Lentil Stew and Your Health

Mankind has been eating lentils for thousands of years. So much so that the Bible makes his first reference to the lentils in the book of Genesis. The story says that Jacob gave E′sau bread and lentil stew, and he went to eating and drinking. Then he got up and went his way. So E′sau despised the birthright (Genesis 25:34.)

I’ve often pondered how this stew tasted– it must have smelled delicious for Esau to consider selling his birthright.


This is how we know that this food is very old. It can be very interesting to ponder what our ancestors knew about lentils that we don't.

Lentils and barley were particularly important in the Biblical diet. In Eat and Be Satisfied – A Social History of Jewish Food, author John Cooper speaks of the importance of lentils in the ancient Israelite diet, as well as how they were cooked:

"Bread was in the biblical phrase the staff of life, but next in importance in the diet of the biblical age was pulsed, such as lentils, beans, and peas, which could be made into a pottage or used to supplement bread in a variety of ways… Lentils, which are mentioned four times in the Bible, appear to have been domesticated in the Near East, where carbonized seeds have been discovered."

Today, thanks to the many studies that have been done on lentils we know many interesting things about them.

For starters because consume lentils, and other legumes improves control of blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the latest issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

What are the properties of lentils?

1. Proteins & Calories
This is probably the most known and widespread property of lentils. Many individuals who do not eat meat, vegetarian, vegan or macrobiotic, eat lentils whish have high levels of protein in place of animal meats. After the soybean is a food containing larger percentage of protein component.
One cup of cooked lentils has 225.8 calories, most of which -- 157.5 -- are from carbohydrates. Fat contributes 6.3 calories and protein 62. That is just over 11 percent of a 2,000-calorie diet. It takes 48 minutes of moderate walking to burn the calories you get in this serving of lentils.

However, a difference includes: lentil's proteins are more readily absorbed and e digested, compared with animal protein.

2. Diabetes

Legumes produce an interesting reaction in our body. These dump glucose into the bloodstream, gradually, due to the progressive metabolism of carbohydrates.
People who suffer from diabetes, require the body to integrate the level of sugar in food in a controlled and regular. Moreover, this property helps maintain satiety in the body, which is why it is very common that nutritionists integrate legumes, among other reasons, in overweight patients.

3. Minerals
One cup of cooked lentils provides 37 percent of the daily intake for iron, 17 percent for zinc, 25 percent for copper, 49 percent for manganese and 8 percent for selenium. These are trace minerals your body needs in small amounts. Additional minerals in lentils are calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and sodium. Calcium strengthens the bones and regulates your weight. Zinc facilitates physical and cognitive development and is a component of many enzymes.

4. Obesity
Continuing from the previous property, lentils are an important food that helps control levels of overweight. Despite the high power of calories in this food, well above the rice, for example, the feeling of fullness that cause lentils help not to eat a lot of food for the rest of the day, and eliminate the remaining water, which the body does not need.

Lentils Nutritional information (per 100 g. Uncooked)
11gr water
Energy 338kcal
Folio 454mg
28.6 g protein
19.5 g of carbohydrates.
10mg sodium
20g of fiber.
0.3 g fat
107mg magnesium
1.4 mg Manganese
51 mg. Calcium.
8.2 mg selenium
Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and Ac. Folic.

6.2 mg vitamin C
0.33 mg vitamin E
0,852 mg copper
8 mg. Iron.
3 mg. Zinc.
710 mg. Potassium
2.6 mg niacin


There are a variety of lentil recipes on the Internet you might to get.

Eat more avocados and improve your health!

Avocados are a fruit that has a lot to boast! It's no secret how versatile they are. So much so, that you can find hundreds of recipes on the Internet that use avocados, one of its most beautiful qualities is that they are highly nutritious.

