iLife Foods

In this newsletter : Become Food Empowered!!

There certainly is a lot of ‘food confusion’ existing right now and in our busy life it is probably a good time to stop and ask yourself some questions about food and your lifestyle..

•   Can you eat out less and prepare more of your own food ?

•   Can  you be sharing more food in a 'sit-down' environment with friends or family?

•   Are you eating to support your immediate and long-term health needs?

These may appear basic questions to some of you but for others this 'food confusion' exists.

For instance mainstream media does not promote an awareness around the need to take in a range of 'leafy green vegetables' daily.

The whole idea of raw food, light on protein ie. less heavy red meats, pork and cheeses, along with a mix of healthy grains ie. more wheat free!! is abhorrent to mainstream media because of the need to continue to support an industry and an agenda based food pyramid.

So its time now to step into your own 'food power' and maybe say 'enough is enough'!!!

• Reach out and ask more questions of your friends and family, read more, sign up for food newsletters or online blogs.
• When in doubt 'Google' for information which sits right for you.
• Download the 80/20 Alkaline/Acid Food Chart at the bottom of the page.
  
• Also consider spending a couple of hours either a Saturday or Sunday morning shopping at your local farmer's or producer markets

Food Focus: Greens 

Leafy greens are some of the easiest and most beneficial vegetables to incorporate into your daily routine. Densely packed with energy and nutrients, they grow upward to the sky, absorbing the sun’s light while producing oxygen. Members of this royal green family include kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, mustard greens, arugula, dandelion greens, broccoli rabe, watercress, beet greens, bok choy, green cabbage, spinach and broccoli. Right now at your local farmers market crinkly leaf green kale is available. In fact you might be interested in knowing that kale is number 2 after garlic in the antioxidant stakes!!!

 How do greens benefit our bodies? They are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous and zinc, and are a powerhouse for vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed full of fibre, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other micronutrients and phytochemicals. Their green colour is because of chlorophyll levels - sometimes known as liquid sunshine.

In traditional Asian medicine, the color green is related to the liver, emotional stability and creativity. Greens aid in purifying the blood, strengthening the immune system, improving liver, gall bladder and kidney function, fighting depression, clearing congestion, improving circulation and keeping your skin clear and blemish free.

Leafy greens are the vegetables most missing from the average diet, and now you can  learn how to prepare them. Start with the very simple recipe below. Then each time you go to the market, pick up a new green to try. Soon you’ll find your favorite greens and wonder how you ever lived without them.

Exciting Recipe: Shiitake and Kale

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cooking Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients : 300gms shiitake mushrooms, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1-2 cloves crushed garlic, 1 bunch kale, sprinkle of pine nuts, a  pinch of Australian Desert Lake Salt and carrot to garnish.

 Directions: 1.  Warm oil in pan on medium heat with minced garlic until aromas of garlic are released, about 2-3 minutes.    2.      Add chopped shiitake mushrooms, stir-fry for 5 minutes.  3.     Add chopped kale, stir-fry for a couple of minutes. 4.     Add a splash of water and pinch of salt to pan, cover and let steam for 4 minutes.

This is a really simple stir fry that is not only quick  to prepare but provides the body with so many benefits.

This is so delicious and so so amazingly healthy and above all - so simple.

ALKALINE VERSES ACID FOODS CHART- FREE DOWNLOAD

I have been asked by many people for a list of alkaline and acid foods. So here is a list which will act as a guideline for you !!!  This is such a fabulous chart to help you make really great food choices enabling you to learn to know the difference between certain food types which may or may not be beneficial to your body. The secret is an 80/20 balance between alkaline and acid in your body. Eating the appropriate food types can help promote this.

CLICK HERE to download a coloured .pdf chart which you can print off, get laminated and stick onto the fridge door. I will write more on the relationship of alkaline and acid foods in the coming months.

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH : pro-TOM lycopene rich tomato crystal .

by Scott Mathias – Integrative  Nutritionist & MD, iLifefoods.com

As the currant situation at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear reactors remains uncertain it is entirely conceivable that ‘fall-out’ will spread around  the world via the multitude of ‘jet streams’ which traverse the planet daily.

Already small amounts of radiation is being detected in the United States. Some of this though may have been pre-existing and it is only the Fukushima ‘event’ which has people looking a little closer at the puddles in their back yards.

But all is not lost and no need for despair. Right now you can start to do things which strengthen the body’s defence mechanisms. There are ways to beat the ‘radiation bogy-man’ using 100% natural means!!

Lycopene is derived from processed tomatoes and is shown very clearly in a range of clinical trials and research papers to be a major naturally occurring ‘bio-antiradiation’ agent.

Lycopene is by far the strongest antioxidant found in carotenoids. Its antioxidant effect is 100 times stronger than vitamin E and is highly regarded within scientific circles as an antioxidant capable of protecting the body from radiation – man made or solar based.

Lycopene’s affects are so good that doctors even suggest that supplements should not be used when a patient is being administered chemotherapy or radiation treatment to remove cancers from the body. The very ‘agent’, in a natural form, is suggested by traditional people as being disruptive to harsh radiation and chemotherapy cancer treatments. You make your own call on which direction you would like to go with that information.

 However, there is a growing body of evidence that says lycopene supplements act as a positive precursor to helping the biosystem to remain strong in the face of high levels of radiation.

 Ironically, one Japanese trial, suggests beyond doubt that Lycopene can limit the amount of damage occurred by radiotherapy treatment. Radiation is taken into the body either via the skin or ingested in food particles. Here is a link to that evidence.

 http://sciencelinks.jp/j-east/article/200409/000020040904A0210143.php

 Here is another link to evidence supporting the fact that Lycopene is a natural protector against radiation induced DNA damage.

 http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/elsevier/lycopene-as-a-natural-protector-against-radiation-induced-dna-damage-Y64WSVGPPM

 When you read conclusions that read like this, it makes one feel very satisfied that there is yet another naturally occurring agent which we can look at either reintroducing or taking into our bodies in increasing levels:

 “Thus, our result shows that pre-treatment with lycopene offers protection to normal lymphocytes against γ-radiation-induced cellular damage”

 Here is the link for this statement:

 http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/20093206491.html;jsessionid=4CD434432B0E50349985E80074CDFA1D

 Not only is a lycopene supplement good for managing radiation issues it is also recognised for its ability to work on other issues facing the human body. Check this link out from a previously created story:

 http://www.ilifefoods.com/_blog/iLife_Foods/post/Lycopene_rich_Tomato_juice_can_reduce_osteoporosis,_claims_study/

 Australian based iLifeFoods, is the sole outlet for the AuraGold Farms brand of concentrated Lycopene crystals derived from 100% pesticide free Australian tomatoes. Designed to offer the user a single serve sachet, this natural antioxidant tomato based product has been laboratory tested and shown to contain 3,500mg of Lycopene per 1 kg - far greater than the stated 800mg. This assay was conducted by Southern Cross University’s Centre for Photochemistry and Pharmacology. The contents of a 10g sachet of tomato crystal is simply added to water and taken like a concentrated tomato juice but with the added boost in lycopene levels.

 If you wish to buy the concentrated Lycopene now for immediate shipment please click on this link:

BUY NOW!!!

 To learn more, Google with the following key words starting with Lycopene: radiation, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, ovarian, breast, cardiovascular health, nuclear, skin health, DNA protection, benefits

All information on this site or page is of a general nature and is ‘for information only’. No medical claims are made or inferred and you should seek the advice of a qualified medical practitioner should any prevailing medical condition exist. Above all seek out your options.