On Saturday I tested cultured dairy (yogurt, kefir, cultured cream cheese, cultured sour cream). I thought I was fine until I woke up with terrible stomach pains at 3 AM and couldn’t go back to sleep until 5 AM. I decided to continue on and test regular dairy on Sunday. I drank a glass of raw milk with breakfast and immediately my ears plugged up. With lunch I had cottage cheese and by the end of the day I’d caught my kids cold. I felt terrible. The problem, or rather the question, is was I getting sick anyway or was it a reaction to the dairy? A third possibility is that the dairy weakened my immune system enough to allow the cold to break through.

On Monday I decided to take the day off from testing and ate my usual Elimination Diet. I took a nap and felt perfect.

Tuesday I tested wheat. And, by that afternoon was feeling sick again. Just cold symptoms along with being very tired. I got a good nights sleep, woke up with a sore throat and feeling stuffy, but decided to give my system a break, and go back on the Elimination Diet again for the day. Oddly enough, by noon I felt perfect again.

I’m finding it difficult to discern what exactly is going on so I am going to go ahead and test soy tomorrow and then re-test dairy, eggs, and wheat over the next 5-7 days (depending on how it goes).

All in all I have to say that this diet has been a good thing. It’s really given me the opportunity to take a close look at why I eat or drink certain foods. For instance, I miss coffee SO much. I have missed it every single day. But it’s not about the caffeine, as I only drink decaf. I’ve found that I miss my routines, and I miss the comfort that a warm cup of coffee brings me with that first sip. I also miss being able to go out to lunch or just pick something quick up at the store if I find myself starving (raw nuts are all I have in this department). It’s really less about the taste and more about feelings that go along with that taste.

If you have allergies, aches and pains that won’t go away, intestinal issues (diverticulosis, gas, digestion issues), heartburn, have been on a diet but can’t seem to lose weight, I recommend talking with your Naturopath or MD about trying an elimination diet. Our bodies are completely capable of healing themselves unless we are constantly undermining that effort with foods that feed the problem instead of the cure. It is a commitment that isn’t easy, but do the work now and you’ll be glad you did.

I have an oil for that!  Asthma, varicose veins, weight loss, acid reflux, kidney infections, how about depression, anxiety, anger, and sleeplessness- I have an oil for those too.

With essential oils you can have an effective remedy for most of your family’s health care needs.  This doesn’t mean you won’t still visit your doctor.  When my son’s arm was badly broken we were thankful for a good hospital and talented surgeon.  However when my mother was considering a $1600 treatment for varicose veins she was more than happy to forgo the procedure when she heard me say, “I have an oil for that!”

Essential oils had to work in real ways for my family before I would encourage anyone else to use them and they have.  My husband now uses an essential oil blend instead of his inhaler when he feels an asthma attack coming on.  My step-dad successfully uses oils for acid reflux and thanks to essential oils I no longer get frustrated and depressed in the depths of Alaska’s winter darkness.

Here is how they work

Cypress has vasoconstricting properties, lemongrass is an analgesic and anti-inflammatory, and helichrysum is primarily used for tissue repair.  A few drops of these oils rubbed up the legs twice daily can heal and restore varicose veins.

Breathe is doTerra’s blend of laurel leaf, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemon and ravensara.  A few drops rubbed on the hands then inhaled can release and relieve the tissues of the airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles.

The olfactory system is closely connected to the limbic system of the brain.  The limbic system includes long-term memory, emotions, the autonomic nervous system, and hormones.  Because of this close relationship essential oils can have substantial effects on mood and the ability to release stress.

Just smelling citrus oils puts a smile on my face.  Some of the largest pores in the body are on the bottoms of our feet so a drop of roman chamomile or vetiver rubbed on absorbs quickly into the blood stream and puts me right to sleep.

These are just a few examples of the many uses for essential oils.  With a little practice and a few oils on hand you will confidently be saying, “I have and oil for that!”

To learn more visit my website http://www.mydoterra.com/farrahc/

or follow my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Farrahs-doTerra/200050143410455

I am happy to answer any questions about essential oils at farrahdoterra@yahoo.com

Creamy Vanilla Almond Milk

1 cup raw almonds

3 cups filtered water

1-3 pinches of sea salt

1 vanilla bean or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Soak almonds overnight in filtered water. Drain and rinse. Add almonds, water, salt and vanilla bean (whole with stem removed or the inner scrapings) to blender (I use a Vitamix in the video). Blend well and strain using multiple layers of cheesecloth. Or, run mixture through a juicer. Save pulp for use as almond flour in muffins, cakes, pancakes, etc. Chill before servings.

