Lemon juice: The best cleaning detergent

Lemon, natures little hand scrubbers, a natural disinfectant that fits in the palm of your hand, a fantastic kitchen helper, is also a natural mild disinfectant. It can freshen more than just your food; it is a powerful antibacterial and grease fighter. Lemons can be used all over the house, it can also be used to take care of some skin problems. Lemon is high in citric acid, it is one of the best natural cleansers due to its low PH and antibacterial properties. Lemons smell great and are not likely to cause damage to materials around what you are cleaning, such as fabric or wood.

When cleaning with lemons, always rinse with warm soapy water and dry with a clean cloth. One of the very few things you can’t clean with lemon juice is anything that is brass plated, because the juice will damage the item. If you clean with this natural cleanser, you may buy less, spend less money and have fewer harsh chemicals to worry about.

Here is a list of items that can be cleaned with lemon;

Clean the blender: If your blender carafe suffers from a little hard water build up, blend a lemon with a little dish washing soap and water to get it sparkling again.

Freshen the garbage disposal: The best way to kick that funky smell coming out of your garbage disposal is to throw in some ice cubes, a handful of salt and a few lemon peels. Alternatively, you can pour a gallon of hot water mixed with half cup of lemon juice down the drain.

Clean and deodorize smelly plastic container: Rub a lemon over the inside of a plastic container, or rinse it with lemon juice to help remove stains and smells.

Cutting Boards: Fresh lemon juice can kill germs which makes it a great choice for the kitchen. Sanitize your cutting boards and remove odours with lemon juice and salt. Once you scrub your board with a freshly cut lemon or lemon juice and salt, let it sit for five minutes before rinsing.

Laundry: You don’t need bleach to have bright whites. Remove stains and whiten your clothes with lemons. To fix dirty white, add thinly sliced lemons to a hot pot of water. Once the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat, add your clothes and let them sit for an hour before washing. To remove grease stains from clothing, rub lemon juice into the spot and let it sit overnight and then wash as normal. It works best if the laundry is dried under the sun. Lemon juice should not be used on silks or other delicate fabrics.

Furniture Polish: Conventional furniture polish is full of mineral oil and poisonous hydrocarbons that can irritate lungs and skin. The propellant in many sprays is made from petroleum gases that have been linked to cancer and genetic defects. Protect your furniture and your wood with a simple lemon olive oil polish.

Hard water: Lemon juice can remove the mineral deposit from your head tank. With a similar acidity as vinegar, lemon can safely break down hard water deposits. It will also help remove soap and other build up that dulls shine. Sprinkle baking soda or salt onto the cut side of a lemon and rub directly on the water spots.

Barbecue Grill: In addition to helping remove stuck on food, lemon will help remove rust and sanitize the grill. The easiest way to use lemon on the grill is to rub a cut lemon straight on the grate before you light it.

By: Mercy Kukah

Moroccan Mutton Sauce and Mint Lemonade

Welcome to another exciting edition of Meals By Me™. For this edition, I am going to be sharing one of my favourite Mutton Recipes with you all...served on a bed of warm fluffy Couscous. This Moroccan Indulgence is fit for a King! I suggest to all Citizens of Cookingville to follow and make this recipes for the real royals, that is Family! Our Kings, Queens (for our male followers) Princesses and Princes. Cook this Soul warming meal for your loved ones for God's rewards. Don't forget to email us your experience trying it out, you know we love hearing from you, so keep those emails coming. Ok!  Time for business!

Moroccan Mutton Sauce

For this Soul Warming Meal, you will need:

·         1/2 a pound of Mutton (Mutton is mature Sheep or you also can use Ram Meat)

·         6 carrots peeled and sliced

·         8/9 potatoes peeled, sliced half vertically (Long)

·         1 large Sliced onions &  3 chopped hot peppers (Attarogo)

·         1/2 tsp of sea salt, 3 cooking spoons of veg oil

·         1/2 tsp of coriander seeds and black pepper

·         2 seasoning cubes of choice

·         1 tsp of BBS Yaji mai Garlic (BBS dry chilli powder with garlic)

·         1 tsp of grated fresh ginger

·         Chopped Chives and crush pepper flakes for garnish

So, make your Couscous and set aside! If you have ever attended any of our Cooking Classes you should know how to make beautiful mush free fluffy Couscous! If not, read the packet instructions! Then clean your mutton (don’t soak in water). Crush the coriander seeds and set aside. I used a clay pot for this recipe, if you don't have one, that's ok! Just use a solid pot, this dish is to be slow cooked!

