Sep 2009
The Dirty Dozen
09/20/09 Filed in: Chemicals in our Food
No, I am not referring to the WWII movie of the same name starring Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson and Jim Brown. I am talking about the twelve vegetables or fruit that should always be bought organic. These twelve harbor the highest amounts of pesticide residue when grown conventionally. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. They put out a guide each year highlighting the worst choices to buy of conventionally grown produce. They even have an iphone app for keeping this list handy! So here it goes.......
Peaches
Apples
Sweet bell peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Pears
Grapes (imported)
Spinach
Lettuce
Potatoes
The guide is a handy PDF that you can print out and carry in your wallet or post on your fridge for easy reference.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
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How to Make My Favorite Green Smoothie
09/17/09 Filed in: Smoothies
This is my favorite smoothie. (Mango was finally toppled.) It is a nutritional powerhouse and gives me a great boost. It is simple to make and even my husband likes it; a tough critic for anything that may remotely taste like grass! This is also a great use for Florida avocados which tend to hold more water than the more widely available Hass variety. Florida avocados are in season now and if you live in the area you probably have a friend with a loaded tree. I use an immersion blender for my smoothies because of easy cleanup, but you can use a blender.
Start with one banana.
Add a handful of baby spinach.
Add 1/2 of a Florida avocado or 1/2 of a Hass avocado.
Add a tablespoon of ground flaxseed and some agave syrup to taste. If your banana was very ripe you might not need any agave syrup.
Add soy milk (I use unsweeted soy), almond milk, or hemp milk till your container is 3/4 full. Add one cup if you are using a blender. Be careful not to over fill as your immersion blender will splatter if too close to the top of the glass.
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Enjoy!
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
Start with one banana.
Add a handful of baby spinach.
Add 1/2 of a Florida avocado or 1/2 of a Hass avocado.
Add a tablespoon of ground flaxseed and some agave syrup to taste. If your banana was very ripe you might not need any agave syrup.
Add soy milk (I use unsweeted soy), almond milk, or hemp milk till your container is 3/4 full. Add one cup if you are using a blender. Be careful not to over fill as your immersion blender will splatter if too close to the top of the glass.
Blend all ingredients until smooth.
Enjoy!
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
A Close Encounter
09/15/09
I am amazed how powerful a brief encounter with a stranger can become. Where I work, I see over a hundred different people who are new to me everyday. These relationships are professional but they don't involve me personally. Every so often, you encounter an individual who touches the real you. Effortlessly.
I had one of these the other day, and I believe it was mutual, but I may never know for sure. The woman spoke to me and saw me. Warmth and sincerity flowed like electricity from her and caught me. It held me close to her as we spoke. At the end, she gave me an embrace. A hug that transends formality and exudes love. I had the urge to follow her as if she was the Pied Piper.
I am normally guarded with my personal emotions. I interact with too many people in a day to be so open, or so I believed. Yet, I responded in kind to this woman's warmth. I embraced her as she did me.
Dr. Wayne Dyer, an international speaker on self improvement, speaks of intention. " The law of attraction is this: You don't attract what you want. You attract what you are. It is about allowing. In that one instant, I allowed myself to be open. I welcomed what she was offering. How many times have I failed to recognize what is being offered to me.
The problem is that we all want. In the teachings of Lao Tzu, "Those who want to know the truth of the universe should practice the four cardinal virtues. The first is reverence for all life. This manifests as unconditional love and respect for oneself and all other beings. The second is natural sincerity. This manifests as honesty, simplicity, and faithfulness. The third is gentleness, which manifests as kindness, consideration for others, and sensitivity to spiritual truth. The fourth is supportiveness. This manifests as service to others without expectation of reward."
It was the natural sincerity of this person that triggered my reaction. I think of her often, wondering, if she will be back. This stranger opened a door that I would like walk through. Will I recognize it again?
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
The President's Message
09/10/09
Did you watch President Obama last night? It was quite the speech. In fact, it almost felt like a lecture from a parent to his bickering legislative branch. While I agree that the big insurance companies in this country need to be held accountable and that all Americans deserve access to quality healthcare, I firmly believe that we are missing the point.
Most diseases that we are dealing with as a modern advanced society are diet related diseases. According to the CDC, chronic diseases (like type 2 diabetes) account for 70% of the deaths in the United States. Michal Pollan sums it up very well in this article in the New York Times online.
Ultimately, taking on the food industry is a much more daunting task than that of the insurance industry. Not only would we be fighting huge titans of the GNP with the power of profits and investors behind them, but also the overwhelming attitudes of the American public that they have the entitlement to eat as they wish.
