#idlibatter

Idli Batter Kaise Banaye:इस तरह से बनाएंगे इडली का बैटर।

भारतीय लोग खाने पीने के बेहद ही शौक़ीन होते हैं और जैसा कि आप जानते हैं हमारे देश में एक-दो नहीं बल्कि ढेरों अलग-अलग जाति समुदाय के लोग रहते हैं, जो अपने-अपने तरीके से जीते।

Two of India’s most iconic dishes, idly and dosa are a big staple of the Indian diet. All over India, millions of people happily munch down crispy dosas and soft idlies for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes people eat them as evening snacks as well.  

Both are incredibly popular and can be made from the same batter. What’s the difference though? Idli is a soft cake like dish that is steamed while dosa is made by roasting the batter with oil. 

To make idli and dosa, you have to grind your batter separately. With iD Fresh Idly - Dosa batter, making your two favourite dishes from instant batter is so easy.

Whether it’s delicious and crispy golden brown dosa or delicate bite-sized idlies, iD Fresh Food’s Idly-Dosa Batter has got you covered. It is all-natural and free of preservatives. Every packet is made with the freshest of ingredients and goes through stringent manufacturing processes to give you some much-needed dose of health.

The secret to making the perfect idly or dosa is passed down from one generation to the next. With iD, it just got a whole lot easier without losing the magic of the age-old tradition.

How to make idly:

Wash the pack before you use the batter.

Cut open the pack and add salt if required. The batter is only mildly salted.

If you are making idlies, directly scoop the batter out and pour it into the idly steamer. 

Stir the batter before pouring it into the moulds of the idly steamer for the softest idlies.

How to make dosa:

Wash the pack before you use the batter.

Cut open the pack and add salt if required. The batter is only mildly salted.

If you are making idlies, directly scoop the batter out and pour it into the idli steamer. Stir the batter before pouring it into the moulds of the idli steamer for the softest idlies.

If you are making dosas, add some water to dilute the batter. After dilution, the batter can no longer be used to make idlies.

To make the perfect dosa, stir the batter before pouring it out on the pan and spreading it.

When you’re feeling down, it can be tempting to turn to food to lift your spirits. However, the sugary, high calorie treats that many people resort to have negative consequences of their own.

Thus, you may wonder whether any healthy foods can improve your mood.

Recently, research on the relationship between nutrition and mental health has been emerging. Yet, it’s important to note that mood can be influenced by many factors, such as stress, environment, poor sleep, genetics, mood disorders, and nutritional deficiencies (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

Therefore, it’s difficult to accurately determine whether food can raise your spirits (4Trusted Source).

Nonetheless, certain foods have been shown to improve overall brain health and certain types of mood disorders.

Here are 9 healthy foods that may boost your mood.

1. Fatty fish

Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of essential fats that you must obtain through your diet because your body can’t produce them on its own.

Fatty fish like salmon and albacore tuna are rich in two types of omega-3s — docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) — that are linked to lower levels of depression (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

Omega-3s contribute to the fluidity of your brain’s cell membrane and appear to play key roles in brain development and cell signaling (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

While research is mixed, one review of clinical trials showed that in some studies, consuming omega-3’s in the form of fish oil lower depression scores (8Trusted Source).

Although there’s no standard dose, most experts agree that most adults should get at least 250–500 mg of combined EPA and DHA per day (9).

Given that a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of salmon provides 2,260 mg of EPA and DHA, eating this fish a few times per week is a great way to get these fats into your diet (10Trusted Source).

Fatty fish like salmon are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may lower your risk of depression.

2. Dark chocolate

Chocolate is rich in many mood-boosting compounds.

Its sugar may improve mood since it’s a quick source of fuel for your brain (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).

Furthermore, it may release a cascade of feel-good compounds, such as caffeine, theobromine, and N-acylethanolamine — a substance chemically similar to cannabinoids that has been linked to improved mood (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).

However, some experts debate whether chocolate contains enough of these compounds to trigger a psychological response (11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source).

Regardless, it’s high in health-promoting flavonoids, which have been shown to increase blood flow to your brain, reduce inflammation, and boost brain health, all of which may support mood regulation (11Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).

Finally, chocolate has a high hedonic rating, meaning that its pleasurable taste, texture, and smell may also promote good mood (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

Because milk chocolate contains added ingredients like sugar and fat, it’s best to opt for dark chocolate — which is higher in flavonoids and lower in added sugar. You should still stick to 1–2 small squares (of 70% or more cocoa solids) at a time since it’s a high calorie food.

Dark chocolate is rich in compounds that may increase feel-good chemicals in your brain.

3. Fermented foods

Fermented foods, which include kimchi, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut, may improve gut health and mood.

The fermentation process allows live bacteria to thrive in foods that are then able to convert sugars into alcohol and acids (14Trusted Source).

During this process, probiotics are created. These live microorganisms support the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut and may increase serotonin levels (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source).

It’s important to note that not all fermented foods are significant sources of probiotics, such as in the case of beer, some breads, and wine, due to cooking and filtering.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects many facets of human behavior, such as mood, stress response, appetite, and sexual drive. Up to 90% of your body’s serotonin is produced by your gut microbiome, or the collection of healthy bacteria in your gut (15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source).

In addition, the gut microbiome plays a role in brain health. Research is beginning to show a connection between healthy gut bacteria and lower rates of depression (16Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).

Still, more research is needed to understand how probiotics may regulate mood (18Trusted Source).

Since up to 90% of your body’s serotonin is produced in your gut, a healthy gut may correspond to a good mood. Fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut are rich in probiotics that support gut health.

4. Bananas

Bananas may help turn a frown upside down.

They’re high in vitamin B6, which helps synthesize feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin (20Trusted Source).

