I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer, in July 2012. Not being one to solely rely on conventional medicine, I researched natural ways to beat it. In this Blog, I will share my journey with you.
No, this isn't a Blog about the Peanuts Halloween special; although, I am looking forward to watching that, on Halloween (tradition!). But, it is officially pumpkin season, here in the United States, and I'm excited!! I love Charlie Brown...I love Fall....and I love pumpkins!! Pumpkins are amazing; they're nutritious, delicious and totally versatile! Here's a brief run-down of just how awesome pumpkins are...
Check out all these amazing benefits!!
Did you see that?? So much goodness to improve your health! And, I love fact sheets...especially the ones that come with recipes; I can't wait to try that smoothie recipe!! LOL! Some other things I've learned about the wonder that is a pumpkin are as follows:
Eating pumpkins reduces the risk of gastric, breast, lung and colorectal cancer, regardless of family history.
Eating pumpkins reduces breast cancer risk, in both pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women.
Cucurbitacin E, a compound found in pumpkins, has been shown to inhibit triple-negative breast cancer metastasis in the lab, by suppressing cell migration and invasion.
Pumpkins contain hypoglycemic substances that may improve diabetes.
Intake of orange and yellow vegetables (like pumpkins) may also be protective against prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
I, personally, love eating pumpkins/pumpkin seeds...and I totally wish they had a longer harvesting season. I made sure to collect a few recipes, recently, so I'll have plenty of variety when it comes time to grub on some yumminess!!
Hi,
again! My loves, I realize that it’s been several months since my last blog entry...I’m
terribly sorry; I developed a severe case of writer's block, and could not pull out of it!
As I’m writing this, it’s 4:07am (EST), New Year's Day.
On with the updates! I finally moved out of my sister and brother-in-law’s house....I have a
tiny apartment in Knoxville, TN, now! Here are a few pictures...
Yes,
my kitchen really IS that small! LOL! It’s perfect, though....just the right
size for me! I've met some of my neighbors, and they seem to be pretty decent
folks. My oldest daughter took me on a tour of Knoxville, a few days before I
headed to Atlanta, GA to spend Christmas and New Year’s with my youngest
daughter and granddaughter; I've been having such a great time, with them....I'm planning on staying most of this month.
As
many of you know, I had a recurrence, mid-year, last year. I believe it’s gone,
again; but, I won’t know for sure, until I line up a new set of doctors, when I
get back to Knoxville. My new Oncologist will need to run tests, to see what
needs to be done, if anything. As of right now, I’m going to believe that I am
cancer free, once again!
I
moved on December 17, 2014, after my last course of chemo was done.
Coincidentally, my new adventure began, the day the last Hobbit movie was
released in theaters, world-wide! I've always said I’m a Hobbit at heart, so
now I have a timeline to prove it! LOL!!
This
is where my life, truly begins....it’s just me, myself and I, now. For the
first time, in my life, I’m on my own! No one to keep an itinerary for; no one
to keep mine for me, either. No one to hold me accountable, except me; it’s
time to go next level!! I’m truly excited to see what God has in store for me,
this year!
At
this moment (4:20am EST) I seem to be running out of steam....I've only had 3
hours of sleep, tonight. Y’all won’t mind if I stop here, and get some more
rest, would you? I’ll pick up again, when I get up, later! Good night!
7:54am
– Ok....that’s better! Good morning, my loves!
Now,
back to my blog. Getting better acquainted with my granddaughter has been such a
joy; she felt comfortable with me, soon after I got here (Christmas Day) and has
been steadily warming up to me, more and more, each day. Last night, we had a
breakthrough moment!
Whenever
she gets scolded for doing something she’s not supposed to do, she apologizes
with a kiss; she doesn't quite have the vocabulary skills, to verbally
apologize, yet. I've been allowing her to carry my cell phone around, and push
the buttons (she likes technology); she can’t call anyone, because the keypad
is locked, so I let her play with it. Well, last night, she threw it behind the
bed. She’s being taught that there are things you’re allowed to throw, and
things you’re not allowed to throw....cell phones are not to be thrown.
