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Can Genetics Play a Role in Osteoporosis?

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Earlier this month, I reported about how to help prevent hip fractures as you get older. The post dealt mostly with the effects of osteoporosis, which affects millions of older women and men, but mostly women. Many women lose bone density during pregnancy leaving their bones less dense, thinner and more fragile, making them more susceptible to bone fractures.

Quite often, osteoporosis is attributed to diet and lack of activity. You can find a plethora of posts on the internet that tell women to take their calcium and to use resistant exercises such as weight lifting to help fight of this crippling and deadly condition.

Many women react negatively to the idea of weight lifting, saying they don’t want to develop ‘manly’ looking muscles which take away from their feminine appearance. However, that’s not necessary. There are a variety of weight lifting exercises that can be done on a regular basis with medium weights that won’t build the manly muscles. However, it’s important to do something like weight lifting or resistance exercises as they can increase the bone density in the bones, and this can literally save a woman from painful and debilitating bone fractures and even death.

The question has been raised who is most susceptible to developing osteoporosis?

According to one report:

“Many persons suffer from this gradual loss of bone density, but when we look for people who are most at risk of showing symptoms of osteoporosis, the groups identified are usually postmenopausal women, the elderly, people who consume low calcium in their diet, people with diseases of lungs or kidneys, and people frequently using medicines like antacids or steroids.”

The same report also identified four categories of people with a higher risk of developing the disease. They are:

  1. Age
  2. Heredity
  3. Unhealthy lifestyle and diet
  4. Medications and diseases

Many women may be surprised to learn that the risk of developing osteoporosis can be an inherited trait. This question just came up when my wife visited her sister. My wife is 66 and her sister is 89, but they hadn’t had the opportunity to see each other for over 25 years.

My wife’s mom developed osteoporosis and lost 6 inches in height in her later years. The loss of height was due to her vertebra compressing down and numerous broken ribs that would not heal. Her loss of height caused her esophagus to fold back and forth, making it impossible for her to swallow food or liquids. She spent the last two years of her life taking her nourishment through a feeding tube that had been surgically inserted through her side and into her stomach. At 89-years of age, she fell and fractured her hip. It was surgically repaired but while recuperating in the hospital, her heart gave out and she passed away.

While visiting her sister, my wife found out that her sister too had lost 6 inches in height due to osteoporosis and recently fell and broke a hip. My wife said that when she saw her sister, she saw her mom at the same age.

Several years ago, my wife was told that her one hip showed signs of early osteoporosis. She started taking calcium supplements and has tried to get more active.

So, can the tendency to develop osteoporosis really be hereditary or is it just diet, medications and lifestyle?

A number of sources say that there is a genetic link to osteoporosis. Here is one report:

“Many studies find that osteoporosis and symptoms that include bone fractures or constant falls is linked to the genes. As the disease is genetic, the possibility that osteoporosis can be hereditary is clear, and a person with a family history of bone fracture or loss of bone density issue has a greater risk of developing the condition. People with a family history of osteoporosis, especially those with a small and frail body structure, are at the greatest risk of suffering from decreased bone density even at an early age.” 

“There is constant research of heredity-related osteoporosis or the hereditary symptoms of reduced bone density. A recent study concluded that around 56 genetic variants are found to be linked to osteoporosis, which means causes of bone weakening, loss in bone density, symptoms of falls and bone fractures may clearly be linked to heredity.”

Knowing that there may be a genetic risk of developing osteoporosis, it’s even more important to take the necessary precautions. Take the right kind of calcium supplement, check any medications you are taking for risk factors and exercise regularly. It’s also important to get regular bone scans that will let you know if you have or are developing osteoporosis.

After learning of her sister’s osteoporosis and the possible genetic risk, this morning, my wife went to have another bone scan to see if there is any further sign of osteoporosis. Neither of us want to see her go through what her mother and sister have gone through.

23 Insanely Clever Ways To Eat Cauliflower Instead of Carbs

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1. Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

Some genius did the obvious move and turned cauliflower pizza crust into cauliflower breadsticks. You know, like Papa John’s but… not.

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 cups of riced cauliflower (about 1 large head of cauliflower)
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups of mozzarella cheese (I used a Tex Mex blend because that’s all I had)
  • 3 tsp oregano
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese (for topping)

 

2. “Everything Bagel” Cauliflower Rolls

I mean, the “everything” overpowers the “bagel” either way.

Ingredients

1. 1 head cauliflower, riced (about 3 cups)

2. 2 tbsp almond flour

3. 1 tbsp coconut flour

4. 1 tbsp organic corn meal (not paleo- you can sub almond flour)

5. 2 organic eggs

6. 1/2 tsp garlic powder

7. 1/4 tsp Himalayan sea salt

“Everything” Topping

1. 1/2 tsp poppy seeds

2. 1 tbsp sesame seeds

3. 1 tsp dried minced garlic

4. 1 tbsp dried minced onion

5. 1/2 tsp Himalayan sea salt

 

3. Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Chowder

White potatoes, you’ve officially been replaced.

Ingredients

  • 8 slices center-cut bacon, chopped and divided
  • 1/2 small onion, chopped OR 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • salt & pepper
  • 4 cups shredded or grated cauliflower (1/2 large head)
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 2 Tablespoons gluten-free or all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth, divided
  • 2 cups 2% milk
  • 3-4 dashes hot sauce (or more or less)
  • 2-1/2 cups (12oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
  • 2 green onions, chopped (optional)

 

4. Pepperoni Pizza Cauliflower Casserole

All I see here is so much cheese. And that’s OK.

