Tag: Fitness

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Blueberries for All

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I don’t put much stock in the concept of “super foods,” but if you do, blueberries should be on your list. Their health benefits are well documented in the scientific literature. One study, published last year in BMJ, showed a correlation between the consumption of blueberries, apples and grapes, but especially blueberries, and a significantly lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. Scientists who are looking at foods that contain fibers that nourish probiotics, or beneficial microflora, in our lower intestines are finding that blueberries and other berries have a lot of potential in this area. [..]

One great thing about blueberries and blackberries is that they freeze exceptionally well, especially blueberries. All you have to do is make sure they are dry and seal them airtight in freezer bags or containers. You can throw them, frozen, right into baked goods. Toss them first with a very small amount of flour if you don’t want them to bleed when they bake.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Cornmeal and Buckwheat Blueberry Muffins

These muffins are the antithesis of the blueberry muffins on the counter in coffee shops, with plenty of fruit.

Blueberry or Blackberry Compote With Yogurt or Ricotta

An easy compote can transform plain yogurt or ricotta into a substantial breakfast or even a dessert.

Whole-Grain Blueberry Buckle

Topped with oats and quinoa flour, this old-fashioned cake is no longer traditional at all.

Beet and Arugula Salad With Berries

The sweet-tart flavor of berries make a lovely contrast to the pungency of arugula and the earthy sweetness of beets.

Berry Clafoutis

Not very sweet, this clafoutis works for either breakfast or dessert.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Summer Burgers, Hold the Meat

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I come back to burgers in this column every year or two. My quest for good vegetarian burgers has nothing to do with wanting to create something that resembles a hamburger or turkey burger. Why try to mimic meat? Rather, my vegetarian cooking is about produce, which, it turns out, can be the foundation for a great burger.

One difficulty I’ve experienced with vegetable-based burgers has been getting the right consistency, so that they hold together when you brown them. The solution to this occasional problem came in the form of some incredible patties that the chef Suvir Saran demonstrated this spring at the “Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives” conference at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley. He used farro, sweet potatoes, mushrooms and peanuts in his burgers, and they were flawless.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Suvir Saran’s Spinach and Potato Patties (Palak Ki Tiki)

These spicy burgers are a striking green from the spinach.

Suvir Saran’s Mushroom and Farro Burger

Potatoes, roasted and mashed, are the binder for these hearty patties

Mollie Katzen-Inspired Potato and Broccoli Burgers

These patties are coated in ground walnuts and include finely chopped broccoli.

Potato and Pea Patties With Indian Spices

Whole spices give these burgers amazing flavor and texture.

Sweet Potato, Quinoa, Spinach and Red Lentil Burger

These burgers have a Mediterranean flavor, with feta and mint in the mix.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Dishes for Digestive Health

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I’ve long been aware of the term “probiotics” (is there anybody who watches television who hasn’t seen Jamie Lee Curtis touting them in those old ads for Activia yogurt?), the beneficial microbes in our guts, and also in fermented foods like miso and kimchi, that some experts believe play a significant role in gut health and in keeping our immune system robust. But I’d never heard the word “prebiotics” until I attended a talk by the Stanford nutritionist Jo Ann Hattner, who has written (with Susan Anderes) an interesting guide called “Gut Insight: Probiotics and Prebiotics for Digestive Health and Well-Being.”

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Chard Stalk, Chickpea, Tahini and Yogurt Dip

An economical dip that is a cross between hummus and the classic Middle Eastern dip called silq bil tahina

.

Spring Vegetable Stew With Artichokes and Fennel

The inspiration for this dish is a Sicilian stew called fritteda that can be served with pasta or other grains as a main course.

Baked Frittata With Yogurt, Chard and Green Garlic

A spin on the Provençal chard omelet called truccha, good to eat hot, warm or cold.

Quinoa Bowl With Roasted Artichokes, Spring Onions, Peas and Garlic Yogurt This dish in a bowl mixes sweet and bitter edges.

This dish in a bowl mixes sweet and bitter edges.

