Yes... i said Hemp Milk

Total nutrition in a great alternative to Soy and Dairy milk and protein.... YES HEMP!

http://livingharvest.com/

Food Allergies in children can be confused with behavorial problems article 2... Focus on Food dye.

Some of the most common food additives are associated with Hyper activity an adults are food dyes. Food dye allergies often cause symptoms very similar to those we associate with Hyper activity of all types, Such as ADD, ADHD and Depression in children.

 Red food dye is the most common of culprits in undiagnosed food additive allergies in children. Commonly found in the candy and bottled juices we buy for our children. There are hidden dyes in so many products available on the store shelves.

The common symptoms associated with food additive allergies are Hyper activity, irritability, inability to concentrate and or focus, over sleeping and or inability to sleep, mood swings and sudden outbursts. The more hidden symptoms are digestive disorders, headache and dry skin.

The science of these allergies is rather simple. After ingesting food dyes the body experiences chemical changes similar to the changes in  the chemicals of those who experience many  behavioral disorders. Remember there is a proper balance of chemicals made in the body to keep us functioning normally in most settings. Our bodies try to use every part of the foods and drinks we ingest so it stands to reason that when you add chemicals to the mix there are likely to be consequences.

 Try to eliminate food dye for a while and see if you notice a difference. Though some symptoms may take days if not weeks to subside others such as hyper activity start to subside within 24 hours. Some great alternatives are things dyed with beet juice, grape juice and of course dye free and organic products. Become a label reader... if it is a chemical...try to avoid it.

The following link is a government list of Certified food dyes http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=3f6c9146ba54b1b84f17046e27197926&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title21/21cfr74_main_02.tpl

This is a link for Non- Certified dye products used in the US

. http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div6&view=text&node=21:1.0.1.1.26.1&idno=21

   Above links may be copy pasted if links fail.

I urge you to follow the links below if you, your child or some one you love has a history of Behavioral disorders.


Resource information:

http://health.howstuffworks.com/diseases-conditions/allergies/food-allergy/other/what-are-food-dye-allergies.htm

http://www.allergicchild.com/food_dye_allergies.htm

http://www.organicitsworthit.org/learn/organic-foods-offer-alternative

http://www.organicitsworthit.org/learn/organic-foods-offer-alternative

Food Allergies in children can be confused with behavorial problems article 1

As an allergy sufferer diagnosed with MDD and a mother of a child with ADHD i have done plenty of research on food allergies and behavior in children and adults. Though there is a lot of information on the internet i find that most " good studies" are run by drug companies who of course will profit by telling you that you can fix it all with their wonder drugs. Yes some children and adults get great results from medications and behavioral modification, but in many cases a simple change in diet can do as much if not more. I take a daily MDD medication and an allergy medication as needed but have found food and chemicals are the trigger of my worst symptoms.

 Prior to my research and experimenting with medications, foods, chemicals commonly used in the home i suffered severe Migraines, ADHD , ODD, OCD and Bi Polar Depression through out my life. There are many other factors at play within my medical history but after doing the leg work myself and changing a few things i have relieved nearly all of my symptoms.I am in no way telling you to forgo medical help, Just offering some alternative information and some really healthy options.

 The first thing i did in my battle was to start a food diary, behavior log,symptom log, and a journal of my daily activities. Though it was very time consuming i began to see patterns within two weeks. I noticed little things like headaches after cleaning, digestive issues after eating, a cough after taking certain medications, even muscle and skin issues after all of the above. After seeking help from my doctor and pharmacist i eliminated and changed some of my medications. After some simple chemical research i started looking for and found some great alternatives.

 The next step was the hardest... food allergies! Since the 1970's there have been literally a million studies on food additives and their effects on humans and our environment. We have eliminated Lead, Mercury, MSG and a slew of other toxic chemicals from our homes and our food supply but there are still so many unseen and  under researched toxins and irritants. That is where we as the guinea pigs of our world must become pro active.

 Over the next few weeks i will be posting a series of blog articles about my research and personal findings. I hope that you will all check out the links i am going to give you here and add your questions comments and experiences.

http://www.nutramed.com/Foodallergy/fachildren.htm

http://www.totalwellnessnutrition.com/CS6_ADHD_DigestiveHealthSensoryIntegrationIssuesFoodSensitivities.htm

http://www.allergysmarts.com/food-intolerance-new-letters/food-intolerance-your-child.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/migraine-headache/DS00120/DSECTION=causes

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergy-medications/AA00037

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/allergies-and-asthma/AA00045

Eating Gluten Free- Quicker and easier

I have recently developed an allergy to Gluten and Dairy products. I have been attending the local gluten free meetings when possible and been reading the vast amount of information on the net. Because this is a food blog i have decided to list a few products i have found that i can not live without. In compiling the list i have used brand names because i have found these to be the best over all quality and taste. There are other alternatives but these are my preferred products.

