Turkish lamb stew

Ingredients

  • Serves four
  • 1-2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1kg leg of lamb, diced into 4cm pieces
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 2 green peppers, finely chopped
  • 3 tbsp tomato puree
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely grated
  • 3 large beef tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 200ml chicken stock
  • A good handful of parsley, roughly chopped
  • Natural yoghurt, to serve
  • For the aubergine:
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 aubergines, sliced in half lengthways
  • 1 tbsp cumin
  • 2 tsp dried coriander
  • 4-5 tbsp pomegranate syrup
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper

Method

This Turkish lamb stew borrows from the traditional recipe for hünkar begendi or Sultan’s delight which is served with a silky aubergine puree. I’ve swapped the puree for spiced sticky roast aubergines, which are wonderful in this dish but can also be eaten as a vegetarian option, with a warm rice or bulghur wheat salad. Add the oil to a casserole over a high heat and brown the lamb pieces in batches, before setting aside on a plate lined with kitchen paper.

Pour a drop more oil to the pan if it needs it. Fry the onion and peppers for six minutes, or until just tender. Add tomato puree, garlic cloves, tomatoes, oregano and cayenne pepper and stir through. Pour in the stock and bring to a steady simmer. Return the lamb to the pan, season and bring to the boil, cooking covered with a lid on for 1 hour and 30 minutes, or until the lamb is tender. Remove from the heat and stir through half the parsley.

While the lamb cooks, preheat the oven to 200 degrees/gas 6. Score the flesh of the aubergines with a sharp knife to create a diamond pattern. Drizzle generously with olive oil and rub with cumin and coriander until completely coated.

Place in the oven for 35 minutes, or until the flesh is just tender but still holds its shape.Brush generously with the pomegranate syrup on all sides. Place back in the oven to cook for 5-10 minutes until caramelized and sticky.

Serve the lamb with the aubergine, a dollop of yoghurt and a sprinkle of parsley.

via www.irishtimes.com

Dr. Maddahi Launches Oral Essentials™ Dry Mouth Formula with Cayenne Pepper and Coconut Oils

Dentist Formulated All Natural Mouthwash Addresses a Common Cause of Tooth Decay and Bad Breath

Los Angeles, May 13, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celebrity dentist and creator of Oral Essentials™ Dr. Kourosh Maddahi launches a new Dry Mouth Formula to add to his organic line of oral care products. Built around the same honest and mineral-rich solution as his best selling Oral Essentials™ Original Formula, the specialized Dry Mouth Formula touts the addition of cayenne pepper, coconut, and grapeseed oils to help stimulate better saliva production and maintain optimal moisture levels in the mouth.

“If you have difficulty swallowing or often find yourself reaching for water in the night, you may be one of the millions dealing with dry mouth,” said Dr. Maddahi. “What many people do not realize, however, is that dry mouth doesn’t stop at discomfort; it is actually a major cause of tooth decay and bad breath. I created Oral Essentials™ Dry Mouth Formula as a great daily method for combating this issue, without the need for chemicals.”

Like all of Dr. Maddahi’s mouthwash solutions, his Oral Essentials™ Dry Mouth Formula is entirely free of harsh chemicals, preservatives, alcohol, and dyes. Instead, the top dentist has chosen natural ingredients, such as Dead Sea Salt, Aloe Vera, French Essential Oils, and Xylitol to improve freshness and protection in the mouth, without disrupting pH balance.

“In the past 10 years, I have noticed a significant rise in tooth decay caused by dry mouth in my patients,” said Dr. Maddahi. “Sometimes it is a side effect caused by medication, other times it’s simply genetics, and then there are those patients who experience dry mouth as a result of everyday habits, such as sleeping with their mouths open. What Oral Essentials™ Dry Mouth Formula is able to do is fight back against dry mouth symptoms by adding extra moisture to the mouth and triggering better saliva flow.”
Source: Dr. Maddahi Launches Oral Essentials™ Dry Mouth Formula with Cayenne Pepper and Coconut Oils

7 Amazing Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper: A Spice Like No Other – NDTV Food

There is nothing as widely used and relied upon as cayenne pepper, to transform a mundane everyday-dish to a hot and spicy showstopper, especially in India.

