WHITE BEAN AND CHICKEN WITH CHILI AND CUMIN

Beans and Chicken with Chili and Cumin falls into the category of Meals That Heal, from The Doctors Book of Healing Foods. The time required is 25 minutes for making four servings, one 15 ounce can of white beans. 1 Tbsp olive oil; 2 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated; one clove of garlic; one clove garlic; ¾ tsp chili powder; ½ tsp ground cumin; one can (15 ounce) white beans, rinsed and drained; one can (14.5 oz) salt-free diced tomato (with juice); ¾ cup chicken broth; 4 oz leftover cooked chicken breast meat, shredded, (about ¾ cup); Hot pepper sauce (optional) to taste. l. HEAT oil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add scallions (saving come greens for garnish) and garlic and cook, stirring until golden. 2. ADD chili powder and cumin and continue to cook, stirring a minute longer. Add white beans, tomatoes and their juice, and broth. 3. SIMMER until liquid is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes. Stir in chicken and simmer 5 minutes longer. 4. DIVIDE chili among four bowls and garnish with scallion greens. This bean dish is recommended to help prevent or treat Asthma, Blood pressure, Blood sugar, Breast cancer, Cholesterol, Colds and flu, Colon cancer, Hay fever, Heart heath, Herpes, Immune system, Insomnia, Liver cancer, Memory problems, Overweight, Stroke, Ulcers and Yeast infections. Scroll down to my Blog entry of March 19th for additional inforation.

CHERRY SEASON WILL SOON BE HERE

This Bing Cherry Topping recipe could fit in with cherry season that will be arriving soon. Designed to serve four, count the guests, start multiplying and head out to the cherry tree. Here is a recipe designed to serve four guests. One Tbsp cornstarch; ¼ cup apple juice; 2 Tbsp honey; ½ tsp vanilla extract; 3 1/2 cups Bing cherries, stemmed and pitted; l/4 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/8 tsp ground cardamom; (optional). 1. Whisk cornstarch with apple juice, until cornstarch dissolves. Whisk in honey and vanilla extract. Stir in cherries, cinnamon and cardamom (if using). 2. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens and turns transparent, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Serve warm. Note: Sauce can be refrigerated in covered container for up to three days. Reheat gently in microwave, or in saucepan before serving. It can be served over pancakes, waffles, or fat-free frozen yogurt. This is a suggestion from “The Doctors Book of Healing Foods” and said to help prevent or treat Asthma, Blood sugar, Cancer tumours, Cholesterol, Constipation, Gas, Gout, Hay fever, Lung cancer, and Ulcers.

ATHEROSCLEROSIS

ATHEROSCLEROSIS According to the professor of biochemistry and biophysics and the director and endowed chair of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, the best example of the damage free radicals can cause is hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. As more is learned about free radical compounds, it is clear we need to spend more time in our gardens for a plant-based diet. Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene head the list of free radical-fighting compounds. Looking at long-term studies, people eating vegetarian diets appear to gain protection from diseases that are believed to be related to free-radical damage,” says Robert R. Jenkins, PhD, retired professor at Ithaca College. A half cup of cooked quinoa provides 90 mg of magnesium, which appears to regulate cholesterol. Atherosclerosis can be kept at bay with this fiber-rich whole grain and prevent arteries from narrowing. Bananas can prevent plaque from sticking to artery walls, which is a good defense against atherosclerosis. Make friends every day with the pomegranate and other colourful fresh fruits and vegetables to keep the heart happy and well protected.

