Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Middle Eastern Raw Sesame Seed Tahini Salad Dip

tahiniwithcreditTahini is a very nourishing Middle Eastern kitchen staple - and is great for people that push to stay with a raw food diet. Produced out of sesame seeds, tahini is an excellent source of calcium, complete protein, vitamins B (for your brain) and E (for your skin cells), and is an outstanding supply of healthy fats.

Sesame seeds are additionally a excellent source of the amino acid Methionine, which is a crucial assistant to liver cleansing and helps with the assimilation of various other vital amino acids. Even though the calorie volume of tahini is to some extent elevated as a result of the richness of oil in the sesame seeds, the good news is that the vast majority of fats in tahini are unsaturated instead of saturated. In this specific appetizing Middle Eastern dip, you'll additionally reap the benefits of further components like garlic (exceptional for the immune system), lemon (vitamin C), soya low fat yogurt (some more protein), and extra virgin olive oil (yet an extra source of vitamin E to maintain your skin in a wonderful shape).

The spices found in this dip also give it a really unique Middle Eastern flavor - particularly the powdered cumin, which also serves as an outstanding tonifier for an a sore belly and IBS. The fantastic thing about this salad dip is how it might be employed as a spread (on sun-dried crackers for instance) or as a condiment with chopped veggies -- and stays fresh for up to 2 weeks in food container in the refrigerator.

For the sake of variation, you can also mix with chopped green peppers, minced aubergine flesh, cut dill or parsley. Also, it requires only minutes to prepare!

Ingredients:

  • 250g tahini
  • 2 tbs balsamic vinegar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1 lemon, squeezed
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 150g plain soya yogurt (or extra 1/2 cup of water)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • hot tabasco sauce (few drops)
  • olive oil (a drizzle)
  • parsley stems (garnish)

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine tahini, water (gradually), vinegar, and lemon juice. Stir in slowly until texture is smooth.

2. Add crushed garlic cloves and stir in well. Leave for 10 minutes until flavor seeps in.

3. Stir in pepper, cumin powder, and salt.

4. Add soya yogurt, and stir (soya yogurt in this recipe is optional - it can be substituted with an extra 1/2 cup of water in step 1).

5. Carefully add a few drops of hot tabasco sauce (regular chilli sauce will also do). Stir well until red color is blended.

6. Drizzle with olive oil, and add some parsley stems to garnish. Serve chilled.

Want to use this recipe on your website, newsletter, ezine or other publication? Feel free, but be sure to include the following notation: Recipe and photos by Magda Elsehrawi for http://rawfoodhealthwatch.com/.

In case you missed it... see our latest raw vegan recipes:

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Retrieving The Keys To Wellness And Longer Life Using Raw Foods

A great article I found that I was given permission to re-publish...

The following information is for education only and is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. It is valuable to seek the advice of an alternative health care professional before making any changes. The statements below have not been evaluated by the FDA (or your country's equivalent). Any products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Human beings are naturally built to consume raw meals, the very same way they have done since prehistoric times before fire was used as a way to assist in food processing. Raw food consumption allows for a deeper link with Mother Nature and all the benefits she may provide in the shape of nutritional vitamins and mineral substances which reinforce our systems and refresh our minds.

We all know the potential good nutrition has in making us less likely of contracting disease, but can food actually behave as medicine? Could the great compounds in fruits, greens, beans, seeds and sprouts aggressively function to battle ravaging illnesses while restoring health? State of the art research suggests they can! Modern research is perpetually looking at ways by which diet programs can influence life-shattering conditions such as autism, ADHD, dementia, diabetes, thyroid illness and many more.

Our bodies are really efficient machines which constantly function to remove harmful chemicals and renew themselves, nonetheless sometimes our bodies need to be assisted to do the job effortlessly, more quickly and more efficiently. It has been a known fact ever since ancient times that refraining from copious meals (that is, dishes large in fat and carbs, but nutritionally poor) can help the human body in ways which are obvious with the naked eye.

Hippocrates, who is thought of as the father of modern medical science, uttered, more than 2000 years ago (earlier than humankind had the superior technological innovation to study the human body), something which could appear as common sense to anyone: "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food!" Clearly, to him, nutrition has obvious medical purposes meaning that it could impact and adjust how we feel and appear on the inside, and it can give us the weapons we must have to naturally reverse illnesses.

Occasional fasting has documented healing attributes that have made it a staple in all major world religions. Uncooked meals are highly recommended through fasting, for their essential nutrient qualities and diminished stress on digestive processes. When you are fasting, your body is introduced to a less stressing diet plan that enables it to heal and regenerate at a swifter pace. In reality, the benefits of a restrictive diet regime are scientifically established to boost the internal environment and support cardiovascular well-being, greater cellular regeneration and all round longevity. Without the load of extreme body-weight and heavy digestion, the human body is eventually permitted to recover on its own naturally.

The food items which are put into our bodies can influence our well-being even before we enter this world. Parents having flawed cells, coming either from toxins or unsuitable eating habits, among various other things, may pass along unhealthy genes. Moreover, considering how fetuses are provided what their mothers consume, it's possible for a mom to unwillingly ingest food items which are detrimental to her fetus's wellness. Young children whose mothers haven't eaten foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other crucial macro and micro nutrients possess a larger chance of mental retardation, physical problems or overall ill health.

Raw nuts and seeds are an excellent source of nutritious fats that aid neural development. Diet is additionally important in strengthening the baby's immunity and preparing the youngster for the outside world.

Does this imply parents with poor health are occasionally at fault for giving youngsters a rough start? Although a lot of probable risks can be relieved by adjusting the mother's diet plan in the course of the pregnancy and during breastfeeding, many illnesses carry a robust hereditary attribute as well. A great number of questions could be asked regarding the ways by which food products might change the value of our lives, shape our wellness and even help us to increase life expectancy. This article here is a great resource regarding the topics we've discussed so far, stressing on the therapeutic aspect of our everyday meals.