Today's Health: Article Round-Up

Photo Credit

Our family did not escape the 2011 flu season without finally succumbing to a stomach virus.  Just last week, each member of our family slowly fell prey to a bug that had some intense effects at first onset, and then "generously" lingered around for a few more days with just a general "crud" feeling.  Not much felt or sounded good, so we slowly consumed our fluids, some homemade chicken broth, and crackers.

But now we're back on the up & up and the following articles found their way into my Facebook feed.  These articles have given me much to think about as I reflect on how we can improve our family's health after being down and out, and unfortunately, relying on more processed food than we had in a while.

See for yourself:
Confession: I May Be Orthorexic (And Why You May Be Too via Wellness Mama

Are you enjoying your daily chemical cocktail? via Grist

Athletes Looking To Meat As Performance Enhancer via CNBC

It has reaffirmed to me the value of cutting down or completely cutting out processed foods, things with artificial dyes, chemicals or additives, and eating food properly prepared.

Of course, I know I can't be perfect (or else I might be "orthorexic") ... but each little step in the right direction can boast big gains in the future.

So with that, my new project for this weekend is making liquid whey, as shown here or here.
I can't wait to try my hand at homemade cream cheese once the whey separates from the curds!

Photo Credit: faithfulprovisions.com

Future post will include what all you can do with whey!  I'm excited to find out and share with you.

Enjoy.

Why Fermented Foods?

Fermented Foods...isn't that like wine and stuff?  I didn't know what the hype was about all this fermented stuff until I started eating more nourishingly.  I didn't even know that yogurt was a fermented food!

Basically, fermented foods improve digestion, restore beneficial bacteria in the gut, increase vitamin content, and improve flavor.  Yogurt has a tangy taste because it's been fermented.  Cheese is fermented.  Sourdough bread -- which I've always had a hankering for -- is fermented. 

There are beverages that are fizzy & carbonated...and fermented...that are healthy for you!  Have you ever tried kombucha or water kefir soda?  I have tried the former but not the latter, which is why I'm entering Wellness Mama's Cultures for Health Water Kefir Giveaway.  Since eating more nourishingly, we have given up our sodas & pops from a frequent basis to a very infrequent basis, but we still love the taste of something that sizzles and would hop on the chance to make our own sodas.

If you're interesting in learning how to make a soda for your family that will be tasty and helpful for your digestive system, jet on over to Wellness Mama's blog to learn how you can enter!  There are several ways you can increase your chances of winning and thus improving the quality of your food.

Enjoy!