Saturday, April 16, 2011

Benefits of fermented foods

Here at the Optimum Health Institute, scheduled for another 3-month stay as a missionary in service. Feeling pretty good about my arrival! During each guest visit, I learn something new about life and about myself. It is an investment that pays tremendous dividends over a lifetime.

B vitamins can be tough to get, especially from our food sources. Supplements can be a crap shoot. Sub-lingual seem to be the best delivery system. How about trying fermented foods... like sauerkraut. Years ago I would have turned my nose up too, now a it's a different story. I have learned to love what it does for my body.

Benefits of fermented foods

1. They aid digestion because they fortify the friendly bacteria in the digestive system so that we can get the most nutrient value out of our food.

2. They contain lactic acid which helps destroy harmful bacteria in the intestines.

3. They are loaded with enzymes. Enzymes are needed by every cell in the body to do their work. Cooked food has no enzymes, raw food has some, but fermented and sprouted foods has the most.

4. They are high in B vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates.

5. They are predigested. This means that when you germinate a grain, the enzyme inhibitors are released and the enzymes are free to start digesting the protein into amino acids and the carbohydrates into simple sugars, doing part of the work for our bodies. Therefore, they are easily digested by our bodies, taking the stress off of our digestive system.

6. Because they are predigested, they provide energy to the body in an efficient manner.

Maybe down the line I will posted some raw kraut recipes, for now just consider the above benefits, is it worth it? B12 is such an important component to a healthy mind, an up-beat tune to life, and a "I am a happy camper" approach to life, chew on it a while and watch for my next whole food post.

In spirit!

Shay Arave
www.shaysways.com

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Simple Herbal Remedies

AilmentHerb
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Flu Echinacea, elderberry syrup (also see “Colds”)
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Gingivitis Goldenseal, green tea
Hay fever Stinging nettle, butterbur
Herpes Topical lemon balm, topical comfrey, echinacea, garlic, ginseng
High blood pressure Garlic, beans, cocoa (dark chocolate), hawthorn
High blood sugar Fenugreek
High cholesterol Apple, cinnamon, cocoa (dark chocolate), evening primrose oil, flaxseed, soy foods, green tea
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Seasonal affective disorder St. John’s wort
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Tonsillitis Goldenseal, astragalus, echinacea
Toothache Willow, clove oil
Ulcers Aloe, licorice
Varicosities Bilberry, horse chestnut
Yeast infection Garlic, goldenseal, Pau D’arco