NOISE: Embody

Spring Cleaning

I've been considering taking on a yearly detox plan for myself for several years, but have always abstained for 2 main reasons: Safety and my concern over it, and the fasting portion of many cleanses or detox plans- I really love to eat. It wasn't until this week that I realized that I could detoxify my body after the long winter with foods I put in, rather than restrict.

This glorious mess of a stir-fry was my lunch today, and it was packed full of veggies and herbs long-known for their abilities to cleanse and support our body's natural detox organs like the spleen, liver, and kidneys. Spinach, garlic, onion, carrot, burdock root, and shiitake mushroom all hold a place in natural medicine- a dose of which is precisely what the doctor ordered as we transition into this Spring season.

 

Flax or Fiction

Not that long ago I had a mild discussion/argument with a friend over flaxseed, that brown seed that seems to be popping up everywhere these days. Bread, rolls, and other commercially-prepared bread products are all trying to jump on the recent shift in consumer focus towards 'healthier eating' by adding wholesome-looking seeds to their products.

My argument was that you couldn't get the helth benefits of flax unless you ground up the seeds, and all the bread out there with whole seeds claiming it was so healthy was bogus- the seeds were just for looks. My friend argued that they could taste the oil when they crunched the seeds in their teeth, therefore allowing the omega-3's and lignans in the seeds to be absorbed. 

I suppose it's all relative- I my husband and I consume our flax (in mass amounts, no less) in both pressed oils and by addding ground seed to baked goods, and my friend feels confident they are getting the good stuff by simply chewing well. A myriad of ways to ingest flax abound in the world, many of which I did not mention in this post, giving one ample opportunity to try one for themselves.

Peaut Butter & Lead

When I was a Junior in high school, I had to memorize the Periodic Table in its entirety. For some of the more counter-intuitive symbols of elements, I made a game for myself out of bizarre acronyms to help me remember what to put in each blank square. After listening to an interesting interview with a 'competitive memorizer' on NPR yesterday, I found out that my technique was similar to those used by mental athletes, and could also be helpful as people age and remembering becomes more difficult.

Pancake Love

As I sat down to write this entry, I realized that I wrote about pancakes not that long ago. The thing is, I LOVE pancakes. And they can be a healthy and nutritional start to a day, a mid-afternoon snack, or even a dinner if you like that sort of thing. So here's a delicious encore to add to my (and your) pancake repertoire.

A New Holiday: Resisting-Temptation-Tuesday

Ah yes, Packzi Day is here. It seems that many Lansingites and non-residents alike are rejoicing in this opportunity to indulge in those giant donuts that QD churns out the entire month. But before you take that first bite, better weigh the costs...

OK, I'm not going to type all the nutritional (and I use the term 'nutritional' very lightly here) info in this blog, because just like smoking, alcohol, and anything else, people know packzis are bad for them. And they eat them anyway. And what I don't really understand is why, because they're just a big fat donut stuffed full of cheap rubbery stuff that comes out of a can. Gross.

What is even more bewildering to me is if people feel so bad after they eat the things, why do they keep eating them? I mean, you could just not eat one, and feel better instantly, without even exerting any effort...right?

 

Stay On Grass

I recently found out that wheat grass is gluten free, despite the misleading 'wheat' in it's name.I've been gluten free for more than 5 years, and I'm thrilled to be given the go-ahead on this jucing favorite. And, like buckwheat (which is also gluten free with a tricky name), I will be consuming the green stuff in mass quantities. Why wheat grass? Oh, I though you'd never ask!

These amazing neon blades are reported to contain vital nutrients like potassium, iron, and B12, along with high levels of chlorophyll, which is in itself reported to help the body detoxify out mega-baddies like heavy metals. There are also claims that wheat grass can aid in or prevent cancer and decrease cancer patients' need for chemotherapy treatments.Whatever your stance on it, it won't hurt to try it out. Who knows- you just might feel better!