Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Takoyaki Balls, Tasty Japanese Snack

I first found out Takoyaki in food exhibition at the university center, Gadjah Mada University. At that time, I was very surprised with the ball-shaped food from Japan's. Food counter selling Takoyaki ball was filled with octopus pictures. I thought the octopus meat balls are very fishy. I did not dare to taste the Takoyaki balls.

At one point, coming home from swimming in Depok sports center, I accidentally saw the food counter selling Takoyaki, Takoyakiku. The smell of tasty food from the counter made me even more hungry. I also stopped to try the Japanese food.

Takoyaki balls presented with some kind of topping on takoyakiku. There are original Takoyaki, Takoyaki ue keju, Takoyaki Sakana menari, and Takoyaki naka tepu. From the fourth menu, I just had to try three menus.

Takoyaki original must be tried when we were very hungry because we will get five balls. Three other menus contain only four Takoyaki balls. Although without toppings, original Takoyaki is already very tasty because it was covered with teriyaki sauce tastes very delicious, combination of sweet, salty, and savory, and the smell of typical Japanese food.

For seafood lovers, You must try Takoyaki Sakana Menari. The smell of tuna fish are felt. This menu is called Sakana Menari because we can see the dried tuna fish dancing on Takoyaki balls. Dried tuna is also known as katsuobushi. However, if you do not really like seafood, better choose another menu because the smell of tuna in Takoyaki Sakana dancing quite sharp.

Well, the menu that's worth a try by all people is Takoyaki ue keju. Cheese topping on Takoyaki ball are so fits. Taste the cheese was very tasty. It turned out the delicious taste of cheese because the cheese is cheese kraft use. If you Takoyaki freaks, you must try this menu. Typical Japanese food but the flavor is perfect for us. Oya, although tako means octopus, but the Jogja Takoyaki mostly still using squid meat. : D

I followed the cheese kraft photo contest. Please support me, my friends! Give comments and votes on this photo:

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Tamarind beneficial for health, is a myth?

tamarind reduce blood cholesterolTamarind beneficial for health, is a myth? Last night, I ate tamarind candy that does not sleepy in the journey. Candy is indeed eliminate the sleep during the trip. Content of glucose can overcome drowsiness due to one reason for drowsiness is lack of glucose supply in the brain. Is tamarind helpful? This question arose when I woke up this morning. Then, I opened medical journal about tamarind health benefits.

Research carried out several researchers from Bangladesh proved that tamarind is beneficial for our health. Researchers examined the effect of tamarind on blood pressure, weight, and lipid profiles in 30 adults who become subjects in the study. 15 of whom were given a dose of tamarind extract 15 mg / kg body weight for 4 weeks. Body weigth, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, trygliseride measured before and after the experiment performed.

Apparently, tamarind taken for 4 weeks is really useful. Although no decrease in body weight and systolic blood pressure, subjects who consumed tamarind decreased diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. This is very beneficial because LDL cholesterol is bad cholesterol that can clog arteries and cause coronary heart disease. Thus, consumption of tamarind on a regular basis can prevent the increase in bad cholesterol, prevent disease hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis disease. This natural medicine can not effect rapidly like synthetic drugs. Natural medicines such as tamarind is useful in the long run.

In this study, tamarind can not lose weight, but our ancestors drank turmeric tamarind to lose weight. Is this a myth?