Top 10 Alkaline Foods You Should Be Eating Everyday

Natural or Organic?

The term "Health Foods" include natural and organic grown fruit and vegetables, various pills and herbs. Some of these foods are nutritionally good and some such as herbs and ginseng are unproven. The term "Health Food" is very misleading since it implies that all other foods are unhealthy.
Vegetarianism: There is nothing nutritionally wrong with being a vegetarian, in fact most nutritionist recommend this type of diet because it is high in diet fibre, low in fats, more fruit and vegetables. Many vegetarians eat eggs and drink milk, on the other hand some don't use animal products at all and are as far as known very healthy.
Whole Foods: Whole foods are better than refined foods. This means that wholewheat bread and flour are healthier than white bread and flour. Choosing unrefined rice and maize rather than refined. Brown sugar is very little different from white sugar.
Organic Grown Foods: Most farmers and gardeners fertilize their soil with sulfate of ammonia, potash and phosphate ect. They also add manure and compost as much as they can find. Advocates of organic farming claims that the use of chemicals is artificial and that foods that are grown naturally are more superior. In fact there is no difference between them. Organic farmers avoid the use of chemicals, weed killers and pesticides. A few tasting trials that were carried out, could not distinguish which are organically grown and inorganically fertilized foods. Nutritionally they are the same.
Sea salt: Most salt comes from underground mines and is highly purified. It usually have some magnesium carbonate (a harmless mineral salt) added to make it flow freely. Sea salt contains natural Iodine.

Honey: Honey is simply sugar and water with very small traces of several vitamins and mineral salts. The food value of a teaspoon of honey is the same as a ¾ teaspoon of ordinary table sugar.
Cider Vinegar, Kelp, "Live" Yogurt and Ginseng: Cider vinegar is made of re-fermented cider, meaning, it is made in a similar way as wine vinegar. Nutritionally it provides a few calories and nothing else.
Kelp is a seaweed and a source of iodine which is an essential nutrient with a few mineral salts of lessor importance. It has no special food value.
"Live" Yogurt contains the bacteria which turned the milk into yogurt, whereas ordinary yogurt has usually the bacteria killed by pasteurisation. If it was made of full cream milk instead of skim milk powder, it would have tasted better and of nutritional value, not because of the bacteria that are still alive. The bacteria do not survive inside the human intestines and do not provide any benefits.
Ginseng is the root of a bush that grows in China and Korea. A vast range of magical properties is attributed to it, again no evidence or truth that it works has ever been found.
Balanced Vitamins: Most health shops sell tablets of balanced vitamins that have been extracted from wheat, yeast or liver instead of being synthesised in a factory. They were balanced so far as the wheat plant or the yeast or the animal's liver were concerned BUT they are not balanced for Human needs. Wheat contains very little B2. Vit B1 in yeast extract steadily falls while it sits on the shelf. The B vitamins in the liver extract will depend on how the animal was fed.
Herbs: Herbs have a mystical appeal since they were used as medicines for centuries. Some of them have no effect, some contains poison like Comfrey and Rhubarb and some contain small amounts of drugs like Fennel. Some modern medicines are extracted from herbs, quinine was originally extracted from tree bark. Pleasant drinks can be made from some herbs, leaves and petals but they have no beneficial effects.
Healthy Eating at a Restaurant: Is it Possible?
If you and your family love to eat out, you may think that this lifestyle is not good for a healthy diet. In many cases, you would be correct. You can still enjoy eating out at restaurants and maintain your healthy diet. It's all about making good food choices, which starts with learning about the nutritional value of the food you eat and what your body needs to stay physically healthy, mentally stable, and active.
When you pick up the menu, start by skipping over the alcoholic drinks section. Although you may be tempted to enjoy a beer or mixed beverage with your dinner, these usually have many "bad" calories, which is not good for your body. The exception to this rule is when it comes to wine, especially red wine, which can be fine if you have a single glass.
Skip the appetizer menu, unless it's a salad. The appetizers at restaurants are usually high-fat foods that are not meant to fill you up and can in fact make you crave for more. Examples of these are mozzarella sticks, potato skins, and chicken wings. Simply focus on the main course or if you must indulge, share a single serving with someone at your table.
Choosing the main dish is very important. Look at the ingredients of the dish. Anything with cream sauces or high-fat meats should be avoided and pass the potatoes and onion rings. Instead order side dishes like green salad and vegetables or ask for just the main course when possible.
Remember that portions is everything. Try to order from the lunch menu whenever you can, and ask for a doggie-bag right away. Split your meal in half from the start, so that you are not tempted to eat the entire plate, which is usually enough for two or three portions.
SKIP the desert menu, just like you did with the appetizers. If you have to have desert share or split your portion in half. Many fancy desserts at restaurants have more calories than your entire meal, so keep this in mind before you flag down the waitress to put in an order! Of course, on special occasions, it's alright to cheat a little, but overall healthy eating requires lots of resisting temptations around you.