Mommy
scolded her for throwing Grammy’s cell phone, and Alice went to give Mommy a
kiss, to apologize; Mommy told her to apologize to me, instead, and brought her
to me. I looked her square in the face, told her that what she did to my phone
was not nice.....and she kissed me! It was magical!!
Alice
likes to play a variation of hide-and-seek; she gets behind Mommy, in her blind
spot, and Mommy says, “Where’s da baby?” Alice’s response to that question is
to step out from behind Mommy with a big smile on her face....and Mommy is glad
to see her (“There you are!!”) She has
included me in the game, now....while she’s hiding behind Mommy, she’ll peek
around and look at me, as if to ask if she’s doing it right. I love it!! It’s
fun to trick Mommy! LOL!!
"There you are!!" (sorry for the blur!)
This
little person is too smart, for her own good, too! She can talk....she
just doesn't; Mommy says Alice’s Daddy was like that, when he was a baby, too. One
day, she’ll decide it’s time to speak her mind...until then, she communicates
in other ways. She knows how to share things she has possession of, as well;
she hands them to you, if she wants to share them. She can high-five, and fist
bump, too; it’s hysterical! And, I love watching her make decisions...the look
on her face is just precious.
Alice
even likes to tease me....I call out her name (“Aaaaalice!”), and she answers
back, “mmh-mmh” (translation – “no I’m not!”) She thinks she’s very clever,
when she teases me, like that! We both get a kick out of it, too! LOL!!
When
I get back to my apartment, I’m going to get a proper ID, sign up for
assistance (Medicaid and Food Stamps) and get the ball rolling on my new
medical team. I’m also planning on joining the YMCA, and looking into
vegetarian meet-up groups, so I can get acquainted with like-minded people. Which means I'll have more content for the Blog!
For now, I'm enjoying spending time with my family. I hope you're having an enjoyable day, as well!! God bless you, all!
Yes, I know...it's still two weeks away! But, if I don't get another Blog post out, by then, I won't get the chance to wish you a Merry Christmas...so, now is as good a time, as any! LOL!! I do see that it's "Update Time", so here goes...
I've lost another 5 lbs (so excited about this!!) I've only got about 65 lbs to go, before I reach my goal!! God is good!
I went to the Oncologist's office today, for a check up and a chemo treatment. He says he wants me to have one more treatment, and then we'll take a break.
During this break, he wants to run some tests (MRI, CAT Scan, PET Scan, etc.) to see if this chemo drug is doing it's job. I sure hope he tells me I'm in remission!! I don't wanna do chemo anymore...I wanna be healthy!!
Still looking for a place to call home, in Knoxville, TN. My sister says that as soon as her hubby finds a job, in Texas, they'll be moving down there. They'll be dropping me off in TN, on their way to TX.
I, officially, debuted as an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay, this past Saturday (finally!) I had invited about 10 of my friends, but only two ladies could show up. No worries, though...there will be other parties!! Here's my website, if you want to look around!
My Physical Therapist has given me more complex exercises to do! I'm getting stronger...praise God!! She also wants me to stand flat on the wall, for 6 seconds (10 times a day) because I'm still slouching, when I walk.
She says, if I don't strengthen my back muscles, I'll be hunched over, forever!
Standing flat, against the wall like that, uses muscles that don't want to be used! But, the more I do it, the stronger they'll get...and it won't hurt so much, after a while.
I'm also practicing walking short distances, without the cane...I'm not doing too bad with that, either!!
And, I can now fix my own meals, as long as I'm not standing for more than 5 minutes (cereal, soup, toast, re-heating leftovers, etc)...I don't like using the microwave, but it's coming in REAL handy, right now!! LOL!!
I really should have my sister take pictures of my next PT session...that way, you can see my progress! I told her, come Spring, I want to start walking to and from the mailbox, outside.
So, there ya have it! If the muse hits me, I'll be Blogging a Christmas message...if not, I wish you a Merry Christmas (again)!! Love you, all....God bless you!!
I
was reading about Vitamin K, this morning, and found some interesting
information about its benefits. Did you know Vitamin K aids in blood clotting?
Surgeons often give Vitamin K to their patients, before surgery, to prevent
excessive bleeding…I wonder if my surgeon did that with me?
