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Are Cashews Healthy?

Cashew can be consumed in various ways – raw cashews, fried/roasted/steamed cashews, cashew butter, cashew oil, salted cashews, cashew milk, cashew kernels, and so on. To clear the confusion among nuts, you should know, are cashews healthy? This is a common query as the nut consumption is increasing.

The health benefits of cashews are numerous based on the form that you are consuming. It helps maintain a healthy weight, blood sugar, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and bone health. Cashew nuts can also help prevent cardiovascular disease, boost your immune system and brain health, and maintain systolic blood pressure.

The cashew tree is the truly raw cashews provider. Eating cashews are undoubtedly healthy, but cashew nut consumption must be controlled. Consuming nuts should be a dietary habit with precautions!

What Is Cashew? 

Cashew, mostly known as ‘cashew nuts’ though they are not precisely nuts, is a seed from an evergreen tree or shrub belonging to the sumac family. These seeds are rich in oil and famous for their distinctive flavor. 

They are commonly used in the cuisine of South and Southeast Asia. South Indians use them in numerous vegetarian and chicken dishes. However, in the western part of the world, people take cashew nuts as a snack rich in premium quality protein.

The fruit that contains the seed is called Cashew Apple and looks like a bean or kidney-shaped nuts. It consists of 2 shells. The outer one is thin and smooth, while the inner one is hard. This inner shell needs to be cracked to get the edible seed. Cashew apples can be used in preparing jams, jellies, and even beverages! 

Food Value Of Cashew

People use cashew on a topping, in a sauce, or butter as a popular snack item. People prefer them for their versatile flavor. Eat nuts to make your diet rich.

Not only the taste but the nutritional value of cashew is also mentionable. They are a great source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated varieties, healthy fats, etc. 

These are also a decent source of protein. You may also find necessary Magnesium, Manganese, Phosphorus, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, Zinc, and so on in cashew nuts. 

However, 01 ounces (~28 grams) of unsalted and unroasted cashews will contain the following nutrients:

  • Calories: 157
  • Carbs: 9 grams
  • Copper: 67% of the Daily Value (DV)
  • Fat: 12 grams
  • Fiber: 1 gram
  • Iron: 11% of the DV
  • Magnesium: 20% of the DV
  • Manganese: 20% of the DV
  • Phosphorus: 13% of the DV
  • Protein: 5 grams
  • Selenium: 10% of the DV
  • Thiamine: 10% of the DV
  • Vitamin B6: 7% of the DV
  • Vitamin K: 8% of the DV
  • Zinc: 15% of the DV

Are Cashews Good For Weight Loss?

According to Consultant Nutritionist Dr. Rupali Datta, Cashew nuts do not contribute to weight gain unless taken in excess. Instead, it helps lose weight. 

The basic limit is 5-10 cashew nuts a day based on your body and food habits. Though most nuts with fat are considered to contribute to fattening, Cashew carries healthy fats to keep your cholesterol low and heart healthy. 

Moreover, the fiber content in Cashew keeps a person satiated for quite a while and also prevents hunger cravings, which ensures less food consumption.

Are Cashews Good For Your Heart?

You may consider cashew nuts for maintaining your heart health. The healthy fats (triglycerides) help you keep your cholesterol low. Hence, as they contain copper, that might help you reduce the potential risk of generating heart diseases (developing blood clots). 

Cashew consumption may even work on maintaining your blood pressure levels. The responsible ingredients for these are omega-3 fatty acids, unsaturated fats, fiber, and vitamin E in Cashew. They also help you improve the arteries lining health. 

Cashew Nuts Benefits For Male

As zinc is abundant in Cashew, consuming Cashew significantly impacts a male. Zinc is vital to increase your sperm count and even fertility chances. 

Again, regular consumption of cashews also helps control your weight and diabetes, which eventually improves male fertility. 

Apart from these, eating cashews may also help a man generate erections. And this will no doubt make sex life better. 

Cashew also works on maintaining healthy muscle for men, including preventing the potential threat of prostate cancer. If you want to boost testosterone levels, you may take cashews into your diet.

Other Benefits

Prevention of cardiovascular diseases, maintaining blood pressure, controlling diabetes, helping in weight control, and preventing prostate cancer are only some of the miraculous benefits of consuming cashews.

Besides increasing testosterone levels and fertility chances, there are many more positive sides to eating cashew nuts. 

They also take part in boosting your immunity, helping strengthen bones, and promoting brain functions to some great extent. Cashew is also beneficial for eye health, hair growth, and skincare if appropriately taken. 

You may think, ‘are roasted cashews good for you?’. The answer is yes! Rather it is recommended not to take raw Cashew as one of the ingredients of raw Cashew may result in skin allergy. 

What Happens If You Eat Cashews Every Day?

Eating cashews on a daily basis is a good habit of diet, provided that the limit must be maintained. Intake of excess Cashew might leave you in an unwanted situation like low blood pressure at a sick level and so on. 

Cashew is healthy enough if and only if consumed correctly. Roasted and salted Cashew from different providers may contain mentionable fat. So, you have to keep your eyes open. 

Considering your body and dietary habits, the answer to how many cashews I can eat a day is roughly 5-10 pieces a day. 

However, if you take excess cashews, the answer for are cashews fattening will appear positive. But if taken in a controlled way, cashews are not fattening. 

Are Cashews Bad For You?

The side effects of eating too many cashew nuts are based on different circumstances. But if the consumption is controlled, Cashew won’t harm you. 

Is Cashew bad for cholesterol? – No! Rather it helps maintain cholesterol. 

On the other hand, if you have a nut allergy, it is recommended not to take cashew nuts. It may affect your skin and digestion. 

Hence, raw Cashew might be toxic. It is preferred to roast, steam, or fry cashews before consumption. The best way is to roast cashews at home without oil. 

The fat in cashews is healthy but must be maintained at low consumption. Be aware of salt and oil from salted and roasted cashews from different brands. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Cashew a nut or fruit?

The cashews we refer to are basically seeds, neither truly nuts nor fruits. 

Is Cashew an apple?

The cashew fruit is called the cashew apple. And the seed inside the cashew apple, we call it cashew nut.

Can cashews be eaten daily?

The answer is yes! But maintain the consumption and try not to exceed one ounce (28.35 grams) of Cashew a day unless you depend on Cashew for a particular reason and as suggested by a nutritionist. 

Final Words

Are cashews healthy? The answer truly depends upon different circumstances. Basically, Cashew doesn’t have any side effects unless you take it at an excessive rate, raw or you pave particular nut allergies on you!

Nowadays, cashews are considered a premium quality snack. And it’s prominent for its distinctive flavor. Apart from snacks, people also use them in different cuisines, including desserts. 

Cashew contains an excellent health value that provides us with a bunch of necessary daily nutrients. Moreover, adding Cashew to a salad makes the salad tastier!

Are Oysters Healthy?

When looking for seafood rich in nutrients, you can’t ignore oysters. If you wonder about are oysters healthy, you should know the pros and cons of oysters. 

Simply, oysters are low in calories but rich in protein. Moreover, there are many essential minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties in consuming oysters. They contribute to skincare to control anemia, maintain strong bones and teeth, etc. Oysters also contribute to the proper functioning of the heart and liver. 

However, before consuming oysters, precautions should be taken as raw ones might contain bacteria. Oysters are not recommended to eat unless cooked. 

Again, it would be best if you did not eat a lot of oysters regularly or even on a single meal. Excess eating of oysters may result in stomach pain, acidity, nausea, and even vomiting. The rich minerals might affect you with mineral toxicity.

What Are Oysters?

Oysters are ocean-based animals categorized as Mollusk. These creatures have shells on them, and they are bivalves. 

They possess great economic value as they have a usage in both food and jewelry. We find pearls from them. They have irregularly shaped shells. 

A mollusk possesses a soft body and also a shell to protect itself. As oysters are bivalves, the two shells are connected with a little hinge. This animal can open and close its shell as necessary, like when consuming food, leaving wastages behind, or even when alarmed by any risks. 

All oysters belong to the family called Ostreidae. There are five major species with different variants under these five species. They taste different based on the water they grow in. 

Food Value Of Oysters

Oysters have two different types of material in their structure – the shell and the inner body. 

The inner body is referred to as the flesh. Though they are low in calories, they come in handy in terms of nutrients, vitamins, protein, healthy fats, and minerals. Oyster shells are also a good source of fatty acids. They provide us with polyunsaturated fats that support us in fighting type 2 diabetes. 

