Jamie Oliver Demonstrates What Mechanically Separated Meat Really Is...

This video is eye opening. Jamie Oliver shows a group of children how "mechanically separated" chicken is made and how it is made into "chicken patties" etc that many Americans eat every single day. Sadly, even after the children see how horrible processed chicken is, they still want to eat it. Pretty sad commentary on how brain washed our children are when it comes to what they are willing to eat. Hint, you may need to double click on the video to view it.


Check it out...

Gluten-Free Chocolate Muffins From the Gluten-Free Goddess

About a month ago my naturopath suggested I go off gluten to see if some of my "issues" would clear up. I am not celiac, but sometimes you don't have to be celiac to have sensitivities to gluten. I have been off gluten for over a month now and I have to admit that I am feeling better...emotionally and physically.  The bloat is gone and my mind feels clearer and more focused. I also have more energy.  Before going off gluten completely I had dabbled in gluten-free baking, so it wasn't too overwhelming for me when my ND suggested going totally gluten-free.  We already eat gluten free pasta and I had already been eating gluten free bread (Udi's is my favorite so far).

One of my favorite gluten free baker's is the Gluten-Free Goddess.  Her recipes are amazing, really easy and the ones I've tried have all turned out great.  My favorite so far is the Gluten-free Chocolate Muffins. These muffins are more like a dessert...maybe that's why I like them. :-) I have modified it a bit.  I use coconut sugar instead of brown sugar and coconut oil instead of olive oil and I used dark chocolate chips.  I also add about a 1/2 tsp of liquid vanilla stevia to kick up the sweetness factor. I hope you try these, they will cure any chocolate craving!

Check out this article by Dr. Mark Hyman.  Avoiding gluten is not just trendy, it's a really good idea, even if you do not have celiac disease.


*If you are currently fighting cancer, I would eat these as a special treat or omit the chocolate chips as the chocolate chips add some sugar.  If you omit the chocolate chips and add chopped nuts, they will be just as yummy.

Food Matters! Watch It!

My husband and I just finished watching the documentary Food Matters. It was extremely eye opening,  even though I already knew about most of what was presented.  If you are tired of popping pills or know of someone who is suffering through chemotherapy or their cancer just seems to come back no matter how much chemo they get.  Or if you need more proof that a plant based diet is the best way to avoid chronic disease, this is the film for you.  Like I've said before, you are the only one who can change your health.  You are not a victim, you have the ability to feel good.  If you are interested in preventing or reversing chronic disease, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND  this film...you will be astounded!

Blueberry-lemon Spelt Muffins

I really enjoy baking, definitely more than cooking. If I am making a soup for dinner I will try to whip up a batch of muffins to go with. This recipe is wheat free and sugar free. Here's a favorite...
1 cup spelt flour
1 cup millet flour (I use Bob's Red Mill or Arrowhead Mills)
2 tsp baking powder (aluminum free)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 egg (organic/cage free) to make this egg free mix 1 Tbls ground flax with 3 Tbls water, let sit for about 5-10 mins. and then add in lieu of egg.
1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)
1/4 tsp lemon flavored liquid stevia (can sub lemon extract)
zest of one lemon
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Preheat oven to 400.  Melt the coconut oil over low heat. Set aside. Next, in a mixing bowl combine dry ingredients.   In a separate bowl combine wet ingredients. Add wet to dry and then gently fold in the blueberries and zest. Be careful not to over mix.  Spoon batter into muffin tin. Makes 12 muffins.  Place in a 400 degree oven for about 15-20 mins. Enjoy!
For Cranberry-Orange muffins: substitute fresh cranberries for blueberries and orange zest for lemon zest and orange flavored liquid stevia for lemon flavored.

Dairy Free, Sugar Free Hot Cocoa

When I'm craving something warm and chocolatey here's what I whip up:
In a mug pour about one cup of unsweetened almond milk in a small sauce pan(rice milk will also work, but we avoid soy milk). Heat over low to medium heat until warm.
Add about 2 Tbls unsweetened cocoa powdered. Stir until dissolved.
Next, add about 2 Tbls pure grade b maple syrup, stir.
Pour into your favorite mug...and enjoy!
*adjust cocoa powder and maple syrup to your own taste. :-)
Variations:  add a few drops of vanilla stevia for a vanilla twist or add a few drops of peppermint extract or a dash of cinnamon. Yum!

