Pomegranates are Amazing!

That delectable pomegranate! It just so happens to be one of my favorite fruits to eat. This is a good time to talk about the incredible benefits since it happens to be in season. I simply cannot get into the benefits of this oh so enjoyable fruit without sharing with you that not only is it tasty and healthy but it does make me reminiscent of my childhood days. Actually, if I am to be honest… not just childhood. Well into my 20′s my grandfather knowing my great love for this fruit purchased and peeled these tasty little suckers for me. I’m quite serious. On every single trip back to Greece, when in season there were always several pomegranates awaiting my arrival. My grandfather was kind enough to peel a couple and place them in a bowl in the refrigerator to chill them for me in advance. Yes, I’m quite serious about that also. Actually since we are on the topic of favorite foods and Greece you might be interested to know or at least find it humorous that on every single trip back to Greece my grandfather who was absolutely my favorite person in the world (until my children came along of course) would pick me up at the airport and by the time we arrived at my childhood home the aroma of lamb would permeate the air. Since my favorite meal was roasted lamb with roasted potatoes, Greek salad with lots of feta cheese and Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a loaf of crusty, fresh baked bread. Pomegranates of course were dessert.

That being said, and now that you’re all probably hungry, let’s talk about what this fruit can do for you.

• Do you struggle with joint pain? Eat a pomegranate. It’s true that eating pomegranates regularly can help ease discomfort from joint inflammation such as arthritis. The nutrients in these tiny, juicy seeds help to reduce swelling in the joints and arteries which brings me to our next reason to eat a pomegranate.
• Reduce your risk for heart disease and keep your cardio-vascular system healthy! Yep, countries where pomegranates are widely enjoyed have lower levels of heart related illnesses.
• Keep your mind sharp! If you eat pomegranates and other dark red fruits rich in anti-oxidants you have a much better chance staving off dementia and Alzheimer’s.
• Perhaps what anti-oxidants are most famously praised for (besides their anti-aging properties) is fighting off cancer! Yes, you probably know a diet rich in anti-oxidants has been proven to reduce a person’s risk for most cancers.
• Fiber! In this day and age it seems that most people are not getting enough fiber! I cannot stress enough the importance of making sure that this is not the case for you! The average pomegranate contains almost half of a day’s worth of fiber! Eating enough fiber is not only important for keeping your body functioning properly, but will also help curb your appetite and keep your weight down!

Many people are put off from this fruit because they don’t know how to eat it. Well there are several techniques. Some, bear in mind are messier than others. One way is to cut the fruit in half, immerse in water and gently massage the seeds away from the rind. the water eliminates the staining factor from the peeling process. Strain the seeds and dump the water and voila! You have a bowl full of a tart, tasty snack.  Another slightly messier way is to eat the seeds directly from the fruit one or two at a time, picking the fruit apart as you go. Pomegranate seeds make a great substitute for popcorn or candy when you’re settling in to watch a movie. In addition the whole fruit is a very festive red for the fall and winter months and looks great in a fruit bowl waiting to be eaten.

So regardless of whether the pomegranate is a nostalgic fruit for you or if this will be your first season trying them, make sure to include the pomegranate in your diet.

Another Miracle Spice

I often talk about turmeric and I certainly have blogged about it over the last couple of years.  Something happened recently though that made me want to bring it up again.  About a week and a half ago I spent hours and hours cleaning out my garage, moving furniture around and rearranging the attic.  Needless to say, an extreme amount of physical labor was how I spent my weekend.  Mind you, I love physical labor.  It’s great for working the muscles that we don’t get to at the gym.

I must admit however, although I love physical labor, I have had back surgery.  Therefore, I tend to overdo it sometimes and end up with some back pain.  I realized immediately that I might be in for some significant pain so I increased my daily dosages of turmeric.  I make sure every single day that I take turmeric.  I take it for many reasons, but on Sunday I decided to double my dosage.  I usually combine turmeric with cod liver oil or extra virgin olive oil, and then I eat some healthy fats with it i.e. walnuts, almonds or Brazil nuts.  Well, when I decided to increase the dosages, that meant that I combined half a teaspoon of turmeric with a little bit of oil three times a day.

