It has been said that the greening of the diet may be much more important to survival than the greening of the planet! Green vegetables are packed with a variety of compounds, ie carotenoids, cholrophyll, glutathione, folic acid, vitamin C, etc that are known to protect our cells from a whole list of damages. So be sure you include green vegetables in your diet daily. That doesn't mean you have to sit down and eat a bowl of greens everyday. Toss some greens into soups, stir-frys, etc. And a few salads a week is a good idea.
Helping you know how to use foods as medicines. You can help your body to heal and stay healthy by the foods you eat!However, with any medical condition, always consult with a physician before any changes in routine, diet or medication.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
IMPORTANCE OF GREENS IN THE DIET
Wednesday, April 23, 2025
HEALTHY CAREGIVERS
If you are the main caregiver for someone who is aging, ill, injured or disabled, there is one thing you must remember, and it is this: The healthier you are the better caregiver you will be! Often we become so concerned for the person in our care that we neglect taking care of ourselves. I remember many years ago when my teenage daughter was quite ill and in a coma. I was making myself sick sitting by her bedside, not eating properly (mainly because I had no appetite), not getting enough rest, etc. I will never forget her doctor walking into her room one day taking one look at me and saying, "Go home, eat, and get some sleep." Of course I said, "Oh no. I need to be here." He quickly reminded me that I was doing nothing for her except making myself sick. He then reminded me that as she got better, she would need me then. I was shocked when he left the room and came back with a nurse. He pointed to me and said, "I'm sending her home. She is not to be back in this room during the next 24 hours unless we call for her. Understood?" I was furious! But that was the biggest favor he could have done for me that day. I had a sick headache and was simply worn out. A week later she was out of the coma and needed me. Thankfully, I was able to be there for her when she needed me.
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Oranges and Cholesterol
Did you know that oranges may help to lower blood cholesterol? They contain terpenes that reduce serum cholesterol levels, and they are high in LDL-lowering fiber.
Monday, April 21, 2025
MALNOURISHMENT AND CANCER PATIENTS
NOTE: This is general information and may not work in specific situations. First and foremost, follow your doctor's advice. But do your best to stay nourished properly!
Sunday, April 20, 2025
FOOD AS A DRUG?
The following is a quote from The Food Pharmacy Guide to Good Eating: "Food is definitely a drug. Every time you put food in your mouth you experience hidden pharmacological and biological reactions. Indeed, it can be a wonder drug."
Saturday, April 19, 2025
DO YOU KNOW THE FOODS HIGHEST IN VITAMIN C?
Studies have found that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and one of the most potent in warding off atherosclerosis (clogged and stiffened arteries). Following is a list (in order) of some of the foods that are the highest in this potent antioxidant, vitamin C. Notice where oranges rank!
- Bell peppers, red and green
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Strawberries
- Spinach
- Oranges
- Cabbage
- Grapefruit
- Cantaloupe
Friday, April 18, 2025
ACCEPTANCE
The first thing to get you started on changing your diet, lifestyle, etc after a diagnosis is acceptance. No matter what the diagnosis, be it diabetes, arthritis, cancer or something else, you have to first come to an acceptance of the illness before you can do what you need to do to fight it off! Many of the foods you need to eat to fight said illness will often be something not currently in your diet or something you simply don't like. But do yourself a big favor. Think of such foods as the medicine your body needs to perform the tasks required of it. That will make it much easier to change your diet and include the foods you need. Our bodies are wonderfully made, and they have an enormous ability to heal if we will keep unhealthy things out of them and feed them the nutrients they need. You really can help your body do its job!
Thursday, April 17, 2025
ASPARAGUS AS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Asparagus is a great natural anti-inflammatory. Since inflammation in the body is known to contribute to many illnesses and is thought by the medical community to contribute to the proliferation of cancer, asparagus should be on all our list of foods we eat! This is one of the vegetables we need to get our children to start eating as young as possible.
If you don't like asparagus, think of it as preventative medicine and learn to like it. If you suffer from any of the above-mentioned cancers, it is imperative to add asparagus to your diet!
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
AVOIDING CONSTIPATION
There are natural ways to help prevent that embarrassing problem of constipation. Digestive tract and stomach problems are very pervasive, but no one wants to talk about them. So here is a little free advice. You can help to keep your digestive system working by getting enough fiber and magnesium. We all know that fiber adds bulk that makes it easier to eliminate waste. But did you realize the magnesium is Mother Nature's muscle relaxant which tends to keep things moving along and it also tends to attract water which hydrates the stool. According to Dr. Gerald E. Mullin, associate professor of medicine at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, getting enough fiber and magnesium in the diet can prevent constipation in most people. However, if constipation becomes a serious issue, you should always check with your doctor. There could be a more serious problem involved. Dr. Mullin suggests including these foods rich if fiber and magnesium to your diet on a regular basis: spinach, squash, broccoli, basil, and almonds.
Monday, April 14, 2025
ALLICIN AND CANCER PREVENTION
The compound allicin, found in onions and garlic, is what accounts for their pungent smell. It also provides a cancer-protecting punch and is believed to inhibit the growth of tumors. It appears to be especially effective in fighting colon cancer. Allicin is a strong antibacterial and antiviral compound and it appears in research to keep carcinogens from affecting healthy colon cells. Be sure to include these two foods in your diet and include them often if you have a family history of colon cancer or have had it yourself!
