The Health Benefits of Grassfed Meats

“Why Grassfed is Best!”

Consumers have been led to believe that meat is meat is meat. In other words, no matter what an animal is fed, the nutritional value of its products remains the same. This is not true. An animal’s diet can have a profound influence on the nutrient content of its products.

The difference between grainfed and grassfed animal products is dramatic.

First of all, grassfed products tend to be much lower in total fat than grainfed products. For example, a sirloin steak from a grassfed steer has about one half to one third the amount of fat as a similar cut from a grainfed steer.

When meat is this lean, it actually lowers your LDL cholesterol levels.

Because grassfed meat is so lean, it is also lower in calories.

Fat has 9 calories per gram, compared with only 4 calories for protein and carbohydrates. The greater the fat content, the greater the number of calories.

A 6-ounce steak from a grass-finished steer has almost 100 fewer calories than a 6-ounce steak from a grainfed steer.

If you eat a typical amount of beef (66.5 pounds a year), switching to grassfed beef will save you 17,733 calories a year—without requiring any willpower or change in eating habits. If everything else in your diet remains constant, you’ll lose about six pounds a year. If all Americans switched to grassfed meat, our national epidemic of obesity would begin to diminish.

Extra Omega-3s

Although grassfed meat is low in “bad” fat (including saturated fat), it gives you from two to six times more of a type of “good” fat called “omega-3 fatty acids.”

Omega-3 fatty acids play a vital role in every cell and system in your body. For example, of all the fats, they are the most “heart friendly.” People who have ample amounts of omega-3s in their diet are less likely to have high blood pressure or an irregular heartbeat. Remarkably, they are 50 percent less likely to have a serious heart attack.

Omega-3s are essential for your brain as well. People with a diet rich in omega-3s are less likely to be afflicted with depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder (hyperactivity), or Alzheimer’s disease.

Another benefit of omega-3s is that they may reduce your risk of cancer.

In animal studies, these essential fatty acids have slowed the growth of a wide array of cancers and kept them from spreading.5 Although the human research is in its infancy, researchers have shown that omega-3s can slow or even reverse the extreme weight loss that accompanies advanced cancer.6 They can also hasten recovery from cancer surgery.

Furthermore, animal studies suggest that people with cancer who have high levels of omega-3s in their tissues may respond better to chemotherapy than people with low levels. Omega-3s are most abundant in seafood and certain nuts and seeds such as flaxseeds and walnuts, but they are also found in grassfed animal products.

The reason that grassfed animals have more omega-3s than grainfed animals is that omega-3s are formed in the green leaves (specifically the chloroplasts) of plants. Sixty percent of the fat content of grass is a type of omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic or LNA.

When cattle are taken off grass and shipped to a feedlot to be fattened on grain, they lose their valuable store of LNA as well as two other types of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. Each day that an animal spends in the feedlot, its supply of omega-3s is diminished.

Eggs from pastured hens can contain as much as 20 times more omega-3s than eggs from factory hens.

Switching our livestock from their natural diet of grass to large amounts of grain is one of the reasons our modern diet is deficient in these essential fats. It has been estimated that only 40 percent of Americans consume a sufficient supply of these nutrients. Twenty percent have levels so low that they cannot be detected.11 Switching to grassfed animal products is one way to restore this vital nutrient to your diet.

The CLA Bonus The meat and milk from grassfed ruminants are the richest known source of another type of good fat called “conjugated linoleic acid” or CLA. When ruminants are raised on fresh pasture alone, their milk and meat contain as much as five times more CLA than products from animals fed conventional diets.

CLA may be one of our most potent defenses against cancer.


In humans, vitamin E is linked with a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. This potent antioxidant may also have anti-aging properties. Most Americans are deficient in vitamin E.



Thank you for reading!

Lauren

Organize Your Fridge To Keep Food Fresh Longer

PUT PRODUCE WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT, NOT HIDDEN IN THE CRISPER.


We’ve all opened up our refrigerator’s crisper drawers and found some poor bit of forgotten produce wasting away. Out of sight, out of mind.

Not only is your hard-earned money gone to waste, but also a missed opportunity for a healthier meal.

Luckily, I have a solution: Take the vegetables and fruits out of the crisper-drawer and place them front and center, where you’re more likely to see them and not forget that they are there.

I know crisper drawers are designed to keep produce fresh longer, but that only applies if you actually use them. No crisper-drawer technology is going to keep your produce edible forever. If your greens (and reds, yellows and oranges) are out where you can see them, they have a fighting chance of getting eaten before they spoil.


Make these simple swaps in your fridge to keep all of your food fresh, avoid cross-contamination and eat your healthiest:

Fruit and vegetables
Place vegetables and fruit in the middle of the fridge, with larger items toward the back and smaller ones in front, so you can see everything. Store vegetables in clear, covered, plastic storage bins to prevent ethylene-producing fruits (such as apples, pears and cantaloupe) from spoiling too soon. Lettuce can stay in plastic clamshells or in a perforated bag.

Poultry, fish and meat
Keep poultry, fish and meat in the bottom drawer. It’s a particularly cold spot; plus, if anything spills, drips won’t contaminate other items in the fridge. (Just be sure to wrap everything tightly, and clean and sanitize the drawer frequently.)

Condiments
Group condiments together on the door, the warmest part of the fridge, since they’re less likely to spoil.

Eggs and milk
Keep eggs in their cartons and place them, along with milk, on a middle or bottom shelf, ideally toward the back, where it’s colder.

A final tip: Let it breathe
Don’t over-pack your fridge. It operates best if air is allowed to circulate.



Thank you for reading!

Laurel xoxo

Coffee Bean Remedy For Dark Circles Under The Eyes

Dark circles or puffiness under the eyes are a common and aggravating problem for most people. They not only make one look older, but also tired.  As far back as I can remember, I've had dark circles under my eyes and it also seems to run in my family. I've tried creams, serums, and a variety of cover up sticks and concealers and nothing really worked for me.

Some causes for dark circles and inflammation include nasal congestion, stress, anemia, oversleeping, eczema, crying, too much salt, and excessive drinking, smoking, or sun exposure. Because dark circles are such a common problem, many cosmetic companies provide dark circle “treatment.” Some of these products contain chemicals that can harm the skin under the eyes because the skin is so fragile. Plus, a cover up isn’t needed. A healthy option is needed.