When I first met my husband, he held the belief that, unless there was some form of meat in his meal he had not really eaten a meal, but only a snack. Thankfully, his attitudes have slowly evolved over the years. Recently, his doctor put him on cholesterol medication, and now he is taking his diet far more seriously.
Why does the realization that our diet is killing us have to wait until we have a personal health crises? Real health education should begin in kindergarden. If we have a responsibility to our citizens to provide quality health care then that responsibility should also extend to prevention of disease. Sodas, junk food, and fast food should be levied a "sin" tax just like cigarettes. If you choose not to take personal responsibility for your health, then your health care should cost more.
In order to truely change the face of healthcare in this country, we would have to admit we were wrong. The SAD which is being copied by emerging nations across the glode must be changed. The China Study, the most comprehensive study linking diet to the risk of developing disease, shows the connection between the standard western diet of processed and meat focused meals and the development of diseases prevalent in our society.
Many things in the President's speech rang very true for me. We need to approach this problem with a solutions driven mentality. As Americans we can use our culture of individualism to take accountability for ourselves. We can choose not to be victims of an over processed food culture. We can choose to educate ourselves and make better choices that fuel our bodies rather than poisen them. As each individual makes a personal change, the economic pressure will build on those titans of the food industry and force them to change as well.
It is a matter of character for our nation as the leader of the free world to also be the leader in the education and health of its citizens. Emerging countries emulate our culture and in the process take on our diseases as well. If we truely want to show character as a nation, we would face the real issue of our health care.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
Most diseases that we are dealing with as a modern advanced society are diet related diseases. According to the CDC, chronic diseases (like type 2 diabetes) account for 70% of the deaths in the United States. Michal Pollan sums it up very well in this article in the New York Times online.
Ultimately, taking on the food industry is a much more daunting task than that of the insurance industry. Not only would we be fighting huge titans of the GNP with the power of profits and investors behind them, but also the overwhelming attitudes of the American public that they have the entitlement to eat as they wish.
When I first met my husband, he held the belief that, unless there was some form of meat in his meal he had not really eaten a meal, but only a snack. Thankfully, his attitudes have slowly evolved over the years. Recently, his doctor put him on cholesterol medication, and now he is taking his diet far more seriously.
Why does the realization that our diet is killing us have to wait until we have a personal health crises? Real health education should begin in kindergarden. If we have a responsibility to our citizens to provide quality health care then that responsibility should also extend to prevention of disease. Sodas, junk food, and fast food should be levied a "sin" tax just like cigarettes. If you choose not to take personal responsibility for your health, then your health care should cost more.
In order to truely change the face of healthcare in this country, we would have to admit we were wrong. The SAD which is being copied by emerging nations across the glode must be changed. The China Study, the most comprehensive study linking diet to the risk of developing disease, shows the connection between the standard western diet of processed and meat focused meals and the development of diseases prevalent in our society.
Many things in the President's speech rang very true for me. We need to approach this problem with a solutions driven mentality. As Americans we can use our culture of individualism to take accountability for ourselves. We can choose not to be victims of an over processed food culture. We can choose to educate ourselves and make better choices that fuel our bodies rather than poisen them. As each individual makes a personal change, the economic pressure will build on those titans of the food industry and force them to change as well.
It is a matter of character for our nation as the leader of the free world to also be the leader in the education and health of its citizens. Emerging countries emulate our culture and in the process take on our diseases as well. If we truely want to show character as a nation, we would face the real issue of our health care.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
Lasagna Rolls for Meatless Monday
09/07/09
One way I can always make my husband happy is to say the words “pasta for dinner!” Tonight is Lasagna Rolls from the Happy Herbivore, a great blog for vegan inspiration. Also, since I have joined the Meatless Monday campaign, this is a great recipe for going meatless.
I did a few things different from Lindsay in my rolls. I made a quick marinara versus buying a bottle of prepared sauce. I find it just as easy with a multi-stepped dinner such as this and much cheaper. For my sauce, I minced a couple cloves of garlic and an onion and sauteed until the onion was clear. I added a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes and a 14 oz can of tomato sauce to the onions and garlic, and I added fresh basil, salt and pepper to taste. I let this simmer while the water heated for my noodles. I also used brown rice lasagna noodles instead of whole wheat as I am limiting the wheat in my diet. The last change I made was to add a quarter cup of chopped pine nuts to the “ricotta” mixture. I did this to give some added richness to the tofu ricotta that my husband would miss from not using cheese.