Speaking of versatility the avocado has the luxury of being the king. For example, in Brazil, they make juice out of it just like they would with a mango. In Mexico and the United States, the famous Pico-de Gallo has found its way in must homes. Many people use it in Salads. And thousands of men and women use it as a mask to cleanse the skin of their faces. needless to say, it also used in medical treatments such as the restoration of the cancer cells in patients with cancer.

But what more can be said of this blessed product? According to Wikipedia. reach 19 m in height. The leaves are medium to dark-green color, are arranged alternately along the stems, are 12 to 25 c m in length.

The avocado tree has tiny flowers (5 to 10 mm diameter) produce greenish-yellow pear-shaped fruit that can weigh 100 to 1,000 g. The skin is dark green and sometimes purple and almost black, depending on the variety and maturity. Its size, although depending on the variety, is about 7 to 20 cm long and its maximum diameter of about 6 cm, with a large central seed (about 5 to 6.4 cm long)

Who would think a so soft and creamy fruit provides fiber supplement so important for a healthy digestive tract?

One fifth (1 ounce) of an avocado contains 50 calories, 3 grams of monounsaturated fat, 0 cholesterol and sodium and 1 gram of fiber supplement.

Avocados provide approximately 20 essential vitamins and minerals: potassium, folic acid and other B vitamins, and vitamins E and K. They also contain phytonutrients, believed to prevent many chronic diseases.

Avocados act as a "throttle nutritious" to allow the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, vitamins A, D, K and E in foods, which are consumed with avocados.

Avocados are a good source of lutein, an antioxidant that has been shown to be concentrated in the macula of the eye. Research suggests it may help maintain healthy eyesight as we age. An ounce of avocado contains 81 micrograms of lutein.

How wonderful! Don't you think?

Avocados are a fruit most secure, and you can buy those that are conventionally grown, and most experts believe that it is not necessary to buy organic avocados. Your skin protects the inside of the fruit of pesticides. He has been ranked as one of the safest crops in terms of exposure to pesticides, 3 so there is really no need to spend more money on organic avocados, unless you have no problem doing.

Benefits of Avocado

1. Avocado helps to control cholesterol and triglycerides.

2. Besides consuming is a great ally of beauty applying in various hair treatments.

3. It stimulates collagen formation. By this helps the skin and combat aging.

4. Help for people with diabetes because it is a balancing blood sugar.

5. Help problems like eczema, dermatitis and grains

6. It helps to have a protective effect on the heart muscle, so she suggests eating at least two avocados a week.

Eat more avocados and improve your health!

　

　

　

The Healing Power Of Ginger

There are so many wonderful things on our planet it would be impossible to count them all. Among these excellent things, we have Ginger. A root that has a lot of healing elements, which can help us in our health. For example: Are you having problems with your stomach? Nausea Problems? Ginger can help.

What can we say about Ginger? Well, It grows in all tropical regions around the world. The more expensive varieties and higher quality usually come from Australia, India and Jamaica, while the most traded are grown in China and Peru.

Its name comes from the Indo-European: which means "horn body." Appropriate name in view of the configuration of this root.

The plant can grow up to 1.8 meters in height. It has lanceolate leaves and white flowers. It is highly coveted in the food industry to give a spicy flavor to many different dishes.


Ginger Properties
1. Stimulating the pancreas, increases the production of enzymes that promote digestion and prevent the occurrence of a number of side effects related to poor absorption thereof. Its power is also effective in preventing intestinal bacterial problems that occur due to alterations of the intestinal flora.

2. Ginger promotes blood circulation, helping to dissolve clots from arteries and lowering the levels of cholesterol in the blood. Not everyone can tolerate ginger, but if you enjoy this aromatic plant, you can prepare in the following way. Fresh ginger works well as a tea in boiled water with pure honey, grated on a vegetable juice, or added to foods, such as vegetables or meat sautéed with chopped or grated over fish, or added to sauces or dressings.

3. It helps prevent some of the respiratory diseases.
Ginger root can help keep your air passages clean. As a natural expectorant, ginger helps breaks down and removes mucus you develop during certain respiratory ailments.

