Monthly Archives

June 2018

Menstrual cup or sponge tampon?

by Berit 23. June 201823. June 2018

Menstrual cup or sponge tampons?

Does tampons make you and the earth ill? How big a carbon footprint is your periode allowed to make?

Evolution seem to have come far way since the good old days where under garments were referred to as «the unmentionables». Too far in certain aspects one might say, but that’s a different discussion. That same unmentionable area is the topic of todays post: menstruation, or rather it`s side effects. Considering the main goal of human kind; to procreate, wouldn’t have succeeded without this cycle origin, it is surprisingly still pretty taboo to speak of even in this day and age.

Each woman will on average wear 11.000 tampons in the course of her life. Due to the aversion against the use of tampons in som cultures, pads are even more frequently used on a global scale. This adds up to tonnes of rubbish every single year. These products are generally made from a mix of cotton, rayon and synthetic fibres, or they are made from wood pulp transformed into soft cotton-like fibres, and the process demands the use of resources and chemicals. It is very likely that these highly questionable chemicals remain in the finished products, which in turn can be absorbed by the body via the many bold vessels in the vagina, particularly with long exposure. As us girls and women know, unfortunately it tend to be many hours. These toxins add to the cumulative load of toxins us and the planet increasingly are exposed to, which I mentioned in «why choose organic?».

These products often are wrapped in plastic individually, then put in plastic packaging, which is not sustainable. In addition to that many tampons come with disposable applicators, which are also made from plastic. When you reflect on it, it really adds up in the end. How big a carbon foot print is my periode allowed to make? We have to use something. So what’s the best way to protect your body and our planet?

Organic reusable cloth pad

If you cannot sew your own you can buy them.

Organic cotton disposables

You can choose organic tampons, pads and panty liners. They are made from organic cotton grown without artificial chemicals, and are biodegradable. The do not contain chlorine but are bleached with hydrogen peroxide.The applicator is made from biodegradable card board, but it can be tricky to get the tampon out. For the environment it´s better to opt for the tampon without the applicator. The product packaging is recycled card board.

Sponge tampon

A natural and renewable product which has been used for ages. This is new to me, and as it`s harvested from the sea I’m uncertain of how safe it is when it comes to cleanliness. A fun sponge trivia is, that if you break it into small pieces it will get back together with itself and make a new sponge.

Menstrual cup

You can also choose the menstrual cup. It is made from medial degree silicon and may be used by women with latex allergy. The cup is said to be easy to use one you get the hang of inserting it properly. If you find it challenging to empty the cup while using public rest rooms, you can bring a bottle of water to rinse it out while in the cubicle. Leakage may occur, as with the use of any products. Someone spoke to said that she had gotten a new life after starting to use the cup some years back. This is probably the better choice seen from a a health-, sustainability-, and economical perspective.

(I do not promote the label of the personal hygiene products in the photo. It was the only label available at my local health food shop).

23. June 201823. June 2018 0 comment

Health Personal care

Is the food you’re eating eating your teeth?

by Berit 18. June 201818. June 2018

You might wonder why I post a picture of dandelions with a post on tooth health. I was contemplating what would be a suitable image, and when browsing through my album I saw the humble dandelion shining at me. But of course! In my native tongue, Norwegian, the name is “løvetann”- lions tooth. What better image is there to portray the state we want for our tooth health than the strong teeth of the mighty lion? Also, the dandelion even forces it´s way through tough concrete and bitumen to ensure it´s own life, in addition to being close to impossible to destruct. Who wouldn’t wan that! Although a lot comes down to our genes, like many things concerning our bodies, there are still things we can do to promote our tooth- and oral health, in addition to appropriate cleaning procedures morning and night.

Wether the use of fluoride in dental hygiene products and added in drinking water is safe, is a matter widely debated in the science circles, and is a matter I won’t discuss any further. The PubMed reads that fluoride is a substance that, in small concentrations is found naturally in our bodies, in our surrounding nature and in the food that we eat. The conclusion of the 2016 study Fluoride: a review of use and effects on health, states that even though fluoride can be toxic in extremely high concentrations, it is safe in topical use. Because of their cariostatic effect, The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) recommends preventive topical use of fluoride supplements.