So, add the fresh mutton, onions, attarogo, crushed coriander seeds, ginger and sea salt 1st to the pot. Stir and leave to marinade for about 10mins. While it sits, the juices of the mutton will ooze out. Then add the rest of the ingredients, black pepper, seasoning cube, BBS, stir in and then pop on the heat. Without adding any water or oil, using high heat, stir fry the mutton to lightly brown it, then add the Vegetable oil, reduce the heat, cover and leave to slow cook. Don't add water yet. Meat in general, Beef or Chicken has a lot of its own fluids, adding water ruins the process of its own release, especially adding hot water to raw meat; please stop doing that I beg of you! When you commit kitchen atrocities like that, you start the cooking process of the meat, denying it rights to flavour.  

Leave to slow cook for about 20mins and see image below! Tada!!! There’s your Water!!  

Now you can add the potatoes and carrots leave for another 8-10mins. Stir occasionally! Check potatoes with a fork (which is pronounced as Fork, thank you!  Not fark or fick) once it's cooked, add 1 cup of boiling water, and then you can lightly thicken the sauce with a slurry, corn flour and water mixture. Once sauce is thickened, then you're ready to serve. Serve in a long or wide serving dish ready to be eaten. It should come to the table or carpet in all its grandeur and beauty!  Garnish with chopped chives and chilli flakes

Enjoy! Don't forget to email us your experience trying out this recipe on mealsbyme@gmail.com we love hearing from you guys!

Mutton is simply mature sheep, that's why ram is an alternative if you don't get it!

Did you know that: Moroccan dietary staple is couscous, made from fine grains of a wheat product called semolina. It is served many different ways, with vegetables, meat, or seafood.

Morocco, unlike most other African countries, produces all the food it needs to feed its people. Its many home-grown fruits and vegetables include oranges, melons, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, and potatoes.

Five more native products that are especially important in Moroccan cooking are lemons, olives, figs, dates, and almonds.

Located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, the country is rich in fish and seafood. Beef (Cow) is not plentiful, so meals are usually built around lamb (Sheep) or poultry.

Flat, round Moroccan bread is eaten at every meal. So you can purchase Pita Bread (Arab Bread) to enjoy (this very recipe) with your meal.

The Moroccan national dish is the Tajine, (it's a swallow clay pot with a cone looking lid) any meal cooked with it, is also called Tajine like lamb or poultry made like a stew/sauce  Other common ingredients may include almonds, hard-boiled eggs, prunes, lemons, tomatoes, and other vegetables. The Tajine is loved for its distinctive flavouring, which comes from the pot and spices including saffron, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, and ground red pepper                                                                       

Mint Lemonade

What better way to wash down lovely delicious mutton and fluffy couscous than this delightful tangy chilled drink. My Lemonade with a twist will make you feel like you're dining in an elegant dive in Casablanca.

You will need:

·         12 lemons

·         2½ cup of sugar

·         ½ of peach essence

·         ½ of lemon essence

·         Ice (loads of it! )

·         1 litre cold water

·         few sprigs of fresh mint

This serves 6 big glasses/Mason Jars/Jam Jar or 8 tumblers/high ball glass. 

Squeeze 10 of the lemons and leave 2 whole for garnish. Pour the sugar in a jug or bowl and add the lemon juice. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely, and then add the essences.

The peach essence for a certain Je ne sais quoi (French Culinary term for I don't know what. But it's good) and lemon essence for freshness.  Stir well and add water! Then into your glass, place mint, stem, leaf and all. Use a drink stir or spoon to bruise the mint leaves at the bottom to release its own essence. Mint essence is fresh and lovely, you have to bruise, squeeze the leaf in order to bring out its scent.

Slice the garnish lemons into rounds; add ice to half the glass, place lemon slices on top of ice and then pour in refreshing lemonade....ahhh! Pop in a straw and present!

