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Greens, Bananas, Lectins, Curry and You Know What

Lutein, Omega 3, Magnesium - Organic leafy greens

 

WulfWorks Wellness News

Greens, Bananas, Lectins, Curry and You Know What

In This Issue: 

    • Leafy Greens Build Muscles
    • Celebrate Bananas!
    • Lectins Are Good for You!
    • Curry Can Be Funny

You’ll Find More Fascinating Health Posts my Facebook Page –

facebook.com/HealItAll/ – and lots of great recipes in my

Whole Foods Plant-Based, Gluten Free Diet & Recipes Group

Message from Bernadette Wulf

Health Nutrition Coach Bernadette WulfGreetings!

Wow – what a whirlwind week! I was so immersed in getting my One Diet to Rule them All! 30 Day Challenge launched yesterday that I totally forgot to publish this newsletter. I’m sure you’ve been anxiously waiting for it… the newsletter and the challenge, right?

It’s not the first time I’ve had to send this newsletter out a day late so it’s all good. Anyway, happy belated Beltaine or May day if you prefer!

I was a little shocked to get an email the other day from one of my readers telling me I should be put in jail for feeding my dogs a vegan diet. Holy cow! People do get adamant about their opinions.

Just to be clear, my dogs eat organic vegan food six days a week and they get a couple of sardines (as recommended by the Medical Medium) on the seventh day, so technically they are not vegan. Since I’ve been feeding them this way, they are a lot more active and playful, less smelly, shed less, have less eye discharge and are generally happier and healthier than when they were when eating a high quality meat-based commercial food. So don’t worry about them folks. They are doing great… and I’d rather not go to jail, LOL.

If anyone should go to jail it’s the makers of junky dog foods like Science Diet. When I was doing a lot of pet sitting at people’s houses I could always tell the dogs on Science Diet because of how unhealthy they were — yet vets promote it like it is mana from heaven. It’s shameful!

Okay, rant over. This month we have some great info. on leafy greens, bananas, lectins and curry powder.

See you again in June!

>>>>>Have questions or comments? —>>> Email Bernadette <—<<< Please use this link and do not hit reply to this post, because I may never get your message that way. Just emphasizing this, because some people still hit reply and send… including the person who wants me to go to jail, which is why I only saw her email months after the vegan dog article.

To your health and happiness!

Bernadette Wulf

HealItAll.com & Plant Based for Life

Omega 3, Magnesium - Organic leafy greensLeafy Greens Build Muscles

Did you know that the best way to build muscles is to eat lots of leafy greens and fruit and move your body. It’s not about loading up on protein. We do need some protein of course, about 10% of our calories is ideal, but too much protein will damage the kidneys.

What is really cool is that just eating a cup of leafy greens every day has been found to boost muscle function even without exercise.

From naturalhealth365 –

The 12-year study, conducted by researchers at Edith Cowan University in Perth, involved 3,759 Australians who participated in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study.  The scientists found that people who consumed a diet high in nitrate-rich vegetables had 11 percent better muscle function in their lower limbs and demonstrated 2.6 kg more knee extension strength – when compared to those with the lowest dietary intake.  The team also recorded faster walking speeds for the high-nitrate group. [ ]

Intriguingly, diets high in nitrate-rich vegetables seemed to reinforce muscle strength independent of any physical exercise.  (Still, the scientists were quick to advise weight training and regular exercise as well).

Not bad, right? Instead of loading up on protein, load up on salads – and you also need glucose to build muscle, so don’t leave out the fruit.

Read more about building muscles with leafy greens – https://www.naturalhealth365.com/nitrate-rich-vegetables-3792.html

bananas for potassiumCelebrate Bananas!

The popular keto/paleo fear of fruit sugar has put bananas in a bad light. They are, in fact, an excellent food with quite a few health benefits. Not only that, they make a great grab-and-go breakfast or snack.

From naturalhealth365 –

Research has shown that bananas are highly antioxidative and anti-inflammatory fruits that can help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body.  Particularly important is their high dopamine content.  Scientists say that dopamine is not only a neurotransmitter but also a potent antioxidant that rivals glutathione – the body’s most important natural detoxifying compound – in disease-fighting properties. [ ]

Other benefits of bananas include alleviating digestive conditions.  Green bananas, which contain more resistant starch than riper bananas, are endorsed by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America for healing the gut and easing symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.

Finally, a Swedish study involving over 61,000 women and published in the International Journal of Cancer showed bananas could help slash the risk of kidney cancer almost in half. [ ] And bananas – added the researchers – had the most anti-cancer benefits of all fruits studied.  Another kidney benefit: bananas’ high amounts of potassium may help ward off kidney stones.

That’s a lot of goodness packed in a simple common fruit. And they are usually quite inexpensive too. What’s not to love?

Read more about health benefits of bananas – https://www.naturalhealth365.com/bananas-health-benefits-3807.html

legumes for your health and the health of our planetLectins Are Good for You!

Did you get caught up in all the anti-lectin hoopla? It gave me pause for a bit, but I soon dug a little deeper and found out the truth. Lectins are nothing to worry about. In fact, they are actually good for us.

From drmcdougall.com –

…this pathway of abstaining from lectin-containing foods (grains, beans, and potatoes) circuitously kills people, by recommending for them to instead eat the only remaining foods: animals and vegetable oils [for necessary calories – ed.]. The basic fallacy has so far resulted in at least two best-selling, “low-carb-leaning” diet books: Dr. Gundry’s Diet Evolution: Turn Off the Genes That Are Killing You—and Your Waistline—and Drop the Weight for Good, and Eat Right for Your Type: The Individualized Blood Type Diet Solution (based on how different ABO blood types react differently with the various specific protein lectins in commonly consumed foods) [a theory that has since been debunked by better research – ed.].

Dr. McDougall shares a lot of great research and he has some excellent health advice. I don’t agree with his conclusion that GMOs and gluten are good for anyone, and I’d like to see people eating more fruits and vegetables than he recommends on his starch-based diet. Otherwise, I always learn a lot when I listen to him. He’s pretty entertaining too.

Read more about benefits of lectins – https://www.drmcdougall.com/2017/05/01/the-truth-about-lectins/

turmeric healitall.comCurry Can Be Funny

This is one of the funniest sentences I’ve read in a long time. It made me burst out laughing.

A 2018 randomized controlled trial published in the peer-reviewed journal Foods found that eating 6 to 12 grams of curry powder with a meal was associated with reduced hunger and a reduced desire to eat among men.

I’ve never minded eating among men, even when dining on Indian food. In fact I rather enjoy it with the right men.

All humor aside, it does appear that curry spices have a lot of amazing benefits. Good thing they are so delicious. Every brand of curry powder has a slightly different blend of spices, but they generally include turmeric, coriander, and chili pepper.

Here are some of the positive effects, from naturalhealth365.com:

  • Improved blood flow
  • Better cholesterol levels
  • Better blood sugar control
  • Reduced hunger
  • Reduced risk of oxidative stress

Read more about benefits curry – https://www.naturalhealth365.com/curry-health-benefits-3815.html