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Sep 30
0

5 Benefits Of Juicing For Your Family

By | Essential Oils, Food, Total Wellness, Weight Loss | No Comments

benefits of juicing

This past weekend I watched a powerful documentary on the Gerson Therapy called Dying to have Known. A big part of this Gerson Therapy, which helps restore even the most diseased body to health is JUICING. It reinvigorated me to start juicing again.  Ironically two days after watching the movie, I walked into the room where my toddler was watching Curious George on PBS. Guess what? Curious George the monkey was juicing with The Man with the Yellow Hat. Even monkeys think juicing is important. Too funny I think it was a sign.

The episode showed how George and The Man with the Yellow Hat were hooked on Juicy Jay’s special blended juice and bought the juicer to create their own drink at home. As with all Curious George stories, he always ends up learning something new and benefits from the lesson. George recreated, experimented and messed up but ultimately learned to create a juice that impresses Juicy Jay. Here is the link for parents or grandparents with kids who like Curious George.

Are you a juicer? Before I continue on with the benefits of juicing, here are two articles that I’ve written about juicing:

Juice Detox Fast
7 Days of Juice Fasting – Almost

Juicing is not easy. I’ve experienced so many benefits of juicing and here are five benefits:

One: Fortifying and healing the body
Interestingly my last two pregnancies happened (I conceived) while I was juicing daily. It was important to re-fortify and heal my body especially after a miscarriage.

Two: Help ward off dis-ease
In reality, fast and processed foods are the foods that most Americans are consuming each day. Healthy eating takes effort and planning. Most of us grew up eating less than the recommended amount of vegetables and fruits per day. Juicing will allow us to consume a huge selection of fruits and vegetables per day.

Imagine if we did just a juice a day with raw, unprocessed fruits and vegetables! Our body will absorb all the nutrients and gain health benefits from the fruits and vegetables. What an incredible way to ward off dis-ease with natural wholesome foods.

Three: Provide high quality nutrition
Raw fruits and vegetables provide minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, antioxidants and other high quality nutrition for our body. Some nutrients and important enzymes found in vegetables may be destroyed when cooked.

Freshly pressed juice from raw vegetables and fruits provide the most high quality nutrition according to Gerson.org. According to Gerson.org:

By juicing, patients can take in the nutrients and enzymes from nearly 15 pounds of produce every day, in a manner that is easy to digest and absorb.

The Gerson Therapy uses organic, vegetarian diet, raw juices, coffee enemas and natural supplements to help the body heal itself. This therapy was started by Dr. Max Gerson in the 1930s initially to help with his migraines. He eventually developed it into treating degenerative diseases such as skin tuberculosis, diabetes and cancer.

You can read more by visiting Gerson.org.

Four: Lose some weight
Fruits and vegetables contain low calories and fats and have a good source of dietary fiber. Losing weight takes more than consuming a certain type of food or exercise. It involves your total being- your body, mind and soul.

Juicing may help with weight loss because you will be consuming fewer calories and vegetables can help balance our body’s pH. Alkaline foods will help release acidity and fat cells in our body.

Five: Gain more energy and look younger
My accountant, Joanne Del Bolso is living proof of a person who benefited from juicing. She looked radiant and younger when I saw her after tax season when most accountants were either drained or burned out.

Juicing helps to flush out toxins. This will lead to an increase of energy, clearer mind and more radiant skin.

About fruits and vegetables:
Before you start using, you need to have a plan of action, the right equipment and a shopping list. Remember not all fruits and vegetables are created equal.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) organization releases a yearly list called the Dirty Dozen. The Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce will help you determine which fruits and vegetables to avoid or buy organic.

There is no denying that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables brings benefits to our health but we need to be informed about pesticide exposure as well. Here is a link to the EWG website and list of Dirty Dozen Plus and Clean Fifteen.

About cleaning the juicer:
Some of us may hate the cleaning up processes after drinking the juice. Whatever type of juicer you use, it is important to note that proper cleaning is essential to good health. Clean your juicer immediately after use to prevent contamination or bacteria build up.

For easier, faster and more effective cleaning, use Lemon essential oil and Thieves essential oil with a clean brush and brush off all the pulps and remnants from the juicer. This will prevent mold growth.

What is your plan of action?
There are many ways to juicing. Consult with your health care professional (a professional knowledgeable about nutrition and juicing) and decide on what type of juicing is beneficial to your health.

We would like to know what you did and the results you get. Please leave us a comment below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Sep 28
0

Problems with Gluten Intolerance

By | Food, Total Wellness | No Comments

Problems with Gluten Intolerance

What is gluten? The same question was asked at a recent Jimmy Kimmel Live Show and none of the interviewees who embrace the gluten-free diet knew exactly what gluten is.

Gluten is a protein naturally found in certain grains such as wheat, barley, rye and crossbreeds of these grains. Wheat flour in supermarket shelves may be sold as bromated, enriched, phosphate, plain and self-rising. They may also come with names like spelt, semolina, kamut, graham flour, farina, durum flour and bulgur. (Source: Mayo Clinic and LivingBetterAmerica)

Foods like bagels, breads, cakes, croutons, cereals, cookies, crackers, pasta and pizza are made with these grains. Gluten is also found as a food filler in imitation meat, veggie burgers, candy, seasoned rice mixes, sauces, snacks, processed meats, gravies, beer, soups and packaged ready-made food. You may even find it in prescription drugs and over the counter medications.

How is gluten free defined?

FDA defines gluten free as foods that do not contain the following ingredients-
● Gluten-containing grain (including spelt, wheat)
● Gluten-containing grain that has not been processed to remove gluten (e.g. wheat flour)
● Gluten-containing grain that has been processed to remove gluten (e.g. wheat starch) if the use of that ingredient results in the presence of 20 parts per million (ppm) or more gluten in the food

How do you know if you have gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivities?

1. Skin rashes – there are many factors that may cause skin rashes. It may look like you have eczema but keratosis pilaris and dermatitis herpetiformis are two skin problems due to gluten intolerance. Keratosis pilaris is usually white, sometimes red and usually doesn’t hurt or itch. Dermatitis herpetiformis is extremely itchy rash and consists of bumps and blisters. The rash is chronic. These rashes appear on arms, torso, face, buttocks, elbows, knees and hairline. (Source: NLM)
2. Digestive and gastrointestinal issues – bloating, gas, abdominal cramps, chronic constipation, diarrhea, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) may be some of the issues related to gluten intolerance.
3. Delayed growth – children with abnormal weight and height gains may be suffering from gluten intolerance. Their body can’t absorb the nutrients needed for growth.
4. Joint pains – pain on joints, fingers and knees could be symptoms of gluten intolerance.
5. Depression, anxiety and mood swings
6. Chronic acne
7. Migraines and headaches
8. Brain fog
9. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
10. Dizziness and off balance
11. Hormone imbalances
12. Tingling, swelling or numbness of fingers and toes

These are just some of the common symptoms found in people with gluten intolerance.

Here is a recording on Is Food Causing Your Health Problems? This recording will enlighten you about gluten intolerance and list more symptoms of gluten intolerance. I am sharing my own story here.

 

Not all grains have gluten. Being gluten intolerant doesn’t mean you avoid all grains. Popcorn, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, sorghum, teff and oats (not contaminated when processed), rice and corn are naturally gluten-free. These grains are filled with minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and fiber. (Source: Time)

Even if you are not suffering from gluten sensitivity, these grains are nutritious and affordable. They can add to the variety of food in your pantry. A study done by Purdue University shows that quinoa has lower sodium content and is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn. These are important minerals for growth and according to Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling PhD., you can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.

If you feel that you may be suffering from gluten intolerance, I suggest you have a food journal and write down what you eat for at least a month. For example if you have stomach cramps every time after eating pasta made of wheat or semolina, try eliminating pasta for at least 10 days and record your progress.

Read this article about food journaling – Top 10 Tips to Keeping a Food and Nutritional Journal for Total Wellness.

If you have any questions please leave it in the comment section below. I look forward to serving you.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Sep 04
0

Recipe For Organic Beef, Broccoli & Brown Rice Casserole

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

Organic-Beef-Rice-Casserole

September brings in a new season for most families. Some of us have kids going to a new grade level or new school, some are going to school for the first time and yet others find themselves empty-nesters with kids going off to college.

Busy mommas are always looking for ways to get things done faster without compromising on wellness. This month, I will be highlighting some of the mommy bloggers I’ve been following. These blog posts will include recipes, overcoming challenges and encouragement written by busy mommas who work from home. They partner with Young Living and share their stories through their blog and social media platforms.

Today I would like to introduce you to Catherine Slezinger of www.theorganicmomma.com. She is known as the organic momma to her community, an oiler and mom of young children. I’ve selected a recipe she shared on her website on how to create a one dish meal with beef, broccoli and brown rice.

