Glucose Monitoring » Food

Humana Foundation awards $32K to Desert Mission Food Bank

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:48:32 +0000

For 54 years Lawrence and Naomi Patton of Sunnyslope have relied on one another. They owned a lawn service company and raised two children. About five years ago, they realized that Social Security checks weren’t going to provide for all they needed. They turned to the Desert Mission Food Bank to put food in the cupboard and a kind man at their church to help prepare their meals.”We take what we can get, whatever they can give us,” said Lawrence Patton, 78. “Every time we come into that establishment there, they ask if there’s anything we can do for us. You don’t meet friends just every day. They’ve just been real friends.”The Pattons and other seniors in the community will benefit from a $32,000 grant awarded to Desert Mission Food Bank. Desert Mission, a program of the John C. Lincoln Health Network, is one of eight entities that have been awarded grants from the Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of health-benefits company Humana Inc. Cindy Hallman, executive director of Desert Mission, said the grant will provide $20,000 to buy food for seniors in need. The remaining $12,000 is earmarked for the Desert Mission Community Health Center.”We’re seeing more and more seniors needing help with emergency food,” Hallman said. “The food bank is providing a day’s worth of food to a hungry person equivalent to every 2 1/2 minutes around the clock.”Earlier this week, Ed Mead was one of several seniors shopping at the 4th Street Market, a part of Desert Mission Food Bank. Eligible individuals can choose their own groceries from a wide selection of items, such as fresh produce, meat and staples like toilet paper and dishwasher detergent. He has been coming to Desert Mission Food Bank for six months.”Social Security doesn’t carry it all the way,” Mead said of his living expenses. “I live in a group home setting with another woman. We help each other out.”

Broccoli Is Not A Health Food At My House

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:36:05 +0000

Broccoli is said to be one of those super foods that are very healthy and good food you. It is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, iron, and potassium which are four very good reasons to eat it often. And we do like broccoli at my house. Some of our favorite foods contain broccoli: broccoli covered with cheese sauce, cream of broccoli soup, broccoli and cheese dip, broccoli cheese soup, and deep fried broccoli cheddar bites. Yes, at my house we only like broccoli if it’s swimming in cheese or cream, or has been battered and deep fried. Even when I steam broccoli in an effort to eat it more healthfully my entire family puts butter on it to make it taste better.
While I think it’s good that we are eating broccoli, I think the high fat foods we are eating with are so bad for us that we are better off skipping the broccoli and batter, cream, and cheese sauce that goes with it.
I have even tried cutting raw broccoli in small pieces and hiding it in a tossed salad. Those small pieces of broccoli stuck out like neon signs and my family picked out every last piece before eating their salad. I at least tried one bite before picking the broccoli out my salad.
What can a person do when they know there are food that are really healthy and good for them, but cannot seem to find a way to enjoy them in healthy way or at least a semi-healthy way?
After years of struggling to find a way to way to consume broccoli in a way that’s at least semi healthy I found two ways that my family loves it and that no longer leaves it swimming in a complete sea of fat.
The first way; we have it in a stir fry! The strong yet delicious flavor of stir fry sauce cut the strong taste of broccoli and makes it rather tasty. I’ve found that beef or chicken with broccoli is pretty good; but my favorite is chicken with broccoli, sugar snap peas, and water chestnuts.
The second way is a broccoli and cauliflower salad that does contain some salad dressing but it’s not an overwhelming amount. To make it you’ll need: 1 large bunch broccoli with the florets cut into bite sized pieces; one large head of cauliflower with the florets cut into bite sized pieces; 1/3 cup chopped red onion; 1 cup Miracle Whip light; 1/3 cup sugar or sugar substitute; 2 tablespoons vinegar; 2 hard boiled eggs. Optional: 4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled and 1/3 cup shredded low fat cheddar cheese.
In a large bowl combine the broccoli, cauliflower and onion (add bacon and cheese at this time if using). Set aside. In a separate small bowl, mix together the Miracle Whip light, sugar or sugar substitute, and vinegar. Pour over vegetable mixture and chill. Slice the hard boiled eggs and garnish the salad with them before serving.
Even though I listed the cheese as optional I do admit that I usually put it in the salad. I haven’t totally avoided having cheese with my broccoli but it’s a much healthier cheese than the processed cheese sauce I used to have my broccoli go swimming in.
If you aren’t a fan of broccoli yet but want to try and eat more of it because it is so healthy and good for you, try it in the salad recipe above or in a stir fry. While it may not become one of your favorite foods, it may become a food you enjoy having.

