The ultra-health conscious and granola-crunching crowd has known the nutritional benefits of juicing for years. Now, with the emergence of mega juice chains and small pressed juiceries all over the country, more people than ever are opting to drink their five to six daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

What started out decades ago with a few delicious menu items like carrot-orange-banana blends or fresh pressed apple cider, has turned into a craze that calls for gourmet juices containing more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that you can get in an entire meal, or two.

Who wouldn`t want to chug down a day`s worth of kale, spinach, beets, celery, and carrots in one serving, instead of planning and preparing the same amount of veggies to fit into a sometimes-busy schedule? Juice blends can easily be guzzled whether you are running out the door, in the car, at your desk at work, or even, yes, in a traditional restaurant setting?

Some of the best new juice shops and cafes have managed to turn blending fruits and vegetables into an art form. Whether you opt to add green apple to a kale-parsley blend or throw a dash of coconut water into a spinach-orange concoction, there are tons of ways to jazz up a plain old juice. The traditional wheat-grass shot is still the Holy Grail for some juice aficionados, but now it is easy to find juice blends containing barley grass, alfalfa, and even parsley.

The best juice establishments know that just eating your veggies isn`t enough to promote good health and keep ailments at bay. When it comes to juicing, buying organic is an absolute "must." After all, who wants a cupful of pesticides along with their wellness tonics?

Many people who have never juiced before find that they like to ease into the whole juice scene rather than jump right into the hard-core detox combos like kale, spirulina, cilantro, alfalfa, romaine, ginger, and cucumber.

Some of the most palatable juices for newbies are made with mild-flavored produce like carrots, fennel, green apples, and oranges. Remember, fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of fiber, so you may want experiment with just one or two drinks per day at first, until your body has had time to adjust to all of the sweet goodness you are filling it with.

Once you`ve found a few flavors that you like, try adding new ingredients like lemon, ginger, several grasses, and pear. You may find that you start juicing because it leaves you feeling full, then realize that you somehow feel lighter. Invigorated, but with a stable energy that lasts throughout the day. Energized, without the blood sugar spikes and crashes an hour after eating a meal.

And, the really cool thing about juicing is that there are juice combinations that help to prevent and remedy all sorts of health issues like ulcers, digestion problems, high cholesterol, fatigue, and a weak immune system.

Here are 10 great juice fusions to get you started…

Antioxidants

Dark leafy greens are chock full of antioxidants. And, when it comes to greens, the darker the better. Not only do they promote cell healing and stimulation, they act as antiseptics and help to build healthy blood.

• Kale, orange juice, spirulina, alfalfa, cucumber, parsley
• Spinach, romaine, celery, green apple, lemon
• Swiss chard, cilantro, barley grass, cucumber, green apple

Detox

Kale is a super ingredient for sure, and is a key player in many juice blends. To detox the blood, liver, and kidneys, try adding some herbs and filtered water to your greens.

• Kale, green apple, ginger, filtered water, lemon
• Cucumber, lemon, cayenne, green apple, ginger
• Beet, celery, green apple, ginger, lemon

Energy

When you are hungry, you are hungry, and you may not think that a cup of juice is going to fill you up and sustain you until your next meal. These mixtures will pack in the vitamins and minerals and leave you satisfied without packing on the pounds.

• Carrot, beet, green apple, ginger
• Green apple, celery, coconut water, kale, lemon
• Carrot, coconut water, pear, beet, cinnamon
• Beet, romaine, carrot, kale, coconut water, green apple, pear

Whatever juice blends you try, whether out or at home, a few things to remember are to listen to what your body is asking you for, choose fresh produce and consume fresh juices right away, and most importantly, have fun!

When you hear the term "raw" food, what comes to mind? From now on, I hope you think about gourmet entrees, luscious desserts, and incredible smoothies that will make you wonder how fruits, veggies, and nuts could ever taste so good!

Most people associate rawfood with unbaked cookie dough, sushi, or heaven forbid, undercooked meat. Incorporating more raw ingredients into your recipes is a first step on a journey to optimal wellness, a journey that begins with your taste buds and ends with a vibrant, healthy,and energized you.

