Herbs: Both Food And Medicine
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Great Italian Food Starts With Fresh Herbs
Italians insist upon fresh ingredients in their food, and their herbs are no exception. There are a variety of fresh herbs common in Italian cooking. Most people are familiar with the little bottles of dried herbs from the grocery store, but if you haven’t prepared food with fresh herbs, you really need to give it a try.
What’s the distinction between an herb and a spice?
Spices are made from the seeds, root, fruit or barks of aromatic plants, while the herbs primarily consist of the leaves and stems. Herb plants contain oils which are very fragrant and add the distinctive aroma and flavor that Italian food is known for. A few of the most common herbs are basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme.
Basil is a member of the mint family, and like all mint herbs, it is extremely fragrant when picked fresh. Basil leaves blacken when exposed to metal, therefore it is common in Italy to tear the leaves by hand before throwing the basil into a sauce or onto a dish. Basil is the primary herb for the famous pesto sauce.
Oregano is another popular herb in both Italian and Greek food. Most people are familiar with this herb in tomato based pasta sauces and with meats.
Italian Parsley, also known as flat-leaf parsley, is readily available in most grocery stores and is easy to distinguish it from the curly variety frequently used as a garnish. Italians favor this parsley for cooking because it has a much better flavor, while the curlier variety is best saved for garnishing your dish.
Rosemary is another widely available herb and resembles a little branch from an evergreen tree. This is one of the most fragrant of all the fresh herbs and it will retain its flavor and aroma when dried. It’s excellent with vegetables and is often cooked into the dough of breads like focaccia.
Sage has long, broad leaves and is the herb which flavors the traditional Italian Saltimbocca dish. Sage is also very fragrant so be sure you don’t use too much and overwhelm your meal.
Thyme is another herb of the mint family, but in contrast to the other mints, it has tiny leaves that can easily be thrown whole into your sauce or dish. I use this herb frequently because its mild flavor goes well with everything and won’t overshadow the rest of your dish.
There are some basic rules for cooking with fresh herbs. Fresh herbs are more delicate than dried and can lose some of their flavor when cooked too long. For slow cooked sauces and meats, you can add the fresh herbs at the last minute keeping their flavors and aromas intact. On the other hand, the oils in dried herbs are concentrated requiring a smaller amount of than fresh herbs in your recipes. A good general rule of thumb is to use one tablespoon of fresh herbs for every 1 teaspoon of dried herbs needed in a dish. But remember, cooking is an art and you can use as much or as little as you like.
The next time you want to spruce up an everyday meal, throw in some fresh Italian herbs.
Joy Harrison is an experienced home cook and cooking instructor. She loves to find easy ways to prepare great home cooked meals in today’s busy world. To learn more visit her site at http://Easy Italian Cooking.
Wanting To Lose Weight, Why Not Go Go Herbal
These days, there is a great deal of pressure for overweight people aroundthe world to lose those excess pounds. Being closer to their ideal weight would not only lead them to have a healthier lifestyle but it will also literally lighten their load, and improve their overall well-being.
There is a long list of dieting options available. There are exercise programs, exercise machines, dietary supplements, dietary food and drinks, diet pills – there are even soaps which claim to help you lose pounds while you bathe.
One other available option to shed off those unwanted pounds is to go herbal.
Herbal weight loss products have been in great demand for people who want to lose weight the natural way. However, when you take herbal supplements to lose weight, you would have to wait for a longer time for the results because of the more subtle effects of medicines which came from plants and natural herbs.
Here are some herbal weight loss options that you might want to consider:
1. Herbal weight loss products
There are a lot of herbal weight loss products available in the market now. You can check out the Internet and you will find a lot of herbal weight loss pills and products.
Be careful, however, as there are some products which claim to be safe and natural because they are herbal, but some actually have side effects because of non-extensive research on the effects of these products.
Here are some ingredients and chemicals which make up some herbal weight loss products that you should watch out for, as they might have harmful effects to your health:
> Senna. This is an herbal laxative. Senna is a main ingredient in weight loss teas, and it works by stimulation the colon. The downside effect of this herb is dehydration. It can also lead to colon problems and can become addictive. Some people, when addicted, are unable to perform bowel movements without it, so watch out.
