5 magical black superfoods that will enchant you

Stunning on any plate, black foods are an ideal choice during the winter months. Chock full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anthocyanin, these striking superfoods promote health with an interesting twist.

Think squid pasta, forbidden rice, blackberries, ebony sesame and chia seeds.

Both Ayurvedic (Indian) and Chinese medicine hail the benefits of black foods — and now science has too.

Food Fit for an Emperor

In eastern healing philosophies, black foods have long been used to encourage wellness. Black rice was so valued and rare in days past that emperors even declared it ‘forbidden’ to the common people.

Chinese medicine believes that black foods correspond with the water element and nourish the kidneys — helping the body to stay energetic and warm, and the mind harmonious. Black beans, rice and sesame are the traditional foods eaten during cold winter months.

Black Sesame

Black sesame is said to:

• Prevent constipation
• Improve the complexion and inhibit aging
• Normalize blood pressure
• Strengthen memory
• Avert anemia
• Maintain lustrous hair
• Fortify the liver

Black sesame is also revered in Ayurveda. This dark seed is remarkable in fortifying the skeletal system since it’s an extraordinary source of calcium and magnesium.

Additionally, black sesame oil is used to soothe mental distress by boosting serotonin levels and calming the nerves.

Black Beans and Rice

Black beans contain cancer fighting antioxidants and anthocyanin along with butyric acid. Remember that anthocyanin destroys cancer cells and blocks the creation of blood vessels that feed tumors. High in fiber, black beans also help reduce colon cancer risk by as much as 75 percent.

Another food with abundant anthocyanin is black rice. An extract of the rice has been shown to effectively reduce breast cancer cells. It’s rich in vitamins B and E, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc as well.

Black is the New Green

Green superfoods have been all the rage for years now, and rightly so. But many are discovering a unique and alluring way to add more variety to the diet with black foods. Popular among gourmet trend setters, black foods stand apart from the crowd by adding contrast to a meal.

Squid ink pasta from Spain, locally grown blackberries and South American chia are just a few stylish foods that offer distinctive health benefits.

Squid Ink Pasta

Not well known in America, black pasta is popular in Italy and Spain. These provocative noodles are not only exquisite with their squid ink pigment, but also help to prevent cancer. Bioactive elements in the ink have been found to halt breast cancer and the growth of new tumors.

Blackberries

As one of the most antioxidant-rich foods, blackberries are a sweet addition to any diet. Overflowing in nutrients like vitamins C and K, folic acid, manganese, polyphenols, minerals and fiber — blackberries are an outstanding superfood. Polyphenols found in the berry make you smarter too. By reducing brain cell inflammation, these compounds enhance communication between the neurons, thereby improving memory and information processing.

Chia

Once used by the ancient Aztec’s for stamina in battle, chia seeds are a terrific superfood for modern day warriors. Full of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, chia keeps energy levels up, inflammation and disease down. Omega-3 fats also foster a sharp mind.

Next time you are looking for nourishing inspiration, consider black foods. Offering a profusion of nutrient dense options, these gorgeous edibles will add drama to your plate and enliven the senses. Sexy black foods are hip and healthy — a winning combination for the discriminating palate.

Learn more:
Wake Up World

Photo Credit: FotoosVanRobin

Sources:

www.ecobites.com/forum/31-product-reviews/5253-whats-all-the-fuss-about-black-foods

www.tcm.chinese.cn/en/article/2009-08/24/content_11434

www.chinadecoded.com/2011/01/08/chinese-eating-traditions-on-winter-solstice

www.grocery.com/six-black-foods-found-to-give-tremendous-benefits-to-health

www.suite101.com/article/black-foods

www.thelistlady.hubpages.com/hub/The-Black-Super-Foods

Paleo Coconut Crepes with Seasonal Berries

Berry season has arrived in our neighborhood with a profusion of gorgeous strawberries and dark-as-night blackberries. I wait in anticipation every year for local berries to appear at our market stands. These are the real deal -- bright, sassy and full of flavor. Not those tasteless varieties that have traveled, say, thousands of miles and were most likely picked unripe.

Low in calories yet high in fiber, vitamins and minerals, berries are one of the best foods you can eat in terms of nutritional value. Bursting with phytochemicals and flavonoids, berries help prevent certain forms of cancer, protect eye health and slow the aging process. Many are low-glycemic to boot, adding another sweet benefit. And berries just happen to be a terrific complement for crepes.

Big Pharma and Organized Crime — They are More Similar Than You May Think

“It is scary how many similarities there are between this [pharmaceutical] industry and the mob. The mob makes obscene amounts of money, as does this industry. The side effects of organized crime are killings and deaths, and the side effects are the same in this industry. The mob bribes politicians and others, and so does the drug industry …”¹ ~ former vice-president of Pfizer pharmaceuticals

If you believe pharmaceutical corporations hold the health of the general public in high regard, it’s time to reconsider. The industry is filled with examples of wrongful death, extortion, fraud, corruption, obstruction of justice, embezzlement, fake journals, harassment and hit lists that would make even the most hardened Mafia godfather blush. Big Pharma has been fined billions by the U.S. Department of Justice, but these enormous fines don’t curb the corruption, it’s just looked upon as “the cost of doing business,” similar to paying the utilities.