Vitamin
K also assists in the transportation of calcium, throughout our bodies; it
may aid in overall bone health, and in reducing bone fractures, as well. And,
it also prevents hardening of the arteries. So, it’s definitely beneficial for
those who have a family history of osteoporosis, or heart disease.
I've read that recent studies have shown, Vitamin K may also be anti-cancer…they say
it has preventative and treatment benefits! Which makes sense, since most veggies are alkaline forming. I wrote a blog about that, too...you can read it, here.
Vitamin
K isn't just one vitamin…it’s a group of three; I didn't know that, so this was my something new for today. This group consists of K1
(phytonadione, phylloquinone, phytonactone), K2 (menaquinones), formed by
natural bacteria present in intestines, and K3 (menadione).
K1
is a fat soluble vitamin, like A, E and D; you can have a diet rich in Vitamin
K, by eating your greens! It can also be found in a few other foods, as well…here’s
a small list…
Parsley
Kale
(cooked)
Spinach
(cooked)
Brussels
sprouts
Swiss
chard (cooked)
Green
beans
Asparagus
Broccoli
Kale
(cooked)
Mustard
greens (cooked)
Turnip
greens (cooked)
Collard
greens (cooked)
Thyme
(fresh)
Romaine
lettuce
Sage
(fresh)
Oregano
(fresh)
Basil
(fresh)
Cabbage
Celery
Sea
vegetables
Cucumber
Leeks
Cauliflower
Tomatoes
Blueberries
Fermented
foods
Unless
otherwise indicated (cooked), all of these fruits and veggies should be eaten
raw, to get the most Vitamin K out of them. And, fresh herbs are always better
than dried!
Come to think of it, the folks at Whole Foods have a rather comprehensive article on Vitamin K, if
you’d like to learn more. They also have a chart, in this article, listing all of the foods that
are “excellent”, “very good” and “good” sources of Vitamin K. Personally, I
only noticed a few things on that list that I wouldn't eat (soy and miso are
off my list; Brussels sprouts…yuk!)
I’m
what’s known as an emotional eater…I eat when I’m sad, when I’m nervous, when I’m
stressed out, and even when I’m happy. I don’t eat, because my body needs nourishment…I
eat because it feels good. I've struggled with this most of my life; and even
more so, now that I've been diagnosed with a terminal illness.
I
recently watched a video (there's an article, too), detailing how the food industry cons us into eating
the things that we know aren't good for us, but we find ourselves powerless
against the cravings for these things; pizza, chips, fried foods, the Value
Meal, macaroni and cheese, snack cakes, soda pop, etc. They are chemically
altered, on purpose, to get us addicted to them. And, I’m an addict. On this
video, they interview a fellow addict, and she briefly discusses how difficult
it is to abstain from all of these gloriously wonderful foods. Trust me, she’s
not kidding! I encourage you to check it out!
Father
God, please forgive me… I've fallen off the wagon, again! My sister said to me,
the other day, “there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a treat, once in a blue
moon”. Under normal circumstances, she’d be right…one slice of pizza, one
small fry, or a small handful of chips, won’t hurt at all; and everyone knows
you should never deprive yourself. That’s the easiest way to fail.
Unless you’re
me; the easiest way to fail, in my case, would be to indulge…even if it’s just
a small amount. In my case, it would be like telling an alcoholic that one
little glass of wine, with dinner, isn't going to hurt. Everyone knows, to give
an alcoholic ANY alcoholic beverage…even just a sip…is to set him back in his
recovery, and will cause him to fall, again. And, I've been indulging, lately.
I
don’t have the will power to stop at just a small amount. I've been indulging,
from time to time, because there are those things in my sister’s house…and I've noticed I've been wanting more, and more. I've got to stop! I don’t want to “die
happy” as so many people have said, when faced with the responsibility of
giving up their junk food…they’d rather die happy. I’d rather LIVE happy, thank
you very much! And, eating any amount of junk food is a trap, for me. I've got
to stop myself!!
I
can feel myself slipping back into old habits…and, I don’t want to go there!! I don’t
want to die from Breast Cancer!! You don’t understand….I CAN’T say “No!”,
unless I don’t see it. If I know it’s there, I want it; if I want it, I’ll eat
it. I've been doing pretty good, so far; but I feel like I could be doing much
better. And, just because someone who loves me gives me permission to indulge
on rare occasion, doesn't mean I should. Father God, I need your help!!
