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Dark Chocolate During Pregnancy May Prevent Preeclampsia
2008-05-10 11:36:00
A new study has found that eating dark chocolate during pregnancy may prevent preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening complication. Women who ate five or more servings of chocolate each week in their third trimester of pregnancy were 40 percent less likely to develop preeclampsia than those who ate chocolate less than once a week. Researchers believe this is due to the theobromine content in chocolate. Theobromine is a chemical in chocolate that dilates blood vessels, reduces blood pressure, and prevents hardening of the arteries. "Our results raise the possibility that chocolate consumption by pregnant women may reduce the occurrence of preeclampsia," they write. "Because of the importance of preeclampsia as a major complication of pregnancy, replication of these results in other large prospective studies with a detailed assessment of chocolate consumption is warranted." Related Content Spicy Food and Pregnancy 50 Quotes About Chocolate

Spicy Grilled Shrimp Marinade Recipe
2008-05-10 01:05:00
This is an easy spicy garlic marinade that's is easy to make and makes grilled shrimp taste divine. Ingredients 1/4 c. olive oil 1 t. lime juice 1 tsp. garlic powder 2 tsp. fresh or dried parsley 2 tsp. fresh or dried basil 1 T. hot sauce of your choice 1 t. crushed red chili peppers Directions Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Add peeled, deveined shrimp and make sure they're completely covered by the mixture. Marinate for 30 minutes before putting on the grill. Related Content Wild American Shrimp vs. Farmed Shrimp
More About: Seafood

How to Make Cinnamon Toothpicks Using Cinnamon Oil
2008-05-09 04:43:00
Cinnamon toothpicks are popular for people who are dieting or trying to quit smoking. They also make great sugar free breath fresheners . Given the many health benefits of cinnamon, sucking on cinnamon toothpicks might be one habit that's healthy to pick up. You can buy them but it's easy to make your own, so why not? To make your own cinnamon toothpicks, you only need three things: cinnamon oil, toothpicks, and a small Mason jar or other glass jar with a lid. Cinnamon bark oil is sold in drugstores and health food stores. Sometimes you have to ask for it in drugstores because they keep it behind the counter. Pour an ounce or two of cinnamon oil into a glass jar, place the toothpicks in, and put on the lid. It's important to use a lid because that will keep the cinnamon oil fresh and you will be able to reuse it over and over. Soak them overnight. The longer you let them soak, the hotter they'll be. Overnight is usually enough to give them just the right amount of ...
More About: Cinnamon , Make , Toothpicks

25 Facts About Bananas
2008-05-08 05:25:00
Here are 25 facts about one of the world's most popular fruits: The banana "tree" is not really a tree, but a giant herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb. The cluster of bananas sold in supermarkets is a "hand" of bananas, while the individual bananas on the hand are called fingers. The strings that go up and down the length of bananas are called Phloem Bundles. They help distribute nutrients to every part of the growing bananas. The yellow bananas that are most often sold in supermarkets are sometimes called "dessert bananas" because they are soft and sweet. Plantains are a type of banana that are not as sweet and are usually cooked. While not as commonly eaten in North America, plantains are a dietary staple in many tropical regions. It is believed by many experts that bananas were the first fruit cultivated by humans. Alexander the Great first came across bananas in India in 327 B.C. Bananas were introduced to the United States at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial...

How to Crack a Coconut Open without Cracking Up
2008-05-07 23:20:00
If you've ever tried to open a coconut, you know it can be difficult. There are tricks to cracking a coconut without doing bodily harm to yourself or anyone else. I think video is better than words in this case and the video below is a great demonstration of how to crack a coconut while still retaining the coconut water. The video also has some great information about coconuts and tips on getting the coconut meat out once you've cracked it open. And if anyone thinks coconut will make you fat, I think the star of the video, who says he eats coconut every day, is evidence to the contrary.
More About: Coconut , Crack , Cracking

