JoAnne's Blog

Parsley

Parsley looks nice as a garnish on the side of your plate.  But, have you ever wondered about the benefits of parsley?   For one, it supposedly helps to freshen your breath.  But did you know that parsley provides plenty of antioxidant power.  Further, and more importantly, parsley contains volatile oil components that have been shown to inhibit tumor formation, partiularly in the lungs.  You can read more at livestrong.com - an article about parsley juice and lung cancer.  The research from the University of Missouri also claims that parsley is an important food to digest if you have breast cancer.

Having said that, I have included a couple of recipes to help you consume more parsley.  The first one I found was called 

The Body Can Heal Itself Juice
 
5 Carrots
4 Handfuls of Fresh Spinach
1 Handful of Fresh Parsley
4 Sticks of Celery

Juice all ingredients and serve.

This recipe is taken from the The Diva's Guide to Juices and Cocktails available from The Raw Diva Store.

Another recipe I found was from Kalyn's Kitchen

Carrot and Parsley Salad

6 medium sized carrots, peeled, then grated
1 bunch parsley, chopped fine (about 1 cup chopped parsley)
1 1/2 T fresh lemon juice
3 T extra-virgin olive oil
salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Peel carrots, then grate coarsely, using a food processor or the large side of a hand grater. Wash parsley, spin dry or dry with paper towels, then chop finely with food process or chef's knife. Put carrots and parsley in mixing bowl.

Whisk together lemon juice and olive oil, then mix into salad. Season with salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste (I barely used any salt). Serve immediately.

This recipe has been adapted from Bistro Carrot Salad in Jack Bishop's book Vegetables Every Day.

Eating Right?

Well, I have been here (in Ontario) for almost a month now and I am gaining some weight.  Why is that you say?  I can only say that it is very difficult to eat properly, when you are visiting.  I keep it simple and eat mostly whole foods when I am at home.  I shop daily, make green smoothies and eat lots of salads.  That is not always an option when you are a guest at someone's home.  Wynn and I have been visiting lots of family and friends and thoroughly enjoying ourselves.  But it seems that everyone loves to serve special treats and they are ending up around my middle.  Help!  I don't seem to have the will power to say "No, thanks!"  The problem is that I do like sweets.  At home, I don't buy or even make sweets; but here, they are readily available.  Not only that, I have even been eating potato chips.  I would never eat them at home.  And it isn't because I am hungry.  What gives!  Why am I concerned?  And why do I feel guilty? 

It is because I know that what we eat has everything to do with our health.  When I found out that I had lymphoma cancer, my research convinced me to become a vegan.  I was overjoyed after a 2nd CT scan, 6 mos. later, showed that the tumors were beginning to shrink.  I also feel guilty because I know that I do the same thing when people come to visit me.  I make special desserts and offer more food than I would normally eat at any given meal.

What is it about food, that when people get together, it becomes the focal point?  In addition, aren't we all just a little guilty of overeating when we get together?  If anyone out there has any thoughts about this, I would like to hear them.

 

Eating Raw

As mentioned before, I just finished reading one of David Wolfe's books,entitled Superfoods.  Well, tonight, I found out that he is going to be in Victoria.  So I have signed up to go and see him.  Who is he?  you might ask.  David Wolfe is a nutritionist’s nutritionist. He is unsurpassed in his knowledge of raw foods, superfoods, herbs, and chocolate.  David is a raw foodist and as this is a dinner meeting, the food will be all raw.  I have tried eating all raw food before.  It is fairly easy to accomplish in the summer, when vegetables and fruits are very fresh and readily available.  Also, it is the warmest time of the year and salads are welcome.  During the winter months, when it is very cold, I have trouble avoiding the warm comfort foods, especially homemade soups. 

However, the one thing I have noticed about eating raw is that I feel well.  I have more energy and clarity of thinking, (fewer senior moments as I like to call them).  But seriously, I do feel different.  I highly recommend you give it a try for a month or so.  You may experience a real cleansing when you begin to eat this way; some people experience uncomfortable symptoms, such as nausea or diarhea, but whatever you experience it will be temporary.  Your body will thank you; your cells will be nourished. 

How does one eat raw?   As I mentioned salads are an easy way and most welcome in the warmer weather.  Green smoothies are another way to consume whole foods in a raw state.  By that I mean having a base of a green vegetable or two, such as kale, spinach, parsley, romaine, cilantro, etc.  I prefer spinach.  Then you add just enough water to blend it into a liquid.  Next add, your fruits, banana is always a good choice, followed by any other type of fruit that you like.  Mango is an excellent choice.  I like to use frozen fruit and then you do not need to use any ice.   You can add protein powders if you like and/or any of the superfoods, like goji berries, maca powder, hemp hearts, chia seeds, spirulina, chlorella, etc.  Did you know that oatmeal, mixed with ground nuts, (I prefer almonds), pumpkin seeds and a little maple syrup to hold it together, makes a delightful little snack.  It is very nutritious and helps satisfy a sweet tooth.  You can shred squash like spaghetti and put a nice sauce on it.  You can make a lovely chocolate pudding with avoado, banana, cacao powder, maple syrup and little bit of orange juice to mix it together.

