Our contributor, Dr. Shillington, tells us there are more enzymes in one papaya seed than in a whole store-bought enzyme capsule. The papaya seed also has all the nutrients necessary for almost instant assimilation.

Spread the seeds of an organic papaya (must be organic) on a wax paper covered plate or cookie sheet. Let them dry out for atleast a week. (If you have a food dehydrator it will take a few days). Then put them in a salt or pepper mill (or crush with a mortar pestle). Just grind them over your food as you would fresh pepper. In fact, papaya seeds are a bit spicy and taste similar to pepper, so they are an excellent substitute.

Fresh pineapple is another great source for enzymes. Buy one and eat it. Your body will thank you for days.

Enzymes in Food

Did you know your body is converting enzymes into other different enzymes all the time? By eating fresh, organic pineapple and organic papaya seeds, you’ll get all the enzymes you need, and your body will know how to convert
these enzymes into the ones it needs most.

Recommended Supplements:

• Systemic Enzymes
• Digestive Enzymes

Of all of these tips for looking, feeling—really, just being younger -the most important thing you should remember is this: don’t eat junk, don’t inhale junk, don’t drink junk, and don’t put junk on your skin.

Allow yourself to have beautiful, young looking, vibrant skin, a full head of hair with no or very little gray, perfect teeth without cavities, and clear eyes. You’ll feel sharp, alert, and young. This is how we at OLM enjoy life.

Eat Right

That means eating a lot of fresh raw fruits and vegetables. A wide variety of organic raw vegetables should be your staple. There is no vitamin tablet, green smoothie, or serum that results in better health than a diet primarily consisting of fresh raw produce. If you can find a local farm that practices crop rotation, buy as many of their vegetables as you can. You will notice a huge difference in your health almost immediately. Eating right is the best way to get phytonutrients, micro minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, and other nutrients we don’t even know about. If you want tips on incorporating more raw foods into your diet, check out our Raw Food Diet article in this issue.

Eliminate Toxins

Obviously, don’t smoke. And don’t eat refined sugar or drink alcohol, and do everything you can to reduce your body’s toxic
load. Looking younger and feeling younger is all about health, and health is primarily about your body’s nutrition to toxins ratio.

Take Care of Your Skin

This is where most ‘experts” tell you to moisturize and use sunscreen. Not us. Healthy skin comes from within. If you are eating well and exercising and you still have bad skin, you need to detox. Collagen and enzymes can help give you healthy skin as well (see below). We don’t recommend makeup, we don’t recommend moisturizers, and we don’t recommend washing your face on a regular basis. But if you do need to have a face regimen you can do no better than Terressentials (click to read our review). We are in love with this skin care company. They are absolutely phenomenal.

Conventional skin products, including those that entice you because they claim to include a few organic ingredients, make your skin feel tight, refreshed, clean, and invigorated. But they also toxify your skin as they strip important oils. A day later your skin feels worse than before. You use the product again and it feels a bit better. The addiction cycle begins, though many people don’t realize their skin was actually better off before they tried the product.

Take Care of You Hair

Losing your hair and/ or going gray certainly make you look older. The best way to slow this process is to be as healthy as possible. Gray hair is a sign of mineral deficiency (copper and possibly others). Hair loss is a sign of an overall toxic lifestyle. If your diet is unhealthy (and/or you smoke or use other drugs) your blood is too thick. This is what causes high blood pressure. Your heart beats harder to get your blood where it needs to go. It doesn’t get to do its job at the hair follicles.

Don’t use conventional shampoos and conditioners on your head. The best hair care products we have tried so far are from Morrocco Method (click to read our review).

Workout the Right Way

Don’t just lift heavy weights, or run, or do the same aerobics class every time you go to the gym. Mix it up. Practice developing real world fitness with lots of different exercises and routines. Recovery time is vital. Mixing up your routine and eating right can allow you to exercise every day and still allow your body to recover and not become over worked. A good exercise program simulates an active lifestyle and develops “real world” strength.

Our chief editor lifts weights, practices yoga and martial arts, does lots of body weight exercises, rides bicycles, and uses different cardio equipment at the gym. He also works out anywhere between 1 and 3 times a day 4 to 7 days a week. “I listen to my body, but I also push it hard,” says Michael. Some of his workouts consist of as many pushups and body weight squats as he can do as fast as he can do them. Other workouts consist of a 60 mile bike ride or a 90 minute routine at the gym.

