THE RED FRUIT OF PAPUA (BUAH MERAH PAPUA)

A few years back, people in Indonesia even in some other parts of the world was confounded with one quite big phenomenon in the world of natural medicine. The phenomenon was the discovery of the Papua Red Fruit’s potential to treat and heal several illnesses, including HIV/ AIDS. Today, we are going to talk about this particular fruit again.

The Red Fruit

The red fruit generally grows in Papua, especially on the mountain area, such as on the areas along mountain side of Jayawijaya. The plant is actually still in the family of pandanus, with the scientific name of Pandanus Conoideus. The tree can grow up to 5 branches, with 15 meters high. The leafs are similar to ribbons, but have small thorns on the edge parts. The roots are hanging in the air with the height of 1 meter from the base trunk. The fruit has a long ellipse form or sometimes a bit square, with 30-120 cm length and 10-25 cm wide. Usually the color is red, brownish red, or sometimes yellow. The skin, however, is similar with the skin of jackfruit.

People in Papua have been, for generations, consuming the red fruit along with the vegetables and several of the tuber group, such as yam and cassava. They consume it to uplift their stamina and energy. Most of them also use the red fruit for medicine, because it has the peculiarity to heal diseases, such as eyes, and skin diseases. Beside that, the red fruit is also served during rituals and traditional ceremonies.

The Benefits

The first research about the benefits of red fruit was conducted by a scientist from Cendrawasih University in Jayapura, Drs. I Made Budi, M.S. As a nutritionist and a lecturer, he carefully observed the custom habits of the traditional society in Wamena, Timika, and the villages around the Jayawijaya mountain area, who consume the red fruit. He found that the local people have bigger muscular figure, and high stamina. The physical wonder of the people is that they rarely get degenerative diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Through his research, Drs. I Made Budi, M.S., discovered that in the form of essence the red fruit contains high potential antioxidant as an active substances to prevent many illnesses, anti virus compounds and also complex vitamins and minerals. It contains carotene, beta carotene, tocopherol, and other substances that can increase endurance of a body, such as oleic acid, linoleic acid, omega 3, and omega 9.

Beta carotene inside the red fruits functions to treat cancer, overcoming anti stroke, and coroner heart disease. It slows down artery spots blockage, so that blood can flow to the heart and brain smoothly. Tocopherol functions as an anti aging, secondary antioxidant, to increase body immune system, preventing damage caused by free radicals, and has a high content of vitamin E. It is also good to cure cancer, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and reduce bad cholesterol.

Here are several benefits believed could be obtained by consuming the red fruit.

1.     Cure eyes illnesses caused by the lack of vitamin A.

2.     Stimulate the brain function and improve intelligence.

3.     Increase sexual desire for male and fertility.

4.   Cure cancers and tumors, because of the high content of tocopherol and beta carotene. The two substances function as antioxidant, increase the body immune system, and prevent the growth of cancer cells.

5.      Prevent high blood pressure and stroke.

6.      Cure diabetes mellitus, by repairing the work of the pancreas.

7.      Cure and prevent osteoporosis, because of its high content of calcium.

8.    Help healing AIDS. The high level of beta carotene and tocopherol in the red fruit can actually stop the HIV virus from continuing to live.

Other than the benefits mentioned, the red fruit said can also cure the digesting system diseases, hemorrhoids, lungs problem, and more.

The Pros and Contras

To this day, the study and research on the red fruit is yet to be finished. The authentication of the red fruit’s power and benefits has not been done clinically. Even so, there are a lot of people who suffered from several illnesses have felt the benefits of the fruit. Some of them consumed it along with medicine from their doctors, or combined it with other herbal medicine. However, there are others who consumed it solely.

The phenomenon had triggered pros and contra among the people. There are some people who believe it straight away and use it for medication, some conduct research immediately, and some are still hesitated about it. No matter how the controversy has grown, in reality, there are many people who claimed to be cured from their illnesses after consuming the red fruit.

