Ancient Grains

More and more doctors have been diagnosing Celiac Disease, Gluten Intolerance, and Gluten Sensitivity in the recent years. With these diagnosis’ on the rise, eating gluten free has become increasingly more popular.

 Now we’ve all had grains such as wheat, corn, oats, and rice, however, after the diagnosis,  ancient grains are now regaining popularity and making their way into health food stores and some supermarkets. Ancient grains offer a more unique taste and are full of nutrients. Therefore this means ancient grains have been making a comeback here in the United States as well.

Now, you may be asking yourself, what exactly are ancient grains? Basically, ancient grains have been around for thousands of years and have been largely unchanged. Unlike wheat and corn, which have been bred in an overabundance in this country, they are also genetically modified thus they have not remained in their original state. 

Below here is a sampling of some of the most common ancient grains:

• Amaranth is a great substitute to make beer or bread products. If you combine this with brown rice you have a complete protein. It is also gluten free.
• Quinoa  is a great source of protein. It has a mild nutty flavor and a creamy, crunchy texture.  Often now being found in the standard supermarket, it is a great alternative for the high carbohydrate rice or pasta selections in a gluten free diet.
• Buckwheat, despite the name, contains no gluten what so ever. It also is high in all the essential amino acids.  It can actually be made into porridge, great used in salads, as a side dish, or as an oatmeal alternative.
• Millet has been known to be effective at preventing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer. When prepared it is low in sodium and calories, no cholesterol and is gluten free. It has a fluffy or creamy texture depending on how it is cooked. It can be used  an alternative to rice or potatoes. 
• Kamut is believed to be first grown in Egypt or Asia. Kamut is much larger than common wheat and provides more protein and amino acids. Kamut can also help lower bad LDL-cholesterol and raise good HDL-cholesterol because it is high in essential fatty acids. Kamut is not gluten-free so should be avoided if you are on that particular diet. It's has a great source of thiamin, niacin, folate, riboflavin, vitamin B6, vitamin E, phosphorus, magnesium, complex carbohydrates, and zinc.
• Polenta  is made from whole grain yellow or white ground corn that has had the germ removed. This gluten-free grain is considered a complex carbohydrate and is very high in protein. It's a fantastic substitute to breads and pasta. Polenta is high in vitamin A and C. Iron, thiamin, zinc, phosphorous, and magnesium are also found in polenta. 
• Spelt does contain gluten, but it is a very low amount when you compare it to wheat. It is actually a great substitute often used to make bread for sandwiches. Many people with gluten sensitivity have found spelt can be safely added to their daily diet.
• Barley is the oldest of all the grains. It is great for soups, stews, and breakfast products. This selection is not available for the gluten free diet.
• Rye is often mentioned as better for Diabetics because it produces a lower insulin response compared to wheat.This also though is not gluten free.

Each variety does contain an assortment of our body’s essential nutritional values. The most common of the vitamins and minerals include magnesium, manganese, B complexes, and iron. Many of these, a lot of people are lacking within their bodies. 

  

So, the next time you step into your kitchen, think twice about these wonderful alternative grains. Grab your pot, pan, skillet, and spatula to make anything from breakfast to dinner. You can create a great twist on some all time favorite dishes that your stomach and your digestive system will love. 

Are Your Medications Safe?

Myself, I am a firm believer in many of the capabilities of alternative therapies.

Now understand, that doesn't mean they all work for everybody. Heck, conventional medicine doesn't have a 100% track record,

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neither does alternative therapies. Unfortunately, neither does life!

But for many people, alternative therapies can and will be an acceptable alternative to many of today's common pharmaceutical medications.

So what angers me personally the most... from listening to many in the fields of medicine, research, the news media, the pharmaceutical industry, the FDA, the CDC and on and on, well they are all constantly telling us how dangerous supplements can be to our health!

Now don't get me wrong. If you are stupid enough to abuse them, well guess what? You get what you deserve.It might very possibly, depending on the variety you are abusing, be no different than a prescribed pharmaceutical.

But good quality vitamins, minerals and supplements are used by greater than 50% of the population each and every day. Unknowingly, many people are even using the "junk stuff" also. Many companies which know nothing about supplementation are now producing bottles of "junk" because they know the market is there.
And to date, how many CONFIRMED cases of death or major injury has there been contributed to the use of any kind of supplements? Absolutely ZERO!

Pharmaceutical medications can't even come close to staying below 500 thousand reported incidents each and every year!Can you see the difference here?

Yes, supplements are another form of medicine. They must therefore be used wisely - not abused, whether that's by lack of experience or knowledge. But to continuously criticize an industry that does help and bring relief to so many, all in the interests of greed by the mainstream medical community, to me, now that's the crime.

Animal Or Plant Milk - A World Of Alternative Sources

Walking through the dairy section at your local supermarket, I’m sure you are aware that there is only one kind of milk available in most markets, right? What is it, milk from a cow.

 

Did you know there are about 6,000 species of mammals that produce milk? Americans receive almost all of their dairy intake from cow's milk. Yet there are many other alternative sources of animal milk, most that can't be found at your local supermarket. You're going to have to dust off your passport though to find some of them.

Goat Milk

Goat's milk is gaining in popularity and in some countries it is the preferred milk. Goats eat less and occupy less grazing space than cows. It is believed that goat’s milk can be digested more easily and less people are allergic to it. Goat’s milk has about ten grams of fat per cup  (predominantly quality fats because goats in this country are not raised in “feedlot operations”, fed an un-natural diet and pumped full of antibiotics and growth hormones) compared to 8 to 9 grams in whole cow’s milk. Goat’s milk has less lactose which can benefit the lactose intolerant. Goat's milk is richer in calcium, and contains more vitamin B-6, vitamin A, potassium, niacin and copper.

