Living Healthy

Saturday, September 29, 2012

14 Ways to Use Shallots

All About Shallots
Shallots are an allium, the same family as onions and garlic. Like the latter, shallots can be separated into cloves. Taste-wise, however, they’re more like onions, though the flavor is subtler.

How to Buy
Like onions, look for shallots that are free of sprouts. The bulbs should be dry and firm, and have a good covering of papery skin.

How to Store
In a cool, dry & well-ventilated place, shallots should keep for at least a month.

How to Use
Shallots are a great substitute for regular onions — many professional chefs, in fact, prefer shallots to their more famous cousins! The great thing about shallots is that their mild flavor doesn’t overpower other ingredients, like onions can very well do.

Earlier: 14 Surprising Uses for Onions

1 of 4

Source : care2[dot]com

Celebrate World Vegetarian Day October 1

By Dana Shultz for Diets in Reviews

Vegetarians and those interested in a meat-free diet will have some common ground to stand on this Monday. October 1 marks World Vegetarian Day, an event founded by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) to raise support and awareness for a vegetarian lifestyle.

The North American Vegetarian Society is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1974. According to their website, the organization has two focuses: To provide a support network for its members, affiliated groups and those who follow a vegetarian diet; and to inform the general public about the benefits vegetarianism provides to humans, animals and the Earth.

The group seeks to carry out these goals through various means, including a quarterly magazine, spreading their message via a growing body of publications, holding conferences, and providing resources and information to the media and other organizations that may take interest.

World Vegetarian Day was founded in 1977 and received official endorsement by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978. October 1 may be World Vegetarian Day, but it kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month, which seeks to create “a better world because vegetarian diets have proven health benefits, save animals’ lives and help preserve the Earth.”

There are numerous ways to get involved in World Vegetarian Day this Monday, including displaying a free poster provided by NAVS in your community and, of course, eating vegetarian. There is also an opportunity for non-vegetarian eaters to win up to $1,000 if they pledge to go meat free in October. Pledging information is available on the World Vegetarian Day website.

In addition to founding World Vegetarian Day, the NAVS also organizes annual education conferences including the Vegetarian Summerfest, which is open to anyone interested in learning more about vegetarianism. The national event attracts 500-600 people of all ages wanting to know more about a vegetarian diet. Information on the topic is provided via lectures, classes and cooking demonstrations. Lecturers include leading figures in health such as top doctors, dietitians, chefs , authors and social activists. Information about this event can be found at the Vegetarian Summerfest website.

If those around you need more persuasion to try a vegetarian diet, there’s plenty of research backing its benefits. In a study conducted by the German Cancer Research Center, men eating a vegetarian diet were shown to have a 50 percent lower risk of early death, and women saw a 30 percent lower risk. Vegetarians also see lower risks of heart disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer, and typically weigh less and have more energy than meat eaters.

Share this convincing information with your circle of friends and family and ask if they’ll pledge to try out a vegetarian diet in October. If they do, their eating habits will not only benefit the environment and their personal health, but also save animals’ lives.

Source : care2[dot]com

Apples for Health, Apples for Fun, Apples Yum

Tis the season, for apples, apples, apples!

Did you know . . .

Apples date back to 6500 B.C.? Remains of apples were found during the excavation of Jericho in the Jordan Valley, which was dated to this time period.
In 79 A.D.., Pliny the Elder described 20 varieties of apples in his work, Natural History (note: I actually have a nephew named Pliny. He’s awesome. An architect that does a lot of green design [for Whole Foods stores around the world] although people often ask him to repeat his name.)
Apples are actually part of the rose family?
The average American eats 45 pounds of apples a year!
“An apple a day, keeps the doctor away,” comes from an old English saying, “To eat an apple before going to bed, will make the doctor beg his bread.”
In 1100 A.D., the medical school of Salerno, taught that apples could help disturbances of the bowels, lungs and nervous system.

