Attention lime lovers! I give you an authentic and flavorful recipe for guacamole that is sure to fulfill your lime cravings brought on by summer. This particular recipe is full of great health benefits, as every ingredient is fresh and healthy. The main ingredient, avocado, contains “good” monosaturated fats, as well as a carotenoid called Lutein and magnesium, as explained by revitaliseyourhealth.com. These are all important to include in your everyday diet. This kind of fat (also found in nuts, olives, and sunflower or sesame seeds) provided by the avocado “helps to fight many forms of cancer, including breast and prostate, and improves skin tone.”

Also included in this recipe is fresh lime juice, which “contains potassium and properties that strengthen the immune system,” and also helps to cleanse the blood and liver. The cilantro, then, “contains an abundance of antioxidants and relives bloating, urinary tract infections and indigestion.” Another relevant article that talks of the health benefits from these ingredients is the Q&A article in Martha Stewart’s Food Everyday magazine, “What are the ‘good’ fats and how can I get them into my diet?” Here the experts explain that “fat is a necessary part of the foods we eat – it makes us feel satiated, provides nutrients, and helps cushion our bones and organs.” So there you have it – all the reasons why you should eat guacamole!

Midterms are beginning to roll around and everyone’s stress levels are higher than normal. It’s that time of the semester when everyone is tired, cranky, and looking for quickly-prepared meals and snacks to hold them over while they study. One easy trick to your daily nutritional intake is sure to take care of this issue.

There are an innumerable amount of benefits to eating a well-balanced meal first thing in the morning. According to nutrition.about.com, breakfast is the single most important meal of the day and is guaranteed to get you going on the right track for the rest of the day.

Eating a healthy breakfast will jumpstart your metabolism which will help you focus more intently on what the professor is saying, and your brain will respond better and retain more information. Coffee is great if you need to be alert for an early class, but if you don’t have any substance in your stomach to go along with that cup o’ joe, you’ll be doomed in class when you’re too jittery to focus on what the professor is saying. Drink a full glass of orange juice instead with your quick morning meal and take a daily vitamin. The orange juice will help absorb all those nutrients more efficiently. You will be more likely to eat healthily the rest of the day and will be less tempted to get the munchies or eat sugary and fatty snacks in between classes.