One of the latest diet crazes is the raw food diet. It may seem like an odd idea to eat all your food raw, but it's really only natural. All the animals on the planet eat raw food except for humans and those raised by humans. And those that eat cooked food tend to have a shorter lifespan and more widespread disease. Before you dismiss raw food as the latest fad diet, take a look at the benefits it has to offer.When you cook food, you get rid of a...more
If you're like most people, your hair and skin, essentially your "outer" you, are important to you and so is taking care of them. Because you want to take care of yourself, you spend a fair amount of money on body care products including lotions, masks and oils. You buy them for their claims or because someone recommended them to you. But have you thought about their ingredients? Are you wondering how the products you have compare to others? With...more
Organic food enjoys an ever-widening consumer base and rightly so, as it is better for people and the environment. However, when it comes to feeding your pets, most people don't know organic pet food exists. Most people treat their pets like 4-legged children, some going so far as to literally clothe their pets. However, they feed them generic food which is billed as 'natural' and good for your pet. But be warned, further investigation is often needed to uncover some much needed facts.Unlike food for human consumption, pet food is not strictly regulated which means if a dog food contains organic vegetables, the producer can then use non-organic beef and chicken, add preservatives and other toxic chemicals, and still label their dog food as "organic". While some certifiers have seals for organic pet foods, that doesn't mean the food is 100% organic. For example, if there is a USDA seal on a cat food package, that means that 70%, or more, of the ingredients in the food are organically produced.However, there is a good-for-your-pet alternative, organic pet food. These typically contain very few ingredients. In one case, there is one fat, one protein and one carbohydrate. They don't...more
The Paleo Gluten Free Diet has many health claims. Let review three claims. 1. Reduce or eliminate symptoms of Celiac disease. 2. Preservative free diet has health benefits. 3. The diet lowers cholesterol. Let us review these three claims and review supporting evidence. Celiac diseaseCeliac disease is an auto-immune disease that is triggered by the...more
Today it seems like everyone is looking for the weight loss secret, the so-called silver bullet, the one diet, pill or exercise that will help them drop lots of weight with very little effort. Whether it's the water diet or the latest exercise craze, people just want to lose weight quickly. Dropping 20 pounds overnight is neither healthy nor...more
So we've talked about the greater value gained for your wallet and your health by avoiding most fast foods.Growing your own food is next on the list. I know, you..."don't have time, and you don't have space", but the exercise you get is a wonderful by-product, and vegetables can be grown in planters or container gardens when space is limited or soil conditions are poor. A diet that revolves around fruits, vegetables and grain is cheaper than a diet that revolves around meat. Legumes (beans and peas) are very inexpensive and provide the necessary protein. There is something to be said for knowing where your food comes from...before it gets to the produce section!If you can't grow your own, make an effort to use locally abundant foods. The price usually drops when local produce comes in. Don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with the produce manager at your local grocer - they can be your window into knowing what's freshest on the shelf and what will be coming into season next month. The quality and quantity are at the peak, so stock up!There are many areas that promote "U Pick", where you can harvest your own. Turn it in to an adventure with family and friends! Preserving,...more
Is Organic Food Really the Healthier Choice?A Look at the Benefits and Concerns of Conventional Foods Versus Organic ProductsIn the 1990'sSince the advent of organic food, and its subsequent rise in popularity in the late 1990's, people have been...more
Most parents shop the baby aisle of their health food or grocery store looking for baby food, see organic baby food and then purchase their preferred brand, or the one they have a coupon for, without giving it another thought. Most of us grew up on...more
Today, I read a government report stating "a middle-income family with a child born last year will spend about $221,000 raising that child through age 17." Housing was the biggest expense followed by food. Why they stopped at 17, I don't know...the...more
There is something to be said for collecting kitchen tools. My mother cannot throw any gadget away! Needless to say, the drawers are so full of tools that you can't even open them. Then, when you wiggle the drawer open, you have to empty half of the...more
Sadly, far too many of us overlook the possibility of bringing Italian cooking into our very own kitchens for concern that many of the recipes are far too hard. The truth is that learning to prepare Italian cuisine just might make your home the much...more
A cutlery knife set is a great addition to any kitchen, professional chefs can't do without a good knife set. Of course serious home chefs also need one and start enjoying even more their passion for cooking. There are few reasons why you would want...more