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Facts about the myths

There are many myths about carrot, coffee and cherry. Get to the appetising truth

THE RIGHT STUFF While cherries live up to the belief that they cure pains, carrots can't improve your eyesight as often assumed.

Life for the privileged few is all about choices. From clothes to hairstyle to travel destinations, everything is about preferences. Same is true of food too, and the divide goes far beyond the age-old vegetarian and non-vegetarian classification. With choices on the table come a few myths too, some stemming from grandmothers' days, some more recent, urban myths.

So, let's review some of the most common food and diet myths.

Are frozen vegetables as good as fresh vegetables?

Sometimes, frozen vegetables are better if picked and frozen at their prime, instead of hanging around on the shelves the way some fresh vegetables do. Fresh or frozen, ensure you eat some vegetables daily.

Do carrots improve your eyesight?

This one is on the top of the list of food and diet myths. No, carrots don't improve eyesight. They do however, make your eyes healthy. That may sound like contradictory but it isn't. Carrots don't improve your eyesight, but they do help in maintaining your current ability to see.

Do beans cause gas?

Yes, they do. They are high in fibre. A lot of things that are high on fibre actually cause gas. Also, things like corn and peppers cause gas. Soaking beans before you cook them can take away some of the gas content.

Cherry for pain

Do cherries relieve pain?

The answer is yes. People who eat at least 20 tart cherries a day have a reduction in pain from arthritis.

Will eating iron-rich spinach make you stronger?

Popeye was wrong. While spinach does contain plenty of iron, it also contains oxalic acid, which prevents the body from absorbing iron. Spinach is a good source of fibre but for iron, you are better off eating lean red meat and chicken.

Does an apple a day keep the doctor away?

Yes, it does. There are many good things about apples. They help reduce the risk of cancer. They also help lower cholesterol.

Does parsley take away bad breath?

Food and diet sayings around parsley are true. Yes, it does. So do other green leafy veggies that contain chlorophyll.

Are celery and grapefruit calorie-free?

No. You cannot lose weight just by chewing them. They are just low on calories and do their bit to add to the daily tally.

Is it okay to eat fast?

The less that you chew your food that means the more your stomach will have to work to digest your food. You have teeth with many different uses. Some are for cutting and some are for grinding. You should make the most out of the God-given tools.

Are avocados high on fat?

Yes, but it is good fat: monounsaturated fat, which is good in moderation. Avocados also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals and make a good substitute for butter and margarine.

No to coffee

Can coffee cure a hangover?

No, it can't. Caffeine can't cure a hangover. You get hangover because you lack water. The alcohol takes a lot of water from your system. Caffeine actually makes you urinate. So really it has the opposite effect. So much for one of the most widespread myths!

And now a recipe that does not carry any myth about it!

Chatpati gobhi

Ingredients

800g cauliflower (medium florets blanched in salted water)

2 tbsp desi ghee/clarified butter

1 tsp zeera/cumin seeds

4 whole red chillies (round)

2 small pieces of ginger (finely chopped)

4 green chillies (deseeded and finely chopped)

1 cup fresh tomato puree

2 tsp dhania/coriander powder

1 tsp amchoor/mango powder

1/2 tsp red chilli powder

Salt to taste

1 tsp black pepper (freshly roasted and coarsely ground)

A generous pinch of kasoori methi/dried fenugreek

A generous pinch of heeng/asafoetida (powdered and reserved in 30ml/2 tbps of water)

The garnish

1 tomato (remove pulp and cut it into juliennes)

1 green chilli (deseed and cut into juliennes)

1/2 piece of ginger (cut into juliennes)

Serves: 4

Preparation Time: 40 minutes

Cooking Time: 20 minutes

Method Put the tomato puree in a bowl, add the red chilly powder, coriander powder and the amchoor powder andstir them to mix well.

Melt ghee in a kadhai/wok, add cumin seeds and the whole red chillies, stir over medium heat until the chillies become bright red, add asafoetida and stir until the moisture evaporates. Then add ginger and the green chillies, stir for 10 seconds, add the tomato puree mixture and stir until specks of fat begin to appear on the surface. Then add the cauliflower florets and salt, stir fry for one and a half to two minutes or until it is devoid of moisture. Sprinkle pepper and stir carefully. Crush kasoori methi between the palms, sprinkle, stir carefully, remove and adjust the seasoning.

Remove to a service dish, garnish with tomato, green chilli and ginger juliennes and serve with tandoori parantha or poori.

RAKESH KUMAR

(The author, a Limca Book of Records titleholder, is Executive Chef, Crowneplaza.

He can be emailed at chefrk@crowneplazadelhi.com)

RAKESH KUMAR

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