Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fruit. Show all posts

It's an Ice Cream and Blackberry kind of Day


 Any of my readers having an Ice Cream & Blackberry Day?

Blackberries are in season late Spring to early Fall... and the edge of the woods by my house is just covered in wild ones. I always look forward to picking them every year so I can enjoy frozen blackberries on top of my vanilla ice cream.

Yes, Fresh Picked Firm, then Frozen Blackberries Please!

When fresh picked and quickly frozen blackberries are put on top of ice cream, they are oh so cold and the slight crunch in your mouth is delightful. Now if you buy frozen one's in the bag, they are a little mushy but still taste good.

Sometimes it's fun to wet the berries and roll them in sugar

As if ice cream is not sweet enough that you have to roll the berry in sugar, right? Ha! But it looks so pretty in the bowl when it's done this way. It's a nice thing to do when your serving ice cream and blackberries to guests. Then add a couple of plain and simple cookies on the side and you have a masterpiece. Wink~

Here's a list of Benefits and Uses of Blackberry that I bet you didn't know

  • Dried blackberry leaves give a luscious fruity flavor when steeped in boiling water. Not only are they the basis of many delicious teas, but they are also loaded with a beneficial component called tannins. The most astringent part is the root.
  • Just like its berry cousins, blackberry is very rich in antioxidants. Packed with polyphenols, black berry is beneficial in preventing heart diseases and cancer. Black berry is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, E and K. And the fruit is also rich in fiber and manganese.
  • *Preventing Cancer: Good source of Cyanidin.
  • Blackberry is used for treating diarrhea, fluid retention, diabetes, gout, and pain and swelling (inflammation).
  • used to treat sore throats, mouth ulcers and gum inflammations. A decoction of the leaves is useful as a gargle in treating thrush and also makes a good general mouthwash. It is also used as a mouth rinse for mild mouth and throat irritation.
  • treat diarrhea: The presence of large amounts of tannins that give blackberry roots and leaves an astringent effect useful for treating diarrhea
  • provide an antibacterial effect against H. pylori, the bacteria that causes stomach ulcers
  • provide immune-boosting antioxidants
  • provide high levels of salicylic acid, which gives them similar properties to aspirin, such as pain relief and fever relief
  • reduce inflammation of the gums, because it contains tannins.
  • A medicinal syrup is also made from Blackberry, using the fruit and root bark in honey for a cough remedy.

My Closing Thoughts ~

I hope this post made you want to try blackberry ice cream. It's one of those desserts that's not eaten very often. I'm not sure why because it's delicious.
....................................................★☆★......................................................

🠟 Please Fill Free to Share 🠟 "Live Everyday like a Holiday" Pam

The Benefits of Peaches


It's time to add more peaches in our daily diet! Research shows how healing they really are. 

This post is in honor of Peach related Holidays. Below you will find a list of  peach holidays and a list of "The Benefits of Peaches" as it relates to Home remedies, Food therapy and treatments. 

The benefits of peaches are amazing!

National Peach Ice Cream Day / July 17
National Eat A Peach Day / August 22
National Peach Cobbler Day / April 13
National Peach Month / August

  • Peaches are recommended for acute, infectious diseases. They are recommended for reducing cholesterol in blood, in prevention of cardiovascular, renal diseases and anemia. Peaches are used in abdominal colics and rheumatism pains. As tea they are recommended in convulsive cough.
  • Peach is the aliment recommended for convalescence, for those who are in advanced states of fatigue or depressive states. It charges and regenerates energetic reserves through its rich containment of sugar and carbohydrates. Due to the fact that they contain phosphorus, peaches are recommended in neurosis, protecting the nervous cells.
  • Vitamin A, B1 and B2 are irreplaceable for the balance of the nervous system, they achieve the synthesis of hemoglobine, maintain magnesium in the body and strengthen the natural immunity.
  • Breast cancer cells -- even the most aggressive type -- died after treatments with peach and plum extracts in lab tests by two specific phenolic acid components : chlorogenic and neochlorogenic.
  • Peaches eaten in the morning instead of breakfast regulate intestinal and hepatic functions, maintain the alkalinization of blood, favor asssimilation and nutrition. The regular consumption of peaches is recommended to those with urinary lithiasis as well as for those who want to increase their urinary debit.
  • Peaches feed and regenerate the skin tissue. If the face is lotioned with peach juice, the complexion can be given a more shiny look.
  • Apart from their therapeutic qualities, peaches can be used in various weight losing diets. In the peel of a very ripe peach, at least 10 enigmatic elements exist which activate some substances which destroy the fat layers, this is why peach diets are effective.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................

