Category: Healthy Food

Because access to healthful and uncontaminated food ​should be a human right.

  • NON-GMO Label and the Power of Your Purchase $$

    NON GMO label has Idaho beet farmers reconsidering their GMO crops. This just goes to show the power of our purchases. 

    “We have lost 15 percent of our customers who used to buy beet sugar and cane sugar interchangeably based on price, quality and delivery service. They will now not buy beet sugar regardless of the price because they want to be able to label their food products non-GMO.” 

    Many Idaho farmers use a genetically modified seed that is resistant to certain herbicides, engineered by companies like Monsanto. Sugar beets account for 1.7 percent of Idaho’s gross total product and Amalgamated Sugar processes about 7 million tons of sugar beets a year, producing 12 percent of the sugar made in the United States, McCreedy said.

    Conventional food producers say their products are safe, but the dangers of Round Up and other chemicals in food production are well known. The disease-stricken United States population has realized that conventional foods and dietary guidelines failed them. However, the word is out that organic foods make people feel healthier.

    Many people in Idaho opposed to GMOs with legitimate concerns about the increase usage of herbicides and pesticides on the crops and their contamination of our ground water.

    The issue isn’t just about whether it affects human health if you eat it. It is the entire corrupt business ecosystem around it, and the impact to the biological ecosystem around GMO fields.

    A Pew Research Center survey found nearly 40 percent of adults believe non-GMO food is safer. There are now 36,000 products carrying a non-GMO label, McCreedy said.

    Amalgamated Sugar plans to launch a national campaign about the science behind GMOs, but it is having a hard time convincing other agricultural companies to join its cause. It’s working with a Washington, D.C. firm on a $30 million-a-year media campaign and has reached out to trade associations representing other highly genetically engineered crops such as corn to raise money, but has only raised $16 million.

    Instead of creating a marketing campaign perhaps they should LISTEN TO THE CONSUMERS! 

    https://idahobusinessreview.com/…/idaho-sugar-industry-pla…/

  • Enter to Win Food Desensitization from Restoring Nutrition

    Did you know about ninety percent of your immune system exist in your gut. A critically important step of healing the body is the food consumed.Jennifer Whitney is a Certified Wholistic Nutritionist, Certified Health Coach, and Certified Gaps Practitioner will be sharing insight and resources at the Boise Natural Health Symposium July 21 at the Vineyard Boise. This inaugural event will include speaking sessions by local health experts, exhibits by Idaho businesses and practitioners, and interactive demonstrations such as healthy food preparation. Enter to win one of the many door prizes.

    Our thanks to Restoring Nutrition for sponsoring this giveaway of 6 Food Desensitization Treatments ($180 is the retail value).  Good nutrition helps improve all forms of natural healing.  

    To enter the giveaway, please use the widget below. Every action you take in the widget earns you more points for the giveaway. You can earn up to 15 entries, which improves your chances of winning! 

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    Jennifer Whitney graduated from the Wellspring School for Healing Arts, and has been trained in Western and Eastern nutrition, the Gaps program, weight loss, applied kinesiology, desensitization techniques, and different types of cooking methods to heal the body. 

  • Giveaway: Clean-Crafted Wine Tastings

    A toast to health and well-being and #cleancrafted wine. Enter to win one of the many Boise Natural Health Symposium door prizes. This inaugural event will include speaking sessions by local health experts, exhibits by Idaho businesses and practitioners, and interactive demonstrations such as healthy food preparation. Healthy snacks will be provided (hello, on-tap kombucha!). Bring your family, friends and your enthusiasm for meeting other passionate health-minded people and practitioners in a collaborative, functional setting. Enter to win one of our many door prizes!  

    Our thanks to Scout and Cellar Clean-Crafted Wine for sponsoring this giveaway of a Clean-Crafted Wine Tasting. Scout and Cellar pride themselves on providing wines created by growers using sustainable, organic and or biodynamic farming methods. Their wines are free of added pesticides, chemicals, preservatives and sugar.

    To enter the giveaway, please use the widget below. Every action you take in the widget earns you more points for the giveaway. You can earn up to 15 entries, which improves your chances of winning! 

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    WHAT’S THE FUSS ABOUT THIS ‘CLEAN-CRAFTED WINE?  

    The Clean Crafted difference can be explained in two parts. These two basic distinctions for Clean Crafted Certified: 1) we partner with vineyards that grow their grapes naturally, and; 2) they bottle their wine consciously. It’s that simple!

