This Gluten-Free Strawberry-Rhubarb Scones Recipe Puts the Taste of Springtime in Every Bite

Each trip to the farmers’ market marks one of the great joys of spring and summer. The abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables laid out at each stand are just begging to be put into your canvas tote and taken home. Next time you’re at the farmers’ market, pick up the freshest ingredients for strawberry-rhubarb scones scones recipe you won’t soon forget.

“These scones are super delicious,” says wellness and compassion activist Haile Thomas, author of the Living Lively. “It’s the perfect way to honor spring ingredients. I thought, why not work with these two ingredients that are a match made in heaven and make some scones?

Baking with rhubarb and strawberries offers perks in terms of taste as well as nutrition. Of course, strawberries are naturally sweet, which limits the need for added sugar. They’re also full of vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber. Rhubarb is tart, which counterbalances the strawberry’s sweetness. Both strawberries and rhubarb are a good source of gut-healthy fiber.

For this chunky “rhuberry” scones recipe, Thomas uses tahini, unsweetened applesauce, and coconut sugar. The applesauce is used in place of coconut or canola oil and it adds a nice natural sweetness, she says. Tahini’s nuttiness and bitterness pairs really nicely with sweeter ingredients.

Thomas uses a gluten-free flour as the base, but traditional flour works just as well if that’s what you prefer. She uses oat milk for moisture, but any milk or alt-milk works just as well. Letting the dough sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before forming your scones serves to enhance the texture for that perfect balance of fluffy and dense.

Chunky strawberry-rhubarb scones

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/2 cup tahini
3/4 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened oat milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1
1/2 cups Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp lemon zest
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup medium-diced strawberries
1/2 cup diced rhubarb
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
Flaky sea salt to garnish

1. Add the tahini, apple sauce, and coconut sugar into a big bowl and mix together.
2. Then, add in the vanilla extract and oat milk. Whisk together.
3. In another bowl, mix together the gluten-free flour, lemon zest, salt, corn starch, baking soda, and baking powder. Whisk it all together.
4. Add the flour mixture into the tahini-applesauce-coconut sugar mix. Add in the rhubarb and strawberries. Then, add the coconut flakes. Blend it all together.
5. If you have time, let the dough sit in the fridge for 30 minutes.
6. Use an ice cream scoop to make the scone balls, placing them on a baking sheet.
7. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes at 350°F.
8. Sprinkle with sea salt and let cool for 10 minutes before eating.

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Everything You Need To Know About What a ‘Regenerative Meat’ Label Means on Your Food

https://alltophealthtips.blogspot.com/If you’re a meat eater who cares where your food is coming from, there’s a good chance you’ve stood in the grocery store with a package of beef in one hand and your phone in the other, Googling various terms you see splashed across different packaging, like “grass-fed,” “certified humane,” and more. One such term, “regenerative meat,” is becoming more common with brands, including Epic, Country Archer Provisions, and Carnivore Snax. The label definitely comes across as positive, but what does regenerative mean when it comes to meat and why should you care about it, as a consumer?

In general, regenerative meat describes meat products that are sourced from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture, which aims to reverse effects of climate change by rebuilding organic matter in soil and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. But beyond that broad definition, the term regenerative meat is largely shrouded in confusion. That’s because there isn’t one governing body or organization tasked with defining it; the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) currently have no guidelines surrounding the term. So, different grocery stores, farmers, food manufacturers, and nonprofits in the food sustainability space can all qualify what constitutes regenerative meat differently.

To further clear confusion about why regenerative meat is important, consider this your primer on everything you need to know about it. Beef up your ethical shopping knowledge below.

What is regenerative meat?

Across the board, it’s agreed upon that regenerative meat must be organic and grass-fed, says Elizabeth Whitlow, executive director of nonprofit Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA). Organic means the animal was born and raised on certified organic pastures, so there are no chemicals in the grass or in the area that the animal was raised, and none of the feed was sprayed with synthetic pesticides. Grass-fed meat means that the animals ate grass as opposed to feed. But, meat being organic and grass-fed alone doesn’t automatically make meat regenerative. “I know many wonderful grass-fed and organic operations. But regenerative goes further,” Whitlow says.

“I know many wonderful grass-fed and organic operations. But regenerative goes further.” —Elizabeth Whitlow, executive director of nonprofit Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA)

Beyond being grass-fed and organic, requirements for what is needed for meat to certify as regenerative differs among groups and sustainability-focused organizations—like ROA, Kiss the Ground, ReganAG, Regeneration International, the Rodale Institute, and Savory Network, to name a few. Whitlow says that in order for a meat product—or any product, for that matter—to be considered regenerative by the ROA’s standards, for example, it must meet specific criteria connected to three pillars: the environment and soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness (treating workers ethically and fairly).

To obtain an ROA certification, Whitlow says meat purveyors that apply must meet requirements connected to each pillar. Regarding soil health, for example, the purveyor must practice rotational grazing (the practice of containing and moving animals through pasture to improve soil, plant, and animal health), avoid using chemicals (including pesticides), and not use genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to control weeds. (Some conventional farmers use GMO herbicide-tolerant crops in place of tilling the soil.) For animal welfare, the purveyor must ensure the animals are free from fear, discomfort, and distress by providing conditions wherein animals are able to express normal animal behavior (i.e., free range). And for social fairness, the purveyor must ensure all farm workers are paid a living wage and have good working conditions connected to social fairness, like the ability to form long-term commitments with the farm, if desired. These are just a few of their requirements connected to each pillar.

For Hickory Nut Gap Farm CEO and farmer Jamie Ager, though, the meaning of regenerative meat isn’t so much about satisfying those specific points as much as reflecting the word “regenerative” itself. “To regenerate means to replace what’s lost, so generating the soil is really key to this type of agriculture,” he says. His farm in Fairview, North Carolina, practices rotational grazing and using cover crops (to slow erosion, improve soil health, enhance water availability, smother weeds, and help control pests) to build healthy soil.

