by M.Cokas on March 5, 2010
About 4 weeks ago I embarked on a new journey in my life. Never having been on a diet before, my husband and I were looking for one that we could use to quickly shed a few pounds before walking in the Re-Vamp Fashion Show. After a couple days of research we finally decided on the anti-candida diet. If I was going to make this sacrifice and actually deny myself certain foods, I wanted it to be the most beneficial for our health at the same time.
I have done a lot of research on candida overgrowth over the past 4 weeks and it has been really enlightening. It has sent me on a completely different path nutritionally and I have changed my family’s diet in many ways for life. The best resource I have found for info is The Whole Approach . I personally did not buy any of the supplements that they sell on the website, however, I am taking a high quality probiotic and rotating using oil of oregano, coconut oil, grapefruit seed extract, garlic and pau d’arco tea to fight the candida. These are all available at natural food stores.
The gist of the diet is you want to re-balance your digestive flora (which takes time) by starving the candida (an opportunistic naturally occurring yeast that is normally a part of digestion). Nearly 80% of the population suffer from an overgrowth due to widely prescribed antibiotics, birth controls and the Standard American Diet (SAD). Within this population, range dozens of related health problems including allergies to environmental stimuli and food, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, sinus and bronchial infections, skin conditions, digestive problems, brain fog, indecisiveness, joint pain etc. In most cases doctors do not recognize candida overgrowth as the disorder and will attempt to treat symptoms only. I really think that we are in the midst of an epidemic. The rates of childhood illness, allergies and behavioral disorders is climbing at an alarming rate. Most people have no idea that the majority of the food they consume is harmful and of little to no nutritional value, especially because of the way it is prepared.
Candida thrive on sugar and simple carbohydrates – so the first phase of the diet is eliminating those almost completely. No sugars of any kind including fruit, honey and agave (we’ve still been eating a VERY small amount of green apple and berries from time to time), no refined flours or gluten – which means no bread, pasta, ect… No milk (it has lactose, which is a sugar) and no alcohol. The first phase is 3 – 4 months and then you move on to add more things back in in the 2nd phase. The third phase is probably one that we will base more on The Weston Price Foundation and continue for life, after a couple months in this way of eating having some things that aren’t in the diet here or there don’t impact you as negatively as they do when you still have overgrowth, so it is ok at that point.
Another important factor in this new realm of nutrition is knowing where your food is coming from and how it is raised, treated and grown. I highly recommend watching Food Inc and Future of Food (this one is free on hulu). The state of our nations food industry is absolutely appalling and it has really opened my eyes. I now try to source as much of my food through organic and local sources as possible. There are many excellent local farms in the area, many organic and even some that are biodynamic.
Chris and I have both lost more than 15lbs (and any trace of cellulite) in the past 4 weeks and it was not by starving ourselves. It has been through consuming healthy, natural (responsibly produced) fats, such as grassfed raw milk, butter, meats and eggs, eating lots of veggies and preparing everything from scratch (no more packaged foods). We’ve discovered lots of ways to create the tastes we used to love even within the somewhat strict boundaries of phase one. In the process I have developed a new love for cooking and am really embracing domestic goddess-hood.
Beyond the weight loss, I have experienced a tremendous increase in energy and clarity, the dark circles under my eyes are diminishing and I’m more driven and optimistic. I’m looking forward to seeing what other benefits the diet brings me in the future.
by J.English on December 30, 2009
Many people have been feeling the financial pinch this season, myself included. We had many grand ideas of how we should spend our New Years. In the end we all decided we would feel less stress by staying close to home. It will be just as magical if not more so and we will be sharing instead of spending.
Missy and I love to throw parties. Sometimes we make advanced plans that we don’t follow, most of the time we scramble up something awesome the day before. Seeing as this is the day before it’s definitely scramble time.
The Setting:
We have a 4 bed room house, 10-12 guests including hosts, 4 kiddies to tend to and lots of random items to attempt to decorate and create a theme with. We want to make it magical. I also want Missy and Chris to feel like they aren’t just having another low key dinner party.
Supplies:
1. Everyone’s bringing food or wine
2. Lots of random left over booze
3. Missy’s craft room (crafting and herb central, this will be a big help)
4. Lots of luck
We still need a theme. It will help us transform the space. We are thinking 50’s pot luck and martini party, or Mad Hatter’s style with fancy treats and hidden treasures.
I will keep you posted on our progress. If anyone has ideas please share!
by admin on December 20, 2009
We love to party at the Cokas house and find ourselves there most Saturdays. It has evolved into a food and wine tasting extravaganza. Last night I believe we found one of our all time favorite wines. We headed down to Divine Wine Emporium in Niantic, CT, our go to wine shop. Ken Turcotte, the owner, has a great and ever changing inventory and extensive knowledge of everything we decide to try. I’m a sucker for shiny things, so the red foil label grabbed me right away. Then as we poured our first round of the Pinot Noir Cava, the rich ruby color made me want to change into an outfit that would complement it. There’s nothing better than a drink that makes you feel fancy *insert cheesy grin*.
Segura Viudas ARIA Pinot Noir Brut Cava is full of light fruit flavors such as strawberry, watermelon and elderberry with a very smooth finish. It doesn’t sit on the back of your pallet the way many other sparkling wines do. This Cava is a brut wine so it has no added sugar, though on first taste you would never believe it. This wine hits your tongue like a watermelon jolly rancher but as it rolls to the back of your pallet its crispy dryness takes over and finishes with an adult complexity and smoothness.
A note on wine terms:
Sparkling wines are categorized by the region where they are produced. Champagne for example, is a sparkling wine produced in the Champagne region of France. Cava is Spain’s version of sparkling wine. One of the nice benefits of Cava is that you can purchase a delicious bottle for $10-$15, a real value compared to it’s pricey French counterpart.
