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Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper

These long, vibrant, thin peppers have mid-level spiciness with an earthy and smoky flavor. If you are brave enough to kick start your palate with a breeze of spice, then you are in for a ride that is loaded with nutrients that can help improve the condition of your blood.

Let’s discover the secrets of this spice by reading more about it below.

Improves Metabolism

Cayenne contains an active ingredient called capsaicin that stimulates the body’s metabolic activity by increasing the blood flow and heat in our body, which is called thermogenesis. The average increased rate of metabolism is about 20% and the effect can last for several hours after consumption.

Lowers Blood Pressure

This pepper is low in sodium and along with its vasodilation properties, this food can help lower your blood pressure. Also, regular consumption of cayenne can lower your risk of getting cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Circulatory Stimulant

Cayenne pepper facilitates blood circulation by dilating your blood, therefore, regulating the flow.

If you are taking medication for high blood pressure, always consult your medical specialist first.

Relief for Pain

The active ingredient capsaicin can diminish the substance p which is a neurotransmitter that sends pain signals. This works for both short-term and chronic pain.

This pain-killing effect is also linked to relieving joint pain along with the anti-inflammatory power of capsaicin.

Homemade Cayenne Pepper Sauce Recipe

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces cayenne chili peppers
  • 5-6 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 cup white wine vinegar (or more, as desired – use 1 cup for a thinner sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon salt + more to taste

Direction

  1. Chop up the cayenne peppers along with garlic cloves and add them to a pot with the vinegar and 1 teaspoon salt.
  2. Bring the mix to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer everything for 20 minutes.
  3. Cool the mixture slightly, then transfer it to a food processor or blender. Process it until the sauce is nice and smooth. Adjust to taste with more salt if desired.
  4. Strain the sauce through a fine sieve if you’d like a smoother sauce, or pour it into bottles as-is for a thicker sauce.

Adapted from Chilipeppermadness

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Health Benefits of Strawberry

Strawberry is one of the fruits that is loved by many due to its juicy, summery, and sweet flavor! This fruit is considered a superfood and it is jam-packed with a list of antioxidants and nutrients which makes it even lovelier! 

Here are the health benefits of strawberries:

Immunity Boost

Vitamin C is important in your daily vitamin requirement and strawberry is an excellent source of vitamin c. One serving of strawberry contains 51.5mg of vitamin c, and doubling the serving to a cup can help you achieve 100 percent of your vitamin c needs.

Resilient Skin

The abundance of Vitamin C in strawberries promotes the production of collagen, therefore, maintaining your skin’s elasticity and resilience. This fruit also contains ellagic acid which is known to be a wrinkle-fighter and it helps prevent the destruction of collagen in the skin.

Rich in Fiber

A lack of fiber can cause constipation and inflammation in the intestines known as diverticulitis which affects over 50 percent of people over 60. Include strawberries in your daily snacks to boost your fiber intake.

Fierce Vision

Vitamin C is an antioxidant and aside from its anti-inflammatory properties, it can also protect the eyes from the damages caused by free radicals. Vitamin C also plays a significant part in strengthening the eye’s cornea and retina.

Paleo Strawberry Souffles

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces organic fresh strawberries
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 3 Tablespoons honey, divided
  • 3 egg whites, divided
  • 6 6-8 ounce ramekins

Directions:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.
  3. Blend the strawberries in a blender or a food processor. Pour the puree into the strainer to remove the seeds and use a rubber spatula to press the puree through the holes, getting as much puree out as you can. Discard the seeds and thick pulp.
  4. Add lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 1 egg white to the strawberry puree. Whip for about 5 minutes or until the mixture is very fluffy and has reached a soft peak phase. (If you remove a beater, the mixture should stand up on its own with the “peak” of the mixture flopping over a little.)
  5. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whip the remaining 2 egg whites with a hand mixer until it gets bubbly, then drizzle in the remaining tablespoon of honey. Continue to beat the egg whites until they reach a soft peak as well.
  6. Gently fold the white egg white mixture into the pink mixture. Don’t over stir or you’ll lose volume.
  7. Place the ramekins on a baking sheet. (DO NOT GREASE THEM.) Divide the fluffy strawberry mixture among the ramekins. They’ll be very full.
  8. Bake them on a rack in the center of the oven for 15-16 minutes. Or until the top of each souffle is stiff and has golden brown spots — like a toasted marshmallow.
  9. Remove from the oven and serve as soon as they’ve cooled off enough to eat. Serve as is or top with a little whipped cream.

Adapted from Perry’s Plate

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Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric is an esteemed herbal food in Asia that specifically flourished in the traditional valley of India. It is a family relative of ginger and can be consumed dried or fresh. Its flavor is characterized as musky, earthy, and a tad bitter. Through its health benefits, this golden spice goes beyond just being a food and flavor enhancer.