The benefits of regenerative meat

Farmers, animals, consumers, and the environment alike benefit in myriad ways from the practice of regenerative farming practices. But, implementing such practices certainly requires work and a sense of accountability. Along with brands including Epic, Country Archer Provisions, and Carnivore Snax, Ager partnered with regenerative agriculture leader the Savory Institute to put best practices—like using the aforementioned cover crops and rotational grazing, along with animal welfare and social fairness—into action. “[Part of regenerative meat] is being intentional about the relationships you have with farmers so that it’s a fair transaction,” he says. “The ripple effect of that is that it builds healthier communities.”

Similarly, letting animals graze instead of giving them traditional feed leads to positive trickle-down benefits too. Besides being closer to how animals would live in nature (and therefore more humane) and more nutrient-rich for the animals, research shows that meat has more nutrient value when the animals eat grass instead of conventional feed.

And then, of course, there’s the environment. Contrary to what some may think, farming meat can be done in a way that helps to mitigate climate change. When animals are allowed to graze freely, they help improve the soil structure. Studies show that regenerative farmed cattle helps lower carbon emissions by helping to draw more carbon into the soil than the methane the cattle themselves are producing. In other words, regenerative farmed cattle helps to fight global warming.

Regenerative meat is nothing new

It’s also important to specify that regenerative farming techniques (and many of the practices outlines in ROA’s three pillars to define it) aren’t new. In Indigenous and Native communities, regenerative practices have been the norm since before colonization, regardless of it not having fancy term attached. This is a history lesson Healing Gardens co-founders Abhi Arora and Rishi Kumar teach through their HealingGardens Podcast and as sustainability educators on a regular basis. Both say regenerative agriculture practices are intrinsic to Indigenous farmers’ agricultural practices, which prioritize a relationship with the soil, animals, and people. And it’s not about satisfying a checklist; it’s the natural way of life and how it’s always been done.

“If you look at all the regenerative agriculture practices, these are things that people have been doing around the world for millennia,” Kumar, a small-scale farmer, says. He says that he doesn’t believe the Western agriculture movement has fully grasped that regenerative farming techniques are more about living a value-informed way of life than satisfying criteria to get a certificate. “You see them focusing on specific practices, like, if cover cropping is good or bad. But when you actually talk to Indigenous people and look at what they practice, you know that every farming technique has a place.”

For many farmers in the U.S., particularly Native farmers, farming meat regeneratively is simply how they believe it should be done so they may not go the extra step of getting a certification label. Because of this, Arora and Kumar say finding regenerative meat farmers in your area or brands to support can take a little detective work. Both recommend checking out the farmers or brands online and on social media to learn more about their values.

Ager agrees. “If the values of regenerative agriculture are important to someone, they are going to be sharing it on social media or other places,” he says, adding that most companies are happy to talk to consumers about what they do, so there’s no reason to be shy about reaching out. But when it comes to big brands, he says it’s also important to read with a skeptical eye, as some may be trying to capitalize on consumers’ good ethical intentions. This is when certifications like the ROA truly do come in handy.

By reading this at all, it means you care where your meat is coming from, and that’s already a vastly important step in making a sustainable and ethically minded decision regarding what you’re putting in your grocery cart (and ultimately on your plate). If you want to buy the most ethically sourced, sustainable meat possible, regenerative is the way to go. It’s a win for the farmers, animals, the planet, and yourself.

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Top Four Reasons to Take Swimming Lessons

 

Some or other form of exercise is a must for your body. Be it aerobics or Pilates or yoga or weight training, you are going to feel better once you start working out. But do you what’s that one form of exercise that can never cause boredom? Well, it is none other than learning to swim. Swimming is a great way to have a full-body workout while having loads of fun. Humans are not born with the natural ability to swim unlike some animals, that is why taking swimming lesson in McKinney, TX will make sure that you never fear water and know your way of going with the flow.

Now there are several reasons you must learn swimming lessons and if you have children at home, it would be wise to put them at a good center to take swimming lessons in McKinney, TX. Out of those several reasons, here are the top four reasons as to why learning to swim is a necessary skill these days.

#1 Stay fit

As mentioned earlier, swimming is a full-body workout where you use almost every muscle in your body. This form of exercise builds endurance and strength that in turn helps to fasten your metabolism rate and improves cardiovascular health. Also, for those who have a hot body type, swimming is a soothing and cooling element. One more benefit is that while your body is inside of the water, the workout does not feel strenuous at all, instead, your body feels light. That is why doctors suggest swimming to people who are obese or overweight. For those with leg injuries like a meniscus tear, it is suggested to take a water walk every day to give free momentum to the knee.

#2 Emergency

We all come across various drowning incidents every other day. Therefore, it is necessary to acquire skills to deal with the water. There will be a time when you will be near or inside the water while kayaking or rafting or boating or fishing, in that case, knowing how to save yourself in case of emergency is only possible if you take swimming lessons.

#3 A skill that you will never forget

Just like how you can never forget how to ride a bike or a car once you learn it, swimming is exactly like that. Once you acquire that skill and give it a break for say 10 years and step into the water after this gap, you will be able to swim just like a pro because it is a kind of skill that is going to stay with you for the rest of your life.

#4 Feel the pleasure

There is no other pleasure than knowing how to spend time in the water. That is right! A hot summer in McKinney and throwing those summer blues inside of the pool is going to be a blessing. You can feel the cold water splashing your whole body while you are getting a workout is a great package that you can only get while you swim. And once you take a swimming lesson in McKinney, TX, you will also be able to enjoy other water sports like jet skiing and surfing.

Swimming is undoubtedly a great way to improve physical and mental health and having all the fun at the same time. Make sure that you and your kids get to take a swimming lesson in McKinney, TX so that this skill can be with you for the rest of your life.

