Superfoods! In constant pursuit of Health, Wellness and the American Way!

Superfoods are found on the grocery shelf.  NO! Not the aisle that has frozen pizza, Frosted Flakes and Hamburger Helper, but other places, mostly found around the perimeter of the store.  They are common foods with amazing qualities.  How about the capability of healing what ails you?  The term superfoods is not a scientific term, it appears to be a marketing term but it is generally accepted that these foods are all rich in good things like antioxidants, phytonutrients, fiber and other great nutrients.  The common theme is that they have multiple nutrients in one food.  The benefits are, increased energy, better memory, lower blood pressure, immune system enhancement, et al . (For you lay folk, that means The list goes on and on.)

Understand that you never want to eat excessive amounts of any one of these foods.  Also, if you are on meds, then you want to be careful with certain foods.  Eating a variety  of these superfoods, in moderation,  each day, will help you live a better, healthier life.  Here are a few foods considered to be  superfoods.  You may be surprised:

Berries,  Nuts and seed: Pay attention to flax seed It is known to help with heart disease, cancer prevention, stroke prevention, diabetes prevention and, given to chickens, increases Omega 3 in their eggs.  Another one is Goji berry,  known mostly for anti-aging benefits, among other great benefits.

Eggs, beans lentils and yogurt.  Eggs are high in Omega 3 fatty oils and protein. Beans and lentils are a source of carbohydrates, fiber and protein. And they are low in calories.  Yogurt  is high in calcium, protein and potassium. Yogurt is also rich in probiotics.  Good for the stomach.

Salmon is in a category of its own.  High in Omega 3, it is also a great source of protein.  And it is delicious.  Beware farm fed salmon.  It is fed all kinds of bad things to make it big and fat, which end up in your body.  Don’t worry about mercury from ocean caught salmon.  The odds are minimal that ocean salmon is dangerous. Here is a great salmon commercial: Guy fights bear -

Two spices that come to mind are turmeric and ginger.  Both are great for digestion and both have other wonderful benefits such as the ability to fight off cancer cells.    

A little bit on supplements as a superfood.  Imagine a dozen or so superfoods combined into one super superfood.  The first is potentiated bee pollen.  Here comes another OMG!!  This is one outstanding supplement and SUPERFOOD!  Click here to see superfood supplements.    One capsule provides all those phytonutrients that I have talked about and regular users are reporting health benefits beyond belief.  Only I believe it. 

Juices that have 8 or more superfoods combined are amazing also.  It appears that these juices work in synergy and the benefits of one are enhanced by the benefits of the others.  This is not wive’s tales.  There is now more and more research proving this point. 

Let’s all be SUPER and eat SUPERFOODS.  This world will be a better, healthier, thinner place for all.  Thanks.  Click here to see 100 superfoods

Wellness Warrior gets on his high horse, an editorial.

I hear two excuses from people about why they don’t cook healthy meals at home. The first is “I don’t have the time.” and the second is “I get home, I am too tired.” …   “But”, the lady says,  “I get home from work and I am tired,  I don’t want to be slaving In the kitchen. It is easier to get some meals from Micky Dee’s.”  And she is 40 pounds overweight with high blood pressure.  “But”,  the man says, “I commute a long way and I don’t have time to go home and cook. KFC is on the way and my kids love it.”  And all the kids are bordering on obese.

I have some thoughts on this.  Let’s take on “tired” first.  If you get home tired, maybe it is because you don’t eat healthy foods.  Processed foods are “dead foods”.  This means they don’t provide energy, only calories.  Also they tend to be high in High-Fructose corn syrup and chemicals that no one can pronounce.  So here is the vicious cycle.  You eat dead foods and they don’t provide energy, then you crave more and you are caught.  It is almost safe to say that people are addicted to processed foods.  And there are more obese people than ever before. 

Energy comes from two sources, rich, wholesome foods and exercise.  Yes, exercise!!   Tony Robbins, whom I admire a great deal, says,  “The more energy you spend the more you have.” It is well known that if you keep moving you have more energy.  Energy requires fuel.  Fuel comes in eating healthy foods void of High fructose and chemicals.  The body does not know how to deal with these horrible substances.

Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.  Rodin

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.  William Penn

Let’s tackle the TIME issue.  If you don’t have time to cook, I say you don’t MAKE time to cook.  If you say you don’t have time to exercise,  I say you don’t MAKE time to exercise.  It truly is a matter of priorities.  So it easy to pick up a ready prepared meal at the store and have it handy in the fridge or the freezer.  It cooks in 30 minutes or less and you feed your family a pile of “Dead Food”.  

Let me tell you a story.  About 20 years ago my wife and I used to have an agreement.  Who ever got home first was supposed to start cooking.  I love cooking so much that I started devising ways to make sure I beat her home.  I mastered the 20 minute meal.  That is,  I could be serving up dinner in 20 minutes from the time I entered the kitchen.  Everything I cooked was from scratch and for the most part very healthy. Now I can still cook in about 20 to 30 minutes and not use a single item from a box, can or package.  That is, I can eat healthy.  So how much time do you save by popping in at the local fast food store?  Here is the real question,  is it worth saving 10 minutes to give you and your family a lifetime of bad eating habits, not to mention “dead foods”?  Rachel Ray has the “30 Minute Meal” on the food network and I love that show.  It truly is possible to have it in 30 minutes especially with a little help.

Here are some ideas on how to cut the time down.  You could prepare some of the night’s dinner in the morning when you have more energy and have it waiting in the fridge.  Any child over 8 can be taught to help with chores in the kitchen, slicing, dicing, shredding,  etc.  Cook Beans, Lentils and Rice on the weekend and they last all week in the fridge.  A stew or a chili makes great leftovers and can be served up later in the week. Vegetables that have been lightly steamed or stir fried are way healthier than food that has been overcooked. That is a huge time saver.

In conclusion, a life time of bad habits does not catch up to you  ‘til years later.  The weight adds slowly and it is very hard to get rid of and keep off.  Disease does not hit you until it is too late.  Then you run to the doctor and want him to fix you.  Doctors are not taught to cure, they are taught to treat symptoms. 

“CARPE DIEM”  Take charge of the day and your life.  It is easy to eat healthy.  It tastes better to eat healthy.  You will lose weight.  You will have more energy.  You will ward off sickness. So dust off those pots and pans and start planning a better life.   I have a few great recipes in my blog archive.  Please check them out.  Contact me if you want cooking lessons.  Thanks.

Fruits, Berries, Juices and Those Wonderful Antioxidants!

I was going to write a blog on the pomegranate vs cranberry.  While I was doing my research I found that not only was it an unfair fight but there might be juices that are better than both pomegranate and cranberry.  So I decided to write a little about all the best juices and their benefits.  I came to one conclusion:  You don’t have to drink massive amounts of juice and why not mix it up.  Have one juice this day and another juice the next.  Or even better combine them. Variety is the spice of life!

I am going to let you know about a few well known juices and a couple of not so well known varietals as well.  Have you heard of acai?  (It is pronounced ah-sigh-eeh) How about mangosteen?  And of course the dreaded amalaki (just kidding, Amalaki is awesome). 

My research shows that these three uncommon fruits above are probably kings of the pack.  Pomegranate comes next and (believe it or not) concord grape.  Blueberry and Black Cherry edge out the cranberry. Remember, in moderation, all juices are good for you and far better than soda. But I am writing about juices that are very high in antioxidants and as a result have all the phytonutrients that I wrote about the other day.