Health benefits of apples . . .

Great source of fiber with about 4 grams for a medium apple (only about 95 calories)
Good source of immune-boosting vitamin C
Can help loose weight
Can help lower cholesterol
Can help reduce risk of diabetes
Can reduce risk of certain cancers:
One study of showed that the flavonoids, quercetin and naringin in apples could reduce lung cancer risk up to 50%
Scientists from the American Association for Cancer Research found that consuming flavonol-rich apples could help reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23%
Researchers at Cornell University identified triterpenoids in apple peel that have a lot of anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon, and breast.

I’m sure this is all great, but I’m sticking to organically grown apples – minus the toxic chemicals please! Apples are the #1 worst foods (loaded w/ pesticides when non-organically grown) on the Dirty Dozen foods list published by Environmental Working Group in their annual study of conventionally grown foods v. organic foods in terms of pesticides.

My recent apple picking adventure . . .

lil green dude mason on our apple picking excursion

When did apple picking become such a competitive sport? We went out with a couple of the kids and our grand kids this past weekend, and when we pulled up to the farm driveway and saw lots of official looking men with flags to direct traffic and that cars were already overflowing into a new parking field at 10am, we kind of knew we might be in for a serious adventure. We noted all the “security” people and it just didn’t seem congruent with a day at the farm.

We also weren’t entirely prepared for the myriad of farm-related activities that were far more thrilling for the kids than the apple picking would be. We spent a lot of time feeding, interacting with and being entertained by all kinds of animals. The frisky goats were fun, especially this one little tough guy who kept head-butting a COW out of the way every time someone tried to feed it. There were bunnies – FAT bunnies, donkeys (even a super cute baby donkey), a gorgeous pregnant horse, chickens, geese, ducks, oh my! The pony ride was almost as popular with lil Green Dude Mason as the hay bale tunnel, which he kept disappearing into!

green divas carly & vivi enjoying apple picking

This fun family farm fest all took place at Alstede Farms in Chester, NJ. I like this farm because they have a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, participate in local farmer’s markets, grow some certified organic produce, use integrated pest management in other areas, work to grow responsibly and sustainably, and do a lot for the community. I’ve met them at farmer’s markets, but who knew they had a virtual farm circus back at home base! The place is HUGE and the pick-your-own crops include acres of fruits and vegetables, pumpkin patches AND fresh-cut flowers. In order to get around, there is a hay ride route with about a dozen stops that takes almost an hour to go through all the stops and back to the starting point.

green dude wayne travelin via hay ride

We came home with a crate of apples and a crate of veggies including huge eggplants, fresh tomatoes, even found some jalapeno peppers out there, but they were having a spud fest and we couldn’t resist picking up a few fresh and dirty potatoes – yum! So, I immediately got creative and made up an apple crisp/crumble recipe. I also made fresh salsa with some of the other goodies and canned it, but that’s another post – stay tuned.

click here for GD Meg’s yummy apple crisp/crumble recipe . . .

Source : care2[dot]com

Astrology and Weight Loss (part 2)

What do people from different zodiac signs need to eat to be healthy and slim?

Libra (Sept. 24 to Oct. 23)
Libras are known for their precision and balance when they are in good mental balance. This is a big plus for dietary compliance. They follow a very precise weight and timing of meals and not feel deprived and unhappy during the diet.
They have an internal balance, which helps them determine what food is how much more desirable to eat.
This zodiac sign needs whole grains, fruits, vegetables and meat.

How to Manage Your Child’s Stress

Tell me your zodiac sign and I will tell you how to stay in shape

Scorpio (October 24 to November 22)
Those born under this sign can be very extreme characters. When Scorpio his mind that he wants a particular food will not stop consuming it until it is saturated. This can sometimes be detrimental to weight.
Born in November is desirable to emphasize the garlic, onion, spices and herbs that are used as dietary supplements. This is enough to reduce the appetite of the Scorpion and, of course, avoid salt, sugar, fat and starch products.
Recommended foods for representatives of this zodiac sign are seafood, corn, raspberries.

