Tag Archives: superfoods

September 1, 2019 · 4:59 am

Dark chocolate or red wine?

I love chocolate, both light and dark, but don’t drink enough alcohol to make a difference. However, I know that there are lots of folks into the glass of red wine practice, so I thought I would share this with you.

Focus on food safety

Of course I would like to believe the scientists who claim that eating dark chocolate positively affects our wellbeing and that drinking moderate amounts of red wine improve our health. I like both dark chocolate and red wine and sometimes together to get a double wellness whammy. What’s not to like?

Question is are the scientists actually right? We have written numerous posts about claimed superfoods doing wonders to our health when it is actually the overall diet that is most important, not the individual components as such. Sure we have also fallen into the trap of praising some individual foods as the popular press did this time for fashionable dark chocolate and red wine. Even scientists want to get some attention.

Dark chocolate and health

Let’s start with reviewing the dark chocolate findings. Scientists from the University College London, the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services Canada assessed…

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August 5, 2019 · 11:42 am

Mr. Lazy Cook recommends oatmeal …

I haven’t done one of my Lazy Cook posts in quite a while. Since I am a Lazy Cook, I am not sure if my oatmeal recipe even qualifies as there are several ingredients and steps. Why oatmeal?

Photo by Mike on Pexels.com

“I’ve asked a lot of elite endurance athletes about their breakfast foods, particularly before races, and oatmeal comes up again and again and again,” says Matt Fitzgerald, endurance coach, nutritionist, and author of The Endurance Diet.

The following is from GetPocket, “In a world of green juice and chia seed pudding, this age-old dish is the original, and perhaps most powerful, superfood, especially for athletes competing at the highest levels.”

Here is the recipe: (almost right off the box)

1/2 cup oats – 150 calories

One hand full of broken walnuts – 80 calories

One hand full of frozen blueberries – 30 calories

One tablespoon hemp seeds – 60 calories

One tablespoon chia seeds – 50 calories

Light brown sugar ( to taste ) 30 calories

Bring a cup of water to a boil. (Here, I differ. I use 1-1/4 cups of water because I don’t want the oats to dry out in my bowl.) Add the oats and frozen blueberries. I turn off the heat and let it cook for five minutes. (I have an electric stove). Mix up the remaining seeds, etc well before pouring the hot oatmeal on top.

It is the best part of 400 calories, a great flavorful, chock full of energy, breakfast, second breakfast or lunch if you are home. I have one every day. Don’t forget I am retired and start most mornings with a bike ride.

I am always interested in variations on a theme. If you are also into oatmeal, but make it with different ingredients, please feel free to share.

Tony

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Tagged as endurance athletes, Mr. Lazy Cook, oatmeal, superfoods

September 4, 2018 · 4:01 am

The 5 best foods to fight aging

I hope you realize that, just as you need to start saving for retiring in your youth, you need to worry about eating well for aging well starts a lot earlier than when you are a senior.

Eat well; move more; live longer – that’s a mantra that we’re all familiar with, but what are the best foods to help us achieve that goal? Medical News Today (MNT) offered the following:

Official figures indicate that, currently, the top three countries in the world with the highest life expectancy are the Principality of Monaco, Japan, and Singapore. These are places where the inhabitants experience a high quality of life, and an important element of that is eating healthful meals.

clear glass bottle filled with broccoli shake

Photo by Alisha Mishra on Pexels.com

Often, we find praise for “superfoods” in the media – foods so high in nutritional value that they are seen as dietary superheroes.

Nutritionists reject the term “superfoods” as a buzzword that can influence people to place too high an expectation on a limited range of foods when, in reality, a balanced diet and healthful lifestyle require more effort than eating your five-a-day.

Still, there are certain foods that are more nutritious than others, and many that, as research has shown, have a protective effect against a range of diseases. Here, we give you an overview of some of the best foods that you may want to consider including in your diet in your quest for a happy, healthy life. Continue reading →

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July 14, 2017 · 12:09 am

Manuka honey: Is it really a superfood? – MNT

Honey has been used to treat wounds since ancient times, as detailed in a document dating back to 1392. It was believed to help in the fight against infection, but the practice fell out of favor with the advent of antibiotics.