The method I use is a mixture of coffee grounds, coconut oil, and black pepper to help with my dark circles. Coffee acts like an anti-inflammatory, black pepper stimulates circulation, and the coconut oil promotes the release of the coffee and pepper oils and makes it easier for the skin to absorb them.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup ground coffee beans
coconut oil (enough to make a paste)
1/8 tsp black pepper

Directions:  
Gently take the coffee mixture and pat under the eyes and leave on for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Repeat 2 times a week.

This method is not a permanent fix and should be repeated twice a week. However, it is a natural way of removing puffy and dark circles from under the eyes. Also, coffee and black pepper are high in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to reduce aging and UV damage.

I finally saw a significant change after using it for a month!  Try it out and let me know how it works for you!


Laurel xoxo

3 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

We as a society often eat quickly, on the go, even while driving. The faster you eat the more difficult for your digestive system to digest the food you just consumed. The reason is that the saliva in your mouth contains enzymes that help to break down the food. If you barely chew your food and gulf it down, your digestive system is already in trouble and the food hasn’t even touched your gut yet. When the food does reach your gut it is not chewed enough so the enzymes in your saliva that should help break it down are not there, not to mention that the food is in larger chunks because it was chewed less. Your digestive system has to work extra hard to process this food, extract nutrients and remove waste. When you continue to eat this way, your digestive system becomes weaker over time and you are more likely to add a few pounds of fat.

The practice of mindful eating teaches you to slow down and enjoy the food, the texture, the taste, and the flavor of food. By slowing down when you eat your body actually digests food better. There are three things that you can do before you eat food every single time to enhance digestion and benefit your health.

These practices are simple and engage your body and digestive system to better handle the food you consume. If you follow these practices consistently you should noticed improved digestion, improved bowel movements and less digestive discomfort from meals or snacks.

3 Things To Do Before You Eat

1. Drink Water:

It is not recommend to drink water during your meal. The water (or any liquid) can and will interfere with digestive enzymes and acids causing your digestive system to have more difficulty digesting. If you eat healthy foods you will be eating fruits and vegetables that already contain water content and they have just the right water content to digest perfectly, so keep drinking separately from eating. You do want your body and digestive system to be hydrated before eating. This is why it is recommended that you drink water 20 minutes or so before you eat. This hydrates your body and helps to purify your digestive system to prepare for more food to digest. Drink before, not during your meals.

2. Take 9 Deep Breaths Before Eating Anything:

Deep breathing is often overlooked for it’s many health benefits. By taking approximately 9 deep breaths before eating food your body can better digest food. These deep breaths allow your body’s nervous system to be more relaxed and calm. The energy that would otherwise keep your nerves tense can now go towards your digestive organs. Deep breathing also stimulates detoxification through the lungs (in the form of carbon dioxide) as well as stimulates better lymphatic flow. When you detoxify better your body can better handle the new food load. This should be a daily practice before eating food for the many health and wellness benefits it offers.

3. Appreciate Your Food & Set An Intention:

Many cultures pray before they eat to be grateful and ask for nourishment from the food before they eat it. Intention is powerful so having a prayer or take a moment of silence to appreciate the food, even if it’s just for 5 seconds is great for your mindset before eating. Set the intention that you will eat slow, thoroughly and chew your food. If you eat slow and chew your food your body will have an easier and more beneficial experience from the food. Your body will benefit and you will get more nutritional value from what you eat simply by slowing down and chewing your food fully.

Drink water 20 minutes before eating, take 9 deep breaths before eating and say a prayer or set an intention of gratitude for your food and intend to eat slowly and mindfully so that you can chew thoroughly and fully breakdown your food and give it the enzymes that make it easier on your gut.



To healthy mindful eating!

Laurel xoxo

Harmful Ingredients Still Allowed in Our Food Today

Did you know that Unhealthy Processed Foods Outnumber Unadulterated Healthy Foods?  

Today, more than three quarters of supermarket shelves are stocked with packaged and processed foods. These boxed, canned, and frozen foods are just a part of the problem with the food supply.

Some of you already know about Monsanto and GMOs. Most people in the United States don't realize that they've been eating genetically engineered foods since the mid-1990s. More than 60 percent of all processed foods on U.S. supermarket shelves contain ingredients from engineered soybeans, corn, or canola. The GMO problem is something that I will discuss in another article because it's equally as important as the unhealthy chemicals in our food.

In total, there are more than 3,000 food chemicals purposely added to our food supply, yet avoiding them is a lot easier and more economical than you might think. You probably already know this, but the rule of thumb is that the best foods to stay healthy are unprocessed organic foods.

Here are some of the typical ingredients that are packaged, flavored and presented as food, which you should avoid.

1. TBHQ, A.K.A: Butane

Butane isn’t just for lighters anymore – it’s also an artificial antioxidant that they put it in chicken nuggets to keep them “fresh” tasting. So instead of your chicken nuggets being fresh, butane keeps them “fresh.” Eating butane probably wasn’t what you had in mind the last time you ordered those nuggets. Try homemade chicken wings instead, for fuel-free food.

Found in: Frozen, packaged or pre-made processed foods with long shelf lives such as frozen meals, crackers, chips, cereal bars and fast food.

2. BHA

This preservative is used to prevent rancidity in foods that contain oils. Unfortunately, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) has been shown to cause cancer in rats, mice, and hamsters. The reason the FDA hasn’t banned it is largely technical. Nevertheless, the study, published in the Japanese Journal of Cancer Research, concluded that BHA was “reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen,” and as far as I’m concerned, that’s reason enough to eliminate it from your diet.

Found in: Cereals, breads, crackers, snack foods, gum, pet food, make-up, lotions and soap to name a few.


3. Estrogen

Regular milk is full of hormones used by the milk industry to keep the cows estrogen in milk lactating all year round. So when you drink regular milk you take a shot of hormones with it. And all you wanted was a bowl of cereal.

Found in: All non-organic dairy, so organic is recommended.


4. Parabens

These synthetic preservatives are used to inhibit mold and yeast in food. The problem is parabens may also disrupt your body’s hormonal balance. A study in Food Chemical Toxicology found that daily ingestion decreased sperm and testosterone production in rats, and parabens have been found present in breast cancer tissues.

Found In: Beer, sauces, desserts, soft drinks, processed fish, jams, pickles, frozen dairy products, processed vegetables and flavouring syrups.


5. Propylene Glycol, A.K.A: antifreeze 

This food thickener, stabilizer, and emulsifier is derived from alginic acid esterified and combined with propylene glycol. Bear in mind that even though propylene glycol is used as a food additive, it has many industrial uses including automotive antifreezes and airport runway de-icers.