Here’s
a picture of me, before I was diagnosed. I weighed 251 lbs. This is what giving
in to those foods has done to me…because I can’t stop at just a small amount.
I
had my sister take a picture of me, this morning; it's been a little over a year, between photos. The darker hair, in the first picture, was a dye job.
Today, I weight 231 lbs. I don’t think my body has
changed all that much, but I feel different; and I do look smaller, in comparison. I can sense that changes are
taking place, and I don’t want to ruin that, by going back into my old habits. I
want to document my weight loss, because that’s part of my recovery journey.
Losing weight will help in preventing a recurrence.
Now, I
don’t fault my sister for trying…she means well; and love her for trying to make sense out of a situation that clearly doesn't. But, I know what my weaknesses
are, and I know what I have to do to keep from falling off the wagon, again. I
also know, I can’t do this without God! In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Bible says “And
He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in
weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so
that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
That’s
me…I’m a weakling; a mere mortal. I know this, I’ve accepted this, and I can
use this to bring glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This
is a list of some of the triggers I've had to come face to face with, lately…
I
have Stage 4 Breast Cancer
My
estranged husband is being difficult (Lee is my maiden name)
I’m
making plans to move south, but I’m not sure if I’m going to TN, or to GA (I
have family in both states)
I
also don’t know how I’m going to get there, or how I’m going to go from
homeless & broke, to self-sufficient & independent
I
want to have a job, but my doctors have me on disability, which hinders that
whole independence thing
I
need to get to the gym, so I can lose weight; but I’m dependent on a driver who doesn't like driving in bad weather (we've had a lot of that, lately)
As
you can see, there’s really not a lot for me to stress out about (LOL!). Oy! I
know God never gives us more than we can handle, but sometimes I wish He didn’t
have so much confidence in me! LOL!!
This
too, shall pass!!
Thanks
for listening today. Have a blessed day, everyone!! oxoxox
Our body's run on glucose, like a vehicle runs on gasoline; and our "tanks" have a 24-hour supply of glucose, at the ready; so, if you don't eat carbs on a regular basis, you'll run out of fuel...right? Not necessarily! I've been researching this nutritional therapy plan, called The Ketogenic Diet, that teaches how to switch from "regular gas" to "diesel" (if you will) and still function normally, throughout the day. The Ketogenic Diet forces your body to burn fat as your primary fuel source, rather than glucose, because it's a low carb, high fat, moderate protein eating plan.
The Ketogenic Diet Pyramid
It's been said that this lifestyle plan can cure epilepsy, as well as cancer, and a host of other health issues. About 2/3 of our brain is composed of fat...specifically, fatty acids; so, the more fats, and fatty acids, you have in your diet, the better your brain will function. As far as being the cure for cancer, it stands to reason...sugar feeds cancer cells. Carbs break down into sugars, in our bodies; so, if you limit the amount of carbs you eat, you will starve the disease. This eating plan can also help you lose weight! Simple, right? Not if you're a caboholic, like me!! LOL! The Mayo Clinic says that a low carb diet would allow for 50g - 150g of carbs, per day. My favorite multi-grain pasta is 38g all by itself!! However, I'm planning on putting this lifestyle change to the test; incorporating what I've learned about alkalizing foods, and this eating plan, I should be able to stay cancer free! And I can't wait to be a size 10, again!! LOL! Here's how the Ketogenic Diet works... Ketones are a substance that your body makes, when it uses fat as your primary source of energy, rather than glucose. If you are diabetic, and choose this lifestyle, please make sure to discuss this with your doctor...too many ketones in your body could be dangerous!
