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Sunday, March 22, 2015

The Most Simple Thai Beef CrockPot Recipe in the entire world

The Most Simple Thai Beef Recipe in the Entire World

Ive made some fantastic Thai recipes for the slow cooker, but got an email last week asking for a recipe for "stupid people" who dont want to chop or be in the kitchen for longer than about 12 1/2 minutes.

Dana is having her in-laws over this weekend and wanted to surprise her father-in-law with his favorite food: Thai Beef. She and her son are both gluten free, and they keep a gluten free household, but so far her in-laws dont really "get" the gluten free thing.

I feel your frustration Dana. I really do.

Here you go:

Totally Simple Thai Beef for ~~stupid~~ Everyday Regular People.

The Ingredients.

serves 4 to 6

2 pounds beef chuck roast

1 (8-ounce) bottle peanut satay sauce (Thai Kitchen is gluten free, or you can make your own with this recipe ---and if youre gluten free, you will of course use a GF soy sauce...)

1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk (full fat is best)

1 (16-ounce) package baby carrots (no chopping, Dana!)

cooked basmati rice for serving

1/4 cup chopped peanuts for garnish (optional)

The Directions.

Use a 6-quart slow cooker. Put the beef into the bottom of your cooker, and add the peanut sauce and the whole can of coconut milk.

Flip the meat over a few times to get it good and saucy. Add baby carrots (my dad says you have to rinse them off first). Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or until meat is fork-tender and pretty much falls apart. Stir well to distribute sauce, and serve over hot rice.

Garnish with a sprinkle of peanuts, if youd like.

The Verdict.

Super tasty. The kids LOVED the meat, and ate quite a few of the carrots. The carrots cooked, but didnt get super soggy since they were on top of the meat. The baby is 9-months now, and I needed to use a bit of force to cut the carrots into finger food chunks with the edge of a fork for her.

Dana, I think your father-in-law will be happy!

more takeout-fakeout yummies:

Thai Coconut Curry Soup

Thai Curry

Tofu in Peanut Sauce

Peanutbutter Pork

Mongolian beef

Vietnamese Pho

Vietnamese Roasted Chicken

Orange Chicken

Fried Rice

Chow Mein

Korean Ribs

Hot and Sour Soup

this is a compensated post. I was asked by BlogHer to help spread the word about Moms Clean Air Force.

I stopped eating tuna fish about 11 years ago, when I first became pregnant. I took my baby-prep research seriously, and followed all the "rules" the "experts" told me I should and shouldnt do.

After my first was born, I remember quizzing the pediatrician, "I can eat tuna again, right?"

I will never, ever forget her non-answer: "I dont think anyone should ever eat tuna. Its just not worth the risk since we dont know enough about it."

She was talking about mercury poisoning. Until a few days ago, I didnt know much about mercury except that it was bad. I didnt know it actually came from burning coal, and the coal emissions get in the clouds, which then get into the water supply through rain and snow. Every state in the country has issued a fish advisory of some type because of unsafe mercury contamination.

If you really think about it, everything has a high level of mercury because its in our water supply; all fruits and vegetables are watered with it, and all of the animals we eat have consumed it.

Mercury is linked to Alzheimers disease, cancer, premature birth, brain damage, premature death, and birth defects.

I cant fix this.

All I can do, and all you can do, is become educated. Be aware. Ive been asked to share the Moms Clean Air Force website with you. Please consider joining, take the time to read the literature and pass it along; change happens from the bottom up.

Ive also been asked to share this youtube video for further information.

Hug your kids tight.

thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

in other news, Ive got book giveaways over on the review page for you. Ive got my friend, Crystal Paines (the Money Saving Mom) new book, Hallie Kleckers new cookbook, The Triumph Grocery Guide, two DVDs that Elana Amsterdam sent, and 5 copies of Totally Together. Last minute gift ideas? No problem, Ive got you covered!

also, our buddies at DinnerTool wanted to share that they are feverishly working on adding new recipes. They are eager to share their Chili Cook Off recipes with you, and would like to give you a heads up that in February they will be hosting a slow cooker recipe contest.

Gluten Free Home for the Holidays is happening right! now! at Gluten Free Easily. Tune in each day for the whole month of December for a new recipe and new giveaway. The grand prize is a Vitamix!

Ham! Ive got ham! Every day this week Ive gotten an email about ham in the crockpot. Yup, it works, and it is WONDERFUL. Here are our favorites:

maple ham

honey glazed ham with thyme

have a wonderful day.

I started reading about Intermittent Fasting this week which naturally got me to find a way to make fudge.

I know.

I dont understand me, either.

Dont wait until the Holiday season to make fudge again. This is SO easy a four-year-old could do it (unless her mom shoos her out of the kitchen so nobody knows how much fudge got eaten in the name of Quality Control).

The Ingredients
serves 10-20 (or Adam and Me on date night)

3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon salted butter
cooking spray to spray down the crock
parchment paper or non-stick foil to line a 9 x 9 baking pan

The Directions

Use a 4-quart slow cooker. If you only have a 6-quart, thats okay, but it will melt faster, so keep an eye on your chocolate.
Spray the crock well with cooking spray (if you are using a Ninja, Id still spray it down).
Dump everything into the pot. Cover, and cook on high for about 1 hour, or on low for about 2 hours. Stir every 30 minutes. Once the chocolate has lost its form and can be stirred into a liquid state, spread it out into a lined 9 x 9 baking pan.
Chill in the refrigerator overnight (or at least 4 hours) before cutting into bite-sized squares.

The Verdict

Its perfect. I wondered how the consistency would be without marshmallow fluff, but the condensed milk made the same sort of smooth texture with the chocolate as I wanted.
Because the mixture doesnt need to get boiled to a candy-making boiling point, this is a great recipe for kids. If youd like to, go ahead and add chopped nuts or candy canes for a peppermint version.

Long Live Fudge!!

