Super Candy

Foods For The Eyes - Healthful Foods That Improve Eyesight

ronley — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:52:12 +0200

We all know that green leafy vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and carrots are good for the eyes and for the health in general. But still, many are not consuming them to improve their vision. The reasons behind it might be due to the following conditions:

Not use in eating such vegetables.
It doesn’t taste that good for them.
They simply don’t want to eat them.

Because of this, eye and health experts recommend other foods for people with poor vision who doesn’t love green leafy vegetables that much. Some of the most common and highly recommended ones are as follows.

Dark Chocolates

Chocolate lover will surely jump and down upon reading this one. Yes, dark chocolate helps improve the eyesight or vision. Dark chocolates contain known vitamins and minerals that are good for the eye health. One big example is the Vitamin A that acts as a defense system for age related eye problems. But before you eat and munch your favorite dark chocolate, make sure to take them in moderation.

Apples

It’s really true that an apple a day keeps the doctors (and medical fees!) away. Apple is rich in vitamins and minerals that are truly healthful and beneficial. Apple does have lots of Vitamin A and C that are crucial for overall health and eyesight. It strengthens the immune system thus preventing defects and problems at the eyes.

Salmon.

The Omega 3 Fatty Acids of salmon promotes vision enhancement and promoting good health of the RETINA. It also reduces the risk of age related eye deficiencies.

So if you don’t feel like eating green and leafy veggies, try the above foods that can surely give you a good eyesight and vision.

Foods That Helps Prevent Osteoporosis

ronley — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:29:01 +0200

The bone sickness or disease called osteoporosis is common at women whose age is beyond 40. It makes the bone fragile and weak.

Having osteoporosis is not normal. It can be prevented by living a healthy lifestyle, proper exercise and of course eating the right food and following a well balanced diet.

Below you will find my list of top 4 osteoporosis preventing foods that you can include at your meal plan or diet.

Oats

Oats are high in calcium that is essential for bone health. It treats and prevents osteoporosis and it can also reduce bad cholesterol levels.

Soya

Soya or any soy products are known carrier of isoflavones that balances body estrogen level. It reduces the risk of bone fracture especially for pregnant and even aging women. It is also high in calcium just like oats.

Dairy Products

Dairy products such as low fat milk and cheese are rich in calcium and vitamin D that is essential in terms of bone health. It toughens the bone and at the same time protects it from further injuries or disease.

Broccoli

A great source of magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, folate and more. Broccoli not only enhances the immune system, it also strengthens the bone all over the body.

Including the above foods at your diet and daily eating habit doesn’t guarantee an osteoporosis free body. They help the cure and prevention process but eating them alone won’t do the magic. But if you will add proper and regular exercise while living a healthy lifestyle, it can be achieve.

Ten Fatty Foods with Health Benefits

koreandoll — Sat, 11 May 2013 04:33:02 +0200

For some time, the healthy food message has been that eating fatty food is bad. Recently, that message has become more sophisticated and it seems that some kinds of fatty food are good. In fact, fat is needed to maintain our health. It enables the body to absorb certain fat-soluble vitamins, including Vitamin D and E and also supplies essential fatty acids. Part of the reason that fat intake is sometimes restricted is due to its calorific content. However, cutting fat from a diet to reduce calorie intake and lose weight is not a healthy choice.

There are two kinds of fat: saturated fats, which can increase cholesterol levels and lead to heart disease and unsaturated fats, which are associated with some health benefits. For example, some unsaturated fats have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and others to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Some unsaturated fats are also believed to reduce cholesterol levels.

This list compiled by www.rangecookers.co.uk highlights 10 foods which have a significant proportion of unsaturated fats.

Avocado
Avocado is an unusual fruit in that it has a high fat content, of largely unsaturated fats. The avocado also contains various minerals, including potassium, zinc, iron and magnesium and vitamins A, B complex, C, E and K.

Olive Oil
Olive oil contains a mix of saturated and unsaturated fats. It is viewed as a healthy food because of its high percentage of oleic acid, an unsaturated fat which helps the heart and may also reduce the risk of some cancers. Olive oil also contains vitamin E and flavonoid antioxidants, which are good for the heart.

Fatty Fish Such As Tuna and Mackerel
These fish contain up to 30 % oil and in particular omega-3 fatty acids, which is an unsaturated fat. Omega-3 is believed to help protect the heart and it may also be necessary for young children’s brain development. Fatty fish also contain Vitamin A and D.

Walnuts and Other Nuts
Walnuts contain 47 per cent unsaturated fats; other nuts also have a significant unsaturated-fat content.