The USDA has provided the following nutrition info for 3 ounces (~85 grams) of Oysters without the shell:

  • Calories: 69
  • Carbohydrates: 4.2g
  • Fat: 2g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Protein: 8g
  • Sodium: 90mg

Raw Oysters

The following content holds the nutrition info for 100g of raw Pacific oysters. These specifics are provided by the Department of Agriculture: 

  • calories: 81 kilocalories
  • carbohydrates: 4.95 g
  • copper: 1.58 mg or 176% of a person’s daily value (DV)
  • fats: 2.30 g
  • iron: 5.11 mg (28% of DV)
  • magnesium: 22 mg (5% of DV)
  • vitamin B12: 16 micrograms (667% of DV)
  • protein: 9.45 g
  • zinc: 16.6 milligrams (mg)

Cooked Oysters

100 grams (~3.5 ounces) of wild eastern oysters (cooked) provides the following ingredients:

  • Calcium: 7% of the DV
  • Calories: 79
  • Carbs: 4 grams
  • Copper: 493% of the DV
  • Fat: 3 grams
  • Iron: 53% of the DV
  • Manganese: 20% of the DV
  • Phosphorus: 12% of the DV
  • Protein: 9 grams
  • Riboflavin: 9% of the DV
  • Selenium: 56% of the DV
  • Vitamin B12: 538% of the DV
  • Vitamin E: 9% of the DV
  • Zinc: 555% of the Daily Value (DV)

Pros and Cons Of Oysters

Oysters are a decent service provider for our diet, economy, and ecology. We will be discussing some in-depth benefits of oysters in some specific sectors below: 

Are Oysters Good For Your Stomach?

Humans have considered Oysters a part of their diet for almost 700 years. People around the world consume it both raw and cooked. 

Hence, this item contains a mentionable amount of iron. 100g of oysters may have up to 6mg of iron, and that amounts to meeting a large portion of iron, according to the DV. 

Iron, a key component to forming red blood cells (RBC) in a human body, works as the preliminary defense against anemia. Anemia is referred to as iron deficiency and may lead to stomach disorders. 

However, eating oysters on an empty stomach may lead to acidity. It is highly recommended to have oysters later in the meal. 

Are Oysters Good For Your Heart?

Being a significant source of LDL (bad/dietary cholesterol), it is preferable not to take in a lot of oysters regularly. That might affect your heart health. 

But at the same time, it is to keep in mind that oysters happen to be a fantastic source of healthy protein beneficial to the heart. 

As oysters contain a rich amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, it appears as a healthy alternative option to other meats.

Oyster Benefits For Females

Oysters are popular among women. This food item is blessed with various nutrients. They eventually help strengthen the immune system, fight against anemia, maintain healthy bones and teeth, and so on.

Iron and Vitamin B12 from oysters help reduce dark circles. Iron, protein, or zinc can help a woman with hair loss. Iron allows women to fight anemia as primarily women suffer from it. 

Oysters Benefits For Male

Oysters carry a bunch of nutrients. Therefore, some of them may have a positive effect on supporting sexual health for men. 

The presence of zinc in oysters may trigger testosterone levels. It may also help a male to keep maintaining dopamine levels. 

Omega-3 fats, which are heart-healthy, increase blood flow and function to prevent erectile dysfunction. Thus oysters have been considered a natural aphrodisiac for quite a while, like hundreds of years. 

How Many Oysters Can You Eat In A Day?

Though oysters contain a significant number of nutrients that make them appealing to eat, it is not recommended to take in too many of them at once. 

Taking too many of them in one sitting might make you suffer from stomach pains, nausea, and even diarrhea. Moreover, it is also recommended not to eat oysters on an empty stomach.

It’s best to take between 3 to 4 dozen and 6 to 7 dozen oysters for an individual in a single day. But this is not a fixed one. Your other dishes served with the oysters may also vary the oysters count. 

The fundamental reason for not taking too many oysters in one sitting is that they carry a toxin called domoic acid, which is liable for causing nausea and vomiting. 

Are Raw Oysters Good For You?

Oysters can be eaten in different ways – raw, cooked (steamed, boiled, fried). The rich food nutrients in oysters make them a good diet habit. 

Though raw oysters taste good, they are actually a bit briny and salty. You will find a smooth texture in a raw oyster. 

It is recommended not to eat raw oysters unless they are harvested since they might contain some bacteria. Any ingredient like lemon juice, hot or cocktail sauce, or even alcohol can’t kill the Vibrio bacteria. 

Therefore, avoid eating raw or undercooked oysters. Eating raw oysters might get you sick. 

Are Oysters Bad For You?

Concerning nutritional benefits, among other shellfish, oysters offer us impressive health benefits though it contains risk if eaten raw. Apart from that, people may encounter allergic experiences after consuming this Mollusk. 

Raw oysters are referred to as contaminants. This may lead to vomiting, shortness of breath, stomach pain, etc. They might carry harmful bacteria with them. 

Being rich in the mineral count, it can appear harmful to consume too many oysters causing mineral toxicity like zinc toxicity. Hence, avoid eating raw oysters. 

Other Benefits Of Oysters

Apart from the benefits mentioned above, there are some other good sides. Many health benefits include fighting heart disease, liver disease, blood pressure (lower blood pressure), maintaining bone health, and improving the body’s immune system. 

Oysters also boost weight loss, cell growth, wound healing, central nervous system, fighting zinc deficiency, selenium deficiency, and many more. 

According to professional medical advice, oysters contain essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin c, vitamin d, etc. These vitamins and minerals, including other organic compounds, work as higher protein diets. They appear as a complete protein source. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the food values of oysters?

Oysters are considered a high-quality protein source rich in vitamins and necessary minerals. Therefore, they play a significant role in decreasing the risk of heart disease and other disease control. 

It is preferred to eat after cooking oysters. Raw oysters may contain potential health risks. These bivalve mollusks also play a role in cleaning the water and contributing to the ecosystem. They also carry oxygen themselves. 

Are oysters good for weight loss?

If you are looking for low-calorie, protein-rich food, oysters are the ultimate alternative to your usual protein source while ensuring other vitamins and minerals. 

Are oysters good for your skin?

Zinc and collagen from oysters can trigger skin regenerative qualities, including repairs. Collagen is also known for making hair strong. 

Final Words

Oysters are bivalve mollusks, and they have body shells and body meat. They may open shells based on necessity. 

Though consuming too much of them produces potential risks, they are an excellent source of low-calorie protein. They should be taken according to a person’s body’s ability. Bacterial contamination might happen in eating raw oysters. 

If you are looking for – are oysters healthy, you should know that food science recommends adding oysters to your diet. Oyster nutrition covers our significant DV nutrition. 

Are Lamb Chops Healthy? [Nutrition Facts and Health Effects]

Red meats are the best source of protein, without a doubt. But recent studies have shown that even these meat types have flaws. Lamb meat being a type of red meat, is suspicious. So, are lamb chops healthy?

Compared to other red meats, lamb meat is the most nutritious. It is filled with all the beneficial nutrients that are essential for the human body. A single serving of lamb chop has enough calories and protein to keep you at the top of your performance. It also has vitamin B3, which helps lower heart disease probabilities.

Even though one might say that this type of meat is harmful, this is not true for lamb meat. Yes, lamb chops have their flaws, but it overcomes those with inherent health benefits.

Lamb Chops, Are They Healthy?

If you ask anyone where are lamb chops from, then most will say lamb. To be precise, most lamb meat cut from the loin chops, shoulder chops, and sirloin chops can be referred to as lamb chops.

It is no different from the similar cuts of a cow. So, what makes them any different from regular red meat?

Many might also ask, “Is lamb healthier than beef?” Well, the secret lies within the nutritional value of the meat. If you take the lamb’s nutrition and compare it with the nutritional benefits provided by beef, you will get a clear picture.

Here is a brief breakdown of all the health benefits one can find by changing to a lamb chop diet.

Protein

Since protein is the main component of any type of meat, lamb meat is no exception. You will find high-quality protein within any part of the lamb you take. If you take a cooked lamb, you will indeed find at least 25% of it to be pure protein.

Even the protein found in lamb is of superb quality than regular protein. Within lamb meat, you will find all the nine variants of amino acids that are a must for the human body. Such a constitution makes lamb chop a great source of high-quality protein.

Calories

The main reason for someone to consume food is to gain calories. This helps them do their daily activities. Consuming too many calories is not bad for your health. But the source of this is a matter of concern.

However, if you eat lamb to fulfill your calorie needs, you will not have to worry that much. This is because the calorie content of lamb meat is within limits.

