Healthy Harvests

 This is the time when everyone's gardens and pick your own orchards are in full harvest. Take advantage of these for healthy eating. Fresh fruit ans veggies have so many benefits. Eat them fresh for even more benefits.

This is the time for peach picking. Orchards around the area are bursting with clusters of these golden gems.As good as they are in crumbles and crisps , they're even better eaten chilled and fresh from the fridge. They're loaded with important vitamins like C and K which your body uses to heal wounds. They're also the rare fruit that has Vitamin E which keeps eyes and skin healthy too.Surprisingly peaches also contain trace amounts of zinc and copper,Zinc helps in getting the thyroid to work properly as well as helping blood to clot. Copper helps your teeth and bones to grow along with protecting cells and the immune system. Eat the whole fruit because their skin is rich in cancer preventing antioxidants.  Another fruit in full bloom right now is watermelon.Nothing beats a cold, sweet wedge after a barbecue or picnic.It's low calorie - only forty-six per slice so you can indulge in a few slices . A slice also has a big dose of lycoprene which is usually found in tomatoes.It improves heart health and even helps in preventing sunburn.Keep in mind that water melon is ninety per cent water  so it's also perfect for hydration, Dust it with a tiny bit of sea salt. This not only improves the taste but also replenishes electrolytes and carbohydrates.

Gardens are full of all sorts of tomatoes right now too. This is on e of the most versatile harvests because there are so many recipes that call for just picked from the vine tomatoes. They're also good eaten fresh with just a tiny sprinkle of salt on them too. These are high in Vitamin C which brightens skin and reduces inflammation,Cooked tomatoes release lycoprene to which helps in preventing cancer. eating them any way in any recipe will also improve your brain and prostrate health.This fruit - and it is a fruit is also rich in magnesium, which supplies the body with electrolytes.Electrolytes help cell function normally.Magnesium also helps in easing sore muscles after exercising too. Gardens are also full of zucchini too. These can be sliced into coins and sauteed with garlic and butter for a tasty side or  air fried to create a fun snack. They are high in Vitamin A and manganese, the last vital for forming connective tissue and bones.It also plays a role in calcium absorption and blood sugar regulation.Eggplant is also another garden gem that's in full harvest right now. It too is rich in Vitamins A and K. Eating it also reduces the risk of heart problems as well.

Summer harvests are like a giant vitamin and much tastier. Eat as much as you can, They will definitely boost your health and make you feel better.

Eating For Health

It's time to eat right as we ease into cooler weather. We need to boost our vitamin and antioxidant intake along with decreasing all those carbs and other bad stuff. The benefits are great - less aches and pains along with fewer cough and colds.

The fall harvest is full of beneficial veggies and fruits. Squash is in abundance right now. It pays to incorporate it into our meals three or four times a week.It is chock full of Vitamin C and magnesium which help to destroy free radicals throughout the body.It is also loaded with Vitamin A , namely caretenoids which give it that rich orange color. These also give us lutein and zeaxanthan which helps in preventing the degenerative eye disease, macular degeneration along with strengthening the eyes. It's also inflammatory which help prevent against fevers and even gout. Brussels sprouts are another fall favorite making their debut for the season in many grocery stores. These mini cabbages are other good veggise to eat right now. Like squash they are loaded with Vitamin C but also folate and fiber. The first reduces heart attacks along with being a key factor in the formation and maintenance of DNA -necessary for developing fetuses. Fiber is a dietary must. It keeps the lower intestine working along with lowering cholesterol. Even though tomatoes are past their season, you can still buy vine ripes and grape varieties. They are chock full of magnesium, phosphorous and copper (!) which promote everything from healthy skin to  bone strength and prostrate health for men.

Healthy eating can have a fun side. Raisins, always , a fun nosh are loaded with all sorts of good things. They have catechins which scavenge the free radicals floating in the body that wreak havoc on organs and cells. they also reduce the chance of diabetes and hypertension. Pair them with almonds for a sweet, chewy, snack. Almonds are full of calcium and potassium and have as much antioxidants as broccoli! They also build strong bones and teeth as well as artery walls. Nut fans should also consider pecans too. They're high in iron and manganese along with promoting digestive and heart health.They also reduce breast cancer risk and strokes Dark chocolate, the darling of foodies and chocoholics ,is about the most fun of all the good for you foods.It's shot full of antioxidants as well as a great source of energy.It also raises the good cholesterol HDL while lowering the bad kind LDL. It's excellent for the brain because it increases the bloods' flow to it. Any form of dark chocolate contains theobromine which hardens tooth enamel. The best part about  fun, healthy foods is that they can be combined to make fun treats. Dip raisins and the nuts in melted dark chocolate to form tasty clusters that are not only a treat for your taste buds but for your entire body too.

Eating healthy has so many benefits. It staves off the minor diseases and prevents the major ones form occurring.  Bring these foods into your diet for better living.