Remember, back in the day, when everyone said a reduced fat diet was healthier for us?? They grouped all fats in the "dangerous" category...whether they were good fats, or bad fats. I did a Blog about the difference between fats. Not all fats are bad for you! The good ones do a lot of beneficial things to your body; the "bad" fats do, too, as a matter of fact! A high fat diet is said to be very healthy for you, when you keep the carbs at bay. A diet high in clean saturated fats, and low in carbohydrates actually raises your good cholesterol and lowers your triglycerides, according to the Ketogenic Diet Resource page. This site lists a great deal of benefits from this particular lifestyle plan! It also has menu plans! Now why would the powers that be tell us that all fats are bad, and we should limit our fat intake, when fats actually do a lot of good to the human condition?? Two words....Big Pharma. Whenever there's a buzz about this and that medical condition, no one stops to figure out why that medical condition exists...they just create a pill to help us "manage" those conditions. And, they even have pills to combat the side effects of the disease management drugs!! It's all about money, folks!! Believe it or not, most of the diseases and conditions we suffer from are metabolic (they happened because we don't eat properly!) Your fats should come from high quality sources...regardless of whether it's a saturated fat, or a "good" fat. Quality is key! Eat grass-fed animal products (meat & dairy), make sure your pork products are uncured (no nitrites or nitrates), eat full fat dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, etc). Consume LOTS of organic, non-GMO (non-starchy) veggies, and limit the amount of fruits, grains, cereals, breads, etc. that you eat. If you're suffering from insulin resistance, the Ketogenic Diet just might be the answer to your prayers, as well! I'm currently trying to figure out how to navigate the low carb part of this eating plan (notice I don't call it a "diet"?). Fruits are carbs; they're also anti-estrogenic (most of them). So, I'm thinking...in terms of the "low carb" part of this, I'll eat fruits as my 50g - 150g of carbs per day....cutting out rice, starchy veggies, and all grains (or maybe replacing a fruit with one of them, from time to time). I'm going to have to make sure that whatever I use in place of a piece of fruit, will be high quality, though...no corn syrup, or processed grains. It's time to take back our lives, reverse these health issues we're being taught to manage; and live healthy, and drug free, once again!!
Hi, everyone!! Happy Meatless Monday! I've started experimenting with different recipes I find on the web; so, this is my first official foodie Blog. Yay, me!! Please excuse the amateur photography! LOL! This evening I made Moo Shu Vegetables. It didn't turn out too bad...it was pretty good, actually!! I think I'll scale down on the sesame oil, next time. And, instead of the grilling sauce, I used BBQ sauce; I also cooked it for a little longer than the recipes says to, so I'll probably shorten the time, as well. This recipe fed 4, and there's plenty of leftovers, for another time...as you can see, by the photo of the frying pan! LOL!! Here's the recipe.... Moo Shu Vegetables
This was taken after we all filled our plates! Leftovers!!
Moo
Shu Vegetables
Ingredients
2
tablespoons smoky spicy grilling sauce (such as House of Tsang)
1
tablespoon olive or coconut oil
2
cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2
tablespoons ground ginger
1
bag (10 ounces) coleslaw mix
1
bag (8 ounces) shredded carrots
4
ounces sliced mixed mushrooms
1
cup bean sprouts
1/2
cup vegetable broth
6
scallions, sliced
1
teaspoon sesame oil
10
whole-wheat flour tortillas (such as Mission Life Balance)
Directions
In a large nonstick skillet or wok, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic
and ginger and cook 30 seconds. Add coleslaw mix, carrots, mushrooms, bean
sprouts and the broth. Cook, stirring frequently, for 8 minutes.
Stir in the scallions, and sesame oil.
Serve with slightly warmed tortillas.
I hope you enjoy this!! Please let me know what you think, when you fix this for your family! God bless!!
The toothpick was put in place for the sake of the photo! LOL!
Anyone ever have just coffee (or tea) and toast for breakfast? I like to spread my toast with some butter and fruit spread, most of the time. Since becoming The Savvy Survivor, a niece of mine forwarded some information on the differences between margarine and butter, and said she hoped I could use this info in one of my blogs. So, here it is!
~~~~~~~~
Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys. When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.
It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow colouring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavourings....
DO YOU KNOW.. The difference between margarine and butter?
Read on to the end...gets very interesting!
Both have the same amount of calories. Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams; compared to 5 grams for margarine.
Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.
Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods. Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few and only because they are added!
Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavours of other foods.
Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years .
And now, for Margarine..
Very High in Trans fatty acids.
Triples risk of coronary heart disease ...
Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)
Increases the risk of cancers up to five times..
Lowers quality of breast milk
Decreases immune response.
