by AJ Adams
Blackberries are late season autumn berries that are well worth the wait. This dark purple fruit is high in vitamin C, vitamin E and, like other dark berries, antioxidants.
The path to great blackberries is paved by the 4 P's; Purchasing, Prepping, Preserving and Preparing.
Purchasing: When you're looking for the perfect blackberries and you can't get out to the farm yourself to pick them, you want to keep your eyes out for a nice, purple-black color. The berries should be firm, but still plump looking. They should also be dry, but not too dry - you want some juiciness about it. Like most fruits and vegetables, the best smelling and most fragrant ones are the tastiest, so give them a good smell.
Preparation: Don't wash or rinse the berries until you're ready to use them. Otherwise, the extra moisture and condensation could speed up the spoiling process. When you're ready, rinse the berries thoroughly under low-pressure running water. Pick out any loose stems or leaves.
Preserving: If you're not going to use the berries within a few days or purchasing or picking them, then you'll need to preserve them. The easiest way is to freeze them. A good method is to lay out the berries on a flat tray, freeze them and then move them to a plastic freezer bag. This will keep them from freezing as one solid clump.
Preparing: If you plan on serving the berries solo with a touch of cream and sugar, then fresh is best. But, if your blackberry dreams are pinned on pies, puddings, crumbles, and jams then frozen blackberries will do just fine, but remember that cooking and processing, like in all produce, will drastically reduce the levels of Vitamin C and Vitamin B. Like all fruits and vegetables, blackberries combine best with other fruits from their season, so try matching them with apples and squash for fantastic flavor.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
What's Good For Age Spots?
by Charles Browne
Age spots (also called liver spots or solar lentigines) are collections of pigment caused by excessive sun exposure, poor liver function, nutritional deficiency, or lack of exercise. Age spots are the yellowish-brown flat spots that look like large freckles of various sizes. Though harmless and painless, these changes in skin color are associated with older skin. They usually appear on the hands, but they can be almost anywhere, such as the face, arms, shoulders, back, or feet- the areas most exposed to the sun. While age spots are very common in adults over 40, they can affect younger people also.
As we age, and our metabolism slows down, the liver may become so overloaded with toxins that it cannot rid the body of them. Years of being in the sun begin to add up. Oxidation within the body, and the lack of antioxidants in our diet, also plays an influential role in this process. Due to thin skin or excessive sun exposure, pigment can also be deposited as a reaction to an injury or bruise, similar to a scar being a response to a cut.
Age spots are the surface sign of free radical intoxification of the body, therefore it may be more beneficial to fight them internally. Vitamins (or foods rich in the vitamins) which may be helpful include: B6 (pyrodoxine), Beta-carotene, B Complex, C, Calcium & Magnesium, Cysteine, D, E, Lecithin, and Selenium. Herbs which may be helpful include: Burdock, Ginseng, Gotu Kola, Licorice root, Milk Thistle, Red Clover, and Sarsaparilla.
Vitamins and herbs may also be applied externally, to be absorbed into the skin. Those useful include: Apple Cider Vinegar, Dandelion juice, Lemon juice, Onion, and vitamins A, C, & E.
Age spots take years to form and eliminating them will also take time, so don't give up. Try a remedy, be patient, and if there's no improvement after a few months, try another one. Avoid excessive sun exposure, and always use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. Avoid unhealthy fats.
To promote liver function, eat lots of fruits and vegetables (especially raw), & whole grains. Consume plenty of green vegetables. Maintain a healthy weight, and remember that sweating is good for you. Also avoid alcohol, artificial sweeteners, aspirin, caffeine, drugs, fats, food additives & preservatives, foods with artificial anything, meat, processed foods, salt, shellfish, sugar, tobacco smoke, and white flour.
NOTE: Irregular, dark spots that increase in size or change color or texture, should be checked immediately by a doctor. They could be skin cancer.
Age spots (also called liver spots or solar lentigines) are collections of pigment caused by excessive sun exposure, poor liver function, nutritional deficiency, or lack of exercise. Age spots are the yellowish-brown flat spots that look like large freckles of various sizes. Though harmless and painless, these changes in skin color are associated with older skin. They usually appear on the hands, but they can be almost anywhere, such as the face, arms, shoulders, back, or feet- the areas most exposed to the sun. While age spots are very common in adults over 40, they can affect younger people also.