INGREDIENTS

For the Puree

  • 1 medium head of cauliflower
  • 2 Tbsp Heavy Cream
  • 1 Tbsp Butter
  • 8 slices pepperoni
  • ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste

For the Casserole

  • 12 slices pepperoni
  • ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

 

5. Vietnamese Cauli-Fried Rice

Faster than ordering Seamless. (Well, probably.)

Ingredients:

For the Nước Chấm dressing

1/4 cup water

2-3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (to taste)

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon honey (omit for 21DSD & Whole30)

1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or coconut vinegar

Chili flakes optional

For the fried rice:
3 cups of grated cauliflower (about 1 large head)
2-3 tablespoons coconut oil or preferred cooking oil
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup onion, diced
3-5 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup asparagus, diced
1 cup sausage, chopped (traditionally Chinese sausage is used, I used Kielbasa)
1 cup raw shrimp (about 9 large 16 count shrimp, raw or cooked) chopped
2 large eggs, cracked & lightly beaten
1/4 cup spring onions, chopped
1/4 cilantro
Coarse sea salt and cracked pepper to taste

6. Skinny Baked Cauliflower Tots

Doesn’t have the same ring as “Tater Tots,” but I’m willing to overlook that. (Note: there are bread crumbs in the recipe, so it’s not totally low-carb.)

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups cauliflower florets
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup onion, minced
  • ¼ cup bell pepper, minced (optional)
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ minced cilantro or parsley (optional)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • cooking spray or oil

 

7. Cauliflower Rice Lettuce Cups with Sriracha Peanut Sauce

 Ingredients:

Cauliflower Rice Lettuce Cups

 

  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, mined
  • 5 green onions, sliced
  • 2 small red bell peppers, finely diced
  • 2 small green bell peppers, finely diced
  • 5 ounces shiitake mushrooms, chopped
  • 2 large carrots, shredded (about 2 cups)
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 1/2-3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 head cauliflower, shredded
  • Iceberg of Bibb Lettuce, for serving
  • Cilantro and chopped peanuts, for topping

Sriracha Peanut Sauce

  • 1/2 cup natural salted peanut butter
  • 1 cup light coconut milk
  • 3 tablespoons agave nectar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha

8. Cauliflower Crust Grilled Cheese

OMFG. This is real.

Ingredients

Makes 2 grilled cheese sandwiches
Cauliflower crust “bread” slices
1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets (should yield 3 cups of cauliflower rice)
1 free-range organic egg, lightly beaten
½ cup / 1.7 oz / 50 gr shredded mozzarella cheese
½ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Grilled cheese
1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
⅓ cup / 3 oz / 85 gr sharp cheddar cheese, grated/shredded, room temperature

9. Cauliflower Pizza Bagels

 These are truly something else.

Ingredients

1. 2 eggs
2. 1 cup Mozzarella
3. 1 cup Cauliflower riced
4. 25-30 slices pepperoni cut into quarters
5. 1/2 tsp fennel seed
6. 3/4-1 tsp Garlic powder (depending on preference)
7. 1/2 tsp Crushed red pepper
8. 1 large slice tomato diced

10. Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh Salad

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cauliflower “rice”
  • 2 cups diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup chopped cucumber
  • 1 shallot, minced
  • 1 cup parsley, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
  • Juice of 1-2 large lemons
  • 2-4 tablespoons avocado or olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

 

11. Cauliflower Couscous with Leeks and Sundried Tomatoes

 Same deal as the cauliflower rice, but calling it couscous makes it taste more Mediterranean.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
4 heaping cups of cauliflower “cous cous”
2 cloves of garlic, minced1 tablespoon grape seed oil
1 cup thinly sliced leeks– sea salt
and fresh cracked black pepper

12. Cauliflower Hash

Cauliflower also cooks faster than potatoes. So, double WIN.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¾ lb (350 g) cauliflower, chopped into small pieces
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley leaves (for garnish)
  • Fried eggs, for serving (optional)

 

13. Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Utensils necessary, but that’s a small price to pay for a low-carb pizza option.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 small to medium sized head of cauliflower – should yield 2 to 3 cups once processed
  • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup mozzarella cheese
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon basil or rosemary, minced (or dry)
  • ½ teaspoon oregano, minced (or dry)
  • 1 cup marinara sauce
  • 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese

14. Cauliflower Nachos with Harissa Cheddar Sauce

INGREDIENTS

Cauliflower Nachos1 head cauliflower
olive oil
kosher salt
1 red pepper
1/2 cup sliced black olives
1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
2 scallions, chopped
1/2 cup feta, optional
harissa nacho cheese (recipe follows)Harissa Cheddar Cheese Nacho Sauce

1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp flour
3/4 cup milk
1 cup shredded Natural & Kosher cheddar cheese
kosher salt, to taste
1-2 tsp harissa

 

15. Olive Oil, Garlic, and Romano Cheese Mashed Cauliflower

INGREDIENTS

Olive Oil, Garlic & Romano Cheese Mashed Cauliflower

1 head cauliflower
salt & freshly cracked pepper
4-6 cloves garlic, peeled
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 c cream
1/3 c grated Romano cheese
Salt & freshly cracked pepper

16. Cauliflower Tortillas

 Who wants to come over for taco night?

