Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Healthy diet in pregnancy and lactation non negotiable

The African Hebrew Development Agency (AHDA) from Dimona Israel recommends adhering to a nutritionally adequate diet during pre-conception period, pregnancy and lactation
A Ghana News Agency Feature by Linda Asante Agyei

Motherhood is a precious moment that should be cherished by everyone and women should not be left alone to go through the difficulties of childbirth...

Diet is another important component of ensuring healthy pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby but most often some pregnant women suffer a “no appetite” syndrome which makes it difficult for them to take in well balanced meals...

The Ministry of Health with its responsibility of ensuring a healthy population has developed a new health policy that emphasizes health promotion and prevention with the aim of improving the health status of Ghanaians through promoting healthy lifestyles with emphasis on nutrition.

The Ministry is therefore embarking on a project to improve the health and nutritional status in children and ensure that their physical and mental development lays the foundation for a more productive nation in the future.

The project, “Regenerative Health and Nutrition”, is being done on pilot basis throughout the country under the theme “Renew Your Strength: Prevent Disease”.

It is supported by the African Hebrew Development Agency (AHDA) from Dimona in Israel and admonishes that non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other related mortality are on the increase due the unhealthy lifestyles of the people.

A document made available to the Ghana News Agency that recommends some dietary intake for women during pregnancy and during lactation. Since Ghanaian diets are largely carbohydrate based, it is important to increase the amount of protein foods like cowpeas, soya beans, groundnuts, agushie and others as much as possible.

It also recommends increased intake in the quantity of fruits and vegetables to supply the minerals and vitamins needed by the body since it contains fiber that helps eliminate waste from the body thereby contributing to maintain good health and prevent degenerative diseases.

Ms Zvenah E. Elahsuv, Nutritional Specialist of AHDA, in an interview with the GNA, says the benefits for adhering to a nutritionally adequate diet during pre-conception period, pregnancy and lactation were very crucial.

She explains that for breakfast, cereal porridge like koko, rice water, weanimix, and oats together with bread, kose, roasted groundnuts or groundnut paste were recommended.

“Fruit is something that should not be ignored at all after every meal and any of these- two oranges, four medium size banana, medium size pawpaw or mango should be taken after breakfast.”

For lunch, Ms Elahsuv recommends fufu, rice, wakye, ampesi, kenkey, touzaafi or banku should be served with generous amounts of soups, stews and boiled legumes like cowpea, bean stew, soya chuncts to accompany it. Fruits should also be served after this.

“An extra meal or two snacks is recommended for the pregnant woman whilst any complete adult meal could be eaten and at least three glasses of soya milk could be taken in a day together with whole bread sandwich,” Ms Elahsuv said.

Lactation is another very important period for both the mother and the baby that should not be taken lightly. Though it is not different from pregnant women, the only difference is that the lactating mother should take two additional complete meals to give her more milk for the baby.

It is also important for the lactating mother to engage in light exercises such as walking in the morning and having adequate rest during the day. She should as much as possible drink enough water, about 10 glasses in a day.

Regenerative diet promotes the use of plant-based foods and is not processed. These include a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain cereals (brown rice) and natural food supplements such as parsley, brewer’s yeast, soy and soy products, wheat germ, molasses and many others.

As much as we need healthy children to lead the nation in the future we also need our pregnant women to also eat healthy diets to ensure their good health as well their unborn babies.

Ghana has in abundance some of the nutritional required foods like the legumes, fruits and vegetables which are cheap in their season.

It is sad to see vegetables and fruits in the markets rotting away in their season.To ensure a healthy mother, healthy baby and a healthy nation, we need to change our lifestyles and adopt a healthy dietary pattern. Husbands should help their pregnant wives to ensure that they have healthy diets for themselves as well as the entire family. See complete article: Healthy diet in pregnancy and lactation non negotiable - Feature

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

D.C. Brotherhood Brunch is Extraordinary

Enjoy a Delicious and Healthy Brunch at the Everlasting Life Health Complex!
KNN-D.C.

Our hearty breakfast includes delicious scrambled tofu flavored with peppers, onions, and zesty herbs and spices, tasty vegan "sausage", fresh organic steamed broccoli, organic corn grits, orange juice, delicious waffles and mouth watering pancakes made with whole wheat unbleached flour and soy milk (no eggs), served with 100% real Maple syrup.

