I found this article this morning while I was doing my usual rounds through the MSN homepage and wanted to share with you guys some of the things from this list I agreed or disagreed with. The list compiles 29 products from the grocery store that you really shouldn't be buying when considering how easy it is to do at home or how much better for you it is to do from scratch. Let's break down some of the things on this list :)
Do you agree with my position on things? Check the article out for yourself and see how many of these things you buy that maybe you can start quickly whipping up at home!
HAPPY VEG
0 Comments
Making scratch made dressing and vinaigrette is super easy to do at home especially thanks to websites like Pinterest or television networks like the Food Network or Cooking Channel which give you all the inspiration you could need. There are a billion ways to whip up scratch made salad dressings but sometimes we all still find ourselves reaching for a bottle of the pre-made stuff. While there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of a bottle of dressing from the shelf at the market, all dressings and vinaigrettes are NOT created equal. This post is inspired by my sudden realization at work last night that I wanted to whip up a bean salad when I got home but had no vinegar and no fresh herbs which are scare here in Dublin. Knowing this, I went on the hunt for a bottle of vinaigrette and as someone who religiously reads ingredient labels, it was quickly apparent that no two vinaigrettes are the same. In the case of bottled vinaigrette, the ingredients list should typically be short and sweet. Oil of course, vinegar, seasonings, herbs, maple syrup or honey, and occasionally citrus, other than this, you shouldn't see anything else in there but that is definitely not always the case. Here's a few things you should watch out for when shopping for vinaigrette!
CORN SYRUP Another sugary substance hiding out in your dressings and vinagrettes. I can guarantee you that when you see one of these syrups, you'll also see sugar in the list as well which is just a nutritional disaster. There's no room in a vinaigrette for teaspoons upon teaspoons of sugar. SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS If your ingredient list is a short story and half of those ingredients sound like something straight out of an experimental laboratory, stay as far away from that vinaigrette as possible. LOW FAT / LOW CAL These are dangerous and misleading when it comes to bottle vinaigrettes because it almost every case of something being low in one thing, they've added more other bad things to compensate and keep things tasty. Just stick to full fat vinaigrettes and suggested serving sizes and you'll be fine.
There are so many stories out there about why you need this superfood or that superfood and billions of supposed benefits for anything you want to find on the internet. How much of this is true or backed up by scientific evidence? How much of this is simply hogwash? There's really no way to know but when it comes to Turmeric, I can tell you that some of these supposed benefits are real because I've experienced them myself. Most importantly, the anti-inflammatory benefits of taking it. Four years ago I was experiencing crippling pain in my wrist sometimes stretching all the way up to the inside of my elbow. This pain would start almost immediately after I started to use my computer which as someone who was blogging and writing / typing recipes daily, I couldn't afford to have happening. I went to a muscle doctor and had tests done to determine if something like tendinitis or tennis elbow were to blame but the results came back negative leaving me feeling desperate for a solution. That's when my boss turned me onto Turmeric capsules claiming that they might be able to help me. After doing some research I decided to start taking them and in all honesty, within a month all of the pain I was experiencing had disappeared. To this day I continue to take my turmeric supplements. Was it all just a coincidence or was this miraculous orange spice to blame for my sudden healing? I truly attribute it to the turmeric and with that being said, I want to dive into a few reasons you should be taking turmeric supplements every day!
2. Fighting Free Radicals Oxidative stress in our bodies is a leading root cause of developing illnesses like cancer. Curcumin in Turmeric has been studied for its anti-cancer properties because of its ability to target and fight free radicals in our body's. Curcumin not only fights free radicals but also boosts our body's own immune systems to better fight off these free radicals. 3. Fighting off Diseases related to Age Once again, curcumin has proven to be effective in helping to prevent / treat so many age related diseases. Alzheimer's, heart disease, arthritis, these diseases have all shown to promising results when ti comes to curcumin. Although much more studying is needed to definitively say that this is the case, studies have shown that curcumin has the ability to aid in all of these areas. With arthritis, the anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to help reduce the pain and muscle tension associated with different forms of arthritis. In the case of brain and heart related illnesses / diseases, curcumin once again has been shown to help prevent the degeneration of these organs through the fighting of free radicals and oxidation. 4. Skin boosting benefits The antioxidants in turmeric are currently being studied for their benefits in helping keep the skin healthy and prevent things like rosacea, acne, and sun spots.
