International Food Receipes

Douglas Alp asked:


In the past it was believed that your intelligence was something that was inherited or that it was a genetics thing. Although this is a possiblity it may not be a total truth. It is now believed that your intelligence can be determined by your environment, life experiences and your diet. So is there a brain food recipe that one can start eating to make them more intelligent?

Well I don’t know if there is a exact recipe but from my research on foods and supplements it continually amazes me how foods and supplements can actually stimulate chemical reactions or add natural chemicals into your body and affect you in amazing ways.

So can food actually have a positive or negative effect on your brain function and brain power?

Well the answer is Yes! Egyptians have long thought that fish was brain food. Well actually fish is high in omega 3 fatty acids and since the neurons in your brain are rich in omega 3 fatty acids adding fish or omega 3 into your diet does indeed give your brain a boost in its function. It has been found that eating fish helps to create a healthy emotional environment and a more balanced and positive mood.

Proteins are also a very good substance for the brain. Proteins such as chicken and beef contain tyrosine, an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and cells and may also help the neurotransmitter within your brain to send and receive signal and information. They can also assist one in handling stress and help the body maintain a balanced blood sugar level.

Food such as avocados, raisins, apples and nuts contain a substance called boron which has the potential to increase your memory and attention.

Choline which has also been proven to improve brain function can be found in such foods as eggs and milk. Fruits and vegetables are also extremely important in protecting your brain. Fruits and vegetables have a high degree of anti-oxidants which protect your cells and brain from free radicals which cause your cells to be damaged and age faster.

Blueberry and blackberry are especially good for your brain since they contain Anthocyanins which is the most powerful form of anti-oxidant.

Other fruits and vegetable that have been found to have a high amount of anti-oxidants are strawberries, cranberries spinach, raspberries, brussel sprouts, plums, broccoli, oranges, red grapes, red bell pepper, cherries and kiwis.

Probably the number one ingredient for proper brain function is water. Since your brain is 80% water it is imperative that one keeps themselves and their brain hydrated. Even a slightly dehydrated brain can raise the stress hormone in a person causing them to not have clarity of thought. Just observe people living in the desert in to summertime and see the stressful actions of people and one can see how dehydrated people are stressed.

There are also foods to avoid and foods that can actually slow down the brain function. Food which are high in sugar and simple carbohydrates which can give you an instantaneous surge of energy but then leave you in an daze.

It is also recommend not to consume food high is saturated fats. Sure your body needs fats, but it needs the good fats found in avocados, nuts and fish.

Also avoid eating heavy meals. It has been proven that reducing your calories will extend your life and the quality of you life. It is also a benefit for your brain function. The digestion process takes a lot of energy which in turn take the energy away from your brain functions.

So as you can see there is a brain food recipe. By eating the correct foods you can actually protect your brain and keep it healthy. You can also provide the added substances the brain needs to improve your memory, mood and the speed in which your brain functions.

Wycliffe Williams asked:


Soul food recipes that contain sweet onions may seem like relatively new recipes, but the sweet onions were first introduced around the turn of the century. Word has it that a soldier brought some sweet onion seeds from Corsica to the Pacific Northwest.

Overtime, farmers realized what a special thing they had in the sweet onions. They soon began spreading the news far and wide. Of all the healthy compounds contained in onions, two stand out. They are sulfur and quercetin; both antioxidants.

They each have been shown to help neutralize free radicals in the body. They also protect the membranes of the cells from damage. Quercetin is also found in red wine and tea, but in much lower quantities.

Most health professionals recommend eating raw onions for maximum benefit. However, cooking makes them more versatile and does not significantly reduce their potency. In fact, unlike sulfur compounds quercetin can withstand the heat of cooking.

It has been well documented that onions help prevent thrombosis and reduce hypertension, according to the American Heart Association. The juice of one yellow or white onion a day can raise HDL cholesterol, the good stuff, by thirty percent.

Anyone can tell you that sweet onions, when used for soul food recipes, sell out very quickly. It is always a good idea to stock up when you can. Here are a few sweet onion tips.

Look for sweet onions that are light and golden brown in color. Make sure they have a shiny tissue thin skin and firm, tight, dry necks. Ordinary storage onions are darker and have a thicker skin. When cut into them, sweet onions should have a creamy white interior. Avoid onions that have soft spots or surface bruises.

1. The bigger and firmer the onion, the easier it will be to cut.

2. Use a sharp knife. A dull knife can slip and will mash rather than slice through the onion.

3. Use a straight edge knife rather than a serrated knife for cleaner cuts.

4. Be sure your cutting board is positioned securely on the counter. If necessary, place a damp kitchen towel underneath to keep the board from sliding around.

5. If cutting onions ahead of time pack them in a plastic zipper lock freezer bag. Squeeze all the air out, then enclose in a second plastic zipper lock freezer bag. This will help to keep everything in your fridge from smelling and tasting like onions.

6. Use pre cut onions within two days.

7. Save onion trimmings, including the papery brown skin and add to soup stock for golden color. Store them in a well sealed plastic zipper lock freezer bag in your freezer.

Most sweet onions are usually high in water and sugar content. They require more care when storing. Treat them gently to avoid bruising. Sweet onions will keep for six weeks at the most. Cut onions should be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerated

There is no official industry standard, but a sweet onion should contain at least six percent sugar. Some sweet onions have recorded sugar levels of up to twelve percent. These are especially great for soul food recipes. Regular storage onions usually range from three to five percent in sugar content.

The best sweet onions deliver a burst of sweetness when bitten into. They have very little if any sharpness, and possess a subtle, fruity flavor. They should still taste like an onion, but be much sweeter and milder. Sweet onions are a premium product and as such cost a bit more than storage onions.