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Lifestyle Diseases

Recently obesity was officially classified as a disease.  This means it may end up eligible for medical reimbursement which theoretically will improve patient outcomes when dealing with excess weight.  A person is classified as obese when their Body Mass Index is over 30.  It has been estimated that at present that could be over 1/3 of adults in the USA.

 

Opponents of this classification point to the fact that obesity is caused by life style.  It is not an infectious disease.  Lack of exercise, diet and a host of other factors play a role in a person becoming obese.  It is a slow process that develops over many years.  Obesity is also deeply intertwined with other life style illnesses such as diabetes, cancer and stroke to name a few.

 

ISN’T THIS BASICALLY JUST CALLING WELLNESS CARE MEDICALLY NECCESARY?

 

If lifestyle modification is the presumed treatment for obesity then isn’t the medical establishment basically paying itself for providing wellness care?  Wellness care has been looked at as basically a side treatment for years for people willing to go further than standard medical treatment.  The idea of paying a doctor to talk to a patient about lifestyle modification has apparently just been made acceptable and at the very least I hope this makes it a more attractive alternative than say a bariatric surgery. 

 

However, given that the typical doctor in the USA has had virtually no training in nutrition, which is the cornerstone of any wellness program, should they be the ones handling the majority of cases in which patient’s seek assistance with what is essentially a wellness plan?  As the issue progresses in the years to come it will be increasingly important for the patient to seek a professional who has ample knowledge of what is actually required to attain wellness rather than just reading off some note cards. 

 

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Lessons From Game 7 (Congratulations Miami Heat on your 2nd Straight Title!)

After watching an amazing game 7 of the NBA Finals last night a couple things ran through my mind.  First of all was the sky high level of competition and sportsmanship, which was great to see.  Tim Duncan turned back the clock all series long and played great basketball.  And this is from a guy who is supposed to be at the end of his career.  Tony Parker is like a layup magician who can pull a hoop out of thin air.  The young and energetic Leonard really stepped up all series too.

 

On Miami’s side of the ball LeBron James was his usual awesome self, doing it all for the Heat who would never have even been in the Finals without him.  Dwane Wade battled his achy knee one more night and turned in a great game and Chris Bosh was quite but did all the small stuff right, as usual!  Mario Chalmers and Shaine Battier also contributed huge scores during the game.

 

So what can we learn about health from Game 7?  For starters, people try harder when it is their last chance to play.  The effort level goes up tremendously.  For many people starting to make life changing alterations in their eating habits, exercise patterns, etc… usually need some sort of wake up call.  Something that makes it win or go home time in their life.  This event could be a health emergency like a heart attack, a personal lose or a close call that makes them realize how fragile life is or some similar event.  I think it’s helpful to remember that in life, it may not always feel like it but it’s always Game 7.  There is no better time to put in the work.  Put in the extra effort and really try to make your life better.

 

Also, the best players show up in big games.  This is also true in life and most if not all people, deep down inside, know they can be better and when really pushed can show up big in life.  All sorts of different scenarios exist in our daily lives where we know we can be more, do better and really shine even though much of the time we choose not to.  If it’s always Game 7 in the game of life why not start showing up big?

 

The last thing is the people who put in the work get the respect (and sometimes awards!).  After watching the series you can’t help but respect what those guys do.  And you know they didn’t get where they are clicking through channels on the couch all year.  They put in the effort to get better at their game and to become the best they can be.  It doesn’t happen overnight either.  It takes building physical toughness and mental toughness as well as just experiencing enough ups and downs to be good enough to take it all in stride.  The same is true with life my friends.  Put in the work when no one is watching.  Do it day in and day out and sooner or later you will see the changes in your life.  Maybe you are even one of the fortunate few who rises to the elite level and enjoys an amazing life of happiness and great health!  Shoot for the stars.

 

 

The Balance of Healthy and Unhealthy Behaviors

They human body is wonderfully designed to adapt to different circumstances.  Many positive changes because of this adaptability are possible.  For example, if you lift weights consistently the muscles you exercise will grow stronger.  If you walk for several miles a day your cardiovascular strength improves.  If you practice mindfulness techniques to manage stress you can actually become a less stressed out person.  Chiropractic care also works because of this adaptability.  If you repetitively reintroduce proper joint motion and muscle function by adjusting areas where normal joint and muscle function has been lost the body will respond by adapting this as its normal state which results in less pain, stiffness, radiating pain and increased nervous system function.

 

This principle is a double edged sword however because it works the other way too.  If you never work out the body stores extra calories in the form of fat.  If you self-medicate via energy drinks, alcohol or drugs to manage stress soon you find yourself needing that fix to maintain the “normal” climate of your body.  Chronic poor posture inevitably puts extra stress on certain areas of the spine which then results in the build-up of calcium as the body makes up for the extra stress and bone spurs form.  