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Day 147.

mmmm. Doesnt that look appetizing? Its a big pot of cold swirly beef juice. Yum.

Like a bunch of things Ive done this year, Ive never before attempted to make my own beef stock. Ive made chicken--but not beef. It was Erins idea, because I wanted to make her Pho (coming tomorrow!) Homemade beef stock tastes much better than the canned stuff. It is well-worth the effort involved.

I used a combination of a recipes that Chris and Kalyn posted as a guideline, but with ingredients I had on hand. I put the broth on at 5am, and had a sick kid in the house. Running to the grocery store was not an option.

The Ingredients.

--4 lbs oxtail (leftover package from when I made oxtail stew)

--1 cup baby carrots

--1 onion

--head of romaine lettuce (supposed to be celery)

--8 cloves garlic

--1 T Italian seasoning

--1 t kosher salt

--1 t pepper

--1 T apple cider vinegar (not pictured)

--water

The Directions.

This will take two days. Prepare yourself.

I used oxtail because I already had it in the freezer. Ox tail is rather expensive to use for beef stock---I ended up cutting the meat off the bone and mixing it with barbecue sauce to have over rice for lunch. Kalyn recommends saving scraps of meat for a few months in the freezer, and Chris recommends asking your butcher for free bones, or stealing them from the neighborhood dog. Your choice.

Roast whatever meat or bones you are going to use in a high-ish sided cookie sheet in the oven at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

While the meat is roasting and releasing a bunch of flavor, wash and coarsely chop your vegetables to put in the crockpot. They do not need to look pretty.

When the meat is done, let it cool a bit, then scrape the meat and the juices into the crock. Add your spices and vinegar, and cover with enough water to fill the remainder of the crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours.

--about the vinegar-- My broth was half-way through the cooking time and I received an email from Chi who mentioned that a nutritionist recommends adding the vinegar to help suck out the flavor from the bones. So I added it then. You should add it with the spices.

Let your crockpot cool down on the counter top, and then place the removable stoneware in the refrigerator overnight.

In the morning the fat will all have floated to the top. It will be really gross.

Pick off the fat with a wooden spoon. Put a colander inside of a large pot or bowl, and pour the contents of the crockpot into the strainer. Discard the bones and vegetables.

Your stock is now ready to be used in your favorite soup or stew, and can be frozen for later use.

The Verdict.

I used this beef stock the next day for Vietnamese Pho--coming tomorrow! It worked well, and was full of flavor. But it was a lot of work, and took a lot of time. Ill probably make stock again, but not for quite some time. Touching the gelatinous fat is not something I am eager to do anytime soon.

I made pork chops last night, and packed them up for my friend, Stephanie, and family. She has a 9 and 13 year-old in the house, and is always up for some extra food. And their family eats pork---so its a win-win for me.

An hour or so after picking up these chops, Steph called to tell me that her 13-year-old had sucked the bones clean, she liked these chops so much.

yay!

This is a recipe submitted by one of my long-time Internet friends, Alison. I love Alison. Alison homeschools her nine children on a farm and is hands-down my mommy idol, and was before even contemplating having children of my own. When we ever get around to RVing the states, The Big Pink Farm is going to be one of our first stops, guaranteed.

The Ingredients.

6 pork chops
1 cup apricot jam
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges (and juice!)

The Directions.

Use a 4-6 quart crockpot. I switched Alisons recipe up a bit to reflect ingredients I had in the house. Shed approve, because thats the way she cooks. I know she wouldnt have wanted me to wake up my napper to go to the store, I just know it.

Put pork chops into your crockpot. In a small bowl, combine jam, brown sugar, and spices. Spoon over pork chops. Add the entire can of mandarin oranges evenly over the top. Cover and cook on low for about 8 hours, or on high for about 4.

Serve with rice to soak up the yummy juice.

The Verdict.

I tasted the sauce and liked it a lot. I had already packed it up and washed the crockpot before Adam got home, so he didnt get to try it. Stephanie reported back that her kids ate a ton, and her 9-year-old ate it without ketchup, which is unheard of. Apparently he even dips green beans in ketchup. Her husband thought maybe there was a tad too much cinnamon.
It really felt good to make a nice meal for friends; I could get used to this!
Thank you, Alison!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ive done some interviews in the last little while:
101 Strategy: Interview with The CrockPot Lady
The Stew, Tampa Bay Online: Its Over: A Year of CrockPotting

Foods High in Calories and Protein

If you workout in a gym and really a fitness freak then you might know the importance of protein in diet. Food high in Calories and Protein is basic necessity of a person who does some work which need extensive physical stress (for example body builders). Here we will provide a list of foods that are high in calories and protein. However these foods are good for those who need a lot of calories for their daily routine, but a normal guy or girl eat such foods without putting some efforts in his/her daily life then he/she will gain weight at a very high speed. So be cautions while eating foods high in calories and protein.

Foods High in Calories and Protein

Dairy Products High in Calories and Protein

Greek Yogurt
Cottage Cheese
Soy/Almond/Coconut Yogurt

Non Dairy Products High in Calories and Protein

Chia seeds
Beans
Lentils
Quinoa
Eggs
Artichokes
Broccoli
Avocado
Asparagus
Tofu
Peas
Spinach
Beet greens
Peanuts
Pistachios
Sesame seeds
Garbanzo beans

Non Veg Products High in Calories and Protein

Beef
Chicken
Pork

Note: Dont go for High Calorie / High Protein diet if you want to loose weight.

Diabetes Ayurvedic Treatment Trending in India

Diabetes is becoming one of the most common disease in the modern world. In this disease the blood sugar level is not controlled by our body properly as insulin hormone which regulates the blood sugar is not secreted properly. While i was researching about this disease, i found an Ayurvedic Treatment of Diabetes. Ayurvedic Treatment are well known in the world for their good results with no side effects.

I have found the following ayurvedic diabetes treatment on a website while researching on this topic. Please read the "Important Note" at the end of this article to check the genuineness of this treatment.