Optional additions:

Sweeten with honey or stevia

Grate fresh cinnamon or nutmeg on top

Dust with carob powder

Blend 2 dates into the final milk to sweeten. This can be strained again if desired.

Refrigerate any unused almond milk and/or flour.

* In the video I reference using the almond paste/flour/milk by-product in your muffins, pancakes, etc. Although, you can eat the entire vanilla bean I found that it imparts a bitter flavor which would easily be remedied by simply scraping the interior of the bean into the almond/ice/salt mixture.

If you have arthritis, what hurts is when it is inflamed. If you’re suffering from allergies inflammation is responsible for the flair up. So the question becomes, what is causing the inflammation in the first place? It’s not an easy answer because what causes my own allergies/headaches/arthritis/pain in lower back may be completely different than what causes your allergies/headaches/arthritis/pain in lower back.

That’s where an Elimination Diet comes in.

I’m on week two of an Elimination Diet. “Elimination” meaning, take every food that you ever loved, relied on, or didn’t know was in every single thing on the grocery store shelf, and put it on the “DO NOT EAT” list. Grains of any kind were the first to go. Cutting out grains wasn’t the hard part. I’ve haven’t eaten many grains for the better part of a year. But add to that eggs, dairy, beef, citrus, coffee, caffeinated or decaf tea, soy, starches (potatoes), and any kind of sugar and you’ve got a mighty narrow scope. A better way to summarize the diet is by what I can eat: chicken, fish (no shellfish), beans, vegetables, small amount of fruit, and fats. Oh yes, and herbal tea.

The point of the Elimination Diet is not actually the elimination part. It’s the adding back/testing part that is where you get answers.

Breakfast has been particularly difficult. My children, who already think I’m crazier than Gary Busey for eating sauerkraut and chard and spinach smoothies for breakfast, now look at me pitifully and say “Oh mommy, you’re eating that for breakfast?” Apparently lentil curry isn’t on their “delicious breakfast” menu. Mine either. I’m ready for an egg!

The point of the Elimination Diet is not actually the elimination part. It’s the adding back/testing part that is where you get answers. For two weeks you don’t eat whatever your MD/Naturopath puts on your Do Not Eat list. At the beginning of the third week any antibodies that you may have to a certain food are all lined up ready to react. If you wait much longer those antibodies will go away and you likely won’t get the strong reaction when you start testing foods.

The point is to start testing foods to see if you have any reaction. Generally you start with something like wheat. Just plain wheat, not bread that has all sorts of other things in it, but something like Wheatena. You eat quite a bit for breakfast, and if you don’t have any symptoms (allergies, intestinal distress, back pain- wherever your inflammation lies) then you eat some for lunch and then again for dinner. If you don’t have any reaction to that particular food you can move on to another. Maybe egg whites, maybe another grain, soy. You cannot continue to eat wheat or anything else on the “test list” until you are done testing all foods (that are potential allergens for you).

The reason why I decided to give this whole thing a try is because, like many of you, I struggle with my own health issues. I’m always looking for answers and trying to figure out how obtain optimal health.

I’m almost to week three where I get to test! I’ll keep you posted on how it’s going and what foods I’m testing.

I live in the friendliest town ever.  We share well and that extends to the flu, colds, and sinus infections.  My family used to get every sickness that came through- sometimes twice.  No thanks.  I wanted to opt out and found the way with a powerful blend of essential oils from doTerra.

Essential oils are harvested from plants on every continent and have been used medicinally throughout history.  Far from being just another alternative health care trend, pure essential oils are potent and effective; with literally trillions of molecules just one drop can assist every cell in the human body.   doTerra means gift of the earth and these oils are just that.

doTerra’s OnGuard  (a lovely combination of cinnamon, clove, orange, eucalyptus, and rosemary oil blend), is being used in hospitals to fight staff, MRSA, and other antibiotic resistant super bugs.  I rub a drop of OnGuard, onto the bottom of family’s feet daily during cold and flu season and now instead of sharing in that aspect of my generous community I have a wonderful wellness option to contribute.

Blends like OnGuard are just the tip of the ice berg.  There is an essential oil for every health concern I have come across.  You don’t have to be an expert to get started.  All pure therapeutic grade essential oils contain oxygen molecules that help transport nutrients to the cells.  So starting with a common oil such as peppermint, often used for digestive issues and respiratory function, also gives you the restorative, oxygenating, and immune building benefits inherent in all essential oils.  That is good news for everyone!

