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The Benefits Of Matcha Green Tea

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The Benefits Of Matcha Green Tea – Why you should ditch traditional green tea and switch to Matcha.

Through a Japanese tea ceremony, I was introduced to the benefits of matcha green tea.  “Matcha” as it is called is a special type of green tea made of the entire leaf.  Consuming the whole leaf provides 100% of the nutrients and 137 times the antioxidant power of regular green tea.  One cup of matcha = 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea in terms of nutritional content.

 

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – How It’s Made

The benefits of matcha green tea come from the use of the whole leaf. The leaves are pulverized, creating a green powder.  The green tea powder is then whisked with hot water in a bowl creating a frothy beverage.  In traditional ceremonies, Geishas serve the warm beverage in traditional style.  The preparation and enjoyment is meditative.

The resulting high levels of chlorophyll in Matcha Green Tea not only give this tea its beautiful vibrant green color; matcha is also a powerful detoxifier, capable of naturally removing heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body.

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – Awaken Mental Clarity

One of the benefits of Matcha green tea is that it creates calm alertness.  l-theanine (an amino acid found in green and black tea) produces a state of relaxation without drowsiness.  With three times as much caffeine than a cup of steeped tea, matcha has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee.  Switching your morning coffee for the benefits of Matcha green tea will give you the caffeine you are accustomed to without the jitters and mid-morning crash.

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – Antioxidant Support

Catechins are phytochemical compounds, vital antioxidants which provide the body with metabolic support and stamina. We know that with it’s potent antioxidant properties, a bowl of matcha provides over five times as many antioxidants as any other food. The EGCg catechins, which make up 60% of matcha tea, have also shown to hold antibiotic properties which promote overall health.

 

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – Promote Relaxation

The L-Theanine in matcha promotes the production of alpha waves in the brain, which induces relaxation without the inherent drowsiness caused by other “downers.” The L-Theanine also promotes the production of dopamine and serotonin.

Studies of different populations have shown that people who drink Match Green Tea on a regular basis have lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol while at the same time displaying higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – Become A Fat Burning Machine

Drinking Matcha Green Tea has also been shown to increase metabolism and help the body burn fat about four times faster than average.

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – Prolonged Energy

While all green tea naturally contains caffeine, the energy boost received from Matcha is largely due to its unique combination of other nutrients. The increased endurance from a bowl of Matcha Green Tea can last up to 6 hours and because of the effects of L-Theanine, Matcha drinkers experience none of the usual side-effects of stimulants such as nervousness and hypertension. It’s good, clean energy.

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – Save $ By Making It At Home

If you buy matcha in a cafe, you’ll spend somewhere around $4 a cup. You can make it at home for pennies—here’s how:

1. Heat spring or filtered water

2. Add a few drops of hot water to matcha powder and mix into paste with a spoon

3. Add more hot water to paste mixture and stir. Try 1 teaspoon to 6 ounces of water. Adjust measurement to suit taste.

4. Enjoy!

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – There’s One Exception

Since the whole leaf is used in the production of matcha green tea, lead contamination could be a concern. Even organically grown green teas have been shown to contain trace amounts of lead. As long as you are not drinking the tea all day every day, you should be okay. We must weigh the benefits vs. the risks and make a decision for ourselves if we want to drink matcha.

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea – Resources:

E-How Matcha

Health

Match Source

WELL – New York Times

Yerba Mate Benefits

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Yerba mate benefits the mind and body. Yerba mate or mate as it is often called is traditionally consumed in the central and southern regions of South America, where it is often a social event to drink mate.

Yerba Mate Benefits – The Social Aspect

It’s not unusual to see people walking down the street sipping mate while carrying a thermos of hot water to refresh their drink. When you are asked to share mate with someone, it is a sign of friendship and bonding.