The Sneaky Drink You Should Sip To Soothe Your Seasonal Allergies

As soon there’s even a hint of springtime, I start my day with a nasal spray. And while it makes a bit of a difference for my congestion, it does nothing about the general fogginess and exhaustion that accompany my allergies. So I stopped to think: Does coffee help with seasonal allergies? Yes, it does, says immunologist Purvi Parikh, MD—and its benefits go beyond just fighting exhaustion and brain fog.

“Caffeine helps with sleepiness as we all know, but it can also help with congestion,” says Dr. Parikh. “With allergies, you get inflammation and congestion of your blood vessels, and then you get inflammation in your nose, too, because basically your nose is blocked up from the allergic reaction. And the same thing happens in your head. You’re basically feeling the congestion in your sinuses, in your head, and that can make people feel tired and fatigued.”

Caffeine is especially helpful when taken with other allergy medicines, especially the kind that make you drowsy, says Dr. Parikh.

“Most allergy pills are antihistamines that make you sleepy. They help with symptoms, but a side effect of Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, and Xyzal, among others, is drowsiness,” says Dr. Parikh. “Your allergies [can be] causing the fatigue, but then ironically, it could also be the medication you’re taking. And if that’s the case, work with your allergist to find non-drowsy options or topical options, meaning certain nasal sprays, eye drops. Those are a good option if you’re someone who is very sensitive and sleepy from the allergy pills. But the caffeine definitely helps, too.”

Learn more about the benefits of coffee:

The amount of coffee you need to feel the impact on your seasonal allergies depends on your tolerance. As someone who is very sensitive to caffeine, this is music to my ears. “Some people are very sensitive to caffeine. Some people who drink it constantly, are not as sensitive to it,” says Dr. Parikh. “The equivalent of one cup of coffee is plenty for most people.”

Coffee is also full of antioxidants and essential nutrients, like vitamin B5 and manganese. In combination with its anti-inflammatory properties, that’s why it’s a go-to drink for some of the world’s longest-living people.

“The anti-inflammatory effects [are] why they say coffee can help with a lot of other medical problems, too, that are driven by inflammation,” says Dr. Parikh. “There’s some links with coffee preventing dementia and coffee preventing cancers.”

On days when my allergies make me feel particularly foggy, I swap decaffeinated lattes for half-decaf/half-caffeinated cup of coffee. The change definitely improves my focus. Next time you’re depleted by your seasonal allergies, reach for a cup (or an extra cup) of joe.

Here’s how to make boosted coffee, according to an herbalist:

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4 Biggest Smoothie Mistakes Keeping You From Blended Perfection

There’s no “wrong way” to make a smoothie, right? Well, actually it’s a little more complicated than that. According to registered dietitians, a few common mistakes are keeping your smoothie from reaching its full potential.

Smoothie “mistakes” can make a well-intentioned nutrient-rich breakfast or snack into something that’s about as healthy as ice cream. Want to make your smoothie as full of nutrients as possible while being delicious? Keep reading for advice from the experts.

The most common smoothie mistakes (and how to correct them), according from registered dietitians

The mistake: Too much fruit

“Often, people will make smoothies with a lot of fruit, which can create an imbalance with other nutrients,” says Melissa Rifkin, RD. There’s nothing wrong with fruit, but she says you want to make sure there’s other ingredients in there too, including something with protein and healthy fats. Otherwise, your smoothie isn’t going to be nutrient-dense enough to be truly satiating or nutritious.

The fix: Follow the “smoothie formula” of protein + fat + fruit + greens

To correct this mistake, Gillean Barkyoumb, RDN, recommends following this smoothie formula: protein + healthy fats + fruit + greens. You can experiment with the types of each you want to incorporate into your smoothie, but following this structure will ensure it has a good balance of nutrients.

This smoothie tastes like carrot cake in a glass:

The mistake: Not enough protein or healthy fats

One of the biggest mistakes registered dietitian Amy Schwarz, RD, says she sees people making also has to do with an uneven nutrient imbalance—but it isn’t with fruit. “Many people make their smoothies too carb-heavy and not with enough protein or healthy fats,” she says. Carbs digest more quickly than protein and healthy fats, so if your smoothie doesn’t have these nutrients, you’ll likely be hungry not too long after draining your glass.

The fix: Add ingredients with both protein and healthy fats

This is a smoothie mistake with an easy fix. Schwarz says to incorporate ingredients that are high in both protein and healthy fats so it rounds out your smoothie with just one touch. Greek yogurt or a nut butter (almond or peanut) make for a richer texture.

Peanut butter is a delicious smoothie ingredient:

The mistake: Disregarding portion size

Portion sizes can be tricky enough to think about when something is on a plate; it can be even more difficult when the food is being blended up into a liquid. “Sometimes, people will drink double the portion size without even realizing it,” Rifkin says.

The fix: Think about the portion size of each ingredient

This one just takes being a bit more mindful of how much of each ingredient you’re adding to your blender. With protein, Barkyoumb says to aim for at least 15 to 20 grams in total. When food is blended, it cuts down on its physical size.

This acacia fiber smoothie is fantastic for your gut health:

The mistake: Assuming smoothies can be made with only fresh fruits and veggies

Your crisper contains some of the best ingredients to incorporate into a smoothie, but it’s a big mistake to ignore frozen fruits and vegetables, says Barkyoumb. “My favorites are frozen spinach or frozen riced cauliflower,” she says.

The fix: Keep frozen fruits and vegetables in the front of your freezer so you don’t forget about them

Too often bags of frozen vegetables are completely forgotten about. Keep your frozen fruits and veggies in the front of the freezer so you’ll see them every time you peek inside. That way, you’ll remember to actually use them next time you fire up your blender.

There’s no shortage of smoothies you can make that deliver on nutrition just as much as they deliver on taste. The key, is striking a balance. Even while avoiding these common mistakes, there’s plenty of room to experiment. That’s the fun—and tastiest—part!

