Exotic fruits are becoming more popular because of their intense
flavours, health benefits and beautiful appearance. While everyone has
tried pineapple and pomegranate, new and delicious fruits appear all the
time. Liven up your fruit bowl with these exotic delicacies, and treat
yourself to a tropical feast.
Persimmons
Persimmons, also known as
kakis or sharon fruit, are originally from China and Japan. The fruit
look like orange tomatoes, but are incredibly sweet when ripe.
Persimmons come into season during November, and last for two or three
months. Consume your fruit once they soften, and the skin turn
translucent. Take care eating persimmons and kakis, as they can be very
bitter unless completely ripe. Eat your persimmons fresh, or use them to
make pies and jellies. The Chinese dry persimmons to guarantee a supply
throughout the year.
Persimmons are rich in the vitamin A precursor
betacarotene, as well as magnesium, potassium and fibre. They also
contain natural polyphenol antioxidants, which may protect your body
from free radicals.
In Japan, the persimmon tree is a symbol of
winter. Its leaves drop during the fall, leaving the beautiful fruit to
ripen on bare branches.
Mangosteens
Known as the queen
of fruits, the mangosteen is a delicious tropical treat from Indonesia.
It looks like a small purple apple with a crown of green leaves. Break
open your fruit when its inedible rind goes slightly soft. Inside is a
ring of white fruit segments that looks like a tangerine. Mangosteen is
both sweet and tart, and tastes somewhere between a peach and a
pineapple.
Mangosteens have gained something of a reputation as
a superfruit. This is because their rind contains antioxidant chemicals
called xanthones. These are effective antioxidants in the laboratory,
but as yet nobody has proved that they have any effect on us when eaten.
When you eat fresh mangosteens you can’t eat the rind anyway.
Mangosteens are worth buying for their intense flavour, rather than for
any possible health benefits.
Mangosteens are known as the
queen of fruits because Queen Victoria once offered a huge reward to
anyone who could bring her one.
Guava
The guava is a
small tree or shrub from the tropical Americas. It produces oval fruit
up to four inches long that are green, yellow or red when ripe. Some
people find the rich scent of ripe guava fruit overpowering. It can fill
a room and hang around for days! Wait until your guavas are soft to the
touch before eating them. Remove the ends and the thin skin with a
potato peeler. Eat the remaining white or pink rind and the seeds in the
centre. Consume guavas fresh, or use them to make fruit salads,
smoothies and jellies. In Asia, people dip them in chilli powder and
salt.
Guavas are high in fibre, vitamin A, vitamin C and folic
acid. One guava contains four times as much vitamin C as an orange. They
are also excellent sources of mineral such as potassium and copper.
Guavas with pink flesh also contain polyphenols and carotenoids, which
may have healthy, antioxidant properties.
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We all deserve a sweet treat every now and then, but if you are on a
diet it’s important to learn how to trick your sweet tooth! In fact,
there are many tasty foods out there that can help satiate your desire
for sweets, you just need to get creative! So, ladies, if you have a
bunch of sweet teeth like me, here are a few tasty and healthy snacks to
trick your sweet tooth!
Cocoa dusted almonds
If you like chocolate, this healthy snack is a must try! Take 2
tablespoons agave syrup, 2 cups whole raw almonds, 2 tablespoons
unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 teaspoons sea salt. Preheat your oven to
350 degrees. Combine agave syrup, sea salt and almonds in a large bowl.
Mix together with a rubber spatula, fully coating the almonds. Spread
the almonds on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for about 10
minutes. Take the almonds out of the oven and place them back in the
bowl, add cocoa powder and toss to coat. Let them cool and store them in
an airtight container!
Tea
Perhaps you think that I’m crazy for
suggesting tea as a sweet treat, right? But if you make it right, it
will be a sweet treat that can fully satisfy your cravings! There are
many different types of teas, but make sure you choose only naturally
sweet tea or you can sweeten your tea with stevia or honey. I also like
to add almond milk. Adding sweetener or milk to your tea makes a big
difference! Slowing sipping tea is nutritious, calming and it tastes
great!
Dark chocolate coconut water
Coconut water is a very
nutritious drink that contains high amounts of potassium, which is
needed to aid in proper hydration. There are people who like the flavor
of it, but I don’t. However, recently I tried dark chocolate flavored
coconut water, and I really like it! It’s chocolaty without being overly
heavy or thick and it can help to trick your sweet tooth.
