All posts by The Victor Crew

CBD

Fitness, Health Issues, Healthy Eating,

You may see ads about CBD, or even spam emails especially if you ever search for it on the internet. What exactly is CBD and what does it do or what is it used for?

CBD is short for Cannabidiol. It is found in marijuana and hemp plants. There are various ways to use it, such as inhaling, spray, in oil form, in tablet form. You can get CBD lattes, facials, lotions, gummies.

CBD won’t give you a buzz. The part of the cannabis plant that has those properties is THC. If you have side effects from Advil or Tylenol, there is a possibility you can be part of the 5% that do experience euphoria from it.

Some people use CBD for pain management. It can be used to help combat anxiety. It does not cure any diseases. Some people use it to try to help with addictions. Some studies say it helps with schizophrenia. It can also help with epilepsy.

Athletes use CBD but it has been added to banned list for professional sports in some countries, however not in the U.S. Other cannabinoids are prohibited.

CBD is not regulated so you need to be careful of where and what brand you get.

https://www.health.com/condition/pain/what-is-cbd
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/cbd-is-a-compound-found-in-hemp-plants-heres-what-researchers-know-about-its-benefits-and-risks/ar-BB14LTMF

Make your own Granola

Healthy Eating, , , , , , , ,

If you buy granola in the store, look at the ingredient list. There are a lot of unnecessary chemicals and additives. You can make your own and control what goes into it. Different ratios are out there but you can experiment with different ingredients.

Epicurious.com says to use 6 parts dry ingredients to 1 part wet. The main base ingredient is ALWAYS rolled oats. When I make my granola I use about 3 cups of rolled oats. Then I add another cup of a combination of nuts and seeds. Some seeds don’t need to be baked (like chia or flaxseed) so you can add them after. I like a mix of almonds, pecans, and walnuts. Other possibilities are pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, puffed millet, and coconut flakes. Sometimes I also like to add dried cranberries and/or small chocolate chips.

Wet ingredients are what you coat the dry ingredients with. You can use coconut oil, olive oil, canola, sunflower seed oil, or even butter. To this you add some kind of sweetener like honey, agave, maple syrup. Sometimes I add a little powdered stevia to cut on the calories. You can also use an egg white. You can also add cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, cardamom, or salt for flavor. TheKitchn.com suggests a 50-50 ratio of fats to sweeteners.

Once you coat the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, you can spread it out on a sheet pan and bake at 300 degrees for about 30-40 minutes. Remember to stir every 10-15 minutes. After it is done, cool completely and then you can add the dried fruits of your choice such as dried cranberries, cherries, raisins, apricots. Store in jar or airtight container. You can use this as a cereal or mix in with your yogurt.

Shallots

Healthy Eating, ,

What are they and how do we use them? Let’s check them out.

A shallot is a type of onion but is smaller, more elongated and milder flavored. The flavor has a slight garlic taste as well. The skins can be copper, reddish, or gray skinned. When cut into, rather than rings like an onion, it will have cloves like garlic. Usually there are 2-3 cloves but can have up to 6. They will be flat on one side and rounded on the other. A recipe may call for number of shallots or number of shallot cloves.

Shallots can be substituted for onion. Generally you can use three small shallots for every small onion called for. They cannot be substituted if it is supposed to be raw. Also take into consideration the slight taste of garlic when substituting and maybe cut back on amount of garlic.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-are-shallots-1807054

Latest Covid-19 Issues with Food

Healthy Eating, , , ,

So now we are hearing about shortages of meat. Well the problem isn’t the meat per se. It’s that the workers that work in the plants are getting sick. So with no one to process the meat, there are shortages. Farmers are trying to halt the growth of some of their animals so they aren’t backed up with meat that will end up being destroyed.

Along with this shortage you can expect to see higher prices. Many meat aisles are empty in grocery stores. Like toilet paper, they are most likely as short as they are already because of people over-buying. You will see stores limiting how much you can buy.

So what can you do? How about finding meat alternatives (while they are still available). There are things like Impossible Burgers, or you can go to beans or tofu as a protein source. Even eggs are short in some markets. Incorporate less meat into casseroles and you might not even miss it. Try other proteins like powdered shakes, yogurts, frozen meals that already have meat.

Staying Fit During CoViD-19

Fitness, Health Issues, Healthy Eating, , ,

With people staying home with their stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, it’s hard to get the exercise your body needs. People are turning to comfort food, baking, doing more cooking and that doesn’t bode well for your “bottom”(line).

As far as eating, try to buy as much fresh produce as you can. Luscious fruits and vegetables that are season in your area. If you can’t find them, next try to rely on frozen fruits and vegetables before having to move onto sugary or salty canned versions.

Meat is becoming an issue so try alternative protein sources like beans, lentils, nuts, eggs. Don’t be afraid to try new recipes or experiment.

Try to move more. Run up and down the stairs, do leg lifts, go on the treadmill while watching TV. Instead of fast-forwarding through the commercials, get up and do a few jumping jacks or other exercises. Get your mask on and take a walk. Set an alarm or timer every hour or two to remind you to get up and move. Put on some fast music and dance to a song or two.

Get enough sleep. Sure you’re worried but you need to get a good night’s sleep. Shoot for at least 7 hours per night.