Category: Articles and Recipes

Turkey Broth

from Denise Bartus, Office Manager

When you are done with your holiday turkey, save the carcass.  Here’s an easy way to make turkey broth in an insta-pot.

Recipe by Pressure Cook Recipes at https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com 

Prep15 mins

Cook2 hrs

Servings – 10 cups

Ingredients

  • 2½ pounds or more roasted turkey bones
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 10 cups cold water
  • 2 medium onions, diced (keep the outer layers)
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorn
  • A pinch of dried rosemary
  • A pinch of dried sage
  • A pinch of dried thyme
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Optional Flavor Enhancing Step: Toss turkey bones & carcasses with 2 tbsp olive oil. Roast them in a preheated 450°F oven until browned (about 30 – 45 minutes).
  2. Prepare Pressure Cooker: While the bones are roasting in the oven, heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot users: press Sauté button and click Adjust button to Sauté More function). Make sure your pot is as hot as it can be (Instant Pot: wait until indicator says HOT).
  3. Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Then, add diced onion in the pressure cooker. Sauté for roughly a minute until soften. Add minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Sauté Celery and Carrot: Add in chopped celery and carrot. Sauté until the vegetables are slightly browned (roughly 10 minutes). At the 5 minutes mark, add in 1 tsp whole black peppercorn, all the herbs, and 2 bay leaves into the pressure cooker.
  5. Deglaze: Add ½ cup cold water in the pressure cooker and deglaze by scrubbing the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.
  6. Pressure Cook the Turkey Stock: Add all the roasted turkey bones and 9.5 cups cold water into the pressure cooker. If you are using apple cider vinegar, add in 1 tbsp. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 45 – 60 minutes + Natural Release. Open the lid carefully. Full Natural release will take roughly 1 hour. You can do a 30 minutes natural release if you like.
  7. Strain & Store the Turkey Stock: Strain turkey stock through a fine-mesh strainer. Let it cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight. Skim off the layer of fat on the surface of the stock.

 

Storage Duration: keep in the fridge for 3 to 5 days; freeze for up to 6 months.

Ruby Beets with Balsamic Glaze & Fresh Herbs

from Joan Haynes, NMD

Potent antioxidant powerhouses, the mighty beet will bring a splash of color and rich flavor to your harvest table.

Recipe from www.organicvalley.coop

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

3 pounds beets – scrubbed and trimmed
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons organic butter (if dairy sensitive substitute gee or non-dairy butter)
2 teaspoons tamari soy sauce
fresh herbs (for garnish)

Instructions:

  1. In a large saucepan, cover beets with lightly salted water by 1 inch. Simmer beets, covered, 30 to 35 minutes, or until tender, and drain in a colander.
  1. Cool beets until they can be handled and slip off skins and stems. Cut beets lengthwise into wedges. Please note: beets may be prepared up to this point 2 days ahead. Just cover and place in the fridge. Bring beets to room temperature before proceeding.
  1. In a large skillet, stir together the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, and Organic Valley Salted Cultured Butter. Add beets.  Over moderate heat, cook beet mixture with salt and pepper to taste, until heated through and coated well.

Serving Suggestions:

Choose one of the following fresh herbs to enliven the senses of your holiday guests:
~Thyme – use 1 teaspoon
~Rosemary – use 1/2 teaspoon
~Basil – use 2 teaspoons or more
~Chives – to taste
Rinse the herbs well, pat dry, reserve beautiful sprigs for the garnish. Finely chop and sprinkle herbs over the beets.
Toss gently, garnish and Enjoy!

Immune Boosting Soup

from Nicole Maxwell, NMD

Make this a part of your regular diet or give your immune system a boost when it needs it. Ginger has warming qualities that can help heat you from the inside-out making it an ideal ingredient for immune support foods. Ginger is indicated

for cold and congestive conditions with digestive or respiratory debility. Garlic provides immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Onions are high in vitamin C and provide fructans, food for the beneficial bacteria in your colon. Shiitake improves human immunity in part through increased sIgA production. Lemon is packed with vitamin C and other electrolytes. Parsley is packed with beneficial nutrients, essential oils and antioxidants.

This recipe comes from Dr. William Mitchell, NMD at www.bastyr.edu.

