I made Cinnamon Rolls from scratch to give out as Christmas gifts a few years back. They were AMAZING and from the Pioneer Woman’s famous recipe. [ read it here: The time I made cinnamon rolls from scratch ] It took a very long time to make them and even longer to clean up (imagine […]
The post I Need Your BEST Recipe for Holiday Baking and Food Holidays appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.
Twenty-four students at the University of Toronto are calling on the school to improve its mental health services immediately after a death by suicide in a computer science building on Friday.
Plaintiffs claim Juul targets minors with misleading advertising that suggests e-cigarettes and vaping are safer and healthier than smoking.
The McGill University Health Centre has cancelled all clinical appointments for the day and is asking emergency patients to go elsewhere.
A Quispamsis man who buried his 21-year-old daughter this month after she succumbed to injuries suffered in a suicide attempt, says he's been spending his haunted, sleepless nights working out his grief in Facebook posts that he wants shared as widely as possible.
Andrew Scheer is promising that a Conservative government led by him would make it easier for thousands of Canadians to access the federal disability tax credit.
If you’re like most people, you probably love the occasional carb fix. However, certain carbs can tend to leave you feeling uncomfortably full and sluggish. According to Mayo Clinic, switching to a low carb diet may be beneficial for weight loss because it lowers insulin levels, causing the body to burn stored fat for energy. We’ve came up with a list low carb swaps to lighten up your favorite meals and snacks.
Of course, the idea of ditching some of your favorite carbs might feel daunting. But it doesn’t have to! There are some fantastic substitutes that you may love even more. The best part is, they can all fit into your Nutrisystem program!
Living a Low Carb Lifestyle? 10 Tips for Success
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Due to their similarities in texture and consistency, chances are you won’t even notice this swap. Actually, many people prefer the slightly nutty flavor that quinoa adds to their dishes. Though it still contains carbs, quinoa has more fiber and protein than rice says Healthline. It is one of the rare vegetarian foods that is a complete protein, containing all nine of the essential amino acids.
Love mashed potatoes but trying to follow a low carb diet? Mashed and steamed cauliflower can give you a very similar texture and taste. Add a dash of salt and a little bit of butter and you’ll be surprised how delicious you’ll find this unlikely alternative. Like quinoa, this cruciferous veggie is also a great swap for rice and other foods. Click here for cauliflower recipes you’ll love >
Using zucchini noodles or “zoodles” in place of pasta is a great way to still enjoy some of your favorite pasta dishes on a low carb diet. Zucchini is low in carb, high in fiber and creates the perfect noodle shape when used with a spiralizer. Many other veggies also create great noodles. Click the link below for some more creative ideas!
5 Veggies That Make Awesome Pasta Substitutes
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If you love a crunch in your salad, nuts and seeds can be a great replacement to the carby crouton. Almonds, pine nuts, cashews and walnuts are low in carbs and tasty with any salad variation. They also have the added benefit of giving your salad some additional flavor, making it even more enjoyable.
You don’t have to reach for a bag of chips to get a crispy snack. One of the best low carb swaps you can make is for raw veggies! Slice veggies into round coins so they are similar to the shape of a chip and the perfect size for dipping. Sliced cucumbers, radishes, zucchini and carrots make especially good alternatives given their crunch factor. Served with a side of low-fat ranch dip, you’ll get plenty of flavor satisfaction without filling up on fat, calories and carbs.
Grocery stores are making our lives much easier with many pre-cut veggie options. You might even find veggies that are made into fun shapes like fries! With the right blend of seasonings and a simple roasting, carrots can make a delicious and guilt-free swap for greasy, carb-heavy French fries. Just be sure to roast or air fry as opposed to deep frying. If carrots are not your favorite veggie, click the link below to find some other veggies that make tasty fries!
5 Veggies That Make Awesome Fries
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Lettuce will add very little calories to any sandwich or wrap that you’d like to enjoy, while still giving you a means to hold everything together. It also adds some satisfying crunch and a vegetable serving to your meal. There are so many different ways to get creative with lettuce. Use them for tacos, burritos, wraps, sandwiches or burgers. You can’t go wrong with this healthy low carb swap!
Burgers can be a great low carb option, however, the bun around them can wreak havoc on your diet. Portobello mushrooms are the perfect swap so that you can still enjoy grilling with your family and friends. They add unique flavor to your favorite burger patty, have a relatively close texture to a bun and come with the added benefit of being low carb. It’s a swap you can feel great about from all accounts.