It provides natural cleansing of your lungs and airways. As mucus accumulates in your lungs and/or throat, your breathing becomes more difficult. Respiratory ailments affected by mucus accumulation include asthma, bronchitis, cough, flu, cold and breathlessness. Making a tonic of ginger and honey will provide immediate relief for your respiratory problems. Ayurvedic practitioners consider ginger a miracle cure since it helps so many respiratory and other ailments, according to Holistic Online. Ginger's stimulant and expectorant properties are used in ayurvedic medicine.


4. Ginger also has antiviral properties in the form of Minerals: Manganese, chromium, zinc, silicon, phosphorus. Amino acids: arginine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, niacin, tryptophan, histidine. as well as essential oils: limonene, citral, etc.... Fatty acid: linoleic, oleic, myristic, etc. Fiber.


5. It is a good, anti-inflammatory and analgesic. A 2010 study found that ginger relieves pain, especially pain induced by exercise. By eating raw ginger instead of ginger heat treated, the pain was reduced by 25% within 24 hours.

6. It removes bad breath and refreshes the mouth. It also increases the production of saliva.

7. It is considered a good aphrodisiac, can stimulate sexual desire and increase libido.

8. Other essential properties of ginger are phenolic antioxidants, which help protect against diseases caused by oxidative damage, including heart disease, stroke and cancer.


A new study has revealed that ginger can treat, and even prevent ovarian cancer. Along with the antioxidant properties of ginger and cancer-fighting properties, ginger is also a compound called gingerol, which is an anti-inflammatory.

The study found that ginger halted the growth in cultured ovarian cancer cells, and inhibited the transition step, where tumors move from a dormant state to a malignant state.


Ginger can be used in many food recipes also, Check out the link below.

http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blspice10.htm




　

Aloe Vera Can Help You Out

Do you want to lose weight? Detoxify your body?? Rejuvenate your cells?? And improve the quality of your skin? What to do and how does this work?

There is a plant that is simply marvelous ... is well-known in the　world as aloe Vera, also known as Aloe.　The most important thing is　that has wonderful healing properties.
For example, 10 years ago I was very ill with gastritis, and a friend recommended me Aloe; the truth is I was a little skeptical, but considering I had tried many remedies and spent so much money on doctors and medications that only worsened my situation. I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt.

The recipe was simple: Buy or Aloe-Vera leaves take a knife remove the green surface or the shell; you have to be careful your goal is to get the transparent gel without green veins since these veins are very bitter and do not want your smoothie bitter. Then you squeeze four oranges in a blender, be sure to remove the seeds. Then put everything in the blender with honey, and you take it on an empty stomach every morning.

You do that for a month, of course you should avoid foods that give you gas like beans and pork and beef. While you are in this natural treatment is advisable that you avoid coffee. I know how you feel ... give up my cup of coffee is a very hard thing. But you can do it. Just remember while you are going through this treatment can rest two days a week,　　for you to give your body time to absorb what you're doing.
If you are having difficulties with your stomach, think that you must recover, if you do not watch that stomach trouble it may become CANCER. No one wants that!

After a week on this regimen, I began to notice dramatic changes and feel better.
Let's see together some properties of this wonderful plant.

It produces two substances, and a latex gel, used for medicines. Aloe gel is transparent substance, such as gelatin, which is in the pulp leaves the aloe plant. Aloe latex is obtained just below the skin of the plant and is yellow.

Aloe drugs can be taken orally or applied to the skin. Aloe gel is taken orally for osteoarthritis, for intestinal diseases, including ulcerative colitis, fever, itching and inflammation and is also used as a tonic. It is also used for stomach ulcers, diabetes, and asthma and to treat some side effects of radiation treatment. Did you know that?