Ingredients

1 quart chicken broth (or substitute mushroom or miso broth/paste – you

can find these at your local health food store)

1 small yellow onion, chopped

4 clove cloves garlic, crushed and chopped (or more to taste)

1 each carrot, grated

4 each fresh Shiitake mushrooms, sliced (or more to taste)

1-3 tbsp ginger root, grated (or more to taste)

1 each fresh lemon, juiced

3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

Bring the broth, onion, garlic, carrot, mushrooms and ginger root to a slow boil. Reduce heat and simmer on low, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove from heat; add the lemon juice and parsley. Cover and steep, off the heat, for 5 minutes. Eat and enjoy!

Notes:

For a five-serving batch, you can use up to 10 cloves of garlic, up to 8 shiitake mushrooms or up to 3 tablespoons ginger, depending on your preference.  You can start the soup with half the total garlic you desire; then crush the remaining cloves, adding them with the lemon juice at the end. This retains more of the immune modulating constituents.

Winter Salad

from Joan Haynes, NMD

Winter Salad – Roasted Cauliflower, Dates, Red Onion & Parsley

Lettuce based salads can feel cold in the winter, this salad is lower carb, crunchy, and fresh tasting.  Great for dinner or left over the next day for a packed lunch.

Recipe from Carmen at http://www.everylastbite.com

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Roasted Cauliflower

  • 1 medium cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano

Vinaigrette

  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp tahini (sesame seed butter)
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Salad

  • 1/3 cup dates, cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts toasted

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius)
  2. In a bowl toss the cauliflower florets in olive oil and then sprinkle with paprika, oregano and salt. Toss the florets with your hands to make sure they are evenly coated. Lay the cauliflower out on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 20 minutes until the cauliflower is tender and golden in color.
  3. While the cauliflower is cooking, in a bowl whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, zest, apple cider vinegar, tahini, salt and pepper. Set aside.
  4. Once the cauliflower is cooked, remove from the oven and place it in a bowl along with the dates, red onion, pine nuts and parsley. Pour the vinaigrette overtop and toss until all coated. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Our Winter Holiday Gift to You – Recipes!

Our practitioners and staff have gathered some healthy & yummy recipes for you. All these recipes are wheat, dairy, egg, sugar, and soy free but are full of flavor! Enjoy!

Click here  to print them all at once.

Winter Salad

from Joan Haynes, NMD

A lettuce salad can sometimes feel too cold in the winter, this roasted cauliflower with dates, red onion, parsley and tahini dressing is delightful for dinner and leftover lunches.

Immune Boosting Soup

from Nicole Maxwell, NMD

Loaded with proven immune stimulating plants like shitake mushrooms, ginger, and garlic this comforting soup will help prevent and even help treat colds and flus.

Ruby Beets with Balsamic Glaze & Fresh Herbs

Full of color and antioxidants, beets are one of my favorite foods.

Apple Cider & Herb Brined Turkey

from Emily Dickerson, NMD

Brining a turkey produces very flavorful, juicy, and tender meat. This is from my favorite book I recommend to my patients.

Turkey Broth

from Denise Bartus, Office Manager

When you are done with your holiday turkey, here’s an easy way to make turkey broth in an insta-pot.

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Variations

from Kara Ferguson, Finance Manager

I love Brussels Sprouts – this is such a quick way to make them.

Nervines:  Herbs to Take the Edge Off

by Joan Haynes, NMD

Life can be stressful (sometimes overwhelming) and when we come home from our demanding work day to our demanding home life, lots of us reach for an alcoholic beverage to help us relax.  But instead, consider a cup of tea that accomplishes the same goals, but without the long-term negative side effects on your body.  In fact, nervine herbs would be good through out the day, not just at the evening.

Nervines are a category of herbs that help support the nervous system.  They can relieve muscle tension, calm anxiety, and some can help us sleep.  They can be taken in capsules, tincture or tea.  You can mix and match combinations to get the effect you want.  Many are also good for children.

