10 Foods That Shouldn't Be Reheated

When the food made at home does not run out, it is usually stored in the refrigerator and then reheated when the next meal time comes. But did you know that there are certain types of food that should not be reheated because they can be harmful to the body? Know the following types of foods that should not be heated:

1. Potato

Those who have replaced rice with potatoes, they will probably serve this food three or two times a day. If leftover lunch potatoes, for example, are not stored properly and then reheated for dinner, they can lead to poisoning. If potato dishes are allowed to cool to room temperature – especially if they are wrapped in aluminum foil, they can become a breeding ground for the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Reheating potatoes is not always effective at killing these bacteria. As a result, bacteria will enter the digestive tract and become toxic. The best way of consumption is of course to always cook fresh potatoes before eating and finish them immediately. But, if there are leftovers, don't wait for it to cool to store. Put it in the fridge while it's still warm enough. If it must be reheated, use a low heat and a frying pan – don't heat it in the microwave.

2. Chicken

Chicken meat contains more protein, than red meat. If reheated, this protein will break down and be difficult to digest, which can then cause an upset stomach. Try not to heat dishes from processed chicken over and over again. Leftover fried chicken can be cut into pieces for a salad mix or bread filling, no need to re-fried to eat again. If it must be heated, preferably on the stove and not in the microwave – so the heat spreads evenly and doesn't leave any bacteria that might develop when food cools to room temperature. Processed chicken must be cooked and heated at a minimum temperature of 74⁰C so that bacteria are killed, and all parts of the meat are cooked and hot evenly.

3. Spinach

This one vegetable is easy to get and the price is affordable. This is why processed spinach is one of the most consumed types of food in Indonesia. Spinach contains a lot of nitrate which if reheated will turn into nitrite which is carcinogenic and has the potential to cause cancer. If you are cooking spinach, measure the amount so that it can be used up in one serving. Spinach and other leafy vegetables are best cooked fresh before mealtime.

4. Rice

As a staple food in Indonesia, rice will almost certainly be on the table and is generally cooked once for two to three meals. Leftover rice is also often processed into fried rice. Is this actually safe for health?  The problem with rice is the same as with potatoes; more of a storage problem than reheating. Rice that is left at room temperature will grow spores which can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Heating rice will not kill the spores that have already multiplied in it. So, frying leftover rice is actually safe. Origin, the rice is not left in an open state when not eaten. It is highly recommended to store it in a closed container.

5. Eggs

Just like chicken, eggs are also rich in protein. If heated, the protein will break and break down. In addition, heated eggs can also be toxic and unfit for consumption. Leftover hard-boiled eggs can be chopped into salad mixes or sandwich fillings instead of reheating. 

6. Mushrooms

Like other leftovers, mushroom dishes should be refrigerated no later than two hours after processing time if they are not used up, and should be eaten the same day without reheating. The protein and nutritional content of mushrooms will break down if heated and can cause various digestive problems. So, it is best if cooked mushrooms are consumed immediately on the same day and try not to heat them.

7. Celery

Because it includes leafy vegetables, just like spinach, the nitrate content in celery will turn into nitrite when heated. If you put it in soup, try to remove the celery in it before the soup is heated. The best way to consume celery is fresh without cooking, such as for juice mixtures or cooking sprinkles. If used for a mixture of dishes, then the menu should be spent in one serving.

8. Red Beets

Although in Indonesia this vegetable is still rarely consumed, but not a few also process it into various types of food. Like spinach, red beets also contain nitrates which are rich in health benefits but can be very dangerous if heated. After being heated, the chemical composition in beets will change and become unfit to eat and harmful to the body. All parts of the beet will turn into nitrite and be toxic. Because red beets are one of the most dangerous vegetables when reheated, it is advisable to consume them fresh – for example in the form of juice. If it's cooked, then finish it immediately.

9. Cooking Oil

Ideally, vegetable oil or other oils (including corn, canola, soybean, and sunflower) used for frying should only be used once. Oils that are used repeatedly until they change color will become saturated fats and contain free radicals. Saturated fat can cause high cholesterol and clog blood vessels which eventually lead to heart disease and stroke. Use a maximum of three times the oil used for frying. Once it has changed color, throw it away.

10. Radish

Usually these vegetables are used as a mixture for soup or stuffing spring rolls and spring rolls. Again, these are vegetables with high nitrate counts. If heated, then the content will change and be harmful to the body. If dishes containing turnips are left at room temperature for more than two hours, then bacteria have started to grow in them. Because radishes contain a lot of nitrates, make sure not to let them cook for too long and don't reheat them. It is highly recommended to eat it fresh and clean.

These are 4 vegetables that are good to eat to help you lose weight

In fact, there are many vegetables that are good for consumption to help you lose weight, you know. Of course, these vegetables that are good for consumption have a lot of nutrients needed by the body. By routinely including vegetables that are well consumed in your diet, it is not impossible that your weight will fall faster. However, what is the best vegetables to eat to help you lose weight?

Let's look at 4 vegetables that are good for consumption to help lose weight.

1. Spinach

Spinach is one type of vegetable that contains high iron. So, don't be surprised if spinach is very suitable for consumption for those of you who are on a diet program. In addition, spinach is also low in calories and high in fiber. The content of vitamins A, C, and K in spinach can help maximize your weight loss process. Interestingly, regularly consuming spinach can also keep the skin healthy and glowing.

2. Kale

This green vegetable can help you lose weight. You can consume kale with various preparations, such as smoothies or mixed as a salad. This kale vegetable plays an important role in the body's detoxification process so that the weight loss process can be maximized. Not only that, but kale can also increase the body's metabolism and reduce hunger before time.

3. Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a type of vegetable that is good for consumption during a diet program. You can turn a pumpkin into soup, curry, or salad. Not only that, but you can also mix pumpkin with various other vegetables to meet daily nutritional needs. The nutritional content of pumpkin is quite complete, it can help you to control your weight.

4. Mushrooms

Mushrooms have many amazing benefits for the body. One of them is being able to control excess weight. The high protein content in mushrooms can improve the body's metabolism to make it faster. That way, the fat in the body will be burned faster so that the weight loss process can run more effectively.

Pakcoy Benefits for Health and How to Choose It

Pakcoy is a vegetable from China that has started worldwide. At first glance, pakcoy is similar to mustard greens, only the shape is smaller and shorter. In addition to its delicious taste, the benefits of pakcoy can also be felt by the body. Launching Medical News Today this vegetable is very rich in nutrients and also low in calories. It's perfect for a menu for Moms who are on a low-calorie diet. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrition Data Data, 1 cup or the equivalent of 70 grams of fresh pakcoy contains about 9 calories.

Pakcoy also contains vitamins and minerals, including phosphorus, zinc, sodium, copper, manganese, selenium, niacin, folate, choline, beta-carotene, and vitamin K. Not surprisingly, Pakcoy ranks sixth in the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI) for the fruit and vegetable category. The index assesses foods not only based on their vitamin and mineral content, but also their phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity. Kucifer vegetables, such as bok choy, are rich in glucosinolates. It is a sulfur-containing compound that can benefit human health in a variety of ways. Besides being suitable for dieting, the benefits of Pakcoy can also be felt by pregnant women and babies.

Difference between Pakcoy and Mustard

Often people can hardly tell the difference between mustard greens and pakcoy because of their almost identical physical resemblance. However, if you look closely, these two vegetables have some differences. One of the most distinguishing is in the trunk. Pakcoy stems are larger and tougher in texture, while mustard greens have longer stems and a softer texture.

On the leaves, pakcoy has thicker leaves and is shaped like a spoon which is often called a mustard spoon. Meanwhile, the green mustard leaves are thinner and elongated. The most distinguishing between pakcoy and mustard is the part of the stem, the stem of the mustard greens is longer while the pakcoy is shorter.

Benefits of Pakcoy for Health

Pakcoy is often believed to be able to cure certain diseases thanks to the nutritional content contained in pakcoy. Here are some kinds of health benefits that are obtained when consuming pakcoy:

Prevent Cancer

Pakcoy is believed to prevent cancer in the body. This is because in pakcoy there is an abundant phosphorus content. Phosphorus compounds can prevent mutations in DNA because phosphorus is a compound that forms DNA and RNA in the body.

In addition, pakcoy also has an antioxidant compound in it called selenium. Selenium stimulates the body to produce selenoprotein which functions to convert toxic substances in the body into neutral fluids.

Maintain Eye Health

Pakcoy is good for maintaining eye health because there is a high content of vitamin A in pakcoy. Vitamin A acts as a substance that converts light captured by the retina into electrical impulses to be transmitted through nerves to the brain.

In addition, pakcoy is also high in beta-carotene content in it. Beta-carotene is a provitamin A that acts as an eye guard so as not to get macular degeneration caused by the effects of free radicals.

In addition, the lutein content in pakcoy is also useful in protecting eye tissue from damage caused by sunlight.

Maintain Bone Health

Calcium is needed by the body to strengthen bones. Calcium is one of the substances needed by the body to form osteocalcin which is a non-collagenous chemical compound that plays a role in the process of bone hardening or bone mineralization and pakcoy is a vegetable that contains high calcium.

Pakcoy also contains vitamin K which plays a role in maintaining the availability or stability of calcium in the bones so that the bones do not experience erosion or bone loss.

Contains Antioxidants

Call it several kinds of antioxidants, such as selenium, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta-carotene and vitamin A found in one vegetable, namely pakcoy. Pakcoy does contain various types of antioxidants and their benefits.

For example, lutein compounds that play a role in protecting the eyes from damage caused by the effects of free radicals and can also reduce cholesterol levels in the body.

In addition, other antioxidant compounds, namely selenium, which plays a role in converting toxic substances in the body into neutral and harmless fluids.

Good for Pregnant Women

Some of the nutritional content in pakcoy is very beneficial for pregnant women and their fetuses, such as folic acid, calcium and iron. The content of folic acid is needed by pregnant women for the development of nervous tissue in the fetus. Folic acid is also useful for the fetus to prevent defects in the fetal nervous system.

Meanwhile, calcium plays a role in the formation of bones and teeth in the fetus to make it more optimal and strong. In addition, the iron content also helps pregnant women not to lack blood, because iron is the main compound in the formation of red blood cells.

Pakcoy unwittingly turns out to have various kinds of antioxidant content that can protect the body from the bad effects of free radicals.

How to Choose Pakcoy

Pakcoy sold in the market has various grades and qualities, but there are several ways to choose a good quality pakcoy just by looking at it. Here are tips for choosing pakcoy with good quality:

1. Choose pakcoy with leaves that have not withered or still look fresh.
2. Choose baby pakcoy if you want to process it for children because baby pakcoy has a softer texture.
3. Pay attention to pakcoy stems, do not choose stems that have spots.
4. Do not choose pakcoy with perforated leaves.
5. Do not choose pakcoy with yellow leaves.

The correct selection of pakcoy will get pakcoy with good quality and has a lot of nutritional content.

Get to know 7 vegetables that shouldn't be consumed every day

Vegetables are usually used as a mainstay of the diet because they are rich in nutrients but do not make weight gain. Although rich in nutrients and vitamins that the body needs, there are some vegetables that should not be consumed every day.

You see, certain vegetables can be harmful to our health if consumed every day! Curious what vegetables we need to avoid?

Let's find out the 7 vegetables below!

