home cooking Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Banana–Walnut Cake with Blackberry–Almond Butter Sauce Recipe

The AHA! Team — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 05:36:46 +0000

Recipe via Nutrition Facts – Banana–Walnut Cake with Blackberry–Almond Butter Sauce Recipe Recipe by: Dr. Michael Greger & Robin Robertson from The How Not to Diet Cookbook This cake is a great way to use overripe bananas. The riper the banana, the sweeter the flavor, so just a small amount of Date Syrup is needed. Coarsely crushed walnuts provide a welcome crunch, and the Blackberry-Almond Butter Sauce adds a bit of healthy decadence if you want to spoon it over the cake. COURSE: Dessert DIFFICULTY: Moderate SERVINGS: 9 Ingredients ▢ 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds ▢ 2 tablespoons warm water (for the flaxseed) ▢ 1½ cups mashed ripe bananas (2 to 3 large bananas) ▢ ¼ cup unsweetened soy milk ▢ ¼ cup Date Syrup ▢ 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ▢ 1 cup almond flour ▢ ½ cup oat flour ▢ 1½ teaspoons aluminum- and sodium-free baking powder ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ▢ ½ cup coarsely crushed walnuts (optional) Instructions In a small cup or bowl, combine the flaxseeds and water. Stir well, then set aside for 10 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8-inch (20-cm) square baking pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the mashed bananas, soy milk, Date Syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and flaxseed mixture. Mix well. Whisk in the almond flour, oat flour, baking powder, and cinnamon until evenly mixed. Fold in the walnuts. If the batter is too thick, stir in a little more soy milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. Transfer the cake batter into the prepared baking pan and smooth the top. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Remove the pan from the oven and set aside to cool completely. Once cool, invert the cake onto a plate. Cut the cake into squares and place each serving on a small dessert plate. Spoon some of the Blackberry-Almond Butter Sauce over each serving (if using). To read the original article click here.

The post Banana–Walnut Cake with Blackberry–Almond Butter Sauce Recipe appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Is Stainless Steel or Cast Iron Cookware Best? Is Teflon Safe?

