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Health & Home Wellness

4 Recipes for Pumpkin Seeds

Have you been throwing pumpkin seeds when carving it for a Jack-o’-lantern? Save them! They are a source of nutrients and are delicious too. Wondering how? Look into this piece to save up the seeds for fall’s secret super food. 

Are Pumpkin Seeds Healthy to Eat? 

Pumpkin seeds are also known as pepitas- a Mexican term. A cup of them is 151 calories with mainly fats and proteins. They are rich in fibers, carbohydrates, Vitamin K, Phosphorus, and Manganese, Magnesium, and Iron. 

Using these seeds in food can protect your cells from harmful free radicals as they contain oxidants. These oxidants can greatly reduce inflammation. Various studies report that using pumpkin seeds in your food can reduce the chances of lung, breast, stomach, and colon cancers. 

A study says that 79% of adults in the US do not take the required amount of magnesium. Using pumpkins in your diet can help you intake a significant amount of magnesium. Being a good source of antioxidants, zinc, magnesium, and fatty acids, it may improve your heart’s health. 

To include pumpkin seeds in your diet this fall, check out these 4 pumpkins seed recipes. 

Recipes for Pumpkin’s Seeds-Fall’s Secret Super Food 

Before getting started with your recipes you need to prep the seeds. Here’s how 

How to Prep Them? 

It’s ideal to dry or roast the seeds because they are low in acid. This can minimize the risk of illness-causing bacteria. To get started, scoop out the seeds with a spoon and your hands. Rinse the seeds to remove any pumpkin flesh. However, some of you may save it for later use in pumpkin smoothies or pureed pumpkin soup. 

To soften the outer hull, boil it in salted water for 10 minutes. The hull is rich in fiber and is edible but if you want to get rid of them, continue to boil the seeds until the hull slips off. After boiling, strain and dry them with a kitchen towel. 

Once completely dried, spread them on a baking pan and add a little olive oil. You may sprinkle seasonings like salt, cumin, and cinnamon. Roast them at 325 degrees for 10 minutes until golden. 

After roasting, you can eat them or can toss them into your salads making them crunchier. Don’t forget to save them for more delicious fall recipes. 

Spanish-Pumpkin Seed Pesto 

Using pine nuts for roasted pumpkin seeds can give your sauce a boost along with some nutrients. You can toss it on crackers, spread it on sandwiches or drizzle it over your favorite veggies. 

All you need is: 

  • 1 cup basil leaves 
  • 1 cup baby spinach
  • ½ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
  • 1 large garlic clove
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and paper to taste 

Add garlic, spinach, basil leaves, and pumpkin seeds to the food processor and chop them finely. Gradually add the olive oil to make it a thin paste. After this, add salt and pepper and refrigerate it in an air-tight jar for up to 1 week. 

Sweet-And-Salty Popcorn Trail Mix

To enjoy the flavors of salt and chocolate along with the proteins and fibers of pumpkin seeds in a single snack, you need the following items 

  • 8 cups of air-popped popcorns
  • 1 cup roasted cup almonds
  • ¾ cup roasted pumpkin seeds
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chunks ‘
  • ½ dried cranberries 

Cinnamon-Vanilla Pumpkin Seed Butter 

You can always make pumpkin seed butter, which is quite similar to peanut butter. The pocket-friendly and flavorful butter is ideal for sandwiches. To make your own flavored butter you need: 

  • 3 cups shelled pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp grounded synonyms 
  • ¼ tsp salt and;
  • 1 to 2 tsp canola oil

Add pumpkin seeds, vanilla extract cinnamon, and salt to a food processor container. Blend it until it becomes  thin . You can add more oil if you want it thick. 

Double Pumpkin Hummus 

Give your typical hummus a boost of sweet, creamy and salty flavors. You can use it as a dip for crackers or just spread it over your sandwich or use it as a pasta sauce. To try this, you must have: 

  • 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed 
  • Pumpkin puree 
  • 2 tsp tahini 
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice 
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds
  • Salt and pepper 

Add all the ingredients to a food processor and mix it until smooth. Refrigerate the leftovers for up to a week. Give your family this fall, a boost of flavors with these pumpkin recipes. Eat healthily and enjoy!