* Gathered from many sources.

* All pictures belong to their rightful owners... I'm just borrowing them.

 

HAKARL OF ICELAND

Hakarl

Here in Indonesia, we might be used to eat processed fish or dried fish, which mostly known as “ikan asin”. However, this unique food we are going to talk about is the perhaps the “extreme” version of the processed fish. It is Hákarl; an Icelandic delicacy, which is basically a rotten shark meat.

The shark meat processed into hákarl is taken from a kind of shark that live in the region, the Greenland sharks or the Basking sharks, whose meat are poisonous. This is possible because the animals do not own urinary tracts, so they have to secrete their urine from their skin. This urinating method has caused high amounts of uric acid become so concentrated in the shark flesh, and eating it, even in only a small amount can cause people poisoned, and vomit blood. So, in order to be able to consume the meat safely, the fermentation process is done.

How is the fermentation process conducted?

First of all, one large shark is gutted, then, the innards, the cartilage, and the head are discarded. After that, a shallow hole is prepared in gravelly sand, preferably down by the sea. Then the beheaded and gutted shark is placed in the hole, and covered with sand, and gravel. To put a pressure in the shark, stones are placed on top of the sand. This can make the fluid from the shark flesh pressed out of the body. Then the shark is left there for a period of times. In summer it usually will be ready in 6-7 weeks, while in winter in 2-3 months. The whole process is called the curing process or the curing period.

Shark Meat Hung to Dried

After the curing period is done, the shark meat is taken out of the hole. Then the flesh is cut into large pieces and hung to dry for 2-4 months in a drying shack. The shack has plenty of holes to let the wind in, but enough shade to prevent the sun from shining directly on the shark meat. The drying process will produce a brown crust on the meat. After all the process, then the hákarl can be cut or sliced in small pieces and ready to be served.

Nowadays, the process of curing can be done in more modern way, which is by putting it into a large plastic container with a drainage hole. Then the shark’s meat is left there to cure just as the traditional method.

Hakarl to Served

 Hákarl is usually served during the Icelandic midwinter festival called Thorrablot, and often served in form of cubes on toothpicks. People there commonly consume it along with “brennivin”, the local Icelandic liquor made from potatoes. The “fans” of this outrageous delicacy described that hákarl has a powerful “cheesy” flavor. As for those who have eaten it and decided not to be the fan of it describe hákarl is the most disgusting food they ever tasted, very similar to solid urine.


* Gathered from many sources.
* All pictures belong to their rightful owners... I'm just borrowing them.
 

Catatan Harian Si Boy - Renyah, Menggelitik Cing!

Poster Film Catatan Harian Si Boy

Berawal dari aku membuka website 21 cineplex beberapa minggu yang lalu. Niat awalnya adalah ingin melihat apakah film hollywood sudah mulai masuk lagi ke bioskop indonesia. Namun kemudian perhatianku tersedot ke satu judul film di sana. Seperti biasanya, di sana ada judul-judul film yang bakal tayang. Di deretan judul-judul film ada satu yang sangat familiar: "Catatan Si Boy".

Cukup kaget juga aku. Loh, setahuku ini adalah judul film remaja yang booming banget di pertengahan 80an. Kok ada lagi? Apa ini sequelnya ataukah remake nya? Pas aku cek lagi ternyata ada satu kata tambahan dalam judul itu yakni "Catatan Harian Si Boy". Makin yakinlah kalau itu adalah sequel film Catatan Si Boy (Caboy) yang sukses di tahun 80an itu.

Awalnya sudah males duluan nontonnya. Karena biasanya sequel film-film yang gagal total, terutama untuk film lokal kita. Jadi aku pun ngga terlalu menggubris lagi.

Beberapa hari setelah itu, saat aku lagi buka twitter & siap-siap update twit, aku baca twitter dari salah seorang yang aku follow account twitternya. Dia adalah Yoris Sebastian. For you who don't know him or never heard about him, you should google him. I insist.