The cooks must have list:

* San-J Organic Tamari Gluten Free Soy Sauce (reduced sodium)
   - This product is Non-GMO verified and certified Gluten free
* Ancient Harvest Quinoa Pasta
    -This product is USDA Organic and Gluten Free
* Cains Foods Brand- Naturally Delicious Raspberry Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
* Any brand Gluten free ( look at the back label for gluten free stamp) Vegetable and Chicken Stock
* Diamond Brand -Almond Milk (unflavored)
* Almond and Rice Flour
* Earth Balance brand- Buttery Vegetable spread (olive oil blend)
* Any brand crispy rice cereal ( i like to grind or crush the cereal for an alternative to bread crumbs)
* Any brand Sea Salt
* Any brand Natural Ground Garlic or Garlic Powder (read the ingredients because often the anti caking         ingredients are not gluten free)

Best Hot Wings....

I live in the land of Sports Bar/ eatery and chain restaurants. That being said there is debate over who makes the best hot wings. Every body has a favorite. 

I Have the best answer....You do!!!! The best wings are made the way you like them. Your cooking method and your sauce or sauces!

The biggest difference is in the cooking. The deep frier method makes a plump wing but adds fat. I bake my wings and drain the fat half way through. I prefer a baked wing with 1/2 Texas Pete's and 1/2 Nancy's Hot with a teaspoon if Chipotle Chilli Pepper Powder per cup of sauce. If you like a sweet and or bbq wing flour the wings just before cooking and add the sauce/sauces you love. I love an original flavor sauce and honey mixed. I use 1/2 cup sauce and 2Tbsp. Honey. I also like to let the wings cool for 3 to 5 minutes before i add sauce.

So by all means...Go out and eat your favorite..But do not be afraid to buy some wings and sauces and try making your new favorite. It can really be a lot of fun!

A link for my friends and readers

Since i am a wine lover and have a great love for history...
http://www.history.com/videos/america-goes-dry-with-prohibition

Jelly Belly

So on my way through my local Giant food store i found a bag of Jelly Belly. As an impulse buy it was a good choice! I had oral surgery and have been on a soft food diet. Any way...the Jelly Beans. Jelly Belly -30 Flavors with a flavor guide on the bag (very handy) 7oz. bag...almost  $4.00. Definitely a treat for a shoe string shopper like me. I was amazed at the accuracy of the flavors. My favorite was the Toasted Marshmallow..so sweet and so much like a fire toasted marshmallow! Sizzling Cinnamon was the next in line only because i love Cinnamon. I have had some of the Extreme flavors in the past like dirt and some terribly accurate and undesirable flavors. It was a great treat and worth every penny. Check out their awesome product at JellyBelly.com . They offer some very cool and unique products..not to mention it is fun! As a foodie i would give them two thumbs up!

Night Harvest Wine

The wine of the day is Night Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon by R.H. Phillips. The bottle claims to provide a crisp acidity with black currant and sweet oak tones. I can definitely appreciate the hint of currant. A rather sweet and slow start with a great and fruity crisp finish. Though i am not so sure of the claims on the bottle being accurate i thought i would try it because it was different and on sale. I was rather surprised and delighted with the product. I would not serve it with any thing other than a mildly sweet desert. Better to drink while sharing a few laughs.

The Magic of leaves......

I want to talk tea a bit today. Tea really is like a Miracle or Magic in a cup. Just as there are thousands of flavors in the world of food... there are thousands of flavors and several colors of tea. Ideally i think it would be a healthy practice to drink the Tea Rainbow every day. All of the tea colors have different properties just like those of the vegetable family.

What is tea? Tea is more the product of the leaves and or plant parts that we steep in modern times than the true Tea grown in China. Every person has their favorite be it plain or combination. In America we have the benefit of learning from all of the different cultures that call our land home. Tea is simply a leaf. Once a week i hope to write about a different type of tea. I personally love a great Oolong with fresh ginger! I have some great loose leaf Oolong i purchased from the Cornerstone Coffeehouse in Camp Hill, Pa.

To make the tea by the cup i mince a small amount of fresh Ginger, peel and all, and put it in the bottom of a heavy mug. On the stove top if possible i bring the water to just before the boiling point and let it set for a few minutes. Then i pour the water directly over the ginger releasing the wonderful aroma and let it steep for two to three minutes. Then a touch of honey and finally the Oolong. This is an exceptional tea for cold winter days. Not to mention the health benefits of the Ginger, Honey and the tea themselves possess.

Ginger is said to lower LDL or bad Cholesterol... Increase circulation while reducing blood pressure...Aid in digestion...help relieve stomach cramps and nausea and relieve morning sickness. Science has not necessarily found these to be true, but for thousands of years people have benefited from the effects of Ginger.

Now for the benefits of the Great and Powerful Oolong. Oolong is credited for the improvement of the entire body! People use it for weight loss and or control...Removing free radicals and other toxins from the body...skin care..stomach aches..vision..stress control...relaxation.. energy boosts in large doses. Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer protection...bone and cell health...and more! Holy Tea...this stuff is good!