Healthy Recipes

Healthy Benefits of Hummus

Hummus is a popular dish that originated in the Middle East. It is a spread, dip, or paste made of chickpeas and tahini that is usually eaten with pita or any other flat bread, often during breakfast. It has a texture and consistency similar with peanut butter. This Middle Eastern favorite is widely used in countries like Syria, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Lebanon. Its popularity is rooted not only from its delicious taste but also from its great nutritional value.

Several ingredients are used in making hummus but the primary ingredients are chickpeas and tahini. Chickpeas, which are more popularly known as garbanzo beans, are high-protein legumes cultivated in the Middle East since thousands of years ago. Tahini, on the other hand, refers to sesame paste. It has a strong flavor, which is why most people only use this ingredient sparingly. Other ingredients of hummus include lemon juice, salt, fresh garlic, paprika, and olive oil. To make this dish, all the ingredients are simply ground down until they form a smooth paste. Seasonings are added to taste.

1. Health Benefits of Chickpeas

The nutritional benefits of hummus can be rooted down from each of its ingredients. For one, chickpeas are very healthy because they do not contain any cholesterol or saturated fats. They are also rich in protein. This makes hummus a favorite among vegetarians. Chickpeas are also known to be effective in preventing build up of cholesterol in the blood vessels. Apart from that, it can maintain correct blood sugar levels.

2. Nutritional Value of Tahini

Tahini, meanwhile, is full of fat and calories. However, the fact that it is used sparingly in most hummus recipes and that it mostly contains unsaturated fat means there is not much to worry about. Like chickpeas, tahini is also high in protein. Apart from that, it is a great source of calcium.

3. Healthy Ingredients in Olive Oil

Another healthy ingredient found in hummus is olive oil. As most people know, olive oil is a healthy fat. It has high monounsaturated fat content but low in saturated fat. This oil can thus help regulate cholesterol and protect the heart from various diseases.

4. Health Benefits of Garlic and Lemon Juice

Garlic and lemon juice, meanwhile, are filled with antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress in the body. They also work to improve immune functions and fight of bacteria and viruses.

5. General Health Benefits of Hummus

Hummus as a whole contains plenty of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are great for improving intelligence and maintaining a healthy heart. On top of it all, this dish also has iron, vitamin B6, manganese, copper, folic acid, and amino acids. Tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine are the amino acids found in hummus that can promote good quality sleep and uplift one’s mood.

Humus is loaded with nutrients that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Include this in your diet by using it as spread on sandwiches and wraps, as dressing to your salad or pasta, as dip for raw vegetables, or as side dish for main courses.

Source: 3fc

 

Healthy recipes: sweet potato brownies

Sweet potatoes are an unusual but tasty key ingredient in these gluten-free brownies

Brownies are the sweetest, softest, most moist, chocolatey brownies ever. And they have only six ingredients, all totally natural and unrefined. The mixture is so heavenly that you will want to eat the whole thing with a spoon. Don’t forget that raw cacao is also a superfood as it is such a rich source of antioxidants, as well as being packed with a number of other beneficial nutrients: manganese, which helps oxygenate the blood; magnesium, which helps maintain healthy nerves, muscles and bones; and sulphur, which builds strong nails and hair, and promotes beautiful skin.

Ingredients:

2 medium to large sweet potatoes

14 Medjool dates

2/3 cup ground almonds

1/2 cup buckwheat flour (brown rice flour will also work)

4 tbsp raw cacao

3 tbsp pure maple syrup

Preparation:

Pre-heat the oven to 180C/gas mark 4, then peel the sweet potatoes. Cut them into chunks and place in a steamer for about 20 minutes, until they become really soft. Once they are beginning to fall apart, remove them and put them in the food processor with the pitted dates and blend. Put the remaining ingredients in a bowl before mixing in the sweet-potato and date combination. Stir well.

Spoon the mixture into a lined baking dish 10x20cm and cook for about 20 minutes, or until you can pierce the brownie cake with a fork and bring it out dry. Remove the tray from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes

Source: telegraph

Apple, Lime and Chia Smoothie

The pale green color of this smoothie. Granny Smith and lime make a great marriage and the yogurt and chia seeds make the sweet and tart smoothie substantial enough to get me through the morning.

Total time: About 3 minutes

1 organic Granny Smith or Pippin apple, cored and cut in chunks

1 teaspoon lime zest

1 tablespoon honey or agave nectar

1 teaspoon chia seeds

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1 or 2 ice cubes

Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Yield: Serves 1

Advance preparation: This is best when freshly made.

Nutritional information per serving: 335 calories; 5 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 15 milligrams cholesterol; 63 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams dietary fiber; 175 milligrams sodium (does not include salt to taste); 14 grams protein

Source: The New York Times

Bharat Biotech launches fourth generation typhoid vaccine

new vaccine brings hope to millions by protecting them against typhoid caused by salmonella typhi

Bharat Biotech, a city-based vaccine manufacturer, today announced the launch of Typbar-TCV, the world`s first clinically proven typhoid conjugate vaccine for six months old infants and adults.

Bharat Biotech CMD Krishna M Ella said the new vaccine brings hope to millions by protecting them against typhoid caused by salmonella typhi, a highly virulent and invasive enteric bacterium.

Ella said that this is a fourth generation vaccine against typhoid disease which has been proven to provide long term protection to adults and infants. Typhoid vaccines fall short in two major counts, namely long-term protection and protection of children below two years of age.

“We hope this vaccine will reach millions of people and help reduce the burden of this devastating disease in infants and children,” Ella told reporters at a press conference here, adding that his company had commenced commercial production of Typbar-TCV in pre-filled syringes at its vaccine production facility in Genome Valley.

“The pricing of the vaccine has not yet been decided. There will be two price structures. One for public institutions and the other one will be for private organizations. Pricing will be fixed by next week,” he said.
The plant has the capacity to produce 10 million doses each year, which is expandable to 50 million doses per year in future. Bharat Biotech is the largest producer and supplier of typhoid vaccine in the world, having distributed over 50 million doses globally, he claimed.

Quoting World Health Organization reports, Director-General of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) Christian Loucq said that typhoid fever kills between 250,000 to 600,000, besides causing 20 million illnesses per year, affecting mostly school children.

“The World Health Organization reports that 90 per cent of typhoid deaths occur in Asia and persists mainly in children under five years of age. In India, typhoid fever is observed throughout the year and a greater number of cases coincide with the rainy season,” Loucq said.

While typhoid fever can be cured by antibiotics, resistance to anti-microbials is widespread along with poor diagnostics, he said, adding that hence prevention of typhoid fever is better than curing it.

Source:

http://zeenews.india.com/news/health/health-news/bharat-biotech-launches-fourth-generation-typhoid-vaccine_23585.html