Coconut Oil… what’s looking to be a very healthy oil that doesn’t get stored in the body as fat!

Image: Amazon

Coconut Oil… have you heard the rave reviews about all the wonderful things it can do? From what I’ve read this past weekend it can aid in losing weight, help prevent or even help those with Alzheimer’s, moisturize skin and hair, increase HDL (good cholesterol), decrease LDL (bad cholesterol), decrease triglycerides, the list goes on and on. We’ll have to wait for long term studies, but for me, I’m jumping on the bandwagon, and taking 1 tablespoon a day. It can’t hurt. Let me know if you’ve tried it. WHY are YOU taking it?  HOW are you taking it? I tried eating it off the spoon (it’s like lard), that was a little difficult, so I heat it ever so slightly and swallow… a tablespoon is doable, I personally chase it with a Triple Ginger Cookie from Trader Joe’s some people but it on toast, in coffee, in oatmeal, in smoothie’s, use it as oil and topping when making popcorn… AND the reason I bumped into the health benefits about coconut oil was because I saw a recipe for Double Coconut Muffins on the Smittin Kitchen website… whoa, they sounded good, and I had just spoken to my mom who told me about a video that someone just told her about (click HERE to see it) about how it’s helping Alzheimer’s Disease, and also helping to prevent. I’m sure long term studies are a ways off, but if you have a family history of Alzheimer’s you know how devastating it can be. I vowed to try this, it’s worth it to me… so now, I think everyone I know is taking this for one reason or another. I just didn’t want you to be left out of the loop!

Google Coconut Oil  and you will see so much information it will make your head spin. Try to read from reputable sources and realize that anyone can post anything to the Internet… From what I’ve read, you should buy VIRGIN coconut oil. Ideally Organic virgin (or extra virgin) coconut oil. UNREFINED, since they alter the makeup of the oil when it’s refined. Refined is good for using as a moisturizer for skin and hair. One more thing… you can often find it in the grocery store in the baking aisle, however, often times these are NOT the virgin organic varieties… those are mostly found in the health aisle… ask if you are unsure. Read HERE the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil by Charles Mattock, I got this from Dr. Oz’s website…

Here is a blip from Nutiva (extracted from Amazon):

A deliciously healthy cooking oil. Better than butter. USDA organic. Unrefined & no trans fats. Rich in lauric acid. A soothing body oil. The coconut oil myth. Coconut oil has been mistakenly described as not healthy. The fact is, coconut oil is cholesterol-free and rich in medium-chain good fats that doctors recommend. Why is it that baby formulas often include coconut oil? Because coconut is one of the world’s most nourishing super foods. Nutritionists suggest enjoying up to 3 tbsp of extra-virgin coconut oil each day, so help yourself to this heavenly, creamy taste of the tropics. Nutiva’s cold-pressed Coconut Oil is: Extra-virgin & pure white: not refined, deodorized or bleached! Organic: so it’s free from pesticides, GMOs and hexane. Versatile: Ideal as high-heat cooking oil (up to 350 degrees), as a nutritious substitute in baking, a better-than-butter replacement on bread, vegetables or popcorn, and as a luscious oil for skin care, hair care, and massage. America needs an oil change. While doctors suggest we consume a 4:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3, the average American diet provides a ratio of 20:1 or more – contributing to heart disease, skin disorders, and arterial inflammation. So avoid out of balance soy, corn, and canola oils with their trans fats, oxidation, and GMOs. Cook with coconut oil (with only 1% Omega-6), and use olive oil (also low in Omega-6), and hemp oil (with the perfect 3:1 Omega ratio) for unheated recipes. Nature’s ideal all-purpose cooking oil. No trans or hydrogenated fat; no cholesterol or hexane. Unlike other brands, we press our coconuts within 2 hours of chopping. No refrigeration required. Solid at room temperature and melts at 76 degrees. Any coconut husk fibers at the bottom of the jar are indigenous to the processing and harmless. Coconut oil contains medium-chain good fats with 50-55% lauric acid – a healthful nutrient that supports the metabolism. Certified organic by QAI. Product of the Philippines.

A disclaimer… I in no way am trying to provide medical advice, only passing along what many others have told me. Ask your doctor if you need to know if this is OK for you…

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Foods that should never cross your lips… #3

Image: Prevention Magazine (prevention.com)

Here is this Thursday’s food that should never cross your lips. Thank you to Prevention magazine for another excellent article!

Microwave Popcorn 

Olga Naidenko, PhD, a senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, gives us the scoop:

The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study from UCLA. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. “They stay in your body for years and accumulate there,” says Naidenko, which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals. DuPont and other manufacturers have promised to phase out PFOA by 2015 under a voluntary EPA plan, but millions of bags of popcorn will be sold between now and then.

The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.

Budget tip: Popping your own popcorn is dirt cheap.

Ahhh, something else that’s good on popcorn? PARMESAN… woohoo!

