Parsley, a green and fresh herb is rich in almost all the significant nutrients including beta carotene, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin K, chlorophyll, fluorine, iron, calcium and all the essential fatty acids. Wow! What more do you need? You can find two types of parsley, the green mossy, tightly curled ones and the Italian parsley that is commonly seen resembling celery and cilantro with flat leaves divided deeply.

It tastes slightly salty, bitter or pungent you can call it as. Once you start including it into your diet you will certainly feel the different in bettering your health. Nutrients are just flushed into this green herb and there are great health benefits you can achieve by adding t into daily regime and here are a few of them:

• Aids in fighting against infections, fevers, cold and cough.
• Due to high folic acid and iron content, it prevents anemia and treats it.
• Proved to treat kidney problems and is well known for its diuretic properties.
• Greatly decreases any inflammation, put the menstrual cycle in order, increases digestion and also plays a vital role in reducing menstrual pain.
• Aids in stimulating immunity levels.
• Proved to treat liver diseases as it is known to purify blood.
• Prevents ageing and cardiac ailments and is best known to treat cancer as it is known to fight free radicals greatly.
• Helps in fighting hives and other allergy signs as it is inhibits the histamine secretions whenever allergy attacks are produced.

These are just a few of the great benefits of this nutrient dense green herb. You can find difference in your overall health condition on including it in your food everyday. Add it to your salads, lime juice, marination, sandwiches and even a little in your side dishes. Fresh parsley juice can also be consumed as it is a well known as an herbal health drink.

While consuming parsley you need to be careful so as to not exceed the usage as it can lead to kidney stone problems in those who are prone to it earlier. It must be not be used by pregnant ladies as it can lead to pre-term labor or even abortions. Taking parsley in the right amount will add to your well being, at the same time exceeding the limits can prove to be harmful and it differs from one person to another.

Use fresh parsley instead of the dried herb that you get in bottles as the latter tends to have lower nutritive value and flavour when compared to the former. To preserve parsley you have to make sure that it is not moist and for this you can cut off stem ends of fresh parsley and wash them after which it can be properly placed in paper towels and kept in fridge. You can take it as and when it you need from it and will remain the same for 1 to 2 weeks!

Ingredients

• All purpose flour – 3/4 cup
• Baking powder – 3/4 tsp
• A pinch of salt
• Sugar – 2/3 cup
• Eggs – 3 large, at room temperature
• Vanilla extract – 2 tsp
• Unsalted butter – 100 gm
• Madeleine pan

Method

Ingredients

• 1 cup mixed beans soaked overnight (Sprouted mung beans, Kidney beans and White beans)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ½ cup chopped red onion
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley or coriander leaves
• Freshly ground pepper
• Salt to taste

Method

1. Boil the Kidney beans and White beans until just tender in salted water. Drain. Set aside.
2. In a bowl combine all the beans, chopped red onion and fresh parsley or coriander leaves.
3. Pour olive oil, lime juice and top up with ground pepper, salt to taste and mix well.
4. Store in an air tight container in the fridge for few hours before serving.

What do you think is the reason behind your grandparents talking about healthy eating habits? Have you ever thought about sitting back and understanding the real benefit? You might be even wondering that people are behind healthy eating these days and connects really well with what your grandparents talked about. The greatest benefits of eating healthy is to stimulate your immunity so as to be away from the vibrant diseases that are spreading rapidly these days and also to remain fit through proper weight management.

Today we find that people have very little time to spend together or to make delicious and healthy foods. This is why many of them depend on fast foods or refrigerated ones. The reason why the obesity figure is increasing across the world is people tend to consume far more than what is required by the body.

It is not too late to return back to a healthy body and soul as you can incorporate or replace your daily diet intake with healthy and less oily foods. Through this your body gets all that is needed in the right levels and you are free from taking any kind of supplements to foster your needs. It reflects on your skin tone and tends to feel and look young at the same time as it remains well nourished and hydrated with the right choice of food consumed.

Incorrect timing in consuming food is yet another reason why people always complain of tiredness and loss of energy even after doing lesser work. By implementing healthy eating habits, you seem to have set your schedule the right way with lot of enthusiasm, courage and energy to do the entire job assigned to you whole heartedly. This will in turn lead to increasing the metabolism rate within short time period.

Research has proved the greatest benefit of developing healthy eating as it manages even fatal illness like high blood pressure, adult diabetes, cardiac issues, increased cholesterol levels and lot more. There are several tips and replacements that can be made to keep your food tasty, at the same time healthy and less oily. One among the many is to use saturated and no cholesterol oils like canola or olive oil.

Making your dinner hours before you sleep also helps in sound sleep as the body is also in the relaxed form after digestion of the food already taken in hours back.

Start right now as it is not too late to jump start with healthy eating habits.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Water
• 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 tablespoons Ginger chopped
• 4 cups Watermelon cubed
• 1/2 cup Lime juice freshly squeezed
• Ice Cubes as needed

Method

1. Place water and sugar in a sauce pot and bring to low simmer to dissolve sugar. Set aside.
2. Put watermelon and ginger in a blender; process until smooth. Strain through a sieve into a pitcher.
3. Add sugar water. Stir in lime juice. Pour over fresh ice and serve.

