CHATI

White rice (milled rice) has had its husk, bran and germ removed. After milling the rice is polished to give a pure white appearance.

The polisihing process removes valuable nutrients. In developed countries some white rice is enriched with nutrients that were stripped during the processing of the rice. Nutrients added include vitamin B1, B3 and Iron.

Brown rice and wild rice are far healthier alternatives and contain siginificant dietary fibre. minerals and vitamins.

As with all natural foods , precise nutritional composition of rice varies depending on climatic and soil conditions.

nutritional content of rice (milled-white) per 120g medium grain cooked

Nutrient                                         Amount present                                 %RDA

Calories                                          433                                                        18

Protein                                             7.8g                                                       10.8%

Fat                                                    1.2g                                                       1.6%

Vitamin B1                                     0.096mg                                                8.0%

vitamin B2                                      0.024mg                                               1.6%

Niacin                                             1.8mg                                                     10.6%

Folic Acid                                        12mg                                                     5.3%

Iron                                                  0.6mg                                                    4.3%

Calcium                                          4.8mg                                                    0.6%

Souce: Sustainable agriculture and resistance:transforming food production in Cuba

If anyone knows why its so difficult to purchase brown or wild rice in India please let me know. Is the reasoning behind this historical ? I know during the 19th century brown rice was associated with famine and poverty, so perhaps white rice being purchased is trying to avoid this association with poverty in India?

Whilst at CHATI, I tasted guava fruit for the first time. This was a special occasion as not only was it my first experience of tasting guava, it was also the first fruit produced by one of the juvenille trees on CHATI land.

The fruit has a sweet taste and the jucie is delicious

The guava fruit belongs to the Myrtaceae family and its botanical name is Psidium guajava. In Tamil the fruit is called Guaya.The tree is easily identifiable by its distinctive thin, smooth copper coloured bark that flakes off easily. Cultivated types average up to 10 m in height.

The tree has many medicinal uses: the leaves are chewed to reduce tooth pain, an extract from the leaves is taken internally to help control vomiting and diarrhea.

PLANT CHEMICALS

Guava is rich in tannins, phenols, triterpenes, flavonoids, essential oils, saponins, carotenoids, lectins, vitamins, fiber and fatty acids. Guava fruit is higher in vitamin C than citrus (80 mg of vitamin C in 100 g of fruit) and contains appreciable amounts of vitamin A as well. Guava fruits are also a good source of pectin - a dietary fiber. The leaves of guava are rich in flavonoids, in particular, quercetin. Much of guava's therapeutic activity is attributed to these flavonoids. The flavonoids have demonstrated antibacterial activity. Quercetin is thought to contribute to the anti-diarrhea effect of guava; it is able to relax intestinal smooth muscle and inhibit bowel contractions. In addition, other flavonoids and triterpenes in guava leaves show antispasmodic activity. Guava also has antioxidant properties which is attributed to the polyphenols found in the leaves.

Source Tropical Plant database

Janet has been busy with the task of putting photos  taken of CHATI in the last 3  years in order of sequence. By doing this one can now see the amazing developments that have taken place during the past few years. From a barren area to a lush garden filled with fruit and vegetables and to quote a plaque displayed at Alton Towers garden in Staffordshire "He  made the desert smile" in CHATIs case Xavier has made the desert smile.