Tag: Health

15 delicious and simple vegetable protein recipes | The Italian kitchen – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

Quinoa (cooked)

Total protein: 8 grams per cup

Quinoa is a herbaceous plant belonging to the same family as spinach and beetroot, and is native to South America.
This popular health food is rich in protein, fibre, antioxidants and minerals, cooks in just 15 minutes and is great as a base for salads enriched with vegetables and avocado, or for making into veggie burgers or soups.

Pistachios

Total protein: 20.27 grams per 100 grams.
Pistachios are seeds of the pistachio plant with antioxidant properties and in addition to proteins they guarantee the intake of precious mineral salts such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron and vitamins E, B1 and B6.
Excellent to taste, they lend themselves to sweet recipes such as cakes, pastries or spreads, but also savory in the form of sauces for first courses or in grains for second courses of meat or fish. Also excellent in salads.

Almonds

Total protein: 21.22 grams per 100 grams.
The almonds they are delicious and nutritious seeds and in addition to being an excellent source of protein, they contain healthy fats, vitamin E and antioxidants. To obtain as many nutrients as possible from these elements, it is best to eat them with the peel intact.
Mainly used as an ingredient for desserts, they can however also accompany many savory dishes or be eaten alone as a snack.

Brussels sprouts (raw)

Total protein: 4.2 grams per 100 grams.
Brussels sprouts or sprouts are a slightly bitter vegetable and for this reason little loved by children, but with high nutritional power. They can be eaten roasted, steamed or even chopped in salads.

Chia seeds (raw dried)

Total protein: 16.5 grams per 100 grams.
These tiny black seeds are part of the superfood family because even in small quantities they contain lots of protein, fiber, Omega 3 fatty acids and other nutrients. Excellent for breakfast together with yogurt or as a base for porridge, they can also be used to make healthy desserts such as puddings or added to salads or second courses.

Potatoes (raw)

Total protein: 2 grams per 100 grams.
Potatoes are a key element of Mediterranean diet precisely because of their highly beneficial properties. Excellent source of protein, they also contain vitamins C and B-6 and potassium. There are many recipes that can be made with this tuber, all very tasty and healthy, with the exception of the fried ones.

Broccoli (raw)

Total protein: 3 grams per 100 grams.
Broccoli is a panacea for health and in addition to proteins, it provides the body with fibre, vitamins K and C and many other nutrients. They can be eaten boiled with a drizzle of olive oil, or as a condiment for first courses or, blended, in the form of cream soup.

Our 15 vegetable protein recipes

Of our 15 vegetable protein-based recipes, 4 have vegetable protein as the main ingredient, together with the addition of animal products (eggs, cheese…) to thicken. The other 11, however, are entirely plant-based.

Is water and lemon in the morning good for you? The word to the doctor – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

In recent years, many have gotten into the habit of drink lemon water in the morning, as soon as you wake up and just before having breakfast. Why? There are those who do it with the belief that they can help eliminate toxins and waste substances, purify oneself and for this reason lose weightwho instead thinks that this drink can anyway benefit the Health, so much so that it becomes a real daily ritual of well-being. Certainly taking care of your hydration starting in the morning is essential. Water plays a key role in the functioning of the organism, being involved in many processes and promoting its efficiency. But is drinking water and lemon in the morning really good for you? To find out more, we asked an expert for advice.

Is drinking lemon water in the morning good for you? The doctor’s word

Sometimes losing weight and getting back into shape seems to be the most difficult thing and often we are willing to try anything to do it, even relying on practices that promise miraculous results, but which in reality have very little scientific value and which often distance even of time are actually harmful. Drinking lemon water in the morning is beneficial really as you often think or not?

Does water and lemon make you lose weight?

«To date we have no certain data on whether this practice can really bring benefits nor scientific data to recommend it as a daily habit, says the doctor Michela Carola Speciani, medical surgeon expert in applied nutrition. «At the moment we know that the consumption of low pH foods and drinks, such as lemon juice, is a risk factor for example fordental erosion and that lemon and some of its extracts are rich in vitamins and antioxidants including flavanones, which have reported some positive data from a metabolic point of view in animal studies, the results of which however cannot be generalized to humans lightly”, says the expert.

Does lemon lower blood sugar?

