Mark’s Daily Apple

Smart Fuel: Mahi Mahi3

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

El Dorado

For years, those in the know – and we include ourselves in this category – have been harping on about the multiple health benefits associated with eating fish. But we haven’t written too much about which varieties are best, which pack the greatest nutritional punch, and, quite frankly, which are the most delicious.

Enter Mahi Mahi, or Dolphin fish or Dorado as it is often called. Although often thought of as native to Hawaii, this fish likes its vacation spots, cropping up in warm water locales such as Florida and areas off the Pacific coast. When in the water, Mahi Mahi can be easily recognized by its blunt head and vibrant blue-green and yellow scales. Once out of the water, a quality Mahi Mahi steak or fillet can be identified by its relative odorlessness as well as by the texture of its flesh, which should give slightly when you press it with a finger, and should be moist to the touch.

As with most fish varieties, correct storage is imperative for both taste and safety (not that food poisoning isn’t a riot!) To store, remove all packaging, rinse fish under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen cloth. To avoid letting the fish sit in its own juices – which can promote deterioration – store the fish on a rack in a shallow tray filled with crushed ice. Cover completely with cling film and store for up to two days in the coldest part of the fridge. If freezing, invest in quality lined freezer paper and wrap the fish tightly and securely to create an airtight parcel. If these storage instructions are followed correctly, the fish will keep for up to two months.

One of the best things about Mahi Mahi is that it is available year round, in either fresh or frozen form, providing you, dear reader, with virtually endless culinary possibilities. In the winter, this mild-flavored fish is spectacular when brushed with oil, seasoned and baked with seasonal vegetables. In the warmer months, however, Mahi Mahi can add extra sizzle to summer barbeques when placed on a hot, greased grill and basted with butter, oil, lemon juice or marinade. Year round, one of our favorite methods is to poach the fish by bringing a mixture of water, broth, herbs and spices to a simmer and then adding the Mahi Mahi filets, covering, and cooking for roughly 8-10 minutes. Another popular preparation method – which is often done in restaurants but is easy to do at home – is to prepare Mahi Mahi with a crust. There are a number of potential “crust” toppings out there, but one particular recipe that caught our eye was one for macadamia crusted Mahi Mahi that required fillets to be dipped in milk then dredged in a mixture of 3 tbsp of finely chopped macadamia nuts, 1 tbsp coarsely chopped parsley, ½ tbsp of lemon zest, salt and pepper (to taste) and then placed on a rack in a baking pan and cooked at 450 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. In all cases, to prevent overcooking – which is easily the biggest mistake people make when cooking Mahi Mahi – cook only until the flesh becomes translucent but still appears moist in the center (kind of hard to see with the crusted variety, but works well with the others). (Mahi is a low fat fish, so most recipes include a good deal of added oil, butter or coconut milk. Check back later today for some delicious recipes.)

This being a health blog, we should probably talk nutrition: Like most fish, Mahi Mahi is an extremely good source of protein and contains healthy omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, Mahi Mahi is an excellent source of selenium, an antioxidant thought to have cancer protecting qualities, and vitamins B3 and B6. However, since Mahi Mahi can contain moderate levels of mercury (similar to that of tuna), it should be limited during pregnancy to about one serving per week.

Our verdict? Mahi Mahi is a versatile and healthy entrée option to add to your dinner repertoire!

antiguan life, super-structure Flickr Photos (CC)

Further Reading:

How to Eat Enough Protein

10 Ingredients that Will Make Your Meals Pop

Smart Fuel: Lamb

Posted: Diet, Health, Nutrition, Recipes, Smart Fuel

Smart Fuel: Dark, Leafy Greens4

Go Green!

With earth day barely a week behind us, it’s time to turn our attention to a new way to Go Green. This time, however, we’re not talking about forgoing paper napkins or ditching the polystyrene cup. In fact, we’re actually talking about adding something in: Dark, leafy green vegetables, and lots of ‘em.

Now granted, we’ve discussed many of these nutritional powerhouses in previous posts – here, here and here, for instance – but you see, and not to get all girly on you here, but leafy green vegetables are like the little black dress of the vegetable world. They go with just about everything, they’re appropriate for every occasion, and, with very few exceptions, they are universally liked. And for that reason, they deserve a second look!

