What the World Eats

Fascinating!

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/What-the-World-Eats-21099.aspx

Practical Uses for Soda

This is awesome! A handy reference for later. But it does make you think: people actually want to drink this stuff? And it does all this? =-)

http://www.thebachelorguy.com/34-uses-for-that-can-of-soda-other-than-quenching-thirst.html

(I bought a 2-liter Coke just last week to keep working on cleaning up an old cast iron skillet David's grandmother left here. Haven't had a chance to use it yet, though -- but I have done this before after I let my cast iron skillet, the one I now use all the time, get rusty a year or so back.)

Fast Food Strawberry Milkshakes

Another good video by Luci Locke, this one on the ingredients in a fast food strawberry milkshake. I hope it makes you think twice before you order! (And even better, maybe not go at all ....)

=-)

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Fast-Food-Milkshakes-Exposed-27226.aspx

"Natural" Soft Drinks - a video by Luci Locke

I thought this video was great. Should you buy (and drink) the new "healthy" soft drinks and teas? Well, it depends ....

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Those--quot-Natural-quot--Soft-Drinks----Are-They-Really--28358.aspx

Sugar in our Diet

Another link from mercola.com:

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Why-Americans-Keep-Getting-Fatter-22958.aspx

Primitive Diet

Here's a video posted on mercola.com. Of course I don't agree with the evolutionary part of this video, but the experiment and results (9 volunteers in a zoo for 12 days, eating an "ape-like" diet) are really neat! I enjoyed watching this.

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Can-Eating-Like-an-Ape-Change-Your-Health-in-12-Days--23880.aspx

Another Tuna Salad recipe

Here's a tuna recipe my sister sent me that we can try; she made it and said it was really good.

INGREDIENTS
1 (6 ounce) can tuna, drained and flaked
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1 dash garlic powder
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted
1 cup chow mein noodles
Lettuce Leaves

DIRECTIONS
In a bowl, combine tuna, peas, celery and onions. In another bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, soy sauce, curry powder and garlic powder; stir into tuna mixture. Stir in almonds; top with noodles. Serve on lettuce if desired.

My Throw-Together Lasagna Success Story

I've always been a fan of lasagna. Pasta, cheese, tomato sauce -- who could resist? Well, Thursday I had lasagna on the brain. We hadn't had lasagna in ages. Plus, with working on the house right now, we're doing a lot of "satisficing" with meals -- so my first thought was to pick up a frozen lasagna at the store on my way out the house. We do have an oven in the house we're able to use, so I figured I could heat that up and that would be our supper.

When I got to the frozen food aisle, I wasn't completely satisfied with either the prices or the ingredients on my lasagna choices. Then, a brainstorm: I wonder if I could put a lasagna together for us? Worst case scenario: I learned it didn't work. But, it ended up turning out really well! We were even able to share leftovers with David's family, and they liked it too. It's definitely a do-over! (In fact, I bought ingredients tonight to make it again this week.)

Here's what I did -- oh, let me give you the ingredients list first:

1 box wheat lasagna noodles (you'll only use half)
1 jar pasta sauce (I used a chunky kind)
1 large carton cottage cheese
1 2 cup bag shredded mozzarella cheese
1 bag frozen spinach (I used half)
1 container baby portabella mushrooms (I used half)

In my (foil, disposable) baking pan, first I put down a layer of pasta sauce, enough to cover the bottom of the pan. Then I put four uncooked lasagna noodles, which worked out right for my size pan. Then, I put a layer of cottage cheese, then mozzarella cheese, then spinach and mushrooms. Then another layer of noodles and another layer of sauce, the rest of the cottage cheese and some mozzarella (but save some for the top), another layer of noodles, then more spinach and mushrooms and cheese. Well, that may not be exactly right, but something like that. I covered it and baked it for about 30 minutes at 350, give or take -- and yummy!

I was trying to think about other veggies that would be good in this, too. I think some small carrot bits would be good. Cooked bell pepper and onion would be good. You could always add a meat layer or two, too. I just didn't want to fool with it, and we didn't miss it.

So tonight at the store I only had to buy cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese and pasta sauce; I had the other ingredients already left over from Attempt #1.

So, now we have a recipe for an unbelievable lasagna -- tasty and unbelievably easy! (And not TOO terribly expensive, either.) You'll have to let me know if you try it.