Peanut Butter
About half of peanut butter content is fat. It is a mix of saturated and unsaturated fats, with about 80% unsaturated fat a similar proportion to olive oil. Peanut butter also contains vitamins and minerals.

Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil contains a mix of saturated and unsaturated fats. It is also a good source of Vitamin E.

Safflower Oil
Safflower oil contains high levels of omega-6 fatty acids and there is some evidence that its consumption can lead to reduced cholesterol and blood-sugar levels.

Seeds
Seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin seeds are another good source of unsaturated fats.

Soya Milk
Soya milk contains high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. It also provides vitamin B1 and B2 and minerals, including calcium and iron and has no cholesterol.

Tofu
Tofu is made by curdling soya milk and it has a similar nutritional make-up. The softer the tofu, the lower the fat content will be.

The issue of fats in our diet is much more complicated than was once thought and consuming the right fats is necessary to maintain good health.

Two Quick, Easy And Healthful Recipes

ronley — Wed, 01 May 2013 17:54:28 +0200

Below, you will find two recipes that are quite quick and easy to make or prepare. They are pretty helpful for busy people like you who don’t have the luxury of time to cook at home. Instead of jumping into the habit of buying pre-cooked foods or fast foods, you can try the following recipes that you and your family can surely enjoy. They are easy and quick to prepare and aside from that, they are reasonably healthful compared to fast food meals you usually take at home.

Cheese and Corn Casserole

Ingredients:

* 1 small bag elbow macaroni

* 1/2 stick of cheese

* 1 stick of butter

* 2 cans corn

Cooking Instruction:

1). Heat the butter to room temperature.

2). Cook macaroni as instructed via its package.

3). Mix the macaroni with the corn, cheese and butter in a casserole.

4). Serve while it’s hot. Enjoy!

Here is another recipe that you might want to try out at home. This one will take a bit more time compared to above recipe. Check it out.

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Ingredients:

* 3 lb. whole chicken (cooked)

* 3 oz dry bread stuffing mix

* 10 oz can condensed cream of chicken soup

* 10 oz can condensed cream of celery soup

* 1/3 c. and 2 tbsp chicken broth

* 1/4 c. and 2 tbsp evaporated milk

Cooking Instruction:

1). Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F

2). Cut up the chicken. Layer it out at a lightly greased baking dish.

3). Now sprinkle the stuffing mix over the chicken.

4). Mix together the soups, broth and evaporated milk in a large bowl.

5). Stir this mixture well and pour it over the stuffing layer.

6). Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until it starts to bubble in the center. Enjoy!

The recipes above are beginner and busy people friendly. Try them out and let me know how it ends up for you. Good luck and enjoy your food!

Vegetarian Corn Casserole image by bamalibrarylady (Tamara Evans) via Flickr

Must Read Information About The Different Kinds Of Meat That You Usually Eat

ronley — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:06:13 +0200

Eating meat once in a while won’t do any harm to your health or body. In fact, it can give essential minerals and nutrients that your body needs. Even though some are saying that meat is just for pure taste satisfaction, for many nutritionist and food scientist, meat is a big factor for a balanced diet and healthful eating habit.

I think the reason why few people says eating meat is bad, is that, they have no or little knowledge about the type or kinds of meat available in the market. It is quite true that some meat doesn’t give benefits but there are quite handful of them that gives essential body nutrients. Check out the below list of different kinds of meat and their characteristics. They might come in handy for you in terms of choosing what to and what not to eat.

“Grilled Beef Kabobs and Turkey Bratwurs - Image By Steven Depolo via Flickr.”

BEEF

Might be one of the healthiest meats you can eat. A great percentage of fat in beef is monounsaturated fat which is considered as a heart friendly fat. Just make sure the beef you will buy and eat is fresh and from organic cuts.

PORK

One of the tastiest meat but not considered that healthful compared to beef. Consume pork moderately and avoid eating the fats attached to pork meat.

LAMB

Although lamb is a fat loaded meat, it is considered as one of the healthiest and tastiest meat ever. No wonder why lamb meat is always a best seller during special occasions and gatherings.

HAM

Ham, especially the canned or packaged ones, should only be consumed once in a while. It contains great amount of artificial flavorings that makes it really unhealthy.

CHICKEN

Organic chicken meat is great source of iron and zinc. Just make sure to cook chicken meat in a healthful way too.

TURKEY

Organic and fresh turkey meat is packed with vitamins and zinc. It is also a known source of brain boosting nutrient called tryptophan.

I hope with the above meat information, you can now choose what not and what you can eat regularly. If you choose to include any of them at your diet, always make sure to consume in moderation.

