Lose Weight with Ruth: Eat Spicy Food and Live Longer

Lose Weight with Ruth: Eat Spicy Food and Live Longer: Aloo Gobi - healthy and low in calories If you like your food hot and spicy, you may live longer. Recent research showed that people wh...

Eat Spicy Food and Live Longer

Aloo Gobi - healthy and low in calories

If you like your food hot and spicy, you may live longer. Recent research showed that people who ate spicy food three to five times a week lived longer. Vegetables and spices contain lots of phytonutrients. Capsaicin is a phytonutrient found in chili peppers known to reduce inflammation and to contain antibacterial properties. Fresh may be better than dried spices, but both are beneficial.
To add some heat to your menu, try this Indian recipe for Aloo Gobi. It's one of my favorites!

1 medium head cauliflower

½ large onion (1½ cups)

5-7 Yukon yellow potatoes (6 cups)

2-3 tablespoons unsalted butter

4-5 tablespoons olive oil

1 – 1½ cups vegetable stock

3 tablespoons of your favorite curry powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger or minced fresh

½ teaspoon dried chili pepper

½ teaspoon salt

¼ cup cilantro, chopped

Cut up cauliflower and potatoes into medium chunks. Slice onion into ¼ inch thick wedges. Heat large fry pan or wok. Add 4 tablespoons oil and 2 tablespoons butter. When oil is hot, add potatoes. Cook over medium high heat 12-15 minutes until potatoes are lightly browned and tender on the inside. Add onions and cook 4 minutes. Add cauliflower, curry, chili pepper and ginger. If too dry, add 1 more tablespoon of butter and 1 more tablespoon of olive oil. Stir and cook for 4 minutes. Stir in salt and cook another 2-5 minutes. Add 1 cup vegetable stock. If too dry, add ½ cup more. Cook over medium low heat until blended. Cauliflower will be slightly crunchy. Top with cilantro. Makes 10 cups. Serve with Naan.

 

Lose Weight with Ruth: Want to Attend a Great College?

Lose Weight with Ruth: Want to Attend a Great College?: Ripon College Red Hawk Attending a recent college reunion brought back many fond memories, as well as rediscovering the benefits of...

Want to Attend a Great College?

Ripon College Red Hawk

Attending a recent college reunion brought back many fond memories, as well as rediscovering the benefits of a small college.

Ripon College, founded in 1851, is located in Ripon, Wisconsin. As a small, private liberal arts college, Ripon has lots to offer the best and brightest students in the way of individual attention, extracurricular activities and a personalized education. 

Equally impressive is Zach Messitte, the college president. Starting only his fourth year, Zach, as he likes to be called, has big ideas for the campus and has set extraordinary expectations. Imagine Tomorrow, the college’s largest campaign in its history, had a goal of raising $50 million. The campaign exceeded it goal by $20 million for a total of $70 million. 

Ripon College Zach Messitte

A couple more of Zach’s “goals in progress” include reviewing the curriculum and renovating Storzer Athletic Center, the health, wellness and athletic facility. When Zach is not teaching a class or taking students to Italy in the summer, he can be seen buzzing around campus on a powder blue Vespa. Getting to know the college president and making a personal connection is unlikely at a big university. But that’s Ripon College! By the way, Zach’s favorite food is yogurt, and his current favorite physical activity is walking in the nearby prairie.

During the reunion, I even ran into my favorite English professor, Dr. Douglas Northrup. He is retired but still has a presence on campus.

Dr Douglas Northrup

Attending a small college has many lifelong benefits that aren’t always obvious at first. For more information, check out www.Ripon.edu

Lose Weight with Ruth: Meet Gwen Jorgensen 2014 World Triathlon Series W...

Lose Weight with Ruth: Meet Gwen Jorgensen 2014 World Triathlon Series W...: Gwen Jorgensen When I was lucky enough to chat with 2012 Olympic Triathlete and 2014 World Triathlon Series World Champion, Gwen Jorgensen, I was surprised to...

Meet Gwen Jorgensen 2014 World Triathlon Series World Champion

Gwen Jorgensen

Here is a blog from about a year ago.  Congratulations are in order! Gwen won the GOLD! - First US triathlon gold metal! This could not have happened to a nicer athlete. Go Gwen Gold!

When I was lucky enough to chat with 2012 Olympic Triathlete and 2014 World Triathlon Series World Champion, Gwen Jorgensen, I was surprised to discover that we have something in common. We both like oatmeal and were born in Wisconsin!

It was truly inspiring to talk about food and nutrition with such an accomplished athlete. Gwen’s favorite food is oatmeal with dried fruit, bananas, coconut oil and topped with poached eggs. Her favorite physical activity is an easy 6K run.

If you like to eat lots of calories, then swim, ride and run in a Triathlon! Gwen needs to consume three filling meals a day plus snacks to have enough energy for her rigorous workout schedule. She likes trying new foods and enjoys fueling her body with healthy foods. I was very fortunate to meet Gwen and am very proud and happy for her many accomplishments. She just won her 10^th straight World Triathlon Series race.

Look out Rio 2016 Olympics. Go Gwen!

Lose Weight with Ruth: Got the Constipation Blues?

Lose Weight with Ruth: Got the Constipation Blues?: Feeling a little sluggish? Try my special recipe for success. Say good-bye to constipation and hello to Va Va Va Boom!