If I were on the sidewalk on a busy Saturday afternoon asking people randomly why we should grow our own food, I would probably get the ‘deer in the headlight’ look way more times than not. People are just not into the idea of growing their own foods. Their families may have had gardens growing up and they enjoyed fresh foods from the garden, but today, in our hectic lifestyles, it’s so convenient to just run to the grocery store, pick up the needed items and go home and fix them. But that’s not Fresh! and what we’re finding out, not really that nutrient…or in a lot of cases, very good for you…

I read this article this morning from Friends of Northeast Florida Community Gardens where he asked this question of  Helene Guest and here was the reply:

Why grow our own food?

Posted by FNFCG Admin

Why grow our own food?

 

This is a question that has been asked many times over when gardens are planned for our communities.  It is a reasonable question considering the busy lives we as Americans lead today.  We can look back in our history and site national success during wartime periods such as the Victory Gardens planted during World War II.  An estimated 20 million gardens were planted expanding urban gardening exponentially.  Food scarcity resulted in the government encouraging people to grow their own food to allow the manufactured food to be sent to our troops overseas.  There are several reasons to promote the same program today.

 

Image: Marc

First of all growing a portion of a household’s food allows a percentage of Food Security.  No matter what is happening in the world around you, a bounty of high quality food can be within footsteps of your kitchen.  Each family can plan a garden with the goal of replacing all or a portion of their fresh food.

 

Food Quality is a measure of freshness.  The amount of time between harvest and use can greatly affect the nutritional value of food.  Vitamins and minerals can be sensitive to time.  Picking and eating our harvest at their peak will greatly increase how they nourish our bodies.  A well nourished body can resist disease, supply needed energy and provide for a better quality of life overall.

 

Gardening is a proven Stress Reliever!  Getting out in the fresh air, digging in the dirt, weeding, planting, watering, and of course harvesting are considered exercise.  Working out in the garden for an hour a day can be a boost to both our physical as well as our emotional well being.

 

Image: Randy Sarvis

Having a garden allows a Family to Team up for a Common Goal.  Turning off the electronics and spending time together outside allows for great discussion and bonding time while providing all of the above qualities.  In turn, passing on the skill of growing food to the next generation is priceless!

 

Let’s not forget reducing the Financial Budget of any household.  Be careful though:  one can spend a fortune on gardening supplies!  Following time tested gardening on a budget rules will prevent your garden from being just an expensive hobby.  Food can be grown effectively at low cost.

 

We in Florida are blessed with great weather and can grow food all year round.  So get growing!!!~ Helene Guest

Believe it or not, a lot of people do not know what Blood Type they are…I being one of those people…I thought I was a Blood Type ‘O’ but today, after my blood test, I realized I’m not!

So all this time, I’ve been eating as a Type O blood type…and the Type O blood type is so different from the Type A blood type that I am…each blood type has it’s own diet of good and bad foods and how they effect your overall look and feel when you eat the different foods.

The best thing to do, if you do not know what Blood Type you are, is to either have a blood test done with your physician to determine your type you are or you are able to order a Home Blood Test that you can do right in the comfort of your own home.

Know what Blood Type you are then start eating for your Type. ‘Your blood type influences every area of your physiology on a celluarl level. It has everything to do with how you digest your food, your ability to respond to stress, your mental state, the efficiency of your metabolism and the strength of your immune system. Whenever you eat, a chemical reaction occurs between your blood and the foods your eat. This explains why some foods may be harmful to the cells of one type and beneficial  to the cells of another. Food contains proteins called lectins. Your blood type is genetically programmed to accept or reject certain lectins. When you eat a food containing protein lectins that are incompatible with your blood type, the lectins target an organ or bodily system and being to clump cells in that area. The clumping process, called agglutinations, can interfere with digestion, metabolism and the immune system. This process has been directly linked to such chronic conditions as arthritis, colitis, high cholesterol, anemia, high blood pressure, stress, weight gain/loss, depression, diabetes and food cravings’…Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo

Okay, starting as of today, January 24, 2012, I am now a Verified Type A Blood Type and I plan to start ‘eating for my type’. So this evening, for dinner, I had Ahi Tuna rolled in a sesame seed blend and lightly seared. Along with the Ahi Tuna I had grilled asparagus. With this, I had Tamari, which is now my substitute for Soy Sauce. Yum Yum it was a fabulous dinner and very satisfying. I plan to ‘keep this up’!

My new Spice blend, since Blood Type A are not allowed to use pepper of any kind, is now Eden Organic Black Gomasio…This is delicious and can be found at places like Whole Foods or any organic or health food store.

So if you do not know your Blood Type, be sure to get a test done and then start eating for your Type!

Once you find out your Blood Type, the best book to have for all references on Eating for your Type is Robert D’Adamo’s Eat For Your Type -

Here is your ‘Step by Step’ on how to choose the right foods for your type, that will help you look and feel much better.

And when you’re ready, there is Robert D’Adamo’s Cook Right For Your Type

Older adults who get a moderate amount of certain plant compounds in their diets are less likely to die of heart disease or stroke, a large study finds.

Click here to read the entire article – Flavonoids prevents Heart Attacks

Now This Picture Is Something to Aspire To…I want to be just like her when I grow up! Found on Real Fitness Naples’ Facebook Page-Thanks!

NOUN
1.
Hindu discipline: a Hindu discipline that promotes spiritual unity with a supreme being through a system of postures and rituals
2.
system of exercise: a system or set of breathing exercises and postures derived from or based on Hindu yoga

Yoga Poses
Many people think that yoga is just stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits. The poses can be done quickly in succession, creating heat in the body through movement (vinyasa-style yoga) or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of the pose. The poses are a constant, but the approach to them varies depending on the tradition in which the teacher has trained.

If you would like to try Yoga on the beach in Naples Florida, you are going to enjoy a wonderful experience!

Does The FDA Have Your Best Interest At Heart?

Courtesy of http://mercola.com

Watch the free animated short video that has created a major controversy across the Web. The video parodies the drug companies and conventional healthcare system and many are furious about the truth being exposed.

Major Confusion on How to Do Breast Checks

Is there a right way to check your breasts for early signs of cancer? Many women remain confused as experts now say there is no evidence that rigorous monthly “self-examination” — widely recommended in the United States — reduces breast cancer deaths. Plus, it can lead to unnecessary biopsies.

Two large studies looking at a total of more than 388,000 women found that death rates from breast cancer were the same among women who rigorously self-examined as those who did not, while there were almost twice the number of biopsy operations in the self-examination group.

According to some experts, the best way for a woman to check her breasts is not to follow a strict examination routine, but to get to know what is normal, and feel them regularly for signs of any changes.

It’s the New Year and if you’re ready to begin a new health and fitness program, it’s best to be prepared, in order to prevent injury. The following tips can help you get ready to transform your lifestyle into one that includes physical fitness. A steady start, with care taken to not overdo it, will be key to long term success.

Make sure that you keep your workouts under an hour. After about 60 minutes, your body starts to products more of the stress hormone called Cortisol, which can cause you to waste away your muscles. Make sure that you maximize your workout and do not waste your time with excessive workouts.

When doing resistance training for fitness, choose a good weight that challenges you. The right weight will allow you to perform about ten to twelve repetitions of the exercise motion before you become too fatigued to do it again. Too heavy and you risk injury, too light and you won’t gain maximum benefit from your workout.

Becoming physically fit will improve every aspect of your overall health. Incorporating fitness into your life should be part of a concerted plan to minimize setbacks, such as injuries and make exercise part of your every day routine. Once you get used to the changes, the results will be readily apparent.