My Projects

9/27/07 Juicing Recipe
FCA's. 1) Post in your blog under my projects a copy of your juice recipe. 2) For each vegetable and/or fruit write about what it is traditionally used for in regards to your health and what each ingredient is a good source of for vitamins, minerals, etc. 3) Present your recipe to the class as well as make your juice for the class to share. 4) copy everyone’s juicing project and paste it in your “shared projects area in your blog

Apple Strawberry Delight

• 5-6 apples
• 1 cup strawberries

Cut the apples up into sections, juice the ingredients and enjoy!

Strawberry:

Traditionally used for: Acne, Kidneys, and weight loss

Vitamins: Calcium, Potassium, Iron and Vitamin C.

Apples:

Traditionally used for: Arthritis, fingernails, calming of the digestive tract, liver, skin and weight loss.

Vitamins: Vitamin C, Iron, potassium, and Vitamin A

9/21/07 The Grain Group

Health Benefits and Nutrients

Eating grains, especially whole grains, provides health benefits. People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Grains provide many nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of our bodies.Health benefits
Consuming foods rich in fiber, such as whole grains reduces the risk of heart disease. Consuming foods rich in fiber, such as whole grains, as part of a healthy diet, may reduce constipation. Eating at least 3 ounce equivalents a day of whole grains may help with weight management. Eating grains fortified with folate before and during pregnancy helps prevent tube defects during fetal development. Grains are important sources of many nutrients, including dietary fiber, several B vitamins and minerals. Dietary fiber from whole grains helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. Fiber is important for proper bowel function. It helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis. Fiber-containing foods such as whole grains help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories. Whole grains are good sources of dietary fiber; most refined grains contain little fiber. B vitamins are also essential for a healthy nervous system. Many refined grains are enriched with these B vitamins. Women of childbearing age who may become pregnant and those in the first trimester of pregnancy should consume adequate folate, including folic acid from fortified foods or supplements. This reduces the risk of tube defects, spina bifida, and anencephaly during fetal development. Iron is used to carry oxygen in the blood. Many teenage girls and women in their childbearing years have iron-deficiency anemia. They should eat foods high in heme-iron (meats) or eat other iron containing foods along with foods rich in vitamin C, which can improve absorption of non-heme iron. Whole and enriched refined grain products are major sources of non-heme iron in American diets.
sources: http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains_why.html

Tips to help you eat whole grains

At Meals:
To eat more whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined product – such as eating whole-wheat bread instead of white bread or brown rice instead of white rice. It’s important to substitute the whole-grain product for the refined one, rather than adding the whole-grain product. For a change, try brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. Try brown rice stuffing in baked green peppers or tomatoes and whole-wheat macaroni in macaroni and cheese.
Use whole grains in mixed dishes, such as barley in vegetable soup or stews and bulgur wheat in casserole or stir-fries. Create a whole grain pilaf with a mixture of barley, wild rice, brown rice, broth and spices. For a special touch, stir in toasted nuts or chopped dried fruit.
Experiment by substituting whole wheat or oat flour for up to half of the flour in pancake, waffle, muffin or other flour-based recipes. They may need a bit more leavening. Use whole-grain bread or cracker crumbs in meatloaf. Try rolled oats or a crushed, unsweetened whole grain cereal as breading for baked chicken, fish, veal cutlets, or eggplant parmesan. Try an unsweetened, whole grain ready-to-eat cereal as croutons in salad or in place of crackers with soup. Freeze leftover cooked brown rice, bulgur, or barley. Heat and serve it later as a quick side dish.

As Snacks:
Snack on ready-to-eat, whole grain cereals such as toasted oat cereal. Add whole-grain flour or oatmeal when making cookies or other baked treats. Try a whole-grain snack chip, such as baked tortilla chips. Popcorn, a whole grain, can be a healthy snack with little or no added salt and butter.

What to Look for on the Food Label:
Choose foods that name one of the following whole-grain ingredients first on the label’s ingredient list:
“brown rice”
“bulgur”
“graham flour”
“oatmeal”
“whole-grain corn”
“whole oats”
“whole rye”
“whole wheat”
“wild rice”
Foods labeled with the words “multi-grain,” “stone-ground,” “100% wheat,” “cracked wheat,” “seven-grain,” or “bran” are usually not whole-grain products. Color is not an indication of a whole grain. Bread can be brown because of molasses or other added ingredients. Read the ingredient list to see if it is a whole grain. Read the food label’s ingredient list. Look for terms that indicate added sugars and oils that add extra calories. Choose foods with fewer added sugars, fats, or oils. Most sodium in the food supply comes from packaged foods. Similar packaged foods can vary widely in sodium content, including breads.

Whole Grain Tips for Children
Set a good example for children by eating whole grains with meals or as snacks. Let children select and help prepare a whole grain side dish. Teach older children to read the ingredient list on cereals or snack food packages and choose those with whole grains at the top of the list.

Sources: http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/grains_tips.html



9/14/07 My Pyramid Plan

Eat these amounts from each food group daily. This plan is a 2400 calorie food pattern. It is based on average needs for someone like you. (A 16 year old female, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 120 pounds, physically active more than 60 minutes a day.) Your food needs also depend on your rate of growth and other factors. See a health care provider who can track your height and weight over time to identify your specific needs.
Grains: Aim for at least 4 ounces of whole grains a day
Veggies: Aim for this much every week:
Dark Green Vegetables = 3 cups weekly
Orange Vegetables = 2 cups weekly
Dry Beans & Peas = 3 cups weekly
Starchy Vegetables = 6 cups weekly
Other Vegetables = 7 cups weekly
Oils and other: Aim for 7 teaspoons of oils a day. Limit your extras (extra fats & sugars) to 360 Calories
Physical Activity: Physical activity is also important for health. You should get at least 60 minutes of physical activity most or all days.