If you think, “Are lamb chops high in calories?” then take 100 grams of ground lamb, and you will find only 294 calories.

This is lower than other variants and free of useless carbohydrates. So eating lamb as lamb steaks or lamb chop is highly encouraged for heart disease patients.

Saturated Fat

Depending on how much you trim the lamb chop, the amount of fat will vary. But the average amount of saturated fat is about 20%.

Now many of you might think that this is way too much. However, these fats are healthy, not the harmful ones found in pork and beef.

And if you want lower fat content, you can trim off the excess. So depending on your answer to the question, “Do you eat the fat on lamb chops?” The fat content will vary.

But overall, fat content is within the healthy fats limit. You can safely transfer to lamb chops to satisfy your healthy fats needs.

Vitamins and Minerals

One of the significant lamb health benefits is that it has various minerals in it.

Some of the most prominent minerals are zinc, selenium, iron, and phosphorus. In fact, if you eat lamb, you can absorb these minerals far better than when you eat plants.

In terms of vitamins, chops from lamb inherently contain many of them. But among all the available ones, vitamin B12 and B3 are the most noteworthy. The first one is absent for those who only look for a vegan diet, and the second one is vital to halting heart disease.

Related Article: Is Beef Jerky Healthy? Health Benefits, Weight Loss and Nutrition Facts

Lamb Nutritional Value Chart

To find out whether the lamb is bad for you or not, take a look at its complete dietary values. The chart is for 100 grams of lamb chop.

If you take a different portion, for example, ground lamb, the value might differ. The health benefits it provides are dependent on your required daily value.

NutrientsAmount per 100 g
Calories294
Glycemic Index0
Cholesterol97 mg
Dietary Fiber0 g
Protein24.5 g
Fatty acids, Saturated Fats8.83 g
Fatty acids, Monounsaturated Fats8.3 g
Fatty acids, Polyunsaturated1.51 g
Trans Fat0.9 g
Sugar0 g
Sodium72 mg
Potassium310 mg
Calcium17 mg
Magnesium23 mg
Iron1.88 mg
Vitamin B122.3 mg
Vitamin B30.15 mg
Iron9%
Zinc6%

Lamb Meat Benefits And Disadvantages

Similar to other options of its type, there is a list of advantages and disadvantages to a single serving of lamb.

Advantages

  • Improve lean muscle mass by supplementing muscle.
  • Enhances metabolism by increasing gut activity.
  • Prevents anemia by increasing red blood cells.
  • Lowers carbohydrate to calorie ratio.
  • Helps prevent cancer and heart disease.
  • Prevents neural tube defects in newborns.
  • Lower fat content helps in weight loss.
  • Increases bone density and helps keep skin healthy.

Disadvantages

  • Increase high blood pressure probability.
  • As it is red meat, it raises cholesterol.
  • Lamb chops have zero dietary fibers.

FAQs

Which meat is the healthiest?

Among all the meat variants, white meat is the most nutritious meat. But if you consider only the red meat variant, the best one is lamb meat.

And among the lamb cuts, the loin chops, shoulder chops, lamb steaks, and sirloin chops are the best.

Is lamb chop good for weight loss?

The fats contained within lamb chop are mainly saturated fat and monounsaturated fat.

These fats are beneficial for humans as they help in increasing motor and cardiovascular activities. They don’t aid in weight gain. Thus, lamb chops are great for weight loss.

How to make healthy lamb chops?

There are varieties of healthy dishes with lamb chops. The most nutritious of all dishes is a simple dish with olive oil.

Simply wash the chop and sear it with a minimum of olive oil. It is best if you want to improve your cardiovascular activities.

Are lamb chops good for pregnancy?

When consumed during pregnancy, lamb chops help in reducing neural tube defects in case of newborns. It also helps in increasing blood flow. This ensures health benefits for both the mother and the child.

Is lamb healthier than beef?

Between lamb and beef, lamb is the healthier choice. This is because the nutrition value of a single serving of lamb is far better than that of beef. Moreover, lamb’s fat and cholesterol content are lower than beef.

Final Words

Among those conscious about their health, lamb meat is a staple food. They prefer the lamb chop above all other meat options. Seeing them, it is safe to give a positive answer to the question, “Are lamb chops healthy?”

The health benefits one can get from this meat will become apparent with a single glance at the nutrition chart. Providing optimal immune health and required muscle mass, this meat ensures essential health benefits. Even less than one pound of lamb daily can help one maintain muscle mass.

Are Lentils Healthy?

As Legume family members, lentils have been part of the Indian diet for a long time. But are lentils healthy? It’s a typical query for weight loss enthusiasts. If you learn how essential and effective lentils are, you’ll find these grains extremely beneficial to your health. 

Lentils are healthy enough to provide you with meat-quality protein. They counteract cancers and help lower blood pressure to prevent heart diseases. The fiber of lentils will help you strengthen your gut immunity and promote regular bowel movements. It also comes in handy in childbearing age. 

Plants-based diets are trendy in Indian cuisine. You will find various types of lentils like brown lentils, green lentils, french lentils, red lentils, black lentils, black beluga lentils, and others. Mix split red lentils with brown rice to get a better-balanced diet. 

What Are Lentils?

Lentils are a food designated under the vegetable category. Based on different regions, they may be referred to as pulses. 

The plant that produces lentils is categorized under a type called a legume. Legumes are also composed of other foods like chickpeas, beans, fresh peas, snow peas, and sugar snap peas. 

However, lentils are well known for their relatively high protein content compared to beans. You might find some legumes containing high fat like soybeans, but lentils are far more preferable considering the amount of fat.

In simple words, lentils are miniature in size, have a legume origin, and contain a considerably high nutrition dose. They serve you with fiber, protein, and minerals while delivering a crunchy texture to your taste palette. 

You may consider lentils as one of the staple foods in your pantry. There are different types of lentils of various sizes, uses, textures, and tastes!

Are Lentils Carbs Or Protein?

To be specific, lentils are neither carbs nor solely protein. You can’t consider lentils a low-carb diet or a simple carbohydrate diet.

Instead, as previously mentioned, lentils are legumes that contain both carbs and protein. They are also blessed with fiber, vitamin B, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, etc. 

If you are a vegan, lentils appear as a great source of protein for you. Hence, the carbs in lentils are not harmful to your health. Too many carbs aren’t preferable as they aren’t healthy. 

Lentils have a fantastic combination of healthy nutrients. While it’s preferable not to keep lentils as a carb-only or protein-only diet for health enthusiasts, you can consider it a part of a balanced nutrition regime. 

You can consult your dietician for more information about it. 

Lentils’ Contribution To Soil

You will be surprised to know that lentils and legumes play an essential role in the fields where they are grown. They deal with nitrogen which is undoubtedly a necessary ingredient for plants. 

This process is truly simple: the bacteria in the soil where you cultivate these plants grow without consuming any nitrogen from the earth. Not only that, they consume the required nitrogen from the air. On the other hand, they return the extra nitrogen to the fields.

This is beneficial for both the farmers and the environment. If you plant lentils or legumes in a specific field for a particular time, like a year or two, the field will require less fertilizer when you sow a corn-type crop following the legumes. 

Health Benefits Of Lentils

If you tend to stick to plant-based diets, the result will be incredible. This habit of yours will reduce the risk of different habit-related health issues. 

In 2019, it was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association that the practice of eating plant foods subsequently lessens the chances of dying from cardiovascular illness. 

Therefore, lentils serve us with necessary minerals, vitamins, fiber, protein, etc., in terms of our diet. If you replace meat with lentils entirely or mainly in your diet, this effort of yours will undoubtedly decrease the risk of any heart disease. 

Lentils are also gluten-free. Moreover, they usually have low GI value (Glycemic Index), including low starch content. These make lentils preferable for a diabetic food chart.

Are Lentils High In Protein?

Simply the answer is yes. You will find lentils very handy in terms of serving you sufficient protein as well as other similar nutrients.

Lentils are a great source of protein. You will be surprised to know that if you combine lentils with a whole grain, the meal will provide you with a similar protein quality to the meat. 

Consuming half a cup of lentils, you can quickly meet your protein requirement for a day. Thus you may find it as a healthy substitute for meat. 

During World War II, lentils became popular in America for their protein quality and appeared as a cheap alternative to meat. Thanks to such wondrous benefits, lentil soups, and other delicacies have become a part of American cuisine.

Are Lentils High In Calories?

Though lentils are cheap, tasty, and a convenient source of protein, it comes helpful in terms of weight loss as it contains low calories. On the other hand, their rich fiber content keeps you full for quite a while. 

