Hi everyone
After a 5 week break you would expect me to be well rested and bursting at the seams with energy. Although mostly true, I am also feeling the effects of 28 hours of flying, lack of sleep and a very different diet to my usual healthy regime. I am in dire need of some of my own medicine and a detox is on the agenda!
When we were in New York I noticed many of the restaurants with signs in their windows exclaiming 'NO TRANS FATS'. These 'bad fats' have been banned throughout the entire state of NY since 2008 forcing local bakeries and McDonald's alike to change recipes and use healthier fats. Are you getting trans fats in your diet? Read the article below to find out.
In this issue:
Clinic news
Artical - Trans fat
Recipes - Almond Vanilla treats and Nut Crusted Fish fillets
Clinic news
Upcoming talk - 'Eat your Greens' is an interactive workshop that Annaliese takes on behalf of the Remuera clinic elementa. Held at The Parenting Place in Greenlane, it covers the fundamentals of childhood nutrition and is catered to the needs of each group.
This Wednesday 11th November 9.30am - 11am
Call The Parenting Place on 09 524 1387 to reserve your seat (babies welcome)
New weight loss programme - 6 weekly appointments, with a detoxification period (supplements/herbs included in price), measurement tracking, food education and recipes. This program is based on natural foods not shakes etc. Only $490 Full description
Detox programme - 2 appointments, detox meal plans with recipes and all your necessary herbal medicines and supplements for 7 days. Only $169. Valid until end January 2010 More information
Eeek! How times have changed. We now know that eating too much of the wrong kinds of fat can seriously harm our health. Meat, cheese, butter, ice cream have all gotten a bad rap on account of their saturated fat content. Vegetable oils have always been the good guys, which is why trans fat made from vegetable oils have been so mis-understood.
What is trans fat?
Trans fat is produced through two main industrial processes.
1. Partial hydrogenation, a process that adds hydrogen to liquid oils transforming them into semi-solid and solid fats.
2. Deep-fat frying can create a small amount trans fat if oils are not used properly. This can be kept to a minimum if frying oil is used at appropriate temperatures and within its lifespan.
Why does the food industry use trans fat?
Food companies like trans fat because it is easy to produce, inexpensive and because it lasts a long time. Packaged foods get a longer shelf life and frying oils in restaurants and fast food joints can be re-used more.
What's wrong with trans fat?
Trans fat increases the risk of heart disease and stroke more than any other dietary fat. Not only does it raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol, it also lowers your HDL (good) cholesterol in the body. It also increases your risk of type 2 diabetes, making them like supercharged fats or fats on steroids.
Where will I find trans fat?
Trans fat can be found in many foods – but especially in fried foods like French fries and doughnuts, baked goods including pastries, pie crusts, biscuits, pizza dough, cookies, crackers, margarines (remember when this product was the cure all?) and shortenings. Unfortunately not all food labels will state the trans fat content. You can also spot trans fats by looking for the ingredients referred to as “partially hydrogenated" vegetable oil.
Recipes
Almond Vanilla cookies (gluten free)
These cookies go a long way back to the days when I was baking and selling organic/gluten free goodies to healthfood stores. In those days (10 years ago) there was an amazing lack of palatable foods available for those with allergies, and I knew (because my mother had taught me) it didn't have to be that way. These moist vanilla cookies were sold individually in the shape of a heart and they were called 'love cookies'. They were a real hit then and they still are.
Ingredients
1 cup each of rice flour, corn flour, ground almonds
160 gm butter
1 cup of caster sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla essence
1 egg
Cream the butter and sugar then add the vanilla. In two parts, add the flours, almonds and the egg last. Mix till combined. Move the dough to a floured surface and knead for a couple of minutes before covering and moving to the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
Roll out on a floured surface and prepare for the oven. In the photo I have used mould or trays in the shape of a heart but cookie cutters work too. If using cookie cutter shapes make them about 1cm thick.
Decorate if you wish with a dab of jam, some sprinkled dried fruit or even sliced almonds.
Cook at 180*C for 20 minutes, checking after 10 minutes. Remove when ever so slightly browned on top.
Makes 10 large cookies.
Nut Crusted Fish with salad greens
This recipe is from the weight loss programme mentioned above. It is divine with a baby spinach and rocket salad.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup finely chopped nuts (can be bought or done in a coffee grinder)
1 teaspoon sea salt
Black pepper to taste
2 pieces of boneless fish, any type will do (120 g cooked weight each)
2 teaspoons fresh chopped parsley (optional)
2 cups salad greens
1 lemon
Method
1. Preheat oven to 220*C. Grease a baking sheet. Melt olive oil and butter in a pan. Remove from heat and let cool. Mix the chopped nuts together with the seasoning and put on a plate.
2. Dip the fish in oil/butter mixture and then nut mixture, press firmly so the nuts hold. Place fish on the baking sheet and bake until cooked through. Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with salad greens (dress with olive oil) and a wedge of lemon.
Thanks for reading!
Yours in health,
Annaliese Jones
www.naturalhealthcheckup.com
(09) 889 2008
021 026 11882 or email annaliese@naturalhealthcheckup.com
Pakuranga clinic - 70 Pakuranga Rd, Pakuranga. Phone 576 7700
Elementa - 347 Remuera Rd, Remuera. Phone (09) 520 4015
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