The Yummy Health Nutty Pick of the Week

If you love apple crisp, you'll probably love the pick of the week!

There's just something about cinnamon, sugar, and warm baked apples smothered in a buttery batter. You drooling yet?

Since I'm up for trying new things, and finding healthy alternatives, I tried making a healthy breakfast that sort of resembles an apple crisp. I used steel cut oats in place of rolled oats, and maple syrup in place of brown sugar. Then I added in some other delicious nutritious ingredients you and your fam will love! Let's talk first about the health benefits of steel cut oats. Here goes!

Steel cut oats are loaded with great nutrients. I'm talkin' fibre, B Vitamins, iron, and protein. And to top it off, they're low in fat!

So what's the diff between rolled oats and steel cut oats? 

Diabetes Health describes the process like this: "Steel-cut oats are whole grains, made when the groats (the inner portion of the oat kernel) are cut into pieces by steel. Also known as coarse-cut oats or Irish oats, they are golden and look a little like small pieces of rice. They gain part of their distinctive flavor from the roasting process after being harvested and cleaned. Although the oats are then hulled, this process does not strip away their bran and germ, allowing them to retain a concentrated source of their fiber and nutrients (www.diabeteshealth.com). Load me up!

In addition, using maple syrup is a great substitute for sugar. In an article recently written in the Toronto Sun, research has shown that, in moderation, maple syrup may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer properties and contains great minerals like calcium, zinc, potassium, and magnesium (www.thestar.com). Many other sources speak of real maple syrup being a great boost for the immune system, and can soothe a sore stomach (www.health.com).

Wanna give this healthy cinnamon apple dish a try? You get the similar flavours to a delicious crisp, yet you're getting some great fuel to start your day. I've literally been eating this for breakfast for a week straight. Let's just say, I'm pretty much in love with it. 

The oh so yummy Pick of the Week? Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats! Here's what you need:

Health Nutty Apple Cinnamon Steel Cut Oats

3/4 cup prepared steel cut oats

1 apple, diced into bite sized pieces 

2 tbsp raisins

2 tsp hemp hearts

1/4 cup rice milk, coconut milk, or almond milk

1 tbsp maple syrup 

cinnamon to taste

When the oats are done cooking, have your diced apple and raisins ready in bowl. Pour 3/4 cup of hot steel cut oats over top. Add the last 4 ingredients. 

Enjoy!


The apple is still crunchy when you prepare it this way. I prefer to keep it raw, but if you would rather your apples be more cooked through, add them to the pot in the steel cut oats in the final moments of cooking.

References

http://diabeteshealth.com/read/2010/02/09/6558/whats-the-deal-with-steel-cut-oats/

http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/nutrition/2010/03/22/heres_why_maple_syrup_is_very_good_for_your_health.html

http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20464527,00.html

What does your tongue look like?

Ever feel like someone else's breath is gonna knock you over? Or perhaps you can't even stand your own morning breath!  Did you know our tongue may tell us a lot about our health?

Doctor Victor Zeines, a Holistic dentist, and Master in Nutrition, has a mercury-free dentistry. For 25 years, his studies on hundreds of patients tongues show very interesting results. Vitalboost.com shows some of his discoveries. Check out the different colours of the tongue, and what this could indicate:

Yellow or yellowish-green: Possible problems with stomach or spleen,  indicating trouble with liver or gallbladder.

Gray or brownish gray: Some people may struggle with  poor immunity, and have trouble recovering from colds. He found this is a sign of stomach or intestinal imbalances.

White: This may be a sign of the body getting rid of toxins. Some in Zeines' studies showed results of the white film on their tongue being parasites, anemia, malnourishment, kidney problems, imbalanced hormones, or poor circulation (www.vitalboost.com).

Ok, so, now that you're back from checking the colour of your tongue, let's talk about what all of this actually means!