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Many people think dandelion is only a humble garden weed, because they
don’t know these important health benefits of dandelion. Its leaves and
flowers have healing and nutritional properties, and it’s useful to know
that dandelion is found all over the world, so everybody can enjoy the
beauty and health benefits of dandelion. It’s also good to know that
dandelion has more protein per serving
than spinach. Its leaves are rich in calcium, iron, magnesium,
phosphorus, potassium and manganese and the vitamins A, C, E, K, and B1,
2, and 6. Its root contains calcium, iron, potassium, sulphur, silicon,
magnesium, chlorophyll and phosphorus. Read on to learn some of the
most wonderful health benefits of dandelion.
1. A good treat for skin diseases
Skin diseases caused by fungal or microbial infections can be treated
with dandelion sap (dandelion milk). The sap has germicidal,
insecticidal, and fungicidal properties and it’s also highly alkaline.
All these make dandelion a good treat for ringworm, eczema and other
itchy complaints.
2. Good for diabetes
Another great health benefit of dandelion is that it stimulates the
pancreas to produce insulin. Since dandelion is a natural diuretic it
causes more frequent urination, which helps remove excess sugar from the
body and lower sugar build up in the kidneys, preventing renal disease
that most diabetics are susceptible to.
3. Helps fight cancer
The world’s ancient traditional medicine systems, including the Native
American, Arabian and Chinese, have long known about the health benefits
of dandelion. One of the most important health benefits is that
dandelion has anti-cancer effects, particularly for breast and prostate
cancers. Studies have shown that its root has a great impact on cancer
cells (melanoma) that are resistant to chemotherapy, with the amazing
benefit of not doing any harm to the healthy cells.
4. Helps in maintaining bone health
Dandelion is rich in calcium, which is essential for the growth and
strength of bones. It also has a high concentration of antioxidants such
as Vitamin C and Luteolin, which protect bones from toxic free radicals
that can cause general bone weakening, loss of density and premature
aging.
5. Improves the function of the liver
Dandelion
improves the function of the liver by stimulating the liver naturally
and promoting digestion. The chemicals in dandelion eliminate toxins
from the body and help to rebalance electrolytes and reestablish
hydration.
6. Improves overall digestive health
Dandelion
is a mild appetite stimulant, so if you are trying to lose weight,
perhaps, it’s better to avoid it. But if you want to improve your
digestive health, dandelion is something you need! The inulin and
mucilage in the plant aid in the soothing effects on the digestive tract
and the antioxidants help with the absorption of the toxins from food
and encourage the growth of friendly gut bacteria and inhibit and
discourage unfriendly gut bacteria and flora.
7. Promotes good urinary health
Due to its diuretic properties, dandelion promotes good urinary health.
Yes, that’s true! The detoxification cleanses your kidneys as well as
urinary tract, while microbiological growths in the entire urinary
system are inhibited by the disinfectant properties of dandelion.
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Though the roster of “superfoods” is filled with names that many people
outside of nutritional circles are probably not too familiar with, most
of us know and love the common blueberry. This popular, sweet little
berry is packed with important nutrients, and can be a great
contribution to overall good health.
Blueberries are full of the micronutrients that our bodies
require for healthy functioning. They are also a good source of vitamin
A, vitamin K, manganese, and important dietary fiber. Another great
thing about blueberries is that they have a low glycemic load. What this
means is that they do not substantially raise blood glucose levels
after being eaten. There is promising evidence that blueberries are good
for:
1. Improving memory function
A 12 week study out of
the University of Cincinna found that older adults benefited from
improved memory after consuming wild blueberry juice on a daily basis.
The researchers concluded that this was likely due to antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory compounds known as anthocyanins that are found in
blueberries.
2. Supporting heart health
The antioxidant
effect of blueberries may also help to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Though more research needs to be done, especially in humans, researchers
at the University of Arkansas discovered that mice fed with blueberry
powder showed healthier heart vessels.
3. Preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Blueberries may be helpful for preventing UTIs because they contain
compounds known as flavonoids. Flavonoids are good for helping the body
fight off and get rid of bacterial infections.
4. Reducing inflammation
Along with the already noted anti-inflammatory effect of anthocyanins,
flavonoids are also known for their anti-inflammatory properties. This
can make blueberries helpful for inflammatory diseases such as
arthritis. Of course, such conditions require a healthy lifestyle of a
good diet and regular exercise in order to be managed properly, but
consistent blueberry intake may help to reduce some of the pain.
