Did you know that figs have also been used to treat sexual weaknesses? Well, now you know lol! Although dried figs are available throughout the year, nothing beats the unique taste and texture of fresh figs! I just L O V E the luscious sweet texture combined with the chewiness of the flesh, the smoothness of their skin and the crunchiness of their seeds! I’ve summed up some interesting facts about this super delish & gorgeous piece of nature!

There is a big difference consuming fresh or dried figs:

Fresh Fig fruit is low in calories. 100 g fresh fruits provide only 74 calories. However, they contain health benefiting soluble dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and pigment anti-oxidants that contribute immensely towards optimum health and wellness.

Dried figs are an excellent source of minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants. In fact, dried fruits are higher concentrated sources of energy, minerals and vitamins. 100 g dried figs provide 249 calories.

Health Benefits:
1. They say that eating figs regularly can help reduce the risk of prostate, breast and colon cancer.

2. The soluble fiber found in figs called Pectin helps in reducing blood cholesterol.

3. The content of Potassium, Omega 3 and Omega 6 on fig fruit helps to maintain blood pressure and coronary heart attacks.

4. Figs leaves have healing properties. Decoction of fig leaves can help patients with diabetes reduces the amount of insulin intake.

5. Consume figs can reduce fatigue, improve brain memory and prevent anaemia.

6. Because laxative effect, consume the fruit is very helpful for treating chronic constipation.

7. Daily consumption of figs is an effective drug for the treatment of haemorrhoids cure.

8. When applied to the skin, baked figs can cure inflammations like abscesses and ulcers.

9. Due to its high water content, mashed figs acts as an excellent skin cleanser and helps in preventing and curing acne.

10. Figs are rich in calcium and calcium is an excellent alternative for the therapeutic treatment of people who are allergic to dairy products.

11. Fig fruit is rich in dietary fiber, which makes them very effective for weight loss program (Obesity).

12. Content of Calcium and Potassium in figs prevent bone thinning (osteoporosis), and helps to increase bone density.

13. Content of Tryptophan in figs, induces good sleep and helps get rid of sleep disorders such as insomnia.

I grew up eating pomegranate as a child regularly, my parents would buy them fresh from the market and me and my sister would peel of all the 'red pearls' with much care. I was even stupid enough to eat the seeds one by one!! Yes people.. back then there were no Ipads so this is how we entertained ourselves lol ;D. haha way to go.. quite the clever thinking mom!

Anyway.. the reason I'm highlighting this gorgeous piece of nature is because besides I just love adding them to almost any dish because of her stunning looks the pomegranate is also super super healthy for you!

Valued for its medicinal properties since ancient times. Pomegranate seeds owe their superfood status to it's medicinal purposes for millennia. Packed with powerful antioxidants and vitamins, this ruby-red fruit has been shown to be a 'cure-all' for just about any ailment. It helps stomach upsets, menopausal hot flashes, hemorrhoids, conjunctivitis, osteoarthritis, lowers blood pressure, stimulates the immune system, wards off the flu, reduces inflammation, reduces risk of heart disease and lowers cholesterol.

Now here's the thing, after doing some research on the net on Pomegranate I found out a very interesting topic they highlighted for all you sexy men out there ;D!

Research has shown that pomegranate juice benefits men by acting as nature’s Viagra. A 2005 study on the long term effects of pomegranate juice intake on erectile dysfunction in animals showed that erectile dysfunction is closely linked to free radicals. Pomegranate juice, being so high in free radical fighting antioxidants, can help fight erectile dysfunction as well.

Not only that, but you might recall that another health benefit of pomegranate juice is it’s ability to help induce cancer cells to self-destruct. Studies have shown that a glass a day of pomegranate juice can slow the growth of prostate cancer.

Not sure wether this is true or not...either way.. pomegranate is super delish so no harm by adding it more to your diet right and what a 'turn on' if it really works right?!

