The language of the Universe is symbols. Nature’s design is so perfect that the shape and form of produce from the Plant Kingdom acts like a big sign and indicates what a particular item is good for. In this case, it is obvious that since the walnut looks like a human brain, its purpose is to support this organ.  Let’s get to know this amazing nut a bit deeper.

History: Called ‘Junglans Regia’ by the Romans, walnuts date back to 7000 B.C. English Walnuts were brought into the United States from ancient Persia in the early 1800s by Franciscan monks, who settled along the California coast. But way before that, there was mention of walnut trees growing in ancient Babylon at around 2000 B.C. The Greeks, and Romans also cultivated Persian walnut trees, which are what today we call English Walnuts. Once already in California, the English walnuts were distributed under the name ‘Mission Walnuts’ because the first trees planted were those grown in Catholic missions. Nowadays, central California produces 99% of the total U.S. Commercial walnut supplies of English walnuts.

Description: Walnuts come inside a hard and round-looking shell. Once opened, they look like a caramel-colored human brain. There is a thin layer of light brownish skin, and the flesh is white (yellow flesh is a sign of rancidity). Organic walnuts have darker brown shells. You can purchase walnuts in their shells or out of their shells, as halves. Although the English walnut is the most popular type in the United States, there are other varieties, such as the Black walnut (Junglas nigra), and the White or ‘butternut’ walnut, (Junglas cinerea). Black walnuts have a stronger flavor and thicker shells, while white walnuts are sweeter and oilier.

Nutritional info: Walnuts are an amazing brain food. They contain the highest amount of omega-3 fats compared to any other nut. This is important for us because the membranes of all of our cells, including our brain cells or neurons, are primarily composed of fats. Anything that wants to get into or out of a cell must pass through the cell’s outer membrane. Omega-3 fats make this process much more smooth and easy, helping the cell to bring in nutrients while getting rid of wastes. Besides being the best electrical conduct for optimal neuron-to-neuron communication, omega-3 essential fatty acids help lower triglycerides, reduce plaque formation, and lower state of depression by boosting our mood level. This alpha linolenic acid also promotes bone health by helping prevent excessive bone loss. Here are other benefits of this star nut:

✻ Walnuts for weight management: Eating about 4 to 6 walnuts before meals decreases levels of hunger while providing essential nourishment, say experts at Loma Linda University.

✻ Walnuts are loaded with minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, manganese, and potassium. Manganese alone is essential for growth, reproduction, and the proper metabolism of sugars, insulin, and cholesterol.

✻ They help in lowering the risk of cancer and prevent/reduce cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s.

✻ Support a good nights sleep through melatonin content in bio-available form. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland, in charge or inducing or regulating sleep. A published study by the University of Texas has shown between 2.5 to 4.5 ng/gram amounts of melatonin present in walnuts (in bio-available form) while also demonstrating that eating walnuts triples blood levels of melatonin and increases antioxidant activity.

✻ The Nurses’ Health Study shows that women who eat at least one ounce of nuts per week have a 25% lower risk of developing gallstones.

✻ Walnuts reduce risk of coronary heart disease and atherosclerosis and lower LDL cholesterol  levels while increasing HDL cholesterol. This is all due to walnuts’ high ALA (omega-3 fat) content.

✻ They help prevent and control high blood pressure, improve cardiovascular and artery function and all around heart health.

✻ More walnut benefits include better cognitive function, anti-inflammatory effect, immunity support and anti-cancer properties. They also contain around 16 antioxidant phenols, vitamin E, both ellagic and gallic acid, protein (especially tryptophan) and fiber.

✻ One ounce of walnuts (one quarter cup or 12-14 walnuts) provides 4 grams of protein, 2 grams of fiber, and 2.5 omega-3 fatty acids.

Application: You can go very simple or get creative when it comes to walnuts. They are a great add to just about any dish – or just as a snack all by themselves. Chop them up real fine, and they are the perfect garnish for a salad. Add them to a smoothie, vegan muffins, and rawnolas for breakfast. Make a delicious and nutty milk as well as a raw pie crust. Add them to vegan-raw pesto, raw snacks, vegetable sautés, and favorite noodle dishes. Make vegan stuffing for holidays or make a beautiful walnut paté.

You know the saying, “great things come in small packages”? Well, we believe they were definitely referring to the health bonanza that we know as the blueberry. Blueberries, you had us at ‘brain food’. Not only are these fruits beautiful in form and color but, as small as they look, they are loaded with health benefits and bursting with nutrients and flavor.

