Best Vegan Scones Recipes

Here are some delicious vegan scones recipes that will make your next brunch a hit!

The post Best Vegan Scones Recipes appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2kbfUeP

Tofu Scramble Recipes for Vegan Brunch

Tofu Scramble recipes are easy and tasty. Here are a few recipe ideas of tofu scrambles that can help you get started planning your next brunch.

The post Tofu Scramble Recipes for Vegan Brunch appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2kbZJxz

17 Hot Vegan Breakfasts you Didn’t Know you Were Missing

Here are 17 delicious vegan hot breakfast recipes that will keep you going all day.

The post 17 Hot Vegan Breakfasts you Didn’t Know you Were Missing appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2kbgDN5

7 recipes for Vegan Gingerbread Cookies for the Holidays

This article takes a look at recipes for vegan gingerbread cookies in an attempt to help you find the perfect one for your holiday celebrations.

The post 7 recipes for Vegan Gingerbread Cookies for the Holidays appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2kdTucZ

10 Make-Ahead Vegan Breakfast Casseroles

These recipes for 10 vegan breakfast casseroles will make you morning easier, and they will make your mornings less stressful.

The post 10 Make-Ahead Vegan Breakfast Casseroles appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2kaATOC

21 Vegan Hot Beverages for Cold Weather

Whether you need to cozy up with a book and a blanket, or you are having a family get together for the holidays, this list will have the vegan hot beverages that you need to warm your body and soul.

The post 21 Vegan Hot Beverages for Cold Weather appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2kc3tz9

10 Facts About Tofu that You Didn’t Know

Tofu is a versatile ingredient, and it is essential in vegan cuisine. Here are some facts about tofu that you may not have known were true.

The post 10 Facts About Tofu that You Didn’t Know appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2k7R4wb

How to Grow Fresh Vegetables With Hydroponics All Year Round

Have you ever thought about starting an indoor garden? Home gardening brings great joy to growers. It also helps people save money, and produces fresh vegetables for a plant-strong diet. What’s more, it lets gardeners control how plants are grown —that is, organically and without pesticides — making it safer and healthier. Let’s take a […]

The post How to Grow Fresh Vegetables With Hydroponics All Year Round appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2k7R7s2

6 Great Natural Skin Care Remedies Straight From Your Kitchen

Does your skin need a serious cold weather pick-me-up, yet you’re not up for splurging on professional facials and body scrubs, or skin care products that make inflated claims? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, here are some great alternatives that may be in your kitchen right now. If you’ve been […]

The post 6 Great Natural Skin Care Remedies Straight From Your Kitchen appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2zyn2EP

Breathe Easy – Addressing Lung Health the Natural Way

Lung health matters so much more than many of us realize. Did you know that you take more than 6 million breaths per year?

Or that your lungs play many roles besides ‘just’ helping you breathe?

And were you aware that there are several all-natural actions that can help improve lung health?

In this article, I’ll discuss lifestyle and dietary tips that are worth implementing if you want to keep your lungs strong and healthy. You’ll also discover what a true and healthy lung cleans is really about.

 

Fun facts about the lungs

• The lungs exist as a pair but they’re not identical. The left lung weighs slightly less and has a smaller capacity than the right lung which is shorter to make room for the liver below.

• The heart and other structures separate the lungs and each lung is enclosed in its own pleural sac. This is why one lung can keep working even if the other one is punctured or collapses (such as in a collision).

• Each lung is enclosed within two membranes which are separated by pleural fluid. This pleural fluid decreases friction between the membranes thus helping them slide easily over one another during breathing. Inflammation of the pleural fluid is painful and can lead to fluid accumulation between the membranes.

• The lungs don’t have any muscles to pump air in and out. They rely mainly on the muscle below the lungs (the diaphragm) to move.

As you can see above, the respiratory system consists of the trachea (the windpipe) which branches out, at the carina, into two bronchi that lead to each lung. The bronchi continue to branch forming smaller bronchi that divide into bronchioles.

Bronchioles have tiny air sacs also known as alveoli. The alveoli have many capillaries (very thin blood vessels) in their walls. The oxygen we breathe in passes through the alveoli, into the capillaries and then into the blood.

