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11 Benefits of Black Tea that You Didn’t Know About

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Have you ever heard people criticizing your choices in having caffeinated drinks like tea and coffee? Though over-indulging in anything will have negative consequences, having an extra cup of black tea might not be as bad as you might have imagined.

Personally I love my perfect cup of tea. It’s how I like to begin my day—not to help me wake up, but rather I like to enjoy a tasteful cup of bliss first thing in the morning. When it comes to herbal, green or black tea, different things suit different people and a doctor’s recommendation should never be overlooked, but for most of us, indulging in a cup or two of black tea might in fact be a healthy life choice, as some studies have shown.

Both green and black tea are made from a shrub called Camellia Sinesis, but with different processing methods. In addition to the leaves being withered, rolled and heated, black tea leaves are fermented before the final heating process.

Below are 11 health benefits of having a cup or two of black tea on a regular basis, though it should be noted that it is recommended that black tea should be consumed without any additives like milk or sugar to truly harness its benefits.

1. Oral Health: Studies funded by the Tea Trade Health Research Association suggests that black tea reduces plaque formation as well as restricts bacteria growth that promotes the formation of cavities and tooth decays. Polyphenols found in black tea kill and surpass cavity-causing bacteria as well as hinder the growth of bacterial enzymes that form the sticky-like material that binds plaque to our teeth.

2. A Better Heart: As identified by Arab L. et al. in their 2009 research paper called “ Green and black tea consumption and risk of stroke: a meta-analysis”, it is seen that regardless of people’s country of origin, individuals who consume 3 or more cups of tea had a 21% lower risk of a stroke than people who consume less than 1 cup of green or black tea per day.

3. Antioxidants: Black tea contains polyphenols, which are also antioxidants that help block DNA damage associated with tobacco or other toxic chemicals. These antioxidants are different from those obtained from fruits and vegetables and therefore as a regular part of our diet they can provide additional benefits towards a healthy lifestyle.

4. Cancer Prevention: Though a lot more research is required to confidently suggest cancer prevention techniques, some research over the years suggests that antioxidants like polyphenol and catechins in tea may help prevent some types of cancer. It has been suggested that women who drink black tea regularly have a lower chance of ovarian cancer than their counterparts.

5. Healthy Bones: It has also been suggested that regular tea drinkers have stronger bones and lower probability of developing arthritis due to the phytochemicals found in tea.

Healthy Spaghetti Bolognese

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INGREDIENTS

  • 1 large red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 400g lean (5% fat) minced beef
  • 2 cans chopped tomatoes
  • 1 beef Oxo cube
  • Good splash Worcester sauce
  • 6-8 fresh basil leaves
  • Frylight Olive Oil cooking spray
  • Salt and fresh ground pepper
  • Spaghetti
  • Parmesan

METHOD

Heat a large frying pan or saucepan and spritz with Frylight Olive Oil. Toss in the chopped onion and cook for a minute or two until softened. Add the minced garlic and stir, taking care not to let it burn (it turns bitter!). Add the minced beef and cook until browned, breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon.

When the beef has browned, pour in both cans of chopped tomatoes. Crumble in the Oxo cube and add a good splash of Worcester sauce and stir through. Add the lid to your pan, turn the heat to low and let your dish work its magic…

The longer you leave this to cook, the better the taste! I like to leave mine on low for 1 hour +, but if you’re in a rush, 20 – 30 minutes won’t disappoint.

When you’re almost ready to serve, add your pasta to a pan of boiling water and cook according to the packet instructions.

Whilst your pasta is cooking, add your salt and pepper seasoning to your bolognese and throw in some torn basil leaves, too.

Serve in big, generous bowls with a sprinkling of freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Slimming World Mushroom Soup

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s=speed weight loss  

ss=super speed weight loss

ff= free foods  

sff= super free food

Serves 4


Ingredients

  • 1 Ltr Hot vegetable stock
  • 100g white mushrooms, chopped finely (s)(sff)
  • 1 onion, chopped finely (s)(sff)
  • 1 celery stick, chopped finely (s)(sff)
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped finely (sff)
  • 1 tsp mixed herbs

Method


Spray a saucepan with Fry light and add the onion and garlic and “sweat” for 5 mins.
Add mushrooms and cook for a few minutes then add the hot stock, herbs, and bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 mins.
Remove from the heat and part liquidise, leaving small pieces of mushroom, with a hand blender, add seasoning to taste, simmer for a further 15 mins.

 CREDIT : MINIMINS

Slimming world Onion Soup

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s=speed weight loss

ss=super speed weight loss

  ff= free foods

sff= super free food

Serves 4


Ingredients

  • 3 medium onions (s)(sff)
  • 1 tbsp. sweetener
  • 1 Ltr beef stock (Knorr rich beef stock pot)
  • 1 tsp garlic(sff)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 56g low fat cheddar cheese, grated (from daily allowance) or 8syn in total
  • 1 tsp Dried thyme
  • 2 slices from a 400g loaf=1 Heb
  • * 175mL medium white wine=6 syn

Method

Cook the onions and garlic in a pan sprayed with Fry Light until soft, add the sweetener and *white wine, continue to cook for 35-40 mins on a low/medium heat, stirring regularly until they are soft, sticky and sweet.