Cayenne Pepper takes its name from the Cayenne region of French Guinea. It is grown in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of India, Africa, United States of America and Mexico. It was introduced to the rest of the world by Spanish and Portuguese travellers, who carried it from South America where it was cultivated for the first time.

Not many are aware that some chilli powder variants are not purely made from Cayenne pepper (having additives like fennel seed powder), but are perfect substitutes for it. One of the local versions is Kashmiri laal mirch powder, which is not too hot but imparts a striking red colour to food preparations.

1. Aids in Digestion

Apart from exciting the palate, cayenne pepper also stimulates the production of various gastric juices and enzymes in the digestive tract, thus aiding digestion. It also helps in soothing intestinal gas problems. Dr. Shikha Sharma, a Delhi-based nutritionist and the founder of NutriHealth, advocates the use of cayenne pepper in our food to push for a healthy metabolic system.

2. Detox Power

Cayenne pepper stimulates the circulatory system. If had with a glass of warm water and fresh lemon juice in the mornings, it helps the body detoxify itself. It increases the body temperature, giving a kickstart to our metabolism. Another benefit of this early-morning drink is regulation of blood sugar levels.

3. Anti-bacterial, Anti-fungal and Anti-irritant

This hot ingredient is also said to aid an upset stomach, and those suffering from ulcers. What’s more? Cayenne pepper acts as the body’s shield against allergens and can prevent migraine attacks. The gut has both healthy and unhealthy bacteria. Cayenne pepper keeps the gut healthy by maintaining an optimum pH balance that hinders the growth of the microbes in the gut.

4. Can Prevent Cancer

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, found that the compound responsible for chilli’s heat has the power to kill prostate cancer cells. The findings suggest that with further research, the compound capsaicin found in cayenne pepper could one day be used to develop effective anti-cancer drugs in the form of an injection or pill.

5. Helps Nurse a Cold

As consumption of cayenne pepper raises the temperature of the body, it helps to decongest mucus and thus gives relief from cold and flu discomfort. A light sprinkling in a steaming bowl of healthy vegetable soup can go a long way to fight that pesky flu. Besides, it also has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a natural pain killer. It is also used as one of the components in topical pain relieving ointments and creams.

6. Protects the Heart

Most often heart attacks are caused due to blocked blood vessels. Not only does cayenne pepper help in regulating blood pressure levels, it also prevents the clotting of blood if consumed in optimal quantities on a daily-basis.

7. Good for Weight Loss

This wondrous spice starts working its magic even before reaching the stomach, ie in the mouth itself. It stimulates the production of saliva, which is great for digestion, and teeth and gum health. Moreover, it is said to aid in weight loss. Here too, the compound capsaicin plays a role where it helps in burning calories and curbs the appetite, if consumed regularly along with other beneficial ingredients. 

Source: 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper: A Spice Like No Other – NDTV Food

How Cayenne Pepper Can Help You Lose Weight

The Master Cleanse

If you are familiar with the Master Cleanse, then you probably know that cayenne pepper plays a major role in this weight loss/detox plan. The Master Cleanse was created by Stanley Burroughs back in 1941. In his book, he claims that cayenne pepper is an important ingredient in the cleanse because it can eliminate the buildup of plaque and mucous found in your gastrointestinal tract. As a result, your body is detoxified and you are able to lose several pounds.

Using Cayenne Pepper for Weight Loss

Now that you know the possible weight loss benefits of cayenne pepper, you may be planning to incorporate it into your diet. There are several methods that you can try in order to increase your cayenne pepper intake. One of your options is to buy the capsules that are available in your local drug store and grocery store. These capsules are generally taken about three times a day. Cayenne pepper also comes in powdered form. You can mix the powdered form with water and drink it daily, or you can add a teaspoon or two of the powder to your daily meals. Of course, you can also buy the actual whole spices and consume them. If you think the spicy flavor will be much too powerful for you, then you might want to stick to the capsules and powder.