Have a great day!

xoxo
The Cookteaser

Somehow I've been dealing with awful stomach acid lately.. and I want to get rid of it without taking one of those  Rennie tablets or other kind of chemical medicine..
Instead, I went to one of my favourite stores  The Super Food Centre in Amsterdam and asked the guy beghind the counter what would be good for me to add to my diet to get rid of my stomach acid the natural way.

He directly pointed his finger to this Gorgeous bottle of Raw - Unfiltered Apple Cider! A spoon a day on an empthy stomach mixed with some water would kill the Acid! I've been drinking this now since the weekend and my nauseous and tummy aches are gone!! After doing some research (this sounds as if I'm a pro..lol) I found out that Apple Cider Vinegar is effective for pretty much anything to maintain your gorgeous looks! Your skin, your hair, your house, and even your pets can benefit from its qualities. Raw, organic unfiltered and unpasteurized, apple cider vinegar is so much more than a salad dressing! I just had to share this with you!
Trust me. You'll be amazed what it's all good for! What are you waiting for.. scroll down!

It can make your hair shine.

Apple cider vinegar can be used as a rinse for your hair after shampooing, and will boost your hair's body and shine. I recommend recycling an old shampoo bottle, then filling it with 1/2 a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a cup of cold water. Pour the solution through your hair after shampooing several times a week for dramatic results.

Natural apple cider vinegar regulates the pH  of your skin.
Dilute ACV with two parts water, and spread the concoction over your face with a cotton ball to replace your current toner. You can do this at night after washing, and in the morning before you apply your moisturizer. A dab of apple cider vinegar can also be left on the skin overnight to fade age spots or acne scars.

It's also a recommended agent for warts. For warts, soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar, then fasten the cotton ball over the wart with a Band-Aid overnight. The skin may swell some as it reacts with the solution. However, the wart will fall off. Once it falls off, the treatment should be continued for a few more days, to make sure the wart doesn't return.

It can remove stains from teeth.
Rub teeth directly with apple cider vinegar, and rinse with water.

It can soothe sunburnt skin.
Add a cup of apple cider vinegar to your bath, and soak for 10 minutes to eliminate discomfort from sunburn.

Apple cider vinegar can be used as a natural aftershave.
Fill a bottle with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water, and shake before applying to the face.

Apple cider vinegar can aid in weight loss.
For daily weight management, add 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 16 ounces of water. This concoction can be sipped throughout the day. Data shows some limited, yet significant, weight loss benefits from sustained daily intake of acetic acid (which is a main ingredient in apple cider vinegar).

In a 2009 study published in Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, it was found that subjects that consumed acetic acid for 12 weeks experienced significant declines in body weight, abdominal fat, waist circumference and triglycerides. Triglycerides contribute to the bad cholesterol that we want to avoid.

Apple cider vinegar will balance your entire inner body system.
The body constantly strives to achieve a state of equilibrium. Apple cider vinegar helps the body maintain a healthy alkaline pH level. Research shows that higher acid levels (lower pH level) leads to a lack of energy and higher incidences of infection. Hence, my desire to sip some a few times a day for a natural boost of energy.

It can help you detox.
As part of balancing the body's pH, apple cider vinegar creates an overall detoxification of the body. Research shows that it can help stimulate cardiovascular circulation and help detoxify the liver.

It can help your body get rid of candida.
This vinegar is rich in natural enzymes that can help rid your body of candida yeasts that are attributed to thrush in humans. Candida also is blamed for creating symptoms of fatigue, poor memory, sugar craving and yeast infections.

SO yeah.. although my stomach acid is gone now.. I will keep on drinking this.. Oh minor detail.. it taste like old milk and looks like dark pee.. haha..so close your eyes and clam your nose..and BAM.. drink it! Make sure you don't eat after drinking it. Wait for at least 20 minutes!

