Category: diet | dieta

diet | dieta, nutrition | odżywianie

A like… Asparagus!

olazieminska

Happy Wednesday!

Since we are in full Spring now, it is high time to talk a bit more about the fresh vegetales which are the most tasty this time of the year.
Today I want to give you a closer look for one of the most seasonal veggie right now… Asparagus!

White, green or purple? Which asparagus are you fan of? My favorite are the green ones, grilled with little bit of olive oil and company of good cheese are delicious! 😎

Fresh asparagus are really yummy and nutritios, below you can read what they are good for 🙂

Health benefits of aparagus

  1. Low calories source of vitamins and minerals
    Asparagus is a low-calorie vegetable. 100 grams of asparagus contains only 25 calories!
    It is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals, especially folate and vitamins A, C and K, which is an essential nutrient involved in blood clotting and bone health.
  2. Provide antioxidants
    Asparagus is a good source of antioxidants 🙂 including vitamins C and E, flavonoids and polyphenols. You may aready know that antioxidants prevent the accumulation of harmful free radicals and may reduce your risk of chronic disease and prevent you from cancer disease.
  3. Help lower blood pressure
    Thanks to potassium contained in asparagus, a mineral that can help lower high blood pressure. Since that asparagus may contain an active compound that dilates blood vessels that leads to lower a blood pressure.
    !!! High blood pressure affects more than 1.3 billion people worldwide and is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke !!!
  4. Serve as natural diuretic
    Asparagus nutrition has the unique chemical properties to act as a natural diuretic, which means asparagus promotes the production of urine. This increases the excretion of water from the body, in particular ridding the body of excess salt and fluid.
  5. Support digestion
    The fiber in asparagus helps to improve digestion because it moves food through the gut. One serving of asparagus contains more than a gram of soluble fiber, which is helpful to maintain and keep a healthy digestion.

How to buy and prepare asparagus?

Asparagus is delicious and easy to incorporate into your diet. Espescially now, when it is the best season to eat them. They are affordable and widely available at most grocery stores and local markets. When shopping for fresh asparagus, look for firm stems and tight, closed tips.

Once you buy them, you can consume them fresh and raw or cook in a variety of ways, including boiling, grilling, steaming, roasting… It is only up to your imagination!
Awe yourself and your friends with tasty salads, stir-fries, frittatas, omelets and pastas or an excellent side dish.

Watch out your urine after eating asparagus!

You may ask now “What?!”. Yes, you read it right.
The truth is that our bodies convert asparagusic acid into sulfur-containing chemicals that stink… So do not be surprised when after having a dish with asparagus you will notice a funny odor in the toilette.

diet | dieta, nutrition | odżywianie

South American Superfoods

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Since I am in Chile now, I am surrounded by South American food. People who live here are lucky to have so easy access to the diverse and really nutritious food! I am sure that you must have heard about some of them, for example Quinoa, Chia seeds? Do they sound familiar to you? If not, do not worry. Below, in this post I will describe my favourite 5 superfoods from South America that you may want to (and should) add into your daily diet.

Acai

Acai berries are South American berries that are high in amount of the antioxdiants. They have even more health benefits than commonly known blue berries. Additionally, acai berries lower risk of heart disease and cancer. They are very often consumed in Brasil as the ingredient of ‘acai bowl’ which is a delicious alternative for breakfast. It is usally made from blended acai, banana, milk, oats and some seeds (but you can mix up the ingredients however you want and play around!).
Most likely, you will find acai in some health markets in puree packs, juice or powder form. Since they lose nutrients quickly, it’s best to buy them frozen.

Camu-Camu

This tiny, orange fruit is exceptional in terms of its high Vitamin C content! Believe me or not, but camu-camu has 40 times more vitamin C than oranges! It comes from Amazonian forest, helps to boost the immune system and neutralize free radicals.
The most common way is simply adding camu-camu powder to smoothies/fruits shakes (due to its sour taste it is good to sweeten it up with a table spoon of honey 🙂 )

Chia

Chia seeds are rich in antioxidants and full of fibre, magnesium, zinc, iron and calcium. They are also good for lowering cholesterol.
Chia seeds absorb water easily and form a gel when mixed with water. I heard that chia seeds are also a good substitute for eggs in vegan diets.
Personaly, I like to add them to yogurt with some fruits. It gives a ‘funny’ texture and fills you up quicker and for longer due to its content of fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids.

