Tag: healthy

MUSHROOMS ARE TRUE SUPER FOOD

Freak of Natural Staff

  Solid are the foundations and evidence that mushrooms are real all round cure, a real super food capable of benefiting those who consume them regularly in various ways. There is however something to consider carefully. Mushrooms absorb very easily the elements present in the environment in which they grow through soil, air and humidity. This characteristic determines that mushrooms grown in soils polluted by heavy metals, or in particularly polluted areas, fill them with substances that are harmful to us, counteracting the numerous nutritional benefits that they would have…

SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS COUNTLESS PROPERTIES

Freak of Natural Staff

  Shiitake mushrooms are native to Japan. These medium-sized mushrooms have a soft consistency and a pleasant and delicate taste that recalls that of the Porcino mushrooms. They have always been used in the millenary oriental tradition for their countless properties. They are widely used in traditional oriental medicine and there are numerous publications in which the antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties of these mushrooms, sometimes also referred to as a natural “viagra”, are recognized and discussed. Shiitake are today among the most cultivated, consumed and appreciated mushrooms in the…

MILK KEFIR GRAIN: Let’s eat them

Freak of Natural Staff

  Milk Kefir grains are the starter culture that is used to make not only kefir, but various foods including cheese and bread.  Kefir grains can be used for countless recipes rather than being eaten on their own. From my personal experience I know that most of my self-producing colleagues often end up having so many grains that they don’t know where to store them. Many ask me what to do with the extra grains they still have after refrigerating them, drying, sharing around and so on. Your kefir grains…

PROBIOTICS vs. PREBIOTICS: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Freak of Natural Staff

  The idea that bacteria can be beneficial for our body can be difficult for someone to assimilate. Especially in this period, where we are increasingly pushed to take antibiotics, sterilize surfaces and hands with antibacterial gels and lotions, wear masks, etc. The truth is that there are millions of bacteria in our bodies, even more than our own cells. It is therefore necessary to make a distinction without generalizing, since if it is undeniable that some bacteria can create serious problems for us, some of them that we will…

LACTIC FERMENTATION: THE SAUERKRAUT RECIPE

Freak of Natural Staff

  Sauerkraut are healthy and easy to prepare at home. The result of lactic fermentation, many versions can be made and be used in even more recipes. The origin of sauerkraut has ancient and surprising roots. It appears that as early as 4000 BC in China, cabbage was fermented using lactic fermentation. Later they got to Europe and spread rapidly around the world thanks to the simplicity of its preparation, combined with the benefits associated with the consumption of this food rich in lactic and probiotic enzymes. LET’S MAKE SAUERKRAUT:…

VEGAN PANNA COTTA RECIPE WITH AGAR-AGAR

Freak of Natural Staff

  Most of us have already enjoyed “panna cotta” dessert at least once in our lives. A Northern Italian recipe based on fresh cream and a few other ingredients that gently blend into a delicate and delicious dessert. Today we invite you to try a variant of this vegan dessert made with coconut milk and the addition of Agar Agar, a thickening agent of vegetable origin instead the common jelly of animal origin. If you are not familiar with this product extracted from certain red seaweeds, I invite you to …

AGAR-AGAR: What is it, Uses and Benefits

Freak of Natural Staff

WHAT IS AGAR AGAR? Agar is a type of vegetable gelatin created from various species of seaweed, which offers many health benefits, in addition to being a great ally for vegans. The handling of this food began hundreds of years ago with the Japanese. Nowadays, it’s still being used by conscious consumers and more. So, let’s get to know a little more about this product, its different uses and benefits for consumption! Agar-agar is a gelatin that some type of red seaweed contain in their cells. It can be extracted from…

EDIBLE SEAWEEDS: Species, Properties and Benefits

Freak of Natural Staff

  Eating sushi you may have wondered which seaweed were eating and what edible seaweeds are used around the world. The species of edible seaweeds are more than one might think, as well as the nutritional benefits that characterize them. Although seaweeds are known  for being an integral part of Chinese and Japanese traditional coastal cuisine, their use in gastronomy has evolved to make it a very popular ingredient these days. Each species of edible seaweed is rich in specific nutrients such as antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and fibers. Many also…

MICROGREEN NUTRITIONAL VALUES

Freak of Natural Staff

  Microgreens are increasingly used to prepare sophisticated dishes for increasingly demanding consumers. Consumers who are particularly attentive to their health, as well as to the quality of food. In restaurants they are mostly used to decorate dishes; but microgreens have above all an interesting nutritional profile and are legitimately considered “super foods”. NUTRITIONAL VALUES Comparing microgreens to their mature versions, they can provide us with bioactive components capable of improving some strategic functions within our body. Furthermore, we should consider that compared to conventional vegetables that are often cooked,…

