Eat Groovy May Bingo Challenge!

Need some motivation to eat healthier? Try the Eat Groovy May Bingo Challenge! The goal of the game is to see how many days in May you can get a bingo by eating certain super healthy foods. Each time you get a bingo, send a message to @eatgroovy on Twitter and you'll be entered in a drawing for several secret (and super groovy;) prizes at the end of the month! Of course, you can also play just for fun or as motivation to eat healthy. Like regular bingo, you don't have to eat all of the foods you just have to get five in a row. Sounds fun, right? Ready to get started? Here is the bingo card and some links to more information about why the foods on the card are super good for you!

Cashews- 5 Reasons To Eat Cashews!

Blueberries- Why Are Blueberries So Nutritious?

Oregano- 5 Super Healthy Pizza Toppings!

Salmon- 5 Foods To Help Improve Your Mood!

Cinnamon- Spice It Up! Here Are Three Spices That Are Great For Your Health!

Cayenne Pepper- 3 Health Benefits of Cayenne Pepper!

Apples- 5 Foods To Help Ease An Upset Stomach!

Pineapple- Why Is Pineapple So Good For You?

Eggs- 3 Health Benefits of Eggs!

Walnuts- Why Are Walnuts Super Nutritious?

Garlic- Why Is Garlic Good For You?

Broccoli- 5 Reasons Broccoli Is Good For You!

Oranges- 3 Great Reasons To Drink Orange Juice!

Tomatoes- 5 Good Reasons To Eat Tomatoes!

Spinach- Good Reasons To Eat More Spinach

Artichokes- 3 Amazing Health Benefits of Artichokes!

Strawberries- 4 Reasons To Eat Strawberries!

Turkey- Why Is Turkey So Good For You?

Grapes- 3 Reasons To Eat Grapes!

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Oregano!

1. Ancient Greeks would crown a bride and groom with oregano laurels during the ceremony because oregano was believed to banish sadness.

2. The name oregano means "joy of the mountain." It comes from the Greek "oros" meaning mountain and "ganos" meaning joy.

3. When in bloom oregano has beautiful flowers that are also edible.

4. Oregano is anti-bacterial. It can help destroy harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses.

5. Oregano is not a particular herb but rather a particular herb flavor. There are several different kinds of plants that have this flavor and are known as oregano.

3 Health Benefits Of Cayenne Pepper!

1. Cayenne pepper is great for the digestive system. It can help ease an upset stomach, relieve constipation, and protect the stomach lining from damage. Although cayenne pepper has an unfair reputation for causing stomach ulcers, it's likely the opposite is true. Cayenne pepper may actually help prevent ulcers by killing bacteria and secreting protective juices.

2. Cayenne pepper improves circulation. It increases blood flow and may reduce LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Cayenne pepper may also help prevent blood clotting that can lead to heart attacks and stroke.

3. Cayenne pepper may help with weight loss. It increases metabolism which increases the bodies ability to burn excess fat. Also, cayenne pepper is thought to be an appetite suppressant.

Eat Groovy Q&A: Does Frozen Yogurt Contain Live Cultures?

You may have heard that one of the reasons that regular yogurt is so good for you is because it contains live cultures which have numerous health benefits and are especially good for the immune system. But what about frozen yogurt? The answer is that some do, but only those that haven't been heat treated. Some yogurts are heat treated to increase shelf life and this destroys the live cultures. Although one might think that the freezing process also kills the live cultures, it actually only makes them dormant and the heat from our bodies will make them active again. To make sure that a brand of frozen yogurt contains live cultures, look for the NYA Live & Active Cultures seal on the container.

5 Quotations That Will Make You Want To Eat More Spinach!

"Spinach has more demonstrated health benefits than almost any other food."
-Super Foods: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life

"Calorie for calorie, green leafy vegetables like spinach provide more nutrients than almost any other food on the planet."
-The 150 Healthiest Foods On Earth

"Full of iron, calcium, and magnesium, spinach is vital for looking young and feeling fit."
-The Top 100 Foods For A Younger You

"There is one food that scientific research has show has a strong positive association with increased longevity in humans. So which food do you think that is? The answer is raw leafy greens. Normally referred to as salad. Leafy greens such as romaine lettuce, kale, collards, swiss chard and spinach, are the most nutrient dense of all foods."
-Eat To Live

And the best one of all...

"I'm Popeye the sailor man, I'm Popeye the sailor man, I'm strong to the finish because I eats me spinach,
I'm Popeye the sailor man!"
-Popeye

Eat Groovy Q&A: What's The Difference Between Greek Yogurt and Regular Yogurt?

While both regular and Greek yogurt have numerous health benefits it's good to know the difference. Greek yogurt is basically just yogurt that is extra strained (triple strained vs. double strained) leaving it with a thicker and creamier consistency and less whey than regular yogurt. The extra staining makes it a more concentrated source of protein (it has about twice the protein of regular yogurt) although it does have less calcium. Greek yogurt also has fewer carbohydrates. If you wonder why many recipes specifically say to use Greek yogurt it's likely because, unlike regular yogurt, Greek yogurt does not curdle when heated.

Eat Groovy Q&A: Is There A Nutritional Difference Between Fresh and Canned Pineapple?

Yes! Although canned pineapple is still very healthy to eat, the heat involved in the canning process reduces some of the heat sensitive vitamins such as vitamin C. Although canned pineapple is still a good source of vitamin C, fresh pineapple has a lot more! Also, fresh pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain (destroyed in the canning process) which is thought to have many health benefits including improving digestion, reducing inflammation, and acting as a blood thinner. It's also useful to know that while bromelain may be good for you it also prevents gelatin from setting, so if you're using pineapple in a gelatin desert than using canned pineapple is a must!

Eat Groovy Q&A: Spinach vs Kale: Which Is Healthier?

Spinach and kale have a lot in common. The both make delicious salads, are low in calories, and are nutritional superstars! But what is the difference in their nutritional benefits, and is eating one healthier for you than the other? Let's break down a few of the differences.

In favor of spinach..

1. Spinach Has Fewer Calories
Kale does have a few more calories than spinach but since it still only has about 35 calories a cup, it's probably not something to worry about.


2. Spinach Has More Magnesium
Magnesium is an important mineral that is good for the heart, strengthens bones, and helps the body absorb other important minerals. A magnesium deficiency can lead to headaches and fatigue.

3. Spinach Has More Folic Acid
Folic acid helps prevent birth defects, is good for the brain and the heart, and may help prevent cancer.


4. Spinach Has More Iron
Iron is essential for building red blood cells and an iron deficiency will lead to anemia. 



In favor of kale...

1. Kale Has More Protein
Protein is essential to good health and is especially important for building, maintaining, and repairing muscles.


2. Kale Has More Vitamin C
A serving of kale has more than four times the amount of vitamin C than a serving a spinach. For more info on the many benefits of vitamin C check out Why is Getting Enough Vitamin C So Important? !


3. Kale Has More Vitamin A
Among other things, vitamin A is important for healthy bones, a healthy immune system, and healthy vision.


4. Kale Has More Vitamin K
Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and is also important for bone health.


And the winner is...

We have to call it a tie! The bottom line is you really can't go wrong with either one. They are both nutrition packed super foods that are very good for your health, and the healthiest choice for you might depend on what vitamins or minerals you are lacking most in your diet. We think it's safe to say that the best bet is to continue eating both!

Check out Good Reasons To Eat More Spinach and The Top 10 Health Benefits of Eating Kale for even more great nutrition info.