The main difference between raw food and traditional cooked food is that raw food contains ingredients thatare never heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

Raw recipes are prepared with fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and superfoods like the coconut butter,Spirulina, or delectable cacao (chocolate.) What you`ll notice when exploring the world of raw foods is that all of the ingredients are plant-based. No animal flesh or byproducts areinvolved.

Some of the most popular ingredients in raw recipes come from the land, as well as the sea. You`ll never believe what incredible raw dishes you can "cook" up, such as a creamy cheesecake using Irish moss as a gelling agent or a chocolate mouse that gets its rich texture from avocado.

Raw collard greens are put to work as wonderful wraps, which can easily hold lentils and green split peas, carrots, cashew sour crème, and sauerkraut. Delicious raw sandwiches are made with sprouted grain bread, and filled with curried almond pate, walnut spread and fresh cranberry relish. A new take on raw pasta includes kelp or zucchini noodles, kalamata olives, and an Alfredo sauce made with nuts, nutritional yeast, and basil. Its almost a given that most smoothies are raw, so how does a vanilla shake with home made almond milk, fresh vanilla beans, and a raw vanilla ice cream made sound?

Raw Restaurants are Showing Up All Over the Globe

The raw food movement that is sweeping across the world is not new. Health nuts and granola crunchers have been eating raw for decades in America, and in other parts of the world cultures have thrived on raw fruits, vegetables, and nuts as ingredients for many years. But a good portion of the global population`s experience with raw fruits and vegetables has been limited to sides dishes and garnishes of sliced carrot sticks with dip. Therefore, it might surprise you to learn that you absolutely can enjoy exquisite culinary masterpieces created from all raw ingredients.

Eating raw means that you can enjoy lasagna, pizza, burritos, nachos, and cheesecake without your food every hitting an oven, grill, or microwave?Chefs all over the world are turning out fantastic raw meals in high-end restaurants like San Francisco`s Millennium or New York`s Pure Food and Wine. Incredible dishes that you`d never expect were both vegan and raw.

Raw food has so much more going for it than just a hearty helping of fruits and veggies.

Eating raw usually means that your food will be infused with a generous serving of fruits or vegetables, and everyone knows thats a good thing. Especially if you are trying to lose weight or heal from disease. The food we eat is not any good to us unless we can absorb its nutrients and utilize them for energy, and that is the benefit that raw enthusiasts are preaching.

Plant foods are special because they come with their own enzymes, which help us to break down and digest the food that we eat. When food is cooked and heated above

118 degrees, those vital enzymes are destroyed and we lost the ability to get much, if not all, of the nourishment from the food.

Raw flax crackers, kale chips, and crepes can all be easily made in a dehydrator, which dries the food at low temperatures, reducing moisture but retaining precious vitamins and minerals. If you`ve never tried a raw chia seed pudding with cinnamon, agave, and fresh berries on top, you`ll want to head on down to your local health food store and buy what you need to make one right away! And for those of you craving tacos and enchiladas, raw cafés have got you covered there too.

The only things you`ll be missing from a menu full of raw goodies are a bunch of saturated fats, artificial colors and flavors, and pesticide-laden produce. And no one wants to consume that anyway. Try one of our raw recipes and let us know what you think!

American recipes are famous world over for their unique blend and taste. These recipes are rich, scrumptious and filling. It is not only about fast food, but you can count the traditional American recipes as well that are extremely nutritious for people of all ages. Some traditional American recipes include potato chips, hot dogs, hamburgers with fries, fried chicken, etc. Although, these foods might not be essentially American, they have spread all across the world through their popularity in the United States.

In this article, we have given two American recipes that are not only popular, but are also extremely healthy.

1. Oven Fried Chicken

Ingredients

4 (8-ounce) chicken breast halves (with bones)
1 cup low-fat buttermilk 
1/3 cup all-purpose flour 
1/3 cup cracker meal 
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp salt 
2 tbsp butter

Method

Mix chicken and buttermilk in a shallow bowl. Make sure that the chicken is completely coated with buttermilk. Take another shallow dish and mix flour and cracker meal. Now shift the chicken in buttermilk on a sterile surface. Sprinkle half teaspoon of pepper and salt over the chicken. Coat the chicken with the flour mixture and dust off excess bits of flour. Now put the chicken in a separate bowl. Melt butter using an oven-proof skillet and cook the chicken from both sides until it turns golden brown. Now take off the pan from the range and put it into 425 degrees F preheated oven for at least 30 minutes. Serve it with coleslaw and mashed potatoes.

2. Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

Ingredients

Gravy
3 tbsp flour 
2 - 3 cups of milk

Salt and pepper to taste

1lb sausage meat

Biscuits
1/4 cup of shortening 
2 cups self-raising flour

1/4 cup of milk

Method

Crush sausage meat in a pan and fry it until the meat changes color, i.e. does not remain pink. Start adding one tablespoon flour at a time and keep stirring quickly until it takes form of a paste. Turn heat high. Now, add milk and stir, and then add salt. This blend should be thick to give a better taste. To prepare biscuits, combine flour and shortening using a pastry cutter. However, if you do not have it, you can do it in any other way that suits you. Add more milk and continue stirring. Knead dough in a large bowl and then put it onto a well-floured surface. Now roll it out carefully and slice into round shapes. You can use bottle necks or glasses for better shapes. Now put the biscuits on to a baking sheet. Let them bake at 425 degrees F for at least 10 to 15 minutes or until the biscuits turn golden brown. You can serve the biscuits cut-up or open faced with sausage gravy as topping.

When only the finest olive oil will do, choose extra virgin olive oil from Greece. Greece is one of the world’s top olive oil producing countries, and the vast majority of the oil it produces is of the highest grade: extra virgin olive oil.

Not only does Greece produce some of the finest extra virgin olive oils in the world, it’s been doing so for thousands of years. Olive trees and their bounty have been a part of Greek culture since ancient times. Olive oil was called “liquid gold” by Homer and has long been considered a gift from the gods.

Far removed from Mt. Olympus, modern consumers are faced with many olive oil choices - and it’s confusing. Some purchase bottles of olive oil based on price alone while others may not understand the differences between extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, and low-cost blends.

Olive oil comes in several grades with extra virgin olive oil being the highest. Extra virgin olive oil is known for its exceptional aroma, quality, and taste. It is produced from the first pressing of the olives as does virgin olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is produced through mechanical means only with no added chemicals or water. Temperatures during processing cannot exceed 86℉ to prevent degrading the oil. The acidity of extra virgin olive oil is limited to 0.8 percent. In contrast, the acidity of virgin olive oil can go as high as 2 percent.

To add to the confusion, extra virgin olive oil is produced in various regions around the world including Greece, Italy, Spain, and California. Here at Recipiada.com, we have sampled the world’s finest extra virgin olive oils and believe that extra virgin olive oil from Greece truly is a gift from the gods.

Greek olives are a tasty fruit that have been enjoyed since ancient times. Olives from Greece are among the finest olives in the world, and there are several different varieties to try. Perhaps best of all, you buy Greek olives online and indulge in an Ancient treat without guilt thanks to the numerous health benefits of Greek olives.

Types of Greek Olives

Greek olives range in size from the tiny, raisin-like "Stafidoelia" to the large "Gaidoroelia" which is also known as the donkey olive. The most common variety of table olives in Greece is the Conservolea variety while the best known is the "Kalamata." Throuba olives are also delicious. Though you may be able to buy Kalamata olives locally, your best bet for trying other varieties is to buy Greek olives online.

In addition to Greek olives intended for consumption, several olive varieties from Greece are used for extra virgin olive oil production. "Kothreiki" and "Megara" olives are used as table olives and in extra virgin olive oil production while Koroneiki olives are primarily used to produce extra virgin olive oil. The Koroneiki's oil is known for its light, slightly lemony aroma.

Greek Olive Nutrition Facts

Greek olives are a mainstay of the Mediterranean diet and well-regarded around the world for their health benefits. The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the healthiest diets in the world and is associated with improved heart health and a reduction in other chronic illnesses.

Olives are loaded with so-called "healthy fats" that lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind) and raise HDL cholesterol (the good kind). In addition, olives contain phytochemicals that have been associated with a reduction in the production of inflammatory enzymes.

Where to Go From Here

Delicious and good for you, what's not to love? Use Greek olives in salads, on pizza, in meals, as an appetizer, on sandwiches, and as a light snack. Brush extra virgin olive oil on bread, veggies, and meat before roasting or grilling. We're confident that you'll love the aroma, flavor, and health benefits. Buy Greek olives online at Recipiada.com today!

