A few years back, Chia seeds hit the market as the new superfood for the health-conscious consumer. I remember when they first got marketed as a food product in this area. I had the same reaction as many other people that remember them from the early 80s when Chia Pets were a thing. “Oh how cute. Am I supposed to eat that thing?” But then I read about how the Aztec and Mayan people thrived on these tiny seeds
and at the same time formed massive empires. Chia seeds contain good omega-3 oils (ALA), calcium, protein, and lots of fiber. I gave them a try and discovered that I enjoyed the slimy little fish egg bubbles of clear fiber that formed around each seed when they were soaked in water. I made smoothies with them and healthy puddings with coconut milk and stevia added to the seeds. They were entertaining but never became a cooking staple in our house.
Recently, I came across a bit of bad news about chia seeds. Although chia seeds do have several health properties such as reducing cholesterol, lowering blood glucose in response to meals, decreasing systemic inflammation, and lowering blood pressure, it does generate a severe reaction in some folks as a lectin toxin. Chia is an American plant, which means that it has not been a part of the genetic heritage of
Western, African, or Asian peoples. Chia is like other American foods such as corn, tomato, potato, and many others. They were unknown to Europe, Asia, and Africa until the first plants were brought back by the Spanish invaders of the Americas about 500 years ago. While 500 years is not a lot of time genetically speaking to adapt to the unique plant toxins from a new continent, we'd do much better with plants that our ancestors have eaten for the last couple hundred thousand years. So, doctors
have reported “allergic” type lectin reactions to chia seeds, which may be a problem for sensitive individuals.
This became an interest when I was recently introduced to basil seeds as a food source. They react in water just like chia seeds, forming a bubble of clear fiber slime around the seed when wet. The fiber is primarily pectin and also the fiber we commonly use for making jams and jellies. We can use basil seeds for precisely that process. I make a simple fresh fruit refrigerator jam with just fruit, allulose,
lemon juice, and basil seeds. No cooking is required as the basil seeds gel up nicely without any cooking needed. Although without the excessive sugar, cooking, and pressure sealing, this jam can not be left out on the shelf. It is kept in the fridge. The lemon juice is acidic enough to not only add flavorful tartness, but it also inhibits mold formation.
Basil has been a common food and medicine in Western cultures for thousands of years. It has many different medicinal essential oils which have been found to have many beneficial properties:
Fights inflammation with anti-oxidants
Fights aging by blocking free-radicals
Fights cancer by protecting genes from mutation
Fights harmful bacterial growth
Fights viruses, yeasts, and molds
Fights depression by improving adrenal stress response
As you can see, basil does a lot of good stuff for the body. In particular, one variety of basil, known as holy basil, is a known adaptogen. Adaptogenic herbs are hormone regulators that raise low hormones and lower high ones. This adapts you to your environment and lowers your physiologic stress. Different parts of the plant are used for different purposes.
The most obvious characteristic of basil seeds that grabs our attention is how adding just a tablespoon of these seeds to a cup of water will turn that water into a cup of jelly beads in about 15 minutes. You can drink it that way. Basil seeds are traditionally added to many different beverages in different countries. I tried them in just water this morning. They don't have much taste and I felt they had a
pleasant feel going down the hatch. I noticed that they filled me up and took away my appetite. This could be a good thing. The pectin fiber that forms the gel is a wonderful food for the helpful bacteria in our gut. That gel not only feeds good bacteria but serves to slow down the absorption of sugars that are in your digestive tract. This helps prevent those pesky blood sugar spikes that cause so much damage in the body. Similarly, fiber also binds to the cholesterol dumped into the small
intestine by the liver and gall bladder and carries it out of your system. It only takes 2 tablespoons of basil seeds a day to give you 15 grams of fiber. Just be sure to soak the seeds first, so they absorb water before they enter your gut. Otherwise, they will steal water from your gut which could make them form a blockage. Pre-soaked they are slippery little guys that will slide right on through your gut doing all their good stuff.
