Veggie Stuffed Squash

Since popping allergic to pretty much everything besides root type veggie and squash - I had to go find some more new recipes and I thought I'd share with you. Its actually pretty tasty!! Just use fresh herbs.

Stuffed squash is a really easy meal and sits lightly in the stomach.

Historically, acorn squash was frequently used by Native Americans, as it originated in North and Central America. It has spread across the world, thanks to the European explorers who took the squash seeds back to their lands and began to cultivate this hearty and nutritious fruit. Besides the delicious taste and the harsh conditions in which acorn squash can grow, it is also more nutrient-dense than any of its other summer squash relatives, making it an invaluable part of a healthy and balanced diet. Let’s take a closer look at this dark green fruit and find out what makes it such a healthy and nutritious food source.

Acorn squash is extremely nutrient-dense for its size, but also, it has a diverse range of nutrients. It is rich in dietary fiber, like most fruits and vegetables, while also being very low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. In terms of vitamins and minerals, acorn squash has significant levels of vitamin C, vitamin A (which supports immune health) thiamin, pantothenic acid, and other B-family vitamins, and its range of minerals is truly impressive, including potassium, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, phosphorous, and calcium.

It helps to boost immunity, improve vision due to its high beta-carotene, helps with maintaining skin health, controlling diabetes, regulating blood pressure, and building strong bones.

Word of Caution: Acorn squash is very high in carbohydrates, and while there aren’t any simple sugars in acorn squash, as you would normally find in carbohydrates, they still fill the body up in terms of calories. Those on low-carb diets should probably choose another fruit to complement their dietary restrictions.

Onions have many health benefits as well. They are antibiotic, antiseptic, and antimicrobial properties. It is a common and immediate cure for fever, common cold, sore throat and allergies due to its quercetin content. It can help improve the digestive system, prevents various types of cancers, has rejuvenation properties of the tissue in the body, fights bacterial infections like salmonella, Ecoli, helps lower blood pressure, and a half of onion per day can lower cholesterol.

Celery is a great source of important antioxidants.Antioxidants protect cells, blood vessels, and organs from oxidative damage.Celery contains vitamin C, beta carotene, and flavonoids, but there are at least 12 additional kinds of antioxidant nutrients found in a single stalk. It’s also a wonderful source of phytonutrients, which have been shown to reduce instances of inflammation in the digestive tract, cells, blood vessels, and organs.

Celery reduces inflammation.Chronic inflammation has been linked to many illnesses, including arthritis and osteoporosis. Celery and celery seeds have approximately 25 anti-inflammatory compounds that can offer protection against inflammation in the body.

Celery supports digestion.While its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients offer protection to the entire digestive tract, celery may offer special benefits to the stomach.Pectin-based polysaccharides in celery, including a compound known as apiuman, have been shown to decrease instances of stomach ulcers, improve the lining of the stomach, and modulate stomach secretions in animal studies.And then there’s the high water content of celery — almost 95 percent — plus generous amounts of soluble and insoluble fiber. All of those support a healthy digestive tract and keep you regular. One cup of celery sticks has 5 grams of dietary fiber.

Celery is rich in vitamins and minerals with a low glycemic index.You’ll enjoy vitamins A, K, and C, plus minerals like potassium and folate when you eat celery. It’s also low in sodium. Plus, it’s low on the glycemic index, meaning it has a slow, steady effect on your blood sugar.

Celery has an alkalizing effect.With minerals like magnesium, iron, and sodium, celery can have a neutralizing effect on acidic foods — not to mention the fact that these minerals are necessary for essential bodily functions.

Carrots are often thought of as the ultimate health food. Generations of parents have told their children: "Eat your carrots, they are good for you," or "Carrots will help you see in the dark."

People probably first cultivated the carrot thousands of years ago, in the area now known as Afghanistan. It was a small, forked purple or yellow root with a bitter, woody flavor, quite different from the carrot we know today.

Purple, red, yellow, and white carrots were grown long before the appearance of the sweet, crunchy, and aromatic orange carrot that is now popular. This type was developed and stabilized by Dutch growers in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Evidence suggests that eating more antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, can help reduce the risks of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Carrots are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Here are some ways in which carrots might be healthful.

A variety of dietary carotenoids have been shown to have anti-cancer effects, due to their antioxidant power in reducing free radicals in the body.

Studies have found a possible link between diets rich in carotenoids and a lower risk of prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer; but more evidence is needed to confirm whether the link is causal. However, a 2011 study found that carrot juice extract could kill leukemia cells and inhibit their progression.

