MUFFIN WITH MINT AND ROSEMARY, FOR A TRAINED MIND

Mint and rosemary, this is the title of a famous song by Zucchero Fornaciari , the artist was aware of the surprising properties of these two herbs have always been used in cooking to flavor and flavor of our dishes?

But the therapeutic properties of mint are known since ancient times, the Egyptians, for example ointments prepared with its resinous juice then used for the storage of corpses. The mint name has origins dating back to the mythological nymph Mintha, who loved Persephone by Hades was transformed from a humble plant, but could not deprive her of the sweet and intoxicating scent that it was the nymph Mintha . In the eighteenth century , the scholar Lemery said to derive from the name of the mint-mens mentis , probably because of its ability to stimulate the functions of the mind , and the days of our confirmation of this surprising ability .

Dr. S. Farr and the team of researchers at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Missouri, have analyzed the properties of mint and rosemary discovering how these two herbs are able to improve and enhance the cognitive responses. During the experimen , the researchers administered to laboratory rats , suffering from cognitive deficits similar to those of Alzheimer 's, extracts of rosemary and mint.

The administration of these extracts rich in antioxidants with a high concentration , produced an improvement in the ability of learning and memory in three different tests, while lower levels of the extract, the results were less clear .

The conclusions of this study are truly amazing , these extracts rich in carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid , would then be able to significantly reduce the deficit in mild cognitive impairment and oxidative stress in areas of the brain to learning and memory .

Eating mint and rosemary therefore slow down the age- related cognitive decline and so tackle diseases like Alzheimer's. Well stated, however, that these experiments , having been conducted on laboratory mice , are not able to provide detailed information on the doses and on how the consumption of these herbs are able to improve the ability of learning and memory in humans. Despite the indications are not yet clear , use mint and rosemary more frequently in the preparation of our dishes is a good habit, their heady scent will certainly be able to awaken our senses and our minds , if indeed Mint and Rosemary have inspired by the verses of Zucchero Fornaciari might also inspire us.

As usual, a tasty recipe can enhance the aromas and flavors of mint and rosemary,

Muffin flavored with mint and rosemary :

For the muffins (about 12) :

250 gr. flour or cornstarch

2 eggs

200 gr. ricotta

160 gr. Parmesan

1 packet of yeast

salt

milk ( in the chaos in which there is need for a softer dough )

For the cream :

6 sprigs of rosemary

some mint leaves (about 10 )

20 gr. blanched almonds

20 gr. pine nuts

1 clove of ' garlic

Extra virgin olive oil

salt

In a container mix everything for the preparation of the base of the muffins , combine the second compound of mint and rosemary , stirring the whole.

Add the yeast and use the muffin tins , bake at 180 degrees in preheated oven for about 30-35 minutes.

Bon appetit !

Andrea Busalacchi

FRUIT SALAD OF BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES AND STRAWBERRIES: ELIXIR OF YOUTH

Remain eternally young was  Meryl Streep's desire in the movie "Death Becomes Her " , and also that of the rest of us "mere mortals"!

However stopping the time machine is not feasible undertaking but contain them and counteract the effects on our organism . Number one ally in this sense is , as always, Mother Nature and its beneficial fruits . Today, in particular, we want to dwell on the unique properties of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries , the latter already celebrated by the Romans, who named as Fragrans because of their intoxicating scent .

The strawberries were the undisputed protagonists of the banquets that were held during the festivities in honor of the Roman God Adonis , whose death was mourned by Venus so copiously that her tears came to earth in the form of hearts, so the strawberries were born . Blueberries, raspberries and strawberries would be a real concentrate of wellness and prevention, this is what emerged in a recent study, conducted at the University of Barcelona from the Spanish researcher Cristina Andres Lacueva and colleagues. The study, conducted in the Chianti and eponymous title "Ageing in Chianti ," he had as protagonists 807 subjects ( men and women) 65 years of age and over .

