Category: Digestion

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Celeriac…

Posted on by Lenny Variano

This is the root of the celery vegetable. It is a massive ball of roots that is an earthy, celery-flavored vegetable. It can be mashed with potatoes, used raw in a salad or cooked. It is loaded with Vitamin K and potassium while being low in calories. It is a big part of South American cuisine especially in Peru. It can have a shelf life of 8 months if stored between 32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Celeriac is excellent to stimulate digestion. Here are a few suggestions below.

Celeriac oven chips…                                                                                           https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/celeriac-oven-chips                                                    Celeriac, pancetta, and Thyme soup                                                                https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/celeriac-pancetta-thyme-soup                                   Celeriac, and Potato Latkes                                                                            https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/celery-root-and-potato-latkes-231193

P.D.S. (Postprandial Distress Syndrome) and Acupuncture…

Posted on by Lenny Variano

P.D.S. is a form of chronic indigestion with an unpleasant feeling of fullness after eating. Symptoms are a feeling of pain and burning in the throat and stomach. In a study of 228 people who suffered from this malady, they received acupuncture for 20 minutes, three times a week for four weeks. They were all required to complete questionnaires about the amount of fullness, bloating and pain before treatments began. The results were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Of the participants, 83% showed some benefits and of those 28% showed complete elimination of distress. The results could be of great benefit to those who suffer from P.D.S. since the drugs used in treatment can have an intolerable effect.

The Overlooked Seed…

Posted on by Lenny Variano

Most of us are aware of the nutritional benefits of nuts. They are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. However, including seeds as part of our daily menu may be a missing health component as well as an option for those who have an intolerable reaction to nuts. Seeds can help with cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as fight off inflammation. They compliment breads and puddings especially with all the baking now going on. Chia- this little seed can swell to 3 times its size, is loaded with fiber and can substitute or stretch the need for eggs in a recipe. Flax- should always be consumed milled. Rich source of omega 3’s and aids in boosting nutritional absorption. Can be used for breading cutlets or just sprinkled over pasta and a salad. Pumpkin- are extremely high in protein and magnesium. Roasted they can be used as a replacement for croutons in salads. Sesame- these seeds are rich in Zinc which can boost immunity. Three teaspoons can provide a good supply of our daily iron requirement. Toasted they are great in stir fry. Check out tahini, which is crushed sesame, add to lemons for an interesting dressing. Sunflower- are also high in protein as well as Vit. E.  They can serve as a substitute for pine nuts in pesto or can replace peanut butter in its butter form. All of the above are extremely rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, a lacking component in the American diet.

Poppy Seeds

Posted on by Lenny Variano

The poppy seed is native to Greece and the Orient. It is from the same plant in which opium is obtained. However, the poppy seed has no narcotic properties. It has been used for centuries as a food flavoring and for its oil. Some of the seed capsules have been discovered in Switzerland at prehistoric sites. They have a faint nut-like aroma which gives breads and cakes a distinct flavor. Poppy seeds are rich in omegs-3 fatty acids, about 50% of the seed, a fat that is a lacking component in the American diet. The seeds contain a degree of morphine which is present when they are harvested but is removed during processing. Like most seeds they have the extra added benefit of lowering LDL cholesterol. Poppy seeds are rich in fiber, B vitamins, magnesium and potassium to name a few. The Egyptians used the seeds as an aid to digestion and believed that because of its high zinc content it was a factor for proper growth and sperm production.