Five Vitamin-packed Foods That are Excellent Additions at Your Table

Nowadays, most vitamins and food supplements come in pill form. However, it is best to get your vitamins from natural sources that are available in natural foods! These vitamin-packed foods should be incorporate into your diet. Read on to learn what are these five vitamin-packed foods that are excellent additions at your table.

Grapes

photo link

Grapes are 70-80% water and 15-30% sugar (fructose and glucose). They are fun to eat, tasty, high in antioxidants and packed with Vitamins C, A, B, and K. They are also loaded with nutrients that include: calcium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, manganese, oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, salicilic acid.

Studies conducted have shown that eating grapes may lower blood sugar; grapes juice or red wine can reduce the risk of heart diseases and even help fight aging; grapes have an effective antimicrobial action; and a very good cancer fighting fruits, since they contain high levels of caffeic acid.

Bananas

photo link

Bananas are loaded with vitamins, including vitamin A, B6, and C, folate, and pantothenic acid. These energy booster fruits contains minerals, including iron, magnesium, manganese, and potassium. These minerals are helpful in cases of anemia, controls high blood pressure, minimizes the risk of kidney stones, helps the body to make hemoglobin, prevents cramping and controls digestive disorder, diarrhea, and constipation. Bananas can act as mood enhancers and can also help people trying to give up smoking.

Sweet Potatoes

photo link

Sweet potatoes should be a year-long favorite food at your table. Whether they are boiled, broiled, baked, or fried; these delicious-tasting potatoes are packed with vitamin A (betacarotene) and vitamin, which are powerful antioxidants that get rid out free radical from the body. Also, it is a good food for people involved in heavy muscular work, since it is riched in fiber, iron and calcium.

Sweet potatoes health benefits include: good for stomach ulcers, beneficial for low blood pressure, good food for diabetics, because it helped stabilize blood sugar levels, helpful for hemorrhoid because of its high fiber content, and may help prevent cancer in glands and organs. Sweet potatoes also has anti inflammatory properties, effective against asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, and an excellent facilitator for digestion.

Spinach

photo link

Spinach contains lots of vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin K along with calcium, copper, dietary fiber, folate, iron, manganese, niacin, phosphorus, and omega-3 fatty acids. The benefits of spinach are many including: it helps to prevent atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), helps normalize blood sugar among diabetics, packs antioxidants that flash out free radical in the body and help fights cancer. It is also helpful in the following cases ; Anemia, Bronchitis, Constipation, Dyspepsia and Insomnia.

Green tea

photo link

Green tea is packed with vitamin C and contains “catechins,” an antioxidant that reduce atherosclerosis, stop blood clots, and fight cancer. Some of green tea’s health benefits includes: Promotes weight loss, slows the onset of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, stabilizes your cholesterol levels, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, eases the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, boosts your immune system, treats allergies and infections, and slows the aging process.

Seven Amazing Anti-wrinkle Foods

Here is a list of seven amazing anti-wrinkle foods.

We can never stop our body from aging…but we can prevent or slow down the aging process. How? By regular exercise and following a right diet. Wrinkles are the most obvious sign of aging and many worry about having age-related skin disorders specially wrinkles.. However, we can remedy this aging signs by adding to our diet these 7 amazing anti-wrinkle foods.

Green veggies:

photo link

Leafy green vegetables are rich in chlorophyll and powerful antioxidants that cleanse the body of free radicals and strengthen the immune system. Green leafy vegetables contain carotenoids (an antioxidant known for its anti-aging properties), and zinc which plays a key role in curing acne and wrinkles. These amazing anti-wrinkle foods are also good source of minerals and vitamins that give skin flexibility thereby improving your skin tone. Incorporating green leafy vegetables such as kale, lettuce, mustard, parsley, collards, Swiss chards, and spinach, into your diet will provide the body the right nutrients needed for proper hormone balance.

Proteins:

photo link

The human body needs protein every day to build new body tissues, antibodies, skin cells, and healthy muscles. When protein is eaten, the digestive system break it down into amino acids, that then go into the blood and are transmitted throughout the body. The body can’t produce the eight essential amino acids, so proteins must be included in the daily diet. On average, adults need to eat around 56 grams of protein per day. Basically, complete proteins come from animal — organic meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products such as milk and cheese. Proteins help prevent wrinkles since your muscles, hair, nails, skin, and eyes are made of protein.

