Getting something out of it.

Well, my week is off to a great start. Things are settling and I feel like there is some order to the chaos!
I have been doing plenty of research on the benefits of sprouted foods. There seems to be much to gain from eating foods that have been sprouted. With much more nutritional available nutritents, how can we not try it out!!??

I found this video online today and thought I would share it with you. Rawfoodmuscle is a channel you can check out or subscribe to. He gives great advice and .. well... he lives his talk! Check it out.
If you are looking for that extra boost of protein, but don't want to load up on whey or other milk based proteins, rawfoodmuscle has some really great options. Rawfoodmuscle also focuses on RAW protein. Raw protein is easily digested and therefore nutritionally superior. I am not saying to abandon all cooked foods, but do keep in mind some raw foods you enjoy!

Remember on your journey to heathy eating that we need to focus on getting the optimal nutrition out of the foods we eat. Nutritionally dense foods are more worth the grocery bill, benefit our bodies and are utilized much more than food that has few nutrients per calorie. More on that later... for now.. check out the video!

Cheers,
Lindsay

You are what you .... drink ?

Okay, so this is a very important topic that I think is WAY too overlooked. I hear people talk about healthy eating, nutrients, and the importance of eating organic. But there is one thing that we do not discuss all that often. 

Drinks are fun! They are a social tool, they bring people together. Think about it. You see a friend you haven't seen in ages. What do you say ? 'Let's go out for coffee' ! Or 'the hockey game is on... we need beer!'

Now I have no problem with flavored drinks or the like. But we need to face reality.. and I am sorry for this... haha. 

If we really think about what we consume when we get a large mocha or a slurpy or down a can of coke, I think we would be pretty shocked. One of the biggest hurdles for me when I gave up crappy food was sugar drinks and soda. 

When I did consume pop I would consume on average 2 or 3 a day. Thats crazy... I know. 

So what do these drinks do to our bodies? Why are they bad? The easiest place to start when talking about drinks is the sugar. Not only are they loaded with processed white sugar, but also HFCS ( high fructose corn syrup ). These processed sugars are used because they are cheap. Any company who only cares about their ingredients being cheap is not worth buying from or supporting. 

My new pet peeve with drinks is the label ' No Sugar Added' when in fact they have added sugar. Only it is labeled as splenda. Splenda, ladies and gentlemen is SUGAR! don't let labels  fool you.

 Many drinks especially energy drinks claim to have 'natural' active ingredients. I am sorry friends. The 'natural' ingredients such as ginko and creatine, ( I suggest you read up on those),  are such low doses that they have little no effect on the body. Its a marketing ploy. The only thing that is affecting you is ... yes.. you guessed it. The sugar. Some, if not all of these drinks also contain caffein. No matter the argument for caffein.. don't drink it. Please do not fall for the marketing of these drinks. Its nothing but a really clever way of masking up a can full of junky, bubbling sugar! 

If it is indeed energy you are looking for, you will be much better off if you drank more water, ate whole foods and rested more. You wouldn't only have more energy but you would also feel great. We do not need to rely on 'energy' drinks to provide us with the energy we need to get out of bed. If we are indeed out of energy, we need to address the cause and not treat the symptoms. 

* please note, that while an energy drink may give you temporary energy, the energy it gives is artificial. Want real energy? Put the drink down... start with the basics. Drink more water. 

Watch this video of top ten worst drinks to consume. its a goody. Thanks to Natalie for providing us with a great resource. 

More on energy drinks to come!

Making bread a little healthier { recipe }

Hello!

Now that I am settled into my new weekly routine, I am getting back into baking and making all my favorite foods. Among my favorite foods is bread! I really really like bread. I think making your own is just so cool. Bread is one of the easiest things to find at the store. So it feels great when you have worked for it.

This recipe requires soaking the flour in order to enhance the digestible nutrients. And that my friends... is a good thing. If you feel like trying something new I recommend this bread recipe. It does take a bit of time. But I assure you.. it is some of the best bread I have tasted.

I will update the recipe with what I changed around later this week. I will also add some pictures of my bread ( as of right now my card for my camera is busted! So I can't take any picture. ) For now you can check this recipe out. Also feel free to look around that site.. there is some great info!

{LINK}

Soaked Flour Bread Recipe

The bread lie!

Hi all, I feel like it has been a coons age since I have last written in this dear old blog of mine. I have been extremely busy! This video caught my eye today while I was looking for a bread recipe.
So many of us love bread. I sure love bread. But we need to make sure we are buying bread that has substance and nutrients. How do we know which bread to choose? Check out this really great video. It will  help you with any questions you might have on choosing the right bread!

cheers, Lindsay

Too Much. { Pharmaceuticals }

Still depending on the pharmaceutical industry? Check out this video where Dr. Weil discusses this hot topic. Cheers!

You can find more from Dr. Weil here





Andrew Weil, M.D. - Ending Our Addiction to Pharmaceuticals from Andrew Weil, M.D. on Vimeo.