1. Corn

Corn is delicious in any dish! Not to mention the corn fills our stomachs, here. Unfortunately, corn is not good if you have to eat it every day. Corn has a very high carbohydrate content and is very difficult for our bodies to digest. Worse yet, there is a sugar content in corn which is quite high, making our blood sugar rise!

2. Potato

Just like corn, potatoes also have a high carbohydrate content. Not to mention if the potatoes we eat are not organic potatoes, because there can be a lot of pesticide residues in them and poison our bodies!

3. Tomato

Tomatoes that are not organic can also absorb pesticides and poison our bodies. In addition, eating too many tomatoes can also make our bodies become inflamed. As a result, we can feel problems in the joints and swelling of the body, you know!

4. Eggplant

Like tomatoes, eggplant can also poison our bodies by causing inflammation. In addition, eggplant also has high calories. Plus the characteristics of eggplant are like a sponge, so it's easier to absorb oil, fat, calories, and salt which makes our bodies even more imbalanced!

5. Paprika

Paprika is a complementary vegetable that we can find in almost every food. Unfortunately, peppers can actually make our bodies inflamed, like tomatoes and eggplants!

6. Radish

Indeed, turnips have very high vitamin C. However, turnips have no other nutrients than other vegetables. In fact, turnips can make our stomach problems, such as bloating. Consuming too much radish can also make our bodies severely dehydrated, you know!

7. Lettuce

Lettuce is really good to eat for a diet or as a salad. The problem is, that lettuce turns out to have lower nutrients than other vegetables. In other words, it's better we don't have to eat lettuce at all than just in vain into our bodies!

How to Choose and Tips for Consuming Pakcoy

Pakcoy or bokchoy is a plant that comes from the brassica or cabbage family which has the Latin name Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis. Pakcoy is also known as Chinese cabbage because it is often used in various Chinese dishes.

Pakcoy has different characteristics from some other vegetables. Pakcoy has thick stems and is pale white or greenish in color. On the leaves, pakcoy has leaves that are oval or oval and form a spiral and tight formation. Pakcoy plants can grow upright with a height of 15-20 cm.

Pakcoy Side Effects

Pakcoy in addition to having various kinds of nutritional content that provides health for the body, pakcoy also contains nutrients that can cause side effects on the body. Here are some kinds of side effects on the body:

Goitrogenic Plants

Pakcoy belongs to the brassica or cabbage family which is a type of plant that contains goitrogenic substances. Goitrogenic is an isothiocinate and thiosinate compound that can block the flow of thyroid iodide which if left too much can reduce iodine storage and cause goiter.

That is, consuming too much pakcoy can stop the production of thyroid hormone in the body and result in the appearance of goiter which is characterized by symptoms of brittle and thinning hair, dry skin and a slowed heart rate.

Causes of Kidney Stones

Green vegetables often contain very high oxalic acid, and pakcoy is no exception. Oxalic acid is a natural compound found in the body of every living creature, its presence is actually needed by the body but if it is excessive it can be the cause of kidney stone disease.

Excess oxalic acid will bind to calcium which is also excessive and will form insoluble and indigestible compounds in the form of solid objects such as stones that will settle in the kidneys and cause kidney stone disease and pakcoy is a vegetable that has both of these compounds.

Pesticide Risk In Pakcoy

The use of pesticides on pakcoy poses its own risks for consumers, especially if it is consumed continuously without washing it thoroughly. Pesticide use by farmers will leave residue on the leaves or stems of pakcoy.

This pesticide residue will pose a risk to health if it is consumed too much. In addition to the risk of residue on the outside, pakcoy also has a systemic pesticide risk, namely the absorption of pesticide liquid on the inside of the pakcoy.

The systemic risk is more dangerous for pakcoy because the pesticide liquid is absorbed and circulated throughout the pakcoy. To reduce this risk, it would be better if pakcoy farmers use organic pesticides made from natural ingredients such as papaya or orange leaves.

At the consumer level, this risk can be reduced by washing and soaking pakcoy in salt water to neutralize pesticide residues that are still attached. In addition, consumers also cook pakcoy until it is completely cooked to reduce the risk of pesticides.

Tips for Consuming Pakcoy

In processing pakcoy, there is no need for a special method and it also doesn't take a long time to cook it because it can eliminate the nutritional content in it.

Here are tips for consuming pakcoy:

Sauteed Pakcoy Mushroom Shrimp

1. Prepare the pakcoy that will be used, try to use baby pakcoy for consumption by children and clean it with running water.
2. Separate the pakcoy into sheets.
3. Prepare other ingredients, such as cleaned shrimp, mushrooms, salt, sugar, shallots, garlic, bay leaves and galangal.
4. Thinly slice the spices and mushrooms.
5. Heat enough oil and add seasoning ingredients, such as garlic, shallots that have been cut into thin strips.
6. Saute the spices until fragrant.
7. Add galangal, lemongrass, cayenne pepper, salt, sugar, bay leaf and shrimp.
8. Fry for a while and add a little water.
9. Wait until the water boils and add the mushrooms.
10. Then add the pakcoy and tomatoes.
11. Stir well and cook for a while.
12. Turn off the heat and stir-fry the Pakcoy mushroom prawns ready to be served.

Pakcoy mushroom shrimp stir-fry dishes are very delicious, healthy and interesting for children. In addition, the nutritional content of this food is quite complete with high protein from shrimp and other nutrients from pakcoy.

Healthy Vegetable Salad

1. Prepare baby pakcoy which is not hard in texture.
2. Also prepare other ingredients such as carrots, lettuce, cucumber, onions, and spinach.
3. Cut the vegetables into small pieces, onions, and grated carrots.
4. Also prepare the ingredients for the salad dressing such as mayonnaise, olive oil, and pepper.
5. Mix the vegetable ingredients together in a bowl.
6. Pour the mayonnaise, olive oil, and pepper over the vegetable ingredients.
7. Place in the fridge for about 20 minutes to make it fresher.
8. After 20 minutes the vegetable salad is ready to be enjoyed.

