Good News for White Rice Lovers
I was having lunch with a friend the other day at a Thai place, and when it came time to order rice, I suggested the brown rice as I usually do because I thought it was the healthier option. My friend who is originally from Korea, informed me that brown rice isn’t actually the healthier choice because properties in the brown rice such as phytates actually prevent our bodies from absorbing essential nutrients in our food such as zinc and calcium. Phytates or phytic acid also inhibits enzymes in our bodies from properly breaking down proteins and sugar. I asked her what her sources were, and she said, they were from Korean reports of doctors and scientists’ findings.
I recently researched it and found this interesting article:
Three Bean Salad
I made my own version of this three bean salad recipe I found. I used fresh organic rosemary from my garden and switched the white sugar with coconut sugar. It turned out great! Although I made it before with honey and I liked that version a little more.
- 15 oz fresh green beans cut into 2 inches
- 1 15 oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 15 oz can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 red onion, chopped fine (about 3/4 cup), soaked in water to take the edge off the onion
- 2 celery stalks, chopped fine (about 1 cup)
- 1 cup loosely packed, fresh, finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 teaspoon fresh finely chopped rosemary
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup granulated coconut sugar or honey (more or less to taste)
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
I finely chopped the rosemary and parsley in a food processor then mixed it in a big bowl with the beans and chopped celery.
Next I blended the sugar, vinager, salt, and pepper in the food processor to make the dressing and I drizzled the olive oil in slowly while processing.
Finally once emulsified, I added the dressing to the bean salad and tossed it all together.
You could let it chill in the refrigerator for a while until all the flavors blend, but I have no patience for that. I enjoyed it right away.
Original recipe found here: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/three_bean_salad/#ixzz4J9u1xwq0
Chocolate Green Morning Smoothie
High Protein Smoothie for Chocolate Lovers
This is a high protein smoothie that is great for starting the day. It will fuel you for about five hours straight. It’s packed with fresh greens, and it tastes like a chocolate shake. It’s packed with nutrients, and is great for digestion.
The recipe:
Serves 1 person
1 cup liquid (this could be any type of non-dairy milk, such as soy milk, nut milk, coconut milk, water or a combination)
2 rounded scoops of Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein (19 grams of Protein)
1 tablespoon of Organic Hemp Seed Protein (2.75 grams of Protein) (optional)
1 or 2 tablespoons Organic Cacao Powder
1 tablespoon of a healthy fat ( I use Flax Seed Oil most of the time, but sometimes Almond Butter)
2 tablespoons Organic Pure Maple Syrup
A big handful of fresh Spinach, Kale, Arugula or other fresh green of your choice.
1 teaspoon of Organic Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon of Organic Raw Camu Camu (optional for extra vitamin C that is easily absorbed from the Camu Camu berry)
1 banana
A handful of ice
Blend all ingredients and enjoy!
© Nabawia Elsoudani 2016
Natural Mosquito Repellent
You don’t have to poison yourself to protect yourself from mosquitos.
Check this out:
http://www.healthline.com/health/kinds-of-natural-mosquito-repellant#1
Make your Own Microwave Popcorn
I wanted to share a novel idea I learned on Dr. Oz today. Dr. Alan Greene, author of Feeding Baby Green. showed that you can easily make your own microwave popcorn with a regular brown paper bag. It’s cheaper than buying the organic popcorn in a bag. And the non-organic brands, as we know, have toxic chemicals. To name a few:
1. The chemical that lines the popcorn bag (perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA):
This causes kidney cancer and thyroid problems. It’s supposed to promote non-sticking, prevent burning and make every kernel. It’s actually not any more effective than an ordinary paper bag.
2. The artificial butter flavor (Diacetyl):
When this is added, it actually causes a type of lung disease that causes holes in the air passage-ways just from breathing it. Many of the workers in the packaged popcorn factories contracted this lung disease from it…they call it “popcorn lung”.
3. Added trans fat or preservatives:
When adding extra oils or butter to packaged popcorn, the only way to make sure it doesn’t go rancid on the shelves is if they use trans fat or if they pack it with toxic preservatives.
The simple recipe to avoid all of that toxicity:
All you need is:
1 lunch sized paper bag
1/4 cup popcorn kernels
What you do is:
1. Put the popcorn kernels in the bag. 2. Fold the bag closed a few times. 3. You can use a little masking tape if you want to seal it for sure. Put the bag in the microwave standing up right. 4. Cook on high 1 min and a half. Microwave oven temps vary so listen to the popping sounds to tell.
On Dr. Oz it all popped except for two kernels.
The official report is here:
Correction on the Green Coffee Bean Extract Post
Review of Green Coffee Bean Extract
Is it really effective for weight loss?
- Proven to cause dramatic weight loss with little change in diet or exercise
- My mom tried it and it didn’t work
- Correction, my mom tried it and it didn’t work because she was taking it incorrectly
- She realizes now that she was supposed to take 400 mg twice a day 30 min before each meal
- She is now trying to get in the swing of things
- I will keep you posted on her results
- Green Coffee Bean Extract
Supplements
Review of Green Coffee Bean Extract
Is it really effective for weight loss?
- Proven to cause dramatic weight loss with little change in diet or exercise
- My mom tried it and it didn’t work
- Correction, my mom tried it and it didn’t work because she was taking it incorrectly
- She realizes now that she was supposed to take 400 mg twice a day 30 min before each meal
- She is now trying to get in the swing of things
- I will keep you posted on her results
Green Coffee Bean Extract
Organic Digest 