HOW TO MAKE KEFIR: Easy Method Starting from Commercial Kefir

Freak of Natural Staff

  Are you a Kefir avid drinker as I am? Do you enjoy it for breakfast, plain, rather than with some cereals, fresh fruit, honey or anything else? Are you just generally curious or eager to know ways to make some really healty and tasty product economically in the confort of your home? Well, whatever is the reason that has brough you here, just stick a bit longer and let me introduce you a very easy way to make probiotics rich kefir on your own! There are mainly two ways…

MICROGREENS: WHAT VARIETIES TO GROW

Freak of Natural Staff

  If there is one aspect that makes microgreens particularly interesting from a gastronomic and nutritional point of view, it’s the possibility to use and cultivate a wide range of shapes, colors, textures and flavors. It’s simply impossible not to find a role for them in the kitchen to make our dishes outstand. Generally, their flavor is a concentrate of the flavor of their ripe counterparts, rather than the other way around. The smell, on the other hand, can be intense, as in the case of aromatic species, or almost…

3 Secrets for Making a Perfect Kimchi

Freak of Natural Staff
£ secrets for making the perfect Kimchi

  Today I will reveal to you the three secrets for preparing a perfect Kimchi, a Korean preparation and tradition based on the ancient technique of lactic fermentation. With this article you will enter the magical world of kimchi; only after the complete reading will you be ready to make your own kimchi at home and delight your guests.   KIMCHI AND LACTIC FERMENTATION: TWO ANCIENT TRADITIONS   Korean Kimchi is neither a dish, nor a meal, nor a recipe. It is a task to be carried out over time.…

MAKE YOUR OWN APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Freak of Natural Staff

  Vinegar plays a big role in our everyday life. Used for preserve aliments, for his antibacterial proprieties. We use vinegar in all type of cooking, to enhance and balance our dishes. Inexpensive apple cider vinegar can be found at stores, but if you are looking for high quality, organic unpasteurized apple cider vinegar can be quire pricey. We discussed in this article here, how a simple 2 steps process can transform most fruits into delicious ciders, and finally beneficial vinegar. Fruit peels, cores, waste or surplus of your fruit may…

HOW TO GROW MICROGREENS

Freak of Natural Staff

  Why not start growing microgreen seeds in the comfort of your own home? The amount of space needed to get started is minimal, as the initial investment for equipment and supplies. Seedlings, don’t have big requirements but they need be treated with care. Any indoor place near some bright window at a mild temperature will do. Microgreen seed can even be grown year-round by using T5 fluorescent or LED lights as light source.   What Seeds Do I Need? The easiest way to dip your toes into the world…

HOW VINEGAR IS MADE

Freak of Natural Staff

  Vinegar is made from any fruit or vegetable that contain enough sugar. Although apple juice is most commonly used for making vinegar, other fruit juices are just as good. We are talking about grapes, peaches, citrus, persimmons, pineapples, some berries, kiwi, and grains.. The production of vinegar is the result of two distinct fermentation processes, an alcoholic fermentation followed by an acetic fermentation. Vinegar is essentially a dilute solution of acetic acid, made by fermentation processes, containing salts and extracted matter. These additional substances, the exact nature and quantity…

MICROGREENS: GREAT THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES

Freak of Natural Staff

  Microgreens are essentially the young edible versions of various vegetables and herbs. They are nutrient-dense packages of goodness, loaded with enzymes, vitamin content, and minerals. To top it off, they are full of antioxidants to protect cells against free radicals. Indeed, we can easily call them SUPER FOOD! Microgreens Compare to Sprouts? Sprouts and microgreens are often grouped into the same category. There are significant differences between the two, from where the seed is planted, to what parts of the plant are eaten. Surely, there are health and flavor benefits…

PRICKLY PEAR: Properties, Uses and Benefits

Freak of Natural Staff

  Common Name: Prickly Pear, Indian Fig Opuntia, Nopal Cactus Species: Opuntia Ficus Indica Family: Cactaceae   Prickly pear cactus, also known as Nopal, Opuntia and other names, it is a type of cactus, characterized by its remarkable resiliency and adaptation to arid and semi-arid climates. It thrives in dry, arid places in the tropical and sub-tropical areas worldwide. This plant can tolerate drought well, and capable to stand low temperatures as occur at night in the desert. This succulent plant can reach 4-5 meters in height. It has a shrubby pattern, its branches and…