Hot and Cold Hydro Therapy

Second to eating a healthy diet, hot-cold hydrotherapy is the best thing you can do to clean your blood and restore vitality. It can cure so many ailments. See our article in issue 3 and read why this is so important and how to do this regime.

Enzymes

The best way to get lots of enzymes in your diet is to follow the first
tip, eat fresh and raw. Also, eat pineapple and papaya to get lots of enzymes (both have to be fresh and raw or there will be no enzymes). You can also take a systemic enzyme such as Vitalzym which will help your body rid itself of foreign proteins. Keep digestive enzymes handy for when you aren’t eating so healthy.

For more on enzymes, checkout our enzyme articles in this issue.

Collagen

Dr. Tim O’Shea, one of our contributors, offers a collagen supplement at his website that he assures us is of the highest quality. We are told by some doctors that if you are taking a systemic enzyme such as Vitalzym you should alternate between the enzyme supplement and collagen on a weekly basis as the enzymes would consider the collagen a foreign protein and render the collagen useless. We’re not sure if this is true, but it seems plausible.

Calm Down

Don’t let little issues bring you down or get you riled up. Don’t even let big things upset you too much. If you have a bad temper, learn to let things roll off of you. If someone is trying to “get to you” then don’t let them win. If someone unintentionally upsets you, why be upset? Rage is very bad for us. Hate is very bad for us. Life is too short.

Relax

Learn to stop and smell the roses. Enjoy and appreciate life. Relax. Meditate. Contemplate. Even if this doesn’t help you live longer, what’s the point of living a long and healthy life if you don’t enjoy it?

Do What Makes You Happy

Again, life is too short.

One of the most commonly asked questions we receive at OLM is, “What one thing can I do to be healthier?” A diet of primarily raw fresh vegetables and fruits is the foundation for good health. If you are not as healthy as you would like to be, there is nothing more important. Even if you smoke, or don’t eat organic, and/or don’t exercise, adopting a raw food diet is still our first recommendation. We even recommend eating a raw food diet before we recommend supplements.

This takes people by surprise, especially since I own a supplement store. I have plenty of supplements on hand for acute health issues and first aid, but I only take Total Nutrition Formula, SF722, and systemic enzymes regularly.

There is a lot of controversy as to whether or not eating 100% raw is healthy. We do believe that a 100% raw food diet can be very healthy if done right with enough variety. If you are interested in eating 100% raw this article can help you get started. We also recommend you get to know Raw Chef Dan (see next article). But we recommend going at least 80% raw for practical reasons. And, if you cut out junk food completely (this includes “organic” junk food) and make sure that two of your three daily meals as well as any and all snacks are raw fresh fruits and vegetables (1:4 ratio), you will achieve a significantly higher level of health. For many people, eating this way rids the body of disease and ailments. For individuals who have led a toxic lifestyle for too long, more help is needed to restore the body to health.

People often point to the fact that there is not enough variety in a raw food diet to maintain good health. If a raw food diet to you means carrot sticks, celery and apples, then you’re right. My daily routine consists of a salad for breakfast and sometimes for lunch and/or dinner. On the days I do not have two salads, I have a smoothie. How do I get variety if I eat almost the same thing every day? Each of my salads contains at least 10 different kinds of vegetables. I get more nutrition in one salad than most people get in a whole week, maybe a month. My smoothies are nothing to scoff at, either. One salad and/or smoothie and I know I am set for the day. I must admit I do still love to eat, so I actually eat too much. Though I also work out pretty heavily on a regular basis, I imagine I could do better with about half the calories I consume.

My Daily Salad

Want to know how to make an incredible salad? Here are the main ingredients for my salad:

• Spinach
• Arugula
• Collard Greens
• Spring mix
• Dandelion
• Leeks
• Red onions
• Red cabbage
• Red bell pepper
• Rainbow chard
• Beet greens
• Grated beet root
• Graded carrots
• Graded zucchini
• Cucumbers
• Cilantro
• Pomegranate (seed)
• Raisins
• Sesame seeds
• Ground papaya seeds
• Avocado

I also throw in chick peas, a three bean salad combination, and/or some raw sheep cheese I get at my local farmers’ market. I always put two to three soft boiled eggs in my salad. Obviously I am not a vegan, but if you are, this salad is good enough without the cheese and eggs. The salad is also great with chicken or steak.

Update: Now I don’t do the cheese. I don’t do meat either. I still eat eggs, but am very considerate of where and how they are sourced. The avocado makes it so I don’t miss the cheese. But, for those who are not vegan, and concerned about getting enough calories, add what you want. Just please make sure all animal products were as humanely treated and healthy as possible.

