his is a wonderful version of the traditional gazpacho made by cooking white beans with garlic, onions, and sweet paprika, and then pureeing the mixture. The resultant creamy, salmon-colored bisque sets the stage for chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and green pepper.A splash of vinegar is added at the end, giving the soup a refreshing lift, much appreciated on a hot summer’s day
Mashed potato and other root vegetables can be given an exotic kick by adding nutmeg or mace and spinach in particular is often seasoned with nutmeg, especially in Italian cooking.
But it is yet another flavanone in oranges, the herperidin molecule, which has been singled out in phytonutrient research on oranges. Arguably, the most important flavanone in oranges, herperidin has been shown to lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol in animal studies, and to have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Importantly, most of this phytonutrient is found in the peel and inner white pulp of the orange, rather than in its liquid orange center, so this beneficial compound is too often removed by the processing of oranges into juice.
Nevertheless, cucumber juice is certainly beneficial the treatment of rheumatic conditions. It does not matter too much that the reason for this effect is not clear. What is important is that it helps many sufferers.
Professor Silvia Bisti led the study at Italy’s L’Aquila University. The professor conducted the study through the university’s ARC Centre of Excellence in Vision Science. It appears that saffron may protect and correct vision in individuals who have retinitis pigmentosa or muscular degeneration related to age.
Benefits of Saffron: Cardiovascular and Circulatory Disorders. Anxiety, Stress, Tension. Antispasmodic. Digestive Upset. Spasms (digestive). Detoxification. Cleansing. Anti Tumor . High Cholesterol. Memory Loss. Mood Booster. Male impotency. Menstrual disorders. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
No, tomatoes can’t help you stop smoking, but what they can do is to help reduce the damage smoking does to your body
Tomatoes contain chlorogenic acid and coumaric acid, which help to fight against some of the carcinogens brought about by cigarette smoke.
Be careful when purchasing saffron. It is sometimes adulterated with other spices. true saffron is expensive and has a deep orange to brownish red color. The redder the strands, the better the quality. Yellow saffron has no curative properties. Choose whole saffron threads over powder saffron. The threads have a better flavor and the curative qualities are higher. When you store saffron, store in an airtight container in a dark, cool place. Don't let it get damp or you will end up losing it all together. Don't add suffron threads directly to foods, the flavor is better distrubuted when the spice is first allowed to soften in a little warm water. Wait until the water takes ona yellow color and then add it to your dish. Plus use it sparingly. Adding too much can produce a bitter taste and it has been known a large dosage can make a person feel ill.
Consuming foods rich in beta-cryptoxanthin, an orange-red carotenoid found in highest amounts in corn, pumpkin, papaya, red bell peppers, tangerines, oranges and peaches, may significantly lower one's risk of developing lung cancer. A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention reviewed dietary and lifestyle data collected from over 63,000 adults in Shanghai, China, who were followed for 8 years. Those eating the most crytpoxanthin-rich foods showed a 27% reduction in lung cancer risk. When current smokers were evaluated, those who were also in the group consuming the most cryptoxanthin-rich foods were found to have a 37% lower risk of lung cancer compared to smokers who ate the least of these health-protective foods.
For thousands of years sage has been used for a variety of culinary and medicinal purposes. It has been used in connection with sprains, swelling, ulcers, and bleeding. As a tea, sage has been administered for sore throats and coughs. Herbalists have also used this herb for rheumatism, menstrual bleeding, strengthening the nervous system, improving memory, and sharpening the senses.
The potassium in tomatoes is an essential nutrient that is important for normal health maintenance and growth. It is required for movement of nutrients across the cells in the body. A deficiency of potassium would lead to muscle weakness, apathy, cramps and more.
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Asparagus helps to reduce the risk of heart disease in several ways It’s a good source of potassium to normalize blood pressure, and folate another nutrient important for heart health. It’s also rich in soluble fiber to help lower blood cholesterol levels. Asparagus also lowers cholesterol by another mechanism – saponins. Natural saponins found in asparagus bind to cholesterol in the digestive tract so that it’s less readily absorbed into the bloodstream. It also alters liver metabolism of cholesterol in a favorable way. All in all, asparagus is one heart friendly vegetable.
Thyme is an expectorant and a Diaphoretic, meaning that it clears the build up of mucus in the respiratory system and promotes perspiration. Dosing with thyme at the outset of a cold is reputed to help sweat out' a cold. A concoction made of 1-6oz fresh crushed thyme in syrup or honey is a safe remedy for whooping cough. The antiseptic qualities of the thyme also help ease sore throats. To clear congestion in the respiratory system, make a 1oz infusion of thyme in a pint of hot water. Sweeten with honey and take 1-2 tablespoons several times daily.
Additionally, on a per gram fresh weight basis, oregano has demonstrated 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges and 4 times more than blueberries.
As well, research carried out in 2006 at the IIT Research Institute in Chicago showed that a compound (ixocarpalactone A or IxoA) isolated from the edible part of tomatillos caused human colon cancer cells to stop dividing and to disintegrate. This research is continuing.
Paprika
Health Boost: Contains capsaicin, whose anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may lower the risk of cancer (also found in cayenne and red chili peppers). There's no specific recommended dose, but moderation is probably the best way to go.
Corn is a good source of thiamin, providing about one-quarter (24.0%) of the daily value for this nutrient in a single cup. Thiamin is an integral participant in enzymatic reactions central to energy production and is also critical for brain cell/cognitive function. This is because thiamin is needed for the synthesis of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for memory, whose lack has been found to be a significant contributing factor in age-related impairment in mental function (senility) and Alzheimer's disease. In fact, Alzheimer's disease is clinically characterized by a decrease in acetylcholine levels. Don't forget to make corn a staple in your healthy diet.
Regardless of their exterior, all bell peppers share a healthy dose of fiber, a hallmark of their characteristic crunch, which helps lower cholesterol and ward off colon cancer. They also offer a wealth of vitamin B6 and folic acid, thought to protect blood vessels from damage by reducing levels of homocysteine in the body. Plentiful A and C vitamins boost immunity and guard against a range of ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis.
Since leeks are less dense than onions and garlic, larger quantities of them need to be
consumed in order to produce similar beneficial effects. Studies have shown that
leeks (just as onions and garlic) can improve the immune system, lower bad
cholesterol levels, and fight cancer.
Lemon juice has 90% of the entire Vitamin C found in the fruit.
Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals and keeps cells healthy, thus preventing cancers.
Since it wards off free radicals, Vitamin C also prevents cataract and eye damage.
It converts cholesterol into bile acid in the small intestine. Thus, it is useful in digestive disorders.