Two Must See Documentaries

If you haven't seen these two documentaries, then I highly recommend doing so NOW!  The first one is Food Inc.  It is a powerful documentary that reveals the industrial machine that produces the food that you eat everyday.  You will never walk into a grocery store and see it the same way again. And, hopefully, it will change the way you eat and what you put into your body. If you think that the meat you are eating comes from happy cows that are grazing in green fields or the eggs you consume come from healthy chickens that live in a peaceful barnyard, then you are sadly mistaken. Check out the trailer.
The second documentary that I recommend is Forks Over Knives. If you have any doubts as to whether a whole foods plant based diet has validity or is actually backed up by science, then this is the movie is for you.
Here's a bit of the synopsis:
FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn.
Dr. Campbell, a nutritional scientist at Cornell University, was concerned in the late 1960′s with producing "high quality" animal protein to bring to the poor and malnourished areas of the third world. While in the Philippines, he made a life-changing discovery: the country’s wealthier children, who were consuming relatively high amounts of animal-based foods, were much more likely to get liver cancer. Dr. Esselstyn, a top surgeon and head of the Breast Cancer Task Force at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, found that many of the diseases he routinely treated were virtually unknown in parts of the world where animal-based foods were rarely consumed.
These discoveries inspired Campbell and Esselstyn, who didn’t know each other yet, to conduct several groundbreaking studies. One of them took place in China and is still among the most comprehensive health-related investigations ever undertaken. Their research led them to a startling conclusion: degenerative diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and even several forms of cancer, could almost always be prevented – and in many cases reversed – by adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet. Despite the profound implications of their findings, their work has remained relatively unknown to the public.
Here's the trailer to Forks Over Knives. I hope you take the time to view these documentaries.  They will change the way you  think about food and what you put into your body in a profound way!

If This Man Can Do It, So Can YOU!

Check out the story of Randy Hale, an Oklahoma man who dropped 40 lbs and was able to reverse his diabetes by following a vegan diet.  My first thought was of all the men I know out there who's worst nightmare would be to give up meat and dairy...especially meat.  This should be inspiration for all of you who are struggling with chronic disease or obesity. You are not a victim, you have the power to change the course of your health. There are countless stories of people who have lost weight and been able to reverse chronic diseases by becoming vegan.  After only 3 weeks of eating a plant based diet (following the plant based diet plan of Dr Neal Barnard) Randy Hale was able to reverse his diabetes!
Switching to a whole foods diet isn't just about losing weight it is also about prevention.  A vegan diet has also been shown to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease and many other chronic diseases. If you are already thin, don't think you are safe, being thin doesn't mean you are healthy! Not sure where to start? In my sidebar I have many links to sites with amazing recipes!  Being vegan does not mean you have to eat a "boring" diet.  :-)

Isn't Healthy Eating More Expensive?

I hear this all time when I explain to people how we eat..."I wish I could feed my family that way, but it's sooooooo expensive!"  The idea that eating healthy is more expensive than eating junk is a myth.
First, if you think about the most expensive items you buy at the grocery store they would be milk and dairy products, meat and junk food items (ie pretty much any packaged chips, cookies, crackers, candy).  If you cut out those items or dramatically reduce your intake of those foods, your grocery bill will be much less. Next, if you are eating a plant based, whole foods diet, you will be spending more of your time in the bulk section and the produce area of the grocery store (and we all know buying bulk is MUCH less expensive).  Also, buying some of your staples online will save you much more money than buying them in the health section of your grocery store. Amazon has a program, called Subscribe and Save. It allows you to buy items at a 15% discount with FREE shipping!  You have the choice of having your items delivered automatically every 1, 2, 3 or 6 months or after your first delivery you can cancel.  The 15% discount is on top of the already low Amazon price, you will be amazed at the deals you can get!
Some packaged health foods are expensive and organic produce can be spendy. However, if you learn to make your own healthy snacks, breads, treats and even cereals, you will save a lot of cash (check out my blogroll, you will find amazing blogs that have many easy and money saving healthy recipes).
Yes, organic produce is often more expensive. But, if you shop sales and learn which produce is best bought organic and which produce you can buy conventionally, your produce bill will balance out and will be limiting your family's exposure to toxins.  Planting your own garden or purchasing produce at your local Farmer's Market is also a great way to save money and enjoy amazing produce! I like to think of it this way...pay at the grocery store or pay at the doctor's office. Here's a list of foods that you don't have to buy organic (known as the "clean 15").  Look here to see a list of foods that you should always buy organic as they are highly sprayed or absorb pesticides more readily (these are called the "dirty dozen").
Hint, more and more healthy foods companies are offering coupons which will go a long way to saving you money.  Many stores like Costco and Trader Joes and Amazon, offer healthy foods at low prices. As you learn to navigate the grocery store with a view to eating healthy and saving money, you will see how nourishing your family with whole foods is NOT more expensive.  Yes, it takes some planning, but just like anything, once you get the hang of it you will see that eating healthy is very do-able on a budget!  Here are some good sites that I use to find great coupons for healthy foods: Saving Naturally and Healthy Life Deals.  Stayed tuned for more money saving tips and recipes! Thanks for reading! :-)

