New Cultures For Health Blog Giveaway

Pin It There has been so much interest in my recent article on water kefir that I thought I'd share some exciting news with my readers.  Cultures For Health, my source for water kefir grains, has just launched their new and improved blog.  The Cultures For Health Blog features recipes and information about cultured foods.  And to promote their improved site, they are hosting some exciting giveaways THIS WEEK ONLY!  Today's giveaway is for their milk kefir starter kit which may not be too helpful for many of us (ya know, dairy allergies and all).  But Thursday, May 2nd they'll be giving away five kombucha starter kits and on Saturday, May 4th, the giveaway is for a water kefir starter kit!  

So stop by their new blog and enter to win!  What a great way to get started on your own cultured beverage adventure!  And if any of my readers win a kit, please come back and share your good news with us!

-Happy Culturing!

I am an affiliate of Cultures for Health and will get a small percentage of any purchases made through those links.  Thank you!

Water Kefir - What It Is and Why I Drink It

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Everyone wants to be healthy, right?  And we know that those with food allergies usually need a little extra help supporting the digestive and immune systems.  One easy (and tasty) way to do that is by adding water kefir to your daily diet.  So what is it, anyway?

Water kefir is a natural, dairy-free probiotic beverage that you can make at home.  If you've been thinking about adding lacto-fermented foods to your diet, but haven't taken the plunge, this is a great place to start.  Its main benefit is its wide variety of beneficial necessary yeast and bacteria.  Although the  specific strains will vary batch to batch, the list, which you can read here, is wonderfully long.  Other benefits include:

• Immune System Support:  A huge percentage of our body's immune system resides in the gut (70%-80% according to a study published by the American Journal of Physiology).  The probiotic bacteria in water kefir can help to strengthen this.
• Leaky Gut:  If you suspect leaky gut, as is common in those with food allergies, one of the first and best things to do is add probiotics to help balance the internal gut flora.  You can do this by taking a probiotic pill, but as with most nutrients, its better to get it through real food/beverage because you'll also get the other nutrients that help promote colonization and healing.
• Candidiasis:  Many people who suffer from issues with Candida/yeast infections benefit from water kefir.  That's because it contains friendly yeast that can starve out Candida Albicans.
• Children:  Probiotics are important for kids too, and, depending on the cause, may help with things like atopic dermatitis (read more here).  Its easier to get kids to drink a tasty beverage than to take a pill, so water kefir is a good probiotic option for kids.
• Antibiotic Use:  After killing off the good with the bad, you'll need to replenish your natural internal flora.

So how is water kefir made?  I'm glad you asked!  Its really quite a simple process and doesn't take much hands-on time at all. The most helpful resource I've found is this video tutorial.   Here's what you need to make 1 quart of water kefir:

• Water kefir grains (about 1/4 cup):  These are not grains at all, but get their name from the way they look.  They are actually a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.  If you have a friend who is already making water kefir, you should be able to get some grains from her as the grains tend to multiply.  If not, you can order from a reputable source such as Cultures for Health.
• Water:  Pure water.  Avoid using chlorinated water, but if you must, you can boil it beforehand to get the chlorine out.  I use reverse osmosis water (read more about water filtration here) which means my water doesn't contain chlorine or fluoride (yah!), but I do add mineral drops to keep the kefir grains happy.
• Sugar (1/4 cup):  This should be an unprocessed sugar like sucanat, rapadura, or evaporated cane crystals (just avoid bleached white sugar as the chemicals in it are likely to damage the kefir grains).

To make water kefir, put 1/4 cup sugar into a quart mason jar.  To this, add a bit of hot water and stir to dissolve.  Once sugar is dissolved, fill the jar the rest of the way with cold water.  Add a few drops of mineral drops if your water is lacking minerals.  Lastly, add in kefir grains.  Cover with a clean cloth or coffee filter and let sit for 24-48 hours (I usually let mine sit for about 36 hours).  Once made, strain out kefir grains to use for the next batch.  If cared for properly, your kefir grains will continue to produce water kefir indefinitely.  I like to pour my water kefir into a glass pitcher.  Now it's time to add flavor!