Maca

Probably you will find maca in store on shelf in powder form. But maca is actually a root (!) also known as Peruvian ginseng. It is a highly nutritious vegetable that contains plenty of fiber, protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, potassium, vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin and thiamin. Maca root has been associated with a number of health benefits. One of the most intersting is the fact it that it has been touted as a natural remedy for women’s hormonal imbalances and contributor in boost of fertility.

Quinoa

Often mistakenly considered as a grain, Quinoa is a seed in fact. Originally cultivated in Peru. It is real superfood, great for vegetarian and vegan, due to its high protein content as well as for celiac people since it is naturally gluten-free. Additionally it has high levels of B vitamins and minerals.
There are few diffrent kind (colors) of quinoa. For example, red quinoa is also an excellent source of flavonoids and antioxidant properties.

These are 5 South American foods that I have been using in my kitchen recently. Try to look for them in your bio/eco shops. I am sure that you will find them easily!

Have a wonderful and healthy weekend! 🙂

diet | dieta, nutrition | odżywianie

Caffè d’Orzo

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I am back to Milan since beginning of the year. I feel like I am slowly getting more Italian and getting some Italian habits 😉 . Let’s talk about one of them…
Italy = COFFEE, right?!

I can bet that a cup of aromatic espresso is one of the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about Italy.
But! Let me tell you that here in the country of pasta, pizza and gelato (ice-cream) there is an alternative to a regular coffee… Caffè d’Orzo !

Barley coffee, café de cebada (in Spanish), cevada (in Portugese), kawa jęczmienna (in Polish), all above name the same awesome drink!

Let me tell you why barley coffee is just SO good!

  1. It is caffeine free!
    Orzo is made from roasted ground barley grains, which can be put through a regular coffee maker or espresso maker. It doesn’t contain caffeine, caffeine-avoiders can enjoy it.
  2. Nutritional drink
    Barley coffe supports the digestion system since it contains inuline which promotes peristalsis of intestines.
    Limit the risk of various cancers including: colon cancer, blood, bone, skin, pancreas, bladder, pharynx, lung and others.
    Delays signs of wrinkles and age-related aging. Regulates the level of sugar in the blood and thus protects against diabetes.
  3. Full of minerals
    Barley is a source of thiamin, niacin, folate, riboflavin, iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and selenium— all essential vitamins and minerals!
  4. Tasty and great for kids!
    Orzo coffe is a really tasty hot drink. Kids can drink it with a little bit of almond-milk (to make it a bit sweeter).
    It is a great alternative for morning beverage in the winter time.
  5. Cheap and affordable
    You can grab it anywhere in Italy. It is very popular drink.
    Once you are in Milan or any other Italian city, you must try this aromatic coffee.Personally, I recommend to buy it and prepare  yourself at home, anytime! 🙂
    Enjoy!

    My breakfast with the cup of caffe d’orzo 🙂
diet | dieta, nutrition | odżywianie

B like… Blueberries! | B jak… Borówka Amerykańska!

olazieminska

Summer has officially arrived!

Yes! We all have been waiting for it since long time.

Apart from sunshine, t-shirt weather, long days another advantage of this season are numerous fruits available on markets! For me this is definitely the best time of the year as Summer brings as one of the best and the healthiest fruits – BERRIES! I love them, they are  definitely one of my favorite. They are low in calories, low in sugar but full of taste, vitamins and antioxidants! And what is more there are SOOO…. MANY  of them! Blueberries, huckleberries, mulberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries… and much, much more!

Today we will have a closer look at blueberries 🙂 I am sure everyone loves them!

This vibrant fruit is tiny, but remains one of the most nutritious, antioxidant-rich types of fruit in the world and have been shown to do everything from enhance brain health to keep your heart strong. Also as I mentioned before, they are also super sweet, low-calorie and delicious.