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 head cauliflower
2 large eggs
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
juice from 1/2 lime (add the zest too if you want more of a lime flavor)
salt and pepper, to taste

17. Cauliflower Fritters

These are a swap for what, exactly? Latkes? Corn fritters? Croquettes? I really don’t know, but I know that they are totally, 100% delicious.

Ingredients:
1 medium size head (around 450 gr)
1/3 cup AP Flour
2 Large Eggs
2 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
4 tbs Cornmeal
1/2 tsp Chili Powder
1 1/2 tsp Salt
5 tbs Nutritional Yeast
Fresh Cilantro, chopped (2 tbs)
Fresh Black Pepper

18. Crockpot Cauliflower and Cheese

It’s really all about the cheese anyway. The macaroni was only ever a vessel. (Repeat that enough times and it might come true. Seriously, though, this stuff tastes great.)

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 1 can condensed cheddar soup
  • 1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ cup finely diced onion
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar

 

19. Cauliflower Protein Bread

 This is either the best low-carb recipe ever written or, in the wise words of T. Swift, “a nightmare dressed like a daydream.”

Ingredients

  • 575 grams chopped cauliflower (about 1 medium cauliflower)
  • 25 grams coconut flour
  • 45 grams unflavoured micellar casein* (substitute whey or rice protein isolate or 30 grams coconut flour)
  • 25 grams Grana Padano or Reggiano cheese, grated
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 large egg (52 grams, shelled)
  • 198 grams liquid egg whites (about 6 large egg whites)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon chilli, smoked paprika, roasted garlic, or some finely chopped fresh herbs (optional)

 

20. Cauliflower Steaks With Cauliflower Purée

Because cauliflower on cauliflower is setting yourself up for happiness.

INGREDIENTS

  • One 1 1/2-pound head of cauliflower
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil plus more for brushing
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

 

21. Paleo Cauliflower Hummus

Chickpeas are great and all, but cauliflower is a pretty mighty substitute.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups steamed cauliflower
2 tbsp almond butter
2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp red pepper flakes
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
pinch of sea salt
splash lemon juice
sprinkle of paprika to garnish

22. Jalapeño and Cheddar Cauliflower Muffins

See ya later, cornbread.

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups finely riced, raw cauliflower **
  • 2 Tbsp minced jalapeno
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 Tbsp melted butter
  • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 Tbsp dried onion flakes
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ¼ cup coconut flour

 

23. Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie

Ingredients

  • 1 head cauliflower, chopped into florets
  • 2 tablespoons fat (lard, tallow, ghee, coconut oil, etc)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 celery ribs, diced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef or lamb
  • ¼-1/2 cup homemade beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon homemade ketchup or tomato paste (omit if you don’t have a GAPS-legal or Paleo option)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fat (lard, tallow, ghee, etc)
  • ½ cup shredded GAPS-legal cheese (omit for Paleo)

Source:  buzzfeed.com

Will Your Healthcare Insurance Cover Surgical Mistakes?

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Currently, everyone is wondering what’s going to happen to their healthcare coverage. If you have employer provided coverage, then you are in a great situation. If you don’t have employer provided healthcare coverage, then your healthcare coverage is truly up in the air, waiting to see what Republicans are going to end up with to push on the American people.

Will you be able to afford coverage under a new GOPcare plan? Will your policy cover the costs of any surgical mistakes made by doctors operating on you? Maybe you should also be asking if there is anything you can do to help prevent surgical mistakes from happening to you?

Doctors and surgeons have a great deal of schooling and continuous training to hone their skills, but they are human and do make mistakes. Many joke and say that’s why they call it ‘practicing’ medicine instead of actually performing medicine.

In case you’ve never thought about it, a study conducted last year by Johns Hopkins found that medical errors account for 10% of all deaths in the US; as many as 250,000 deaths a year in the United States, making it the third leading cause of death in the US.

When a doctor prescribes a treatment for something such as an illness, do you just blindly take whatever medication is prescribed or do your take time to research what they are and what side effects they may have? Sometimes, taking the wrong medication can only lead to more and serious health issues.

Among the mistakes doctors and surgeons make is what’s called ‘wrong-site surgery’. This happens when a doctor operates on the wrong person or on the wrong part of the body. The consequences of ‘wrong-site surgery’ can be extremely harmful and even deadly.

One example was a man who had been having pain in one of his testicles. The doctor found it had atrophied after being injured years early and scheduled surgery to remove it. Turns out the surgeon removed his healthy testicle, leaving him permanently sterile and short of vital male hormones.

We’ve all heard stories of doctors removing or operating on wrong organs, the wrong leg, wrong arm, etc. So, what can you as he patient do to protect yourself?

1.) Ask lots of questions. Don’t go into any medical procedure or operation if you have any questions or concerns that haven’t been answered. You have the right to learn as much as you can before undergoing a scalpel or laser or anything else.

2.) Detail everything.  Not only should you make sure you know as much as possible and gather all of the information you need, but you also need to make sure the doctor or surgeon knows everything he or she needs to know. Tell them of every medical condition and reaction you’ve ever had. Also make sure they know about every medication and over the counter medicines, vitamins and supplements you take. You and your doctor may be unaware that something you are taking could impact the procedure and/or recovery.