The AHA! Team — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 06:38:10 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – What is the best type of pots and pans to use? In my last video, I expressed concerns about the use of aluminum cookware. So, what’s the best type of pots and pans to use? As I discuss in my video Stainless Steel or Cast Iron: Which Cookware Is Best? Is Teflon Safe?, stainless steel is an excellent option. It’s the metal chosen for use “in applications where safety and hygiene are considered to be of the utmost importance, such as kitchenware.” But what about studies showing that the nickel and chromium in stainless steel, which keeps the iron in stainless unstained by rust, can leach into foods during cooking? The leaching only seems to occur when the cookware is brand new. “Metal leaching decreases with sequential cooking cycles and stabilizes after the sixth cooking cycle,” after the sixth time you cook with it. Under more common day-to-day conditions, the use of stainless steel pots is considered to be safe even for most people who are acutely sensitive to those metals. A little leaching metal can even be a good thing in the case of straight iron, like a cast iron skillet, which can have the “beneficial effect” of helping to improve iron status and potentially reduce the incidence of iron deficiency anemia among children and women of reproductive age. The only caveat is that you don’t want to fry in cast iron. Frying isn’t healthy regardless of cookware type, but, at hot temperatures, vegetable oil can react with the iron to create trans fats. What about using nonstick pans? Teflon, also known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), “is used as an inner coating material in nonstick cookware.” Teflon’s dark history was the subject of a 2019 movie called Dark Waters, starring Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hathaway. Employees in DuPont’s Teflon division started giving birth to babies with deformities before “DuPont removed all female staff” from the unit. Of course, the corporation buried it all, hiding it from regulators and the public. “Despite this significant history of industry knowledge” about how toxic some of the chemicals used to make Teflon were, it was able to keep it hidden until, eventually, it was forced to settle for more than half a billion dollars after one of the chemicals was linked to “kidney and testicular cancers, pregnancy-induced hypertension, ulcerative colitis, and high cholesterol.” “At normal cooking temperatures, PTFE-coated cookware releases various gases and chemicals that present mild to severe toxicity.” As you can see below and at 2:38 in my video, different gases are released at different temperatures, and their toxic effects have been documented. You’ve heard of “canaries in the coal mine”? This is more like “canaries in the kitchen, as cooking with Teflon cookware is well known to kill pet birds,” and Teflon-coated heat lamp bulbs can wipe out half a flock of chickens. “Apart from the gases released during heating the cooking pans, the coating itself starts damaging after a certain period. Some of the Teflon can start chipping off and make its way into the food It is normally advised to use slow heating when cooking in Teflon-coated pans,” but you can imagine how consumers might ignore that. And, if you aren’t careful, some of the Teflon can start chipping off and make its way into the food, though the effects of ingestion are unknown. I could find only one study that looks at the potential human health effects of cooking with nonstick pots and pans. Researchers found that the use of nonstick cookware was associated with about a 50 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer, but that may be because of what they were cooking. “Non-stick cookware is used in hazardous cooking methods (i.e. broiling, frying, grilling or barbecuing) at high temperatures mainly for meat, poultry or fish,” in which carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCA) are formed from the animal protein. Then, the animal fat can produce another class of carcinogens called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Though it’s possible it was the Teflon itself, which contains suspected carcinogens like that C8 compound from the movie Dark Waters, also known as PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid. “Due to toxicity concerns, PFOA has been replaced with other chemicals such as GenX, but these new alternatives are also suspected to have similar toxicity.” We’ve already so contaminated the Earth with it, though, that we can get it prepackaged in food before it’s even cooked, particularly in dairy products, fish, and other meat; now, “meat is the main source of human exposure” to these toxic pollutants. Of those, seafood is the worst. In a study of diets from around the world, fish and other seafood were “major contributors” of the perfluoroalkyl substances, as expected, given that everything eventually flows into the sea. Though the aquatic food chain is the “primary transfer mechanism” for these toxins into the human diet, “food stored or prepared in greaseproof packaging materials,” like microwave popcorn, may also be a source. In 2019, Oral-B Glide dental floss was tested. Six out of 18 dental floss products researchers tested showed evidence of Teflon-type compounds. Did those who used those kinds of floss end up with higher levels in their bloodstream? Yes, apparently so. Higher levels of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid were found in Oral-B Glide flossers, as you can see below and at 5:28 in my video. There are a lot of environmental exposures in the modern world we can’t avoid, but we shouldn’t make things worse by adding them to consumer products. At least we have some power to “lower [our] personal exposure to these harmful chemicals.” This is the second in a three-video series on cookware. The first was Are Aluminum Pots, Bottles, and Foil Safe?, and the next is Are Melamine Dishes and Polyamide Plastic Utensils Safe?. What about pressure cooking? I covered that in Does Pressure Cooking Preserve Nutrients?. So, what is the safest way to prepare meat? See Carcinogens in Meat. Key Takeaways While concerns exist about nickel and chromium leaching from stainless steel cookware, these typically diminish with use. Stainless steel is generally considered safe for cooking, even for those sensitive to these metals. Cooking with cast iron can increase iron intake, potentially benefiting iron-deficiency anemia. However, frying in cast iron can lead to the formation of trans fats. Teflon (PTFE) coating in nonstick cookware has raised health concerns due to the release of toxic gases and chemicals at normal cooking temperatures. Prolonged use or overheating can damage the coating, leading to ingestion of Teflon particles. Research suggests a potential link between the use of nonstick cookware and an increased risk of colorectal cancer, possibly due to the cooking methods used with these pans and the formation of carcinogens. Chemicals like PFOA, used in nonstick coatings, have widespread environmental contamination, affecting food sources like seafood. Meat is the main source of human exposure to these toxic pollutants. Additionally, consumer products like dental floss may contain similar compounds, contributing to personal exposure. To read the original article click here.

The post Is Stainless Steel or Cast Iron Cookware Best? Is Teflon Safe? appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