Have a great day!
xoxo
The Cookteaser

My absolute favourite nut is the Brazil nut (Dutch transl. Para Noten), I love the size (it’s the biggest.. lol), the flavour, the texture, well.. as I said.. it’s my favourite..so what’s not to love ;) Anyway,,Good thing the brazil nut has a lot more to offer us then just being a great tasty snack!

The brazil Nut is SUPER SUPER healthy but you have to make sure you don’t overeat the Brazil Nut, as to much consumption can lead to serious damage of our beautiful sexy bodies! like.. WTF? uhuh.. yes I'm serious..
So what are you waiting for..?! Scroll down to read all the facts about my all time favourite nut!

Xoxo
The Cookteaser.

Health Benefits of Eating Brazil Nuts
Adding Brazil nuts to your diet a few times a week in small amounts can help prevent heart disease, strokes and heart attacks keeping cholesterol levels low. The minerals and vitamins in Brazil nuts even have the ability to help reduce your risks of getting certain types of cancers such as prostate, colon, stomach, and lung and breast cancers. Those who get the cold or the flu can benefit from snacking on a small handful of these nuts while they are sick because the nutrients in the nuts such as the vitamin C, zinc and selenium can help boost the immune system naturally so it is at full fighting power to fight off the cold or flu that you have. Those who suffer from thyroid disorders can benefit from snacking on these nuts because the antioxidants in these nuts have the ability to make an active enzyme that helps support the thyroid known as, "triiodothyronine."

Precautions to Think About

Now Brazil Nuts do contain some unhealthy fats, which means eating these nuts every day in large amounts could cause you to gain some unhealthy weight. Some people do have some allergies to these nuts so be cautions adding them to recipes. Eating large amounts of these nuts could also cause brittle fingernails, toenails and hair as the result leads to if too much selenium is consumed. Otherwise, Brazil nuts are healthy snack to munch on a few times a week not more then 5 or 6 nuts per dto help keep you healthy and strong.

Hi there bitches!! Sorry for not posting for quite some time but I was busy with work and re-doing my house! I'm so happy with my new floor! It looks absolutely stunning! (you're thinking: 'shut up and post some damn recipes') Oke oke..back to food... ;)
I never ever cooked with lentils and I never would have thought that I would prep them one day myself cause I don't think they look very tasty..BUT!! When I was in London a while ago I was sooo inspired by the Indian Cuisine where I had my very first Lentil curry... I thought.. F#CK I want to make this myself too!!! So I will post my recipe how I make my lentil curry, but before I do that scroll down below to find out how SUPER HEALTHY Lentils in fact are!!

5 reasons to start eating Lentils:

Heart Health
Studies have found that people who eat high fiber legumes like lentils have a much reduced risk of heart disease. The high levels of folate and magnesium in lentils also go a long way in protecting the heart.

Stabilize Blood Sugar
Due to their high fiber content, lentils help in regulating blood sugar by providing steady, slow-burning energy and balancing blood sugar levels.

High in Iron Lentils are loaded with iron and are a great way to replenish the body's iron stores, especially for people who don't eat red meat like vegans and vegetarians. B Vitamins
Lentils are a great source of B vitamins, most notably folate and niacin (B3). B vitamins are important for the healthy functioning of the nervous, digestive, and immune systems.

Lower Cholesterol
Lentils are a great cholesterol lowering food due to their high levels of fiber.