Tuna Stuffed Tomatoes

This sounds like a good idea: (from a Yahoo group I've joined)

Mix 2 cans tuna, shredded carrots, raisins, maybe some diced apple and mayonaise. Then hollow out tomatoes and chop up the middle part you took out and add it to the tuna. Mix it well. Then stuff the tuna mixture back into the tomatoes. These are good served with just crackers or with mac and cheese.

Vitamin D and Cancer

"An exciting study was published this week in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that indicates that getting enough Vitamin D is important for reducing one's risk of cancer."

Read Vreni Gurd's article online at http://blog.wellnesstips.ca/blog/index.php/?p=130

Apples - Peel and all

Traditionally, apple peels have been considered healthy because of their fiber content, as the peel contains about 75 percent of the dietary fiber in an apple. But a recent study has shown that the peel also contains most of the beneficial phytochemicals responsible for apples' anticarcinogenic effects.

Scientists processed more than 200 pounds of Red Delicious apples, and extracted phytochemicals from about 24 pounds of peel. They screened the compounds for anti-cancer effects in laboratory cultures of human liver, breast, and colon cancer cells, and identified a group of compounds with potent anti-cancer properties.

Specifically, 13 triterpenoids from the peels of Red Delicious apples were identified and confirmed to be highly effective against cancer. Exactly how and why these biochemicals seek and destroy cancer cells is still unknown. Apple consumption has previously been linked to a reduced risk of lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

Commercial Cream

I enjoyed this video -- cute and informative -- and wanted to share:

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Do-You-Really-Want-to-Use-Commercial-Cream--19965.aspx

Groceries: My List

Things I keep on hand and buy regularly (usually weekly):
eggs, bread, peanut butter, canned tomatoes/sauce/paste, fresh produce (fruits and veggies: bananas, apples, other produce in season or on sale), yogurt or cottage cheese, fruit juices, and lately, cranberries and cream cheese

Things I keep on hand but don't buy weekly (but usually at least monthly):
honey, canned tuna, rice, pasta, dried beans, popcorn, frozen veggies and fruit, wheat and rye flour, corn meal, baking powder, raisins, applesauce, chips and salsa, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sandwich pitas,

Things I occasionally buy but don't try to keep on hand:
mixed nuts for snacking, almonds or walnuts or pecans for salads or baking, tortillas

Things I occasionally buy and freeze until I use:
meat and fish (I buy on sale and then freeze -- so I usually have some available, but I rarely actually buy)

I'll try to add to this as I think of other things and make updates as needed ....

I've Been Sick

Between working on the house, drinking too much coffee, and not getting much sleep, I managed to bring a kidney infection upon myself. It's self-diagnosed; but I did an online search and every one of my symptoms were on the lists I read -- and I had several noticeable symptoms. Even though I didn't have every symptom listed, there were no symptoms I had that were not mentioned. So I can be fairly confident that's what it was/is.

It got me really down. It started with the usual "urinary tract" stuff, the obvious: having to go to the bathroom all the time, then a few days later I started to burn, then my lower back started hurting. This all started the afternoon before Bible School began at church -- perfect timing! I made it all through Bible School week alright, though. The Lord really blessed. Saturday I was feeling pretty good and we went out to the house to work. I overdid it -- unintentionally, of course, but I did. I painted and drank too much coffee and stayed up way too late. So Sunday I paid for it. First I was really sleepy in church Sunday morning (this was last Sunday). I did get to nap Sunday afternoon, and we had a Bible School service Sunday night. After that, we came home, and I was sick. I was running fever, achy, yucky, uncomfortable, and then started having chills. That ended up being my worst of all this.

Monday morning I started back to school. (There's no rest for the weary!) Once again, though, the Lord really blessed. Monday class went fine. I felt okay. But by the time I got home, I was wiped out. I slept and slept. Tuesday class was not quite as good, but okay; Tuesday night I felt a little better. My classes each day got progressively worse and my evenings got progressively better. Hmm! Thursday in class I was obviously sick. I made it, and everything's okay, but I couldn't fake not feeling good to the students. But Thursday night I felt like joining Mom and Dad for supper. Friday I was sleepy and took a long afternoon nap, but the evening went well, and yesterday and today have gone well. I've felt much more like myself than I have in a while. This has lasted two full weeks! But I had read that they take a while to go away.