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Raw Kale Recipes - 3 Easy Recipes!

Raw kale is one of the most nutritious greens you can eat. Here are three easy raw kale recipes you can try at home.

It is one of the healthiest greens for your bones because it contains vitamin K, manganese, which promotes bone density, and it also contains calcium.

It is also the top leafy green source of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin which promote eye health. It also contains vitamins C, B6, and B2 and is a good source of fiber.

There are many varieties including Curly, Red Winter, and Lacinto. You might also be lucky enough to find an heirloom variety at your local farmer's market as well. Experiment with different types for different tastes and textures.

Here are three easy raw kale recipes that I hope will get you to try this very nutritious vegetable.

Warning: kale is contraindicated in people taking anti-coagulants such as Warfarin.

Tropical Smoothie

1 cup pineapple
1 cup mango
1 banana
6 Lacinto or Dinosaur Kale leaves
2 cups water

Blend all ingredients in a powerful blender such as the Vitamix until completely smooth and creamy. Add honey, agave nectar, stevia or another sweetener if desired. Enjoy as a super healthy addition to your breakfast routine or as nutritious snack during the day.

Green Juice

5 ribs celery
1 large English cucumber
2-3 large Fuji apples
1/2 lime
6 Curly Kale leaves

Put all the ingredients through a juicer. My favorite juicer because of it's versatility is the Omega Vert 350. If you don't have a juicer an alternative would be to chop the cucumber, apple, and celery and place it in a blender (cucumber first) with the chopped kale and peeled lime. Blend on high for about thirty seconds and then pour and squeeze the mixture through a sprout bag over a big bowl. Sprout bags are relatively inexpensive and have a variety of uses. The sprout bag will strain out all the pulp and leave you with a smooth and silky juice. Pour the juice back into the blender carafe and then pour into a glass.

Raw Marinated Asian Salad

1 large bunch Lacinto or Dinosaur kale thinly sliced
(or another type of kale)
Juice from 1 lime (about 6 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon raw sesame seed oil
1 tablespoon cold pressed olive oil
2 tablespoons chickpea miso
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoons finely chopped green onion
(about 2 green onions green part only)
1 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
(about 1/2 large bell pepper)
handful of your favorite seaweed
[torn dulse, silky sea palm, kombu, wakame... (etc.)]
1 tablespoon black or white sesame seeds (optional)

Make sure the greens are thinly sliced, you can even shred the kale with your food processor with the slicing disk on if you wish. Put the shredded kale in a large bowl and mash in with a fork the oil, chickpea miso, shredded ginger, and lime juice. Make sure the miso and oil is well blended. You can even massage the kale with your hands to make sure the kale is well coated. Serve now or let the kale marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hr., it can even sit overnight. The longer it marinates the more tender the kale will be. When you are ready to serve, add in the bell pepper, seaweed, cucumber, green onion, and sesame seeds.

I hope you enjoyed these recipes and I hope you are inspired to eat more kale at home!

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Slow Cooking For Vegetarians

Over the last several decades, more and more people have decided to take the exciting leap into the wonderful world of vegetarianism. Whether an individual has chosen an alternative diet because of health reasons, religious reasons, or ethical reasons, there is one reliable kitchen standby that no vegetarian should ever live without: the slow cooker. They are, by far, the perfect option for preparing a wide, exciting variety of delectable vegetarian dishes. Because slow cookers allow food to cook "low and slow," vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, and other ingredients have lots of time to develop intense, rich, complex flavors and textures.
Soups, casseroles, and stews are some of the most simple and hearty kinds of dishes vegetarians can choose to create. These substantial dishes are great for those looking to find delicious yet satisfying foods that can take the place of "traditional" proteins such as beef, pork, poultry, fish, and seafood. Filling foods such as lentils, beans, and rice are ideal to use because they hold up to extended cooking times-in fact, these longer cooking times are actually ideal to aid in achieving optimum taste and texture.

