Are You Drinking Skim Milk?

Did you know that full-fat dairy products are healthier for you in every respect? When the fat is reduced dairy products become processed. Nature intended dairy to have fat in it to balance the sugars and proteins in the milk. One of the best ways to avoid obesity and Type II Diabetes is to keep a balance between carbs, sugars, proteins and healthy fats.

And did you know that skim milk is about profit, not your waistline or health? The reason that dairies began to promote skim milk was so they could skim the cream off the top of the milk and sell it at a greater profit. www.butterbeliever.com/fat-free-dairy-skim-milk-secrets/

Some of the most vital nutrients are in the fat/cream, not the milk left over after skimming. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins. This means these vitamins are carried in the fat. Maybe one of the reasons so many people are Vitamin D deficient is because few people are eating cream anymore

Of course, how cows are raised makes a great difference in the quality of the milk to begin with. Growth hormones and antibiotics added to feed enter the milk, as well as pesticides and chemicals the cows might come into contact with.

So, your best choice is always organic dairy products. Look for raw cheeses, not the cheap colored cheeses that resemble more plastic than food.

The saturated fat in milk is more satisfying, helps balance blood sugar, and may help with weight loss. Low-fat foods have never contributed to healthy weight or weight loss. Consider all the low-fat foods manufactured and consumed in the past thirty years, and compare that to the epidemic of obesity and Type II Diabetes we have in the Western world. http://healthimpactnews.com/2016/full-fat-dairy-healthier-than-low-fat-dairy-eating-high-fat-linked-to-lower-risk-for-diabetes/

A new study published in American Heart Association journal Circulation followed 3000 participants suggested that full-fat dairy contributed to lower levels of Diabetes and better weight management. (The Full-Fat Paradox: Dairy Fat Linked To Lower Diabetes Risk. (2016). NPR.org)

Should you drink milk or eat dairy at all? It is estimated that 75% of the human adult population can tolerate dairy, and few people are actually allergic to dairy. So dairy intolerance may be linked to the quality and origin of the dairy, or to digestive weaknesses. I often see that patients with congested gall bladders and over-stressed livers have difficulty with dairy. And people who have difficulty with grain digestion will often have difficulty with dairy as well. But I see very little actual lactose-intolerance.

Yogurt is a mixed bag, as well. Again, look for organic dairy with no added sugar and flavor it yourself with fruit or stevia. Whey protein is different from casein or lactose, and may be well tolerated by many. Look for whey that says “non-denatured”, so that the protein is usable in the body. Whey helps the liver to make a powerful substance called glutathione, which is vital for detoxification processes.

I was able to get certified organic raw milk, cheese and yogurt delivered in glass bottles to our home in England. We owned a share in a local organic farm, and this was idyllic for my growing children. I also was able to recommend this milk for babies who had eczema, and often it would clear up quickly. If you have access to raw organic dairy products, try them and see if you can tolerate them better than the dairy you have been eating.

So, enjoy the wonderful taste of whole fat dairy, and know that you are doing your health, and your waistline, a favor.

Coconut Oil for Beauty and Health

You might call coconut oil the best beauty oil for inside or outside the body. As a skin oil, coconut oil can be used at any age. Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer for moisturizing dry skin, or removing make-up and cleansing the face. For infants, coconut oil can be used for moisturizing or diaper rash.

Mix coconut oil with Epsom salts and use as an exfoliating treatment that won’t dry out the skin and may even be beneficial for acne, without drying out blemish-prone skin like harsher acne cleansers.

Added to shakes and smoothies, coconut oil may contribute to weight loss and has even been shown to decrease belly fat and improved blood cholesterol levels, as reported in The Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  Despite the increase in calories participants in the study lowered their body mass and increased metabolism. That means that the rate of calorie usage by the body was improved, making weight loss easier, and increasing energy.

