Chic-Shuk Secrets

 My top list of  Antioxidants-Rich Foods Healthy Choice:

1) Berries (Especially Blueberries)

Berries

2) Artichoke: 

Artichoke

3) Corn:

Corn

4) Broad Green Beans

5) Almonds:

Almonds

6) Apricot:

Apricot

7) Broccoli:

Broccoli

8) Lemon:

9) Dated:

Dated

10) Chiles:

Chiles

11) Garlic:

Garlic

12) Grapes:

13) Mango:

Mango

14) Squash:

Squash

15) Peppers (Especially Red Ones):

Peppers

16) Spinach:

Spinach

17) Carrots:

Carrots

18) Tomatoes:

Tomatoes

19) Green Tea:

Green Tea

20) Pineapple:

Pineapple

21) Red Beets:

Red Beets

22) Pinto Beans:

Pinto Beans

23) Pomegranates:

Pomegranates

24) Sweet Potatoes:

Sweet Potatoes

25) Whole Grain Brown Rice:

Brown Rice

26) Raw Nuts & Seeds

Raw Nuts & Seeds

27) Olive Oil:

Olive Oil

28) Red Wine:

Red Wine

29) Dark Chocolate:

Dark Chocolate

 30) Coffee:

Cup Of Coffee

Some food can benefits our skin in different levels. However, these following ones are at the top list, and are highly recommended if you wish to keep your natural beauty skin as healthy and glowing as possible, before even applying any type of facial creams or anti-aging products. It is simple-  Stay healthy and look great at the same time! Eat more of these foods:

• Wild Salmon: A prime source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce skin inflammation and prevent redness, wrinkles and future sagging

• Yogurt: (and make sure it is a low-fat one, of course) gives bone boosting and more calcium then a glass of skin milk.

• Oysters: Yes, ladies and gentlemens, Oysters are a top source of Zing, which helps build collagen and speed up skin renewal and repair.

• Blueberries: from my Antioxidants  list, blueberries are full of them, and can prevent long term cell damage.

• Kiwifruit: One of my favorite fruits. It is rich in potassium as banana, however add its plenty of vitamin C and you promote glowing, wrinkle free skin! Luv this one!

• Sweet Potatoes: full with Beta-carotene, which helps smooth the skin.

•  Tomatoes: are major source of lycopene, combined with their anitioxidants can protect against sunburn.

• Walnuts: rich with omega 3 and help fight against skin ailments like psoriasis and eczema.

• Dark Chocolate: last but not least, great news for the chocolate lovers: it is full with antioxidants and nutrients cocoa, which helps boost hydration, smoothness and protection against sun exposure.  (choose chocolates with %60 percent cocoa). 

You may find this surprising,  however, eating dark chocolate holds several Health Benefits AND Beauty Secrets :

A 12 weeks German study, which examined women who downed a cocoa-rich drink daily (equivalent of 3.5 ounces of Dark Chocolate), shows they experienced less dryness. Their skin had better blood flow which pinks the cheeks, and was even more resistant to Sun Damage, thanks to the Antioxidants! WOW… 

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries!), help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, balance certain hormones in the body and even helps reduce the risk of diabetes.

I guess now we can stop feeling bad about eating Chocolate! (As long as it is DARK…)

Laughter is a priceless medicine which is fun, free, and easy to use!

Ever wondered why smiling, laughing, happy people always look prettier?  There is a simple proven secret for that:  There are many health benefits of laughing, and our sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools we have to make certain that our daily mood and emotional state support good health.

Look how many benefits you can gain from a simple LAUGH:

• Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

• Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

• Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy, enhancing relationships and supporting both physical and emotional health. In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. With so much power to heal and renew, I recommend looking for several daily positions which can make you laugh, in order to improve your lifestyle and health!

Ever since I was a little girl, I remember my grandmother used to say: ”Olive oil is the best”. I never knew exactly why at that time, however became aware of its benefits later on. I used to add olive oil to everything, even when I deep fried food. Then one day, I read in a cooking magazine that deep frying using olive oil can be not less then- health risky. Many recipes call for cooking and salad oils, however selecting the best kind for various uses can confuse even seasoned cooks. 

In this post, I will explain how to choose the best oil for each purpose, keeping in mind flavor, health benefits, and cooking secrets.

A little about OILS :

Oils are mostly liquid at room temperature. They come from plants such as seeds like Grape or Sun-flower, fruits like Olives, nuts like Peanuts and legumes like Soybeans. Oils are %100 percent fat, however their fat is made up of various pro-portions of few fatty acids:

• The “GOOD” Fats: Poly-unsaturated and Mono-unsaturated. Those can help improve blood cholesterol profiles, ease arterial inflammation and stabilize heart rhythms, which result in a healthier cardiovascular system. 

• And, the “BAD” Fat: Saturated, which can elevate harmful cholesterol. Another “bad” fat in oils is: Trans fat, which is created by manufactures by altering the chemical structure of oil in order to increase its shelf life.

An Ideal all purpose oil will be, of course- low in Trans fat and Saturated fat and high in Mono/Poly-saturated fat. In addition, look for a “Cold-Pressed” processed since it means- preserving antioxidants and vitamins, therefore worth the extra cost.

It is very important knowing what is the Smoke Point of each oil you consume since the smoke point is the temperature at which oil burns, becomes health-risky and can easily start a fire. That is the main reason why certain oils are better for high heat cooking then other.

A number of factors can impact the smoke point of any fat: presence of sodium, number of times oil is used, length of time oil is heated or storage of oil (exposure to oxygen, light, temperature). Fats that have gone past their smoke points contain a large quantity of free radicals which contribute to risk of cancer.

Oils such as: extra virgin Olive, Peanut, Grapseeds and Seseme have mid-low Smoke-Point at approximately 320F / 160C degrees, therefore recommended for dressing, low-heat cooking or beauty products. However, oils like Canola and Sunflower or Soybean can be used for high-temperature cooking as deep-frying. 

Olive Oil

Canola Oil