Most Popular Articles

• Shrimp Scampi

  Feb 8, 2015 by Admin / 1,108 Views

  Shrimp scampi is incredible and oh so satisfying. It is shrimp cooked in a garlic, butter and white wine sauce. It herbaceous, a little acidic, savory and has that signature taste of the sea that the shrimp brings to the table. These flavor notes are then amplified with a few other component to make things interesting. The end result is tender shrimp dish that pairs perfectly with a glass of pinot grigio. The shrimp scampi recipe below is served over linguine.  

    

  

   Ingredients

  Serves 4 

  1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined

  1 lb. linguine

  ½ cup dry white wine

  4 tablespoons butter

  3 tablespoons olive oil

  2 tablespoons minced garlic

  2 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped

  ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

  Juice of 1 lemon

  Salt

  Black pepper, to taste

  Water 

  Directions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. 

  2. Salt water generously and add the pasta. 

  3. Stir to prevent sticking and wait until the water returns to a boil. 

  4. Allow pasta to cook for about 6 minutes or until al dente. 

  5. Heat a sauté pan over medium high heat. 

  6. Reduce to medium. Add the butter and olive oil to the pan. Move it around to coat the pan. 

  7. When the butter starts to foam add the minced garlic as well as the red pepper flakes. Stir. 

  8. Sauté garlic for 1-2 minutes or until golden brown and fragrant. 

  9. Add the shrimp and stir to coat with butter and oil. 

  10. Pour in the white wine and lemon juice. Stir. 

  11. Arrange the shrimp in an even layer on the bottom of the sauté pan. 

  12. Increase heat to high and bring the sauce to a boil. 

  13. Boil for 2-3 minutes. 

  14. Turn the shrimp cook for another minute for even cooking. 

  15. When shrimp are bright pink and opaque remove the pan from the heat and finish with parsley and black pepper. 

  16. Toss to combine and set aside. 

  17. Drain the pasta. 

  18. Divide the pasta among 4 plates. 

  19. Place shrimp (about 4-5) over each serving of pasta. Pour sauce over the shrimp. 

  20. Enjoy! 

  In the end you have a tasty dish to devour. Every bite is super flavorful. The garlic, butter, and white wine makes a five star sauce and the addition of parsley as well as the red pepper gives it a little kick. Every shrimp is perfectly coated and the pasta completes the plate.  

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• Is Fat Bad?

  Mar 1, 2016 by Admin / 1,042 Views

   

  When it comes down to our general health and well-being, two vital factors that both play key roles in determining our overall health, fitness, and general well-being are exercise and diet. When it comes down to our diets, it’s probably safe to say that speaking generally, many of us are unfortunately simply not eating the foods we should be eating. Ask anybody to name you two examples of healthy food sources and 9 times out of 10 they’ll talk about fresh fruits and vegetables. Whilst it’s true that those are indeed very healthy and beneficial for us, they are by far not the only foods we should be consuming. Believe it or not, but there are actually numerous foods high in fat that have been found to not only help promote weight loss, but that have also been found to be incredibly healthy and beneficial for us, even helping us to prolong our lives in some cases. No, we haven’t gone mad, we’re simply referring to good fats as opposed to bad fats, and yes there is a big difference between the two, which we’ll be covering right now. 

  Why do fats get such a bad press? – For years upon years we were lead to believe that all fats were the devil incarnate, and that they should all be avoided like the plague if we wanted to lose weight, avoid gaining weight, and avoid suffering a heart attack or stroke. As time went by however, experts began finding that some sources of fat were not only okay for us, they were actually incredibly good for us, which we’ll be looking at shortly. The reason why fat gets such bad press however, is that when we think of fat, we think of greasy burgers, pizzas, deep fried produce, processed baked goods, candy bars, cakes, and pretty much every other unhealthy processed junk food you can think of. These foods are indeed full of calories and provide much of their energy in the form of fats, but the difference is that the fats contained within them are known as bad fats. 

