Eating healthy foods is a long-term solution for sustained weight loss and better health. We all know we should eat healthily, but it is often difficult to do so, given the abundance of junk food around us. Taj Cafe and BBQ brings to you the great choice of healthy Indian foods which may be very beneficial for your health.

Indian food consists of Leafy vegetables, nuts, and a whole lot of spices. These spices give the real taste of India. India is proudly called the "country of spices”. The main spices used in the Indian food are turmeric, red chili, coriander, garam masala, cumin seed, carom seed, pepper, cinnamon, asafetida, nutmeg, mace, garlic, cloves, fenugreek seeds, sesame seed and bay leaf.

The wide variety of Spices used in Indian cooking have certainly been used for thousands of years to alleviate coughs, colds, inflammation and other symptoms. A primary ingredient used in the preparation of Indian food is Turmeric. Turmeric has been proven to have several health benefits and has been acknowledged as one of the primary contributors for Indian food's ability to contribute to a better health. Some of the benefits it can provide is preventing heart failure, acting as an excellent antiseptic, reducing joint swelling, stimulating the production of enzymes that protects from Alzheimer's disease and aid in the natural healing of the heart against damages. Studies have shown that foods high in vegetables, fruits and lean meat may benefit the heart, reduce the effects of diabetes and lower the incidence of some cancers.

Indian food contains vegetables, fruits, whole grains, milk and plant-based proteins. These foods contain essential micro-nutrients and vitamins that produce antioxidants which are good for heart, blood pressure and diabetes. Moreover, the tandoori foods of North India are rich in nutrition and natural flavors.

Other ingredients used in Indian foods helps in regulating blood sugar levels include pulses, garlic, beans, green leafy vegetables, and yoghurt. Yoghurt is in used in cooking to cool down the hot taste of a curry or to make a dip, such as a raita. Yoghurt is rich in a kind of bacteria which helps to regulate the pancreas which in turn helps to regulate insulin levels.

Chickpeas and lentils are added to curries for their protein content and for bulk. One of the widely used ingredients in the Indian food is the onion. Onion contains a compound called quercetin. Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant that can help combat prostrate, colon and breast cancer as well as the more common colds and coughs.You can also try Indian desserts as they are high in protein and iron and can provide you the best combination of taste plus health.

Thus, by reading the above article you must have understood that eating Indian food could help give you a better health. So enjoy the best Indian Cuisine at Taj Cafe and BBQ.

The medicinal properties of this spice have been slowly revealing themselves over the centuries. Long known for its anti-inflammatory properties, recent research has revealed that turmeric is a natural wonder, proving beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions from cancer to Alzheimer's disease.

20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:

1. It is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.
2. When combined with cauliflower, it has shown to prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.
3. Prevented breast cancer from spreading to the lungs in mice.
4. May prevent melanoma and cause existing melanoma cells to commit suicide.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia.
6. Is a natural liver detoxifier.
7. May prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.
8. May prevent metastases from occurring in many different forms of cancer.
9. It is a potent natural anti-inflammatory that works as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without the side effects.
10. Has shown promise in slowing the progression of multiple sclerosis in mice.
11. Is a natural painkiller and cox-2 inhibitor.
12. May aid in fat metabolism and help in weight management.
13. Has long been used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for depression.
14. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
15. Boosts the effects of chemo drug paclitaxel and reduces its side effects.
16. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.
17. Studies are ongoing in the positive effects of turmeric on multiple myeloma.
18. Has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.
19. Speeds up wound healing and assists in remodeling of damaged skin.
20. May help in the treatment of psoriasis and other inflammatory skin conditions.

Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form. It is available in pill form in most health food stores, usually in 250-500mg capsules.

Once you start using turmeric on a regular basis, it's fun to find new ways to use it in recipes. It adds a nice flavor and gives food a rich yellow hue color

Contraindications: Turmeric should not be used by people with gallstones or bile obstruction. Though turmeric is often used by pregnant women, it is important to consult with a doctor before doing so as turmeric can be a uterine stimulant.