5. Helping to prevent cancer
One of the most exciting and hopeful new paths coming from research
into the health effects of blueberries is the possibility that they may
prevent and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. These studies are
tentative and have so far only been done on animals or on human cells in
a laboratory setting. Nonetheless, researchers have had promising
results that are sure to lead to more studies in the future.
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Every woman certainly knows how cellulite looks like. It is something
like cottage cheese or orange peel. But that is what we can only see.
What is it in real? Cellulite is an accumulation of fat cells beneath
skin. We can usually observe it on such parts of women’s body as
buttocks, thighs, back of arms and the hips. Because of cellulite a lot
of women are shy to wear swimsuits in
summer. They are strongly convinced that clingy clothing is not their
choice. If cellulite is your big problem I want to give you a ray of
hope. It is really possible to reduce or sometimes even prevent
cellulite. You must stick to some certain rules and have a special diet.
Here is the list of foods which will help you to fight cellulite.
1. Chili and Cayenne Peppers
These vegetables contain much Vitamin B6, which has the ability to
renovate connective tissue. Including them into your diet you have great
chances to reduce undesirable “orange peel” on your body. It is
necessary to mention that these peppers also will accelerate your
metabolism for 3 hours when you eat them. As a result the calories in
your body will be burnt off and you will lose fat. You should remember
the following advantages of hot peppers: they improve blood circulation,
prevent fat accumulation beneath skin and remove toxins from your body.
2.Salmon
When you eat this fish be sure that you consume so many healthy and
useful nutrients and antioxidants, which certainly have the ability to
ruin cells of fat and prevent the formation of cellulite. Salmon also
can help you to reduce appetite due to special fatty acids which it
contains. Including salmon into your lunch you will boost renovation of
skin tissue and fibers. For this reason the amount of toxins in your
body will lower, providing a better circulation.
3. Saffron
Some
herbs also can be effective in fighting cellulite. One of them is
saffron. Try to add it to your dishes whenever possible. It is known
that saffron is high in anti-inflammatory ingredients, which prevent fat
cells from growing. Use just a bit of this herb every day and it will
speed up the circulation in your body. As a result
The tone of
muscles beneath your skin will grow up and cellulite will decrease. Your
skin will look smooth and elastic. You can include some saffron into
your lunch. It tastes good with avocado wedges.
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It is a well-known fact that breakfast is the most important and
substantial meal of the day. We should be careful while choosing foods
to eat in the morning and it is necessary to include only healthy
ingredients into our breakfast menu so that we can get all the vital
nutrients and vitamins. Unfortunately, most of us rarely pay much
attention to the foods we consume at the
start of our day. You don’t even guess that there are lots of breakfast
mistakes that can lead to weight gain. Perhaps you think your option
for breakfast is the best and the healthiest, however, it may be harmful
for your waistline. I would recommend you to keep in mind the following
breakfast mistakes and you will be healthy and slim at the same time.
Whole Grain Cereal
Whole grain cereal is considered to be one of the most wholesome foods,
especially if eaten in the morning. Though, there are certain reasons
due to which it can be bad for you. For example, most cereals usually
contain some sugar that will give extra calories to your body. That’s
why you should always control the sugar content when buying whole grain
cereal for your healthy diet. Make sure you consume minimum sugar for
breakfast and you will certainly benefit from it.
Orange Juice
Drinking orange juice in the morning is one of the greatest breakfast
mistakes. I should say that in compare with the fresh fruit, juice
doesn’t have all the nutritional values you need. Moreover, this drink
is rich in sugar. For this reason, I advise you to remove any kind of
juice from your breakfast and choose the actual fruit instead. Fresh
orange or apple is a nice source of natural sugar for you.
Sweetened Oatmeal
As it has been already mentioned, you should minimize your daily intake
of sugar in order to stay active and beautiful for a long time. Don’t
believe all the labels saying that oatmeal is good for your heart while
it is full of sugar. If you have sweetened oatmeal for breakfast
regularly, you can be sure you consume sugar in excess. Actually,
oatmeal is a kind of dessert as it is often served with different
flavors like apple cinnamon or maple raisin. I think omelet with veggies
will be much better for you.