Ingredients for Ayurvedic Treatment of Diabetes

100g Wheat Flour
100g Food grade Gum (Gond in Hindi)
100g Barley (Jow in Hindi)
100g Black Caraway, or Black Onion Seed (Kalonji in Hindi)

How to Prepare Ayurvedic Medicine for Diabetes

Add of the above ingredients in a container.
Add 1.5 Ltr water in it and mix it.
Boil it for 10 Minutes
Keep it open till its temprature become normal.
Distill the water from it into a glass bottle.
Keep it in a fridge.

Now your Ayurvedic Diabetes Medicine is ready.

Usage

Drink one small cup of this water just after getting up in morning. It should be taken before breakfast.
For first 1 week drink it daily. During second week drink it on alternate days. After 2 weeks of course get your sugar level tested.

Never keep this water in a steel bottle (it may make the water sour). Use a glass container.

Please mention your test results in the comments section if your have tried this ayurvedic medicine. Your comments might help other people in getting rid of this disease.

Reference: http://healthnature1.blogspot.in/2013/05/diabetes.html

Important Note

A website named hoaxorfact.com says that the above treatment is a hoax. You may check its details on the following URL: http://www.hoaxorfact.com/Health/successful-treatment-for-diabetes-by-dr-tony-almeida-bombay-kidney-speciality-expert-facts.html . This site says that Dr Tony Almeida is no one. But i found him on practo.com (https://www.practo.com/mumbai/doctor/dr-tony-almeida-diabetologist) . I am still unsure if the above treatment works or not. Your comments are most welcome on this topic.

If i find some better ayurvedic treatment for diabetes then i will mention it on this page. Till that time keep visiting betterhealthfacts.com .

Day 338.

I bought a cedar board a while ago, and planned on using it in the summer, but never got around to it. This is a fun way to cook fish in the crockpot---its different, and the cedar provides a hint of smokey and woodsy flavor to the fish. My kids love fish, and each ate a bunch, which thrilled me so much we got frozen yogurt for dessert.

The Ingredients.

--1 singe-use cedar plank, cut to size
--1 lb salmon
--2 limes
--1 tsp cumin
--1 tsp salt
--1 tsp garlic powder
--1 tsp rosemary
--1 tsp onion powder
--1 T honey

The Directions.

Have your amazing husband (or other handy-type person not scared of saws) cut the cedar plank to size. He cut the board to fit the 6 quart crockpot, but it fit in the 4 quart, too.

Soak the plank in water for at least an hour.

While it is soaking, combine the dry spices in a bowl. Rub the salmon on all sides with the spice rub, and then drizzle on the

honey. Top with slices from 2 limes, and slide it all into a plastic storage bag. Refrigerate while the board is soaking---at least one hour, but overnight in the refrigerator is fine.

When the time has passed, put the wet cedar plank into the bottom of your crockpot. Put the salmon (with the lime slices) directly on the board.

If you are using a great-big-huge crockpot, put a sheet of foil over the salmon and scrunch it down to create a smaller area for the steam and heat.

Cover and cook on low for 2 hours. Check the salmon---it should flake easily with a fork. If it doesnt, cook on low for an additional 30 minutes and check again.

The Verdict.

Moist, delicious fish. Ive cooked fish in the crock numerous times now, and each and every time Im blown away at how easy it is and how the fish remains moist and flaky---without a hint of fish smell in the house.

The cedar plank was fun, and it certainly is dramatic to serve the fish that way, but if you dont have one, the fish will be just as good wrapped in a foil packet.

other crockpot fish recipes:
foil packet tilapia
fillet of sole with pesto
salmon with a sweet and spicy rub
lemon and dill salmon with spinach

Signs of a Heart Attack in Men Warning Symptoms

Heart Attack is a life threatening medical condition in which immediate medical attention is necessary. Usually our body shows some symptoms before Heart Attack. Some early signs are ignored by us. Most of us think the heart attack occurs just like shown in movies, when suddenly severe chest pain occurs and the person falls on ground. In real life heart attack signs and their severity differs from person to person. We should never take these warning symptoms of Heart attack lightly. Heart Attack symptoms of Men are different from women. This difference of symptoms is due to difference in internal structure of organs.

Signs of Hear Attack in Men

Most Common Symptoms of Hear Attack in Men

Chest pain
Chest discomfort
Chest pressure

Less Common Symptoms of Hear Attack in Men

Discomfort or pain in arms, neck, jaw, back, or stomach
Abdominal Discomfort
Shortness of breath
Lightheadedness
Sweating

Note: Usually men feel more chest pain during heart attack. Diabetic people can have heart attack without feeling chest pain.

Heart Attack symptoms can appear and disappear after few minutes. So dont take these waning symptoms lightly. These symptoms can appear again in much severe condition. Always remember that heart attach signs of two different people are not always same.

Dont wait! report in Immediately

Once you feel that the symptoms you are feeling resemble to a heart attack, dont wait any more. Call 911 or local ambulance service to get you to the hospital. Most people wait for hours before taking these steps. It can be a life threatening condition. As soon as you reach hospital doctors will give you clot dissolving medicines and damage to the heart muscles will be minimal. Else the damage will be severe and some of your heart muscles will be permanently damaged.

Health in Diagrams I — Gut Flora and Diet

---All 200 posts here---

This is the first of three posts to summarize my thoughts on diet, inflammation and disease mediated by gut flora. I decided that I needed to make my points as explicit as possible by putting them down in diagrams and making references to my other posts. By the time I finish, I will reach my 200th blog post at Cooling Inflammation.

Health in Diagrams II -- Curing Autoimmunity and Allergies

Health in Diagrams III -- Inflammation from Cell to Tissue

Everyone Leaves Out Gut Flora

I want to first explain and diagram my current understanding of the relationship between gut flora (the complex community of hundreds of different types of bacteria and fungi in the intestines) and diet. My impression is that many people have health problems based on diet, but when they try to heal their health, they fix their diet and see only limited benefits. Medicine provides only a temporary treatment using dairy probiotics. The problem is that they failed to fix their gut flora, which was also damaged by their unhealthy diet.

