THE BRIGHTEST HUB FOR HEALTH AND WELLNESS

health benefits

List of Flowers You Can Eat and Their Health Benefits

by Leave a Comment

Moringa oleifera flower
Moringa oleifera flower

Did you know that flowers are not just for beautifying your house and garnishing the food? To add icing to the cake, you can eat flowers as well. People can eat every part of many plants including the flower. Flowers are also used in juices, teas, stir-fry dishes, desserts and the like.

Adding flowers to your food can be a great way to add color and flavor.  Some are spicy, some are herbaceous, and some are floral and fragrant.  You will be surprised with the wide range of taste flowers can offer. The culinary use of edible flowers goes way back, thousands of years ago. These are Greeks, Romans and Chinese, whose cultures use flowers in their traditional cooking.   Most edible flowers are best eaten raw.  Now, before picking up flowers in your garden and add it your dish, just remember that: not every flower is edible and avoid flowers that have been sprayed with insecticides, fungicides and /or herbicides. You just do not want to ingest all those harmful chemicals, do you?

Interesting Facts About Flowers

Adding edible flowers to your diet can rejuvenate your health and palate. These flowers contain a variety of nutrients.  Few varieties of flowers are known to support emotional well-being along with health.  The valerian flowers help to heal anxiety and insomnia. They also aid to heal migraines and tension headaches. Chamomiles are known to calm stress and boost the resistance of the immune system. The rose waters help our liver and digestive function while cooling anger. Begonias provide support to liver health and they eliminate toxins from our body.  Chrysanthemums are well regarded as a great tonic for healing colds and fevers. Wait, it does not end here. There’s more!

List of Flowers You Can Eat and Snippets of Their Health Benefits

Here are some more recommended edible flowers and their health benefits:
Violets decorate a fresh, grass-like flavor to desserts and garnishes. These delicate flowers supply rutin which have been believed to strengthen capillary structure.

Lavenders soothe the nervous system. They can be relished in Herb de Provence spice blend, which exude a savory and complex flavor to soup and potatoes.

Borages are used as tea or ingredients in salads. These beautiful blue beauties have a resemblance of subtle cucumber taste, and are pretty useful in balancing the hormones and helping to fight upper respiratory tract infections such as colds and coughs.

Roses are abundant in antioxidants that aid in the prevention and combating cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Roses are classic flowers that come in a variety of colors wherein each has its own distinct bioactive pigments with white having the least. Roses are well-loved flowers of all time.

Nasturtiums, lemon gem marigolds, and calendula petals provide a bright flamboyant contrast in salads, thus projecting an earthy, peppery flavor. The orange pigment possesses the important anti-cancer compound lycopene while yellow varieties are rich in nutrient called lutein, which is known for protecting our eyesight.

One thing is for certain, growing such flowers you can eat can be an enjoyable indoor project, and at the same time another addition to a healthy diet which provides a bounty of beauty and healthy well-being.

Resource Links:

  1. http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8513.html
  2. http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm

Top 5 Healthiest Types of Cooking Oil

by Leave a Comment

Olive oil
Olive oil

Do you want to know one of the secrets to a healthy diet? Biologically, our body needs fat so it has its place in a healthy diet. When we hear fat, we assume that it is not healthy. I am afraid that what you have been hearing is just a plain stereotype. As a matter of fact, fat is one source of energy, and it also helps our body absorb certain vitamins like A, D, E and K.  Fat aids as well in our satisfaction with the food that we eat and is a key nutrient for proper growth and metabolic function.

Somehow, people always assume that if the food is cooked with oil, it is already unhealthy, and that the words diet or healthy or oil does not blend together. No! Our body needs fat, specifically “the good fat”.  The best source of this type of fats is the oil that we use for our diet, and there are plenty of them, but let us just point out the top 5 healthiest types of cooking oil.  There are a number of oils that contain lower amounts of saturated fats (which we need to avoid) and higher amounts of unsaturated fats, which our body needs.

Olive oil

Olive oil is the most known with the highest amount of unsaturated fats.  It is the most flavorful oil that we can use for home-cooked meals and is very high in heart-healthy antioxidants.

Canola Oil

Canola oil is high in mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in saturated fats.  This oil is made from the crushed seeds of the canola plant and is the great source of the omega-6 fatty acid (helps reduce the risk of coronary heart disease) and linoleic acid which our body is not capable to produce.

