Author avisha Categories Blog, Food & Nutrition, Recipes Posted on 0 Comments

Spotlight on Pineapple…With a Quick and Easy Recipe

Craving a tropical fruit on a hot sunny day?  What could be better than a cool slice of sweet pineapple?!! Pineapples have an interesting appearance with their spiky tops and thick skin but underneath that intimidating demeanour lies a sweet, refreshing offering full of healthy goodness.  The many benefits of pineapples include reducing inflammation, aiding digestion, improving eye health and boosting immunity and blood circulation.  Pineapples are loaded with vitamin C and manganese and are a good source of dietary fibre.  Pineapples are composed of many flowers whose individual fruitlets fuse together around a central core giving them their very unique appearance.

One of the challenges in pineapple world is figuring out which ones are ripe and which ones need more time to perfect their goodness.  Here are 3 solid ways to help you choose the perfect one:

  1. Look at it.  A delicious pineapple should look fresh, firm and not have any mould in its crevices.  A ripe pineapple’s colour can be greenish or yellowish
  2. Pull out a green spike.  It should give you a bit of resistance
  3. Smell it.  The best place to do this is by its butt.  It should have a sweet smell.  If there is no sweetness to its smell at all it’s probably not good to go

Although you can find pineapple in the stores already in chunks and slices, talking the time to cut it up yourself will help to preserve more of its freshness.  It’s really not that hard to do.  First, using a sharp knife, cut off the spikey top.  Then trim the butt so that it can stand up.  Trim down the sides of the pineapple removing all of its skin.  At this point the choice is yours on the type of cut.  Rings or chunks.  The tougher core in the middle is completely edible but not as tender as the rest.

Fresh is best but if you are looking for another way to eat it I have included a quick broiled pineapple recipe that is a great complement to many dishes.

Just click the menu icon for your recipe.

Enjoy!

 

Broiled Pineapple with Cinnamon

 

 

 

Author avisha Categories Food & Nutrition, Recipes Posted on 0 Comments

Spotlight on Snap Peas and a Stir Fry Recipe to Use Them In

Tis the season for Snap Peas.  Sometimes called Sugar Snap Peas these crispy, crunchy and oh so tasty vegetables are an awesome snack that can go anywhere with you in a pinch.

Here’s the nutrient low down that these peas bring to the game:

  • manganese
  • vitamin A
  • vitamin C
  • vitamin K
  • folate
  • iron

And on top of this, Snap Peas contain about 4.5 grams of fibre and 5 grams of protein in each and every cup.

I have just enjoyed my first batch of the season.  They were splendid raw but the next batch will go in to this yummy stir fry recipe below.  Click on the recipe card to get your copy!

Pineapple Rainbow Stir Fry on Brown Rice Noodles

 

 

 

 

cancer
Author avisha Categories Blog, Cancer Coaching, Food & Nutrition Posted on 0 Comments

Fasting-like Diet Turns the Immune System Against Cancer

I read many studies and theories about nutrition and nutritional therapies within the realm of cancer care. Although I do try to keep an open mind to all that I read and base my opinions on the evidence presented, I must admit that I tend to favour those that resonate with me.  I do understand that this may put me under the umbrella of bias, but it allows me to be fully invested when my thoughts do align with solid research that I read. 

I have been follow the work of Professor Valter Longo for some time now.  I find his research to be both solid and promising.  He has researched and published findings on fasting, the immune system and increasing effectiveness of chemotherapy.

The study referenced below was published in 2016.  In it, Longo demonstrated (in mice) how implementation of a fasting-mimicking diet can stimulate the immune system of the mice and increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy in breast and skin cancer.

In speaking about his findings he stated:

“The mouse study on skin and breast cancers is the first study to show that a diet that mimics fasting may activate the immune system and expose the cancer cells to the immune system,” Longo said. “This could be a very inexpensive way to make a wide range of cancer cells more vulnerable to an attack by the immune cells while also making the cancer more sensitive to the chemotherapy.”

He further noted:

“It may be that by always being exposed to so much food, we are no longer taking advantage of natural protective systems which allow the body to kill cancer cells,” Longo said. “But by undergoing a fasting-mimicking diet, you are able to let the body use sophisticated mechanisms able to identify and destroy the bad but not good cells in a natural way.”

Below is the link to an article reporting Longo’s finding.

Fasting-like Diet Turns the Immune System Against Cancer

Author avisha Categories Blog, Food & Nutrition, Recipes Posted on 0 Comments

Spotlight on Bananas and a Fun Banana Sushi Recipe

Lately I have found that the humble banana has taken a bad wrap and I don’t get it.  Easy to transport, it comes to you fully wrapped in its own packaging and has a great taste.  And yellow is the colour of happiness:)  But esthetics aside bananas are very healthy.  An average banana has about 3 grams of fibre and is high in potassium with a single banana averaging about 400 mg of potassium.  Bananas are a good source of vitamin B6, manganese and vitamin C.

Most people open their bananas by bending the stem back but if you watch a monkey eat one, they open them from the other end.  They are clever critters.  No mushy tops!

The recipe included for you is a simple Banana Sushi.  Easy and the kids love it!  Just click on the recipe icon.

Enjoy!

 

 

Author avisha Categories Food & Nutrition, Recipes Posted on 0 Comments

Spotlight on Strawberries and a Healthy Strawberry Jam Recipe For You

Fresh strawberries are plump, red and just a delicious summer treat.  In Ontario strawberry season spans the months of June and July.  Fun fact, strawberries are a member of the rose family.  And here is another fun fact.  Those ‘seeds’ that we see on the outside of strawberries aren’t actually seeds. They are the fruits of the strawberry plant and inside each of these tiny fruits are teeny tiny seeds.  The red, fleshy part is the base of the flower.

Strawberries are a top antioxidant food making them a smart choice in a healthy diet. They are high in vitamin C and manganese and contain a good punch of fiber.

Strawberries continue to make the Dirty Dozen list.  The Environmental Working Group is the author of the Dirty Dozen list and they reported in their 2017 release that a single sample of strawberries showed upwards of 20 different pesticides.  Key take away, when and if possible buy your strawberries organic.

Popping these yummy berries like candy is the best way to eat them but if you want to change things up a bit here is simple, healthy recipe for Strawberry Jam.  Just click on the recipe card below.

Enjoy!!

 

1 … 13 14 15 16 17 … 26