Cleaning DESTROYS Our Lungs!
Sagittarius (November 23-December 21)
Sagittarius love to experiment, therefore, like foreign cuisine. They want to try new flavors and dishes, they often forget that this can lead to weight gain, which is a problem if you need to go on a special diet.

If, however, those born under this sign decide to reduce their body weight it is advisable to include in their menu veal, asparagus, cucumbers and plenty of fluids.

Capricorn (December 22-January 20)
Those born under this sign are known for their hospitality and willingness to delight others with their interesting, good looking and tasty dishes. Roasted beef or chicken in a sauce of sour cream or raspberry cake with rum are just some of the specialties that Capricorn likes to eat with gusto. Needless to say, weigh loss is difficult to keep up with this diet.

In your diet born should have fruit, Brussels sprouts and usually, almonds.
Aquarius (January 21 to February 19)

The diet of Aquarius can be very unpredictable and life-style. In one day he can focus on the consumption of hamburgers and another fruit. Extremely difficult to stick to a diet, especially if it’s worked. Foods that need to be emphasized are beetroot, aubergines and potatoes.

Pisces (February 20-March 20)

For creative and incomprehensible kind is difficult to determine the exact diet for representatives of this zodiac sign. Many of them rely on their own judgment and are convinced that if they decided to eat a particular food, it can hardly harm them.

It is recommended in the daily menu of fish to present foods like fish, dates and grapes.

Astrology and Weight Loss (part 1)

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com

Gluten-Free Pie Crust and Breakfast Muffins

Finding excellent wheat-free and gluten-free recipes for desserts and baked goods can sometimes be a challenge. My fiancé was diagnosed with gluten-intolerance about a year and a half ago, so we’ve both been slowly delving deeper into gluten-free baking experiments.

Today, I’d like to share a couple of recipes with you that can be enjoyed if you’re gluten-intolerant and also if you just plain love good food!

Gluten-Free Coconut Pie Crust

The thought of having to give up pie is too much to take! Thankfully, you can make pie crusts with several kinds of gluten-free flours. Such as in the recipe I’d like to share with you, you can even go with a delightful combo of coconut flour and shredded coconut for your pie crust. YUM! This crust recipe also calls for half a cup of oat flour.

Go to Fall Recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie with Coconut Crust for complete details. (A bonus is that this article, as the title indicates, includes a season-appropriate recipe for pumpkin pie filling—but you can fill this pie crust with the filling of your choice.)

Breakfast Muffins

If you enjoy savory baked goods to start off your morning, you’ll love these cheesy, oniony breakfast muffins. They’re pretty quick to prepare, and baking them will fill your house with a to-die-for aroma. They call for a gluten-free baking mix called Pamela’s, which is available in many stores. The muffins only take about 15 minutes in the oven. Experiment by adding different combos of herbs to the recipe to create unique flavor blends.

Go to Gluten-Free Breakfast Muffins for the complete recipe.

Gluten-Free Grains

If you’re insterested in cooking and baking with whole grains that don’t contain gluten, check out this article about millet, rice, oats, quinoa, teff and more.

More Care2 articles with creative recipes:

Photo from www.MotherEarthNews.com

Source : care2[dot]com

Female and Minority Farmers Demand Equality

Earlier this year, the USDA updated the process by which female and Hispanic farmers may file discrimination claims. This was largely a response to a number of claims over the last decade filed by farmers claiming they had been denied farm loans due to their gender or ethnicity. One significant case is Love v. Vilsack, a class action lawsuit filed by a group of female farmers against the USDA. The case was filed in 2000 and has yet to be finally resolved. Another class action case, Pigford v. Glickman, claimed that the USDA discriminated against African-American farmers in a similar fashion. In 2010, after some confusion regarding farm bill funds that could be made available as compensation for the farmers involved, the claimants were ultimately awarded $1.15 billion. Similar claims have been filed by Native American farmers, as well.