Health benefits of this top superfood

  1. Support Digestion
    With 3.6 grams of fiber in each cup, including a serving or two of blueberries can help you meet your fiber needs while also promoting regularity and healthy digestion.
  2. Promote Heart Health
    Healthy heart is a key component of overall health as it is responsible for pumping blood through the body to provide your tissues with the oxygen and nutrients needed to thrive and survive.Studies show that eating blueberries could help reduce some of the risk factors for heart disease. Sttudy in published in the Journal of Nutrition reported that blueberry supplementation led to greater decreases in blood pressure and oxidized LDL cholesterol, two major risk factors for heart disease.Of course, the health benefits of blueberries on heart disease are limited unless combined with a balanced diet, a healthy lifestyle and regular exercise.
  3. Alleviate Inflammation
    Although inflammation is a normal immune response that helps protect your body from illness and injury.Thanks to its high antioxidant content, blueberries have been shown to have a significant anti-inflammatory effect in the body. A 2014 test-tube study even found that the polyphenols found in blueberries helped reduce the activity of several markers of inflammation.
  4. Boost brain health
    One of the most impressive health benefits of blueberries is its ability to enhance brain health. There have been many studies suggesting that eating blueberries could improve memory and cognition.Additionally, blueberries are loaded with antioxidants, which can protect the brain from free radical damage and promote healthy brain aging.
  5. Amp Up Weight Loss
    Blueberries are high in fiber, low in calories and carbohydrate, and contain almost no fat, that is why this nutrient-packed berry is great if you’re looking to lose weight fast. It’s low in calories but provides a whopping 3.6 grams of fiber per cup, fulfilling up to 14 percent of your daily fiber needs with just one serving. Fiber moves slowly through your digestive tract, promoting satiety and keeping you feeling fuller for longer to aid in weight loss.Be sure to combine blueberries with a nutritious, well-rounded diet and plenty of physical activity to promote weight loss even more.
  6. High in Antioxidants
    Antioxidants are compounds that fight harmful free radicals. They not only prevent cell damage, but also protect against several types of chronic disease, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes.One study compared the antioxidant capacity of blueberries, blackberries and strawberries and found that blueberries not only contained the highest total antioxidant capacity, but also contained more of many specific types of antioxidants, including phenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins.
  7. Help Fight Cancer
    Recent research has unearthed some impressive findings on the ability of blueberries to protect against certain types of cancer.For example, a 2010 test-tube study reported that blueberry extract was able to inhibit the growth and spread of breast cancer cells, making blueberry extracts potential cancer-fighting agents. Similarly, a 2007 test-tube study showed that low-bush blueberry juice reduced the growth of several types of cancer, including stomach, prostate, intestine and breast cancer cells.

Ideas to use blueberries

Remember, when picking blueberries, they should be ripe enough that they are blue and require just a light touch to pick. Be sure to wash them thoroughly before savoring the sweet flavor.

These days, you likely won’t run into any trouble finding a pint of blueberries on the shelf at your local grocery store. You can also find both regular and wild blueberries in the frozen fruit section of many stores as well 🙂

You can add blueberries to just about any recipe to kick up the sweetness.

  • Try them in pancakes or baked goods to ramp up the antioxidant content of your dish
  • Sprinkle them over oatmeal or yogurt
  • Enjoy them as is for a guilt-free way to satisfy your sweet tooth

    Make your own omega blueberry smoothie!

    INGREDIENTS:

    • 1 cup blueberries
    • ¼ cup coconut milk
    • 1 tablespoon sprouted flax meal
    • 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
    • lime juice and mint leaves for taste and decoration (also some other berries, like blackberries 😉 )

    DIRECTIONS:

    1. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until a smooth texture is reached.

    This omega blueberry smoothie recipe is the perfect breakfast! It’s loaded with antioxidants, healthy fats and good protein to help you start your day off right!

diet | dieta, nutrition | odżywianie

M like… Macadamia Nuts!

olazieminska

I love nuts! Probably you do so! You know the felling when you have the package of nuts and trying to snack just a bit you end up eating all of them :D. Nuts are tasty and addicting, they are packed with healthy fat that we should not avoid in our diet!


