Earthly Eating

There are thousands of substances in foods that help protect against heart disease, cancer and other diseases and slow the aging process. Many of these, of course are found in fruits and vegetables. You know it’s important to eat them, but you may have a hard time consuming the four to five cups a day that is recommended (even if you count French fries and potato chips as a vegetable.)

Fruit and vegetable juices are a convenient way to help get to that number. For example, in a recent study people who drank juice three or more times a week versus those who did so less than once a week were found to have reduced their risk for Alzheimer’s disease.

If you are wanting to get more fruit and veggie juice in your diet, here are some juice choices that are great for the health of you and your family:

• Pomegranate: Drinking eight ounces of pomegranate juice a day could begin to reverse the progression of coronary heart disease in only three months. A daily glass may slow the course of prostate cancer as well.

• Cranberry: This juice may significantly reduce the risk of developing urinary tract infections in sexually active women. Regular consumption may also suppress H. pylori infection, which can lead to ulcers and gastric cancer. Look for the Concord variety, it is loaded with healthy antioxidants, the same antioxidants that are found in red wine.

• Veggie Juice: Juices made from vegetables usually have less sugar and fewer calories than those from fruit. Tomato juice is high in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may reduce the risk of heart disease and prostate and breast cancers. you can mix vegetables together, such as spinach (can help prevent heart disease), broccoli (may detoxify cancer-causing substances before they have a chance to cause any harm), and carrots (can help protect against heart disease and cancer, and promote good vision.

Some people may think, “juice makes me fat”…

Not necessarily. Some people have raised the concern that fruit juices may promote weight gain because they may be high in sugar and low in fiber. However, most studies have found that drinking fruit juice, regardless of the type, does not influence weight when consumed in moderation. Both adults and children world be better off drinking 100% juice than drinks that may have only 10% juice or less and significantly greater amounts of sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. An 8-ounce glass of most juice has at least 100 calories, so don’t drink more than one a day if you are concerned about your weight. (Source: RD 2007)
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Earthly Eating Recipe

Depression Cake
Serves: 12

Combine sugar, coffee, raisins, shortening and apple; cook for 10 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 30 minutes or until done.

Happy Eating!