Here’s a list of nervines from Mountain Rose Herbs:

Common Nervines

  • Oat tops – Very gentle tonic herb that helps support the nervous system without a perceptibly calming action. Can help reduce fatigue and support nerve functioning over time. Great for anyone who is overworked or relies on caffeine to get through the day.
  • Skullcap – Wonderfully gentle and nourishing to the nervous system. Helps relieve occasional tension and stress, circular thoughts, and nervousness. Can be used throughout the day during stressful situations or at night before bed to calm worried thoughts.
  • Chamomile – A classic, relaxing nighttime tea, this nervine herb is also helpful for relieving mild daily mental stress.
  • Lavender – Calming herb that is often used in aromatherapy applications for its mild calming action. Lovely when used in the bath, massage oils, pillows, room sprays, or body fragrance to uplift the spirit.
  • Lemon balm – Sunshine in plant form, this herb helps with nervous exhaustion, gloom, and restlessness while also providing pure aromatic pleasure. Simply rubbing a leaf between your fingers and smelling its citrusy oils can elevate the mood.
  • Catnip – Gentle, calming herb for sleeplessness in children and the elderly.
  • California poppy – Used for its calming properties, this plant helps promote relaxation in those seeking rest.
  • Passionflower – This stunning plant is helpful for relieving general tension, occasional nervous restlessness, and supporting restful sleep.
  • Hops – With a distinctive flavor and action known well by beer drinkers everywhere, this plant supports relaxation (although the effect can be considered hypnotic) and helps calm a nervous stomach.
  • Valerian – When sleep seems impossible thanks to nervous energy at night, this potent herb can support relaxation for many busy-brained folks. For some people, however, valerian can have the opposite effect of relaxation, causing more anxiety and stimulation, so if this happens to you, we recommend seeking another herbal ally.

How to Turn Coffee into a Super Food

by Joan Haynes, NMD

I’m a coffee lover, as are many of my patients.  Instead of feeling guilty about our habit, let’s focus on how to drink this delicious brew to improve our health:

 

Here are some highlights of health improvements you can look forward to:

  1. Better Cognition The daily and long term performance improvements and neuroprotective benefits of coffee are not due to caffeine alone, but also to other bioactive compounds in coffee.
  2. Decreases Sugar Cravings Caffeine binds to your opioid receptors, prohibiting you from cravings something else, such as sugar.  Coffee also lowers your blood glucose level.
  3. Increases Your Metabolism Coffee increases your metabolism up to 20 % if consumed before exercise without sugar.
  4. Disease Prevention There are many studies about coffee and the majority are quite positive.  Some of the conditions which coffee lowers the risk of include type II diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s Disease, prostate cancer, liver cancer, and stroke.
  5. Benefit to the Microbiome Increases the metabolic activity and/or numbers of beneficial Bifidobacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.

 

For a more in-depth discussion about the health benefits of coffee, see Dr. Mercola’s article.

 

Dr. Joan’s Three Coffee Rules

  1. Amount matters

Stick to drinking coffee in the morning and limit yourself to one mug a day – okay, maybe two.  Although, some studies encourage drinking more.  Watch for side effects like rapid heart rate, anxiety/irritability, trouble sleeping.  (If you are caffeine sensitive or have an adverse reaction to coffee, you may not have the same reaction to a different brand, a different type of bean, or a different brewing method.)

  1. Quality counts

Buy organic, fresh roasted, whole beans and grind them yourself.  Darker roasts have less caffeine and more of the health promoting compounds than light roasts.

  1. Healthful Additives

    • “Milks” – My strong preference is coconut cream. It comes in a can and is thicker than regular coconut milk.  Transfer it to a jar, store in the fridge, and use 1 TBSP in each mug.  Coconut cream is full of MCTs (medium chain triglycerides) shown to provide quick energy, boost fat burning, and help prevent Alzheimer’s.
    • Sweetener – None is best, but I use ½ teaspoon of local honey in my cup. Stevia is another great choice but gives a distinct taste that some don’t care for.  Stay away from artificial sweeteners.
    • Turmeric – 1 – 2 teaspoons in each mug. Don’t be afraid to try this!  So yummy.  All the anti-inflammatory and anticancer benefits of turmeric with an amazing East Indian flavor.  You can add a dash of cardamom, cinnamon, or nutmeg.  Wonderful with coconut milk and honey.

Kale and Biotin Can Interfere with Thyroid Function and Lab Reports

By Joan Haynes, NMD

Kale and Other Cruciferous Veggies

Kale is a cruciferous vegetable related to other well-known healthy veggies such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. Cruciferous vegetables are unique in that they are rich sources of healthy, sulfur-containing compounds known as glucosinolates.  Glucosinolates form a substance called goitrin that can suppress the function of the thyroid gland by interfering with iodine uptake, which can, as a result, cause poor function and enlargement of the thyroid gland.

