New Age Organic

Hot and spicy goodness

Servings: 6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes

(Cooked beans needed)

1 large onion, chopped
1 large green pepper chopped
3 cups okra, sliced into 1 inch pieces
2 (16 oz.) cans chopped tomatoes, drained
2 (8 oz.) cans tomatoe sauce
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. red pepper
2 tsp Tabasco sauce
2 cups cooked beans

Saute onion and green pepper in a small amount of water for 5 minutes. Add okra, tomatoes, tomatoe sauce, and spices. Cover and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. Add beans and cook an additional 10 minutes.

Serve over shrimp, fish, rice, noodles, or potatoes.

 

Ammoniated Beef Treatment Questioned

Despite being linked to repeated incidents involving potentially deadly E. coli and salmonella, a major U.S. meat treatment method continues to be used with government approval, The New York Times reveals.

Beef Products, Inc., which supplies processed meat to McDonald’s, Burger King and the U.S. school lunch program, developed a process eight years ago that involves injecting beef with ammonia to banish the gastrointestinal bug E. coli bacteria from burgers. A study by the South Dakota-based company showed the process also killed salmonella, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture endorsed the idea, enabling the company to use fatty trimmings previously limited to pet food and cooking oil for humans.

The ammoniated trimmings are processed into “a mashlike substance frozen into blocks or chips” and used in a majority of hamburgers nationwide, the story says.

The USDA exempted Beef Products from routine testing of hamburger meat begun in 2007, The Times reported.

But government and industry records obtained by The Times show that in testing for the school lunch program, “E. coli and salmonella pathogens have been found dozens of times in Beef Products meat, challenging claims by the company and the U.S.D.A. about the effectiveness of the treatment,” the newspaper said.

We find it quite interesting that the beef industry thinks that refuting this story on the basis that their “ammoniated beef” is E. coli free is going to convince the public to eat their beef.  In our opinion anyone who was not aware that the beef industry is injecting beef with ammonia should take note.

There is also the widespread practice of packing processed meat with carbon monoxide to hold the red color. Consumer reports found that the common process of packaging meat in a mix of toxic gases including carbon monoxide maintains the red color for a month or more, long after the meat has spoiled and would have been thrown out.

While we don’t advocate a strict vegetarian diet, at very least buy only butcher shop fresh cut beef and cook it well. The common methods of “cleansing” mass produced processed beef products are not fit for any healthy diet, and you can easily avoid these food born toxins by visiting your local super market and only buying butcher cut fresh lean beef for your family.

 

Building Strength and Flexibility

Your musculo-skeletal system consists of bones, muscles and joints. This is the physical infrastructure of your body that allows you to stand upright, maintain your body shape, as well as move and flex. This is one of the hardest hit by the degenerative processes of aging. In our youth, the normal bone loss (breakdown of cells) is counteracted by bone growth (cell replacement) but if left unchecked, as we age, the rate at which we replace bone decreases, resulting in bone loss. However, there are many positive treatments and preventative measures to keep your bones, muscles and joints strong, healthy, fit, and mobile.

Bone is a living active tissue that continuously regenerates itself. It serves as a storehouse for minerals, mainly calcium, which will be tapped to meet your body’s mineral requirements. Bone is broken down through a process called “resorption”, releasing its minerals into the general circulation.  New bone is then formed to replace the reabsorbed bone preventing a net bone loss, through a process called “bone remodelling”.

As we age, bone formation begins to fall behind, causing a gradual bone loss resulting in weaker more brittle bones and bone conditions such as osteoporosis.  The specific reasons for this slowdown of bone remodelling are not completely understood, but there are a myriad of factors involved.

Bone Loss

Bone cells called “osteoblasts”, which rebuild bone, falter with aging, this is compounded for women because declining oestrogen levels after menopause actually increase bone resorption, accelerating the bone loss process. Poor nutrition, smoking, and physical inactivity all contribute to bone loss, along with reduced absorption of dietary calcium that comes with aging.

