The Blessings of International Commerce

   Our forefathers ate much better than we do today. Their food was less processed and fresher. They enjoyed fresh vegetables and fruits in season, and preserved what they could to get them through the winter. We can do the same today, but we are blessed with the gifts of international commerce. We can get fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the entire year because of the differing growing seasons around the world. Just think, it would have been difficult to have orange juice or a banana for breakfast 150 years ago. I live in upstate NY which is rich in farmland and orchards. My wife and I enjoy many fruits and vegetables throughout the late spring through autumn. The farms here produce many wonderful edibles. But, you would be hard pressed to find pineapple, mango, papaya or citrus fruits from our local farms. Commerce brings these sought after products to the cool northeast.

   And the country and world around us benefits from the apples, peaches, pears, cabbage and other produce that our area grows. Our area also produces lots of milk, which of course is turned into so many other dairy products.

   Commerce also allows us to experiment, if we wish, with so many international and ethnic foods and dishes. I think it is wonderful the vast diversity that commerce allows us to experience in our stores. Our local supermarket proudly displays their selection of produce, cheeses from around the world and lots of natural and organic foods and produce.

 

   Often, people look at commerce as evil and greedy. There may be some of that, but we also gain some incredible blessings from it. I wish you all good health and an energetic life.

 

Listening can be difficult

   I have been doing my best to listen to my body when it tries to let me know what is good and what is not, but honestly, listening can be difficult. My weight has stagnated over the last couple of months and I have yet to understand what my body needs to get my weight loss kick started again. I am seeking the loss of another 30 pounds. Weight plateaus are common and there are several recommendations on how to break through them. I have increased my calorie intake for a few days hoping to convince my body that it no longer needs to conserve energy (fat). I have increased exercise, which is a good thing, to try to increase my metabolism, but that hasn’t seemed to work either. I increased my leafy green vegetable intake, especially spinach and kale, and have been dealing with a mild case of diarrhea for the past couple of weeks. I am taking probiotics and eating a bland diet to combat the diarrhea, and that is working.

 

   So, I have not figured it out, but that just reinforces that each of us is different. We each have our own needs tailored to our own metabolism and sensitivities. I will be adding in different foods slowly to determine which might be bothering me. Life is an experiment, and I am enjoying this one, even if it is a little difficult to read what my body is trying to tell me.

Spinach and Kale

   I buy packaged baby spinach / baby kale mix. It is one of my favorite combinations of dark leafy greens. Most know that dark leafy greens are good for you, but these two together provide a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. Both are rich in Vitamins A, B-complex, C, E and K, and minerals like manganese, magnesium, iron, copper, potassium and even calcium.

   Both greens are modest in calories, but each calorie is very dense in nutrition.  There are more than a dozen different flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents. Kale has many of the same properties and even more Vitamin K than spinach. Kale has at least 45 different antioxidant flavonoids. This is likely to be the key to kale’s cancer preventive benefits.

   I am not sure how much Popeye knew about his favorite food, but the truth of it was not far off. Both spinach and kale are superfoods, delivering vast nutrition, great health benefits and good taste. While I don’t think it will allow you to pick up large objects, like Popeye did, it will make you healthier and stronger.

   When it comes to kale, I choose the younger, smaller leaves. They are more tender and have a more mild flavor than the larger leaves. Older kale can be bitter. I tend to shy away from bitter foods. Mixing the baby kale with baby spinach makes for a mild and delicious serving of the vital greens.

   One caveat though, both spinach and kale contains oxalates. When oxalates become too concentrated in body fluids, they can crystallize and cause health problems, this is especially true for persons with existing and untreated kidney and gallbladder problems. Persons with existing and untreated kidney and gallbladder problems may want to avoid eating spinach and kale. Oxalates occur in many foods. Our bodies even create them. So you should not be afraid to eat spinach or kale unless you suffer from the afflictions previously mentioned or eat a lot of high oxalate containing foods.

 

   Good food and good health to you.

Adding Veggies to Breakfast

Most of us do not think of having vegetables for breakfast, except for maybe a flavor ingredient in an omelet. But you can add vegetables to your morning meal as more than a flavor ingredient.

Shredded savoy cabbage lightly sauteed in garlic and herb butter with black pepper provides a low glycemic treat that has hints of citric taste. It is a fresh and lively taste.

Add broccoli florets, celery, and onion along with chopped chicken sausage to scrambled eggs to give you a crust free quiche, especially with shredded three, four or five cheese blends.

Microwaved sweet potato, cubedm then lightly sauteed with apple pieces and cooked crumbled sausage makes a super treat in the morning. Spinkle it with cinnamon just before it comes out of the pan.

Of course, there are many vegetable juices you can choose from as well.

Do you enjoy vegetables for breakfast? How do you make your breakfast fresh and delicious with these nutrient rich foods?