photo credit: Ron Chapple Studios
Switching from a high-fat, refined-carbohydrate diet to one containing more organic, raw and unprocessed foods has proved to be beneficial in regulating women’s hormones. Fatty tissue contains an enzyme that converts adrenal steroids into estrogen. The more fat you take in and the higher amount of body fat you have, the higher the rate of conversion of estrogen in your body, resulting in overall higher estrogen levels. Decreasing the amount of fat in your diet can therefore help to better balance your hormone levels, as well as to dramatically decrease your risk for heart disease.
Here is a low-fat cake recipe that I enjoy – and I hope you will as well!
Low-fat Apple and Carrot Cake
Ingredients (use organic ingredients whenever possible): 2 cups whole wheat flour (self-rising), ½ cup butter or margarine, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 2/3 cup raisins, 2 cups apples (peeled, cored, grated), 1 cup carrots (grated), 1 orange peel (grated), 2 large eggs, 4 tablespoons fresh orange juice
Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 4 cup loaf pan. Mix flour, butter and cinnamon in a bowl. Stir in walnuts, raisins, apples, and carrot. Add orange peel, eggs, and juice and beat until thoroughly mixed. Spoon the mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for 1 ¼ hours or until the cake is firm. Cool on a wire rack before serving.