In conclusion, processing pakcoy must be adjusted to its designation so that the nutritional content of pakcoy is obtained optimally.

8 Benefits of Eating Pakcoy Vegetables for Health

Besides being crunchy and delicious, pakcoy is rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that make it a super healthy vegetable when consumed. Like other dark green leafy vegetables, pakcoy is rich in antioxidants and other compounds that help promote better health.

One of the benefits of eating pakcoy vegetables is that it can help in preventing cancer. Why so? Because pakcoy contains cancer-fighting compounds, such as vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, folate, and selenium.

Vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene are powerful antioxidants that can help prevent cell damage from free radicals, and lower the risk of cancer. Selenium can help slow the rate of tumor growth. Want to know more about the health benefits of pakcoy vegetables, read more here!

1

. Prevent cancer

Spoon mustard contains flavonoids and isothiocynate which are believed to prevent cancer. These active compounds can protect body cells from free radicals and carcinogenic substances that trigger cancer. Several types of cancer such as colorectal, postat, lung, and breast cancer can be prevented by regularly consuming healthy foods on this one.

2. Lowering high blood pressure

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a disease that often affects many people. This disease can be prevented or treated by consuming nutritious foods, especially foods with high calcium and potassium content. Pakcoy is a type of green vegetable that is rich in calcium and potassium. In addition, vitamin B6 and folic acid in it can also reduce harmful compounds that cause damage to blood vessels and heart muscle.

3. Prevents the risk of heart disease

The low calorie and cholesterol content makes this vegetable an effort to prevent the dangerous risk of heart disease. This mustard meat also contains folic acid, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B6 which are good for maintaining heart health. From research that has been done, bok choy has the ability to prevent the production of homocysteine. If there are too many homocysteine, it can cause damaged blood vessels and increase the risk of heart disease.

4. Maintain eye health

Pakcoy also has benefits for maintaining eye health and preventing eye health problems such as dry eyes, macular degeneration, and cataracts. The content of vitamin A and beta carotene in it which makes this vegetable good for eye health.

5. Strengthens bones

This spoon mustard contains iron, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins that can maintain healthy bones and teeth. This vegetable is a source of vegetable calcium that can be an alternative for those of you who are allergic to milk. 6. Maintain digestive health Bok choy mustard has a high fiber content. This is what makes this food useful for maintaining digestive tract health. This vegetable is also safe for people with IBS or Crohn's disease to consume.

7. Increase endurance

The complete nutritional content makes this vegetable suitable for daily consumption. The various vitamins and minerals present in spoon mustard are believed to increase the body's resistance and prevent infection.

8. Eliminate wrinkles on the skin

Vitamin C contained in this vegetable is also useful for beauty, especially in delaying premature aging which is marked by the appearance of fine wrinkles on the face. The solution to overcome this turns out to be by consuming spoon mustard, because this mustard has vitamins and antioxidants that can counteract free radicals and trigger collagen to disguise wrinkles.

Morphological Characteristics of Pakcoy Plants

Pakcoy or bok choy is a vegetable that is widely consumed by the community. This vegetable does not come from Indonesia, but its popularity in the country is quite high. Pakcoy is also known by the name mustard spoon or mustard meat. The shape of the leaves does resemble a spoon with a bulging base. Similar to other types of green vegetables, bok choy is widely cultivated by farmers because it is easy and the consumers are quite high.

Pakcoy Classification

This mustard plant has morphological characteristics similar to cabbage and cabbage. The body of this plant is erect with a compact. The petiole is white with a fresh green leaf color. The stalk is wide and sturdy. When consumed, this vegetable has a crunchy texture from the stalk, and a fresh and slightly bitter taste. The classification of this plant as follows:

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Spermatophyta
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Rhoeadales
• Family: Brassicaceae
• Genus: Brassica
• Species: Brassica rapa

Morphological Characteristics of the Pakcoy Sawi spoon plant has several characteristics that can be easily recognized. In the book Bertanam Petsai and Sawi by Rukmana (1994), the characteristics of this mustard are as follows:

1. Root

The roots of bok choy are included in the taproot category with the shape of the root branches spreading in all directions. These roots can go into the soil to a depth of 30 to 40 cm. Similar to other plants, the root of the pakcoy vegetable also functions to absorb water and nutrients in the soil, and strengthens the plant so that it can stand upright.

2. Trunk

The stem of this mustard plant is short and has segments. The stem is a pseudo-stem type with a light green color. The function of the stem of this plant is to form and support the leaves.

3. Leaves

Leaves are the main part that humans use from this plant. Pakcoy vegetable leaves have an obal shape with a dark green color. The leaves of this plant are attached to the stem with white to light green petioles. The petiole is fat and fleshy, if you eat the stalk, bok choy tastes crunchy and juicy.

4. Flowers

The flowers of this plant grow elongated and branched a lot. Flowers will appear when the plant is very old. The mustard flower has three buds consisting of four leaf petals, four leaf crowns, four stamens, and one white and two hollow. This flower is yellow. If we come to the Pakcoy cultivation area, we may rarely find the flowers of this plant because farmers will harvest these vegetables before the flowers come out.

5. Fruits and Seeds

The fruit of this spoon-shaped green mustard is a pod with an elongated and hollow shape. In one fruit or pod there are 2 to seeds. The shape of the seeds of this plant is small round with brown or blackish brown color with a shiny smooth surface, and so hard.

Contents of Pakcoy

Similar to green vegetables in general, bok choy also contains several nutrients and vitamins. Pakcoy vitamins that are beneficial for the body include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folic acid, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and calcium.

