"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

The movie they had to see. Everyone did. And so a lesson was born. In much the same way as today's blockbusters, that movie was billed as something incredibly special, too. As with today's  "Star Wars'  sequel, the movie hype, in 1990, was above and beyond what any child could bear. But this time, “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” would have to wait. 

 

It was the beginning of 'hype', that word that labeled the excitement of an upcoming movie, concert or book release which stirred a person beyond human endurance. The entertainment industry knew what to do to generate the buzz that would create the buying frenzy, at the box-office. When the Beatles came to town, in New York City, on the Ed Sullivan Show, in the sixties, there was a raw excitement that does not compare to what happens today. I was a teen, then. Today, however, we have Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, constant reminders of the immediacy of absolutely everything and the folly of memories. 

Back in the 90's, television, radio and word of mouth dispensed everything we needed to know when someone or something special was about to arrive soon. There was no smartphone. The media storm, then, was not what it is today: unrelenting, unforgiving and costly. But our boys still had to wait. ...The Ninja movie would be seen, certainly, but in a way that reflected our family's values and financial futures. There were other considerations, too. Giving in to temptation every time it manifests itself in the form of a new entertainment phenomenon would never build financial security. It was determined that the cost of viewing the movie once, for our three sons, plus one parent, in attendance, would more than pay for the privilege of owning a copy of it, forever. Our sons would wait till the movie's release on VHS format for home viewing. They could then watch it as often as desired. The conspiracy of 'opening night' at the movies did not influence our values, life plan or buying decisions. 

And so it happened. The movie came out. Its glorious production, once viewed, was simply another enjoyable movie that you forgot as soon as it was over. Our sons watched it at least 6 times within a 24 hour period. After a brief period of 'abstinence,' they watched it again and again, several days later. This two-dimensional movie experience had never happened before. Our youngest, at 7, had always been entranced by any movie's special effects', production, action, understandably. He was in nirvana. 'Paul' is now a movie producer/director/script-writer /post-production-talent /musician/special-effects- genius. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was not the blockbuster hit the producers had hoped for. And yet, the hard-earned, after tax, money we might have spent on it would have been wasted, gone forever, for a movie that did not pull at the heart strings. At least we owned a copy of history. Times were tougher, back then, for us. Our budget had its limits. The movie was never watched again. The thrill was gone. Movies are generally, short-lived two-dimensional experiences made worse by the continuous supply of productions, sometimes poorly made, directed or acted, but eagerly anticipated by the younger members of the viewing audience. ... Traveling is money better spent as the experience is a three-dimensional 'novel' event that is felt, long term. We become one with the multi-sensory experience. Watching a movie is not always what we hope for. There are no returns. (Going to the movies is a cheap date night, however, compared to other forms of entertainment.)

For their patience, in waiting, and wisdom, in knowing, our sons began to fully comprehend the scope of a movie's media hype, weeks ahead of its release. There would be other things they wanted in life, things they were not aware of now and could not be aware of till they were much older. Being aware of entertainment's marketing ploy and intentions taught our sons valuable lessons about their own financial futures. A few years later, dropping them off at our local theater to see "Judge Dredd" starring Sylvester Stallone had been the day's plan. Thinking our oldest son, at age 14, was old enough to be the 'adult' stand-in for his younger brothers, 13 and 11, I attempted to leave. Hearing a thunderous applause on the windows of the theater, I turned to see to three desperate little boys seeking to end their predicament. I would not be leaving anytime soon, I soon realized. ... I had been summoned, as the critical 4th element, for their admission into the theater. Alas, two hours of my afternoon was now a forced 'time-out'. As the trio sat there, revelling in the action and special effects of their action hero, Sylvester Stallone, I sat there knowing something special was happening. Their excitement was palpable. I had to do what I had to do that day, many years ago. They appreciated mom's 2-hour theater sacrifice for "Judge Dredd".  Another lesson learned. Be generous of heart, whenever possible.

It has been 25 years since “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's” premiered. “The Planet of the Apes”, “Jurassic Park”, “James Bond” and “Star Wars”, other ongoing epic franchises, have lured us to the big screen, on their releases, each and every time. Now much older and much wiser, our sons make their movie selections with an awareness and clarity not present when they were much younger. Today's hot blockbuster, now, is the next installment in the Star Wars franchise. We are definitely going.

Every so often, it 'pays' to give our children valuable lessons in the operation and code of the entertainment industry's marketing machine. The motion picture industry never quits. And why should it? It's its duty to entertains us while thinking up countless ways for the audience to 'buy' into the after-market money-making phenomenon, too, till the next blockbuster hit. The day will come, however, when our working lives stop and if we have not been financially prudent, along the way, we may find ourselves watching endless reruns on television. We can't have that.

Bone Broth's Allure

The world as I see it. ... Well-positioned companies, individuals. ... determining our fate. But our health is both our fate and primary responsibility. Bone broth, anyone? A new fad or a twist on a 'vintage' name has entered the food chain emporium. Bone broth is its name, a healthy alternative to other forms of health strategies we have come to know and love. 

In my childhood, bone broth was simply homemade broth, nothing special, nothing grand, made by mom. Today it is touted as the elixir of life, sometimes requiring up to 24-48 hours of cooking time, using a slow cooker, to gently simmer. Really? It doesn't take days to cook. Momsey should know. She makes bone broth often. And yes, bone broth is a magical potion but making it is no mystery. It requires time and effort.

We should consume this 'special' broth daily for its incredible health benefits. ... It is still called soup whatever the disguise! (“A rose by any other name is still a rose”.) ... Homemade soup is soup made at home, whether it is chicken soup, clear broth, beef barley soup or today's bone broth. Once upon a time, soup bones were no big deal. ... No one gave them a second thought. ... They were the least thought of ingredients derived from meat, given away or sold very cheaply in the meat dept. of the grocery store. (Raw beef bones were given to our retrievers to chew on, with appropriate supervision. The thick walled bones were the 'prime real estate', choice cuts of all the bones and our dogs loved them. These chewables helped remove plaque from their teeth and keep gums healthy). 

No one back then talked about bones the way they are talked about today.  Once upon a time, moms would turn tough cuts of meat and soup bones into delicious homemade soup that would last all week. (Grocery shopping, then, was not the high-wire act it is today.) ... Soup was the main act of any meal, never a supporting cast member on the dinner menu. ...  It was not an appetizer. Soup was supper, not the prelude to supper. Funny how things change. Assign a new name to something that has been around for decades and suddenly, under this new 'given' name, a pedigree is established, a new star is born. This new product is now elevated to a previous unheard of health status and can now be placed in an untapped category for the taste buds of the  gullible buying public. A new potent food is born. Naturally, up goes the price, as high as the market will bear. We are that trusting, 'no questions asked' market, with a wallet attached.

Momsey would love to simply open up a can of soup: mushroom, chicken, pea or tomato, add water, then heat, without wondering if it is wise to do so. The advent of super additives, preservatives and a host of other flavour enhancers make guinea pigs of us all. We must scour labels to discover the dietary mysteries lurking inside the tin or package. Oh My! We are becoming novice food inspectors. Since the 70's, processed foods have become a mainstay in our lives. Commercially made soups are laden with salt, sugars, corn starchy things and other words I cannot pronounce. Why cook, if, once in a while, we can cheat and have it made for us. But then we wonder. Is it healthy, albeit, quick to eat? Sometimes our bodies become inflamed by a highly processed diet of over-cooked, salty, sweet, refined foods - if we do not cook. Bone broth or homemade soup can help in the healing of our bodies while redirecting our attention to the place, in the home, where health magic begins: the kitchen. ...

Time is the critical factor when slow cooking tough cuts of beef, learning a new skill or trade, or painting a room. It is no different when cooking that centuries-old favourite called soup. There is no substitution for real food made by time honoured traditions. A modern name given a 'heritage' product, brings about renewed interest, perhaps, but usually with a 'whatever the market will bear' price attached. So only a few stand to benefit. Let's stop the madness and realize, like Dorothy did, in “The Wizard of Oz”, that we possess the power, we seem to give to others, for our own health and wellbeing. We can do it. It requires effort, not talent. The internet is alive with ideas, recipes and everything in between for us to be healthy, wealthy and wise.

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Here is The Momsey's so-called 'bone broth' recipe known by a simpler, more recognizable name called homemade chicken soup, among the many soups, I adore. My soups are always works-in-progress. When I hear or read of something new, about an herb or spice, I put it in my soups. If the taste is odd, I eliminate or reduce the amount I use in my bone broths. Turmeric is #1 in my hit parade of spices. I sneak it in everything. It is commonly referred to as a super food, great for keeping plaque at bay in the brain. (The more turmeric added, the deeper the colour. For rice, I add small amount to make rice yellow, not orange. Yum, yum anyway it is done.)

