Archive for February, 2010
February Cooking Tip – Pass the Chili’s Please!
Chili’s come in a variety of sizes and shapes as well as a variance in hotness. They are a fantastic source of Vitamins A and C as well as folic acid and carotenoids.
Some people like it hot, some not. If you are amongst those that like a ‘kick’ to your food, then you are one of the lucky ones. Chili peppers, unlike sweet peppers, contain a substance called Capsaicin which gives the chili their hotness. Capsaicin is not only ‘hot’ in your mouth but hot to the touch. When cutting up a chili, especially one of the hotter versions like Scotch Bonnet, Habanero, or Chile de Arbol, make sure to wash your hands before touching your face, especially your eyes!
So what is so great about that Capsaicin? It is a fantastic substance! History and folk medicine used chili peppers for asthma, fevers, sore throats, and other respiratory tract infections, digestive disturbances, and cancers.[1]
In addition, here are some of the great things capsaicin offers:
- It has been associated with having excellent antioxidant compounds
- It increases metabolism, thus aiding in the burning of fat
- Although seemingly hot, it actually has a cooling effect by lowering body temperature. It simulates the cooling center of the hypothalamus in the brain. This is why it is often common to find hot climates eating foods laden with chili peppers.
- Is a potent inhibitor of substance P, a neuropeptide associated with inflammatory processes
- Harvard studies show that it has the ability of blocking pain-receptive neurons without blocking other kinds of neurons that control other kinds of movements. This work is related to the pain associated with arthritis and other inflammatory diseases[2]
- It has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. It reduces the likelihood of developing atherosclerosis by reducing blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Research at the University of Tasmania[3] is showing it “has the potential to lower blood glucose and insulin levels, reduce the formation of fatty deposits on artery walls and prevent blood clots – minus some of the nasty side-effects of traditional medications.”
Cultures that consume chili peppers on a regular basis have healthy cardiovascular systems along with many other health benefits. Maybe it is time to add more chili peppers into your daily diet.
Get out your various chili’s and start adding them to your favorite dishes! This months’ Chicken Soup is a great place to start! http://healthandnutritionexperts.wordpress.com/2010/02/17/february-recipe-%e2%80%93-julie%e2%80%99s-easy-chicken-soup/
[1] The Healing Power of Herbs by Michael T. Murray, N.D.
[2] http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_health/report-13188.html, http://golgi.harvard.edu/NewsEvents/News/ug-award_hoopes_6-3-09.html
February Recipe – Julies’ Easy Chicken Soup
When having dinner with a friend last night, I was inspired to pull out the old Crockpot and make something healthy and easy. I decided that a dish somewhere between a one-course meal and a soup would be the answer. Of course, you might want to add a salad to get some greens in.
The great thing about this dish is that it also works fantastically for breakfast. Now I realize most people don’t even think of soup for breakfast but, as I have found out in my Asian travels, soup is often not only a daily breakfast but an incredibly satisfying one. So double the recipe or save some for a cold morning!
The other fun thing about this recipe is it uses a chili that can be found in most grocery stores. It is little but packs a great punch! It is called chile de arbol or also known as a Thai chile. Here is a picture:
Ingredients:
2 Chicken thighs, bone in with skin
1 Chicken split breast, bone in with skin
1 T Olive Oil
Pinch Celtic Salt & Pepper
1 Onion, chopped
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
½ Red Bell Pepper, chopped
1 Orange Bell Pepper, chopped
2-3 Chile de Arbol
2 Carrots, cut into ½” pieces
1 28 oz Can Diced, Fire Roasted Tomatoes[1]
12 Medium to Large Shiitake Mushrooms, stems cut, quartered ( more if desired)
1 T Fresh Ginger, finely grated
1 C Vegetable or Chicken Broth
1 T Celtic Salt
Pepper to taste
1 C Dry White Wine, optional
Preparation:
Place olive oil in medium size sauté pan over medium/high heat. Sprinkle all chicken with salt and pepper. Place in pan, skin side down. Cook until chicken is slightly browned. Turn and do the same. Remove. Take out all but 1 ½ T oil from pan. Add onions, garlic, bell peppers, and chili’s. Sauté until onion starts to become translucent, approximately 3 minutes.
Meanwhile place carrots, tomatoes with juice, mushrooms, ginger, broth, salt and pepper in Crockpot. Place chicken on top followed by sautéed vegetables. Cook for 7 hours. About hour 6 or just before serving, remove the skin and bones from the chicken. Shred the chicken and return to the pot. Adjust seasonings and add wine around hour 6.