There are tons of recipes for raw and healthy salad dressings. I love my own creation.

My Balsamic Salad Dressing Recipe

To make my salad dressing, I start with equal parts oil and vinegar (keep in mind that both olive oil and balsamic vinegar have a lot of imitators).

• 3/4 cup of flax seed oil
• 1/4 cup of coconut oil
• 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar
• 6 tablespoons turmeric
• 1 table spoon basil
• Two teaspoons unrefined sea salt
• Two teaspoons fresh ground pepper
• Two tablespoons Dijon mustard

Do it all to taste if you want, but stay heavy on the turmeric; it’s very good for you, and it’s the most important ingredient to this recipe.

This salad dressing will have even the pickiest kids eating vegetables. It’s very versatile. Use it as a dip, a marinade, or whatever. It’s amazing.

Obviously this is not a 100% raw salad. But it’s mostly raw and very healthy. If you want to adopt a 100% raw food diet then find a great raw salad dressing and skip the peas, beans, eggs, and cheese. It’ll be healthier that way too.

Super Antioxidant Smoothie

I don’t have a smoothie every day. For health, nothing beats a great salad. But I do crave smoothies a few times a week.

• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 cup fresh berries
• ½ pomegranate (seeds)
• 1 raw egg (organic only!)
• ½ banana
• 1 large kale leaf
• 2 tablespoons nutrition powder (see below)
• 1 tablespoon Udo’s Oil with DHA

Nutrition Powder

Total Nutrition Formula, is the best nutritional support available. You can also make your own.  I don’t do smoothies everyday (salads are better), but when ever I do, I add my nutrition powder.

Conclusion

It takes time to adapt to a healthy lifestyle. I don’t spend much on groceries, but that’s because I’ve learned where and how to shop for the best deals. Local organic farmers’ markets are the best places to get the healthiest produce for a fraction of the cost you would spend at a conventional grocery store. It used to take me a lot of time to make smoothies and salads but I’ve learned to make them very quickly. I still spend more time than most preparing food, but health is my priority, my hobby, my most important investment. I’ll take the time.

There is no doubt that lentils are one of the most versatile of all the legume family. Indeed it is not only their culinary usefulness that they are well known for.

In Egyptian times they were used as bubble packing for ancient artefacts and sculptures for shipping. The word lens is the Latin for lentil and derives its name from the shape of these little nutrition packed wonders.

The cultivation of lentils as a food goes back to well before the Egyptians, to Neolithic times (roughly 10.000 years ago). It was during this time that farming came about and lentils were one of the earliest crops to be cultivated, originating in the Middle East. It is no surprise then that there are so many references to the lentil in the Bible. The French dish Esau potage is a lentil broth named after Esau. In the Old Testament, Jacob bought the birthright from Esau with a dish of stewed lentils. Then there is the arguable notion that Lent was named after the lentil as the majority of people were too poor to be able to afford fish at this religious time and therefore had to rely on lentils for sustenance.

But it is for their culinary uniqueness that we are looking to this humble legume. There are few foods that are so versatile. They can be made into anything from pates, dressings, soups, dhals, fritters and salads.

They are packed full of beneficial nutrients as well as being a very rich source of soluble fibre, and being the third richest vegetable source of protein there is.

A study of dietry patterns and risk of heart disease following 16,000 middle aged men in the U.S., Finland, Netherlands, Italy, former Yugoslavia, Greece and Japan over a period of 25 years, found that after analysing the data, diets with a high legume content were associated with a huge 82% reduction in risk of heart disease!

Another study published in the ‘Archives of Internal Medicine’ confirms that a diet high in soluble fibre, such as lentils, helps prevent heart disease. Out of 10,000 adults, those eating the most fibre (21 grams a
day or more) had a 12% reduction in coronary heart disease and 11% less cardiovascular disease. Those that ate the most water soluble fibre fared even better.

The fact that lentils are excellent for heart health is not only in the fibre content, but also the significant amounts of folate (folic acid) and magnesium they supply. Folate has long been associated with heart health as it helps to lower levels of homocysteine. This is an amino acid that damages artery walls and is a serious risk factor for heart disease. When folate is present it converts homocysteine into cysteine or methionine, both of which are benign. Folate is also a crucial nutrient for pregnant women. Up to 70% of birth defects such as, spina bifida and  neural tube defects have been shown to be due to a lack of folate in the diet. Most doctors advise women of child bearing age to increase their intake of folate as it is not just during pregnancy but also prior to conceiving that there is a great need for folate.

