Pork Loin & Carrots, Broc, Cauliflower

In the crock pot yesterday I cooked a pork loin in a cup of water, a chopped onion, onion powder, and gluten free soy sauce.  I brouht a helping of that in tupperware to the office today. Threw a bag of frozen veggies in the microwave, then mixed in with my meat. Yum. It was the perfect lunch for a cold drafty day.

I hope to eat on that pork for the next few meals. Then I have some ground beef to do something with as well. I went ahead and cooked the meat and then when I get my veggies chopped, I just warm it up and flavor it however. (I'm not too great at the spice part....learning).

Time Flies

I currently do not have a computer set up at home and life has been crazy, so I’ve not blogged much lately…or..this year…

A friend of mine is leaving for a 2 week stay at a clinic next week, where they will begin her 4 year old on a ketogenic diet in efforts to treat his epilepsy.  I’m excited to learn more about the links between this diet and the disease, and will post more recipes when I hear more from her. Not that I'm going to do the ketogenic diet, but I think "if she can do this for a super active, picky 4 year old, I can prepare healthy meals for myself..a grown woman"

Due to several struggles this past year, one being capsular shift surgery on my right shoulder, I’ve gained 10+ lbs.. I’ve been tempted to try one of these trendy diets at some local medspa,..trust me…tempted…but have decided to give crossfit and the sugar detox a try first. It is the least I can do. It may not come off fast, and it sure as hell won’t be easy, but what comes off will stay off if I do it the right way.  I literally cannot fasten my wedding gown right now. My closest friends and family will all see me and I will see these wedding pictures for the rest of my life.

Here is the link below.  This weekend I stocked up on ground beef, brown rice (not the instant kind), canned black beans, tons of frozen veggies, etc.  I can’t quite nix the sugar in my coffee at work, so I’ve found a brand of coffee that I like better, and have brought that to the office. It’s more expensive, but everyone likes it, and it’ll help me avoid sugar. I also found some hot teas so sip on. In my desk drawer I Have some sunflower seeds and roasted almonds and pecans.

http://www.rosecole.com/wwrhandouts/21%20day%20detox.pdf

"Miracle Diet" treats Epilepsy

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57440950-10391704/understanding-epilepsy-miracle-diet-may-lead-to-better-treatments-scientists-say/

"Miracle Diet helps Epilepsy

(CBS News) Children with epilepsy who don't respond well to anti-seizure medications are sometimes treated with a strict "ketogenic diet" that's high in fats and low in carbohydrates, including foods like bacon, hot dogs, butter and eggs.
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, the diet is so effective for some kids that they can go off "keto" for a few years and remain seizure-free. In 2010, the New York Times profiled the diet as "Epilepsy's Big Fat Miracle" and despite being prescribed at more than 100 hospitals around the country, researchers weren't exactly sure how it worked - until now.
In a new study of mice, researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School in Boston have found that a child's ability to stave off seizures is tied to a protein that affects metabolism in the brain. The protein, so-called BCL-2-associated Agonist of Cell Death, or BAD, also regulates metabolism of glucose.
The researchers discovered that by modifying this, they switched metabolism in brain cells from glucose to ketone bodies, which are fat byproducts.
"It was then that we realized we had come upon a metabolic switch to do what the ketogenic diet does to the brain without any actual dietary therapy," study author Dr. Alfredo Gimenez-Cassinam a research fellow at Dana-Farber, said in a news release.
The researchers used genetically modified mice to alter the BAD protein to increase ketone metabolism in the brain, and seizures in mice decreased. The findings suggest the BAD Protein could be a promising target for future epilepsy drugs. The study is published in the May 24th issue of the journal Neuron.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by repeated seizures, likened to electrical storms in the brain, that can appear as convulsions, loss of motor control, or loss of consciousness.
"I've met a lot of kids whose lives are completely changed by this diet," study co-author Dr. Gary Yellen, professor of neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, said in a university news release. Yellen was introduced to the ketogenic diet through his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Thiele, who directs the Pediatric Epilepsy Program at MassGeneral Hospital for Children. "Diets in general are hard, and this diet is really hard," said Yellen, "So finding a pharmacological substitute for this would make lots of people really happy."
About two in 100 people will experience a seizure at some point in their lives, according to the Mayo Clinic, and at least two unprovoked seizures often are required to diagnose epilepsy. Anti-seizure medications such are often prescribed and brain surgery is a possibility for some people whose seizures originate in a small, well-defined area of the brain not involved with vital processes. Some children may even outgrow the condition with age.
The Mayo Clinic has more on epilepsy."