5 Foods That Help Your Hair

koreandoll — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:46:00 +0200

Just like the other parts of our body, the processes and cells that support a vibrant and strong hair depend on a well-balanced diet. A healthy diet is not only good for our body but also for the thousands of hair follicles on our head. The nutrients that come from the food that we eat can help fortify the hair follicles, from which hair strands are born, as well as the scalp that surrounds them. Certainly, there is more to our hair than what we eat. Not enough sleep, hormonal imbalances, and smoking can also affect how our hair feels and looks. Still, we have more leverage than we might think. Eating a balanced, protein-rich, and varied diet, which focuses on the following 5 foods, we surely are giving our hair the TLC it deserves and needs.

Salmon

Besides being rich in vitamin D and protein, which are both a key factor to strong hair, Salmon also contains omega-3 fatty acids. Our body needs these fatty acids to grow hair. The cell membranes in our scalp and 3 percent of our hair shaft are made up of these fatty acids. These natural oils keep our hair and scalp hydrated.

Aside from salmon, we can also get these essential fatty acids from other types of fish such as mackerel, trout, sardines, and herring.

Walnuts

Among all nuts, walnuts are the only ones that contain significant amounts of the essential omega-3 fatty acids. Also, they are rich in vitamin E and biotin, which helps protect our cells from DNA damage. This is especially good for hairs that are often exposed to the sun. Also, hair loss results from biotin deficiency. Another nutrient found in walnuts is copper, a mineral that helps maintain the hair’s natural color lustrousness and richness.

Aside from walnuts, walnut oil is also a good source of omega-3 and can be added to a salad dressing or used for stir-fry cooking.

Oysters

Eating 3 ounces of oysters provide a whopping 493 percent of your needed daily zinc value. Zinc is another mineral needed for a healthy hair growth. The deficiency of this mineral can result to hair loss, which may even include the eyelashes, and flaky, dry scalp. Oysters are also a good source of protein, which is needed to replenish the hairs that were naturally shed every day. Protein deficiency can make the hair brittle, dry, and weak.

Aside from the oysters, eggs, beef, and nuts are rich sources of zinc and protein.

Sweet Potatoes

These potatoes are rich in antioxidant beta carotene, which turns into vitamin A when absorb by the body. Vitamin A is required to keep the cells in our body to function properly and efficiently. It also helps the body to produce natural oils that sustain and protect the scalp. Lack of vitamin A leads to itchy and irksome dandruff.

Aside from sweet potatoes, apricots, pumpkin, mangoes, cantaloupe, and carrots are also rich in beta carotene.

Eggs

Rich in protein, eggs contain four key minerals, iron, sulfur, selenium, and zinc. Iron is especially important as it carries oxygen to every hair follicle. Iron deficiency is one of the major causes of hair loss, specifically in women.

Aside from eggs, animal sources like beef, pork, fish, and chicken can also help boost your iron stores.

But if you’re a time conscience person and don’t have time during the week to pamper yourself, investing in a good quality dry scalp shampoo will protect your hair and strengthen your roots.

Sarah is a hairdresser by trade and has been for the past 10 years. She loves cutting hair and making her clients feel good about herself, by writing these blogs she hopes that it may help give some people confidence with her beauty tips and tricks.

Benefits Of Eating Dark Chocolate

ronley — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 07:24:00 +0200

When you hear the word weight loss or diet, often than not you will immediately think about cutting of foods or simply avoiding foods that can make you fat. Foods that are fatty, oily and sweet will immediately come into your mind as a no no right?

That’s true and that’s right. But, did you know that there are some sweet foods, like chocolates, that can give you healthful benefits without making you gain weight or fat that much? Now you know!

Healthful chocolate like dark chocolate is a great food to satisfy your mini-hunger and craving for sweets and candies. It’s a diet friendly one and when consumed in a recommended amount, it can give health benefits too. Below are some of the known benefits of eating dark chocolates that you might want to know about.

Good And Regular Blood Flow

Dark chocolates are loaded with high amount of polyphenols. Polyphenols reduces the stress from cardiovascular system thus making blood to flow easier and better.

Prevent Cancer

Cacao (dark chocolate substance) is rich with antioxidants. Antioxidants help in eliminating free radicals and toxins inside the body.

Slow Down Aging

Dark chocolates eliminate free radicals that speed up body aging. Eating dark chocolates once in a while can give you a bit of youthful skin and body.

Source Of Iron

Dark chocolates are known source of iron and magnesium too. So if you are lacking iron, why not take dark chocolates instead of pill right? Just consume it the right amount and way.

Hope this article can give you a different outlook at chocolates. Surely they are rich in calories, but with proper consumption, dark chocolates can give awesome benefits.

Dark Chocolate Image By Chocolate Reviews via Flickr shared under CC BY-ND 2.0 license.