Antifreeze is used in cars, pills, cosmetics, deodorant, moisturizer and food! It keeps your car from freezing over, your moisturizer moist, and your ice cream creamy and smooth.

Found in: Cake mix, salad dressings, ice cream, flavored coffee, soda, margarine and even in dog food.


6. Caramel Colouring

The food industry treat sugar with ammonia, which can produce some nasty carcinogens. How carcinogenic are these compounds? A Center for Science in the Public Interest report asserted that the high levels of caramel color found in soda account for roughly 15,000 cancers in the U.S. annually. Another good reason to scrap soft drinks? They’re among The 20 Worst Drinks in America!

Found in: Coke/Diet Coke, Pepsi/Diet Pep


7. Aspartame

If you think you are making a healthier option because you chose to have diet soda over a regular soda drink, its time to think again. Crafty advertising may have given the term "sugar free" an impression of healthy alternative, but the truth of the matter is that chemical sweeteners are far from healthy. Aspartame is also highly addictive. The phenylalanine and methanol components increase the dopamine levels in the brain and cause a certain high. This further creates an addiction that is only made worse by the release of methyl alcohol or methanol, which is considered a narcotic.

Found in: Diet sodas, yogurts, chewing gum, cooking sauces, crisps, tabletop sweeteners, drink powders (cocoa, energy drinks), sugar-free products and cereals.


I've only listed 7 of these harmful ingredients, so you need to be wary of these additives as well:  High-fructose corn syrup, Artificial dyes, Preservatives and Trans Fat.

I make all my meals from scratch using organic ingredients. Please read all labels on foods you are buying to avoid these health risks, or better yet, buy organic whenever possible.  

Thank you for reading!  Please leave your comments and suggestions below.


Laurel xoxo

Pesticides In Produce Can't Be Just Washed off!

Most people who purchase conventionally grown produce know the importance of washing fruits and vegetables before consuming them. You would think that rinsing crop foods would help remove some of the pesticides and chemicals applied to their exterior, making them safe to eat. But, unfortunately, no amount of washing or peeling can make these foods safe. 

A different type of pesticide - systemic pesticides - are integrated into plant tissues, making the entire plant (including the part sold to consumers) poisonous to insects, fungi and other pests.

Systemic pesticides are designed for total absorption, the worse news is that they are not rare. In fact, hundreds of systemic pesticides have been developed in the past 15 years, making them the best-selling class of pesticide in the world. 

They have been used in increasingly greater frequency since 1998 with no signs of slowing down in the near future. 

Simply peeling off the thick skin of a banana or avocado is no long enough to protect us from dangerous toxic chemicals -pesticides are now in our food, not just on it!


These pesticides could be responsible for the collapse of bee colonies around the world. The U.S., however, continues to use systemic pesticides in food in great quantities. In fact, the manufacturer of thiamethoxam lobbied the EPA for fewer restrictions on its poisonous pesticide as recently as September 2014.

We continue to consume a dangerous cocktail of these toxic chemicals without information about their long-term health consequences. Clearly, we cannot rely on our government to keep our food supply free of toxic chemicals. American farmlands are contaminated with dangerous pesticides that are polluting our bodies from the inside out. 

After all, if a plant is poisonous to its predators, how could it possibly be safe for humans? 

What can you do to be safe from Pesticides?  

• It makes sense to support local (organic) farmers
• Join a CSA* 
• Grow your own chemical-free (delicious) produce.
• Buy Organic Produce

*CSA Stands for Community Supported Agriculture. CSA is a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal produce directly from a farmer in their community.


Eat healthy pesticide-free produce ~


Laurel :)

The Benefits Of An Alkaline Diet

Balance is key. And when it comes to our body’s pH levels, it’s the key to life!

pH is a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is, and our blood pH needs to maintain a slightly alkaline level to keep us healthy. We help our bodies to maintain this pH balance by eating more alkaline-forming foods and fewer acid-forming foods.

*Alkaline-forming foods include most fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds, and herbal teas.

*Acid-forming foods include most grains, beans, meats, dairy products, fish, fast foods, and processed foods.


When we eat acid-forming foods, our body works to bring our blood pH back into balance by releasing alkaline-rich minerals into our bloodstream (e.g. calcium, phosphorus and magnesium).

If we are not eating enough alkaline-forming foods, then our body has to pull these minerals from our bones, teeth and organs. This can compromise our immune system, cause fatigue and make us vulnerable to viruses and disease.

Eat a diet of 60-80% alkaline-forming foods and 20-40% acid-forming foods.

For the acid-forming foods, skip the fast-food burgers and processed foods and choose healthier options like beans, grains and other fresh foods. Pesticides tend to be acid-forming, so also choose organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible.

Easy food chart

Print these alkaline-acid food charts and keep them on the fridge for quick reference.

http://greenopedia.com/alkaline-acid-food-chart/

Laurel xoxo

Aspartame: The Most Dangerous Substance Added to Most Foods Today

I am sure you have all heard of aspartame, a chemical discovered by accident in 1965, and now used in almost every food on the market. It just so happens that it is also one of the most dangerous food additives today!

Aspartame has had a long history of legal battles, being stopped by the FDA multiple times. In fact, when reapproved, there was plenty of controversy and corruption accusations surrounding the chemical.

A brief history:

Aspartame was approved for dry goods in 1981 and carbonated beverages in 1983. It was originally approved for dry goods on July 26, 1974, but objections filed by neuroscience researcher Dr. John W. Olney and Consumer attorney James Turner in August 1974, as well as investigations of G.D. Searle’s research practices caused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to put approval of aspartame on hold (December 5, 1974). In 1985, Monsanto purchased G.D. Searle and made Searle Pharmaceuticals and The NutraSweet Company separate subsidiaries.

Aspartame was once used by the Pentagon as a biochemical warfare agent. Making the fact that it is a integral part of the modern diet. Hidden under such names as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. It is found in more than 6,000 foods; this means that you and your family are probably among the two-thirds of the population who regularly ingest this artificial sweetener.

It contains no calories making it a favorite among dieters and “health” conscious individuals everywhere, under the guise that it is safe. But, I am here to tell you that it is far from safe! It accounts for 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives recorded by the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including Headache/Migraine, dizziness, seizures, nausea numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, tachycardia, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, anxiety, slurred speech, loss of taste, and memory loss among many others.