TheMomsey's Chicken Soup:

In stock pot, brown chicken, all bones and marrow, too, on low-medium heat with onions, quartered with clove of garlic, cut in half. Salt and pepper. (I add diced celery and carrots later.) Bay leaves, dry rosemary leaves, a new addition, and dill stalk can be added here along with turmeric sprinkled on chicken. If I have parsnips, I add them too cut into chunks. (They provide a  delicious mellow chicken soupy flavour to the broth.) Add cold water to cover. Simmer on low heat for a couple hours. Using uncooked meat/bones creates stronger flavour in bone broth, I believe. (More fat and flavour in legs, necks and wings, too.) Strain contents from stock. (I line strainer with cheesecloth to remove all solid food particles from soup, leaving clear broth.) Then I begin the process of adding vegetables back into my homemade 'clear' soup. (Leave stock 'chunks' in lined strainer, in bowl, to drain further in a bowl.) Twist the cheesecloth containing solid material to squeeze out remaining liquid. Add liquid to pot. Remove chunks of meat from strainer and add to soup. Taste. Add salt,  teaspoon of apple cider vinegar? then another layer of onions, diced this time, then carrots, celery and bay leaves. Stir. (Cook rice or fine egg noodles separately. Under cook a bit as these add-ins will cook further when added into bowl of hot soup. Add a scoop of rice or noodles into bowl then add hot soup.) Add more dill in soup, if desired, and let contents simmer for 1 hour or so on lowest heat. ... Cool. Freeze some. Refrigerate remainder. ... Scientists have referred to chicken soup as having a profound medicinal effect on health. It is a 'filling, yummy medicine', too, I might add, the cheapest prescription, not found, in the medicine cabinet..

Coming soon: Genetically Modified Us?

The Brutality of It All!!

Abandoned, neglected, torn up, barely alive. These words painted sickening pictures worse than I could ever have imagined. So, I clicked. I had to see. Click after horrifying click led me to the visual proof of the  horrifying brutality inflicted upon pets, large or small, young or old. The internet was alive with the visceral proof of the cruelty of innocent creatures who were eventually led to their happy endings.

It was my first introduction to the 'postings' of animals in dire distress, well over a year ago. There was the video clip of a very old dog hoping for love, care and a home before he died. His intentions were clear to those who found him, barely alive, 'living' in his own waste, on the city streets. He was old, suffering from multiple scars, oozing pus, with eyes almost shut. He wanted love and a home before he died. For a few days he had what he had wished for. ...They laid him to rest in a special spot where this symbol of unconditional love would be close by. As I watched more of these quick snapshots of dogs, in hell, the tears rolled down. 

 

Tiggy, my loathe-to-be-held cat, approached me, while balancing herself on the window sill, next to my work station, extended her front paw to console me. She sensed something was amiss. But she understood. She had been one of them, long, long ago. I told her it was impossible to save them all, I know, but why did it have to happen, in the first place? Why, indeed.

As long as there are inequities in life, there will innocents who pay the price with their life, I knew. ... The video clips continued. There was the damaged pet carrier, on the side of the highway, that grabbed the attention of two bikers. ... The emaciated little black dog emerged from its coffin-like box, anxious to breathe, see sunlight and perhaps find food. The contents of its portable decomposing home, strewn about inside with the animal's own waste, was slowly becoming its tomb. No one had bothered to check this mysterious box until these two wonderful men stopped to look. No one had bothered to bother!! But here they were, these caring adult male curiosity seekers, suddenly taking an interest in something they had seen by the side of the road. ...

The little dog was free, at last, happy to be released from its solitary prison to find two someones who cared. There was no food, no water. This little dog's tiny emaciated frame, with protruding ribs, was a painful reminder of its history of abuse. He licked the hands of his rescuers, ever so grateful for the morsels of food  and water they gave him. They took the adult 'pup' home. A bath was given when it was discovered why the little guy had been stumbling, in such great pain, unable to walk, as dogs generally do. Its claws had grown unchecked and were now deeply embedded within its painful, swollen paws, another act of torture complete. (A jagged, misshapen opening, on the top of the 'pet carrier', told a horrific tale of its attempts to escape its coffin.) ... Off to the vet he went, his well being and safety now assured by these two caring men. ... The video continued, showing a remarkable recovery, several months later. He was now a happy little 'boy' with a new family. ... Then there was the abuse of a 'crippled' white dog found living in a garbage dump - his home. He'd managed to crawl there, perhaps, to escape the inhumanity of its life. His patchy skin devoid of fur in places, resplendent of lacerations, lesions, open sores with pus and blood oozing all about, was more than I could bear. He was gently escorted out of this horrible place of death, by those who found him, and months later, transformed into another beauty. I shed more happy tears. ...

With his foot aimed high towards his target the adult motioned the young child to move more quickly as the boy stepped out of the car. Unbeknownst to them, however, the breeder was watching this 'couple', fixated on the troubling event unfolding before her through the closed laced curtains on the front door window. She'd been standing there, anxiously awaiting this gentleman's arrival, she told us. He had phoned, desperate to buy a puppy. Selling the last of her litter was paramount, now, before she moved. But not today, she realized, in short order, after witnessing the sidewalk maltreatment of an innocent.  

 

As the man approached the house, the breeder opened the door, denying his request for a puppy, explaining why. ... If treating his own child with such contempt, in public, with unknown witnesses watching, was O.K., then what hope did a non-verbal, innocent, 'demanding' little perfect newborn puppy have behind closed doors, she thought? None at all! None at all!

The Momsey was never a 'cat person' until that fateful day, when I found our abandoned tiny kitten, with a barely discernible body temperature, dying, while screaming, by the side of the road. It was -25 degree celsius that early winter's morning, 12 years ago. ... It was barbarism on an unfathomable scale. ... (I have written about her, my special cat, the love in my life, many times.) Hers is an instructive life, full of incredible insights for me. ... How does anyone arrive at the cold-blooded decision to inflict pain and suffering on an innocent creature? Most condemned to death are, generally, those very young or very old or deemed an 'inconvenience'. Having written about our experiences in rescuing 2 dogs and one cat, I cannot fathom any decision that sanctions abandonment, abuse or torture. We took those abandoned animals into our hearts and home because to do otherwise was totally unconscionable. For a short time, we were homeless, too. Whatever our situation, abandoning our pets was never a solution. They were family, too!

Modern society is a high-tech bustling place, an unforgiving and indifferent one, at times, with schedules that defy reason. We walk, drive and live with distraction. It is a choice we make. Our personal devices rule us. In business, at the gym, in the home and on the street we walk without missing a beat of 'screen' time.

The internet and all of its tributaries are incredible tools of life that both help and hinder society. It is incomprehensible to me how any animal becomes a target for intentional abuse. What rules had he broken? None, of course. He was simply born. And what does that say about us?

Fat. Ozone Layer. Fluorocarbons. Sunscreens. Oh, My!

Decades ago, on a show hosted by Richard Simmons, I learned that fat-free foods contained 'forms' of sugar to replace the fat that was missing. I was surprised, not shocked, at the revelation. Those altered products were never in my kitchen, anyway. Recently, however, I began thinking about the obesity epidemic - in another way - our fear of fat and wondered how we had managed to arrive at this strange place where 'it' was suddenly the villain in our diet. ...

 

The baloney surrounding our fear of this malignancy called fat began to paint a more sinister picture for TheMomsey. Fat does not make us fat! It is our 'sugar' addiction,  now playing havoc with our weight and health, in addition to other events, that Momsey believes have brought us to this scary place. ... (It is rare that one cause leads to an absolute effect, anyway.) Sadly, fat's negative press has given prominence to its cousins we love, sugar and starches, to such a degree that we now find ourselves fighting a losing dietary battle, eating innocent looking foods bombarded with sneaky gluten and 'composite' sugars/starches we were never meant to consume - with every 'processed' mouthful!

Our bodies have been talking to us for decades, soon after the ozone layer began to separate. ... Hmm.  Fat is integral to health while adding flavour to foods. We have natural solid fats: lard, butter, coconut oil, avocado oil and other liquid fats from sources such as seeds/nuts, vegetable, avocado, sunflower. (Then there is margarine, too, a stand alone, oft used by a previous loving generation of moms.) Fat is found in eggs, meat and dairy, all of which have been vilified by those 'in the know' at some point or another, in the past. 

 

Fat is our ally, necessary for the absorption of A,D,K,& E, (found in fruits and vegetables) critical vitamins for health. (Trans-fat is bad. We've all known that and have felt its ruinous effects on our bodies for years.) In the 50's, T.V. dinners were the new kid on the block, a welcoming addition in a world dominated by mom's home cooking. Yum.Yum. Then the 70's seemed to bring on a flurry of new food additives to tease our novice palates, allowing these invisible 'ingredients' to assume their 'rightful' place in our gut! So we thought. (Our gut microbiome must be kept healthy if we are to survive.) ... 

 

We were compliant customers, back then. About the same time, the ozone layer began to lose its strength, because of fluorocarbons emanating from the industrial products of our age: old refrigerators, aerosol cans, to name a few, we were told. Invisible to us, but not to the earth, these fluorocarbons were destroying the atmosphere, setting us up for some serious stuff later, I slowly began to realize. (It all made so much sense to TheMomsey.) The shrinking ozone layer, (now in recovery) this protective shield around the earth, this special filter, was separating, allowing the intense, harmful rays of the almighty sun into our lives and onto our skin, in seriously provocative ways. 

 

We had to fight back and so we did. We turned to chemical or mineral sunscreens, to protect our vulnerable skin, while being careful to use the right 'number' for protection against the UVA and UVB rays of this majestic star called the sun. We were becoming students of science, in our attempt, to understand the sunscreen numbers, their meanings and the sun itself in order to protect ourselves from skin cancer. Commercials reminded us continually of our duty to 'cover-up'. So we lathered up before going outside. I remember the times. (Cancer rates were skyrocketing, becoming an alarming statistic.) I listened and took note. Be very careful, we were cautioned. Our boys were toddlers, then, so protecting them from the noon-day sun was uppermost in my mind. (I preferred to use light clothing, hats for their protection. The other stuff, I was never certain of.) 

