Summer Beauty Foods: The Cherry

August 9, 2012 by Guest Blogger • 1 Comment

One of the things I look forward to during the summertime is that stone fruits are back in season. Juicy plums, apricots, and peaches are everywhere and I couldn’t be happier. Another fruit in their family is the cherry. These fruits are not only delicious, but rank high in the anti-inflammatory kitchen. Cherries come in sweet and sour varieties, but the sour cherries have a shorter peak time.

1. Cherries are definitely a super-fruit, filled with antioxidants called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins help reduce heart disease and cancer.

2. Their potent anti-inflammatory properties reduce inflammation and symptoms of arthritis and gout. To reduce post-exercise muscle and joint pain, athletes have been known to consume tart cherries.

3. Cherries contribute to the quality of your beauty sleep. These fruits are one of the few food sources that contain melatonin, an antioxidant and hormone that helps regulate heart rhythms and the body’s sleep cycles.

4. They are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which helps protects the cells. This in turn slows the aging process.

5. Cherries also give more power to your brain! They aid in brain health and in the prevention of memory loss by protecting brain cells against oxidative stress. So remember to eat cherries, and you’ll start remembering a lot more.

Note: although fresh cherries are in season during the summer, when they’re out of season you can still enjoy all their wonderful benefits by incorporating cherry juice concentrate into your diet. Brownwood Acres is a trusted brand, offering quality cherry juice concentrate made from Montmorency tart cherries.

Katharina Knoll, a Manhattan-based food and art enthusiast has prepared a series of anti-inflammatory recipes celebrating simple, rustic foods. Enraptured by the intersection of health and nutrition, Kat is the founder and director of Behind Foods. Follow Kat on her blog, Katharina’s Food Adventures, and keep in touch through her Facebook fan page and Twitter

Strawberries vs. Inflammation

June 26, 2012 by Guest Blogger • 1 Comment

Whenever summertime comes around, one thing I notice people always getting excited over are the seasonal fruits. Especially strawberries. Research consistently finds strawberries as one of the best antioxidant sources among commonly eaten food. Here are some of the outstanding health and beauty benefits:

Antioxidants: Strawberries contain a chemical compound called phenols. Anthocyanins, a particular phenol found in the pigment of this fruit’s skin are thought have potent disease fighting benefits.

Anti-Inﬂammatory: The phenols in strawberries also ﬁght against inflammation, a factor found in all diseases from acne to diabetes to cancer. They’re also a great source of manganese, which also lessens cellular inﬂammation—a contributor for various cardiovascular diseases.

Anti-Cancer: The combination of antioxidant and anti-inﬂammatory properties found in strawberries, are known for defending against cancerous cells. Nutrients like vitamin C, folate, and the ﬂavonoids quercetin and kaempferol all provide anti-cancer benefits.

Balance Blood Sugar Levels: Researchers have found that the polyphenols present in strawberries can also reduce blood sugar elevations from simple sugar. Studies have shown that consuming about one cup of fresh strawberries at least 3-4 times a week can regulate blood sugar response. That’s a very positive note to take for anyone with type-2 diabetes.

To reap maximum benefits, enjoy strawberries raw (not cooked/baked) and as fresh as possible. Strawberries start to lose their nutrient value after two days, not to mention flavor as well.

How do you incorporate strawberries into your diet?

Summer Beauty Foods: Peas

June 12, 2012 by Guest Blogger • 5 Comments

Nutrient composition isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when we think of peas- but maybe it should be. Sweet and somewhat starchy, yes…but they also contain health-protective phytonutrients, anti inflammatory benefits and immune boosting vitamins. Green peas contain the following beauty boosting benefits for:

Clear skin thanks to Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Zinc
Bone-building with Vitamin K, Manganese, Copper and Magnesium
Heart-healthy dietary fiber, vitamin B6 and potassium
Energy-producing iron, phosphorus, niacin, and riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Muscle-building protein. Recent research has shown that green peas are a reliable source of omega-3 fats in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
One of the phytonutrients found in peas–a polyphenol called coumestrol–has recently come to the forefront of research with respect to stomach cancer protection

Due to their starch content, make sure to enjoy your peas with a good dose of healthy fats and protein- and stay tuned for tomorrow’s simple summer recipe.

How do you enjoy peas?

Beauty Foods: The Strawberry

June 1, 2012 by ascott • 2 Comments

These antioxidant powerhouses actually have the 4^th highest levels of antioxidants, as far as fruits go. They’re delicious and can be enjoyed as a dessert by themselves, added to smoothies or even in savory dishes like summer salads. And we’re in luck, because strawberries are in season.

Stress busters: They are high in Vitamin C which helps to strengthen your body’s adrenal glands- which require the most Vitamin C of all the organs or glands in our body. Stress can lead to breakouts, so for clear skin, incorporate them frequently as a snack.
‘C’ for Supple: Strawberry’s high Vitamin C content keeps collagen and elastin levels healthy, keeping skin supple and youthful. Eat at least 3 servings of strawberries per week and incorporate a topical Vitamin C product to further stimulate collagen. 8 strawberries actually have more Vitamin C than an orange.
Fat burning: Strawberries contain antioxidant pigments known as anthocyanins which signal the body to use stored fat as fuel, according to The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemisty.

What are your favorite summer fruits?