Fruits and vegetables are some of the healthiest freezer foods:

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How to keep yourself safe during corona pandemic

 

Coronavirus is the name of the disease that is spreading throughout the world and causing great concern and fear in public. It is a respiratory and vascular disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-COV-2). The scientific name of this disease is Covid-19.

It spreads through respiratory droplets, when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talk.

Cases

The first known human infections were in Wuhan, China in Dec 2019. Most cases were linked to the Huanan seafood wholesale market.

Today coronavirus is affecting 218 countries and territories around the world. More than 121,531,956 cases have been confirmed and  2,686,170  people have lost their lives. Right now the USA is the most affected country with coronavirus more than 30,240,799 cases and more than 549,605 deaths are confirmed.

Most countries have imposed a lockdown to stop its spread. Due to this lockdown, nearly half of the global workforce is at risk of losing their livelihoods.

Symptoms

People with corona may have these symptoms:

 

• Fever(mostly)                  
•  Cough(mostly)
• Sore throat                       
• Fatigue
• Runny nose                     
•  Headache                       
• Shortness of breath          
• Diarrhea
• Muscles or body aches    
• Vomiting
• Lost of taste and smell

Emergency symptoms include difficulty in breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, difficulty in walking, and bluish face and lips.

This disease can lead to complications like pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome

Sepsis, septic shock, and kidney failure. Older adults and people with severe underlying health conditions are at high risk of developing more serious complications.

11 ways to protect your health

1. Wear mask
2. Avoid close contacts with others
3. Avoid people who appear sick
4. Stay six feet away from others in public
5. Wash your hands with soap frequently for at least 20 seconds
6. Use sanitizer if water and soap is not available
7. Avoid touching your face especially with unwashed hands
8. Take a healthy diet
9. Stop smoking
10. Avoid alcohol
11. Exercise daily

Vaccine

Scientists from the whole world are racing to produce a corona vaccine. Researchers are testing 54 vaccines in clinical trials on humans and at least 87 vaccines on animals.

Drug companies have discovered the vaccine for corona. United States and United kingdom are using these vaccine for benefits. Many more countries are also trying to develop their own vaccines and in those India and china are in top of the list.

Easing an Upset Stomach Is Just One Benefit of Caffeine-Free Rooibos Tea

If you’re a tea drinker, chances are that somewhere in your kitchen is a special place devoted to different herbal blends, with your favorites taking up space right in the front. Favorite teas are like old friends, familiar and comfortable.

The types of teas people sip on an everyday basis vary, depending on where someone lives. Here in the U.S., black tea is the most commonly brewed. In Japan, green tea is most popular. And in South Africa, Cape Town-based registered dietitian Emily Innes, RD, says rooibos is one of the most popular tea varieties. “Rooibos tea is an absolute standard beverage in every single household in South Africa,” she says.

Innes says that anytime you go to someone’s house in South Africa, you’ll be offered a cup of tea. “Rooibos tea is always offered,” she says. Rooibos is an herb with needle-like leaves that grows abundantly in this region, so it makes sense that it’s so popular there. Rooibos shrubs thrive in sandy soil and the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa, in particular, is one particularly famous place where it grows. In terms of the taste, rooibos tea has smoky, grassy, and slightly floral notes. It’s a tea that’s full of complexities.

This particular type of tea is full of health benefits, too.  Here, Innes highlights what they are as well as giving some expert brewing tips.

Rooibos tea benefits

1. It’s caffeine-free

Rooibos tea is an herbal tea and is completely free of caffeine. Inness says that one benefit to this is that it can be sipped any time of day without getting in the way of your sleep later. “Many people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to limit their caffeine intake choose rooibos for this reason,” she says.

2. Rooibos tea is full of antioxidants

Like other teas, rooibos tea is full of antioxidants, which are directly linked to benefitting brain health and warding off chronic inflammation. “The role of antioxidants is to ‘mop up’ damaging free radicals in the body,” Innes says. “Free radicals can cause oxidative stress and damage to the body’s cells. It is therefore beneficial to reduce the amount of free radicals in the system. As rooibos tea is high in antioxidants, it is great at reducing free radical damage, and there-by improving health.”

3. Regularly drinking rooibos tea could help prevent type two diabetes

Some scientific studies suggest that regularly consuming rooibos tea could protect against developing type 2 diabetes. However, these studies have primarily been done in rats (not humans) and need to be considered with that in mind. The reason why some researchers believe there is a connection is because rooibos tea is high in polyphenols, an active compound linked to fighting chronic inflammation.

“There was also a study suggesting that a substance in rooibos tea called aspalathin has a beneficial effect in maintaining even blood sugar levels in those who already have type 2 diabetes,” Innes says. “It does this by stimulating glucose uptake in the muscle tissues, and by stimulating the secretion of insulin from beta-cells in the pancreas.” While this research is promising, more evidence is still needed to confirm the connection.

4. It calms stomach muscle spasms

If you’re recovering from a bout of diarrhea (or are feeling a bit unsettled and attempting to prevent this stomach woe), Inness says it can be helpful to sip rooibos tea as a way to settle the stomach. This makes rooibos tea a good staple to have on hand to use in place of antacids.

5. It could help support the immune system

Rooibos tea is linked to having a positive effect on the immune response, a relationship that could help prevent allergies as well as more serious health issues, such as cancer. While the connection is promising, it has only been established in labs and in animals, so more human studies need to be done to confirm a solid connection.

6. It’s good for your heart

Regularly consuming rooibos tea could help prevent cardiovascular disease. Can you guess why? Yep, it’s those polyphenols at work once again. Research shows that polyphenols can help manage blood pressure levels and promote good circulation. “Rooibos may promote heart health through inhibiting a specific enzyme (ACE) which is involved in the development of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension,” Innes adds.

Tips for buying and making rooibos tea

If you can’t find rooibos tea at your local grocery store, you can buy it online from My Red Tea ($15), Cederberg ($20), and Davidson’s ($15). When shopping for rooibos tea, check to see the region where it’s being sourced from, found on the tea’s packaging or the brand’s website. True rooibos tea is sourced from South Africa.