Sheep Milk  

Sheep's milk is mainly used to make cultured dairy products. Cheeses made from sheep's milk include Feta, Roquefort, Manchego, Pecorino Romano, Pecorino Sardo, Ricotta, and Gbgjna. Some yogurts may also be made from sheep milk. Sheep produce much less milk than cows, but it is richer in fat, solids, and minerals which makes it great for making cheese. 

Camel Milk

Camel's milk is only used in the African deserts where the camel lives. Camel's milk is much thicker and higher in fat than cow's milk. It has a sweet-salty taste. People of desert countries drink the milk raw and dilute it with water. Cheese, butter and yogurt can be all made with camel's milk. It also can be used for cooking, as well. Because of public demand, it is becoming more available here in the USA  even though it is still hard to find.

Coconut Milk

Coconut milk has antiviral, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties, which basically means it can boost your immune system in order to fight off infections. Many people who are troubled by animal milk have found they can safely use extra virgin, non-refined coconut milk. It is also used frequently as a medicinal aid plus a hair and skin care remedy by many people and corporations.

Almond Milk/Sunflower Milk

Sunflower and Almond milk are both aids in reducing cholesterol and they both provide your body with extra protein. Each contains important minerals such as magnesium, zinc, calcium, and phosphorus. Both of these also are lower in calories than regular cow’s milk plus higher in the quality mono-unsaturated fats so good for our body.

 Rice Milk 
Rice milk, brown rice in particular, is filled with B vitamins, which provides functional, usable energy.  It is also known as the least allergenic of all milk varieties but it is much higher in carbohydrates so diabetics must be extremely careful of portion sizes and over-use.
  
Soy Milk 
Soy milk is considered a good source of protein with 7 grams of protein per cup. Soy also supports and aids in the care of heart disease, menopause, and prostate cancer. The biggest drawback though in today’s current market, many varieties of soy milk are prepared from GMO ingredients. Care should be taken to source out and only buy an organic brand of soy milk.

Hemp Milk
 Hemp milk is also an up and coming variety because it is a good source of omega 3 fats, the kind often touted in wild-caught Alaskan salmon. For those with a dairy, soy or nut allergies, hemp milk makes an excellent alternative. 

Oat Milk 
Again caution must be watched to control serving sizes and repetition because oat milk is higher in calories than dairy milks but oat milk has the advantage it is higher in fiber than other varieties. Therefore for those who need dietary fiber or if you are having a battle with your cholesterol, oat milk may be an aid to a beneficial end for a healthier diet.
 

In addition, some of the plant-based varieties offer antioxidants as well.  But keep it in mind, it is also healthier for your system to have various foods in moderation on a weekly rotation than it is to use the same variety over and over again. 

Milk Does A Body Good, Right?

Now, you always hear that milk does the body good, but what does cow's milk actually give the body? Here are a few ways milk does not do the body good.

·         It will increase mucous in the body bothering sinus and respiratory conditions, especially those suffering from allergies or asthmatics

·          It is high in saturated fat, the wrong kind for a diabetic

·         Antibiotics and growth hormones are given to the cows to lactate unnaturally

·         It is one of the eight most common food allergens.

So you do the math and I believe you will understand, cow’s milk was made for the calf… not the human being. So which variety would you rather put on your morning meal?
 

The Journey Has Started With Alternative Medicine

Part 2 of my story is below. To see part 1 first, return to here.

My first doctor's appointment with a Holistic medicine practitioner, it lasted an unbelievable 4 hours and 17 minutes. I really was shocked when I left his office when I saw what time it was.

I knew all along we had been there a while. Him asking question after question with me filling in answers. Actually, it didn't even feel like a doctor's appointment. We were just having a friendly conversation, most of the time. The subject of the day, well it just happened to be me. 

To start out though, I'm not going to fool you. The main emphasis of the road to recovery was an entire list of different food groups he wanted me to drop from my diet. It was 39 different food groups! 

Now visualize that, I said food groups - not food items. Gone was the dairy foods, wheat and all gluten, corn, eggs, peanuts, soy and on and on.  I was to stay with a very low sodium diet, no caffeine or food dyes, additives or preservatives plus many others. There was 39 different groups he wished me to completely avoid. 

To many people this could sound like a death sentence from foods. But the reality, I have plenty to eat. It was just all pretty much from a different type of plan, one I totally wasn't accustomed to only because I was never told this information before. I also never even thought of it before. So starvation was never going to be an issue. I actually for the first time in probably 20 or 30 years ate more food every day than I did before.

The difference, before I ate sparingly, gained weight constantly, added new and often painful aches and pains weekly and that had another pharmaceutical drug added to my ongoing list of ever-enlarging health problems.

The end result though now, my sugar levels are stable, I've lost over 145 lbs.. My blood pressure, kidney and liver tests, cholesterol levels and every other single test they can give me - everything is all within normal levels. Even better said... all my numbers now are superior! And the hardest to believe... I still haven't even went on a diet!

When you look at my blood tests, I'm healthy "as a horse". And to think, two and a half years ago, I was a "basket case". It just seemed then everything was wrong but still I tried so hard to follow all of the doctor's orders.

I'll start telling you what made this fantastic transition possible in my next installment so to get those important details check here.