There are tons of flavor options, but here are my family's favorites:

• Lemonade/Limeade:  To 1 quart water kefir, add 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice or lime juice.  This makes a lightly sweet and very refreshing beverage!
• Cream Soda:  While making the water kefir, add 1 tsp molasses to your sugar.  Once water kefir has been prepared, add about 2 tsp vanilla extract to it.  Yum!
• Blueberry:  To 1 quart water kefir, add about 1/2 cup blueberry juice. 

So there you have it.  A beneficial probiotic beverage that's easy to make and tastes good.  There's tons more info available on making water kefir.  I encourage you to follow the links I've provided to get a fuller understanding of it all.  And I hope you'll give it a try!

In addition to personal experience, information for this article was obtained from these sources:  Cultures For Health, Yemoos, Whole Traditions: Water Kefir Instructions, Vitabase

This post is being shared at Motivation Monday, Gluten Free Weekly Menu, Inspire Me Monday, Make Your Own Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Better Mom Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Allergy Free Wednesday, Gluten Free Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, Wheat Free Wednesday, Wednesday Extravaganza, Real Food Wednesday, Healthy 2day Wednesday, Tasty Traditions, Frugal Food Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Thriving on Thursday, Gluten Free Friday, Foodie Friday, Fresh Bites Friday, Foodtastic Friday, Food on Fridays, Allergy Friendly Friday, Weekend Kitchen Creation, Saturday Spotlight, Your Great Ideas

I am an affiliate of Cultures for Health and will get a small percentage of any purchases made through those links.  Thank you!

A Lost Birthday

Pin It This really doesn't have anything to do with cooking or food allergies, but its my blog so I get to do that now and then.  I hesitate to share this, but I decided to because I know I'm not the only one who has experienced the loss of a pregnancy and I thought that perhaps my words and experience may be of some encouragement to someone else.

Exactly one year ago today, my too-tiny baby girl was born.  She was almost 17 weeks gestation - too small to live, but not too small to have a big impact on our whole family.  As I reflect over the year that has passed, I see a year that has been rich in emotion and rich in really learning what it means to trust in the Lord.  There has been raw painful sadness.  There has been gentle reflective sadness.  And there has been growth and strength, love and healing.  Healing has taken its time - both physical and emotional, but God has been faithful in both.


As a way to remember, I am re-posting what I wrote on my personal/family blog the month after Sadie's birth.  Perhaps there is encouragement for someone in it.

Almost a month ago, on Saturday, January 7^th, our tiny baby girl was born.  She had only been growing in my belly for almost 17 weeks and was too tiny to survive in the outside world.  She lived for a few short minutes, gently moving her arms and legs as I held her in my hand.  She was very small but she was a perfectly formed little person with tiny little fingers and tiny little toes.  Her little nose and lips were so baby sweet.  As I held her I could not believe this had just happened.  She was not supposed to be here yet.  But somehow this was God’s plan for her.  God’s plan for me.  God’s plan for our family.  I know (as in, I am fully convinced) that our God is good.  That He has my best and His glory at the heart of His plans.  And He knows the plans He has for me.  So I trust Him.  But, because I don’t know His plans, and because I want my little girl here with me, I am sad.  I miss her.  I know there is no “right” way to feel about all this, but sometimes I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel.  Some days I feel sad and I cry.  Some days I feel numb and don’t feel anything.  Some days, more frequent now than at first, I feel normal and I just go ahead with my day as if I hadn’t recently lost a child.  Some days I just want to think about her. So I think about being pregnant with her and I think about the day she was born and then . . . then there is nothing else to think about.  We have almost no memories to recall or mementos to touch.  No pictures to look at except an ultrasound picture from the week she was born.  She had been healthy at that ultrasound appointment – moving around quite actively.  And yet, in God’s good sovereignty, we didn’t get to keep her.  Since there is so little to hold onto or remember her by, I am writing this and sharing it with our family and friends.  Sort of in place of a birth announcement, I guess.   That first night, as I lay sleepless in my bed, a name kept running through my head, Sadie.  So that’s what we’ve decided to name her, Sadie.  It means “princess”.  Even though we never got to know her, it seems like she should have a name. She was a person after all.  And now she is in the best place imaginable – better than we can imagine.  In heaven with the Lord.  And even though we miss her and wish she was here to be a part of our family, we know (as in, we are fully convinced) that she is where she belongs.

