An Alphabetic Guide to SUPERFOODS - Blueberries

Superfoods are nature's gift, they're vibrant, nutritionally dense foods that offer us tremendous dietary and healing potential and this little gem is at the top of my shopping list every time!

DELICIOUS BLUEBERRIES 

When it comes to antioxidants and their health benefits, guess which fruit tops the lot. Everyone knows that antioxidants are crucial to maintain and recover our health, and blueberries, out of all the fruits and vegetables contain the most.

These tasty berries are one of the few fruits native to North America. The berries, leaves and roots were used for medicinal purposes, and by looking at the health benefits explained below, you will understand why.

Heart Health - Heart diseases are no laughing matter so you need to protect your ticker from all those diseases. The vast antioxidants, high fiber content and the ability to dissolve LDL (the bad cholesterol), makes blueberries an ideal dietary supplement to cure many heart diseases.

Many studies show that red wine is good for the heart and that this is due to its source of a phyto nutrient called anthocyanin. This nutrient so happens to be found in blueberries as well, with the difference that blueberries contain 38% more of anthocyanins, than in red wine.

Eye Health - Due to their ability to relieve eyestrain, blueberries in Japan are actually nicknamed "the vision fruit". The various vitamins, minerals and lutein (a carotenoid pigment found in plants and egg yolk) found in blueberries are known to help age related vision problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.

A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day can lower your risk by as much as 35% of age related macular degeneration (ARMD), which is the main cause of vision loss in adults.

In World War II the British Air Force pilots were often given bilberry preserves (a cousin of the blueberry family) before they flew for their night missions, so as to improve their night vision and to adapt to different levels of light.

Reduces Belly Fat - A study in the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study showed that blueberry intake affected genes linked to fat burning and storage. The test subjects were rats that were fed powdered freeze-dried blueberries. The results were that these rats had less abdominal fat, lower cholesterol and lower triglycerides (blood fats). Of course more studies are needed to prove these same findings on humans.

Brain Health - A few studies have shown that blueberries can improve brain function and can combat the start and the progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Studies have also shown that by regular intake of these small berries, they can repair damaged brain cells improving the overall functionality of the brain.

A small study by the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center reviewed the effect of daily consumption of wild blueberry juice on older adults. After 12 weeks the participants with the blueberry juice intake showed improved memory function.

Anti-Cancer Benefits - Another nutrient that blueberries contain in abundance is a flavonoid by the name of kaempferol. A research with over 60,000 women participants in a Nurses Health Study between 1984 and 2002 showed that women whose diets provided the most kaempferol had a 40% reduction in the risk of ovarian cancer.

As you can see the health benefits of blueberries are enormous and everyone should consider adding them in their health diet. But as all superfoods you should use in moderation to gain all the benefits. It would also be wise to consult your physician with adding any kind of food to your diet.

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The 50 Best Low-Carb Foods, Plus Recipe Ideas & Tips - Part 1

While low-carb diets have been shown to have many benefits, especially for those who can afford to kick a sugar habit or lose weight in order to improve their health, many are hesitant to try this way of eating out of fear of giving up many delicious foods.

Rest assured that when following a healthy low carb diet, it’s still possible to keep enjoying all sorts of awesome recipes. Low-carb recipes include everything from crockpot chicken and veggies to grass-fed burgers. And what about low-carb breakfasts or travel-friendly snacks? These can include green smoothies or protein shakes, low-carb desserts made from things like coconut or almond flour, 1–2 cage-free hard-boiled eggs, or newer varieties of grass-fed beef jerky, for example.

While eating a low carbohydrate diet might not be the “magic bullet” to lasting weight loss for every person, it’s very helpful for most people to cut back on added sources of sugar and carbs. Even if you only plan to reduce your sugar and carb intake for a period of time, perhaps to break a sugar addiction or kickstart a healthier way of eating that includes less processed foods, you’re likely to experience benefits relatively fast.

Removing foods such as bread, cereals, sweetened drinks, processed dairy and even whole grains or starchy veggies from your diet will result in you releasing less insulin. This helps to balance blood sugar levels, reduce cravings and fatigue, speed up weight loss, leave you feeling more clear-headed (at least after you initially get used to the change) and even reduces your risk for things like heart disease and diabetes.

Replacing carb-heavy foods in your diet with low-carb foods like non-starchy veggies, healthy fats and high-quality proteins takes these benefits a step further: reducing hunger, making you feel satisfied and possibly even reversing certain nutrient deficiencies.