Grandma Hystad’s Recipes, Drinks, Bar Mixes, Food Information

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:29:20 +0000

CONTENTS

BAKED SALMON

ROAST BEEF

GRANDMA’S BAKED HAM AND APPLESPIZZA POTATOES

GRANDMA’SHORT BREAD COOKIESVEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINSLIGHTSIDE

VEGAN PANCAKES

TIPS

FOOD INFORMATION,

PEANUT BUTTER RECALLSBAR MIXES

DRINKS

BAKED SALMON

4- 6 OZ. SALMON FILLETS

1 LEMON

1 TABLESPOON OAT BRAN

1 ½ teaspoon dill weed

½ teaspoon thyme leaves

½ teaspoon onion powder

1 lemon

1 teaspoon paprika

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oat bran, dill weed, thyme leaves, onion powder, and paprika. Sprinkle over salmon fillets. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

YIELD; 6

BEEF ROAST 3-4 pounds, rib or sirloin. 1 teaspoon salt per pound of meat. ½ cup flour. 1 small onion. 1 cup water. Rub with salt, flour, pepper and onion. Place meat in roasting pan with fat side up. Add 1-cup water. Do not cover unless a less tender cut is used. If beef is fat, it will require no basting. Time required for roasting depends on shape of cut. For well done roasts, the average cooking time is 30 minutes per pound of meat, for medium 25 minutes per pound, and 20 for rare. ROAST AT 325

GRANDMA’S BAKED HAM AND APPLES2 large slices of ham steak.2 teaspoons……………..(10 ml)………………….prepared mustard.4 tablespoons………….(60 ml)……………………brown sugar.2 tart apples.1 ½ cups…………………………(375 ml)…………………apple juice.Place the ham in baking dish and rub with mustard. Sprinklewith 2 tablespoons (30 ml), of brown sugar. Core the appleand cut into thin slices. Cover the ham with the apple slicesand sprinkle with rest of brown sugar. Add apple juice. Bakeat 300 F, (150 C), for 30 minutes or until tender.YIELD: 4-5 servings.TIME: 40 minutes.

Pizza Potatoes1/2 cup broccoli, chopped1/4 onion, chopped1/4 cup carrots, chopped fine1 small tomato, sliced2 baked potatoes1/2 tablespoon margarine1/2 tablespoon flour1/2 cup skim milk1/4 cup cheese, shreddedCook broccoli, onions, and carrots in a small amount of water until tender and set aside. In a saucepan, melt margarine and stir in flour. Add milk slowly while stirring. Cook until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add vegetables to cheese sauce and stir. Split open potatoes. Pour equal amounts of vegetable cheese mixture over each potato. Top with sliced tomatoes.Serves 2.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached white flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

cinnamon to taste (optional)

1 cup vegan chocolate chips

1 cup organic sugar

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Mix in the chocolate chips. Make a well in the center and set bowl aside.

In a medium size bowl mix vegan sugar and oil. Add the vanilla and then add the water. Be sure to mix it well. Add the wet to the well in the dry. Spoon dough onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8-12 minutes.

Take them out and move them to wire cooling racks.

Makes almost two dozen cookies.

GRANDMA’S WHIPPED SHORT BREAD COOKIES1 POUND………(500 G)……………..BUTTER OR MARSRINE3 CUPS………..(750 ML)……………FLOUR1 CUP ……………(250 ML)…………..ICING SUGARBeat with mixer until creamy. Drop on cookie sheet and bake at 350 F, (175 C) until slightly brown.YIELD: approximately 5 dozen cookiesTIME: 1 hour (includes cooking and cleaning time)LIGHTSIDEDinner BlessingsThe housewife invited 2 couple and their children for dinner one night. As they get ready to eat, the housewife asks her son, “Would you like to say blessings”? “I don’t know what to say”, the boy replies. “Just say what you hear what your mother says”, replied the mother.The boy bowed his head and said, “Lord, why on earth did I invite two 2 couples and their kids for dinner”?

A priest dies and is in line at the Pearly Gates. Saint Peter asked the guy ahead of him his name. The guy replies, “I am Sam Horton, taxi driver from New York.” Saint Pater gives him a silken robe and golden staff and said, “Enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”Now it’s the priest‘s turn. He booms out “ I am the Right Reverend Anderson.” Saint Peter gives him a cotton robe and a wooden staff, and says to the Priest, “Enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Taken back the priest asks, “ That man was a taxi driver why does he get a silken robe and golden staff”.“Results,” Said Saint Peter. “While you preached, people slept.When the taxi driver drove, people prayed.

Vegan Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

3 tablespoons organic sugar

1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

dash of salt

3 dashes of nutmeg

1 to 1 1/4 cups soymilk

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 Ener-G Egg Replacer (found at health food stores)

Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients (flour, salt, vegan sugar, baking powder, nutmeg). Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix wet and dry ingredients, but don’t over-stir. Pour onto hot skillet, flip once. Makes 6 medium pancakes.

Note: You may also add fresh fruit such as blueberries or vegan chocolate chips for some variety!

TIPSBABY WIPES TIPSSince heading the market in the 80’s, these moistened disposable baby wipes proved to be great in and outside the home. From cleaning your hands after changing oil or a tire, clean tools, rub marks off your walls, many, many uses including shining your shoes, wipe with baby wipe and buff with a soft, dry cloth.To freshen up a smelly drain, just pour a cup of Baking Soda into it, and flush with hot water.Blocked Drains?Instead of using caustic products (be green and save money) for clearing blocked drains, throw a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a few jugs of water.FOOD INFORMATION

GABA ENRICHED RICE

Having succeeded with GABA rice – using gamma-amino butyric acid, which aids the nervous system and muscle tone – Orapin and Natta aren’t about to be so stingy with the rice-loving public.