  • Hemp CBD and current Idaho statute

    In order to have an educated discussion on the CBD issue, all Idahoans should familiarize themselves with IC Title 37, the fact that we adopted the Federal Uniform Controlled Substances Act into Idaho Code in its entirety, and also the Hemp Decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

    What is the current law regarding CBD in Idaho? 

    Title 37-2732 of Idaho Code defines marijuana as “any part of any plant of the genus cannabis which contains any amount of THC.” This exemption protects products made from hemp and shipped into ID.  Hemp is produced from the stalk of the cannabis sativa plant.  CBD is derived from industrial hemp and contains naturally occurring THC of .3% or less. 

    When applied to hemp how does Title 37 hold up in court? 

    U.S. judicial districts are organized into 12 regional circuits, each of which has a United States court of appeals. Idaho is in the 9th Circuit.
    Because Idaho has adopted the Federal Uniform Controlled Substances Act in its entirety into Idaho Code, we are subject to the decisions of our Circuit Court in issues pertaining to those rules.

    This is why the “Hemp Decision” is relevant. This is what makes it possible right now for retailers to carry hemp products. If we pass the current CBD bill H 577 as it is written, our Code will contradict itself (because of the exemption in Title 37) and the Circuit Court decision.

    How will H577 effect what is currently legal here in Idaho?

    H577 requires a doctors note in order to purchase any products with CBD containing less than .3% THC.  Since .3% or less THC is naturally occurring in hemp products this could limit ability to purchase for Idaho citizens. See John Green public testimony regarding this point. 

    What if my hemp products say THC free?

    These interchangeable terms, “THC free”, “Contains trace amounts of THC”, “non detectable” or “negligible levels” all means that the product contains .3% or less THC. THC is difficult to measure after a product is made as it is measured in dry weight before hand.  You will find products at our local stores do contain trace amounts (meaning under.3% THC) sold at our local stores because it is currently legal.  

    How can we protect access to products made from hemp CBD with naturally occurring THC from regulation while expanding access to products containing other sources of CBD for Idaho citizens?

    Attorney John Green has provided one idea for the Idaho legislature to consider.  This bill protects what is already legal while expanding access to those who need it the most. 

  • Hemp-based CBD is legal in Idaho advocates say

    Idaho Statesman did a great interview with Joel Bordeaux. Joel is the owner and founder of Global CBD LLC. He explains the truth of the legality of hemp both federally and in Idaho. He said, “To be removed from the definition of marijuana, in the controlled substance act, you have to be a hemp plant, stalk and stem, and have less than .3% THC (Well, he said .03% THC but he meant to say 0.3% THC. I confirmed with him that 0.3% THC is the accurate amount.)

    Idaho needs a bill that protects the ALREADY LEGAL hemp derived CBD with naturally occurring THC of .3% or less while expanding freedom to access other forms of CBD with .3% or higher THC. Varying levels of CBD and THC are therapeutic for different illnesses. This is why it is so important not to limit this natural healing plant. 

    Learn More About THC, HEMP and CBD

    There is a lot to learn here in order to be prepared to defend your rights to access something as benign as CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC. When we see such a desire to control something with proven useful, nourishing, and healing properties we must ask the all-important question, “WHY?” – Miste Karlfeldt, Health Freedom Idaho Executive Director

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

    https://www.projectcbd.org/about/cannabis-facts/sourcing-cbd-marijuana-industrial-hemp-vagaries-federal-law

    http://www.cbdweb.org/medical-cannabis-guide/hemp-vs-marijuana-vs-cannabis

    https://ministryofhemp.com/made-from-hemp/cbd/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4_CQ50OtUA&feature=youtu.b

  • Cheesy Baked Cauliflower

    We all know that the best topping for cauliflower is cheese, now you can have both your comfort food and your veggie all in one bowl. Dr Rosie Main shares this Homemade mac and cheese with cauliflower is a quick and easy dinner to prepare for weeknights that the whole family will love.