Slimming Concoction

Exercising regularly and healthy eating are the best ways to trim your waist to achieve the healthy weight that you desire. But consuming turmeric in its raw or liquid form can help boost your body’s ability to change your body composition by regulating lipid metabolism and targeting fat by repressing various processes in charge of the growth of adipose tissue. 

Skin Protection

Skin is the largest organ of our body and it acts as a defense against physical injury and harmful microbes that attempt to attack our internal system. Through this, we must take care of our skin and turmeric can improve skin tone and texture as well as the healing capability due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Alleviates Joint Pain

Turmeric helps relieve inflamed joints with its anti-inflammatory power. You can also apply and massage it directly in the affected area by mixing it with other spices in a steamed pot to create a paste-like texture. This will help revitalize the blood flow. 

Add it to your Daily Regimen

Turmeric is best utilized by the body if taken daily and we are so excited that our favorite herbal company Medi-Herb has created a fantastic product in the form of Turmeric Forte. This particular product contains a bioavailable form of Turmeric rhizome and Fenugreek seed to support a healthy inflammatory response.  My suggested dose for this product is 2 tablets per day.  

Turmeric Forte

Turmeric Forte contains a bioavailable form of Turmeric rhizome and Fenugreek seed to support a healthy inflammatory response. These herbs and their constituents:

  • Support a healthy inflammatory response
  • Maintain and support healthy joints
  • Support healthy liver function and healthy digestion
  • Provide antioxidant activity

Check out the Turmeric Fact Sheet here.

Want to try it out?  Place your orders here.

Healing 5-Ingredient Turmeric Tonic

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp fresh grated turmeric 
  • 1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger 
  • 1 whole lemon (juiced // ~3 Tbsp or 45 ml juice as original recipe is written // plus leftover rind)
  • 1-2 tsp maple syrup (optional // can sub stevia or raw honey if not vegan)
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional // or cracked black pepper which many readers have commented helps with the bioavailability of the turmeric!)
  • 3 cups of filtered water

Directions:

  1. To a small saucepan, add turmeric, ginger, lemon juice and leftover lemon rind, maple syrup (optional), cayenne (optional), and filtered water. I personally didn’t think it needed any sweetener, but sweeten to taste.
  2. Bring to a simmer (not a boil) over medium to medium-high heat (~3 minutes). Then turn off the heat.
  3. Set a small strainer over serving glasses and divide between two mugs. Enjoy. If the tonic is too potent for you, dilute with more hot/warm water.
  4. Store (strained) leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Reheat on the stovetop until just warm.

Adapted from Minimalist Baker

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Turkey Zoodles Recipe – Paleo, Gluten Free

Can I tell you that I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe!  It’s super fresh, fast, healthy, detox friendly, paleo and gluten free.  What’s not to love?!?  This is a dish even YOUR KIDS are going to eat.  My dog Brie enjoys any leftover zoodles!

This is a 20 minute one pan dish if you follow my preparation and kitchen tool techniques and I especially enjoy it during the summer.  I keep the zucchini cold and cover the cold zoodles with the heat meat, veggie, sauce combo and it becomes a fresh summer dish for these hot hot hot Southern summer days.

You can also substitute grass fed beef for the organic turkey if you wish.

In this recipe I use a jar of marinara in order to save time for those quick weekday meals.  When choosing your sauce choose one without any added sugars and I always buy one that has the least amount of sugar/carbs listed on the label.  Some fantastic brands are: Organico Bello, Cucina Antica,  

Also, be sure to have your tools on hand to make your life EASIER – Two kitchen items I cannot live without is my garlic roller/peeler – seriously if you don’t have one of these you need one. I can peel my garlic in 3 seconds flat with this bad boy.  Also you’ll want a spiralizer to make those yummy zoodles. With this tool I can zoodle a zucchini in about 20 seconds.  Dinner in 20 minutes? BOOM!

Here’s to healthy quick meals!

Italian Turkey Zoodles

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 medium zucchini – spiralized
  • 1 lb organic ground turkey
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • One medium onion – diced
  • 8 oz mushrooms – diced
  • 3 cloves garlic – peeled and minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 24oz jar of no sugar added marinara sauce
  • Fresh basil chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Spiralize your zucchini and put the spiralized zucchini on a paper towel to drain while you prepare the rest of the meal.
  2. In a large nonstick skillet heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat.
  3. Add organic turkey, onion, mushrooms and garlic and cook until turkey is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; breaking up turkey into crumbles, 8-10 minutes; drain.
  4. Put pan back on the burner and turn the heat down to a simmer
  5. Add your marinara sauce – I usually use ¾ of a jar – just depends on how wet you want your dish.
  6. Stir in your spices.
  7. Let the pan simmer until all ingredients are well mixed and warm.
  8. Place a cup of spiralized zucchini on your plate, spoon your turkey, veggie, sauce mixture over the zucchini.  Garnish with chopped basil.