Beer is Better!

Beer is one of those things that tastes so good but has a horrible reputation because of its calorie and carbohydrate content. In many cases, people tend to stay away from beer if they are watching their figure or trying to lose weight. This makes sense when counting calories, however many people are not aware of the wonderful health benefits that beer has to offer. To start off, yes, beer has calories and carbohydrates. But so does bread, pasta, or rice, right? In my opinion, it is better to skip that dinner roll and enjoy a fine stout because lets be honest, you want to do it anyways.

Before I go into more detail on the health benefits of beer, I wanted to share the abstract to this study that was published in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences titled Nutritional and Health Benefits of Beer:

“Physicians should be aware of the growing evidence supporting the nutritional and health benefits of moderate consumption of alcohol as part of a healthy lifestyle. The recently approved voluntary label on wine ("the proud people who made this wine encourage you to consult your family doctor about the health effects of wine consumption") implies that physicians should promote wine as the preferred source of dietary alcohol. However, studies evaluating the relative benefits of wine versus beer versus spirits suggest that moderate consumption of any alcoholic beverage is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease. From a nutritional standpoint, beer contains more protein and B vitamins than wine. The antioxidant content of beer is equivalent to that of wine, but the specific antioxidants are different because the barley and hops used in the production of beer contain flavonoids different from those in the grapes used in the production of wine. The benefits of moderate alcohol consumption have not been generally endorsed by physicians for fear that heavy consumers may consider any message as a permissive license to drink in excess. Discussions with patients regarding alcohol consumption should be made in the context of a general medical examination. There is no evidence to support endorsement of one type of alcoholic beverage over another. The physician should define moderate drinking (1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men) for the patient and should review consumption patterns associated with high risk.”

I love this abstract. Everywhere you go, people are judging those who love beer. Except for on one day where it is socially acceptable to enjoy one – St. Patrick's Day! A wonderful day that the Irish have given us. Anyways, the Irish have always been beer lovers, since back in 1756 when the first stout brewery was created. The first lager brewery was set up in 1891 in Dartry, Dublin, and by the time 1959 came around, lager consumption in Ireland and in the United Kingdom was 5 times greater than anywhere else. Although Ireland is better known for producing a stout beer, 63% of the beer sold in the country is actually lager. Stout makes up about 32 % of the market, leaving the other 5% to the crap beers. Anyways, Arthur Guinness, the man himself, set up a small stout brewery back in 1756. He later moved it to Dublin in 1759, and by the early twentieth century, Guinness became the largest brewer in the world.

Not only were the Irish promoting their product, but they were promoting good health, too! Now a days, the only alcoholic beverage we ever hear that has health benefits is wine. So many antioxidants! Decreases your chance of cardiovascular disease! Well guess what, beer can provided the same benefits, plus a few more that won't leave you feeling guilty after happy hour. Now, we must understand that most of these health benefits are coming from the world's better crafted beers and micro brews. These beers are made with barley, hops, yeast and water: natural ingredients. Beers that are mass produced are hardly any more that watered down beer with corn and chemicals to make it live longer, like Busch Light and Natural Light. These light beers are aimed at the college populations that want to feel the effects of drinking alcohol in large quantities . Most people looking to have just a beer or two at the end of the day normally choose a better quality brew, and in turn, reap the health benefits.

Strong bones: These craft beers actually contain many vitamins and minerals, with silicon and calcium at the top of the list. Silicon, which is the soluble version of silica, is a calcium-like mineral that helps build strong bones, teeth, hair, and nails. Beers that have higher levels of barley and hops will contain higher levels of silicon. So those looking for this extra boost should look for IPA's and pale ales. Unfortunately for people like myself, wheat beers are not a significance source. (Womp womp.)

B-Vitamins: Craft beers can include a rage of B-vitamins, from Potassium to Folic Acid, and even high levels of B-12. Folic Acid is great for vascular health. Although it is also a vitamin that is recommended during pregnancy, drinking beer is NOT the way to get in your folic acid if you are a prenatal. B-12 is a vitamin that helps keep your brain and nervous system functioning normally. It also helps in the formation of blood. Other vitamins found in a 12 ounce beer include niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, choline, and B6 (although they are small amounts.)