 

It is very true to think of health as a set of balanced weights with one side of the balance being healthy things we do and the other side being unhealthy.  Ideally we would weigh down the healthy side with all of our good habits.  The wonderfully healthy foods we choose to eat.  The 45 minutes of exercise we do every single day.  The total lack of stress in our lives… But reality is that often do have a more even balance or even a balance tipped in the favor of our unhealthy habits. 

 

Remember, the scales can always be balanced

 

By taking control of our health and doing things we know we should such as change how we eat and implement an exercise plan we start to balance the scales.  By doing any act of willfully improving our health we are by necessity taking away from the unhealthy side and over time the balance shifts.  It’s not an all or nothing game and shifting the scales of health in your favor may take time but its time well spent.

 

 

Rooibos Tea: A Summer Super Drink

With the warm days of summer upon us I don’t always feel like hot tea, coffee or other beverages that sound so good on a cold, rainy day or during a snow storm.  I also recently cut way back on coffee and other caffeinated drinks for a change of pace and have been drinking lots of rooibos tea lately which got me thinking maybe I should expand on the benefits of this wonderful tea. 

 

Rooibos is a South African herb that is dried and made into tea.  There 2 varieties, a green and a red one.  The red has been oxidized while the green has not.  While both are packed with nutrients the green has more because of its lack of oxidation but is also more expensive and less easy to find.

 

As I mentioned above Rooibos tea is a nutrient powerhouse. It contains high levels of

 

-iron

-calcium

-potassium

-copper

-manganese

-zinc

-magnesium

 

It is also caffeine free which can make it an attractive alternative to coffee.  Its flavor is semi-sweet with a somewhat grassy twinge.  I really like the vanilla flavored variety provided you can find an organic vanilla flavoring. Here in Eau Claire, WI that means Just Local Foods, who carry a variety of organic teas. 

 

Rooibos tea has also been purported to have many additional health benefits including

 

• Reduces heart disease by providing protection through ACE inhibition

• Contains quercetin and luteolin, which are known to have cancer fighting qualities

• Is an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic and anti-spasmodic

• Eases nervous tension, allergies and digestive problems

• Limits uric acid production, which can help gout sufferers

• Soothes asthma and eczema

• Boosts the immune system

• Cures nagging headaches

• Fights insomnia

• Strengthens bones and teeth

• Relieves severe stomach cramps

• Eases hypertension/lowers blood pressure

• Is considered to have anti-aging properties

• Prevents DNA damage

• Suppresses fasting glucose levels

• Improves glucose uptake and insulin secretions after a meal

• Aids in liver tissue regeneration

• Acts as a bronchodilator

• Has no known side-effects

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/035923_coffee_rooibos_energy.html#ixzz2Wfw95y7S

 

Rooibos is great iced so brew it up and throw it in the fridge for a few hours before enjoying it how you would normally enjoy any summer beverage!

 

Sources for this article:

http://www.naturalnews.com/Infographic-Benefits-of-Rooibos-Tea.html

http://www.naturalnews.com/035923_coffee_rooibos_energy.html

 

http://www.teavana.com/tea-info/rooibos-tea

The Chiropractic and Diet Connection

Chiropractic care is a natural form of healing that focuses on restoring the proper function of the nervous system.  This is accomplished through adjustments that restore proper joint movement and restoring proper muscle function.  When muscles are not overly tight and joints move properly pressure on the nerves exiting the spine is relieved and the body is able to heal itself without drugs or surgery.

 

Natural chiropractic care works wonders but the muscles and joints being treated are still a part of the body.  They body is subject to increased levels of inflammation which and hamper its ability heal.  Diet is the single most important aspect of reducing inflammation in the body.  The foods we choose to put in our bodies dictate whether we are increasing inflammation in our bodies or decreasing it. 

 

The less inflammation is present in the body the easier it is for the body to heal.  Thus chiropractic adjustments are more effective if the body has less inflammation.  The better the food choices you make the more benefits you will receive from your chiropractic treatments.

Beef Soup with Soup Bones

This recipe uses soup bones.  This is important because the slow cooking process releases collagen into the soup which adds some very healthy fat and helps give the soup a very delicate and delicious flavor.  This is essentially the “old school” way to make soup and you will be able to tell a difference from normal beef stew.   This nourishing soup is excellent for people with digestive troubles or who need an easy to digest meal that is still very high in nutrients.

 

1 lb beef soup bones

1 large onion

3 large carrots

16oz frozen green beans

Redmond Real Salt to taste

1 tablespoon thyme

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 bayleafs

 

Put soup bones, onion, carrot, beans and bay leafs in a slow cooker and fill with filtered water until the food is just submerged.  Cook on high for 5 hours.  Turn off heat. Remove soup bones from pot and separate bone from meat.  Remove excess fat and slice the meat into ½ inch cubes and return to pot.  Add remaining seasonings and stir well.    

Food Freedom Victory!

Follow the link to a great article talking about recent happening in Wisconsin. 