Are you taking curcumin? Have a success story to share? Comment below or leave your comments on FB / Twitter :)
HAPPY VEG KFC in the United Kingdom is officially test running a completely vegan chicken burger this month setting off a wave of excitement AND negativity throughout the vegan community. Announcing the Imposter Burger, coated in those famous herbs and spices and slapped between a bun with vegan mayonnaise and lettuce, KFC will test it out for an entire month to help determine whether this is something that should be rolled out across the chain. With all of these fast food restaurants partnering with big name vegan companies like Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, Quorn etc., it appears that things are moving in the right direction but there's still controversy.
Secondly, the question of whether purchasing these vegan items contradicts with those very same ethical beliefs. On one hand, you are showing support for the idea of these companies taking steps in the right direction by finally offering vegan products and catering to a market that it growing rapidly. On the other hand, your money is going to a company that still sources animals from factory farms which pollute the environment rapidly and houses their animals in horrendous conditions. So how do we win in these situations? KFC is only the latest in the United Kingdom to join in on the vegan market. Every fast food chain is reflective of the country it is based in and offers options to cater to the markets in particular areas. For example, when I was in Belgium, the McDonalds had a hefty vegan menu that included vegan nuggets that were delicious and a wonderful vegan burger that could've fooled me into thinking I was eating meat. Back in Canada, the McDonalds has little to no vegan options while places like A & W, Burger King, and Harvey's have been offering veggie burgers for a while now. In fact, A & W and Tim Hortons both have recently joined up with Beyond Meat to offer breakfast sausage sandwiches for vegans and vegetarians alike. As I said, the market is what calls for the options offered at every chain but it is wholly evident that the vegan market is growing and these companies are picking up on those opportunities.
The more options these places are offering means that less meat is being produced and consumed. The mroe innovative these products become mean the more people that are willing to try the vegan versions of their favourite fast food items. All of this will work towards the goal of reducing the planet's meat consumption in favour of vegan products which is ultimately the goal is it not?
I believe we will continue to see the rise of the vegan offerings at our favourite fast food restaurants because the fact is, this market will continue to grow exponentially as it already has demonstrated. The future is definitely vegetarian and vegan. What do you guys think? HAPPY VEG Although fruit is a nutritious way to get your sweets fix, there are some fruits that are notoriously higher in sugars than others. Consuming fruit is a great way to get antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins, but which ones should you eat carefully and in moderation? Let's take a look.
I like to switch up the fruit I'm eating often times because I don't want to get sick of eating them. I'll rotate through a regular rotation of apples, blueberries, bananas, and raspberries, including treats like pineapple and grapes once and a while. It's important to try and get a variety in for all of their nutritional benefits but it's also important to be mindful of how much sugar you're consuming.
I try to live by a 70/30 ratio of veggies to fruits. I eat a large amount of raw veg each day and make sure to get a little fruit in as well but vegetables have copious amount of nutrients as well usually without the sugar. Balance is key so use this as a suggestion as to which fruits to keep your eyes on. HAPPY VEG It's so easy to make simple swaps in your diet to get the most out of every meal without eating things that might not be the healthiest for you. I've got some wonderfully simple swaps to help you enjoy all of the meals you love but with some added health benefits :)
I'm not a nutritionist by any means but these are simple things you can do in your every day life to amp up your nutritional values in a day. it doesn't take a nutritionist to know that sweets like candy and milk chocolate are nasty for us or that white rice is a nutritional disaster. By making these simple swaps part of your everyday routine, you're doing wondrous things for your body and overall health :)
HAPPY VEG Let's face it, everywhere you look on the internet, television, or in advertisements, we're seeing trends in health and food that are dominating the markets. Everything from the super food of the moment to new ways to help the environment through packaging is being force fed to us and it's hard to know which ones are really good or important. Frankly, we can't always believe everything we see or read but a lot of the time, there's something good we can take away from all of these trends. Let's take a look at some of the most popular trends of 2019 thus far :) CBD in everything There's a misconception out there amongst those who are not educated on the topic that CBD will get you high because it is obtained through marijuana or hemp rather, but that's simply not the case. Cannabinoids are being studied frequently for their positive benefits and there is an alarming amount of evidence that they can help us in so many different ways including helping with stress or anxiety, managing the symptoms of epilepsy, and as a potential cancer fighter. Obviously, there's still much more work to do before we start touting it as some kind of miracle cure but evidence is leading us in that direction. Products are hitting the market now with CBD in everything as a means of getting the benefits in a variety of forms. Gummies to give an immediate relief to stress or anxiety, CBD infused sparkling beverages, oils, and even coffees. I think we should be jumping on this bandwagon because even if we are still in the early stages of knowing exactly how much CBD can help us, there's enough studies out there that suggest its benefits and why not put good for you antioxidants into our bodies?
