76 Dangers of Sugar

I saw this on a friends blog and wanted to share it.

The single largest source of calories for Americans comes from sugar—specifically high fructose corn syrup. Just take a look at the sugar consumption trends of the past 300 years:[1]

• In 1700, the average person consumed about 4 pounds of sugar per year.
• In 1800, the average person consumed about 18 pounds of sugar per year.
• In 1900, individual consumption had risen to 90 pounds of sugar per year.
• In 2009, more than 50 percent of all Americans consume one-half pound of sugar PER DAY—translating to a whopping 180 pounds of sugar per year!

Sugar is loaded into your soft drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks, and hidden in almost all processed foods—from bologna to pretzels to Worcestershire sauce to cheese spread. And now most infant formula has the sugar equivalent of one can of Coca-Cola, so babies are being metabolically poisoned from day one if taking formula.

Read more…

Store Bought vs. Homemade Ice Cream

Click Here  for a good post on store bought vs. homemade ice cream.

Homemade Bread

I have to brag a little. For sometime our family has been getting surplus organic bread from a bakery. This has really helped us out financially and being organic is a plus. However, yesterday my sister Laura made some good homemade bread. I'd forgotten how good it was! That toast with my eggs this morning was the best I'd had in a long time! All morning I've been smelling the bread from my sandwiches in the sack by my computer. Fresh, homemade bread really is hard to beat! Thanks L!

Homemade All-Natural Deodorant

This is something I've recently been interested in doing but haven't had the time for research. My sister Sarah found this article the other day. Enjoy!


Did you know that nearly all commercial deodorants contain aluminum salts, usually aluminum chlorohydrate? Manufacturers like aluminum because it effectively suppresses perspiration but the metal has a dark side once it makes its way into our body. Aluminum toxicity It has been linked to cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, and other health issues. It is especially important for women to take thought to the harmful aluminum materials in deodorant as it has been linked to breast cancer, being that the breast tissue extends up into the armpits.

Most commercial deodorants also contain parabens, which act as preservatives and stabilizers, but which like aluminum can be absorbed into the skin. Parabens mimic estrogen, and though the amounts we absorb on a daily basis might be small, over time, the accumulation can be significant.

Did you know you can make your own wonderful effective deodorant with just a few completely natural ingredients? This recipe is awesome! It’s even edible! It is frugal and very effective! Aaron & I have been using it for over two years now, and it has worked wonders. It smells wonderful, but very faint. For years I tried every natural alternative on the market without much success. It has been successfully tried by hundreds of readers! Coconut oil is an all natural oil that has wonderful anti-bacterial and immune boosting qualities. It can effectively nourish and moisturize the skin. This recipe is also very frugal, costing less than a dollar per batch.

Ingredients:
6-8 Tbsp Coconut oil (solid state)
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup arrowroot powder or cornstarch (arrowroot is preferred)

Directions:

1. Combine equal portions of baking soda & arrowroot powder.
2. Slowly add coconut oil and work it in with a spoon or hand blender until it maintains a firm but pliable texture. It should be about the same texture as commercial deodorant, solid but able to be applied easily. If it is too wet, add further arrowroot powder/cornstarch to thicken.
3. You can either scoop this recipe into your old deodorant dispensers or place in a small container with lid and apply with fingers with each use. Makes about 1 cup. This recipe lasts about 3 months for two people with regular daily use.

For more info and a video tutorial visit: http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2010/02/homemade-all-natural-deodorant.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PassionateHomemaking+%28Passionate+Homemaking%29

The Master Cleanse

Today is day 10, my last day, of the Master Cleanse. I'm so excited to be done but also excited about all the benefits.

The Master Cleanse is a dieting program created by Stanley Burroughs in 1941 and made popular by Peter Glickman who promotes Burroughs' regimen to a modern audience. Burroughs states that it is a detoxification program that aids in the removal of harmful toxins from within the body, as well as a reducing diet for loss of weight, and a cure for ulcers and "every kind of disease," resulting in "the correction of all disorders."

The cleanse involves drinking only a concoction made from fresh lemons, grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper. No food is eaten for the entire cleanse. The basic cleanse is 10 days although you can go longer. Each morning you drink 1 quart of salt water and every evening one cup of Smooth Move tea.

Though its tough and takes a ton of self control to go 10+ days without food I think it is well worth it! During the cleanse I've felt a lot better, have more energy, and have dropped a few pounds.

The book is available on Amazon.com

My lunch for the past week and a half: jars of mixed lemon juice and maple syrup with cayenne pepper to go with. Yum! (not)

Wallet in the front Pocket?