3.) Know your surgeon or doctor before any procedure. Frequently, your doctor may arrange for you to have surgery with a surgeon you’ve never met. If the surgeon doesn’t know you, how will he or she know they are operating on the right person?

4.) Research the procedure. Learn as much as you can about whatever procedure you are about to have. Sometimes research can find a less invasive or cheaper procedure than the one you are about to have.

5.) Find a specialist. Don’t let a general surgeon cut you open. Find someone who specializes in the procedure you are having. The better experienced a specialist is, the less likely he or she may make any mistakes.

6.) Highlight the surgery site yourself. If allowed by the doctor or surgeon, mark or highlight the area or part of your body that is about to be operated on. If it’s the right leg, then mark the right leg and if necessary, write on your other leg – WRONG LEG.

7.) Have a friend or family member with you. Don’t go it alone. Not only should you bring a friend of family member, but make sure they know as much as you do about the procedure you are having.

8.) Ask your insurance provider if your policy covers medical mistakes and correcting them. Not every policy does.

Do everything you can to prepare yourself and whoever is going to accompany you, for whatever procedure you are having. The more you know, the better you can help prevent mistakes on the part of your doctor or surgeon. It may save you a lot of money and a lot of misery.

Healthy Kids: Avoiding Summer Weight Gain

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[Citizen-Times] — Naturally you would think that it would be easy for your child to stay healthy and not gain weight over summer break.

Over the summer there are more opportunities to get outdoors, have access to fresher and more cost effective fruits and vegetables, and there isn’t as much hustle to get to school or other activities. However, there is more research coming out that children are gaining at a faster rate over the summer than during the school year.

One study looked at 18,000 kids from kindergarten to second grade and tracked their body mass index (BMI). It found that obesity increased from 8.9 percent to 11.5 percent over that time period with all the accelerated gain being over the two summer months.

Some reasons could be more frequent snacking — increased calories, more screen time, less activity and poor sleep schedules. Kids get bored or stay up later than usual and want something to snack on. Calories from several snacks per day can add up quickly. Just 1 ounce of chips (one serving) is 140 calories, and not that many of us eat only 1 ounce. If you then drink something along with your snack, like juice or soda, that adds another 100-150 calories. So eating 200-300 calories twice or more per day over two months can really increase weight gain.

Different levels of activity also change in the summer. A lot of kids are spending more time in front of the screen — computers, tablets, phones, video games or TV. Kids complain about how hot it is during the day, which can prevent a child from wanting to go outside. Summer camps are great, but are usually only for one or two weeks at a time. Sitting for 8-10 hours, then going out for 30 minutes to an hour doesn’t undo those many hours not being active

What can we do as parents?

Better snacks. Try to have healthy snack options and limit the number per day. Choose low-calorie snacks that are filling, like fruit, low-fat yogurt, half sandwiches and vegetables with light dressing or other healthy dip like salsa or hummus. Limit the higher-calorie junk foods and encourage drinking water throughout the day.

Screen breaks. Encourage your child to take frequent breaks from the screen — going for a quick walk, bike ride or play a sport for 20-30 minutes every few hours. Breaking up the activity is much easier than trying to do several hours at once. The recommended screen time limit is two hours per day. If it’s hot, find a cool water activity to do like water balloons, sprinklers, small pools or the local swimming pool.

Keep on schedule. Having the same sleep and meal routine is best. Waking and going to bed around the same time every night is shown to prevent increased appetite and keep the BMI low. Having family meals also promotes healthy eating habits.

Andrea Branton, RD, LDN, is a pediatric dietitian at Mission Children’s Hospital. To learn more about the services at Mission Children’s Hospital, visit missionchildrens.org.

7 Natural Remedies That Help to Remove The Uric Acid That Causes Arthritis

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Sharp uric acid crystals cause pain and inflammation in tissues. Some herbs do miracles when it comes to dissolving and eliminating these crystals.

In this article we suggest that you try these natural products and herbs to eliminate uric acid, a known cause of arthritis.

Apple Cider Vinegar

In alternative medicine, apple cider vinegar is largely used in the treatment of sore joints. Regular application of this treatment results in a remission of pain in the joints within a month.

Soak a bandage or a piece of cloth in some apple cider vinegar and apply the compress on your swollen joints or varicose veins. Wrap well. Repeat the remedy every morning and evening. You can also dissolve 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a cup of lukewarm water and drink the liquid every day.

Burdock Root

This traditional herbal remedy is useful in the treatment of arthritis associated conditions, including acute gout attacks.

According to “The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine” burdock root eliminates the toxins in the bloodstream, reduces inflammation and promotes proper excretion of urine which contains uric acid, and this is why it is commonly recommended as an effective folk remedy for gout.

Health experts recommend combining 20-30 drops of burdock root tincture and 9 oz of water 3-4 times a day, and the treatment should last for a few days.

Pineapple

Pineapple is packed with bromelain, an enzyme that reduces inflammation. Pineapple juice relieves arthritis-related joint pain and strengthens your wrists.

Lemon Juice

Many people believe that lemon juice makes the body more acidic, but believe it or not, it actually creates an alkaline environment and neutralizes uric acid. Lemons are rich in vitamin C, which is quite important when it comes to decreasing uric acid level.

  • Juice a lemon and add it to a glass of warm water. Drink warm lemon water in the morning before you eat or drink anything. For optimal results, consume this drink for several weeks.
  • Vitamin C supplements also work great. Consult your doctor for the proper dosing.

