It is made from raw milk, although as with almost all raw milk cheeses, it is cooked but still retains some of the original good bacteria and makes the flavor more complex. It is aged a minimum of 12 months but the good stuff is at least 18-24 months. If it is ‘stravecchio’ then it has been aged for 3 years. Also, traditionally the cows from which the milk is obtained are fed only grass or hay and therefore the grass-fed milk is high in nutrients. Also, parmigiano is lactose free so if you are lactose intolerant you may be just fine with it.

It can be pricey… anywhere from $12.99/lb (Trader Joes) to $17.99/lb (Whole Foods), but it is far worth it. Remember not to throw away the rind either… you can throw it in soups and sauces and when soft you can dice it up and eat it or leave it in there for some excellent flavor.

I know, I know… I have already mentioned this… maybe numerous times, but it is important to take note especially of something so important to our bodies as water. When I moved to Nashville, I noticed the water even more… I could taste the chlorine right away… that’s no good. Also as I mentioned before I have a wellness filter (pitcher) and new wave enviro shower filter. I definitely would recommend both and especially like the wellness filter because it not only filters the water but also enhances it… there is a marked difference, especially when the filter is fresh.

Numerous studies and books have come out talking about the benefits of a Mediterranean diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. The reason that a Mediterranean diet is healthy is because it is comprised of whole foods. It does not contain the typical refined ingredients found in western diets.

The study lists that the diet was low in red meat, dairy, and alcohol. The problem does not really lie in red meat and dairy but in the quality of the red meat and dairy (just like anything else). As I mentioned before grass-fed beef and lamb are excellent sources of cla. Also, real milk is an excellent food when a high quality source is obtained, that is unadulterated.

There are millions of bacteria in the gut, some of which are good and some of which are bad. It is obviously in our best interest to increase the ratio of good to bad bacteria as the good help to keep at bay and “crowd out” the bad. Probiotic supplements are an excellent way to help keep your immune system and gut in optimal health. The intestines and colon are key in maintaining overall health. The stronger the presence of good bacteria the better your body will be able to ward off the negative effects (in numerous ways) from the bad bacteria. Just try traveling to a foreign country and eating the street food. Most of the native residents will have no problem with the food while most likely you would not be able to handle it and would end up with frequent and horrible trips to the bathroom.

The overuse of antibiotics and the western diet in general has done away with much of the beneficial bacteria in our system that is vital for health. It takes time to replenish the body with beneficial bacteria and there are several different ways you can do it. The more the better. The best way is to get probiotics through the food you eat. Fermented and cultured foods are excellent sources. The key again is finding high quality sources. Many of the modern cultured foods (think yogurt) have inferior, artificial, and unhealthy ingredients added. Look for whole food products that have been minimally processed and are naturally cultured.

One excellent brand I can recommend is Bubbies. Bubbies sells all natural fermented pickles, sauerkraut, horseradishes, and mustard. It is hard to beat a real old fashioned pickle. Check out www.realpickles.com… they are great.

You can also get probiotics through cultured milk (preferably raw) products like yogurt, kefir, and cheese. Pasteurized milk products have been heated to kill all bacteria first and therefore even though they may be cultured with new bacteria they still contain the old dead bacteria which can cause adverse reactions in the body and is not healthy to consume. Whenever possible get cultured products from high quality raw milk. Other beverages such as kvass, kombucha, new wine, and naturally fermented ginger ale can also provide a great source of probiotics.

In addition to food taking a probiotic supplement is an excellent consideration, especially if you are and have been surrounded by the typical American diet for your whole life. Two brands which I believe I have recommend before are Garden of Life’s Primal Defense and Mercola’s Complete Probiotics. Mercola’s sales page kinda bothers me (I find it annoying)… but hey… it is a good product and they do need to sell it.

Well, I hope you have a little bit better understanding of the pounds of bacteria in your gut and how important it is for your overall health. Allergies and hay fever are not isolated symptoms… there are numerous allergies and health problems that stem from a poor internal environment. Every person is different though and will respond different as our bodies are dynamic and some things may improve while others may not until other areas are addresses. Think holistically… improve everything as you can.

