Mango has scientific name Magnifera Indica. Originally from Indian Subcontinent, mangos have been around for over 4,000 years. Mango is now cultivated in most of tropical and sub tropical region, however India produces more than half of world’s mangoes. It is said that Lord Buddha found Nirvana in a mango grove. Mango is consumed in several forms both raw and ripe, processed and non processed. Its leaves are also used in various rituals and ceremonies in India.

Nutritional Value of Mango:

Mangoes are rich source of phytochemicals like betacarotene, quercetin, astragalin and other nutrients.

Calorific value and Nutrient content of Mango:

About 100gm of mango gives around 65 calories with 17 gm of Carbohydrate, 0.3g of fat and 0.5g Protein.

Onions (Allium cepa) is part of family Allium and one of the most important vegetable. There are over 600 species of Allium including lily and garlic. Allium vegetables mainly onion and garlic are known for their peculiar flavor which accounts for its popularity. This flavour is due to presence of alkyl cysteine sulphoxides synthesized in plant cells. Health benefits of onion and garlic can be attributed to unique combination of flavonoids and sulphur containing nutrients.

Onion is hardy, bulbous plant, very much similar to lily and grows in well drained moist soil. Health benefits of onion are thus easy to obtain. Onion plant can be grown in backyard or garden. Onion since ages, have been important part of our food preparations as flavouring and seasoning agent. Use of onion can be traced way back to bronze age.

What is Glycemic Index GI?

Definition of Glycemic Index: The Glycemic index or GI is measure of effect of complex sugar or carbohydrate on blood sugar level. In simple terms, this index is way of ranking food based on how quickly carbohydrate is broken into simple sugar and is assimilated in blood. High Glycemic index food is one which is assimilated in blood quickly, while low glycemic index food is one which takes time to assimilate.

In 1981, David Jenkins and Thomas Wolever of University of Toronto first invented the Glycemic index during their research on diabetes. This index is since then been used to classify food containing carbohydrates.  The Glycemic index has been frequently used during discussion of controlling blood sugar in Diabetes. High Glycemic index food raises blood glucose (blood sugar -interchangeably used) faster.

We eat rice daily, enjoy wheat bread. Corn flakes with milk or oat are such wonderful breakfast. It is said to consume brown bread rather than white bread. Knowingly or unknowingly cereals form part and parcel of our daily diet. But what are cereals? What are the health benefits of cereals? What is the nutritional value of cereals?