Category: health

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Black Cherry Oatmeal Bars Recipe

blck ch oat bars tw 28416

Oatmeal bars (or just oats in general) are great for boosting your energy and giving you a much-needed top up of fibre, known to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. And apart from being full of health-benefits, added with flavours of cinnamon and vanilla, these oatmeal bars make a tasty snack to eat on the go anywhere.

Ingredients:

  • 2 sticks (226g) unsalted room temp butter
  • 2 x 2/3 cups of white sugar
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp grounded cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2/3 tsp baking powder
  • 1 big jar black cherry preserve

Method:

  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF / 175ºC.
  2. Grease a baking pan (I used a 20 x 20 cm / 8 x 8 in) with butter and leave to the side.
  3. Cream the butter and sugar together really well.
  4. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
  5. Press half of the mixture into the bottom of the baking pan.
  6. Spread the preserves over it in an even layer.
  7. Crumble the remaining mixture, with your hands, over the raspberry preserves.
  8. Bake for 40 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
  9. Cool completely before cutting.

If you can’t get hold of any Black Cherry preserve then it’s just as easy to make your own – if not easier as you don’t need to leave the house! All you need is pitted black cherries, sugar and lemon. Glaze the cherries with sugar and leave for a couple of hours then simmer on a low heat for 1 hour.

  #Recipes   #baking   #recipe   #Baking   #brunch   #desserts   #christmas   #black cherry   #cherry   #bars

https://www.yumbles.com/post-1377/black-cherry-oatmeal-bars

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Flahavans Quick Tips – Always keep a water bottle at your desk.

flahavans

Kathryn has shared her easy-to-follow tips for keeping healthy in the office: • Always keep a water bottle at your desk
• Take the stairs instead of the lift
• Host walking or standing meetings
• Stand instead of sitting for phonecalls
• Take your lunch and get out for a quick walk to re-energise
• Team up with your colleagues to sign up for a park run or challenge
And of course, kick start your working day with nutritious and delish Flahavan’s Quick Oats!

#officeoats #flahavans #flahavansoats #kathrynthomas #pureresults #huckletreed2

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Tomatoes the source of strong antioxidants

tomatoes health bens feb 16

Nutrition / Diet

Tomatoes: Health Benefits, Facts, Research

Written by
Knowledge center
Last updated: Tue 2 February 2016
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Whether you refer to a tomato as a fruit or a vegetable, there is no doubt that a tomato is a nutrient-dense, super-food that most people should be eating more of.

The tomato has been referred to as a “functional food,” a food that goes beyond providing just basic nutrition, additionally preventing chronic disease and delivering other health benefits, due to beneficial phytochemicals such as lycopene.

Despite the popularity of the tomato, only 200 years ago it was thought to be poisonous in the U.S., likely because the plant belongs to the nightshade family, of which some species are truly poisonous.

Possible health benefits of tomatoes

Tomatoes are packed full of beneficial nutrients and antioxidants and are a rich source of vitamins A and C and folic acid.

The benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds, including tomatoes, are infinite. As plant food consumption goes up, the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer goes down.

High fruit and vegetable intake is also associated with healthy skin and hair, increased energy and lower weight. Increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables significantly decreases the risk of obesity and overall mortality.

1) Cancer

As an excellent source of the strong antioxidant vitamin C and other antioxidants, tomatoes can help combat the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer.

2) Prostate Cancer

Lycopene has been linked with prostate cancer prevention in several studies.7 According to John Erdman, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of the department of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois, “There’s very good, strong, epidemiological support for increased consumption of tomato products and lower incidence of prostate cancer.”7

Among younger men, diets rich in beta-carotene may play a protective role against prostate cancer, according to a study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition.

3) Colorectal Cancer

Beta-carotene consumption has been shown to have an inverse association with the development of colon cancer in the Japanese population. High fiber intakes from fruits and vegetables are associated with a lowered risk of colorectal cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, some studies have shown that people who have diets rich in tomatoes may have a lower risk of certain types of cancer, especially cancers of the prostate, lung, and stomach. Further human-based research is needed to find out what role lycopene might play in the prevention or treatment of cancer.

4) Blood pressure

Maintaining a low sodium intake is essential to lowering blood pressure, however increasing potassium intake may be just as important because of its vasodilation effects. According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, fewer than 2 percent of U.S. adults meet the daily 4700 mg recommendation.3

Also of note, a high potassium intake is associated with a 20 percent decreased risk of dying from all causes.3

5) Heart health

The fiber, potassium, vitamin C and choline content in tomatoes all support heart health. An increase in potassium intake along with a decrease in sodium intake is the most important dietary change that a person can make to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, according to Mark Houston, M.D., M.S., an associate clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School and director of the Hypertension Institute at St. Thomas Hospital in Tennessee.3

In one study, those who consumed 4069 mg of potassium per day had a 49 percent lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease compared with those who consumed less potassium (about 1000 mg per day).3

High potassium intakes are also associated with a reduced risk of stroke, protection against loss of muscle mass, preservation of bone mineral density and reduction in the formation of kidney stones.3

6) Diabetes

Studies have shown that type 1 diabetics who consume high-fiber diets have lower blood glucose levels and type 2 diabetics may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels. One cup of cherry tomatoes provides about 2 grams of fiber.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 21-25 g/day for women and 30-38 g/day for men.

7) Skin

Collagen, the skins support system, is reliant on vitamin C as an essential nutrient that works in our bodies as an antioxidant to help prevent damage caused by the sun, pollution and smoke, smooth wrinkles and improve overall skin texture.5

8) Constipation

Eating foods that are high in water content and fiber like tomatoes can help to keep you hydrated and your bowel movements regular. Fiber is essential for minimizing constipation and adding bulk to the stool.

9) Pregnancy

Adequate folic acid intake is essential for pregnant women to protect against neural tube defects in infants.

10) Depression

The folic acid in tomatoes may also help with depression by preventing an excess of homocysteine from forming in the body, which can prevent blood and other nutrients from reaching the brain. Excess homocysteine interferes with the production of the feel-good hormones serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate not only mood, but sleep and appetite as well.4

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/