Food Review: Quinoa

Okay, this is not necessarily a food review but this is more of a 'what is Quinoa'.  However, I do love eating Quinoa.  I tried the Red Quinoa and it wasn't doing nothing but making my tastebuds yearn for mouthwash.  I didn't like it.  But the regular (white) Quinoa is really good.  I cook mine with plain water or chicken broth/stock.  Sometimes I buy the Trader Joe's Brand Fire Roasted Peppers & Onions and stick 1/4 cup in the boiling water to flavor and cook with the Quinoa.  Excellent!

From Winkipedia (6/16/10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinoa )
Quinoa (pronounced /ˈkiːnoʊ.ə/ or /kwɨˈnoʊ.ə/, Spanish quinua, from Quechua kinwa), a species of goosefoot (Chenopodium), is a grain-like crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is a pseudocereal rather than a true cereal, or grain, as it is not a member of the grass family. As a chenopod, quinoa is closely related to species such as beets, spinach, and tumbleweeds. Its leaves are also eaten as a leaf vegetable, much like amaranth, but the commercial availability of quinoa greens is currently limited.

Nutritional value
Quinoa was of great nutritional importance in pre-Columbian Andean civilizations, being secondary only to the potato, and was followed in importance by maize. In contemporary times, this crop has become highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high (12%–18%). Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source among plant foods.[4] It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and considered easy to digest. Because of all these characteristics, quinoa is being considered a possible crop in NASA's Controlled Ecological Life Support System for long-duration manned spaceflights.[4]

Preperation
Quinoa has a light, fluffy texture when cooked, and its mild, slightly nutty flavor makes it an alternative to white rice or couscous.

Vegetables and seasonings can also be added to make a wide range of dishes. Chicken or vegetable stock can be substituted for water during cooking, adding flavor. It is also suited to vegetable pilafs, complementing bitter greens like kale.


Quinoa can serve as a high-protein breakfast food mixed with honey, almonds, or berries; it is also sold as a dry product, much like corn flakes.

Quinoa flour can be used in wheat-based and gluten-free baking. For the latter, it can be combined with sorghum flour, tapioca, and potato starch to create a nutritious gluten-free baking mix. A suggested mix is three parts quinoa flour, three parts sorghum flour, two parts potato starch, and one part tapioca starch. Quinoa flour can be used as a filling for chocolate.

Quinoa may be germinated in its raw form to boost its nutritional value. Germination activates its natural enzymes and multiplies its vitamin content.[6] In fact, quinoa has a notably short germination period: Only 2–4 hours resting in a glass of clean water is enough to make it sprout and release gases, as opposed to, e.g., 12 hours overnight with wheat. This process, besides its nutritional enhancements, softens the grains, making them suitable to be added to salads and other cold foods.

Almost at my 1st halfway mark *update*

**Update #2: I did it.  Today we 'weighed-out' and I did it.  I lost the 1lb and officially at the 20lb mark. So from Monday til today, I've lost 3lbs in 4 days.  Now I will work on my next 20.  I'm waiting for one more person to 'weigh-out' before I can say who the winner is...so far I'm #1.  Wish me luck.  I need the money....our vet bill is over $800.00 so...it will help.**


I'm telling you...no i'm preaching to you....Gluten free is working.

I've been committing myself to it and this morning when I weighed myself, I lost 2lbs since Monday.  I am officially in another bracket xx9.8 lbs to be exact. So what if it's .2 away from where I was at.  It's whole 'nother number. =)

I have 1lb to go by tomorrow (hopefully) to be at minus 20 for our weight challenge.  I know if I would have worked out as I plan to in my head....i would've blown away everyone else and lost a lot more.  But that's okay.  I still have made huge progress.  Another girl told me she lost 24 as of Monday.  BOO! haha

For myself, changing my eating and sticking to what i am suppose to stick to is priority #1.  There's no sense in workign out and having a crappy eating habit.  For myself, I have to get into my routine and make sure I stick to it or I end up craving all the bad gluten-laden foods and sabotage myself and my thyroid.

So here are some of my competing priorities (because they all one day will be grouped under #1).

1. Commit to being Gluten Free, Soy Free
2. Drink a minimum of 100oz of Water per day
3. Eat more organic (I have started this already with Eggs, Milk, Chicken)
4. Workout a minimum of 5 days then increase to 6 days (this is a need)

 That little list of 4 things will be the foundation of me getting to my goal.

So we shall see who is tomorrow's winner.  Of course, I hope it's me because I can use that scrilla!

What is hypothyrodisim?

What is hypothyrodisim? That my friends is a question I am always asked.

Side bustin': As I as searching for a GF Magazine (because somewhere in my lil' mind, i thought non existed prior to googling it...i came across a site that stated there are some medications not GF friendly. 