Yerba Mate Benefits – A Physical Impact

Yerba mate is made from the dried leaves of the evergreen holly, a plant native to South America. Due to the high quantity of polyphenols found in mate, many health promoting claims have been made about it.  Studies have concluded that Yerba mate benefits include improved allergy symptoms, reduced risk of diabetes mellitus and high blood sugar in mice.

Yerba Mate Benefits – A Weight Loss Tool

Mate also acts as an appetite suppressant and could be effective as a weight loss tool.  It increases energy expenditure, improves insulin sensitivity, and burns stored fat.  Athletes have been known to use it to enhance physical performance.  This tea has been shown to increases mental energy and focus, improves mood, and promotes deeper sleep.  Yerba mate benefits include being used as a digestive aid, its use as a general nerve tonic for pain, fatigue, and depression.

With a powerful nutrient profile Yerba mate benefits the body.  It is said to have the strength of coffee, the health benefits of tea, and the euphoria of chocolate all in one beverage.  That is a big claim; lets look more deeply at the benefits and side effects of consuming Yerba mate.

Yerba Mate Benefits – A Powerful Mood Enhancer

Providing gentle, clean and calm energy replacing your morning coffee with Yerba mate will bring about alert wakefulness with out the jitters or crash often associated with coffee.  Mate stimulates the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain which is the cause for increased motivation and productivity.

Yerba Mate Benefits – Nutritional Impact

Each serving of mate contains the following vitamins and minerals:

•vitamin A

•vitamin C

•vitamins B1, B2, B3, and B5

•vitamin E

•calcium

•iron

•magnesium

•manganese

•phosphorus

•potassium

•selenium

•sodium

•sulfur

•zinc

This doesn’t include the beneficial phytonutrient tannins, trace minerals, chlorophyll, flavonols, polyphenols, and 15 amino acids.  The polyphenols in Yerba mate exhibit more antioxidant power than any other tea-based drink.  These potent antioxidant compounds protect the cardiovascular system as the theobromine in mate relaxes the blood vessels allowing for better flow.

Yerba Mate Benefits – Boost Your Immune System

Yerba mate is high in compounds called saponins which boost the immune system. These natural anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to be useful for treating bladder infections.  This compound is also helpful in modulating an overactive immune system.  Helpful in treating constipation, diarrhea, indigestion and parasites it’s natural antibacterial properties fight against E. coli, one of the most common causes of food poisoning.  It’s also useful for both preventing and treating bladder and kidney stones.

Yerba Mate Benefits

Yerba Mate Benefits – Enjoy A Cup Today

Traditionally, you would drink Yerba mate out of hallowed out gourds packed with the loose leaves. Leisurly you would sip the mate through a “bombilla”, a special metallic drinking straw.  The easiest way to get started is using Yerba mate tea bags and drinking it out of a regular mug.  Some find the taste earthy, like grass.  The tea can be diluted so that you can build your way up to a stronger cup. Add some honey to your mate to make the taste more palatable.

Yerba Mate Benefits – Resources

Be Brain Fit

Guayaki

Wikipedia – Yerba Mate

Kabocha Kale Salad with Sweet Potato Cakes and Avocado Lemon Mousse

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This Kabocha Kale Salad with Sweet Potato Cakes and Avocado Lemon Mousse is packed with real food nutrition to sustain you while delighting your senses.

Let’s be candid this recipe is highly involved. This is not the dish you would prepare if you are in a hurry to get something on the table for the family to eat. This is a meal that takes time. The pay off is the mingling of delightful flavors swirling over your tastebuds thanking you for the effort you put into preparing it.

The Sweet Potato Cakes freeze well. Prepare enough so that you can have them on hand for futures meals. Simply warm them in the oven or lightly fry them in a skillet and serve.

Kobcocha Kale Salad

Ingredients
1 small kabocha squash (2 pounds)
1-2 bunches of lacinto kale (dinosaur kale) 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 cup wheat berries or farro, cooked
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F.