One hundred grams of lentils contain roughly 116 calories only. So, you can see how it can be a decent addition to the diet chart of any health enthusiast bodybuilder. You won’t gain much weight while also getting sufficient protein.

Eventually, the answer to this query appears negative and which is healthy in terms of food consumption. But if you are taking less food, including lentils, into your diet might make you feel weak as you will lack in meeting the required calories per day.

Lentil Benefits And Disadvantages

Since nothing is constant on this mother earth, we can’t think of any stuff either solely good or solely bad! In the same way, canned lentils have both bright and dark sides. 

Benefits

You will find some notable benefits of lentils:

  • Lentils carry essential amino acids for your body, and with that, you can achieve decent muscle-building.
  • The grains are also helpful in maintaining blood sugar levels and bowel movements that decrease constipation. 
  • You will get a supply of antioxidants that will help you decrease the probability of triggering atherosclerosis.
  • As lentils contain folic acid, consuming them eventually helps pregnant women to lessen their congenital disabilities.
  • In recent studies, it was observed that lentils might also play a role in controlling cancer cell growths. 
  • Nutritionists recommend lentils for weight management.
  • Paris-based research has argued that lentils’ vitamins and minerals help ensure optimum brain functions.

Disadvantages

There are a few sensitive disadvantages are also available to eating lentils:

  • Lentils cook quickly with oxalate compounds and are responsible for kidney stones.
  • The aftermath of lentils digestion (fermentation) may form gas from time to time due to overeating.
  • Eating raw lentils institutes a threat of containing lectins and phytic acid that might show uncomfortable reactions.  
  • Too much consumption of lentils might cause hyperkalemia among people with poor kidneys.

Benefits Of Lentils For Skin

The existing nutrients in red lentils do a fantastic job taking care of your skin. 

These compounds are regarded as one of the best exfoliators from nature. You may use this type of lentils to get rid of dead cells from your skin. 

Hence, red lentils will keep your skin smooth and even dirt free. If you face issues in fighting blackheads or even acne, red lentils become a savior for you. 

Are Lentils Good For Your Gut?

Simply the answer is yes unless you take lentils in a considerable amount. 

However, lentils contain a rich amount of dietary fiber. This very fiber comes in both insoluble and soluble types. It also prevents constipation. In a greater sense, it helps you prevent colon cancer. 

Hence, lentils are a significant source of prebiotic fiber. The gut bacteria prefer this type of fiber, and eventually, lentil consumption improves your health. 

Lentil Soup Benefits

Lentil soup serves you with the following offerings and is undoubtedly a flavourful dish.

  • High in protein.
  • Full of fiber.
  • Sufficient in polyphenols.
  • Decent source of iron.
  • Rich in magnesium.
  • Good for your bones.
  • Excellent source of folic acid.
  • Easy to digest.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are peas a lentil?

Peas and lentils are legume family members, but they are not the same. So, peas are not lentils. They are different species of the same plant family.

Which color lentils are the healthiest?

Among different edible seeds like green, red, brown lentils, etc., black lentils are the healthiest ones. These grains contain the optimum amount of nutrients, proteins, and carbs required for a healthy balanced diet.

Are lentils healthier than chickpeas?

In terms of fiber, split lentils beat chickpeas. But if you consider the calories, chickpeas eaten raw will outstand lentils. 

Final Words

While people around the globe are looking for healthy meat alternatives, this is very usual for you to consider – are lentils healthy? Undoubtedly the answer is yes! Consumption of lentils plays a considerable role even in fighting cancer. 

By maintaining low cost and easy availability, lentils promote healthy weight loss and induce a lower risk of heart diseases. Cooked lentils, such as lentil soup, contain beneficial nutrients, such as protein and carbs. You can mix undercooked lentils with whole grains to get a more balanced diet. Studies even show that lentils outplay most other legumes, among other plant-based proteins. 

Are Chocolate Chip Cookies Healthy?

There is no one who doesn’t like chocolate chip cookies. But are chocolate chip cookies healthy? Especially if you are trying to maintain a healthy diet and you have a sweet tooth, this question must have been bothering you for a long time.

Chocolate chip cookies can be healthy. But for this, you will need to prepare it at home using healthy ingredients. You can easily make healthy low-fat chocolate chip cookies at home. Nowadays, some healthy chocolate chip cookies brands are also on the market. 

Whether a chocolate chip cookie is healthy or not depends on the ingredients used and how many calories they contain. Using more natural products means more nutritious food. 

Why Chocolate Chip Cookies Are Bad For You

When a commercial brand produces chocolate chip cookies, they use preservatives and artificial sugar. They use addictive amounts of sugar to attract customers. Also, there is no guarantee that the ingredients used in the process are fresh.

The sugar in the commercial cookies raises the sugar level in your blood and brain. Thus, you get sugar addiction, leading to weight gain and muscle loss. Also, preservatives can cause deficiency of vitamin B, water, and minerals. 

Nowadays, many healthy chocolate chip cookies brands are marketing sweet snacks. These brands claim to use fresh and healthy ingredients. 

Before buying those delicious cookies, look at the ingredient menu and the calorie count. Even if they are moderate, do not eat excessive amounts. Keep your cookie intake to 1-2 cookies a day.

Are Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies Healthy?

Vegan cookies are comparatively healthier than regular chocolate cookies. They use plant-based products; thus use of preservatives gets lower. Also, using organic products makes them reliable.

Even vegan cookies are not calorie-free. They still need to use vegan butter, which is plant-based fat like coconut milk, toasted walnuts, coconut sugar, etc. Thus they are comparatively healthier than other commercial chocolate chip cookies. 

No matter how much of a sweet tooth you are, do not consume more than 1-2 cookies a day.

Are Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies Healthy?

The packed chocolate chip cookies available in the market are not always healthy food. But when you make them at home with a great chocolate chip cookie recipe, fresh products are used. 

Also, bakers can control the number of cookies calories, amount of saturated fat, and carbs. Therefore, your cheat days within the diet plan can be an excellent time to enjoy home-baked cookies. That way, you can balance the calorie count.

Healthy chocolate chip cookies don’t always mean only controlling the calorie count. It also means using fresh ingredients without preservatives. 

In the old days, grandma’s chocolate chip cookies were made from scratch. They used to use flour from whole grains, milk from organic farms, etc. 

That’s why the home-baked chewy cookies didn’t have any preservatives. You can still get organic products and make a healthy fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies. 

Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Changing a few ingredients in your chocolate chip recipe can make your chocolate chip cookies into healthy chocolate cookies. Here are two chocolate chip cookies recipes that are low in calories. 

In these healthy recipes, you can also eat proteins that will help you to balance out your healthy diet. These amazing recipes are also for sweet tooth people.

Recipe 1: Protein  Base Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a low-calorie chocolate chip cookie. In this recipe, you get more protein in place of carbs.  

Healthy chocolate chip cookie’s few ingredients are-

  • 2.5 tablespoon unsalted butter or coconut oil
  • 40 grams of unsweetened almond milk
  • 80 grams of brown sugar 
  • 1.5 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
  • 40 grams of  whole grain flour (gluten-free flour)
  • 40 grams of almond flour
  • 40 grams of protein powder or coconut flour
  • Pinch of salt 
  • Half teaspoon of baking soda powder
  • Sugar-free chocolate chips

Steps to take:

You can easily bake your own healthy chocolate chip cookies with the following steps.

Step 1: First, melt the unsalted butter or coconut oil with almond milk in an oven in a bowl or measuring cup. You can also use avocado oil.

Step 2: Take another bowl and mix all the dry ingredients.

Step 3: Put some salt and the baking powder in the dry mix.

Step 4: Now, take the brown sugar and whisk it into the melted butter.

Step 5: Add the dry mix to the milk and butter.

Step 6: Make smooth cookie dough.

Step 7: It is time to add the chocolate chips and incorporate them evenly.

Step 8: Flatten the dough onto the baking sheets or parchment papers into many small cookies. Put the baking sheets in a baking tray into the oven.

Step 9: Bake cookies in a preheated oven for 6mins.

Your baked cookies should now be ready to eat. They will be amazingly yummy and taste fantastic. 

In this recipe, you can replace almond flour with white whole wheat flour if you have allergies.

Recipe 2: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies Healthy Recipe

Old fashioned oats are healthy, fiber-based food. It helps lower your food craving and stay full for a long time. Making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies is very easy with this great recipe.