Stir-Fried Baby Turnips With Spring Onions, Green Garlic and Tofu

Juicy springtime ginger, onions and green garlic elevate this stir-fry featuring baby turnips and their bitter greens.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Drink Your Greens

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I’ve never been one to eat or drink a particular food just because it’s good for you. So for years I’ve been rolling my eyes whenever anyone starts talking about green smoothies or green drinks. I love greens, but not in my morning smoothie.  [..]

The drinks are loaded with phytonutrients, and they’re filling. They are definitely meals in a glass. When I was testing the recipes I enjoyed every sip and felt very energetic for hours afterward. So, no more rolling my eyes: I’m a green smoothie convert.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Pineapple-Basil Smoothie

This may sound strange, but pineapple marries well with peppery basil.

Pear Smoothie With Spinach, Celery and Ginger

Ginger adds zest and banana contributes substance to this kefir- or yogurt-based drink.

Blueberry Kefir Smoothie With Greens

A green drink, rich in anthocyanins, that doesn’t look green, thanks to blueberries.

Green Smoothie With Pineapple, Arugula, Greens and Cashews

The pineapple stands up well to the arugula and greens, and ginger pumps up the flavor.

Green Smoothie With Cucumber and Cumin

This savory smoothie resembles an Indian lassi with added spice.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Quiche Meets Whole Wheat

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My quiches are delicious vehicles for vegetables. Right now this means fat spears of asparagus and sweet spring onions, green garlic and lush bunches of spinach. I also slipped in a few other vegetables that we can get year-round in the supermarket, like cabbage and red peppers. I used lots of scallions too, but they were fat ones from the farmers’ market, not the thin scallions from the supermarket, though they work too; you just need more of them.

These tarts have everything necessary for a satisfying main dish – protein from the dairy, delicious vegetables cooked in olive oil with fresh herbs, and a little bit of indulgence in the presence of an almost classic French pastry (though with a nutty whole-wheat twist).

Martha Rose Shulman

Whole-Wheat Pie Dough

This dough, made with half whole-wheat flour, has a nutty, rich flavor that works well for a savory tart.

Quiche With Red Peppers and Spinach

Spinach is plentiful and gorgeous this time of year, and slow cooking makes even the blandest red peppers sweet.

Cabbage and Spring Onion Quiche With Caraway

Seasonal onions and a winter stalwart, cabbage, make a deliciously sweet filling.

Scallion and Celery Quiche

An underappreciated vegetable, celery, is the star of this tart.

Roasted Asparagus and Scallion Quiche

Roasting asparagus makes it succulent even when it’s hidden inside a quiche.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Applause for Avocados

Avocado and Roasted Tomatillo Salsa photo 18recipehealth-master675_zpsaebffbc8.jpg

The Hass avocados I’ve been working with lately are nutty and rich, and I’ve been doing a lot more than slicing them up for sandwiches and mashing them for guacamole. I’ve been blending them with tomatillos and chiles into creamy salsas, and making surprising salads. One of them is a Chilean cabbage slaw that the chef Iliana de la Vega made at the recent “Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives” conference at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley. That was a revelation – coleslaw meets guacamole, two of my favorite dishes rolled into one.

Although we are now seeing studies showing that saturated fats might not be so bad after all, I hesitate to say that avocados are filled with “good fats.” But the fact is, they are. The fats in avocados, which include a generous amount of a monounsaturated fatty acid called oleic acid, aid in the absorption not only of their own many fat-soluble phytonutrients, including antioxidants such as alpha- and beta-carotene and lutein, but also the nutrients in the foods you combine avocados with.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Suvir Saran’s Guacamole With Toasted Cumin

A chunky guacamole that shows how Indian and Mexican flavors overlap.

Chilean Cabbage and Avocado Slaw

This is a simple yet addictive mix of salted cabbage and puréed avocado.

Roasted Tomatillo-Poblano-Avocado Salsa

A salsa with a balance of char, heat, acid and creamy, based on a recipe by Kim Sunée.

Chunky Avocado-Papaya Salsa

This salsa is closer to a salad, with a fusion of Thai and Mexican flavors.