Aspartame contains several major components: methanol, phenylalanine, and aspartic acid. All of which have been individually shown to possibly stimulate brain solar cells to death. They disturb the hormonal balance in the brain. They even act as nerve poison. Aspartame has been known to cause birth defects to help you to imagine small, developing children. They are particularly subject to its ill side effects.

Aspartame is falsely advertised as a health product, but it is far from it. “it causes unstable blood sugar levels that increase the appetite and cravings for sweets/sugar.”

While aspartame may be considered safe by the FDA, 85% of all complaints registered by the FDA are for adverse reactions to aspartame, this includes five reported deaths. When you take a closer look, you will see the real hidden dangers of the artificial sweetener.

Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious, including seizures and death. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as part of aspartame dangers are:

Headaches/migraines   Depression     Dizziness    Numbness 

Nausea    Fatigue    Muscle spasms   Weight gain 

Tachycardia   Insomnia   Vision problems    Hearing loss   

Heart palpitations     Breathing difficulties   Anxiety attacks   

Slurred speech      Loss of taste      Rashes    Tinnitus   

Vertigo Memory loss Joint pain      Seizures   

Thanks for reading,
Laurel XOXO

Dedicated To My Son Jordan

Jordan B. Caplan

May 9, 1984 - November 2, 2001

Happy 31ST Birthday!

Dear Jordan, 

You left me too soon my darling son and today would have been your 30th birthday.  Losing you in a senseless automobile accident was the most devastating day of my life.  The hole in my heart can never be filled because there will never be another you.  God blessed me the moment you were born my dear son, and through the years you gave me so much joy and love.  The kind of love that only a mother could understand - the special bond that exists between a mother and her son.

I was fortunate to have you in my life for only 17 years, and I was so proud of you my son, I loved you more than words could ever say - but you knew that.  I often think about the loss of your future not yet lived, your wedding day never to come, and the grandchildren I will never see.  Most of all, I miss you calling me "Mom", the sound of your voice which echoes in my head even today.  I have cherished and kept all of your artwork, report cards, and mementos to take out and look at when I feel the need to be close to you.

Your photos serve to remind me of the short time we had together and how fast you grew up right before my eyes.  I miss you my darling son, so forgive me if I cry for you on this day and many days. If I'm sad it's because you were my only child, my heart, and you meant everything to me.  

Happy Birthday Jordan - I'll be seeing you when I get there!  Until then, I will miss you and love you as I always have since you passed away.   

Love,

Mom ♥

Chemotherapy Kills Patients Faster Than No Treatment At All

Doctors, drug companies, hospitals and other key stakeholders profit heavily each time a cancer patient submits to the conventional treatment model, which typically involves injecting chemotherapy poisons into the body, blasting it with ionizing radiation or cutting off body parts -- or some barbaric combination of all three.

It might rub some people the wrong way to state this, especially those who've had to watch a loved one die from conventional cancer treatment, but each of these supposed treatments don't actually work, in many cases. Little-known science, which the medical-industrial complex has made it a practice to ignore or cover up, reveals that, despite what the medical industry often claims, chemotherapy in particular just isn't an effective cancer treatment.

Dr. Hardin B. Jones, a former professor of medical physics and physiology at the University of California, Berkeley, had been studying the lifespans of cancer patients for more than 25 years when he came to the conclusion that, despite popular belief, chemotherapy doesn't work. He witnessed a multitude of cancer patients treated with the poison die horrific deaths, many of them meeting their fate much earlier than other patients who chose no treatment at all.

After investigating this further, Dr. Jones found that cancer patients who underwent chemotherapy actually died more quickly, in most cases, than those who followed their doctors' recommendations by getting the treatment.

"People who refused treatment lived for an average of 12 and a half years," stated Dr. Jones about his study's findings, which were published in the journal Transactions of the New York Academy of Sciences. "Those who accepted other kinds of treatment lived on an average of only 3 years."

Breast cancer patients who reject all conventional therapies live four times longer than those who follow the system!

Refusing conventional cancer treatments and doing nothing resulted in cancer patients living more than four times longer than their more compliant counterparts. This is something you'll never hear about from the mainstream media, which continues to peddle the myth that cancer patients somehow need poison injected into their bodies in order to survive and reach "cure" status.

Dr. Jones' study also found that the same is true concerning conventional treatments for breast cancer. Women with breast cancer who refused chemotherapy, radiation and surgery -- and remained untreated -- likewise lived four times longer than women who went under the knife or agreed to be poisoned with chemicals.

A recent study published in the journal Clinical Oncology back in 2004, stated that chemotherapy is really only effective about 2 percent of the time for all cancers. And this is based on the standard five-year survival rate criteria, which isn't technically indicative of a cure -- even though health authorities often like to claim it is.

Overall survival of patients with primary breast cancer has not improved in the past 10 years, despite increasing use of multiple-drug chemotherapy.

There has been no improvement in survival from first metastasis, and survival may even have been shortened in some patients given chemotherapy.

Natural cancer treatments are your best bet should you develop this horrible disease

There are solutions to treating cancer naturally, though, that don't involve just doing nothing -- which is still clearly better than going the conventional route. An abundance of natural cancer treatment options are outlined over at EndAllDisease.com, a free resource containing an abundance of information about health, disease, the environment and more:
EndAllDisease.com.

You can also learn more about how to treat and cure cancer naturally by visiting CancerTutor.com


The public has been lied to for decades about what their options are to treat cancer.  Dr. Max Gerson developed a natural cancer therapy plan in 1928.  His daughter Charlotte Gerson continues helping people to cure cancer the natural way as it should be.  The fact is that the conventional cancer industry doesn't want the world to know about its multi-billion-dollar cash cow!

Watch this and you will know the truth:

http://www.thebigcancerlie.com/



Thanks for reading!
Laurel  

Eliminating Inflammatory Foods from Your Diet

Study after study shows that the risk of heart disease and cancer are modifiable by our lifestyle choices which include the food we choose to eat each day. With every bite we take, we're either balancing the pro- and anti-inflammatory compounds in the body, or tipping the scale to one end.

Other than adding more natural anti-inflammatory foods in your diet, it is also equally important to avoid or cut down on foods which are known to promote inflammation. Here are the top ten foods which promote inflammatory diseases:

Sugars
Pro-inflammatory:  Excessive sugar intake causes tooth decay and has been linked to increased risks of obesity, inflammation and chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Recently, it has also finally been proven that sugar, as well as dairy, are the causes of acne.

