Beware Cookware

When heated, cookware coated with Teflon and other non-stick surfaces emits fumes that can kill birds and potentially sicken people. You can avoid exposures to the fumes from Teflon and other non-stick cookware by phasing out your home use of these products. If you can afford to replace your non-stick cookware now, do so.

Statistics reported by the Cookware Manufacturers Association indicate that 90 percent of all the aluminum cookware sold in the United States in 2001 was coated with non-stick chemicals like Teflon (Cooks Illustrated, September 2002). Chemicals and tiny, toxic Teflon particles released from heated Teflon kill household pet birds. At least four of these chemicals never break down in the environment, and some are widely found in human blood. Consumers concerned about the effects of Teflon on human health and the environment should consider these alternatives:

Stainless Steel Stainless steel is a terrific alternative to a non-stick cooking surface. Most chefs agree that stainless steel browns foods better than non-stick surfaces. In their 2001 review of sauté pans, Cooks Illustrated, an independent publication, chose a stainless steel pan over otherwise identical non-stick models. They also recommended stainless steel pan roasters over non-stick.

Cast Iron Cast iron remains a great alternative to non-stick cooking surfaces. Lodge, America’s oldest family-owned cookware manufacturer, refers to their cookware as “natural non-stick.” Cast iron can be pre-heated to temperatures that will brown meat and will withstand oven temperatures well above what is considered safe for non-stick pans. Cast iron is extremely durable and can now be purchased pre-seasoned, ready-to-use.

Other Cooking Surfaces Because Teflon coated non-stick surfaces fail to brown foods there has been a push to find other “non-stick” cookware coating that will allow the use of higher temperatures and still clean up easily. Some examples include ceramic titanium and porcelain enameled cast iron. Both of these surfaces are very durable, better at browning foods than PTFE (Teflon) non-stick coatings, and are dishwasher safe. In her New York Times piece, "In Search of a Pan That Lets Cooks Forget About Teflon," Marian Burros recommends Le Creuset enameled cast iron pans with a matte black interior. Anodized aluminum is another alternative, but some people question its safety, citing evidence in some studies linking aluminum exposures to Alzheimers.

Link to Article | Environmental Working Group

Know About GMO's

GMO FACTS

What are GMOs? GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). This experimental technology merges DNA from different species, creating unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

Virtually all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Despite biotech industry promises, none of the GMO traits currently on the market offer increased yield, drought tolerance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit.

Meanwhile, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.

Are GMOs safe? Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In nearly 50 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by the same corporations that created them and profit from their sale. Increasingly, Americans are taking matters into their own hands and choosing to opt out of the GMO experiment.

Are GMOs labeled? Unfortunately, even though polls consistently show that a significant majority of Americans want to know if the food they’re purchasing contains GMOs, the powerful biotech lobby has succeeded in keeping this information from the public. In the absence of mandatory labeling, the Non-GMO Project was created to give consumers the informed choice they deserve.

Link to Learn More About GMOs | Non-GMO Project Website

What the Lard?

