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Starting a Successful Blog10 Secrets to take your Blog from Kick start to Awesome!(Bonus content) (Blogging in India Book 2)

Okra

4 Ultra Quick Tips for Blogchatter Ebook Challenge(Free Book download)

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on April 25, 2019 15

Blogchatter A to Z is a chance for me to research for my books and get it ready for Blogchatter Ebook festival and more. If my blog made writing a favorite habit, then Blogchatter A to Z is one of the magical ingredients behind my author journey. This year I will not only write, plan the launch, publish and get ready for the Blogchatter ebook festival, but also be using a few platforms to ask your opinion about it.

Today and tomorrow I am gifting my e-book, Starting a Successful Blog(Blogging in India series), just for my readers and blogger friends. In this book, I have shared what’s working for me, for the last four and a half years of blogging. It includes all the tools, tips and resources I used to build my Blog from scratch.

FREE FOR DOWNLOAD ON 25th and 26th of April!

#1 How do I use the A to Z formula for writing books?

I pick a keyword.
Draw a mind map around it asking all the questions.
I write posts
Edit and rewrite (multiple times)
Proofread
Check the flow of the book
Give it to someone whose opinion I trust and ask for one single takeaway from the book. If the central idea is not clear, I go back and rewrite until it flows smoothly. I use Yoast SEO to check this too!
Write a blurb(multiple drafts needed)
Design a cover.
Plan the prelaunch and launch
Research marketing for the book
Schedule
Pray

#2 Which are the tools I will use?

Google doc
Word
Grammarly
Podcast tool
Twitter live
Instagram live/Stories
Write out a newsletter sequence
Design my ebook cover
Photograph or creative for the book cover
Designing the actual book cover
Kindle Create

This Friday(26th April) you can catch me live, talking about my journey from Doctor to Doctor-Blogger-Author with Blogchatter’s Suchita, Author-Blogger Anupriya on Facebook Live at 8 pm!

#3 Why Blogchatter AtoZ?

Check out this page or my Ebook on Blogging challenges(link below) to know my journey with AtoZ and why Blogchatter’s version is just better especially for Indian bloggers.
It’s great market research if you are planning to self publish with Blogchatter Ebook festival.
Its great social media promotion for your soon to publish a book. You grow your online presence while having fun.
Your book reaches people who read books and blogs. That’s a rare group of people.
This is my third A to Z and I launched two books each, in the last two #BlogchatterAtoZ seasons. Check out my booksbooks and the testimonials I received for them

What did I do with Blogchatter A to Z content?

With my first AtoZ, I wrote my Fruits for Life ebook (Nutrition secrets part1)Fruits for Life ebook (Nutrition secrets part1)Fruits for Life ebook (Nutrition secrets part1) and Picky eater :Quick guide to make you happy( Nutrition Secrets part 2)

The second time with #Blogchatter A to Z, I wrote my Blogging in India seriesBlogging in India series

7Blogging Challenges
Starting a Successful Blog10 Secrets to take your Blog from Kick start to Awesome!(Bonus content) (Blogging in India Book 2) FREE FOR DOWNLOAD ON 25th and 26th of April!

While writing this post, I realized my journey this year will have two parts

Writing the ebook
Researching the best way to market

The second part I will be keeping notes and just may turn out to be another book. I am sure the Blogchatter Book Review programme will help. When Amazon Prime picked up my Fruits for Life ebook for their promo, I knew this was the series which I would want to focus on. Guess why?

Because Amazon is the third most popular digital platforms in India where people buy, not just scroll.

Why do I write non-topical posts sometimes during A to Z?

When you submit your book for the Kindle Select programme, you can’t keep more than 10% of the content free on your blog. That creates some issues.

#4 What is the best way to handle the KDP Select issue?

Not sign up for KDP select . Just publish with KDP.
Keep some content extra for your book. Keep the research material and use it to create a richer experience with your ebook. A blog post doesn’t have the scope for extensive research material. But a book does.
Experiment with both and see what works for you.
Vlog your posts and write introductory posts for behind the scene activity. That way your written content stays in the book.
Sign up for KDP select and make the other posts password protected.

Let me know in the comments below how you are planning to go ahead with the ebook challenge.

It’s free for download on the 25th and 26th of April! Get it now!

Listen to the free chapters of all my books.

Subscribe to my newsletter and you will get a chance to download my book for Free when it’s up for a promo!