History: Blueberries are estimated by botanists to be more than 13,000 years old. They are one of the few fruits native to North America, of the genus Vaccinium, a name that comes from the Latin root meaning “cow”. Wild bears will eat nothing except juicy blueberries when in season and will travel with an empty stomach for ten to fifteen miles per day to sniff out a blueberry patch. The American Indian held the wild blueberry in very high esteem due to the fact that the blossom end of each blueberry forms a five-pointed star. It was believed that the “Great Spirit” sent these star berries to relieve the hunger of children during a famine. In 1960 when the colonists established settlement at Plymouth, they learned from Native Americans how to gather blueberries, dry them under the summer sun and store them for the winter. In time, blueberries became an important food source and were preserved, and later canned. A beverage made with blueberries was an important staple for Civil War soldiers. In the 1880s, a blueberry canning industry began in the Northeast USA.  North America is the world’s leading blueberry producer, accounting for nearly 90% of world production at the present time. The North American harvest runs from mid-April through early October, with peak harvest in July, which is also known as National Blueberry Month.

Description: They are small, blue to purple/black-colored fruits with a white-green flesh.  Each blueberry contains hundreds of tiny seeds. They grow in clusters and range in size  from that of a small pea to a marble. Blueberries are nice and firm or soggy when they are a little passed. Their flavor also ranges from deliciously sweet to sourly tart. This depends on if they are organic or conventional and also if they are fresh and ripe, not yet ripe, or defrosted.

Nutrition: Blueberries are classified as a brain food but also parts of the blueberry plant were used as medicine,  as a relaxant during childbirth. Early medical books show blueberry tea was used by wives of settlers during labor. Blueberry juice was used for “old coughs” and tea made from wild blueberry leaves was believed to be a good tonic to help purify the blood. Studies say that a diet rich in blueberries significantly improved both the learning capacity and motor skills of aging animals, making them equivalent to younger ones. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry show that phenolic compounds in blueberries can inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death).  The Nurses Health Study, conducted between 1984 and 2002, revealed that women whose diets provided the most kaempferol, a chemical present in blueberries, had a 40% reduction in risk of ovarian cancer, compared to women eating the least kaempferol-rich foods. In addition to blueberries, foods richest in kaempferol include onions, curly kale, leeks, spinach, and broccoli.

Blueberries can relieve both diarrhea and constipation.  They promote urinary tract health, reduce inflammation, reduce the ability of e-coli to adhere in the bladder, and protects against macular degeneration. Blueberries are an antioxidant powerhouse. They contain ellagic acid, an antioxidant compound that promotes gastrointestinal health.  They are also packed with antioxidant phytonutrients called anthocyanidins, which neutralize free-radical damage to  the collagen matrix of the cells and tissues that can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, heart disease and cancer.  Anthocyanins, the blue-red pigments found in blueberries, improve the integrity of support structures in the veins and entire vascular system. Anthocyanins have been shown to enhance the effects of Vitamin C, improve capillary integrity, and stabilize the collagen matrix (the ground substance of all body tissues).  A recent study showed that that blueberries deliver 38% more free radical fighters (antioxidants) than red or white wine do. (So the red and white wine being good for your health excuse is over).

Application: They can be made into jams, pies and muffins, pancakes or even tea.  For best nutritional use, add a handful to your morning smoothie, to your rawnola with nut milk, or simply snack on them while at the movies.  In the summer, you can make vegan-raw blueberry sherbet, a tart, or coconut/blueberry vegan ice cream for a tasty, refreshing and nutrient-dense treat.

Sources:  http://www.blueberry.org/blueberries.htm, http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl, http://www.wildblueberries.net/bluehistory.html, http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8,

When we talk about a powerful nutrient-dense meal to start out your day energy-fueled and mentally prepared, we call upon: Our ultimate smoothie. And, yes, this smoothie is also the perfect replenish-and-repair drink to have after a great workout, filled with nourishment for your body and mind.  Because breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the one that will kick start, support and carry out the performance of  your mind and body, this ultimate smoothie is the perfect candidate for the job. In the morning, we must be sure to provide our mind and body with enough of the right nutrients to generate cellular energy, handle stress, and ensure efficient work performance, communication and understanding with the external and your own internal world.  So, the focus of this smoothie is cellular and brain (mind) nutrition.  Let’s get started:

Prep: Place all ingredients in blender, add pure drinking water or homemade nut milk and blend until very smooth.  I make Brazil nut milk because they contain a very high amount of the mineral selenium. Selenium is one of the most important elements in protecting against cancer, improves immunity and it is a very powerful antioxidant that works to neutralize free radicals from causing cellular damage.

Nutritional Info:

• ❉ Banana: Rich in potassium which promotes bone health, is an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function.  We use this as a natural sweetener, making the dairy-free smoothie creamy and rich.  Bananas also help activate the cells that compose the stomach lining, making them produce a thicker protective (mucus) barrier against stomach acids. Eat them not too ripe nor too green.

• ❉ Berries: Strawberries blueberries and raspberries are all brain foods. They are all mineral-dense, powerhouses of antioxidants that also keep your memory sharp.  Blueberries benefits include urinary tract health, mental alertness and visual support; they have also been called a superfood  that aids with memory retention.  Raspberries  have a whopping 8 grams of fiber in one cup and contain ellagic acid (also in strawberries) that fights cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.

