Tuesday, April 27, 2010

King and Queen of Grains

Since my son was diagnosed with a wheat intolerance- we have been on the constant prowl for other options. Making things from scratch, with gluten-free flours is finally getting fun, and relieving. This information is from a handout from the Kitchen Kneads store was insightful, and their prices on grains are extremely competitive!



Wheat
King of grains and ranks first in nutritional value. Rich in protein minerals, and Vitamin E. Vitamin E is most powerful element for heart, muscles, reproductive system. Builds strong muscles, tones kidneys. Helps brain and nervous system and emotional stability. Chinese say it nourishes the heart and mind.

Millet

Queen of the grains, complete food, all essential amino acids, high in minerals, especially calcium, more vitamins than any other grain. Alkaline and easy to digest. Builds superior health and physique. Helps kidneys, stomach, spleen and pancreas. Best grain for Candida.

Brown Rice
High in B Vitamins, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, potassium, carbohydrates, phosphorous, magnesium, and calcium. Great body builder. Good for bones, teeth, nervous system, mental depression, nausea, diarrhea, diabetes, summer heat. Decreases lactation. Raw rice, chewed thoroughly in morning helps expel worms.

Barley

Calcium, iron, and protein. Good for nerves, muscles, spleen, pancreas. Keeps joints limber, laxative. Helps edema, fatigue, heat, candida, and weak stomach.

Corn
Magnesium, iron, proteins, carbohydrates, and potassium. Magnesium helps the bowel necessary for good tone in the intestinal tract. Good for heart, stomach, teeth, gums, increase appetite. Drink as tea for kidney disease.

Rye
Muscle builder, Vitamin E, phosphorous, magnesium. Good for heart, muscles, liver, reproductive system, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, digestive system, vessel and plaque calcification. Sprouted - natural fluoride. Broth - migraine headaches.

Oats
Thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, protein, fat, iodine, calcium. Good for muscles, brain, spleen, nerve structure, pancreas., reproductive system, bones and connective tissue. Removes cholesterol. Poultice - relieves itching. Tea - strengthens immunity, prevents infections, and contagious disease.

Buckwheat
Rich n minerals and vitamins, Vitamin E, B, Complex, starch, fat, protein, and Rutin. Strengthens arterial walls, reduces blood pressure and assists in relieving varicose veins. Cleans and strengthens intestines, dysentery, and diarrhea. Rutin - antidote against X-ray and other radiation and helps stop paralysis in case of stroke.

Amaranth
High protein and calcium. Contains more calcium than milk and is utilized efficiently. Helpful for nursing or pregnant women, infants, children, or those who do heavy physical work.

Quinoa
Cousin of amaranth with same nutritional qualities. Highest protein content of all grains.

Spelt & Kamut
Both are ancient wheats but the majority of gluten-sensitive individuals can eat them without adverse side effects.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

To You: Twin Tower.

My friend Audrey and I were nicknamed the "twin towers" in high school.
Mainly, I think, for our height.
And, of course, to us, the fact that we have almost everything in common.

That was then:
Single, boy crazy, skinny dipping, ocean longing, travel-loving teenagers, figuring out how to grow up.










And this is now:
Married, husband admiring, child rearing, motherhood experiencing, life living us.


This post is dedicated to you Aud.
A person who can always find what she looks for.
A friend that never changes, is always true, and is always a blast to vacation with.

OREGON.






















FROM CHAOS TO CALM



I can never forget a description my husband's coworker described of his wife:

Their toddler woke up....ALL NIGHT LONG.
Finally, after the final episode - she came back into the room, faced the bed,
and bounced her head off the mattress.
Over and over again.
Over and over and over...
Like a crazy person.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Let's be honest. If you've had sleepless children, you can't help but feel smothered in empathy. And laughs (some of relief,) that you are not the only crazy person out there!

Now, my first (okay, second- to sleeplessness), head-banging sessions were directly linked to my first attempts to discipline. I'm not convinced that spanking makes me, or my kids, what I want to be...so, I did time-out. Along with talking, reasoning, and explaining.

Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.

It was fine, and pretty effective...Until I created little escape artists, room trashers, and mommy-exploding makers.

I couldn't get a handle on our chaos. I felt swamped with resistance about EVERYTHING. Teeth brushing, getting dressed, eating, sleeping, going to school, maybe even breathing. I was pregnant, exhausted, and kind of wanted to kill my kids all the time. (My sweet little babies!)

THE CHAOS WAS MAKING ME CRAZY.
And my inability to get a handle on it, made me EVEN CRAZIER!

At the time my friend Jill recommended this:



And it has changed my life.
I read the first half, and heard choirs of angels belting emancipation. And after implementing it,
basked in IMMEDIATE results.
No charts, stickers, or hoops to jump through.
Just raw empowerment.

It is the ONLY parenting book I have ever related to, agreed with, and think is absolute magic. For every stage. Every age. And all of my desires as a mother.

It certainly deserves a post today.

It sits by my Bible.

I love it.
Love me as a mom more.
Love my kids more.
And even love my own mommy more.

You beautiful book.

"BEYOND TIMEOUT. FROM CHAOS TO CALM." by Beth Grosshans