Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Jared pants.
Three great articles from Lifehacker.
1. Sugar. http://lifehacker.com/5809331/what-sugar-actually-does-to-your-brain-and-body
2. Caffeine. I'll never give you up, lover! http://lifehacker.com/5585217/what-caffeine-actually-does-to-your-brain
3. Alcohol. http://lifehacker.com/5684996/what-alcohol-actually-does-to-your-brain-and-body
2. Caffeine. I'll never give you up, lover! http://lifehacker.com/5585217/what-caffeine-actually-does-to-your-brain
3. Alcohol. http://lifehacker.com/5684996/what-alcohol-actually-does-to-your-brain-and-body
Tired of feeling tired and sluggish........ Raw corn chips
I am becoming more and more convinced about eating raw. It makes me feel totally energetic. Eating cooked food makes me feel sleepy and dull. There is nothing worse than being tired after eating and having to push on through the day. Food should give you energy, not steal it. Also, I don't think raw food has to be boring, bland, or dull (like I once mistakenly assumed).
I can't wait to pervert this recipe from Rawmodel. Pun intended. (haha... he's cute.... but I've got the hottest husband a woman could ever want!)
Seriously though.... I want to make some raw corn chips because they are a staple in our house, but raw will be more healthy. I think I will try this with several different variations (once I get a food dehydrator), using his recipe as the base. I will add ingredients that are different to each try in the dehydrator and then post results on the blog. Can't wait! Now.... if only I had a dehydrator. Grrrr..... Still looking for one that is affordable.
http://rawmodelcom.blogspot.com/2009/03/heavenly-corn-chips.html
I can't wait to pervert this recipe from Rawmodel. Pun intended. (haha... he's cute.... but I've got the hottest husband a woman could ever want!)
Seriously though.... I want to make some raw corn chips because they are a staple in our house, but raw will be more healthy. I think I will try this with several different variations (once I get a food dehydrator), using his recipe as the base. I will add ingredients that are different to each try in the dehydrator and then post results on the blog. Can't wait! Now.... if only I had a dehydrator. Grrrr..... Still looking for one that is affordable.
http://rawmodelcom.blogspot.com/2009/03/heavenly-corn-chips.html
Monday, June 6, 2011
Spicy Broccoli and Garlic Sauce
Here's what's for dinner, damn it. I added seitan, waterchestnuts, and other veggies. Plus, an extra tablespoon of sugar and way more garlic. The sauce is really good.
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=32262.0
Spicy Broccoli and Garlic Sauce
Ingredients (use vegan versions):
1 cup vegetable broth
2 cloves garlic, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar or 1 1/2 tablespoons regular sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons red chili flakes
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1-2 scallions, diced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 head broccoli, chopped
1/4 cup water
Directions:
1. For sauce, combine veggie broth, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, scallions, sugar, and add the cornstarch last in medium bowl.
2. Mix until the cornstarch dissolves and there are no lumps left. I find heating the broth helps to dissolve it. In a medium frying pan, add the canola oil and put on high heat.
3. Add the broccoli, and stir occasionally for about 3-5 minutes, until most of the broccoli brightens and browns a little. Next, add 1/4 cup water and lower the temperature to medium.
4. Cover and let the broccoli steam for about 2-4 minutes. You want it crisp, so don't over cook the broccoli. Once the broccoli is cooked, add the sauce.
5. Place the cover back on, and feel free to turn the heat up a little. wait for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce thickens. When it is thick enough, it's ready to serve!
This goes great with basmati and jasmine rice! Also, feel free to add a few other veggies in there too. I like to add carrots, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and snow peas occasionally for more of a stir-fry. If you do, throw them in with the broccoli during the browning process. Enjoy!
Source of recipe: I always order broccoli and garlic sauce from the Chinese restaurant near my house. I decided I wanted to make it instead of buying it. I came across the recipe from http://skinnychef.com/recipes/broccoli-garlic, but thought it lacked the flavor I enjoyed thus have modified it with some pepper flakes and edited the ingredient portions.
Makes: 2 servings, Preparation time: 5-6 mins, Cooking time: 10-15 mins
'
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=32262.0
Spicy Broccoli and Garlic Sauce
Ingredients (use vegan versions):
1 cup vegetable broth
2 cloves garlic, minced or 1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar or 1 1/2 tablespoons regular sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons red chili flakes
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1-2 scallions, diced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 head broccoli, chopped
1/4 cup water
Directions:
1. For sauce, combine veggie broth, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, scallions, sugar, and add the cornstarch last in medium bowl.
2. Mix until the cornstarch dissolves and there are no lumps left. I find heating the broth helps to dissolve it. In a medium frying pan, add the canola oil and put on high heat.
3. Add the broccoli, and stir occasionally for about 3-5 minutes, until most of the broccoli brightens and browns a little. Next, add 1/4 cup water and lower the temperature to medium.
4. Cover and let the broccoli steam for about 2-4 minutes. You want it crisp, so don't over cook the broccoli. Once the broccoli is cooked, add the sauce.
5. Place the cover back on, and feel free to turn the heat up a little. wait for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce thickens. When it is thick enough, it's ready to serve!
This goes great with basmati and jasmine rice! Also, feel free to add a few other veggies in there too. I like to add carrots, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and snow peas occasionally for more of a stir-fry. If you do, throw them in with the broccoli during the browning process. Enjoy!
Source of recipe: I always order broccoli and garlic sauce from the Chinese restaurant near my house. I decided I wanted to make it instead of buying it. I came across the recipe from http://skinnychef.com/recipes/broccoli-garlic, but thought it lacked the flavor I enjoyed thus have modified it with some pepper flakes and edited the ingredient portions.
