Health food and healing recipes for health and wellness

Oranges & Cashews Dessert

11/12/2013

This is a very interesting combination which combines almost all the tastes- even salty and pungent (hot)!

Cleansing and apetite promoting oranges along with nutritous and tissue building cashews help to make this a very healthy dessert treat. Vanilla yogurt helps to bring this together quite well.

Cut up oranges in large chunks and add some spicy Cashews. Drizzle a little vanilla yogurt to make your quick-fix desert-salad. Cashews are sweet type of nuts and have a very smooth flavor. They combine well with yogurt- better than almonds which can be used in this recipe- but since they are hard to bite, it may not be as smooth and gratifying an 'eating experience'! :-)

Note- typically in Ayurveda, eating yogurt or any dairy with most fruits is not advisable- that's why, usual fruit smoothies are not preferred in Ayurveda. An occasional combination of a little organic vanilla yogurt with fruits can be satisfying without being high on the calorie count or adverse to our body-doshas!

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Dark Chocolate’s Bright and Dark Side

7/6/2013

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Chocolates comprise most of the popularly eaten candies. In fact, it has ranked at least seven among the top 25 mostly eaten candies across the globe. It is clearly a testament that most of the people have sweet teeth. Sometimes, it becomes too excessive. This is one of the many factors that cause diabetes in all age groups.

But, recently, the market gave life to dark chocolate. It is a variety of chocolate which has less sugar and milk that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. It has more cacao seeds as an ingredient which is the main derivative of chocolate. This is good news for most individuals who have cardiovascular problems as well as diabetes, specifically, those who really love chocolates.

Studies have revealed that dark chocolate has the capabilities to prevent high blood pressure by inhibiting the formation of blood clots. This results in the prevention of the development of atherosclerosis which is directly caused by blood clots. In addition, it increases the flow of blood throughout the system. But, this only happens if taken two to three times a week. And as a result, it also helps improve the brain’s function because of the amount of blood flow.

Dark chocolate is the opposite of its close relative, the milk chocolate. Instead of causing diabetes, it prevents it. This is caused by flavonoids, which is abundant in dark chocolate. This decreases insulin resistance, thus, it makes use insulin more efficiently. Moreover, it also prevents the development of cavities. Again, it is the opposite of milk chocolate. This is caused by theobromine, but this is not an excuse in avoiding proper dental hygiene. This is just a supplement, thus good dental hygiene is still a must.

Additionally, it also helps in the prevention of cancer due to its antioxidants which helps in minimizing the free radicals in the body. Free radicals, when in excess, do cause damage to the cells of the body that paves the way for the development of cancer. It is also rich in certain vitamins and minerals which supplement its health benefits. For example, magnesium and copper are good for the blood vessels and in the prevention of iron deficiency anemia.

But “too much of a good thing is bad” still applies to this type of chocolate. Dark chocolate still contains fats and sugars. Though they are in lesser amounts and are derived from healthier sources, it still needs to be consumed in limited amounts. And importantly, do not choose dark chocolates which have ingredients that increase fats and sugar such as mint and caramel fillings for you might end up in regrets.

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Oranges & Cashews Dessert

Dark Chocolate’s Bright and Dark Side

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Author

Books
by Maitreyi

Oranges & Cashews Dessert

Dark Chocolate’s Bright and Dark Side

Categories

Author

Books by Maitreyi

Books
by Maitreyi