• We have about 480 million alveoli. Together, these alveoli provide a surface area that is about half the area of a tennis court!

What do the lungs do? (Number 3 will surprise you)

Yes, the lungs help us breathe. (That is, the lungs expand and suck in air when the diaphragm contracts. They then compress to expel carbon dioxide as the diaphragm relaxes.)

But that’s not all the lungs do.

Healthy lungs also help:

• Keep blood pressure within a healthy range – angiotensin I is converted to angiotensin II in the lungs. This triggers the production of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex and eventually increases blood volume and blood pressure back to normal.

• Protect the heart against shocks by acting as a shock absorber.

• Reduce risks of infections – When exposed to a pathogen (harmful bacteria), the lungs can create an antibody response. The antibodies produced then work together to eliminate the pathogen and decrease its ability to colonize the respiratory tract.

• Clear the mucus that lines the respiratory tract – This mucus traps bacteria and dust particles.

• Remove small air bubbles that can occur in the blood.

• Communication ­– Without lungs, we wouldn’t be able to talk.

• Maintain a healthy blood pH – The lungs increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the body if the blood’s pH isn’t acidic enough. Conversely, if the blood is too acidic, the lungs will decrease carbon dioxide levels in the body.

 

Do you need a ‘lungs cleanse or detox’ for optimal lung health?

Tobacco smoke contains over 7000 toxic chemicals, 60 of which are known to cause cancer. So, if you’re a smoker, you really want to help your body get rid of these toxins.

However, even if you don’t smoke, you’re still exposed to various pollutants such as car exhaust, detergents, dirt, and dust. As such, anyone who lives in the modern world would benefit from a lung ‘cleanse’.

But don’t worry: you won’t need to go on a juice fast or prepare some crazy concotions to improve your lung health. You see, a true and healthy lung detox or cleanse simply implies supporting your lungs’ innate detox mechanisms as discussed below.

Tips to improve lung health and cleanse your lungs

Step 1:

Take out the bad stuff which prevent your lungs from working at full capacity.

1. Remove food triggers

Your doctor or nutritionist said that wheat, dairy, soy, vegetable oils etc. pose no threat to your health?

Before you take this as a fact, why not try eliminating these foods for at least a month to see whether your lung health (and overall health) improve or not?

This is what is called an ‘n=1’ experiment. And this is the best way to find out what works for YOU and what doesn’t.

·        Wheat, grains, sugar, and High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS)

Wondering what wheat, grains, sugar, and HFCS have in common?

Well, by damaging the lining of the small intestine, these foods can cause inflammation in the respiratory tract.

Inflammation in the lungs could result in swelling of the bronchial tubes as well as increased mucus production. The excess mucus can cause cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

If left untreated, inflammation may even cause scarring within the lungs – this would cause a serious decline in lung health.

·        Food Additives

Sulfites (present in dried fruits, wine, beer, many processed foods), monosodium glutamate (MSG), food colorings, salicylates, benzoates and yeast can adversely impact lung health. It appears that, in some individuals, these food additives can trigger respiratory symptoms by irritating the respiratory tract.

Note: If you often cough, wheeze, or feel your throat ‘tightening’ after eating certain foods, you may want to check this article about histamine intolerance.

·        Industrial seed oils and trans fats

If you want healthy lungs, you need to ditch industrial seed oils such as oils of canola, cottonseed, sunflower, safflower, and corn.

You also want to steer clear of margarines and any form of hydrogenated fats.

Wondering what dietary fat has to do with lung health?

Do you remember the alveoli, the tiny sacs that allow oxygen from the air we breathe in to diffuse in the blood? Well, these tiny sacs produce a fatty substance known as ‘lung surfactant’.

