The Weekly Menu April 11, 2016
It’s time for the weekly menu plan April 11 edition! And we will get to that as always.
But you might be wondering why I’ve been talking about the microbiome so much lately and trying to eat mindfully to encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
So what is the microbiome?
This is a pretty new field of research and it is exciting and fascinating and it is going to answer so many questions about our health, disease, mental illness, food related issues, etc.
The microbiome is essentially all of the bacteria that live on us and in us and have evolved to work with us.
Scientists are just scratching the surface of figuring out who’s who in this synergy unique to all of us. The focus has shifted from our genetic predisposition and chemical exposures to what is going on with our microbiome!
It is all connected, but I tend to focus on gut bacteria research because it is pretty pertinent to what we worry about on a daily basis.
What to eat that benefits us and what to avoid that could hurt us by way of what our bacteria do with what we feed them.
And it’s all so new. And really exciting!
Here are some of the latest research topics and articles I’ve come across and find very interesting:
- Resveratrol, red wine, and reducing the risk of heart disease by changing the gut microbiome
- Bacteria feed on an unusual sugar molecule found in leafy green vegetables and could hold the key to explaining how ‘good’ bacteria protect our gut and promote health
- What Your Microbiome Wants for Dinner
- Burgers and fries have nearly killed our ancestral microbiome
- The trillions of bacteria and other microbes that share our bodies were ignored for centuries. But recent studies have shined a spotlight onto these multitudes, by showing how important they are, not least in their ability to train and calibrate our immune systems
- The bacteria in our guts may help decide who gets anxiety and depression & what you eat matters
- Is Climate Change Putting World’s Microbiomes at Risk
- Celiac disease may be driven by specific gut bacteria
Incredible, right?!
Like I said, this is just scratching the surface, too! A whole new learning curve for us all…
The Weekly Menu April 11
So this weekly menu plan is the same as the last week in that we are trying our best to keep it organic, non-GMO and clean from chemicals, pesticides, preservatives, additives, gluten, glyphosate, BPA, arsenic, dairy fats, casein, bad fats, unnecessary ingredients, etc…
Meatless Monday – Asian Fried Rice
Tuesday – Chili Con Carne (with ground turkey, black beans and tomato sauce), Baked Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli & Chives (from the patio garden)
Wednesday – Carnitas Burrito Bowls
Thursday – Yes, more please!
Friday – Roasted Cajun Chicken & Mango Salsa (maybe with some left over cilantro lime rice from the burrito bowls)
Saturday – Asian Turkey Burgers on Homemade Buns & Roasted Spiced Potatoes
Sunday – Salad Niçoise with Homemade Dressing
Have a great week everyone! And stay tuned because my birthday week of April 26 – the eCookbooks are going on sale again!
And because we live in Texas – one more pic of the BLUEBONNETS and my itty bitty Lizzy dog!