There are many companies that sell essential oils.  I did my research and chose doTerra because of their commitment to sustainable farming and an absolutely pure product.  Whatever you choose make sure the oil you purchase is free of synthetic fillers and safe for internal use as well as topical.

To learn more visit my website http://www.mydoterra.com/farrahc/

or follow my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Farrahs-doTerra/200050143410455

I am happy to answer any questions about essential oils at farrahdoterra@yahoo.com

WHAT IS CHOFFY?

Choffy is brewed chocolate made from 100% premium organic cacao beans that have been roasted and ground. It brews just like coffee (a french press is suggested) but doesn’t contain caffeine or any man-made stimulants.

It’s vegan, gluten free, and low in calories.

The Good: Since I’ve been on an elimination diet recently and coffee, tea and chocolate have been banned from gracing my lips, I truly enjoyed the luxurious smell and warmth of a cup of Choffy.

This is a great option for the health conscience or anyone who is trying to wean themselves off of sugar or caffeine. It’s very high in antioxidants, contains the naturally derived, heart healthy stimulant Theobromine that won’t kick you to the curb when it’s worn off, and even contains naturally occurring “bliss” chemicals which can affect mood, appetite, and feelings of alertness.

Choffy reminds me very much of cacao nibs; smoky, with the bitter undertone that dark chocolate also tends to finish with. It’s vegan, gluten free, and low in calories.

The Bad: I went into tasting Choffy with many expectations. The name alone tells me that I should expect chocolate and coffee, and it did indeed have tones of both coffee and chocolate. However, the product is described as “rich, robust, and bold.” The aroma is all of those things. Every time I make it my daughter says “Something smells like brownies.” And it does.

The smell alone made me think I was about to have a sip of something decadent and rich, something that was a deep dark coffee with a chocolate flavor. Instead, Choffy is delicate, more like a dark chocolate tea. I’ve had a few tries at chocolate teas and never once could have picked them out as “chocolate” if the label hadn’t claimed that’s the flavor I was supposed to taste.

The Bottom Line

Choffy is the perfect chocolate tea. I tried both the (original formula) Ivory Coast and Mamberamo and preferred the Ivory Coast as it had a deeper, more coffee-ish flavor. Although the directions called for 2 Tablespoons of Choffy per 6 oz. of water, I found that I preferred 4 Tablespoons to 8 oz. of water, brewed in a french press.

Beautifully packaged, CHOFFY is definitely a unique product that is a perfect Valentines day gift for that special health-nut in your life.

Choffy is offering Valentines Day Specials!

Free Shipping On:

Any 48 oz. french press set

New 12 oz. variety set (one of each of their 3 flavors)

Another toxic ingredient found in plastics is Phthalates. Phthalates are what make plastics flexible and are in everything from PVC to plastic bags to personal care products. Phthalates are a known endocrine disruptor that specifically disrupt the hormone testosterone and has been associated with abdominal obesity and insulin resistance in men.

Definition of the Endocrine System

The endocrine system is in charge of our hormones. It is made up of glands (such as thyroid, pituitary, pancreas) that produce and secrete hormones. These hormones regulate the body’s growth, metabolism, sexual development and function. When we see things like our baby boys being born with smaller sexual organs, and our girls starting puberty as young as 8, and women getting breast cancer at staggering levels, we know that we ‘d better sit up and take notice.

Scientists are finding that these endocrine disruptors, that mimic hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, are negatively impacting our health, and the health of our children. Our level of exposure isn’t always something that we can control. We are not only being exposed to BPA and phthalates in this area but most of us live in a home that (at the very least) has flexible PVC pipe that takes our water from the supply line in the wall up to the faucet. This isn’t something we can easily change. So let’s take a look at something we can.

Plastic Leaches

There are many different types of plastics out there, some claiming to be a better choice, some as known offenders. The problem occurs when, and under which circumstances, that plastic comes into contact with our food. One thing we know for sure is that plastic leaches. And, if that plastic is touching your beverage or food when it leaches, then you’re eating plastic.

Plastic leaches when it:

1.       Is heated (microwaved) (pre-cut veggies to be steamed)(hot soup poured into Ziploc bags)

2.       Is exposed to light (water bottle left in a car)

3.       Comes into contact with fatty or acidic foods (potato salad or tomato sauce stored in a plastic bag/container).

4.       Has wear and tear marks (bite marks on a sippy cup lid, old Tupperware from grandma)

Whether its BPA free, expensive Tupperware, or disposable it’s important to remember that plastic is plastic is plastic. If it’s exposed to the aforementioned elements it’s likely to leach.

