The 7 "Super Foods" of the Bible www.beliefnet.com
Trying to eat healthy? Start by opening your Bible to Deuteronomy 8:8,
where the Israelites are promised "a good land…, a land of wheat and
barley, of vines, figs, and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey."
The ancients might not have known the word "antioxidant," but they were
onto something with this list of biblical "super-foods."
Super Food #1: Wheat
This grain, which is found in everything from bread to pasta to cakes,
is healthier when it is refined as little as possible.
Whole-wheat products (those that are certified 100% whole wheat) contain 30
percent of your recommended daily fiber intake, as well as high levels
of manganese and magnesium. A diet rich in whole grains is also thought to
increase your energy level and lower your risk of type-2
diabetes, gallstones, and other health issues.
Super Food #2: Barley
Another whole grain, barley can be found in breads and cereals, as
well as in hearty winter soups. High in fiber, barley is good for
intestinal health and can lower cholesterol and reduce your risk of
colon cancer and type-2 diabetes if eaten regularly. Barley also
contains trace amounts of copper, which have been shown to help
reduce the symptoms of arthritis.
Super Food #3: Grapes
Everyone knows that grape juice is tasty—but healthy? Grapes
contain nutritional compounds called flavonoids, which are believed to
reduce your risk of blood clots and protect your body from damage by
the "free radicals" found in LDL, or "bad," cholesterol. Rich in
antioxidants, grapes may provide protection against cardiovascular
disease, particularly in women.
Super Food #4: Figs
These sweet fruits, eaten either dried or fresh, are high in potassium,
a mineral that helps control blood pressure. They are also
high in dietary fiber, which may help you lose weight, and they are a
fruit source of calcium, which can help preserve bone density.
Fig leaves, which are not typically eaten but can be made into an
extract, are thought to help lower insulin levels in diabetics.
Super Food #5: Pomegranate
These strange-looking seed fruits are back in vogue as health-giving
super-foods, particularly in juice form. The fruits are rich in
antioxidants, which prevent LDL cholesterol from doing its damage, and
it helps prevent blood clots by keeping blood platelets from clumping
together. Pomegranates may also help reduce the risk of breast cancer
and lessen the symptoms of arthritis.
Super Food #6: Olive Oil
Olives, and the extra-virgin oil that is made from a single pressing
of the fruit, contain many of the antioxidants that are thought to
protect against the oxidation of LDL cholesterol compounds. They
also are high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which are called "the
healing fats" because they lower the effects of "bad" cholesterol while
raising "good" cholesterol levels. High in vitamin E, olive oil also
is thought to protect against colon cancer, and it is helpful in
fighting gastritis and other stomach ailments.
Super Food #7: Honey
Raw honey, in addition to being a natural sweetener, is replete with
antioxidants and is considered to be an anti-viral, anti-bacterial,
anti-fungal substance. It is thought to have tumor-fighting
properties, and may help prevent colon cancer. The daily
consumption of a spoonful of honey is said to increase antioxidant
levels in the blood, and is the healthiest sweetener for type-2 diabetics.
Honey also may have wound-healing and muscle-regenerating properties.
Be well and have a glorious day!
Mike
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