I know everyone loves Crisco. But is it safe? Is it really all that good for us? Let's look into some important reasons why we should go back to basics. In these two articles below I found interesting and helpful information regarding the history of LARD!
FAT FACTS: by Time At The Table 360 I find it super interesting to explore the reasons behind countries traditional cuisines. Particularly countries that have been exposed to war or hardship or to a lesser point media attention – these types of influences have contributed to regional differences.
Lard has been used for thousands of years in Europe and is steeped in the traditions in many rustic regional cuisines. In any culture where pigs were raised, the fat of the animal was usually considered as valuable a product as its meaty counterparts, and was a staple for cooking and baking. Interestingly, the market for lard was strong during World War II, however not for home kitchens – it was used in the manufacture of explosives. During the war, most people had to switch to vegetable oils for cooking as most of the lard produced was diverted to the military. When the war ended, lard prices dropped dramatically (presumably due to an oversupply), and oils were marketed successfully as healthier to cook with, and lard never regained its staple place in the diet.
Procter & Gamble, among others, also contributed their bit to demise of lard by introducing Crisco (vegetable shortening) and did a ripper job of publicising how great it was in comparison to lard (healthier, more pure) and alongside some great branding strategies, dominated the market. In the 50’s, a touch after our European lard story, scientists decided that the saturated fats in lard caused heart disease. This created an industry-wide rejection of poor lard.
Recently, since those great years that were the 90’s, chefs and bakers have started to re-recognise the unique properties and benefits of lard, resulting in a bit of a foodie revolution in the use of lard. They are championing its superiority in cooking, due to its range of applications and taste. Pure lard is useful for cooking since it produces little smoke when heated, has a relatively high smoke point to begin with, and has a distinctive flavour. And as always, the PR machine has come to the party, telling us all about the artery-clogging trans-fats you’ll now find in vegetable shortening.
Back to Europe and in particular the UK, where traditional British cuisine enthusiasts have contributed to a rise in lard popularity, there was even a lard crisis, God forbid, in 2006, when Poland and Hungary were such gluttons for fatty cuts of pork that the UK lard demands were not met. I also read an article some time ago about Ukraine, who serve Ukrainian Snickers – pork fat covered in chocolate!
So it seems that despite lards rough trot, it has come nearly full circle. Though it was obviously never forgotten and remained a favourite of some of the older generation and was passed down.
Conscientious Cook: Alternatives to Vegetable Shortening Growing up, we always had a big can of Crisco sitting on the pantry shelf. It got used for everything from greasing pans to making the flakiest pie crust ever. Now that trans fats and hydrogenated oils are drawing some justifiable heat from health experts, we're not so keen on using vegetable shortening anymore. But what's our alternative?
For many recipes, what you substitute depends on what your making. Lard is our first choice if shortening is truly necessary. It has all the same properties as vegetable shortening - makes flaky pastries, has minimal spread in cookies, and has a clean flavor. (Lard doesn't taste like pork unless it gets rendered with meat, as with bacon) Lard was the original shortening, after all!
Second to that, we go with butter. It behaves much the same as shortening, and it gives baked goods a rich, buttery flavor. We sacrifice flakiness for a superior creamy mouthfeel. Unlike lard or shortening, butter contains a little liquid, so remember to decrease the liquid in the recipe slightly if you're using it a substitute. Spectrum is a popular brand for these products that we've seen in a lot of health food aisles.

Welcome Back!

I've been so busy keeping up with my Mom's cancer blog that I have not posted in years! I had a revelation the other night when I was on the phone with my friend Lindsey. We've been the best of friends since 2nd grade and have many things in common. Especially our love and interest in all things holistic and healthy! I decided that I would add Linz to the blog as an author so she can also share her own wonderful wealth of knowledge. We can usually talk for hours and days about our own symptoms and health tips. Now it will all be here as our diary of life's progress!

Thank you for reading!

Peace and Love, Jess & Linz

About Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance is a term coined by Dr. Lee in his first book on natural progesterone. It describes a condition where a woman can have deficient, normal or excessive estrogen, but has little or no progesterone to balance its effects in the body. Even a woman with low estrogen levels can have estrogen dominance symptoms if she doesn 't have any progesterone.

ESTROGEN DOMINANCE SYMPTOMS

The symptoms and conditions associated with estrogen dominance are:

Acceleration of the aging process
Allergies, including asthma, hives, rashes, sinus congestion
Autoimmune disorders such as lupus erythematosis and thyroiditis, and possibly Sjoegren's disease
Breast cancer
Breast tenderness
Cervical dysplasia
Cold hands and feet as a symptom of thyroid dysfunction
Copper excess
Decreased sex drive
Depression with anxiety or agitation
Dry eyes
Early onset of menstruation
Endometrial (uterine) cancer
Fat gain, especially around the abdomen, hips and thighs
Fatigue
Fibrocystic breasts
Foggy thinking
Gallbladder disease
Hair Loss
Headaches
Hypoglycemia
Increased blood clotting (increasing risk of strokes)
Infertility
Irregular menstrual periods
Irritability
Insomnia
Magnesium deficiency
Memory loss
Mood swings
Osteoporosis
Polycystic ovaries
Premenopausal bone loss
PMS
Prostate cancer (men only)
Sluggish metabolism
Thyroid dysfunction mimicking hypothyroidism
Uterine cancer
Uterine fibroids
Water retention, bloating
Zinc deficiency
This material may NOT be copied or reproduced in any form or media without express written permission of the authors.

