If you’re a lover of chocolate you would have notice that most people consume milk chocolate more  than dark chocolate and to compare sweetness most of us would go for  milk chocolate.

These five facts about dark chocolate will make you consider it especially if you want to be healthier.

1.The higher the percentage of cocoa in dark chocolate the more the benefits. Dark chocolate of high cocoa percentage contains a lot of strong antioxidants more than most foods.

2.Dark chocolate improves blood flow and may  reduce blood pressure as it has elements which helps produce nitric oxide which relaxes the arteries.

3.Consuming dark chocolate reduces the risk you getting heart disease.

4.The flavanols in dark chocolate as proven by study can protect your skin against the sun damage as it increases blood flow to the skin

5.It improves brain function as it increases blood flow to the brain and improves verbal fluency. It  improves the functions of the brain of  elderly people with mental impairment.

Take note that taking too much of it is not healthy. Two squares of dark chocolate and a bottle of red wine can make your day less stressful and healthier.

Quick and easy smoothies – perfect for when you are on the move or perhaps not a lover of breakfast! Your body will love these delicious smoothies. Choose the flavor you fancy (the method is the same for all three) or get creative and design your own.

 

Ingredients

GREEN SMOOTHIE

  • 125ml coconut milk
  • 500ml kale or spinach, chopped
  • 250ml pineapple chopped
  • 1  banana, chopped
  • 3 – 5ml grated ginger

BANANA GINGER SMOOTHIE

  • 2 SPAR Freshline bananas, sliced
  • 250ml plain yoghurt
  • 15ml Shoney (to taste)
  • 3ml freshly grated ginger

BERRY OAT SMOOTHIE

  • 200g frozen berries
  • 175ml  plain yoghurt
  • 30ml honey (to taste)
  • 3 – 5ml grated ginger
  • 25g Quick Cooking Oats

Method

  1. Combine the ingredients in a blender, except for the oats if making the berry smoothie.
  2. Puree until smooth, about 1 minute.  Add water to reach the desired consistency.  Stir the oats into the berry smoothie reserving a few for sprinkling on top.

Hints & Tips

When using banana, it is a good idea to peel and freeze it the day before. Cut into chunks and blitz with the other ingredients for an icy smoothie.

 

Source: Daily Sun

Sesame seeds may be tiny, but they have loads of health benefits. In fact, sesame seeds are one of the most ancient foods on earth and sesame plants are the oldest known plant species to be grown primarily for their seeds and oils rather than for their leaves, fruit or vegetables.

Originally, they were native to India and parts of Africa, now however, many other countries are cultivating them as well. Although it is an oily seed, the fat content in it is largely the healthy variety, which is why it is one of the healthier cooking oils used across the globe. One can purchase Sesame seeds shelled or unshelled.

They were truly worth their weight in gold during the Middle Ages, and there many good reasons for that.

One tablespoon of whole sesame seeds has about:

  • 52 calories
  • 4 grams fat
  • 1 gram carbs
  • 2 grams of protein
  • 4 milligrams copper (18 percent DV)
  • 2 milligrams manganese (11 percent DV)
  • 87 milligrams calcium (9 percent DV)
  • 31 milligrams magnesium (8 percent DV)
  • 3 milligrams iron (7 percent DV)
  • 57 milligrams phosphorus (6 percent DV)
  • 7 milligrams zinc (5 percent DV)
  • 1 milligrams thiamine (5 percent DV)

10 Amazing benefits of the sesame seeds

Relieves Arthritis

The high copper content in sesame seeds prevents and relieves arthritis, and strengthens bones, joints and blood vessels.

Keeps the Heart Healthy

Sesamol is a compound found in sesame seeds and their oil. It has been highly praised for its antioxidant properties, and, while found in raw sesame seeds, its potency is increased through the seed roasting process. (21) This particular compound boasts many health benefits, including the prevention of heart disease, by lowering blood pressure and promoting weight loss.

 Keeps Wrinkles at Bay

Sesame seed oil prevents harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun from damaging your skin, preventing the appearance of wrinkles and pigmentation.

Lowers Cholesterol

Sesame helps lower cholesterol levels because it contains phytosterols that block cholesterol production. Black sesame seeds are especially high in phytosterols.

Good for the Eye

In traditional Chinese medicine, there is a relationship between the liver and eyes. The liver sends blood to the eyes to support functioning. Black sesame seeds are the best for this.

Sesame Seeds Improve the Health of Your Bones

Calcium is essential for healthy bone growth and maintenance. Our bodies continually take calcium out of our bones and replace it with new calcium, a process of bone “remodeling”. We need to continuously intake calcium to prevent the body from taking out more calcium than it can replace. Sesame seeds can help prevent osteoporosis by providing your body with much needed calcium.

Hair Benefits 

Sesame seed oil is full of the nutrients needed for a healthy scalp and hair. See how to use sesame oil in your hair here.

Sesame Seeds Aid Digestion with Dietary Fiber

The high fiber content of sesame seeds helps the intestines with elimination.

Help Burn Fat

Fats signal our brain to produce hormones that make us feel satisfied so we stay full for longer between meals. Essentially, various healthy fats turn on your fat-burning switch by reducing ghrelin, the hunger hormone. Certain phytochemicals found in sesame seeds that are part of the lignan family are also known to be beneficial to your metabolism and body’s fat-burning abilities.

Boosts Metabolic Function

Optimum metabolism is key for overall health. It keeps the body strong and gives high levels of energy that can be used externally to perform work and internally for cellular function, sesame seeds enable as they are high in fiber and in addition, it increases mobility and activity, and promotes cellular growth. Further, they are also rich in proteins which are broken down inside the body, and the components are reused in multiple bodily functions.

 

Side-Effects & Allergies of Sesame Seed

However, like everything else, sesame seeds should also be consumed in moderation. Excessive consumption can cause bowel and colon irritation, which is in fact the opposite of what sesame seeds are ideally supposed to do for the human body. Further, due to the presence of THC, they can also show up in drug tests. However, this too is dependent on the amount that is consumed. Moderate consumption can prevent both these things from happening.

Think Mahogany in collaboration with The Food Event Company Africa organized its first ever jollof festival in Accra tagged, Jollof Market.The event which took off at Serallio in Osu, Accra on Saturday August 26 was opened to all.

Jollof Market is an open-air food fair for the purpose of bringing an extensive number of group to a mouth-watering display of Jollof and a variety of accompaniments by local foods and drinks vendors.

There were many other entertainment such as  Jollof King and Queen Live Cooking competition for adults, karaoke session, spoken words, DJ battle and many more…. The kids were not left out either, they enjoyed activities like, face painting, balloon art, cotton candy and others.

Jollof Market is the first of its kind to also promote food tourism in Ghana. It was sponsored by Acrecity Medics, Wilmar Africa, producers of Frytol oil and Fortune Rice.

Music by Darkovibes