Start by boiling spaghetti until al dente, then drain and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, grated Parmesan cheese, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined.

Next, heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat and sauté diced bacon until crispy. Remove the pan from heat and allow the bacon to cool slightly. Pour off any excess fat, leaving a small amount to coat the pan.

Now, return the pan to low heat and add the cooked spaghetti, tossing it gently to coat it with the remaining bacon fat. Slowly pour the egg mixture over the pasta, ensuring it is evenly distributed. The residual heat will cook the eggs, creating a luscious, creamy sauce.

To finish, sprinkle chopped parsley over the pasta for a burst of freshness and extra color. Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and a pinch of black pepper.

The beauty of Pasta Carbonara lies in its simplicity, allowing the rich flavors to shine through. The combination of salty bacon, creamy eggs, and sharp Parmesan creates a delightful balance that will leave your taste buds wanting more.

So, the next time you’re looking for a quick and satisfying meal, give this Pasta Carbonara recipe a try. It’s a timeless classic that never disappoints. Buon appetito!

Picture Credit: VistaCreate

This dish combines quinoa and chickpeas, foods rich in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of quinoa (200 g)
• 2 glasses of water (500 ml)
• 1 ½ cups of boiled chickpeas (300 g)
• chopped fresh parsley (50 g)
• 1 ½ cups of chopped spinach (300 g)
• chopped fresh cilantro (50 g)
• chopped green onion (65 g)
• feta cheese (65 g)
• pumpkin seeds (to taste)

Ingredients for dressing:

• ¼ cup olive oil (40 ml)
• 4 tablespoons of lemon juice (40 ml)
• 2 tablespoons of tahini (30 g)
• 1 large chopped clove of garlic
• ½ teaspoon of fine sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

Instruction:

1. First, rinse the quinoa in a sieve.
2. Then pour it into a pot of water.
3. Cook on medium heat and then reduce the heat.
4. Cook for 15 minutes.
5. After that, remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 5 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, toast the pumpkin seeds for 3-5 minutes until golden brown.
7. Put them in a salad bowl and let them cool for a few minutes.

For the salad dressing:

1. Place all dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Taste and add more salt or lemon if needed.
3. When the quinoa is ready, pour it into a large bowl and add the chickpeas, spinach, parsley, cilantro, green onions, feta cheese, and toasted seeds.
4. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well.

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Here we will tell you about 9 different lemonade, with different herbs, spices, additives, and even vegetables added to increase their medicinal power and improve your nutrition.

Lemons are citrus that is so nutritious they have medicinal properties. Just some of their nutrients are:

• Citric acid
• Minerals (calcium, magnesium)
• Vitamin C
• Bioflavonoids
• Pectin
• Limonene

Homemade lemonade is a great way to take advantage of all their nutritious properties, as well as prevent all kinds of diseases.

Below we will offer a variety of homemade lemonade and tell you how to make them even tastier, give them a special touch and combine their healing effects.

1. Mint

This is a medicinal plant that can aid digestion while refreshing and invigorating your body.

• Lemonade with fresh mint will help you during hot summer days, which tend to drain all your energy.
• It’s also a great choice to eat with hard-to-digest food or dessert.
• If you don’t have fresh mint on hand, you can make mint tea with dried leaves and add lemon juice after the tea cools.

2. Basil

This lemonade is perfect for making you feel better when you’re sad or depressed.

• It will also help prevent the weakening of your immune system that usually accompanies these types of negative emotional states.
• Basil is great because it helps you relax while stimulating you, depending on what your body needs.

3. Fennel

Lemonade made with fennel is the best choice for people who often experience bloating or gas, as it naturally aids your digestion.

• It also helps fight fluid retention.
• This lemonade should be enjoyed without other foods or before eating to take advantage of its special properties.

4. Cinnamon and ginger

Lemonade with cinnamon and ginger is pure energy. And if you drink it hot, it’s a great way to warm up on cold days or when you’re just plain sad.