They’re happy to show interested groups and organisations, especially small enterprises, how to germinate the brown rice, and this gives them an alternative way to earn money.

Studies have shown that germinated brown rice can lower blood pressure, improve kidney function and help us sleep better. It appears to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well.

USE FOOD THERMOMETERDon’t rely on looks alone. Bacteria can spread during ground meat. Always use a food thermometer and cook at 160 degrees Fahrenheit when cooking your hamburgers.

After about 15 years, Health Canada has come out with a new Food Guide. Included in the guide is advice for different ages and stages of your live (children, women of childbearing age, men and women over 50).

Some recommendations are;

Eat at least one dark green and one orange vegetable each day.

Vegetables, fruit with little or no added fat, sugar, salt.

Have vegetables and fruit more often then juice.

Make half your grain products whole grain each day Choose grain products that are lower in fat, sugar or salt.

Drink skim, 1%, or 2% milk each day.Select lower fat milk alternatives.

Have meat alternatives such as beans, tofu often.

Eat at least 2 Food Guide Servings of fish each week.

Select lean meat with little or no added fat or salt.

Peanut Butter Product Recalls

The outbreak of salmonella illness, which began in late summer and is ongoing, has been linked to eight deaths, including two in Virginia. In all, about 500 people in 43 states and Canada have become ill. About 22 percent were hospitalized, and about half of those affected are children.Health officials said they would work with companies supplied by Peanut Corporation of America to continually update a recall list that is available on the FDA’s Web site. The Web site details a long list of popular products that are affected, including candies, cookies, snack bars and snack mixes.Search For Peanut Butter Product RecallsInformation current as of 12 PM January 21, 2009http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

NEXT HEALTH CRISIS?

The past decade witnessed the massive off shoring of jobs to low-cost countries, decimating the U.S.A. and Canada manufacturing base. Cheap food may bring the next health crisis.Ice cream. Yogurt. Crackers and biscuits. Egg and products containing powdered eggs. Cake. Powdered and condensed milk, pet food, pie, cereal plus other food products.

You probably consumed some of these products. Did you know where they came from? You may have thought these products were produced in the USA or Canada. You would not know that some of these products came from china, and yes, China imports them into Canada and the USA.

These foods of Chinese origin have been found by authorities in the United States, Canada, Australia, to contain an industrial chemical called melamine that is used to make plastic. In recent weeks, the Chinese government has admitted that adding melamine to food – which raises protein levels, making poor-quality products look more nutritious – is common practice in China.

Melamine can cause kidney stones and kidney failure when eaten. It has already sent about 54,000 Chinese consumers to the hospital and caused the deaths of at least four infants.

Elanor Starmer is a research analyst with Food & Water Watch, a national non-profit firm working to ensure clean water and safe food. For more information, visit; www.foodandwaterwatch.org

BUY LOCAL

Where possible we should buy locally grown foods. As a rule your food is fresher, better flavor, picked within a day of your purchase. Local produce more likely has a higher nutrient content than store-bought produce that has spent time on a transport truck and warehouse.

Further farmers who sell directly to local customers receive the full value for their product, can sell cheaper, as there is less cost to processing, transportation, packing, warehouse etc.

BAR MIXES SHANGHAI COCKTAIL ¼ juice of lemon 1-teaspoon anisette 1 ½ ounce Jamaica rum ½ teaspoon grenadine Shake with ice cubes. Strain into cocktail glass.MARTINI (sweet) 1-ounce gin ½ ounce Italian vermouth 1dash orange bitters Stir with ice cubes. Strain into chilled cocktail glassNON- ALCOHOLIC DRINKSORGEAT FIZZ1 ½ ounces orgeat syrup½ ounce limejuiceClub SodaShake orgeat and lime juice with ice cubes. Strain into fizzGlass. Add ice cubes. Add soda to glass. Serve with straws.ICED COFFEEThere are just as many ways of making coffee, as there are different brands. Here are some general rules.For good results measure water and coffee. 2 tablespoons coffee to each 1 cupMake coffee just before servingMake coffee double strength and pour the hot coffee over ice in a tall glass. As the ice melts, it will dilute the coffee. Top the glass with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Broccoli Is Not A Health Food In My House

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:30:21 +0000

Broccoli is said to be one of those super foods that are very healthy and good food you. It is a good source of fiber, vitamin C, iron, and potassium which are four very good reasons to eat it often. And we do like broccoli at my house. Some of our favorite foods contain broccoli: broccoli covered with cheese sauce, cream of broccoli soup, broccoli and cheese dip, broccoli cheese soup, and deep fried broccoli cheddar bites. Yes, at my house we only like broccoli if it’s swimming in cheese or cream, or has been battered and deep fried. Even when I steam broccoli in an effort to eat it more healthfully my entire family puts butter on it to make it taste better.

While I think it’s good that we are eating broccoli, I think the high fat foods we are eating with are so bad for us that we are better off skipping the broccoli and batter, cream, and cheese sauce that goes with it.