Health Requires a Match between Diet and Gut Flora

It is a myth that gut flora will just adjust to diet and a healthy diet leads to a healthy gut flora.

A damaged gut flora lacks necessary species of bacteria. Antibiotics, for example, can permanently delete dozens of particular bacterial species of gut flora that can only be replaced by reintroducing the missing bacteria by eating those bacteria again. The missing bacteria may be needed to digest particular foods and the result is food intolerances, commonly mistaken for food allergies. Antibiotic use frequently leads to autoimmune diseases, that are caused by deficient regulatory T cells of the immune system that develop in the lining of the intestines in response to particular gut bacteria. The natural source of gut bacteria is eating the bacteria clinging to raw or fermented vegetables.

Antibiotics and Autoimmunity

Diagram Showing the Interaction of Food, Gut Flora and the Immune System

Food is just Protein, Fat and Soluble Fiber

The human body produces enzymes to fully digest proteins, fats and one polysaccharide, starch. All other parts of plants and animals are edible (fermented by gut flora) soluble fiber polysaccharides or insoluble, undigestible fiber consisting of cellulose or lignin, which together also make up the undigested organic matter, humus, of soil. Grains are problematical for health, because their starch is readily converted to sugar, i.e. high glycemic, and their fiber is insoluble (not fermented by gut flora) and high in phytate. Phytochemicals, plant polyphenolics, are of questionable value as antioxidants and are of unexplored importance for their antimicrobial impact on gut flora.

Phytochemicals, Natural Antibiotics and Antioxidants

Polymers (Protein, Starch) are Hydrolyzed by Enzymes to Oligomers and then Monomers (Amino Acids, Glucose)

The stomach mixes protein digesting enzymes, proteases, and starch digesting amylase, with food protein and starch. Proteases convert the long chains polypeptides, polymers of protein amino acids, into shorter fragments, oligopeptides. The specific nature of the stomach proteases leaves groups of basic amino acids (lysine, arginine), heparin-binding domains, intact. These peptides, similar to the defensins of the microvilli crypts, are anti-microbial and work with residual acidity to reduce bacterial growth in the first part of the small intestines. Pancreatic enzymes then digest the peptides further and the small peptides are ultimately digested by enzymes on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells just prior to absorption. Similarly, starch is degraded to oligosaccharide amylodextrins, which are then hydrolyzed to glucose at the intestinal surface prior to absorption. Amino acids and glucose are not normally available to bacteria in the intestines.

Antimicrobial Heparin-binding Domains

Fats are Dissolved by Bile, Digested by Lipase and Absorbed

Fats are triglycerides, i.e. three fatty acids attached to the three hydroxyl groups of glycerol. Fats are hard to digest, because they form oily droplets. The droplets are dissolved in the intestines with bile, which is an acidic form of cholesterol, that is produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder. Fat in a meal triggers bile release from the gall bladder into the small intestines. The bile represents a huge reservoir of the cholesterol that is synthesized by the body and dwarfs the cholesterol content of any meal. Statins decrease body production of cholesterol, interfere with bile/fat digestion and lower lipid cholesterol levels. (Unfortunately, lowering lipid cholesterol levels has minimal impact on heart disease and the only impact of statins on cardiovascular disease is through weak anti-inflammatory side effects.) Pancreatic lipase removes two of the fatty acids from each triglyceride. The fatty acids (a.k.a. soap) and monoglyceride are absorbed by the intestinal cells and reformed into triglycerides that make their way to lymphatic lacteals and are dumped into the blood, where they circulate as chylomicrons surrounded in lipoprotein. Lipoprotein lipase binds to heparan sulfate on the surface of blood vessels and gradually removes fatty acids, until the diminished chylomicron is absorbed by the liver and exits as a VLDL. (Note that this is another connection between lipid metabolism and inflammation, since inflammation decreases heparan sulfate on cell surfaces. Heparan sulfate also mediates LDL binding to cells and amyloid stacking.)

Heparin-binding Domains

Plant Polysaccharides are Soluble Fiber and Food for Gut Flora

All that remains of food after the protein, fat and glycemic starch (glycogen) have been removed in the small intestines are plant cell wall polysaccharides, resistant starch, storage polysaccharides, e.g. inulin, plant beta-glucan, animal glycans, e.g. chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate, and insoluble fiber. The insoluble fiber passes on to be a minor contributor to the bulk of stools and the rest of the polysaccharide is potentially fermentable by gut flora into short chain fatty acids (formic, acetic, propionic, butyric acids). Some of the polysaccharides are simple repeating units of one or two sugars in long chains, but others are made of five to ten different sugars in complex branched structures. Simple repeating polysaccharides require just a few different enzymes for their initial synthesis and a few for their digestion. Thus, resistant starch can be digested by a couple of enzymes into glucose that can be used by most gut flora. Arabinogalactan, on the other hand, requires a dozen enzymes for plant synthesis and an equal number of hydrolytic enzymes to produce arabinose and galactose, which require further enzymes for metabolism in a select few of species of gut flora bacteria.

Resistant Starch as a Panacea

Food Intolerance/“Allergy” Indicates Missing Bacteria

Gut flora in general can produce several hundred different enzymes for digestion of diverse soluble fiber, but most soluble fiber polysaccharides can only be digested by certain bacteria and those bacteria increase, if the complementary fiber is present in the diet. If a fiber is absent from the diet, bacteria that specialize in digesting that polysaccharide will be eliminated. People living on diets limited to just a few types of soluble fiber can only digest those fibers and a shift in diet to other types of soluble fiber will lead to symptoms of dietary upset, such as bloating, gas production and food intolerance. Food intolerances reflect inadequate diversity in gut flora and a mismatch between bacteria and food. Food intolerances can be eliminated by repairing gut flora and the typical repair solution is eating homegrown fermented vegetables that provide the missing species of bacteria.

