Health, Food & Lifestyle Archives - Page 4 of 4

Lifestyle Guide: Do You Love Turkish Food? Try Gokyuzu and Kervan in North London, UK

04/14/2014 6:53 pm

I don’t think I ask much when it comes to choosing a great place to eat out but for me an ideal restaurant is one where you get to sit in an attractive environment whilst eating a good meal that’s also good for you. Then at the end of the night you can pull out your purse or wallet without squinting at the bill…like I was saying I don’t ask for much!

It was definitely a delicious treat when me and the girls decided to try out a new local Turkish restaurant in North London Woodgreen, Gokyuzu and Kervan. Don’t let the ‘local’ get to you, it’s anything but local food.

As you can imagine North London is not shy of several other Turkish restaurants to choose from, in fact on the very same road, there are another two Turkish restaurants I’ve also tried. However the classy looking eatery of Gokyuzu and Kervan lures you in as you are given a view of the take away section of delicious and savoury looking food on display that can be spied from outside of the restaurant.

An already established food chain, the popular Kervan restaurant is known for its delicious menus to most in North London. It’s a mix of Mediterranean foods such as meats, salads, humus Turkish seasoned bread and buckwheat roasted in seasoned plum tomato sauce…it really is just GOOD food.

I was more than impressed with the setting and environment, very classy and the service was great. It’s also plush enough for a b-day, anniversary or first date.

There were 3 very lively birthdays happening on the top second floor…it got lively, perfect Saturday night out. However if you prefer it a bit calmer then the lower ground was a lot more low-key.

I love the Turkish food custom of providing the starters of tzatziki, humus and Turkish bread that you’re not billed for.

Lifestyle Guide: For the Best Seafood-Lobsters & Mussels, Try Melrose Restaurant in Brighton, UK

04/9/2014 3:55 pm

by Chris-Vincent Agyapong, Founding Editor

Apart from the fact seafood restaurants are not very much common when you do not live close to a beach, the price tag for seafood meals can be a little over the top—making it an occasional dish for many people.

I am sure I can afford a good seafood meal a few times in a year but to be frank, the last time I really had a proper seafood meal was about 4 years ago when I visited Brighton—and I have returned again for a second encounter, courtesy of the one and only SassyChic.

To me, I prefer to make seafood an occasional dish not necessarily because of the price but I get bored of things very quick, including food. The wider the interval, the more I enjoy the meal.

If you live in the UK or ever decide to visit the United Kingdom, Brighton which is less than two hours from London by drive and less than an hour by train has a beautiful ‘pebble’ beach, with a lot of affordable hotels and fancy restaurants.

For all the two occasions I’ve been to Brighton, I have stayed at Kings ‘Seafront’ Hotel which is just direct opposite the sea—not one of those seafront hotels that you never get to see the sea. And for the price, they are really affordable—a night out here now is £56 but a little higher during peak seasons.

For launch today, we decided to stay away from those meals we can find all around London and therefore found ourselves once again at Melrose Restaurant; about two minutes walk from Kings Hotel—all on Kings Road.

Since we were too hungry to do the whole starter thing, we went straight for what will taste good and be able to fill our stomachs. I went for the ‘Whole fresh Lobster’ served with Salad (I asked for half salad and half fries which the waitress gladly accepted) and SassyChic ordered ‘Mussels marinated in onion and herb soup’ plus slices of French bread.

Lifestyle Guide: Le Tandem-French Cuisine in Accra, Ghana

04/7/2014 10:50 pm

by GC Staff Yaa

I am a food lover and everyone knows that. Not a glutton but an appreciative indulgent lover. I see food as an art.

So when there’s good food before me, I adore it and savour it slowly and the taste gives me an almost extreme satisfaction.

So last week my friend and I decided to meet over dinner. We initially set the time for 6pm but work and traffic pressures of Accra kept pushing it back so we started wondering what diners would be open late.

She suggested Le Tandem which is in Labone close to Wangara/Nafti area. I took a few wrong turns before getting there but I knew the area pretty well so it didn’t pose a problem. Our meeting finally kicked off past 10pm. Luck was on our side, they are open late on all days.

A neat little French place with rooms for both short and long stay. I believe the rooms are mainly for tourists. They have great and secure parking too. And a warm mellow ambience. Also regular guitar players will soothe you with soft French music throughout. Though not the best voices, the music still manages not to be irritating and they do not get intrusive.

The menu arrived and to my surprise, I seemed familiar with it. I was expecting a few surprises since I have never been there.