Peanut Oil

Peanut oil from the name itself is made from peanuts (which is known for a number of benefits).  This oil is monounsaturated and is mild in flavor. Peanut oil is known to help people with health issues relating to trans fat and saturated fats.

Rice Bran Oil

Rice bran oil is made from rice and is considered one of the world’s healthiest oils.  Some of this oil’s health benefits are lowering of cholesterol levels and fighting diseases.  This oil is extremely light and versatile.

Sesame oil

Sesame oil which is very popular in Asia comes in a variety of colors which is a result from the number of ways the seed is processed to make this oil.  Since it is packed with a great amount of vitamins and minerals, this oil is known to lower cholesterol level and lower the risks of heart diseases.

Now that you know that you can still use oil and be healthy, you can just choose one of the oils listed above to cook those healthy and nutritious foods.  Frying, although not recommended for your everyday diet plan, is not that bad as long as it is done in moderation.

Sources:

  • http://whatscookingamerica.net/Information
  • http://www.fatfreekitchen.com/cholesterol/cookingoi.html

How Healthy Can Kimchi Be?

by Leave a Comment

Have you been wondering what kimchi is? Kimchi is a spicy fermented cabbage and a tasty complement to Korean dishes. Commonly contained in jars, it has a conspicuous aroma and a sour-spicy taste.  Oh well, it may seem to have this pungent smell but do not let that push you back. Why? You got to read on to find out the answers…

Where It Is Made From?

Kimchi is made from the combination of garlic, scallions, vegetables, vinegar, oil and salt. All these make it an au naturel condiment. While Koreans do consume small amounts of protein especially meat and seafood, nonetheless, their intake of fermented Kimchi is what makes their diet so out of the ordinary. There is very little fat found in Korean dishes, because the meat does not dominate the meal at all.

What We Get Out Of Eating Kim Chi?

Scientists conducted a number of studies that show how this Korean food can increase metabolism and prevent obesity and possess numerous health benefits. Therefore, what the Koreans claim about this food to contain many therapeutic elements has just been justified. Conversely, we are now at the focal point of this article, the reasons why you should not underrate kimchi are because:

    • Garlic, garlic and garlic! The garlic we find in kimchi is a powerful antioxidants that purge your body from free radicals that cause harmful diseases like cancer.  When garlic is crushed, two enzymes work in a tandem to produce the powerful substance called allicin. Allicin is responsible for bringing down cholesterol and triglyceride levels. With kimchi having massive amounts of fresh garlic, eating this certainly helps you reduce your bad cholesterol level. The scallions included in kimchi have the same effect on cholesterol levels as well. Furthermore, garlic is the best known natural source of selenium, a key ingredient that helps our skin and hair healthy. On top of that, it restores Vitamin C, the body’s most important antioxidant. The blend of garlic and vegetables in kimchi keeps us healthy and energetic.
  • The cabbage in kimchi is popularly hailed for curing ulcers, since it helps in nurturing the beneficial bacteria and inhibit the bad ones. Good bacteria are needed for proper digestion and healthy digestive system.
  • Studies have shown that kimchi can shorten the duration of a cold. Moreover, there have been subsequent studies that show how kimchi can be helpful in clearing up yeast infections and urinary tract infections. By incorporating kimchi in your diet, you surely get both a protective and healing effects all in the same package. What a solace!

Pairing kimchi as a side dish with meat, eating it with rice or stewing it could never be even better. There are many recipes sold in many places to make your own kimchi. You can also choose to just pick it up in the chilled section of your grocery store or Asian markets; that is how they call it convenience food.  So do not forget to include kimchi in your next meal; you might just love it![ad#afterpost]

Resource Links:

  • http://bodyecology.com/articles/kimchi_wonderfood_recipe.php
  • http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/KimchiHealthy.html

Health Benefits of Dragon Fruit

by Leave a Comment

Dragon fruit
Dragon fruit

Having a mythical character as your namesake is a special privilege. However, dragon fruit has many more attributes to display than just the nomenclature. Full of fiber and water content, it is one of the best known health foods around. Dragon fruit, also known as Pitahaya, originated in Mexico and South America but its popularity spread far and wide. Today, the fruit is grown in several parts of the world including South China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Okinawa, Hawaii, Palestine and northern Australia.