  Bad fats – Bad fats include saturated fats and trans fats, and have been proven to contribute towards diabetes, weight gain, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, blocked arteries, heart attacks, blood clots, strokes, and much more besides. These fats are found in saturated animal produce including lard, butter, cheese, cream, whole fat milk, and fatty cuts of meat such as bacon or lamb. There are also planet-based forms of fats which have been hydrogenated and combined with trans fats which are also extremely bad for us. These fats contain harmful LDL cholesterol which forms a fatty build up inside the arteries and slows blood flow and eventually calcifies and turns the plaque, where it can then cause strokes and heart attacks. Bad fats are found in numerous forms of food, including: 

  • Cheese

  • Cream

  • Animal fats

  • Fatty cuts of meat

  • Hydrogenated vegetable oils

  • Processed baked goods

  • Deep fried produce

  • Milk chocolate

  • Confectionary

  • Shallow fried produce 

  Good fats – Good fats are mono and poly-unsaturated fats and have been found to lower harmful LDL cholesterol and raise healthy HDL cholesterol levels which help to lower and regulate bad cholesterol levels. One example of healthy fats is Omega 3 fatty acids, commonly found in oily fish such as salmon or mackerel. These healthy sources of fatty acids are hugely beneficial for the brain, the body, and the heart. There are also numerous other forms of good fats, with some of the most common examples being: 

  • Nuts

  • Seeds

  • Oily fish

  • Coconut oil

  • Virgin olive oil

  • Nut butters

  • Grass fed red meat (in moderation)

  • Avocados

  • Organic eggs

   

  How to balance fat intake and how much is required – So, now that we know that some fats are not only ok, but that they’re actually pretty essential for us, how do we know how much to consume and balance our fat intake? Well, a general rule of thumb is to consume 0.4 grams of healthy fats multiplied by your bodyweight in pounds each day. So, if you weigh 200lbs, you would require 80 grams of healthy fats each day as 0.4 x 200 = 80. Get your fats from healthy sources and make sure you emphasize omega 3 fatty acids. You can of course allow yourself the occasional treat now and then, as a little of what you like does you good. Just make sure it is occasional, and make sure the next day you get right back on track.   

   

  

   

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• A Recent Research Reveals That Dark Chocolate May Help Improve the Functioning of Your Brain

  Mar 7, 2015 by Admin / 965 Views

     

   A team at Nottingham the University has proved that consuming chocolate may help you sharpen up your brain & provide a short-term enhancement to cognitive qualities.

  The research which was headed by Professor Ian Macdonald, states that eating a cocoa drink with plenty of flavanols, a major element of dark chocolate, can improve blood flow towards major regions of your brain for the duration of 2 to 3 hours that directly results in improved performance in tasks as well as boosts your normal alertness over a brief period.

  The research which was showcased at the scientific session in the US, increases the prospects of using the elements so as to cure vascular impairment, which also includes dementia as well as strokes & hence for preserving cardiovascular wellness.
  On top of this there are a number of added advantages of cocoa flavanols for example improving the functioning of brain for people who are battling to fatigue, sleep deficiency & even the ill-effects of ageing.

  Not only are Flavanols found inside the chocolate having a high cocoa amount, they can also be found in additional substances for example red wine, blueberries & also green tea.

  So as to notice the improved activity in particular regions of the brain in persons who took one drink of cocoa having plenty of flavanol, Macdonald utilized MRI (also known as magnetic resonance imaging). This effect is associated with the enlargement of cerebral blood vessels, letting additional blood & as a result greater amount of oxygen for reaching key regions of human brain.

  Macdonald stated: "Acute intake of this specific flavanol-rich beverage of cocoa was related with improved grey matter stream for around 2 to 3 hours. The demo of an effect of taking this specific beverage onto the cerebral blood flow improved the potential that specific food elements might prove to be beneficial so as to improve the amount of blood flow towards the brain & enhancing its functionality, in cases where persons are cognitively reduced for example sleep deprivation, fatigue, or perhaps ageing."

  The investigators stressed the fact that the amount of cocoa flavanol used within the research isn’t available commercially. This beverage was particularly created to conduct the study.Although the research found a relation between mental functioning scores & cocoa flavanols, it didn’t confirmed a cause & effect relation.

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• Traditional Easter Recipes

  Mar 26, 2014 by Admin / 903 Views

  Although colored hard-boiled eggs are probably the first Easter food to come to mind, other foods factor into the traditional Easter meals around the world. 
  
  Hot Cross Buns are an Easter favorite in many areas. The tradition allegedly is derived from ancient Anglo-Saxons who baked small wheat cakes in honor of the springtime goddess, Eostre. After converting to Christianity, the church substituted the cakes with sweetbreads blessed by the church. 
  
  Countries around the world serve sweet cakes in the same vein, such as Czech babobka and Polish baba. The Greeks and Portugese serve round, flat loaves marked with a cross and decorated with Easter eggs. Syrian and Jordanian Christians have honey pastries. 
  
