Saturday, June 30, 2012

Orange Aid

"A compound present in citrus reduces the risk of stroke in women,
a British study suggests. Good to know, since every year in the United
States, 55,000 more females than males suffer from the cardiovascular
attacks. Women with the most flavanone in their diets were 19 percent
less likely to have a clot-related stroke during 14 years of follow-up than
were those with the lowest flavanone intake, probably thanks to the nutrient's
anti- inflammatory properties. As if we needed an excuse to eat an OJ popsicle."

-Whole Living Magazine, July/August 2012

Radishes

Radishes typically keep a low profile in this country, relegated
to salads and crudite. But other cuisines elevate these peppery,
rosy roots to a starring role. Explore these appealing ways to prepare
organic radishes.
In sandwiches make like the French and slather your favorite GF
bread with butter, sprinkle with salt, then layer on thinly sliced,
perfectly crisp radishes for a lunch with a cool crunch.
For roasting, clean and quarter a pound of radishes, toss with olive
oil, place on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt, minced garlic
or your favorite seasoning salt. Roast at 375 for 20 minutes or until
radishes are tender. Serve as a side dish or add to a quinoa or
leafy salad. Alternately: Toss with toasted sesame oil and GF soy
sauce, roast, then top with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds.

-Taste magazine, June 2012

5 Foods For a Flatter Stomach

"If you want a slimmer stomach, cutting calories and
exercising are must-dos. But new research also shows
some foods may have waist-shrinking (and consequent
health-boosting) properties. Here are 5 tummy tamers to
add to your diet.
Canola Oil
Beans
Low-fat milk
Whole grains
Red peppers"
-Eating Well Magazine, April 2012

Shopping for Soup

"When you are shopping for soup, look for these brands, all of
which offer at least a few varieties that are gluten free. You'll
find more information about these specific flavors and labeling
policies on their websites.
Cans and Cartons
Amy's  amys.com
College Inn   collegeinn.com
Gluten Free cafe   myglutenfreecafe.com
Imagine   imaginefoods.com
Kettle Cuisine   kettlecuisine.com
Pacific Natural   pacificfoods.com
Progresso   progressosoup.com
Swanson   campbellsoupcompany.com/faq.aspx?section=glutenfree
Wolfgang Puck   wolfgangpuck.com
Mixes
Thai Kitchen   thaikitchen.com
Simply Asia   simplyasia.com
Frontier   frontiersoups.com
Lipton Cup-a-soup   cupasoup.com

-Gluten Free Living Magazine, Spring 2012

DIY Scallions

"Next time you buy scallions, don't use the whites-sprout them.
Simply secure bulbs with a rubber band and place in a glass
with an inch of water. Change the water daily and in about
7 to10 days new shoots will appear and the roots will double in
length. Plant them in a garden or container and snip the greens
as you need them."   -Alice Knisley Matthias

-Eating Well Magazine, April 2012

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Four Diet Ricks to Melt Fat faster

Summer shape-up strategies.
One of my favorite actresses of all time—Katherine Hepburn—once said, “If you obey all the rules…you will miss all the fun!”
Truth is, frustration among women is rampant these days. When it comes to body parts, over 60% of us are the most self-conscious about our bellies.
So, if the tried and true old fashioned rules just aren’t working for you, it’s time to do an about face and take advantage of the latest and most novel strategies for shrinking that belly bulge and flipping on that weight control switch.
1)      Weigh in on whey! Protein shakes made from whey protein can double your fat loss. A much more belly-flattening option than soy protein shakes, whey isn’t just for bodybuilders any more. A study published in The Journal of Nutrition found that participants who consumed whey protein had less body fat and tinier tummies than those who didn’t consume any protein shakes at all. Aim for one to two whey shakes a day or several times per week at the very least—and look for a whey protein powder that is hormone-free and made with non-denatured and unheated milk. Keep in mind that added protein raises metabolism by 25% and activates the liver’s detoxifying enzymes—two added fat blocking bonuses.
2)      Pick a pickle! Swap out your sweet tooth for something sour! The more apple cider vinegar (dressings count, too) you can sneak into your diet, the more sugary snacks (candy, soft drinks, “energy” bars) you can avoid, resulting in less fat promoting insulin production which prevents stored fat from being burned for energy. The acetic acid in vinegar is a powerful nutrient that has been proven to stimulate metabolism. It contains dozens of other nutrients that work to eliminate fat by creating the ideal chemical balance in the body. Researchers at the University of Sydney found that consuming vinegar with meals can lower blood sugar by as much as 30%. The acidity helps slow stomach emptying, which means food takes longer to reach your small intestine and blood stream. As a result, carbohydrates are digested more slowly, thereby lowering blood sugar levels and keeping your appetite in check.
3)       Throw away the calorie counter! The key to successful weight loss is to fill up on fiber and eat wholesome nutrient dense foods from lots of colorful veggies, enzyme rich fruits, satisfying fats, and powerhouse protein. Period. You will be fuller faster if you add at least two tablespoons of soluble fiber from flax or chia seeds to breakfast every day. The fiber in these seeds will help to keep insulin levels low which will allow your body to access stored fat for energy.
4)      Eat fat to lose fat. As our lifestyle Fat Flushers can attest, enjoying the good, healthy fats (think avocados, walnuts, seeds, flaxseed oil and olive oil) daily will help to trigger an automatic reflex that closes down the valve located between your tummy and small intestine slowing down digestion. Even a teaspoon or two of oil will have this beneficial effect. We need fats in our diet to provide the essential fatty acids that become part of the eicosanoids. These tissue-like hormones have single-handedly turned around weight watchers’ negative regard for fat into an extraordinary appreciation of its true biological function. When you eat too few fats, you do not produce enough of these tissue-like hormones in sufficient quantity to burn body fat. The right fats also assist in long-term energy, enhance immunity and strengthen cell walls and mucus membranes. For overall health, they have been found to control a wide range of activities including inflammation, reproduction, blood clotting, blood pressure, brain function and allergies. Best of all—fats, not carbohydrates, are the best food fuel for feeling satisfied and speeding fat loss.
Have any of these diet tricks helped you slimdown? Post a comment to share your experience.

