FOODS

WRITTEN BY ME ( SHERYL MALIN)

I am writing this piece for it is the most important step to keep you alive. Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. The key word is nutritional and in today’s world we have taken most of it out of our foods. Since a year and ½ ago I have made it my second highest importance to educate and spread the importance of how food relates to our living or dying. The saying you are what you eat, is so true.

When I was diagnosed with Breast cancer, I thought first, why me and then what did I do to deserve this. I exercised regularly and did not eat junk food. But I did not realize the importance of the value of the food that I was eating. Since then my lifestyle has changed drastically. I chose not to go the conventional way for my treatments with cancer. I did not like the idea of cut, poison and burn. My idea was to find another way that was healthier and had a better rate of survival. I chose a program in Mexico called Functional Medicine and today I have managed my cancer with the help of some awesome people. If you are interested in the program and my journey through my treatments just go to http://www.thejourneytogoodhealth.com/. At the time of my diagnoses I did not know my purpose, but I do now ~ we must open our eyes to what we are eating for this is what is the center of the destruction.

Food can change everything about you from your looks to how you are feeling. With the research that I have come across it is basically easy to make a change and still be able to enjoy the taste of food. All you have to do is substitute the bad with the good.

For example, processed foods have a lot of man made chemicals with in the ingredients which are harmful to our bodies. We can change by not eating those types of foods and creating your own by preparing with natural ingredients. It will taste the same, but you will live a happier and healthier life span.

Another problem that has been growing throughout our country is our fruit and vegetables are being sprayed with chemicals to kill the insects. Gee, if it is killing the
insects, what do you think it is doing to us! I know that this is a big reason we have been getting sick with the diseases that we are facing in today’s world. We can change this if we ban those products and eat organic foods. For the past year I have joined a co-op and

with changing my eating habits I have gained a lot of respect for the food I eat.

The definition of a co-op, from the International Cooperative Alliance: "A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. Co-operatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others." You can Google organic co-ops in your area.

Another way to get organic food is to start your own garden. It is not hard at all, for I live in a condo and have limited space. One day I decided to start my own garden in pots on my porch just to show that it can be done anywhere if you set your mind to it.

All you need to start your own garden is make sure it is away from chemicals. Then get pots, organic soil and organic seeds ~ and away you go…

People, it is something that I feel is very important and I am very passionate about it and all starts with the fuel of the fire ~ our food.

Did you know that there are foods that can actually help you from stress? Stress is the biggest environment issue for we are always on the go and not stopping to smell the roses. These foods help the balancing of our bodies and are a great stress release.

The number one stress release food would be a banana. They are a magical food supplier. They not only give you a boost of energy when you most need it but they are also so quick and easy to eat. You don’t need to cook anything; just peel and enjoy!

All you need to start your own garden is make sure it is away from chemicals. Then get pots, organic soil and organic seeds ~ and away you go…

People, it is something that I feel is very important and I am very passionate about it and all starts with the fuel of the fire ~ our food.

Did you know that there are foods that can actually help you from stress? Stress is the biggest environment issue for we are always on the go and not stopping to smell the roses. These foods help the balancing of our bodies and are a great stress release.

The number one stress release food would be a banana. They are a magical food supplier. They not only give you a boost of energy when you most need it but they are also so quick and easy to eat. You don’t need to cook anything; just peel and enjoy!

All you need to start your own garden is make sure it is away from chemicals. Then get pots, organic soil and organic seeds ~ and away you go…

People, it is something that I feel is very important and I am very passionate about it and all starts with the fuel of the fire ~ our food.

Did you know that there are foods that can actually help you from stress? Stress is the biggest environment issue for we are always on the go and not stopping to smell the roses. These foods help the balancing of our bodies and are a great stress release.

The number one stress release food would be a banana. They are a magical food supplier. They not only give you a boost of energy when you most need it but they are also so quick and easy to eat. You don’t need to cook anything; just peel and enjoy!

If you find yourself lagging in energy and need a boost especially in the afternoon then a banana is the food to do it.

Another excellent stress release food is nuts. I love all kinds of nuts and I like to let you in on a secret, they are easy to take anywhere. When you feel stress or tired just take a handful and stick them in your mouth. By having something healthy with you it will mean that you didn’t indulge in the unhealthy foods.

Quinoa (Pronounced Keen Wah) which is a super-food from South America, looks like couscous and can be used as a substitute for rice and is high in amino acids which humans need to build protein. Couscous is a type of North African semolina made from crushed durum wheat. A spicy dish made by steaming or soaking such granules and adding meat, vegetables, or fruit. This cooks in about 20 minutes and is full of nutrition and will keep you going when more unhealthy foodstuffs will have failed you.

How about Brown Rice and Pasta, they are well known as wonderful health foods. The macrobiotic diet, which is a well-known health diet, is mainly made up of eating brown rice. These are complex carbohydrates which mean that they will give you a sustained amount of energy throughout the day. Great for maintaining high energy levels in stressful situations.

