Tropical Grapefruit Salad

Tropical Grapefruit Salad

This deceptively looking light salad is quite filling. You may serve it on butter lettuce leaves for an even more elegant presentation. Serves about 4.

  • 1-1/4 c. grated Coconut

  • 2 tsp. organic Tamari sauce

  • 2 Tbs. organic Lime Juice

  • 2 Tbs. Water

  • 2 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 1 organic Garlic clove, halved

  • 1 organic White Onion, finely chopped

  • 1 large Ruby Grapefruits, peeled and segmented

  • 1 c. organic Alfalfa Sprouts

Toast coconut in a dry skillet over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a bowl.

Add Tamari sauce, lime juice and water to the coconut and mix well.

Heat olive oil on medium in a sauté pan for 1 minute.  Add garlic and onion, and stir until softened. Remove and discard garlic.  Add onions to coconut mixture.

Arrange grapefruit segments among 4 plates.

grapefruit coconut salad

grapefruit coconut salad

Sprinkle each with alfalfa sprouts and spoon the coconut mixture on top.

~ Bon Apetit! ♥

Crock pot Chicken, Italian Style

This is one of our family's favorite crock pot meals. You may either cook this in a crock-pot or a large pot on the stove, depending on availability of equipment and time.

Crock Pot Chicken, Italian Style

This dish is abundant in lycopene, and onions are a major source of a Quercetin, a super-antioxidant. Similar to garlic, onions and shallots seem to be most helpful in cancers of the digestive tract (e.g. esophagus, stomach, and colon). Bell Peppers offer the antioxidant beta carotene.

Thyme It is an excellent source of iron and manganese and Thymol has been found to protect and significantly increase the percentage of healthy fats found in cell membranes and other cell structures.

  • 1 large organic Red Onion, cut into 8 pieces

  • 1 large organic Yellow or Red Bell Pepper, cut into 8 pieces

  • 2 tsp. fresh organic Thyme leaves (1 tsp. dry)

  • 6- 2" long fresh Sage leaves (1 tsp. dry)

  • A handful of baby Bok Choy or Spinach leaves

  • 1 tsp. organic Oregano

  • 4 organic, free-range Chicken Thighs

  • 2 organic, free-range Chicken Breasts, cut in half (to make 4 pieces)

  • 1 shallot, diced (1 Tbs.)

  • 2 cups homemade or jarred organic Marinara Sauce

  • 1 tsp. Sea Salt

  • 1 tsp. Black Pepper

  • Pinch of Cayenne Pepper (opt)

Place half the onions, peppers and herbs in the bottom of the pot.

Add half the chicken, then the rest of the onions, peppers, herbs and the rest of chicken.  Sprinkle shallot and seasoning on top.

Pour sauce over chicken, nudging pieces with a spoon to allow the sauce to make its way to the bottom.

Crock Pot: Cover and place on High.  Time for 3 1/2 hours.

Stove Top: Add 1/2 c. of water to chicken, and place on medium high until sauce begins to bubble.  Turn to medium low, cover and cook for 1 hour. Check at 30 minutes, gently stirring to make sure chicken is covered with sauce.
~ Sahtein! (double health) ♥

Serve with baked sweet potatoes and a fresh mixed green salad for a delightful meal.

Hoda's Lentil Salad

Lentils have been a staple, like rice, in the Middle East, for many centuries.  Eaten together, they offer a low-fat, nutritious source of complete protein, fiber, iron and other essential minerals.

Glycemic Values

The glycemic index gives us the impact of carbs on our blood sugar levels; the higher a rating, the more it spikes your blood sugar. On a scale where 100 is pure sugar (glucose), white rice has a GI of 64, while lentils are low on the index at 29.

This salad is full of fiber and flavor.

  • 2 c. boiled organic Brown Lentils

  • 3 organic Scallions, chopped

  • 1/2 c. organic Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped

  • 1 Tbs. virgin Olive Oil

  • 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

  • 1/2 tsp. Allspice

  • 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon

  • dash of Black pepper

  • Splash of lemon juice (opt.)

Mix all together.  Let sit 15 minutes to blend flavors.  Stir and enjoy served in romaine lettuce leaf boats.

