Inside Your Food

Clean Up Your Body for 2013

Clean up your body with water — Lots of Water!

We are a little more than a week into 2013 and I hope you are doing well with your New Year’s resolutions. One of the biggest resolutions people make is to lose weight and get fit. Those are great resolutions but sometimes can be hard to keep unless you have a plan. Changing your lifestyle can be challenging because habits die hard. Sometimes we need to just change one thing at a time so we don’t feel so deprived or out of sorts. I always try to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly, but this year I am planning to be even more aware of what I eat and where it comes from. We had a really busy Christmas season with our gift business, Annas Gourmet Goodies, and I barely had time to eat much less pay much attention to everything I did eat. I also usually drink at least eight glasses of water a day but found that I am now down to about two or three just from having the lack of time to drink. I can definitely tell a difference in my body and how I feel with this lack of water and even though drinking a lot of water is something I have done for a long time, after getting out of the habit for just one month, I find I am having a hard time getting back on track. However, I know that it is important to get back on track and forget about December and move forward. So, while I am writing this I am drinking a great big glass of water! One of my favorite websites is the Cleveland Clinic. Below is a link for their detox diet to get you started on the right path to healthy eating. Don’t let the word detox scare you. You won’t be taking any pills to wash your body out, but rather getting some tips on how to get your body cleaned out the healthy way. Check it out below…

Detox your diet

Chicken Soup for that Cold or Sniffles

Chicken Soup for Colds and Coughs — Chicken Soup

On an earlier post, I mentioned taking elderberry extract to help prevent the flu and colds. As I was shopping at the mall the other day, it seemed everyone around had the sniffles or coughs. Elderberry extract is not easily purchased unless you go to Whole Foods or another health food store so I decided to check and see if there was anything to the age old remedy of eating chicken soup. On Dr. Oz’s website, RealAge, he states that “if you catch something anyway, chicken soup shortens its duration by 50%. One theory about why (there are many): Cooked chicken releases cysteine, an amino acid that’s chemically similar to acetylcysteine, a bronchitis drug. Up the soup’s knockout punch to cold and flu bugs by tossing in infection-fighting garlic and hot red pepper, which contains capsaicin, a powerful decongestant.” So, if you like chicken soup and you can stand some hot pepper spice, here is the chicken soup for you…

Try this amazing Chicken Noodle Soup with Dill recipe from EatingWell.

Home Made Eggnog

During this time of the year, eggnog is a popular drink. When we went out to buy some, we just couldn’t bring ourselves to purchase what was already made. Most of them had artificial flavors, corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. Some even had yellow food coloring. All of those ingredients are on my “do not eat” list so we passed on that. However, Chris (my husband) decided the best thing to do was to make our own. Even thought eggnog is very fattening since it contains both whole milk and cream, I felt better about having a little since I knew it was made with natural products. We have a few more days to go in 2012 and if you are holding off until 2013 to try cutting back and plan to ring the New Year in with fun, food and beverage, I suggest you make this eggnog. As Chris writes at the bottom of his recipe, you can add a little extra “nog” if you so desire. Just go to annasgourmetgoodies.com for the recipe. Enjoy!

Do You Really Know How to Read a Food Label?

Reading Nutrition Labels — What’s In Me?

Reading the nutrition label on packaged foods can be a challenge. Even if you think you know everything that is in it, there is bound to be something that was not listed as per the FDA laws. For example:

Packaging contents that can seep into foods (such as bisphenol-A in plastic bottles) are not included.
Pesticides or GMO status of ingredients are not listed.
Environmental toxins that may contaminate ingredients do not show up on labels.
Hormones and antibiotics fed to animals that produce some of the ingredients are not included.

Be sure to watch out for the words “all natural” because the FDA does not define that and it can mean that maybe one item in the ingredients is natural. The same is true for the words “no artificial ingredients” or “sugar free.” To get more information on what to look out for and how to be a smarter and healthier consumer, click on the link below…

Dont Be Fooled by These Sneaky Tricks While Reading Food Labels

Kimberly Snyder provides a concise guide to reading nutrition labels, what ingredients to avoid, and how to spot sneaky and misleading labeling tricks.

