So I have been doing this raw food/natural diet for the past two weeks, and as I progressed from eating oreos to eating dried sea moss (its better than it sounds), I came across a lot of helpful information that can aid you in making the same dietary transition. Its important that, as you become more conscious, you adjust your eating habits because foods and nutrients influence your moods, mental states, and spiritual resonance. In other words, the better you eat, the better you feel – spiritual health is connected to physical health. The Nation of Islam knew this, and almost 40 years later, Elijah Muhammad’s How To Eat To Live
Science has already acknowledged that some particular “super foods” might be used therapeutically to treat such common problems as depression, insomnia, hyperactivity, chronic pain and carbohydrate cravings. To start you on the path to eating better and living a longer, healthier life, I give you 7 of these “super foods”, and some information on what makes them super.
Foundation foods:
Blueberries - Blueberries can be considered a super food thanks to their cancer fighting properties. Ellagitannins is probably the most highly prized compound in blueberries because of its ability to block metabolic pathways that can lead to the initiation and promotion of cancer, and pterostilbene, another powerful cancer fighting compound, has also been shown to significantly reverse motor-skill decline due to aging as well as other cognitive impairments! So not only are blueberries great preventative foods, they are also great brain foods! On top of all that, both diarrhea and constipation can be relieved with blueberries (their tannin concentration helps reduce inflammation in the digestive tract as well as in the urinary tract), and Blueberries are good anti-depressants and mood elevators. This isn’t to say that all the blueberries on grocery store shelves will cut it – heat is a destroyer of the antioxidant potential of blueberries, making canned or other processed berries a poor choice, so stick with raw or frozen berries, and avoid mixing them with milk or other proteins, since doing so decreases your body’s ability to absorb blueberry nutrients.
Avocado - An avocado a day keeps the doctor away! Avocados are rich in Lutein, which protects against macular (eye) degeneration and cataracts, is high in oleic acid, which has been shown to prevent breast cancer in numerous studies, is rich in folate (people who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower risk of stroke and have a much lower incidence of heart disease than those who don’t), are the best fruit source of vitamin E, an essential vitamin that protects against many diseases, and have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. For the ladies, avocados can also be used as an all natural skin exfoliant and hair conditioner.
Pomegranate - Pomegranate has been shown to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good cholesterol), while also protecting the arteries, preventing osteoporosis and Alzheimers, and naturally lowering blood pressure. I think I also read somewhere that pomegranate juice protects the teeth from plaque buildup, but Im not sure about that one. Either way, drinking a bottle of pomegranate juice a day, or having a Pomegranate and Pear Salad as a snack might save your life!
Cacao - When I say cacao I dont mean candy bars, I mean minimally processed African cacao beans. Cacao is NOT chocolate, and chocolate is NOT cacao! These beans have been cited by some top health professionals and researchers to be THE single most exciting health food, with benefits being shown in everything from brain health to skin elasticity to cardiovascular health. Cacao is especially good for the kidneys and is GREAT FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE! A WebMD study concluded that “using low amounts of cocoa foods on a daily basis, equal to about 10 grams of dark chocolate, may lower blood pressure and CVD [cardiovascular] death.” To consume more chocolate, You can replace your morning cup of coffee with a traditionally made cacao based drink: mix a large spoonful of 100% organic cocoa powder with some espresso, organic unsweetened soy milk, cinnamon, and a sprinkle of cayenne red pepper. And obviously, there are quite a few cooking applications. Just Google some recipes. The website Brain Ready suggests that “if you want the real stuff, the best bet is to either use 100% organic non-alkalized cocoa powder from a high-quality maker who minimally processes the cocoa to ensure that the health properties are retained.” Try starting off with Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Chocolate Nibs
Oysters - I know there is a huge debate going on concerning meat consumption, but modifying your non-meat diet a little with some oysters isnt a bad idea. Oysters are superior brain foods, natural male aphrodesiacs, and has been proven to improve athletic performance by repairing muscles and assisting in their growth – thanks to a rich concentration of the mineral zinc. Zinc has also been shown to improve vision (“Low Dietary Zinc Decreases Erythrocyte Carbonic Anhydrase Activities and Impairs Cardiorespiratory Function in Men During Exercise” American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 5, May 2005, ajcn.org). Oysters are considered the healthiest when eaten raw on the half shell, if you can tolerate the texture
Moringa
Moringa plants grow indigenously in Africa, India, and the Himalayans, range in size from tiny plants to towering trees, and have been used for centuries as potent dietary supplements (India’s Ayurveda medicine system sites 300 diseases that can be treated with the leaves of the Moringa tree). According to The Encyclopedia of Fruit & Nuts 
Sea Moss - Sea Moss is known in the Caribbean for its strength as a “baby potion” and the use has become very popular among the infertility set. This may be a result of the high amount of selenium, a necessary element for sperm fertility and production, that sea moss contains. Dried sea moss has 45 calories per cup of which 12% comes from fat, 70% from carbohydrates and 18% from protein. Its high quantity of mucilage is highly recommended to treat digestive conditions, ulceration of the stomach and duodenum, and inflammation of the urinary system. While I was hunting for information, I came across a video recipe for “Sea Moss Punch”:
These seven super foods havent been a routing part of the Black diet here in America, but by adding them, I hope I have shown you that its possible to vastly improve your health, and subsequently, your consciousness. All the items above can be found in a Whole Foods store, or you can buy in bulk and become a Conscious Eating Entrepreneur. Either way, help spread the knowledge by retweeting, facebooking, and book marking this article.
If you want to learn more, get Started either here: Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine
-ASAD
Have You Read These Yet?