However, most people use aloe topically, as a remedy for skin conditions, including burns, sunburn, frostbite, psoriasis and herpes. Some people also use aloe gel to help the sores heal faster and wounds after surgery. There is scientific evidence supporting these uses.

Some chemicals in aloe gel seem able to increase circulation in the small blood vessels in the skin and also kill bacteria. Together, this suggests that the effect of aloe gel could be effective to accelerate wound healing.

Some people take aloe latex by mouth, usually for constipation. Less often, aloe latex is used orally for epilepsy, asthma, colds, blood loss, amenorrhea, colitis, depression, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, bursitis, osteoarthritis, glaucoma and other vision problems.

How does Aloe work?
The useful parts of aloe are the gel and latex. The gel obtained from the cells in the center of the leaf, and the latex is obtained from the cells just below the skin of the blade.

Aloe gel may cause skin changes that may help treat diseases like psoriasis.

Aloe can apparently accelerate the healing of wounds by enhancing blood circulation in the area and prevent the death of cells surrounding the wound.

It also seems that aloe gel has properties that are harmful for certain types of bacteria and fungi.

Aloe latex contains chemicals that work as a laxative.

Excellent! Of course, everything you do to benefit your body should be with good judgment and measurement. The extremes are not advantageous.

Food For Our Brains Health

Our mood believed it or not strictly related to our brain health. What we eat and drink gives us the necessary brain chemicals for the better functioning of our mind. For example: Did you know that eating popcorn is very beneficial to be more cheerful? Why? Well, the answer is simple. Popcorn contains serotonin, which is a hormone made by the brain and is an important neurotransmitter.

Serotonin increases the feeling of relaxation, self-esteem, safety, well-being and optimism, and when we have a high level of this hormone, we are able to concentrate more easily and sleep more soundly.

Serotonin is manufactured in the body with the amino acid tryptophan, when the body cannot produce it, it must be obtained from external sources such as popcorn. A curious fact is that all the world's cinemas sell popcorn as it stimulates a chemical reaction to improve depression and insomnia because serotonin stimulates the brain to "feel good." It is a very smart idea, do not you think?

What other foods stimulate your ability to think right and feel good? Here are some examples:
1. Pumpkin seeds: A handful of these seeds a day will supply all the zinc your body needs favoring different skills such as memory and mental agility.

2. Broccoli: This vegetable will help you optimize multiple skills and stimulate mental information processing speed of your brain.

3. Nuts: Walnuts, besides being an enjoyable food and can be combined with dozens of dishes, endows you with a good amount of vitamin E, an essential ingredient for the development of memory.

4. Scallops and sardines: These seafood’s are rich in vitamin B12 supplement that can relax your nervous system, which will result in greater clarity of thought, and it will provide energy to your brain to perform more functions agile and concrete.


5. Blueberries: If take a few blueberries a day it would be a great gift to your brain, you will be grateful you did. Their high level of antioxidants and Omega-3, together with the proteins that it gives our body, stands as an essential food in our diet brain.

6. Green Tea: Green tea can help improve memory and cognition in me, reports a new study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. How does it work? Green tea is chock-full of polyphenols like EGCG. These healthful chemicals might be behind green tea’s benefits. "Green tea may help prevent neurotransmitters involved in brain functioning, like dopamine and epinephrine, from degrading. It may also inhibit senile plaques from depositing in the brain, which impairs cognition," says study co-author Stefan Borgwardt, M.D., of the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland.
It also cleans your blood, rejuvenates your body and combats the likelihood of getting cancer.

7. Wild Salmon: Deep-water fish, such as salmon, are rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are necessary for brain function, says Kulze. Both she and Pratt recommend wild salmon for its "cleanliness" and the fact that it is in plentiful supply. Omega-3s also contain anti-inflammatory substances. Other oily fish that provide the benefits of omega-3s are sardines and herring, says Kulze; she recommends a 4-ounce serving, two to three times a week.

8. Curry: Also known as Indian Saffron, the spice gives these dishes their amber coloring and rich, earthy aroma...and provides you with a brain-boosting dose of curcumin.

