Date and walnut breakfast muffins with cinnamon streusel

Low-fat breakfast recipe

These muffins could be filled with any variety of fruit or dried fruit and nuts. The secret is to make them quickly and to avoid over-mixing. If you do over-mix, the muffin goes rather chewy and tough, so just fold the wet ingredients into the dry until they are just combined and then pop them into the oven.

These muffins contain only a small amount of sugar. We think the dates add enough sweetness. By all means add a bit extra if you prefer a sweeter muffin with your morning cup of coffee. Wholesome and nutritious, these muffins make a great breakfast if you are 'on the go', to have as a snack before a lunchtime workout, or to serve as part of a Sunday brunch with butter and honey.

Method

1. Heat the oven to 180°C and line a muffin tray with 12 muffin cases (just 10 if you prefer big muffins).

2. Make the streusel topping: mix together the sugar, flour and cinnamon and then add the butter and rub in with your fingers until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside to sprinkle on top before the muffins go in the oven.

3. Add the walnuts and dates and combine.

4. Break the eggs into a separate bowl and add the oil, honey, milk and yogurt.

5. Beat very lightly with a fork then pour the mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients and combine quickly. The mixture will appear lumpy ... don't worry, just spoon it into the muffin cases, sprinkle the demerara sugar on top and pop them into the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

6. Cool on a wire rack and eat immediately.

Ingredients

• 150g self-raising flour and 150g wholemeal self-raising flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 80g soft brown sugar
• ½ tsp ginger
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 2 eggs
• 90ml vegetable oil
• 80ml semi-skimmed or skimmed milk
• 80ml low-fat, natural yoghurt
• 1 tbs runny honey
• 120g dates, chopped
• 75g walnuts, chopped

For the cinnamon streusel:

• 1 tbs demerara sugar
• 1 tbs flour
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• 25g butter
• 
  

Vital Statistics

Serves: 12 muffins
Preparation: 5-10 minutes
Cooking: 15-20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Good for: Low G.I., low fat, full of antioxidants, minerals and fibre; a great excuse to eat cake for breakfast. Also useful for a quick pre-exercise energy boost, or mid-morning snack with a piece of fruit.

Calories (kcal): 166.4
Protein (g): 3.2
Carbs (g): 16.3
Fat (g): 9.8
Fiber (g): 1.1

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/date-and-walnut-breakfast-muffins-with-cinnamon-streusel/

The Raw Food Diet - Are You Tough Enough?

Like the Mediterranean Diet, the Raw Food Diet is not so much of a diet as a way of life. Arguably one of the healthiest eating plans, it is not one for those lacking willpower. If you're really interested in this type of plan then I would suggest you read all of this article.

What is the Raw Food Diet? It is just what the name suggests. Most, if not all of your diet is herbs, sprouts, raw vegetables, nuts, fruits and seeds. You can have as wide a variety as you like but you have to keep them raw or at least not cooked over 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.67 degrees Celsius). Heating your food past this could destroy valuable fiber and enzymes.

If you are going to follow this diet plan then I would highly recommend getting a good juicer. With a juicer you'll be able to make great fruit and vegetable juices that you'll probably drink every morning and several times a day. Having these fresh juices will get your day going with a burst of energy while requiring very little energy to digest.

This diet is not for the weak willed. Not only are you changing your diet, you are changing your life, your relationship with food, and your thinking as well. Gone will be the comfort foods, and that feeling of being full. In its place will be eating to energize your cells and fuel up to get going.

If you are one of the few people who can handle this type of diet, you will be surprised at the rewards you'll receive. People on this diet have reported being more vibrant, ambitious and just plain happier. There is no doubt that the pounds will just fall off due to the smaller amount of calories and carbohydrates you are consuming. But, this diet is also reported to help enhance memory, make your mind become sharper, and clear up skin problems including acne. Another benefit is people who have thinning hair have reported their hair seems to become thicker.

The Raw Diet is also reported to help your immune system get stronger which would help reduce the chance of you becoming seriously ill. Most medical professionals agree that a diet rich in fiber, water-rich raw foods may actually extend your life.
The Raw Food Diet won't appeal to everyone because it is one of the most "extreme" eating plans on the planet.

The Raw Food Diet even beats out Veganism even though there are quite a few similarities. The main difference between the two is that in Veganism you can cook the food.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Raw-Food-Diet---Are-You-Tough-Enough?&id=8668976

10 Foods All Men Should Eat

10 essential foods for male health

A varied, balanced diet is the cornerstone of healthy living for everyone, yet healthy eating can sometimes mean different things depending on your gender. While there are some foods we should all be eating more of, men and women also have their own set of dietary requirements as well as their own unique health concerns. Here are 10 foods all men should eat.

Food for men 1: Tomatoes

Tomatoes are possibly one of the best "superfoods" around, and the popular fruit has particular benefits for men. Studies have suggested that the lycopene found in tomatoes may reduce risk of colorectal cancer, lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease; the leading cause of death in men. Research has also shown that men who frequently eat foods rich in lycopene may drastically reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer.

