While I have no objection to a piece of chocolate on occasion, here’s a beautifully healthy treat to share with your loved ones! Simply slice the watermelon thickly and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out two hearts. Fill them with berries, decorate the plate with mint and more berries. There’s nothing sweeter than enjoying amazing health and good nutrition with the people we love so enjoy every bite.
Watermelons are mostly water — about 92 percent — but this refreshing fruit is soaked with nutrients. Each juicy bite has significant levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants and amino acids. There’s even a modest amount of potassium. Plus, this quintessential summer snack is fat-free, very low in sodium and has only 40 calories per cup.
Why we love berries
WAY more than just dessert, berries have a reputation for their beneficial effects in the body and are a powerful source of phytonutrients and antioxidants. One of these compounds called ellagic acid is believed to help in the prevention of cellular changes that lead to cancer.
With their natural heart shape and pretty red colour strawberries are a perfect choice for Valentine’s snacks. The Romans believed that strawberries cured everything from loose teeth to gastritis.
The antioxidants in blueberries have been shown to protect LDL lipoproteins (the “bad” cholesterol) from oxidative damage, a crucial step in the pathway towards heart disease. These antioxidants have been shown to protect against heart disease and cancer, and can also help maintain bone strength, mental health, and healthful blood pressure.
Studies show blackberries have one of the highest antioxidant contents per serving of any food tested. In a 2006 study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, scientists indicated that blackberries’ antioxidant content of 5.75 millimoles per serving was far above that of other foods. This means that regular consumption of blackberries may have a positive impact on health, athletic performance and disease risk.
Anthocyanins, or the “flashy flavonoid,” give blackberries their glossy, dark colour, and it’s this powerful phytonutrient that’s been shown to protect the brain from oxidative stress and may even reduce the effects of age-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Blackberries have also been shown to have beneficial health effects in the fight against cancers of the GI tract, like colon cancer.
♥ Happy Valentine’s Day ♥