Fiber holds a lot of meaning for a lot of people. Though it is hard to say sometimes exactly why. I began my understanding of fiber a year or so ago when I was starting to have difficulties with my digestion and then I did a 28 day cleanse that was based around psyllium husk powder. It got me thinking about what role this seemingly light substance has with my body. I noticed the bulking in water right away. This is one purpose that soluble fiber plays in your diet. It has the great ability to bulk up by gathering in the water and create a full feeling in your body, thereby decreasing hunger and helping those who have weight problems or are struggling in their diets. This bulking helps to decrease blood cholesterol levels and also creates less stress for your intestines and the bowel system. It also lowers the amount of toxins that can be absorbed by the body.
Fiber may also fight high blood pressure. The studies that were done showed that over 8 weeks the blood pressure had dropped, although they recommended getting the source of fiber from fruits and vegetables would be a much more efficient way to lower the blood pressure.
Fiber has also been found to help people who have diabetes by supplying carbs without the added sugar if eating fresh fruits. This would be good for allowing variety in the diets of diabetics and giving them a sense of satisfactory choices. Well, we could eat more fruits and vegetables as prevention as well.
So that is a good few ideas of why to add fiber to your diet. Take into mind that fresh fruits and vegetables provide one source of fiber, whereas grains will give you another source. It is good to know what you are taking in, whether it is soluble or insoluble as it will have different effects o, your body. Food Sources of Insoluble Fiber are vegetables such as green beans and meat products, wheat bran, corn bran and seeds & nuts. Soluble Fiber sources are dried beans and peas, nuts, barley. flax seed, fruits such as oranges and apples, vegetables such as carrots, psyllium husk.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Protein And Vitality
It is good to try and maintain a healthy level of protein while maintaining a low intake of calories and cholesterol. It is true that with red meats you do take in a heavier amount of calories and saturated fat and with other sources this count is much lower. Choosing a healthier cut of lean meat and combining that with healthy cooked vegetables and grains would be a pretty good answer to getting the right proteins and the right combo of vitamins and minerals as well. With a little research and some intention you are able to maintain and enjoy the benefits of a strong body, mind, and working cells. It is nice to have a strong force within you and supply the body with the energy it needs to keep your cellular design running smoothly. Balance is the key.
Fish have a nice intake of grams of protein versus the caloric count and the amount of cholesterol that is found in them compared to the caloric intake and cholesterol found in many red meats. They do pose a risk if not chosen with care though. If you choose fish blindly you could potentially find yourself with a larger than normal dose of mercury which has the potential of harm for the body. They also provide a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids. These acids are known for increasing longevity and declining the risk of some diseases. It is important to note that not all fish sources have a high amount of this Omega 3 fatty acid. Another great aspect of getting your protein from fish is that it is high in leukotrienes which help to protect the lining of the blood vessels.
It is also important when choosing a protein source to acknowledge the sustainability of the Earth and whether this source is being brought to you in awareness. Some groups have found a way to bring you information on just that subject. One of those groups is a site at www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp . This site is focused on your source of fish. It is almost always a good choice to go for wild-caught Alaskan salmon and Pacific cod.
Another very important action that protein plays is to provide amino acids to the body that assist the body in breaking down its own proteins. These proteins maintain a healthy balance for many aspects of the body including skin, hair, and connective tissues. This energy through breakdown and processing throughout the body, when found in easier to digest protein sources, will also give your body a stronger energetic presence and vitality. To continue the chain of thought here, this energy is also sustained for the transportation of many of the essential components of a strong healthy body environment. Some of these components are iron, oxygen, and vitamin A.
In people who have had severe physical trauma, as well as the elderly, there is a need for more protein intake to maintain a healthy body but generally most people can eat a balanced diet of protein eating meats, nuts, seeds, beans, vegetables, and grains. The benefit of eating moderate amounts of meat protein vs. non meat protein is the concentrated amounts of many nutrients, like zinc, iron, and vitamin B12, which are harder to find in plant foods alone. Meat also provides a different form of iron than plants. Heme iron is found only in animals and while 40% of this iron is absorbed by the body, non-heme iron that is found in plants is only absorbed at about 3-8%. This is why it is important to have a well balanced protein intake if you sustain on a vegetable based diet alone.
Fish have a nice intake of grams of protein versus the caloric count and the amount of cholesterol that is found in them compared to the caloric intake and cholesterol found in many red meats. They do pose a risk if not chosen with care though. If you choose fish blindly you could potentially find yourself with a larger than normal dose of mercury which has the potential of harm for the body. They also provide a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids. These acids are known for increasing longevity and declining the risk of some diseases. It is important to note that not all fish sources have a high amount of this Omega 3 fatty acid. Another great aspect of getting your protein from fish is that it is high in leukotrienes which help to protect the lining of the blood vessels.
