Thursday 20 September 2012

If local food is cheaper, and better, how do we get more people to switch from the supermarket to buying local.

Many of our previous blogs have talked about saving money by switching from the supermarket to local food producers and small retailers.



Buying seasonal food, direct, means saving money by cutting out the supply chain cost, and not wasting money on ‘temptations’ like DVDs and special offers.

In these austere times you would expect this to be the major factor in getting people to change. Especially when 80% of people say they want to buy local food. So why do only 25% of people actually buy local food, and what will get more to switch?

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Fill up on Resistant Starch without really trying

Resistant Starch – The Science Disclaimer: Eat Less, Move More and you will lose weight.




However, if you wish to shift a few kilos sooner rather than later and still remain a functioning and welcome member of Society rather than a finnicky, fatuous fossicking Faddist then you need to find a Way Of Eating, rather than follow a “diet”.

Very interesting and informative article.

The site has many delicious recipes as well.

Probiotics, are they good for us, and is Kefir better?

Probiotic drinks have become very popular, do we need them or are we doing what the marketeers tell us? And is there a better way to correct the imbalance in our digestive systems?



Has our diet changed that much to need these drinks or are we reacting to a clever marketing campaign? That cost £40M. If some experts are right in saying probiotics drinks are destroyed straight away by our stomach acid, 60% of households must think again in these austere times.

Yes, most people drink too much alcohol and eat too much meat, fat, and sugar and not enough vegetables and pulses.


This causes the wrong bacteria to take over our lower intestines and the build up of yeasts such as Candida. These produce toxins that can effect us in many ways.

Candida symptoms include: Inability to focus, Poor memory, Brain fog, Irritability, Anger, Dizziness, Depression, Crying spells, Panic attacks, Low libido, Persistent extreme fatigue, Hyperactivity, Cravings for sweets and alcohol, Insomnia, Poor coordination.

The marketeers tell us that their tasty probiotic drinks will replace the bad bacteria and correct the imbalance in the gut. ‘Experts’ say the bacteria is destroyed by our stomach acid and will not reach the lower intestine where it is needed. Which makes sense.

So I am trying Kefir made from live Kefir grains that turn milk into a yoghurt type drink that is very live, even fizzy. The grains are kept in a jar and convert half a pint of milk in to yoghurt every day. The yoghurt is sieved off and the grains fed with more milk to keep them alive. The yoghurt can be drunk, or mixed with cereal and fruit as desired, and will keep growing and producing Kefir for as long as it is looked after.


Saturday 1 September 2012

Scared

I've always been scared .. or maybe change 'scared' for 'terrified'.

From as far back as I can remember, that awful grinding and gnawing feeling deep in the pit of my stomach.

It's diminished slightly over the past few years but it's been replaced with other negative emotions, no matter what I read or how hard I try, I can't get past it.

The message I got from way back, was fear is a weakness, don't show it, don't cry, crying was done in secret.  I never saw anyone comforted for crying, only my brother when he was small, everyone else did it behind closed doors if they did it at all.

By everyone I mean my mother and dad, my dad I was to find out was the one who actually had emotions but I didn't see it till it was too late.  I never gave or received any hugs or comfort as a child, that I can remember anyway.

My worst times, before I started school, were at night.  Laying in my bed, totally scared to move thinking there was someone under there, and if I counted to 20 and they'd not shown themselves, it meant I was safe.  I'd get to 20, and then think they're tricking me, so I'll count to another 20 and so it went on till I slept from exhaustion.

I also thought someone was climbing up a ladder to the window, so if a car went by I knew I was safe for a little while, as they would have seen them wouldn't they?  Wouldn't they?  After a few minutes I'd think this unseen person would try again.

I was virtually scared to move and scared to tell anyone my thoughts, scared of being laughed at, so that little girl laying terrified in her bed never was comforted.

Then school .. the worst of times.  Every day, every night, terrified.  I hated school with a passion, I never had friends, never was included in groups, always on the outside and bullied as a consequence.  We moved homes a lot, which meant lots of new schools, each worse than the last.

Every day at home time, I'd be so relieved, but two minutes later the fear would come back as the thought of the next day hit me.

At home I pretended I was tough, I bullied other smaller children.  I remember my dad being really angry about that and giving me a swift clip round the ear and being proud when I stood defiant and not crying, saying to my mother, 'look, she's not crying', like it was an achievement.

I spent many hours alone, crying, lonely, sad and then toughing it out in public.

I was alternatively needy and aggressive, not knowing how to behave socially.  The fear an ever present monster.

My dad was always working to keep us fed, clothed and with a roof over our heads, but my mother and brother, they really did a job on me, I felt I was adopted.  Always lonely, even where you're supposed to feel loved, with your family, I had fear at school, at work, socially, and at home.

I wanted to be loved and hugged, I wanted babies, I knew everything would be ok then, I would love them so much, I would give them what I never had, but I can see now I was too damaged to be a good parent.  I'm very proud of how they've turned out but it's no thanks to me.

I'm still needy and aggressive in turn, even with them, as I just don't function well as a person.

The other night in bed I thought of that little girl, the terrified one waiting for a hug, and I went to her in my thoughts, and hugged her and comforted her, like they tell you in the self help books, to love your inner child, so I did.

I know now I'm not a likable or lovable person, I'm scratchy, picky, aggressive, angry, needy, self pitying, not loving, generous, giving or welcoming.  I know how I'd like to be  but inside it's not there.

After spending my life acting it's hard to know who I really am or what I am.

Add confused to scared and we're somewhere near.