Why is Vitamin D so important for our health?
Vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide issue that effects even those of us living in Malta. Studies have shown that a genetic factor may also be responsible for some of us being deficient in this important vitamin. See here Vitamin D is essential for: Absorption and utilisation of calcium and phosphorus Maintaining healthy bones and teeth A healthy immune system Normal muscle function Helps to maintain normal blood calcium levels The...
Everything I learnt about cooking with whole spices from That Indian Food Guy
Anyone who knows me or has ever read my blog posts knows how much I love spices. So, it is no wonder that Facebook’s algorithm picked up on that and I stumbled across That Indian Food Guy’s cooking class event one day. As I continued to read more about this event, I discovered that there’s this guy who teaches people how to cook authentic recipes passed down through generations of amazing Indian home cooks BUT with...
5 foods that will help you relax
Veggy Malta looks at five simple ways to help us relax using food and natural products. It is useful to learn how to cope with stressful moments using a natural medicine box. We look at 5 different ways using odours and food that may help you relax. Every different type of food is made up of different chemicals, nutrients and vitamins. They are these properties that make one food better than another for specific reason. You an look at...
10 Brain Foods to help boost your focus and memory
Veggy Malta has a look at what foods help power our brains to work better. After all there is a correlation between the food we eat and how the brain function. So lets have a look at what you can eat that will help your focus and memory. What are the best brain foods? Here is a list of ten brain foods that are good for mind and body. Beetroot. This much disliked but pretty vegetable is a memory secret weapon. If you have a problem...
How to best clean your fruit and vegetables from pesticides
Veggy Malta looks into the issue of pesticides on our fruit and vegetables. There is no doubt to the fact that we are supposed to eat more fruit and vegetables. The problem is that pesticides might be present in the fruits and vegetables we eat. That is because they are used during the cultivation of the crops. Unfortunately they also remain as resides outside and inside, depending on the type of pesticide used. There is also a lot of...
Apple Cider Vinegar – main health benefits
Veggy Malta looks into an old product with a new boost in popularity – apple cider vinegar (ACV). It is the most popular type of vinegar in the natural health community. In fact there is a long tradition of it being a home remedy product, used to treat all sorts of ailments. Whilst not all of these are as yet proven scientifically, more studies are being done on this product. Bean salads and cooked whole grains go well with...
Raw vegan diet – an introduction, benefits and considerations
Veggy Malta looks into a topic that is gaining popularity; raw veganism. So what is raw vegan? Essentially raw veganism is the combination of veganism with raw foodism. Being vegan on one part, that means that it will exclude all food and products that are of animal origin and this even includes by products like honey or cheese. On the other hand it excludes any food which is cooked above 48 °C (118 °F). [1] A raw food diet, usually...
Mushrooms, tofu and sunlight have one thing in common – vitamin D
Are you getting your daily requirement of Vitamin D? Although you might think that the Maltese shouldn’t have a problem, even in this sunny Mediterranean island, the probability is that we are not getting our full dosage of Vitamin D. There are common risk factors for vitamin D deficiency [1]: Having dark skin. Being elderly. Being overweight or obese. Always using sunscreen when going out. Staying indoors. So how can you get...
Amazing health benefits of Rosemary – a Mediterranean plant you should have at home
Veggy Malta takes a closer look at Rosemary, a typical Maltese (and Mediterranean) plant locally know as Klin. It is in fact native to the Mediterranean area. Grow your own rosemary Whilst you can find it dried, or even fresh from any shop, it is a plant you can easily grow in your herb garden at home. It is a bit tricky to grow, but it is a beginner-level plant. Rosemary is a great container-plant or alternatively you can grow it in...
Spelt – the health benefits of this ancient and natural grain
You have heard the word spelt, but what exactly is it? In short, it is an ancient grain that was very abundant in Europe and lost it’s place with the introduction of engineered flour. Spelt flour is a substitute to wheat or white flour. It still contains gluten and is richer in many nutrients. It also has a slightly nutty flavour. History of spelt Let’s start with the history. Although it might seem the new boy in town,...
9 health benefits of turmeric
Veggy Malta looks at Turmeric. A spice used for over 4000 in India since the Vedic cultural that is finally being recognised in the west for its natural benefits. It grows wild in the forests of Southern Asia including India, Indonesia, China along with some Pacific islands [1]. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. Whilst somewhat unsure, it is believed that the word turmeric comes from the Latin words terra merita...
10 health benefits of ginger – just as Confucius would have recommended
Although ginger is one of the oldest spices in the world, we are today rediscovering it’s many health benefits. The word comes all the way from the Sanskrit word singabera, which means in the shape of a horn. The word evolved in Greek as zingiberis, as Medieval Latin as gingiber and as Old English as gingifer. We can find it in the writings of Confucius as way back as 5th century BC. In fact Confucius said ginger is pungent,...
15 products that may seem vegetarian but in fact are non-vegetarian!
There are many products in the market that subtly contain animal based ingredients. What vegetarians and vegans learn is to look at the label and ingredients and try to scan if there are animal based ingredients inside it. Sometimes it is easy, but in some cases it is less easy. It is clearly frustrating for vegetarians (and vegans) to find that a food they have been eating contains meat or animal products. 15 non-vegetarian foods...
Ten reasons why fresh organic vegetables are good for you and the world
If you are unsure whether you should buy your fresh vegetables and fruit organic (and packaged products) or not, here are some reasons that can help you decide to go organic. Regardless if you are a vegetarian or vegan, opting to go organic is probably a smart choice both for your health and our planet’s health. In most cases, people opt and choose to buy organic as a health choice (which has environmental pluses). As part of...
Vegetarian or Vegan – What is the difference?
For those who have are not vegetarian or vegan, the difference between the two might be a bit hazy. Some might actually ask what s the difference? They both don’t eat beef! Let’s try to make sense of what the choices are. Especially for those that might be interested in trying this lifestyle. What should you look forward to (and more importantly, what will you no longer be consuming). The main difference is simple. Vegans...