Enjoy! Don't forget that you can follow on Instagram to what dishes our kitchen is bringing out. Our Instagram handle is: Hapsy4Saffron

So Until next edition my lovelies keep on cooking....Bye for now!

By: Hapsy Ibrahim Mahmud

All Rights Reserved © Nov 2016

Facebook Lie (Jokes)

Albino met a girl on Facebook, and they both decided to introduce themselves to each other.

Albino: What is your name?

Girl: Lovett         

Albino: Where do you work?

Girl: I am a fashion designer. What about you:

Albino: I am a managing director, I have my own business. I like you so much, more than 2 sim china phones.

Girl: hmmmmmm, that’s lovely, thanks.

After few months, as Albino was trying to open the gate for his master, he met the girl coming towards him shouting, “buy sweet bread and butter”, they both jammed each other face to face.

Albino was shocked and surprised at the same time and he shouted ah ah!!.... Is this your shop? The girl was equally surprised and also said ah ahh!! Oloshi….. Stupid manager!

Apple Cider Vinegar and its uses

Apple cider vinegar, otherwise known as cider vinegar or ACV, is a type of vinegar made from cider or apple must and has a pale to medium amber colour. Unpasteurized or organic ACV contains mother of vinegar, which has a cobweb-like appearance and can make the vinegar look slightly congealed. ACV is used in salad dressings, marinades, vinaigrettes, food preservatives, and chutneys, among other things. It is made by crushing apples and squeezing out the liquid. Bacteria and yeast are added to the liquid to start the alcoholic fermentation process, and the sugars are turned into alcohol. In a second fermentation process, the alcohol is converted into vinegar by acetic acid-forming bacteria (acetobacter). Acetic acid and malic acid give vinegar its sour taste.

 Helps Heartburn and Acid Reflux

Acid reflux usually results from having too little acid in the stomach. Apple cider vinegar is full of antibiotic properties. To improve the acid content of your stomach, drink one tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar mixed in a glass of water.

 Helps kill pathogens, including bacteria

It has traditionally been used for cleaning and disinfecting, treating nail fungus, lice, warts and ear infections. Vinegar has been used as a food preservative, and studies show that it inhibits bacteria (like E. coli) from growing in the food and spoiling it. If you’re looking for a natural way to preserve your food… then apple cider vinegar could be highly useful.

Promotes Healthy Cholesterol

Not only does apple cider vinegar support healthy cholesterol, studies have shown that it can protect from arterial damage or oxidation, which is the main risk of high cholesterol.

 Can Aid in Healthy Weight Loss

Yep, apple cider vinegar can help you lose weight. The acetic acid it contains helps to suppress your appetite, increase your metabolism and reduce water retention — a great combo if you’re looking to lose a few pounds.

 Promotes Healthy Blood Sugar

Studies have shown that apple cider vinegar has strong anti-glycemic properties that support a healthy blood sugar level. The vinegar actually blocks some of the digestion of starch, preventing it from raising your blood sugar.

 Has Antioxidant Properties

Apple cider vinegar contains many antioxidants to help keep your body healthy and running smoothly, including catechin, gallic acid, caffeic and chlorogenic acids.

 Improves Nutrient Absorption

The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar can increase your body’s absorption of important minerals from the food you eat. Adding vinegar to your salad dressing may also help you absorb more nutrients from your leafy greens!

Helps tummy trouble

For an upset stomach, sip some apple cider vinegar mixed with water. If a bacterial infection is at the root of your diarrhea, apple cider vinegar could help contain the problem, thanks to its antibiotic properties. What's more, some folk remedy experts contend that apple cider vinegar contains pectin, which can help soothe intestinal spasms. Try mixing one or two tablespoons into water, or clear juice like apple juice.

Helps cure hiccups

Take a teaspoonful of apple cider vinegar; its sour taste could stop a hiccup in its tracks. One teen took the hiccup remedy further and created a lollipop that includes apple cider vinegar, which she says "cancels out the message to hiccup" by overstimulating the nerves in the throat responsible for the spasms.

