natural girls
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Just attempted to find a recipe to make w no dairy, no flour, no sugar and found one on youtube for P4 that is gluten free and uses stevia. It is a black bean chocolate cake w cocoa powder, very moisst as she made it, good luck to me. And yes, I was told I can use stevia but my own testing w Hubby last night said no stevia. So this will be my cheat cake that isn't really a cheat. The one thing it had that I cannot is the butter. I make own raw organic cultured, so it can pass too.
Since I cannot have fruit and strawberry season is coming, I need a no strawberry, no sugar, no flour no oil ......... a Strawberry-free Shortcake just like mom used to make and I always make since then. Don't think I will get lucky on this one. I will have to make the shortcake and eat it. Will let you know when I weaken and do so.
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WOW Diane...that is some detox, but I'm sure it will work for you if you stick to it. Our immune system is so important to us in preventing bc recurrence. I was supposed to visit my DGD today, but her older brother is sick with a high fever, so I opted out...don't want to take chances on getting sick.
I've been feeling great...even on the tamoxifen...I think it's because I take all my supplements and follow such a healthy diet. Almost no SE's other than some small hot flashes that are gettin better.
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I think this is my first post on this thread, though I've been reading. I have been posting on the gluten free thread too, have seen some of you there.
I'm a big believer in a healthy diet, and have been really good on mine for almost 2 1/2 years. I also used to be one of those people that never got sick, and then got two colds this year. Guess I should have known something was up.
Vicki, congrats on making the decision to change your diet. Good choice on buying the cow! Just make sure it is a grass fed cow, and not just a "natural" cow. The grass feeding adds all the good nutrients we need, like the CLAs. Some farmers will fatten the cows at the end with grains, which makes them taste more like what we are used to from the grocery store, and adds to their weight. That's not so bad for your first cow as a transition, but make sure you do not pay as if it were completely grass fed. It does taste different, and smell a bit different, but you get used to it and start to think it's really good! I'm pretty sure it's the same beef I used to love as a kid! Of course, it is leaner too.
I am making broth today with grass fed beef bones, some have marrow. Tomorrow I will add pureed veggies. I'm thinking that will be what I eat next week for a few days after surgery on Monday. It's got protein, fat, and veggies, and lots of nutrients. I'm hoping to make it taste good, too!
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Hi all, I too am glad to find this thread. I have completly changed the way I eat since Janurary when I started the Budwig Diet. Fresh fruits and vegetables, mostly raw with some steamed but not microwaved. I eat organic raw nuts like cashews, almonds and brazil nuts ( no peanuts) but no meat, no sugar, no white flour. I wish I could afford to buy all organic but since I can't, I use as a guideline - organic only for the "dirty dozen" and purchase conventional for the "clean fifteen". I also buy organic milk, cottage cheese and flaxseed oil. Suprisingly, I do not at all miss the meat. I am allowed fresh cold water fish but have only eaten it twice since I never have been much of a fish lover anyway. Mostly I eat fruit for breakfast, salad greens for lunch and for dinner a salad and maybe some steamed veggies also. Once a week I make a 100% whole wheat pizza with home-made dough and all fresh toppings (ie tomato slices, peppers, onions, spinach) except for about 2T of plain tomato sauce and cheese. I also make smoothies with milk, honey and frozen fruits. I also make a pot of all vegetable soup about once a week in my crock pot.
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You ladies making the soups . . . yummm. I need to do that too. I'm going to try to make that a must-do this week. Using a crockpot makes it easy.
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We are loving the blended soups that can be made in the Vita Mix blender. I just cook everything in a pot on the stove until fork tender then put it in the blender and blend it to the right consistency and it is delicious. It's great for anyone going through tx beause it is easy to digest and full of nutrients. My favorite is the carrot, orange, and ginger soup that can be eaten hot or cold.
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Welcome to the new natural girls !
The story about nurse Caisse had hot tears rolling down my face this morning
CANCER: THE FORBIDDEN CURES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWLrfNJICeM0 -
Kaara, that carrot, orange, ginger combination sounds good! I have considered purchasing the vitamix but never quite wanted to spend that much on another kitchen appliance. I do have an imersion blender that I use right in the crock-pot for soups. It also is good for getting the soup the right consistancy. I often put butternut squash in my soup or various beans which make nice thick hearty soups when blended that way.