With a vegetable peeler remove the outer rind of the kabocha. Cut the kabocha squash in half and scrape out the seeds. Cut the squash in 1-inch cubes, toss with a little olive oil and salt. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, turning at half way mark. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

Remove the thick stems from the kale and discard. Stack the leaves, roll them into a tight bundle, then slice thin. You should have about 4-5 cups of kale. Toss kale with a tablespoon of olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Set aside.

In a dry pan toast walnuts until fragrant, 7-8 minutes. Allow to cool.

Add farro, walnuts, cranberries and pumpkin seeds to the kale. Gently toss in the roasted kabocha until combine. Set aside.

Kabocha Kale Salad with Sweet Potato Cakes and Avocado Lemon Mousse

Sweet Potato Lentil Cakes

Ingredients
3 cups peeled and cubed sweet potatoes (2 medium sweet potatoes) 1 cup split red lentils, rinsed
2 cups water
1 cup rolled oats, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

black pepper, to taste
1 cup chopped lacinto kale (dinosaur kale) 1⁄2 cup shelled pumpkin seeds
1⁄4 cup shelled hemp seeds
1⁄4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F.

Steam the sweet potatoes in a steamer or roast in the stove for 30 minutes, until fork-tender. Set aside to cool.

In a small pan bring the rinsed lentils to a boil in 2 cups water. Reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until tender. Drain, set aside.

Add the sweet potatoes, lentils, 1⁄2 cup of the rolled oats, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, paprika, cumin, sea salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper to a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is combine. There should still be chunks in the sticky mixture.

Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add in the reserved 1⁄2 cup rolled oats, kale, pepitas, hemp seeds, cilantro, and chives. Gently stir to incorporate.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.

Form the mixture into patties. Place each on the baking sheet. Bake the patties for 30 minutes, flip them at the 15-minute mark.

Kabocha Kale Salad with Sweet Potato Cakes and Avocado Lemon Mousse

Avocado Lemon Mouse

Ingredients
1 avocado
1 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons sour cream (optional)Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth.

Plate a generous portion of the kabocha kale salad, add 2 patties to the plate. Serve with a the avocado lemon mouse. Enjoy!

Thai Coconut Lentil Soup

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Thailand is a food lovers paradise. Loving the seasoning of the country, I set out to reinvent non traditional Thai dishes to hold the warm aroma and unmistakable seasoning of the country. This Thai Coconut Lentil Soup is nutrient dense and will keep you feeling full for hours.

Thai Coconut Lentil Soup

What You’ll Need:
1 white onion
1 – 2 inch” piece ginger (2 tbsp minced)
1/2 red serrano pepper, or to taste
*1 tbsp coriander seed
*4 tsp whole cumin seeds
*1 1/2 cups red lentils
4 cups vegetable stock
1 (14 oz) can coconut milk
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Thai Coconut Lentil Soup

What You’ll Do:
To cook the soup, heat a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Toast the coriander and cumin for approximately 1-2 minutes, or until they just start to smoke and release their aroma.

Next, add the oil, followed by the onions and serrano pepper. Cook for approximately 5 to 7 minutes or until the onions are soft, translucent and starting to brown.

*Note: If desired, omit the oil and dry-sauté the onions with a bit of vegetable stock or water.

Thai Coconut Lentil Soup

Next, add the ginger, lentils, stock, coconut milk, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, turn the heat to low, cover and let cook for 40 minutes or until the lentils are totally soft and broken down. Stir occasionally to ensure the lentils are not sticking to the bottom of the pot. If needed, add more water or stock until you reach your desired consistency.

Meanwhile, zest and juice the lemons. Chop the cilantro and set aside. To finish the soup, add the lemon juice, lemon zest and cilantro. Serve into warmed bowls and top with diced avocado and more cilantro and/or chili flakes, if desired.

IMG_0621

 

Lentils are beneficial to the heart, circulation and stimulates the adrenal system. Lentils are a nutrient dense food. One cup of cooked lentils can provide us with the following nutrients daily.Thai Coconut Lentil Soup