Category Archives: Articles

Health Benefits of Raw Sunflower Seeds

Health Benefits of Raw Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds have the power to nourish the entire body.

  1. They are a rich source of easily digestible protein which is essential for the repair of tissues, nerves, and cells.
  2. Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of Vitamin D, B-complex, Vitamin K, and Vitamin E. Vitamin E, also  aid in preventing heart disease, cancer, and eye degeneration such as cataracts.
  3. Sunflower seeds are also high in selenium, magnesium, zinc, and iron which helps to strengthen the blood and immune system.
  4. They are an ideal food to eat for those who are seeking better sleep and weight loss.
  5. Sunflower seeds have also been known to help prevent asthma, atherosclerosis, stroke, heart attack, clogged arteries, and osteoarthritis.
  6. They contain no cholesterol and are very low in saturated fats making them highly beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
  7. Raw sunflower seeds also contain pectin which has the unique ability to bind to radioactive residues and remove them safely from the body.
  8. Sunflower seeds can help to relieve sensitivity to light, eyestrain, and farsightedness.
  9. They also are highly beneficial for strengthening hair and nails.

Why raw?

Why raw?
So what exactly are raw foods, and what makes them so healthy?
 
A raw diet is most often composed of raw plant foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.  These foods deliver quality oxygen and water to your body, and they are a good source of antioxidants and fiber.  They are rich in enzymes and probiotics, which are important in metabolic and digestive function:  in short, they help make your guts work!  Raw foods also help balance your body’s pH, which makes you tired and achy when you’re feeling off.  Raw food is very cleansing, healing and refreshing to the body.  You don’t need to go all-raw to reap the benefits – try adding more of them into your daily routine and see how you feel.

Why are raw nuts and seeds good for you?

Why are raw nuts and seeds good for you?

Almonds:         Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc

Benefits the bones, brain, heart, lungs and alkalizing to the blood

Brazil Nuts:     Amino Acids, Calcium, Selenium

Beneficial to the thyroid

Cashews:         Copper, Magnesium, Tryptophan, Phosphorous

Beneficial to the heart, prevent gallstones, good antioxidant source

Chia Seeds:     Omega-3, Fatty Acid, Calcium, Potassium, Antioxidants

Increases endurance in athletes

Hazelnuts:       Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin E

Benefits teeth and gums and heart health

Hemp Seeds:   Omega-3, Amino Acids, building blocks of Protein

Macadamia:    Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Selenium, Zinc

Benefits the liver, improve anemia and aids heart health

Pecans:               B-complex, especially high in B-6

Benefits the nervous system, pregnant and nursing women

Pistachios:      Similar to almonds, but higher in Iron and B-1, Protein

Benefit the heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines

Pumpkin Seeds:  Omega-3, B-complex, Calcium

Great for the heart, dry skin and brittle hair

Sesame Seeds:  Vitamin E, Iron, high in Calcium

Beneficial in preventing osteoporosis

Sunflower Seeds:  Zinc, B-complex

Benefits the prostate, heart, intestines, nervous system and eyes

Walnuts:   Essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, Calcium, Potassium

Very beneficial to heart health

Nine Green Powered Foods to Add to Your Diet

Nine Green Powered Foods to Add to Your Diet
1. Alfalfa:  is a member of the pea family mostly grown as cattle forage.  Nutritional properties: Alfalfa contains protein, chlorophyll, iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus, along with  number of vitamins; long used as a blood purifier and anti-ulcer remedy; acts as a mild laxative and diuretic.
2. Seaweed:  includes many marine plants, including dulse, kelp and rockweed.  Nutritional properties: Seaweed contains iodine, a mineral crucial for a healthy thyroid (the body’s master energy controller), and it is also rich in protein and minerals.
3. The Brassica Family:  include broccoli and its cousins cabbage, kale, collard greens, and more.  Nutritional properties: Brassicas contain cancer-fighting substances known as indoles; members of the family provide various nutrients, including vitamins C and K, iron and zinc.
4. Spinach: is a common leafy green.  Nutritional properties:  best known for its iron content (thanks, Popeye), spinach contains other minerals, vitamins A, C, E and K, several B vitamins and lutein, which supports eye health.
5. Barley Grass: is the early vegetative growth phase of a common cereal grain.  Nutritional properties:  Barley Grass contains vitamins B12, C and E, along with minerals and enzymes; it helps fight inflammation.
6. Sprouts: are seeds, such as chickpeas, rice grains, mung beans and alfalfa, that have been germinated. Nutritional properties:  Sprouts are a rich source of protein (including essential amino acids), numerous vitamins, fiber and plant enzymes.
7. Wheatgrass: like barley grass, is a cereal grain in an early growth phase.  Nutritional properties:  Wheatgrass supplies abundant chlorophyll, amino acids, minerals, vitamins and enzymes and is used as a blood tonic.
8. Chlorella in a single-celled green algae.  Nutritional properties: long used as a blood cleanser, chlorella has been found to help the body break down toxins while boosting immune function.
9. Spirulina: is a type of blue-green algae.  Nutritional properties:  Spirulina supplies complete protein along with essential fatty acids, beta-carotene, numerous minerals and Vitamins B, C, D and E; frequently used as an energy booster.

