Lentils, my favorite legume, may be small but they pack a mighty nutritional punch! Lentils are high in protein and fiber and low in fat, and they provide folic acid and iron. Lentils have a mild, earthy flavor and readily absorb a variety of wonderful flavors from other foods and seasonings. This lentil soup is not only healthy but very hearty. It'll give you energy without weighing you down. Enjoy this traditional and warming dish.

I have been making this easy, blender soup for over 15 years. I learned the recipe from Shelley Redford Young. She is a licensed massage therapist with a passionate interest in optimum nutrition. It is most definitely one of my favorite summer meals. When I share this light, flavorful soup with friends during tomato season, I always receive rave reviews!

Because the harmful effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood, or in some cases completely unstudied, it's wise for us to limit exposure to pesticides whenever possible. Although washing fresh produce can reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but important nutrients often get thrown away with the peel. The best choice is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and select organic when possible to lower exposure to potentially toxic chemicals.

Since many of us can't always buy organic then it helps to know what conventional foods are safer choices. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) conducted a study to see which fruits and vegetables had the highest and lowest levels of pesticides. The EWG's computer analysis found that we can cut our pesticide exposure by almost 90% by avoiding the most contaminated conventional fruits and veggies and eating the least contaminated instead. Here's what they found: 

Raw greens are some of the most nutritious foods that we can eat---loaded with a powerhouse of chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins, phytonutrients and fiber. Many people know they need to eat more healthy greens, but they dislike the taste of them. Green smoothies to the rescue! This yummy green smoothie recipe is great for green smoothie beginners who many not have an acquired taste for some of the stronger flavored greens.

Want a delicious, quick and easy way to optimize your health and increase your vitality? Green smoothies will do the trick! They're just like fruit smoothies, but with the addition of power packed leafy greens such as spinach, kale, collard greens, or chard. In a green smoothie, the sweetness of fruit masks the natural bitterness of leafy greens--so you may be surprised at how good it can be. My husband and I both feel that green smoothies and green juices, which we've been drinking for years, have greatly contributed to our long-standing good health. So I want to share one of my favorite recipes with you.

A green smoothie is a delicious drink made with green leafy vegetables and fruit. With one green smoothie you can consume 5-8 servings of fruits and vegetables!  Green Smoothies are simple to make. Take any fresh greens you like and blend them with your favorite fruits in a small amount of water. If you're not crazy about the taste of greens, don't worry. The sweet fruits cover up the flavor of the greens so these smoothies can actually be quite delicious. Use different produce throughout the week so you get the full spectrum of nutrition. Here are my green smoothie tips...

Almonds are one of the most nutritious of all the nuts, and therefore, in my opinion, they are the KING of the nuts. Botanically speaking, the almond is not actually considered a true nut, despite common usage. Almonds are the SEEDS of the almond tree. Nature has essentially made the almonds' enzymes dormant until they come in contact with water. At which time, the almond seed begins to sprout to create the nourishment needed to grow into a tree.

Because almonds contain these built-in enzyme inhibitors, many people have trouble fully digesting them. Fortunately, there's something we can do about that: