Kombucha

Kombucha is a delicious and tasty beverage prepared with fermented tea and kombucha cultures and sugar.  The culture is known to look like a rubbery white pancake comparable to a sourdough starter.  The culture is also known as a Kombucha mushroom due to its fungus like qualities.  This culture is placed inside a tea and the tea begins to ferment.  The finished product can have varying tastes depending on what type of tea is used.  I believe some of the more traditional teas used are black, oolong, green, and white.   The company Synergy offers a variety of flavours such as cranberry, gingerberry, mango, passionberry, and the list goes on.  Wonderdrink also makes this delicious beverage.

The health claims are bountiful- whether they are true is not clear.  Many websites and products state how Kombucha is full of antioxidants, helps to reduce stress, and improve digestion- the list is much longer than I care to mention.  Kombucha contains many acids including glucorinic acid, which is a powerful detoxifying substance.  This acid occurs naturally in the human liver, but I imagine drinking more of it would aid in detoxifying the body?

Regardless of whether the health claims have merit, the drink is a delicious alternative option and certainly much healthier than a lot of other products.  I assume this product would be available at most health stores; it is available at Calgary’s Community Natural Foods.  The drink was only a dollar more than other popular beverages such as Vitamin Water, Arizona Iced Tea, and Tropicana.

And for those folk who enjoy tradition and history- this drink is an ancient Asian tradition thought to have originated in China.  It also found its way to Russia, Germany, and other parts of Asia.

Labels

I’ve always struggled with labels.  At some point I made the choice to avoid eating meat.  After reading Michael Pollan’s book, “The Omnivores Dilemma” (amazing read btw) I did not feel right about consuming industry meat.  Animals are treated unethically for the product  of most meat sold in stores.  Beyond the treatment of animals, the environmental repercussions are alarming  as well as the health impacts of hormone packed meat that we are consuming.  My steadfast code to live by was to not purchase unethically raised meat.  I could however buy “ethical” meat and free-range eggs from time to time.  I also surmised that upon the situation of eating as a guest in someone else’s home, that I would consume the meat served to me.  It seemed as though my main reasons for avoiding meat would seem invalid in someone else’s home- they have already purchased the meat, and by me refusing to eat it doesn’t help out the already dead cow and impacted lands to raise it.  In addition, its inconvenient for family and friends to try and cook for my eating desires.

After that long ramble- it should be coherent how I did not know what “label” to give myself.  I’ve confused others when eating a nice elk sausage hunted by a friend and evoked questions- “I thought you were a vegetarian!?!” From that I have moved onto calling myself a “plant based eater.”  It supports the idea of avoiding anything from meat sources.

I recently stumbled upon a well explained perspective on the whole matter from Neal Barnard.  He suggested the used of adjectives instead of nouns.  He goes on to always refer to the “vegan diet” rather than referring to people as “vegans”.  He advocates this is, “a good practice anytime we are speaking of choices and beliefs.”  He explains how a person who switches from one style of diet to another is still the same person, “the only thing different is what is on his plate.”  He suggests that noun-based labels solicit images and prejudice and put that person in a box.  Just as the word hippy implies a smelly, environmental, seed eating, pot smoking individual – the word vegan creates all sorts of ideologies on how we might perceive their lifestyle,political views, environmental concerns, and consumer practices.

Something to ponder.

New favourite vegan munchies and food

1.  Kale and hummus sandwhich

http://www.veganmuscleandfitness.com/worlds-tastiest-sandwich-snack/

2. Strawberries and bananas sprinkled with hemp hearts

3. Soy butter or pumpkin seed butter spread on rice crackers

4. Hummus! hummus! hummus! on anything and everything.

5. Orange juice smoothie with green tea (mix concentrated orange juice/ oranges with soy milk and green tea)~L

~Looking forward to trying a whole bunch more and sharing:)

Phytochemicals?

Calories, vitamins, minerals, nutrients- these words are common knowledge to any person, but phytochemicals, however; raise a few brows from time to time.  In fact, word processors underline it as a spelling error.

In short phytochemicals are properties found in plants (fruits, vegetables, beans, & grains) that have disease fighting and preventive agents.  Dr. Furhman explains quite extensively in his book how these phytochemicals are key to the prevention and the treatment of many health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease,  and high blood pressure.  Phytochemicals can stimulate enzymes that break down carcinogens and also prevent cancerous cells from multiplying.

A diet rich in vegetables and fruits guarantee a diet rich in phytochemicals.  There is no research (that I am aware of) that indicates these phytochemicals can be gained in pill format with even close to the same success.

Go plants go!

vegan challenge- day 3 & 4

Day three came and went without too much thought to the process.  I am now on day four and am finding snacking at work to be a danger.  I err on the side of caution with the idea of vegetarian and vegan- the reason being is I feel a lot of people miss the point.  Most should adapt the title “starchetarian” instead.  They give up meat, but then fill their bodies with bleached wheat and potatoes.  How can you be a vegetarian when your diet lacks in vegetables?

One of the reasons I’m trying the challenge is I want to expand upon and increase my intake of plants.  Vegetables are packed full of nutrients and phytochemicals, while most meat lacks these two basic nutritional components.  Thus I do not want to fall into the trap of pretending to be healthy with fancy labels for myself while stuffing my body with other harmful foods.  Eating “whole wheat” can increase my blood sugar just as much as a candy bar- I fail to see how that is any better than eating meat.  And potatoes- well, I wish they were healthier, but potatoes should be on the “eat infrequently” list of food.

Whilst my hand hasn’t been reaching for bagels, bread, crackers,and french fries- I still ate too many rice crackers today. Yes, I know they aren’t bad for me, but I am taking this challenge to eat WHOLE UNPROCESSED FOODS!

It’s all a part of the journey:)

vegan challenge- day 1 & 2

Day #1

I didn’t even notice that I was on a vegan diet.  I ate so much fruit it was delightful!  However….maybe I ate too much fruit and not enough greens.

Day # 2

I am loving the salads!  But I found that I am eating more quantities, which is not a big deal, however, I dont have time to eat that much food!  My lunch break is not very long already.  So I spread some soy butter on a rice cakes and scarfed it down on my way to teach my next class.  I want eating to be an enjoyable experience, not a stuff your face as you go kinda treat.

I was craving…… not sure what.  Last night I went to the grocery store in search of something…… I wasn’t sure what it was yet.  I have done a lot of cleanses in the past, thus I didn’t expect to experience any cravings.  I guess your body quickly adapts to the junk we feed it.  Regardless, I was shocked at how little vegan options were available in a regular grocery store.  Most things have eggs or refined sugars (which I avoid as much as possible.)  Despite the lack of variety, I still ended up coming home with several grocery bags of food!  yikes!