Posts Tagged ‘Healthy’
Why Fiber is Important for your Health
You shouldn’t underestimate the health benefits from Fiber. Check out why Fiber is an important part of your health, how different types of fiber affects your body, the recommended amount, and which foods are high in fiber.
Health Benefits of Fiber
• Helps lower the risk of heart diseases and some cancers
• Fiber aides in digestion
•Fiber encourages hydration
• Increases Satiety
•Helps lower overall cholesterol levels
Different Types of Fiber
Soluble Fiber - This type of fiber binds with fatty acids in your stomach and as it travels down the GI tract. The soluble fiber prolongs digestion, slows the absorption of sugars and fats, and helps regulate blood sugar. Studies also show that soluble fiber can help lower LDL cholesterol (harmful type of cholesterol) and reduces the overall cholesterol count.
Prebiotic Soluble Fiber – This type of fiber feeds the protective bacteria in your colon and stimulates immune-cell production, which promotes a healthy immune system.
Insoluble Fiber - This type of fiber adsorbs a lot of water as it travels down the GI tract, which prevents constipation and increases the frequency of stools. Insoluble fiber helps remove toxins from your colon, balances intestine acidity, and helps move waste through the intestines and the bowel.
Dietary Fiber – This type of fiber has been shown to help ease the symptoms of certain digestive disorders.
Recommended Intake of Fiber
The average adult needs anywhere from 25 grams to 40 grams of fiber on a daily basis. Most adults get less than half of the recommended daily amount, which can cause a lot of negative health effects.
Foods High in Fiber
Avocado – 11 grams for one (medium)
Kidney Beans – 8.2 grams per serving
Wheat bran – 8 grams per serving
Pear – 5.5 grams for one (medium)
Lentils – 5 grams per serving
Prunes – 4.5 grams per serving
Split Peas – 4.4 grams per serving
Raspberries – 4 grams per serving
Apples -3.1 grams for one (medium)
Oranges – 3.1 grams for one (medium)
Butternut Squash – 3 grams per serving
Flax seeds – 2.7 grams per tablespoon
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Image Credit: thenutritionpost.com
Tags: fiber, Healthy, insoluble fiber, satiety, soluble fiber, Weight Loss
Homemade Baked Beans
For some crazy reason, my husband loves (loved) canned baked beans. I thought they smelled gross, and never had an urge to have any. I checked the list of ingredients and I was disgusted. I just thought “I can’t keep giving this to my husband!”. So what does one do when they are in love? They make their spouse a homemade healthy version, of course! ; )
I made these baked beans from scratch, and they were pretty easy and delicious! Now my husband prefers this over the canned stuff – yay!
Ingredients:
2 cups dried Navy Beans
15.5 oz Turkey Bacon, cut into small pieces.
1/2 onion, chopped
3 tbsp Molasses
2 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp dried Mustard
1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
1/4 cup Maple Syrup
1/2 cup Ketchup
Instructions:
Step 1) Cook beans on a pot with at least 10 cups of water. Boil for about 4 hours, or until tender.
Step 2) Preheat over to 325. Add all of the ingredients together in the pot and stir.
Step 3) Pour pot of all ingredients into a casserole dish. Cover with tin foil
Step 4) Bake for 1 hour. Let cool and enjoy!
Notes:
When cooking the beans, there should be very little – if any – water left in the pot by the time the beans are done cooking. If there is a lot of water in the pot, drain the water out. If there is a very little amount of water in the pot with the beans (like 1/2 cup or less), go ahead and leave the water in there.
This recipe is super easy and delicious! It may take time to cook the beans, but you can definitely multi task. I would encourage you to check up on the beans to make sure that there is enough water in the pot for the beans to cook.
You won’t feel guilty about eating these Baked Beans, and it’s a recipe that you can show off at the next potluck!
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Tags: Baked Beans, Healthy, Homemade, Recipe, sugar free
Medicine of the Future
Have you ever wondered what the Doctor of the future is going to be like? What about the future of medicine? Here’s what a very wise person had to say about it…
The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease. – Thomas Edison
The more I think about it, the more I realize that the common medicine used today is not “Traditional” by any means. I urge you to study and understand the importance of natural medicine, the only “traditional” medicine that allows your body to heal without harmful side effects. The more I study nutrition, the more I realize that you can heal your body with herbs, spices, and the healthy whole foods you can choose to eat.
What is your favorite natural remedy?
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Tags: Healthy, Herbs, Natural Healing, Spices, traditional medicine, Whole Foods
Homemade Taco Seasoning
The regular taco seasoning mix from the grocery store is quite…bad for you. The taco seasoning mixes are full of MSG, sodium, and other unhealthy ingredients. Because of this, I thought it was time I let you know how to make your own healthy taco seasoning mix! It’s a pretty quick and simple recipe, and I am sure you will love it!
Ingredients: 
3 tsp Chili Powder
1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
3 tsp dried minced Onion
1 tsp Cornstarch
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp ground Cumin
1/2 tsp dried Oregano
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and use in replace of taco seasoning mix.
Notes:
You can add this healthy seasoning to tacos, burritos, or anything else that you would normally use a typical taco seasoning mix with. You can make it in bulk and store the mix in a air tight container in the fridge for up to a year.
Tags: Healthy, Recipe, taco seasoning
Healthy Easter Basket Ideas
Since Easter is approaching, I started to come up with some healthy and fun ideas to put into an Easter basket.
Traditionally, people like to include a lot of candy in their Easter baskets. Some of the most common treats for an Easter basket is Marshmallow PEEPS®, Cadbury Cream Eggs®, Robin’s Eggs, and Jelly Beans. These may taste great, but they are full of sugar and extremely bad for your health.
Since I didn’t want an Easter basket full of junk food, I decided to come up with some healthy ideas for those looking for new Easter basket traditions.
Ideas for an Easter Basket
• Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies or Bunny Grahams.
• Bubbles
• Trail mix
• Easter themed coloring book and crayons
• Natural nail polish – bright colors!
• Tonka plush Easter Basket
• Earthbound Farm® Mini Peeled Carrots 
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Coloring kit for hard boiled eggs
• Carrot Cake flavored LÄRABAR®
• Jump rope
• Dried fruit
• Easter themed stickers
• Seed packets for favorite fruit or vegetable.
If you have any additional ideas, please feel free to add your ideas in the comments!
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Image Credits: bolthouse.com;