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Progresso Soup

Charles Drabkin thought that Progresso soup was a healthy option for lunch, but then he found out that chemicals in the can lining have been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Progresso lines its soup cans with bisphenol A, or BPA. Scientists have long warned of BPA's link to cancer, but a new study has found that it's related to obesity and diabetes as well. According to the study, BPA basically tricks your fat cells into taking in more fat -- and can also trick your pancreas into producing more insulin than necessary, which can lead to Type 2 Diabetes.
Consumer Reports says that Progresso uses dangerous levels of BPA in its soup cans -- in fact, some samples contained so much BPA that eating just one serving would mean ingesting 80 times more BPA than experts say you should have in one day.
Charles is a chef instructor at a community college, and he's passionate about making sure Americans have access to quality food -- that's why he started a petition on Change.org asking Progresso to stop using BPA in its can linings. 
"I’m particularly upset about this because Progresso bills itself as the healthy choice, when in reality they are serving people carcinogens," Charles says. "Canned soup should be a healthy alternative for busy working parents, but as it stands, Progresso isn’t any safer than fast food."
But Charles knows that a petition can push Progresso to get rid of BPA. In fact, just three months ago, Campbell's agreed to stop using BPA in its cans after a public outcry and more than 20,000 people signed a petition asking them to do so on Change.org. Charles is sure that if enough people sign his petition, Progresso will follow Campbell's lead.
Thanks for being a change-maker,
- Joe and the Change.org team

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Against The Grain

Against The Grain 4th of July pizza recipes
Pizza Party for the 4th of July: Three Pizzas to Wow The Crowds
The fourth of July comes just at the time in the summer when everyone needs a fun holiday, an excuse to have a picnic with red and white checkered tablecloths and decorate with red, white, and blue. It is fun to decorate with food, too, but as it turns out, there aren’t too many blue ones—lots of red and white, but blue? None-the-less, we came up with three patriotic pizzas that will leave family and guests smiling.

Red, White, and Blue Cheese Pizza
Ingredients:
1 Against The Grain Cheese Pizza
¼ fresh organic red pepper
2 ounces of blue cheese (we have several great local choices, and I used blue cheese from Boucher Family Farms)
Directions:
1. Cut the pepper into thin strips and arrange it like fireworks bursts on your pizza. Ours looked like this:
2. Crumble the blue cheese and put little mounds in the middle of the pepper bursts. Sprinkle the rest around the pizza (like random fireworks?)
3. Bake directly on the rack at 375 degrees for approximately 15 minutes.

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Blue Potato Pizza With Red Pepper Confetti
The idea for the blue potatoes in this recipe came from Jeremy, who is way into organic gardening. Thinly sliced, the potatoes bake until just tender. The aroma is pleasing, the polka-dot effect arresting, and fresh potatoes on pizzas are unusually yummy toppings.
Ingredients:
1 Against The Grain Cheese Pizza
6 small blue potatoes, very thinly sliced
1/8 fresh organic red pepper
Dash of salt
1 clove of garlic, crushed
2 Tbsp olive oil
Directions:
1. Place the sliced blue potatoes and crushed garlic in a bowl, sprinkle with salt, and toss with olive oil. Let the mixture marinate for approximately 30 minutes.
2. Chop the pepper into small pieces.
3. Arrange the potatoes on the top of the pizza and sprinkle with the red pepper.
4. Bake directly on the rack at 375 degrees for approximately 15 minutes.

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Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake Pizza
Yes, you read that title right, with cheesecake and pizza in the same sentence. This pizza was inspired by our resident dessert pizza creator, Josh. Since our organic strawberries have just started ripening in our garden, it seemed like a great way to share some of them. Besides, we’ve already shared way too many with the pesky voles who seem to have moved in over night and made a pool table’s worth of holes in our strawberry patch. Just wait until you try this one. While we all thought that one never eats a cheesecake hot, we couldn’t resist and were rewarded with the bursts of hot blueberries and strawberries tucked into a divine cheesecake layer. My test pizza, more like a cheese danish, disappeared in nanoseconds. Who says pizzas are for dinner? This pizza is a dessert you won’t forget... now, I’ve already promised to make two more for the staff for tomorrow.
Ingredients:
1 Against The Grain Pizza Shell
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cups sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
½ cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh strawberries, cut in half
Directions:
1. Blend together the cheesecake ingredients with a wisk. Spread the mixture evenly on the pizza shell.
2. Top with a mixture of strawberries (cut-side down) and blueberries.
3. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes, just until the cheesecake starts to brown slightly.