Plastic / Styrofoam packaging, plastic straws, one time use bottles etc., these products can easily be swapped out for sustainable products and people know this. Our oceans are flooded with plastic with images popping up all over social media of sea creatures wrapped up in plastic or suffering the effects of our needless pollution. At the same time, we are seeing new ways to do our part popping up all over social media. For example, the trash bag challenge which is seeing people show up to an area riddled with garbage and sharing their before and after clean up photos. It's evident that the general consensus is shifting towards wanting a greener existence for the sake of the planet and this is a trend I can certainly get behind :) VEGANISM / PLANT BASED / VEGETARIANISM What once started as a supposed fad is now becoming mainstream and it's about time. Whether people are going vegan / vegetarian / plant based for the animals, their health, or the environment, there's no denying this movement is everywhere and companies are taking note.
TURNING ON SUGAR Sugar is being portrayed as the enemy of our health and the leading contributor to so many problems we currently face. Obesity, diabetes, cancer, and poor oral health are all linked to sugar consumption so it's no surprise that sugar has a bad reputation. The fact is, no sugar in large quantities is going to be good for you but processed white sugars specifically are the worst of the worst. On top of that, products that contain absurd amounts of sugars or unnecessary added sugars are being targeted and frankly, I think it's a wonderful thing. When you consider that we should be trying to have less than 25 - 37 grams of sugar a day, there's too many products out there that provide significantly more sugar than that in one go leaving us destined for health problems. Pop for example is one of the very worst of the worst out there. When you consider you can get in upwards of 40 or 50 grams of sugar from one bottle, there's nothing redeemable about it. Now don't get me wrong, we shouldn't deprive ourselves of the occasional sweet treat but the point is that we should be making an effort to reduce our sugar intake to the very best of our abilities. There's plenty of trends out there and as I said, sometimes it can seem overwhelming to know which ones are worth partaking in. The ones I've outlined are some of my favourites that I'm promoting but we all must do what works best for our schedules and lifestyles.
What do you guys think? Are there any fads / trends in food or health you are currently digging or on the contrary, find completely ridiculous? HAPPY VEG
DIGESTION - Broccoli is full of fiber which is probably one of the most important things for our body's overall well being. Fiber plays a vital role in keeping our digestive tracts healthy and functioning properly. In fact, studies have suggested that getting enough fiber can actually help manage the effects of colitis by helping regulate our digestion. It's also thought that broccoli helps to keep our stomach lining healthy and can help maintain the amount of healthy bacteria in our guts. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY - Broccoli boasts a large collection of vitamins and minerals, plenty of which help to fight off inflammation. Vitamins like vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium, all help to fight off inflammation in our body's. It's thought that getting enough of these vitamins and minerals can help to reduce / fight inflammation which can lead to more sever disease and illnesses if left untreated. ANTI-CANCER / BODY DETOXIFICATION - The antioxidants in cruciferous vegetables are currently being studied for their anti-cancer properties. Their unique antioxidants are integral for fighting free radicals in our systems and also have been shown to reduce excess estrogen which can lead to breast and uterine cancers. Their unique antioxidants also target free radicals which can lead to a multitude of health problems. Including anti-carcinogenic vitamin C, they also contain beta-carotene, sulforaphane, glucoraphanin, diindolylmethane, isothiocyanates, and selenium, all of which are thought to be anti-carcinogenic.