 Helps soothe sore throat

As soon as you feel the prickle of a sore throat, employ germ-busting apple cider vinegar to help head off the infection at the pass. Turns out, most germs can't survive in the acidic environment vinegar creates. Just mix 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup warm water and gargle every hour or so.’

 Prevents indigestion

Sip before eating, especially if you know you're going to indulge in foods that will make you sorry later. Try this folk remedy: add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and drink it 30 minutes before you dine.

Helps clear a stuffy nose

Next time you're stuffed up from a cold, grab the apple cider vinegar. It contains potassium, which thins mucus; and the acetic acid in it prevents germ growth, which could contribute to nasal congestion. Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink to help sinus drainage.

By: Umaru Maryam Hadejia

Home cleaning tips

Sanitize the sink

It's hard to believe, but your dirty kitchen sink has more bacteria than your toilet seat. Use a product labelled as  EPA-registered disinfectant, or make your own. To disinfect, clean your sink with soap and water first, then spray a mist of vinegar followed by a mist of hydrogen peroxide, and let air-dry. (Don't mix the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together—spray one after the other.) If your sink is stainless steel, make it sparkle afterward by putting a few drops of mineral oil on a soft cloth and buffing. This prevents water build up, which deters mould and keeps the sink looking clean longer.

 Zap the sponge

We all know that sponges can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Disinfect yours every night by squeezing it out and microwaving it on high heat for a minute. When it's shredded and smelly, replace it.

Tame the toilet

Drop a teaspoon of Tang Drink Mix in the bowl. The citric acid acts like a scrubber…and it's nontoxic, in case the dog takes a sip. Let it sit for a few minutes, then swish and flush. And if you cringe at the idea of getting splashed by toilet water (ugh!), it is suggested that you push the toilet brush in and out of the trap before you begin. This lowers the water level, allowing you to safely swish away.

Corral strays

Keep drains free of hair and clogs by using a product like Jik or Hypo to make sure potential clogs are gone; then, pour boiling water down drains once a week to keep problem-free. Get rid of those annoying stray hairs on the floor by sweeping them up with a damp wad of toilet paper every morning.

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. Joseph Campbell

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today. H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, .... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. Kevyn Aucoin

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. Steve Jobs

Keep your face always toward the sunshine ; and shadows will fall behind you. Walt Whitman

What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. Ralph Waldo Emerson

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. John F. Kennedy

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Edith Wharton

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference. Robert Frost

Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible. Francis of Assisi

No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. Robin Williams

Keep all special thoughts and memories for lifetimes to come. Share these keepsakes with others to inspire hope and build from the past, which can bridge to the future. Mattie Stepanek

If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves. Thomas A. Edison

President Buhari meets with Speaker, Senate President and other Law Makers in London

Personal hygiene habits

One of the most effective ways we have to protect ourselves and others from illness is good personal hygiene. This means washing your hands, especially, but also your body. It means being careful not to cough or sneeze on others, cleaning things that you touch if you are unwell, putting items such as tissues (that may have germs) into a bin, and using protection (like gloves or condoms) when you might be at risk of catching an infection. Personal hygiene, such as bathing, is very much dependent on the culture in which you live. In some cultures, it is expected that you will wash your body at least every day and use deodorants to stop body smells. Other cultures have different expectations.

Wash your hands.

 Washing your hands before preparing or eating food, after going to the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing, and after handling garbage, goes a long way toward preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses. Keep a hygiene product, like an alcohol-based sanitizing gel, handy for when soap and water isn’t available.

Bathe daily

A daily shower is a must whether you feel grungy or not. A regular bath (every morning and after all athletic activities) helps in keeping you clean, fresh and odour free. Cleaning your body is also important to ensure your skin rejuvenates itself, as the scrubbing of your arms, legs, and torso will slough off dead, dry skin and help your skin stay healthy and refreshed, and will prevent acne, blemishes and other skin eruptions. Also, do not share your towel and wash them on a regular basis.

Body Odour

Keep your underarms and groin area clean and dry to discourage bacteria. Change out of sweaty clothes as soon as possible after exercising or perspiring. Trim or shave your underarm and pubic hair so there is less surface area allowing for the accumulation of sweat and bacteria. Cut back on alcohol and foods that may contribute to body odour, including curry, spicy food, onion, and garlic.