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Monday, June 25, 2012

Fundraising Event

2012 National fundraiser for Autism Speaks

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Restaurant Experiences Far and Near

  " If you go to Hawaii, it would be important to talk to the chef when you first arrive. The positive thing is I found two wonderful restaurants, one in Kauai ( Kapaa, Ha.), Sweet Marie's Hawaii, Inc. 808-823-0227. Her name is Marie Cassel. Her website is www.sweetmarieskauai.com. She has a dedicated bakery with lots of yummy stuff ( including pineapple muffins). She also has mixes that she makes. The in Maui ( 95 E. Lipoa St. #101 Kihei, Hi. 96753 is a place called Fabiani's Bakery and Pizzeria. It is fabulous!! They have desserts, pizzas, pasta and are open for breakfast. Also, in Honolulu there is a place called The Tiki. I don't have the address handy. It's on Wakiki. They have a GF menu.
 
    I also have an alert about McMennamins and Subway. When I went to get a sandwich at Subway ( Heritage, Orchards), I noticed that they were reaching into the veggies, etc. with their gloves and then touching the breads and then putting them back in. So, I told them this was a contamination issue when we order GF sandwiches. They said well, if you have celiac disease you need to tell them, so they would get yours out of the back. I said in all the time I've been in there they have never asked me. Anyway, it is an issue. If you get a subway sandwich, you need to ask them to get your condiments, veggies, cheese, etc. from the back, or it won't be GF. The one at Clackamas said they can't do that. Then at McMennamins, you are supposed to be able to get just about any sandwich. The last time I went to order a hamburger ( they do have buns) at Mcm at Clackamas, the cook came out and asked if I realized that my bun would be cooked, handled mixed in with, etc. with the  wheat ones. She said if you have a real problem, you shouldn't eat it. That was also at Clackamas. Now I haven't checked here in Vancouver to see how they handle this issue. I intend to call the main office at some point. Thanks so much for relaying this."  Claudia

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Whole Foods Food Fair

Whole Foods Market is having a Food Fair
Tomorrow, June 23, 2012, 12pm-4pm
815 SE 160th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98683
For more information contact:
Andrea Stafford 360-253-4082

Pizzicato

You asked -- and we are happy to oblige. Now you can order your favorite Pizzicato pizza on our new 16" LARGE SIZE Gluten-Free Crust. Cut into 8 pieces, our large GF pizzas can easily feed 4 people with healthy appetites. One of our pizzas is the popular Genovese, featuring a pesto base that's topped with fresh spinach, red and yellow peppers, roasted garlic and Feta Cheese.  So delicious.
GF BEER LOVERS CAN CELEBRATE TOO:  Pizzicato is now carrying Widmer Bros. critically-acclaimed "Omission" beers, both Pale Ale and Lager. Yes it's true! Widmer has developed a process to remove the gluten -- but not the rich beer flavor. Only in Oregon, right? 
Wishing you a very Happy Summer,
  
Tracy
Tracy Frankel, President  

Pizzicato Pizza Logo
   
P.S.  If you'd like to sign up for Pizzicato's "Healthy Options" mailing list, please click here. If you have any questions or comments, I'd really love to hear from you. Please click here to send me an email.

Against The Grain

SOURDOUGH PRETZELS!! Help Us Bring Yummy Gluten Free Sourdough Pretzels to the Market
Yes, this is the real deal. The tastiest, gluten-free, grain-free sourdough pretzel you can imagine. The recipe is all ready to go


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Did you know that small businesses like ours generated over 60% of net new jobs over the past 15 years? Investments in small businesses are investments in our economic growth. Chase Bank and the social media firm, LivingSocial, realize this and have teamed up to offer grants of $250,000 to 12 small businesses (defined as <100 employees.)

Against The Grain is applying for this grant, and view it as an opportunity to bring a really cool gluten free product to market. As you may know, we have spent the past five years in business working extremely hard to keep up with the demand for our products. No one is happier than us that our products have been met with such enthusiasm and devotion, but it has been at the expense of innovation. This is an opportunity for us to fast-track a new and incredibly delicious product. Given the participation of the social media company, LivingSocial, we are required to amass 250 votes by June 30, in order to qualify. This is where you come in. Want to help us innovate? Want to have REAL sourdough soft pretzels that are naturally gluten- and grain-free? Soon?


Here’s what you do:

1) Go to http://www.missionsmallbusiness.com/

2) Click on “Log on and Support”

3) Log in with your Facebook account

4) Type in “against the grain gourmet” in the search, then click on the search button

5) Cast us a vote.

6) Cast a vote for all your favorite companies.


