Opal Apples Review

I love apples for snacks, lunch, or anytime. They are good with cheese, peanut butter, or Reese’s Spread. If I am particularly ambitious I put apples in pie, apple crisp, oatmeal, and the list goes on. I got a $5 off coupon from BzzAgent for Opal Apples, so I went to my local Fred Meyer and loaded up on some Opals.

Apples have several health benefits, like being high in soluble fiber, helping to control weight, being good for heart health. They‘re also good for your dental health and stimulate saliva production.

Opal apples are a flavorful, sweet cross between Golden Delicious and Topaz apples.  They naturally don’t turn brown after you cut them. When I first heard this, I was skeptical. I thought that they must be GMO or that the claim must be an exaggeration. I’m happy to say Opal apples are not GMO and really don’t turn brown after cutting. They are good for kid’s lunches, since they like their apples sliced and these don’t turn brown easily.

About Opal Apples

The Opal apple was discovered in 1999 in Europe. Since then, the apple has been tested in 63 orchards throughout Europe and the Mediterranean. In 2010, the Opal made its way to the United States. It is grown exclusively at Broetje Orchards in Washington State.

This variety of apple is only available from November through March. They are also only grown by a particular grower, on limited acreage. They are also a little challenging to find in the store. To find a store near you check out Opal’s website. 

When I buy groceries, I like to save money.  Therefore, I originally scoffed at the price of Opals because I normally get whichever apples are on sale, typically costing half the price per pound of what the Opals go for. My family goes through lots of apples. Costing almost three dollars a pound, Opals may seem like a luxury.

When thinking that these apples cost more, consider this information taken from an Opal information sheet:

 “About First Fruits of Washington First Fruits of Washington is a collaborative apple marketing company owned by the growers, Broetje and Congdon Orchards. These growers share a commitment to producing high quality fruit while balancing the demands of purpose, people, planet and profit so that a portion of profits can be donated to non-profit missions supporting the underserved. For more information, visit www.firstfruits.com . 

•10% of profits from First Fruits of Washington are donated to non-profits each year. Employees of First Fruits form a committee and approval all charitable giving.
•Each grower also commits to contributing a minimum of 10% of their profits to charitable causes, with Broetje Orchard donating 50% or more to charities around the globe
•Broetje Orchards invests heavily in their employees and community, providing affordable housing, daycare and school as well as adult classes which accommodate work schedule”

Nectresse Sweetener Review

 Nectresse is a no calorie sweetener that is naturally derived. It is made by the maker of SPLENDA. It is derived from the monk fruit, which I had never heard of prior to getting this product. Monk fruit is a member of the melon family that grows in Asia.

What's in it? Monk fruit extract, a touch of sugar, erythritol (a natural sugar alcohol), and molasses.

It's got endless possibilities. There are packets for sprinkling in tea, coffee, or over anything else. It also comes in a canister to easily scoop out for recipes. It's actually great in baking, cutting calories so you don't have to feel guilty. The Nectresse website has great recipes to try.

Nectresse sweetener tastes good. There is no bitter aftertaste, as occurs with other sugar substitutes. I also like that there are no chemicals, like are found in artificial sweeteners, that may have negative health effects.

A little goes a long way because it is more concentrated than regular cane sugar. So it helps to just sprinkle in a little at a time until you get the sweetness you want, otherwise it's easy to get a surprise. I use it in my coffee, tea, and sprinkled on berries. 


Disclosure: I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Swiss Chard Provides Some Awesome Health Benefits

Swiss chard is not necessarily a popular vegetable. When you say "green, leafy vegetable" Swiss chard may not pop into your mind. It is packed with vitamins and minerals, and is quite a healthy vegetable. Read all about  Swiss chard:

Jonathunder via WikiCommons

Swiss chard is an often neglected leafy, green vegetable that is full of nutrients. It is a close relative of beets. Anyone looking for variety in their diet will find Swiss Chard an excellent vegetable.
Swiss chard provides an ample supply of vitamin A, C, K, B complex vitamins, magnesium, iron, and potassium. The nutrients found in Swiss chard afford many health benefits. Below is a list of some of the benefits that may be derived from these nutrients.

•    Antioxidants — It is loaded with the antioxidants vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Antioxidants protect the body from the damage of oxidation done by free radicals. According to WebMD antioxidants help treat or prevent coronary artery disease, some types of cancer, macular degeneration, Alzheimer’s, and some arthritic conditions.  They also act in an anti-inflammatory manner. Swiss chard is full of phytonutrient antioxidants, that act in an anti-inflammatory manner, according to The Worlds Healthiest Foods.

