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Heart-shaped Pancakes with Cherries is the recipe for today!
Just one more idea to make your loved ones happier, you can make of course for Valentine's day or for any other day if you want to express your love.
I even urge you to make it right now, imagine how surprised your loved ones will be just before the Day of Love!
Anyways, grab the recipe along with some information of the hidden ingredient of this recipe - Beets ;)
Many Nutrients in Few Calories
Beets boast an impressive nutritional profile.
They are low in calories, yet high in valuable vitamins and minerals. In fact, they contain a bit of almost all the vitamins and minerals that you need.
Here is an overview of the nutrients found in a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of cooked beetroot:
Calories: 44
Protein: 1.7 grams
Fat: 0.2 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Vitamin C: 6% of the RDI
Folate: 20% of the RDI
Vitamin B6: 3% of the RDI
Magnesium: 6% of the RDI
Potassium: 9% of the RDI
Phosphorous: 4% of the RDI
Manganese: 16% of the RDI
Iron: 4% of the RDI
Beets also contain inorganic nitrates and pigments, both of which are plant compounds that have a number of health benefits.
Help Keep Blood Pressure in Check
Heart disease, including heart attacks, heart failure and stroke, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide.
And high blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for the development of these conditions.
Studies have shown that beets can significantly lower blood pressure by up to 4–10 mmHg over a period of only a few hours.
The effect appears to be greater for systolic blood pressure, or pressure when your heart contracts, rather than diastolic blood pressure, or pressure when your heart is relaxed. The effect may also be stronger for raw beets than cooked beets.
These blood-pressure-lowering effects are likely due to the high concentration of nitrates in beets. In your body, dietary nitrates are converted into nitric oxide, a molecule that dilates blood vessels, causing blood pressure to drop.
Blood nitrate levels remain elevated for about six hours after eating dietary nitrate. Therefore, beets only have a temporary effect on blood pressure, and regular consumption is required to experience long-term reductions in blood pressure.
Can Improve Athletic Performance
Several studies suggest that dietary nitrates may enhance athletic performance.
For this reason, beets are often used by athletes.
Nitrates appear to affect physical performance by improving the efficiency of mitochondria, which are responsible for producing energy in your cells.
In two studies including seven and eight men, consuming 17 ounces (500 ml) of beet juice daily for six days extended time to exhaustion during high-intensity exercise by 15–25%, which is a 1–2% improvement in overall performance.
Eating beets may also improve cycling and athletic performance and increase oxygen use by up to 20%.
One small study of nine competitive cyclists looked at the effect of 17 ounces (500 ml) of beetroot juice on cycling time trial performance over 2.5 and 10 miles (4 and 16.1 km).
Drinking beetroot juice improved performance by 2.8% over the 2.5-mile (4-km) time trial and 2.7% over the 10-mile (16.1-km) trial.
It’s important to note that blood nitrate levels peak within 2–3 hours. Therefore, to maximize their potential, it’s best to consume beets 2–3 hours before training or competing.
May Help Fight Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is associated with a number of diseases, such as obesity, heart disease, liver disease and cancer.
Beets contain pigments called betalains, which may potentially possess a number of anti-inflammatory properties.
However, most of the research in this area has been conducted in rats.
Beetroot juice and beetroot extract have been shown to reduce kidney inflammation in rats injected with toxic chemicals known to induce serious injury.
One study in humans with osteoarthritis showed that betalain capsules made with beetroot extract reduced pain and discomfort associated with the condition.
While these studies suggest that beets have an anti-inflammatory effect, human studies are needed to determine whether beets could be used to reduce inflammation.
May Improve Digestive Health
Dietary fiber is an important component of a healthy diet.
It has been linked to many health benefits, including improved digestion.
One cup of beetroot contains 3.4 grams of fiber, making beets a good fiber source.
Fiber bypasses digestion and heads down to the colon, where it either feeds the friendly gut bacteria or adds bulk to stool.
This can promote digestive health, keep you regular and prevent digestive conditions like constipation, inflammatory bowel disease and diverticulitis.
Moreover, fiber has been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases including colon cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
May Help Support Brain Health
Mental and cognitive function naturally decline with age.
For some, this decline is significant and may result in conditions like dementia.
A reduction in blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain may contribute to this decline.
Interestingly, the nitrates in beets may improve mental and cognitive function by promoting the dilation of blood vessels and thus increasing blood flow to the brain.
Beets have been shown to particularly improve blood flow to the frontal lobe of the brain, an area associated with higher-level thinking, such as decision making and working memory.
Furthermore, one study in type 2 diabetics looked at the effect of beets on simple reaction time, which is a measure of cognitive function.
Simple reaction time during a computer-based cognitive function test was 4% faster in those who consumed 8.5 ounces (250 ml) of beetroot juice daily for two weeks, compared to the placebo.
However, whether beets could be used in a clinical setting to improve brain function and reduce the risk of dementia remains to be seen.
May Have Some Anti-Cancer Properties
Cancer is a serious and potentially fatal disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells.
The antioxidant content and anti-inflammatory nature of beets have led to an interest in its ability to prevent cancer.
However, the current evidence is fairly limited.
Beetroot extract has been shown to reduce the division and growth of tumor cells in animals.
One test-tube study using human cells found that beetroot extract, which is high in betalain pigments, reduced the growth of prostate and breast cancer cells.
It is important to note that these studies were performed in isolated human cells and rats. Further research is necessary to determine whether similar effects would be found in living, breathing humans.
May Help You Lose Weight
Beets have several nutritional properties that should make them good for weight loss.
First, beets are low in calories and high in water.
Increasing your intake of low-calorie foods like fruits and vegetables has been associated with weight loss.
Furthermore, despite their low-calorie content, beets contain moderate amounts of protein and fiber. These are both important nutrients for achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
The fiber in beets may also help promote weight loss by reducing appetite and promoting feelings of fullness, thereby reducing overall calorie intake.
While no studies have directly tested the effects of beets on weight, it’s likely that adding beets to your diet can aid in weight loss.*source
Hurry up, find the recipe below!
Prep: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Servings: 4 portions
Calories per serving: 463 kcal
Find the recipe & nutrition facts below :
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
3 tbsp sugar (or any other sweetener of choice)
1 dash of salt
1 1/2 cups soy-milk (or any other plant milk)
1/3 cups vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
1/3 cup defrosted mashed sour cherries with juice (pitted) (or any other pink-red berry)
1 tbsp shredded beets
Method:
Step 1: Preheat your pan on medium heat.
Step 2: In a bowl stir flour and baking powder.
Step 3: Add in sugar, and salt, mix until well combined.
Step 4: Place milk, and oil and mix it into the dry ingredients until well combined, and add in the shredded beetroot and sour cherries.
Step 5: Start cooking your pancakes by simply making first - two small rounded pancakes with a teaspoon and connect them together making a heart (you may need 1 or 2 trials to get it right), you can use as well if you have on hand a piping bag and to create hearts with it or use a cookie heart-shaped form and place the around 1 tbsp of mixture in it directly. Cook on medium heat for around 1-2 minutes on each side.
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