Natural Neda

 
As we all know, most of the food available in supermarkets today is radically different from what our grandparents were used to.  Have you noticed how hard it can be to find commercial produce that even tastes good?  So much of it is totally bland and unappealing.  It's difficult to find tomatoes, berries, melons, corn, carrots, cucumbers, peaches, apples, or any other fruits and vegetables that are anywhere near as rich and flavorful as they're meant to be.  The lack of flavor is due to the fact that most crops are grown in soil that's severely deficient in nutrients.  Fruits and vegetables lose even morenutrient value and freshness because of all the time involved in shipping, warehousing, and product distribution.  In addition, much of our commercial food has been sprayed, chemically treated, or otherwise processed in ways that can be damaging to our health.  

Fortunately, there are lots of places where savvy consumers can still obtain fresh, natural, chemical - and toxin-free meats, produce, and dairy products - health food stores, farmer's markets, food coops, even mail-order suppliers.  Roughly half of all supermarkets in the US have small but growing selections of organic products.  This is due to a sharp increase in consumer demand for organic food in recent years.  According to the CROPP Cooperative, the largest organic farm cooperative in North America, the market for organic food is expanding by approximately 20% each year.  

Even though organic food products are more expensive than regular commercial products, demand is surging because consumers everywhere are becoming keenly interested in food that is both safe and good tasting.  They are tired of bland food, and they don't want to gamble with their health.  People realize that organic food is a sound investment, i.e., a good form of health insurance.

Shopping organic can be expensive, to not break your bank account, here is a list of the dirty dozen.  Besides meat, poultry, eggs and dairy buy the following Dirty Dozen, ORGANIC.

Dirty Dozen                               Cleanest 12               (buy only Organic)                     (lowest in pesticides)

1. Peaches                                     1. Onions

2. Apples                                       2. Avocado

3. Sweet Bell Peppers                    3. Sweet Corn (frozen)

4. Celery                                       4. Pineapples

5. Nectarines                                 5. Mango

6. Strawberries                              6. Sweet peas (frozen)

7. Cherries                                     7. Asparagus

8. Lettuce                                      8. Kiwi

9. Grapes (imported)                      9. Bananas

10. Pears                                       10. Cabbage

11. Spinach                                    11. Broccoli

12. Potatoes                                   12. Eggplant

Sprouts: 

In the spring season, seeds flaunt their vitality and energy by sprouting. Sprouts of all varieties contain the building blocks of life in the form of vitamins, enzymes, amino acids and simple sugars. In their early growth state, sprouts are very easy to digest, allowing our bodies to access many wonderful nutrients. Recent research by the American Cancer Society has backed what holistic nutrition has known for years: that sprouts contain anti-cancer properties, high levels of active antioxidants, concentrated amounts of phytochemicals and significant amounts of vitamins A, C and D.

In their raw form, sprouts have a cooling effect on the body, and therefore are best consumed in warm weather or by robust, warm body types. Those who tend to feel cool can try steaming spouts or adding them to warm dishes such as stir-fries and soups, to reduce the cooling effect. There is a wide variety of edible and delicious sprouts, each with a different texture and flavor: alfalfa, mung bean, lentil, radish, clover, sunflower, broccoli, garbanzo and adzuki.

Here are some great ways to serve up sprouts:
•    Add to salads.
•    Combine with other vegetables in wraps, roll-ups or    stir-fries.
•    Use as garnish on top of soups, stews, omelets or scrambled eggs.
•    Add to rice or whole-grain dishes.
•    Use in sandwiches instead of lettuce.

Spring has arrived! Eat sprouts and feel alive!

 

Greens

Leafy greens are some of the easiest and most beneficial vegetables to incorporate into your daily routine. Densely packed with energy and nutrients, they grow upward to the sky, absorbing the sun's light while producing oxygen. Members of this royal green family include kale, collard greens, swiss chard, mustard greens, arugula, dandelion greens, broccoli rabe, watercress, beet greens, bok choy, napa cabbage, green cabbage, spinach and broccoli.

How do greens benefit our bodies? They are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc, and are a powerhouse for vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed full of fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Their color is associated with spring, which is a time of renewal and refreshing, vital energy. In traditional Asian medicine, the color green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity. Greens aid in purifying the blood, strengthening the immune system, improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function, fighting depression, clearing congestion, improving circulation and keeping your skin clear and blemish free.

Leafy greens are the vegetables most missing from the American diet, and many of us never learned how to prepare them. Start with the very simple recipes. Then each time you go to the market, pick up a new green to try. Soon you'll find your favorite greens and wonder how you ever lived without them.   Click here for my favorite cookbooks.

 Sweet Potato:

Sweet potatoes are relatively low in calories and have no fat. They are rich in beta-carotene , having five times the recommended daily allowance of Vitamin A in one sweet potato, as well as loaded with potassium. These nutrients help to protect against heart attack and stroke. The potassium helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body cells, as well as normal heart function and blood pressure.

So eat a sweet potato to:

1. bring down your blood pressure;

2.helps stabilize blood sugar levels.  Great for diabetics.

3. minimize constipation or hemorrhoids because of its high fiber content.

 Fruit:

 A healthy lifestyle is the key to longevity, optimum weight, abundant energy and balance. By using fruit to satisfy our taste for sweetness, we can leave behind the use of chemical, processed and refined sweeteners. Fruits are easy to digest, are cleansing and cooling and are great for those who are overstressed and overheated from excessive mental strain or hot climates. Fruits are filled with fiber and liver stimulants, which act as natural, gentle laxatives. Whenever possible, buy fresh, locally grown fruit as opposed to imported fruits shipped from far-off places. This keeps you eating in season, and more in harmony with your environment and climate.

Eating raw fruit in summer months is highly cooling, while baking it in the winter months neutralizes the cooling effect. Fruit in the form of juice is a great choice for cleansing the body, but be aware that juice rapidly raises blood sugar levels, leading to an energy crash soon after. Frozen, whole, puréed or juiced fruit can make great summertime cool-down treats. Try frozen grapes, banana-coconut smoothie popsicles or lime juice ice-cubes in iced tea!

Whether you are having fresh fruit for a light early morning breakfast, a midday snack or evening treat, enjoy nature's sweetness and whenever possible buy organic. Here are a few summer fruits and their health benefits:

Apricots: Great for lung conditions and asthma; used to help treat anemia due to their high copper and cobalt content.
Bananas: Help to lubricate the intestines, treat ulcers, detoxify the body and manage sugar cravings; are rich in potassium (which helps hypertension).
Cherries: Slightly warming in nature; increase overall body energy, remedy arthritis and rheumatism and are rich in iron, which improves the blood.
Grapefruits: Treat poor digestion, increase appetite during pregnancy, alleviate intestinal gas and reduce mucus conditions of the lungs.
Papayas: Tone the stomach, act as digestive aid, moisten the lungs and alleviate coughing; contain carpaine, an anti-tumor compound.
Raspberries: Benefit the liver and kidneys, cleanse blood of toxins, regulate menstrual cycles, treat anemia and can promote labor at childbirth.

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