FitSugar

Become a Spice Girl, For Your Health

FitSugar — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 09:00:00 PDT

Me, I like it hot. You name it, I'll sprinkle a little hot sauce on it. I just like the taste (and the heat) but adding spice to your food can curb hunger, strengthen muscles, boost your brainpower and improve mood.

Here's why:

Staying slender: A study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that when women added 2 teaspoons of dried red pepper on their food, they consumed fewer calories and fat in later meals. Give your diet a light start; splash hot sauce on your morning omelet.
Becoming stronger: The curcumin that turns turmeric yellow also helps reduce inflammation and aids muscle repair after heavy exercise, researchers at the University of South Carolina at Columbia say. Enjoy the Indian spice for a few days before a big workout (try stirring it in a cup of lowfat cottage cheese and sliced fruit) to speed recovery.
Keeping sharp: Curcumin also sweeps out plaque deposits in your brain, which may help stave off Alzheimer’s disease, research from the University of California at Los Angeles suggests. For a savory meal, dust curry spices over rice and beans.
Getting happy: Capsaicin (the compound that gives chiles their kick) triggers pain receptors in the mouth, in turn signaling your brain to release feel-good endorphins, according to scientists at the State University of New York at Buffalo. That chemical surge not only helps dull the pepper’s bite, but it also betters your mood. Next time you need a quick lift, toss red pepper flakes or some diced chile peppers into your salad or bowl of chilled soup. Now that’s cool!

Source

Love Your Liver

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:45:00 PST

There must be 50 ways to love your liver, but to truly love something you have to know what it is all about. Right?

Well, what impresses me most about the liver is not that it is the largest internal organ of the body, but that it performs over 5,000 functions. A small list includes balancing your cholesterol, storing vitamins, activating hormones, and metabolizing fat into glucose to give your body energy. It also acts as a filter to remove toxins (harmful substances) and waste products from the blood. Check this out - a healthy liver filters blood at a rate of about 1.5 quarts per minute. That's 540 gallons of blood a day and more than 13 million gallons over a lifetime! Wow.

The liver continues to function even with considerable damage, but that doesn't mean it is doing all of its jobs well. Signs of poor function include: tiredness, dark circles under the eyes, poor digestion and dull skin.

If your holiday season started out with a partying bang and lots of alcohol and fatty foods, you might want to do something nice for your largest organ. Want to know what foods help your liver out, then

Bitter food like broccoli, dandelion greens, cabbage and brussels sprouts have a cleansing effect on the liver.
In multiple studies, artichokes have been proven to promote liver health.
The spices turmeric, cinnamon and licorice are beneficial to the liver.

Of course it helps to avoid: saturated fats, refined sugar and alcohol (limit yourself to two drinks a day). Drinking plenty of water is always a good idea.

Why You Should Be Adding Turmeric to Your Meals

Heather Dale — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:55:31 PST

Did you know that it's the powerful Indian spice turmeric that gives curry dishes that nice bold yellow hue? Turmeric not only adds to the aesthetic of Indian dishes, but it is also a powerful healing aid. The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, works in a very similar way to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For thousands of years, people in China and India have been using the spice to treat inflammatory ailments and as an antiseptic for cuts and burns, both in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Today, people continue to use this spice to reduce inflammation and accelerate muscle repair after heavy exercise.

To keep learning about turmeric's medicinal attributes and to find out what everyday dishes you can easily add turmeric to, just

read more. The curcumin in turmeric is not only an anti-inflammatory wonder spice, but it is also filled with antioxidants that will help protect your cells from free radical damage. Other benefits include:

Promotes healthy blood and liver functions
Supports the immune system against stress
Promotes healthy skin
Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels
Helps keep your blood healthy and detoxifies the liver
Digestive aid

This bitter and earthy flavored spice can be added to many foods. Here's a delicious cauliflower with turmeric recipe that is quick and easy to make. You can also use it to season meats (instead of salt and pepper), to spice up any egg or lentil dishes, or sprinkled on sautéed apples for dessert. You can even make your own turmeric tea if you're feeling really ambitious! Cooking tip: turmeric will stain anything it gets in contact with - including your counter and/or hands, so be sure to wash thoroughly if you have any spills.

Source: Flickr User ciamabue