I have even tried cutting raw broccoli in small pieces and hiding it in a tossed salad. Those small pieces of broccoli stuck out like neon signs and my family picked out every last piece before eating their salad. I at least tried one bite before picking the broccoli out my salad.

What can a person do when they know there are food that are really healthy and good for them, but cannot seem to find a way to enjoy them in healthy way or at least a semi-healthy way?

After years of struggling to find a way to way to consume broccoli in a way that’s at least semi healthy I found two ways that my family loves it and that no longer leaves it swimming in a complete sea of fat.

The first way; we have it in a stir fry! The strong yet delicious flavor of stir fry sauce cut the strong taste of broccoli and makes it rather tasty. I’ve found that beef or chicken with broccoli is pretty good; but my favorite is chicken with broccoli, sugar snap peas, and water chestnuts.

The second way is a broccoli and cauliflower salad that does contain some salad dressing but it’s not an overwhelming amount. To make it you’ll need: 1 large bunch broccoli with the florets cut into bite sized pieces; one large head of cauliflower with the florets cut into bite sized pieces; 1/3 cup chopped red onion; 1 cup Miracle Whip light; 1/3 cup sugar or sugar substitute; 2 tablespoons vinegar; 2 hard boiled eggs. Optional: 4 strips bacon cooked and crumbled and 1/3 cup shredded low fat cheddar cheese.

In a large bowl combine the broccoli, cauliflower and onion (add bacon and cheese at this time if using). Set aside. In a separate small bowl, mix together the Miracle Whip light, sugar or sugar substitute, and vinegar. Pour over vegetable mixture and chill. Slice the hard boiled eggs and garnish the salad with them before serving.

Even though I listed the cheese as optional I do admit that I usually put it in the salad. I haven’t totally avoided having cheese with my broccoli but it’s a much healthier cheese than the processed cheese sauce I used to have my broccoli go swimming in.

If you aren’t a fan of broccoli yet but want to try and eat more of it because it is so healthy and good for you, try it in the salad recipe above or in a stir fry. While it may not become one of your favorite foods, it may become a food you enjoy having.

Grandma Hystad’s Recipes, Drinks, Bar Mixes, Food Information, E Bay

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:23:28 +0000

CONTENTS

BAKED SALMON

ROAST BEEF

GRANDMA’S BAKED HAM AND APPLES

PIZZA POTATOES

GRANDMA’SHORT BREAD COOKIES

CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINs

LIGHTSIDE

VEGAN PANCAKES

TIPS

FOOD INFORMATION, PEANUT BUTTER RECALLS

BAR MIXES

DRINKS

BAKED SALMON

4- 6 OZ. SALMON FILLETS

1 LEMON

1 TABLESPOON OAT BRAN

1 ½ teaspoon dill weed

½ teaspoon thyme leaves

½ teaspoon onion powder

1 lemon

1 teaspoon paprika

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oat bran, dill weed, thyme leaves, onion powder, and paprika. Sprinkle over salmon fillets. Bake at 350 for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with lemon wedges.

YIELD; 6

BEEF ROAST 3-4 pounds, rib or sirloin. 1 teaspoon salt per pound of meat. ½ cup flour. 1 small onion. 1 cup water. Rub with salt, flour, pepper and onion. Place meat in roasting pan with fat side up. Add 1-cup water. Do not cover unless a less tender cut is used. If beef is fat, it will require no basting. Time required for roasting depends on shape of cut. For well done roasts, the average cooking time is 30 minutes per pound of meat, for medium 25 minutes per pound, and 20 for rare. ROAST AT 325

GRANDMA’S BAKED HAM AND APPLES2 large slices of ham steak.2 teaspoons……………..(10 ml)………………….prepared mustard.4 tablespoons………….(60 ml)……………………brown sugar.2 tart apples.1 ½ cups…………………………(375 ml)…………………apple juice.Place the ham in baking dish and rub with mustard. Sprinklewith 2 tablespoons (30 ml), of brown sugar. Core the appleand cut into thin slices. Cover the ham with the apple slicesand sprinkle with rest of brown sugar. Add apple juice. Bakeat 300 F, (150 C), for 30 minutes or until tender.YIELD: 4-5 servings.TIME: 40 minutes.

Pizza Potatoes1/2 cup broccoli, chopped1/4 onion, chopped1/4 cup carrots, chopped fine1 small tomato, sliced2 baked potatoes1/2 tablespoon margarine1/2 tablespoon flour1/2 cup skim milk1/4 cup cheese, shreddedCook broccoli, onions, and carrots in a small amount of water until tender and set aside. In a saucepan, melt margarine and stir in flour. Add milk slowly while stirring. Cook until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add vegetables to cheese sauce and stir. Split open potatoes. Pour equal amounts of vegetable cheese mixture over each potato. Top with sliced tomatoes.Serves 2.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups unbleached white flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

cinnamon to taste (optional)

1 cup vegan chocolate chips

1 cup organic sugar

1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup water

Directions:Preheat oven to 350.

In a large bowl mix flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Mix in the chocolate chips. Make a well in the center and set bowl aside.

