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Give Your Brain a Boost: 5 ways to promote brain health

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(Family Features) When it comes to staying healthy, there is a natural emphasis on physical fitness. However, it’s important to know that nurturing and maintaining brain health is also important for leading a fulfilling life. 

The brain is the command center of the human body and as such, influences every aspect of life. Maintaining brain health requires providing it with nourishment, rest and healthy stimulation.

Consuming healthy, whole foods, including vegetables and fruits, such as grapes, can help establish a strong foundation for brain health. For example, grapes may help protect against metabolic decline in the brain associated with natural aging; in a human study of elderly subjects with mild cognitive decline, UCLA researchers found consuming 2 1/4 cups of grapes every day preserved healthy metabolic activity in regions of the brain associated with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, where metabolic decline takes hold. 

Adding grapes to your favorite healthy recipes, or enjoying them as a simple snack, helps support a healthy brain. Consider these additional ways to promote positive brain health from the experts at the Mayo Clinic.

Sleep Well
Health experts recommend aiming for at least seven hours of sleep per night. As noted by the Mayo Clinic, adequate sleep may help boost overall memory and brain health by giving the brain time to effectively consolidate memories.

Follow a Healthy Diet
Eating nutritiously benefits the body in many ways, including playing a role in brain health. Healthy eating plans like the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes plant-based foods, whole grains, fish, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables, are thought by experts to be especially beneficial. Recipes like Warm-Spiced Chickpeas and Couscous with Grapes and Arugula deliver an array of ingredients to support brain health in delicious ways. This recipe is also heart smart because what is good for the heart is also good for the brain.

Stay Social
Keep in touch with family and friends. According to health experts, including the Mayo Clinic, staying connected and interacting socially can help defend against depression and stress, which may contribute to memory loss.

Exercise Regularly
Staying physically active provides well-known benefits for the body, and exercising can also benefit the brain by increasing blood flow to it. Once your workout is over, turn to a post-workout snack like Grapes from California for an energy boost and natural hydration.

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Keep Your Mind Active
Like muscles throughout your body, the brain should be used continuously to strengthen it. With nearly endless ways to stimulate the mind, there’s something for everyone to keep their brains in shape from crossword or jigsaw puzzles to reading, learning a new language, playing cards or conquering sudoku.

To find more information about the connection between grapes and health, or discover nutritious recipes, visit GrapesfromCalifornia.com.

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Warm-Spiced Chickpeas and Couscous with Grapes and Arugula

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional, to taste, divided
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 cup Israeli pearl couscous
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 can (15 ounces) no-salt-added chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
  • 1 cup red Grapes from California, halved
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 cups lightly packed baby arugula
  • lemon wedges
  1. In large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and allspice; cook, stirring, until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Add couscous and stir 1 minute to toast lightly. Add turmeric and water; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until couscous is tender, about 15 minutes.
  2. Stir chickpeas, grapes and cilantro into couscous then season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer couscous-grape mixture to large bowl, add arugula and toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature with lemon wedges.

Nutritional information per serving: 370 calories; 12 g protein; 61 g carbohydrates; 9 g fat (17% calories from fat); 1 g saturated fat (2% calories from saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 160 mg sodium; 8 g fiber.

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SOURCE:
California Table Grape Commission

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.

https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage

You can also find food and beverage-related videos on our YouTube channel, where we regularly post new content and share tips, recipes, and demonstrations. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEhXBupt8tVynuUhpQZMxQt4lvPmOiAtQ&si=InDwc7YaB0KIwmxy

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Food and Beverage

Punch Up Your Holiday Beverage Menu

This holiday season, enhance your gatherings with a refreshing Christmas Cranberry Punch recipe featuring cranberries, pineapple, assorted juices, and a hint of rosemary for a tart twist.

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Christmas Cranberry Punch

(Culinary.net) This time of year is all about food and sweet desserts, but don’t forget to quench guests’ thirst with a seasonal sip. This Christmas Cranberry Punch offers a slightly less sweet take on traditional punch so you can add a touch of tart to the beverage cart. Visit Culinary.net to find more delicious holiday recipe ideas.