Sunscreens helped to shield us from the sun, the star of life on this planet. ... There were chemical, physical and mineral sunscreens from which to choose. As we covered our skin were we, unwittingly, creating a new health threat, a new-age Pandora's box? Could some sunscreens accelerate cancer growth on our skin while making it impossible for the sun's rays to reach the oil in our largest organ, the skin, for the synthesis of D, the protector of our health? This special vitamin, a hormone in disguise, began to take a serious hit.

As a child, the focus was always on homemade foods, real foods in their 'original' package, raw or cooked with minimal processing. Playing outside was automatic. Homemade food and outside play were links in the health chain. The ozone layer was doing fine now. The dining out experience was not the overwhelming attraction it is today. We knew who was cooking our food and what was in it, too. Eating was delicious and always about health. Fat was used without trepidation. Without fat, vitamins A, D, K, E cannot be absorbed by the body. But wait. Vitamin D is considered by many to be a hormone, not a vitamin, I learned recently. Imagine that! It has now been upgraded to hormone status, ruler over our total health. Not only had we ignored our gut microbiome for decades, but inadvertently, vitamin D, as well, the builder of our life-saving immunity. Slowly, we began to gain. 

Throughout the past two decades, we focused on the environment, rightfully so, but totally unaware of the harm coming our way, in another direction, with the depletion of life-sustaining vitamin D. Too much sun was bad. Staying indoors seemed good. Our bodies were becoming these canvases of layers of man-made ointments called sunscreens, rarely removed. We began to substitute fat-free, low-fat, and light products for fat, the all-purpose 'villain' in our foods, in our quest to lose weight and gain health. (Mother Nature's impact on our health was slowly losing its grip.) ... Following this misdirected fat-fearing ideology, our arsenal of health stabilizers, - Vitamins A, D, K, and E - was now at risk, their collective, wondrous health benefits slowly being depleted. Oh, My! What were we doing?

The thyroid gland needs Vitamins A and D to function and make its hormones. Since we were covering up with sunscreens and staying indoors to avoid the sun and avoiding fat, in general, the thyroid gland, the supreme ruler of all things metabolic, the master gland of our body, began to suffer deleteriously. Our immunity was now being placed in jeopardy, unknowingly. Oh, My. Vitamin D, the hormone and its assistants, A, K, & E could not perform their basic duties. Our ability to fend off allergens/proteins, found in wheat flour, nuts, milk and eggs, began to diminish. A chronic malaise seemed to take hold. Then came vaccines to replace our body's innate duty and ability to protect us. 

We protected our skin from the ever increasing hole in the ozone layer, created by the fluorocarbons of old appliances built a certain way. ... Our vitamin D stores were low because we stayed indoors where the newest craze - video games - grabbed our attention and held it there, hour after hour. Food choices were poor. We were ignoring the produce aisle. Some of us rarely went outdoors unless we owned a dog which forced us off the couch daily and repeatedly. The incredible internet was here, giving us the world at our doorstep - inside. 

 

While we were busy fixing the 'problems' we helped to create, complicating our diet in the process, we decided to blame fat for it all. Fat keeps us lean, healthy and plugged into real foods. The ozone layer, fluorocarbons, fat, the sun and sunscreens. It all makes sense to TheMomsey. Weird, eh.

Crisis Thinking

It was the middle of the night when I was jostled out of a deep sleep. (I was a teen, then, living at home). The smell of something burning reawakened my senses to a reality that was simply not right. What was that toxic odor? The odor was not a familiar one. It was 2:00 a.m. No one should have been 'cooking', at that hour, anyway. Of that I was certain. 

The acrid smell was more terrifying than I could have imagined as I opened my upstairs bedroom door to be greeted by an dense cloud of smoke on the other side. I ran downstairs to see what was happening. Was my family o.k.? As I approached the living room, the offending 'fire pit' was on its way outside, having been dislodged from its location, in the living room, by my very tall, younger brother. A monumental tragedy had been averted. The upholstered sofa continued its smoldering journey outside. No one was hurt yet no one had thought to call the fire department. A lighted cigarette had fallen onto the sofa where it had burned a hole, deep inside and began to gather uncontrollable energy for its unleashing. My dad had fallen asleep after having worked the night shift for the railroad. What could have happened, did not.  His own attempts at putting out the smoldering fire had failed. Inside the soft underbelly of the sofa, the fire raged until my younger brother's quick thinking brought it all to a close, outside. 

It was decades later when fire came calling again. This time I was a big girl, a wife, pet owner, mother of 3 and a home owner with a EPA fireplace needing its ashes removed. (I had done this for years and knew the drill by heart.) We had been heating our house for 20 years using firewood. It was vastly cheaper then heating with electricity. The cost savings were monumental. Living better electrically as the saying goes had no meaning in the 21^st century. The chimney always received its yearly, seasonal cleaning and monitoring, for signs of wear, tear and parts replacement, as required. The company we used were pros and safety was their mantra. On this particular Saturday, and later than normal, I collected the 'cold' ashes from the fireplace, but spilled them during transport, to the outside bin. With dustpan in-hand, I began the cleanup. With a slight film of ash still remaining on the mat outside the door to the garage, I began to vacuum the tiny particles of fine debris that lay deep inside the mat. Within seconds, dense smoke filled the room where the vacuum had been plugged. A live particle of ash had ignited a fire deep within the vacuum cleaner, resulting in smoke enveloping the adjacent room. Would the rest of the house be next? I unplugged the vacuum quickly and tossed it outdoors. (All animals were safe, outside.) The smoke was confined to the one room, with all windows and doors opened for fresh air. The smoke alarms went off, doing due diligence, as they were expected to do. Though the alarm company called, the fire department was not needed. The 'volunteer' rural fire car arrived anyway. People do panic in circumstances such as this, I knew. These professionals simply wanted to check. I was always so careful but not careful enough that morning. Quick thinking had averted a worst case scenario. 

On the same day, miles away, on a well travelled secondary road, our youngest son was dealing with his own crisis. While driving home from an appointment, he'd heard a rattling sound coming from inside/outside the car. Not much on taking chances, he spoke with his oldest brother, by phone, relaying his concerns about the unusual noise emanating from within the metal structure of the Volvo wagon. He pulled over to the side to examine the car, front to back, but saw nothing. He walked around again, just to be sure. Still nothing. Keeping to the side streets, as his brother had suggested, where speed limits were lower, our son continued on his way. It would be safer that way until our mechanic could solve the mystery. As he approached the intersection, the 'volcano erupted' from the front of the car, sending the front driver's wheel, with its accompanying nuts and bolts, cascading up into the air like a well-rehearsed ballet of falling debris. The action movie came to a halt, moments later, as all four lanes of traffic stopped to watch the catastrophic event unfolding before them. What could they do? It ended as quickly as it had begun, a bizarre roadside event. The car was driven to the curbside, a few feet way, where the shock of what had just happened was immediately on public view: a three wheel mangled machine, with no one hurt.  Traffic resumed and life returned to the intersection, once again.

At the body shop, later that day, we saw the entangled, peeled back remains of the driver's front end, a reminder of a tin of sardines that had been peeled back, most of the way. People could have died that day. ... A simple mistake in basic tire service, at a well respected garage, had caused the near disastrous event that could have taken lives. Adhering to a strict code of 'preparation' at home and on the road, while taking nothing for granted, aids in optimizing positive outcomes during emergencies, large and small. ... Being emotional never helps. ... Thinking quickly and rationally always does.

Coming soon: The ozone layer,  fluorocarbons, sunscreens and 'villainous' fat!

Being Aware and Careful, While Paying Attention

As I waited for the commercial to finish, I thought, when does it end? Our seeming relentless need to upgrade, in a moment's notice, is a frightening scenario. Where is the money coming from? When does need supersede want? When does it stop, even momentarily? There is no money tree out back. 

We are inundated with the 'cry to buy'. The incessant need to upgrade to appease ourselves while the manufacturer and retailer laugh all the way to their respective bottom lines makes fools of us all. This forever-dance called shopping will be our undoing. With part-time jobs the new reality for many of us - wanting full-time work - when do we start saving for that house of the future, for that investment, when work is done and our bodies are slowing down? What is the plan? ...

Our personal devices are getting smaller and more compact, with more design features than we could have ever imagined in a lifetime. We live in an incredible high-tech world, unlike anything that has ever existed, enabling us to wear our personal devices, with their ensuing histories, wherever we go. Our high-tech wrist watches, a mini-computer incognito, is our on-the-spot library tool. Is it an invitation to a steady diet of EMFs, identity theft or a serious threat to safety? This clothing accessory, in plain view, comes with a 'hazardous label' attached. Where are we going with all of this? When will small be small enough, cute enough? What is the daily cost to health?

The overuse of certain fingers, on one hand, can be associated with the age-old ligament problem called carpal tunnel syndrome. With the continual use of certain fingers and the constant downward motion of our neck, are we advancing towards a new and crude form of ligament degeneration/arthritis, later on? These incredible portable devices are central to the functioning of our personal and business lives. It is fact. What is next? Is our vision also being affected as we continually view tiny script on these futuristic message boards? And are we forgetting those yearly eye exams or are those tests only for 'old' people? Are we stressing our bodies more and aging differently even though the calendar says we are not there yet?

