Thursday, April 12, 2012

Healthiest Oil on Earth

What type of oil do you cook with? 





If your answer is canola oil, for example, please go to your kitchen and give it the boot, NOW!!!!!!!!!

Canola oil is a genetically engineered from the Rapeseed plant.  By nature, these rapeseed oils are toxic to humans.  It is actually used as an insect repellent!  Rapeseed contains trans fatty acids linking it directly to cancer, especially lung cancer.  The effects are cumulative, possibly taking 10 years before symptoms are seen.  I'll pass on the canola oil, thank you.

What you should be cooking and baking with is COCONUT OIL.  Coconut oil is a naturally occurring saturated fat, not genetically engineered like canola oil is.

Did you know that fat composes our bone marrow and most of our brain?


Yes, I still am a MRI tech at heart!

Saturated fat has been demonized because most sources are high in cholesterol.  Every cell in your body needs cholesterol, the brain contains large amounts and cholesterol is the precursor to all sex hormones.

There are two types of cholesterol.  HDL or the good cholesterol and LDL or the bad cholesterol.

Bad cholesterol gets deposited in the inner walls of the arteries and poses a threat for the heart, good cholesterol does the opposite.  It actually helps lower the bad cholesterol, provide energy and nutrition to the cells.

What makes coconut oil so good for you?

The difference is in the fat molecule.  All fats and oils are composed of molecules called fatty acids.  Fatty acids can be classified in two ways.  The first method is based on saturation, the other is based on molecule size or length of the carbon chain within each fatty acid.  Coconut oil is composed mostly of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA's).

Most of the fats in our diets are composed of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA's).  MCFA's are very different from LCFA.  MCFA's, found in coconut oil, does not have a negative effect on cholesterol and helps to protect against heart disease.  It is primarily due to the MCFA's in coconut oil that make it so special.

Even the coating of our lungs contains saturated fat! Studies have been found that children with asthma have a diet too low in saturated fat, therefore the lung surfactant is compromised and the lung's airspace can collapse.

With all my research on coconut oil, I was amazed how many benefits there are,  There are too many to list so here are a few key benefits:

Prevents infection.  Coconut oil contains 40% lauric acid which is a fatty acid also found in breast milk.  The body converts it into a substance that fights bacterial, viral and protozoal infections in infants. 

Controls blood sugar.  People with diabetes find that coconut oil improves the secretion of insulin.

Dissolves kidney stones.

Stimulates the thyroid gland.  When the thyroid works properly, it uses cholesterol to make chemicals that are important for preventing disease.

Prevent cancer.  A healthy thyroid function has been linked to reduced cancer risk.

Reduce weight.  Coconut oil removes unnecessary stress on the pancreas which helps burn energy and reduces weight!






There are so many more benefits! 

Just remember, good fats are our main source of energy.  Good fats DON'T make you fat. 

Give it a try!!!!!!!!!!






Thursday, April 5, 2012

Cupcakes for breakfast? Yes please.

I want to apologize for not keeping up with my blog lately.  My friend Donni and I have been beyond BUSY trying to get our new Paleo business up and running!!!!!! 

Yes, you read right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are starting a business called "Paleo EATS."  Located here in Bend, OR, we will be supplying everything from yummy Paleo breakfast muffins, energy bars to sinful salads and eventually ready to go Paleo dinners too!  We are both very busy mommas so my cute little blog has been ignored for a few days, just a little bit!

So to give my blog just a little bit of lovin', I'd love to share another recipe with you.

I LOVE breakfast!  It's the first thing I want when I wake up!

With the Paleo lifestyle, breakfast is SO important in keeping our energy up, especially with the RIGHT foods!  This recipe is simple, delicious, portable and kid friendly!  What kiddo doesn't like the word "cupcakes?"  Right?

Egg Cupcakes


10 -12 eggs whisked well
1 green onion
2 zucchini
3 big handfuls of spinach
1/2 a jar of roasted red and yellow peppers
6-8 slices of COOKED bacon
sea salt and black pepper to taste


Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease with olive oil two muffin pans. Whisk all your eggs in a big bowl. In a food processor throw in the green onion, zucchini, bacon, and peppers and process until finely chopped but NOT smooth (yuck…). Add this mixture to your eggs. Throw your spinach into the processor and finely chop and also add to your eggs. Mix the egg mixture well and using a 1/4 measuring cup, fill the muffin pans (you’ll be able to make 18-20 cupcakes). Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the eggs are set in the middle. These are great to take on the go and I like mine with some sliced avocado and green salsa.

I like to make these on the weekend so you have tons of leftovers for the beginning of your busy week!  Genius!!  You can also freeze these little guys for future use and I also recommend doubling the recipe.


Enjoy!!!




Monday, April 2, 2012

Bacon LOVE!


When Gracie was 1 year old, I decided to host a "Little Cupids Valentine Brunch" for Gracie's friends and their moms.   Dressed in their best little Valentine outfits, here are the kiddos back in 2008.



Where are those smiles????


This Valentine brunch has become a tradition ever since.  I provide a main dish and each mom brings a brunch item to share.  We started out with 6 kids the first year and this year I think we had at least 20!  We always have tons of delicious food and lots of great laughs!

This year I had to decide on a Paleo dish that my non Paleo friends would still love.  I found this Bacon-Crusted Quiche and it was AMAZING!!! 


Bacon-Crusted Quiche

8 Eggs
1 c. Coconut Milk
½ Onion, chopped
2 c Fresh Spinach, chopped
1 t Baking Powder
2 T Almond Meal
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 Package Nitrate-Free Bacon

I added in some mushrooms and bell peppers too ~ feel free to add in any other veggies that you like!
Line a greased 9-inch pie plate with bacon, being extra careful to “fortify” the sides. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.




Meanwhile, beat eggs and coconut milk, then whisk in all other ingredients.

When bacon is done, remove from the oven and drain off the grease. Pour in egg mixture and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
 

 


So good!!!