For your total wellness,

Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

Recipe For Organic Beef, Broccoli & Brown Rice Casserole

By: Catherine Slezinger

In case you need something easy, nutritious and filling to make tonight, here’s a yummy recipe for a delicious comfort food dish- organic beef and rice casserole. (This is my adaptation of all the beef & rice casserole recipes I looked up that called for cream of mushroom soup) 🙂

This is also an excellent recipe to make and freeze a double batch for later!

Ingredients:

2 tbsp organic butter

2 lbs organic grass fed beef

1 organic onion, cut into strips

1 head organic broccoli, cut into florets

1 organic bell pepper, cut into strips

1 cup cooked organic brown rice (I use my Vita Clay)

2 cups organic sour cream

1 can organic diced tomatoes, such as the Bionaturae Organic brand

1 teaspoon sea salt, such as Real Salt or Himalayan Salt

2-3 teaspoons organic dried parsley

Shredded organic raw cheddar cheese

Directions:

Saute the onions in butter until soft and translucent, then add peppers. Saute the peppers until soft.

Add the ground beef and brown until just browned. Don’t overcook because it will be going in the oven 🙂 Season with the salt.

Add the sour cream and diced tomatoes and mix well. Add the parsley.

Transfer to a large bowl, and add the cooked rice and mix well.

Layer the broccoli on a large baking dish, and scoop the beef & rice mixture over the top.

Top with the shredded cheese, and bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes, covered.

Sprinkle some more parsley on top before serving and ENJOY! 🙂

With lots of love,

Catherine Slezinger

New-Bio-Pic-Megan

Catherine Slezinger is thankful to be a wife to Mark, for 7 years, and a happy organic Mommy to three precious children- Nathaniel, almost 4, Micah, almost 2, and Grace, 8 months.

After battling a chronic digestive illness at the young age of 19, Catherine found a health plan that revolutionized her life and restored her health, giving her a newfound hope for the future. Because of this dramatic turnaround, she is passionate about seeing others experience the optimal health that she has attained.

For a free guide “How to Eat Organic On A Budget” go to Catherine’s website, The Organic Momma, at http://www.theorganicmomma.com/

 

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Jul 20
0

Ancient Einkorn: Hybrid Grains, GMOs and Chemicals: A Book Summary and Sharing of Thoughts

By | Food, Total Wellness | One Comment

Ancient Einkorn

By: Claudia Looi

“Let’s not wonder what is happening but be part of making things happen” was the last sentence I read in Dr. D. Gary Young’s latest book, Ancient Einkorn, Today’s Staff of Life: Hybrid Grains, GMOs and Chemicals, Truth or Consequences.

In this book Dr. Gary, Young Living Essential Oils’ founder
• Takes us through his quest to find the ancient einkorn
• Shows the decline of nutrition
• Explains what is modern hybrid wheat
• Enlightens us on gluten
• Shows the importance of enzymes
• Teaches the many diseases and disorders triggered by hybrid gluten
• Explains what the silent killers are
• Takes us through the road to recovery and a healthy life

We all know that to understand ones passion we have to trace it to their experiences and upbringing. Dr. Young grew up in a small cabin without running water or electricity. His family lived in the harsh mountains near Challis Idaho. By the age of 12 his job was to drive a team of horses to cut the wheat and oats his father grew in the farm. They worked hard and ate off the produce of the land.

Two early driving forces that set him searching for answers to recovery and a healthy life were-
1. His mother’s constant battle with aches, pain, fatigue, depression and weight gain.
2. An accident that left him in a wheelchair, drugged and suicidal.

Why Einkorn?

Dr. Gary became curious about einkorn since 1990 when he stumbled upon a small farm in Hunza Land in Pakistan.

While attending Cairo University from 1991 to 1994, Dr. Young was fascinated with the reliefs and hieroglyphs on the walls. This fascination led him to the discovery of an Egyptian hieroglyph showing grain being harvested. These grains reminded him of how wheat looked like when he was a young boy.

The wheat he remembered were at least 38 to 42 inches tall just like the hieroglyph. But as a young adult the wheat he saw was only 14 to 18 inches. That perked his curiosity.

Were the constant aches and pains, depression, fatigue and weight gain his mother faced due to the type of grain she ate? What happened to those tall plants he remembered making grain teepees out of with his siblings?

What is einkorn?
According to Dr. Gary, einkorn is considered the ancient grain or the original wheat of man. Its botanical name is Triticum monococcum. The stocks are long and slender, and the kernels are oblong and flat and protected by a strong husk that clings to the kernels. It grows to about 4.5 to 5 feet tall.

Today’s common wheat only grows to 16 inches. The big difference is modern (dwarf) wheat has 42 chromosomes and einkorn has 1 genome and 14 chromosomes. It has the simplest genetic code and is easily grown organically in mountainous areas even in poor soil conditions.

It has low glycemic index, low gluten levels, two and half times richer in protein than commercial wheat, three times higher antioxidant, twice the vitamin A content of modern wheat, three to four times more beta carotene, four to five times more riboflavin, easily digested and is an ancient mineral-and-vitamin dense grain.

In ancient times farmers let the plants grow through stages of maturity. This process helped retain the plants natural enzymes, which made it easy to digest. These days, farmers harvest wheat according to their plans and convenience not Mother Nature’s plans.  Dr. Gary compared it to vine-ripened tomato and non-vine-ripened tomato.

“The non-vine-ripened tomato that tastes like cardboard and has a nutritional value of an egg crate.”

The decline in nutrition is not a new thing. It started about 2,000 years ago but the Industrial Age led to extensive hybridization, usage of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers on wheat and other grains. With that came grains depleted of enzymes that are important for digestion.

Drastic changes happened when Dr. Norman Borlaug created a wheat that increased production yield and was resistant to wheat fungus called rust.

The outcome of hybridized and genetically engineered grains-

Many are suffering from symptoms of wheat gluten intolerance like joint pains, weak immune system, digestive problems, celiac disease, fibromyalgia, gastritis, schizophrenia, autism, TDD and ANS disorders, bipolar, manic depression and many more chronic pains and dis-eases.

Even animals are showing similar symptoms.

One shocking result shows that modern wheat can turn into glucose three times faster than white sugar.

It also creates an acid condition and inflammation in the body.

It is highly addictive and causes cravings, which lead to problems like being overweight and obesity. In the book, Dr. Gary quoted Dr. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly about triathletes getting fat too even when they workout and eat fairly healthy.

What is gluten and why do you need gluten?

A direct quote from the book:
I don’t think that God would create nutritious grains, seeds, grasses, and other similar foods and not expect man to eat them; and surely He knew that through time, nature would crossbreed and make natural and nutritious variations of these foods as well.

The thing is, did God expect man to create unnatural crossbreeding in a lab?

Three important facts I learned from this book about gluten
• We are created to digest natural wild grasses like einkorn with 14 chromosomes
• The body may have extreme difficulty digesting and recognizing the hybridized 42-chromosome man-made wheat especially for those suffering from gluten sensitivity
• Not all gluten is toxic and bad, we need to know the difference

Gluten from man-made 42-chromosome wheat may be incompatible with the human body and may contribute to autoimmune diseases, interfere with the absorption of other nutrients, trigger gluten intolerance and a host of other problems related to sensitivity to gluten.

Ancient Einkorn

Food for thought from the book about gluten:

We cannot blame wheat gluten for the rapid increase of autism, but it is probably a contributing factor. (Page 61)

Enzymes deficiencies are a growing problem every day and, I believe, are another cause of gluten intolerance and celiac disease. (Page 77)

But what is important is that after we look at the evidence, study the science, and listen to other people, we make our own decision about what we feel is right for us, not what everyone else thinks is right for us. Experiment and if something works, then do it, irrespective of what science tells you; and if it continues to work, then it must be right for you. (Page 63)

Page 63’s statement is freeing… we are all built differently with different body types, blood groups and needs. Listen to your body and be in tune with your body. It doesn’t matter what age group you are in, taking care of our body with a healthier diet is essential for total wellness.

That will also include:
• Learning to read the ingredients on the label of the food you purchase
• Learning the difference between hybrid gluten and natural gluten
• Understanding our digestion processes and immunity
• Not all health foods in health food stores are chemical free and nutritious
• Staying away as much as possible from processed food, fat and sugar-laden gluten-free food, additives, colorants, dyes, unnatural ingredients, toxic chemicals, food stabilizers and food preservatives.
• Learning the importance of enzymes and why we cannot live without enzymes
• Not all gluten-free products are good for you
• Sugar-free doesn’t mean it is good for you because you may be consuming toxic artificial sweeteners
• The power of liver and gall bladder cleansing, taking good enzymes and enzyme supplementation and probiotics

Could your aching joints, headaches, foggy thinking, allergies, food sensitivities, dizziness, dragging feeling in the morning, candida problems, psoriasis, PMS, infertility, digestive issues, inflammation, anxiety, depression, mood swings, ADHD, constant tiredness, diabetes, fibromyalgia and chronic pains caused by the food you eat or don’t eat?

