The Cancer Diet....Guess What, it is NOT ENSURE!

42-55% of all cancer patients die of malnutrition. What do conventional doctors do? They give patients Ensure, which is full of sugar...talk about putting GASLINE to the fire....cancer feeds on SUGAR! Check out this link for an Ensure label....just because doctors recommend it DOES NOT mean it is a healthy choice - but it certainly keeps them in business, doesn't it?

You cannot CURE cancer if nutrition is not addressed, and incorporating a HONEST TO GOODNESS cancer diet.  This means NO cake, pancakes, breads, muffins, no processed meat and food. Period.
This does not mean forever, but if you want to become cancer free - diet is a HUGE part of recovery.

Does it mean no cake forever, no...but until cancer is in remission, YES. BUT it does not mean you can return to your former unhealthy food choices lifestyle.  Once you have cancer (and we all will - cancer cells are inevitable - unless we are being proactive), and you make the decision that you WANT to LIVE - then healthy food choices is not an option, it becomes a part of life because food either GIVES LIFE or it kills us. Unfortunately most of us don't know we are killing ourselves with food until it is too late.

If you put toxic foods into a body that is already weak in the first place you will not get positive results. Cancer is a wasting disease.

A Study at University of Sydney Australia, where 20 different cancers were looked at ...they found Chemo has a 2.1 success rate with a five year survival margin. Biggest contributors to death among cancer patients...chemo, radiation, diet.   But don't take it from me....learn the TRUTH ABOUT CANCER with the You Tube video in which Ty Bollinger interviews oncologists, PhDs, cancer patients, research scientists from around the world.

May you feel great, look great and live great!
Rita S.

Refreshing Summertime Treat - Vegan Fruit Sherbet

During the hot months of summer the desire to have ice cream or a frozen treat of some sort is about as natural as waking up in the morning. Summer and ice cream go hand in hand.
If you can eat the real thing...look for brands without high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavors...that in itself is a challenge!

For those wanting LOW GLYCEMIC, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, and SOY FREE - today's simple recipe creates an absolutely delicious frozen treat that even my children love.  I supposed you could call it a sorbet, but since it does contain a milk, I refer to it as sherbet.
Fresh squeezed juice is preferred, but if you buy ready made for convenience, again check for HFS and artificial ingredients. Organic fruit and orange juice is preferred.

Fruit Protein Sherbet
In a high powered blender add in following order:
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 mango, cubed (pre-frozen)
2 scoops Arbonne vanilla protein powder
16 frozen medium sized strawberries
3-4 ice cubes
1/2 cup Silk brand unsweetened almond milk

Blend until all chunks are pureed, and use spatula to funnel into a 6 cup bowl with lid.  Freeze in a deep freezer for at least 4 hours before serving.  Freezers do vary, an overnight freeze may be needed to freeze the sherbet all the way to the center.

For those counting calories...no, I don't have that for you. All ingredients in this recipe are GOOD calories and nutrient dense. Arbonne vanilla protein powder is certified low-glycemic, as are berries. Mangos can be medium glycemic, and you may wish to substitute with a second type of berry.

If you have Type 2 diabetes - going with all berries and ensure fresh squeezed OJ and unsweetened almond milk is ideal.

I did find sherbet recipes in which a sweetener such as sugar or honey are added. Honestly, this frozen treat obtains its sweetness from the raw stevia extract already found in the Arbonne protein, and from the natural sweetness of the fruit.

May you feel great, look great and live great...from the inside out!
Rita S.

Colon Cancer Prevention: Part 2

The other day I started a post about colon cancer, and included what studies have found to be causes of the “silent killer”. It is the second most deadly cancer, and my goal today is to help give you ideas on how you might prevent colon cancer through some lifestyle changes. We never appreciate our health until it is gone, so take the information below to heart, and put some thought and reflection into your current lifestyle – are you living to live well?

I utilized a number of sources in pulling together these suggestions – some of it may be old news, some may be new. Here’s to regularity:
1. Fiber Intake  It’s no secret that the American diet lacks fiber. How many of us consume 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, as recommended? One serving equals one cup of fresh fruit, or a tennis ball sized piece of fresh fruit, or ¼ c. of dried fruit. Dr. Russel Blaylock, a neurosurgen who reports on the latest in holistic cancer research and health news, recommends blenderizing your vegetables. I have found that I can toss frozen cauliflower, broccoli or fresh kale and spinach into my non-soy, vegan vanilla protein shake, with strawberries, and not even taste the “greenies”. 

