Who Put Gum in My Coffee?

 

Well, believe it or not you probably did it yourself…Yes, that’s right, if you put cream in your coffee today you likely added a gum you’ve never even heard of such as guar gum, xanthum gum, locust bean gum or the hard to pronounce yet just as gum like – carageneen (cue scary music).

And to boot – if you’ve had cream cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt or your favorite ice cream today there is a good chance you had one or more of these in there too.

Oh no, say it is isn’t so!

Sorry to say, but it is…

These gum like additives are stabilizers, or thickeners that help make products (such as your favorite dairy items) thicker and creamier.  Since these additives are plant based (derived from seaweed mostly) they are often used in gluten free and vegan/vegetarian products. Being plant based also makes their use in “regular” products very cost attractive.

And on top of that it can be considered organic, so don’t assume that a product labeled organic is automatically good for you, we health conscious just can’t do that…

So, what’s the problem?

I’ve heard some say that consuming these gums is like taking a machine gun to your intestines!  Over time, they can poke holes in those important digestive track walls.  Still, you will likely find just as many studies to support the fine and good use and consumption of these additives as you will find that report these are quite bad for you.  So, ask yourself some questions – do you suffer from any of the symptoms listed below?  Do you have chronic inflammation or other autoimmune deficiencies?  Difficulty losing weight?  Poor digestion? Do you want to take control of your own well being and vitality?  Then you may want to consider changing products or even making your own whenever possible…

Here’s an easy homemade cream cheese recipe to get you started: Ingredients: 1 large container of good quality yogurt (GUM free!)

I like Nancy’s (http://www.nancysyogurt.com)

Directions: Line a large strainer with a cloth, dump the yogurt in and let it stand at room temperature (overnight) until all the liquid drains out.

Voila – you’ve made cream cheese.  Store in the refrigerator in a glass, air tight container for up to 2 weeks.  Yield: approximately 2 cups.

Interested in more scientific details about carageneen and whether to consume it or not?  Here is a good resource: http://www.raypeat.com/articles/nutrition/carrageenan.shtml

Let Food Be Thy Medicine

What is your prescription for today?  Will you choose foods that help and/or heal your body or hurt it?  Is food your medicine or your poison?

I am fascinated by the knowledge scholars had so long ago.  On one hand essentially nothing has changed – there is nothing new under the sun (that one’s from Solomon).  

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” ~ Hippocrates

Hippocrates was right then and is right still – we are what we eat.  However, these days we move less and eat more and yes we are less healthy because of it.

When was the last time you got up to change the channel on the TV?  Hey, that burned some calories!  Now we can even order anything we want on line and it comes right to our front door.  We don’t even need to get out of the lounge chair or the car of that matter (drive through anyone?).  On the other hand, what we do have are tools to help us make better choices.  Today I even saw a new app called “Find Real Food” – a shopping guide to the highest quality foods – wow!  While this is perhaps a great tool, how about doing it the “old fashioned way”?  Here are just a few quick tips for you to mull over.  Pick one and let it be your “medicine” for today.

• Write down every thing you eat – are you shocked or encouraged at the end of the day?
• Read a food label.  Can you pronounce all the ingredients?
• Drink an extra glass of water today (add one more tomorrow)
• Eliminate 1 packaged food item and replace it with 1 fresh food (i.e. fruit or veggies)
• Take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator
• Park far away from the front entrance (be sure its still safe and well lit)
• Stretch or go for a walk during your lunch break.

Welcome to Recipes for Better Living™

Welcome to Recipes for Better Living™.  Nutrition and wellness have been a passion and pursuit of mine for my entire adult life.  I have learned that health is present (or not) depending on what we expose ourselves to physically and mentally.  What we ingest (food and/or supplements), what we do (movement or lack of) and even what we believe all have an impact on how we “feel”.  Here, I am excited to share my experiences and knowledge ~ recipes ~ relating to food, wellness and movement.  It is my hope that Recipes for Better Living™ will inspire you to eat healthier, move more, choose better products and live a healthier life.