I learned that an average senior American citizen is polluted with over 700 synthetic chemicals and heavy metals. These chemicals and heavy metals are from household cleaning detergents, personal care products, air pollutants, pesticides, fertilizers, canned foods, recirculated airline air, prescription and over the counter drugs and food we prepare at home and eat at our favorite restaurants.

They are the silent killers!

Lots of important health nuggets are found Dr. Gary Young’s latest book.  I highly recommend this book if you are looking for ways to learn about wheat, gluten, enzyme and total wellness.

Now you can try two einkorn products at home:

Gary’s True Grit Einkorn Spaghetti 8 oz. (Item 5301)– this product contains 100% einkorn, non-GMO ingredients, no preservatives, never hybridized and unbleached. It is manufactured in a facility that also processes tree nuts, soy, peanuts, milk and egg products. It is suitable if you are looking for alternatives to modern wheat products and looking for nutritious pasta for your family.

Gary’s True Grit Einkorn Pancake and Waffle Mix (Item 5300)– finally a whole grain einkorn flour, brown rice flour, Amaranth flour, tapioca flour, Sorghum flour and Dhokla flour pancake and waffle mix. It comes in a 2 lb. box with suggested recipes.

To order simply follow this link or email us at info@starrhealth.com

Thoughts from Claudia Looi, the content writer at www.travelwritingpro.com

I am more convinced than ever that “we are what we eat” and our food is too processed and refined. I am allergic to American corn but was not allergic to corn when I ate it in Ecuador. My throat hurts and itches every time I eat breaded chicken nuggets, breaded shrimp or anything that has corn and wheat. Is there a relation between your discomfort/pain and the food you eat?

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Apr 10
0

“Gluten-Free” Kids’ Birthday Celebrations Around the World

By | Food, Gluten Intolerance, Kids, Sugar Addiction, Total Wellness | 4 Comments

In my quest to teach my children the art of eating well, I’ve decided to do less of sugar and more of wholesome foods. My two kids’ birthdays fall in the same month. As a total wellness doc and mom I’m always looking for alternatives to celebrate.

Birthday celebrations are synonymous to sweet treats, sugar laden birthday cupcakes, cakes and more sugary treats. What do you do if you are looking for ways to celebrate the special occasion of each child without indulging in sugar or baked goods? What if your children are gluten intolerant and suffer from sugar hangovers?

I asked these questions too. So I’m on a quest to seek out “gluten-free” kids’ birthday celebrations around the world.

Germany
In the Middle Ages the Germans came up with Geburtstagorten, the first birthday cake layered with sugar to celebrate Kinderfest – young children’s birthdays. In the 17th century birthday cakes became more elaborate with the introduction of icing and decorations. It was catered for the wealthy.

By the 18th century with the creation of modern cookware, birthday cakes became more affordable and were accessible to all consumers. (Source: Proflowers)

That was the origin of birthday cakes.

China
In the Chinese culture the actual birthday of a child is usually not celebrated in grand scale unless it is the child’s one month and one year birthday. These two days are celebrated with dyed red eggs. It is definitely a sugar-free occasion.

The Chinese believe that everyone turns a year older on Chinese New Year Day. “Birthdays” are celebrated on that day with new clothes, new shoes, new haircuts and children receive money in red packets.

On a child’s birthday, simple bowls of noodles are served during lunchtime because it symbolizes long life. The child in turn has to give respect to his or her parents and the elderly before given gifts of money.

Such tradition has been passed down for generations and the Chinese immigrants in parts of Asia like Malaysia and Singapore are still following the same traditions.

The Netherlands
According to BirthdayCelebrations.net, in Holland a child’s 5,10, 15, 20 and 21 birthdays are also known as crown years. They are the most important birthday celebrations. The birthday child receives gifts and family members decorate a birthday child’s chair at the dining room with seasonal flowers or paper streamers and balloons.

Have your heard of the term “go Dutch”? “Going Dutch” means you pay for yourself. A child will bring birthday treats to school to share with classmates and teachers. An adult celebrating his or her birthday is expected to bring and share a birthday cake, the slagroomtaart with the co-workers.

Slagroomtaart is a layered sponge cake with fresh fruit and whipped cream. It is not gluten-free.

The Maasai of Kenya and Tanzania
Africa is diverse in cultures and traditions. The Maasai tribe of Kenya and Tanzania celebrate their children through several rites of passage. They include birth, puberty, “warriorhood” for males and marriage for females.

Early in the morning on the child’s first birthday, the mother chooses a sheep or a cow and the men of the family slaughter the animal.

Then children and women wash themselves and put on the best beadwork outfits. Mother and birthday child will shave their heads. The elderly of the family is responsible in naming the child.

Next important celebration is puberty where circumcision is done. Boys celebrate this rite of passage between the age of 11 to 14 and the girls when they get their first period. You can read more about this from the Southern Nazarene University’s website.

Birthday for the Maasai tribe is more of celebrating the transition or different stages of a child’s life. It defines the moment of manhood, womanhood and responsibility.

Mexico
In Mexico, birthday celebrations include rice and beans for family and friends and a piñata hanging from a tree with treats for the children. No birthday parties are complete without the piñata.

The birthday child is blindfolded and given the honor to hit the piñata until it breaks and have all the goodies flow out. Children attending the birthday celebration will rush to pick up as much goodies as they can.

A children’s book about Rosa Maria, a grandma preparing a birthday party for her youngest grandchild called Arroz con frijoles y unos amables ratones (Rice and Beans and Some Friendly Mice by Pam Munoz Ryan) shows readers the art of slow cooking of rice and beans and an occasion that involves the whole family to celebrate an important day for a child.

Israel
Besides the importance of the 13th birthday, the second or third birthday of a child is important to the Jewish culture. It is celebrated because the child was weaned and the uncertain stage of infancy is over. According to Jewish Encyclopedia, Abraham made a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.

The Chabad organization suggests the birthday child find a quiet place to think about the past year – what went right and what should be fixed and spend time praying. They are to read the Psalms (Psalms according to their age, age 10=Psalms 10), study the Torah and share with friends what they learned.

The birthday celebration includes giving extra to charity, eating a new seasonal fruit, showing gratitude to God and getting the aliyah (blessings).

These days in cities and richer neighborhoods throughout the world, birthday cakes and candles are a norm for birthday celebrations. You can find them in China, Israel, Mexico and a handful of the Masaai tribe.

From this research I’ve learned two lessons that could be implemented at any home celebrating kids’ birthdays.

1. There is no right or wrong way of celebrating kids’ birthdays. We can adjust and make whatever suits our family’s needs. For families who choose to have gluten-free or sugar-free celebrations, there are now options to get gluten free cakes or sugar-free birthday cakes. Here is a sugar-free birthday cake recipe from Dr. Greene.

2. Birthdays are about creating family traditions and celebrating the rites of passage- a time to add affirmation and encouragement. It is also a time to celebrate the child and let him or her know how much you appreciate them and their growth. It is a perfect moment to speak words of life for the next year. Read more about rites of passage from Focus on the Family.

A friend shared about how she celebrated her children’s birthday. Other than the usual gifts and goodies, each member of the family will speak words of encouragement, even to a child who is three. Words like “John, I like how you have learned to share your toys with your brother, how you have learned to keep your toys away when asked and I also appreciate how you encourage me with kind words whenever I lose in our Uno games.”

Another friend has pictures of the birthday child throughout their life up all around and then Bible Scriptures that encourage the child. After the opening of gifts the adults and or kids will say a blessing over the birthday child.

How do you celebrate your kids’ birthdays? Please share. If you would like to know why we are so “hooked” on sugary treats, read more “10 Hidden Secrets Why You Can’t Get Your Hand Out of the Cookie Jar!”

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Mar 24
0

5 Healthy Flavors and Cancer Fighting Spices

By | cancer, Essential Oils, Food, Total Wellness | One Comment

They say “variety is the spice of life” but could spicing up your food make you healthier? During the past two decades, there has been substantial buzz about the different diet plans, good fats, ethnic foods and ways to add spices to our meals.

European, Asian, Arab and African traders traveled all over in search of spices like ginger, cardamom, black pepper, turmeric and more. Ancient Egyptians, Greco-Roman navigators, Columbus, Vasco da Gama and many other voyagers went on a quest to India, the islands in the Indian Ocean and China in search of spices.

Why did so many men risk their lives for great flavor? Spices were extremely valuable back then and even without the scientific research that we have today, I believe that the people innately knew that these spices were helpful to them. Now that we have the science, it’s even more important that we get some fresh preferably organic spices in our cooking and diet.

Here are five spices to add to your pantry:

Garlic
We are not referring to garlic powder but the real fresh garlic bulb. Garlic has been known to improve health and has medicinal power. Ancient Greeks munched on it raw for immunity. In fact, in recent years the Mediterranean diet that is filled with garlic and olive oil has been proven as a healthier diet.

Garlic has sulfur compounds called allicin that may improve cholesterol levels, prevent liver damage, helps colon health and improves blood pressure. It has antioxidant and detoxifying properties and contains Vitamin A, C and selenium.