~ Sahtein (double health)! ♥

Vegan Eggplant and Spicy Chopped Salad Sandwich

Eggplant - Mushroom Medley

I love this concoction because it goes well on lupin flour pasta, on a GF cracker or as a dip.

  • 1 med. organic white Onion, chopped

  • 1 med. Eggplant, mostly peeled and diced

  • 5 organic Mushrooms, peeled and chopped

  • 1 organic Tomato, chopped

  • 1 c. chopped Parsley

  • 1 Tbs. organic Tomato  Paste mixed with 1/2 c. hot water

  • 1 tsp. Pink Sea Salt, or to taste

  • 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

  • 1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (opt.)

  • 5 cloves of Garlic, chopped

  • 1 Tbs. e.v. Olive Oil

Place onion in a large saucepan over medium heat, no oil.  Watch the onion, stirring until it begins to turn brown.

Add eggplant and mushrooms and cover, turn to medium low, and stir every 2 minutes, until eggplant is wilted.

Add tomato and parsley. Stir, cover and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.

Add the diluted tomato paste, seasoning and garlic, turn heat to medium, and cook uncovered for another 10 minutes, or until veggies are cooked through and water is absorbed.

You may drizzle with of olive oil once you remove from heat.  This dish is good warm or cold.

Spicy Chopped Salad

  • 1/2 bunch organic Parsley, chopped

  • 1/2 bunch organic Cilantro, chopped

  • 1 small white Onion, diced

  • 1 organic Tomato, chopped

  • 1/2 organic Jalapeno pepper, minced

  • 1 Tbs. fresh Lime juice

  • 2 tsp. fresh Lemon juice

  • 1/2 tsp. Pink Sea Salt

  • 1 Tbs. virgin Olive Oil

Mix it all up!

Serve as a topping for stews, sandwiches or as a fresh dip with toasted GF bread.

Assemble Sandwich

  • Vegenaise (opt.)

  • 1 Tbs. organic Tomato Paste

  • GF, high-fiber Bread or WASA Rye cracker

Spread a slice or bread or a cracker with tomato paste and the other slice or cracker with Vegenaise.

Spread some of the Eggplant Medley over the tomato paste. Then top with Spicy Salad.

eggplant sandw3

(You may add a protein if you like).

Cover with other slice, press down, and munch!

Hello Brussels. Why so Bitter?

The Case of the  Brussels Sprout

This is not the story of a boy from Brussels and how he wound up in Court....

This is the story of a Sprout accused of being bitter and unfriendly.  The first mention of this sprout is traced to the late 16th century. It is thought to be native to Belgium, specifically to a region near Brussels, after which it was named.

This Sprout is a member of the Brassica family and therefore related to Broccoli and Cabbage. Don't be fooled by its size however! Watch what you say because a Sprout grows up with a bunch of 20 to 40 other Sprouts, on the stem of a plant that grows as high as three feet tall!

These miniature-sized vegetables contain the largest content of anticancer phytochemical compounds such as glucosinolates. Like broccoli, the indole-3-carbinol has been found to reduce cancer growth especially for estrogen dependent cancers (e.g. uterine, breast, cervical).

brussel sprouts

In order to plead the case for this Sprout I lay before you the following:

Character Traits *

  • Brussels sprouts can help us avoid chronic, excessive inflammation

  • You'll find nearly 100 studies in PubMed (the health research database at the National Library of Medicine in Washington, D.C.) that are focused on Brussels sprouts, and over half of those studies involve the health benefits of this cruciferous vegetable in relationship to cancer

  • They provide us with this cholesterol-lowering benefit whether they are raw or cooked. When the cholesterol-lowering ability of steamed Brussels sprouts was compared with the cholesterol-lowering ability of the prescription drug cholestyramine, Brussels sprouts bound 27% as many bile acids

  • The fiber content of Brussels sprouts: 4 grams in every cup makes this cruciferous vegetable a natural choice for digestive system support.

  • The detox support provided by Brussels sprouts is extensive. There is evidence from human studies that enzyme systems in our cells required for detoxification of cancer-causing substances can be activated by compounds found in Brussels sprouts.

* HealthDiaries.com: 11 Health Benefits of Brussels Sprouts

It Takes Proper Cooking to Bring Out the Sprout's Goodness!

Perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts have a crisp, dense texture and a slightly sweet, bright, and "green" taste. Steaming the Sprouts increases their health benefit potency.

Steam them

Bring a scant 1/2 inch salted water to boil in a large frying pan or saute pan. Add Brussels sprouts, cover, and cook until sprouts are tender to the bite and water has evaporated, about 5-7 minutes (depending on how crisp you like them).

In a Steamer Basket:  Bring about an inch of water to a boil in the bottom of a pot into which your steamer basket or insert fits. Put cleaned Brussels sprouts in the steamer basket, set over the boiling water, cover, and steam until tender to the bite, about 5-7 minutes.

You can toss them with Olive or Coconut Oil, salt and pepper; garlic and lemon; or with Pasta Sauce!

Roast them

brussel-sprouts, roaste

  • 1 1/2 lbs. organic Brussels sprouts, ends trimmed and yellow leaves discarded

  • 2 Tbs. virgin Olive Oil

  • 1 tsp. Sea Salt

  • 1/2 tsp. freshly ground Black Pepper

  • 1 tsp. Paprika

  • 1/2 tsp. organic Garlic Powder or 2 cloves well mashed

  • 4 Tbs. lemon juice

Rinse Sprouts trim off ends and place in a large bowl. Blend the spices together with the oil and lemon. Pour this over the sprouts and toss until well coated.

Place in oven proof dish or cookie sheet lined with parchment, and roast at 400ºF for 35 minutes or until lightly golden.

Braise them

Braising, or slow cooking in liquid on the stove, is a great way to elicit Brussels sprouts' natural, nutty flavor.

The Most Delicious Non-dairy Ice Cream!

Two new yummy words: ASHTA and MASTIC GUM.

Ashta is the creamy foundation of many Lebanese Desserts. It is made with either dry milk, or for a richer flavor half and half. It is used as a filling in shredded phyllo desserts, and in pastry. It is also served as a dessert with nuts, or frozen.

Lebanese Ice Cream

Lebanese ice cream contains mastic gum, which lends it a gelato-like texture. It comes in a myriad of flavors and is served in narrow cones.

Mastic Gum

This is a resin made from the pistacia lentiscus tree. The mastic plant originated in the Mediterranean nations in the south of Europe, northern portions of Africa, and the Middle East. The gum has a variety of uses in cooking, art, and alternative medicine.

For cooking, mastic gum requires boiling in hot water or another liquid, because the hardened resin will not dissolve in cold water. It comes in 'crystals' and can be crushed into a powder to add to puddings.

mastic gum

  • 1 pint organic Vanilla Plant-based Ice Cream

  • 1/4 c. Orange Blossom water

  • 1/4 c. Rose water

  • 1 c. finely chopped Pistachios

  • 1/2 tsp. crushed Mastic gum

Crush the Mastic gum in a mortar and pestle till it becomes very fine (powdery).

Transfer ice cream to a bowl.  Add the flavored waters, mastic and 3/4 of the pistachios.

Mix well, but quickly so as not to melt the ice cream.

Transfer to a glass baking dish. Sprinkle remaining pistachios on top. Cover with wax paper and freeze for 2 hours or overnight.

You may cut into squares and store in a freezable container. 

Lentil Mash and Kale Salad

  • 4 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 1-1/2 c. organic White Onion, chopped

  • 1/4 c. organic California Basmati Rice

  • 1-1/2 c. hot Green Tea (or boiled Water)

  • 3 c. Sprouted Organic Lentils (or parboiled Regular Lentils)

  • 1 tsp. Pink Sea Salt (or to taste)

Cumin for garnish is optional.

Heat olive oil in a 1 quart pot over medium heat.  Add onions and sauté for 10 minutes stirring occasionally, until golden. Add tea or water and salt. Simmer on low for 5 minutes.

Add lentils and rice, cover and simmer for 20 minutes if using sprouted lentils (35 minutes if using regular lentils). Stir occasionally so bottom does not stick to pot.

You may need to add a little more water if it looks too dry.  The consistency should be like thick oatmeal. You may use the back of a large spoon to mash some of the lentils for a creamier texture.

Taste, and adjust salt. Sprinkle lightly with cumin if desired.