Innes says preparation of rooibos tea largely comes down to personal preference. “People will either drink it ‘black,’ meaning without milk, just with boiling water added. Or, they will enjoy it with milk,” she says. Innes says some people add sugar to their rooibos tea, but as a registered dietitian, she says the most nutrient-rich way to make it is to have it without sugar.

“Some restaurants have started serving ‘red cappuccinos,’” says Innes. “This is rooibos tea that has been brewed and concentrated—almost like a shot of espresso, but made out of rooibos tea leaves—and then mixed with frothed milk.” She says that red cappuccinos are often enjoyed at a restaurant or cafe, in place of drinking coffee.

The best way to figure out how you most like your rooibos tea is to experiment. As long as your keeping it sugar-free, Innes says finding a way to integrate it into your life will be beneficial in myriad ways. You’ll truly be nourishing your whole body with every sip.

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10 tips for a healthy life

        10 tips for a healthy life

Image-pinterest

It is difficult to treat lifestyle disorders . So let us live a healthy life. Healthy body is healthy mind.

1. Wake up early and follow any form of exercise for atleast half an hour.

2. Drink plenty of water and keep your body hydrated in this summer.

3. Never skip breakfast. Eat only when you feel hungry.

4. Eat fruits and vegetables with high fibre.

5. Once in six months detox your body.

6. Avoid fried, salty and soft drinks.

7. Avoid stress and start meditating.

8. Eat home cooked fresh food and as far as possible avoid outside food.

9.  Improve immunity by taking spinach ,lemon , honey , turmeric in your food.

10.Sleep well.

 

 

Amazing Benefits of Massage to Your Body

 

There is barely any experience that can be as soothing as getting a full body massage in a dimly lit room and with soft melodious music playing. It is the perfect definition of tranquility and bliss. This is why many people who understand the need for peace of mind and tranquility are booking more massage sessions these days. 

Another fantastic thing about body massage that people often do not realize is that it goes beyond offering you total relaxation and peace of mind to trigger other crucial functions that will benefit different aspects of your body system and your mind. A massage can facilitate your nervous system, activate your muscles, and stimulate your organs and glands to produce and release essential body hormones and chemicals to ensure better body health and functionalities for you. 

If you are yet to cultivate the habit of booking frequent massages, then you are missing out on a lot of goodies your body could be enjoying now. This article will discuss some of these benefits and why you should not continue missing them. Read on to discover more. 

A Body Massage Helps to Relax Your Nervous System 

As your body relaxes during a massage session, your nervous system will enter a “rest and digest” mode. Often, when people experience pains and pressure in their body, it is because of nerve pressures that are caused by tight muscles. Booking a fulfilling massage session can help you to relieve this pressure. 

A relaxed nervous system will help to balance out your body’s hormone production levels. This means that the production of stress hormones like corticosteroids (LDL) will reduce as relaxation hormones like endorphins increase in your body. Moreover, hormones that regulate body functions like menstrual cycles, sleep/wake cycles, blood sugar, immune cells, and even your digestive system all positively react to the relaxation that full-body massages offer. 

Body Massages Help to Refresh Your Skin 

The use of massage lotions and oil, when combined with the slight friction of the masseuse’s hands on your body, can lead to gentle skin exfoliation. Of course, this will allow new skin cells to grow around your body and help you to achieve better and clearer skin structures.  

Body Massages Deliver Musculoskeletal Benefits 

The human muscles function like a sponge – they squeeze out blood and lymph fluid when contracted and allow fresh blood to enter when they are relaxed. This means that their real action will bring more fresh oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to your system. 

An experienced massage therapist can also initiate stretching of the muscles and other motion movements to their routines to mobilize the joints and focus beneficial tension on your ligaments, tendons, and muscles. 

Body Massages Enhance Supply of Blood to the Bone 

Many people do not know that their bones have a blood supply and that an efficient massage therapy session can enhance this supply’s function. Blood helps to bring calcium and other mineral types to the human bones. This is to support the bone's strength and functionalities. 

Indeed, a massage session can improve blood supply to your bones, thereby making them stronger and healthier for better functionalities. 

Conclusion 

It is established that an efficient massage session can contribute significantly to relaxing your body and giving you the peace of mind you deserve. However, its benefits do not end there. Body massages can also deliver some other health benefits to enthusiasts. This article has discussed the top vital things you should know about the therapy. 

This Olive Oil Ice Cream Has Healthy Fats In Every Delicious Bite

Of all the cooking oils out there, olive oil, in particular, is a favorite among doctors and dietitians. The golden pantry staple is full of antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, both of which are linked to benefitting brain and heart health. It’s also the oil of choice in the Mediterranean diet, primarily because olive trees grow abundantly in this region of the world, but also because of its rich flavor, which pairs well with everything—even ice cream as it turns out.

Yep, you read that right. Your favorite pantry staple is now the star of a new plant-based ice cream line, Wildgood, which is currently sold at Wegman’s, and will be available to buy online starting next month. Olive oil was a part of everyday life for Wildgood founder Sotiris Tsichlopoulos. Groves of these fruit trees grew right outside his family’s house in Greece, and the oil was used in practically every meal he ate—except for dessert.

So it’s sort of surprising that it wound up being the star in his plant-based ice cream. “When I first set out to make a dairy-free ice cream, my two goals were that it had to be as creamy as premium dairy-based ice cream and deliver the same satisfaction without compromising on the taste,” Tsichlopoulos says. “Olive oil proved to be the perfect ingredient to accomplish both those goals. “This allows us to deliver the creamy texture without using any alternative milks.” (In a sweet nod to his childhood, the olive oil Tsichlopoulos uses to make his ice cream is hand-pressed at his family’s home in Greece.)