5 Liver Friendly Foods You Should Consume Regularly

ronley — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 04:11:17 +0200

Liver is the largest internal organ of the body. It performs a critical function that makes you live a healthful life. It filters and cleanses the blood before it travels around your body.

Liver acts like a filter that removes harmful toxins and substances from anything your body consumes. It helps to regulate body metabolism and keeps other organs to function well.

Without a healthy liver (liver failure), you can only survive 24 - 48 hours when untreated. To avoid any kind of liver complications or failure, you must live a healthy lifestyle by getting good rest or sleep, exercise, getting the right diet and eating healthful foods.

For the foods, below are some of the healthful ones that you should really consume regularly.

Garlic and Onions

If you are a garlic and onion lover, I bet you are quite enjoying a good metabolism and bowel movement. Garlic and onion contains substances that aid the body (liver) in terms of detoxification and cleansing.

Lemon Juice

If you can get fresh extract of lemon, the better. Drink it with hot water first thing in the morning for detoxification.

Apples

An apple a day, keeps the doctor away. Very much true and applicable for your liver’s health. The substance called pectin that can be found mostly on apples helps the liver to flush out metals from the body like mercury.

Ginger

Consuming ginger as a form of food or drink gives great liver benefits. It aids the liver to perform its function and it also gives other healthful benefits for you. It promotes good vocal chords (singing voice) as well.

Water

Water is the best drink you should consume in a regular manner for your liver to function well. Without water/fluid in your body, detoxification and cleansing process won’t be complete.

Eating and drinking the above foods and drinks and avoiding some (like processed/fast foods, salty and MSG enhanced foods) can be truly beneficial for your liver and to your overall health as well.

Onions, ginger, tomatoes and garlic image by arvind grover via Flickr shared under CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Fruit And Drinks For A More Relaxing Sleep

ronley — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:18:00 +0200

Are you having trouble in getting a relaxing and much needed sleep? If yes, I am quite sure you are already considering taking some meds or sleeping pills. Medicines and sleeping pills can indeed make you fall asleep but are they good in the long run? Absolutely not because it can cause addiction and might give you side effects that you surely don’t want to have.

Instead of popping up sleeping pills to cure your sleepless night, why not just eat some food that can ease it out? There are known foods (along with exercises) that are known to relax your brain and mind thus making you feel sleepy resulting to a good and deep sleep at night. Check out my below list of simple fruits and drinks that can help you get that quality sleep that you are longing for to have.

Tea

A cup of tea, especially passion-fruit tea can surely knock you down in a good relaxing way. This kind of tea contains high amount of alkaloids that relaxes your nervous system thus making you feel sleepy.

Warm Milk

Ever wonder why lots of moms give a glass of warm milk to their kids before sleeping? Well it’s because it’s a good drink that promotes good and deep sleep.

Banana

Eating one banana before sleeping can make a big difference on how you sleep. Banana contains substance that can turn into serotonin and melatonin. The said two substances relax the brain and body muscles making you fall asleep much faster.

Try the above foods and drinks and let me know how it affects your body and your sleep.

Woman Drinking Tea At Home Covered With Blanket by marin via FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

Awesome Food Tips For Diabetics

ronley — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:35:00 +0200

Choosing the foods to eat for diabetics doesn’t have to be complicated. If ever you are diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t have to totally change the kind of foods you consume; you just need to tweak it a bit. You can still enjoy your favorite dish and dessert but you have to use ingredients that are suitable enough for your body condition. For more of this diabetic food tips, read on below.

Small Amount of Fats Are Still Good

Experts say that some and small amount of fats are still good and in fact, still needed by your body even though you are diagnosed with diabetes. Why? Aside from making your favorite dish or salad become more flavorful, it also aids your body to absorb fat-soluble vitamins and minerals from healthful foods and vegetables. The key here is proper portioning of fats, for example small amount of salad dressing to your mix-veggies salad. Also make sure to use ingredients that contain healthful fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (usually found in olive oil and peanut butter).

Control and Don’t Cut Down Your Favorite Snacks

If your favorite snack includes mainly of junk foods, chips, chocolates and ice cream, probably you will say you have to totally cut them all. That’s good and that’s better but for how long you can stay away from them? Experts say you don’t have to deprive your self from those kinds of foods. The key here is self discipline and proper eating. A small bag of chips or small serving of ice cream for dessert won’t hurt as long as it complements your meal plan or daily diet.

My food tips above are all based at expert’s advice backup with their years of study and testing. Take them as it is and always remember to consult your own doctor first before changing your diet completely.

Image: Salad Plate photo by avlxyz on Flickr shared via CC BY 2.0 license.