Cooking Destroys Glucosinolates

Once cooked, cruciferous foods lose up to 80% of their goitrogenic (iodine interfering) chemicals, so they no longer block the uptake of iodine.  Studies show steaming for 3 minutes ensures the bioavailability of helpful nutrients we want from these vegetables but destroys the goitrogenic effect.  Blanching (cooking the vegetable quickly in boiling water) is extra effective because the glucoinolates float off into the water.  I strongly recommend cooked, daily cruciferous veggies with some occasional raw ones weekly too.

Green Smoothie Danger

Many people are under the mistaken impression that a daily raw kale smoothie is a healthy choice.  Certainly, the occasional one is fine, but its when people are having daily, massive amounts of kale that we see interference of thyroid function.  Especially juicing of kale in large amounts and on a very frequent bases is not recommended either, especially for people who may already be iodine deficient such as vegetarians and vegans.

Biotin – A Culprit in Thyroid Testing

Biotin is a B vitamin, and the Institute of Medicine recommends a daily intake of 30 mcg.  That’s micrograms.  But many patients take “hair, skin, and nails” supplements that contain milligram doses – that’s a thousand fold increase.  When patients take megadoses of biotin, it can cause falsely high and falsely low results in a variety of laboratory tests, including thyroid tests.  Inaccurate test results can cause misdiagnoses and even mistreatment.  Be sure to tell your health care providers about  all the nutrients you are taking when you are getting lab work.

 

Here’s some links if you want to read more:

https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/hypothyroidism/news-update-can-kale-cause-hypothyroidism

https://endocrinenews.endocrine.org/january-2016-thyroid-month-beware-of-biotin/

https://hormonesbalance.com/articles/truth-cruciferous-thyroid-not-think/

Pets, Kids, Lawn Chemicals and Alternatives  

Did you know that lawn spray has been found on 70% of pets up to 8 days after application?  Find out more about allergic reactions and the dangers of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides on the studies below.  Learn alternatives to safely manage weeds see below.

Your lawn isn’t the only place you maybe exposed to dangerous chemicals. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s great links for keeping your children, pets and your home safe from toxins. Consider testing for toxic chemicals in your body at BNHC.

Information and Studies about Pets and Lawn Chemicals:

Household Chemical Exposures and the Risk of Canine Malignant Lymphoma, a Model for Human Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Detection of herbicides in the urine of pet dogs following home lawn chemical application.

Case-Control Study of Canine Malignant Lymphoma: Positive Association With Dog Owner’s Use of 2, 4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid Herbicides

Household chemical exposures and the risk of canine malignant lymphoma, a model for human non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

An observational study of the potential for human exposures to pet-borne diazinon residues following lawn applications

Dogs are ingesting, inhaling and otherwise being exposed to garden and lawn chemicals that have been associated with bladder cancer

Helpful Links

Organic Landscape 

Organic Lawn Care 101

Rutgers Organic Land Care Manual 

Other Pesticide Resources

Pesticide Action Network In the U.S., one of every two men and one of every three women are likely to develop cancer over the course of a lifetime — and pesticides are part of the reason why.

DIY Weed Spray –by Dr. Becker published in Planet Paws

“This DIY home spray is very effective at killing foliage (all plants) so it’s important to make sure it only contacts the weeds you want to kill (as it will also kill grass). Also note vinegar that is 10-20% acetic acid means it’s much stronger than regular vinegar, which is why it’s so effective for killing foliage. The essential oils add a serious extra kick for pesky weeds, but there are some cautions to be aware of before mixing up this potent brew: I recommend wearing protective gloves and eyewear (vinegar burns if you accidently get it on your skin) and if you’re sensitive to smells, a mask is also smart. Mix the three ingredients in a well-ventilated area and store in a heavy duty, non-corrosive container (the solution will dissolve cheaper plastic spray bottles quickly).

Recipe:

Spray weeds directly with solution in the heat of the day, in direct sunshine, preferably when temperatures are above 70 degrees. The solution works best when the soil is dry, so don’t apply it the day rain is forecasted.

Keep pets off of sprayed areas until dry (as solution can be irritating to skin). This nontoxic weed killer is super effective, but won’t harm the earth or the animals contacting the weeds after it dries. Happy spraying, and here’s  to green, non-toxic lawns.”