That was a long post. I am out.

Numerous studies have found conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) to fight cancer, preserve muscle, and reduce fat. Basically CLA makes you a lean mean fighting machine. Ok, I just wanted to say that. The best way to get your CLA is through high quality grass-fed beef and raw dairy. I do believe all plant eaters like sheep and cows produce CLA. I have heard lamb is an excellent source of CLA as well and I have had the taste for lamb lately and when I have it I will blog about it and let you know . Well… I am gonna go have a glass of real milk.

No, that is not weed… that is wild licorice. Huh… I feel like I forgot all about it. I want some licorice. I like licorice… and not the fake stuff… the real thing. It seems that it is hard to find these days even though I would suspect that Whole Foods would have it. I have ordered it online before.

I was perusing blogs as I tend to do and came across this blog about licorice root helping canker sores. I used to get those when I was younger… now not so much… unless I am stressed out or something. Anyway, back to licorice.

Licorice root makes an excellent tea. It’s excellent for a cough or sore throat. Ah… Zagarese I just remembered. That is the brand I was thinking of.  Since anise oil has a similar taste many use that as well and pass it off as licorice or flavor licorice with it… not bad. Hmmm… anise seed in biscotti is excellent. My grandma used to make that and it was some of the best biscotti… so good that it makes you not want to eat store bought biscotti because it just doesn’t measure up.

How did I go from licorice to anise to biscotti… shoot. So back to licorice… if you are a tea drinker I would recommend trying a licorice root tea. A brand I like is Yogi Tea. Another one of my favorite brands is Long Life Tea. They produce a high quality product… no staples in the bags and unbleached paper.

Welp. I am out. Have a nice Memorial Day.

The other day I was eating a piece of bread and thinking how different it tasted all by itself. It was Ezekiel 4:9 bread at that. It made me appreciate it though. We can get so used to the myriad of wonderful food choices and combinations that we forget how blessed we are to have access to such foods. Lately I have not been able to buy all of the foods that I would like, as I one time did… but I thought of how amazing it was that I got to enjoy a piece of bread that good when much of the world cannot. It makes you thankful.

I also like trying foods by themselves because I like being able to pick them out in other foods. I like developing my palate.  It’s awful difficult to pick out a taste or an ingredient if you don’t know what it tastes like by itself. So amusingly enough to myself I will just eat basil by itself… or sage… or bread… or butter… or olive oil… or things that I want to taste in their own context before I add them as an ingredient to other foods… most of the time it’s spices and herbs. Ha.... hmmm… it makes me want to do that right now. You should try it sometime and laugh at yourself… then you can tell me and I will laugh at you too.

Whole foods have such richer taste than processed foods… you know?

I feel like this post could go on forever before I even start. Much can be said about fasting but I will keep this as short as I can. Fasting is beneficial to your body, soul, and spirit. I mainly want to talk about the physical right now although I personally mainly fast for the spiritual reasons.

Eating, in and of itself, promotes the aging process. There are numerous studies (it’s so well known that I don’t think there is the need to cite… but look them up) that show eating less promotes longer life and slows down aging. Of course there are numerous things that play into the aging process but fasting is a definite cornerstone.

Also, fasting helps to rid your body of toxins. Digesting food is one of the most (if not the most) energy consuming activities of the body. That is why so many times I talk about improving the digestive ability of your body with regard to certain foods (like sprouting your grains, etc). Fasting frees up energy for the body to heal and rest from the constant influx of foods that need digestion. So you ask, isn’t that what happens during sleep? Yes it is, and our bodies benefit greatly from the extended period of fasting beyond our sleep time.

When fasting your body uses up stored fat for energy. This is beneficial not only if you are trying to lose weight, but the body also stores toxins and previously undigested foods. Fasting helps to rid the body of both. Think of all the fake, artificial, toxic ‘food’ that most Americans put in their mouth and that go through the intestines. This toxic food does not always make it through. Fasting regularly over time helps to bring you back to a state of cleanness and gives you a foundation upon which you can build with much better food choices.

