Sweet Tomatoes

The tomato is originally a South American plant.  It has been said that fresh tomatoes from your garden are far superior to any that you would buy in the supermarket.  And organically grown tomatoes are definitely from an entirely different universe than non-organic unnatural tomatoes.

But all in all, tomatoes have been a favorite vegetable for centuries.  We rarely find an individual who "doesn't like tomatoes."

There are many different types of tomatoes.  This includes different varieties of sweet tomatoes.

An average red tomato contains about 22 calories, no fat, and no cholesterol.  It contains potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and small amounts of calcium and iron.

Tomatoes are used in many ways.  Tomato juice, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, pizza, and Spanish Rice are a few examples of how tomatoes can be cooked and prepared with other foods.

Tomatoes are also a chef's favorite for other reasons.  And that is the color.  Adding a few tomatoes to a salad or other dish can give it the sparkle and color it needs to turn it from a bland-looking meal into one that is aesthetic and appealing.

If you are attempting to use low calorie recipes, the tomato can become one of your best friends.  It has low calories, high nutrition (Vitamin C has even been said to assist the body in burning fat), and it is the perfect addition to many dishes - which adds color, flavor, and appeal.

Here are some of the uses of tomatoes in:

1. Soups.  Warm tomato soup, or any soup with tomato added to it, can be comforting and fulfilling on a cold day.  And in the summer, cold tomato soups with a few fresh herbs sprinkled on top are a favorite.

2.  Salads.  Almost every common garden salad has tomatoes in it. 

One example is the use of tomatoes in a low calorie recipe for tuna salad, where quarters of tomatoes are around in a circular form around the salad, strips of pepper and rings of onion are placed in the center, the the arrangement is topped with tuna and a special dressing.

3. Tomatoes can be hollowed out and filled with couscous, bean salad, hummus - the possibilities are endless on how one can use tomatoes in this way to create healthy and inviting dishes.

4.  Tomatoes can be strung on a skewer along with other vegetables in vegetarian or non-vegetarian kebabs.

5.  A variety of appetizers can be made with tomatoes.

6.  Tomatoes can be baked with meats and casseroles.

All and all, tomatoes are a colorful and nutritious addition to any diet that will assist in weight loss, health, appearance, and well-being.

- by Anna Stone

Find more low calorie recipes and vegetarian salad recipes

Pumpkin Seeds for Low Calorie Recipes

Pumpkin seeds, also called "pepitas," are small, flat, and usually dark green seeds. They are sometimes surrounded by a yellow/white husk, depending on what variety of pumpkin they are from.

They are probably most well known in their roasted form, but also come as an ingredient to many other foods and dishes, such as pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, etc. sometimes pumpkin seeds are also sprinkled over salads or other dishes in order to add nutrients and flavor. They are especially well-known as ingredients of traditional Mexican dishes.

They are a favorite ingredient in Low Calorie Recipes and are often used in weightloss diets.

There are many varieties of pumpkins, and they produce seeds with or without shells.

Pumpkin seeds have a chewy texture and a sweetish nutty flavor.

While roasted pumpkins seeds are probably best known as the seasonal Halloween treat, there is absolutely no reason not to eat them throughout the year.

Pumpkin seeds provide a wide range of necessary daily nutrients, such as fibers, healthy fats and protein. They are also a great source of minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron and copper.

In as little as a handful of pumpkin seeds, you will receive about half of the daily recommended intake of magnesium, half of the daily recommended intake of manganese, about a quarter of the recommended daily intake of copper and iron, and about a fifth of the recommended daily intake of protein and zinc.

Of course these are not all that is required for a healthy balanced diet. But as a between-meals healthy snack, pumpkin seeds are one of the true treasures that mother nature has to offer.

Other Beneficial Qualities of Pumpkin Seeds:

Pumpkin seeds can also be beneficial for people with high cholesterol levels. Pumpkin seeds are rich in phytosterols (compounds found in plants similar to cholesterol and active in reducing cholesterol when present in a large quantities), and as such could be part of a low cholesterol diet.

Pumpkin also improve the immune system and lower the risks of certain cancers.

Pumpkin seeds should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This way, they will maintain their freshness for the longest possible time. Although still edible they start to loose their freshness after about 2 months. If the seeds start to smell musty or rancid they should not be consumed.

Preparing Your Own Pumpkin Seeds:

While pumpkin seeds can be bought almost anywhere, it is also possible to make your own.