After my accident I had to start going regularly to the chiropractor. Dr. Neff informed me right away that it was not good to have my wallet in my back pocket. Presumably, it's because the wallet off-sets your back when you sit down, which while unnoticeable at first, will lead to long term damage to one's back. This could be made worse if you already have a back problems or have a thick wallet. My first thought was that is a wild idea and it probably doesn't make that much difference. However, after doing a little research I found several others agree.

Often while lying on the bench at Dr. Neff's as he was checking to see if I was still in he'd ask me if I had my wallet in my back pocket. As soon as I removed it he'd notice a difference and could adjust me accordingly. As of recently I've decided to start keeping my wallet in my front pocket and have found I like it better there. 

Besides your back two other reasons to keep your wallet in your front pocket are (1) it's a much less likely target for a pickpocket and (2) it's simply more comfortable to sit down that way.

Another Beef Recall... when will they get it?

There are few details this morning about a massive recall of some 390 tons of ground beef produced and distributed in California. The problem – potentially deadly E. coli bacterium.

The Department of Agriculture says the beef was produced by Huntington Meat Packing Inc. of Montebello, California and shipped throughout the state from January 5 to January 15.

A regular safety check found the contamination problem.

Additional problems were found with products shipped as long ago as February through May, 2008.

Food, Inc. - 2009

On Christmas Eve while I was out shopping with the ladies I picked up the DVD Food, Inc which came out this last year. I've already seen it three times: Christmas Eve I staid up till 2AM watching it and all the special features. The next day I showed it to the family. A few days later I saw it with some good friends of ours. A very informative movie for those who are not aware what's going on in our food system. The movie has a bit of a bent though, encouraging government involvement for safety and large food companies going organic. I personally believe we should return to local food and small farms.

For most Americans, the ideal meal is fast, cheap, and tasty. Food, Inc. lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing how our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. Food, Inc. reveals surprising and often shocking truths about what we eat, how it's produced and who we have become as a nation.

Calisthenics vs. Weight Lifting

Over the last several years push-ups and chin-ups have been replaced with fancy gyms and state-of-the-art workout machines. Industry is always promoting some new space age contraption guaranteed to give amazing results with no sweat. New “in” exercises require you purchase these new devices.

I prefer something simpler. I’ve done both, weight lifting and calisthenics (a form of exercise consisting of a variety of simple movements––performed without weights or equipment––that are intended to increase body strength and flexibility using the weight of one's own body for resistance.). Here’s some of my reasoning.

I did weight lifting for several years. For a period of a year I lifted 2 hours a day, five days a week. I did bulk up quite a bit and was stronger but it was very impractical.

For starts, weight lifters need to either get a gym pass or buy a weight set. A gym pass usually runs about $50 a month. To get a decent 300lbs weight set you’ll be out $500 (unless you find one at the garage sale of someone else who gave up). If you buy a set, you’ll have to make room to have it set up and use it. This could take over the entire garage or spare bedroom.

To start doing calisthenics all it’ll cost you is some self-motivation and a little sweat. They can be performed just about anywhere, anytime and with no equipment.

Weight lifting isolates muscles and mostly over develops them giving a bulky or “cut” look coveted by most fellas. But even seasoned bench press veterans have trouble doing high-rep pushup or chin-up workouts because their secondary and stabilizer muscles are untrained. Calisthenics are also easier on the joints then weights. There are far less injuries if heavy weights aren’t used.

The push-up is the ultimate barometer of fitness. It tests the whole body, engaging several muscle groups. Besides increasing strength it heightens endurance, balance, range of upper body motion and stability. Weight lifting usually hinders flexibility. Large pushup workouts are great for circulation and overall cardiovascular health. Push-ups are great for strengthening the back, encouraging better posture protecting it from injury and strain. They improve your reaction time and increase blood flow within the torso and arms.

Finally, because push-ups are a high-rep exercise, they help increase blood flow within the torso and arms, which flushes out lactic acid from muscles, lessening any post workout soreness you may have as a result of your weightlifting routine.

Instead of taking time away from family or other duties every day to do your hour workout (or usually closer to two) push-ups along with other calisthenics can be done throughout the day between your various activities wherever you’re at.

If you’re considering a push-up workout program try this simple routine:

Start doing 200 push-ups a day. If your max is under 75 do 8 sets of 25. If your max is over 75 do 4 sets of 50. Work up to 500+ push-ups a day in sets of 50 - 100 for a good workout. These can be spread throughout the day.

Molasses on Pancakes

Well, I tried something new today! I've been trying to eat healthier but sometimes it's hard to find good substitutes. What to use in place of syrup?

Growing up I read stories of Laura Ingalls and Almanzo Wilder who put molasses on their pancakes. I wonder how that would taste? With Laura teasing me about being a health freak I got out the molasses and began pouring it on.

I actually liked it! I'm not a big fan of the flavor, yet, but I do love strong flavor and by putting just a little on it tasted like maple syrup.