Olive oil & Olives:

photo link

Olive oil is a proven way to reduce the signs of aging such as wrinkles. It is rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants, oleic acid (fatty acid) , Vitamins A (Retinol) and E, that can reverse the signs of aging and skin damage. Olive oil is beneficial to skin health whether taken orally incorporating it into salads and cooking; or using it topically by massaging little extra virgin olive oil over your face. There are various form of olive oil, but skincare experts recommend using extra virgin olive oil.

Berries:

photo link

If wrinkles are the most common problem of aging, then berries are the most perfect foods to help combat wrinkles and can even reverse the aging process. Berries, especially blueberries, cherries, cranberries, grapes, and raspberries, contain Ellagic acid, an antioxidant phytochemical that protect skin cells and can prevent skin damage while also enhancing collagen growth. Studies done by US Department of Agriculture, showed that ellagic acid which is also found in vegetables and fruits can interrupt skin wrinkle formation and inflammation. Berries are also good sources of nutrients, including vitamin C, E, riboflavin and fiber. So whether fresh, frozen or juiced, berries should be eaten regularly.

Green Tea:

photo link

A popular drink throughout Asia for ages, green tea is well-known for its anti-cancer benefits. But this wonder drink have other health benefits and one of them is the benefits of green tea for skin. Rich in antioxidants and Catechins, sipping green tea regularly helps prevent wrinkles, blemishes, dark spots, and other skin irregularities. Other studies have shown that this amazing anti-wrinkle food contains polyphenols which is beneficial in reactivating dying skin cells. Sipping green tea is not only relaxing but it can give your skin a beautiful boost.

Beans:

photo link

Beans or legumes are one of the best sources of plant protein. Beans such as black beans, kidney beans, lima beans, pinto beans and split peas are rich in antioxidants that help fight free radicals and protect skin and collagen, that helps maintain our skin youthful. Preparing a meal of bean mix with a whole grain – rice, barley, corn, and wheat is very healthy.

Lentils:

photo link

Just like beans, lentils are pack with fiber and vitamin C that help the body eliminate toxins to keep your skin youthful, and free of wrinkles. This powerful wrinkle food are very low-glycemic, meaning lentils can prevent rapid rise in blood sugar when eaten. Lentils are also loaded with Vitamin E needed by the body in promoting the development of healthy collagen. With so many varieties of lentils around, you can prepare your own special meals and added them in your diet.

Wonderful Health Benefits of Tea

A cup of tea is not an ordinary beverage, it also has many health benefits. From easing headaches to preventing cancer risks, a cup of tea offers more health properties. Read on to learn more.

A perfect cup of tea is serve with the right amount of tea and carefully adding the perfect leaves of your choice. Also, to attain the best taste, the perfect temperature must be meet, and the knowledge of how long to steep. Aside from the aromatic flavors and suiting effects it give, a cup of tea has various healing properties. Read on to learn more about this wonder leaf.

photo link

Black Tea

Black tea is a type of tea made from leaves of Camellia sinensis. Some popular varieties of black tea come from China (Lapsang souchong) – known for its strong smoky flavor, India (Assam, Darjeeling) – a full bodied and malty tea and Sri Lanka (Ceylon)- strong with tones of crisp citrus. Black tea is often mixed with other leaves producing blends or beverage. Among the world’s popular tea blends include Earl Grey, Irish Breakfast, English Breakfast, and Masala chai. In term of caffeine content,Black tea ranks first amongst the major varieties of tea. However, its level is just half the caffeine of coffee. Black tea is best served with a trace of honey or sugar, and a hint of milk or lemon.

Black tea is fermented, where freshly-picked leaves undergo oxidation process and develop deep flavors. Black tea is rich in polyphenols, (a type of antioxidant). Studies had shown that these antioxidants have health benefits such as cholesterol reduction, cancer prevention and protection against heart attack and stroke. Black tea is also packed with protein, potassium, manganese and some B-vitamins.