Extra Information:

Phytochemicals

Total polyphenols in mg per 100 g of fresh weight were 14–102 in white-flesh nectarines, 18–54 in yellow-flesh nectarines, 28–111 in white-flesh peaches, and 21–61 mg per 100 g in yellow-flesh peaches. The major phenolic compounds identified in peach are chlorogenic acid, catechins and epicatechins, with other compounds, identified by HPLC, including gallic acid and ellagic acid. Rutin and isoquercetin are the primary flavonols found in clingstone peaches.
Red-fleshed peaches are rich in anthocyanins, particularly cyanidin glycosides in six peach and six nectarine cultivars and malvin glycosides in clingstone peaches. As with many other members of the rose family, peach seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, including amygdalin (note the subgenus designation: Amygdalus). These substances are capable of decomposing into a sugar molecule and hydrogen cyanide gas. While peach seeds are not the most toxic within the rose family (see bitter almond), large consumption of these chemicals from any source is potentially hazardous to animal and human health.
Peach allergy or intolerance is a relatively common form of hypersensitivity to proteins contained in peaches and related fruits (such as almonds). Symptoms range from local effects (e.g. oral allergy syndrome, contact urticaria) to more severe systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis (e.g. urticaria, angioedema, gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms). Adverse reactions are related to the "freshness" of the fruit: peeled or canned fruit may be tolerated.

Special Precautions of Chlorogenic Acid

  • It was hypothesized in the 1960′s that chlorogenic acid was a chemical sensitizer, responsible for causing respiratory allergies to certain plant materials containing chlorogenic acid in humans. Some experiments on animals using fairly aggressive techniques, did cause severe allergic reactions after the material was injected into the animals, both to sensitise them and again to elicit the allergic response.
  • Chlorogenic acid has also been associated with increased levels of the protein amino acid homocysteine. Increased homocysteine levels are linked to an increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease, however, it has not been proven that reducing elevated homocysteine improves cardiovascular outcomes for people.
  • Chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid were once thought to be capable of inducing vitamin B1 deficiency, however, this hypothesis was disproven in the early 1980′s. It can however, reduce the absorption of zinc and iron from the diet.

Benefits and uses of Chlorogenic Acid are

  • Slowed glucose absorption, reduced insulin spike after eating : slow down the absorption of glucose in the human gut, therefore reducing the insulin spike after a meal, an effect that is of significant benefit to those suffering from type II diabetes, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovarian syndrome.
  • Reduced production of glucose in the liver : Chlorogenic acid has also been found in vitro to inhibit the liver enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase which plays a critical role in the production of glucose in the liver.
  • Increased uptake of glucose in muscle tissue
  • Reduced risk of type II diabetes : People who drink a significant amount of coffee have less of a risk of developing type II diabetes than non-coffee drinkers. As caffeine worsens insulin sensitivity, this effect has been attributed to chlorogenic acid.
  • Protection against Alzheimer’s disease, nerve degeneration : Population studies have linked moderate coffee consumption with a reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases and laboratory studies have begun to confirm that chlorogenic acid is one of the agents responsible for this protective effect, although caffeine is also considered likely to have a protective effect.
  • Reduced risk of liver disease : The results of epidemiological research suggest that coffee consumption may help prevent several chronic diseases, including cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) as well as gallstones.
  • Reduced body mass and fat
  • Increase fat-burning and inhibit new fat cells forming
  • Mild laxative
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Stimulant : Chlorogenic acid has a weak psychostimulant effect, with animal studies in rats estimating the effect to be around one third as strong as the effect from caffeine.
  • Improve mood and cognitive abilities : A 2012 study in healthy elderly participants found that decaffeinated coffee with a higher concentration of chlorogenic acids (521 mg) improved their mood and ability to perform a battery of cognitive tasks in comparison with ordinary decaffeinated coffee which contained only 224 mg chlorogenic acids.
  • Eyesight : Chlorogenic acid found in coffee prevents cell death in the retina by at least 73%. In some cases, it didn't just prevent cell damage—it actually increased the number of healthy cells.
................................................................................................................................................