Posts in the Veggies for Life series

Processed food &Truth about your health

Okra

Posts in the ENT A to Z series

Posts in the Human Body series

Anatomy of a human

Brain and Mental health

Circulatory system for kids

Digestive system for Kids

Excretory system

Fallopian tube

Genes and Genetics

World Health Day

Otorhinolaryngology /ENT A-Z

Blogchatter Ebook Festival: Promote your book for Free! #BlogchatterEbook

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on April 18, 2019 6

If you like reading and writing, blogchatter ebook festival is just what you need. It will help you grow your confidence, test your MVP and gets started with desktop publishing with minimal cost.

What do you have to lose?

When I self-published my first book, two years back I didn’t know what I was doing. But I knew what I like doing. That’s to write and share things I am passionate about.

I am also an ebook reader. Thats a rare population now. But few years down the line, things are bound to change. Ebook reading is easy and efficient with Kindle.

Self publish with the Blogchatter Ebook festival and use the opportunity to get a few book reviews from people who read. That way when you launch your book on Kindle. Google already has those book reviews in place and people can check it out before buying. Getting book reviews always help. See this video I made last year about the Blogchatter Ebook and how it helps.

But what about Book reviews on Amazon?

All the lovely people who review your book are usually kind enough to leave a short quick review on Amazon if you let them know when it’s available there.

But if no one buys my book after it’s free for two months at the ebook festival?

Don’t worry. First of all the ebook is a boost to your portfolio as a writer. There’s no way everyone would have downloaded it for free within the two months.

Second: Keep some additional content available. Add that to the book, when its to be uploaded on Amazon and promote it well. This works for nonfiction well.

For fiction refer to number one and see if you can make fun behind the scenes additional content.

One thing Blogchatter will not do

Blogchatter will not run away with your copyright.

Seven ways Blogchatter ebook will help you?

They will give you free advertisement on one of the most popular websites for Bloggers for two months. How is it helping Blogchatter? Is it about the traffic Blogchatter is getting? Not really. Displaying so much of downloadable material is a strain on a website server. If they have a business model around displaying your content then it’s their biz model. Don’t do it if you are not sure. But it has only helped me

It’s your portfolio/media kit. It’s a chance to showcase your writing.

You never know when publishers are looking for fresh talent. You might get picked up.

It’s a chance to get the traffic to your blog if you are smart about it.

It’s your chance to get on the self-publishing journey with many others. Less stress more fun.

You learn how to do it and repeat the process to build your own library on Amazon.

You make money selling the books on Amazon.

7 Things you must do

Edit well
Good cover
Blurb with keywords
Write your bio in an interesting way.
Research keywords and the Name of the book.Use keyword tools and Amazon search function
Link to your blog somewhere in your e-book
Positive attitude and Prayers

Other than Blogchatter Ebook how can you promote your book?

Ebook free downloads
This works great with KDP select.
You can host Giveaways on Amazon or Goodreads or on your blog or another bloggers blog having an audience who will like the subject of the book.
Contests on social media and blogs, including your own.
Request book bloggers with interest in the genre to review and share with their audience.
Beg your friends and family to help you promote. This works too!

If your ego is not standing in your way every year you should try to challenge your brain to do something with a real risk of failing. Acing that makes you feel good.

Check out my Book published with Blogchatter Ebook festival.

One thing that could improve in Blogchatter Ebook Festival

May give an option the authors to either give the link of their ebook on Amazon as a paid or free download.

Maybe blogchatter could use an affiliate link.

Authors happy, readers happy and a different level for Blogchatter.

You never know Blogchatter may surprise you once again.

#3 After you have finished writing.
Visit Google search and type in the questions a reader may ask to find your book .
See what are the other questions Google shows.
Is your book answering those questions ?#BlogchatterEbook

— Dr.Amrita Basu ( Misra) (@misra_amrita) April 27, 2019

I wrote a book on Fruits for Life, listen to the free chapters on my podcast. My book on Probiotics for Life is available as a summary here .Subscribe to my newsletter and you will get a chance to download my book for Free when it’s up for a promo!

Read my posts this season of BlogchatterAtoZ

Apples: Fruits for life

Okra

Okra and Ladys Finger:Hits and Misses

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on April 17, 2019 1

Okra is yummy as fried finger food. Its also known as Lady’s finger or Gumbo in some regions. They are dainty to look at and delicious if cooked right. But if cooked too long or with too much water, they turn slimy. The trick is to cook it so that they keep their shape intact, crunchy on the outside and tender inside.

