Quinoa bread provides your system with fiber and other important nutrients like Vitamin E, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc and B vitamins. Magnesium is an important mineral that regulates more than 300 enzymes, most importantly those related to the body’s consumption of glucose and secretion of insulin.

Quinoa provides a good source of vegetable protein and it is the seeds of the quinoa plant that are ground to make flour for the bread. It has significantly low quantities of saturated fatty acids. It contains phenolic acids, lignans, phytoestrogens and certain phytochemicals and all these elements help lower the risk of cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

To make quinoa bread you need to start from zero, otherwise you can mix quinoa flour (usually 5% to 10%) with other flours to make your favorite bread recipes. What you mix with quinoa flour is dependent on any special dietary needs you might have.

You don’t have to worry about calories when consuming quinoa bread. As another benefit of this type of bread is its complex carbohydrates which helps keep your stomach full for a longer period of time, and because it is complex it has properties that regulate the steady release of energy in your body. If you have a weight problem, you could go on a diet to see satisfying outcomes in losing that extra weight. And those who will stick with a bread diet would see significant effects when it comes to thinning their size and weight.

Quinoa bread has a lot of fiber in it. Fiber helps you digest food better as the nutrient increases bowel movement, assisting you to burn those fats easier and faster. Fiber is also known to eliminate bad cholesterol which will reduce health threats like constipation, hemorrhoids and colon cancers. Fiber has been proven to be effective in lowering the risk of diabetes.

Quinoa (Chenopodium Quinoa) is considered as the most nutritious grain in the world. It is one of the main food crops in South America, but recently has raised interest in North America, Europe, and Asia. Quinoa has a variety of uses in food processing industry. Both the seeds and the leaves of the Quinoa plant can be eaten. The leaves are naturally cooked and served as a salad or side dish, similar to spinach or beet greens. The seeds are processed to produce quinoa flour to create your nutritious quinoa bread or use the whole quinoa grain as a major ingredient in your whole grain quinoa bread. Compared with other commonly consumed bread, it has excellent nutritional value and tastes great too!

The right healthy foods will not only perk up your daily living but add precious years in your life. Conditions such as cancer, obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. are all attributed to a lack of whole grains in our diets. Increasing your consumption of whole natural grains and its byproducts is one of the best ways to speedily improve your health and well-being without any major effort. It only requires a change. A change in the way you eat, and feed your body with natural foods like quinoa so your body can better perform its natural functions.

So make that switch now! Switch to a healthier bread! Switch to quinoa bread!

Cinnamon is one of the world’s oldest known spices. The tree is native to Sri Lanka where it was found thousands of years ago. It is the best spice available in terms of its nutrition and health. It contains unique healthy and healing property comes from the active components in the essential oils found in its bark. Cinnamon has extremely high anti-oxidant activity due to which it has numerous health benefits. Aside from being used as a medicine by other cultures since ancient times, the health benefits may also come from eating it which can be listed as follows:

1. Lowers Cholesterol:

Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon included in a daily diet can lower cholesterol.

Also Cinnamon may significantly lower LDL “bad” cholesterol, and triglycerides (fatty acids in the blood) and total cholesterol.

2. Reduces blood sugar levels and treating Type 2 Diabetes:

Several studies have shown improved insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control by taking as little as ½ teaspoon of cinnamon per day. Improving insulin resistance can help in weight control as well as decreasing the risk for heart disease.

3. Heart Disease:

Cinnamon strengthens the cardiovascular system thereby shielding the body from heart related disorders. It is believed that the calcium and fiber present in cinnamon provides protection against heart diseases.

Including a little cinnamon in the food helps those suffering from coronary artery disease and high blood pressure.

4. Fights Cancer :

A study released by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland showed that cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

Besides, the combination of calcium and fiber found in Cinnamon can help to remove bile, which prevents damage to colon cells, thus prevents colon cancer.

5. Tooth decay and mouth freshener:

Cinnamon has traditionally been used to treat toothache and fight bad breath. Small pieces of cinnamon can be chewed, or gargled with cinnamon water which serves as a good mouth freshener.

6. Cures Respiratory Problems:

Cinnamon is very useful home remedy for common or severe colds. A person suffering should take one tablespoon of honey with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

Cinnamon also found to cure flu, influenza, sore throat and congestion.

7. Brain Tonic:

Cinnamon boosts the activity of the brain and hence acts as a good brain tonic. It helps in removing nervous tension and memory loss.

Also, studies have shown that smelling cinnamon may boost cognitive function, memory, performance of certain tasks and increases one’s alertness and concentration.

8. Infections:

Due to its antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-parasitic and antiseptic properties, it is effective on external as well as internal infections. Cinnamon has been found to be effective in fighting vaginal yeast infections, oral yeast infections, stomach ulcers and head lice.

9. Eases menstruation cycles:

Cinnamon has also been found useful for women’s health as it helps in providing relief from menstrual cramping and other feminine discomforts.

