SubscribeBegin cleansing within by fasting
Did you know that when someone tells you that you’re probably “full of it,” you probably are?
Chinese medicine teaches us that all disease starts in the bowels, and this is an area where more Americans need to pay close attention. Especially since more than half of all Americans are overweight. Our typically high-fat, low-fiber diets as well as too little exercise make most of us breeding grounds for preventable illnesses. No wonder our health-care system is nearly bankrupt! The good news is that most of us can improve our own health and make our lives much better.
Dr. Arnold Ehret, who authored the books “Rational Fasting” and “The Mucous-less Diet Healing System” decades ago, makes the reader keenly aware of our own innate ability to heal our own bodies and minds. He cured himself of several deadly diseases by fasting but had an untimely death in a tragic accident.
Healthy bowel habits aren’t a pleasant topic of discussion. However, unless we move our bowels after every meal, chances are we are chronically constipated, and this contributes to all types of disease - from the common cold to dandruff and cancer. Our grandmothers really knew what they were talking about when they spoke of “being regular.” They gave us cod liver oil and “bitters” ( herbs to de-worm us), particularly in the spring and fall. So unless you’re fully aware of what it means to have a clean digestive track and you’ve regularly participated in fasting and colon therapy, chances are your digestive track is packed with fecal matter that contributes to a plethora of health conditions.
Most of us carry at least 10-15 pounds of putrid waste in our bodies, which lines the intestinal track with parasites and mucous from years of unhealthy living. By having poor health habits – such as not eliminating after every meal or drinking too little water – we set ourselves up for a diseases that are preventable. It is essential that we have this discussion if we want to achieve optimal health! 
Ehret stressed that no one should ever begin a fast without strict supervision by a doctor. But we must also prepare our bodies to fast by changing our eating habits first.
Spring is a great time to begin sweeping the intestinal track with such leafy green vegetables as turnips and mustard greens or deodorizing our systems with root vegetables such as fennel. I like fennel in string beans, although it gives them a licorice taste. I simply sauté the fennel in olive oil with fresh garlic and then add the string beans for a savory, aromatic feast. They are especially tasty as a side to lamb, a favorite during Easter and Passover or at the Eid, which follows the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
String Beans with Fennel
Directions
Wash and trim one pound of fresh string beans
Thoroughly wash 1/4 bunch fresh fennel and cut away the roots, which are very tough
Slice the fennel into thin strips and saute’ with 3 cloves of finely chopped garlic in three tbsp virgin olive oil
When fennel is soft, add string beans and saute’ for about 7 minutes until they are bright green and still crispy
Serve warm over a bed of yellow rice or couscous
Related posts:
As the mother of five and a journalist, I've always encouraged people to empower themselves with information on healthy foods and lifestyles. Nurturing our children with healthy food is one of the most important jobs we have, yet as families have become busier or drifted apart, meal times have been sacrificed.