Anyway, pada twitter dia, dan retweet dia, banyak komentar tentang film Caboy yang baru ini. Rupanya malam sebelumnya adalah malam premiernya. Dan almost all the twits were paying compliments and praises for the movie. Wah, makin penasaran kan aku. Akhirnya ku putuskan kalau aku harus menonton film ini.

Catatan Si Boy Original Version

Singkat cerita, setelah beberapa kali gagal, akhirnya hari ini aku berhasil juga nonton Catatan Harian Si Boy. Bareng sama sepupuku, kita berdua tanpa rencana berangkat ke Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) XXI, siang hari bolong.

Ternyata memang benar, it is worth to watch. Temanya ringan, tentang persahabatan. Alur ceritanya juga mengalir begitu saja. Sangat menghibur. Tapi 2 tokoh yang paling menghibur & menyita perhatian adalah karakter Andi & Heri. Teman dari tokoh utama film, Satrio.

Kedua tokoh ini mampu menyajikan bercandaan dan humor menggelitik, yang mampu membuat seluruh isi teater 1 TIM XXI tertawa terbahak-bahak. Semuanya berjalan smooth, tidak dipaksakan.

Muncul juga sedikit istilah-istilah slank dari tahun 80an seperti "cing!" atau "rumpi". Chemistry dari 4 sahabat Satrio, Andi, Heri, & Nina, blending effortlessly.

Aku di sini ngga mau bicara soal akting mereka. Karena aku juga ngga tau apa-apa soal akting. Aku nggak mau sok tau.

But one thing for sure, I really enjoyed the movie, so much that I want to see it again. Kalau diminta menjelaskan bagaiman rasanya nonton film ini, jawabanku adalah renyah dan menggelitik.

Tentang hubungan film ini dengan Caboy yang dulu, hmmmm..... I don't think I'm going to share it here. You should, no you MUST see it AND enjoy it yourselves.


* All pictures belong to their rightful owners... I'm just borrowing them.

GOT (GOAT) MILK?

Milk. We all know how nutritious it is. We already know how nutrients in it, such as calcium, mineral, protein, and vitamins, are very beneficial for our health. These are the facts that we can find in our usually consumed milk, which source is from the cow. But how about the milk comes from another animal, like goat for example?

Nutritious Delicious Milk

Still remember about the controversial issue of the enterobacter sakazakii said to be found in formulated milk for babies? The issue had made many people, especially mothers, filled with concerns. Because of that most of them preferred a solution of exclusive breast-milk. However, for some mothers it can be impossible to do that due to medical reason. If this is the case, then goat milk could be an option.

Cute Baby Drinking Milk

 

Goat milk often recommended as substitute-milk for babies, children, or even adults who are allergic towards cow milk and other kinds of food. These days, goat milk is quite popular although has price much higher than the cow milk’s. It is probably because goat milk does have different characteristics from cow milk and breast milk (ASI). It has higher digesting capability, specific level of acidity, high buffer capacity, and can be used to cure certain illnesses. The result from the survey conducted by United Department of Agriculture said showed that goat milk is highly recommended to treat illnesses such as, TBC, asthma, anemia, hepatitis, muscle cramps and sore ulcer.

THE NUTRITIONS

Goat milk owns complete nutritional compounds and very good for health. The rather-sweet milk can be an alternative for those who cannot consume cow milk or lactose intolerance. It is very low in lactose so it does not cause diarrhea. It also does not contain beta lacto globulin, an allergen compound that often mention as the trigger of allergic reactions such as asthma, respiratory blockage, ear infection, eczema, skin rash, and nuisance in food digestion. However, although goat milk has low risk causing allergies, you should not assume it as a cure to remove allergic reactions.

Milking The Goat

High level of protein compound also contained inside goat milk. This is why goat milk is very beneficial for the growth of body and the establishment of body tissue. It is a non-expensive protein source but high qualified. The protein inside goat milk consists of 22 amino acids including several essential amino acids. The essential amino acids inside the body are crucial compounds in establishing numerous hormonal compounds and body tissue.

