Thursday, December 26, 2013

TURMERIC “THE GOLDEN SPICE OF LIFE”
6 ways it can heal your body



I thought I would take some time to post information on spices and how beneficial they are to our health.  Our food truly can be our medicine when we cook with spices.  Cooking with them without a recipe can be a little scary but it can also be very fun and get your creative juices flowing.  This is the first spice I am going to talk about because I really love it.  I put it in soups, stir fry, scrambled eggs, salad dressings ... the list can go on.  The recipe I talk about here is so comforting in winter time and a nice alternative to hot chocolate.  I make the "Golden Milk" with a little bit of cinnamon as well.  It is so yummy and warming to the soul.  I buy my spices at Penzy's because of the great quality and they are local to WI and family owned.  My son went to school with the twin daughters of one of the owners. http://www.penzeys.com/

Please post your uses for Turmeric!!

The problem with turmeric’s active ingredient curcumin is that it has a hard time getting past the stomach and into the small intestines where it can be absorbed into the blood.

OPTIMIZING TURMERIC (CURCUMIN) ABSORPTION
Here is a convenient method of making “Golden Milk:”  Take a quarter cup of high quality, certified or organic turmeric powder mixed in a half cup of pure water and simmer for a few minutes on medium heat, stirring constantly to form a slightly moist, thick paste.

Let it cool and put it into a glass jar.  It can keep for weeks in the refrigerator.  To consume a dose, dissolve a small portion of the turmeric paste in a bit of warm milk (can be soy milk, almond milk, or rice milk) or coconut oil.  Add some pepper to take advantage of piperine’s nutrient absorbing properties.




6 TURMERIC (CURCUMIN) BENEFITS

1.     Eases Arthritic Pain
It has been clinically proven to ease arthritic pain and promote increased flexibility in many studies.  It’s comparable to large doses of ibuprofen (800 md daily) without side-effects while actually delivering other health benefits.

2.     Prevents Cirrhosis
It slows or delays liver damage that could develop into cirrhosis.

3.     Reverses Alzheimer’s Disease
It slows and helps reverse the onset of Alzheimer’s disease as sumptoms develop.  It also helps eliminate cognitive decline normally attributed to “old age.”

4.     Aids Digestion
It aids digestion, the root of good or bad health.  It has been used successfully to ease the agony and help heal inflammatory bowel disease.

5.     Prevents Cancer
Mixed with the appropriate veggies for specific cancer types, it helps fight cancer cells and prevents them from metastasizing.  It reduces carcinogenic heterocyclic amines that are formed when meat is cooked by up to 40 percent.

6.     Powerful Antioxidant
It is a potent antioxidant that helps promote heart health, memory, and boost the immune system.  It has the potential to deliver more antioxidants then even vitamins E and C.  Amazingly, it can deliver even more antioxidant power than grape seed or pine bark extracts.  It’s strong enough to scavenge the hydroxyl radical considered the most reactive oxidant.

Information taken from www.hungryforchange.tv




Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Easy healthy comfort food ...

SPICY AFRICAN STEW



Here is a great recipe from Vegetarian Times that I modified a smidge ...

6 small potatoes (I used Earthbound Organic Ruby Crescent Heirloom potatoes - got them at Good Harvest in Waukesha)
3 carrots, sliced
1 cup green beans (I used frozen since they are not in season right now)
1 tbsp coconut oil
2 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp fresh ginger root
6 green onions cut diagonally into 2 in lengths
1 bell pepper, cut into 1/2 in pieces
1 jalapeno pepper (if want less heat only use 1/2 jalapeno)
1 green cabbage wedge
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp black pepper
salt to taste

Place the potatoes in a medium saucepan with salted water to cover.  Bring to boil and cook until the potatoes are almost tender.  Add the carrots and beans; boil 5 min.  Drain and set aside.

In a skillet, heat oil and cook the garlic, ginger, green onions and peppers, stirring.  Gently mix in the potatoes, carrots and beans.  Top with the cabbage for a few min, being careful not to overcook the vegetables.

Super simple and tastes wonderful on a cold winter night.  Leftovers are even better!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Tips for Healthy Digestion during the Holidays

Digesting fats for the holidays...


Sour taste increases bile production from the liver.  Bile breaks up fat into little tiny bits that are easier to digest.  By flushing bile, sour taste assists the liver in detoxifying the blood.  So what are some sour foods we can add during the holidays?  How about creating a chutney with cranberries, apples and pineapple.  For an added bonus you can ferment these with the whey from straining plain yogurt.  I'm not a huge fan of cranberries but I love this combo.  I use pink lady apples and coconut sugar.  Here is a link to the recipe. 

Stimulate digestion...


Ginger stimulates digestion by speeding up movement of the food from the stomach to the small intestine.

Peel and slice a 2 inch piece of fresh ginger
Add to 3 cups of boiling water
Brew for 5 minutes, strain and sip the tea slowly

Alleviate digestive distress...


Lemon activates the liver to release toxins and helps to move roughage that stays behind in the intestines.

Mix half of a juice lemon with 8 oz of warm water.  Drink upon waking on an empty stomach.

Natural digestive enzymes...


Pineapples contain the digestive enzyme bromelain, and papayas contain papain.

Create juice from these fruits in either a juicer or vita-mix.  They will help to relieve gas, upset stomach, and the occasional constipation and diarrhea.

Reduce bloating...


Caffiene free herbal teas can reduce uncomfortable bloating.  These are some of my favorites...

Peppermint - dissipates gas and relieve indigestion
Chamomile - anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic
Lemon Grass - soothes digestive system and calms the nerves