The Healthy Pantry

Health Benefits of the Apricot, an Excellent Fruit for Your Diet

2008-08-08T13:06:00.003-04:00

Apricots Are Very Healthy and Are an Excellent Choice for Dieters

The apricot is often overlooked in favor of other common fruits such as the apple, pear, orange or banana. But the apricot is just as healthy as those other fruits, in some cases even healthier. Aside from the many health benefits of the apricot, it is also a wonderful diet food, providing a large amount of healthful nutrition to the body as well as keeping down caloric intake, as they are very low in calories as compared to other fruits (only about 50 calories for three apricots)!

Like apples or oranges, there are several different varieties of apricot, but you will typically find only one or two types to choose from in your local supermarket or fruit stand, depending upon your location. Appearing as small, golden-orange fruits, they all share the same particular health benefits, so its really just a matter of taste as to which type of apricot you would favor. Read more about the health benefits of the apricot...

The Best Gluten-Free Cookbooks: Hundreds of Gluten-Free Recipes at Your Fingertips

2008-08-08T12:58:00.002-04:00

Try These Gluten-free Cookbooks for Classic and Unique Gluten-free Recipes

Celiac disease is a malady that disrupts the digestive process and impedes the absorption of healthy nutrients into the body. Similarly, some individuals are simply sensitive to wheat or gluten, also unable to healthily digest foods that contain gluten. As gluten is often found in wheat, flour, oats and barley, among other products, many desserts and baked goods often need to be avoided in a gluten-free diet. A basic search of the internet will yield a large assortment of gluten-free recipes, but a gluten-free cookbook will place a vast amount of gluten-free recipes at your fingertips for easy perusal at any time.

There are plenty of gluten-free cookbooks available in bookstores, and these are some of the best.

Aptly named, The Best Gluten-Free Family Cookbook by Donna Washburn and Heather Butt is full of delicious recipes as well as useful cooking tips and techniques. From basic gluten-free bread recipes to unique and tasty desserts, The Best Gluten-Free Family Cookbook is sure to provide an ample supply of gluten-free recipes for you or your family. Read more about the cookbooks...

Common Natural Sweeteners and Their Health Benefits

2008-08-08T12:49:00.001-04:00

Using Natural Sweeteners Found Int He Home in Place of Refined Sugar

Our craving for sweets is usually appeased by delving into an assortment of chocolates, a slice of cake, a generous scoop of ice cream, or other such decadent fare. The key ingredient in all of these items and essentially most of the sweets available on the market is sugar. Aside from the added sugars already inherent in candy, juice, soda, and more, we often add sugar to other items we consume, such as tea and coffee or on top of cereal.

Too much sugar is of course a major contribution to our caloric intake and weight gain, but it seems hard to avoid or resist. Artificial sweeteners abound in the marketplace, but there is a lot of speculation as to the long-term negative health aspects of such products. Natural sweeteners like stevia are available in health food stores, but there is a host of natural sweeteners that have been quite common in supermarkets for a very long time, and are likely sitting on your shelf in your pantry at this very moment. Read more...

Health Properties of Suma, the Brazilian Folk Remedy

2008-08-08T11:48:00.001-04:00

Suma is an herb often mistakenly referred to as Brazilian ginseng, but the two herbs are actually quite different. Suma is a vine found in the rainforests of the Amazon, mainly in South America but also in some parts of Central America, but it is only the root of the vine that is used for medicinal purposes.

Used by residents of the Amazon and South America as a traditional folk remedy for over three centuries, suma imparts a variety of healthy properties and is utilized to treat a wide variety of ailments and diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and various skin conditions. It is also popular as an aphrodisiac and as a means to enhance energy, but its the various medicinal properties contained within the suma root that have the health community and herbalists taking note.

Like Brazilian ginseng, suma does impart energy to the body when ingested and helps to relieve stress, but it also does much more. Read more about the health benefits of suma...

Which is Better for You: Tea of Coffee?

2008-08-08T11:34:00.000-04:00

America has primarily been a coffee drinking nation. In the beginning, it was just plain coffee, black or with milk and sugar. But now, we've graduated from the traditional coffee flavor to a multitude of gourmet blends and fanciful sweeteners. We've made coffee a major industry, partly because of our desire for a rich, satisfying cup of steaming coffee, but also because our bodies rely on that caffeine-laden pick-me-up in the morning and often throughout the day.

But it has been argued that too much coffee can ultimately be bad for you. Much of this assumption is based in part on myth and conjecture. Recent studies have revealed that coffee actually possesses a surprising amount of health benefits.

However, many consumers have already made the switch to drinking tea in favor of coffee, as we've grown more conscious of our health and the healthful qualities inherent in tea, particularly green tea and black tea, as well as many herbal teas.

So which is actually better for you, tea or coffee? Read more...

Coral Calcium: Properties and Health Benefits of the Calcium Dietary Supplement

2008-08-08T11:26:00.003-04:00

Coral calcium is a dietary supplement harvested from coral in Okinawa, Japan, and is said to be extremely rich in calcium and other trace minerals.

Can Coral Calcium Really Help to Prevent a Large Assortment of Diseases?

