Latest info, recipes, tools & gadgets to create a healthy diet
Archive for February, 2012
Focus Herb: Tai to
Feb 28th
Trying unusual foods can bring some delightful surprises.
Wow! That’s all I can say for what is commonly known as Shiso or Tai to. This beautiful green and purplish red leaves were just more than I could resist. I had no idea what Tai to was, which is the way it was labeled at my local international store, but I knew I wanted to try it.
After a couple days I pulled it out of the refrigerator and wrote its name down, walked into my office and put Tai to into Google. It wasn’t an easy search as every site having to More >
Hidden Cost of Purchases
Feb 23rd
I hate to say this, but it is getting downright difficult to shop locally. Here’s a couple of examples: we need some auger type tie-downs for a couple of tarp covered storage areas, to keep them in place when we have severe weather; second, I need a small metal bowl for a certain application. It needs to hold between ½ and 1 qt.
I’ve looked everywhere locally for both these items, to no avail.
We tried some very small tie-downs, but in the 50+ mph winds that hit last night they just popped out of the ground like a cork. They cost More >
Looking For The Truth About Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
Feb 21st
Are we the experiment to find out if SLS is safe?
It’s still a total mystery to me whether sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is safe or not. I just looked through half a dozen web sites with such contradicting information that I’m baffled.
How can one agency do studies on SLS and find that all it does is cause a little skin irritation in those who are sensitive and another finds SLS penetrated into the eyes, as well as brain, heart, liver, and showed long-term retention in the tissues? Either somebody’s lying or one of the studies gave false results.
I found one More >
Eating Healthy & Having Your Pizza, Too!
Feb 16th
Yum! Plunge into a delicious healthy pizza!
After writing about our awesome homemade pizza I got a request for the recipe, so here it is.
Once we made the commitment to eat a truly vegetarian diet we ran into one huge problem. No pizza! This was because some cheeses are processed with cheese cultures that are derived from cow stomach linings. We went for months without any pizza. Not life threatening, for sure, but we really enjoy an occasional pizza and wanted to find a way to enjoy it vegetarian style.
We thought the biggest problem was in preparing a crust. Knowing that More >
What Turns Your True Love On?
Feb 14th
Today is Valentine’s Day, a day filled with cards, flowers, chocolate and usually a nice dinner out. Most of the time we think of a candlelight dinner, complete with romantic music, and a very expensive meal.
The most important thing about an intimate meal is that it is what both parties really want. For me the ultra expensive meals always made me uncomfortable. I could prepare much better tasting food at home for less than half of one plate. So, even though we were supposed to be out for a romantic evening all I could see were dollar signs. So much More >
Superfoods, Fact Or Fiction?
Feb 10th
Nopal Cactus also called Prickly Pear
There’s a lot of hype these days about superfoods. So many companies are claiming that their product is helpful in healing numerous ailments. How do we know which are true and which aren’t?
The best thing to do is look at scientific evidence. If the company doesn’t have any, then I would say their product is very suspect, especially with all the products out there with scientific support.
Take for instance Betalains. They’ve been scientifically proven to help the body reduce inflammation, which is one of the major causes of pain. Nopalea, a drink made from the More >
More On Living It
Feb 7th
One thing I’ve discovered through years of working as an alternative health practitioner, it is easier to change a person’s religion than their diet. You may find that an amazing statement, especially if you’re a very religious person, but I’ve found this to be true.
Every gathering we have is centered on food. Most of the food has tradition behind it. Do you always have turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner? How would you feel if you have rice and beans with a slice of homemade bread with butter on it? Would you More >
Living It Rather Than Studying It
Feb 2nd
When living a healthy lifestyle I’ve noticed that it is one thing to study it, another to actually live it. Living a truly healthy lifestyle is not easy. You find that you cannot make food the center of your celebrations, you cannot dine out as easily as before, you need to prepare some dishes you used to buy in boxes from scratch, etc.
If you look at people who are in the health profession, many of them are very unhealthy. They have studied health, but they have not lived it. A very wise person once said to me that you have More >