The basic differences between "keto" and Paleo is the measuring and ratios.  Paleo is all about all natural, nurishing food with high nutrient values; anything a caveman would eat, and not eating anything a caveman wouldn't.  Ketogenic is similar to Atkins in that you allow so few carbs you begin to burn fat; and more importantly, your brain is able to run off of ketones, a byproduct of burning fat for energy. The keto diet requires more fat than Atkins.  And the keto diet turns the human body into a "manufacturing" plant that runs just like the caveman's body did. 

Why Do We Eat Poison?

A chiropractor I visited had a window box on his wall with happymeals that were purchased years ago.  They hadn't changed. Scary, huh?  Just what are you eating? Or worse, feeding your innocent, defenseless children?

I've heard most of the info on this poster below, but haven't researched all of it to see that it's really legit.  I've also heard horror stories, like graves that have been dug up and researchers found that the cadavars haven't decomposed because they ate so many preservatives. This wasn't a problem 50 years ago. True? Possibly. Google it and let me know what you find out about additives we are ingesting on a daily basis. Today's topic - research. Ask questions. You know junk food is bad for you. Find out why.

Paleo Pizza Crust!

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=249048

Here is the link to a recipe for cauliflower pizza crust. I’m super excited so I’m posting now, but I plan on posting pictures and a review (and my grocery bill!) this weekend as soon as I can try it. There are so many recipes I’ve wanted to try and I’ve been SLAMMED. I can not wait for the 3 day weekend.  Stay tuned!

Minutes to Prepare: 15

Minutes to Cook: 20

Number of Servings: 4

Ingredients

Cauliflower, frozen, cooked, riced, 1 cup
Egg, fresh, 1 large
Cheddar Cheese, 1 cup, shredded
Fennel, 1/2 tsp
Oregano, ground, 1 tsp
Parsley, dried, 2 tsp

Directions

Rice or finely chop the cauliflower. Beat egg, add the cauliflower, and shredded cheese. Mix, then press into a greased pizza pan then sprinkle with the spices. Bake at 450 for 12 to 15 minutes. If you double the recipe cook 15 to 20 minutes.

Add desired pizza topping (not included in nutritional info) such as red sauce, mushrooms, green pepper, onions, cheese, etc. Bake until brown and cheese is bubbly.

This makes four pieces.

Cucumber Snack 90% Paleo

Cucumbers and dill make a great combination, but this salad is tasty with just cucumbers, too.  Serves 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

·         1 seedless cucumber (long and skinny, slightly bumpy), or 2 American cucumbers

·         3 Tbsp cider or white vinegar

·         1 Tbsp sugar

·         ¼ tsp each salt and freshly ground black pepper

·         1 small red onion, sliced and broken into rings (optional)

·         3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, (leaves from 1 lg. stalk) (optional)

Preparation:

Wash the cucumber(s). If you have unwaxed, seedless cucumbers you can leave part or all of the skin on in strips (attractive when sliced), all others should be peeled. Using a mandolin or a food processor with the thin slicer attachment, slice the cucumber very thin.

Place the vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a serving bowl and whisk until the sugar dissolves completely. Add the cucumber, onion, and dill, if using, and toss well. Marinate for 5 or more minutes and serve.

Sausage and Cabbage

Beef Sausage $2.88 (you can use any kind you want).

Red Onion $1.69

Head of Cabbage – Around 3 dollars.

Meal for 4 under $8.

Cut the sausage into large pieces and placed in a hot pot to crisp up for a few minutes. Once I’d turned the pieces and browned all sides I took them out and placed the chopped red onion in to soften. Once that was tender I threw in the entire head of cabbage that I’d cut into strips. I added a few spoons of bacon fat, some salt and pepper. 

There are several variations of this. I’ve seen it with red wine or red wine vinegar.  I like the cabbage kind of crisp since it makes me feel like I’m eating pasta or something crunchy. ( :

Takes about 20 minutes and smells amazing.

I threw away the core of the cabbage but Diana said she has chopped this up and and made it into a salad by adding oil and vinegar, salt and pepper.  I'll have to try this next time!