The Food Remedy, Health benefits of Cucumber

Cucumber 

Cucumbers are one of the most cultivated vegetables in the world and known to be one of the best foods for your body's overall health.  They have many benefits from assisting you digestive system, to easing acid reflux and research also suggests that it may help prevent some types of cancers.

Digestive Health

Cucumber skins contain insoluble fiber, which helps add bulk to your stool and helps food to move through your digestive tract more quickly for healthy elimination.

Cancers 

Cucumber contain three lignans - lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These three lignans have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of several cancer types, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer. They also contain phytonutrients called cucurbitacins, which research has found could possess anti-cancer properties

Diabetes

Cucumber juice contains a hormone which is needed by the cells of the pancreas for producing insulin which is believed to be beneficial to diabetic patients.

Heart health

Cucumber contain plant sterols which are well documented for there ability in helping reduce cholesterol levels. They also contain a lot of potassium, magnesium and fibre, that work together to help regulating blood pressure. This makes cucumbers good for treating both low blood pressure and high blood pressure.

Stress

Cucumbers contain multiple B vitamins, are known to help ease feelings of anxiety and helping ease some of the damaging effects of stress.

Cucumbers are great in salad, in stir fries or eaten with dips as a nutritious snack.

Nutty Pesto

Do you want to boost your immune system? Boost your metabolism? Eat to be happy? Then this pesto is just what you need! Rich in essential fatty acids, protein and antioxidants and it also contains plenty of immune boosting antioxidants. 2 Tbsp of walnuts 2 Tbsp of pine nuts 40g (1/4 cup) grated Parmesan cheese 25g (1/2 cup) fresh basil 2 garlic cloves 115ml (1/2 cup) extra virgin olive oil Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until a smooth pesto paste.

Pesto doesn't have to be teamed with pasta! I love pesto but to be honest im not a massive fan of pasta, so here are 5 way I enjoy pesto without pasta. 1. Mix It Into Dips Mix a little pesto in with live natural yogurt or sour cream, 2. Drizzle over salads Thinned with a little more oil and drizzle over for summer salads. 3. Use on bread instead of butter Using pesto instead of butter an entirely different layer of flavor to sandwiches or toast! 4. Dress vegetables Instead of butter or gravy, use a tablespoon of pesto to garnish your vegetables. 5. Smear on chicken Pop in the oven and bake for a delicious moist chicken!

Spinach and Feta Frittata

Ingredients

• 200g of fresh tomatoes 
• 1 garlic clove chopped
• tablespoon of Coconut butter
• 250g bag of spinach
• 6 large organic eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 100g feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons of  grated parmesan
• to taste salt & pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 180c or 170 if its a fan oven
2. Chop the tomatoes, put them in a non stick frying pan with a little coconut butter, the chopped garlic, and sprinkle a little salt and pepper. Turn the heat on to medium-high and saute add the spinach and cook until its wilted.
3. Grease a pie dish with the remaining coconut butter.
4. Spread the spinach and tomatoes on the bottom of the pie dish, then crumble half the feta over the top.
5. In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs until smooth.
6. Add the milk, Parmesan, and a small sprinkle of pepper whisk together.Pour this mixture into the pie dish over the spinach, tomatoes and feta.
7. Sprinkle the remaining feta cheese over top.
8. Place the frittata into the preheated oven and bake until it is golden brown on top and the center is solid. Every oven is different but this should take between 45 minutes and an hour. Slice and serve! 

Health Benefits

Spinach contains phyto chemicals which have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous. It also contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate, manganese, magnesium, iron and vitamin B2.

Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin A, B,C, folate, they help to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract and help dissolve urea preventing the formation of uric acid crystals! In 2006 an article published in the  "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that eating cooked tomatoes with a small amount of food that contains fat, such as olive oil or cheese helps your body absorb the lycopene and antioxidants in cooked tomatoes.

Garlic is a anti-coagulant and it also helps to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, It also has anti bacterial and anti fungal properties.

Eggs yolks are a dietary sources of the B-complex vitamin choline, which is associated with better neurological function and reduced inflammation