Listening to music has changed into a solitary moment that never seems to end, wherever we go! ... Once upon a time, ear phones were monstrous hearing apparatus, attached to our heads. These amplifiers of sound were on our ears, not in them. Are we now exposing ourselves and our developing children to a new health risk of the future: hearing loss? Does a momentary lapse of volume control, in a cute little ear piece, done repeatedly, over time, harm our sense of hearing, sooner? In advancing old age, hearing loss is expected. Is this 'weakness' now being hastened? Does being momentarily distracted while wearing these tiny hearing gadgets pose a threat to our safety, too? Being unaware of the environment, as we walk to the store, listening to our music, can pose a danger to life. We have heard countless stories, in the news, of people being distracted with terrible consequences the result. (We are unaware of our environment because our personal devices are distracting us.)

Momsey used to live in a time where the black landline telephone was the only way to reach out and touch someone. Leaving a message did not exist, either. Now, we can reach out to the world, in an instant, as we carry our gadgets with us. We are all on-the-spot photographers, videographers and film directors. There seems to be no mechanism to shut off our incessant need to access information or connect to real or imaginary people. ... Distraction seems to be our newest troubling trait. ... Are our children and grandchildren now the recipients of a new generation of distracted caregivers? Will one-on-one ever be the same? While visiting the food building at the Toronto CNE, (Canadian National Exhibition) this past summer, my husband and I were seated next to a family of four who had just sat down to have lunch. Suddenly, each member of the family began using their personal devices. Who were they calling? What appointment had they missed? Why were they here if they were not plugged into each other? Where are we going with this? 

The other day, my editor, the 24-year-old-dynamo called Lucy, remarked that we are devolving as a society. I listened, saddened by her youthful commentary, wondering. Is she right? We are ever so connected, yet socially isolated, all at the same time. How can that be? We are inundated with all manner of products to buy as we watch the small screen, or the motion picture extravaganza on the big screen. We hold our cell phones, tightly, while engaging in conversation, ever so mindful that someone might be calling. Could it be the president, a CEO or Steven Spielberg? Are we losing the ability to write? Handwriting and the postal system are becoming relics of a bygone era. Has looking into the eyes of a co-worker, loved one or the family pet been replaced by simply 'talking' to them on the small screen. It is disconcerting. Maybe, Lucy was right.

Sourdough, Rice and Pasta: New Frontiers

Sourdough and day-old white rice. Are these foods now modern day contemporaries in today's kitchen? Since the series on starches, grains and fermentation began, I am forever changed. Sourdough, the 'health' bread in our lives, along with rice and pasta, too, have become dietary allies. ... What was O.K., is no longer. What wasn't healthy, now seems to be. ... Life can be so strange, at times.

Gluten is our modern day nemesis, I slowly began to realize while researching fermentation, starches, and the modern loaf of bread. But it did not start out that way, however. ... Gluten has been a part of the bread making  process from the beginning and was treated with respect, back in the day. Today, in the guise of bread, buns or doughnuts, gluten's presence can now be 'sharply' felt - if shown no respect. The gut - not the mouth - seems to be the place where our health begins. 

 

While industry justification can be made for gluten's inclusion in some so-called 'healthy' multi-grain breads for that soft light feathery crumb texture, the rise in gluten intolerance and celiac disease should have brought about gluten's removal as 'an extra in the movie called bread', long, long ago. ... Is anyone listening, anymore?

It would seem that modern agricultural, with its companion milling, processing and baking methods have put us here. But wait. A look inside the eye of the storm would also show us that gluten lies deep within the belly of many other products, born without it, yet somehow needing its help, along the way. Why are wheat flour, corn syrup solids and other modified starches found in sausages, deli meats, tomato sauces, salsas, alongside the worst of them all: glucose-fructose? Why? There is no sanity to adding gluten into food. Is its purpose to aid and abet the bread in its appeal to us, the trusting, naive consumer? But gluten's adverse health effects are widely known by now. Oh-My.

In the making of bread, time is a critical element, for flavour and texture, of course, but most of all - for health. Time's significance seems to have been seriously misjudged and overlooked. Its mission  helps to alter gluten's deleterious effect on us as the dough is allowed to rise, proof before baking. ... The industrial machine responsible for bringing bread to the marketplace is trimming time and employee shifts, speeding up the proofing/baking process while adding a host of additives to mask the deficiencies of this modern bread. 

 

Reformulating recipes to get baked products to market, quickly, seems to be the name of this sinister marketing game. ... Since 2500 B.C., an ancient bread called sourdough has been available. Until now, I was not aware of its significance to health. Could this baked product be the truth we've been looking for? Never has sourdough meant so much, it seems to me. When bread was made properly, there was no gluten intolerance. Now fast tracking its creation has called into question the viability of this centuries old baked food called bread. Yes, bread is real food. 

Sourdough is the bread with a tale to tell, the unvarnished truth in the story about starches and fermented foods. ... (Our middle son loved it - decades - ago when I began buying it on occasion. Did he know something I did not, back then?) ... What sourdough bread has is a healthy reputation brought about by a mixture of small amounts of flour, water and yeast - called a poolish, a biga or starter - being left at room temperature for hours, perhaps days, to start the process of leavening or fermenting and the addition of more flour that leads to sourdough bread, the greatest taste thrill ever. Though sourdough is generally a more costlier bread in the bakery, its health rewards are well worth it. The gluten strands in it slowly break down into their basic component parts called amino acids, during its proofing and rising stages of development and while in the oven, too. These digestible strands are now compatible to our digestive system rendering sourdough bread suitable for gluten free diets, I discovered. Who knew? 

 

Our bodies are trying to tell us something when they struggle to function. When bread making processes are greatly shortened, we all suffer the consequences of this miscue even of we are unaware. The internal delicious world of bread needs time to work its magic and become the star it is meant to be, without all the preservatives and the drastically shortened time in which it is created. Then we have day old rice, another remarkable ally in our diets. 

 

Rice that is 12 hours 'old' then reheated has incredible amounts of resistant starch helping us to maintain  health and a healthy weight while aiding in fat burning, too. The list of rice benefits is endless. The body absorbs less starch, hence fewer calories. Bananas are like that - starch resistant - as they help to control hunger, too. All of this means fewer calories, not absorbed. Who knew? The same theory applies to day old cooked pasta. Starch absorption is reduced by 60%. Wow! What an revolutionary idea! So cooking the pasta or rice in the morning for dinner, makes so much sense. Decades ago, I learned to love 'frying' leftover pasta, in a bit of oil, on low heat till 'done'. It was my favourite meal of all! 

The lesson in bread-making is simply a matter of time, waiting for things to develop and evolve. Has sourdough's magical, methodical and mystical brew with its resultant health benefits been grossly misunderstood? ... (Momsey now knows!!)  Then we have rice and pasta, whose case for exclusion in our diets have been widely known and accepted. We can have all three. The beneficial properties of rice, pasta and sourdough have been there from the beginning but in our haste to eat quickly and without thought, we have come to this rocky road of health. We must learn to slow down where it matters - in the kitchen. Take time. Be patient. Health will be ours to inherit. 

I began a solitary journey, months ago, when Lucy, my  24 year-old editor, said she was making sauerkraut with a schedule that defies the imagination. ... The floodgates to discovery were opened. It would seem to me that years ago we were eating gluten free. We simply did not know it, at the time. Then the recipes changed slowly and without much consumer consultation. With Thanksgiving coming soon, Momsey will be using sourdough bread as the basis of stuffing. I will be replacing  breadcrumbs I have used with  a new and improved homemade variety using sourdough. The news is great. ...

We have come full circle. Gluten-free, day-old rice or leftover pasta never tasted so good or felt so yummy. Our bodies were right all along. Maybe, just maybe, we can have it all. It just has to happen at  home, in the kitchen,  at the right time, with a bit of thought and beginning on Monday. Oh so yum.

Our Cat, The Specialist

She faced imminent death - one year ago. At 4 pounds and losing, our then 11-year-old kitty cat was being held hostage by the scourge of all cat afflictions: hyperthyroidism. We were preparing to lose her, at any moment. We had done everything humanly possible to save her. Then yogurt was suggested and overnight, our lives changed.

Hyperthyroidism had become the commander-in-chief of our cat's life. By the spring of 2014, however, it began its virulent descent, into her body, with a vengeance. Her interest in eating the canned version of her life-saving food, - Y.D. Thyroid Care -10 years in development, began to seriously wane. This special diet - in both dry and canned forms - had kept her swinging since her diagnosis, two years earlier. But suddenly, she stopped eating the canned form of her special food. She could no longer tolerate it. ... “Thanks, mom, but I am sick of this Y.D. food. I need a change”, she seemed to say throughout this period. (Thankfully, she ate the dry version of her special diet, but only at night, helping to assuage her malfunctioning thyroid, along with frequent changes of water.) My anxiety level rose. (I loved her so, my 'just a cat'!) ... There were no other food alternatives, only foods containing the dreaded iodine, the element that was methodically destroying her thyroid and killing her.