Brunch is also served each Sunday at the Soul Vegetarian Restaurant on Georgia Ave. in Washington DC - across from Howard University. Note that the menu selections and pricing at that location are not identical to those at our Everlasting Life location in MD.

Served from 11:00 am Until 3:00 pm Every Sunday!
9185 Central Avenue, Capitol Heights MD - exit 15b off the Capitol Beltway
If you are in the D.C. area call: (301) 324-6900

Sunday Brunch


Strawberry Waffle


Tropical Waffle


Chocolate Waffle


Healthy Diets, Not Standard-American Diet Prevent Disease

Dr. Baruch

Many Americans assume that the United States is the world's healthiest nation. Unfortunately, statistics show that we are not as healthy as we may think. We do enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world, with extraordinary emergency medical technology and trauma care.The average American has first-class access to emergency health care, but this fact doesn't make us healthy. When we evaluate our national lifestyle as one of healthy living we get a different picture.

Poor Health At Best, Disaster At Worst!

The Standard-American diet typically might include a doughnut or muffin with coffee and orange juice for breakfast followed by a mid-morning bagel with cream cheese. Lunch would likely be a turkey sandwich with some chips and a soft drink-or a hefty fast-food burger with extra cheese, a large order of french fries, and a "super-sized" soft drink. The afternoon hours would feature an "energy-boosting" candy bar from a vending machine with another softdrink. Dinner promises a meat-and-potatoes entree with a roll and margarine, some green beans for the health-conscious, and some ice cream for desert. This diet amounts to a prescription for poor health at best and disaster at worst. Virtually any departure from this diet will make you feel better. There is very good reason that the Standard-American-Diet is referred to by its acronym-SAD!

Ancestors Healthy Diet

Just one hundred years ago or less, the Standard-American Diet was dramatically different from what we eat today. Widespread corporate"mono-agriculture" with concentration on single crop specialties and chemical fertilizers and pesticides was unheard of then. The typical Standard-American-Diet consisted mostly of fruits, vegetables, wild grain and seeds, fish, raw unpasteurized dairy products, and meat from wild animals. Our ancestors consumed 30 to 65 percent of their daily calories (and up to 100 grams of fiber a day) from a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. That is why, long before the discovery of vitamins, people who had access to healthy foods lived extremely long lives without vitamin deficiencies or major illnesses. This diet protected our ancestors against diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Laws of Diet-Nutrition

Many who violate the laws of diet-nutrition are ignorant of the relation of the laws of living (eating, drinking, and working) to their health. If then we would resort to simple means, and follow the simple laws of health that we have been neglecting-proper diet, use of pure water, fresh air, sunshine, rest, and nature's remedies, herbs, etc., nature would restore the body to its original health. The Standard-AmericanDiet would be sad no more.

If we cared about living healthy lives, instead we would choose healthy eating plans, like those espoused by Dr. Baruch.

Check out these videos for more information on the price we payfor not challenging what we are being fed: http://drbaruch.wholefoodfarmacy.com/2005/video_library.asp?mv=getfat.flv

Louis Farrakhan addresses tens of thousands at Saviours' Day in Detroit

Speech billed as his last major public address
by Rachel Martin -NPR News

In a speech billed as his last major public address, Minister Louis Farrakhan, ailing leader of the Nation of Islam, lambasted the Bush administration's foreign policy.

Farrakhan was speaking Sunday night to tens of thousands of Nation of Islam members in Detroit, where the movement began.

Farrakhan recently underwent surgery for complications from prostate cancer. And even though many within the Nation were hesitant to call this a good-bye speech, Farrakhan himself, his voice quivering, said it was just that.

"My time is up. The final call can't last forever."

That's a difficult message for some loyal followers to hear. Minister Jeffrey Muhammad has been a member of the Nation for 17 years and works in the group's Chicago offices. For him, and many people at the speech, Farrakhan represents much more than a spiritual leader.

See related articles:

Farrakhan Delivers Final Major Speech

Farewell appearance for Farrakhan

In possible farewell, Farrakhan calls for unity at Ford Field

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Virginia Lawmakers Pass Slavery Apology

The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown
By LARRY O'DELL - AP

RICHMOND, Va. (Feb. 24) - Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery.

Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said.

The measure also expressed regret for "the exploitation of Native Americans."

The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub. See: See What Lawmakers Regret