Never buy a cheap geyser

              Never buy a cheap geyser! I am saying this from my experience. Way back in the year 2010 when we shifted in our new home geysers were on our shopping list. But my budget for geysers was limited. In the market, I saw a geyser of Khetan company. Its name was Zolta. Khetan was a household name and making fans for a long time. I had faith in this brand, so I purchased two 25-liter Zolta geysers for bathrooms and one 3-liter geyser of another company for the kitchen. Then Zolta geysers had a price tag of about Rs 4500/-. I thought that there is no complicated mechanism in a geyser so there is no need for much research on which geysers to buy. One winter passed and there was not much trouble. The only problem was sometimes we forgot to switch it off after the use. The red indicator for full hot was not striking enough to catch our attention. The result was wastage of energy and hot water remained inside the geyser. There was no easy knob to reduce the maximum temperature. The maximum temperature could be reduced with the help of a screwdriver after opening the lower panel. The hot water started to erode the steel tank and the heating element. This resulted in troubling in next season. The water heating was not effective. One year's warranty was over. The most difficult was lack of availability of a good mechanic. If there was one he had no time in the winter season. For days we had to heat water on the gas for bathing purpose. It was not like an appliance which you can carry to a mechanic shop because taking it down from the wall itself needs a mechanic. Year by year it troubled more us in winters. The last trouble beyond the limit was in 2016 December. Fortunately, I got a good mechanic who took down both Zoltas and took them to his shop for inspection. He could repair only one and the other one was returned by him without repair because its tank was not in good condition. That was the time of Demonetization and the mechanic wanted his payment only in Rs 100 denomination or below. And that was not easily available at that time. I could pay him only after three months when the flow of notes in the market increased. So I had to purchase at least one geyser in the next winter but I was so much fed up with this brand that I decided to replace both geysers in November 2017.

             This time I researched and asked some friends about it and decided to buy Havells Adonia 5 star geysers. The cost was about Rs 12000 each. Its inner tank was feroglass technology made. The maximum temperature can be changed with a knob on the front. When power is on, a blue LED full body rectangular light is visible. When the maximum temperature is reached this light changes to orange. If by chance it is fully hot and you forgot, you will never miss if you enter the bathroom. Lower the maximum temperature if you want to keep water warm throughout the day. Also, it has an elegant look.
          They give 7 years warranty on inner container, 4-year warranty on the heating element and two years comprehensive warranty.
          After so many years of geyser troubles, finally the year 2017 was troublefree and till now it is. Though it cost more it was worth it. Hope it will remain the same. 
         It is available online on Amazon. Click here for different geysers. Geysers are also available on Flipkart at this link. Havells Adonia is also available here.

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Washing Machine - Fully Automatic or Semi Automatic

       When we need a washing machine we have to decide between Semi-automatic or fully-automatic. Semi-automatics are priced about the half of the fully-automatic ones. On the basis of price Semi-automatic is a natural choice. But there are other points also which are to be taken into consideration at the time of the purchase of a washing machine:-

1. Availability of water - In the Semi-automatic machine, you have a control on the water. If you have fewer clothes you can add water accordingly. But in a fully-automatic machine, it takes a lot of water even for fewer clothes. Thus the concentration of the detergent decreases if you have added the detergent as per your clothes. You have no control over the water, the machine decides about it.  

2. Dirt removal at the specific area of the cloth - The areas near the collar and wrist of a shirt and bottom line of a pant gets dirtier. In a Semi-automatic machine, you can lift the cloth, put some detergent and rub with hand or brush to remove the dirt. In a fully-automatic machine, the process is continuous, you shut it and forget it. If you want to remove the dirt of the collar with hand rubbing you have to be attentive to pause the machine before it starts rising. Another way is that you rub these areas with detergents before putting them into the machine.

3. Space - The Semi-automatic machine has two drums, a washing drum and the other rinsing drum while the fully-automatic machine has only one drum. So the semi-automatic machine takes more space than the fully automatic machine.

