Coconut for Cake and Good Health

My childhood memories of coconut are all about baking. My brother’s favorite cake for his birthday was called German Chocolate Cake. Originally, the German’s Chocolate Cake was made of 3 layers of buttermilk cake flavored with melted German's chocolate, and sandwiched with a rich coconut-pecan filling. Typically my mother frosted the cake top with coconut -pecan filling sides with chocolate icing

The Joyofbaking.com website tells us the cake was named after German's Sweet Chocolate, which is a dark baking chocolate created by the Walter Baker & Company. Samuel German an employee developed the chocolate in 1852. The origin of German Chocolate Cake is hard to pinpoint---all we do know is it’s all American. “Richard Sax in Classic Home Desserts says this cake was being made in the 1920's and eventually became popular nationwide after a recipe appeared in a 1957 food column of a Dallas newspaper.”

The scientific name for coconut is Cocos nucifera. Because the hairy nut seems to have eyes and resembles the head and face of a monkey, early Spanish explorers called it coco, or "monkey face". Coconut contains a nutritious white meat, juice, milk, and oil that has been staple food for populations around the world for generations. A third of the world's people depend on coconut for food.

Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and is classified as a "functional food" since it provides many health benefits. Coconut oil has healing properties and is used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. Coconut oil is considered curative for all illness by Pacific Islanders. The indigenous people call the coconut palm "The Tree of Life."

For thousands of years coconut has been valued and used in local folk medicine. Traditional medicine around the world has used coconut to treat a wide variety of health problems including abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhea, irregular or painful menstruation, jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, skin infections, sore throat, swelling, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumors, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness, and wounds. Medical science research is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions.

Medical journals report that various forms of coconut, demonstrate a wide range of health benefits:

Kills viruses

Kills bacteria

Kills fungi and yeasts

Expels or kills tapeworms and other parasites

Provides quick energy and endurance

Enhancing physical and athletic performance

Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients

Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose

Relieves stress on pancreas

Helps protect against osteoporosis.

Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers.

Reduces inflammation.

Supports tissue healing and repair.

Supports and aids immune system function

Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.

Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.

Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.

Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Functions as a protective antioxidant.

Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.

Dissolves kidney stones.

Supports thyroid function.

Promotes loss of excess weight

Applied Topically:

Form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.

Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.

Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.

Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.

Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.

Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion

Provides protection from damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Helps control dandruff

Pure virgin coconut oil does not need hydrogenation---the process of adding hydrogen to make a liquid fat hard. It is 92% saturated fat. Unlike animal fats, tropical oils -- palm, palm kernel, and coconut oils -- are saturated fats that are called oils.  Depending on room temperature they can be solid, semi-solid, or liquid.

Like all fats, coconut oil is a blend of fatty acids. Coconut oil contains an unusual blend of short and medium chain fatty acids, primarily lauric (44%) and myristic (16.8%) acids. It is this unusual composition of short and medium chain fatty acids that offers some health benefits.

Dr. Mehmet Oz tells us "It has been shown that lauric acid [in coconut] increases the good HDL cholesterol in the blood to help improve cholesterol ratio levels.  Coconut oil lowers cholesterol by promoting its conversion to pregnenolone, a molecule that is a precursor to many of the hormones our bodies need. Coconut can help restore normal thyroid function. When the thyroid does not function optimally, it can contribute to higher levels of bad cholesterol.”

Linoleic acid makes up the polyunsaturated fat content of coconut oil. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, which the body is unable to make. Essential fatty acids must come from food in order for the body to function properly. Linoleic acid is an omega 6 fatty acid and is important for healthy brain function, skin and hair growth and bone health.

Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends we eat a balance between omega-3 (oily fish or take fish oil supplements, walnuts, flax seeds, and omega-3 fortified eggs) and omega-6. Both are polyunsaturated fatty acids but differ in their chemical structure. We need essential fatty acids for: Energy Production, Diffusion of oxygen into the bloodstream, Hemoglobin production, Vital for the transportation and metabolism of triglycerides and cholesterol, Brain and nerve tissue development, Control cell membrane fluids, etc.

We live in a market driven consume society. We must never forget that the advertising we see on television is there to sell us products, or ideas. Advertising is the corporate tool to create sales it does not educate. Often corporations lobby for laws to protect their profits at the individual’s expense.

Do you remember in the 1980’s when we were told coconut oil was unhealthy? Did you ever wonder why all of a sudden you should not eat coconut oil? The American Soybean Association (ASA) launched a series of attacks that became known as the "Tropical Grease Campaign." They coined a new term, "tropical oils," and used the phrase as a negative label.

