With this blog, our goal is to help educate you on how food from
your local grocery store can help you live a long life free of
illnesses and diseases.

And from time to time, we’ll bring you info on how people
from other countries eat to live well into their 80’s, 90’s
(and beyond) without any health issues.

So, to get things started, we’ll head to Sicily, (figuratively speaking)
and tell you how these people from the Mediterranean are enjoying
vitality and longevity thanks to foods from the Mediterranean diet.

a) Low Anxiety Rates-
Get more zen in your life like the people of Sicily by eating pistachios.
That’s right- go nuts to get calm. Sicilians are known for producing
some of the highest quality pistachios around, and since they produce
them, they eat plenty of them and that’s a good thing.
These nuts are packed with magnesium, a mineral that helps
calm you down and B vitamins, which raise the levels of the relaxing
amino acid GABA in the brain. And their fatty acids reduce any stress-
induced cravings by stimulating production of cholecystokinin,
an appetite-suppressing hormone.
Another benefit just for men: They help men last longer…in the bedroom.
The fatty acids and nutrients in pistachios work like a natural, less costly
and safer form of viagra.
Important info for you: Use crushed pistachios as breading for
fish or chicken, add a few to baked dishes, add a few to a hot
breakfast cereal, or eat a few as an in between meal snack.
Also important: eat only a few a day, even though they are a “good
fat” even a small amount can contain a lot of calories.

b) Lower Heart Attack Risk-
Sicilians live in a part of the World where they do a lot of
walking and all of that walking contributes to strong and
long-lasting hearts, but they also eat to keep their hearts
in tip-top shape and one of the foods most
responsible for this is Hazelnuts.
Yes, another nut. These tasty nuts contain arginine,
an amino acid that widens blood vessels, and folate,
a B vitamin that cuts levels of homocysteine,
which in high amounts is linked to blood clots.
Important info for you: Add hazelnuts to a baked good,
a smoothie, a veggie stir-fry or eat a Tbs. or two a day
to keep your heart in peak condition.

c) Clear Out the Toxins-
If you eat poorly, smoke and rarely exercise then your
body is most likely loaded with toxins, and if you
want to emulate your Sicilian brothers and sisters and
clear out those toxins, you need to start eating capers.
What are they?
They’re pickled flower buds that can be added to soups, meatloaf, pizza
and sauces and they’ll neutralize any harmful toxins during digestion.
They also contain special compounds that lowers the risk of Alzheimer’s
and heart disease.
Important info for you: Look for capers at supermarkets and for the best
flavor, add them at the end of the cooking process.

d) End Aches and Pain-
With Olive Oil. Italians use olive oil the way Americans use ketchup.
They put it on any and everything and if you want to alleviate aches
and pains, start using more of it as well.
New research says that olive oil works just like aspirin
and ibuprofen. The oil blocks the enzymes that cause
arthritis-related swelling in the hands, feet and knees.
And here’s a fun fact: A man who was a little past 50 yrs of age
started to experience all types of aches and pains, and was told
by a neighbor, who also dabbled in alternative medicine to
use olive oil as you would a lotion.
So, after taking his nightly bath or (shower) he rubbed olive
oil on every part of his body and long story short, he lived to
100 years old, and was still able to work in his garden, take
long walks, dance (for an hour once a week) and ride his bike
into town and back home (about 2 miles) right up until
6 months before passing away.
Important info for you: Use top quality olive oil
in salads, a dip for bread or take a Tbs. (like cod liver oil)
before heading out for the day.
Also use it after a bath or shower as you would a lotion or
moisturizer.

f) Breast Cancer-
The women of Sicily have far fewer cases of breast cancer than
their American sisters and their secret for their low rates:
Figs.
Fresh or dried figs have the most fiber of any fruit-and this
type of fiber flushes carcinogens from the body.
Figs also have compounds that lower blood pressure, cholesterol
and glucose levels. And dried figs contain more antioxidants than
any other dried fruit.
Important info for you: Quarter fresh figs and add them
to salads or simmer dried ones in water or unsweetened fruit juice
to make them plump and juicy, then add to a smoothie or a hot
bowl of breakfast cereal. Also add them to that other
food that helps lower breast cancer rates, the food: olive oil.
And lastly: make sure to use caution, like nuts, eat only a few,
as the calorie count can quickly increase, if you’re not careful.

g) A Strong Immune System-
It could be the strong family ties, the walking, or top quality
foods that contribute to the Sicilians strong immune systems
or it could be the oranges.
Oranges?
Yes, blood oranges to be exact. They look like regular oranges,
but are deep red on the inside and pack twice the vitamin C.
And the red pigments ease inflammation inside your
body and build up your immune system.
Important info for you: If you plan on eating burger, fries,
chocolate cake and pizza, make sure to eat a blood orange (or juice
1 or 2) afterwards. Why? They can cancel out any artery-clogging effects
from that 12 oz. steak or 1/2 pepperoni pizza.
Look for the oranges at produce stores, farmer’s markets, or look for
the juice at health food stores or online at Thrive markets.

h) Prevent Osteoporosis-
Another benefit to eating like a Sicilian: Strong bones.
Yes, it could be all of that walking and hard work,
but they also get it from a food and that food is
a Tomaloe.
Sicilians eat these tomatoes at least 4 times a week
and it may explain why they have far fewer bone fractures
than people from other countries. Tomaloes contain
lycopene, compounds that create redness in foods like
tomatoes and watermelon, and it helps prevent
the thinning of the bones and the fractures
as we age.
Important tip for you: Can’t find tomaloes at the supermarket?
Look for Sicilian tomato pesto, or eat more cherry or regular
tomatoes.

That’s it- your guide to living a long healthy life like
your brothers and sisters from Sicily.

Source:
* Shane Ellison, Author of Over The Counter Natural Cures.