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The 11 Best Things About Basil

September 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment


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Basil is a very humble herb and is best known for it’s wonderful flavor in pesto and various other Italian and Meditteranean dishes. Basil isn’t only delicious, but it gives us many wonderful health benefits as well. Basil has 2 main components which are beneficial to our health. These are it’s flavanoids and volatile oils. I did a little research and this is what I found.

1. Digestion
Basil helps promote digestive health. It helps relieve indigestion, stomach ache, cramps and nausea.

2. Insect Repellent
Basil oil has also been used to repel insects and relieve insect stings and bites with topical application by reducing the swelling and burning.

3. Antioxidants
Like most good greens it contains flavanoid compounds which are powerful antioxidants.

4. Food Poisoning
The chemicals found in the volatile oils in basil such as cineole, limonene, myrcene, sabinene, and estragole help fight several types of bacteria which cause food poisoning. Studies have shown it to be very effective in restricting the growth of these bacteria.

5. Anti-inflammatory
Basil contains a chemical called eugenol in it’s volatile oils which has anti-inflammatory properties and can help relieve the pain of arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome.

6. Eyes
Basil contains zeaxanthin and lutein which are good for eye health and help protect our eyes from age-related macular disease.

7. Vitamin A
It is a very good source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is beneficial for your eyes, skin, immune system, bones, and teeth.

8. Protection at a Cellular Level
Orientin and vicenin are water soluble flavanoids found in basil which help protect us at a cellular level by protecting our cell structures and even our chromosomes from both oxygen based damage and radiation.

9. Magnesium
Basil is a great source of magnesium which promotes cardiovascular health by relaxing our blood vessels and muscles thus improving blood flow.

10. Stress Relief
Basil helps reduce stress by reducing cortisol levels along with other stress related chemicals. Cortisol is a chemical which is secreted in response to stress in order to help us prepare for a “fight or flight” reaction. Cortisol levels are stabalized as we recover from stress.

11. Excellent Source of Several Vitamins and Minerals
It is also an excellent source of vitamin C, Vitamin K, iron, copper and manganese along with all of their health benefits.

I think this makes me want to eat a whole lot more pesto!

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The Great Oat – A Superfood Hard to Beat

August 21, 2012 By 2 Comments


Let’s take a look at what this well known, but not well understood, mighty little grain has to offer as a so-called superfood.

Lowering Cholesterol

Beta glucan is the main component responsible for lowering serum cholesterol levels. Oats also contain unique antioxidants referred to as avenanthramides. Together these two elements have been shown to substantially lessen LDL cholesterol levels when oats are consumed regularly.

Protection Against Heart Disease

We know that oats, along with other whole grains, can give us protection against heart disease, potentially extending the lifespan of any one who consumes this food on a regular basis. You would think that that would already be enough of a reason to add oats to your diet plan, but there is still more.

Packed with All the Good StuffOats in the field

Oats are a high fiber, high protein food which is low in calories and high in crucial minerals like iron, calcium, selenium, potassium, manganese, and copper.

Low Glycemic Index

Oats have a low glycemic index which indicates that the energy from this food will burn slowly and stay with you to satisfy your hunger for a much longer time. Getting nutrients released slowly into your bloodstream and throughout the body aids in stabilizing blood sugar levels, eliminating the spikes which can trigger many health problems, problems with concentration, and weight loss troubles. Furthermore, the B vitamins contribute to healthy and wholesome skin, hair, and nails.

Other Benefits of Oats

Along with other whole grains, studies have identified that consuming oats can aid inside the battle against breast cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and asthma in young children. With this calibre of superfood on your side, why would you not want to add it to your family’s diet?

Distinction of Superfood

The humble oat gained the special distinction of superfood back in 1997 when the Food and Drug Administration claimed that there was found to be an association between a diet high in oats and a reduced risk of coronary heart diseaese. With that announcement, the popularity of oats, oatmeal, oat bran, and oat flour skyrocketed in popularity as whole grains, making it one of the top 10 superfoods.

So Simple to Use

Oats are an inexpensive and widely offered grain that could be quickly incorporated into meals at any time of day. Oats are so easy to store in containers or airtight bags, and have quite a long shelf life.

Hearty Breakfast

A bowl of hot cereal first thing in the morning will be the most familiar way to serve oats. Whether or not you get raw oatmeal or quick oats, you are off to a great and healthy start to your day. If you vary the toppings sufficiently, you can fit in several servings of oatmeal each week without getting tired of it. Add different things like berries, nuts, stevia, or protein powders to boost the flavor and nutrition of your oatmeal.

Great for Snacking

Besides breakfast cereal, there are so many other simple ways to add oats into your everyday diet. There are many tasty and nutritious snacks that can be made. Oats are typically used to create hearty muffins, cookies, as well as other sweets. Do not forget about handy trail mixes or granola bars. Oats are typically the central ingredient in those favourite treats.

The Main Meal DealFresh bread

Mixing oatmeal into ground meat for burgers, meatloaf, and meatballs is another method to sneak more nutrition into your family’s everyday eating. Oats can be a toasty coating for baked or broiled fish or chicken, and oats also play center stage in a number of hearty bread recipes, either as a main ingredient or to add just a bit of heartiness and crunch.