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/05/hershberger-victory-for-private-food-rights-sends-message-that-people-can-and-will-fight-overbearing-regulators/#.UakGI-tAvP0

Organic Vs. Conventional Produce

One question concerning organic produce (which I highly recommend and personally use for about 90% of my own ingredients and cooking supplies) is “is it actually better for you?”  The answer is “usually”.

The reason I say usually is that the quality of a plant used for food is based largely on the quality of the soil the plant is grown in.

 

ORGANIC FARMERS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF THEIR SOIL

 

If you want to grow certified organic produce you have to go through a process of certifying your land as free of pesticides, herbicides, etc… for several years.  Most actually go through the trouble to fortify the soil with organic material (compost) to enrich its micronutrient content so that when they go to grow that carrot it has more nutrients in it because the soil it grew in had more nutrients available.

 

How rich a soil is in nutrients determines how rich in nutrients a plant is.  Makes sense right?  Give a homebuilder building a house the best materials, good tools and ample time and you will get a nice place to live right?  Give a plant all the nutrients it needs, no toxic chemicals and a nice little plot of soil to grow in and you get nutrient dense food.

 

This is exactly why many studies have indicated that organic food typically has much higher nutrient levels than normal produce.   Actually it’s funny calling todays methods of farming normal because before they were considered normal organic farming was the only real option, only back then it was just called farming.  Anyways, think of organic produce as produce that has just had better access to the resources it needs to grow properly.  It all starts in the soil and good clean, nutrient dense soil makes good clean nutrient dense food!

Garlic Brussels Sprouts with Hummus

2 tablespoon extra-virgin coconut oil

3 cups frozen petite Brussels sprouts

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 small onion chopped

½ cup prepared hummus

1 tablespoon oregano

2 teaspoons REAL salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

 

In a large pain heat oil to medium and add Brussels sprouts.  Stir-fry until warm, about 5 minutes.  Add garlic and onion and continue stir frying until onion is semi-crisp.  Stir in hummus and seasonings and cook an additional 1-2 minutes to heat hummus.

Just Local Foods... An Excellent Resource for Locally Raised Meats

Now that the sun has remembered how to shine again, and the glaciers have receded from our garden beds, some of you might also be ready to transfer your meat from the crock-pot to the grill.  Burgers, brats, beer-can chicken anyone?

 

One of the pleasures of the Chippewa Valley for me is the ever-ready supply of sustainably-raised meat.  As the meat buyer for Just Local Food Cooperative, it is a privilege to work with so many thoughtful, intelligent, and passionate farmers--people who understand their land and resources, who allow their livestock to eat and be for the sake of the water, the soil, the herds and muddies, and for all of us omnivores who enjoy real food and food culture.  Knowing our producers, processors, and distributors, provides me peace of mind to make my own educated decisions and to select the finest (and sometimes most eccentric and traditional) cuts for our ever-expanding customer base--customers who want to make their own healthy and delicious decisions for themselves and their loved ones.

 

With this in mind, you can feel confident that the meat you buy at Just Local Food is of excellent quality.  No antibiotics or synthetic hormones, just access to pasture, sunshine, and necessary forages all the year round.  You name the cut, we probably have it in stock (although sometimes it is buried or I set it in a special place because I know who wants it) or, if we don't, just ask for Nik and I'll get you what you need when the next animal comes in.  Pastured chicken and turkey, grass-fed beef, buffalo, lamb, piles of heirloom pastured pork, elk, rabbit, wild sockeye, scallops, cod, trout, Lake Superior whitefish...fresh, smoked, or fermented--you name it, we sell it

 

Stop by today and ask about nose-to-tail eating in the Chippewa Valley.

 

 Just Local Food Cooperative

 

1117 South Farwell

Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701

 

715.552.3366

 

Better yet, stop in and then go home with these delicious grilling recipes:

 

Marinated Beef (Buffalo, Lamb, or Venison) Steak

 

For your more economical (but more flavorful) steak selections, procure a sirloin, chuck-eye, flank, or skirt steak.  My personal favorite is the skirt (or diaphragm muscle) done up in a coconut-lime satay.

 

Marinade ingredients:

 

1 lime

 

¼ cup coconut milk

 

4 tablespoons soy sauce

 

3 cloves minced garlic

 

1 tablespoon grated ginger

 

1 teaspoon grated turmeric

 

Pepper (to taste)

 

Rinse meat and place in a glass dish.  Mix all marinade ingredients.  Pour marinade over meat.  Let rest two to three days in the refrigerator, turning daily.  One hour before cooking, remove dish from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature.  Sear meat in a greased cast-iron pan, or grill over an open fire.  Serve rare on a bed of your favorite salad.

 

Serbian Bacon Burgers

 

Ingredients:

 

1 pound ground beef

 

1 pound ground pork

 

3-4 strips uncooked bacon (coarsely chopped)

 

Your favorite aged cheese (coarsely chopped)

 

4-6 cloves garlic (minced)

 

Hungarian paprika (to taste)

 

Salt (to taste)

 

Pepper (to taste)

 

Mix meat, cheese, and garlic in a bowl, form patties and season liberally.  Sear in a greased cast-iron pan or grill over an open fire.  Serve with cabbage salad, pickled peppers, and beer.