Subject to flus, viral infections or cold sores? Coconut oil is 50% Lauric acid, which converts to Monolaurin in the body, which has powerful anti-viral effects. These days our immune systems need all the help they can get, so coconut oil could be part of your defense system. Children could benefit both from the immune enhancement and from the brain/nervous system support. Ulcers caused by H-pylori bacteria and candida infections have also been helped by the properties of coconut oil. http://www.livestrong.com/article/476661-coconut-oil-the-immune-system/

If you are concerned about Candida over-growth or have gut/intestinal issues, coconut oil contains caprylic acid, which is anti-inflammatory, discourages unhealthy bacteria and fosters the growth of healthy gut flora. We can’t live without the good bugs that line our intestines, so keeping them happy and strong is the best kind of prevention.  http://www.thealternativedaily.com/alerts/coconutoilsecret/click-thyroidspecial.php

You can check your own candida levels by spitting in a tall glass of water first thing in the morning, before brushing your teeth. Allow a few hours and see if the glass begins to look like a science experiment, with long strings and odd lumps forming. That means you need digestive help to restore normal gut function. If the water remains clear, that is a good sign of gut health.

Healthy fats like coconut oil are also vital for helping vitamins and minerals get absorbed. Some vitamins are fat loving, and they need fat to help them pass through the intestinal walls into the blood to be carried to the cells. Fats are a component of cell membranes and form a lipid layer that protects the cells. Fats may protect against neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Natural, unaltered, fats allow the transmission of nerve impulses. Processed fats like corn, canola, soybean oil, and margarine can interfere with nerve transmission. http://www.thenaturalvet.net/Fats-and-Their-Relationship-to-Cell-Membrane-Function_ep_61.html

Adding a good fat like coconut oil to your diet can make you feel more satisfied, so may actually help with appetite and over-eating.

What makes coconut oil so unique? Fats are arranged in chains of fatty acids. Coconut oil is composed of medium-chain fatty-acids (MCFA’s). In the 90’s it was discovered that medium-chain fatty acids helped control seizures in children and now elite athletes have discovered their benefits for endurance.

The beauty of MCFA’s is that they are burned easily for energy and cannot be converted into fat cells in the body. MCFA’s appear to improve mental clarity and provide energy for the heart muscle, so may be protective.

So, if coconut oil sounds like a good thing to you, try incorporating it into your diet for a month and see if you notice a difference.  All you have to lose is belly fat, excess appetite and dry skin or acne.  

One of the best ways to include coconut oil is to add it to a morning protein shake. If you would like a sample of the Standard Process Nutritional Shake, ask us and we will include healthy recipes. Ask us about our flavored Stevia that can turn your shake into a yummy snack or dessert as part of a detox, weight loss, or blood sugar balancing program.

What is Corned Beef and Why is it Good For You?

You may not think of Irish food as health food, but there are many healthy aspects to Irish cuisine. Irish butter is some of the best in the world. Kerrygold Irish salted butter is 80% fat and the unsalted version has added cultures to make it a fermented product with richer flavor and 82% fat. Kerry gold products are available in grocery stores and health food stores. http://tastebutter.com/about_kerrygold_butter.html

This is important because traditional foods, eaten by humans for thousands of years before we had epidemics of cancer, heart disease, obesity and Diabetes, are full of fats and natural probiotics from fermentation.

Corned beef is made the same way pickles are made. It is beef cured in salty brine, which creates healthy probiotics. “Corn” was the old English term for any grain, and the term “a corn of salt” was used prior to the American term “a grain of salt”. So, the corn in corned beef is referring to the salt, not corn that comes from a cob. Corning as a means of preserving beef was very popular during Word War II when fresh meat was not readily available. http://amazingribs.com/recipes/beef/home_made_corned_beef.html

You can click on the link above to learn how to make your own corned beef for a delicious St. Patrick’s Day dinner, with leftovers for Reuben sandwiches (on gluten-free bread, of course!) For more ideas about traditional Irish foods, like Lamb Stew or Bacon and Cabbage click here http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/the-ideal-irish-diet-eat-your-way-to-weight-loss-with-healthy-irish-recipes-136684608-237426341.html Cabbage is a great source of Vitamin C and is a cruciferous vegetable, which means it contains sulfur, vital for Phase II Liver detoxification.