Throughout his medical crisis, I worried about our cat's brain, heart, lungs, liver and kidney. This diet rocky road could not be a cushioning fit for these critical organs, in a body with an out-of-control  thyroid gland, the supreme ruler and command central of her metabolic life. ... She was rebelling against the medical establishment in favour of real food like tuna, seafood and other protein dinners with egg and green vegetables, these timeless healthy food choices, high in iodine, yet, her enemy! She ate raw meat but for only a few days. She was the boss, in charge of her day time eating ritual. Oh, my! Ignoring her wishes would let her starve. We knew. She wanted what she wanted when she wanted it. We understood and had to obey, the doctor and I soon realized. If this was a death sentence, she was the executioner. And so we waited. The truth of her decisions, however, began to tell another story she had not imagined. She threw up continually as her body rejected these personal primal food choices. Would she smarten up and eat the right food before she wasted away to nothing and died? I worried, silently. Though she was fragile and getting weaker, she still managed to groom herself and purr whenever I entered her '5-star hotel' room. Five months of weekly food changes were slowly coming to an end, however. The summer was drawing to a close, too, as was the time we had together. After 30 dinner selections within a 5 brand range had been offered, I was running out of healthy high protein diet options - not patience. The food choice drought was here. An 'ally' in our dietary dilemma throughout, however, seemed to be her vomiting, that involuntary mechanism that told her the food she was eating was too rich, too high in iodine, absolutely wrong and the reason for her 'sickness'. Within hours or days, she would realize she'd made a bad decision. She simply vomited. ... Oh My! I would return, regularly, to Global Pets, hoping for a miracle food that would end her suffering and my search for the perfect food. Eventually, we hit on a winner, a chicken pot-pie recipe to delight her taste buds, over and over again. “I think you got it, mommy.” she replied, one day. This is the one.” ... (She loved it for over a year.)

It was early September, 2014, when the owner of our local Global Pet store suggested yogurt as a panacea for her digestive problems. Her litter box was always full but she was losing weight. (The food was passing through her, not staying long enough to become her.) Then her health picture began to change dramatically as kitty began to eat the high fat, high protein Greek yogurt. Every morning she received a small serving of this miracle fermented dairy. (The miracle of probiotics, the delicate gut balance of bacteria that aids in overall health had come into play.) Finally, the poker game we had been playing most of the year was done. It was a now new day. She began to gain weight, ounce by precious ounce. Reading her mind for the past year had become a daunting exercise for me. Now everything seemed to make sense, according to our cat, the veterinarian specialist. She loved the yogurt and the chicken pot pie and, miraculously, her relenting vomiting ceased.

It is now Sept. 2015. Our kitty is telling us yet another story, the best one to date. She was now getting tired of the Gammie's Chicken Pot-Pie. “Mom, I think I should go back to what I was eating last year, to the Y.D. canned food. Remember that, mom? I hated it then, but I was also sick with a serious bladder infection and now I think I need to go back to it.” she seemed to say. Soon after her morning meal of Greek yogurt, last year, her weight of 4 pounds began to climb, reaching an incredible 8 pounds 5 ounces, by Christmas and remaining steady, thereafter. ... It was the miracle we had been praying for. ... Last year, her constant vomiting had told her to make the necessary dietary changes. (Animals know stuff, too!) Now, she was telling me a new truth: “Mom, I feel funny deep inside. Maybe, I have been eating the pot-pie long enough. Something is not right here,” she was thinking. A new set of tests revealed never before, very high, outside the reference range, enzyme levels of her thyroid and liver. We were saddened by the news. The next day, I re-acquainted her with the canned Y.D she'd despised since last year. Our food choices were gone. The time had come for a return to the good 'ole days when she ate her special diet full time. She now accepted. Her doctor was thrilled. I was ecstatic. We had come full circle. Had these new dietary changes – a return to the original – come too late for it to matter much, anymore? Time would tell. ...

In three weeks, a blood sample would be taken. (Had eating Y.D., full time, during this period, now, have a measurable effect on her thyroid and liver enzymes, the focus of her newest life game?) ... I reacted to call display, four days later. It was the clinic calling. The verdict was in! The doctor's tone seemed to tell a happy tale, though. ... Kitty's numbers were down significantly, still outside the reference ranges of the thyroid and liver enzymes, of course, (they always had been) but much lower than they were several weeks ago. Kitty was always trending in her own way. A remarkable step, a remarkable transformation. ... She was now eating Y.D full time and enjoying it, too. 

From the beginning, we had done our best to reflect what kitty wanted and expected. I watched her reactions to the varied food selections, knowing they were wrong. But she was in charge, not us! Rarely did she eat any one dinner for more than 4 days in a row - but at least she was eating. The alternative was starvation and certain death! Her body had been telling her mind what to do, from the beginning. I would observe, interpret what she was doing with her food, record my findings, then act on this new information. I kept precise records. Labels from rejected food were also kept to remind me not to go there again. New foods were introduced, whenever she rejected what she had been eating. She was in charge, after all.  Where this would all lead was a medical mystery.

(Fresh water and a single layer of dry food were critical. Cats, I learned, detest their own saliva, therefore, there must be no 'touching'.) ...Time was of the essence. I had to find the 'key' to her dietary dilemma. Every conceivable treatment protocol from oral to topical medication had been tried, then quickly dismissed. They were killing her and they were costly. She could die a natural death or hasten it with conventional drugs. The wisdom of life rested with her.  She was the specialist. We had to trust her. She was in charge of her case.  Only she knew what was best for her. The rules were meant to be broken, as all rules are, from time to time. Not every medical treatment protocol makes sense to an animal. In the final analysis, they know when enough is enough. We must respect that choice. 

Today, 12-year old Tiggy's weight is 8 pounds, 8 ounces, the greatest news in many months. She is being combed regularly and dry brushed as well. (Dry brushing is a 'reverse towards the heart' brushing technique that helps de-stress the adrenal glands.) We all have adrenal glands. This technique calms her. (She loves the brush as she beckons me to use it on her, all over, even her head and neck. She is so sweet!) Her hair ball episodes have been reduced by 80% from last year. It has been a miraculous health revolution for her.  She is now enjoying her special food in ways never imagined.  Last year it had been rejected outright. (I wondered, daily, if she would live long enough to return to it.) Now, it is welcomed. She is calmer, happier, more playful; her sleeps, more restful, sound. She plays with new toys in a way that reflects her new found freedom from ill health and fear. She has learned the lesson.

Our cat, the specialist, is one bonafide expert in what works for her. Though the creators of her life-saving thyroid food advise no other foods be given and all bowls, used, be washed very well, our little girl has lived to tell us there is another chapter to write. We have all been amazed at her storytelling skill. ... A new beginning has arrived. What's next, Dr. Kitty?

Momsey's Doggie Boarding Camp

It would be the longest stretch in Momsey's doggie boarding camp history. Mall cop's mom and dad were going away on a much needed summer vacation, indulging in the culture and excitement of another country's majestic surroundings. They would be gone 9 days. The wedding at the end would punctuate the close of 10 days without the 'children.' 

Mall Cop and Ella arrived looking for a good time. They were still the same little ones I'd had the previous week, during their dad's day-long business trip. The terrier and the mini-schnauzer would join 'Sally' and Mr. Wiggles, their retriever cousins. The beds of these visiting 'dognitaries' had been mistakenly left behind. No problem. The human sofa was ready, covered in that ever so soft special blanket they all loved to sniff. These were adorable children. I did not mind changing up my routine to accommodate them. Comfort was always a primary concern for them. Dogs never complain like we do. They routinely suffer in silence. I would sit on the floor, if necessary, closer to the action and nuzzling, anyway! 

At doggie boarding camp, movement and chewing time are paramount daytime activities. Inactivity is the enemy for animals and people alike. Morning breakfast waits as the group begins its exercise routine after the morning ritual of body 'cleansing'. The intensive exercise begins with each group following a different movement protocol. ... Mall Cop and Ella love chasing each other, at speeds only seen in cartoons. It is indeed a funny performance. When Mall Cop ceases to comply, Ella barks in rapid succession as if to say, "Get moving, brother dear, this is not a rest stop.” His reluctance to move, on command, signals yet another round of chasing, barking and doggie threats made by his demanding little sister, Ella. ... And so he moves, ever so quickly, just in case. ... Mr. Wiggles and Sally tug tenaciously at their lattice silicone soccer ball with the two 'squeaky' tennis balls tucked inside, while running, in tandem, at top speed, too. The energy dissipates with a congenial connection amongst the furry cousins the result. 

A routine is established immediately. Ten days is a long time with no plan or direction. Periods of intense exercise, twice daily, are mandated. (We cannot have chunky working its way into the waistlines of these critters, I adore.) A morning appetizer of cucumber sticks, watermelon slices and other seasonal fruit seems to quell their urge to dine, too early, after working out. Once established, this boarding camp courtesy can never ever be forgotten. Mall Cop and Mr. Wiggles stand, like palace guards, ever so sternly, staring at Momsey till the fruit or veggie platter arrives. I know. I dare not disappoint! Their glares remind me of my on-going duty to provide these raw morsels of 'goodnesses', on-time and in quick fashion, as expected. They never forget. They are on holidays, too, I am reminded, steadily. ... At this time of year, summer's bounty is readily available so the exotic, for them, is anything fresh. Berries, apples, pineapple and cucumbers slices are on the menu. 