Fighting the Flu and Colds with Elderberry Extract

The Benefits of Elderberry Extract — Elderberries

I saw on the news the other day that the flu has started early this year and they are saying it is the worst flu we have had in years. Even though we have gotten our flu shots, I know that we can still catch the flu but maybe not have it so badly. I am always on the lookout for natural ways to prevent and treat coughs, colds or the flu and to generally build up my immune system. I recently came across an article about elderberry extract. It has more antioxidants than vitamins C and E and can also reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol that may lead to cardiovascular diseases. The elderberry extract contains a protein that prevents the flu virus from attaching itself to the cells, thereby limiting the duration of flu symptoms and preventing it from spreading altogether. Other illnesses that may be effectively treated with elderberry extract include tonsillitis, viral and bacterial infections, headache and asthma to name a few. Elderberry extract can also help prevent stress, which I am sure we could all use a reduction of this time of the year. The good news is that it is safe for both children and adults. For more information on the benefits of elderberry extract, how much to take and a recipe if you want to make your own, click on the link below…

Peaceful Exchange Energy Work: Elderberry Benefits by Kathleen …

According to WebMD, studies have shown that those taking elderberry extract for treatment of flu recovered within two to three days. Those who took nothing recovered in a minimum of six days and needed more painkillers to …

Chia Seeds – The New Super Food

Health benefits of chia seeds — Chia Seeds

My husband was in Whole Foods the other day and when he came home he had brought with him a new item called Chia Star (www.chiastar.com). This is a drink that contains chia seeds and is advertised for it’s healthy benefits as well as a high endurance sports drink. I had heard of chia seeds before but never paid much attention to them. I mostly think of the chia pet when I hear the word chia. However, I decided to see what I could find out about the chia seed and I am glad I did. This little seed appears to be the new super food. It has 3 times more iron than spinach, 3-5 times more calcium than milk, 8 times more omega-3 than salmon and 15 times more antioxidants than blueberries. It helps control appetite and can help with weight loss, it lowers cholesterol and is loaded with fiber. It also has several minerals including magnesium and zinc. Chia seeds don’t really have a taste so they absorb the taste of whatever you eat them with. Add them to your smoothy, sauces to help them thicken, stir fry or sprinkle on a salad. The Chia Star drink that Chris brought home was good, but since I don’t usually care to get my nutrition from drinks and smoothies (I need the chewing process of eating to make me feel I have eaten), I think I will add the Chia seeds to my meals. The article below has some great information and videos…
Chia Seeds: Three Cheers for the Super Chia! | Gnet Health and …

What is Chia? REAL Chia Seed Health Benefits. Is Chia the Next Magic Food? Health and Nutrition Benefits of Organic Chia Seeds on NBC’s “The Today Show” … Studies Explore The Benefits of Chia Seeds: Dr David Nieman, from …

Making Your Thanksgiving Healthier

Healthy Thanksgiving — Turkeys on the Run!

Thanksgiving is sneaking up on us fast and will be here before you know it. I am determined this year to make sure I don’t eat more than what makes me feel comfortable. Since I already exercise regularly, I always make it a point to make sure my day off from exercise is not on Thanksgiving. I like to get up early in the morning and do some type of cardio exercise. If you are traveling out of town, you don’t need any equipment to take a walk or run. If you want to join other like minded people if your family doesn’t want to join you, most cities and towns have turkey trot races on Thanksgiving morning. I feel that by exercising early in the morning, it sets the tone for my day and clears my head for when all the family (and I have a big one) and food converge on me. I also try to drink a lot of water and not to “taste test” the food while it is cooking to see if it is ready to many times. Those calories do add up. For more tips on how you can make your Thanksgiving holiday healthier, click on the link below…