ARTICLE RECAP: Canned tomatoes, corn fed beef and microwave popcorn!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Cancer Prevention Tip #12 – soy, tofu, miso and tempeh

Image: FoodServiceDirect.com

 Today’s cancer tip is from a great magazine article “Edible Healing: Food Cures for Cancer” by Prevention Magazine! Now I realize these tips aren’t for everyone, you have to do what’s right for you. For instance I am sensitive to soy. I went through months of hives and severe allergic reactions yet test negative in every way. It’s a frustrating thing to be allergic to since it’s added to almost everything from BBQ sauce to tuna. The choice is yours, I wish I could go back to it, I loved my decaf soy latte on occasion… and my smoothie’s made with vanilla soy milk… ahhhh (frozen fruit in a blender with soy milk and some plain or vanilla yogurt. Heavens… tasty and refreshing! But now a no-no for me…

Well today was supposed to be the last chemo treatment… but there was a week (and thank God there was only one!) where my moms white blood count was too low… so she couldn’t get chemo that week… so it tacked on a week. That’s OK… it’s over NEXT WEEK! WOOHOO! On to the cancer prevention tip…

Compounds called isoflavones (including genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) prevent tumor growth and block the stimulation of cancer cells by sex hormones (such as estrogens and testosterone). There are significantly fewer breast cancer cases among Asian women who have eaten soy since adolescence, and when they do have breast cancer, their tumors are usually less aggressive with higher survival rates. Isoflavone supplements (in pill form) have been associated with an  of certain breast cancers, but whole soy, eaten as food, has not.

How to Eat It: Replace conventional milk products with soy milk or soy yogurts for breakfast. Also, use tofu, tempeh, and miso in soups and stir-fries.

Ok mom, I’m going to keep up with the health tips, cancer prevention and whatever else I read about… Keep up the good work, the end of chemo is near J – love you! me

Catch you back here tomorrow! If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

A cancer prevention tip that will make you smile!

Image: Prevention.com

Now this is a cancer prevention tip that makes me smile… it’s one that I don’t have to think about… one that I can do… one that I can OVER do, ha!

Dark chocolate (70%+) is more than a tasty morsel that you let melt in your mouth, it’s rich in so many ways…  uh, excuse me, had to jump up and grab a piece, don’t want to forget! (I heard you laugh… you’re right… like I would forget!)! Info from Prevention magazine . Click HERE for a fabulous article that has the list of foods we’ve been talking about over the past few months!

Cure It with Dessert

Enjoy antioxidant-rich dark chocolate

Chocolates containing over 70% cocoa provide a number of antioxidants, proanthocyanidins, and many polyphenols. In fact, a square of dark chocolate contains twice as many as a glass of red wine and almost as many as a cup of green tea properly steeped. These molecules slow the growth of cancer cells and limit the blood vessels that feed them.

How to Eat It: Enjoy about one-fifth of a dark chocolate bar a day guilt free. Milk chocolate isn’t a good alternative because dairy cancels out the cancer protection of the polyphenol compounds.

Next week is the last of this series…  but there will be more… I promise! Lets recap all the foods that can be fighting for our bodies to help prevent cancer, as long as we feed our bodies these nutritious warriors instead of say, those tart things you pop in the toaster (oh heavy sigh). It’s worth re-reading this list and adding as many to your day as you possibly can. Don’t ever stop!

BRUSSEL SPROUTS – BOK CHOY – CHINESE CABBAGE – BROCCOLI – CAULIFLOWER – GARLIC – ONION – LEEKS – SHALLOTS – CHIVES – WILD SALMON – ANCHOVIES – SMALL MACKEREL – SARDINES – ORANGES – TANGERINES – LEMONS – GRAPEFRUIT – STRAWBERRIES – RASPBERRIES – BLUEBERRIES – BLACKBERRIES – CRANBERRIES – DARK CHOCOLATE and next…. TOFU – MISO – TEMPEH – SOY MILK – SOY YOGURT, but that’s next week!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Ok mom! This is chemo #11, two treatments to go, WOOHOO!!

Love you lady! me

Berries… TODAY’S hot cancer prevention tip…

Image: BonAppetit.com

Who doesn’t love berries? Fresh or frozen they’re always a treat! Today’s cancer tip is from a great magazine article “Edible Healing: Food Cures for Cancer” by Prevention Magazine! Perhaps you’ve heard me talk about what a great magazine Prevention is, it offers ways to stay healthy, from diet to exercise and everything in between. A good gift idea as well! Click HERE to subscribe! (Nope, Prevention Magazine hasn’t a clue as to who I am… wish they did, but this is not a paid advertisement (boohoo), just a heads up about something I rely on!). On to the tip of the day…

Disease-Fighting Fruits – PART TWO

Fresh and frozen varieties provide year-round protection

 Berries

Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries contain ellagic acid and a large number of polyphenols, which inhibit tumor growth. Two polyphenols found in berries, anthocyanidins and proantho­cyanidins, promote cancer cell death.

How to Eat Them: At breakfast, mix fruit with soy milk and multigrain cereals. (The best cereal options combine oats, bran, flaxseed, rye, barley, spelt, and so on.) Frozen berries are just as potent as fresh.