Disease Preventing Foods

Disease Preventing Foods

Life Extending – Disease Preventing Foods

Asparagus:When eaten raw, asparagus provides the body with a number of minerals, including trace minerals. It also offers a wide range of phyto-nutrients. Asian research shows that asparagus assists the renal (kidney) area of the body, which has a direct effect on emotions.

Avocado: Avocadoes contain 14 minerals, all of which regulate body functions and stimulate growth. They also contain a high amount of fruit oil giving them a high food-energy value. Avocadoes contain no starch, little sugar, and very few carbohydrates.

Beets: High in Vitamin A, beets are good for the eliminative system, as well as the digestive and lymphatic systems.

Blueberries, Blackberries, Raspberries: Tufts University’s Center on Aging determined that there are abundant antioxidants in these raw fruits. Antioxidants reverse the harmful effect of aging on neuronal (brain cell) signals. Maintaining these signals is crucial to maintaining memory and preventing Alzheimer’s, as well as alleviating depression and melancholia.

Carrots: The most neutral of all vegetables, carrots are so high in Vitamin A they have been used extensively to improve eyesight and as a general body builder.

Celery: An alkaline, protective food, celery aids digestion, counteracts acidosis, halts fermentation, and purifies the bloodstream. It can even help reduce high blood pressure. One of the best foods for keeping the body well, celery can be a brain tonic, and the sodium in it can neutralize acids in the body. The leaves are rich in potassium, sodium, and sulphur.

Corn: One of the easiest foods to digest and one of the best balanced starches, yellow corn is high in magnesium. It is a wonderful bowel regulator, a bone and muscle builder, and an excellent food for the brain and nervous system.

Cucumber: Alkaline and non-starchy, cucumbers have a cooling effect on the blood. They are a wonderful digestive aid, have a purifying effect on the bowel, and are beneficial to the skin.

Daikon Radish: This Japanese root vegetable has a long history of assisting the body in blood purification, improvement of circulation, and the reduction of ulcers. When juiced, the large community of nutrients and phyto-chemicals are delivered in adequate quantities to assist in the above-mentioned areas.

Endive: This blood builder and liver detoxifier contains a high quantity of minerals and chlorophyll, making it similar to nettles and dandelion which are commonly used in the battle to reduce the effects of aging and increase vitality.

Fenugreek (sprouts): These pungent and spectacular germinated seeds assist in all gastro-intestinal and eliminative concerns. They have a direct impact on the pancreas and help to regulate blood sugar levels for both low and high blood sugar sufferers.

Garlic: This powerful herb and food contains allyl sulfides which researchers believe inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It acts as an antiseptic disinfectant and helps to reduce ventricular plaque and inflammation—the causes of both heart attacks and strokes.

Hemp Seeds & Sprouts: An edible complete protein, hemp seeds are an absolutely balanced essential fatty acid food. They not only build muscle, but also maintain brain, organ, and nervous system function, ultimately fueling a healthy metabolism. In the seed’s germinated form, it is 24 times more bio-available than fatty acids, which help to curb appetite and weight gain.

Iceberg Lettuce: Although not known for its nutritional properties, Iceberg lettuce, often called head lettuce, contains silica and silicone, as well as an opiate aphrodisiac. Silica and silicone strengthen the skin, hair, bones, and sheathing of the nervous system, while providing elasticity in the soft tissue.

Jicama: Eaten either as a root vegetable or as a green leafy sprout (grown in clay pot soil), this food can help with blood sugar, electrolyte balance, and cardiovascular disorders, while providing increased energy. The germinated version is superior to the consumption of the root vegetable itself.

Kale: Its superior calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium content strengthen the teeth, skeletal structure, and red blood cells. Its sulphur content assists in the reduction of ulcers and other gastro-intestinal disorders.

Lettuces: The leafy green varieties contain a close cousin to opiates, which have the ability to heighten positive moods and increase sexual desire. It is often used as an aphrodisiac in its juiced form, which provides far more benefits than eating large amounts of the leaves themselves.

Mustard Seeds: As sprouts, they are significant mucous membrane cleansers that also play a roll in ridding the veins of debris. When consumed in abundant amounts, they also help respiratory disorders, including asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and chest colds.

Nutmeg: This spice contains a wide array of phyto-nutrients that are directly linked to improving urinary flow and to the reduction of bladder inflammation. Many reports claim that nutmeg can be helpful for regulating frequent urination.

Onions: These root vegetables contain a multitude of phyto-chemicals that help to protect the cells from mutagens, as well as viral, bacterial, and fungal concerns. They can also be helpful with Lyme’s disease.

Pea Green sprouts: These are a complete protein, serving to build muscle tissue as well as fibrin within cells. Their high beta-carotene content protects vision and creates an anti-oxidant effect against many forms of cancer. This powerful, germinated food has inherent blood-building properties.