What is pH? And why is it so important?

When my husband was first diagnosed I instinctively knew that we needed to change his/our diet.  It didn't take much to convince him as he was more than motivated to do what it took to live and fight off the horrible cancer that had invaded his body.  So, we embarked on a way of life and a way of eating that would help boost his immune system, detox his body and make his body alkaline.  However, I really didn't know where to start. There were bits and pieces that I knew we needed to do, like cut meat, dairy and sugar out of our diets.  I felt overwhelmed and didn't know exactly HOW to get his pH from VERY acidic to alkaline.

All this talk about pH levels may sound like hocus pocus to you, but it is rooted in science and it has been proven that cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. One book that clearly explains the alkaline diet is a book by Dr Michelle Schoffro Cook called "The Ultimate pH Solution".  Let's just say that as I read this book the light bulb finally turned on for me!  Dr Cook is a naturopath and best selling author. She has penned several books, including "The Life Force Diet" and "The Phytozyme Cure"...both amazing books that I highly recommend reading!  Her book,  "The Ultimate pH Solution" is a must read for anyone who is interested in achieving health, energy and pH balance in their body.

But, why is pH so important?  Let me explain.  The cells in our bodies are constantly in a power struggle to be either acidic or alkaline.  Ideally, your body wants to be alkaline, 7.0 or higher to be specific. Many chronic diseases have acidity as their foundation; that is why it is so important to maintain an alkaline pH. Unfortunately, due to the highly processed, sugar laden, dairy rich and meat rich diets of most Americans, most people in our country are walking around with very acidic pH levels. Hence, the rampant chronic disease that plagues many, many people. Here's a great scientific explanation of pH, from an article by Kris Carr.

"pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration, [H+] in solution. Neutral is 7.0. A pH lower than 7.0 is acidic, anything higher than 7.0 is basic or alkaline. The body ideally likes a slightly basic environment at a pH of 7.365. Our bodies are designed around the concept of homeostasis – that neutral, groovy set point where everything is a-okay. The body keeps things at this “zen” space by intricate interactions of charged molecules, balancing one another out for optimum function. Every bodily function, from breathing to pooping, is regulated this way. The body will wreak havoc trying to maintain or regain homeostasis – in this case, a pH of 7.365."

So, now you may be wondering what causes acidity in the body?  As I mentioned above the poor diets of most American's is the main cause.  Foods like dairy, meat, processed foods and sugar and stress are the main contributors to acidosis. Yes, this means you will need to totally cut out meat, diary and sugar or at least dramatically reduce it if you are serious about bringing your body into pH balance. Foods that create an alkaline environment for your body are colorful vegetables, especially leafy greens.  A diet high in colorful vegetables will balance out your pH levels and bring your body into balance.  Other alkaline foods are: avocados, quinoa, lentils, lemons (yes, even though they are acidic, once they enter the body they alkaline your body and also are excellent for detoxing the liver. Drinking lemon water through out the day can go a long way to alkalizing your body) and dark, leafy greens. Dr Cook's book contains a very helpful list of which foods are more alkaline and which are more acidic. Taking a wholefood, green supplement will also help to give your body an alkaline boost.