Clean your ears

 Clean your ears with your fingers while having a bath. The daily cleaning of all hearing devices is essential to remove germs that can be introduced into the ear. Earrings should be kept clean, and should be removed daily so the piercing can be attended to. The use of hair products can build-up on the ear and should be washed off when possible to avoid irritation to the skin of the ear.

Personal hygiene for women

The vagina is able to clean itself, no special care is needed other than washing the external genitals. Do not put anything like douches into the vagina, as the delicate skin can be damaged. Here are some personal hygiene suggestions for women:

Menstruation - wash your body, including your genital area, in the same way as you always do. Change tampons and sanitary napkins regularly, at least four to five times a day. Always wash your hands before and after handling a tampon or pad.

Cystitis - is an infection of the bladder. This is a common condition for sexually active young women. Urinating after sexual intercourse can help to flush out any bacteria that may be in the urethra and bladder.

Thrush - some soaps and detergents can irritate the skin of the vagina, and make thrush infections more likely. Some people find that they often get thrush when they use antibiotics. Use mild soap and un-perfumed toilet paper. Avoid tight, synthetic underwear. Try cotton underwear, and change regularly. There is medical treatment for thrush, so talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Personal hygiene for men

A build-up of secretions called smegma can form under the foreskin of uncircumcised men. If you are uncircumcised, gently pull back the foreskin when you have a shower and clean with water. You can use soap if you like, but make sure you rinse it off well.

Trim your nails

Keeping your finger and toenails trimmed and in good shape will prevent problems such as hang nails (when a loose strip of dead skin hangs from the edge of a fingernail) and infected nail beds.

If possible, trim them weekly and brush them daily with soap so that no dirt or residue remains beneath the nail.

Fingernails should be trimmed straight across and slightly rounded at the top, whereas toenails should be trimmed straight across.

The best time to cut your nails is after bathing when they are soft and easy to trim.

It's also a good idea to moisturize nails and cuticles regularly.

By Umaru Maryam Hadejia

Simple Tips to Get Rid of Stinky Smell in your Shoes

Have you ever wondered what causes the stinky and unpleasant smell in your shoes? The reason behind this smell is because the feet often sweat when they are locked inside  shoes for hours. Due to excessive sweating it becomes an ideal environment for bacterial growth, causing the shoes to emit unpleasant odours. Another reason behind this smell is the materials used for making the shoes. Shoes are usually made from synthetic materials and have rubber soles and plastic. These plastic inner soles are the main culprits behind unpleasant stinky smell in our shoes.

Removing your shoes in public can sometimes be embarrassing because of the smells that ooze out anytime you removed them. You may, a times, feel like throwing away your most favourite pair of shoes due to the foul smells it emits. If you feel ashamed removing your shoes in front of your friends, colleagues or anywhere at all, worry no more, because after reading this piece, you do not need to feel embarrassed about the unpleasant smell that comes from your shoes anymore, and you will feel comfortable removing your shoes anytime and anywhere.

Here are some simple and easy tips to help you get rid of bad smell in your shoes.

·         Use orange peel. Put one or two orange peels in the shoes and leave them overnight. Next morning your shoes will smell great.

·         Fill each shoe with boiling water and add a small amount of bleach. Let this set for a few minutes. When the water has cooled, dump out the water and wash your shoes. The bleach will kill the bacteria, thus removing the odour.

·         Add one cup of vinegar to each shoe. This will cause bubbling and fizzling. Let this set and work in your shoes for about 1 minute. Remove the mixture from the shoes, wash and place under the sun to dry.

·         Using a spray container, mix equal amount of vinegar and water and spray the inside of the shoes thoroughly. Let your shoes dry for a few minutes before putting your feet in them for a fresh feeling that will last for hours.

·         Cut off the ends of an old pair of socks. Fill each piece with about half cup of coffee grounds and tie off the end. Place in shoes overnight to absorb odour.

·         Pour some rubbing alcohol in a cotton ball and wipe the inside of your shoes with the same. Leave them undisturbed for a while. The foul smell is sure to fade away.