Resources / References / Outside Links
wikipedia.com
...............................................................................................................................

10 Things To Do With Banana Peels

Think a banana peel is only good for the trash? Guess again. Have you ever thought about where all those discarded peels end up? Yep, with the rest of the trash at the landfill, where they produce methane gas, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide, as they rot. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, uneaten food accounts for 20% of methane emissions, which are a major contributor to global warming. Here’s a handy infographic with ideas on how you can help protect the peels! Source: http://www.s...ana-peels/
Send this to honor: National Banana Day... April 18
10 Things to Do With Banana Peels

From Visually.

The Benefits Of Strawberries

Strawberry is a plant. The fruit is eaten and used to make medicine. The leaves are also used to make medicine.


This post is in honor of 
National Strawberry Day / February 27
National Strawberry Month / May
Strawberry Ice Cream Day / Jan. 15
Strawberries & Cream Day / May 21
Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day / June 9
Strawberry Shortcake Day / June 14
Strawberry Parfait Day / June 25
July Belongs to Berries Month
Strawberry Sunday Day / July 7
Strawberry Cream Pie Day / Sept. 28


They are so rich in phenols, in particular, miracle phytonutrients called anthocyanins and ellagitannins. These are powerful antioxidants that prevent the oxidative damage that can cause cancer, heart disease, and other diseases of aging. Flavonoids have been associated with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help prevent a host of diseases ranging from cardiovascular ailments and metabolic disorders to dementia and cognitive decline.

Benefits of Strawberries:
  • Cardiovascular Disease : The unique phenols prevent the clogging of the arteries that causes heart attacks and strokes. Unlike drugs, strawberries have no dangerous side effects.
  • Cancer, Diabetes and Alzheimer's Disease : The flavonoid fisetin is also found in other fruits and vegetables, but is most abundant in strawberries. In the plant, it helps protect the leaves and fruit from insects. In the human body, it has been shown to protect neurons and combat Alzheimer's Disease. It is also considered to be a weapon against Prostate Cancer. And now researchers have discovered it can fight diabetes.phytonutrients, ellagic acid and ellagitannins present in the fruit are responsible for the findings.
  • Source of Ellagic Acid.
  • Iodine : Strawberries are good sources of idone.
  • Cholesterol : The berries can also impact how the liver processes cholesterol, the degree of damaging oxidation and re-absorption of cholesterol for use by the trillions of cells throughout the body.
  • Detox : Red Strawberries activates a protein in our bodies called Nrf2 which removes toxins from the cell. wikiwel.com
.........................................................................................................................................

Shop:
...................................................................................................................................

Awesome Outside Links:

19 Ways Fruit Can Make You Healthier

Fruit is one of the most natural foods we can eat and it is full of health benefits. Here are just some of the 19 ways, supported by the science, demonstrating why fruit will make you a better person after eating today. 
The 19 Ways Fruit Can Make You A Healthier Person

From Visually.

7 Health Benefits of Bananas

Banana’s health benefits make bananas one of the most nutritious fruits in the world, and the fact that pleasant taste of bananas all the more popular. Bananas contain three natural sugars, sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with a fiber, a banana gives a sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just 2 bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90 minute workout Bananas can also help us to overcome or prevent a number of illnesses and conditions such as depression, stroke, cancer, anemia and ulcers, making bananas a must to add to our daily diet. Source: http://www.f...anana.html
Health Benefits of Bananas

From Visually.

It's Peach Cobbler Day!

100_2045.JPG Originally uploaded by schlegel_chad
Oh my gosh! This is one dessert that I can sit down with and be in hog heaven. Especially if the cobbler is hot with ice cream on top. I was raised on peach cobbler and there's nothing that beats it in my book. My Nana could bake the best peach cobbler that I ever put in my mouth too. Do you guys like your peach cobbler on the dry side or do you like it on the ooie and gooie side? I love it wet and gooie with lots of custard dough. Do you guys like it with cinnamon or without? I like cinnamon but I don't like it on peach cobbler so I have to vote "without." Here's a link to some peachie recipes. Happy Peach Cobbler Day to all! Pam~