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Roundup of New Allergy Free Foods from Expowest

Expowest, a natural foods convention, took place last week. This is the place when many companies introduce new products they are launching. We didn’t make it to the expo, but we did keep an eye on the allergy free food companies to see what they had coming up. Here is a run-down of what we found.
Udi’s is launching Vanilla Cupcakes (frosting not included), Classic French Dinner Rolls, and Whole Grain Seeded Dinner Rolls (with chia, flax and sunflower seeds). No nutritional information or ingredients available yet. For more information, visit here.
Udi's New Products 2012
Images courtesy of Udi's Gluten Free Foods
Rudi’s Gluten Free new products include 3 types of tortillas. Their website states “The tortillas are made with whole grain flours and have a soft, pliable texture…”.
Rudi's Gluten Free Tortillas
Image courtesy of Rudi's Gluten Free
The three flavors are plain, fiesta, and spinach. They have a suggested sell price of $5.99. Their facebook page states that they tortillas are egg free, nut free, dairy free, and of course gluten free.
The ingredients for the plain tortilla are: Whole Grain Flours (Sorghum, Brown Rice, Corn Amaranth, Quinoa, Millet, Teff), Corn Starch, Tapioca Flour, Rice Flour, Water, Canola Oil, Xantham Gum, Evaporated Cane Juice, Cultured Dextrose and Maltodextrin, Salt, Guar Gum, Baking Powder, Malic Acid, Active Dry Yeast, Apple Cider Vinegar. Ingredients for the other tortillas are unavailable.
For the nutrition information, you can visit their website here.  The gluten free tortillas are currently available in a few Costcos in Colorado and will eventually roll out to the rest of the country.
Enjoy Life Foods is offering a new Crunchy Flax Cereal with Chia. According to the company’s press release, a serving of the cereal contains over 1,000 mg of Omega 3s. Also new to their product range is a grab and go line of the most popular crunchy cookies (four flavors) and trail mixes (two flavors). Enjoy Life Foods’ products are all gluten-free and free of the eight common allergens. For more information, read ELF’s press release here.
Namaste foods has four new coating mixes coming to market that are a throw back to the pld Shake N Bakes mixes. They will be available in: Barbecue Coating Mix; Homestyle Coating Mix; Hot N Spicy Coating Mix; and, Italian Herb Coating Mix. They are made with flax and whole grain flours. Each box contains 2 coating mixes and shaker bags.
Namaste Gluten Free Coating Mixes
Image courtesy of Namaste Foods
Also, the company is launching three spice packets that contain the seasonings in the Namaste meal packages. The flavors are Zesty Italian, Mexican, and Say Cheez. The packets will contain 3.5 oz of seasoning (compared to the 1 oz packets found in each meal). They are $3.95 per packet and are available directly through the company at www.namastefoods.com.
Namaste Spice Packets
Image courtesy of Namaste Foods
Namaste products are free of gluten, wheat, dairy, corn, potato, soy, peanuts and tree nuts.
And finally, Daiya Cheese has created new wedges of its cheese in three different flavors: Cheddar Style Wedge, Jack Style Wedge, and Jalapeno Garlic Havarti Style Wedge.  Daiya describes the cheeses as creamy and ready to slice.  The company claims they should be available in a month or so.  To learn more, visit here.

-Navan Foods Newsletter

Daiya Cheese Wedges

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

3 Top Tomato Tips

"For the most flavorful tomatoes, look for bright-colored
produce with smooth skin that gives a little under pressure.
Ripen tomatoes by storing them at room temperature, stem
side up to avoid bruising. Putting them in the fridge makes 'em mealy.
Too many tomatoes? Freeze the extras! Chop tomatoes and place
in a plastic sealable bag, squeezing out as much air as possible."

-Remedy's Healthy Living Magazine, Summer 2012

Do Artificial Sweeteners Raise Blood Sugar?

"No. Sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, and stevia
(touted as "natural" since it comes from a plant) contain no
calories and no carbohydrates, so they have no impact on
blood sugar. However, they can cause reactions, such as
headaches or hives, for some. You may want to limit any
sweetener to which you've had an adverse reaction."

-Remedy's Healthy Living Magazine, Summer 2012

Monday, June 18, 2012

WATER!

If you wonder at the differences between tap, spring, filtered, and bottled waters, and which ones you should be using/drinking, come to our June workshop tomorrow (19th) at 6:30pm! We will be talking about drinking water and grey water, as well as rain water collecting/storage with WSU watershed specialists! Comment to RSVP and hold your seat or give us a call at 360-597-4784 Hope to see you there...and don't forget to drink AT LEAST eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day this summer!
-Balanced Living Chiropractic, Dr. Joe Perin, 6405 NE 116th Ave #106, Vancouver, WA 98662
 

Balanced Omega Support for Kids

Give your child the best start with Nordic Naturals Omega 3.6.9. Junior. This ideal combo of omegas 3, 6, and 9 supports your child's brain, vision, skin, hair, and nails. Plus, it's been clinically shown to support positive behavioral outcomes. Kids love the chewable soft gels and yummy lemon flavor. Check out the What's Essential contest at www.facebook.com/nordicnaturals or www.whatsessential.com 800.662.2544 

-Delicious Living E-news

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Healthy Sweetener? Not So fast

"Baby formula, cereal bars, and energy drinks that are
sweetened with organic brown rice syrup may be
contaminated with arsenic. Researchers at Dartmouth
University found arsenic concentrations of six times
the government's safe levels in one infant formula, as
well as various amounts in other products. Take-home
message: Don't take home any product that lists "rice
syrup" among the ingredients."