You know that slimy garlic skin that is on the garlic after you peel a clove? Leave that on there, it’s where all the good stuff is. Also my trick for not having fingers that smell like garlic afterward handling it is I put a few drops of Young Living’s Lemon essential oil on my hands and fingers rub them together. It works great.

Cinnamon
Used for thousands of years in Egypt and Asia, cinnamon was a prized possession for traders. It was used for treating cough and sore throats, preserving meat during the spice trade era.

Today cinnamon is widely used for flavoring coffee and drinks, baked goods and cooked foods. It may aid digestion, fight congestion and is useful for diabetes and the anti-tumor properties may help fight cancer.

Young Living has Cinnamon Bark essential oil that has antiseptic properties and supports our body’s natural defenses. If you are going to cook with it or add it to oatmeal etc., just take a toothpick size drop.

Essential oils are very powerful but great. Recently Mary Simmons of Better Living Essentials turned me on to hot apple cider in a crockpot with Young Living’s Cinnamon Bark and Nutmeg essential oils… YUM! Warning… it’s got a little kick to it but it’s great!

Ginger
Ginger brings great flavors to foods and drinks and may help as anti-gas and antacid and relieves stomach distress, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion and bowel problems. You can get it in fresh, powdered or oil form. Like anything else, the therapeutic grade oil, fresh and raw product would retain its original properties.

Studies show that ginger has antimicrobial agent and has antioxidant, which may fight inflammation, fever, heal wounds and sores and stimulates circulation. Young Living Ginger essential oil has all the properties of fresh ginger.

Again if you are going to cook with it, use just a little tooth pic drop… Too much oil can ruin a recipe. Ask my husband about the Thanksgiving Pumpkin pie I cooked years ago when I first started cooking with essential oils… let’s just say it was FLAVORFUL.

Turmeric
Turmeric is widely used in Indian and Mediterranean cooking. According to the American Cancer Society,

“Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are compounds that can protect the body’s cells from damage caused by activated oxygen molecules known as free radicals. Laboratory studies have also shown that curcumin interferes with several important molecular pathways involved in cancer development, growth, and spread.”

Turmeric may protect our liver from toxins; lowers cholesterol levels and improves blood circulation. It has antibiotic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

Verda Jones of Jones Health Essentials gave me this tip: Take a tsp. of Coconut oil and an 1/8 -1/4 tsp. of Turmeric every day to ward off candida, colds, and flu. You can eat it straight, but we like to add these two to our scrambled eggs in the morning.

Here is a video on how to use turmeric for your cooking:

Cayenne Pepper
The right hot chili pepper in ethnic foods particularly Korean, Chinese and Thai is good for lungs, kidneys, heart and stomach. It may improve digestion, circulation, arthritis and cholesterol.

Cayenne pepper is rich in Vitamin C, B, E, beta carotene, folate, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

It’s a hard one for some to tolerate but it really is a phenomenal spice. It’s used in the Stanley Burrough’s Master Cleanse to help improve circulation and get the toxins out of the body. Cayenne pepper comes in different degrees of hotness if you purchase it directly in bulk from a health food store. Start with a lower number and work yourself up to the hotter.

Also if you can get to a health food store and buy FRESH BULK organic spices, that is best. Take them home and put them in your empty glass supplement containers and just re-label them.


If you have never used these spices, it may be tough to start using them. Start off with one spice at a time and before you know it, you may be reaching out to your pantry for the spices the next time you cook. And that may spruce up your life and health.

Do you have a recipe to share using any of the above spices? Let us know.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Jul 29
0

Bacon for Breakfast? Yes!

By | Food, Total Wellness | 3 Comments

bacon

Do you eat breakfast? Or do you skip this very important meal? I am meeting more and more people who say to me, “I can’t eat breakfast.”, “I am not hungry for breakfast.”, “It makes me sick to eat in the morning.”. YIKES! These individuals don’t have a clue what they are doing to their bodies. Skipping breakfast is a BIG NO NO. The body needs fuel not starvation and the quickest way to gain weight is to go long periods of time without eating. Did you know that the sumo wrestlers gain all their weight by actually not eating all day and then binge eating one meal? YIKES!

Well I have several favorites when it comes to breakfast. Our family indulges in 1-2 times a month in bacon, fried eggs and grits. It is so delicious especially when you break the yokes and mix your eggs with the grits and then break up your bacon in the mix. It is a delicious blend of salty creamy goodness.  (Can you tell I am hungry?)

Traditional bacon gives me a headache and I am not the only one. Many people suffer from migraines because of all the MSG, monosodium glutamate in traditional bacon. Some know this is the cause and others just think they are getting a headache. When we found this Applegate Sunday Bacon with no MSG, and made without antibiotics or other junk I was very happy and lo and behold NO HEADACHES after eating this bacon. I had some friends and clients test it out too and they agree they can eat this bacon when they can’t eat traditional bacon.

Although you will spend more on this bacon and there is less in each package than normal bacon, it really is worth it.  It’s delicious! The smaller portion will be better for your waistline too.

In this video I will give you three quick recipes you can make with just 1 package of bacon. Also check your local wholesale grocery stores. Our local BJ’s here in Central NY has a 3 pack of Applegate Bacon for less than $10 which saves you about 4 dollars off of what you would pay if you bought them individually. I know some of our readers are struggling financially and wondering how they can eat healthily and buy organic and cleaner food that is more costly then the conventional foods. In this video I will show you how to STRETCH your BACON BUCKS. LOL!

Share your favorite bacon recipes with us in the comment section below.

For your Total Wellness,

Dr Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Jul 25
0

Unlocking The Mystery of Protein Powder Including Benefits, Tips and Recipes

By | Food, Total Wellness | No Comments

protein

Proteins powders are found in our local grocery stores, health food stores, local gyms or health clubs and online. What are they anyway? How do you know which is the best for you?

Everybody is different. What may work for me may not be that great for you especially if you have food allergies, a sensitive stomach or you are a vegan. I believe in quality over quantity for protein powder. Let’s look at the different types of protein powders and why we need protein.

According to Kidshealth.org:

Protein builds, maintains and replaces the tissues in your body. Your muscles, organs and immune system are made up mostly of protein. Protein is used to make hemoglobin, the red blood cells that carry oxygen to every part of your body. It is also used to build cardiac muscle (heart muscle) and every moving part of our body including protecting us from diseases.

We get protein from food like fish, chicken, beef, eggs, beans, lentils and milk products. Proteins are made of amino acids and there are 20 different amino acids. Our body needs amino acids for the functions discussed above but the food that we eat may not have those essential amino acids to build strong muscles and a healthy body.

How much protein do we need? Here is a chart taken from CDC’s website:

chart

And when I was pregnant, my midwife recommended a minimum of 75 grams of protein a day but ideally 100 grams.

To help us understand the amount, CDC gave the following example:

One cup of dry beans has 16 grams of protein
A 3-ounce piece of meat has 21 grams of protein

Find out more by going to their website.

There are many types of protein powder made from different types of protein. Some are made of soy protein, whey protein, hydrolyzed whey protein, egg protein, beef protein and plant protein like brown rice or peas. Some of the protein powders in stores could be made mostly of carbohydrates with a small percentage of protein or some may be filled with lots of fat that your body shouldn’t have. Usually if it’s a huge tub of protein powder and it costs less than 30 dollars it isn’t quality protein powder.

Here are my top three favorite protein powders:

Beachbody’s Chocolate Shakeology
I like my shakes with about half of the recommended dosage and some people with sensitive stomachs cannot handle this delicious protein powder. Shakeology contains more than 70 natural ingredients including nutrient-dense whole foods.

Chocolate lovers will enjoy Beachbody’s Chocolate Shakeology.

Garden of Life Raw Protein
You can purchase Garden of Life Raw Protein from Whole Foods Market. This raw protein has a neutral taste and is an excellent foundation for a high protein energy shake or smoothie.

It is suitable for anyone who is practicing vegan or vegetarian diets, has food allergies, is sensitive to milk or needs low carbohydrate diets.

Power Meal 

Power meal
Power Meal is a meal replacement formulated for the vegetarian diet. It is a low-fat, rice-based meal rich in calcium, antioxidants and amino acids. It has 20 grams of protein per serving and has a complete vitamin, mineral and enzyme profile. It is my favorite because I can live on this protein powder and know that I am getting all the nutrients needed for the day.

This whole-grain brown rice protein is rich in selenium, manganese and phenolics, dairy-free, allergen-free and easily absorbed in the body. Not only is it delicious, it is one of the most effective ways to add to a weight management program.

The benefits of Power Meal includes:

1. It is dairy and allergen-free
2. Helps build muscle mass
3. Contains a multi-nutrient meal replacement complex
4. Provides sustained energy release
5. Enhances natural detoxification process
6. Formulated for a vegetarian diet
7. Supplies 20 grams of protein per serving
8. Supports healthy and normal cholesterol level
9. Helps overall health for those with weight management or fitness goals

I have used Power Meal in many different ways. Some of the most basic ways to consume Power Meal is to add two scoops to 8-10 oz. of cold water or drink of your choice. Shake, stir or blend and drink. You can add fruits or essential oils to your shake.