I wanted to share what I did. (What I didn't do: go to the doctor or take antibiotics. Not that I wouldn't have, but I wanted to try it this way first.) First, I drank lots of water. Most of the time I would add some or all of this: a drop or two of grapefruit seed extract (I keep this on hand and take it regularly; I also give it to Jayden regularly in her juice cup), some lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, and maybe a little juice: usually cranberry, sometimes pomegranate or orange. I wanted to drink cranberry juice but I was concerned about the sugar (the juice I found at Brookshire's was 100% juice, but not all cranberry juice, so it was still pretty sweet, and I was getting juices and sugar I didn't really need). So I only drank diluted cranberry juice, and not all the time. Second, I ate hardly any meat or dairy or other animal products. I can't say I didn't get any, but I didn't get much. I even limited my butter, which usually we use a lot in cooking. It was good to pull out the olive oil a little more than we had been, though. We really don't eat much meat or dairy anyway, but I ate even less this week. I had a few days of none, but not the whole week. Third, I didn't drink any coffee. I haven't had ANY since Monday, I know. This is unusual for me. But it hasn't been hard. I haven't wanted any. It's not worth it. I haven't had other tea or caffeine, either, except for the one cup of green tea I fixed that then I iced down and diluted -- mmm! I like it this way for a summer drink (with a little honey in it, too). Fourth, I really watched my sugar. I tried not to get any except for a little honey I would use sparingly and the natural sugars in fruit and juices. As far as what I did eat, I focused on veggies, especially fresh veggies, and a few fruits: celery, pineapple, apples. I did take a peanut butter sandwich to school with me a few days (which is not health-promoting as far as I know, but it wasn't animal and I like it, and I don't think it's health destroying; maybe just neutral! =-> .) I think that was my lunch most days this week: a peanut butter sandwich on whole-wheat toast, several celery sticks, and an apple. For breakfast I would have some oatmeal and maybe some toast, sometimes with fruit (banana or grapes or pineapple). For supper -- well, I didn't have much of an appetite, really, and I slept a lot -- and David wasn't here much from working on the house, so I didn't have to cook -- so I can't remember for sure, but I don't think I ate much for supper. Thursday night at Wendy's, when I was feeling better, I got a plain baked potato, a side salad, and a small chili, and poured my chili on top of my salad and potato. I like it that way! That was a good supper. And one day for lunch David brought me a turkey sub filled with veggies. Friday I didn't eat much until supper - Chili Verde! We got the veggie fajitas, mmm.

Other than diet, the main thing I did was take probiotics. I took two every day and I think they made a really big difference. I also took some garlic tabs and some cranberry capsules, but only periodically. I took some Tylenol and applied peppermint oil for the fever and took a bath with vinegar water the night I felt really bad. I had lots of ups and downs with symptoms. Mostly though the "feeling bad" seemed to be related to the fever, which I could control fairly well with the Tylenol and peppermint oil. Other than that I just felt a little yucky and tired, not really bad.

This has all been an experience for me, so I wanted to share. If I can help answer questions, I'll do my best!

God bless you!
Aleecia

Really Good Budget-Stretching Hints for the Kitchen

Here are some really good ideas for stretching your food budget a little further:

Article: Using Leftovers Wisely, by Terri Cheney
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/article1020.html

Hidden Story Behind Baby Carrots

Hmm, didn't know this .... (from mercola.com)

"Baby" carrots are not actually young carrots, or even carrots that are grown specifically to be small. In fact, the concept of the baby carrot was born 21 years ago by a California farmer wanting to sell more of his carrots that he was throwing away due to imperfections -- they were too knobby, twisted or broken. After cutting the less-than-perfect carrots down to a uniformly smaller size, they were fed through an industrial potato peeler to smooth the edges and remove the skin. This marked the birth of the "baby" carrot market.

The success of baby carrots may be a reflection of the desire for food that is uniform in appearance and taste, and for food that is sterile, prewashed, and prepackaged.

Processed Foods Are Even Sweeter Than You Think

(from mercola.com)

Food companies have doubled the amount of sugar they add to many of their products. Soups, cereals, and other foods have been heavily sweetened to attract more customers. Breakfast cereals have seen some of the biggest increases, but even whole grain bread now routinely contains almost a teaspoon of sugar in every three slices.

