Barley

Barley helps weight loss! Barley has been known as an excellent food source that encourages physical vigor and potency.

A ½ cup serving of barley contains:
Calories:    172
Protein:        5.5 grams
Sodium:     5 grams
Carbohydrate:    36.3 grams
Potassium:    130 milligrams

While barley helps weight loss it also has many and varied health benefits, including the ability to:

lower blood cholesterol
lower and/or inhibit cancer
improve bowel function
relieve constipation

Barley (along with potatoes and rice) is a balanced starch which has proven beneficial effects on our health.  Barley is rich in complex carbohydrates which fuels the body and gives a steady supply of energy.

Research has found, has compounds that block the liver’s ability to make ‘bad’ cholesterol that damages bloody vessels which leads to heart attacks and strokes.

Barley has been shown to have potential as a cancer-preventative due to its ‘protease’ inhibitors. The chemical compounds suppress cancer-causing agents in the intestinal tract, and stops tumours from forming.

Being a low sodium, low fat food source that boosts the body’s energy levels, barley helps weight loss so time to add this wonderful food to your diet!

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Joanne
Sacred Scribes

Bananas And Plantains

Are bananas and plantains the same? Bananas and plantains were first grown in India some 4,000 years ago and have been known as a treatment for peptic and duodenal ulcers, gastritis and flatulence.

An average serving size of 1 medium banana contains:
Calories:    100
Potassium:    400 milligrams
Carbohydrate:    27 grams
Vitamin B6:    26%
Vitamin C:    17%

An average serving size of (cooked) plantain contains:
Calories:    179
Potassium:    716 milligrams
Carbohydrate:    48 grams
Vitamin B6:    19%
Vitamin C:    28%

Bananas and plantains contain many healthful benefits as they both:
– prevent and heal ulcers
– lower blood pressure
– lower blood cholesterol
– alleviate PMS (pre-mentrual syndrome

Bananas and plantains strengthen the surface of the cells of the stomach lining, acting as a thick barrier against pepsin and digestive acids.

Bananas and plantains are packed full of potassium, which plays a role in controlling blood pressure.  Bananas have been shown to contain pectin, which is a proven cholesterol lower.

The fibre in bananas and plantains is excellent for the heart as it naturally lowers blood cholesterol levels. Eat up and stay healthy!

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Joanne
Sacred Scribes

Asparagus

The humble asparagus is packed with valuable vitamins and minerals, and is an important source of Vitamins A and C, which are reputed to help reduce the risk of developing cancers.

A serving size of ½ cup cooked asparagus contains:
Calories:    20
Carbohydrate:    4
Potassium:    279 milligrams
Folic acid:    0.12 milligrams
Vitamin C:    43%
Vitamin A:    18%
Vitamin E:    25%
Selenium

Eating asparagus brings us many benefits as it:
– lowers blood cholesterol
– stimulates the kidneys
– reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease
– contains essential vitamins and minerals

Asparagus has long been eaten as a natural way to relive water-retention, as it’s high water content helps to flush out the body’s system.

Fresh asparagus is ideal for heart-healthy meals as it has no fat, cholesterol or sodium, and has a good amount of cholesterol-lowering fibre.

Asparagus contains folic acid and B group vitamins (B1, B2, B3) which are said to trigger the production of ‘histamine’ – a substance in the blood and body tissue) It’s all about keeping your body healthy!

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Joanne
Sacred Scribes

Apricots

Apricots nutrition have come to be considered a key to health and longevity, as they offer plenty of potassium which is a valuable tool in helping control high blood pressure.  Apricots also contain amounts of iron and copper making them high in minerals.

A serving size of 3 fresh apricots or 10 dried halves contains:
Calories:        40
Fat:        0.4 grams
Potassium:     365 milligrams
Carbohydrate:    14.7 grams
Vitamin A:        12%

Apricots nutrition contain the following health benefits:

– builds up mineral levels in the body
– lowers the risk of cancer, particularly smoking related forms of cancer (eg lung cancer)
– the ability to control blood pressure

Apricots (much like orange and yellow vegetables) are known to be a power-house of beta-carotene;  the plant source of Vitamin A.  3 fresh apricots or 10 dried halves gives the body the required amount of daily beta-carotene.  Apricots are extremely nutritious, delicious and high in beta-carotene.

