Posts Tagged ‘Healthy Meals’

Growing A Healthy Spice Garden

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

It’s true that herbs and spices are not at the top of everyone’s list when it comes to a healthy diet but a naturally grown spice garden can offer some great health benefits. Many herbs and spices have antioxidants that help fight disease and have real medicinal value. Your entire family can enjoy the health benefits offered through these natural products by growing your own indoor garden full of the herbs and spices.

Utilizing fresh herbs and spices in your daily diet as compared to buying them off the shelves from the market is essential when cooking healthy meals. Let us look at a few herbs and spices that you can grow at home while learning how they can improve your health in more ways than one.

1 ? Antioxidants

* Thyme ? This has the capacity to enhance your immune system as well as a great source of antioxidant. Aside from this, it is also a rich source for antibacterial and antispasmodic properties.

* Oregano ? This is one of the highest sources of antioxidants. It has been shown that one tablespoon of fresh oregano would contain just about the same antioxidant level as that of an entire apple.

2 ? Anti-inflammatory

* Basil ? This has an anti-inflammatory activity that works the same way that aspirin and ibuprofen do. An oil of basil has an active component that will inhibit the same enzyme to prevent inflammation. Along with this benefit, you will also enjoy cardiovascular health benefits since it contains a lot of nutrients such as Vitamin A, magnesium and beta-carotene.

* Ginger ? This spice has been well-known for its anti-inflammatory component as well as its ability to boost your circulation. Ginger been known to treat RA (rheumatoid arthritis), muscle and joint pains as well as osteoarthritis. Ginger is also high in potassium that will actually help in settling down an upset stomach, alleviate diarrhea, nausea and stomachaches.

* Turmeric ? Another natural product that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which will greatly enhance your body?s defenses.

3 ? Illness Fighter

* Garlic ? We all know how great garlic is. In history, it is called as a poor man?s penicillin because it has been used for fighting illnesses for centuries. Garlic is also one of the common dietary supplements that fight off high cholesterol levels, heart diseases, stomach and colon cancers as well as alleviating high blood pressure.

4 ? Facilitates Digestion

* Peppermint ? This is best known as the stomach soother because it contains a lot of menthol that relaxes the muscles in your stomach. This plant has also shown some effects to reduce cough, headache, gas, abdominal cramping and sore throat.

* Fennel ? This is believed to facilitate digestion as it is reported to lessen colic as well as enhancing milk production for those mothers who are nursing their babies. It may also help in the reduction of flatulence and is known to be a mild diuretic that will cleanse the renal system particularly the kidneys.

As you can see, growing a spice garden can be much more than a fun hobby, it can help enhance your family’s diet and improve your health. Keep in mind, I haven’t even mentioned how using healthy herbs and spices can easily replace many unwanted foods such as salts and sugars. That in it’s self should send you running to the store to buy a spice garden kit.

There are many great reasons for growing your own spice garden like saving money, it’s fun and your food tastes better but the biggest reason is the health benefits it offers.

Find out more about growing your own healthy Spice Garden at YourSpiceGarden.com.

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Finding The Best Healthy Cooking Methods For The Whole Family Healthy Meals

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

healthy mealsAn individual who cares a lot about his health will certainly do these three major things to help them stay healthy that is to say by avoiding smoking, exercising in a regular basis and eating healthy meals. However, in our recent times, it seems to be difficult to keep us eating healthy meals due to many reasons. More and more people today are very busy with their jobs and careers especially for working mothers that they do not have much time to prepare healthy meals for her family at home.

Fast food is the best choice for such people. However, fast food is definitely not a good choice especially for your children since it contains high saturated fat, sugar, sodium, fat, salt as well as calories. So, what a mother should do to prepare healthy meals for her family, especially the children and stay out of the junk in the store? Well, it may need your extra effort to do that since it is not going to be easy for you to start. However, you can start by learning to cook simple recipes with the healthy way of cooking to provide your whole family with fresh and healthy meals.

For your family especially your children’s best healthy meals, here are several ways on how to cook your food healthily such as broiling, baking, barbequing or stewing to avoid adding a lot of fat into your meals.

Here is a brief explanation on healthy methods to cook your healthy meals:
- Broiling or grilling: put your food on a rack. Cook under or over direct heat. This will drain the fat.
- Baking: simply bake the food in a covered container. Adding some liquid instead of fat before cooking would be batter.
- Microwave cooking: this cooking method is a simple and fast way of cooking. Since it easily produces moisture, you do not have to add more oils or fat on the particular food. Draining the fat from the food could be done by putting your food between two paper towels.
- Roasting: this cooking method will take you some time since it is a slow and dry heating cooking method.
- Steaming: the best way to keep the natural color, flavor and nutrients of your food to cook.
- Cook in an open frying pan or skillet by adding a small amount of fat over high temperatures.
- Stewing or braising: a slow method of cooking especially to make tough cuts of meat become tender. Simply tan meat on each side with a small amount of regular vegetable oil or vegetable oil cooking spray then stir fry.

According to experts, the key is to consume a healthy diet with balanced nutrition. Also, do not forget, we may take a variety of foods not only contain many calories but rich in nutrients.stay healthy

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