Suzy Eats

As mentioned in the previous blog (http://suzyeats.com/category/healthy-living/), pomegranate is a fruit that you should try to eat each week. It may also be a fruit that many have not yet tried.

You can find pomegranate at your local grocery store. You may also find the seeds in a container or the juice. But, as I mentioned previously, the seeds are more nutritious than the juice.

The pomegranate seeds are loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, fiber and potassium. They are great for vomiting or diarrhea to help replenish potassium. You can eat the seeds directly or add them to different meals such as hummus or salads. Another key aspect is that they are low in calories. You can even make a Pomegranate Martini (http://www.oprah.com/food/Oprahs-Pomegranate-Martini).

One complaint about pomegranate is that it is quite messy to eat. Below I have listed below a four step process to make it mess-free.

Step 1: Cut of the crown of the pomegranate, and cut it into sections where the skin is thick to minimize damage to the seeds.

Step 2: Place pomegranate in a bowl of cold water. Submerge the pomegranate in the water and gently pry it open into sections to pull the seeds out. (the seeds will sink to the bottom and the skin will go to the top of the water).

Step 3: Throw away any extra pieces of skin and skim off anything extra. Leave only the seeds in the water.

Step 4: Take seeds out of the water and place onto a paper towel to dry. You can refrigerate the seeds for 3-5 days in an airtight container and they will remain fresh.

ENJOY you low calorie, highly nutritious snack!!!

Do you have another method to eat a pomegranate??? Let us know.

Is this your first time or are you an experienced pomegranate eater ?? 🙂 Let us know

The Mediterranean Healthy Way 🙂

Eating healthy is an everyday choice. It is not something that we can do just once in awhile but rather something that we should do each day. There are 6 Mediterreanean Foods that you should have in your kitchen and enjoy each week. These foods can add years to your life and make you look younger. Now that is definitely Mediterranean Healthy 🙂

#6 Almonds- I am talking about raw almonds (uncooked, not smoked) RAW almonds. They are great for health. They provide a high amount of protein which is especially useful for vegetarians. They also are a great source of fiber, folic acid and other key vitamins. I recommend have about 1/4 cup each day if possible. If you do not like the taste, try placing them in the refrigerator. It is an old Mediterranean trick and some say that they taste better cold.

#5 Tomatoes- Tomatoes are a fruit that we all need in our diet!! I have received questions as to which type of tomato is best (i.e. cherry, plum, etc). But it really does not matter. I advocate for any type of tomato as long as it is a tomato. They contain lycopene which is important in protecting the heart  and can also protect against cancer.

#4 Garlic- I have discussesd the health benefits of garlic in a couple previous posts (http://suzyeats.com/2011/02/fresh-garlic-or-powdered-garlic-difference/) and (http://suzyeats.com/2011/02/ellens-favorite-garlic-it-should-be-your-favorite-too/) . So all I would like to stress here is that garlic is important (why? read the previous posts 🙂 ). Overall, it is great for your health and it a Mediterranean staple that we should all eat each week. 

#3 Spinach or a Jute plant( http://suzyeats.com/2011/01/jute-plant-mulukhiya-mediterranean-healthy-no-more-aging/) They are low in calories and high in vitamins and nutrients. Spinach is a key vegetable that contains numerous antioxidants and is helpful to fight infection and protect immunity. Popeye instantly had muscles after eating his spinach.

#2 Pomegranate- This fruit is delicious!!! Yes, its messy but it is a key for our well being. I definitely recommend the fruit over the juice but if you are not able to eat the fruit or do not have the patience to break it open than the juice is a nice substitute.

#1 Olive Oil-  Olive oil is a wonder oil. It clears out our arteries and tastes delicious. It can be used for cooking, for the skin and even to clean. It is important to store olive oil in a dark tin container as a light bottle may cause the chemical structure to break and some of the important health benefits may dissipate.

Eating these foods each week will definitely help you look and feel younger 🙂

This is a very simple way to make mint tea. As I mentioned in my previously blog, Mint Tea is one of my favorites so there was no way that I could discuss mint tea and not include a recipe.

Ingredients

• Tea
• Water
• Fresh Mint Leaves
• Sugar or sweetener

Instructions

1. Boil the water and when it comes to a boil add the tea bag and turn off the stovetop.

2. Place 3-5 fresh mint leaves into the bottom of the cup and add 1 teaspoon of sugar (can adjust to taste).

3. Pour the tea onto the fresh mint.

4. Serve

(Can make it mint ice tea by simply adding ice)

*Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Healthy Eating*

We have all heard that mint is good for your breath, but that is not all its good for….Everytime I make a cup of tea, I add mint…yes it gives it great flavor. But there are many other “things” that mint offers.

Mint has been used all over the Middle East for its great healing power, wonderful aroma and yummy taste!!!!

Mint is useful for an upset stomach, nausea and headache. It can help treat irritable bowel syndrome or other stomach disorders. It is able to smooth the digestive tract and it can reduce the severity of an upset stomach. It has been shown in animal studies to reduce the risks of colon and lung cancer! Finally, there is mixed opinion but it has also been shown to improve female fertility.

Try chewing fresh mint leaves in place of gum. It will definitelyl freshen your breath and may even last longer 🙂

A continuous debate between my husband and I is how long it takes us to eat dinner and the amount of time that we sit at the dinner table. In short, I take A LONG time to eat, while my husband eats VERY quickly.  

The other night I made a great dinner 🙂 We had cream of broccoli soup, fattoush salad and baked chicken with coucous. The issue really was not the dinner but rather the fact that I was still eating the soup as my husband was finishing up the baked chicken and coucous.

So….what is the problem with that? Well, first it means that he gets up off the dinner table a lot quicker and there is no time to talk 🙂 

But the real is issue is related to health….

Studies show that people who eat their food quickly are more likely to become obese. Eating quickly has actually become more common as people are often in a hurry and may even have a shorter lunch or dinner break at work compared to the past.  In addition, some people are even eating in their cars. I have attached a link to a specific study that I thought was particularly interesting: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104085230.htm.

The study basically shows that the longer you take to eat….the more full you may feel at a 30 minutes after eating mark…..

Are you a slow eater or a quick eater???? I would love to hear your thoughts.

Now that is food for thought 🙂