Monika’s Wakame Salad – How to make Seaweed Salad at home

If you love Sushi as much as I do and Millions of North Americans as well as Millions around the world, then you must know the bright green colored wakame salad.

My family always ends up fighting over the little wakame salad box because it’s so darn tasty! You probably wondered why you can’t find wakame seaweed in the Asian grocery stores to make your own seaweed salad at home.

What is Wakame?

Sea farmer in Japan and Korea have grown this healthy treat for hundred of years. Wakame is a sea vegetable which is mostly used in soups and salads.

It’s a bit tricky to find things at the Asian markets and grocery stores, everything is written in Japanese or Chinese. There is no sign on the wakame seaweed stating “This is the thing you need to make your own seaweed salad you like out of the sushi case”! And, they don’t tell you, that they mix the wakame with some Agar Agar. The chewy more translucent strand in your wakame salad are agar agar strands. Agar-Agar is a natural vegetable gelatin counterpart. White and semi-translucent, it is sold in packages as washed and dried strips or in powdered form. Agar Agar is made up of 80% fiber so it makes a wonderful intestinal cleanser and regulator. Most Asian gelatin desserts are made with Agar Agar.

Now that you know that seaweed comes in a dehydrated form, you’re ready to find the right kind of product.

You’ll go “Wakame” for this seaweed salad recipe!

What you’ll need:

• 1/2 of the 2oz pack of Wakame (dehydrated sold in bags in the nori section)
• 2 tsp Toasted Sesame Oil
• 1 tbsp and 1 tsp of vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup less 1 tsp Rice Wine Vinegar
• 2 tbsp Toasted Sesame
• little Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tsp or to taste Sea Salt
• Agar Agar (optional)

Prepare your salad:

1. soak your Wakame in some warm water (please use drinking water, not tap)
2. keep the wakame submerged in water for about 5 -6 minutes, the seaweed will expand enormously
3. meanwhile, prepare your dressing
4. mix the rice vinegar, oils, salt, sugar, sesame seeds (red pepper flakes optional) and set aside
5. drain the wakame and press the water out.
6. take the drained wakame and cut into strips with a very sharp knife.
7. mix with the prepared dressing and let it cool in the fridge for at least 30 minutes
8. adjust your dressing to taste, more sugar or more sesame seeds or oil…

Wakame Salad is perfectly fine on its own or with lunch or dinner and sushi of course. It keeps in the fridge for 3-4 days and freezes well too.

Stay Healthy and Enjoy!

Monika Baechler

P.S. Let me know how your wakame salad turned out and what you pared it with, thanks.

What every Mother ought to know about Danger-Foods to small Children!

Peanut butter: Children can be allergic to peanuts or develop reactions like skin disorders. Don’t give peanut butter to small children under 2. Peanuts are heavily sprayed with chemicals and are grown on land saturated with synthetic fertilizers and it might also have a carcinogenic fungus aflatoxin. Only use organic peanut products sparingly or avoid all together to be safe.

Keep your children safe and…

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler

The Secrets of Quinoa

Quinoa is a Rich  & Balanced Source of Nutrients

Besides its unique protein,  quinoa also provides starch, sugars, oil (high in essential linoleic acid), fiber, minerals, and  vitamins. Quinoa is also easy on the Stomach, Quinoa is light, tasty, and  easy to digest. It is not sticky or heavy like most other grains, and  it has a delicious flavor all its own.

Quinoa is also quick  and simple to prepare. A whole-grain dish of  Quinoa takes just 15 minutes.

Versatility is one of Quinoa’s strong side, it can be substituted for almost any grain in almost any recipe. It looks and tastes great on its own, or in any dish from soup to salad.

.

My favorite summer dish with Quinoa is simple and fast:

• prepare Quinoa with lightly salted water
• cucumber
• spring onions
• avocado
• tomatoes
• lemon juice
• e.v.o.o. (extra virgin olive oil)

Combine cooled Quinoa with all the chopped vegetables, fresh herbs and season to taste with lemon juice, e.v.o.o. and salt- pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Death begins in the Colon

“Death Begins In The Colon”

Look at the picture on the left. How would you feel if long pieces of old toxin-filled fecal matter were stuck to the inside of your colon for months?

