Foods With Amazing Health Benefits #2

Garlic: Garlic belongs to the family of vegetables called Allium. Allium is simply onions, scallions, leeks and chives.  These foods protect against stomach ailments. Great for the digestive system.  Add garlic to your food in the form of whole garlic or garlic powders. Adding a little bit of garlic to each meal will help keep ones digestion  regular. Never store your garlic in oils as it can cause it to be harmful and/or poisonous. Garlic should not be stored in your refrigerator. It will go soft and mold faster. This goes for plastic baggies as well. Garlic should be stored in a breathable container away from direct sunlight.

A great way to store your garlic is in a Garlic Keeper. I love this particular jar and it's available at Amazon.com for only $16.90. There are several other jars to choose from, but this one caught my eye. They also make a nice Terra Cotta garlic keeper for only $5.95 if you wish for something a bit smaller and less expensive.



If your garlic begins to sprout then it is past it's "expiration date" and should be tossed out. Reach for a fresh garlic bulb from your new garlic keeper!

Green Tea: What can I say about green tea that you probably have not already heard? Years before we were born teas were used for medicinal purposes. This stands the test of time and teas work in our system the same today.

I recommend always reaching for an organic grown tea or purchasing them from your local health food store. Green tea is a very potent antioxidant. Drinking this on a regular basis can help fight off the common cold or flu.

These teas are currently part of a world wide study on their anti-cancer fighting benefits. Protect yourself and reach for a cup. Hot or cold is your preference. Green tea also comes in a variety of flavors. I love the Jasmine Green tea (shown above) and raspberry green teas. The raspberry is beneficial to a woman's menstrual cycle helping with cramping. It can also calm the effects of endometriosis.  Teas help support your stomach, colon, bladder, and pancreas. On a side note: Ginger tea, made from the ginger root, is great for upset stomach or if you suffer from nervous stomach, as I call it. When ever you are nervous or anxious, you have to run to the restroom. If you know in the morning this could be a rough day, drink your ginger tea or reach for a ginger candy and calm that stomach!

Tomatoes: Finally, lets talk about tomatoes.  The tomatoes bright red color comes from something called lycopene. Lycopene and it's related compounds tend to concentrate on tissues in the prostate. The tomato is performing at it's best in the form of a paste, sauce or juice. This lycopene is also found in red carrots, watermelon, grapefruits and papaya and can help the body fight of numerous illnesses. Lycopene acts as a defense and helps to strengthen cells which are being attacked helping to prevent illnesses linked to cell degeneration.