Food & Diseases

A little bit of sugar is ok, right?

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is sugar okay?

We’re not allowing our kids to have sugar on Easter. We’re terrible parents, aren’t we? πŸ˜‰ I will make honey chocolates, and they won’t miss a thing. My kids don’t complain about not having sugar. They do not lack good food, that is for sure!

We have lots of reasons we’re not allowing sugar this Easter. Every one of us is healthier without it. I’ve read a lot about sugar, too. Did you know that in a correctional facility for aggressive juveniles, there was a 44% decrease in aggression and anti-social behaviors just by decreasing the amount of sugar that they ate?? That is phenomenal.

Thoughts about phytase, phytates & phytic acid

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phytase, phytates & phytic acid

I mis-spoke in my blog about Grains and Iron. I said that humans don’t have the enzyme phytase. That isn’t completely true (I learned tonight). We do have phytase, but we have such a tiny amount of it that our bodies are not able to process unfermented grains.

I read an article that compared the amount of phytase in a human gut to the amount in a rat’s gut. The article is called Phytase activity in the human and rat small intestine. My husband thinks the things I read are boring, what do you think? πŸ™‚ I get excited over studies like this! πŸ™‚

Oats, Wheat, Calcium and Phosphorus

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I recently read an article that was published in 1929 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, and I want to summarize it for all of you. It is titled “The Influence of Cereals Upon the Retention of Calcium and Phosphorus in Children and Adults.”

Keep in mind, cereal as we know it today was invented in 1877, and the Kellogg company was founded in 1906. All of the first cereal producers were Seventh Day Adventists and staunch vegetarians and believed that eating cereal for breakfast was better for humans than eggs or meat. (Side note: The Kelloggs believed that we would have a less promiscuous culture if everyone ate cereal ;)).

In 1924, Wheaties were invented: the first cereal aimed at kids, with sugar as one of the ingredients.

Grains and Iron

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Do you know why most (all?) cereals are "iron fortified"? It is because of the phytic acid that occurs naturally in the grain.  Humans (and cows, for that matter) do not have the enzyme phytase to break down phytic acid. (Hint, hint: we weren’t meant to eat grains, at least in the way that they’re … Read more

The Hygiene Hypothesis

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Several weeks ago, we found out that Farm Princess is severely allergic to peanuts. The doctor mentioned that more and more people are becoming allergic to peanuts, and I asked him why that is. He said that there are two thoughts on this subject:

1. It is because of the way we process nuts in our country (I will cover that in another post)

2. It is because of the Hygiene Hypothesis

The Myth of Moderation Part 3: Processed and Chemical Ingredients

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Back in November, I wrote The Myth of Moderation Part 1: Sugar, and The Myth of Moderation Part 2: Soy

The reason I wrote these posts was because I have heard so many people say that all foods are good Ò€œin moderation.Ò€ I pointed out the sugar and the soy in a 1 day American menu, and plainly showed that eating the typical American Diet is not eating sugar or soy “in moderation.” Now, for this third post, I want to point out the processed and chemical ingredients.

A Poop Story

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No photos in this post, sorry. πŸ™‚ I was reading a blog about how to write successful blogs the other day, and the lady suggested that we be REAL in our blogs. Ok, well, this is as real as it gets. Truth be told, I guess I’ve been known for my funny “poop stories” ever since I was a kid. My husband appreciates them. πŸ˜‰ Why the obsession with poop? Maybe because I knew something was wrong with mine. Maybe it was on my mind because it was happening so often in my day.