Purslane

PURSLANE

Huge pot of Purslane on the back porch!

The more I learn, the more I wanna learn!!  One thing I'm learning a lot about is this incredible, edible, beautiful plant!!  I've grown it for years, but never knew it was edible ... and good for you! Right now, I have an abundance of it!  Gonna harvest some this week! Wikipedia says it contains more Omega-3 Fatty Acids than any other leafy vegetable plant, as well as a whole lot of other good things!  Could it be added to the 'super food' list?   

Many think Purslane and Portulaca are the same.While they are related, they aren't the same.  I haven't researched Portulaca yet so I'm only referring to Purslane in this post.

PORTULACA

PURSLANE

While I was out taking a few pics for this post I picked several leaves and munched.  Not bad. Similar taste as lettuce.  While perusing the internet I found out that this stuff is packaged and sold in the organic salad section of the grocer!!

Many consider it a weed!  I've always loved it as a ground cover and cascading over flower pots!  What do you think?  Weed it or Eat it?   And, here's another great article by Mother Earth News!

I'm reading that it's a great substitute for spinach and terrific tossed into salads.  Highly nutritious!!  How about some recipes using Purslane?  Here's a recipe from the New York Times using cherries and feta in a purslane salad!  

Here's a video for all you foragers at heart ... Eat the Weeds!!  The flowers, the leaves, the seeds, the stems ... all edible (except for the root).  There are also medicinal qualities!!   Be careful if you aren't positive it's Purslane.  Especially if it's growing in your lawn and you didn't plant it.  It may be Spurge.  Here's a link to another video showing the difference ... Purslane or Spurge?   The sap from Purslane is clear, while that of Spurge is milky.  Spurge is poisonous, so pay attention if you find it in the wild!

Visit the New Life on a Homestead blog page and you'll get some great info on Purslane, including medicinal uses.  I'm gonna toss a few leaves into a salad this evening.  Then I'm gonna harvest a good bit to put on the dehydrator and make into a powder for smoothies and thickener (think 'cornstarch').  The New Life on a Homestead shows how to here!

If you're interested in foraging or simply finding out what is edible and what isn't, this is a great book on the subject!  

Back porch planter full of Purslane!

More Purslane Recipes:

Epicurious

Simply Recipes

Pinterest

Go Organic!!

"ORGANIC"

Is it Marketing Hype or The Real Thing? 

How Do We Know For Sure?

"It's important to realize that there are several different organic labels out there, but only one relates directly to foods: the USDA Organic seal. This seal is your best assurance of organic quality. Growers and manufacturers of organic products bearing the USDA seal have to meet the strictest standards of any of the currently available organic labels."


•Products labeled "100% Organic" must contain only organically produced ingredients

•Products labeled "Certified Organic" must contain at least 95 percent organic ingredients

•The label "Made with Organic Ingredients" can contain anywhere between 70 to 95
   percent organic ingredients

"In order to ensure you're actually getting your money's worth, you need to make sure the food you buy bears the "100% USDA Organic" label. The problem with the latter two labels is obvious. Anywhere from five to 30 percent of the ingredients may be conventionally-grown, so you're still exposed to pesticide residues and other questionable ingredients. The "Made with Organic Ingredients" is often misused and misleading, just as the "natural" label, as it allows for plenty of conventionally-produced ingredients.

A "100% Organic" product on the other hand cannot be irradiated, and cannot contain preservatives or flavor enhancing chemicals, nor traces of heavy metals or other contaminants in excess of tolerances set by the FDA.

It must also be grown and processed using organic farming methods that recycle resources and promote biodiversity—so it encompasses organic in a holistic way, from start to finish. Crops must be grown without synthetic pesticides, bio-engineered genes, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers, and livestock cannot be given growth hormones.

So, in terms of organic food, there's really only one label that can provide you with any real measure of quality, and that's the "100% USDA Organic" label. As the Cornucopia report clearly shows, the "natural" label can be close to worthless in terms of protecting you from harmful ingredients and informing you about the manner in which it was grown."

Visit this link on Dr. Mercola's site to learn more! 

