EXQUISITE

July 13, 2012

BLACK FOODS

 by Danica Collins

Is black the new green? If we’re talking about superfoods, it’s sounding like the answer to that question is a definite yes!

A popular post from Health.Com, a section of Huffpost Health, the Huffington’s Post’s health news blog, addresses the black foods trend, claiming that although “green veggies have long been hailed as the go-to good-for-you food…dark fruits, veggies, and grains are nutritional powerhouses, too.”

Cy Lee, Ph.D., a professor of food chemistry at Cornell University, said, “black foods have more antioxidants than light-colored foods because of their higher pigment content.” Those plant pigments, or anthocyanins, may lower your risk for health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

With the black foods trend still going, there are options out there for every palate — from familiar standbys, like black beans, to the new and novel, like black garlic. Unlike other recent food trends, such as bacon for dessert or supersize portions, black foods seem to be one of those rare food trends with real, scientifically-supported health benefits. So why not try it out at home?

10 Black Foods You Can Try Today:

1. Black Lentils
2. Black Quinoa
3. Black Garlic
4. Black Mushrooms (Shiitake)
5. Black Wild Rice
6. Blackberries
7. Black Beans
8. Black Tea
9. Black Cumin Seed Oil
10. Black Chia Seeds

Read more: http://undergroundhealthreporter.com/black-foods-trend#ixzz2CFvnAylY

March 13, 2012

 

BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE

1 banana (ripe, works best if it’s very ripe) 1 cup blueberries (frozen)

1/4 cup orange juice or vanilla almond milk

 

Cellular Antioxidant Activity New research shows that Wild Blueberries have the highest cellular antioxidant activity of selected fruits tested. Lead scientist Rui Hai Liu, Ph.D. used the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay — a new assay developed by the Cornell University Department of Food Science — to determine antioxidant activity of antioxidants, foods, and dietary supplements. Wild Blueberries outperformed two dozen commonly consumed fruits like pomegranates, strawberries, cultivated blueberries, cranberries, apples and red grapes. Antioxidant have been linked with anti-aging, anti-cancer and heart-health benefits.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Blueberries are an excellent source of manganese.
Manganese plays an important role in bone development and in converting the proteins, carbohydrates and fats in food into to energy – a perfect job for blueberries3. http://www.blueberrycouncil.org/health-benefits-of-blueberries/blueberry-nutrition/

Eye, Brain and Digestive Health
According to a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, it is not carrots that offer the most protection against vision loss. Fruits are more protective. Eating three or more servings of fruit each day may lower the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) by 36 percent, compared to those that consume less than two servings daily.
Blueberry-rich diets also dramatically improve motor skills and the learning capacity of older animals in research studies. Therefore, nutrients found in blueberries may help preserve cognitive function and improve working memory in humans. Because blueberries are rich in antioxidants, they offer protection of brain cells from oxidative stress, which can exacerbate the effects of age-related cognitive decline.
Blueberries are rich in dietary fiber (both soluble and insoluble), both may help alleviate constipation and aid in digestive health. They contain tannins, which help “cleanse” the colon (tannins have an astringent effect), and, like cranberries, offer compounds that prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Blueberries fight against the bacteria that causes most UTIs.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/22404-blueberry-health-benefits/#ixzz1oxxAIQq4

 Last image credits: Photo Credit Blueberries image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com