In a medium size bowl mix vegan sugar and oil. Add the vanilla and then add the water. Be sure to mix it well. Add the wet to the well in the dry. Spoon dough onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8-12 minutes.

Take them out and move them to wire cooling racks.

Makes almost two dozen cookies.

GRANDMA’S WHIPPED SHORT BREAD COOKIES1 POUND………(500 G)……………..BUTTER OR MARSRINE3 CUPS………..(750 ML)……………FLOUR1 CUP ……………(250 ML)…………..ICING SUGARBeat with mixer until creamy. Drop on cookie sheet and bake at 350 F, (175 C) until slightly brown.YIELD: approximately 5 dozen cookiesTIME: 1 hour (includes cooking and cleaning time)LIGHTSIDEDinner BlessingsThe housewife invited 2 couple and their children for dinner one night. As they get ready to eat, the housewife asks her son, “Would you like to say blessings”? “I don’t know what to say”, the boy replies.

“Just say what you hear what your mother says”, replied the mother.The boy bowed his head and said, “Lord, why on earth did I invite two 2 couples and their kids for dinner”?

A priest dies and is in line at the Pearly Gates. Saint Peter asked the guy ahead of him his name. The guy replies, “I am Sam Horton, taxi driver from New York.” Saint Pater gives him a silken robe and golden staff and said, “Enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”Now it’s the priest‘s turn. He booms out “ I am the Right Reverend Anderson.” Saint Peter gives him a cotton robe and a wooden staff, and says to the Priest, “Enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Taken back the priest asks, “ That man was a taxi driver why does he get a silken robe and golden staff”.“Results,” Said Saint Peter. “While you preached, people slept.When the taxi driver drove, people prayed.

Vegan Pancakes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour

3 tablespoons organic sugar

1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

dash of salt

3 dashes of nutmeg

1 to 1 1/4 cups soymilk

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 Ener-G Egg Replacer (found at health food stores)

Directions:

Combine all dry ingredients (flour, salt, vegan sugar, baking powder, nutmeg). Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix wet and dry ingredients, but don’t over-stir. Pour onto hot skillet, flip once. Makes 6 medium pancakes.

Note: You may also add fresh fruit such as blueberries or vegan chocolate chips for some variety!

TIPSBABY WIPES TIPSSince heading the market in the 80’s, these moistened disposable baby wipes proved to be great in and outside the home. From cleaning your hands after changing oil or a tire, clean tools, rub marks off your walls, many, many uses including shining your shoes, wipe with baby wipe and buff with a soft, dry cloth.To freshen up a smelly drain, just pour a cup of Baking Soda into it, and flush with hot water.Blocked Drains?Instead of using caustic products (be green and save money) for clearing blocked drains, throw a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a few jugs of water.FOOD INFORMATION

GABA ENRICHED RICE

You can thank Associate Professor Orapin Kerdchoechuen and Assistant Professor Natta Laohakunjit of the Centre for Research and Development of Tropical and Sub-Tropical Crops at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. They researched and developed Gaba enriched rice, a healthy and disease-preventing food .

Having succeeded with GABA rice – using gamma-amino butyric acid, which aids the nervous system and muscle tone – Orapin and Natta aren’t about to be so stingy with the rice-loving public.

They’re happy to show interested groups and organisations, especially small enterprises, how to germinate the brown rice, and this gives them an alternative way to earn money.

Studies have shown that germinated brown rice can lower blood pressure, improve kidney function and help us sleep better. It appears to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well.

USE FOOD THERMOMETERDon’t rely on looks alone. Bacteria can spread during ground meat. Always use a food thermometer and cook at 160 degrees Fahrenheit when cooking your hamburgers.

After about 15 years, Health Canada has come out with a new Food Guide. Included in the guide is advice for different ages and stages of your live (children, women of childbearing age, men and women over 50).

Some recommendations are;

Eat at least one dark green and one orange vegetable each day.

Vegetables, fruit with little or no added fat, sugar, salt.

Have vegetables and fruit more often then juice.

Make half your grain products whole grain each day Choose grain products that are lower in fat, sugar or salt.

Drink skim, 1%, or 2% milk each day.

Select lower fat milk alternatives.

Have meat alternatives such as beans, tofu often.

Eat at least 2 Food Guide Servings of fish each week.

Select lean meat with little or no added fat or salt.

Peanut Butter Product Recalls

The outbreak of salmonella illness, which began in late summer and is ongoing, has been linked to eight deaths, including two in Virginia. In all, about 500 people in 43 states and Canada have become ill. About 22 percent were hospitalized, and about half of those affected are children.Health officials said they would work with companies supplied by Peanut Corporation of America to continually update a recall list that is available on the FDA’s Web site. The Web site details a long list of popular products that are affected, including candies, cookies, snack bars and snack mixes.Search For Peanut Butter Product RecallsInformation current as of 12 PM January 21, 2009http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

NEXT HEALTH CRISIS?

The past decade witnessed the massive off shoring of jobs to low-cost countries, decimating the U.S.A. and Canada manufacturing base. Cheap food may bring the next health crisis.

