The Difference Between Whole Wheat and Sprouted Wheat Bread

Sprouted wheat and whole wheat breads are both made from whole wheat kernels.  Sprouted wheat bread is made fom the kernels that have begun to sprout, which makes the grain easier to digest and makes it richer in antioxidents, vitamins and fiber.  You will see sprouted grain breads made from combinations of oats, barley, millet and lentils.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  There's much talk these days about intolerance to wheat, gluten and other digestive disorders.  If you suffer no side effects from a good baguette, have your daily bread and enjoy it.  If you do suffer from intolerance to wheat or gluten, check out your local health food store...there are options out there for you breadaholics!

Gluten Free Can Be Fattening...Read the Labels Carefully

The 'phrase' we are all hearing lately is 'I'm gluten intolerant'.  In some cases, this is true.  In most cases, it's a misinterpretation of a very different pathology occurring in the person's body.  Nevertheless, I recently decided to become my own science experiment and go 'gluten free'.  I first consulted with a very dear friend who distributes Orgran Organic Foods here in the U.S.A.  She warned me that gluten free can mean more fat and protein per serving than an 'ordinary' product that is not gluten free.  Since I don't eat prepared sauces, spreads or processed food, this is a pretty easy experiment so far.  My only nemesis is that I just love a good baguette or piece of bread daily and I wasn't about to give up that daily 'treat'.  It's been about 6 weeks now and, how do I feel?  No difference, really...but I'm not gluten intolerant.  But this bread I've found in the market is a good 'fix' for anyone who has a wheat addiction like me.  When my 'experiment' is over in about 60 days, I think I'll keep purchasing this bread...I like it!

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  I found Alvarado St Bakery bread in the frozen food section of Whole Foods.  One slice is really filling and satisfying, tastes really good (you'd never know it was gluten free) and here are the stats on it per slice:  90 calories, no cholesterol, 0.5g fat, no transfats, 170mg sodium, 15g carbs, 2g dietary fiber, 5g protein.

Eat Right For Good Health

Going to the grocery store can sometimes be challenging.  What to buy?  What's healthy?  Should I buy organic?  What should I eat?

Here Are Your Tips For Healthy Eating:
Tour the perimeter of your grocery store. This is where you will find fresh fruits and vegetables, and all–natural dairy and meats.  This will certainly fill your basket!  Try to purchase organic foods as often as possible. Look for a label that states 'certified organic and pesticide free'.  Visit your local farmers’ market; usually the prices are a bit cheaper than the grocery store for all organic produce. If you've got a little plot of land, grow your own. Wash nonorganic produce; soak them for 20 minutes in water with salt and fresh lemon juice or vinegar.  Avoid high–pesticide foods, such as grapes, peaches, lettuce, strawberries, apples, pears, bell peppers, kale, carrots, celery, and nectarines.  Natural, hormone–free beef and chicken, and choose wild–caught fish are your best bets for animal protein.

Alternative Forms of Fiber

My dear friend, Nanci Panuccio, offered me a wonderful list of fiber options for the folks out there who have various types of food allergies.  Here's what Nanci had to offer everyone:
"Brown rice, millet, and quinoa are great non-gluten, non-wheat sources of fiber. Millet bread is especially delicious. Some other options: amaranth, corn, teff, and wild rice.  You can also get tons of gluten/wheat-free fiber from fruits, veggies, leafy greens, beans, potatoes, squashes, seeds, and nuts.   We've been using quinoa gluten free pasta from Ancient Harvest. And Bionatureae makes great gluten free pasta made with rice, potato and soy.  We also make angel hair pasta out of zucchini with a veggie spiral slicer. Has a very similar texture to its wheat/gluten counterpart and with sauce, you wouldn't even know the difference."
Nanci can be reached at:  https://www.facebook.com/npanuccio  and  http://twitter.com/RawJuju   She said she'd be happy to answer any questions you might have!


Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you have food allergies and don't know where to turn for food options, log on to my wellness page http://www.kmondesire.com/wellnessprogram.html  click on to the link for Orgran Foods...they have a plethora of products - from cookies and crackers to pastas and breads, etc.  They've got a recipe page on their site and a wonderful customer service center that is ready to answer all your questions!  Thanks again, Nanci, for sharing your wisdom!
There will be no blog tomorrow; I'm taking the day off to golf, fish, ride the bike, exercise, hike.......you get the point!  I'll be back with more Healthy Tips on Monday!

Wall Street Journal Reports on Gluten Intolerance

Why are so many people sensitive to gluten in recent years?  The journal BMC Medicine recently released a study that may give some insight to the question.  The study showed that gluten can trigger a distinct reaction in the intestines and the immune system that can affect people who are not diagnosed with celiac disease.

"For the first time, we have scientific evidence that indeed, gluten sensitivity not only exists, but is very different from celiac disease," says lead author Alessio Fasano, medical director of the University of Maryland's Center for Celiac Research.  Gluten has been a staple of human diets for 10,000 years; it now triggers an immune response like an enemy invader in some modern humans.

The symptoms of gluten intolerance include:  hives, congestion, nausea or in serious cases, potentially fatal anaphylaxis. Less than 1% of children have the allergy and most outgrow it by age five. A small number of adults have similar symptoms if they exercise shortly after eating wheat.
The symptoms of celiac disease (the case in which the immune system to mistakenly attack the body's own tissue) include: cramping, bloating and diarrhea, and can cause malnutrition, osteoporosis. Celiac's can be diagnosed with a blood test, but an intestinal biopsy will confirm the diagnosis.
The incidence of celiac disease is on the rise affecting 1 in 133 Americans. It's also being diagnosed in people as old as 70 who have eaten gluten safely all their lives.   At the present time, a gluten-free diet is the only treatment recommended for gluten sensitivity, though some may be able to tolerate small amounts
Courtesy: WSJ online 3.15.11
Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, your first order of business is to eliminate gluten from your diet for at least 2 weeks and re-evaluate how you feel.  Here's some food for thought:  perhaps mankind is metamorphosizing as a species and that is the reason for this intolerance after milleniums??  Would anyone like to share their own thoughts??
I'm taking tomorrow off from blogging.  Have a great weekend and I'll be back with more healthy tips on Monday!

Vegetarianism and You - Getting Started

So, now that you've decided to 'think outside the box' and expand your prandial adventures, I'll just preface today's blog with this message:  consult with either myself or your healthcare provider before embarking on any diet or wellness program.  Ok, now that we've got the legal and pragmatic stuff done, here's how you can start eating more plant based meals:

■Plan Your Strategy:  Every week, increase the number of meatless meals you already enjoy, such as spaghetti with tomato sauce or vegetable stir-fry or a mixed vegetable salad with a meatless protein source.

■Get Creative with Your Meals: Take favorite recipes and try them without meat. For example, make vegetarian chili by leaving out the ground beef and adding an extra can of black beans. Or make fajitas using extra-firm tofu rather than chicken. You may be surprised to find that many dishes require only simple substitutions.

■Broaden Your Horizons:  Scan the Internet for vegetarian menus. Buy or borrow vegetarian cookbooks. Check out ethnic restaurants to sample new vegetarian cuisines. The more variety you bring to your vegetarian diet, the more likely you'll be to meet all your nutritional needs.
Courtesy:  The Mayo Clinic
 
Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Orgran develops food products to assist people to improve their health and provide nutritional alternatives for those with special dietary requirements. Many people around the world trust Orgran to provide a large selection of healthy and tasty products that are free from major food allergens, minimising the need to decipher complex ingredient listings.  All Orgran products are Gluten Free, Wheat Free, Dairy Free, Egg free, Yeast Free, GMO Free and Vegan.  Go to Orgran today and see what great foods they have for you to choose from; also there are wonderful recipes and fun kids' nutritional games to download for free! http://www.orgran.com/