Fermentation and Health

Preparing and eating fermented foods is quickly becoming a lost art.  When was the last time that you prepared sauerkraut, or for that matter even ate it?  By the way, after reading this post, if you want to make sauerkraut then follow "Mother Earth New's" simple directions at http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2006-08-01/Got-Cabbage-Make-Sauerkraut.aspx

Anyway, back to fermented foods . . . acid indigestion results when your stomach doesn't have good bacteria and enzymes.  The symptoms of "acid indigestion" are really a warning that you don't have enough acid.  Loading up on antacids will just make the problem worse over the long term.

Fermented foods are pre-digested foods that magically sooth and heal the stomach.  They also provide nutrients like B vitamins and omege-3 fatty acitds.  Dr. Bill Douglas in the February 2010 issue of his Douglas Report stated that "the lactic acid you get from fermeted foods produces substances that can kill bacteria like Salmonela and Helicobacter pylori."  Ever wonder why the French have such a low cancer and heart disease rate?  Could it be because the drink more wine, a fermented food, that has avoided commercial processing?

Other fermented foods that you might try are Kombucha, an excellent drink and unflavored (fewer calories, non-pasteurized yogurt.

To your health . . .

Statin Drug Update

Last April (April 2009) I wrote a post about the dangers of statin drugs used to control (reduce) cholesterol.  Last week, the day before the health "care" bill passed, the FDA announced that one of the most popular statin drugs sold in America causes so much kidney damage that it might kill you.  The Food and Drug Administration says the highest available dose of the cholesterol drug Zocor can cause muscle damage as well as severe and potentially lethal kidney damage.

The FDA stated that statin drugs like Zocor (the generic version is simvastatin) are known to cause muscle damage in some patients.  The risk is greater when patients are taking 80 milligram doses of Zocor. The risks include rhabdomyolysis, a form of muscle damage that can lead to kidney damage or failure, and death.

Please go back and reread my April 2009 post . . .

Omega 3 for Heart Attack Survivors

A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that heart attack patients who had the highest intake of Omega-3 fatty acids from food rather than supplements had a 47 percent lower risk of ventricular ectopy. Ventricular ectopy is a form of heart rhythm abnormality that can result in sudden death. The best natural sources of Omega-3s are walnuts (I eat a small handful, about 1/4 cup, a day), kale and brussel sprouts (yum), salmon, herring and mackerel. I suggest that you include at least three serviing of Omega-3 rich food in your diet every day.

Source: Smith, P. J., et al. (2009) "Association Between n-3 Fatty Acid Consumption and Ventricular Ectopy after Myocardial Infarction," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Zucchini Delight

You might be thinking, “Oh no, not Zucchini again.” I love Zucchini in all of its wonderful varieties and missed it tremendously during the few months when I couldn’t find it in the grocery store . . . and early March is way too early to get it out of my garden. Tired of steamed, stir-fried and boiled (yuck) zucchini? Try our recipe for Zucchini Delight.

Wash and grate two large zucchinis (skin on)

Chop ½ of one red onion

Combine with one egg and three tablespoons of butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Fry until brown (about three minutes on each side) in olive oil

Serve with garnish.

Now that is yummy!

Being Prepared

We have had a lot of snow in the mid-Atlantic this winter, as you may have noticed in the news if you don't live here. A couple of nights ago I was awoken by the arrival of the wind. Living in a forest we are able to hear strong wind blowing through the tops of the trees minutes before it hits. The wind was so strong that I listened to it for about five minutes before it hit our house. The street lights flickered a couple of times, it was 4:00 in the morning, and then the lights went off.

It was cold outside, about 9 degrees according to my thermometer, and so I went down stairs and turn on the fireplace and then made sure that our three boys were well covered in their beds. We stumbled out of bed into a reasonably warm house in the morning, thanks to our propane fireplace and I dug out our old Coleman camp stove to cook breakfast (and lunch and dinner . . . ).

All this got me thinking. We were nice and warm, as long as there was propane in the tank . . . but what would have happened if the tank ran dry? I need a backup of good old fashioned fire wood. The Colemen stove worked great . . . but I only have two gallons of fuel . . . that runs out and then what?

We don't need a disaster on the scale of Katrina to feel uncomfortable. What are you doing to be prepared for the bumps in life that come along from time-to-time?

-- Do you have food and fuel stored away?
-- What about a three-day emergency kit?
-- Could you plant a garden to feed your family? (I have an emergency supply of heritage seeds)
-- If you can't get to the ATM do you have cash (small bills and coins and maybe a little silver) on hand?

Have a plan . . . a get prepared.