Protein Packed
Protein makes up 26% of the calories in lentils and they have the third highest level of protein than any other plant food. It's no wonder that they're a staple in many parts of the world

I normally buy quinoa pre-mixed (red & white). But my lovely friend Y. surprised me yesterday by giving me a whole package of just RED quinoa! Hmmm... I was wondering if one is healthier then the other so after doing some research I found out that of course their both healthy but the main difference is that red quinoa is slightly lower in total fat, marginally higher in sodium, fiber, sugar, and protein, vitamin E, riboflavin, and foliate. Their amino acid profiles are pretty similar (they are both complete proteins). But just because red quinoa has less fat doesn't make it necessarily healthier (saturated and trans fats are the ones potentially implicated in health problems, and they're the same in both types of quinoa). Foods high in fiber and vitamins promote health, so red quinoa is slightly superior to white quinoa on those fronts. High sodium diets can increase risk of high blood pressure and high sugar diets can increase risk of diabetes, but even though red quinoa has slightly more of both, neither type of quinoa would be considered high in sodium or sugar. If you're a strict vegetarian, red quinoa would be a little better than white to help you meet your protein needs, but meat eaters generally have no trouble meeting their protein requirements.

7 health benefits of Quinoa
1. its protein balance is similar to milk and has more protein compared to rice, millet or wheat.
2. A good source of riboflavin -- riboflavin helps reduce the frequency attacks in migraine sufferers by improving the energy metabolism within the brain and muscle cells.
3. The saponins from quinoa are used to promote healing of skin injuries in South America, making it a good antiseptic.
4. I'ts Alkaline-forming. Although it is not strongly alkaline-forming, it is comparable to wild rice, amaranth, and sprouted grains.
5. It only has 172 calories per ¼ cup dry quinoa.
6. Since it is not related to wheat or grain, it's gluten-free.
7. It is a complex carbohydrate with low glycemic index. This is again good for weight management.

There's a BIG difference between Cacoa and Cacao powder..what?!? yes.. mind the mixing of the O and A, stupid ;)!
The main difference between the cacao and cocoa is that Cacao is unprocessed while Cocoa is processed.  Therefore Cacao has a better nutritional content compared to cocoa, but that’s only because most of the nutritional content disappears once cacao has undergone processing.  So make sure you'll focus on the letters when you're buying your Cacao powder.
Thanks to its high amounts of magnesium, antioxidants, and flavonols, raw cacao powder is considered to have many health benefits, scroll down to know more..

Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas.
Cacao powder is the most versatile of the raw cacao products, because it is finely ground and ready to be added to smoothies, icecream, homemade energy bars, raw and baked bars, cookies, and other desserts. It blends well with water, nut and dairy milks.

I think I convinced you guys to use the healthy Cacao instead of the regular Cacoa powder right?! Enjoy this beautiful sunny day!
xoxo
The Cookteaser.

What a sexy looking veggie is the Red Paprika don't you think?! So beautiful in colour and tasty at the same time..like me! kidding (lol). I love to eat them raw mixed in a salad, juiced, blended for soup or even as a nice flavourful pasta sauce if you're ever tired of making the usual tomato sauce the peppers will give your pasta a whole new dimension, besides.. paprika is high in vitamin C, like nine times more than tomatoes! Here are some great things you should know about these little fellas! scroll down for more..

1. Paprika helps with regulating blood pressure.

2. Good source of vitamin C, which helps with preventing scurvy, colds and absorbs iron.

3. Paprika contains antibacterial protein and helps control the growth of some bacteria’s such as Salmonella that can be transferred during ingestion.

4. Paprika has antioxidants that help the immune system to be strong.

5. It also an energizer, stimulant, and paprikas are used to treat depression, tiredness and lethargy.

6. Paprika is also good for the heart because of the capsaicin used to reduce substance P a transmitter responsible for swelling.

7. Paprika is also good for the cardiovascular system and helps with blood circulation by preventing or controlling cholesterol.