• 1 gram protein
• Carbohydrates 1.5 grams
• 0.7 gram fiber
• Potassium 5%
• Vitamin A 62%
• Vitamin C 52%
• Vitamin B6 5%
• Calcium 7%
• Magnesium 3%
• Iron 3%

From the content of pakcoy, it is not surprising that this one vegetable is in the position of six categories of solid fruits and vegetables that contain the version of the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index (ANDI). Consumption of these green vegetables besides being delicious can also help meet your body's daily nutritional needs.

How to Boil Bok Choy

BOK choy or pok choy is a type of cabbage plant. This one vegetable can be processed into a variety of dishes. When processed properly, such as boiled, will give a distinctive aroma to each dish.

Bok choy is different from most other cabbages. Has two types of leaves; green leaves, similar to mustard greens; and dense white leaves consisting of a bull-shaped head. The dense leaves it has needed more time to cook.

Want to know how to boil bok choy so that it still produces the right aroma, here's a trick quoted from Ehow.

1. Rinse the bok choy using cold water, then discard the thin green leaves. To rinse it does not need to use too much water, but fill it with 1/4 full of water.
2.  Add water with kosher salt to taste. The salty taste of brine is a good indicator of how salty bok choy is.
3.  Add 1 tsp lemon juice, 4 black peppercorns, 1 lemongrass stalk, and 2 fennel leaves to the pot.
4. Adjust the heat to boil the water. Cut the stems into 1/3-inch pieces. Put the bok choy as a whole, but by breaking them one by one, then take the cover, and boil the water for five minutes. Add green leaves, cover, and simmer for two minutes.
5. Drain the bok choy in a colander, then serve hot.

Pak Choy's Buying and Cooking Tips

Vegetables known as bok choy, also known as pak choy or Chinese cabbage, are one of the easiest vegetables to make at home. Bok coy itself usually has dark green leaves and white stalks, and is usually sold in markets or supermarkets in bunches of three.

For more details, please refer to some tips for buying and storing bok coy at home, as quoted from the News page.

Buying and Saving Bok Coy

Bok choy is also known. Vegetables known as bok choy, also known as pak choy or Chinese cabbage, are one of the vegetables that are very easy to prepare for cooking at home.

When buying, look for bunches with stems that are firm and free of brown spots.

To store it, wrap it in paper and store it in the refrigerator. These vegetables can last in the refrigerator shelf for a week.

Preparation and How to cook

With full size bok choy, separate the leaves from the stems, as thicker stems take longer to cook. Rinse and drain, then shred or chop the leaves, and cut the stems into small slices along the diagonal.

Saute the bok choy briefly, season with salt, then add a little water or chicken stock and simmer for a few minutes. Add fresh ginger and sesame oil to liven up this easy stir fry.

How to Plant Pakcoy in Polybags or Pots

For fans of green vegetables, you must be familiar with the name pakcoy. Pakcoy is a type of green vegetable that belongs to the mustard family. Pakcoy or pakchoy or pak choi is also known as spoon mustard. There are many types of pakcoy available, for example, red pakcoy, green, white pakcoy, baby pakcoy, and so on.

Pakcoy is one of the many types of green vegetables that are easy and fast to cultivate. Pakcoy varieties are also one of the best-selling vegetable seeds. Harvest time is very short, which is between 30 to 45 days after planting.

Planting pakcoy does not have to be in a large area of ​​land. Pakcoy can also be planted in relatively small pots or polybags. The following is how to plant pakcoy in polybags or pots.

Seeding Stage

1. Prepare pakcoy seeds, planting media, sprayer, and seeding place.
2. Sow the pakcoy seeds first. Use a special seedling tray or seedling tray or you can use pots, polybags, or other containers.
3. Planting media for seeding should be in the form of planting media other than soil, such as roasted husks, compost, or cocopeat. If you want to use soil, make sure the soil is loose and fertile soil, which has been given a mixture of manure (1:1).
4. Make holes in the planting medium in the seeding container with your fingertips. The depth is about one finger knuckle.
5. Insert two seeds per hole. The point of these two seeds is, if one seed dies, another one can replace it to grow. For seeding, in a polybag measuring 15 cm can be made into five holes.
6. Bury the holes that have been seeded by covering them with planting media that is on the lip of each hole. You don't have to press it.
7. Flush using a sprayer (water spray) gently every morning and evening.
8. Store in a place that is not exposed to direct sunlight.
9. Keep away from animal disturbances, such as chickens or birds.
10. Wait about two weeks until the pakcoy grows and leaves two.

Planting Media Transfer Stage

If the pakcoy seed has grown into a young pakcoy (seedling pakcoy), the characteristic two-leaf (or approximately two weeks old) pakcoy can be moved to a larger pot to be planted independently. Prepare a pot or polybag with a minimum size of 15 cm. Use planting media in the form of a mixture of soil and manure (1:1) or you can also use burnt husks.

1. Fill pots or polybags with planting media. Not too full, not too shallow.
2. Make a hole in the planting medium right in the middle of the pot. The size of the hole is adjusted to the size of the Pakcoy root mound.
3. Plant pakcoy as soon as possible after it is uprooted. Be careful when pulling it out, don't break the roots. Use a spoon or shovel to make the removal process easier.
4. Tap the part of the planting medium around the buried pakcoy roots. Don't be too hard. Its function is, so that the pakcoy does not tilt when doused with water.
5. Water the pakcoy using a water spray every morning and evening.
6. For the first week, keep it out of direct sunlight. Keep it in the shade.
7. After a week, pakcoy pots or polybags can be moved to a place that is exposed to sunlight throughout the day.
8. Be careful with direct sunlight. Pakcoy leaves can burn because the sun is too hot.
9. Give fertilizer regularly. Organic fertilizer or manure is the best choice

Pakcoy can be harvested about 30 to 45 days after being planted in its own pot or polybag. Harvesting can be done by pulling it directly from the ground or by cutting the trunk of the pakcoy.

