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Cooking, Recipe and Food Blog

Best Brain Boosting Foods

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We all know food nourishes the body, but there are also some foods that nourish the mind. Everyday, your brain requires up to 20% of the energy supplied by food. That means, the more you eat the more your brain can function. But , of course, there are certain types of food that can make your brain work better.

1. Coffee – The caffeine contained in coffee has been found to enhance short term memory and prevent problems caused by ageing. So, in the morning, don’t be afraid to reach for that cup of coffee. Just be sure not to overdo it as caffeine may mess with your sleeping patterns and this can wreak havoc on your noggin.

2. Blueberries – This delicious fruit is capable of a whole lot when it comes to your brain. For one, it can improve long term memory. The antioxidants found in blueberries are also said to prevent damage from free radicals.

3. Mixed nuts – Reach for that bag of mixed nuts next time you feel the need for  a brain boost. Nuts like walnuts, peanuts and almonds have enough brain building power to last you a lifetime. You get anything from memory enhancers, insomnia fighters and omega-3 fatty acids in one handful of mixed nuts.

4. Salmon and Mackerel – Speaking of Omega-3, salmon and mackerel pack a whole lot of those as well. These fatty acids are the basic building blocks of brain tissue so they are great for increasing your brain’s thinking capacity. Plus, salmon has been found to fight off Alzheimer’s and other age-related brain disorders.

So next time you feel sluggish and need to work on a term paper or business report, put down that energy drink and those sugary delights and grab a cup of coffee and some nuts. You need all the brain power you can get.

What (not) to eat: High Cholesterol Foods

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Cholesterol, the dreaded word for dieters and those with heart conditions. We’re often told to stay away from foods high in cholesterol in order to lose weight and keep our bodies healthy. Well, saying all cholesterol is bad would be wrong. LDL or low density lipoprotein is the ‘bad’ cholesterol which you should be avoiding while HDL or high density lipoprotein is believed to remove plaque in your arteries. So in short, aim for more HDL and keep LDL away from your diet.

Eggs vs Oatmeal

In deciding which breakfast food to wake up to, choose oatmeal over an omelette. Eggs can contain up to 200mg of cholesterol. This is bad considering the recommended daily dose of cholesterol should be 300mg/day. Oatmeal, on the other hand, is high in soluble fiber which lowers your LDL numbers by reducing the amount of cholesterol absorbed in your bloodstream.

Steak vs Fish

Eating just one 4-ounce portion of steak can take up to 22% of your daily cholesterol intake. Not to mention the large amounts of saturated fat in each bite. Instead of chowing down on some meat, choose a nice serving of fish. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids which are heart-healthy and can reduce your blood pressure and the risk of blood clots.

Walnuts vs Chips

When it comes to snacks, a handful of fries or chips doesn’t seem like a big deal. In truth, the amount of trans fat in certain snacks can turn them into high-cholesterol foods. Instead, grab a bad of walnuts or almonds. Walnuts have polyunsaturated fatty acids which are great in keeping blood vessels healthy. Just stay away from nuts coated with sugar or those that are salted.

Indulging in meat, eggs and chips may be alright once in a while but make it a point to balance out your diet with some heart-friendly dishes as well.

 

Easy Chocolate Fudge

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This is a very simple dish, which would prove very popular. It’s creamy, crumbly, and full of flavour.

Fudge

Try a range of different flavours, and you can also use a range of fillings – candied fruit, biscuits and dried fruit are all great ideas.

It’s easy to make, but takes a while to clean up from afterwards, so place a little water in the pan, and heat up slightly to dislodge the bits that won’t come off easily!

To make 20 Squares
Butter, for greasing
125ml Whole Milk
450g Sugar
1tbsp Cocoa Powder
25g Butter
Few Drops of Vanilla essence

1. Grease and line a baking tray about twenty centimetres square, and around three centimetres deep. Line with baking parchment, but don’t worry about being neat with it.
2. Put the Milk, Sugar, Cocoa, Butter and Vanilla into a heavy-bottom pan and cook over a low heat. After a few minutes the mixture should be bubbling slightly around the edges, use a spoon to drop a small amount into a bowl of cold water. If it stays in shape, and you can pick it up and squeeze between your fingers, it’ll be ready.
3. Remove from the Heat, and pour the Fudge into the baking tray. Let it stand for a few minutes, then add any decorations that you want – make sure you add them whilst it’s still hot, so that they’ll hold fast.
4. Leave to cool completely in a fridge, before cutting into cubes, and serving.

Photo Courtesy of: American Candy Stand Cupcakes (Aust.)

When life hands you pecans…

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Pecans

My very awesome stepdad sent us a huge bag of chopped pecans. While we’re actually quite happy to just munch on the creamily delicious nuts directly, the bag is so large- and our fear of the thought of rancid pecans so much- that we’ve been tossing them into nearly everything: salads, stir-fries, fudge brownies (mmm).

As I transferred yet another two cups of nuts to our nut jar tonight, though, I got to thinking: what about pecan butter?

It was a great idea. Into the mini food-processor (you can probably use a blender, too) went a cup of pecans. I gave it a quick whir, then drizzled in a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil while the machine ran. When it was nice and buttery, I added about two pinches of fleur de sel, gave it a couple more pulses, and transferred the delicious butter to an empty (clean!) peanut butter container.

My husband and I have been eating small teaspoons of it- but we’re saving some to have with toast for breakfast. If you haven’t tried pecan nut butter, you must. It’s absolutely divine.