TOP 10 ANTI AGING TIPS

1) DRINK TEA : Tea is full of antioxidants and therefore anti ageing. Black tea is just as good as green tea as far as the health benefits go. Black tea is simply green tea leaves that have been dried and heated to change the colour and the taste. Both black and green tea are stronger in almost equal amount of antioxidants.

If you drink tea with your meals, it helps neutralize cancer causing compounds.

2) EAT SOYA BEAN FOODS: The soybean contains many antioxidants to deter certain type of cancers. Eat them at least 2-3 times a week.

3) EAT FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: These contain the greatest amount of antioxidants. Eat as many fruit and veg you can at least 5 servings a day. Frozen vegetables are just as good as fresh.

4) EAT FISH: Oily fish such as sardines, salmon, herring, tuna and mackerel are the best source of omega 3 and they have the most anti aging fatty acids. Try to eat at least 2-3 times a week. Tinned fish is good as an alternative to fresh fish.

5) EAT GARLIC: Garlic is the most ancient antioxidant. A clove a day raw or cooked is a sufficient amount of anti aging dose. It helps to prevent cancer, heart and brain diseases.

6) LIMIT SWEETS: Eating excessive amount of sugar and fructose raises insulin levels damaging arteries, as well as causing weight gain and other diseases.

7) CUT DOWN ON ALCOHOL: Drinking moderately no more than one or two glasses per day is the sensible amount. Red wine contains various antioxidants from the grapes.

8) HAVE LESS MEAT: To avoid harmful free radicals, restrict meat and and choose better ways of cooking them. Steam, boil and roast rather them rather than fry and barbecue the meat if possible.

9) RESTRICT BAD FATS: Avoid animal fats, dairy fats, margarine, vegetables fats and processed foods.

10) RESTRICT CALORIES: Eat only enough calories for optimum nutrition to enjoy the foods we like.

FISH PILAKI ( BALIK PILAKISI )

This dish traditionally is made with firm fleshed whole fish but I used  smoked and white fish chunks as I had them in my fridge. Mixture of smoked and white fish worked very well for  this recipe. Cod or any other white fish can be used instead of haddock.

INGREDIENTS

• 1  large carrot
• 2 medium potatoes 
• half a cup water or stock
• 150 g smoked haddock ( 2 medium  fillets )
• 100 g haddock ( 1 medium fillet )
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• Half a tin of tomato with tomato juice
• 2 cloves of garlic
• pinch of hot pepper or half of green chili pepper
• 3-4 bay leaves
• bunch of dill, chopped
• juice of half a lemon
• freshly ground black pepper

1) Peel and cut the potatoes and carrot into small chunks. Place them into a pan with some water just to cover the vegetables. Bring it to boil and cook the veg on high heat for about 5 minutes.

2) In the meantime wash the fish and cut into chunks. Set aside.

3) Saute the onions  in olive oil until just turning brown, add tomatoes, garlic, chili pepper, bay leaves.

4) Arrange the  chunks of fish over the vegetables, then pour the onion and tomato mixture over the fish. Sprinkle chopped dill, lemon juice and black pepper. Cook on low heat for 10- 12 minutes with the lid on. Do not stir.

5) Serve with extra dill and crusty bread. Serves 2.

NOT : I didn't add any salt to this dish as the salt from the smoked fish was just enough.

WHITE FISH WITH TOMATO AND ROSEMARY

INGREDIENTS

• 4 frozen white fish fillets
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 can of tomatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic, diced
• 2 stalk of rosemary
• salt and black pepper
• drizzle of olive oil

METHOD

Turn the oven on to preheat, to 180C, 350F, gas mark 4, about 10 minutes before cooking. Place frozen fish in a baking dish with onion and garlic. Add chopped tin tomatoes, rosemary, salt and pepper. Drizzle the fish with olive oil and cover the baking dish with foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake it further 10-15 minutes until golden brown. Serve the fish with pan fried potatoes and peas. Serves 4.