Healing Foods

"Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food." Hippocrates wrote hundreds of years ago. Herbs, fruits, and vegetables have been prized for centuries for their healing properties and now science is backing it up. One great resource I found that provides a lot of information about the benefits of different foods, is this web site:

http://www.whfoods.com

But as a more general rule of thumb, keep your plate colorful to maximize your health benefits and to aid in the absorbtion of nutrients. Also, strive for ten servings combined of fruit and vegetables daily, whether you are a vegan or not. Increase your intake over several weeks, and cook a large portion of your veggies to ease the digestive effects of increased fiber. You can certainly feel free to eat more than ten servings, too. Greens are the best choice in terms of being calorie friendly, and they tend to pack a high supply of nutrients and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Savory Sweet Potatoes And Greens

I tend to favor sweet potato dishes that are on the savory side, such as the above dish. In one study done, sweet potatoes eaten daily over the course of three years was shown to reduce wrinkles by 11%. Powerful antioxidants and anti-aging effects! The recipe for the above dish is as follows:

• One partially cooked sweet potato, skin-on, diced
• 3 cups of collard greens, chopped
• 2 cups of kale, chopped
• 1/2 cup diced red onion
• 1/2 teaspoon each of dried sage, garlic powder, and sea salt adding more to taste

In a large skillet or frying pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion. After two minutes, add the rest of ingredients along with a cup or so of water. Stir fry until greens become tender and have reduced down.

This makes a good side dish. If you use only the flesh of the sweet potato, add more water to the stir fry, and add more seasonings, you can also create a sweet potato sauce with this to spoon over pasta. Enjoy!