Tips for a Healthier Thanksgiving « What the Health Magazine

Tips for a Healthier Thanksgiving. Here are some tips to relieve some of the guilt associated with your Thanksgiving meal. No need to sacrifice taste or happiness this holiday season. 1. Walk it Out. Get moving and burn some …

Why You Should Eat More Garlic

It’s cold and flu season and when my husband started feeling a little under the weather garlic came to my mind. One of my favorite authors is the late Leo Buscaglia who writes a lot about love. I remember him telling the story about when he was growing up and his mother would hang garlic cloves around his neck so that he would not get sick. He didn’t get sick which was probably because no one came close to him! Remembering that, I decided to see if eating garlic could actually help to ward off illness. It turns out that the greatest benefit of garlic is that it enhances the body’s immune cell activity. It contains allicin which is great as an antibiotic and also helps the body to stop the growth of germs. In one study, allicin powder reduced the incidence of the catching a cold by over 50%. Garlic, which is natures antibiotic is effective against toxic bacteria, viruses, and fungus. Other benefits of garlic are that garlic helps reduce fat in the liver, reduces cholesterol, garlic reduces the risk of heart attach, it regulates blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Garlic can be taken in a pill or just by eating the natural clove. They aren’t expensive and readily available. I am not sure I could eat a clove or two of raw garlic so I may have to cook it a little or blanch it. At the very least I would need to hide it inside my food! Check the link out below for more detailed information on all the great benefits of garlic…

Garlic Health Benefits | Essential Med

Garlic is one of the most valuable and versatile foods on the planet. Garlic belongs to the Allium family of vegetables which also includes onions, chives, shallots and leeks. Today garlic is a widely recognized health …

Health Benefits of Kefir

I eat Greek yogurt on a regular basis for the probiotics it contains. I recently stumbled on an article on Kefir. I had never heard of it but was intrigued. The benefits of Kefir are about 10 times more beneficial that the probiotics in yogurt. Some of the other benefuts include building a healthy immune system, helping with depression, ADHD and sleep disorders. Kefir yogurt or milk also contains several vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, D, B12 and K. You can also use it on your skin for a smooth and radiant complexion. I am ordering my Kefir grains today and plan to get started on this as soon as possible. Below, I have put links for two articles. The first gives benefits and a step-by-step process for making your own. The second link goes into more detail on the benefits of Kefir. If you don’t want to make it yourself, you can usually buy it already made at health food stores like Whole Foods. Please check out these two articles below…

How to Make Kefir and The Benefits of Kefir | This Chick Cooks

Kefir is a creamy drink that is a wonderful source of probiotics. Learn how to make kefir, tips for caring for your kefir grains and find out the benefits of kefir.

Health Benefits Of Kefir ~ skin care secrets

8:43 AM Health Benefits Of Kefir. The health benefits of kefir are fantastic for your digestion. It is a fermented milk drink and contains around 30 beneficial bacteria. You can enjoy eating kefir yoghurt or drinking kefir milk on its own, or adding it …

High Amounts of Fructose Reduces Ability to Learn

Fructose can reduce abiltiy to learn and remember — Sugar (sucrose)

A study released by scientists at UCLA have found that a diet high in fructose can reduce the ability to learn and recall information in rats. I have no doubt this also affects human brains as well. This includes cane sugar (which is sucrose) and high fructose corn syrup. These are usually added to processed foods, sodas, baby food, etc. For students who are trying to stay awake to study for their mid-terms and finals and consuming large quantities of fructose, this can make it even harder to learn and remember. However, by consuming DHA (Omega-3) such as walnuts, flax seed, and salmon or supplements, it can help minimize the damage. For more on this read the article below…

High Fructose Corn Syrup Makes You Stupid, Says New Study

Study researcher Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, of the University of California, Los Angeles, said, “The brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rat’s ability to think clearly and recall the route they’d learned six weeks earlier. We’re concerned about high-fructose corn syrup that is added … “Our findings illustrate that what you eat affects how you think. Eating a high-fructose diet over the long term alters your brain’s ability to learn and remember information.