Accompany the lentils with my Kale salad.

Kale, Tomato and Parsley Salad

  • 3 c. organic Kale, chopped

  • 1 organic Tomato, diced

  • 2 organic Green Onions, chopped

  • 1 c. chopped organic Parsley

  • 1/4 c. chopped organic Mint

  • Juice of 2 Lemons

  • 1/2 tsp. Cumin

  • 3 Tbs. extra virgin Olive Oil

  • 1 tsp. Pink Sea Salt

Mix it all together.

The Secrets of Sage

Salvis Officinalis, comes from the Latin salvare, meaning to 'save' or 'cure'.

There is a proverb in an old Italian manuscript that states: 'Why should he die who has sage in his garden?'

We have the English to thank for the idea of smothering sage in onions and adding it to breads and sausage for stuffing! Who knew.

The English also drank sage tea long before black tea became the choice for this afternoon tradition. I found it very tasty.

The Secret?

Several scientific studies show that Sage brightens your mood, rejuvenates your concentration, and sharpens your memory.  Perhaps that's why a sage is thus named?

Sage extract has also been valuable in alleviating or preventing:

  • Age-related Memory Loss
  • Alzheimer's
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes and
  • Ulcers

Sage is native to the Mediterranean.  This aromatic plant is easy to grow in many temperate climates, and will attract bees with its lavender flowers.

Clary Sage is the sweet and milder variety, Greek is stronger.  Dried Sage is usually Dalmatian Sage native to Croatia, and is sold rubbed, crushed or powdered.

In Cooking:

Sage goes well in gravies, butters, stuffing, meatloaf, scones, polenta, on pizza, and with fatty fish.. like Salmon.

Sage Tea.jpg

As a Tea:

Place 6 - 7 leaves in 9 oz of water and simmer for 15 minutes.

Storage:

Sage will keep for up to a year kept in an airtight container, and stored in a dark, dry place.

The Calcium Paradox... Explained

For years women, children and the elderly have been advised to increase their intake of Calcium through supplements and dairy foods.

That statement was not accompanied by a warning that unless you provide your body with the mechanism to transport that calcium into your bones, it will form calcium deposits.

The Problem with Calcium

Calcium buildup in soft tissues can cause medical problems. Calcium can accumulate in the arterial plaque that develops after an injury to the vessel wall.

Normal deposition of calcium occurs in only two places: bone and teeth.

Abnormal deposits of calcium occurs in multiple tissues including:

  1. the inner lining of the arteries (the intima) where atherosclerotic plaque accrues;

  2. the middle muscle layer of arteries (smooth muscle calcification);

  3. the heart valves, especially the aortic valve causing aortic stenosis

To The Rescue

Vitamin K2 appears to be the most important factor in steering calcium into the bone and away from heart valves and the arterial system.

Vitamin K is absolutely essential for regulating calcium balance in the body. A deficiency of vitamin K status causes brittle bones and a vascular system that hardens to a state of poor functionality.

A substantial volume of studies shows that insufficient vitamin K2 accelerates arterial calcification.1 A new study shows that restoring vitamin K2 reverses arterial calcification.2

Based on the plethora of studies published in 2008, vitamins K2 and K3 have also emerged as intriguing agents in both cancer prevention and treatment.

Vitamin K2 has been shown to induce apoptosis (cell destruction) in leukemia cells in vitro.3

In nature, vitamin K is found in two forms: vitamin K1, which occurs in leafy green vegetables; and vitamin K2, which exists in organ meats, egg yolks, dairy products, and particularly in fermented products such as cheese and curd.

While some ingested K1 is converted to K2 in the body, significant benefits occur when vitamin K2 itself is supplemented.4

Recommend this video.

References:

1. Beulens JW, Bots ML, Atsma F, et al. High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Atherosclerosis. 2008 Jul 19.

2. Schurgers LJ , Spronk HM , Soute BA, Schiffers PM, DeMey JG, Vermeer C . Regression of warfarin-induced medial elastocalcinosis by high intake of vitamin K in rats. Blood. 2007 Apr 1;109(7):2823-31. 

3. Tsujioka T, Miura Y, Otsuki T, et al. The mechanisms of vitamin K2-induced apoptosis of myeloma cells. Haematologica. 2006 May;91(5):613-9.

