore Sun</a>.Goats have long been perceived as the low-class animal of the agricultural world, according to J.J. Jones, an agricultural economist at Oklahoma State University."Up until the '90s, when you pictured a goat, you pictured one of the billy goats, with the horns standing on top your car hood, eating a tin can," he said.Although the demand for goat meat has risen with a growth in US ethnic populations, it is still an underexploited meat. The United States Department of Agriculture <a href="http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/livestock/goats/meat-goats-profile/" target="_blank">doesn't even track US goat consumption</a>. One problem is that goats are not ideal for factory farming. A 70-pound goat will yield around 35 pounds of meat (50% of the animal) whereas a 1,100-pound beef cow will yield 700 pounds of meat (around 60% of the animal), said Jones, a farm owner.There is also a perception that has to be changed. "People think of [goat] as an exotic meat," David Martin, the owner of a goat-meat distributor in Georgia <a href="http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21581748-why-dont-more-americans-eat-goat-kids-are-all-right" target="_blank">told The Economist</a>.In taste, goat is similar to wild game such as deer. Goat meat is "neither buttery nor beef-tenderloin tender, but it offers a wider palette for culinary foreplay in the kitchen," <a href="http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-04-05/lifestyle/35416024_1_goat-meat-red-meat-pork-and-lamb">according to Washington Post writers Mark Scarbrough and Bruce Weinstein</a>.You can grind it or eat the chops or loin.3. Bugs<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5774f42add0895bb3e8b480c-2400/rtr3pg2m.jpg" alt="Mealworms and locusts food" data-mce-source="REUTERS/Michael Kooren" data-mce-caption="Wander Alblas ,18, student cook at the Rijn IJssel Vakschool holds a bowl as he prepares a Tjap Choi dish made of mealworms and locusts at the Cooking school at the University of Wageningen April 4, 2014." />REUTERS/Michael KoorenA Tjap Choi dish made of mealworms and locusts.</div></div></div>Roughly 2 billion people around the world, mostly in tropical regions, consume insects as a viable protein source. But edible insects - like beetles, wasps, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and worms - have yet to shed their "yuck" factor in other parts of the globe.In 2013, the <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3253e/i3253e00.htm">United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported</a> that eating bugs could reduce world hunger (insects are easy to raise and there are lots of them), help the environment (insects use less water than pigs or cows and feed on waste materials), and provide a good source of nutrition (insects are packed with protein).At home, there is growing interest in specialty items like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cricket-protein-bars-made-by-exo-2013-7" target="_blank">granola bars made with cricket flour</a>&amp; and scientists are working on <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-edible-insects-2013-5#">creative recipes</a> to make insects more appetizing. Insect farming, however, is not a big business and "consumer disgust" is still a barrier to getting people to regularly eat insects.4. Beans<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5774f42add0895bb3e8b480d-889/shutterstock_226518142.jpg" alt="Bean salad" data-mce-source="Goode Imaging/Shutterstock" data-link="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-892639p1.html" /><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-892639p1.html">Goode Imaging/Shutterstock</a>Five-bean salad.</div></div></div> Beans are cheap, easy to prepare, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/foods-with-a-long-shelf-life-2012-12#canned-or-dried-beans-7">have a long shelf-life</a>. Yet most Americans don't get enough of these nutrient-dense legumes in their diet, a panel of experts said in 2012 at the <a href="http://www.ift.org/Newsroom/News-Releases/2012/March/30/Beans-Pulses-Legumes.aspx?view=print&amp;page=viewall" target="_blank">Institute of Food Technologists' Wellness 12</a> meeting. British people are also losing their taste for baked beans. The volume consumed in the <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword> fell by around 8.3 million kilos (18.3 million pounds) in 2013, <a href="http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/categories/top-products-survey-2013/canned-food-has-beanz-heinz-hit-by-16m-sales-slump/352797.article">according to The Grocer</a>.Edible dry beans include pinto beans, black beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), kidney beans, and many other varieties. A serving of dry beans is rich in B-vitamins, iron, calcium, fiber, protein, and is low in sodium and calories.Beans are a unique food. Under the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, beans are listed as either a vegetable or a protein (with the exception of green beans which are grouped with other vegetables). Many consumers still don't realize that beans are a vegetable.Consumption of white beans, like navy beans, Great Northern beans and lima, is now less than half of what it was in the 1960s, <a href="http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/vegetables-pulses/dry-beans.aspx#.UozN5JTwJgI" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>. Nonwhite beans have followed a similar pattern.5. The Buffaloberry<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5774f42add0895bb3e8b480e-889/shutterstock_262815749.jpg" alt="Buffaloberries" data-mce-source="BestPhotoStudio/Shutterstock" data-link="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-186589p1.html" /><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-186589p1.html">BestPhotoStudio/Shutterstock</a></div></div></div>The