THE CAUSES OF ESTROGEN DOMINANCE

Strictly speaking, it's possible that we are all -- men, women and children -- suffering a little from estrogen dominance, because there is so much of it in our environment. You would have to virtually live in a bubble to escape the excess estrogens we're exposed to through pesticides, plastics, industrial waste products, car exhaust, meat, soaps and much of the carpeting, furniture and paneling that we live with indoors every day. You may have on-and-off sinus problems, headaches, dry eyes, asthma or cold hands and feet for example, and not know to attribute them to your exposure to xenohormones. Over time the exposure will cause more chronic problems such as arthritis and premenopause symptoms, and may be a direct or indirect cause of cancer.

To read more about estrogen dominance and its causes, please read Dr. Lee's books, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause , or What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause.

Supermodel Legs

How To Get Into Supermodel Shape



So what is supermodel shape? It's definitely not trying to diet so that you have a 24 inch waist.
IT'S A HEALTHY SHAPE THAT IS PERFECT FOR YOU!

Difficulty: N/A
Time Required: N/A

Here's How:

1. Drink more water. We often mistake thirst for hunger. Always carry a bottle with you. Imagine your calorie intake if you reach for a glass of water instead of a snack.

2. No bad foods... just bad portions. Okay, yes there are bad foods, but as long as you eat a nutrient rich diet the entire day, you can allow yourself to have one small serving from the bad list. (see tip 1)

3. Bathing Suit Legs... yes, they can be yours. Add lots of knee bends, lunges and marching to your daily program. Yes I did say marching. Lifting your legs will help shape those thighs. (see tip 2 on marching)

4. Get rid of the belly. Healthy foods high in fibre often contribute to gas and bloating. To avoid this, gradually increase the fibre while cutting back on fizzy soft drinks.

5. Did you know that stress can cause you to swallow a lot of air and contribute to what appears to be a belly. Breath slowly through your nose (to help calm you) and while you are at it... eat slowly.

6. Work lots of ten minute activities into your day. Imagine a walk around the block, lunges while you vacuum, playing frisbee with the kids and my favorite... power shopping.

7. Work out in the pool. You can pump your heart rate while protecting your joints from injury. Try jogging or kick boxing. Sounds like fun to me.

8. According to Patricia Bannan, a nutritian consultant, the shows you watch can either make you want to eat, or turn off the cravings. Believe it or not, you are less likely to want to snack while watching a sitcom.

9. Personal trainer Angela Selinger suggests that we look to our posture. Slumping damages our core muscles. We need to go back to those days when we were told to sit up straight and don't slouch.

10. It's easy to walk. That has to be my all time favorite form of exercise. To make it work for you, add a few extra minutes each week. You won't notice the difference, but your body will.

Tips:

Never allowing yourself foods that you love will always backfire. Allow yourself one tiny portion to satisfy the craving.
Can't see yourself marching down the street? Why not try it in the privacy of your home.

Healthy Favorites

1. Energy, mood, anti-aging, antioxidant drinks
2. Almonds
3. Fuji Apple with peanut butter or wee brie
4. Almonds
5. Cappuccino
6. Swiss Cheese
7. Dark Chocolate
8. Green Tea or Black Tea
9. Spinach Salad
11. Greek Salad
12. Blueberries
13. Gluten-free crackers with wee brie & fig spread
14. Red wine
15. Eggs - omelet, boiled or over hard
16. Greek yogurt (FAGE) with agave nectar

Perfection Confection

I had the best visit with my Doctor yesterday. As I sat in her office complaining about the last 5 pounds I wanted to loose she slowly closed her eyes and with deep concern expressed the most loving advice. She told me to stop trying to be perfect and be happy with my body. She continued to assure me that once I put my health first amazing things will start to happen but that I need to give my body thanks instead of abuse. I'd have to say I agree with her and my husband tells me these things at least once a week. He was happy to hear that my Doctor was also telling me this. She recommended a book to read called "Women Food and God" by Geneen Roth and told me that being happy with your body is a spiritual maturity that I will grow into. I honestly can't believe I'm 32 this year and want to be and stay as physically and mentally healthy as I can. I've decided to eat lots of fresh fruits & veggies, lean protein, healthy fats and workout on a regular basis. It's all about consistancy as my husband would say. So I'll read this book and let you know what I think. Here's what another blog has to say about it...