4. Geleijnse JM, Vermeer C, Grobbee DE, et al. Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study. J Nutr. 2004 Nov;134(11):3100-5.

 ~ Be Well.

♥

Baked Southwestern Sweet Potato Cakes

Sweet potatoes are full of wonderful vitamins, are alkaline and help reduce blood sugar.

You can enjoy them several times a week cooked in various ways.  They're versatile enough to be in a stew, curry, veggie patty, served on their own, or in a dessert.

Baked Southwestern Sweet Potato Cakes

  • 2 organic Sweet Potatoes (medium-large, not small)

  • 15 oz. cooked organic Black Beans, drained

  • 2 cloves organic Garlic, minced

  • 3 organic Spring Onions, thinly sliced

  • 3 Tbs. organic Red Onion, diced

  • 2 Tbs. organic Parsley, chopped

  • 2 Tbs. organic Cilantro, chopped

  • 1 tsp. Cayenne Pepper

  • ½ tsp. Cumin

  • ½ tsp. Chili powder

  • ½ tsp. Sea Salt

  • 1 tsp. fresh organic Thyme, minced or ¼ tsp. dry

  • 2 tsp. fresh Lime Juice

  • Avocado or Olive oil for baking sheet.

Preheat oven to 425ºF.

Steam sweet potatoes in their skin, covered, until soft. Do not boil, as they lose flavor and will be too wet. Remove potatoes from pot, peel and mash in a medium bowl.

Place 1/2 the beans in food processor and blend. Add the rest of the beans, the garlic, onions, parsley, cilantro, and spices and lime. Stir by hand to combine.

Form mixture into 8 patties, just under 1/2" thick.

Southwestern Style Sweet Potato Cakes 1

Place patties on oiled baking sheet. Brush tops lightly with olive oil. Bake for 12 minutes, flip carefully and bake for another 10 minutes, or until browned.

Southwestern Style Sweet Potato Cakes 3

Serve topped with a fresh salsa (tomatoes, onions, cilantro, cucumber, lime or lemon juice and 2 Tbs. plain almond or coconut yogurt), or enjoy in a high-fiber gluten-free bun with condiments.

~ Cheers! ♥

The 5 Feline Farm Comes to Life

On Mother's Day, my son and J and I planted our seedlings that we started a few weeks ago in the greenhouse.

Three of my nieces and nephews joined us to Celebrate Mother's Day.  I grilled grass-fed, organic hot dogs and zucchini, and made a large salad, a bowl of Baba Ghannouj and J brought home a whole wheat crust pizza.

I made grain-free, dairy free Raspberry Brownies for dessert.

Afterwards softball and 'orange-ball' (poor oranges...) were enjoyed by both participants and observers.

My Italian Sauce with Spinach

This sauce can be used to top pasta, baked sweet potatoes, wild rice or polenta.

  • 1 organic red Onion, diced

  • 4 cloves fresh organic Garlic, minced

  • 2 c. thinly sliced organic Spinach (measure after slicing)

  • 1 Tbs. fresh Thyme, chopped or 2 tsp. dried

  • 1 tsp. Oregano

  • 1 tsp. Sea Salt

  • ½ tsp. Black Pepper

  • ¼ tsp. Cayenne

  • 2 Tbs. ev organic Olive Oil

  • 3 c. diced organic Tomatoes, fresh or canned

  • 1/2 c. Water

Heat large pan on medium for 1 minute. Add onions and garlic. Turn heat down to medium-low and stir onions until light brown in color.

Add spinach, herbs and seasoning. Continue to cook, stirring for 4 minutes.

Add oil, tomatoes and water. Bring back to a boil. Cover and turn heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.

~ Buon Apetito! ♥

Broccoli-Carrot Slaw

Broccoli - Carrot Slaw

Lemon juice dresses one of my all-time favorite salads that I invented to get the kids to eat Broccoli! It also gets apple cider vinegar in their diet (wonderful health benefits).

