Looking for a laxative?

Sadly, this perfect body we've been given is sometimes, well, less than perfect. Happily, there may be simple solutions to problems which are significant but still within the realm of self-treatment.

Constipation would fit that description (most of the time). Take simple steps: drink enough, especially water; chew well at meals and keep quantities moderate; check for foods that irritate you; get enough of the good fats that promote proper intestinal function; coddle your good flora so the acidophilus and friends thrive; love your fibers and they will return the love. Sometimes: enzymes when digestion needs a boost; magnesium when all of the above need integration (and when your calcium supplement seems to be causing more problems than it solves). And always, leave the stress behind when you eat.

For years an older woman came to my store, looking for the ingredients to make a natural laxative. She had found the recipe in an old "doctor book" and passed it on to friends and family. That's how good it was...Ready to try it?

RECIPE FOR NATURAL LAXATIVE
Mix together: 1 cup whey powder, 1 1/2 cups brewers (nutritional) yeast, 1 cup wheat germ, 1/2 cup psyllium seed, 1/2 cup flax seed, 1/2 cup mustard seed. Take 2 tablespoons in 8 oz. yogurt. Do not chew!

(My notes: best to refrigerate because of the wheat germ. Use yogurt with live cultures.)

Simple remedies? Simple solutions? Tell me more.

From the food blog junkie

Yup, that's me -- start with a good food blog, recipes and photos and a provoking discussion, then read old posts, comments...then link to commenter's blogs and before you know it the night is gone, and there's no time to cook or read. Working at the store I peek at more blogs throughout the day when there's a quiet spell, or eat lunch standing in front of the computer. What's new in the Perfect Pantry? What's Steamy up to now? What's cooking in Brazil, London, Mauritius?

It was cooking and cookbooks that led me to health food and books, and the love has persisted. Reading and writing about food helps keep me sane! Now I have been honored as the "Bookworm" of the week at The Perfect Pantry -- go look! Lydia writes about ingredients (her pantry) with wit and intelligence, and a recipe that shows off each one. If you like to read about food, you'll love it!

Reading "A Veggie Venture" today, I found a wonderful praise of the people who bring us our food in America, inspired by shelling black eyed peas (a 17 minute meditation).

How far we've come from the source of our food sustenance. Sure, I bought these from my local farmers market - I even 'walked' to the market. But what I didn't do was:

• Leave my homeland and family seeking personal freedom or economic opportunity
• Cross mountains and rivers and prairies to find affordable farmland

Follow the link to read the entire essay (and recipe)!

Was it the "Little House" books that started my awareness? Alanna, who writes the wonderful blog Veggie Venture, lives in St. Louis, where those settlers often passed through. Here in New England we are reminded by the stone walls and the rocks that are still in our soil how hard those early farmers had to work to grow food for their own subsistence, let alone to feed a village or have enough for the markets in town.

The need to return to the soil is strong. In recent times, people grew Victory Gardens during World War II. In the 60's, communes and "back to the land" inspired me to grow my own garden, as big as a neighbor and I could handle. (Where were the men?) Rodale's Organic Gardening magazine was an inspiration, along with Ruth Stout's book on gardening "without an aching back." Moving into the world of selling commercial produce made the garden redundant, but now that we're no longer suppliers we are again consumers. We are happy to support the CSA's and farmers markets that have sprouted and multiplied, putting us close to the soil again, one step removed. Support them -- we need them!

My toothpaste and DNA

Jay has had DNA testing done as part of the Genographic Project
out of a desire to look into his family's past. It took them back to the Rift Valley 50,000 years ago, up to 20,000 years ago in Europe. Fascinating as this is, it leaves a lot of time blank. Ultimately we want our ancestors to tell us about ourselves. Now he's working back from the known present, learning a lot about people still in memory. Wonderful stories, interesting relationships -- there's a rich history in a relatively short time.