Here are a series of benefits of Pakcoy, Spoon Mustard with High Nutrition

Not only kale and spinach that can be used as choices of green vegetables for a healthy menu in the family. You can try pakcoy which is no less good in nutrition with a series of benefits to support health. There are some people say this is a spoon mustard, where it tastes delicious, fresh and suitable to be included in the diet menu. The nutritional content is what makes pokcoy quite recommended to support health. Well, for those of you who are curious what are the benefits of Pokcoy. Let's take a closer look in this article.

Pakcoy Nutritional Content

Included in the type of green vegetables with essential nutrients for the body, even those who are dieters highly recommended this type. It's illegitimate when discussing the benefits of Pak Choy not extracting the good content in it. Yes, in 70 grams or the equivalent of a cup of Pak Choy it has some good ingredients such as 1 g protein, 1.5 g carbohydrates, 0.7 g fiber, 5% potassium, 62% vitamin A, 52% vitamin C, 7% calcium, 5% vitamin B6, 3% magnesium, 3% iron. The content is assessed from the overall needs of the body. You can get everything easily to support your health.

Pakcoy Cooking Recommendations for Good Nutrition

Although a lot of content in pakcoy will be useless if the cooking process is not right, it means that it needs its own technique. Pakcoy itself can be processed in several types of delicious vegetables, various spices, and various mixtures. So, so that you don't go wrong in the cooking process, here are some tips:

1. Steamed.

This method is said to be the best than the other methods, that's because the content is said to be able to withstand both vitamins and minerals. But make sure to steam in the right time, generally only need 6 minutes before eating. Make sure before steaming you can wash the pakcoy first thoroughly using running water.

2. Stir-fry.

Often people say that cooking pakcoy by sautéing can make the nutritional content decrease or even disappear. Though this is a good way too, especially if the use of oil is limited only a little. To be healthier, choose the type of olive or canola oil, add protein to complement the body's needs.

3. Boiled.

This method of cooking is relatively easy, just boil water and then add the vegetables. For more enjoyment, you can add other types such as meat, shrimp or others with the right cooking process. Do not worry about minerals and vitamins will be lost because with the consumption of boiled water can still get both well.

4. Baked.

Not only fish, meat, or chicken that can be grilled but also various types of vegetables. One of them is Pokcoy which is considered healthier and easier to digest in the body. With this one process, you can make Pokcoy taste delicious, especially if the roasting is done using quality oil or seasonings.

Tips for Choosing Quality Pakcoy

After looking at the content and how to cook the right pakcoy as above, it is also necessary to understand the selection of quality pakcoy. Because with the right selection of nutrients obtained when consuming will also be more leverage. There are several tips for choosing such as:

1. Pakcoy is still fresh and not wilted.
2. Make sure the color is still perfectly green and not yellowed.
3. Not rotten on the bottom.
4. Avoid insects or caterpillars that are often found in green vegetables.
5. Good quality.

Choosing vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, or others properly when shopping is an obligation. Where it will make you get the nutrients contained in each ingredient to the maximum.

Dragon Fruit Benefits for Face, Stomach to Diabetes and Heart Health

Has anyone ever consumed dragon fruit at all? Dragon fruit (English: Pitaya) is the fruit of several types of cacti from the genera Hylocereus and Selenicereus. Dragon fruit is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. Now widely cultivated in Asia, including Indonesia.

Dragon fruit has a fresh and delicious taste. There are several variants of dragon fruit, some are white and some are reddish purple. Besides being delicious, dragon fruit also contains many vitamins and useful substances. The nutritional content of dragon fruit includes iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B3, fiber, magnesium, antioxidants, and low in cholesterol.

Important benefits of Dragon Fruit for Body Health

1. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Prevent Dehydration

Dragon fruit contains high levels of water even though it lives in dry areas. Therefore, consuming dragon fruit provides a refreshing sensation and prevents dehydration. Dragon fruit can be consumed directly, made into juice, made into fruit ice, and other preparations.

2. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Prevent Anemia

Every 100 grams of dragon fruit is known to contain 1.9 mg of iron. Thus, consuming 100 grams of dragon fruit can meet 11% of the daily iron needs of adults. One of the benefits of iron is to prevent anemia.

3. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Increase Body Endurance

Dragon fruit is rich in vitamin C content, three times higher than vitamin C in carrots. Every 100 grams of dragon fruit contained 21 mg of vitamin C which can meet 34% of the daily needs of adults. One of the benefits of vitamin C is to maintain and increase endurance.

4. Benefits of Dragon Fruit for Skin Health

Another benefit of dragon fruit is to help maintain healthy skin. This is because of the high vitamin C content in dragon fruit.

5. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Help Absorb Iron in the Digestive Tract

Another benefit of vitamin C contained in dragon fruit is to help absorb iron in the digestive tract.

6. Benefits of Dragon Fruit for Heart Health

Consuming dragon fruit every day can help maintain heart health. Because dragon fruit is a good source of unsaturated fat. In addition, dragon fruit is also useful to help lower bad cholesterol levels in the body.

7. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Overcome Digestive Tract Problems

Consuming dragon fruit regularly provides great benefits for the health of the digestive tract. Dragon fruit contains 7 grams of fiber in one serving. Food sources rich in fiber are known to reduce the risk of intestinal inflammation, recover from gastrointestinal disease, and launch bowel movements.

8. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Prevent Diabetes

The next benefit of consuming dragon fruit is to help maintain stable blood sugar levels in the body. A study says dragon fruit is useful in helping the regeneration of damaged pancreatic cells in diabetics.

9. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Cleanse Face from Acne

Dragon fruit in addition to being consumed can also be used for facial masks for acne. The high vitamin C content in dragon fruit is useful in reducing/reducing facial skin inflammation due to acne.

10. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Restore Sunburned Skin

Dragon fruit mask mixed with cucumber and honey can help overcome sunburned skin. This is because of the high content of vitamin B3 in dragon fruit, one of the benefits of Vitamin B3 is to moisturize burned skin.

11. Benefits of Dragon Fruit as a Source of Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that is needed by the body. Magnesium in the body functions in the breakdown of energy, muscle contraction, and the formation of DNA. Consuming dragon fruit can provide sufficient magnesium intake for the body. The magnesium content in dragon fruit is known to be higher than in other fruits.

12. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Overcome Hair Damage Due to Dye

Coloring hair for a long time using chemicals can cause hair damage. Applying mashed dragon fruit to the hair and scalp on a regular basis can help restore hair that has been damaged by chemicals. The content of vitamin and minerals in dragon fruit can provide nutrients to the hair and scalp.

13. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Help Prevent Aging

The benefits of dragon fruit for the skin include smoothing the skin, keeping facial skin tight, and helping prevent wrinkles. To get the benefits of dragon fruit for this skin you only need to use dragon fruit juice as a mask regularly.

14. Benefits of Dragon Fruit to Maintain Ideal Body Weight

Dragon fruit is one of the fruits that deserves to be consumed to maintain ideal body weight. This is because dragon fruit is a fruit that is low in cholesterol so it will not make your weight increase. However, consume dragon fruit appropriately and not excessively.

How to Grow Broccoli (The Right One)

Broccoli is one of the most popular plants. Because many foods in Indonesia use broccoli as one of the basic ingredients, from soups to salads. In addition, broccoli is very easy to find in the market, be it in traditional markets or in modern supermarkets. However, sometimes we have difficulty finding broccoli that is still fresh and of good quality, and free of disease.

Especially for those of you who are too busy so they only have time to go to the supermarket when the broccoli stock is sold out. But don't worry, because you can grow broccoli yourself at home. Even how to grow broccoli is quite easy.

Here's how to grow broccoli at home!

Prepare Broccoli Planting

Before you start growing broccoli of course there are some important preparations that you should know. The goal is that when planting broccoli you find difficulties you can solve them yourself first. After really stuck, then you can ask someone who is more expert. Here are some preparations or important things that you must learn before you can start growing broccoli.

Types of broccoli

Understanding the type of broccoli you want to grow is an important thing that should not be overlooked. Because each type of broccoli has different planting requirements, it must be included in your calculations. Especially if you decide to resell the broccoli. Previously, we will try to discuss several types of broccoli and cauliflower. Scientifically, the two have different variances, but from the genus, it turns out that they are both similar, you know.

1. Giga Cauliflower – is one of the white cauliflower and its size is quite large. One of the advantages of this type is that it can be harvested within 55 days after planting (DAT), and has resistance to extreme weather. Unfortunately, this type of cauliflower is known not to have more resistance to certain diseases.
2. Mona Cauliflower – is one of the cauliflower that you can grow in the lowlands to the highlands. Mona cauliflower is a bit small compared to Giga cauliflower but can be harvested within 50 days after planting (DAT). This type of cauliflower is also known not to have more resistance to certain diseases.
3. Cauliflower Aquina – is one type of cauliflower that you can also grow in the middle to highlands. It can be said that this species has a fairly large size, and is resistant to black rot caused by Xanthomonas. In addition, this type of cauliflower can be harvested at the age of 58 to 60 days after planting (DAT).
4. Cauliflower PM 126 – the name is quite unique, yes, because this cauliflower is one of the superior hybrid types that is claimed to be able to reach a weight of 1.5 kg at harvest. In addition, this cauliflower also has many other advantages, including being able to be harvested within 45 to 50 days after planting (DAT), as well as being resistant to black rot, downey mildew, and soft rot. Suitable for those of you who want to grow broccoli/cauliflower for resale.
5. Italian Green Broccoli – is one of the most common types of broccoli found in traditional markets and supermarkets. This type of broccoli has very many varieties around the world, including in Indonesia. In our opinion, this type of broccoli is one of the easiest to resell because most people already know it. The harvest period of this dark green broccoli is between 55 to 100 days after planting (DAT) depending on the variety planted.
6. Broccoli Green King – is one of the superior varieties that are widely grown by farmers. The main advantage of this type of broccoli is the harvest period of about 10 weeks after planting, the size can reach 500 – 1 kg and resistant to various diseases.
7. Broccoli Express Corona – is a type of green broccoli that is also very popular with farmers. Although it does not have special resistance to various diseases, one of its characteristics that is quite favorable is the harvest period which is only 45 days after planting (DAT). This means that crop rotation in the fields can be accelerated, and of course, it can increase productivity as well.
8. Pinnacle Broccoli – This broccoli is classified as one of the types favored by farmers and consumers. The reason is because of its large size, attractive colors, and quite soft texture. In addition, this type of broccoli is known to be resistant to powdery mildew and has a harvest period of 68 days after planting.
9. Skiffi Broccoli – is one of the superior broccoli that has a fairly long harvest period, which is about 105 days after planting (DAT). However, you can still plant this one type considering its very high productivity compared to other types of broccoli.
10. Apart from the nine types of broccoli and cauliflower above, actually, there are still many types of broccoli that you can grow. Moreover, in Indonesia, the average type of broccoli can be grown easily.

The important thing you need to remember is the planting requirements of each type of broccoli and the different harvest times. Later it will greatly affect, especially your calculations if the harvest is to be resold.

