Thrifted Thrills

If you think that a Japanese-Peruvian fusion is exciting, then you are not alone. Nikkei Nama Bar Rada fuses these two cuisines on your plate. Their dishes are a showcase of Japanese Influence to Peruvian cuisine. The combination of ingredients from both cultures will surely take you on an electrifying culinary journey.

The brand’s concept lies in these two ancient cultures; these two world views where taste and technique continue to evolve. You can enjoy fresh cuts of sashimi and handmade sushi, and some traditional Japanese lunch sets with a twist of causa, tiradito, and ceviche.



Space is also very modern and chic. You’ll surely feel like royalty while enjoying the Japanese-Peruvian fusion melt in your mouth.

Tips: You can start your Nikkei Nama experience by ordering their Avocado-Maguro, Lima Rolls, or their Soft Shell Crab Roll as well. For the main dish, go for their Nama Bowls (Salmon Belly Bowl, Blackened Salmon Roll, Buta Bowl, and Pollo Saltado Donburi).

What to Expect: The price of their rolls starts at Php 250 while the cost of their Nama Bowls starts at Php 320.

Address: Frabelle Business Center, 111 Rada, Legazpi Village, Makati, 1229 Metro Manila

Conclusion: Japanese and Peruvian Cuisine is an exciting combination. Don’t forget to say hi when you see us dining at Nikkei! They are open from 11 AM to 10 PM.

Cumin powder is called jeera powder in Hindi. It is made from dry and roasted cumin seeds, which are ground. Cumin powder can be added to drinks or dishes.

It’s one of the reasons why we love cumin - it goes well with a lot of food and drinks and is readily available in Indian grocery online. Also, we love it because it has health benefits, too.

Health Benefits of Cumin Powder

Indian grocery stores online offer cumin powder on their digital shelves because a lot of people also buy it because it’s rich in Vitamin E. It contains anti-aging properties. It’s beneficial for the digestive tract. Specifically, it has antiseptic and diuretic components that help digestion.

As an aromatic herb, cumin can be used as a supplement for the treatment of mild digestive disorders. Aside from this, because of its aroma, it can also aid in bronco pulmonary ailments such as coughs.

How to Make Your Own Cumin Powder

The steps are simple. However, you have to find a store or online Indian supermarket that sells fresh seeds. After that, follow these steps:



Make sure to place the grain on a pan and let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes.
Heat your pan to low heat. Add the seeds on the pan and maintain the low temperature to avoid burning the seeds.
Stir the seeds continuously until it is roasted brown.
Let the roasted seeds that you brought from an Indian grocery online cool down.
Once the seeds are fresh, you can now grind it.
Store the cumin powder in an airtight container. Choose a dry place to store it.

Where to Use Cumin Powder?

As we’ve said above, there are a lot of drinks and dishes where you can use cumin powder. Here are some of our favorites:

Iced Jal-Jeera

This is one of the best drinks for summer as it’s a zesty summer Indian drink that’s filled with flavors.

Add all the ingredients in a cup of filtered water, which include ½ cup each of mint leaves, Himalayan pink set, and cilantro. Add one teaspoon of each, including ginger powder, fine black salt, black peppercorns, jaggery, and fennel seeds. Lastly, add two teaspoons of cumin powder.

Mix all the ingredients in the blender until it becomes pasty. Once the mixtures set, add the pasta in 3 cups of water then mix properly. Add ice cubes, and a few mints leaves as garnish.

Bhindi Masala

The dish is also known as spiced okra, is another dish where you can use cumin powder. To start, gather all the ingredients:

1 lb okra
1 red onion, chopped
1 tbsp ghee
1 tsp each of cumin seeds, brown mustard seed, turmeric, and ajwain
½ each of amchoor powder, garam masala, and Himalayan pink salt
¼ tsp of cayenne



First, heat the ghee in a large skillet, then add the spices in the ghee and cook it. After 60 seconds, add onions and saute until it is translucent.

Add turmeric and Himalayan salt then add the okra. Stir and wait until the okra cooks, meaning it’s not sticking in the pan and is already dry and tender.

Add the cayenne, garam masala, and amchoor.

You can serve this with your drink and pair it with naan or roti.