It’s my favorite of all the Protein Powders because you can LIVE on IT! Meaning if that’s all you ate you would get plenty of nutrition. I remember this one day I was in Pittsboro, NC and got a phone call at 7:30am asking if I could do Chiropractic for these Rock Bands at an all day event in Batavia NY the next morning.

I made the decision that I would do it and got in my car with water, a shaker bottle Power Meal and NingXia Red. I drove 14 hours straight, got only 4 hours of sleep and worked 12 hours the next day. I know that those Power Meal shakes kept me going and gave me a ton of energy.

When at home I make this delicious shake for my growing toddler, husband and I. I call it the Vitality Shake. I modified it from my friend Jennifer Crippen’s Adrenal Shake.


1 Cup of Coconut milk or Coconut Almond Milk (some people like just water or Almond milk Base)
1 scoop Powermeal by Young Living
1 cup Dark Berries
2 TBSP  Flax Seeds Ground / Flax Meal
½ of Ripe Avacado
1 tsp of Cream of TarTar
5 half droppers of Mineral Essence by Young Living
½ – 2 cups of Water depending on how thick you want your shake

You can also add more favorites like kale for more green nutrition etc. I would recommend staying away from sweet carby fruits like bananas and peaches although I have been known to add those sometimes too.


You can get a bag of Organic Triple Berry Blend at BJ’s wholesale club for $9.99 here in Central NY.  This is a really good deal of these delicious organic berries.

Triple 3 Adrenal Support


If you are stressed out, then you really need these 3 ingredients in the Vitality Shake. They help support our adrenal glands that become depleted after periods of stress and can lead to some serious health crisis if depleted for long periods of time.

I love this Vitality Shake. It is so delicious and makes for an amazing meal replacement or snack. In fact my mouth is watering just writing this. You will find over time your body will crave the good nutrients in this shake.

Protein powders are not just for athletes, body builders or growing teens. It is great for moms, dads or anyone who wants to include healthy protein, minerals and vitamins into their daily diet.

To me Power Meal is one of the most satisfying, delicious and complete plant-based protein powders. When I make a shake or smoothie, I need to know that I have the protein, vitamins, minerals and essential oils all delivered in one glass for a busy mom of a baby and toddler.

Today I am making it easier for you to get yours without membership. Just click BUY NOW and you will receive your Power Meal in a few days.

Power meal

And if you want the minerals too to support your adrenal glands you can purchase them here too.

mineral essence

Power Meal/ Mineral Essence Combo SAVE BIG – $87

Purchase both Power Meal and Mineral Essence and you can SAVE SAVE SAVE

Save over $21 dollars!

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Apr 18
0

Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip: Preparing and Freezing Food

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

busy pregnant momma prep tip

When I had Joshua my mother in law flew in about 2 weeks before he was born. She helped us get organized, get the rooms ready and most of all cooked and froze about 12 meals for us. It was great.

As I am becoming a little more domestic or should I say as I am hanging out with some domestic friends like www.betterlivingessentials.com mom, Mary Simmons.  I have learned that you can actually prep up to 20 freezer meals including shopping and cooking all in one day.

Really… with the use of a crockpot and freezer there are ways to prepare for times when you won’t be able to cook way in advance for many days. It involves planning and preparation but it is doable.

Here is a video tip about freezer food. Go to my website to view it.

Enjoy,

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
The Total Wellness Doc and Mom

***********************************

Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip: Preparing and Freezing Food

Preparing meals ahead of time is ideal for a busy pregnant momma and any momma who has young children. It sounds difficult but it is possible. There are books devoted to ways to prepare, cook and freeze meals.

In this video Busy Pregnant Momma Prep Tip – Freezer and Food, I will show you how I am preparing meals for my family during this busy season of my life.

Here are six things you need to get started:

One: A meal plan that includes favorite foods, balanced diet and easy to freeze food.

Two: Shopping list that includes healthy ingredients and enough ingredients for preparation. Combination of ingredients and buying meat, vegetables and other ingredients in bulk can save you time and money.

Three: Make sure you have space in your freezer and that your freezer is in workable condition.

Four: Get functional containers of all sizes for storing your prepared food. In the video I share which containers I use to freeze my food.

Five: Have the whole family or good friends involved in preparation, cooking and freezing process.

Six: Keep all your prepared food safe, labeled and packaged well. You don’t want to consume stale or contaminated food.

Enjoy the video and let me know how it has helped you. Please comment below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Apr 04
0

How to Stop Gaining Weight and Stay Healthy While Cruising

By | Food, Losing Weight, Nutritional Supplements, Total Wellness, Weight Loss | No Comments

“Just picture a great big steak, fried, roasted or stewed…Oh…wonderful food, marvelous food, glorious food!” What an irony to think of a scene from Oliver the 1969 musical, based on a book written by Charles Dickens called Oliver Twist when looking at the abundance of food served in the buffet lounge of the Norwegian Cruise Line.

Cruising is synonymous to buffet meals and overeating. According to a fitness coach on the Norwegian Sun, the average person gains one to two pounds per day on a cruise. Which means, if you are on an eleven-day cruise you would have the potential of gaining 22 pounds.

Hedonic eating happens while cruising because food is readily available, free, and comes in great variety. We eat for enjoyment and entertainment as well and its no wonder almost eighty percent of us are overweight.

So when we saw the sign up sheet outside the gym on the first full day of our cruise for “Detox for health and weight loss” we immediately signed up. It was definitely worth the one hour of lecture.

Walking out of the lecture we discovered the trilogy of good health- exercise, nutrition and detox. Here are five ways we keep the weight off while we cruise:

One: No soda or sugared water

Absolutely no sugar water in our 11-day diet because each can of soda or sweet tea contains about 40 grams (4 tablespoons) of fructose corn syrup or sugar. Do you know it takes 36 cups of water to drain out all the acidity from a can of soda? Our body may be sick and tired because of the acidity and toxicity from the food and drinks we consume.

You save money and calories when you drink just water while cruising. Water has the ability to hydrate and flush out toxins from our body.

In addition, we also had 2 oz. packets of NingXia Red per person per day with our water.

Two: High fiber food

stay healthy while cruising

Constipation is one of the main problems in America today. What we put in must come out but some people are finding it hard to do so. If we eat three meals a day, it means 21 meals in a week. If we go to the bathroom once a day, we are left with 14 meals still in our gut.What if you don’t go once a day?

Toxins are built up when food is stored in our body if it is not being eliminated daily. Toxicity and acidity are poisons to our liver and whole body. Eating fruits and vegetables in every meal is essential. Most of those huge bellies we have may be due to stored up waste. Our guts are overflowing and they are making us sick. In the “Oliver” musical, the kids sang about three banquets a day and indigestion.

Take a look at some of the glorious breakfast, lunch and dinner I took with my iPhone:
stay healthy while cruising
stay healthy while cruising
Three: Exercise

We took every opportunity to jog and walk every day. All cruise ships have well-equipped gyms and exercise programs like yoga, stretching, bicycling and Pilates. Usage of gym is free but for a small fee of $10 to $15 per person anyone can join the daily exercise programs.Swimming is another form of exercise onboard a cruise ship. You could even hire a personal trainer for your daily workout.

Four: Nutritional Supplements

We brought nutritional supplements even on a cruise. Three essential supplements that we used daily were NingXia Red wolfberry drink, Life 5 Probiotic and Essentialzyme.

These products help with digestion and promote energy in our body and mind. NingXia Red is a superfruit supplement containing essential oil and puree wolfberry. We take it for the antioxidant and phytonutrients that help provide natural energy supply and aid with liver health. Essentialzyme helps with digesting the over abundance of protein we consumed every day during cruising. It helps balance our body’s overall enzyme activity and digestive health. Last but not least is Life 5 probiotic that supports core intestinal health.

Five: Take the stairs and take a walk (don’t eat the bread)

Instead of taking the elevators, walk the stairs. Walk after every meal and let go of as much carb as possible particularly any type of bread including whole wheat bread.

After 11 days of good food and great life, I gained three pounds. I guess that is really not bad considering I overate and had dessert for lunch and dinner everyday. What do you think of cruises and weight gain?

 

 

 

Claudia Looi is an online copywriter, travel writer and web content writer. She has traveled to more than 30 countries and is currently traveling in South America with her husband and two teens for nine months. You can find out how she could travel and work at the same time from her Free Report: Tips to Having Money and Time to Travel.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Mar 25
0

Diet: Olive Oil and Olives

By | Food, Total Wellness | No Comments

In my research of understanding my husband’s high cholesterol I found that olive oil and olives were actually beneficial for lowering his cholesterol. Seems like it would be the opposite, but good fats are important to our health.