It is also important when choosing a protein source to acknowledge the sustainability of the Earth and whether this source is being brought to you in awareness. Some groups have found a way to bring you information on just that subject. One of those groups is a site at www.mbayaq.org/cr/seafoodwatch.asp . This site is focused on your source of fish. It is almost always a good choice to go for wild-caught Alaskan salmon and Pacific cod.
Another very important action that protein plays is to provide amino acids to the body that assist the body in breaking down its own proteins. These proteins maintain a healthy balance for many aspects of the body including skin, hair, and connective tissues. This energy through breakdown and processing throughout the body, when found in easier to digest protein sources, will also give your body a stronger energetic presence and vitality. To continue the chain of thought here, this energy is also sustained for the transportation of many of the essential components of a strong healthy body environment. Some of these components are iron, oxygen, and vitamin A.
In people who have had severe physical trauma, as well as the elderly, there is a need for more protein intake to maintain a healthy body but generally most people can eat a balanced diet of protein eating meats, nuts, seeds, beans, vegetables, and grains. The benefit of eating moderate amounts of meat protein vs. non meat protein is the concentrated amounts of many nutrients, like zinc, iron, and vitamin B12, which are harder to find in plant foods alone. Meat also provides a different form of iron than plants. Heme iron is found only in animals and while 40% of this iron is absorbed by the body, non-heme iron that is found in plants is only absorbed at about 3-8%. This is why it is important to have a well balanced protein intake if you sustain on a vegetable based diet alone.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Food Inc.
As I watched the movie on my laptop screen the chills down my body began to only getting more and more shocking. My stomach turned, my heart leapt from my chest and a painful rip tore through my soul. How has this become our world? What kind of people can do such harmful, devasting actions? Where has this incredible greed found such a staple that it can make so much negative impact in such a beautiful world? I sit and feel the desire to cry but can only hold my breath and watch the images flash on the screen. It is as though I knew this all along but seeing it makes the reality only more true and visible.
To see the horrible treatment of living animals is one of the most heart wrenching parts of this reality. The chickens growth compared to that of the 1970s is unbelievable and the cows that cannot move and are literally shoved into a space for feeding is so morally wrong. I actually have driven past the cow fields in Texas that are so jam packed with cows that it seemed like corn growing in a field. To me this is a deeper drive to be the change and make that visible to those around me. The treatment of animals is a critical part of how our bodies react to the meat we eat. I went through a period of vegetarianism a few years back and when I went back to meat eating I had decided to only eat local meat or hunted meat from my father. Well, almost a year later I started to eat the convential meat and found a shocking surprise. When I ate a burger from a local burger spot I started to feel this intense fear and anxiety a few hours later. The energy transferred from the meat into me at such intense levels that I began to cry and I understood that what I was feeling was this ultimate fear and anxiety related to the walk to death this animal/animals had experienced. It was unreal and it reoccurred a few times after that.
I keep changing and growing into a more pure being as the months and weeks pass me by. I have been eating mostly organic and local for years now and have stopped drinking milk and eating dairy products for the most part. I do eat the organic cheeses and occasionally drink from the mass produced cow milk, but I feel like this has given me even more drive to stop even doing that, the milk part anyways since I like cheese so much. I also feel a need to stop giving my dollar to the corporations who are using it against me and my people. My dollar is my vote, it is my statement and my impact. To take that and put it into the hands of someone or a group who is working to promote the earth and return the human body to health seems much more sensible.
The most sickening part of this movie is the political gain of the corruption that is happening to our food cycle. The Future of Food and Food Inc both lay a pretty good view of what companies have been having the biggest impacts on who is getting elected. It is such a wake-up call to realize that our politicians our sleeping in the same beds and working for the companies that are leading to such a devastating end for this planet. I am sad and empowered and eager to continue making the changes and sharing my light with others. I know the movies I am sending to my friends from here on. I just pray for this World and keep my eyes to the sky.
To see the horrible treatment of living animals is one of the most heart wrenching parts of this reality. The chickens growth compared to that of the 1970s is unbelievable and the cows that cannot move and are literally shoved into a space for feeding is so morally wrong. I actually have driven past the cow fields in Texas that are so jam packed with cows that it seemed like corn growing in a field. To me this is a deeper drive to be the change and make that visible to those around me. The treatment of animals is a critical part of how our bodies react to the meat we eat. I went through a period of vegetarianism a few years back and when I went back to meat eating I had decided to only eat local meat or hunted meat from my father. Well, almost a year later I started to eat the convential meat and found a shocking surprise. When I ate a burger from a local burger spot I started to feel this intense fear and anxiety a few hours later. The energy transferred from the meat into me at such intense levels that I began to cry and I understood that what I was feeling was this ultimate fear and anxiety related to the walk to death this animal/animals had experienced. It was unreal and it reoccurred a few times after that.
