Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Mango
Day 10

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge



Mangoes taste so good that it is easy to that they are also very healthy! The mango is native to southern Asia, especially Burma and eastern India. It spread early on to Malaya, eastern Asia and eastern Africa. Mangoes were introduced to California (Santa Barbara) in 1880.

Oma has a mango tree; however the weather is must not be right because it does not hold its fruit to maturation. 

Health Benefits:


  • Prevents Cancer;
  • Lowers Cholesterol;
  • Clears the Skin;
  • Eye Health;
  • Alkalizes the Whole Body;
  • Helps in Diabetes;
  • Improved Sex;
  • Improves Digestion;
  • Remedy for Heat Stroke;
  • Boosts Immune system. 

 

 

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Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Pitaya
Day 9

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge


The Pitaya, more commonly known as the Dragon Fruit,  is an unusual fruit grown in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, and Israel. The plant is actually a type of cactus, and the fruit comes in three colors: two have pink skin, but with different colored flesh (one white, the other red); while another type is yellow with white flesh.



The  Dragon Fruit pictured above was bought at Jimbo's…Naturally and was red inside.  Warning, this fruit is a bit on the pricey side.

Dragon fruit is low in calories and offers numerous nutrients, including Vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, plus fiber and antioxidants. Dragon fruit tastes wonderful! - very sweet and crunchy, with a flavor that's like a cross between kiwi and pear.

Oma has a Pitaya plant growning in her garden.  It's fruit is red on the outside and white inside.


Related Posts:



Monday, September 8, 2014

Habanero Pepper
Day 8

Oma discovered volunteer red peppers growing in the garden this morning. That made Oma think; are hot red peppers a fruit?



The chili pepper is the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum, members of the nightshade family. The substances that give chili peppers their intensity when ingested or applied topically are capsaicin (8-methyl-N-vanillyl-6-nonenamide) and several related chemicals, collectively called capsaicinoids. From the mild and sweet to the super spicy, peppers are seedy and thus categorized as fruit.

Opa made Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
Opa made Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice)
Red chilies contain large amounts of vitamin C and small amounts of carotene (provitamin A). The pepper Oma and Opa put in their Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice) tonight was very flavorful and very spicy hot. Oma believes it was a Habanero pepper.

Interesting fact: Capsaicin extracted from chilis is used in pepper spray as an irritant, a form of less-lethal weapon.

Related Posts:



Sunday, September 7, 2014

Watermelon
Day 7

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge


Despite popular belief that watermelon is made up of only water and sugar, watermelon is actually considered a nutrient dense food.


Watermelon is the fruit of a plant originally from a vine of southern Africa. The watermelon fruit, loosely considered a type of melon (although not in the genus Cucumis), has a smooth exterior rind and a juicy, sweet, usually red interior flesh.

Despite popular belief that watermelon is made up of only water and sugar, watermelon is actually considered a nutrient dense food, a food that provides a high amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for a low amount of calories.

At 46 calories per cup, watermelon offers 20 percent of your daily intake of vitamin C and 17 percent vitamin A, according to the USDA. That's not all. "Watermelon contains dietary fiber for digestive health as well as potassium, a mineral that helps keep blood pressure capped," says Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, Health's contributing nutrition editor.

Interesting Watermelon Facts:
  • It has more lycopene than raw tomatoes; 
  • The juice can relieve muscle soreness; 
  • It's a fruit AND a vegetable; 
  • It's packed with, well, water; 
  • There's a yellow variety

 
Grandma Wendy made this Watermelon Fruit
Basket for Reef Indy's 1st Birthday.



Tip:  Want to bring something fun and healthy to your next party?  A watermelon fruit  basket can be used for many events, such as school meetings, church socials, and spring holiday parties. It is festive, adorable, and delicious.

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Saturday, September 6, 2014

Grapes
Day 6

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge




A grape is a fruiting berry of the deciduous woody vines of the botanical genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making wine, jam, juice, jelly, grape seed extract, raisins, vinegar, and grape seed oil. Grapes are a non-climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters.

The health benefits of grapes include their ability to treat constipation, indigestion, fatigue, kidney disorders, macular degeneration and the prevention of cataracts. Grapes, one of the most popular and delicious fruits, are rich sources of vitamins A, C, B6 and folate in addition to essential minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and selenium.