Calendula

Calendula is excellent when it comes to strengthening joints and preventing disease. It can be used in a tea or as a supplement

Make a nice and warm bath and add some calendula leaves and flowers. Use it as a compress for your joints or make a nice cup of tea using calendula leaves.

Parsley

Due to its antioxidant capacity, people often turn to parsley tea as an herbal solution to many health problems.

Parsley is a great herb to use in a salad, however it also makes a highly beneficial tea as well. Regular consumption of parsley tea stimulates the elimination of uric acid buildups in the joints, especially when combined with mulberry juice.

Drink Plenty of Water

When it comes to drinks, water is the best choice if you want to maintain normal level of uric acid. Water stimulates the kidneys to remove toxic buildups and excess uric acid from the body.

Drink 3 liters of water a day and eat fruits and vegetables with high percentage of water.

Source: healthyfoodhouse.com

10 Healthy Veggie Side Recipes to Serve with Dinner

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If prepared in the right way, a vegetable side dish can be as delicious and filling as the main dish.  Preparing a vegetable with a different cooking method, adding different flavors and colors can make the difference for your child if they try it and like it or not.  The philosophy we have in our household which patterns the MyPlate guidelines,  is to make half of your meals fruit and veggies.  When you make your side a veggie that is full of flavor, it is much easier to fill half your plate with it!  We have 10 Healthy Veggie Sides Recipes to serve with dinner to make your meal complete!

Honey Cinnamon Roasted Sweet Potatoes

These sweet potatoes from Buns in My Oven are a deliciously sweet side dish with a great texture – a perfect way to serve sweet potatoes to your kids for the first time!

Super Simple Spaghetti Squash

This is a great side dish to replace potatoes or pasta with a meal.  Your kids will love watching the ‘spaghetti’ form – let them get involved by giving them 2 forks and scraping away the squash!

 Crunchy Homemade Onion Rings

Even kids who may be hesitant about trying onions, may go for some baked onion rings!  Skip the deep fryer and bake these for a healthy version that the entire family will love.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 large onions
2 eggs, beaten

Instructions

Combine bread crumbs, seasoned salt, and garlic powder, and set aside. Combine eggs, and beat till frothy. Slice onions into rings. Dip onion rings into egg mixture, and then into bread crumbs. Arrange in single layer on a baking sheet (sprayed with cooking spray). Bake in oven at 375 for 20 minutes.

5 Delicious Ways to Cook Carrots

Sometimes it takes a different cooking method for kids to like a vegetable.  If your kids don’t like raw carrots, try one of these ways to cook them!  They are all different but delicious and produce a different flavor.

1) Braised

Simmer in chicken broth. When cooked to desired texture, add a touch of butter and salt.

2) Roasted

On baking sheet, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and parmesan cheese. Cook at 400 for about 20 minutes.

3) Steamed

I do this super quick and cooked to perfection in my Rice cooker/ steamer.

4) Sautéed

Delicious in stir-fry’s and a great compliment to other vegetables. Pour 1 TBL oil in a pan. Add chopped vegetables. Stir every minute or so until vegetables are cooked.

5) Flavor cooked carrots

Try a new and different flavor, like Ginger-Orange Carrots. This recipe came from my running partner, Eliece.

Ginger – Orange – Carrot – Recipe

Ingredients:

5 medium carrots or 1lb. bag of baby carrots
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon ginger
2 Tablespoon butter or margarine
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup orange juice

Slice carrots as desired (baby carrots do not need to be cut) Cook until just tender (about 20 minutes) & drain. Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, and ginger in a small saucepan. Add orange juice; cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and bubbles. boil one minute. Stir in butter. Pour over hot carrots, tossing to coat evenly.

Citrus Grilled Asparagus

This dish adds a lightness and also a sweetness to asparagus which can have a slightly bitter flavor.   Kids are more familiar with the orange flavor and will enjoy the yummy flavor it adds to the asparagus.

Ingredients:

1 lb asparagus
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 lemon
1 orange
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Rinse asparagus well and snap the ends off. Place on tin foil or a grilling pan. Brush coconut oil onto the asparagus. Squeeze the juice of the lemon and orange onto the asparagus. Zest the lemon and orange and sprinkle on top. Grill on medium-high heat. For thick asparagus, grill for 10-12 minutes. For thin asparagus, grill for 5-8 minutes.

Ultimate Roasted Broccoli

Roasted broccoli is the cooking method that has helped my kids fall in love with broccoli.  If they are struggling eating veggies, I know I can fall back on roasted broccoli! This recipe from JoCooks adds some yummy ingredients making it even more delicious!

INGREDIENTS

2 big heads of broccoli or 3 smaller ones
5 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
2 to 3 tbsp olive oil
1½ tsp salt
½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼ cup roasted pecans, chopped
⅓ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Cut the broccoli florets from the thick stalks and cut the larger pieces through the base of the head with a small knife, pulling the florets apart. I cut mine in really small florets because I wanted bite size florets. Place the broccoli florets on a sheet pan large enough to hold them in a single layer. Toss the garlic on the broccoli and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned.

Remove the broccoli from the oven and immediately toss with lemon juice, pecans and Parmesan cheese. Serve hot.

 Cheesy Baked Zucchini Rounds

This simple 2 ingredient zucchini dish from Five Heart Home will become a regular on your menu.  These bake at a relatively high temperature, making the zucchini get nice and soft, with an almost creamy texture, while the Parmesan turns crispy and golden brown.

