Well, as I say,”Follow the money.” It didn’t take very long for the TV advertising to start on the “new” natural sweetener. Truvia is now on TV. It can be purchased at the local Fred Meyer and Safeway stores. They have a website that’s fairly informative and there are recipes listed, also. Not bad for something that was prohibited only a few months ago. Cargill makes it and I think it will be a better sweetener than other manufactured artificial, sweeteners. Side effects should be minimal and it shouldn’t bother anyone with diabetes.
On another note, my Sister gave me a book for Christmas named “Nourishing Traditions”. It is most informative and interesting. It has introductions to the basic skills needed for mastering the making of traditional foods. I’ve already started making some of the food and am noticing some differences. I will report more as I use more recipes and notice more changes. Talk about a “learning curve”. Hope all of you have had a wonderful Christmas!
As Always, Healthy Days to You, Your Smiling Maven
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Christmas and Sweeteners
It’s been awhile since I posted. Lot’s of Christmas things to do. Well they are finally done. All presents are purchased and wrapped, I’m listening to Christmas Music, and there is snow on the ground. Very "Currier and Ives". It’s been very “wintry” here in the NW. Nice for a change. I think we (local North Westerners) are ready for all of the snow to be gone, even if that means Christmas won’t be white. I don’t think that I’m really ready for the soggy though. That’s sure to come. But…we just passed the shortest day of the year!!! Hip, Hip, Hooray!! The days are going to get longer. Could spring be just around the corner?
I found time to read, even with all the extra things to do. Just didn’t have time to put my thoughts into a post. Today a newsletter came in that was interesting. The FDA has approved Stevia as a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) natural sweetener. They have not “technically approved” of it, they just won’t object to it. Stevia is an herb that grows in south America whose leaf produces a sweetener that is very good because it does not cause any adverse side effects when consumed. We readers of Natural Health blogs, newsletters, and books have been expecting this. We have been told, by the Government agencies that “protect” us from all things harmful, that Stevia sweetener needed "more study" to make sure that "we" wouldn't be hurt. The fact that the people of S.America have been using it for untold years and Japan has used it for a sweetener since around the 1970's, with no adverse effects was of no consequence. Why you ask? Well, some feel that politics and $$ is the real driving force behind FDA decisions. Seems as though an all natural sweetener would compete with artificial sweeteners and the sugar industry of this country.
Well, to make a long story short, there have been Natural Health advocates that have waged a war against Coke and Pepsi about their use of artificial sugar and regular sugars. So, apparently the “Big Boys” got the FDA to approve Stevia as a sweetener to be used in the U.S. However, when you read the label on the cans, Stevia will not be listed, Truvia will. Somewhere in here, I understand, is Cargill. A natural product cannot be patented, therefore no $$ can be made off of it. So, at least one molecule has had to be changed. So, the new product is not completely natural. They (those in the natural food industry) think this will be an improvement over Aspartame. I’m guessing this is so.
Hopefully, we will start to see products appear on grocery shelves with Stevia. It does not promote tooth decay, diabetes, headaches, or any of the other adverse things that have been associated with sugars, natural or artificial. I have been using it for awhile. Cooking with it is a "learning curve" because so little of it is used. Taste is good, slightly different than we are used to, but tasty when the right amount is used. As I said, a learning curve. In my opinion, a step in the right direction.
Healthy Days to you and Remember the "reason for the season"...Your Smiling Maven
I found time to read, even with all the extra things to do. Just didn’t have time to put my thoughts into a post. Today a newsletter came in that was interesting. The FDA has approved Stevia as a GRAS (generally regarded as safe) natural sweetener. They have not “technically approved” of it, they just won’t object to it. Stevia is an herb that grows in south America whose leaf produces a sweetener that is very good because it does not cause any adverse side effects when consumed. We readers of Natural Health blogs, newsletters, and books have been expecting this. We have been told, by the Government agencies that “protect” us from all things harmful, that Stevia sweetener needed "more study" to make sure that "we" wouldn't be hurt. The fact that the people of S.America have been using it for untold years and Japan has used it for a sweetener since around the 1970's, with no adverse effects was of no consequence. Why you ask? Well, some feel that politics and $$ is the real driving force behind FDA decisions. Seems as though an all natural sweetener would compete with artificial sweeteners and the sugar industry of this country.
Well, to make a long story short, there have been Natural Health advocates that have waged a war against Coke and Pepsi about their use of artificial sugar and regular sugars. So, apparently the “Big Boys” got the FDA to approve Stevia as a sweetener to be used in the U.S. However, when you read the label on the cans, Stevia will not be listed, Truvia will. Somewhere in here, I understand, is Cargill. A natural product cannot be patented, therefore no $$ can be made off of it. So, at least one molecule has had to be changed. So, the new product is not completely natural. They (those in the natural food industry) think this will be an improvement over Aspartame. I’m guessing this is so.
Hopefully, we will start to see products appear on grocery shelves with Stevia. It does not promote tooth decay, diabetes, headaches, or any of the other adverse things that have been associated with sugars, natural or artificial. I have been using it for awhile. Cooking with it is a "learning curve" because so little of it is used. Taste is good, slightly different than we are used to, but tasty when the right amount is used. As I said, a learning curve. In my opinion, a step in the right direction.
Healthy Days to you and Remember the "reason for the season"...Your Smiling Maven
Monday, December 8, 2008
Could this be Genes?