I recently finished Women Food and God by Geneen Roth We spend a lot of time worrying about what to eat, but HOW we eat is equally important. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve their relationship with food-For anyone who has ever restricted or binged because of a whole array of emotions and circumstances that had nothing to do with food itself.

When was the last time you were talking to a girlfriend and she said "Gosh, I just LOVE my body! Look at my strong legs, which I run miles on, and carry me throughout my day. Look at my beautiful arms, which I used to express myself when I talk. Look at my abs which look HOT in a swimsuit." ?? I doubt it is only my friends who are gorgeous women, but are constantly putting themselves down. Flabby arms, soft stomachs, big calves, too small, too fat, not perfect, we hear and complain about it all.

"When you love something you wish it goodness; when you hate something, you wish to annihilate it. change happens not by hatred but by love. change happens when you understand what you want to change so deeply that there is no reason to do anything but act in your own best interest. When you begin to inhabit your body from the inside... any other option except taking care of it is unthinkable."
We are each given this one body to inhabit, and roam the world with. Why spend your entire life hating parts of it??

This is not a diet book. Instead is is a platform, a set of guidelines to spring from, to start to improve your relationship with food. There are no good foods or bad foods. The idea of having no food rules can be very scary for most people. But Roth writes "What motivates you to be kind, to take care of your body, to the spirit, others, the earth? Trust longing, trust the love that can be translated into action without the threat of punishment. Trust that you will not destroy what matters most. Give yourself that much."

For her eating guidelines, she also calls them "If Love Could Speak" instructions:

"If love could speak to you about food, it would say, 'Eat when you are hungry, sweetheart, because if you don't you won't enjoy the taste of food. and why should you do anything you don't enjoy? 'If love could speak to you, it would say, 'Eat what your body wants my darling, otherwise you won't feel so well and why should you walk around feeling tired, or depressed from what you put into your mouth?' If love could speak to you, my little cream puff, it would say, 'Stop eating when you've had enough, otherwise you will be uncomfortable, and why spend one minute in discomfort.'"
The Eating Guidelines:

Eat When you are Hungry
Eat sitting down in a calm environment

Eat without distractions
Eat what your body wants
Eat Until you are satisfied
Eat (with the intention of being) in full view of others
Eat with enjoyment, gusto and pleasure.

While being very real and blunt at most times, there is a quite a bit of optimism in her book. She insists that following these guidelines will end your obsession, and lead to feeling more alive, instead of tied down by food.


"the hard part is allowing yourself to know what you already know. what you knew when you were four years old but have since forgotten. the hard part is disengaging from the roar of can'ts and won'ts and let-me-outta-heres, from the habitual way you swing into gear around the food thing to paying attention to the deeper son, the deeper truth; you without your story of you. you as you experience yourself directly, here, now. When you sit down, when you listen, when you sense you body directly, there is what Eckhard Tolle calls, animating presence" blazing through you. It is beyond any story. It's not of hte past, not anything that anyone ever told you. It's been in the background every minute of your life, but sine you were paying attention to the foreground, the the changing appearances and dramas and feelings, you never noticed it. But now you can. And your relationship with food can be the doorway."

How many times have you heard someone say "All I want to do is lose 10 pounds, then I'll be happy." The problem with equating being skinny with happiness, is that when you lose the weight, if you haven't addressed other parts of your life, you will not be happy. There are plenty of skinny miserable people.

I am very guilty of eating while distracted, while reading, while at my computer, while checking my crackberry. So for the month of June I am going to really focus on eating without distractions-a Mindful Month. I think it will make me appreciate my meals even more. I'm also going to work on stopping negative body talk. Does commenting on my and others physical appearance make the world a better place? Quite the contrary. So this month I am going to accentuate the positive to the extreme. ByeBye Negativity!

Further Reading: Check out Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, "intuitive Eating." Written by two RDs, it is a great book about making peace with food.
Gena of Choosing Raw-wrote an excellent post about reconciling veganism and intuitive eating. For me, vegan eating is intuitive eating, and changing my diet to this has actually drastically improved my relationship with food.

Have you read Women, Food and God? What do you think of the Eating Guidelines? Care to join me for a Mindful Month?

Posted by Elizabeth Jarrard