Leave the RDA of Most Vitamins and Minerals Far Behind

All nutrients have been assigned an RDA, or recommended daily amount, by the government.  Many heavily processed foods will advertise that they contain 100% the amount of this vitamin or that mineral, which is really pretty silly since it comes from fortified nutrients which have much less bioavailability in the body. What most people don’t know is that the RDA is not a hard and fast number validated by science.  It is essentially an educated guess on the amount of a nutrient the body needs to avoid clear and obvious disease.

 

ENOUGH TO PREVENT OBVIOUS DISEASE

 

That does not mean anything even close top optimal levels of nutrients.  To compound matters, the average American’s diet is horribly nutrient deficient due to mass consumption of processed foods, fast foods and so called “health foods” like protein bars.  Optimal amounts of nutrients are often several times higher than the RDA.  Similar to the RDA the optimal range of a given nutrient is not the same from person to person but as a whole people are much healthier when they have higher levels of nutrients obtained from real foods.

 

EATING FOR CALORIES VS. EATING FOR NUTRIENTS

 

Much of the focus on diet is on calories in foods.  While this is certainly useful in some cases emphasis on eating for nutrient value tends to result in much higher consumption of healthy foods.  For example, if I were trying to eat a meal that is 800 calories I could accomplish this in one fell swoop by eating pretty much any fast food sandwich.  That 800 calories would consist of mostly refined carbohydrate (bun), sodium and numerous other preservatives (meat and bun), and fat from the meat and left over from the cooking process.  There may be some nutrient value in any fresh veggies on the sandwich but overall the amounts will be fairly insignificant.  With that same 800 calories I could also consume a mixed green salad with extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, ground black pepper, oregano and some chopped free range and nitrate free turkey deli meat.  Add in a hand full of mixed raw nuts and an apple and you are looking at about the same amount of calories but look at the difference in nutrient value.  You don’t need a doctor to tell you the second meal is a much better one for you in terms of eating for nutrient value. 

 

Getting significantly more nutrients out of your diet is not hard but it does require you being to turn away from packaged and fast foods. It also requires eating fresh food, especially greens, other veggies (not potatoes), fruits and raw nuts.  Good, high quality meats are a great protein source.  Free range, grass fed animals provide the most nutrient dense meat.  Shifting your diet towards this style of eating will significantly raise the amount of health promoting nutrients entering your body and leave the RDA’s for most nutrients far behind.

 

Anti-Depressants Capable of Causing Instant Death?

New research in the British Medical Journal has added a new anti-depressant drug to a list of anti-depressants known to cause sudden death in patients.  The research indicates that it causes an increase in the length of the Q-T interval of the heart beat. 

The Drugs Change The Heart Rhythm!

Possibly the worst part of all this is that so far there are no indicators of being susceptible to this phenomenon.  An apparently healthy person could increase their dosage of any of these drugs and just drop over dead.  This is scary and the list of drugs is growing.  For more on the list of drugs that can cause sudden death go here...

http://www.naturalnews.com/040433_antidepressants_sudden_death_drug_list.html


Larger The Dose, Larger The Risk

It appears that the larger the dose the more risk a patient assumes.  It is also apparent that a sudden increase in dosage can also trigger the change in heart rhythm.  It should be noted that although it does not happen in a large number of people, it happens enough that people should know it is a possible side effect of a drug they may be taking.

Ouch!! Zing Subway!!

Just found this article and it validates what I have been yapping about for the last 2 years that fast food is fast food.  None of its good for you and Jared and Subway are pulling your leg (and the dollars from your wallet) by telling you Subway is any better than any other restaurant.

Click this link  http://news.yahoo.com/breaking-subway-just-unhealthy-mcdonald-185710202.html  to read all about it.  Yes its one study but you know the numbers are the same across the board at these restaurants.  The think I found most sickening was the "health halo" comment.  Basically that means if you think you are at a healthy restaurant you will pay less attention to what you are ordering and end up eating more bad stuff. 

The simple fix?  Don't eat fast food.

Maca Smoothie

Maca Smoothie

1 cup blueberries

¼ cup cranberries

2 tablespoon chia seeds, soaked

1 tablespoon red maca powder

1 tablespoon spirulina powder

½ cup chocolate almond milk

1 cup filtered water

 

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth.

 

*for more healthy, tasty recipes please join the e-updates list in the box to the right of this post.

Hamburger Skillet with Leeks

This meal served me well last night when, in a time crunch, I needed something good and I needed it quick!  I suggest cutting the veggies first so the garlic and onion get some air exposure and then adding the meat to the pan and browning it completely before adding the veggies for a short while before serving.  Enjoy!