There are still a lot of recipes and drinks where you can use cumin powder and seeds. The only thing you need is to search for the right recipe that can satisfy your cravings and cook it.

So, you’re on a pace in an Indian grocery online and looking at coriander. If you are considering adding it to your cart, then you’re in for a treat.

Coriander is a spice that originated in the Middle East and is considered as one of the essential spices in Indian cooking. Initially, the only part of the coriander plant used in cooking by Indians is leaves. Nonetheless, the seeds, specifically powdered seeds, were introduced and have now become one of the favorite spices for Indian food.

Preparing Coriander Powder

Online Indian supermarkets always have coriander available for their shoppers. In cooking, coriander is the standard base for Indian curry powder.

In order to create the powder, the seeds are ground coarsely, and this is important for it to be crunchy, and it provides a bit of texture on the food.

Make sure to roast the seeds first. You can do this by frying the seeds on a dry frying pan. Do not overcook the seeds to avoid burnt tastes when it’s grounded.

Look at the color of the seeds and make sure that it is just a shade darker for it to still have the desired flavor still.

The Health Benefits of Coriander

It’s essential to include coriander when you are shopping in an Indian grocery store online because it has a lot of health benefits which include the following:

Control Blood Sugar - coriander stimulates the endocrine glands, which cause the secretion of insulin from the pancreas. With this on hand, coriander helps in properly assimilating and absorption of sugar in the blood.

Helps Proper Digestion - there are essential oils found in coriander, and these oils help our digestive tract. Specifically, it promotes proper digestion by stimulating our stomach. Also, the dietary fiber found in coriander aids in proper digestion.

Aids in Reducing Cholesterol - acids such as oleic acid, palmitic acid, ascorbic acid, and linoleic acid helps in maintaining the cholesterol level in the blood.

Coriander - Look and Taste

Again, coriander is available seeds or powder. The seeds come from the coriander fruit, a small spherical fruit, which is collected from the cilantro plant. When the seeds are grounded, it then turns light brown.

When it comes to taste, coriander powder is best used in cooking. The cilantro leaves are best used for garnishes. It is fragrant and tastes slightly citrusy with a hint of curry.

Coriander in Cooking

In cooking, you can use coriander powder when you are cooking curry dishes along with turmeric. You can use it when cooking okra with onions or Indian-style grilled chicken to marinate the meat.

Honestly, you can use coriander powder in almost every Indian recipe. You can either add it directly as you cook the dish, or you can also roast the seeds and add as whole seeds in the dish.

On the other hand, you can also make coriander leaves chutney for your Pakora or Bajiji deep.

Ingredients:
1 big bunch of coriander leaves
3 - 4 green chilies
1 small piece of ginger
2 medium sliced tomatoes, sliced
1 teaspoon of salt



Steps
1. Wash the coriander leaves thoroughly and then chop the leaves.
2. Remove the skin from the ginger and cut it into small pieces.
3. Cut the green chilies into small pieces.
4. Mix all the ingredients in a clean bowl and salt to taste.

Also, what we love about ground coriander is that it has a long shelf life. As long as you store it at room temperature and it doesn’t get wet, it can last for months!

So, are you ready to add the spice in your cupboard? Order online now or check out the nearest store.

Being healthy is a goal that people would and should definitely try to achieve. Having a healthy body through good life choices in your diet and exercise could be what you’re missing. However, not all diets are created equal, and menus should be centered around what you need as an individual; this means that no two diets are unique.


But what if I tell you that there is a diet out there along with specific food that can fit the needs of most of you who are reading this?

We’re going to be talking about Ayurveda, ayurvedic diets, how these benefits are accessible through online Indian grocery, and the health benefits that you may gain through these!

Everything You Need To Know About Ayurveda

Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is derived from traditional Hindu systems that tackle the idea of balance in all bodily systems. Ayurveda is typically an entire lifestyle change that exists to make sure that you become fit and healthy all around. It may sound intimidating as you’re going to have to follow a routine, practicing Ayurveda is enjoyable and therapeutic to some degree.

The emphasis on good health, prevention, and treatment of illnesses that Ayurveda has makes it so that the lifestyle change that you do helps drastically in combating diseases. Some lifestyle practices that you may have to take into mind are meditation, yoga, and changes in your diet. The use of herbal remedies might become more commonplace, as well.

