Category Archives: anti-aging

Deep Frying. Should we? Which Oil to Use?

Leave a reply

 

Deep-fried foods – ooh, sooooo tempting!

images

But we avoid deep frying for health considerations. However, deep frying at home certainly does not have to be unhealthy. It largely comes down to the type of oil you use, and how you use it.

When a food is submerged in oil at 350-375°F, its surface cooks almost instantly and forms a type of “seal” that the oil cannot penetrate. At the same time, the moisture inside the food turns into steam, cooking the food from the inside. The steam also helps to keep the oil out of the food. If the temperature is too low, the oil will seep into the food, making it greasy and sickening. If the temperature is too high, it can dry out the food and oxidize the oil.

This is also the reason why deep fried is paradoxically better than shallow fried, which typically happens at lower temperatures.

We want to select oils which are stable at high temperatures. The more saturated the fats in an oil are, the more stable they are when heated. Taste obviously matters as well. When deep frying, oils that have a “neutral” flavor are generally preferred.

The Winner: Coconut Oil is The Healthiest Oil For Deep Frying

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is the best choice overall.

Studies have shown that even after 8 hours of continuous deep frying at 180°C, its quality does not deteriorate.

Over 90% of the fatty acids in coconut oil are saturated, which makes it very resistant to heat.

Saturated fats used to be considered unhealthy, but new studies show that they are a completely harmless source of energy.

Additionally, coconut oil has numerous health benefits. For example, it can help kill harmful bacteria and viruses, and may even help you lose belly fat.

There are several other good options to consider.

Olive Oil

One study found that olive oil can be used in a deep fryer for over 24 hours before it oxidizes excessively. In theory, this makes it a great choice for deep frying. However, the flavor and fragrance of olive oil may not hold up well when heated for a long time.

Palm Oil

Palm oil consists mostly of saturated and monounsaturated fats, making it a great choice for deep frying.

Ghee

Traditionally, ghee is used in India and the Middle east for deep frying, and is a healthy choice.

Fats and Oils That Should Not be Used For Deep Frying

There are several fats and oils that you should definitely not use.

This includes industrial vegetable oils.

Production of Vegetable Oil

These oils are extracted from seeds, and need to go through very harsh processing methods. They are high in polyunsaturated fats, with a terrible Omega-6:Omega-3 ratio, and up to 4% of the fatty acids in them are toxic trans fats. Not only should you avoid them for deep frying, but you should make an effort to avoid them altogether.

This includes, but is not limited to:

Soybean, Corn, Canola oil (rapeseed oil), Cottonseed, Safflower, Rice bran , Grape seed, Sunflower and Sesame oil.

Take Home Message

Ever since fat was demonized, deep frying has had a terrible reputation. It is true that with the wrong oils, such as harmful vegetable oils, deep-fried food is most definitely bad for you. But with the right oils, you can enjoy the occasional deep-fried treat (preferably home-made) without the guilt. For certain foods, it can take the flavor to a whole new level.

So we can Stay Healthy and still Enjoy!

Increase Immunity, Avoid Illness

Leave a reply
  1. Get enough sleep and manage stress. Sleep deprivation and stress overload increase the hormone cortisol, which suppresses immune function.
  2. Avoid tobacco.
  3. Drink less alcohol. Excessive consumption impairs the immune system.
  4. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and also nuts and seeds, which will provide your body with the nutrients your immune system needs.
  5. Consider probiotics. Studies indicate supplements reduce the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.  Fermented milk products have also been shown to reduce respiratory infections.
  6. Check your Vitamin D. Low vitamin D levels correlate with a greater risk of respiratory infection.
  7. Go for the garlic. Garlic is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and immune booster. Because heat deactivates a key active ingredient, add it to foods just before serving.
  8. Take an Echinacea supplement. This is good to have on hand when any illness, esp. respiratory viruses overwhelm your defenses.
  9. Exercise.

images

It is not always necessary to fall ill and then treat the illness. Increase immunity and create a ‘force shield’ to Stay Healthy. It’s simple.