Let’s go back to BPA for a minute

So we’ve bought the BPA- free water bottle and sippy cup and that’s a really good start. But does anyone know the #1 way that we are exposed to BPA? Canned foods! The lining is coated with BPA because there has to be some barrier between the aluminum and the food.

We are being inundated with endocrine disruptors in so many areas, including our environment, that if there is an area, such as plastic, where we can take control and make a positive impact, then it’s worth doing.

Alternatives to Plastic

Plastic wrap

Plastic wrap is plastic. If you are covering a warm bowl of mashed potatoes or covering a bowl of soup whilst warming it up in the microwave and it is touching your food, it is likely leaching. Melted plastic wrap in your soup is not a tasty side dish!

I do have plastic wrap in my house. I only buy Glad Cling Wrap brand or Natural Value because it does not contain plasticizers or PVC (this means no Phthalates).

Alternatives: Instead of using plastic wrap to cover your food try using a plate. Plates often fit nicely on top of bowls and cut down on waste and exposure to plastic.

Cover food with a paper towel, a piece of natural waxed paper, parchment paper, or a silicone trivet before putting it in the microwave.

Convenience foods

Frozen meals usually come surrounded in plastic. Since they are going in either the microwave or oven, that plastic is likely leaching.

Alternative: Pre-freeze your own meals or take them out of the plastic container and microwave or bake that same food in a glass container.

Pre-cut veggies ready to steam in plastic bags-

Alternative:  You can still buy these but steam in your rice cooker, in the microwave using glass container and a plate on top, or on top of the stove.

Pre-cut apples from Costco- marinating in plastic for who knows how long

Alternative: Cut up apples, sprinkle on a little citric acid (cheapest in bulk section at Fred Meyer) or lemon juice and store in glass.

Baby food

If you buy pre-packaged baby food avoid the kind sold in plastic containers and go for the glass

Storing food we make at home

If you make your own baby food:

Re-using baby food jars is not recommended (by Gerber). The glass is not thick enough to be frozen and freezing can cause tiny shards of glass to shed in your babies food.

Alternatives: Freeze in ice cube trays (There are stainless steel ice cube trays to be found. If you use plastic be sure to cool the food down completely before putting in the ice cube tray) then put in glass containers or plastic bags.

Soup and Sauces

When you go to the trouble of making a lovely soup at home (maybe you’ve even spent extra on organic ingredients) think about how you store it. Do you want to then put it into a plastic bag? Handy, but if it’s warm it’s going to cause that plastic to leach. If it’s acidic (tomatoes in it) it’s going to cause it to leach. If it’s got fat in it (oil, meat) it’s going to leach.

Alternative: Pyrex glass containers

This is my favorite option. With glass one can spend a lot of money or a little. Pyrex is a really sturdy, reliable brand that comes in perfect shapes and sizes, with lids (plastic- but BPA free) that make storing leftovers as easy as if using plastic. The only difference is that it can safely go from freezer to microwave to oven, to dishwasher, making it very versatile. Because the lid is plastic, it is a good idea to make sure that the food isn’t so high in the bowl that it’s touching the lid. Always remove the lid before microwaving.

Where to buy and Price: There are deals out there on Pyrex. I see it at Target in sets for as little as $18. Costco has a nice set for a reasonable price, but you can also find Pyrex at outlet stores, and online.

Canning jars- are another great choice and generally a very inexpensive option. Stores now sell screw-on plastic lids that fit on either wide mouth or standard canning jars. Try to get the jars with straight sides, versus curved, as they are less likely to explode (from expanding) in the freezer. Not only can you store your freezer jam in these but they are perfect for storing any type of leftover whether it’s in the freezer or refrigerator.

*Note- I have had the quart sized jars break more often than not, even if I leave a lot of head space at the top. I suggest only using the pint sized straight jars and refrigerating before putting in the freezer.

Where to buy and Price: These are downright cheap! Check your local thrift store, Freecycle, or ask your neighbors if they’ve got any they’d like to be rid of. You’ll find the lids at the grocery store alongside the containers.

Ikea has some really great glass storage options. They’re relatively inexpensive and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.  TJ Maxx, Ross and Marshalls are a fabulous place to find all sorts of glass and stainless steel options.