I have been a fan of honey for over 50 years. It was one of the first ‘health foods’ I got into in one of my earliest forays into eating well. So, I was aware of many of its healthy properties. Nonetheless, this information about Manuka honey from Medical News Today was news to me.

As we face the challenge of a growing worldwide resistance to antibiotics, scientists are examining the properties and potential of honey.

Qualities of Manuka honey

The leaves of the Manuka tree, also known as a tea tree, have been known for centuries among the indigenous tribes of New Zealand and southern Australia for their healing powers.

Bees that collect nectar from this tree make Manuka honey, which harbors some of healing properties.

All honey contains antimicrobial properties, but Manuka honey also contains non-hydrogen peroxide, which gives it an even greater antibacterial power.

Some studies have found Manuka honey can also help to boost production of the growth factors white blood cells need to fight infection and to heal tissue.

Manuka honey contains a number of natural chemicals that make it different: Continue reading →

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March 4, 2015 · 12:03 am

10 Benefits of Raw Cacao -Infographic

Last month I wrote about raw cacao for the first time on the blog – Raw Cacao – Why and How You Should Add it to Your Diet. I have now been using it for a while and wanted to add another chapter for you with this infographic.

Tony

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Tagged as antioxidant, good blood circulation, raw cacao, superfoods

January 11, 2015 · 12:07 am

7 Superfoods to Help you Live Longer – Infographic

Following is another infographic with a list of superfoods that can help you live longer. The data for each is on the brief side. Here are some links for further details, What is a Healthy Way to Handle Food Cravings?

Are Chia Seeds Good for You?

Coconut Oil – Why You Should Include it in Your Diet.

Tony

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Tagged as acai berries, chia seeds, coconut oil, food cravings, kale, superfoods

April 21, 2014 · 1:38 pm

The Super Seeds: Which is Healthier

What’s the difference between them? Hemp seeds outshine chia and flax when it comes to protein: Two tablespoons serve up almost 7 grams, the amount found in two egg whites. Plus, the protein in hemp seeds contains all essential amino acids, something that’s unusual for plant foods. (Amino acids are the building blocks of protein; essential amino acids must come from your diet because your body can’t make them on its own.)

Regular readers know that I am a big fan of Super Seeds. Check out What are the top health benefits of Chia Seeds? and also How good is hemp seed for you?

Tony

Cooking with Kathy Man

Leslie Beck wrote in The Globe and Mail …..

What’s the difference between them? Hemp seeds outshine chia and flax when it comes to protein: Two tablespoons serve up almost 7 grams, the amount found in two egg whites. Plus, the protein in hemp seeds contains all essential amino acids, something that’s unusual for plant foods. (Amino acids are the building blocks of protein; essential amino acids must come from your diet because your body can’t make them on its own.)

Hemp seeds are also an outstanding source of magnesium, a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar. Blend two tablespoons into your smoothie and you’ll get one-quarter of a day’s worth of magnesium (116 mg).

Chia seeds are high in magnesium too and, unlike hemp seeds and flaxseeds, they’re also a good source of calcium. When it comes to fibre, chia seeds have the edge, providing 5…

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August 10, 2013 · 4:11 am

Superfoods: Science or Marketing?

… if you eat a breakfast of blueberries and pomegranates in a bowl of oatmeal, along with a cup of green tea, that does not mean that your health will improve overall if for lunch you have a bucket of fried chicken, French fries and a 64-ounce Coke, followed by a cigarette.

SwissChiropractic's Blog

There is no medical definition for a “superfood”. Food manufacturers are eager to use the word to promote sales of their products that contain traces of supposed superfoods such as blueberries, pomegranates and chocolate. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a superfood as “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being.” However, there are no set criteria about what makes a food nutrient-rich. Most superfoods are high in antioxidants and phytonutrients relative to other foods. However, if you were to eat only one of these superfoods to the exclusion of all else, you would be seriously deficient in many of the nutrients your body needs in order to stay healthy. So what exactly is the science behind the idea of superfoods?