-Diane Magazine, June 2012

Whole Foods Food Fair

Whole Foods is having a Food Fair
Saturday, June 23, 2012, 12pm-4pm
815 SE 160th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98683
For more information contact:
Andrea Stafford 360-253-4082

Save the Dates!

September 22, 2012 is our next GIG Meeting
from 10am-12pm, more information to come.
Village at Van Mall Clubhouse
5000 NE 72nd Ave
Vancouver, WA

October 20, 2012 is our next Samplefest
Gluten Free Food & Health Fair
from 9am-3pm, more information to come.
St. John Lutheran Church
11005 NE Hwy 99
Vancouver, WA

Please bring food donations for the STJLC Food Bank
Thank you for your support!

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Did You Know?

"Portobello mushrooms can grow to 6 inches in diameter. They offer
a concentrated flavor and a dense, meaty texture. Remove their stems,
and then grill the caps and serve them whole in sandwiches or sliced in
salads or entrees."

"Cranky? drink water. Even mild dehydration can alter a persons mood,
energy level, and ability to think clearly, according to research from the
University of Connecticut's Human Performance Laboratory. Tests showed
that it didn't matter if the person just walked for 40 minutes on a treadmill
or had been sitting at rest: The adverse effects can include headache, fatigue,
tension, and difficulty concentrating. Experts recommend drinking about
two quarts of water per day."

-Natural Choices Magazine, Issue 5

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is our GIG Support Meeting,
from 10am-12pm at:
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital
2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver, WA 98686
Rooms C-D
Come relax and enjoy breakfast with us,
we can eat while we listen to our guest speakers:
Cariann Royall from Scentsy/Velata
Mike Lee from Premier Acupuncture
We hope to see you there!

Gluten Intolerance Group


 
Gluten Intolerance Group

Gluten Intolerance Facts

Gluten intolerance is the most undiagnosed disorder in the U.S.
Can lead to malnutrition
Symptoms vary from headaches to infertility
For every 1 person diagnosed with gluten intolerance, 80 people are undiagnosed
Gluten Intolerance Group
Participants Wanted for Study
Jefferson Celiac Center at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital is asking for your help by participating in this survey to gather more information on celiac disease and fertility. The hope is that this study will clarify inconsistencies in the current literature, increase physician knowledge of this issue and gain awareness for the celiac community.

-Gluten.net

Enhance Your Health and Tickle your Taste Buds with Buckwheat

Following a gluten-free diet can lead you to interesting new foods. Have you tried buckwheat yet? You may be avoiding buckwheat since it has “wheat” in its name. Actually, buckwheat is fruit seed from the rhubarb family. It’s not at all related to wheat and does not contain gluten.
 
Essential Minerals
A gluten-free diet, and the typical American diet, is often deficient in whole grains, which results in low intake of essential minerals. Buckwheat is a whole grain that is a good source of magnesium, manganese and copper. Magnesium is an important nutrient that maintains healthy blood pressure and blood glucose. Manganese and copper are important for bone health, which is often of concern for those with celiac disease.
Filling Factor
In addition to essential minerals, buckwheat is a great source of fiber. Fiber is found in carbohydrate-containing foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans. Because fiber exerts such a positive effect on the metabolism of carbohydrate, consider the amount of fiber relative to the amount of carbohydrate in a food. Buckwheat, oats, quinoa and teff are gluten-free grains that have higher fiber-to-carbohydrate ratios than millet and amaranth. One-half cup cooked buckwheat, oats, quinoa or teff each contain 2-3 grams of fiber and 14-25 grams carbohydrate.
Buckwheat is a higher-volume grain, which helps you feel full and satisfied. Buckwheat is one of the lowest calorie grains; ½ cup contains about 80 calories, compared to 105-125 calories per ½ cup in teff, millet, quinoa and amaranth.
Synergistic Effects
The fiber and minerals found in buckwheat work in synergy with antioxidants found in this whole grain. All whole grains contain varying levels of antioxidants and minerals; and all whole grains contain fiber. But most gluten-free products, such as breads, pastas and breads, are not made from whole grains, and if you aren’t careful your gluten-free diet will be deficient in fiber, minerals and antioxidants. Get the positive synergistic effect of whole grains by incorporating a variety of gluten-free whole grains into your diet.
Try Something New
In addition to being good for us, incorporating a variety of whole grains into our diet keeps things interesting. Try one new grain each week. While buckwheat has unique nutritional properties, all whole grains have benefits; no grain is significantly better than another.
Purchasing Buckwheat
Always buy grains from gluten-free facilities and avoid bulk bins. The only time you may purchase grains from a bulk bin would be if you were able to identify the source of the grain and procedures in place to avoid gluten-contamination. Your safest option is to purchase naturally gluten-free grains from dedicated gluten-free facilities. If you can’t find whole grains in your city, shop online.
Buckwheat comes in two options: buckwheat groats, which are not roasted and have a lighter flavor or as kasha, which is roasted buckwheat and has a nutty flavor.
Preparation
Rinse buckwheat well. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil, add 1 cup rinsed buckwheat and cook for 20 minutes until soft. Buckwheat cooks just like brown rice or oatmeal. The sky is the limit when it comes to preparing grains! Use buckwheat as a breakfast cereal or in pilafs, stir-fries, burritos, salads, soups and stews.
All grains freeze well. Cook buckwheat in bulk and reserve some for the freezer for quick meals.