The brilliant Nutritionist, Kimberly Snyder also discusses how our tongue can show us how much toxicity our bodies may have. She says, "Our entire digestive tract is lined with a natural mucous membrane. This membrane is very sensitive, and naturally transparent. When we eat a diet consisting of preservative chemicals, GMO foods, pesticides, very acidic foods, etc., we irritate this delicate lining...... The mucous membrane is always trying to diffuse impacted mucus and toxic residue up from the colon, intestines, and stomach to the less impacted areas of the digestive tract, such as the throat, mouth (tongue), and sinuses....The coating on the tongue is therefore a good indicator of how much constipated mucus has accumulated in the digestive organs. When our breath is really bad, especially in the mornings, this can also be a good indicator of how compromised or backed up our systems are" (www.kimberlysnyder.net).

Anyone else feel gross after reading that?!

So,  how do we cleanse our bodies from toxins? 

There are plenty of detox programs out there, some that seem risky and I question how healthy they actually are. It's time The Health Nutty Professor got in on this! Since I'm still nursing, and have a super hard working husband, I'm in search of a great family-friendly detox program.

Weston A Price discusses how to detox without all the pills and crazy diets. Seems fairly doable, right?

The Weston A. Price diet recommendations:

• Eat foods that are natural, unprocessed, and organic (and contain no sugar except for the occasional bit of honey or maple syrup).
• Eat foods that grow in your native environment. In other words, eat locally grown, seasonal foods.
• Eat unpasteurized dairy products (such as raw milk) and fermented foods.
• Eat at least one-third of your food raw.
• Make sure you eat enough healthy fats, including those from animal sources like omega-3 fat, and reduce your intake of omega-6 from vegetable oils.

(westonaprice.org)

I believe it is better to change the diet, and then start out on a cleanse nice and slow, so you don't shock your system. 

This book by Kimberly Snyder has a great One Day Cleanse to get you started. She also offers a book to follow, which I'd like to look into further. Check it out from  Amazon.ca Or Amazon.com.

How do you plan on detoxing? What programs have you already followed? The Health Nutty Professor would love to hear about it! 

Wanna boost your immunity? Be sure to check out: The Health Nutty Green Smoothie.

References

http://www.vitalboost.com/1%20Tongue%20pamphlet%20for%20Vital%20Boost.pdf

http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2010/01/12/how-our-tongue-gives-us-clues-on-how-much-toxicity-we-have/

http://rawfoodswitch.com/detox/tongue-white-coating/

http://exconsumer.com/juicing-to-detox-my-experience/

http://www.westonaprice.org/basics/principles-of-healthy-diets?qh=YTo0OntpOjA7czo0OiJkaWV0IjtpOjE7czo1OiJkaWV0cyI7aToyO3M6NzoiZGlldGluZyI7aTozO3M6NjoiZGlldCdzIjt9

RAWesome Friday: Health Benefits of Sunflower Seeds

Hello RAWesome Friday, and What up weekend?! 

Let's discuss the beautiful and incredible, Sunflower.

Why should you nibble on some seeds, or grab a bottle of sunflower oil?

SKIN

Great skin is every girls dream. That's why you should get on the sunflower train. The Linoleic acid in sunflower oil makes it a great moisturizer. High in vitamins E, A, and C, it is also a great antioxidant which helps to prevent damage to skin (pureattitudecosmetics.com).

HAIR

Sunflower oil is an awesome, inexpensive, natural moisturizer for hair. Livestrong.com mentions that the omega 6 fatty acids in sunflower oil are said to help prevent thinning hair. Spencer David Kobren writes about it in his book called, "The Truth About Women's Hair Loss: What Really Works for Treating and Preventing Thinning Hair"  (www.livestrong.com).

DIGESTION 

Sunflower oil and raw seeds can aid in digesting food, and even help with constipation, thanks to the high amount of dietary fibre. (www.webmd.com). Yay for staying regular, folks!

BRAIN & HEART

Did you know that eating raw sunflower seeds, or using sunflower oil are great for heart health, and brain health? Studies have shown that the nutritional power of sunflower can protect against heart disease and diabetes, lowering cholesterol levels (www.sunflowernsa.com).
The National Sunflower Association states: "From phytochemicals and important vitamins and minerals to convenience of size and cost effectiveness, the amazing sunflower kernel is a powerhouse compared to no other! And one need look no further than NuSun oil for a healthy, trans-free alternative to hydrogenated oils and shortenings" (www.sunflowernsa.com). 

