Amazing Artichokes

Artichokes deserve their very own post!  Simply because artichokes are the detox powerhouse.  However, many people, including myself don't *really* like to buy them because they look at the vegetable and think, how would I eat this thing????  Don't worry, I used to think that way too...and here is my attempt to debunk your hesitations.

First, let me talk about the incredible properties of artichokes.  They are a liver-cleansing food, in other words detoxification.  Detoxification is important for battling diseases and keeping a healthy body.  Artichokes are a good source of silymarin, which helps protect and nourish the liver.

According to herbal experts Joe and Teresa Graydon, Ph.D. (authors of The People's Pharmacy), patients with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) upset who were given artichoke extract showed incredible improvement.  Another study showed patients experience relief from stomach pain, nausea and vomiting.  [Remember, findingfoodorlove.com does not provide medical advice, please consult your physician--but what awesome results!]

Second, how to consume whole artichokes.  After you buy a artichoke from the store, you will want to peel the outside layers by the stem, remove any fibers or small leaves at the bottom of the artichoke.  Next, cut the spikey tips of the artichoke leaves.  After you go around cutting all of them, cut off the top where all the leaves start to bunch up so you end up with something that looks like my picture.

Steam the artichokes for about 15-20 minutes.

That's it!  Now eat.  Just pull the leaves off and scrape the base of the leaf with your teeth.  When you get down to the heart of the artichoke, remove the hairy 'choke' (inedible fuzzy part).

I can eat with no dip.  It's really healthy.  It does take some work to eat, but in my opinion, when we have to work for our food, I think we eat better portions.

Source: The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden

Tylenol Extra Strength

Not sure if you heard but during this past week, Johnson & Johnson (who owns Tylenol), is lowering its recommended dosage of its key ingredient, acetaminophen, in its Extra Strength Tylenol to prevent accidental overdose because it causes liver failure.  So, in the fall of 2011, Tylenol will pull its current dosage of Extra Strength Tylenol and replace it with recommend daily dose of six pills, or 3,000 milligrams, down from eight pills, or 4,000 milligrams.

Um, does this concern you?  Did you catch the LIVER failure part? 

The creators have said it themselves, taking Tylenol can lead you to liver failure!  Growing up, my family rarely ingested medicine, and I hope to keep it this way since I don't know why I would take a medicine that might cause me liver failure?  Whether liver failure of a little or a lot.  Maybe if I were dying or at risk of heart failure or something else catastrophic and the question became, would you like to save your liver or heart first? 

But, we're talking about Tylenol here, a medicine that is marketed and viewed as "safe" and some people take on a regular basis.  Tread at your own risk!!

Medicine in urgent situations, ok I get, and would take if I absolutely needed to (and have), but the next time I get a headache, I won't be reaching for this medicine!

I much rather have real food as my medicine.

“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”
- Hippocrates, 400 BC

Source: http://www.thirdage.com/news/tylenol-lowers-recommended-daily-dose_07-30-2011

When Life Gives you a Lemon...

"When life gives you a lemon...squeeze it, mix with 6 ounces of water, and drink twice daily." - Jethro Kloss, Back to Eden.

Call it folk wisdom if you would like, but scientists are finding in their research that there is some real benefit from lemons.  Science is just catching up with what generations have been passing down.  I used to do some singing in choirs and have taken voice lessons.  One of the remedies I learned for prepping my voice was for the week/days before or right before a concert, take hot water, freshly squeeze lemon juice and add honey.  So good, and so soothing!  I loved it so much that I would drink it more than the concerts I sang in.  Guess I didn't sing enough to "have" to drink the lemon concoction.  Good thing I did and do, because fresh lemon juice has some real positive effects on the body, including the liver, the bile, and digestion.

Sick or getting sick?  Lose your voice?  The lemon concoction might help you get better, faster.