Curried Buckwheat Risotto with Raisins and Almonds
Makes 6 1½-cup servings
This is an interesting side dish that partners well with fish or chicken. Sprinkle fish or chicken with the spices used in this risotto and bake while you prepare the risotto. Serve with a salad and you will have a balanced meal ready in 30 minutes!
Ingredients
½ sweet onion
3 cloves garlic
1-tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 carrots
¾ of a head of cauliflower
1-teaspoon curry powder
1-teaspoon garam masala
½ teaspoon ginger powder
½ teaspoon turmeric
1-cup buckwheat groats
3 cups vegetable broth, split
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup almonds
½ cup parsley
Iodized salt, as desired
Black pepper, as desired

Instructions
Dice onion and mince garlic.
Place a large skillet or deep saucepan on medium-high heat. Add olive oil, onion and garlic and cook until onion is translucent.
While the onion and garlic cook, dice carrots and cauliflower. Set aside.
Add spices to the onion, garlic and olive oil and then add the buckwheat. Mix spices around until the buckwheat, garlic and onion are coated with the spices.
Add one cup of the vegetable broth. Increase the heat to high until the broth is boiling, and then reduce the heat to medium high. Add the carrots and cauliflower, and mix to combine. Allow the broth to be absorbed by the buckwheat and then add another cup of vegetable broth.
While the risotto is cooking chop the almonds. Set aside.
When the liquid is absorbed again, add the raisins, almonds and last cup of vegetable broth. Allow the liquid to be absorbed.
Mince the parsley and mix in to the risotto. Add iodized salt and black pepper to season to your liking.
Nutrition Details
Gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan
Per 1 ½ cup serving:
197 calories, 6 grams fat, .8 grams saturated fat, 411 mg sodium, 32 grams carbohydrate, 5 grams fiber, 6 grams natural sugar, 7 grams protein
 
Hana A. Feeney, MS, RD, CSSD is an open-minded, unconventional dietitian. As a Food Coach, Hana provides accountability, motivation and clinical expertise to her clients in one-on-one nutrition counseling sessions and through interactive food experiences. With functional nutrition as her platform and using mindful and intuitive eating practices Hana guides her clients to optimal health and wellness. Hana specializes in weight management, sport nutrition, autoimmune diseases, digestive health, celiac disease, PCOS, fertility and healthy pregnancy.
520-429-3418
Hana@NourishingResults.com
www.nourishingresults.com for recipes, information and inspiration

-GFreeConnect.com

Another Guest Speaker

Mike Lee from Premier Acupuncture will be
joining us on Saturday at our GIG Meeting.
He will talk about what he does, why he does
it and how it can be beneficial to our bodies
and our health. Please join us!
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital
2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver, WA
10am-12pm, Rooms C-D
See you there

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

June 16 GIG Meeting

Our next GIG Support Meeting will
be a Breakfast Meeting on
Saturday, June 16th, 10am-12pm
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital
2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver, WA 98686
Rooms C-D
Come relax and enjoy breakfast with us,
we can eat while we listen to our guest speakers:
Cariann Royall from Scentsy/Velata
Mike Lee from Premier Acupuncture
We hope to see you there!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

The Dirty Little Secret of Healthcare!

