Quinoa Health Benefits and Recipe

What is Quinoa ?

Quinoa is a grain like seed with awesome health benefits. It has been grown in South American countries for centuries and was adopted by the Inca Tribes as part of their main diet.

Why is it good for you?

It is loaded with protein and essential amino acids. It is said to be one of the most complete forms of a protein source from plant foods. Along with amino acids, it is loaded with B vitamins, calcium, and iron.

Quinoa is an excellent addition to any healthy diet.

Quinoa Recipe: Spicy Quinoa

Ingrediants

1 tbsp olive oil

1 small onion chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

3/4 cup quinoa

1 1/2 tsp curry powde

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cup chicken stock

1 (14 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup raisins, soaked in hot water and drained

Directions:

1) Stir together the olive oil, onion, and garlic in a saucepan over medium heat until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the quinoa, curry powder, salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes until the quinoa is tender.

2) Once the quinoa has finished cooking, stir in the drained garbanzo beans, and raisins. Serve warm or cold.

Enjoy!

Please let us know what you think in the comments.

The Truth About Olive Oil

This article stemmed from a recent argument about what is better for cooking: regular olive oil or extra virgin olive oil?

Lets start with some general information about olive oil:

Fruit or Vegetable?

  • Fruit

How is olive oil produced?

  • Unlike other cooking oils like vegetable oil, that are industrially processed and refined for their oil, olive oil is basically squeezed (loosely termed) from the fruit of the olive tree (the olive itself). This means that the olive oil is not only healthier, but it is maintaining all of its antioxidants and other healthy components. Vegetable oils that are processed and refined are not only unhealthy, but lose many of their nutrients and flavor in the refining process.

What is the difference when it comes to the choices of olive oil?

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This is the best! It has the best taste, aroma, and color.
  • Regular Olive Oil: This is actually a refined version of olive oil with a small blend of virgin olive oil for taste and flavor.
  • Light Olive Oil: This is actually not a reduced fat version of olive oil. It has the same fat content of other olive oil, but with a lighter taste and aroma.

Now that you have a little background information on olive oil, let’s find out if it is better to cook with regular olive oil or extra virgin olive oil:

The argument was basically that it’s better to use regular olive oil for cooking because when extra virgin olive oil is heated, it would lose or burn off the nutrients present in the oil. I thought this sounded ridiculous so I decided to dig a bit deeper into the issue. After some thorough research it turns out that this is……. NOT TRUE! The only thing lost in the cooking and heating of olive oil is the esters and alcohols in the oil. This means that the nutritional value stands and the only thing lost is the flavor and aroma of the olive oil. This is why it is common to hear people say that extra virgin olive oil should be saved for a garnish on salads and vegetables.

So in conclusion: Do not worry about the nutritional benefits of your extra virgin olive oil being jeopardized, but be prepared to sacrifice flavor!

Avocado Health Benefits and Recipe

Avocados are almost like a super food. They are loaded with the heart-healthy monosaturated fat, protein, potassium, magnesium, and an assortment of essential vitamins. David Grotto, author of “101 Foods That Could Save Your Life,” says that “They are loaded with plant chemicals such as beta-sisosterol, a phytochemical that has cholesterol-lowering properties and may aid in reducing the size of the prostate gland and fighting prostate cancer too: lutein, a phytochemical that helps fight macular degeneration and inhibits prostate cancer growth; and carotenoids, which help the body absorb fat-soluble nutrients and protect against cancer, eye problems, and heart disease.”

I believe that avocados may be one of the most ignored health foods because of the simple question: How do you eat them and what foods do they compliment? Some of the simple uses of the avocado can be used in salads, sandwiches, and crackers. But I have found a great healthy recipe for avocado dip that I will share:

Ingredients:

1 large ripe avocado.
1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped.
1 green chili, chopped.
2 ½ oz of unflavored fromage frais. (Fromage frais is a creamy soft cheese made with whole or skimmed milk and cream.)
3 tablespoons of fresh coriander leaves.
1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
½ teaspoon of salt.
¼ teaspoon of ground cumin.

Preparation Instructions:

Scoop all of flesh from avocado and add to food processor, along with all ingredients except cumin.

Sprinkle cumin over finished dip and enjoy.

It’s that simple!

Enjoy!

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