Sugar-sweetened drinks-soft drinks, fruit drinks and punches are some of the major sources of dietary sugars that many have overlooked. Do you know that drinking a can of Coke is as good as sucking ten sugar cubes? Other obvious sugar-loaded foods to avoid or at least limit include pastries, desserts, candies and snacks. And when you are looking out for sugar in the ingredients list, note that sugar has many names: corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, golden syrup, maltose, sorghum syrup and sucrose are some of the creative names used.

*Opt for natural sweeteners like stevia, honey, or blackstrap molasses to flavor beverages and foods modestly. Natural sugars found in fresh or dried fruits and fruit preserves with no added sugar are also great choices. Not only do they give you the sweetness you crave, fruits also supply you with vitamins, antioxidants and fibers that you won't find in sugary foods and drinks.

Common Cooking Oils
Pro-inflammatory: Common vegetable cooking oils used in many homes and restaurants have very high omega-6 fatty acids and dismally low omega-3 fats. A diet consisting of a highly imbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio promotes inflammation and breeds inflammatory diseases like heart disease and cancer. Polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as grape seed, cottonseed, safflower, corn and sunflower oils. These industrial vegetable oils are also commonly used to prepare most processed foods and takeaways.

Anti-inflammatory: Replace your omega-6-saturated cooking oils with macadamia oil, extra virgin olive oil, or other cooking oils with a more balanced omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids ratio. Macadamia oil, for instance, has an almost one-to-one ratio of omega-6:3 fats, and it is also rich in oleic acid, a heart-healthy, monounsaturated fatty acid.

Trans Fats
Pro-inflammatory: Trans fatty acids are notorious for their double whammy effect: they increase the levels of 'bad' cholesterol, while lowering levels of the 'good' cholesterol. But that is not all they can do. They have also been found to promote inflammation, obesity and resistance to insulin, laying the ground for degenerative illnesses to take place.

*Deep fried foods, fast foods, commercially baked goods and those prepared with partially hydrogenated oil, margarine and/or vegetable shortening. Note that items that list 0g trans fats on the label may still contain some amount of these toxic fats. This is because in the US, the government allows items containing less than 0.5g of trans fats to be declared as trans-fat free. Commercially prepared peanut butter is one good example. Your best bet is to read the ingredients list and make sure partially hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortening is not used.

Anti-inflammatory: Look for alternative products that contain no trans fats, and that do not have partially hydrogenated oil or vegetable shortening in the ingredients list. When in doubt, assume that all commercially prepared foods contain trans fats unless stated otherwise.

Dairy Products
Pro-inflammatory: As much as 60% of the world's population cannot digest milk. In fact, researchers think that being able to digest milk beyond infancy is abnormal, rather than the other way round. Milk is also a common allergen that can trigger inflammatory responses, such as stomach distress, constipation, diarrhea, skin rashes, acne, hives and breathing difficulties in susceptible people.

* Milk and dairy products are as pervasive as foods containing partially hydrogenated oil or omega-3-deficient vegetable oil. Apart from obvious milk products like butter and cheese, foods with hidden dairy content include breads, cookies, crackers, cakes, cream sauces and boxed cereals.

Anti-inflammatory: Kefir and unsweetened yogurt are acceptable in moderation for those who are not allergic to milk. They are easier on the stomach as the lactose and proteins in the milk have been broken down by beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts.

Feedlot-Raised Meat
Pro-inflammatory: Commercially produced meats are feed with grains like soy beans and corn, a diet that is high in inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids but low in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats. Due to the small and tight living environment, these animals also gain excess fat and end up with high saturated fats. Worse, to make them grow faster and prevent them from getting sick, they are also injected with hormones and fed with antibiotics. The result is one piece of meat which you and I shouldn't be eating.

*Unless otherwise stated, most, if not all, beef, pork and poultry you can find in the supermarkets and restaurants come from feedlot farms.

Anti-inflammatory: Organic, free-range animals that are fed a natural diet such as grasses instead of grains and hormones contain more omega-3 fats. Having more room to roam freely, they are also leaner and contain less saturated fats.

Red & Processed Meat 
Pro-inflammatory:  Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that red meat contains a molecule that humans don't naturally produce called Neu5Gc. After ingesting this compound, the body develops anti-Neu5Gc antibodies – an immune response that may trigger chronic inflammatory response. Low-grade, simmering inflammation that won't go away has been linked to cancer and heart disease.

The link between processed meat consumption and cancer is even stronger. In the 2007 report by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, processed meat has been stated as a convincing cause of cancers of the colon and rectum, and possibly of the esophagus and lungs too. Processed meat includes animal products that have been smoked, cured, salted or chemically preserved.

*Common red meats are beef, lamb and pork, while processed meats include ham, sausage and salami.

Anti-inflammatory: You don't need to avoid red meat totally, though the same thing cannot be said for processed meat. No amount of processed meat is safe. Replace the bulk of your red meat with organic vegetables, poultry and fish, and relegate red meat to a weekly treat. When you do eat red meat, remember to choose lean cuts and preferably, that of grass-fed animals. To reduce the formation of heat-generated food contaminants, it is also advisable not to overcook your meat and use moist heat cooking like stewing and boiling more often than high-temperature dry heat methods such as grilling and frying.

Alcohol   

Pro-Inflammatory:  Regular high consumption of alcohol has been known to cause irritation and inflammation of the esophagus, larynx (voice box) and liver. Over time, the chronic inflammation promotes tumor growth and gives rise to cancer at the sites of repeated irritation.

*Beers, ciders, liquors, liqueurs, and wines.

Anti-inflammatory:  Spring or Filtered Water, or anti-inflammatory jasmine green tea? If you find the idea of swapping ethanol for water or tea implausible, at least limit your consumption to no more than one drink a day.

Refined Grains
Pro-inflammatory: A lot of the grains we eat nowadays are refined. They are devoid of fiber and vitamin B compared to unpolished and unrefined grains that still have the bran, germ and the aleurone layer intact. This makes refined grains as good as refined sugars, which are practically empty calories. And like refined sugars, refined grains have a higher glycemic index than unprocessed grains and when they are consistently consumed, can hasten the onset of degenerative diseases like cancer, coronary disease and diabetes.

