Archive for May, 2005

Herb and Garlic Baked Tomatoes

Tuesday, May 10th, 2005

Enjoy this delicious baked tomato recipe. Not only do you get the heart friendly effects of garlic, you also get a hit of lycopene and good-for-you olive oil.

Don’t forget to let the garlic sit for 10 minutes before cooking it to allow the heart-healthy compounds to develop!

Ingredients
  • 15 plum tomatoes
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, washed well and spun or towel dried
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 400° F.
  2. Crush the garlic with the side of your knife and let sit for 10 minutes while you do the next step.
  3. Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out their seeds with a small spoon.
  4. Place tomatoes, cut side up, on a non-stick pan.
  5. Combine the garlic and the rest of the ingredients in a food processor, and process until it forms a paste.
  6. Place half a teaspoon of the mix into each tomato half.
  7. Bake for 30-40 minutes, until the tomatoes are juicy but not falling apart.
  8. Let the tomatoes cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!

Good News for Whisky Fans

Tuesday, May 10th, 2005

It seems that a dram of whiskey a day could help prevent cancer.

Dr. Jim Swan claims that single malt whisky contains an antioxidant, ellagic acid, that kills cancer cells.

There was no mention of any benefits to cardiovascular health.

Dr. Swan will present the findings of his study tomorrow at a medical conference in Glasgow.

Reference: Daily Record - Whisky Can Halt Cancer

Take Your Time with Garlic

Friday, May 6th, 2005

Raw garlic cloves contain a sulphur compound called alliin that, when combined with an enzyme also found in garlic, starts a cascade of chemical reactions that produce heart healthy compounds.

Alliin is very unstable, and it is kept separate from the enzyme in the garlic clove. To start the chemical reaction, the garlic needs to be crushed or chopped and then left to sit for a few minutes to allow the beneficial compounds to fully develop.

So you’ll see a lot of waiting times in the garlic recipes on this site. Don’t skip the waiting time unless you want to skip out on the health benefits of garlic!

References:

Full Text of the Polymeal Study

Friday, May 6th, 2005

You can find the full text of the Polymeal Study at:

http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/329/7480/1447

It was published in the Dec. 18th, 2004 issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Worried about Mercury in Fish?

Thursday, May 5th, 2005

If you’re concerned about mercury contamination in your fish, you might like to check out the FDA Consumer Report on Mercury in Fish.

There is a chart comparing domestic and imported fish near the bottom of the FDA report that you might find helpful in making decisions about what kind of fish to eat.

The FDA currently sets the acceptable level of mercury in fish at 1 part per million (ppm). Most fish are well below that, but there are a few larger fish (such as shark and swordfish) that may be over or come close to the limit. Pollock, salmon and flounder are great choices, as they have very low levels of mercury.

eDiets on Almonds

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005

There’s an interesting article on eDiets.com about why almonds are such a great food.

Read it here: http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm/cmi_1108873

Chocolate Manufacturer to develop Heart Healthy chocolate

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005

Switzerland’s Barry Callebaut, the world’s largest producer of chocolate, is developing a line of chocolates that include polyphenol-rich “good-for-you” chocolates.

Some products have already been launched in Europe. North American release dates are currently unknown.