    Cheesy Baked Cauliflower
    Prep time: 25 mins Cook time: 40 mins Total time: 1 hour 5 mins
    Serves: 6

    Ingredients
    1 large head cauliflower, cut into small florets
    For the sauce:
    2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
    2 Tablespoons olive oil
    4 Tablespoons blanched almond flour
    ½ cup raw organic cheddar cheese, shredded
    ¾ cup whole milk
    ¾ organic chicken stock
    1 small garlic clove, minced
    1 tsp. dried or fresh thyme
    ½ tsp Dijon mustard (or dry mustard powder)
    sea salt & fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

    Instructions
    Cut the cauliflower into even-sized florets, rinse and drain. Boil in a large pot for 3-5 minutes, drain in colander and set aside.
    Preheat the oven to 350º. Melt the butter and olive oil on medium heat in medium skillet. Whisk the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, until it becomes very thick. Add the milk and continue whisking— the sauce should still be very thick.
    Add the minced garlic, then chicken stock a little at a time, until the sauce is has thinned out enough to be “pourable”. Reduce the heat to low and add the grated cheese, stirring until it is completely melted.
    Add the thyme, then season, carefully, with salt & pepper and mustard. Give the sauce one final taste, and adjust the final seasonings to your preference.
    Pour the cauliflower into a casserole dish (or individual ramekins). Carefully pour and distribute the cheese sauce, evenly over the top. Sprinkle with additional shredded cheese if desired.

    Bake at 350F for about 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden and bubbly.

  • Detoxing: Starting the Day Right.

    What we do in the morning sets the tone for the whole day. And if you’ve ever overslept, you know exactly how true this statement is. Mornings can be rough; it’s easy to rely on sugar and caffeine to energize you, which only wreaks havoc on your digestive system and exacerbates fluctuating energy levels and moods. If you’ve ever wanted a do-over before 9 a.m., start your day right—and keep it on the right track—with these 3 simple morning drinks to detox your body naturally each and every day. Regularly detoxing is beneficial to your health in the long run. Saves you money, too. A pound of prevention is definitely worth far more than a ton of cure.

    3 detoxing jump starting drinks

    Green Tea. 

    here’s a loose leaf organic variety

    Filled with endless anti-oxidants, vitamins, and general goodness, it has become a staple part of many gym-goers and health-conscious people’s diets.

    Some of the features of Green tea include:

    • Helps burn fat: The anti-oxidant features of the tea help speed up your metabolic rate, resulting in energy being burned, even when not active.
    • Improves immunity: Fights against flu and colds.
    • Super medicine: There have been reports that it can prevent and guard against certain cancers, arthritis, and diabetes.
    • Re-hydrates: Going against common beliefs that tea dehydrates you, green tea has been found to have similar re-hydration effects to our old friend H2O.
    • Neurological: Has been shown to prevent degenerative and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

    Japanese Matcha Tea

    Drinking one cup of Matcha tea is equal to 10 cups of green tea, talk about nutritional. Here’s a nice matcha tea powder that can be added to smoothies in the summer or made into a latte with favorite warmed milk.

    Matcha tea is incredibly popular in Japan and is now becoming widely recognized throughout the world for its ability to aid in detox plans and regimes. Some of the key benefits of Matcha tea include:

    • Prevents cancer with its high levels of anti-oxidants named catechins, which seek out and find dangerous free radicals within your body.
    • Prevents heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol, or the bad type.
    • Helps in burning fat by increasing thermogensis from 8 – 10% to 35 – 43%.
    • Contains 5 times more L-theanine, an amino acid which helps with neurological activities, than standard green tea.

    Lemon, Pepper & Ginger Water

    • Lemon juice and cayenne pepper are both immune boosters; the extra vitamin C helps your immune system cope when you’re stressed
    • They’re also natural detoxifiers; lemon helps stimulate the liver to remove toxins and cayenne helps your body sweat them out
    • Lemons aid digestion and can help soothe indigestion
    • Lemon also helps fight hunger and sugar cravings
    • Cayenne pepper improves blood and lymphatic circulation so your cells get more nutrients
    • Lemon is packed with antioxidants that keep your skin healthy
    • Lemon water can help fight gingivitis and keep your breath fresh
    • If you’re trying to cut caffeine in the morning, a mug of hot lemon water can help you wean off
    • Lemon water can help your body beat viral infections like strep throat
    • Lemons have been shown to calming to the body; drinking lemon water can help ease anxiety and depression

    Ingredients

    • Glass of water, or mug of hot water
    • 1/2 lemon
    • Dash cayenne pepper
    • A few chopped ginger slices (optional)
    • 1 tablespoon honey (optional)

    Instructions

    1. Squeeze half of a lemon and add a dash of cayenne pepper to your water and stir. Add in ginger and honey if desired.

    This article originally appeared at: https://healingfoodie.wordpress.com/2016/09/30/start-low-and-slow/.