I am thinking about this now because I have found an amazing fact: 10% of all toothpaste goes unused (thank you, Ideal Bite)! I immediately followed their lead, cut open my apparently empty tube, and there it was -- all that potentially wasted toothpaste (and it was the good stuff, Neem TP from Organix South). Of course I rescued it...there's something in my DNA, no doubt, that won't let me waste: toothpaste, or water, or the blank sides of papers... At least it gives me an inborn urge to save the Earth!

Musing on my absence

Did I fall off the horse? Can I get back on? What's the natural cure for blogger's block? For the power of seeing my own words in print for all the world to see, I'll just swallow all the cliches I can think of: today I'll just jump in/on again!

So much strange news about nutrition and supplements lately, both positive and negative. Much of it reinforces the commitment to food -- whole and natural. Vitamin D: can we be more careful here, before falling for prescribed megadoses? Vitamin E: how can we compare wheat germ with synthetic dl-alpha tocopherol? Carotenes: what imbalances do we create with synthetic beta carotene when we replace a very complex vegetable or algae source?

Now that I'm selling eggs in the store again, from very local hens that eat organic grain when they're not out hunting and pecking, I wonder if the sunshine they get doesn't make a crucial difference in the Vitamin D content of the eggs. Even certified organic eggs may not be this good.

Sadly, "USDA Certified Organic" is fulfilling the fears of the paranoid, gradually being undermined by agribusiness who like charging more for organic and don't like paying more to grow it. Bit by bit "exceptions" are being allowed. We have to keep fighting to keep some measure of conscience here. Keep sending emails, snail mails, signing petitions to let USDA or Congress know what you think. Support local farmers, farmers markets and CSA's which have the commitment and honesty to still produce real food and healthy soil.

FROM IDEAL BITE: Patients in London are wearing pajamas made with silver linings (literally) to combat an aggressive form of staph infection.

What is it? "Mother of us all", a sculpture by Elinore Koenigsfeld.

The dawn of trans fat sanity

My mother was a good cook who favored the fresh, simple and natural. But she and most women of her generation kept up with what was "modern," so that blue can of Crisco was always in our cupboard. When I got married, I thought that the big white blob was the only way to make a flaky pie crust. Later, when my father had to limit his diet for the health of his heart, a "good" margerine replaced the butter in the refrigerator (even though Mom still used the whipped butter). In 1984, the Center for Science in the Public Interest pushed to have restaurants move from saturated fats to (ta da!) hydrogenated fats. Now the research is piling up: No Crisco! No Jif! No McDonalds fries until they change to a healthier fat. CSPI has a new campaign for TransFree America.

Why not? Evidence shows that heart disease, diabetes, liver disfunction are likely to worsen with the trans fats. Belly fat and ovulation related fertility have been studied for connections; trans fats can show up in breast milk of mothers who can't lay off the doughnuts, muffins and chips. The insidious saturation of our supermarket shelves and restaurant kitchens with trans fats isn't hopeless: we can find our way back to real food.

A few cities have already taken the step. In Tiburon CA all restaurants made the change to safer fats in 2005. In New York City and Philadelphia, menus will have to change soon. Legislation is coming up in other cities and states as well. Some processed foods (yes, even Crisco) have already reformulated. Full labeling for trans fats has been required for a year.

Since the first can of Crisco in 1911, we have had a choice of fats that have been mechanically modified. Now there are new alternative fats, made to have high heat tolerance, to be reused and slow to turn rancid. Are they safe or are we opening another can of worms?

We are trying to make a change without asking people to make a real improvement in the way they eat. How hard can it be to simplify the way we eat, to choose real foods over fake, good tasting nutrition over worse-than-empty calories that leave obesity and physical deterioration in their wake? I welcome the intention to make progress in healthier food sources, but unless we make our kitchens the destination for good health and good taste, it won't be enough.

the fish bone's connected to the...

