Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss?

Coconut Water for Athletes?

Coconut products (coconut milk, coconut water, coconut meat) have been peaking interest of many consumers in the last 3-4 years or so now. There are references, of late, in many places about the electrolyte/rehydrating value in coconut water and how it can be used as a substitute for water or sugar-laden drinks post athletic exercise. On some of the coconut water you purchase, you may even see this indicated as a marketing ploy.  Additionally, it is touted to be a great electrolyte replacement, in general, which could be of interest to moms looking for a option to re-hydrate kids who have been sick as well. I actually prefer a coconut water over a Gatorade, for example as it just seems more refreshing and natural to me where those sports drinks seem too sweet for me. It makes you wonder if these are actually better than water? Here is a study published on the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition site in January 2012.  It is a study that is fairly easy to read and summarize (unlike most clinical studies).   Take a peak at the conclusion.  Basically, it tells us that, in this study anyway, that water, coconut water and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sport drink seems to prove the same/similar results in terms of rehydrating post-exercise.  They did not seem to prove that coconut water was better or worse.  Interesting, because the study was funded by a coconut water company; VitaCoco Company, NY.    It does state, however, that additional studies could be conducted to measure the post-rehydrating differently.  So the question still remains, is anything really better at rehydrating, in terms of excercise/athletic performance than water?  I would think this can be a very difficult subject to prove, either way in that every one's body may have a different capacity to perform AND recover anyway... What do you think?  Watch for more studies about coconut water as we continue to see more and more of them in our supermarket shelves.  Are the natural sugars in the coconut water healthier for us than sugary sports drinks? 

Spring flowers

I love Springtime - It draws me out into the yard to do a chore that somehow becomes a pleasure! 
Tulips, iris, daffodils, and any day now- peonies! The tulips are fading and some were eaten by passing deer, so now I look forward to the peonies.  
The aromas that the peony brings are simply heavenly!  It is one of my favorites, next to the lilac.  I adore gardenia as well, but can't grown them well here in Utah.  Maybe I just haven't positioned it in the right location; maybe I'll try again this year. I am heading out today to do some more weeding and I look forward to planting veggies soon too (after Mother's Day)!   My father-in-law made us a beautiful new planter box and I'm excited to have some fresh veggies again this year!  Get outdoors and put a few new plants in, even if it's not your "gig", you'll be sure to enjoy the fruits of your labor!  It feels good to take in some fresh air and feel the dirt under your fingernails!

Peony ready to bloom

Live a little, now and then

I love this quote.  I think that while on this journey for better health, we must not get too anxious and crazy about our food/diet.  Yes, food is a big part of good health, so is excercise, getting enough sleep, taking a few supplements, breathing fresh air, drinking clean water and so on.  So let's not go crazy with every little part of that every day ok?  Make it a part of your lifestyle but have a ounce of your favorite dark chocolate or a handful of potato chips now and then, just not every day!

What is aromatherapy - What are essential oils?

Essential Oils are the aromatic compounds traditionally extracted from the plant via steam distillation or cold compression methods.  These oils are used for their amazing aromas to scent your home, your car, they are in our toothpastes, and they are used therapeutically to replace some supplements and over-the-counter drugs.

From Dr. Pappas at Essential Oil University; here is how he describes Essential Oils:

"Essential oils are the volatile, aromatic oils obtained by steam or hydrodistillation of botanicals. Most essential oils are primarily composed of terpenes and their oxygenated derivatives. Different parts of the plants can be used to obtain essential oils, including the flowers, leaves, seeds, roots, stems, bark, wood, etc.  Certain cold-pressed oils, such as the oils from various citrus peels, are also considered to be essential oils but these are not to be confused with cold-pressed fixed or carrier oils such as olive, grapeseed, coconut etc. which are non-volatile oils composed mainly of fatty acid triglycerides. Other aromatic, plant-derived oils, which technically aren’t essential oils because they are solvent extracted, include Absolutes (hexane followed by ethanol extraction), CO2’s (liquid carbon dioxide used as the solvent) and Phytols or Florosols (fluoro-hydrocarbon solvent).(1)

Until a few years ago, I thought of aromatherapy as simply a nice option/replacement for other types of aromatics in the home.  I thought that it was an expensive option, considering I could purchase candles of any variety of scents or Scentsy wax burners for less than a diffuser and bottle of Lavender.   As far as other uses, I believed that Lavender could be a calming, soothing oil to assist with relaxation and sleep.  Of course, this was a very uneducated view of aromatherapy but I believe one that is shared with many other people, at least here in the United States where oils are not as commonly used as in Europe, for example.  I’ve learned how essential oils can play a role in a more therapeutic way and that aromatherapy isn’t simply about pleasant smells and perfumery.  Essential oils, in my mind are to be cherished; a gift that if properly handled and safely used, can enhance our lives and aid in healing in our homes.  

According to Shirley Price as noted on her web site (2011), aromatherapy is the controlled and informed use of essential oils to maintain and/or improve the health of the mind, body and spirit[2].     Aromatherapy can be delivered through topical application, through inhalation and internally.   

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years and some of our most popular oils today date back to biblical days and beyond.   As defined by Dorene Peterson in  Aromatherapy 101 (2011), an essential oil is the distilled (or sometimes expressed) product of the volatile components synthesized by various plant tissues of a single plant species[3].  Essential oils are distilled from the plant leaves, berries, resins, bark, stems, nuts, roots and flowers.  Chemical constituents present in essential oils determine the essential oils’ properties and specific qualities that help us determine what oils to use for specific issues

Essential oils are volatile.  My thoughts on “volatility” were that of a description of a situation or person rather than that of evaporation speed.  Therefore, a volatile oil to me only triggered a thought the oil was unstable or unpredictable, could go rancid, or not meant to last.  Not true at all. 