Decreases insulin response.
And here's the most disturbing fact... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!
Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC... and shares 27 ingredients with PAINT.
These facts alone were enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).
Open a tub of margarine and leave it open in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will notice a couple of things:
* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)
* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not a find a home to grow.
Why? Because it is nearly plastic . Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?
Share This With Your Friends.....(If you want to butter them up')!
Chinese Proverb: When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.
~~~~~~~~ And now....a comparison of ingredients between some of the nations leading margarines, butter, and stuff I call "What the heck??" Those are supposed to be good for us, because of key ingredients...but they're really no better than margarine.
Right off the bat, I can't eat this....soybean oil; and anything that's "partially hydrogenated" or "hydrogenated" is a Trans fat...and WILL clog your arteries! Mono- and Diglycerides are emulsifiers...and another trans fat! Artificial flavors...what??? Artificial flavors from....where? Too vague for me! There are also hidden sources of MSG, in this product...do your homework!
Again...soybean oil, and it's partially hydrogenated, too! Ok, wait...there's what in this stuff?? Does that say "Propylene Glycol Monostearate"?? Folks...that's an emulsifying agent found in cosmetics and personal care products!! Ewww!!
EDTA is short for Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (and I'm not even going to attempt to pronounce that! LOL!) Calcium Disodium EDTA is made from poisons and chelation chemicals; you can read all about this wonderful ingredient, here. And, again with the vague terms....natural & artificial flavors.
Next....
The folks on the Benecol website tout this as containing "a plant-derived ingredient that actually lowers your cholesterol" It even brags about it, on the package!
LIES!!! Read the ingredients...
Ingredients (15):
Canola Oil Liquid, Water, Soybean(s) Oil
Partially Hydrogenated, Plant Sterol Esters, Salt, Emulsifier(s) (Vegetable(s)
Mono and Diglycerides, Soy Lecithin) , Soybean(s) Oil Hydrogenated, Potassium
Sorbate, Citric Acid and Calcium Disodium EDTA To Preserve Freshness, Flavor(s)
Artificial, Di Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Colored With Beta
Carotene
Do you see it?? Hydrogenated, and partially hydrogenated ANYTHING will increase your cholesterol...not lower it!!
Add that to all our other "favorite" ingredients, and I'd say this one goes on the "Ain't Happening" list, as well! LOL!
And, here we have butter....
Ingredients (2):
Cream Sweet Pasteurized, Salt
Well....finally! Ingredients I can pronounce; and, I know where they come from, too...no need for research, here! I think we have a winner, folks!!
Here's a few more brands of butter, with only those two ingredients...
I've never heard of this brand, but I thought the package was lovely!
Butter really is the best choice! As always, I will encourage you to investigate in order to find quality butter made from the milk of grass-fed animals; that's the best quality, and most nutrient dense, of all creamery butters.
And now...my "What the heck??" moment. This next product is touted as being super beneficial, because it's mixed with extra virgin olive oil; that's not the only thing it's mixed with...
Ingredients (17):
Butter Blend of Natural Vegetable Oils (Palm
Fruit, Soybean(s), Flax Seed, Olive Oil Extra Virgin) , Water, Fish Oil,
Contains less than 22% of Salt, Soybean(s) Lecithin, Flavor(s) Natural, Whey,
Lactic Acid, Vegetable(s) Monoglycerides, Sorbitan Ester of Fatty Acids, Di
Alpha Tocopherol Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Beta Carotene
Natural Vegetable Oils....like soybean oil (can't do it!); flax seed oil is good and there's water in this. Wait...do I see what I think I see?? FISH OIL??? Now, fish oil is very good for you...but what's doing in a vegetable oil blend? Oh my!
Ok, moving on....more soy (soybeans and lecithin), natural flavors (still waiting for someone to tell me where these come from); monoglycerides...ok...don't let the "vegetable" notion fool you, folks, it's still bad news!!
Sorbitan Ester of Fatty Acids....used as a surfactant, an emulsifier, a buffering agent, a defoaming agent, a synthetic flavoring, a stabilizer and a lubricant. Ok...back up!! A defoaming agent?? I think I've just lot my appetite!! At least I now have a better idea of where "natural & artificial flavors" come from! LOL!! Here's some more info for ya!
