Macaroons vs. the Mini Watermelon

Today is Random Picture Day at FindingFoodorLove.  It's a battle between partially eaten macaroons from my absolute favorite French bakery, Vanille in Chicago (my taste of Paris), and our organic, miniature watermelon from the garden.  No philosophical insight here, just total randomness.  I think the watermelon looks like it has some inherent advantage, don't you think?  Interesting that the colors of my macaroons (red velvet, passion fruit with a hint of coconut, and pistachio *so tantalizing*) are the same colors as my watermelon!  Guess I was thinking 'watermelon' when I was buying the macaroons or more probably, I subconsciously like this color combination.

The watermelon, by the way, was so incredibly awesome.  It was juicy, crisp, sweet, and personal (I consumed 1/2 of the entire thing since it was so small).  I have to admit, the thirst quenching watermelon got me eating it more and more, but left my macaroons half eaten.

4th of July: Eat that Watermelon!

Happy 4th of July to you as you celebrate this weekend!  A great time for BBQ's, fun with friends and family, and time off to enjoy the summer.  I bet the 4th weekend is the biggest grilling weekend of the year in the U.S. (no stat to support, purely a guess).  Steaks, ribs, hot dogs and throw in the potato salad, chips and dessert; pretty much all-American.

One part of the BBQ that I love, but too bad it always comes at the dead end, is when we cut up the watermelon.  Someone with either some strong arms or a conveniently parked car will come and haul the big fruit to the BBQ site.  The pink refreshing, crunchy, sweet fruit when served cold is the perfect quench to a hot summer day.

Watermelon quenches thirst because it is 92 percent water!  If you are looking to lose some weight this BBQ season, load up on watermelon early.  It is extra filling, a high-volume food, meaning that it takes up a lot of space in your stomach for few calories.  Just what the dieter needs.  So you feel less hungry, and the water bound to the food slows down absorption. 

Even better, watermelon is super high in lycopene which is associated with lower rates of prostate cancer. It also has Vitamin A and carotenoids, which create a support system for the lycopene to work best.  Many benefits from the enjoyment of eating watermelon.

Only moderate downside is the natural sugar content (or high glycemic index), but its glycemic load, which may be more important, is low (for those who track this).  I think summertime is a time when we sweat more anyway, so the extra sugar from watermelon is a good thing.  Would be much more concerned about the sugar from the pies and ice cream than that from crunchy watermelon.

Source: 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, by Jonny Bowden
Picture Source: http://kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/greenscene/2009/09/watermelon-powered-cars.html

Detox and Cleanse

What about those detox and cleansing diets?  I think detox is important because it means helping, reviving and feeding your liver.  The liver is at the center of good health.  Detoxification of the body is absolutely necessary, and the liver produces biochemicals necessary for digestion.  Also, the liver is our powerhouse.  Our liver gives us energy.  Take too much energy and don't give the liver what it needs to regenerate, that person will age, be prone to disease, and feel tired all the time.  If you feel tired all the time, it isn't "normal."  Yes, most people in this country feel tired all the time, which is not indicative of a healthy life.  Stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, alcohol, terrible diet, etc. may be causes, but at the end of the day, the person's liver is taking the hit.

For the last few years, my poor liver has taken a hit.  Dehydration was a problem, stress, injury, diet were also contributing factors.  I have been doing lots of research on how to rebuild my liver.  I will share here and in future posts about what I have learned.

For one, diet.  I did a detox diet for 6 days a few years ago.  I was feeling tired and just not well before it, and after six days of eating mostly detoxifying food, I could tell a huge difference.  Not until you do one, will you see and become a believer that what you eat really makes a difference.  If you attempt, do research before you start.

Here are a few foods that help the liver, that is aid detoxification:

1) Water.  Number one factor that will help revive and sustain your liver health.  Proper hydration is ABSOLUTELY key.  Every body requires different water amounts, but 2 liters a day is pretty average.  Drinking room temperature water is best; cold water takes energy from your body in order to warm it up.

1) Artichokes.  This green vegetable is amazing when it comes to detoxification.  Even a few bites of artichoke can significantly increase bile production.  From what I found, it is one of the top foods that increases bile production.  Bile helps digestion of fat, elimination of toxins, and bowel movement.  Get the toxins out!

2) Garlic and onions.  These babies solve so many problems for us!  Garlic contains allicin that helps the liver for detoxification.  
 
3) Brussel sprouts.  Really great for the liver.  You can roast brussel sprouts or saute them with onions and garlic.  With proper amounts of salt and pepper, these are really yummy.  Takes a few tries when cooking before you get the hang of it, but well worth the trial and error.

4) Cabbage.  Personally, I never knew or quite understood the properties of cabbage.  Cabbage is really good for the liver and has anti-inflammatory properties.  Please don't boil!  Saute, please. :)