food and mood

we ofthen eat to calm down or cheer up when we're feelings stressed or depressed.

now new research suggests there's a reason: food changes out brain chemistry.
these changes powerfully influence our moods, but can certain foods really make us feel better? nutrition  experts say yes,
 but what should we eat and what should we avoid? here are the foods that work the best, as well as those that can make a bad day worse.

food and mood - we ofthen eat to calm down or cheer up when we're feelings stressed or depressed. (you have to read this great article)

Add Some Latin Flavor With Colombian Food Recipes

By Karina Frost


Whoever said that all the world's a stage never realized that, in fact, all the world's a giant dining table. Foodies love the variety of dishes from different parts of the globe and often learn how to make their favorites so that they can experience other countries from the comfort of their kitchens. If you want to take an interesting and exciting culinary trip, look for Colombian food recipes that will bring some Latin flavor to your life.

The South American country of Colombia boasts a surprising diversity. It's home to the descendants of indigenous peoples, Spanish colonists, African slaves and later immigrants from Europe and as far away as the Middle East. These people all brought their culinary traditions to a country that is astonishingly geographically diverse too, with sweltering jungles, coastal plains, savannas and cold, mountainous regions, among others. This means that there is a wide variety of ingredients to use and Colombia boasts many different regional cuisines.

Breakfast can be light and simple, consisting of not much more than fruit and 'arepa', which is a pancake-like, corn-based bread. However, it can also be heartier, with egg dishes such as 'huevos pericos'. Rice and beans feature on the breakfast table in some regions. You may even start your day with a soup made of beef and vegetables or the milky soup known as 'changua', which is normally served with a poached egg. Hot chocolate or a cup of the country's famous coffee rounds off the meal.

The main meal is normally served in the afternoon. Colombians love their meat and won't hesitate to eat different types of meat at the same time. An example is 'bandeja paisa', often called the country's national dish, which features beef as well as pork and even sausages. Chicken is popular too. Along the coast, fresh seafood features more strongly.

Popular vegetables include potatoes, carrots, peas and corn. These are often used in tamales, which in this part of the world are wrapped in banana leaves rather than corn husks. Plantains and yuca, also known as cassava, are ubiquitous in Colombian cuisine too and in the more tropical regions, you'll often find your meal cooked in coconut milk.

If you thought papaya was an exotic fruit, you should see the fruits available in Colombia. There are ones that don't even have English names and you'll be hard pressed to find them anywhere but in this South American country. More familiar fruits include bananas, citrus, mangoes, guavas and passion fruit.

If the many fruits on their own aren't enough to satisfy your sweet tooth at the end of a meal, you'll find plenty of ways to use them in more substantial desserts, such as meringue. They also form the base for a 'cholado', which is perfect for a hot summer's day. For something more sophisticated, try figs, which are cooked in a sweet syrup and used to top cheese. Colombia also has its own version of rice pudding and flan, which here includes coconut.

The best way to find authentic recipes from Colombia is to ask someone who is from that country or to visit and attend cooking classes while you're there. Another option is to look in specialty recipe books, such as those focusing on Latin American cuisine. Food blogs are great too, especially since they might feature instructional videos that will make it easier to explore the tastes of Colombia.




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