Enjoying the health benefits of green tea and using it in your cooking

13. January 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Healthy Eating · Tags: ,

Of course when most people think about green tea they are referring to the liquid beverage. But in recent years I’ve been experimenting more and more with using green tea as a cooking ingredient. The results have been well worth it and I’m excited to share some quick tips to get you started.

But first let me cover the key health benefits that have been associated with green tea in summary form (learn more about green tea here):

The most important polyphenols in tea are known as catechins. These have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative functions.  It is thought that the action of these compounds on free radicals in our cellular structures may help inhibit the spread of certain types of cancer as well as lower cholesterol levels in the body. Their anti-inflammatory properties may also help in stabilizing blood pressure.

Another important chemical in tea is caffeine. It’s a myth that green tea does not contain caffeine.  It does; particularly if the tea leaves have been picked from the top shoots of the tea bush. However the caffeine in tea has a more moderate effect than the caffeine in coffee due to other compounds that limit the speed at which it is taken up in the blood.

The main vitamins associated with green tea include the vitamin B complex, vitamin C and vitamin E. These have been linked with a wide range of health benefits from lessening stress to building up resistance to mild infections.

When I cook with green tea I use it in 3 main forms.

  1. Used Tea Leaves – Leaves that have been steeped just once can be used in all sorts of ways. Add them to a pasta sauce, stir them into a risotto or sprinkle them into your scrambled eggs. They impart a fresh, grassy and vegetal aroma to your cooking.
  2. Powdered Tea – I love experimenting with powdered green tea in my cooking. The most famous type of powdered green tea is called “matcha” and is what is used in Japan for tea ceremonies. Selected tea leaves rich in chlorophyll are picked and carefully ground between 2 rotating stone plates to form a rich green powder. You can use powdered tea to make spreads, add it to sauces, use it in a pasta mix or add to bread.  The options are almost endless.
  3. The Tea Itself – Finally you can use cold or hot tea in your cooking. I don’t use it very often, just occasionally to boil fish but it’s something I need to experiment with more.  It’s quite traditional in Japan for example to simply pour tea over cooked rice.

Making Healthy Homemade Ice Cream

12. January 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Healthy Eating · Tags: , , , , , , ,

Ice cream is a wonderful treat but it’s not always the healthiest option. People who have to watch their cholesterol or fat intake usually have to stay away. But it’s important to note there is a tremendous difference between homemade ice cream and whatever you buy at your local store. Processed ice cream that comes in a carton often contains a lot of additives that you simply don’t need. All you have to do is take a look at the ingredients list and you’ll see chemicals that you might not even recognize. There is also a lot of fat content with commercial ice creams, and that’s quite often why they taste so great. If you want to be able to enjoy ice cream on a more regular basis without having to worry about your health, it might be time to try making it in your own home.

ice cream maker

The process is not as complicated as you might think, and any modern machine will be able to do the job quite easily. A current ice cream maker will blend your ingredients together into a smooth product that can be enjoyed right out of the bowl. And best of all, you’ll have full control over each and every ingredient which means you can keep an eye out for your health. If there’s an element you don’t want, you simply can leave it out of the overall recipe. This allows you to use items like low-fat milk in addition to adding healthier ingredients like fruit or unsalted nuts.

If you want to increase the health level of your ice cream even more, then make sure to pair it with something that strays away from traditional high-fat desserts. Instead of having it with chocolate cake, think about combining it with a fresh fruit salad or even a light crêpe topped with skimmed whip cream. With creativity and imagination, there’s no reason why you can’t adapt recipes so you can still enjoy the occasional treat. Being able to enjoy healthier alternatives allows you to maintain your diet while keeping your cravings down for indulgent treats. Homemade ice cream can be a valuable part of your healthy eating plan whenever you want to give yourself an occasional reward.