Let’s get to know them a little bit more. Today we will learn about Macadmia Nuts. These are one of the most expensive nuts and are not easy to purchase. However, in Australia where I have been last year, they are easy to get and more affordable and cheaper than anywhere else as they are native to Australia (they are also commonly known as the Australian nut and the Queensland nut).
Macadamias prefer a mild, frost-free climate with plenty rain, similar to how coffee beans grow best. They are not easy to crack! Watch this video from my trip last year and discover the real Macadamia Nut Farm in Byron Bay ( southeastern Queensland )


Macadamia nuts contain a lot of important essential vitamins and minerals – vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, folate, manganese, protein, healthy fats, and the all-powerful antioxidants. They are also rich in oleic acid and omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid, which is the very same fatty acid found in olive oil 🙂

6 benefits and reasons you should eat them:

  1. Promote health heart
    Being rich in fiber and other minerals like magnesium and potassium – these nuts improve heart health.
  2. Improve Bone Health
    Macadamia nuts are good sources of calcium, magnesium, and potassium – the three minerals that help prevent bone demineralization. And they are low in sodium too, which only makes things better. The phosphorus in the nuts promotes mineralization of teeth and bones.
  3. Boost Healthy Fats
    Macadamia nuts are 75% fat, but most of that is the monounsaturated type. They also boost HDL, the good cholesterol, and lower the levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol.
  4. Improve Skin Health & Strengthen Hair
    The essential fatty acids in macadamia nuts play a role in skin health. The palmitoleic acid in the nuts is another essential fatty acid that hydrates the skin, promotes skin healing, and prevents the early onset of the signs of aging like wrinkles and age spots. Additionally, it treats dry hair and strengthens the hair roots.
    Applying the oil to your skin can render it a youthful glow. Application of this nut oil can replenish the skin with the essential acid and massaging your hair regularly with this oil makes it shine, stimulates hair growth, and rebuilds hair elasticity.
  5. Support Gut Health
    They contain both soluble and insoluble fiber – these flush toxins out of the body and also aid digestion. Rich in copper, they support the enzymatic reactions that improve digestive health.
  6. Destroy free radicals
    Macadamia contain lots of flavonoids that help to prevent cells from damage and protects from environmental toxins. These flavonoids convert into antioxidants in our body which search and destroy free radicals and protect our bodies from cancer.

Make sure to store them in a cool place.
You can also roast your own in order to avoid these coated with preservatives, oils and tons of salt.

Feel free to snack them when you are in the rush as they are a source of nutritious vitamins and minerals.

diet | dieta, nutrition | odżywianie, recipes | przepisy

Lemon Water

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I am not a coffee person (and what is more I do not believe in its power to awaken your body). Luckily, there is a way to start the day fresh and energized – lemon water – a simple healthy drink packed with amazing detoxing and energy-boosting benefits.

For starters, drinking water on an empty stomach will purify your colon, enabling better absorption of nutrients all throughout the day and fire up your metabolism. On the other hand, lemon offers plenty of essential nutrients like calcium, iron, potassium, vitamins C, A and B-complex and pectin fiber, and has well-recognized immunity-boosting and antibacterial properties.

Mixed together, water and lemon make up the perfect drink that will give you that morning feeling of wellness you’ve been looking for so long! I will be honest with you that now, during winter time I do not practice my ‘lemon-morning’ same frequently like in Summer (my bad… by writing this post I will try to be more solid) 😉 )

Here are the top 7 health benefits of lemon water:

1) Helps digestion

Drinking lemon water first thing in the morning will help flush toxins and other metabolic waste products from the digestive system, rehydrate the body and encourage healthy bowel movements. The result? A highly efficient metabolism, smooth digestion and a minimized risk of constipation, diarrhea, bloating and heartburn.

2) Boosts immunity

Lemons are famous for their abundance with vitamin C. Our bodies use a variety of antioxidant vitamins to stay healthy and ward off unwelcome visitors and vitamin C is one of the most efficient bacteria killer to be found.

3) Revitalizes skin

Thanks to its ability to purify internal organs and stimulate the growth of new blood cells, lemon water can help your skin become smooth and clear. In addition, the antioxidants found in lemon will delay the appearance of wrinkles, blemishes and skin spots by reducing the skin damage caused by free radicals.