Serves 4-6
[1] I prefer Muir Glen brand.
The Gift of Fitness
Cathy is a friend of mine that I have had the pleasure of learning from. She has overcome something major in her life and I wanted to share her story with you as I find it very inspiring. When you are struggling with health on any level read this article as it may help you take charge of your life!
The first thing members encounter when entering Iron Works Fitness during the day is a smile and a warm welcome from Cathy Grayell, the owner. This is usually followed by a short conversation regarding the current goings on and any news worth sharing. Cathy is always upbeat, and even looks the part of a health club owner. She is fit, energetic, and is often found lifting weights or using other equipment.
There is more to Iron Works Fitness and Cathy Grayell than meets the eye. Fourteen years ago, Cathy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a progressive disease that slowly eats away at the nervous system. Cathy’s doctor predicted she would be in a wheelchair by the time she was 40. She was also a mom with three young children to raise. That was in 1992. Today, Cathy looks like a well-trained tri athlete.
Indirectly, Cathy credits her multiple sclerosis to opening her business. “Unless you are forced into new situations you might not do as much in life. I probably wouldn’t have opened Iron Works unless I had already been pushed in different ways working with multiple sclerosis.”
“The concept behind Iron Works” says Cathy with an infectious smile, is “What kind of workout facility would you create in your own home if you had unlimited time, money, and space?” Another idea that helped form the approach of the facility was to allow 24 hour card key access. “I’ve belonged to different clubs over the years” says Cathy, “And they always seemed to open too late, or close too early for my schedule. If I did get in during regular hours, it always seemed that I had to rush to be done.” The card key approach removes all those issues. “The members all really look after the place too,” she continues. “They have taken ownership of the facility, which is great. The members come in all ages shapes and sizes” she says proudly, “from elite cyclists to people in their late 60’s”.
Cathy loves talking about her relationship with members. It is important to her that she knows the members, and she really enjoys connecting with them. “I am kind of like a bartender sometimes” she says laughing. “We talk about everything.”
It’s a whole different world for Cathy than in 1992. At the time of her diagnosis, she was working a high stress job. On her Doctor’s advice, she quit. At first, she listened to her doctors, rested most of the time, and took steroids. Her physical condition worsened. She had so little energy she could barely get up and take a shower without returning to bed. She admits it was very tough initially. When she first heard the diagnosis, she “steam-rolled through things” to deal with it.
About this time something in Cathy changed. She realized she had to take control of her own health, and it was a turning point in her life. She told herself “This is small-potatoes compared to raising three kids.”
“You have two options when you look at your place in the world” Cathy continues. “You can look at it as either something was given to you, or something was taken away. I have chosen to say something was given to me.”
She started exercising. She started walking 5 minutes. After some time, she increased to 10 minutes of walking. She got to the point where she could walk easily for an hour. She also started listening to her body during this period, and she says this was the start of her journey to wellness. Believing that a healthy body and mind are synergistic, she enrolled at CU and finished her undergrad degree in English begun many years ago at Penn State. Obtaining her degree in 2000 after six years of being a part-time student and full-time parent gave her an even greater sense of accomplishment, physically and psychologically.
Cathy has lived in Colorado since 1978 and in Boulder since 1990. “Living in Boulder”, she says with an amused look on her face,” I had access to lots of alternative methods of treatment, and I tried everything.” She is a firm believer in eating unprocessed food (this is her “medicine”) and being very tuned into her body. She will still have flare-ups if she is too stressed or too tired. She is a big believer in exercise, and credits this with her wellness. She lifts weights three days a week and her current regimen includes a goal of participating in at least one century bike ride this summer and continuing to build her strength both on off the bike.
Cathy has a positive outlook on all aspects of her life. Her journey to wellness brought her an understanding of the importance of incorporating and maintaining fitness as paramount to coping with whatever life offers. Through the lessons she learned, and the many difficult tasks she faced, she also learned she had a great capacity to accomplish difficult goals.
She believes life has given her an opportunity to be available to people facing physical challenges, and she is eager to share this gift of fitness with others. That is why Cathy can be found most days at Iron Works Fitness where she helps hundreds of members along their own path to wellness.
Iron Works Fitness is located at the corner of Yellow Pine and North Broadway, in the Holiday Project. You can learn about their facility at www.ironworksfitness.net, or by calling Cathy at 303-539-9334.
