Who doesn't like a hamburger off the grill with all the fixin's? If I told you everything that came packaged in that hamburger, you might change your mind about eating it. If you purchased the hamburger at a grocery store vs an organic farmer, that burger is full of antibiotics. Whether that burger came from the store or the organic farmer, it also comes packaged with:
- cholesterol
- saturated fat
- cancer promoters
- bone loss promoters
- kidney disease promoters
- promoter that accelerates aging
I know it's hard to take in all this information, and I know you are probably thinking people have been eating like this forever, is it really all that bad? And besides, it's way too dramatic to just give up eating this way.
Heart disease is the #1 killer in America today according to the Center for Disease Control. Cancer is #2. What makes this so sad is IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. We can literally abolish heart disease with THE FOODS WE PUT IN OUR MOUTHS! I know it sounds too easy, but there is so much scientific research out there from Harvard, the Cleveland Clinic, (the pioneers in heart disease), Cornell, Berkeley, etc., that proves nutrition can be the CURE.
Now, let me tell you what plant protein comes packaged with:
- substances that lower cholesterol
- cancer protectors
- promotes bone strength
- fiber
- phytochemicals (protects our cells from free radicals)
- antioxidants
Still, there is no question that a high-fat diet is typical of our lifestyle and it appeals to our palate. The advertisements that bombard us features foods with a much higher fat content than our bodies need. The media, the government, the meat and dairy industries as well as the producers of oils,(olive oil included), are not giving us ACCURATE advice about the healthiest way to eat.
However, it's not just a matter of bad information, the truth is we are addicted to FAT. The same receptors in our brain that account for our addictions to cocaine, heroin and nicotine, are responsible for our addictions to fat and sugar. The way to break the habit is to abstain entirely from eating it. The problem I see in a lot of people is when they go on a low-fat diet in order to lose weight, they are still eating a modest amount of animal products, dairy and oil. By eating this way, we are still feeding the habit and our cravings remain. The diet usually fails and the dieter usually returns to his or her old eating habits and regains all the weight lost.
I know it's not easy to change, but the effort is well worth the results. After eating this way, the cravings will disappear, not overnight, it does take time. You will develop a new taste for the NATURAL flavors of food. It will be a daily challenge, but that's the key, one day at a time. When you start to see the changes in your body, not to mention how you FEEL after eating this way for a period of time, you will stay motivated to continue. Cholesterol levels will drop, blood pressure can return to normal without medication, type 2 diabetes can be reversed, arthritis aches and pains will disappear and your energy level will soar.
So, let's substitute that hamburger for a Black Bean Burger...It's SO GOOD!
BLACK BEAN BURGER
6 15 oz cans of black beans, drained and rinsed (unless using your own black beans)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped (1 cup)
3 green onions, chopped
2 carrots, grated
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
1 t chili powder
2 t ground cumin
1/2 c salsa
- Preheat the over to 350 degrees. Put beans in a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients , stirring to combine. Mash mixture well, using a potato masher or your hands.
- Pick up a handful of the mixture and shape into a burgers.
- Place burgers on a cookie sheet and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake another 10 minutes until tops are browned.
You can serve these on a whole wheat hamburger bun with onions, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes.... whatever you like. They are absolutely delicious and so good for you.
If I have any leftover, I wrap them in plastic wrap and then foil, put them in a ziplock bag and freeze them. When you need something quick, you can have a really nutritious burger with a huge garden salad vs that hamburger and fries that will give your body unwanted cholesterol and saturated fat.
Give this recipe a try the next time you want a hamburger....How do you know you don't like it if you don't try it??
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