The 50 Best Low-Carb Foods

Below are dozens of healthy low-carb foods to fill your diet with:

Low-Carb Veggies

1. Broccoli

2. Cauliflower

3. Mushrooms

4. Peppers

5. Chard or collard greens

6. Asparagus

7. Kale

8. Spinach

9. Green beans

10. Arugula

11. Leeks or onions

12. Tomatoes

13. Brussel sprouts

14. Avocado

15. Turnips

16. Cabbage

17. Carrots (moderate carbs)

Eggs and Dairy

18. Cage-free eggs

19. Full-fat unsweetened yogurt or kefir

20. Raw whole milk

21. Hard cheese, sour cream and heavy cream (all are low in carbs, but very importantly I recommend grass-fed and organic dairy whenever possible, ideally made from raw milk). Cheeses low in carbs include blue cheese, cheddar cheese, goat, feta, Swiss, parmesan and asiago.

Meat and Seafood

All the foods below have zero carbs. Note that I recommend always looking for wild-caught fish and avoiding most shellfish such as shrimp, which tend to be higher in heavy metals like mercury.

22. Salmon

23. Haddock

24. Trout

25. Halibut

26. Sardines

27. Anchovies

28. Mackerel

29. Tuna or cod (in moderation)

Nuts and Seeds

30. Chia seeds

31. Flaxseeds

32. Almonds

33. Walnuts

34. Pumpkin, sesame or hemp seeds

35. Cashews and Brazil nuts (and just about all other nuts or seeds too)

Oils and Fats (all have zero carbs)

36. Coconut, olive, hemp, flaxseed, walnut or avocado oil

37. Butter or ghee

38. Palm oil

39. Lard

Condiments, Herbs and Spices

40. Herbs like turmeric, ginger, oregano, rosemary, basil, real sea salt, pepper, etc.

41. Hot sauces

42. Apple cider vinegar and most other vinegars in small amounts (balsamic, white, red, etc.)

43. Cocoa powder (raw and unsweetened is best)

44. Mustard (just avoiding high-sugar kinds like honey mustard)

45. Soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos

46. Bone broth (whether to drink alone or use in recipes)

No-Carb Drinks

47. Teas including green, black, oolong or white

48. Coffee

49. Herbal teas (ginger, chamomile, honeybush, peppermint, chai, etc.)

50. Fresh pressed vegetable juices or green smoothies

Part 2 of this article to follow on Friday this week.

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by Dr Josh Axe

Recipe Alert: Ginger Fudge Flapjacks

A deliciously healthy and a little bit spicy recipe...and the ginger in Mira Manek's sweet treats delivers an added nutrient boost.

These chewy, gooey treats will go down a storm at teatime. And they’re packed with ginger, which is good for calming queasiness and has anti-inflammatory benefits, too.

‘Chickpea flour is so versatile and there’s so much you can do with it, both sweet and savoury,’ says star foodie Mira Manek, who rustled up this recipe. ‘This is a gingery adaption of my Coco Fudge, which is sold in cafés including Raw Press and the Holborn Dining Rooms in London. I’ve also added a handful of oats in these flapjacks, just to give it that slight crunch.’

Makes 20 pieces

80g coconut oil
100g chickpea flour
100g dates
30g oats
½ tsp grated ginger
½ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp ginger powder

How to: 

1. Start by melting the coconut oil in a large pan, then pour in the chickpea flour and start stirring on low heat. While stirring, warm the dates in a separate pan on low heat so they melt easily when added to the chickpea flour and coconut oil mixture. Leave aside.

2. Continuously stir the chickpea flour mixture for around 15 mins until the mixture starts to thicken and you notice the colour change very slightly from yellow to orange/light brown.

3. Now add the warmed dates and stir them until they melt. The mixture need not be entirely smooth. Now add the oats, grated ginger, cinnamon and ginger powder, and stir everything together.

4. Lay the mixture in a flat pan or baking tray and let it cool for 10-15 mins before cutting into pieces and eating.


Click below to see more delicious recipes in Mira's book... 

Saffron Soul: Healthy, vegetarian heritage recipes from India

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The Health Benefits of Bananas

I LOVE BANANAS! Particularly in the morning.....they are my go-to energy source to eat before an early morning run, they add sweetness and texture to porridge and you can still use the overripe ones to make the best banana loaf, which toasted in the mornings is delicious.  So....this weekend...

All hail the humble banana!

You can eat it raw or mixed in your favorite smoothie. You can enjoy your own homemade peanut butter-banana sandwich, banana bread, or banana muffins. The possibilities are plentiful.



