The Food Remedy, Health benefits of Cucumber

Cucumber 

Cucumbers are one of the most cultivated vegetables in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your body's overall health.  They have many benefits from assisting you digestive system, to easing acid reflux and research also suggests that it may help prevent some types of cancers.

Digestive Health

Cucumber skins contain insoluble fiber, which helps add bulk to your stool and helps food to move through your digestive tract more quickly for healthy elimination.

Cancers 

Cucumber contain three lignans - lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer. They also contain phytonutrients called cucurbitacins, which research has found could possess anti-cancer properties

Diabetes

Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which is believed to be beneficial to diabetic patients.

Heart health

Cucumber contain plant sterols which are well documented for there ability in helping reduce cholesterol levels. They also contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and fibre, that work together to help regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumbers good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.

Stress

Cucumbers contain multiple B vitamins, are known to help ease feelings of anxiety and helping ease some of the damaging effects of stress.

Cucumbers are great in salad, in stir fries or eaten with dips as a nutritious snack.

Delicious and Nutritious Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Lucy Bees Raw, Virgin coconut butter
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 1kg pumpkins or squash, peeled, deseeded and chopped into chunks
• 700ml vegetable stock or chicken stock
• 200ml of full fat Coconut milk
• handful of pumpkin seed

Method

1. Heat 2tbsp of coconut butter in a saucepan, add 2 finely chopped onions cook for 5 mins, until soft but not coloured.
2. Add pumpkin, then carry on cooking for 8 mins, stirring occasionally until pumpkin starts to soften
3. Add the stock and season with mixed herbs and pepper. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins until the squash is very soft.
4. Add the coconut milk into the pan, bring back to the boil, then purée with a hand blender.
5. When the soup is ready top with pumpkin seeds

The soup can be frozen for up to 2 months.

Food remedies

Pumpkin is a great source of beta-carotene, which helps protects the body from damaging molecules called free radicals. Free radicals damage cells through a process known as oxidation. Over time, this damage could lead to a number of chronic illnesses. There is evidence that eating more antioxidants foods helps boost your immune system, protect against free radicals, and may lower your risk of heart disease

Pumkin in rich in B-complex and minerals like copper, calcium, potassium & phosphorus good source of dietary fiber & mono-unsaturated fatty acids

Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of tryptophan is converted by the body into the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. The body cannot produce tryptophan so we need to get enough through our diets, if we don’t we could suffer from a deficiency leading to low serotonin levels which are associated with mood disorders, anxiety and carbohydrate cravings.

Both Coconut and Pumkin have anti-inflammatory anti-fungal & anti-parasitic properties.

The Food Remedy - Beetroot

Beetroot is a delicious root vegetable with dark, purple skin and pinky purple flesh. It sweet flavours and vivacious colour offers itself to both sweet and savoury dishes. It can be eaten you raw, by simply peel with a potato peeler and grate into a salad or my favourite way it using a spiralizer which turns into pretty ribbons. It can also be cooked in boiling water this usually takes around 15 minutes, or roasted at 180ºC until soft.

Since Roman times, beetroot has been viewed as an aphrodisiac. It has a 'medium' Glycaemic Index of 64 and a an extremely low GL of 2.9 which means it’s converted into sugars very slowly which helps to keep blood sugar levels stable keeping you in the health promoting zone.

One study by Wake Forest University in North Carolina, USA found that the high content of nitrates in beetroot may help fight the progression of dementia as nitric oxide in the blood, produced by the nitrates in beetroot, helps increase blood flow to the brain. Beetroot’s folic acid may also play a part as studies suggest it can help protect against Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Folic acid is also essential for normal tissue growth and is crucial to the development of a baby’s spinal cord during the first three months of pregnancy as it helps prevent spinal cord defects such as spina bifida. Making beetroot a great food for expand mums to be munching on in the first few weeks of pregnancy.

Beetroot contains soluble fibre, which has also been shown to have cholesterol lowering competencies. It also contains carotenoids and flavonoids, which help prevent LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol from being oxidised and deposited in the arteries.

Raw beetroot should have their stalks fresh, not wilting and roots nice and firm and intact.

Nutty Pesto

Do you want to boost your immune system? Boost your metabolism? Eat to be happy? Then this pesto is just what you need! Rich in essential fatty acids, protein and antioxidants and it also contains plenty of immune boosting antioxidants. 2 Tbsp of walnuts 2 Tbsp of pine nuts 40g (1/4 cup) grated Parmesan cheese 25g (1/2 cup) fresh basil 2 garlic cloves 115ml (1/2 cup) extra virgin olive oil Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until a smooth pesto paste.

Pesto doesn't have to be teamed with pasta! I love pesto but to be honest im not a massive fan of pasta, so here are 5 way I enjoy pesto without pasta. 1. Mix It Into Dips Mix a little pesto in with live natural yogurt or sour cream, 2. Drizzle over salads Thinned with a little more oil and drizzle over for summer salads. 3. Use on bread instead of butter Using pesto instead of butter an entirely different layer of flavor to sandwiches or toast! 4. Dress vegetables Instead of butter or gravy, use a tablespoon of pesto to garnish your vegetables. 5. Smear on chicken Pop in the oven and bake for a delicious moist chicken!

Health Benefits of Radishes

Radish are part of the cruciferous vegetable like broccoli, spouts and cauliflower but are typically underappreciated pushed around on crudité and generally over looked. Despite this radishes are said to be both antibacterial and anti-fungal as well as a mild diuretic. They are a very rich source of Vitamin C, contain both folic acid and anthocyanins which are believed to be excellent for easing sinus congestion, sore throats and chest colds.

Radishes also contain a group of compounds called isothiocyanates. Researchers at University in India tested parts of the radish against human cancer cells. The results of their study were published in the September 2010 issue of "Plant Foods For Human Nutrition," and show that the compounds in the radish bulb and root, affect genetic pathways in the cancer cells, inducing cancer cell death.

Radishes also contain fiber which helps ensure your bowels fully function. Fiber can also slow the absorption of sugar which could help improve blood sugar levels. A healthy diet that includes insoluble fiber may also reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Their high vitamin C content means that regular consumption of radishes could help prevent viral infections. Other benefits of vitamin C may include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling.

They contain a variety of sulfur-based chemicals which can help increase the flow of bile, which is helpful in maintain a healthy gallbladder and liver, and could also help improve digestion. Radishes are also good to eat with starchy foods such as pasta, potatoes, and grains as they have enzymes that aid in the secretion of digestive juices

The green tops are highly nutritious and mineral rich and should be valued as their roots. They are also delicious so don’t throw them away! They contain far more vitamin C, calcium, and protein than the roots. Add them to green smoothies, salads or juice them.