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Papaya with Lime Recipe

When choosing a papaya, look for one that has a nice yellow color and smells like papaya.

Cut ripe papaya in half, scoop out seeds, and cut into bite-size pieces. Squeeze fresh lime juice over papaya chunks. Enjoy this refreshing, sweet and sour treat.

Honeydew with Lemon Recipe

Ingredients:

1 whole onion, halved
3 ribs of celery, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
3 potatoes, chopped
Any leftover greens like swiss chard, beet tops, or turnip tops, chopped
Sea salt, to taste

Directions:

Ingredients: 

2 tablespoons of coconut oil or organic butter
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
3 onions, sliced into rings
1 pound of any mushrooms that you enjoy
1 tablespoon of dried thyme leaves (optional)
2 1/4 litres or 2 quarts of vegetable or organic chicken broth
Naturally brewed soy sauce or tamari, to taste

Directions:

Pizza Crust Ingredients:

1/2 cup warm water
2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbs. olive oil, plus more for spreading

Pizza Topping Ingredients:

1 Tbs. olive oil
Pinch of sea salt
4 cups tomato sauce
1 head broccoli, cut into small pieces
1 zucchini, diced
1 orange bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Goat cheese, to taste

Directions:

In 1986 McGill Cancer Center scientists surveyed 188 oncologists who specialized in the treatment of lung cancer. Asked what they would do if they developed the disease, 75% said that they would not participate in any chemotherapy treatments. What were their reasons? "The ineffectiveness of chemotherapy and its unacceptable degree of toxicity."

In 1989, approximately 150 cancer specialists around the world were surveyed about the cancer treatment choices they would make for themselves. The survey showed that "the personal views of many cancer specialists seem to be in striking contrast to communications intended for the public."

If a whole, uncut head of cabbage is wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in the refrigerator, it will remain fine to eat for several months. If the same head of cabbage is cut along its surface, even to a depth of one inch, and wrapped in a plastic bag and placed in the refrigerator, it will spoil within a few weeks. This is because as soon as a whole, unprocessed food is cut or processed even mildly, it begins to oxidize and lose its nutritional value. For this reason, a whole apple is a better choice for health than apple juice, even if the apple juice is freshly squeezed and without preservatives. A whole orange is better than orange juice, and a freshly prepared salad is more nutritious than lettuce that has been sitting shredded in the refrigerator for a day or two.

One of the areas often overlooked when discussing principles of healthful living is HOW to eat food. In order to optimize one's health, it is important to examine and carefully plan how to eat. Why is one's approach to eating important? If one eats in a way that does not allow for complete digestion of foods, these undigested foods sit in the warm environment of the intestines where they rot and produce toxins. While some of these toxins leave the body as gas, some of them enter the bloodstream and cause damage to tissues and organs, contributing to the development of chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. The following are steps that can be taken to promote optimal digestion:

In addressing lifestyle factors that influence health, it is important to consider food choices, exercise, rest, and environmental factors like fresh air and sunlight. Scientists are beginning to discover that there is one facet of life that ranks above all of these factors in determining wellness and longevity. This facet is the level of love and connectedness that we feel.

It is becoming clear that wellness and longevity are strongly dependent on experiencing supportive relationships with family and friends, and being involved in groups and activities that give us a sense of purpose and contribution. For example, a recently completed study that looked at 7,000 Californians over 17 years found that those who lacked meaningful social connections had a 200 to 300 percent greater chance of dying prematurely than those who felt more socially connected. A study of nearly 1,400 people with heart disease found that those with a spouse or confidant died at approximately one-third the rate of those who had no one to confide in. Another recent survey of more than 21,000 older adults found that weekly church attendance was associated with 7 years of longer life expectancy for Caucasian Americans and 14 years for African-Americans.

Chet Day is the founder of ChetDay.com , a premier online resource for natural health information. I recently came across the following article that he wrote on strict vegan diets. I appreciate this article because it serves as a reminder to be honest with ourselves about our health rather than to stay rigidly attached to a particular philosophy or program. Many thanks to Chet for his gracious support in sharing this article with our guests. - Ben Kim