This page is a bit of a departure from talking about Herbs, but is a
necessary source of information about the foods the cook, whether he's experienced or just starting, should know about. It will help make better informed selections thus affording better health thru good selections of food.
A new report issued by the President's Cancer Panel recommends eating produce without pesticides to reduce your risk of getting cancer and other diseases. And according to the Environmental Working Group (an organization of scientists, researchers and policymakers), certain types of organic produce can reduce the amount of toxins you consume on a daily basis by as much as 80 percent.
The group put together two lists, "The Dirty Dozen" and "The Clean 15," to help consumers know when they should buy organic and when it is unnecessary. These lists were compiled using data from the United States Department of Agriculture on the amount of pesticide residue found in non-organic fruits and vegetables after they had been washed.
The fruits and vegetables on "The Dirty Dozen" list, when conventionally grown, tested positive for at least 47 different chemicals, with some testing positive for as many as 67. For produce on the "dirty" list, you should definitely go organic unless you relish the idea of consuming a chemical cocktail. "The Dirty Dozen" list includes
The Dirty Dozen
* celery
* peaches
* strawberries
* apples
* domestic blueberries
* nectarines
* sweet bell peppers
* spinach, kale and collard greens
* cherries
* potatoes
* imported grapes
* lettuce
The Clean 15
* onions
* avocados
* sweet corn
* pineapples
* sweet peas
* mango
* asparagus
* kiwi fruit
* cabbage
* eggplant
* cantaloupe
* watermelon
* grapefruit
* sweet potatoes
* sweet onions
Why are some types of produce more prone to sucking up pesticides than others? Richard Wiles, senior vice president of policy for the Environmental Working Group says, "If you eat something like a pineapple or sweet corn, they have a protection defense because of the outer layer of skin. Not the same for strawberries and berries."
The President's Cancer Panel recommends washing conventionally grown produce to remove residues. Wiles adds, "You should do what you can do, but the idea you are going to wash pesticides off is a fantasy. But you should still wash it because you will reduce pesticide exposure."
Remember, the lists of dirty and clean produce were compiled after the USDA washed the produce using high-power pressure water systems that many of us could only dream of having in our kitchens.
The full list contains 49 types of produce, rated on a scale of least to most pesticide residue. You can check out the full list from on the Environmental Working Group's website at: www.foodnews.org.
What can the Bar Codes tell you about a food item ?
Many people are afraid of buying goods from China and a few other parts of the world now. There have even been stories of people's pets even dying from tainted
snacks from some parts of the world. Ahhhh "Globalism" !!!
Well then, how do we protect ourselves ? How do you make sense of
the bar codes ? Now, here is the way to read them presented in a
simple straight foreward manner.
If the first three digits of the bar code are, 690, 691, or 692
they come from CHINA.
If the first three digits of the bar code is, 471 it's from TAIWAN.
If the first three digits start with 00 or 01 it is from either
the USA or CANADA.
If the first three digits start with 30 or 37 it is from FRANCE.
If the first three digits start with 40 or 44 it is from GERMANY.
If the first three digits start with 47 it is from TAIWAN.
If the first three digits start with 49 it is from JAPAN.
If the first three digits start with 50 it is from the UK.
Barcoding is a large topic as it applies to so many products.
People generally don't think twice about reusing plastic bottles as they are only concerned with the spirit of recycling. It is a grand notion to recycle, but today there are different plastics in use which may not be friendly to your health. People often refill water bottles which were designed for one safe use as otherwise bacteria or
chemicals in the plastic can leach into the beverage refilled into the container. Below is information on reading a bottle's marking so
you can keep yourself and your family safe from good intentions.
PETE is the most widely used plastic in water and soda bottles. When exposed to heat or sunlight, the container will start to degrade. This will not be visible, but the harmful chemicals are breaking down into the contents of the bottle. This bottle should not be reused. It is also porous than most bottles and harbors bacteria easily.
HDPE is typically found in milk, juice, and the reusable water bottles sold empty. This bottle's plastic is considered safe to reuse with cool liquids only. Hot beverages, bleach, and strong detergents can damage the molecule make-up of this plastic and it can break down in the beverage.
V is typically found in juice bottles. Reuse is not suggested due to the Phthalates that are used to soften this plastic. This type of plastic can leach this chemical
LDPE this type of plastic is found in squeeze bottles and flexible container lids. This type of plastic is considered safe to reuse.
PP this type of plastic is found in reusable microwave containers, kitchenware, and the tubs that soft butter or margarine comes in. Always check the container to see if it is microwave safe before using it in that appliance. This type of plastic is safe to reuse.
PS this type of plastic is found in egg cartons, Styrofoam cups, and restaurant take home containers. This type of container breaks down quickly and should never be reused. It also should never be used in the microwave which will expedite the break down process.
Other - this plastic is a safe reusable plastic that resists stains. It is used to make baby bottles and some of the sports water bottles that are sold empty. When exposed to hot beverages and strong chemicals it can release bisphenol which is a chemical used in the making of this plastic, bisphenol in high levels have a hormone like effect that effects the brain in animal studies and there is question regarding Humans too.