Slow cookers are especially appropriate for a vegetarian that is looking to save some time in the kitchen. Because they allow the vegetarian cook to spend just a few scant minutes selecting, gathering, and combining ingredients, vegetarians with tight schedules can still count on being able to come home and find a tasty home-cooked meal at the end of a long day at work or school.
Vegetarians with tight budgets also stand to gain a lot more wiggle-room in their budgets by using slow cookers. A meal based around a slow-cooked meal is extremely economical and often yields leftovers that can be used for additional meals for lunches or dinners later in the week.
For the vegetarian who has become bored with the same-old, same old, slow cookers can open up a whole new world of culinary possibility. Because slow cooked meals only require a small time commitment, vegetarian cooks can feel confident in trying out a wide range of new vegetables, herbs, spices, and even meat alternatives made of soy or tempeh. Why not try something different that can be created in a slow cooker, like hearty vegetarian chili, tasty vegetarian chow mein, or even delicious chocolate cake?

The slow cooker can be a real boon to the vegetarian cook. Slow cooked meals are delicious, nutritious, economical, and most importantly, simple to create. Vegetarians looking to spice up a boring or repetitive meal repertoire will be pleasantly surprised to discover the options and benefits that come along with using a handy slow cooker.

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Benefits of Using the Slow Cooker

The slow cooker or crock pot has become one of the most useful appliances in the kitchen for every family. The slow cooker has gained much popularity due to the many benefits of using it. The slow cooker can help to prepare a great variety of delicious food. There are many slow cooker recipes widely available to provide more choices of the types of dishes you can prepare using the slow cooker. By simply following the recipes, you can cook many types of delicious meals for your family everyday.
The best benefit of using the slow cooker for cooking is that the dishes it prepares are nutritious. This is because mainly fresh, wholesome ingredients are used in the cooking. The ingredients are cooked at a low temperature for a long period of time, thus they become extremely tender and delicious. As there is little evaporation, the food will not dry out. The natural juices from the meats and vegetables are retained in the pot, thus, the cooked food are nutritious as well as tasty. Hence, if you are looking for healthy food, using the slow cooker to cook your meals is a way to attain it.

Although using the gas stove, electric burner or grill are fast and efficient methods to do cooking, these methods require attention and supervision. For example, if a piece of meat is left unattended on a hot grill, it will become charred. If stirring is not done regularly while simmering tomato sauce in a pot, sticking and burning will occur at the bottom of the pot. Similarly, if a tray of butter cookies is placed in a heated oven, the cookies will blacken if they are not removed on time. Hence, we see that although these methods are fast but they require monitoring and the food items need to be stirred, flipped or turned. The advantage of the slow cooker is that it is able to do the cooking without any human intervention. The cooker takes the heat and indirectly applies it to the food so that the food cooked slowly and evenly. As the slow cooker uses low heat, the food is not burned without stirring.
Due to the fact that slow cookers are safe, easy to use, and require no attention while cooking, people who use it save much time and effort in cooking their meals. Nowadays, many working adults avoid cooking because they are either too tired after a long day of work, or they have no time to do so. The slow cooker provides them with the convenience of being able to work and still can enjoy eating home-cooked food without having to spend time in the cooking process. In the morning before leaving for work, they can easily place all the food ingredients in the slow cooker and set it on low. By the time they come back from work in the evening, a tasty, nutritious, home-cooked dish will be ready for them. They can choose to add a salad or whole-grain bread to the dish and it will form a complete meal. Thus, by using the slow cooker, people can spend their time at work, in school or anywhere enjoying some recreation, and still have the opportunity to eat nutritious food.


                               

During hot weather, when using the stove and oven for cooking may increase the heat in the surroundings, the slow cooker provides a good alternative. Furthermore, the slow cooker is an economical appliance to use for cooking. It uses as little electricity as a 75-watt light bulb and substantially less energy as compared to an electric oven.
As you can see from the above, crock pot cooking has many benefits. If you wish to enjoy fully the advantages of slow cooker cooking, it is best to equip yourself with a book of slow cooker recipes. It can provide you with a great variety of ideas so that you can prepare delicious and sumptuous meals everyday.

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Moroccan Beetroot Salad Recipe