Healthy Cholesterol: The ethanol in craft beers has been proven to increase High Density Lipo-protein levels, AKA, good cholesterol. Increasing HDL levels has been proven to reduce blood pressure, prevent the thickening of artery walls, and in turn, prevent cardiovascular disease. Today, millions of Americans suffer from high blood pressure or have had a stroke or a heart attack. Increasing your good cholesterol and allowing your blood to flow better by one or two craft beers a day sounds like a pretty good idea to me. To further convince you, researchers in the Netherlands found that men who drank 2 pints of beer a day increased their HDL levels by 7 percent after only 10 days, and by 12 percent after 3 weeks. How about that!

Carbs + Fiber: People often look at all of the carbohydrates in beer as a bad thing. Some people may refer to it as liquid bread. Unless you are starving yourself for spring break in two weeks, carbs are not the enemy! Carbohydrates are meant to make up 55% of your daily diet, and are the main source of energy that your body uses. If someone is undergoing extreme exercise, then their carbohydrate intake should increase. Carbohydrates are the most easily obtained energy from your body, and we should all appreciate them. Beer also can provide a great deal of fiber per 12 ounce serving, which will help keep your digestive system in balance. People who drink more than their recommended amount of beer per day often have to use the bathroom soon after consuming their first drinks. Now you know why. But anyways, more fiber leads to a healthy colon and assist in the battle against diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.

Today, another sore subject is the tie between red meat and cancer. According to a Portuguese study, marinating your steak in beer can eliminate up to 88% of the carcinogens that form when pan frying your meat. This is great for people who honestly do not enjoy drinking alcohol, but want to reap the benefits.

Antioxidants: Although red wine has become our go-to drink for added antioxidants, beer actually has a very comparable amount of antioxidants. In fact, these craft beers and micro brews can actually have as much as 5 times the amount of antioxidants as white wine. So long, sangria! These antioxidants will help prevent the oxidation of our blood plasma by free radicals (the enemy), which can further cause many of the diseases out their today. Free radical damage can be responsible for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. So, if you have been choking down that glass of red wine at dinner to get in those antioxidants, grab an IPA instead, and do yourself just as much good.

So, what have we learned today? Beer is better! Moderate consumption of alcohol as part of a healthy life style is something that all physicians need to become aware of. I love this topic because beer has such a bad reputation. However, when consumed in the right sense, it is a true benefit to our health. In the end, I am encouraging everyone to enjoy St. Patrick's Day with 2 pints of beer if you're male, and 1 pint of brew if you're a woman. Get to your local bar and don't feel guilty about Guinness!

Flax Seeds: What's the Fuss?

If you have visited our seeds page in the past, then you know how wonderful flax seeds are for your health. Although I personally know a lot about flax seeds, they are one of those weird health foods that the majority of the public has never heard of. Flax seeds are tiny little seeds that come from a flax plant - usually about 4 feet tall with long, slender stems and leaves. Flax come in two varieties: brown, or golden yellow.


Although flax seeds have a very high vitamin and mineral content, they are very famous for their omega-3 fatty acids. I know sometimes we talk a lot about omega-3 fatty acids in this blog, and it may get boring, but they are important! Omega 3 fatty acids can help your personal health in so many ways that it is simply irresponsible not to consume the recommended daily intake. Although we have a complete list of the benefits of essential fatty acids on our fatty acid page, I will reiterate my favorite benefits here:

• Increase blood circulation, and therefore reduces blood pressure as well as risk of heart attack
• Reduce risk of ischemic and thrombotic stroke
• Improved immune function
• May delay or prevent the progression of certain psychotic disorders
• Improve human depression
• Anti-inflammatory activity
• Prevent and treat arthritis and osteoarthritis

Since many people do not have any of these health problems...YET, they are so common in our world today that we need to take the steps to prevent these diseases in the future. Consuming the recommended amount of omega 3 fatty acids per day can truly benefit your health and keep you in tip top shape for the rest of your life. High food sources of omega 3 fatty acids include vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, fish, and other marine foods. Since many people do not or cannot eat seafood, flax seeds are a wonderful alternative. In fact, flax seeds are being discussed as the BEST source of omega 3 fatty acids. This has been brought to our attention by German Scientist Johanna Budwig who is well known for her alternative cancer therapy known as the Budwig Diet which consists of flax seeds high in omega 3's. Here is some background information on the Budwig Diet and why this is a POSSIBLE cure for cancer:

http://www.naturalnews.com/027539_cancer_diet_cure.html

Here is the main attraction which discusses why flax seeds may be the best source of omega 3 fatty acids:

http://www.naturalnews.com/035168_flax_seeds_omega-3_fatty_acids.html

If you are interested in consuming these life saving seeds, I have found that the best way to eat them in in smoothies, in salads, or in baking. Since I know I am not the only person who loves to bake, it is very simply to add a handful of these wonders to your batter, mix, and enjoy. They are quite flavorless and truly will benefit your health. In conclusion, do some research and get some flax seeds at your local grocery store, or at Whole Foods, if you want to try something organic. Below I have included the nutrition panel for flax seeds, to show you the individual vitamins and nutrients that they contain. Enjoy!

Flax seed

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy	2,234 kJ (534 kcal)
Carbohydrates	28.88 g
- Sugars	1.55 g
- Dietary fiber	27.3 g
Fat	42.16 g
Protein	18.29 g
Thiamine (vit. B1)	1.644 mg (143%)
Riboflavin (vit. B2)	0.161 mg (13%)
Niacin (vit. B3)	3.08 mg (21%)
Pantothenic acid (B5)	0.985 mg (20%)
Vitamin B6	0.473 mg (36%)
Folate (vit. B9)	0 μg (0%)
Vitamin C	0.6 mg (1%)
Calcium	255 mg (26%)
Iron	5.73 mg (44%)
Magnesium	392 mg (110%)
Phosphorus	642 mg (92%)
Potassium	813 mg (17%)
Zinc	4.34 mg (46%)

Cavities anyone?

I am sure everyone knows that when you get a cavity a dentist will address it by putting a silver colored filling into the targeted tooth.  What might surprise people is that the main ingredient in these fillings is mercury.

Dr. Mercola  recently appeared on the show "Dr. Oz" to explain why mercury fillings are harmful to the body.

"There are 1,000 mg of mercury in the average filling -- this is about 1 million times more mercury than is found in seafood, which is in microgram quantities.

Even the conservative EPA and CDC advise pregnant women to avoid high-mercury fish like tuna, due to the well documented adverse effects on fetuses.

Mercury is an incredibly potent neurotoxin; it doesn't take much to cause serious damage because it's an absolute poison. If you were to take the amount of mercury in a typical thermometer and put it in a small lake, that lake would be closed down due to environmental hazards."

What to do if you have mercury fillings?  I was pleased to see that Dr. Mercola suggested one of my favorite daily supplements, Chlorella.

"Chlorella, a single-celled fresh water algae, acts as an efficient detoxification agent by binding to toxins, such as mercury, in your body and carrying them out of your system. It is the chlorophyll in chlorella that makes it so powerful, as chlorophyll helps you process more oxygen, cleanses your blood and promotes the growth and repair of your tissues.

 In one study, when mice fed methylmercury were given chlorella, they excreted approximately twice the amount of mercury in their urine and feces as mice not treated with chlorella.ⁱ This is important, as chlorella plays a particularly crucial role in systemic mercury elimination because the majority of mercury is rid through your stool. Once the mercury burden is lowered from your intestines, mercury from other body tissues will more readily migrate into your intestines -- where chlorella will work to remove it."

 Chlorella is indeed a very powerful detox supplement.  I highly recommend chlorella to anyone who is concerned with the amount of toxins in their body.



Source: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/02/21/the-dr-oz-show-my-latest-jaw-dropping-interview.aspx

Crazy for Coconut Water

For the past few weeks, we have been obsessing about coconut water. Not only does it remind you of vacationing on a tropical island, but it gives you the satisfying feeling of hydration. Coconut water has become very popular in the past few months, which is why we began drinking it ourselves. Not only does it seem to be in all the supermarkets, but it lines the shelves of Tedeschi markets and gas stations. It baffles me that this product has just recently grown in popularity, because it is something that everyone needs to be drinking.

So what is so different about coconut water? Can't I just drink regular water and get equally as hydrated? The answer is yes, but you would need a lot more regular water to feel the same effects. Coconut water is the clear liquid that is found inside young coconuts. The water serves as a suspension in the endosperm of the coconut during the coconuts development. As the coconut grows, the endosperm liquid will develop into what we know as the coconut meat. Because young coconuts are not fully developed, they have very little meat, and more coconut water. Unless your coconut has been severely damaged, coconut water is always sterile. It was even used during World War II as an intravenous hydration fluid when medical saline was unavailable. How about that! That fact alone makes me want some right now....