Beverage Containers

Sippy Cups, bottles and water bottles-

If you buy plastic sippy cups, bottles or water bottles then be sure to buy the kind that are BPA free. Some even offer Phthalate-free. However, I’m still careful not to let beverages, in particular milk and juices, sit in anything plastic for long. I much prefer Stainless steel.

Stainless steel- Don’t be fooled by stainless steel water bottles that say BPA free. Unless they’re talking about the lid this means the water bottle is most likely aluminum and has been lined with a plastic, which doesn’t contain BPA, but is still plastic. If I wanted a plastic lining I would have bought a BPA free water bottle so be sure it says “stainless steel.”

Pro’s – Don’t leach, don’t break

Con’s- Expensive, can be obnoxious to clean (I only get the wide mouth kind)

Glass- They do sell glass water bottles now. They’re fine for adults but you can’t really send your kid to school with a glass water bottle. Instead of buying a glass water bottle, enjoy a Snapple or iced tea (I like Honest Tea) and reuse the bottle. That way if it gets lost, broken or if you get sick of cleaning it you just trot off to the store, plunk down another $1.50 and enjoy yourself another treat. Keep in mind that whatever you buy may very well flavor your water for weeks to come.

Reusable bags

Lunch items and snacks like Goldfish crackers, dried fruit, nuts, cut-up veggies, even sandwiches don’t need to be stored in plastic baggies. There are really ingenious options out there right now for food on the go. One of my favorite places that has tons of options and reasonable prices is reusable bags.com.

Using Plastic Safely

Let’s face it, plastic is a great invention. It’s useful, it’s lightweight and it doesn’t shatter when your son drops it at baseball practice. Some ideas to make plastic more safe to use:

• Line plastic containers with parchment or wax paper or paper towel
• Store cookies in reusable plastic containers lined with parchment.
• Send cut up fruit to school in plastic bowls lined with parchment paper.

You can still use plastic for things like dry cereal and nuts. You can even use it for sandwiches and grapes. Just throw a little paper napkin in there first. It’s got dual usefulness because then the kids might think of using the napkin instead of their sleeve to wipe their jam smeared face!

Small steps have big impact

I encourage you to take a look around your kitchen. What is your food coming into contact with? Is juice (acidic) sitting in a sippy cup or plastic cup all day? Is that delicious soup you worked so hard to make marinating in a plastic Tupperware container? Is plastic wrap being put in the microwave? One small change makes a big difference. Take it one step at a time and see how you can eliminate plastic from your kitchen.

Back to the root beer!

I could buy one of the many root beer brands that are sweetened with evaporated cane sugar, but these boys are going to be at my house for 3 hours. It’s going to be enough of a whirlwind without adding a huge amount of sugar to the mix. Diet root beer is my next option but it tastes terrible and I don’t want to feed a bunch of growing boys artificial sweeteners.

The Solution!

I was perusing the Sunday paper and saw a coupon for Zevia. It’s a stevia sweetened soda, and one of my friends had recommended it to me in the past so I thought I’d give it a try. My local health food grocery store had two stevia sweetened options so I bought them both.

First we tried Blue Sky Soda. My son liked it but I thought it had that chemically taste that I find most of the processed stevia to impart. It’s sweetened with Truvia and that’s a proprietary brand of stevia that I’m not particularly fond of because it is so highly processed and tastes fake.

Zevia was next on the list. Zevia had a really nice flavor without the typical stevia after-taste. This is because the stevia that Zevia uses is “the result of a gentle, safe extraction process” which imparts “a cleaner sweet tasting product that reflects the fact that we leave less contaminating material in the finished product than was in it when we started.”  It was a hit! My son loved it, he didn’t bounce off the walls after drinking it and he still considered it a major treat. Score!

Zevia is great for those low carb diets as it has zero net carbs and is completely sugar free. Four Hour Body dieters alert: This is a MUCH healthier alternative to Tim’s daily diet soda.

Although it does contain caramel coloring, Zevia claims that it is gluten free. Zevia is perfect for diabetics and anyone trying to stay away from sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Zevia has a wide variety of flavors to choose from. Even my brand name soda pop loving husband drinks Zevia without complaint and says it’s way better than the diet soda he usually drinks! I personally can’t wait to try the orange soda this summer for homemade slushies. The caffeine free cola is excellent.

Zevia is not inexpensive. However, my Sunday paper had a $3 off coupon for a six pack, so I paid less than I would have for conventional soda. Zevia.com has a printable coupon for $1 off as well. Try different flavors and be sure to come back and comment on which flavors you liked and if there are any that we might want to skip.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to make stevia sweetened ice cream and I’ll be good to go!