Lemons are a good source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.  Two compounds in lemons: limonoids and limonene.  Both have documented anti-cancer properties.  The peel contains limonene (just beware of the wax), and limonene is found to be preventative against liver, skin, lung cancers and against mammamory and pancreatic tumors.  In addition, drink lemon peel with black tea and it is a particular fighter against skin cancer.

I think my earlier quote says so much - life can be full of lemons, of things seeming so difficult, untimely, and unfair.  But, I think when we are given this chance to be tested, to grow as a person, the benefits surpass a life of only green pastures.  Not that we seek out the lemons in life, but perhaps the attitudes we face them with make a big difference on the outcome and on just how much stronger we get, whether we are willing to take the lemon.  Strength comes from the making.  So, don't pass it up!

Source: 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, Jonny Bowden

Planning for a Detox Diet

Ok, I am going to take a step back.  Let me explain detox and how I understand detox.  Detox is removing toxins in your body via the bloodstream.  Check.  Detox is eating certain foods and avoiding other foods.  Check.  Detox is a balanced diet, not extreme.  Please Check.

I say this because although people do a "detox" diet for a few days, it is not a quick fix or a way to lose weight.  After my detox diet for 6 days, I was the same weight, but the weight felt different and my energy level was different.  I have not read this entire site, but here is one easy way to understand how the liver works with detoxification: 'The liver attempts to keep the body clean as it denies other toxins from entering the blood stream, however, over time, this body detox process is exposed to so many toxins that this natural fight mechanism can wear down – so learning how to detox your body can bring substantial benefits to your health and well being." http://www.healthydetoxtips.com/

Detox is about boosting, rejuvenating and loving your liver.  Most people don't think about or appreciate the functions of the liver.  The liver is your powerhouse - difference between energy and lack of energy.  Your bloodflow enables your liver to be healthy or not.  So, if you don't have a lot of blood, it is not circulating, or your body is having trouble making quality blood, the ensuing results are sickness, weakness and poor organ health.  Please note: this is a Chinese medicine concept.  Given my previous Detox the USA post, this is why detox diets coincide with Chinese medicine principles.


If you have a medical condition, you may need to consult your doctor before implementing any of these tips.

How to start:

1) Plan.  If you don't plan, you basically won't be able to keep up with it.  If this is your first time, don't overdo it.  Start with 3 days.  See how your lifestyle changes, then go on to longer stints.  Think about what you want to eat, write it out, then grocery shop/restaurant find.  You don't have to go on a "detox diet."  You can just incorporate the different foods, and you will be detoxifying everyday!  Diets give you an idea of what if feels like, but ultimate goal is to eat a balanced, detoxifying everyday diet.

2) Create a base.  You need to be hydrated on water.  Detox includes drinking water (I recommend room temperature).  Green tea can be added if you desire.  Cut alcohol, sugary drinks, sugar in general.

3) Listen to your body.  Don't over do something (like cut out all fats or something to that effect).  Detox diet is not a crash and burn diet.  You should feel lighter and stronger, gradually.  However, if your blood flow is not good to start, be extra careful.  The detox diet will actually help you, but you need to regulate your blood sugar levels, and you might want to skip the smoothie phase.

4) More bowel movements.  Don't be surprised if your bowel movements increase to 3 times per day after day three.  This IS SUPER HEALTHY.  It means way less toxins in your body, it smells less (or doesn't really), everything flows more, better health.  I know it's kind of gross to discuss, but quite frankly, three times a day should be a goal.  Reflects hydration, fiber and nutrition.  However, please make the distinction between this and diarrhea.  Not the same.

5) Eat foods to help your liver and kidneys.  Just keep this in mind.  Foods help all sorts of functions, but be on the look out for foods with detoxifying, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory properties.

More about what to eat in my other blog posts.