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I've never been sorry that I spent the money on the Vita Mix...it's worth every penny. I would imagine that almost any high speed blender would be ok for blending soups, but when it comes to blending raw veggies like carrots, apples, celery and such, you need a really high speed to get the smoothie consistency.
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That's what I need is the butternut squash for thickening and a sweet flavor for some of my dishes. And arrowroot I think, if it is not a flour. The food plan is very limiting but when I stop and think how to do different, what herbs to use for flavor, it is not daunting.
Yes, Diana - we bought into the dairy herd that is organic, grass fed and well treated. I got a chance to drink colosstrum left from the first two calves of the season, someting I think my body really appreciated. We were using all organic dairy for years but realized the pasturizing was not doing favors, so I am trying this. Am having my daily homemade kefier now w a touch of vanilla. Almond would be better though, or raspberry preserves whisked in.
Now have a pot of soup on that will last a few days. French lentils, celery, carrots, tiny green beans, onions, garlic, kale, parsley. The idea, no potatoes, no tomatoes, no grains. But I still found a way to make that pot of soup not boring.
Again, welcome to all the new posters on this thread.
Kaara - this detox is massive. If I am not consuming or doing something in the protocol every FIVE minutes I fall behind. I am so behind schedule today I will not catch up unless I stay up until two a.m. but won't do that. Progress is all I can do. Yesterday, no sugar eaten, none at all. That is huge for me, it is the thing that I can say could kill me off. I can fast, go 17 hours w/o food, starve those cells, but when I sit down in the evening, I like a little treat, even if it is cereal or popcorn. But that equals sugar in the system too. This is not forever though. This too shall pass. I want to get the VitaMix and one of the BBQ Fry Bake contraptions to cook on.
Today I made homemade butter again, better done this time, and rolled it in parchment paper. What I learned - when blend stops working on blender becasue it forms a tunnel at the bottom then turn on the whip and you will have butter lump, viola. Let it drip, gently squeeze and get into fridge pronto.
Later this afternoon I am making ricotta by using white distilled vinegar, like the dude did on Food Network Star last week. hheeeee fun.
Later!
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DianeEssa: You are a much more dedicted cook that I could ever be! I'm just not very good at making things from scratch, so my meals have been pretty simple...salads, veggies and fruits with a little fish or chicken. I use the vita mix to do the green smoothies and protein shakes.
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Really I do not like to cook. As in art, nothing ever comes out as you expect. And the back pain makes it not very fun. But I still do that and gardening anyway.
Last week at garage sale I found a book on bread artisans of Europe. Gorgeous cover, and the seller had spilled water on inside pages so they are permanently swollen and curled. It is art. Love that book and all the stories of the bread makers and the recipes. I want to make bread too.
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dunesleeper: speaking of crockpots...this isn't very healthy, but I had a pork roast in the freezer that I wanted to make before we leave for our summer home, so I put it in the crockpot yesterday with some broth, carrots, celery, garlic, onions and spices and cooked it all day. Last night I shredded it and so today I'm having my BF's kids over for pulled pork sliders with an assortment of sauces...bbq, spicy asian, and mustard. I'll serve it with a raw broccoli and carrot salad.
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Good to see some newbies around here. Welcome all.
I see alot of you are just starting to explore diet and lifestlye changes. Don't make yourself crazy with how daunting it may see. Take it one step at a time, and listen to your body. It will tell you what is best.
I work with a wonderful nutrition counselor who emphasizes that there is no one size fits all to diet. Some of us can thrive as vegans, some cannot. One essential to health that is hard to get with a vegan diet is B 12. There are new studies out that tout the importance of the b vitamins as they provide energy for cells.
You can do expensive tests to determine if you have food allergies, or you can just start a diary and write down everything you eat, and how you feel afterwards, how your energy level is, bowel issues,etc. Then add and subtact foods and assess how your body reacts.
I recently found a fantastic book called "True Food", 8 simple steps to a HealthierYou. These include, eat local, eat variety, aim for organic, eat lower in the food chain, eat fresh foods, eat whole foods. It has some great ideas and recipes. Check it ou!