It is recommended to consume 25-35 grams of fiber per day. One source states women can consume on the low end, and men should be on the high end of that figure. I add 12 grams of soluable Fiber Boost to my protein shake each morning, and actually, since I started putting this article together a few weeks ago I am adding in a bit more. Blaylock does state that all fiber supplements are not necessarily beneficial, and one should look for “resistant starches”. He recommends fiber sources from apple, citrus and lentil peas. Apparently, the pectin from these sources and other fruits, when fermented in the colon produce butyrate, which is vital to the health of the cells lining the colon.

2. Probiotics/Prebiotics/Enzymes A number of studies indicate the importance of healthy gut flora in reducing the risk of colon cancer. Unfortunately, when we take anti-biotics we are killing off our good gut flora as well as the bad. Since our body does not replace probiotics we need to supplement to do so, and find a source that includes a robust strain with prebiotics so it can actually pass through the stomach wall and get into the intestines to do its job. In addition to probiotics and prebiotics, digestive enzymes diminish as we age, and it is important to replace them. A lack of enzymes results in esophageal reflux, and an excess of undigested food in the colon, which increases colon cancer risk.

 3. Omega 3s – studies have shown that a high intake of Omega 3 fats substantially lowers colon cancer risk. The type of fats we consume have a great impact on our chances of developing cancer. Blaylock’s report states that studies have shown that omega-6 fats (corn, soybean, safflower, sunflower, peanut, grapeseed?, and canola oils) dramatically increase the risk of colon cancer, and turn existing cancer cells into very aggressive, metastasizing cancers. Blaylock goes on to state that this is evident in all cancers. Americans consume 50% more Omega 6 than are needed for good health. (Considering that almost all processed foods contain Omega 6 this should not come as a surprise, should it?) I have done some research on the vegan (non-animal) Omega 3 oils in the supplement that my family uses: which contains flax seed oil, and DHA from labortory grown sea algae to insure purity and non-ocean pollutants and contamnation/...the more I learned about benefits the more impressed I became. Our omega 3 is more powerful than 4 salmon steaks, as it has a very high ORAC value. What I do know for certain is our Omega 3s helped my husband get off his statin drugs and our joints feel better as well. Omega 3s are necessary for heart, brain, joint health, as well as cancer prevention. It is the single most important supplement you can take in addition to a QUALITY multi-vitamins. (one a day types don't cut it folks!)

4. MODERATE Exercise – walking weight resistance training, raking the leaves and mowing the lawn are all good forms of exercise. And right now, shovelling snow in Wisconsin!  Highly aerobic exercise, per doctors Lee and Blaylock, increase the free radicals and peroxidation in your body, and neither doctor recommends it, especially for cancer patients and survivors. Aerobic activity increases prolonged increases in metabolism – a process which is a major source of these harmful chemicals. Lee had discussed this in further detail in his book about breast cancer, stating that cancer survivors who compete in triathalons and climb mountains are doing themselves more harm than good. 

5. Diet – Avoid processed foods. Learn to read labels – which scream “Good Source of Fiber” only to be laden with refined carbohyrdrates and fats, which are highly inflammatory.  High fructose corn syrup and MSG abounds in processed foods...contributors to cancer and brain and heart related diseases.
Avoid most vegetable oils – known as omega 6 (N-6). These include corn, safflower, soybean, sunflower, peanut and canola. While Omega 6 are needed for health, most people consume 50x more than as needed (common ingredient in processed foods). Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Coconut Oil should be the oils of choice in the “cancer prevention focused kitchen”. If you cook with EVOO sprinkle turmeric and other spices in the oil, and it prevents oxidation. (I like that last tip!)

Avoid these fish – no matter what due to heavy contamination: shark, swordfish, tilefish, and large tuna.