Would you feel constipated, bloated and lethargic? Would your bowels be irritated by this build-up day in and day out causing what we call G.I. dysmotility. Just think about what other problems toxic build-up like this can cause? Stomach pain and occasional constipation? Tiredness, Gas and bloating? Indigestion? Large protruding belly? Lack of sleep, irritation and restlessness? The list is almost endless. As the Vegetarian Times so aptly wrote:”Of all the polite topics of conversation, the state of one’s intestines is probably at the bottom of most people’s lists. Let’s face it: Irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, gas, diverticulitis and colon cancer are simply not things we like to discuss. And yet, as the old expression goes, death begins in the colon. Don’t believe it? Ask any coroner. Autopsies often reveal colons that are plugged up to 80 percent with waste material.” – Vegetarian Times, March, 1998 The Truth About Colon Cleansing

You can stop suffering in silence by learning how body pollution and a toxic colon can be the cause of many common ailments.

1. Why it is crucial to cleanse and detoxify your body regularly?
2. How to properly cleanse your colon and detoxify your organs?
3. What benefits you will experience and how your life will change for the better?

What you’re about to find out is absolutely amazing, and the information offered on DrNatura.com may be the answer to your prayers, as so many here will testify. DrNatura.com is the most visited Colon Cleansing and Body Detox Resource in the world. In the past decade, it has already improved the lives of over 1 million Americans and Canadians, and many more worldwide.

Ref: Dr.Natura Website

I’m a huge fan of DrNatura and I do use their products every day! I will even sign my name

“Sticking With It in 2010″ The New Years Resolution Help book

“Sticking With It in  2010″

How can you be successful and stick with your New Years Resolution past January?

8-week program to help you develop positive habits and sticking with them for life – starting today!

This is a FREE gift to you, no kidding, this 8-week program to help you with your resolutions this year is a FREE gift to you for the New Year, enjoy!

By Monika Baechler

Download for FREE

Get Rid of Funky Spunk Once and For All

This is more and more a problem among men. They don’t understand why it happens to them, worse, men (and women) actually think it’s normal. Let me tell you one thing: It is absolutely not normal and definitely not healthy.

It is easier to say,”I don’t like doing that”, then saying,” you have a funky tasting spunk.”

Could you be to Acidic?

Your body should be at a healthy PH-level between 7,37 – 7,45. The lower your personal Ph-level the more acidic you are. Personal acidity comes not only from bad food, alcohol, smoking and junk food, our body’s PH-level gets affected by stress as well. You can download my “Acidic Foods, the good, the bad and the ugly” here in a couple of days.

What are the obvious symptoms of acidity?

Well, there are a couple but the most important signs are change in color of the whites of the eye (grey, yellowish), bad breath, digestive problems like acid reflux and heart burn, weak immunsystem, rashes, funky spunk, weight issues and more… These are some important signs to look for but you don’t have to have all of them to be acidic. If you have one of these symptoms then you are most likely too acidic and need a change of diet and lifestyle.

What can you do today to turn it all around?

It’s quite easy.

• Stop drinking alcohol
• Stop eating lots of meat and milk products
• Stop drinking pop/sodas
• Stop smoking
• Stop eating only fast foods
• less sugar, less pastries
• less bread
• less coffee
• less chocolate
• less stress
• more exercise
• more veg
• more fruit
• more water
• more juicing
• more water (I know I said that already but it is really important)
• more herbal tea

If you can incorporate the changes into your lifestyle then your lady is going to be –  how can I put this – very appreciative?! You know what I mean. Now go on and make yourself a juice. By the way, eating some pineapple or drinking pineapple juice once in a blue moon is not going to turn the wheel around. Put in more effort – and I guaranty you – she will too!

Don’t forget to visit my sister site, 30dayjuicefast.com, which is a great place for detailed information on detox and  juicing for better health. If you guys want to be a “human lollipop”, juicing is the way to go.

It comes down to this,  take care of yourself, eat healthy, exercise more and you can start enjoying the “REWARDS”!

If you are a women, please print this article and give it to your men!

For your entertainment I included the very funny and “open” Samantha from the Hip TV Show, Sex and the City. Enjoy! Episode Segment “Funky Spunk.

How to fight the Aging Process and strengthen your Immunsystem

Fasting is the abstinence from solid food and addictive substances like alcohol, coffee and drugs for a specific time. This is for therapeutic maybe even for religious purposes. Fasting will support your body by resting your digestive system. Do you know why this is so important? Now that you are fasting, your body can use the energy (calories) you are getting by juice fasting to use elsewhere in your system to heal and repair “stuff”

• I had a client who healed a very old knee wound he sustained in a car accident.
• Couple clients that cured Hemorrhoid after years of suffering.
• A Lady who cured syndrome x
• IBS gone after years of suffering for a teenager

Fasting for 3 to 5 days is considered a short term fast. If you go longer it’s a long term fast. I have seen people go 40 or more days on a juice fast. In our days, I do NOT recommend a water only fast. It is very harsh on our bodies and involves major detox symptoms, which may need hospitalization if you are very toxic to begin with. For expert fasters it is possible to finish a water only fast but don’t go over 10 days. The best idea anyway for seasoned fasters is to combine a juice fast with a water fast. This is done as follows: 5 days juice fast followed by 2-3 days of water fast, again continued by 5 days juice fasting and so forth.