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2099/12/31/natural-breakfast-cereals-contain-pesticides-gmo.aspx?e_cid=20111021_DNL_artTest_B4

Be wise! Always check more than one source for info!


http://www.natures-health-foods.com/Organic-Labels.html

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/Food-Label-Decoder-451003



 CANCER ~  Nutritional Deficiencies

Depression ~  anxiety ~  allergies ~ FATIGUE

Please take some time this week and watch the Food Matters video. I'm only posting this because I care. I cared enough about my own health to make some serious nutritional changes a couple of months ago and I care about my friends and family and want to share some of that information. I'm far from perfect and still enjoy a treat every now and then, but for the most part my diet has seriously changed to more healthy choices.


This morning, I finally had the opportunity to watch one of the most important and informational documentaries I've ever seen on the subject of Therapeutic Nutrition.  There are some well known folks in the health field who support it!  The video has been shown in private scheduled screenings across the country (no where close to home) and is available for online viewing until October 8th. Please take the time to watch the Food Matters video. A world of information. Very eye opening!

Check out the website at http://www.foodmatters.tv/

A Healthy New Pyramid!

Check out the Nutratarian site!  Great Info!





"If one gains control of ones appetite - they can then control all other aspects [of their life] whether physical, emotional and spiritual, and be in complete domain of themselves.  I truly understand now why Jesus went into the wilderness and fasted so that He could fully communicate with Himself, His master and His creation."

-author unknown

I Have a New Personal Challenge!

I'm gonna do it in increments because I've tried

the "all or none" approach in the past and failed. 

The White Powder has to go!

Uhm, No!  It's Sugar. 

Why?  Do you really have to ask?

1. It suppresses the immune system.

2.  It causes an inflammatory response.

3. It depletes energy.

4. It causes agitation.

5. It makes me restless.

6. My last glucose test was borderline.

For 146 more reasons, check out http://www.rheumatic.org/sugar.htm

But! White flour is another culprit

that causes the same issues.

This, indeed will be a challenge!

I am setting a goal!

Three days/no sugar or carbs

and one day (one meal only) allowance

(within reason, of course!).

I'm hoping if I don't do the cold-turkey thing

I won't have withdrawals as bad.

Gotta check those labels!!!

Re-Thinking the "Wouldn't Change a Thing" Thoughts

Often I have said "I wouldn't change a thing" about my past. I'd re-live every moment. Every moment of joy, pain, learning experience and lazy moments. These are, afterall, what made me who I am today and I'm fond of that woman. However, after reaching fifty this year and having experienced so much physical pain the last ten years or so ... moreso recently, I am re-visiting those thoughts.

The only thing I would do differently is take better care of myself. I'd make the time to take better care of myself. I'd use the knowledge I'd gained over the years relative to health. That said, I'm gonna try to make up for lost time.

Afterall, today is the first day of the rest of my life! Right?

I'm about to take a walk outside. The first in two years. The first since the right foot went south on me. The first since I began pain medication for my back. There is always a first. This is gonna be among many firsts to come. Today I also started an anti-inflammatory, low-carb eating style. Not gonna use the D word here!

My goals are not weight loss, per se. My goals are to minimize the medications my doctor predicts I will be taking along with the current Mobic and quarterly prednisone, not to mention his determination that neck surgery is in my near future. Anti-inflammatories are a daily companion now. Being kind to myself and resting my back and legs are paramount to enjoying life these days. Surely the anticipated side effect of weight loss will help that a little. But there's not a lot to do about herniated discs w/spinal cord involvment, nerve pain from B12 Pernicious anemia and it's fatigue, not to mention Iron Deficient anemia as well. And, of course, there is the hypothyroid and hiatal hernia and gallbladder issues that tag along.

I can't imagine eliminating sugar, processed foods, simple carbs and the other inflammatory foods (peppers, onions, potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant) aren't gonna help with some of this.

I still have a lot of life to live and a lot of love to give. I'll soon be chasing my granbaby girl as she toddles around. I'm enjoying my art business and all the friends and venues involved. I love family, my home and my garden and want to enjoy caring for all of these things without the dreaded pain.

Crossing my fingers and praying and breathing one day at a time! It's time to take a more active role in enabling my body to work at peak performance so I can continue taking life as it comes!