Sadie’s tiny footprints.

For reference, this purple button is about the size of a dime.

This post is being shared at Better Mom Monday

Emergency Preparedness and Food Allergies

Pin It So, Hurricane Sandy is headed straight for our area and it has me thinking . . . are we prepared?  Preparing for emergencies is one thing, but when one or more family members have food allergies, preparing requires a bit more forethought.  The nice thing is that, with the exception of tornadoes, for weather-related emergencies we usually have ample warning and time to grab a few things at the grocery store.  First off, think about what kind of emergency are you preparing for?  Do you anticipate being without electricity or is there the potential that your family would have to evacuate?  Please know that I am not a disaster preparedness expert, so my list is not a complete one.  Its just meant to get you thinking about what you might need to do to prepare in case of an emergency.  Here's what I've come up with.

1. The Usual Stuff:  Create an emergency kit that can be used in the event that you are without electricity for more than a few hours.  When we built our kit, we purchased an emergency hand crank radio/flashlight combo.  This one also has a cell phone charger which could be really helpful should the power be out for an extended about of time. (BTW, be sure your cell phones are fully charged before an expected storm reaches you.) Be sure to have a simple first aid kit that includes enough items for your family size.  And of course you'll need a nice supply of flash lights and batteries.  We try to have at least one flashlight per family member - children feel much better knowing they can carry their own flashlight around a darkened house.  We love our battery-operated lantern because you can set it on a table and feel like you've got light in the room.  Its also great cause it lets you sit around the lantern and play family board games that don't get played nearly enough.  If you live where its cold, you'll want to collect some cozy blankets.

2. The Special Stuff:

FOOD:  Once you've gathered some basics, you'll want to think specifically about your family.  What will you eat and drink if the power is out?  Realistically, most Americans would be just fine to live a day or two at home with the food they have on hand, but its nice to think ahead and be sure your family will be taken care of.  If you are without power for more than a day, you may need to start eating from your fridge to avoid throwing out spoiled food (unless you've got a generator keeping your fridge cold).  Stock-up on non-perishables that will be easy and safe for your family to eat.  Try to choose items that your family will eat anyway, so that if an expected storm ends up passing by without causing much trouble, you won't have wasted money on food items you'll never use.  Here's my short list of food items I've stock up on for this coming storm.  

- Gluten-free crackers 

 - Peanut butter 

 - Gluten-free granola bars 

 - Gluten-free bread (I bought a loaf since I wasn't sure I'd have time to bake homemade bread) 

 - Corn chips and salsa 

- Fruit and Veggies - Think apples, grapes and carrot sticks which require no preparation. 

 - Cook some chicken:  I thought I'd bake a few chicken breasts and stash them in the fridge.  We can cut them in strips and make a cold chicken strip salad for dinner - no electricity needed.  

- Canned goods such as baked beans and tuna 

- A gallon of water - We have city water and don't anticipate loosing access to water, but it just seemed like the sensible thing to do (though one gallon of water isn't going to get a family of 5 very far - ha!). 

- Almond milk - the kind in the box is shelf stable.  I got a few because even my non-allergic   family can drink this. 

 - Gluten-Free Cookies - Since this storm is about a day away, I still have time to bake a batch of cookies.  I'm betting that will bring a smile to my kids' faces when I pull out the cookies during that family game time I'm hoping for.  You could also buy some store-bought cookies like Kinnikinnick sandwich cookies (yummy!). 

MEDICATION:  If you have family members who require medication, be sure you have enough of a supply on hand.

If you anticipate the need to evacuate, you'll need to bring along allergy-friendly foods.  Most of the things on the above list would be great to pack in a go-bag if you think you'll need to leave your home due to a storm.