People with blood sugar problems could be adversely affected by a juice fast. I recommend to fast only if you talked to your doctor. (They will not agree with your decision anyway)  If you have syndrome X (insulin resistance) please use only vegetable juices instead of sweet fruits. You can add some granny smith apples for lunch, but do not use them for breakfasts or by themselves and always dilute the juices.
I do believe, that people with high blood sugar can extremely benefit from a juice fast. Your body could in fact “reboot” and use insulin in a more efficient way, if you stick to a changed and improved diet after your fast. (more about the diet later)

Did you know that your body can not get to the nutrients in your vegetables and fruits because it’s encased in fiber? Some 90% of the nutrients in produce we eat are eliminated with the vegetable fiber as it passes through the body. This is why juicing is so important these days, the full 100% of the nutrients in the vegetables and fruits can be absorbed by our body, since the juicer does all the work for you and separates the juice from the fiber in the process. Our system can digest and absorb the juice in about 30 minutes without weighing down the digestive system.

You can find out more and learn more on 30dayjuicefast.com. Information about how to start and try a juicing day or how to buy a juicer are some of the things you will find. Videos are also available and a documentary as well.

Hypochlorhydria, Low Stomach Acid

Hypochlorhydria is the condition of low stomach acid.

We’ve all heard about excess stomach acid and heartburn, but what about the condition low stomach acid? It’s believed to be involved in indigestion, premature aging, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiency, bacterial overgrowth, yeast infections, weak hair, skin, and nails, plus other conditions. Most of the times, people thinks they have excess stomach acid. Instead their acid levels are to low, and that’s why they have trouble digesting the food. Taking more anti acids can actually worsen the condition.

Are you asking yourself why we need stomach acid?

1. Without stomach acid, we can’t digest and absorb the protein we eat. That’s because stomach acid is needed to produce an enzyme called pepsin, which breaks down protein.
2. Fat and carbohydrate absorption also rely on stomach acid. Stomach acid causes the release of secretin, which then “tells” the pancreas to produce enzymes that digests fat, protein, and carbohydrates.
3. Stomach acid helps keep the digestive tract sterile, preventing the overgrowth of bacteria as well as yeast. Low stomach acid can lead to bacterial overgrowth or chronic Candida yeast infection.
4. Stomach acid is needed to properly absorb vitamins and minerals.

Solution to your problem is very easy, inexpensive and very delicious! You probably wonder, why did my Dr. never tell me it was this easy? Well, lets face it, Dr’s. are great, but we usually forget: Dr’s. are no Nutritionists and definitely no Registered Dietitian.

Sauerkraut and pickles, as well as pickled beets will be your best friend for the next couple of weeks. Eat any of these condiments at least 3 times a day. Have some pickles or beets with your sandwich at lunch, incorporate the beets in your raw food salad. It’s very easy to build up your stomach acid again. In the beginning you could have some pineapple with your protein foods to help and ease digestion.

You also have to change your eating habits! Stay away from to fatty and to heavy foods like pizza, fried foods and heavy desserts. If you need more information try this “Digestive Pain Gone In As Little As 1 Day…”

Keep up the good work, and eat healthy!

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The Potato conspiracy?

Why do we always hear only the bad side of the potato. Everything “they” tell you is, it makes you fat, high glycemic index, to much sugar…! What happened with all the healing properties and vitamins and minerals of the potato?

Potatoes help you to keep your acidic body in check. The Potato is a very low calorie food, high in nutrients and starch. What do you think how the potato measures up compared with fresh soft cheese, eggs and cheese if it come to vegetarian protein? Actually, the potato has more vegetarian protein than any of these choices. Only meat exceeds the potato in their bio availability of protein, but it does not attack your arteries!

Most of the vitamins and minerals are right under the skin, so if possible, get young organic potatoes and do not peel them. The best way is to bake or steam the potatoes to keep most of the vitamin C and minerals inside.

Warning about the green spots on Potatoes, they contain solanin, which is not good for our bodies. You can get head aches, sore throat, stomach aches and diarrhea. Please make sure to cut around green spots and discard it.

