Foods With Healthy Benefits

Hi everyone at our last meeting some of the ladies shared helpful information about the things they eat on a regular basis that have help with their health and the wonderful changes they have seen after including them in their diet. 
We thought we should share some of these with you our readers.  The ladies also took time to include some helpful information they found. We hope that it will help you on your journey to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

                
                                    Watermelon is packed with 
                                    glutathione, which helps boost immune system. It is also a source of vitamin C, potassium and lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant.

Apples are an excellent food source for diabetics and others who need to control blood sugar levels. They rank high among foods that best control blood sugar. Even though the apple is a rich source of natural sugar, it does not cause a rapid or dangerous rise in blood sugar. Also, it prevents the body from pumping out too much insulin which, in turn, helps bring down blood cholesterol and blood pressure. Apples are not only a super healing food, but, as nature’s original toothbrushes, they may even prevent cavities. The people of Biblical times probably learned that through trial and error, but modern day researchers have confirmed that fact in the laboratory. Scientists in Norway found that children who ate apples had cleaner teeth than those who did not, and they also had significantly less risk of tooth decay. The Bible’s wise King Solomon knew what he was talking about when he said, “Comfort me with apples, for I am sick…” 

Avocados, Olives, and Olive Oil – The high level of monounsaturated fats in avocados, olives, and olive oil protect against heart disease and diabetes and can increase your good cholesterol and decrease your bad cholesterol.

Pomegranate Juice – A National Academy of Sciences study showed that pomegranate juice reduces cholesterol, plaque buildup and increases nitric oxide production (nitric oxide helps reduce arterial plaque), making it a perfect cholesterol lowering food. It’s also been shown to improve fertility.

Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil – flaxseed oil is a great vegetarian choice for a healthy fats supplement if you don’t want to take fish oil. Many experts agree that flaxseeds are a good choice to help maintain heart health and avoid heart disease and dangerous cholesterol levels. Try adding a spoonful of ground up flaxseed to your favorite smoothies or baked goods. 

Kale

In addition to promoting a healthy immune system, this leafy green contains cancer-fighting properties. The liver absorbs these vital nutrients, enhancing its ability to rid the body of harmful toxins. To make kale more palatable, keep in mind that the less you cook it, the less bitter it’s going to be.

White Kidney Beans

The high fiber content of these beans is

 critical for lowering blood sugar levels.

Maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is an essential part of helping to prevent diabetes and cholesterol build-up. Soak them in water to reduce the uncomfortable gas they can cause include them into your diet few times a week.

Sweet Potatoes The bright hue of these 
orange vegetables means they have
carotenoids, a powerful antioxidant, in them. They’re also loaded with vitamin A, which is important for your skin and eyes we found out that it also helps to prevent wrinkles. Try including this nutrient-rich potatoes in your diet.

Barley – 

The Bible is filled with reference to barley, which is among the earliest known and mostnourishing grains ever to be cultivated Deuteronomy 8:8 is one of such. In fact, some scholars say The Feast of Unleavened Bread was an ancient barley harvest festival that became the celebration of the Passover.  Bible history experts say that barley was not as valuable as wheat. But it was the staple food of the masses and as such was a prominent feature of the early Israelites.  Nevertheless, the fact that barley is mentioned so often shows that the people of the period consumed great quantities of this grain, which played a vital role in their health and healing – whether they knew it or not. 

For thousands of years, barley has enjoyed a fine reputation as a food that improves potency, vigor and strength. Roman gladiators were sometimes called hordearii, meaning “barley eaters,” because the grain was added to their diet to give them bursts of strength before their contests. Today, we know from studies that barley is one of three balanced starches – along with rice and potatoes – that are rich in complex carbohydrates that fuel the body with a steady stream of energy.

Ginger is a natural herb often
 prescribed for stomach cramps. Like
 peppermint, it also calms the stomach
 by aiding in the digestion process. You
 can add ginger to a warm tea and the
 warm liquid will also help to calm the
 stomach cramps. Ginger can also be
 eaten, raw or crystallized, and it will
 still have the same calming effect on 
 your stomach. In addition ginger has
                              even been used by many people as an effective cure for motion sickness.

Peppermint is one of the natural healing foods for stomach cramps. It is known to calm the stomach and to help the digestion process. If you carry a few peppermints in your purse, you'll always have one to eat after every meal. This way you can help your stomach before the cramps start kicking in.

Please feel free to share some of your research with us as well as the things that you have included in your diet that is working for you. We would love to learn from you our readers and also help others that are think of starting to eat health or for those that have already began and would like to expand their knowledge of food, recipes and cooking habits.