10. Birth Control:

Cinnamon also helps in natural birth control. Regular consumption of cinnamon after child birth delays menstruation and thus helps in avoiding conception.

11. Breastfeeding:

It is also believed that cinnamon aids in the secretion of breast milk.

12. Reduces Arthritis Pain:

Cinnamon spice contains anti-inflammatory compounds which can be useful in reducing pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.

A study conducted at Copenhagen University, where patients were given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month

13. Digestive Tonic:

Cinnamon should be added to most recipes. Apart from adding flavor to the food, it also aids in digestion. Cinnamon is very effective for indigestion, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea and flatulence. It is very helpful in removing gas from the stomach and intestines. It also removes acidity, diarrhea and morning sickness. It is often referred to as a digestive tonic.

14. Reduces Urinary tract infections:

People who eat cinnamon on a regular basis report a lower incidence of urinary tract infections. Cinnamon is diuretic in nature and helps in secretion and discharge of urine.

15. Anti clotting Actions:

A compound found in Cinnamon called as cinnamaldehyde has been well-researched for its effects on blood platelets. [Platelets are constituents of blood that are meant to clump together under emergency circumstances (like physical injury) as a way to stop bleeding, but under normal circumstances, they can make the blood flow inadequate if they clump together too much]. The cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon helps prevent unwanted clumping of blood platelets.

16. Natural Food Preserver:

When added to food, it prevents bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

17. Headaches and migraine:

Headache due to the exposure to cold wind is readily cured by applying a thin paste of powdered cinnamon mixed in water on the temples & forehead.

18. Pimples and Blackheads:

Cinnamon helps in removing blood impurities. Therefore it is often recommended for pimples.

Also external application of paste of cinnamon powder with a few drops of fresh lemon juice over pimples & black heads would give beneficial result.

19. Thinning of the blood and improves blood circulation:

Cinnamon is a blood thinning agent which also acts to increase circulation. This blood circulation helps significantly in removing pain. Good blood circulation also ensures oxygen supply to the body cells leading to higher metabolic activity. You significantly reduce the chance of getting a heart attack by regularly consuming cinnamon.

20. Toning of tissues:

Considerable anecdotal evidence exists to suggest that cinnamon may have the ability to tone and constrict tissues in the body.

21. Muscle and joint pain relief:

Those who eat cinnamon on a regular basis often report that their muscle and joint pain, as well as stiffness, is reduced or even eliminated.

22. Immune System:

Honey and cinnamon paste is good for boosting the immune system, removing regular fatigue and increasing the longevity of an individual. It is also known to have anti-aging properties.

23. Itching:

Paste of honey and cinnamon is often used to treat insect bites.

24. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

25. Healing: Cinnamon helps in stopping bleeding. Therefore it facilitates the healing process.

Indeed, cinnamon has several health benefits as highlighted above that can be used to improve one’s health and boost one’s immune system. This is a great reason to keep some cinnamon around. Sprinkle it in your tea or coffee, over oatmeal or a sweet potato and, this will do wonders to your health.

[However, there’s a word of warning to be taken that over dosage of cinnamon may be unwise. Also it is not recommended for pregnant women.

Also, people who have been prescribed medication to manage their blood sugar should not reduce or discontinue their dose and take cinnamon instead, especially without consulting your doctor.]

Every day we are bombarded with information about food products that are healthy, all natural, have no artificial ingredients, no preservatives, low fat, no fat, no cholesterol, sugar free, vitamin fortified and provide 100% of your daily vitamin requirements. Are these foods as healthy as the advertising tries to make us believe they are?

Let’s look at the facts. There are more than 3000 different chemicals added to our food. The company that wants to produce the chemicals or use the chemicals in the foods they produce usually does the testing for safety. Safety testing has only been done for individual additives, not for combinations of additives. Nobody knows the effects of the many different additives used in the thousands of different combinations. To make matters worse, because of political pressure, the FDA allows manufacturers to add small amounts of cancer-causing substances to our food. So, not only are many of our foods not healthy, they’re unsafe.

The FDA has even approved, as safe, additives it has known to be unsafe. Take, for example, Olestra, the fat substitute which was approved by the FDA over the objections of many leading food scientists. Olestra can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping and may even contribute to cancer, heart disease and blindness. Foods containing Olestra must have a warning label on the package.

Then there’s the artificial sweetener aspartame, also known as Nutrasweet. Aspartame was approved and claimed safe by a specially appointed FDA Commissioner after his own Board of Inquiry that investigated aspartame claimed it unsafe. Aspartame can cause birth defects, central nervous system disturbances, menstrual difficulties, brain damage in phenylketonurics, seizures, death and a long list of other reactions too numerous to mention. It may cause irreversible health damage over the long term.