What You Ought to Know About Oats { eat your grains! }

Here is a great article I found on the healthy shopper. It gives us some great info on good old oats!

Avena sativa – commonly known as oats - have been cultivated for two thousand years throughout the world. A dietary staple in Western Europe, the hardy whole grain was brought to North America by Scottish settlers in the 17th century. Today, oats are found in about 80% of households.

There are three basic types of oats based on how they’re cut:

Image via Wikipedia

• Rolled oats are whole oats that have been rolled flat into flakes and are slightly steamed to reduce cooking time to 10 minutes.
• Quick oats are rolled oats that have been ground up a little bit more to make them cook even faster than rolled oats.
• Steel cut oats, the least processed, are the whole raw oat cut into smaller pieces. With a cooking time of about 20 minutes, they are chewier than rolled oats and have a nuttier flavour, and are considered the most nutritious of the three types.

You can also purchase whole oat groats to cook into a cereal or to grind into fresh oat flour using your home mill. Whole oats take the longest to cook – about 45 minutes.

The health benefits associated with oats are numerous, but they’re perhaps best known for promoting regularity. Oats are high in both soluble and insoluble fiber, helping to prevent constipation. The soluble fibers delay stomach emptying, prolonging the feeling of fullness following a meal. For this reason, oats are considered an excellent weight management and blood sugar balancing aid. A particular type of soluble fiber found in oats, beta glucan, is considered responsible for many of oats’ health benefits.

Beta glucans (also found in barley, corn bran and mushrooms) have been shown to:

• Boost immunity - Beta-glucans activate white blood cells called macrophages, stimulating the immune system’s ability to fight off infection;
• Lower blood cholesterol levels, thereby reducing the risk of coronary heart disease;
• Reduce hypertension;
• Protect against cancer and the development of tumors; and
• Boost energy and athletic performance.

Oats are an excellent source of manganese and a very good source of selenium. They’re also a good source of B vitamins (including folic acid), magnesium, phosphorus, and of course, fiber. A delicious bowl of oatmeal provides about 3 grams of soluble fiber.

Oats are, in fact, gluten-free; however, they frequently become contaminated on farms or trucks carrying other glutinous grains like wheat. Unless a product made with oats specifies that it is “gluten-free” on the label, those with gluten sensitivities are advised not to take their chances.

[source - healthy shopper ]

Simple Recipe { SPAGHETTI SQUASH PANCAKES }

Have you ever tried spaghetti squash? I think you should! I tried this variation of the delicious squash the other day. It is a great way to try the squash. For those of you who don't know what spaghetti squash looks and tastes like, think of it as a vegetarian noodle. The taste is mild, so it goes well with almost any sauce. It really is quite something. There are many delicious meals you can make with this versatile squash. 

Perhaps you will see it in the near future again.... on the helpfulcashew.com! 

To garnish my pancakes I used a homemade tomato sauce-- feel free to experiment.

Ingredients

1 Medium  spaghetti squash, cooked (click here for instructions) 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 

2 Eggs

Sage to season to your taste

salt and pepper

1/2 onion finely minced

Directions

• Whisk the eggs, onions and seasonings together in a bowl

• Remove the spaghetti strands from the squash

• Mix the egg mixture and squash together

• Make small 3 inch patties with your hand

• Cook for around 2-3 minutes each side in a lightly oiled frying pan.

Tahinni Sauce { PASTA }

Pasta, while being one of the easiest meals to prepare, is also very affordable as an added bonus! Sometimes I like to change things up with our pasta. Whether it is a tomato sauce or a cream sauce, it can be difficult to add variety without adding in foods with questionable ingredients. We used to buy those jars of the alfredo sauce ( since I am of no italian decent :P ).  But upon inspection you will soon see that these canned products, such as the alfredo sauces are full of processed (un) delights. 

To my surprise I have found several pasta sauce recipes involving tahini! 

What is tahini you ask? Tahini is sesame butter. It is a versatile butter, with an earthy but mild taste. It is a great source of calcium, protein and B vitamins, and you can find it at almost any grocery store.  Tahini is used for many middle eastern dips and dishes, (one that us north americans have come to love - hummus - includes tahini as a main ingredient!), so it is quite possible that you may have already eaten it without even knowing!

I will add that if you are looking for a cheesy cream sauce, this isn't it. It is more of a replacement for those who cannot tolerate dairy or just want to eliminate it.  It does have a stronger flavor than you might think. Give it a try with pasta and meatballs or some noodles. 

Tahini Sauce

1/2 cup Tahini

1/3 cup Hot water

1 T Tamari

1 T Lemon juice

1 Clove of garlic, minced finely

1 T Nutritional yeast

dash of cayenne

Directions

• Whip tahini and hot water with a fork until creamy

• Add tamari, lemon, garlic and blend well.

• Add in nutritional yeast

• Pour over your pasta!

Cheers!