Friday, September 19, 2008

Produce: The Roots of Good Health

by: Chris Robertson

Even if we roll our eyes when we hear it, "Eat your veggies" is a maxim that we'd be well advised to heed. Our mothers and grandmothers instinctively knew that fresh fruit and vegetables were good for us, and science has reinforced the value of fresh produce in keeping our bodies in peak condition. Nevertheless, we often skimp on eating root vegetables, either because they seem boring or we don't know how to best prepare them. These nutrition-packed powerhouses are worth a second look, though. Here's an overview that will hopefully inspire you to reach for the roots when you're in the produce section of your grocery store.

Captivating Carrots

Oh, the ubiquitous carrot. Baby carrots are peeled, washed, and sealed in plastic bags for a no-fuss, no-muss snack. But carrots aren't given credit for their variety or versatility. For example, not all carrots are orange. The next time you want to experiment, be on the lookout for white, yellow, red, and even purple carrots. They can be used in recipes, or to add vibrant color to your plates.

Speaking of recipes, carrots can be more than an afterthought for a salad or to enrich and add flavor to broths. Carrots give breads, muffins, and cakes a wonderful moistness, texture, and flavor, and cold carrot soup can be a refreshing taste treat on a hot summer day. Throw grated carrots, cream cheese, and grated onion into a food processor and spread on toast points for a delicious appetizer. Step into the future with a carrot mousse or flashback to the past with pickled carrots. Let your imagination fly and you'll rediscover these colorful treasures.

Radical Rutabagas and Tasty Turnips

Although the Finns and Swedes cook rutabagas with aplomb, the rutabaga and turnip aren't in most Americans repertoires when it comes to cooking vegetables. Sure, turnip greens are a staple of the delicious cuisine of the South, but what to do with the root?

Rutabagas are actually a cross between turnips and cabbages, although they are most often used like a turnip in cooking. Either rutabagas or turnips can be cooked and added to mashed potatoes to enhance their flavor and nutrition. Try turnip custard, or combine apples and rutabagas for a delicious baked casserole. Use rutabagas in a spice cake or bread, or make a seasoned puree and serve it with a meat dish.

Hearty Jicama

Like the carrot, the jicama is often relegated to the salad bar. But this sweet, starchy, and refreshing root vegetable is a wonderful addition to stir-fry or potato salad. Much of jicama's appeal is its unique crunchy texture, so grate it, cube it, or julienne it to add zazz to cold dishes. Toss jalapeno with vinegar, cilantro, and jalapeno, and then place grilled shrimp over a bed of jicama. Delectable!

Other Nutrition-Packed Roots

When visiting the fresh produce section of your grocery store, don't overlook other roots that have taken a back seat to other fresh fruit and vegetables. Beets, parsnips, and radishes also offer culinary delights, so embrace their versatility and their ability to get you excited about eating your veggies!

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About The Author:

Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.com

To learn more about subjects like Produce please visit the web site at: http://www.yourproduce.com

For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Food directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/Food

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Dietary Supplements For Anti-aging

By: Scott McKay

The rate of aging varies from person to person. It is not the same for everybody. Aging is simply a natural phenomenon, which is going to affect everyone's body sooner or later. You can, however, slow down the rate of aging. There are two theories regarding aging. One is the sub-optimal hormone level of aging and the other is the oxygen reaction theory of aging. The former suggests that, as we grow older, some of the hormones in our body tend to decline, thereby, leading to aging.

The latter theory suggests that due to the oxidation reactions taking place in our body, aging occurs. Now that you understand the basics of aging, let us consider the options for combating the aging process. Eating foods that contain antioxidants is the basic approach to an anti aging diet. This approach helps us to avoid the poisonous oxidants that result from cell metabolism. Also, we prevent falling prey to diseases such as diabetes by following a healthy diet combined with exercise. Stress is also a major aging factor and it is therefore, very important in terms of anti aging, to learn how to deal with stress. Vitamins and herbs are also known as anti aging foods. Additionally, the hormonal levels in your body should be balanced in conjunction with the aforementioned anti aging recommendations.


Low body temperature and minimized weight gain in midlife can also facilitate the anti aging process. This anti aging measure can be accomplished by reducing your daily calorie intake in order to prevent high blood pressure. You should also factor in anti aging supplements that act as both a medicinal application as well as a food. There are numerous pill-form anti aging supplements that are available on the market.

It is, however, much better to follow a healthy diet than to rely solely on anti aging supplements. Anti aging supplements do prevent diseases and deterioration of cells in the human body but they don't always pack the additional punch that organic foods can supply. They are, however, known to prevent macular degeneration and other eye diseases. There are also phytochemicals that can also facilitate anti aging. Flavonoids and carotenoids are known phytochemicals that are found in fruits, colored vegetables, dark chocolate, red wine and green tea respectively.

There are also take anti aging supplements, which consist of alpha lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, etc... that are very effective. Another solution is to eat foods that have a mid to low range Glycemic Index rating. It has been said that anti aging promotes weight loss. Let us see how. Some believe that following a low calorie diet prevents aging. Therefore, if you are consuming low calories the chance that you will not fall prey to high cholesterol and cardiovascular diseases is elevated. In conclusion it is recommended that you eat healthy and exercise daily to keep yourself fit. Eat low calorie foods and those that contain anti oxidants. Consider anti aging pills as the secondary option.

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