On the nutrition front, dark green leafy vegetables, calorie for calorie, are considered one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. Specifically, they are an excellent source of several minerals, including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium as well as vitamins K (providing nine times the recommended daily allowance (RDA) per 1 cup serving) C, E, and many of the B vitamins. In addition, leafy greens provide a number of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin and also contain small amounts of fatty acids. Cementing their place on the nutritional honor roll, leafy greens contain very few carbohydrates, much of which is offset by its high fiber content (so much so that the leafy greens are generally considered a “freebie” vegetable in most low-carbohydrate diets).

In addition to their shared nutritional benefits, leafy green vegetables also have several medicinal benefits in common. According to recent research, for example, leafy green vegetables can help prevent age-related cognitive declines, can help prevent cataracts and boost eye health (you can thank the potent combination of lutein, and zeaxanthin for that one!), and may also reduce your risk of skin cancer.

Now let’s talk taste: Although they are all dark green vegetables and have similar appearances, the tastes actually differ significantly which, in turn, can dictate how you use them in cooking. Kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, broccoli rabe and collard greens, for example, have a more pungent flavor that can be used to add zip to stir frys, casseroles or soups or that can be served as a stand alone dish with salt and a touch of lemon juice. Bok Choy, meanwhile, has a milder, almost sweet flavor that goes well when sautéed with onions and garlic or again, to add texture to stir frys, casseroles or soups. Another great – but admittedly lesser known – leafy green are sea vegetables, or seaweed, which, with its salty flavor, make a great base for soups, salads or again, to add flair to a stir fry (are you seeing a theme here?). Still not sure? Consider using the leafy greens as a nutritious “bed” for just about any entrée. Finally, there’s the more salady-type greens, including romaine and endive, which make a great base for just about every salad but that can also be used as a substitute for bread to make sandwich “wraps.”

One good tip to remember, however you are eating your greens, is to always try and add a little fat (either in the form of oil, butter or salad dressing), as it helps promote absorption of fat-soluble vitamin K.

So, however you like ‘em - hot, cold or somewhere in between - consider adding leafy green vegetables to your next meal!

AmyMo, drdrewhonolulu, Pixie Dust Flickr Photos (CC)

Further Reading:

More Smart Fuel!

Posted: Diet, Health, Nutrition, Prevention, Smart Fuel

Smart Fuel: Lamb8

Grass Fed

According to the old school nursery rhyme, Mary had a little lamb, but chances are, after reading the post, you’ll want one too (although, admittedly, you’ll probably not be using your lamb for the soul purpose of causing a brouhaha on the playground)!

Although lamb has many redeeming qualities (which we’ll touch on below), if you only had one reason to rationalize serving this oft-overlooked meat at your next meal, let it be this: It isn’t chicken, beef or fish. Think we’re kidding? Consider this: If you do a Google search for chicken recipes, you’ll receive approximately 2,430,000 search options. A search for beef or fish? 1,130,000 and 824,000 hits, respectively. A search for lamb? 394,000 (although admittedly, there is an entire website called lambrecipes.com!)

Lovin’ Lamb:

But why choose lamb? Nutritionally speaking, lamb is an excellent source of a nutritionally complete protein, meaning that it contains all 8 essential amino acids, as well as vitamins and minerals. Specifically, lamb is an excellent source of several B vitamins, niacin, zinc, and as with all red meats, is an excellent source of iron. In addition, lamb is one of the richest sources of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a compound manufactured naturally in the stomachs of cows and sheep (but not humans) that is thought to spur antioxidant activity and may also have anti-cancer properties. Still leaning towards regular old beef? Consider this: When compared to other meats, lamb contains very little fat in the grain of the meat, with what fat there is generally located on the outside edges of the meat where it can easily be trimmed away without compromising flavor or tenderness. We’re not anti-fat, but at least here you have a choice to match your own preferences.

