I’ve had a horrible diet most of my life [think Diet Coke and Doritos], until the past few years since I switched to organic, whole foods. No wonder my health went down the toilet — um, pardon the metaphor. But I really had no idea how delicious healthy eating could be. Still working on eating more vegetables because I get tired standing in the kitchen preparing them, but I’m getting there.

Below is an excellent article from the NY Times. Obviously, not all of us can tolerate all of these foods, so start slow if you haven’t tried something before. Or even if not–I just realized a few days ago that I’m allergic to cinnamon, for instance. Gah. I LOVE cinnamon and had been putting it daily in my breakfast quinoa, herbal tea, and canned pumpkin [on the list and a real treat, btw].

The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating

Nutritionist and author Jonny Bowden has created several lists of healthful foods people should be eating but aren’t. But some of his favorites, like purslane, guava and goji berries, aren’t always available at regular grocery stores. I asked Dr. Bowden, author of “The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth,” to update his list with some favorite foods that are easy to find but don’t always find their way into our shopping carts. Here’s his advice.

• Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.
  How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
• Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.

I understand cabbage can be hard on the digestive system, so I don’t eat it as often as I’d like, but my favorite way to fix it is to saute it in some olive oil with salt and pepper until soft and slightly caramelized. Yum! Of course, I can’t do anything food-related moderately: I fix up a whole plate of it when I want to pig out, and feel hardly any guilt at all.

How do you like to fix your favorite healthy foods?

Are you and your children eating GMO food? The True Food Shopping Guide

It’s billed as a documentary that Americans won’t ever see.. except on the Internet. Google Video has the entire, 1 hr 49 minute film. You owe it to yourself and your children to see it:

On March 11 a new documentary was aired on French television (ARTE – French-German cultural tv channel) by French journalist and filmmaker Marie-Monique Robin, The World According to Monsanto – A documentary that Americans won’t ever see. The gigantic biotech corporation Monsanto is threatening to destroy the agricultural biodiversity which has served mankind for thousands of years.

[Update: Now I see that the video is no longer available on Google. If anyone knows a link that works, please send it to me! Found it!]

This is my friend Jeanne’s recipe for inflammation. It worked for her fibromyalgia several years ago. My own fibro is so bad at this point, I’m finally going to give it a try. There’s nothing like pain for motivation!

Mince fine together in small food processor:

• 2-3 tbsp or so ground flax seed (I’ve cut it down to one tblspoon since feeling significantly better)
• 5 large cloves fresh garlic

Add and process well (or dump the above into small jar, add the following, secure lid and shake like the devil:

• 1/2 heaping tsp. or so powdered Stevia (it’s the green stuff. I buy it in the bulk spice section of the health food store)
• 1/2 heaping tsp or so powdered Horseradish root (in bulk foods again)
• 1/2 heaping tsp. or so powdered kelp
  (bulk foods)
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves, finely crushed and fresh as possible.
• 2 tbsp. or so Braggs Aminos
• 2-3 tbsp. flax oil (I’ve cut down to one tbsp. since feeling much better) (I use the kind with chili oil and garlic oil added, made by Omega Nutrition)
• 2-3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (or more, to make consistency you want for dressing or dip or spread or whatever)

This is the result of research with some of the foremost names in ethnobotany. It’s great on salads, all kinds of vegetables, cheeses, meats and breads, etc.

This full recipe is to be consumed on foods throughout the day. At least the full recipe, each day, every day.

It depends on your also not subverting the benefits with sugars and all the other bad diet habits. I’ve been better about what I consume since starting this, though not perfect. I think the main thing is really trying to up the greens and lessen the bad stuff as much as possible. The more, the better. The only really new thing I’ve been doing though, is adding this concoction, the full recipe, every day. I mix it first thing every morning, without fail. No matter how I’m feeling. Just do it. And good luck, dearly beloved.

-Jeanne

Wish me luck!