I got this off the internet several years ago. It had great reviews and comments then and continues to be a favorite post.:
I like this quote attributed to the late, great football coach Vince Lombardi: "Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence."
Many people think buckwheat is a cereal grain. Actually, it is a fruit seed that is related to rhubarb and sorrel which makes it a suitable substitute for grains for people who are sensitive to wheat or other grains that contain protein gluten. Buckwheat is available as a gluten-free whole-grain flour.
Many doctors, especially cancer specialists, discourage the practice of cooking in aluminum or nonstick coated cookware. They recommend cast iron and stainless steel. Something to keep in mind when purchasing new pots and pans.
Extreme summer heat prompts the body to produce stress hormones which trigger the release of fatigue-triggering toxins. Here is an easy trick for a quick cool-down and thus revving up your energy levels. Mint is the answer as it contains menthol which activates cold-sensitive nerves in the mouth. Try this trick - chew a piece of mint gum and then drink a glass of water. This will cause the water to taste much colder.
This is a recipe from my diabetic blog but it is good for almost everyone. Why not give this a try to eliminate salt and sugar from your seasoning mix?
For food safety, set your refrigerator to 40 degrees and your freezer to zero. Also, it is important that you not put large containers of warm leftovers in the fridge. They may warm other foods around them and they will not cool down quick enough to kill bacteria.
Did you know that 1 tablespoon of butter has more than 3 times the saturated fat of 1 tablespoon of olive oil? This is an easy substitution to make to cut back on the saturated fat in your diet!
The proper way to measure flour, especially when baking, is to lightly stir the flour, using a spoon. Then you spoon the flour into a dry measuring cup. Use a butter knife, spatula or other straight edge item to level the flour. It is important to avoid shaking the cup as this packs the flour.
I suggest avoiding enriched all-purpose flour. It comes from red wheat and is bleached and refined. Try white whole wheat flour. It comes from white wheat and is a whole-grain item. You can always use almond flour or other low/no carb flours. Measure them all as above, unless the recipe tells you otherwise.
I came across this old post from 2013. l think the addition of hand gel and/or antibacterial wipes was a great addition to stores during the Covid pandemic. I am glad they are still available. Shouldn't we have always been using them?
Pamela Peeke, M.D. is the author of The Hunger Fix: The Three-Stage Detox and Recovery Plan for Overeating and Food Addiction. She makes the suggestion to overcome food cravings by chewing gum. "You'll be putting a food-like substance in your mouth, giving your jaws something to do and stimulating the production of serotonin." She also suggests you choose gum with xylitol. Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute which helps protect your teeth from cavities. The photo below is an example only. It is not a brand endorsement.
Being a diabetic I always give a second glance to anything I see about diabetes. I was surprised to learn recently that probably the number one mistakes diabetics make in testing their blood sugar is where they test! I was surprised by the headline but as I continued reading, I realized this is probably true. Okay, a show of hands here, how many of you diabetics poke your fingertip or the pad of your finger when testing your blood sugar? Ouch, no wonder that hurts. You are poking the most sensitive part of your finger with a thin needle! Always poke your finger over to the side where it is not so sensitive and you won't be using that spot to touch things all day long. A simple tip but a mistake I didnt realize so many people make. And no wonder we make that mistake. That's how most doctors, nurses, etc show us to do it. I know I did that the first few months and soon learned the side of the finger is better. If you haven't learned this yet, give the side of your finger a try at your next testing! Here is an example of how so many do it the wrong way -Of course this is a personal preference thing so do whatever works best for you.
I like to remind my readers from time to time that I am not a doctor nor nutritionist. The articles you read on this blog are researched from various medical sources. I never post my opinion unless I state clearly that it is just my opinion, so you can trust what you read here. However, keep this in mind, we are all different and each of us has our own nutritional needs. Food has a tremendous influence on our health and we should really think of our foods as medicines, whether good or bad. But keep in mind that what you read here should not replace your medicines or your doctor's advice. You should always consult your doctor regarding major changes in your diet or your exercise routine.
Are you aware your dishwasher may be harboring mold, yeast, etc? Many times, we don't realize that the cleaning appliance itself needs to be cleaned! You should take a disinfectant wipe and go around the seal on the door of your dishwasher a couple of times a week as that area may be home to mold and other fungi that don't get killed by the dish detergent and high temperatures. These menaces can cause wheezing and other problems if allowed to build up.
When grocery shopping keep this in mind. Research has shown that the color red triggers hunger. So be careful, especially in the snack aisles, those red packages may be drawing you in. Be especially aware if your children are shopping with you.
Let's face facts. You know you have food in your kitchen right now that shouldn't be there. I'm not talking about expired dates. I am talking about foods you know you shouldn't eat. Whether they are unhealthy for you or something that will sabotage your diet, you know they are there! Get them out of your house and don't bring them back in - ever! Give them away, if you have a hard time throwing food away. If you can't bring yourself to toss food in the trash, box them up and take them to your local food bank or other charity; just get rid of them!
If you are trying to cut back on how much you eat, you may want to give some thought to the color of your plate! That's right; the color of your plate may determine how much you eat! Research has shown that you should eat foods on a contrasting color plate. For example, eat pasta with a marinara sauce on a white plate. When you can clearly see how much food you are taking and therefore eating, you tend to take less. In fact, research has shown that when we clearly see how much food we are taking, we generally cut back by 21%!