The necessary ingredients for an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie are:

  • 3 tablespoons of unsalted melted butter or olive oil
  • 50 grams of milk
  • 80 grams of brown sugar or maple syrup 
  • 1 tablespoon honey 
  • 40 grams of almond flour
  • 200 grams of oat flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • Half teaspoon of baking powder 
  • Dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate chunks and chopped walnuts

Steps to take:

Here are the steps you will need to make chocolate chip cookies in minutes.

Step 1: Warm up the milk and add butter or olive oil to it. Now add the sugar and whisk the mixture until the sugar melts.

Step 2: Mix all the dry ingredients with salt and baking powder. 

Step 3: Add the dry mix with the milk and put the honey on it.

Step 4: Mold the dough properly.

Step 5: Put the dough onto the baking sheet or parchment paper in the form of cookies.

Step 6: Now, preheat oven for 6 minutes and put the baking tray in.

After 6 mins, your healthy oatmeal cookies will be ready to eat. You can get many online recipes for healthy eating cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are chocolate chip cookies high in sugar?

An average chocolate chip cookie contains about 11 grams of sugar for each 33-gram serving. In contrast, a carrot cake has about 31 grams of granulated sugar for every 90-gram serving. 

An improved oat can contain 11 grams of granulated sugar for each 30-gram serving. Chocolate chip cookies have more refined granulated sugar than other sweet foods.

How many carbs are in a chocolate chip cookie?

The most accepted idea for the expression “Chocolate Chip Cookies” is one medium Chocolate Chip Cookie with around 6 grams of carbs. 

However, the amount of carbohydrates, refined sugar, fiber, and processed net carbs (non-fiber carbs) for an assortment of types and serving sizes of Chocolate Chip Cookies varies.

Are cookies high in fat?

Cookies and doughnuts frequently contain high measures of sugar, refined flour, and trans fat. They’re commonly high in both animal and plant-based trans fat.

Which cookies are best for weight loss?

Some of the healthy cookies for weight loss are-

  • Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Cocoa-Coconut Oil Cookies With Chocolate Chunks
  • Chocolate & Lemon Cake Cookies
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Snickerdoodle Cookies
  • Sugar Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Blossoms Cookies

Final Words

Chocolate chip cookie lovers often want to know – are chocolate chip cookies healthy? This rings true, especially if you are trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. When you look at the basic ingredients of chocolate chip cookies, you will see the use of excess white sugar or liquid sweetener, fatty milk, butter, and chocolate. These products can be unhealthy if you eat in excess.

Still, you can have your favorite snacks if you make the cookies at home. Try to use more healthy ingredients like brown sugar, dark chocolate chips, oatmeal flour, etc. These changes in ingredients will not change the taste. But they will make the cookies healthy. Baking cookies at home can be a fun thing too!

Are Dark Chocolate Healthy?

Who doesn’t love chocolate? From youngsters to adults, usually, everyone loves chocolate. Even I love chocolate. But, not everyone loves dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is the best kind of chocolate. Some people love it to death, whereas some love milk chocolate.

However, are dark chocolate healthy? Yes, it absolutely is healthy for you. Eating dark chocolate can be good for you because it has a lot of health benefits. 

So, this means that your favorite yummy snack can give you benefits that will help with keeping a good bill of health.

But, what percentage of dark chocolate is healthy? And, how much dark chocolate a day should you eat? 

Read the rest of the article, and you will get to learn all that and more about dark chocolate. 

Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate

There are a lot of health benefits to eating dark chocolate. Even if you cannot eat too much dark chocolate at once, it can be good for you in moderation. It is so much healthier than milk chocolate.

Let us look at the health benefits of dark chocolate.

Nutritious 

If you are eating dark chocolate that has a high content of cocoa, it can be quite nutritious for you. It is more nutritious than milk chocolate and cocoa butter.

Dark chocolate nutrition includes a lot of soluble fiber as well as minerals like iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, zinc, and potassium.

Store-bought dark chocolate has a lot of sugar. That is why you should eat it in moderation.

Dark chocolate has fatty acids that are good for your body. Because of the oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid in the fats of cocoa, dark chocolate is good for you.

The stearic acid in dark chocolate helps lower cholesterol in your bloodstream. Dark chocolate even has caffeine and theobromine in it to keep you energized. 

Antioxidants

ORAC is the antioxidant activity measurement of food, which means oxygen radical absorbance capacity.

Researchers have basically set a few free bad radicals against a good sample to see how the antioxidants can disarm these radicals.

Unprocessed and raw cocoa beans were tested, and the results were that they had the highest score among other foods.

Dark chocolates are filled with organic components that act as antioxidants. These may include flavanols, catechins, and polyphenols, among others.

A study has shown dark chocolate and cocoa to have more antioxidant activity, flavanols, and polyphenols than any other foods tested, including acai berries and blueberries. 

Might Improve Lower Blood Pressure and Blood Flow

When is the best time to eat dark chocolate? It is when you have high blood pressure. Do not eat chocolate ice cream for high blood pressure, eat dark chocolate bars.

The flavanols that are in the dark chocolate bar stimulate the lining of your arteries or the endothelium to produce NO Or nitric oxide.

One of the things that NO does is sending signals to your arteries so that they would relax. What this does is lower the resistance of your blood flow to your blood vessels. This reduces your blood pressure.

Many studies have shown that dark chocolate and cocoa improve low blood pressure and blood flow. However, you get mild effects from dark chocolate.

But, one study on people with blood pressure that was high has shown no effects at all. So, you cannot agree with both kinds of studies. More research needs to be done on this.

Increases HDL and Protects Against LDL Oxidation

Is dark chocolate good for your heart? Yes, it can improve a lot of the risk factors that can cause different heart disease like coronary heart disease.

One controlled study found that the oxidation of the bad cholesterol LDL can significantly decrease in men because of eating dark chocolate. 

It can also help increase the good cholesterol HDL in your bloodstream. 

The oxidation of the bad cholesterol LDL means that this cholesterol reacts to free radicals. And, with the antioxidants found in cocoa and dark chocolate, this oxidation can be decreased.

The flavanols of dark chocolate can reduce the resistance of insulin, which is one of the known risk factors that can cause different heart disease. It is even good for people with insulin sensitivity. Even other qualified health provider would say that.

Might Reduce the Risks of Heart Disease

The components of dark chocolate and cocoa may protect you against the oxidation of the bad cholesterol LDL.

If you were to have a long-term relationship with dark chocolate, it should be able to reduce the bad cholesterol from becoming embedded in your arteries, which in turn will reduce the risk of many heart disease.

In fact, a lot of the studies done on this show a drastic improvement. And a study done on 470 more older men showed that cocoa reduced the chances of death from different cardiovascular disease by fifty percent over fifteen years.

In a clinical trial done in the year 2017, the patients who ate dark chocolate had improved levels of LDL cholesterol, which is a good thing for the heart.

Protects Skin from Sun Damage

The bioactive components of dark chocolate are great for the skin. 

The cocoa flavanols that dark chocolate contains can protect you against any sun damage, increase the hydration and density of your skin, and improve the blood flow of your skin.

The minimal Erythemal dose or MED known as the minimum quantity of UVB rays that are required so that there is redness in your skin after 24 hours of exposure.

A study done on 30 people showed that the MED doubles after you eat dark chocolate for twelve weeks.

Improves Brain Function

Dark chocolate could actually improve your brain function. In a study with healthy adults, the blood flow to their brains improved after eating cocoa high in flavanols for five days.

In an adult who is older in age, cocoa may improve their cognitive function if they have cognitive impairment that is mild.

Cocoa could improve several risk factors for many diseases and verbal fluency as well.

In addition, cocoa consists of substances for stimulation like theobromine and caffeine, which could be good for brain function if you are considering short term.

Dark Chocolate Side Effects

Too much of nothing is ever really good for you. Eating a lot of Dark chocolate is not good for you either.

Is dark chocolate good for weight loss? It is if you eat dark chocolate in moderation. But, eating too much of it can help you gain weight because of its sugar content.

Because of its caffeine content, you may suffer from nervousness, sleeplessness, a faster heartbeat, and increased urination if you eat too much dark chocolate.

If you eat too much dark chocolate, you may also suffer from gas, stomach discomfort, nausea, and constipation.

So, my advice here would be that whatever you do, do not eat a lot of dark chocolate all at once.

FAQS

  1. Is dark chocolate good for weight loss?

Yes, dark chocolate is good for weight loss. 

However, dark chocolate may also contains a lot of sugar and saturated fat. So, you cannot eat a lot of dark chocolate, thinking it will help you lose weight. You have to consume dark chocolate in moderation.