Ice cream. Yogurt. Crackers and biscuits. Egg and products containing powdered eggs. Cake. Powdered and condensed milk, pet food, pie, cereal plus other food products.

You probably consumed some of these products. Did you know where they came from? You may have thought these products were produced in the USA or Canada. You would not know that some of these products came from china, and yes, China imports them into Canada and the USA.

These foods of Chinese origin have been found by authorities in the United States, Canada, Australia, to contain an industrial chemical called melamine that is used to make plastic. In recent weeks, the Chinese government has admitted that adding melamine to food – which raises protein levels, making poor-quality products look more nutritious – is common practice in China. Melamine can cause kidney stones and kidney failure when eaten. It has already sent about 54,000 Chinese consumers to the hospital and caused the deaths of at least four infants.

Elanor Starmer is a research analyst with Food & Water Watch, a national non-profit firm working to ensure clean water and safe food. For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org

BUY LOCAL

Where possible we should buy locally grown foods. As a rule your food is fresher, better flavor, picked within a day of your purchase. Local produce more likely has a higher nutrient content than store-bought produce that has spent time on a transport truck and warehouse. Further farmers who sell directly to local customers receive the full value for their product, can sell cheaper, as there is less cost to processing, transportation, packing, warehouse etc.

BAR MIXES SHANGHAI COCKTAIL ¼ juice of lemon 1-teaspoon anisette 1 ½ ounce Jamaica rum ½ teaspoon grenadine Shake with ice cubes. Strain into cocktail glass.MARTINI (sweet) 1-ounce gin ½ ounce Italian vermouth 1dash orange bitters Stir with ice cubes. Strain into chilled cocktail glassNON- ALCOHOLIC DRINKSORGEAT FIZZ1 ½ ounces orgeat syrup½ ounce limejuiceClub SodaShake orgeat and lime juice with ice cubes. Strain into fizzGlass. Add ice cubes. Add soda to glass. Serve with straws.ICED COFFEEThere are just as many ways of making coffee, as there are different brands. Here are some general rules.For good results measure water and coffee. 2 tablespoons coffee to each 1 cupMake coffee just before servingMake coffee double strength and pour the hot coffee over ice in a tall glass. As the ice melts, it will dilute the coffee. Top the glass with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Nutrimeal Health Food Drinks

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:34:49 +0000

keyword:

Chocolate

Vanilla

Wild Strawberry

Nutritional Facts and Ingredients:

- Dutch Chocolate

- French Vanilla

- Wild Strawberry SOY PROTEIN

Reformulated Nutrimeal is a great-tasting, low-glycaemic nutritional drink mix that contains high-quality soy protein. Soy protein is a complete protein, containing all the essential amino acids in optimal ratios and in a highly digestible form. Each serving of Nutrimeal provides 12 grams of soy protein. SOY ISOFLAVONES

Soy isoflavones help retain calcium. Nutrimeal has guaranteed levels of naturally occurring isoflavones. NUTRIMEAL is a balanced mix of carbohydrates and proteins that can be used as a convenient, healthy snack. Nutrimeal provides 8 grams of dietary fibre per serving. Increasing your fibre intake can help maintain a healthy digestive system.BENEFITS OF SOY PHYTONUTRIENTS

Soy protein in Nutrimeal also contains numerous phytonutrients. Other important nutrients in soy include phytosterols, phenolic acids, and lecithin. LOW-GLYCAEMIC FORMULA

Avoid the frequent c

USANA Health Sciences was founded in 1992 and has successfully navigated through those critical first five years. A consistently solid financial performer, the company has shown a profit in each year of its existence. Since its inception, the USANA customer base has steadily grown to over 160,000 health-conscious, entrepreneurial-minded individuals. The company is publicly traded on NASDAQ (USNA), and currently operates in the U. S. Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands.

Nutritional Facts and Ingredients:

- Dutch Chocolate

- French Vanilla

- Wild Strawberry SOY PROTEIN

Reformulated Nutrimeal is a great-tasting, low-glycaemic nutritional drink mix that contains high-quality soy protein. Soy protein is a complete protein, containing all the essential amino acids in optimal ratios and in a highly digestible form. Each serving of Nutrimeal provides 12 grams of soy protein. SOY ISOFLAVONES

Soy isoflavones help retain calcium. Nutrimeal has guaranteed levels of naturally occurring isoflavones. NUTRIMEAL is a balanced mix of carbohydrates and proteins that can be used as a convenient, healthy snack. Nutrimeal provides 8 grams of dietary fibre per serving. Increasing your fibre intake can help maintain a healthy digestive system.BENEFITS OF SOY PHYTONUTRIENTS

Soy protein in Nutrimeal also contains numerous phytonutrients. Other important nutrients in soy include phytosterols, phenolic acids, and lecithin. LOW-GLYCAEMIC FORMULA

Avoid the frequent c

USANA Health Sciences was founded in 1992 and has successfully navigated through those critical first five years. A consistently solid financial performer, the company has shown a profit in each year of its existence. Since its inception, the USANA customer base has steadily grown to over 160,000 health-conscious, entrepreneurial-minded individuals. The company is publicly traded on NASDAQ (USNA), and currently operates in the U. S. Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands.