For starters, I ordered a salmon Carpaccio and my friend ordered a mushroom Carpaccio because we wanted to swap half and taste both. I enjoyed the mushroom more. I must add that it goes down best with fresh French bread.

Then for the main meal, we ordered buttered lemon prawns with sautéed potatoes which were very, very good. The potatoes were crisp and their vegetables are so fresh. I am usually sceptical about biting into green beans no matter how much vegetable I order but these looked and tasted so fresh.

Lifestyle Guide: We are Bringing You Food, Restaurants, Hotels, Night Life & Other Places of Interest

04/6/2014 3:34 pm

by Chris-Vincent Agyapong, Founding Editor

We are going to overhaul the various lifestyle columns we have on GhanaCelebrities.Com starting this week, to add diversity to our content which ranges from Celebrity News & Gossip to interested articles on various Entertainment, Fashion and other issues…

Starting next week, we will be bring you a new column titled ‘Lifestyle Guide’ where we will share with you our lifestyle experiences—-food, travel, hotels, night life, tourism and others so that you can make great choice and try some of these places we will feature.

Our write ups on the above will not be sponsored so trust to have the best reviews, photos and videos from some of the best places around the world—be it Ghana, UK, France, Spain, Nigeria or America. If an item is sponsored, we will let you know and we promise that will not affect the quality of our content.

If you love food (you eat outside a lot) and love to visit some of the fine places in the world, you can also become a contributor to this column by dropping me an email via [email protected]

This column will focus on letting you know where to be and check out should you find yourself at any part of the world…

The Recipe for True Happiness…

04/5/2014 7:55 am

by Comfort Asante, GC Staff Writer

A good recipe and a good cook qualify for a good meal. In a way, it is similar with happiness. It is not the result of a single factor, but many things in life come together to produce happiness. These include work, play, time with family, and friends, and several activities. But there are also more subtle factors, such as attitudes, desires, and goals in life.

“Why are you laughing and always happy?” “Do you ever get angry?” These are two questions people often ask me continuously, be it in school, at home, church, and other places.

Most often, I do not answer those questions because I think they ask them rhetorically. I want to take today to share with GhanaCelebrities.Com readers some basic things one can do to make him/her happy.

Be Generous

If you really want to be happy, be kind to others. Be it your age mates, old people, kids, and everybody that you come across in life. The caution, however is, do not expect favors back from anybody that you’ve been generous to. (and do not broadcast the good you do for people to others). Instead of being self-centered, be generous and as well be interested in others. “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” This is a very popular saying from the Bible, and I can confirm this to be true.

Besides giving in a material way, one can give of his/her time and energy, which may be even more appreciated, especially to the aged. Make it your goal to be kind to at least one person every day, and you yourself will feel the positive impact.

DO YOU KNOW THAT: Usage of Mouthwash Has Been ‘Linked to Oral Cancer’?

04/4/2014 9:22 am

by Nana Yaw Adjapong

I am not sure anyone uses mouth wash more than 3 times a day but if you do, be aware that such usage has been linked to oral cancer…

According to Dr David Conway, a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow Dental School, said people should not routinely use a mouthwash and stick to brushing and flossing instead as heavy usage has a greater chance of developing mouth and throat cancer.

DailyMail Reports;

The research supports an Australian study in 2009, which said there was ‘sufficient evidence’ that mouthwashes containing alcohol contribute to an increased risk of the disease, because they allow cancer-causing substances to penetrate the lining of the mouth more easily.

In the latest study, in journal Oral Oncology, University of Glasgow researchers and European colleagues assessed 1,962 cancer sufferers and 1,993 healthy people in 13 centres across nine countries.

Those with poor oral health, including people with dentures and persistently bleeding gums, were at greater risk, they found.

The study set out to identify risk factors for oral cancers affecting the mouth and larynx, as well as oesophageal cancer of the gullet.

Do You Want A Big BACKSIDE? Scientists Say Sitting Around Makes Your Bum BIG

03/21/2014 9:49 pm

by GC Staff GS

Do you want a big backside—the natural way? Even when there were no scientific backing, many of us knew sitting on buckets and other stuff help shape your bum—and make the bum big…

I remember how several of my friends use to sit on buckets for dinner and when chit chatting during my secondary school days, so to get give their backsides that perfect shape and size…

Scientist have found that, the more you sit down, the more fat cells in the buttocks expand creating a rounder derriere—casing a fat backside…

According to MailOnline;

Scientists at Tel Aviv University revealed that ‘cellular expansion’ plays a key role in fat production because the pressure on cells causes them to increase in size by 50 per cent.