Grapes contain flavonoids that are very powerful antioxidants, which can reduce the damage caused by free radicals and slow down aging. Grapes, due to their high nutrient content, play an important role in ensuring a healthy and active life.

Oma loves that one of her favorite beverages – a good bottle of wine, is made from this delicious fruit. They are also the perfect “snack” when you crave something quick but sweet!

If you think about it ahead of time, you can freeze your grapes! The grapes will keep their crunchy character while the inside becomes a smooth sorbet surprise.


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Friday, September 5, 2014

Banana
Day 5

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge


Bananas are both sweet and nutritious. Since bananas come neatly packed in their own wrapper, they are very portable. They may be eaten in their whole form, sliced into fruit salad or mashed and added to muffin and bread recipes. A banana averages about only 110 calories.



Bananas are both sweet and nutritious.




Frozen bananas can be added to smoothies in place of yogurt or ice cream. A serving size is one peeled medium-sized banana, about 7 inches long.  By eating a banana you can Indulge your sweet tooth without ruining your diet.


 DOLE Banana Dippers - the goodness of bananas comes together with the rich, indulgent taste of dark chocolate!

Oma has recently discovered DOLE Banana Dippers - the goodness of bananas comes together with the rich, indulgent taste of dark chocolate!

DOLE Banana Dippers are fresh frozen banana slices covered in dark chocolate. Each individual pack contains 4 slices, at aproximately 100 calories per pack. You simply pull these treasures from your freezer and enjoy anytime, anywhere! Since Oma is Lactose intolerance the DOLE Dippers are a perfect snack for her.




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#GetFrozen

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Nectarine
Day 4

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge


Oma did not know that the nectarine, is a smooth-skinned peach that is grown throughout the warmer temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern hemispheres. 

A genetic variant of common peaches, the nectarine was most likely domesticated in China more than 4,000 years ago.  Nectarine and peach trees are virtually indistinguishable! 


The nectarine is a smooth-skinned peach that is grown throughout the warmer temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

GOOD POINTS


  • Very low in saturated fat
  • No cholesterol
  • No sodium
  • High in dietary fiber • High in niacin
  • High in potassium
  • High in vitamin A
  • Very high in vitamin C

BAD POINTS


  • Very high in sugar

A nectarine has approximately 62 calories – what a great snack.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Peach
Day 3

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge





Peach varieties can be either clingstone, where the flesh of the fruit clings to the Clingstone Peachesstone, or freestone, where the stone readily twists away from the fruit. The former type is generally used for canning; the latter is generally found in supermarkets. Clingstone and freestone peaches are available in both white and yellow varieties.

Peaches are a good source of vitamins A, B and C. A medium peach contains only 37 calories.

 

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Black Plums
Day 2

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge


There are few fruits that come in such a panorama of colors as the juicy sweet tasting plum. The plum season extends from May through October with the Japanese varieties first on the market from May and peaking in August followed by the European varieties in the fall. Plums belong to the Prunus genus of plants and are relatives of the peach, nectarine and almond. They are all considered "drupes," fruits that have a hard stone pit surrounding their seeds. A plum has about 30  calories.

 

  8 health benefits of eating plums


  1. Protects your heart.
  2. Protect against cancer and cell damage.
  3. Prevent diabetes.
  4. Improves bone health.
  5. Low in Calories.
  6. Plums destroy breast cancer cells.
  7. Beat diarrhea and constipation
  8. Improves brain memory.

Oma loves plums! Plus, plums are a low-calorie power-food that won’t spike your blood sugar levels

 

 

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Monday, September 1, 2014

Apples
Day 1

A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge


For day one, Oma selected the apple! There are approximately 71 calories in a medium Gala Apple. Oma and Opa really like Galas. These apples are small and are usually red with a portion being greenish or yellow-green, vertically striped.  They are fairly resistant to bruising and are sweet, grainy, with a mild flavor and a thinner skin than most apples

 

14 health benefits of eating apples


  1. Get whiter, healthier teeth
  2. Avoid Alzheimer’sProtect against Parkinson’s
  3. Curb all sorts of cancers
  4. Decrease your risk of diabetes
  5. Reduce cholesterol
  6. Get a healthier heart
  7. Prevent gallstones
  8. Beat diarrhea and constipation
  9. Neutralize irritable bowel syndrome
  10. Avert hemorrhoids
  11. Control your weight
  12. Detoxify your liver
  13. Boost your immune system
  14. Prevent cataracts

Related Post:


A Different Fruit A Day Personal Health Challenge

Sunday, August 31, 2014

A Different Fruit A Day
Personal Health Challenge

This seems the era of challenges. Oma decided to do a challenge for fitness. Oma dared herself to consume and photograph one different fruit every day for the month of September. Many do not know the difference between a fruit and a vegetable; nor the benefits of eating fruits. 


