Eat Cherries...Every Day...

It's cherry season, and that means that i can indulge in one of my fav fruits, and also one of the healthiest...

Cherries!

Why do i love these sweet/tart babies?

Because they are loaded with antioxidants and are considered a super food...

And they taste awesome, without giving you that filled up feeling, like some foods (like the Mexican i ate Saturday...put me in a bad place for hours, man...)

Here is my latest video about cherries...

...followed by an oldie but a goodie blog post....

How to...Eat Cherries

 

I Cannot Tell a Lie, Cherries Are Good For You






It seems I can’t drive anywhere in town these days without passing a roadside stand selling cherries.Guess what? That’s a good thing. Besides all of these local entrepreneurs competing for my patronage, the grocery stores are overflowing with these sweet (and tart), delicious fruits. Living in California, and the fertile San Joaquin Valley, I take it for granted that most of the time something fresh and tasty and locally grown is going to be on sale. Right now…


IT’S CHERRIES!


My lovely wife is a major cherry aficionado, which simply means she digs those chewy pitted babies. We can’t drive past one of those aforementioned stands without her begging for us to stop and grab a box. Me? I wasn’t all that into them until I met her, but eventually her enthusiasm, and that fresh, juicy fruit, wore me down. Oh, and another thing:




CHERRIES ARE GOOD FOR YOU!


Actually, the more I researched the health and nutritional benefits of cherries the more impressed I became. In fact, cherries are now considered one of the SUPER FOODS. This revelation excited me so much, I made this video:


Cherries: Another Super Food!

Why are cherries super?
* loaded with anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant linked to their red color, many scientists believe a diet rich in cherries can reduce inflammation, lower bad cholesterol, and decrease belly fat
* they may help ease arthritis pain and gout
* one ounce of cherry juice contains the daily recommended amounts of antioxidants required to help fight cancer and heart disease
* cherries contain more anthocyanins (one of the strongest of the antioxidants, by the way) than raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries
* one of the few food sources rich in melatonin, a natural body hormone that helps you sleep better and can reduce jet lag
* they help lower your body fat, thus help you lose weight
* can help control diabetes


Wow, after looking at that list only one word comes to mind: SUPER!


How do you like your cherries? My favorite way to eat them is the same way I enjoy almonds: by the handful. But unlike almonds, cherries are not nearly as fattening. One serving of cherries (one cup, with pits) has less than 100 calories (around 87), while offering up 3gs of fiber and zero fat or sodium. They are also a very good source of vitamin C and iron.


All this talk about super foods and health and nutritional benefits almost made me forget to mention:


CHERRIES ARE DELICIOUS!


Fresh-from-the-branch, pop-in-the-mouth delicious! Cherries can also be added to oatmeal, salads, desserts (cherry pie or cherries jubilee), as well as complimenting savory foods like pork and chicken. Serve them up anyway you like, but serve them up as often as possible.



Cherries come in dozens of varieties, both sweet (Bing, Lambert, and Tartarian) and sour (Morello, Montmorency, and Early Richmond), in various shades of colors.


Like George Washington said, all those years ago when he chopped down that cherry tree, “I cannot tell a lie.” Neither can I, so I can honestly say that I didn’t realize how super cherries were until I did the research for this post.


The next time my lovely wife and I are driving around town and we pass by a cherry stand and she yells, “Stop, cherries!” I’m going to stop and pick up not one, but two baskets. Why? Because super foods like these don’t grow on trees…uh, well, in this case they do, actually. I guess, what I’m trying to say is:


EAT CHERRIES, THEY’RE GOOD FOR YOU!




Until next time…


peace,


Mike




Still hungry for information about cherries? Check out this cool site, a very helpful resource for this post.

What Is Daikon?

Did you know that this is one of the most popular vegetables in Japan?

Did you know that daikon literally means “big root”?

Did you know that this veggie has a sweet and tangy taste?

Did you know that you can use shredded daikon as a replacement to rice for sushi?

Wow!

You bet “WOW!” 

As a vegetarian, I am constantly in search of new and delicious vegetables.  I first discovered daikon while volunteering on vacation.  My lovely wife and I worked at an organic farm for a day and besides being great fun and fulfilling, we were rewarded with a delicious lunch made from several of the vegetables grown there.  One of those veggies was daikon.

Yeah, but how do you eat it?

Like this:

Daikon can be eaten cooked or raw.  Add it to stir-fry, boil it and mash it up, toss it on the grill and serve as a side dish, or bake it with the protein of your choice.

Eat it raw in a salad, pickled as a side dish, or shred it and use it as a great way to reduce your carbohydrate intake when enjoying sushi.  I love sushi, but the rice is loaded with carbs and difficult to digest—daikon is my savior!

Besides being a delicious root veggie, daikon also offers these benefits:

·        Low in Calories

·        High in Dietary Fiber

·        Excellent Source of Vitamin C, Potassium, and Magnesium

·        Low in Carbohydrates

·        May increase Immune System

·        Heart Healthy

·        Slow the Aging Process (count me in!)

·        Has Cancer-fighting Agents

Next time you’re cruising the produce aisle of your local grocery and see a white rooty vegetable about the size of a baseball bat, stop and grab some daikon.  You’ll be glad you did.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

Livelife365

 

What is Celery Root?

One does not pass celery root in the produce section of the grocery store and pause to admire its attractiveness.  Quite the opposite, if you ask me, as celery root is one of the least attractive of vegetables.  It may actually be downright ugly.

I know, I know, those are harsh words, especially for a food that is not only tasty, but is loaded with tons of nutritional necessities.  And, for those of you, like me, who are trying to cut back on those dreaded carbohydrates, an excellent replacement for potatoes.

Pop Quiz:

                What Is Celeriac?

               

a)      a recently discovered planet in our solar system

b)      an arthritic condition found in aging rock stars

c)       a word describing a hilarious haircut

d)      another name for Celery Root

If you chose d, then you would be correct and win this fabulous prize:

Celery root is low in calories and high in flavor.  With only 9 carbs per serving (less than half as much as a potato) this is a great way to get your spuds in without the weight gain (or glucose spike).

Celeriac also offers these nutritional benefits:

·         good source of fiber and protein

·         high in manganese

·         no cholesterol

·         high in vitamin C and calcium

·         low sodium

·         nice source of iron

So how can you eat this root veggie?

Anyway ya want to.  Use celery root to replace any of your potato recipes, from soups to chips, casseroles to fries.  Grate it raw and add to salads; bake it or eat it mashed.  As I did in this absolutely delicious video:

Next time you’re in your local grocery store and pass by a gnarly lump of ugliness is the produce section, stop and grab some celery root.

You’ll be glad you did.

Until next time…

Peace,

Mike

livelife365

Are you saying I’m a cheeseburger if I visit that greasy fast food place and devour a Big Mac? 

Yup.

That I have a bun for a head, lettuce for a face, and cheese and ground beef as a body?

Yup.

Are you crazy?

Yup.  But that’s beside the point.

Corny attempt at humor aside, you can also look at someone who opts for a healthier diet than the one above, and consider the same logic with what I am getting at here.  If you eat a lot of veggies and fruits, cut back on the carbs and fats, you may not look like a broccoli or apple, but you still carry the healthy results of those food choices with you.

You are what you eat means that if you eat a lot of carbohydrates, sugary desserts and bags of potato chips, then you are going to gain weight.

Conversely, if you keep the carbs down and the fiber up, try to consume 5 – 8 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, add some fish or poultry, then you may not sprout fins and feathers, but there’s a good chance you will become more fit.  And happy!

Here’s a simple formula to consider:

PIZZA + SIT ON COUCH + SODA = OBESITY

While you digest that, watch this:

You Are What You Eat 

Eating the right foods and the right amounts go a long way to leading a healthier, happier, LONGER life.  But if it was easy, we all would look like Brad and Angelina.

Here’s another video that can help:

A Day of Fiber

Recently, I wrote a very popular post about diabetes, how it is the new silent killer.  That even if you HAVE a body like Bradgelina, you may still be a walking time bomb.  That underscores the importance of eating the RIGHT foods, as well as staying active and counting those calories.

You may be slender, but if you eat too many carbs, even when they are in the form of potatoes, bananas, or whole wheat bread, you could be susceptible to diabetes.

Book Review: Sugar Nation

Remember, eating well is one of the keys to living life to its fullest.  Take a gander of yourself in the mirror and if you see a pork chop and mashed potatoes staring back at you, then change your ways.

Opt for your reflection to be a bowl of almonds, a side of spinach, and some grilled salmon.

You ARE what you eat.

Think about it.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

How to...Lose Ten Pounds in One Month

 

Try Jicama, You Will LOVE It!!

I recently uploaded a new video called: How to...Eat Jicama...

I have enjoyed jicama for dozens of years, way back in the day when I first traveled across country, from New England to Southern California, and discovered this crunchy, tasty, healthy root veggie.  I have been a jicama fan ever since.  One of my most popular blog post over the years has been the one I am reposting below.  Please enjoy (again?)...

What is Jicama?
Many of you may already know what jicama is, may already know how to correctly pronounce it, and may have actually had some contact with it. If that’s the case, congratulations on your acquired knowledge and worldliness--you are more than welcome to skip this next part.

For those of you still clueless, here are a few clues:

Jicama is:

a) a tropical island in the southwestern part of the Caribbean
b) a rare skin disease that turns the bottoms of your feet purple
c) a popular spicy stew prevalent in Portugal
d) an edible root, originally cultivated in South America

The correct answer (and it should be no surprise for those familiar with my plethora of posts about diet and nutrition) is “d.”


Jicama is a tasty, crispy, root vegetable, cultivated in South America for centuries. It is amazingly versatile, easy to prepare, and healthy for you.

