Restoring Healthy Through Nutrition

   "It has been estimated that by making modifications in the diet, more than two-thirds of human cancers could be prevented."   Carcinogenesis vol. 28, no. 2 pp. 233-239, 2007 @ www.carcin.oxfordjournals.org Green vegetables are the new super food!  Did you know that cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, kale, broccoli, bok choy, collards, Asian greens) have the most healing and cancer fighting properties of all the vegetables?  Spinach (which is not cruciferous) is another necessary green food of which we should all be eating more.  There are certainly other vegetables as well as powerful disease fighting herbs that do the same thing, but this topic is about greens.  Not only do greens fight cancer, but they can give our bodies the necessary nutrition to heal from many diseases when combined with a plant based diet. What do greens do for our health? Sufficient nutrition - protein, calcium, fiber, minerals, vitamins, fatty acids, amino acids, phy...

SAD, if you don't already know, is the acronym for Standard American Diet.  America doesn't have to take all the blame for the diseases of the rich.  Kings, Queens and Pharaohs of ages past have suffered chronic diseases from their rich diets.  Remember the Biblical account of Daniel when he and his friends chose to eat vegetables and water instead of the king's rich food?  After just ten days, they were found to be better in appearance than the other youth who were fed the king's food.  After three years, Daniel and the young men from Israel were found to be ten times better (than all the other youth) in wisdom and understanding (Dan. 1:20). If you are making a transition to a vegetable based diet, I have to warn you that you may feel worse at first.  My experience was not too bad.  My allergic reaction to processed foods was much more uncomfortable to me than making the transition to a vegan diet; so, the effects of the whole plant-foods on...

It is possible to get plenty of the protein necessary to sustain life from plants.  Among all of the nutrients found in plant foods, protein is found to have an adequate concentration in a broad spectrum of sources from beans, nuts and seeds to leafy greens.  In fact, even a banana has some protein in it!  Before exploring the sources of protein in a plant based diet, first ask this question:  "Why do I feel concerned about getting enough protein?" The answer is: Because our country  has imposed the idea of protein as the perfect food for humans.  Watch this video to see why the emphasis on protein could be misdirected. I don't agree with Dr. McDougall's views of human origin - primate to man evolution.  God created all things and through Him all things exist.  I can be a big girl, though, and listen to McDougall's understanding of the human body's need for energy.  My personal experience with changing to a plant based diet is that starches a...

Before I share the links, let me add a couple more important bits of information! Never use city tap water (chlorinated or fluoridated) in your ferments or kefir.  Chlorine kills bacteria.  Chlorine doesn't choose between good and bad bacteria, it just kills it all!  Use bottled water.  Filters do not remove chlorine or fluoride, so just leave that stuff in the tap.  If you have a well, you should be fine to use water from the tap. If you want to keep good gut flora in your body, refrain from drinking chlorinated water or cooking with it.   Do not use salt that has iodine.  This will also inhibit the fermentation. Use organic vegetables as often as they are available to you.  Not only are they free from harmful toxins and pesticides, they also have the good microorganisms that grow naturally in the vegetables. The basic brine recipe for veggie ferments again:  1 TB salt to 1 quart water.  Cover with air tight lid and ferme...

Dr. McDougall has written several books.  I would like to own all his books and the books of many other doctors who have broken the secret of healing through dietary intervention. The internet is an amazing tool to get the information and encouragement needed to transition from the Standard American Diet to a vegetable based diet.  McDougall did a study, 30 years ago, on treatment of breast cancer through nutrition.  His website has some video testimonies at the top tab called "star mcdougallers".  He also has a free diet plan available with lots of recipes, if you are a recipe sort-of-person. http://www.drmcdougall.com/   Be sure to check out his lectures at the bottom left side of the home page.  His wife, Mary, has made many recipes available for free on this site as well!   http://www.drmcdougall.com/newsletter/recipeindex.html Check out this story from his site. I have read the book by Esselstyn, Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease , which he menti...

Here was a satisfying lunch.  When I cook, I like to create something on my own or use a recipe that I can "tweak" to fit my own tastes.  I also have a personal motto, "Keep it simple, stupid!"  If a recipe calls for too many ingredients, discouragement sets in and I tend to avoid it.  This yummy squash was waiting on my counter for a day when I had time to bake it.  My husband and I each had a whole squash on our plates but I could only eat half because it was so filling.  Regarding the salad, my personal motto still applies.  I can't seem to find a dressing I like.  Processed dressings are often made with hidden MSG, balsamic vinegar is too strong and blended cashews in creamed dressing recipes make me wish I had whole cashews instead.  I like my salad with little or no dressing, so I use fruit or olives to "dress" it up.  It's simple, and delicious. Veggie stuffed delicata squash 2 delicata squash (acorn or butternut would work as sub...

Why do people prefer white bread and junk food?  Discover the hidden food drug in your bread! There are a few tricks that I have learned from trial and error when it comes to making whole grain bread.  I will give you a list at the bottom of this post as well as a link to another interesting subject that was a huge discovery in my health journey.  Bread has not always been a tolerable food for me.  In fact, when I was completely gluten free for a couple of years, I was just beginning to feel a little better (digestively speaking) than I had in the past decade. . . but I gained weight on gluten-free foods. I was replacing gluten grains with dairy and meat instead of eating a plant based diet. The discovery in my health journey  was hidden MSG.  When I bought bread at the store or used all purpose flour at home to make my own bread, there were additives in the bread and flour that gave me heartburn.  I never dreamed that I would need to read the ingredi...

Depression, intestinal problems, indigestion, heartburn, sinus allergies, constipation, and declining energy have marked my life since I was a young adult.  Through my faith in God and my continued relationship with Him , I found the answer to my physical problems.  One day, as I went to Him in prayer, I asked God to show me what I must do in order to be well.  Asking for healing was enough, but I also knew that God wanted me to play some role  in getting well. He spoke to my heart and told me to eat an alkaline diet.  I went straight to the Internet because I had no idea what He meant.  After some searching, I found that there were two ways to interpret this message.  I could eat foods that were alkaline before digestion or I could eat foods that become alkaline after digestion.  I went with the latter of the two choices.  Vegetables, fruits, white chicken breast and fish were my foods (no dairy, grains or sugar).  After three days, my ...

Vegetable Stir-fry with Rice Noodles Frozen broccoli (gallon sized freezer bag full) 2 large sweet onions 6-7 cloves garlic 1 bag (6.5 oz) Maifun Rice Stick noodles Braggs Liquid Aminos or choice of soy sauce Dark sesame oil optional: 8 oz mushrooms organic coconut oil Crushed sesame seeds Ginger root