Paleo Gut Flora Repair

Immune Cells Develop in Response to Gut Bacteria

Most of the body’s immune cells are in the intestines. Cells of the immune system are constantly dividing in bones and the thymus gland, developing in the lining of the intestines and migrating to other tissues. Filamentous bacteria of the gut flora stimulate the development of aggressive immune cells that kill other cells that are infected with pathogens or viruses or are cancerous. Furrows perpendicular to the flow of food cultivate the growth of Clostridium species that ferment soluble fiber, e.g. resistant starch, and release butyric acid that stimulates the development of regulatory T cells, Tregs. It is the Tregs that control the aggressive immune cells and prevent attack on self (autoimmunity) or innocuous antigens (allergy). It appears that merely eating resistant starch, e.g. potato starch, with probiotics that contain butyric acid producing Clostridium bacteria may provide a cure for many autoimmune diseases.

Free the Animal: A Resistant Starch Primer for Newbies

Gut Biofilms Release Vitamins as Quorum Sensing Signals

The gut flora lines the intestines in numerous biofilm communities, which form from dozens of different species of bacteria that communicate by exchanging molecules called quorum sensing signals. These signals from the biofilms intimately attached to the lining of the intestines are vitamins. Thus, healthy gut flora are the major source of vitamins and other sources, such as fruits and vegetables are only needed, if the gut flora is damaged, e.g. by antibiotics.

Dr. Oz, Vitamins, Biofilms

Volume of Stools Reflects Gut Flora Fermenting Soluble Fiber

The bulk of bowel movements, stools, is bacteria, the compressed gut flora that accumulated in the colon while fermenting soluble fiber. We always hear that we need to eat fiber for regularity, but since insoluble fiber is only a minor contributor to stool volume and it is associated with anti-nutritive attributes, such as the binding and removal of zinc and iron by phytate, the fiber that counts for regularity is soluble fiber. Regularity results from the fermentation of soluble fiber polysaccharides producing short chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, that are the major source of energy for colon cells. And the growing bacteria in the colon provide most of the bulk of the hydrated stools. Inadequate dietary soluble fiber or damaged gut flora, dysbiosis, leave only dehydrated insoluble fiber and compact stools of constipation. Constipation can result from dehydration or excessive retention, but chronic constipation, even in the presence of adequate dietary soluble fiber, is an indication of damaged gut flora and an increased risk for diseases resulting from deficiencies of Treg production: autoimmune diseases and allergies. Constipation and associated autoimmune diseases can be cured by repairing gut flora and supplying adequate dietary soluble fiber.

Milk, Kefir and Gut Flora

Do It Dailey In Paris

Paris Travelogue—Spring 2012!

I am just back from a whirlwind trip to Paris! It was so much fun teaching master classes and workshops at my sister Kelly’s beautiful brick Dailey Method studio in the tree-lined 16^th arrondissement. I really enjoyed meeting all of her wonderful instructors and seeing their passion for the Method and their love of learning.

I took my daughter Nico (10) along; it was her first visit overseas. My mom was there too - so lots of Dailey women roaming the city! We did as much exploring as possible in our free time. I particularly love the flower markets all over the City. The way the arrangements are placed in makeshift vases is such a great idea for presenting flowers when you don’t have a vase on hand. I’m inspired to try it myself!

Of course looking at the fashion around Paris is always fun --saw a lot of oversized coats and blazers (yes, think 80’s) and majorly ripped jeans! The Marais is a funky neighborhood with lots of energy; it’s fantastic place to stay, shop and eat. One of my favorite shops is Zadig & Voltaire 44 Rue des Francs-Bourgeois 75003 Paris. They have great clothes and accessories.

We had a truly memorable meal at Ja Ja also in the Marais. I highly recommend it!

One of the things I really appreciated about Paris was actually sitting (and not in the car!) while drinking my coffee. I need to do more of that. It’s a great opportunity to sit down with a friend and linger a little. Not to mention that it skews the actual to virtual human interaction ratio in the favor of the actual, which I prefer! That brings me to my next observation, or question really. Why isn’t everyone on their devices in public the way they are here? It was refreshing!

Ah, Paris in the spring…I hope to make it a habit!

- Jill

Natural Health in 2010

Here are my top 5 natural health links for 2010 (so far). This looks like its going to be a banner year for alternative and complementary medicine news! Great to see!

Link #1 - Vitamin E News and Updates

Link # 2 - Metformin for Blood Sugar and Cardiovascular Health

Link # 3 - Super Blue Green Algae - Chlorella and Spirulina

Link # 4 - Recipe: All Natural, Low Carb Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

Link # 5 - Choline: The Little Known B-Vitamin You Should Know About

I hope you find these Healthy Fellow links to be as informative and useful as I did. My hope and wish for you all is an upcoming year filled with the best of health and much joy and love!

First Scholarship Awarded In Special Ed Program

Columbia, SC - Earlier this week, John McCormick, principal of Hidden Treasure Christian School in Greenville, and fifth grader Evan Cobb, were handed a check for $5,000. The money will allow Evan, an 11 year old struggling with learning disabilities and marked AD/HD, to attend a special independent school serving students diagnosed with intellectual, physical, emotional, developmental, and learning disabilities.

Hidden Treasure Christian School opened its doors in 1981 to educate young men and women who, for various reasons, have difficulty achieving their potential in a traditional classroom setting. Hidden Treasure receives financial and in-kind support from churches, individual and corporate donors from across the country. Small class sizes and research based personalized education plans for every student are the foundation of its approach.

