FRANKENFOODS - YUM YUM

Let's give a big 'Hip, Hip, Hooray' to our food scientists who, with the help of the wonders of chemistry, provide us with 17,000 new foodlike products each year.  Many of these new yummies are supplemented with a dizzying array of vitamins and minerals to keep us in tip-top shape.  Even thought that shape is round, they want us to know that they are taking care of us.  The fact that they have to add these supplements because their processing has stripped most of the nutrients from the base foods (mostly corn and soy) that they spring from, is merely a footnote on the page of progress.

Buy this - it's good for you!

These foodlike substitutes  (as distinguished from real food) have taken over your friendly neighborhood supermarket.  The 32 BILLION dollars per year that the food industry spends on marketing these substances has convinced many of us that this is a healthy way to eat.

What would Grandma say?

Is it an easier way to eat?  You bet it is.  Why would you spend time cooking up some steel cut organic oatmeal for breakfast when you can tear open a handy packet of maple and brown sugar flavored instant oats and add some boiling water.  It's all oats, right?  WOW!  Grandma would be thrilled to have all that extra time for the computer or the TV.  What's that Grandma?  Oh, don't be so old-fashioned.

Ya just gotta eat more

This is energy-dense food - not nutrient-dense food.  Even most of the whole foods we can purchase are only as good as the soil they are grown in.  The new commercial farming methods - which feel that crop rotation is unnecessary and chemical fertilizers and pesticides are the way to go - have produced food that is nutrient deficient.   The more nutrient deficient the food you eat, the more your body will demand - just to get enough to function - often minimally at best.  And we wonder why we're fat.

Y'all come back now

I could go on and on (yes, even more than I have already).  There are books galore on the subject and I'll be referencing some of them in future posts, but for now just realize that you need to find a remote place miles from civilization and grow everything yourself.  Fish from crystal clear streams,hunt wild game and pick mushrooms and nutritious weeds.  What do you mean there are no more places like that.  Don't be such a pessimist.

If you'd like a list of non-GMO foods to help with your shopping list, you can download this nifty little booklet for free.  http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/

THE CURE FOR PROCRASTINATION?

IS THERE A CURE FOR PROCRASTINATION?

Some of the most extraordinary people I know are terrible procrastinators.  So could it be that procrastination isn't so bad after all?

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of books on how to cure your procrastination. I wonder is procrastination a disease I need to be cured of?  Is it a disease?  Is it really that bad?  I admit, I procrastinate a lot of the time (a good example, I've been working on this post for over a week but became sidetracked while doing damage control on another important task I procrastinated on), so I guess I do need some help.   Instead of buying a self help book I knew I would never finish (because I procrastinate), I went online and looked for a remedy for my own dumbassery.

Monster Spray?

Cattle Prod?

Incredibly

bad

Dog?

Okay, so I didn't find any remedies that I , for one, would consider (except maybe the cattle prod), but I did learn a bit about procrastination.
  
                                                  There are those of us who "do"

                                                                        and

                                                     those of us who "do it later"

For those who "do", good for you.  For the rest of us who "do it later"- we are either thrill seekers,  avoiders or, sadly, both.

A thrill seeker;

• Works best under pressure
• Waits for the last minute to experience the euphoric rush

An avoider;

• Needs instant gratification; large projects or jobs require too much of their time without producing instant feedback.
• Will rationalize, "I'll feel more like doing it tomorrow" or that "it" isn't as important as whatever they are presently doing or thinking about doing.
• Has the belief that if ignored long enough the problem will resolve itself.

                                                                                                    
Warning: If you are both a procrastinating  thrill seeker and an avoider you have probably already gotten yourself in real trouble.  People who live on the edge like this need help. They've lost their business, home and even been arrested for procrastinating over paying their speeding tickets.

If you're about to have any of the above happen to you check out the informative sites below.


Pro-Active Steps to Prevent Procrastination
2 Tricks to Overcome Procrastination
                                        
                                                                

Spices have been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and are now being 'discovered' by Western medicine.  A wonderful source of phytochemicals, which are plant compounds with amazing healing properties, spices deserve a prominent place in your pantry.

                                              <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

CINNAMON - An anti-inflammatory that can help alleviate pain and stiffness.  It effectively lowers blood sugar and reduces the need for higher levels of insulin.  A study published in Diabetic Care showed that cinnamon could help lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides in Type 2 diabetics.

OREGANO - It has 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples and 12 times more than oranges.  It contains a powerful cancer-fighting compound called rosmarinic acid.  It is also an anti-inflammatory and is a source of calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron and potassium.

GINGER - In Ayurvedic medicine ginger is known as the "universal medicine".  Ginger has been used by Chinese healers for thousands of years to fight nausea - even seasickness.  Animal studies show that ginger has anti-microbial effects and helps boost the immune system

   ROSEMARY - Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, rosemary can help memory and promote healthy brain function.  

TURMERIC - It's anti-inflammatory properties are because of curcumin which makes curry dishes yellow.  In India turmeric is used for treating arthritis.  Research also indicates that it may have anti-tumor effects.  It is often used in place of the expensive saffron to impart a yellow color to dishes.  Try it in scrambled eggs or any rice dish.  

     

THYME - This can help relieve chest and respiratory problems.  Along with rosemary and sage, thyme is what makes the house smell great at Thanksgiving, but use them often to make food taste wonderful.

Although the doses of some spices used in research are higher than you would use for seasoning, it would seem logical that frequent use in food preparation would be beneficial.  Of course, fresh spices are best, but if you use the dried ones be sure to buy them in small quantities and replace them often since they age - even as we do.