  Pretzels were first shaped to indicate the torso of a person with arms folded, praying. 
  
  The roast lamb dinner that many eat on Easter Sunday goes back earlier than Easter to the first Passover of the Jewish people. The sacrificial lambwas roasted and eaten, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (see Passover Seder) in hopes that the angel of God would pass over their homes and bring no harm. As Hebrews converted to Christianity, they naturally brought along their traditions with them. The Christians often refer to Jesus as The Lamb of God. Thus, the traditions merged. 
  
  In the United States, ham is a traditional Easter food. In the early days, meat was slaughtered in the fall. There was no refrigeration, and the fresh pork that wasn't consumed during the winter months before Lent was cured for spring. The curing process took a long time, and the first hams were ready around the time Easter rolled around. Thus, ham was a natural choice for the celebratory Easter dinner.

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• Paleo Diet: Really Healthy?

  Feb 24, 2015 by Admin / 902 Views

  Paleo Diet: Really Healthy?

     

  The Paleo diet was initially created in the Paleolithic age. Although, the major purpose of this diet is health, it’s also good for weight loss. The advocates of this diet state that the people from the Paleolithic age had the diet which was the healthiest & was ideal for human beings.

  The major reason for this is because our genetics have only transformed by only 0.01%. As a results its best to head over to a diet that caveman ate where all the things were fresh as well as free from any chemicals. No artificial flavorings, no preservatives were being added during those periods.

  In the Paleolithic age, there wasn’t any requirement of instant foodstuffs or foods which had extended shelf life. Only in recent times, we have started creating foods which are able to stay for a longer duration for making our life quite easier, hence additives and preservatives were produced. As these products are based on chemicals there are no longer safer for human beings. Even in case they seem to be natural, we take them in proportions which are toxic to us.

  Due the above reasons, Paleo diet was developed. In order to separate human beings from matters which are harmful for our health and offering us those food stuffs which are more beneficial to our body. The cavemen were able to live much healthier life style than most of us do today. Since, they were following such a healthy diet, it is no amazement that they enjoyed had much imported energy levels and traveled several miles each single day in order to hunt different animals. All of this was possible only because of their diet and their approach towards the life.

  The Paleo diet contains high amounts of proteins which offer you sufficient energy for doing your day to day works. In addition, the diet includes plenty of veggies as well as fruits that give you a variety of nutrients and vitamins. These 2 groups of foods are considered to be one of the healthiest & there is no limit to how much you consume them. In fact, the more you consume, the better they are for your body. You won’t feel the requirement to consume any additional supplements or diet or diet pills ever again. The paleo diet has enough nutrients essential for your daily requirements.

  Low sugar & low sodium diet is recommended since additional amounts of sugar & salts can be harmful for human body. The diet is all about getting back to the ABC’s by consuming fresh foods and staying off from unhealthy ones.

  How to Lose Weight with Paleo Diet?

  1. Follow a Healthy Diet

  Eliminate all the processed foods that consist of chemicals harmful for your body. This is very important for seeing the results in the quickest amount of time. It will also help you stay happy and energetic throughout the day.

  2. Meal Amounts

  The meal amounts are not much of a concern when you are following a paleo diet. The lone item which you want to restrict are the fruits. Apart from that you’re free to eat all the things included in this diet since they all are healthy for you.

  3. Take the change seriously

  Create your meal plan, or purchase one from the web and follow it strictly. Give this diet, an honest try for a month which will let you see its potential in the shortest amount of time.

  4. Get all the required Info

  Know why it is crucial for you to eliminate processed foodstuffs from your diet. If you’re able to completely understand how much harm you’re doing to yourself with unhealthy foods, you’ll have much greater chances of success.

  5. Protein

  You must be able to intake around 100 to 150 grams of protein each single day. For this, you can add a protein shake a few times each week as well.

  6. Carbohydrates

  When following a paleo diet in order to achieve a weight loss, it is important that you in take less than 50 grams of carbs each day.

  8. A Support Group

  Do not be afraid to search for a local group which will keep you motivated. Having other people with identical interests & goals can keep you achieve a faster weight loss and live a better way of life.

  9. It is totally alright to cheat

  This is perhaps the greatest things about the Paleo Diet. Here you are able to cheat. A piece of pizza occasionally won’t do your body any harm. However, it is also important to be mindful of the fact that you do so in moderate amounts especially when you’re trying to eliminate those additional pounds from your body.

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