Red meat in moderation – The biggest issue with red meat is the high iron content, which Blaylock labels “a cancer fertilizer”. Iron dramatically increases free radical generation which fuels cancer growth. Note that it is important to avoid supplements with IRON, as we Americans usually don’t have trouble getting enough iron in our diet, but we often have too much. Dr. Graham Colditz of the Washington University School of Medicine, as well as other experts, state to limit red meat to no more than 3, 3 oz. servings per week. So if you go out to dinner on Saturday night and have a 10 oz. sirloin - you have had your week’s consumption of red meat!

6. Metal toxicity – fluoride, aluminum and mercury are three metals that promote cancer, and Dr. Blaylock states they are very toxic to cells, especially brain cells. Black tea, soy milk, processed meats and processed cheese are high sources of aluminum and fluoride in foods. Mercury comes from fish, dental amalgam fillings, and vaccines. I think we’d be surprised to learn of all things we absorb trace metals from, and it is impossible to avoid it 100%. Keep in mind that although the FDA stamps its approval on many things, and manufacturers will state that amounts are too small to be harmful, trace metals in particular are fat soluable. Basically, these toxins build up as they store inside our bodies. 

For this reason, I really do believe it is beneficial to detoxify at least once every 3 mo. My husband and I both use Essentials 7 Day body detox which cleanses and removes trace metals from essential organs, and is gentle as well. Because it contains chlorella, it can also remove mercury toxins, which few body cleanses can do (i.e. your homemade lemon juice and cayenne cannot remove the trace heavy metals).  If I had cancer, I would be detoxing every month, especially because of the effects of traditional cancer treatment.

For a healthful life it would seem all of the recommendations above would be beneficial life practices to incorporate for a lifestyle of wellness. I always recommend taking the road to renewed health, one step at a time.

To your health!
Rita S.

Purity Bests Organic

Good. Better. Best.  When I worked for a window treatment company we had three grades for our products.  The discount, big box stores bought and sold "good", department stores offered better...but the premium stores and design houses offered the BEST.

As we wrap up 30 days of clean eating in our home I thought I should digress from the clean food topic for a bit, and bring up another subject that affects our health - that would be our skincare.  As I have discussed in my cancer prevention workshops, when it comes to toxic food - thankfully our bodies have a liver to filter the toxins.  When it comes to what we put on the largest organ of our body, our skin, there is no filter.  Everything we put on our skin is absorbed into our system, and per the EPA reaches our bloodstream and organs in less than 30 seconds.  So why should we be concerned about our lotions and shampoos?

Toxins in - does not necessarily mean toxins out (unless you are on some sort of regular detox program).  Toxins store up inside - a little toxin a day multiplied by 365 days a year multiplied by.....  get the picture?  It creates a hormone imbalance, interupts our divinely created endocrine system.  Consider that for a moment...and then - be on guard.  Just because a label states "all natural" or "organic" does not mean it is toxin free.

Truth of the matter is - organic farmers have a hard time keeping their produce pure, in some parts of the world more so than others.  I learned a while back from my chiropractor, Dr. Joe Teff, also a highly respected nutritionist, that the fall out of radiation from Japan has affected organic food crops.  Where, you might ask? Well, California, Hawaii and another friend tells me the fall out has reached much further north. To help the organic farmers of California, the state simply raised the allowance of radiation in order to label a product organic.  If you would like to be your own personal watchdog on this topic - check out www.enviroreporter.com or www.compassnaturalmarketing.com and look for the effects of the Fukushima disaster.  It is affecting much more than I could have imagined.

This is not to say you should not eat organic - you can obtain 40% more nutrients from organic than traditionally grown produce, but for certain -wash it! Small organic farms adjacent to Monsanto's huge, chemical laden farms also fall victim to chemical fall out from their genetically modified crop farm/corporation.

So my point here is the ORGANIC label on skin care.  Unless you are growing it yourself - I feel you need to have a higher standard than organic. 

PURITY bests organic.  For myself and my own family - we look for purity standards, and frankly, the European cosmetic industry has standards that far exceed any skin care products made here in the U.S.  Having said that - watch out for foreign sounding names on your product labels. They may sound French, Swiss, or whatever, but may actually be formulated here in the U.S.  I remember a friend telling me her mother uses a high end French sounding product from a fancy department store...and when I researched the ingredient labels the product contained petrolatum (a derivitive of crude oil) and parabens.  It turns out the product line is simply a more expensive offshoot of the Big L in cosmetics.

