ABOUT ME
Hi. My name is Nudra.
I started cooking when I was a teenager. My mother is a cook, and her love language has taught me to love home-cooked food.
5 years ago, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Psoriasis. Since then, I have been reading and researching anti-inflammatory foods and slowly incorporating them into my diet. Recently, in early 2023, my hip showed an early psoriatic arthritis sign, and I know I need to up my game with my diet.
I’m creating this website to share healthy and tasty recipes packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ingredients I have created and gathered along my journey to better eating.
As someone who grew up with delicious and flavorful Malaysian & Asian food, it was challenging to give up such delicacies altogether. It surprised me when I realized how much everyday foods heavily depend on pro-inflammatory ingredients, such as white sugar, cooking oil, and condiments.
I learned to make my everyday foods healthier by substituting ingredients that can cause inflammation with more nutritious ingredients.
As suggested by my doctor, I have also incorporated a Mediterranean diet. It was not difficult for me as I have been introduced to Middle Eastern & Mediterranean foods by my husband and his family from Iran.
Due to Iran’s proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and the Silk Road history, they share many similar traditional foods, especially Greek and Turkish cuisine. The use of herbs, seasonings, and other ingredients in Persian food also mirrors the culinary practices found in other Mediterranean countries.
During seven years of knowing my husband and multiple visits to his homeland, I learned to expand my palate to Persian cuisine. Thanks to my mother-in-law and his aunty, a cook like my mother, for introducing me to those delicious foods and sharing their knowledge of cooking. Initially, I intended to bring his childhood foods to our home when we were abroad.
This assimilation of foods through our mixed marriage has brought me to create the recipes on this blog: the collection of Asian food that I grew up with (made healthier), and Mediterranean food, which I have adapted from my husband’s side.
I hope these recipes will benefit anyone who wants to eat healthier, lose weight, or try to incorporate ingredients high in anti-inflammatory and antioxidants.
I am not a certified professional to advise what you can eat, so if you have any concerns regarding specific ingredients, please consult a doctor before trying them out. Thanks for stopping by!
“The recipes featured on this website represent a collection from my upbringing, creations of my own from the ingredients I love, as well as learnings from friends and family—all adapted to offer a healthier twist.
These recipes are centered around the principles of Whole Foods and Paleo, emphasizing plant-based ingredients, healthy fats, and minimally processed elements—all boasting anti-inflammatory properties.”