  • How to Grow Your Own Turmeric

    If you saw a list of all the ways herbalists use turmeric to help improve people’s health, it would be so extensive you might think it unbelievable. Learning Herbs shares insight on turmeric. 
    How to Grow your own turmeric. It is FAR better than buying it

    To grow turmeric indoors, just follow these simple steps:

    1. Break a larger rhizome into  a small rhizome piece that has two or three buds.

    2. Fill the pots with rich organic soil, which is lightly moist but well drained. The ideal pH ranges from 6.0 to 7.8.

    3. Place it about two inches below the surface of the soil, with the buds facing up.

    3. Water the container.

    That’s all there is to it!

    Turmeric likes water. So try watering it once every two days. In order to stimulate new root growth you want the soil to become slightly dry between watering without letting it become bone dry at any point. Plants naturally send out roots to search for water when conditions become too dry. If you space out watering to once every two days you can encourage new growth by stimulating this “sense” while keeping your soil adequately moist.

     

    How to Harvest Turmeric

    Turmeric takes between 6 to 10 months for the edible rhizomes to mature.  Harvesting is easy, just dig up the entire plant including the roots.

    Cut the needed amount off a finger at the edge of the pot and then return the soil.

    Turmeric is a perennial herb plant that re-shoots every spring; it will continue to produce roots.

    How to Use Turmeric

    More about the Health Benefits of Turmeric

    mail 

  • Always plants flowers in your vegetable garden

    Growing your own food is the best way to insure you know what’s ON your food. As the snow continues to fall, our thoughts turn to garden planning and seed starting. If you’re still growing flowers and vegetables on opposite sides of your yard, it’s time rethink your garden plan. Companion planting flowers and vegetables in the same beds is a strategy professional growers use to boost yields and keep crops healthy, and it’s easy and beneficial for beginners to do, too. (Whether you’re starting your first garden or switching to organic, Rodale’s Basic Organic Gardening has all the answers and advice you need—get your copy today!)

    Maggie Saska, plant production specialist at the Rodale Institute organic farm, says the most important reason to grow flowers in your vegetable bed is to attract native bees and other beneficial insects. Without bees stopping by your garden to snack on nectar and swap pollen around, you’re going to have a pretty disappointing crop. Plus, planting bee-friendly flowers near your vegetables also supports struggling pollinator populations and biodiversity. You can also plant flowers specifically to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and other desirable species.

    (You may have also heard that some flowers help vegetables out by repelling pests—a popular example is that growing marigolds next to melons controls nematodes in the soil that destroy the melons’ roots. If you’re interested, you can learn more about this practice in Great Garden Companions.)  

    Our local seed providers can seeds and advice to help you get started.  Here’s information about Boise and the Treasure Valley. Share your favorite resources in your part of the state!

    Get locally grown NON GMO seeds:

  • What is Kefir?

    Kefir’s tart and refreshing flavor is similar to a drinking-style yogurt, but it contains beneficial yeast as well as friendly ‘probiotic’ bacteria found in yogurt. The naturally occurring bacteria and yeast in kefir combine symbiotically to give superior health benefits when consumed regularly. It is loaded with valuable vitamins and minerals and contains easily digestible complete proteins.

    For the lactose intolerant, kefir’s abundance of beneficial yeast and bacteria provide lactase, an enzyme which consumes most of the lactose left after the culturing process.

    How is Kefir Made?

    Kefir can be made from any type of milk, cow, goat or sheep, coconut, rice or soy. Although it is slightly mucous forming, the mucous has a “clean” quality to it that creates ideal conditions in the digestive tract for the colonization of friendly bacteria.

    Kefir is made from gelatinous white or yellow particles called “grains.” This makes kefir unique, as no other milk culture forms grains. These grains contain the bacteria/yeast mixture clumped together with casein (milk proteins) and complex sugars. They look like pieces of coral or small clumps of cauliflower and range from the size of a grain of wheat to that of a hazelnut. Some of the grains have been known to grow in large flat sheets that can be big enough to cover your hand!. The grains ferment the milk, incorporating their friendly organisms to create the cultured product. The grains are then removed with a strainer before consumption of the kefir and added to a new batch of milk.

    This article originally appeared at: http://www.kefir.net/what-is-kefir/.