Ayurveda has been practiced for a long time now and is a leading force when it comes to improving your diet. This is because, in Ayurveda, there is a heavy emphasis on food. This heavy emphasis on food has made some food considered to be the healthiest to put into your diet.

Due to Ayurveda’s roots that relate it to Indian tradition, a lot of India’s famous food is included in the diet when practicing Ayurveda. Food and spices such as Ghee, naan, ginger, and chili are essential when having this shift in diet.

Moreover, because most Indian foods have these spices present, why not spice up your dinner in the process? Shop online for Indian products or do online Indian grocery to make getting these foods and spices a lot easier!

Health Benefits

The health benefits and benefits to your daily lives can differ from person to person. Still, some of them are—a boost in encouragement, self-love, increased physical health, creates a greater understanding of your place in life, body toxins are reduced, digestion is stronger, and in some cases, it could lead to a heightened state of optimism.

Ayurvedic Healing Food

According to multiple practitioners of Ayurveda—these foods help support, repair, rejuvenate, and further heighten the health of your body.

Lemons

Lemons are considered to be purifying and nourishing due to the number of vitamins that it has. They stimulate and help with digestion, and it helps reduce toxins in our body.

If you want to put this to maximum effect, drink unsweetened lemonade as many times as you want during the day. You can also add lemon zest or freshly squeezed lemon juice in your food as well.

Ghee

Clarified butter or ghee promotes longevity and rejuvenation. Because of the rate of absorption that ghee has, it can be an excellent medium for blending in other food’s nutrients to mix them into one. Ghee is also made in a lot of Indian recipes and is extremely versatile.

Fresh ghee is easy to make. However, you can also shop online for Indian products such as Indian unsalted butter or preserved ghee.

Ginger

Often referred to as a wonder root because of how it can be used to aid with a lot of illnesses and even cases of indigestion. Ginger’s versatility is its best weapon. It can be sliced, sprinkled, powdered, and also turned into tea!

Are you off to a weekend getaway or planning a long vacation? If yes, then review your itinerary, check your belongings, and rest up for your trip, especially if you have a long flight.

If you’re traveling overseas, don't forget to get travel insurance, suggested vaccinations, supplies, and compressions socks.

Yes, you read that right - get a good pair of compression socks which you should wear when you’re flying long flights. Immobility in long flights can often lead to swelling ankles or, worse, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), where blood clots form in your legs.

DVT and Long-Haul Flights 

Wear compression socks if you are on a flight that lasts for more than five hours. Seating and being immobile longer can lead to blood circulation problems and DVT, according to the World Health Organization.

During long-distance travel by plane, car, train or bus. However, it is three times more likely to happen when flying long-haul. Moreso, the risk is higher for travelers with multiple long-haul flights.

3 Benefits of Wearing Compression Socks

Warm Feet

Enclosed spaces like public transportation need to be cold to keep the area dry and to ensure proper air circulation. But sometimes, it can be too cold, especially for your feet. So, wear compression socks to maintain blood flow and to keep your feet and body warm.

Blood Circulation

When flying, wear a pair of compression socks to avoid any blood circulation problems. The way it’s built helps in blood circulation. So, the more oxygen your legs receive, then you experience less soreness or swelling or not at all.

Minimize Fluid Retention

Long flights mean that your body can be inactive for hours, and this can result in edema or fluid buildup in your legs. To avoid this, wear compression socks as it applies pressure in your legs and helps the fluid, known as lymph, to move freely and decrease feet swelling.

How to Choose the Right Compression Socks

There are a lot of brands and types of compression socks in the market; however, here are some of the things you should consider before buying a pair or two:

Antibacterial 

Choose a pair of socks that are made of antibacterial material. This can help with the foul smell on feet or shoes as these are treated with antibacterial technology and can help fight unpleasant feet odor.

Length and Size

Compression socks have various measures, including ankle height, thigh-highs, support hose, and leggings.

A medical condition can affect the length of the compression socks that suits you. However, most travelers can use the standard compression sock length.

Don't forget to consider the size, too. Choose socks that best fit your feet size and calves and remember that the socks must be comfortably tight on you.

Keep Your Feet Dry

We also recommend that you choose a moisture-wicking fabric to keep your feet dry and warm even in the hottest weather.

