Watermelon: fruit or vegatable?

Watermelon is one of America’s all-time favorite foods. You can find it at almost every summer picnic or outdoor party and in the produce section of most food markets. The average American eats about 15 pounds of watermelon a year.

Although many people think of watermelon as a fruit, it is also considered a vegetable by some.

With a name like watermelon, it’s no wonder the melon is 92 percent water. So in addition to providing a sweet treat, watermelon can be a source of fluids for young athletes before, during and after sporting events. This doesn’t mean you should substitute it for water and sports drinks on the playing field. You still need to have those drinks nearby.

Nutritional value

Watermelon has zero saturated fat, is low in sodium and cholesterol free. Because of its high water content, watermelon is also low in calories. A good food for dieters!

It is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C as well as potassium. Two cups of diced watermelon provides 20 percent of the recommended daily intake for vitamin A and 25 percent for vitamin C. In fact, the United States Department of Agriculture’s 2005 Dietary Guidelines recommends we include two cups of fruit per day in our daily diet.

Lycopene, a potential antioxidant found in watermelon, may have disease-fighting benefits. Researchers believe lycopene might have a role in the prevention of some diseases, such as forms of cancer and heart disease. There are about 15 to 20 milligrams (mg) of lycopene in a two-cup serving of watermelon, compared to 4 to 5 mg found in one tomato.

Radish Boy: it’s a gluten free blog!

I found this great blog Radish Boy, it that has easy to follow gluten free recipes. These are gluten free oat matzoh, that I made for our seder tonight. Matzoh is unleavened bread eaten on Passover, the holiday that celebrates the escape of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt.

According to Jewish law, matzoh must be made from one of the five grains traditionally eaten in Egypt that could become leavened. These grains are wheat, barley, rye, spelt or oats. It is made quickly, so that the grains don’t have time to ferment and leaven the bread. No more than 18 minutes can pass from the time that flour and water are mixed together to the time that the bread is finished in order for the bread to be considered matzoh.

Unfortunately for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, it is difficult to find gluten free matzoh, and it can’t be made from alternative grains such as rice, buckwheat or quinoa. There are several companies that sell gluten free oat matzoh, made specifically for Passover.

So in an attempt to follow the rules, I made gluten free oat matzoh using oat flour and water, and following the 18 minute time limit.

Here’s the process:

2 cups gluten free oat flour
1 cup water

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. In a bowl, mix the flour and water. Spread a thin layer of oat flour on a board and then knead the dough until it becomes a workable, about 5 minutes. Roll the dough into a snake and cut into inch size pieces. Roll each piece into a thin circle, and prick all over with a fork. Bake for 7 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. Make sure that the entire process takes only 18 minutes from start to finish. These matzoh will be very crisp and have a delightful, nutty taste.

Technically, these are not Kosher for Passover because the oat flour I used was not supervised by a Rabbi to ensure that it did not ferment or become contaminated during processing. But I think it is a good substitute to teach our kids about the meaning of Passover, without being too strict about the law.

Scientific Evidence: anti-cancer effect of milk thistle

Milk Thistle has been used in the treatment of liver diseases including liver cancer for years. It heals the liver by lowering enzyme levels and assisting the liver in its process of detoxifying the body. Herbalists and Chinese Physicians have prescribed milk thistle for all types of liver disorders including cirrhosis, inflammation, high liver enzymes, jaundice, hardening of the liver, hepatitis and liver cancer. Herbalists recommend milk thistle for any type of cancer as it is vital in aiding detoxification of the blood.

Get Rid Of Toxic Build Up: colon cleanse, juice fasting

What Causes the Toxic Build-up?

We put our colons under a great deal of stress with our modern lifestyle. Years of fast food, cigarettes, prescription drugs and alcohol keep the colon busy. Add to that indigestion, constipation, work-related stress, illnesses and sedentary lifestyles, and you have a recipe for an unhealthy colon.

Don’t underestimate how important a healthy colon is to your body - Colon cancer is second only to lung cancer among cancer deaths in the US. Waste and toxins can build up in your system, and even if you don’t feel constipated your colon may need your help!