Lower Carb Versions of 10 Popular Meals
Read MoreThe post 8 Low Carb Swaps You Need in Your Kitchen appeared first on The Leaf.
September is always a reminder of fresh starts, but also of much busier schedules that bring on many fall weight loss traps.
But there are also many reasons why fall is a great time to lose weight. The cool crisp weather is nature’s invitation to be outside. It seems like you can walk faster and longer when there’s a little nip in the air. It’s also harvest time for fall vegetables and fruits.
Still, autumn certainly does not come without its obstacles.
8 Simple Swaps for a Healthier Fall
Read MoreNo more lazy summer days, not to mention vacation days. The kids are back to school—and to music lessons, after-school sports and extra-curricular activities—just to name a few. Mom and dad’s taxi service is officially back up and running. It’s tough to stick to a diet and exercise plan when you have so much to do. Not only does stress set up a cascade of hormones that can make you hungry (one of the sneakiest weight loss traps), logistics undercut you. Who has time to get a healthy dinner on the table when you only have an hour or so between activities? (Moms who feel like human taxis should click here to check out some fall weight loss tips from really busy moms >)
Luckily, there are simple solutions! Your supermarket probably carries prepared rotisserie chickens and pre-cut veggies that are a meal for your family in minutes. Now that you have your family covered, your Nutrisystem entrees are your meal in minutes. Just make sure you also have a bounty of grab-and-go Nutrisystem foods like the On-the-Go bars for when crazy schedules go even more haywire and take some time on the weekend to plan ahead for days that make an air traffic controller’s look tame. Shop and cook ahead. Stock up on grab-and-go snacks and bars to keep in your purse (Click here to discover five delicious lunch bars for easy grabbing-and-going >).
7 Grab-and-Go Snacks for Busy People
Read MoreFall weight loss seems like an impossible feat because the season is essentially three months of nearly irresistible temptation; starting with the peanut butter cups of Halloween and ending with the lobster, drawn butter and champagne of New Year’s Eve. Oh and Thanksgiving, the holiday that’s all about the culinary weight loss traps; and Christmas, with its parties, cookie gifts and fruitcake, not to mention cocktails.
Turn a negative into a positive: Use the time before the food flows like wine to do a pre-emptive strike against holiday weight gain. Sit down with a piece of paper or in front of your computer and list all the no-no foods you are going to avoid and can do without. Next, take a look at the list and think of alternatives that might be just as satisfying. Here are some ideas to get you going:
Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas: Would a Nutrisystem Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar substitute for a Reese’s? Okay, you have a plan! It may also help to only buy candy you don’t like to hand out to trick-or-treaters and to vow not to raid your kids’ stash. Anyway, isn’t that stealing? Also, Turkey usually isn’t usually the problem—it’s the “friends” that it brings with it to the table.
Here are some tips if you don’t want to end the day feeling guilty and having to unbutton your pants due to these sneaky fall weight loss traps:
ICYMI: Thanksgiving Recipes Edition
Read MoreGoodbye fresh berries, tomatoes and green beans! We’re going to miss you!
The good news is autumn brings with it a new batch of vegetables perfect for fall weight loss. Some of them are highly nutritious but starchy, like potatoes and yams, while others, such as parsnips, rutabagas and turnips, may be unfamiliar to you but are the healthier options.
Click here to find out why turnips are considered a superfood >
The berries have disappeared and in their place are shiny apples and pears. It just requires a bit of a change in mindset (and a few good recipes, like this Slow-cooker Applesauce) to help you appreciate fall’s farm bounty. The first bite into a crisp, juicy apple may help you forget the delicious sweetness of the season’s first strawberry crop. Click here to discover five reasons why you should eat more apples >
You may even be surprised by root vegetables like parsnips, a carrot-like veggie that roasts to a candy sweetness and bulbous turnips that, when boiled and mashed with apple, can make you forget potatoes as a side dish.
This isn’t much of a challenge and it’s a tasty win all around.
6 Healthy Root Vegetables You Have to Try This Fall
Read MoreThose crisp autumn days can suddenly turn cold, wet and blustery which can cancel your outdoor workout plans. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. If you don’t have a gym membership but have a mall nearby, combine a brisk walk with people-watching and window shopping. You can also find all kinds of fun workout ideas on the Fitness section of The Leaf!
