Cooking Healthy Foods

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Coconut Oil Benefits for a Good Life



Coconut oil seems to be growing in overall popularity every single day.  With more and more people finally understanding the various coconut oil benefits, millions of people have been using it for cooking, baking and medicinal purposes.  Coconut oil benefits your body internally, but it is also surprisingly effective for helping your body externally as well. 

Many people use it coconut oil for the treatment of their hair and scalp, helping to enhance the way that a person looks and feels about themselves.  The mixture of antioxidants that flow throughout the coconut oil help to strengthen a person’s immunity system and allows this oil to function as a powerhouse of antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial agents.  The list of coconut oil benefits can go on and on for hours, but reviewing the key benefits will open your eyes to why you should consider using it more. 

Medical & Weight Loss Benefits

As already stated, coconut oil is particularly popular for its health benefits.  It is traditionally used in Indian culture as a primary medicine, helping to cure such things as exhaustion, fatigue and relief for headaches.  Studies have confirmed that coconut oil has also helped in healing herpes and influenza while keeping a person’s thyroid hormones balanced.

Coconut oil is also great at improving a person’s metabolic rate, allowing a person’s body to quickly convert body fat into energy.  This means that coconut oil benefits you by boosting your energy level and reducing your accumulated body fat, which results in an effective way for you to lose weight.  Since the oil is easy to digest, it also assists your body greatly in maintaining your healthy weight. 

Skin, Hair & Dental Benefits

A large number of people use coconut oil as hair conditioner. In fact, coconut oil is known to moisturize the scalp and help make your roots strong. Mixing neem or other traditional leaves along with coconut oil and applying it before taking a bath results in dandruff free scalp. This also removes any lice and eggs of lice besides making the scalp strong and reduces hair fall. Hair needs daily maintenance and coconut oil has all the right properties to keep it in the best condition.

Your skin truly looks radiant and full of life when it is moisturized. If you or anyone you know are facing skin related problems (such as wrinkles or dry skin), then coconut oil is the perfect remedy. Coconut oil benefits further by relaxing your muscles, decreasing the possibility of skin related diseases caused by stress of pollution. Calcium is one of the most important elements present in your teeth. Coconut oil helps in absorption of calcium by the human body and thereby helps in strengthening your teeth. 

An Abundance of Benefits for You

There is an overabundance of coconut oil benefits that you can experience by using it in your life and for your family.  Through its wide range of healing properties and high nutritional value, coconut oil truly is one of the healthiest oils known to mankind. 

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Holiday Baking: Cooking with Coconut Flour




Holiday baking is a time when families come together and reminisce over a table of delicious food. In the mist of all the goodies, families often times look for ways to improve food without altering the flavors. This is where substitutions come in. Cooking with coconut flour is an easy and healthy way to provide a healthier version of some of the most decadent baked goods. The benefits are both tasty and beneficial to your health. Whether you are trying new recipes or sticking with ones that have been in your family for decades, this product will not disappoint.

Coconut flour is grounded dried coconut; a result that occurs after extracting the coconut oil. Cooking with coconut flour provides low carbohydrates, high fiber, and gluten free health benefits. When using coconut flour in holiday baking, it is important to keep in mind that most recipes that coconut flour is used in, also requires the use of eggs and water proportionate to the amount of flour. The water keeps baked goods moist and the eggs allow baked goods to rise while baking. The coconut flour does not possess gluten, which is what allows baked goods to bind together; therefore the eggs take the place and help bind the ingredients.

 This gluten free alternative is a life saver for those sensitive to the gluten protein. Individuals can have all their favorite deserts with no negative effects. Even with the absence of the gluten, coconut flour still contains a higher amount of protein than its flour competitors.  Cooking with coconut flour also makes any baked good dense and highly filling! This can account for portion control during the often times hectic holiday seasons. It takes the guilt out of holiday baking! Many professional cooks are taking part in adding coconut flour to their most popular recipes.

Cooking with coconut flour can be highly economical. The flour increases the yield of baked goods to roughly 50% dough weight. This means you get more food than with other leading brand flours! Since holiday baking can be costly so this can be a life saver! Another bonus is the natural sweet taste coconut flour has. It can be put into almost anything that requires a sweet taste without the high amount of sugar. Its potential to be used as a nutritional alternative proves useful in any kitchen. A healthy and money saving alternative to almost any baking or meal need

Holiday baking is a special time; a time to make memories and try out new recipes and revisit old ones. Cooking with coconut flour provides a healthier and tastier alternative to traditional baked goods. Turn an ordinary cake into a fabulous one. The flour gives everything just a hint of coconut flavor giving whatever you decide to bake a new taste that everyone will love. The uses of this product are limitless and you will find yourself reaching for it every day. Fulfill your needs by replacing the plain regular flour, with flour that gives everything it touches a little taste of heaven.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Healthy Butternut Squash


The amazing butternut squash is a type of winter squash, although it grows in late summer. Butternut squash is durable with a tough outer skin that is yellow in color. The inside of the butternut squash is a deep orange color similar to the color of a pumpkin. When preparing butternut squash, many people will heat them in the microwave in order to make them easy to peel. Calories in butternut squash depend on the portion of a serving.

  • Butternut Squash – 82 calories, or (250.0g) per 1 cup serving. Butternut squash is a low calorie dish served alone.
  • Butternut Squash – 66 calories, per ¾ cup serving. Butternut Squash offers a vitamin rich food choice for those who wish to maintain a healthy diet.
  • Butternut Squash, sweetened with 1 teaspoon of brown sugar- 93 calories per 1 cup serving, or 78 calories per ¾ cup serving.

Nutrition Facts
Calories in Butternut Squash, offer added energy to those who wish to maintain a healthy diet. Butternut squash is rich in vitamins and minerals as well. Butternut squash contains vitamins A, C. E, and B-6. Butternut squash contains minerals that include calcium, iron and potassium for added health benefits. Butternut Squash also contains protein.

How Many Calories in Strawberries?


Strawberries are a very vibrant, aromatic delicate fruit with a juicy, sweet flavor. They can be eaten as a fresh dish or in prepared foods like jams, juices, pies, ice creams or used as garnishes. 
In one cup, or 152 grams, there are 49 calories in strawberries (fresh). Calories vary depending on how strawberries are prepared. 
In one cup, or 221 grams, there are 77 calories in strawberries (frozen).  They are an excellent source of vitamin C and flavonoids. 
Strawberries have ranked among the top 50 best antioxidant foods. They rank 3rd out of all U.S. foods, 4th out of all fruits, consumed. June Bearing, Everbearing and Day Neutral are the three types of strawberries.

Health Benefits and Nutritional Facts of Strawberries
Strawberries are rich in fiber, aiding in digestion, as well as lowering blood pressure and curbing increased appetite. The phenols contained in strawberries help fight against inflammatory diseases like osteoarthritis, asthma and atherosclerosis much like aspirin and ibuprofen. A particular phenol, anthocyanin, is a useful antioxidant to the body by increasing the uric acid levels. Strawberries are a tasteful protection against potentially dangerous cancer cells because they contain vitamin C, folate and flavonoids. Vitamin C in strawberries also helps lower blood pressure, boosts the immune system and fights off diseases of the eyes. Potassium, vitamin K and magnesium promote healthy bone building and proper bone structure.