Goat milk is also a source of calcium mineral, phosphor, calium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and surely protein. As a calcium source, the goat milk is very good for maintaining the strength and solidness of bones. Calcium inside goat milk also protects the large intestine from the risk of cancer caused by chemical substances that went through it. It also prevents osteoporosis post the menopause stage, migraine, and lower the risk of pre-menstruation syndrome symptom.

A research conducted by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that goat milk has been proven to accelerate fat burning. The research showed that high consumption of natural calcium coming from the goat milk produced fat burning 20 times faster compared to none.

Other than being consumed, goat milk can also be used for skin treatment. Soap that made of the mix of goat milk has the same acidity level with the skin. It has soft effect on the skin and does not trigger irritation. Several studies reported the use of extracted goat milk soap could heal skin diseases, such as psoriasis and as mentioned before eczema.

THE CONTRA OPINION

The lack of interest to consume goat milk, one of many, caused by the assumption that people with high blood pressure should not consume it. However the assumption is completely wrong. The main compound of goat milk, which consists of calium, actually functions to stabilize the blood pressure, organize the working function of heart, and suppress the risk of getting arteriosclerosis.

The statement was confirmed by research done towards more than 40.000 American males who consume goat milk for more than four years. The research concluded that the group who consumed more calium turned out to have much lower risk of having stroke.

Seen from the nutritional compounds shows that goat milk do own quality as good as cow milk, if not better. Obviously, it can be another alternative for us as another source of nutrition, other than cow milk that has been commonly consumed.

hmmm... Nutritious food for nutritious milk

* From different sources.
* All pictures belong to their rightful owners... I'm just borrowing them.

 

UNIQUE FOODS: SNAILS (ESCARGOT)

Escargot

As quoted from wikipedia, “snail is a common name that can be used for almost all members of the molluscan class Gastropoda which has coiled shells in the adult stage”. The snails commonly used for consumption are the land snails, which are the snails that live in almost every kind of habitat, from deserts and mountains to marshes (wetlands), woodland, and gardens. The edible snails are particularly the species Helix Aspersa or Cornu Aspersum.

Although it is considered as a French dish, escargot or snails actually have been consumed for thousand of years now. It is believed that men in prehistoric age have been consuming the snails. Snails are even eaten in Africa, Mediterranean region, and Roman Empire.

Before it is cooked into many kinds of cuisines, the snails must be cleaned thoroughly, due to the toxic content as the result of the specific element contained in dirt, which the snails ate.  The cleansing process can last for several days.

Gulai Siput

In French cuisine snails are very popular, and known as escargot. Basically, escargot is snails prepared with traditional French recipes. Usually it is served still in the shell with garlic and parsley butter.

Not only in France, snails are also considered as delicacy in many parts of the world. You can name countries like Portugal, Spain, Greece, Sicily, China, Japan, and more. Even here in Indonesia, some people love the delicious taste of the animal. Moreover in our beloved countries, the cuisines made from snails are more varied. Snails are made into satay,  gulai (coconut-milk-based soup), pepes (steamed inside the banana leaf), and more.

The Art of Eating Escargot

The way to enjoy escargot, especially the ones that served with their shells is quite an “adventure”.  You have to use snail tong, which functions to clasp or hold the shell, while the snail fork is used to take the snail meat out off the shell.

Do snails have nutritional values? Yes, they do. Snails contain quite high amount of protein but a low amount of fat. The protein contained in snails is approximately about 15%, the fat is 2.4%, and 80% water. A study conducted in Brazil, estimated that snails contained 75% unsaturated fatty acids that consists of 57% polyunsaturated fatty acids, 15.5% monounsaturated fatty acids, and 23025% saturated fatty acids. This means that snails are a healthy alternative food, especially for people with high protein low fat diet requirements.


* All pictures belong to their rightful owners... I'm just borrowing them.