Whenever I have fasted for an extended period of time I definitely see a difference. I have had times where I felt bad for a while and could tell that my body was getting rid of the ‘old stuff’. I have also had fasts where I feel amazing. One time I was surprised because I thought I would be miserable and although I did have a couple moments of extreme hunger I felt great the whole day.

So how often? Well, I think it’s different for everyone. I have heard of several people fasting one day a week every week. Others do a partial day fast. I personally fast at random times throughout the year as it is not mainly for physical benefit as I mentioned earlier.

So how to fast? Well, there are a couple things to remember. I would like to note that I just said “Well,” for both of those last two questions and for some reason I find that amusing. Onward now. It is good to start fasting slowly and come out of it slowly till you know how your body will react.

If you have never fasted before it might be good to try an all liquid fast first, then maybe an all water fast before going to a completely dry fast. Also, when coming out of a fast go slowly. Broths are an excellent way to come out of a fast. Vegetables juices are also good but you are rare if you do that. On that same note, be careful the liquids that you have when fasting. As you know I like high quality food and would tell you that all of your juices should be raw… especially if they are sugary (which you should limit anyway).

Typically when I fast I will do an all water fast and come out of it with some soup or broth. Then after that has sat for a while I have some vegetables then bread then meat. In a slow progression. An extra tip is to chew more than you normally would and that really helps as well. I have only come out of a fast too quickly one time that I can recall. All I remember is eating a bunch and my stomach really hurting and I haven’t made the same mistake again.

Again, I feel like I could keep going but I will end it here. There is a lot of common sense involved in fasting. Of course there are people who distort and pervert something like fasting and they become anorexic. People distort and pervert just about anything good these days. So use some common sense.

Now I feel like writing more on food and common sense… but I won’t… not now anyway.

Have great day.

I am all for buying organic as most of the time these foods are of higher quality. Usually harmful chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides have not been used. Also, the processes behind organic foods are typically much better. The farms take greater care in doing things naturally. They take greater care in ensuring that their animals have access to pasture and a natural environment as opposed to being stuck in a barn, pen, or coop. Also organic farms typically take greater care in the manage of their fields and crops utilizing natural fertilizers and promoting sustainability.

There is a problem with the growing demand for organic foods though. Many large businesses have sacrificed quality just to achieve the label ‘organic’. All they see is dollar signs. Beware of large factory farms just getting by with the label organic while not really promoting life in the whole process of production. Also, there are many excellent small farms that are better than the current organic standards but they are not certified organic due to the regulatory process and government inspections. These farms are can be great finds and you can develop a rewarding relationship (your stomach will thank you).

So as you can see, it is very important to know where your food is coming from. I must admit that I do not know where all of my food comes from but I am doing better in this area and like to look up the farms where my food is produced to ensure they are running a life promoting, truly sustainable process. Also, I think it is good to buy locally because you can know your provider better… however if there is a higher quality product or food at a competitive price I don’t mind buying from far away (higher quality is the key). Many people are opposed to this kind of trade due to the notion of global warming. I think the trade is a good thing… and that’s where I am stopping.

Have a good day

Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it does it? Nevertheless, is is just as important to be careful what you drink.

Check out this article for example. It states that the chemical perchlorate has been found in at least 395 sites in 35 states. Perchlorate is a toxic ingredient in rocket fuel. The article also noted that the EPA said there is a good possibility that they will not clean up the drinking water.

Now as you may know or remember, I am not for ‘big government’. I am ,however, for clean water. This is all the more reason to make sure you are filtering your tap water. Not only does tap water have chemicals like perchlorate, but many times it also contains chlorine, fluorine, nitrates, and other industrial chemicals. One of my favorite filters is the Wellness filter, I would like to filter all of my water but that is a bit cost prohibitive. Currently I have the wellness carafe for my drinking water and I have a New Wave Enviro shower filter which works really for its cost.

Drink today to live tomorrow.

Out.

The lead author in the study noted that more research needed to be done to determine whether the results were from the interaction between the mother and child or from the difference in the milk itself. I would definitely say it’s both.

Even little ones eat today to live tomorrow…

Out.

