Eat Lemons to Avoid Kidney Stones

This post was originally published as Eat Lemons to Avoid Kidney Stones  by Laurel on Health Food blog.

I thank my stars that I’ve never had any problems with kidney stones, but I’ve heard they are just terrible to deal with. If you’re prone to get them, I have some good news for you. Natural News recently reported that lemons and other citrus fruits can help prevent kidney stones from developing. John Milner, a urology expert at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, says “lemons are very high in citrates, which inhibit the growth of kidney stones.”

Milner says its very important for people to drink lots of water because “insufficient fluid intake” is the most common cause for stones. He says you can drink lots of water with slices of lemons to help protect yourself.

What foods or drinks should you avoid if you have kidney stones? Stay away from iced tea because it contains a chemical called oxalate which can actually promote kidney stone growth. Yipes! Also limit your intake of chocolate, nuts, rhubarb, and spinach (all high in oxalates).

I once heard from a nutritionist on the radio that the best thing you can do when you first wake up is to have a big glass of water with lemon. It seems like a great habit to start.

On a separate note, LOHF is on another blog carnival. This time my “Orange Veggies Cut Heart Disease Risk” blog is featured on the Carnival of Healing #167. Look fot it under the Healthier Nutrition category.

Lycopene Keeps Your Cholesterol At Healthy Levels

This post was originally published as Heart-Healthy Lycopene  by Laurel on Health Food blog.

Lycopene is the healthy phytonutrient that gives the bright red color to produce such as watermelon and tomatoes. Studies show that lycopene helps keep your blood vessels in their best shape, prevents cancer, and keeps your cholesterol at healthy levels. Here are some of the best food sources of lycopene:

• Watermelon
• Tomatoes (red, orange, and tomato products)
• Pink grapefruit
• Guava
• Papaya

Summer is the perfect time of year to boost your lycopene intake because most of these fruits are in season. Here are a few lycopene-rich recipes to get you started:

Tomato, Cucumber, Onion, and Avocado (TCOA) Salad (Laurel’s recipe)
Caprese Salad (Laurel’s recipe)
Watermelon & Feta Salad with Pine Nuts (ChefMD recipe)
Papaya Green Onion Salad (Bobby Flay recipe)

Here’s a few ideas for summer parties. Puree fresh or frozen guava, papaya, or watermelon and mix them with lime juice and a shot of rum or tequila for a healthy cocktail. You can also chop up these fruits into small pieces, add fresh cilantro, lime, and jalapeno for a delicious salsa to put on top of grilled fish or to serve with chips.

Sweet Carrot & Radish Salad On The Side

This post was originally published as Healthy Side Dish: Sweet Carrot & Radish Salad  by Laurel on Health Food blog.

I went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant with some girlfriends last week and my shrimp and vegetable enchiladas came with a delicious carrot salad on the side. I loved how fresh, summery, and crunchy it was. Plus it was super healthy and light. I re-created my own carrot salad today and used some of the fresh spearmint that’s growing on my windowsill. This one is very easy to make and will last for days in the refrigerator. I hope you like it!

You can serve this salad with fish, chicken, or vegetables. It’s also just yummy on it’s own.

Sweet Carrot & Radish Salad

2 large carrots
1 daikon radish (a 4-inch piece)
2 small/medium oranges
1 handful fresh mint leaves
1/2 cup orange juice

Chop up the carrots and radish into thin half-moon or quarter-moon slices (as shown in picture above). Put them in a bowl. Cut the oranges up into small bite-sized pieces and toss with the carrots and radish. Chop up a handful of fresh mint leaves and sprinkle on top of the salad. Add the orange juice and stir everything together.

Tasty Red Potatoes Make Everyone Happy

This post was originally published as Comfort Food: Tasty Red Potatoes  by Laurel on Health Food blog.

Small red potatoes are one of my favorite things to cook with. They always hit the spot and are so comforting! My Tasty Red Potatoes recipe is super easy and can be made for lunch, dinner, or even breakfast. Serve these up with scrambled eggs for brunch on the weekend and you will make everyone happy. That’s a promise!

Tasty Red Potatoes

1.5 lbs. small red potatoes
1 cup yellow onion, diced
1 tbsp. fresh thyme
1 tbsp. fresh rosemary
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt & pepper