4. Maintenance - The maintenance of semi-automatic machine is easy and cheap because it has no sophisticated parts like a fully-automatic machine. I had a semi-automatic machine and once it was lightly damaged by rats when we were out of the station. I opened its back cover and could repair it myself. In the fully automatic machine, you have to call the service center person and show it to the experts because it has some chips and complicated arrangements.

Eight long years and still running,
Excellent

   So if you have space, maidservants and want to use optimum water then go for the semi-automatic washing machine. Otherwise, if no tension of water and want a "fill it-shut it-forget it" type machine then go for the fully-automatic machine. 

         Now if you chose fully-automatic machine there will again be a dilemma whether to buy a front-load machine or a top-load machine. I too had to take a decision. After using the semi-automatic machine for more than a decade I decided to buy a fully-automatic machine because we were moving to a new place where the space for the machine was smaller. So, what to choose? semi or fully?

       One of my relatives had purchased a fully automatic machine a year ago. He is an intelligent person. He said that after a research he finalized a top-load machine because in a front load machine you have to bend the body more often and it is better to use a top load machine. He had bought a Samsung top-load fully automatic machine and I just copied him. I was not wrong in copying him because it is more than eight years now and it is running flawlessly. Though it had cost me about 17000/- Rupees then from the local market, its price is now only Rs. 13400/- on the Amazon. Not only Samsung any branded machine will be ok. 

        If you buy from Amazon they claim to install it within 48 hours. Many other branded washing machines are available here like - IFB, Haier, LG, Whirlpool and Bosch. 

          It was my experience with the washing machines. Hope it will be helpful in the decision if going to purchase a washing machine. 

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Chicory and Coffee

Many times we buy branded coffee from our local shop thinking that these packets contain only coffee, may be refined but coffee only. But It is not true. If you see the ingredients on the packing there may be something else also. Generally, you will find Chicory mixed with coffee in varying percentage. But what is chicory? Coffee and chicory are different things. The first difference is coffee is obtained from roasting and grinding the coffee beans while chicory powder is obtained from mincing, roasting and grinding chicory roots. The second difference is coffee contains caffeine but not the chicory.   

          The chicory powder when brewed tastes like coffee but has flavors something like nutty and woody. It is said that chicory got popular in the year 1800s when there was a massive coffee shortage in France. The chicory was found to be a good substitute. They started mixing chicory in the coffee to reduce the costly coffee and it remained popular even after the coffee shortage ended. Chicory is also taken by those people who want to reduce the caffeine intake.  

          Apart from the taste, it may have some other health benefits like decreased blood sugar, reduced inflammation and improved digestion. Some studies say that chicory improves bowel function and reduce constipation. 

          I searched Amazon for coffee and found mainly these types of coffee mixes:-

1. 100% pure coffee

 

   See the yellow ring in the picture on the left. 100% pure coffee is marked on it. You can find it on this link -  https://amzn.to/2B3uZHp   

        There is another brand also on Amazon which is marked 100% pure coffee. See the yellow circle and the arrow on the picture at right. It's Link is-https://amzn.to/2MnPbIq   

You can find many other 100% pure coffee if you search the site.

2. Coffee mixed with chicory   

There are mixed coffees also with different percentage of chicory. Some have 40% chicory while some have 20%.           

See the picture on left. While it is written that it has - RICH FILTER COFFEE POWDER, but see the yellow circle at the bottom where it has mentioned the composition as 80% coffee, 20% chicory.

It's link is-https://amzn.to/2B7n8se 

 

Here is another coffee which is chicory mixed. They have mentioned it on the packet as 60% coffee, 40% Chicory. 

See the picture on right.

It's link is-https://amzn.to/2vC1zuQ 

Some brands have even different types of coffee beans like Arabica and Robusta mixed with chicory powder. One of the brands has this mix in Coffee-63%, Chicory - 37%. They have named it as Tribal Coffee. Its link is - https://amzn.to/2w35Gzi. 

