Digestion Series - The Art of Chewing

As I have been dealing quite a lot with digestion problems my whole life, I have taken on a quest to learn and understand all I can about the digestive system. The more you know, the more empowered you become (especially when talking with doctors).

I have learned quite a bit, and have been working to change my eating habits in order to gain better digestion. Changing my ways have been very difficult I have found, as it is so easy for me to go back to my old ways. I have found a prayer before eating for help really helps :)

I have decided to share some of the information I have learned regarding digestion. The first will be "The Art of Chewing"

Digestion begins in the mouth. Here the teeth break down the food we eat to allow our digestive system to function more effectively. Remember there are no teeth in the stomach. If it does not break down in the mouth sufficient enough, it will have a harder time to be processed. Which will become harder for the body to take the nourishment, vitamins, energy, etc. it needs in order to do it's job.

While in the mouth we create a liquid called, saliva. Saliva plays an important role in digestion. Saliva contains enzymes used to break down the starch and fat of the food. If you don't have the proper enzymes in your body, then you have a harder time breaking the food down. So those who are "lactose intolerant" don't produce the enzyme lactose in order to break down the lactase in food. You can take an enzyme pill (Lactaid) to help provide this enzyme.

As the saliva is in our mouth, mixing in with our food, it is also able to tell what food we are bringing into our bodies. It will send a signal down to the stomach, forewarning it. This will then allow it to be prepared as to how to digest it properly. If we eat to fast, the stomach does not have time to prepare, and the food will then need to sit longer (this is not good digestion).

So the next time you eat something, think about these steps, and the wonderful body we are given to allow ourselves to function at our optimum. Remember to chew well and slowly!

Tylenol and Motrin Recall

This was just passed onto me, in case you haven't received this notice. It's a voluntary recall for some Tylenol and Motrin products. It's good to be aware of what we are putting in ourselves as well as our children's bodies. I am learning this the hard way, as I am now seeing more the damage of the medication I was on during my life, has done to me.

http://www.mcneilproductrecall.com

Quick Tip - Quinoa/Rice

I want to pass along something I learned and utilize EVERYDAY... Right now Quinoa has become a staple in my diet. It's cooked similar to rice. It can take up to 20 minutes to cook on the stove. At times I don't have time to sit around the kitchen to watch it and make sure it doesn't burn. Or I will go off and do something and then forget about it (family members I'm sure can attest to my forgetting food on stove - right Jen:))

Recently I decided to experiment with how I cook it. So I put water on the stove, bring it to a boil, add the quinoa, cover it and turn the heat off. I let it sit, and it cooks perfectly each time. I can then go off and do what I need to, and whenever I come back it's done. I haven't timed it yet to see how long it takes, but at times it seems to almost take the same amount of time to cook as if it was utilizing heat. My dad and I have experimented this cooking method with rice as well. It has worked out great - and helps my dad as well to not burn the rice.

So here's my quick tip to - "Set it and forget it!" with rice and quinoa :)

Slowly it's become a little homestead

Ok, so secretly I would LOVE to turn our home into an small homestead... and it is slowly feeling that way. With a horse next door, and all the cats and kittens that have been perusing our backyard lately. We have been seeing more and more cats in our area. These cats, have been having kittens. They are so cute, yet I know to stay far away. What's great about them, is that we don't have a gopher or rat problem anymore... or really a gecko, and slowly a bird problem..... hmmmm.

I asked my dad today about the possibility of raising lamb. It sounded like we may need to buy more land for that. Perhaps we need to start off small.... chickens.... yet I can't eat chicken...

Here are some pictures of my garden (I feel like these are my kids :) ) It will soon be time to harvest.

My sunflower's are almost in bloom. They are so tall! This is a view from me standing under it.

Spaghetti Squash

Cantaloupe... there are quite a few of these... this crop is taking over the place it feels like

Watermelon are finally starting to grow. Here is a baby one I spotted Saturday morning.

Cucumbers. These are getting to be REALLY big. I have no idea of when to pick them.

Black Bean Brownies

Yesterday, our ward had an Emergency Preparedness Fair. They asked for some of us to make an item that could be taken from food storage. I looked online and found this super easy recipe that was supposedly taken from a Weight Watchers recipe. So for all those out there following the points plan, this is only 2 points per serving. What I learned from this (since I can't eat it), is that you can use black beans in place of oil and eggs in a recipe. Plus it will add more fiber and protein to the snack :)

Black Bean Brownies

1 box brownie mix

1 can (15 oz) black beans

Open the can of black beans, rinse well. Place the beans back back in the can. Add enough water to cover beans. Put in blender or food processor and puree. Add puree to brownie mix, and then bake according to package directions.

You DO NOT add the eggs or oil that the recipe calls for, JUST the black bean puree!

Bake as indicated on the box.

Makes 20 brownies-- 2 Weight Watcher Points each!

There coming!!!

Yesterday in my garden I spied this! I am not sure if it is a cantaloup or a spaghetti squash. I have learned that I can't trust my memory when it comes to remembering what I planted and where. Which will also be exciting, as when the plants come, it will be like Christmas :)

Oh how the garden grows...

My garden has really grown these past few weeks. It's been exciting to watch. This morning, I noticed bees around the summer squash! I was happy to see them doing their job, and choosing my garden to do it :) I can't wait for the harvest season... although I am already starting to think about what my Fall garden will be. There are some great benefits living in Arizona.

Here are the watermelon plants just trying to take over the area. The trellis' will be going up by the weekend :) This will be fun!

Here is the newest edition to my garden. I planted some winter squash, which has grown really fast. There is 4 different varieties planted here. Behind it I am growing Amaranth.