With this lemonade you can:

• Strengthen your immune system
• Improve metabolism
• Regulate blood sugar
• Increase your libido
• Remove accumulated fluids from your body

5. Turmeric

This lemonade is so anti-inflammatory, cancer-preventing, and full of antioxidants that it deserves a permanent place in your diet.

Both turmeric and lemon perfectly improve liver function. This will improve your body’s ability to cleanse your blood and get rid of toxins.

6. Beetroot

Yes, you read that right. Beetroot lemonade is, unsurprisingly, a great combination to help you fight nausea and iron deficiency anemia thanks to its vitamin C, iron, and folic acid content.

Just add a piece of beetroot to your lemonade until you have a beautiful, delicious, purple drink.

7. Green tea

Lemonade made with green tea is great for the cardiovascular system. It is packed with antioxidants and even helps fight cancer.

Rich in minerals, this lemonade will help you burn calories and lose weight more easily, making it an ideal part of any weight-loss diet.

8. Isotonic

You can make lemonade into an isotonic drink to drink throughout the day, replenishing your body’s minerals and keeping you hydrated.

Add the following ingredients to a liter of lemonade:

• 1 pinch of baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt (3.5 g)
• brown sugar or honey (to taste)

How to make:

1. Add the baking soda and sea salt to the natural lemonade and mix well.
2. If desired, sweeten with a little honey or brown sugar.
3. The result will be a fresh, slightly salty chocolate drink.

9. Stevia and propolis

This lemonade, cold or hot, is a remedy to improve the immune system and prevent and treat colds, flu, coughs, sore throats, etc.

How to make:

1. Add stevia to taste and 25 drops of propolis per liter of lemonade and drink throughout the day.
2. However, stevia must be in the form of a pure extract. You will see the difference because the extract should be dark in color; it contains medicinal properties in addition to sweetness.

Picture Credit: VistaCreate

Everyone gets bored of eating the same thing every day. That’s why we decided to share these two simple recipes for carrot soups. These dishes will definitely diversify your diet and help you activate your taste buds.

Carrot dishes are extremely simple and delicious, you just have to let your imagination run free. These vegetables have a sweet taste, but you will like them even more if you use them as the main ingredient.

Soups have always been the best choice for people trying to take care of their figure because they are low in calories, fat, and carbohydrates. Cooking any dishes with carrots is safe for your health.

In addition, carrots can be eaten raw, boiled, fried, or steamed. It is one of the most important foods in a balanced diet, as carrots contain vitamins and minerals.

List its important minerals, such as:

• phosphorus
• magnesium
• iodine
• calcium

Carrots also contain vitamins A, B3, and E, which improve eye and skin health. It is also a good source of carbohydrates and is therefore believed to provide energy. Carrots will also help improve digestion by cleaning teeth and stimulating saliva secretion. Therefore, this vegetable is an ideal component for preparing various dishes.

Secrets of cooking carrot soup

Carrot stimulates the secretion of melatonin and prevents cardiovascular diseases.

Carrot soup is ideal for babies aged 6 months and above as it is highly nutritious and easy to eat and digest.

Ingredients:

• 3 carrots
• 1 bowl of beef broth (200 ml)
• ½ cup of water (100 ml)
• ¼ cup of milk (50 ml)
• 1 onion (100 g)
• 1 tablespoon of butter (20 g)
• 2 tablespoons of salt (30 g)
• 1 tablespoon of pepper (15 g)

Cooking:

1. First, peel and cut the carrots into medium-sized pieces.
2. Fill a pot with water, bring to a boil and add carrots. Cook until it becomes soft. Remove from heat.
3. Cut the onion into strips and fry it in oil until it turns golden brown.
4. Then combine the carrots with the beef broth, onions, and milk and pour the mixture into another pot.
5. Serve to the table.
6. If you want, you can add some chopped parsley to the carrots.

Pumpkin-carrot soup

Carrot helps maintain a healthy immune system and improves vision and the digestive system. You can also combine carrots with pumpkin or celery to make a more original dish.