Lasted twelve years, the study evaluated the effects of polyphenols on ' body and used as a biomarker concentration of urinary total polyphenols (TPU) , noting that people with a diet rich in polyphenols ( > 650 mg / day) not only had low probability of developing chronic diseases , compared to those who introduced in their diet lower amounts, but their overall mortality was reduced by 30%. The polyphenols therefore would act as a real elixir of youth , being able to counteract the effects of harmful substances such as free radicals and to limit inflammatory states that are at the origin the onset of chronic diseases. To stay young and long-lived , it is therefore necessary to resort to magical positions , as did Meryl Streep with consequences often unpredictable and unpleasant , but little follow simple rules such as food consumed daily blueberries , raspberries and strawberries delights for the palate, food for mind , youth for your body .

Our elixirs, can be contained in a simple salad of strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Here 's the recipe:

Ingredients for 2 people

100 grams of strawberries

100 grams of raspberries

100g blueberries

1 pineapple

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Juice of 1 orange

Preparation: Wash and dry the fruit, put it to soak in a container with brown sugar and orange juice for about 30 minutes. Serve in pineapple , cut into 2 parts and properly drained.

Bon appetit !

Andrea Busalacchi

CAVIAR AND OMEGA-3 HELP SENSITIVE SKIN

Used for years in the fight against aging, omega-3 are now considered useful for combating and preventing the discomfort of sensitive skin

So many times in these pages we talked about the phenomenon of " sensitive skin " . An issue very present in our society, affecting every year more and more people, and that can occur at any time of their lives. Unfortunately, the triggering reason behind this phenomenon, is not classifiable as a single cause , but rather in a series of causes that with time slow to a synergistic effect. We know definitely that the sun , the wind, the temperature changes and the use of cosmetics agents may accentuate the problem and sensitive skin needs special care and forethought . The difficulty lies in the fact that often the cutaneous manifestations are diverse and not always pathological . These include redness, peeling, dryness, itching, allergies, burns, premature formation of wrinkles. This leads us to act in a proper and timely manner, acting on their own symptoms in an attempt to reduce them as much as possible . The first rule to the base of each treatment is skin hydration , water is the only element without which no physiological process is able to function , a deficiency leads to dysfunction elementary that can translate in a slowing of the processes endogenous repairers . Suffice it to say that a dehydration of only 10% can cause major disturbances at the level of elasticity and plasticity of the skin, thus compromising the ability to adapt skin . To this can be remedied by introducing in the diet about 1.5 / 2 liters of water between meals , consuming fruits and vegetables in season and using good cosmetic products , being careful to choose between occlusive and non- occlusive . The difference consists in the capacity or less of the cosmetic product to block the normal transpiration of water through the skin , favoring its accumulation inside (occlusive phenomenon) , compared to the ability to facilitate binding to the epidermal surface of the water by the aid Alpha hydroxy acids at low concentration or particular sugars such as trehalose (non-occlusive phenomenon) . Generally, the choice should be made according to the degree of dehydration and aging of our skin, younger skin may not require an occlusive effect .

Alpha_linolenic_molecule  Omega -3, are a category of essential fatty acids indispensable for the correct functioning of the organism . Their anti-inflammatory power may be of help in cases of skin sensibileMa the hydration alone is sometimes not enough , especially when they accompany the phenomenon of sensitive skin there are some pathological conditions such as psoriasis , allergic dermatitis or seborrheic dermatitis, or abnormalities in keratinization ; in these cases beyond the traditional proper medical care , there are natural substances that when added to cosmetics or pharmaceutical products for topical use, can alleviate the symptoms. Recently introduced in the cosmetic field there is the extract of caviar , which thanks to its high concentration in Omega 3 , helps the cells of our skin to be more resistant and elastic , thereby contributing to improve the natural barrier function of the skin . This action could be accompanied by a good natural anti-inflammatory effect , exerted for example from an extract of licorice, which topical level , is able to prolong the anti-inflammatory response of our organism , slowing down the degradation of endogenous cortisol ( a hormone produced by our body, anti-inflammatory ) . Speaking so , naturally , it greatly reduces the possible reaction of our body called rebound effect or rebound effect , ie a systemic response that can offset or cancel the beneficial effects induced artificially , this situation can occur , for example, when you using an excessive cortisone -based creams . Finally , we recommend the use of mild cleansers that do a little persistent foam and which respect the physiological pH , all in order to preserve part of the hydro-lipid film skin (outer layer that forms on the skin) is indispensable for the maintenance of a healthy skin .