Add stock, thyme, salt & pepper and cook for a further 20 mins.

Prepare two slightly stale slices of bread (from your daily allowance) rub with the garlic clove then cover with the cheese and place under the grill and cook until the cheese is bubbling.

Either cut the bread and float it on the soup or as a side dish!

CREDIT : MINIMINS

11 Benefits of Lemon Water You Didn’t Know About

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Krissy Brady is a women’s health + lifestyle writer who’s so out of shape, it’s like she has the innards of an 80-year-old.

I was first introduced to the concept of lemon water when I started doing yoga. An avid drinker (of water!), it was refreshing to learn a new spin on an old favorite. When I started having a glass of lemon water every morning, it was after learning only two of the benefits of lemon water. Little did I know just how many there are!

Why lemons?

Lemons are packed like a clown car with nutrients, including vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. (Fun fact: they contain more potassium than apples or grapes!)

Because of how hard lemon juice can be on the enamel of your teeth, it’s important to dilute it with water of any temperature (though lukewarm is recommended). Drink it first thing in the morning, and wait 15 to 30 minutes to have breakfast. This will help you fully receive the benefits of lemon water, which are listed below.

11 Benefits of Lemon Water

1. Gives your immune system a boost.

Vitamin C is like our immune system’s jumper cables, and lemon juice is full of it. The level of vitamin C in your system is one of the first things to plummet when you’re stressed, which is why experts recommended popping extra vitamin C during especially stressful days.

2. Excellent source of potassium.

As already mentioned, lemons are high in potassium, which is good for heart health, as well as brain and nerve function.

3. Aids digestion.

Lemon juice not only encourages healthy digestion by loosening toxins in your digestive tract, it helps to relieve symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, burping, and bloating.


4. Cleanses your system.

It helps flush out the toxins in your body by enhancing enzyme function, stimulating your liver.

5. Freshens your breath.

It also helps relieve toothaches and gingivitis (say wha?). Because the citric acid can erode tooth enamel, either hold off on brushing your teeth after drinking lemon water or brush your teeth before drinking it.

6. Keeps your skin blemish-free.

The antioxidants in lemon juice help to not only decrease blemishes, but wrinkles too! It can also be applied to scars and age spots to reduce their appearance, and because it’s detoxifying your blood, it will maintain your skin’s radiance.

7. Helps you lose weight.

Lemons contain pectin fiber, which assists in fighting hunger cravings.

8. Reduces inflammation.

If you drink lemon water on a regular basis, it will decrease the acidity in your body, which is where disease states occur. It removes uric acid in your joints, which is one of the main causes of inflammation.

9. Gives you an energy boost.

Lemon juice provides your body with energy when it enters your digestive tract, and it also helps reduce anxiety and depression. (Even the scent of lemons has a calming effect on your nervous system!)

10. Helps to cut out caffeine.

I didn’t believe this until I tried it, but replacing my morning coffee with a cup of hot lemon water has really done wonders! I feel refreshed, and no longer have to deal with that pesky afternoon crash. Plus, my nerves are thankful.

11. Helps fight viral infections.

Warm lemon water is the most effective way to diminish viral infections and their subsequent sore throats. Plus, with the lemon juice also boosting your immune system, you’ll simultaneously fight off the infection completely.

How much?

or those who weigh less than 150 pounds, squeeze half a lemon’s worth of juice into a glass of water. If over 150 pounds, use an entire lemon’s juice. You can of course dilute the lemon juice more, depending on your personal taste.

Not only are the benefits of lemon water endless, it’s one of the most substantial yet simple changes you can make for your health.

Is lemon water part of your daily routine? Let us know in the comments!

ARTICLE SOURCE : http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/11-benefits-lemon-water-you-didnt-know-about.html




Italian chicken pasta bake

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Serves 4
Syn free on extra easy if using the cheese as a healthy extra

This is a fab easy one pot dinner, I love Italian flavours of tomato, garlic and basil but you can vary the herbs if you don’t like basil try oregano or even mixed herbs if you like them or if that’s what you have in the cupboard.

I used chicken thighs as I prefer the flavour but if you like you could use chicken breasts if you prefer them. I measured the pasta in mugs as I have always done this as I usually average one mug of pasta makes enough for two people.

ingredients

  • 8 boneless chicken thighs ( skin and fat removed) cut into bite sized pieces
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 2 mugs dry pasta (I used penne but any shape will do)
  • 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree
  • 1 x 500g pack passata
  • 2 tsp dried basil
  • 160g low fat grated cheese
  • low cal spray oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper

method

Cook the pasta in plenty of salted boiling water until just cooked then drain and set aside.
Spray a large frying pan or wok with the spray oil and place over a medium/high heat and add the chicken and onion cook for about ten minutes until the chicken is browned and cooked through and the onion is soft.
Add the garlic, basil, tomato puree, passata and salt and pepper.  Mix well and cook for another five minutes then add in the cooked pasta and mix again.
Place in a large ovenproof dish and sprinkle the cheese on top.