We can thank heath advocates such as Dr. Oz and Dr. Weil for reintroducing us to the many benefits of coconut and other healthy oils. If we follow Dr. Andrew Weil’s advice for a balance between omega-3 and omega-6, this is a perfect recipe:

The FOODNETWORK--Canada’s

Caribbean Coconut Crusted Salmon

INGREDIENTS

1 ¼ cup of shredded, unsweetened coconut

4 6 oz salmon filets, skin removed

Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Put coconut into a freezer bag. Drop in the salmon filets one at a time and toss to coat. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes.

3. Serve with Caribbean Salsa.

If you’re looking for a good German Chocolate Cake coconut-pecan filling recipe, this looks like my mom’s recipe. Here’s the link:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/german-chocolate-cake-frosting-ii/detail.aspx

Read more at http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/caribbean-coconut-crusted-salmon/6823/#XOwRpXzCqLo8rtSy.99

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400149/balancing-omega-3-and-omega-6.html 

http://www.doctoroz.com/article/surprising-health-benefits-coconut-oil

http://www.livestrong.com/article/363811-the-fatty-acid-composition-of-coconut-oil/

August 2003 issue of Consumers' Research, vol. 86 no. 8.

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/

http://www.webmd.com/diet/coconut-oil-and-health

http://www.joyofbaking.com/GermanChocolate.html#ixzz3hhxMj8K0

Walk Yourself to Health

Many of us are rediscovering the pleasures and health benefits of walking and hiking. Why is walking so wonderful? Walking is free, suitable for people of all ages and most abilities. Walking is gentle, low-impact and a great way to free your mind from the stress of the day. Walking can be emotionally therapeutic and spiritual. For example, Buddhists perform walking meditation.

For me walking has always been a favorite activity and joy. My daily after work walk was a time to release work stress and revitalize mind and body. To soak in sunshine and breathe in oxygen. When I became zen with the weather and environment, then I knew I was healed from the day’s frustrations. (It is sad to think of those denied the joy and freedom of a personal, long walk outdoors.)

Recent research reveals less than half of U.S. adults get the recommended amount of physical activity. The Mayo clinic recommends adults need at least 150 minutes a week of aerobic physical activity. Walking should be at a moderate level, such as a fast-paced walk, for no less than 10 minutes at a time for best results.

A recent study at the University of Illinois suggests regular walking might even make you smarter by improving the connectivity of important brain circuits. The American Heart Association suggests walking briskly for at least 30 minutes five days a week to improve cardiovascular health

Ten benefits of walking

1.  Keeps weight in check---to lose weight, you need to burn about 600 calories a day more than you’re eating. An individual burns about 75 calories simply by strolling at 2mph pace for 30 minutes. If one increases to 3mph and you’ll burn 99 calories, speed it up to a fast walk (4mph) and that’s 150 calories.

2. Lowers disease risk and can slash risk of developing type 2 diabetes, asthma and some cancers. The British Medical Journal reports taking more steps every day can help ward off diabetes. Active walkers have about a 20 per cent lower risk of developing chronic disease such as cancer.

3. Strengthens your heart, reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, lowers levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, and keeps blood pressure in check. Brisk walking for 30 minutes helps prevent and control the high blood pressure reducing stroke risk by up to 27 per cent according to the Stroke Association.

4. Helps prevent dementia, according to Age UK, “older people who walk six miles or more per week could avoid brain shrinkage” preserving memory as we age. Being active has a protective effect on brain function and may reduce dementia risk by up to 40 per cent.

5. Helps with osteoporosis---it counts as a weight-bearing activity and stimulating and strengthening bone density and strength, as well as, maintaining healthy joints.

6. Tones legs, bum, and core muscles--if you really focus on posture as you walk, it can tone your abdominal muscles and tone your waist.

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7. Tones arms---the speed of walking comes from your arms, hold your arms at a comfortable level, bent at the elbow, and swing them backwards and forwards as you walk. When you swing them faster you automatically speed up, toning arms, shoulders and upper back.

8. If you’re walking outside in daylight, this boosts the body’s vitamin D stores, which plays an important role in bone health and immunity.

9. Increases energy by increasing blood circulation and oxygen supply to every cell in the body. This eases stiff joints and eases muscle tension. A lunchtime walk is a quick way to boost energy levels.

10. Exercise boosts mood by releasing feel-good endorphins into the bloodstream. Studies show regular; moderate-intensity exercise (brisk walking) is as effective as antidepressants for mild to moderate depression.

The Mayo Clinic recommends walking as a great way to get and stay fit, but asks are you doing enough to see results? Activity-tracking devices and apps (computer applications) and using a pedometer can help you set and reach fitness goals by increasing motivation. Some “walking apps” can connect you to online walking communities for support and a sense of competition.

