Live Long Naturally

Who to believe on whether soy is good for us or wreaking havoc on us? I say go with your gut. As always, there is no one-size-fits-all and the key in eating most foods is moderation.

According to Ann Louise Gittleman, bestselling author of Fat Flush Plan, she suggests eating soy food that is either fermented soy or none at all. Her belief is that fermented soy contains anticancer agents and nutrients such as calcium, minerals, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and zinc. The microflora in fermented soy is also beneficial for its ability to help break down glucose in food. Gittleman recommends one to two servings a week of fermented tempeh or miso soy products.

Stephen T. Sinatra, author of Heart Sense For Women, believes consuming soy can help prevent breast cancer by lowering blood cholesterol, lowering serum estradiol levels, and prolonging the menstrual cycle. He refers to soy as an outstanding source of calcium and phytonutrients that help support bone mass. He does however, not recommend soy products to women with estrogen dependant tumors or one week before, during or after radiation. Sinatra’s Modified Mediterranean Diet recommends eating tofu, tempeh, soybeans, or soymilk one to two times a week.

Both Gittleman and Sinatra agree on the potential of soy to disrupt hormones and although both doctors recommend it, the type of soy product they recommend differs. Experience has shown me that my body digests sprouted or fermented soy better than regularly processed soy. Use your best judgement by listening to your body and any upset or bloated feelings. Above all, moderation is key.

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Here a grain, there a grain, everywhere a grain grain! Actually, this high-protein grain is a seed. Whatever category it falls under, it packs a mighty nutritional punch! Legend has it that Incan armies used quinoa mixed with fat to make what they called “war balls.” I for one happen to love it for it’s protein content and taste. It’s higher in magnesium, calcium, potassium, copper, manganese, phosphorous and zinc than barley, corn and wheat. A great alternative to rice!

Note** this year I have decided to fast one day a week. This past week, towards the evening of my fast I found myself getting extremely tired! I decided to mix 1/2 cup quinoa with 5 cups water and simmer for 20 minutes. I blended and drank some. Within a half hours time I felt so great I decided to run 3 miles.

Other ways I love to prepare quinoa include: cooking it with garlic and onions and enough water to leave juice. I season lightly with kosher salt, Himalayan salt, or liquid aminos… then melt in some REAL butter when done. I also like to add pieces of kale last minute and top with seaweed – SIMPLY DIVINE!!!

Forget the processed “protein” bars – try quinoa instead!

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I love coconut, especially the young white ones. Whenever it’s sweet potato and yam season I stock up. I then steam, mash, add real butter and toss on some shredded coconut. Well… lucky for me, they were out of my usual brand of coconut shreds, so I picked up a bag of Coconut Flakes. Not just any coconut flakes! The brand is “LET’S DO ORGANIC.” The ingredients? Organic Coconut (sliced and dehydrated), nada mas! No sweetener, no pasteurization, nothing!

Unless we make foods ourselves, it’s not easy to find a packaged food with one ingredient listed. I am thoroughly impressed, my taste buds are delighted, and my sweet potatoes… I actually forgot to grab some. I was so excited to find organic flakes with nothing else added. The upside to forgetting my yams or sweet potatoes is that I got to eating the flakes alone – I’m hooked!

Young white coconuts are great to eat and drink by themselves, however… one of my favorite smoothies is to blend frozen coconut meat, a peeled orange, and choice of milk. A Tropical Delight!! Raw coconuts are a great snack/small meal in and of themselves.

In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is called kalpa vriksha: “the tree that supplies all that is needed to live.” Brigitte Mars, RAWESOME!

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A great quote by Elson Haas, M.D., Author/Speaker on Nutrition & Detoxification

Most of us have heard, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Dr. Elson Haas has brilliantly updated that quote for the 21st Century. Different colored fruits and vegetables eaten in season, local and organic can easily take the place of many different colored pills. Real food can be our pharmacy – the more colors the more vitamins.

The Mayo Clinic, Cornell University, and the National Cancer Institute have  all shown that eating apples can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, asthma, diabetes and more. They are a powerhouse of antioxidants – the pectin in them is a great source of fiber that can help regulate the LDL cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and help keep you regular, especially when eating the Red Delicious variety (peel and all)! Pectin is so powerful, it is often added to high quality bowel cleansing formulas, such as Dr. Schulze’s Formula #2.

If eating an apple sounds boring, an organic apple can make a huge difference in taste. My nieces and nephews enjoy eating them with organic raw almond butter or organic chocolate. Apples make great a addition to salads, smoothies, and juices. Adding apples can to fresh vegetable juice, can take any possible bitter taste away. Carrot and apple together are delicious, or…a great summertime treat is to make fresh squeezed lemonade sweetened with fresh apple juice.  

**Note: A 2003 report put out by the Environmental Working Group listed apples as one of 12 foods most contaminated with pesticides… another great reason to eat organic!

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This can be as easy as changing your diet – the following simple and slight changes will benefit you greatly. Just know it is a slower process than if you were to add detoxing to it…

• cutting back on or eliminate white flour, sugar, and pasta.
• aim to eat healthy most hours of the day/days of the week.
• drink at least half your weight in ounces of water
• aim to eat dinner no later than 6PM
• aim to include half raw foods (fruits, veggies, salads, nuts, seeds, etc).
• eat only when hungry – eat to satisfaction, not to fullness.
• make your meals colorful – the more color, the more vitamins.
• avoid frying foods – eat raw, steam, boil, saute, bake instead.
• eat organic when possible – buying direct from farm is fresh and costs less:

http://scfcoop.southcentralfarmers.com OR www.localharvest.org

When in doubt… ask yourself, for better or worse? Will the food or drink you are about to have leave you looking and feeling better or worse? Your mirror and energy level do not lie.

“Most of us are unwitting students of the Breakfast Cereal School of Nutrition.” Patrick Holford, Founder of The Institute for Optimum Nutrition

don’t settle for being average…

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