2. Is dark chocolate good for the heart?

Yes, dark chocolate is good for your heart.

Dark chocolate may reduce the effects of bad cholesterol and increase the effects of good cholesterol, which in turn makes it good for your heart.

3. Can you replace the dark chocolate with sunscreen?

No, you cannot replace the dark chocolate with sunscreen.

Although dark chocolate may help with sun damage, it is in no way a replacement for sunscreen. So, you should both use sunscreen and eat dark chocolate to protect your skin from sun damage.

Final Words

Are dark chocolate healthy? Yes, dark chocolate is healthy in moderation. So, you can eat dark chocolate to reap all the benefits of it but in moderation.

After reading this article, you may have concluded that dark chocolate is super beneficial for your health.

So, why do you not think of adding dark chocolate to your diet to start living a healthier life, all the while enjoying eating dark chocolate?

Are Rotisserie Chickens Healthy -[Nutritional Facts Explanation]

Everyone might agree that fresh rotisserie chickens are faster to make and crispier meals. And people with various health issues like it for dinner as well.

That’s why a lot of people wonder, Are rotisserie chickens healthy?

Rotisserie chicken contains protein in high amounts along with other various kinds of nutrients. These healthy nutrients include fat, carbs, niacin, vitamin B12, zinc, and phosphorus.

So, your questions could be a little more specific about it. Such as, is rotisserie chicken good for high cholesterol?  Or is rotisserie chicken good for weight loss?

I will tell you all about the benefits and downsides of rotisserie chicken. Just stay tuned.

Are Rotisserie Chickens Healthy to Eat?

Are Rotisserie Chickens Healthy

Yes, generally fresh rotisserie chicken is very healthy for consumption. Because it is a rich source of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Our body needs a variety of these nutrients to function properly.

But, if all these nutrients make the healthiest rotisserie chicken. Then the question arises why is rotisserie chicken bad for you? Simply put, it all depends on your specific health issue.

Let us say there may be some ingredients that may not be good for your underlying health condition such as high cholesterol or diabetes.

If that is the case, then you should definitely proceed with caution when it comes to having rotisserie chicken.

Are Walmart Rotisserie Chickens Healthy?

Most of you may buy a rotisserie chicken from stores like Walmart. So, your actual concern is how healthy are grocery store rotisserie chickens?

The answer lies in the ingredients. Walmart and other store cooked rotisseries chickens have maltodextrin, sodium phosphate, and other natural flavors.

So if you are wondering, is rotisserie chicken good for high blood pressure? Or is rotisserie chicken good for diabetes or weight loss?

There you have the answer. No, it is not healthy when it is store-bought because of the saturated compounds mentioned above.

Maltodextrin is a carbohydrate that will increase blood sugar levels and cause weight gain.

So, people with diabetes, weight loss issues, and high blood pressure issues should avoid rotisserie chicken.

Before heading further, let us see a table of quick nutritional information that is in 85 grams of rotisserie chicken.

NutrientsThighs + SkinThigs Without SkinBreast With SkinBreast Without Skin
Calories192165149122
Proteins18g21g22g24g
Fat12g9g7g3g
Vitamin B1218%15%11%12%
Niacin30%30%50%51%
Zinc15%15%7%7%
Phosphorus15%15%17%17%

This table will further clarify your choice of having rotisserie chicken.

Is Rotisserie Chicken Healthy Without the Skin?

Yes, rotisserie chicken is healthy without the skin. That is if we are talking about rotisserie with skin. Nearly every store-bought rotisserie chicken has not only seasonings on it but additives as well.

Many stores preserve meat by marinating it in phosphate or other salts. So, if you have concerns about these additives simply avoid rotisserie with skin. Or just make it one for yourself instead of buying it from the store as it is much healthier if it is homemade.

So, with or without skin, It is healthy. That is only if you do not have any issues with the ingredients used in it.

Are Whole Foods Rotisserie Chickens Healthy?

If you still want to go to the grocery store. But also want to avoid additives that may be bad for your certain health condition. Some brands offer the healthiest rotisserie chicken if you do not wish to make yourself one.

The reason is that, unlike Walmart, some brands offer organic plain chicken. They don’t add additives or natural flavor. And what’s more satisfying is that they have even got points for that.

How to Cook Rotisserie Chicken?

Cook Rotisserie Chicken

If you decide to avoid store-cooked processed meals. Then you need to know how are rotisserie chickens cooked?  Here I have simplified it for you.

To prepare rotisserie chicken at home all by yourself. First, you need the things listed below.

  • Grill
  • Rotisserie kit
  • Fuel to run for 2 to 3 hours
  • fireproof gloves
  • thermometer
  • Whole chicken
  • One large lemon (or apple, potato, or orange)
  • olive oil (about a quarter)
  • lemon juice (½ cup)
  • Rosemary leaves (2 spoons)

Let us head to the rotisserie chicken’s cooking process now.

Cooking Rotisserie Chicken At Home

Cooking rotisserie chicken is not complex but instead a simple and quite straightforward process.

It is just a roasted chicken If you have all that is listed above. Let us proceed to the cooking steps of rotisserie chicken.

  • Clean the chicken from the inside and remove loose skin.
  • Following grill and kit instructions, set up rotisserie.
  • Put a fork on the handle side of the rod, pointing towards the middle.
  • Thread lemon or onion onto the rotisserie rod to hold the chicken in its place.
  • Put the second fork on the rod through the bottom and out the neck.
  • Don’t forget to tighten the screws of the rod.
  • Start the grill and keep the temperature at 360F.
  • Baste your chicken with a mixture of oil, rosemary leaves, and lemon.
  • Do this every 20 minutes.
  • When the internal temperature reaches 175F, take your chicken off the heat.
  • Turn off the rotisserie motor and take your chicken off the grill using gloves.

Make sure that you fully cook your chicken.

And that is how you cook it at home. Now add in chicken salad or anything else that you want.

Why are Rotisserie Chickens Cheaper?

Rotisserie chickens are cheaper because they are comparatively smaller. And when you are hungry, and you want to have a ready-made meal. Who would weigh them?

This is why you don’t feel or know that they are comparatively smaller than raw broiler chickens. Broiler chickens weigh 20% more.

A fun fact is that if you cook it at your home, they would tend to be cheaper per pound.  So we can say that most rotisserie chickens just seem that they are cheaper. However, they are actually not as cheap as you think.

FAQs

Is Publix rotisserie chicken healthy?

Yes, Publix rotisserie chicken is healthy. But, remember that nutritional value depends on what part you eat. And whether you eat the skin or avoid eating it due to its additives.

Generally, Publix rotisserie contains 160 calories in 56 grams of rotisserie chicken. If breakdown, they include 51% protein and 46% fat.

Is rotisserie chicken good for high cholesterol?

Rotisserie chicken is not good for high cholesterol if consumed in high amounts. Because rotisserie chickens have high saturated fats.

And, 3 ounces of rotisserie chicken has 25 percent of saturated fat. While you should have only 10% of calories from saturated fat per day.

What are rotisserie chickens injected with?

You might have noticed that store-bought rotisserie birds are a bit juicy.

That is because they inject rotisserie chickens with saline and salt solution. For instance, some inject rotisserie chicken with seasoning, carrageenan, sugar, dextrose, and spice extractives.

Parting Words

Now you know the answer to, are rotisserie chickens healthy? You also know that it is healthier if you cook rotisserie chicken at home.

But if you go store-bought, then check the ingredients first. See if they are good for your underlying health condition if you have any. Also, check if you should eat the skin or not.

But the bottom line is that even in store-bought chicken, these ingredients are in very small amounts. So, a whole rotisserie chicken that is store-bought is healthy and safe to eat. 

That’s all.

Is Chicken Fried Rice Healthy – All You Need to Know

We all know how delicious Chinese food is. However, not all delightful food is healthy for us. Most of us learn that the hard way.

If you eat foods like chicken fried rice without knowing the outcome that it may have on you, you are in the wrong as it might be dangerous for you and your health.

Is chicken fried rice healthy? Is chicken fried rice bad for you? Usually, chicken fried rice can be bad for your health. But, it does not mean all restaurants produce unhealthy chicken fried rice.

So, what is the answer? Is chicken fried rice good for you? Read the rest of the article to learn the answer and more about chicken fried rice.

What Is Chicken Fried Rice?

Before you learn about whether chicken fried rice is healthy for you, you have to know if fried rice is healthy for you or not because chicken fried rice is basically fried rice with chicken in it.