  

3. Chicory root powder

             There is also pure chicory root powder for sale. See the picture at left. Written on the packet is -

All Natural caffeine-free & gluten free CHICORY ROOT POWDER. It's link is-https://amzn.to/2w6JHHA  

Those people who want to avoid the caffeine can take this.   

 

Those who want to try taste different coffee-chicory mix to get a suitable mix for best taste- may buy one 100% pure coffee and another 100% Chicory powder and try tasting it in different ratios.

Happy Coffee Day!

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Khaksa, Khaksi, Konkari- The smaller Spine gourd - Food Blog

The rare and costly vegetable - Khaksi, Konkari, Kantola
The spine Gourd

            There are two types of spine gourds available in the market, one bigger like a size of Kiwi another smaller like the size of a Ber (Indian Plum). Both have soft spines over them. Generally, both are called by the same name Khaksa or spine gourd but they are totally different vegetables. Apart from the size, the shape of the seeds is quite different. The bigger one also called as Teasel Gourd (Kakrol) has seeds like Bitter Gourd (Karela) while the smaller one which is also called Khaksi or Konkari has round seeds like Parwal (Pointed Gourd). The price and availability of these two differ by a large range. While the bigger one is easily available in the market almost round the year the smaller Khaksi is only available during the rainy season, also it does not come in the market in larger volume. Thus the price difference is huge. When the Khaksi first appears in the market in the rainy season its price is four time that of bigger spine gourd. Now at the beginning of August '18, Khaksi's rate is Rs 150.00 - 180.00 per kg while the Spine Gourd is available at Rs 40.00 per kg.

           We shall talk about the smaller variety- Khaksi, also called Kantola or Konkari. It has a tuber root and also propagates through the root. It can also propagate through seeds. When the fruit is ripe the inside materials become red. Every year the new plant grows from the roots in the ground. It grows itself every year in the Jungle in the rainy season. The village people near the Jungle collect it and send to the market to sell at a high price. Since it is not frequently available in the market many people may not know about it but this is originally an Indian vegetable because there is a reference to it in traditional religious stories of the "Madhushrawani". It is also offered to Mahadev (Shiva) in this puja. {"Madhushrawani" puja is thirteen days puja in the Mithila region of Bihar in which newly married bride (Married within a year) worships Shiva and Parwati in the first fortnight of the Hindu month of Sawan (Sawan ke pahle Paksh me). Every day she hears some stories which are told by an elderly lady. These stories are called "Madhushrawani Katha". These folk stories were traditionally transferred to the next generation through hearing only but now these storybooks are also available in the market. Even on Amazon.}   

          Since it is mostly collected from the Jungles it is almost organic. No fertilizers and no pesticides. It is also very good for health and for diabetic people. The Khaksi recipe is mostly prepared as fried Khaksi (Khaksi ka Bhujiya). It is very simple to prepare. 

Khaksi, Kantola fry recipe

         Wash the Khaksi and cut it into round slices. Take a Kadahi or Frying pan. If health-conscious take the non-stick frying pan which is available in a large range on Amazon. Place it on the gas stove. When hot add some mustard oil. Add some Panch-Phoran (Five whole spices mix - fenugreek seeds, nigella seeds, cumin seeds, black mustard seeds and Ajwain seeds{Trachyspermum ammi}). When it crackles add the slices of Khaksi. Stir and Cook it on low heat. For the first five minutes cook it with lid and then without the lid. When it becomes soft add salt and very little spice powder (coriander seeds, cumin seeds, black pepper, red dried chilies, fenugreek seeds). Cook it till the dryness is as per your choice. Take down from the stove and serve hot.