Activity trackers, or activity monitors, are pedometers and more. They count steps, calculate calories burned, and many measure sleep quality, compute calorie intake, and serve as alarm clocks or watches. Activity trackers display your progress in real time and can interface with the smart phone, tablet or computer keeping updated on your progress toward fitness goals.

Integrate activity trackers into your routine:

• Establish a baseline that is a launching point for the step goals you set.
• Set short-term step goals of adding on another 500 to 1,000 steps a day for a week by incorporating a planned walking program into your schedule.
• You can do it all at once, or break your walking into 10-minute chunks of time to accommodate your schedule.
• When short-term goal is met, add a new one.
• Set long-term step goals such as walking 10,000 steps a day, or about 5 miles (8 kilometers), several times a week, or add a goal of walking faster as your fitness level improves.
• Track your progress on a weekly or monthly basis. Tracking your progress allows you to see whether you're meeting your goals and when it may be time to set fresh goals.

It's easy to start walking to a healthier you! All you need is a good pair of shoes, comfortable clothing, and a positive outlook. 
 Just walk out the door---start out slow and easy. Walk for 10 minutes, and walk back. You can absorb the sunshine and breathe deeply. If possible walk where there are few automobiles to avoid stress, noise and pollution. If you have health concerns or medical conditions check discuss your plan with your doctor before you begin a routine. 


For fun and fitness join a walking club. The easiest way to get started and to stay on track is to seek out an existing group close to home in the neighborhood, such as a YMCA, community center, or a lunchtime group at your work place. The leader should encourage post-walk stretches and set a healthy pace. Workplace walking groups not only promote mental and physical fitness but also increase morale.

Facebook is a great place to start a group, find members, post comments and pictures, share walking sites, and list times. You need to find people who are already walking or who are as excited as you are. To maintain motivation, partners need to be well matched---try to match the age range or skill level so no one feels out of place. 

Be sure to let prospective members know how often, how far and how fast you intend to walk. Walking too fast for your ability wears away the fun quickly and creates a risk humiliation, or injury. While walking with a group that is too slow is frustrating and can prevent you from reaching your fitness goals.

Walking and biking vacations have always been popular. Expanding beyond the US National Park system, many states and cities are establishing designated walking/biking trails that are designed for the needs of all fitness levels from the disabled to the casual walker to the practiced hiker.

In 2013, Missouri was named the "Best Trails State" by American Trails, a national, nonprofit organization. This national award is presented every two years to the state, which had made tremendous improvement in their trails system.

Missouri State Parks contains almost 1,000 miles of managed trails and more than 500 miles of National Recreation Trails. Missouri known as "Gateway to the West" has significant trails which include the Lewis and Clark, Trail of Tears, Santa Fe National Historic Trails passing through the state. The Pony Express, California, and Oregon National Historic Trails begin on the western border.  The Katy Trail, which follows the path of the now defunct Katy railroad line, is the longest developed rail-trail in the nation.

Missouri is my state and I invite you to visit and walk our trails.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20047880?pg=2

http://www.thewalkingsite.com/clubs.html

http://mostateparks.com/blog/state-parks-stories/60464/new-book-features-trails-missouri-state-parks

http://www.trails.com/findarea.aspx?state=MO

http://www.tescoliving.com/health-and-wellbeing/fitness/2013/october/top-10-health-benefits-of-walking-everyday

Far Infrared Lamp

My near fatal brush with illness as a child created in me a serious, contemplative nature. My time in the hospital left me very empathetic and compassionate for anyone with an illness, or a disease of mind, body, or spirit. I have been on a life long vision quest--the search for good health. What does it mean to live healthy? I believe for every question there is an answer. My spiritual nature tells me the Creator has created an answer for illness and disease and that is my driving force. I may not be the person the Creator inspires with the healing innovation, but I can be the person to get the word out!

At first I questioned what kind of spiritual gift I had. If I am not the innovator, scientist or inventor, what did I offer the equation? My gift—I am a spiritual cheerleader! Has something made you feel dis-eased? You can find your ease—state of balance, centeredness and harmony! I believe this—I know this! This is self-empowerment.

I was surprised the first time I realized that some individuals have great difficulty choosing a course of action, or making a decision—because this is the complete opposite of my personality. We as individuals tend to think everyone else shares the same worldview—how naive we are sometimes.