Remember, even when eating sweets it is important to use real food and high quality ingredients. No artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives. I typically only use raw honey, organic maple syrup, or rapadura (organic, unrefined, whole cane sugar). I have used stevia a little and think it can be very useful as well. Also, I have read many good things about xylitol and err with it over sorbitol or maltitol in any purchased products.

Regardless of which sweetener you use, remember, everything in moderation. Although, when it comes to sweets the amount should really be less than moderate.

Check out the photos:

Did your parents ever say “You’ll be glad you did someday” with regard to whatever they were making you do? I remember my parents saying this to me… I think it was with playing the piano or something. They were of course right. Well I have found the same thing applies to food and the whole idea of eating today to live tomorrow.

There are many foods which common sense would tell us are good for us… like vegetables for example. It is in our best interest to learn to like those foods which we know are excellent as they will promote health in our body. And another thing. Don’t get swayed by all the fad foods… all the rage foods. Everyone will tell you that they are good for you but most likely everyone has no clue. So why listen to me then? Don’t. Go read and find out for yourself.

While I am typing… I saw an interesting article on the tomato in the BBC news. It was talking about the anti-aging skin effects that tomatoes showed in a control group. The control group had 33% more protection against sunburn and higher levels of procollagen which helps keep the skin firm. They asserted that this was most likely due to lycopene a powerful antioxidant present in tomatoes.

So… if you don’t like tomatoes then it would be good for you to learn to like them. You’ll be glad you did someday.

Out.

Here it is. I said I was gonna write it and I finally have. Food and Common Sense.

In an earlier post I mentioned how I thought so much of eating well is just common sense. Unfortunately, I think many people today lack common sense. I really think that it is a gift from God. I know that I do not always have it in all things and sometimes more than others.

First, I would say that things God has blessed us with in nature are to be our sustenance. When we take something God made as good and twist it, corrupt it, adulterate it… then our minds, our conscience, dare I say, our common sense should instruct us that it will not promote the same life and fuel in the body that God’s untampered sustenance would.

Naturally then, one can see that if we, in addition to ruining good food, also presume to eat or ingest things that are man-made, artificial, and/or manufactured then our God-made bodies will not function appropriately on the artificial (read fake) food.

Since we all approach life and learning with different presuppositions, let me tell you where I am coming from. I am not a vegetarian, vegan, or all raw food advocate. I strive to eat the diet of the Bible while recognizing, as I mentioned in my ‘About Me’ section, that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

In Genesis 1:29 it says “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” From the beginning God gave us good food from that which He created.

Later, after the fall of man, God instructed Noah saying “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs.” This was a change in that God gave man freedom to eat meat.

Later, when giving the law to Moses in Leviticus 11, God instructed the Israelites on foods they could eat by the cleanliness. While we are not under the law of Moses today the wisdom that God gave then still applies today. There are foods that are more excellent than others. There are meats that are better than others. There are clean and unclean things.

So common sense looks at what God has made. It looks at what God has revealed in creation and revealed to people throughout the ages. Wisdom with regard to food has been passed down such that we can know with common sense that cooking food is ok, eating meat is ok, and enjoying God’s creation is good.

There are new things to consider though. Governments and corporations try to tell us what is good when they have no clue. Don’t buy it. If you don’t know what something is on an ingredient list don’t just eat it thinking it will be ok. Go learn about it. So how does this play out in a practical way? Let’s say you pick up that can of diet soda and see ‘high fructose corn syrup’ and ‘aspartame’ on there. Do you know what that is? Really? Go look it up and read about them. After learning I hope that you will not drink that anymore.

In our day and age many great foods are not the same. Take the example of fish. So much fish is contaminated with mercury that one must be careful in choosing (and not to choose farmed fish either… ha). Also, the soil of many industrial farms is not the quality of a small private organic farm. Also, one farm may let their animals out on pasture eating greens as God intended while another farm may never let their animals outside of a barn. The quality in the food from these animals is drastically different.

Life gives life. Eat food that promotes life and you will be giving life to your body… you will be eating today to live tomorrow. Remember though, we are body, soul, and spirit. I believe our bodies are the weakest of the three. If you ask God, the Giver of Life, to give life to your spirit then He will and you will never die.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Food and Common Sense.