In 1978, Kellogg's Special K contained about 10 grams of sugar for every 100 grams of cereal, but that amount has now increased to 17 grams, very close to the sugar level of vanilla ice cream. Over the same period, the sugar per 100 grams in tomato soup has increased from less than 3 grams to more than 6 grams.

Processed foods contain some of the highest sugar content, often with levels close to or higher than 20 grams of sugar per 100 grams of food. Sugar consumption has been implicated in rising levels of tooth decay, diabetes, and obesity.

Probiotics

There's a lot of buzz about probiotics these days, from Dannon's new "Activia" yogurt, to an article in a recent issue of Prevention magazine, and this article from Dr. Mercola's newsletter/website:

http://vitalvotes.com/blogs/public_blog/How-You-Can-Use-Your-Body-s-Bacteria-for-Better-Health-13144.aspx

Many scientists have begun to argue that the trend of using antibacterial soap and other antibacterial products may actually cause diseases like eczema, irritable bowel syndrome and even diabetes. What's more, the solution may be to feed patients bacteria.

Probiotics, which are pills containing bacteria, have resulted in complete elimination of eczema in 80 percent of the patients treated with it. Probiotics have also been used to treat irritable bowel disease, acne and premenstrual syndrome. In one recent study, infants given a probiotic were, after two years, 25 percent less likely to develop eczema.

From 50 trillion to 100 trillion bacteria live in your digestive system, where they have a complex relationship with digestion and health. Antibacterial products can disrupt the balance that protects you from allergies and malfunctioning immune responses.
Wired April 26, 2007

Dr. Mercola's Comment:
Most people don't realize the trillions of bacteria in your gut outnumber the cells of your body by a factor of 10 to 1. This is one of the reasons they are such a major influence on your health. And one reason you should be staying far away from antibacterial soaps and cleaners is that they kill the good bacteria our bodies so desperately need to fight diseases. That's why an increasing number of health professionals are recommending a high-quality probiotic to rebalance your intestinal bacteria.

Because the nutritional origin of many diseases we face is connected to a lack of balance in our intestinal bacteria, one of the first suggestions I make to a new patient is for him or her to start taking a good probiotic.

Optimizing your diet is certainly beneficial, but frequently that alone won't be enough to replenish the good bacteria that are eradicated after you take an antibiotic or eat sugar -- which is another good reason to reduce, with the plan of eliminating, grains and sugars from your daily diet, too.

Total health begins in the gut, folks. If your GI tract isn't functioning very well, it's guaranteed your overall health will be compromised. Although I am not a big fan of nutritional supplementation, probiotics are the exception. I don't believe you need to take them constantly throughout your entire life, but one to three months is usually beneficial for just about everyone.

Make Your Own Chicken Stock

It really is very easy! I do this all the time. Basic ingredients: chicken and water. (Of course, there are many optional ingredients and many variations.) Anytime you have leftover chicken bones, there's no reason to throw them away just yet -- boil them up and make you a pot of stock. You can always freeze it for later. Chicken stock is so handy to have on hand for soups and recipes. (I do the same with my turkey leftovers, too.) I haven't bought chicken broth in over a year; it's practically free and so simple to do it yourself. And you can be in complete control of the ingredients.

Check out this video how-to and added information at mercola.com:

http://v.mercola.com/blogs/public_blog/Making-Your-Own-Chicken-Stock-15468.aspx

Ginger Cinnamon Popcorn

Popcorn is one of our favorite snacks. It's great for the munchies! We have an air popper, and sometimes just enjoy the popcorn plain, sometimes with salt and butter, and sometimes we get even more flavorful. Tonight I decided to try a new combination which worked well and so I thought I would share. In a small saucepan, I melted a tbsp of butter and a little honey (I didn't measure, but it couldn't have been more than a tbsp; I'm pretty stingy with the honey since it's so expensive and we don't need to eat much anyway), and then added some grated ginger. I didn't measure it either, but I stopped when I was tired of grating; it was probably about 1/4 tsp, but maybe more. I sprinkled cinnamon directly on the popcorn, then drizzled the melted butter mixture on top, then mixed it all up -- and voila! It was really good. I think it's definitely a do-over. I'm a cinnamon fan, so this is yet another way to enjoy cinnamon (together with butter, even better!). Let me know if you try it and what you think.