9/20/07
Pear Juice
1) describe what this fruit is traditionally used for, 2) good source for, 3) freshness test,4) important information, 5) general information, and what the 3 greatest amounts of vitamins are in that fruit.

Pear juice is traditionally used for bladder problems, constipation, toxin elimination, liver and prostate. It is a good source of phosphorus, Vitamins B-1 and 2, Pectin, Potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Folic acid. When you buy your pears, you want to look for pears that have a deep green color to them and possibly gold or even red. A good pear is slightly firm, yet not soft or mushy. When juicing, don't use a soft pear as it will clog your juicer, and you may want to dilute pear juice with either water or apple juice.

Sources: http://www.juicingbook.com/fruits/pear/

9/12/07Tomato Juice1) describe what this vegetable is traditionally used for,2) good source for,3) freshness test,4) important information,5) general information, and what the 3 greatest amounts of vitamins are in that vegetable.Tomato juice is one of the most popular vegtable juices, you can find it a most every supermarket or foods store. This juice is traditionally used for bladder problems, gall bladder problems, gout, kidneys, liver, skin problems, and weight loss, and it is a good source of phosphorus, sulfur, and vitamin C. You don't want rotten tomato juice, so don't juice a rotten tomato, so when purchasing one always look for one that was vine ripened and always but in season during the summer growing season. You want to avoid hothouse tomatoes, becuase they are picked green and then gassed in order to make them red. Don't forget that tomatoes are a fruit and not a vegetable, so because of this, they are best drunk alone. There is a difference in raw and cooked tomatoes. Cooked tomatoes, can leech the body of important minerals such as calcium. Raw tomatoes are good for cleansing the body, especially the liver. Here's a funny story for those that like funny and historical stories. Tomatoes leaves are actually poisonous and for the longest time, people in North America would not eat Tomatoes thinking that if the leaves were poisonous, then so must be the fruit. The a man travelled to Italy and saw everyone eating Tomatoes to his surprise! Shocked with what he saw, he travelled back to North America and began selling crushed Tomatoes as an elixir. The belief being that if the leaves are poisonous, but the fruit isn't, then it must help make you healthy. Today, this Tomato elixir is known as ketchup.Sources used: http://www.juicingbook.com/vegetables/tomato



9/12/07Red Peppers and Juicing1) describe what this vegetable is traditionally used for,2) good source for,3) freshness test,4) important information,5) general information, and what the 3 greatest amounts of vitamins are in that vegetable.When you think of juice, you may not always think of a big ol' glass of red pepper juice, but it is possible, and some people do do it. In fact, red pepper juice is traditionally used for artery cleaning, arthritis, circulation, eyes, hair loss, high blood pressure, and skin problem. Drinking this juice will supply your body with many needed nutrients including: potassium, silicon, vitamin A, and vitamin C. But, you don't want to juice a rotten pepper, so to check for freshness you always want to look for a slightly shiny pepper that looks like it has NOT been waxed. It is important to remember that a red pepper is considered a green juice, so all you need it 1/4 of it in your juice, and they have a strong flavor, so all you need is a fourth of a pepper. There are two main types of vitamins in red pepper juice, and they are Vitamin C and Vitamin A.Sources used: http://www.juicingbook.com/vegetables/pepperred/

9/11/07
Vitamins- Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine, pyridoxal phosphate)FCA’s:1) overview, benefits, natural
sources, how to use, cautions, deficiencies, overdose, side effects, interactions.
2) Look up words that you do not know. You will be presenting your project to the class.3) correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.Vitamin B-6, works as a coenzyme, a molecule that provides a transfer site for chemical reactions within your body, it helps convert tryptophan, the chemical in turkey that makes you sleepy, to niacin, which can be found in multiple foods including: meat, fish, eggs, milk, and whole grained foods.This vitamin promotes a healthy cardivascular, nervous, and immune systems, and supports healthy skin, hair and nails and a normal red- blood cell formation. It can be used as a possible anemia treatment, functions as a tranquilizer. It also causes a reduction of PMS symptoms and may reduce asthma symptoms and it increases serotonin to ease sleep. People who would benefit from taking B-6 vitamins include pregnant or breast-feeding women, substance abusers, estrogen or contraceptive user, or those with increased nutritional needs.This vitamin can be found naturally in many foods, including: avacados, bananas, chicken, ham, potatoes, salmon, shrimp, sunflower seeds, and many others. B-6 is available in liquid form, due to its fast absorption.Before taking B-6, you should consult your doctor if you have intestinal problem, liver disease, overactive thyroid, or sickle-cell disease. If you are over 55, a marginal deficincy of this vitamin is more likely to occur. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid large doses because it could cause dependency in the child. Some symptoms of deficiency include weakness, mental confusion, inablity to sleep, irratablity, anemia, or tongue discoloration. Signs of an overdose include include irreversible nerve damage, and excess use of the vitamin may lead to kidney stones. Stop and consult your doctor if depression occurs and you are on an oral contraceptive, or if you have been taking the vitamin for several months and begin to have severs sensory neuropathy.This vitamin interacts with many other substances. Some of these include: oral contraceptives reduce vitamin absorption rates, as do tobacco and alcohol and phenytoin.