VIA: How Cayenne Pepper Can Help You Lose Weight : 3FatChicks on a Diet! – Diet & Weight Loss Support.

Can You Lose Weight With Cayenne Pepper Pills?

In a 2003 study published in the “British Journal of Nutrition,” participants were given an isolated form of capsaicin rather than fresh peppers, so they were not able to taste it. Capsaicin is the active compound responsible for metabolism boosting and appetite suppression, and also for giving all hot peppers — not just cayenne — their pungent flavor. For three months, participants given 135 grams of capsaicin daily experienced more fat oxidation than participants given placebos. In other words, more body fat was broken down and used as energy. These results suggest that cayenne capsules may be useful for weight management.
via: Can You Lose Weight With Cayenne Pepper Pills? | LIVESTRONG.COM.

Dr Oz’s Capsicum Extract Weight Loss Supplement Review: What Science Suggests about New Capsicum Pure Cayenne Red Pepper Capsaicin Extract Product with CLA.

Dr Oz, the world’s most respected and known doctor, recently shed light on the prestigious Capsicum Extract for natural weight loss results.

On a recent episode of the Doctor Oz tv show, capsicum extract (not to be confused with cayenne, capsaicin, or fresh red peppers) was announced as a safe, effective, and natural solution to losing weight faster than ordinary diet and exercise.

The main component of this potent weight loss alternative is Capsicum, commonly found in hot chilli peppers and is regarded by some as nature’s greatest stimulant. Capsicum annuum extract helps stimulate metabolism by activating a rapid chain of events in the body that help to burn fat and break it down in the body.

This Capsicum Extract is the main ingredient found in the new Capsicum Pure weight loss supplement and also includes potent weight loss benefactor Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for maximum results.

Capsicum, a fresh raw fruit, is the name of tropical pepper plants that can grow in different shapes or sizes all over the world. The word “Capsicum” also refers to the fruit found in cayenne, jalapeno and spicy dried peppers.

Capsicum extract is known as Capsaicin, the heat-stimulating chemical in chilli peppers, mainly responsible for the healing weight loss properties.

Via :Dr Oz’s Capsicum Extract Weight Loss Supplement Review: What Science Suggests about New Capsicum Pure Cayenne Red Pepper Capsaicin Extract Product with CLA..

Cayenne Pepper May Burn Calories, Curb Appetite

Red cayenne pepper may help burn calories and curb appetite, especially in people who aren’t used to eating it, says a new study that was partly supported by the National Institutes of Health and the McCormick Spice Company.

The study found that about half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper either mixed in food or swallowed in a capsule helped normal-weight young adults burn about 10 more calories over a four-hour period, compared to eating the same meal but without the red pepper.

Pepper also decreased appetite, especially in people who said they didn’t already eat spicy foods.

Study researcher Richard Mattes, PhD, RD, distinguished professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., thinks that the pepper is stimulating the trigeminal nerve, one of the main nerves in the head and neck.

“Chemesthesis is the term for chemical irritation, and that’s the sense that this work focused on,” Mattes says. “What we were interested in is, does activation of that system lead to increases in energy expenditure, alterations in appetite and food intake, and so on.”

“The appetite responses were different between those who liked red pepper and those who did not, suggesting that when the stimulus is unfamiliar it has a greater effect,” Mattes says in a news release.

VIA WEBMD.COM Read more:Cayenne Pepper May Burn Calories, Curb Appetite.

Top Facts About the Cayenne Pepper Diet – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com

The Cayenne Pepper Diet, which consists of lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper, promises to help you lose weight, have more energy, and make you much happier in just 10 days. The diet is said to be a Master Cleanse Diet, as you do not eat any food and the digestive system is cleaned out.

The mixture can be taken cold or as a hot tea and contains a certain amount of vitamins and minerals. This is more of a fast than it is a diet, and is designed to relieve the body of toxins and congestion. A laxative tea is taken every night and every morning. This consists of 32 ounces of warm water with sea salt. This works through your system within 30 to 60 minutes to clean you out from the top down.