But perfecting his recipe for olive-oil ice cream took some trial and error since water and oil don’t mix. Ultimately, Tsichlopoulos says it took eight years to get the eight flavors in the line exactly right—they include mint chocolate chip, chocolate hazelnut, coffee, and mango, all made from natural ingredients like chicory root fiber, cocoa beans, organic cane sugar, pea protein, cocoa butter, and vanilla extract. And the olive oil doesn’t just add to the taste and texture, either. One serving has about 1.5 grams of unsaturated fat (depending on the flavor), which is eight perfect of what’s recommended for the day. Sure, it’s not a ton of omega-3s, but it’s certainly more than the average ice cream out there has.

Watch the video below to learn more about the health benefits of olive oil:

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Meet Buzz Lite, the First Coffee With a Microdose of Caffeine

Nothing is a double-edged sword quite like the caffeine in coffee. There’s no denying the energy boost it can give, but it’s one that’s best for productivity sprints, not marathons. Its high is short-lived and when it expires, the crash can hit hard. So hard, in fact, that many consistently keep refilling their mug throughout the day just to avoid it.

Like a lot of people, Andrew Cooper worked at a place where the cups of Joe overflowed. “The company was being run off caffeine and if you even looked at the artwork [in the offices] it was all about hustling and getting stuff done,” he says. (Don’t get him wrong, Cooper told me that he’s all for productivity, but was starting to think the glorification of hustle culture was a bit much.)

Unsurprisingly, Cooper says his excess coffee consumption eventually caught up with him: “One day, I overdid it and just felt so terrible.” He tried switching to tea, but found he still missed the taste of coffee. And since his only options were to go back to traditional java or opting for decaf—neither of which he wanted to do—he decided to create the very first coffee with a microdose of caffeine, Buzz Lite, as a means of enjoying smaller quantities of caffeine without the crash.

One cup of Buzz Lite has 10 percent the amount of caffeine as a regular cup of coffee, which Cooper settled on because it’s the same amount used for microdosing substances such as LSD and psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms). “My thought process was, caffeine is another psychoactive drug,” he says. It’s not a jolt of caffeine, just a nudge. Sometimes, that’s all you need.

The brew is made by blending together decaf and regular coffee, at a 90:10 ratio. Cooper explains that the beans used for the 90 percent are decaffeinated through a natural sugar process, where sugar latches onto the caffeine to remove it, but not reduce the rich flavor of the beans. Then, the beans are mixed and roasted together.

What to consider when microdosing caffeine

Just like with regular java, the results may vary because people metabolize caffeine at different rates. This is why one person can have a cup of Joe after dinner and still sleep soundly, while the jolt from an afternoon latte may be enough to keep someone else up hours past their bedtime. But in general, you can expect the effects of Buzz Lite to be a fraction of what you’d get from a mug of drip coffee, which makes sense when you think about it.

More than anything, Cooper says he hopes that calling out exactly how much caffeine is in a serving (20 milligrams) on the label will lead to people thinking about the amount of caffeine they’re consuming—similarly to how alcohol content is called out on beers, wines, and spirits. “We consume caffeine in a lot of different ways, including drinking soda and tea, but most people don’t know exactly how many milligrams of it makes them feel a certain way, so hopefully this will start to help people make that connection,” he says.

What a registered dietitian thinks

Robin Foroutan, RD, is a registered dietitian who is unaffiliated with Buzz Lite. In her unbiased opinion, she says it certainly could be beneficial to many people—particularly those who are sensitive to caffeine. “Some people feel super jittery after drinking coffee or experience digestive issues, so a lower caffeine amount could help people who don’t tolerate it well feel more energized [without the negative consequences],” she says.

Foroutan adds that while Buzz Lite may be the first coffee with a microdose of caffeine, the idea of microdosing caffeine isn’t new. “Actually, a lot of people do this without realizing it, such as nursing the same cup of coffee or latte for hours on end, or drinking a low-caffeinated tea throughout the day,” she says. “And there are actually scientific studies showing that microdosing caffeine can be good for brain health.”

When it comes to the health benefits of drinking coffee, Foroutan says caffeine content definitely matters. “There are many studies showing that drinking coffee regularly is linked to reducing the risk of certain inflammatory neurological conditions, like Parkinson’s disease. But there are also studies showing that too much caffeine isn’t good for you either,” she explains, saying that this comes down to (once again) how quickly someone metabolizes the caffeine. Foroutan adds that the source of the coffee matters too, as some coffee is contaminated with mold or other pathogens.

All of this is to say that regular coffee, decaf, or something in between (like Buzz Lite) can potentially have positive health benefits—as long as you’re mindful of your intake.

Watch the video below to learn more about the health benefits of coffee:

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5 ways to make your vegan diet stick

 

Veganism has boomed in popularity within the last couple of years with more and more people choosing to change their lifestyle. This emerging trend certainly begs the question of why people find this diet to be so desirable.

The vegan style of living has been proven to help the environment, not only helping to save our furry friends who share this planet with us, but researchers have found that it could reduce our carbon footprint by nearly three-quarters.

As well as the environment, veganism can help to reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. This is because a diet which includes a greater number of fruit and vegetables provides us with phytonutrients, which are very good for us. Indeed, this particular substance has many health benefits and provides us all with the health kick we need.

Whatever the reason, you need to ensure that your vegan diet is not only healthy but also satisfying. Giving your body all the supplements it needs, as well as satisfying the cravings it most desires.

So, you've decided to take the plunge but how can you make your vegan diet last?

Health is key

First and foremost, your health must come first. Think about what your body needs most. More specifically, you need to consider how you’ll replace the nutrients which are found in non-vegan food. To do this, make sure to research the benefits and side effects of veganism to gain greater knowledge on the matter.

Veganism isn't about just vegetables and although they are good for us, they can lack the nutrients the body needs most. Adding protein into your diet alongside your favourite veggies can help to keep hunger at bay. Add in more beans and whole grains alongside your greens. 

