Category: Food & Health

Whether you’re off to university or a city away from your family because of work, you probably have to deal with the adjustment of living alone.

While this offers many perks and is an enjoyable journey in its totality, it also means you’ll be solely responsible for all your daily decisions and household chores. One of the most vital tasks in your everyday life is meal preparation.

You need to look after your own health, and when it comes to it, everyone knows it’s preferable to cook meals at home than frequent restaurants and fast-food chains.

After all, nothing beats the comfort and health benefits of a home-cooked meal. If you’re planning to prepare your meals a few days each week or cook every day, you’ll need some pointers to help you through.

Consider the following kitchen tips for people living alone.

Plan Ahead 

You’ll become more comfortable and at ease in the kitchen in no time if you learn how to plan your meals. Planning is critical, which is why it takes up the top of this list.

Before you go grocery shopping, you might find it helpful to make a meal plan for the week ahead. With a meal plan, you’ll have a concise list and won’t have to waste any money on stuff that won’t be used. Try to think early about what dishes you’ll be cooking that can sustain you through the entire week.

You can plan for days when you want to order from healthy meal providers, like The Good Kitchen, since there might be times when you feel too tired to cook a healthy meal.

Moreover, maintaining a meal schedule will help with social plans and study times. You get to decide when you’ll be available to whip up dishes, so it won’t disrupt your other plans.

When you anticipate everything earlier, you can have a well-organized cooking plan, which allows you to eat healthily too. A weekly food shop is part of planning. It’s best to go grocery shopping on a free day at least once a week. You’re less likely to stray from your meal plan if you buy all the ingredients for the week. 

Cook More And Store Your Leftovers

Another essential kitchen tip for living alone is to cook more and store the extras as leftovers. Most … Read more

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Contrary to what some people might expect there are actually several types of diets you can go with. It all depends on your particular health goals.

For most people, it’s all about losing weight. That’s not surprising, especially in the US where two-thirds of the adult population are overweight.

But others may actually be on a diet to gain weight, or more accurately to build muscle. When you’re a 90-pound adult, you’ll have to eat more to gain a bigger frame and get stronger.

Others may subscribe to a particular type of healthy diet. This can be vegetarian or vegan, or some sort of low-carb diet like keto.

You can still visit Taco Bell even if you’re following any of these diets. The trick is to just order the right items. You can’t just go with anything that looks good for a right price, and order lots of food because you can get a bean burrito for less than $1.50.

For the Weight Loss Diet

To lose weight, you have to burn more calories per day than you consume. That means working out regularly while you reduce your previous calorie intake per day by 500 or even a thousand calories.

These Taco Bell menu items are all at less than 200 calories, so they’re great for a low-calorie diet.

• Chicken Chipotle Melt, 190 calories. You have 12g of protein here, which is the most protein you get from all the low-calorie options. This offers chicken with cheese and creamy chipotle sauce, within a soft tortilla.
• Cheesy Roll Up, 180 calories. The soft tortilla contains a 3-cheese blend. You get 9g of protein, and it’s also vegetarian.
• Soft Taco, 180 calories. This comes with the seasoned beef, cheese, and lettuce, and you get 9g of protein as well.
• Black Beans and Rice, 170 calories. You still get 4g of protein, and it’s also a vegetarian option.
• Doritos Locos Taco, 170 calories. You also get 8g of protein. This is basically the Soft Taco, except you have the crunchy taco shell made with Nacho Cheese Doritos.
• Crunchy Taco, 170 calories. The same taco ingredients (beef, lettuce, cheese), but with the regular crunchy taco shell.

For the Vegetarian (and Vegan) Diet

The Taco Bell menu has a dedicated “Veggie Cravings” section in their menu. You can even make … Read more

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Foods like eggs, garlic, kale, cabbage, and onions all belong to a healthy and balanced diet, but another thing that they have in common are that they contain large amounts of sulfur. Sulfur has a key role in energy metabolism, the synthesis of amino acids, liver function, and more.

However, some people may develop an intolerance or sensitivity to sulfur, causing them to experience adverse reactions when too much of it is ingested. On the other hand, sulfur deficiency can also lead to adverse reactions.

Why Sulfur is Important in the Body

Sulfur is an essential mineral for our health that naturally occurs in lots of different food products such as meat, leafy green vegetables, and dairy products. It is a vital component of amino acids that are required for glutathione synthesis, methionine and cysteine. Known as the ‘master antioxidant’, glutathione supports liver health, reduces oxidative stress, and helps with the transportation of amino acids across cell membranes. Research suggests that it plays an important role in producing antioxidant enzymes, cellular proliferation, and mitochondrial function. To produce the optimum doses of glutathione, the human body requires sulfur.