Know the company from whom you purchase products.  What is their ingredient policy? Are raw materials tested for purity on a regular batch-tested basis?  Even organic soy beans contain naturally occuring toxins such as formaldehyde and trace metals from the soil.  Just one example of why PURITY is the standard by which skin care products are chosen for our family.

Labeling is what labeling does - MARKET. I think about the irony of products who wash their labels PINK in October to support the Komen foundation...when the products themselves have cancer causing ingredients.  All I am saying is be a WISE consumer, and do your research.

Check out those web sites I offered above, and become a SMART consumer about the truth of the nuclear disaster.  Mainstream's media coverage, or lack of it, is rather disturbing. How would you like to apply a skin lotion made with organic ingredients that contain radiation? Think about that. The thought makes me shudder.

European standards, specifically the European Union Cosmetics Directive and the European chemicals agency known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) are two watch dog agencies that I trust more than any U.S. resource. Therefore, the products we use in our family,  adhere to these European standards - and I feel very very good about the safe approach to skin care that my family is using. The company has been formulating with green science and offering pure and safe products for 33 years, before organic was a popular word.

Many of my readers may be familiar with Safe Cosmetics.org - and I will leave you with a link to their article which points out the level of excellence that is established by the European cosmetics directive: www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=346

May you feel great, look great and live great as you make wise decisions, not only in your food choices, but in your skin care as well!

To your health,

Rita S.

Clean Cowboy Caviar & Gluten Reaction

We just returned from our annual family reunion. It is January 5 and day 4 of our 30 Day Clean/Healthy eating challenge.  Typically the reunion has always been held January 1, which would have worked very well for us. However, a vote moved it to the first Saturday in January. I would like to go back to January 1 as I know that come January 2 we will probably be ringing in the new year with healthy eating to detox from not so good choices for the holiday season.

Fortunately my two sisters are detoxing with my husband and I, so we had a couple of healthy choices from which to choose, although it was hard to resist the holiday fudge, cookies, cakes and pies. My husband asked if he could skip this day, and I said "what? no way!" Gosh, am I a touch team coach or what? Sorry, honey.

I had taken my Asian slaw (recipe found in this blog), one sister brought turkey/quinoa chili, and another brought baked beans - of which I hope were detox friendly, I should have asked what was in it! We did well, and held fast to our cleanse.

On the way to our reunion I was inspired by another member on my team. It is day 4 and she has lost 5 lbs. and  her pants are already loose.  She has been eliminating all the allergenic foods, and was doing very well until last night...when they went to a fish fry. (It is Wisconsin on a Friday night for many.)  The fish was lightly breaded, and she thought a little wouldn't hurt, right?  So she at it.

This morning she awoke with swollen fingers, ankles that could barely bend, and stomach bloating. Have you figured it out? She was having a gluten reaction. Her body became immediately inflamed - gluten is not her friend and as a sufferer of fibromyalgia, it is one ingredient I have repeatedly urged her to give up for good. She had been feeling great for several days, but not this day as she awoke to pain. 

Her reaction to gluten has reaffirmed her resolve to folllow the 30 Day Arbonne Healthy Living plan for the entire 30 days. She also has a wedding coming up this year - and she is looking forward to looking great and feeling great as the mother of the bride.

As we noticed the limited foods on the buffet table, I was inspired by my friend's pretty immediate results, and decided to come home and make a detox friendly salad often served as a party dip or appetizer. I had all the ingredients from last weekend.  A tip on keeping your fresh herbs, such as cilantro, fresh - place them in your refrigerator in a glass with water.  I pulled my week old cilantro from the refrigerator and it was perfectly fresh - love this!