Furthermore, one large banana (136 grams) provides 16 grams of sugar and 3.5 grams of fiber (21Trusted Source).

When paired with fiber, sugar is released slowly into your bloodstream, allowing for stable blood sugar levels and better mood control. Blood sugar levels that are too low may lead to irritability and mood swings (22Trusted Source).

Finally, this ubiquitous tropical fruit, especially when still showing green on the peel, is an excellent source of prebiotics, a type of fiber that helps feed healthy bacteria in your gut. A robust gut microbiome is associated with lower rates of mood disorders (23Trusted Source).

Bananas are a great source of natural sugar, vitamin B6, and prebiotic fiber, which work together to keep your blood sugar levels and mood stable.

5. Oats

Oats are a whole grain that can keep you in good spirits all morning. You can enjoy them in many forms, such as overnight oats, oatmeal, muesli, and granola.

They’re an excellent source of fiber, providing 8 grams in a single raw cup (81 grams) (24Trusted Source).

Fiber helps slow your digestion of carbs, allowing for a gradual release of sugar into the bloodstream to keep your energy levels stable.

In one study, those who ate 1.5–6 grams of fiber at breakfast reported better mood and energy levels. This was attributed to more stable blood sugar levels, which is important for controlling mood swings and irritability (22Trusted Source, 25Trusted Source).

Although other sources of whole grains can have this effect, oats may be especially advantageous, as they’re also a great source of iron, with 1 raw cup (81 grams) boasting 19% of your daily needs (24Trusted Source).

Iron deficiency anemia, one of the most common nutrient deficiencies, is associated with low iron intake. Its symptoms include fatigue, sluggishness, and mood disorders (26Trusted Source, 27Trusted Source).

Some research suggests that people experience improvements in these symptoms after eating iron-rich foods or supplementing with iron, but more research is needed (28Trusted Source).

Oats provide fiber that can stabilize your blood sugar levels and boost your mood. They’re also high in iron, which may improve mood symptoms in those with iron deficiency anemia.

6. Berries

Curiously, eating more fruits and vegetables is linked to lower rates of depression (29Trusted Source, 30Trusted Source).

Although the mechanism isn’t clear, a diet rich in antioxidants may help manage inflammation associated with depression and other mood disorders (31Trusted Source).

Berries pack a wide range of antioxidants and phenolic compounds, which play a key role in combatting oxidative stress — an imbalance of harmful compounds in your body (31Trusted Source).

They’re particularly high in anthocyanins, a pigment that gives certain berries their purple-blue color. One study associated a diet rich in anthocyanins with a 39% lower risk of depression symptoms (32Trusted Source).

If you can’t find them fresh, try buying frozen berries — which are frozen at their peak ripeness to retain the maximum amount of antioxidants (33Trusted Source).

Berries are rich in disease-fighting anthocyanins, which may lower your risk of depression.

7. Nuts and seeds

Nuts and seeds are high in plant-based proteins, healthy fats, and fiber.

Additionally, they provide tryptophan, an amino acid responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin. Almonds, cashews, peanuts, and walnuts, as well as pumpkin, sesame, and sunflower seeds, are excellent sources (34Trusted Source).

Moreover, nuts and seeds are a large component of both the MIND and Mediterranean diets, which may support a healthy brain. Each of these diets promotes fresh, whole foods and limits your intake of processed items (35Trusted Source, 36Trusted Source, 37Trusted Source, 38Trusted Source).

What’s more, a 10-year study in 15,980 people linked moderate nut intake to a 23% lower risk of depression (39Trusted Source).

Finally, certain nuts and seeds, such as Brazil nuts, almonds, and pine nuts, are good sources of zinc and selenium. Deficiency in these minerals, which are important for brain function, is associated with higher rates of depression — although more research is needed (40Trusted Source).

Certain nuts and seeds are high in tryptophan, zinc, and selenium, which may support brain function and lower your risk of depression.

8. Coffee

Coffee is the world’s most popular drink, and it may make the world a bit happier, too.

The caffeine in coffee prevents a naturally occurring compound called adenosine from attaching to brain receptors that promote tiredness, therefore increasing alertness and attention (41Trusted Source).

Moreover, it increases the release of mood-boosting neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine (42Trusted Source).

A study in 72 people found that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee significantly improved mood compared with a placebo beverage, suggesting that coffee contains other compounds that influence mood (42Trusted Source).

Researchers attributed this boost in attitude to various phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acid. Still, more research is needed (42Trusted Source).

Coffee provides numerous compounds, including caffeine and chlorogenic acid, that may boost your mood. Research suggests that decaf coffee may even have an effect.

9. Beans and lentils

In addition to being high in fiber and plant-based protein, beans and lentils are full of feel-good nutrients.

They’re an excellent source of B vitamins, which help improve mood by increasing levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), all of which are important for regulating mood (43Trusted Source, 44Trusted Source, 45Trusted Source).

Furthermore, B vitamins play a key role in nerve signaling, which allows proper communication between nerve cells. Low levels of these vitamins, especially B12 and folate, have been linked to mood disorders, such as depression (45Trusted Source).

Finally, they’re a good source of zinc, magnesium, selenium, and non-heme iron, which may likewise elevate your spirits (43Trusted Source, 44Trusted Source, 45Trusted Source).

Beans and lentils are rich sources of mood-boosting nutrients, particularly B vitamins.

The bottom line

When feeling blue, you may crave calorie-rich, high sugar foods like ice cream or cookies to try to lift your spirits.

While this might give you a sugar rush, it’s unlikely to help you in the long term — and may have negative consequences as well.

IT WAS not until mid-1900s that scientists woke up to the importance of prebiotics—a non-digestible food ingredients that helps nurture bacteria in human gut. Consequently, nutritionists started recommending foods like whole grains and pulses more often.