Many people take sulfur supplements for a range of reasons including the relief of menopause symptoms, upper respiratory tract infections, shortness of breath and allergies. Sulfur is a mineral that contains various antibacterial properties and can be useful for treating certain skin conditions including warts, red skin patches, and acne. Sulfur is also an active ingredient in many hair products, such as anti-dandruff shampoos.

Sulfur Intolerance Explained

Around one in every one hundred people are sensitive or intolerant to sulfur and sulfites. The condition can occur in anyone and at any time, and researchers are not sure what causes it. People with asthma, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) appear to be the most at risk.

After it is ingested, gut bacteria break down sulfur into hydrogen. The by-products may cause symptoms such as digestive distress, gas, stomach pain and bloating. People with ulcerative colitis produce higher amounts of hydrogen sulfide in the body. Over time, this gas may have a negative effect on the colon lining, worsening symptoms. After eating sulfur-rich foods like eggs, cabbage and broccoli, even healthy people may experience symptoms such as gas and bloating.

This list of foods high in sulfur from Ruscio Institute can … Read more

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Most people are addicted to harmful substances like nicotine, cocaine, heroin, tobacco or they have some other addictions of alcohol, smoking, or vaping. All of them are harmful, that’s why some of them are banned while some are not allowed before a certain age.

Many compounds or substances are also present that are not that recognition but they can cause hallucinations and delusions. People usually get used to such substances when they are experiencing any mental stress or depression.

What Is Psilocybin Mushroom?

Psilocybin is a compound that causes hallucinations when consumed and you can take it through psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocybin mushroom is also known as magic mushroom makes you experience visuals and not only that your other senses are also affected by it.

There are different psilocybin mushrooms with different levels of psilocybin in them and this can consequently affect how it will respond in an individual or how good or bad it is for the health of the consumers.

What Are Blue Meanies?

Blue meanies are the mushrooms that are strong as they contain psilocybin in a large amount that is two or three times more than other psilocybin mushrooms.

They are also known as panaeolus cyanescens and cause strong hallucinations and a sense of euphoria. And if you take it you may lose complete connection with this world and take time to put yourself together. You can get blue meanies mushrooms online after knowing how their use can lead you to some unfavorable consequences.

Helpful And Harmful In The Same Way

Psilocybin mushroom consumption can cause hallucinations that give you a magical experience. This can cause your brain to respond slowly and you may cause dizziness and blurred vision, irregular heart rate, nausea, chills, and many more. So, it takes you to another world where you hear and see things that aren’t happening and due to the same reasons, it can be helpful.

So it is not good for a healthy person and he doesn’t need it anyway but for a person who is having a hard time due to depression or anxiety, the use of psilocybin mushrooms can help that person to relax and feel better. So, anyone whose mental health condition is affected can get psilocybin therapy or they are also available online.

Schedule I Drugs And Psilocybin

Psilocybin is also in the … Read more

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Losing weight can be incredibly difficult in our society. Let’s face it, most of our jobs are sedentary and few of us have managed to get into a good workout routine. While you shouldn’t give up on exercise, there are other ways to lose weight and live a healthier life.

For example, swapping out inherently unhealthy foods for healthy substitutes can help you significantly reduce the amount of fat and sugar in your diet. More importantly, these healthy foods can help you live a longer, happier, healthier life.

We’re here to provide you with some easy examples. Keep reading for four healthy food substitutions.

1. Dairy-Free Products

Most people, whether they’re aware of it or not, have some level of lactose intolerance. That’s because saturated fats that are commonly found in excess in dairy products, cause inflammation. In addition, these fats can quickly add to your waistline.

Fortunately, there is a wide variety of dairy substitutes for things like milk, cheese, ice cream, and butter. For example, switch your dairy milk or creamer out for soy milk, oat milk, almond milk, or cashew milk. You can also find dairy-free icecreams that are equally delicious.

2. Whole Grains

One of the fastest ways to increase your body fat is by consuming too many simple carbohydrates. These include things like white bread, white pasta, white rice, donuts, cookies, candy, etc.

This is because our body doesn’t know what to do with all of that immediate energy. When we consume a high level of simple carbs (which is essentially sugar), our body releases insulin. Then, this energy is stored for later by being converted into fat.

Instead, consume complex carbohydrates that digest slowly. These healthy substitutes include whole-grain bread, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, oats, etc. Then, your body can use this energy over time, rather than being forced to find a solution immediately.

3. Healthy Spreads

Next, let’s talk about finding healthy substitutes for things we spread on sandwiches. For example, mayo makes meat and cheese sandwiches far better. However, mayo isn’t exactly a health food.

Fortunately, you can find a healthy substitute for mayo, like Miracle Whip. You can also try hummus, avocado, pesto, and more.

