Do you remember the tip to cut down the sides of a bell pepper which leaves the core and seeds? Well, I read this past week, that this trick also works well with Roma Tomatoes as well so I decided to put it to test in making a Cucumber Salsa recipe I found on Pinterest. It worked so well I also did it with the jalapeño pepper as well. After all, the least amount of handling of the jalapeño works great. Especially, since we recently moved and I cannot find my disposable gloves yet :).
Be sure to peel your cucumber then slice it down the middle lengthwise. Take a spoon and take out all the seeds and pulp. By removing the centers from the tomato, jalapeño and cucumbers it helps to keep the liquid down in this Salsa recipe. Again, this recipe is not mine as I found it on Pinterest. Also, I did not have any limes on hand so I used my Lime Essential Oil - 2 drops to 1 cucumber and 1 Roma tomato in my bowl. A great quality and affordable essential oil can be found: https://barefut.com/?afmc=pv
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Did you know that dry eye MAY be a symptom of vitamin A deficiency? Neither did I until I read Prevention.com issue Nov. 2017 on Super Food #8 (Carrots). Also, that vitamin A is not only good for your eyes but can help your body fight infection.
Dr. Axe notes that Carrots are one of the highest contributors of vitamin A and they are also high in vitamins C, D, E & K along with minerals: Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium. Additionally, carrots are high in fiber content as well. One should not peel carrots as this is where the nutrients and fiber is located but instead, one should use a strong brush to wash / clean dirt, etc. off. The most common misconception is that carrots are bad for diabetics and that they are high in sugar and will raise the blood glucose levels. However; Dr. Axe, notes that this is false and in fact 1 C of raw carrots only have 10g of carbs and almost 4g of fiber. However, he does note to be careful with juicing because that concentrates the sugars. Now on to some not so great information. Toxic pesticides are at a much higher level in conventionally grown carrots than in organic carrots. Carrots are in the top 48 most popular fruits and vegetables with EWG (Environmental Working Group) listing them as 22nd on the list of most contaminated. Additionally, baby carrots are typically washed in Chlorine before packaging. Thus, leading us down the path to eat whole (not peeled) organic carrots or locally grown from a farmer you trust or in your own garden! Prevention magazine lists Mushrooms as super food #7 and in the category of fighting infections in the body. Apparently, edible mushrooms are a good source of selenium which increases our white blood cells and Vitamin D. In addition, it is rich in antioxidants along with various other good for us attributes.
In reviewing a few articles on PubMed - not all mushrooms are created equal and in the past was noted as several not being high in selenium. However, if grown in the right soil, this allows them to become higher in Selenium and other nutrients. So, I would say - do your research on which Mushrooms are higher in Selenium if this is something you are needing. Https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18781538 In another article, they are noted to be high in antioxidants and also are good for our diets as they are high in protein and low fat levels, cholesterol, etc. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26516828 If only I could get past their texture. I cannot stand their rubbery texture whether raw or cooked. But, alas, I know they are quite appealing to others. Just be sure you are getting edible mushrooms and do not go out and pick the ones that sprout up in your lawn... Some mushrooms are actually poisonous to our bodies therefore, be sure to buy yours from a grocery store or natural food store that is knowledgeable in this arena. Happy Mushrooming to those that like them! According to Prevention magazine these next three Super Foods make the list because they help reduce blood Sugar. #4 Blueberries, #5 Lentils and #6 Cinnamon.
Prevention notes that a BMJ review found that adults who ate blueberries had up to 26% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. They are know to be naturally sweet while being low in sugar. Additional information obtained on PubMed.gov that the Phenolic compounds have a high antioxidant capacity as well and some clinical studies suggest Blueberries show promise as effective anti-cancer agents. (23387969) Lentils is a form of Legume and is known to be high in fiber which slows the body's process of turning carbohydrates into glucose thus preventing a spike in blood sugar levels. Add them into salads or tacos for a filling meal. On PubMed.gov they are noted as a good source of bioactive phenolic compounds and supports low GI (28959813). Additional health benefits include anti carcinogenic, anti-thrombotic, anti-ulcer, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory along with many other health benefits (28941672). Prevention notes that Cinnamon research indicates 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon daily can make our cells more sensitive to insulin. When conducting my research on PubMed.gov there were no conclusive studies on humans to support this statement. The studies on animals has shown positive results but not enough studies have been conducted on humans to be conclusive (22007625). I did look at several different abstracts on this spice and they all basically came to the same conclusion. To find each of these abstracts go to: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.go/pubmed/(type in the # from the parenthesis). Prevention magazine has named Sesame oil as superfood #3. According to the magazine it is rich in a heart-healthy compound called phytosterols. Apparently, they help block the absorption of harmful LDL's.