With all juices one of the dangers is sugar content and, hence, calories.  Also once juices have been cooked the natural properties of the fruits have been compromised.  Please avoid all juices that have been pasteurized and especially those with added sugars.  Try to stick with organic when you can.  It is always better to eat the fruit.  You get fiber that will not necessarily be in the juice and it has fewer calories.  Smoothies are a good way to have the whole fruit in a drinkable form.  Frozen fruits have all the nutrients (and sometimes more) than the fresh counterpart.  Dried fruits also retain their nutrients very well.  Finally powder form also does well with retention of all those good things.  Cook them and practically all the benefits are KAPUT! (That’s Yiddish for muerto)

Let’s start with Amalaki.  There has not been found a fruit that has more antioxidants and phytonutrients than this fruit.  It is about the size of a plum and grows in the mountains of Asia and is known for having curative properties.  The list goes on and on but I will list a few.  Colds and sore throats, breathing disorders, upset stomach, skin problems and inflammation are just a few of the benefits proven to be in this fruit.  It is bitter and does not make a good juice. There is one from a company called Zrii and is a mixed drink that balances all kinds of wonderful things.  Another way to get it is in powder form and would work in a smoothie.  (If you want to learn more about Zrii please contact me).  Here is a wonderful link on the benefits and curative powers of amalaki  http://planetwell.com/amalaki-health-benefits-and-healing-properties/

Mangosteen:   Pretty amazing fruit.  It comes from southeast asia and is a tropical fruit about the size of an apple.  This fruit knocks my socks off.  It is readily available in juice form at Whole Foods and your favorite organic fruit store.  You can’t get the fruit thanks to Uncle Sam ( I wonder where they get the time to ban a fruit).  The list of benefits is a mile long.  Here are just a few:  Fatigue, anti-imflammatory, helps with Pain, anti-ulcer,  anti-depressant,  memory,  cancer prevention,  anti-aging, etc.  Here is a link with more:  More on Mangosteen

Acai:  A berry about the size of a grape that grows in South America.  Not as much research but it is pretty amazing, none the less.  Benefits include:  joints, cancer prevention, weight loss, lowers cholesterol,  erectile dysfunction ( Sorry Viagra), and it is a detox.  Cool stuff.

There is a common theme here.  Antioxidants are your friend.  Phytonutrients are a must.  The more the merrier.  The beauty is they are also delicious.  And they come in a variety of ways from the actual fruit to juice to powder.

We know the other fruits. 

Pomegranite is not necessarily fun to eat. Those little seeds get stuck in my teeth.  But the juice is available.  And is known to be anti-cancer (including Breast, lung and prostate – equal opportunity fruit)  Great for brain development of children, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure.  Cool stuff.  Actually I love to eat pomegranate.  It goes slow but is delicious. 

Grape is good for the heart and does have fiber.  So do Blueberries and they are low in calories.  Black Cherry has been shown to reduce muscle pain due to exorcise.  Finally cranberries are great for the gastro-intestinal system (helps you pee better).  All these fruits are high in anti-oxidants and phytonutrients. 

I wrote blogs on both antioxidants and phytonutrients.  Please check out my archived blogs on them so you can learn more about what they actually are and why we need them.

  Follow this link to a page that has many of these fruit juices

Krill Oil – Omega 3 and the Killer Whale

Orca the fiercest and most beautiful mammal in the ocean.  I have never eaten its meat but it is high in omega 3 oils. 

Why? In a word, Krill.  A tiny little shrimp that hangs out in the northern hemisphere. Killer whales love krill. It’s like beans and rice to a Mexican.  (I can say that because I am Hispanic).  Krill is the source of Omega 3. Fish eat krill and hence are rich in omega 3. Cut the middle man and eat krill or at least ingest its oil. 

So Why omega 3 oils?  Let me be a teenager and text OMG!  Miracle comes to mind.  This oil will help with memory, heart disease, immunity, stroke, hypertension,  depression, joint pain and skin problems.  It is known to lower blood pressure and help with blood circulation.  (Amazing how obese people seem to suffer from all those ailments.  Sorry But I did not promise to be politically correct.) Omega 3 supplements are not cheap but not expensive either.  About $22 for 60 capsules.  That’s less than 40 cents a day.

