Healthy Recipes

I was looking for some healthy healthy recipes for the holidays and I found this amazing link from Dr. Joel Furhman, who is a board-certified family physician, New York Times best-selling author and nutritional researcher who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional and natural methods; can't wait to try the pumpkin pie with almond crust recipe:

https://www.drfuhrman.com/library/recipes.aspx?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Facebook+Post&utm_campaign=Week+1+-+Day+3+Recipe

Pomegranate Benefits

I never used to eat pomegranates until I was diagnosed with cancer, now I know how great they are to prevent it and other great benefits. I found this great article from Dr. Fuhrman:

Fall is here, and fresh pomegranates are available again. Pomegranate was one of the earliest cultivated fruits, and the fruit has been prominent throughout history in art, culture, and religion, from the story of the seasons in Greek mythology toRomeo and Juliet to the Bible.1,2 Pomegranate is ubiquitous in Middle Eastern cooking and its super food status and unique flavor and texture has made it increasingly popular in the U.S. in recent years. A pomegranate contains hundreds of tiny, crisp arils; each aril is a seed encased in a juicy pulp, a tasty mix of sweet and tart flavors.

Pomegranate contains a unique and powerful antioxidant called punicalagin, the most abundant antioxidant in pomegranate, responsible for more than half of the antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice.3 Pomegranate juice has been analyzed to have greater antioxidant capacity than red wine, grape juice, cranberry juice, green tea or acai juice;4 drinking pomegranate juice measurably reduces oxidative stress in healthy humans.5Much research has shown that pomegranate’s potent antioxidant capacity provides protection against heart disease, cancer and cognitive impairment.

Anti-cancer:

• Pomegranate has anti-inflammatory effects that may protect against cancer and other chronic diseases.6,7
• Pomegranate has anti-angiogenic properties, meaning that pomegranate may help to prevent growing tumors from acquiring a blood supply, preventing those tumors from receiving the nutrients that would allow them to grow larger.8-10
• Pomegranate is one of the few foods (mushrooms are another) that contain natural aromatase inhibitors — this means that they inhibit the production of estrogen, which can reduce breast cancer risk.11
• In men after treatment for prostate cancer, two studies have shown that pomegranate juice or supplements slowed the increase in PSA.12

Cardioprotective:

• Pomegranate phytochemicals reduce LDL oxidation (a contributor to atherosclerotic plaque development).13
• Pomegranate phytochemicals have blood pressure-reducing properties.14,15
• In a study of patients with severe carotid artery blockages, after one ounce of pomegranate juice daily for one year, there was a 30 percent reduction in atherosclerotic plaque. In striking contrast, in the participants who did not take the pomegranate juice atherosclerotic plaque increased by 9 percent.13

Memory and brain function:

• Pomegranate supplements taken before and after surgery prevented the postoperative memory dysfunction associated with coronary artery bypass or heart valve surgery.16
• In those with mild memory complaints, those drinking pomegranate juice daily performed better on a memory task compared to placebo and displayed increased brain activation measured by functional MRI.17

Removing the edible arils from the pomegranate does take some effort, but the flavor and health benefits of pomegranate make the effort well worth it. Enjoy fresh pomegranates now that they are in season, and store some arils in the freezer or use pomegranate juice to get the health benefits of pomegranate all year round. Visit this article for instructions on preparing a pomegranate or try apomegranate deseeder tool to make the process quick and easy.

http://www.drfuhrman.com/library/powerful_disease_protection_from_pomegranate.aspx#.UnwCQDG6BBQ.facebook

Liver cleaning foods

I found this great article on liver cleaning;

by Anthony Gucciardi

Liver health is directly tied to your overall health, and poor liver health could very well be the root cause of many diseases that currently affect millions of people worldwide. Often assaulted with toxic substances like high-fructose corn syrup, which can ‘overburden’ the liver and subsequently lead to complications, it is very likely that your liver has experienced at least some degree of damage due to dietary and environmental factors. In fact, the only way to avoid the buildup of toxins in the liver would be to eat a nearly perfect diet free of additives, fillers, modified ingredients, or chemicals — virtually the opposite of the average American diet, which critically lacks any liver cleansing foods.

Thankfully, it is very possible to repair your liver naturally and help release excessive toxin buildup through the power of healing foods. Here are 5 natural liver cleansing foods:

1. Cleanse Your Liver with Avocados

Avocados have been shown to naturally protect and repair your liver. Containing a high amount of glutathione-producing compounds, avocados can actually help boost the ability of the liver to cleanse itself. Astonishing research has even shown that consuming one or two avocados per week for as little as 30 days can make a serious difference in the state of your liver health. The best part? Avocados can be enjoyed with virtually any meal, and are available throughout the world. Try adding in some fresh, organic avocados with your next meal to reap the benefits of liver cleansing foods like this one.

2. Garlic

The superfood garlic, which is known for its ability to fight against cancer and infections naturally, is also among the many great liver cleansing foods as it is very useful in repairing a compromised liver. While the benefits of garlic for liver health and beyond are many, one reason for its superior effects have to do with the fact that garlic contains numerous sulfur-containing compounds that are known to activate the liver enzymes responsible for expelling toxins from the body. Another lies in the presence of both allicin and selenium, two important nutrients that play an integral role in the protection of the liver from damage.

3. Turmeric

Turmeric can uniquely assist the enzymes that are responsible for flushing out known dietary carcinogens. The result is enhanced protection against liver damage, and even regeneration of affected liver cells. Turmeric is also notably responsible for improving the health of the gallbladder as well. These benefits are in addition to the shocking ability to turmeric to combat cancer in a number of studies. Researchers at the UCLA also found that curcumin — the ‘key’ compound within turmeric — exhibits cancer-blocking properties. The lab found that the enzymes in the patients’ mouths responsible for promoting cancer spread and growth were inhibited by curcumin supplementation. The ingestion of curcumin intake even blocked the spread of the malignant cells.

4. Lemon and Lime

While not exactly one of the liver cleansing foods, warm water with lemon or lime each morning could be one of the simplest and most advantageous methods of improving the health of your liver. High in vitamin C and potassium, lemons can help regulate biological functions. Some experts, such as A.F. Beddoe — who wrote the book Biological Ionization as Applied to Human Nutrition, have also stated that the liver produces more enzymes in response to water with lemon than to any other food.

http://truththeory.com/2012/05/29/4-natural-liver-cleansing-foods/