Food Watching

 I am working on another page called Food Watching. This one is about the foods we Americans see in stores. I am really mad about what junk ingredients may have been doing to my health. Here is the first rendering of the new page. I will be doing updates.

 I've had other pages here dealing with eating better and being healthier, but I'm starting this page and one to be updated more regularly.

Our food situation is embarrassing. We are being sold consumables with ingredients that other countries won't touch. I don't know a way to fix that. I am trying to keep track of information and sources that help me make better choices.

For a while, I might do updates on this post as well.

Uncategorized (for now) Sources:

• GroceryDB - you can check on various foods to see how processed they are. The system is still confusing to me, but the lower the "processing score" the better. They have things in categories and here is a page on Breads. I will get more info on this site soon - like how to use the Compare option.
• EWG - great resource & as with the above, the lower the score, the better, but I have to Google something and add EWG to get the right page. On the other hand, I am an idiot. This is the Dirty Dozen list of food chemical to say no to... They also have a YT channel
• Cornucopia - I like the motto. You can go down several rabbit holes from their research page. I did.

YouTube Channels:

• Dishclosure was the first channel I got hooked on. They usually give you a list of several "worst" things, then end with some better options.
• All Foods Uncovered
• Built to Eat
• In Plain Bite
• The Visual Scientist has a food playlist.

That's it for now. I will update as I am able. In the meantime this is something in my own cabinet (though it won't be from now on).

Not only does this have the additives, 
it contains GMOs...

This is a local/regional brand "Our Family"

Cold Brew to the Rescue?

 Why did I have to just now learn how tasty cold brewed coffee is??? 

For the longest time, I have tried to drink black coffee. I can stomach it if it's made with Luzianne (the red bag). I can almost stomach it when made with any brand if I add a bit of allulose, but I don't love the heck out of it... 

Yesterday, I decided to try my hand at making cold brew. That's because I happened to have some leftover coarse ground Gevalia a visiting relative left behind. I figured if it didn't turn out, I still had a lot left to make French press coffee.

Here's the screenshot of what I Googled for instructions:

I eyeballed the coffee-water ratio

I used a large Mason jar and let the grounds steep overnight - about 14 hours because I forgot about it. It was a real pain in the rear to strain it. I used a regular strainer lined with a coffee filter. That took a while. Finally, I let it rest a few minutes in the fridge so any tiny sediment could settle. And then I took a little taste. Left behind or not, any coffee is too good to waste so I was sure hoping it turned out at least decently.

Y'all, it turned out. It really turned out good. 

Totally dark and lovely

At first, I added plain cream (habit), but later I did some full black - no cream or sugar. Goodness me. This is black coffee I can really enjoy. The cream diminished the tastiness I like in this coffee.

The flavor really comes through. I got a lot of the rich and nutty/chocolate noted in the coffee's profile. There was ZERO bitterness or aftertaste. I can't be more impressed.

This is really what I need right now because I'm trying to eat better (and less after 7pm). Being able to drink coffee was always key to my intermittent fasting. I could never enjoy it without at least having some cream. This way, loving the caffeine out of some black coffee!

Anyway, I hope that this encourages or helps anyone else trying to enjoy black coffee. Good luck and good sipping!

Peace

--Free

Hydrogen Water Bottles - Yay or Nay?

Because I am desperate for natural ways to heal my body and better my health, I sometimes fall down internet rabbit holes. That is what happened when a visitor of one of my neighbors mentioned her own hydrogen therapy. She is well off enough that she actually has some kind of machine in her home. I am not well-to-do and am barely well-to-be, so I began looking into other ways to get/use hydrogen.

OVERVIEW

What his hydrogen in health care?

A: "the therapeutic use of molecular hydrogen gas for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, aiming to treat various diseases. It is used as a medical gas to treat illnesses related to oxidative stress by reducing harmful radicals, typically administered via inhalation, hydrogen-rich water (HRW), or saline injections" various sources including this one.

How to administer hydrogen:

There are 4 that I found (doing some straight on Googling!):

Hydrogen Inhalation: Frequently used in acute scenarios or studies for neurodegenerative and respiratory issues.

Hydrogen-Rich Water (HRW): A common, simple method for daily, at-home consumption.

Hydrogen-Rich Saline (HRS): Used for intravenous, ocular, or peritoneal injection.

Hydrogen Baths: Used for skin conditions and anti-inflammatory purposes.

What is it supposed to do?

WebMD goes into detail here but, some supposed benefits are weight loss (of course!) improved mental health, fatigue relief, and the other usual suspects. Healthline brought me to my senses. Otherwise, I might have been begging my family for one of the outrageously expensive home machines.

My Experience

Drinking hydrogen-rich water (HRW) was the only method within my reach. Hydrogen bottles are being hyped all over the place. I was offered a freebie to review (it has not & may not arrive), but I found an affordable one online. It was around $28 with a temporary discount. I snagged it.

Since I have been filtering my water with a gravity filter & haven't had to buy bottled water for almost 6 weeks, I have saved a bundle. I didn't realize exactly how much I was spending every week just to have water that wouldn't calcify my innards...

Why am I hoping for?

I would love to see improvement on my kidney function. If any other benefits happen, even better. Either way, God's will be done.

How did I choose one?

It was maddening. I wore my Googling finger out trying to learn what I could. I could have saved myself some time by reading the top of the first search page. My search term? what is a good quality hydrogen water bottle

The ones recommended underneath were total flops according to reviews - and they were pricey - surprise, surprise... 

The one I chose was a 4-star item, but I watched the videos to look for the bubbles. Plus, it was the right kind of glass and the right kind of price.

How does the bottle work?

The one I have is pretty simple. I fill it almost full with filtered water, then press the On button. A bunch of tiny mist-like bubbles appear, flowing from the bottom upwards. The bottle runs for a pre-set 5 minutes. When it finishes and I remove the top, I might hear a little "pop" of oxygen. I sometimes run it 2 cycles (releasing the pop of air in between).

The water stays "charged" with the dissolved hydrogen for up to 10 hours. The water does not really taste different to me - it just has a softer feel in my mouth, if that makes sense. 

Is it making a difference?

A: This is where it gets tricky. I have felt the occasional slight improvement in my fatigue levels and overall energy. What I don't know is how much that has to do with the water. I could be having a placebic experience.

I will have to use the bottle for a lot longer to be able to speak on weight loss or any of the other benefits. I get bloodwork done on a regular basis (the news last time was not great...) so maybe that will help me see improvement or a lack of.

General opinion - 

Don't look for the priciest ones. I know someone who got one for almost twice what I paid and... they ended up returning it and getting the one I have. 

Look for one that has a vent - my bottle has a tiny hole on the underside of the bottle. 

BTW- If I see any improvement in my lab work in the future, I will let you know. For now, I don't mind trying something that might help.

Peace

--Free

Disclaimers: I was not/have not/will not be compensated for any products mentioned here. I am not offering medical or health advice of any kind. Do your own research and speak to your health care team before trying anything you read about on the internet.