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Rooh Afza - your summer cooler

I have loved rooh afza for a very long time.But I had to quit a couple of years ago when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.Otherwise it was my staple during the summers.You can drink it in limits and the way I take it,its very very good and healthy for you.Besides when your body with simmering in the heat,why drink stuff like Pepsi's and cocoa colas and seven ups when you can have a healthy alternative.

This is Rooh Afza in a bottle.


This is the one made in Pakistan.

The other few ingredients you need for my first recipe is cold milk and the following two ingredients are optional but they add to the flavour and healthy part of cooling your body down, they are katira gond/stercullia gum/indian tragacanth and tukh malanga/basil seeds.

Katira Gondh looks like this in its original form -


and when soaked in water ,its looks like the gelatinous mass in the bowl.

Tukh malanga looks like this -


which when soaked in water looks like this -



Now we are done with the tough part of showing which is what.

Recipe for the milk drink :

1 cup cold milk
1 tbsp rooh afza
1 tsp katira gondh
1 tbsp tukh malanga



 You can garnish with slivers of pista or almonds or fruits or have it plain.
Stir it well and enjoy !

Recipe for rooh afza,this time without milk :

1 cup of chilled water
2 tbsp of rooh afza
2- 3 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
and garnish with mint leaves or lemon rind shavings.


Stir well and enjoy!

People also add seven up to rooh afza and mix and drink but why go for an unhealthy option when you can go organic.

Tea and benefits

I have been an ardent tea drinker now for more than 7 years and I like black with no milk or sugar.Give it to me 8 times a day and Im a happy and alert soul.Ahem !

Read on to find out why coffee’s little cousin rocks your health.

1. Tea can boost exercise endurance. Scientists have found that the catechins (antioxidants) in green tea extract increase the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel, which accounts for improved muscle endurance.
2. Drinking tea could help reduce the risk of heart attack. Tea might also help protect against cardiovascular and degenerative diseases.
3. The antioxidants in tea might help protect against a boatload of cancers, including breast, colon, colorectal, skin, lung, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, pancreas, liver, ovarian, prostate and oral cancers. But don’t rely solely on tea to keep a healthy body — tea is not a miracle cure, after all. While more studies than not suggest that tea has cancer-fighting benefits, the current research is mixed.
4. Tea helps fight free radicals. Tea is high in oxygen radical absorbance capacity (“ORAC” to its friends), which is a fancy way of saying that it helps destroy free radicals (which can damage DNA) in the body. While our bodies are designed to fight free radicals on their own, they’re not 100 percent effective — and since damage from these radical oxygen ninjas has been linked to cancer, heart disease and neurological degeneration, we’ll take all the help we can get.
5. Tea is hydrating to the body (even despite the caffeine!).
6. Drinking tea is linked with a lower risk of Parkinson’s disease. When considered with other factors like smoking, physical activity, age and body mass index, regular tea drinking was associated with a lowered risk of Parkinson’s disease in both men and women.
7. Tea might provide protection from ultraviolet rays. We know it’s important to limit exposure to UV rays, and we all know what it’s like to feel the burn. The good news is that green tea may act as a back-up sunscreen.
8. Tea could keep waist circumference in check. In one study, participants who regularly consumed hot tea had lower waist circumference and lower BMI than non-consuming participants. Scientists speculate that regular tea drinking lowers the risk of metabolic syndrome (which increases the risk of diabetes, artery disease and stroke), although it’s important to remember that correlation does not equal causation.
9. Regular tea drinking might also counteract some of the negative effects of smoking and might even lessen the risk of lung cancer (good news, obviously, but not a justification for cigs).
10. Tea could be beneficial to people with Type 2 diabetes. Studies suggest that compounds in green tea could help diabetics better process sugars.
11. Tea can help the body recover from radiation. One study found that tea helped protect against cellular degeneration upon exposure to radiation, while another found that tea can help skin bounce back postexposure.
12. Green tea has been found to improve bone mineral density and strength.
13. Tea might be an effective agent in the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases, especially degenerative diseases (think Alzheimer’s). While many factors influence brain health, polyphenols in green tea may help maintain the parts of the brain that regulate learning and memory.

Health Benefits of Tea: Green, Black, and White Tea

Tea is a name given to a lot of brews, but purists consider only green tea, black tea, white tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea the real thing. They are all derived from theCamellia sinensis plant, a shrub native to China and India, and contain unique antioxidants called flavonoids. The most potent of these, known as ECGC, may help against free radicals that can contribute to cancer, heart disease, and clogged arteries.

All these teas also have caffeine and theanine, which affect the brain and seem to heighten mental alertness.

The more processed the tea leaves, usually the less polyphenol content. Polyphenols include flavonoids. Oolong and black teas are oxidized or fermented, so they have lower concentrations of polyphenols than green tea; but their antioxidizing power is still high.

