15Nov

Why chocolate can help you be healthier this holiday season

It seems like a paradox, I know.  Chocolate, healthy? Everything we have been taught about health and nutrition seems to be challenged with this statement.

But keep reading and you will find that chocolate can be one the healthiest and yummiest things you can eat.

Brand matters!

First of all, I am not talking about your regular Hershey’s bar. I know all too well what happens when I eat regular chocolate like this.  My heart races, I get a headache, and I might be grouchy and irritable.  Basically, not worth it, especially since Hershey’s is a far cry from what I consider truly delicious chocolate.

What I am talking about is raw, pure, unprocessed cacao, or raw chocolate.  In its natural, unadulterated form, “it is the highest antioxidant food on the planet, higher than any other fruit or vegetable.” Because it is so high in antioxidants, it naturally combats the free-radicals in our bodies which cause illness and disease.  The following is a brief list of conditions raw cacao can help with:

  • diabetes
  • heart disease or edema
  • asthma – decreases frequency and severity of attacks
  • cough/lung problems (in a study it was 1/3 more effective than codeine syrup!)
  • weight loss – by decreasing sugar/dessert cravings and satisfying the appetite
  • vision/ocular/eye health  (high antioxidants improve eye health overall)
  • gum disease – extremely beneficial for oral hygiene
  • seasonal allergies
  • depression
  • lowers blood sugar levels
  • lowers blood pressure
  • lowers “bad” cholesterol

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15Nov

Fall and Winter dishes 2008-09

If you are looking for a sneak preview of what is to come this fall and winter of 2008-09, the following is a list of entrees and sides I am planning on including in the Nourishing Foods Menu Planner. Everything on the list is made gluten/dairy/soy-free.  There will also be a vegetarian/seafood option for each dish if it has poultry or red meat in it.

Vegetarian and Seafood:
Seafood Coconut Soup
Autumn Vegetable Paella
Potato Crusted Mahi Mahi
Tangine of Moroccan Veggies and Chickpeas
Cuban Black Bean Soup
Mahi Mahi with Cashews
Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas
Sweet potato black bean tacos
Nutty Vegetable Rice Pasta
Cashew “Alfredo” Gnonchi or Linguini
Salmon with Almond Lemon Stuffing
Lentils with Spinach and Sweet Potatoes

Chicken or Turkey:
Moroccan Chicken Kabobs
Orange Sesame Turkey Cutlets
Oven Fried Chicken
Turkey Mushroom Patties
Spiced Chicken with Kuri Squash
Spicy Chicken Tomatillo Soup
Turkey and Dressing
Chicken Pot Pie
Lemony Rosemary Ginger Chicken
Chicken with Peanut Sauce
Chicken Cornbread Pie
Turkey Sandwiches with Arugula-Walnut pesto
Vegetable Spaghetti and Meatballs
Serrano-Lime Chicken Fajitas
Chicken breasts with Parsnips, Leeks and thyme

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