•    Blood Pressure — According to Joy Richey of the University of Illinois Extension, one cup of cooked Swiss chard contains a third of a person’s daily recommended requirement of potassium, which may help with lowering blood pressure.

•    Cardiovascular Health — Vitamin K prevents the calcification of blood vessels or hardening of the arteries. It also aids in normal blood clotting. The magnesium it contains also may help with cardiovascular disease and hypertension, as stated by the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

•    Bone Health — Swiss chard is good for bone health, due to high amounts of vitamin K and magnesium. The World’s Healthiest Foods attributes vitamin K to preventing postmenopausal bone loss and protecting bones from fractures.

•    Skin — Skin also receives a boost from Swiss chard. Vitamin C is essential for collagen production, while vitamin A plays a part in healthy skin and preventing acne.

•    Immune System — Vitamin A and vitamin C are important vitamins for improving and stimulating immune function, as stated on the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s website.

•    Eye Health — Information from the CDC states that Swiss chard has 110% of the recommended daily requirement of vitamin A. Vitamin A is needed for healthy eyes.

Book Review - The Georgeously Green Diet Book

A few weeks ago I completed reading the Gorgeously Green Diet Book by Sophie Uliano. The goal of the Gorgeously Green Diet is to help lessen eco-impact and improve health. There is a 6 step pledge to help you define your goals. The author offers 3 different diet plans, to suit different individual needs and personal desires.

I read the book at the perfect time. Last year I made some major changes to my diet. I had been dependent on frozen dinners and fast food. Most of the time I felt exhausted and had little energy. I felt so depleted and knew that something needed to change. I visited a naturopathic doctor, who advised me that I needed to change what I eat. I was never into cooking, and lacked creativity. So this book was a welcome addition to my home, with all the recipes in it.

The are several good points to the book:

• The author urges the reader to consider the eco-impact of the foods you buy - packaging, chemicals, preservatives, genetically modified ingredients, hormone riddled dairy. Also use re-usable shopping bags. Don't use polystyrene cups or "doggy" boxes for take out. One should also carry a re-usable water bottle.
• There are tips for cutting down portion sizes.
• There is a discussion about truth behind labeling. "Natural" doesn't mean much. Label claims such as, "made with whole wheat," "natural," "0 trans fat," and "high in fiber" mean very little. The consumer needs to read the fine print.
• The book urges the use of certified organic produce, dairy, eggs, and meat. The book gives good, detailed reasons why to choose organic. Also urges buying organic/fair trade coffee, tea, and chocolate.
• Lists certain products & food additives to avoid such as, artificial sweeteners and chemical preservatives.
• The book promotes cooking from scratch, rather than buying pre-packaged convenience foods. It saves money and is healthier.
• There are tips for eating out and travelling.
• List of good foods to stock up on.
• Tells how to scout out a grocery store.
• Tips to make your kitchen more energy efficient.
• The book contains 100+ recipes.
• There is a chapter on exercise, with instructions for strengthening exercises and yoga poses.
• discusses supplements
• There is a chapter on the how to's of starting a garden.
• There are some good ideas for non-toxic/eco friendly cleaning
• The book even talks about non-toxic skin care.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking to change their eating habits for the better or anyone looking for some cooking ideas.

Natural Solutions Magazine

I'd like to bring Natural Solutions magazine to your attention. It's been around since 1994. First it was known as Alternative Medicine, then in February 2008 it became known as Natural Solutions. Their website is full of wonderfully, useful information, and there is a free e-newsletter to sign up for. The website has recipes, articles, and a section for coupons & free samples. There is also a link to view a free sample issue of the magazine online.

http://www.naturalsolutionsmag.com/

Beginning a New Year

Many of us start the new year with resolutions to exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight, etc. But why? As we head into the new year it’s good to take a look at our motivation. If we are not focused then it’s easy to get off track.

Last year I decided to try to eat healthier. I was tired, lethargic, and depressed. I knew I wanted a better life. There are also some health issues that run in my family: diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. My mother-in-law had a stroke at the beginning of last year and that really made me think. I wanted to live a long, healthy life. I knew that started with what I put into my body for fuel. So this year I am continuing my quest for healthy eating. Here are some good ideas.