How to Select Commercial Pet Food – a Quick and Easy Guide

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 23:24:51 +0000

I personally do not advocate for commercially prepared dried pet food diet. From the pet food recall incident, we know that dogs today get sick from cancer, diabetes, liver and kidney diseases at a young age and most died suffering from the onset of the illness. The pet food recall exercise have just confirmed my thoughts about pet diet does contribute and play a major role in their health condition today.

Thus, we cannot ignore the fact that commercially prepared food is a cause of these recent pet health issues. Cook for your pet today instead if you can. Check out my previous article on quick and easy way to prepare home cooked meals. Alternatively, you may visit my site to sign up for regular newsletter on FREE tips on health care for dogs at www.dogcarezone.com If you are unable to provide for homemade natural diet or BARF, here are my suggestions on selecting and doing the best you can with your kibble options for your dog.

• Select from specialty shop like your local pet shop rather then buy from supermarket. This option is most convenient for working adults however, much consideration must be put into selecting premium dog foods to ensure quality food source goes into preparing the food.

• Select only brands that has meat sources listed as first two ingredients in the list. Look out for words like human-grade food source or organic. Avoid brands that list grains as their main source of protein, meat meals and by-products, dyes, artificial preservatives like BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin and propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is known to cause bloat and anemia in dogs.

• Do your research on dog food brands that you are feeding. Talk to dog owners who purchase the same brand as you and observe if their dogs are healthy and coat is looking good.

• Choose premium brands from specialty store and perform some basic research on the source of meats and food source of the brand you choose.

• Consider cooking and making a little extra fresh foods for your dog’s daily meal and let this little extra be about 30% of your dog’s diet. Very simply, just include in your dog’s kibble diet cooked meats with some pulp vegetables and eggs instead of just dried food or canned foods. This will not throw the diet out of balance and your dog will have a more palatable and healthier meals.

• Add enzymes to their meals. Cooked food or kibble diet do not contain enzymes which is responsible for breaking down the food properly. You can consider feeding aloe vera juice with the kibbles. Aloe vera juice is a natural plant full of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Take note to purchase pure aloe vera juice from health food store, not those aloe vera drinks found in supermarkets.

• Enzymes are also found in fresh fruits daily (just a little portion a day (AVOID all citrus fruits, avocados, grapes and raisins), if you feed your dog one meal a day, feed them fruits for their second meal)

• Canned Dog Food vs Home Cooked Meats

• Personally, most canned dog food usually contain some preservatives and/or salt. Though some preservatives are natural, but we have to ask ourselves. If eating canned food daily is not a good for us humans, logically, it is unhealthy for your dog as well. Canned food is a very convenient option and can be used occasionally when you are in a rush or your dog is in boarding. But on a regular basis, avoid giving your dog canned food everyday.

• If you would like to make your dog’s meals more palatable, cook a pot of minced/chopped meats with olive oil, add some minced vegetables and eggs. Freeze a week’s worth of cooked food in portions of 3 days worth. Defreeze as and when you need so you can mix with dry dog food. It will save you a lot of preparation time if you do in bulk but most importantly, you have prepared a much more healthier and wholesome meats for your dog. It is also a cheaper option compared to canned food.

For more precious health care tips for pets, visit my site and subscribe to the newsletter today! www.dogcarezone.com

Veronica Eng @ www.dogcarezone.com/blog

P.S. No amounts of the information should be duplicated in any website, ebooks or books without the author’s permission. Email to info@veronicaeng.com if you want to do so. Alternatively, include the author’s website www.dogcarezone.com as a reference site to your book or article. Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Whole Food Supplements – Learn the Health Benefits of Taking These Supplements

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:45:21 +0000

Whole food supplements come in many different varieties and forms and they can have many great health benefits. The fact that these kinds of supplements are made from natural foods and generally do not have any artificial ingredients or chemicals means that our bodies can handle them much better and thus they can provide us with the nutrients that we need.

Green drinks are a type of whole food supplement and they consist of many super foods in concentrated form. The have a dark green appearance and can come in a powder or tablet form depending on which you prefer. It is important to consume large quantities of green foods since they are alkaline so they have a neutralizing or cleansing effect to our system since our bodies generally tend to be too acidic. Consuming a green drink supplement is the best way to get the greens you need daily because it can be difficult if not impossible to consume enough high quality green foods without using some type of supplementation.

Visit any local health food store or even grocery store and you will find a variety of whole food supplements from garlic supplements to fish oils such as the omega fatty acid supplements. It is important however to do your research into the companies providing these whole food supplements to ensure that they are reputable and have a track record of success. Do not experiment with new untested companies.

Also make sure that you consult with your doctor before taking any new supplement especially if you are on medications as there may be side effects you will want to watch out for.

Aloe vera is another whole food supplement that is believed to have many great health benefits. It is generally found as a drink that you consume daily in small quantities and it is believed to help with keeping your bowel moving and regular in addition to providing you with multiple vitamins and minerals. It can be a great way to help with constipation problems.