Despite help from the school supporters, the cost of maintaining an exceptionally qualified staff and student to teacher ratios as low as 3-to-1 means even those families with discounted tuition have to make genuine financial sacrifices for their children to attend. In Evan’s case, even a partial school scholarship and additional tuition supplements still presented a financial challenge to keep him enrolled in the school. Thanks to the $5,000 check from Advance Carolina, his parents can send him to Hidden Treasure, the school they are certain is the right place for him.

“Thanks to Advance Carolina, this will be Evan’s second year at Hidden Treasure,” explained Dorothy Cobb, Evan’s mother. “His skills in math have jumped dramatically so that he is now working on grade level; his ability to function as part of the group in his classroom has skyrocketed,” Dorothy continued, “now he is working on accumulating enough homework points to earn an invitation to the class end-of-year trip to Charleston!”

“Advance Carolina,” is a special type of nonprofit. It serves as a scholarship provider (or “SFO”) in South Carolina’s new tax credit funded grant program for exceptional needs students. The group issues grants for students like Evan enrolling at private K-12 schools that offer special services. Private taxpayers who fund these grants and are eligible for a state-income tax credit.

“Evan struggles with a specific learning disability, issues related to processing speed, and marked AD/HD,” says Mrs. Cobb. “This school is making a significant and lasting impact in Evan’s life and in the lives of about 40 other students with special needs. This would not be happening without the generosity of donors to the school and to Advance Carolina. Our family wouldn’t be able to send Evan to Hidden Treasure without this help.”

Advance Carolina was created by the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools (SCACS). The SFO was established to provide scholarships to students at SCACS-affiliated school, as well as students enrolling at other independent, non-sectarian private schools. Directors and staffers have decades of personal experience as Christian educators and the SFO targets its support to students demonstrating the greatest ability, financial, and familial need.

Advance Carolina is one of four SFOs operating in South Carolina and one of three that has signed the “Access Opportunity Best Practices Pledge.” That voluntary commitment includes a public promise to fundraise, award and administer scholarships in the most efficient, effective, and ethical manner possible. It also holds SFO employees, contractors and volunteers to high professional standards. Details of the SFOs and schools participating in the special education scholarship program can be found online at IndependentED.org

Benefits nuts for fitness too many,Nuts are a perfect food for your health and fitness

walnut

Thats something that, as we have this nut in abundance - any self-respecting cottager grows walnut, which is also called the kings , on the site. And this nut , as in his fellow , quite a lot of protein. However, a lot of fat and - in their walnut as much as 60 percent. And what is still a lot , so its vitamins you here both A and E, and B, and P, and S. And many minerals - potassium, magnesium, iron, sodium , calcium, iodine . And phosphorus, because of which the walnuts called " food for thought ", they especially recommend eating people who are engaged in mental work .However, for heavily exercising athletes walnut - " the most it ": it strengthens the heart and liver, as well as able to stay strong nervous tension . So as soon as feeling a stressful situation , throw in the mouth a couple of walnut kernels .

Pine Nuts

But cedar on the dacha is unlikely to grow. Although it would be worth a try , because the pine cones - a source of small nuts that - nothing that small - are a real treasure trove of nutrients. Incidentally, a few distinct from all other nuts. So fat pine nuts is characterized by increased content of linoleic acid which is a precursor of arachidonic acid helpful . As well as other nuts , there are many protein, but its amino acid composition is somewhat different . What is it? High content of arginine . Why do we need arginine, there is a need to repeat ?In the pine nuts a lot of vitamins , especially the fat-soluble vitamins E and F. There is also a vitamin B complex , which normalizes the nervous system, improves blood that are beneficial for the growth of the organism. Many minerals and also - equipped copper, cobalt, manganese and zinc. And most importantly, all of this is easily digestible form . Unlike some tablets ...

Hazelnuts or filberts

Do not want or are not able to buy hazelnut ? Go into the woods and gather up his - in full accordance with its name, it grows there. On the content of nutrients hazelnut slightly different from walnut : there are a lot of protein , pro-vitamin A and B vitamins, trace elements such as potassium, calcium, iron , magnesium, copper, phosphorus . As well as walnuts , hazelnuts considered a great food for the brain. A oriental doctors believe that this nut helps to crush kidney stones. So it or not, but in your diet hazelnut plus certainly will not .

Weight Loss Tips for Women in Their 30s

It is easy for those women to put extra weight if they are in their thirties. But now weight loss tips for women in their 30s can help them to shed extra calories. It is important for them to follow these tips and maintain a healthy life style once they have reached their 30s. Such women are required to keep their metabolism revved by taking three or four meals per day. They burn their fewer calories as compared to when they were in their twenties. It is natural that their metabolism process slows down in their 30s. Hormonal changes and having children is the main reason for that. Even if they are consuming the same number of calories, their weight can increase.

Weight Loss Tips for Women in Their 30s

Women should include vegetables, fruits, whole grains and protein enriched food in their diet. The protein will decrease their craving to eat sweets. One of the Weight loss tips for women in their 30s that their calories intake should not exceed than 1500 per day. They should avoid fat and carbohydrates. It is also advised to use spices and herbs instead of salt and fatty sauces. Women in their 30s can also consult their doctor regarding calories they need to maintain their ideal weight. They can reduce their calorie number after discussing it with their doctor.

Tensions and stress can increase the hormonal activity which can trigger the appetite and cravings for sugar and carbohydrates. This can also make it difficult for women to lose their weight. Weight loss tips for women in their 30s also include deep breathing, meditation and yoga so that they can reduce their stress level. Short and brisk thirty minutes walk can also help women in their 30s to get rid of extra weight. Exercise is also important for them to keep them in a desired shape. It can help in burning the extra calories and also increases the metabolism rate. Those who have a high percentage of body fat should go for strenuous exercises. It is important to go for exercise regularly for more than an hour. Aerobic exercises are also helpful for women to lose their weight. Cardiovascular exercises which include jogging and swimming also aid women in their 30s to lose their substantial amount of weight.