One of the innovations I have tried is a far infrared lamp. All of my life I had had chronic muscle aches and a tendency to tendonitis. With aging, my ability to tough it out and convince myself all would be better tomorrow was no longer working. I had passed some kind of tipping point. My body was now in agony. My chiropractor was commenting on the fact that my lateral back muscles were so tight they were raising my right hip. Massage helped but I needed something daily—something I could do at home. I remembered my Mother had a heat lamp—maybe this is what I need. As much as I like to claim I am different than my mother, the truth is—we are practically genetic twins.

There are many companies selling therapeutic energy products. An individual has to do their homework before deciding how to invest their money. An individual might consider a far infrared sauna, lamp, or clothing. I chose the FIR lamp; it seemed to have the most utility in my lifestyle.

According to the manufacturer’s web site, my Far Infrared Mineral Lamp features a round plate coated with a proprietary mineral clay formation consisting of 33 earth elements essential to the human body. When activated by the built-in electric heating element, this mineral plate emits a special band of far-infrared waves ranging from 2 to 25 (microns) in wavelength that coincides with the wavelengths and intensity of the electromagnetic radiations emanating from the human body.  As a result, the far-infrared waves are readily absorbed.  The benefits are: raises temperature in tissue, Expansion of capillary vessels, Rejuvenation of cells, Promotion of blood circulation, Helps to move toxins from cells, Faster recovery from muscle strains, and Improvement in Lymphatic system.

Far Infrared Rays are invisible waves of electromagnetic radiation of wavelength greater than that of the red end of the spectrum, having wavelengths of 0.75-1000 μm. Infrared rays are sometimes subdivided into long-wave or far infrared (about 3.0-1000 μm) and short-wave or near infrared (about 0.75-3.0 μm). They are capable of penetrating body tissues to a depth of 10 mm. Sources of infrared rays include heat lamps, hot water bottles, steam radiators and incandescent light bulbs. Infrared rays are used therapeutically to promote muscle relaxation, to speed up the inflammatory process, and to increase circulation to a part of the body. Through the subtle heating, Far Infrared boosts our immune system, increasing the amount of white blood cells and killer T-cells.

It should be noted that the inflammatory process is the process of initiating healing by marshaling ones healing processes. It should be noted chronic inflammation is a reaction of tissue to irritation, injury, or infection, characterized by pain, redness, swelling, and sometimes loss of function.

FIR expands capillaries increasing oxygenation and regeneration of the blood deeply detoxifying and improving functioning of the major organs in the body. This deep detoxification dissolves or immobilizes toxins in the blood. FIR therapy may help in fat loss, chronic fatigue, water retention, skin disorders, as well as in the elimination heavy metals, poisons, and carcinogenic material from our bodies. FIR is beneficial in reducing muscle soreness, muscle spasms and provides relief for rheumatoid arthritis. Research by NASA has shown that far infrared on the cardiovascular system was a great way of keeping astronauts hearts’ in optimal condition. Far Infrared increases the enzyme activity in our digestive tract and boosts metabolism. An hour of this therapy can burn up to 900 calories helping to break down trapped fat, waste, cellulite and other forms of toxic substances. Far Infrared has been shown to help heal scar tissue.

Heart studies done by The Mayo Clinic and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that infrared sauna therapy significantly improved blood vessel functioning in high-cholesterol, diabetes and smoking patients. The therapy also was found to increase circulation, lower blood pressure, lower blood sugar, and help in weight loss.

The online article by Brent A. Bauer, M.D. reports the far-infrared sauna uses light to create heat. "Far" describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you. An infrared sauna produces these results at lower temperatures than does a regular sauna, which makes it accessible to people who can't tolerate the heat of a conventional sauna. Several studies have looked at using infrared saunas in the treatment of chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis, and found some evidence of benefit, however, larger and more-rigorous studies are needed to confirm these results. On the other hand, no adverse effects have been reported with infrared saunas.

In an online article by Justin Tobias, M.D., revised by Stephanie Neumayer, M.D., describes information supported by randomized, controlled trials in peer-reviewed, medically respected journals. Saunas are noted as contributing to the improvement in patients with congestive heart failure, heart disease, mild depression, and chronic pain. It is noted that Creighton University Medical School's AltMed website explains individuals with a history of multiple sclerosis, hemophilia, hyperthyroidism, systemic lupus erythematous or adrenal suppression should not use an infrared sauna. Those who are pregnant, nursing or experiencing their menstrual flow should not use a sauna. Those with artificial joints, metal pins and silicone implants should also avoid saunas. The effects of some prescription drugs may be altered due to the high heat in a sauna.

http://altmed.creighton.edu/sauna/research_supported_benefits.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infrared-sauna/AN02154

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/health-benefits-of-far-infrared-therapy/

http://www.livestrong.com/

http://www.braintuner.com/tdp.htm