Professor Edward Anderson of the United Kingdom would never have thought for a moment that his Twitter statement, “Idli are the most boring things in the world” would attract seemingly endless responses from idli lovers all over the world. So much so that he said South Indian Twitter is actively responding even when India is asleep. Well, the beauty is that pro-idli sentiments came not just from South India.
There were very interesting responses to Professor Edward Anderson’s statements. Many have given suggestions on what would be the best accompaniment to idli and how all this so-called boring food can be had so it becomes super irresistible. Come to think of it, such responses that highlight the sense of taste in our people do not surprise us. After all, is it not in the genes? Our ancestors, whose mantra was ‘Food is medicine and medicine is food’ had employed their culinary expertise to make herbs a part of their daily diet.
So, we were handed down a wide range of dishes to be prepared with herbs – kashayam, kuzhambu, rasam, soru, thuvayal, pachadi, idli podi are to name just a few. Climbing brinjal is no exception.
Properties of Climbing Brinjal
Minerals including iron, calcium, protein, phosphorous and sapnins, flavonoids, tannins, solasodine and phytosterols are present in climbing brinjal.
Properties of climbing brinjal include:
- Anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling and pain)
- Antibacterial (destroys and prevents bacteria)
- Antimicrobial (destroys and prevents bacteria, virus and fungi)
- Antioxidant (prevents negative impacts on cells, protein and DNA)
- Anti-diabetic (controls blood sugar)
- Anticancer (prevents cancer)
- Hepatoprotective (protects liver)
- Immunomodulatory (regulates immune system)
Medicinal Properties of Climbing Brinjal
Medicinal properties of climbing brinjal include:
- Relieves cold and cough
- Cures sinusitis
- Relieves lung conditions and hence is effective as home remedy for asthma
- Improves digestion
- Relieves gastric conditions
- It is an effective yoga pose for constipation.
- Cures stomach ache
- Strengthens the body
- It helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
- Prevents tuberculosis
- Prevents cancer
- Promotes liver health
- Heals hearing disorders
- Relieves fatigue
And,
Prevents mosquito attacks. Those who suffer from it know the term 'attack' is an understatement.