Today, my friend and colleague Mike “the miracle” Welch will be teaching us about olives. Mike is a pretty amazing man who has overcome stage IV bladder cancer and now teaches others about healthy lifestyles. He is an excellent resource for many. Make sure you check out his website and keep it in your records.  http://www.mikethemiraclewelch.com

For your Total Wellness,

Dr. Mary Starr Carter

the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

***************************************

olives

The other day when I was in the local grocery store, I overheard a number of people talking about olive oil. I got to thinking with all the negative comments that were being made about this particular item, people were really concentrating on the word “oil” and that turns the thoughts of fats that are bad for an individual’s health.

The fats that are considered bad for the diet, however, tend to be saturated fats. The fats in olive oil are monounsaturated fatty acids, and these are considered healthy dietary fats. In addition, unlike other cooking oils, olive oil production doesn’t require a chemical process. Instead, the olives are pressed; the first pressing produces extra-virgin olive oil.

“Olive oil, especially extra-virgin olive oil, is a smart choice for people who enjoy a delicious oil with potential health benefits,” says Dr. D. Myers and “studies indicate that moderate consumption of olive oil may lower a person’s blood pressure and total cholesterol numbers which is especially beneficial for heart health.”

When Dr. Myers first began studying the benefits of olives and olive oil through Harvard Medical School, he didn’t realize how beneficial this particular item was.  He says, “Initially, I was surprised to learn that olive products can be so healthy, in fact studies have even linked olive oil to possibly lowering the risk of some cancers.”

Here’s what’s in olives that make them so good:
Olives are rich in iron, vitamin E (which is a fat soluble antioxidant that neutralizes damaging free radicals) and copper. In addition, they are an excellent source of fiber and are rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties.

Olives also add flavor to all kinds of food and can be used in almost any meal from veggie omelets at breakfast to sandwiches at lunch and fish dishes at dinner.

There are black and green olives. Green olives are the unripe olives and the black are fully ripe. All olives found in grocery stores are either oxidized, pickled or cured. They may come in water, oil, brine or dry. According to Musco Family Olives Company, olives straight from the tree are too bitter to eat without some kind of curing.

For good and healthy olive recipes, please check out Whole Foods’ website.

If you are shopping in your grocery stores for olive oils, you may notice words like “Premium extra virgin”, “Extra virgin” and “Mild or Light Virgin”. The mild and light virgin oils have undergone extreme processes to make it suitable for cooking. However most of the natural aroma and goodness may be filtrated.

Top quality olive oils like the Premium extra and extra virgin are natural, full of aroma and are suitable uncooked. In Napa Valley California, you can go for wine tasting tours if you are a wine enthusiast but did you know that olive oil tasting tours are also available?

You get different types and grades of olive oils, dip in bread or sip the oils without feeling tipsy and you can still drive after hours of tasting.

Spice up your daily meals by adding olive oil and olives into your diet. Leave us a comment below.

mike

Mike the miracle Welch, cancer survivor, health coach, author of Cancer: How I Beat It, speaker and Harley Davidson enthusiast. For more information on how to talk to your medical doctor about natural remedies, please download this free audio by Mike.

 

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Mar 21
0

How To Use Netflix To Learn Everything You Need To Know About Local Food In A Weekend

By | Food | No Comments

I love Netflix. About a year ago we were given a TV after not having TV for almost 2 years. But we realized there were some really educational shows on PBS in the morning, Super Why and Sesame Street being 2 we like, that would help our son learn his letters, numbers, phonics and words. And also kept him busy for 20 minutes at a time so I could finish my morning routine. So we decided against cable and just have a few channels including PBS and also got Netflix because they also have educational videos, Veggie Tales, and our Star Trek Series we like to watch some nights.

But I soon learned Netflix also has some great documentaries. I have gotten a great deal of motivation from the Business of Being Born and the 4 part series they did all about the pros and cons of home birth. I also have really loved learning about food and health. My friend Courtney Sullivan of Food Medicine Children has recently written a great article called ‘How To Use Netflix To Learn Everything You Need To Know About Local Food In A Weekend’.

I think you will really enjoy her article and if you get Netflix or try it out for a month, be sure to watch of few of her recommendations. It will really help motivate you to be healthier. It did for me.

Here is the link to her article: http://www.foodmedicinechildren.com/netflix-learn-local-food-weekend/

 

For your Total Wellness,

the Total Wellness Doc and Mom (of 2)

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Mar 07
0

Tips and Benefits of Living and Cooking Without a Microwave

By | Food | One Comment

cooking without a microwave

My friend was looking about my kitchen. “Where’s your microwave?”, they asked. I don’t have one.  WHAT?! YOU DON’T HAVE A MICROWAVE? No, we got rid of it about 5 years ago and haven’t missed it. “How do you live without a microwave?” she asked. I said easily…

Back in 2000 when I started down the road of natural health I would get an earful about microwaves from my mentor Kathy Kouwe. Microwaves and diet soda were two things Kathy told everyone she met to get rid of. Later I would attend some Natural Health Expos in Toronto, Canada and learn about raw food, cooking food to preserve their nutrients, and eating healthy. Microwaves didn’t have a place in our health regimen anymore. Although I did keep 2 at the office to warm up my hot packs I used in my sessions.

Think twice about warming your food in the microwave. I know it’s more dishes to wash but in the long run if you continue to use it I believe it will contribute to more health problems.

Think about it.

Dr. Mary Starr Carter
the Total Wellness Doc and Mom

*********************************************

The term “microwave society” was coined about 20 years ago. It refers to a generation who wants things done instantaneously and right now. In fact, living and cooking with a microwave is a perfect way to describe how most of us want our food quick and easy.

Other than the TV the microwave is the second appliance most homes have. Interestingly, they did not exist when I was young but I remember they came into our home right about the same time all these Weight Watcher and Lean Cuisine frozen dinners did. Imagine what did the frozen food aisle look like before microwaves.

Many have written about the negative effects of microwave cooking and how the fast oscillating electromagnetic energy is bad for food and health. You may have even done the experiment when water is microwaved and then used to water a plant versus just tap water. The microwaved water kills the plant.

Rather than writing about the bad, here are tips and benefits of living and cooking without a microwave:

One: Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables in their natural state, without cooking retain their natural goodness. Cooked food according to some raw food experts will add acidic toxins faster than what our body can eliminate.

Raw foodists believe that cooking above temperatures higher than 115 to 118 degrees leaches enzymes and vitamins necessary for proper digestion. I am not a raw foodist but eating lots of fruits and vegetables in our daily diet will definitely help promote good health.

The minerals, vitamins and fiber found in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, Type II diabetes, obesity and many other diseases.

They are also convenient to eat in any meal, good for grab-and-go and are readily available. When choosing fruits and vegetables for your family, remember to go for all colors- yellow, orange, red, purple, blue, green and white. Each color represents a certain type of nutrient good for our health.

Two: Eat eggs
Eggs are cheap and easy to prepare. You can boil, poach, scramble or fry an egg. They are nutrient-dense and provide Vitamin D, choline, calcium, folate, selenium, iron and protein.

The American Heart Association (AHA) in 2000 gave eggs the green light as a good source of protein, vitamins and nutrients. It also ruled out eggs’ bad reputation. One large egg contains only 213 mg of cholesterol.

Here is my boiled egg and some suggestions from readers on how to use them in salads:

1. Use black olives, sea salt pepper, cilantro, red onion, turmeric – A.L.
2. Just add curry powder to suit your taste! -A.K.
3. Mayo, salt, and pepper! I serve it on one piece of toasted Ezekiel bread along with salad greens and tomato slices! -J.B.
4. Add some curry spice along with a bit of mayo, & mustard. -N.M.
5.I do Greek yogurt, a tiny bit of mayo and fresh dill little sea salt and pepper. Then you get the added benefit of protein and yogurt. It’s good i like it. –A.K.
6. Just add an avocado. –M.R.

Three: Cook from scratch
Slow cooking with a slow cooker is a great way to prepare meals from scratch. It saves time and money too. Your food will be warm when you are ready to eat. You can read about it here: Slow Cooker Suppers for Busy Moms and Pregnant Mothers.

A good Dutch oven can help make a good stew on a stovetop. The tight-fitting lid of Dutch ovens (heavy cast-iron with enameled coating or stainless steel pots) help retain the flavors and nutrients.

Four: Invest in good pots and pans
Ever heard of the right tool for the right job or you are only as good as your tools? It is the same for your kitchen. The right type of pots and pans will do wonders to the time spent in the kitchen and the flavor it brings.

Don’t forget to invest in herbs, spices and basic ingredients for home cooking.

Five: Eliminate processed and pre-packaged foods
Since the creation of the microwave, food companies saw a need for pre-packaged foods. Some call it ‘TV dinner’. The only requirement for preparation is a microwave.

Most pre-packaged food contains trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, salt, refined grains and preservatives.

Six: Meal Plan
The hardest part when preparing meals for the family is “what do I cook tonight?” Having a meal plan is essential for busy families like ours and helped me take out the ‘figuring out’ or needing to get to the grocery store more than needed.