Verdict? This recipe is a total winner. I love that it does not require baking which means less time and one less dirty dish. Let me know your twist on this easy recipe.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
I did a few things different from Lindsay in my rolls. I made a quick marinara versus buying a bottle of prepared sauce. I find it just as easy with a multi-stepped dinner such as this and much cheaper. For my sauce, I minced a couple cloves of garlic and an onion and sauteed until the onion was clear. I added a 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes and a 14 oz can of tomato sauce to the onions and garlic, and I added fresh basil, salt and pepper to taste. I let this simmer while the water heated for my noodles. I also used brown rice lasagna noodles instead of whole wheat as I am limiting the wheat in my diet. The last change I made was to add a quarter cup of chopped pine nuts to the “ricotta” mixture. I did this to give some added richness to the tofu ricotta that my husband would miss from not using cheese.
Verdict? This recipe is a total winner. I love that it does not require baking which means less time and one less dirty dish. Let me know your twist on this easy recipe.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
There is More Than One Way to Skin an Aloe
09/06/09
I have looked at the bottles of aloe in the health store for years with modest curiosity. A few months back I ran across an article about the health benefits of eating aloe vera. Ah yes, you read correctly, eating aloe.
It is common knowledge that aloe is great for burns and bug bites. Just slice off a leaf, open it up, and rub it on the burn as a salve. Easy, right? Eating aloe requires removing the outer skin so you can harvest the clear gel inside.
Cut a leaf of aloe and let the reddish liquid drain out. This liquid is very bitter and acts as a laxative. This will only take a minute or two.
Take a sharp knief and cut the two pointy sides off. This makes the leaf easier to handle while you are cutting the rest of the skin off.
What you are after is the clear gel on the inside of the leaf. This is fairly tasteless.
Next, take your knief and cut away the green skin from the top of the leaf. You can run the inside of the green skin on your face and skin to take full advantage of aloe's benefits.
You are now going to remove the bottom outer skin from the gel inside.
Slice the gel into chunks. It will keep for a week or so in your fridge. Add to juice, smoothies, or salad dressings.
The main reason to eat aloe is because it will increase your resistance to disease. Aloe is full of enzymes, minerals, polysaccharides, and vitamins (E, C, B1, 2, 3, and 6 as well as iron, manganese, calcium, and zinc). Seven essential amino acids and fatty acids are also found in Aloe Vera. Aloe is a powerful anti-imflammatory, an analgestic, aids digestion and absorption of nutrients, helps control blood sugar, increases energy production, promotes cardiovascular health, improves liver function, and boosts the immune system. Aloe breaks down impacted food residues within the intestinal tract helping to clean and regulate the bowel, thus reducing discomfort and bloating. This rich cocktail of nutritional elements provides a synergistic effect, where the different ingredients balance and enhance each other.
Let me know if you are brave enough to give it a try!
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
It is common knowledge that aloe is great for burns and bug bites. Just slice off a leaf, open it up, and rub it on the burn as a salve. Easy, right? Eating aloe requires removing the outer skin so you can harvest the clear gel inside.
Cut a leaf of aloe and let the reddish liquid drain out. This liquid is very bitter and acts as a laxative. This will only take a minute or two.
Take a sharp knief and cut the two pointy sides off. This makes the leaf easier to handle while you are cutting the rest of the skin off.
What you are after is the clear gel on the inside of the leaf. This is fairly tasteless.
Next, take your knief and cut away the green skin from the top of the leaf. You can run the inside of the green skin on your face and skin to take full advantage of aloe's benefits.
You are now going to remove the bottom outer skin from the gel inside.
Slice the gel into chunks. It will keep for a week or so in your fridge. Add to juice, smoothies, or salad dressings.
The main reason to eat aloe is because it will increase your resistance to disease. Aloe is full of enzymes, minerals, polysaccharides, and vitamins (E, C, B1, 2, 3, and 6 as well as iron, manganese, calcium, and zinc). Seven essential amino acids and fatty acids are also found in Aloe Vera. Aloe is a powerful anti-imflammatory, an analgestic, aids digestion and absorption of nutrients, helps control blood sugar, increases energy production, promotes cardiovascular health, improves liver function, and boosts the immune system. Aloe breaks down impacted food residues within the intestinal tract helping to clean and regulate the bowel, thus reducing discomfort and bloating. This rich cocktail of nutritional elements provides a synergistic effect, where the different ingredients balance and enhance each other.
Let me know if you are brave enough to give it a try!
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
Baking Soda the Ultimate Multi-tasker
09/01/09
A few years ago I stopped buying cleaners from the store. I banished bleach from the house (we still use it in the pool, though), and I started to replace my favorite cleaners with natural non-petroleum based substances. My home is just as clean as it has ever been, but I spend a fraction of what I use to on cleaning products.
