MySmartPick Health
Food and everyday health habits, checked against the evidence.
Amla (Gooseberry) Juice: What It Really Does, What Is Exaggerated, and How Much to Drink
Amla, or nellikkai, is one of the richest common sources of vitamin C, and a daily glass of its juice has become a popular morning ritual. Some claims made for it are well supported; others go far beyond the evidence. Here is what the research and nutrition data actually show, and how to take it sensibly.
Karpooravalli Banana: Real Benefits, and Why It Won't Raise Your Haemoglobin or Strengthen Bones
Karpooravalli, also called thaen vazhai, is one of Tamil Nadu's favourite bananas: sweet, fragrant and slow to spoil. Social media credits it with raising haemoglobin, strengthening bones, improving memory and stopping hair fall. Some of that rests on real nutrition; much of it does not. Here is what one banana actually gives you.
Red Banana (Sevvazhai): What It Really Offers, and Which Popular Claims Don't Hold Up
Red banana is a much-loved fruit in Tamil homes, and it is often described as a remedy for everything from kidney stones to loose teeth. It is a good, nourishing fruit. But some of the claims go well beyond what the evidence shows, and for one group of people bananas need real caution. Here is what holds up.