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Rugra, (रुगड़ा), Phutka, Puttu - A type of mushroom - vegetable - Food Blog

Fresh Rugras from the ground, Phutka, Puttu

       Rugda is a type of mushroom which is found in the rainy season in the Chhotanagpur area of Jharkhand. Unlike other mushrooms, it remains underground. Sal tree is abundant in Jharkhand and Rugda is found near it. It is available only in the rainy season which is Hindu Months of Aashadh, Sawan and Bhaado. When it rains continuously for three-four days the spores of the Rugda develop quickly underground. Due to the increase in volume underneath the surface soil develops small cracks. This is found by the expert locals. They dig the soil and take out the Rugras. At this time they look like small potatoes mixed in the wet soil. Most of them are sold unwashed like this because cleaning them is a tedious job. Washed Rugras fetch a good price. 

                Rugra vegetable is considered a delicacy in Jharkhand. It is known by other names also like - Phutka or Puttu. You will find it being sold during the Monsoon near Kutchery in Ranchi. 

Cleaned and washed Rugras look like
white Pebbles

            Ask any local resident about it and he will say that it tastes like mutton. The Rugra vegetable recipe is just like other Mushroom recipe but the difficult part is the selection and washing of Rugra. Good ones are those which are firm under light pressure between the fingers. So select it one by one otherwise you cannot guess among the soil clad pieces which are good and which are rotten. Next comes the washing of Rugras. Submerge them for one to two hours in water so that the clay on it is washable. Wash them many times changing the water and rubbing between your fingers. If satisfied with the cleaning of soil then ok otherwise you may need a toothbrush to completely remove the clay from it. Washed Rugras look like white round pebbles.

Futka recipe

              Now when you have washed and cleaned Rugra the recipe is easy. First, fry it in oil and keep aside. In a pan take oil and heat it. put a bay leaf, a piece of cinnamon, some cloves and small cardamom. Next, add the onion pieces and fry till golden. Add ginger-garlic paste and green chilies and saute. Add turmeric, meat masala and fried Rugra - saute for a few minutes then add tomato puree or chopped tomato. After a few minutes add water and salt to your taste. Mix lightly and bring to boil. Reduce the flame and cover it. After half an hour check them if done ok otherwise cover again and cook till it is done. Add some Garam Masala and a teaspoonful of Ghee and cover it for five minutes The recipe is ready. Garnish it with chopped green coriander leaves.

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Jatadhari Bull - जटावाले ऋषभ (सांड़)

          The Cows and Bulls have a special place in Hindu society. They are religiously revered. While the cow is believed to have all types of Gods in its body, the Bull is a representative of Nandi, The carrier of God Shiva. Nandi is not just the carrier but it has some special powers given by Shiva. He is also the doorman of Shiva. It is said that the prayers or calls to Shiva if said to Nandi goes directly to the heart of Shiva. I have seen many devotees coming out of Shiva-temple go to Nandi statue and whisper their desires (मनोकामना) in his ears. 

           Though most of the male calves (Indian breed) are converted to bullocks to do heavy works in fields, oil-extraction machine (Kolhu) and bullock-cart but some are donated to the society by well-to-do farmers during religious occasions. These donated calves grow to mighty bulls that roam freely in the villages and contribute to the breeding of cows of villages.

             Surprisingly among tens of thousands of male calves, a few take birth having a few inches of extra skin hanging from some part of the body. This extra skin is called - "Jata". A calf having Jata is never made an ox (Never castrated). It is the holiest Bull and called a 'Jatadhari Bull' {जटावाले ऋषभ (सांड़)}. It is revered as if Nandi himself. Mostly such calves are taken by Sadhus who decorate them with red clothes, bells and Ghunghroos (Anklet bells). The Sadhus take them door to door and inmates having Darshan (View) of the Jatadhari Bull give them some money or cereals.

A Jatadhari Bull outside the temple of Baba Basukinath at
Basukinathdham, Jarmundi, Dumka, Jharkhand.

The Bull's Jata (Extra hanging skin) is near his eye.

             In the holy cities of important Shiva temples, the bulls roam freely near or inside the temple. The temples of Basukinathdham, Baidyanathdham and Lingaraja are examples. The bulls living near the temples are very gentle in comparison to the bulls roaming in villages. I saw a Jatadhari-bull outside the Basukinathdham temple having its hanging skin near one of its eyes. 