*Products made from refined grains are almost everywhere. The common ones are: white rice, white flour, white bread, noodles, pasta, biscuits and pastries. To make things worse, many products with refined grains undergo further processing to enhance their taste and look, and are often loaded with excess sugar, salt, artificial flavors and/or partially hydrogenated oil in the process. A prime example is boxed cereals which contain substantial amounts of added sugar and flavorings.

Anti-inflammatory: Processed grains if you are not gluten intolerant or allergic to grains. If you are an avid bread or pastry maker, invest in a grain mill to produce your own flour. It will be much fresher than the stale grain found in stores. When buying cereals or other products made from grains, don't take the words on the packaging for granted. Just because the box says whole grains, it does not mean the grains inside are 100% intact. The problem is due to a lack of an internationally accepted definition for the word 'whole grain'. When in doubt, if it does not look close to its natural state, don't buy it.

Artificial Food Additives
Pro-inflammatory: Some artificial food additives like aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG) reportedly trigger inflammatory responses, especially in people who are already suffering from inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

*Only packaged foods contain artificial food additives. If you need to buy them, read the labels carefully and weigh your risks. If you order Chinese takeaways, make sure you have the option to ask for no MSG. Otherwise, look elsewhere.

Anti-inflammatory: Besides limiting the consumption of processed foods, use anti-inflammatory herbs, spices or natural sweeteners to add flavor to your dishes instead of relying on food additives.

Pro-inflammatory Allergens
Many people are sensitive to certain foods but are totally unaware of it. Unlike food allergies whereby symptoms usually come fast and furious, symptoms caused by food intolerance may take a longer time to manifest. Consequently, when symptoms of food intolerance do appear, they are often brushed off as common minor ailments such as tiredness and headaches. But repeated, long-term exposure to food that irritates can cause inflammation and lead to chronic disease.

Common food allergens are gluten, milk, nuts, eggs and nightshade vegetables. Contrary to common belief, it is possible to develop an allergy to the foods that you eat often.

If you suspect that a particular food may be responsible for your food intolerant response, try avoiding it completely for about two weeks and monitor your reaction. At the end of the abstinence period, re-introduce the food back into your diet. If you are in fact incompatible with it, you should be able to notice the difference in how you feel easily.



Laurel 

Stuck On A Tight Food Budget? What You Should Know About Healthy Eating

Whether you're stuck in a food desert or have a tight food budget, you don't need to be exposed to dangerous pesticides.

Despite the fact that organic food is your healthiest option, buying it isn't always feasible. A recent study conducted by the Consumer Reports Food Safety and Sustainability Center found that, overall, organic foods cost 47 percent more. And if cost isn't a limiting factor, not everyone has equal access to fresh produce (let alone organic produce), such as those living in food deserts.

Organic trumps all, since it's better for you and the environment, but the Consumer Reports study points out that eating conventionally grown produce is still better than not eating any fruits and vegetables. Here are five ways to protect yourself if conventional produce is your only option.

#1. Look for Country of Origin
Knowing where your food comes from matters. If you're stuck buying conventional produce, aim for these very-low-risk options, according to Consumer Reports:

• Asparagus grown in Mexico
• Avocado grown in Chile, Mexico, or Peru
• Blueberries grown in Uruguay
• Broccoli grown in America
• Cabbage grown in Canada, Mexico, or America
• Cantaloupe from Honduras or Mexico. Avoid those grown in America
• Celery grown in Mexico
• Cilantro grown in America
• Eggplant grown in Honduras
• Green onions grown in Mexico
• Mangoes from Mexico
• Mushrooms grown in Canada
• Onions grown in Peru or America
• Papaya grown in Belize, Brazil, Quatemala, Jamaca, Mexico, or America
• Pineapples grown in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, or America
• Prunes grown in America
• Spinach grown in Mexico
• Sweet corn grown in Mexico or America
• Watermelon grown in Guatemala
• Winter squash grown in Guatemala, but not America.

#2. Avoid the Worst Offenders
The Environmental Working Group identifies the most pesticide-laden produce on the market, naming it the Dirty Dozen list. Limit eating these foods whenever organic options aren't available.

To add to this list, Consumer Reports says high-risk produce (in terms of pesticides) include peaches, tangerines, plums (from Chile, but not America), apples (from America, but not New Zealand), green beans, bell peppers, hot peppers, and sweet potatoes.

#3. Clean Your Produce
Thoroughly washing your produce can help clean off the pesticides. Researchers at Consumer Reports recommend washing fruits and vegetables for 30 seconds to a minute, using a produce brush when possible. They even suggest washing foods that you're going to peel to help avoid contaminating your clean food with pesticides.

#4. Grow Your Own
Don't want pesticides in your food? You can choose not to put them there if you grow your own food. You'd be surprised what you can grow, even in a small space.

#5. Don't Rely on Organic Canned Foods
Organic canned foods sounds like a great way to eat organic on the cheap, but you're just swapping out one evil (pesticides) for another (BPA). The only organic canned-food brand that does not contain BPA or harmful BPA replacements is Eden Organics. Opt for frozen or dried organic foods, instead. Dried organic beans are not expensive, and Consumer Reports found that frozen organic foods are sometimes cheaper than conventionally grown ones.


Link to the 2015 EWG's Guide for Produce:  http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php


Please leave your comments or questions below..

Laurel ♥

Great Natural Remedies for Anxiety and Stress

Everyone gets stressed sometimes. Whether it be financial or personal, significant stress is an unfortunate aspect of modern living. But, too much stress can be a bad thing. Whether you have trouble sleeping or find yourself becoming more irritable, stress takes a toll on our bodies. It is the leading cause of innumerable diseases, and can be single-handedly responsible for symptoms such as hair loss, high blood pressure, headaches, depression, drastic weight changes, ulcers, and more. So, next time you feel the need to pop a chill pill, try one of these more natural remedies instead.


Lavender - If you ever have trouble falling asleep at night, try either rubbing some lavender essential oil on your chest or sprinkling it on your pillow. Lavender helps calm anxiety and can soothe the mind and body to help you sleep more soundly. I use this method and it works for me. Aromatherapy has been shown to trigger various moods and sensations, and can be used to fight depression, fatigue, anxiety, headaches and indigestion.

Sweet Potato - Most of us reach for sweets or salty carbs when feeling stressed. Next time, try some sweet potato instead. It will kill your cravings, satisfy your frenzied emotions, and help you digest more slowly due to their high fiber content.  If you are really craving comfort food, try steamed and mashed sweet potatoes with a dash of coconut milk. 