Beyond bacteria, virus, and molds.
"Were you a fan of the TV show “House”?
If so, you may have come to accept Dr. House’s rude, uncivil nature because he was such an awesome physician. After all, he pulled off a medical miracle every Monday night!
When it comes to your own medical care, you might tell yourself that you’d rather have a really smart nurse with a “gruff” bedside manner than a less-than-average caregiver with a bright and cheery disposition. After all, what does it really matter if there is underlying conflict, gossiping or bullying going on if it doesn’t affect your care?
And therein lies the problem—a very big problem.
Disruptive and inappropriate behavior between healthcare co-workers does affect patient care. In fact, a brand new book called The Real Healthcare Reform written by two veteran nurses, Linda Leekley and Stacey Turnure, contends that an epidemic of incivility infects most healthcare workplaces. This situation has become so serious that the premier accrediting institution for healthcare organizations, The Joint Commission has spoken out about this issue.
In annual surveys, the public puts healthcare professionals on a pedestal by consistently giving them high marks for honesty and ethics. While nurses are often our neglected “heros” of health care services and are the most compassionate and caring individuals by nature, this does not mean that there may not be trouble brewing under the surface for a variety of reasons.
So, how is it possible that all these honest and ethical people have become so entrenched in a culture of incivility?
Here’s the scoop.
The medical field is fast-paced, competitive and constantly evolving. And, because human lives are at stake, people in healthcare shoulder a heavy responsibility. When you blend all these factors, you get people who tend to feel powerless, stressed out, depressed or even angry. That can lead to a toxic work environment—and “polluted” patient care.
Consider these all-too-common scenarios:
Two nurses, Beth and Karen, have a longstanding feud at work. When one of Beth’s patients asks Karen to tell her nurse she is in pain, Karen conveniently “forgets” to tell Beth. Who suffers because the nurses don’t get along? The patient.
Tom, a nurse, yells at the nursing assistant, claiming she is slow and lazy. Afterwards, the nursing assistant is so flustered that she misreads her patient’s vital signs. The patient’s spike in blood pressure gets missed. Later that day, the patient has a stroke.
When Anne, a nurse, suggests to Dr. Wilson that his patient may be suffering from undiagnosed diabetes, the doctor belittles her and disregards her opinion—because she is “only” a nurse. The patient does have diabetes and it continues to go undiagnosed.
So what can you do about this pervasive problem? Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Call for a Truce! Don’t tolerate incivility when you witness it. If you notice two healthcare professionals being rude to each other, speak up! Tell them that you know incivility affects patient care and you refuse to be the innocent victim of their bickering.
2. Reward Respect. When people are taxed both emotionally and physically, finding the energy for civility can be tough. So, when you see respectful behavior among healthcare co-workers, offer a bit of praise. Let them know you feel safer because your caregivers make the effort to work well together.
3. Nurture the Nurses. Healthcare professionals are so busy taking care of everybody else, they frequently forget about themselves. I have seen this played out with nurses more than any other healing profession.
If you are in the healthcare field or know of someone who is gently remind them that erratic work shifts and increasing responsibilities can play havoc with circadian rhythms affecting weight, blood sugar and mood. In addition to exercise and stress management (especially mind-body activities like yoga, massage, and meditation), eating protein and fat at every meal and snacks will keep nerves stable.
Supplement wise: All caregivers should consider the adrenals. Adrenal fatigue is very common in the healthcare workplace. Caregivers often prop themselves up with coffee and colas to keep going. Consequently, their exhaustion results in irritability, anxiety, and lack of patience.
To further augment tired adrenals, a high dose, yeast free B vitamin supplement is essential. Consider a formula which features at least 50 mg of each of the Bs including B-6, the precursor to serotonin and norepinephrine, the brain chemicals connected to feelings of well being. For all of my nurses, I also suggest Ultra H-3 to help normalize acetyl choline synethesis—another brain chemical which elevates mood, calms the nerves, helps memory retention, and produces sounder sleep—all of which enhance the ability to cope better with stressful situations of all kinds.
4. Spread the Word! If you work in healthcare of you know someone who does, visit www.embracingcivility.com or check out The Real Healthcare Reform book for targeted, action-oriented information and specific exercises to help “detox” the work environment.
Is this truly something that has gone under the radar or is it something you are aware of and have experienced?"

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Monday, June 11, 2012

Brazi Bites Cheese Bread

Hello GF fans! This Saturday is the Annual GIG Health & Wellness Experience in Seattle. It's a great opportunity to learn more about living a healthy gluten-free life. Lots of activities from health screening booths to presentations.

We'll be there sampling and meeting everyone all day Saturday. Make sure to tell your friends in Seattle.

June 16 Meeting

Our next GIG Support Meeting will
be a Breakfast Meeting on
Saturday, June 16th, 10am-12pm
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital
2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver, WA 98686
Rooms C-D
Come relax and enjoy breakfast with us,
we can eat while we listen to our guest speaker:
Cariann Royall from Scentsy will introduce her
new Velata Belgian Chocolate Fondue.
We hope to see you there!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Red Meat

"Eating less red meat helps reduce the risk of dying
prematurely, especially from cardiovascular disease
and cancer, suggests a new analysis from a long-term
study of more than 120,000 health care professionals,
recently in the Archives of Internal Medicine. People
who ate the most red meat (averaging two servings a
day) were 30 percent more likely to die over a two-
decade period than those eating little or none. That
included processed meats such as hot dogs and bologna.
This was true even when the researchers adjusted the
findings for major lifestyle factors and other dietary
variables. In contrast, people who ate fish, poultry, nuts,
beans, whole grains, and/or low-fat dairy products
instead of meat had a reduced mortality rate."

-University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter July 2012

Sponges

"To kill germs in kitchen sponges, microwave them at full power
for two minutes. This reduces microbes by more than 99 percent.
Sponges are a common source of microbes, including Salmonella,
especially when they remain wet. Air-drying sponges does not
significantly reduce germs, and though putting them in the dishwasher
cleans them, it doesn't sufficiently decontaminate them. To guard
against fire, make sure sponges contain no metal and are wet before
you microwave them. Be careful when you remove them, since they
will be very hot."