·         Collect fresh, unused cat litter in a pair of old sock and seal its mouth, then put the socks inside your smelly shoes and leave overnight. The litter, a great deodorizer, would absorb all the foul smell, making your shoe perfectly ready to wear.

·         Stuff the shoes with newspaper. Do this at night and next morning you will find stink free shoe.

·         If the shoe is not washable, wipe out the interior with a cotton ball dipped in alcohol to kill bacteria.

·         If the shoes are damp, you may be able to microwave them for 90 seconds to kill the bacteria.

·         The most known method to get rid of smelly shoes would be to wash them thoroughly. Using a soapy detergent and bleach, wash the shoes inside out. Thereafter, keep them under the sun to let them dry well. Don’t wear them until they are completely dry.

Removing the odour in your shoes is easy if you are ready to put in some efforts and a bit of care. After you have eliminated the odour from your shoes, prevent it from returning by keeping your feet clean and wearing socks as often as possible. Try to wear clean leather shoes and cotton socks and change shoes daily. Make sure to wash your feet once but preferably twice a day with an anti bacterial soap. Follow these tips and you will be saying bye bye to bad smells in your shoes.

By: Mercy Kukah

Foods That Can Make You Happy

To understand how foods can make you happy, it's important to understand how the brain regulates mood. The brain uses neurotransmitters as communication signals to communicate with the rest of your body and to issue its commands: "Beat, heart!" the brain says when it sends octopamine to receptors located in the nerve fibres that make up the cardiac muscle tissue. The same goes for keeping our moods stable. Two types of neurotransmitters are responsible for our moods: inhibitory and excitatory. Excitatory neurotransmitters, like norepinephrine, stimulate our bodies and minds. We get worn out after being amped up for too long, though. So this type of neurotransmitter can actually lead to unhappiness. Inhibitory neurotransmitters, like serotonin, exert a calming influence on our minds, in part by counteracting the effects of excitatory neurotransmitters. Ultimately, the best moods are found when there is a balance between these two types. Here are super foods that can keep you happy through and through!

Legumes

Peas, beans, and peanuts are stand-up sources of magnesium, a mineral that plays a core role in your body's energy production. (It's involved in more than 300 biochemical reactions in your system.) "When you exercise, magnesium is redistributed throughout the body to help energy molecules get to where they're needed," explains Forrest H. Nielsen, a research nutritionist in the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. A deficiency may cause you to fizzle out more easily. Workout queens need to be extra vigilant (you lose some magnesium through sweat). Legumes will help you fulfil the RDA of 320 milligrams: One cup of white beans has 134 milligrams; even a cup of frozen peas delivers 35 milligrams.

Tomatoes

Here, it's all about the antioxidant lycopene. "Our research showed that lycopene reduced inflammation in the lungs and the number of cells that secrete mucus—both are responses to allergens," says co-author Lisa Wood, a nutritional biochemist and senior lecturer at the University of Newcastle in Australia. Although it was an animal study and more research is needed, eating concentrated sources of lycopene (cooked tomatoes are a better source than raw ones) may help allergy sufferers breathe easier.

Eggs

You might keep memory-loss at bay with scrambled eggs. The yolks are high in choline, a key nutrient required to make the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (it helps with signalling between memory-supporting neurons). The daily recommendation is 425 milligrams; two eggs have about 300 milligrams.

Bananas

Ever grab a snack but then feel hungry again 20 minutes later? Next time, reach for a banana. This Super fruit is loaded with potassium, which can lower your blood pressure, and is one of the best sources of Resistant Starch, a healthy carb that fills you up and helps to boost your metabolism.

Apples

America's favourite fruit contains the mighty flavonoid quercetin, an antioxidant that may act as a natural antihistamine and block substances that cause allergy symptoms, according to an article in the Journal of Biological Regulators and Homeostatic Agents. Be sure to eat the skin, too, so you're not peeling away the majority of the quercetin.

Parsley

Don't skip that garnish: Fresh or dried parsley is an amazing source of vitamin K, which is needed for healthy blood clotting, reducing inflammation, and keeping up your bone strength to help prevent osteoporosis.

 By: Umaru Maryam Hadejia