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Christmas Cranberry Punch

  • 1 package fresh cranberries
  • 1 can pineapple chunks
  • 3-4 rosemary twigs
  • 6 cans lemon-lime soda, divided
  • 64 ounces cranberry juice
  • 20 ounces orange pineapple juice
  • 1 orange
  1. The night before, place four cranberries, two pineapple chunks and a few rosemary sprigs in each hole of silicone muffin pan or ice tray. Cover with 1 can lemon-lime soda and freeze.
  2. Chill remaining soda, cranberry juice and orange pineapple juice overnight.
  3. In punch bowl, mix remaining soda, cranberry juice and orange pineapple juice. Slice orange into 5-6 slices. Add lemon-lime soda ice cubes, handful of cranberries and orange slices. Serve.

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SOURCE:
Culinary.net

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.

https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/


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Food and Beverage

A Sweet, Savory, Simple Holiday Side Dish

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(Culinary.net) No matter what your main course looks like at the holidays, this Asparagus with Cranberry Sauce offers a sweet yet savory complement. Plus, the surprise pop of flavor and color are perfect for a festive tablescape. Find more easy holiday recipes at Culinary.net.

holiday

Asparagus with Cranberry Sauce

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”
Servings: 6

  • 1/2 pound bacon
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • 1 bunch fresh asparagus
  • 1 can (14 ounces) whole cranberry sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  1. Using kitchen shears, cut bacon into pieces then fry in skillet. Drain and set aside.
  2. In same skillet, add butter and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Saute asparagus then add bacon back to pan.
  3. In saucepan over medium heat, heat cranberry sauce, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar.
  4. Place asparagus on platter and pour sauce on top.

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SOURCE:
Culinary.net

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.

https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/


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Food and Beverage

Classic Desserts That Combine Christmases Past and Present

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(Family Features) If holiday gatherings have started to feel more overwhelming than celebratory, it’s time to go back to the basics with seasonal desserts that are easy yet elegant.

Classic Desserts

Wow your crowd this year with a mouthwatering Hummingbird Cake or Coconut Cake that call to mind holidays past without requiring hours spent in the kitchen (like grandma used to do). Or for a classic take on an old favorite, these Christmas Cinnamon Cookies can even let the kiddos get involved – just make the dough then have your little helpers use their favorite cookie cutters to make festive shapes before the oven does the rest of the work.

Find these recipes and more from “Cookin’ Savvy” at Culinary.net.

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Hummingbird Cake

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy

  • 1 spice cake mix
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup banana cream Greek yogurt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple
  • 1 cup crushed pecans
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter

Frosting:

  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 5 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 package pecans (optional)
  1. Heat oven to 350 F.
  2. In mixing bowl, mix spice mix and sugar. Blend in yogurt, eggs and pineapple. In separate bowl, mix pecans, flour and butter then add to cake mixture.
  3. Grease two 8-inch cake pans with butter. Pour half the mixture into each pan then bake 45 minutes. Cool on rack before icing.
  4. To make frosting: In mixing bowl, mix butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream. Slowly blend in powdered sugar.
  5. Ice cake then decorate with pecans, if desired.
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Coconut Cake

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy

  • 1 vanilla or white cake mix
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup coconut Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter
  • 3 eggs

Frosting:

  • 1 stick butter, softened
  • 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 5 cups powered sugar
  • 2-4 cups shredded coconut
  1. Heat oven to 350 F.
  2. In mixing bowl, mix cake mix, flour and sugar. Blend in yogurt, milk, butter and eggs.
  3. Grease two 8-inch cake pans with butter. Pour half the mixture into each pan and bake 45 minutes. Cool on rack before icing.
  4. To make frosting: In mixing bowl, mix butter, cream cheese and heavy whipping cream. Slowly blend in powdered sugar.
  5. Ice cake then pat shredded coconut gently into icing.
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Christmas Cinnamon Cookies

Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy

  • 1 2/3 cups self-rising flour
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons water (optional)
  • 1 cup powered sugar (optional)
  1. In mixing bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, sugar, brown sugar and egg to make dough. If dough is too dry to form into ball, add water. Form into log and wrap in parchment paper. Refrigerate 1 hour.
  2. Heat oven to 350 F.
  3. Roll dough out and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheet covered in parchment paper and bake 8-10 minutes. Let cool on rack then dust with powdered sugar, if desired.

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SOURCE:
Culinary.net

At our core, we at STM Daily News, strive to keep you informed and inspired with the freshest content on all things food and beverage. From mouthwatering recipes to intriguing articles, we’re here to satisfy your appetite for culinary knowledge.

Visit our Food & Drink section to get the latest on Foodie News and recipes, offering a delightful blend of culinary inspiration and gastronomic trends to elevate your dining experience.

https://stmdailynews.com/food-and-drink/

Discover more from Daily News

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