Strawberries for A Sweet Tooth

So I've been having a serious sweet tooth lately. Chocolate cake. Oreos. Ferrero Rocher. Etc. Um ... yeah. Me being me, I had to nip this indulgence in the butt fast.

Fortunately, there are healthier alternatives that can tame this tooth. Smoothies, especially those with peanut butter. Sometimes a bowl of cereal will do the trick for me. Yogurt. This weekend I discovered another option - strawberries. The sweet (and not so much the sour) kind. Yes, strawberries. Here's the scoop on the nutrition facts:

*One cup of strawberries contains almost 150% Vitamin C and 30% Manganese.
*Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is beneficial for the skin, hair, and immune system. It is said to improve scalp circulation.
*Manganese is said to prevent slow hair growth.

So if you have a sweet tooth, maybe strawberries will work for you. If not, there are plenty of other fruits from which to choose. After all, mangos and bananas are much better for your hair and body than Skittles and ice cream.

**According to one article, strawberries are a fine choice for those with type II diabetes. However, as always, please CONSULT YOU DOCTOR before making any changes to your diet.

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STRAWBERRY NUTRITION FACTS
STRAWBERRY & DIABETES
VITAMIN C BENEFITS
VITAMINS FOR THE HAIR

Soy Smoothie Meets Green Smoothie

A few days ago ...

Ripe banana + soy milk about to expire + peanut butter about to expire + blender = smoothie time! I needed my "green" for the day, so I threw in two kale leaves as well. That is how Peanut Butter Banana Soy Smoothie transformed into Green Smoothie. The concoction may sound unappealing but boy was it delicious; I barely tasted a hint of raw kale, which is good because the leafy veggie tastes absolutely disgusting on its own. Thank goodness to Lina for introducing me to the world of green smoothies!

This post contains the original Peanut Butter Banana Soy Smoothie Recipe. Below is my recipe for the green version. Not only is this smoothie a great source of vitamins A and K (both from the kale), but it is also packed with vitamin C (kale & banana), protein (soy & peanut butter), potassium (banana), and more.


SOY SMOOTHIE meets GREEN SMOOTHIE

Ingredients (for one Serving):
1 cup soy milk (plain or vanilla)
1 medium banana - quartered
1 tablespoon peanut butter
3 ice cubes
2-3 kale leaves (use 4 or 5 if you're brave enough)

Instructions:
Add all ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth.

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For why green vegetables are so important for the hair and body, check out this earlier post.


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KALE NUTRITION FACTS

Final Wednesday's Hair Growth Tip!

10. Take your multivitamins!

I'm sure many of you have heard this before, so this may just be a reminder. For optimal hair growth, our body needs adequate nutrients from the foods we eat. Halt! Did you know that canned and frozen vegetables and fruits contain fewer vitamins than fresh vegetables and fruits? Did you know that boiled, steamed (yes, steamed), and microwaved veggies contain fewer nutrients than raw veggies? The same is true for certain meats, dairy products, etc. Therefore, it is possible that some of us are not absorbing sufficient nutrients from the "healthy" foods we do eat. With that being said, be sure to purchase and prepare your food for optimal nutrient absorption, or at the very least, invest in a good multi-vitamin to make up for that slack.

SOURCE & OTHER READS:
WOMEN & VITAMINS
VITAMIN DOSAGE
VITAMINS & COOKING METHODS
VITAMIN B-12 & MICROWAVE
VITAMIN B-6 & MICROWAVE
VITAMIN C & COOKING METHODS
VITAMIN C & FOOD PREPARATION
MULTIVITAMINS & CANCER