Anti-Aging Foods No 10

Flavonoids, a natural nutrient in cocoa, improve blood flow in the brain, which helps boost cognitive function. Plus dark chocolate contains a tannin called procyanidin, which is also found in red wine, that can keep your arteries flexible and your blood pressure low. It helps on the outside, too. In a study from the Journal of Nutrition, women who drank cocoa fortified with a chocolate bar’s worth of flavonols had better skin texture and stronger resistance to UV rays than those who drank significantly fewer flavonols. Indulge in 1 ounce a day to get all the benefits, says dietitian Sari Greaves of New York Presbyterian Hospital–Cornell.

Anti-Aging Foods No 9 Green Tea

Of course you have heard of Green Tea. Its the in-thing now. Varieties of green tea with different flavours are available to pick and choose from. Sometimes it leaves you confused. 'Problem of the Plenty'. Drink it up. It does you loads of good. Green tea releases catechin, an antioxidant with proven anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Research found that drinking 2 to 6 cups a day not only helps prevent skin cancer but might also reverse the effects of sun damage by neutralizing the changes that appear in sunexposed skin. Other studies show that green tea—infused with another antioxidant called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)—can boost your cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of most types of cancer.

Switch to Green Tea instead of Coffee or any other beverage. The Koreans add a little rice broth to counter the bitter taste of pure green tea. You can add a dash of lemon or orange juice. Your imagination is the limit.

At No 8 Blueberries / Amla

Blueberries are potent little fruits can help prevent a range of diseases from cancer to heart disease. Blueberries areas anti-rust for your gray matter. Besides being rich in fiber and vitamins A and C, they’re also packed with antioxidants. Opt for wild blueberries whenever possible, as they contain 26 percent more antioxidants than cultivated varieties.

Another alternative is the Wild Gooseberry or commonly known in India as AMLA. Want to live longer and healthier then don't miss on eating this anti-oxidant and Vitamin C rich storehouse.

Salmon Recipes

I found a great site for cooking salmon fish at http://www.salmonrecipes.net

Salmon Fish (No 7 of Best Anti-aging Foods)

A 4-ounce serving of salmon has approximately 2,000 milligrams of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), omega-3 fatty acids that serve as oil for the brain’s hardware by helping nerve cells communicate with one another. Thirty-five percent of your brain consists of fatty acids like these, but they can decline as the years stack up. Studies have found that the brain tissue of 65 to 80-year-olds contains 22 percent less DHA than the brain tissue of 29 to 35-year-olds. “If you want to keep your wits about you as you age, start consuming Omega-3s.

Fish Oil capsules can be had in case salmon is not available and also for vegetarians. Avoid Cod and Shark liver oil. Fish oil is taken from the body of the fish and not its organs. Flax-seeds are another good source of Omega-3.

No 6 (40 Best Foods)

The carnosic acid found in this spice has been shown to reduce stroke risk in mice by 40 percent, according to a study published in the Journal of

Neurochemistry. Carnosic acid appears to set off a process that shields brain cells from free-radical damage, which can worsen the effects of a stroke. It can also protect against degenerative diseases like
Alzheimer’s and the general effects of aging.

Ask for Rosemary powder in any convenient stores. It can be had as a tea extract or added with oregano as pizza or sandwich toppings.

No 5 Spinach (40 Best Anti Aging Foods)

It may be green and leafy, but spinach—a renowned muscle builder—is also the ultimate man food. The heart-health equivalent of a first-ballot Hall of Famer, spinach is replete with the essential minerals potassium and magnesium, and it’s one of the top sources of lutein, an antioxidant that may help prevent clogged arteries. Plus its vitamins and nutrients can bolster bone-mineral density, attack prostate cancer cells, reduce the risk of skin tumors, fight colon cancer, and, last but not least, increase blood flow to the penis. “Popeye was on to something,” says Susan Bowerman, assistant director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of California .

