Showing posts with label iron. Show all posts
Showing posts with label iron. Show all posts

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Foods You Should be Eating - Mango

Mango is getting more and more popular in the US.  There are several variations, and I know that when I first bought mango I didn't like the flavor AT ALL... here are some points to help you get the right mango, serve it when it is ripe, and how to cut it to serve it properly.

There are two major types of mango and a wide range of varieties of mango.  The two major types are champagne and haden.  It is very easy to see the differences between them - Champagne is yellow, haden is green / red.  I prefer the champagne, they ripen quickly and are sweet.  Haden has fibers and are more difficult to tell when ripe.  Picking a mango.  The champagne mango will ripen fairly quickly.  If you are wanting a fully ripe mango it should be fully yellow and will give a little when you squeeze it.  It may also leak juice from the stem end.  I usually purchase several at a time and let them ripen naturally on my counter.  If it takes more than 2 days to ripen on the counter, it will never be sweet.  The haden mango - a ripe haden mango will be more yellow and red rather than green and red and will always weep from the stem.  It should give a little when squeezed.

Cutting a mango.  This was the hardest for me... I peeled the first one I got... and got a horrible after taste.  The mango has a long slender seed in the middle.  Start at one end of the mango and cut as close to the seed as possible.  You will almost have cut it in half lengthwise.  Set it in your palm skin to skin and cut a tic-tac-toe grid in it without going through the skin.  When finished scoring the mango, gently push the skin so the cubes stick out.  Use your thumbs to gently remove the cubes.  Serve and enjoy.


Now you know how to buy, check for ripeness, and how to serve... but WHY?  Mangoes have many great health benefits.  They aid in digestion.  For those that have problems with indigestion, the enzymes in mangoes help settle the stomach and reduce acidity.  They help lower cholesterol.  Mangoes are high in dietary fiber, pectin, and vitamin C which help lower LDL cholesterol numbers.  Mangoes are also high in Vitamin E which has been known to help regulate sex hormones and is good for skin, hair, and nails.  They also help boost memory and and concentration due to the Glutamine Acid.  Mangoes are high in iron and are great for those of us that are anemic.  One mango a day will significantly boost your iron.  The enzymes in mangoes also regulate your sugar levels in the body helping with diabetes.  And finally - the two big boys - Cancer and Heart Disease.  Mangoes are known to prevent both due to the high levels of antioxidants. 

I eat my mango plain - no sugar, no salt, no lime, nothing... One mango a day during their season.  But there are many other ways to serve mango... chutney, salsa, in savory dishes.. etc...


Blessings... E

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Foods You Should be Eating - Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is very high in many nutrients and while it is little known to the majority of the meat eating world, it is very well known in the vegan / vegetarian / pescatarian and naturopath worlds... don't let the fact that it is an "algae" put you off... let's start with the stats and move on to the good stuff... take a walk with me..

Spirulina is a fresh water bacteria that has some impressive numbers attached to it... it is 60% protein.  When compared to meat's 27% and soy's 34% it translates to a WOW for those that want to transition away from meat.  Asian countries add Spirulina to their feed to help naturally increase the bulk of their cattle.  Beyond protein there are many additional mineral benefits - iron, manganese, beta carotene, and calcium among them. 

Some additional medical / dietary benefits for you to consider.  The Japanese use Spriulina more than any other country because of the high nutritional value.  Some researchers in Japan have found that it helps diabetics control their cravings and decrease their insulin intake.  Many people use Spirulina to help maintain a healthy weight.  It has been used to fight hay fever, inflammation caused by arthritis, reduces bad cholesterol levels, and helps remove heavy metals and toxins from the body.  In short it is an excellent anti-aging food source.  Another benefit is that it is easily digested and absorbed into the body.  It is great for your heart health, digestive health, immune health, etc...