I use eMeals to help me plan my meals. eMeals helps me choose a plan according to our eating style, family size and favorite grocery store. Every week we receive our meal plan in our inbox complete with seven simple, family-friendly dinner recipes including entrées and side dishes. I receive a detailed shopping list including sales from selected grocery stores. Most importantly, we get to enjoy healthy home-cooked meals.

Think you can’t live without a microwave? Think again. You can do it. Do you have any tips on preparing meals without using the microwave? Let us know by commenting on our Facebook page.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Jan 28
0

Chia Seeds: The Health Benefits and Best Ways to Use Chia In Your Diet

By | Food, Total Wellness | 2 Comments

chia pet

Remember the TV commercial “chi chi chi chia”… the terracotta head that grew green hair overnight or the chia pet? Chia seeds originated in South America amongst ancient Mayan and Aztec people. It was a staple in their diet and is grown for commercial purposes in Bolivia, Mexico and Australia today.

Here is a list of nutritional facts for Chia seed taken from Bob’s Red Mill’s website:

chia seeds

Chia seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants, fiber, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc, niacin, phosphorus and protein. There is no cholesterol and it helps the body digest and break down carbohydrates.

Studies show that insects do not like Chia plants. So it is naturally easy to grow Chia plants without chemicals.

Chia seeds don’t deteriorate fast and can be stored for a long time. You don’t need to grind them to get the nutritional value. They are extremely versatile, mild flavor, easy to use and can be eaten in many ways. Our readers have contributed to some of the ideas in ways to use Chia seeds everyday.

Here are some comments:

Amanda F:
I put them in my shakes and sometimes in my salad — just mix them into your dressing. (My fave: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, spicy or quality mustard, garlic, and chia seeds mixed together)

Kelly B.:
I love them on my salads and in my oatmeal. I also have just started making chia pudding, which is YUMMY!

Cheryl B:
Love them…you can add to yogurt or oatmeal! I add them to my shakes all the time too.

Charla A.:
Sprinkle some in salads.

Deanna K.:
I love chia “pudding”! With chocolate coconut or almond milk

Julie B.:
Some people will add a small amount of chia seeds to their water, ~1 tsp. per liter, to help enhance hydration.

Linda Q.:
I just ground some up in my coffee mill and tossed them in oatmeal after it was cooked, along with some flax seeds.

Nancy S.:
Great in cereal, yogurt and salads

Charity K.:
I use Chia in EVERYTHING!

Deborah H.:
I like to put a little in my water with EO’s.

Bruce G.:
I use them in the following smoothie: 2 cups coconut milk, 1 cup frozen strawberries, 1 Tbs of Chia seeds, handful of pecans, 1 tsp of cinnamon.

Tolly O.:
I add them to oatmeal, cereal, and recently threw them into my spaghetti sauce to add some protein since I just didn’t feel like meat that night. You couldn’t even tell they were in there! It was great.  So versatile.

Mary C.:
Love Chia in my shakes and smoothies!

Monique M,
I stir it in almond and Coconut milk 1/2 a Cup and 2 tablespoon of Chi…. put it in the Fridge and have it as Desert …Make sure you stir well before popping in Fridge.

Meddy J,:
Soak overnight in orange juice, then blend with frozen peaches, a bit of coconut milk and a scoop of protein. Or use like poppy seeds!

Catharine S.:
In water jug!

I found out that when you combine Chia seeds with water, it becomes gel-like in about 10 minutes. So, if a cake recipe asks for 2 eggs, you can replace the eggs with 2 tablespoons of Chia seeds in 6 tablespoons of water. Let it sit till it becomes a gel and add with other ingredients.

Here is a modified recipe from Bob’s Red Mill:

High Protein Apple Dip
1 sliced apple
1 mashed banana
2 Tbsp. Young Living’s Pure Protein Complete
1 Tbsp. peanut butter
1 pinch cinnamon
Mix together and ready to dip.

This recipe was contributed by Robin Van Sickel on Bob’s Red Mill’s website. We substituted soy protein powder with Young Living’s Pure Protein Complete.

Easy Granola for breakfast:

2 cups organic old fashioned oats
½ cup chia seeds
¼ cup coconut flakes
¼ cup chopped walnuts
¼ cup coconut oil
½ cup honey
1 tsp. cinnamon
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine all ingredients. Place on oiled cookie sheet. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

Eating healthier has never been easier with the availability of different types of seeds and nuts. Three things that stand out with Chia seeds are

1. The plant repels insects, which means they are possibly being grown naturally and organically.
2. The nutritional value of the seeds.
3. The seeds are so versatile and easy to use either raw or cooked.

Try out the recipes today and let us know how it turns out. Leave your comment below or share this post with your friends and family.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

Nov 08
0

Slow Cooker Suppers For Busy Moms and Pregnant Mothers

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Pregnancy, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | 5 Comments

I’m a mom of a two year old and carrying a baby in my womb. Making a healthy meal could be a huge task when you have to juggle between business, home and being pregnant.

Who wants to labor in the kitchen after working, taking care of kids’ activities, laundry, cleaning everyday? One of the most convenient, least time consuming and easy ways to create a healthy meal for the whole family is through slow cooking.

Picture this: putting all the healthy ingredients in a pot, set the timer and temperature and the aroma fills your home all day. Mouth-watering stews are ready for you when you are up from a nap, walk or work, your supper is waiting for you. No cold food, but warm comfort food waiting for you to devour with your family.

Here are four reasons why slow cooker suppers are the best ways to cook for busy moms:

One: Save time
All you need is the preparation time of rinsing, cutting and chopping the ingredients and adding them all in the slow cooker. Select the number of hours for cook time and dinner will be ready before you know it.

Two: Save energy
It definitely uses less electricity than the conventional oven or stovetop.

Three: No spilling or burnt food


Have you seen my burnt toast lately? Even toasted bread gets burnt sometimes with busy moms who need to attend to little kid’s needs. Your food will not spill or burn when you use a slow cooker.

Four: Less cleaning
You are only using one pot, chopping board and a knife. There is less cleaning to do like several pots, utensils, plates and bowls to hold cut meat and vegetables. Slow cooking allows you to place all your ingredients into the cooker without the need for multiple plates and bowls to hold raw meat and uncooked vegetables.

Most importantly, the whole family gets a healthy meal without compromising on time and effort. I’ve got a healthy Butternut Squash Barley Risotto recipe from GoodHousekeeping.com that I would like to share with you.

The preparation time is only 15 minutes and 235 calories per serving. Here are the ingredients:

2 tablespoons butter (can be substituted)
2 shallots, thinly sliced
2 fresh thyme sprigs (can be substituted with dried thyme)
2 cups pearl barley
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 large butternut squash about 2 ½ pounds, peeled, seeded, cut into ½ inch cubes
Salt and pepper
1 oz. Parmesan cheese grated about 2/3 cups
2 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Please get the entire recipe from the website.

A slow cooker could be a busy mom’s secret weapon for healthy homemade food. We have control on the type of ingredients we add into the pot and watch what we eat everyday. Do you have a slow cooking recipe to share? We would love to hear from you.  

The Best Slow Cooker recipe wins a TOTAL WELLNESS special gift! Send us your recipe from November 8th – November 28th and the best tasting and healthiest recipe wins.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Oct 29
0

Healthy Smoothies and Snacks Kids and Parents Love Without The Extra Sugars

By | Food, Mommy Tips, Sugar Addiction, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

Will you be supercharged by sugar filled drinks and snacks this season or will it be filled with immune-boosting healthy drinks and snacks? There is no way we can totally eliminate sugar from our diet especially during this time of the year.

As you prepare your kids with costumes and treats to giveaway, I would like to share with you a video I did last year:

Read our article on Healthy Halloween Tips.

Like so many families, we want to be a great example to our children when it comes to the way we live and eat. Still, occasionally we don’t follow through. How about you? We give ourselves grace and room to improve each day.

I’ve found out the best way to stay and eat healthy is to have three meals and two to three snacks a day. This plan will help improve your mood, energy and overall healthy eating habits without room for binging.

Here are some smoothies and snack ideas for you:

I found this smoothie recipe online called Popeye Smoothie:
1 tbsp. honey or substitute Agave, Yacon Syrup, or a hint of Stevia
1 tsp. peanut butter or almond butter
1-cup strawberries
1 cup Greek yogurt plain
1 small banana
2 tbsp. ground almond or flax
2 cups spinach or kale or collards

A friend on Facebook, Anna Enders Noblit makes applesauce with Thieves essential oil. You can be creative and use Young Living essential oils with fruits and preparing healthy snacks.

For a creative way of using avocado and Young Living essential oils, check out Tara Rayburn’s website.

One of our readers, Claudia and her kids love Coconut-Pineapple smoothie (found in Family Circle Magazine July 2012 issue). Here is the recipe:

2 cups fresh pineapple chunks (freeze for 3 hours)
1 17oz. coconut water (found in store, we use Vita Coco)
2 Chobani pineapple flavored Greek yogurt
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes (or unsweetened)
1 6oz. can pineapple juice

Fruits and vegetables are great snacks for kids and adults. Most store bought snacks are filled with high levels of sugar, trans fat, fats, sodium, additives, coloring, and chemicals and artificially flavored.