While a certain amount of bone loss is inevitable over time, the process is not entirely beyond our control. Dietary and lifestyle changes will help to maintain bone health.

Exercise

Physical exercise is a key factor in the prevention of bone loss and osteoporosis, and exercise has been shown to increase bone mass in women with post-menopausal osteoporosis. In these tests it was found that the duration of the exercise was as important as the intensity.  A brisk 45 minute walk four times a week provides the correct level of weight bearing physical activity.

Dietary Health

Constant dieting contributes to bone loss, as it compromises nutritional intake and encourages bones to release more nutrients, which are not replaced. Cut out alcohol, as this negatively affects the balance of calcium in your body. Heavy caffeine consumption has also been linked to a risk of osteoporosis and increased incidence of hip fractures.

Which Supplements Support Bone Health?

Calcium - Calcium is the most important nutrient for bone health. This mineral is necessary for numerous functions including building and maintaining bones and teeth, blood clotting and the regulation of heart beat. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products, fish, watercress, soya, brewers yeast, eggs, nuts, sunflower and sesame seeds, and pulses. Calcium supplementation of 1500mg per day has been shown to be helpful to women if consumed within three years of menopause.

Vitamin D - Vitamin D plays a critical role in bone health. When blood levels of calcium begin to drop, vitamin D is converted into an active enabler which increases calcium absorption into the blood and minimizes calcium loss in the urine.

Vitamin K - Vitamin K, found mainly in green leafy vegetables, plays an important role in calcium regulation and bone formation. One or more servings per day of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, dark green lettuces or kale should provide enough of this nutrient. However, if your diet is lacking we recommend a supplement of 45mcgs per day be used.

Boron – This mineral also improves calcium absorption and reduces the amount of calcium excreted in the urine. It also helps protect magnesium levels (see below) and increases oestrogen levels, having a protective effect on your bones. Natural sources of boron include apples, pears, carrots, grapes, leafy vegetables and nuts. A supplement of 1mg to 3mg per day is recommended.

Magnesium – This mineral is required for the body to use calcium and potassium, and plays a very important role in the formation of bone.  Magnesium is found in most foods in particular dairy products, fish, and meat. A supplement of 350mg to 500mg per day is recommended.

Vitamin A – This nutrient is key for calcium metabolism.  Good sources include fish liver oil, meats and carrots. Take a supplement of 5000iu to 15000iu per day.

Vitamin C - Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and malic acid are useful supplements to help boost mineral absorption. A supplement of 500mg to 200mg per day is recommended.

 

Go Natural!

Toxic chemicals exist in a huge range of household products in today’s consumer society. Everything from household cleaners and paint, to carpets and furniture contain toxins that contact your skin and fill the air you breath. While the effects of these trace amounts of toxins may go unnoticed, the long term exposure to these pollutants has been linked to increased incidence of cancer in modern societies and may also play a significant role in advancing the degenerative effects of aging.

Keeping your environment pure, uncluttered, and toxin free will have a positive effect on your health and wellness that will show through your healthy look and increased energy. The space you live in should be a sanctuary, nurturing your body, mind and spirit to encourage rejuvenation and true relaxation.

More that 100,000 chemicals now appear in products widely available on supermarket shelves, and then consider that furnishings, pet products, timber treatments, carpets, paints and other sealants that we are exposed to every day contain even more. While exposure to one or two of these chemicals may be safe on their own, the US EPA has warned that certain combinations of these chemicals can cause health risks “at levels far below present safety thresholds”.

Effecting Your Health

Short term exposure to these toxic cocktails can aggravate symptoms of fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and skin irritation within a few hours. Long term exposure has been linked to cancer, respiratory disease, immune system suppression and in some cases even genetic mutations in the form of tumors and lesions.

In other words, toxins are a stress on the body, and stress is responsible for increasing the degenerative effects of aging.

What To Do

You have many good choices available if you want to avoid introducing chemicals into your home. Choose “green” and “organic” whenever possible for personal hygiene products, cleaning products, paints, even clothing and bedding.

