Posts

MTR Minute Fresh Idli Batter vs iD Organic Rice Rava Idly Batter

Image
Ready-made wet idli batter is a convenient choice for busy folks who love freshly prepared tiffin – no grinding needed, just steam and serve with chutney! Which batter to choose? Here's a Idli batter showdown of popular brands  MTR Minute Fresh Idli Batter  &  iD Organic Rice Rava Idly Batter  in side-by-side style: Ingredients MTR Minute Fresh Idli Batter iD Organic Rice Rava Idly Batter RO Purified water Rice suji Black gram (13%) Iodised salt RO-Purified Water (55%) Rice Rava (32%) Urad Dal (est. ~13%) Iodised Salt Nutrition Facts Side-by-Side (per 100g) Nutrient MTR Idli Batter iD Idly Batter Energy 127 kcal 135.43 kcal Proteins 4.9 g 5.61 g Fat 0.8 g 0.99 g Saturated Fat 0.5 g 0.42 g Carbohydrates 25 g 26.02 g Sugars 0.3 g 0 g Fiber Not specified 1.98 g Sodium  428 mg 91.89 mg  Salt 1.07 g 0.23 g  Verdict? Except for the fact that MTR batter contains more salt, both are nearly identi...

Zinc-redible! How to Boost Your Immunity Without Overdoing It

Image
Zinc is essential for the development and function of immune cells. It can help reduce the duration of the common cold if taken early. The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is 8mg for women and 11mg for men. While 50mg is a common supplement size, health authorities (like the NIH) set the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) at 40mg . Going over this consistently can lead to a copper deficiency because Zinc and Copper are like siblings who can’t share the same room; too much Zinc kicks Copper out! Foods rich in zinc: Shellfish like oysters, crabs, shrimps and lobsters  Red meat and poultry  Milk, yogurt, cheese  Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, cashews  Chickpeas, rajma and lentils  Oats, brown rice, quinoa Spinach, peas and mushrooms  Zinc is sold over the counter, which makes it feel like "the more, the merrier." But Zinc has a dark side if you overdo it. If you consistently cross that 40mg line, you might start feeling nauseous, getting stomach cramps, or eve...

Real Green Apple - Really?

Image
Real Green Apple is a ready to serve fruit beverage from Dabur that claims to offer " the magical experience of the exotic taste of Green Apple ". Its primary ingredients are Water, Sugar , Apple Juice (22%) reconstituted from Apple Juice Concentrate Data & Image: Open Food Facts The 180ml can contains 22% fruit juice content reconstituted from Apple Juice Concentrate and 15.48 g of added sugar along with the sweetener Steviol Glycosides, Acidity Regulators (INS 296, INS 330, INS 334& INS 331), Flavours (Natural & Nature Identical Flavouring Substances), Stabilizer (INS 466) & Colours (INS 102 & INS 133).  21 ingredients overall! On the other hand, an actual medium sized green apple (about 182g) contains 0.6g of protein and 4.4g of fiber. It is packed with antioxidants, particularly Quercetin and Catechin that are good for health. Always read the label to know what's REAL.  Look up Open Food Facts to find out if a packaged food product is u...

Saffola Oats Multigrain vs Quaker Oats Multigrain

Image
Wondering which one to buy? Saffola Oats Multigrain or  Quaker Oats Multigrain Both have almost similar ingredients in varying proportions but Saffola Oats Multigrain additionally has Jowar flakes (18%) and Quinoa flakes (3%) for variety.  If you’re avoiding added sugar, Quaker Oats Multigrain has just 1.2g per 100g, which might still be a dealbreaker if you’re really strict about it. Product Ingredients Saffola  Oats  Multigrain Oats (60%), Jowar flakes (18%), Wheat flakes (6.5%), Barley flakes (6.5%), Quinoa flakes (3%), Ragi flakes (3%), Flax seeds (2%), Refined Rice bran Oil, Flavor (Natural Flavouring Substance) . Quaker  Oats  Multigrain   Wholegrain Whole Oat Flakes (60%), Wheat Flakes (18%), Barley Flakes (10%), Ragi Flakes (5%), Flax Seeds (5%), Sugar , Iodised Salt, Malt Extract, Flavor (Natural Flavouring Substances) . If we zoom in on the macros (per 100g), here’s the rundown: Nutrient Saffola Multigrain Oats Quaker Multigrain ...

Harichand Megha Dalaya — India’s Quiet Dairy Disruptor

Image
Harichand Megha Dalaya (1921- 2004) was a brilliant engineer-scientist who invented the world’s first spray-dryer for buffalo milk , way back in 1955 — a technological feat, because buffalo milk’s high fat content made spray-drying seem impossible at that time.  That single invention turned surplus buffalo milk into durable powdered form, enabling the huge success of Amul and powering India’s White Revolution . His work lifted rural incomes, stabilized milk supply, and unlocked dairy potential for generations. Many consider Dalaya as the “silent hero” or the “technical backbone” behind Amul’s rise — alongside other legends of Indian dairy.  In 1948, Dalaya earned his Master’s degree in Dairy Technology from Michigan State University.  He also completed an Advanced Business Management program at Harvard Business School in 1950.  His contributions didn’t just help one brand — they helped transform India’s entire dairy landscape, supporting millions of rural livelihood...