The magnesium content in lentils adds another heart helping dimension. Magnesium is known to help the arteries and veins ‘relax’ which lessens resistance and improves the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Studies have shown that not only are low levels of magnesium associated with heart disease, but that after a heart attack low levels promote free radical injury to the heart.

It doesn’t stop there either. Lentils are an important source of B vitamins, particularly B-3. They are also high in iron, zinc and calcium, which is why they are so popular as a substitute for red meat. The iron is better absorbed by the body when eaten with vitamin C rich foods such as dark green vegetables. One of my favourite dishes is Indian spiced lentils, or dhal, with spinach stirred in at the last minute. A bowl of that with a hot naan bread makes a substantial and very healthy lunch for about a $1.00 a portion! Frugal food needn’t be bland and boring. It is high in protein too, being as good a source as some cheaper cuts of meat. Whilst they are deficient in only two amino acids, this is not the case once they have sprouted. When sprouted they contain sufficient amounts of all amino acids. In addition to this, their nutritional value goes up in sprouted form too.

Apart from the fact that they get a bad rap as being boring ‘hippy’ food, there is not a lot that you can say bad about the humble lentil.

Packed with goodness, nutrition and incredibly versatile as you will see in the following recipes. As with the acorn and mighty oak parable, these little guys should not be underestimated……

Lentil Varieties

There are numerous varieties of lentils but some of the most common are:

RED SPLIT (CHIEF)

These are perhaps the most common of all. They are good for soups and purees as they tend to puree when cooked and don’t hold their shape. A good use for them is to thicken stews or casseroles. Instead of reaching for the gravy granules or artificial thickener, try adding a good handful towards the end of cooking when making your next casserole. You’ll find it absorbs the excess liquid and provides a good protein boost to your meal.

BROWN LENTIL

Again these break down and become mushy if over cooked, but if cooked carefully they will retain their shape. They are good added to sauces or broths.

YELLOW LENTILS

These are actually split mung beans and are very similar to red lentils except they are a bit firmer.

BELUGA LENTILS

These are an incredibly attractive lentil, so called because when they are cooked they glisten like caviar. They retain their shape and remain firm when cooked. Excellent as an accompaniment to meals and also in sauces or dressings.

PUY LENTILS (FRENCH GREEN)

These to my mind are the king of lentils. Small and robust, they too keep their shape after cooking and are adaptable to a whole host of uses from pates to stuffing’s for vegetables to sauces and dressings. Green and brown lentils are also higher in nutrients than their red and yellow cousins.

BKACK LENTILS (URAD DHAL)

Again these are actually a bean and if they are shelled and split they become white lentils. These are widely used in Indian cooking. It is no surprise that India is the biggest producer of lentils in the world. But it may come as a shock to know that Canada is the second highest producer!

Ingredients (8-10 Burgers):

• 1 cup dry lentils, well rinsed
• 2½ cups water
• ½ teaspoon unrefined sea salt
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 medium bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium carrot, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup rolled oats, finely ground
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon turmeric
• 1 cup bread crumbs (we recommend sprouted grain bread, stale, and torn into small pieces and ground in a food processer)

Method for Lentil Burger Recipe:

1. In a saucepan place lentils, water, and salt, bring to a boil, lower heat, cover, and simmer until water is nearly gone and lentils are soft, with splitting skins (about 45 minutes).
2. Sauté the onion, carrot, and bell pepper in oil until softer (about 3 minutes) then add garlic and continue for 30 seconds.
3. Mix the lentils, onions, carrots, pepper, turmeric, and soy sauce in large bowl.
4. Add the ground oats and bread crumbs, mix.
5. Form the lentil mixture into patties (should still be warm), which can now be frozen, refrigerated for a few days, or cooked immediately.

Cooking (2 choices):

1. Heat some oil in a frying pan at ,medium to medium-high heat and place a burger on top. Fry until brown (1-2 minutes). Repeat on other side and serve.
2. In an oven at 400º bake on a greased baking sheet for about 15 minutes.

All ingredients should be organic whenever possible!

