Posts Tagged ‘Food’
Are carrots good for you?
One moment we are told that carrots are healthy for us, and the next moment we are told that carrots are bad for you. They both can’t be true, so which is it?
Why some ditch the Carrot
When the low carb diets became more popular, carrots were an avoided vegetable because of their high glycemic index. The important thing to know is the glycemic load – not the glycemic index – is only 4 grams of carbohydrates per serving. This means that the glycemic load is only a 3 out of 40, which means you would have to eat a lot of carrots to get any significant rise in blood sugar. This also means that “carrots are full of sugar” is an inaccurate statement. Some diabetics will still have their doctor advise them against eating carrots, which is up to you if you decide to listen to your doctor in that case. For everyone else, you should be just fine eating carrots, and enjoying their many health benefits.
Carrot’s Health Benefits
Carrots are full of carotenoids, which have been associated with a decrease of up to 50% in bladder, cervix, prostate, colon, larynx, and esophageal cancer. In addition to this, carotenoids have also shown a 20% decrease in post-menopausal breast cancer.
Recent studies have shown that as little as one carrot a day could possibly cut the rate of lung cancer in half.
Carrots contain alpha-carotene, which is a type of carotenoid, where recent studies have shown benefits that may lead to inhibiting tumor growth.
Carrots are a great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, both are types of carotenoids, and when these two nutrients work together, they have shown that they protect the eyes and help prevent macular degeneration and cataracts.
The alpha-carotene and beta-carotene in carrots convert in the body into Vitamin A, which raises the effectiveness of the light-sensitive area of the retina, which can help with night blindness.
Eating Carrots
You can enjoy the health benefits of carrots , either raw or cooked. If you want to get the most of the carotenoids in the carrots, eat them with a little bit of healthy fat, which helps you absorb the nutrients better since carrots are a fat-soluble vegetable.
I prefer not to have carrots juiced. When juicing, you use a lot of carrots and end up removing the natural fiber in the process, which makes for an increase in sugar concentration in the juice.
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Healthy 72 Hour Backpacks
In case of an emergency, it’s smart to plan ahead so you will have some basic supplies available to you and your family. You may decide you want more than just a 72 hour backpack, but the backpack is still a great way to help you get started with some emergency preparedness essentials.
You can buy your own 72 hour backpack that has most everything in it, but a lot of them come with unhealthy food (lots of sodium, sugar, etc.), so I have come up with a list of items you may want to include for you and your family.
The items listed below are meant for one adult.
Water 
This is one of the most important things you can have in any emergency kit. You can survive up to three weeks without food, but you can only survive three days without water. Because you never know what you will need your 72 hour backpack for, it’s important that you prepare the best you can.
Plan on needing at least 8 cups (64 ounces) of water each day. Since this is for a 72 hour backpack (3 days), you should pack 24 cups (192 ounces) of water. If you can carry more water, that would be ideal.
Food
In the event of an emergency, you need to provide your body with as much nutrients as possible, versus loading up on sugar and sodium. Here are some ideas on what you may want to consider packing in your own 72 Hour Backpack.
• Fruit such as Raisins and Fruit Leathers that have no added sugars.
• Food Bars such as LaraBar® or CLIF® Bar
• Protein such as Jerky, Nutrition Bites, or unsalted mixed Nuts or seeds.
• Gum and/or Mints.
I have a reminder set for every six months so that I can rotate my food out before it expires. Buy food that you already eat and enjoy!
First Aid
You never know what you will need, so plan for the worst and hope for the very best. In addition to supplies, it would be helpful to have safety instruction as well, such as CPR training.
• Standard First Aid Kit
• Prescription Medications and Vitamins
Helpful Supplies
In addition to having a sturdy backpack that can carry everything, there are some supplies that you may want to consider packing in your 72 Hour Backpack, depending on space available and how heavy the items are.
• Flashlight
• Radio (battery operated )
• Batteries
• Flares
• Water-Proof Matches
• Whistle
• Dust mask
• Swiss Army knife
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat
• Emergency Blanket
• Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid, or other vital personal items
Special Circumstances
If you have a child that is too young to carry their own backpack, make sure you include their food and water in your own 72 hour backpack.
Very young baby’s may need a formula and a bottle, or baby food available to them in case of an emergency. Plan ahead, and update your backpack to fit the needs of your families.
Get Started Today
You can start putting your 72 Hour Backpack together today. There are plenty of resources that can help you learn about what additional items you will want to add to your 72 Hour Backpacks. I just touched on mainly the food and water portion of the backpack, but there is so much more than is involved with putting your backpack together. Start small, and work your way up.
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Tags: 72 hour backpack, emergency preparedness, First Aid, Food, Healthy, water
Oregano
Not only is Oregano a wonderful herb used to spice up a bland recipe, but it also has many wonderful health benefits you may not know about.
Benefits
•Strong antibacterial properties
•Contains antioxidant vitamins, which may play a role with anti-aging and cancer prevention.
•Contain Carvacrol and Thymol, which have been found to aid digestion, calm upset stomachs, and inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
•Contains Fiber.
•When fresh (not dried), Oregano contains Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Iron, Manganese, Calcium, and Omega-3 fatty acids.
•Helps maintain respiratory health.
•Can help treat skin infections and itchy skin.
Uses
You can use Oregano fresh or dried in recipes or as an oil topically. Oregano fresh is less flavorful than dried oregano, but both still have their health benefits.
Precautions
•Oregano oil can reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron. If you are already iron deficient or pregnant, you should limit your consumption of Oregano oil. The volatile oil can be harmful for your unborn child if you are pregnant.
•Children who are less than two years of age and those with very sensitive skin should not use the Oregano oil topically.
•Bottom line: Yes, Oregano is good for you but too much of a good thing, can be bad.
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Tags: aid digestion, antibacterial, antioxidant, bacteria, calm upset stomach, carvacrol, Food, fungi, Healthy, herb, itchy skin, oil, Oregano, oregano oil, Recipe, respiratory, skin infections, thymol, virus, vitamins
Gluten-Free Chicken Strips
This is one of those easy recipes for dinner that the entire family will enjoy!
Ingredients:
1/4 cup Brown Rice Flour
1 teaspoon Chicken Seasoning
1 1/4 cups crushed Corn Flakes
1/2 cup Coconut Oil, melted
8-10 frozen Chicken Tenderloins (strips)
Instructions:
Step 1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Step 2) Combine flour, seasoning, and crushed corn flakes in a shallow dish.
Step 3) Place melted coconut oil in a separate bowl.
Step 4) One at a time, dip pieces of chicken in coconut oil, then coat both sides of the chicken with flour and corn flake mixture.
Step 5) Place on Cookie Sheet.
Step 6) Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, or until Chicken is fully cooked.
Side Notes:
I use Coconut Oil rather than Butter because of the wonderful health benefits of Coconut Oil. I use the Simply Organic® Chicken Seasoning, but you can use whichever one you have on-hand. Also, when I buy the Corn Flakes, I get them from Nature’s Path and I buy the one that is “Fruit Juice Sweetened”, since no sugar is added.
As the name of the recipe implies, this dish is Gluten-Free and Wheat-Free and 100% delicious! Enjoy!
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Tags: brown rice flour, chicken, Chicken Seasoning, coconut oil, dinner, easy recipe, Food, gluten free, Healthy, lunch, Organic, Recipe, USDA Organic, wheat free