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Thanks Vivre! I am always looking for good books on the subject!!
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Well, I start my chemo the middle of June. I have a month to continue the healthy changes and incorporate more. Made a great new dish last night with lots of garlic and cumin. Going to make a good, health salad tonight. Less pre-packaged, more homemade.
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For anyone who has not seen this and who values organic food, please have a look and download and sign the proxy letter.Lawfully Tainted Organics-How Did that Happen?
You've probably heard the health conscious mantra popularized by Michael Pollan: "If you can't pronounce it, you shouldn't be eating it."
The easiest way to side step synthetic food additives has been to simply eat certified organic foods. But we've seen an increasing number of questionable additives being approved for use in organics. There are currently almost 300 non-organic and synthetic compounds approved for use in organic farming or food production. The video shows a long list of such ingredients-all of which are supposed to have been carefully reviewed for safety prior to approval.
But just how rigorous were those reviews, and are these additives really safe and appropriate for use in organics? Mark rightfully points out that fighting for the integrity of the organic label is well-worth it, considering the fact that conventional foods are allowed to use thousands of synthetic processing aids and additives, plus residues from a myriad of agricultural chemicals and genetically engineered ingredients.
Research by the Cornucopia Institute reveals disturbing evidence showing that large corporate interests have infiltrated the process, and that the rules put in place to maintain organic integrity are severely compromised.
"... It seems evident that the people doing the supposedly careful scientific reviews and approving these chemicals have mostly been affiliated with the same corporate agribusinesses and the same food producers that are lobbying for their use," Mark says.
"We thought organics would be different from the rest of the money-dominated corruption in Washington... But the corporations that have gobbled up most of the pioneering organic businesses are relentless in their short-sighted pursuit of profit."
The Organic Watergate
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is charged with enforcing the laws regulating organic foods, so how are improprieties occurring? According to Mark, what we have here is nothing short of an Organic Watergate. He explains:
"An incident last fall caused Cornucopia staff to do a cursory review of many non-organic and synthetic ingredients that have been approved for use in organics since the USDA took over regulation in 2002. And what do we find? A corporate and governmental conspiracy to allow almost any chemical petitioned by agribusinesses in organic food, regardless of the fact that Congress mandated review of all such substitutes to make sure that they will not damage the environment or human health."
In November, 2011, the USDA's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) held a meeting in Savannah, Georgia. During that meeting, two 12-billion-dollar corporations-- Martek Biosciences (a division of the Dutch biotechnology giant DSM), and WhiteWave (a division of the dairy behemoth Dean Foods)-received approval for synthetic, genetically mutated DHA and ARA oils derived from algae and soil fungus, which are then grown in a medium of genetically engineered corn products and organics.
Furthermore, the oil is then extracted from this biomass using synthetic solvents including hexane, a neurotoxic byproduct of gasoline refinement that is specifically banned in organics. Martek Biosciences' lobbyists duped the NOSB into believing that banning hexane was enough of a safeguard but they failed to look at the other petroleum-based solvents used (illegal in organic production). " But petrochemical solvent extraction is just the tip of the iceberg. Other questionable manufacturing practices and misleading statements by includedi:
Undisclosed synthetic ingredients, prohibited for use in organics (including the sugar alcohol mannitol, modified starch, glucose syrup solids, and "other" undisclosed ingredients)
Microencapsulation of the powder (possibly using nanotechnology), which are prohibited under organic laws
Use of volatile synthetic solvents, besides hexane (such as isopropyl alcohol)
Recombinant DNA techniques and other forms of genetic modification of organisms; mutagenesis; use of GMO corn as a fermentation medium
Heavily processed ingredients that are far from "natural"Shocked by this incident, the Cornucopia Institute began a more in-depth review of other chemicals approved for use in organics, to determine whether proper procedures and safeguards were followed in the past.
"Guess what? For the most part, sadly, they were not," Mark says.
One of the first products the Cornucopia Institute looked at was carrageenan. Like most people in the industry, the initial belief was that it was natural and benign since it comes from seaweed. However, as it turns out, carrageenan is an inflammatory agent tied to serious intestinal disease and is even categorized as a "possible carcinogen." Just how did that get approved for use in organic foods?