4) Helps maintain healthy weight

Regularly consuming warm lemon water can definitely accelerate your weight loss efforts and help you maintain a healthy weight, as long as you make sure to adopt a few other healthy habits as well. For example, a group of German researchers found that an increased consumption of water can temporarily boost the metabolic rate up to 30% for both men and women. Furthermore, since lemon contains pectin fiber, it can help you curb hunger cravings and enjoy a prolonged feeling of satiety.

5) Controls blood pressure

Struggling to keep your blood pressure stable? Then step away from the coffee machine and treat yourself with a lemon-enriched glass of water instead. It can help control high blood pressure by hydrating and cleansing the lymphatic system. Lemons are also abundant with potassium, a key mineral which helps lower blood pressure by reversing the negative effects of sodium.

6) Boosts energy levels

Unfortunately, the energy boost we usually get from caffeine is rather short-lived, it’s dehydrating and stresses your adrenals. On the other side, natural drinks such as lemon water treat our bodies well and can offer us ‘clean’ energy boosts and increased mental clarity. The nutrients contained in lemon water will naturally enhance your energy levels and improve your mood by hydrating and oxygenating the body.

7) Eliminates bad breath

The acidic contents present in lemon prevent the growth of bacteria, cleanse the mouth and stimulate the production of saliva, which will flush out any remaining bacteria in the mouth. Lemon will also remove the white coating which forms on the tongue during sleep and consists of food debris, bacteria and dead cells and is also responsible for causing bad breath.

As you can see, the health benefits of lemon water are pretty much endless. And all you need to do in order to reap them is cut a lemon in halves, squeeze its juice in a glass of lukewarm water/or with mineral water and consume it at least half an hour before your breakfast.
Enjoy the new day!

diet | dieta, recipes | przepisy

Banana omelette

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Are you one of this person who has no time in the morning and struggle what to eat before hitting to the gym? Protein shakes, oat meals, energy bars, are you tired of them?

I have a great solution for someone who wants to have a quick, powerful, yummy and easy to prepare breakfast! One of my favorites and the simplest – banana omelette.

I love this recipe as it is very easy to prepare and taste delicious any time of the year. I have it usually before going to the gym early in the morning when I need fast and light source of energy.

It is based on two, actually 3 great ingredients:

  • bananas – provide you great source of easy digestible carbohydrates. Bananas are good for your heart. They are packed with potassium. Bananas are also packed with fiber, which boosts satiety and improves digestive health.
  • eggs – undoubtedly one of the most nutritious foods around! They are loaded with several vitamins and contain high-quality protein. Most of the nutrients are in the yolk, which consists mostly of fat. Meanwhile, the white contains mostly protein. One large egg contains 5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein.
  • coconut oil – another one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Coconut oil benefits and uses go beyond what most people realize, as coconut oil is a true superfood. The secrets to this amazing superfood are healthy fats called medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Coconut oil increase “good” HDL cholesterol in your body and help convert the “bad” LDL cholesterol into a less harmful form.

Let’s get this magic started!

Ingredients:

  • 1 big ripen banana
  • 2 organic free-range eggs
  • pinch of Himalayan salt
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil extra virgin
  • cinnamon
    + optional
  • 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon hemp seeds
  • 1 teaspoon chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon dried black currant

Directions:

  1. Wash the eggs, peel and slice banana.
  2. Beat eggs, salt in small bowl.
  3. Add your extra superfoods, such as: chia seeds, hemp sees, cocoa powder, dried fruits.
  4. Mix all together and add sliced banana.
  5. Heat pan with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil over medium-high heat until hot. Tilt pan to coat bottom.
  6. Pour in egg mixture and cover with the lid.
  7. Fry for around 2 minutes on one side and flip for another 2 minutes on another side.
  8. Serve it with favorite yogurt on top and sprinkle (lots of) cinnamon.

 

diet | dieta, recipes | przepisy

HOMEMADE WHOLE-RYE BREAD

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The 100% rye bread is such a great thing but is is not easy to find in the local stores… Unfortunately, whatever is called ‘rye bread’ usually contains many additional ingredients that have nothing in common with rye: white flour, caramel coloring, dough conditioners and preservatives.
We buy it as we are thought that dark bread is healthy, but it is not true sometimes as nowadays it is hard to find real bread without any additional ingredients.