Concern about heavy metal toxicity is a very real thing as the world becomes more laden with chemical residue. Concern about mercury in fatty fish, sources of Omega 3 fatty acids, is seemingly good for the vitamin business (buy omega 3 capsules), but bad for people who believe that food should be our primary source of nutrition. Preganant women are warned to limit eating tuna, or just forget about it. Now Jean Carper, in USA Weekend Magazine, reports from Wm Lands, expert on fish oil benefits, that you can eat any and all fish IF the fish are "loaded" with selenium. "Mercury is toxic in the absence of selenium." "selenium ...neutralizes the danger."
Selenium, in food and in supplements, has been shown in studies to have strong cancer preventive activity, but I find this report confusing. Are the warnings just a mistaken case of taking the part (mercury toxicity) for the whole (balance of poison and protection found in the same food)? Can we take the chance that he's right and eat all the fish in sight? (And what about the issue of overfishing and the probability of no fish in the sea after 2048?) I don't know!

What about Vitamin D? It's the hottest "new" vitamin. In 1976 my trusted reference Laurel's Kitchen said, "Amounts (of Vitamin D) over 2000 IU per day can produce dangerously high levels of calcium in the body, leading to the deposit of calcium in unwanted places like the blood vessels and the kidneys...never exceed the recommended daily allowance of 400 IU." Now it's 2007 and almost everyday I hear "my doctor wants me to take 1000, 2000, even 4000 IU's of D" because tests show deficencies, specifying the D-3 (natural) form. There is a shift taking place which seems to be leading to less calcium, more D, a good change toward better absorption rather than sending the calcium down for cement. And where should we get it? Sunshine is the most natural source (safest in moderation); fish liver oils have it, but it's removed when the dread mercury is removed by molecular distillation (some add it back and it may not be the natural D-3/cholecalciferol but the less beneficial D-2/ergocalciferol; get Nordic Natural's D enhanced oil); and the latest, MegaFood's D-3 from lanolin, prepared with their special process (good for sun-sensitive vegetarians like me). Keep watching as we see more of the benefits of Vitamin D (cancer, MS, IBD) and promising food sources (mushrooms!).

Follow-up: Another complex: Thank you Michael Pollan, author of the eye-opening "The Omnivore's Dilemma" -- 10/15/06, New York Times Magazine -- "The Vegetable-Industrial Complex." More thought for food.

Year end report on plastic bags

In June I found www.reusablebags.com, and I was horrified by the nasty counter that tells the number of plastic bags we've used this year. I just did a year end check.

495,996,000,000 passed at 1:48 AM

and there are three days to go in 2006! Start 2007 with this thought (from their site):

100,000 people can save 14,000 barrels of oil per year by using reusable bags.

Where has health gone?

I'm not usually a fan of conspiracy theories, but I can be highly tempted with respect to health. I think of the 'military-industrial complex' that threatened to dominate the 50's (my formative years); now we're looking at the medical-industrial complex. Where's the rhetoric of a Dwight D. Eisenhower when you need it?

We're dealing with a highly technological medicine, full of acronyms like CAT and MRI... medications that leave your liver in shock (the body's primary filter, and according to the Greeks, the seat of the emotions)... corporate health providers that treat by the minute. Why does the US lead the world in cost of medical care yet show up far down on the list of health status?

My view may be skewed because I talk to many people who have exhausted the medical care offered to them. I can hope to open some doors to understanding what we can learn about taking care of our health. Look at traditional herbal medicine, look at other traditions like Chinese or Ayurvedic medicine, or the genius of Samuel Hahneman for the development of homeopathics into the highly complex discipline we have from 200 years of study. Support practitioners who have studied disciplines that work with the body's healing force. And support the winds of change in the allopathic medical community that embrace many sources of healing.

Why do we want to be healthy? To enjoy life as an active participant; to bring joy to others, and help to those in need; to see our children grow up and our grandchildren become the people we hoped for... In 2007 --- share the health! (I'll start by baking more whole grain/xylitol sweetened hermits.)

Veggies down under

TV never captured my attention like the computer has, and now I am most captivated by blogs. I get caught up in the food/veg/nutrition blogseach one linking to more, and there are many, many good ones...so many blogs, so many recipes, so little time! My latest discovery is written by a naturopath in Australia, Limes & Lycopene. Once you adjust to the inversion of the seasons, you'll find someone you wish could by your own doctor. What caught my attention was the Aussie version of the "eat your veggies, 2006" advice -- pinning it down to 2 fruits and 5 vegetables a day seems to make it more realistic. Remember that a "serving" is often smaller than you think, eat vegetable soups for 2 or 3 servings, snack on fruit...keep watermelon cool, not cold for the highest lycopene content (and holding it after picking increases nutrients!)... Check it out.