3 Basic Food Tips For A Flat And Great Looking Belly

ronley — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:44:00 +0200

Getting a fine and well toned stomach both for boys and girls is pretty hard but attainable goal. All it takes is great patience, strong will and of course self-discipline.

Self-discipline not only with the gym exercises but also for the food and drinks you take matters a lot. It defines how your belly or tummy will look like at the long run. The food you consume today won’t make any difference at your stomach today or in few months or so, but it will for sure in the future.

So aside from the gym exercises for a flat and great looking stomach, it’s also important to note few food tips and pointers that can help you out. I listed some of the basics below, check it out.

Don’t Cut Down The Carbohydrates Intake

Surprise with that tip? Don’t be! as we all know carbohydrates are energy. It fuels the body to work out the way it should be. It’s pretty important especially if you do your routine exercise daily. So don’t cut your carbohydrates intake, instead, get your carbohydrates from healthful resources like fruits, whole wheat breads and skim milk. Also do some research about good and bad carbohydrates that you can consume and avoid as much as possible.

Know Your Calorie Count

The general rule of thumb is to only consume what you can burn. If you can burn great amount of calories in a single day, then you can consume more foods that you want. Any extra calorie will be stored most of the time at your belly making it looking fat and bulky. You surely don’t want it and you don’t need it. So make sure to check your calorie intake (and how much of it you can burn) daily.

Avoid Alcoholic Drinks

Alcoholic drinks especially beer, is a great source of calories. This is why big fat belly of men are often times called beer belly. It does nothing good for your body especially for your tummy so better stay away from it as much as possible.

The tips above sound so basic right? Absolutely it is! But lots of people seem to forget the basics! So if you are really serious and determined to get a fine looking sexy tummy, remember my above tips and partner it with proper tummy exercises.

Image Credit:

“Girl Showing Diet And Exercise Sign” by Stuart Miles via FreeDigitalPhotos.Net

Super Foods That Everyone Can Enjoy

koreandoll — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:51:14 +0200

Over the past few years, the term super food has become a big part of modern vocabulary. It’s hard to read a magazine without reading about the latest super food and how it has the potential to change your life. If you’re picturing a head of broccoli wearing a cape, it’s time to think again. Super foods are not magical, but they are foods that contain an especially high concentration of vitamins or minerals. Some ingredients do have the potential to improve health, but they can’t work alone. Super foods should simply be a part of our holistic approach to health and well-being. Read on to discover what some of these super foods are, how they can improve your health and how maintaining a healthy diet is the first step in overall wellness.

Salmon and Other Omega-3 Containing Fish
If you found out that a single pill taken twice a week could reduce rates of depression, possibly prevent Alzheimer’s and even lower your cholesterol, the odds are high that you would drive straight to the pharmacy to pick some up. Believe it or not, a single serving of salmon eaten twice a week can do all of that and more. Salmon, as well as a fish like mackerel and herring, are high in healthy Omega-3 fats that can do a world of good for the body.

Anti-Inflammatory Blueberries
Blueberries are a food that most people enjoy, but they simply don’t make it into your shopping basket as often as they probably should. These tiny and tasty berries are full of Vitamin C and other nutrients, but what makes them seriously super is their anti-inflammatory potential. Inflammation is the cause of a number of health problems including arthritis and gastrointestinal distress, but a half-cup serving of fresh or frozen blueberries every day can go a long way in preventing these diseases caused by inflammation.

Greek Yogurt for Protein and Probiotics
When you think of bacteria, you probably think of something that needs to be cleaned in a hurry. When it comes to your digestive system, healthy bacteria are actually a vital part of the equation. Yogurt is high in calcium, but it can also be the perfect way to ingest healthy bacteria on a daily basis to aid your digestion. Greek yogurt has a thicker texture than traditional yogurt, and it has a much higher concentration of protein. Look for plain Greek yogurts and then top them with nuts or fresh fruit for a nutritious snack, breakfast or dessert to enjoy without any guilt.

Fill Up on Nutritious Sweet Potatoes
Plain white potatoes are one of the most widely consumed foods in the world, but we might be a lot better off if we replaced plain potatoes with sweet potatoes. These tasty potatoes are full of fibre, which means that they can fill you up without a lot of calories. Plus, sweet potatoes are bursting with Vitamin C and Vitamin A, which can prevent skin damage and help your immune system. Try cutting up sweet potatoes and baking them like chips, or bake them whole and enjoy with a sprinkle of cinnamon for a sweeter but still guilt-free snack.

Improve Your Eyesight with Eggs
Eggs have gotten a bad reputation over the last few decades, and many healthy eaters still shun egg yolks because they are a source of fat. While it is the egg white that contains the most protein, keep the yolk in to get the most nutritional benefits. Egg yolks contains lutein, which works to keep your eyes healthy and reduce the chance of macular degeneration in old age.