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Health & Home Recreation & Leisure

The Best Meal Kit Delivery Services

A well-balanced diet is essential to living a healthy life. However, with all the hype and anxiety around diet culture, it can be tricky to actually consume what your body needs. There’s always a new food or drink or supplement that claims to be the best healthy option. So, that makes grocery shopping intimidating for many people.

However, there are more at-home meal delivery kits available that take the anxiety out of grocery shopping and give you the nutrients and delicious foods that your body craves. We’re going to highlight the top three meal kit delivery services for you right here.

Home Chef – The Family Meal Kit Fave

Home Chef offers 38 different meal options each week. The subscriber has the ability to modify each meal to their specific needs. Modification is important, especially for people who are or live with picky eaters or those who have special dietary needs. The delivery service is extremely flexible and allows you to accommodate more people when necessary.

Along with meal kit services, Home Chef also offers ready-made meals that require no prep and minimal cooking time. With them, you have the ability to choose a variety of different meal styles including grill-ready packs, 15-minute kits, and culinary specialties for entertaining. The cost of this meal kit delivery service begins at $7.99 per serving and allows you to add on extra features for a price.

Green Chef – For the Plant-Based Itinerary

Although they also offer meat protein plates, Green Chef is an excellent choice for anyone following a vegetarian or vegan diet. The meal kit delivery service has three different menus to choose from: keto + paleo, balanced living (standard), and plant-powered. The ability to choose between menus and mix and match different meals allows for flexibility when needed.

Green Chef is a certified organic company and they use completely eco-friendly shipping materials to avoid larger carbon footprints. Depending on the plan you choose, meals start at $9.99 per serving each week. The company also allows you to skip up to four consecutive weeks if needed.

EveryPlate – Healthy Eating on a Budget

Meal kit delivery services can get pretty pricey, but EveryPlate is one of the most inexpensive services available. Unlike the other two services we’ve mentioned here, EveryPlate starting costs begin at $5 per serving each week. Subscribers can choose between eight meals each week and you get special sign up offers when you start using their services.

The only downside to using EveryPlate is that the lack of choices each week makes it trickier for those who have dietary restrictions or follow vegan/plant-based diets.

In Conclusion

Meal kit delivery services are the best option for anyone who doesn’t like venturing out to the grocery store each week. They give you flexibility by adding more time into your day and take away the stress by giving you recipe ideas and all the ingredients necessary to complete them.

In 2021 especially, meal kit delivery services are the safest and most convenient option for meal planning and grocery shopping. Whether you have dietary restrictions or you need something on a budget, there’s an option out there for you.

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Health & Home Wellness

How To Brew The Healthiest Cup Of Coffee

There’s nothing like jumpstarting your morning with a good cup of coffee. Not only does this caffeinated beverage give you an energy boost, but it also has the potential to come with a variety of other health benefits too. Who would’ve thought?

There’s a caveat, though. In order to maximize the health benefits, you need to choose the right roast, brewing style, and temperature. Each of these requirements plays a major role in the composition of nutrients your body intakes when you drink them.

In this article, we’ll explain how to maximize the health benefits of your morning cup of joe by using the right beans, grounding them yourself, and what you should and shouldn’t add to the drink.

Brew With Healthy Coffee Beans

The type of bean and roast you brew with is the most important factor in making a healthy cup of coffee. Depending on your choice, you have the possibility of reducing your risk of liver or colon cancer, type 2 diabetes or stroke, and even death.

Coffee beans contain plant-based compounds called polyphenols. Polyphenols are vital for your health because they lower blood pressure and keep blood vessels healthy and flexible. Coffee experts recommend using beans from the Huila region of Columbia, or beans from Peru, Bolivia, Costa Rica, or Ethiopia.

When it comes to roasting the beans, a light roast is the better option. Roasting deepens the bean’s flavor and using a light roast prevents the polyphenols and other nutrients in the bean from breaking down too much. To achieve a light roast, brew your coffee with water that is hot, but not boiling.

Ground The Coffee Beans Yourself and Use While Fresh

Buying pre-ground coffee or grounding it and storing it for another time won’t compromise the health benefits of your coffee. However, the longer ground coffee sits, the more it oxidizes and loses its flavor. Coffee experts say that grinding your coffee right before you plan to brew will maximize the taste.

