Health Benefits of Pears

Pears are not only a delicious snack, but also very healthy and beneficial for your body.

Nutritional and Health Benefits

Pears have a wonderful cooling effect to them. If you should have a fever, having a pear may be helpful in reducing your fever. Some say to drink pear juice, but I personally try to stay away from fruit juices unless you make them yourself. Otherwise, fruit juices you buy tend to be very high in sugar- sometimes even more than soda.

Pears are an excellent source of fiber. The fiber in pears may help regulate bowel movements.

Pears are full of Vitamin C and Copper, making Pears very antioxidant rich, which helps with the immune system.

Pears are high in Vitamin B and Potassium. This is great because it is healthy for your heart and has beneficial effects on your overall blood pressure.

Pears have plenty of Pectin, which helps with digestion, and a natural cleanse of toxins in the body.

Snack

Another great reason to have this snack? Delicious and low in calories! Perfect for anyone who would like to lose or maintain their body weight.

Serving: 1 Pear

Calories: 75 or less -depending on size

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Tags: antioxident, bowel movements, Cleanse, Copper, fever, fiber, Health, juice, low calorie, natural cleanse, Nutrition, Organic, pears, pectin, potassium, regular, snack, Toxins, viatmin C, vitamin B

An Apple a day…

We have all heard the saying “An apple a day keeps the Doctor away”, but why is that? Apples are good for you- known Fact. Just how good are they for you, and what are some of the Health Benefits?

Nutrition

Apples have lots of Vitamin C, they are High in Fiber, and have Boron and Phloridzin, which helps with the strengthening of bones.

Apples are known to reduce or prevent the risk of Heart Disease,  Diabetes, several types of Cancers, Alzheimers disease, and help lower cholesterol.

Caffeine Replacement

Need to stay awake for an afternoon meeting? Rather than having some bad-for-you energy drink with loads of sugar, artifical sweeteners, and loaded with calories…why not have an apple? That’s right, Apples are known to help you stay awake, a healthier wake up call compared to your other caffeinated options.

Weight Loss Food

Another weight loss tip? Yes, apples are helpful for those who may want to maintain or lose weight. Again, apples are High in Fiber (Green apples especially), which keeps you fuller for a longer period of time, and apples are also is low in calories. Depending on its size, apples are  about 100 calories or less. Not bad for such a helpful fruit.

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Tags: apple, boron, Fruit, heathier alternative to caffeine, Lose Weight, low calore, lowers choles, maintain weight, Nutrition, phloridzin, prevention, snack, stay awake, stregthen bone, vitamin C

Healthier and Tastier Popcorn

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Popcorn Kernels

2-3 tablespoons Coconut Oil

Sea Salt (to taste)

Serves: 4-6 cups of cooked popcorn

Instructions:

Step 1) Put a large pot (with lid) on the stove, and turn to  medium heat.

Side Notes: If you are wondering why I am not asking you to use a microwave, please read about the Harmful effects of the Microwave.

Step 2) Add the coconut oil to the pan, and coat the bottom of the pan.

Step 3) Add popcorn kernels to the the pot, and put the lid back on the pot.  Soon, you will notice the kernels starting to pop, and allow them to do just that!

Step 4) Once the popping starts to slow down, remove the pot from heat. There still may be some popcorn kernels popping, and that’s OK. It is better to have some kernels not pop, then all the kernels pop and you get burnt popcorn.

Step 5) Once you have removed the popcorn from the heat of the stove, add the salt to taste, and stir the popcorn as you add on the salt.

Side Notes

I use Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil rather than butter! But….why? Coconut oil is one of the few (perhaps only) oils that are still good for you when heated. If you are worried about the taste, do not worry! I discovered this way of making popcorn when I looking for a better solution to butter. When you cook your popcorn with Coconut Oil, the popcorn actually taste as if I cooked it with butter- without the effects of butter!

I use Real Salt, by Redmond. This is the only Salt I use, and I love it for not only it’s taste, but wonderful Health benefits.

Health Benefits of Popcorn

Popcorn is high in Fiber, which helps with your digestion. Popcorn also is considered a “Whole Grain”. As long as you don’t drench it in butter, preservatives, and other harmful ingredients (think Movie Popcorn), then you should feel good about your snacking choice. Another great benefit to popcorn, is that it is a low calorie snack.

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Tags: coconut oil, corn, corn kernel, easy recipe, healthy recipe, healthy snack, high fiber, high in fiber, low calorie, organic extra virgin coconut oil, Popcorn, popcorn kernel, quick recipe, snack

Mini Whole Grain Sandwich Cookies by Late July

These cookies have it all –Better Nutrition, a Worthy Cause, and Great Taste!

Nutrition

What I like about these cookies, is that they are a good source of whole grains (8 grams per serving), calcium (10% of Daily Value), and they are USDA Organic. This product does not have Trans Fats or Cholesterol,  they are low in sodium,  made without any artificial sweeteners, and they do not have any High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Yes, there is sugar in this cookie. Remember, it is supposed to be a treat, not a meal.  Keep in mind, this treat is not “healthy”, but considered a much healthier alternative when compared to other cookies on the market.

Worthy Cause

The Mini Whole Grain Cookies have the “Good For All” Seal, which is Dr. Jane Goodall’s seal for ethically produced products.  Ten Percent of Profits from these Mini Cookies are being donated to the Jane Goodall Institute, which raises awareness for Endangered Animals such as the Leatherback Sea Turtle, Red Wolf, Chimpanzee, Sumatran Rhino, Pygmy Rabbit, Black-Footed Ferret, and the Giant Panda. Know when you are buying these cookies, not only are you getting a great treat, but you are also supporting a wonderful cause.

Taste

From Late July’s products, expect nothing but the best. Not only is health and nutritional value important, they don’t sacrifice taste in any of their products. Mini Whole Grain Cookies are no exception to the rule, and they taste great! There are two flavors to choose from, which is “White Chocolate” and “Milk Chocolate”. I can’t decide which one is my favorite- both taste great!

Serving: 10 cookies

Calories: 140

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Animal Crackers (Organic) by Kirkland Signature

Taste

I am an adult. Just because I am an adult, doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy Animal Crackers, right? I don’t know what it is about these animal crackers, (maybe the vanilla?), but these are just exceptional, and dare I say…addicting?

Health

These are better for you than a candy bar, but still remember that these aren’t a meal or a basic food group. It’s a cracker. Something to get you by to the next meal, or something to munch on instead of something much worse for you. Either way, it tastes pretty good, and it is at a very reasonable price- comparable to something that wasn’t even organic. I am a huge fan of organic products, and the fact that I can buy this delicious snack in such a big container is exciting. I have found that a lot of people enjoy these crackers, and good reason too- feel free to give them a try!

Serving Size: 13 crackers
Calories: 120
Purchase: Costco Warehouse (Requires a membership)

Image Credit: Costco.com

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Tags: animal crackers, kirkland signature, low calorie, Organic, review, snack, twinkie's review