According to Kirkland Family Dentistry the relationship between diet and oral health is described as followed:

Cavities

The foods which are good for you physical body, are also good for your oral health. Cavities/caries/tooth decay are of the most common teeth problems caused by diet, due to a combination of factors including bacteria in your mouth, frequent snacking, sipping sugary drinks and not cleaning your teeth properly. Carbohydrates and sugars from foods combine with bacteria and converts into acid in your mouth. Not only does these cavities cause problems such as bad breath, but also grave oral health problems including tooth decay. This acid causes cavities in your teeth by eating away at the hard covering on your teeth, known as the enamel. A diet high in calcium and phosphorus; like milk, cheese, nuts, meat, broccoli and spinach helps to re-mineralize or fill in holes that may occur in your tooth enamel.

Foods

Apple, pears and carrots are other firm, crunchy fruits and vegetables beneficial to your oral health. These foods creates more saliva, which helps wash away food particles out of the crevices in your teeth, gums, and tongue. Fruit and vegetables contain a lot of water, which help dilute harmful sugars that in turn can turn into damaging acids.

Acidic foods

Highly acidic foods that can cause cavities and other oral health problems such as canker sores are:

tomatoes
oranges
grapefruit
lemons

Sugary foods

Many common foods contain sugar and carbohydrates, which when eaten, break down into sugars, and just like regular sugars, can become acidic when carbohydrates combine with the bacteria in your mouth. These are foods like:

breads
bagels
potato chips
french fries
cookies
cakes
pies
candy

Other foods you should be mindful of in regards to tooth health are raisins and other dried fruits. Albeit somewhat healthy, they tend to be sticky and might adhere to your teeth.

Drinks

The same rules apply for drinks as they do for foods. Drinks low in sugar, carbohydrates, and are non-acidic are the best types. The optimum drink for oral health is water with fluoride. It flushes food particles out of crevices and from in between your teeth. It hydrates your mouth creating saliva which neutralizes bacteria and acids. Fluoride helps rebuilding soft spots in your tooth enamel. Other good choices of drink is milk, which with it´s high calcium content strengthens teeth, and unsweetened teas.

Acidic, sugary drinks to be careful of are:

lemonade
sodas
coffee and tea with added sugar
hot chocolate
flavored drink mixes

A dental hygienist told me that juice of citrus and wine (sweet wines in particular) contain a lot of citric acid. Citric acid softens the enamel for up to one hour after consumption, which makes it susceptible to mechanical damage. The longer your teeth are exposed to this acid, the greater the consequences. This means that these drinks should not be sipped, you should rinse your mouth after ingesting, and not brush your teeth within the hour. I’m in no way, shape or form suggesting you down your wine with lightning speed, but from a tooth fairy perspective, it´s better to reduce or eliminate it all together. Pastilles, candy and other sweets, with or without sugar, often contain a lot of citric acid, and is probably also best left on the shop shelf. Check the ingredient list next time you opt for pastilles. The higher up on the list the ingredient is, the larger quantities of the substance the product contains. This goes for all items with an ingredient list; food or otherwise.

18. June 201818. June 2018 0 comment

Health Sides Sustainability

Wild salad

by Berit 14. June 201815. June 2018

I have always loved this time of year when everything bursts and pops, and comes alive after a long hibernation. The birds are chirping, and even the seagulls frenetic screams are welcome, albeit only for a wee while. As I wrote in «about me», I was lucky enough to grow up surrounded with the forest and the sea. Us kids were high and low. We explored areas we were allowed to, and areas we were not allowed to. One of the areas we were not allowed, was a small quarry called the «Goats Hill» which literally was on our door step in my pre school years. If the name existed before it was used as a quarry remains unbeknownst to me, but it certainly was appropriate when us kids were roaming and climbing the face of the cliff like little baby goats. The surrounding area was woodland, and we would pick and eat wild sorrel and other plants in play recess. It`s an exaggeration to call this foraging, but the plant curiosity was definitely there.

Foraging

You can forage for different plants, or different parts of the plant, depending on the time of the year. I live in Northern Europe, so which plants grows in your area will vary greatly depending on where in the world you live. Always check with people in the know which are edible, and which are poisonous. Generally, plant parts to be eaten fresh are best picked when young in spring and early summer. The most favorable time of day to go foraging is in the morning. Do not pick close to roads or where it may have been sprayed with chemicals. A phone call to the local council should clarify which public places has been sprayed. You also need to consider that others might want to have a pick too, and leave some for them as well as making sure the plants dont go extinct. Foraging is a good way to exercise your brain as it has to scan and learn something new. The rest of your body also benefits from the activity, and the lungs get fresh air. Bring your family out on new adventures, and reap the fruits of your labor by making a yummy meal together afterwards. In addition, it`s sustainable to forage rather than to buy. It`s a win-win-win!