            This Jata (Extra skin) is a sign of holiness. Even in normal talks if someone expects undue special treatment, he is asked a humorous question - "Why do you have a Jata?" Though Jata generally means the lock of hair on the heads of Sadhus, in the context of a bull it is the extra hanging skin.

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Chutney -The Impulse of Taste

The fruit-bearing Mango-Tree

          Chutney is an item of Indian veg-thali (Veg-Lunch). You may find its name in English as a sauce but the Chutney is simply Chutney. Chutney is pronounced as Chat-nee (चटनी) which means "the thing which is licked". It is touched with the tip of the finger and the finger is licked. The reason for licking is that the Chutney is intense in taste because of hot green/red chilly and sour ingredients like Tamarind, Lemon or Raw Mango. The licking of Chutney during food eating is like throwing a stone in the tranquil pond of taste. Its quantity in the "Thali" is small like pickles.                           

Raw Mango for Chutney
आम की चटनी के लिए बढ़िया कच्चा आम 

Usual homemade Chutneys are -Mango Chutney, Tamarind Chutney (इमली की चटनी), Gram Pulse Chutney (चने दाल की चटनी). "Amda" Chutney, Mint Chutney, Raw Banana skin Chutney, etc. From the month of March, Raw Mangos are available in the market. So the Raw Mango Chutney becomes a regular item in the "Thali".  

Jeera-Aam ki Chutney
Mango-Cumin seed Chutney

        It is easy to prepare. You can make it in two varieties. One with adding cumin seeds and other with adding mint leaves. For both the varieties, you need to peel off the green skin of raw mangos and deseed them. Make the fleshy (गूदा) part in small pieces. For the Mango-cumin-seed Chutney (जीरे -आम की चटनी) you should put the mango flesh in a mixie-jar along with dry red chilly, roasted cumin seeds, salt and a small quantity of sugar. Make it a coarse pulp and your Mango-cumin-seed Chutney (जीरे -आम की चटनी) is ready. It has sweet, sour and salty taste along with the aroma of cumin seeds.
           For the Mango-Mint Chutney (पुदीने -आम की चटनी) you have to add chilly, Mint leaves and salt to the mango flesh and make a coarse pulp in a mixie jar and your Mango-Mint chutney is ready to add taste to your food. 

           Some people prefer mortar-pestle to make Chutney instead of mixie. Mango chutney is a seasonal item. Similarly, the "Amda" Chutney can be prepared. Just replace the mango flesh with raw "Amda" which are still not fibrous. "Amda" is called 'Hog plum' in English. Some people also call it "Jungli-Mango".

           Other types of Chutney, like Tamarind Chutney, can be made yearlong because of the availability of Tamarind throughout the year. Tamarind Chutney has a divine combination with "Dahi-vada".

Moringa, Drumstick (Vegetable) - सहजन, मुनगा, सोजिना

Drumstick (Vegetable) - सहजन, मुनगा, सोजिना

                Drumstick is a popular vegetable in India. Locally it is known by different names - Sahjan (सहजन), Munaga (मुनगा), Sojina (सोजिना), Sutti (सुट्टी), etc. In South Chhotanagpur it is known by the name Joki (जोकी). The scientific name is Moringa Oliefera.  Moringa is derived from Tamil name Murugai meaning twisted pod. It is native to the Himalayan Foothills areas and has got its Sanskrit name as Surajana (सुरजन). It is a drought-resistant tree and requires minimum care. It grows rapidly and gives fruits within a year or two. Its plantation is easy. Since the fruits are not plucked directly from the tree but the fruit-bearing branches are chopped off. Next year fruits come in new branches that grow near the chopping place. The chopped off branches are used for plantation of new trees. Just dig a hole about one foot deep in the ground and put the lower portion of the branch in the hole, pack the earth around it and keep it moist for few days. If it is not disturbed then buds begin to grow over it and the new plant is ready.

