I like to shop at farmer’s markets for fresh, locally grown produce. I was surprised to find out last year, though, that at one place where I shop, over half of their produce (maybe two-thirds) was not locally grown. It was from California. I live in Texas, so that’s definitely not local. I can get produce from California in the grocery stores. When I go to a farmer’s market, I want produce that hasn’t had to be shipped very far so it will be at its freshest. I’ve learned since then to always ask where the produce comes from and which is grown locally.

This list comes from the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit environmental research organization based in Washington, DC. There are 43 items on the list, but I’m just listing the top few. To see the entire list, click here. #1 is the worst, and it gets better as you go down the list.

• RANK / SCORE
  

1. Peaches - 100 (worst)
2. Apples - 96
3. Bell Peppers - 86
4. Celery - 85
5. Nectarines - 84
6. Strawberries - 83
7. Cherries - 75
8. Lettuce - 69
9. Imported Grapes - 68
10. Pears - 65

I’m trying to buy organic when I can. Sometimes it’s too expensive, but I’m finding more and more brands producing organic choices at affordable prices now.

I just came across a healthy sounding recipe for One Bowl Banana Nut Muffins with added wheat germ.  I think it’s so important to try to get nutrition into our diets, and it takes added effort to get it into our kid’s diets.  But if we make changes here and there and incorporate extra servings of healthy foods several times a week, it will make a difference in the long run.

One thing I might try different in this recipe is to use 1 cup flour & 1/2 cup spelt flour instead of all white flour.   Spelt flour is so much healthier than white flour!  And if your kids don’t like nuts, just leave them out.

• The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences said in a news release on March 13, 2008, that a chemical used for butter flavoring on popcorn can damage the lungs and airways of mice.
• The chemical name is diacetyl, and it can cause lymphocytic bronchiolitis, also called “popcorn lung.”
• This disease has been seen in workers at microwave popcorn packaging plants and also at least one consumer.
  
• Two microwave popcorn makers, ConAgra Foods Inc (includes Orville Redenbacher) and Weaver Popcorn Company Inc, recently said they would stop using diacetyl.
• The House of Representatives passed a bill last year to limit exposure to diacetyl, but the Senate has not acted upon it.

I read about the dangers of butter flavoring last year. I don’t understand why these companies haven’t already stopped using diacetyl because of this reason.

We rarely eat microwaved popcorn since we prefer the taste of hot air popped popcorn with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt, plus it’s healthier. Air poppers aren’t carried in many stores, though, but they can be purchased through several online sites for around $20 and up if anyone is interested.

Now that spring is nearly here, it’s the time of year to get everything clean. I’m already wanting to do spring cleaning because the weather was warm and sunny here today.   Not only is it nice to get our homes nice and clean, but some people may want to use a colon cleanse if they’re really in the cleaning mood.  It’s nice to be clean inside and out and not to worry about toxins building up.

According to Prevention, here are the top ten belly flattening foods:

1. Almonds - contain fiber, protein, vitamin E, & help cut cholesterol
2. Avocados - contain MUFA (Monounsaturated Fatty Acid), help cut cholesterol
3. Dark Chocolate - contains as much antioxidant capacity as red wine
4. Flaxseed Oil - the best plant source of omega-3 fatty acid
5. Macadamia Nuts - contain fiber & selenium
6. Natural Peanut Butter - contains vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, & vitamin B6
7. Olive Oil - contains mostly MUFA & antioxidants (extra-virgin is the best & the greener, the better)
8. Pistachios - contain lutein and zeaxanthin
9. Sunflower Seeds - loaded with B vitamins & vitamin E, help to curb hunger
10. Walnuts - contain omega-3 fatty acids

The great thing about all of these foods is that they’re super healthy for us. I eat raw almonds and pistachios, take flaxseed oil, and use extra-virgin olive oil all on a daily basis. I eat dark chocolate (oh yes!) several times a week and try to eat avocados two or three times a week. Sometimes I have sunflower seeds. The peanut butter we buy is not natural, so I wonder…does that count as 1/2? I need to start buying raw walnuts and pistachios again. So I guess we have a score of 7 1/2.

Of course, these foods need to be eaten in moderation. In other words, I can’t eat a whole box of dark chocolate in one day!! lol

(Some days…I wish I could!)

“Every second of our lives, more than 2,700 different types of enzymes are performing a complicated interlocking network of activities which no computer could even begin to imitate, sometimes at breathtaking speed,” written by Linda Rector Page, N.D., Ph.D in her book Healthy Healing. This just demonstrates how vital enzymes are to our bodies! A lot of people have depleted their enzyme supply and must rely on food sources and supplements for these vital enzymes.