Ingredients:

• 2 carrots
• ½ bowl of pumpkin (100 g)
• 1 cup of chicken broth (200 ml)
• 3 crushed cloves of garlic
• 1 small chopped leek
• 2 tablespoons of butter (40 g)
• 2 tablespoons of salt (30 g)
• 1 tablespoon of pepper (15 g)
• zest of ½ lemon

Cooking:

1. First, peel and cut the carrots and pumpkin into small pieces.
2. Then fry the garlic with butter in a large pan and add the carrots and pumpkin.
3. Stir until they are golden brown and soft.
4. Then add the chicken broth and leeks.
5. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool.
6. Finally, mix all the ingredients until smooth, add salt and pepper and serve.

Try making these soups today to impress your family and guests with your amazing cooking skills.

Serve them as appetizers or main dishes.

Picture Credit: Unsplash

Useful properties of garlic

Fresh garlic is characterized not only by its strong smell and distinct taste but also by its high nutritional value. In addition to the high content of nutrients, it has a positive effect on the process of losing weight.

It is low-calorie, but at the same time, it contains compounds indispensable for the body, which accelerate metabolism and start metabolic processes. At the same time, garlic contains vitamins C and B6, as well as manganese, selenium, and a small amount of protein.

Fresh garlic contains minerals such as calcium, potassium, iron, and phosphorus, as well as a small amount of vitamin B1.

Garlic is a powerful antioxidant

Garlic is characterized by a high content of vitamin C and flavonoids, which neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals and eliminate signs of premature aging. Doctors recommend regular consumption of garlic to patients with hypertension because it improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and regulates blood pressure.

In addition, thanks to its antioxidant properties, garlic slows the development of dementia and reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s syndrome.

Garlic Soup: a delicious and simple dish

Ingredients (for 6 serves):

• 10 cloves of garlic (50 g)
• 6 eggs
• 12 slices of day-old hard white bread
• 1 piece of ham or prosciutto (150 g)
• 4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (50 ml)
• 2 and 1/2 liters of meat broth (can be replaced with vegetable broth)
  salt, pepper, and sweet paprika (to taste)

Instructions:

1. The first step to make the soup is to peel and chop the main ingredient of this dish – garlic cloves. They need to be chopped finely, but not too finely.
2. Place a large saucepan on the stove and pour olive oil into it. As soon as the oil is well heated, add chopped garlic to it and fry it until golden brown. Note that the garlic roasts very quickly, so keep an eye on the cooking process so don’t burn it.
3. Cut the ham into small pieces and add it to the garlic. Constantly stir the ham and garlic for do not stick them to the bottom of the pan and do not overcook.
   Then add 6 pieces of bread to the pan and fry them together with garlic and ham.
4. When the bread is well toasted, remove the pan from the heat and add the sweet paprika. Mix thoroughly. The amount of paprika can be adjusted according to your taste.
5. As soon as all the components of the soup are combined and absorb the pleasant aroma and color of the paprika, return the pan to the stove. Stew the bread with ham and garlic over low heat so that the garlic and paprika do not burn.
6. When the soup pan heats up again, gradually pour the warm broth into it. Of course, in the absence of broth, you can cook garlic soup in water, but it is the meat broth that gives the dish a rich taste and aroma.

Cooking tips:

• You need to cook garlic soup over low heat for 20-25 minutes. It is better not to stir the dish during cooking and not to boil it on high heat.
• While the soup is cooking, toast the remaining 6 pieces of bread in a small amount of olive oil.
• After 25 minutes, add croutons to the soup and wait until they soften. Then season the finished garlic soup with salt and black pepper. Before serving, mix the dish thoroughly again.

Bon appetit!

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And it’s not just that it’s delicious. Chocolate contains tryptophan, the amino acid that the brain uses to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that makes a person feel happy.

Relieves stress

Dark chocolate effectively lowers the level of stress hormones.

Contains fiber

The tile of high-quality chocolate (70-85% of cocoa beans) contains 11 grams of fiber. These are the dietary fibers that lower cholesterol levels and make you feel full. So black chocolate is useful for both figure and digestion.

Makes you smarter

Numerous studies prove that by eating chocolate, people undergo intellectual tests much better. Besides the fact that a piece of dark chocolate will make your brain work more efficiently in the morning, regular use will be an excellent prevention of senile dementia.