Working out on a full stomach is a dangerous habit to establish, however. I worry about torsion or bloat, even with small dogs like Ella and Mall Cop. Though bloat is a large dog, deep chested fatal condition, you just never never know. Momsey does not take chances. (Mr. Wiggles suddenly stopped running, late one afternoon, and lay down very slowly, outside. What had I done to cause this change in his demeanour? A last minute doctor's visit for this strange behaviour, mid-exercise, removed any cause for concern. He was fine. ... (Intense exercise, on a full stomach, is never a wise step for man or beast.) ... Separating each brother/sister duo for their allotted time outside, helps in giving them what their bodies and mind need. ... With mosquitoes in abundance, though, my time is cut short, outside. These miniature warriors seem to savour what my flesh seems to offer. As each four-footed fluffy group runs, sniffs and eats some grass through the chain link fence, I keep moving to keep those pesky air-born dive-bombers, at bay. (When will they move away and leave me alone, I am thinking?) They should have been gone by now but a lot of rain this summer has descended upon the province giving these insects the moisture required to thrive and survive. Other areas of the country were dealing with wild fires from a summer of drought. I do not complain.

Mall Cop's running prowess is well-known. Short spurts of this intense leg action is beyond belief! ... His ability to grab his sister's back leg in his mouth, while attempting to put her head in there, too, makes for an interesting physics experiment. "How does he do that"? I am puzzled, often. But Ella masters the whole event, like the gymnast she is, while engaging her brother, repeatedly. She is quick yet graceful as she bounces, like a gazelle, in mid-flight, then pounces over her brother, Mall Cop. Her barks tell him in no uncertain terms, “ You can't catch me and by the way, nibble me again and I will jump all over you and tackle you, quickly, without hesitation. ... I have tricks you rarely see, brother dear.” He ignores her as he ponders the universe. ...

Mall Cop loves the warmth of a summer's day beaming down on his jet black coat. With straw blanketing the area, he rolls around, in a world of his own, watching and waiting for mom and dad's return from their vacation shenanigans, in a far-off summer paradise . “Why couldn't they have taken me along, he wonders? I could easily have fit inside a duffle bag, dad!” "But that was not the point of the holiday," I would reply. Your holiday is here with your sister and cousins and a platter of yummy morsels." “Yes, you are right, he seems to say, begrudgingly.” Mr. Wiggles waits ever so patiently, to run and join the club. His larger than life antics and high energy still belies his gentle nature. But first he must chew some grass, then walk along side his cousins, with a gift, in his mouth, in case his cousins need him.

I manage to get them moving, exercising those nimble paws, legs and pumping blood throughout the body. I concern myself with clots if they are inactive too long. Sleeping long-term is no joke. ... There are antlers bones amidst the rubber balls and toys, inside, keeping their mouths in motion, gums massaged and the teeth cleaned. We all must move, not necessarily to the absurd, like our Mr. Wiggles, but move we must. Indoors, they all begin that telltale dance, again, that reminds me to open the doors for them to 'take it outside', one final time, as evening approaches. At the close of business day, all are exhausted and wait for the final trip outside for that long night ahead on the sofa. The platter of apple slices are soon forthcoming. It is an important part of their daily ritual, like exercise and sleep.

All four pups are well rehearsed in proper sleep time etiquette. Unlike the business of boarding pets for long stretches of time, while their owners are away, my little charges are not in cages, anymore. That containment policy was gone months ago. They proved themselves, beyond a shadow of doubt, that they could be trusted. The furniture is fine, so is the carpet and so are they. Good night my sweet puppies. See you in the morning.

Sourdough: The next frontier.....

The 'Simple' Loaf of Bread

It all began when Lucy, my editor, told me she was making sauerkraut. The word, 'homemade' entered our conversation, as she spoke of her excitement over her first attempt at fermenting cabbage. She is a company president, musician, singer-songwriter and 23 years old! Who has the time? ... Why bother, I wondered? ... But it was very important to her. (She was avoiding starches, too, temporarily.) Then it began: a three-part series on the role of fermented foods & starches in our diet, a fictional account of the world-wide elimination of starches and now, the final installment, The 'simple' loaf of bread. ...

I was shocked to learn how unscrupulous things had become in the making of a loaf of bread. I was bewildered to learn that a chocolate bar was said to be a better food choice than a whole grain slice of toast. ... I had to find out why. Flowery language on bread's brightly coloured 'happy' cellophane packaging helps paint a glowing picture of this baked product in our diet. We have now entered the land of make-believe. ... 

 

An endless array of preservatives, flavour and colour enhancers, dough conditioners, bleaching agents for flour and bread now greet us in the grocery aisle. Bread is no longer about flour, water, salt, and yeast, anymore. It is now something else and I am not sure what. 

 

We have potassium bromate, a recognized industry dough conditioner, whose entry into our bodies, via bread and flour, began decades ago. It has been banned in many countries. Canada banned it in 1994. Bromine, the element, is a member of the group of 7 elements that include fluorine, chlorine and iodine. (It is a poison, in its original 'costume') ...Potassium bromate becomes bromide during baking.

Numerous scientific studies, examining its use and supposed benefits, in bread, have found no health benefits, whatsoever. Bromide is also an endocrine disruptor which competes for the same receptors as iodine. Guess who wins? Not iodine. Thyroid, the master gland now begins to malfunction on a grand scale. 

Bread is the star attraction in fine dining. Breakfasts are its premiere platform. Children, especially, love hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, wraps and grilled cheese, foods that use bread/flour in various forms to showcase the real food we are eating. Bread speaks to us on a primitive level. Lunches are made of it. Toast is its cousin with bagel or English muffin as its stand-in. Growing up, I ate rye bread with caraway seeds, regularly. White bread was not a feature of my childhood, though, at times, I wish it were. It was always rye bread with seeds bought from the Health Bread Bakery where my mom worked. ...

When potassium bromate is present, iodine, the critical element in thyroid function, is adversely affected. Iodine is also the weakest link when forms of fluorine and chlorine are present in the food supply, too. It is then that the chain of metabolic functions in our bodies begin their erratic decline. Welcome sluggish metabolism and weight gain. Every cell in our body has an ongoing metabolic duty to perform. If the thyroid malfunctions, the relentless war within our bodies continues. All major organ systems are affected. ... 

 

We have welcomed the 'enemy' inside, those preservatives and additives that help sculpt the picturesque loaf of white bread we are eating. Our cravings are also a testament to this dietary criminal act. Bodies never used to 'crave'. Once upon a time, food was eaten because of hunger, a word used to describe our relationship with food. Now, we have become addicted to poor starchy foods, not healthy greens, fruits or lean protein. It is usually, “Time to Eat” not “I'm hungry”, in our search for food satiety. 

Science is fact based. Mathematics is a numbers' game, not easily manipulated by opinion or belief. How does any chemical used in non-food products such as pesticides, carpeting, or anti-freeze cross the food barrier and end up in bread? Does it have something to do with the PPM - parts per million - rule, the safe dose for that food grade label? How far are we willing to go with commercially made 'food'?

Women's health is more adversely affected than men's when it comes to the ingestion of chemically laden foods. I should know. My thyroid is slow. When does it end? (And what agency is deciding the parameters of this PPM rule?) Did we have a say?

A sluggish thyroid is just one of the many dietary ills we might face today from eating grains.  It seems like a diabolical threat to our body that the simple loaf of bread is not simple, anymore. Grains - these grasses from the land - have been around for thousands of years, having fed billions of people around the world. In all shapes, tastes and forms, bread has fed the earth. 

 

A look at some of the 60 approved additives that may be lurking in bread today is a premonition of bad things to come. Momsey was shocked. There is chlorine dioxide forming a compound called dichlorostearic acid, maturing and bleaching agents added to flour. (Vitamin E is then destroyed) Oh, My! Then there is soy lecithin from soy, derived from GMO plants that softens bread and emulsifies fats. (An egg is an emulsifier, too, but that would be a costly move, albeit nutritious.) ... 

 

Because grains are susceptible to mould, propionic acid is added to solve that problem. Then there is azodicarbonamide, (found in the  production of foamed plastics) another bleaching agent found in bread flour, along with amylase, xylanase, L-cysteine hydrochloride,- (derived from feathers or hair ) - and polyoxyethelene monostearate. I promptly threw out my bag of flour when I read this list. I was not prepared to be a guinea pig any longer.

Are we re-structuring our DNA eating foods or breads that have been 're-formulated', time and time again? And what does secret recipe really mean? What about reproduction and the health of our children? The word 'element' from the periodic table is such a sweet sounding word until it appears in our food supply in some PPM form while having played a role in other non-food products, unknown to us. ... 

 

The Momsey is neither a chemistry major, a chemist or biologist. Some healthier breads, I was shocked to read, have had extra gluten added to make them more 'appealing', mimicking that tender light crumb taste of white bread.  More gluten? Really? Then we wonder why bread is bloating or inflaming our gut interior. Is that the reason? “Enrichment' makes bread seem more nutritious until we learn the original nutrients were lost during modern processing methods. 'Enrichment' is simply a tactic of returning some of the nutrients back to the bread in perhaps synthetic versions of the original minerals and vitamins lost. Oh, my goodness! Grass fed butter with more Vitamin A and D and butyrate promotes a healthy gut. Who knew??? Slather it on.

A slice of toast. A ham sandwich. A dinner roll or pizza slice should not be a slippery slope to ill health. The process of proofing is now a quickened process from days, hours to minutes, in some cases. Gluten, therefore, does not have a chance of breaking down into its digestible amino acid compounds. Has the  bread making process been dramatically shortened now? Is the profit motive in charge? I wonder. ... 