Fats are another story. A certain amount of the right kind of fat is necessary for your nervous system, your immune system, the formation of cell membranes, and the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins. The problem is that over 90% of the food produced today contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil, which contributes to heart disease, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, non-insulin dependent diabetes and cancer. Research even shows an association between attention deficit disorder and hydrogenated oils.

The next time you grocery shop, look at the label of every item before you buy. Unless you already buy all organic and natural foods, almost every item you pick up will contain hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Instead, choose products that say no hydrogenated oils. Use raw organic butter instead of margarine, and extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil or flaxseed oil (flaxseed oil should never be heated).

If you’re eating more chicken, turkey and fish, because it’s healthier, you may be surprised to learn that sliced chicken and turkey from the deli contains nitrites. And nitrites cause cancer. Nitrites are found in almost all processed meats, including luncheon meats, hot dogs, sausages and bacon. Then there’s tuna, a healthy choice if it only contains tuna and water and is only eaten occasionally. But, most tuna contains broth or hydrolyzed vegetable protein, which contain MSG. And MSG is not required to be listed on the label because it is an ingredient in the broth, not directly added to the tuna. This is the way food manufacturers hide MSG in the food they produce. And hidden MSG can be a very serious problem to those who are sensitive to it. MSG can cause a wide variety of symptoms including migraines, numbness and tingling, asthma, seizures, diarrhea, panic attacks and heart problems.

Other sources of hidden MSG include autolyzed yeast, boullion, stock, malt extract, malt flavoring, barley malt, maltodextrin, natural flavors, pectin, seasonings, carrageenan, soy sauce, soy protein, whey protein, anything enzyme modified, fermented, protein fortified, or ultrapasteurized, fast foods, chips, condiments, salad dressings, lunch meats, sausages and soups. In fact, most processed foods contain MSG according to Kathleen Schwartz of the nonprofit group NoMSG.

So, buyer beware! Even if the label says “all natural ingredients” and “no preservatives,” the product could contain harmful additives. So, how do you know which foods are really safe to eat? You need to read the labels and know how to interpret the information on the label.

Here’s a few hints on what to eat and what to avoid: Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, good quality protein and healthy fats. Avoid these additives:

Aspartame or Nutrasweet

Saccharin

MSG and Free Glutamates

Artificial colorings

Nitrites and Nitrates

Caffeine

BHA and BHT

Brominated vegetable oil or BVO

Olestra or Olean

Sulfites

Here’s a general rule of thumb: If the list of ingredients is long, there are probably a lot of chemical additives in the product, and you’re risking your health by eating it. If the list of ingredients is short, it may or may not have harmful additives in it, so you need to read the label carefully before you purchase it.

Dr. Christine Farlow has made it easy for you to identify which additives are harmful and which are not. In her handy pocket-sized book, FOOD ADDITIVES: A Shopper’s Guide To What’s Safe & What’s Not, now in its 2004 revised edition, she classifies 800 commonly used food additives according to safety, whether they may cause allergic reactions and if they are Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) by the FDA. In just seconds, you can find out if an additive in the food you’re buying is harmful to your health. It’s clear, concise and easy to use. Make this book your constant grocery shopping companion and you’ll never again wonder about the safety of the ingredients listed on the package. You’ll know.

Kiwi Fruit is relatively low in sugar compared to most fruits, being packed with curative vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. One large Kiwi fruit contains more vitamin c than a cup of strawberries, an orange or half a grapefruit.If you are wanting to add more vitamin c to your diet then try this awesome fruit, a small kiwi fruit has more vitamin c than a medium sized orange. It is also a top source of folic acid and beta carotene.

This great fruit is also a excellent source of fiber. There is a greater amount of fiber in three of these fruits than a bowl of bran flakes, and the fiber content is increased even further if eaten with the skin on. Just give them a scrub and eat skin and all. Constipation has met its match with this fruit.

Kiwi fruit are also a highly effective digestion aid. In fact they make an excellent meat tenderizer. The enzyme in this fruit is called actinidin, it is so powerful that simply rubbing a half of it on meat will tenderize it. They are also a rich source of potassium, which is needed to stimulate the flow of digestive juices.

If you suffer from inflammation of the joints and muscles you should consume kiwi fruit regularly. The enzymes found in this fruit could benefit anyone that suffers with arthritis or fibromyalgia. These enzymes are also very valuable for anyone dealing with low back pain, hip pain and sciatica. Try to eat two firm fruit daily, preferably on a empty stomach. This will optimize the absorption of the fruits enzymes.

They are an ideal fruit to have for breakfast, they are very easy to digest which is important for people who find it difficult to eat breakfast. Whenever eating foods such as nuts or meat, eat a kiwi fruit for desert they will really help to digest the protein rich meal.

Always try to buy them when they are still hard, because once they become soft they have lost much of there nutritional value. We are lucky because you can get kiwi fruit anywhere these days, so go ahead and add them to your shopping list and reap the benefits today.

