I am a south Indian vegetarian writing about the popular spices and herbs used for our cooking. South India is considered to be having veriety of dishes in vegetarian cooking. We will call the food as a medicine apart from giving nurishment to body. Also, there is a proverb that even elixor (food) will become poison if consumed beyond the requied quantity.

Ancient people were eating vegetables without cooking. They possessed good health without facing much of deceases and lived long. They knew which will digest easily and give good nurishment. Because of their careful food selection, they lived for a longer life. They advised us to eat after getting hungry. ('Pasithu Pusi' in Tamil). If you don't feel hungry, do not eat.

Beema (Mahabaratha fame, one out of the five brother heros who killed Duriyodhana, Villain) and Nalan (An ancient Indian king who suffered for being so truthful) are the two ancient heros who were refered as good cooks. One will prepare food from fresh vegetables and fruits without boiling or cooking them and the other will cook by boiling with all ingredients and both will said to be very tasteful.

Weather conditions are causing health problems even today. Ancient people found that the vegetable / fruits grown at that season should be consumed so that they will help to overcome the seasonal deceases.

Common south Indian menu will be cooked rice (Wheat in north India), Sambar (Mixture of cooked pulse paste, tamaring juice, salt and chilly powder etc. added with vegetables in a proper cooking procedure), Rasam means extract (Mixture of diluted boiled pulse, salt, tamaring paste,chilly powder cooked in an another procedure) and butter milk (Yogurt = Curd diluted by adding water and stirred, if possible butter will be removed). One curry will be served as a side dish. Unless, the above dish details are known, usage of herbs can not be understood properly. Now, we can go into details about various herbs and spices.

Hindu vedas are insisting to use only fresh and worm (Not too hot) food. Before starting to eat, we will drink water after sprinkling over the servings. It will help to avoid the fly and other insects move away. while drinking, gas in our stomach will clear and dry throat will get moisture. There will be no chocking.

Few years before, I have read in a news paper that in one part of south India one particular decease was prominent. While study the details, they found that the affected people have stopped using

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