Health food stores and pharmacies all stock a bevy of calcium supplements, each one offering varying degrees of effectiveness. As calcium is an important nutrient for your overall health, it is vital that you receive the daily recommended value of this mineral, either through food or through a supplement. One calcium supplement in particular that has been garnering much attention in the health community for some time is coral calcium.

Coral calcium is a dietary supplement harvested from coral in Okinawa, Japan, and is said to be extremely rich in calcium and other trace minerals, and is much more effective than other calcium dietary supplements on the market today. Read more about the health benefits of coral calcium...

Bay Leaves: Culinary Uses and as an Herbal Remedy

2008-08-08T11:20:00.002-04:00

Unless you've a decent amount of cooking experience, specifically in soups and stews, then you might have overlooked an important herb. The bay leaf, also known as bay laurel and sweet bay, is a flavorful herb used extensively to flavor soups and stews. A necessary staple of any well-stocked pantry or spice rack, bay leaves are often used in Mediterranean cuisine and are now commonly found everywhere, especially in North America.

There are two main types of bay leaves; the Mediterranean bay leaf (also known as the Turkish bay leaf), and the California bay leaf, which is somewhat stronger in flavor.

Bay leaves also contain some healthful properties. Said to improve digestion, it can also be used as a local antiseptic. Herbalists use the bay leaf for several herbal remedies, including as a means to stimulate the appetite and to decrease excessive flatulence. Read more...

Product Review: Naked Juice: All Natural Fruit Juices and Smoothies

2008-08-08T11:17:00.002-04:00

Bursting with Flavor and Healthful Benefits, These All Natural Juice Blends Are Perfect for a Healthy Lifestyle

Extremely refreshing. A wide assortment of delicious flavors. Healthy and packed full of the good stuff your body needs and craves on a daily basis. I'm talking about Naked Juice, a product line of all natural fruit juices and smoothie blends, consisting of remarkably creative mixtures and pairings of various fruits and vegetables, loaded with essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

You may have seen a small variety of Naked Juice already claiming space on your supermarket shelves in the produce section, and the attention-grabbing bottles likely exist in greater quantity in health food stores. Thanks to a wide variety of flavors, each with its own nutritional benefits, Naked Juice is quickly becoming the popular choice for health advocates, vegetarians, and regular consumers who simply enjoy the refreshing blends which consist purely of fruit, fruit juices, and/or vegetables, with an extra-dose of healthy vitamins and minerals on the side. Read more...

Product Review: The Aero Grow Aero Garden

2008-08-08T11:13:00.001-04:00

The Aero Grow Aero Garden lets you grow items such as herbs, cherry tomatoes, chili peppers, strawberries, salad greens, flowers, and more in a compact space in your home.

Grow Your Own Fresh Herbs, Vegetables, Salad Greens, Flowers and More with Your Indoor Aero Garden

I've always enjoyed growing fresh herbs, but because of the layout of my apartment, I only have a balcony that receives a limited amount of sunlight in which to grow them. So it was with great joy that I received the Aero Grow Aero Garden as a birthday present and recently began using it to grow an assortment of herbs. The Aero Grow Aero Garden is a small unit about the size of a standard microwave oven that allows you to grow a variety of herbs within your own home, regardless of available sunlight.

Aside from herbs, the Aero Grow Aero Garden also lets you grow items such as cherry tomatoes, chili peppers, strawberries, salad greens, flowers, and more. A recently released Master Gardener Kit enables you to grow a variety of vegetables including eggplant, green beans and spinach.

Before launching into the Aero Garden Review, a little background: Read more...

What is Saffron and Why is it the Most Expensive Spice in the World?

2008-08-08T11:05:00.001-04:00

So what exactly makes saffron the world's most expensive spice? It's not necessarily its flavor or any health benefits associated with the reddish-yellow spice, although it does lend a distinct, wonderful flavor to all manner of dishes. Rather, it's the cultivation process.

It has been estimated that approximately one acre of purple crocuses, the flower from which saffron threads are harvested, will yield only one pound of saffron. This is because each crocus flower only produces 3 threads of saffron. About 14,000 threads (actually the dried stigmas of the crocus flower) equals one ounce of saffron, so that should give you an idea of the labor intensive process that goes into harvesting saffron threads. Saffron is harvested in Spain, Greece, India, Turkey, and a few other countries. It can be sold as saffron threads, or as a ground saffron powder, but culinary experts prefer the threads, as the flavor is typically stronger.

The question is, is it worth it? Read more...

Food that Can Affect Your Mood: For Better or for Worse!

2008-08-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

What You Eat Can Mean the Difference Between a Good Day and a Bad One

Do you ever spend some or all of a day feeling particularly sluggish, despite having received a full night of restful slumber? Have you ever found yourself cranky and irritable, perhaps a bit stressed, without being able to determine why? You might want to look at what you've eaten, because many foods can have beneficial or adverse reactions to your overall mood.

It can be helpful to learn what foods in particular may help increase your daily energy and mental alertness, and what foods you should avoid or consume in minute quantities, in order to avoid slipping into a bad mood, or even a short bout of depression.

