Fish: The “Brain Food”

I found these on Benny Hinn's website.So remember to eat more fish..I dont mind going on a "daniel" fast again. haha

By Benny Hinn Ministries
During Bible times, fishing was a major industry along the Jordan River and the Sea of Galilee. Jesus and the Jewish people ate a wide variety of fish due to the great availability of fresh seafood in Jerusalem's marketplace. At the time of Jesus, the average person would select meat only for special occasions. Meat would have been considered a main course set aside for times of festivity. Fish remained the diet staple because it was less expensive and easier to obtain.

Fishing was important in the life and ministry of Jesus. Prior to Jesus's calling several of His disciples, they were professional fisherman. This may be part of the reason that a number of Jesus's parables, miracles, and teachings concerned fish.

Twice Jesus fed multitudes of people with just a few fish. On one occasion, He took five loaves and two fish, blessed them, broke them, and gave them to His disciples to feed five thousand men, plus women and children in the crowd (see Matthew 14: 16-21). Later, Jesus took seven loaves and "a few little fish" and gave thanks for them, broke them, and gave them to His disciples to feed four thousand men, besides the women and children (see Matthew 15:32-37).1 In both miracles, everyone was fed and there were even portions left over!

Making wise food choices, including fresh fish, can help overcome the effects of illness.Fish is an excellent source of healthy protein, and it's low in saturated fats. In addition to this, most fish are naturally low in calories and are rich in healthy oils, vitamins, and minerals.

Some people do not care to eat fish because of its fishy taste and smell. But it's worth learning to eat fish, even if you don't eat it regularly at first. Fish, deemed clean in Leviticus 9, are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, potassium, vitamins, and minerals.

According to some leading healthcare professionals, certain foods have been discovered to have a significant effect on mood, memory, and other mental functions. Fish, known as a brain food for its high selenium, may be one of them. Research in this area has led many nutritionists to believe that a lack of selenium can cause some people to suffer from depression, fatigue, and anxiety. Findings indicate that proper amounts of selenium improves mood significantly.

Vitamin B12, a key immune system booster, is found in cold-water fish. Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, may help prevent memory loss, impaired abstract thinking skills, and mental confusion. Making wise food choices, including fresh fish, can help overcome the effects of illness, including Alzheimers disease, by helping to block aluminum toxicity.



Another article, The Biblical Bean
Good for health.

In Bible times, beans, peas, and lentils, easily grown, were used for a variety of dishes, including coarse bread, known as Ezekiel bread. Due to their simplicity of drying and storing, beans, peas, and lentils were plentiful year-round.

Lentils, commonly consumed in Israel during biblical times are actually one of the oldest cultivated plants. Archaeological evidence indicated that they were cultivated in the Near East as early as 18,000BC. Bible scholars believe that many of the beans mentioned in the Bible included broad beans such as the fava.

Throughout the Bible there seems to be a consistent message: Beans are a tremendous source of nutrition and health. Being so, they were a staple source of food during Bible times. The Word of God clearly illustrates their popularity in the lives of Esau and Daniel.

Beans have an amazing ability to reduce the rise in blood sugar later on.The story of Jacob and Esau is one of the most powerful stories in Genesis. We are told that Esau had been out n the field hunting all day and came home very hungry and was even feeling faint. Esau smelled a pot of soup cooking, and he said to his brother, Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary" (Genesis 25:30). Red stew is an ancient dish in the Middle East made of beans and lentils boiled in garlic - a wholesome, tasty meal. Jacob capitalized on his brother's hunger and bought Esau's birthright for that stew (see Genesis 25:31).

In the life of Daniel, we see that he had a good understanding of the nutritious value of beans. When offered the king's meat, Daniel refused. Instead, he asked for pulse (broad beans) and water (Daniel 1:12). Why? Daniel sought to keep his mind sharp, body strong, and remain on guard. He didn't want to let down his defenses by eating foods that might cause him to weaken in purpose (Daniel 1:15). Beans have an amazing ability to reduce the rise in blood sugar later on.

The book on Ezekiel also points to the body-strengthening benefits of beans used in bread. God said to Ezekiel, "Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself" (Ezekiel 4:9).


and yet another. this is my fav actually.
Leeks, Onions and Garlic
Get ready to eat all these when we go to Israel this november!! Yay! haha.
the last time i went, i grabbed a bunch of raw spring onions and munched them on the boat crusing the sea of gallilee. and they were huge. and super tasty. really a giant's land.


By BHM
Leeks, onion, and garlic have been valued for their flavor as well as for their herbal remedies for thousands of years. Onions are one of the first foods mentioned in written text in general.

Although these foods can leave a pungent odor and flavor, people of Bible days understood their benefits. Egyptian laborers ate leeks, onions, and garlic to increase their stamina and maximize endurance as they constructed Khufu’s pyramid. Onions were thought to bring great energy for hard manual labor. Garlic was most commonly enjoyed as a component of Lebanese dishes; it also became a staple food of the Israelites in Egypt (see Numbers 5).

Leeks are appreciated for their versatility in cooking. They are greatly appreciated in traditional meals of the Middle East. The leek’s flavor is mild and sweeter to taste in comparison to its stronger cousins, onions and garlic. Garlic is still grown in Egypt today, however Syrian garlic is favored. One common use in Lebanon is garlic sauce on salads.

Although these foods can leave a pungent odor and flavor, people of Bible days understood their benefits.Garlic, onions, and leeks are members of the lily family and close in relation. Research shows that several dozen or more anticancer compounds are present in these life-giving foods. Both garlic and onions contain allium compounds (diallyl sulfides). Healthcare professionals claim that these important compounds help increase the activity of cancer-fighting immune cells.

Other benefits provided by leeks, onions, and garlic are numerous. Some have used onions as an antiseptic and a pain reliever. Many leading physicians suggest that onions may possess various antibiotic properties that fight against bacteria, fungi, and parasites. It’s also good to note that onions provide flavonoids, a group of nutrients found in vegetables which are essential for processing vitamin C and needed to maintain capillary walls, or antioxidants that quench free-radical reactions. The juicy peel is a good place to find a high number of healthy flavonoids.

Garlic is hailed as being greatly beneficial by top healthcare professionals all over the world. Reports suggest that garlic may also help with poor circulation. Adding garlic to our recipes is a good way to relieve high blood pressure and possibly dilate or help open the arteries and aid the cardiovascular system. Nutritionists claim that not only can garlic help prevent cancer, but it also directly fights the disease and can stimulate the body’s defense mechanisms.

Sources
http://www.bennyhinn.org/yourlife/Healthy-Living-Featured-Articles/Leeks,-Onions-and-Garlic.html
http://www.bennyhinn.org/yourlife/Healthy-Living-Featured-Articles/The-Biblical-Bean.html
http://www.bennyhinn.org/yourlife/Healthy-Living-Featured-Articles/Fish-The-Brain-Food-.html