Saturday, October 23, 2010

Facts about Fiber

Our bodies require 2 kinds of fiber to remain healthy.

The average American's daily intake of fiber is about 5 to 14 grams per day, we need between 30-40grams.
Soluble Fiber:
Binds with fatty acids
Prolongs stomach emptying time so that sugar is released and absorbed more slowly
Lowers total cholesterol
Insoluble Fiber:  The bottle brush of the fibers
moves bulk through the intestines
Controls and balance the pH (acidity) in the intestines
Removes toxic waste 
Studies have shown that diabetes reacts positively to fiber in fact some studies show that an increase in fiber can lower the amount of insulin needed for  type 2 diabetes
 A Harvard study of over 40,000 male health professionals, researchers found that a high total dietary fiber intake was linked to a 40% lower risk of coronary heart disease http://www.medicinenet.com/fiber/page4.htm
The good news is Fiber comes in many delicious varieties such as ,whole-grain breads and cereals
apples, oranges, bananas, berries, prunes, and pears, legumes, artichokes and almonds just to name a few.
Go out and enjoy some today

Thursday, October 21, 2010

How Much sugar do you really eat?

Yesterday we took the time to find out just how much sugar my husband ate.  Honestly I am horrified I thought it would be MUCH MUCH Lower.

Scary Facts about Sugar

Americans consume 31 five-pound bags a piece every year
1) Many cancer patients would have a major improvement in their conditions if they controlled the supply of cancer's preferred fuel: GLUCOSE.
2) The vital organs in the body are actually damaged by our current gross intake of sugar.
3) The average healthy digestive system can digest and eliminate from two to four teaspoons of sugar daily, usually without noticeable problems. 
4) A direct link between consuming sugar and 'impaired cognitive function has been found also research shows found a direct link between diabetes and dementia.
5) Low sugar diets can help with some mental illness and depression. Sugar suppresses the activity of the brain growth hormone BDNF. When BDNF levels are  low, both depression and schizophrenia can manifest
“The biggest reason sugar does more damage than any other poison, drug or narcotic is twofold:
(a) It is considered a "food" and ingested in such massive quantities, and
(b) The damaging effects begin early, from the day a baby is born and is fed sugar in its formula. Even mothers milk is contaminated with it if the mother eats sugar, and
(c) Practically 95% of people are addicted to it to some degree or other.”  http://www.organicnutrition.co.uk/articles/is-sugar-bad-for-you.htm
B was the most frightening to me.  4 years ago we had our 4th child this young lad came to us kicking and screaming and demanding things his own way 8 weeks early.  From the very moment he began to eat he was supplemented with formula to assure his growth.  I still wonder what damage might have been caused by those cans of GMO corn and sugars. 

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Proteins serve such functions as acting as enzymes, antibodies, and the structural components of tissues, hormones, and blood protein. 

Protein is made of smaller components called amino acids, 12 which are made in the boy.  The other 9 the Essential amino acids, must be obtained from food
I started my research on essential fatty acids and started reading about Omega 3.
 I was excited and amazed to learn about its ability to help with Autism and its possible ability in helping mental illness.   They also help reduce inflammation, help prevent cancer and a whole list of other great things.
The good news is that by adding some flax seeds, walnuts or Alaskan wild caught fish to our diets a couple times a week we can help assure we are getting enough.
I then decided I wanted to look at some not so common forms of protein, I started with
Amaranth:  Is not a complete protein but does contain lysine and methionine, two essential amino acids that are not frequently found in grains, high in protein (15-18%) it is also high in fiber and contains calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C.
The fiber content of amaranth is three times that of wheat and its iron content, five times more than wheat. 
Amaranth is also easy to grow looks and great in flower beds.  The leaves of this plant can also be eaten like spinach however they contain higher calcium, iron, and phosphorus levels than spinach
Hemp:  The total protein content of hemp seed is about 65% of the globular protein edestin, which closely resembles the globulin found in human blood plasma, making it easily digested, absorbed.
Proteins are often classified as structural (fibrous) or biologically active (globular). the body can make globular proteins out of any protein that enters the body, it is much more efficient for the body to make globulins out of globular starting material.Globular proteins are special they are the precursors to some of the most vital chemicals in the body: Hormones , hemoglobin, enzymes, antibodies .
A pound of hemp seed would provide all the protein, essential fatty acids, and dietary fiber      necessary for human survival for two weeks
Quinoa: quinoa is not a true grain, but is the seed of the Chenopodium or Goosefoot plant. The leaves of the Goosefoot (quinoa) plant are also edible and make a pleasant vegetable, like spinach. A quinoa leaf salad is generally more nutritious that most green salads.
 Before cooking, Quinoa must be rinsed to remove a bitter resin-like coating, called saponin. In some places the saponin is used as detergent for washing clothes and as an antiseptic to promote healing of skin injuries, also A sweetened decoction of the fruit is used medicinally, as an application for sores and bruises.
Quinoa is high in protein, calcium and iron.. It is exceptionally high in lysine, cystine and methionine-amino acids typically low in other grains. The protein in quinoa is considered to be a complete protein due to the presence of all 8 essential amino acids.
Some types of wheat come close to matching quinoa's protein content, but grains such as barley, corn, and rice generally have less than half the protein of quinoa. Quinoa is 12% to 18% protein and four ounces a day, about 1/2-cup, will provide a childs protein needs for one day. Quinoa also contains albumen, a protein that is found in egg whites, blood serum, and many plant and animal tissues.  It is also high in fiber.
Beets, spinach, Swiss chard, and lamb's quarters are all relatives of quinoa.
Buckwheat also known as kasha and groats: Buckwheat is a very good source of manganese and a good source of magnesium and dietary fiber. Buckwheat contains two flavonoids with significant health-promoting actions: rutin and quercitin.
A buckwheat protein has been found to bind cholesterol tightly. It is being studied for reducing plasma cholesterol in people with hyperlipemia.
The nutrients in buckwheat may contribute to blood sugar control
Buckwheat is sometimes used as a honey crop. It has a long blooming period, especially in September when other sources of nectar are limited. The honey is dark in color, and has a strong flavor 