Food and herbs are by far the best sources of nutrition, with new information on the benefits announced faster than I can keep track. You can use supplements to boost your "servings" -- just keep in mind that they are supplemental. FrequenSea has the primal sea plankton (source of Omega 3's and sunlight nutrients), Goji is a fabulous berry that nurtures, energizes, heals; greens in powders or capsules have been joined by reds, purples, blues, yellows, whites have every fruit and vegetable we'd hope to eat. A mix of these with fiber, flax-borage oil and cal-mag powder is my breakfast on work days and keeps me satisfied all morning.

What about potassium? We need a lot of it, and certain medications deplete it, sometimes dangerously. Should you take potassium in capsules? Since the amount of potassium is limited to 99 mg/capsule, I prefer to get mine, bountiful and safe, from food. Outstanding sources are acorn squash, leafy greens and dried beans. Bananas and oranges? Good, but lower amounts. Just another reason to remember, 2 fruits and 5 veg.

Getting real

What is more "real" than air, water, trees...and junk mail? I'm on a roll: I found a way to improve the first 3 and reduce the last -- for $3 a month. Green Dimes gets it all done! The site has all the statistics, does all the work and plants a tree a month for you. Now there's a good way to delegate responsibility.

Then there's water and plastic, down the drain and in the trash when women shave. An alternative is using sugar instead: look at the article from Care2 (then go feed the chimps). So many times we don't bother to do what is green because it seems like too much trouble or we think that an individual can have only negligible impact. Here are a few simple ways to be part of the change with little effort.

VitaSource recycles. Many of you have brought plastic and paper bags -- I reuse any clean and practical-sized bags. Many of you clever people bring in a bottle or package when you want to be sure you are getting the right thing, then leave the empty for us to recycle. Thanks!!

EGGS FOR EYES This information makes you wonder if the rise in the occurence of macular degeneration had anything to do with the drop in egg consumption. A recent study shows that eating one egg a day raised blood levels of lutein and zeazanthin 26 - 38%; they are related to prevention of macular degeneration. When eggs were demonized (deviled, no doubt) for their cholesterol levels -- now rehabilitated for moderate consumption -- what harm was done?

Can we save the 21st century?

The 60's and 70's were hopeful times. Important issues came together for me in a book called "Diet for a Small Planet" (Frances Moore Lappe). My very worn copy has 3 companions in my kitchen, other editions, all with the same message: The way we eat can make the world a better place. Low-on-the-foodchain eating, whole foods, and a link to the way our land and water resources are used -- these highlight a cookbook with a philosophy that sadly is needed even more today than it was in 1971 when it first came out.

Now, 31 years later, the future is challenged by agribusiness taking over organic farming; practices that poison good food with e. coli and more; world commerce in food, breaking down our sensitivity to eating in season from local growers; genetic modification that sends plant breeding into warp speeds; and most bizarre, cloned animals which may soon be on your table. Along with all that, abuses of water, agricultural chemicals, heavy metals in the air from industry...all factors that are changing (and limiting) the possibility of bringing pure wholesome food to your kitchen.

Ah, a new book to open the mind and challenge us: GRUB! Subtitled "ideas for an urban organic kitchen," but with a much greater task -- Anna Lappe (daughter of DSP author) and coauthor Bryant Terry load this book up with good recipes, dished up with a large helping of the information we need to do what we can to support the future -- again -- by the way we eat. I recommend it!

Research Tidbit: Diabetics who don't get enough sleep are less able to control their blood sugar levels. Thoughts: All of us can learn from this, or relearn, that sleep is crucial to our health. Some sources even pinpoint the hours between 10 PM and 2 AM as the time when immune work is done. I know that I now can't stay up until 4 AM just because I don't want to put the book down -- because I wake up with a stubborn cold. (This research appears in a free monthly publication, "Healthy Habits" that you can pick up in VitaSource.)