Caution:
Apricots have seeds (pits or kernels) that are poisonous as they contain ‘amygdalin’, which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide in the stomach.

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Joanne
Sacred Scribes

How To Use Food To Maximize Health

Learning how to use food to maximize health is our greatest ally in maintaining wellness. Staying healthy and preventing disease depends upon many factors such as your heredity, sex, age, environment, the amount of exercise you do, your diet and past diet, and your ability to handle stress, tension and anxiety. These are all connected, just as the mind, body and soul are connected. We may not be able to control our heredity or environment, but we do have control over what we eat and how much we exercise.

When we learn how to use food to maximize health we are able to understand the therapeutic powers of food and how we are able to incorporate and utilize them in our lives. Eating the ‘right’ kinds of foods (and avoiding the ‘wrong’ ones) will allow us to reach our maximum health and wellness potential.

Although no particular food or diet is a ‘cure’ by itself, when varied ‘good foods’ are incorporated into your life on a daily basis it will positively affect your entire being; mind, body and soul.

Nature’s healing foods tend to be low in fat and calories, encouraging weight loss and/or weight maintenance. Healing foods are everyday foods found in our supermarkets and are easy to come by. When we know how to use food to maximize health it proves to be one of the most simplest way to bring health and vitality into your everyday life, bringing long term benefits.

When we know how to use food to maximize health we choose to eat more of nature’s healing foods (and less processed and ‘bad’ foods) to change and transform our lives. By becoming aware of the values and benefits of eating healthy, healing foods, you will come to see food as a simple and effective way of helping you towards your optimum health.

Because all foods contain both known and unknown substances and ingredients necessary to maintain health it is essential to vary our foods and eat a balanced diet. When we know how to use foods to maximize health, we can be assured that all of our nutritional requirements are met.

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Joanne
Sacred Scribes

Whole Foods For High Energy

Whole foods for high energy are also very important for your body. Seeds, grains and nuts contain all the important nutrients essential for growth and maintaining optimum health. These include fatty acids which are essential for increasing the body’s energy levels and reducing fatigue.

SEEDS
The protein content of seeds is higher than meat and are the highest protein vegetable. Seeds contain nearly all essential amino acids the body needs. Seeds are best consumed raw and need to be chewed thoroughly prior to swallowing, as they need to be broken down. Other methods are to soak overnight, grind in a coffee mill or liquefy in a blender as part of a health drink or smoothie.

NUTS
Nuts are best eaten fresh and raw, with the most nutritious being almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts.

GRAINS
Grains such as millet and buckwheat are best for increasing energy levels, with protein levels comparable to red meat. Grains must be cooked in order to release all of the vital minerals. Sprouting grains also contain and release these essential minerals.

LEGUMES AND BEANS
Beans and legumes are a complete source of protein, in particular, soybeans.  Beans and legumes should not be eaten raw.

AVOCADO
Avocados contain complete nutrition  –  proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.

MUSHROOMS
Mushrooms are low in calories and are an excellent source of vitamins (in particular the B group of vitamins) and are high in riboflavin, niacin and pantothenic acid. Mushrooms are an excellent source of potassium and copper as well as other minerals. 70 to 90% of mushroom protein can be easily digested due to their essential amino acid content.  Mushrooms are best eaten raw or lightly cooked.

POTATOES
The humble potato is high in protein and complex carbohydrates.

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Joanne
Sacred Scribes

Health And WellBeing

In today’s world, people are looking to the past in order to find a better future for themselves and their families. Many around the world have chosen to regain control of their own lives and lifestyle choices in an effort to increase and maintain their personal, optimum health and well being.

Increasingly, people are turning back to ancient and natural ways and making use of Nature’s pharmacy with its potent and widely proven ‘medicine chest’ full of fruit, vegetables, herbs and the like.

Although we can be thankful for the medical and pharmaceutical advancements of our modern age, we can easily learn about and utilize the positive potentials of natural foods, vitamins, minerals and nutrients and actively bring their ‘goodness’ into our lives in order to enhance our personal health and well being.

The state of our health and well being is our personal responsibility, and when we take control of our own lives and lifestyle choices and choose to make healthful choices, we positively empower ourselves.

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Joanne
Sacred Scribes