In this process, I have discovered how versatile and multi-purposed baking soda is in the house. Bicarbonate of soda is a naturally occurring earth mineral called nahcolite. It is a component of natron. Baking soda is alkaline so it acts to neutralize acids and break down proteins. This quality is why baking soda is so effective at so many things.
Most commonly, baking soda is used as a leavening agent in baking. In combination with a liquid and an acid, baking soda releases carbon dioxide gas bubbles causing dough or batter to rise. Also, the ubiquitous box of Arm & Hammer in the back of the refrigerator is indicative of baking soda’s ability to neutralize bad smells making it an effective deodorizer. Baking soda also enhances ph levels so when added to the laundry, it enhances the detergent’s effectiveness.
In cooking, a pinch of baking soda added to tomato sauce while cooking will reduce acidity. Personally, I add a teaspoon to my beans while they are soaking and/or cooking in order to reduce the beans ability to cause flatulence. Everyone around me appreciates this, I am sure. Baking soda can also be added to stews or rubbed directly on meat as a tenderizer.
As a cleaner, I use baking soda to clean my pots and pans, my sink, my shower and even the toilet. Baking soda has a fine gritty texture which makes it a gentle abrasive cleaner. It does not scratch the finish on my pots and polishes the porcelain in the bathroom.
It is commonly known that baking soda can be used as a toothpaste. However, I use it as a gentle face scrub and body exfoliator. I keep a small container in the shower and rub it over my clean skin to brush away dead skin cells. Added to the bath, baking soda can be soothing to a sunburn (although I think aloe is best). Although there are differences in opinion about whether you can actually remove toxins from the skin thorough a bath, adding baking soda to your bath is believed by many to aid in this process. As a paste, baking soda will ease the burn from bee stings. One-half teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water can be taken as an antacid.
Sprinkled around the entrances and foundations to your home, it may prohibit insects from crawling in, as it is irritating to their exoskeletons and they avoid it.
In my home, baking soda has replaced Comet, Softscrub, SOS pads, expensive face and body scrubs, and reduced the amount of laundry detergent I use. A large bag of baking soda (12 lbs) from the buying club store costs around $13 and lasts around six months. Definitely, baking soda is a more economical choice.
For more ideas on ways to use baking soda in your home go to Arm & Hammer’s website where they show different uses for each room in your home.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.
In this process, I have discovered how versatile and multi-purposed baking soda is in the house. Bicarbonate of soda is a naturally occurring earth mineral called nahcolite. It is a component of natron. Baking soda is alkaline so it acts to neutralize acids and break down proteins. This quality is why baking soda is so effective at so many things.
Most commonly, baking soda is used as a leavening agent in baking. In combination with a liquid and an acid, baking soda releases carbon dioxide gas bubbles causing dough or batter to rise. Also, the ubiquitous box of Arm & Hammer in the back of the refrigerator is indicative of baking soda’s ability to neutralize bad smells making it an effective deodorizer. Baking soda also enhances ph levels so when added to the laundry, it enhances the detergent’s effectiveness.
In cooking, a pinch of baking soda added to tomato sauce while cooking will reduce acidity. Personally, I add a teaspoon to my beans while they are soaking and/or cooking in order to reduce the beans ability to cause flatulence. Everyone around me appreciates this, I am sure. Baking soda can also be added to stews or rubbed directly on meat as a tenderizer.
As a cleaner, I use baking soda to clean my pots and pans, my sink, my shower and even the toilet. Baking soda has a fine gritty texture which makes it a gentle abrasive cleaner. It does not scratch the finish on my pots and polishes the porcelain in the bathroom.
It is commonly known that baking soda can be used as a toothpaste. However, I use it as a gentle face scrub and body exfoliator. I keep a small container in the shower and rub it over my clean skin to brush away dead skin cells. Added to the bath, baking soda can be soothing to a sunburn (although I think aloe is best). Although there are differences in opinion about whether you can actually remove toxins from the skin thorough a bath, adding baking soda to your bath is believed by many to aid in this process. As a paste, baking soda will ease the burn from bee stings. One-half teaspoon of baking soda mixed with water can be taken as an antacid.
Sprinkled around the entrances and foundations to your home, it may prohibit insects from crawling in, as it is irritating to their exoskeletons and they avoid it.
In my home, baking soda has replaced Comet, Softscrub, SOS pads, expensive face and body scrubs, and reduced the amount of laundry detergent I use. A large bag of baking soda (12 lbs) from the buying club store costs around $13 and lasts around six months. Definitely, baking soda is a more economical choice.
For more ideas on ways to use baking soda in your home go to Arm & Hammer’s website where they show different uses for each room in your home.
Living a life of personal balance, moderation, education, and connection.