Other great uses for sunflower oil are: cuticle oil, eye cream, massage oil, and aromatherapy.

References

http://www.sunflowernsa.com/uploads/resources/8/nusun_factsheet_vol_3.2_low.pdf

http://www.sunflowernsa.com/health/cardio-nusun/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/90229-benefits-sunflower-oil-hair/

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/seed-and-nut/health-benefits-of-sunflower.html

http://www.allnaturalbeauty.com/articles/359-sunflower-the-good-skin-oil

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-40-SUNFLOWER%20OIL.aspx?activeIngredientId=40&activeIngredientName=SUNFLOWER%20OIL

http://www.pureattitudecosmetics.com/bathandbody/body-oils/sunflower-oil-benefits.html

Health Nutty Pick of the Week: Sprout Right

Having a sick baby is never fun. It's even worse when you're on vacation.

My little guy needed some virus-kicking nutrients, and fast!

So, out came my fave Canadian baby food cookbook.

The Health Nutty Pick of the Week? 

Sprout Right, by Lianne Phillipson-Webb, Registered Nutritionist

It's not just her recipes that are great, it's the awesome info she's written for us.

 Trying to conceive? Already pregnant? Have a newborn or toddler? This book is for you.

 Half of the book is devoted to pre-conception, pregnancy, new-mom's, and baby to toddler nutrition. In the second half, Phillipson-Webb shares some delicious, creative, nutritious recipes (from 6-12 months and beyond).

Lianne gives a great guideline for healthy development, and tips on giving your little ones the proper nutrients for an "einstein brain." She will give you a great understanding for the benefits of probiotics, boosting immunity, and breastfeeding.

With the author's permission, I would love to share the recipe that saved the day! Oliver loved this dish, specific to 9-12 month old babies. Peace out cold!

                        Immune-Boosting Purée

This dish is incredibly popular. Vitamin C in the apples and turnip or rutabaga helps the absorption of iron from the raisins, and garlic is an incredible immune booster. A parent told me that she served this with Thanksgiving dinner and everyone loved it!

2  apples, peeled and chopped into cubes 2

1 large turnip or medium rutabaga, peeled and chopped into small cubes 1

1  parsnip, peeled and chopped into small cubes   1

1  carrot, peeled and chopped into small cubes   1

1  clove garlic, chopped 1

2 tbsp  raisins 30 mL

1½        cups water 375 mL

1. Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. 

2. Simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or until tender, adding extra water if necessary.     Purée to desired consistency. Makes about 2¼ cups (550 mL).

Nutritional Information

A good source of vitamin C, fibre, calcium, potassium, and iron. 

(Sprout Right, Lianne Phillipson-Webb,  Penguin Books, 2010)

More from Sprout Right: Baby's First Birthday Cake (gluten-free), homemade Almond Milk, Apple Butter Dip, Veggie Pesto Pizza and so many more!

Pick up this awesome cookbook from amazon.ca, HERE!  

See more from the amazing Lianne Phillipson-Webb, at her website:  www.sproutright.com

A Health Nutty Epic Fail: Volume 3

"Turbo-nose." That's how I've always described my sense of smell. With a giant beast-of-a-dog, and 2 cats...I'm willing to do anything to make my house smell like anything but an animal farm! Hey, I'll just grab an air freshener, right? 

Hold tha phone....... what's the label say?  Is it actually healthy to be inhaling these scents so many of us use in our homes? From air sprays, to plug-ins, many of them contain yucky stuff we don't want messing with the air quality of our home. For years I have done what's easy, and went with store bought fresheners. Now it's time to give it up.

The Health Nutty Epic Fail: Volume 3 - The Health Risks of Air Fresheners.

Since I am constantly on a journey to make our home "safer" and more "green," I believe there are better and healthier options out there to make our living space smell grande.

First, let's look at why air fresheners may be a more risky option than choosing something more natural.