Calories in Mexican Food
2008-05-06 04:01:00
Maybe you're going out for Mexican food tonight in honor of Cinco de Mayo, or maybe you've just come home from a Cinco de Mayo celebration and you're wondering how many calories you've just consumed. Some Mexican dishes have more calories than you could possibly imagine while others are relatively low calorie. Often, it's the cheese and sour cream that does the most dietary damage. Fast food or "Fresh Mex" Mexican is often the worst offender, while authentic Mexican restaurants that make traditional Mexican food with less cheese are often lower in calories and saturated fat. In 2003, the Center for Science in the Public Interest sent several dishes from Chipotle Mexican Grill to an independent lab for testing since the company wouldn't publish fat or calorie info themselves. They found that some of the burritos, such as the Vegetarian Burrito at 1,300 calories, had more fat and calories than a Quarter Pounder with fries and a Coke. They also looked at Baja Fresh: Its c...
More About: Food , Calories

Dairy Free Banana Bread Recipe
2008-05-06 03:32:00
This dairy free banana bread recipe is based on my moist banana bread recipe. It simply replaces real butter with Earth Balance vegan "butter". There's absolutely no difference in taste between the dairy and non dairy versions. The two cups of mashed bananas make this a very moist banana bread. Ingredients 2 c. overripe bananas, mashed 1/2 c. Earth Balance vegan "butter" 1 1/2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour 2 eggs, beaten 1 c. sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 t. salt Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon. Add beaten eggs and mix them in. Add vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Add mashed bananas and flour and mix everything well. There may be a few small banana lumps but that's okay. If you prefer a perfectly smooth batter you can use a mixer. Pour mixture into a loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 90 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. It's a good idea to start checking for doneness at about 60...
More About: Recipe , Banana , Free , Bread , Dairy

Moist Banana Bread Recipe
2008-05-06 03:21:00
This is the banana bread recipe that I'll be using as the basis for my healthy banana bread experiments. It's a very moist bread thanks to the two cups of mashed bananas it contains. It's also pretty easy to make. In the coming days I'll be posting variations on this basic banana bread recipe to accommodate different dietary restrictions: dairy free, vegan, gluten free, sugar free, etc. This is the recipe I used before I stopped eating dairy products. Nowadays I make a dairy free version, which I'll be posting shortly. Ingredients 2 c. overripe bananas, mashed 1/2 c. butter 1 1/2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour 2 eggs, beaten 1 c. sugar 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 t. salt Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together with a wooden spoon. Add beaten eggs and mix them in. Add vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Add mashed bananas and flour and mix everything well. There may be a few small banana lumps but that's okay. If you prefe...
More About: Recipe , Banana , Bread

Wild American Shrimp vs. Farmed Shrimp
2008-05-04 11:32:00
Shrimp are one of the healthiest, low calorie foods you can eat, provided they aren't battered and fried. The trouble is that imported farmed shrimp are toxic and the farming methods used are bad for the environment. Shrimp farming in Asia and Latin America is destroying mangrove forests and, in turn, coastal villages. And because disease is rampant in shrimp farms, farmed shrimp are pumped full of antibiotics and pesticides. Imported wild shrimp are also a problem because of bycatch. For every pound of wild shrimp caught, several pounds of other animals such as turtles die needlessly in the trawler nets. If you're going to make shrimp a part of your diet it's best to avoid shrimp imported from Asia and Latin America altogether. Wild American shrimp are the best choice for your health and the environment. American shrimp fishermen are required by law to reduce bycatch. For instance, they are required to use Turtle Exclusion Devices to stop turtles from being caught in ...
More About: Seafood , Shrimp

Spicy Food and Pregnancy
2008-05-04 08:39:00
A lot of women wonder if it's safe to eat spicy food during pregnancy. Fortunately for women who love spicy food, it is a myth that it must be avoided by expectant mothers. In countries like India and Thailand, where spicy food is part of the culture, women do not change their diets drastically when they become pregnant. They continue to eat spicy foods with no detrimental effect to the developing fetus. According to experts, the only reason for pregnant women to avoid spicy foods is if it gives them digestive discomfort or heartburn. The important thing to remember is to eat a variety of foods during pregnancy and to make sure you get all the nutrients necessary for your growing baby. Related Content Cayenne Pepper Tea Dorset Naga Pepper Bhut Jolokia Peppers Scoville Heat Units Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper Where to Buy Naga Jolokia Peppers or Seeds
More About: Food , Pregnancy , Spicy