• ❉ Bee Pollen: One of our featured HFoods, we call it “Nature’s Perfect Food”. Find out why.

• ❉ Lecithin: Used for mental clarity, lecithin is the form of Phosphorous that the brain needs in order to absorb this mineral.  It protects cells from oxidation, supports the circulatory system and keeps many brain functions including memory, in top shape.  All neuron activity requires phosphorous in the form of lecithin.

• ❉ Chlorella: A powerful combination of amino and nucleic acids, B vitamins, Omega- 3 and -6 fatty acids, a variety of minerals and Vitamins C and E for mental clarity and sharpness.  It has the highest amount of chlorophyll then any other plant, balances blood sugars, improves mental vitality and multiplies your T-cells times four, strengthening your immune system. This powerful superfood has a range of nutrients to release the energy you need throughout the day. Chlorella is a popular HFood here at HLife, learn why.

• ❉ Dulse: Rich in iron, this red algae is loaded with essential minerals and almost all B vitamins, including Vitamin B12, C, A and E.  It is particularly high in iodine, a metabolic mineral very important for the thyroid and a variety of different gland and brain function.  Also has the highest frequency of all essential minerals, is a controller for calcium metabolism and protects the brain by destroying toxins in the blood before it passes the blood brain barrier.

• ❉ Spirulina: This blue-green algae is a complete protein (65 to 71% protein) with all 22 amino acids, the entire vitamin B family including B-12 (with more than liver), naturally chelated minerals, and essential fatty acids like gamma linolic acid (GLA, the only food source other then chlorella and mother’s milk). It is easily digestible for rapid and long-range energy.

• ❉ Ceylon Cinnamon: Regulates blood sugar, fights E.coli bacteria, lowers LDL cholesterol, fights against candida overgrowth, has anti-clotting effects, anti-cancer cells, reliefs arthritis pain, is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.  One study found that simply smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.

• ❉ Flaxseed: High in fiber (cleans your intestines, promoting bowel regularity), and absorbs excess liquid, protecting the digestive tract; has omega-3 fatty acids and phytochemicals called lignans, which regulate hormone balance and have antioxidant properties.  Also helps to reduce total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

]]> http://silvieandmaryl.com/2010/03/hkitchen-the-ultimate-smoothie/feed/ 8 http://silvieandmaryl.com/2009/10/phosphorous-the-light-bearer/ http://silvieandmaryl.com/2009/10/phosphorous-the-light-bearer/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:25:10 +0000 Silvie Celiz http://silvieandmaryl.com/?p=640

Phosphorous has been called “the illumination mineral”. Its name comes from the Greek word ‘fosfóros’, which means “the bearer of light” (fos “light” + pherí  “to bear, to carry”.). In his book “Spiritual Nutrition”, Gabriel Cousins, M.D states that, throughout history, phosphorous has been seen as the mineral that helps link the soul with matter. This is because phosphorous is necessary for neurological activity.  Every time we have a thought we burn up phosphorous. However, for the brain to properly absorb phosphorous, it needs to be in the form of LECITHIN, which is different than the phosphorous that we need for building bones, another of its tasks.

How much thinking do you do? People who do a lot of memorizing, studying, intellectual functioning, visualizing, mental work, office work, scientists and pregnant woman need a higher level of phosphorous in their diet. Since we usually think many thoughts per minute, burning phosphorous by the second, one thing is for sure: We have to replenish!!

We must replenish our minerals daily, especially those that are required for cell nutrition, which is the case of phosphorous. As an essential mineral for spiritual life, it is said to have to do with psychic perceptions, idealistic tendencies, humanitarianism and philanthropy.

The best source of any nutrient is real food and phosphorous is no exception. The human body, so smart and intuitive, prefers natural vitamins and minerals as opposed to synthetic. For example, according to Lester Packer, PH.D. , Director of the Packer Lab at the University of California at Berkeley, who is regarded as the world’s foremost antioxidant research scientist, synthetic vitamin E is a petroleum-based product that does not function or look like natural vitamin E.  Who wants to ingest petroleum? Apparently, all the people that consume conventionally grown corn do.

Two vegan foods that are high in phosphorous/lecithin are organic soy lecithin and bee pollen. Bee pollen has 15%-20% lecithin and is a nutrient-dense superfood, loaded with vitamins, almost all known minerals, enzymes, trace elements and amino acids. I personally add 2 tablespoons of organic soy lecithin and two tablespoons of organic bee pollen to my morning smoothie ‘cause I burn that phosphorous all day long!

Minerals are so vital to our life – our bodies are made out of minerals and a deficiency can create a serious imbalance. Minerals are frequencies of light and information; the basis of all the organs and cellular structures in the body. We will be posting information about each mineral, one at a time, and in small quantities so everyone can process, digest and assimilate the information and familiarize his or herself with them. Achieving balance and health in all aspects of our being, and our lives, is our conscious responsibility. We are all, we are ONE.