There is no shortage of reasons to begin or continue eating these super foods on a regular basis. Along with the health benefits, you can enjoy financial benefits when you take charge of your diet. Many health insurance providers see the link between a healthy lifestyle and fewer medical conditions, and they are offering discounts to individuals who can demonstrate their healthy choices.

Image courtesy of La Grande Farmers’ Market/flickr.com

How To Cook With Olive Oil

ronley — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:12:13 +0200

Of all the choices of cooking oil, that from the olives is one of the healthiest you can find. Other vegetable oils are the healthy, too; compared to butter, margarine or lard. However, if you want to get most from vegetable cooking oils, olive oil should be on your top list.

Olive oil has a very high smoke point. This is the threshold where any kind of cooking oil can be put into good use. When the oil starts smoking, throw it away. You are better off heating up a new batch of oils.

Cooking with olive oil

Not all oils, in this case olive oil, are created equal. While mostly are made in Spain, many other olive oil comes from Italy, France and Greece. They may vary in taste and color. Have fun with them. Make a taste test of your own to see which ones best suit you.

Generally, there are 3 grades of olive oil. You may notice that some are called extra virgin; some are virgin; and others are just plain olive. There are even companies who produce light olive oil variety.

How do we use them?

Extra virgin olive oil is best used for salad dressings, dips, condiments or vinaigrette They are best if not cooked; however, may still be used for cooking. When you heat extra virgin olive oil for a long time, it loses its robust olive taste and fragrant. These are the expensive ones; so you may want to use them well.

Virgin olive oil may be used for light cooking or cooking in low temperature. For example, you can use virgin olive oil in coating baked chicken or fish; or warming a cold pasta dish.

Plain olive oil may on the other hand, be used for deep-fry, fried or stir-fried dishes; as well as for baking. Olive oils are generally pricey; plain olive oil however, is the least costly of all grades.

Oil is oil is oil. Even if olive oil is the healthy option for oils, it still contains fats (well, healthy fats.) Just the same, use them sparingly on your dish.

The above olive oil tips are shared to us by CookingLikeAPro.Net , the home of quick and easy recipes online. Check the website out for lots of quick and easy recipes you can try at home.

About The Image: Olive Oil Image by Smabs Sputzer via Flickr shared under a Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0) license.

Review: All Natural Ginger Tummydrops

koreandoll — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:28:00 +0100

“Tummydrops is a great product”. That is what their manufacturers and creators said about this tummy friendly candy that helps assists with occasional bloating, upset stomach and even menstrual cramps! Of course, I was wondering how true their claim is. After some time of trying out the product, I can definitely agree with their claims.

I am a Tummy Drops user for quite few months now. I have both flavors of it. I have the peppermint Tummydrops and also the ginger flavored Tummydrops. You might think that because of their flavors, they might taste a bit funny or bad, that’s what I am thinking too the first time I heard or read about this product. But to my surprise, Tummy Drops didn’t taste like that. Both flavors do tastes like a regular candy that provides the sweetness and cooling effect in a taste bud friendly way.

Aside from its good taste, Tummy Drops also provide what it says it can. The peppermint Tummydrops aids me with my upset stomach and occasional cramps. So every time I feel something bad about my stomach, peppermint Tummydrops is what I always eat up. On the other hand, the ginger flavored ones assist me with my occasional motion and morning sickness. Whenever a bad morning greets me, I do take up a piece of ginger Tummydrops before taking some coffee or tea and it works wonders for me.

The best thing about Tummydrops is that it is a gluten-free product. Each and every piece of it, no matter what flavor it is, is made from all natural products along with their natural proprietary blend.

To summarize things up about my experience with Tummy Drops, I can confidently say that you can’t go wrong with it.

Getting The Right Cooking Equipment For Your Kitchen

koreandoll — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 08:32:00 +0100

I do a lot of cooking and baking at home. I love to do it especially if I am trying out new dishes and recipes I find online. Cooking for me is pretty easy to do even though I am not that experienced cook nor having a culinary background. For me, it’s all about following recipe instruction the way it is laid out and of course, getting and using the right cooking equipment is what matters the most.

Getting the right cooking equipment is pretty hard though, especially if you are a beginner. Based on my experience, there are some things to consider in terms of choosing the equipment that is just right and perfect for your kitchen. Here are some of them.

The Right Brand

Some may say it’s not about the brand or equipment name, but for me, it plays a huge role in terms of the service and help it can give to the user. At my kitchen, you will find equipment with different brand names. They all serve a special role in my cooking needs. The Robot Coupe food processors are one of my personal favorites since it makes cooking extremely manageable, stress free and easy. This is available from lots of different higher end catering companies, i.e Crosbys or even some better electrics stores.