CARRINGTON SPEAKS

The first Carrington Event came to notice in 1859. Six million Quebecers may have been startled in 1989 when a similar massive solar flare – the explosion of magnetic energy from the sun that collapsed their power grid, and left six million homes without power. Another geomagnetic storm, in 1921, brought ground currents 10 times as strong as the one in Quebec. The fiercest one, called the Carrington Event of 1859, electrified telegraph lines and created northern lights visible as far south as Cuba and Hawaii. If such a storm struck today it could create devastation. NASA researchers say severe space weather could be coming, since every 11 years as our sun hits what’s called its solar maximum, an especially active period with sun spots, and solar flares and “coronal mass ejections”, can be expected. These clouds of plasma that flow out of the sun at millions of kilometers an hour, are more likely to occur at that time. Streams of particles and pulses of electromagnetic energy, called space weather, throws the earth’s magnetic field into disarray. The next solar maximum is expected in 2013. If the 1921 solar storm were to repeat itself today, massive blackouts would affect more than 130 million people, according to a 2009 NASA report on space weather, and over 350 transformers would risk permanent damage. Water distribution would be “affected within several hours, loss of heating, air conditioning, sewage disposal, phone service, hospitals and banking systems with many other social and economic impacts that could last for years.” Here’s an interesting thought I’d like to add. There was an English painter who lived in the early 1800s whose name was Carrington. Let’s say he was such a pleasant person to have around the retirement home where he lived out in his later years that the company decided that all the Carrington homes of the future would be named after him. We can send a message to all the residents here as well as the employees, that we all do greatly appreciate each other as we continue to exchange nods and smiles throughout the day. “We care a ton for each other” includes most of the letters in the Carrington name.

ASTHMA

One of my favourite aunts lost her life in seconds from an asthma attack when she was only 51 years of age. Presently doctors are encouraged with tests that are showing how to restore better breathing patterns. Our last Blog showed us how our health in general could be improved by paying attention to the food we eat as well as and the air we breathe. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology clarifies many details for us. Diet is the controlling factor, says Richard N. Firshein, who directs this center for Comprehensive Medicine in New York City and is the author of “Reversing Asthma.” The body once again calls upon antioxidants for help. As noted yesterday these busy workers were helping to thwart arthritis and are also willing to take on asthma and a crew will be dispatched to help the asthma department. All the foods used to help arthritics can also be of help to asthmatics. Among all the fats available there is one type that is considered best – the fish oils. Three foods that are thought to have special protective power are the antioxidants Vitamins C and E and the trace mineral selenium. Vitamin E can dramatically lower the risk of asthma. In a study of 5,000 nurses, Harvard University researchers found that those getting the most Vitamin E in their diets were 47 percent less likely to have asthma than those than those getting the least. Vitamin E is found in almonds, sunflower seeds, whole grain cereal, spinach and kale, and will go a long way in keeping the lungs strong. A six ounce glass of fresh orange juice delivers 93 mg of vitamin C. In a study of 115 people, researchers in New Zealand found that those getting the most selenium in their diets were five times less likely to have asthma than those getting the least. Chicken is one of the meats as well as the sea foods that are good selenium selections. One Brazil nut contains 120 mcg, but it should be noted that some people find that tree nuts can cause an asthma attack.

FOODS FOR WHAT AILS YOU

Anemia can quietly attack the body in many forms. If our brains feel fuzzy, it may need more oxygen and you may feel sluggish and weak. Here at Carrington we always start our exercises with deep breathing. That’s a good beginning and easy to correct. The next best thing and a favourite for many is attention to the food we eat. Vegetarians eat little meat and have a special challenge for needed protein because of the lack of vitamin B12, which is needed for cells to divide and mature properly. It comes mostly from animal food but for vegetarians supplements of brewers yeast can come to the rescue. Most health stores now carry a variety of this yeast that really tastes good and adds flavour to soups as well as other vegetarian dishes. According to Joel Fuhrman, M.D., a specialist in nutritional medicine at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, N.J, and co-author of “Eat to Live” it is better to eat leafy green vegetables in salads, vegetable-rich soups and vegetable juices. In a study at Norway’s University of Oslo, 87 people with rheumatoid arthritis followed a vegetarian diet for one year. (After the first three to five months, they could eat dairy products if they wished.) They also avoided gluten (a protein found in wheat), refined sugar, salt, alcohol, and caffeine. After a month, their joints were less swollen and tender, and they had less morning stiffness and a stronger grip than people who followed their usual diets. Boston University School of Medicine studied the eating habits of people with osteoarthritis of the knee. They found that those getting the most vitamin C (more than 200 mg a day) were three times less likely to have the disease worsen than those who got the least vitamin C (less than 120 mg a day). “Vitamin C may also help generate collagen, which enhances the body’s ability to repair damage to the cartilage,” says study leader Timothy McAlindon, M.D., MPH, who is now an associate professor of medicine at Tufts University at Boston. McAlindon recommends that people find a cherry-like fruit called acerola. One of these small fruits (less than an inch or less across, contains 81 mg of vitamin C.