Good effect on the heart

A small piece of chocolate tiles 5-7 times a week reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 57%.

Useful during pregnancy

Finnish scientists have found out that children grow up happier and less fastidious if during pregnancy their mothers regaled themselves with dark chocolate.

Lowers pressure

Chocolate contains flavonoids – plant antioxidants, which help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, and also take care of maintaining the health of blood vessels.

Has a positive effect on the skin

In the hot summer, black chocolate can save you from sunburn, because it contains phenols and catechins – antioxidants, which are very useful for the skin.

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Why does oatmeal help lower cholesterol?

Oats are considered a superfood as well as a daily resource that we should all consume to take care of our health. It is good for the heart, regulates weight, improves digestion, and prevents constipation.

Great benefits of oats to reduce so-called bad cholesterol:

• Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which is rich in lipoproteins and helps reduce the density of LDL (bad cholesterol).
• This type of fiber is similar to that found in apples, whose effectiveness in lowering cholesterol is well known.
• There is another aspect to keep in mind: not all foods that contain oats will help you lower your cholesterol. Example? Oatmeal cookies, which instead of helping you, can actually hurt because they contain a lot of sugar and saturated fat.

Ways to consume oatmeal to lower cholesterol

1. Oatmeal with green apple and cinnamon

Ingredients:

• 100 grams of instant oatmeal
• 1 green apple
• 1 glass of water (200 ml)
• a little cinnamon

Instructions:

• Start by washing and slicing the apple. It can not be cleaned, because it is in the peel and contains most of the useful properties that will help lower cholesterol.
• Now boil a glass of water with the oats until it is completely cooked. It’s very easy.
• After 10 minutes, add the apple pieces, and leave them to cook for another 20 minutes. When you see that the apple has softened, turn off the heat.
• Put everything in a blender and mix until smooth. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on top before eating. This is a great recipe for breakfast.

2. Oatmeal with pear

Ingredients:

• 1 pear
• 100 grams of instant oatmeal
• 1 glass of water
• 20 g of honey

Instructions:

• This dish is perfect for breakfast or lunch. To prepare it, you must first heat a glass of water in a saucepan and then pour the oats. Once it has acquired the desired sticky consistency, add a tablespoon of honey to give it more flavor.
• Then peel the pear and cut it into small pieces (do not peel). Pears are also ideal for fighting cholesterol, and in combination with oats, their potential benefits even increase.
• Put the oatmeal in your favorite bowl and add the pear pieces. It’s delicious and you get a nutritious and healthy breakfast.

3. Oatmeal with plums

Ingredients:

• 100 grams of instant oatmeal
• 2 plums
• 3 walnuts
• 1 glass of water

Instructions:

• Bring the water to a boil and add the oatmeal.
• While it is cooking, you can peel the plums.
• Also, chop the walnuts and set them aside for later use.
• When the oatmeal is cooked, put it in your favorite bowl, and add plums and walnuts.

This breakfast is an effective way to fight high cholesterol. In addition, it helps maintain a slim figure and eat right every day.

Keep in mind that the three best fruits to fight cholesterol are apples, pears, and plums. However, strawberries, blueberries, kiwis, and grapes are also very useful, so you can use any combination you want when you cook oatmeal in the morning to lower cholesterol.

In this case, the most important thing is to eat oatmeal every day.

In addition to oatmeal, do not forget to eat well during the day and exercise moderately. Start taking care of your health today!

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Even though this milk is quite high in calories compared to other vegetable drinks, it is high in fiber, amino acids, and useful fats.

Also, almond milk does not contain gluten and lactose, and it is characterized by low cholesterol. Note that almond milk contains calcium, which is essential for maintaining bone strength.

How does almond milk promote weight loss?

When it comes to the nutritional value of this drink, it should be noted that almond milk is high in Omega-3 fatty acids – useful fats that have a beneficial effect on the heart. These substances reduce the concentration of cholesterol in the arteries, as well as improve metabolic functions.