Colon Cleansing uses herbs and natural supplements to help your body mend its internal organs and restore you to health. The crucial part of a colon cleanse is the addition of Psyllium to your diet.

Juice fasting is a great way to restore your system to health, cleanse the colon and lose weight at the same time. Often your body tells you it is hungry when you really just need to drink some water, so drink one of these juices every time you feel hungry. This way you’re staying healthy and not engaging in unnecessary binge eating.

Here are a few recipes to get you started.

Stomach Cleanser

Ingredients:
1 bunch Grapes
1 basket Strawberries
3 Apples
4 sprigs Fresh Mint
Water

Healing Juice

Ingredients:
3-4 Carrots
125g Fresh Spinach
Handful of Flat Leaf Parsley
2-3 Sticks of Celery
Water

Vegetable Super Juice

Ingredients:
1 whole cucumber
4 sticks of celery
2-4 handfuls of spinach
8 lettuce leaves
Optional boosters: parsley and fresh alfalfa sprouts
Water

Elevate Oatmeal To A Superfood: food synergies

How to Elevate Oatmeal to Superfood
Drink a glass of this with your oatmeal to help elevate your breakfast to superfood status: orange juice.

Why? The nutrients in oatmeal and OJ work synergistically to provide double the benefits you’d expect from simply adding their powers together.

So how can you take advantage of more food synergies? The best way is to eat a varied diet rich in colorful fruits and veggies, healthy fats, different kinds of whole grains, and few or no processed foods. This will give nutrients the best shot at meeting up in your body and reinforcing one another as they guard against disease.

Boost Your Happiness and Health: calm down for the holidays

Foods to Calm You Down Fast

Holiday to-do list expanding too fast? Work pressures got you tearing your hair out? No date for the season’s festivities? Regardless of the cause, when we’re stressed we often counterintuitively turn to diet-busting goodies for comfort. Instead of soothing our frayed nerves, many of them ultimately make us feel worse.

Take the classic, curling up with a pint of ice cream. It’s a total backfire. Why? Sweets are insidious: After the initial rush, the body’s insulin response kicks in, causing a sudden blood-sugar drop that triggers the release of stress hormones. Soon you’re feeling more jangled than you were before you inhaled that whole container of Chunky Monkey. And alcohol, of course, is a wolfish stimulant in calm sheep’s clothing.

But true comfort foods do exist:

• Berries, any berries. Eat them one by one instead of M&Ms when the pressure’s on. For those tough times when tension tightens your jaw, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another. Since the carbs in berries turn to sugar very slowly, you won’t have a blood-sugar crash. The bonus: They’re a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight a jump in cortisol, a stress hormone.

• Guacamole. If you’re craving something creamy, look no further. Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which stress quickly depletes and which your body needs in order to maintain nerves and brain cells. Plus, their creaminess comes from healthy fat. Scoop up the stuff with whole-grain baked chips — crunching keeps you from gritting your teeth.

• Mixed nuts. Just an ounce will do. Walnuts help replace those stress-depleted B vitamins, Brazil nuts give you a whopping amount of zinc (which is also drained by high anxiety), and almonds boost your E, which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress. Buy nuts in the shell and think of it as multitasking: With every squeeze of the nutcracker, you’re releasing a little tension.

• Oranges. People who take 1,000 milligrams of C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressures than those who don’t. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a large orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will ease your mind, and you’ll get a bunch of C as well.

• Asparagus. Each tender stalk is a source of folic acid, a natural mood lightener. Dip the spears in fat-free yogurt or sour cream for a hit of calcium with each bite.

• Chai tea. A warm drink is a supersoother, and curling up with a cup of aromatic decaf chai tea (Tazo makes ready-to-brew bags) can make the whole evil day go away.

• Dark chocolate. Okay, there’s nothing in it that relieves stress, but when only chocolate will do, reach for the dark, sultry kind that’s at least 70% cocoa. You figure if the antioxidant flavonoids in it are potent enough to fight cancer and heart disease, they’ve got to be able to temper tension’s effects.

Read More………

Ayahuasca: visions, ikaros and the shipibo

I just returned home from the Amazon jungle’s of Peru. I went there with Michael Sonn to stay with the Shipibo Indians in their village. Michael brings interested people to this remote location for the purpose of doing personal visionary work with the plant medicine called “Ayahuasca”. His company Amazon Medicinals provided a safe and memorable experience for the group.