Plus, bananas:

• Can be found at your grocery store all year long
• Are easily stored
• Come in their own yellow carrying case when you’re on the go
• All that -- and they’re really good for you.

What a Banana Gives You

The right amount of carbs: Like all fruits, bananas have carbs. But not so many that folks with diabetes can’t enjoy them. If you have diabetes, you can enjoy half a banana when you need a snack.

They also won’t blow up a low-carb diet. A medium one gives you about 27 grams.

A Feast of Fiber: It’s no secret that the right amount of fiber in your diet is good for you. An average-size banana gives you 3 grams of it. That’s about 10% of what you need each day. That boost can help keep your bowels working at their best. It can also help keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check, and help ease inflammation.

In general, foods that are high in fiber make you feel full without extra calories. That also makes them a good choice if you want to shed a few pounds.

Powerful Potassium: This mineral is a big player in heart health. Potassium-rich foods help manage your blood pressure because they help you get rid of more sodium when you pee. Potassium also relaxes the walls of your blood vessels, which helps lower your BP.
What’s more, potassium:

- May lower your risk of stroke
- Can help keep your bones healthy as you age
- Helps your muscles work better

But if you have kidney problems, too much potassium isn’t good for you. Check with your doctor to see how much you should have.

A Happier Belly: It seems bananas are good for your tummy, too.

The yellow fruit is a source of prebiotics. Those are carbs you don’t digest, but they’re a food source for the more-popular probiotics. Those are the good bacteria found in your gut.

There’s also evidence that probiotics can help with the annoying diarrhea people get after they take some antibiotics.

They can also help:

Improve yeast and urinary tract infections
Treat some gastrointestinal infections
Ease irritable bowel syndrome
Lessen lactose intolerance
Work on some allergy symptoms
Probiotics may even help make colds and the flu less severe.

More Reasons to Go Bananas

Bananas contain several other vitamins.

A medium one will give you a good chunk of the vitamin B6 you should get each day. It also helps with metabolism. And it plays an important role in brain development during pregnancy and infancy, as well as immune system health.

While citrus fruits like oranges are vitamin C giants, bananas also have it. One gives you about 10 milligrams. You should shoot for between 75 to 90 milligrams per day. So your morning banana can get you well on your way.

Vitamin C helps protect us from the damage caused by something called free radicals. Those are reactions in our body to the food we eat, cigarette smoke, pesticides, and other potentially harmful things.

Vitamin C also helps our immune system work better and can help you heal better.

Research suggest that bananas can also help you recover from strenuous workouts. One study says male cyclists who had a banana before pedaling went quicker and had a faster recovery than those who just drank water.

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How to Lose Belly Fat in 1 Week

Too much over indulgence over the Easter Weekend? 

It always go by in a flash I think and entertaining friends and family take their toll on your waistline (well they do on mine!), so now I need a quick fix to get back on track and find my motivation again.  I came across this video on You Tube with 15 million views!! There's got to be something about it then, hasn't there?  I'm going to see if this really works.  If anyone who sees this cares to comment,  I'd love to hear from you. 

Put Some Positivity Into Your Life

"Winter Is Coming", the famous and very quoted Game Of Thrones phrase is slightly redundant at this time of year in the UK, hurrah!  We are almost through the worst of it now and those long-dark winter months are (almost) finally over and the phrase can now be replaced with "Summer Is Coming" .  Now, I can't quite imagine this becoming the new 'phrase-of-choice' but it certainly makes me a happy gal!  So with Easter only a couple of weeks away, the temperatures becoming moderately warmer, and the days getting considerably longer...let's shake off any negative mindset and remind ourselves of the importance of positivity to change one's day, week, month and year.  Here's a look at five everyday places to add some positivity into your life.

Mobile Phone

I think we all love a bit of social media and know firsthand that our mobile phones are a blessing and a curse. While it may provide us with endless hours of entertainment, it can  also be a source of negativity. More specifically, it is easy to compare oneself or one's life to others when scrolling through social media feeds. Remind yourself that you should never compare yourself to another person and that in many cases, happiness (and reality) is usually very different than the screen suggests.

Eating Zone

Whether this is your desk, a table at the best place in town, or a quiet spot in your garden... remember to have a positive mindset when it comes to food. As always, it is important to eat healthy, but don’t think of eating healthy food as a challenge, rather a way to promote positivity in your life. If you eat clean / well, you feel clean / well – it is as simple as that. Incorporating healthy foods into your diet will promote a positive mindset and fuel your body with the nutrients it needs to keep your energy and spirits up.


