Smile for the day

Will an apple a day keep the doctor away?

 "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Could the common apple honestly help a person to maintain perfect health?

The first printed mention of this saying can be found in the February 1866 issue of the publication "Notes and Queries." The publication printed the proverb like this: "Eat an apple on going to bed, and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." Nearly 150 years later, variations of this adage are still quoted. It's unlikely that the saying would have maintained such popularity if there wasn't some truth to it, right? With that in mind, let's consider some of the apple's components and their effect on our health:

·         Pectin -- Pectin is a form of soluble fiber than lowers both blood pressure and glucose levels. It can also lower the levels of LDL, or "bad" cholesterol in the body. Pectin, like other forms of fiber, helps maintain the health of the digestive system. Apples are an excellent source of pectin.

·         Boron -- A nutrient found in abundance in apples, boron supports strong bones and a healthy brain.

·         Quercetin -- A flavonoid, this nutrient shows promise for reducing the risk of various cancers, including cancers in the lungs and breast. It may also reduce free radical damage. Free radicals develop when atoms in the body's cells have unpaired electrons, which can lead to damage to different parts of the cell, including DNA. Quercetin may neutralize free radical damage, which has been implicated in a variety of age-related health problems, including Alzheimer's disease.

·         Vitamin C -- Vitamin C boosts immunity, which helps maintain overall health.

·         Phytonutrients -- Apples are rich in a variety of phytonutrients, including vitamins A and E and beta carotene. These compounds fight damage from free radicals and can have a profound affect on health, including reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and asthma.

Apples also act as a toothbrush, cleaning teeth and killing bacteria in the mouth, which may reduce the risk of tooth decay. They're also low in calorie density, one of the trademarks of a healthy food. When a food is low in calorie density you can eat good size portions of the food for relatively few calories. In addition, apples are affordable and readily available.

Are apples the secret to a long life?

An apple a day can reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and many types of cancer. However, would you be able to avoid the doctor entirely just by eating a bunch of the forbidden fruit? Not likely. Various studies show health benefits when participants eat an apple between three and five times a week, but all ailments cannot be cured by diet alone.

Are other fruits just as good for you as apples? Sure. All fruits are loaded with nutrients that are building blocks to good health. Bananas are loaded with potassium, which is important for a healthy heart and proper muscle function. Blackberries are loaded with fibre, and strawberries contain vitamin C and fibre.

Like cranberries, blueberries help prevent and fight urinary tract infections. They are also a bit tastier than cranberries, which most people only enjoy when combined with plenty of added sugar. Apricots, fresh or dried, are high in beta-carotene.

When choosing drinks, apple juice barely makes the top 10. Pomegranate juice, wine and purple grape juice are high in antioxidants, with apple juice in the tenth spot, right behind tea. One of the things that makes apples so incredibly healthy is the amount of fibre they contain, but that has lost during juicing.

If all fruits are nutritional powerhouses, why are apples the only one to be included in the folklore? At the time the adage emerged, apples were easy to grow (and still are). Once harvested, they could remain in storage for nearly a year. Recent studies have shown that, unlike many fruits and vegetables, the nutritional benefits of apples remain relatively stable as long as 200 days after harvest.

While an apple a day will go a long way toward keeping the doctor away, most nutritionists recommend a varied diet. In addition to apples, fill your shopping cart with citrus fruits, tropical treats like mangos, and a variety of berries, which pack a nutritional punch. Eating several servings of a varied selection of fruits each day is truly the best way to keep the doctor away.

health.howstuffworks.com

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Ingredients

·         2 cupsunbleached all-purpose flour(10oz, 283g)

·         3/4 teaspoonbaking soda

·         1/2 teaspoonbaking powder

·         1/2 teaspoonsalt

·         1 teaspooncinnamon

·         1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

·         1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

·         2 large eggs beaten lightly

·         3/4 cup granulated sugar (5.25oz, 149g)

·         1 ½ cups very ripe bananas soft, darkly speckled, mashed well (13.65oz, 387g) (about 3 medium)

·         1/4 cup plain yogurt (2oz, 57g)

·         6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled (3oz, 85g)

·         1 teaspoon vanilla

·         6-8 ounces milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips (170-228g)

·         1-2 ounces chocolate chips for sprinkling on top optional (28-57g)

Instructions

1.            Preheat oven to 350F. Place rack in middle of oven.

2.    Prepare a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan by buttering and flouring the base only if it is non-stick. Butter also the sides if it is not a non-stick. Non-stick baking spray can be used instead of butter and flour.

3.    In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Whisk to combine. Reserve 1/2 tablespoon flour and mix with 6-8 ounces chocolate chips.

4.    In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar. Add mashed bananas, yogurt, melted butter, and vanilla. Whisk until thoroughly combined.

5.    Gently fold the wet and dry ingredients together, just until the dry ingredients are moistened. The batter should be thick and chunky, but without any streaks of unincorporated flour.

6.    Gently fold in the chocolate chips that have been tossed with flour.

7.    Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth. Sprinkle on additional chocolate chips if desired.

8.    Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes.

9.    Remove from oven and cool on a rack for 5 minutes. Remove loaf from pan and let cool on rack. (If you did not butter and flour the sides of the pan, you may need to run a sharp knife in between the sides pan and the loaf.)

10. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

For a no-yogurt Banana Bread:

*Replace yogurt with 2 additional tablespoons of butter, bringing the butter to 8 tablespoons (4oz, 113g).

*Replace baking soda with 1-teaspoon baking powder.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread freezes very well. After cooling completely, either wrap the whole loaf or individual slices tightly in plastic wrap. Let the whole loaf thaw to room temperature. Individual slices can be microwaved for about 30 seconds directly from the freezer.

http://foodtasia.com/chocolate-chip-banana-bread/?fbclid=IwAR264zX6CamzgQulZ8emroDX0bSBMKXsyJw7RakMYTBMotFWHPvOnBWHnbY

Going Grey Gracefully

Beautiful women who are ditching hair dye in order to show off their natural grey hair aren’t just women saving money on trips to the hair salon. They are not just a bunch of older women who are fed up with social norms. Women shouldn’t be ashamed or embarrassed by the grey hairs on their heads or feel any need to cover up. They are brave and beautiful women of all ages willing to celebrate themselves, their hair, and their life in the face of questions and leers. They are paving the way for other women to resist social expectations and embrace their hair colour, eye colour, body shape, shoe size, or whatever. While social media, magazines, and social norms are all clamouring for them to “hide their gray hair,” these women are choosing to love themselves instead.

www.pinterest.co.uk

Top Ten Ways to Stay Stylish and Look Great.

ROSE, NYC... AT AGE 98

"The other day I had the wonderful opportunity to interview an amazingly stylish 98 year old woman by the name of Rose . I met her a few weeks ago when I stopped to take her photo off of Madison Ave. She told me that she never allows anyone to take her picture, and she is not quite sure why she decided to say yes to me that fateful day. After appearing on Advanced Style, her grandchildren emailed me telling me that Rose loved her picture and that I could come by her place and ask a few questions about her life and style! Even more inspiring than Roses' fantastic fashion sense is positive outlook on life; Enjoy every moment and be happy with what you have.At 98, she has more vitality and spirit than most people half her age." (as told by Ari, creator of Advanced Style, October 26, 2010)

Here are her Top Ten Ways to Stay Stylish and Look Great at 98:

Find your perfect perfume, people will remember you by your scent. Rose is known for her Pauline Trigère fragrance. She tells her granddaughter "I'll give you anything in the world, but I won't give you my perfume".

Belts and Beads. Rose believes that a belt or unique strand of beads can really make an outfit and they don't have to cost a fortune.

Take care of your feet and wear good shoes, but when you are going out for a night on the town, "Fashion comes before comfort". At 98, Rose goes out every single night!

"Walking is a must, it's better than doctors or medicine."

No need to use expensive moisturizers, Rose swears by Oil of Olay which she has been using for decades.

"Inexpensive lipstick is as good as expensive, only better!" Rose has tried every brand from Chanel to Lauder and has recently been turned on to Revlon.

Be Unique: "If everyone is wearing it, then it is not for me".

"Be smart enough to know what you don't know".

If you have trouble reading the dinner menu, Lorgnettes are a fashionable and elegant alternative to reading glasses.

"Be happy, enjoy what you have at every moment!"

ROSE, NYC... AT AGE 99

Stay Organized. "If you take a toothpick out, or a pair of pantyhose, or a hundred dollar bill, always put it back where you found it, because if you add up the time you spend looking for it later, that's a waste of time"

"Always tell the truth because if you don't you'll have to think of another lie."

"Be More, appear Less."

"Always take the phone off the hook when you are in the bath."

"Make friends with the Maître De."

"Never loan, Never borrow."

"Never keep anyone waiting. Always be 15 minutes early."

"Never look back, always look forward."

"Don't be afraid to tell your age, that's silly. Be proud of your age."

"Don't frequent a restaurant where they don't crumb the table

http://cashonandcompany.blogspot.com

Cat, ladybug on nose crosstitch pattern

Bolo gelado

INGREDIENTES:
- 2/3chavenas de açúcar X 2
- 6 folhas de gelatina incolor
- 6 ovos grandes
- sumo e raspa de limão grande
- 1 TORTA DE MORANGO DanCake
- morangos e kiwi

MODO DE FAZER:
Barra-se com manteiga uma forma de buraco.
À parte fatia-se a torta e os frutos e forra-se a forma,
deixando algumas fatias de tudo para depois meter no creme.
Mistura-se num tacho as gemas bem batidas com uma das chávenas de açúcar e mexe-se bem, até fazer um creme.
Acrescenta-se o sumo e a raspa do limão e vai-se mexendo sempre até engrossar um pouco.
Desliga-se o fogão e à parte demolham-se as folhas de gelatina em água fria, acrescentando depois ao creme e mexe-se.
À parte batem-se bem as claras em castelo e acrescenta-se a outra chávena de açucar e envolve-se bem sem bater.Mistura-se o creme lentamente, envolvendo apenas, sem bater. Vai-se deitando camadas de creme alternando com cubos de torta e pedacinhos dos frutos, até encher a forma.
A ultima camada deve ser de torta fininha.Vai ao congelador e depois para desenformar deve-se colocar o fundo da forma em agua quente, só até soltar o bolo.
É muito fácil de desenformar.

*PS. - Enquanto fizer o bolo a forma já forrada deve estar no congelador senão com o calor vi cair tudo no fundo.

Esta receite pertence a: http://www.facebook.com/helena.sinesfernandes