buffaloberry - a slightly sour fruit that is roughly the size of a currant - could be the next "superfruit," according to researchers who published their findings in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1750-3841.12265/abstract" target="_blank">Journal of Food Science</a>.The little-known berry has historically been eaten by Native Americans and flourishes on the marginal lands of Indian reservations in North and South Dakota.Research shows that the buffaloberry contains high amounts of lycopene, an antioxidant that appears to <a href="http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/complementaryandalternativemedicine/dietandnutrition/lycopene" target="_blank">lower the risk of certain types of cancers</a>. Lycopene is one of the pigments that also gives tomatoes and bell peppers their deep red colors. According to the study, the lycopene content of buffaloberries tends to be "high in comparison to tomatoes and other commercially available fruit."On top of the health benefits, buffaloberries can thrive pretty much anywhere (even in dry environments with poor soil quality), making it a potentially valuable food crop, according to the study.6. Seaweed<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5774f42add0895bb3e8b480f-889/shutterstock_307338299.jpg" alt="Seaweed salad" data-mce-source="successo images/Shutterstock" data-link="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-944431p1.html" /><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-944431p1.html">successo images/Shutterstock</a>Seaweed salad.</div></div></div>Sushi may be making steady strides on the Western dining scene, but seaweed consumption is still "minimal" compared to Asian countries, a study in the <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924224412000544" target="_blank">journal Trends in Food Science &amp; Technology</a> reported in 2012.Our oceans are full of seaweed, the name for countless species of marine plants and algae. Although molecules from seaweed have traditionally been used as a thickening agent in food, the edible red, brown, and green varieties are gaining attention as a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, calcium, and protein. A popular red seaweed, better known as nori, can contain as much as 47% protein, according to a study published in the <a href="http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/jf201114d" target="_blank">Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry</a>. If prepared with just a light amount of olive oil, seaweed is also low in calories and fat.Raw seaweed still isn't easy to find in the regular supermarket in the US or Britain, though the nutrient-dense food is increasingly being sold as a <a href="http://www.seasnax.com/" target="_blank">convenient dried or roasted snack</a>."There's a whole world of algae out there that can be developed," Ole Mouritsen, a professor from the University of Southern Denmark <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17870743" target="_blank">told BBC News</a>. In 2011, Mouritsen authored a <a href="http://www.flavourjournal.com/content/1/1/4">study describing new ways to enhance the flavor of seaweed</a> as the product finds its way into Western cuisine.There are some concerns about arsenic in seaweed, namely hijiki, a type of seaweed that is distinguished by its <a href="https://www.fsai.ie/faq/hijiki_seaweed.html" target="_blank">black and shredded appearance</a> and is not used in rolling sushi.7. Fruit and vegetable skins<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5774f42add0895bb3e8b4810-1000/shutterstock_407645902.jpg" alt="Kiwi" data-mce-source="romantitov/Shutterstock" data-link="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-3561107p1.html" /><a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-3561107p1.html">romantitov/Shutterstock</a></div></div></div>The skin, cores, or stalks of fruits and vegetables - parts that we normally throw away - can be full of nutrients. Take the hairy skin of a kiwifruit, which is completely edible and "contains three times the anti­oxidants of the pulp," according to Marilyn Glenville, former president of the Food and Health Forum at the Royal Society of ­Medicine.Glenville <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1325741/Eating-skin-fruit-vegetables-combat-cancer.html" target="_blank">told The Daily Mail</a> that the brown fuzz "also fights off bugs such as Staphylococcus and E-coli, which are responsible for food poisoning."To make the skin easier to eat (it is slightly tart and some people might not like the texture), the <a href="http://www.kiwifruit.org/about/faqs.aspx" target="_blank">California Kiwifruit Commission</a> suggests leaving the skin on and slicing the fruit into thin pieces, so you only get a small amount of skin with each bite.Potato skins, orange peels (an unpeeled orange can be thrown into a juicer), and broccoli stalks are also good sources of nutrition. <div class="margin-top"> <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/stegosaurus-bite-sheep-cow-dinosaur-natural-history-2016-6">Scientists just found out the Stegosaurus had a bite like a sheep</a></h3> <div> <div> <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script> <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="RsM2k0NDE6Ya49Rx-zNwJPVWLC9V9K2W" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div> <script> if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; } RunFunctions.push(function() { var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'RsM2k0NDE6Ya49Rx-zNwJPVWLC9V9K2W',{ autoplay: 'false' }); }); </script> <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div> </div> <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script> </div>

You Searched For "north indian diet" and got 15 results

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