Green Penny Pincher

(FTW = For the win!)

"papaya" by mars! via flickr.com

We’ve all been there – something was too delicious and you took one (or two, or three) too many bites, and regretted it in one digestive way or another afterward.  If you’ve never been there… I don’t believe you!

I used to have a big problem with indigestion and acid reflux.  I also, admittedly, often run into problems from eating too fast – partly due to being busy, partly due to years of bad habit.  I used to carry Tums with me everywhere, and Zantac for the really bad days.

These days, I keep two things in my bag at all times.  The first is Gas-X strips (these things are marvelous for the occasional gas pain/gas bubble) and chewable Papaya Enzyme, or Papain, pills.  Of course, fresh papaya not only contains these enzymes but also tastes great, but doesn’t fit in my purse quite as neatly.

Used for thousand of years in its native South America, papaya contains enzymes that aid digestion, particularly the breakdown of tough foods like meats.  It is even sold as a powder for use as a meat tenderizer.  Meat tenderizer, or powdered papaya enzyme, can be used topically for reactions to skin toxins like bee stings or jellyfish bites!  (Note:  Rinse off within 10 minutes.  Also,  I am not a doctor.  Please consult your doctor for further advice.  Green Penny Pincher will not be held liable, blah blah blah…)

Some Uses

• Acid Reflux
• Constipation
• Too-Full Feeling
• Gas Relief
• Heartburn

Side Effects

• Lowers blood sugar
• May raise heart rate
• DO NOT TAKE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO PAPAYA!
• Patients with a LATEX ALLERGY may also have a reaction to papaya

Dosage depends on potency of tablet, personal experience, and severity of condition.  Most versions are chewable and pretty tasty, though some have more of a chalky taste than others.  I have purchased these tablets at health food stores, pharmacies, and big-box stores.  Keep an eye on the label for other additives – the most recent ones I bought were artificially flavored – unnecessary, as papaya tastes great!   If you have any worries about this product, speak with your doctor.  Avoid prolonged contact with skin.

So I’ve had this book on my bookshelf for ages, and I just pulled it down on a whim the other night and started reading it.  I was honestly pretty horrified before I even got past the first chapter.  We do try to eat whole, healthy foods, but we are guilty of eating plenty of convenience and junk foods as well, maybe just not as regularly as a good portion of the U.S. population.

A lot of it is common sense/knowledge to those who are informed about nutrition, but there were still some real zingers.  Here are a few I’ve hit upon so far…

• Keebler’s “Reduced Fat Club Crackers” claim to have “33% less fat than original Club Crackers.”  What they don’t tell you is they replaced 1 gram of fat with 3 grams of carbs and sugars.
• Bottled green teas vary GREATLY in the amount of catechins (the good stuff) they contain.  Republic of Tea brand Pomegranate Green Tea contains 8mg, while Honest Tea brand Green Tea With Honey has 215mg!
• The corn component of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, which advertise themselves as being “Diabetes Friendly,” can raise blood glucose faster than regular white sugar!
• Those boxes with the “American Heart Association” symbol on them?  The companies paid money to be AHA-certified.
• Some of the leanest cuts of meat you buy at the store have been “enhanced” with a sodium solution to make them “juicier.”  A 4-oz. serving of Shady Brook Farms Fresh Boneless Turkey Breast Tenderloin is enhanced with a 6% sodium solution and contains 55mg sodium, while a 4-oz. serving of Jennie-O brand Turkey Breast Tenderloin Roast Turkey contains about 840 mg of sodium!
• No wonder Haagen-Dazs ice cream is so delicious.  A serving of their mint chip contains 300 calories and 19g fat, while the same serving of Breyers All Natural Mint Chocolate chip contains 8g fat and half the calories… and is still delicious!
• A cup of Quaker 100% Natural Granola, Oats, Honey & Raisins contains 420 calories (before you add milk or anything else), the equivalent of 8 chicken wings.
• A package of Oscar Mayer Maxed Out Turkey & Cheddar Cracker Combo Lunchables contains 680 calories – the same amount as FIFTEEN CHICKEN NUGGETS!
• There are 7 different types of sugar in Pop-Tarts.
• ONE serving of Marie Callender’s Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie (and please keep in mind that one pie = TWO SERVINGS) contains 1,060 calories, and has the same amount of sodium as EIGHT small bags of potato chips, and the fat equivalent of 23 STRIPS OF BACON.

No wonder this country is so unhealthy, especially in a time of economical struggle.  Processed foods are not only more convenient and easier to make than their counterparts, but also so much cheaper!

What are we to do?  Well, I guess we do what we can and try to make good choices when they are available, and “splurge” on the junk food mindfully when we do splurge.  Check the ingredients on your food and see if it’s worth it to you.  Remember that ingredients are listed in order – the first ingredient on the list is the main ingredient, and the last is the smallest ingredient.  The more ingredients, the less likely it is a healthy choice.  Try to eat a “rainbow” every day, and go for fresh (fruit, veg, etc.) choices when they’re offered.  The more you know of what you are eating, the better you are eating.

Anyone have tips or recipes to share for healthier, more wholesome meals and snacks?

Coconut, Halved, By SingChan via Flickr Creative Commons

I can truly say I LOVE COCONUT OIL!  It is a cure-all.  Everything that baking soda won’t work on, coconut oil will.

Besides the obvious culinary and dermatological uses, there are, so far, 160 counted uses, says the lovely Hybrid Rasta Mama on her blog post, “160 Uses for Coconut Oil”.  She was kind enough to let me link back to her list instead of counting them all up again for myself – you’ve got to check it out!  Here are a few highlights…

Diaper Salve
Energy Boost
Eye Cream
Nosebleeds
Weight Loss
Scrapes & Bruises
Chronic Fatigue
Tattoo Healing

Is there anything it can’t do?!  Check out Hybrid Rasta Mama’s page for lots more uses and information on this wonder.

WHAT KIND DO I BUY?

There are 2 basic varieties of coconut oil – expeller-pressed (refined) and unrefined.  The refining process removes the coconut odor and flavor and arguably depletes the beneficial properties of the oil, but choose depending on your own preference; some people just don’t like the taste and smell, or might not in all uses.

WHERE CAN I BUY COCONUT OIL?

Any local health store should carry at least one variety.  I have tried several brands, including Spectrum and Tropical Traditions, and the latter is my favorite.  I just picked up a buy-one-get-one-free deal on TT’s 16 oz. Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil for $19.99!

Special Price! – 2 pints – Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil 16 oz. – Buy 1 get 1 FREE! (Unrefined)

Green Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil – 32 oz. (Organic Unrefined)

32-oz Organic Expeller-Pressed Coconut Oil (Refined)

Make a first-time purchase through my links above to receive a FREE gift, Tropical Traditions’ book “Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours!” This book is packed with testimonies and solid research showing how healthy coconut oil is, and it also includes over 85 recipes showing how people can incorporate coconut into their diet.