Saturday, February 26, 2011

Food 411 - What's a Nitrite?

Sodium nitrite is a preservative found in cured meats. It is used to preserve the color and to prevent bacteria from forming in the meats. Its use allows for a longer shelf life for these meats.

Nitrites in their pure form can kill a human being with just a few grams. Sodium (salt) is added to the nitrite to lessen the toxicity of the chemical. The use of sodium nitrites have been linked to both colon cancer and COPD, a serious, degenerative lung disease.

A word to the wise:

Nitrites are not necessary to preserve meats. They are used largely for economic reasons for manufacturers that want to keep them on the shelves longer and prevent liability if the meats are not properly monitored by stores and restaurants. It has become easier to find sandwich meats that do not use sodium nitrites. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market and many health food stores will sell these meats in abundance.

For a Trader Joe's near you, click here.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Nana's Gluten Free Cookie Review

I was at Rainbow Acres in Marina Del Rey with a dear friend today. She suggested I try Nana's Gluten Free Cookies. Her cookies are also fruit sweetened, egg and dairy free. Being a chocolate fiend, I chose the "Chocolate Crunch Cookie". Here is what I thought.

I like the big, individually wrapped cookie concept with the bright yellow and purple wrapper. The "O" in "NO" has a line through it with a drawing of a shaft of wheat. I thought, "clever". When I bit into the soft cookie, I immediately noticed the grainy texture of the flour. That's a big deal to me after nearly two decades of trying gluten free baked goods. It doesn't have to be grainy.

The flavor was nice. I really liked the crunch of the chocolaty rice and the richer flavor contained in that puffy rice crunch. It was like they added cocoa puffs to the recipe - without the nasty sugar content.

Over all, I enjoyed this cookie. It was satisfying and great to eat after a simple lunch of tuna salad and a veggie juice. I liked that I only had to buy one big cookie. It's nice not to have to commit to an entire box of them (for a number of reasons.)

As always, I recommend limited sweets, even ones that are fruit sweetened and especially gluten free ones with the high sugar content of rice flour, tapioca and potato starches. I would never say never to sugar unless you know it will do serious damage to you. Once in a while, go for it. Enjoy a delicious treat and as for Nana's, I recommend it as a healthier alternative to a lot of the products out there that are aiming mainly for taste and not nutrition. This brand cares. That's my impression.

For more information on Nana's, click here

Friday, February 11, 2011

Food 411 - Olive Oil

First cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) has incredible healing properties for the body. It can prevent the formation of and even purge gall stones from the gallbladder. It has a balance of essential fatty acids that bring brilliant health to the skin, hair, stomach and intestines. Consuming 2 tablespoons of raw EVOO a week can help in the prevention of colon cancer. Don’t shy away from the fat content when you read it on the label. These are good fats that the body needs for health. The body processes these essential fatty acids to your benefit.

A word to the wise:

Be careful which type of olive oil you buy. Pay a little extra for first cold pressed EVOO. It is the best with the least amount of processing. Light olive oil does not mean less calories and therefore it is better, it means that the olives have been pressed and pressed then pressed again until there’s very little flavor and not nearly as much nutrition left.

If you want to learn about how olive oil can help you cleanse gallstones, e-mail Dr. Meg at meg@deliciousandhealthy.com .

For a copy of Dr. Meg's cookook and guide for going gluten and dairy free, check this link out: www.lulu.com/deliciousandhealthy

Food 411 - Basil

Just one whiff of this miraculous plant can send your senses into overdrive. Basil has antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties all contained in their delicious leaves. When used fresh and raw in salads and pesto, basil can help you get better faster from a cold or infection. Basil oil has proven useful in the treatment of acne and other skin conditions. It has also been linked with help in healing asthma and arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

A word to the wise:

Dried basil does not carry the medicinal weight that fresh basil leaves do. There are many varieties of basil. They are varied in their makeup but they all contain similar properties. Try Genovese basil for delicious pesto or lemon basil in salads.

For a fantastic basil pesto recipe, see the cookbook and guide "Done With Dairy. Giving Up Gluten" at www.lulu.com/deliciousandhealthy

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Food 411 - Blueberries - Delicious and Healthy Living

Did you know that blueberries are high in flavanoids and cartanoids (powerful anti-oxidants), selenium, vitamin A and C? Do you know what that means? It means that among many things, Blueberries are great for the eyes. They have been shown to prevent and/or delay any number of eye related disorders associated with aging. So eat as much as you can for eye health.

A word to the wise:

Whenever you can, please buy organic blueberries. All thin skinned fruits and vegetables take on more herbicide (weed killer) and pesticide (bug killer) chemical residue. Certified organic blueberries do not use these dangerous chemicals that have been associated with a number of neurological disorders like Parkinson’s Disease and cancers.