The days are getting shorter ... and colder! You don't have to resort to canned cream of mushroom soup to prepare a hearty meal in your slow cooker. There are healthy recipes to be had and precious time to be saved.

You can't go wrong with Crock Pot Black Bean Chili -- beans for protein and fiber, peppers for vitamin C, and herbs and spices for all of their numerous health benefits.

Crockpot Chicken Curry is loaded with zesty flavors, from fresh gingerroot and mango chutney to crushed red pepper and cilantro. This one could be -- dare I say it? -- company food. Serve it over brown rice.

According to an Italian study, from which results were published in past issue of the journal CANCER, folic acid supplements may prevent cancer progression and promote regression of the disease.

Researchers found that 31 of 43 patients with the precancerous laryngeal lesion known as leucoplakia showed a 50 percent or greater reduction in the size of the lesion after taking folate supplements for six months. And, for the remaining 12 patients, they amazingly did not show any sign of the original lesion after the six month period.

Folate is sometimes more widely known as vitamin B-9, which is found in abundance in fruits and vegetables, as well as several types of beans. Plus, many multi-vitamins offer close to the recommended daily value of folate.

We're lucky today to have access to all kinds of food from all kinds of places around the world, but it can still be hard to eat right because it's amazingly easy to end up eating the same things all the time. If you're stuck in a dieting rut then it might help to shake things up a bit and try some of these healthy staples from across the globe:

Cabbage, from Ireland
Here in the States cabbage isn't all that popular as a main player in dinner, but in Ireland it's a basic staple that originated hundreds of years ago. Most people just think "smelly" when then think of cabbage when in fact they should be thinking "cancer and disease fighting goodness." Cabbage, as well as its cousins broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, and brussel sprouts, is known to be a beneficial fighter against stroke, all kinds of cancers, cognitive decline and diabetes.

Source

As fabulous as we at That's Fit think this blog is, the truth is there are hundreds of wonderful blogs on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. So in this feature, Fit Links, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye.

If you eat seasonally, then legumes probably make their way into your diet at some point in the winter. I make bean soup all winter long, then never touch it in the summer time. Legumes are an excellent source of protein and energy, and are rich in fiber as well.

If you're a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants cook like myself, then you'll turn to canned beans of every variety. Dry beans are low and sodium, and you can reduce the gas factor by rinsing them and discarding the water after soaking them. (Learn more about the canned vs. dry debate here.)

Here are some delicious recipes to try this winter:

One of my personal favorites, Sapelo Farm's White Bean and Cabbage

Southwest Salmon and Black Beans. And, hey, while we're at it, why not a Black Bean Burrito?

How about a Three-Bean Turkey Chili recipe for all those leftovers next week? (Also gluten-free!)

And finally, a great looking hummus recipe!

Got a blog you'd like to see featured on Fit Links? Leave us a note in comments!

Source

Protein is an important part your diet, but protein can also be the most unhealthy part of your diet, particularly if your main protein sources include bacon double cheeseburgers. Mark's Daily Apple has put together this list of bad and good protein choices:

• Instead of hamburger meat, choose grass-fed beef
• Instead of frozen chicken, choose organic chicken
• Instead of farmed salmon, choose wild salmon
• Instead of fish sticks, choose tuna
• Instead of regular eggs, choose organic DHA-enhanced eggs
• Instead of regular yogurt, choose organic or Greek yogurt
• Instead of tofu, choose Tempeh
• Instead of regular beans, choose high-protein legumes and quinoa
  
• Instead of peanuts and peanut butter, choose almonds and almond butter

What do you think about these choices? I agree with most of them, but I still think that tofu, beans and natural peanut butter can be a good addition to your diet.

Source

Hi, my name's Martha and I'm a carboholic. There, I've said it. So when I saw this headline on Prevention promising to tell me what the healthiest carb is, I couldn't resist. Turns out it's one of my favourites -- whole wheat pasta. Some think it tastes like cardboard but I love it -- more than white pasta, even.

Now that whole grains are all the rage, manufacturers are always trying to find ways to improve the taste of whole wheat pasta, and they're doing so by adding healthy things like flax and legumes. So eat up -- pasta's good for you! One thing to keep in mind, however, is the serving size for most pastas -- as I've learned the hard way, one serving is usually much less than a pasta lover would expect.

Source