Nutrition and Health Information

1. Back to Basics: Gut Health Definitions

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Lentil Potato Loaf

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I am thankful for having the honor of growing up in a loving, Christian home...and a especially an Adventist home.  So, if you grew up in the Adventist circle, you know all about the infamous "Special K Loaf"...or sometimes known as cottage cheese loaf.  It's a favorite in potlucks for sure!  Amazingly, there are so many versions of recipes out there for this popular cottage cheese dish. In addition, depending on who's version or conglomeration of versions you use, the saturated fat content can be astronomical.  However, I am a believer in moderation, so it definitely doesn't hurt to have it once in a while.   I was determined to make a spin-off version of this wonderful dish with maintaining flavor, but decreasing the saturated fat content.  The outcome is a lentil potato loaf. I have been working on this recipe for a couple weeks and I was able to fine tune it by the time Bible Study was at my house last Tuesday.  I made it for the gals and w...
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Lower Your Stress by Ditching the Diet Mentality

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Stress is a viable culprit proven to affect gut health. In order to live BETTER, one must manage their stress levels.  It would be nice if we can get rid of stress, but especially as we're living through these unprecedented times, it's not easy to avoid stress all together. What's one aspect we can manage?  Well, let's look at the word diet.  People use the word diet when they want to lose weight or they have a medical condition and in order to control their medical condition, they say they are on a diet. For me, the word diet has connotations such as "you can't have this" or "you can't have that" when it comes to food. This places any individual in a position of restriction or restraint.  Our immediate human reaction to restrictions is that something is controlling us and we don't like it. The thought of deprivation results in wanting even more of that one thing we can't have.  These feelings of restraints results in unconscious...
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Zonulin: GI Friend or Foe?

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Zonulin is an inflammatory protein that was discovered by Alessio Fasano and his colleagues in 2000. This protein regulates the permeability of the gut lining. Friend:  When pathogenic bacteria is present, zonulin is triggered and performs its part in protecting us by temporarily opening up or loosening up the tight junctions of the gut lining to release the bugs through diarrhea, helping us get rid of the bacteria. After the pathogenic bacteria exits the body, zonulin levels decrease and the tight junctions return to closure. Foe: No one is able to digest gluten. Six percent of the global population are gluten sensitive (not the same as allergies or intolerances). This is separate from those who have celiac disease. For the six percent who are gluten sensitive, gluten is a stronger trigger for zonulin. The result is higher than normal levels of zonulin for these individuals. With higher levels of zonulin, tight junctions remain permeable allowing toxins, undigested food, etc....
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