Tag: wellness

Wellness in the shape of an artichoke – Italian Cuisine

Artichoke: everything you need to know about an ancient plant with a thousand beneficial properties

Feeling an artichoke is an offense for many. But basically, it would be enough to know more about this plant, according to most historians born in Sicily and now also cultivated in Egypt, Spain and California in particular, to realize that there is no reason to sulk when it is defined in this way.

Matter of cinarina

Already consumed at the time of the Romans and of the Greeks, the artichoke is a food with various beneficial properties for our organism. Surely, in fact, it is a plant capable of guaranteeing the well-being of different organs of the body, to the point of preventing even numerous illnesses. Thanks to cinarina, polyphenol derived from caffeic acid and present in large quantities in artichokes, it can contribute significantly to the health of liver and kidneys. But not only. The artichoke boasts numerous properties: detoxifying, depurative, digestive, diuretics, slimming and draining. And then it promotes bile secretion, the diuresis and digestion by eliminating toxins and powerfully meeting the desires of those who need a hand to lose weight.

Still property

The artichoke is also indicated for those suffering from irritable colon and in case of nausea, vomiting and food poisoning represents food to always keep in stock. The already mentioned abundant presence of cinarin, combined with that of inulin (macromolecule also present in chicory) makes artichokes particularly suitable for those who need to lower the level of cholesterol in the blood. Chlorogenic acid, silymarin, caffeic acid and ferulic acid, on the other hand, give this product of the earth important antioxidant properties capable of counteracting free radicals andaging mobile phone. And therefore also the right antibodies to prevent the onset of different types of cancer, as well as arteriosclerotic and cardiovascular pathologies.

Nothing is thrown away from the artichoke

Excellent source of potassium, in addition, the artichoke also plays a fundamental role in combating the rise in blood pressure: it is useful for balancing the levels of sugar in the blood and is therefore indicated even for those suffering from diabetes. Since products like this you never throw anything away, even the leaves artichoke can be useful in the kitchen in search of physical well-being: thanks to their extract it would be possible to counteract the growth of leukemic cells, according to recent studies.

There is everything

With considerable quantities of vitamin K, then, the artichoke is certainly useful in the prevention ofosteoporosis, while beta-carotene and lutein are instead able to protect the view. In addition to cinarin, also the basis of their flavor, artichokes are also rich in various other important substances for our body. Some examples? Carbohydrates, proteins, fiber, lots of water, potassium, zinc, calcium, copper, sodium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, manganese, flavonoids and vitamins, like A, those of group B, C, E, K and J. Precisely thanks to such a long list, and in particular thanks to the excellent doses of fiber and water, the artichoke is also particularly suitable for those you suffer from constipation and need a hand to get your gut working properly again. Finally, for those who have just completed one pregnancy, the consumption of this vegetable is not recommended, as it reduces milk production.

5 recipes

But let's get to the facts! Here are five recipes you need to try.

Wellness: Cherries, seasonal beauty care – Italian Cuisine

It is said that one throws the other. And it is also said that eating them directly from the tree (like all fruits) is one of the great pleasures of life. And then what beautiful are they cherries, red with a vermilion red, round, perfumed, small, usable, sweet. In short, it seems that this fruit that in the end is quite ephemeral (at the end of June it has already exhausted its best period, in Piedmont the little worms are called giuanin, because they begin to be seen after June 24, San Giovanni) has so many and such advantages to make it an icon of beauty and health.

They are anti-aging and help renew the skin
In fact, cherries are not only great allies of the health, but also of the beauty and in particular they are fundamental for the care of the skin. Thanks to carotenes and mineral salts, they help protect it from the sun and obtain a natural and homogeneous tan. Finally they are good for legs, thanks to their remarkable diuretic powers, and counteract the problems of circulation, cellulite and capillary fragility. IS at the dawn of summer, just amber, the legs begin to show themselves in all their beauty and their care, we women know well, it becomes the focus of the treatments. Therefore this sweet and juicy fruit is often used in masks and in regenerating packs or as a natural scrub for the body, thanks precisely to its exfoliating powers.

For a natural peeling
In fact, cherries are rich in alpha hydroxy acids, substances that exfoliate the skin, making it softer and brighter, and help it renew itself. They contain vitamins and minerals that transmit energy and antioxidants that counteract free radicals, are very moisturizing and soothe inflammation.

And again perfume and color
In the beauty sector then the cherry is considered a queen. Experts have renamed it cherry-mania referring to the trend that most people want lipsticks to the scent or color of cherry. The cherry can therefore be considered a muse in the beauty sector, and for color and perfume. One of the most popular fruity notes in perfumery it is precisely that of cherry, which characterizes many fragrances, but which in reality is not extracted from the essence of the fruit, being simply a wise imitation of it.

