Olive oil - the best Oil !?

Oil extracted from the Olive fruits is considered as one of the best oils, very good for health. I started using Olive oil in recipes quite recently and I must admit that I really appreciate this oil very much.

Most of the Olive oil available in the world comes from the Mediterranean region. As per the criteria of manufacturing and the contents there are different grades of Olive oil.

Extra virgin Olive oil

This is obtained by “first cold pressing” of the olives. The acidity is less than 0.85%.

This type is considered as the best for health.

Virgin Olive oil

This has a acidity less than 2%.

Pure Olive oil

This is actually a mixture of refined Olive oil and Virgin or extra Virgin Olive oil.

There are also some other Olive oil mixtures available in the market.

Look for Extra virgin olive oil. “First Cold Press” means the oil that comes as first immediately after mechanical pressing. Also note if the Olives are “hand picked” which indicates better quality. The extra Virgin variety is unrefined.

Why is it considered that Olive oil is good for health?

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, for eg: Oleic Acid. Olive oil has antioxidant properties. Regular consumption in moderate quantities may prevent heart disease.

I have already posted some recipes using Olive oil – the culinary arts of mine!!!

I found these dishes very tasty….yummy!!!….

Pomegranate - a good fruit!

I like this red fruit very much. The ‘looks’ of this fruit is ‘healthy’. Reddish, pearl like, not too sweet but tastes good. I like the dark red variety. There is a pale yellow variety also in the Supermarket but the dark reddish ones seem to be better….well it is my own opinion. After peeling of the outer thick covering we can see the red fruit inside. These are called "arils" which are situated along white layer like septae. Fresh juice can also be made using these arils. Remove the whitish bud like things from the red arils.

Health benefits

• Pomegranate contains B Complex vitamins and vitamin C.
• This fruit has antioxidant properties.
• Pomegranate reduces the bad LDL cholesterol.
• Regular intake may reduce high blood pressure.
• It has anti-aging properties.

Well….next time when you shop around, just throw one or two pomegranate into your cart. Try….you surely will like it.

Walnuts - a super food!

Walnuts can be labelled as the "King among nuts" in general considering it's wonderful benefits, healthwise. It forms an important constituent of “Mediterranean diet” which is considered very healthy especially for the prevention of Heart disease.

The shelf life of Walnut is prolonged when it is kept with it's hardshell intact. Once the shell is removed shelf life becomes less and it becomes rancid quickly. Walnuts are available in the market with shells intact and with shells removed.
The Persian variety is commonly available. After cracking the hard shell open it is better to clean nuts with pure water before using it in salads etc. Soaking the nuts for sometime in pure water makes it soft and wonderful to chew. Preferably eat it raw. It is recommended that we all must eat a handful of nuts everyday.

Why is it said that Walnuts are beneficial for our health?

• Walnuts are rich in good fats. They contain Omega-3 fatty acids which help in lowering bad cholesterol thereby preventing heart disease.

• Walnuts contain fiber and many antioxidants.

• Some studies showed that Walnuts may delay the onset or lower the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease. Alzheimer’s Disease affects the brain producing memory disturbances.

• An important study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that adding Walnuts with a high "bad fat" meals decreased the oxidation and inflammation in the arterial blood vessels. Eating "bad fat" meals can result in hardening of the arteries. Arginine - an amino acid found in walnuts is used by the body to produce Nitric Oxide to keep the blood vessels elastic. This study pointed that it is not only Olive oil that makes Mediterranean diet healthy but Walnuts also play an important role.

More info: Journal of American College of Cardiology, October 17, 2006

Green Tea - A healthy drink

It is a well known fact that green tea is a healthy drink. Numerous health benefits have been attributed to regular consumption of green tea. I have been using green tea for quite a while, initially the taste of it was not very pleasing because it has to be drunk without sugar and milk for best benefits, that is what I believe but as I became used to the flavor and taste I began enjoying it. I have tried plain green tea and green tea with different flavors like mint, apple, jasmine, lemon, cinnamon etc. and I like jasmine flavored over all the others.

Preparation of Green tea

First of all boil water and let it cool a little. It is better to use moderately hot water to prepare a delicious green tea drink. Boiling water is not advisable, it makes the drink bitter. Put a sachet in a glass or cup. It’s better to warm the cup or glass before putting the sachet. Slowly pour warm water into the glass. Cover the glass. This is to lock in the flavor of green tea. Let it remain there for three minutes. As per personal preferences stirring the sachet by pulling the thread help in more infusion of green tea. More agitation means more strength for the drink. Take off the soaked sachet once you feel the drink has reached your preference. Enjoy the drink little by little not forgetting to cover the glass while not drinking. Some people add cardamom to the tea but I don't like it.

Keep in mind that it’s a healthy drink, so sacrifice the taste of sugar and milk. It’s said these things will hamper the antioxidant properties of green tea. That’s what the some pundits say, so let’s not add sugar and milk. But some say there is no harm in adding these and it won't reduce or alter the health benefits. I prefer the plain way green tea was drunk traditionally. Numerous types of green teas are available now-a-days. Just browse, the tea racks at the supermarket and experiment with different flavors. It’s real fun to taste this wonderful drink. Even organic green teas are available and no doubt those are really good for health. It may be a little expensive but as you all know "Health is Wealth" so there is no harm in spending a little more money for better green teas. You may find certified organic tea harvested from organic tea gardens across the world packed in paper sachet free of bleach and other chemicals and even there are varieties which doesn’t have staples to attach the thread to the sachet so that the "very mild metallic staple flavor" can be avoided.

Now, let’s look into the health benefits of this wonderful drink.
Even though there is no 100 percent scientific evidence for the claims that green tea has innumerable health benefits many eminent people are advocating regular consumption of green tea.

• Green tea has lots and lots of antioxidant Catechin polyphenols. It kills cancer cells and helps in reducing the "bad" cholesterol.
  
• There are claims that it is effective in some forms of arthritis as well.
  
• Some use it for weight reduction/maintenance of already reduced bodyweight.
  
• It may halt Alzheimer's disease and protect people from Heart disease.
  
• Green tea has anti-aging properties.
  
• It reduces mental stress.

So enjoy your healthy drink...Include Green tea also in your diet...