Available across the world

The plant of dragon fruit gets attractive yellow flowers at night while the fruit itself has reddish, green tip with overlapping scales on its skin. The inner portion is similar in taste to watermelon, pear and kiwi. There are several varieties of the fruit available with diverse skins and inner edible parts. It can be either eaten raw, mixed in juices, served in salads or preserved to make jams and sauces. Just slice the fruit into two and scoop out the flesh since the skin is not edible. Middle of the fruit is the sweetest part which you can keep for later as a dessert.

However, taste is not the best of things it offers. By cherishing the dragon fruit you get lots of beneficial nutrients which are easily absorbed by the human body. The fruit contains carotene, Vitamin C, B, calcium, iron, phosphorous, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. It does have a small amount of fat too which is contained in its small black seeds all of which can’t be removed manually. Luckily, most of the fat is monounsaturated variety which is beneficial for your body.

Health benefits abound

The most prominent among dragon fruit health benefits is its effectiveness in controlling blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. So besides the medications and exercise that your doctor recommends, taking dragon fruit as your natural treatment may help manage the blood sugar in a more effective way. Being sweet in taste, the fruit also helps control craving for sugar. For pre-diabetics, it can be a part of preventive treatment along with exercise.

Being high on vitamin C, dragon fruit heals cuts and bruises very fast and strengthens the body’s immune system also. The high concentration of antioxidants helps prevent formation of cancer-causing free radicals. On the other hand, dietary fiber improves digestion and vitamin B2 enhances appetite. Vitamin B1 metabolizes carbs to give you instant energy which is why it can be a good energy filler before or after a workout. The high protein content in dragon fruit acts as a bonus for exercisers since not only it helps build muscles but also fastens body’s metabolism thus preventing weight gain.

Due to its detoxifying effect, the fruit neutralizes toxic substances like heavy metals. According to various research studies, the dragon fruit is great for the circulatory system and it also neutralizes toxicity in the blood besides helping in prevention of colon cancer.

Its consumption reduces cholesterol levels and manages high blood pressure. If that was not all, the regular intake of dragon fruit also helps fight cough and asthma thus proving to be highly beneficial in managing chronic disorders too.

The cosmetic and health industries have also jumped the bandwagon by coming up with various products containing extracts of dragon fruit. Because it has high antioxidant levels, the fruit is known to be good for skin while good dose of other nutrients helps improve the eyesight. Other products containing extract of dragon fruit claim to be beneficial in strengthening bones and teeth besides helping in tissue formation because of rich haul of calcium and phosphorus in the fruit.

So enjoy and revel in the dragon fruit health benefits.

 

Health Benefits of Cabbage

by Leave a Comment

Cabbage
Cabbage

The humble cabbage is a perfect representative of a green leafy vegetable because not only it is green in colour but also a bundle of leaves put together by crafty hands of nature. Cabbage is savoured by all and sundry across the globe as an important part of cultural cuisines, adding it either as an ingredient or an accompaniment.

From Chinese chowmein and US burgers to Mediterranean salads, the cabbage is omnipresent. Besides the variety it presents in terms of taste, the cabbage health benefits are widespread.

Being high on roughage, cabbage is great for any disorder of the tummy. Whether it is constipation or stomach ulcer, the vegetable treats them all naturally. It also prevents various other disorders including headache, intestinal cancer, indigestion and resultant loss of appetite, skin diseases, eczema and ageing which could have originated from lack of fibre.

Isothiocyanates in cabbage are also helpful in proper regulation of gut bacteria which can damage the stomach lining.

Steamed cabbage can offer you better variety of fibre which binds with bile acids in your digestive tracts and throws them out, thus resulting in lowering of cholesterol levels. Steamed cabbage even scores over the effect of a cholesterol-lowering drug and it was found that the vegetable bound 17 percent more bile acids than the drug. Lowering of cholesterol also works well for your cardiovascular health since it reduces the possibility plaque deposits in the arteries.

With vitamin C much more than equal amount of orange, cabbage offers an effective cure for scurvy, which is recognised by symptoms of spongy and bleeding gums, cracked lip corners, very weak immune system and frequent infections. Vitamin C also reduces the levels of free radicals in your body thus preventing ageing and also repairing wear and tear of the body. Being high on antioxidants means cabbage is good in dealing with certain cancers while sulphur in the vegetable helps strengthen the immune system in its fight against infections and delayed healing of wounds and damaged tissues.

