Showing posts with label Flax Seeds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flax Seeds. Show all posts

Friday, March 30, 2012

Seeding Health!!

Seeds are a healthy and nutritious way to get much needed vitamins, minerals, fiber, and omega 3 and omega (essential fatty acids) in diet.

Being quick and easy snack the benefits of seeds can be taken through as a snack or can be added to the meals. Here’s a list of few seeds that are not just delicious but healthy.

Pumpkin Seeds: are rich in protein, fiber, potassium, zinc and vitamin K. Being a   rich source of phytosterols (plant steroids) these seeds help fight inflammation and decreases incidences of disease conditions like skin cancer, prostrate cancer. Also helps in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol

Chia Seeds: A power filled snack rich in protein, fiber, calcium and essentially fatty acids (omega-3 and 6).Being a rich source of antioxidant chia seeds helps stabilize blood glucose levels and thereby preventing from heart diseases.

Sunflower Seeds: Added with vitamin E, selenium and copper , sunflower seeds are ‘a capsule’ of antioxidants.  Regular intake of  these seeds protect against cell damage and inflammation leading to healthier and younger you! Besides benefits on skin and internal health these seeds aids digestion, helps provide satiety due to presence of fiber.

Flax Seeds: or linseeds as they are sometimes known as are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids for vegetarians specially. The presence of this essential fat in flax seeds helps lower cholesterol levels, reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and protect against heart disease, diabetes and cancer. 1 Tbsp (15 g) of flax seed contain approx 2g of fiber making it a seed that aids weight loss, reduce blood pressure and promote digestion.

Now that we know how these seeds are valuable here are some of the ways whereby you can incorporate them to your daily diet:
-    Sprinkle of cereals and oat meal
-    Toss seeds in oven and add them to fresh salads
-    Crush and add it to fruit smoothies
-    Grind flax seeds and add to curries or dough
-    Germinate (by soaking at room temperature till it sprouts) and add to salad or fruit chats
-    Add roasted seeds to murmura and raosted channa to make healthy namkeen.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Brain- Gain: Superfoods


Do you often forget where you kept the car keys, name of the person you met last evening or perhabs even have locked car with keys in. Then, you really need to make sure you are getting recommended seven hours of sleep, one hour of exercise and not to forget good nutrition.

Sharpen your memory with foods that sometimes didn't get noticed during the monthly grocery visit.

- Almonds: When your grandmother asked you to pop-in 5 almonds early morning little did you know it has phenylalanine- a chemical that can pass blood-brain barrier. Phenylalanine generate natural mood-boosting neurotransmitters-adrenaline and noradrenaline. Being rich in zinc and riboflavin it is known to boost memory.

- Green Tea: Catechine present in green tea along with polyphenols help you relax mentally and can boost the availability of dopamine that signals brain circuits.Antioxidant property fights against many brain disorders.

- Chocolate: Jump start your thinking with a piece of chocolate? Yes, its possible due to presence of flavanols facilitating blood supply to the brain. Caffeine and flavinols enhance focus, concentration there by increase cognitive skills.
 Icing on the cake is chocolate stimulates the production of endorphins- mood ehancing chemical.

- Fish and Flax Seeds: Omega-3 fatty acid present in these are neuro-protective and release seritonin. Seritonin is a neuro-transmitter that helps you thinker faster,sharper and smarter.

Thinking what you missed buying during this grocery visit. Include any 3 of above food to think smarter.