The best part about grinding your coffee yourself is having the ability to grind it as finely as you choose. The general rule for grinding is to try to get it as fine as possible. The longer you grind and the finer it gets, the polyphenols from each bean are released more. This means that finer grinds give you more benefits.

Use Minimal Add-Ons

Ideally, the healthiest cup of joe would be straight black. However, that shouldn’t keep you from customizing your drink to your preference. If you don’t care for black coffee, here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Avoid using sugar.
  • Use low-fat or plant-based milk.
  • Steer away from sugary and high-fat coffee creamers.

Parting Thoughts

Coffee is an essential part of so many mornings. While you may think it isn’t a healthy way to start a day, there are certain beans and blends that offer major health benefits. Using high-quality beans and finely blended grounds will ensure you’re getting necessary polyphenols for your body.

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Health & Home Wellness

The Best Meal Kit Delivery Services In 2021

A well-balanced diet is essential to living a healthy life. However, with all the hype and anxiety around diet culture, it can be tricky to actually consume what your body needs. There’s always a new food or drink or supplement that claims to be the best healthy option. This makes grocery shopping intimidating for many people.

However, there are more at-home meal delivery kits available that take the anxiety out of grocery shopping and give you the nutrients and delicious foods that your body craves. We’re going to highlight the top three meal kit delivery services for you right here.

Home Chef – The Family Meal Kit Fave

Home Chef offers 38 different meal options each week. With that, the subscriber has the ability to modify each meal to their specific needs. Modification is important, especially for people who are or live with picky eaters or those who have special dietary needs. The delivery service is extremely flexible and allows you to accommodate more people when necessary.

Along with meal kit services, Home Chef also offers ready-made meals that require no prep and minimal cooking time. With them, you have the ability to choose a variety of different meal styles including grill-ready packs, 15-minute kits, and culinary specialties for entertaining. The cost of this meal kit delivery service begins at $7.99 per serving and allows you to add on extra features for a price.

Green Chef – For the Plant-Based Itinerary

Although they also offer meat protein plates, Green Chef is an excellent choice for anyone following a vegetarian or vegan diet. The meal kit delivery service has three different menus to choose from: keto + paleo, balanced living (standard), and plant-powered. The ability to choose between menus and mix and match different meals allows for flexibility when needed.

Green Chef is a certified organic company and they use completely eco-friendly shipping materials to avoid larger carbon footprints. Depending on the plan you choose, meals start at $9.99 per serving each week. The company also allows you to skip up to four consecutive weeks if needed.

EveryPlate – Healthy Eating on a Budget

Meal kit delivery services can get pretty pricey, but EveryPlate is one of the most inexpensive services available. Unlike the other two services we’ve mentioned here, EveryPlate starting costs begin at $5 per serving each week. Subscribers can choose between eight meals each week and you get special sign up offers when you start using their services.

The only downside to using EveryPlate is that the lack of choices each week makes it trickier for those who have dietary restrictions or follow vegan/plant-based diets.

In Conclusion

Meal kit delivery services are the best option for anyone who doesn’t like venturing out to the grocery store each week. They give you flexibility by adding more time into your day and take away the stress by giving you recipe ideas and all the ingredients necessary to complete them.

In 2021 especially, meal kit delivery services are the safest and most convenient option for meal planning and grocery shopping. Whether you have dietary restrictions or you need something on a budget, there’s an option out there for you.

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Health & Home Wellness

A Scientific Look: Do Blue Light Glasses Work?

Blue light exposure can be dangerous, and most of us are not even aware of how we are exposed to it every day and how it can have a negative impact on your eyes. The most harmful exposure you get is from your electronic screens. Fortunately, blue light glasses can help reduce the harmful impact this has on our eyes.

These glasses help ease the painful side effects that come from getting too much blue light exposure and have lenses that filter out blue light especially those that come from your mobile screens. If you want to learn more about these glasses and how they are beneficial in reducing symptoms, then read further below.

What Are Blue Light Glasses?

