Health Benefits of Strawberries

Here is the season of strawberry, the king of fruits! It is a super food!

Strawberry (genus Fragaria) genus of more than 20 species of flowering plants in the rose (Rosaceae) family.

Strawberries are packed with nutrients. They are excellent source of vitamins: A, C, E, K , niacin B3, pantothenic acid B5, folate B9, pyridoxine B6, and riboflavin B2.  They also contain minerals: potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc. They deliver beta- carotene and lutein- zeaxanthin.

As you can see they contain significant amounts of phytonutrients and flavanoids which makes strawberries bright red.

Strawberries enhance cognitive function, memory and may help to prevent Altzheimer’s disease.

The significant amount of polyphenols found in strawberry reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, lowers blood pressure preventing heart condition. It helps to improve eye health. Strawberries are packed with antioxidant that neutralises free radicals strengthens your immune system’s respond against infections such as the common cold.

Flavonoids in strawberry offer antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic qualities that connected with drastic reduction in metastasis of cancel cells.

Strawberries have anti-inflammatory properties that help alleviate pain associate with arthritis.  

Their fibre and fructose content may help regulate blood sugar levels by slowing digestion and the fibre is thought to have a satiating effect. Strawberry has low glycemic index and high fibre, which makes it a smart choice of fruit. Leaves can be eaten raw, cooked or used to make tea.

You have to learn that strawberries are a common allergen. If you have allergies to birch pollen you are more likely to develop as a secondary food allergy to strawberries. Most common symptoms are experienced in the mouth and throat tingling, itching, watery eyes and runny nose.

If you are not allergic to strawberry it will make a valuable contribution to a healthy balanced diet.

Winter Comfort foods

Soups

Sweet potato soup

Health benefits of sweet potatoes: 

The strong orange colour of the sweet potatoes is from the beta-carotene content, which is a vitamin A. They are effective source of other vitamins: vitamin C, pantothenic acid, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, the following minerals: manganese, potassium, phosphorous and dietary fibre.

1	shallot	2 chopped
2	garlic cloves	3 chopped
3	sweet potatoes	3 peeled and cubed
4	chilli pepper	½ sliced
5	vegetable  stocks solution	1
6	water	500 ml
7	nutmeg	½ tsp
8	salt
9	pepper
10	Greek yogurt or coconut milk	2 tbsp
11	olive oil	1tsp
12	roasted   buckwheat	2 tbsp

tbsp: tablespoon

tsp: teaspoon 

Place 1-9 ingredients into a medium size pan and cook it until the sweet potatoes get soft.

Blend the soup until it becomes creamy.

Stir the yogurt / coconut milk and oil in.

Season it if required.

Serve the soup with roasted buckwheat sprinkled on the top.

Health Benefits of Honey

Ms H

Bees are the only insects that make food for people and one bee makes 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its entire life. Honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sustain life, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water. Eating honey can make you smarter.  Honey is 80% natural sugar, with the exact combination of fructose and glucose, which is gradually absorbed into the bloodstream so it has a healthy glycemic index. Honey is a healthier choice for a diabetic patient then the refined sugar or any other non-nutritive sweeteners. Honey is a sugar, so consume it in moderation. It has a high caloric value.

Nutritional value of honey:

It is natural sweetener, which contains antioxidants and free of fat and cholesterol. Darker honey tends to have higher antioxidant level.

Vitamins present in honey:

vitamin B₆, pantothenic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, particular amino acids.

Minerals found in honey:

calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, iron, copper, zinc, manganese.

The nutritional value of manuka honey is 4 times higher than flower honey.

Health Benefits of honey:

Its flavonoids and antioxidant contents reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.

Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Helps regulate blood sugar.

Honey helps with coughs, particularly buckwheat honey.

The external application of honey is affective, it heals wounds and burns due to its anti-bacterial properties.

Honey contains a large amount of friendly bacteria, so it is probiotic.

It is powerful home beauty treatment.

Types of honey:

manuka, alfalfa, buckwheat, eucalyptus, blueberry, clover, orange blossom, wildflower, acacia, avocado, basswood, sage, sourwood.