The Integrity of the Organic Label has Been Compromised
The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) provides a structure for reviewing non-organic ingredients being petitioned for approval for use in organic foods, in order to assure the integrity of the organic label. The first line of defense is the National Organics Standards Board (NOSB), which must, by law, maintain a certain diversity of members:
4 farmers
2 handlers (processors/marketers)
3 environmentalists
1 conservation expert
3 representatives of the public or consumers
1 certifier
1 retailer
1 scientistThe intention was for this board to act as a balance against competing interests and corporate power. Unfortunately, abuses and obvious violations of the Congressional intent have been rampant.
According to Mark:
"The most egregious example of this was when a corporate employee of General Mills was nominated as the "consumer representative." There was such a strong backlash that her name was withdrawn and later she was nominated and served in a slot reserved for a scientist. She might have technically qualified as a scientist. But by filling a slot with a corporate representative that Congress obviously intended as an independent voice, the board's agribusiness bias was reinforced.
During the Obama administration, a full-time employee of a 700-million-dollar-a-year agribusiness was appointed as a "farmer." And a similar "farmer" was just appointed to the board, this time a manager at Driscoll's, the giant, primarily conventional berry producer in California."
Absurd Bias Showing up in "Independent" Technical Reviews
Before an ingredient can be approved for use in organic foods, it must undergo a technical review by the NOSB. As you can see by the list of mandated board members above, the NOSB is not a scientific panel; rather these organic industry stakeholders are meant to use their individual field of expertise and judgment to help evaluate each petition. In order to do so, the petition must include accurate and comprehensive scientific data from truly independent sources.
According to Mark:
"One of the problems of the recent Martek proposal was the gross level of bias exhibited in the technical review (TR) supplied to the NOSB. Even though materials that are highly processed by bleaching or deodorizing have previously been deemed as "synthetic," the Martek materials presented in the TR as "natural."
Natural?
From genetically mutated strains of algae never existing before in nature? Instead of presenting independent research regarding a material, the TR was filled with biased statements lacking the required scientific citations. How could the NOSB use their best judgment in evaluating the Martek petitions without sound scientific advice?"
Making matters worse, it turns out that of the handful of industry experts who have been advising the NOSB on scientific matters, one of them, Dr. Theuer, co-authored 45 of approximately 50 technical reviews during a two-year span in the 1990s-virtually all of them in support of approving the synthetic material in question for use in organics.
And if you think matters may have gotten better since then, think again. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack was appointed to his post despite massive public outcry, as he was well-known for his agribusiness and biotechnology industry bias'. He's been a strong supporter of genetically engineered crops (including bio-pharmaceutical corn), Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), and animal cloning, for example. The USDA now contracts the Organic Center to produce technical reviews for the NOSB. And who's behind The Organic Center?
According to Mark:
"[The Organic Center] began as the non-profit organic arm of the powerful Organic Trade Association (OTA) and are generally controlled and funded by the same giant corporations that run that OTA. The rest of The Organic Center's leadership reads like a who's who of giant corporations involved in organics: Aurora Dairy, the giant distributor UNFI, the vegetable giant Earthbound Farms, Safeway Grocers, Organic Valley, Whole Foods, and no fewer than four individuals with financial relationships to Dean Foods and their WhiteWave division."
Talk about proverbial foxes guarding the organic chicken coop... Mark points out that some of the board members of The Organic Center are even from the same companies petitioning for, and/or supporting the use of synthetics in organics! So how can employees of The Organic Center be expected to actually provide wholly independent technical reviews and solid scientific advice to the NOSB, when their bosses are neck-deep in corporate interests?