• stocking up on whole grains
• choosing whole foods - foods that are minimally processed, no artificial flavors or sweeteners
• no partially hydrogenated oils
• no high fructose corn syrup
• choosing organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy
• choosing organic fruits and vegetables. Organic foods have no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fumigants, no GMO's, no irradiation, no hormones or antibiotics, or artificial ingredients. Choosing organic foods heps to keep chemicals out of your body, helps protect the environment. According to Earthbound Farm's website organic fruits and vegetables are 30% higher in antioxidants. They say emerging science is showing that average levels of nutrients are 25% higher in organic foods.

This year another focus of mine is daily exercise. I tend to get easily distracted and procrastinate. Exercise really does help me feel better. It gives me more energy & helps my mental outlook. I like walking outside, but during the winter it's cold and rainy. My goal is to limit my excuses. I do have an exercise bike and stair climber, but I seem to put exercising on the back burner. It really is a choice, though. I make time to eat dinner and make time to do other things that I like. So exercise is just another think that I need to make time for.

The key is developing good habits. As a little kid you are taught to brush your teeth and bathe. Keeping an exercise program going & making healthy food choices is no different.

Is POM Wonderful Wonderful?

I've seen the unique bottles of POM in the grocery store but didn't try it until recently. I was asked by POM if I would like to sample their juice. So upon receiving a small package in the mail from POM, I tried POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice for the first time. The tartness reminds me of cranberry juice, and it's not as sweet as concord grape juice. ( I love cranberry juice and usually drink a glass of concord grape juice each day.) POM sells a variety of juices, POMx tea, even POMx iced coffee, POMx bars, POMx pills. A 16oz bottle sells for between $4-$5.




According to POM's promotional literature:

• POM juice has more antioxidants than red wine, concord grape juice, blueberry juice, black cherry juice, and acai juice.
• POM Wonderful is the only brand guaranteed to contain 100% authentic pomegranate juice.
• POM contains to added sugar, preservatives, colors, or cheap filler juices
• POM grows their own fruit (in the San Joaquin Valley,) squeezes it with their own presses, and manufactures their own bottles.
• POM is guaranteed to be made exclusively from the "wonderful" variety of pomegranates. The wonderful variety is known for it's unique combination of superior antioxidants, delicious taste, and deep crimson color. There are different varieties of pomegranates, not all have the health benefits of the wonderful variety.
• POM Wonderful has proved $32 million to fund medical research (primarily in cardiovascular, prostate, and erectile health) 45 published clinical studies in peer reviewed journals document the benefits of drinking 8oz of POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice daily. It is important to note that the medical claims are based on medical research that POM financed. One study appears to have been conducted using only 13 test subjects and 2 others with only 10 test subjects.

For more information you can check out POM's website at http://www.pomwonderful.com/. There's also some great recipes there.





*A word about antioxidants - antioxidants are nutrients and enzymes that prevent oxidative damage to the body. When our cells use oxygen they naturally produce free radicals which can cause damage. The body also picks up free radicals from sun exposure, pollution, stress, alcohol, and cigarette smoke. The oxidative damage done by free radicals can cause heart disease, macular degeneration, cataracts, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's, and rheumatoid arthritis. Antioxidants can prevent and repair the damage done by free radicals. Common antioxidants are Vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, flavenoids/polyphenols, lycopene, lutein, lignan, and co-enzyme Q10.
POM Wonderful did support using lab tests on animals until PETA lodged a boycott, The company issued a statement in January 2007 saying that it would cease all further animal testing. They are now listed on PETA's list of "Good Guys." http://www.caringconsumer.com/products_juice.asp
here are some more links about the controversy: http://www.energygrid.com/action/2007/01-pom.html#pomleter

Recipe - Pumpkin Bisque Soup

The first time I had pumpkin bisque soup was at a Christmas party about a week ago. I fell in love with it. It is now one of my favorites & I wanted to share.

3 tbsp. butter
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/8 c. chives
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 bay leaf
dash of pepper to taste
pepper to taste
2 cans of unseasoned pumpkin
32 oz. of chicken broth
2 cups of milk

melt butter in a large pot; add celery seed, chives, bay leaf, and thyme. Saute for a few seconds until chives appear wilted. Add the pumpkin, broth, pepper, and basil and bring to a simmer. Stir in the milk and simmer gently for 15 minutes.