The Looking Glass

As cliche as it may sound, placing sticky notes around your mirror with some words of inspiration will actually make a difference. You don’t have to put a cheesy phrase on the note to promote positivity, but do pick an aspect of your life that you want to improve – from posting about having a positive body image to recalling a source of motivation to keep up your efforts.

The Gym

If you have been reading my blog, you'll know I am a huge advocate for keeping fit.  However, it is not always easy to motivate yourself to find the time to squeeze it into a busy schedule. Nevertheless, it is critical for your emotional wellbeing to get some exercise, whether it is going for a walk/jog around a local park, or doing a workout class with a friend. Use exercise as an excuse to take some time-out for yourself each day and don’t view it just as a way to lose weight, but rather as a way to get in a positive state of mind for leading a healthy lifestyle.


Your Home

Whether you are living with your family, friends or flatmates, spread some positivity to those around you by encouraging positive behaviour. The above steps will help your personal well-being when it comes to promoting positivity....and now it is time for you to teach these tools to others.  Spread the positive vibe and reap the benefits.

Are These Vitamins and Minerals Missing From Your Diet?

Busy schedules, travel, and impromptu happy hours make it difficult to eat healthy 24/7. Find out how to keep up with these commonly missed nutrients.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for building strong bones, preventing osteoporosis, promoting heart health, and regulating blood pressure. The sun is the best and easiest way to get your vitamin D. Anywhere from 6 to 15 minutes of sun at a time (without sunscreen, but no more than 15 minutes) will provide enough to last the week (it's fat soluble, meaning it's stored in our fat cells for a longer period). If you're missing out on the sun (aka it's winter), the best food source of vitamin D is dairy—three servings will give you your entire day's worth. If dairy doesn't sit well with you, vitamin D3 supplements can offer the same benefits.


Calcium

According to the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, calcium is a major nutrient many people lack. It helps develop strong bones and regulate the circulatory and nervous system. Dairy products, fortified juices, and some plant foods (such as soybeans, bok choy, broccoli, and kale) contain calcium. Calcium supplements are also available. Take note: Plant sources of calcium are not as easy for the body to use, meaning you'd need to consume far more calcium via bok choy to get the same health benefits as a glass of milk.


Potassium

Potassium is critical to muscle function, heart function, and blood pressure. Without proper potassium levels, it's difficult to finish a workout due to changes in blood pressure. And your gains will be threatened, as potassium is linked to muscle growth and the breakdown of carbohydrates for energy. Fortunately, this nutrient is readily available from bananas, potatoes, citrus, dairy products, lean protein, soy products, tomatoes, and squash.


Magnesium

Magnesium is a mineral that regulates many biological processes in our body including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and energy production. If you're lacking, you might be irritable, have irregular heartbeats, or experience muscle weakness. Magnesium is stored in bones and soft tissues, but a diet high in fat can decrease our body's magnesium absorption. Skip the double cheeseburger and fries and try consuming green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, and cereals to maximize the benefits that magnesium provides.


Iron

Iron deficiency, or anemia, makes our bodies struggle to carry oxygen through the body via red blood cells. Anemia can cause fatigue, weakness, and an overall decrease in physical performance. Often, menstruation can be a culprit in women. So to keep up your iron levels at that time of the month, or anytime, the most digestible form of iron ("heme iron") is found in red meat. If you're vegetarian, you can obtain iron from foods like cereal, beans, and some vegetables. An iron supplement can help as well, since vegetable forms of iron are harder to digest.


Zinc

For proper growth, muscle repair, immune function, and energy production, zinc is your go-to mineral. Key foods to eat include peanuts, legumes, beef, pork, and shellfish. A lack of zinc can affect your metabolic rate (important for burning calories) and protein use. Be careful not to go overboard: Too much zinc can decrease the absorption of other vitamins and minerals while decreasing the amount of good cholesterol, HDL, in your body.

Folic Acid

B vitamins are important for energy. Folic acid, also known as B9, is no exception. The need for folic acid increases from prolonged diarrhea, fever, stress, alcoholism, or pregnancy—a deficit can lead to birth defects or anemia. For optimal levels, consume meats, green leafy vegetables, potatoes, cereals, and fruit.


Vitamin A

Vitamin A, as we know, is a key nutrient for vision. It comes in two forms: retinoids (found in animal products such as eggs, kidney, and liver) and carotenoids (found in yellow/orange fruits and vegetables like carrots and squash). Even though vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin and tends to stay in your body for longer, not getting enough can cause dry eyes, dry skin, or even night blindness.