As we age, and our metabolism slows down, the liver may become so overloaded with toxins that it cannot rid the body of them. Years of being in the sun begin to add up. Oxidation within the body, and the lack of antioxidants in our diet, also plays an influential role in this process. Due to thin skin or excessive sun exposure, pigment can also be deposited as a reaction to an injury or bruise, similar to a scar being a response to a cut.
Age spots are the surface sign of free radical intoxification of the body, therefore it may be more beneficial to fight them internally. Vitamins (or foods rich in the vitamins) which may be helpful include: B6 (pyrodoxine), Beta-carotene, B Complex, C, Calcium & Magnesium, Cysteine, D, E, Lecithin, and Selenium. Herbs which may be helpful include: Burdock, Ginseng, Gotu Kola, Licorice root, Milk Thistle, Red Clover, and Sarsaparilla.
Vitamins and herbs may also be applied externally, to be absorbed into the skin. Those useful include: Apple Cider Vinegar, Dandelion juice, Lemon juice, Onion, and vitamins A, C, & E.
Age spots take years to form and eliminating them will also take time, so don't give up. Try a remedy, be patient, and if there's no improvement after a few months, try another one. Avoid excessive sun exposure, and always use a sunscreen of at least SPF 15. Avoid unhealthy fats.
To promote liver function, eat lots of fruits and vegetables (especially raw), & whole grains. Consume plenty of green vegetables. Maintain a healthy weight, and remember that sweating is good for you. Also avoid alcohol, artificial sweeteners, aspirin, caffeine, drugs, fats, food additives & preservatives, foods with artificial anything, meat, processed foods, salt, shellfish, sugar, tobacco smoke, and white flour.
NOTE: Irregular, dark spots that increase in size or change color or texture, should be checked immediately by a doctor. They could be skin cancer.
Super Foods are Self Contained Powerhouses of Nutritional Content
by Paul Crantz
If you've heard the term "super food", are you thinking of vitamin drinks or the latest greatest diet and muscle concoction? The generally accepted criteria for a super food is a food unusually rich at least one or more essential nutrient. Most contain multiple nutrients and benefits at levels well above the norm. Well, you may be surprised to learn that the world's most nutritionally beneficial foods are right under your nose, readily available most anywhere. Let's take a quick look.
Let's start with nuts, walnuts, peanuts, macadamias, my favorite, and others. Just by eating a handful of nuts, five times a week, you can improve your cholesterol and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease by 15% to 50%. Just try and find a pill that will even touch those numbers, at least naturally and safely. Nuts, especially walnuts, are an excellent source of plant based Omega 3 fatty acids. For vegans, this is good news indeed, for much of the foods rich in fatty acids are found in animal products, such as fish and eggs. One generous handful of nuts, say a dozen walnut halves, contain about 150 calories which should not wreck your diet.
Another super food group are foods that are deep blue, purple, red, green, or orange. For instance, take the blueberry, in a class all by itself. They are not hugely nutritious in any one area as much as they have such a broad spectrum. They have folic acid, C., carotenes, bioflavanoids and literally hundreds of other compounds, all beneficial to health. Strawberries, raspberries and most other berries are also similar in nutritional value. Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C and vitamin A, and you also get some fiber, but especially Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, is abundant in tomatoes and tomato products. Studies found that lycopene may help reduce some cancer and heart disease. Sweet potatoes are one of the best vegetables you can eat. They're loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
Whole grains are definitely in this class. Whole grains are thought to have even more phytochemicals and antioxidants than even the best fruits and vegetables. You've probably heard the adage that Bread is the Staff of Life. It's not hard to see why. Most of the antioxidants are found in the germ and the bran of a grain. Whole grains are an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, iron and fiber as well as other valuable antioxidants not found in some fruits and vegetables. Whole wheat, wild rice, brown rice, oatmeal and popcorn are all good examples.
What about pomegranates? There are other super fruits but pomegranates are probably not as well known as they should be. Pomegranate fruits contain polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins - all are beneficial antioxidants. Interestingly, pomegranate juice contains high levels of antioxidants - higher than most other fruit juices, red wine or green tea. Studies have shown that the juice of the pom is effective in lowering high blood pressure as well as LDL, the bad cholesterol. Plus, it is absolutely delicious. Don't miss this one.
Seafood, especially wild salmon, sardines and tuna, are an undeniable super food group. These foods are extremely rich in the good fatty acids, especially Omega 3 acids. It has been shown, beyond any doubt, that Omega 3 is crucial for optimal brain functioning. The brain is about 60% fat, it needs a fat based nutrient to keep it well lubed, so to speak. Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. Not only will it feed and lubricate a developing brain, DHA also seems to help stave off dementia, a very real problem in the elderly population.