Can carrots help you see in the dark? In a way, yes. Carrots contain vitamin A. A vitamin A deficiency can lead to xerophthalmia, a progressive eye disease that can damage normal vision and result in night blindness, or the inability to see in low light or darkness. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a lack of vitamin A is one of the main preventable causes of blindness in children.

Vitamin A deficiency is rare in the United States (U.S.), but eating carrots contributes to vitamin A intake and helps prevent a deficiency. So, in a way, carrots do help you see in the dark. However, most people are unlikely to experience any significant positive changes in their vision from eating carrots, unless they already lack vitamin A.

The health benefits of brown rice are largely due to it being a whole grain.

According to HSPH, the fiber in brown rice helps lower cholesterol, moves waste through the digestive tract, promotes fullness, and may help prevent the formation of blood clots.

Brown rice is considered a low "glycemic index" food. The glycemic index (GI) refers to how quickly and how much a food raises a person's blood sugar after eating, according to HSPH. Low-GI foods have a rating of 55 or less; the average GI for brown rice is 55. White rice has an average GI of 64, making it a medium-GI food. Previous research has shown a link between a high-GI diet and type 2 diabetes.

What's more, some of the phytochemicals and minerals found in whole grains may be associated with a lower risk of certain cancers, HSPH says. As a part of an overall healthy diet, whole grains may help improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, according to the AHA.

The following nutrients are found in whole grains, according to the AHA:

B vitamins, which are involved in many biological functions;
Folate (folic acid), a B vitamin that helps the body form new cells and can prevent certain birth defects;
Iron, a mineral that the body uses to carry oxygen in the blood;
Magnesium, a mineral that is involved in more than 300 biological functions;
Selenium, a mineral involved the immune system and regulating the thyroid gland.

Parsley is a nutritional powerhouse with vitamins A, B, C and K and the minerals iron and potassium. This emerald green herb is popular among starlets who want to drop extra water weight before big events because it helps to reduce water retention and bloating (edema). It’s a natural diuretic, which helps to eliminate excess fluid without depleting the body of potassium.

Beyond water weight, parsley aids in balancing blood sugar, helping with long-term weight balance. It also plays a key role in preventing the degenerative effects of diabetes on the liver.

Here are five more reasons to include parsley in every meal:

Reduce your cancer risk.

Eating parsley can reduce the risk of cancers such as breast, digestive tract, skin and prostate. Parsley contains high levels of a flavonoid called apigenin. Not only does apigenin possesses remarkable anti-cancer properties, it’s also a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

Improves your immune function. Parsley may help to modulate the immune system. Parsley essential oil has been shown to suppress an over-stimulated immune response making it a key player in the fight against allergies, autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders.

Beat inflammation Parsley helps to reduce the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. Parsley contains a volatile oil called eugenol that has been shown in studies to have strong anti-inflammatory as well as anti-arthritic properties and can significantly suppress swelling in the joint.

Fight disease Parsley offers protection from a wide variety of diseases – from atherosclerosis, diabetes and colon cancer to asthma! Parsley is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is a key nutrient in the processes that neutralizes the free radicals that play a key role in the development of these diseases.

Protect your blood vessels Parsley is a good source of one of the most important B vitamins: folic acid. Folic acid helps to reduce homocysteine. Homocysteine is a naturally occurring amino acid in the body but high levels in the blood can damage blood vessels increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Thyme is a Mediterranean herb with dietary, medicinal, and ornamental uses. The flowers, leaves, and oil of thyme have been used to treat a range of symptoms and complaints.

These include diarrhea, stomach ache, arthritis, and sore throat, high blood pressure (more study required), food born bacterial infections, breast cancer (caused cell death in cancer in breast cancer cells), yeast infections (including thrush), acne, and eczema issues when used topically with oils or chamomile lotion.

THE RECIPE:

1 Acorn Squash

1/2 onion

1/2 celery stalk

1 whole carrot

1 cup brown rice

1 tbsp parsley

1/2 tsp fresh sage

Pinch of thyme

1 garlic clove per half acorn squash

Cut squash lengthwise and remove seeds. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put a little olive oil (or oil of choice) in bottom of cookie sheet and place acorn squash face down. Cook for 20 minutes. While cooking dice up vegetables.

Removed from oven, flip the squash, wipe some oil on outer top edge of the squash. Place the vegetables the acorn squash and put back in oven to cook for another 20 minutes. Stir rice into the veggie mix and serve. (or you can put cooked rice in with the veggie - just cover your stuffed squash for the remaining 20 min.

Bon Apetit!

Love and Light!

Happy Healing!!