Raddicchio (pronounced rah-DEEK-eeyo) is the Italian word for all members of the chicory clan, whether green, cream, red, striped, or marbled. In Canada and the US, however, it generally means only the red-leafed varieties. Often the leaves are ruby-coloured with ivory veins and can range from purple to red, but there is a green variety. All radicchios begin as green leafy clusters. Some gradually turn red and change shape, while others do not. The colour appears only during sufficiently cold temperatures; but, no matter how hard one works to cultivate them, they are predictable in that they are so unpredictable. Radicchio heads will have a white core showing at the base and can come loosely headed or tightly bound. If a small specimen is sold, it is probably because it was heavily trimmed to remove brown leaves
We know sandwiches make a great warm-weather dinner, but we want them to be a step up from the ordinary lunch fare. So try these these mouthwatering, tropical chicken salad sandwiches...they're just that good!
Parsley has Vitamin K, A and C. It's also high in natural calcium and folic acid..
Parsley helps anemia, digestion, hormone balancing, prevention of colds and ear infections to name a few. Parsley also has anti-oxidants in it.
Hypertension: Sodium and cholesterol are the two elements mainly considered harmful in hypertension and hypertensive people are advised to avoid them. Here, cheese should be viewed critically. The fat content of the cheese depends very much on the quality of the milk viz. full fat or full cream, low fat or fat free. In general, high fat cheeses are more popular as they are tastier. But, keeping in view the public demand, low fat cheeses are also being introduced to the market. So, you need to be choosy while picking them. Then, the sodium! Although, the sodium content of cheeses varies according to the amount of salt added to the milk prior to cheese formation, still it is never that low to be recommended for hypertensive people, as salt is an inevitable part of cheese. So, in general, cheese cannot be recommended for hypertensive people. Although, a low sodium and low fat cheese is helpful in reducing Homocysteine, an agent which is often related with heart diseases, still, it does not make it recommendable for hypertensive people. Another thing in cheese that can help hypertensive people is the vitamin-B content.
Possibly due to their vitamin C and beta carotene content, bell peppers have been
shown to be protective against cataracts. Just like other nutrient-dense vegetables,
bell peppers contain many different powerful phytochemicals. Bell peppers have also
been shown to prevent blood clot formation and reduce the risk of heart attacks and
strokes probably due to their content of substances such as vitamin C, capsaicin, and
flavonoids. Although chili peppers contain a higher amount of those substances, bell
peppers should still be promoted especially for individuals with elevated cholesterol
levels.
When Time is short this is the perfect recipe to use!
Pecans also play a role in lowering cholesterol. Clinical research published in the Journal of Nutrition (September 2001) compared the Step I diet (28 percent fat), recommended by the American Heart Association for individuals with high cholesterol levels, to a pecan-enriched (40 percent fat) diet. The results showed the pecan-enriched diet lowered total cholesterol by 11.3 percent and LDL “bad” cholesterol levels by 16.5 percent – twice that of the Step I diet, without any associated weight gain.
Since some peptic ulcers are agitated by fatty foods, it's nearly an added benefit that most of the meals you will be preparing will be low or fat free. Baked chicken is always a savory and healthy choice.
Vinegar has recently won attention for its potential to help people with type 2 diabetes get a better handle on their disease. Improved control could help them delay or prevent such complications as blindness, impotence, and a loss of feeling in the extremities that may necessitate amputation. Also, because people with diabetes are at increased risk for other serious health problems, such as heart disease, improved control of their diabetes could potentially help to ward off these associated conditions, as well.
With type 2 diabetes, the body's cells become resistant to the action of the hormone insulin. The body normally releases insulin into the bloodstream in response to a meal. Insulin's job is to help the body's cells take in the glucose, or sugar, from the carbohydrates in food, so they can use it for energy. But when the body's cells become insulin resistant, the sugar from food begins to build up in the blood, even while the cells themselves are starving for it. (High levels of insulin tend to build up in the blood, too, because the body releases more and more insulin to try to transport the large amounts of sugar out of the bloodstream and into the cells.)
Chilli is extraordinarily high in vitamin C which makes paprika not only tasty, but good for you. It is said that paprika contains as much as nine times as much vitamin C as one tomato does in weight. One would think the drying process would lessen the vitamin C potency, but instead it binds it further. Naturally dried paprika is higher in vitamin C, so choose the organic, sun dried form versus the commercially processed ones.
Other benefits of paprika include increasing saliva production, normalising stomach acid to assist with digestion, it has been known to regulate blood pressure, improve circulation by providing a blood thinning agent and in some countries it is used as an antibiotic.
Eggs are a great source of protein. Numerous vitamins, including vitamin A, potassium and many B vitamins like folic acid, choline and biotin, are also packed into this oval-shaped staple [1]. In fact, very few foods share the same diverse nutrient makeup available in a single egg. Many of these are specifically needed for the health of the nerves and the brain. Through the years, all fats have become public enemies, often blamed for an increased risk of heart disease. Eggs fell out of favor and people gravitated toward egg whites as a substitute. In truth, the yolk is where many of the vitamins and nutrients are found.
Chives, when finely chopped and consumed with food, are said to aid digestion and stimulate appetite.
Consumption of chives has been found to be beneficial for the respiratory system of an individual.
It has been seen that chives can help the body in digesting fatty foods, such as cheese.
For those suffering from tiredness and fatigue, consuming chives can serve to be a good remedy.
Since chives have been known to have diuretic properties, they can reduce obesity and fluid retention.
Researches have revealed the result that chives help reduce the risk of prostate cancer, by as much as 50 percent.
Chives have been found to comprise of mild anti-inflammatory properties.
The oil of Chinese chives is believed to help heal bruises and kill germs in the intestines.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), consuming about 2 tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil a day may reduce your risk of heart disease. You can get the most benefit by substituting olive oil for saturated fats rather than just adding more olive oil to your diet.
All types of olive oil contain monounsaturated fat, but "extra-virgin" or "virgin" olive oils are the least processed forms, so they're the most heart healthy. Those types contain the highest levels of polyphenols, a powerful antioxidant that also can promote heart health.
Other benefits of tomatoes include their high amounts of vitamin K, potassium, niacin, vitamin B6 and riboflavin. These nutrients work together to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, maintain bone health, enhance blood-clotting abilities and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney stones. Vitamin B6 also helps convert a potentially dangerous chemical called homocysteine into benign molecules. High levels of homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. In addition, riboflavin can reduce the frequency of migraines headaches, so sufferers might benefit from adding a tomato to their daily diets.
Onions have a variety of medicinal effects. Early American settlers used wild onions to treat colds, coughs, and asthma, and to repel insects. In Chinese medicine, onions have been used to treat angina, coughs, bacterial infections, and breathing problems.