This is by no means a complete list, but hopefully it will get you started on preparing in case you loose power or have to evacuate due to weather-related emergencies.  What other ideas do you have?  Please share them so we can all help each other to be prepared.

Here are a few more articles to help you think about preparing for emergencies:  Kids With Food Allergies Emergency Preparedness, FEMA's Are You Ready Guide, and American Red Cross Plan.

Keep Safe!

This post is being shared at Better Mom Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Gluten Free Monday, Monday Mania, Inspire Me Monday, This Week's Cravings, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Traditional Tuesdays, Allergy Free Wednesday, Health 2day Wednesday, Gluten Free Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Fresh Foods Linkup, Wheat Free Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspiring Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday, Gluten Free Friday, Foodtastic Friday, Foodie Friday, Food on Friday

Clean Drinking Water: Part Two

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Note:  If you missed PART ONE, you can read it here.  

So, you've read up on water fluoridation and you aren't happy.  You'd like to get that stuff, along with the other harmful chemicals, out of your tap water.  What's the best way to go about that?

First off, I am not an expert on this subject.  But I have spent a good deal of time educating myself about it so I'll share what I've learned and maybe it will be helpful to you.

WHAT DOESN'T WORK:

• Boiling your tap water does not get fluoride out.  In fact, boiling will actually concentrate the fluoride.
• Most carbon filters do not work.  Brita, Pur and other similar pitcher and faucet water filters remove chlorine and particles but do not remove fluoride. 

WHAT DOES WORK:

• Reverse Osmosis Filters - According to wikipedia, a reverse osmosis filter is a membrane-technology filtration method that removes many types of large molecules and ions from solutions by applying pressure to the solution when it is on one side of a selective membrane.  Got that?  Me either.  But I do know that it's one of the most cost effective ways to get fluoride and other contaminants out of tap water.  Dr. Shames, a practitioner who focuses on thyroid issues, recommends reverse osmosis filters. 
• Activated Alumina or Water Distillation Filtration - I really don't know much about these, but they are options to look into.

REVERSE OSMOSIS CHOICES:

• Under the Sink:  This is the choice we went with for our home.  It is much less expensive than a whole-house filter and it means that I'm not paying to filter the water in my washing machine or garden hose.  
• Whole-House Filter:  While this is obviously a more expensive option, it gives the peace of mind that all the water in your house is pure.  Since fluoride and chlorine can be absorbed through the skin, a whole-house filter will insure that your shower/bath water doesn't have any of these in it.  I have a few friends who have whole-house filters and are very happy with them.  It is something I will probably consider in the future.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

So you've settled on a reverse osmosis filter but you're not sure which company to purchase from.  How do you choose?  While I was shopping, I found the water filters - reverse osmosis guide very helpful.  Things to consider:  

• Quality:  You don't want your water filtering system to fail, leaving huge puddles in your home.  You do want a quality filter, preferably one made in the USA and lab tested for quality assurance.
• Maintenance and Filter Changes:  Just because you can get a good price on a filter doesn't mean its the least expensive option.  Be sure to look at the cost of replacement filters and note how often they need to be changed.   Also look for one that has industry standard size filters so that you aren't locked into purchasing replacement filters from only that one company.

MY EXPERIENCE:  

My husband and I chose the RO-90 under the sink filter from APEC.  We couldn't be happier!  Their products are made in the USA and each individual unit (not just a sample of the model) is tested before being sent out so you know its going to work.  The unit met all the specifications I was looking for and it works great!  We tested our water before and after and found the filter made a huge difference in water quality.  Our plain tap water contaminant level measured 208 ppm.  The water coming through our old carbon filter measured 203 ppm (guess our carbon faucet filter wasn't helping much).  The water from the APEC filter measured 13 ppm.  Big difference!  And of course our water tastes so good - much better than without the filter! Even our ice cubes are clear, not cloudy/white like they used to be.  The water pressure is wonderful and my glass fills up quickly.  My husband did have to do a little installation work, but it only took him about an hour.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

If you decide to purchase a water filter, please carefully research and make the best choice for your household.  There are lots of options out there.  I am not an expert, but I can say we are very happy with our APEC reverse osmosis filter.