Web links as of 7/12/2010:
     Originating site: http://www.theglutenfreelife.com/articles/gluten-free-medications-list/
     Linked Site: http://homepage.mac.com/sholland/celiac/index.html
     .pdf file: http://homepage.mac.com/sholland/celiac/GFfoodlist.pdf

Back to what is hypothyrodism.

This is what i got from Kaiser Permanentes' website Drug Encylopedia for my particular medication Levothyroxine (currently 200mcg is my dosage). It does note that "this is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product."

Uses

Levothyroxine is used to treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). It replaces the hormone that is normally produced by the thyroid gland. Low thyroid levels can occur naturally or when the thyroid gland is injured by radiation/medications or removed by surgery. It is important to have adequate levels of thyroid hormone in your bloodstream to maintain normal mental and physical activity. In children, adequate levels of thyroid hormone are important for normal mental and physical growth and development.This medication is used to treat other types of thyroid disorders as well (e.g., certain types of goiters, thyroid nodules, thyroiditis, thyroid cancer).

It also says how to use it.
 

How to use

Take this medication by mouth usually once a day on an empty stomach, 1/2 to 1 hour before breakfast, or as directed by your doctor. To prevent difficulty swallowing the tablet, take it with a full glass of water unless otherwise directed by your doctor. For children who cannot swallow whole tablets, crush the tablet and mix in 1 or 2 teaspoons (5 or 10 milliliters) of water, and give using a spoon or dropper as soon as possible after preparation. Do not store the mixture for later use. Do not mix crushed tablets in soybean infant formula. Consult your pharmacist for more information.Use this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same time each day. Your doctor may need to adjust your dosage based on your medical condition, your response to therapy, and your laboratory test results. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting with your doctor. Replacement therapy is usually taken for life. It may take up to 4-6 weeks before the full benefits of this medication take effect. Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

As i've read and read about thyroid, endocrine disruptors, hypothyroidism patients should stay away from Gluten and Soy (go to wikipedia and type Goitren
 
OH goodness and the side effects.  Although it says the symptomes should dissappear...that's the key word...'should'.  It's never 100% because i have variations of these for the past 6years or so:
 

Side effects

Symptoms of low thyroid levels include fatigue, muscle aches, constipation, dry skin, weight gain, slow heart rate, sensitivity to cold, or dry brittle hair that tends to fall out easily. These symptoms should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. If they persist or become bothersome, notify your doctor promptly. Headache, nervousness, trembling, sweating, increased appetite, diarrhea, weight loss or insomnia may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. In rare instances, some hair loss may occur during the first few months of starting this drug. This effect is usually temporary as your body adjusts to this medication. If this effect persists or worsens, notify your doctor promptly. Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of these very unlikely but serious side effects: chest pain, rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, seizures. An allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.In the US -Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Drug Interactions....lucky for me this is pretty much the only prescribed medication I take....however take a look at the items in Rojo.

Drug interactions

Your healthcare professionals (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first. Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription drugs you may use, especially of: warfarin, digoxin, estrogen products (including estrogen-containing birth control pills), diabetes medicines (e.g., insulin, glipizide, rosiglitazone), amiodarone, iodide (including radiographic contrast agents containing iodine), lithium, anti-thyroid agents (e.g., methimazole, propylthiouracil), androgens/anabolic steroids, glucocorticoids (e.g., dexamethasone, prednisone), high dose salicylates (e.g., aspirin), phenobarbital, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin), beta blockers (e.g., propranolol), antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, maprotiline, sertraline), cytokines (e.g., interferon-alpha, interleukin-2), growth hormones, ketamine, theophylline. Check the labels on all your medicines (e.g., cough-and-cold products, diet aids) because they may contain ingredients such as decongestants or caffeine that could increase your heart rate or blood pressure. Ask your pharmacist about the safe use of these products. Certain medicines may decrease absorption of this drug into your bloodstream. Therefore, take levothyroxine 4 hours apart from: calcium supplements, iron supplements, antacids, simethicone, orlistat, cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol, sucralfate, sodium polystyrene sulfonate. **Certain foods may decrease absorption of this medication when taken at the same time. Take levothyroxine separately from: soybean flour (soybean infant formula), walnuts, dietary fiber.This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacis

**CHECK OUT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goitrogen 7/12/2010

Also look at Endocrine Distruptors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocrine_disruptor as of 7/12/2010

So that's me.  I have hypothyroidism and above is the jist of it.  Later I'll share my fantastic story of how I diagnosed myself and a doctor said I wasn't doing enough and was calculating wrong.

Gluten, Gluten, Gluten...