Makes: 2 servings, Preparation time: 5-6 mins, Cooking time: 10-15 mins
'
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Sunscreens, Chemicals, Cancers
On Sunday, I went to three different grocery stores trying to find some decent sunscreen that was paraben free and not tested on animals.
For those who do not know what parabens are, there are tons of online articles you can check out. Just google "parabens" and you will get tons of results from people trying to sort out this debate, with opinions on both sides.
Basically, parabens are synthetically produced preservative compounds that have been linked to cancer (breast cancer) and also increased estrogen production, in addition to endocrine issues.
Parabens are chemical preservatives, including:
My logic and decision-making process includes these questions:
So.... There you have it. Avoid parabens. Read the labels.
Animal Testing. I'm not even going to get started on this.... or I'll never stop. They can't stand up to people. Its just as bad as child abuse, in my opinion. Obviously, lots of people don't care. They think humans have a supreme right to enslave animals and pillage the planet for human purposes, at any/all expense. I disagree, but I'm not going to write a dissertation about it today. The stories and the things that laboratories will do to animals is extremely varied. I'm against it.
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/columns_articles/topic_experimentation.html
Now, SUNSCREENS!
How can you inform yourself?
The Environmental Working Group releases an annual study with all the information you could want or need to make educated and informed choices on selecting sunscreen. Visit them here: http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/
They say the following about the "Skin Cancer Foundation":
Here is the Environmental Working Group's "Hall of Shame" of sunscreens:
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/hall-of-shame-whats-wrong-with-the-sunscreen-protection-business/
For those who do not know what parabens are, there are tons of online articles you can check out. Just google "parabens" and you will get tons of results from people trying to sort out this debate, with opinions on both sides.
Basically, parabens are synthetically produced preservative compounds that have been linked to cancer (breast cancer) and also increased estrogen production, in addition to endocrine issues.
Parabens are chemical preservatives, including:
- methyl paraben
- propyl paraben
- butyl paraben
- ethyl paraben
My logic and decision-making process includes these questions:
- Do I need parabens in or on my body? NO
- Can I find products without parabens? YES
- If they are "questionable" and have been linked to health problems, is it smarter to just stay away from them? YES
- Does it take some convoluted and complicated inter-connected network of "industry/industries" who have interwoven economic and financial interests (factories, corporations, lobbyists, and others) to keep them on the market? YES
- Do these producers and advocates of parabens care about profit? YES
- Is it in the paraben producers best interests to protect my health? NO
So.... There you have it. Avoid parabens. Read the labels.
http://www.kinshipcircle.org/columns_articles/topic_experimentation.html
Now, SUNSCREENS!
How can you inform yourself?
The Environmental Working Group releases an annual study with all the information you could want or need to make educated and informed choices on selecting sunscreen. Visit them here: http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/
They say the following about the "Skin Cancer Foundation":
The Skin Cancer Foundation’s $eal of Approval
The Skin Cancer Foundation lends its logo to hundreds of sun protection products. Traditionally SCF approval has been easy: just document that your product has an SPF of at least 15 and provide results of basic tests for SPF, skin reactions and water and sweat resistance, if such claims are made. The Skin Care Foundation requires that companies seeking product approval pay a $10,000 donation to join the Foundation’s “Corporate Council.”
The Skin Care Foundation advertises that its certified products “meet the highest standards for safety and effectiveness.” But until January 2011 foundation-approved products were not required to protect from UVA rays and as of May, fewer than 60 of more than 500 certified sunscreens and lotions had met the foundation’s standard for UVA protection.
The Skin Cancer Foundation should ask its certified companies to comply with FDA’s 2007 draft regulations voluntarily but instead lends its seal to dozens of products that don’t even meet its own standards.
The Skin Care Foundation advises the public that “in most cases, SPFs beyond 50 are unnecessary.” Yet one in six products bearing the seal boasts an SPF higher than 50. The foundation advises consumers to protect their skin from UVA by using products with avobenzone, ecamsule, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Yet its seal has been granted to products that contain none of these chemicals.
Here is the Environmental Working Group's "Hall of Shame" of sunscreens:
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/hall-of-shame-whats-wrong-with-the-sunscreen-protection-business/
- Hawaiian Tropic Baby Stick Sunscreen SPF 5
- Baby Blanket SunBlankie Towelette SPF 45
- Aveeno Baby Continuous Protection SPF 55
- Coppertone Water Babies Sunscreen Lotion SPF 70+
- Banana Boat Sport Performance Active Max Protect, SPF 110
- Elizabeth Arden – Eight Hour Cream Sun Defense for Face, SPF 50
- Rite Aid Kids Sunscreen Spray Lotion SPF 45
- Anthony Logistics for Men Sun Stick SPF 15
- iS SPF 20 Powder Sunscreen & Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30 & colorescience Suncanny Face Colore SPF 20
The Environmental Working Group also has a great page detailing/explaining how the Food and Drug Administration FAILS CONSUMERS. Imagine that. You can read it, here:
So, what about the sunscreen shopping I mentioned at the beginning of this post? I went to three stores looking for something that was non-toxic and not expensive. The first two stores were sold out of the stuff that I would have bought, which is a good thing! That means people are learning about these issues and starting to protect themselves.
I ended up buying Bert's Bees because it was the only choice at the third store. It cost a small fortune, so it must be used sparingly. But I would rather pay for my health now as opposed to paying for my disease later.
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