They analysed the accumulation of fat cells in the body and found that nutrition only plays a small role in keeping slim.

Professor Amit Gefen, from the Department of Biomedical Engineering said: ‘We wanted to find out why a sedentary lifestyle results in obesity, other than making time to eat more hamburgers.

‘We found that fat cells exposed to sustained, chronic pressure – such as what happens to the buttocks when you’re sitting down – experienced accelerated growth of lipid droplets, which are molecules that carry fats.

DO YOU KNOW THAT: Women Who Smoke Just 100 Cigarettes in Their Lifetime Are ‘30% More Likely To Get Breast Cancer’?

02/10/2014 9:04 pm

by Chris-Vincent Agyapong, Founding Editor

Majority of the people who smoke are aware that smoking kills—which is boldly written on cigarette packs. But letting go the habit is very difficult, to the extent that death cannot even scare many from smoking… To many, you put your life at risk of dying out of smoking when you puff a lot. … Read more

DO YOU KNOW THAT: ‘Seks’ Is Good For Pregnancy?

01/24/2014 2:12 pm

by GC Staff bG

For many, being pregnant is a visa to the world of no sex, forgetting that the act has numerous health benefits for the unborn child.

Though it can be uncomfortable because of the belly, the benefits outweigh the discomfort—as such, pregnant women have been advised to engage in sex throughout their pregnancy.

According to Graphic;

Madam Ayishetu Abudulai, a midwife at the Tamale West Hospital (TWH), has advised pregnant women to continue to engage their partners in sexual intercourse to make their unborn babies healthy and to ensure smooth delivery.

She explained that sex in pregnancy was very good because it builds bonds among the couple, and gives them the urge to take full responsibility of the baby during and after pregnancy, adding, “It eases labour and helps in smooth delivery.”

Commercializing Ghanaian Food, A Clever Idea By Affia Bioh Of ‘Chop Pot’

01/15/2014 6:48 pm

by Chris-Vincent Agyapong, Founding Editor

I was amazed when I saw a little ‘chop bar’, selling several Ghanaian dishes yesterday at the heart of the O2 shopping mall on Finchley Road in London—while on my way to Nandos…

Apart from the fact that I’ve never come across such an exciting, well thought-of and packaged Ghanaian ‘take away food joint’ anywhere in Europe, the two white men who were busily discussing what to grab pulled me to pay close attention to ‘Chop Pot’.

Probably, to stay-put with her Ghanaian personality while serving her customers, an enthused woman who I later got to know as Affia Bioh, founder of ‘Chop Pot’ wore a beautiful smile and the popular Ghanaian ‘doku’.

Affia Bioh had 3 things going in her favour. If her beautiful smile did not catch your attention, her head wrapper (doku) was set to do so. Even if all the two failed, there was no way anyone will miss her clever attempt to commercialize various Ghanaian dishes by making it extensively attractive and easy to grab for the road.

Want To Join #TeamFit? Here Are Some Tips To Get You Started On Your Fitness Journey

01/6/2014 12:02 pm

by GC Staff Yaa

Some people may call it a fad but for me it’s here to stay! Recently keeping fit has caught on very well with a lot of people especially the younger generation.

Social media has been a very influential medium to further spread the fitness bug. It is not uncommon to see several people posting pictures of themselves involved in one fitness activity or the other. Whilst for some people it is just an opportunity to be part of something ‘cool’, others have been able to transform their bodies to a very healthy level by changing certain aspects of their diets and lifestyle.

You might have been inspired by the many positive experiences others have shared, and in a bid to that that muscled body you might have tried gone to the gym once or twice, but you gave up because you simply didn’t know what you were doing.

GhanaCelebrities.Com has put together some vital information you need to arm yourself with before you venture into the fitness world.

DO YOU KNOW THAT: A Lack Of Sleep ‘DAMAGES The Brain In A Similar Way To Being Hit On The Head’?

01/1/2014 5:54 pm

by GC Staff Yaa

Without sleep, the body becomes exhausted and the performance of the brain can be weakened. It becomes almost impossible to concentrate when you’ve gone for a day or two without a sleep.

But according to a new study, it is worse than the above. It has been found that, going without sleep for just one night causes changes in the brain similar to those that occur after a blow to the head.

