Mystery Fruit!

Do you know what star gooseberry are? At first, it was a mystery fruit to me.


I saw these gems at a local Asian food market and thought I'd try them. I'm always up for trying new things!


Apparently these fruits grow on a tree in India or Madagascar or the Malay Islands. 


There are many health benefits for this little fruit...
-There is a lot of Vitamin C in this tiny little fruit! It is said to contain 20 times as much Vitamin C as an orange. 
-Improves eyesight.
-Increases red blood cells
-Helps to regulate insulin levels. (Great for diabetics!)
-Controls hair loss
-Strengthens heart muscles, thus in turn helping to prevent heart disease


The particular ones I got are pretty tasty, I think because of the slight chili on them.


Have you ever had these fruits before? If so, what did you think??!

Health Benefits of Pineapple

I love me some fresh pineapple!


Not only does it taste delicious, but it is so incredibly good for you. There are many fresh pineapple recipes out there that are delicious ;)




Pineapple aids in digestion - it contains a particular type of sulfur.


Pineapple is a great natural anti-inflammatory.


It helps to reduce swelling caused by gout, arthritis, sore throat, and sinusitis. 


Pineapple helps to speed up tissue repair when dealing with surgeries, diabetic ulcers, and other injuries.


It also reduces blood clotting.


Along with enhancing blood circulation.


If you suffer from anemia or arteriosclerosis, pineapple has been found to treat both.


Pineapple also helps to build heathy & strong bones!


Pineapple contains a lot of vitamin C - which is very helpful for good oral health and overall health.

Benefits of Olive Oil

The benefits of olive oil (extra virgin specifically) are endless!

Some highlights:
It prevents colon cancer.
Protects against heart disease.
Controls "bad" cholesterol and raises "good" cholesterol.
Helps control ulcers.
Lowers the production of gallstones.
Prevents belly fat production.
Reduce severity of arthritis (particularly inflammation).
Helps bring asthma under control.


It's fairly simple to incorporate olive oil in your diet...cook with it instead of any other type of oil!
Use it in your salad instead of dressing. (Quantity control, though...be careful...high in calories!)
Make tasty recipes like olive oil granola with other goodies!

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

There are so many health benefits of coconut oil and delicious coconut oil recipes.

To start with, Coconut Oil...

-helps regulate blood sugar. (Helps diabetics)

-contributes to weight loss (stimulates your metabolism)

-improves calcium & magnesium absorption (Benefits dental & bone health)

-works as a skin moisturizer (Helps with psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, etc)

-natural stress relief

-contains anti-bacterial properties that aids digestion

-increases your energy

-aids in healing (repairs damaged tissues and forms a thin layer that products a scrape/cut from outside forces, including bacteria)

-nourishes damaged hair and helps with dandruff

-supports your immune system

There are multiple home remedy cures that suggest that the use of coconut oil cures many diseases.

Oh and I must add - it smells great!

Health Benefits of Juicing

Due to my delicious juice recipe I shared with you - I thought it was time for some health benefits...

About a 2 months ago, V & I started juicing. I am absolutely loving it! (Except for the clean up process - that is absolutely terrible.)

Juicers range in price from $50-$200+. The one V & I went with was a $99 Jack Lalanne juicer...which I highly recommend. You can't beat the price! This juicer is fairly easy to clean, as well. (Easier than less expensive, other juicers that I have tried.)

There are so many health benefits of juicing...

By juicing vegetables & fruit, your body absorbs all of the important nutrients.

By juicing vegetables & fruits, you can consume a large number of vegs/fruits in an efficient manner. (Instead of sitting there and eating 5 carrots, 1 celery stalk, an apple, a half of a lemon, some ginger, and a half of a beet - all you have to do is drink a glass of it!)

Juicing vegetables & fruits allow you to have variation in your diet.

Juicing helps your body detox by elimination toxins, fats, preservatives, chemicals, etc. that you consume from other food - anti-oxidants help this process.

(That's just to name a few benefits!)