I keep changing and growing into a more pure being as the months and weeks pass me by. I have been eating mostly organic and local for years now and have stopped drinking milk and eating dairy products for the most part. I do eat the organic cheeses and occasionally drink from the mass produced cow milk, but I feel like this has given me even more drive to stop even doing that, the milk part anyways since I like cheese so much. I also feel a need to stop giving my dollar to the corporations who are using it against me and my people. My dollar is my vote, it is my statement and my impact. To take that and put it into the hands of someone or a group who is working to promote the earth and return the human body to health seems much more sensible.
The most sickening part of this movie is the political gain of the corruption that is happening to our food cycle. The Future of Food and Food Inc both lay a pretty good view of what companies have been having the biggest impacts on who is getting elected. It is such a wake-up call to realize that our politicians our sleeping in the same beds and working for the companies that are leading to such a devastating end for this planet. I am sad and empowered and eager to continue making the changes and sharing my light with others. I know the movies I am sending to my friends from here on. I just pray for this World and keep my eyes to the sky.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Healthy Sauteed Cabbage and Zucchini
So I love my assignments! Absolutely the happiest when I sit down to eat these amazing meals. I have had red cabbage many times before but have always cooked it in oil and usually for atleast 20 to 30 minutes. The healthy sautee version is soo good! And I threw the zucchini in after 2 minutes so I could cook them both at once and it tasted really flavorful and the flavors of the two vegetables really seemed to mesh well with each other. Not as much of a firework session as my new all time fave Kale but I do notice the change that letting the vegetables sit for 10 minutes with lemon juice on them creates. It is like you can watch the nutrients become more present as it goes from raw, to 10 minutes sitting to steamed or sauteed. And the zucchini is neat because it only take s3 minutes, no sitting required! I am anxious to get to the next dish on the list and believe me you will hear about it!
The things I am learning are the value of having the enzymes released and the nutrient walls broke down a little so that you can digest it easier. And from the dishees i have done so far I can definitely lay claim to the healthier feeling afterwrds and the way my body seems to truly lift off. I am so greatful and honored to be given this great info and having it become such an integral part of my life. Thank you SWIHA!
The things I am learning are the value of having the enzymes released and the nutrient walls broke down a little so that you can digest it easier. And from the dishees i have done so far I can definitely lay claim to the healthier feeling afterwrds and the way my body seems to truly lift off. I am so greatful and honored to be given this great info and having it become such an integral part of my life. Thank you SWIHA!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Broiled Salmon with Leeks and Broccoli
So last night I decided to try the broiled salmon. I heated the pan up in the broiler for 10 minutes. I also had cut the leeks and broccoli and let them sit for 10 minutes while the pan was heating up, mixing the broccoli with lemon juice to help in the breakdown of the vital enzymes. I steamed the broccoli, healthy sauteed the leeks and broiled the salmon. All got mixed with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and pepper. And it was all very good! I realized in order to get the leeks to turn out correctly they have to be pretty thinly sliced. Other than that I loved it and can't wait til tonight and another new dish!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Kale and Collards and Eggplant Oh MY!!
I am writing you this from a true state of bliss. So I want to start at the beginning of the journey, HyVee in Sioux Falls, SD. I walked in intent on buying some great organic produce and thoroughly enjoyed squeezing and eyeing many different options as I picked up my fruit, zucchini, eggplant, kale, collards, gr onions and a mixture of peppers. I felt fantastic when I got home. Although, to tell you the truth I LOVE vegetables and actually miss the wide selection I used to have in Minneapolis. So fairly stated I am a crazed vegetable lover and usually am ecstatic to come home with a pile of fresh organic goodness. But, this time was different and I could feel it. There was a buzz to the air, a sweet hum to the way my body slid through the particles of air around me. Even my cells were on high alert as I scanned the table of vibrant greens, purple, yellow, red and blue.
I enjoyed fruit and yogurt for breakfast, right after my Healthiest Lifestyle tea, and did feel good, but I knew more was to come. So I continued with good breakfasts but honestly don't eat supper very often so I could only daydream about my zucchini and kale for a couple of days. Which is of course an usual altered state of consciousness that I enjoy slipping into from time to time. But I knew that the night would come when I could finally open the World's Healthiest Foods and try out my new found knowledge of cooking. And then it happened, I was hungry and it was supper time! Alright!