The Mediterranean diet gets its name from the Mediterranean region where observational studies found that people living in the area had longer life spans and fewer chronic diseases. According to the Mayo Clinic's in-depth look at the Mediterranean diet, research involving over 1.5 million followers of the Mediterranean diet has indicated a reduced risk of death from heart disease and cancer and lower rates of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Mediterranean Diet Basics

Following the Mediterranean diet is relatively simple. It's not so much about counting calories as it is about making the same healthy choices commonly made in Greece and other Mediterranean countries. Hallmarks of the Mediterranean diet include:

• An emphasis on plant-based foods such as fruits and veggies, olives, nuts, legumes, and whole grains.
• Using extra virgin olive oil in place of butter. Instead of unhealthy fats and cholesterol, extra virgin olive oil is loaded with healthy fat and the "good" type of cholesterol.
• An emphasis on eating fish and poultry as well as minimal red meat consumption. Red meat is generally limited to once or twice per month.
• A reliance on herbs and spices for seasoning rather than salt.
• Moderate consumption of red wine if desired.

Fruits, nuts, honey, olives, veggies, seafood, poultry, whole grains, herbs, extra virgin olive oil, and red wine - what's not to love about the Mediterranean diet? Not only are these foods delicious and natural, they've been linked to improved health!

Mediterranean Diet Tips

If the Mediterranean diet sounds like a smart eating choice, you're right, it is. To make it easier to follow, use the food pyramid analogy with red meats and sweets at the top of the pyramid (i.e., eat these rarely) followed by poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt which can be eaten in moderate portions either daily or weekly. Fish and seafood make up the next level of the pyramid and should be eaten at least twice per week. At the base of the pyramid are the foods you should eat at every meal including: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, extra virgin olive oil, seeds, nuts, legumes, beans, and herbs and spices.

Though nuts and extra virgin olive oil are high in fat, they're high in the good type of fat. However, they are also high in calories. Because of this, moderation is key. Eat a handful of nuts each day and sauté your veggies in extra virgin olive oil without guilt, but be careful not to overindulge.

The Mediterranean diet is a delicious, heart healthy diet. Enjoy the taste of the Mediterranean by buying high quality extra virgin olive oil, Greek olives, honey, nuts, and other Mediterranean diet staples from Recipiada.com.

If you think honey is honey, think again. When you buy Greek honey online, you'll experience a taste unlike honey from other parts of the world thanks to the moderate Mediterranean climate. Greece's temperate climate, warm summer sun, and biodiversity support an abundance of plant life with many plants found nowhere else in the world. Since bees produce honey that reflects the flavors of the native plant life, Greek honey is truly special. Varieties range from

floral and herbal to pine. In addition to its delightful flavors and aromas, Greek honey has various beneficial characteristics.

Health Benefits of Greek Honey

While some buy Greek honey online because they love the flavors of Greece, others buy it for its reported health benefits. Greek honey is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients. It is all-natural and will never go bad or spoil. Honey is also loaded with anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral substances.

Honey has been enjoyed for thousands of years. Among its reported health benefits are:

. Sore throat and cold remedy - Feeling the beginning of a sore throat? Honey coats and soothes your throat.

. Antiseptic topical treatment for burns, cuts, and infections - Loaded with natural anti-microbial agents, honey has been used to treat minor cuts, infections, and burns.

. Digestion aid - Honey is easy to digest.

. Preventative medicine - Contains phenolic and oestrogenic compounds which may aid in the prevention of osteoporosis and breast cancer.

. Natural moisturizer - Apply a paste of thyme Greek honey, egg yolk, and olive oil to your face and relax for 15 minutes or so. Rinse with warm water and enjoy a natural treatment for

dry skin.

Cooking with Greek Honey

Whether drizzled over oatmeal, stirred into Greek yogurt, baked into desserts, or used as a sugar substitute, Greek honey is also delicious! While sweets initially come to mind, you can enjoy Greek honey with all meals. For example, make a Greek honey glaze for meats or mix Greek honey with herbal cream cheese for a savory spread.

Where to Buy Greek Honey Online

Buy Greek honey online at Recipiada.com and enjoy a sweet taste of the Greek Islands. Greek honey makes a great gift, too.