Blue light glasses are special glasses that help tackle the exposure blue light has on your eyes. The lenses in these glasses come with non-glare protection. Most of the exposure you will get is from electronic devices, sunlight and light bulbs.

Possible Benefits of Blue Light Glasses

Help Get You a Good Night’s Rest

According to many researchers these glasses help you get better sleep at night. This is due to the exposure from electronic devices stoping or reducing the sleep-inducing melatonin production in your body. According to a study carried out by the University of Houston in 2017, patients wearing blue light glasses have an increase in the melatonin levels around 58%.

This is why it is always advised to use your phones or tablets before you sleep. While keeping the device away might be the best option to get sleep and contain your melatonin production, the best option for you right now is to wear a pair of light blueish glasses.

Reduces Eye-Strain Helping You Work Better

You naturally attain digital eye-strain if you’re a phone addict or use them during the wrong hour before sleeping continuously. An eyestrain has  major impact on your day to day activities as it makes it difficult for you to carry out chores, or even properly see.

You may feel more tired and, and see a massive drop in your productivity levels. According to many new blue light glass wearers, they have seen a massive change in their productivity levels after wearing these glasses. They also suffer from lesser headaches which can have an impact on your entire day.

Reduce the Chances of AMD

While there is still much more research needed to prove this, blue light glasses help reduce the chances of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). This is one of the main sicknesses that lead towards blindness. With the help of a pair of these glasses you can prevent getting AMD.

Conclusion

Now that you are aware of the possible benefits of blue light glasses, it’s time you get yourself one. It becomes more important to wear these if you have a continuous exposure and already have weak eyes.

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Health & Home Wellness

Nutritional Morning Drinks Instead of Coffee

Coffee has significant health benefits like boosting your focus and staying alert. It can help you lose weight, burn fat, and reduce the risk of stroke, cancer, and dehydration, etc.

Its dehydration part is quite alarming for those who want to sip coffee first thing in the morning. In order to avoid its early morning consumption, scientific research opines there are better alternatives to coffee. Let’s take a look at some of the best nutritionist-approved drinks to offset your coffee habits.

1. Green Tea or Matcha

Green tea has a lot to offer for having matcha as its prime alternative to offset caffeine deficiency. Matcha contains amino acids-like I-theanine, which will offset the effects of caffeine.

You can get a cup of green tea if matcha is not available around. Green tea is rich in polyphenols that keep away inflammation. Both tea options will prove to be great for your caffeine deficiency.

2. White Tea

White tea refers to several styles of tea which is minimally processed leaves of the Camellia plant. Its antioxidants and polyphenols fight your inflammation and aging. What’s more, white boosts heart health by minimizing cholesterol. It’s a pale yellow tea, in fact and doesn’t cause stains.

3. Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea is low in tannins and from any traces of caffeine and oxalic acid. it’s a good herb for eliminating your caffeine urge because of the presence of antioxidants. It’s another natural remedy for lowering blood sugar.

Rooibos tea will also settle the stomach which is the best alternative to coffee for those people who struggle with early morning nausea.

4. Mushroom Coffee

Mushroom coffee comes from grinding regular coffee with the addition of mushroom powder. It’s good for supporting your immune system because of the presence of antioxidants in mushrooms. Mushrooms offer low caffeine than coffee.

This will help reduce anxiety and improves sleeping patterns. Mushroom coffee reduces early morning headaches that may come while quitting coffee.

5. Warm Water and Lemon

Instead of coffee, try mixing warm water with few drops of lemon. It’s a simple way to replenish your dehydration. As a result, proper hydration can help reduce fatigue, brain fog, and ensuing headaches.

Its early morning consumption will keep your digestive tracts clear during the day. Something everyone should consume. It’s a great help for lowering or soothing joint pains and stiff muscles.

6. Green Juice Before Breakfast

You can add a daily serving of spinach or other green of your liking to make it drinkable. However, you should have a slow juicer that can extract all nutrients from the desired fruit or vegetables.

Green juices offer a lot of benefits, like reducing weight and improving your hydration plus digestion. They will shield you from free radical damage and steer clear from depression.

Conclusion

If you are willing to get rid of your early morning coffee intakes, then go for one of these drinks. These are natural alternatives to replace your coffee. There are hardly any significant side effects that may discourage you from opting for any of these drinks.