With the advent of fast food chains and other highly oil filled stuffs, the importance of greens is less remembered even though people are aware of it. When you get those nonsense foods in minutes why do you want to spend time cutting and eating greens like broccoli, cabbage, spinach and vegetable likes carrot, beans and others? This is how people approach the future of their health and become the cause of their own unhealthy nature as they get addicted to these tasty but high calorie food stuffs.

Due to increasing illness and the rise of new diseases, doctors and experts are into promoting eating healthy and reducing street or fast food. Broccoli is one such magic vegetable gaining importance these days and more and more people are getting used to including in their daily diet regime.

It is a major source of soluble fiber as well as vitamin C apart from vitamin B1, 2, 3,5,6,9, iron, phosphorous and zinc. Research are still being conducted to know the extent of how good this vegetable is as it is already proven to improve overall health by improving health and treating deadly diseases like cancer.

Here are some of the reasons why broccoli is known as ‘super food’.

• Known for lesser calories and better source of minerals, fiber and vitamins, broccoli is pretty popular among everyone as a good antioxidant.
• Broccoli is rich in phyto-nutrients like sulforaphae, thiocyanates, isothiocyanates, indoles and flavenoids such as Lutein, beta carotene and zeaxanthin.
• The above properties present in the vegetable is responsible for protecting the body against breast, urinary bladder, prostate, pancreatic and colon cancer.
• When it comes to eating the vegetable fresh, you get the maximum benefit of being a good source of Vitamin C known to be a powerful anti-oxidant and of course a natural immune modulator helping in protecting against viruses causing flu.
• Broccoli heads are rich sources of folates known to help in preventing tube defects mostly in the child. It must be consumed while you are pregnant or trying to carry. Folate along with vitamin B6 work together to reduce the risks associated with stroke, cardiac attack or even arteriosclerosis.
• The green portion seen on the top of broccoli known as the leaves is found to be the reservoir of vitamin A and carotenoids.
• The flower heads of this magic vegetable is also known to contact omega-3 fatty acids in small amounts.
• Bones are greatly benefits on regular consumption of broccoli in large quantity. It is because this anti-cancer food is rich in calcium and Vitamin K. These are pretty important to keep your bones in good health always protecting you from osteoporosis which is a very common health issue in both young and old.
• The greatest benefits of broccoli lie in boosting your immune levels and if you have such problems it is high time that you include it in your grocery list. To ensure better results consume 1 cup of fresh or partially cooked broccoli every day. It works wonders as it contains beta carotene as well as trace minerals like zinc and selenium that works best to give immense power and rejuvenate your immune system for the work that it does every single day in protecting you.
• With its antioxidant properties, consuming broccoli is also helpful in fighting ageing signs. It makes you feel refreshed and young with tight skin and mesmerizing complexion making you feel young at heart and appearance.

Broccoli can be eaten raw or fresh and even as salads as it is available at any time fresh and green. It must be cleaned deeply by placing in salt water for 30 minutes to remove any dust, worms or pesticide remnants to get the maximum benefit.

You can add broccoli into any dish to make it special and elegant. The variety seen in broccoli dishes is simply mind blowing. Trying out those will help you create your own choice of dishes with this magic food.

Ingredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, defrosted
• 1/2 cup chopped pistachios
• 1/2 cup sliced and toasted almonds
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 pint whipping cream
• 3 cups cold milk
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• Pinch of cinnamon

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.  Roll out a sheet of puff pastry to spread evenly into a 9×13 inch pan.  Bake approximately 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Remove from oven, and reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix the almonds and pistachios with the lemon juice. Spread mixture over the pastry, reserving a small amount for garnish.
3. Combine cream, milk, cornstarch, sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan.  Stir over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.
4. Spread the cooled cream mixture over the nuts and pastry.  If desired, sprinkle with rose water.  Return dish to oven for 30 minutes, or until cream becomes golden.
5. Garnished with almonds and serve hot.

Ingredients

Base

• 50g Butter – Melted
• 100g Biscuit crumbs

Filling

• 250g Cream Cheese
• 100gm Sugar
• 2 tbsp Lemon juice
• 1 tbsp Gelatine
• 200gm Strawberry, puree
• 200gm non-dairy cream, lightly whipped

Method

1. Combine biscuits crumbs with melted butter and stuff into the base of a 8″ loose based cake pan and chill for 30mins.
2. Dissolve gelatine in lemon juice over hot water bath.
3. Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add gelatine mixture, beat until well combined. Beat in strawberry puree.
4. Fold in whipped cream and pour over prepared based. Chill till set.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Green Curry Paste
• 1 Green Capsicum, thinly sliced
• 200gm King Prawns, peeled
• 200ml Coconut Milk
• 1 tbsp Oil
• 2 red chilli, finely sliced
• 15 fresh basil leaves
• 1 tsp lime juice

Method

1. Heat oil in pan and add green curry paste. Fry for 1 minute.
2. Lower the heat and add the coconut milk and sliced capsicum, allow it to simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Add the prawns and simmer for 3 minutes until the prawns are thoroughly heated.
4. Add the basil leaves,lime juice and chilli,  mix well and transfer to a serving dish.
5. Serve with steamed rice.