 

1lb ground beef or venison

1 large onion, chopped

1 large leek, chopped

1 large garlic clove, chopped

1 tablespoon turmeric powder

1 table spoon REAL salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

3 tablespoons butter or coconut oil

 

In a large pan add butter or oil and heat to medium.  Add meat and cook until no pink remains.  Add veggies and cook, stirring continuously, for 3-4 minutes.  Veggies should still be crisp when done cooking.  Add turmeric, salt and pepper and stir to blend.  Serve over a mixed green salad.

 

 

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Why Would a Chiropractor Care About Cooking?

A common first reaction I get to the cooking chiropractor is curiosity over why a chiropractor would care about cooking.  I can’t tell you how many people have looked at a flyer or recipe card and said something like “I never really thought about a doctor teaching people how to cook.”  Honestly it makes perfect sense. Let me explain.

 

Chiropractic care focuses primarily on restoring proper function of the joints and muscles of the spine.  When muscles are injured they get tight and sore.  This prevents the joints that the muscles are attached to through tendons from moving normally which leads to pain and stiffness.  If normal movement of the joints is impeded enough then pressure on the nerves exiting the spine occurs which can lead to weakness, numbness, tingling and burning pain as well as shooting pain in the legs or arms.

 

Part of injury to any area of the body is inflammation.  When the muscles in the spine are inflamed due to injury they take time to heal and your chiropractic treatment plan is designed to cover this time of healing.  However, what if your body is unable to heal properly because of underlying inflammation caused by your diet?  In that case it is unlikely your body will be able to fully recover until you fix the problems in your diet no matter how often you are adjusted.

 

I have seen people who cut wheat out of their diet see arthritis and other chronic back pain suddenly respond much better to chiropractic care that before had only helped them feel somewhat better when they came in consistently over a period of weeks.  Diet influences overall inflammation levels of the body and inflammation levels of the body determine how effective our natural healing process works.

 

Chiropractic care is great for taking care of headaches, backaches, numbness, tingling and other injuries.  Changing your diet can also help dramatically reduce headaches, general achiness, joint problems and much more.  Imagine how the two combined could influence your health.

Guest Blogger Sara Hefty from Project Lux

You Have To Start Somewhere

Have you ever experienced an all or nothing attitude? You know, where you're going to be all out healthy or go completely in the other direction? Truth be told, I'm thinking we've all be there at one point in our lives or another.

And you know what?

It's not effective.

It's one of the reasons that 98% of diets FAIL. For every restriction there's an equal binge. And in today's vernacular, diet equals restriction. So, what to do?

Start somewhere. ANYWHERE. And begin with 100% intention to permanently change your relationship with nourishment and self-care. Make it a lifestyle change. A pleasurable, enjoyable, fun-filled adventure in lifestyle change.

The great thing about approaching healthy living in this way is that you get to let go of judgement and deprivation and get curious.

So, go all in on the intention to permanently change your relationship with nourishment. And then, take it step by step. Starting anywhere! I love to have my clients start at the easiest and most pleasurable place for themselves. Make it fun!

Looking for a few ideas to get you started?

Great!

How about on the physical side... rocking four 20-minute cardio sessions a week (walking outside, dancing to Pandora, biking, etc.), stretching for three minutes a day, strength training twice a week?

On the food side... how about mastering adding in one fruit and one veggie into your daily life? Figure out how to do this, what you're going to buy, when you're going to buy it, where you'll store it at home, which ones you'll bring to work with you. Master that and then up level to two fruits and veggies a day.

Consider your venture into being a healthier person a living promise to yourself to constantly move towards truer confidence, happiness and playfulness. Be 100% IN with permanently changing your relationship with nourishment and self-care for a trial period of time (a day, a week, a month). Live in a story where nourishment and self-care are the highest order of respect, total truth and integrity are demanded, and shaping your reality is your personal responsibility. And know that everyone is here to support your pursuit of confidence, happiness and playfulness.

The point is to start. Let yourself be the novice, the beginner. (Yes, you're absolutely extraordinary!) So be an absolutely extraordinary beginner, step into your coachable self, and pick a place to start and rock EVERY SINGLE STEP you take with the highest of integrity and truth.

It's one of the bravest and most powerful things you'll ever do.

xoxo,

Sara Hefty

PROJECT LUX

Stress Relief and Transformational Health Coaching Expert

Eating to Neutralize your Body pH

Yesterday I spent a few hours puttzing around planting my little summer garden.  I like to plant a variety of greens so I planted kale, spinach, collard greens and a little chard.  I also planted two rows each of beets and carrots.  Still haven’t planted the beans yet but the fence has been cleared and is ready to help those yummy green beans climb to new heights this summer! 

