Whole wheat or other whole grain should be first in the list of ingredients on any product claiming it is high in fiber.
Buying Organic Beef
Grass versus Grain
It used to be that cattle were only fed on grass this meant that it could take four years to fatten them enough to take to market. Today they are still grass fed but sent to industrial feedlots where corn and other grains are added to there feed.This is great for the beef producers because slaughter time is cut almost in half, lower beef prices and higher profits.
Although corn-fed cattle may sound healthy, grain can make cattle sick; to counter act this they are routinely given antibotics as a preventive.
The FDA requires that the antibiotics are stopped in time to clear out their system before slaughter. As good as that sounds there is still a major problem here; over use of antibiotics can still lead to drug-resistant strains of bacteria.
USDA Certified Organic
USDA Certified Organic is a guarantee that the cattle has been fed on 100% organic feed; grass or grain their feed does not contain animal by-products, antibiotics, or growth harmones.
The cattle must have access to a pasture and opportunity to exercise, although it is not clear what that means.
Animal Welfare Approved
From the nonprofit Animal Wellfare Institute; this seal tells you that the strictest standards have been set.
- Cattle have been raised on family farms
- Seasonal access to pasture
- Shelter in inclement wheather
- Proper diet without routine antibiotics or harmones
Both the American Humane Association and Humane Farm Animal Care regularly check farms for compliance.
Grass-fed or Pasture Finished
The American Grass-fed Association states that grass-fed cattle are raised only on grass or hay after weaning and not grain finished. There is not a leagal definition or certification so grass-fed can mean different things to different beef producers.
USDA Proposed Standards: The cattle should be fed a 99% grass and forage diet. Here again this sounds good but the issues of raised on pasture, confined to feedlots, or if the cattle can be given hormones or antibiotics has not been addressed.
No Hormones/No Antibiotics
The terms “hormone free and antibiotic free” have not been approved by the USDA so there is no way to verify if-in-fact the beef is harmone or antibiotic free.
Natural
The USDA defines natural to mean”minimally processed” with no artificial ingredients, technically all beef is natural. There are no restrictions on what happens to the cattle before slaughter.
Free Range
Although the term implies the cattle were raised outdoors the USDA only defines this term for poultry not cattle. Even with poultry it only means that the poultry has access to the outside. No one checks to make sure they take their daily walks.
Chinese & US. Thoughts on Ginger
Chinese
Protects the liver: Ginger is a detoxifying, ginger oil has a therapeutic effect on damaged livers. Ginger may protect already damaged liver cells.
Fights Allergies: Chinese researchers have found that ginger oil does not result in the same kind of inflammation triggered by histamines. At the same time ginger oil appears to protect the bronchi in our throats caused by allergies.
Acts as an Antioxidant
Helps Deal with Stress:
Western Thoughts on Ginger
Helps cure nausea, relieve motion sickness, could ease Osteoarthritis pain, and may help prevent Cancer.
How to Take Ginger
One gram to four grams a day of powdered ginger in two to four doses. If you are on anticoagulants such as Warfarin or Heparin ginger could amplify the effects, if you are on these drugs check with your physician before taking.
Of Course if you are pregnant consult with your doctor before taking anything.
Source–Doctors Health Press–Cinese Medicine
Halloween Treats
If you are like me you have a dilemma each Halloween, do you give the kids candy that will make them happy or leave home for the night. Well the people at www.healthcastle.com have a solution that will keep everyone happy.
Click on the above link and check out there great suggestions.
Halloween Treats
If you are like me you have a dilemma each Halloween, do you give the kids candy that will make them happy or leave home for the night. Well the people at www.healthcastle.com have a solution that will keep everyone happy.
Click on the above link and check out there great suggestions.
Quality Carbs
Quality Carbs may play a major role in how well you see as you age according to a study reported in Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter.
High glycemic foods (poor quality) cause a quick rise in your blood sugar level and then just as suddenly there is a sudden drop. For a long time high glycemic foods have been considered a factor in the development of type 2 diabetes. High glycemic foods are foods such as white rice, bread, and pasta.
Low glycemic foods (quality) are foods like brown rice and whole wheat pastas and breads keep your blood sugar on a more even keel; these foods add needed fiber to your diet.
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition strongly suggest that a diet high in high glycemic foods may lead to Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study there were 4,099 participants ranging in age from 55 to 80 with varying degrees of AMD. The results showed a possible 20% increase in the occurrence of AMD in those whose consumed a diet high low quality carbs.
Bottom Line: I love the term quality rather than good or bad; good health is about quality not a battle between good or evil.
Soup & Weight Loss
Soup may be your best friend when it comes to losing those extra pounds but not because there is some kind of magic power in soup.
Pennsylvania State University did a study for five weeks with 60 participants; soup was serve as a starter the first four weeks. In this study researchers used a light vegetable soup with more broth than vegetables. After eating the soup there was a 15 minute waiting period before serving the main meal; the fifth week of the study no soup was served before the meal.
When the participants ate soup before eating the main meal they consumed 15 to 20% fewer calories. In case you are curious lunch was pasta-cheese tortellini in tomato sauce.
Of course the reason the soup worked is because the participants started to feel satisfied before the pasta arrived so therefore eat less pasta.
Important to remember: The soups used in this study were all made-in-house and none with heavy cream.
Bottom Line: It is thought that eating soup as a starter at least four times a week could lead to a substantial weight loss. Soup is certainly much safer and cheaper than weight loss pills.
Hi there. I'm Patricia Setzer, and I show you how to prepare your favorite foods in a way that can help boost your energy, maintain a healthy weight and improve your overall health ...