Broccoli_Carrot Slaw

Recipe

  • 6 c. organic Broccoli Slaw, or 4 cups chopped up organic Broccoli and 2 c. shredded carrots

  • 1 c. organic Parsley, finely chopped

Dressing

  • 2 medium organic Garlic cloves, mashed in mortar and pestle with 1/2 tsp. Pink Sea Salt

  • 4 Tbs. Vegenaise

  • 1-1/2 Tbs. Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar

  • 1 Tbs. Lemon Juice

  • 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper

  • 1/2 tsp. Celery Seed (or you can add 1/2 c. fresh Celery, chopped

Combine veggies in a large bowl. 

In a small bowl whisk dressing ingredients until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pour over veggies and toss to coat.

Note:  This is a light dressing, not meant to look like the thicker Slaw dressing we're used to. ~ Bon Apetit! ♥

Apple Beet Celery Juice - ABC for Good Health

This juice is a nutrient packed medley of red apple and powerful vegetables, tailored to boost your immune function and reduce inflammation.

Remember if you want to harness the maximum amount of enzyme power and vitamins from foods you juice, you need a juicer with the motor away from the ingredients. Also juicer with metal parts generates heat which breaks down the enzymes. It's worth the small investment to buy a masticating juicer. It keeps the nutrients in your foods intact.

One option an Omega Juicer— the motor is in the back, away from the chute.

juicer mechanism

juicer mechanism

Also, there are no metal parts in the 'juicing' mechanism... instead there is acplastic rotating grinder that basically chews the foods releasing the juice.

Apple Beet Celery Juice

Strong anti-oxidants and vitamins.

  • 1 small, or half a medium organic Red-skin Apple

  • 1/4 organic Beet

  • 3-4 organic Broccoli florets

  • 2-3 stalks fresh organic Celery

  • 1 organic Red Radish (2 if small)

  • 1/2 large Carrot

  • 3 leaves organic Red or Green Leaf Lettuce

  • 2 tsp. fresh organic Lemon juice (add at the end)

Cut each item into slices that will fit the juicer's chute.  Add lemon juice at the end. Juice all, and drink up!

TIP: Save the pulp and add to stew, soup, or muffins!  You can freeze it and use it later.

When Should I Drink My Juice?

It's best to drink your juice on an empty stomach, either first thing in the morning, or an hour away from meals. This will allow you to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients.

CAUTION:

If you are just beginning to juice, and your normal diet includes many processed foods or refined sugar, take it slow! Start by juicing once every 2 - 3 days and increase the amount slowly.  The reason for this is when you juice, your body absorbs the nutrients very quickly, and will begin to detox your cells. You don’t want to overwhelm your system.

Fruits

Most fruits are high in sugar.  Stick with Berries, red skin apples (like Fuji), under-ripe pears and peaches. Diabetics should consult their doctor or a nutritionist before beginning a juicing regimen that includes fruit. 

~ Cheers!  ♥

Powerful Food Synergies - Print the List!

Some food combinations amplify each others' nutritional benefits to such an extent, that together they become super powerful healers.  

Below are notable food synergies that can help you plan meals that will boost your family's health.

  1. Green Tea + Blk Pepper + Lemon - increases ECGC absorption

  2. Turmeric + Black Pepper - increases absorption by 2000%!

  3. Cooked Tomatoes + Olive oil - fat helps nutrient absorption

  4. Tomatoes + Avocado - absorb 7x more lycopene

  5. Broccoli + Tomatoes - prostate cancer prevention

  6. Raspberries + Dark Chocolate - loosens clumpy blood platelets (dark chocolate also boosts blood flow to the brain)

  7. Spinach + Lemon - increases absorption of iron

  8. Grass-fed Red Meat + Rosemary - reduces carcinogens formed when grilling meat

  9. Cold Water Fish and Broccoli - cancer protecion (fish like Salmon, are rich in thyroid-protecting, cancer-fighting mineral selenium. Paired with broccoli, rich in sulforaphane, it is 13 times as potent)

  10. Red Wine + Almonds -heart healthy

  11. Fermented Foods* + Whatever! - tons of probiotics; helps with sugar cravings

* Top 7 Fermented Foods:

  1. Tempeh

  2. Miso

  3. Sauerkraut

  4. Kombucha

  5. Coconut Yogurt

  6. Sour Pickles

  7. Kimchi

Note:  Foods with high quantities of unsaturated fats, such as nuts, have high amounts of compounds with antioxidant properties, which protect against the instability of these fats.

