{"id":4561,"date":"2023-04-11T05:36:24","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T05:36:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/livekerala.com\/blog\/?p=4561"},"modified":"2023-04-11T05:39:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T05:39:42","slug":"must-have-dry-fruits-for-optimal-health-a-guide-for-indians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/livekerala.com\/blog\/must-have-dry-fruits-for-optimal-health-a-guide-for-indians\/","title":{"rendered":"Must-have dry fruits for optimal Health: A guide for Indians"},"content":{"rendered":"

They say health is wealth! This saying implies that one can live without money but cannot live without good health. Everything is achievable with good health. But, the key question is – how do you achieve optimal health? <\/span><\/p>\n

Optimal health can be achieved by making conscious food choices, having a balanced diet, and including foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, like <\/span>dry fruits<\/b><\/a>. Apart from being yummy, they contain high amounts of vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, and antioxidants, making them the perfect snack. Thus, it must be part of your daily diet. Nowadays dry fruits online are very common and easy to get. It is easy to access which means it’s easy to be healthy with a little effort. If you can find the best dry fruits online, then you cracked the code for being healthy. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dry fruits make the best snacks as they have zero added preservatives and artificial ingredients. They are a big part of the Indian diet and culture. You may have noticed that traditional Indian dishes contain dry fruits or use dry fruits for garnishing. They add a sweet and tangy taste to the food, and the bonus is the nutrients and antioxidants it provides. Dry fruit gift boxes are gifted during festivals, marriages, and other special occasions. In Indian culture, they are considered a symbol of prosperity and good health.<\/span><\/p>\n

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History and Evolution of Dry Fruits<\/b><\/p>\n

Dry fruits were first used around 1700 BC. Primarily, they were part of cake recipes. The juice from dates was used as a sweetener in many dishes. Then they made their way into more traditional dishes. Cut to today, Dry fruits are eaten as a snack and are considered a rich source of minerals and proteins. If you want to incorporate dry fruits into your diet, let us understand more about them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kerala: The Dry Fruits hub<\/b><\/p>\n

Kerala is known for cultivating organic dry fruits. Dry Fruit is such a business that has a profit margin of about 30%, that is why the dry fruit business is booming! With Kerala having ports for trade and business, it makes it convenient for business owners to have a setup in Kerala. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kerala is also famous for spices. The soil here is the perfect blend for dry fruits and Indian spices. The conditions and weather for cultivating dry fruits are appropriate in Kerala. This is why Kerala is a hotspot for selling dry fruits and exporting them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dry fruits in Indian food <\/b><\/p>\n

Indian foods are rich in flavor and masala. Indians believe in having all flavors in a meal – sweet, sour, salty, tangy, and spicy. Here is where dry fruits are essential. Due to their natural sweetness, dry fruits are added to dishes to neutralize the pallet. Biryani has kishmish, almonds, and cashews. Cashews are used in preparing Paneer Butter masala and Shahi paneer. The gravy of most curries consists of a blend of cashew puree and other vegetables.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let us understand how dry fruits can be added to meals with the help of these recipes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Salads<\/b><\/p>\n

Salads are a great way of incorporating dry fruits into your meals. Whether you plan on ravishing a salad as a side dish or the main entr\u00e9e, it can become a good source of healthy fibers. They do not need a lot of preparation and effort. You can be creative with ingredients and dry fruits in your salad. <\/span>Assorted roasted nuts<\/b> like <\/span>pistachios, almonds,<\/b> and pumpkin seeds can spice up your salad and elevate the dish. <\/span>Nuts<\/b> can add that crunchy texture and take your salad to the next level. Be sure not to add too many dry fruits because it takes away from the essence of the salad.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sweets<\/b><\/p>\n

Almost any Indian sweet you know contains some or the other dry fruit. The famous <\/span>Kaju <\/b>katli is prepared from a mixture of cashews and milk. \u2018Gajar ka Halwa\u2019 is always topped with almonds, Kesar, and cashews or <\/span>Kaju<\/b>. <\/span>Anjeer<\/b> and nut barfi, popular during festivals, is made by heating and combining <\/span>figs<\/b>, cashews, and almonds with condensed milk. Plum cakes are a Christmas favorite dish and are mixed with apricots, trail mix, and raisins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chikkis<\/b><\/p>\n

Chikkis is a staple dish relished by both kids and adults. The best part about Chikkis is there are no fixed ingredients. You can play around and mix nuts and dry fruits. Chikkis are slightly sticky as jaggery or honey is the substance that binds the peanuts together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Porridge <\/b><\/p>\n

Porridge is an excellent English breakfast staple. Porridge is considered a comfort food and helps people heal from illnesses. It is a simple dish and is high in fiber and antioxidants. Adding a<\/span> dry fruit mix <\/b>will make it more healthy and nutritional. <\/span><\/p>\n

Snacks<\/b><\/p>\n

Dry fruits can help elevate a snack and make it tastier. Adding <\/span>raisins<\/b> and figs to a granola mix can add a bit of sweetness to the dish. Sandwiches are easy to whip up and are a great snack when traveling. Jams and jellies made with <\/span>apricots<\/b> and <\/span>dates<\/b> can be relished with a slice of toasted bread. Dry fruit smoothies are a good recipe for people trying to increase their daily healthy calorie intake. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Benefits: maintain good health with dry fruits  <\/b><\/p>\n

Dry fruits provide us with numerous benefits. Dried fruits help keep our blood pressure in check. They are rich in antioxidants and help facilitate smooth digestion. Dry fruits contain high levels of polyphenols that help improve immunity by showing anti-inflammatory effects.<\/span><\/p>\n