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Health & Home Wellness

Workout Routine: 7 Tips for Getting Back Into It

After more than a year, it seems that things are slowly starting to get back to normal and the coronavirus pandemic is thankfully coming to a close. Not only are restaurants, theaters, and school re-opening, but so are gyms. That means that you can finally workout again just like you did before COVID-19 struck.

But what should you keep in mind as you start venturing back to the gym? How do you return to a regular workout routine if the pandemic wrecked your progress and schedule?

1.   Start Slowly

This is the most important thing to remember. Hopefully you were able to work out a little bit during the pandemic, even if it wasn’t nearly as much as you did before. Maybe you were able to get some push-ups or sit-ups in even during lockdown. That’s great and that kept your body in a better shape than it could have fallen into. However, now that you are going back to the gym, you need to go slowly. Don’t push yourself too hard and do not attempt to go from zero to one-hundred in your first session. You will soon be working out like you used to but when you are first returning to the gym, don’t overdo it.

2.   Hold Yourself Accountable

You need to keep yourself on target for working out. That means that you need to hold yourself accountable and make sure you really are doing the work to get back to the gym and regularly go again and again. Only you are in charge of yourself so you need to make a workout plan and stick to it, no matter what!

3.   Get Social With Your Workout Routines

Doesn’t it feel good to be around people again? Now that the vaccines are helping people and keeping them safe, you can attend gym classes with others. This is a great idea because everyone in class will be feeling the same sort of enthusiasm and excitement to be working out again. You can feed off of that energy and it will make you work even harder.

4.   Instead of a Gym, Go Outside

After months of being locked up inside, a workout outside is a wonderful idea and a great way to get motivated and to push yourself and get yourself back into the normal exercise routine. The fresh air, the wind blowing through your hair, the sun on your face – it will all feel great and give you terrific drive to work out.

5.   Listen to your Body

You may want to go over the top and really hit the gym hard when you first return to it but you need to listen to your body because it will tell you what pace is right for you. You might be frustrated by how long it takes to get back up to full speed but it’s very important that you don’t overdo it and work yourself too hard. You’ll be in prime form again soon but let your body dictate the right pace.

6.   Set Workout Goals

Do you want to spend twenty minutes on a treadmill? Maybe you want to jog for a half-mile. Perhaps you want to do ten reps of weights. Whatever you want, set a goal for yourself and try your hardest to stick to it as you return to the gym. Make sure you start your goals as small, achievable things and then work your way up from there.

7.   Celebrate Yourself

You did it! You’re back at the gym and you’re taking care of yourself again. Good for you! That is a great thing and you should pat yourself on the back, celebrate, and encourage yourself to keep it up. Well done, it isn’t easy to get back on the exercise horse but you are doing it and you should be very proud of yourself.

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Health & Home Wellness

Health Hacks – 10 Hacks That Prioritize Your Health

Are you too busy to maintain a proper healthcare routine? No problem! We have ten health hacks to help prioritize your wellbeing, even when you’re too busy to do it yourself.

1.    Order Smartly

Alright, so you’re too busy to manage meal preps yourself. If ordering food is your only option, then the best thing to do is call smartly. Instead of opting for fried chicken and loaded fries on the menu, you should order an entirely veggie-based meal. You’ll get your nutrition portion while keeping the calories away.

2.    Carry Water Always

This much can fit in even in the busiest of schedules. Hydration is crucial for optimal health, and all you need to do is carry your water bottle everywhere. Choose as large a bottle as possible to carry so you don’t have to refill often. Install an app on your phone to remind you to drink water so you can stay hydrated.

3.    Find Healthier Food Services

 Instead of opting for restaurants, it would be great to contract food service for the month. You will find plenty who cater to special diets and prepare wholly nutritious meals. This way, even when you can’t cook or meal prep yourself, you know you’re only getting healthy meals.

4.    HIIT

If you can’t make time for a leisurely workout, then opt for high-intensity interval training workouts. This requires only fifteen minutes a day but burns calories aggressively while building muscles.

5.    Nutritious Snacks

You can’t have meals on the go invariably with a busy life, but you can indeed have nutritious snacks. Pack up nuts, granolas, and whatever healthy snacks you can grab and carry around conveniently.

