NOURISHING TRADITIONS: EXPLORING CARBOHYDRATES

written by

Sue King

posted on

June 29, 2021

What are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are the sugars, starches and fibers found in fruits, grains, vegetables and dairy products. They are the body’s main source of energy.

During the process of cooking, chewing and the prolonged enzymatic action of digestion, starches are broken down into glucose. As this glucose enters our bloodstream it supplies energy wherever it is needed. Glucose is used for all our bodily processes making it essential for life.

Unfortunately, our modern diet which includes a high percentage of refined carbohydrates has short-circuited our body’s natural functions. When we eat fruits and grains in their whole, unrefined state sugars and carbohydrates in these foods are linked together with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, protein, fat and fiber. In whole form, the sugar and starches in whole foods support life. Through the refining process necessary vitamins and minerals are striped from grains, vegetables and fruits. In this form, they deplete the body of the necessary vitamins, minerals and enzymes needed for proper metabolism.

The most common disease we are encountering in our time is type II diabetes. When we consume whole foods they are converted into the glucose our body needs. When small amounts of carbohydrate rich whole foods are combined with nourishing fats and high quality protein they are digested slowly and enter the bloodstream over several hours.

On the flip side, when we are eating a diet high in refined sugars and starches, they cause a sudden increase in blood sugar levels. This in turn causes the pancreas to flood our bodies with insulin in order to bring the sugar level back to normal. When our body is constantly being bombarded with insulin because of high blood sugar many conditions start to manifest themselves; degenerative disease, allergies, depression, learning disabilities, behavioral problems and obesity to name a few.

Just like most modern families we consumed a diet high in refined carbohydrates. Boxed cereals, pasta, factory made breads, and potato and corn chips graced our table for many years. But then the inevitable started to happen: food allergies and obesity developed. We tried so many things to alleviate these conditions, but nothing worked.

Twenty years ago we were introduced to Nourishing Traditions and the work of Weston A Price. They propose that by soaking whole grains in an acidic medium such as apple cider vinegar or yogurt the phytic acid is neutralized and doesn’t interfere with digestion. When we consume grains that have not been soaked the phytic acid ties up the absorption of iron, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc, making them unavailable to our body. Thus pre-soaking our whole grains allows our bodies to receive all the nutrients they have to offer.

So I started to soak my whole grains as they recommend and we started to eat more fermented foods. I also experimented with making sourdough breads. Unfortunately for the person in our home with grain allergies it was too late. He will more than likely have to abstain from these foods for the rest of his life. We have tried reintroducing them many times, but to no avail.

As for obesity, I can talk to that first hand. I have struggled with extra weight my whole life. After my fifth child was born I was so sick and tired of looking constantly pregnant and people asking me if I was pregnant again, I started to search for an eating plan that would address my issues. I am very thankful that the Lord lead me to two very special ladies; Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett. I do not personally know these ladies, but have benefited so much from their teaching. They have a way of connecting all the dots in laymen’s terms of what I had been learning.

So six years ago I decided I couldn’t go wrong putting their suggestions into practice. Thus started my “Trim Healthy Mama’ journey.

They teach that all foods are created GOOD. We just have to learn how to combine the three building blocks of a healthy diet. When I was learning about Trim Healthy Mama I hadn’t even heard of the Keto diet. But now I like to call it a gentler modified Keto diet.

Next week I will continue to tell you more about Trim Healthy Mama and how it has worked for me. Until then, blessing to you all. I hope you are all staying safe during this crisis we find ourselves in.

If you are new to Harmonys Way Family Farm we invite you to have a look around our website.  If you have any questions please feel free to connect with us.  If you are not a subscriber we invite you to join us on this journey called life.  With Easter just around the corner when you subscribe you will receive our little recipe booklet The Busy Cooks Guide to Preparing Amazing Lamb absolutely free.

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Pasture versus CAFO: Why Do We Raise Our Animals on Grass?

Why  Do We Raise Our Animals on Grass? I want to start to answer this question.  It all begins with our family's journey to regaining our health. In the late 1980's we started to experience varying degrees of health issues.  We sought medical help to no avail.  The doctors could not pinpoint the causes of persistent rashes, digestive problems and persistent weight gain to name a few of the difficulties we were experiencing.  It was during these challenging times that we were introduced to the concept of organic food.  We were very skeptical that switching to organic food would help these issues.  Part of our skepticism was because it would require us to spend additional money on groceries.  Another issue was that we were in a community of conventional farmers who thought there was no basis for organic claims. 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Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1171" Grab your copy of our free booklet, 6 SUPER SIMPLE COOKING METHODS TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION EVERY TIME FROM YOUR PASTURE-RAISED MEATS.  It is a great resource that you will turn to time after time.Join me next week to learn what "grass-fed" means to me.

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Making a Difference: Exploring Grassfed/Grass Finished Beef

Making a Difference: Exploring Grassfed/Grass Finished Beef

 Approximately thirty years ago many ranchers realized the adverse health effects that CAFOs were creating in their animals and the people who consumed the meat.  So instead of sending them away to a CAFO, they started keeping them on pasture until it was time to process them for food.  When animals are raised on pasture the animals grow at a natural pace, consuming only foods that were designed for their bodies.  This low-stress life came with the added benefit of virtually eliminating the use of antibiotics and many other routinely used drugs.  Pasture-based farming allows the animals to express their naturally design characteristics while being naturally healthy.  This means that the people who consume the meat benefit from the animal's health.  How can a sickly animal help us to stay healthy?  We don’t believe that it can.    There have been numerous studies done that compared CAFO meat to grass-fed and grass-finished meat.  They all found that the meat from grass-fed and grass-finished beef, lamb, bison and goats has less total fat including saturated fat, cholesterol and calories.  It also has more vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and other health-promoting fats, including omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid.  Raising animals on pasture for meat also requires more intimate knowledge of your animal' needs than sending them away when they are weaned from their mothers.  Pastures must be managed so that the plants are always at their optimal growth stage.  This provides nutrient-dense forage.  The attention to pasture management details results in succulent and tender meat for you and our family. Well-stewarded animals raised on high-quality pasture provide the opportunity for us to consume the healthiest meat possible without being concerned about what they were fed and how they have been treated.  In 1998 we made the switch from raising our animals conventionally to raising them following organic principles.  In the coming weeks, we will explore the differences in more detail.  Plus I will have some tried and tested recipes you will be sure to love. If you have been searching for locally raised and processed grass-fed and grass-finished meat raised by caring farmers whom you can talk to in person, you have come to the right place.  Every day our family puts great effort into ensuring our animals are well taken care of.   It is simple to order our grass-fed/grass-finished beef and lamb or pasture-raised pork.   Visit our online store where you can browse our large selection of farm-raised products.  When you are ready to order create your very own personal account, fill your cart, and select your preferred pickup location.  We will notify you when your order is ready to pick up.  It is that easy.  What are you waiting for? To help you get started successfully cooking with our grass-fed, pasture-raised meat you can download our 6 SUPER SIMPLE COOKING METHODS TO ACHIEVE PERFECTION EVERY TIME FROM YOUR PASTURE-RAISED MEATS booklet absolutely free. It is a great resource that you will turn to time-after-time. I know I sure do!

Read more
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