Disclaimer:  I wrote this article because I feel strongly about this issue and want to share this important information with as many people as possible.  I am an affiliate of APEC Water Filter Systems because I believe they are one of the best options for removing fluoride and other harmful chemicals in tap water.  I will receive a small portion of any purchase of APEC water filters that is generated through links on this blog.

Clean Drinking Water: Part One

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Read PART TWO here.

As the mother of a child with food allergies, I am hypersensitive about the things that go into her mouth.  Reading labels and asking questions (and asking again) is my mode of operation.  Can you relate?  I am also convinced that my daughter, along with many other individuals with food allergies, is more sensitive to things in food and beverages such as preservatives, additives, pesticides and the like.  

While many of my daughter’s symptoms resolved once we figured out what she couldn’t eat, some still linger.  That keeps me always on the lookout for other things that could potentially be disrupting her system.  This vigilance is what led me to discover the alarming information circulating about the fluoride added to our drinking water.

While this information is relatively new to me, I realize the controversy over water fluoridation has been around for a long time.  And controversy is the right word.  It seems a rather heated battle rages over the merits versus the dangers.  After doing a good bit of research, I am quite disturbed that such an untested and potentially dangerous substance has been forced on us and our children for so long.  I feel so strongly about this that I want to share what I’ve learned with as many people as possible.  I encourage you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions, but here are some of the facts that led my husband and I to install a reverse osmosis water filter on our kitchen sink.

Lacking Evidence of Safety:  The chemical used in most fluoridation programs - silicon fluorides - are hazardous waste products from the phosphate fertilizer industry.  The U.S. EPA officially characterizes it as such.  It has been shown to  increase leaching of lead from brass fittings (on pipes) and increase the uptake of lead into children's blood.1  The FDA calls fluoride an "unapproved drug", meaning that it has not gone through rigorous trials to establish either its effectiveness or its safety. 2  Although the CDC, the ADA, and many other professional bodies promote and endorse fluoridation, none accept responsibility for any damages that may occur.3

Lacking Evidence of Effectiveness:  According to studies, there is no significant difference in the number of dental carries between communities that fluoridate their water and those that  do not.  The recent consensus is that fluoride's benefit comes from putting fluoride on teeth, not from ingesting it.

Unethical/Poor Medical Practice: It is unethical to add anything that can be called a drug into the public's drinking water.  Good medical practice requires the use of informed consent before any drug can be administered to an individual, let alone an entire group of people.  I don't recall being asked if I'd like to consume fluoride.  Then there's the issue of dose.  With fluoride added to tap water, there is no way to control how much individuals are consuming.  Babies and adults should not be given the same dose of vitamin C or tylenol so why should they be given the same amount of fluoride?  And what about the petite woman who drinks 8-10 glasses of water a day vs. the larger man who drinks less?  If fluoride were a safe and effective drug, surely the dose would need to be customized based on the age and/or size of the individual.  Of even greater concern are the warnings now issued on some local water authority websites suggesting parents not prepare their infant's formula with fluoridated tap water.

Evidence of Harm:  Although the studies done exploring the harmful effects of fluoride have not all been conducted as double-blind clinical trials, neither have the studies promoting it as safe and effective.  There is a heavy weight of studies pointing to probable (and even definite) harm caused by oral fluoride intake.  Here are a few.

Dental Fluorosis - Have you ever noticed either white or brown speckles on someones teeth?  That's caused by fluoride (both me and my food-allergic daughter have this).  In moderate to severe cases, the discoloration of the enamel comes with pitting and brittleness.4  This also happens in the bones and is known as skeletal fluorosis.  One study showed a link between the severity of dental fluorosis and the frequency of bone fractures in children.5

Thyroid Function - Did you know that prior to water fluoridation, doctors commonly prescribed fluoride in cases of hyperthyroidism?  And it worked.  Although there are no definative studies proving this, the studies that do exist suggest that fluoride alters thyroid function by elevating TSH and altering T4 and T3 concentrations.6  This effect can happen at very low doses of fluoride similar to what a small child would consume by drinking one to two glasses of water fluoridated at 1 ppm (the usual amount added to tap water).7  This one bothers me a lot, considering the large number of people who are dealing with hypothyroidism.  A thyroid depressant is the last thing they need!