The last thing I wanted to look at was a very popular protein Beef I am just going to touch on a few differences between everyday super market beef and Grass fed beef.
Grass Fed Beef:  Lower fat, cholesterol and calories.
Higher in vaccenic acid
Higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids.
Healthier ratio of Omega 3's to Omega 6 fats (1.65 vs. 4.85)
Higher levels of beta carotene
Higher levels of CLA's
Higher in minerals calcium, magnesium and potassium
Higher in Vitamin E
Higher in B-vitamins and riboflavin

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Got chickens?

You should!  A few years ago I decided to add chickens to our suburban  home.  I began with calling our county and finding out the rules we can have 4 hens and no rooster.
 Next I began scrounging oops I mean recycling materials.  Next my wonderful husband and son made me our first little coop.   That spring we brought home our first 4 chicks after weeks in a large dog kennel we moved them outside.
Our girls are sweet and funny love eating left overs and garden scraps the youngest hunts bugs for them. They require far less work than a dog or cat and they leave me wonderful eggs 8-9 months out of the year. During the spring and Summer we get between 90-120 eggs a month organic laying food and grit cost about 15-20 dollars a month.
Needless to say I don't buy eggs very often,  however with fall setting in and having less daylight my girls like all chickens don't lay as much and sometimes not at all.  I could add a light to their coop but we choose to let the girls rest during the winter.

Fast forward the local store has Organic eggs on sale so I bought 2 doz thought I would get a jump on some holiday cooking.  I cracked the first store bought egg and thought weird this seems runny I cracked a 2nd my 15 year old said Mom this seems really watery.  I then reached into the the fridge and grabbed one of ours, please see the pictures below.  Our egg was dark almost orangey the white was thick.

I dont know what commercial organic chickens eat  but I think they need more greens how about you?


Sunday, October 10, 2010

Almost done with apples





Here is what we have been doing with them

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

A pound of hemp seed would provide all the protein, essential fatty acids, and dietary fiber necessary for human survival for two weeks. How far does a pound of meat go?

Monday, October 04, 2010

Another Point for MonSatan

http://gmwatch.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12491:groundbreaking-study-shows-roundup-link-to-birth-defects

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Sunday, October 03, 2010

Food Inc

Wow what a movie the first time I watched this I found myself having a truly hard time buying meat from the grocery store, in fact that still lingers with me months later.  Recently however I was asked to watch this movie for class.   
Watching the movie the 2nd I found myself getting angry not so much for myself and my food but for the workers who are given no choice, the men and women who are disregarded and treated no better than the animals.   My first inclination is to demand the government fix the problem, then the reality hits the government can’t fix this.   They have helped create this mess, with their subsidy’s and destruction of real food prices.  
The only people who can make a difference is you and I we can demand change we can refuse to eat the garbage they have chosen to feed us.  Educate yourself on where your food is coming from know your farmer when you can.   Learn to cook using basic ingredients, keep frozen homemade entrees in the freezer for the nights  you don’t  have  the time or energy to cook.  Contact your Congress men and women and Demand labeling of GMO foods.    Educate others, get involved, start  a community garden.  Remember you have the right to know about your food 

For those who are interested I would also recommend "the world according to Monsanto"  "

The Omnivore’s Dilemma"

Saturday, October 02, 2010

The serpents in the garden

GMO companies behind the collection of seeds for the  largest seed bank in the world developed to save open polinated seeds, or to own them only you can decide.   How many seed pattents will MonSATAN own when this is done.
Even scarier  than this reality is knowing the names of who is behind this.  The Gates foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and many many others.  
He Who feeds you OWNS you, how long is it before we no longer have a say in who feeds us?
http://www.hydroponics.com.au/free-articles/issue102-seeding-the-future/