Avocado and Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

Roasting the tomatillos produces a salsa with a deliciously charred flavor.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

“Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives”

Barley and Herb Salad with Roasted Asparagus photo 07recipehealth-master675_zps267806ee.jpg

These five recipes from Martha Rose Shulman’s Recipes for Health in the New York Times were from the “Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives” conference at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, an event that bridges health care, nutrition science and cooking.

Barley and Herb Salad With Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus taste better when it’s not cooked in or near water, but also that it doesn’t cause that distinctive odor in urine many people experience after eating it.

Bulgur and Chickpea Salad With Roasted Artichokes

The roasted artichokes are perfect served atop or on the side of this lemony grain, chickpea and herb salad.

Rainbow Quinoa Salad With Mixed Nuts, Herbs and Dried Fruit

You can use a variety of dried fruits and nuts, as well as a mix of herbs. Chop the larger dried fruits small so that the pieces are uniform.

Red and Basmati or Jasmine Rice With Peanuts, Asian Dressing and Baked Tofu

The antioxidant-rich pigment from the red rice will bleed into the white rice, turning it an attractive pale rusty color.

Middle Eastern Black Rice and Lentil Salad on a Bed of Spinach

Black rice is inky, as black as squid ink, and glistens against a bed of spinach. The pigments provide anthocyanins, flavonoids that are high in antioxidants.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Turning Up the Heat on Fruit

Pears Poached in Red Wine and Cassis photo 01recipehealth-master675_zps4be2c295.jpg

Fruit compotes make great compromise desserts; they’re sweet, but not as sweet as sorbets, and like sorbets they don’t require flour, butter or pastry skills. [..]

Early spring is an in-between time for fruit. Stone fruits aren’t ready yet and it’s not really apple, pear or citrus season either, though all of those fall-winter fruits are still available.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Prunes Poached in Red Wine

Reducing the soaking time in this French bistro classic saves flavor.

Bananas Poached in Vanilla-Scented Chardonnay

Don’t overcook the bananas in this easy dish, and you’ll be rewarded with a fragrant, delicious dessert.

Pears Poached in Red Wine and Cassis

A classic French dessert with liqueur that adds a deep berry essence.

Dried Fruit Compote With Fresh Apple and Pear

An alcohol-free compote with a variety of dried fruit and a bright flavor.

Blood-Orange, Ruby-Red Grapefruit and Pomegranate Compote

A refreshing dessert that keeps well for a few days.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Chicken and Citrus with Greens

Chicken Piccata photo 24recipehealth-master675_zps8f7ae9ad.jpg

Chicken ‘Piccata’ With Chard or Beet Greens

Pound chicken breasts thin, to about 1/4 inch. This way, you can get a good two servings, if not more, out of each boneless, skinless breast.

Lemon and Garlic Chicken With Spiced Spinach

When you add the rinsed spinach to the pan after cooking the chicken it will wilt in the liquid left on the leaves after washing, and it will deglaze the pan at the same time.

Lemon and Garlic Chicken With Cherry Tomatoes

This is a summery dish to make in the middle of a cold winter (or early spring), but you can find decent cherry tomatoes even now, from Florida or from Mexico.

Soy-Ginger Chicken With Asian Greens or Arugula

Serve these spicy pan-cooked pounded chicken breasts over a mound of pungent wild arugula or Asian salad greens.

Lemon and Garlic Chicken With Mushrooms

In this Provençal rendition of pan-cooked chicken breasts, the mushrooms take on an added dimension of flavor as they deglaze the pan with the help of one of their favorite partners, dry white wine.

Source: Martha Rose Shulman, New York Times Recipes for Health

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Inspired by Irish Soda Bread

Inspired by Irish Soda Bread photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zpsd3d714da.jpg

I put a little bit of white flour in my loaves, but you could use all whole-wheat flour if you prefer. With whole wheat, your bread will have more fiber, zinc, B vitamins and iron, and its glycemic index will be considerably lower than that of bread made with white flour. Irish-style wholemeal flour, available from King Arthur Flour and from importers, has a coarse crumb that is typical of Irish soda bread. I achieved the same crumb using my Community Grains whole-wheat flour and adding oatmeal to the mix. I used buttermilk as the liquid, but you can also use yogurt or a mix of yogurt and milk. You do need the acid from the fermented milk to react with the baking soda.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Scones With Raisins and Oatmeal

These are diminutive, light scones like the ones that originated in Britain and Ireland.

