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Posted on 04.20.05 by Administrator @ 8:01 pm Edit This
Some of you have written to me to ask for some information on tofu, it’s nutritional qualities, how it’s made etc. So here’s a little about one of my favourite health foods… Tofu is soya bean curd, made from dried soya beans. These are soaked, crushed and boiled. A coagulent is added to make it separate into curds and whey, then the curds are poured into moulds and left to set. Tofu is rich in protein and therefore makes a good substitute for meat or cheese, and it has little flavour. It is great at soaking up the flavours of other foods, herbs and spices. I often marinate it in soy sauce and fresh garlic for a chinese stir fry. Tofu’s other health beneifits are that is is cholesterol-free, low in calories and if it is made with calcium sulphate (check the packaging) it is a great source of dietary calcium. It is also a rich source of isoflavones. These are hormone-like substances that have a similar effect to oestrogen in the body. Japanese women seem to benefit from consuming many soya-based foods by minimising some of the unpleasant side-effects of the menopause. It has also been shown in some studies that women who eat soya products have lower rates of breast cancer. This compares favourably with the increase of cancer associated with synthetic oestrogen. Filed under: Nutritional tips Comments: None |
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Posted on 04.17.05 by Administrator @ 3:33 pm Edit This
Glad to hear from your e-mails that you’re all enjoying my nutritional tips, as well as my recipes Here’s a handy tip about eating tomatoes - eat at least one a day to help prevent cancer. Tomatoes are rich in a carotenoid called lycopene. People with high levels of lycopene in their blood are less likely to develop cancer, and eating just one tomato a day is sufficient to keep those levels up. Tomato products such as puree and sauce also contain large amounts of lycopene. Tomatoes are also a good source of vitamin C. The only bad thing to be said about tomatoes is that they may aggravate rheumatoid arthritis conditions, so beware if you are a sufferer. Filed under: Nutritional tips Comments: None |
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Posted on 04.16.05 by Administrator @ 5:14 pm Edit This
Ah the wonders of yogurt! This simple food really does have a lot going for it. Choose a low-fat or no-fat plain yogurt that contains Lactobacillus acidophilus (check the label) and you have a food that contains loads of calcium, potassium, riboflavin and vitamin B12. Yogurt bolsters the immune system, helps prevent vaginal yeast infection in women, helps to ward off other types of infection by raising gamma-interferon levels in the blood. Gamma interferon is a substance that directly fights disease in the body. It is estimated that eating 250g yogurt a day gives optimum benefits - that’s just two small pots. Filed under: Nutritional tips Comments: None |
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Posted on 04.12.05 by Administrator @ 10:59 pm Edit This
Did you know that a vitamin E deficiency can cause infertility? Well, that’s what they found out in some experiments on rats in the 1920s. (Just for the record, I don’t agree with animal testing of any sort…). The name “tocopherol” given to vitamin E actually means “bring forth children” in Greek! Vitamin is also a powerful antioxidant and is essential for normal functioning of many body systems. It protects cell membranes from attack by free-radicals. Good dietary sources of vitamin E include: avocado Filed under: Nutritional tips Comments: None |
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Posted on 04.10.05 by Administrator @ 9:08 pm Edit This
Well, my healthy tip for the day is to use bulgur wheat as a replacement for white rice, at least in some dishes. It is very tasty, easy and quick to cook and very nutritious. Bulgur wheat is simply wheat that has been steamed, dried and ground. It’s a great source of fibre, high in B vitamins and a good source of potassium. It’s low in fat (and therefore calories) and also contains some calcium and iron. Go on - give it a try Filed under: Nutritional tips Comments: None |
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Posted on 03.24.05 by Administrator @ 11:21 pm Edit This
Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed me - I’m thrilled you’re enjoying my recipes so much! I wanted to start adding in some nutritional tips too, so here’s the first of those and it’s about green tea. I really recommend anyone who has an interest in their health to enjoy at least a cup or two of green tea every day. Green tea is said to have many health benefits, including lowering your cholesterol, having cancer-fighting properties, boosting your immune system and helping to prevent cavities and tooth decay. Green tea is steamed rather than fermented, thus keeping in the powerful antioxidants that are lost in the fermenting process of other teas. Filed under: Nutritional tips Comments: None |
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