How can you read them all?

Every day I get newsletters that are sent by email. Bottom Line covers health topics, investing, and some of those outrageous ads for the books they sell. It's free and there's usually something new and useful. Today, under the headline "Can Pasta Cause Cataracts?" they summarize research from Tufts (very respectable) along with some basic information about cataracts. Jay is soon to have his first cataract surgery, so I was curious about this theory: Eating refined carbohydrates correlates to a greater risk of cataracts! Sounds like "part of a healthy diet" to me. More fruits, vegetables and whole grains (full of nutrients, nutraceuticals and fiber), less refined and processed carbs (empty calories that monkey with your blood sugar) with a high glycemic index. 50% of Americans 75 and over have cataracts. Since this kind of healthy eating is also protective for many of the other ills of the aging body, it's worth the effort. Tastes good too!

If you have experience with slowing down or reducing cataracts, please comment! And if you have emailed, free newsletters to recommend, please comment.

An episode at home tonight: A nosebleed, an occasional occurence, especially in the winter (dry) months. The remedy: the homeopathic cell salt Ferrum Phos. It works like a charm, and quickly. (Comments?)

Something old, something new

Today's news is impressive: turmeric helps arthritis (if you're a rat in a recent study). Funny, haven't we been sellling New Chapter's Zyflamend and Natural Factors Turmeric & Bromelain for a while? Yup, the ones people keep coming back for because they work. Both are based on extensive studies you can read on MedLine (service of our US government -- how mainstream can you get?). According to a Washington Post article today, the researchers question the effectiveness/potency of supplements on the market -- they managed to come up with an injectable form. Further reading led me to Ideal Bite again: today's newsletter is about natural pain relief. In one posted comment, someone just sprinkled 1/4 teaspoon of the spice on her food after a painful dental surgery -- and it worked. When will we learn to stand on the shoulders of the past, trust 5000 years of Ayurvedic medicine, 3000 years of Chinese medicine, and our Western tradition?

Demographic studies can be very revealing. A look at Sri Lankans and their use of turmeric connected traditional use with healthy cholesterol levels. Less turmeric, higher cholesterol...and the amounts used in the typical diet were in just teaspoons daily.

Today someone brought me information from the Neem Foundation, that neem can be used to relieve arthritis. What an amazing tree!

For the heart

GPLC: Glycine Propionyl-L-Carnitine HCl. You may recognize Carnitine, known as an aid in weight loss and workouts, for its role in burning fat in the cells. This new form has a special affinity for muscle tissues such as the heart. It's a powerful scavenger against superoxide radicals, and protects against lipid peroxidation; it transports fatty acids into the mitochondria; it supports arterial blood flow. On the subjective level, Jay has been taking it for a few weeks. He noticed that it quickly gave him a more alert and energetic feeling, so it's now part of his daily regimen. Check it out at www.Jarrow.com and come see it at VitaSource.

IN THE NEWS: Potassium Citrate aids osteoporosis prevention, due to its correcting the body's pH to alkaline. (What did we tell you?)

Green information

COCKTAIL FACTOID

Genghis Kahn, Julius Caesar, Napoleon, and Hitler all suffered from ailurophobia (hatred of cats). Apparently world dominators don’t like little, furry, non-submissive animals…

What you see is a little sample from www.idealbite.com. While this one is useless, you can find down to earth useful information about making choices for green living. Jen and Heather cover topics ranging from cars, computers, plastic bottles, and paper to makeup and pet food. Try it!

If you're looking for www.whole-dog-journal.com -- just go there.

I'm joining the human race

I've wanted to find a way to share some of the many bits of news in nutrition that I get excited about. Then there are the stories I hear in VitaSource, teaching me more about people's lives and health. Also about animals: today I learned there is a natural health journal for dogs!
I've been following a few blogs and I love the cooperative spirit that emerges in the dialogue.
I hope you'll come back frequently to read, comment and enlarge the learning so that we all gain through the process.