            The ease of plantation, low care of the tree, short waiting time for fruits and good rate in the market makes it ideal for plantation by lower-income group people even if they have a minimum land available. 

             The doctors advise to take green vegetables but in modern-day cities, the available green vegetables have risks of residual pesticides over them. And those vegetables have more pesticide risks which grow in offseason or those which are generally prone to pests. So it is better to search for such vegetables which have the minimum or no pesticides used. Drumsticks are one of such vegetables. That is why I am writing this article. 

              Not only pesticide-free it is regarded as a medicinal vegetable and generally termed as Neerog Sabji -(Good for health,  नीरोग सब्जी) in Hindi. It is a seasonal tree. From the mid-January Sahjan-flowers (सहजन फूल) begin to come in the vegetable market. These flowers are boiled and then cooked with potatoes to make a curry or the boiled flowers are mixed with Besan (Bengal gram-flour), red chilly powder, green chilly pieces and salt then sprinkled with breadcrumbs and deep-fried to make Pakodas. 

              A week later, thin Sahjan vegetables (सहजन की सब्जी) will be available in the market, first prices may be between Rs. 200 to Rs. 250 a kilogram. But it is worth its price - soft and without hard-fibers (which develop as it grows). No pre-cook preparation hassles, just clean with water and cut with a knife. But be careful as it is the stage when once I found the trace of pesticide in it. In fact, due to the high price, the commercial vegetable growers may use such pesticides which increase the percentage of fruit-bearing. It was a lesson for me and then on I never bought small Munagas from permanent vegetable vendors but I always purchase it from local farmers who come to the market only in the morning with one head basket full of vegetables and after three to four hours return back to their home.
                     In the next 15 days the size of the drumsticks increases and so are their thickness and stiffness. With the hardening of fibers, it cannot be eaten all you put in the mouth but will have to take out residual fibers (सिट्ठी). 
           As time passes thickness and stiffness along with the size of seeds increase. Triangular seeds are edible. Till the time of March-end, fibers become so hard that you will avoid taking their pieces whole in the mouth. The best way to eat it is by holding the one end and sucking the soft parts and seeds with the help of front teeth and pulling the fibers out of the mouth. Another notable thing is the reduction in its price. At this time the rate of drumsticks falls drastically to Rs. 10 a kilogram. 
             The tasty drumstick curry needs mustard and tomato as spices. Another recipe is putting the pieces in the pulse (दाल). This recipe is best when the drumsticks are hard as above. Generally, 10-15 pieces are tied with a thin cotton thread and put in the boiling pulse to prevent it from breaking when fully cooked. It is also used in the South Indian recipe of Sambhar. 
                 The green Munaga tree leaves are also edible and beneficial for health. Its tea boiled for at least 10 minutes is taken to reduce the increased blood pressure. The green leaves are also cooked as Saag (साग) just like Spinach. Even oil is extracted from its mature seeds, which is called "Ben Oil". 
                    Though there are innumerable benefits of Drumsticks, it is advised not to be taken by pregnant women. Some people are allergic to drumsticks. Also, the roots and barks of the tree are not edible and even prove to be poisonous.

    

Problem with Drumstick plant

Though the plant of the Drumstick requires nearly no care it should be kept in mind that this tree is a host of an insect that looks like a caterpillar and has stinging hairs on its body like a brush (hairy caterpillar). If you come in contact with it some hairs will pierce into the skin and detach from the insect. The place on the skin will itch and swell and the problem may continue for twenty-four hours before the effect reduces. These insects which are called as Bhua Pillu (भुआ पिल्लू) in the local language breed on the barks of this tree and eat the leaves of this tree which may affect the production. But it has a simple remedy - At the time of breeding, the stem of the tree is White-washed with lime. 
             
              This tree provides a source of income for poor people just like poultry and goats. For other people, it is a healthy vegetable.  
                  

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Apple Cider Vinegar

                       Vinegar, in general, is thought to be good for health. That is why it is used in salad. It has a sour (खट्टा) taste. You may have seen small peeled onions in a bowl of vinegar placed on the table in restaurants.