 

Chemical additives, conditioners, softeners, and taste enhancers are just some of the 'ingredients' being added to keep these mechanized loaves of starch moving quickly within a system designed for immediate maximum profitability. What would happen if we all simply stopped eating bread for just one day? Would things be any different tomorrow? Maybe, just maybe they would. ...

The epilogue to this series on grains, starches and fermentation rests with sourdough, the final chapter.

The 'Little' Puppy That Could

He is a chartered member of the tallest breed in the world and now, the newest member of a family who longed for his entry into their waiting arms. 'Harry', the Great Dane, debuted last year as the cherished 8 week-old 'son' of my daughter-in-law's sister and her husband, becoming their special wedding 'gift', a celebratory note to last summer's main event: their wedding. ... He squirmed his adorable way into their hearts, arriving full of mischief and warmth, all wrapped up in a soft, satiny blue-grey coat, floppy ears, magnificent adornments to his fun-loving spirit and charming, inquisitive persona. “Here I am world”, he seemed to say.

The cage that houses this busy miniature 'pony' occupies a large part of their living room, for now, nothing but the best for their little boy. (It is a welcome 'short-term babysitter' whenever circumstances dictate.) Cages have come a long way since the days of the appliance box that housed our first and last litter of 9 retriever pups. (We'd been so busy caring for our 'abandoned in a park' 3 month-old female retriever that we'd forgotten, months later, to have her spayed. We'd been visiting a family friend and his retriever 'son' in western Canada. Never again. All puppies found homes by 10 weeks.) 

Harry's cage is a beautiful addition to the living room furniture. He is part of the excitement and enrichment, in and outside of this 'container' box with a door, not an onlooker to the events happening around him. His parents insist. With canines, large and small, suitable squeezing, carrying and chewing toys are critical to their health and development. The cage offers him the interim safety, comfort and solitude required to develop well, in a tumultuous modern world. Sometimes this 'home' away from home is a quiet refuge, especially when nap time is near. Everyone needs quiet time. Puppies need it more. They need time to think and grow.

Harry is growing quickly into this majestic beautiful boy while leaving his footprints on our collective hearts. He is an 8 month old, telling us, in no uncertain terms, that he is a playful presence, not to be ignored. ... Believing he is much smaller than he is, Harry walks under tables, often, thinking it is a normal part of his day. I smile. What a funny boy you are. He manages to maneuver towards the wall and squeeze between it and the chairs where family members are seated. But there are only few inches to spare, he realizes, and proceeds in reverse, to untangle himself, once again. He does it with such aplomb. He knows how. Mom and dad have shown him how to retreat, easily and calmly, in the kitchen and dining room. These are the special rooms, the food rooms, Harry has discovered. 

He can clear a table or counter in seconds, if given the chance. He stands tall. We all understand his uncanny ability in being able to clear tables, instantly. A twelve inch swath along the length and width of any table is his domain, he thinks. But mom and dad know better. There is nothing there, now. An advance guard was waiting. He meanders here and there. The food is gone. He will try again later. Will he jump, lick or nibble? His tackling skill has been challenged and is now a distant memory.

He is growing taller as his voice is becoming deeper. You know the baritone is here even if you cannot see him. His mom, a feisty young woman, a naturopathic doctor, too, takes her parental role very seriously. I am pleased. She does not allow for insubordination from her little boy. She is teaching him the ways of proper etiquette amongst humans and canine peers, alike. Harry listens, ever so intently. Mom knows best and is doing a marvelous job, ever watchful over Harry's antics with Mall Cop and his sister, Ella, his smaller older cousins.

Being a parent to a giant breed is no easy feat. I was, once upon a time, a parent to a retriever who became a 125-pound furry dynamo. Harry knows he is just a puppy. Mom and dad remind him daily of his place in their world. He fits their way of life, not the other way around. He is like a bendable tree, out for a jaunt, until there is a roadblock and dad or mom tells him, 'No'. They love him so. He is learning to be a companion with his cousins and respects the hierarchy. He is learning fast. Harry is not top dog, he is beginning to discover! 

He is restless but his daily walks with mom and dad help   sustain him while his toys provide another avenue of healthy 'exercise'. His bark, its deep baritone sound, resonates around the room, commanding attention from all who hear his roar, except from Mall Cop and Ella. Though Harry is over 140 pounds, they, a diminutive 40-pound brother and sister act, do not care. He is simply the newest and youngest member of their extended family. He'd better listen. And so he does.

At a recent gathering, Harry began 'talking', his deep voice penetrating the air around us, in a gentle swirling inquisitive way, hoping his 'words' would illicit a response from one seated guest. He sat and waited ever so patiently for the smiling guest to react, then turned his attention to another more interesting human whose attention to Harry bore witness to the exuberance of the puppy in our midst. The discussion began as Harry licked the face of the man, seated in the opposite chair,  in a face-to-face meeting of great minds, bound by love and respect. Who allows any gentle canine giant to lick his face without pause? When he roars, the nibbles and licks soon follow on the chin of the laughing guest. It is another spontaneous moment with Harry, the little puppy that could. 

Harry is not responsible for his DNA. He is tall, yet 'small'. ... He is boisterous, yet respectful. ... He is strong, yet gentle. ... His capacity for love knows no bounds. Harry is part of a family of dog owners who care about his ever-changing canine footprint. His mom and dad, new to the dog owning tradition, see beauty, love and a future of untapped potential for their soft cuddly 'teddy bear'. ... 

Once upon a time, this couple was building and shaping their careers and planning a wedding. Now, all of that pales in comparison to the joy that abounds and greets them every morning. Life is so precious. Their big boy with the puppy mind is a remarkable creature, chosen by them, to make the moments of their pet loving life special, every step of the way.

If Starches Disappeared

The elimination of all or most starches, in one form or another, would seem like a straightforward, logical solution to our dietary ills. We've been advised to do this by the wisdom of two illustrious doctors. 

Let us look further to the realm of the absurd, to a place called science fiction where all carbohydrates are gone or are in short supply. A chaotic, troubling dimension to our lives would be added, I believe, as we indulge ourselves in this rather unsettling scenario and follow it to a logical conclusion, as though part of a science experiment. ...( A simple grain diet 'grew' our first born. He is a strong and healthy human being today and brilliant, too!)

Agricultural land is left barren, for a time, to heal from its former use as a grain repository so other 'unmodified' heritage seeds can be planted in place of the wheat, barley, oats, and other grains we had come to love. Is it possible to grow oranges, apples, grapes in place of these former tenants? Too soon to tell. Will the land and the weather map help heal the soil to allow for other healthier crops to be grown? And what would they be, now? ... 

 

The industry responsible for giving flour mills their inventory and bakeries their purpose, are gone. Farmers' markets are restricted to only fresh produce, no longer able to sell jams, jellies, artisan bread, rolls/ buns, danish pastry, croissants, crusty bread because the sugar and flour they require are not being milled or imported. ... Goodbye hotdog, hamburger, cinnamon buns and homemade doughnuts, and maybe the traditional summer barbecue. There is no sugar for jams, jellies or sauces. Will ketchup be made from processed dates, raisins or figs, for its added sweet taste? Made from scratch is gone from our vocabulary. Honey and maple syrup are still around but including them in preserves causes their prices to skyrocket, to the absurd. Do they now qualify for special status because they came from an insect and a tree? But then, who cares? The bees are dying off at a phenomenal rate because the seeds/flower blossoms they attempt to pollinate are coated in something that kills them. When we mess with mother nature, she bites back!

Canning rarely happens, as sugar, the preservative and flavour enhancer for this centuries-old tradition, is no longer being imported from those countries where it was grown. Artisan breads, homemade pies, and cakes are gone. The raw materials are hard to find plus we should not be eating them, anyway. Bakeries and flour-mills cease to exist. All Culinary Institutes where professional pastry chefs/ cake decorators and sous-chefs train have a reduced student population. Some schools are closing. The demand is low or gone. From there we can safely forget pasta, noodles, rolls, buns, breads - healthy or not. The celebratory nature of anniversaries, bridal and baby showers, birthdays and weddings is curtailed. Special cakes, squares, tarts, flans, cookies, pies and candies are no longer available, anymore. Fruit and veggie platters are now the latest rage or are they? 

Part-time, full-time jobs and careers associated with the carb/grain/dessert industry are slowly disappearing? What would the effect be on society? Since we stopped importing sugar cane and certain starchy foods/products from 'other' countries, their export quotas have dropped. What happens, then, to those countries struggling to cope with this new diminished demand? Good-bye the mixed cocktail. What about beer? (High fructose corn syrup is gone, thank goodness, but that can be done now by mindful 'clean' food choices.) The GNP (gross national product) of all countries is affected, in one way or another The shift begins. But where do we go from here? If there is not enough land to raise the animal protein on 'healthy' grass then how do we feed them and us, now? The grains are in short supply or gone.

Starches have fed populations throughout history. It is cheap, nutritious food. ... Rice and potatoes are some of the common starch staples that have given life to billions around the world. Some plant foods are endowed with cheaper sources of protein called incomplete and complete protein. We have vegetables and fruits, in abundance, with varying costs to match. We have a host of dried legumes/ beans- black, kidney, black-eyed, white pea beans, barley, lentils, to name a few, that must be hydrated over a few hours, then slow-cooked, for long periods of time, to access their 'digestible' nutrient content. Who will bother with these very cheap protein packs? Who has the time? We have been told to get rid of most or all of the carbs because their starches are harming us. Now what? 