This popular food seasoning originated from India, and North Africa has a main ingredient called curcumin; curcumin is theorized to help fight illnesses like depression because it boosts the feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. This ingredient packed with antioxidants that help your brain maintain cognitive function and no wear to the passage of age.

Well, as we have seen so far these foods can certainly stimulate your ability to think smarter. After all if you think intelligibly you are more likely to make good decisions.

Have a Successful Pregnancy

When a woman realizes that she is pregnant how does she feel? The reactions definitely vary with mixed feelings and anxiety. If the baby was desired, then there is great joy and if not, then there might even be depression involved.

Whatever the situation this new life needs help, and if you're pregnant surely you too. What to do to have a successful pregnancy and have a healthy baby? Nobody wants to have a sick baby so it’s very important to follow certain positive suggestions.


Why some babies are born sick? There are many causes: genetic, nutritional, environmental, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, etc. One of the biggest is the lack of love for the unborn child. For example, there are many women who smoke and drink alcohol in their pregnancy, and they also eat junk food and go to bed really late. All these things make a domino effect on the unborn child.


But, perhaps an insensitive mother might say: “The unborn baby does not feel anything."  Some research indicates that the fetus can feel joy and sadness, and everything that you feel its  transmitted to your baby, your fears, your sorrows, your joys (baby emotionally and physically link to her mother) so it is very important you transmit your love; you want to make him feel wanted and loved.


You know what not to do during your pregnancy. But, what positive things you can do on behalf of your baby? Many doctors recommend folic acid (a B vitamin that can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord.

If a woman has enough folic acid in the body before becoming pregnant, this vitamin can prevent deformation in the placenta that would mean abortion, birth defects in the brain (anencephaly) and spine, closing the wrong baby neural tube in the cephalic and caudal ends respectively.

Spine bifida, a birth defect of the spine, can cause paralysis of the lower body, the lack of control of bowel and bladder, and learning difficulties. If the fetus is folic acid deficiency during pregnancy may also have anemia or even be premature or have low birth weight. The mother may go thru a process that causes hypertension and albuminuria. Folic acid also helps maintain healthy parent. Talk to your doctor and do not auto prescribed yourself; it can be very dangerous for the baby.


Another thing that is very important is the intake of iron in your meals since it will help the mother to increase the amount of blood by 50%, and the rest of the iron is used by the fetus and placenta to develop.

What foods can help boost your iron level in your blood to help your baby?

1. Clams: to our surprise, the clams contain about 24mg of iron per 100 grams, which is more than we need daily (8mg 18mg adult men and women of childbearing age). The thing about these foods is that they are of little use in our regular diet and also have a high cost / quantity.

2. Whole grains: cereals offered by the market today are very rich in iron due to its fortification and maintenance in the cortex of the grain, its content ranges from 7 to 12 mg per 100 grams of product.

3. Legumes: soya beans and lentils, legumes are more non-heme iron content, as they have 7 and 8 mg per 100 grams, respectively. Its absorption is lower than the iron in meat, but its low-cost and its beneficial nutrients; we offer an ideal food to prevent anemia and other nutritional deficiencies.

4. Green vegetables: spinach and chard contain between 3 percent and 4 mg low absorption of iron, but like vegetables are inexpensive foods whose composition can greatly benefit the body. Furthermore, when combined with vitamin C rich citrus or some meat, its absorption is increased so that the advantage over their body iron.

5. Meats: Beef, chicken, fish, turkey, pork, and others, all contain iron in amounts that surround the 2 mg per 100 grams. It is an easily absorbed iron, and that except for vegetarians, all normally included in our diet.

Finally, do your best to be ready with breathing exercises, you can start at the third month. Many women who were prepared in this way gave birth in less time with less traumatic for them and the baby. Make sure to take good care of yourself now more than ever because you are worth two people.