Growing conditions

In general, in farming you have to pay attention to the growing conditions of the type of plant you want to plant. The goal is that plants can grow optimally and yields can be abundant as expected.

As for some of the growing conditions that you must meet if you want to grow broccoli are as follows:

Climate – climate or daily weather conditions are important factors in growing broccoli. By maximizing planting based on the climate in the area where you live, the growth of broccoli can certainly be maximized.

• Broccoli plants themselves are not sensitive to the wind because the height of this plant is quite low, but broccoli requires a fairly high rainfall of 1000 to 1500 mm / year.
• The air temperature favored by this plant is also quite low, namely 13 to 24oC, with high humidity of 80-90%.
• The light intensity requested is weak light intensity during seedling and strong light intensity during growth. In order not to be exposed to direct sunlight, you can use a paranet when sowing broccoli.
• In addition, most broccoli plants like lowlands to highs in the range of 1000 to 2000 meters above sea level (masl). However, there are indeed several species that can be planted in the lowlands of less than 1000 meters above sea level.

Growing media – apart from the climate that you cannot control, growing media is another important factor that you can control. Controlling broccoli growing media is certainly intended so that broccoli can grow optimally.

• The soil favored by broccoli plants is soil that tends to be loose and not easily muddy. Some types of soil that are recommended for planting broccoli include alluvial, andosol, latosol, and regosol types.
• The soil acidity level favored by broccoli plants is around 5.5 to 6.5. Less than that, it is known that the soil tends to lack several minerals such as magnesium, boron, and molybelium.
• Broccoli also likes soil or beds with a very good watering. The optimal slope of the soil is around 0-20%. If you have land with a slope of more than 20% then you have to make a terrace.

Those were some of the preparations that you should learn before deciding to grow broccoli independently. When you understand it, it's time for you to read about how to seed broccoli itself.

How to Plant Cucumbers to Fruitful

Cucumber or commonly known as cucumber is a type of fruit that is favored by most people because it gives a fresh sensation when consumed. Cucumber is very easy to find everywhere because this cucumber itself is one type of fruit that is always there at any time. Not only for consumption, cucumber also has considerable benefits in the field of beauty, one of which is a mask made from cucumber extract.

However, this cucumber or cucumber cultivation often fails, especially so that cucumber plants can produce lots of fruit. This is because cucumbers need special treatment so that their productivity is high. Now many also choose to cultivate cucumbers hydroponically. Now especially for you readers of Kutanam, this time we will show you how to grow cucumbers so that they can produce dense fruit.

Land Preparation

Preparing the land is important, and this is the first step in growing cucumbers. You can loosen the soil to make it fertile by hoeing. After doing the loosening, the next step is to make a bed with a size of 1×5 meters with a height of 30cm, and the distance between beds is 50cm. To facilitate maintenance, it is better to use a mulch cover. This is intended so that maintenance can be easier without having to weed weeds.

Next is to make a planting hole that has a depth of about 20 cm, while the distance between the planting holes is 50×60 cm. After inserting compost or manure into each planting hole, then let it sit for up to one week.

Seeding

While waiting one week since the fertilizer is put into the hole, you can first sow the seeds in polybags containing soil and compost/manure with a balanced composition. Seeds usually begin to grow at the age of 14 days. Seeding is intended so that cucumbers can more easily adapt when moving from seedling media to planting media. Make sure you have high-quality seeds so that they can produce good and dense fruit.

Planting

After the seeds are ready, then immediately transfer the seeds from the seedling media to the planting medium without delay. If it is late, the seeds will be very susceptible to pests and diseases so the seeds can die due to being in the seedling medium for too long. To transfer from seedling media to planting media, you only need to open a plastic polybag containing the seeds, then place the seeds along the previously prepared planting hole, then cover again with soil until the plants can stand upright.

Pruning

In order to maximize growth, vegetative growth must be controlled. This can be done by pruning the shoots which aim to leave three shoots that can produce fruit. The more shoots that are maintained, the longer the plant can produce fruit, and if the plant produces fruit, the results will not be optimal. That's why this pruning is quite important to do. Pruning shoots can be started at the age of 1 to 1.5 months after planting and carried out when the plant is not flowering.

Fertilization

This stage is intended so that plants can develop optimally and produce more fruit.

Fertilizer must be carried out from the time the plant is transferred from the seedling medium to the planting medium until it enters the harvest period. At this time you can provide fertilizer with the following types and variations:

1. NPK fertilizer is given when the plant is 7 days old from entering the planting medium, with a frequency of 2 to 3 times a week which is given by pouring it into the plant, with an initial dose of 5 grams per 1 liter of water and can be increased to 20 grams per 1 liter of water. This fertilizer is given until the plants flower.
2. Compost or manure can be added from time to time because the seedbed soil will be eroded by water so the plants need to be filled with holes so that the plants do not fall to the bottom.
3. KCL fertilizer is given by spreading it around the roots at a dose of 5 g per planting hole, and starting when the cucumber plants have started to flower. Fertilizer will help the flowers not fall off or rot before the fruit comes out.
4. Fruit fertilizer is given by spraying which can be done when small fruit begins to appear. This process is done so that the fruit does not fall and does not rot.

Control

What is controlled here is not the fruit that comes out of each plant, but rather the strength of the plant that will support the fruit. If it is too heavy, the plant will fall to the ground.

Therefore, at this phase thinning must be done, namely by selecting the fruit. Discard fruit that is not good or does not meet the requirements such as growing abnormally, small, or deformed due to plant diseases/pests. This way you can get really good quality crops.

Now you have received a good education on how to grow cucumbers correctly from seeding to harvesting. Even though it's not as easy as in harvest moon or other farming games, if you apply it correctly then you have high hopes that you won't fail in growing cucumbers!