If you are one of the more than 15,800,000 Americans who have known coronary artery disease, there is something you can do each day to improve your condition that has been clinically shown to reduce plaque build up in arteries, and lower blood pressure.

Drink Pomegranate Juice.

Recent medical studies published in the journal Atherosclerosis showed that patients with severe carotid artery blockages, given an ounce of pomegranate juice each day for a year, lowered blood pressure by over 12% and showed a 30% reduction in atherosclerotic plaque.

Added bonus: Because of their plaque fighting ability, pomegranates are great for prostate health. But the good news doesn’t end there. Need a lift? The phytochemicals in pomegranate have been shown to stimulate the estrogen and serotonin receptors in the body, helping to boost mood and lessen the occurrence of depression.

The pomegranate has more antioxidants than almost any other fruit and has been shown to help fight some types of cancer, including breast, prostate and skin cancers. In fact, a glass of pomegranate juice has more antioxidants than green tea, red wine, blueberries, or cranberries. It also contains anthocyanin, a pain reliever, and punicalagin, a powerful antioxidant.

Because of the high fiber content, eating fresh pomegranate can help counter low blood sugar and spikes. The fruit only has 130-150 calories, with around 105 calories being derived from the seeds. The fibrous seeds can help you feel full, aiding in weight loss and helping to prevent metabolic syndrome associated.

So sip away every day! – Or crunch to your hearts content on those sweet little seeds.

To get pomegranate pumped, try Dr Fuhrman’s Pomegranate Smoothie 

Serves: 2 Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

8 cups organic baby spinach

1 cup pomegranate juice

1 cup blueberries, frozen

1 cup strawberries, frozen

8 dates, cut in half

2 tablespoons flaxseeds, ground

1/2 avocado, optional

Instructions:

Blend all ingredients together.

Note: Pomegranate juice is available year round, so no need to miss a day. Fresh Pomegranates can be kept in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Live long and pomegranate!

More about the miraculous pomegranate:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

Med Health Benefits of Pomegranate

GreenMed Pom Juice

Dr Fuhrman Smart Nutrition Superior Health.

Dr Gaynors GENECHANGER

pomegranate and mood

galilee nutritionals about pomegranates and punicalagin

Dr Gaynors GENECHANGER

Even the most savvy of shoppers can find it difficult to find good deals on organic products. We are used to seeing the words “natural,” “organic,” and “green” on labels and finding hefty price tags to go along with it.

That’s why more and more people are excited about the Wild Oats brand because it enables them to fill their fridge and pantry with reasonably priced, high-quality organic foods! However, we know that other organic products can be costly, so here are some easy tips on how to shop organic and still save money:

Buy Multipurpose Organic Items
Opt for organic finds that you can use in more ways than one. For instance, you can buy some amazing organic apple cider vinegar and use it as a cleaning tool, as a bacteria killing skin tonic, in a healthy salad dressing and even as a delicious marinade. Learn more about the many uses of Apple Cider Vinegar.

Invest in a Crockpot
Cooking in a crockpot can really help you to stretch your budget.  You can create a large organic meal for your family—such as pot roast with veggies—and then freeze the leftovers so that the cost comes in at just a few dollars per serving.

Request Coupons
Sure, we all know about coupon clipping, so why not go the extra step and actually ask for coupons on your favorite organic products? When I inquired about coupons on the products I love, I was able to get coupons on eight out of the 10 organic products that I requested! By using coupons you can get deals on the more expensive items so that the prices are more in line with what you pay on non-organic fare.

Ready for a tasty twist on the classic pumpkin spiced latte? Check out our take on this fall classic by adding some organic poppy seeds and substituting agave in place of sugar.

Prep time 15 minutes, Serves 1

• 3 Tbsp strong ground coffee
• 1 tsp pumpkin spice
• 1 tsp agave nectar
• ½ cup milk
• whipped cream
• 1 tsp Wild Oats Marketplace Organic Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Wild Oats Marketplace Organic Poppy Seeds

1. Brew the coffee as directed, then add pumpkin spice and agave nectar and stir until combined.
2. Add cold milk to hot coffee mixture and stir vigorously.
3. Pour into serving jar or mug and top with whipped cream, ground cinnamon and poppy seeds. Warm up while enjoying!

