HEALTHY FATS

Why Ghee Is Better Than Regular Butter

Ghee is clarified butter that's been cooked slowly until the milk solids have separated and been removed. The result is a rich golden butterfat that is full of healthy MCTs.  Photo Credit: barefootprovisions Ghee vs Butter Ghee has a higher smoking point since the milk solids (casein and lactose) have been removed making it ideal for cooking. Butter begins to smoke and burn even at lower temperatures.  Ghee has a longer shelf life with the solids removed. It will last about six months in the refrigerator or up to a year in the freezer. Ghee is suitable for people with lactose sensitivities. With the casein and lactose removed, ghee is easier to digest than butter for those who are lactose-sensitive. Ghee is butterier than regular butter. The removal of the solids intensifies the flavor of butter and you get a much more richer taste. How to Make Your Own Ghee Ingredients 16 ounces of organic, grass-fed, unsalted butter (Kerrygold) A small, heavy saucepan A square of cheesecloth for straining  Preparation In your saucepan, slowly melt the unsalted butter over low heat. When it begins boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and begin skimming off the white foam that bubbles to the surface, tipping pan as needed. Continue simmering and skimming until only clear, honey-colored liquid is left in the pan. After it's cooled a bit, strain the impurities and residue from the ghee by pouring it through the cheesecloth as you pour it into a jar with a tight-fitting lid.

New Potential Treatments for Parkinson's Disease

In the United States, there are currently over one million Americans who suffer from Parkinson's disease. This is more than the combined number of those with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and Lou Gehrig's disease. Every single year there's over 60,000 new cases diagnosed in the U.S. with an estimated combined cost of $25 billion. What is it? Parkinson's disease is a progressive degenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain that produces dopamine. One of the primary functions of dopamine, in this area of the brain, is to provide proper control of the movement of our muscles. When dopamine gets negatively affected it can lead to symptoms such as muscle rigidity, tremors, and changes in speech and gait. Currently, there's no known cure but there are medications that can help control the symptoms. Coconut Oil: A Natural Potential Treatment For Parkinson's Disease Coconut oil may be able to help improve the quality of life for a patient suffering from Parkinson's disease. The secret behind this ability lies in its MCTs, or medium chain triglycerides as mentioned in the above article. Metabolism of MCTs helps to produce ketone bodies, which can put the body in a state of ketosis where we burn off fat for fuel instead of carbs. This study looked at the benefits ketosis and how it can help improve the symptoms of Parkinson's. The Effects of Structural Correction on Parkinson's Disease This case study looked at the effects of Structural Correction on a 66 year old female diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She came into the office with symptoms including depression, a resting tremor in her left hand, fatigue, and rigidity in upper and lower extremities. After a brief consult, the patient agreed to start her Structural Corrective Chiropractic Care. The Structural Chiropractor then performed a thorough examination which determined the presence of a misalignment in the structure of her spine. At Realm Chiropractic, we use Visual Structural Radiographs, Segmental Displacement Analysis, and Visual Structural Analysis to look for any signs of a misalignment or what we refer to as a Structural Shift. After receiving the first specific structural correction, the patient stated that she had felt a warm, flushing sensation in her face then throughout her body. She described this feeling as compared to the sensation you experience when making a very tight fist then opening it up and feeling the release. This feeling she felt was the perfusion of blood flow that her body could properly re-circulate after the structural correction was achieved. After further corrections, the patient stated that her depression was totally gone and her energy came back. Her constant tremor in her left hand was gone, all the tightness in her muscles had ceased and she now had regained all use of her left arm and leg.  She simply said, "I have my life back."  She has been returning regularly to stay in a corrective structural pattern and receiving specific corrections only if there is presence of a Structural Shift. To see if Structural Corrective Chiropractic Care is right for you, please give the office a call at 813-886-8824 and our friendly staff with be more than happy to schedule you a complimentary consultation. Remember at Realm Chiropractic a consultation is a conversation, never a commitment.

New Grassfed Certification Introduced

The American Grassfed Association (AGA) recently introduced new grassfed standards and a certification for American-grown grassfed dairy that will officially launch sometime this month. Photo Source: www.awakentheabswithin.com Before this certification, dairy could be sold as "grassfed" in supermarkets even though the cows received grains, antibiotics, and hormones during certain periods of time. Producers of grassfed meats were also free to define their own standards of whatever they thought grassfed meant.  Considering how important a cow's diet is when it comes to the quality of its products, especially when we're talking about raw milk, making sure your food is what it says it is very important.  AGA certification label Once this certification becomes official, we at Realm Chiropractic strongly recommend that you make sure your dairy is AGA certified grassfed. No other certification offers the same quality assurance backed by third-party audits, so make sure you look for this label.  With the new standards set to take place this month, producers will no longer be able to use the word "grassfed" as another feel-good marketing ploy. Instead, there will be transparency on what you purchase and the overall quality will be increased. The AGA grassfed logo certifies that the animals: Have been fed a 100 percent grassfed diet Have never received antibiotics or hormones Have never been confined in a feedlot Have never been imported outside the U.S.