Many references on the internet refer to essential oils as the “essence” of the plant and often mention their volatile nature.  In Aromatherapy 101, Dorene Peterson explains that the word comes from the Latin word volare or “to fly”[4].  Essential oils, unlike other fixed oils evaporate quickly and do not turn rancid.  This term volatility, in regards to essential oils, has become clearer to me and is not nearly as negative a term as I suspected previously.  The rate of volatility is the rate at which the oils evaporate when they are exposed to air.  Some essential oils evaporate faster than others based on their constituents and knowing those rates aides those interested in perfumery with coming up with a nicely balanced perfume, for example. 

Upon reflection now, of course, I realize that essential oils can play an important role in an overall holistic approach.  I am a novice, but even with my limited exposure to essential oils they have empowered me to believe, from first hand experience, that there are indeed healthier options in treating minor ailments.  This feeling of empowerment moved me towards more education and I see now that more education will in turn bring more empowerment!  I am now more proactive in my pursuits for alternative treatments since realizing that herbs and essential oils truly work and without the terrible side effects we see from prescription drugs.   The science behind the plant is what intrigues me now and I’m certain that scientists will continue to find and prove what we know today; that plants are the key to living longer, healthier lives. 

I like how Valerie Ann Woodward (2000) describes essential oils as nature’s healing tools[5].  The thought really spoke to me.  The description reiterated for me this idea that indeed plants, herbs and essential oils are virtually handed to us by nature to help us aide our bodies in healing themselves.   We have, within reach, these tools. 

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References

[1]http://essentialoils.org/knowledge-center/what/, accessed 11/15/11

[2] Price, Shirley, Shirley Price Aromatherapy http://www.shirleypriceessentia.com/aromatherapydefined.html, (2011).

[3] Peterson, Dorene (2011) Aroma 101 –Introduction to Aromatherapy, ACHS, 27.

[4] Peterson, Dorene (2011) Aroma 101-Introduction to Aromatherapy, ACHS, 27.

[5]Woodward, Valerie Ann (2000) Aromatherapy for the Healthy Child, New World Library, 4.

Best Broccoli Soup

Made some broccoli soup last week and wanted to share it!  I got this recipe from the food network and modified it a bit to my own liking!

Broccoli Soup with croutons

Broccoli Soup:

2 lbs fresh broccoli, broken into small pieces.  

1 1/2  chopped onion 

1/2 bag shredded carrots or shred your own (about 1/2 cup)

6 T butter or 4 T olive oil

Sea Salt and fresh cracked pepper or 1-2 drops Black Pepper Essential Oil

4 T flour

6 cups chicken or vegetable stock

4 oz. Nestle media Crema or 4 oz. whipping cream

4-6 drops Tabasco sauce or other hot sauce

Heat butter or oil in large heavy bottom pot over med.-high heat.

Add broccoli, carrots and onion, then a bit of salt/ pepper. 

Cook until onion is translucent, only a few minutes.  Remove

most of the veggies to the side for a few minutes, at least the large

pieces of broccoli.   Then, add the flour.  

Cook the flour for about 1 minute, then add the stock and bring

to a low boil.  Add veggies back to the soup.  Cook for about 

10 minutes, until broccoli is tender.  Add the cream and tabasco.

Remove from heat and transfer contents to blender or 

food processor  in 2 batches.  Add salt and pepper to taste and

return to pot to warm back up and eat!!  Make homemade croutons or buy

some to top it off (optional).  Enjoy!


P.S. I think it would be fun to be a food photographer~! I love taking 
photo's of my freshly made meals! 

You can make this pretty fast, but I like to make it one day and eat it the next- it's better when it has a chance to sit a bit so the flavors really penetrate the entire soup!

Earth Day - 2012

What will you do to help our enviroment on EARTH DAY? April 22, 2012

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 Here are some ideas:

• Read produce and food labels- start paying attention to ingredients.  Buy organic produce. Buying organic is currently the best way to ensure that your food has not been genetically modified.
• Find/Use a Non-GMO Shopping Guide like this one: GUIDE-click here 
• Recycle!!!! Freecycle! Buy products from companies who care about real recycling and sustainability
• Plant a tree!
• Visit the website EARTHDAY and click on "What you can do" for lots of ideas and make a pledge to make a change THIS year- lots of easy ways to give back!
• Stop buying bottled water! Alternatives: try glass bottles or aluminum- yes, you can wash your bottles, it only takes a minute.  Millions and millions of these plastic bottles are filling up our landfills (even though they can be recycled, plastic is still not biodegradable).    And for your own health, if you must drink from a plastic bottle, educate yourself on the harmful chemicals that can come into your water through certain types of plastics.  There are a lot of great water bottles now you can find online and your local Sporting goods stores carry many great aluminum choices! Here is one of my favorites: GLASS WATER BOTTLE : be sure to check out the new flip top!
• Carpool one day per week (if you don't already) to school or work
• Take your reusable bags to the grocery store and every store you shop at - keep them in your car, your purse, be ready!
• Have a garage sale!  It's surprising what others may find useful that you might throw away and you could make a few extra $$!
• Support Companies/products that have recycling/sustainability as a part of their Company philosophy/plans going forward like: http://www.stonyfield.com/healthy-planet/our-roadmap-green-business/mission-action-program-map/map-teams/sustainable-packaging