Contrary to popular belief, snacking is actually very beneficial. It helps to refuel your body, maintain blood sugar and energy levels and control your appetite.

Healthy snacking will help your body get the nutrients it needs and help you avoid overeating at meal times.

Indulge in these guilt-free snacks. Remember we encourage an anti-inflammatory, low-glycemic, paleo-style diet for weight loss and wellness. A body must get healthy before it can lose weight.

1. Fruit and Yogurt Parfait.Organic plain yogurt is best. Yogurts with added flavors are higher in sugar. Instead, flavor your yogurt with fruit. Blueberries are an excellent choice as they have a lower glycemic content that will help balance blood glucose and insulin levels.

2. Romaine Lettuce Wrap With Organic Turkey and a Slice of Raw-Milk or Skim Mozzarella Cheese.

Romaine lettuce contains the highest nutritional and fiber content of all lettuce. Turkey is 94% protein which helps you to lose weight by boosting your metabolism and decreasing hunger. Adding raw milk grass-fed cheese not only adds flavor but also adds calcium without any harmful hormones or preservatives. A great source for grass-fed wild meat, game and poultry is at U.S. Wellness Meats.

3. Veggie Sticks With Cottage Cheese Dip. Non-starchy vegetables contain almost eight times the amount of fiber found in whole grains. Fiber is essential for a healthy digestive system. Fat-free organic cottage cheese makes an excellent low calorie snack.

4. Shrimp Cocktail Shrimp is 90% protein. Try dipping it in some cocktail sauce for a low calorie, high protein snack.

5. A Handful of Nuts. Walnuts are the best choice as they’re rich in protein and fiber but they also contain a high dose of omega 3 fatty acids (good fats) as compared to other nuts. Healthy fats help lower your risk of disease. Omega-3s are anti-inflammatory, meaning they help prevent inflammatory diseases such as stroke or heart disease. People who are overweight are actually suffering from an inflammatory condition.

6. Celery Sticks and Almond Butter. This is a great combination of protein, monounsaturated fat and energy. Almond butter is a healthier alternative to peanut butter as it contains no added ingredients or preservatives and better fats. (peanuts are a legume not a nut)

7. Deviled Eggs. Eggs are very high in protein which makes them a great snack. My Guacamole Deviled Eggs are a great high-protein healthy snack with good fats.

8. Herring Wraps. Buy a few tinned containers in a few different flavored sauces such as tomato or tangy mustard, herring fillets are high in omega 3 fish oils. Don’t but if they are in soybean oil. Try wrapping them in a few leaves of romaine lettuce.

9. Banana Nut Pop. Dip a banana in plain organic yogurt and roll in walnuts or coconut. Freeze. Yummy!

Bananas are a great source of fiber and potassium. They do have a high sugar content so eat in moderation. Coconuts have anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties and are one of the best sources in the world for MCFA (medium-chain triglyceride fatty acids)

10. Lemon Tuna Avocado Snack. Halve an avocado and scoop out the flesh. Mix with lemon juice and tuna. Serve in the shells. Good protein, good fat.

Avocado’s are high in monounsaturated fat and potassium. Tuna is a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acid and is very nutrient-dense. Protein builds muscle which in turn burns more calories to help you lose weight.

And here’s your BONUS snack idea….

***Smoked salmon.

Don’t get salmon that’s been smothered in brown sugar. Salmon is one of the best sources of protein and healthy fats on earth. Always try to buy wild-caught and not farmed raised (fed grains).

We all have myths about what’s good for us to eat and what’s bad. See if you have this myth: Margarine is better for you than real butter.

What’s the truth? Is margarine or butter healthier for you? Both substances contain the same amount of fat. The only real difference is the kind of fat they contain. One contains synthetic fat, fat that very closely resembles plastic. The other contains natural fat that human digestive systems have had thousands of years to learn how to digest. Can you guess which is which?

Right! Margarine contains plasticky fat. Vegetable oil is placed under high pressure, then hydrogen bubbles are forced into it causing the molecular structure of the natural oil to turn into a synthetic, pseudo-plastic substance. In fact, margarine doesn’t break down. You can leave margarine out on the counter for weeks and it won’t degrade. So if bacteria can’t break it down, do you really think your body can?

Well, it can’t. This ‘plastic’ fat can be found in any product containing hydrogenated oils. Your body cannot tolerate one single gram of these oils. And mass consumption of these hydrogenated oils has been linked to heart disease, cancer, and obesity. The primary foods that contain hydrogenated oils are fried foods–that means your French fries, chicken fingers, and deep fat fried Twinkies that you buy at the fair. Other culprits are chips, cookies, candy bars, crackers, cakes, and Cool Whip. Apparently, most things that start with C.

The amount of Trans Fats from partially hydrogenated oil must now be listed on all foods. Unfortunately, when the FDA made this law, fully hydrogenated oils weren’t popular. Thus, many of your junk foods may list zero grams of trans fat, but in their ingredient list you will see fully hydrogenated oil. If partially is bad for you, how can fully be any better?