In terms of taste, lamb is relatively mild and is generally used as a vehicle for spices, marinades or simply as an accompaniment to more strongly flavored dishes. As the lamb matures and becomes mutton (a sheep aged 1 year or older) it has a stronger taste and may also have a more grainy texture. If you’re looking for something more flavorful but don’t want to go for mutton, try Yearling mutton, which is the meat from a sheep that is between 1 and 2 years of age and has a flavor somewhere in between that of lamb and mutton.

Now let’s talk prices: Given that veal (young beef) is more expensive than regular old beef, it would make sense that lamb is pretty expensive too, right? Well, no. In actuality, lamb and beef, for the most part, are pretty evenly matched in terms of price.

Store Bought:

If you’ve read this far, you’re probably considering giving lamb a try. Good for you…now let’s hit the store! When purchasing lamb, look for pink meat with white fat. If the meat is a brighter shade of red or has yellow fat, it’s indicative of a cut from an older lamb (and is therefore tougher in texture). In terms of cuts, you can opt for lamb shoulder, an economical cut that, depending on location, lends itself well to roasting; lamb ribs (rack), which are excellent for grilling or broiling; lamb loin, which is the most expensive but by far the most tender; and lamb leg, the most popular, which you can do just about anything with! You may also purchase several sub-primal cuts, including the neck, foreshank, breast/brisket, and flank, which are great for use in casseroles and stews.

Similar to other meat, poultry and fish, you can find organically, grass-fed lamb in many supermarkets. And, similar to most other meat, you will pay a bit more per pound for this option. However, as many chefs will tell you, the finer taste and texture (as well as the knowledge that your little lamb had a nice life!) is well worth it.

What’s Cookin’:

When cooking lamb, the key to keeping the meat tender and flavorful is to never overcook it. Regardless of the cut that you are cooking, lamb should always be pink on the inside when served, a fact that should be particularly observed when cooking more tender cuts such as the loin. In fact, a good rule of thumb when cooking any cut of lamb is to always treat it like a very expensive cut of beef.

In general, lamb lends itself well to dishes with Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Indian seasonings, although to be honest, lamb can serve as a welcome substitute to just about any chicken dish! Making a salad? Try topping it off with thin strips of marinated lamb (extra credit if you can rustle up some feta and a good balsamic vinegar to really take it to the next level!) Holding a BBQ? Consider throwing a marinated, butterflied lamb loin on the barbeque. It really is that easy, and you’ll be amazed at just how good this little lamb can taste!

will hybrid, Amigurumi Kingdom, Alexandra Moss, Chewy Chua Flickr Photos (CC)

Further Reading:

More Smart Fuel

How to Eat Enough Protein

The Migraineur: Turkish Lamb

Posted: Diet, Health, Nutrition, Smart Fuel

Smart Fuel: Spinach5

Popeye’s freakishly abnormal musculature (look at those forearms!) is not the result of spinach consumption.

Perhaps Popeye had it right. He pounded spinach for super-human strength and loved olive oil (although granted, it was a girl, not the healthy fat Rachel Ray is always harping on about!). But is spinach really good for your muscles and can it give you the boost you need to take on ol’ Bluto?

Let’s start with the most basic stuff: Calorie for calorie, spinach is perhaps one of the most nutrient dense vegetables out there (and it’s no slouch in the flavonoid department, but we’ll talk about that in a minute). In the vitamin department, it logs literally off-the-charts levels of vitamin K and vitamin A, providing 1110% and 234%, respectively, per 1 cup serving of boiled spinach (or 6 cups of raw spinach). Why would this be important? Well, vitamin K is important for bone health (especially when combined with calcium and magnesium, spinach’s other bone-building nutrients) and vitamin A is important for reducing the amount of free-radicals in the body as well as preventing cholesterol from oxidation – which is the process whereby cholesterol can cause damage to arteries. This effect is further amplified when the vitamin A is combined with vitamin C – which spinach also has in spades – a combination that is also thought to reduce inflammation, particularly among patients suffering from asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Rounding out the nutrient profile, spinach is an excellent source of folate, which is important for blood health, as well as magnesium, which mimics the role of angiotensin inhibitors to help regulate blood pressure and prevent heart disease. When cooked, spinach is also an excellent source of iron, which is one of the primary components in hemoglobin – and thus has a role in energy production and metabolism.

