According to a recent study at the University of western Australia eating 9.5 of mushrooms a day can cut your risk of breast cancer by two thirds.
In another study in China found that women who increased their consumption of mushrooms with regular consumption of green tea saw an even greater benefit with further reduction in risk.
Further studies are needed but tests so far show the fungi has anti-tumour properties and can stimulate the immune system's defences.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Pepper Stir Fry
Pepper Stir FryWonderfully tasty for lunch this receipe is great for balancing Kapha - the Dosha which is most likely to carry extra pounds & igniting Agni - your digestive fire.
Ingredients (serves 4)
2 tbsp black bean sauce
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 medium peppers yellow, red & green - deseeded and roughly sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1cm piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
2 red onions, cut into thin wedges
Fresh coriander leaves, to garnish
Calories per serving: 113kcals
Method:
Mix the black bean sauce with the vinegar, honey and soy sauce, and set aside.
Put the oil in a wok or large frying pan over a high heat. When hot, add the peppers and stir-fry for a few minutes, until they just start to colour. Add the garlic, ginger and onions and stir-fry for a few more minutes, until the onions have softened a little.
Add the soy sauce and bean mixture to the wok and stir-fry for about 30 seconds. Check the seasoning, remove from the heat and serve, garnished with the coriander leaves.
2 tbsp black bean sauce
2 tbsp sherry vinegar
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 medium peppers yellow, red & green - deseeded and roughly sliced
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1cm piece fresh ginger, finely chopped
2 red onions, cut into thin wedges
Fresh coriander leaves, to garnish
Calories per serving: 113kcals
Method:
Mix the black bean sauce with the vinegar, honey and soy sauce, and set aside.
Put the oil in a wok or large frying pan over a high heat. When hot, add the peppers and stir-fry for a few minutes, until they just start to colour. Add the garlic, ginger and onions and stir-fry for a few more minutes, until the onions have softened a little.
Add the soy sauce and bean mixture to the wok and stir-fry for about 30 seconds. Check the seasoning, remove from the heat and serve, garnished with the coriander leaves.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Full Moon
Last night saw a beautiful full moon.
In Ayurvedic terms the full moon is Kapha therefore in the few days prior to and including the full moon it is not unusal to have feelings of tiredness - as some of the principles of Kapha are slow, heavy, solid & stable.
Kapha is the Earth principle and is comprised of Water & Earth. Think of the effect the moon has on our oceans. Considering that the human body is anywhere between 55% - 75% water depending on age and body size, is it any wonder that the lunar cycle effects us too!
In Ayurvedic terms the full moon is Kapha therefore in the few days prior to and including the full moon it is not unusal to have feelings of tiredness - as some of the principles of Kapha are slow, heavy, solid & stable.
Kapha is the Earth principle and is comprised of Water & Earth. Think of the effect the moon has on our oceans. Considering that the human body is anywhere between 55% - 75% water depending on age and body size, is it any wonder that the lunar cycle effects us too!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Spicy Pumpkin Soup
Spicy Pumpkin soup
IngredientsFor 4 persons:
- 25g of butter or ghee
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
- 400 g pumpkin flesh (e.g. garden pumpkin or Hokkaido),
- 1 potato, peeled and chopped
- 900 ml vegetable stock
- 75ml of cream
- 1/4 teaspoon curry powder,
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger
- pepper and salt,
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds,
- a few leaves of coriander.
Preparation
Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Peel, de-seed and dice the pumpkin. Melt the butter and sweat the onions and garlic in the oil, add the curry powder. Add a third of the pumpkin and gently sweat for a few minutes over a gentle heat. Add the rest of the pumpkin, the potatoes and the vegetable stock. Bring to the boil and cook for 15 minutes. Add the cream and liquidise the soup until it is smooth and velvety.
Season with salt and pepper. Add the pumpkin seeds and coriander leaves and serve.
IngredientsFor 4 persons:
- 25g of butter or ghee
- 1 onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and chopped
- 400 g pumpkin flesh (e.g. garden pumpkin or Hokkaido),
- 1 potato, peeled and chopped
- 900 ml vegetable stock
- 75ml of cream
- 1/4 teaspoon curry powder,
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger
- pepper and salt,
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds,
- a few leaves of coriander.
