The Salt of the Matter

This really is one of those 'duh!' moments for me.

In the picture is regular table salt,

sea salt, and reeeal salt!

First, let's just be clear.

Salt is NaCl - sodium chloride.

It is a chemical compound.

These two elements can be brought together upon manufacturing will.

This is what happens when you get the

typical table salt, with the additive of calcium silicate

which helps keep it from caking.

Then there is sea salt.

This one is not the iodized sea salt which contains

other ingredients such as dextrose.

This one is just 'sea salt' and calcium silicate - again.

I am wondering just how they get all the nutrients out of the salt

and how they get it so bright white.

I could find no such information in my search.

Most salts on earth are not a true white.

And here is the 'duh' part.

I grew up on a ranch.

We gave the cattle, sheep, etc.

salt with trace minerals.

Guess what...

we (humans) need those trace minerals too.

So,

I found Pacific Salt Sea Salt.

It is the real salt.

No additives - so yes, it will cake if it sits that long.
It is a soft greyish-white color.

The great part is that we are now naturally

getting trace minerals in our diet.

We are not salt-aholics so

our diet now contains more of what we need

and less of those anti-caking chemicals.

As far as price goes.

I think the real salt was about twice the other

which means it was about $2.00 rather than $1.00.

We don't go through a ton of it so I deemed it affordable.

The flavor is slightly milder and a bit more savory

as opposed to the acrid tang of regular salt.

It seems to add to or bring out the flavor of food

rather than masking it.

We've been using it for several months now and love it.

That's why we still have these others in the cupboard.

Might have to use them as ice-melt or something.

Until next time,

Nimble Fingers and Even Stitches

A Healthy Diet Invitation

We are at it again.

For the month of August,

we are eating our healthy diet.

We don't venture too far from it for the rest of the year,

we just aren't as adamant.

We are doing this in great part due to a neighbor who wants to

but needs support and encouragement.

There might be several of us all doing it

so thought it might be fun if we invited you too.

We have among us borderline diabetics and gluten intolerant.

I need to make some calls tomorrow and find out who is in.

We begin Friday the first of August.

So here we go...

These are things we eat and things we avoid.  Last year, we did no grains, processed sugars, or chemicals.  Eliminating chemicals was the most difficult part.  Since then, hubby has continued to eat no wheat.  His joints are greatly improved by that.  We have continued to minimize grains in our diet.  One thing that made a lot of sense to me is that your body recognizes three things: sugars, fats, and proteins.  Grains are sugars.  Fats are good.  Proteins are best.

1st.  ~  No grains nor processed sugars.  We do eat fruit since they are natural sugars, and we don't typically O/D on them.  Once you eliminate grains and sugars, you can really taste their sweetness.  Honey or real maple syrup are okay, but we found that we didn't have anything to use them on.

2nd.  ~  Fats and oils: We use avocado or olive oil which are both stone fruits as well as butter or lard.  We do not use vegetable oil, shortening, or margarine.

3rd.  ~  Dairy: Eat as much as you like.  Eggs, milk, and cheese are good.  If we could get milk straight from the cow, that would be best.  The least processed the better (ie. no skimmed or ultra-pasteurized.)  Cheese without a ton of chemicals is difficult to find if you are avoiding chemicals.

4th.  ~  Nuts and seeds:  Eat all you want - just watch as they tend to add 'mystery' ingredients and cook in canola oil.*

5th.  ~  Meat: as much as you like.  Try to opt for 'natural' - not by government standards, but by real standards.  We still buy chicken and pork since we do not have a local source - yet.  We get grass fed/fattened beef, wild game, and fish. 

6th.  ~  Veggies and Fruits: Any and all.  The darker the better & lots of greens.  Herbs are really just greens with lots of flavor.

7th.  ~  Sauces and dressings: Beware!  Most are a mixture of oils, chemicals, sugars, and grains.  There is wheat in soy sauce, some ketchup, salad dressings, licorice, ... the list goes on and on.

8th.  ~  It will be difficult to eat out.  Most restaurants add starch &/or sugar even to their veggies.

There is no limit to the amount of food you eat as long as it is within the parameters above.

I lost 8 lbs. & hubby about 15 lbs. in one month changing nothing but our diet.  Hubby didn't move like an 80 year old man any more and was no longer in pain.

Wheat is a natural inflammatory & appetite stimulant.  I will just encourage you to do your own research before taking the government (FDA) word for what is safe and good for you.  

Example: Several of the approved food colorants are proven carcinogens.

There is a new book out "The Big Fat Surprise" which hubby and I would both recommend.

The Weston A Price site is good as well.

*Canola - click here

Before the Egyptians began cultivating crops to feed cities through the winter, the 'natural' human diet was very close to what we have listed above.  This makes a ton of sense to me and was the reason I gave it a whirl in the first place.

Disclaimer: We are not doctors, licensed nutritionist, or medically certified in any way.  We do continually do our own research in regards to nutrition.  We are in no way responsible for your health.  We do believe in being responsible for our own health & nutrition.  If we can in some way help others we would love to do so.  Again, we would encourage you to do your own research.

You might be thinking this is expensive,

but it is amazing how much all the grains and sugars cost.

Our grocery spending didn't really change when we changed 

from eating those things to what we do on the diet.