Michael is considered a Shaman or Onaya by the Shipibo people and has spent over a decade learning this ancient body of healing knowledge. Michael’s maestro or teachers led our ceremonies during our visit, however, Michael was asked several times by his teachers to offer his knowledge and healing ikaros ( healing plant songs ) to our group during the night.

Ayahuasca cleans out the system of all toxins, and while it may seem unpleasant to vomit, it is an accepted part of the ceremony and healing. The beginning of a ceremony is often an unsettling time, as people purge themselves physically, and transition from one dimension to another along their spiritual pathways.

After several ceremonies a noticeable shift occurred within the group. Our faces softened as well as our attitudes. Our hearts opened and the essence of the Divine began to work it’s magic within each person. After a ceremony the healing can begin as a subtle experience, gentle and long lasting, deeply profound and insightful for each individual. I returned home very grateful more balanced and ready to embrace the next phase of my life with the happiness and joy that has been woven into my heart, mind, body and spirit by this sacred plant teacher.

Thank you Michael for doing this sacred work.
Amazon Medicinals

Foods Deep Impact: body, mind & emotions

Food not only helps us grow and nourish physically but also has a deep impact on our minds,thoughts, emotions and actions. Also try fasting once a week with only hot water, digestive herbal teas and some fresh fruit, along with breathing exercises and yoga.

As the holidays approach , why not offer this pate’ to your guests as a healthy alternative.

NUT, SEED, CILANTRO PATE’

Blend in a food processor until smooth

1/4 cup cashews (soaked 1-2 hours)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (soaked 2 hours)
1 small clove garlic
2 medium tomatoes
1/2 small cucumber
1 cup fresh cilantro
1/2 medium peeled apple
2 T. Lemon juice
1 1/2 T. Celtic sea salt to taste

Add to blended mixture

2 medium diced tomatoes
Chopped parsley to garnish

Chill in refrigerator until firm

Makes about 1 cup of pate’

Serve with rice crackers or wrapped in lightly steamed cabbage leaves or nori seaweed sheets ( don’t steam theses )

The body has death, but not the soul.

He who lives the inner life knows that death is truly his resting-room. To him, death is anything but extinction. It is a meaningful departure. When our consciousness is divinely transformed, the necessity of death will not arise at all. To transform life, we need Peace, Light, Bliss and Power. We cry for these divine qualities. They cry for our aspiration. They are equally anxious to grant us everlasting life. But until our body, vital, mind, heart and soul aspire together, the divine Power, Light, Bliss and Peace cannot possess us.

Read More…..Spiritual Afterlife

Global Consciousness: interconnected,profound and important

“Someday after mastering winds, waves, tides and gravity, we shall harness the energies of love,
and then, for the second time in the history of the world, man will discover fire.”
Teilhard de Chardin

There are times when we share with others a special, fully interconnected consciousness. When great music thrills us, or we are mutually inspired by an awesome sunset, or when we fall in love, we are transported temporarily into a shared world which is remarkable. This state of true intermingling is rare, for most of us, but it is experiential, and that means we know it for what it is; we feel it immediately as real and filled with meaning. When such an experience is past and we return to our normal, separated perceptions, the experience becomes a vulnerable memory, and our educated personality may reject the consciousness that knew this deeper connection.

Yet, the suspicion remains that there is something of mind that is not just inside our heads. We feel interconnected with each other and the world in a profound and important way. We know at some level that we are not isolated, but interdependent, so that a subtle energy of mine can reach out and mingle with yours, allowing us to share a moment that is important to both of us. If we think of this potential extending beyond the two of us to a world full of living beings, we have the foundation for a model for global consciousness. Maybe, as Teilhard de Chardin believed, the world ultimately needs that shared consciousness and is actively growing toward it.The research described here points to subtle indications that we do live in an interconnected, potentially conscious world, in which we surely play an important role. We have shown immense capacities for both destructive and creative impact, and this implies that the future is ours to mold. It will be a desirable future in proportion to our level of consciousness, individually and globally.

Read More…..Global Consciousness