Monika

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Zinc for hormones, libido and fertility.

Zinc is needed to make so many hormones, keep your immune system healthy, skin regeneration and healing, growth, eye health, blood-sugar metabolism. It is very well known to keep your sex-life juicy and keep you fertile. You don’t know how important zinc is until you have a zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency sings are hair loss, poor wound healing, poor immune function, diarrhea, skin conditions like acne, white spots on the nails. The most important for women is hair loss and low libido. If you feel disconnected from your husband and just don’t feel like sex or snuggling up at all, you must be zinc deficient.

Daily optimal intake is 15 – 30 mg of zinc and toxicity is very rare, you would need to get more than 150 mg a day and that would lead to immune system suppression, or digestive upset or anemia.

Great sources of zinc are oysters, herring, shellfish and red meat. For vegetarians it’s whole grains, legumes and nuts. Why do you think everybody is talking about oysters being a aphrodisiac? Because it’s full of zinc and zinc helps you with low and not existing libido. Tomorrow, get your honey out for oysters and some seafood, you might get lucky!

Have a great night out!

Monika

Some other Zinc Sources are:

If this or an other article helped you and you enjoyed it, please donate to monikabaechler.com, thank you!

Welcome to the Baechler Health and Nutrition Blog

Do you care about living a long healthy life, getting degenerative diseases, saving your children and grandchildren from obesity and illnesses, getting cancer and paying healthcare? Because if you don’t, then this blog is not for you! Thanks for visiting.

If you do care about those things – then read on:

Sadly and ironically in a land of plenty, on a continent of excess, many people are so highly deficient in vitamins and vital minerals as a horrific result of our food productions and processing methods. These deficiencies will lead to all sorts of horrible degenerative diseases, because dead food leads to dead cells. The question is not if – the question is when.

So you are telling me that you eat whole grains and organic foods and make sure you only buy whole wheat bread and so forth. Now consider this, most maufacturers make exceptionally poor-quality organic foods available, for example the organic white sugar and various organic cane juices and cane juice powders, which are simply refined sugar – unless it specifically says “unrefined”. Most of the time the word “organic” is used to mask an unwholesome food. Only because it says “organic” that doesn’t mean it’s good for you or your children. Manufacturers use the highly obsessed over big “O” to lure consumers to buy bad foods and it nearly fools everyone and it is one of the most deceiving and sickest marketing games today.

Even harder to metabolize and worse for your health than white sugar are the refined oils. If the product is not labeled with “unrefined,” then they are refined and these commonly used canola and other oils are the worst foods that can be eaten.

There is no Right- for- all- Diet, and with diet we always refer to the daily foods you eat not a calorie or fat reduced way of eating. Some people need to be vegetarians because of the love for animals or are even vegens.  Others prefere to eat raw-vegens or just raw. Not every body is suited for one kind of diet and every body has to figure out for themselves which diet is right for them. You can also be in between raw and whole foods, for example if you eat 60-80% raw but sometimes like to eat some broiled fish with steamed vegetables or some organic broken bone and vegetable soup.

All you really have to remember is this: 100% Whole Foods or at least 95%.

1. Eat a varied and abundant organic vegetables and fruits (organic most of the times or all the times)
2. Eat organic, range-fed animals without antibiotics added and grain fed animal products, about 4 ounces daily (animal protein is optional)
3. Choose a variety of plant seeds like roasted pumpkin seeds, ground or soaked flax meal and legumes
4. supplement with sea vegetables and micro-algae, including chlorella, wild blue-green algae, and spirulina
5. add healthy exercise every day

The perfect balance in your body is one of the most important things, the balance between acidity and alkalinity. Let me give you an example: Meat, fish, sausage, eggs, noodles, white bread, processed foods and sugar are very acidic to our bodies, but most veg, salads, tofu, fresh herbs, fruits and many more things are very alkaline (acid neutralizing) to our bodies.

Many people don’t pay attention if they have heartburn or a sour stomach, but they really should. That is a very specific sign that you are in deed acidic and need to change your diet and lifestyle. Yes I now, I’m preaching about the healthy lifestyle again and eating right blah, blah, blah…

But listen, do you want to end up like older friends and relatives, sick with all kinds of industrialized illnesses like, gout, arthritis, migraines, type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity…? No? I didn’t think so. If you’re experiencing some or more of these symptoms you can reverse them with a whole food diet.

If this or an other article helped you and you enjoyed it, please share this with your family and friends.

Stay Healthy!

Monika Baechler