Traditional styles of bread from a Greek bakery

If you are interested in Greek food and recipes from Greece, then you will need to know about the different styles of Greek bread available. The modern word for bread in Greek is “Psomi”, which means 'a morsel'. This suggests something that is both tasty and desirable, and also something which is quite rich. However, the ancient Greeks used another term, “artos”. The ancients used this term because they added Greek herbs and spices to their breads, including rosemary, salt and fruit as well as cardamom and cinnamon. Although the term for bread has changed, many of the recipes have stayed the same, and are still highly flavoured. Any Greek bakery will have a range of sweet breads which are flavoured in a very similar way to the ancient artos.

Popular breads

The most popular breads in Greece are still those which are made in the local area, and are bought fresh.

There is a Greek bakery in every town which offers a variety of breads, from small sticks known as bastounakia, heavily flavoured with salt

Special breads and sometimes with either pepper or with caraway seeds. Breads made with olives are also very popular, including muffins known as eliopsomakia which are made during the summer. Many types of bread will also have sesame seeds either in the dough or sprinkled on top. Tea rolls known as psomakia me prozeme are served at breakfast along with sesame-seed rolls. The most common type of bread is still rusks, often eaten at funerals or made with sweet butter as a kind of sweet biscuit.

The traditional Greek bakery will also supply foods for special events such as holidays and celebrations. The typical bread of Christmas, for example, known as Christopsomo, is made with sweet dough which is flavoured with almonds, raisins and lemon peel. It may also be served with dried figs which are diced and sprinkled into the mixture. Vasilopita is made on the first day of the New Year, with lucky coins hidden inside, and made to almost cake-like bread. Easter breads can include the Tsoureki which is a bread twisted into a braid and then decorated using red Easter eggs. The flavour of this bread is obtained from spices from a Mahlepi tree. The texture of the bread is similar to that of the Vasilopita, with a sweet texture. In some instances, the Greek bakery will make a version of this bread all year round, removing the Easter eggs and instead decorating the top of the bread with sesame seeds. In these cases, the loaf is braided lengthwise to give it a rope-like look, and it is eaten as ordinary bread.

Health benefits of Greek olive oil

One of the most well-known Greek products, olive oil is now popular all over the world for its taste, its style, and the reported health benefits of the little fruit. Medical studies have shown that people eating the traditional Greek diet, also known as the 'Mediterranean diet' are more likely to be free of heart problems and the thickening of the arteries associated with chronic health problems. There are also other reputed benefits of Greek olive oil, and cold-pressed olive oil is also recommended for those trying

out an exclusion diet, since it is one of the purest forms of this oil. Understanding the health benefits of this oil can ensure that people consume it for the right reasons.

The Mediterranean diet

This famous diet was developed to improve cardiovascular problems after a report in the 1980s showed that the Greeks and the Italians had lower coronary disease death rates than anywhere else. This was attributed to their overall diet, but Greek olive oil was researched further ,and has been shown to reduce the chance of a first episode of coronary problems, and will also reduce the dangerous lipids in the blood stream.

Weight loss

Although most weight loss diets seek to reduce the total amount of oils and fats in a person's diet, Greek olive oil has been shown to encourage weight loss. Olive oil may play some part in the breakdown of fat cells, and reduce belly fat. It is also claimed to reduce insulin resistance, although the research is not complete on the last issue. However, it may help type 2 diabetics who need to lose weight. It is shown to lessen the effects of diabetes which can have a positive impact on the health of the diabetic overall. The olive oil should, of course, be used as a replacement rather than as an additional food source, since it is oily. Experts recommend two tablespoons of olive oil a day, best used in cooking where it can replace vegetable or nut oils in frying.

Source of vitamins

Greek olive oil is a great source of fat-soluble vitamins such as A D and K, which are useful in preventing illnesses and cell oxidation. In addition to these vitamins, it also contains a variety of antioxidants which help to strengthen the immune system. It is therefore good for general health, keeping back colds and illnesses, and also important for helping to keep the skin young-looking. It is also useful as a natural painkiller, as it contains oleocanthal, known to be an anti-inflammatory. Pregnant women are also advised to take olive oil in order to help the child grow well and to give them developmental advantages.