The good news it that since now, you can transform your kitchen to your own bakery and be your own baker! I am not kidding, freshly baked bread and crispy skin with thin slice of melting butter on top would become new hero in your menu! Just be careful, as I am pretty sure your family and friends would make special orders and ask for extra bread for them, so you may need to organize more time at kitchen to make good on their expectations 😉

The recipe is easy, but it is NOT quick, as to prepare your bread, first you would need to make a sourdough starter (called also levain). (That lactic acid from starter produces a flavorful tang as well as bread that lasts a long time on the counter (acid is a preservative)).
This phase takes 4 days. But do not worry it is really simple! 🙂

Let’s do it!

Sourdough starter
Ingredients (for each day)

  • 100g whole-rye flour
  • 100ml room-temperature boiled water

Day one
Mix 100g flour with 100ml room-temperature boiled water in glass bowl (mix it with wooden spoon! Bread doesn’t like metal!). Let sit at room temperature, cover with kitchen towel.

Day two
Add another 100g flour with 100ml room-temperature boiled water to the mixture from the day before. Mix together and again let sit at room temperature, cover with kitchen towel.

Day three
Add another 100g flour with 100ml room-temperature boiled water to the mixture from the day before. Mix together and again let sit at room temperature, cover with kitchen towel.

Day four
Add another 100g flour with 100ml room-temperature boiled water to the mixture from the day before. Mix together and again let sit at room temperature, cover with kitchen towel.

(Day by day , starter will be growing in your bowl and fermenting, the ‘funny’ smell it is exactly what are we aiming for! Lactic acid is the hero of this bread 🙂
Follow these instructions from above every day AT THE SAME time! So either in the morning, before going to work, on in the evening before going to bed, basically every 24 hours 🙂 )

Day five (BAKING DAY!)
Ingredients

  • 1kg whole-rye flour
  • around 600ml-700ml room-temperture boiled water
  • 1,5 tablespoon Himalayan salt
  • 100g sunflower seeds
  1. This time, after 24 hours passed since day 4, instead of adding 100g of flour, add 500g flour and 500ml room-temperature boiled water to our bowl with starter since last 4 days. Mix it well together and leave in the kitchen for 12 hours, underneath the kitchen towel.
  2. After 12 hours add another 500g flour, big 1,5 table spoon of Himalayan salt, sunflower seeds and about 150ml-200ml warm-temperature boiled water. YES!! This time we put LESS WATER than the previous days.
  3. Mix all together well until it has a bit more dense structure than days before and until the dough falls off from your fingers (yes feel free to mix the dough with your hands 😉 ) and put into well oiled and floured standard loaf pan. Smooth the top of the dough with a wet spatula. Flour the top of the loaf and cover with a kitchen towel.
  4. Allow to ferment for 1 more. The dough will rise a little but not much.
  5. In the mean while pre-heat your oven to maximum.
  6. After one hour of sitting put your filled loaf pan with dough into hot oven and decrease temperature to 200°C (390°C-400°F)
  7. Bake your loaf, uncovered, for around 50 minutes, until brown. Your oven may vary greatly. The best way to check is by the color of the loaf.
  8. Remove bread from the loaf pan and let cool on a wire rack.
  9. Let this loaf sit before you break into it! However I am usually very impatient and digging into it almost straight away after taking it out from the oven. Crispy end of the bread is the best! 🙂

A note on scheduling

Since there’s no kneading, this loaf goes together quickly. Instead of starting the loaf in the evening, you could start it in the morning and finish it in the evening after work. The fermentation times are flexible since you don’t have to worry about the dough keeping it’s shape. If at anytime something prevents you from completing a step just put your dough in the refrigerator (which is kind of like hitting the pause button).

Tips
The longer the bread sits the more sour it will get (note that it could get too sour if you really extend the fermentation). Too short a fermentation will lead to an overly dense loaf. That said, you’ve got considerable flexibility. A few hours in either direction won’t make much of a difference.
Try any variations such as adding nuts and sprouted grains.
diet | dieta, recipes | przepisy

Apple pie

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We are in fall. And fall is the season when apples are one of the most popular fruits this time of the year. There are sooo many of them crispy, sweet, juicy, sour, green, red whatever you want to choose from!