Food for men 2: Blueberries

Blueberries are another fruit that have been linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer, thanks to their high levels of proanthocyanidins. However, blueberries' positive benefits for men don't stop there, as studies have also suggested that blueberries may be effective in reducing risk of heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes and age-related memory loss; a condition more prevalent in men than women.

Food for men 3: Brazil nuts

Snacking on nuts is great for heart health and good skin. However, Brazil nuts are particularly beneficial for men as they are packed with selenium; a powerful antioxidant which studies have suggested can boost sperm health and motility. Furthermore, selenium is also great for lowering "bad" cholesterol levels, preventing blood clots and lifting your mood.

Food for men 4: Broccoli

Broccoli - along with other cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and sprouts - contains a strong cancer-fighting chemical, sulphoraphane, which research has suggested may reduce men's risk of developing bladder cancer (a cancer more commonly affecting women than men), prostate cancer and colorectal cancer.

Food for men 5: Oysters

Oysters are the highest natural source of zinc; an essential requirement for men's fertility and sexual health. Zinc not only helps to maintain healthy testosterone levels in men, but it is essential for healthy sperm production.  On top of this, zinc deficiency may be responsible for hair loss in men, so an increased intake may benefit men's appearance as well as health.

Food for men 6: Whole grains

Whole grains are great for our health thanks to their high levels of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Most whole grains, including brown rice and oats, are particularly rich in B vitamins, which are good for general wellbeing and can also help alleviate depression. Individual B vitamins can also benefit male health in various ways. Studies have suggested that folate (vitamin B9) can keep sperm healthy, while biotin (B7) may help hair loss. Silica, also present in whole grains, could also help with healthy hair growth.

Food for men 7: Eggs

For men suffering from hair loss, eggs may also provide the perfect solution. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, which is essential for hair growth, as well as being rich in biotin (vitamin B7). Egg yolks are also a good source of iron, which some studies have suggested can alleviate hair loss, which can be caused by anemia.

Food for men 8: Pomegranate juice

Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and research has suggested that drinking the juice of this "superfood" can help lower cholesterol - which can be high in many men as young as their 20s - and prevent hypertension. A study has also found that drinking just one 8oz glass of pomegranate juice a day could dramatically slow down the progress of prostate cancer.

Food for men 9: Garlic

Garlic is well known for boosting heart health, and a study on the effects of garlic consumption on males has shown that regularly eating garlic could help lower men's cholesterol levels. Furthermore, research findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute have suggested that regularly eating garlic and onions could help lower men's risk of developing prostate cancer.

Food for men 10: Salmon

Salmon is not only a great source of protein, but it is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help address many of men's most common health complaints. Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to lowered levels of "bad" cholesterol and can also reduce risk of many illnesses, including heart disease, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and depression.

                

Food for men 6: Whole grains

Whole grains are great for our health thanks to their high levels of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Most whole grains, including brown rice and oats, are particularly rich in B vitamins, which are good for general wellbeing and can also help alleviate depression. Individual B vitamins can also benefit male health in various ways. Studies have suggested that folate (vitamin B9) can keep sperm healthy, while biotin (B7) may help hair loss. Silica, also present in whole grains, could also help with healthy hair growth.

Food for men 7: Eggs

For men suffering from hair loss, eggs may also provide the perfect solution. Eggs are an excellent source of protein, which is essential for hair growth, as well as being rich in biotin (vitamin B7). Egg yolks are also a good source of iron, which some studies have suggested can alleviate hair loss, which can be caused by anemia.

Food for men 8: Pomegranate juice

Pomegranates are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, and research has suggested that drinking the juice of this "superfood" can help lower cholesterol - which can be high in many men as young as their 20s - and prevent hypertension. A study has also found that drinking just one 8oz glass of pomegranate juice a day could dramatically slow down the progress of prostate cancer.

Food for men 9: Garlic

Garlic is well known for boosting heart health, and a study on the effects of garlic consumption on males has shown that regularly eating garlic could help lower men's cholesterol levels. Furthermore, research findings published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute have suggested that regularly eating garlic and onions could help lower men's risk of developing prostate cancer.

Food for men 10: Salmon

Salmon is not only a great source of protein, but it is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help address many of men's most common health complaints. Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to lowered levels of "bad" cholesterol and can also reduce risk of many illnesses, including heart disease, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer and depression.

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/10-foods-all-men-should-eat/#pagination-top

10 Foods All Women Should Eat

10 essential foods for female health

While there are some foods we should all be eating more of, men and women also have their own set of dietary requirements as well as their own unique health concerns. Here are ten foods that women should eat.

Female-friendly food 1: Tomatoes

Another vibrant carotenoid beneficial for women's health is lycopene, a pigment found in tomatoes. Studies have suggested that lycopene may be effective in preventing breast cancer. Furthermore, there has been considerable evidence to suggest that the powerful antioxidant can help reduce risk of heart disease — the leading cause of death in women in the US, Australia, England and Wales.