Huffington Post has a list of 12 worst Halloween candy and snacks we absolutely must avoid. They are flavored Tootsie Rolls, Smarties, Good and Plenty, Candy Corn, Dots, Now and Later, Strawberry Hard Candy, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Wax Bottle, Hershey’s Symphony, Necco Wafers and Mary Janes. (Source: Huffington Post October 17, 2012)

Do you have one of those in your pantry ready to give out as treats? Think again. As much as we want our family to eat healthy, what we give out to our neighborhood children is important too. Many of our children are living dangerously because of unhealthy snacks and drinks.

All of us have a role to play when we give out treats. If have a healthy recipe or treat to share go to my Facebook page and let me and our readers know what it is.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Aug 23
0

Back to School: Lunch Specials for Kids

By | Food, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | 3 Comments

There are still plenty of discussions about what is best for our children’s lunch menu at school. School boards across the nation have been making efforts to make lunches healthier for years, but do our children make the right choice when they are at that lunch line?

With the beautiful packaging and foods that they don’t eat at home, the array of school lunches offered could entice just any child. Even a well discipline kid may not pick the nutritious selections. Depending on school lunch, vending machines or convenience foods from stores can disrupt our kids’ good eating habits.

Will you be packing lunch or giving your kids money for their lunch this school year?

Average school lunch price in the nation is $2.46 with high school student paying more. If you have 3 school age students, you will be paying $22.14 if they purchase school lunches 3 times a week.

Bad news is, there is a lot of fat, salt, sugar and preservatives found in the foods and drinks served in the school lunch lines. The American Heart Association reported that 1 in every 3 American kids and teens are obese. It has tripled since 1963.

Packing lunch can be the best way to eat healthier and save money on food. You choose what goes inside the lunch box or bag. It is critical for kids to have protein, whole grains, vitamins and the fiber in their diet. Lunches filled with preservatives, sugar, salt and fat may cause kids to feel tired after lunch and may lose their focus in school.

In his documentary series, Food Revolution, Jaime Oliver showed that when kids were given a choice they would pick French fries and chocolate milk over the healthier alternatives.  Many overweight kids were not helped by school lunches but the high calories added to their obesity and food addictions. And we all know that overweight kids get teased, which cripples their self image.

Here is a list of lunch items that can be included in your child’s lunch box. We list them according to the food groups. You can mix and match and have a great lunch menu for weeks:

Fruits and vegetables:
Carrot sticks
Grape tomatoes
Peas
Celery
Edamame (soybean in the pod found in Costco, BJs and Sam’s Club)
Salad
Grapes
Apples
Peaches
Clementines
Berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries)
Bananas

Protein/Calcium:
Almond butter
Peanut butter
Variety of cheeses
Cottage cheese
Greek yogurt
Yogurt plain with fruit and nuts
Home cooked chicken, turkey or beef (stew or soup)
Home baked chicken and turkey for sandwiches

Carbohydrates:
Variety of wraps
Whole grain bread
Pita bread
Tortilla
Pasta
Rice

Fun snacks:
Raisins
Favorite healthy cookies (home made or store bought)
Beef or turkey jerky (home made or store bought no nitrates)
Animal crackers (whole grain)
Dried fruits
Nuts (almonds, walnuts)
Granola with dark chocolate pieces (there are gluten free varieties)
Young Living Manna bar or Wolfberry Bars
Young Living dried wolfberries
Sunflower seeds

From the list above, here is one example of what we can assemble for lunch:
Celery and almond butter
Home baked chicken, salad in a wrap (add favorite sauce if needed)
Young Living dried wolfberries, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate pieces and almond mix.

Doesn’t that just make you hungry for a healthy lunch…

Let us know if you have a lunch recommendation. Leave us a comment below.

 

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

 

Aug 20
0

Back to School: Power Breakfast for Champions in Your Home

By | Food, Total Wellness, Total Wellness Mom | One Comment

After the unscheduled days of summer, getting back to early morning rush to school and work can be stressful for parents and children. While it may be easy to just rush out the door and stop by a fast food place for breakfast, in the long run this practice may not be healthy for children and adults.

To help your family make a smooth transition to a new school year, here are some ideas drawn from our staff at the Total Wellness Doc and Mom website who have children of all ages and stages. However the basics of power breakfast remains the same whether you are raising a toddler or a teen.

The four basic food groups of protein, whole grains, vegetables/fruits and dairy/fats are essential for growth, energy, health and total wellness.

After over 10 hours of not eating overnight, getting barely enough food in the morning or meals packed with sugar and carbohydrates may cause unhealthy eating habits and lack of alertness in kids. I remember as a kid and in college being really tired by 10am after breakfast Pop Tarts or Frosted Flakes cereal.  Our blood sugar level declines during the night and our body needs nourishment with the right type of food in the morning.

Grains like oats, buckwheat, wheat germ and brown rice and other complex carbohydrates like fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene and fiber are important items for power breakfasts. For a healthy diet, the USDA recommends 2-4 servings of fruits and 3-5 servings of vegetables per day. So we need to add some of these in the morning to get a healthy supply of the right nutrients in our kids’ bodies.

Eggs, cottage cheese and lean unprocessed meats are good sources of nutrients for the morning as well. In our family, we have smoothies and shake recipes using Young Living’s Power Meal. Power Meal is a vegetarian, rice-based meal replacement that’s rich in protein, antioxidants and amino acids.

Here are some of my favorite Power Meal shakes. Add different quantities based on your family size.

Liquid 75 % water 25%  Almond Milk
All Natural Peanut Butter or Almond Butter
Bananas   and Ice

Liquid 75% water 25% Greek Yogurt Plain
Frozen Blueberries, Blackberries and Raspberries (BJ’s or Costco has a big bag of $10)

Liquid 75% water 10% NingXia Red 15% Coconut water
½ Avocado mushy, Blueberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries
Spices Nutmeg and Cream of Tartar & ICE

The Healthy School Lunches Organization has made available a 7-page article called Healthy Power Breakfast for kids with 10 recipes you can use. You can download it here. This is one recipe that you could prepare ahead and free up your morning for other important things to do:

Fruity Bran Muffins

Makes 12 muffins

The combination of oat and wheat brans makes these wholesome, fruity muffins doubly healthful. Oat bran helps keep blood cholesterol levels low while wheat bran promotes a healthy digestive tract. Prune puree makes them moist without added fat. The muffins will be quite moist when they first come out of the oven; so let them stand a few minutes before serving.

2 cups whole wheat or whole wheat pastry flour _ cup wheat bran
_ cup oat bran
_ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda
 1 teaspoon cinnamon
_ teaspoon nutmeg 
1 apple, finely chopped or grated (use a food processor) _ cup raisins

1_ cups fortified soymilk or rice milk
 1_ tablespoons vinegar
 1 4-ounce jar prune baby food or other prune puree
1/3 cup molasses

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix flour, brans, salt, soda and spices.

In a separate bowl combine chopped apple, raisins, milk, vinegar, prune baby food, and molasses.

Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir to mix. Spoon batter into oil-sprayed muffin pans, filling them nearly to the top. Bake until tops bounce back when lightly pressed, about 25 minutes. Let stand 1 to 2 minutes, then remove from pan and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Per muffin: 159 calories; 5.5 g protein; 37 g carbohydrate; 2 g fat; 6 g fiber; 203 mg sodium; calories from protein: 12%; calories from carbohydrates: 80%; calories from fats: 8%

Recipe from Healthy Eating for Life to Prevent and Treat Diabetes by Patricia Berton, RD.

Do you have a power breakfast recipe to share? Please send it to us or leave it in our comment section below. We are always looking for ideas from our readers. Thank you.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. It’s strictly for informational, educational, or entertainment purposes ONLY. The products I talk about are not meant to diagnose, prescribe, treat or cure any illness or disease. Any information I give you about them is for informational or entertainment purposes only. They have not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. Please seek the qualified health professional of your choice when making health decisions for yourself, your family and your pets.

May 24
0

Is Food Causing Your Health Problems?

By | Food, Total Wellness | 3 Comments

They say 85% of all hospital visits are due to our lifestyle, meaning food, exercise and stress. Most people would have an idea that this is true but there is something more important that most docs are just starting to recognize.  Are we becoming sensitive or allergic to the foods we are eating? And could this be the reason why we have certain healthy issues?

http://soundcloud.com/mary-starr-carter/isfoodcausingyourhealthproblem

So what did you think? Have any questions…Go over to my Facebook Page and let me know.

Here is the link for you to take a Gluten Self Sensitivity test. 

We publish newsletters and blogposts twice a week for our readers for general education purposes only. We cover topics that are related to achieving and maintaining total wellness which includes our emotional, physical, spiritual and financial health.