If you can afford to discard your current toxins and replace with green and organic products then fine, the sooner you do so the healthier you will be.  However, if immediate replacement is not possible, a simple alternative is to switch to safer products when it’s time to renew or replace.  In this way your environment will improve over time with no impact on your budget.

 

You are what you eat!

It is undeniable that if you eat a natural and healthy diet, you can reduce the effects of aging on your body and physical well-being.  Key nutrients such as antioxidants and essential fatty acids (EFA) help to keep your body and mind fit and ready to prevent many of the illnesses associated with aging such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Adding more whole grains, fruit, vegetables, beans and pulses to your diet can add years not only to your life but also to your quality of life in dramatic ways.

There is no doubt at all, that eating a healthy, varied and balanced diet plays an important role in looking and feeling younger, adding essential nutrients that will enhance your health and wellness on all levels.  Choosing fresh organic produce, and adding supplements to make up for dietary shortages of key vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, make sure that you will feel full of energy and look great well into your later years.

Fruits and Vegetables

FACT: Fruits and vegetables provide us with the majority of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients our bodies need to stay healthy. Many of the nutrients found in fruits and vegetables play more than one role in helping to keep us healthy. They are essential to our day-to-day health and also to our long term resistance to illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. They affect our skin, our energy levels, our metabolism and virtually every body function, but perhaps the most crucial element of fruit and vegetables is the fact that they are rich in antioxidants – widely recognised to have anti-aging properties.

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants are nutrients that help protect cells from the aging effects of free radicals in the body.  Free radicals are molecules that are produced when the body breaks down food, or when the body is exposed to toxins such as smoke, or alcohol, over exposure to the suns rays, and radiation. In the aging process it is free radicals driving deterioration of cells that play a key role in cancer, heart disease, and other degenerative effects of aging such skin breakdown and arthritic conditions.

Antioxidants are founds in all bright colored fruits and vegetables, as well as in whole grains, and may often be identified by their distinctive colors. The dark red of cherries and tomatoes, the orange of carrots, the yellow of corn and mango, the rich hues of blueberries, blackberries and grapes. These antioxidant rich foods also provide other key nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, and beta carotene, the minerals selenium and zinc, and the anti-aging compound lycopene.

Creating Balance

Research shows that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables in a range of colors is the best way to ensure that you are getting the correct balance of antioxidant nutrients, as well as other key vitamins and minerals that your body needs to stay healthy.

Five servings of fruit and vegetables per day are typically recommended. It is not that difficult to eat more fresh produce, throwing a handful of mixed berries into a salad, choosing a fruit snack over other sugared carbohydrates, drinking plenty of natural fruit juices, and snacking on raw carrots, celery, cucumber, peppers, and apples you will easily surpass this goal.

The Best Fruits and Vegetables

Which Fruit?

• Dates - provide an excellent range of vitamins, minerals and amino acids that are essential for healthy skin.
• Avocados - a wonderful anti-aging food with an abundance of youth-boosting agents.
• Tomatoes - the best source of the anti-aging compound lycopene
• Grapes - a powerful detoxifier providing polyphenols (antioxidants), vitamins, and minerals.

Which Vegetables?

• Mushrooms - rich in chromium, protein, and prebiotic fibre.
• Carrots - these contain antioxidant carotenoids for healthy eyes, skin and mucous membranes.
• Broccoli - powerful nutrition supporting the liver, helping to detoxify the body.
• Garlic - a potent antioxidant and natural antiseptic, supporting the blood, cardiovascular and immune systems.

More Super Foods

Beyond fruits and vegetables - beans, peas and chickpeas are from a family vegetables called pulses or legumes.

Beans and Pulses

These are also an extremely important part of a healthy diet. Not only are they a major source of complex carbohydrates (completely unrefined), but they also provide an excellent source of fibre, protein, and minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and zinc. In addition they are low in fat and an inexpensive addition to any diet.