Anyways, the coconut water is clear, sweet, and sterile and composed of wonderful things such as sugars, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids, cytokinins, and phyto-hormones. These magical fruits are harvested when they are about 5-7 months of age for our drinking purposes. What are cytokinins you ask? Cytokinins are a class of plant growth substances (phyto-hormones) that have been shown to have anti-aging, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-thrombotic effects. Coconut water is best known for its high potassium content as well as the amount of antioxidants it contains. Coconut water was actually given to patients with severe diarrhea to help replenish electrolytes that have been lost, and to avoid the need for intravenous therapy. Now, doctor's will not use coconut water in an IV because of the dangers of too much potassium. However, it can and should be used to replace lost electrolytes and end dehydration.

Coconut water is also full of bioactive enzymes that aid in digestion and metabolism. Even though this fruit has a very light consistency, it has a wonderful vitamin and mineral composition of calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, and folate. Look to the right to see its full nutritional profile:

Coconut water (Cocus nucifera), Fresh,
Nutrition Value per 100 g
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	19 Kcal	1%
Carbohydrates	3.71 g	3%
Protein	0.72 g	1.5%
Total Fat	0.20 g	1%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Dietary Fiber	1.1 g	3%
Vitamins
Folates	3 µg	0.75%
Niacin	0.080 mg	0.5%
Pantothenic acid	0.043 mg	<1%
Pyridoxine	0.032 mg	2.5%
Riboflavin	0.057 mg	4%
Thiamin	0.030 mg	2.5%
Vitamin C	2.4 mg	4%
Vitamin A	0 IU	0%
Vitamin E	0 mg	0%
Vitamin K	0 mcg	0%
Electrolytes
Sodium	105 mg	7%
Potassium	250 mg	5%
Minerals
Calcium	24 mg	2.4%
Copper	40 mcg	4.5%
Iron	0.29 mg	3.5%
Magnesium	25 mg	6%
Manganese	0.142 mg	%
Zinc	0.10 mg	1%
Phyto-nutrients
Auxin (Gibberlin)	Present	--
Carotene, beta	0 µg	--
Cytokines	Present	--
Lutein-zeaxanthin	0 µg	--
Leucoanthocyanin	Present	-

Today, many different brands of coconut water are available in local stores. And although some of them claim to be pure coconut water, you never know if there are any preservatives or extra ingredients added in there. To me, nothing beats the pure coconut water that comes straight from the coconut itself. I shop at Hannaford's supermarket, and they always have fresh, whole coconuts on their shelves for about 1.99$. I know they are also available at whole foods, but for a dollar or two more. All I do to open these nuts is hammer in a knife, and drain the water into a glass. I usually get a full glass of water, and become overwhelmed with satisfaction that this is the real stuff. On top of the water, you also can scrape out the coconut meat on the inside of the coconut, and add it to your favorite smoothies or recipes. I have used coconut meat in my blender, but have also chopped it up and used it to make a coconut crusted salmon dish. Talk about amazing! There are just so many different ways to use coconut water and coconut meat that this fruit should be on everyone's shopping list. You can also cook your rice with coconut water to sweeten it up a little bit. This is a great tasting alternative to cooking rice with plain, boring water. Here is a crazy recipe for a power smoothie that includes coconut products. Although you most likely do not have all the ingredients, just blending some of the ingredients with fruits and vegetables is delicious, too.

Unsweetened Almond Milk
Coconut Water
Super Greens Powder
Raw Organic Agave Syrup
Fresh Coconut Meat
Organic Hemp Nuts
Banana
Celery
Kale

Power smoothies have so many health benefits that give you energy to last through your day. They are completely natural, too!

Another reason coconut water is becoming more popular is because of its hangover benefits. The reason why a person becomes hungover the night after drinking too much alcohol is because of the impurities, preservatives, and chemicals that are added to alcoholic drinks. Sometimes, hangovers can occur even after just one drink, depending on what it is made of. Usually, drinking to excess is what causes a hangover because the ethanol causes increased urine production, which then leads to dehydration. The truth is, you will feel miserable from a hangover until your body is properly hydrated. Gatorade and orange juice are two popular drinks that help cure hangovers. Now that I have read up on coconut water, this is truly the hangover cure. With the amount of natural electrolytes that coconut water contains, it's no surprise that after just one glass, a hangover can disappear. Sure, Gatorade also has a lot of electrolytes. But Gatorade is not found in the middle of a fruit on a tropic island, now is it?