Concerned about eating too many potatoes on a low carb diet? Chris Voigt, head of the Washington Potato Commission, lost 21 pounds in two months on a potatoes-only diet. His cholesterol also dropped dramatically. He did not add milk or butter, always ate the skin, and enjoyed potatoes morning, noon, and night, prepared in every possible way except fried. http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/food-drink/the-miracle-irish-potato-diet-drop-21-pounds-in-two-months-135400958-237743551.html

I don’t advocate the potato-only diet. It wasn’t all that healthy for our Irish ancestors and, with no added fat or protein, might plat havoc with your hormones. But potatoes are one of my personal favorite high-carb choices, weighing in at about 25% carbs. The potato is also a source of Vitamin C, and the skins contain many minerals. So, if you are at a normal weight, potatoes can add some delicious variety to your meals.

Irish cheese is some of the best in the world. When I lived in London I was able to shop at Fortnum and Mason’s world famous cheese department. I wish I could still buy some of the amazing Irish cheeses I found there, but they apparently don’t import the best. Some delicious varieties can be ordered online. Taste them and compare to the finest French cheeses and let me know what you think. http://www.epicurious.com/archive/holidays/stpatricks/irish_cheeses

If you have Irish roots and you would like to feel some extra Irish pride for St. Patrick’s Day, watch this lovely video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wmIZEl1nSo

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you forget to wear green tomorrow, and you get pinched, at least remember to use Arnica. And- wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.

The Skinny on Cooking With Oils

What kind of oils are you cooking with? If you are using Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, you are over-paying for oil that should only be consumed in its raw state. Heating oil changes it, altering and destroying the healthy compounds called phenols. Phenols are beneficial for liver detoxification and immune support.

There is a point where heated oils lose their health benefits. This is called the “smoke point.” The oils not only lose their benefits, they also become harmful to consume. 

There are some oils that can be safely heated to high heat for cooking and their rich flavor will hold up. Avocado, extra-light olive oil and ghee are good choices. Ghee is butter that has been simmered so the milk solids caramelize with the fat.

Medium high heat is used most often for cooking vegetables and browning meat. The best oils for medium heat are virgin (not extra-virgin) olive oil and nut oils, like macadamia, almond or hazelnut oils.

For cooking with medium heat, unrefined coconut and sesame oils work well.

Extra-virgin olive oil and flaxseed oil can be used for salad dressings. Flavorful oils like pistachio, sesame and walnut oils can be used to drizzle over salads and foods for extra flavor and nutrients.

If you have never experimented with nut Oils, like Walnut, Macadamia or Hazelnut,

you are in for a treat. These oils are wonderful for making unique salad dressings.  Try mixing with lemon juice, white balsamic vinegar, and adding a touch of aged or reduced balsamic vinegar, along with herbs you like. You can buy reduced balsamic vinegar at Trader Joe’s. I like to drizzle it on top of a salad for extra flavor.

Generally, it is better to go for unrefined, raw oils. Heat-treated, lose their health benefits. You can use heat treated oils like toasted sesame oil to add rich flavor to salads or Asian dishes, but be sure to eat plenty of unrefined oils for the benefits of the essential fatty acids. EFA’s are vital for heart, brain, skin and general nutrition. Processed oil such as Canola, Soy or Corn Oils should be avoided altogether.

Adding plenty of healthy oils to your diet can help with weight loss, because rich-tasting foods are more satisfying and will keep your blood sugar balanced, curbing appetite and giving you sustained energy.  Don’t settle for chemical bottled dressings-carry your own to work.

Here is a quick guide to cooking with oils:

High heat, 450-650°                         Avocado Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Pecan Oil, Ghee (or clarified        

                                                          butter, Extra-Light Olive Oil (not Extra-Virgin Olive Oil)

Medium-High Heat 375-449°         Virgin Olive Oil, Almond Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Macadamia Nut

                                                         Oil, Refined Coconut Oil

Medium Heat 324-374°                   Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Lard, Butter, Unrefined Coconut Oil

Medium-Low Heat 250-324°          Unrefined Sesame Seed Oil, Unrefined Walnut Oil

Low Heat 225-249°                          Pistachio Oil

Now you can cook smart and delicious!