Preparation
Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Peel, de-seed and dice the pumpkin. Melt the butter and sweat the onions and garlic in the oil, add the curry powder. Add a third of the pumpkin and gently sweat for a few minutes over a gentle heat. Add the rest of the pumpkin, the potatoes and the vegetable stock. Bring to the boil and cook for 15 minutes. Add the cream and liquidise the soup until it is smooth and velvety.
Season with salt and pepper. Add the pumpkin seeds and coriander leaves and serve.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Releasing your inner Pharmacy for healing
Ayurveda:
David Simon: Connecting With the Five Basic Elements
I came across thess video clips on the Chopra centre website. Simple yet powerful principles
Video:Dr. David Simon, Medical Director of the Chopra Center, talks about the Ayurvedic principle of being present by connecting with the five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air and space.
http://www.chopra.com/simonvideo
David Simon: Connecting With the Five Basic Elements
I came across thess video clips on the Chopra centre website. Simple yet powerful principles
Video:Dr. David Simon, Medical Director of the Chopra Center, talks about the Ayurvedic principle of being present by connecting with the five basic elements: earth, water, fire, air and space.
http://www.chopra.com/simonvideo
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Pranayama
Believe it or not very few of us are breathing properly!
Place your hand on your belly and chest and take a few slow deep breaths.
If your tummy rises and falls with each inflow and out flow - well done - you're breathing properly. However if your chest rises and falls on inflow and out flow your breathing maybe too sallow.
Balanced Breathing exercises in Ayurveda are a gentle form of balancing breath - moving from one nostril to the other - a technique called Pranayama. Its purpose is to make the respiratory rhythm more regular, which in turn has a soothing effect on the entire nervous system*.
Learn this and other Breathing techniques to ease stress, calm the mind when faced in stressful situations or enliven the body when you need to feel more alert by booking one of our 1 2 1 consultations. Call 086 8269371 or info@perfecthealth.ie
*Italic text is an excerpt from Deepak's book Perfect Health. This and other Chopra Center books are available from Perfect Health Ireland - email info@perfecthealth.ie for more details
Place your hand on your belly and chest and take a few slow deep breaths.
If your tummy rises and falls with each inflow and out flow - well done - you're breathing properly. However if your chest rises and falls on inflow and out flow your breathing maybe too sallow.
Balanced Breathing exercises in Ayurveda are a gentle form of balancing breath - moving from one nostril to the other - a technique called Pranayama. Its purpose is to make the respiratory rhythm more regular, which in turn has a soothing effect on the entire nervous system*.
Learn this and other Breathing techniques to ease stress, calm the mind when faced in stressful situations or enliven the body when you need to feel more alert by booking one of our 1 2 1 consultations. Call 086 8269371 or info@perfecthealth.ie
*Italic text is an excerpt from Deepak's book Perfect Health. This and other Chopra Center books are available from Perfect Health Ireland - email info@perfecthealth.ie for more details
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Traditional French Toast
I've chosen this recipe from The Chopra center cookbook because it's a perfect breakfast for the Vata season, we are now entering. Vata is made up of the elements Space & Air to to help balance this, amongst other things are foods that are warm and grounding. You could top the toast off with some blueberres, cranberries or nuts to help you get your six tastes in - which is an important part of Ayurvedic nutrition
Traditional French Toast
2 eggs or 4 egg whites
1/2 cup of low fat milk, or soymilk
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ghee*
8 slices whole grain bread
In a medium sized bowl combine eggs, milk spices & vanilla. Whisk the mixture for 1 minute. Heat a griddle or pan to medium heat & place the ghee on the pan. Cut the bread slices & working one at a time dip the bread in the batter, covering both sides then place in the pan. Toast/fry the bread for 2 or 3 minutes each side until golden brown.
*Traditional Ayurvedic clarifed butter. For a link to the chopra center for instructions on how to make Ghee go to : http://www.chopra.com/ghee
Traditional French Toast
2 eggs or 4 egg whites
1/2 cup of low fat milk, or soymilk
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ghee*
8 slices whole grain bread
In a medium sized bowl combine eggs, milk spices & vanilla. Whisk the mixture for 1 minute. Heat a griddle or pan to medium heat & place the ghee on the pan. Cut the bread slices & working one at a time dip the bread in the batter, covering both sides then place in the pan. Toast/fry the bread for 2 or 3 minutes each side until golden brown.
*Traditional Ayurvedic clarifed butter. For a link to the chopra center for instructions on how to make Ghee go to : http://www.chopra.com/ghee
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