A Soothing Cup Of Tea

This election has not only been the most contentious in US history, It's also the most anxiety causing too. Many are worried as to what Wednesday morning will bring. The solution to all of this - a soothing cup of tea or any comfort food to settle nerves.

Nothing beats a calming cup of tea  the night before or even the day of a stress inducing event.The herbal ones are the best. One of my favorites is Twinings Nightly Calm. It's a non-caffeine herbal tea made with chamomile. It's a great tea too to have if you,ve got a nasty stomach flu or just ate too much. Chamomile calms the stomach along with boosting spirits - which may come in handy if your candidate loses.It also helps with sleep and insomnia. Another favorite is Celestial Seasonings Sleeptytime  Extra Tea. This is a great tea for those who have problems sleeping, Along with chamomile and spearmint it also has valerian, a natural sleeping aid. To sweeten it try the Carmel Honey Company's Honey Stix. These are plastic straws filled with the company's signature wildflower honey, a sweet earthy taste that pairs well with the tea. As much as you want to indulge in a chocolate and caramel laced latte, don;t. All that sugar and caffeine will make you more wired than a kid with a mouthful of candy,The same goes for hot chocolate. It is comforting to drink when you;re watching the election  however it'll keep you up until dawn Not the best thing, especially if you have a full schedule  or an all important meeting or exam on Wednesday morning.

Are there any calming foods to watch as you're cheering on your candidate or cursing his or her opponent? Turkey comes to mind, thanks to it being loaded with tryptophan. Eat four ounces of it for dinner for a blissful night of sleep. If you can't roast a turkey,, then head to your grocery's deli counter to get it. Serve it with jarred gravy on top of a sliced roll or bread. Sub in Stovetop Stuffing or Arrowhead Mills All Natural stuffing.Have it with a side dish of asparagus which also is a calming food.It not only promotes sleep but also lessens stress and anxiety. Swiss chard is another green guaranteed to calm an antsy voter. It's loaded with magnesium which can also de-stress the body,Surprisingly olive oil is another stress buster. Create a salad with it, greens and turkey strips. Add pumpkin seeds which also help.Grains, too, can lessen that agita over who's going to be in the White House. Have a slice of toast with butter and honey along with a cup of tea as you're watching the intricacies of the electoral college. A big bowl of cereal is another dish that will help you chill. Just stay away from the sugary and chocolate laced ones. Stick with the all natural kinds like Moms Best brand, Plain cereal without milk is a nice nibble too.

Tomorrow the fate and history of the country will be decided. It has been a stressful nineteen months. Destress from it with a sleep inducing meal or a soothing cup of herbal tea.

Dates To Remember

Dates are not a popular fruit. You may see them at Christmas time or in Arab grocery stores here in the US . A lot of Americans won't eat them because they're too sweet or gooey or whatever. yet, like other fruits, they're packed with vitamins and minerals . Another plus - they're pretty tasty too.

Dates come from the date palm tree which is cultivated in Northern Africa and the Middle East. they have been growing there for centuries and dates have been a part of th e regional cuisine for 6,000 years. They were the food eaten by the ancient Egyptians . Egypt is the third largest date grower and importer of them. The Iraqis are first with the Saudi Arabians being second. Dates are chock full of vitamins and minerals, being high in potassium and magnesium. along with calcium and iron. The only drawback is that they are high in calories because of the sugar.

What to do with dates? Most Middle Easterners stuff them with almonds or cream cheese as well as with candied lemon or orange peel. Americans stuff dates with peanut butter and usually serve only at Christmas. However there is the famous date and nut bread along with date pies and date cookies. It can also be used in some North African recipes, such as Moroccan tangine recipes.

Don't discount the date. it is tasty and nutritious. Plus it give you a dose of much needed vitamins and minerals. It's sweet and healthy treat from the oasis.

The Goodness Of Brown Rice

This is the season to stock up on healthy foods. One of those is brown rice. It's versatile enough to b e made into main meals and desserts. It's also chock full of vitamins and minerals, essentials to fighting colds and viruses.

Why is brown rice healthier than white rice when they're basically the some thing? Because only the hull is washed off of the brown where as the white is stripped of everything. White rice is the result of scrubbing away several different layers to produce a pure white kernel. It was preferred eating because brown was connected with poverty. However it's this kind that provides you with manganese and magnesium along with selenese. Brown rice is also an excellent source of fiber.

What to do with brown rice? It' an excellent accompaniment to any stir fry.It can also be a good stuffing for turkey . It is also a versatile side that can be mixed with chopped veggies and nuts for a protein and vitamin packed boost.As with white rice, leftover brown rice can be turned into rice salad. Just add some broccoli , sliced peppers, onions, and tomatoes. You can also make a healthy rice pudding with it too. Use honey or maple syrup as a sweetener and add some sliced almonds.

This winter, try to incorporate at least four servings of brown rice a week into your meals. It';s a good way to add much needed vitamins and minerals during this cold and virus season.