If you have any type of serious health challenge, this way of eating might be just what you need to do to regain your health.  There are many raw food books out there and lots of raw food sites to help you get started. 

I think it's about time that I started eating more raw food again.  Spring is here and warmer weather will be here soon, I hope!

Superfoods

I have just finished reading a book by David Wolfe that talks about the 10 best superfoods.  I thought the list might include such foods as broccoli, spinach, blueberries, fish, etc.  But I was surprised to learn that none of those foods were included.  Instead he spoke about maca, chia seeds, goji berries, hemp hearts and cacao nibs, to name a few.  Frankly, I had not heard of them, let alone try them.  So I started researching a little and I couldn't believe the nutrients that some of these foods contain.  Also included in the list were spirulina, chlorella, coconut and honey, especially bee pollen and royal jelly. 

Presently, I do eat many different foods that I know to contain a good source of nutrients.  Foods like quinoa, miso, kamut and spelt have graced my table for years. I try to eat whole foods and avoid processed food as much as possible.  But as I have begun to add some of the superfoods above, I have noticed a big difference in my energy level, and I find I don't get hungry in between meals.  As a bonus I have noticed less stiffness all over and less joint pain. I can only think that my body is receiving nutrients that it has been missing for a while.

 

 

Eating Fish

My husband loves going out to eat fish and chips.  I am always concerned about the deep fried batter, etc. not to mention the chips.  Lately, we have been asking to have our fish grilled; but unfortunately, fish and chip places, (at least the one we visited last night) do not grill the fish, but rather poach it.  It just isn't the same, actually it's not very tasty to my thinking. 

Anyway, I was reading Dr. Gabe Mirkin's blog about fish and found it to be very interesting. I am sharing it with you in it's entirety.

Fish - Yes; Fried Fish - No

     Eating oily fish, like salmon, herring or mackerel, twice a week helps to prevent heart attacks and strokes.  Eating oily fish more often than twice a week has not been shown to be any more protective.  On the other hand, eating fried fish may increase risk of stroke (Neurology, published online December 22, 2010).
        The most popular fried fish are frozen fish sticks, fast-food fish sandwiches and other inexpensive fish products.  Most of these are made with farmed tilapia or catfish that are not good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.  We don't know whether this is the reason that fried fish are linked with increased risk of strokes, or whether the unhealthful cooking method cancels out the benefits of any fish. 
     Polyunsaturated fats in fish are classified by their structure into omega-3s and omega-6s.  Omega-3s form prostaglandins that help prevent inflammation that causes heart attacks and strokes.  Omega-6s have not been shown to prevent heart attacks and strokes.  The fish that are rich sources of omega-3s are those that eat plankton or other fish that have eaten plankton.  Almost all deep water fish are rich in the healthful omega-3s. 
     Of the four most commonly farmed fish (Atlantic salmon, trout, tilapia, and catfish) only trout and Atlantic salmon contain relatively high amounts of omega-3s.  In contrast, tilapia (the fastest-growing and most widely-farmed fish) and catfish have much lower concentrations of omega-3s, and their fatty acids are the same as chicken (Journal of the American Dietetic Association, July 2008 and December 2008)
     Whether or not a farmed fish contains omega-3s depends on what the fish are fed.  Catfish and tilapia can thrive on corn.  Since corn is cheaper than fish meal, they are usually fed omega-6 -rich corn, instead of omega-3 -rich fish meal, and they have insignificant amounts of omega-3 fats in their bodies.  However, salmon and most other farmed fish cannot live on just corn, so they must be fed fish meal that is loaded with omega-3s.  All salmon (farmed and wild-caught) are high in omega-3s. 

You can read about health and lots more from Dr. Mirkin on his website at  http://www.drmirkin.com  

Nuts

I love to eat all kinds of nuts and yes, nuts are good for you.  While it is true that nuts are very high in calories, of which 80 percent comes from fat, nuts are nutrient dense!  They contain essential fatty acids, linoleic and linolenic acids, which are essential for good health.  The type of fat in nuts is mostly unsaturated fat, especially monounsaturated fat, which does not raise blood cholesterol levels, like saturated fats.  Actually, monounsaturated fats do have the benefit of raising the good cholesterol but lowering the bad cholesterol, including triglycerides.  According to a review of 25 studies, just eating approximately 2-3 ounces of nuts per day (including peanuts, which are actually legumes) lowers the total cholesterol to help prevent heart attacks.  This info is from the Archives of Internal Medicine, May 10, 2010. 

Nuts also provide one of the best natural sources of vitamin E, and are rich in protein, dietary fiber, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and folate.  Amazing!