The Right Size

Using small equipment for a big recipe or dish and vice versa is a no-no for me. I admit I’ve done it before as a beginner and I end up messing not only the kitchen but the food itself as well. It pays well to get a small and large version of cooking equipments at home.

The above two mentioned things looks and sounds so basic right? But I bet sometimes you forget about them when buying or even using any cooking equipment. I hope that with this article, you can now able to get equipments and tools that can give you great cooking experience.

Foods That Are Supposedly Healthful But Aren't

ronley — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:33:57 +0100

Lots of foods nowadays are often advertised as raw, organic and healthful. The reason behind it is that lots of people are already becoming health and food conscious. They are now checking out if a certain food contains ingredients that are harmful to their body and overall health or might go against their weight loss and diet plan. But then again, it’s only an advertisement trying to capture the attention of their target market.

Below you will find some foods that are advertised as fully healthful but aren’t The list I have might surprised you but I can certainly back it up with hard evidence coming from trusted online reference.

Pasteurized Milk

Not all milk is created equal. We all know that mother’s breast milk and raw milk offers great benefits but that is not the case with pasteurized milk. Pasteurized milk that undergone the pasteurization method or process eliminates the proteins, vitamins and minerals that you can only get from milk. So instead of making you healthier, it might give you certain problems such as skin or body allergies.

Fruit Juice

The word fruit and juice might make you think that it’s one refreshing and healthful drink. But I am afraid to say it’s not. Fruit juices in cans are loaded with high amount of sugar that can increases cholesterol and blood sugar level. So for me, no matter what kind of fruit juice it is, it’s still a sugary and unhealthy drink.

Energy Drinks

The word energy in energy drink is often attributed to its calorie and sugar content. It has nothing to do with vitamins and minerals that you can find at fresh fruits and veggies that give natural body energy. If you drink energy drinks and you don’t sweat it out, trust me, you will feel how bad it is for your body.

So what do you think? Do you have anything to add with my above list?

Fruit Juices Image By Steven Depolo shared via Flickr under a Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0) license.

Filipino Spring Rolls - Lumpiang Shanghai Recipe

ronley — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 17:23:00 +0100

For many Filipinos, lumpiang shanghai is a dish or food that is a must at any important event such as birthday, fiestas or even weddings. The reason behind it is still a mystery or unknown for me though. But one thing is for sure, it’s quite delicious that makes every guest craves for it.

Lumpiang shanghai is one of those Filipino specialties that is pretty easy to prepare and make. The preparation and cooking time averages just around 40 minutes for a dozen of Filipino spring rolls. If you wanted to try this dish at your kitchen, then check out the recipe below.

Here is an easy to follow and step by step instruction on how to make and cook lumpiang shanghai or Filipino spring rolls.

Ingredients:

1 Package Of Ready Made Spring Roll Wrapper

For The Filling:

1/4 cup of finely chopped celery

1/4 cup of finely chopped parsley

1/4 cup finely chopped carrot

1/4 kg ground pork

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 Tbsp soy sauce

3 Tbsp chopped white onions

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 pinch pepper

How To Make And Cook Filipino Lumpiang Shanghai:

1). Combine and mix well all ingredients (for the filling) in a bowl.

2). Wrap one tablespoon of filling, spread in a long thing shape per wrapper.

3). Deep fry the rools in hot oil until golden brown in color.

4). Drain.

TIP: You can cut the rolls into two for easier consumption and for good plating or presentation.

Lumpiang shanghai is best served with sweet and sour sauce. Enjoy!

Image Credit:

Lumpia Shanghai via Joshua Bousel (joshbousel) Flickr Page. Shared under a Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) license.

Chopsuey Filipino Veggie Recipe

ronley — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:32:28 +0100

Chopsuey is one of the most healthful dish anyone can eat. It’s pretty popular at Asian countries especially in China and Philippines.

Chopsuey is basically a mixture of different vegetables tossed along with minimal amount of pork, chicken or shrimp. The most common ingredient you can found at chopsuey dish are veggies like cabbage, carrots and snow peas.

This vegetable dish contains few amount of sauce that comes from the broth of the meat being used. The broth adds more color and flavor at this dish thus complementing the crunchy like characteristics of its half cooked veggies.

Here is a simple Filipino Chopsuey recipe that you can try at home.