It’s also good to have the gear—weatherproof and wind-resistant jackets, warm layers, hat, waterproof socks and sunglasses—that can help you stay active in any weather. Click here to discover more cold weather exercise essentials >
Don’t Let Cold Weather Slow You Down
Read MoreIn November, most of us “fall back,” that is, we get one extra hour of sleep as we switch the clocks back an hour. Only it doesn’t quite work out that way. A 2013 study in Sleep Medicine Reviews found little evidence that most of us get more sleep. In fact, our sleep can be disturbed for up to a week or more after the time change. We may sleep less, get up earlier, wake up in the middle of the night and even have trouble getting to sleep.
Studies have found that sleep deprivation can lead to weight gain in part by increasing our desire for high-calorie, high-carb foods to give us instant energy to get through the day. Click here to read the 10 ways sleep deprivation affects your health >
To beat these fall weight loss traps, go to bed a little earlier in anticipation of the time change, avoiding alcohol and caffeinated beverages four to six hours before bedtime, keep naps to 20 minutes and maintain a consistent sleep schedule on the weekends.
Our Top 6 Fall Produce Picks
Read MoreThe post 5 Sneaky Fall Weight Loss Traps & How to Beat Them appeared first on The Leaf.
An Alberta mom says her son Ashton is alive today after a stage 4 cancer diagnosis because of research into rare tumours in kids, so she called the doctor to say thank you.
Whoever would have thought that a humble cup of green tea can provide protection to the body against heart disease, cancer & many other ailments?
Green tea protects the heart: Surprising, as it may seem, drinking tea (especially green tea) protects your arteries by reducing blood- clotting factors. The ‘catechins’ in tea help by blocking the clumping of platelets and keeping the blood thin. Research done on the effects of tea and heart- attack victims shows that both the common black tea as well as the green tea helps in reducing blood platelet aggregation thereby reducing the risk of cardio vascular disease.
There are about 3000 varieties of tea in the world. Out of these it is the variety called ‘camellia Sinesis’ that is mainly consumed. When the leaves of this plant are simply picked and dried without fermentation it is called ‘green tea’. This contains more ‘catechins’ and polyphenols and bioflavonoids than the fermented variety of the same plant. When this plant ‘Camellia Sinesis’ is semi-fermented you get oolong tea, which is a stage between green tea and black tea. Further fermentation leads to the making of black tea, which is commonly consumed.
Black tea contains 3-10% catechins, while oolong tea & green tea contains 8-20% & 30-42% respectively. It is these catechins that give tea its heart protecting and blood thinning properties. The polyphenols in green tea prevent oxidation of the bad LDL cholesterol. This stops progress of arteriosclerosis. Polyphenols in green tea also help to lower triglycerides levels in the blood.
Green tea and cancer: The antioxidants existing in green tea also help to thwart cancer cell proliferation. The low rate of cancer amongst the Japanese population where green tea is heavily grown & consumed suggests a strong link between green tea & cancer. The catechins found in green tea also help to block breast cancer in animals. Green tea also provides a protection against skin cancer. There have been innumerable tests and studies done which prove the cancer blocking effects of tea on almost every type of cancer.
Green tea and barbequed food: Now, this might seem like bad news but when you barbeque the chicken or any meat on a high flame or fry it at high temperatures, HCA’s (heterocyclic amines) are formed during the cooking, especially during the charring process. These HCA’s are known to be carcinogenic. Here’s where green tea comes into play. A cup of tea taken along with Tandoori chicken or charred mutton chops helps to neutralize these HCA’s by almost 85% thus nipping carcinogenic activity at the bud.
Health benefits of green tea: Green tea is a longevity drink. It protects against cancer, lowers cholesterol, reduces clotting tendency of the blood & prevents heart disease. It helps to protect the liver and the brain from oxidized fatty acids. It exhibits antibacterial and antiviral activity.
In order to get its health benefits one must incorporate it in your daily diet. In order to make green tea you can put the leaves in boiling water and let the goodness seep into the water for 2-3 minutes. Then you can strain, add a teaspoon of honey (if required) and enjoy a hot cup health in the morning & in the evening. If you like some milk you could add a couple of tablespoons of warm low fat milk to the tea. Tea seems to be an extraordinary drink. It can boost your chances of preventing major degenerative diseases and reach old age in good shape. Although the Asian type green tea contains more antioxidant punch than the oolong tea & black tea, the later seem to be just about as effective at defusing free radical activity and delaying the aging process. Antioxidants seem to be present all around us e.g. in fruits in vegetables and from unexpected sources as in green tea. We just need to know about them and use them correctly.