Cream Cheese Salsa Dip Recipe - Dairy Free and Vegan
2008-05-04 06:47:00
Cream cheese salsa dip is a favorite of many and one of the easiest dips to make. If you have company coming at the last minute, this dip is a lifesaver. So of course the first thing I made when I bought the Playfood vegan cream cheese was a cream cheese salsa dip. It came out great and tastes just like the real thing. Even if you're not a vegan, this dip is a great alternative if you want to save on fat and calories. Ingredients 1 8 oz. tub Playfood vegan cream cheese (or cream cheese of your choice) 1 c. your favorite salsa 1 T. fresh cilantro, chopped (optional) Directions Mix cream cheese, salsa, and cilantro together in a bowl. Refrigerate for an hour. Before serving, sprinkle with some chopped cilantro. Related Content Playfood Vegan Cheese Easy Guacamole Dip
More About: Recipe , Free , Salsa

Cayenne Pepper Tea
2008-05-04 02:02:00
Almost every morning, I have cayenne pepper tea with lemon. Sometimes I also add blackstrap molasses. I use 90,000 hu cayenne (hu stands for "heat units" on the Scoville scale) because the hotter the cayenne, the more health benefits there are. I also just love spicy things. Drinking this tea first thing in the morning gives me an energy boost, clears my sinuses, and jump starts my metabolism for the day. I gives me me more energy if I drink it before a workout. Cayenne pepper tea can also help the heart, treat ulcers, and according to some people, fight cancer. I'll be writing about the benefits of cayenne to treat various conditions in separate posts. To make the tea, put a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a mug, add hot water, add lemon, and stir. I buy 90,000 hu cayenne in bulk at my local health food store. You can also order it online. However, you might want to start with "regular" cayenne, which is usually about 30,000 heat units, and build up a tolerance befor...
More About: Pepper , Cayenne Pepper

Asparagus and Urine Odor - What Causes It
2008-05-03 23:59:00
Does asparagus make your urine smell funny? If so, you're among sbout 50% of the population that notices an odor in their urine after eating asparagus. Marcel Proust wrote about the situation in Swann's Way: ... the precious essence that I recognized again when, all night long following a dinner at which i had eaten them, they played, in farces as crude and poetic as a fairy play by Shakespeare, at changing my chamber pot into a jar of perfume. This change in your chamber pot is caused by a certain sulfur compound in asparagus called mercaptan that imparts a strange odor to the urine. It's the same compound that gives skunks their offensive odor. Nobody's really sure why only half the world's urine takes on this skunky odor after eating asparagus, but there are theories. One theory is that only half the population has the gene that enables the body to break down mercaptan. Another theory is that everyone's urine smells after eating asparagus, but only half the popul...
More About: Asparagus , Urine

How to Freeze Asparagus
2008-05-03 10:53:00
It's asparagus season and time to make this wonderful vegetable part of your diet. But what if you buy too much and want to freeze it? Or what if your local store has a sale on asparagus and you want to buy a lot and freeze it to use all summer? First, wash the selected spears. Remove the scales from the stalks with a knife and cut off any tough ends. Cut into lengths to fit your container. Next you'll want to blanch the asparagus in boiling water for different lengths of time depending on the size of the spears. Small spears need to be blanched for about 2 minutes, medium spears for 3 minutes, and large spears for 4 minutes. Take out of the water immediately and cool by placing in ice water. Once they are cool, drain and dry the spears well. Place into freezer bags or other airtight freezer containers. A good way to place them in the container is by alternating tips and stems as you lay them on top of each other. Related Content How to Freeze Strawberries How to...
More About: Asparagus

