Posts Tagged ‘HEALTH’

© Chef LaLa

Fresh, colorful berries at your local supermarket or farmer’s market are a sure sign that summer is here.  Some sweet, others tart, berries are a delicious and nutritious treat and can be eaten whole, served fresh, frozen or in baked goods. Berries are available all year from a variety of sources, though most are considered summer fruits.  They are best consumed within 2-3 days and should be washed just prior to serving but can be kept frozen for up to a year. 

Berries are a great fat-free source of nutrients such as vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants and should be included in your daily recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables for optimal health.  Eat fresh, dried, canned, as a jelly or jam or add as a topping to cereals, yogurt, waffles, ice cream, salads and sorbet, or add to your favorite smoothie, beverage, sauces and baked goods such as pies, tarts, and cakes.

BERRY VARIETIES

Blackberry Black/Red Grape Blueberry Boysenberry Cranberry Currant Gooseberry Green Grape

Lingonberry Loganberry Mulberry Fuyu Persimmon Hachuya Persimmon Raspberry Strawberry

© Chef LaLa

By making a few changes to be more active, eliminate stress, and eat healthier, we can work at reducing the 3 biggest risk factors for heart disease which are obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol and give ourselves the chance to live longer, healthier, more active lives. 

Sounds easy and makes sense, yet our busy lifestyles have many of us leading unhealthy lifestyles by eating unhealthy prepared foods loaded with saturated fats, salt, and refined sugar to save time and then driving to the market to get more when we run out instead of walking because we are again trying to save time.  This all leads back to stressing our systems by rushing around and getting nowhere good, which can, over time, lead to chronic disease. Millions of American children and adults are at great risk because they are overweight or obese, have high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol that are not being treated or are not under control. 

Talk to your doctor about changes you can make in your family’s diet that can ultimately save their lives.  There are plenty of changes you can make right now like taking a walk to the market to get some fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  Talk to your doctor about whether a Mediterranean diet might work for you which can help you maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of diabetes, another risk factor for heart disease.

© Chef LaLa

Whenever people ask me what I do to combat stress, the first thing that comes to mind is acupuncture.  Stress can be caused by just about anything from being worried about something, not having enough time to get everything done, rushing around and over-taxing your system or anything that troubles you enough to affect your moods, sleep, concentration and overall well-being. 

Left untreated stress can cause distress which then puts your body in dis-ease.  Take out that tiny little dash and you can have disease.  Leaving your body stressed for too long can lead to a multitude of minor health problems and serious disease.  Stress is bad for your heart, your digestive system, your immune system, your brain, your entire body. Think you can’t afford to handle your stress, you can’t afford not to.  It’s more expensive to be sick than to spend a few bucks on little things to take stress out of your life.  For most of us it is more expensive to visit the doctor, stay in the hospital or even take a day off from work due to illness than to do simple daily rituals like deep breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, baths, massage, or other healthy stress reducing activities. 

For more serious stress relief, try acupuncture which is a great way to relax and let go of your stress.  What exactly is acupuncture and how safe is it, you ask?  Acupuncture is a technique practiced by professionals trained in western medicine who insert and manipulate tiny sterile needles into specific points in the body to create better vital energy flows.  The needles are so fine they can barely be felt and can actually be very calming. Once energy begins to flow, endorphins, an essential hormone for proper balance, are released, providing a sense of well-being, calmness, and allows our bodies to function properly. 

The technique is endorsed as a viable treatment for a multitude of conditions by the World Health Organization (WHO), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and The American Medical Association AMA).  Fees generally range from $60-$120 per session and are sometimes covered by insurance providers.  Initial treatments are usually longer, more comprehensive and more expensive but some practitioners offer package deals for long-term therapy.

As with any condition, be sure to consult your primary care physician to be sure this treatment is right for you. 

Q. Are plastic containers safe for cooking and food storage? 

-Karen M, Los Angeles, CA

A. Many people are concerned with the safety of plastics, including experts who continue to research the answers to our questions about whether plastics are safe for cooking, reheating, food storage and food consumption. 

The dangers that we are all concerned about have to do with polycarbonate plastics that contain bisphenol-A (BPA) which is often found in reusable water bottles, clear plastic food storage containers, baby bottles and other food storage containers we are exposed to every day.  Studies have shown that BPA can leach into food and drinks, especially those that are hot, and have linked BPA to the development of pre-cancerous lesions and abnormal development of reproductive systems in animals.  Researchers have not yet proven the same health risks linked to BPA and human health; however, they have not ruled it out either.

It also isn’t know for certain whether washing plastics in hot water causes them to break down and release BPA the next time they are used but since heating plastics in the microwave isn’t recommended, it leads many to think that there can be leaching with any kind of heating.  Since there’s no labeling requirement to tell us if BPA is present, experts recommend limiting exposure by using stainless steel, glass or plastics labled “BPA-free” whenever possible.

© Chef LaLa

Try using natural products like white vinegar to clean and sanitize your home and you’ll get your home sparkling clean, while saving money and doing your part to save the environment and your family, including pets, from harsh chemicals. Be sure to use high quality white vinegar since some lower priced brands are made with petroleum which is hazardous. Here are a few suggestions for using white vinegar to cut grease and remove mildew, odors, and stains in your home…

• All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into 1/2 gallon water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.
• Remove coffee stains on mugs and coffee pots by wiping white vinegar over the spot and rinse clean.
• Remove labels or sticky glue reside by wiping with white vinegar
• Grind white vinegar ice cubes in your garbage disposal to deodorize and sharpen blades
• Pour white vinegar into your toilet bowl, let sit for 10 minutes and flush to remove stains and bacteria
• Boil white vinegar and pour down clogged drains to unstop pipes
• Prevent cooking odors by simmering 1 tbsp vinegar in 1 cup water on the stove while cooking. To get smells like fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water
• Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water. For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.
• To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup white vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.
• Add vinegar when washing towels rather than bleach to clean and sanitize
• Clean vinyl and linoleum floors: mix 1 cup vinegar and a few drops of baby oil in 1 gallon warm water. For tough jobs, add 1/4 cup borox. Use sparingly on lineoleum. For wood, apply a thin coat of 1:1 vegetable oil and vinegar and rub in well.  For brick and stone tiles: mix 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon (4L) water; rinse with clear water. Most floor surfaces can be easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix.
• Reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.
• Clean metals such as: brass or bronze: polish with a soft cloth dipped in a vinegar and salt solution. Chrome: polish with vinegar, copper, with a cotton rag soaked in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. Gold: clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour. Stainless steel: clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar.

© Chef LaLa

 

Ingredientes:

2 tomates grandes partidos en cubitos

1 mango pelado y partido en cubitos

1 lata de salsa de arándanos

1 cebolla morada mediana, partida en cubitos

3 dientes de ajo, finamente picados

1 chile jalapeño fresco, partido en cubitos

1 rollo de cebollitas verdes, partida en rodajas finas

¼ de ramo de cilantro, finamente picado

½ lima, su jugo

Sal al gusto

Preparación:

Combine todos los ingredientes en un recipiente mediano y sazone. Si los chiles hacen la salsa muy picosa, agregue más tomate picado. Si no está muy picante, agregue otro chile jalapeño. Verifique la sazón.

Refrigere de 30 a 60 minutos para que los sabores se combinen.

Todos derechos reservados.