Explaining the findings of the research, Professor Christian Benedict, of Uppsala University, Sweden has stated that; ‘What we found was their levels in the blood rose in the group that went without sleep for a night. This was not to the extent that would happen after a head injury, for instance, but it was still significant. During sleep, the brain cleans itself of toxic substances and NSE and S-100B increase in response to these substances.’

The BEST But Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas For You

12/18/2013 8:48 pm

by Comfort Asante, GC Staff Writer

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. There’s always so much happiness, love and music in the air! It’s also the time of the year when we could all use a little extra help finding those extra special holiday gift ideas for the special people in our lives.

The best holiday gifts always come from the heart, and the most heartfelt gifts come from the hands. So this season I made it my personal goal to dig out some fun and festive ideas that would make perfect customized holiday presents. And the best part is that there’s nothing quite like them anywhere else and you don’t need a ton of money either. So, if you’re ready, let the creative juices flow.

The Agony Of ChildBirth Scares The HELL Out Of Me!

12/18/2013 1:14 pm

by GC Staff Sheila

The first day I read and fully understood the pains of childbirth, my mouth hung out open for so long, I’m pretty sure it was completely dried up of all moisture! It makes me seriously want to reconsider having babies.

I love babies… to a fault even. I love their innocent stares and their adorable toothless smiles. I love their tiny feet and their senseless babblings. They are my biggest ‘weakness’ but I cannot even begin to imagine the pain every mother has to go through to get those ‘harmless’ bundles out of their bellies.

It is INDEED a miracle! There is absolutely no question about it! To some extent, a few young ladies (who have never been mothers before) can understand what pain means because that time of the month can be excruciating. I know someone that had to be admitted every month because of it and yet research shows that mothers go through three times that! Unbelievable!

So the big question here is why do they even bother? Especially the surrogate mothers that make a living off that agony! All I can say is that the level of respect that I have for mothers goes way beyond measure.

At this juncture, I would like to say to all of you who do not know how to appreciate your mothers, or have by any chance given your mothers reason to be happy, it’s not too late to turn over a new leaf. They deserve ALL the love in this world for all the hustle you put them through at birth, not counting the smelly diapers, sicknesses and endless crying! It makes me want to pull out my hair for all the many times I gave my mother trouble.

DO YOU KNOW THAT: Laughter Could Harm You?

12/13/2013 3:13 pm

by GC Staff Tisha

Sometimes it is difficult to know what is the truth and what is not, when it comes to scientific findings. I clearly remember reading an article where a study said, laughter is the cheapest and best medicine you can give to yourself. Today, another study says laughter may not be the best medicine after … Read more

DO YOU KNOW THAT: Mixing Alcohol And Energy Drinks Increases The Risk Of Poisoning?

12/3/2013 4:46 pm

by Edith Osei Bonsu

If you like mixing your alcohol with energy drinks like someone I know, it is time to END it—as it is a risky business. Surely, there are times you would not want to go straight on the alcohol and would prefer mixing with it. However, it has emerged that, mixing alcohol with energy drinks … Read more

How To Make SMOOTHIES | GC Staff Writer Has The Easy Steps For You!

11/27/2013 1:47 pm

by Sassy Chic

I recently found out that smoothies are without question one of the best food ideas of the last century! Don’t let the fancy name fool you; there really isn’t anything extraordinary about making one… Yes, I said making one! You don’t need to buy it if you know how to make it!

But that’s not all the upside to this yummy invention (Bless his heart, whoever thought of the idea) not only is it incredibly healthy, it can also be a delicious “forbidden” treat! So, whether you’re trying to lose some baby fat or gain a few pounds, it’s your best bet! It’s all about what goes into it!

Now I know nobody ever needs a manual on how to gain weight (it’s a lot easier to put on than to lose) so let your imagination run wild with the junk if that’s the line you are towing. I will however concentrate on making healthy smoothies and why they are good for you.

Smoothies are surprisingly easy to make at home. All you need is a blender, nothing fancy, a few inexpensive food items, and almost anyone can make a smoothie. And you don’t have to pay a ton of money to get one either. Here’s how it’s done.

First add your liquid – The liquid is considered the base of your smoothie, and it can greatly affect how your smoothie tastes, so choose wisely. Depending on your diet, you can add quite a number of things as a liquid for your smoothie. You can add water if you have nothing else, but there are lots of other ideas to try out. Milk is one of the most popular choices, as is coconut milk (that is blending both coconut and water to paste), coconut water, tea and coffee. Also, fruit juice of any kind is good if you want an extra sweet base.