Caution with Iodine Supplements

by Joan Haynes, NMD

Many patients have come to the clinic taking large doses of iodine, in hope that it will improve their thyroid function and help with fatigue or weight gain. While iodine is critical to human health and proper thyroid function, too much of it can become toxic to the body.  How many micrograms or milligrams should you be taking a day?

In my opinion, the RDI (Recommended Daily Intake)is set too low at 150 mcg per day.  Iodine is probably safe at doses up to 1 mg per day, but a common supplement has 12.5 mg per capsule and people sometimes take 4 of them per day!!  Note the difference between micrograms (mcg) and milligrams (mg).  This is over 300 times the RDI and can lead to trouble.

What is Iodine

Iodine is a trace mineral “critical to human health. It forms the basis of thyroid hormones and plays many other roles in human biochemistry. While the thyroid gland contains the body’s highest concentration of iodine, the salivary glands, brain, cerebrospinal fluid, gastric mucosa, breasts, ovaries and a part of the eye also concentrate iodine. In the brain, iodine is found in the choroid plexus, the area on the ventricles of the brain where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced, and in the substantia nigra, an area associated with Parkinson’s disease.” 1

To understand the technical difference between iodine and iodide, read more here.

Symptoms of Low Iodine

Goiter (enlarged thyroid), hypothyroidism, intellectual disability, and cretinism (congenital hypothyroidism leading to stunted physical and mental development), fibrocystic breast disease, muscle pain.  There is also some concern that low iodine levels permit the over-accumulation of other similar minerals called halides – floride, bromide, chloride which are ubiquitous in our environment.

Iodine Toxicity

Different people have different needs for minerals.  If someone’s genetics come from an iodine-poor part of the world and suddenly they have a large increase in their intake, they may develop thyroid problems.  This may occur because their thyroid has become very efficient at utilizing small amounts of iodine.  In particular, they may develop iodine-induced hyperthyroidism.

Iodism (iodine poisoning) produces a brassy taste, runny nose, and acne-like skin lesions.  It can also cause a goiter, the enlargement of the thyroid gland, thirst, diarrhea, weakness, and convulsions.

There aren’t good statistics on how common these side effects are, but one researcher and clinician who routinely uses up to 50 mg doses of daily iodine reports that side effects occur in less around 5 percent of patients.  He reports hyperthyroidism, allergies, swelling of the salivary glands and thyroid.

There is a big debate going on in the alternative medicine community about iodine.  If you’d like to read more about that read this article The Great Iodine Debate by Westin Price Foundation.

How to Use Iodine Safely

The Reference Daily Intake is 100-150 mcg per day.  Many clinicians think this is too low. This will prevent goiters and other overt signs of deficiency but may not be adequate to prevent other conditions of iodine deficiency.

The average person, who is not using iodized salt, should take a multivitamin-mineral supplement with iodine in it.  We should all also eat plenty of iodine rich foods.

IODINE RICH FOODS 4

 

FOOD AMOUNT OF IODINE PORTION
Iodized salt 45 mcg 1/8 of a teaspoon
Seaweed/dried kelp 19 – 2,984 mcg 1 sheet dried
Cod (wild caught) 99 mcg 3 oz
Yogurt, whole, grassfed 75 mcg 1 cup
Egg 24 mcg 1 egg
Tuna 17 mcg 3 oz
Lima Beans 16 mcg 1 cup cooked
Corn 14 mcg ½ cup cooked
Green Peas 6 mcg 1 cup cooked
Bananas 3 mcg 1 medium

The Bottom Line

Iodine doesn’t work by itself for thyroid health.  Your thyroid also needs selenium, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium and the amino acid tyrosine from protein.  Using these nutrients along with iodine might prevent problems in cases where high doses of iodine might lead to thyroid problems.

If you are treating a low thyroid, then you want to make sure that if you do use larger doses that you are monitoring your thyroid through lab testing.  Bottom line – I recommend sticking with microgram (mcg) dosages and including seaweed and dried kelp into your diet regularly.

References

  1. https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/modern-diseases/the-great-iodine-debate/
  2. https://www.thyroid.org/iodine-deficiency/
  3. http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v13n14.shtml
  4. https://draxe.com/iodine-rich-foods/