Just for fun I got a little crazy (according to Ellen) and tried making some of the basil seeds into ice cream. I took 2 cups of water and added 2 tablespoons of basil seed to it and let it soak. I ran it through the blender on high until all the seeds were broken up. (In retrospect I think I will run it through the blender before it soaks next time.) To this container of goop, I added ¾ cup of allulose, 1 cup
of heavy cream, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla. I let this blend and then put it all into the ice cream maker. An hour later I was pleasantly surprised with a speckly quart of creamy ice cream. The bonus here is that this dessert has less than half the calories of regular ice cream, loads of fiber, no carbs or sugar, no milk proteins (for those people who are milk protein sensitive), and is probably good for me in so many ways. Crazy, right?
So for all you chia seed fans, here is a nutrition upgrade. Basil seeds have twice the fiber, twice the calcium, twice the iron, twice the potassium, and ten times the prebiotics of chia seeds. They do not have any known lectin reaction issues, no gluten, and they are vegan, keto, and paleo-friendly. They can be used to make any of the chia seed recipes you have already come to know and love. They can be put in
beverages, soups, baked goods, and even ice cream! Basil seeds have a huge list of medicinal properties that will support your health in a widely diverse manner. What is not to love?
I just to acquired a bulk order of basil seeds so I can bag it up in smaller quantities for folks at my office at a price less than typically online. I am putting together small 1/4 pound bags for $5. I just bagged up 10 bags of these charming little guys to bring into the office. So, until then.
Take care,
David
Ellen
Last Wednesday we celebrated Sherry's birthday by going out to lunch at Black Angus in Citrus Heights. As you can see Ellen , Sherry, and Susan McDonald were there, but Susie called in sick that day. The girls all had salmon, while I had a steak. Overall a very nice
afternoon!
Melatonin for AMD
AMD is one of the most common causes of blindness in older people. Over 11 million Americans have this disease. New studies are showing that it is tied to low levels of the hormone melatonin which most of us know about because of its ability to help us fall asleep. These levels decrease as we age, and new research suggests that taking melatonin daily reduces your chances of developing
AMD.
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."
~Bertrand Russell
_____________________________________
Microbiome sampling pill
Our microbiome contains thousands of different bacteria with different bacteria in each different area of the small intestine and colon. Getting a full idea of how our colon is doing is very difficult. But now a pill that you swallow will take samples of your bacteria all along the pathway from top to bottom.
"The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatever that it is not utterly absurd."
~Bertrand Russell
________________________________________
Compensation theory for guns
For a long time there has been a theory that a man's attraction to powerful guns was a compensation for having small genitals. Well researchers at University of Texas San Antonio decided to put this theory to the test. Checking 1840 men for gun ownership and both physical size and satisfaction of their size failed to demonstrate a positive correlation between gun ownership and genital
size/satisfaction. Good to know you can still do socially relevant research in university.
Our address is 9725 Fair Oaks Blvd. suite A Our hours are M, Tu, Th, F 10 to 3:30
Finding our location is very easy. Coming from highway 50 up Sunrise Blvd, you turn left and go up a block. We are on the right hand side - the building just past the Subway Sandwich shop. If you are coming down Sunrise from the Mall area then just turn right on Fair Oaks Blvd and up a block on the right.
If
you are coming from the Roseville area you could come down Sunrise Blvd, but that is a long trek. It is probably shorter time wise to come down Auburn Blvd - San Juan Ave like you have been for the Sunset office, but instead of turning left at Sunset, keep going straight 3 more lights to Fair Oaks Blvd and turn left. Go down 2 lights to New York Ave, go through the intersection, and immediately turn into the turn lane once the center divider ends. We are on the left.
You are
free to reprint this article in your newsletter as long as you include the following statement in the same size type and color:
"This article appears courtesy of Fair Oaks Health News, offering natural and healthy solutions for body, mind and soul. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.fairoakshealth.com"
Referral doctor for when we are out of town: Jennifer Webb DC