It is recommended that this regimen be followed for at least 10 days. Some people do stay on the diet for a longer period of time. However, when you break the fast you will need to do it slowly to avoid what they call a dumping syndrome, where solid food can get caught in the digestive tract and plug up the system.

When going off the fast, you will need to drink full strength juices for a couple of days and slowly add soups, then vegetables and nuts before resuming a regular diet. A person may want to add probiotics to make sure to develop a healthy mucus lining in the intestine.

There has been some concern that there is a lack of protein, minerals, and vitamins when using the Cayenne Pepper Diet. Some may experience dizziness, fainting, and delirium, while on this fasting diet. There is not enough evidence to support that the body will be damaged from long term fasting. It is said that these effects of the detoxification process, and is said to pass after this period.

Top Facts About the Cayenne Pepper Diet – Yahoo! Voices – voices.yahoo.com.

Cayenne Pepper Facts | eHow

Identification

  • The cayenne plant produces pods or peppers that have a key ingredient called capsaicin, a chemical that gives the peppers their hotness and causes the explosive and heat-filled reaction many receive afer just a brief taste of the pepper.

Benefits

  • Regular intake of cayenne pepper can lead to improved blood circulation, relief from heart attack, cramps, varicose veins, constipation, allergies, sore throat and toothache.

Considerations

  • Herbal supplements are labeled by heat units of 40,000, 60,000 or 90,000. The higher the number, the more impact the supplement will have and, likewise, specialists urge you to avoid those designated 30,000 heat units or less. They have been found to be weaker and more easily contaminated.

Effects

  • Upon consumption of cayenne pepper, an instantaneous reaction takes place in the mouth, alerting the brain that something spicy-hot is on its way to the stomach. As a result, the digestive organ is already prepared, in advance, to receive and begin the digestive process of the pepper and its ingredients.

Types

  • Cayenne is only one of a variety of hot peppers which are used as food seasonings and contain capsaicin. Others include jalapenos, habaneros and chile de arbol.

Misconceptions

  • Hot peppers are often believed to be the cause of stomach disorders, like ulcers; however, the opposite is true. Because cayenne pepper kills bacteria in the stomach, researchers now link it to ulcer prevention.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/about_5067657_cayenne-pepper.html#ixzz2Y73fKrB9

VIA Cayenne Pepper Facts | eHow.

Using Cayenne Pepper to Boost Your Metabolism / Fitness / Weight Loss

Cayenne pepper is used in a variety of ways for both cooking and medicinal purposes. There are a number of ways you can incorporate cayenne pepper and cayenne pepper capsules into your healthy living lifestyle. Your metabolism can be boosted in a number of different ways through the consumption of spicy foods. The key is eating the right spices, in the right quantities, and through the right foods.

How Cayenne Pepper Works

Spicy peppers, which include cayenne peppers, cause the body temperature to rise. When the body temperature rises it needs to be cooled, and you burn more calories when the body is forced to go through a cooling process. Though it may seem like the hotter and more frequently your body temperature is high, the more you can boost your metabolism, you need to moderate it to be effective. As you become more accustomed to spicy foods, it may take more spice to raise your body temperature. If you already like spicy food, consider adding a pinch more cayenne powder to your favorite recipes.

Cayenne Pepper Powder

Add cayenne powder into some of your favorite recipes for a bit of a kick and to boost your metabolism. If you’re not someone who likes spicy food, there are still ways to add a bit into your food without making the dish overly spicy. One great way to do this is by adding a bit of cayenne pepper powder into your favorite Mexican dishes. Mexican food is generally a little spicy, without being overly spicy. Try cayenne powder in chili or taco meat for burritos.

Add cayenne powder to soups and stews in a small amount, one to two pinches, and you will not detect the spice, but it will boost your metabolism significantly. As you become more accustomed to it, you may need to change your recipes a bit.

via Using Cayenne Pepper to Boost Your Metabolism / Fitness / Weight Loss.