Pasta Amatriciana is the spiciest of the four traditional Roman pasta dishes (the three others are carbonara,  grecia and cacio e pepe) and the only one from Rome with a tomato-based sauce. During my masters studies in food culture in Italy, I was lucky enough to live in Rome for about 8 months, and learned how to prepare this delicious pasta from my Italian friends who really know how to cook (and eat) well!

Amatriciana sauce is super easy and inexpensive to make, and I have adapted the recipe I learned using Wild Oats ingredients available in the United States. This recipe is not only filling, but very nourishing because it’s made with heart-healthy organic extra virgin olive oil and anti-oxidant rich, organic tomatoes. Also, I used organic whole wheat spaghetti when developing this dish, which is high in fiber, making you feel fuller (a.k.a. happier) for a longer period of time than when you use white pasta.

Remember to cook with organic ingredients when you can, and set yourself up for success by stocking your pantry with healthy foods so they are readily available to whip up a fantastic meal whenever you want.

Amazing Pasta Amatriciana Recipe

Serves 4

½ box Wild Oats organic whole wheat spaghetti

1 28 ounce can Wild Oats organic crushed tomatoes

¼ cup Wild Oats organic extra virgin olive oil

Wild Oats organic garlic powder

Wild Oats organic crushed red pepper

Wild Oats organic dried basil

4 ounces diced or cubed prosciutto ham

Warm olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add crushed tomatoes, spices and prosciutto. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer for ten minutes, stirring sauce frequently.

Cook pasta al dente. Drain.

Add pasta to the sauce and stir over the heat for 1-2 minutes so that some of the sauce absorbs into the pasta.

Transfer to a large serving bowl, and top with grated Pecorino Romano Cheese.

A “Bapple” is a great idea for snack time or anytime. A “Bapple” combines the best of an apple with the deliciousness of your favorite nut butter, and kicks it all up just a notch with a crunchy surprise. It could be the best snack ever! Intrigued? Read on.

Do you like apples? Sure, one a day keeps the doctor away, right? And how about nut butter, like say almond butter? Duh?!  So here’s an idea for a quick and fun snack that your kids will love. Make a “Bapple”!

Okay, I’ll admit my DL made the name up. (Thanks Jeff!) But that doesn’t keep a “Bapple” from being a hearty snack that your kids will go nuts for!

It’s quick to make and easy to eat. You don’t even need a plate. It’s a great on-the-go snack for everything from soccer practice to ballet lessons. Plus, it packs a healthy punch that will give your tikes afternoon energy. And you might just find that you’ll get addicted to “Bapples”, too.

Look, this is an easy idea that I’ve been making for years. But that doesn’t take away from the fun of this snack idea. Maybe the reason you haven’t thought of it yet is because you’ve never had a “Bapple.” So what are you waiting for?

How To Make A “Bapple”

You’ll need:

1 small (lunch box sized) apple

1-2 tablespoons of your favorite nut butter such as almond butter, cashew butter or even Nutella

Handful of granola, graham crackers or Wild Oats Marketplace Organic Crunchy Oats Honey Granola Bars, crushed (or if your are using the granola bars tear in smaller pieces)

Wild Oats Marketplace Organic Ground Cinnamon and Organic Ground Nutmeg

Raisins, dried cranberries or chocolate chips for garnish (optional)

Wash apple, core and cut in half. Using a melon baller or spoon, make a hollow in the center of each apple side, removing about 1/4 of the apple pulp. Fill each apple half with about 1 tablespoon of nut butter. Sprinkle with granola or a few of the graham crackers and cinnamon and nutmeg. Then sprinkle on a few chocolate chips, raisins or dried cranberries.  Enjoy!