3rd FEB 09: INDIAN SPINACH (Pasalai Keerai)There are two types of Indian Spinach, Red Indian Spinach and White Indian Spinach. Red indian spinach has more nutritional value compared to white indian spinach. This vegetable is rich in vitamin A, C and D and good for cooling the eyes. Any vegetable which gives a cooling effect to the eyes are categorized under the types of cooling foods. Those who suffer from frequent constipation are advised to eat Indian spinach as it will make tools soft and ease motion. When preparing porridge for children, it is good to add 2 to 3 leaves of Indian spinach into the porridge. The leaves are soft and tender and require minimum time to cook. Wash the leaves and cut the leaves into small pieces. Dry fry the leaves with grated coconut. This way of cooking will produce a very tasty dish. Indian Spinach can be treated as a very good medicine to provide sufficient vitamins and minerals to men and ladies reproductive organs. Lack of sufficient vitamins and minerals in women’s egg and men’s sperm is very common today as many of us tend to eat foods which contain lots of chemicals. Indian spinach is very easy to grow and can be grown in any type of soil.You can grow Indian spinach in a pot and have it grown in your kitchen or any suitable places. Since it is very cooling, do not eat it everyday. It is best to eat this vegetable 2 to 3 times a week. Asthma patients are strictly forbidden to eat Indian spinach .This is because the cooling effect will increase kapa, i.e. more phlegm in the chest area. For those who are not suffering from asthma should include Indian spinach at least once a week as it is rich in nutritional value and has lots of health benefits.