WAYS TO GET ENOUGH There are so many ways to enjoy broccoli that it really isn't hard to get enough of this green super veggie. There are varying reports on whether you get the full benefits of broccoli raw or cooked so enjoying both ways is in my opinion, the best way to take advantage of its nutritional benefits. Here's a few easy ways to get more broccoli in your diets!
RAW
COOKED
The possibilities are truly endless with broccoli. Not only is it delicious, but it's incredibly versatile and works in a variety of dishes and various cooking methods. Getting enough broccoli is easy and super beneficial for our bodies so try adding more broccoli to your diet to reap these benefits <3 HAPPY VEG Sources https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/vegetable/health-benefits-of-broccoli.html https://www.livescience.com/45408-broccoli-nutrition.html
As I mentioned, seeing these stickers invoked feelings of anger but they also provoked my thought process a little so I started to use the internet to determine whether something like this could even be possible. Hours upon hours were spent researching and looking into different stories of people who claim that they cured their own cancer through a raw vegan diet and to be honest, there's plenty of people out there who claim this to be true. What's worse is that they often try and profit from it by offering meal plans and tips for example for people if they pay some kind of membership which is always an indication that something fishy is up. Another thing I noticed was there were video testimonials from people who made these claims, so I started watching them to find out exactly what they did and how it helped them. I spent hours every day researching and in almost every case I found that there was something that just didn't add up with these claims. In fact, there were links to stories about people who made these claims and gained all of this attention only to die of cancer a year or so later. I think deep down I knew all along the cure for cancer wasn't that simple but I believe these stickers are there to invoke a thought process or curiosity about veganism. The problem is, these false claims are offensive to people who have been through cancer or witnessed a family member or friend pass away from it. Frankly, it's a slap in the face to anyone who has suffered at the hands of this disease and it almost trivializes the process someone who gets cancer endures because gosh, it's just so simple to beat cancer.
I remember finding out my mother was terminal and the feelings I experienced. I remember going online and doing research, trying to find anything online that claimed to be a cure for cancer and trying to convince my mother to try these things. This diagnosis changes you and it puts you in such a vulnerable state, one that makes you so very desperate and willing to do anything to save your loved on. I bought dandelion tea in droves, considered juicing, and started looking into natural remedies. I was willing to spend anything just for a chance to help her. The fact is, cancer CAN NOT BE CURED by eating vegetables and fruit and nothing else. It's just not that simple.
More and more people are switching to plant based diets in varying degrees and there's no denying that eating more fruits and vegetables is beneficial to us and our bodies. Plant based diets provide more fiber, nutrients and vitamins, and less fat / cholesterol, these are facts, but making claims of being able to cure disease in order to promote the vegan lifestyle is damaging, offensive, and just plain wrong. What do you guys think? HAPPY VEG We've all heard about it lately and there's definitely two sides to every story when it comes to celery juice. It's been all over our social media with everyone from health nuts to celebrities endorsing it as some kind of miracle cure for ailments such as indigestion / inflammation, eczema, psoriasis, and more. The question is, are these facts or fiction?
When it comes to celery, it's almost entirely made up of water but it contains plenty of antioxidants and vitamins / minerals including vitamins K, C, and A. There's no denying that celery is chalk full of good for your body vitamins and benefits but most most of all, fiber. Fiber is responsible for keeping our overall health in good form and also keeping our blood sugar down when we eat naturally sugary things like fruits of all varieties. That's why the juicing trend is slightly confusing because you eliminate one of the best components of celery in the juicing process, the fiber. So the question is, is it better to just eat the stalks or is juicing them really the answer? Check out the link at the top of this post and find out what some experts had to say about the celery juice trend and what it does / doesn't do for you. HAPPY VEG |
Jonathan - Happy VegDedicated Foodie. Proud Vegetarian. Recipe Creator. Friend to all Animals. Archives
August 2023
Categories |