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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Five Bad Foods That are Good for You

What do these five food have in common? Over the years, they are treated as bad foods. However, recent studies and researches suggest that their not really that bad — only if eaten or consumed in moderation. Read on to know them.

Here is a set of five foods that once were treated as bad or unhealthy foods. Thanks to modern studies, these foods have claimed their place in the healthy food list. So go take a bite!

Chocolates

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Everyone loves chocolate, but what makes chocolate so irresistible? One thing is sure, chocolate’s charisma lies in its tempting taste. But it is unfortunate that all you hear about chocolate is its bad reputation – from rotting teeth to acne. Good news! Chocolate isn’t as bad for you as once believed; studies have shown that it has some health benefits, too.

Recent researches have revealed that chocolate is rich in flavonoids. What are flavonoids? These are natural compounds found in fruit and vegetables. They act as powerful antioxidants in your body, to fight off toxins and help your body’s cells to fight damage. Also, flavonoids also help check bad cholesterol – thus decreasing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke. Recent studies indicate that eating moderate amount of dark chocolate is beneficial for people with diabetes. Furthermore, chocolate is a good source of potassium, magnesium, and several vitamins – including B1, B2, D, and E.

Knowing the above mentioned health benefits of chocolate, does it implies that you eat more chocolate products? Nope, overindulgence can lead to weight gain, which may result to heart problems and strokes. Moderation is always the key – consumed small portions of chocolates (about six grams of chocolate per day) and don’t forget to eat other flavonoid-rich foods like red wine, green tea, apples and cranberries.

Eggs

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Is eating eggs unhealthy? Pity the poor egg; for years now, the dietary naysayers put eggs the villain of the breakfast world. These people are dead-scared about the high cholesterol content (found in the egg yolk) that can put you at risk of heart attacks. Today, continuous researches and studies have rebutted this misguided belief and medical findings have shown that eating eggs is healthy. New study indicates that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of heart disease, stroke and blood clots. According to this study, there is no noteworthy connection between egg consumption and heart disease.

Eggs are loaded with high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids. They are good source of lutein and zeaxanthin that are beneficial for the eyes. Furthermore, eggs contain choline that helps manage the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system. Yes, one egg a day is acceptable, but people with heart diseases and diabetes should go for a small or medium egg.

Avocados

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Avocado shakes this summer… I simply love that! However, some tend to cross-out this green fruit on their summer fruits list. Why, because of the misguided belief that it has high fat content. But avocado has made a dramatic comeback; thanks for the numerous studies and researches done proving that this delicious fruit has tremendous health benefits!

While it is a fact that avocado is indeed high in fat — nutritionists point out that avocados contain a monounsaturated fat (oleic acid) as well as a natural substance (beta-sitosterol), which help regulate blood cholesterol levels. Avocados’ high amount of folate are also protective against strokes. Thus, avocado is a highly recommended medicinal fruit for cholesterol-related heart diseases. Avocados are also rich in carotenoid lutein that help prevent cataracts and other age-related eye diseases.

Other studies reveal that avocados have anti-cancer benefits, helpful in preventing mouth cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, and prostate cancer. If you believe avocado is a healthy fruit, then make it a point to have a few slices of avocado added to your meal. By the way, studies have revealed that an ounce of avocado has 60% more potassium than bananas.

Nuts

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To crack or not to crack? Many people are worried to eat nuts because of its high fat contents. Yes they are right! But restrain not yourself in consuming these delicious nuts — they can be healthy and delicious, if eaten in moderation.

Nuts like walnuts, almonds and Brazil nuts do contain fats — but ‘good fats’or monounsaturated fats. Scientific evidence suggests eating nuts regularly can lower risks of heart disease. These monounsaturated fats help lower your LDL cholesterol and raise your HD L cholesterol. Other studies suggest that a few nuts can even facilitate weight loss.

The best way to reap nuts health benefits is to eat them in replacement of unhealthy snacks or junk foods. Each type of nuts have dozens of other health benefits, so Go Nuts!