Another unhealthy spread we tend to overindulge in is peanut butter. However, you can substitute almond butter as a tasty alternative that’s healthier … Read more

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Are you a beer person or a wine person? If the latter is your answer, you must as well know that wine is not restricted to a particular formation. Wine has different styles. It comes in different types that are further paired with different food items to enhance your experience of tasting it. 

When you pair your wine with the right kind of food, its taste enhances. Today, wine-tasting has become one of the most popular hobbies among the youth as well as adults. Wine is one classic and healthy beverage. Whether you are hosting a party or setting up the dinner table for yourself and your partner, a glass of wine always sets the right mood. 

Here is everything to know about different styles of wine and their food-pairing: 

White Wine: 

A glass of white wine looks fresh and scintillating. You might not be aware of it, but do you know white wine is not made of white grapes alone? The composition of white wine includes some varieties of red or black grapes as well. 

The red pigments from these grapes are extracted, and the grape juice is used to turn them into a flavorful wine. Eventually, what you get on the glass is a bright, creamy, and savory drink – best for all kinds of parties and celebrations. 

Pair your white wine with the food items such as creamy cheese, fish, salads, white bread, or seafood for the best taste. 

Red Wine: 

Red wine is the most romantic drink that you would want to have with your partner on your date night. The production of this wine is very similar to white wine. The only difference here is that grape skin, pip, and seeds are also added during fermentation. 

This wine is fermented at a very high temperature due to which it becomes beautiful in appearance and highly aromatic. You can pair your red wine with food items such as white meat, chicken, and even vegetables. Red wine tastes the best when paired with Asian platters. 

Mead: 

Call it mead or honey wine – it’s the same. This wine is prepared by fermenting honey and water with yeast. What makes this wine popular is that it can also be flavored with various spices, fruits, grains, and even hops. Mead has its own distinct style and category. … Read more

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Staying healthy is important as it allows you the luxury of feeling fine and welcome in your own body even when age starts to creep in. Therefore, rather than neglecting this topic, it’s important to invest some effort to live a healthy lifestyle.

A balanced diet, enough exercise, and staying away from too much stress are all important factors that can help you be healthy. However, taking enough vitamins and minerals is equally important, especially in these unstable times when persona health is fickle.

Selenium is a trace mineral, and your body needs it to function properly. So if you’ve decided to boost your intake because of doctor’s orders, or you simply feel like you need it, here are some best food sources of selenium that will help you along the way.

Beef

Beef is one of the tastiest and juiciest meats available, so if you enjoy eating steak, then you’re lucky. So if you don’t have any dietary restrictions or preferences, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consume it, just keep in mind that one portion has about half of the daily required quantity, so you’ll need more portions or some extra sources.

Brazilian nuts

Brazilian nuts are healthy and rich in selenium, even more than some meats, which means they’re suitable for vegetarians and vegans too. However, it’s essential to remember that only one Brazil nut can have more selenium than you might need in a day, so be careful when eating it, and consult your doctor if you have potential nut allergies.

Broccoli and other vegetables

Animal products are high in selenium, which is not great news for plant-eaters. Still, there are vegetables that can be replaced with meat. One of them is broccoli.

Maybe you disliked it as a kid, but now that you’re an adult, try adding it to your diet as it’s healthy and rich in selenium. This mineral is a rich antioxidant and can lower the risk of many diseases which are some of the top benefits of taking selenium that can boost your wellbeing. Luckily, healthy vegetables like spinach, beans, potatoes, and spinach are a great source of it.

Chicken

Eating chicken can satisfy your selenium needs, but keep in mind that chicken has less selenium than beef and seafood, so you might need more portions.

Also, chicken is … Read more

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Get to know easy ways to elevate your homemade pizza and make it easily comparable to the restaurant-bought pizza.

It’s very hard to find someone who doesn’t love pizza. It’s the ultimate comfort food for most of us. Ninety-four percent of Americans have pizza regularly. Pizza generally has a lot of different flavors at once because of the different toppings. Moreover, the cheese acts as the cherry on top. Overall, this Italian delicacy pleases most people without a fail.

For most of us, whenever we crave pizza, the only thing that comes to our mind is to rush to your favorite restaurant or get it delivered. Let’s be honest; it’s not that reasonable. It’s a bit too much to spend considering how often we want to have it. The truth is you don’t need to burn a hole in your pocket every time you crave pizza. You can make it at home and that would be a lot cheaper.

The idea of making your own pizza might intimidate a lot of us either because you have attempted it previously and failed, or you believe that the taste won’t be the same. However, the truth is YOU CAN MAKE RESTAURANT-QUALITY PIZZA AT HOME. Yes, and it’s not that hard. Continue reading to know more about the factors that can help you make the best pizza.