If you would like to learn how to pronounce jicama, or are just tired of reading, watch this video:

Also known as the Mexican turnip or potato, jicama is used in many recipes south of the border. Its unique taste (a cross between an apple, potato, and water chestnut) and texture (crisp and smooth) make it one versatile veggie. Enjoy jicama:

* raw, in sweet, fruit salads, or lettuce-based salads
* sliced or julienned to use with a dip
* plain, eaten as a snack (squeeze of lime, some hot sauce)
* diced and added to savory dishes: stews, soups, stir-fry
* mashed as a side dish

Once you taste jicama, you will ask yourself why you waited so long to try it. And more good news: it is loaded with fiber. One cup has about 6 grams of fiber, around 1 gram of protein, and contains less than 50 calories. Jicama is also an excellent source of Vitamin C and potassium.

Simple to prepare, you peel jicama like a potato, using either a peeler or paring knife, removing the fibrous skin. From there, depending on how you want to eat it, it can be easily sliced, diced, Julienned, or mashed.

Like my late discovery of the avocado, I did not taste my first jicama until I was well into my twenties, thus missing out on years of epicurean enjoyment. Don't let this happen to you.

The next time you’re cruising the produce section of your grocery store, look for jicama, and grab a couple.

The good news: Jicama is not a rare skin disease that turns the bottom of your feel purple, but a versatile, nutritious, and fun vegetable that will delight you with its unique taste.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

The Skinny on Eggs

As a strict vegetarian and wannabe vegan, I don’t normally consume a lot of eggs.  Likewise, in a perfect vegan world, I would not opt for a portion of healthy fish, as I now do, for the excellent protein and other nutritional benefits.

But as with adding fish as a source of good protein, while continually trying to reduce my carbohydrates, I have also started to add a few eggs to my diet.

Eggs, you say?

But aren’t eggs unhealthy for you?  Loaded with fats and cholesterol?  One of the worst things one can ingest?

Ummm, actually, think again.

Eggs for years have been getting a bad rap.  They are not only an excellent source of healthy proteins and fats, but even the amounts of bad cholesterol are grossly over exaggerated.

If loving eggs is wrong, then I don’t wanna be right…

Besides tasting awesome, as the above video can attest, eggs also have these healthy benefits:

•  High in choline, an anti-inflammatory, thathelps reduce risks for heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s 
•  Help promote weight loss
• May actually improve your cholesterol profile
•  Reduce the risk of blood clots
•  Protect against cataracts
• Are loaded with vitamins, protein, selenium andiodine
• While low in calories

Besides enjoying fried in a sandwich, eggs can be eaten in myriad ways:  omelets, scrambled, boiled and poached.  Eggs also enhance many types of baked goods and a variety of meals.

For years eggs have been getting bad press due to their high fat and cholesterol content.  But as more research and results have been revealed, eggs just may be healthier than you ever imagined.

And they make one heck of a fried egg sandwich.

Think about it.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

Exploring Today's Path

One of the few bloggers I make the time in my busy schedule to read is Susan Blake, who is the creator of the wonderful website, Today’sPath.  Suzen (as she sometimes goes by), like myself, is all about healthy lifestyle, better nutritional choices, and offering proactive solutions to preventing unnecessary disease and health—dare I say LIFE—ailments.

Suzen writes about diverse topics like:

•         The importance of being regular
•          The Global Cancer Summit
•          Natural Alternatives
•          Migraines
•          Quinoa (one of my fav foods!!)   

…and just the other day, she took the time and space on her excellent blog to blog about me.  And my book:

LIVELIFE365: A PRACTICAL SELF-HELP GUIDE TO BETTER HEALTH, NUTRITION,WEIGHT LOSS, MOTIVATION, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND LIFE
 

Here are the first few paragraphs of her kind words, offered in her downhome delivery, with emphasis of why people like Suzen and myself invest our time and efforts in our websites:

To reach as many people as possible, affording them the opportunity to change their lives for the better!

…please visit Today’s Path to read the rest.  Thanks again, Suzen, for all your support over the years and for living life 365!!!

LiveLife 365 with and by Mike Foster!

This is such a special blog for me to write, I'm grinning ear to ear - can't ya tell?  Sometimes you meet somebody and you know they are kindred spirits.  I must have a good healthy love for mine then cuz I sure love his!

I started following a blog by Mike Foster called Live Life 365 about three years ago.  Mike does videos on his blog that are great - I learned the easy way to cut/eat avocados, for instance.  You name it, he will tell you what it is, how to cook it and eat it - many things the average person has never tried I'll bet ya!  He is ALL about healthy foods, nutrition, staying motivated, taking walks in nature, and making good choices.  Every once in a while he will write a song and sing it with his guitar.  The walks I've actually BEEN ON with him since he takes his camera right along with him. 

He videos from his lanai in Maui on his vaca there every year - so nice to see it when there is winter in the air here - he videos when he is gardening and sweating - always good to see somebody sweat, isn't it? -  and of course  many videos in his kitchen.  Writing songs, writing blogs, making videos........

Visit Today’s Path to read the rest and enjoy Suzen’s site.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

Mikesdaily…