This vegetable milk contains complex carbohydrates, ie macronutrients that ensure the maintenance of proper energy levels in the body. This drink is quite slow to digest, which ensures proper metabolism and prevents fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Almond milk should be consumed regularly because it contains calcium and magnesium – minerals that strengthen bones. Even though almond milk does not contain all the nutrients that are part of cow’s milk, this drink may well meet the body’s needs for minerals and vitamins.

Another reason to regularly consume natural almond milk for weight loss is the high content of amino acids in it.

How to make healthy almond milk

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (150 g) of natural almonds (no need to fry)
• 6 glasses of water (1.5 liters)

Method of cooking:

• To begin, fill the almonds with two glasses of water (500 ml).
• Leave the almonds to soak for 8 hours (preferably overnight).
• Add the remaining water and beat the almonds in the bowl of a stationary blender for a few minutes.
• When the mixture becomes white and frothy, strain it.
• To obtain homogeneous vegetable milk, it is better to use a thin gauze for straining. Squeeze the whipped almonds well through it and pour the prepared milk into a glass jar with a lid.

Please note: if desired, you can add to the drink a little ground cinnamon or natural honey.

How to drink?

• Drink a glass of almond milk in the morning for breakfast or during the day as a snack.
• If desired, you can also use this vegetable milk as a basis for the preparation of fruit or vegetable strips.
• You should not abuse this drink, because vegetable milk is quite high in calories.

How to use the almonds that are left over after making milk?

After straining the almond milk, you will have real flour that can be used to prepare other dishes. What’s more, almond flour-based dishes are a great addition to a balanced diet.

However, to get the most out of this product, you need to store it properly.

Method of preparation and application:

• First, preheat the oven to 180°C.
• Pour the chopped almonds evenly on a baking sheet.
• Place the pan with the almonds in the oven and bake for 15 minutes to get rid of moisture and dry the nuts.
• You can use almond flour instead of refined for cookies or other delicious desserts.

Contraindication

Although the benefits of almond milk are difficult to overestimate, it is also worth mentioning the serious contraindications to its use. If you suffer from indigestion or other serious illnesses, or if you are pregnant, be sure to consult your doctor before using it.

• Abuse of almond milk can impair the proper absorption of iodine from food.
• This drink contains substances that irritate the thyroid gland and can provoke the development of inflammation.
• Almond milk is not recommended for children.
• If you drink it regularly, you can provoke migraines, because almond milk contains tyrosine.

As you can see, almond-based vegetable milk is indispensable for weight loss. However, you should not abuse this drink, because it can also have negative side effects.

Picture Credit: VistaCreate

Depression is an emotional disorder that can affect not only mental health but also physical health. Depression is usually characterized by deep sadness and despair, during which a person loses interest in those things and activities that previously brought him joy and pleasure, fortunately, are natural remedies for depression.

However, there are cases when depression is provoked not by emotional but by physiological problems, including:

• hormonal imbalances
• nutrient deficiencies in the body

Effective remedies against depression

1. Brewer’s yeast

Despite its very specific taste, brewer’s yeast is incredibly useful for the body. They include vitamin B, magnesium, and essential amino acids that can regulate the nervous system.

These nutrients stimulate the production of hormones that have a positive effect on human well-being, including serotonin and endorphins.

Moreover, it is these beneficial compounds that effectively fight the sadness and suffering that often afflicts a person in a state of depression.

2. Remedy based on strawberry, orange, and chamomile leaves

Medicinal plants that are part of this natural remedy contain important vitamins and minerals. These nutrients can eliminate the unpleasant signs of exhaustion that so often bother people in a state of depression.

Ingredients:

• 3 glasses of water (750 ml)
• 1 tbsp of fresh strawberry leaves (15 g)
• 1 tbsp of rosemary (5 g)
• 1 tbsp of chamomile (5 g)
• 1 tsp of orange (5 g)

Method of cooking:

1. Pour water into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. As soon as the water starts to boil, add all the plants.
2. Cover the pan with a lid, turn off the heat and leave the mixture to infuse for 15 minutes.
3. Be sure to strain the remedy before use.