No 4 (40 Best Anti-Aging Foods)

SWEET POTATO

Often confused with yams, these tubers are one of the healthiest foods on the planet. In addition to countering the effects of secondhand smoke and preventing diabetes,
sweet potatoes contain glutathione, an antioxidant that can enhance nutrient metabolism and immune system health, as well as protect against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, liver disease, cystic fibrosis, HIV, cancer, heart attack, and stroke. What’s more, they’re also loaded with vitamin C, which smoothes out wrinkles by stimulating the production of collagen. A recent study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that volunteers who consumed 4 milligrams of C (about half a small sweet potato) daily for 3 years decreased the appearance of wrinkles by 11 percent.

For the first 4 foods that heal see previous posts. More in next post.

No 3 ( 40 Best Anti-Aging Foods)

TOMATOES

There are two things you need to know about tomatoes: red are the best, because they’re packed with more of the antioxidant lycopene; and processed tomatoes are just as potent as fresh ones, because it’s easier for the body to absorb the lycopene. Studies show that a diet rich in lycopene can decrease your risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, and help eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays. “Cooked tomatoes and tomato paste work best,” says celebrity trainer Gunnar Petersen.

For the first two best anti-aging foods please read the previous posts. Watch out for the fourth food in the next post.

No 2 Flax Seeds

Rich in protein and fiber, these little seeds offer a payload of omega-3 fatty acids, which erase spots and iron out fine lines in the skin. The British Journal of Nutrition reported that participants in one study who downed about half a teaspoon of omega-3s daily in 6 weeks experienced significantly less irritation and redness, along with better-hydrated skin. A recent study of people with high cholesterol (greater than 240 mg/dL) compared statin treatment with eating 20 grams of flaxseed a day. After 60 days, those eating flaxseed did just as well as those on statins. Try sprinkling ground flaxseed on oatmeal, yogurt, and salads.

The 40 Best Age-Erasing Superfoods

The latest science on the muscle-building, brain-enhancing, wrinkle-erasing, heart-strengthening, bone-protecting, immunity-boosting, and inflammation-fighting foods you should be eating every day.

No 1. ALMONDS

These energy-rich snacks lower bad cholesterol, thanks to plant sterols, and benefit diabetics by lowering blood sugar. They’re also rich in amino acids, which bolster testosterone levels and muscle growth. Almonds are also stuffed with vitamin E, which helps defend against sun damage. In a study, volunteers who
consumed 14 milligrams of the vitamin (about 20 almonds) per day and then were exposed to UV light burned less than those who took none. And because vitamin E is an antioxidant, it also works to keep your arteries free of dangerous free radicals. Low levels of vitamin E are also associated with poor memory performance and cognitive decline, says dietitian Sari Greaves of New York Presbyterian Hospital–Cornell.

Will post one food every day. So watch this blog!!!!

Reduce Cholesterol the Natural Way

Lauki (Latin Lagenaria siceraria) belongs to the curcubitaceae family and is also known as Bottle Gourd.
A glass of Bottle Gourd juice along with 1 tsp lime juice taken every morning on an empty stomach has been known to reduce cholesterol.

JILL JILL JIGARTHANDA

Jigarthanda (meaning cooling the body) is a popular drink in Madurai.

Ingredients:
Milk: 600 ml
Almond gum or pisin (Badam pisin): 3 tbsp
Rose syrup: 2 tbsp
Ice cream: 1 scoop

Method of preparation:
Soake badam pisin in water to form jelly for about 8 hours.
Boil milk in low heat until reduced to half the quantity. Allow to cool in refrigerator.
To the chilled milk add soaked badam pisin, rose syrup and ice sream.
Serve in a tall glass.

Benefits of Apple Cider

Apple Cider is made by fermentation of apples. Not until Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor’s Guide to Good Health, written by D.C. Jarvis, M.D., was published in 1958 that the medicinal use of apple cider vinegar was known. Jarvis recommended apple cider vinegar as a cure-all. He said that mixing the apple cider vinegar with honey, a mixture he called “honegar,” enhanced the healing power of the vinegar. Jarvis also wrote that apple cider vinegar could destroy harmful bacteria in the digestive tract and recommended as a digestive tonic to be consumed with meals. Apple cider is also known to have a favourable effect on blood sugar and helps lower glucose levels. Studies have shown that vinegar can lower the post-meal rise in glucose. The acetic acid in vinegar is thought to slow starch digestion and reduce the glycemic index of starchy foods.