The salad

I prefer to use few ingredients when cooking, so that each of them get to sing loud and proud. In this salad I’ve used lady’s mantle, leaves and bloom of wild sorrel, and leaves of dandelion. Wild plants often have a lot of flavor, so a little goes a long way, and it`s best used as a supplement to a neutral and more filling lettuce. I generally use little gem lettuce due to it`s high nutritional value. There’s lot going on in this salad, and so a drizzle of a good olive oil was all I used to dress it. Enjoy as a side salad, or add any veggies or protein of choice for more substance.

Lady´s mantle

Lady´s mantle

The family name Alchemilla refers to Alchemia and the many Medieval attempts to transform base metal to gold with the help of the water droplets collected on the leaves. These droplets may look like dew drops, but are often water that the plant itself secrets from the serrated edges. The alchemists believed the the droplets to have a magical and mystical power, which in addition to being the base substance in the production of gold, also harnessed the power to regain youth. It is a part of the rose family and found all over Norway as different species, as well as in Europe, North-America and Asia. Lady`s mantle is a «women’s herb» and the old herbal doctors recognized the power of Venus in this herb. In England it got the nick-name «a woman best friend». Frøya, the viking goddess of love and fertility was it`s protector, and in christian times it is Maid Mary. The herb is beneficial to skin and digestion. Due to it`s uterus stimulating effects it is not recommended ingested in early pregnancy. Information taken from rolv.no

Wild Sorrel

Wild sorrel

Sorrel has a fresh and acidic flavor. It contains oxalic acid, which is a strong dicarboxylic acid. It occurs as a natural end product of metabolism in a number of plant and in humans, but may cause problems when taken in food. When consumed it can cause stone formation in the urinary tract when the acid is excreted in the urine, according to PubMed. If you soak and cook foodstuffs high in oxalate it will reduce the oxalate content by leaching. Tea, rhubarb, spinach, and beets are common high oxalate-content foods. Oxalates bind calcium and other minerals, and due to this, vegetarians who consume greater amounts of vegetables might have reduced calcium availability. Women, whome require greater amounts of calcium in the diet, might therefore be at risk. A diet low in calcium and high in oxalates is not recommended. The occasional consumption of high oxalate foods as a part of a varied and nutritious diet does not pose any particular problem. Read more ncbi.nlm.nih.gov A lot of us have consumed the aforementioned foods and are ok, but it`s always good to be aware. Maybe our foremothers intuitively knew this, and therefore served us warm rhubarb porridge with cream?

Dandelion

Dandelion

Dandelion leaves have a bitter flavor like lady’s mantle, but I don’t really mind it. Use the young leaves, as the older are too bitter to enjoy. Dandelion leaves are highly diuretic, hence the French name pissenlit (wee-in-the bed), but the high content of vitamins and and minerals makes for a valuable strenghtening tonic. The leaves contain vitamin A, B, C and D as well as potassium, iron and other minerals. From the Home Apothecary by Jessica Houdret.

14. June 201815. June 2018 0 comment

Condiments Sides

Duqqa

by Berit 7. June 201814. June 2018

I was introduce to this deliciousness at a market in Australia some 18 years ago, and in that instant my Middle-Eastern cuisine palate was thoroughly awoken. For a Northerner, whose then, genetic palate wasn’t accustomed to many other spices than salt and pepper, this was a huge food experience. They really do master the art of cramming as much flavor into, and get out of, their food. Duqqa origins from Egypt, and is a flavor bomb made from nuts, seeds and herbs. This is the recipe I got my hands on back in the day, and it has been in my gastronomic «impression repertoire» ever since. It may be enjoyed with a clear conscious accompanied with good oil and bread; as an appetizer or just as a healthy snack.

Duqqa

Print this

Serves: 4

Nutrition facts 200 Calories 20 grams Fat

Rating 5.0/5

( 1 Voted )

INGREDIENTS

30 g. Hazel nuts, de-shelled
30 g. Pistachio nuts, de-shelled. (If using salted, reduce added salt).
4 tbs. Sesame seeds, unhulled
2 tbs. Coriander seeds
2 tbs. Cumin seeds
2 teasp. Sunflower seeds
1 teasp. Fennel seeds
1 teasp. Black pepper corns, whole
2 teasp. Thyme, dried
1/2-1 teasp. Salt

INTRUCTIONS

Roast the nuts on a medium heat in a dry frying pan, preferably cast iron or stainless steel, starting with the hazel nuts. Give the frying pan a little shake to turn the nuts until they get a golden hue. You won’t be able to get all sides of the nuts golden, but thats ok. Some of the brown outer shell will loosen from the nut and partly come off. Put the nuts on a plate to cool, then put them in a clean tea towel and rub off the loose skins. There will be a bit that remains on the nut, and thats fine. Wipe off the pan with a dry cloth to remove the remains of the hazel nut shells, then roast the pistachios.