As a part of a healthy diet, incorporating as much as three servings of complete grains each day is suggested by numerous nutritionists and health professionals. Oats can offer enough considerable rewards for wholesome living to make them a crucial part of any healthy diet plan.

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11 Wonderful Things about Grapes

August 9, 2012 By 8 Comments


plate of grapes

1. Simple and great tasting snack. Grapes are a wonderful and simple snack. They are so quick to prepare. All you really need to do is give them a good wash. If you are not buying organic grapes, it is highly recommended that you wash them with a special fruit and veggie wash to help remove the pesticides and bacteria.

My favorite way to eat grapes is mixed witha bit of plain yogurt just to coat them and sprinkled with shredded coconut.

grapes with yogurt

2. Vitamin A and vitamin C -immunity boosting. Grapes are a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C which help boost your immune system.

3. Malic acid. The tart taste of unripened grapes is from malic acid which converts to sugar as they ripen. Malic acid helps boost immunity, helps in maintenance of oral health, and promotes smooth skin.

4. Resveratrol -cancer and heart disease. Grapes contain resveratrol which is an antioxidant flavanoid. It is the grape’s skin that gives us the most resveratrol. This flavanoid has been associated with a lower risk of cancer and heart disease. Just as for most fruits and vegetables, the rule is that the darker the color it is the healthier it is. So it is the red and purple grapes that contain the most resveratrol.

5. Blood pressure. Grapes are a good source of potassium and low in sodium which is a great combination to help control blood pressure.

6. Boron -bone health. Grapes contain boron which is a little known nutrient which works in unison with calcium in your body. It plays a very important role in minimizing the risks of osteoporosis and arthritis.

7. Tannins -anti-viral. Studies show that the tannins in grapes can be very potent against various viruses.

8. Ellagic acid -cancer. Grapes, primarily muscadine grapes, have a high concentration of ellagic acid which is a powerful natural antioxidant to help combat cancer.

9. Cinnamic acid -anti-viral and anti-inflammatory. They are high in cinnamic acid which is a phenol that has been shown to have anti-viral and anti-inflammatory benefits.

10. Good candy replacement. Grapes are a superb way to replace candy and other sweets in your child’s diet since they are burtsting with so much natural sweetness and nutrition.

11. Other benefits. Dark grapes have also been found to be beneficial for asthma, memory decline, eye problems, and aging.

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Onion Nutrition Facts

July 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment


Red onions

Image via Wikipedia

Onion nutrition…with far more benefits than most vegetables due to its antioxidant and probiotic effects and used in every cuisine in the world, onion is one of the oldest vegetables known in history.

• The word onion comes from the Latin word unio for ‘single’ or ‘one’ because the onion plant produces a single bulb, unlike garlic, that produces many small bulbs.

• India, China and Australia are the biggest onion producers in the world.

• Onions are native to Asia and the Middle East and have been cultivated for over five thousand years.

• Early American settlers used wild onions to treat coughs, colds and asthma, and to repel insects. In China, onions have been used to treat angina, coughs, bacterial infections, and breathing problems.

• It has a reputation as a potent aphrodisiac and has been referenced in many classic Hindu texts on the art of making love. In ancient Greece onions were commonly used as an aphrodisiac remedy, while in the days of the Egyptians Pharaohs celibate priests were forbidden to eat onions because of the potential effects on their libido.

Yellow onions

Image via Wikipedia

• Onions were highly regarded by the Egyptians. It was used as currency to pay the workers who built the pyramids, and they were placed in the tombs of kings.

• Dogs, cats, and other animals should not be given onions in any form, due to toxicity during digestion.

Onion Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits:

• Onions and garlic have been shown to lower high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke due to its sulfur compounds, chromium and vitamin B6.

• Quercitin and other flavonoids along with vitamin C in onions help kill harmful bacteria- good addition to meals in cold and flu season.

• Quercetin may also help reduce symptoms like fatigue, depression and anxiety.

• Onions lowers blood sugar levels by increasing the amount of free insulin available.

• Chromium in onions helps maintain a positive hormone balance.

• Onion was singled out as one of the small number of vegetables that contributed to the significant reduction in heart disease risk in a meta-analysis of seven prospective studies.

• Onions may help in reducing the severity of symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions.

• GPCS compound in onions help maintain healthy bones.

• They may help lower your risk of several common cancers.

• They are effective against many bacteria including Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella, and E.

• They are also natural anticlotting agents. The anticlotting effect of onions closely correlates with their sulfur content.

Onion Selection and Storage:

• Choose onions that are clean and well shaped with crisp and dry outer skins. Avoid those that are sprouting or have signs of mold. When purchasing scallions, look for those that have green, fresh-looking tops that appear crisp, yet tender. The base should be whitish in color for two or three inches. Avoid those that have wilted or yellowed tops.

• Keep onions in relatively dry and cool temperatures and away from bright light. Choose and area in your house that has good air circulation.

• The stronger flavored yellow onions last longer in storage than the sweet onion varieties. Sweet onions should be used in no later than two months.

• All onions should be stored away from potatoes, as they will absorb their moisture and ethylene gas, causing them to spoil more readily.

• Peeled and chopped onions can be frozen, however this will cause them to lose some of their flavor.

http://www.glycemic-index.org/onion-nutrition.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Karlilar

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5889868

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