The ones in your body, I mean. My son told me something very interesting yesterday. His little 5 year old has started to ask, at the end of the day, “What are we doing tomorrow?” What ?? That’s what he used to do! We always thought that this little character trait was just something that was peculiar to him. Now his daughter is doing it. Amazing!!
So, I’ve been thinking. What is my M.O. As a child of the late `40’s and `50’s, I didn’t have the option of choice for tomorrow. There were chores to do and one day was pretty much like the last one. Getting in the car and having choices of where we were going or what we were going to do was unthinkable. Milk was delivered and grocery shopping was usually limited to 1 day a week. Going to the “Big” town was a bi-monthly or monthly thing. So, asking about tomorrow never crossed my mind, I don’t think. When something special was going to happen, I know my mother either kept it from me or braced herself for non-stop questions and excitement. Yep, Yep, Yep. A pest needing much feedback.
Even today, I need to have, in my mind, before retiring for the day, what I’m going to fix for dinner the next day. So, I suppose that’s kind of like “what am I doing, tomorrow?”
It appears now, as I have thought about it, quite possibly my son got this trait from me and of course he has passed it on to his daughter. Lucky him. Oh well. It’s not so bad, once you get used to the child’s concerns. It just gets so repetitive. But that’s raising children; it is a constant thing, day in and day out. At least she is a healthy, inquisitive child and full of life. I’ll take that any day.
Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven
So, I’ve been thinking. What is my M.O. As a child of the late `40’s and `50’s, I didn’t have the option of choice for tomorrow. There were chores to do and one day was pretty much like the last one. Getting in the car and having choices of where we were going or what we were going to do was unthinkable. Milk was delivered and grocery shopping was usually limited to 1 day a week. Going to the “Big” town was a bi-monthly or monthly thing. So, asking about tomorrow never crossed my mind, I don’t think. When something special was going to happen, I know my mother either kept it from me or braced herself for non-stop questions and excitement. Yep, Yep, Yep. A pest needing much feedback.
Even today, I need to have, in my mind, before retiring for the day, what I’m going to fix for dinner the next day. So, I suppose that’s kind of like “what am I doing, tomorrow?”
It appears now, as I have thought about it, quite possibly my son got this trait from me and of course he has passed it on to his daughter. Lucky him. Oh well. It’s not so bad, once you get used to the child’s concerns. It just gets so repetitive. But that’s raising children; it is a constant thing, day in and day out. At least she is a healthy, inquisitive child and full of life. I’ll take that any day.
Healthy Days to You...Your Smiling Maven
Sunday, December 7, 2008
It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This!!
Today was a wonderful day. Sunshine for the most part, a good sermon by one of my favorite pastors, a delicious dinner with family, and most important of all, celebrating one of our Granddaughter’s Birthdays!!! Wow!!! such a full day. We’re tired, but very happy and contented. The kids are doing so well. All the girls are healthy and happy and Growing!!
The weather forecast for the next week, here in the N.W., is for rain and clouds with some clearing. Hope it’s more clearing than not. Last week, when we had a beautiful day, I was able to get outside and actually get some fresh air and a bit of exercise. I swept the deck and worked a bit in the greenhouse, and lifted a pot that was too heavy for me. I just can’t believe that there are some things that I am not able to or shouldn’t do any longer. So I did it anyway and paid for it by barely getting back into the house and being very stiff and sore the next day. I drank 2 bottles of “perfect water” and felt much better by noon and MDH didn’t notice my stiffness and frailty. He's always telling me to stay out of trouble when he's gone. Can't imagine why he should worry. Good stuff, that water.
After this very wet and cloudy fall weather that we’ve had here, I’ve come to the conclusion that I would never make it in Alaska. I would be stuck in front of one of those S.A.D. lights 24/7. This darkness didn’t use to bother me, but this year it has. But the good news is, we’re getting closer to the shortest day of the year, then it’s a steady march to longer and longer days!! Yippee!! Spring is just around the corner!!!
I’m doing some reading, but I need to get my cards done, so I don’t know when I’ll be able to think clearly enough to post a health related topic. Thinking is not near as much fun as birthday parties, don’t you know.
Healthy Days to You...Your Maven
The weather forecast for the next week, here in the N.W., is for rain and clouds with some clearing. Hope it’s more clearing than not. Last week, when we had a beautiful day, I was able to get outside and actually get some fresh air and a bit of exercise. I swept the deck and worked a bit in the greenhouse, and lifted a pot that was too heavy for me. I just can’t believe that there are some things that I am not able to or shouldn’t do any longer. So I did it anyway and paid for it by barely getting back into the house and being very stiff and sore the next day. I drank 2 bottles of “perfect water” and felt much better by noon and MDH didn’t notice my stiffness and frailty. He's always telling me to stay out of trouble when he's gone. Can't imagine why he should worry. Good stuff, that water.
After this very wet and cloudy fall weather that we’ve had here, I’ve come to the conclusion that I would never make it in Alaska. I would be stuck in front of one of those S.A.D. lights 24/7. This darkness didn’t use to bother me, but this year it has. But the good news is, we’re getting closer to the shortest day of the year, then it’s a steady march to longer and longer days!! Yippee!! Spring is just around the corner!!!
I’m doing some reading, but I need to get my cards done, so I don’t know when I’ll be able to think clearly enough to post a health related topic. Thinking is not near as much fun as birthday parties, don’t you know.
Healthy Days to You...Your Maven
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