Roast the seeds separately as they vary in size and fat content, and so the cooking time will differ. Start off with the sesame seeds.They are high in fat, so stirr along the way to ensure they don’t burn. They’re done when they start to pop. Roast the remaining seeds, which are done when the aromas are released. Transfer to a plate and let cool.

Roast the peppercorns and let cool on a plate. The thyme and salt won’t need to be roasted.

When all is cooled completely, mix and grind to a coarse powder. I recommend smashing the seeds and peppercorns in a mortar, and chop the nuts with a herb cutter. You can use a hand held blender, but I find it grinds it too finely.

Transfer to an air tight container and store in a cool dry place to prevent the fats going rancid.

Serve with good olive oil and some yummy bread. Tear off a piece of bread and dip it in oil, then in the Duqqa mix. Enjoy as an appetizer or just as a treat with your drink of choice. I do quite like a glass of wine with mine!

7. June 201814. June 2018 0 comment

Health

Veganism and other isms

by Berit 4. June 201814. June 2018

Today I´ll write a little about some of the most common terms, isms, that has emerged in the food world over the years. Firstly; the definition of an ism is, according to The Norwegian Encyclopedia (and I translate): “a quality, being prone to; a teaching. Often used to denote a tendency or doctrine within philosophy, art or politics, and is in this context often used as a word in it´s own right, “an ism”. In a later post I will discuss the benefits of a plant-based diet, as opposed to a diet high in animal produce. I do want to state that even though there is a time and place for various diets, you should not eliminate food groups out of your diet without there being any indication for it, nor should you eat only a few food groups regardless how healthy. Veganism and other strict diets are complicated to adapt, and you really need to know exactly what to do. Serious and potentially irreversible damages to nervous system may occur, as well as cause blood- and other disorders. An obsession with healthy living has unfortunately seen the birth of a new ism in it´s wake; healthism. It supports the narcissistic self worship of today, where the body embodies the ideal of self discipline, restraint and control. The extreme body worship found in some body builder communities, gyms and the fashion industry, pulls in the same direction. Other expressions for these cultural trends are psychological disorders/ eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

Plant-based is a term used for everyone who’s mainly on a plant-based diet.

Veganism is the most hard core of all of these isms, and is a life style philosophy more than just a diet. Vegans avoid all animal products in food and drinks, such as eggs, dairy and also honey, gelatin etc. Clothing, shoes, bags and other products made from fur, silk, wool and leather are also a no-no. Veganism also stems from a place where animal welfare on all levels is valued, and so beauty products containing one or more components derived from animals, or that which has been tested on animals, are not in line with ethical veganism. An other sub-term is environmental veganism, refers to the avoidance of animal products on the basis that industrial farming of animals is damaging to the environment and is unsustainable.

Raw- veganism

This diet consists of raw, unprocessed plant food which have not been heather above 40-49 degrees Celsius, or 104-120 degrees Farenheit. The reason being that food heated forfeit a lot of their health promoting components, and is therefore less useful, or useless to our bodies. Said components are mainly enzymes, which are pivotal in the making of proteins, and rebuilding muscles and other tissues. When heated, these enzymes can denaturize and leave toxic materials behind, which in turn can put a strain on our detoxification system; liver and kidneys. Foods favored in the raw food diets are legumes, seeds and sprouted grains, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruits and berries. There are som sub-groups too:

Fruitarians: Those who exclusively or primarily choose to eat fruits, berries, nuts and seeds.
Juicearians: Process raw plant foods into a juice.
Sproutarians: Stick to a diet mainly consisting in sprouted seeds.

Vegetarianism

“A vegetarian is someone who lives on a diet of grains, pulses, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits, fungi, algae, yeast and/or some other non-animal-based foods (e.g. salt) with, or without, dairy products, honey and/or eggs. A vegetarian does not eat foods that consist of, or have been produced with the aid of products consisting of or created from, any part of the body of a living or dead animal. This includes meat, poultry, fish, shellfish*, insects, by-products of slaughter** or any food made with processing aids created from these.“ vegsoc.org

Lacto-vegetarian

Eat like vegetarians and also include dairy.

Ovo-vegetarian

Diet like vegetarians and include eggs.

Pescetarianism comes from the Italian word for fish; pesce. It is the practice of the inclusion of fish or other seafoods to a plant based diet.

4. June 201814. June 2018 0 comment