CLEAN COWBOY CAVIAR
(Use organic/fresh ingredients when available.)
Ingredients
2 (14.5 ounce) cans organic black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup organic white corn (can be frozen, thawed)
4 Roma tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
1 bunch green onions, greens only (use scissors to snip 1/8-1/4" pieces

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped finely

1 red sweet bell pepper

1 lime, juiced
Chipotle Seasoning by Pampered Chef

2 ripe, but firm avocados, diced (add just before serving)

1 cup detox friendly Italian homemade seasoning

Detox Friendly Italian Dressing

1/4 cup organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 cup Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar

3 minced garlic cloves

1 tsp. Hermamare seasoning

1/4 tsp. celery seed

Pepper to taste

Instructions:
Rinse and drain the black beans, and corn if needed. Add to a large bowl. Dice the tomatoes, pepper, making sure the seeds and insides are removed. You want to do this to make sure that there isn’t too much liquid. Add the diced tomatoes and cilantro to the bowl. Slice the green onions finely (or use purple onion as a substitute) and add to the bowl. Tip: use a scissors.

Sprinkle generously with Chipotle seasoning to taste for a little zip, or use a diced jalapeno pepper if desired.

Add the Italian dressing and stir to coat all the ingredients. Add pepper to taste. (Herbamare seasoning contains sea salt.) Chill in the refrigerator until cold and flavors have marinated together. This is best served the same day as prepared. 

Before serving....dice the avocados and squeeze a little of the lime juice over the avocados so they don’t brown as quickly. Squeeze the rest of the lime juice into the bowl. 

Serve with homemade sweet potato chips or organic, GMO free corn chips, such as Xochitl brand.

This gluten free salad or appetizer is certain to become a favorite. It is great as a side salad along with grilled chicken breast and brown rice, or on top a bed of greens with diced, grilled chicken - very filling and satisfying - a delight for the tastebuds!

To your health!

Rita S.

"BEST EVER" Gluten Free Banana Bread

"Best ever mom - next time bake at least two loaves ...you gotta!"
Ok, they didn't say please, but their enthusiasm over my latest gluten-free baking accomplishment was please enough!
The recipe starts with the one found on the backside of a package of Bob's Red Mill All Purpose Baking Flour. However, I have been having success in substituting half of what is asked for with almond flour, which in my opinion results in a better tasting baked product.
Granted, I haven't been doing 100s of recipes with this substitution, as overall I bake very little, but I do know that Bob's GF Baking Flour has a bean base and too much of it makes your baked goods taste a little beany, and some what strange.
If you are doing the 30 Day Elimination plan to kick off your new year - this is a great alternative when you are giving up gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, etc.  Our children loved it so much that all I managed to get were two slices shortly after it came out of the oven, and my husband didn't get a single nibble.  Did I mention we have a teenage boy in the house?

Gluten Free Banana Bread

1/3 cup organic coconut oil (brought to liquid – melts at approx. 72 degrees)

2/3 c packed brown sugar OR 1/3 c. raw organic agave nectar OR 2/3 c. organic granulated coconut sugar

1 t. pure vanilla extract

3 brown free range eggs (eggs don't range, but the chickens that laid them do!)

1 cup Bob’s Red Mill GF Baking Flour*

¾ c. almond flour*

2 tsp. GF baking powder or use substitute blend below

1.5 tsp. Korintje cinnamon

½ tsp. fine Celtic sea salt

1 tsp Xanthum gum

1.5 cups mashed banana (2 large or 3 smaller)

Whisk first four ingredients together in large bowl.  Slowly fold and work in dry ingredients.  Add crushed walnuts or pecans if desired.  Bake in 9x5 bread loaf pan, greased with coconut oil, at 350 degrees for 45 min.

Gluten Free Baking Powder Substitute

·           1/3 cup baking soda

·     2/3 cup cream of tartar

·     2/3 cup arrowroot

Below are links to the products in my gluten-free pantry below.  An asterisk in the recipe above means that you can find these products at Willy Street Co-op if you are local to Madison, Wisconsin.  Almond flour can be purchased in bulk, so you can take as much or little as you want. Amazon offers a few products individually packaged, but where you have to buy four of one item you may want to split with a friend, depending upon how  much you bake.

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Baking Flour 

Xanthum Gum 

Almond flour (great tasting baked goods and breakfast crepes)

Coconut Sugar (low glycemic)

Arrowroot Powder (thickening and binding agent – great for sauces and soups)

Another product I just ordered for my gluten free baking pantry is Tapioca Flour to go with the gluten free Teff flour I already have. I noticed the two are simultaneously  used together in almost every recipe, so I need the tapioca flour to utilize my Teff.