Transition 

Following on from the above, transitioning into a vegan diet can help to keep you on track and your health in place. Taking it one small change at a time could be less of a shock for your body, making the process easier.

Going cold turkey could leave you with cravings, however, transitioning and swapping your favourite foods items around, finding alternatives can help to ease you into things.

• Try adding to your diet in the first weeks. By doing this you’ll get used to vegan ingredients, making it seem less of a change.
• Become a vegetarian before leaping to vegan. Making this change will help you adapt more to different substitutes.
• Slowly cut down on your dairy; swap milk for almond milk, use fewer eggs in your diet and try adding vegan-based cheese into meals that require cheese.  

Substitution 

Finding a substitute for your favourite food is crucial to helping you stick to a particular lifestyle. Whether your favourite food is cheese, eat your way through vegan cheeses until you find your perfect match.

If you have a sweet tooth, being vegan doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself. With veganism becoming increasingly popular, restaurants and supermarket brands are beginning to cater to this lifestyle a lot more.

Wanting to keep it clean? There are quite a few healthy vegan options out there such as vegan cookies and protein snacks. However, make sure to take a look at the ingredients as some of these products can be packed with sugar. 

Prep and plan

Although there are many options for vegan lunches and on the go snacks now, you want to ensure that you’re prepared. If you know you have a busy week ahead, prep your food and snacks so that you’re not only saving money but also not being tempted by other offers.

Awareness

If you work in a team, it can be hard to escape the birthday treats that are often bought in. However, making your team aware of your new lifestyle can help to keep you on track. With your veganism in mind, your colleagues may bring in treats that you can also enjoy. Along with this, you can generate greater awareness for the vegan way of life and maybe your colleagues will be a renowned vegan by their next birthday…

With veganism becoming more accepted, many people are taking on the lifestyle. With over 3 million Brits turning to veganism, this could be the way of living for the future and with more support around the lifestyle, it could be easier than ever.

The Health Kitchen supplies tasty and delicious protein cookies that are perfect for on the go snacking. These vegan friendly snacks are rich in antioxidants, made from absolutely no additives and lacking in refined sugar. The vegan protein cookies are ideal for a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Vegan poached salad

 

in only 5 minutes, veggie lover frankfurters, radishes and a couple of different fixings will make a delicious lunch, additionally ideal for the workplace. You may be interested to read calzone dough no yeast recipe/ oatmeal yoghurt cups recipe/ pumpkin medallions with speck recipe.

Ingredients

Main course per 1 person

3Mini Wiener vegan sausages of 21 g each
2pickled cucumbers of 80 g each
½ bunch of radishes
1mini romaine lettuce
4 tbsp cucumber storage water
1 tablespoon of seed mixture
2 fat of sourdough bread with chia seeds of 36 g each

How to proceed

Cut the cucumbers and the sausages into bite-sized pieces. Cut the radishes into slices. Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Mix with the cucumber storage water. Sprinkle the seeds. Serve the salad with bread.

Useful tips

For take-out: prepare the salad the night before and leave it in the fridge overnight. Transport the cucumber storage water separately in a jar.

Easy and efficient vegan weight loss diet

 

Our weight can be an important factor when it comes to the social aspect of our lives. Not only weight can highly influence our image but it also has a huge impact on our health. Some of the health problems that appear due to overweight are atherosclerosis and hypertension which can lead to serious heart problems. But now you don’t need to worry any more because you can control the overweight problem with a vegan weight loss diet.

Vegan weight loss diet consists in reducing the bad fats and replacing them with good ones found in certain foods. The good fats don’t contain as much calories and they keep you full for a long time. A healthy and efficient vegan weight loss diet should include:

- A large amount of vegetables
- A moderate or minimal amount of fruit
- A moderate or minimal amount of healthy fats like nuts, avocados or some oils
- A moderate or minimal amount of complex carbohydrates like grains

It is specified to have a moderate or minimal intake of certain foods because people react differently to these foods. For example, a person can gain substantial weight if the fruit or carbohydrates intake is very high. So you should always start with little amounts of these foods and you can gradually add more if there is no problem. Also you should never exceed eating these foods because the vegan weight loss diet won’t have remarkable effects on your weight.

Also there are certain foods that you should avoid when you are starting a vegan weight loss diet. These foods are also included in a vegetarian diet but they aren’t very efficient in the weight loss part. These foods are:

- Pastas
- Bread, especially white bread

You shouldn’t exclude these foods from your diet but try to avoid them as much as possible because they contain a large amount of calories and you won’t feel full for a long time after you eat so you will also increase the amounts of meals per day.

So if you follow these simple rules from the vegan weight loss diet you will loose weight in no time. Controlling your weight will have a lot of benefits not only in your social life but it will make you a healthier person as well. So go with this efficient diet and loose weight efficiently.

Vegan/Vegetarian Favorites: Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

 

Who says you have to give up your favorite comfort foods when you cut meat from your diet? This meatless version of classic stuffed cabbage rolls is ever bit as delicious as the original made with ground beef, is much lower in fat and calories, and is completely and totally compatible with a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Stuffed cabbage rolls are a crowd pleaser; if you make them once, you’ll be asked to make them again and again. Their savory flavor makes them an excellent special occasion entree, perfect for holidays, Sunday dinners, and family gatherings. Best of all, following this recipe, you can make a dish which is friendly to vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike. It's so wonderfully tasty, the fact that it's meat free is simply no big deal. It's sure to have everyone at the table wanting seconds - it's a good thing the recipe makes plenty.

Cabbage is an excellent source of vitamin K; one cup of cabbage contains over 90% of the recommended daily allowance of the vitamin, which plays an important role in metabolism and protein synthesis. The same cup of cabbage also contains 50% of the recommended daily vitamin C allowance, and is an excellent source of fiber, manganese, vitamin B6 and folate, riboflavin, calcium, potassium, vitamin A, tryptophan, protein and magnesium. Obviously, cabbage gives you a lot of bang for your nutritional buck.

