Healthy and Green Living » Eating with the Gallands

The Powers of Parsley and Cilantro

The Gallands — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Eating green is a pleasure with fresh parsley and cilantro. Among the fresh herbs, these two are probably the easiest to find and easiest to start using. And for the beginning gardener, these two fresh herbs are a great way to exercise your green thumb! Buy them or grow them, either way you [...]

The Power of Flaxseeds

The Gallands — Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:03 +0000

If you are looking for a great source of healthy fat, fiber and antioxidants, take a look at flaxseeds. These little seeds are easy to use, have an appetite-satisfying flavor and some big benefits. Flaxseeds are a great source of the omega-3 fats necessary for optimum nutrition. They might even help you lower cholesterol and [...]

The Healthy Crunch of Almonds

The Gallands — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:00:22 +0000

Crunchy and satisfying, almonds are an amazing all-natural snack. The protein in almonds makes them a solution for satisfying your appetite until mealtime. But almonds are more than a delicious snack, they are packed with nutrition that can help reduce your waistline and improve your health. Studies indicate that almonds may provide important nutritional support to combat diabetes, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, inflammation and obesity.

Help Your Heart and Waist
Almonds are a source of nutrients that can facilitate weight loss and can help your heart. When overweight Americans used about a 2/3 cup of almonds per day as part of a weight-loss diet, they increased weight loss by 62 percent more than when following a standard weight loss diet and had a 50 percent greater reduction in waist circumference. And almonds are a good source of the minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium. These benefits make almonds an excellent addition to a healthy lifestyle. That's why we made sure to feature almonds in the recipes and healthy meal plans in our book, The Fat Resistance Diet.

Reduce High Blood Sugar
Exciting research shows that almonds may help to fight The Insulin Resistance Syndrome, also called the Metabolic Syndrome, which affects 40 percent of U.S. adults. It is characterized by an expanding waistline, insulin resistance and an increased risk of developing diabetes. Research done at the City of Hope National Medical Center in California found that incorporating almonds into a weight loss diet produced a decrease in insulin resistance that was twice as large as with a standard weight-loss diet. Diabetics showed almost twice the improvement in blood sugar control when they lost weight on an almond-enriched diet than a standard diabetic weight-loss diet.

Increase Intake of Magnesium and Vitamin E
When healthy American adults eating self-selected diets were asked to eat a 1/2 cup of almonds per day and were given no other dietary advice, terrific changes in their nutrient intake occurred:

Consumption of dangerous trans-fats and cholesterol decreased while consumption of beneficial fats increased.
Consumption of sugar significantly decreased while consumption of fiber increased.
Intake of salt decreased by 21 percent while intake of magnesium increased by 23 percent.
Dietary level of vitamin E increased by 66 percent.

Reduce Cholesterol
A Canadian study found that a 2/3 cup of almonds each day, when added as a snack food to the diets of people with elevated cholesterol, significantly reduced the levels of total and LDL-cholesterol and especially reduced the dangerous oxidized LDL-cholesterol. When a lower dose of almonds of only 12 nuts per day was combined with a diet high in soy protein and fiber, the effect on cholesterol was as great as using a statin drug. This diet also reduced the level of C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation.

Olive Oil for Flavor and Health

The Gallands — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:20:09 +0000

We've been hearing about the health benefits of olive oil for years now, but you might be very surprised to learn about some of its less publicized perks. Like leaner body weight&#151wow! In this segment of Healthy Eating with the Gallands, read about olive oil's amazing potential and learn which olive oil has extra health-giving properties.

A Star of Global Cuisine
One of the first crops cultivated in the world, the olive produces excellent oil that has been treasured since antiquity for its rich flavor and versatile uses. In recent years, olive oil has become increasingly popular in global cuisine. New research has focused a considerable amount of attention on the significant health benefits of extra virgin olive oil.

Sensational Cinnamon

The Gallands — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 04:57:48 +0000

You loved cinnamon as a kid, and you were right. Naturally sweet and delightfully aromatic, cinnamon is a wonderful power food just waiting for you in the spice rack. Mulled apple cider simmering on your stove with a stick of cinnamon is the ultimate aromatherapy for your home. And as we will show, cinnamon is tough enough to go it alone, without added sugar, calories or fat.

Yes, this amazing spice can add delicious flavor and amazing health benefits when sprinkled on your favorite dishes, or on new creations. Turn an ordinary dish or drink into the ultimate healthy comfort food. Soon you will be falling in love with cinnamon all over again.

Health Benefits
Powdered cinnamon, about a half teaspoon a day, may help prevent diabetes or reduce blood sugar in adults who have diabetes. One study found that cinnamon helped reduce levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in people with type 2 diabetes. With these potential benefits, its no wonder cinnamon is a hot topic in health news.

Tea, an Antioxidant Powerhouse

The Gallands — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:59:26 +0000

Tea has been treasured through the ages for its mellow taste, delicate aroma and amazing health benefits. To stay focused during hours of meditation, monks are known to have relied on the power of green tea. Around the world tea has become an integral part of many cultures, from English Breakfast and Darjeeling in the English speaking countries to Sencha and Matcha in East Asia. There are many varieties, with each region celebrating the joys of tea in its own unique way.

Now tea has become fashionable all over again, attracting health conscious consumers seeking a more natural and healthy lifestyle. And for good reason: Tea is loaded with powerful phenolic antioxidants that can, as part of a well-balanced diet, help promote wellness. Exciting research indicates that tea even has the potential to speed metabolism and promote weight loss.