And before you learn about that, you need to know what fried rice even is.

What Is Fried Rice?

Is fried rice healthy? To learn if it is or not, you need to know what ingredients you can use in making fried rice and what fried rice is.

Firstly, you cook rice in this dish with different healthy ingredients such as vegetables, seafood, red meat, chicken, or eggs. You can even go ahead and add all of these to the mixture and call it fried rice.

Is chicken fried rice Chinese? Yes and no.

In China, they cook traditional fried rice in a wok. They use oil to expand the surface area and give the fried rice a bonus of maximum crispiness.

Plenty of other countries make fried rice apart from China, specifically in Asia. All these countries have their way of making it with their different rice grains.

Is Restaurant Chicken Fried Rice Good For You?

Oily food is never really good for your health. If you make fried rice with chicken, it can be healthy and healthy. It depends on the ingredients you are using to make it.

Here are the ingredients in a restaurant chicken fried rice that makes the chicken fried rice unhealthy for you.

White Rice

We can learn from WebMD that the white rice like basmati rice or jasmine rice that most restaurants use to make chicken fried rice is not rich in fiber content. You will not even feel full after eating it. So you can eat a lot of it at once without thinking twice, which can be bad for your health.

Soy Sauce 

Restaurants often use a lot of soy sauce. Regular soy sauce causes your rice to have a lot of sodium, and too much sodium is bad for your health.

Oils 

And then, there is the extra oil factor to consider. Restaurants add a lot of vegetable oil to cook, making the rice unhealthy for you. 

They use too much vegetable oil than what is best for you and your health to make it easier for them to cook a lot of rice at the same time in the same pan.

This undoubtedly makes the rice greasy and bad for your health. 

Is chicken fried rice fattening? Yes, it can be because of too much of the vegetable oil used to make it, like in most restaurants.

Is Homemade Fried Rice Healthy?

Usually, fried rice is not very healthy. However, there are ways to make it much healthier than most restaurant-made chicken fried rice.

Depending on the ingredients, you can quite the delicious chicken fried rice that may even be healthy for you. But, to do so, you need to pick your ingredients wisely. There is a lot of healthy chicken fried rice recipe out there. Cook fired rice using those recipes.

Healthy chicken fried rice calories can be under 300 calories if you make it right. Homemade chicken fried rice calories can be of 200 calories as well.

Let us look at what ingredients you should find in a homemade chicken fried rice to make for a healthy and delicious chicken fried rice.

Brown Rice

Instead of using white rice like most restaurants, try using brown rice to make your homemade chicken fried rice. You can even use some leftover rice as well.

Brown rice is good for your health. It has a lot of fiber content in it, and it even provides protection against type 2 diabetes.

You can use precooked rice or cold rice to make yourself a healthy dish.

Cauliflower Rice

You can also use cauliflower rice instead of your brown cooked rice. Cauliflower rice is very healthy. So, using cauliflower rice can be a good way to make gluten free healthy fried rice.

Healthy Fats

Instead of cooking your rice with unhealthy vegetable oil fats, you can introduce your healthy fried rice to more beneficial fats such as fish or meat fats.

Soy Sauce

If you cannot avoid using soy sauce at all, try using as little low sodium soy sauce as you can to make your healthy chicken fried rice much healthier than most restaurant-made chicken fried rice. You can even use a little oyster sauce for your dish.

Vegetable 

Add as many fresh and diced vegetables as you may like, such as carrots, capsicum, green onions, chili, green beans, cabbage, cauliflower, frozen peas, etc. 

The more vegetables you add to your chicken fried rice, the better it is going to taste. And, it is going to be quite a healthy dish for you.

Protein 

Any kind of protein, from eggs to meat like chicken breast or seafood, is really healthy for you. So, instead of just chicken and the traditional eggs in your chicken fried rice, try mixing it up with other kinds of protein as well. You can make stir fried rice with chicken breasts.

If you are eating a lot of protein, you will feel fuller and eat less rice.

So, is chicken fried rice good for bodybuilding? It is if you are eating a lot of protein for gaining those muscles.

Disadvantages of Eating Unhealthy Chicken Fried Rice

There are a few disadvantages of eating fried rice that is mostly unhealthy for you. 

Let’s explore what damages you might suffer in the king run from eating too much unhealthy chicken fried rice. 

Weight Gain

Eating a lot of rice of any kind can help you gain weight, which can be bad if you are already overweight or obese. 

This is why you should avoid eating too much of any kind of fried rice.

Hypertension

You could get hypertension from eating a lot of rice as it has a lot of soy sauce, which contains a lot of sodium. 

Heart Disease

As you know, eating a lot of trans fat and sodium can lead to heart diseases of all kinds as it increases the bad cholesterol in your body. 

So, eating a lot of fried rice will definitely make you end up with one of many kinds of heart diseases.

Stroke

Chances of stroke spike because of trans fat and high cholesterol. As eating a lot of oily fried rice can make you have high cholesterol, it can cause you to stroke as well.

Final Words

A lot of people have a lot of health conditions like heart diseases, diabetes, etc. For people with such health conditions, healthy food is a must.

If you are someone with such a health condition, but you love chicken fried rice, then the question may arise, is chicken fried rice healthy?

Most chicken fried rice made in restaurants is not as healthy as we would like them to be. But, that does not mean you cannot have this dish at all. Just make yourself some healthful chicken fried rice at home.

So, what are you eating at dinner tonight?

Are Olives Healthy? Is it ok to eat olives everyday?

Do you know everything about olives? Are olives healthy? If you want to know all about it then you are in the right place.

Olives are beneficial for a lot of reasons. It is good for your body as it increases your health, improves high blood pressure, and prevents the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more. But it can be risky as well if you don’t maintain the amount.

To know more about olives, check out the details that we are going to show you.

Is it ok to eat olives everyday?

Olives can be good. But eating olives everyday is not a good idea. No matter how good the food is, you should not have it daily. You should know that moderation is key. Olives are suitable to help you to lose weight. But eating olives regularly can add weight as well.

The reason is that olives are high in fat and salt. Eating a lot of it can interrupt your success at weight loss. That is why you should make a balance of having it. Try to eat it twice or thrice a week and a few ounces per day. That’s enough.

Are olives a healthy snack?

Are olives healthy snack? Well, olives are healthy for several reasons. It is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. As a result, you can have a lot of health benefits. Olives can protect against osteoporosis by giving much strength to the bones.

Besides, olives have vitamin E that can improve the immune system and skin health. It can also kill the cancer cells as it contains the compound oleocanthal.

This is how it reduces the risk of cancers along with breast cancer. It can also prevent type 2 diabetes, lower the risk of cognitive diseases and help to recover it.

Also, extra-virgin olive oil can decrease the risk of heart diseases as well. So, you can get a lot of health benefits from those who have consumed olives, olive oils, green olives, and olives from olive trees as well.

Nutritional Facts About Olives

Olives have various types of nutritional facts. It is rich in vitamin E, and other antioxidants. This helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and more. It is a good source of copper, vitamin A, iron, and calcium. Per serving of five large black olives, you will get:

NutrientsAmount
calories25
carbohydrates1g
fiber1g
fat2g
protein0
sugar0

Besides, per 3.5 ounces or 100 grams of olives, you get:

NutrientsAmount
calories115
carbs6.3g
protein0.80g
fiber3.2g
water80%
sugar0
fat10.7g
saturated fat1.42g
polyunsaturated fat0.91g
monounsaturated fat7.89g

Are olives fattening or good for you?

Olives are a good option for you as it has a lot of health benefits. One of the health benefits of olives is that it is low in calories with a good source of fat including saturated, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fat.

It helps to boost weight loss and keep you healthy and full. The reason is it has health benefits of olives like the dietary fiber of fresh olives, sodium intake to give a salty taste, fatty acid, and antioxidant properties. But are olives fattening?

Well, it depends on how much you consume. Although it has a lot of health benefits, you can still consume weight if you overeat it because of the brine or salt water.

You should maintain the amount and take a decent amount of olives to avoid weight gain. But if you don’t follow that, you can gain some weight if you eat a lot of olives.

Related Post: Are Noodles Healthy? 7 Surprising Facts!

What happens when you eat olives everyday?

If you eat olives everyday, it can do the opposite instead of doing good. If you want the health benefits of olives, you need to maintain how many olives you should eat. But are olives healthy to eat everyday?

Olives are not good for everyday consumption. You need to have green olives, olives, and olive oil in a balanced way if you want to be healthy.

