Grilled Berries & Coconut Ice Cream

This summer dessert is easier to prepare, grilling fruit to serve over ice cream perfect for sharing with someone special. Try these recipes:

Grilled Berries & Coconut Ice Cream

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 cup coconut milk ice cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4-5 large strawberries, room temperature

Cut up about 4 or 5 strawberries into quarters and place them in a small bowl. Drizzle the vanilla extract on top of the berries. Spread the berries out in a grill or saute pan and heat over medium for about 2 minutes until they turn soft, stirring once. Serve the strawberries on top of your favorite coconut milk ice cream, such as Coconut Bliss’ Vanilla Island.

Healthy dose of protein

The best way to improve your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease is to change your diet and lifestyle. Eat a whole foods, plant-based diet and incorporate exercise and stress-relieving activities into your daily routine. I made a list of the best cholesterol lowering foods this 2012.

Soy Foods (such as tempeh, tofu, or edamame) – try eating high-quality soy foods instead of meat. Soy foods may not improve your cholesterol levels on their own, but they will give you a healthy dose of protein and will cut out artery-clogging dietary cholesterol found in meat. Try these recipes: Tofu “Scampi”

The verdict? It turned out great! The first time I made it I tried broiling the tofu which dried it out too much, but the second time I lightly fried it in a sauté pan. The second method worked out beautifully, making the tofu still soft and porous enough to soak up my buttery scampi sauce. Success!

 

 

Diet great for for your skin

The Mediterranean diet is a diet rich in olive oil, beans, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, etc. It’s great for for your skin, it’s recommended by many doctors for the disease-fighting benefits, and it’s very satisfying to eat.

Baked Mediterranean Toasts

Try out this simple Mediterranean appetizer on a weeknight It’s really easy, and there are no specific proportions or servings. Just serve up as many as you like (enough for just you or a full party of people). I munched on a few of these toasts with a big bowl of veggie soup last night. It was filling, spicy, and warm.

New Year’s Eve Dinner

Healthy dinner idea for those of you who are trying to get back to a healthier state of mind after indulging over the holidays. Granted, New Year’s Eve is still this weekend, but why not start now?

A few weeks back I made this simple pumpkin salad (Click for Recipe) with warm onions and mushrooms. Toasted pine nuts and fresh romaine lettuce give it a healthy crunch, and the honey vinaigrette makes it a little sweet. Pumpkin is not for everyone, so you can always swap it out with another winter squash such as butternut or acorn squash.

Winter Pumpkin Salad
(serves 2-4)

Granted, New Year’s Eve is still this weekend, but why not start now?

Holiday Gift Giving 2011

Laurel On Health Food recently posted their Laurel’s 2011 Healthy Holiday Gift Ideas for everyone who is procrastinating.

I hope you enjoyed the list! Happy holidays to all.

List Of 14 Foods That Lower Cholesterol

Based on recent studies and nutritionist recommended these best 14 Foods That Lower Cholesterol. Checked out this list 14 Foods That Lower Cholesterol.

Dissolve Bad Cholesterol

The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 2009 University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center suggests that by eating 1 cup of blueberries will give you 85 calories. May speed up your digestion and reduce belly fat. The antioxidants in blueberries can boost your immune system, also help fight heart disease and its abilty to dissolve bad cholesterol.

Here’s a so refreshing and healthy snacks recipe of Blueberry Coconut Shake from Lauren On Health Food.

Blueberry Coconut Shake

 

Add and mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

½ cup frozen blueberries
½ cup young coconut meat
1 cup coconut water
1 tsp. agave nectar (optional)
½ tsp. vanilla extract
2-3 ice cubes

Grapefruit Salad For Weight Loss

According to University of Chicago that eating grapefruit may help get much out on your  prescriptions that there are enzyme in our liver and intestines called CYP3A help breaks down drugs you ingest. these enzyme may cause less of the medicine to survive our digestive process. Also found out that these compound in grapefruit that allow more medicine to get into our bloodstream (reference: Women’s Health, May 2008, p. 24).

It help to reduce insulin levels which is helpful for weight loss, lycopene loaded that may reduce your risk of developing cancer. All these health benefits from grapefruit and best to reach darker colored grapefruits. Eating 1 medium grapefruit  give you 80 calories. Healthy snacks isn’t it!

Try these easy fruit salad for breakfast, CitrusAvocado Salad organic and healthy recipe from Laurel On Health Food.

1 pink grapefruit
2 oranges
1 avocado
1 handful fresh mint leaves

Chop up the grapefruit, oranges, and avocado into bite-sized pieces. Toss together and garnish with fresh mint leaves. Serve chilled. Tip: If you can’t eat grapefruit because of medications (or personal preference), you could substitute extra oranges, tangerines, or mango.

Choose Unsalted Raw Nuts

Cashew nuts nuts are packed with heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and are a great source of magnesium. Also it Reduces the total level of cholesterol. Decreases your LDL level of “bad” cholesterol and Improve your total good cholesterol which is important for heart and bone health, even if you eat just a handful. They are incredibly rich in protein and fiber, which makes a filling snack

Nuts are a choice filling and satisfying snack.They are a perfect all-natural choice when you travel. Choose unsalted raw nuts and when available.

Heart Healthy Alternative Snacks

Try these snacks, certified nutritionist, health risks of sugar before your stomach starts to growl and scratch! Put your brain to eat healthy foods every day. Fulfill the promise unfilled.

“The avocado is a heart healthy alternative, rich in folate, vitamin E, C and B6, potassium and soluble fiber,” according to the American Dietetic Association. “It has heart-healthy unsaturated fats, and nutrients, reducing cholesterol, promoting the vision and possibly protect against cancer.

This smoothie recipe from Laurel On Health Food is great for the skin.

 

Avocado Pineapple Smoothie
(Makes 2-3 Servings)

1 ripe avocado
1 cup fresh pineapple
1½ cups coconut water, unsweetened
½ cup 100% orange juice
6 ice cubes
1 tbsp. agave nectar (optional)Scoop out the avocado flesh to the blender. Add remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.