The post Breathe Easy – Addressing Lung Health the Natural Way appeared first on Bembu.

from Bembu http://ift.tt/2zLgMO7

Food of the Week: Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are native to Central and South America and are one of the oldest vegetables known to man. They have been consumed since prehistoric times as evidenced by sweet potato relics dating back 10,000 years that have been discovered in ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/17gJkpj

Recipe of the Week: 7-Minute "Quick Steamed" Sweet Potatoes

You can enjoy the enhanced flavor of sweet potatoes in minutes by using our "Quick Steam" method of cooking. ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/1hY39tg

Best sources of Vitamin A

The term "vitamin A" makes it sound like there is one particular nutrient called "vitamin A," but that is not true. Vitamin A is a broad group of related nutrients. Each of these nutrients provides us with health benefits, but these benefits may be ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/1el00yh

From the kitchen: Tips for Preparing Sweet Potatoes

If you purchase organically grown sweet potatoes, you can eat the entire tuber, flesh and skin. Yet, if you buy conventionally grown ones, you should peel them before eating since sometimes the skin is treated with dye or wax; if preparing the sweet ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/1xodMO2

Do sweet potatoes come in any other color besides orange?

Yes! Actually, depending upon the variety, of which there are about 400, the skin and flesh of the sweet potato may be almost white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, or deep purple, although white/cream and yellow-orange flesh are most common. Sometimes ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2k5ma7y

Are sweet potatoes and yams the same?

In the U.S., there is often much confusion between sweet potatoes and yams. They are completely different foods, belonging to different plant families. Sweet potatoes are much more highly available in the U.S. than are yams.This confusion exists for ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2i9YOx6

Can you share tips on how to prepare sweet potatoes before cooking?

If you purchase organically grown sweet potatoes, you can eat the entire tuber, flesh and skin. Yet, if you buy conventionally grown ones, you should peel them before eating since sometimes the skin is treated with dye or wax; if preparing the sweet ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2jrrdva

How can I enhance the nutritional benefits I get from sweet potatoes?

A trick to enhancing the benefits you get from sweet potatoes is by enjoying them with a food that contains some good fat. Here's why?Sweet potatoes are rich in carotenoid phytonutrients, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Some ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2AglfWg

What's your favorite way to store sweet potatoes?

Sweet potatoes should be stored in a cool, dark and well-ventilated place, where they will keep fresh for up to ten days. Ideally, they should be kept out of the refrigerator in a cool, dry, dark place not above 60F /15C, which would fit ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2jqC4pe

Do purple sweet potatoes have special nutritional properties?

In addition to carotenoid phytonutrients, purple sweet potatoes contain a wealth of antioxidant anthocyanin pigments. Cyanidins and peonidins are concentrated in the starchy core of part of purple-fleshed sweet potatoes, and these antioxidant ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2AhYpNN

5 Great Ways to Cleanse After Eating Too Much

We’ve all been there— the sluggishness, lethargy and general blah feeling that comes after holiday meals or simply celebrating much too heartily with food and drink. The good news is that these 5 great ways to cleanse your body after an evening (or days, as the holiday spirit sets in) of overindulgence are easy as […]

The post 5 Great Ways to Cleanse After Eating Too Much appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2AsYSiZ

Thanksgiving Nut Roast

So often around the holidays, vegans and vegetarians end up eating nothing but the side dishes. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, and Brussels sprouts are all easily vegan. But what about the main dish? Where’s the star of the show? Move over, Tofurkey, we’ve got a Vegan Nut Roast that’s going to blow your mind. It’s packed […]

The post Thanksgiving Nut Roast appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2zffyXe

Food of the Week: Turkey

As mentioned in the Description section, turkeys are truly native to North and South America and were an important part of Native American cultures long before the arrival of the European colonists. While Native American cultures did domesticate ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/1c3soHH

Recipe of the Week: Holiday Turkey with Rice Stuffing & Gravy with Fresh Herbs

Holidays are usually the time we throw caution to the wind when it comes to what we eat. But you can enjoy the holidays without compromising health with our Healthy Holiday menu which has less fat and fewer calories - one-third fewer calories! ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/1c3soHG

Best sources of Niacin (B3)

Niacin is a blanket term for a family of compounds with vitamin B3 activity. The terms "niacin" and "vitamin B3" can be used interchangeably, and whenever you find either term on our website, we are referring to the same group of compounds. Basic ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/17RLs6Z

From the kitchen: The Healthiest Way of Cooking Turkey

We recommend roasting turkey to bring out its best flavor although you will have to allot several hours for cooking. Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Rub 3 TBS lemon juice and some salt and pepper on the outside of the turkey. Then lift up ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/1c3sorg

Turkey, pasture-raised

As mentioned in the Description section, turkeys are truly native to North and South America and were an important part of Native American cultures long before the arrival of the European colonists. While Native American cultures did domesticate ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/1c3soHH

What's your favorite way to cook turkey?