Detox and Cleanse

What about those detox and cleansing diets?  I think detox is important because it means helping, reviving and feeding your liver.  The liver is at the center of good health.  Detoxification of the body is absolutely necessary, and the liver produces biochemicals necessary for digestion.  Also, the liver is our powerhouse.  Our liver gives us energy.  Take too much energy and don't give the liver what it needs to regenerate, that person will age, be prone to disease, and feel tired all the time.  If you feel tired all the time, it isn't "normal."  Yes, most people in this country feel tired all the time, which is not indicative of a healthy life.  Stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, alcohol, terrible diet, etc. may be causes, but at the end of the day, the person's liver is taking the hit.

For the last few years, my poor liver has taken a hit.  Dehydration was a problem, stress, injury, diet were also contributing factors.  I have been doing lots of research on how to rebuild my liver.  I will share here and in future posts about what I have learned.

For one, diet.  I did a detox diet for 6 days a few years ago.  I was feeling tired and just not well before it, and after six days of eating mostly detoxifying food, I could tell a huge difference.  Not until you do one, will you see and become a believer that what you eat really makes a difference.  If you attempt, do research before you start.

Here are a few foods that help the liver, that is aid detoxification:

1) Water.  Number one factor that will help revive and sustain your liver health.  Proper hydration is ABSOLUTELY key.  Every body requires different water amounts, but 2 liters a day is pretty average.  Drinking room temperature water is best; cold water takes energy from your body in order to warm it up.

1) Artichokes.  This green vegetable is amazing when it comes to detoxification.  Even a few bites of artichoke can significantly increase bile production.  From what I found, it is one of the top foods that increases bile production.  Bile helps digestion of fat, elimination of toxins, and bowel movement.  Get the toxins out!

2) Garlic and onions.  These babies solve so many problems for us!  Garlic contains allicin that helps the liver for detoxification.  
 
3) Brussel sprouts.  Really great for the liver.  You can roast brussel sprouts or saute them with onions and garlic.  With proper amounts of salt and pepper, these are really yummy.  Takes a few tries when cooking before you get the hang of it, but well worth the trial and error.

4) Cabbage.  Personally, I never knew or quite understood the properties of cabbage.  Cabbage is really good for the liver and has anti-inflammatory properties.  Please don't boil!  Saute, please. :)

The Incredible Seaweed Hulk

Busy people.  No time to cook, clean.  You're probably stressed, sick.  Sound familiar?  Or at least have experienced it more than you would like?  Seaweed can help.  Yeah, you read it, I am saying seaweed can help your life.  You're probably thinking and now reading, Whaaa?

Vegetables in the typical western diet are pretty much missing.  And, seaweed is a vegetable with tons of nutrients.  For one, it has anti-inflammatory properties.  It lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation (vital to good health), a natural detoxifier (awesome for you liver, worked well when I tried a detox diet a few years ago), good source of magnesium, iodine (good for thyroid), phytochemicals (anti-aging), and good for your number 2 (seriously, if you are constipated, start eating this stuff at your meals and it will make you a believer).  I could go on, but overall, seaweed will make you beautiful - nails, hair, skin, organ health, energy...

How should you get a hold of seaweed?  Well, if you eat sushi, that is one way - but the amount is not that significant given all the rice you end up consuming.  So, I recommend buying dried seaweed algue (ito-wakame).  I find it at the Korean grocery store (H-Mart for all you fans).  Maybe if you ask for the Korean seaweed that they use in soup, that is one way to find it.  Or, just look for a package of dried seaweed with Korean words and a picture of soup with thicker cut seaweed floating, that might get you there too.  The one that I show here is made by Wang.

You also need Miso (they come in bags or containers, it will take some trial to find the right one for you (I like the darker color)) and sesame oil.

My seaweed preparation goes like this (Tina's seaweed recipe).  Take the seaweed, cut with scissors how much you want to eat (it expands like 3x).  Add some water (maybe a cup, you don't want too much water), then put in miso and breakup miso.  Let it sit for ½ hour (or longer is fine, you can study, go cook other things or take a nap), then boil for about 15 minutes until tender.  Add lots of sesame oil.  The more the tastier.  You can make enough for the day or for multiple meals over 2 days.  It is good hot, warm or cold.


Super easy.  And super good for you.