I also understand why they used that in this product...water and oil don't mix, unless you force them to; hence, the need for a stabilizer/emulsifier.
Personally, I don't care how good vegetable spreads, margarine, and "blends" taste...pass the BUTTER, please!!
Here it is, folks...the book review I promised! I recently signed up for Dr. David Brownstein's Newsletters; I should be getting another one, soon. With my "membership", I received a book called "The Guide to Healthy Eating", authored by him; he's authored 10 books, and I'm planning on owning all of them! LOL! Within this particular book, you will learn everything you need to know about carbs, fats & oils, salt, making children's favorite foods more healthy for them, and what foods to avoid eating (and why), and so much more! There's even a section of the book devoted to recipes...I can't wait to try them!! In the back, there is a tip section...healthy eating when dining out, food prep tips, meal planning, etc. There are also two appendices....a glycemic index, and a grocery shopping check-list. I highly recommend purchasing this book; it is a comprehensive guide to put you on the right track toward a healthier life!
Wrong! There are some major differences between animal-based proteins and plant-based proteins.
Proteins become amino acids, during the digestion process; amino acids are the building blocks of the body. The body also uses protein to make enzymes, hormones, and other body processes. The amino acids that can't be manufactured by our bodies are called essential amino acids. There are nine essential amino acids, and 12 which are manufactured by the body, itself. Here's where the differences come into play. A complete protein is a food that contains a significant amount of all nine essential amino acids. All animal-based proteins are complete proteins...most plant-based proteins are not. There are only a hand-full of plant proteins that are considered complete. Soy has long been considered the highest quality complete protein in the vegetable kingdom. When soy was first touted as "the" plant-based alternative to animal protein, I fell for it hook, line and sinker. I became a soy foods fanatic! Soy milk and tofu were staples, in my house...my kids didn't like the tofu, but they devoured the milk! I went out of my way to replace animal proteins with soy, and other plant-based proteins, because the powers that be said it was better for our health. I was diagnosed with breast cancer, last year. And I'm terrified that my children (2 girls and a boy) will develop breast cancer, later on in life, because I bombarded their bodies with so much soy...I am a dethroned convenience food queen! With all the new information out about how bad convenience foods are for us, and how practically everything boxed, packaged, bottled or canned has soy in it...this Mommy is worried for her children! Complete proteins, in the plant kingdom are found in other sources...spirulina, hemp seed, amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa. I will never promote soy as a reliable source of ANY nutrient! Trust me!
My new best friend, Dr. David Brownstein, says soy also contains enzyme inhibitors that stop our bodies from absorbing a lot of minerals, like calcium, magnesium, zinc, molybdenum, manganese and iron. And, large amounts of refined soy (convenience foods) can cause deficiencies in Vitamins B12, D, E, and K. This information can be found in his book, "The Guide to Healthy Eating" (book review coming soon!) When eating foods that are incomplete proteins (most plant-based proteins), it's a good idea to make sure you eat complimentary proteins, to achieve a complete protein source. You don't have to combine them in the same meal, just make sure you've eaten plenty of complimentary proteins, by the end of the day. I've plugged myself as being a former omnivore, suggesting that I have become a vegetarian...when, in fact, I still eat meat, from time to time. I'm what's commonly known as a "flexitarian"; a vegetarian who still eats meat, on occasion. I've also learned that animals who are common herbivores will eat meat, when they need to; so, I'm ok with being a vegetarian who eats meat, once in a while! LOL! Eating meat is the only way to ensure that the body gets an adequate amount of B12...it's not found in any plant food, unless it's been fortified with it. Vitamin B12 is a vital nutrient, in that it helps produce DNA in our bodies, helps reduce the risk of pernicious anemia, helps maintain energy levels, reduces the risk of heart disease, and so much more! With that being said, I would also not advise become a strict vegan...B12 supplements are great; but by not eating meat at least once in a while, you will be missing out on so many other nutrients that are only found in animal flesh and animal products (milk, eggs, honey, etc). So, for an adequate amount of protein (and other nutrients) in your diet, it is always a good idea to eat meat, or animal products; even if it's only once in a while! Thanks for stopping by, and have a blessed day!! oxoxox