How to buy Lady’s finger?

Best to cook okra fresh or keep it for a few days in the fridge to avoid moisture.

Avoiding overcooking is a must for taste and nutritional benefits.

The young green seed pods are used as a vegetable.

The mucilage extracted is used to thicken sauces, soups, stews.

When you buy okra, they should be firm and not soggy or wilted. If it looks too big or with dark ends better not buy.

Keep okra dry, and do not wash it until you are cooking

Okra recipes

Before cooking, wash it under running water. Strain the water out. Pat dry with a tissue. Using a sharp knife, cut off the end with the stem. Then make half to one-inch pieces. Avoid washing after cutting.

You can cook stuffed Lady’s finger with onions tomatoes and tangy achaar.

I like my okra cooked just right. It has to be a little crisp and cooked properly. Not mushy. Bengalis cook okra in many ways. Cooking with poppy-seed paste or posto is a delicacy It’s also used in, mixed veggies.

The crunchy okra tastes great, but so does the side dishes. Its best eaten with Indian style tawa roti or phulka. But the fried okra tastes yummy with daal chawal(rice and pulses) too.

Okra recipes fried

During my Dilli days, I was a novice cook and okra helped solve many real issues. It is simple to cook.

Just air fry or shallow fry it with a little Kalo jeera, turmeric, green chillis, and salt, till the outside turns crunchy and the inside is cooked.

Okra Nutrition facts

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, 100 grams uncooked okra contains:

33 calories

1.93 g of protein

0.19 g of fat

7.45 g of carbohydrate

3.2 g of fiber

1.48 g of sugar

31.3 milligrams (mg) of vitamin K

299 mg of potassium

7 mg of sodium

23 mg of vitamin C

0.2 mg of thiamin

57 mg of magnesium

82 mg of calcium

0.215 mg of vitamin B6

60 micrograms (mcg) of folate

36 mcg of vitamin A

Okra also has some iron, niacin, phosphorus, and copper.

Ladys Finger :Health benefits

Okras antidiabetic effect is under research.

It is used as a part of dietary therapy to lower sugar and in hypertriglyceridemia.

Okra’s high fiber and high mucilage help aid digestion.

One 100-gram cup of okra with 60 mcg of folate is a good way to increase folate in the diet. They have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

They also have an anti-Fatigue effect.

Lectin a protein found in okra, beans, peanuts, and grains. Lectin from okra was used in a study to treat human breast cancer cells.

Okra health precaution

Okra has a high amount of in oxalates. Calcium oxalate stones are the commonest kidney stones. People who have suffered one episode of kidney stone are at risk for another episode. They should include okra in the diet only under doctors recommendation.

Okra is high in vitamin K.If you are on a blood-thinning drug like warfarin or coumadin, don’t include okra in your diet without consulting your doctor.

Apples: Fruits for life

Okra

Disclaimer: This post is meant for spreading healthcare information and not meant as a replacement for a professional medical opinion. Always consult a medical professional before taking any decision related to health and healthcare. Healthcare information is a rapidly evolving field. While all attempts are made to keep this website updated, the author/s and or website disclaim all responsibility for any inadvertent omission/commission. Read my full disclaimer.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24746837

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5759678/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26516905

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337517/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337517/#B8-molecules-24-00038

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337517/#B9-molecules-24-00038

Kale: A super food? #BlochatterAtoZ

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on April 12, 2019 2

Kale is an acquired taste. Good or bad it’s not everyone’s favorite food. But it has several powers which will make Kale eaters feel happy.

7 Facts about Kale

Kale is a cruciferous vegetable.

Winterbor F(1) type of kale has an excellent nutritional quotient. They have high antioxidant activity. Lower the processing, better is the nutrient content after cooking. Blanching is okay, but raw is best. Cooking can lower antioxidants like Vitamin C, polyphenols and to some extent Beta carotene. (1)

Lentil and kale added to a cereal-based diet has the magical ability to increase intake of essential minerals and vitamins. (2)Micronutrient malnutrition is responsible for many lifestyle diseases.

Kale stands at position 15 in a list of powerhouse fruits and vegetables made by Centers for Disease Control (a serving providing ≥10% of 17 essential nutrients (3).

Research finds Kale having vitamins A, K, C, and some folate, essential minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium.