However, store nuts and seeds in the refrigerator if you won't be using them within 2 weeks of purchase, since they can go rancid.

~ Be Well! ♥

Gwen's Story... Don't Let it be Yours

While she prepared the tubes for my blood draw, we chatted easily. Over the last 2 years Gwen and I had become fond of each other. She was complaining again about her constant body pain and digestion, and how the stress of working at the lab was becoming almost too much to handle.

Gwen is about 45, divorced, overweight and due to childhood and young adult experiences, doesn’t believe she deserves good things to happen to her. We’ve all met people like Gwen; their families aren’t what they would have wished for and life traumas left imprints that are difficult to overcome. Gwen has a lovely person with a sweet smile. She has a sense of humor that she hides behind. I like her very much.

Leap of Faith

I decided to take a leap of faith that she brought up her situation again as a subtle request for help. She knew I consulted with several prominent integrative doctors, and was always curious about what I learned. I asked if she would please try to cut back on sugar and carby foods from her diet for just 2 weeks. I asked what vegetables she liked, and she laughed knowing I was going to disapprove of her answer.. “Lettuce?” she offered.

“And…?” I wasn’t going to be put off by her attempt at diverting me with humor.

“Well, I don’t know.. carrots?”

“Are you serious?” I teased, “First of all you’re asking me.. instead of telling me, so I don’t think you know what a vegetable is!”

Gwen laughed again, ”Well they don’t all taste great.”

“Some phlebotomist!” I teased.

A Serious Chat

When she was completed the draw, I spoke to her about the dangers of chronic inflammation. I said I would come back in a couple of days with a biophotonic antioxidant scanner which I borrow from a doctor-friend, to test her. I added that if she wanted me to try to help her, I would need a promise that she would follow what I suggested… else there would be no point in trying.

She smiled at me with an intense expression in her eyes that told me no one had offered to help her before. but she was also looked scared to know what may be going on with her health.

“Ok. so here’s the deal. I will try to come here after work two days a week, and we’ll go for a 20 minute walk on your break as a start. Can you do that?”

She said it would depend on how many patients they had and how many other staff were around, to call first.

Two days later, I showed up with the scanner. Two of Gwen’s colleagues wanted to get scanned as well. Their results were borderline. Needless to say, Gwen’s result was very bad. Her immune system was overtaxed and weak.

“Did I flunk?” she asked jokingly.

I felt compelled to be straight with her. “Your score is not ok, but we knew it wasn’t going to be. You’ve got to start eating well, and I think you may want to take strong antioxidants to help your body fight whatever is going on. I’m not joking, Gwen, you are very vulnerable, and the aches and pain you feel all day long are telling you things have to change.”

She looked at me quietly and nodded.

“So when people bring donuts and bagels here, you need to have food you bring from home so you’re not tempted. We’re going to consider junk food as poison.”

“What would I bring?” she asked me with a blank look.

“Berries, a hard boiled egg, a gluten-free slice of healthy bread with hummus or a salad. Go to my website and browse around. Make only from those recipes… and let’s see what happens in a couple of weeks.

The Next Few Weeks

We never did walk, because either my work or hers got in the way. But she told me she was taking occasional walks with a neighbor friend. I dropped by once for fun, and someone had bought donuts! She immediately shouted, “Not me! I didn’t touch them!”

I texted her a couple of times during the next few weeks to see how things were going. She wasn’t very forthcoming with details… but I didn’t want to push. I knew that for Gwen, eating was part of her emotional world. I went through that after my sister, and then my brother-in-law passed barely 24 months apart. I gained almost 20 lbs that I wasn’t able to shed until I had to. Cutting out sugar and simple carbs was all I had to do.

Food and Emotions

It's not news to anyone that when we feel lonely, and unloved or unlovable, food is a source of solace. And not just any food, but foods that give us the necessary blood sugar high. So we gravitate to baked goods, cookies and sweets or rich foods. And after we’ve indulged we either feel bad, or convince ourselves no harm done.

We might think, “Well, I’m already too heavy, half a pound more or less isn’t going to make a difference.” But half a pound more every week or two does make a difference.