Well, I’ve been adjusting my weekly recipes to include foods we’ve talked about like garlic, onion, salmon, oranges, lemons, ginger, pomegranate juice, green tea, turmeric spice and veggies… finally a week where not much tweaking to my diet is necessary, we consume a good amount of berries, so woohoo… we’ll just keep up the good work!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Here’s to you mom! Week 10… only three weeks remain! Keep up the awesome work, you’re the best!

Vital Veggies in the war against cancer…

Image: Prevention.com

Today’s cancer tip is from a great magazine article “Edible Healing: Food Cures for Cancer” by Prevention Magazine!

 Vital Veggies

Brussels sprouts, bok choy, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower all contain sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinols (I3Cs), two potent anticancer molecules. These molecules help the body detoxify certain carcinogenic substances and can help prevent precancerous cells from developing into malignant tumors. They also promote the suicide of cancer cells and block tumor growth.

How to Prepare Them: Cover and steam briefly or stir-fry rapidly with a little olive oil. Avoid boiling cabbage and broccoli, which destroys their cancer-fighting compounds.

We all have to get used to the thought of more fruits and veggies and less processed foods. It’s a hard thing to give up. Convenience is important, but maybe the more we make things ourself the quicker we’ll get! Here’s hoping!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Turmeric… a powerful spice against cancer?

Image: Blog.WholeFoodsMarket.com

Today’s cancer tip is from a great magazine article “Edible Healing: Food Cures for Cancer” by Prevention Magazine!

Turmeric

Found in curry powder, this spice is the most powerful natural anti-inflammatory available today. It encourages cancer cell death, inhibits tumor growth, and even enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Some research shows that turmeric is most effective in humans when it’s mixed with black pepper and dissolved in oil (olive or canola, preferably). In store-bought curry mixes, turmeric represents only 20% of the total, so it’s better to obtain ground turmeric directly from a spice shop.

How to Use It: Mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder with a teaspoon of olive oil and a generous pinch of ground black pepper and add to vegetables, soups, and salad dressings. Use a tablespoon if you already have cancer.

Whoa! Worth a shot wouldn’t you say? I know they make capsules that contain Turmeric, Black Pepper and Olive Oil… another thing worth trying if the actual taste isn’t quite your thing?

Catch you back here tomorrow!

Woohoo Mom… Keep on hanging in there! Love you!… me

Who knew green tea did THIS MUCH?

Image: Amazon.com

This weeks cancer prevention tip… GREEN TEA. WHO KNEW IT COULD DO THIS MUCH? This information is from a fantastic article I read in Prevention magazine, “Edible Healing: Food Cures for Cancer ”.  An absolutely fantastic article and one that everyone should read. If you don’t subscribe to Prevention magazine, you may want to consider it. It’s inexpensive and provides so much useful information… click HERE to subscribe (this isn’t a paid advertisement… wish it was, but they have no idea who I am).

While researching for this post I ran across this neat glass mug with infuser by TEAVANA, it’s called “JOLI”. If interested HERE is the link… also sold at Amazon.com.

A Health-Boosting Beverage

Green tea is rich in compounds called polyphenols, including catechins (and particularly EGCG), which reduce the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors. It’s also a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier (activating enzymes in the liver that eliminate toxins from the body), and it encourages cancer cell death. In the laboratory, it has even been shown to increase the effect of radiation on cancer cells.

Japanese green tea (sencha, gyokuro, matcha, etc.) contains more EGCG than common varieties of Chinese green tea, making it the most potent source on the market; look in Asian groceries and tea shops. Black and oolong teas, commonly used to produce popular tea blends such as Earl Grey, are less effective because they’ve been fermented, which destroys a large proportion of their polyphenols. Decaffeinated green teas, which retain the polyphenols despite the process of decaffeination, are also an option if you’re sensitive to caffeine.

How to Drink It: Sip 2 to 3 cups a day within an hour of brewing. Green tea must be steeped for at least 5 to 8 minutes–ideally 10–to release its catechins, but it loses its beneficial polyphenols after an hour or two.

OK mom, 2 treatments down and 10 to go… you can do it! Whoot whoot!

Catch you back here tomorrow…

Also… http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

One button mushroom! Can you believe it??

Image: MedicineWorld.org

I read a blip in Prevention magazine that said there was a 64% DECREASE IN THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER FROM EATING ONE BUTTON MUSHROOM DAILY!  This should be front page news… Even if you don’t like mushrooms, it seems like there could be some way to sneak one into your day! Lucky for me, I DO like mushrooms, and after reading this I AM going to eat more of them!

It’s Thursday. My mom has her first chemo treatment today… I am praying things go well, my hope is that she’ll feel great and continue on without any problems… I’m going to dedicate the next 12 Thursdays to different bits of information that I’ve read to help prevent cancer. Pass them on; we all need a break from this ugly beast! OK mom, 1 down, 11 to go!

  Catch you back here tomorrow, if you get a chance check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !