God's Pharmacy

Monday, August 2, 2010

God's Pharmacy

I posted this on my personal blog a little over a year ago and thought you would all enjoy it, especially those beginning the 30 Day Challenge Ashely mentioned yesterday.

My husband will be out of town for the next two weeks, so I'm vowing to make healthy decisions and work out every day. Yesterday I went to the grocery store and stalked up on tons of fruits and veggies, many from the list below. I hope you enjoy reading it!

"God's Pharmacy: Popular Email Reviewed and Revised"
By Tony Vega

This intriguing list of fruits and vegetables is not my brainchild, but I rinsed it off and made it worthy for your consumption. Resources are also included. There are indeed other nutritional benefits that can be gained by consuming the foods listed, this should add to the benefits of the information and not minimize its veracity.

To be fair to the critics, there are some versions that stretch the facts or do not support their claims. Many of the lists are also ripe with juicy grammatical errors. Please forgive my grammar, the gingko supplements have not been working for me. I will switch to walnuts, in moderation of course.

In addition to the listed foods, other items contain similar nutritional benefits. Critics also use that as grounds to discredit lists of this nature. They claim the fruits and vegetables are selected to match the corresponding benefits. My response: "So what”

If the items on the list were cherry-picked to match the facts, it is facts none-the-less and not a contrived list. This publication of God's Pharmacy does not claim to be an exhaustive list, there are certainly additional fruits and vegetables that we can benefit from. This list is designed to be a creative reminder to eat healthy and to serve as a fun exploration into the wonders of nature. Perhaps, some of the critics are simply bemoaning the title. My response: "Lighten up, it's healthier."

Have fun and enjoy!

1. A sliced Carrot resembles the human eye including the pupil, iris, and radiating lines. Science indicates that carrots help protect the vision, especially night vision. WHFoods: Carrots

2. A Tomato has up to four chambers and is commonly red. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and helps prevent heart disease, prostate cancer, breast cancer and more. Tomato juice can also reduce the tendency toward blood clotting. WHFoods: Tomatoes

3. Grapes hang in a cluster that resembles the shape of the heart. The stronger the color of the grape is, the higher the concentration of phytonutrients. Grapes prevent heart disease and reduce platelet clumping and harmful blood clots. WHFoods: Grapes



4. Walnuts resemble the brain, mimicking the wrinkles and folds of the neocortex. Research suggests that walnuts may reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Walnut - Wikipedia The high concentration of omega-3 fats in walnuts promotes healthy brain function. WHFoods: Walnuts

5. Kidney Beans, true to their name are kidney shaped. They provide nutrients that are helpful to the human kidneys. Kidney beans contain molybdenum, which helps sulfite oxidase to form and is responsible for detoxifying sulfates WHFoods: Kidney beans. Animal research has shown that chronic renal failure has been associated with oxidative stress Sulfite-mediated oxidative stress in kidney cells.

6. Celery has a bone like appearance and is rich in silicon and Vitamin K, which are needed for healthy joints and bones Gillian McKeith You Are What You Eat

7. Avocados were used by the Aztecs as a sex stimulant and the Aztec name for avocado was ahuacatl, meaning "testicle" History of Avocados. An extract of avocado impedes the growth of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. WHFoods: Avocados

8. Figs have a rich history and often been referred to as a sexual food, this is partly symbolic due to the appearance of the fruit. Figs are loaded with seeds and when halved, many note a resemblance to female genitalia. The Hindu name for fig is anjeer and research has shown that anjeer is helpful for sexual weakness Ficus carica - medicinal plants. Figs have also been mentioned as a source helpful for male fertility and motility. Health-info.org

9. Oranges, Grapefruits and other Citrus fruits have been compared to the appearance of female mammary glands. These fruits contain nutrients that are helpful in the fight against breast cancer. Health Benefits of Citrus Limonoids Explored

10. Sliced Onions resemble skin cells and contain quercetin. Studies have shown when treated with a combination of quercetin and ultrasound at 20 kHz for 1-minute duration, skin and prostate cancers show a 90% mortality within 48 hours with no visible mortality of normal cells. Quercetin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

11. Sweet Potatoes resemble the pancreas and have a low glycemic index count, which is beneficial for diabetics. North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission

12. Olives resemble ovaries and may help reduce hot flashes in women going through menopause. WHFoods: Olives Research indicates that Olive Oil may reduce ovarian cancer by 30%. ACS: Olive Oil May Lower Ovarian Cancer Risk