Thursday, July 12, 2012

A Glass of Wine for your Stomach

“Stop drinking only water, but drink a little wine to help your stomach and your frequent sickness.” -1 Timothy 5:23 (NCV)

Now we have science to back what was apparently common knowledge in the Apostle Paul's day. A recent study showed that red wine helps digestive health by tipping the balance to beneficial gut flora. My experience: a glass of wine in the evening feels great in my sensitive gut and helps keep me away from sweet treats. Just be careful to choose a dry wine so you don’t end up consuming excess sugar with it.

Reference:
http://www.ajcn.org/content/early/2012/05/02/ajcn.111.027847.abstract

Monday, July 9, 2012

Avocado Smoothie

">Avocados are full of satisfying, healthy fat. One avocado has more potassium than two bananas and contains significant amounts of magnesium, vitamin B6, folate and vitamin E. These qualities make them great for skin health. And they’re tasty. Until recently, I didn’t know how to eat them besides making guacamole. This recipe has helped me add them to my family’s diet more regularly.

Avocado Smoothie (serves 1)

In a blender put:

¼ of an avocado
1 cup milk (or milk substitute)
Sugar, honey, stevia or sweetener of choice to taste
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ice cubes

Blend until smooth and serve immediately.