Melatonin and the Pineal Gland - Okay, this one is the biggie in my eyes!  Melatonin (the hormone responsible for the quality of sleep, among other things) is produced by the pineal gland.  In addition to sleep, melatonin has an affect on the onset of puberty, with low melatonin levels triggering early-onset puberty.  Guess what!  Fluoride accumulates in the pineal gland and likely reduces melatonin production.8  Could this be why girls in the USA are experiencing puberty so much earlier than their mothers and grandmothers did?  There is mounting evidence that points to this fluoride-early puberty connection.  This one also hits home for me since my daughter's recent blood tests showed that she has a very low melatonin level. This matches up with her symptoms of poor quality of sleep and daily fatigue.  This may or may not be related to fluoride, but its got me wondering. 

There's more.  But don't take my word for it.  Please do a little research on your own.  To get you started, check out FluorideAlert.com, NoFluoride.com as well as the book The Case Against Fluoride (which surprisingly I found at my local library).

What can you do about it?  You can let your opinion be known by signing this online petition to stop water fluoridation.  You can purchase a water filtration system designed to remove fluoride from your drinking water.  I've posted a a follow-up article about choosing a home water filtration system.

Footnotes:
All footnotes reference the book The Case Against Fluoride by Paul Connett
1. pg 22;  2. pg 7;  3. pg 27;  4. pg 109;  5. pg 219;  6. pg 161;  7. pg 161;  8. pg 165-166, 168

Disclaimer:  I wrote this article because I feel strongly about this issue and want to share this important information with as many people as possible.  I am an affiliate of APEC Water Filter Systems because I believe they are one of the best options for removing fluoride and other harmful chemicals in tap water.  I will receive a small portion of any purchase of APEC water filters that is generated through links on this blog.

This is being shared at Better Mom Monday, Monday Mania, Make Your Own Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Traditional Tuesdays, Fat Tuesday, Allergy Free Wednesday, Healthy 2day Wednesday, Gluten Free Wednesday, What's Cooking Wednesday, Cast Party Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Wednesday Fresh Foods, Full Plate Thursday, Delightfully Inspired Thursday, Frugal Food Thursday, Gluten Free Friday, Foodtastic Friday, Foodie Friday, Fresh Bites Friday,

   

"Mom, There's a Rodent in the Toilet!"

Pin It Okay - this has nothing to do with gluten-free baking, but its such a bizarre story that I have to share it anyway.  This actually happened to us today.  My daughter, age 10, comes SCREAMING out of the bathroom, pants around her knees, with a TERRIFIED expression on her face. In broken, breathless phrases, she says, "Mom . . there's . . .  a . . . rodent . . . IN THE TOILET!"  As she calmed herself a bit, she explained that while sitting on the toilet, she heard a splashing sound but didn't think much of it. Then she heard it again. So she stood up to check and saw a dark, wet furry creature head for the pipe hole and disappear. I, being the ever brave matron of the house, grabbed a ruler and tip-toed to the bathroom. I leaned my head into the bathroom, not willing to fully commit myself to being IN the bathroom.  Fortunately for me, I saw nothing so I used my ruler to close the toilet lid and flush it. I shut the door and called my husband.

Dear hubby explained to me that there is a vent pipe on our roof that allows the sewer gases to vent out. It is likely that our rodent was a squirrel who climbed or fell into the vent on the roof and slipped down the pipe, ending up in our toilet. He likely won't be able to climb back up the pipe and show himself again so he'll probably drown in the sewer pipes, never to be seen again. We'll just hope he has been flushed away - not that I have anything against squirrels. I just don't like them in my toilet!