 

 

Sleep Well to Eat Well

Leave a reply
Alena Hall
Research has linked too little sleep to a decrease in productivity, weaker immune system, and increased risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer. It also affects the ways we eat — in major ways and not for the better.
Here are five ways sleep deprivation could be negatively affecting your dietary health.

Sleeping less? You’re probably eating more.

A 2012 Mayo Clinic study  found that subjects who were sleep-deprived ended up eating an average of 549 extra calories each day (which could led to the gaining of one pound per week if the habit persisted).

You snack more often — especially late at night.

Sleep deprivation can lead to a decrease in physical activity and an increase in excessive snacking behavior, which typically leads to additional, unwanted weight gain.

You crave extra carbs and fatty foods.

overeating

We not only crave unhealthy, high-carbohydrate, and high-fat fat foods when we’re tired, but also fail to mentally register the consequences of such food choices over time. A single night of poor sleep can lead to increased cravings for fatty foods the following day.

Your disrupted sleep cycle will change your eating patterns (for the worse).

Late sleepers tend to experience a delay in their meals throughout the day, eating a late dinner and consuming more calories than average at that meal. And those late-eating habits prevent the body from drifting off to sleep the next night, perpetuating the cycles of sleep deprivation and poor eating habits.

You could be missing out on key nutrients.

full plate of food

Just because you overeat when you’re sleep-deprived doesn’t mean you’re providing your body the nourishment it needs. In addition to over-consuming unhealthy foods, sleep-deprived subjects consumed half the fruit and vegetable servings of a normal sleeper, losing key nutrients from their overall diet. This can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which affect the regular functions of the body.

Sleep Well. And Stay Healthy.

Keep your Heart Healthy – in 4 Simple Steps

Leave a reply

doctor drawing a heart shape Heart disease is a top killer. But four out of five cases of heart disease don’t have to happen and you can take control of your heart health.Cardiologists at the Mayo Clinic have come up with a program they call the “Eat 5, Move 10, Sleep 8” program.

Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Preferably 9 to 13. These foods contain important phytonutrients that protect the heart. Plus, by eating these foods, you may eat fewer processed foods that can increase your heart disease risk.

Get some exercise every day. All you have to do to help your heart is move for an extra 10 minutes a day (although more exercise than that will help even more). The Mayo doctors point out that being sedentary is as bad for your health as smoking. They also urge everyone to do less sitting and more standing.

Get at least eight hours of sleep a night. Sufficient sleep is an absolute necessity for a healthy heart.

Make sure you take time to enjoy your life. Indulge in satisfying, joyful activities. A positive attitude helps your heart stay in top shape and is just as influential on your cardiovascular system as genetics and healthy habits.

Stay Healthy!

Adapted from Carl Lowe.

Keep the Prostate healthy with Saw Palmetto

Leave a reply

images
Saw palmetto has many benefits for managing an aging prostate. It has an anti-inflammatory effect and is rich in phytosterols and fatty acids. Another benefit is that this supplement can help block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Studies have found that it improves urinary flow and decreases nighttime urination, which can help improve a man’s quality of life.
• In one study involving saw palmetto and prostatitis, a group of prostatitis patients took antibiotics, while another group took antibiotics with a supplement that contained saw palmetto, curcumin, quercetin, and other natural ingredients. Nearly 90 percent of patients who took the supplement said their symptoms were gone after one month, compared to only 27 percent of the men who took only the antibiotic. Prostatitis did not return for any men in the supplement group during the following six months. Patients who didn’t use the supplement continued to experience persistent problems.
• One study found that saw palmetto relieved urinary symptoms in patients with an enlarged prostate due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) as effectively as  finasteride (Proscar), a popular pharmaceutical drug. And it avoided the scary side effects of the prostate drugs.

Men have been taking saw palmetto to help manage their prostate health for more than 200 years. There are no known drug interactions or major side effects. One side effect that many men enjoy is that saw palmetto helps prevent or slow the progression of male pattern baldness!

Stay Healthy.