Muscle resistance training can also help women in their 30s to dramatically boost their fat burning hormones and fasten their metabolism process. Weight loss tips for women in their 30s advised women to cut their alcohol usage because it can also contribute to weight increase. Replace high fat food in refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables and carbonated drinks with healthy fruit juices. Women in their 30s should also try to prepare their food at home so they can control every ingredient.

Spring Has Sprung In Raw Food Land

Spring is the season of rebirth, when the Earth awakens from her long winters nap with the promise of new life. Raw Food Land has recently seen the birth of some exciting new ventures...

Anthony Anderson, better known as RawModel, has turned his passion for cacao truffles into Blackbird Naturals: Food That Sings.

You have your choice of raw vegan or grassfed organic ingredients. Every delicious order is handmade fresh. Of course the key ingredient in each truffle is L - O - V - E. Would you expect anything less from Anthony?

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Matt and Angela Stokes-Monarch have landed in Vilacabamba, Ecuador. If youre not familiar with this pristine Valley of Longevity in South America, be sure to take a tour of their new digs HERE.

Their sweet property is already home to lush vegetation and native fruit trees, but the couples dream is to create their own edible food forest. Long inspired by the teachings in the Anastasia books, watch as Angela begins planting seeds Anastasias way.

More videos of the Stokes-Monarchs latest adventures can be found on The Raw Food World TV Show.

Lest you think thats all these two have been up to, guess again. After much anticipation, yesterday marked the grand opening of the NEW Raw Food World Store.

To celebrate, they are generously offering everyone a 13% OFF Discount Coupon for any order at the store, until Midnight PDT, Sunday, March 21st.

Been dreaming of that Hurom Slow Juicer? Now would be an opportune time to make your dream a reality. Just enter the coupon code "NewStore" when placing your order this week. For all you folks outside of the United States, youll be delighted to hear that the new store is finally set up to process international orders just as easily as domestic orders.

But wait, theres more! The shiny new site also has a cool new Q&A Forum. The area was designed to allow anyone to answer questions and "vote" on the answer that makes the most sense. Answers with the most "thumbs up" float to the top of the pile.

Check it out and get the 411 on everything from colonics to wheatgrass. Have a burning question? Sign up and ask away.

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Spring has sprung in Raw Food Land!

Oh baby, its cold outside. Didnt break 20 degrees here today. And with the wind chill factored in, well, lets not even go there.

Cutest thing I heard this week: Aimee (aka A Bitt of Raw) said it was so cold in Seattle, she turned on her self-cleaning oven to warm up the house. Thats one way for a raw foodist to make use of her oven! Usually, the only time it gets turned on is when making dog biscuits. Her poor pooches gathered round, thinking they were getting homemade treats. No such luck.

My fur kid and I went hiking in this frigid weather today. Crazy? Yes, but youll recall that I have a Siberian husky and shes over the moon when the temperature drops like this. Me, not so much. Once home, I threw another log on the fire and immediately set to work on warming my innards.

Hot Chocolate In The Raw

A raw cacao bean contains over 300 identifiable chemical compounds, making it one of the most complex food substances on Earth. Heres just a small sampling of the goodies:

Anandamide, a neurotransmitter known as "the bliss chemical"
Arginine, natures aphrodisiac
Magnesium for healthy heart function
Serotonin, anti-stress neurotransmitter
Tryptophan, anti-depressant amino acid
Phenylethylamine, controls the ability to focus attention and stay alert
Polyphenols, antioxidants

Suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or the winter blues? Start drinking your Hot Chocolate, in the raw!

4 C almond milk*
4 ounces raw cacao beans
1/2 C raw honey
1 vanilla bean, scraped
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1/4 tsp nutmeg

*Instructables: How to Milk an Almond

Blend ingredients on high speed until smooth and creamy. If you have a high-powered blender, you can continue blending until the mixture begins to heat up. Or, you can warm your hot chocolate using one of the methods I mentioned here — either using a double boiler or a mason jar submerged in hot water.

Pour into your favorite (pre-warmed) mug and enjoy! Wanna really warm your tum-tum? Make like a Mayan and sprinkle in a wee bit of cayenne pepper before serving. Fire down below!

How bout a little somethin somethin to go with your hot chocolate? You might sample my Holiday Sugar Plums or nosh on these beauties.

Thumbprint Cookies
Yields two dozen cookies

Dough:
1 medium zucchini, peeled and chopped
2 C almond meal
1/4 C raw honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp orange zest
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 C raw nuts, finely chopped

Filling:
1/2 C raspberries (thawed, frozen raspberries can be used)
1/4 C raw honey

To make the dough: In a food processor, blend zucchini until pureed. Add almond meal and pulse until mixed. Transfer into a large bowl, add the honey, vanilla, cinnamon, orange zest, salt and mix well by hand. Chill dough in freezer for 20-30 minutes.

Shape into small balls by rolling between the palms of your hands. Roll each ball in chopped nuts and place on a dehydrator tray lined with a ParaFlexx sheet. Using your thumb, make an indentation into the center of each ball.

Dehydrate at 105 degrees for about 4 hours. Remove the ParaFlexx sheet. Dehydrate another 2-3 hours. Climate, temperature and humidity all affect dehydrating time. The cookies should be crispy on the outside and still moist inside.

To make the filling: Blend together raspberries and honey to make a jam. Fill the center of each cookie as it comes out of the dehydrator.

What do you have planned for this winter weekend? Snuggle up to someone you love and stay warm!

What do you typically eat in a day?

Ive been asked this question quite a bit lately from people that are genuinely interested in a raw foods lifestyle. I began transitioning from SAD (Standard American Diet) to Raw almost six months ago, and a "typical" day has changed along the way. I thought Id give you a snapshot of how the transition has progressed.