-University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter July 2012

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods is having a Food Fair
Saturday, June 23, 2012, 12pm-4pm
815 SE 160th Ave
Vancouver, WA 98683
For more information contact:
Andrea Stafford 360-253-4082

Saturday, June 9, 2012

June 16 Meeting

Our next GIG Support Meeting will
be a Breakfast Meeting on
Saturday, June 16th, 10am-12pm
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital
2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver, WA 98686
Rooms C-D
Come relax and enjoy breakfast with us,
we can eat while we listen to our guest speaker:
Cariann Royall from Scentsy will introduce her
new Velata Belgian Chocolate Fondue.
We hope to see you there!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Are Toxins in Your Tap?

Why water purity matters more than ever.
Pure water has become extinct. In fact, up to 500 different types of toxins can be found in our water supply at any given time.
Experts agree that no longer can you assume that your water is pollutant-free—regardless of the source.

According to biochemist, water specialist and health care practitioner Dr. Roy Speiser, who has devoted the past three decades of his career developing personal protection products geared toward safeguarding health, ”The public is being misled to believe that water is safe just because it meets government standards.  Even if your local water report detects that the level of contaminants meets the government’s allowable concentration, consuming small amounts of heavy metals, chemicals and pharmaceuticals over years accumulates in our bodies and will make us sick.”

"Water from a municipal water source or even private wells can be contaminated with parasites, chlorine, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, birth control pills, gasoline additives, industrial discharge, jet fuel and even radioactivity.

Chlorine is especially worrisome because while it remains the government’s preferred disinfectant of choice for dirty water, it creates secondary by-products that are toxins when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter. These by-products such as trihalomethanes (THMs) are suspected carcinogens and can increase risks of heart, lung, kidney, and bladder damage. Recently, water suppliers have been adding ammonia to drinking water in an attempt to reduce the THMs which unfortunately results in even more toxic chemical by-products that function as hormone disruptors as well as probable carcinogens.

Even if you have a water filter at your sink, what about the water with which we bathe, shower and wash our clothes. Considering that a 10 minute shower may cause you to absorb and breathe in more chlorine and chemicals than the amount we drink all day long, what is the solution?

Watch my interview with the highly respected Dr. Roy Speiser, who addresses many of the above concerns and who also tells us what to look for in the most comprehensive water and whole house system filtration, which includes a high quality, multi-barrier filtration system with a pore size so small that it efficiently blocks 99.9% of toxic chemicals and pathogens.

Dr. Speiser explains the pros and cons of distilled, reverse osmosis and the alkaline water rage, and provides us with his take on the best bottled water brands currently on the market, and what to drink when on the road or eating out. And, just in time for summer, he offers some safe alternatives for disinfecting swimming pools and hot tubs."

-Edge On Health, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman

Sunday, June 3, 2012

June 16 Breakfast Meeting

Our next GIG Support Meeting will
be a Breakfast Meeting on
Saturday, June 16th, 10am-12pm
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital
2211 NE 139th St., Vancouver, WA 98686
Rooms C-D
Come enjoy some cereal and waffles with the works,
we can eat while we listen to our guest speaker:
Cariann Royall from Scentsy will introduce her
new Velata Belgian Chocolate Fondue.
We hope to see you there!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

Contadina

"Contadina has several varieties of tomato paste and all
but one are gluten free. The Italian Tomato Paste with
Italian Seasonings contains "wheat gluten protein" and is
clearly not gluten free. Wheat is included in the ingredients list
and is noted on the contains statement at the end of the list.
  But Contadina's plain tomato paste only has one ingredient -
tomatoes. The Italian tomato pastes in roasted garlic and
pesto flavors have longer ingredient lists, but no gluten-
containing ingredients. Contadina has a list of products that
are "gluten free or naturally gluten free," which includes the three
of its four paste flavors as well as all crushed, diced, stewed,
whole and pureed tomatoes. The list also includes all Del Monte
brand tomato products."

-Gluten-Free Living Magazine, Spring 2012

Whirl

"Whirl is a butter-flavored vegetable oil available to the food
service industry and it does contain barley malt. It is advertised
as being half the price of butter. And it is a product those who
follow the gluten-free diet have to beware of because restaurants
can use it for everything from sauteing and grilling to basting
rotisserie chickens. It can also be used in place of butter in
recipes, including sauces and soups."

-Gluten-Free Living Magazine, Spring 2012

Friday, June 1, 2012

Power Combo

"Sipping a cup of green tea with a meal that contains
black pepper may help you lose weight. According to
a Rutgers University study, the spice improves the absorption
of EGCG ( a calorie-burning antioxidant) in the tea by as much
as 130 percent."

-Whole Living Magazine, January/February 2012

Heart Your Heart

"Preventing cardiovascular disease could be as simple as serving
more cauliflower. In a new study, people who ate the most white-
fleshed veggies and fruits (think radishes, bananas, and pears ) cut
their risk of stroke in half. For more information on the little things
you can do to protect your heart and brain, and to join the American
Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign, log onto heart.org."

-Whole Living Magazine, January/February 2012