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Why We Crave Junk Food

Read on if you find yourself not able to resist junk food, here's why...

Steven Witherly is a food scientist who has spent the last 20 years studying what makes certain foods more addictive than others. Much of the science that follows is from his excellent report, Why Humans Like Junk Food.  

According to Witherly, when you eat tasty food, there are two factors that make the experience pleasurable. 

First, there is the sensation of eating the food. This includes what it tastes like (salty, sweet, umami, etc.), what it smells like, and how it feels in your mouth. This last quality — known as “orosensation” — can be particularly important. Food companies will spend millions of dollars to discover the most satisfying level of crunch in a potato chip. Food scientists will test for the perfect amount of fizzle in a soda. These elements all combine to create the sensation that your brain associates with a particular food or drink.

The second factor is the actual macronutrient makeup of the food — the blend of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates that it contains. In the case of junk food, food manufacturers are looking for a perfect combination of salt, sugar, and fat that excites your brain and gets you coming back for more.

Here’s how they do it…

How Food Scientists Create Cravings

There is a range of factors that scientists and food manufacturers use to make food more addictive.

Dynamic contrast. Dynamic contrast refers to a combination of different sensations in the same food. In the words of Witherly, foods with dynamic contrast have “an edible shell that goes crunch followed by something soft or creamy and full of taste-active compounds. This rule applies to a variety of our favorite food structures — the caramelized top of a creme brulee, a slice of pizza, or an Oreo cookie — the brain finds crunching through something like this very novel and thrilling.”


Salivary response. Salivation is part of the experience of eating food, and the more a food causes you to salivate, the more it will swim throughout your mouth and cover your taste buds. For example, emulsified foods like butter, chocolate, salad dressing, ice cream, and mayonnaise promote a salivary response that helps to lather your taste buds with goodness. This is one reason why many people enjoy foods that have sauces or glazes on them. The result is that foods that promote salivation do a happy little tap dance on your brain and taste better than ones that don’t.


Rapid food meltdown and vanishing caloric density. Foods that rapidly vanish or “melt in your mouth” signal to your brain that you’re not eating as much as you actually are. In other words, these foods literally tell your brain that you’re not full, even though you’re eating a lot of calories.

In his best-selling book, Salt Sugar Fat (audiobook), author Michael Moss describes a conversation with Witherly that explains vanishing caloric density perfectly…

"I brought him two shopping bags filled with a variety of chips to taste. He zeroed right in on the Cheetos. “This,” Witherly said, “is one of the most marvelously constructed foods on the planet, in terms of pure pleasure.” He ticked off a dozen attributes of the Cheetos that make the brain say more. But the one he focused on most was the puff’s uncanny ability to melt in the mouth. “It’s called vanishing caloric density,” Witherly said. “If something melts down quickly, your brain thinks that there’s no calories in it … you can just keep eating it forever.”


Sensory-specific response. Your brain likes variety. When it comes to food, if you experience the same taste over and over again, then you start to get less pleasure from it. In other words, the sensitivity of that specific sensor will decrease over time. This can happen in just minutes.

Junk foods, however, are designed to avoid this sensory specific response. They provide enough taste to be interesting (your brain doesn’t get tired of eating them), but it’s not so stimulating that your sensory response is dulled. This is why you can swallow an entire bag of potato chips and still be ready to eat another. To your brain, the crunch and sensation of eating Doritos is novel and interesting every time.

Calorie density. Junk foods are designed to convince your brain that it is getting nutrition, but to not fill you up. Receptors in your mouth and stomach tell your brain about the mixture of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in a particular food, and how filling that food is for your body. Junk food provides just enough calories that your brain says, “Yes, this will give you some energy” but not so many calories that you think “That’s enough, I’m full.” The result is that you crave the food to begin with, but it takes quite some time to feel full from it.


Memories of past eating experiences. This is where the psychobiology of junk food really works against you. When you eat something tasty (say, a bag of potato chips), your brain registers that feeling. The next time you see that food, smell that food, or even read about that food, your brain starts to trigger the memories and responses that came when you ate it. These memories can actually cause physical responses like salivation and create the “mouth-watering” craving that you get when thinking about your favorite foods.


These factors all combine to make processed food tasty and desirable to our human brains. When you combine the science behind these foods with the incredible prevalence of food (cheap fast food everywhere), eating healthy becomes very hard to do.

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