6.    Don’t Stress Eat

If you’re busy and hungry, you must still remember not to stress eat. Practice some breathing exercises and make them a habit so that you relax significantly before you begin chewing. No matter how demanding your routine is, stress eating never makes for optimal digestion.

7.    Use Technology

There’s an app for everything these days, so why not use one to manage your health too? Use an app that reminds you to have a glass of water, reminds you of its bedtime, reminds you to work out, etc. This might be the motivation you need in a day to give your health some attention.

8.    Set a Boundary

No matter how ambitious you are, or how much of a kick you get from being a successful professional, you have to set a boundary. If nothing else, do it for the sake of your health. Do not let work overpower you to the extent where you neglect your nutritional and sleep requirements etc.

At the end of the day, you have life only if you have good health. Remember to prioritize your body’s needs before investing all your efforts, energy, time, and focus into work.

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Health & Home Wellness

Vitamin C, Am I Getting Enough?

Vitamin C is among the essential micronutrients that are necessary for optimal function. With the ongoing spread of COVID-19 and rampant flu season, it is gaining more popularity.

Vitamin C deficiency is not very common in the more developed countries, perhaps because of the abundance of fresh produce. Furthermore, supplements and certain foods additionally incorporate vitamin C to provide people sufficient quantities. Hence, you will see only 7% of people lacking in it.

Currently, the RDA recommends ninety milligrams of vitamin C in a day for men and women from age nineteen and above. How do you figure if you are getting enough of it in a day or lacking somewhere?

While most symptoms of this deficiency develop in months, you can watch out for some other signs.

1.    Body Hair

One subtle sign of vit C lacking in your body is corkscrew-shaped body hair. If you notice your hair growing in coiled or bent shapes, know that your protein structure is suffering defeats.

2.    Bumpy, Rough Skin

Vit C is essential for your collagen production: the abundant protein in your connective tissues. These consist of your blood vessels, bones, joints, hair, and skin. When you run low on vit C, you will likely develop skin conditions, including keratosis pilaris, with bumpy chicken skin on your buttocks, thighs, and upper arms.

3.    Damaged, Dry Skin

Sufficient amounts of vit C in your body will keep your skin healthy and supple. The outer layer or epidermis will glow and be smooth. The essential function of vit C is to protect your skin against the sun’s oxidative damage.

Additionally, collagen production combines to plump up and revitalize your skin. When all that lacks in your body from a deficiency, your skin will turn dry and rough.

4.    Fingernails with Lines, Red Spots, and Spoon Shape

If you note thin, brittle, and concave-shaped nails, they are likely a sign of vit C deficiency. Even your nail beds may develop vertical lines and red spots when the blood cells weaken and rupture.

Some Other Signs You’re Not Getting Enough Vitamin C

Some other signs could also be indicators of a deficiency. These include:

  • Joint and muscle aches
  • Weight loss
  • Irritability
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Loose teeth
  • Brittle and dry hair
  • Bruising and bleeding
  • Your gums may change color or turn purple. You may even note bleeding or swelling frequently.
  • Poor wound healing
  • Anemia
  • Scurvy

Best Sources of Vitamin C

If you’re looking for the best vit C sources to increase your intake, consume more of the following foods.

  • Parsley
  • Broccoli
  • Papaya
  • Strawberry
  • Orange
  • Lemon
  • Lychee
  • Kiwifruit
  • Sweet red pepper
  • Black currents
  • Guava
  • Acerola cherry

You must also note that vit C does not take heat very well and breaks down if you expose it to heat. Hence, you’ll be much better off consuming raw vegetable fruits for vit C intake than cooking the sources.

You must also remember that your body cannot store large amounts of vit C at a time. Hence, the best practice is to eat lots of fresh produce daily.

Final Thoughts on Vitamin C

You can find plentiful amounts of vit C in fresh vegetables and fruits. While a deficiency of it is not very common, it is possible if you don’t consume the right foods. Some signs can help you catch the deficit at the earliest.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-deficiency-symptoms#TOC_TITLE_HDR_18
https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/am-i-getting-enough-vitamin-c/