Crust

The perfect golden crust on a pizza is something that many people find hard to achieve. Pizza is generally cooked at very high heat. Traditionally, it is done in a brick or clay oven that elevates the process even more. This whole process is what gives that perfect crust. You obviously won’t have one of those at home just to make pizzas.

It’s very important to cook the pizza in a very hot oven. However, using a brick or clay oven is not always necessary. An electric oven or gas oven would work, but if you are planning to do it without an oven, don’t expect a lot from it because stovetop pizzas can’t match store-bought pizzas. An electric oven will give you the best results, but gas ovens work fine too.

Another thing to keep in mind is to preheat the oven very well. Don’t rush it. As mentioned before, pizza needs to be cooked at a very high temperature. So before … Read more

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In our busy twenty-first century lives, everything is a rush. Many of us are so exhausted at the end of our days that we just cannot find the energy to cook. This bad habit leaves us reaching for quickly microwavable processed foods like ready meals or instead, dialling up our favourite takeaways.

Whilst the convenience may be worth it, and whilst the foods may even taste good, the additives and preservatives that processed foods contain are more harmful for our health and our budgets in the long run.

Even our snacks contain added unnecessary sugars, whereas switching them with natural options like vegan chocolate can have huge positive impacts on our health and lifestyle.

On the other hand clean, organic and natural diets with focuses on fresh and natural foods can provide key nutrients in just a few ingredients. Just like their nutritious value, the benefits of these diets are also plentiful so read on to discover them.

What Are Natural Foods?

Natural foods are foods that have not been altered from their natural state. Whereas processed foods will have been altered with additives, sugars and preservatives for example, natural foods contain none of these.

Examples of natural foods include fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, beans, legumes and nuts and seeds.

The Benefits Of Natural Foods:

1.   Lower Cholesterol

Eating foods with too much saturated fat raises cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart disease and risk of stroke. Foods that contain saturated fat include cakes, puddings, pastries and pies, as well as crisps and biscuits.

Banish saturated fats and swap these with healthy unsaturated fats to keep cholesterol levels at a healthy level. Add in whole grains like in wholewheat pasta and brown bread, alongside raw fruit and vegetables and other natural foods like nuts which contain healthy fats, avocados, lentils and seeds instead.

2.   Less Risk of Disease

It’s long been known that processed meats, fried or greasy foods, high sugar sweets and refined grains are linked to general inflammation which puts us at a high risk of developing heart disease or worsening preexisting heart conditions.

Choosing lean, natural and unprocessed foods lowers this risk of inflammation which in turn helps to keep our heart healthy.

3.   Reduced Weight Gain

Processed foods are full of unhealthy unsaturated fats and sugars. Sugar is … Read more

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A popular party appetizer, charcuterie boards are an impressive go-to snack. No longer just for cheeses and meats, at-home charcuterie boards combine sweet and savory snacks for the perfect mix for entertaining.

Read on and learn how to put together a sweet and salty snack board and what types of gourmet foods to use in your mix.

Arranging a Sweet and Savory Snack Board

It all starts with the board. You can’t pick your gourmet goodies unless you know the size of the canvas you’ll have to display them. In this case, you will need a large wooden board or platter. If you’re serving items to which some guests might be allergic, such as nuts, it’s wise to put them on a separate board or in smaller bowls clustered around the snack platter, to avoid cross-contamination.

Traditional charcuterie boards include items that are grab-and-go (e.g., dried fruit, crackers, and nuts) and cheeses and meats, which can be pre-sliced or served whole for guests to cut themselves. Your snack charcuterie board can adopt the same principle: sweet and savory snacks combined with larger items that you slice for guests, such as a caramel apple or a soft cheese. If children are around, pre-slice anything big; you’ll want to keep knives away from little fingers.

Safety precautions aside, compiling your snack board is an exercise in contrasts. Sweet and savory, flavor and texture, creamy and crunchy, color, etc. By playing with these elements, you can craft the perfect assortment. Mix and match by these variables to create a board that looks visually enticing. For example, surround soft cheese and crackers (both savory; one creamy and the other crunchy) with items that are colorful and sweet (fresh fruit, trail mix, or a bowl of candy-coated chocolates).

What to Put on Your Sweet and Salty Charcuterie Board

The appeal of a charcuterie board is in its versatility. Guests have the opportunity to pile a bit of everything on their plate, then create their culinary adventure one bite at a time. To mimic the diversity and bounty of a restaurant-style charcuterie board at your next get-together, try these fun snack foods:

• Fresh and dried fruit: Fresh and dried fruit are snack board essentials for those healthy eaters who prefer natural foods. Use fruits that can be eaten whole, such as strawberries or grapes,

… Read more Read More