Book Review - Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano

About a month ago I started reading Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano. While I was out perusing books one day with my boys, this book caught my eye.

This book is full of tips & helpful tidbits. The website at http://www.gorgeouslygreen.com/ is also full of information, recipes, and also has givaways.

The book has:

• a green lifestyle checklist to help you see areas in your life that you need improvement


• tips on making your home non-toxic


• healthy eating, with tasty looking recipes, explains organic food, labeling practices, truthfulness in advertising, and covers best fish to chose and which to avoid.


• covers skin care, face care, cleansing, moisturizing, body care, lotion, hair care, and includes product recommendations


• the author recommends sesame oil for body oil with a few drops of essential oil. says that sesame oil penetrates the skin easily, contains antioxidants, and has a reputation for slowing the aging process.


• cosmetic & body care ingredients to avoid - classifies them as red alert & orange alert ingredients


• covers shopping habits & avoiding items manufactured in sweatshops. This section also covers cutting back on buying items that you don't really need. This is not only economical, but it cuts down on consuming stuff, like newspapers, paper cups from the coffee shops, etc.


• exercise - includes yoga poses, arm strengthening, bottom firming & toning, and ab exercises.


• tips on green travel


• tips on green gift giving

This is an excellent book for someone starting to live a green lifestyle. The checklist offered in the book is really good at pointing out weak areas that need improvement. Someone who has already been travelling down the road of greeness may find the book has a lot of information that the reader already knows and a little simplistic. Although a refressher is not a bad idea. At least in my own life I find myself slipping, getting lazy, and falling back on bad habits.



Next up on my reading list is The Gorgeously Green Diet

Chlorine rinsed vegetables

I was forwarded the following e-mail a few days ago:

DO NOT EAT COCKTAIL (BABY) CARROTS

"Good to know.

The following is information from a farmer who grows and packages carrots for IGA, METRO, LOBLAWS, etc. The small cocktail (baby) carrots you buy in small plastic bags are made using the larger crooked or deformed carrots which are put through a machine which cuts and shapes them into cocktail carrots - most people probably know this already. What you may not know and should know is the following: Once the carrots are cut and shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine in order to preserve them)this is the same chlorine used in your pool).

Since they do not have their skin or natural protective covering, they give them a higher dose of chlorine. You will notice that once you keep these carrots in your refrigerator a few days, a white covering will form on the carrots. This is the chlorine which resurfaces. At what cost do we put our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables? Chlorine is a very well-known carcinogen, which causes Cancer. I thought this was worth passing on. Pass it on to as many people as possible in hopes of informing them where these carrots come from and how they are processed.I used to buy those baby carrots for vegetable dips never again!! "

I decided to do some research. I don't like to take risks when it comes to my health and the food I ingest. I also don't like to perpetuate false information.

Some baby carrots are made by whittling down larger carrots. They are treated with a chlorine solution to kill bacteria, (but are rinsed with water.) According to Snopes most baby carrots today are bred to be more sweeter than larger carrots because the sweetness appeals more to people, especially children. Also the brighter orange color and more even coloring has been bred into them.

It is also worthy to note there are other vegetables in the produce department of your store that are pre-washed with chlorine, baby carrots chlorine content is not any different that those other vegetables. Tap water also contains chlorine. So if you drink plain tap water, that should also be a concern.

Per the Snopes web site, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency rinsing produce with a chlorine solution is an accepted, current practice for antimicrobial purposes. It is approved by the United States' FDA with strict rules for what concentration of chlorine can be used and how long the carrots can be exposed. However organic growers use a citrus based non toxic solution.
An article from Consumer Reports stated that “Manufacturers often treat produce—even organic produce—with a mild chlorine solution to disinfect it and extend its shelf life. But the concentrations are tiny compared with those used in, say, cleaning products, and they pose no known risk to humans. If you’d prefer to avoid the chemical anyway, choose produce fresh off a farm stand, or grow your own.”

The white film that appears on baby-cut carrots, however is not the chlorine coming to the surface. The white film or “blush” would appear on any cut carrot from your own garden that you put in your refrigerator for a couple of days.

White Chicken Chili

I tried this recipe recently & it was awesome. I really loved it! I just thought I would share. I also added some finely chopped carrots to give it some more color.

http://healthbeginswithmom.blogspot.com/2009/05/white-chicken-chili-super-supper.html