Here is a great article I found called

“Microwave Ovens and the Healthfulness of Microwaved Food”

by: Debra Lynn Dadd

Microwave ovens do have benefits. They are certainly convenient. They are more energy-efficient than other cooking methods. But are they safe? And do they produce food that contributes to the health of our bodies?

While there is not enough evidence to require warning labels on microwave ovens, or to remove them from the market, there is concern both about the safety of our exposure to microwaves and the healthfulness of microwaved food.

THE DANGERS OF MICROWAVES

Even microwave ovens that are functioning perfectly emit microwaves. Safety standards set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allow microwave emissions of up to one milliwatt per square centimeter (1mW/cm2) when the oven is purchased, and up to 5mW/cm2 after the oven has been in use. Studies on industrial exposure recommend that daily exposure should not exceed one milliwatt for more than one minute. Average home use of microwave ovens far exceed this.

Workers who are exposed to microwaves on the job experience headaches, fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbances and other symptoms.

(more…)

ALMONDS: rich in heart-healthy vitamin E and fiber.

APPLES: A good source of pectin, a soluble fiber that provides bulk and digests slowly, helping you feel full.

BLUEBERRIES: contains the most antioxidants of any fruit

BROCCOLI: great source of cancer fighting phytonutrient

CARROTS: loaded with beta-carotene, low in calories, and rich in fiber.

FISH: excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids

KIWI FRUIT: most nutrients per calorie of any other fruit !!!

CANTALOUPE: It satisfies a sweet tooth but is low in calories

ORANGE JUICE: One of the best drinks there is. Vitamins C, B, potassium, antioxidants, and the list goes on and on! And of course, drink Florida orange juice. (Because that is where I live).

POMEGRANATE JUICE:
This juice is delicious and refreshing. It has more antioxidant power than any other drink. Yes, more than red wine, green tea, blueberry juice, cranberry juice, orange juice and Noni juice. Antioxidants are extremely important because they guard your body against free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that can cause premature aging, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, even cancer.

RAISINS: high in iron and fiber

RED GRAPES: packed with resveratrol, a cancer blocker

SALMON: highest concentration of heart protective omega-3 fatty acids

YOGURT: full of calcium and “friendly bacteria”

See Original Article Post from e-health articles. I have eliminated a few items that are not grain or paleo friendly.

Hey Readers!

If anyone is interested in the PaleoPax Snacks Delivery Program, I have been given a $2 coupon offered to all of you. The code is “offgrain”. You will receive $2 off your monthly subscription. PaleoPax offers a delivery service of paleo snacks to your door every month. Each month you will receive five paleo food products from producers across the country. This service looks like a great idea for those just getting into paleo, those with limited time to make their own stacks or for anyone looking for a bit of variety in their diet. It looks like it could be a neat way of trying out different products too. Let me know how it goes!

Hi All!

Until I can really figure out the whole podcast thing and get that section of the website going (and realistically get the guts to post the sound of my voice all over the internet!), I figured I would blog about my story, and why I decided to give up Grains and Sugar.

To start off, I will give a bit of an introduction to myself. My name is Kerri, I am 25 years old and I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where I believe I heard on the radio the other day that the average temperature here is somewhere around -4 degrees celcius (that’s below freezing). By profession I’m a graphic designer and work in the print industry making business cards, menus, brochures and the odd website (not this one though, that’s a project in the making for another day, for now wordpress it is!). (more…)

When I chose to go grain-free and sugar free, one thing I immediately noticed in my grocery shopping routine was my new found obsession with label reading. Mostly, because until you really get to know a product or brand you just never know what is actually in it. I also find it extremely comical that my Mom seems to think that because something is labeled “organic” means its okay for her to eat (even though we are trying to get her off of sugar and grains as well). She seems to forget the importance of checking for sugar and wheat. So I have put together a few tips when label reading your products. (Granted, home making everything is always best, but let’s be realistic…it’s not always possible, and not all of us make our own sausage).

I’ll be going into further detail about these items in later posts, but for now here is a list I have compiled of ingredients I try to avoid when purchasing food.

• Sugar 
  Often labeled as sugar, glucose or fructose.
• Wheat products
• Corn Syrup and Dextrose
  Used in commercially prepared foods as a thickener and sweetener. Made from the starch of maize.
  Linked to weight gain, liver damage, diabetes and more.
• Nitrates/Nitrite
  A preservative and flavor enhancer, and when a nitrate is converted into a nitrite, it can be dangerous.
  Dangers include: cancer, respiratory distress, skin irritation, irritation to stomach lining and more.
• MSG
  The sodium salt of glutamic acid, a non-essential amino acid. It is a preservative and flavour enhancer.
  Many people experience side effects such as headaches, heart palpitations, weakness and more.
  Personally, I can experience headaches or migraines from MSG.
• BHA, BHT
  Preservatives added to food to preserve fat, used to keep fats from going rancid. BHT is used to preserve food colour and flavour.
  Large exposure can be toxic and harmful to one’s health. Can be harmful to liver, kidney and thyroid.
• Sodium
  I try and avoid food that has added salts. I prefer to manage how much or little salt I add to my food. Sodum is often added as a preservative and flavor enhancer.
• Soy
  Often added to food as a source of protein, or a replacement for meat in vegetarian foods.
  High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. There is also a connection between soy and hypothyroidism.
  

Many of these ingredients exist in your packaged goods (which is really why it is recommended not to purchase anything prepackaged or canned etc.), but these ingredients also are found in meats we purchase. They are particularly found in processed lunch meats, ham and sausage. So be sure to check the ingredients of your meat, because in processed meats there will often be corn syrup, nitrates and excess sodium. When it comes to salt, I like to personally control the salt in my diet. I do use salt when cooking, but again – I like to be the one to choose how much or little.

If we can learn to control what we put in our food, and ultimately our bodies we can learn to control our health, and overall use food and nutrition to heal our bodies.

Some articles about label reading:

http://nutrition.about.com/od/recipesmenus/ss/learnlabels_3.htm

It’s Tuesday night. Which means one thing: Biggest Loser. I’ll admit it, i’m an addict. I’m not even sure what it is about BL that gets me hooked – the trainers, the yelling, the drama (oooh the drama!), or maybe its just because its reality t.v. – but its a sure thing it’ll be on in my house on tuesday night. Now anyone who has seen the show knows all too well about the subway marketing endorsements. It seems every other episode Subway has a stint to “remind you” that it is the “healthy option” for eating out. Today, they were featuring a flatbread sandwhich, which is suppose to be good for you because it is lower cal than the breads, and you can pack it full of veggies and customize it yourself.

Here’s my problem – Can someone please explain to me how the flatbread is at all healthy? First of all, it’s white bread – just in a different format than the sandwich bread. Which means one thing to me…it’s basically sugar! Second – are we honesty suppose to believe that we are getting an adequate amount of vegetables in these things? A couple tomatoes, a handful of lettuce…a few slices of cucumber, like really….And don’t forget the meat that’s been left out for who knows how long, and the sugary sauces to top them all off. Now, i’m not completely against Subway or any other sandwich/soup/salad fast food joint. They definitely do give a healthier alternative to your mcdouble meal if you absolutely need something, and they do offer salads and soups which are healthier – but I still just can’t grasp how they can really be advertised as being so healthy. Maybe my concept of healthy isn’t just counting calories and opting for low-fat , But to be displayed on these health shows as “incredibly healthy” often boggles my brains.