Speaking from experience, you have more energy when you drink fresh juice like this - you can feel it in your body.

From my morning "Power Juice" recipe - the following nutrients is what is in each vegetable:

Beets- Vitamins A, B, C, E; iron, magnesiu, manganese, potassium
Purifies & cleanses the blood, liver, kidneys, and arteries.

Carrots- Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, G, K; calcium, copper, potassium, etc.
Prevents cataracts & other eye problems. Helps energize you, cleanse & heal the body.

Celery- Vitamins B and C; iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium
Eases inflalmmation, arthritis and helps lower blood pressure. Helps with sleeping problems as well.

Ginger- Helps with inflammation, digestion, motion sickness, and morning sickness

Green Apple- Vitamins A, C, E, B1, B6; calcium, iron, copper, zinc
Great source of fiber, helps reduce skin disease, contains antioxidants, prevents constipation and diarrehea, nourishes the skin

Lemon- Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, E; potassium, calcium, zinc
Aids in digestion, stimulates your liver to make bile so you can digest food throughout the day

Usually I put spinach in it, too - but I had just ran out!
Spinach- Vitamins A, B, C, and K; calcium, iodine, iron, phosphorous, potassium
Helps with anaemia, depression, fatigue, and digestion. Great body cleanser as well.

If you would like more information on juicing - let me know! Would love to do more posts on it if it would interest anyone. :)

Happy juicing!

Health Benefits of (Dark) Chocolate

Who doesn't enjoy a nice piece of dark chocolate?? I do, I do, I do! Add some raisins in there and forget about it...I'm in heaven. Or some spice!

There are so many health benefits for dark chocolate!

It lowers not only blood pressure, but also lowers cholesterol.

Chocolate stimulates endorphins which are feelings of pleasure + happiness. (Hmm...maybe why depressed people cling to eating chocolate!)

Serotonin is also in chocolate, which is an anti-depressant.

Flavonoids are abundant in dark chocolate. These flavonoids act as antioxidants which protects the body from aging. Compared to strawberries, dark chocolate as eight times as many antioxidants. Flavonoids also increase blood flow to your brain - so you're much more on your toes. Flavonoids also reduce cell damage, which decreases tumor growth chances (cancer fighter!)

Traces of caffeine is found in dark chocolate...keeps you stimulated.

Epicatechin can be found in dark chocolate, which improves memory.

Magnesium found in dark chocolate improves and helps the regulation of the digestive, neurological, and cardiovascular system. (Wow!)

Interesting fact from Healthy Diaries: "Jeanne Calment, the world's longest-lived person lived to the age of 122 and many ascribed her longevity in part to her consumption of 2.5 pounds of dark chocolate a week." Interesting, right?

Check out today's Tasty Tuesday for a delicious recipe with chocolate!

And please do not replace healthy foods for chocolate. While chocolate IS healthy - remember, moderation is key. If you currently eat a sweet treat in your diet - switch it up for a piece of dark chocolate. (Note - I said a piece...not a whole chocolate bar.) One ounce per day is plenty.

Popeye Says So

Spinach is amazing. You know that, right? Especially since I posted a spinach muffin recipe for Tasty Tuesday!

Lately, every time I've been juicing, I add spinach to it for the health benefits of spinach. (And, honestly, I like the taste.)

We all know spinach is good for you - after all, Popeye says so!

Health benefits of spinach include:

Great source of iron! This is necessary to be energetic!

Keeps your brain young! Studies have shown that it helps against age-related decline of the brain.

Contains anti-inflammatory properties. Helps with arthritis, inflammation, etc.

Great source of many vitamins! K, C, B, E, zinc, omega 3-acids. High blood pressure is maintained.

Has many flavonoids that act as anti-oxidants. Protects your body! Flavonoids slows down cancer cells.

Many anti-oxidants. Protects eyes from eye-degenerate diseases and cataracts.

Contains fiber. Helps digestion, curbs over-eating, keeps you filler longer