So pick up a bottle of Aria’s Pinot Noir and shift your party into full gear.
by M.Cokas on November 9, 2009
Building a Green Smoothie
I recently became hooked on green smoothies as a delicious and efficient way to eat raw greens. Greens provide so many essential nutrients for every part of the body, they can even help to remineralize your teeth and reverse tooth decay. It hasn’t always been easy to consume the recommended daily amount, especially if you are trying to get your kids to eat them. Well, it can be easy – enter the Green Smoothie. When I started making these smoothies for my family life became easier, my children got healthier and I felt good about the level of nutrition my children were getting.
Kai Likes to Push the Button
What is a green smoothie? A green smoothie is really any frozen blended fruit beverage that you add greens to and no, it isn’t necessarily green in color. It is also a great place to hide other superfoods like chia. There are hundreds, probably even thousands of combinations out there that you can suit to your own tastes, but I have a very basic recipe that I work from most of the time.
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by J.English on November 9, 2009
Halloween is my favorite holiday to spend in New York City. The rain only added to the experience. The beauty of living in Connecticut is we are very close to Boston and New York. We can easily get out of our day to day and experience the Big City. Ed and I drove down to New Haven and took Metro North into Grand Central Station (round trip ticket $30). Taking the train means no stressful traffic, good quality chill time and no worries about finding parking. Believe me, you do not want to get towed in NYC. Plus having a couple drinks is way more fun when no one has to drive.
Arriving at Grand Central Station
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by J.English on October 30, 2009
I love it when my fiance calls me up to grab lunch. The Dutch Tavern is the oldest bar in New London, CT and one of our favorite midday spots. They serve a very traditional american lunch. Peter Detmold (the owner) is the only one you’ll ever find on the grill and thats the way he likes it. It’s also one of the few places left you can eat for under $5. The Dutch is known for it’s burgers, though my favorites are the tuna melt (pictured above) and the Veggie burger. Just make sure you get there before 3:30pm when he shuts down the grill. Oh and don’t forget to say hi to Ellie.
Let us know your favorite lunch spot.
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Jessie w/ tuna melt and potato salad
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Ed chewing…yummy
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Classic Lunch
by M.Cokas on October 29, 2009
Dried Calendula Flowers
The more I see pharmaceutical companies advertising their latest fad drugs on television the more research I am drawn to doing on herbal and homeopathic treatments. I am a strong believer in healing yourself from within and think that in the majority of cases, the body has what it needs to heal without any magic pill. By the same token, if I am miserable due to some acute condition, and there is something that will help me get relief faster, I will take it into consideration. When there is a natural remedy available the choice is much easier for me as I prefer to leave man-made chemical concoctions as a last resort. So I would like to offer up the information I have gleaned from my own experience, one herb at a time.
The first herb I want to talk about is calendula. The flower of the calendula plant can be used for several different applications. It boasts anti-viral, anti-genotoxic (fights against cell mutations or tumors), antibacterial, immunostimulant (boosting the immune responses) and anti-inflammatory properties. The dried flowers can be prepared in many different ways including as a tincture or a cream, though for my uses I made tea and infusions, by just boiling the flowers in some hot water. I’ve sipped the tea when I was feeling a cold coming on and the infusion I have used for my family to aid in relief of itchy skin. I’ve seen the infusion work almost instantaneously for allergic reactions and it is also highly touted for immediate use on bee stings. I personally feel it is one of the best herbs to have in your natural healing arsenal.
Calendula in My Home Apothecary
by M.Cokas on October 28, 2009
Soaked Chia Seeds
I recently started researching Chia seeds, one of the new ’superfoods’ that has really changed my daily life. I say new, but really Chia use has been traced as far back as the Mayans and Aztecs. It’s also quite familiar to most of us from it’s popular life as the novelty plant Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia. Yet, the more I learned about this powerhouse, the more I loved it. These little seeds are literally packed with nutrients, one of the best sources of essential fatty acids, antioxidants and soluble fiber all in one tiny package. They help regulate blood sugar levels and create long sustaining energy for the body. Another big benefit Chia seeds have to offer, they are hydrophilic, absorbing many times their own weight in water so they are super-hydrating.
The easily digestable Chia seed also has a neutral flavor profile which makes them a joy to consume in hundreds of different ways. One of the easiest I’ve found, Chia Fresca, which basically means just toss a tablespoon in your favorite juice concoction. I’ve tried several different juices, fresh lemon with honey & water; limes, a touch of habanero & agave; or my quick on the way out the door: half water, half orange juice. You can throw them into smoothies or bake with them, you can even make your own natural gelatin type fruit dessert by mixing them with cut fruit and juice and then allowing them to set up. As a Chia seed is introduced to moisture it begins to form a gelatinous layer around the seed that creates a unique texture, I liken it to eating kiwi seeds. Get yourself some Chia and get ready to take your life up a notch.
Chia Seeds in Water
Chia Seeds in Water
by M.Cokas on October 26, 2009
Did you know that Coffee is one of the top five “Brain Foods”? Yes, coffee often gets a bad rap, but the truth of the matter is, ingested without all those sweet and creamy dilutions, it actually has many benefits for both the body and the brain. Packed with amino acids, phytochemicals, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, this popular morning beverage can be a great way to kick both your body and mind into high gear. If you think coffee can’t be delicious without cream and sugar, perhaps it’s time to upgrade your coffee. Choosing a freshly roasted whole bean coffee that you grind in a Burr grinder just before brewing can be the difference between a drink that needs to hide in modifiers an an excellent cup of black coffee.
Freshly Roasted Coffee Beans
Next time you’re thinking of leaving a vice behind, consider the sugar and the cream – not the coffee.
