Improving Your Digestive Powers with Bitter Herbs – Sound Absurd?
Why take bitter herbs and spices? Doesn’t the body produce its own bile and digestive enzymes? Today people are subject to numerous environmental influences and dietary habits which have diminished, and in some cases, nearly destroyed the body’s ability to digest food properly. In ancient human diets bitter herbs, spices and raw foods were consumed with meals as a matter of course. Their herbal knowledge far exceeded that of our own today. Remnants of these ancient cultures can still be found in indigenous cultures today, whose levels of health also far exceed that of modern man (until, of course, they
Grilled Corn and Pumpkin Guacamole
The combination of grilled corn, avocados, and pumpkin along with the bright and tart orange and lime juice is addictively good, and I never tire of it.
The Liver
Weighing in at about 4 pounds, the liver is the largest gland of the body and the only internal organ that will regenerate itself. Of the many functions of the liver, perhaps the most important is bile secretion. Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released as needed for digestion. The necessity for bile in our liver is for digestion of fats; it breaks fat down into small globules. Bile also helps in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, and helps to assimilate calcium. Bile also helps to prevent constipation.
Braised Swiss Chard
When I was younger, my mother always told me, “Eat your beets!” I knew they were supposed to be “oh, soooo good for you,” but the flavor was so intense that I would end up staying at the table until I fell asleep. A trip to the market and my childhood dilemma was over. I found Swiss chard, a suitable alternative approved by Mom, and I loved it. Packed full of nutrients, I think it tastes out of this world.
Getting Enough Protein When Reducing Your Meat Intake
What is that “Something’s Missing” Feeling Really Telling You? The subject of “getting enough protein” is probably the most over-rated piece of misinformation put out by the American Medical Association and the FDA. Many health foodists, especially vegetarians, have mistakenly attributed that “low energy feeling” to a low protein sign. The typical response is to reach for nuts, soy products, protein shakes, meat, cheese, and the like. The subsequent digestive disturbances, fuzzy brain and even lower energy the next 1-3 days (signs of excessive protein or a food combining compromise) is not always associated to yesterday’s “high protein” intake. If
Grass Fed Beef Stock
In their simplest form, stocks are made by slowly simmering bones in pure filtered water with mirepoix (a mixture of roughly chopped aromatic vegetables), and a sachet of herbs and spices. Stocks are the foundation for making soups, stews, gravies, sauces, and reductions.
Vegetables: Fresh, Canned & Frozen
Vegetables are one of the best known sources of vitamins, nutrients and fibers. This makes them an essential part of a healthy diet. While fresh vegetables are known to contain the highest degree of nutrients, canned vegetables are also quite popular. Pros of Canned Vegetables Longevity – This is one of the biggest advantages of canned vegetables. These vegetables contain various preservatives. This helps in increasing their shelf life. Due to this, you can store them for a longer period of time. Canned vegetables can usually last for a few weeks, which is a huge advantage. Affordable – Fresh vegetables
Calabacitas
Calabacitas is Spanish for little squash. In this traditional recipe, squash is sautéed with onion and baked in a casserole. When I was living in Taos, New Mexico, I came across a little known treasure of a restaurant that served local New Mexican fare. As I am a huge fan of Hatch green chiles, this dish blew my socks off. This is great for an at-home casual meal.
Building a Strong and Balanced Endocrine System
An Unprecedented Rise In Hormonal Imbalances Thyroid imbalances, both high & low, have increased over the last several decades, along with unprecedented amounts of adrenal and pancreas imbalances, coupled with reproductive imbalances and the lesser reported imbalances of the parathyroid, thymus, pineal, and pituitary. These are your primary endocrine glands (hormone producers). There are other hormone producers in the body like the liver (a regulator of steroid hormones). Even fat cells are on the list since they produce a hormone called leptin that assists the hypothalamus to decide whether to store or burn fat – marking another area where we
Fruit Bars
These are super simple and wholesome snacks to take with you when you are on the go.
Coconut oil and Saturated Fat
Coconut oil consists almost entirely of saturated fat — about 92% — which sounds pretty bad on the surface. But not all saturated fats are created equal. As the old saying goes, “some are more equal than others.” Coconut oil actually helps you lose weight and stay healthy in ways that no other fat can match. In particular, note that: Coconut oil is good for cooking, because saturated fat is not harmed by heat — unlike unsaturated oils, as explained in What’s Wrong with Partially Hydrogenated Oils? Coconut oil does not contain the trans fats that produce insulin-resistance, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune diseases, as described
Chili Mint Green Beans with Cucumbers
This is a great meal. The chili and the mint are a great pairing with the green beans. The sweet of the mint contrasting with the heat of the cayenne paired with the crunch of the beans and the cucumbers is really something to look forward to.