 

pH

Before I planted everything I tested the pH of my soil.  It was a very neutral 7.0.  You see, the pH (how acidic or alkaline) the soil is affects how well the plants absorb the nutrients in the soil.  If the soil is too acidic (lower number) or too alkaline (higher number) the plants just don’t do so well no matter the weather or what nutrients are in the soil.  pH is a measured on a scale that runs from 1-14 and many plants need a neutral (pH 7) or just slightly alkaline pH to grow properly.  The Eau Claire area where I live tends to have acidic soil and if my soil had tested out to have a lower pH I would have needed to apply lime to help raise the pH and thus increase the alkalinity of the soil.  This process is effective but does take several weeks to make a noticeable change in the soil pH.

 

Our Human Bodies

Much like a plant our bodies absorb nutrients best if we are in the proper pH.  This typically means neutral to slightly alkaline.  The problem?  Most people in the US are ACIDIC.  The reason for this is basically what we put into our bodies (our soil if you will).  Everything we put in our bodies serves to either acidify or alkalize our body pH.  As a general rule of thumb plant foods are alkalizing and animal foods are acidifying.  Grains also usually acidy so for simplicities sake when I say plant foods I mean mostly fruits, veggies and raw nuts.  Some foods which are acidic in nature form alkaline by products.  Two perfect examples are lemons and raw apple cider vinegar.  When we can’t absorb nutrients properly how do you think this affects our health?  Right, it makes it worse.  This is part of the reason why exercise and other healthy lifestyle changes we make don’t always have the impact on our lives we had hoped for.  First we have to normalize our chemistry.  The way we do that is with our food choices.

 

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Oh Yes, Flax Seeds. What’s So Good about Them Again?

Anyone who has been to one of my cooking classes (What?! You haven’t been to one yet?) knows that I hold organic golden flax seed in high regard.  You see, flax is one of nature’s best creations to both nourish and heal the human body. 

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Flax seeds are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids which are extremely important for reducing systemic inflammation and for the proper development of the brain and nervous system.  If the term omega 3 fatty acids sound familiar that’s because the commonly recommended nutritional supplement fish oil is also a source.  Flax seed omega 3 fatty acids are easily digested and use by the body.  Be sure to grind them right before using them in a smoothie adding to yogurt or doing whatever else you are doing with them because otherwise you will not be able to access the nutrients in the seed. 

--

Lignans

This is a powerful phytonutrient found in flax.  It is highly responsible for flaxes ability to modulate estrogen and has been shown to reduce cancer in women (see link below).  Flax seed is the most potent dietary source of lignans which are easily accessible for digestion once the seeds around ground.  Golden flax seeds tend to have higher levels of lignans than brown flax, which is why I always recommend going with golden flax.

 

To read more about flax being used as a cancer intervention:

 

http://www.naturalnews.com/040161_flaxseed_breast_cancer_superfoods.html

 

About This Blog

Hello everyone who reads this blog or to those of you just checking in.  Thanks for reading and for leaving me suggestions and/or comments either here on the blog or at the email  cookingchiropractor@gmail.com. I love getting feedback and try to keep up with any questions or other inquires. I have had several people ask if there are more recipes to be had.  The short answer is YES!! There are plenty of recipes floating around.  I do post on other subjects to try and give people an inside eye on what is going on in health as well as nutrition with this blog as well as post recipes.  If you want to get more recipes please use the tab on the side bar to sign up for the e-updates.  I send out a new recipe about every 5-9 days and there are updates as to the whens and where's of the cooking classes where you can sample these tasty dishes :)  At the typical cooking class you will come away with at least 2 new recipes.  Anyways, the low down is

E-Updates = More recipes

Just 1 Freakin' Can of Soda Can Up Your Risk of Getting Diabets 22%!!!!!!

It's no secret soda is BAD for you. The past 2 months alone I have seen articles on people losing all their teeth after several years of soda chugging, an article about all the nasty artificial stuff in a can of the sweet stuff and information on how pop makes you fat. 

Its also common knowledge that you can use soda to clean rust off your car battery connections.  Gee, I can't wait for that can of Coke now that I know it can eat through oxidized metal better than some commercial products can.  That has to be good for my body right?

Well, to add about the billionth cherry on top of the "Don't Drink Pop" sundae  a new study done in Europe which consisted of over 350,000 participants now suggest that 1 can of pop a day can increase the odds you will get diabetes by a whopping, and I mean WHOPPING 22%!!  That's one can people. Think about the effects of 2 cans, 3 cans, 12 cans... pretty scary. 

Why Soda?

The answer has to do with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  It is a sweetener that contains some compounds that are rapidly converted to fat in the liver which increases overall inflammation in the body.  HFCS also spikes your blood sugar to high heaven resulting in a decrease in the bodies ability to process sugar in the long run which leads to diabetes.  Having a can of soda is a lot like sneaking up on someone and sucker punching them in the head, only in this case you are sucker punching both your liver and pancreas (which produces insulin).  We know its bad. Its not secret and its destroying your health.  Don' sucker punch your liver, and don't sucker punch your pancreas! 