Ingredients

2 medium-sized zucchini
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Garlic salt & freshly ground black pepper, optional

Directions

Place oven rack in center position of oven. Preheat to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil (lightly misted with cooking spray) OR parchment paper.

Wash and dry zucchini, and cut into 1/4-inch thick slices. Arrange zucchini rounds on prepared pan, with little to no space between them. If desired, lightly sprinkle zucchini with garlic salt and freshly ground black pepper. Use a small spoon to spread a thin layer of Parmesan cheese on each slice of zucchini. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until Parmesan turns a light golden brown. (Watch these closely the first time you make them and pull them out of the oven early if the Parmesan is golden before 15 minutes!) Serve immediately.

Creamy Cauliflower Rice

Rice is a staple side dish for many meals, and this boosts the nutrition by using mostly cauliflower with a small amount of rice.  This makes it a delicious familiar dish, but a powerhouse in the nutrition department.

INGREDIENTS

6-8 cups chopped cauliflower
4 cups vegetable broth + 2 cups water
½ cup milk
1½ cups brown rice (I used a brown rice blend)
1 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste!)
2 tablespoons butter
6-8 cloves minced garlic
½ cup Mozzarella cheese for topping (more to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS

Cook the rice according to package directions. Set aside.

Bring the vegetable broth and water to a boil in a large pot. Add the cauliflower and boil for about 10 minutes, until tender. Transfer cauliflower pieces to a blender or food processor.

Puree the cauliflower, adding milk or extra vegetable broth to get a smooth, creamy consistency. Season with salt. Pour over the cooked rice and stir to combine.

In a large nonstick skillet, melt the butter and add the garlic, sauteing over low heat until the garlic is very fragrant, about 3-5 minutes. Add the creamy rice mixture and stir until butter and garlic is incorporated. Add cheese on top or stir it throughout the rice to get it melted. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Roasted Veggies with Savory Cheese Sauce

We have found that kids love dips and sauces and are much more likely to try things when they can dunk, or smother their veggies. This savory sauce is a pleaser for both kids and adults!

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Flour
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tsp chicken bouillon paste (or 1 cube, crushed)
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/3 – 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to form a roux. Slowly pour in the milk while whisking constantly, make sure there are no lumps. Stir in the bouillon. Whisk constantly until the mixture begins to thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese is melted. Keep the sauce warm.

Quick and Easy Homemade Fries

A side of homemade fries goes well with many meals, but sometimes there just isn’t time when you are rushing to make dinner.  This is one of our favorite shortcuts so that you can have these as a side anytime even if you are short on time!

Step 1: Peel, rinse, and cut

This is a great place to get the kids involved. They’ve been peeling potatoes for as long as I can remember. The cutting part will take some time. My kids started with a crinkle cutter, because it’s pretty easy to use and less likely to cut them. We sort into bowls with two potatoes worth of fries in each bowl. That’s the perfect amount for fitting into quart size freezer bags.

Step 2: Blanch

After the potatoes are rinsed and cut, we drop them by the bowlful into boiling water. We wait 2 minute, and then drop into ice water. Leave in the ice water for several minutes- the longer the better, up to 20 for the crispiest fries!   Blanching is an important step. It makes the difference between “Crisp Tender” veggies and mushy veggies. It also slows down the enzyme reactions that cause foods to lose their flavor and color.

Step 3: Blot dry and arrange on a cookie sheet, lined with parchment paper

Step 4: Optional: Pre-season the french fries

This is totally optional, but sometimes we’ll add garlic salt, seasoned salt, or nothing at all on this step.

Step 5: Freeze for 12-24 hours

Step 6: Once frozen, arrange into freezer bags. We use 2 potatoes per quart size bags.

Return to the freezer and store up to 6 months!

When it’s time to eat, simply take one bag out of the freezer, and arrange on a parchment lined cookie sheet. We drizzle with olive oil (although this is optional as well), and bake at 425 for about 40-45 minutes. Watch carefully. You don’t want to burn them, but you want them to brown up and be crispy.

superhealthykids.com

5 Simple and Health Ways to Cut Portions

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One of the most simple ways to lose weight, is to burn more calories than you consume… but this doesn’t mean you’re doomed to be hungry all the time! Instead of eating less all the time, how about working out more so that you can accommodate your appetite?

To get you started, here are some tips on healthy ways to cut portions without feeling hungry!

1. Start with Water

Having a large glass of water before every meal will make you feel less hungry. Not only does it help to fill our stomachs, sometimes dehydration is actually the reason why you’re hungry! Often the grumbling in your tummy can actually occur due to dehydration, not hunger.

Sometimes we also eat when we’re bored, so having a big glass of water with lemon can actually satisfy the urge to eat out of boredom.

2. Vegetable Fillers

Whenever you cook a meal, add in as many vegetables as you can. Whether it be a stir-fry, pasta, seafood dish or sandwich, make sure it’s jam packed with vegetables. Vegetables can really fill you up and they’re low calorie and nutrient high!

3. Plate Coloring

Now, this is an odd one but it’s proven that people who eat on plates which color doesn’t contrast with the color of their food, eat 22% more food. It’s believed that when your food contrasts the plate it’s served on, you can judge the amount of food more accurately – and thus avoid over eating.