Here are some awesome foods, teas, & herbs that contain high levels of enzymes:

• Green tea & black tea
• Ginger, Milk Thistle, Licorice
• Avocados
  
• Bananas, grapes, & kiwi
• Dates & figs
  
• EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
  
• Pineapple, mango, & unripe papaya
• Raw honey
• Sprouts

If we add the above to our diets, we’ll be doing ourselves a huge favor, not only health-wise, but there are some yummy things on the list! These are especially good foods for people with fibromyalgia.

I don’t like the fact that pesticides are on nearly all of our fresh produce, in processed foods, even peanut butter. We try to eat healthy foods, but then if they’re loaded with pesticides what is that doing to our bodies? Pesticides affect our hormones and that’s not good. That’s the last thing we need is for something to mess up our hormones and make PMS and any conditioned affected by hormones worse! And the really bad thing is that they affect children who are in the growing stage! Not good…not good at all!

I was looking through the list of the worst foods contaminated with pesticides, and some of our favorite foods are on the list. There’s a chart of 44 fruits & vegetables ranked according to pesticides, and it has all kinds of data for each one. The worst ones unfortunately are:

1. Peaches - The worst! (however, locally grown peaches are usually OK )
2. Apples - That negates the saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
3. Sweet Bell Peppers - I use red bell peppers when I make fajitas, teriyaki, chicken tortilla soup, etc. They’re supposed to be a “superfood,” but seems like the pesticides would counteract some of the nutritional value.
4. Celery - Oh, no…that affects “Ants on a Log”
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries - Oh, wow! That’s one of our favorite fruits!
7. Cherries - My husband nearly always has dried cherries on hand.
8. Lettuce - Yikes! We eat a lot of Romaine lettuce!
9. Imported Grapes
10. Pears
11. Spinach - Fresh spinach sauteed in EVOO just until tender is delicious plus it’s a “superfood,” too.
    
12. Potatoes - Nearly everyone loves potatoes!

See what I mean? So I have a plan. I grew up with my parents having a huge garden and a huge assortment of delicious fresh veggies at our fingertips all season long. My husband and I don’t have the space for a huge garden plus I remember all the work that goes into a nice garden. I plan to start out small and hopefully add to it next year. I’ve heard a lot about square foot gardening, and that’s what I plan to continue researching. I want to get strawberry plants and then also plant potatoes, green beans, squash, and okra.

I plan to keep you updated on my gardening adventures. This will be a learning experience because it’s been a long time since I’ve worked in a garden. I have grown a lot of flowers in my container garden, though. Does that count?

And one more thing about pesticides, locally grown produce usually has a smaller amount of pesticides than out-of-state and especially imported produce.

Sleep is crucial for our health, yet how many times do we stay up too late and then when the alarm goes off in the morning, it’s like, “Oh, no! It can’t be time to get up already. I don’t want to wake up.” If we don’t wake up refreshed, then our body is not getting enough sleep or maybe enough “quality” sleep. Here are some facts about deep sleep:

1. Eight hours of sleep a night is a good rule of thumb for most people. But quality is just as important as quantity. During the time of deep, quality sleep is when our body goes to work, refreshes itself, and has a restorative function.
   
2. Getting enough quality sleep is important for memory and other brain functions as well.
   
3. Poor sleep is connected with changes in appetite and metabolism which means that it’s easier to gain weight if we’re not getting the sleep that we need.
   
4. U.S. researchers have said that deep sleep may be important for keeping type 2 diabetes at bay.

If someone is having trouble sleeping, then there are several suggestions to aid in going to sleep and/or remaining asleep. Click here for more information.

I know personally, having fibromyalgia, that I don’t function well if I start getting behind on sleep. I can definitely tell a difference in the way I feel after a good night’s sleep. I think that’s pretty much universal, though. I know that Baby J is in such a good mood when he wakes up after a good night’s sleep!

I have a joke for my readers: If we call young ones “youngsters,” then what do we call new puddles of oil? ………”oysters!” I guess you can tell that I made that joke up myself. Hmm, I think I should just stick to writing text, not jokes. lol

But speaking of oysters, are you “oyster aware?” Be informed! If anyone has liver disease, diabetes, or a weak immune system, they should avoid raw oysters. Those who are at risk and eat raw oysters could develop a serious illness or even die from Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. However, raw oysters are not a serious threat to healthy people. I would definitely prefer to have them cooked, though. The benefits to eating oysters include the following:

• low calorie protein
• excellent source of Zinc,
• Vitamin B-12
• & Omega-3 fatty acids

The processors at Gulf oysters, however, have developed new technologies to ensure safer alternatives for eating raw oysters. They have added safety features to reduce Vibrio vulnificus bacteria to non-detectable levels. Be OYSTER AWARE! Check out their site and learn about their process and all the facts for safe eating of raw oysters! Be smart!