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Showing posts with the label healthy living

Healthy Living: Simple Brown Rice and Chicken Soup

The famous music composer Ludwid van Beethoven once said, “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup”. On this particular day I must have been pure of heart as I was able to pull off a solid Brown Rice and Chicken Soup. No point in eating out of a can when you can make your own food in a manner that improves health and nutrition.  The ingredients of this soup are low in fat while still packed full of helpful nutrients. Chicken is loaded with protein that improves bone strength, improves metabolism, and enhances skin health ( 1 ).   Brown rice is equally beneficial as it contains fiber, encourages weight loss, and is a natural anti-oxidant that removes pollution from the body ( 2 ).  I would suggest using lean white meat chicken but either type will work fine. In my case, I had left over rotisserie chicken and it was going to become bad unless promptly put into sandwiches or used up in some other way.   A few slices of dark meat may have made its way into the recipe.

Healthy Living: Hardy Black Bean and Cod Soup

Black Bean and Cod is a hardy soup that is sure to stick to your ribs and warm any chill from the evening air. Beware you must love black beans and cod fish to enjoy this recipe.   A single serving provides 29 grams of protein with approximately 310 calories. As a dinner, this soup offers a number of positive benefits that extend beyond its muscle building properties.   Black beans support cardiovascular health, nervous system functioning, and protects against cancer ( 1 ).  Black beans also support colon health by allowing it to produce appropriate bacteria to ensure the track functions effectively ( 2 ). You are not only getting your protein but also protecting your body.   I’m lazy and like to cook with a slow cooker when I can. Beans can take a long time to cook well and ensure the right consistency. A crock pot allows you to cook your beans without having to monitor a simmering pot. The water used to cook the beans becomes part of the soup mix instead of discarded.  

Simple Chicken Dumpling Soup

Creating simple and hardy meals does not always require slaving in the kitchen. It is hard to maintain a healthy diet when engaged in a busy life and convenience foods are at every turn.   A slow cooker can save time by allowing you to put food into cooker in the early morning and have it finish just a few hours before getting home.  Chicken and Dumpling soup is both hardy and healthy. A bowl will range in calories depending on the size of that bowl and the ingredients one uses. At its worst it is under 300 calories while at its best 140 calories. Protein is high due to the white chicken breast.  I do not like dry meat and white chicken breast seems to be the worst. However, when cooking with a slow cooker it will come out very soft and soaks in the flavors of the rest of the soup. It is tender and will come apart very easily even without almost any chewing.  Ingredients:  4 chicken breasts without skin (halves) 2 tablespoons butter 2 cans condensed cream o

Dairy Found to Fight Type II Diabetes and Promote Digestive Health

We have heard about the benefits of yogurt for years. New research by the scientists at University of Cambridge indicate that eating yogurt can reduce the risks of Type II Diabetes by 28%. Other low fat yogurts and some cheeses reduce the chance of Diabetes by 24%. That is great news for those who want to eat some yogurt and cheese while staying healthy.  The study was fairly large with 25,000 participants that increases its validity. Likewise, they followed up with a percentage of the participants over 11 years and found lower levels of Type II Diabetes onset. As with all studies, this one is limited by the accuracy of the participants reported food consumption and overall consistency of their diet.  Despite its draw backs the eating of four and a half standard 125g pots of low fat fermented dairy seems to help. Similar options may be cheese and cottage cheese. They also contain vitamin D, calcium and magnesium and are known to increase good bacteria which can have an e