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Nuts And Seeds

 

Whole Grains
Whole Grains, Their Benefits And Health Bonuses

Gluten Free
Find Out About Celiac Disease, Allergies And The Alternatives To Wheat

Fruits And Vegetables
The Health Benefits Of Fruits And Vegetables Is Wide Ranging

Legumes
Beans, Peas and Lentils Too!

Let's talk about the health benefits of nuts and seeds now. Seeds and nuts are both "oil rich." These fatty foods are sometimes the best source of Vitamin E, which acts as a nerve protector and immune enhancing antioxidant. Common nuts and seeds also contain the greatest quantity of fats of all unprocessed foods.. much of it in the form of essential fatty acids. Both fats and the fat-soluble nutrient, Vitamin E, play an important role in liver function and it's attendant emotions of anger, depression and impatience.

People who eat isolated fats like refined seed oils have a greater need for Vitamin E as an antioxidant to protect against the oxidation of theses oils. On the other hand, if large amounts of isolated Vitamin E is ingested, more fat is craved.

By eating Vitamin E as a component of the oils, it naturally occurs in, (ex. nuts, seeds, unrefined oils, and whole grains), there is less need to be concerned about taking supplemental Vitamin E for protection.

The problems with nuts and seeds:

• They become "rancid" and lose their nutrients when they are hulled or shelled.
• Rancid seeds or nuts causes irritation to the lining of the stomach and intestines.
• The pancreatic enzymes that digest oils in these foods are retarded. Thus, the oils can't be digested or assimilated efficiently.
• Rancid seeds can contribute to poor immunity, cancer, and other chronic diseases.
• Destroys Vitamins A, E, and F in the food, plus those stored in the body.
• A cause of gall bladder and liver complaints. (Results in anger and indecision.)

• Buy nuts ONLY in the shell. (They will last up to one year)
• Store hulled seeds in dark bottles in cold places. (Heat and light speed oxidation.) DO NOT STORE IN PLASTIC. (Oil rich foods combine with plastic to form plasticides.)
• Taste seeds and nuts before buying.
• Poisons and toxins tend to accumulate in all seeds, so it's important to buy "organic non-sprayed."

The best way to eat seeds or nuts is to soak them overnight to initiate the sprouting process, which makes fats and proteins more digestible. Then, dry them and eat raw or roast or cook them before eating. "Lightly roast"- overheating makes the oils in them harmful. (Roasting reduces the effect of rancidity and cuts down the "oiliness," making the nuts and seeds easier to digest.)

If you can, eat nuts and seeds that grow in your climatic region for the best health benefits. The medicinal value is increased when chewed well.

Eaten in large quantities, they can cause problems in digestion, with blemishes and pimples, and are notorious for producing foul smelling flatulence.

Healing Properties of Nuts and Seeds:

Almonds
Relieves stagnant energy of the lungs; transforms phlegm; alleviates cough; lubricates the intestines. Used for lung conditions including coughing and asthma; also helps in cases of fluid dryness types of constipation. For lung conditions, use almond drink; prepare by grinding almonds to a powder and mixing with water.
Almond is the ONLY nut to alkalize the blood; all others acidify.
Caution: Almonds can exacerbate phlegm and sputum if the person has signs of sluggishness, thick, greasy tongue coating and edema.

Black Sesame Seed
Tonifies the fluids and blood; strengthens the liver and kidneys; has general demulcent (soothing) properties-lubricates the intestines and five organs (heart, liver, kidney, spleen-pancreas and lungs); acts as a general tonic. Used to relieve rheumatism, constipation, dry cough, blurry vision, ringing in the ears, blood in urine, low backache, weak knees, stiff joints, nervous spasm, headache, insufficient mother's milk and dizziness, numbness, or paralysis caused by deficient blood. Also, useful to darken prematurely gray hair.
Caution: Avoid in cases of deficient spleen-pancreas marked by diarrhea or watery stools.
Sesame seeds should be ground up before eating or cooking to make them more digestible. They become even more digestible with soaking them overnight, then, lightly pan-roasting before grinding. (This helps to reduce the effects of their high "oxalic acid" content, which ties up calcium and other minerals.) Don't buy the "sesame butter" or "sesame tahini" sold in stores for the simple reason that it lacks fiber, many minerals and metabolic cofactors necessary for complete digestion.

Chia Seed
Energy tonic that lubricates dryness. Next to flax, they are the highest source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Coconut
Tonifies the heart. Hemostatic agent (shortens the clotting time of blood). Used for weakness, emaciation, nosebleed, and childhood malnutrition. Good source of "saturated" fat for vegetarians. However, it can be dangerous when used by those with excess saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet. It is often helpful in treating edema resulting from heart weakness and diabetes.

Flax Seed
Laxative; mucilaginous; relieves pain and inflammation; influences the spleen-pancreas and colon. The richest source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which have vitally important properties for strengthening immunity and cleaning the heart and arteries.

Peanut
Affects lungs and spleen-pancreas; lubricates the intestines; harmonizes the stomach. Used to increase the milk supply of nursing mothers (add roasted peanuts to rice or millet soup). To stop bleeding , including hemophilia and blood in the urine (eat raw peanuts). To treat deafness (eat raw peanuts). To lower blood pressure (drink tea of the shells).
Note: In the above remedies, use the whole peanut, including the thin brown skin.
Caution: Peanuts can cause skin outbreaks. They also greatly slow the metabolic rate of the liver. They should be avoided by overweight, sluggish, yeast-infected, or cancerous persons.
They are subject to carcinogenic fungus aflatoxin, chemicals and synthetic fertilizers, so buy only "organic" peanuts. They contain fewer chemicals residues and are less subject to aflatoxins (any of several carcinogenic mycotoxins that are produced especially in stored agricultural crops by molds).

Pine Nut
Influences the lungs, colon, and liver; lubricates the lungs and intestines; increases body fluids; mildly laxative. Helpful in treating dizziness, dry cough, spitting up blood, rheumatism, and constipation.
Pine nuts are highly susceptible to rancidity and should be refrigerated in a sealed container after shelling.

Pistachio
Influences the liver and kidneys; purifies the blood; lubricates the intestines. Used for constipation. Good tonic for the whole body.

Pumpkin and Squash Seeds
Influence the colon and spleen-pancreas; diuretic; vermifuge (expels worms- especially effective for round worm and tapeworm.) Used for motion sickness, nausea, impotency, and swollen prostate with signs of difficult or dribbling urination. They are valuable sources of zinc and Omega-3 fatty acids. They can be taken as a tea decoction or broth (blend with water and strain), or eaten raw or roasted. Lightly pan or oven roast to remove harmful E. coli from their surface. Dosage is 1-2 ounces daily.

Sunflower Seed
Influences the spleen-pancreas; acts as an energy tonic; lubricates the intestines; hastens the eruption of measles (prepare as a tea decoction). Used to treat constipation of the dryness type. Because of their high polyunsaturated fatty acid content, these seeds go rancid quickly once their protective shell is removed- it is best to shell them just before eating.