Female-friendly food 2: Butternut squash

Butternut squash — like many other yellow/orange fruit and vegetables — is packed with carotenoids such as alpha-carotene and beta-carotene and thefore ranks highly in the list of foods that women should eat. While carotenes should be included in everybody's diet for optimum health, they may prove essential to women's health as a high-carotenoid diet has been linked to lowered risks of both breast and ovarian cancer.

Female-friendly food 3: Flax Seeds

Flax seeds are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids and have been linked to reduced risk of breast cancer and heart disease. The seeds' anti-inflammatory properties are also good for preventing arthritis, while their digestive benefits can help irritable bowel syndrome; two painful conditions which are more prevalent in women than men.

Female-friendly food 4: Salmon

Salmon has a multitude of positive health benefits for women. Not only is it rich in iron — which is integral to the diets of premenopausal women — but it is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, known for their mood-enhancing effects. Studies have suggested that omega-3 can help beat depression (something that affects twice as many women as men) and prevent mood swings, while salmon can also boost babies' intelligence when eaten during pregnancy.

Female-friendly food 5: Cranberries

Various studies have suggested strong links between consuming cranberries and reduced risks of breast cancer and heart disease. However, the most notorious benefit of cranberries is their ability to prevent and cure urinary tract infections such as cystitis, which is eight times more likely to occur in women than men. One study suggests that drinking two glasses of cranberry juice a day can prevent the symptoms of common UTIs in women, making cranberries a food that women should consume.

Female-friendly food 6: Spinach

Spinach is rich in many different vitamins and minerals, but one thing that makes it great for women is its high content of magnesium. Research has shown that magnesium may be beneficial in reducing many of the physical symptoms of PMS which plague women, including reduction of swelling, breast tenderness, bloating and weight gain.

Female-friendly food 7: Figs

Figs are a great health food, containing many vital minerals and vitamins as well as contributing to your daily portions of fruit and veg. Two minerals found in figs that are particularly beneficial to women's health are iron, which is often deficient in menstruating women, and calcium, which is important for post-menopausal women, who are more prone to osteoporosis.

Female-friendly food 8: Milk

Milk is a great source of calcium, which is extremely beneficial to women's health, particularly when combined with vitamin D (found in some varieties of milk and many fortified milk products). Consumption of the combined nutrients is not only good for warding off osteoporosis, but a study has suggested that a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D could ease, or even prevent, symptoms of PMS.

Female-friendly food 9: Oats

Oats are literally packed with health-boosting nutrients, many of which have great impacts on female health. Oats are not only great for heart health, digestion and blood pressure levels (with hypertension affecting many women over 50), but they contain vitamin B6, which can help prevent PMS and mood swings, and folic acid, which is important for women to consume before and during pregnancy to prevent birth defects in babies.

Female-friendly food 10: Walnuts

While all nuts are great for our health, walnuts have many great individual benefits for women. A study has recently found that walnuts, which are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols, may help to reduce women's risk of developing breast cancer, while their high omega-3 content may also help bone health, arthritis pain and depression. Walnuts also contain many nutrients essential for female health, such as calcium, magnesium and folic acid

http://www.realbuzz.com/articles/10-foods-all-women-should-eat/#pagination-top

Will Eating Nuts Make Me Gain Weight?

Nuts are a nutritious component of a healthy diet, and they've also been shown to contribute to greater longevity.   But because they contain a relatively high amount of fat, many people worry that they'll gain weight if they eat nuts.  Is this true?

Answer:  As long as you confine your nut consumption to an ounce (28g) or so each day, you are unlikely to gain weight from the nuts alone, according to a 2008 article published in the Journal of Nutrition.  The researchers - from the US Department of Agriculture's Nutrition Center on Aging and the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer - write that regular nut eaters have not been found to weigh more than people who rarely or never eat nuts.  This, despite research that regular consumption of nuts increases calorie intake by an average of 250 extra calories per day, according to the authors.

About a third of Americans report eating nuts on any given day; Europeans consume about 50% more nuts than Americans do.
An ounce of almonds contains about 160 calories, an ounce of walnuts, about 200 calories.  Depending on the nut, one ounce usually makes up just less than a quarter cup (60ml).
Contributing to this data are the findings of a 2013 review of the dietary habits of almost 119,000 men and women in the US, compiled over three decades.  Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it found that adults who ate nuts (either peanuts or tree nuts) daily had less weight gain compared with those who never ate nuts.  The study also cited past research showing that regular nut consumption is linked with a smaller waist circumference, less dangerous belly fat, and a lower risk of obesity.
While nuts may be a nutritious snack, eating any food between meals can contribute to weight gain.  This is true even if you're making healthy choices, according to nutrition researcher Barbara Rolls.  She warns that if the amount of food you're consuming is too small, it may not register with your body's appetite sensors and will then do little to keep you from overeating later in the day.
http://longevity.about.com/od/Obesity-longevity/fl/Will-Eating-Nuts-Make-Me-Gain-Weight.htm