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The role of water in our body is immense. It is important to control
our water intake in order to be healthy and beautiful. Doctors say that
we should drink nearly eight glasses of water daily. Only this way your
body will stay hydrated and you’ll be able to slake thirst when it is
hot. Most of us usually prefer to consume other sweet and delicious
beverages instead of water, however,
they are not good for our health and some of them may be even harmful.
Recently I have found out that it can be so easy to drink a lot of water
and enjoy its taste at the same time. For this you need to add some
fruits to your water and you will get a yummy and healthy beverage.
Lemon water is the most preferable choice these days. Lemon juice is
extremely beneficial for you since it is packed with a great number of
vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help to improve your health. If
you drink pure lemon juice it may harm the enamel of your teeth, so
you’d better mix it with water. I would recommend you to use warm water
as it will aid the process of digestion in your body. Make it a rule to
drink lemon water every morning before breakfast and you will feel all
its benefits. Here are some of the greatest reasons why lemon water is
good for you.
1. It Aids Digestion
Lemon water has a
wonderful ability to promote your digestion and remove toxins from your
digestive tract. Therefore, you should include it into your daily diet
by all means. Sometimes we can suffer from indigestion and its annoying
symptoms like nausea, heartburn and bloating. Lemon water will be a nice
solution for you. By drinking it you’ll easily get rid of these health
problems. Plus, if you are overweight and want to burn some calories, I
would advise you to prepare a mixture of warm water, lemon juice, honey
and consume it regularly.
2. It Enhances Your Immune System
Another convincing reason why we should start drinking lemon water right
now is its beneficial impact on our immune system. It has been proven
that people who use this water each day have stronger immune system than
those who choose clear water and they are more resistant to different
infections. When it comes to the flu or colds, lemons are the most
helpful remedy because they are full of vitamin C. Plus, this citrus
fruit contains ascorbic acid, which is considered to have
anti-inflammatory properties. Saponins, which are found in lemons, will
help you to fight bacteria and avoid colds in winter.
3. You Will Have Clear Skin
Lemon water is also an amazing way to make your skin clear and glowing.
Due to the fact that lemons are rich in vitamin C and numerous
antioxidants, you’ll have a great opportunity to reduce blemishes and
wrinkles on your face. Moreover, lemon juice can be applied on age spots
and scars in order to make them less visible. The consumption of lemon
water will guarantee the perfect and fresh look to your skin. Try to
care for your skin naturally instead of using various chemicals.
4. It Boosts Your Energy
Being an enormous source of vitamins and minerals, lemon water is a
good thing to drink to increase your energy. Lemons are one of those
foods that can give you negative charged ions, providing your body with
extra energy. If you are under stress and feeling anxious, you need to
consume lemon water to overcome this emotional state. The smell of
lemons has a positive influence on your nervous system so that it can
cheer you up and refresh your mind.
5. It Cleanses Your System
The conducted researches have shown that lemon water is efficient in
eliminating toxins from our body. This happens because of the citric
acid in lemons that stimulates enzyme function. What is more important,
this fruit can purify your blood if taken regularly. People who have
diseases of urinary tract will benefit from lemons as they work
perfectly to release toxins from your body. According to medical
studies, lemons may assist your body to dissolve gallstones.
6. It Promotes Healing
Taking into account the fact that lemons are high in the ascorbic acid,
they can be a fantastic and natural remedy for your wounds. Put a
little lemon juice on your injury and it will heal faster. In addition,
the ascorbic acid is excellent for your bones, cartilage and connective
tissue. The regular intake of lemon water will make them healthier and
stronger. You’ll be astonished how quickly lemon juice can decrease
inflammations. To achieve all these results you should drink as minimum
one glass of lemon water per day.
7. It Will Give You Fresh Breath
I’d like to say that lemon water contributes greatly to the health of
your teeth. Everybody knows that toothache is really terrible and it
brings us big discomfort. Lemon water will be the right option for you
to combat toothache and forget about unpleasant feelings connected with
it. Today we have an incredible choice of chewing gums and drops that
freshen our breath effectively. But they are full of chemicals and can
be dangerous to our health. So, I would suggest you to use lemon water
to make your breath fresh. The only thing you should bear in mind is the
necessity to avoid brushing your teeth after lemon water since it can
destroy tooth enamel. You may only rinse your mouth with clear water to
keep your teeth healthier.
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