Mornings should always begin with a breakfast high in protein. Aside from the particular health benefits associated with protein, having a high-protein breakfast will help facilitate a quicker metabolism throughout the day, aiding in dieting and weight-loss. Eating foods high in protein will also be beneficial to your mood, as the various amino acids that form the building blocks of protein help to increase your body's energy and raise alertness. Read More...

Three Diet Smoothie Recipes: Tastes Great and Helps You Lose Weight

2008-08-08T10:18:00.002-04:00

Try one of these diet smoothie recipes. All are low-fat and low-calorie but still contain essential vitamins and nutritious benefits, as well as taste great.

Strawberry Banana Diet Smoothie Recipe
This smoothie recipe uses only a few simple ingredients but packs a lot of flavor and vitamins, as well as a decent amount of protein. Using a blender, mix together a banana, a cup of low-fat milk, a cup of ice, 3/4 cup non-fat yogurt, and five strawberries. This makes a nice thick smoothie, so it will help keep you full for a while and curb any cravings until your next meal. This smoothie contains about 240 calories, 1 gram of fat, and about 45 carbs.
Read more diet smoothie recipes...

Carob - A Healthy Alternative to Chocolate that is Vegan Friendly

2008-08-08T10:06:00.002-04:00

Many consumers are likely unfamiliar with the carob, but this sweet, almost candy-like food is more commonplace than you might think. According to chocolate purists, carob holds no candle to chocolate, but it is nonetheless often used in its place, due to a subtle flavor reminiscent of chocolate. Many never know the difference.

Carob is the pulp harvested from the pods of the tropical carob tree. The pulp is edible directly off the tree, but for retail use, it is often roasted and then ground into a carob powder, and then used extensively to flavor a variety of goods, the majority being candy and some baked goods.

Carob is also healthier than chocolate, and so can often be found in health food stores and supermarkets that sell a large selection of healthy goods. Carob can be purchased in both a fresh or dried form, in bars or in pieces, and is often packaged as a snack. It also makes an appearance in many varieties of trail mix and acts as a nice sweetener to health bars and other nutritious snack products. You can also purchase carob chips for use in baking.
Read more about carob...

Sumac Spice - Uses in Middle Eastern Cuisine and Health Benefits

2008-08-08T09:54:00.004-04:00

Not to be confused with the poison sumac plant that flourishes in North America (although it is a close relation), sumac spice comes from berries harvested from a bush that can be found in the wild all across the Mediterranean. Sumac spice figures heavily in Arabic cuisine, as well as many other Middle Eastern countries such as Turkey, Greece and Lebanon. It is often substituted for lemon or vinegar in many dishes due to a more favorable tart and tangy flavor.

If you have no experience with Arabic or Lebanese food, than you probably have not heard of sumac spice, but it worth seeking out in ethnic markets as it can be employed for many culinary uses, and contains a few health benefits as well.

Often utilized in Arabic, Indian, and Lebanese cuisine as a rub on meats and kebabs, it can also be added to marinades, soups and stews, rice dishes, casseroles, salad dressings, dips, and many other dishes for additional elements of flavor. It can also simply be used on the table as a condiment to replace salt and pepper.
Read more about sumac spice...

Health Benefits and Nutrition of Fava Beans

2008-08-08T09:47:00.006-04:00

Get better acquainted with fava beans, but please, no Hannibal Lector impressions!

Also Known as Broad Beans, They Are Extremely High in Fiber

Fava beans, forever immortalized in the classic quote by Hannibal Lector in the movie Silence of the Lambs, are actually not beans at all. Fava beans are referred to by many names, according to the region where they are cultivated, Whatever name you might choose to call them, you should be aware that they belong to the pea family, rather than the bean family. But the name is not so important as the many health benefits and nutritional qualities also inherent in fava beans.

Until that famous quote was made mainstream in America, fava beans might have been more recognizable under the moniker "broad bean". A staple of Mediterranean cuisine for centuries, fava beans are enjoyed in a wide assortment of Mediterranean dishes, not just because of the many health benefits they contain, but also because of their unique flavor.

While fava beans are somewhat less common in American cuisine, you might consider making them a more frequent addition to your diet, especially if you are one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans seeking more fiber in their diet.
Read more about the health benefits of fava beans...

Steaz Organic Sparkling Green Teas & Steaz Energy

2008-08-08T09:41:00.004-04:00

A Healthy Alternative to Soda and Energy Drinks

Steaz Organic Sparkling Green Teas & Steaz Energy contain natural and organic ingredients, as well as nutritional and health benefits.

The beverage aisle of any supermarket or convenience store is crammed full of all manner of new energy drinks and vitamin-fueled beverages, encompassing a number of common and unique flavors. But as of yet, there has been very little offered in the way of a tea-flavored energy drink or healthy beverage. Enter Steaz Teas, a refreshing, green tea flavored organic energy drink and sparkling "soda".

Steaz Teas are produced by The Healthy Beverage Company, and if you think this is just another product lining the shelves, trying to capture a bit of the energy drink market, think again. Steaz sparkling green teas use all natural and organic ingredients and come in a large variety of flavors.
Read more about Steaz...