Autumn, especially Halloween, is a time for appreciating the pumpkin's nutritional value. Pumpkin flesh is high in antioxidants and beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body. Pumpkins also contain considerable amounts of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, along with vitamins C and E. Pumpkin pie is among the most nutrient-dense treats we can eat. But don't try to make pumpkin pie with the flesh of the Halloween pumpkin! Pie pumpkins are smaller and denser than the jack-o-lantern pumpkins that are used for decorative purposes. Pumpkin can also be enjoyed sliced and roasted (add some cinnamon or nutmeg) or pureed in stews and soups.
Halloween pumpkins are specially cultivated to serve as decoration for the season, but are not without nutritional potential: their seeds, which are delicious roasted, are high in minerals, especially zinc, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus. Pumpkin seeds are considered to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Salute to the mighty pumpkin, and Happy Halloween! |
Jerusalem Artichokes Are Back in Season!
A gnarled tuber resembling a knotty potato, the Jerusalem artichoke has no relation to the more popular globe artichoke. The first part of its name, Jerusalem, is equally misleading, since the name "Jerusalem artichoke" is said to have its origin in the Italian word for sunflower, girasole, so named because the top part of the Jerusalem artichoke resembles a sunflower.
The Cayce readings recommend the Jerusalem artichoke as a medicinal food for numerous conditions, notably for diabetic tendencies, but also for anemia, toxemia, and other debilitative conditions.
Nutrition experts today agree that the Jerusalem artichoke is helpful for those with blood sugar problems: inulin, a soluble fiber found in Jerusalem artichokes, stabilizes blood glucose levels.
Jerusalem artichokes are in season from November through May in the northern hemisphere and are available at natural food stores and some supermarkets. They may be prepared and cooked just like a potato, or chopped into soups, stews, and casseroles. As indicated in reading 2007-1, Edgar Cayce sometimes suggested that raw and cooked Jerusalem artichokes be alternated in the diet: "At least four meals each week should include the Jerusalem artichoke in the diet. One time this should be cooked, the next time raw. When cooked, prepare as you would a boiled potato; not boiled too much, but sufficient that it crumbles—and keep the juices of same. Hence, cook in Patapar paper."
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Simone's Healthy Recipes
Hearty Vegetable Bean Soup
Nothing satisfies a growling stomach and lifts the spirit like a hearty bowl of soup on a crisp autumn day. Make a large-enough batch of this yummy soup to have enough left over for another meal—it tastes even better the second day!
Ingredients
1 small onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 medium yellow potatoes, diced
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 cup green beans, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 cups chopped bokchoy
3 medium ripe tomatoes (or one 14-oz can), diced
1 cup cooked aduki beans (or one 14-oz can precooked)
1 teaspoon kelp flakes
1 teaspoon unrefined (grey) sea salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon Herbamare natural seasoning, or to taste
1 dash tamari soy sauce, or to taste
2 teaspoons freshly chopped parsley
4 cups water; more as needed
Chop all veggies and set aside. Set 2 cups of water on to boil. Add the chopped vegetables in the order given (allow each veggie to cook just a bit before adding the next one). Add more water as required. Cook on medium heat for 25-30 minutes. Add seasonings and more water (if required). Garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve with whole-grain bread and butter or olive oil. Top bread with cheese, cream cheese, nut butter, or hummus for protein if desired. Makes 6-8 servings. |
Featured Kindle E-Book
Healing Foods for Modern Ills: Nutritional Wisdom from Edgar Cayce, Traditional Diets, and Modern Science outlines the holistic nutritional recommendations given in the Edgar Cayce readings and correlates them with traditional diets, as well as with modern scientific findings.
From the Table of Contents:
Food as Medicine
Building Immunity with Vegetables and Fruit
Giving Your Health a Juice Boost
When Less Is Better
Beware of Mainstream "Health Foods"
The Value of Ancestral Diets
Who Needs Nutritional Supplements?
Weight Loss and the Calorie-Counting Myth
Salt or No Salt?
Diet and Cancer
High-Fiber Diet for Diabetes
Nutritional Support for Arthritis
This comprehensive e-booklet is a stand-alone topic excerpt from the book Visionary Medicine: Real Hope for Total Healing by Simone Gabbay. |
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