We’ve always known this, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded. Your health really is your choice. Reading the labels of what you are eating is one of those choices. Anything that is natural is far more beneficial to your body than any artificial, modified, plasticized substance. Be smart, be conscious. And call the office with any questions.

Why does our society seem to seek every way to overcome sickness and disease other than looking in the best Instruction Manual that’s been around for thousands of years? Why do we avoid the simplicity of the basics when it comes to our health? The “basics” I refer to are eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise and adequate sleep.

Of course, the best instruction manual I am referring to is the Bible and there must be hundreds of books out there educating us on the importance of adequate exercise and sleep. Yes, there are scads of books on what to eat, too, but if they tell you to eat something that seems to contradict what the Bible says is OK, you probably should do some serious research before incorporating it into a regular eating plan. 

There are actually some diet/eating plans being promoted that in the long run, may not be very healthy. What a shame if you lose weight, for example, and then have a heart attack because you were eating way too much meat or didn’t get adequate nutrition.

Do I even need to mention some things you should obviously avoid if you want to experience optimum health? Folks, as much as I hate to list anything, this is what I see around me in abundance: fried foods, sugar in just about everything it seems, artificial sweeteners, meals heavy in meats with few vegetables and fruits, almost all cooked, (very little raw foods), and diet drinks.   

The foods listed in this report are by no means all the “healthy” foods mentioned in the Bible. They should, however, provide you with some guidance in your food choices.

1. Apples. Song of Solomon. Apples are considered to be the “all around health food.” They are high in flavonoids, fiber and Vitamin C. Some of the apple’s healing powers include:

A.      They lower both bad cholesterol and high blood pressure

B.      The juices in apples are highly effective virus fighters

C.      They help stabilize blood sugar, an important factor in controlling diabetes

D.      They suppress the appetite without robbing the body of necessary nutrients

E.       Depending on the need, they prevent constipation or help treat diarrhea

One caution: conventionally grown apples may be highly sprayed with pesticides and coated with wax. Purchase organically grown apples when possible.

2. Barley. Deuteronomy 8:8, Ezekiel 4:9. Barley’s high fiber content can help keep us regular, relieve constipation and ward off a wide variety of digestive problems. It also may help block cancer. Barley is full of beta glucans, a type of fiber that can lower the risk of heart disease by reducing the levels of artery-clogging LDL.

3. Coriander (Cilantro). When the children of Israel wandered in the desert and received manna from the sky, they described it as looking like coriander seed. Since then coriander has been called “the healer from heaven.” Coriander is recommended for indigestion, flatulence (excessive gas) and diarrhea. Externally, it’s used to ease muscle and joint pain. Recently, scientists began looking at coriander as an anti-inflammatory treatment for arthritis. Other research has demonstrated that it reduces blood sugar levels, an indication that it may prove to be a useful sugar management tool for diabetics.

4. Fish. Luke 24:42-43. Fish is low in cholesterol and contains healthy polyunsaturated fats. Fish is a rich source of protein, potassium, vitamins and minerals with only a moderate amount of sodium. Eating fish:

* Thins the blood

* Protects arteries from damage

* Inhibits blood clots (anti-thrombotic)

* Reduces blood triglycerides

* Lowers LDL blood cholesterol

* Lowers blood pressure

* Reduces risk of heart attack and stroke

* Eases symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis

* Reduces risk of lupus

* Relieves migraine headaches

* Fights inflammation

* Helps regulate the immune system

* Inhibits cancer in animals and possibly humans

* Soothes bronchial asthma

* Combats early kidney disease

The key to the healing powers of fish lies in the omega-3 fatty acids. These are particularly concentrated in cold-water fish such as anchovies, bluefish, herring, lake trout, mackerel, sable fish, whitefish, flue fin tuna, salmon and sardines. Note: in deciding between “healthy” and “unhealthy” fish, you can get specific instruction from Lev. 11:9. Eat only fish which have both fins and scales.

5. Garlic. One of the world’s oldest healing foods. By the time of Moses, garlic was already being used as an anticoagulant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor agent, as well as a relief for flatulence, a diuretic, a sedative, a poultice and as a cure for internal parasites. Research suggests that garlic may help protect against heart disease and stroke by lowering blood pressure. It contains allylic sulfides, which may neutralize carcinogens. In fact, garlic has been linked to lower rates of stomach cancer, too. It is heart-friendly, with scores of studies showing its astonishing ability to fight hypertension, prevent blood clots and lower cholesterol.

6. Fruits, Berries, Grapes. Numbers 13:23, II Samuel 16:1-2. Grapes were the first thing Noah planted after the flood. Grapes were eaten fresh, dried and eaten as raisins just as we do today, and pressed into cakes. However, most of the crop of the vineyards was made into juice, wine and vinegar. A cup of raw grapes contains only 58 calories, 0.3 grams of fat, zero cholesterol and vitamins A, B and C. Grapes also contain important minerals such as boron, calcium, potassium and zinc. 

