We have investigated the necessity of Protein, starch, fat and Vitamins sofar. Apart from these there are three other protective ingredients. These are calcium, phosphorous and iron. Evil results will follow if these are not taken into the system.
Calcium
Calcium is essential for the health and growth of the bones. Calcium is found in many products. The drumstick leaves also contain a good quantity of calcium. The calcium available in green leaves is not properly absorbed into the system. Milk also contains calcium. Even skimmed milk contains calcium. Since this is available in the most suitable condition, milk is the best for getting calcium.
Child’s growth
Pregnant women, children and suckling mothers need a lot of calcium intake. The calcium found in the bones of children has to come from the mother only. If the calcium is not made available to the mother through nutrients, the child robs the calcium even from the mother’s bones. The mother is sure to get ill and grow weak. The child also will not grow. Every adult needs per day 0.68 and every child 1.0 gramme of calcium.
Cow’s Milk – 0.120
Buffalo Milk – 0.203
Goat’s Milk – 0.128
Curds – 0.120
Butter-milk – 0.030
(Coonoor Publication)
From this statement one can understand what quantity of milk should be consumed every day. The milk that is taken by adults and children in this country is very little indeed.
In Betel leaves
The Tamilians chew betel leaves profusely. The leaf is smeared with Chunam (lime). This Chunam (lime) comes out of calcium. Even for the calcium taken is like this, there is benefit, But when tobacco is thrust into the mouth the benefits are lost.
Phosphorous
The diet that contains calcium has also phospherous. This ingredient is easily obtained if milk is taken in enough quantities. Phosphorous is present in a suitable form, in Cumbu, Cholam, Ragi, Varagu, Samai, and wheat. When these millets and grains are cooked the phosphorous vanishes.
Sathuma – Grandma’s energetic food
This can be retained during cooking. Our grandma will be able to give us the clue. On the Ekadasi day better keep close contact with the old day. At about 1 P.M. she will come to the phial with butter-milk, water pot and salt and sit there. There will be the jaggery powder and also a spare brass vessel. From a tin she will scoop out some flour into the vessel sprinkle the jaggery powder and enough water and mix them. She will close her eyes, and to the exclamation of the Lord’s Name of “NARAYANA “, she will throw into her mouth small balls of the mixture.
Like a money box, the mouth will shut and open. When the pot is about to get empty she will open her eyes and come down from this sweet Ekadasi meditation! She will see her grandson standing there without blinking looking at her performance. This grandson will be contemplating whether the sweet balls won’t stick in the throat of the grandma leaving a balance for his consumption. He will be all the time addressing the Lord Ganesa for this result. The remnants sticking to the pot will surely come for the share of the grandson. If more is given there might be indigestion!
There must be some medium for the Ball Narayanas which went in to float even as the Lord of Heavens at Vaikunta. For that purpose, the grand dame will pour butter-milk into the lead pot, mix more flour, sprinkle salt and assfoetida and then with one big exclamation of “Narayana” will send in the entire lequid portion. Who should worry after this for the Dwadasi, when the Ekadasi fast has to be broken? This can conveniently come even after two days instead of the next day!
We can also do
We can invent one step in advance of the grandma. Why search for the daily tiffin, Iddli, Sambar and Chatni and Dosai? Some days of the week can give us the tiffin of this grandma’s preparation known in the Tamil Nad as “Sathu Ma” that is literally “Essence Flour”. Phospherous may get angry and quit if the grains are fried. Many grains and millets can be mixed, dirt a d stones removed and then ground in the flour mill and kept by. This flour can be mixed in good butter-milk and a pinch of salt and then taken.
Beware! One cannot with impunity send in several tumblers of this semi-liquid at a time. The unacquainted stomach and weak intestines may cause diarrhea. This must be adopted slowly.
Iron
We said that iron is essential for the body. Iron filings may be easily available. But this cannot be mixed with coconut chips and sent into stomach! The iron has to be made available in a way fit for human assimilation. This is in a fit condition only in dhals and in some vegetables.
The iron contents of the vegetables is not properly assimilated into the system. That which is to be had from dhals is the most suitable.
Source
Each person requires every day 20 milligrams of iron ingredient. The iron available in the articles is not entirely absorbed. According to this capacity articles can be graded. The first place is taken by Soya Beans. Then comes, Dried Beans; almonds, wheat, oats, Raisins, etc., in order.
This essence of iron cannot be neglected. The red corpuscles of the blood depend on iron. This is called Haemoglobin. These carry the oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Iron is important for having proper quantity and quality of blood in the system. Anaemia has to be prevented by proper intake of iron.