Fruit in general are great for snacking where ever you are. It is a stress free way of getting some healthy food inside you quickly. Fruit are great for keeping you healthy and they are full of vitamins and minerals. If you feel a bit hungry grab some fruit rather than chocolate or crisps. The latter might taste good but will leave you feeling tired after the chemical and sugar rush.

 Although not a food itself, ginger tea is a wonderful remedy for settling a stressed stomach or controlling a cold. It is a Chinese medicine remedy; just boil an inch of ginger root in 2/3 cups worth of boiling water for 5-10 minutes. Add agave or honey for taste.

Have you ever thought of Oatmeal as a stress release food? Again high in protein this is a wonderful way to start the day. Not only will it warm you up on an early morning but it will also give you a settled stomach with a sustained energy release. Great for kick starting the body in the morning and putting it in top form for relieving stress.

This one surprised me hot water! Now this might seem like a strange stress relieving tool but it works and is a simple magical remedy which works despite its simplicity. Of course the best water to drink is good PH level water. One system I use is Kangen Water. You just prepare the hot water by boiling water and then topping up your cup with some cold water. It is excellent for settling a stressed or queasy stomach, and for relaxing and cleansing the body.

An important stress relief food group, vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals – vital
for keeping a healthy and stress free body. Stress organic!

Last but not least Salads. Salads can be a great way of giving the stomach a rest from rich food. Stomachs can really feel our stress so salads made up of organic lettuce, organic tomatoes, organic cucumbers and organic grated carrots can help settle a bloated stomach and give you much needed nutrients.

Ok, by now you wonder where I am heading to by all this. I hope by now you realize how serious food is to your body. Did you know food can also change your mood you are in. Here are some foods that will help you be in a better frame.

Oatmeal may help if you find yourself feeling irritable and cranky. It is rich in soluble fiber, which helps to smooth out blood sugar levels by slowing the absorption of sugar into the blood.

Oatmeal is also a great food to help you stick with your diet plan, because the soluble fiber in oatmeal forms a gel that slows the emptying of your stomach so you don't feel hungry quickly.

Other foods high in soluble fiber are: beans, peas, barley, citrus fruits, strawberries and apples

.Another good choice to help your mood to be up lifting is Walnuts. Walnuts have long been thought of as a "brain food" because of their wrinkled, bi-lobed (brain like) appearance. But now we know that walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, a type of fat that's needed for brain cells and mood-lifting neurotransmitters to function properly and possibly help some people with depression.

Other foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, flaxseeds, and omega-3 fortified eggs.

They say tea is another mood swing product. Although caffeine has been shown to lead to a more positive mood and improved performance, it's a fine line.

Too much caffeine can make you dependent and make you nervous, irritable, and hypersensitive or bring on headaches.

Salmon is my favorite type of fish. I suppose because it doesn’t have a fishy taste to it. In the past few years, research has suggested that vitamin D may increase the levels of serotonin, one of the key neurotransmitters influencing our mood, and that it may help to relieve mood disorders.

We get vitamin D mainly through exposure to sunlight and in lesser amounts, through food.
A member of the legume family, lentils are an excellent source of foliate, a B vitamin that appears to be essential for mood and proper nerve function in the brain.

Low levels of foliate have been linked to depression. In fact, a Harvard study showed that 38 percent of depressed women are deficient in foliate.

Although researchers don't yet fully understand the connection, foliate deficiency appears to impair the metabolism of serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, neurotransmitters important for mood.

If you do not believe that these foods can make a difference in how your everyday functions, I dare you to try! I guarantee that it will make a difference in your health and make you a happier person.

I can not end without pointing out some cancer fighting foods. Since we all have cancer cells in us, we need to benefit in our food source selections to manage this harmful disease.

Garlic contains a number of compounds that can protect against cancer, especially that of the skin, colon, and lungs.

Dark Leafy Greens are rich sources of antioxidants called carotenoids. These scavenge dangerous free radicals from the body before they can promote cancer growth.

Grapes and red wine contain the chemical resveratrol, which is a very potent antioxidant that can prevent cell damage before it begins.

The flavonoids in green tea have been shown to slow or prevent the development of several types of cancer including colon, liver, breast, and prostate.

The compound lycopene, (which is most easily absorbed from cooked tomatoes) has been shown to prevent prostate cancer, as well as cancer of the breast, lung, and stomach.

Of all the berries, blueberries are the richest in cancer fighting compounds. They are beneficial in the prevention of all types of cancer.

Flaxseed contains lignans, which can have an antioxidant effect and block or suppress cancerous changes. The omega-3 fatty acids can also help protect against colon cancer.

Many mushrooms contain compounds that can help the body fight cancer and build the immune system as well.

Vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussel sprouts contain strong antioxidants that may help decrease cancer risk.

Whole grains contain a variety of anti-cancer compounds including antioxidants, fiber, and phytoestrogens. These can help decrease the risk of developing most types of cancer.

Remember, along with a healthy diet, a physically active lifestyle is important for cancer prevention as well.

So you see why it is important to fuel our bodies with healthy foods that were intended for us to consume. It’s your choice, but think before the next time you eat something that has been man made. You will thank me for it later. PLEASE be aware of what ingredients are in the food you eat, and read the labels.