Chicken Salad Stir-Fry

Chicken Stir-fry Salad

1lb of chicken tenders or breast meat, cubed

2 tablespoons raw organic coconut oil

1 medium carrot, thinly sliced

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 cup broccoli florets

3-4 medium sized shitake mushrooms, chopped

4 cups mixed greens

1 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

 

In a medium pan heat coconut oil to medium heat and add carrot, cook for 4 minutes.  Add chicken and cook until no longer pink add remaining ingredients and cook, stirring frequently for 7 minutes.  Remove from heat. Check to make sure chicken is done by cutting open a piece.  Chicken is done when no pink remains. 

 

In a medium bowl combine greens, apple cider vinegar and olive oil and toss to coat. Then put salad mixture into individual bowls and top with chicken and veggie mixture.  Sea salt can be added if desired.

 

An Enlightening Conversation

I stumbled upon this article today when searching for information about the effects of high heat cooking on proteins in food.  While it does not answer that particular question the discussion between Dr. Mercola and Dr. Cousens is remarkable because they have a sincere dialogue on health and where people should get their nutrients.  To me the best thing to come of this is the idea that there is no one perfect diet for everyone!  We are all obligated to seek out the diet that works best for us.  The key to health is to listen to the body and to try via experimentation to find out what works best for you.  One of my goals as the Cooking Chiropractor is to introduce people to new foods and methods of preparing them.  I talk about mixing cooked foods and raw foods, quality of foods and the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle.  This article does a great job of crystalizing that line of thinking. Great article from two very smart and sincere healers.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/16/merits-and-flaws-of-a-wholly-vegetarian-or-vegan-diet.aspx

Yikes!!

Just read this article which was published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association)... it's pretty sad that hospitals actually make more $$ if someone develops a post-surgical complication.  Like $35,000 more per patient.  Also, not earth shattering news if you follow your statistics closely but the paper points out that if Medical Care were a disease it would be the leading cause of death in the USA.  

Article can be read at: http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/study-hospitals-profit-handsomely-surgical-errors

Dirty Dozen/Clean 15

Each year for the past 3 years a list of the foods most heavily contaminated with pesticides comes out (there is also a clean list!).  This years list was just released and following the link below will show you both the clean and dirty list.  However the real issue here is pesticide contamination.  If we know foods are being doused in toxic chemicals (i.e. 1 grape sample tested this year had traces of 15 different pesticides!!) why don't we do more about it?  Many of these pesticides found on the produce tested are known to cause a host of problems from hormone and regulatory issues to weight gain to increasing the odds you will get cancer. 

This list underscores the importance of clean food.  Finding locally produced, pesticide free, or at least very low pesticide residues is so important for good health.  Farmers markets are often a good place to start and with spring eventually arriving here in Wisconsin soon there will be plenty of fresh produce.  Organic food, while somewhat more expensive is also a good choice especially for the "dirty dozen" food items. 

For more info follow...

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/new--dirty-dozen--list-of-pesticide-laden-produce-is-out-215350190.html

How Much Platic Are You Eating (From Yahoo.com)

This is an interesting article and just goes to show fresh, whole foods are usually a better choice than most anything that comes in a plastic package.  Although this article does not touch on it bisphenol-A, another common plastic ingredient is another concern, especially with canned products.  More on that later... for now read this article for the low down on plastics in food.

http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/much-plastic-eating-193000877.html

Coconut Oil as as Skin Moisturizer and Other Amazing Health Benefits

I recently discovered how awesome coconut oil is a natural skin moisturizer.  The oil is a solid at room temperature but when applied to the skin it begins to melt and absorb into the skin.  Along with its moisturizing abilities the oil also has an abundance of uses for enhancing health.  The link below goes to a great article detailing the wonderful benefits this oil has on human health.

http://www.naturalnews.com/036156_Coconut_oil_superfood_healing.html

Coconut Oil to the Rescue!!

Anyone who has been to my cooking classes knows I like organic extra virgin coconut oil.  Check out this recent article from Natural News on the amazing benefits of this healthy fat!

http://www.naturalnews.com/039811_coconut_Alzheimers_dementia.html

Olive Oil vs. Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative condition that takes away a person’s ability to think and process information.  So far mainstream medicine has no drugs or any real prevention strategies for this disease which continues to be a growing concern, especially in elderly populations. 

 

I often speak about reducing the overall inflammation in the body.  One way to reduce inflammation is to consume more anti-inflammatory fats.  Foods such as flax seeds, walnuts and extra virgin coconut oil are great choices.  So is extra virgin olive oil.  The benefits found in extra virgin oils are derived from not only the fats found in the oils but also a host of other nutrients that have not been destroyed like they have been in oils that have been processed.  The article link below leads to a great article on olive oil and its possible use in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.  Very interesting stuff…

 

http://www.naturalnews.com/039730_olive_oil_Alzheimers_disease_research.html

Link to a Good Article on Spices

Check out this link... it goes to a Yahoo! page that is actually very good!  If you are looking for some ways to use some new cooking spices or are curious as to why these seasonings can be good for your health check it out!

http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/think-spice-8-spices-health-benefits-150700170.html

Chicken Mushroom Gravy

I invented this recipe over the weekend.  I used some left over roast chicken and chicken broth, some mushrooms, sauerkraut, a few strips of nitrate-free bacon, some onion, a little butter and some coconut flour.  I used it as a topping on some red quinoa but you could put this over rice, over lentils or just eat it like a soup!