3. Remedy based on lemon and chia seeds

This effective drink is characterized by a high content of vitamin B and fatty acids, so it has a positive effect on the central nervous system, as well as relieves unpleasant symptoms of depression.

Ingredients:

• 1 glass of water (200 ml)
• 1 tbsp of chia seeds (15 g)
• lemon juice

Method of cooking:

1. First of all, dilute lemon juice in a glass of water.
2. Add chia seeds and leave the mixture to infuse for 10 minutes.
3. Drink twice a day for three weeks.

4. Remedy based on basil, chamomile, and lemon balm

The composition of this effective infusion includes useful herbs with powerful sedative properties. Due to its beneficial properties, this natural remedy can relieve stress and irritation, which often accompany people in a state of depression.

Ingredients:

• 2 glasses of water (500 ml)
• 1 tbsp of basil (15 g)
• 1 tbsp of lemon balm (15 g)
• 1 tbsp of chamomile (15 g)

Method of cooking:

1. Boil water and add all the plants.
2. Turn off the heat, cover the pan and allow the mixture to infuse for 10 minutes.
3. Drink twice a day – one cup in the morning and the other at bedtime.
4. It is necessary to use a natural remedy based on medicinal herbs until the complete elimination of symptoms.

5. Remedy based on parsley and valerian

The natural remedy with parsley and valerian can calm the nervous system, as well as eliminate feelings of sadness, despair, and weakness that often occur in depressed people.

Undoubtedly, the remedy based on valerian and parsley improves emotional and physical health, because it eliminates the harmful effects of oxidative stress.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of parsley (15 g)
• 1 tbsp of valerian (15 g)
• 1 glass of water (250 ml)

Method of cooking:

1. Boil water and add the parsley and valerian.
2. Turn off the heat and cover the pan.
3. Wait 10 minutes, then strain the drink.

Please note that it is necessary to take the remedy before bedtime, as it can cause dizziness and disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Parsley and valerian-based remedies should be taken for 2 consecutive weeks until the symptoms of depression disappear completely.

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To live a long and healthy life, it is important not only to eat healthy foods but to combine them correctly. And the best type of food in this regard is the Mediterranean diet.

Mediterranean type of nutrition

Long-life has been a dream of people since time immemorial, but also important to live not just for a long time, but also in good physical and mental condition. Doctors are increasingly focusing not only on healthy food but also on the correct combination of it: the Mediterranean type of nutrition is recognized as the best in this regard. The results of a study by Italian scientists are published in the journal Nutrients.

Why Mediterranean diet so beneficial?

Doctors note that the Mediterranean diet is not a diet, but a model of a balanced, healthy diet. Nutritional research in recent decades has focused on food combination patterns rather than individual foods.

Various dietary patterns are associated with health benefits, but most of the evidence in the medical literature relates to traditional dietary habits and lifestyles in the Mediterranean region.

Scientists again analyzed the nutrition of residents (moreover, different groups of the population) of seven countries that adhere to the Mediterranean diet. And they noted that this type of nutrition is most useful in terms of prevention and treatment of age-related non-communicable diseases. Namely, diseases of the heart and blood vessels, metabolic disorders, that is, disorders in metabolic processes, age-related changes in the brain, depression, cancer, colds, and even fractures.

In addition, the Mediterranean diet is environmentally friendly: doctors call this type of nutrition an intangible world heritage of healthy living with respect for the environment.

What foods are included in the Mediterranean diet?

Most of the diet in such a diet is fruits, vegetables, vegetable fats, and proteins, and sweets and fatty meats are avoided.

Losing weight

With the Mediterranean diet, you can also lose weight, but slowly and without harm to health. The process of losing weight is slow, but without the feeling of hunger and stress: in addition, with this type of diet, it is also recommended to engage in feasible sports.

Menu of the inhabitants of the Mediterranean:

• seafood and non-fatty fish;
• chicken, turkey, lean beef, rabbit;
• dairy foods but only without additives (that is, unsweetened) and with a low percentage of fat;
• fast carbohydrates, that is, sugar, sweets, are replaced by slow ones: whole grain pasta, wholemeal bread;
• alcohol is also limited, except dry wine no more than a glass a day.

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