GOOD LIFE Living Well: BEING WELL= EATING WELL.Thursday Menu.some interesting health and cooking facts

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

BEING WELL= EATING WELL.Thursday Menu.some interesting health and cooking facts

We are in the beginnings of a big heatwave ( it's going to be 95f at home today) in Southern California, and have already had 2 small earthquakes ( 4.+) in Orange County, approx 40 miles away, so the need for foods that help de-stress are even more important than usual...

I am preparing a great summer soup that can be served warmed or chilled..a cucumber-lettuce..cucumber is known to de-stress the liver and thereby DOES have a cooling effect on the body.
Berries are high in Magnesium & Vitamin C which help beat fatigue...I am making a blueberry-zucchini cake;
Brown rice..as it is slowly broken down by the body it releases the body's feel good chemicals, serotonin and norepinepherine..brown rice with green beans, & mushrooms,peas
Lentils...contain more efficient protein than meat, also high in Vit B complex good for the nervous system, balance the male and female hormones,are cancer fighters and nourish the kidneys and adrenal glands I am making a good carrot-onion lentil soup.
The secret with all dried beans is to wash them well in clean water , (soak if hard beans, lentils and black eyed peas do not need soaking), add to cold water and bring to boil, when a scum develops on top of boiling beans/lentils, strain off entire liquid, rinse off the beans/lentils, drain and then begin the soup process, saute vegetables in oil, add S&P and spices and add the blanched beans and proceed as in the recipe, this will reduce the amount of gas producing enzymes and also reduce any discomfort after eating the beans.

Nightshades..tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, potatoes..these can cause discomfort to anyone with arthritis, muscular, bone or joint pain..because of a substance called solanine, but if the veggies are soaked/marinated in olive oil & miso paste the night before, the solanine will be neutralized ..then grill or bake the veggies as I am doing tomorrow.

Thursday's Menu

Lentil soup with carrots and onions
Lettuce and cucumber soup ( blended)

Roasted own grown tomatoes, eggplant, peppers & zucchini
Brown Rice with green beans and mushrooms
Sauteed broccoli with fresh red chili peppers

Zucchini and blueberry cake

own grown sprouts..high ( 100% more vitamins than green sprouts) in Vit B complex, amino acids, Vit C, Superfood, high in fiber ( when beginning a sprout regimen, eat small portions first, and always rinse and drain the sprouts daily with filtered water.
Do not waste your money on sprouts that have green leaves you are just buying chlorophyll and water..all the powerful nutrients have been used up by the bean to make the leaves. You will get more benefit from a large lettuce, and they are cheaper too)

Rejuvelak..a non-dairy pro-biotic made from sprouted rye berries, allowed to ferment.
First created in the 1950's by Ann Wigmore using wheat berries, rye berries help prevent migraines too.