Ginseng is believed to help in many areas of your health also such as improving your level of mental sharpness and alertness. Our digestive system handles whole foods very well and knows how to easily break it down and absorb it whereas supplements that contain many synthetic chemicals can be difficult for our digestive system to deal with and they do not get absorbed as well. Consider some sort of whole food supplementation as a regular part of your diet as it can be quite beneficial to your overall health and well being.

Organic Food Market is One That Can Only Become Bigger as the Years Progress

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:30:51 +0000

Although it took some time for organic foods per se to truly catch the attention of the general populace, the organic food market these days is a thriving industry and one that can only become bigger as the years progress and more and more people turn away from chemical enriched foods.

Of course not everyone cares about exactly what they eat or how it was produced, if they did we wouldn’t have had a need for a separate “organic food market”, would we? The fact remains however that some people do care, and although the number isn’t yet overwhelming, it is growing annually at healthy percentage.

This in turn paves the way to open up the organic food market even more. And this means that the prices of organic foods also come down, which is a heaven-sent opportunity really to garner more and more people to the side of organic foods.

Why? Simply because as the prices come down to something manageable, and the whole fad of being healthy, living healthy and eating healthy builds up slowly, more people will turn more willingly towards the organic food market than they might otherwise have done if the price tags on organic foods remained high.

This in turn will spur more farmers to go organic than otherwise would have, if there was only a small consumer base for the organic food market. And this in turn, will help to bring more organic food to the consumer.

It’s definitely a cycle and not a vicious one unless of course you’re a farmer who prefers the use of chemical pesticides over natural ones, artificial fertilizers over natural fertilizers, and who doesn’t mind that they are using genetically modified plants and seed stock as their crops.

It is also interesting to note that the organic food market doesn’t only encompass produce in the form of fruits and vegetables, but it only encompasses such things as dairy products, meats, fish, poultry, and processed foods as well.

This means that the production of organic foods is down not only to produce farmers, but also to livestock farmers and plants that generate processed foods. In fact, the spread of the organic food market doesn’t stop there. It goes on to encompass health food stores as well as grocery stores interested in selling organic foods, and specialty stores that deal only in organically grown, cultivated or managed foods.

And to truly understand how wide open the organic food market really is, all you need to is to look into pet stores and the items they are selling. Organic foods it seems, has spilled over into this area as well, and health conscious pet owners can now find organic pet foods littering the pet stores as well!

Dark Chocolate – the New Health Food

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 17:23:47 +0000

In case you haven’t heard – dark chocolates have grown in demand recently due to studies showing the incredible health benefits of chocolate consumption as well as the fact that it is a lower fat chocolate! More and more people are now including dark chocolates in their diet. So in addition to the fact that eating chocolates can give you feelings of relaxation and a natural high, dark chocolates can actually promote good health. What is it that makes dark chocolate a healthy choice? The answer lies in the ingredients of dark chocolates which include more cacao, less sugar and no milk additives. These ingredients are the reason why the expression “plain chocolate” is frequently used to refer to talk about dark chocolates. With all these health benefits attributed to dark chocolates, is there a catch that you need to be aware of?

The latest studies show that eating 1.6-ounce of dark chocolate daily have several health benefits. In fact it may begin to replace eating apples as a way to avoid getting sick! The results show that the flavonoids content of dark chocolates can lower the risks of heart diseases because it promotes blood clotting. That in turn helps increase the blood flow through the heart. Secondly, dark chocolates can help in lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It gives you feelings of greater relaxation and acts as natural anti-depressant. Other benefits include: enhanced digestion and appetite, reduction in potential cancers, higher levels of antioxidants in the body, lessening in the decline of brain activity due to age, and potential aid in the treatment of anemia and kidney stones, among several other ailments.

What makes dark chocolate healthy? Basically it is the natural components of dark chocolate which comes from the plant seeds of cacao. These components carry the same benefits you get from eating fruits and vegetables. Additionally, dark chocolates are healthy to eat is because their ingredient mix is different from the regular commercial chocolates. High quality gourmet chocolates include dark chocolates which are made with cacao and mixed with less milk, less sugar, and nougats or caramel as found in several popular chocolate bars. On top of this, the dark chocolate substance called flavonoids is believed to have more antioxidants than those found in other fruits such as strawberries. This health factor can also help lower blood pressure and balance some hormones in your body.

So with all of these good things said, is there a catch to eating dark chocolates? Not really, though there is a precaution – that too much of anything is still bad for anyone. Eating too much dark chocolate can still be fattening even though only 1/3 of its fat is bad for your health. Consuming dark chocolates by the pound will definitely increase your calorie intake and will convert into unwanted pounds if it isn’t outweighed by your amount of exercise! Better cut out or lessen other foods in your diet to make room for dark chocolates if you are not satisfied with the recommended 1.6 ounce daily intake.

Aside from all of these health benefits, eating dark chocolates is definitely an experience more pleasurable than kissing for some people! Small daily doses of dark chocolate can give you a natural high that will make you feel relaxed and warm inside. Adding this to your balanced diet and regular exercise can make you healthier and happier inside and out. So when you are reaching for some delicious gourmet chocolates, check out the dark chocolate options and feel better about your health!