Many Air Fresheners Contain Harsh Chemicals
The Environmental News Network released an article in September 2007 that the Natural Resource Defense Council tested 14 different popular air fresheners, and found that they contained phalates. These are chemicals that may cause hormonal imbalance, birth defects, and even reproductive problems. Others showed they contained formaldehyde, allergens, and VOC's which may be cancer causing (www.enn.com).

Kimberly Snyder is a brilliant Nutritionist that writes about her "secrets everyone can use to experience extraordinary health" (kimberlysnyder.net). She wrote about some of the other harmful ingredients in air fresheners we should be aware of. She mentions petroleum distallates. These are chemicals that can often cause asthma, and even respiratory problems. Even aerosol propellants were mentioned, as she lists symptoms like breathing problems, chronic health issues, and how she believes many store bought air fresheners may increase your risk of cancer (www.kimberlysnyder.net). Read more from her article, HERE.

Further, The Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia says air fresheners work by "deadening the sensitivity of nerves that help to pick up scents" (livestrong.com). Some also believe that the chemicals in air fresheners may be linked to depression, dizziness, migraines, memory loss, even kidney and liver damage.

Air Fresheners can be costly 
If we are purchasing the unit to plug in the freshener, we are typically looking at anywhere from $7-10. Then refilling them every few weeks, as well. The refills come in packs of 2, costing anywhere from $5-10. This certainly isn't something we can afford right now, and there are plenty of other places we would rather see our money going!

Air Fresheners may be a fire hazard
A nasty fire was started, likely due to the air freshener plugged in the kitchen of this woman's home. Check out an article from the daily mail, here.

So, what do we do? 

Freshen up your home N-A-T-U-R-A-L-L-Y!

• When it's warm enough outside, open the windows and get a nice breeze flowing through the house. Nothing like hearing the birdies chirping, too!
• Try using essential oils in an oil burner. Some can actually help purify the air, too. Try Lavender oil, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemon, cinnamon, orange, chamomile, or ginger oil.
• "Simmer spices like cinnamon, cloves, or nutmeg on the stovetop in a simmering pot" (kimberlysnyder.net).
• Make your own air freshener spray:  1/2 cup of water, 10 drops peppermint oil, 10 drops tea tree oil, 10 drops orange oil (www.iamthatlady.com). 

So, I'm gonna pass on coating my nasal passage with toxic chemicals. Let's get crack-a-lackin' on finding more creative, healthy, and safer ways to make our homes smell heavenly.

What kind of natural things freshen up your pad? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Check out one of my favourite essential oils, and many others, HERE!


References

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/queen-of-green/faqs/cleaning/whats-in-air-fresheners/?gclid=CMXLu8Ka8rUCFULf4AodMBAADA

http://www.enn.com/green_building/article/23394

http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2012/03/10/the-danger-of-air-freshener-and-10-alternatives-for-a-great-smelling-home/

http://www.organicauthority.com/sanctuary/natural-alternatives-to-chemical-air-fresheners.html

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/06/is-poor-indoor-air-quality-making-you-sick/index.htm

RAWesome Friday: The Health Benefits of Black Pepper

It's one of the most widely traded spices in the world, and also used for medicinal purposes (organicfacts.net).


Black pepper also makes a tonne of foods taste a ba jillion times yummier!


Here are some health benefits of black pepper:

•  Anti-inflammitory, and anti-flatulant
• helps with digestion (increases gastr-intestinal enzyme secretions)
• helps to absorb B Vitamins, beta-carotene, and other nutrients in food
• contains minerals like calcium, zinc, manganese, iron, and magnesium
• contain antioxidants and vitamins like Vitamin C, and Vitamin A

(www.nutrition-and-you.com)


To top if off, some interesting studies on PubMed have shown that Black Pepper can reduce blood sugar in those with diabetes as well. So grab some peppercorns and get a-crackin'!


Click here to try this delicious Chai Tea Recipe

References

 http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-black-pepper.html

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23061294

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23102654

 http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/black_pepper.html

We have a winner!

Jess P has won the Sport Berkey!

Congrats!

She will have a Sport Berkey mailed to her doorstop in the next couple weeks. Woot woot!

Stay tuned for the next Health Nutty GIVEAWAY!