Grapes may be helpful in preventing osteoporosis, fighting tooth decay, heading off cancer and fighting off viruses. Other health-giving fruits include figs, melons, and pomegranates.

7. Legumes. 2 Samuel 17:28-29, Genesis 25:34. As reported in the book of Samuel, beans were among the highly nutritious foods sent to feed King David’s hungry army and restore their strength for the hard times ahead. Beans have a lot of soluble fiber, which helps lower LDL and reduce blood pressure. The fiber also helps keep blood sugar levels stable, stave off hunger, and even reduce the insulin requirements of people suffering from diabetes.

Beans are a great source of protein as well as being packed full of vitamin C, iron and dietary fiber. Beans help lower blood pressure and reduce the “bad” cholesterol that today’s research has shown to be the cause of so much devastating heart trouble — a rarity centuries ago. Beans contain chemicals that inhibit the growth of cancer. They help prevent constipation, can stop hemorrhoids and other bowel-related problems from developing, and help cure them if they do.

8. Nuts, including almonds, pistachio nuts and walnuts. Song of Solomon 6:11, Gen. 43:11. Botanists today believe that Solomon’s “garden of nuts” referred to in Scripture was a rich grove of walnut trees. At the time, walnuts were prized for the oil they produced, which was regarded as only slightly inferior to olive oil. The fact that walnuts were a delicious treat and highly nutritious was an added bonus. Nuts contain the right mixtures of natural ingredients whose benefits include cancer prevention, a lower risk of heart disease and help for diabetics. The oil found in walnuts is considered helpful because it is one of the “good guy” polyunsaturated fats and tends to lower blood cholesterol levels. Note: it’s best to avoid roasted nuts since they have been found to carry carcinogens, which could lead to cancer growth, so buy your nuts raw.

9. Olives. The olive was one of the most valuable and versatile trees of biblical times. It is mentioned frequently throughout the Bible. Probably the most famous reference to olive oil and its healing powers is in the parable of the good Samaritan, in which the Samaritan cares for a beaten and robbed traveler, treating his wounds with oil and wine. Olive oil, mixed with wine, was even used to soften and soothe bruises and wounds. Known benefits of olive oil include:

* Lowers blood cholesterol            

* Reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol levels

* Retards cancer growth

* Reduces the wear and tear of aging on the tissues and organs of the body and brain

* Reduces gastric acidity

* Protects against ulcers and aids the passage of food through the intestines, helping to prevent constipation

* Reduces the risk of gallstones

* Aids normal bone growth

One CAUTION: olive oil has a slight laxative effect, so add it to your diet gradually. 

One TIP: the more pure the olive oil, the better, so spend a little extra and get Virgin Olive Oil.

10. Onions. Numbers 11:5. Like its cousin, garlic, the onion is noted as a cure-all. And the folk healers hold it in high regard as far back as 6000 years or more. At least 3000 years before the birth of Christ, onions were treasured both as food and for their therapeutic value — particularly in the treatment of kidney and bladder problems. Some facts about onions:   

* Taken internally as a tonic to soothe intestinal gas pains

* Taken internally to alleviate the symptoms of hypertension, high blood sugar and elevated cholesterol

* Some people attribute their long life to a diet that includes high concentrations of onions and yogurt

* The juice of an onion and a syrup made from honey has been used to treat coughs, colds, and asthma attacks

* A tonic of onions soaked in gin has been prescribed for kidney stones and to eliminate excessive fluids

* Modern herbalists recommend onion syrup as an expectorant (it helps eliminate mucus from the respiratory tract)

* Onions can raise the good and lower the bad cholesterol

* Onions can slow blood clotting, regulate blood sugar, break up bronchial congestion and possibly prevent cancer

* Onions possess a strong antibiotic that kills a variety of bacteria

* Have been used externally as an antiseptic and a pain reliever

11. Wheat. Jeremiah 41:8, Ezekiel 4:9. Wheat was the “staff of life.” Biblical people ate their grain boiled and parched, soaked and roasted, and even ate it green from the stalk. It was pounded, dried or crushed to be baked into casseroles, porridges, soups, parched grain salads and desserts. Ezekiel’s bread was intended to be a survival food during the dark days of the Babylonion conquest because it contained wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet and spelt. Wheat bran is high in insoluble fiber. The fiber protects us against constipation. It helps prevent intestinal infections, hemorrhoids and varicose veins. It also improves bowel function and guards us against colon cancer.

12. Wine. I Timothy 5:23. John 4:46. Making wine from grapes is one of the most ancient arts and the beverage of choice in the Bible. According to Genesis, one of the first things Noah did after the flood was plant a vineyard so he could make wine. Researchers are now rediscovering what the physicians of the Bible knew centuries ago. In moderation, wine has a profound impact on our health and healing. Just a single glass of wine a day may be enough to raise the good cholesterol by 7% and help the body put up a barrier to a variety of cancers.

