No Tomato Sauce

No more nightshades means no more pasta sauce. Or does 

it? Here is a great pasta sauce recipe to replace tomatoes! 

No Tomato Sauce

Before You Begin
~Be careful how many beets you put in! Start by adding just a few. You can always add more in later!
~Rather than using pasta, make your dinner extra healthy by using spaghetti squash instead!

Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup of carrots (cut into ½ inch pieces)
2 medium sweet potatoes cubed (about 4 cups)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt to taste
Fresh black pepper to taste
1 roasted red pepper (omit if nightshade free)
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 (8-ounce) can beets
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Optional herbs to make Marinara or other Italian sauce(s):
1/3 cup Basil (chopped or whole, see below) [Fresh is better, if using dried, 2-3 tbsp]
1/3 cup Parsley (chopped or whole, see below) [Fresh is better, if using dried, 2-3 tbsp]
3 tablespoons Oregano (chopped or whole, see below) [Fresh is better, if using dried, 2-3 tsp]

How to prepare tomato free sauce:
1. In a large stock pot, sauté the onion and garlic in a little olive oil until just starting to brown.

2. Add the carrots, diced sweet potatoes, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper then cover (barely) with water.

3. Bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer (covered) for 20-30 minutes until the carrots and sweet potatoes are very soft. Add the roasted red pepper if using. (I have read that many people who can’t eat tomatoes also can’t eat red peppers since they are in the same biological family.) You don’t need to substitute if leaving out and if you add more than one they may over power the final sauce.

4. Blend the contents of the pot until smooth (in batches in a blender or with an immersion blender). Add the olive oil during the blending.

5. The cornstarch in step 6 will thicken up the sauce slightly so don’t worry if it is a little runny. If the sauce is too thick already, add some water, if too runny simmer it awhile to thicken (cover the pot but leave the lid askew).

5b. If you boil your meatballs/sausage in the sauce, I would add them here as well.

6. Puree the contents of the can of beets (liquid included) and the cornstarch in a blender until very smooth (if only using for pasta sauce, to save some chopping you can add the fresh herbs here as well!)

7. Add the beet mixture back to the pot and simmer for about five more minutes.

8. If using for more than pasta sauce, portion out what you need and then add a prorated amount of chopped herbs to the remaining sauce.



-Found on http://glutenfreedairyfreenj.blogspot.com/

The Nightmare of Nightshades

The Nightmare of Nightshades

What is a nightshade?

Nightshades are a botanical family of plants that are also known as  Solanaceae. This is because they contain a chemical known as solanine, which some people are very sensitive to. The list of edible nightshades is pretty short, but the list of toxic ones is extensive, with the most well known one being Belladonna or "deadly nightshade." The fact that some plants containing solanine are so harmful to the body make many people weary of ingesting any of this substance. People with autoimmune disorders, who may already have leaky gut or heightened inflammation in their body, are especially susceptible to reactions from this class of plants. Nightshades have been associated with fibromyalgia, arthritis, migraines and headaches, irritable bowel syndrome or disease, and skin conditions. 

Which edible plants are in the nightshade family?

The most commonly consumed nightshades are white potatoes, peppers of all kinds, eggplant, and tomatoes, but there are also others as listed below.

• Ashwagandha
• Bell peppers 
• Bush tomato
• Cape gooseberry 
• Cocona
• Eggplant
• Garden huckleberry 
• Goji berries 
• Hot peppers (such as chili peppers, jalapenos, habaneros, chili-based spices, red pepper, cayenne)
• Paprika
• Pepinos
• Pimentos
• Potatoes 
• Tamarillos
• Tobacco
• Tomatillos
• Tomatoes

And I shouldn't eat them because of Sola-what?

Solanine. Glycoalkaloids are a natural pesticide produced by plants. Solanine is the one produced by nightshades. It helps protect plants from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and insects by binding to certain structures of a predator's cell membranes and causing them to burst. They can also act as a neurotoxin by disrupting certain enzymes, leading to paralysis, convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death. These symptoms are seen with un-edible nightshades that are very toxic to humans. However, even the edible nightshades can cause some reactions.

Some people say they are good to eat......

In laboratory studies, not human ones, nightshades have shown to possess antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal effects. This is what nature designed them to do after all. However, they are not very specific in their destruction. While they might help in ridding the body of these bad guys, they normally end up destroying just as many good cells as well. Red blood cells and mitochondrial cells (our energy producers) are especially susceptible to destruction by glycoalkaloids. 

                                                                                              (A cell wall bursting)

Should I be worried about nightshades?

At low doses, humans normally only experience minor symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, headaches, and some inflammation or swelling. Because these symptoms can come on quickly or take days due to transit time in the intestines, it's hard to associate these symptoms with what you're eating. Many people will have very little reaction to nightshades, and possibly none at all. If you are having any issues though, try taking nightshades out of your diet for two weeks and see if it makes any difference. Just make sure to substitute in good food and not junk to make up for the loss!

Monolaurin: A New Approach to Combating Viruses (and other infections)

Monolaurin: A New Approach to Combating Viruses (and other infections)

A cell, such as the cells that make up our body or the single-cell bacteria that live inside us, is a stand alone entity that is capable of eating, growing, and reproducing. Viruses, on the other hand, are unable to do any of these things on their own. In order to live and reproduce, they must insert themselves into a host cell. Therefore, viruses tread a very thin line between being classified as living or non-living.