Carrageenan-Another Ingredient that Should Never have Been Approved
As mentioned earlier, once the Cornucopia Institute began reviewing carrageenan, a seaweed derivative used as a stabilizer, it became clear that just like Martek's DHA/ARA oils, it does not belong in truly organic foods. This is a timely issue, as carrageenan is currently up for a sunset reevaluation by the NOSB. (By law, all synthetic ingredients in organics must be reevaluated every five years.) According to Mark:
"When carrageenan was first reviewed in 1995, the NOSB, as required by law, looked at the potential environmental and health impacts after examining a technical review produced by three experts with corporate agribusiness ties: Dr. Steve Harper, director of R&D at Small Planet Foods (now owned by General Mills), Dr. Richard Theuer, a vice-president of R&D at Beech Nut, and Dr. Stephen Taylor, professor of food science at the University of Nebraska and defender of genetic engineering. Dr. Taylor has published studies on genetically engineered organisms (GMO) and allergy risks, co-authored by agribusiness scientists at DuPont and Pioneer Hi-Bred (manufacturers of chemicals and organic seed).
This technical review hardly mentions some potential serious health impacts from degraded carrageenan, failing to cite any of the research to inform the board that historically, as much as 25 percent of carrageenan on the market was categorized as degraded. Current research shows all types of carrageenan can degrade in the body and can create serious known health impacts.
A number of peer-reviewed published papers that should have been cited indicate that degraded carrageenan causes inflammation and can cause serious intestinal abnormalities. Degraded carrageenan is also considered a possible carcinogen, and it's in organic foods! There is no doubt that carrageenan is an inflammatory agent. In fact, in testing anti-inflammatory drugs, laboratory animals are given carrageenan to produce inflammatory symptoms. There's no secret in the medical community that this is a problem.
The technical review also failed to document the known environmental hazards from discharge of alkaline water, the deleterious impacts of seaweed farming to coral reefs, coastal ecosystems, and mangroves. By law, organics is supposed to do no harm. By law, these environmental externalities needed to be considered. Now, carrageenan is up for review again this year. As before, no negative environmental impacts and no human health threats were recognized by the NOSB's industry-friendly handling subcommittee, which unanimously again recommends its approval.
We must oppose the relisting of carrageenan and assure that it is taken out of organic foods. It shouldn't be in any food - conventional or organic. We need to be careful about reviews of all synthetics and organics. We need to re-review them, and the weight of your voice will help us make this argument."
A Call to Action
The Cornucopia Institute are now pursuing a pressure campaign aimed at the organic program at the USDA, and at the National Organics Standards Board, to persuade them to review the manipulation and misinformation provided at the November NOSB meeting, which led to the approval of synthetic, genetically mutated DHA and ARA oils-ingredients that have been "confidently linked" to health problems in infants.
"We need to be careful about reviews of all synthetics and organics. We need to re-review them," he says.
On the Cornucopia Institute's website, you'll find a proxy letter calling for careful scrutiny of all synthetics and organics; a creditable and independent review process; and a diverse NOSB that truly reflects the organic community as Congress intended. Please take a moment to download and sign the proxy letter, and mail it back to the Cornucopia Institute.
"We will deliver your message as an organic industry stakeholder to the powers in Washington, who can preserve or destroy organics," Mark says. "Please download and sign the proxy letter that's posted at Cornucopia.org to amplify our message and your voice...
The law requires the imperative to make sure we have independent oversight. Please, don't reject organics because corporations have acted recklessly and the USDA has failed to do their legally mandated job. Organic farmers and their ethical processing and marketing partners need your support now more than ever, and your family deserves authentic organic food."
References:
i Cornucopia Institute January 23, 2012
Go here -- http://www.cornucopia.org/breaking-scandal-the-organic-watergate/ -- to download, print, sign, and send the proxy letter.
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Dune sleeper, that's an argument for eating low on the food chain. The less processed the food, the fewer the additives. If you compare a bunch of kale with an "organic" protein bar, guess which one wins?
Vicki, you are doing yourself a lot good, eating clean for chemo. Marks Daily Apple had a recent article about the benefits of fasting during chemo to lessen the side effects. Do a search on that blog, it was very interesting.0 -
Thanks Diana. Went shopping today all by myself and picked up some oatmeal (Love it!) and yogurt, plus some veggies and fresh-sliced lunchmeat. Chef salad tonight with lots of veggies and a bit of meat and cheese. This weekend I will venture further and head to WholeFoods and Sunflower, just couldn't manage that far today. Didn't get my drain out today
and got my first expansion. Feeling kind of, I don't know, off I guess is the word. Want to get cleared for work part time but I know my doc's and with the drain still in it's a no go. One step at a time.