We recommend roasting turkey to bring out its best flavor although you will have to allot several hours for cooking.Preheat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Rub 3 TBS lemon juice and some salt and pepper on the outside of the turkey. Then lift up ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2iyVzMQ

Can you share tips on how to best store turkey?

Safe handling of turkey is very important! We encourage you to take special care with this food. When you purchase raw turkey, try to make the grocery store your last stop before heading home. When you arrive back home, promptly get your turkey into ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2AWmqcs

While turkey is associated with American Thanksgiving, did turkeys actually originate in the Americas?

Turkeys are truly native to both North and South America and were an important part of Native American cultures long before the arrival of the European colonists. While Native American cultures did domesticate numerous breeds of turkeys, other ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2iAm9oE

What are some of your favorite ways to use turkey leftovers?

Here are three of our favorite ways to enjoy turkey in the days following Thanksgiving: On a bed of romaine lettuce, serve diced turkey, cooked cubed sweet potatoes, cranberries and walnuts. Toss with a light vinaigrette for a salad that emanates ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2AXfLyC

Can you tell me more about turkey's nutrient richness?

Because most cuts of turkey provide valuable amounts of protein, turkey is often regarded as a high-protein food. Skinned turkey breast will provide the most protein per serving, at 34 grams in 4 ounces. But you will still get 31 grams from 4 ounces ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2iAlxPS

Can you share some tips on purchasing ground turkey?

Just like whole turkey, we encourage the purchase of certified organic and pasture-raised ground turkey since organic standards require organic turkey to be raised on organic feed and since pasture-raising will provide you with greater nutrient ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2iyPP5x

Tasty and Easy Chickpea Flour Recipes and Tips

Chickpea flour is a great alternative to grain flours, though it doesn’t “behave” like grain in the usual sense. It doesn’t rise and become fluffy like wheat flour, for example, but it’s wonderful for making pancakes, crepes, and vegan frittatas. Here’s a quick guide, followed by tasty and easy chickpea flour recipes for you to […]

The post Tasty and Easy Chickpea Flour Recipes and Tips appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2zd4GwR

Broccoli Strascinati with Raisins & Nuts

When I lived in New York, I had a flatmate who told me a story about how shocked she was when, during a trip to Italy, she saw her host mother cooking the life out of broccoli. “I had never seen anything like it before!” she said. “She cooked it until almost mushy, with tons […]

The post Broccoli Strascinati with Raisins & Nuts appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2hu69nq

Recipe of the Week: Cranberry and Fresh Pear Cobbler

This is a wonderful after-dinner treat that provides a great combination of flavors and health benefits to your Healthiest Way of Eating! Cranberries, like their cousin blueberries, are one of the best sources of health-promoting antioxidants. ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/YQPxuy

Best sources of Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a blanket term for eight different naturally occurring nutrients - four different tocopherols and four different tocotrienols. Each of these vitamin E types is considered a fat-soluble antioxidant, and all eight are found in varying ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/18c0rMM

From the kitchen: Tips for Preparing Cranberries

While not as fragile as blueberries, fresh cranberries should be treated with care. Just prior to use, place cranberries in a strainer and briefly and gently rinse under cool running water. When using frozen berries in recipes that do not require ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/17RLuM2

Cranberries

As a food native to North America, cranberries have traditionally been enjoyed by many native peoples throughout what is now the United States and Canada. Cranberries were originally given different names in various tribal languages, including the ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/Hkkezo

Are cranberries rich in phytonutrients?

While cranberries have gotten less attention than other family members in the  Ericaceae  plant family (for example, blueberries), they more than earn their credentials as phytonutrient-rich foods. In addition to being a storehouse of vitamins and ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2ACp0Vs

What's the difference between white and red cranberries?

We often get asked about the benefits of white versus red cranberries. White cranberries are simply red cranberries that were harvested on the early side, before forming the anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins that give them their vibrant red color. ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2ytPEOQ

Where do most of the cranberries come from?

On a worldwide basis, no country comes close to producing the number of cranberries as the United States, with the possible exception of Canada.As the world's largest single producer of cranberries, the United States has a well-documented history of ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2ADt1Jd

Can you share any tips on how to select the best fresh cranberries?

Fresh cranberries are harvested in the fall, usually between mid-September and mid-November, and particularly during the month of October. For the freshest picked cranberries, this season is best.Choose fresh, plump cranberries that are quite firm ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2yw1hVN

What do you think about dried cranberries?

When selecting cranberries, many people wonder about the pros and cons of purchasing dried cranberries. On the "pro" side, dried cranberries are highly convenient to handle and store and can provide some of the nutrient benefits available from fresh ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2ADO8eE

What are some delicious ways to enjoy cranberries?

Take advantage of cranberries' tartness by using them to replace vinegar or lemon when dressing your green salads. Toss the greens with a little olive oil and then add color and zest with a handful of raw cranberries. To balance their extreme ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2ADBHQ1

Fall Tuscan Minestrone with Farro & Vegetables

Every time I make minestrone, I stop and think how amazing it is that such a humble dish became so popular outside of Italy. The main idea behind minestrone is the same as a quiche: It’s a recipe designed to rid the fridge of all the vegetable scraps that have been sitting for too long […]

The post Fall Tuscan Minestrone with Farro & Vegetables appeared first on VegKitchen.

from VegKitchen http://ift.tt/2hW99JO

Food of the Week: Apples

The history of this much-loved fruit has some unique aspects. Current genetic evidence points to a wild species of apple ( Malus sieversii ) in the Tian Shan Mountains of Central Asia as the key ancestor for present-day apples. However, this wild ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/17nwTYJ

Recipe of the Week: 10-Minute Apple Sundae

This is a great way to start the day or end a meal! (From page 487 of the 2nd edition of the World's Healthiest Foods book. ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/15BBkl1

Best sources of Flavonoids

The unique nutrient richness of every whole, natural food can be showcased in a variety of ways. But there is no better way to highlight the unique nutrient richness of foods than to focus on their flavonoid content! Flavonoids are a quite ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/15TXf48

From the kitchen: Tips for Preparing Apples

The skin of the apple is unusually rich in nutrients, and even if the recipe you've chosen requires peeled apples, consider leaving the skins on to receive the unique benefits found in the skins. Ideally, of course, choose organic apples to avoid ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/17nwTIb

Apples: description and history

Description In terms of their diversity, apples aren't likely to take a back seat to any other fruit. As mind-boggling as it might seem, thousands of varieties of apples are produced and enjoyed worldwide. Even within U.S. supermarkets, it is not ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2hLRMLH

Apples: what's new and beneficial

Researchers have long been aware of the potential for apple consumption to support balanced populations of bacteria in our lower digestive tract. However, two areas of recent research have taken our understanding of apples and gut bacteria to a ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2Aesexo

Apples: health benefits

Abundant Phytonutrients from ApplesApples are so familiar to consumers that they are often not given their due in terms of the outstanding nourishment that they provide. And no apple nutrients stand out more prominently than its phenolic ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2hMuYeV

Apples: how to select, store, and prepare

How to Select and StoreLook for firm fruits with rich coloring, but expect the exact shading to differ depending on the specific variety involved. Depending on the taste and texture that you are seeking, there is no reason to limit yourself to ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2Adnmcb

Apples: nutritional profile

Apple polyphenols are standout nutrients in this widely loved fruit. These polyphenols include flavonols (especially quercetin, but also kaempferol and myricetin), catechins (especially epicatechin), anthocyanins (if the apples are red-skinned), ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2hLYrp2

Apples: how to enjoy

A few quick serving ideas for apples Add diced apples to fruit or green salads. Braise a chopped apple with red cabbage. Looking for an alternative to sweet desserts? Sliced apples (either alone or with other fruits) and cheese are a European ...

from The World's Healthiest Foods http://ift.tt/2hMuO7j