Healthy Banana Bread Recipes Month
2008-05-03 09:53:00
During the month of May I'll be making a variety of different healthy banana bread recipes using different ingredients and substitutions to see just how healthy banana bread can be made. Banana bread is one of the most popular comfort foods in the world and I thought it would be the perfect way to test out different ingredient substitutes. Starting with a basic, traditional banana bread, I'll go from there to create different versions. I'm even planning to make a vegan recipe using chia gel as a substitute for eggs. I'll be doing different types of banana bread, such as blueberry banana bread, strawberry banana bread, banana chocolate chip bread, and more. I'll be doing taste tests on friends and family by giving them several different banana breads to taste and not telling them which ones are which. Will they be able to tell the difference between the chia gel version over the real egg version? It'll be interesting to find out! I'm even going to try and make a raw...
More About: Recipes , Bread , Healthy , Month

Playfood Vegan Cheese - It's No Play Food
2008-05-03 04:29:00
Playfood is a new brand of vegan cheese made from raw cashews. It is dairy free, soy free, and gluten free and comes in four flavors - Cheezy Cheese (cheddar), Nacheezmo (spicy southwestern nacho), Whip Cheese (cream cheese) and Cream Tang (sour cream). Playfood is owned by former Home Improvement star Taran Noah Smith (he played Mark on the show), who began the company with his now-ex wife, raw vegan chef Heidi VanPelt. I've been following the development of Playfood for a while. Given that there was feuding between the two creators and a battle over ownership of the company, I didn't know if it would ever come to a store near me. Thankfully, the product is now on the market, though it is still in limited distribution. I found it at my local health food store though not at Whole Food s, so hopefully it will start popping up in more stores soon. The cheese is great and appeals not just to vegans but to anyone wanting a good-tasting cheese alternative. They are the best-...
More About: Play , Vegan

Spicy Food Addiction Caused by Endorphins
2008-05-02 07:44:00
People like myself who love spicy food may love it in part because it releases endorphins in the body. When capsaicin, the element of chili peppers that cause the "spicy" sensation, comes into contact with the tongue, the body is tricked into believing that it is in pain and releases the pain-relieving endorphins. This explains why, like anything that releases endorphins, spicy food can become somewhat addictive. People may crave it and build tolerance levels so that, say, the 30,000 HU cayenne that once seemed very spicy starts to seem quite mild. There's no reason to worry about this spicy food addiction, though. You'll never have physical withdrawal symptoms, destroy your life because of them, or need chili peppers just to feel good. It's benign addiction and given the many health benefits of spicy food, a healthy one. Related Content Dorset Naga Pepper Bhut Jolokia Peppers Scoville Heat Units Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper Where to Buy Naga Jolokia Peppers or S...
More About: Food , Addiction , Spicy

Stan Sesser Eating a Bhut Jolokia Pepper
2008-04-30 04:25:00
I laughed until I cried at this video of Wall Street Journal reporter Stan Sesser trying a Bhut Jolokia pepper for the first time. At first he's very calm and is talking about the sweetness and flavor of the pepper. And then ... "it's like a ball of flame is wrapping itself around my tongue." It's fantastic!
More About: Pepper , Eating

Where to Buy Naga Jolokia Peppers or Seeds
2008-04-30 02:36:00
So perhaps you're like me and you want to try Naga Jolokia peppers (also known as Bhut Jolokia), the pepper currently ranked as the hottest chili pepper in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records. While it's extremely difficult to find fresh Naga Jolokia peppers in the U.S. and they are very perishable, you can order dried Naga Jolokia online or order seeds and grow your own. The Chili Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University sells Bhut Jolokia seeds to the public. There's also a company in the UK called The Chili Seed Company that ships worldwide and sells a variety of seeds and hot sauces. They even sell Bhut Jolokia Chocolates. I checked eBay and found a few people selling Naga Jolokia seeds and plants. There are also several hot sauces on the market made from Naga Jolokia with names like Hell's Inferno and Lethal Ingestion. Consume at your own risk! Related Content Naga Jolokia or Bhut Jolokia Peppers Dorset Naga Pepper Scoville Heat Units ...
More About: Seeds

Dorset Naga Pepper
2008-04-30 01:33:00
The Dorset Naga pepper is a cultivar grown in Dorset, England that is believed to be related to the Naga Jolokia pepper. Some claim it is even hotter than the Naga Jolokia or Bhut Jolokia, which holds the current Guinness Book of World records title of hottest pepper in the world. It's difficult to determine which one is hotter because the results of testing on the Scoville scale depend on different things such as the soil the peppers were grown in and the testing method used. The Dorset Naga has scored in a range between 900,000 and 1,600,000 HU. The people responsible for brining this new cultivar to the world are Michael and Joy Michaud, owners of Pepper s by Post, a mail order pepper company based in West Dorset. They developed it over several years using a selection process from varying seeds of the Naga Morich, a Bangladeshi pepper that is popular in Britain among the Bangladeshi population. The Dorset Naga is a small, red, wedge-shaped pepper much like the Naga Jolok...