- Remove the seeds from inside the pumpkin

- Spread them out on a tray, and let them dry overnight.

- Then roast them at a low temperature (70 Celsius/160-170) Fahrenheit for about 15 to 20 minutes. Roasting them for a short period at a low temperature preserves valuable healthy oils that will be lost if you roast them at higher temperatures. One can of course also add spices or other flavorings while roasting them, should one wish to do so.

Tips on How to Preserve Pumpkin Seeds:

- Add a pumpkin seeds to mixed salads (they go best with green salads, but others are not ruled out).

- Pumpkin seeds can also be ground up and added to salad dressings.

- I personally like to add a few pumpkin seeds to stir-fry vegetable dishes.

- You can add pumpkin seeds to fruit and nut mixes (trail mix).

- They can be added to corn flakes or other cereals (hot or cold).

- When baking bread, they can be added to the dough.

- Add them to your oatmeal and raisin cookie recipes or to your granola recipe.

Pumpkin seeds overall can be very beneficial to your health, weightloss, and wellbeing.

Find more Vegetarian and Low Calorie Recipes and information on Low Calorie Foods.

Low Calorie Recipes and Diets: What You Should Eat

Low Calorie Recipes and Vegetarian Foods: What to Eat

Anyone using low calorie recipes or following a low calorie (or vegetarian) diet should ensure to get sufficient quantities of the right kinds of vegetarian foods.

It is a falsehood that "the more you eat, the more you weigh."  There are certain foods and nutrients that are essential to any diet, and the lack of these can cause weight gain!  It can also cause other trouble such as bad appearance, skin problems, fatigue, body odor, illness, and any other cosmetic or health difficulty you could imagine.

The following are some of the essential ingredients to any diet, and that includes weight-loss diets.

Protein:

- It is a natural hunger suppressor. 
- It benefits the body's metabolism (the rate at which food and calories are burned)
- It repairs and builds.  It helps tissue to build and assists in healing.  So, for example, if you want a good complexion, don't try to live without protein!

Examples of vegetarian foods with protein:

- Beans (mixed with rice)
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Soy (this is also a bean but I mention it separately as there are so many products made from soy - tofu, soy milk, soy "chease," meat alternatives from soy, etc.)

Fiber

Fiber is the part of your food which does not stay in your body put passes through.  It is those little tiny strings in your food.  A good example of fiber is those celery strings that get caught in your teeth.  But a much finer form of fiber is found in other foods as well. 

Fiber is found in vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, etc.  (If you are British, you call it "fibre!")

Eating a sufficient quantity of fiber helps you avoid overeating, as you get "full" faster.  If you don't get enough fiber, your stomach may still feel somewhat empty even after you have had plenty of calories.

Fiber also helps the body digest food and push out the waste products that it doesn't need.  If you get constipated, it is likely that you have a lack of fiber.  When the body can't push out the waste products, it builds up toxins.  These toxins make you ill, give you acne, give you body odor, make you gain weight, etc.

Oils and Fats

You may have seen ads promoting "fat free" products.  This doesn't mean that fat is bad.  In fact, a lack of proper fats can even cause weight gain!

The important thing is to get the right kinds of fats.  Look for raw, unprocessed vegetarian fats.  Some examples of fats that have been known for their health benefits (and weight loss benefits) are raw virgin olive oil, the oils contained in raw nuts and seeds, the oils in raw avocados, coconut oil, and canola oil - to name a few. 

Remember not to use oils or fats that have gone rancid or have been processed!

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables and fruits have a high fiber content and are low in calories.  They fill the stomach easily, while giving energy, vitamins, and nutrients to the body - but they do not give an excess in calories.  The energy they supply helps one to become more active and this aids in burning off excess weight.

They are full of vitamins which promote good appearance, well being, energy, and health. 

Vitamin A gives good vision, healthy skin, and healthy hair.  It helps to maintain the tissues in your body (such as skin, teeth, bones, and eyes). 

Vitamin A is found in the following vegetables:

Lettuce
Asparagus
Avocados
Squash
Tomatoes
Broccoli
carrots
Summer Squash
Green Pepper
Kale
Sweet potato
Peas

Vitamin A is contained in the following fruits and vegetables:

Oranges
Blackberries
watermelons
Peaches
Kiwis
Cantaloupes. 

Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitas)
Chestnuts
Pistachios
Pecans
Pine nuts
Sunflower Seeds
Almonds
Hazelnuts

Vitamin C is great for the immune system - the functions of the body which keep you from getting ill or assist you when you are ill.  It helps to heal wounds and to keep the skin healthy.  Vitamin C is a substance that your body can not manufacture.  It needs to be consumed daily. 

Vitamin C can be found in the following fruits and vegetables:

Apples
Orange
Blackberries
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Lemon
Lime
Peach
Kiwi
Strawberry
Bananas
Grapes
Tomatoes
Asparagus
Avocado
Broccoli
Artichoke
Carrots
Lima Beans
Mushrooms
Onions
Cucumber
Peas
Green Pepper
Kale
Potatoes
Spinach
Squash - summer
Squash - winter
Cauliflower
Corn
Sweet potato

Vitamin E helps repair the skin, helps new blood cells to grow, and is considered to be an anti-aging supplement.

Vitamin E is contained in the following vegetables and fruits:

Blackberries
Bananas
Apples
Kiwi
Green Leafy Vegetables

It is also contained in the following nuts:

Almonds
Sunflower Seeds
Pine Nuts/Pignolias
Peanuts
Brazil Nuts

Vitamin K helps the blood to clot (so you don't bleed to death in an injury).  It also helps with the health of your bones. 

Vitamin K is found in the following vegetables:

spinach
Broccoli
Kale
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables

It is found in the following nuts:

Pine Nuts (Pignolias)
Cashews
Chestnuts
Hazelnuts

The B Vitamins are a whole family of vitamins.  They produce energy, help the body to grow, help create healthy skin and nerves, help to the body's metabolism, help the body form hormones, help the immune system, and more.

Some fruits and vegetables with B vitamins are the following:

Artichoke
Asparagus
Avocado
Bananas
Blackberries
Broccoli
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Cauliflower
Corn
Green Pepper
Kale
Kiwi
Lima Beans
Mushrooms
Onions
Orange
Peaches
Peas
Potatoes
Spinach
Squash - summer
Squash - winter
Strawberry
Sweet potato
Tomatoes
Watermelon

The following nuts and seeds contain B Vitamins:

Almonds
Brazil Nuts
Cashews
Chestnuts
Filberts/Hazelnuts
Macadamias
Peanuts
Pecans
Pine Nuts/Pignolias
Pistachios
Pumpkin Seeds
Sunflower Seeds
Walnuts

Summary

What should you do now?  Find some great low calorie and vegetarian recipes.  Start creating.  Don't stick to just the same vegetables or fruits every day - get a good variety so that your body gets all the nutrients it needs. 

Your long term health, your appearance, and your happiness can be greatly benefited by getting sufficient quantities of these foods.

Further information can be found at Vegetarian and Low Calorie Recipes

Good luck to you!
 

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil and Weight Loss – Is There Such Thing as Good Fat?

Contrary to popular beliefs, there are good fats which help the body lose weight. Coconut oil contains some of these “good fats.” A lack of sufficient good fats can contribute to weight gain and obesity. The types of fats contained in coconut oil are directly sent to the liver and transformed into energy. These fats also speed up the body's metabolism and thus help it to burn body fat more quickly.

Coconut Oil as a Substitute for Butter or Margerine

Coconut oil is solid at room temperature (unless you are in a very hot climate). It can thus be used as a full or partial replacement for other less healthy solid fats, such as margarine or butter. It does not have to go through the unnatural (and dangerous) methods which are used to make other oils into solids. It has a melting point of 76 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also a healthy solution for vegans or vegetarians who are looking for butter substitutes but who want to avoid unhealthy alternatives like margarine.

Coconut Oil for Frying

Coconut oil can be heated without undergoing the same unhealthy changes that other oils go through when they are heated. It is thus very good for healthy frying or other high-heat cooking.

Coconut Oil and Rancidity

Coconut oil has a long shelf-life. It does not go rancid quickly. Even after one year at room-temperature, coconut oil shows no signs of rancidity.

People Who Use Coconut Oil

People who live in tropical climates and who consume large amounts of coconut oil in their diets, have less heart disease, have less cancer, have fewer colon problems, and are generally healthier. Examples of such are peoples of the Yucatan and of Melanesia.

Coconut Oil for Immunity, Anti-Aging, and Losing Weight

Coconut oil stimulates the thyroid, which is the most important gland in your body’s immune system. This assists in weight loss, helps to lower levels of harmful cholesterol, helps the body to produce anti-aging hormones, and helps prevent illness.