So how do I know where my body is on the pH scale?  You can purchase pH strips at most health food stores or online. Next, you will need to pee on the strip every morning (it's usually best to test your second pee of the day) and every evening.  Typically, you'll be more alkaline in the evening.
This article by Kris Carr is excellent and also helps to clarify why pH is so important. Kris Carr was diagnosed with cancer in her 30's. She was given a death sentence. Instead of giving up she embarked on a journey to heal her own body through natural means and today she is cancer-free!  Her site is an amazing resource for anyone who is interested in natural healing and healthy living.

Thanks for reading and start eating those greens and drinking that lemon water!!! :-)

Ta-da!

Welcome to my blog! I am not entirely new at blogging.  About 5 years ago I had a blog, but I felt like it served no real purpose so I deleted it.  This blog definitely serves a purpose! Let me give you some background...
Almost 2 years ago my husband was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer.  It was called desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma. Try saying that ten times fast! As you can imagine we were devastated by the news.  My husband was only 35 at the time and this was the last thing we expected at this stage in his life.  It was a complete shock to our systems.  As Christians, we leaned heavily on the LORD for strength and peace. And although at times we experienced dark moments of fear, we were always aware of God's hand holding us up.  Within a week of finding out my husband's diagnosis he was in the hospital receiving his first inpatient chemo...hardcore chemo. The kind of chemo that they want you in the hospital for because of all the horrific side effects.  He handled the first round pretty well, but that was the only round he handled well. After that he became more and more sick. The only thing that kept us going was the fact that the tumor was actually responding to the chemo, which was rare for his type of cancer.  Normally, DSRCT doesn't respond well to chemo.  When he started chemo the tumor was the size of a softball, by the end (7 rounds of chemo later) it was the size of a golf ball and over 95% dead...an absolute miracle!  There were many times that my husband's oncologist remarked that my husband was "very fortunate".  We knew, however, that it was God's healing hand upon my husband's body.   After the seventh round of chemo, the doctors finally decided that it was time for surgery, time to get the nasty tumor out of there! So, after seven hours of surgery, the tumor was removed along with several lymph nodes, his right kidney and a reconstruction of his inferior vena cava.  He was then allowed to "rest" for about one month before starting more chemo.  The doctors wanted to do seven more rounds of chemo on him.  My husband's body was so spent and weary from all the abuse of the poisons that he decided to call it quits after two more rounds.  His body just couldn't take it anymore.  Instead of doing more chemo, we decided that we would follow a "nutritional healing way of life" as I like to call it.  We saw the wisdom in putting healthy, whole, plant-based foods into our bodies and creating an "alkaline" environment where cancer could not grow (I will talk more about pH in my next post).  I poured over books that talked about how you could heal your body through nutrition. It made so much sense.  My husband was on board too and so we began our journey to health. It is something that has taken 2 years to get a handle on, and I am learning new things everyday. Our diet is not perfect, but we are doing our best and we have seen so many changes in my husband's health as well as mine through our new way of life.
The purpose of this blog is to share with you the amazing things I have learned! I know that it can be overwhelming to change the way you eat. But, I want to help you make that change as seamlessly as possible. I will give you ideas on how to shop for healthier foods, recipes for plant based meals and tips on the latest research in natural health.
There are many myths about healthy eating; like the one that it's more expensive. I will show you how it is NOT more expensive! When you begin to see that healthy eating is do-able you will be able to transition you and your family to a way of life that will make you healthier and more able to fight sickness and disease.
Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to your health.  For example, did you know that one out of three American men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and one of four American women will get cancer? And the stats are going up.  It is projected that if things keep going the way they are (and there is no indication that they won't change) about 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime! It is clear that the American diet is the clear common denominator!   I will talk more about the Standard American Diet (or SAD) in a future post.  I will make it easy for you to change the way you nourish your body and give you the tools that I have learned along the way. When it comes to your health, you are not a helpless victim.  I want to help you avoid the horror of cancer and many other disease that are a direct result of poor nutrition.  Thanks for reading and I hope to see you back here! Feel free to post comments. Blessings!