I hope you will try this banana bread. It is super moist which is what made it so good. I am not sure what I did the first/last time I made a gluten free version of banana bread, but it was almost on the dry side and not nearly so good.  I did use a bit more banana than what the recipe asked for, perhaps, but all I knew was I had three browning bananas and I needed to use them all up!

To your health and healthy baking!

Rita S.

"Let's Move" Ignores Root of Obesity Problem

Today's post is a complete lift from a Newsmax alert, publishers of Dr. Russel Blaylock's health and wellness newsletter which I subscribe to. I feel the information on our national obesity issue is too important not to share in it's whole. Below, if you will, is Blaylock's response to Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative, which ignores the root of the obesity issue.

Newsmax Alert: First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, which attempts to reduce childhood obesity by encouraging kids, parents, schools, communities, and pediatricians to focus on healthier eating and exercise, diverts attention from the real cause of the U.S. obesity epidemic, says Dr. Russell Blaylock, Newsmax Health contributor.

While a high-sugar, high-fat diet, and a lack of physical exercise contribute to the problem, the three main causes of widespread obesity are: consumption of massive amounts of excitotoxic food additives, such as MSG; low vitamin D3 levels; and the over-vaccination of children, says Blaylock, editor of The Blaylock Wellness Report.
“This is the major problem, but it’s being completely ignored despite extensive research in the area,” he says. "While [Michelle Obama's] goals are laudable, one must be careful that this is not just another massive spending program that will eventually be taken over by major food-based corporations and pharmaceutical companies, as we have seen in other areas of such 'governmental-private partnerships.'
"As soon as we accept [it], we will see mandatory vaccinations of every description, drugs being added to our water supply, and children forced to take dangerous psychotropic drugs and statins. I believe we should reject creating another massive federal agency and risk losing control of our own children."
Studies show that when fed to newborn animals, excitotoxic food additives like monosodium glutamate and soy extract, cause obesity by damaging the hypothalamus, an area of the brain that regulates weight, and the pancreas, which regulates blood-sugar levels, he says.
Studies show that low levels of vitamin D3 are correlated to weight regain, he says. And extensive research has shown that too many vaccinations results in immune over-stimulation in the pancreas, causing diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome, a series of risk factors such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and high cholesterol.
“Contributing to this is the massive consumption also of high-fructose corn syrup, high-sugar diet, [and] lack of exercise,” he says.
Obesity is such a dangerous condition because it produces chronic inflammation throughout the body, which leads to cancer, heart disease, degenerative brain disorders, disease of the liver and gall bladder, anxiety, and depression, Blaylock explains.
But there are ways to combat obesity and avoid these ailments and risk of early death that accompany them. Blaylock advises:
• Avoiding excitotoxins by preparing your own food
• Increasing vitamin D3 intake
• Eating lots of fruits and vegetables
• Avoiding over-vaccination and spacing apart the vaccinations you and your children do receive
• Increasing your physical activity
• Avoiding soft drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup
“If you do all of those things, almost everybody will lose weight, and they’ll prevent the diseases associated with obesity,” he says.

Basically, we need to return to unprocessed foods - find a  local grower/farmer and support their efforts. Know where your food is from. Get out in the sun for 15 min. a day without sunblock. Eat well, can the soda, and read up on vaccination safety. Of course we do need to get moving, but it is not that simple. Our food sources are often our biggest health concern. Read labels my friends!

To your health!
Rita S.






Read more: Dr. Blaylock: First Lady’s Plan Ignores Real Obesity Issues

Produce Clean Up from Pesticides

Unless you are growing your own produce, you can pretty figure your food has pesticide residue. Dr. Oz recently took a look at fresh produce, vegetable and fruits, and shared the bad news on some of our most favorite produce.

Strawberries can have over 50 pesticides  -he recommended  soaking for 2 min BEFORE rinsing.

Apples – 40 pesticide residues on apples Oz said to make sure you can smell the fruit you’re eating.

Spinach – USDA found 40 pesticide residues on spinach – it's difficult to wash, so Oz recommended buying organic.

Peaches – 60 pesticide residues on peaches, and because they are soft skinned they are difficult to clean.