Kale is a rich source of fibers. This is said to help prevent post-meal blood sugar rise(4). Eating kale-containing salad or any side dish with at least 7 g of Kale helps exert this effect.

Kale like other crucifers is a goitrogenic food (5)and should be only taken under supervision for those with thyroiditis or Hypothyroidism. But its a must have for those with hyperthyroidism.

When I started writing for Blogchatter A to Z this year, I didn’t know whether I could write enough. I also thought about whether it will make sense to spread this info. After all, everyone eats veggies. Right? But while researching for the posts I learned a few things which made me sit up.

Did you know there are more veggies in CDC power food list than fruits? Did you know eating the rainbow makes sense every day? Did you know obesity has a deep relationship with micronutrient deficiency? Diet is a key step to improve the quality of life.

Like the anti-inflammatory diet, is not only good for joints but also your body as a whole. What’s important is to know what processing does to the food and decide accordingly. We also need to know which kind of nutrients are easily absorbed and utilized by the body and cook our food accordingly. All this and more in this series and in the book releasing in May.

Other posts in this series

References:

1)Composition and antioxidant activity of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) raw and cooked.
Sikora E1, Bodziarczyk I.

2)Metabolic and bioactivity insights into Brassica oleracea var. acephala.
Ferreres F1, Fernandes F, Sousa C, Valentão P, Pereira JA, Andrade PB.

3)Defining powerhouse fruits and vegetables: a nutrient density approach.Di Noia JPrev Chronic Dis. 2014 Jun 5; 11():E95.

4)Intake of kale suppresses postprandial increases in plasma glucose: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study
Sumio Kondo,1 Asahi Suzuki,2 Mihoko Kurokawa,2 and Keiji Hasumi3

5)Effects of the Environment, Chemicals and Drugs on Thyroid Function
David Sarne, M.D

Ginger :Raw or cooked? #BlogchatterAtoZ

By Dr.Amrita Basu(MBBS,MS) on April 8, 2019 13

Ginger is very popular in my kitchen. I add it in my morning cup of green tea, in my curries and I also have ginger infusion water. Ginger tea is a childhood favorite. In green tea or milk tea, I love my ginger.

With milk tea, adding too much ginger early on can curdle the milk. But with green tea, no such problem. Raw ginger has several amazing benefits. But it can be difficult to chew it raw. Adding it to my glass infusion water bottle, helps me have my raw ginger water without trouble.

Can you grow a ginger plant?

Yes. It’s easy. The only thing you need is a piece of ginger root. Just make small nicks, on a piece of ginger tuber and plant it in a little soil. The green shoot will appear and there will be several small ginger tubers appearing below it. Harvest when the green shoots die.

Ginger powder: is it any good?

Nothing like the natural and dried powder is used if you don’t have access to the real thing.

What are the active chemicals in Ginger?

The active ingredients in ginger root are gingerols, shogaol, and paradols. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger. It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Benefits of ginger

Antioxidant and anticancer effect

Ginger and some of its components are effective antioxidants in vitro. Due to the antioxidant property, it is considered to exert an anticancer effect. It has potential action in colon cancer. In humans in vivo action needs further research.

The cognitive improvement and neuroprotective effects occur due to the antioxidant effect.

Even dried ginger may have beneficial effects in treating dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (Ghayur, Gilani, Ahmed, Khalid, Nawaz, Agbedahunsi, Choudhary, Houghton 2008). But this effect in Alzheimer’s disease is not conclusive.

Better digestion and prevents nausea

Several research data show that active ingredients of ginger accumulate in the gastrointestinal tract. But the exact mechanism of action is still not clear.

Ginger also reduces cholesterol and improve lipid metabolism. This makes its role in the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases significant.

A survey of a group of obstetricians and gynecologists: Most recommend taking an antiemetic (71.3%), and specifically ginger (51.8%), to patients with moderate to severe nausea (Power, Holzman, and Schulkin 2001).

Ginger has been recommended to combat nausea associated with chemotherapy.

Gingerol in ginger helps maintain orodental health by its antibacterial activity.

Ginger is used in many illnesses, such as colds, nausea, arthritis, migraines, and hypertension since ages.

Even when we see the safety profile of ginger, there is an incomplete understanding of the mechanism of action. Thus you need caution while trying any therapeutic uses. But including ginger in your diet will only enhance the taste. Do you include ginger in your diet?

Other posts in this series