But if you overeat olives daily, it can increase weight instead of losing it. Olives have a lot of salt that can be unhealthy if you are on a low sodium diet. So, try to know your limit.

And if you are a woman, you should know about women consuming factors first. It can also create a lot of issues like chronic inflammation, hampers risk factors like brain health, bone loss, high cholesterol, and more.

You can take some alternatives like fruit, and other nutritional content like vitamin e instead of overeating fresh olives.

How many olives can you eat per day?

As you already know that you should eat a limited amount of olives, you need to know how much. It is best to consume a limited amount of olives.

So, 2-3 ounces or 56-84 grams of olives are enough to eat per day. If you have 16-24 small to medium-sized olives, it will be enough to eat a day. So, if you have a question, “How many olives should I eat a day?”, this is the answer.

If you maintain that, it can improve heart health, reduce inflammation, cholesterol levels, total fat, and improve health conditions. There are some olive varieties as well.

Olives contain vitamin that works well if you consume olive varieties in a limited amount.

What happens if you eat too much olives?

Olives are a good element to losing weight. But it can do the opposite if you aren’t careful. As they are high in salt and fat, overeating olives can be dangerous for you. If you are on a plan of losing weight, it can interrupt you from achieving that goal.

That is why you should moderate your consumption limit. Make sure you don’t take much of it. Learn how much you should eat and then make a diet plan for it.

Overeating is not a solution to getting much more nutrients. It can help you gain weight instead. So, how are olives good for you? It can be good if you eat it within the limit.

Why you should not eat olives?

Olives are good as they have several good elements that are beneficial to the body. But it can be bad for the body as well. The reason is that olives are preserved in brine.

That is why it is high in salt. When it is preserved for a long time, the amount of salt gets into olives. Excess levels of salt create a lot of problems in the body.

Such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, stroke, and more. This is why you shouldn’t eat huge amounts of olives. So, if you doubt in your mind, “are olives bad for you?” Well, the answer is, it can be bad if you overeat it.

Are olives unhealthy?

Are olives unhealthy? If you have doubts about olives then you should know the details about them. There are no such side effects of eating olives. But it can be unhealthy if you eat a huge amount of it. Canned olives are preserved with a huge amount of salt. It also has a lot of fat.

As a result, you should not have this daily. Make sure you check the entire nutritional factors and how much you can consume for maintaining a healthy life. If you can’t then it will be unhealthy for you.

Related Post: Are Lean Cuisines Healthy?

Wrap Up 

As you already know how you can maintain eating olives and how it will be beneficial for your health, you can maintain all of the things if you want better results. Check out everything about olives to get the answer to “are olives healthy?”

Olives are good for several reasons. It has vitamin, and health benefits as well. You can find it in most grocery stores. This can be a delicious addition with the power to cure certain cancers. Get fully ripe of the whole olives.

According to healthcare professional, it can also control high blood pressure, and heart diseases, and improve skin texture and immune system. If you want the total benefit of olives, you need to research first.

Know about olives and get the best use of them.

Are Tomatoes Acidic? Heartburn and Tomatoes [Good or Bad]

Tomatoes are some amazing fruits, are they not? Or are they vegetables? I can never tell! Jokes aside, you will find these fruits on most dishes, sandwiches, and salads.

Tomatoes are that versatile. These juicy, delicious fruits can add just the taste you might miss in summer. But, what are the health benefits of tomatoes? Are tomatoes acidic?

Are Tomatoes Acidic or Alkaline?

The pH level of tomatoes is usually between 4.3 and 4.9, so they are acidic. But according to the low PRAL (-5.88, Potential Renal Acid Load), tomatoes are considered alkaline.

Usually, acidic foods with can tick off GERD symptoms, heartburn, and acid reflux.

People who have sensitivities to certain types of food should avoid eating a lot of tomatoes because of tomatoes’ acidity levels, which can result in indigestion.

Does Cooking Tomatoes Make Them Acidic?

A lot of people do not eat tomatoes as is, whereas some do. Otherwise, most people eat tomatoes cooked, roasted, or even baked. 

Does cooking tomatoes reduce acidity? As with most cooked acidic foods, the acidity level increases when you cook them, that is what happens to tomatoes as well. 

Is tomato soup acidic or alkaline? Tomato soup is acidic. Not only are they acidic if you cook them, but the longer you cook them, the more acidic they become. 

Are All Kinds of Tomatoes Acidic?

Now, are cherry tomatoes acidic? And, are grape tomatoes acidic? Both of these kinds of tomatoes s, well as all kinds of tomatoes, are acidic.

The number may vary from tomato to tomato, but as I’ve said before, all tomatoes have a pH level between 4.3 and 4.9.

What Acids Make Tomatoes So Acidic?

Tomatoes can be good for the body in many ways, such as releasing energy as well as reducing the risks of certain diseases. But, their acidic content can be harmful to the body as well.

The acids that tomatoes contain are malic acid, citric acid, and ascorbic acid. Let us explore what these acids in tomatoes do.

Malic Acid

When combined with citric acid, malic acid can have an antimicrobial effect on the body. 

People use malic acid in treating wounds and ulcers as well as in some intravenous treatments of liver disorders. 

There have also been some drug trials with malic acid to treat hypertension and depression.

Malic acid is most prominent in the earlier stages of a ripe tomato. That is exactly why you would find unripened tomatoes sourer than ripe tomatoes because malic acid tastes bitter and sour. 

Additionally, when tomatoes ripen, the malic acid content decreases from the tomatoes, making them less sour. However, even after a tomato has ripened, you will still find malic acid in it.

Are tomatoes acidic enough to can? Yes, indeed they are. Canned tomatoes are the most acidic, with a pH of 3.5. This type of tomato has the most amount of malic acid in them. 

Citric Acid

You can find citric acid very easily in tomatoes as they are the most common form of acids in tomatoes. We use this acid as a preservative as it kills bacteria easily. 

It is essential to have citric acid in your body because how this acid provides energy in the body of a human being. Overall, citric acid is really beneficial to your health. 

In the December 2014 edition of the Korean Journal of Urology, it was found that increased levels of intake of citric acid and a decreased chance of getting kidney stones were linked.

This happens because citric acid starts to bind to the calcium of the urinary, which can reduce urine’s supersaturation which leads to diseases like kidney stones.

Gout Treatment

Apart from that, citric acid can also reduce the risk of gout if you consume a lot of it. Mayo Clinic says that gout happens when uric acid somehow stays undissolved in the blood. Eventually, it builds up and forms crystals that are painful, resulting in gout attacks. 

A study from 2010, which was published in Endocrine Research, shows that an increased intake of this acid increases urine’s acidity and decreases uric acid excretion, which results in less to zero uric acids building up and leading to gout.

Ascorbic Acid

You can call this acid vitamin C as well, which you can find in significant amounts in tomatoes. 

Ascorbic acid is really beneficial for the human body because of its work in cell repair and maintenance. 

This acid is essential for making certain proteins in the body to make up blood vessels, skin, tendons, and ligaments. 

Ascorbic acid heals different wounds and injuries as well as maintains and repairs cartilage, teeth, and bones.

Furthermore, this acid helps the body to absorb healthy iron. 

Are Tomatoes Good For Acid Reflux or GERD?

First, what is acid reflux? When your esophageal sphincter starts to relax at the wrong time, which allows for stomach acid to come back up is known as acid reflux. So, try eating food safely.

Now, this can happen when there is too much acid in your stomach for some reason, such as eating tomatoes. 

Tomatoes contain acids like malic acid and critic acid. Both of these kinds of acids may set off acid reflux, specifically in those people who are vulnerable to it. 

If you eat tomatoes or any produced that is tomato-based, then it may result in elevated production of gastric acids for breaking the food down in your stomach. But, if you produce too much acid, then you may start struggling with GERD symptoms. 

So, no, tomatoes are not good for acid reflux or GERD.

How to Reduce Acid in Tomatoes

You can try to cook tomatoes in a way that reduces the acids in them instead of increasing their amounts.

Baking soda is the key. It can neutralize the acidity in tomatoes. So, add a bit of baking soda in order to reduce the acid in tomatoes when you are cooking with them. Be careful not to add too much, or you might ruin your food. You can use this trick on your tomato sauce as well.

Conclusion

Are tomatoes acidic? Yes, there indeed are very acidic. The acids in tomatoes can cause you a lot of trouble, including a visit from your healthcare practitioner if you are already sensitive to acid reflux.

However, you can get a lot of nutrition from tomatoes

So, if you love tomatoes, do not stop yourself from eating them altogether, just tread lightly, and you should be fine.