So I grabbed the book, opened it to the kale page and followed the instructions I found there. I began by cutting the kale and letting it sit, with a little lemon juice mixed in, for almost 10 minutes. This is the first thing you want to do because the enzymes in kale are released when you cut the tough membrane around the stem and they begin to breakdown the harder, more fibrous fabric of the kale leaf. After that I cut the garlic and also let that sit for 5 minutes to begin the enzyme breakdown and release the powerful antioxidants held there. Next I put the steamer water on high and waited for the water to boil while gathering my lemon juice, olive oil, fresh pepper, and the bowl to put them in. Well, the water boiled, the kale went in for 5 minutes and then wallah!.. There it was, in the bowl, fresh steamed kale with the garlic and the other ingredients mixed in. And I can not describe that first bite as anything but absolutely mind blowing! It was incredible.. and I mean WOW! I could barely keep the fireworks inside my mouth to let go of the kale so my stomach could try it out. Ok, just kidding but it was seriously that good!
And then tonight I decided to try cooking chinese eggplant and you could've geussed how good it was! It again, blew my mind! I sliced into half inch thick slices and added to a fry pan of 3 tablespoons vegetable broth, steamed it with the lid on for four minutes, and then added 3 more tablespoons of broth and sauted the eggplant for another 3 minutes. I also sauted red peppers in the pan with the eggplant the whole process too. I had a 'What About Bob' "Mmm,MMm, MMM!" moment while eating this! Though I can give you some hints, such as, keep the eggplant in the broth while you cook it and also make the slices a little shy of 1/2 inch to really get the delicious 'meaty' flavor that totally rocks the table! OK, so my incredible adventure with food is over for now, but believe me... There will be more!!
I enjoyed fruit and yogurt for breakfast, right after my Healthiest Lifestyle tea, and did feel good, but I knew more was to come. So I continued with good breakfasts but honestly don't eat supper very often so I could only daydream about my zucchini and kale for a couple of days. Which is of course an usual altered state of consciousness that I enjoy slipping into from time to time. But I knew that the night would come when I could finally open the World's Healthiest Foods and try out my new found knowledge of cooking. And then it happened, I was hungry and it was supper time! Alright!
So I grabbed the book, opened it to the kale page and followed the instructions I found there. I began by cutting the kale and letting it sit, with a little lemon juice mixed in, for almost 10 minutes. This is the first thing you want to do because the enzymes in kale are released when you cut the tough membrane around the stem and they begin to breakdown the harder, more fibrous fabric of the kale leaf. After that I cut the garlic and also let that sit for 5 minutes to begin the enzyme breakdown and release the powerful antioxidants held there. Next I put the steamer water on high and waited for the water to boil while gathering my lemon juice, olive oil, fresh pepper, and the bowl to put them in. Well, the water boiled, the kale went in for 5 minutes and then wallah!.. There it was, in the bowl, fresh steamed kale with the garlic and the other ingredients mixed in. And I can not describe that first bite as anything but absolutely mind blowing! It was incredible.. and I mean WOW! I could barely keep the fireworks inside my mouth to let go of the kale so my stomach could try it out. Ok, just kidding but it was seriously that good!
And then tonight I decided to try cooking chinese eggplant and you could've geussed how good it was! It again, blew my mind! I sliced into half inch thick slices and added to a fry pan of 3 tablespoons vegetable broth, steamed it with the lid on for four minutes, and then added 3 more tablespoons of broth and sauted the eggplant for another 3 minutes. I also sauted red peppers in the pan with the eggplant the whole process too. I had a 'What About Bob' "Mmm,MMm, MMM!" moment while eating this! Though I can give you some hints, such as, keep the eggplant in the broth while you cook it and also make the slices a little shy of 1/2 inch to really get the delicious 'meaty' flavor that totally rocks the table! OK, so my incredible adventure with food is over for now, but believe me... There will be more!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
ಸಿಂಪ್ಲಿ ಬಿ ಸಿಂಪ್ಲಿ
♫♪~ Life beomes me, nutrient rich abounding love evolves and rays abound like the sun into strands of wispy red blowing in the wind and leaving traces of soul to gather the masses beyond self. I wake into the mystical ether and repeat the ancient technique of wise elders by walking out of this body and into the auric field of thought we as a collective conscious create and embody. I stretch the length of the single beam of light, and then encompass and circumvent into the center of the spectrum as the colors mix and raise into a rainbow. The message is pure, the idea obscene... Simply entertain the joy and smile into your breathing soul. Wake into the dream, leave the idealogy of sleep, for we may never truly sleep but rest from one dimension into another. And I wake, but yet, have I been awake all this time yet simply dreaming I was not? Well, nonetheless we wake, though do we sleep is still a question at hand. And I wake to bright smiling Grr baby Grr love... Yes love, my love, your love, all this amazing resonating bliss, I wake to this!
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