One food that is on every list I've seen is salmon. This pink hued fish is filled with heart healthy omega-3's which can help raise good HDL cholesterol levels and ward off heart disease. Omega-3's also help to reduce inflammation and a recent study suggests that the DHA and EPA types of omega-3's from fish can reduce the risk of colon cancer. Salmon is also very high in protein and relatively low in calories and saturated fat. It has also been shown to help reduce the risk of other cancers, macular degeneration, fight Alzheimer's, and much more. With all these great benefits and the many ways to prepare the fish, it's a great option for a healthy meal!
Last night I tried a salmon recipe from a new cookbook I bought "Cooking Light: Fresh Food Fast." Since Woody and I were going to be eating at different times, I cooked the salmon during the afternoon and put them in the fridge after they cooled down a bit. It was somewhat late when I got home so Woody had already finished his dinner (I had left instructions for him!) but said it was really good! Whew! Unfortunately, I was so hungry I didn't even take time to take a picture, but thank goodness the cookbook has a picture!
I even made the tomatillo & onion salsa! The recipe calls for a rub of ground cumin, paprika, pepper and a dash of salt. I substituted chipotle for the paprika (it's what we had on hand) and it turned out really well! The salsa was really easy - tomatillos, onion, lemon zest & juice and extra virgin olive oil. We had black beans and broccoli on the side. I'm always a bit concerned about cooking salmon because I can't tell when the color is right, like I can with white hued fish, but this recipe calls for baking the fish. I went a little longer than the recipe says, but it wasn't dry or tough, even after being reheated! I will definitely try this one again!
Eating a fish like salmon or tuna once or twice a week, is part of a healthy diet. Just make sure to choose wild, line-caught salmon and albacore (chunk white) tuna. (because tuna warrants quite a few concerns, I'll do a separate post on tuna).
I haven't mentioned this yet, but a while ago I won a shopping spree on iherb.com from Megan at The Runners Kitchen. On my cyber shopping spree, I picked out a box of Yogi Tea that sounded interesting. The description says it helps calm the body and mind and promotes good sleep. I was a bit skeptical, but user reviews claimed that it worked, so I decided to give it a try. Well, they were right. I sleep much better the nights when I have a cup of tea before going to bed. Perhaps just the act of sipping warm tea is beneficial, but I do think it works better than other types of tea I've had in the evening. If you're having a tough time sleeping - be it because of stress, a wandering mind, or just restlessness - I suggest you give this tea a try! My box is almost empty so I'm going to have to pick up another one soon!
A lot of people don't include healthy fish in their diet, even if their not allergic or due to dietary choices. How often do you eat fish? Do you cook it at home or prefer to only get it in your sushi and at restaurants? If you don't eat fish, why not?
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Workout Stats -
18mi bike
100 crunches
3x10 cable pull twists
3x10 weighted side bends (ea side)
4x45 sec planks (standard & side)
2x cobra pose
2x full locust pose
foam roller & stretching
