Make Activity Part Of Your Lifestyle...

New research at Oregon State University suggests the health benefits of small amounts of activity – even as small as one- and two-minute increments that add up to 30 minutes per day – can be just as beneficial as longer bouts of physical exercise achieved by a trip to the gym.

The nationally representative study of more than 6,000 American adults shows that an active lifestyle approach, as opposed to structured exercise, may be just as beneficial in improving health outcomes, including preventing metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Credit: Image courtesy of Oregon State University

The Importance Of Breaking A Sweat

There’s a great quote by Isak Dinesen that says “The cure for anything is salt water - tears, sweat, or the sea.”  I truly believe in it.  

If I’m in a bad mood, or I can’t seem to wrap my mind around something, breaking a sweat clears up my mind, getting rid of that negative feeling.
Going for a run, swimming my heart out, hopping on my bike, killing it in a Bikram Yoga class; whatever that might be, sweating always work (for me).
It’s not only about mental health though; sweating is a necessary part of helping maintain balance within your body. It also helps detoxification, strengthen the immune system, and boost mental awareness.
That’s why it’s so important to break a sweat from time to time, or better yet, daily.

The Best Millet Cakes

I bought a package of millet a while ago and it has been sitting in my kitchen cabinet for months. I really didn’t know what to do with it.
Thing is, millet is a healthy seed. Gluten-free, highly alkaline with lots of fiber, iron, B vitamins, and precious nutrients such as manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium.
I wanted so badly to include it in my diet but didn’t where to begin with.
Last week I finally muster up the courage and began experimenting. To make a long story short, I tried baking muffins with it but it was an utter disaster. I made some sort of porridge/oatmeal; it was so bad it nearly ruined my whole day. I made a bread with millet which was kind of good, nothing too exciting though. Yes, millet is a toughie to cook.
I was ready to throw in the towel but then I went to Cafe’ Ghia in Bushwick, Brooklyn (NYC) for brunch where I had some amazing millet cakes. I dissected them and tried to identify all the ingredients; made a mental note and went home experimenting.
It took me several attempts but in the end I aced it, or at least I think so.

Green Soup With Quinoa

I’m a big fan of one-bowl meals. If I were into politics, I would found a party that would stand for one-bowl meal. Protein, vegetables, and good fats combined altogether to make something healthy and delicious.
I don't think I'll ever get tired of one-bowl meals. Give me a bowl, a spoon, and a good mix of vegetables and protein, and it’s all going to be good.
That’s what this green soup with quinoa is all about.
Simple, quick and satisfying; a reliable go-to recipe at the end of a long day.
Lots of greens (spinach and kale to be precise), some potatoes, spices and lots of quinoa to bind everything together.

Vegan Vanilla Biscotti

This biscotti is what I like to think of as a Hole in One recipe. I know, golf jargon. There’s a valid justification for this though. You see, sometimes it takes several tries to come up with the recipe you’d hope for. But with these vegan vanilla biscotti? I got exactly what I wanted on the very first try. That’s why the use of the “Hole in One” expression seems appropriate. Golf jargon is justified.
Other times I’ve perfected a recipe only after so many attempts that I would have to define it as Batting Cage kind of recipe. You try, and try, and try and just when you're about to give up, something good comes out.

Greek Style Quinoa Patties With Tzatziki Sauce

I was waiting for the right time to experiment a new version of my “award-winning” quinoa patties. The NBA All-Star game provided the right excuse. I invited some of my friends over Sunday night to watch it and served these Greek style quinoa patties as finger-food. By the time the dunk-contest was on, there were none left.
If you think that game night is all about chicken wings, ribs and pizza you might want to think again.
The patties were epic. The tzatziki sauce the perfect companion.
Solid entertainment and good food is always a recipe for success.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza Marinara

There are many things I love about President’s Day. First of all, it is perhaps arguably the only Federal holiday free of convention. It arrives without any tradition attached to it: no fireworks, no barbecue, no parade, no turkey. There’s no pressure whatsoever to spend the day in a certain predetermined or, worst, prepackaged fashion.
Some may argue that this is the reason why it’s confusing: no ritual to follow, no fun.
Are you kidding me? Seriously, are you freaking kidding me?
You got 24 hours of free time that you can devote to yourself, and instead you’re rumbling in discontent about it?
Let me tell some of the things you can do with your free time.
First off, you can revise some facts about American history. It’s President day after all so let’s put it to good use. There are many fun anecdotes about Pres. Washington or Lincoln never mentioned during your high school history class but worth knowing.
You can also workout. Always a wise thing to do.
Finally, you can cook something healthy and delicious.
As for myself I did all of these three things. I studied, trained and cooked.
The most relevant activity was the latter. I baked my first ever paleo pizza. Now, that was quite something.
I wasn’t sure at all at the beginning but I have to admit that what came out of the oven was a straight passport to pizza-heaven. So surprisingly good.

One Simple Eating Rule

This is rule #19 in Michael Pollan’s book “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual”. One of my favorites.
It stresses out the importance of eating real food, not creations of the food-industrial complex. Real food doesn’t have a long ingredient list, isn’t advertised on national television, and doesn’t contain stuff you can’t even pronounce the name.
Part of being healthy means consciously choosing wisely what you put in your mouth. So do eat food that comes from plants not that is made in plants!

Coconut Oil: Good Or Bad?

Some readers have expressed concern over the use of coconut oil as fat component in few of the vegan recipes I’ve posted on the blog.

I was not surprised by these reactions, as coconut oil still pays the price of decades of unsubstantiated misinformation that has led to the popular belief that it’s one of the unhealthiest oils around. Jam-packed with “evil” saturated fats, causing artery-clogging, cholesterol-raising, and heart-attacks; almost poisonous for the human body.
Truth of the matter, coconut oil is not the Lex Luthor of fats portrayed. Recent studies point in the opposite direction; backtracking on the worst accusation against it and claiming that, after all, it might belong with the good guys.
Vegans, excited of this new found evidence, have made coconut oil a staple food in their diet. Relying on it as a sweet vegetable fat that is solid at room temperature and that - just like butter - can create sumptuous batters, flaky pie crusts and chewy cookies.
Even if coconut oil is enjoying a sparkly new makeover, the doubt still remain: coconut oil, friend or foe?

Suggested Reading: Folks, This Ain't Normal

I was drawn to this this book by its cover, which is so not how you should pick books, but there you have it.

I liked the image of the hen next to the big egg wrapping the quote “Folks This Ain’t Normal”, followed by the claim “A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World”
A hen, an egg, a farmer, happier people and a better world? I was totally sold.
The author’s name - Joel Salatin - didn’t ring a bell, but It didn’t matter.
After a matter of minutes, I was already flipping to the first page during my subway ride home.
The thing that surprised me as I was reading it, is that the cover is the least awesome thing about this book. I literally devoured the pages in a couple of days.