Of course these are just a few examples, but please be aware that produce should never be purchased from the store and eaten without washing. Can you imagine being one of those people who pop a grape in their mouth at the produce stand? I wonder how much pesticide they consume when they do that?

Vegetable washes are available for purchase, but you can make your own with common house hold ingredients. As several of you have requested it, I thought i would share the recipe.

Homemade Recipe for Produce Cleaner

1 c water

1 c vinegar

Little baking soda

Juice from ½ lemon

Pour ingredients into spray bottle. The vinegar has anti-bacterial properties and lemon juice acts as an astringent.

Spray on produce and let it sit for 5 min. and rinse.

When we purchase strawberries we fill a large bowl with water, dump in a good amount of white vinegar, squeeze in some lemon juice and sprinkle a litlte baking soda. I don't measure, but I figure putting these ingredients together as a soak is better than water on its own. We let the berries soak about 30 min. and rinse thoroughly. the first time we did this it really was surprising how much dirt, etc. we found in the bowl. So please, wash your fruit and vegetables!


For more information check out the site of the Environmental Working Group.

A Day at the Orchard

Every fall we spend a family day visiting a new apple orchard in the area. Once we visit all those within 1-2 hours driving distance, I am sure we will have favorites that will become regulars.
Yesterday we visited Door Creek Apple Orchard and had a great time. The sun was shining, Wes and his team of Morabs gave our family a ride in the carriage, and we filled several bags of apples. We came home with a peck of Cortlands and Jonagold. The photo shows the cortlands on the tree.

I really wanted to pick Galas, my favorite, but had a hard time finding any - I think they were well picked through. There may have been more somewhere else on the premises, but when you spend time at an orchard with an almost thirteen year old boy, it loses its leisurely ambiance at his constant urgency to be done so he can go home and do "his thing". Ah yes, I remember well the day he enjoyed our orchard outings...
Inside the store samples of Galas were available - yum, yum! Abby totally enjoyed hers as you can see.  I did learn something new from Tom, the orchard owner yesterday, about Cortlands. As you may note in the photo a few are shiny but others have a white wash appearance. It is NOT from pesticide, as I initially thought, as did some friends when mentioning it on facebook.
Tom explains, "Many people over the years have noticed the hazy appearance of Cortland apples.  They, more than most , show a "bloom" on their skin.  This is also very apparent on some of our grapes.  Fruit growers refer to this as  a "bloom" and it is mostly a function of an interaction between disorganized wax molecules and natural organisms like wild yeast strains.  Wine and hard cider makers often depend on these yeasts for fermentation.  I don't have a reason why some would be shiny and often wonder why myself.  We see terrific variation throughout the orchard.  If you rub a Cortland apple on your shirt it will become wonderfully shiny because you have flattened all the natural wax molecules arranging them in the  same plane.  It's always best to wash your fruit, but those Cortland apples were sprayed in the last week of July and environmental degradation should remove significant concerns about harmful chemical residue.  The "bloom" you noticed on our Cortlands is natural and neither a chemical residue or an eco-friendly bio-pesticide.  All apples have varying degrees of natural wax on their skin."

Who knew? We certainly did not! Take note that this natural wax molecule appearance may not be the same "polished shine" seen on apples in the grocery store. Today on Dr. Oz they talked about pesticide mounts found on grocery store produce.
Produce that the USDA tested with greatest amount of pesticide includes peaches (because of their soft skin and peach fuzz), strawberries, spinach and apples.

At Home Produce Cleanser
1 c. water
1 c. white vinegar
juice from 1/2 lemon
1 T. baking soda

Mix and pour into spray bottle. Spray mixture onto produce 2 minutes before rinsing well.   Note, it is real difficult to spray and wash produce such as softer spinach leaves - make it simple and buy organic.

The benefits of buying local are huge. Obviously, it gave me the ability to ask Tom about the haze seen on the Cortlands - other apples in the orchard did not have this that we noted. We learned something from a grower.  Try to ask the grower of bananas grown in Chili about the fruit...not!  Enjoy this time of the year the chance to visit local orchards and markets for the last remaining bell peppers (I snagged 15 peppers from the garden this evening - still green, so they can finish turning red and yellow indoors - our nights are getting dangerously cold.), squash, pumpkins, apples, pears and more.