The Curved Yellow Fruit

THE CURVED YELLOW FRUIT

Bananas are very interesting fruit; they're natures fast food.  They come in there own wrappers and are packed full of nutrients and fiber.  Even the peels can be used (relieve bug bites and even remove warts, among other benefits).  Most people believe bananas are high in sugars and should be avoided, but the primary source of  these sugars are naturally occurring fructose, which comes with a bundle of nutrients and fiber. 10% of RDA fiber is provided in one banana, along with acting as a prebiotic, which stimulates the growth of friendly digestive enzyme in our gut flora.  In endurance activities, eating a banana every 15 minutes provides the needed potassium for optimum performance.

The benefits of bananas are endless.  Read here: "Bananas aren't just for monkeys".

Bananas provide both prebiotic and probiotic benefits depending on ripeness. Prebiotic (ripe) stimulates growth while probiotic (unripened) feeds the gut enzymes with digestive-resistance starch.

There are many ways to eat green bananas.

If you are in a hurry to get out the door in the morning (you really should slow down!), grab a couple of nature's fast foods and enjoy the benefits.  They are also great in the evening to help you relax, containing magnesium and trytophan which converts to serotonin and melatonin) helping to have a restful sleep.

There's really no need to buy organic bananas unless you are using the peels.  

GO BANANAS!

Here's a link to an older Rich Roll podcast on the benefits of eating fruit:
 Michael Arnstein "The Fruitarian"

Check out the best pharmaceutical ad: Nature RX

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Eat more veg.

Judd

The Power of the Sweet Potato

The Awesome Sweet Potato

Most everyone has sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving.  Sweet potatoes, commonly known for their high content of beta carotene, are one of the worlds most nutrient dense foods.   High in fiber, almost twice as much as white and yellow potatoes, it gives them a "slow burning" quality which helps to ensure a balanced supply of energy.  Sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and their sugars are slowly released into the bloodstream as not to increase sugar spikes.  They are a great source of vitamin B6 and magnesium(which is the relaxation and anti-stress mineral), which is necessary for healthy arteries, blood, heart and nerve function.  It is estimated that 80% of  North Americans are deficient in this important mineral.  Being high in beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, make the sweet potato a powerhouse food for healthy skin and hair.

Fiber, fiber, fiber!

Sweet potatoes are one of the best foods for weight loss.  Being high in fiber, nutrient dense and a slow burning energy they are weight loss super-foods.  Served with the skin on, they contain a certain type of fiber called resistant starch.  Foods high in this type of starch helps reduces obesity.  Here's a great article about sweet potatoes and weight loss.

Here's a link to a great podcast with Dr Garth Davis a leader in bariatric medicine.

A quick and easy recipe from Chef Chloe Coscarelli and her "Vegan Italian Kitchen cook book.

YOU MUST BUY THIS COOKBOOK!!

Rosemary Sweet Potatoes with Sweet "n" Spicy Mustard

Preheat oven 450'

Cut unpeeled 1-2 lbs sweet potatoes into bite-sized cubes.

Toss potatoes with olive oil and fresh chopped rosemary and sea salt.

Roast on a flat baking sheet for 30-40 minutes stirring frequently until tender.

Dipping sauce:

In a small bowl combine 1/3 cup spicy brown mustard and 1/3 cup of brown sugar

Serve with steamed broccoli with garlic"butter"sauce(garlic salt,nutritional yeast and "Earth Balance")

Have a great week. 

Be kind.

Judd

Make a Change, Let's Get Healthy!

Make a Change, Let's Get Healthy!

It seems like every commercial on TV wants to sell you a new automobile or a big pharma has the next best drug to help you with what ails you.   Most physicians are quick to write a new prescription to solve your woes.   Instead of going to the pharmacy, we should head to the "farmacy" for a real dose of medicine.   The United States is in a major health and environmental crisis.  The Standard American Diet (yes it is "SAD") is the leading cause!   It isn't just killing people its also killing our planet.  Whether you want to believe or not, industrialized animal agriculture is the number 1 issue to almost every environmental problem we are having.  From fertilizer induced algae blooms to the loss of  oxygen producing rain forests. Mass clearings for crop feed production for animal agriculture are dwindling our precious life-giving resources.

One way we can help do our part to stop this insanity is to start eating a plant-based diet.  Heart disease, obesity and diabetes are the number one killers in America.  They can be prevented and even reversed through a plant-based diet.  According to Kaiser Permanente it's not hype, it's a proven fact.  

On the latest Rich Roll podcast he talks with Alexis Fox and Micah Risk from Lighter.

Lighter is a powerful tool to help us eat better.   By answering a few questions about yourself you will then get a weekly menu with daily recipes.  All of it is plant-based and helps us to know what to eat, how to prepare it and even what groceries to buy.  Soon they will even offer grocery delivery to your door!  I have already tried many recipes and they are awesome.

Here is a quick snack I made today:

Smoky Roasted Chickpeas

 1/3 tsp smoked paprika.

1 1/2 tsps olive oil.

1 1/2 pinches salt

1 15oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed.

Preheat oven to 425'

Pat dry chickpeas (dry=crispy).

Toss in olive oil, paprika and salt.

Spread in one layer on a baking sheet.

Bake 30-40 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.

For more info on Chickpeas.

It's up to us to make a change.  Let's get healthy, the planet needs us.

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Judd