Sunday, April 13, 2025
WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS?
Do you see the word probiotic on foods or supplements and wonder what exactly that is? The answer is simple. Probiotics are natural, healthy bacteria that help produce strong levels of good bacteria in the gastrointestinal system. You may not realize that we all have both good and bad bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract and a probiotic is an edible product that contains the 'friendly' bacteria. Probiotics help to complete the digestive process and can assist in the production of vitamins. Probiotics discourage the growth of disease-causing bacteria, therefore providing a boost to the immune system. Probiotics can be purchased as supplements but they are also found in foods. In most cases, by eating foods like yogurt with live cultures, sour cream, buttermilk, sauerkraut and other fermented foods on a routine basis, you will not need supplements.
Saturday, April 12, 2025
TEA
Reposting this article from 2011.
True tea comes from the Camellia Sinensis evergreen plant commonly known as the tea bush. The tea bush grows mainly in tropical and sub-tropical climates. This plant or tree prefers acidic soil and requires an annual rainfall of at least fifty inches. Camellia Sinensis plants can grow into trees but are usually kept cropped to about waist height to make cultivation easier. Only the leaves from the top 1-2 inches are picked. Many of the top-quality teas, such as darjeeling, are picked from plants grown at elevations of about 5,000 feet. This causes the plants to grow slower thus acquiring a better flavor.
There are four basic types of true tea common to us today. They are black, green, white and oolong. Each is unique but they all come from the same source. The difference occurs in the processing. Briefly, here is a description of each type and what makes it unique. Green tea leaves are unwilted and unoxidized. White tea leaves are wilted and unoxidized. Oolong tea leaves are wilted, bruised and partially oxidized. Black tea leaves are crushed and fully oxidized. Because of the oxidation process, white and green teas have a higher concentration of the antioxidant catechins.
Proper preparation also differs for each of the tea types. For black tea, boiling water should be used. Many of the active substances in black tea won't develop at lower temperatures. This is the most common mistake made when brewing black tea! For optimum results, black tea should be brewed about 4 minutes and never longer than 5 minutes. Longer brewing will cause the tea to taste bitter.
Green tea should be brewed at a lower temperature, approximately 180-185 degrees which is below the boiling point. Hotter water will burn the green tea leaves causing a bitter taste. When brewing green tea, it is best to pre-warm the mug or teapot you will brew in. This will keep the tea from cooling immediately before it is fully steeped.
Oolong tea should be brewed at about the boiling point in a pre-warmed mug or pot. For oolong tea, it is best to use spring water. The minerals in the water tend to bring out more of the flavor in the tea. High-quality oolong tea leaves can be brewed several times. It actually improves with reuse. Many believe the third brewing actually produces the best tea.
To keep your teas fresh and flavorful, store them in a dry, dark, cool place inside an airtight container.
The health properties of tea are constantly in debate. Many believe drinking tea will help to prevent heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc. One thing we know for sure is that tea contains both antioxidant and amino acid properties. It also doesn't add to our daily carb, protein or fat and calorie count when drank in it's natural state without adding sugar, milk, etc. And it tastes good. If you aren't currently a tea drinker, become one. It sure won't hurt you and it just might be healthy for you. Note that tea is not recommended for someone who is dehydrated.
Friday, April 11, 2025
APPLES AND LUNG CANCER
Thursday, April 10, 2025
COFFEE IMPROVES BODY'S RESPONSE TO INSULIN
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
COMPLEX CARBS TO BOOST YOUR MOOD I
Are you feeling down or depressed? It is a known fact that depression increases in the wintertime. So if the darker dreary days or Fall and Winter 'get to you,' increase your intake of complex carbs. Eat more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Yes, these are carbohydrate foods but they are the complex (or good) carbs. These carbs boost your serotonin levels. Serotonin is a mood-elevating chemical in the brain. By the way, these are good foods you should be eating anyway.
Sunday, April 6, 2025
MINT FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Would you believe researchers at a West Virginia university a few years ago said the scent of mint is an appetite suppressant? In their research they found that people who chewed a piece of minty gum or applied a mint-scented lotion when they had an urge to snack throughout the day, consumed around 3,000 calories less per week. So if you are struggling with weight or urges to snack, why not try this. What have you got to lose? Up to 3,000 calories a week is almost a pound of weight loss a week!
Friday, April 4, 2025
DARK CHOCOLATE FOR YOUR HEART?
According to an article in Circulation: Heart Failure, an American Heart Association Journal, a serving of dark chocolate once or twice weekly led to a 32% reduction of heart failure risk for women. Remember though, a serving is only about 1 ounce. And that is dark chocolate, not milk chocolate or what is known as white chocolate which both have too much fat and sugar! So, when you want to indulge in chocolate, be sure it is dark chocolate and keep that indulgence down to an ounce or two a week.
file photo
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
FOCUS ON EATING WHOLE FOODS
Whenever possible, you should eat whole foods, not processed foods. This means to eat a food as near as possible in its original state. In other words, eat an apple rather than an apple pastry. Eat fresh or frozen peas rather than buying a can that is loaded down with salt and other preservatives. The closer a food is to its natural state, the healthier it is for your body. If you live where you can, you should buy your foods daily or several times a week rather than once or twice a month. If that is not possible or you catch a good sale on something, go ahead and buy extra and freeze it for later.