Six Months Ago

8:00 am
cup of coffee (no sugar, lots of half & half); banana
9:30 am
cup of coffee; onion bagel with tomato, red onion and salmon cream cheese
12:30 pm
bacon cheeseburger (beef, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, mayo, ketchup); curly fries; coleslaw; Coke®
4:00 pm
Venti® iced coffee (no sugar, lots of half & half); chocolate chip cookie
6:30 pm
3 slices pizza (onion, black olives); small dinner salad w/ Italian dressing; AriZona® Green Tea w/ Honey
10:00 pm
Microwave buttered popcorn

Exercise: huh?

As you can see, pretty standard American fare. Youll note that I would never think of consuming "diet" drinks because, you know, aspartame causes cancer. Yup, thats where I was at, concerned about aspartame. You do see the irony in this, dont you?

Of course, if I was on a "diet," my typical day would change dependent upon the chosen diet of the moment – I might be counting carbs or points, flushing fat with cranberry juice, or consuming half my weight in protein.

Four Months Ago

8:00 am
16 ounce fresh green juice (kale, cucumber, apple, lemon, ginger)
9:00 am
2 bananas
10:00 am
1/2 cantaloupe
11:00 am
1/4 watermelon
12:30 pm
large salad w/ raw Caesar dressing (mixed greens, yellow bell pepper, cherry tomato, red onion, cucumber, avocado, dried cranberries, spicy sprouts); two bowls of Savory Pumpkin Harvest Soup
3:30 pm
16 ounce fresh green juice (kale, cucumber, apple, lemon, ginger)
4:30 pm
bag of organic baby carrots
6:30 pm
salad w/ balsamic dressing (baby spinach, tomato, onion); 2 ears raw corn on the cob; steamed asparagus; grilled wild Alaskan salmon

Exercise: walk one hour in morning and evening

At this point, I began the pattern of fruit till noon, raw till dinner. I stopped eating refined and processed foods. I also eliminated dairy and soy. I had to "unlearn" everything I had been taught about fresh fruits and carrots being bad because they contain sugar and will make me fat.

I ate when I was hungry. As you can see, I was eating often and consuming a lot of food. I believe that despite being obese, my body was extremely malnourished. If I got hungry in the evening or wanted something sweet, Id reach for fruit. No longer sedentary, I was starting to move my body on a daily basis.

Two Months Ago

8:30 am
32 ounce fresh green juice (collards, cucumber, celery, parsley, apple)
10:30 am
3 bananas
1:00 pm
chopped salad (green beans, corn, yellow bell pepper, carrot, grape tomato, zucchini, chive); romaine wraps w/ portobello mushroom, avocado, sprouts
4:00 pm
32 ounce fresh juice (Beetific Elixir)
6:00 pm
Asian salad w/ ginger dressing (baby romaine, baby bok choy, pear, sugar snap peas, mung bean sprouts, fresh basil and cilantro); Pad Thai w/ raw “peanut” sauce (purple cabbage, carrot, zucchini, young coconut, raw cashews)
7:00 pm
Orange sherbet (coconut, dates, stevia, fresh orange juice)

Exercise: walking an average of 5 miles a day; 30 minutes yoga daily

Still following the same formula of fruit till noon, but I was eating far less and not as often. Increased my morning green juice to a quart. Occasionally, Id have some cooked food, but only at dinner. By this time, however, the only cooked foods I could stomach were lightly steamed veggies, baked sweet potato, or grilled fish. Of course, my head would often try to tell me otherwise and I would attempt to eat a heavier cooked meal. But, my body would say "nope" and within a half hour I was in the bathroom.

Yesterday

10:00 am
32 ounce fresh green juice (kale, cucumber, celery, lemon, ginger)
11:30 am
2 pink grapefruit, 3 navel oranges
1:00 pm
salad (mixed greens, yellow bell pepper, tomato, red onion, crunchy sprouts) w/ golden elixir (lemon juice, raw honey, garlic, ginger, olive oil); spicy tomato soup (tomato, garlic, red bell pepper, cayenne pepper, avocado, lemon)
4:00 pm
32 ounce green smoothie (spinach, banana, pineapple)
6:30 pm
arame salad (arame seaweed, red bell pepper, pineapple, basil, tamari, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil); Mermaid Pasta with Veggies

Exercise: walk 6 miles; 90 minute yoga class

Same drill – start my day with fresh green juice and fruit until noon. The difference being, I typically dont want my juice until later in the morning now. Instead, Ill usually reach for a quart of water to start my day.

My meals are quick and simple to prepare. No fuss. Maybe twice a week, Ill have something cooked at dinner like a baked sweet potato. Havent had my beloved wild Alaskan salmon in quite a while. Just no desire, really. Eee gads! Am I becoming a vegan?

What do you typically eat in a day? Has it changed at all over the last year?

Diet Friendly Fast Food

Sunday, March 22, 2015

The Most Simple Thai Beef CrockPot Recipe in the entire world

mercury in food a last minute gift giveaway and the best ham s ever

How to Make Perfect Fudge in the Slow Cooker

Homemade Beef Stock in the CrockPot

Orange Apricot Pork Chops in the CrockPot

Foods High in Calories and Protein

Foods High in Calories and Protein

Dairy Products High in Calories and Protein

Non Dairy Products High in Calories and Protein

Non Veg Products High in Calories and Protein

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Diabetes Ayurvedic Treatment Trending in India

Ingredients for Ayurvedic Treatment of Diabetes

How to Prepare Ayurvedic Medicine for Diabetes

Usage

Important Note

Cedar Planked Salmon Cooked in the CrockPot

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Signs of a Heart Attack in Men Warning Symptoms

Signs of Hear Attack in Men

Most Common Symptoms of Hear Attack in Men

Less Common Symptoms of Hear Attack in Men

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Health in Diagrams I — Gut Flora and Diet

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Do It Dailey In Paris

Natural Health in 2010

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

First Scholarship Awarded In Special Ed Program

The benefits of nuts in fitness

Weight Loss Tips for Women in Their 30s

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Spring Has Sprung In Raw Food Land

Natures Prozac Hot Chocolate In The Raw

A Day In The Life