Quinoa: A high-protein and high-mineral grain that helps to alkalinize the body. It also provides an abundant amount of energy for mental and physical activity.

Red Sweet Peppers: These succulent fruit/vegetables are rich in Vitamin C, which acts as an anti-oxidant to reduce free racial damage—the essential cause of all premature aging and disease. By drying the seeds and germinating them you will attain 37 times greater positive effect from their banquet of nutrients.

Spinach: An excellent source of Vitamins C and A, and iron, spinach contains about 40 percent potassium. It leaves an alkaline ash in the body, and is good for the lymphatic, urinary, and digestive systems.

Squash: All squashes are low in calories, high in fiber, and easily digested. Great for the eliminative system, they produce absolutely no gas in the intestinal tract. Winter squash contains more Vitamin A than summer squash.

Sweet Potatoes and their sprouted greens: These highly nutritious vegetables contain every vitamin and most minerals and trace minerals. They have been used to increase vitality, both mental and physical; strengthen the heart and other vital organs; and, most importantly, increase the cell’s ability to regenerate more quickly.

Tomato: When organic and vine ripened, this fruit contains phyto-nutrients that have been directly linked to the prevention of breast and prostate cancer. They also are heart-healthy, and help to build heart muscle tissue.

Ugli fruit: This variation on the grapefruit contains the citric acids, nutrients, and phyto-chemicals that help to dissolve waste in the gall bladder and liver. They create an antiseptic effect in the blood stream, break up excess mucus, and reduce excess uric acid. All of this effectively helps to alkalize the body.

Watermelon and its sprouted seeds: These are often used as a diuretic and to flush the kidneys and bladder. Watermelon provides high chlorophyll and mineral content when the outer skin is juiced and high protein and mineral content when the seeds are sprouted into greens. This delicious fruit has been used as a morning drink by living-food connoisseurs for many decades.

Yucca and its sprouted greens: These are commonly used as a stomach and small intestine cleanser, a gastrointestinal and elimination canal lubricator, and, most important, as a reservoir of energy for physical activity and stamina.

Zucchini: This summer squash contains a unique variety of phyto-chemicals that have been noted as protectors of hearing and eyesight. It also reduces female disorders such as PMS. The zucchini flowers provide an extraordinary amount of beta-carotene, one of the most important antioxidants for protecting the body from cancer and other diseases.

Why are raw nuts and seeds good for you?

Why are raw nuts and seeds good for you?

Almonds:         Vitamin E, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc

Benefits the bones, brain, heart, lungs and alkalizing to the blood

Brazil Nuts:     Amino Acids, Calcium, Selenium

Beneficial to the thyroid

Cashews:         Copper, Magnesium, Tryptophan, Phosphorous

Beneficial to the heart, prevent gallstones, good antioxidant source

Chia Seeds:     Omega-3, Fatty Acid, Calcium, Potassium, Antioxidants

Increases endurance in athletes

Hazelnuts:       Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin E

Benefits teeth and gums and heart health

Hemp Seeds:   Omega-3, Amino Acids, building blocks of Protein

Macadamia:    Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Selenium, Zinc

Benefits the liver, improve anemia and aids heart health

Pecans:               B-complex, especially high in B-6

Benefits the nervous system, pregnant and nursing women

Pistachios:      Similar to almonds, but higher in Iron and B-1, Protein

Benefit the heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines

Pumpkin Seeds:  Omega-3, B-complex, Calcium

Great for the heart, dry skin and brittle hair

Sesame Seeds:  Vitamin E, Iron, high in Calcium

Beneficial in preventing osteoporosis

Sunflower Seeds:  Zinc, B-complex

Benefits the prostate, heart, intestines, nervous system and eyes

Walnuts:   Essential fatty acids, Vitamin E, Calcium, Potassium

Very beneficial to heart health

So how do you get your protein?

So how do you get your protein?

Here are 10 vegan sources:

1. Veggies.  One cup of cooked spinach has about 7 grams of protein. The same serving of French beans has about 13 grams. Two cups of kale about 5 grams. One cup of peas, 9 grams.

2. Hemp. Toss 30 grams of hemp powder in your smoothie and get about 11 grams of protein or sprinkle hemp seeds on your salad.

3. Non-Dairy Milk.  One cup of soy or almond milk can pack about 7-9 grams of protein.

4. Nut Butter.  Almond butter and cashew butter. A couple of tablespoons of any one of these will get you 8 grams of protein.

5. Quinoa.  Quinoa delivers about 9 grams of protein per cup.

6. Tofu. Four ounces of tofu will get you about 9 grams of protein.

7. Lentils. With lentils, you can make rice dishes, veggie burgers, casseroles and more. One cup cooked delivers 18 grams of protein!

8. Beans. They really are the magical fruit. With one cup of pinto, kidney or black beans, you’ll get about 13-15 grams of protein, a full belly and heart-healthy fiber.

9. Tempeh. One cup of tempeh has about 30 grams of protein!

10. Sprouted-grain bread. Pack a sandwich with vegan sprouted-grain bread and you’ll get about 10 grams of protein in the bread alone.