Naga Jolokia or Bhut Jolokia Peppers
2008-04-29 23:56:00
Earlier today I wrote about the Scoville scale, the rating system for the hotness of chili peppers. I mentioned Naga Jolokia, the world's hottest chili pepper. Here's are some facts about the Naga Jolokia: This pepper, also known as Bhut Jolokia, rates over 1,000,000 on the Scoville scale. It grows in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Bhut Jolokia means "ghost chili," bhut meaning "ghost" and jolokia meaning "chili pepper" in the Assam state of India. In 2006, The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed it as the world's hottest chili pepper. Eating just a small bite of a Naga Jolokia can cause pain and burning in the mouth for 30 minutes. Eating a whole one - well, it might just turn you into a ghost or at least give you a near death experience. The AP published an article last year about the "ghost chili." Here's a snippet: The smallest morsels can flavor a sauce so intensely it?s barely edible. Eating a raw sliver causes watering eyes and a runny nose. An enti...
More About: Peppers

Scoville Heat Units - Chili Pepper Rating Scale
2008-04-29 13:37:00
All chili peppers are rated on something called the Scoville scale, a rating system for the hotness of peppers. The number of Scoville heat units (SHU) a pepper has depends on the amount of capsaicin it contains. American chemist Wilbur Scoville created this method for testing chili peppers, originally called The Scoville Organoleptic Test, in 1912. Red bell pepper ranks the lowest on the Scoville scale, coming in at 0 HU. The next lowest are pimentos and pepperoncini, which rank between 100 and 500 HU. Most cayenne pepper ranks between 30,000 and 50,000 HU but it can also be purchased at 90,000 HU and higher. The Tabasco chili, used to make Tabasco sauce, also ranks between 30,000 and 50,000 HU. Habanero chilis range between 100,000 and 300,000 HU. The Naga Jolokia or Bhut Joloki, an Indian chili pepper which is ranked by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's hottest chili pepper, comes in at over 1,000,000 HU. Think you could handle that kind o...
More About: Heat , Pepper , Chili , Units , Scale

How to Freeze Blueberries
2008-04-29 12:18:00
Freezing blueberries is a great way to always have fresh blueberries on hand. I use frozen blueberries most often in smoothies and fruit sorbets. First wash them well and pat them dry. Discard any bad ones. Place blueberries on a cookie sheet with a lip in a single layer and freeze for 24 hours. The reason for this is so they won't freeze together in a giant blueberry clump. After about 24 hours, move them to plastic freezer bags or an airtight container and keep frozen until ready for use. Related Content How to Freeze Strawberries How to Freeze Bananas
More About: Berries

Raw Nut and Seed Cheese
2008-04-29 06:30:00
In the raw food community, raw nut and seed cheese is a staple. Nut cheese is a non-dairy cheese made from raw nuts while seed cheese is made from raw seeds. Commonly used nuts include cashews, pine nuts, macadamia nuts, and almonds, while sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are often used to make seed cheese. These cheeses are a great alternative to real cheese and can be used on vegan nachos, pizzas, and many other dishes. It might sound strange, but nut and seed cheese tastes delicious if made right and is a godsend for people who can't eat dairy products. I'll be posting some recipes for seed and nut cheeses in the coming days. If you have a good recipe, feel free to send it my way and I'll post it with a link back to your blog or site. Related Content 10 Health Benefits of Pumpkin Seed s 10 Health Benefits of Almonds
More About: Cheese , Legumes , Nuts , Seeds