Wine appears to help stop heart disease and cancer. A study at the University of Ottawa in Canada concluded that there is a clear link between wine consumption and lower rates of heart disease. Countries where more than 90% of alcohol is consumed in the form of wine have the lowest rate of heart disease deaths.

A British study of 100 men and women discovered that a single glass of wine or sherry everyday increased the HDL or good cholesterol. When the group abstained from drinking wine, the HDL level decreased.

Red wine also seems to increase the body’s defenses against cancer. White wine may carry some of the same therapeutic benefits, but research so far seems to indicate that red wine is the most effective cancer blocker. Note: be sure to drink only in moderation. Ephesians 5:18.

As you can see, the Bible lists a lot of foods, foods that are actually available to us today, that we could be consuming to prevent illness, serious diseases and many trips to the doctor. Good health is not that difficult, but you do have to work at it a bit. It’s a balance of what you eat, exercise, sleep, avoiding stress, taking vitamin supplements. And strange as it may seem, the Bible is actually a complete instruction Manual for all of this.

In conclusion, the 12 healing foods listed here are only a partial list of healing foods found in the Bible. However, this report provides abundant evidence that God has placed on this earth, many health-giving foods for our consumption. A person who makes a serious effort to daily eat some of these health-giving foods, while avoiding health-destroying foods, certainly can expect to reap the benefits of a healthier body.

Carbohydrates certainly are and have been the most controversial type of food in the American diet today. Are carbs good? Are they bad? What is a good carb? What is a bad carb? It is very confusing for most people. Carbohydrates are, however, one of the most varied of the three nutrient types. Carbohydrates include starches such as bread and potatoes as well as sugars. They also contain things we think are good for us, like fruits and vegetables and of course everybody’s favorite chocolate.

Americans typically consume excessive numbers of carbohydrate through the course of the day. If the carbohydrates are not converted to sugar to be used for energy, they typically get stored as fat, so carbohydrates can make you fat. Most carbohydrates do come from plants.

Carbohydrates come in two basic groupings. They are the simple carbohydrates and the complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are often called simple sugars. These include fructose which is fruit sugar; sucrose, table sugar; and lactose, which is milk sugar. Complex carbohydrates are also made up of sugars but their molecular structure contains longer and more complex chains of sugars. These carbohydrates include fibrous foods and starches. Foods high in complex carbohydrates include most green vegetables, whole grains, and beans. Your body needs carbohydrate for many reasons. They are the main source of blood glucose, the major fuel for our cells, and the only source of energy for both the brain and the red blood cell. So yes, you do need carbohydrates. If you do not need carbohydrate, you will die.

Simple and complex carbohydrates are converted into glucose in the small intestine. The glucose proceeds into the liver, your body’s phenomenal processing system. The liver then converts the glucose into glycogen, stores up glycogen and subsequently converts it back to glucose as needed by our cells. The liver also makes sure your blood stream is getting only the glucose the body needs. So, what happens with the extra glucose or the excess carbohydrate intake? You guessed it. Your liver converts the excess glucose into fatty acid and stores in its body fat. Your brain with its many complex chemical reactions gets a mild tranquilizing effect when you eat carbs. Carbs lift serotonin levels which is why many people when depressed or anxiety levels are very high, turn to carbohydrates because the serotonin levels do have a calming effect and give that person a feeling of emotional well being.

To briefly summarize, carbohydrates includes starches, sugars, fruits, and vegetables. Glycemic indexing rates carbohydrates by how they raise blood sugar level which can cause the body to store fat. For weight loss and for health reasons, it is important to eat more low glycemic carbohydrates and fewer starches. Eat starches as a condiment, meaning have a taste or two not a whole portion because starches are usually high glycemic and cause the body to store fat. You cannot go wrong eating green vegetables because they are packed with good nutrition. They have plenty of fiber and are low glycemic, meaning they do not cause your body to store fat and they do not cause abrupt fluctuation in blood sugar level. If you are vegetarian, make sure you have not also become a starchitarian.

If you are experiencing any signs of deficiency or any symptoms, I would recommend contacting your physician. If you would like more information concerning carbohydrates, you could visit our website at [http://www.freehealthstrategies.com]

The number of men and women over the age of 65 represents approximately 12.5% of the US population. This growing segment of the population faces multiple age related changes in body composition that can lead to reduced quality of life and ultimately severe injury. As the body ages muscular power, strength, mass, and endurance all decrease. While these changes are taking place the resting metabolic rate decreases, body fat levels increase, and bone mineral density decreases.

These changes can cause deterioration to the extent that daily functionality is impaired or impossible. In these cases taking part in everyday activities increases the risk injuries to the hips, spine, and or wrists. At this point the individual is caught in a vicious cycle, injury is extremely possible with movement, but without movement further deterioration will occur. Reaching this level can be avoided by maintaining a proper level of fitness and nutrition throughout life.

