Spices that Heal Us – Part 3
1. What is a spice, and why is it important in cooking?
Answer: A spice is any seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf, or other plant part used to give taste and color to food. It enhances the flavor and nutritional value of the food.
2. What benefits does turmeric (haldi) provide according to the text?
Answer: Turmeric helps improve energy levels, digestion, and reduces body pain.
3. How does fenugreek (methi) help the body?
Answer: Fenugreek helps manage sugar levels and body weight. It can also be soaked overnight, and the water is drunk in the morning for health benefits.
4. What is the benefit of cumin (jeera) seeds soaked in water?
Answer: Soaked cumin seeds improve digestion and help cure sleeplessness.
5. How did the speaker’s grandmother use asafoetida (heeng) for babies?
Answer: The grandmother applied heeng water on the baby’s tummy to relieve gas, and it also helps in controlling cough and cold.
6. What relief do cinnamon (dalchini) and clove (laung) provide?
Answer: Cinnamon and clove can provide relief from toothaches until a dentist can be consulted.
7. For how long has ginger (adrak) been used in cooking, and what are its benefits?
Answer: Ginger has been used for over 4000 years in cooking, and it helps with cough, cold, and body pain relief.
8. How does black pepper (kali mirch) benefit the body?
Answer: Black pepper helps with digestion and provides relief from body pain.
9. Why are fennel seeds (saunf) and carom seeds (ajwain) served after meals?
Answer: They are served to help with digestion after meals.
10. What other uses does cardamom (elaichi) have besides adding flavor to food?
Answer: Cardamom helps with digestion, respiratory problems, and also cures bad breath.
11. Why does Daadi ask Vikram and Vaibhavi to share the natural cures with their friends?
Answer: Daadi believes that sharing these natural remedies can help others benefit from the healing power of spices.
12. What was Daadi’s final advice to Vikram and Vaibhavi in her letter?
Answer: Daadi advised them to remember these cures and share them with their friends.
13. How are natural cures passed from one generation to another according to the story?
Answer: Natural cures are shared by elders, like Daadi, who learned them from her grandmother and now passes them to her grandchildren.
14. Why should we know about the healing properties of spices?
Answer: Knowing the healing properties of spices helps us use natural remedies for common health issues and reduce dependency on chemicals.
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