I had low back pain, I hated that when I sat down I had two rolls of fat around my waist. When I was dating, I would wear tops that hid my mid-section… and yet, I didn’t take massive action.

Funny thing is that I was aware of proper nutrition and healthy foods. I am a chef after all, and fed my children well-rounded meals and very little junk. So I hardly ever ate fried or creamy foods, or too many sweets.. but bread, cheese and rice were part of every day’s fare. And even though accompanied by many vegetables and salads, they have their effect.

Gwen had larger emotional scars than mine, so I cut her some slack, but I knew she had to do something soon before her body gave in to whatever was brewing.

Fate Steps In

When I returned for another set of blood tests 6 months later, Valerie greeted me. “Where’s Gwen?” I asked.

“Don’t you know? She’s been out for a week.” she replied.

“No, I didn’t know! What’s up?”

“Oh, my goodness, I thought she would have called you. She fainted while on a walk, and then she had hemorrhaging so they’re doing tests.”

“You’re kidding! Gosh I sure hope she’s ok… thank you for telling me. I’ll call her this afternoon for sure.”

Valerie walked me to the cubby where she was going to draw my blood, “I wish you would. She’s not doing well.”

I felt like I let Gwen down. I had tried, but when you feel someone just can’t go it alone, and the only way they can make a drastic change is to have you there to coach and cheer them on every day, it’s hard to know what to do. At one point, I was going to offer her our garage conversion to come live in, at least for a few months while she taught herself a new way of thinking, eating and living. But there was no way she was going to leave her home, and I never brought it up. I guess I just hoped she could find the resolve to start making a change.

When she told me about some of the devastating experiences she had as a teenager and young adult, I said that I had been sent into her life for a reason then, because with the right perspective she could let go of all that pain and realize she is not the person she was then, and if it were not for this thing we call ‘memory’, she would be a shooting star! She hugged me.

Face the Truth and Make a Change

We are all a little like Gwen in some way. We all talk ourselves into accepting situations, or habits that span years as ‘normal’, and harmless. I mean, if you’ve been eating badly for 12 years and other than the weight gain, or occasional aches and pains, or headaches, or skin conditions, you’re ok.. well, what’s the problem?

We keep on trucking in the same groove until one day, like Gwen, like me, BANG! Something unexpected happens.. a lump, a fainting spell, chest pain, an abnormal blood test.

You know what many of us think in that first moment of realization? … ‘Wait, that can’t be happening to me!’

And the second thought…? ’If only I had paid more attention to blahdeeblah.’

Gwen knew things were bad. Gwen knew her body was breaking down.   Why couldn’t she, why can’t we, stop ourselves from being stuck in same pattern? Why is it necessary for so many to hit the wall before embracing behavior that is good for health and well-being? I’ve always been curious about the psychological barriers we all struggle with. When I called Gwen, do you know what the first thing she said to me was?

“I messed up. I didn’t listen to you.”

I hated hearing those words. I told her, “Yes, you did, you stubborn monkey. And I wish I could turn the clock back.”

Gwen was waiting to hear back on a number of tests. She was weak, and in bed most of the day. I asked her to start eating certain foods, and to send her daughter out to get the 3 supplements we talked about. She promised to do so. I recommended she watch happy uplifting videos, and no matter what the results were, to remember there is a world of options.

Don’t be another Gwen. Only YOU can reduce your risk and improve your health. Being 20+ lbs overweight is the gateway to a host of inflammatory diseases.

Our body can’t handle processing all the toxins we’re exposed to in the world, plus the preservatives in processed foods and personal products, plus the pesticides on non-organic produce, plus the effects of smoking or drinking alcohol or eating too many carbs. Living with environmental pollution alone overtaxes our liver and kidneys.. but pile on all that other stuff and we’ve created a recipe for disaster.

It’s a hard journey back to health once it’s lost.

We are victims of money-hungry food manufacturers that spend billions to create flavors and textures that will hook us to their nutrition-deficient products. Stand up and find your strength to resist.

If you struggle, find a friend or family member who will actively support your effort to make a change. Limit yourself to eating only foods you cook and look up recipes on this blog.

And if you like together we can devise a plan that will work for you. Contact me.

I wish you a long and healthy life.