Health benefits of Apples
According to the "Home Orchard Society org" there are well over 300 varieties of apples grown in the USA. It's said that an unpeeled apple a day actually does keep the Doctor away. Scientist at the
University of Wisconsin have found anti oxidants in the peels of Gala
apples can slow the growth of prostate and breast cancer cells. Earlier research revealed eating just one apple a day can reduce the risk of bowel cancer by as much as 1/3-and the fruit also helps fight
heart disease. Other research shows that eating three to four apples
a day will lower your blood sugar as well as your cholesterol and blood pressure. You can get results by eating as little as three seven ounce apples a day.
Google Makes it Easier to Get Cooking
Google is adding a cool new feature to its eponymous search engine today: Recipe View, which lets you pull up results that show only recipes -- then filter them by ingredients, preparation time, and calories using options in Google's left-hand toolbar.
Not every recipe on the Web will be part of the fun-site proprietors need to mark up their recipe pages with special code so that Google understands the recipe's details. (According to Wired.com, several major cooking sites already do so.) I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
Google Recipe look at the upper left column list and find "RECIPE" and click on it.
Herbs de Provence, for Meat, Poultry, and Vegetable Dishes
So often people inquire as to what this is. It's simply a blend of common herbs which originated from the French countryside of Provence in the south east near Monaco. This blend of several herbs is fragrant and adds to the savor of dishes cooked or baked. It may be more basic or contain extra components. Generally it contains: Thyme, Savory, Rosemary, Marjoram, and Lavender flowers. It may also include: Tarragon, dried Orange Zest, crushed Fennel Seed, and crushed Bay Leaves. It may vary between Chef's but it isn't uncommon to find crushed Celery Seed, and ground White Pepper in the blend.
Here is a basic recipes:
2 tsp dried Thyme, 2 tsp Savory, 1 tsp Marjoram, 1 tsp dried Lavender Flower, 1/2 tsp Rosemary, 1/2 tsp crushed Fennel Seed, 1 crushed Bay Leaf. You may add or substitute 1/2 tsp of Basil or Oregano to the others in the list. This may have been where Colonel Saunders got the idea for his 11 secret herbs and spices in the KFC recipe that he made famous. As the Colonel found this mixture doesn't store well, so it should be blended together fresh just before cooking.
Kentucky has many Cities with French names, so Herbs de Provence would be right at home there.
Are there any Herbs and Spices which are not good for your Health ?
Yes, there are a few which aren't healthy. This may be for general use or if over used.
They may lead to Liver damage, so proceed with caution. The American College of Gastroenterology is warning about
these 5 in relation to damage of the Liver.
1) Green Tea is widely used. If you drink a few cups a day, it is unlikely you will suffer any adverse reaction.
Green Tea Extracts are concentrated formulations and should be used with caution..
The active ingredients are a class of compounds called catechins. They can deplete some of the protective molecules in cells such as glutathione that are there to protect us from injury. A high dose of green tea extract can lead in susceptible persons to actually quite severe or even fatal liver injury.
One of the catechins most suspected is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has rejected some of the health claims made by makers of products using green tea.
2) Comfrey contains a toxic substances called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that damage the liver, sometimes fatally. Comfrey is no longer sold in the U.S., except in creams or ointments, but even used this way the alkaloids can build up in the body.
3) Kava Kava is made from the roots of the plant Piper methysticum, best known as the basis for a ceremonial drink in Oceania but also sold to treat anxiety and insomnia. It’s been documented to have cause liver damage in as many as 100 people, however, and its use is banned or restricted in Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, and Britain.
4) Skullcap was traditionally used by Native Americans to treat anxiety, stress and insomnia. Chinese skullcap is a different species, but both are suspected of causing liver damage. Skullcap is often used in products containing multiple herbs, so it’s not entirely clear that skullcap is entirely to blame. But it’s something to keep an eye on.
5) Chaparral an extract of a shrub known as creosote bush, is used by people believing it can benefit conditions ranging from skin rashes to cancer. The suspected liver-damaging compound is one called NDGA. It’s possible that people with liver injury from the herb are having a type of allergic or immune reaction to it. But it’s been severe enough in some cases to have forced an emergency liver transplant.
When it comes to Herbs and Spices a lot of consumers have a preconceived notion that if it’s a natural product, it must be safe. But that is not necessarily the case. Currently, there is not actually very much effective oversight. It’s pretty much up to the manufacturers of these supplements to guarantee what’s actually in dietary or diet supplements.
Liver injury is difficult to diagnose according to Physicians. Symptoms are pretty non-localized.. They can include feeling tired, low appetite, and a feeling that food isn’t as tasty as usual. There might be some pain in the area of the liver, in the right upper part of the abdomen as well. Jaundice, which is indicated by yellow skin, is a big red flag and is dark colored urine as well..