Legumes or beans are super in every sense of the word. Each bean may have its own unique nutritional characteristics, but they all provide a tremendous nutritional boost to our diets. Beans are an excellent source of low fat protein and fiber, and they are loaded with B vitamins, folate, magnesium, iron and potassium, just to name a few. Beans are also loaded with hundreds of phytonutrients, which play an essential role in overall cellular health, and numerous other benefits.
The foods listed above are on my short list of super foods. I chose these foods for two reasons. Number one is that they are, for the most part, readily available worldwide. Number two is that these foods are synergistic, meaning any combination of two or more of these foods used in our diets could keep us in glowing good health, satisfying our nutritional needs for a lifetime. Bon appetit', thanks for reading.
If you've heard the term "super food", are you thinking of vitamin drinks or the latest greatest diet and muscle concoction? The generally accepted criteria for a super food is a food unusually rich at least one or more essential nutrient. Most contain multiple nutrients and benefits at levels well above the norm. Well, you may be surprised to learn that the world's most nutritionally beneficial foods are right under your nose, readily available most anywhere. Let's take a quick look.
Let's start with nuts, walnuts, peanuts, macadamias, my favorite, and others. Just by eating a handful of nuts, five times a week, you can improve your cholesterol and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease by 15% to 50%. Just try and find a pill that will even touch those numbers, at least naturally and safely. Nuts, especially walnuts, are an excellent source of plant based Omega 3 fatty acids. For vegans, this is good news indeed, for much of the foods rich in fatty acids are found in animal products, such as fish and eggs. One generous handful of nuts, say a dozen walnut halves, contain about 150 calories which should not wreck your diet.
Another super food group are foods that are deep blue, purple, red, green, or orange. For instance, take the blueberry, in a class all by itself. They are not hugely nutritious in any one area as much as they have such a broad spectrum. They have folic acid, C., carotenes, bioflavanoids and literally hundreds of other compounds, all beneficial to health. Strawberries, raspberries and most other berries are also similar in nutritional value. Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C and vitamin A, and you also get some fiber, but especially Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, is abundant in tomatoes and tomato products. Studies found that lycopene may help reduce some cancer and heart disease. Sweet potatoes are one of the best vegetables you can eat. They're loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber.
Whole grains are definitely in this class. Whole grains are thought to have even more phytochemicals and antioxidants than even the best fruits and vegetables. You've probably heard the adage that Bread is the Staff of Life. It's not hard to see why. Most of the antioxidants are found in the germ and the bran of a grain. Whole grains are an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin E, magnesium, iron and fiber as well as other valuable antioxidants not found in some fruits and vegetables. Whole wheat, wild rice, brown rice, oatmeal and popcorn are all good examples.
What about pomegranates? There are other super fruits but pomegranates are probably not as well known as they should be. Pomegranate fruits contain polyphenols, tannins and anthocyanins - all are beneficial antioxidants. Interestingly, pomegranate juice contains high levels of antioxidants - higher than most other fruit juices, red wine or green tea. Studies have shown that the juice of the pom is effective in lowering high blood pressure as well as LDL, the bad cholesterol. Plus, it is absolutely delicious. Don't miss this one.
Seafood, especially wild salmon, sardines and tuna, are an undeniable super food group. These foods are extremely rich in the good fatty acids, especially Omega 3 acids. It has been shown, beyond any doubt, that Omega 3 is crucial for optimal brain functioning. The brain is about 60% fat, it needs a fat based nutrient to keep it well lubed, so to speak. Omega-3 fatty acids, in particular docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. Not only will it feed and lubricate a developing brain, DHA also seems to help stave off dementia, a very real problem in the elderly population.
Legumes or beans are super in every sense of the word. Each bean may have its own unique nutritional characteristics, but they all provide a tremendous nutritional boost to our diets. Beans are an excellent source of low fat protein and fiber, and they are loaded with B vitamins, folate, magnesium, iron and potassium, just to name a few. Beans are also loaded with hundreds of phytonutrients, which play an essential role in overall cellular health, and numerous other benefits.
The foods listed above are on my short list of super foods. I chose these foods for two reasons. Number one is that they are, for the most part, readily available worldwide. Number two is that these foods are synergistic, meaning any combination of two or more of these foods used in our diets could keep us in glowing good health, satisfying our nutritional needs for a lifetime. Bon appetit', thanks for reading.
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