Viruses are normally about a thousand times smaller than even that of a bacteria and have much fewer parts than any cell. They are composed of:

• Nucleic Acid - Either DNA or RNA that holds all the information the virus needs to insert into a host cell so that it can multiply.
• Protein Coat - This covers the nucleic acid and protects it.
• Lipid Membrane - This covers the protein coat and makes it very hard for our own immune system to get in and destroy the virus. Not all viruses have this, but a lot of the more well-known ones do. 

Why does our body have a hard time fighting off some of these infections?
The lipid membrane is sometimes hard to penetrate, and it blocks the immune system from getting in and destroying the nucleic acid of the virus. Monolaurin is an anti-viral agent that is found naturally in breast milk, amniotic fluid, and to some extent, coconut. So far, monolaurin has been shown to dissolve the protective membrane of 14 different viruses, including the flu, measles, herpes, Epstein-Barr virus, and the cytomegalovirus. Once this layer has been dissolved, the cells of our immune system can easily destroy the rest of the virus.




Why not just eat a lot of coconuts then?

The component found in coconuts is lauric acid, a beginner step to monolaurin. Lauric acid in coconut products is used by the body to create monolaurin in times of need. However, when ingested, only a very small percent is actually converted to monolaurin. Supplementing with monolaurin rather than coconut has shown to have a greater effect at combating infections.





Monolaurin fights more than just viruses.
The benefits of monlaurin is not just its ability to combat viruses. It has also shown to be effective against fighting a plethora of bacteria and fungi that take up residence in out body. The most amazing thing about monolaurin is its specificity. So far, no studies have shown that it does any damage to the beneficial bacteria that reside in our gut. It only seems to attack the bad one. While scientists and researchers are still working out why that is, we can still take advantage of this supplement and the amazing ways it combats infections.

How much should you take?
A normal dose is 3 scoops (3,000 mg) spread throughout the day.

~1 Week Buildup:  A 1 week buildup to the full dose is normally recommended.  Most people have  a "bacterial load" of bad bacteria in their body.  (A side bonus is that monolaurin will get rid of these bad bacteria.)  Monolaurin kills some of those bad bacteria very quickly. By building up to the full dose, you are allowing the liver plenty of time to do its normal job and filter the dead bacteria out of the blood.  

Monolaurin is very safe and has shown no side effects or interactions with other drugs, so a person can take monolaurin until they are feeling better. This can be a few weeks to a few months. People with re-occuring illnesses (especially in the cases of Herpes, Hepatitis, Lyme, CFS, and HIV) can take a maintenance dose of 1 scoop a day to help prevent the virus from coming back.






Resources:

J Drugs Dermatol. 2007 Oct;6(10):991-8. Novel antibacterial activity of monolaurin compared with conventional antibiotics against organisms from skin infections: an in vitro study. Carpo BG, Verallo-Rowell VM, Kabara J.

J Med Food. 2013 Jun;16(6):499-503. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2012.0066. In vitro and in vivo effects of two coconut oils in comparison to monolaurin on Staphylococcus aureus: rodent studies. Manohar V, Echard B., Perricone N., Ingram C., Enig M., Bagchi D., Preuss HG.

What is Leaky Gut? (Intestinal Permeability)

What is Leaky Gut? (Intestinal Permeability)

Our intestines are lined with cells which are held closely together by tight junctions.  These tight junctions allow the small nutrients our body needs to get through into the bloodstream while keeping larger food products, toxins from bacteria, and metabolic wastes from getting through.  In a good gut, the tight junctions are closed and in a leaky gut, they are open. 

How do these tight junctions open?

The intestines can be damaged by various mechanisms. Chronic inflammation, eating bad foods, nutrient deficiencies, infections, and food intolerances are all ways that these tight junctions can open up. Infections and food intolerances are extremely important factors to look at.  Each of the cells lining our intestines have receptors. Certain molecules can attach to these receptors and cause the tight junctions to open up, with bacterial toxins and certain foods being two of the most causative factors of leaky gut syndrome. In the picture below, you can see a disruptive molecule attaching to the purple receptor, which opens up the space between the cells.

Why is this bad?

The problem with leaky gut syndrome is that molecules (foods, bacteria, toxins, and even your own cells) that were never meant to be in the blood stream start to get in.  The body doesn’t recognize these molecules and your immune system starts to attack them. Every time a white blood cell sees one of the molecules, not only will it attack that molecule, but the surrounding tissue is also caught in the cross-fire and damaged. They can spread everywhere and your body will begin to notice the excessive inflammation and collateral damage in the areas these molecules deposit. Remember, when I say molecules, I’m talking about food molecules, bacteria, toxins from the environment, and even your own intestinal cells that were damaged and now floating in the bloodstream. 

What conditions can leaky gut cause?

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lupus

Psoriasis

Eczema

Fibromyalgia

Vasculitis

Memory Disorders

Asthma

Food Allergies

Brain Fog

Migraines

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Digestive Problems

Stomach Pains

Anxiety

Depression

Constipation/Diarrhea

How do you test for leaky gut?

 If the disruptive molecules are passing between the cells and into the bloodstream, it will cause the breakdown of zonulin and occludin, and we can test for those in your blood.

If the disruptive molecules are passing through the cells and into the blood stream, it will cause the breakdown of actomyosin, and we can test for actomyosin in your blood.

Leaky gut, or intestinal permeability, is fairly common in the United States. If you feel that you have any of the conditions or symptoms listed above, it is important to get tested or talk to your functional medicine doctor about ways to treat and prevent! Leaky gut has been scientifically related to many different health conditions, but these other symptoms can take a few years to appear after leaky gut begins. This is why it's important to start taking care of your body now; to prevent anything from going wrong later and instead  enjoying a long, healthy life!