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Vicki - hope you get your drain out soon! Sounds like you are making some good strides in your diet!
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Went for a 20 minute walk today; up by 5 from yesterday, but I think I'll stick with 20 for a few days. My salad was yummy; made my own dressing and a little bit of garlic bread. Cooking wheatberries tonight for the first time! Making about 2 cups (dry) so I can put them in the freezer. Found a recipe that mixes wheatberries with oatmeal. Looking forward to that!
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Sounds very nice Vicki. You are doing a great job of incorporating healthy routines into your daily life. It can be a lot of work, at least for me. But I know that it is worth the effort.
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Ladies, thanks for all the encouragement. Now if I could just take a shower instead of a bath (I never liked baths) all would be right with the world.
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Amazing info on the organics. Wish I had enough hours of sun on my yard to grow more than the few measly tomatoes I can manage to produce. Although my oregano is taking over! Who knew that stuff was so hardy? It comes back every year and spreads like crazy! I'm inviting the neighborhood to come harvest...
Great progress Vicki!
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madpeacock: Does oregano grow in shade? I have an area I would like to get cover on but it's shady most of the day.
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That area of my yard only gets a few hours of sun per day, and plenty of shade, so I would say so. It gets pretty tall, so not sure it is a good cover plant, but it does spread!It usually dies back in the winter, but it was so mild this winter here in GA that it didn't die back completely and then spread like crazy this spring!
Anybody have any nice, healthy Italian recipes??
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The best way to ensure organic is to grow it yourself. It is garden season gals. Get growing. Nothing like your own fresh picked produce. I have been talking with a wonderful organic farmer. He has so many great tips I am using this year. He said plants that are low in nutrients are suseptible to bugs and disease. Healthy plants can withstand the critters and the fungi. Just like people! Sure makes sense. So feed your plants regularly and do not let them dry out. His favorite fertilizer is 1oz molasses, 2oz ammonia, 2oz apple cider vinegar to a gal of water. I can't wait to start using it because my plants are always sagging by the end of summer. Plants also need phosphorus to help the roots take up nutrients. He said to get some cheap soda that says phosperated on the label and put that on the plants. Finally, a use for that stuff!
Madpeacock-since I am half Italian, I have adopted some of my family recipes since I try to avoid gluten at all costs. I take zuchinni and cut it up to be the size of penne, toss it in boiling water for less than a minute to soften it a bit but still be al dente, and use this instead of pasta with my homemade gravy (with tomatoes I can from my garden). I also make lasagne with spaghetti squash. Just cut the squash in half, brush tops with EVOO, roast it until it becomes soft and looks like spaghetti when you shred it with a fork. Then I put it in a casserole dish and add my normal lasagne incredients, except I really go easy on the cheese these days. And if you do not spray your lawn, and have a field of weeds as I do, don't forget to add some dandelion and purslane to your salad just like my Italian grandfather always did!
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Other things that are good for fertilizer if you have access to it is Bat Guano and chicken litter. Both are high in ammonia so it does not take much to mix into your soil. I am lucky that I have easy access to a commercial mushroom farm and use the compost they grow mushrooms in. You mix half compost and half soil and you do not have to fertilize for about three years. Also because the way mushrooms are grown in such a sterile environment they are pretty well organic even if the label does not say it. I know the people that own the mushroom farm and they were finally going to go organic on their labels. They said they did not have to change the way the were growing but they just have to jump through more hoops and pay more money to be able to label it organic hence their organic label will cost more than the regular lable and they are the same product. I think mushrooms are the only thing that are like that. I love my garden and decided to start growing because I did not want the pesticides and it is much cheaper than buying organic. I learned that I love to can with the extra.
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I would love to have a garden, but I think we would have to move. We are at the foothills of a mountain that used to be a volcano and the ground is rock hard. I do enjoy the farmer's markets though! And we have some tomatoes planted in the front yard in a little area that has good dirt brought in.
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Diana my beds are raised beds. I did have to purchase the dirt but it made it so much easier. With a raised bed you can build it on rocks you just need sunlight
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