MUST READ: Discovering Your Natural Beauty

11/26/2013 7:16 am

by GC Staff Sw

Am I the only one who has caught the ‘au naturelle’ bug? Recently there has been a strong influence of having natural hair amongst black people. This influence is notably called the ‘The Natural Hair’ Movement.

From a time where girls as young as 2 years old were having their hair permed by their mothers because the natural African hair was not deemed as beautiful/manageable to having young fashionable girls cut off their permed hair in order to grow the natural African hair, I can say that the Natural Hair Movement has had a very positive impact. I was also influenced to cut off my permed hair and grow my natural hair back, because my views about the African Natural hair changed drastically.

From celebrities like Solange Knowles and Becca to everyday people rocking the natural hair, we have seen that you can still look very beautiful with your God given hair texture. I have also realized that going natural is not just about hair, but about self-acceptance. Every race has certain physical attributes that are peculiar to them, and you do not see them modifying these features to look more like another race.

For some reason, Africans have been made to believe that our natural self is not considered as beautiful and as such we go through various means to change who we are. People bleach their beautiful melanin full black skin in order to look lighter. Others change their beautiful African accent to sound more polished; it doesn’t matter if they’ve ever seen the inside of a plane or not.

HAVE YOU SMILED LATELY? 8 Reasons Why Smiling Is GOOD For You!

11/22/2013 10:54 am

by GC Contributor | Ellen Sackey-Addo Ellen

A smile does more than show others you are in a good mood. Apart from making friends, here are eight more reasons why you should smile more.

1. Lowers Heart Rate

Smiling slows the heart and relaxes the body. This lets the heart work without overworking. People who smile and laugh often are less likely to develop heart disease. Smiling reduces blood pressure temporarily too.

2. Reduces Stress

Stress is a common problem in these times and a major cause of numerous health problems. Stress relief may be as simple as smiling a little more throughout the day. Smiling releases endorphins that counteract and diminish the stress hormones.

3. Gets You in a Better Mood

The endorphins do more than kick stress to the curb. Endorphins lift your mood. Feeling low? Place a smile on your face, even if it’s fake at the onset, and turn your entire day around with something simple, easy to do, and free.

4. Increases Productivity

Smiling has been shown to increase productivity while performing tasks. Ever watched a funny video when stressed at work? See how full of life and ready to work you are afterwards? Researchers have found that funny videos and pictures of cute animals can actually get people motivated and working harder after a few moments of smiling or laughter.

5. Kills Pain

Smiling and laughter both have been shown to lessen pain. They release endorphins that lift our moods, but many of these act as natural painkillers too.

6. Helps You Look Younger

Smiles naturally lift the face and in studies have shown to make people look younger, around 3 years younger on average.

How Healthy Is Your Heart? | A Pot Belly Is Neither A Sign Of Wealth Nor Good Living

11/21/2013 3:09 pm

by GC Staff Ob

The heart is the central point of our being. It is the main organ in the body that supplies to other parts of the body. When it packs up, the body/being doesn’t function properly or again. Although we lack the power to change some risk factors — such as family history, sex or age — there are some key heart disease prevention steps we can take to keep our hearts healthy.

We have the power to reduce the cow foot/leg and ‘shakis’ (intestines) in our soups and stews. All these appealing ‘meat’ is full of saturated fat and comes chiefly from animal food products. Saturated fat tends to raise the level of cholesterol in the blood. It makes the food rich but in the long run, it is not very healthy for us. A pot belly is neither a sign of wealth nor good living. It is a sign of bad health manifesting through the waist line.

Bingeing on alcohol is not very good for the heart. Moderate consumption of alcohol has its benefits. It can raise your good cholesterol levels, reduce blood clot formation, and help prevent artery damage. Too much intake is a good recipe for disaster.

DO YOU KNOW THAT: Just 1 Hour Of Intensive Exercise Is The Same As 50 Hours Of Walking?

11/18/2013 4:08 pm

by Comfort Asante, GC Staff Writer

If you are looking to really exercise or loose weight, then it is time to ditch the walking and get busy and sweaty with intensive exercises.

Many of us consider walking as our exercise and a step toward losing some weight-but a new research suggests it isn’t enough to improve health.

According to the research, one hour of intensive workout provides the same fitness benefits as 50 hours of walking and that an hour of high-intensity exercise which is defined as that which pushes the heart rate up to 75 per cent of its maximum capacity or more – results in the same amount of fat loss as two hours of moderate-intensity exercise.