Well, it is a known fact that turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and a fantastic one at that!  I decided to blog about my experience with turmeric this week because, and believe me when I tell you this; I have absolutely zero back pain!  There are many natural remedies for pain, but boy, oh boy, this is a good one.  Turmeric, which is a spice from India and has been around for centuries, has many beneficial qualities such as:

•  Boosts your immune system against stress
• Maintains a healthy digestive system
• Supports healthy bones and skeletal system
• Supports healthy blood and liver functions
• Maintains normal cholesterol
• Is 5 to 8 times more powerful than vitamin E and vitamin C

As you can see, this miracle spice is extraordinary; I keep tons of it in the house so that I never run out.  One of my most favorite benefits of all is that it maintains great elasticity in the skin, and is, of course, a great anti-aging product.

Hey listen, don’t be afraid of turmeric.  It is quite innocuous.  In fact, feel free to sprinkle it on whatever you wish, cook with it, or just make a paste and swallow as I do.  Oh, and please, if you keep as much of it in the house as I, keep it in the freezer.

Another Miracle Spice… Turmeric!

Since we all love Top 10 lists, allow me to give you the top 10 reasons to incorporate an incredible spice called turmeric into your life.  This 2500 year old miracle spice was first used in India as a dye and, quite extraordinarily, studies are showing that it is far more beneficical than a dye.  Please read on, and for goodness sake, add a little turmeric into your life…

Here are 10 reasons to add turmeric to your diet:

1. It is a natural antibacterial agent, and is useful in disinfecting cuts and burns.

2. When combined with cauliflower, studies have shown it might prevent prostate cancer and stop the growth of existing prostate cancer.

3. Is a natural liver detoxifier.

4. It may prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain.

5. It is a natural anti-inflammatory without the side effects.

6. May aid in fat metabolism and help with weight management.

7. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is a natural treatment for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

8. Promising studies are underway on the effects of turmeric on pancreatic cancer.

9. Studies have shown that it might stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors.

10. It can speed up wound healing and assists in the repair of damaged skin.

Spinach… It Does A Body Good.

Spinach is one of those remarkable foods that we just can’t get enough of.  In fact, we have made sure that it is on our Fit and Fast Menu at least twice next week.  The more you eat spinach, the more wonderful, great things you do to your body.  It’s full of antioxidants, it’s an anti-inflammatory, it’s great for the eyes, and great for blood pressure.  Here’s the thing – for all of you out there who eat iceberg lettuce, stop buying it and replace it with spinach.  And – since I love top 10 lists, the following are the top 10 reasons to make spinach a part of your life.

1. Diet – Just one cup of spinach has almost 20% of the daily requirement of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar, and curbs overeating.
2. Cancer – Flavonoids – which have anti-cancer properties that are abundant in spinach – have been shown to slow down cell division in human stomach and skin cancer cells.  Also, spinach has shown significant protection against the occurrence of prostate cancer.
3. Anti-Inflammatory – Spinach contains unusual amounts of neoxanthin and violaxanthin which have great anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Antioxidants – The vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, manganese, zinc and selenium that is present in spinach all serve as powerful antioxidants that combat the onset of osteoporosis, atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.
5. Blood Pressure – Spinach has been shown to effectively lower blood pressure.
6. Vision – Both antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are especially abundant in spinach and protect the eyes from cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.
7. Immunity – One cup of spinach contains over 337% of the daily requirement of vitamin A that not only protects and strengthens “entry points” into the human body, such as mucous membranes, respiratory, urinary and intestinal tracts, but is also a key component of white blood cells that fight infection.
8. Skin – The high amount of vitamin A in spinach also promotes healthy skin by allowing for proper moisture retention in the epidermis, which can help in fighting psoriasis, acne and even wrinkles.
9. Bones – One cup of boiled spinach provides over 1000% of the daily requirement of vitamin K that can prevent excess activation of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bones), as well as promote the synthesis of osteocalcin, the protein that is essential for maintaining the strength and density of our bones.
10. Brain and Nervous Function – The abundance of vitamin K in spinach contributes greatly to a healthy nervous system and brain function by providing an essential part for the synthesis of sphingolipids, the crucial fat that makes up the myelin sheath around our nerves.

This may not sound tasty but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.  If I don’t feel as if I’ve been eating as much spinach as I should I throw spinach into my fruit smoothie.  It’s a fast and easy way to consume spinach, sure makes the drink green but it still tastes yummy.  Not a fan?  OK, try sautéing it with a little extra virgin olive oil and garlic.  Gotta love it that way!