While the potential health risks associated with resistance training for the older adult, OK so you are not an Olympian, will need to be evaluated the rewards of resistance training are nearly endless. Resistance training has been shown to provide older persons significant improvements in muscular strength, power, mass, and endurance while reducing body fat levels. Possibly more importantly bone mineral density has been shown to increase in response to a properly designed resistance training program; the bones adaptation is a multifaceted reaction that requires proper hormonal and nutrition balance for maximum results.

Your life is based around a few basic movements, these movements when put together one after another or used at the same time result in the complex movements necessary for everyday life. An evaluation of your squat, bend and twist your body core, lunge, and walking gait will reveal a great amount of information that a fitness and wellness professional can use to compile a proper training program.

It is my opinion that the average training program for an aging adult should include elements of strength, endurance, and balance training. This combination will provide proper stimulation of the neuromuscular system resulting in the maximum quality of life gains. For the severely deteriorated a program may simply start with basic movement strength exercises, while for the silver Olympian a program may start with advanced balance and strength exercises.

Either level of participant should be able to get great results in or out of a gym, for those of you who do not want to go to a gym there are plenty of fitness tools and toys to provide you an excellent workout at your home, these include a multitude of bands, balls, strings, and balance toys. Proper training should be obtained from a fitness professional before using any of these toys.

Although you may reluctant to start a resistance training program one should realize that the potential benefits of resistance training include improvements to musculoskeletal health that cannot be obtained through other forms of exercise. Regular participation in a properly guided and designed resistance exercise program will reduce the risk of injury while improving self image and confidence. Get out today, find a proper fitness professional, start your resistance training program, you will not regret it!

You may well have heard the word ‘probiotic’ bandied around a lot lately in popular

advertising and marketing campaigns! When you notice something like this

happening you need to be aware of a couple of important things – that is why this

article could save you time, frustration and money…

Doctors have stated that is probable that ALL people over the age of 65 living in

countries like the US and the UK should regularly take a probiotic supplement

product to boost the function of their digestive system. It seems that the eating

patterns, and other bad habits common to western societies can decimate the

‘internal bacteria’ we NEED in our gut in order to obtain all the nutrition we should be

getting from our food.

Major food companies – especially makers of yoghurt-type products have not been

slow to see the marketing potential for new ranges containing so-called ‘good

bacteria’. You may ask – why has this been popular within this food sector?

It is now clear that the some of the most effective, and most resilient, ‘good bacteria’

are the members of the Lactobacillus ‘family’. There are 13 strains of Lactobacillus

which can all aid better digestive processes when present in your gut in an

appropriate concentration. Lactobacillus are also the strains of bacteria that are used

to ferment milk and create products such as yoghurt.

Some people have experienced benefits from regularly consuming the small, and not

inexpensive, yoghurt style drinks that have been launched onto the market. It seems

that some of the benefits may be psychological as much as anything – but for some

there may genuinely be enough of a boost to their digestive ‘flora’ (as the good

bacteria are sometimes referred to – it is the same root from which the word ‘flower’

comes in English) to make them feel as if their system is working better.

In general, however, it may be that there is hardly enough of a ‘dose’ of probiotic

bacteria to help the majority of people substantially. The jury is still open on this to

some extent – because thorough experimental work has been limited.

You may well find that if you are suffering from the many, varied symptoms that can

signify that you have an impaired digestive process – you will fare better taking a

proper probiotic product with a guaranteed high count of appropriate ‘good bacteria’.

Such products are available – usually in a powdered form – that can be blended with

juices, or even just with water, and should be taken daily to ‘maintain’ a healthy

balance of bacteria in your digestive system.

What you must look out for, though, if you are to avoid wasting your money on

ineffective products – is that the probiotic product you choose contains the range of

Lactobacillus bacteria. There are other ‘good bacteria’ but this genus (or family) is the

strongest and can get through the acidity of your stomach, and past other ‘chemical

challenges’ in your diet (such as alcohol, and caffeine!) to get into the intestines

where they are needed.

It is a sad fact that when we lived as primitive creatures, and for many millennia,

whilst we ate fresh foods that we hunted and farmed in an organic and natural way,

our diets supported our bacterial needs. Nowadays, with so many processed foods

and chemicals in our environment our digestive systems have become badly

impaired. This can ultimately lead to a wide range of health problems – form just

feeling listless, and lacking in energy right through to setting the scene for serious

diseases such as cancer to establish itself.

For this reason it may well be that choosing to use a reliable and high quality

probiotic supplement could be the best thing you could do to support your health.

This is especially so as you get older. However you must satisfy yourself that the

product you buy contains the best bacterial sources and is produced by a reliable

company. Otherwise you could simply be wasting your money and getting no real

benefit in the long term.