First Cold Pressed and Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2008-04-29 04:57:00
If you want to buy the best olive oil, look for organic extra virgin oil that is labeled "cold pressed" or, even better, "first cold pressed." Cold pressed means that the oil was not heated over a certain temperature (usually 80 degrees Fahrenheit) during processing, thus retaining more nutrients and undergoing less degradation. First cold pressed, which is of even higher quality than cold pressed, means that the oil was made with the first pressing of the olives. It's important to be careful when purchasing olive oil produced in the United States. The standards in the European Union are very strict on which oils can be labeled cold pressed or first cold pressed. The United States has no labeling regulations on olive oil, which means that any oil produced in the U.S. can be labeled "cold pressed" even if it's not, just like any oil can be labeled "extra virgin" even if it's not. The only olive oil produced in the U.S. that I recommend is Bariani. It is made in Califor...
More About: Olive Oil , Virgin , Extra , Olive

Fear of Bananas - Bananaphobia
2008-04-29 04:17:00
Even though bananas are the third most popular fruit in the world, there are some who are afraid of them. Fear of bananas is called bananaphobia and it is more common than you might think. Just search Google for "fear of bananas" and you'll see what I mean. People with bananaphobia are often repulsed by the sight of bananas, cannot stand the texture or smell of bananas, and cannot be in the same room with bananas. Bananas literally drive them bananas. If you are afraid of bananas, don't tell anyone because people will mercilessly tease you to the end of your days. People just can't help thinking that a fear of bananas is hilarious. One Kent State student, who says bananas "scare the hell" out of him, learned that the hard way.

How to Pronounce Gnocchi
2008-04-26 04:36:00
Gnocchi is one of my favorite Italian dishes. Like bruschetta, it's an Italian food word that people have some trouble with. Never fear, the Italian pronunciation police are here. The "gno" makes a "nyo" sound with a silent "g". The "cch" is pronounced as a hard "k". The "i" is an "ee" sound as in "tree". "nyo kee" Gnocchi is the plural form of the word. The singular is "gnocco." So you might order a plate of gnocchi and savor each delicious gnocco on that plate. Now go forth and order gnocchi at your favorite Italian restaurant with confidence! Related Content How to Pronounce Bruschetta
More About: How To , Gnocchi

How to Ripen an Avocado
2008-04-26 03:47:00
Ripening an avocado can be done in the same way that you ripen bananas. Place the avocado in a paper bag with an apple, banana, or tomato. Fold the bag closed and leave it to sit on the counter overnight. The ethylene gas in the other fruit will cause the avocado to ripen in about 24 hours. If you don't have other fruit to put in the bag with the avocado, you can put it in the bag by itself and it will ripen, but not as fast as if you'd put the fruits in with it. Another method for ripening avocados is to bury them in a sack of flour overnight or place them in a paper bag with some flour. I haven't tried this method but many people swear by it. Happy avocado eating! Related Content 10 Health Benefits of Avocados 20 Facts About Avocados How to Ripen Bananas Quickly

Whole Foods or Whole Paycheck?
2008-04-26 02:21:00
A lot of people jokingly refer to Whole Foods Market as Whole Paycheck because it's so easy to spend a lot of money there. I admit to having spent too much money there in the past. It's so easy because Whole Foods is like Disneyland for health food junkies. There are so many pretty packages of things without high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, pesticides, and dyes that it's hard to resist the temptation to buy. Over time, I've figured out which products I can buy at a "regular" grocery store and which foods I can only find at Whole Paycheck. I also frequent a smaller health food store chain in my area called Lassen's, but they often have moldy food on the shelves and the prices are generally higher than Whole Foods. I buy a lot of my produce at a local organic farmstand that has wonderful, freshly picked organic fruit and vegetables. There are also plenty of farmer's markets in my area. Some supermarkets in the area like Vons and Ralphs are now carrying a lot...

How to Ripen Bananas Quickly
2008-04-25 09:05:00
Need a ripe banana but all you have are green ones? Here's how to ripen them quickly: Place bananas in a paper bag with an apple or a tomato. Fold the bag closed. The ethylene gas in the apple or tomato will cause the bananas to ripen in about 24 hours.