There as so many delicious way to use and prepare apples in the kitchen but one of the easiest and the most loved one by everyone is apple pie! 🙂

This recipe below I have tried last Thursday for Thanksgiving and worked perfectly. Believe me or not but there is no added artificial sugar in it and tastes absolutely great.
My roommate and friends loved it so hopefully you enjoy it as well!

Ingredients:

  • 2,5 cups wholewheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 glass organic whole milk from grass-fed cows
  • 3/4 cups organic butter (170 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons grounded cinnamon
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 2 organic free-range eggs
  • 2 big apples (approximately 1 pound) + jemon juice (to avoid darkening)
  • 1 cup sun-dried raisins
  • 1/2 cup organic blossom honey

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven for 375F(190C) and prepare your pie-plate and dot with butter.
  2. Slice apples and toss them with lemon juice.
  3. In medium size bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, soda, cinnamon, salt
  4. In other bowl mix well butter with eggs until you get a consistent mixture.
  5. Slowly add milk to eggs and butter and keep mixing until it is solid.
  6. Add honey and raisins to mixture.
  7. Combine prepared dry ingredients with fluid mixture until consistent dough.
  8. Put pastry into pie-plate and bake for 40-45 mins (during baking check it with tooth stick!)
    until is golden brown.
  9. Cool on wire rack or serve warm with home-made whipped cream!

supplements | suplementy

Collagen and NeoCell #1 collagen brand

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Supplements are important in our life. Especially nowadays, when we live really fast and we are lack of time. We often forget to take care of ourselves. Balanced diet and sport activity are important to keep us healthy. However, it is good to support our immune system and health with good supplements. Please, remember that vitamins and other dietary supplements are not intended to be a food substitute! They cannot replace all of the nutrients and benefits of whole foods. It is always better to get your nutrients from REAL food.

Today I want to share with you, probably the best, collagen product available here, on American market. As I was lucky to receive NeoCell Collagen so I can use it now.

What is collagen?

Collagen is a protein, but no ordinary protein. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, and can be found in bones, skin, organs, muscles, eyes, nails, teeth, and hair. Best known for their ability to help connective tissue stay vibrant and flexible, collagen proteins serve two main functions in the body: structure and regeneration. Collagen is a protein found in the skin that gives it the appearance of fullness and smoothness.

Lack of collagen

Collagen makes up 25 percent of the whole amount of proteins in the body. As you age, collagen production decreases, causing the appearance of wrinkles, scarring and sagging skin.The group of collagen that’s related to the skin shows symptoms of wrinkles, sagging skin and skin that’s easily prone to scarring. When there is a deficiency of collagen in the muscles, you experience muscle pain and soreness. In addition, a collagen deficiency in the cartilage leads to joint pain.

Natural sources of collagen

  • gelatin
  • bone broth
  • egg whites
  • spirulina
  • cod
  • citrus fruits – they don’t contain glycine or proline, they do contain high amounts of vitamin C that our bodies need to produce collagen.  Additionally, antioxidant properties of vitamin C prevent enzymes and free-radicals from breaking down collagen.

Supplements

NeoCell Collagen is formulated to work with your body’s natural regenerative cycles*. By supplementing with NeoCell products, additional Collagen peptides are introduced into the extracellular fluid. The molecular receptors of the worker cells are “turned on” more frequently, thus continuing the regeneration cycle at a healthy rate, and rebuilding the Collagen matrix more quickly.

There are available few variations of collagen from NeoCell. I am currently using the most typical – pill version, which is enriched with extra Vitamin C that is an essential nutrient for Collagen formation in the body and also serves as an antioxidant.
But you can also get in and supply as a powder and simply drink it, or what makes it even better and fun, is the fact that you can add and mix powder collagen with other foods. It can be added to the pumpkin soup or for your morning toast/oatmeal. It doesn’t have a strong taste so you won’t spoil the taste of your meal, on the contrary, you will add extra value to it :).

Of course, I want convince you to consume foods rich in collagen as often as possible.
But I believe that it is not always possible, so it is good to supply it while we cannot derive it in natural way.

I have just started to use collagen from NeoCell. I would strongly recommend it to all athletes, women and elderly people who can suffer from the collagen deficiency. It is crucial for everyone to refill it.

****These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.