Here's what some studies have found about the potential health benefits of tea:

• Green tea: Made with steamed tea leaves, it has a high concentration of EGCG and has been widely studied. Green tea’s antioxidants may interfere with the growth of bladder, breast, lung, stomach, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers; prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, reduce risk of stroke, and improve cholesterol levels.
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• Black tea: Made with fermented tea leaves, black tea has the highest caffeine content and forms the basis for flavored teas like chai, along with some instant teas. Studies have shown that black tea may protect lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. It also may reduce the risk of stroke.
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• White tea: Uncured and unfermented. One study showed that white tea has the most potent anticancer properties compared to more processed teas.
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• Oolong tea: In an animal study, those given antioxidants from oolong tea were found to have lower bad cholesterol levels. One variety of oolong, Wuyi, is heavily marketed as a weight loss supplement, but science hasn’t backed the claims.
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• Pu-erh tea: Made from fermented and aged leaves. Considered a black tea, its leaves are pressed into cakes. One animal study showed that animals given pu-erh had less weight gain and reduced LDL cholesterol.
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Limited research has been done on the health benefits of herbal teas, but claims that they help to shed pounds, stave off colds, and bring on restful sleep are largely unsupported.

• Chamomile tea: Its antioxidants may help prevent complications from diabetes, like loss of vision and nerve and kidney damage, and stunt the growth of cancer cells.
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• Echinacea: Often touted as a way to fight the common cold, the research on echinacea has been inconclusive.
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• Hibiscus: A small study found that drinking three cups of hibiscus tea daily lowered blood pressure in people with modestly elevated levels.
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• Rooibos (red tea): A South African herb that is fermented. Although it has flavonoids with cancer-fighting properties, medical studies have been limited.

Health Benefits of Tea: Instant teas

Instant tea may contain very little amounts of actual tea and plenty of sugars or artificial sweeteners. For health’s sake, check out the ingredients on the label.

Can Tea Be Bad for Your Health?

Most teas are benign, but the FDA has issued warnings about so-called dieter’s teas that contain senna, aloe, buckthorn, and other plant-derived laxatives.

The agency also warns consumers to be wary of herb-containing supplements that claim to kill pain and fight cancer. None of the claims is backed by science and some of the herbs have led to bowel problems, liver and kidney damage, and even death.

The FDA cautions against taking supplements that include:

• Comfrey
• Ephedra
• Willow bark
• Germander
• Lobelia
• Chaparral

Here are 5 teas that can result in a slimmer you... 

Star anise tea: promotes digestion 
Star anise, the fruit of a small evergreen tree (Illicium verum) native to China, can be used in the treatment of digestive troubles such an upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea etc. One may drink a tea made from it by steeping a whole pod in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes. Strainthis and sweeten it if required. Sip on this slowly when an upset stomach occurs. 

Peppermint tea: controls what you eat 
If you like peppermint tea then try and rotate that with a green tea drink as both speed up digestion and thus help you burn more calories. The peppermint leaves can be used to make a light, refreshing tea, which can be drunk either hot or chilled. To prepare the tea, take a tablespoon of fresh or dried leaves and add them to boiling water and let it steep for four to five minutes. Strain and add honey, if needed. 

Green tea: builds metabolism 
Research says the chemical EGCG found in green tea that speeds up the body's metabolism, is responsible for helping people lose the kilos - it can burn a whopping 70 calories a day! Green tea also raises the level of antioxidants. It's believed the antioxidant catechins in green tea boost metabolism and helps burn fat (can burn a whopping 70 calories a day!) Steeping time for the tea: two to three minutes at 85 Degrees Celsius. 

Rose tea: prevents constipation 
One of the oldest flavouring teas available, rose tea - made by mixing fresh roses and the bud of the tea - has a major therapeutic effect on the human body. Apart from clearing toxins and beautifying the skin, rose tea contains vitamins A, B3, C, D and E and is known to act against infections. It also prevents constipation and helps one lose weight. 

Oolong tea: guards against obesity 
Research reveals that oolong, a semi-fermented tea may have a stronger effect than even green tea. It promotes fat burning is said to help reduce cholesterol and the concentration of fat in the body. About two cups per day is recommended. Steep oolong tea anywhere from 30 seconds to five minutes, for a more full-bodied cup. 

Best Feelings

Rheumatoid Arthritis - a day for flares

I'm having one of those of days that I dread everyday when I wake up.That is the stiffness of my hip joints along with the knees.It is the worst combination ever..no shoulders and knees are the killer combo.

Lately I have been trying to get rid of every kind of meat from my diet but to a person who couldn't go 2 days without a drumstick in the tummy,the urge to let go of everything meat is very very difficult.I had meat for 3 days.I thought having one small meal with meat would do no harm but then I started getting my flare up the second day and now its full fledged.I'm moaning and screaming and someone outside my apartment must think this chick is up to no good in broad daylight.

But to someone who lives with RA,they know gone are the days of moaning with pleasure and in are the days when you moan in between stabbing pain.They sound the same to be frank.I startle my husband at night but after 4 years he knows its not very easy to ignore pain and fall asleep.Every time I'm fine and feeling better,we have decided is a day to go out and have fun.Live when you can.
This all sounds very grim I know but having no one I personally know suffering from this,makes me feel lonely.

Friends would rather have fun by themselves than drag an immobile person along.Its the other way around,I have just stopped going out with friends in order to avoid being that burden on some one's fun time.

If you know anyone suffering from a silent disease like this,in which a person appears to be normal on the outside but is suffering from too much pain within,cheer them up.There is plenty that can be done other than going out on long walks or shopping.Let them know that they are strong people to be able to move around even though every waking and sleeping moment is filled with pain.I think just supporting anyone suffering from anything ,will give them a boost they need to move on with their everyday lives.

Love