CHEESESLAVE

About 70 percent of U.S. children have low levels of vitamin D, which puts them at higher risk for bone and heart disease.
“We expected the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency would be high, but the magnitude of the problem nationwide was shocking,” said Dr. Juhi Kumar of Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center. (Source)
CORRECTION: [...]

CNN published this story yesterday on Jack Cafferty’s blog: “Organic food is no healthier or more nutritious than regular food. But it is more expensive. That’s according to a study commissioned by the British government and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.”

Humans all over the world have been fermenting food since ancient times. The earliest evidence of winemaking dates back to eight thousand years ago in the Caucasus area of Georgia.

It’s very recent that fermented foods have begun to disappear from our plate. Modern pickles and sauerkraut are made with vinegar instead of the traditional method of lacto-fermentation using salt. Bread and pasta are made with commercial yeast instead of being naturally leavened with wild yeast (sourdough). Wine, beer and cheeses are being pasteurized — killing off all the good bacteria we so desperately need to maintain health.

But there are many advantages to going back to the traditional ways of our ancestors, and eating more fermented foods.

Almost every Saturday Kate and I go to the farmer’s market in Santa Monica and eat raw oysters on the half shell. The oysters from Carlsbad Aquafarm are so fresh (just harvested a few hours before) and unbelievably delicious. We are so lucky to live in Los Angeles and be able to eat fresh oysters for breakfast at the farmer’s market.

What’s the real scoop on cholesterol? Do you really need to lower your cholesterol? Is there really good and bad cholesterol? Do you need a cholesterol-lowering drug? Does cholesterol cause heart disease?
Or is it possible that cholesterol is actually good for you?
Former vegetarian (read about his experience with vegetarianism here) and really smart [...]

Every Saturday morning, Kate and I go to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market and eat oysters for breakfast. This is a photo of her last weekend. She looks cranky but it’s really impatience. You can see the pile of shells on her lap, and she’s pointing and saying, “More!”

She always draws a crowd when she eats oysters at the market. People are stunned that a toddler would willingly eat raw oysters. But why not? I figure if I get her hooked on them now, maybe she’ll love them for the rest of her life — just like her father and I do.

I’m excited to announce that Zukay Live Foods is giving away a case of naturally fermented salsa and relish — a $42 value! The case contains 6 jars — 4 jars of salsa (2 hot, 2 mild) and 2 jars of pickle relish.

This isn’t just any old salsa. Did I mention it’s naturally [...]

Check out this amazing testimony for going gluten free: A “drywall guy” cures himself of anxiety, ADHD, IBS, and OCD — and drops 50 pounds! Hartke is Online!
Here are a few more inspiring gluten-free testimonials I found online:
Gluten Free Girl’s Incredible Story
IC Disease – Help for IBS
Sugar & Spice – Migraines [...]

For years, I drank 2% milk. Just regular old milk from the supermarket. Then I switched to organic 2% milk. wanted to avoid bovine growth hormones and pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). When I got pregnant, I switched to organic whole milk. I figured I needed the extra fat for my growing baby.
After Baby [...]

Why make homemade chicken stock? Three reasons: flavor, nutrition and economy.
1. Flavor
These days many (most?) processed and restaurant foods are flavored with MSG. MSG is a neurotoxin. Traditionally, food was always flavored with stock — beef stock, fish stock or poultry stock. By adding stock to your meals, you will naturally enhance the flavor without [...]