Now on to the flavonoids: Current research suggests that are 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach that not only serve as antioxidants but may also reduce the risk of cancer. Specifically, there are several spinach extracts that have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer, with one study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggesting that consuming spinach or other dark leafy green vegetables can reduce the risk of skin cancer recurring among those with a previous history by as much as 55%. A study published in Cancer Causes & Control, meanwhile, also found that spinach and other vibrantly-hued vegetables could also reduce the risk of stomach cancer (gastric adenocarcinoma). Still need proof? A second study published in Cancer Causes & Control has also suggested that it may also reduce ovarian cancer risk while a study published in the September 2004 edition of the Journal of Nutrition suggests that the neoxathin contained in spinach may also help reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

But what about the muscles? Well, the reality is, spinach probably isn’t going to give you super human strength (or gargantuan muscles ala Popeye), but when it conveys this many other health benefits, perhaps it makes sense to keep on eating it and plan on outliving – as opposed to straight pulverizing – Bluto.

Spiff 27 Flickr Photo (CC)

Further Reading:

More Smart Fuel

FitSugar: Frozen Spinach Does the Body Good

The Consumerist: Spinach Facilities are Unsafe, Disgusting and the FDA Doesn’t Care

Posted: Diet, Health, Prevention, Smart Fuel

Smart Fuel: Eggplant8

Perfectly Purple (and white, and green)

Ever had the debate about whether a tomato is a fruit or a vegetable? Well, perhaps next time you could back up your argument for tomatoes being a fruit by noting that the eggplant, which is widely perceived to be a vegetable, is actually a fruit, and a berry at that!

Counting tomato, sweet peppers and potatoes among its relatives, this member of the nightshade family was once feared in some European cultures. According to reports, early versions of the eggplant were so bitter that people believed that they must also have a bitter disposition, earning the poor eggplant (or aubergine as it is called in France and much of Europe) a reputation as a cause of insanity, leprosy and cancer.

But today the eggplant is less bitter and we know now that it’s actually pretty darn good for you! Specifically, eggplant is seen as an excellent source of fiber and a good source of potassium – which is important for keeping the body hydrated and also plays a role in regulating blood pressure. However, eggplants are perhaps best known for their high levels of chlorogenic acid, a potent antioxidant that is thought to offer protective benefits against cancer and an assortment of viruses.

A second important chemical compound, meanwhile, is nasunin, a potent antioxidant found in the skin of the eggplant that is thought to protect cell membranes from damage, with one animal study suggesting that its free radical fighting properties are particularly important for the health of brain tissue. In addition, nasunin also serves as an iron chelator to prevent iron accumulation in the body, which if unregulated, can spur free radical production. In regulating this accumulation, nasunin also protects blood cholesterol from peroxidation, prevents against cellular damage that can lead to cancer and heart disease, and reduces the accumulation of iron in the joints, which is thought to be a primary cause of rheumatoid arthritis.

But before you sign up for extra eggplant, you should know that this vegetable does have a dark side! Specifically, eggplants (and several other members of the nightshade family of plants) contain a substance called solanine that, if not destroyed in the intestine, could prove toxic. In fact, one horticulturist hypothesized that osteoarthritis sufferers might be unable to break down solanine in the gut and suggested that eliminating the substance from the diet might relieve arthritis symptoms. While researchers have never put this diet to the test, solanine-free diets are sometimes prescribed by physicians for arthritis sufferers.

When selecting an eggplant, opt for those that are firm and heavy for their size. Their skin – which can range in color from a deep dark purple to a near translucent white or even come covered in tiger-like stripes – should be smooth and shiny with no visible dents, discoloration or other visible flaws. To test for freshness, gently press your thumb on its skin: A ripe eggplant will spring back. To store, place uncut and unwashed in a plastic bag in the refrigerator’s crisper draw and plan to use within about five days.

Thai Food Blog Flickr Photo (CC)

Further Reading:

More Smart Fuel

Eggplant Pizza Recipe

Technorati Tags: eggplant, nasunin, chlorogenic, solanine

Posted: Diet, Health, Nutrition, Smart Fuel