What’s So(y) Great?
In doing some research on oxalic acid with regard to spinach (see blog) I found some information that was quite new to me.
Soy contains an “anti-nutrient” called oxalate that binds to calcium and prevents its absorption in the human body. Oxalates are common in many vegetable products, though play a much worse role in some. Soy, for example, has such a heavy oxalate content that it not only prevents calcium absorption from the soy itself, it seeks out calcium in the human cellular structure, binds to it and depletes the body of existing calcium reserves.
This depletion can cause many calcium deficiency diseases. Additionally the lumps of coagulated, oxalate-bound calcium are a common cause of kidney stones.
The growing presence of genetically modified soy, which most of us aren’t even aware we are eating, is a serious cause of concern. (Well the growing presence of genetically modified anything is cause for major concern in my book, but don’t get me started!)
Really! Should soy be considered a health food?
For vegans who depend on soy for their protein, consider eating more sprouts - not only alfalfa, but broccoli sprouts, mung bean sprouts, sunflower seed sprouts. http://www.sproutpeople.com/grow/sprouting.html
Tags: health foods, healthy diet, oxalates
Posted in Dietary Tips, Healthy Foods | 1 Comment »
Habit Forming - Forming Habits
image by Ron Leishman: http://www.toonclipart.com/
I have always found replacing “bad” habits to be much more feasible than quitting anything. Quitting just leaves a void. Want, need, longing, fury, agitation, frustration - just to name a few - were my new companions in the void. Why not just find something I enjoy to replace the thing I enjoyed but found to be detrimental in some way. It isn’t so much a question of will power as of energy. Energy constantly transforms, but it doesn’t go away. A habit is a pattern of energy. It is constructive to work with it, creating change and transformation.
During the holidays I found myself inundated with ambivalence about all the sweets and treats I was confronted with constantly at that time of year. What should I do? I was tortured by the ice cream, chocolates, and egg nog. They made me suffer! - I want! I shouldn’t! I mustn’t! I want I want!
Ice cream was always one of my greatest addictions. Great in quality and size and challenge. Recently I have found a substitution which I find full-filling and delightful, leaving me without cravings. I make a shake. Not a milk shake! Young coconut banana shake. Delectable.
1 young coconut - water and meat
1 banana
6 pieces of ice
Blend all ingredients in a blender or vitamix
For instructions on how to open a young coconut, you can search youtube.com or google.com. If you are a beginner, just be very careful!
The consistency of the shake will vary depending on the youth of the coconut - but I find all variations to be yummy.
Good luck and please post questions!
Tags: alternative health, Drinks, habits, health, healthy diet, Milk substitute, raw recipes, Recipes, Weight Loss, young coconut
Posted in Coconuts, Dietary Tips, Drinks, Recipes | Add your comment »
The Importance of Soaking Nuts
Often in our attempts to “get healthy,” important details get lost in the shuffle. When choosing nuts and seeds as a part of your healthy diet, remember that they must be raw to have the benefits you desire. Rather than cooking them, you must soak them.
Nuts, seeds, legumes, grains all contain enzyme inhibitors which appear to be somewhat toxic. They inhibit the beneficial components of these foods as their natural way of preserving the nut, seed, grain, or legume until it has optimum growing circumstances. I have collected information from a number of helpful websites which you can use as further resources.
“Raw nuts, seeds, and whole grains are widely recognized as healthy foods, but they’re not truly healthy unless you prepare them properly.”
from: http://naturalbias.com/a-hidden-danger-with-nuts-grains-and-seeds
“Phytic acid is a substance found in the bran of grains and the coating of nuts and seeds. It inhibits the absorption of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc. And this doesn’t only apply to the minerals in the nuts, it also applies to the minerals in the foods you eat with the nuts.”
“Nuts and seeds naturally contain enzyme inhibitors. And by soaking them, you not only release the toxic enzyme inhibitors, but also increase the life and vitality contained within them! The purpose of these enzyme inhibitors is to protect the nut and/or seed until it has what it needs for growing (ex. sunlight, water, soil, etc.). Since the water that you soak your nuts in will contain the enzyme inhibitors, and is very acidic to the body, please be sure to rinse your nuts and seeds well after soaking and to discard the water.”
from: http://www.tinamarieblog.com/?p=61
“Walnuts, Brazil nuts, and pecans do not contain the large amount of enzyme inhibitors as other nuts, yet they do in fact have some. You can rinse and soak for a short while 3 - 4 hours to reduce the enzyme inhibitor but as I do not always soak my walnuts or pecans, and have not have bad stomach reactions, not soaking them for use raw or in recipes is fine too.”
“By soaking them, these enzyme inhibitors are removed and the beneficial enzymes we want from them are actually doubled….
The performance of every organ in our bodies is linked to enzyme activity. In essence, without enzymes, there would be no life. Period.”
from: http://www.sustainablyraw.com/blog/?p=8
For those of you ready for some serious sprouting, the site http://www.raw-food-living.com/soaking-nuts.html has a comprehnsive chart showing various seeds, grains, legumes, and their necessary soaking and sprouting durations.
http://www.raw-food-living.com/soaking-nuts.html
Tags: alternative health, diet, health, Health Tips, healthy diet, Healthy Foods, nuts, seeds
Posted in Health Tips, Healthy Foods, How to eat | Add your comment »