Jimbo’s Local and Organic Produce - freshness and quality, and minimizing the carbon footprint.
Local and Organic - Once harvested, the produce is usually delivered
directly to theJimbo’s stores, thereby maximizing freshness and quality,
and minimizing the carbon footprint.

Botanically speaking, a fruit is a seed-bearing structure that develops from the ovary of a flowering plant, whereas vegetables are all other plant parts, such as roots, leaves and stems. By those standards, seedy outgrowths such as apples, squash and, tomatoes are all fruits, while roots such as beets, potatoes and turnips, leaves such as spinach, kale and lettuce, and stems such as celery and broccoli are all vegetables.

All most everyone has heard the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

According to the research published in the British Medical Journal by researchers at Oxford University, 8,500 deaths from heart attacks and strokes could be prevented in those over 50 in the UK just by eating one apple per day.

That study also indicates that those who choose to eat an apple could gain the same benefits as those who opt for the drug, statin, which reduces the cholesterol in the body.

The goal of this experiment is to educate while renewing this easy augmentation to a healthy menu.

Friday, January 31, 2014

Chic Yet Simple
Frozen Fruit Ice Cubes

How cute are these ice cubes made
with edible flowers, herbs, and fresh fruit!?!

 
 
Check out this recipe for making fruit infused ice cubes.
Simple, chic and healthy! #GetFrozen #TeamDole
 
They are a beautiful and oh-so-simple way to add a little something extra to a glass of just about anything – and a delightful detail bound to be remembered

One of Oma's favorite things about entertaining is how simple it can be to really delight and surprise your guests. It's all in the details, as they say, but those details don't have to be particularly hard or time consuming.

Fruity ice cubes add a dash of healthy flair to any beverage. #GetFrozen #TeamDole
Fruity ice cubes add a dash of
healthy flair to any beverage.
Ingredients:
 
  • Few petals from favorite edible flowers, like Gardenia or Jasmine
  • 3–5 mint leaves
  • 8–10 of favorite small berries, like blueberry or raspberry

Directions:

  • Fill each pod in ice cube tray halfway; let harden in freezer for 10–15 minutes.
  • Remove ice cube tray and place flowers, herbs, and fruits in center of each cube.
  • Place tray in freezer until ice hardens completely.

 

Thursday, January 2, 2014

5:2 Diet & Workout
Oma’s Future?

Like almost everyone else, January 2 is the day of New Year’s Resolutions for Oma. In the past, the goal of weight-loss yielded non-existent results.

This year, Oma had decided to make 2014 more about improved health and relegated the weight-loss objective. After all, Oma has to be in good shape to keep up with Reef Indy!

Therefore it was auspicious that Oma received the fortuitous opportunity to read and review an eBook entitled “5:2 and Training” by Niclas Brunnegard. The goal of this eBook is to teach you to live longer and live healthier utilizing a modified “fast.” Weight-loss is an added benefit of following the program.

After reading the easy to understand document, Oma is only halfway through her first “fast” day. Consequently reviewing the eBook would proof premature. However, Oma can attest that the first exercise program (entitled 10-1) was tough. The half-hour, 10 pass of 3 exercises, took Oma an hour to accomplish, but Oma did it.

Hilariously, this first exercise program, had Oma missing her hour / 3.5 miles on the treadmill.


The eBook “5:2 and Training” will not be reviewed until after Oma’s Third “fast” day.

At that time, Oma will also be offering one lucky reader the opportunity to win a copy “5:2 and Training” by Niclas Brunnegard.

*** After finding himself having gained weight and no longer able to play his favorite sport, Niclas researched a method to lose weight and become healthy without many lifestyle changes. The 5:2 diet changed his life!

This eBook comes from rigorous studies in the science behind Michael Mosley’s 5:2 diet plan.