Chamomile - Chamomile tea has been shown to relax the body and muscles before sleep. Although chamomile’s benefits have not been medically proven, it has been used for centuries for its sedative qualities as well as an immune booster. Brew up a pot of fresh chamomile tea, add some raw honey with beneficial enzymes for an additional boost.

Dark Chocolate -  A recent study has shown that eating 3-4 ozs. per day of dark chocolate lowers your body’s stress hormones and reduces anxiety. The stress hormone cortisol, in particular, can easily become imbalanced and lead to long term disease and disfunction. Your brain releases endorphins when you eat chocolate as long as it's in moderation. Organic dark chocolate has many health benefits without any processed sugar.

St. John’s Wort - If you’re feeling down in the dumps, this herb has been shown to significantly increase mood and attitude in patients with mild depression. It has been used for centuries as a natural anti-depressant and is a fairly ubiquitous plant, often regarded as a weed. However, be sure to consult your doctor before adding any new herbs or regimens into your diet to avoid allergic reaction or misdiagnosis.

Peanut Butter - If you aren’t getting enough sleep and are feeling cranky, grab a spoonful of organic, unsweetened peanut butter. Being high in vitamin B6, it helps to regulate blood sugar, which stabilizes mood swings. Peanut butter is a great comfort food when consumed in moderation.  


If those remedies aren’t enough for you, some other excellent ideas are practicing yoga or meditation, regular exercise, enjoying a hot bath, or even writing in a personal journal. Relieving yourself of stress will make your life a lot healthier and more enjoyable. If you are stressed out and are reaching for potato chips or ice cream, try one of the natural remedies instead.


Take time for yourself, let your mind relax, and enjoy a bit of this crazy ride we call life.

Laurel ♥

What is American Cheese?

You will find it on white bread bologna sandwiches in lunch boxes, melting on the top of hamburgers and oozing throughout bowls of macaroni and cheese all over the country – however what we know and love in this country as “American Cheese” is neither American nor cheese.

Look closely at the label on your orange slices of American cheese and you will see that the word “cheese” only appears in the tag: processed cheese product.

Processed cheese product was invented in Switzerland in 1911 by Walter Gerber. However, a very smart man named James L. Kraft grabbed the American patent for the processing method, and it was his company that created the first commercially available sliced “American” cheese singles, which hit the market in the 1950s. Kraft Foods are the makers of Cheez Whiz, Velveeta and American Cheese.

Although Kraft was criticized for using marketing tricks to sell second-rate cheese as a first-rate product, it worked. Americans sacrificed the taste and quality of their cheese in favor of convenience, a growing trend that would play out over and over in the country as quantity and ease became more important that anything else in many Americans’ diets.

Cheaper than real cheese, easy melting and with a much longer shelf-life, processed cheese product became popular and soon was to be found on dinner tables all over the country, so much so that it became known as “American cheese.” Today, most of us have eaten our fair share of those orange slices in convenient plastic packages, not to mention Cheez Whiz and Velveeta.

But if American cheese isn’t cheese… then what is it?

Processed cheese product or “cheese food” is made from cheese as well as unfermented dairy products, emulsifiers (stabilizers – usually sodium phosphate, tartrate or citrate), salt, food coloring and whey (milk plasma). Most varieties cannot legally be labeled “cheese” because of the high amount of additives. Real cheese has a lower moisture content and contains more milk fat.

Whether it comes in a block or a spray can, processed cheese product is known for its bland, inferior taste, chemical preservatives, artificial colors and trans-fats. A laughable product in most other countries, for some reason in America this weak-tasting artificial cheese-like food product seems to fit the palates of many.

While real cheese is no champion on the healthy side of the diet chart, at least it is free from the chemical additives and artificial flavors and colors found in many types of processed cheese.

Despite the sad trend towards food products instead of food in America over the past few decades, consumers are finally waking up to the fact that the quality of food might be more important that the quantity that you can buy. While budget concerns are ripe for many these days, the true cost of eating “foodstuffs” instead of food is impossible to measure not only on your waistline, but on your future health as well.

If “you are what you eat,” do you really want to be a processed product, and a “cheese” one at that?

Your body and your loved ones deserve real food. The next time you’re at the grocery store and you reach for an easy package of cheese product for your family’s lunches, opt for real organic cheese instead.


What is your favorite cheese?  

Thanks for reading!  Please leave your comments below!

Laurel ♥

The 10 Most Useful Food Hacks

I love finding kitchen hacks to make life easier. Unfortunately, some of the hacks I've seen are just not necessary. Here are the 10 of the best hacks and tips that I've found most helpful.

1. Blow into a bag with lettuce or greens in it and seal tightly. The CO2 will keep it from becoming soggy and you will have fresh greens for a long time.

2.  How to determine whether an egg is fresh or not.

3. Dental Floss is Amazing for Cutting Soft Foods

4. Freeze grapes instead of using ice cubes

5. Removing the stem from a strawberry

6. Walnuts to cover up dings? 

7. Shaking a hard-boiled egg to remove shell. Put a cooled hard-boiled egg in a jar filled with water and cover. Shake it for about 10 seconds and the shell will peel off easily. This method works the best even on new eggs! The trick is to let the eggs cool completely or your egg will fall apart.

8.  Choosing the perfect avocado.

Many avocado lovers have experienced, as I have, the disappointment of slicing into it only to find brown streaks or dark, rotten bruising on the inside.

Here’s how to make sure that never happens again. Before you commit to a specific avocado, look for all the external signs of ripe-but-not-rotten. With a Hass avocado (the variety we tend to get on the West coast), the skin should be very dark green-to-black and bumpy. The fruit should feel heavy and firm, with no obvious smooshy parts or flat areas.

Now here’s the trick. Once you’ve got a good candidate, take a sneak-peak at what’s inside. Discreetly flick the dry stem off the fruit.

If you see a brown patch under the stem, put that avocado back. It will be rotten inside.

But, if the fruit right under the stem is bright avocado yellow-green, you have a winner. Your avocado will be great. This technique has never failed me!

9. Hate Peeling Garlic Cloves?

Before you go and spend five times the price for already-peeled cloves, just throw the whole bulb in the microwave on high for about twenty seconds. When you take it out, the peel should come right off.

10. Pre-soak pasta and it will cook in about 60 seconds. 

Sounds weird, but it works! Soak the pasta in water in a sealed bag for a couple hours or overnight. Then you can cook it super super fast in boiling water or just add it straight to a hot sauce in a pan and let it finish cooking there.

I hope you enjoyed reading these useful food hacks. What useful food hacks do you use? Please leave your comments below!


Laurel ♥

The Amazing Benefits Of Banana Peels

Bananas have been an extremely cultivated fruit for centuries.  While not common in the western world, the people of Indian and Asian countries incorporate the banana peels in their cooking. They're not as sweet as the flesh, but they're rich in magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6, B12 and can be used for a number of other health benefits.

I'm sure you've heard the saying, "Don't eat bananas for losing weight because they contain a lot of calories".  On the contrary, bananas have secret health benefits that can help you to keep fit and trim.  Bananas provide extensive minerals and proteins, but the best of this is in the peel.  The banana peel has the most amount of benefits for your healthy lifestyle.

Here are the amazing benefits banana peels provide:

1. Mosquito Bites:  Massage the peel on the mosquito bites to get instant relief from the itching and pain.

2. Sparkling Teeth:  Rub the banana peel everyday for a week on your teeth for about a minute.  This actually results in teeth whitening, which can be quite expensive.

3. Eat The Peels:  Banana peels can be consumed.  Check out some Indian or Asian recipes using the peel for cooking.  It also is used to tenderize chicken by placing the peel over it.

4. Psoriasis:  Apply peel to affected area and it will heal psoriasis noticeably within a very short time.

5. Warts:  Banana peels removes warts and eliminates the occurrence of new ones.  Simply rub the peel on the affected area and attach the peel overnight for results.

6. Acne:  Just massage the peels on your face or body for 5 minutes every day.  The results should be visible within a week.  Keep applying the peels till the acne disappears.

7. Wrinkles:  Banana peel helps to keep your skin hydrated.  Add an egg yolk to mashed banana peel and apply this mixture on your face.  Leave on for 5 minutes and then wash off.

8. UV Protection:  Banana peel helps in protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays.  Make sure you leave the peel under the sun before rubbing it on your eyes.  The peel has also been proven to reduce the risk of cataracts.

9. Pain Reliever:  Apply banana peel on the painful area and leave on for 30 minutes until the pain subsides.

The final benefit of banana peel is really not a health benefit, but nevertheless it will save you money!

10. Shoes, Leather and Silver polish:  Rub banana peel on any shoes, leather and silver to make them shine instantly.  


Important Tips:

• Use fresh banana peel for best results and use immediately.
• Never store the peel in the refrigerator. 

So instead of throwing your banana peels in the trash, use them for all these amazing benefits!  

I welcome your comments and suggestions!

Intuitively yours,

Laurel ♥

Turning Over A New Leaf

The most enticing salads balance sweet, peppery and bitter tastes with frilly, flat, crisp and soft textures. Mixing colors and shapes also contributes to a salads' visual appeal.

Leaf lettuces and greens provide more flavor and nutrition than iceberg lettuce. In fact, a mixed greens salad provides seven and a half times more vitamin C, 10 times more iron, 35 times more vitamin A, calcium and fiber per serving than iceberg.

It’s easy to get in a salad rut, turning to the same kind of lettuce every time. Why not go beyond iceberg, romaine, or leaf lettuce and try some more interesting options? Spring is the perfect time to experiment with salad greens, and this post will help you get acquainted with all that leafy stuff at the grocery store.

When you purchase or harvest lettuce, you should wash or rinse it, then store it wrapped in a cloth or paper towel, then in a plastic bag, in the crisper drawer. Store lettuce away from apples, pears and bananas. These fruits release ethylene, a ripening agent which will speed the decay of the lettuce. Because of its high water content, lettuce cannot be frozen or canned for long-term storage. It should always be eaten fresh, within about 10 days of purchase or harvest.


Nutritional content varies among lettuces and greens, though most are filled with Vitamin A and potassium. With the exception of iceberg, most varieties are also a good source of Vitamin C, iron and calcium. Lettuce is also a good source of dietary fiber. 

The following list and photos provide you with an amazing variety of leafy greens for healthy salads and recipes.

Arugula is a popular aromatic leaf, prized for its nutty flavor and peppery bite. It adds a distinct flavor to a variety of dishes.

 Belgian Endive is a chicory known for its succulent and velvety creamy-white leaves with a mildly bitter flavor.

Bibb Lettuce is butterhead lettuce and has delicate, loose leaves and lots of flavor.  The only downside is that it's usually expensive.  It's the smaller version of Boston lettuce.

Boston Lettuce is also a type of butterhead lettuce, with soft, tender leaves.  It's terrific in salads and sandwiches, or the leaves can be used as a bed for other dishes.   

Chard (Swiss Chard) comes in many colors, even rainbow. Chard can be a colorful addition to salads. Mature leaves taste similar to spinach when cooked.

Cilantro is a member of the parsley family and lends a strong and unique flavor to salads. It is often used in Mexican, Caribbean, and Asian cooking.




Collard Greens is a cruciferous vegetable and a member of the cabbage family. These greens have a fairly mild flavor similar to green kale. The leaves are sturdy and best when cooked.





Dill is an herb with beautiful feathery leaves and a distinct flavor that's strong when fresh but mellow when it's cooked or dried.








Frise` is a chicory also known as curly endive.  It adds a fresh flavor and attractive texture to salads with it's frill leaves and white heart.

Green Curly Kale has a cabbage-like flavor and frilly thick leaves that hold their shape better than other greens when cooked.

Green Leaf Lettuce, as well as red leaf are popular spring greens. Green leaf lettuce is a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin K and C.



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Mache Rosette is a mild, tender and buttery flavored green with delicate teardrop shaped leavesthat are delicious in salads.

Radicchio, also known as Italian chicory, has a mildly bitter flavor. Its beautiful red leaves with white veins are a delicious and striking addition to salads.

Romaine lettuce (also known as cos) have long green leaves, with a crunchy center vein and the taste is bitter and succulent. This lettuce is used in a Caesar salad, or great for a taco salad

Spinach (Baby Spinach) has a mild and delicate flavor. Baby spinach leaves have a bolder taste   and are packed with a variety of nutrients.

Tango, with its bright green color makes a gorgeous salad, especially when paired with a red leaf lettuce, and the crisp texture holds up well to a variety of salad dressings.

Certain vegetables are worth buying organic, and greens are one of them!

What leaf lettuces and greens do you use most often?  Please leave your comments and suggestions in the comments below!


Laurel ♥