8. Paprika helps to lower the risk of cancer because of the capsaicin it contains.

9. Paprika increases the production of saliva and stomach acids to aid digestion.

Make sure you eat a fresh paprika, otherwise all of the above will be useless. I will soon make something delish from these peppers. So stay tuned you sexy mother f#cker  ;)

I'm a true Zucchini Addict! Especially RAW zucchini I like best! (I know..old news..) But other then that there are some great things you should know about this Big Long Firm Veggie too  (lol)
Zucchini is one of the very low calorie vegetables; provide only 17 calories per 100 g. It contains no saturated fats or cholesterol (I like.. I like) Its peel is a good source of dietary fiber that helps reduce constipation and offers some protection against colon cancers. Also zucchini is an outstanding source of manganeseand vitamin C, zucchini is the best dietary fiber that will keep your body in best shape for long run. It also contains vitamin A, magnesium, folate, potassium, copper, and phosphorus . This summer squash also has a high content of omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, niacin, and protein. Moreover, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B2, and calcium in zucchini assure optimal health. Furthermore, zucchinis, especially Golden skinned ones, are rich in flavonoid poly-phenolic antioxidants such as carotenes, lutein and zea-xanthin. uh what the F#ck am I talking about ;) !? In other words; This beautiful veggie will help you to look young & hot longer..so what are you waiting for? Go get your portion of Zucchini!

Tips for when you buy zucchini:

The zucchini squash having flowers attached are the real fresh and juicy ones. Also check if the one you are buying is sleek, smooth and firm and has a bright colored skin. It is always advisable to store zucchini in perforated plastic bags, inside refrigerator drawer. Try not to keep zucchini fruit stored for more than 3 days, since they can get damaged in the chilling temperature. If damaged, you will notice hollow pits in the surface skin of the fruit after you take it out of the refrigerator.

I think everybody knows that eating to much salt is unhealthy, but what most of you don't know is that even the most common table-salt contains chemicals and even sugar!? like.. WTF!
Another fact is that people tend to think that seasalt is better then the normal table salt but the thing is they have the same basic nutritional value. The most notable differences between sea salt and table salt are in their taste, texture and processing.
The table and cooking salt found in most homes, restaurants, and processed foods is void of nutritional value, lacking beneficial trace minerals. Processing salt turns it into sodium chloride, an unnatural salt the human body actually sees as a toxic invader! The body cannot dispose of it in a natural, healthy way which can lead to inflammation of the tissues, water retention and high blood pressure :| yeah..shocking.. oke there's more..Studies show that for each gram of table salt your system cannot process, your body will use over twenty times the amount of cellular water to neutralize the sodium chloride in chemically-treated salt. This can lead to cellulite (HOLY F#CK!?) rheumatism, arthritis, gout, as well as kidney and gallbladder stones. I know I know.. enough already.. so what is the other option to season your food in a healthier way? Well...

I use Himalayan Seasalt, unlike the 'normal' salt you're familiar with Himalayan Seasalt has been used in natural medicine and therapeutic treatments for centuries. With benefits that include everything from increased energy levels and concentration, to weight loss, enhanced sleep quality, and improvements in the functioning of your body's major systems, this powerful mineral has effective healing properties that can restore health and have you feeling better than ever. Its minerals exist in a colloidal form, meaning that they are tiny enough for our cells to easily absorb.

The health benefits of using natural Himalayan Crystal Salt:

• Controlling the water levels within the body, regulating them for proper functioning
• Promoting stable pH balance in the cells, including the brain.
• Encouraging excellent blood sugar health
• Aiding in reducing the common signs of aging
• Promoting cellular hydroelectric energy creation
• Promoting the increased absorption capacities of food elements within the intestinal tract
• Aiding vascular health
• Supporting healthy respiratory function
• Lowering incidence of sinus problems, and promoting over-all sinus health
• Reducing muscle cramps
• Increasing bone strength
• Naturally promoting healthy sleep patterns
• Creating a healthy libido
• In combination with water, it is necessary for blood pressure regulation
• Prevents cellulite, when compared to table salt
• Reduces chances of developing rheumatism, arthritis and gout, when compared to common chemically-treated salt
• Reduces chances of developing kidney and gall bladder stones when compared to common chemically-treated salt

If you're still not convinced to use Himalayan Salt.. I wish you all the luck wearing your short summerdress with cellulite :|

xoxo
The Cookteaser.