Chopsuey Ingredients:

1 cauliflower

2 carrots, cut in strips

1 cup snow peas with ends trimmed

1/2 cabbage, cut in 1/4 inch thick

1 medium green bell pepper, cut into strips

1 medium sized red bell pepper, cut into strips

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium sized onion, chopped

2 Tbsp cooking oil

1 cup pre-boiled pork shoulder, sliced into strips

2 Tbsp fish sauce

1 cup pork or shrimp broth

1 cup shrimps, shelled and deveined

1 Tbsp cornstarch (in 1/2 cup water)

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

How To Cook Chopsuey:

1). Saute the garlic and onion in the cooking oil. Add the pork and shrimps and cook for 2 minutes.

2). Add the red and green bell peppers, snow peas and cauliflower, add few amount of fish sauce. Saute for 4 minutes.

3). Pour the pork stock. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

4). Pour in the shrimps. Stir lightly.

5). Pour in the cornstarch mixture (this will thicken your sauce).

6). Add salt and pepper to taste. Adjust if necessary.

Enjoy your Chopsuey veggie dish. Best served with grilled fish along with steamed rice.

Chopsuey Image by Andrew Abogado shared via Flickr.

Super Foods That You Can Eat Daily

ronley — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 04:49:00 +0100

Super foods, at its simplest term or form, are foods that provide the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that your body needs to perform well. Super foods don’t give you excess calories, protein and carbohydrates that might do harm for the body. It promote wellness, weight control (either gain or loss) and most importantly of all, satisfies your hunger.

Below are basic super foods that you can consume almost daily. Check them out and see how you can include them at your daily eating habits.

Nuts

Are you afraid of nuts because of its fat content? Well, if you consume them moderately daily, for sure it won’t do harm for your body. Instead, it will provide you the right amount of protein, fiber and anti-oxidants as well. You can include few nuts at your appetizer or dessert. You can even enjoy some nuts for your daily snack. Again, consume nuts in moderation to enjoy the healthful nutrients it can give for your system.

Fish

Fish, especially salmon, is high in Omega-3 that promotes healthy heart thus preventing any kind of heart disease. It lowers down your blood pressure and it’s a good brain food too. If you can eat small amount of fish a day, I am quite sure your body especially your heart will benefit from it.

Bananas

Bananas are potassium rich fruits. As we all know, a good level of potassium in our body is required for it to function efficiently. It helps lower down the blood pressure and at the same time promote healthy looking skin and hair. You can include bananas daily as your dessert every after meal.

Above are just few of the many super foods that the world can offer for your body. If you can’t include any of them at your daily eating habit, do some research or ask your doctor’s advice until you find the foods that fits your eating style.

Image Credits (FreeDigitalPhotos.Net)

“Walnuts” by Suat Eman

“Salmon” by dan

“Yellow Bananas” by foto76

TAPSILOG - A Filipino Breakfast Food That You Can Try Cooking At Home

ronley — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:25:00 +0100

Philippines do have lots to offer in terms of flavorful and unique breakfast foods. From simple bread and drinks up to heavy combo meals.

At this post, I will share with you an easy to follow Filipino breakfast recipe that you can try at home. This is considered as one of the most popular and best selling Filipino breakfast meal that is quite heavy to the tummy.

TapSiLog is a Filipino food slang or term that is composed of three foodie words. The TAPa (beef strips), SInangag (fried rice) and itLOG (egg). TapSiLog can be seen at almost every food stalls, eateries and restaurants around the Philippines.

TapSilog Recipe (Good for 3 persons)

Ingredients:

* 500 grams of beef, to be marinated and refrigerated.

* 1 Tbsp. salt

* 1 Tbsp. black pepper, grounded

* 1 Tbsp. oyster sauce

* 1 Tbsp. soy sauce

* 2 Tbsp. sugar

* 2 Tbsp. garlic, finely grated

* 1 medium sized onion, thinly sliced

* 2 Tbsp. cooking oil

* 3 cups of fried rice

* 3 fried egg, sunny side up

How To Make TapSiLog:

For The Marinade (Tapa)

1). Slice the beef into small strips. Set aside.

2). Mix the salt, black pepper, oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar and garlic in a bowl.

3). In a transparent container, put the sliced strips of beef together with the mixed ingredients.

4). Mix the beef and the ingredients well. Refrigerate overnight.

Cooking And Serving TapSiLog

1). Pour two cups of water in a cooking pan. Put the marinated tapa in the pan and bring it to a boil until water evaporates.

2). Add about two tablespoon of oil in a non-stick frying pan.

3). Spread the slices of beef the pan for even cooking. Fry until done.

4). Add some onion slices. Stir a bit. Cook for another minute until onion is a bit brown.

5). Place the tapa on a plate and serve the dish with fried rice and egg. Enjoy!

Image Credit:

TapSiLog image by Shubert Ciencia ~MVI~ (running away from parties) shared via Flickr under a Creative Commons (CC BY 2.0) license.