In conclusion, if you are stranded on an island, engage in intense sports games or physical activity, suffer from diarrhea, or just had too many cocktails last night, coconut water needs to become a part of your diet. Stay tuned for future posts about the benefits of coconut oil - just another part of this life-changing superfood!

Benefits of Coffee

I love when I find more excuses to pound coffee during the day.....

From Natural News:

(NaturalNews) Recent research suggests that drinking caffeinated coffee daily may protect against developing Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, depression and more, according to reports from Science Daily. Animal studies at the University of Florida discovered an ingredient in coffee that interacts with caffeine and increases blood levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF), a growth factor that that prevents the production of beta amyloid plaques, which are thought to be the causative factor in Alzheimer's disease.

It appears that four to five cups of caffeinated coffee daily are necessary to produce the increase in GCSF and protect against Alzheimer's. This amount may seem high for the average American coffee drinker, who consumes approximately 1.5 to 2 cups daily. Researchers suggest that using coffee to protect against Alzheimer's should start in early middle-age, between 30-50 years old; however, older people are also likely to benefit from consuming caffeinated coffee daily.

Additional benefits

Coffee is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, which provide the body with additional ingredients to increase cognitive function to protect the brain; as well as protect against other diseases of aging, such as Type II diabetes, depression, stroke, and Parkinson's. Studies also suggest coffee may help fight against breast, skin and prostate cancer.

Reports in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry discusses the effects of caffeine in coffee regarding the prevention of Type II diabetes. Animal studies were performed on mice, which showed that caffeinated coffee helped control blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, lowering the risk of developing the disease. Coffee also triggered other beneficial changes in their bodies, further reducing the risk of diabetes. Researchers believe that it is the caffeine in coffee that acts as an anti-diabetic compound.

Drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily may also lower the risk of depression in women by 15%, according to research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine -- and those who consume four or more cups daily have shown an even greater reduction in their risk of developing depression. Caffeine affects brain chemicals and is known to release mood-altering transmitters.

Additional studies at the Harvard School of Public Health indicated that men who drink six cups of coffee daily have a 20 to 60 percent decreased risk of developing several forms of prostate cancer. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, and indicated that even small quantities of coffee consumption can lower the risk of prostate cancer.

The fact that coffee reduces depression is probably no surprise to anyone who has been drinking the black gold.   The only downside to coffee is becoming dependent and building up a caffeine tolerance.

 

 From myaddiction.com

With a week of steady use, the body actually changes its makeup and the receptors that caffeine interacts with change in number and function so that the initial effects of small caffeine doses are no longer felt. The rush and nervous energy seen with the first few uses of the drug goes away after tolerance occurs.

The other side of the equation is that these same body changes have to happen in reverse when caffeine is removed from the diet. A good rule of thumb is that it takes as long to get rid of withdrawal symptoms as it does to heal a bruise. Just as a bruise takes time to heal and repair tissue, resetting tolerance level also requires actual changes in cells.

 Try to take a day or two off from caffeine during the weekends, then when you have a cup on Monday morning you might experience an extra boost.  

 

 

Sources:

 

http://www.naturalnews.com/034779_coffee_caffeine_Alzheimers.html#ixzz1kfW9I9cD

http://www.myaddiction.com/education/articles/caffeine_withdrawal.html

Support GMO Labeling!

GMO's are genetically modified organisms who's genetic material has been altered through genetic engineering. During this process, DNA molecules are taken from various different sources and then combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This new DNA is then implanted into a new organism, or in our case, a genetically modified food.

First of all, nothing that we EAT, should be MODIFIED. The very food you put in your mouth should not contain DNA genes from a different organism.

Although GMO's can benefit the production line, there are many risks in consuming genetically modified crops. Some of these risks include:

The creation of new allergens
Antibiotic resistance
Cross breeding
Herbicide tolerant crops
Pesticide resistant insects
Local ecosystem disruption
Cross-contamination

A few examples of GMO foods we eat every day are tomatoes, soybeans, alfalfa, cotton, Hawaiian papaya, canola, sugar cane, sugar beet, rice, squash, and sweet peppers.