(As published in Hindustan Times dated September 30, 2019)
ANJALI MUKERJEE, Nutritionist, Founder Director-Health Total, having health centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune.
Health Total treats obesity & other health related disorders.
Contact numbers: 1800 266 0607 / 022-672 66888
For further information, visit www.health-total.com
The post Health Benefits of Green Tea appeared first on Health Total.
Health Canada is looking into the marketing of Veeva Teen, an herbal supplement claiming to help teens "suffering from anxiety" — counter to the health agency's guidelines.
Greta Thunberg, 16, has reached millions with her message about the need for urgent action on climate change. She’s also inspired people with her public acknowledgement that she's on the autism spectrum. She calls her autism her “superpower.” She has a clear message: she succeeds not in spite of her disability, but because of it.
Some cooked diced chicken meat that was marketed under a number of brand names is being recalled due to possible Listeria contamination. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the chicken was sold across the country by Tip Top Poultry Inc., Reuven International Ltd., Sysco and AlimPlus Inc.
Although they are both root vegetables, look and taste similar, sweet potatoes and yams aren’t even cousins. In fact, sweet potatoes are members of the same family as morning glories, while yams count as part of their family lilies and grasses.
To make it more confusing, not only are sweet potatoes not potatoes, what’s labeled as a yam in your local market is probably a sweet potato, actually. Most real yams are grown in Africa and may only be available in markets selling international foods.
There are hundreds of different kinds of sweet potatoes that come in colors ranging from white to pale orange, to deep orange inside. There are even some purple varieties.
In North Carolina, where sweet potatoes are a big crop, this is very popular. It’s rose-colored on the outside and has an orange flesh that’s super sweet. You may have served it on Thanksgiving.
This sweet potato variety, on the other hand, looks almost like a real potato, with pale copper skin and golden-white inside. It cooks up creamy and is awesome in soups and stews.
6 Healthy Root Vegetables You Have to Try This Fall
Read MoreSweet potatoes may differ in other ways too. For instance, though you won’t see them marketed that way, one group is starchier and has dry flesh, which means those sweet potatoes have a texture more like a baking potato. They usually have a tan skin with light-colored flesh.
Others are considered moist-fleshed—they’re the red-brown-skinned sweet potatoes with the orange flesh. They’re sweeter than the dry-fleshed varieties.
Whatever you call them (or whatever they’re labeled) these fall-winter all-stars share a sweet, starchy flavor, a texture made soft by cooking and nutrients out the wazoo. But if you think of them as always accompanied by brown sugar and mini-marshmallows, you’re missing their wonderful versatility in recipes. You can turn sweet potatoes into patties, pancakes, chips, fries, noodles, salads, muffins and even ice cream!
This recipe turns four slices of a medium sweet potato into the perfect first layer of a naturally sweet breakfast dish (or dessert!) filled with cottage cheese, blueberries, nuts and honey, all topped with cinnamon. It counts as one SmartCarb, one PowerFuel, one Vegetable and one Extra for your Flex Meal.
How about this recipe? Mashed avocado, black beans, low fat Mexican cheese, chili powder and cilantro spread on sweet potato toast? This delicious recipe counts for one SmartCarb, one PowerFuel and one extra.
This makes for a great substitute for pie at your Thanksgiving meal this year. A frozen blend of bananas and almond milk with a hint of vanilla forms an ice-cream-like treat without gobs of cream-derived fats at just 170 calories.
Simply spiralize a sweet potato into noodle strips and combine with shrimp and spinach, tossing with a to-die-for sauce made with almond butter, low-sodium chicken broth and light soy sauce.
Calorie-wise, sweet potatoes are your dream food. Naturally sweet, one medium potato clocks in at only 105 calories with a whopping four grams of fiber and, unless you’re drenching it in butter, zero fat. It also supplies 438 percent of your daily value of vitamin A and 37 percent of your DV of vitamin C, as well as being good a source of important B vitamins, manganese, copper and iron.
There’s also good evidence in medical studies that antioxidant plant chemicals in sweet potatoes may be beneficial in preventing a number of chronic and deadly diseases, including diabetes and cancer.
Sweet! 14 Awesome Ways to Eat Sweet Potatoes This Season
Read MoreThe post Superfood Saturday: Even More Reasons to Be Sweet on Sweet Potatoes appeared first on The Leaf.
The U.S. could lose its measles elimination status for the first time in almost 20 years this week, and experts say declining vaccination rates and the threat of outbreaks may put Canada at similar risk in the future.