Related Reading:

• Lentils
• Mental Health, Physical Health & B Vitamins – Nature’s Valium
• Five Super Protein-Rich Vegan Foods for Healthy Living
• Lentils and Wild Mushrooms In Savoy Leaves

Almost all of the recent studies on the health benefits of chocolate that we came across were positive. Findings ranged from improved function of cells to lower blood pressure.¹ Chocolate is touted as a superfood by some, but this doesn’t mean you should go out and buy Hershey’s chocolate by the box. First and foremost, all of the studies we found suggesting health benefits from consuming chocolate were related to dark chocolate1 ², not milk chocolate. Also, flavanols are the antioxidant that many researchers believe are responsible for much of chocolate’s health benefits, and it should be noted that manufacturers often remove the healthy element – the flavanols – because of their bitter taste.³

An addition, the sugar in chocolate is cause for concern. The study,Can a daily bar of chocolate cause brittle-bone disease?, states the following: “The researchers believe the findings may be because chocolate contains oxalate, which can reduce calcium absorption, and sugar, which is linked to calcium excretion.” ³

Editor’s Note

I must admit, I love chocolate. I eat chocolate on a regular basis. But I always make sure it’s fair trade, organic chocolate and I prefer to find it sweetened with a healthier sweetener like sugar cane juice, or maltitol. I would not venture to say that chocolate is good for you. I know it has some health benefits, but overall, it is not something that makes me feel healthier after I consume it. But if it’s organic, sweetened in a healthier way, and not consumed too often, I don’t think it’s a cause for concern.

Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes. Many studies suggest that resveratrol is the reason for the French paradox, the observation that the French suffer considerably low incidence of heart disease, while enjoying a diet rich in of saturated fats. While we at OLM have our own theory as to why the French do not suffer from high incidence of heart disease, that’s another article.

Resveratrol is a natural antioxidant found in the skin of red grapes. Many studies suggest that resveratrol is the reason for the French paradox, the observation that the French suffer considerably low incidence of heart disease, while enjoying a diet rich in of saturated fats. While we at OLM have our own theory as to why the French do not suffer from high incidence of heart disease, that’s another article.

There are two common types of studies supporting red wine consumption. One kind is where animals and/or humans are given resveratrol, not actual red wine. Red wine consumption is said to “possibly” reduce chances of coronary heart disease,1 fight diabetes,2 aid in weight loss,3 prevent prostate cancer,4 kill pancreatic cancer,5 increase one’s lifespan,6 and more. But with the many studies claiming resveratrol has these benefits, note the usual little bit of “fine print” that reads something to the effect, “Researchers warn that you would have to drink three liters of red wine a day in order to receive the benefits of…” (this is not an actual quote, but the messages are similar).

The other kind of studies that lead us to believe red wine may be good for us are statistical correlation studies, or epidemiology. These studies will say things such as, “Among men who consumed four or more 4-ounce glasses of red wine per week, we saw about a 60 percent lower incidence of the more aggressive types of prostate cancer.”7 Consider the problems with such studies, specifically in the case of red wine. A person who drinks one to two glasses of red wine a day, typically no more, no less, is an individual who generally shows restraint, has refined taste, and is likely to be more affluent than the average person. This individual could be healthier than the average person who doesn’t drink alcohol at all due to multiple factors. I would venture to guess that the average single malt scotch drinker is healthier than the average Budweiser drinker. Does this mean that Scotch is healthier? Maybe, maybe not. Does this mean that Scotch is healthy? Certainly not.

And then there are other studies that suggest red wine is not all it’s touted to be.8 It’s interesting to note that some research indicates one or two glasses of red wine a day may prevent cancer, other research tells us the opposite is likely true.9

So is red wine good for you? OLM believes that alcohol is not good for you, period. In some cases the ends justify the means, such as the alcohol content in tinctures, which are used as herbal remedies, but we do not recommend consuming red wine. If resveratrol and/ or other antioxidants are what you seek, seek elsewhere. There are better and more natural ways of getting them—like eating grapes.

That said, if you want to enjoy an alcoholic beverage every now and then, provided you do not suffer from Candida, and your health is better than most people’s overall, red wine may be the best choice.

Editor’s Note

I love a good red wine. While I’m picky about the quality, I am not stuck on any one kind, such as cabernet or merlot. I’ve tried many different varieties; I once fancied myself a bit of a connoisseur. But while I still love a nice red on occasion, it has become rarer for me. Why? I am simply too in tune with my body to enjoy things that do not make me feel good. Every now and then, with the right social circumstances, I can turn off that warning in my head, but it’s rare. And even after only one glass, I tend to ask myself, “Was that really worth it?” It just plain doesn’t make me feel good. Well, mentally, yeah, it feels great, at the time of consumption. But physically and mentally, hours later or a day later, even one glass feels makes me feel as though I just abused my body.