Cherries are delicious on their own, but are you looking for a new and unique way to eat them? Try this tangy topping. Cherry chutney is a great addition to barbecue or spread over some cornbread on the side. Cherries are an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C and they’re loaded with antioxidants that help reduce inflammation and help our heart health. This recipe has even greater anti-inflammatory power with ingredients like olive oil and ginger. Cherries are also a natural source of melatonin, and some studies suggest that eating cherries may help you sleep better.
The Best Peas and Pasta
Peas are far more versatile than they’re given credit for. It’s likely you’re used to something like a pile of peas, topped with a little pat of salted butter, rolling away on your plate. But so much more can be done with peas! They can be braised, roasted or pureed into a hummus type dip or a creamy sauce base like this recipe. If you buy whole pea pods, they’re great as a raw snack, sliced and added to salads, or sauteed or even grilled. This recipe features a thick, creamy, garlicy sauce made from pureed peas. Peas are a good plant-based protein high in fiber and they’re an excellent addition to something like pasta. Top this with grilled chicken or shrimp and consider garnishing with some chopped sun-dried tomato to complete the meal.
The Role of Your Primary Care Provider
As a health navigator, throughout the day I ask people the name of their primary care provider. Many share that they’ve seen their primary care provider for decades. But what happens if you do not have a provider or your provider retires?
Edamame Salad with Citrus Sesame Dressing
Maybe you’ve heard about the health benefits of soy. It’s a protein-packed nutrition bomb, loaded with flavonoids that may help reduce the incidence of cancers and rich in fiber and other vitamin and minerals. But tofu just sounds really unappealing. Try some edamame! This is the whole soybean, which comes in pods similar to peas, with a firm texture that makes a great addition to salads, pastas, casseroles or even just on its own.
Strawberry Fruit Rolls
It’s strawberry season! Strawberries are a great little package of nutrients like vitamin C, manganese, folate and potassium, along with many other phytochemicals that act as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. There is nothing quite like a summer-ripe strawberry. Give this fruit leather recipe a try and enjoy those sweet berries for up to two weeks past peak season.
Greek Potato Salad
As summer comes along, many will be looking for healthier alternatives to summertime classics, such as a potato salad. This recipe includes nutrient-packed Mediterranean goodies such as olives, sun-dried tomatoes and dill, each containing antioxidants important to heart health. However, you may notice that some of the ingredients in this recipe come in a salty brine. The high sodium content may lead to an increase in blood pressure, so look for low sodium options when shopping for ingredients such as olives, capers and feta.
Mushroom Polenta Porridge
Polenta makes a great savory breakfast base. Top with any sauteed veggies you’d like, a sprinkle of cheese and runny egg or maybe fresh, juicy slice of tomato. Polenta is simply a type of cornmeal you can make into a porridge, like in this recipe, or it can be made thick so that you can slice it and pan fry or grill it. You can make the recipe with just polenta (use ¾ cup) but in this version, some of the corn was taken out substituted for flax meal. This lowers the carbs a little bit while adding fiber and more heart-healthy fats. Small, healthy changes like this add up over time! This is a great alternative to oatmeal.
Berry Oatmeal Muffins
This recipe is a great grab-and-go breakfast or a satisfying snack. Fiber from the oatmeal makes this a filling treat, and the mixed berries are rich in a family of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, among others. Anthocyanins are found in many plant foods that vary in the red/blue/purple color range. Research has shown that these chemicals may have a protective effect on our heart health and on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, in addition to acting as powerful antioxidants.
Become ‘Stroke Smart’ and Save a Life
Did you know? Carroll County is one of the two Stroke Smart counties in Maryland. County leaders encourage everyone who lives and works in Carroll County to become Stroke Smart and learn how to Spot a Stroke, Stop a Stroke and Save a Life.
Citrus Shrimp
Shrimp is a great protein option to keep on hand. They freeze well and cook fast, and their small size makes them a kid-friendly finger food—perfect for busy families. Shrimp gets a bit of a bad reputation for being a high cholesterol food, but overall it is a lean protein. Over many studies and analysis over many years, research has found that dietary cholesterol is not correlated with blood levels and for that reason does not pose a risk to our heart health. The thing to watch is your total fat intake, especially intake of saturated fats. These fats are typically animal-based and solid at room temperature. They are known to contribute to poor cholesterol levels and increase risk of plaque build up in the arteries, increasing risk for heart disease and stroke. However, notice shrimp is very high in sodium, like many other crustaceans and mollusks from the sea, and this may lead to temporary increase in blood pressure and edema.
Read the Research: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9143438/