In doing some research from Britannica Encyclopedia the sesame plant was around B.C.. In fact it was used before Moses by the Egyptians as they ground the seed into a grain flour. No wonder our flour is nothing like it was back in those days. However, it has been altered by man. The plants are known for scattering their seeds thus making it very difficult to harvest and quite labor intensive. In the 20th century, a form of the plant has been created that does not scatter their seeds thus making it easier to harvest by machine. But, it makes one wonder (at least it does for me) did this change the make up of the plant and is it truly still as good for us???? Dr. Mercola - a certified Osteopathic Dr., notes that it has been used for centuries in Asian cuisine and that it also has some medicinal purposes. Additionally, in Aromatherapy, it is used as a massage oil and as a carrier oil for the essential oils. It may be used as a skin detoxifier - apply to your skin, let it sit on for 15 minutes and then wash off along with several others. If you wish to view everything Dr. Mercola notes about Sesame Oil you can go to his website https://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/sesame-oil.aspx Appears to be a very versatile and amazing oil. I think I am going to have to find some pure Sesame oil to use as a carrier oil with my Young Living pure essential oils! Prevention magazine has names Old Fashioned Oats (Rolled or Steel Cut) as super food #2. Prevention notes that it is rich in a soluble fiber that helps to catch cholesterol as they are exiting your body. I believe that week-beingsecrets.com as they note 30 science backed health benefits including helping with Constipation. Additionally, it is an excellent low-cost source of protein and may aid in fighting anemia. Hmmm, thinking I maybe need to be eating more oatmeal. Keep in mind this has to be the "Old Fashioned Oats" like rolled or steel cut. The individual packets of oats have been further processed and do not provide the same benefits.
Here are a few fun facts about Oatmeal. Originally, Oatmeal was not viewed as good for humans and was only approved for live stock as it was considered a weed. The top 3 producing countries are Russia, Canada and Poland. However, the top producing company is Quaker Oats located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Greeks were the 1st to use Oatmeal as a hot cereal. Fun facts provided by well-beingsecrets.com. I would say over all I would have to agree that Oats "Old Fashioned" are a super food from my view point. The latest craze on how to fix them is the overnight refrigerator method. Here is a sight with some recipes that actually sound pretty good. Additionally, they give you the base recipe that you can add to for your pallet. https://www.thehealthymaven.com/2018/02/5-healthy-overnight-oat-jars.html Have you tried the overnight jar method? If yes, I would love to hear whether or not you like them and your favorite recipes. Artichokes is an absolutely amazing vegetable and made Preventions 30 Superfoods for a Healthier Life as #1. According to Prevention, WebMD and FoodFacts.Mercola.com it truly is a super food.
Did you know that Artichokes are a member of the Sunflower family and originate from the Mediterranean? However, now days, the Artichokes consumed today in the U.S. are mainly from California. Artichokes have a lot of benefits that I was not aware of. They are a good source of folate, dietary fiber, and Vitamins C & K along with being packed with antioxidants. All of these help with maintaining blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Additionally, the Vitamins they are high in help fight free radicals and are plentiful in minerals such as Potassium and Magnesium. Which most adults in the U.S. are deficient in Magnesium. This is definitely a superfood that I need to work on getting into my diet on a more regular basis. If you are like me and needing to find some healthy Artichoke foods / recipes you might check out CookingLight.com as they have several that look good to me. Probably will not get my husband to eat these with me but that is because he does not like Artichoke anyways... That is another blog for another day as we just had a huge debate over our 4 year old granddaughter not eating her little bit of Broccoli at supper tonight :). I would love to see your favorite recipes utilizing Artichoke. Post them in the comments so I can give them a try as well. I’m in love with my Pampered Chef individual brownies pan. These are the perfect size and will keep the edge from drying out.
In my mind no they are not but that is just my personal opinion. I know as we all get very busy between working, taking care of children (getting them to practice, games, etc.) along with taking care of our aging parents it can be daunting to try and cook for our families. So, when these meal delivery services came out it seemed like quite the answer for a lot of people. And it might still be for you but just know there are risks and other options available as well. Other options would be to check with your local grocery stores to see if they offer online shopping as well. Pick one day a week where you can get some meal prep work done at home to ease the burden of cooking on those extra busy days.
First, I want to talk about the food safety of these meals. I often wondered how these meals were kept cold during transportation - especially those hot summer months. It appears (according to the article from the link below) this is indeed an issue. Due to not keeping (especially the meats) cold it does allow for microbial growth. How much growth varies in accordance with how cold the meat / food is kept. https://eatdrinkbetter.com/2017/06/08/food-safety-and-meal-delivery-services/ Another pet peeve of mine is getting into a recurring monthly membership fee. I have not heard of any issues with people cancelling but just know that I tend to not use products all the time so I am not one to order this way. If I like a product well enough to use it routinely then I will order more of it in my time frame. If you are looking into these services be sure to ask about their cancellation policy - no hidden gems such as must be a member for a year before you can cancel, etc. Therefore, my advice is to consider all options and figure out what is best for you. Couple key questions I would have for meal delivery services is what do they pack their products with - i.e. gel packs or dry ice and how long from time of packing to delivery? After all, knowledge is power and once you have armed yourself then you can make the best decision for you and your family. Here again, this is my opinion of what works and does not work for me. I do not endorse nor do I renounce these services. I wish you the best in making your informed decision in regards to feeding yourself and your family! Check your freezers!
Click on this link below and follow it to the FDA Recall for their frozen pancakes, waffles, etc. ucm557098.htm |
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September 2018
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