Food for thought...

I have received this email numerous times and find it fascinating!  Not necessarily all proven by science, yet 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.

Avocadoes,  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. 

Until Monday... keep thinking veggies and protein! 

EAT FRESH…

I know this is probably one of the hardest things to get used to,  but it is essential to eat as much fresh and/or home cooked food as possible. As a society, we eat so much packaged/processed food, which works in a pinch, but getting too much of it doesn't satisfy you long term—and can leave you eating more and packing on the pounds.  If you can pack up some of tonight’s dinner for tomorrow’s lunch - that would be ideal.  I am all about the leftovers! Not only will you save calories and get more nutritious food, you'll also save money!

Some weekends are spent in the kitchen just cooking up tons of food to portion out and freeze for the future!  It’s a lot of extra work, but so worth it.  I know exactly what is going into my food, and that takes care of a lot of the guesswork!  I have the control and accountability! There are those rough days that it would be so much easier to pick up the phone and have just about anything in the world delivered when I don’t feel like cooking, but I know there will always be something healthy in my freezer ready to go, JUST HEAT IT UP!

Write it down…

As I am keeping my food journal, I am also keeping track of my workouts!  It is beneficial to see my progression and keep focused on my goals.  In the cool, slippery months when I am working out on the indoor equipment, the treadmill and the stationary bike, I can see that just upping the level, picking up some speed, walking/running on an incline, I can see how many calories I am burning.  Once I am back on the Chicago Lakefront path I have the MapMyRide app on my iPhone and I am able to gauge my distance and speed!  Keeping a journal helps me focus on how I am feeling, watching my weight, facing my ups and downs and it keeps me motivated! It sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn’t once you get in the habit!  Getting into a new healthy lifestyle is all about change and finding new habits! The journal also helps me remember what days I do my cardio and what days I am sculpting!  I like to mix it up so I don’t get bored and being 50 forever I don’t want to do hallway lunges 2 days in a row!

Skip the All-Purpose Flour...Instead, Try Whole-Wheat Flour…

This took some work convincing Bob to make the switch.  Once I found a whole-wheat pasta that didn’t taste like cardboard he became a believer!  It was the Bella Terra that did the trick!  We don’t eat that much pasta and if we do it is only a small portion, maybe a cup full with lot’s of veggies and of course a protein.  We also find that the whole-wheat pasta doesn’t leave you with that overwhelming stuffed feeling! Some pizza places now offer the choice, not that pizza is a healthy choice, but if you have to have it once in awhile at least get the whole-wheat crust.  (Pizza is one of my downfalls).  We now incorporate the whole-wheat flour in everything that calls for flour.

You can reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and weight gain by eating more whole grains. A good rule of thumb is to make at least half your grains whole.

Even if you just try to use equal amounts of each. You’ll get almost three times the fiber, as well as important antioxidants.   Also you can consider white whole-wheat flour, which offers the same benefits but is made from a milder-tasting variety of wheat.

VERY INTERESTING STUDY …

Cinnamon For Your Digestion!
"This aromatic spice is commonly used to help the body absorb certain dairy products, but there is also evidence to suggest that it contains disease-fighting properties. A study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland found that cinnamon decreased the production of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells. The spice is also believed to be a useful tool for people living with diabetes. Cinnamon has been known to aid with digestion and stimulate circulation, leading to possible reduced blood sugar levels, which is especially helpful in type 2 diabetes management."  I was just sprinkling it on to help my sweet tooth cravings and add a little extra flavor to my baking!