The updated claims process increases the maximum compensation for female and Hispanic farmers from $50,000 to $250,000 and provides a streamlined litigation process. This is a step in the right direction, but does not address the root of the problem.

In the United States, farming is predominantly the province of white men. In the corporate, corporate organic, and small-scale organic food systems, white men run the show. As a result, female and minority farmers are often not taken seriously.

Why does it matter who grows our food? There are many reasons. The most obvious is that, as with any profession, no one should be discriminated against on the basis of gender or ethnicity. It is simply unconstitutional.

But it goes deeper than that. Food is one of the most basic necessities of life. Knowing how to grow food gives a person or group considerable independence. That is one reason that many people enjoy gardening – it is satisfying to know how to grow one’s own food and know that it is not absolutely necessary to rely upon the grocery store, or even the farmers’ market.

Giving power over this basic, life-giving necessity to one group is an act based – at least partially – in a desire for control and an attempt to maintain the status quo. By making it difficult for women and minorities to do something as fundamentally important as growing and selling food, the USDA is making a powerful statement about where it feels the power in this country lies.

What’s more, granting control of farming primarily to white men leads to a groupthink mentality. There is much that needs to be reformed in our food system. We need to promote the effective methods of farming without chemicals and in concert with nature that are found on small, organic farms. We need to support local farming and strengthen local food systems. Perhaps, if the nation’s farming population were more diverse, we would enjoy a more productive conversation on how to accomplish these goals. That is not to assume that all white men think alike. But surely opening a dialog with individuals whose experiences are more varied would be more likely to produce new ideas.

Organizations like the National Black Farmers Association are working to address this problem. The non-profit community organization works to educate the public about the discrimination experienced by minority farmers and to mobilize African-American farmers with the goal of increasing awareness about the issue. Similarly, non-profits like People’s Grocery in Oakland, California are educating urban residents about discrimination against female and minority farmers.

With the work of non-profits like the National Black Farmers Association and People’s Grocery, as well as the efforts of the USDA to redress discrimination claims, it appears that progress is being made. However, there is still much that needs to be done if attitudes toward female and minority farmers are going to truly change.

Source : care2[dot]com

When And From Which Vitamins And Minerals We Need (Part 2)

See what are the signs we can see when our body needs more certain vitamins and minerals and how we can provide them

Undoubtedly, we constantly need vitamins

Vitamins and minerals are vital and important for our body, regardless of the diet we are keeping. They allow proper growth of the body, strengthening, and they also contribute to its resistance against diseases and viruses. Undoubtedly, we constantly need vitamins and minerals but it is not necessarily to take them as supplements or drugs.
See what are the signs we can see when our body needs more certain vitamins and minerals and how we can provide them to our body without the need of going to the pharmacy.

Folic acid

Until recently, it was claimed that folic acid does not harm the body regardless of the amount taken. Recently, however, the data from the studies is not as conclusive. It is suspected, yet unconfirmed, that folic acid can provoke tumor, cardiovascular or psychiatric illness.
It is recommended daily to provide your body with the amount of 400 micrograms. For pregnant or breastfeeding women dosage can be increased to 600 micrograms.
It is known that folic acid prevents neural tube defects such as spina bifida, in prenatal development, so it is recommended when planning a pregnancy for at least 2 months before making the baby and 2 months after becoming pregnant to drink folid acid.
You can also find it in food such as: dark green vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, whole grain products.

Potassium

Potassium helps to lower the blood pressure and regulate the heart rhythm. In large quantities, however, the mineral is harmful and may lead to kidney diseases. That means that the people taking it as a diuretic for heart diseases should be careful.
Enough potassium may be provided with consumption of bananas, raisins, leafy vegetables, oranges and milk.

Source : dailyhealtharticles[dot]com