In addition, to lowering cholesterol, nuts may be helpful in controlling high blood pressure.  The DASH diet, to help control blood pressure, recommends 4-5 servings of nuts, seeds and dried beans per week.

If you are keeping track of what you eat, portion sizes and calories, etc., here's an interesting fact - 1/3 cup of nuts is equal to approx. one ounce of meat.

In conclusion, do not shy away from nuts.  Like anything else, eat them in moderation.  Who knows, because nuts are so filling, you may find your intake of other foods to be less.  So go nuts!

Cooking Vegetables

During the past 6 or 7 years, I have been a strong advocate of eating lots of raw food; especially vegetables.  Why?  Because I believed that the nutrient value was better for you.  I read and followed a lot of Hallelujah Acres material when I was first diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma.  The result for me was renewed energy and a cleaning up of my intestinal system, a pretty good reason to eat raw.   So, you would think that I would continue with the program.  However, that has not been the case, since my clear diagnosis.  For instance, I like my squash cooked; it's a "comfort" food.  Steamed vegetables taste great with just a little butter, etc. But I would feel guilty.  Well, they say you can find proof to support anything.  Today, I read an article, written by  Elizaabeth Johnson, PHd, a scientist at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science.  She stated that various methods of cooking vegetables can actually boost certain nutrients.  Actually, some of the healthiest plant pigments in vegetables are released only when they are cooked.  For instance, steamed spinach provides more carotenoids than a spinach salad.  That's good for me; I never did like spinach salad.  As well, boiling carrots causes the carotenoids, including beta-carotene, to become 14% more concentrated, making it easier for your digestive tract to access them.  Not only that, but boiling carrots, increases antioxidant capacity, while only diminishing the vitamin C level slightly.  If this is indeed true, then I feel it has great impact for people who have cancer or other serious illnesses.  During my years of living with cancer, I was always trying to find ways of not burdening my digestive system.  That is why I did not eat after dinner in the evening and I only allowed fresh squeezed vegetable juices in the morning.  I did not eat anything solid until at least 10:30 a.m. and then it was usually a fruit smoothie or snack.  So enjoy your vegetables, cooked and raw.

Sugar

Check out this article that appeared on Dr. Mercola's site today. 

Your Genes Remember a Sugar Hit

Posted by: Dr. Mercola
February 12, 2009 | 50,317 views

Human genes remember a sugar hit for two weeks. What’s more, prolonged poor eating habits could be capable of permanently altering your DNA.

A team studying the impact of diet on heart tissue found that cells showed the effects of a single sugar hit for 14 days. The cells switched off genetic controls designed to protect the body against diabetes and heart disease.

Regular poor eating could amplify the effect, with genetic damage lasting months or years, and potentially passing through bloodlines.

WOW!  Another good reason to cut back on sugar and sugar related products for sure.  I knew that sugar was considered to be food for cancer.  But this article explains the damaging effect of sugar on anyone.

You can go to Dr. Mercola's site to read the rest of his article.

Eating Fruit

Eating fruit is more than just buying fruits, cutting it and just
popping it into our mouths.  It's not as easy as you think.  It's important
to know how and when to eat..

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS!  - FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON
AN EMPTY STOMACH.
If you eat fruit on an empty stomach, it will play a major role to detoxify
your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and
other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD - Let's say you eat two slices of bread
and then a slice of fruit..  The slice of fruit is ready to go straight
through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid.  The
minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and
digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals!  You
have heard people complaining - every time I eat water-melon I burp; when I
eat durian (fruit from Asia with a foul smell yet delicious flavor) my
stomach bloats up; when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet
etc. - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty
stomach.  The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas
and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes -
all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon being acidic,
because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr.  Herbert
Shelton who did research on this matter.  If you have mastered the correct
way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health,
energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from
the cans.  Don't even drink juice that has been heated up.  Don't eat
cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all.  You only get to
taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice.  If you should
drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let
it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.

You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body.  Just eat fruits and
drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your
friends tell you how radiant you look!

God's Pharmacy! Amazing!

My friend sent this to me in an e-mail.  I don't know where she found it, but I thought it was fascinating and so am including it in my blog.

" It's been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and  fish... All before making a human. He made and provided what we'd need before we were born. These are best and more powerful when eaten raw.   We're such slow  learners...

God left us a great clue as to what foods  help what part of our  body!

God's Pharmacy!  Amazing!

A  sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The  pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots  greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the  eyes.

A  Tomato has four chambers and is red. The  heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes  are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart  and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound  heart and blood vitalizing food.

A  Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums.  Even the wrinkles or folds on  the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen  neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak.  These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this?  It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow.  Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body."

Now, don't you agree.  That is fascinating.  When I was dealing with cancer, I ate many of these whole foods and in the raw state, except for sweet potatoes.  I can't say that I tried them.  I think they might taste great if you grated them in a salad.