Healthy Recipes: Food for Life Recipe of the Week

Healthy Recipes: Food for Life Recipe of the Week: Food for Life Recipe of the Week: Recipes are selected from the Physicians Committee's comprehensive nutrition website NutritionMD.org. In addition to hundreds of recipes, NutritionMD.org also offers a meal planner, along with nutrient analyses, recipes, and a shopping list.

What's the Best Probiotic Sources for Vegans?

What's the Best Probiotic Sources for Vegans?: Probiotics are fantastic for supporting digestion and immune system health; however, if you're vegan you may have to seek out specific probiotic sources.

Who would have thought a tea would be a source of probiotics? Definitely not me, however Kombucha Tea is listed on multiple sites as readily available in stores and coffee shops. This is a tea consisting of fermented black tea, yeast and sugar. With a variety of health benefits I will be picking up some of this today. If you would like more information check this page out it even has instructions to make your own. I don't think I am brave enough for that...I may create a super probiotic that no gut is ready for.

What is Kombucha? The 10 Facts You Need to Know: Kombucha is a fermented tea rich in probiotics and antioxidants. The fermentation process yields many potential health benefits that we discuss right here.

Check the Resource Tab for more great information from The Global Healing Center.

Are you getting your protein?

A question my husband and I have been pondering is how do we know if we are getting our necessary protein? Not being a whiz with nutrition I had to google the requirements. The internet is a wealth of information. 

"The DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or 0.36 grams per pound (1). This amounts to (2, 3): 56 grams per day for the average sedentary man. 46 grams per day for the average sedentary woman."

Good sources of protein for you are:
1/2 cup of lentils have 9 grams of protein  and about 15 grams of fiber
1/2 cup of black beans have 8 grams of protein
1/2 cup of chick peas have 6 grams of protein
1 cup of Almonds have 7 grams of protein
2 tablespoons of almond butter has 7 grams of protein
2 tablespoons of peanut butter has 8 grams of protein
1 tablespoon blue green algae (Spirulina) has 4 grams of protein
2 tablespoons of tahini has 8 grams of protein 
2 tablespoons of Nutritional yeast contains 8 grams of protein 
1 cup of cooked quinoa (185 g) contains 8.14 grams of protein.
1 cup of Oatmeal has 6 grams of protein
2 tablespoons of Chia Seeds have 5 grams of protein 
1/4 cup of Pumpkin Seeds have 8 gram of protein 
1 cup of Amaranth has 7 grams of protein
1 cup of Soy milk has 8 grams of protein
1 cup of Tempeh has 12 grams of protein
Tofu
1/2 cup Edemane has 8.5 grams of protein
1 cup of green peas have 8 grams of protein
1/2 cup of black-eyed peas 8 grams of protein
1/2 cup of  artichoke hearts  have 4 grams of protein
3 tablespoons of Hemp seeds have 13 grams of protein
1 cup of Hemp Milk has 5 grams of protein
1 cup of Spinach has 5 grams of protein
1 cup of Broccoli has 4 grams of protein
1 cup of Asparagus has 4 grams of protein
1/2 cup of Green Beans has 4 grams of protein

Vegan Diet Plan

Vegan Diet Plan

After so many diets and exercise plans to improve our health without much success, I decided to try the Vegan diet. I must admit when our friends first told us of their recently adopted dietary habits I was intrigued. I thought this would be an opportunity for a healthy change. I thought well they will be visiting for a week or two I will maintain an open mind and see how this works. I can pretty much do anything for a week or two.

Did you know there are differences between being a vegetarian and a vegan?  Did you know there are different types of vegetarians? I had no idea. I thought I would still be eating eggs, cheese, butter and things that did not involve the killing of animals. I did out my refrigerator and pantry and donated the food. Little did I know there was more to donate.

Here is what I learned:

·         Lacto-Ovo – they eat dairy and eggs and are the most common

·         Lacto – they eat dairy but no eggs

·         Ovo – I guess they eat the eggs but no dairy

·         Vegans – they do no eat dairy, eggs or any product that come from animals

The rule to follow “if it has a mother or eyes” don’t eat it.

It was surprisingly easy to find vegan food. I did have to bring my glasses and at time need a magnifying lens. An easy cheat is look for the allergens and stay away from anything listing milk or eggs.

Another good motivator is a few documentaries:

Forks over Knives

Food Inc

Cowspiracy