 

Apple Cider Vinegar
with Mother

                        Vinegar is chemically known as 'Acetic acid'. It is made mostly of fruits, grains or sugarcane. Example, grapes, apples, rice, barley-corn, palm etc. The sugar in fruit juice is fermented to form ethyl alcohol which is further fermented to get vinegar. Out of all the kinds of vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar is thought to have most beneficial health effects. Just as in our Indian culture we believe that "Tulsi" leaves have medicinal properties and used as natural remedies for cold, cough and many other ailments, similarly in western culture apple and its products are considered as natural remedies for many ailments. "Tulsi" is related to Hindu religion and apple is related to Christianity. According to Bible, God had prohibited Aam and eve to eat the fruit of knowledge in the Eden. It is widely believed that this fruit of knowledge was apple. So this natural remedy of apple cider vinegar is a western thing. Some decades ago, hardly anyone in India had known of this thing, but as the internet spread, we knew many things about each other. Now people in India know about apple cider vinegar.

                       Though it is claimed that it has numerous healing properties ranging from simple anti-aging to cancer treatment but modern science hardly approves these claims. If you try to know comments of people using it regularly, it is surprising that most people claim positive about its health benefits. In the western world, some people are consuming apple cider vinegar through generations and they claim it has a role in their longevity. Most common health effects of apple cider vinegar are for weight loss, sugar and blood pressure control, freedom from acne, good shining skin, dandruff treatment and benefit in breast cancer. 

                       The variety of apple cider vinegar to be used as a natural remedy is labeled as "with mother". This "mother" thing in the golden brown vinegar is formed during the fermentation and left in the liquid for it is believed to have beneficial bacterias.

                      Apple Cider vinegar was not available in the local markets a few years ago but it was available on online marketing sites. Last month I saw a few of it in some big "Kirana" stores. At the same time, a friend of mine said that he has started using apple cider vinegar and feels good. So, I too decided to use it primarily for weight loss and blood pressure control. I am taking a spoonful of it with warm water in the empty stomach twice daily. Surprisingly it is having its good effect on me. Within a month I have lost 2.5 kg. What I feel about its working is that it reduces your diet without giving weakness. In general, if you reduce the daily intake of your regular quantity of food you feel weak and hungry. But not if you take apple cider vinegar (ACV) regularly. I will take it regularly for two more months and see if the good effect of it continues. Then only I will decide what to do about it next. 

                         Whatever be its effects one must not take it in excess quantity and take it judiciously. For example, it is also claimed that ACV makes the teeth white. But I will not advise to rub it on the teeth because after all, it is an acid and our teeth are made up of Calcium. Acids react with Calcium. So it is possible that rubbing of ACV may erode the enamel of teeth which do not regenerate. 

                   In western country "Bragg" is an old and famous brand of ACV, Since they sell it on a large scale it is obvious that they will say a lot about its benefits. They sell a book on it - Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Book. This vinegar is also available at Amazon as - Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar.

                   Another thing about it is its taste. It is not only sour but strong too. Some people may not drink it even after dilution in water.

                 While one may find one or two varieties of ACV in local "Kirana" stores, the online marketing sites have a lot of varieties other than "with mother". If you want to check it you may visit following links.

BRANDS

SINEW

NEWHERBS

SINEW 1500 ml

SINEW with MOTHER & HONEY

BHUMIJA LIFESCINCES

HEALTHKART ORGANIC

HEALTHKART UNFLAVOURED-PACK 2

HEALTHVIVA

HEALTHVIVA with MOTHER

St BOTANICA

LIV HEALTHY

NOURISH VITALS

LYRUS

BY NATURE

NATURYZ

ZOE

FLIPKART APP INSTALL

WOW

NUTRENELIFE

NOURISH

HEALTHVIVA

ST BOTANICA

Sinew

ZEVIC

ADIRA

HEALTHKART