DYK: Natural MSG

Did you know there is a natural way to enhance the flavor of your food?  You probably heard of MSG or monosodium glutamate...the bad toxic stuff.  Well there is a seaweed that is called kombu that contains glutamic acid which is a natural flavor enhancer and food tenderizer.  Kombu is a type of seaweed that is rich in many minerals and has many medicinal benefits.  (Check with your doctor if kombu is right for your if you have any chronic conditions: especially thyroid disorders.)  

To use kombu simply add a small strip to soups, stewed vegetables, or grains as they cook.  I love to add it to dried beans when cooking to tenderize them.  When your dish is complete, simply remove the seaweed strip before serving, just like a bay leaf. 

Kombu is sold in many varieties:  dry strips, very fine strands, powdery form, and root.  I use the dry strips.  You can order them online or find them at your local natural/Asian store.  Store covered, in a cool, dark place. 

Go ahead, give it a try and your taste buds will thank you!!

DYK: Table Salt Facts

Let's talk about salt..that's right the most simple, yet irreplaceable ingredients in the kitchen.  Salt is considered to be a life-sustaining ingredient for human kind.  The health benefits of good quality salt is incalculable.  But did you know the salt in your pantry might contain other ingredients in addition to salt?  I picked up a "Double Refined Iodized Salt" and looked at the ingredient statement, only to discover this list:  Salt, Sodium Silicoaluminate, Dextrose, Potassium Iodide 0.006%, and Sodium Bicarbonate.  You are more than welcome to google the extra ingredients...  Now let us compare this ingredient statement with a high-quality salt ingredient statement.

So, what do you look for in a top-quality salt?  The key thing to look in a quality salt is that it is unrefined and that it contains only one ingredient:  salt.  A good quality salt will often have a black, gray, or pink tint to it because of its natural mineral trace. 

One of my favorite unrefined sea salts is made by Redmond RealSalt which could be ordered online or purchased at your local co-op, health food store, or even local grocery store that sells baking goods by the pound.  I hope this DYK post will encourage you to look at the ingredient statement of your salt.  I encourage you to swap out your highly processed and chemically altered salt for some high-quality unrefined salt and I assure you your body will thank you along with our taste buds!!

DYK: So you love COFFEE...

Are you one of those people who cannot survive a day without coffee? Or simply enjoy a cup or two on a weekend? Did you know you can make your coffee a bit healthier by adding three simple ingredients?!? Coffee is a diuretic therefore it has a depleting effects on your adrenal and nervous system. To counter act the depleting effects simply add a pinch of ground ginger and cardamom. Both spices can be found in the spice section of your grocery store. Coffee's acidity is hurtful to your gut. A pinch of salt can minimize the ill effect.

Simply add the three ingredients to your fresh cup of coffee or add it to the ground beans right before brewing! Give it a try and see for yourself...the best thing, you will not be able to tell the difference in the taste but your body will thank you. Wishing you a steamy cup of great coffee with a loved one!!



Resources:  "The New Whole Foods encyclopedia" R.Wood  &  "Foods that Harm Foods that Heal"   Reader's Digest