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25.01.10

Superfoods are foods which are considered especially nutritious or otherwise beneficial to your health and well-being. This morning David and Stephen Flynn from the Happy Pear are focusing on grains. The two grains we are going to focus on are quinoa and millet.

QUINOA
 - Quinoa is a small grain that originates from Peru. The incan civilisation refered to it as the mother grain as it is a very simple and very nutritious grain. It was their staple grain. It is pronounced "keenwaa". When cooked It sprouts a little tail and is very like couscous in its texture. IT also has a nice nutty flavour to it.

- Our blood has a very small range that the PH (acid /alkaline balance) functions best at and it is slightly alkaline. Therefore it is very important that we eat foods that are alkaline forming In our blood. Almost all standard grains, wheat, oats, rice, barley all these are acid forming in our blood. Disease thrive in acid rich environment as there is less oxygen in acidic areas of the body. Quinoa on the other hand is alkaline forming and very health promoting.

- Quinoa is extremely high in protein containing up to 20% protein in equal proportions to that of red meat. Unlike meat quinoa's protein does not lead to high cholesterol or the hardening of the arteries - In fact the opposite is true, quinoa is cleansing to the heart and the arteries. Regular eating quinoa reduces the risk of heart disease.

- Quinoa strengthens the kidneys. In eastern philosophy strong kidneys are the foundation and root of all bodily functions for e.g sex and the ability to reproduce depends on Kidney strength. Kidneys are your gate to vitality in life. You need to think of your kidneys as "your lot in life" your starting point, your constitution. You can either strengthen or weaken your kidney energy depending on your lifestyle and eating habits. Certainly living far north in Ireland where the weather gets very damp and cold this can really deplete our kidney energy as they like to function in a dry environment so we really need to mind them. Quinoa is our man for this job!

- If you often feel to hot/cold, suffer from anxiety, mental fatigue, suffer from back pain, are overly emotional, have bone problems then defo start eating quinoa to strengthen your kidneys.

- Also excellent at strengthening and revitalising the liver - because quinoa is a warming food, it can reduce damp or mucus in the liver. Liver is the largest organ in the body and performs some 600 different functions. Primarily it is the major detoxifier for the body - responsible for ridding it of pollutants, chemicals and all foreign agents.

MILLET
 - Massively supports digestive organs - stomach, spleen (your energy battery) and pancreas (stores and releases all digestive enzymes for food digestion).
It is gluten free.

- The fact that it supports spleen in its function alone makes millet a real energy food.

- Spleen removes lipids (fats) from food and converts them into energy, it also recycles materials from old red blood cells among many other functions.
Millet really enables these organs to function better

- Helps with all digestive complaints -cools stomach. It helps with low energy and is very antifungal.

- It is very good for diabetics as it clears stomach heat improving digestion and nourishes the pancreas making it better able to produce hormones which regulate blood sugar levels.

- Helps inhibit yeast growth and very good in combating them including candida.

- Neutralises body acidity and helps restore a natural alkalinity and therefore creates an environment less prone to disease

- Very rich in potassium (which counteracts excess salt consumption), Magnesium (stimulates calcium production strengthening bone density - great against arthritis.

- Highly recommend it to reduce stomach problems - diarrhoea and indigestion.

- Cook in water 3 times water to 1 part millet till boils and then reduce for ten mins at low heat with lid on and then knock it off and leave sit for couple of mins with lid on till all the moisture is absorbed.