Ingredients:

*2 quarts water
*1 large head of cabbage, green or red
*2 tablespoons butter (substitute Butter-Flavor Crisco for a vegan version)
*1 large onion, chopped
*3 cloves of garlic, chopped
*2 cups cooked white rice
*1 package Morningstar Farms Cooking Crumbles
*Salt and pepper to taste
*1 tablespoon dried parsley
*2 celery stalks, chopped fine
*1 green pepper, chopped fine
*4 cups tomato sauce

Directions:

Boil two quarts of the water in a large pot. Core the cabbage and carefully peel off the individual leaves, running under hot water if necessary to loosen them. Boil the leaves two at a time for two to three minutes minutes. Remove the cooked leaves to a collandar. Reserve two cups of the cooking water. Cut out the bottom of the center vein on each leaf.

Melt the butter or Crisco in a pan over medium heat and saute the crumbles until browned; add the onion and garlic, and continue sauteeing until they are also golden brown. Remove from heat and mix the contents of the pan with the  rice, salt, pepper, parsley, green pepper, and celery.

Place 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the rice mixture on each cabbage leaf. Roll the leaves up by folding in the sides, then rolling from the bottom of the leaf. Carefully place the finished rolls back in the pot used to boil the water. The rolls do not need to be perfect, by any means, as long as they are placed close together in the pot.

Combine the tomato sauce and the reserved cabbage water in a bowl. Pour enough into the pot to almost cover the cabbage. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for two to three hours, gently pressing the rolls down into the sauce periodically. Add more of the tomato sauce and water mixture to the pot as needed. Let the rolls stand for a few minutes before dishing them up. Serve on beds of white rice or mashed potatoes.

Vegan Weight Loss - A Leafy Diet for Healthy Living

 

A form of diet that will benefit you greatly is the Vegan Weight Loss. The term Vegan comes from the word Vegetarian. On some part, these two have a similar meaning; Vegetarians may or may not include dairy products to their diet while Vegans are totally excluding it from their diet. Being a Vegan would give you many benefits; that is why Vegan population is increasing since its concept got founded.

If you are wondering how exactly a Vegan diet works, then you should have an idea of how Vegetarians eat. They only eat plant-based foods but they may include eggs in their diet, however for the Vegans, they totally eat plant-based foods excluding eggs. This is because they believe in the doctrine that men should live without hurting animals. For meat-eaters, it may take time to adopt being a Vegan for it would completely turn their lives around. However, it is good to try being a Vegan and see how it helps.

Concept of Vegan weight loss is a kind of Vegan diet that would result to weight loss; from the fact that they only eat plant-based foods and thus an effective way to lose weight. If you are overweight and you need to lose weight, this kind of diet would be the most effective for you to eliminate unwanted fats in your body. Not to mention, it is quite easy to learn vegan recipes. Most of the Vegan diets include food which is not required long preparation. At the same time, it is quick to shop and cook and finally dress it with your favorite flavor.

Another benefit of being a Vegan would include improving your health. Once you lose weight, your chances of having heart diseases and high blood pressure would gradually decrease. For meat-eaters, this is a major problem and cannot deny the fact that it results to different diseases like unhealthy heart, high BP etc. So vegan food not only helps you in weight loss but also keep you healthy in long term.

When you go for Vegan weight loss product, this would be your stepping stone for a better living. When you undergo a Vegan diet, make sure that you include exercise; it helps you to achieve the result much faster. Success stories would make you realize the importance of having a Vegan diet.

So, what you are going to do now? In my opinion, you should analyze your food habit and lifestyle and find out if vegan diet could fit into it. If yes, then what exactly should be the diet which will help you to keep healthy as well as help you to lose the weight? Remember that any vegan diet is good and you just need to develop your personal regime for weight loss.

Article Tags: Vegan Weight Loss, Vegan Weight, Weight Loss, Vegan Diet, Plant-based Foods, Lose Weight

Get Healthy Diet With The Vegan Weight Loss Plan

 

Vegan weight loss plan is very helpful for people who are having problems in losing weight. Turning into a Vegan can really help you lose weight but still you will remain healthy despite there are some foods that you are limited to eat only. Turning into a Vegan diet would be troublesome if you are not used to it, for majority of the food is not present in other types of weight loss plan.

There are lots of success stories regarding the Vegan weight loss plan. For some people, they take it effortlessly to engage in the Vegan diet for they really turn back to their old ways. That attitude is very important so as to achieve good results from Vegan diet.

When you are enrolled in a Vegan weight loss plan it is important to take note of the food that you can eat. Here are the foods that are appropriate for the Vegan diet:

- Vegetables;
- Fruits;
- Nuts;
- And soy.

For a Vegan diet, fish is not included on the list of foods that can be eaten. It is the same with eggs, chicken and cheese. Vegan diet is restricted to the mostly fruits and vegetables for they provide more nutrients than meat. And that could be a big challenge for some people. Breakfast, lunch and dinner should be rich with these foods so that your diet would be effective.

For your Vegan diet to be really effective, the diet alone is not the only answer. You have to accompany it with exercise and plenty of water. Exercise is very helpful for it burns down fat faster than for those who lack exercise. Sometimes, aside from weight loss, you will be fit and healthy thus your immune system would be stronger. The issue of water is never new. Our body needs water to replace all the lost liquid through sweat and urine. Besides, water replenishes the liquid needed by our body.

For a better Vegan weight loss, you have to be focused on losing weight. Do not get distracted by temptations such as meat and sweets. Also, Vegan weight loss plan is designed to help you lose weight safely and effectively; if you are having trouble adapting to the process, slow it down a bit. Remember that too much absence on food would make you sick; the right amount of food should always be observed.

Article Tags: Vegan Weight Loss, Weight Loss Plan, Vegan Weight, Weight Loss, Loss Plan, Vegan Diet