Some of the benefits according to Paul C Bragg in Miracle of Fasting are:-


Apple Cider promotes youthful skin and a healthy vibrant body
Helps remove artery plaque and body toxins
Helps fight bacteria, viruses, germs and moulds naturally
Helps retard onset of aging
Helps regulate calcium absorption
Helps normalize urine pH
Helps in digestion
Helps regulate body weight
Helps fight arthritis and removes toxins and crystals from joints and organs

Views and comments are welcome.

Garlic Chutney

Here's a tasty and also simple to make garlic chutney to spice up your meal, while giving you the benefits of eating garlic without having to eat it raw. I like the way this chutney kick-starts your palate when food gets monotonous.

Can be eaten spread on bread and rotis or with rice. The combinations are limitless really



Ingredients
Garlic Paste (dry ground) - 1 tbsp
Red chilli (cayenne) powder - 1 tsp
Vinegar - 1/2 tsp
Olive Oil - 1 tbsp
Salt to taste

Preparation
Mix together garlic paste, chilli powder, vinegar and salt
Heat the olive oil in a pan
Saute the paste till crisp
Store in airtight container in the refrigerator

Barbeque Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Whiskey
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Preparation:

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and mix well. Simmer for 20 minutes then allow to cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you make it a few days in advance the flavors will have more time to blend together.

Use this barbecue sauce toward the end of cooking. You want the sauce to cook on to the surface of the ribs, but you don't want it to burn.

Easy Ginger Chicken Kebabs

Ingredients

• Chicken Boneless 1 inch diced.............. 250 gms
  
• Ginger Paste..................................... 1 tbsp
• Garlic Paste ..................................... 1 tbsp
• Olive Oil ............................................ 1 tsp
• Yogurt (Curd) .................................... 1 cup
• Green Chilli Paste ............................... 1 tsp
• Salt ................................................. to taste

Method

• Wash and dry chicken
• Mix all ingredients in a bowl
• Marinate in refrigerator for 5-6 hrs
• Insert chicken dices onto a skewer closely touching each other
• Barbecue on a coal grill for 20 minutes while turning sides continuously
  
• Alternatively grill in an oven till done
• Garnish with coriander leaves and serve with lemon wedges
  

The Vitamin Supplement Paradox

We Humans have never been so concerned and cautious about our health as we are today. Yet, a large (and increasing) majority of us do not enjoy the robust health as compared to our ancestors. Ads hype vitamin and mineral supplements as the panacea for dramatic change in health. The PARADOX . In the thousands of years of human existence, supplements have been around for a few decades, yet humans are in worst health than ever before. Contagious diseases have definitely reduced but degenerative diseases - a Big NO. Popping vitamins pills does not guarantee health. The bottom-line is this - Eat a balanced diet with a minimum of five portions of vegetables/fruits and you will never need a vitamin pill. By the way pills do not come cheap.

And yes! Avoid aerated drinks like the plague (unintended). They suck out vitamins and minerals from our bodies. Have a naturally healthy body.

Vegetable Cutlets

Ingredients:

Potatoes 2 (boiled and mashed)
Cauliflower 100 gms (boiled and mashed)
Corn 1 cup (boiled)
Green Peas 1/2 cup (boiled)
Onion 1 Finely Chopped
Bread Crumbs 1 cup
Poha (Flattened Rice Puffs) 1/2 cup

Green Chillies finely chopped 2 tsp
Red Chilli (Cayenne) Powder 1 tsp
Coriander Powder 1 tsp
Cummin Powder 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Lemon Juice 1 tbsp

Oil to deep fry

Procedure to make Corn Cutlets

1.Wash vegetables and mash together. Mix Well.

2.Add spices along with bread crumbs and poha.

3.Heat oil in kadhai or pan.

4.Make small balls out of this dough and press them between palms.

5.Dip in bread crumbs and deep fry in hot oil.

6. Fry till golden brown and serve hot with sauce.

Brahmi - Benefits

- Brahmi improves mental alertness
- helps in maintaining mental calmness
- improves concentration
- known to decrease anxiety
- is known to decrease mental fatigue
- known to maintain blood pressure levels
- effective in treatment of menstrual disorders

Google for more about Brahmi