Green Tea

Unlike black tea, Green tea do away with fermentation process, thus it is considered a “pure” tea. Japan and China are two of the world’s largest producer of green teas. Green tea has many health benefits including reducing cancer risks, good for maintaining good health and weight loss. Since it contains minimal amount of natural fluoride, green tea is also good for the bones. For coffee lovers who wish to cut or go slow with their caffeine intake, switching to green tea is a good health alternative. Lastly, if you have a sore throat, try sipping a cup of green tea laced with honey.

White Tea

Unlike other tea varieties, white tea is known for its delicate and soothing flavor because dried white tea contains ‘young’ tea leaves is included in the preparation. Thus, white tea is best served without sugar or honey. Because of its antiviral and antibacterial qualities, white tea is effective in controlling some diseases including common colds and flu. Studies have shown white tea is helpful in maintaining healthy skin, in lowering blood pressure, and boosts higher amounts of ‘good’ cholesterol.

Red (Rooibos) Tea

Rooibos tea or “red bush,” is technically not a tea, but an herbal blend. This brew is prepared from fermented leaves of Rooibos or Honeybush plants local to South Africa. Red tea has a refreshing flavor that can further be enhance by adding honey. Its health benefits are manifold – no caffeine, low tanin content, and high levels of antioxidants. Studies have shown that red tea has healing properties such as; boosting immune system, slow down aging process, effective against certain types of skin ailments, relieves headache, anxiety and fights against insomnia.

Herbal Tea

Herbal tea, just like red tea, is not actually tea. It is a mixture of several varieties of tea, known for their health properties and unique flavors. Totally caffeine-free, herbal tea is served best with no added sweetener or flavor enhancer. Its health benefits lean on what herb it is steeped – lemon and balm tea eases a headache, ginger and peppermint teas ease nausea and help digestion, lavender and linden flower teas promote good sleep, and raspberry tea is said to be bring on labor in late pregnancy.

Seven Tips for a Better Cup of Tea

Your cup of tea will taste even greater if you will follow this seven tips in preparing one.

A cup of tea is always a welcome addition to your breakfast table each morning. Your cup of tea will taste even better if only you know some ways to maintain and even maximize its flavor. Below are seven helpful tips to have a more flavorful cup of tea.

photo link

1. Usually, a cup of tea is made up of 99% water. So to make a nicer brew, be sure to use pure water. Don’t make it a habit to fill a kettle with water direct from a tap. Unfiltered water contains some chemicals like calcium carbonate that may affect its flavor. The best way to have your tea taste better is to filter first the water before boiling it.

2. Always have fresh water in your kettle. A cup of tea will taste better if more oxygen is dissolved in water. You can attain this by not re-boiling any leftover water in your kettle, since boiling water too much will result to poorly oxygenated water.

3. Use fresh tea leaves. Keep them at room temperature in a sealed container to maintain its crispiness and freshness. Avoid putting them in a refrigerator or freezer to keep moist and the fridge odor since it will have an effect on the leaves taste.

photo link

4. When brewing black tea, it is best that the boiled water’s temperature be near 100° C (212° F) before pouring it on the leaves. The brew’s desired final flavor may not be achieved if the boiled water temperature is way below boiling point. For green or white teas it is essential use water that is approximately 80° C/176° F.

5. Loose leaf tea produces a better cup of brew tea than teabags. Yes teabags are more convenient to use but since the leaves are confined on a small package it restrict the leaves movement.Thus, the tea leaves flavor are not yield to the max. Likewise if the tea leaves are loose, their aroma is dispersed more effectively. Therefore it is advisable to brew tea in a teapot rather than a mug since the leaves have more space to spread thus it will taste much better.

photo link

6.Would you be believe that your cup of tea will taste even better if only you can wait. Yes allow the brew for the suggested length of time. It is a common knowledge that the longer the tea leaf is, the longer it takes to brew. Teabgas have lesser brewing time usually 30-45 seconds. But don’t try to squeeze the teabags just to lessen its brewing time, be patient and wait for the proper time and your tea will have its full flavor.

7. Normally milk is poured into the cup before the tea . This custom started when the early Europeans learn to use tea and at that time they are porcelain teacups. These fragile cups can‘t endure the high temperature of tea. But today, more stronger cups and mugs are in use that could withstand the heat so, there is now a debate on what should be put first, the milk or the tea. The final decision is yours.