Maple Syrup

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Pancakes and maple syrup go to together as food lovers may say. Though these fave pancake sweetener contains lots of sugar and calories; it too are pack with plenty of healthy antioxidants. Recent studies have revealed that maple syrup contains more than 10 antioxidants!

Pure maple syrup contains healthy compounds (lignans and falconoid) that are also found in berries, whole wheat, tea, and flax seed. These compounds are known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. Maple syrup is also a good source of important nutrients like calcium, iron, potassium and zinc.

Despite the health benefits that makes it a very alluring as a sweetener, keep in mind that maple syrup is still just liquid sugar. Always consume maple syrup in moderation. Too much of it can result to weight gain and can increase the risk of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.

Milkshake Trivia

Some interesting and entertaining facts about milkshakes.

A milkshake is a sweet, cold beverage which is made from milk, ice cream or iced milk, and flavorings or sweeteners such as fruit syrup or chocolate sauce. Milkshakes are usually served in a tall glass with a straw, and whipped cream may be added as a topping. However, they did not always look the way they do today.

There are many interesting facts and an even more intriguing history that can be learned about milkshakes

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In the early days, milkshakes did not just include the typical ingredients of milk, ice cream, and flavoring. Back then, a little whisky was added to milkshakes. No wonder they became so popular.

A banana milkshake mixed with a little honey is the perfect cure for a hangover.

Milkshakes gained became a household feature when Stephen Poplawski’ invented the electric in 1922.

Some years back, milkshakes is a health food. The famous Horlicks ( a milkshake made from mixture of dried milk, malted barley and wheat) was primarily given to infants and older people as a drink for their ailments.

Have you ever imagine consuming a milkshake without a straw? I bet, it will be laborious to finish one.. thanks to Joseph Friedman for inventing the flexible straw.

* Milkshakes got their name from being served in bars. If the customer enjoyed the milkshake, he shook hands with the bartender. If not, the bartender didn’t get a tip.

* Milkshake-like recipes which use yogurt, crushed ice, and fresh fruit and which are made without ice cream are usually called “smoothies” . When malted milk is added, a milkshake is called a “malt”. In certain parts of England and Canada, milkshake is named “frappe”. In Nicaragua, milkshakes are called leche malteada.

* In Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, the local “coffee frappe” shake or locally called “cabinets” is made using coffee syrup or coffee-flavored ice cream.

* Strawberry, Vanilla, and Chocolate are the three most famous milkshake flavors. However, there are seasonal milkshakes such as McDonald’s Shamrock Shake and Jack in the Box’ Pumpkin Pie Milkshake.

* Fast food restaurants like to make up their own names for milkshakes. In 1969, Wendy’s introduced “Frostys”, while McDonald’s launched its famous “McFlurries” in October 1997.

* A famous restaurant in Edison, New Jersey, Pizza, Wings, Steaks, & Things serves various milkshake flavors that includes: bubblegum grape milkshake, Chocolate Root Beer, Banana Marshmallow, Black Forest Cheesecake, Chocolate Cherry Coke to name a few. Other restaurants offer weird milkshakes flavors such as; Avocado Milkshake, Peanut Butter & Jelly, S’mores, and Kiwi & Pineapple.

* In Australia the most common flavors are Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla, Caramel, Banana, Lime, and Koala Bear.

* Some fast-food restaurants such as Dairy Queen, a popular fast-food restaurant, serves milkshakes which are prepared by blending ice milk (soft-serve ice cream) with sweetened, flavored syrups.

* Believe it or not…McDonalds’ milkshakes contain seaweed! Don’t you worry, the ingredient added is a seaweed extract called carrageen an that is also found in gelatin mixes, soft drinks and other dairy products.

* Some US restaurants serve milkshakes with broken cookies, candy bar pieces, or alcoholic beverages.

* A 6,000 gallons of pure milkshake was made in 2000, making it the largest milkshake in the Guinness Book of World Records.

* Milkshake lovers…mark these days red in your calendar: September 12 is National Chocolate Milkshake, June 21 is National Vanilla Milkshake Day and October 7 is recognized as National Frappe Day.