A curiosity
Legend has it that Ludovico Ariosto went mad and that, especially during his tenure as Governor of Garfagnana, annexed at that time to the Este Duchy of Ferrara, it consumed a large amount. Above all it seems that he was a strong consumer of cherry soup, refining a recipe handed down by the shepherds that cooked the cherriestheand in milk sweetened with honey and butter is when the sauce obtained was very tight, they spread it on bread. The possible variations of the Ariosto soup are obviously many, such as the one with savoiardi and ricotta which consists in enriching the whole with ricotta beaten by hand (to incorporate air and make it more creamy) to spread over a layer of soaked ladyfingers. And above all the cherry sauce.

Looking for the perfect one
But does the perfect cherry exist? The cherry season has begun, which marks the summer, but which is also very ephemeral. And we talk about it a lot, wondering what the identikit of the perfect cherry is. In the last International Cherry Symposium, held in Vignola (Modena), which boasts protected excellence, some essential characteristics have been written: the real cherry has to be productive, with a homogeneous and sustained caliber (greater than 26 mm ), resistant to diseases. In addition, it has good organoleptic properties, ie sweetness, consistency and crunchiness, it must be able to resist cracking and have a good hold both on the tree and after harvesting and, last but not least, it must know how to adapt, in times of changes climate.

But then are we sure that we write cherries? Yes, but if there was doubt, rest assured that you are not alone. There is also tolerance for the version without "i". So much so that a book by Oriana Fallaci was called A hat full of cherries. Without i.

Emanuela Di Pasqua,
May 2017

updated
May 2018

updated May 2019

Image Credits

https://pixabay.com/it/ciliegie-ciliegie-dolci-1465801/

the moment / Flickr

Kitay / Flickr

eltpics / Flickr

Konstantina / Flickr

Properties of the escarole: concentrated wellness – Italian Cuisine

Raw or sautéed in the pan, the escarole is a healthy side dish that is beneficial to our health. Let's discover its properties in detail with Raffaella Melani, nutritionist biologist.

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A typical Neapolitan vegetable that boasts numerous properties and lends itself to various tasty recipes in the kitchen is the escarole, more often known as curly envy.

Belonging to the Asteraceae family, a variant of chicory and closely related to radicchio and Belgian endive, the endive it can be a tasty and healthy side dish. Consumed cooked or raw, with its characteristic bitter scent, it owes its popularity to the health properties, which are mainly related to its high levels of beneficial compounds. In fact, this green salad is rich in numerous nutrients, we discover them more thoroughly with the Doctor Raffaella Melani, nutritionist biologist.

Rich in vitamin A

Melani states: "With only 100g of endive it is assumed 43% of the daily value of vitamin A, in addition to 35% for folate and 21% for manganese ". Vitamin A is necessary for the activity of the nervous system (for the formation of neurotransmitters), of the heart and for the health of the skin and especially of the eyes, it also has a protective action against lung tumors and melanomas.

It contains numerous folate, very important in pregnancy

Folate is also a very important component. The doctor clarifies: "Folate contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue and is involved in the formation of blood cells. Furthermore, folates are very important for the growth of the fetus duringat pregnancy: it allows the normal closure of the neural tube, preventing spina bifida and seems to intervene also on the sociocognitive development in the prevention of autism spectrum disorders. On the other hand, manganese contributes to the maintenance of healthy bones and protects cells from oxidative stress ".

Good source of vitamin K

Vitamin K should not be forgotten either. The nutritionist tells us: "A cup of curly endive also provides more than 100% of the recommended daily value for vitamin K which is important for a balanced blood coagulation. Endive eating therefore stimulates blood production and has the ability to prevent the anemia: without forgetting that the high fiber content helps reduce cholesterol levels and is useful in the management of blood sugar and body weight ".

How to use it in the kitchen

The endive can be offered both raw and cooked: uncooked it is excellent to enhance her draining action and diuretic while brush up in a pan with extra virgin olive oil, garlic and chilli is the best use for stimulate the liver and to have good control over post prandial blood glucose.
Its flavor can be enhanced by that of the Taggiasca olives, able to dampen its slight bitter accent very well, or from other ingredients to taste, such as anchovies, such as happens in the Neapolitan recipe.

Elisa Nata
March 2019

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Artichoke: everything you need to know about an ancient plant with a thousand beneficial properties

Matter of cinarina

Still property

Nothing is thrown away from the artichoke

There is everything

5 recipes

Raw or sautéed in the pan, the escarole is a healthy side dish that is beneficial to our health. Let's discover its properties in detail with Raffaella Melani, nutritionist biologist. <! – send by email ->

Rich in vitamin A

It contains numerous folate, very important in pregnancy

Good source of vitamin K

How to use it in the kitchen

Share

Raw or sautéed in the pan, the escarole is a healthy side dish that is beneficial to our health. Let's discover its properties in detail with Raffaella Melani, nutritionist biologist.

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