10 Best Healthy Recipes of 2020 – Keep It Going in 2021!

AHA Publisher — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 08:00:33 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Although 2020 was a tough year, there was a silver lining in one area of nutrition. Many people started cooking more homemade foods rather than going out or buying convenience foods. When it comes to health and a healthy weight, this is a big win. This habit is a great goal for 2021 as well! (Although, it’s definitely fun to go out every once in a while.) Here are the 10 best healthy recipes from 2020 on this site. The first 7 are in no particular order. Then, the top 3 are revealed at the bottom. Enjoy these recipes in the new year as well. And, don’t forget to check out your opportunity to win a copy of the new book: Gut Zone by Dr. Colbert! 10 Best Healthy Recipes of 2020 – Dr. Cobert.com EASY AUTUMN KETO PAN SHEET MEAL If you need an easy, quick, weeknight meal, look no further than this Easy Autumn Keto Pan Sheet Dinner. The flavors of onions and sausage are signature Autumn flavors, but it’s great any time of year. You can prepare it in just a few minutes, and do something else while it cooks. It’s delicious. KETO ONION RINGS Onions are great, healthy, high-phytochemical vegetables. They get a delicious makeover with this keto version of onion rings. Just like traditional onion rings, these are fantastic alongside a burger or other dish. Additionally, onions support heart health, healthy blood sugars, digestive health, and bone health (1)! COLLAGEN CHOCOLATE CARAMELS Whose skin couldn’t use a little collagen refresh right now? These delicious fat bomb desserts are easy to make, combine chocolate and caramel, and are great for your health. Divine Health’s Hydrolyzed Collagen supports joint, skin, and digestive health. Amazingly, they contain only 1 gram net carb per square! KETO ZONE NON-ALCOHOLIC LEMON BERRY SPRITZER Just because you’re in the Keto Zone doesn’t mean you’re stuck with only water to drink. Give yourself a treat and make this Lemon Berry Spritzer in 2021! This delicious beverage combines sparkling water, lemon juice and berries. Together, they support healthy skin, provide fiber, hydrate, and encourage whole-body health. ZUCCHINI PIZZA CRUST It’s always a good idea to have a few great keto pizza crusts at your disposal. This one was a hit! Zucchinis are an amazingly healthy vegetable that can be used in many ways in the Keto Zone diet. You can use them from stick noodles, lasagna noodles, and now pizza crust! BEST KETO BARBEQUE SAUCE Barbeque sauce can make almost anything taste better, but there’s a drawback. Traditional barbeque sauce is loaded with sugar! The next time you need some, make this favorite keto barbeque sauce instead. Then, add it to your burgers, chicken, zucchini fries, or keto onion rings! SCRUMPTIOUS PECAN PIE CHEESECAKE This pecan pie cheesecake is simply too good to resist. Thankfully, you don’t have to even try to resist it, because unlike traditional cheesecakes it nourishes you with healthy ingredients like pecans, almonds, and cinnamon. It only contains 4 grams of net carbs per serving! It does take a bit of time to prepare, so make sure you set aside the time. Then enjoy the best keto dessert of 2020! 3 Best Healthy Recipes on DrColbert.com for 2020 #3 KETO ZONE COLD CUCUMBER SOUP Did you know cucumbers contain antioxidants that are specifically good for artery health? They are also great to reduce bloating (they are a natural, gentle diuretic) and promote digestive health. This recipe is full of cucumber nourishment and a delicious flavor. It’s perfect in place of a salad, and especially when the weather warms up. #2 ENERGIZING GREEN BASIL SMOOTHIE This green basil smoothie is loaded with energizing ingredients: basil, lemon, blueberries, Keto Zone MCT Oil Powder, and Divine Health Fermented Green Supremefood®! Drink this for breakfast and lunch for long-lasting delicious daytime energy! #1 KETO ZONE OYSTER STEW In 2020, we started the New Year with a delicious, ultra-nourishing Keto Zone Oyster Stew. While you might realize that oyster stew is traditional New Year’s food, did you know that oysters offer many health benefits? They are a low-carb heart-healthy, brain-healthy food. They contain crucial minerals (like copper, zinc, selenium, and iron), B-Vitamins, Vitamin D, and an amazing unique antioxidant called 3,5-Dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol (DHMBA). In studies, DHMBA has been found to be 15 times per powerful at quenching free radicals than synthetic Vitamin E (2). What About You? What Are Your Best Healthy Recipes & Keto Zone Tips How has the Keto Zone and/or recipes changed your life in the past weeks, months, or years? We want to know! Send us your own testimonial regarding Keto Zone, Dr. Colbert’s Keto Zone books, and/or Keto Zone recipes. Simply text your unbiased testimonial with pictures or video to (407)512-9807 or email it to testimony@ketozone.com. Entry Rules: Each testimonial that includes a picture or video will be entered in a drawing to win Dr. Colbert’s new book, Dr. Colbert’s Healthy Gut Zone. To make sure you are entered, send in your testimonial as directed above. Then, add a comment below and let us know you sent it in! Make sure to indicate if you sent a picture or video. A winner will be randomly chosen at the end of January 2021. Bottom Line These amazing recipes are a great kick-off for the New Year. We will continue to bring delicious, healthy, low-carb, high-nutrition recipes in 2021! To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

The post 10 Best Healthy Recipes of 2020 – Keep It Going in 2021! appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.