«In some studies on humans, and therefore more reliable, it has been seen that the intake of acidic substances such as the combined water and lemon before the meal reduces the glycemic response to the intake of starches, carbohydrates present for example in pasta, rice and bread, but not in sugar. The mechanisms are not yet fully known, nor, however, are the long-term effects of this practice. This is why we currently do not have enough data to suggest it for improving your figure or health, while there are habits that we know for certain to be supportive in this sense”, says the expert. In essence, there are studies that support this thesis but at the moment we have little evidence available in the scientific literature and therefore insufficient to say that lemon actually lowers blood sugar, as nutritionist Valentina Schirò also says in this article of ours: ” THEDoes lemon lower blood sugar? The word to the nutritionist”.

“So, much better to include some protein in your breakfast such as eggs, oil seeds, soy-based protein preparations, fish, meat or high-protein dairy products such as cheese or Greek yogurt, a habit that is often rarely practiced; or it would be good reduce the consumption of simple sugars – biscuits, snacks, croissants, croissants – and sweeteners, which unfortunately tend to be present from the morning onwards.”

For those who are not recommended to drink water and lemon

There are some contraindications real facts about the consumption of the mix based on water and lemon? Who should avoid it? «Certainly those who are particularly predisposed todental erosion. The suggestion is to ask your dentist for confirmation and to rinse your mouth with a little water (without lemon) after any consumption to limit the negative effect that the acidity of lemon can have on the health of your teeth.”

Why do you get sleepy after lunch? The “food coma” explained easily – Italian cuisine reinvented by Gordon Ramsay

Because he comes here sleep after lunch? It is the most common question we ask ourselves, especially after having had a sumptuous Sunday lunch or on special holiday occasions such as Easter. Having finished a delicious Easter menu in style with a beautiful artisanal Colomba, coffee is not enough to keep your eyes open. All you want is to spend at least half an hour on the sofa – and if you are not at home this desire is likely to be truly in vain. So let’s understand together why after a big meal you feel exhausted and sleepy by investigating the postprandial drowsiness (o food coma). Let’s proceed in order.

Why do we get sleepy after lunch?

1. The digestive effort

The larger the meal, the more blood goes to the intestine to aid digestion. The digestive organs require large amounts of oxygen, which they achieve by reducing the blood flow in other districts in favor of the digestive one. With less blood supply to the brain, you feel sleepier.

2. Tryptophan

The large quantities of carbohydrates introduced during lunch favor the increase in the concentration of tryptophan, an essential amino acid present in many foods we commonly eat, including bananas, milk, tuna, cheese and chicken. This substance helps produce melatoninor the sleep hormone.

3. The parasympathetic system

During digestion, the parasympathetic system prevails, which promotes relaxation and restand at the same time the activity of the sympathetic system is reduced, which is instead involved in situations of fear and/or alert.

4. Carbohydrates

Foods with a higher glycemic index tend to cause spikes and subsequent crashes in blood sugar levels. In fact, to regulate the increase in blood sugar induced by the meal, the body produces large quantities of insulin, and this causes a sudden decrease in glucose levels, which can generate the typical effects of hypoglycemia, including drowsiness. It may be due to a drop in blood sugar when you are unable to concentrate on work or feel irritable and tired. Simple carbohydrates also make it easier for tryptophan to cross the blood-brain barrier, so their combination can cause drowsiness. Adding a little fiber (a salad, some Brussels sprouts) and filling your plate with protein can help counteract some of the lethargic effects of carbohydrates.

5. Alcohol

Wine can also help you feel relaxed and induce a feeling of drowsiness, although it can have a negative effect on the quality of sleep: it is always better to drink at least a few hours before going to sleep. If you fall asleep immediately after a meal, the quality of your post-prandial sleep may be compromised both by alcohol consumption and by the effort to digest all the food that has been eaten.

Useful tips when you get sleepy after lunch

Without giving up the pleasure of a particularly rich lunch, some precautions can be useful. Experts suggest have a good breakfast, perhaps based on wholemeal bread and eggs, which will help avoid overeating. Also drink a large one glass of water before the meal, in addition to helping maintain correct hydration, it induces the brain to think of reaching a sense of satiety sooner. Another strategy for feeling fuller is to chew five to ten times before swallowing. Then, if after lunch we still feel sleepy, no big deal: it’s a holiday, and we have plenty of time to rest.