Pressure

Millimeters of Mercury or mmHg is the unit of measurement to measure the level of compression of the sock. There are different levels of mmHg, including 8 - 15 mmHg (light compression) to 40 - 50 mmHg (maximum compression), that you can choose from.

How to Put on Compression Socks Properly?

Dry Your Skin

Make sure that your skin is dry. If you applied lotion, wait until your skin totally absorbs the lotion. Properly drying your skin is essential moisture can make it challenging to pull the socks on.

Sit Comfortably

Sit comfortably on a stable chair to ensure that you won't get off balance when putting on the socks.

Check the Seams

Make sure that the seams run straight with no wrinkle. Do not fold the top of your socks!

I'm Now Wearing My Compression Socks, What's Next?

Remove Your Shoes

When you're on board, you can take your shoes off so you can wiggle your toes. Your feet will also feel less warm, which will help minimize swelling.

Drink Water

Dry spaces and dehydration can make your blood thicker. So, choose to drink water instead of coffee or alcohol, especially if you have long flights.

Are Compression Socks Just for Traveling? 

We all need proper blood circulation all the time. So, we highly recommend that you wear compression socks if you:

• mostly stand up at work,
• exercise strenuously, or
• have leg ulcers or diabetes.

So, get a pair or two pairs of compression socks now for your holiday! 

This September, leading online fashion platform Zilingo, released their latest trends selection. Doused in plaid and preppy looks, the collection boasts different cuts and arresting foray of silhouettes.

Doing some skincare with Pond's Age Miracle Day Cream changed how I looked and took care of my skin. Check out my review of the Pond's Day Cream and share your experiences, too!

So, do you remember the time when I won a Pond's day cream and night cream package from one of Zalora's Instagram contests? Well, that winning experience is also one of the best things that ever happened to my skin.

One of my favorites from my prize was the Pond's Age Miracle Day Cream. Here's what they say about their product.

About Pond's Day CreamAge Miracle Day Cream

The New Pond's Age Miracle Day Cream has Pond's' most advanced anti-aging technology, Retinol-C Complex, to continuously release powerful anti-aging retinoid actives that work 24 hours nonstop to help reduce wrinkles for a youthful glow.

[It works to] enhance the overall radiance of your skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Pond’s Age Miracle with Intelligent Pro-Cell Complex™ contains unique ingredients that boost collagen production while preventing dryness– giving your skin up to three times more cell renewal power.

Price of Pond’s Day Cream Age Miracle

It’s Php 99 for the 10 g and Php 999 for the 50 g.

Is Pond's Age Miracle Day Cream Effective?

First, let's take a step back and let me say this, I don't have a skin routine. Yes, sue me for not having a rigid skin routine. All I do is make sure that I drink plenty of fluids and put on any facial cream with SPF 30 before I go out. And yes, I admit that I have so many regrets when it comes to this.

Fast forward to March 2017, I was going through Instagram and saw a contest hosted by Zalora and beautiful box was the prize. Who wouldn't want these beauties for free, right?

My favorite among the three and I’ve already written a quick review about the Pond’s White Beauty. Here are my thoughts on the product:

Pros and Cons of Using the Pond’s Age Miracle Day Cream

Pros

Supple Skin - Once I emptied the freebie I got, I went on using the product for almost a year, and I must say it was useful. My skin was supple, and there were fewer lines on my forehead.

SPF 18 - I also love that it has SPF because let’s face it, we need to use products with sun protection every day. Please, don’t be a late bloomer like me and end with uneven skin tone.

Price - For Php 99, which was the smaller one, it definitely is a great product for its price.

Cons

Smell - I don’t like products that smell chemical-ish, if that’s a word. It has a potent smell that sticks for a few minutes after applying it on your skin.

Oil Control - I noticed that the formula doesn’t control oil on my face if I immediately go about my daily activities. I noticed that I have to let the product dry and mattify for at least 10 minutes.

Will I Use the Product Again?

Well, I used it for almost a year from 2017 - 2018, but I changed my skincare routine when we moved back home. However, I still recommend the product especially for friends or to someone who’s just trying to find the product that’s best for their skin - it’s affordable and you can easily buy it on drugstores.