Chickpeas are known to be adaptogenic (meaning they support the adrenal gland, which is responsible for our response to stress) and are rich in protein and iron which is essential for healthy blood.

Lentils are also a rich source of protein and iron. They are known to aid circulation and heart function, as well as supporting the kidneys.

Soybeans are a wonderful complete food that is rich in protein, unsaturated EFAs, lecithin (good for brain cells) and many more valuable nutrients. Soy also acts as a phytoestrogen or natural source of the hormone oestrogen, which is essential for women in particular, in whom the production of oestrogen declines with age.

There are many kinds of pulses including adzuki beans, black-eyed beans, kidney, lima, and borlotti beans. Try them in stews or pasta, cold in salads or eaten raw as a snack at least three times a week.

Whole Grains

Whole grains or foods made from them contain all the naturally occurring nutrients and parts of the entire grain seed. The principal health benefits of whole grain come from the complete package of nutrients that are perfectly balanced and synergized by nature. It is impossible to duplicate these benefits by taking single nutrients alone. These nutrients include vitamins B and E, the minerals magnesium, selenium, and zinc, fibre and other valuable nutrients including flavonoids, oligosaccharides, inositol, phytates, phytoestrogens and protese inhibitors.

These balanced nutrients have been shown to protect against many chronic health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. What’s more, whole grains also encourage healthy digestion, which means that the food you do eat is better assimilated by the body.

Cold Water Fish

The Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) known as omega oils 3, 6, and 9 are found in oily fish (cold water fish), which include salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel, pilchards and fresh tuna.  Some experts consider wild salmon (farmed salmon should be avoided due to high levels of pesticides) to be the best all-around source of key EFAs and other nutrients. In addition to salmon you may also consider tuna, anchovies, halibut, sardines, mackerel or trout – all of which will do the job quite well. If you are not a fish-lover, then a quality natural supplement may be the answer.

Do I Need Supplements?

The healthy diet outlined above should be sufficient to provide all the nutrients you need for optimum health, however because of the way our food is farmed and processed today, even the best products may not contain all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. What’s more, as we age our bodies may not assimilate food as efficiently as in our younger years. We also know that certain nutrients play key roles in encouraging optimum health and vitality, and supplements can ensure that we get good levels of these. There are also leading physicians who promote the use of supplements in the management of certain pre-disease conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and of course vitamin deficiencies.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) and Vitamin D for Pain Free Joints

Clinical Studies have shown that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish can help not only reduce symptoms associated with joint pain but also impact the levels of inflammation that may be causing some of the pain. The studies found that fish oil slows the production of inflammation-signalling cells.  The best sources of this critical EFA are salmon and tuna.

Further research shows that vitamin D also works to reduce inflammation and protect joints. Here as well, fish oil is the best natural source for vitamin D including: pure cod liver oil (not refined), salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines.

Eating plenty of these fish in your regular diet will have a dramatic impact on common joint problems. A good omega-3 and vitamin D supplement will also go a long way towards keeping joint pain at bay.

 

A deluxe spicy veggies sauce you can serve over bread or pasta for a main course meal.

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes

 

 

 

1 onion, sliced
8 medium mushrooms, sliced
1 green pepper, cut into small pieces
2 zucchini, sliced
1 cup green bean pieces
2 chopped tomatoes
1 cup corn kernels
2 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
See seasoning choices below

Suggested seasonings:

1. 1/2 tsp. basil, 1/2 tsp.oregano, 1 tbsp. parsley
2. 1 tbsp. fresh coriander, chopped, 1/2 tsp. turmeric, 1 tsp. cumin
3. 1/2 tsp. basil, 1/2 tsp. dill weed, 1/2 tsp. cumin, 1/2 tsp. paprika

 

Saute onions and mushrooms in 1/2 cup water for 5 minutes. Add remaining vegetables and seasonings, plus 1/2 cup water. Cover and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. mix 1 tbsp. cornstarch or arrowroot in 1/4 cup cold water. Add to vegetable mixture while stirring. Cook and stir until thickened ( approximately 5 minutes). Serve over brown rice, potatoes, spinach pasta, or whole grain bread.