 

Animal protein is expensive and not affordable or desired by many. Ditto for the cost of seafood. But then these delicious morsels of the deep have mercury in them, we are told repeatedly, so we should not be eating them, anyway. Eat healthier, we are strongly reminded, by both doctors. Stay away from starches. Where does the average person buy the grass-fed animal protein, the holy grail of animal protein? Is the grass laden with pesticides, too, and not an option, anyway? Not all stores carry these specialty meat products, at affordable prices. Let's get real. Are we creating a have/have not world of food now? We all have to eat. Now what?

If modern grains are the bad guy, then organic should be a healthier choice? Momsey uses organic, supposedly the way food used to be grown, whenever she can. Organic flour, sugar and oats are her staples. Onions, carrots and romaine lettuce, too. If carbohydrates, in all forms, are in short supply or gone then we are faced with fewer jobs, more unemployment, civil unrest, perhaps, and greater economic instability, globally, too. ... 

 

Health issues, on a grander scale now enters into the debate. Can we all afford to eat what remains? Is there enough food to feed us all? How does the elimination of thousands of 'carb related' positions in the manufacturing, wholesale and retail sectors, and carbs themselves, aid in our total health? Mental health, as well as our physical health, is now at stake. But at least the carbs are gone because they are not readily available, anymore. The market has shrunk or disappeared because we were told to stop eating them. So we did. And then it happened. But this is just science fiction, after all.

It is odd how information travels the globe in this incredible medium called the web. As I 'travelled', looking for more facts on starches, their significance in keeping us alive during times of political upheaval, strife and famine, a link kept popping up, repeatedly. It was about the thyroid gland, the most misunderstood gland in our body, yet the one that holds the greatest power over our total health, after our brain and heart. What could I possible learn now, at this stage, about my hypothyroid condition? I wanted facts on starches. I wasn't looking for anything else! What happened next shook me to my core, altering the course of my thinking on grains and their role, as food, in our diet.

In the 60's, potassium bromide replaced its cousin, potassium iodide, in the role of softening and conditioning commercial dough. Iodine is a critical element in healthy thyroid functioning. The former 'star' attraction in bread dough, potassium iodide, was now gone. But in 1994, bromide was banned in Canada, however. Should we now be grateful? When potassium bromide is present, an iodine assault begins, affecting our thyroid and its simple mechanized system of making other critical thyroid hormones. This continual domino effect tampers with and ultimately sabotages the proper functioning of all our organs. The master thyroid suffers the most, then the weight gain begins.  When does it end? ....(More on this. later)

There's no magic why we have a worldwide diabetes and obesity epidemic. Our bodies simply can't cope with the deluge of suspicious things being placed in our 'healthy' store-bought bread and other processed foods to improve their appeal. ... But let us not fault grains and our decision to include them in our diet without adding a hint of conspiracy theory to the unending chemical soup that is deliberately being added in commercially made breads to 'help out'. We are not scientists, of course. But buying a loaf of bread should not be fraught with danger! Get me out of here.

Soon:  'The 'Simple Loaf of Bread'......

Lucy. Sauerkraut. Our Telomeres

Lucy - singer, songwriter and my blog editor - made sauerkraut, the other day. I was surprised to hear of her first-time effort at this rather time-consuming, odorous yet yummy activity. Both she and her boyfriend, my son, decided to also exclude starches from all non-produce food sources, for two months, while augmenting their beneficial gut bacterial count with the addition of this homemade fermented food called sauerkraut. It soon became a delicious journey. Home made has never tasted so good nor has it ever been so important in our lives, as it is today. 

Fermented foods are excellent food choices for us, we now know. Even pickles can be star pupils, in our diet.. A gut microbiome teeming with beneficial bacteria - probiotics - keeps us healthy. It is a priceless connection. It is our life! Probiotics are created in the gut when we make sensible dietary food choices. Fermented foods are a part of that dietary picture, too. Yay to fermented foods, as Lucy might say! Probiotics are found in other fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi and pickled fish. My favourites, as a little girl, were pickled herring, hot banana peppers and sauerkraut. (My mom used to pickle the whole fish). Fermented foods never looked so good!!

The gut micro biome is a delicate balance of good and bad bacteria. Our food choices decide 'its' health. We must learn to take our gut seriously. There is also a special type of fiber called prebiotic fibre, found in onions and garlic, that aid in maintaining a healthy gut core. Momsey cannot live without onions and garlic. She can and does live, quite happily, without soda pop and candy, but not Italian Rum Cake! ... Making sudden dietary changes is not easy for many of us. It seems like we are denying ourselves something, but are we, really? We must begin this journey to dietary health for the benefit of health and longevity. When positive dietary changes are implemented, we 'risk' weight loss, reduction of inflammation and renewed energy. Inadvertently and without much thought, we are safeguarding our telomeres, those long strands of DNA that protect us from the big three health scourges: cancer, aging and death. ... Some of us are addicted to the carbs we are eating. That must change, however! We must learn to substitute for 'cleaner' choices, maybe eat them on certain days of the week and perhaps shorten the eating 'window', in our day, for all foods consumed. Our bodies should not be on digestive duty, all the time. Fat storage, lethargy, predisposition to diabetes, obesity and other ills can result from the overindulgence of foods, high in starches, assorted sugars and 'other things'. Michael Pollen refers to these products, in the grocery store, as food-like substances. That man got me thinking. Should we be listening and taking stock of what other 'experts', have to say, and act accordingly? Lucy and 'Paul' have. 

I was impressed by the couple's determination to make homemade sauerkraut with a schedule that defied imagination. They adore sauerkraut and making it was no big deal. (It was to me, knowing how my mom made hers, back in the day.) Trying to build a career, in the entertainment industry, is no easy feat. Talent is not the only commodity required. Networking is a critical element here, too. But here they were making sauerkraut, in the middle of it all, while planning the scenes for their next music video, shot in far off places and beyond. Paul was making 'homemade' real-life props, 'special effects' costumes and filming all the scenes required for their premiere on YouTube. He is a director, a cameraman, an all-in-one studio, while tending to the sauerkraut. ... They are a dynamic working duo, rehearsing then filming, non-stop, the videos earmarked for early 2016 release, while their second batch of sauerkraut was fermenting. Imagine that! (The first batch disappeared while Momsey was writing about it.)

In the last century, my mom made sauerkraut using a porcelain bowl left in a basement laundry tub. Here the salted shredded cabbage aged, over several weeks. It was my job to check on the 'impending' sauerkraut, daily, keeping the contents of the bowl submerged beneath the fermenting liquid, using a heavy plate placed on top. Homemade was the order of the day, in my 1950's/60's world. We never concerned ourselves with starch, ever. Everything was in moderation. Rye bread, with caraway seeds, was a staple in our diet. Fermented foods were also a staple and always homemade. Pickled herring was my homemade family favourite. ... (Fast food was a burgeoning industry back then, not the intrusive, pervasive 'refined' marketing machine it is today!) There are two bestselling books making the rounds today telling us we must not eat carbs, grains/starches of any kind. In Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, a respected cardiologist, we are reminded of the deleterious gluten-effect on our bodies when ingesting 'modern' day grains containing this protein compound. ... In Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter, a neurologist, the grain dance continues, with the emphasis now on the effects carbs have on our brain - command central. (A chocolate bar is supposedly a better choice than a whole grain slice of toast. When and how did that happen? Oh, my!)

Being mindful of our carbohydrate choices, in limited amounts, is the name of the dietary game. There are consequences to a diet high in sugar, starches and trans fat. Our bodies and gut have been trying to tell us, for years, that we are wrong in some of those choices. Give that salad a chance with a full fat dressing on top! The gut has a 'mind' of its own, I discovered. The brain in our head is not the only brain we have. Feeling blue, scared, uneasy, sick? Our gut brain is talking as 'Alex', our go-to-health son, has told me. Our digestive core, where trillions of bacteria reside, seems to be speaking to us. We should be listening. It has also been called an organ unto itself. Wow! What an epiphany for The Momsey! Keeping a diet rich in probiotics from a combination Paleo/Mediterranean diet of assorted plant foods, lean proteins, healthy fats, with the added probiotics and taste from delicious fermented foods and prebiotic fibre will help drive us in the right direction. Vitamins A, D, K, E are fat soluble. Where do they go when we eat a fat-free diet? They go nowhere and we suffer the ill effects of their shortfall in our diet. Remember, vitamin D is the cornerstone for a strong immune system.

Lucy is proud of their journey into world of sauerkraut. It is a delicious gourmet treat. In today's modern world, starches are here to stay. We should treat them with due diligence, however. They are our health's 'smoking gun', Momsey believes. Think ahead. Eat that salad when silly carbs enter your system.  Make a direct deposit into your health account whenever you make a health 'withdrawal'. Drink that ever-important water. Cooking at home should be as important as time with family. Put the gadgets away, from time to time. ...  None of us are that important, anyway.  Let us not sacrifice home cooking for that relentless dining-out or fast-food experience. ... Driving to that special restaurant, parking, waiting to be seated, waiting to be served, making our selections, waiting for the bill, all take time and can cost us dearly, in so many ways. Our lives depend upon the good health we can give them. Let them eat sauerkraut, salad, lean protein and healthy fats, too. Our telomeres deserve that much and more. Lucy would think so, too. ...

Next: 'What If Starches Disappeared?'....