July 31, 2011

Daughter: "Chickens want to stay alive but they don't always get to." Guess what we're having for dinner?

Daughter: "It's not real. I'm just pretending! I'm just pretending it's real life."

Quote from a friend's Facebook page

Overheard:
"If you don't want to burn out, stop living like you're on fire."

So good I had to make a note of it!

To Your Health

Fish oil, specifically Omega-3, is hot right now and for a reason. It contributes to a healthy heart, reduces inflammation, can improve your skin, lessen joint pain, improve brain function and even may lower the risk of certain types of cancers.*

If you don't consume enough fish oil through your regular diet, there are a number of supplement options available. Fish oil capsules are one of the easiest and most accessible sources of fish oil outside of diet. When buying capsules, check the amount of DHA and EPA because that's what you should be measuring, not fish oil alone. The benefits of capsules include portability and cost. The downside is that many people have a difficult time swallowing the often large capsules and it's not uncommon for people to experience heartburn or a fishy taste after taking them. In addition, if one is taking a variety of supplements or medication for any reason, adding a number of fish oil capsules can exacerbate the feeling that you're constantly swallowing pills.

I take fish oil to help with my dry eye issues and recently, through an introduction on the DryEyeZone.com, decided to try Barlean's Omega Swirl as an alternative to capsules. One tablespoonful and I was sold. It tastes great (a slight fishy taste if you are really perceptive and let it linger on your tongue but it's barely perceptible), has a nice texture and rather than choking down 4+ large capsules, I simply take a spoonful of Barlean's twice a day. The only downside is that it costs more than capsules and requires refrigeration (not so hot for travel). I'm not a huge fan of lemon or orange so I purchased the Pina Colada flavor and I like it well enough that I'm looking forward to trying the other flavors. It's going to be tough to go back to capsules for travel.

Barlean's Omega Swirl rates Highly Recommended in my book.

*Fish oil has many health benefits but it is possible to consume too much, particularly if you have certain health issues. Please talk to your doctor and familiarize yourself with the side effects and risks if you are adding fish oil, or any supplement, to your diet.

**Note added 7/18/2011:
I emailed Barlean's regarding gluten and dairy in their products and I received this very nice & informative email back:

Thank you for writing into us! In regards to gluten, our products are formulated with gluten free components. Our facility adheres to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) but we do not test all our products for gluten at this time. Our Omega Swirls are the only products that are specifically tested for gluten at this time. They are considered gluten free. Our Barlean's Greens contain Wheat Leaf and Barley Leaf- these are harvested at the shoot stage before they have had a chance to make gluten. There should be no reason our Greens contain gluten however again, we do not actively test them for gluten.

While we have no reason to believe there is gluten in our products, we do always have to take into consideration that there could be some sort of cross-contamination. This is particularly true as we deal with products that come from seeds (ie: borage and flax). A very possible example of this could be that a truck that was used to haul wheat might contain gluten residue. Or wind could carry some wheat kernels into a neighboring field of organic flaxseeds. The product is free of dairy, casein, and lactose. I hope that this is helpful. Have a wonderful day and best of health!

Danniel Davenport
Customer Service & Account Representative
Bachelor of Science in Nutrition
www.barleans.com

Princes

Daughter told me today (July 13, 2011) that all princes wear capes.

Someone needs to tell Britain's Royals stat.

Quinoa with Dried Cranberries, Apricots, and Pecans

I'm in love with quinoa (pronounce keen-wa). It's healthy, gluten-free, it has protein, it's delicious and it's EASY to make.

This recipe is done in the time it takes to cook the quinoa, barely anytime at all. I don't remember where I found it but it's become a favorite.

Quinoa with Dried Cranberries, Apricots, and Pecans

Yield: 6 servings

2 c fat-free, reduced sodium chicken or vegetable broth or water (I've used both homemade chicken broth and water and haven't found there to be a substantial difference so use what's convenient for you)

1 c quinoa, thoroughly rinsed and drained

Pinch of salt, optional

1/4 c dried cranberries*

1/4 c diced dried apricots

2 T minced fresh thyme leaves

1/4 c finely chopped toasted pecans

In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a boil. Add the quinoa and salt. 

Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until all the liquid is absorbed. Stir the cranberries, apricots and thyme into the hot quinoa. Top with pecans and serve hot or cold. **

Notes: It is important to rinse quinoa very thoroughly before cooking it to avoid a bitter flavor.

To toast the pecans, put them in a small skillet over med-high heat and stir frequently for 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned. Immediately transfer the nuts to a small dish and cool.

Toasting the nuts adds a great dimension to the dish but if you're short on time or simply lazy, it tastes great without toasting the nuts first.

* The last time I made this, I realized too late that I didn't have dried cranberries on hand so I substituted dried cherries; terrific!

** I often chop & measure the apricots, cranberries & pecans ahead of time and store in a container. Once the quinoa is done, I empty the container into the cooking pan, add the fresh thyme, stir and put into a serving dish.