Cabbage is a good detoxifier and its vitamin C and sulphur contents help purify the blood by removing free radicals and uric acid which is responsible for arthritis, gout, rheumatism, skin diseases and eczema.

Also being high on iodine, cabbage helps in effective functioning of the brain and the nervous system thus helping in prevention and treatment of brain disorders like Alzheimer’s. Iodine also keeps endocrinal glands in good condition. The cabbage health benefits even extend to treatment of varicose veins, leg ulcers and peptic ulcers. While its high in vitamin E content keeps the skin, eye and hair healthy, calcium, magnesium and potassium are very useful for overall health.

Cabbage is a great source of sinigrin, a component found to be of great help in prevention of bladder cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. This is because it is rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory nutrients and glucosinolates all of which are well known villains of cancer.

Also, try to include different types of cabbage in your meal since red cabbage has high concentration phytonutrients than its green siblings.

Red cabbage has four times the amount of polyphenols and eight times the amount of vitamin C than that found in green one.

High levels of anthocyanins in red cabbage mean you can bid good bye to inflammatory compounds which can lead to chronic inflammation and hence give birth to various disorders including cancer, arthritis, heart disease and diabetes. Glucosinolates in cabbage are responsible for its protection against bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.

Cabbage can also be a good diet controller. Just finishing your leafy cabbage salad before gorging on to the more sinful food items would not only fill you up and hence check overeating, the health benefits will be far reaching.

Health Benefits of Hemp Seeds

by Leave a Comment

For all vegetarians, finding a good source of protein is always a challenge. While milk and soy does provide a good amount of protein, they are either not part of a regular diet or not liked by many. In addition, they are missing on one or the other amino acids. This makes the vegetarians feel inferior to their non-vegetarian friends high on amino acids from eggs and chicken.

Enter hemp seeds which have the levels of edestin and albumin proteins much higher than any other plant-based source. In addition, unlike soy it does not have high amounts of phytic acid which blocks absorption of minerals in your body.

While most people face problem digesting high-protein food, hemp seed is easily digestible due to high amount of fiber. The seed contains all 20 amino acids and essential fatty acids. The seed is made up of 35 percent protein, 47 percent good or healthy fat, and 12 percent carbohydrates. However, hemp seed health benefits are not restricted to high protein content. Being also rich in vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorous, zinc, copper, manganese, and vitamin E, these seeds makes a perfectly natural food supplement.

What is hemp?

Hemp is known as one of the earliest plant domesticated by man. In fact, it is widely believed that hemp can sustain all of man’s dietary needs and since they are easy to add to any food item, the hemp seeds became even more popular. Besides being an excellent source of protein, hemp contains omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids which are not made by our bodies and should be supplemented from an external source to protect the skin and build the immune system. In fact, it contains seven times the amount of omega 3 fatty acids found in fish hence giving another reason for vegetarians to include hemp seeds in their regular diet plan.

Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids have been found to be excellent in keeping the heart in good health since besides reducing the levels of cholesterol, they also remove plaque build-up in arteries of the heart which is the most common cause of a heart attack and stroke.

How to add hemp seeds in your diet

While hulled hemp leaves, seeds and nuts can be used commonly in various food items, they can also be pressed to get good quality polyunsaturated oil or made into flour to be used for baking and other purposes as a substitute for wheat flour. One of the easiest ways to increase your intake of hemp seeds is to sprinkle them over your salad.

Smoothie made of hemp seeds is very popular while you can also sneak in some of these seeds into oatmeal, vegetarian chili besides vegetable and pureed bean soups. The flour can also help as an alternative for those with gluten allergy. You can have hemp seeds as raw, sprout them or make them into hemp milk quite similar to soy milk.

Besides being excellent source of cooking, oil from hemp seeds can be used to nourish the skin since it gets soaked in the skin easily and prevents ageing because of high vitamin E content which is three times more than that in flax seed.

Hemp seed also contains lecithin which builds up the power of cognition; inositol that helps against problem of hair fall; and phytosterols to maintain hormonal balance. The hemp seed health benefits are numerous and including them in your diet will only increase your stake in good health.