Moist Brown Soda Bread Loaf With Oats

This soda bread is baked at a lower temperature so that it doesn’t develop a hard crust.

Whole-Wheat Soda Bread With Raisins (Spotted Dog)

A mix of raisins sweetens this brown soda bread.

Brown Soda Bread Loaf With Caraway Seeds and Rye

A regional version of soda bread that is dark-brown, grainy and moist.

Savory Whole-Wheat Buttermilk Scones With Rosemary and Thyme

A whole-grain scone that pairs well with cheese.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Ancient Grains for Breakfast

Ancient Grains for Breakfast photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zps31ba0eac.jpg

I had already decided that this week I would play around with breakfast grains when I noticed that food manufacturers are also coming up with new ideas. I rarely look at the breakfast cereals on the shelves in the supermarket or at Trader Joe’s, as it’s easier and cheaper for me to put together my own combos. But this week, as I reached for a container of steel-cut oats, I noticed several prepared mixes of grains and seeds like oats, quinoa and flax, mostly for hot cereal, that I hadn’t seen before. [..]

When I’m planning on porridge for breakfast on a weekday morning I begin the process the night before. I pour boiling water over the grains and cover the bowl with a plate. The next morning all I need to do is heat the mixture in the microwave for two to four minutes. I might also grate in some apple, but basically, hot cereal made this way requires no more fuss than a bowl of cold cereal with milk.

Sweet Oven-Baked Grits and Millet With Pecans and Maple Syrup

This sweet and grainy polenta makes a delicious brunch dish.

Rolled Oats With Amaranth Seeds, Maple Syrup and Apple

Amaranth and apple contribute texture and sweetness to this morning bowl.

Steel-Cut Oats With Amaranth Seeds, Chia Seeds and Blueberries

Amaranth and chia seeds pump up the nutritional content of this sweet and hearty morning bowl.

Oatmeal and Teff With Cinnamon and Dried Fruit

Cinnamon and dried fruit sweeten this oatmeal/teff mix.

Breakfast Wheat Berries

These fragrant Middle Eastern wheat berries can be stirred into yogurt or eaten on their own.

Health and Fitness News

Welcome to the Health and Fitness News, a weekly diary which is cross-posted from The Stars Hollow Gazette. It is open for discussion about health related issues including diet, exercise, health and health care issues, as well as, tips on what you can do when there is a medical emergency. Also an opportunity to share and exchange your favorite healthy recipes.

Questions are encouraged and I will answer to the best of my ability. If I can’t, I will try to steer you in the right direction. Naturally, I cannot give individual medical advice for personal health issues. I can give you information about medical conditions and the current treatments available.

You can now find past Health and Fitness News diaries here and on the right hand side of the Front Page.

Building a Meal Around Roasted Vegetables

Roasted Vegetables with Polenta photo recipehealthpromo-tmagArticle_zpsd01ba1cb.jpg

Roasted vegetables can go much farther than their usual position of side dish with meat. I served them with polenta and with grains (quinoa was popular), I blended them up with stock for a comforting soup, and I made roasted vegetable omelets. They are also welcome in a salad or in a risotto. Roast more than you think you will need; you will end up using them.

~Martha Rose Shulman~

Omelets With Roasted Vegetables and Feta

With roasted vegetables on hand, this satisfying meal comes together in minutes.

Roasted Winter Vegetable Medley

A sweet mixture of winter vegetables that works on its own as a side or as part of a few different kinds of main dishes.

Roasted Root Vegetables With Polenta

A comforting main dish that combines savory oven-baked polenta with sweet oven-roasted root vegetables.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Mushrooms With Gremolata and Quinoa

Two roasted vegetables that are delicious with a variety of grains.

Roasted Carrot, Parsnip and Potato Soup

A creamy, comforting winter soup that is simple to make.

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