 

The impact of poor sleep on our physical and mental well-being are profound. Chronic sleep deprivation can cause weight gain by altering the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and increase the levels of hormones that drive our appetite. Serious sleep disorders are linked to hypertension, increased levels of stress hormones and irregular heartbeat. Lack of sleep also alters immune function and may affect your ability to fight cancer.

Additionally,  most cells of the body increase production and reduce breakdown of proteins during deep sleep. This restorative process is essential for endurance, stamina, and virility. Sleep also helps us maintain optimal emotional and social functioning while we are awake by resting and restoring the parts of the brain that control emotions and social interaction.

Natural Remedies – Deep Sleep Aids

1. The herbs passiflora and skullcap are excellent for dealing with anxiety and tension that prevent and disrupt sleep.
2. Valerian is an effective sedative herb that can be added to any blend or made into herb tea.
3. Essential oils of basil, chamomile, lavender, marjoram, and neroli can be effective in assisting sleep. Add a few drops to a warm bath, or a tissue to place on your pillow, or use in a gentle pre-sleep massage.
4. Try the time honored remedy of a glass of warm milk at bedtime. Milk contains tryptophan which is converted into serotonin, the hormone that controls sleep. Other foods that contain tryptophan are honey, turkey, egg whites, and tuna.
5. Foods that promote deep sleep include leafy green vegetables, rich in chlorophyll, Wholegrain breads, cereals and mushrooms. Fruits and berries, help with sleep problems, as do the herbs dill, sage, and basil.
6. The B vitamins, in particular B6 and B12, are beneficial and often used in the treatment of insomnia. Look for a good vitamin B complex supplement and increase your intake of wheatgerm, bananas, sunflower seeds and tuna.
7. Calcium and magnesium are also essential for restful sleep. Eat plenty of cold water fish, and bright colored fruit and vegetables. Consider a good supplement if your daily diet is lacking.

 

A gluten free and delicious meal.

Servings: 8
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 2.5 hours

 

 

 

 

2 cups dry white beans
8 cups water
2 onions, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup fresh coriander, chopped
2 carrots, sliced
2 potatoes, chunked
2 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
a dash of cayenne pepper
1 tbsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. paprika
a dash of black pepper
2 tomatoes, chopped

 

Add beans and water to a large pot, cook for 1.5 hours. Add remaining ingredients, except for tomatoes, cook for an additional 45 minutes. Add tomatoes, cook another 15 minutes.  Garnish with more coriander if desired.

1. Jog your mind! Regular brain exercise can give you a memory boost by encouraging circulation to the brain, and by releasing hormones that will lift mood and kill pain.
2. Relax. Stress is a major cause of short and mid range memory loss, and will have a dramatic effect on concentration levels.
3. A good night sleep is essential for a healthy brain and nervous system, as well as memory. Research shows that people who are wakened during dream sleep fail to process memories from the day before, and with regular sleep interruptions will suffer a pattern of significant forgetful behaviour.
4. Watch your diet and eat for health. There is nothing better for your memory and your mind than a balanced, healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables. There is also research which shows that upping your intake of the minerals zinc and boron can revive memories.
5. Cut the Caffeine. Coffee, soda and other drinks with high caffeine levels are proven memory killers. More than one such drink per day will result in nervous system over-stimulation and affect your ability to concentrate. It will also interrupt sleep patterns which directly results in memory loss.
6. Stay mentally Fit. Several good studies show that participating in new mentally stimulating activities is associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and other mental dementia. Regular stimulation helps the older brain retain flexibility and alertness that often lags in those who fall back to pattern behaviours and mundane routine activity.
7. Be sociable. Studies show that relationships, laughter, human interaction, and the regular use of social skills improve memory and brain power. Another study also showed that a lack of friends and interaction late in life can double the likelihood of developing some form of dementia.