 

Chicken Mushroom Gravy

1 cup chopped cooked chicken

1 medium onion, chopped finely
1 cup sliced mushrooms
½ cup sauerkraut (must be raw and non-pasteurized)
3 strips nitrate free bacon, cooked, crispy, crumbled
2 cups chicken or veggie stock
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons coconut flour

 n a large pan over medium heat melt butter and sauté onion for 3 minutes.  Add chicken and mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes.  Add chicken stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, immediately add coconut flour and stir constantly until mixture thickens.  Add sauerkraut and bacon and stir to blend.  Remove from heat.  Add salt if desired.

  

Anatomy of a Poison

Many people who have come to my recent cooking classes have heard me recommend eliminating wheat from the diet.  A leading expert on the subject, Dr. William Davis, who wrote the book Wheat Belly, recently posted a fascinating discussion on the wheat protein gliadin.  He talks about how certain chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, have been found to have toxic affects in different areas of the body.  Follow this link for the whole post...

http://www.wheatbellyblog.com/

Ear Infections and Antibiotics

I provided a link to a great article explaining why antibiotics are rarely the best course of action for an ear infection.  This is one of the most clear, yet concise descriptions of the issue I have read. Enjoy!

http://www.naturalnews.com/039439_antibiotics_ear_infections_children.html

Processed Meat Linked to Increased Mortality

Over the weekend I had a chance to read an article about new research that has DIRECTLY connected processed meat consumption with an increased change of mortality (dying).  Now most of know that bacon isn’t the healthiest food on the planet but did you some lunch meats, hotdogs, hams, and many other meat products are  processed in some way and have had preservatives and other chemicals added that basically make eating these products deadly.  Sure it won’t kill you while you are eating it at breakfast today, but what about that same food eaten numerous times over your life time?  What about the other processed meats you eat?  Pepperoni pizza anyone?  How about smoked sausage links at the holidays?  Suffice it to say that based on the results of this large study it is entirely reasonable to remove all processed meats from the diet as much as possible.  The following link goes to an article that nicely summarizes the take away points of the research.

 

 

 http://www.naturalnews.com/039437_processed_meat_death_risk_cancer.html

Microwaves Destroying Nutrients in Food

In response to a post below...  microwaves ovens heat food by vibrating the water molecules within the foods.  This causes the vitamins and other phytonutrients to be basically destroyed.  Phytonutrients are a a somewhat newer class of micronutrient that are found in small amounts in plant foods.  This article, from Natural News, was just published today and gives an excellent description of the damage microwave ovens actually do to foods.

http://www.naturalnews.com/039404_microwave_ovens_vitamins_nutrients.html

Enchalida Casserole

A patient recently gave me this recipe. It is the ultimate quick gluten free meal!  If you have the time I suggest cooking the meat and onions in a pan rather than microwaving but the result is always a tasty, filling meal!

Enchalida Casserole

 

1-lb. hamburger

1/4 cup chopped onions

8-0z. can tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

packet of gluetin free taco seasoning

4 corn tortillas

shredded cheddar cheese

chopped tomatoes

sour cream

Microwave meat and onions on high 4-6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, drain. Add tomato sauce, water, taco sauce. Microwave 8 minutes, stir every 4 minutes. Place a tortilla in microwave casserole the same size as the tortille. Top with layers of 1/4 each (meat sauce and cheese). Repeat 3-times. Microwave 2-5 minutes. Let set 5 minutes. Serve topped with tomatoes and sour cream

Ways to use Curry Powder

Curry powder is a blend of spices that can give a warm, savory flavor to foods.  The primary ingredient in curry is turmeric, which has been referred to as “the king of super foods” for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.  The other spices used to mix up curry also contain their own nutrient packed punch.  Here are some of my favorite ways to use this wonderful spice.

 

Sprinkle on an Egg

Add a dash of curry to your fried egg or mix it into scrambled eggs while cooking.  The flavor of curry blends nicely with sea salt and pepper.

 

Blend into Hummus

Hummus is made from chickpeas.  Whenever you use this tasty spread either for chip dip, as a mayonnaise replacement, or for anything else stir in some curry powder.  I especially like to use this when I make taco meat and then use the curried hummus with that.

Seasoned Veggies

Try using extra virgin olive oil, curry powder and sea salt as a seasoning for steamed veggies. 

 

Stir into Chili

Adding curry powder to a bowl of chili gives it a sweet, somewhat zippy flavor.  The curry blends well with the tomato base and other seasonings commonly used in chili.