Although the following section pertains mainly to GI and Celiac Diseases, there are persons who have not been tested to be Celiac.  There is also Gluten sensitive/allergic persons.  It can range from mild to severe.  Persons with other Auto-Immune Diseases (Hyper/Hypo Thyroid) who remove gluten from their daily intake show alleviated symptoms to their conditions.  I myself have done this and my thyroid symptoms improved dramatically.  Gluten is so over-processed and in virtually almost all of your foods as a filler that I believe your body doesn't know how to process this chemically engineered wheat product aka Gluten.


From Jackson | Siegelbaum Gastroenterology http://www.gicare.com/diets/gluten-free.aspx 6/16/10

Purpose
Gluten is the protein part of wheat, rye, barley, and other related grains. Some people cannot tolerate gluten when it comes in contact with the small intestine. This condition is known as celiac disease (sometimes called non-tropical sprue or gluten sensitive enteropathy).

Of great concern and interest is the fact that nine out of ten people with celiac disease do not known they have it. A simple blood test can give the physician the first clue to this disease.

In patients with celiac disease, gluten injures the lining of the small intestine. This injury can result in weight loss, bloating, diarrhea, gas, abdominal cramps, and/or vitamin and mineral deficiencies. When patients totally eliminate gluten from the diet, the lining of the intestine has a chance to heal.

Prebiotic Plant Fiber
A prebiotic is not a probiotic, which are beneficial bacteria taken by mouth. These probiotics are present in yogurt, other dairy products and pills. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are the necessary plant fibers that contain both oligofructose and inulin. These two fibers are the main nourishment for the good bacteria that reside in the gut. These fibers are rich in chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, leeks, asparagus and others. Gluten containing wheat and barley also contain these prebiotics

Health Benefits from Prebiotic Fibers

There is now ample information in the medical literature to indicate that a prebiotic rich diet leads to demonstrable health benefits. These include:

• Increased calcium absorption
• Stronger bones and bone density
• Enhanced immunity
• Reduced allergies and asthma in infants and children
• A lower blood triglyceride level
• Appetite and weight control
• Lower cancer factors in the gut

Celiac Wheat-Prebiotic Dilemma
Nature has played a trick on celiac people. Wheat and wheat products provide over 80% of the prebiotics that North Americans ingest. Yet, celiac patients must assiduously avoid wheat, barley and rye. How do they then feed their good colon bacteria and get the health benefits, as outlined above? They must favor the other vegetables and fruits, as listed in the prebiotic section below. Additionally, they should consider a gluten free prebiotic supplement such as Prebiotin.

Special Considerations
Removing gluten from the diet is not easy. Grains are used in the preparation of many foods. It is often hard to tell by a food's name what may be in it, so it is easy to eat gluten without even knowing it. However, staying on a strict gluten-free diet can dramatically improve the patient's condition. Since it is necessary to remain on the gluten-free diet throughout life, it will be helpful to review it with a registered dietitian.

The person who prepares the patient's food much fully understand the gluten-free diet. Read food labels carefully:

• Do not eat anything that contains the following grains: wheat, rye and barley.
• At one time, oats were thought to contain some gluten. It has now become apparent, however, that oats frequently were processed in machines that also processed wheat. Most manufacturers no longer do this, although if there are any questions, a person should get reassurance from the manufacturer by mail, email or phone.
• The following can be eaten in any amount: corn, potato, rice, soybeans, tapioca, arrowroot, carob, buckwheat, millet, amaranth and quinoa. (Millets are also a mild thyroid peroxidase inhibitor and probably should not be consumed in great quantities by those with thyroid disease, this includes soy, soybeans which are linked to be Isoflavones which may affect fertility.  Buckwheat in sensitive people can be fatal, it provokes IgE-mediated anaphylaxis)
• Distilled white vinegar does not contain gluten.
• Malt vinegar does contain gluten.

Grains are used in the processing of many ingredients, so it will be necessary to seek out hidden gluten. The following terms found in food labels may mean that there is gluten in the product.

• Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP), unless made from soy or corn
• Flour or Cereal products, unless made with pure rice flour, corn flour, potato flour or soy flour
• Vegetable Protein, unless made from soy or corn
• Malt or Malt Flavoring, unless derived from corn
• Modified Starch or Modified Food Starch, unless arrowroot, corn, potato, tapioca, waxy maize or maize is used
• Vegetable Gum, unless made from carob bean, locust bean, cellulose, guar, gum arabic, gum aracia, gum tragacanth, xantham or vegetable starch
• Soy Sauce or Soy Sauce Solids, unless you know they do not contain wheat  

Any of the following words on food labels often mean that a grain containing gluten has been used.

• Stabilizer
• Starch
• Flavoring
• Emulsifier
• Hydrolyzed
• Plant Protein