Bake at gas 6 /200/ 400 for about 20-30 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned.

source 




Crispy Chilli Beef

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Crispy Chilli Beef

7 syns for the whole lot – serves 3
2 syns for the cornflour. The rest is free.

Ingredients

  • 400g thinly sliced beef steaks
  • 1 chilli chopped finely
  • 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons cornflour
  • 1 head of broccoli chopped up
  • 5 spring onions sliced lengthways
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 5 tablespoons soy sauce mixed

Method

 

Toss the meat in the cornflour until it’s evenly coated and then fry off and seal in a very hot wok sprayed with frylite
Set the meat aside and then put the garlic and chilli in the wok making sure to scrape all the meat bits and mix well
Add the spring onions and broccoli and then the soya sauce until it starts to bubble
Stir in the beef and cook for a further ten minutes.

SYN FREE LEMON MERINGUE PIE

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SYN FREE LEMON MERINGUE PIE
SYN FREE ,LEMON,MERINGUE PIE

Use a electric whisk. You can do it by hand but it will take time and you’ll get a much lighter meringue with an electric whisk.

Ingredients

  • 1 Tub Quark (250g)
  • 1 Lemon
  • 3 Eggs (Medium)
  • 4 tbsp Sweetener

Preparation
 
Grate lemon rind and juice.
Separate egg whites/yolks.

Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F

Put the Quark into a mixing bowl and give it a good stir/beat to loosen it up and make it smooth and creamy.

Lightly grate the lemon rind on the fine side of a grater. Add to the mixing bowl.

Juice the lemon and add to the mixing bowl.

Tip: Put the lemon in the microwave for 10-30 seconds (depending on wattage). This releases the juice and you get more.

Add egg yolks and 2 tablespoons of sweetener.

Give the contents of the mixing bowl a vigorously stir with a big spoon. Make sure the yolks are broken and thoroughly blended in.

Split the lemon/quark mixture between 4 ramekins. Fill to just over halfway (2/3 max). Use another ramekins rather than over fill.

If you don’t have ramekins you can put in a pie dish (and portion after it’s cooked).

Tip: If you use a pie dish don’t use a small deep one. If you pack this too deep you’ll end up with gooey eggy filling and under-cooked meringue.

Put on a baking tray and cook for 10 minutes.

*While they are in the oven*

Put the egg whites in bowl and whisk until you get a white foam that is stiff enough to hold a peak when you remove the whisk.
Tip: Don’t use the bowl you’ve just used for the quark unless you’ve washed and thoroughly dried it.

Gradually add 2 tablespoons of sweetener into the white foam (while still whisking). Don’t tip the sweetener in; sprinkle it like you would do putting it on cereal.

Tip: Use powdered sweetener if you can. Granulated will work, powdered is better.

You can over whisk it, so stop as soon as it is thick and glossy and holds its shape.

*This is where an electric whisk comes in handy otherwise you could still be whisking when the lemon filling needs to come out of the oven*

After 10 minutes, take the ramekins out of the oven and gently spoon meringue equally over each one.

Put back in the oven and cook for 5 minutes.

Serve chilled.

ARTICLE SOURCE : http://www.socialslimmers.com/slimming-world-recipes/2453-syn-free-lemon-meringue-pie.html

LEMON SPONGE FINGERS

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LEMON ,SPONGE, FINGERS, LEMON SPONGE,slimming,

 

(3 = 1 SYN)

INGREDIENTS (makes about 27-30 and only 9 SYNS total )

SPONGE FINGERS
2 Eggs
1.5 Tblsp Splenda
Grated rind of 1 lemon
50g Plain Flour, sifted

TOPPING
Juice of 1 lemon
2 tblsp sweetener or more to taste
Quark
A few drops of orange essence

PREHEAT OVEN TO 160 fan/ 190 C/ 375F / GM5
Line 2 trays with baking paper

In a kitchen mixer , whisk the eggs , lemon rind and splenda for 10 minutes on full speed. The mixture should become mousse-like

Fold in the flour carefully, making sure it is well stirred in.

Pour into an icing syringe or piping bag with a star end nozzle. Pipe finger length amounts onto the trays. This should make between 27 and 30 fingers.

Cook for 6-8 minutes until golden brown . Cool.

Meanwhile mix the lemon juice within the sweetener and microwave for 30 seconds. Slowly add the quark until a thick consistency is reached. Add orange essence and sweetener to taste.

Pipe on top of fingers.

Only 9 SYNS for the whole lot!!

Experiment by omitting lemon and using cinnamon or mixed spice (1tsp) or vanilla essence. If chocolate required – work out additional SYNS.

Enjoy

ARTICLE SOURCE : MINIMINS  

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