Omega 3’s are fatty acids found in sea plants.  Krill are best at converting the fatty acids into usable omega 3.  Fish eat krill and also have omega 3 oil but the krill is step one so it is rated the best.  Make sure that the manufacturer performs high end filtering on the oil no matter the source.  Fish and shrimp are both susceptible to pollutions in the ocean.  Do not cook with  vegetable oils when taking omega 3 oil or supplements.  They compete with omega 3 and actually break down the compounds that are good for us.  Canola oil and olive oil do not do this. Salmon is the fish highest in omega 3 oils.

If you want to live a healthier lifestyle be sure to add omega 3 to your diet.  Please check out the following link for sources of healthy supplements  www.essanteorganics.com/wellnesswarrior

Phytonutrients – What are they and why we need them.

Imagine your life void of all illness.  No flu, no colds, nothing that ails you.  No you do not need to isolate yourself in a sterile environment.  Eat the right foods and get away from the bad ones.  My best friends and I now go by a new CREDO:  If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it. 

Look at the label on anything in your pantry. What in the world is a phthalate?  If it has 3 or 4 initials the word is so long they can’t fit it on the label.  Folks,  These are poisons!  Let’s not even get started on diet soda, the biggest poison of them all.  And they don’t even have to tell you what’s in one.  How did the soda companies become exempt?

Solution:  Fun foods and juices, easy to eat.  Fruits and vegetables, nuts and berries.   So what the heck is a Phytonutrient? We know about the common things found in foods. Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.  Phytonutrients are things we don’t give much thought to but are as vital as the basics. They are compounds apart from the afore mentioned nutrients that serve as antioxidants, immunity boosters,  anti-inflammatory, antivirals and antibacterials and cellular repair.  They come in many common foods.  Almost anything orange is full of these, cantaloupe yams and carrots.  Berries especially cranberries, Pomegranate, nuts, flax seed and olive oil are all rich in these.  Spices like ginger and turmeric are a must for their benefits.  There are some rare ones too,  the acai berry and amalaki highest in the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant world.

Technical elements that are part of the phytonutrient family are licopene found in tomatoes. Anthocyanin is found in berries.  Flavanoids are found in chocolate.  See how fun it is to eat healthy?

Bottom line, these foods increase your metabolism,  keep bad things away (bacteria and viruses), help with memory, help with alertness.  They actually cure you. Who doesn’t want these benefits? One thing they don’t help with is baldness,  you should see the top of my head.

OK folks let’s get started.  Repeat the CREDO:  IF YOU CAN’T PRONOUNCE IT DON’T EAT IT!!!  Follow this and teach all your friends and neighbors and watch the weight fall off.  Go get some almonds, cranberries and dark chocolate and make all your snacks healthy foods.  What’s wrong with a carrot and celery stick as a light snack?  A bite of dark chocolate with your coffee goes a long way. 

Go here to find some supplements that have phytonutrients:   www.essanteorganics.com/wellnesswarrior

Ode on Beta Carotenes (or the color orange)

I don’t want to sound mean, In fact I’d like everyone to be lean,

So I am here to tout beta-carotene!

I wish my friend Bugs Bunny was here to tell

The colour Orange is oh so swell

It comes in lots of  varieties,  many you’ll know

Carrots,  Apricots, Cantaloupe and the Sweet potato

The two best are Crude Palm Oil and Apricots

As well as potato chips and hot dogs (just kidding, actually they’re not)

Pineapple,  Oranges,  Pumpkins and squash

Very few of these do you need to wash

Not all carotenes come with and orange tint

Some come in yellow, green and red, that’s just a hint

Radish,  spinach,  turnips and beets

Sorry but not all of these are my favorite treats.

Corn, Peppers,  Berries and Bran

Oh my! That’s way cool man!

What are the benefits, you might say

The simple answer is vitamin A

It helps with Skin immunity,  cancer and eyes

So many more they reach the skies

You may not like all these vegetables, this I knew.

But get rid of those processed foods and try a few.

Just A little warning - When eating these things, eat lots of leafy greens

This way you'll stay away from an O.D. of carotenes

You might just find that these fruits and veggies are not so bad

Just a couple everyday and you’ll sure be glad.

http://www.essanteorganics.com/wellnesswarrior