There are many opinions about genetically modified foods. My opinion is to buy your foods locally, and avoid all of these chemicals all together. For California, environmental and consumer organizations have filed paperwork to have a citizen initiative ballot in late 2012 to vote on GMO labeling. California would be the first state in the United States with GMO labeling, something every state should be doing! As of right now, we have no laws that tell us if we are consuming these foods or not. Chances are, we're eating them. Read this article from Natural News and help support the California GMO labeling campaign for 2012!

http://www.naturalnews.com/034771_GMO_labeling_California_ballot_initiative.html

National Peanut Butter Day

Okay, okay, I'm a little late. National Peanut Butter Day was yesterday, but when did that ever stop anyone from indulging in this creamy, mouth watering treat? I'm my opinion, peanut butter is one of the best tasting foods out there. And not only is it portable, but it also can be used in many different ways. Peanut butter can be taken to work, eaten on the train, can be given to veg-heads, and can stop a dog from barking! So why should you eat peanut butter? The Huffington Post posted an article yesterday that discussed 5 reasons why peanut butter is a great addition to your diet. Unlike me, they were on time with their post, which is why I am just going to share with you my sticky opinion. First and foremost, my favorite quote from the Huffington Post article reads:

“The body's response to saturated fat in food is to increase the amounts of both harmful LDL and protective HDL in circulation. In moderation, some saturated fat is okay. Eating a lot of it, though, promotes artery-clogging atherosclerosis, the process that underlies most cardiovascular disease. In contrast, unsaturated fats, which make up the majority of the fat content in peanut butter, help reduce LDL cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease. “

I included this because over time, I have heard many people reject the idea of eating peanut butter because of its fat content. Peanut butter, like many other foods, do not make you fat when eaten in moderation. Sitting on the couch eating half the jar is another story...

Peanut butter is also an awesome staple not just because of its health benefits, but because it is a good source of calories for a low, affordable price. In this economy, it seems like the main sources of protein are getting more and more expensive. Beef, chicken, and fish are emptying everyone's wallets, so why not get a good quality protein source for less than half the price? There are so many peanut butter companies on the market today that it is hard to find a good, organic brand. After trying many different kinds of peanut butter, I have found not only the best tasting, but the healthiest peanut butter out there. This peanut butter is literally, JUST PEANUTS. And you can find it at your local Whole Foods store for a very reasonable amount of money. You also get to turn the machine on yourself, regulate how much peanut butter you want to buy, and watch the peanuts get crushed to smithereens right in front of you. The whole foods peanut butter machine looks like this:

So the dry roasted peanut butter is literally only peanuts, with added heat and some crunching, you get the best peanut butter you can imagine. When I first tasted this peanut butter, I was shocked to see that it only had one ingredient. Racking my brain for information, I remembered that peanut oil is a natural component in peanuts, and during the grinding process, the oil is released. This is why the peanut butter still maintains that creamy texture, with no added ingredients. They also have honey roasted peanut butter, which has added honey, salt, and sugar. Because this one has a few added ingredients, it is even more delicious, and totally organic! Trust me, once you discover how good this peanut butter is, you'll never turn back.

Although there are many recipes that include peanut butter, my favorite recipe is still Thai peanut sauce. A lot of recipes that include peanut butter are desserts, which is why I prefer an actual meal that includes peanut butter, so you don't have all the extra fat and sugar that comes with the rest of the dessert. Here is my personal favorite way to make thai peanut sauce:

1 cup coconut milk
1-2 tsp red curry paste or hot sauce
1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp soy sauce

The best part of thai peanut sauce is that it can be added to many recipes and dishes. Pasta, chicken, dumplings, shrimp, salad, and even in soups are all great ways to use Thai peanut sauce. This is something you could make in bulk, and use it on more than one occasion if your crammed for time.

Anyways, below is the link to the Huffington Post peanut butter article. If you also forgot that yesterday was National Peanut Butter Day, then celebrate today! I advise anyone who is scared to eat peanut butter because of the fat to think again, and to visit Whole Foods and get your hands on their product. Trust me, you won't be sorry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/national-peanut-butter-day-healthy_n_1228291.html?ref=mostpopular

Q: Did you hear the joke about the peanut butter?
A: I'm not telling you. You might spread it!

If you have any recipes that include peanut butter, feel free to share them in the comments box!