As a physician and researcher, Peter C Gøtzsche has firsthand experience with the criminality behind the pharmaceutical industry — and subsequently exposed the massive fraud in “Deadly Medicines and Organized Crime: How Big Pharma Has Corrupted Healthcare.”

Ready For A Good Spring Cleaning? Spruce Up The Liver With These Tips

It may be hard to believe, but we are already into springtime. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), each season coordinates with a specific organ and spring just so happens to be the time of the liver. If this organ becomes imbalanced, anger, rage, irritation and depression can set in. While new plants are blooming, sprouting and thrusting upward, the liver deserves much needed tender, loving care to shake off the heaviness of winter. Natural remedies and lifestyle adaptations are the perfect complement to this process. Keep in mind, when the liver is untroubled, we can launch into vibrant beginnings with renewed zest and balanced pleasure.

Conscious Death, Sacred Service and Green Burial: Leaving a Legacy of Meaning and Conservation

We’ve all been touched by death in one form or another — whether through a beloved animal, the rhythm of nature or someone close and dear to us. Autumn in the northern hemisphere is the quintessential time of death and decay, as the abundant growth and life of summer quickly fades away to barren trees and fallow fields. It is considered the season of sorrow and grief in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

As commonplace as the cycle of life and death is, those in the West tend to have an aversion to the reality of this most natural of transitions. We try our best to evade the aging process and glorify youth — while ignoring the elderly and dying. Many times, we are completely numb to our emotional terrain or become overwhelmed when faced with death. But an organization in the United States is on a heart-centered quest to change the way we relate to death and return a sense of sacredness to the process.

Navigating Death: Cultural Contrasts

On my first trip to India, one of the most striking aspects of the country was its relationship to death. It wasn’t something that was hidden — instead, death was everywhere. Animals and people dying in the streets, disease and disfigurement, the burning ghats. For a heavily indoctrinated Western mind, these scenes were shockingly uncomfortable. And yet, I couldn’t turn away. For all the death and decay, there were also incredible moments of heart-wrenching beauty. Carefully shrouded bodies, layered with flowers, and lovingly carried through the streets by family members to the burning ghats on the Ganges river. The holy men presiding over the event. Small baskets woven of banana leaves, filled with marigolds and lit candles, floating down the river at dusk as tribute for those who have departed. One is surrounded by death, but also extraordinary sacredness and meaning.

The experience in India was vastly different from when our young son died years later in the United States. Here, we experienced the “business” of dying — industrial, scheduled and meaningless. Thankfully, Liam’s father and I were able to see clearly enough through our grief to embrace practices outside “the norm” — specific prayers placed with the body before cremation, and planting a white blooming Japanese lilac tree on my father’s property, which is rooted within Liam’s ashes.

But how often do we truly connect with death in a sacred manner? Without being shuttled through the corporate funeral process, one which has a significant negative impact on the environment. Is there a better way in the West? The answer is a resounding yes.

Conscious Living and Dying

Doorway Into Light was founded by Reverend Bodhi Be, Leila Be and Ram Dass (Dr. Richard Alpert) on the Hawaiian island of Maui as an advocacy and educational organization focused on death and dying. By actively assisting the dying, their families and caregivers, the organization transforms the “business of dying” into one of “sacred service.” Grief counseling and community outreach are also important elements of their work. Additionally, options are available for end-of-life care and after-death care that are “holistic, environmentally sustainable, community and family based, and spiritually inclusive.”

One method for maintaining ecological balance in relation to burials is through natural preserves. 

“Today’s American cemetery contains massive amounts of hardwood, metal and concrete coffins, many covered with plastic or concrete grave liners to keep the ground from sinking when the body and coffin decompose, thereby ensuring easy lawn mowing. Large amounts of toxic embalming fluids containing formaldehyde, a cancer causing chemical, are leaking from coffins and seeping into the ground. Pesticides and herbicides are commonly used, further poisoning the ground and potentially leaching into the groundwater. Gravestones and markers fill the space. 

Current cemeteries are now reduced to “one-use forever” as well as removed from the public commons. The body and coffin are buried “6 feet under” where few microorganisms live, so decomposition is a long process. Cremation is becoming more popular as people recognize that present day cemeteries are a costly and poor use of land.”

The organization envisions a conservation cemetery utilizing native trees to help reforest a section of Maui, with deceased bodies and ash increasing soil fertility. Walking trails, a picnic area and a meditative, reflective zone with small markers indicating the names of the dead in each particular grove, will be included in the site. 

“Our vision is to combine a burial ground with a reforestation project, a park, open space and greenways which include conservation easements, ensuring a multi-use zone protected for the public commons in perpetuity.”

Here's a brief overview of the organization:

If you’re interested in learning more about natural burials that help conserve land and resources, the Green Burial Council provides a wealth of information and can help you find a provider in cities across the United States.

A Gift to the Planet

Moreover, A Will For the Woods gives a moving account of one man’s journey to create his final resting place in an ecologically sound manner. Battling lymphoma, Clark Wang and his partner Jane courageously face his impending death, while also preparing for a spiritually meaningful funeral. A must-see for anyone concerned about the environment and leaving a legacy in harmony with the timeless cycles of nature.

A Will For the Woods