SuperFoods: Avocados

 image by eblaser

Today I'm having a large salad with avocados and veggies for lunch. I love avocados, and adore guacamole. here are some quick facts on this amazing fruit (that's right, it's a fruit and not a vegetable).

Avocados  are fabulous on salads, desserts, pureed. They contain some protein and starch, plenty of potassium, and vitamins A,B,C, and E. Those of you avoiding fats in fear that you will gain weight, please educate yourself on the different types of fat. Avocados have heart-protective mono-saturated fat which is easy to digest, and perfect for children. They also have high content of oleic acid, which makes them a powerful antioxidant.

Avocados are ideal food for anyone recovering from illness or surgery. Women who are planning conception or are having fertility problems benefit from the Vitamin E in avocados. The vitamin B6  relieves PMS pains; women suffering from endometrioisis or heavy periods should consume avocados regularly ten days before their next period.

Produce Exchange

I got a great tip today from Vital Juice.

A relatively new site Veggie Trader lets you turn in your abundant produce, let's say you have too much mint growing – like my bf does, for someone else's produce. It is like a food swap. You can swap your locally grown produce for your neighbor's, that way you don't end up eating the same thing every night.

Don't see anything you like? No problem. You can trade in for cold hard cash. Don't have a garden? No worries. Browse local produce by entering your zip code. It's that easy. Don't take my word for it, check it out yourself.

Also, make sure you visit  Vital Juice for more  great tips on living healthy and happy.

Superfoods: Bananas

 A Banana A Day.....

It seems that apples get all the credit. "An apple a day...." –  but I say that bananas deserve more recognition.

I like to start my day of with a banana or two. Not only does this fruit wake me up and get me going in the morning, but the potassium in it provides instant and slow-releasing energy, so you're full longer and retain more energy until lunch. Also, bananas are one of the fruits can can be paired with other food groups. I especially like bananas with a handful of nuts or dried fruit.

Bananas are a perfect snack after a workout because of it's cramp-preventing potassium. Potassium deficiency not only causes muscle cramps, but also exhaustion, depression, and insomnia. If you suffer from any of those, make sure to consume bananas regularly.

They also protect against high blood pressure, heart disease, and fluid retention.

Bananas should be eaten when the skin becomes speckled brown; that is when they are ripe and the starch turns to sugar.

What are some of your favorite banana recipes? 

Go Bananas.... 

image by Imapix

Recipe of the Week: Raw Spinach Mushroom Tart

Today's recipe comes from a new blog I started following called Rawmazing. This is one of the recipes that especially caught my eye because I absolutely love mushrooms. Mushrooms contain more protein than most other vegetables. They are low in calories are full of phosphorus  and potassium.

Spinach Mushroom Tarts

Click on the link above to see the full recipe and instructions. The recipe is not as complicated as it looks. Try it out yourself and send in a pic or your creations.

Kom-bu-cha

Sound familiar?

If you haven't already caught on to the new trend wave of Kombucha, what are you waiting for? This isn't another fad diet trend, this is an ancient folklore concoction with tons of benefits.

Kombucha originated around 220 B.C. – this recipe is older than Jesus.

Basically, Kombucha it is cultured beneficial yeast and bacteria floating atop of tea and sugar. Now before you get all weirded out, remember that Beer is made of yeast too; unlike beer, Kombucha doesn't cloud your judgment and give you a beer belly.

The fermented mixture is high in B-vitamins as well as an assortment of pro-biotics – essential for raw foodists and vegans.

The benefits of Kombucha include the detoxifying the liver and gall bladder, aiding the digestive system, increasing the metabolism, cleansing the blood, raising energy levels and focus, and enhancing the immune system.


Cheers!

Another Sunny Week

Ohmmm....
It's another great week of sunshine in September. I started my day off with a quick 20 minute yoga session to stretch and get my mind ready for the day. I recommend everyone to do yoga or just simple stretches for about 10-20 minutes every morning. Not only does it stretch your muscles, but it helps deliver more oxygen into your lungs, which ultimately helps circulation and provides you with much needed energy to carry you through the day.

The weather is absolutely gorgeous and I've decided to have my lunch in Bryant Park today. My green bag is packed with "tuna" salad on sprouted grain toast with alfalfa sprouts. I can't wait to get the last bit of sunshine before it gets frigid cold. If you can, I would recommend you to do the same. Sunshine is a vital source of energy and vitamins. But please make sure to go either before 10 am or after 4pm.

Happy Sunbathing.

Mostly Raw Diet

Welcome friends to my blog and my first post. I promise to daily (except the weekends) update you with nutrition information to help guide you to better health and overall well-being. I will post recipes, fun food facts, latest research, fitness, reviews, events, my own daily diet, and more.

Why (mostly) Raw?  Our modern society is addicted to fast food, greasy food, overcooked food, and this toxic diet is contributing to most illnesses. Raw food is pure and healing; It detoxes your body, gets rid of toxic waste, and establishes balance so you can fight disease and infections. I put the mostly in because going 100% raw is very difficult, especially living in NYC. Since I don't live alone, I have to think of others. I can't blend in the morning, and the social aspect can get extremely difficult. So, I opt for a mostly raw diet, or as I call it "Raw 'till Dinner" diet.  I try to eat raw all day until I get home from work, where then I can indulge in some cooked veggies or a small salmon fillet. I don't eat meat, but do eat some fish sometimes. I usually don't eat eggs and I don't drink milk.

So please, for the sake of you health, join the CookingOptional  Revolution.