Proper nutrition = optimal performance and enhanced healing capabilities.
We have all heard it a thousand times,”Eat your vegetables”…well our mothers were right. In the fast paced world we live in today often we eat what is fast, easy and convenient and it is not necessarily the most nutritious. Leading nutritional experts, like the Linus Pauling Institute have been looking into the benefits of eating your veggies for years, and here is what they and others have to say.
There is a wonderful rainbow of vegetables available to fill your daily allowance of fruits and veggies. Let’s concentrate on some of the more uncommon super vegetables that not too many of us add to our diet, but should! In the spring months, everyone can and should concentrate on getting more cruciferous vegetables into our diet. Cru-what type of veggies, you might ask? For over 30 years, scientists have known that cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale and Swiss chard, are packed with amazing nutrients. These veggies are wonderful winter crops and some of the first crops of spring, so they are available year round at your grocer. A number of prestigious journals verify that cruciferous vegetables significantly lower your risk of developing many types of potentially deadly cancers, specifically breast, prostate, lung and colorectal. Sulfur compounds along with other super nutrients that are packed into these veggies specifically kill cancer cells, protect cells from abnormal growth, improve cholesterol metabolism, provide antioxidant protection and remove toxins from the liver and digestive tract. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports that cruciferous vegetables even support the woman’s body in processing estrogen. Several three to four ounce servings of lightly steamed crucifers eaten each week is an easy way to prevent cancer development and gain all the above health benefits.
Here are a couple of fun, easy recipes to incorporate crucifers into your diet:
Sautéed Kale or Swiss Chard
Dr. Tracy
1 bunch of kale or Swiss chard
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
Salt and Pepper
Lemon juice, to taste
Remove inner hard stems and wash greens well, shake out excess water and tear into large pieces. Heat oil over medium heat and add garlic. Sauté 1 minute and add greens. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until wilted. Add a squeeze of lemon juice, if desired and serve.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts
1 bag of Brussels Sprouts
3 tablespoons of olive oil
Course salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash and trim off the hard ends of Brussels sprouts and place in a bowl. Toss with olive oil and sprinkle with course salt and pepper. Spread them out on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes. Shake the pan to turn the sprouts at the 15 minute mark. They are almost as good as popcorn or chips!
Kale Chips
Courtesy of Standard Process
1 bunch kale
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. With a knife or kitchen shears, carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite-size pieces. Wash and thoroughly dry kale. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake until the edges are brown but not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes.
If you just cannot bear the thought of broccoli or any of the fabulous crucifers, don’t worry! Standard Process has developed two fantastically nutrient dense products that will help you get your veggies. Ask Dr. Gualano about the benefits of the products noted below and get yourself off to a great start this spring.
Cruciferous Complete™ is a vegetarian supplement containing organically grown and minimally processed kale and Brussels sprouts. Kale and Brussels sprouts are packed with phytonutrients, like beta-carotene and lutein; vitamins C and K; important minerals like potassium and calcium; and, of course, dietary fiber. These all function to support a healthy body, as shown from the above research.
SP Green Food contains five whole food ingredients grown organically: buckwheat, barley grass, Brussels sprouts, kale and alfalfa. We know the benefits of cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts and kale, let’s explore the additional ingredients in SP Green Food. Barley grass combines a balanced and easily absorbed blend of beta carotene and B-complex, C vitamins, plus a host of minerals. Buckwheat has the highest protein of any grain, shown to increase muscle mass, decrease body fat, aid purification and provide powerful antioxidants to detoxify the liver. Alfalfa contains a variety of vitamins and minerals great for indigestions and detoxification.