> Chromium picolinate. This is a synthetic compound found in herbal weight loss products. Chromium is a nutrient which helps regulate blood-sugar level. However, this ingredient, when taken in high doses, may cause damage in the chromosomes. It can also lead to dehydration.
> St. John’s wort. This supplement increases the production of a chemical in the brain. If not used properly, it may cause eye and skin sensitivity, mild gastrointestinal distress, fatigue and itching.
Although a lot of herbal products claim to be safe and natural, it is better to scrutinize the ingredients and research about the effects of the product itself before going for these herbal dietary pills.
2. Organic food.
Around the world organic food has found its way to more homes and restaurants. Organic food devotees believe that consuming organic goodies help their bodies as well as the environment.
A person who buys organically raised eggs and vegetables claim to be healthier, and they are not spending money on doctors and prescriptions as these keep them healthier and away from the hospital. This could also be an option for weight watchers, as organic food is known to be kinder to your weight than chemically-processed food products.
3. Green Tea.
Studies show that intake of green tea, or green tea extracts burns extra calories. Also, green tea with caffeine can increase fat burning by up to 40% thereby reducing fat.
This is one good option for those who want to lose weight. In a study done, people who took green tea were found to lose 2 to 3 times more weight than those who did not drink green tea.
These results show that green tea is a natural product for the treatment of obesity. Thus, it also makes for a healthier dietary option, not to mention the good effects that it has on the body as compared to caffeine. A cup of tea gives an emmediate energy lift without the side effects of caffeine.
3. Caffeine.
Coffee provides an energy boost to increase fat burning. Caffeine also provides a likelihood to be active, which in turn increases your rate of calorie burn.
4. Immortality Herb
This herb, whose scientific name is Gymnostemna Pentaphyllum, is known to have the following benefits:
> increases healthy blood flow
> reduces artery blocks
> aids healthy blood pressure
> increases the rate of fat burning
5. Apple Cider Vinegar
There are pills and food supplements whose main ingredient is apple cider vinegar. Here are the benefits of taking this herbal option:
> weight loss
> improved cholesterol level
> improved high blood pressure
> helps prevent rheumatoid arthritis
OTC and RX Drugs
October 1, 2009 by admin
Filed under herbal news
Before a botanical product is marketed as a drug with a claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent a disease, it must first be approved by the FDA. The revision of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1962 required all drugs marketed after that time to be proven both safe and effective. This revision presented the FDA with the challenge of updating its approval of hundreds of drugs already on the market that had not been proven effective
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OTC and RX Drugs
OTC and RX Drugs
October 1, 2009 by admin
Filed under herbal news
Before a botanical product is marketed as a drug with a claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent a disease, it must first be approved by the FDA. The revision of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act in 1962 required all drugs marketed after that time to be proven both safe and effective.
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OTC and RX Drugs
The Human Condition : Will the Herbal-Cigarette Ban Make a Quitter …
September 26, 2009 by admin
Filed under herbal news
Photo courtesy of AMCTV.com On Tuesday, the Food and Drug Administration began enforcing a ban on flavored-cigarette sales in the US . The ban, part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, puts the kibosh on selling, …
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The Human Condition : Will the Herbal-Cigarette Ban Make a Quitter …
Losing Weight Is Easy
September 25, 2009 by admin
Filed under herbal news
Losing weight is easy ! How? Just cut off your daily intake of high calorie food and back it up with more and more exercise. These simple steps are the answers of almost all people’s question on how to lose weight without extensive diets.
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Losing Weight Is Easy
10 Easy Steps to Detoxify Your Body and Improve Your Health
September 24, 2009 by admin
Filed under herbal news
Health Remedies asked: 10 Easy Steps to Detoxify Your Body and Improve Your Health The environment we live in is full of toxins. We inhale them in the air we breathe, ingest them with our food and water, and absorb them through the pores in our skin. Even the personal care products and cleaning supplies that we take for granted are full of poisons that are harmful to our bodies.
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10 Easy Steps to Detoxify Your Body and Improve Your Health
Common Rashes – Food Allergies?
September 9, 2009 by admin
Filed under herbal news
Just thinking of rashes can make you feel itchy all over.
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Common Rashes – Food Allergies?
Arbonne Product Reviews
September 9, 2009 by admin
Filed under herbal news
Review of Arbonne Products Arbonne products have been created and sold since 1980.
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Arbonne Product Reviews