Recommended reading: http://www.naturalnews.com/031779_spirulina_radiation.html
Recommended reading: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-spirulina.html

But you say... it is still algae... Yes it is.  But there are many ways to eat and drink it that will make it much more palatable.  So, the first question is... Where do I get it?  I get mine from my natural health food store - but you can get it online as well.  http://www.iherb.com/ has a good supply of different brands and types.  You can use the powder in so many different ways.... There is a juice drink from naked that is high in spirulina - Green Machine... if you read the ingredients you probably wouldn't pick it up and try it.. but it is rather good.  Just make sure you get one that is fresh.

Recipes: http://spirulina.org.uk/recipes.htm
More recipes: http://www.spirulina.co.nz/recipeMain.htm
More recipes: http://www.growing-algae.com/spirulina-recipes.html

The most common way of adding Spirulina to your diet is through smoothies... but don't stop there.  Add a little bit to anything that has green foods in them.. and even some that don't... anything that is cooked... experiment and enjoy!! 

Blessings... E

Monday, April 25, 2011

Foods You Should be Eating - Adzuki Beans

Adzuki beans are higher in protein and lower in fat than most any other variety of bean.  They also are high in manganese, iron, potassium, copper, zinc and B complex.  Adzuki beans are native to Asia and used in both savory and sweet dishes.  They are a small redish bean with a somewhat sweet taste.  In Japan I remember them making ice cream from the Adzuki bean... it was primarily used as a dessert.

Beans are good for you for many reasons - you get much of your roughage from beans, seeds, grains, and the lettuce / cabbage families.  Beans are a good source of protein for those of you that want to reduce the meat in your diet.  Beans help manage cholesterol levels, support good bladder / kidney function, help maintain proper weight, and fights cancer.

Many people eat beans from a can - this causes many problems - heavy metal poisoning (Aluminum should never be ingested) and high salt content are the most common.  Always try to get dried beans.  They take a bit of time to prepare, but are definitely worth it. 


Recommended Reading: http://www.adzuki.com/
Recipes for Adzuki Beans: http://www.healthygreenkitchen.com/simple-seasoned-aduki-beans.html
More Recipes: http://www.food.com/recipe-finder/all?inclingre=7978

Blessings... E

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Foods You Should be Eating - Quinoa

There are many foods out there that you may not be familiar with that are very good for you.  Since they are lesser known foods - there is less chance of chemically altered seeds and high pesticide / herbicide usage...

If you've been hearing more about quinoa lately, it's not a surprise. Considered a "super food," quinoa, ("keen-wah") is a relative of beets, spinach and Swiss chard, but its seeds resemble a whole grain and are prepared and eaten in much the same way. Available in light brown, red and even black varieties, quinoa is light yet filling and has a mellow flavor. So what makes quinoa so nutritious? It:
  1. Is high in magnesium - magnesium helps relax blood vessels, which may result in fewer headaches for migraine sufferers and decreased risk of hypertension and stroke.
  2. Is a good source of manganese, iron, copper, phosphorous, vitamin B2 and other essential minerals.
  3. Has the highest protein content of any grain (it is especially high in lysine, an amino acid that is typically low in other grains). Quinoa's protein is complete, containing all nine essential amino acids - a rarity in the plant kingdom.
  4. Is gluten-free and easy to digest.
Additional benefits - it is believed to be beneficial in preventing atherosclerosis, breast cancer, and diabetes.

Once available only in health food stores, quinoa is becoming more mainstream by the day and is easily found in major grocery stores as well.

I cook quinoa similar to rice - 1.5 water to 1 quinoa.  But I add garlic, onion, cayenne, pepper, and some chicken stock to the water when cooking it.... I like mine a little harder than most people and so I don't let it sit as long as you may want to.. you also may want to add a little more water.  It has a mild slightly nutty flavor. 

Recipes for cooking with Quinoa: http://www.cookingquinoa.net/quinoa-recipes/
More Recipes: http://www.savvyvegetarian.com/vegetarian-recipes/basic-quinoa.php