4. Add Carbs, Don’t Add to Carbs

Don’t make a meal based on carbohydrates, make a meal and then if you must, add carbohydrates. Don’t have a bowl of granola and then top it with fruit and yogurt, have yogurt and top it with a little bit of granola!

The same goes for pasta; grill vegetables and meat as the base and then add a little bit if pasta to it so that the majority of your meal is vegetables and meat, not carbs! This tip with revolutionize your cooking!

5. Limit Portion Size

Craving some chips, how about a bit of chocolate… or some cookies? Take a small serving out of the box or bag, put it in a bowl or on a plate and then leave the kitchen. If you bring the box of cookies or the bag of chips with you, your snack will never end!

Source:  theheartysoul.com

 

 

10 Foods that Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels

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A healthy level of blood sugar is a great pre-requisite to enhance the entire body’s working condition. A required blood sugar level is the most prominent since it in turn stands profoundly responsible to tackle other conditions of balancing the body hormones, energizing your body, regulating mood swings and also the levels of hunger.

Robust blood sugar levels are also necessary to strengthen the body against Type 2 Diabetes, hypoglycemia, stroke, blindness and issues like hypertension as well. Taking in a diet that is supplemented with a perfect balance of blood sugar level can trigger a mechanism in your body that would also prevent health issues like obesity.

Generally avocados are believed to be sources of fat. But this is mono-saturated fat which can be worth elevating you health condition by making a slow and an even distribution of sugar in your bloodstream. This would result in a low release of insulin.

Try adding these foods to your grocery list to help lower your blood sugar levels:

  1. Spices:

It has been told that spices are great agents to work for the process of sugar breakdown. Not only sugar, but also cholesterol levels can be significantly decreased through the consumption of spices.

  1. Eggs:

These are another important food source you would want to depend upon to lessen your blood sugar levels and insulin discharge. Eggs are also known to decrease obesity by periodic consumption.

  1. Cinnamon:

It is a claimed fact that cinnamon causes the liver and related muscles to be ready to get into contact with insulin. This is also believed to be a veteran in conducting an appropriate management of body blood sugar levels and also in reducing weight effectively.

  1. Olive Oil:

This is also similar to avocados which can ably lessen the growth of belly and also virtually manage the levels of blood sugar in the body.

  1. Blue Berries:

Blue Berries constitute bioactive ingredients which can augment your responsiveness to insulin. It has also been found out that Blue Berries can lessen your risk of being prone to diabetes effectively.

  1. Chia Seeds:

These seeds stabilize your blood sugar levels. So if you are a victim of diabetes already or not, you can go for making an option of chia seeds to lower your blood sugar levels efficiently.

  1. Vinegar:

If you have just had a meal filled with more carbohydrates, taking in vinegar can make you feel intensely better. Also, vinegar can coherently lower your blood sugar levels.

  1. Mangoes:

It is acclaimed that having at least 10 grams of mangoes daily can wonderfully reduce your blood sugar levels.

  1. Cherries:

Cherries come with a rich content of anthocyanins which can amazingly increase your insulin production by about 50%. So, lowering your blood sugar levels with cherries is a tasty task at hand.

So, with the above-shown foods, you can make yourself get assured of the fact that you would synchronize your efforts in making your blood sugar levels get significantly lowered. So, get ahead and lead a healthy and a better life!

Source: letsgohealthy.net

How Scorpion Venom Could Help Save Lives and Millions of Dollars

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When I attended university, I used to volunteer in the venomous animal lab. Among the many things I got to do, I helped milk a variety of venomous snakes including several species of rattlesnakes and cobras. The venom was used for the production of anti-venom and for medical research, as there are many different properties found in venom, some which have been medically useful.

In addition to milking snakes for their venom, I spent a lot of time milking scorpions for their venom. I’ve had many people ask me how do you milk a scorpion and I jokingly respond with a very short stool. Actually, the proper way is to gently pick up the scorpion by the tail with a pair of forceps, but you have to make sure you don’t squeeze to tightly and injure the scorpion. Then you place a very small hollow glass tube called a pipette up to the tip of the scorpion’s stinger and then touch the venom sac, located just below the stinger, against a very low voltage current. The electricity causes the venom sac to contract, expelling the venom which is then collected in the pipette.

The amount of venom is small, since the scorpions are small. We concentrated on local scorpions, mostly the larger hairy scorpion and the smaller and more deadly bark scorpion. It takes many scorpions to produce a gram of venom, which is then used for anti-venom and medical research. During my time there, I estimate that I milked at least half a million scorpions and never got stung while doing it.

That’s why the latest news on the use of scorpion venom in targeting cancer cells was so interesting to me.

Researchers discovered a compound in the venom of the death stalker scorpion that when combined with a dye that glows and then injected into a patient with cancer, it adheres to just the cancer cells. This allows doctors to use very treatments, including surgery, against the cancer cells or tumor without injuring or harming normal healthy tissue.

Researchers involved in the discovery said:

“It really has the potential to very much change how we do care.”

Dr. Rowena Schwartz, a doctor at the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy commented on the new discovery:

“The excitement of it is that it’s a way to identify tumor tissue separate from healthy tissue.”

“I think it’s because a chemo toxin was identified was bound to the cancer tissue, and not to normal cells.”

“To take a venom from a scorpion and synthetically make it without the poison and then hook it to something that can be florescent under a laser light, means that then you can visualize it.” 