In the 1940's, some farmers tried to fatten their animals by feeding them coconut oil. But instead, the animals became leaner and more active.

Coconut oil is said to help prevent cancer, obesity, heart disease, and senility.

Coconut oil contains substances which help the body to fight harmful bacteria and viruses. This helps prevent illness and infection in the body.

Coconut Oil to Combat Wrinkles

Coconut oil (consumed internally and also applied directly to the skin) also has anti-wrinkle effects and helps to maintain or create young-looking skin. It helps keep connective tissues strong and reduces fine lines. It helps the skin maintain its elasticity. It also assists your skin to exfoliate outer dead cells and tissues. It can be used as a make-up remover and for shaving.

Summary

For thousands of years, coconut oil was known and used for its health benefits and therapeutic properties. In the late 1900’s, it was made unpopular by public-relations campaigns against its use. The sources of these campaigns may have been connected with manufacturers of competing products.

Not all coconut oil is the same. Coconut oil which has been hydrogenated or processed can be harmful to the body. It's best to use raw, virgin, organic coconut oil. Don't use bleached, deodorized, hydrogenated, heat-processed, or impure coconuts oils.

How much coconut oil should one consume in a day? A recommended therapeutic amount is three to four tablespoons per day.

In baking, coconut oil can replace solid fats such as shortenings. When making pastries, you can try substituting coconut oil for 50% of whichever fats (such as butter) are required by your recipe. Coconut oil can also used as a substitute for butter on bread, pasta, popcorn or hot vegetables. You can try using coconut oil when frying vegetables, eggs, fish, etc.

- by Anna Stone

For more information see Vegetarian Foods Low Calorie Foods or Low Calorie Vegetarian Recipes

(The statements in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The article is not intended to prescribe for, to diagnose, to treat, to claim to prevent, to mitigate, or to cure any human disease. The information in this article is neither adopted nor endorsed by this website. It is provided for general informational purposes.)

Foods that Burn Fat

Fat Burning Foods

Some research has indicated that eating certain foods can help you to burn fat.

How does this work?

Food that has a high amount of Vitamin C helps you to burn fat, because the vitamin C dilutes the fat and makes it easier for it to pass through the system.

Another substance, called pectin, is found in apples and other fresh fruits.  It has been said that pectin can limit the amount of fat which is absorbed by the cells.  It also makes the cells release fat desposits.

Hot pepper, as is found in spicy food, speeds up the metabolism of the body so that it burns calories faster.

Soy contains chemicals which breaks down fat and helps to prevent if from depositing in the body.

Garlic also assists the cells to get rid of fat.

Tea is considered to be a fat burning drink.  Particularly, Green Teas, and Oolong (Wu Long) Teas.  Yerba Mate tea is known to suppress appetite and to supply vital nutrients to the body.  These nutrients can satisfy some of the body's nutritional needs, making less food necessary and helping a person to become less hungry.

Water is also considered to be a fat burner!  How?  It suppresses the appetite and flushes out toxins and excess sodium (which are both contributive factors of weight-gain).

In some cases, water was found to increase the body's metabolism.

Eating protein can help you burn fat.  Why?  One of the reasons is that it requires a lot of energy to digest protein and the body burns calories to get that energy.  Digesting fats or carbohydrates, on the other hand, requires very little energy.

But eating protein also helps satisfy one of your body's principal needs, and reduces cravings for unhealthy foods.

It is considered that more calories are required to digest some foods than there are calories in the foods themselves.  These foods are called "Catabolic Foods."

If you are on a weight-loss diet, it is recommended that you consume at least 10 servings of catabolic foods each day, in addition to proteins and other nutritional foods.

The following are some of the vegetarian fat burning foods:

Fruits:

Black/Blueberries
Grapefruit
Oranges
Plums
Strawberries
Lemons
Limes
Raspberries
Pineapple
Cantaloupe
Oranges
Watermelon
Pears-Bartlett

Vegetables:

Artichokes
Parsley leaves
Asparagus
Cucumbers
Peppers
Tomato
Broccoli
Eggplant
Celery
Sweet Potato
Radishes
Zucchini
Brussels Sprouts
Leeks - cooked
Spinach
Carrots
Lettuce

Adding these foods to your daily diet can help you live a healthier, happier life and to have a better appearance and morale.

- Anna Stone

At Low Calorie and Vegetarian Recipes you can find more information on low calorie foods and vegetarian foods.