“As we learn more about cancer cells and the difference between non-cancer cells, it gives you potential targets for treatment and in this case targets for visualization. And I think that’s one of the most exciting things that’s going on in cancer.”

The new targeting technique is still being tested, but if the tests continue to show the results they have so far, it could make a huge impact in cancer treatment. What’s more, it could save hundreds of millions of dollars in medical bills and healthcare costs.

One of the major drawbacks in treating cancer these days is the harming or destruction of surrounding healthy tissue. Quite often, much of the healing of the damaged healthy tissue adds to the lengthy recovery process and worse. The loss of healthy normal tissue can result in other medical complications.

If doctors could clearly see just the cancer cells and be able to differentiate them from surrounding healthy tissue, it would make removing just the cancer much easier and less invasive.

As Republicans in Congress try to come up with a workable and affordable replacement for Obamacare, the use of scorpion venom in marking of cancer cells, could drastically reduce the overall cost of a nationalized healthcare program, which in the long run, could save taxpayers millions of dollars.

Natural Way to Fight Back Pain

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Are you like so many other women who find that as you grow older that you have more aches and pains than you used to? After years of lifting kids, groceries, carrying heavy laundry baskets, house cleaning, of standing on your feet or sitting in an uncomfortable chair all day at work, does your back ache more than it used it to?

Do you find it necessary to see a chiropractor or a massage therapist to help you cope with your aching back? Are you taking pain medication or muscle relaxers for your back pain? Treating back pain is a multi-million-dollar industry and growing.

Millions of people suffer from back pain, especially as they get older. There are many causes for back pain. It could be due to aging and damaged discs in your back. I know from experience.

From the base of your skull and down, your spine has 23 intervertebral discs. There are 6 cervical discs in the neck, 12 thoracic discs in the upper and middle back and 5 lumbar discs in the lower back They act as cushions and spacers between the vertebra and are important in allowing space for nerves and blood vessels to radiate out from the spine to the rest of the body.

Personally, 11 of my 23 discs are damaged and yes, I live with constant back pain. One of my lumbar discs has a slight herniation. Three of my cervical discs are herniated and 2 more are bulging. Then there are five thoracic discs right between my shoulder blades that have been compressed nearly flat. As a result, I not only suffer from back pain, but have regular pinched nerves in my neck and muscle spasms in my back and neck/shoulder. It has left me with limited range of motion of my right arm and sometimes tingling and numbness in several of the fingers on my right hand.

Trust me, I am very familiar with back pain. However, pain medications are no help to me as I have a genetic immunity to the majority of pain killers. I’ve visited a chiropractor and have to admit that he’s very good, but as soon as I get home and try to resume normal activities, most of what the chiropractor has fixed becomes unfixed. I’ve tried acupuncture and have to admit I was a huge skeptic at first. However, I found that acupuncture did relieve a lot of my back pain and for the first couple of nights after treatment, I actually came close to getting a good night’s sleep for the first time in years. But the acupuncture is like the chiropractor, once I resume my normal activities, it’s all undone and the back pains return.

Back specialists and surgeons have told me that surgery is not an option due to the fact that so many of my discs, and one of my vertebra, are damaged and that it would take too much surgery and probably reduce my flexibility a great deal.

Consequently, I have learned to live with the pain, although there are many days that it’s difficult to function, but I do the best I can. That’s why this latest study caught my attention and may be something I’ll have to look into.

So, what is the possible natural way to relieve some or all back pain? According to this study, the answer is yoga, tai chi and/or massage therapy:

“Who was in the study? Researchers recruited 320 racially diverse, predominantly low-income participants in the Boston area, all of whom had chronic low back pain. The study lasted one year.”

“What did participants in the study do? Participants were divided into three groups. One group was assigned to a weekly yoga class for 12 weeks. Another group was assigned 15 physical therapy (PT) visits. The third group received an educational book and newsletters. For the remainder of the year — roughly 40 weeks — participants in the yoga group were assigned to either drop-in classes or home practice. The PT group was assigned to either “PT booster sessions” or home practice.”

“The skinny: Researchers assessed changes in pain and function using a 23-point questionnaire. The participants in the yoga and physical therapy groups had about the same amount of improvement in pain and functioning over time.”

“When the study began, about 70 percent of the patients were taking some form of pain medication. At the end of three months, when the yoga classes were wrapping up, the percentage of yoga and PT participants still taking pain medication had dropped to about 50 percent. By comparison, the use of pain medication did not decline among participants in the education group.”

Rob Saper, Author of the study and Director of Integrative Medicine at Boston Medical Center said the reduction in the need for pain medication was significant, but may not be the panacea cure-all everyone hopes for. He recommended that If you do consider yoga classes, to concentrate on the ones that deal largely with poses and relaxation techniques. They are safer and help stretch the muscles in the back which helps reduce muscle inflammation and pain.

As for physical therapy compared to yoga, Saper stated:

“PT is the most common referral that physicians make for patients with back pain. It’s accepted, it’s reimbursed, and it’s offered in most hospitals.”

However, yoga may be longer lasting if practiced on a regular basis, whereas physical therapy can be short lived and sessions limited. Saper recommends that more healthcare insurance companies provide coverage for yoga classes as that they may not only save the insurance company money in the long run, but gives the person something they can use for the rest of their lives to help fight back pain. Yoga can be a win-win natural medical aid for those of you with back pain.

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