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Sprouted Whole Wheat Bread

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  Whole Wheat Bread-THM Style 2 loaves I have been in the kitchen since I was able to stand on a chair next to my mother. She was my 4-H leader from age 9, and I learned all of my kitchen skills from her.   She was an excellent baker, canning aficionado and superb chef.   Both of my parents felt, as I do, that homemade is best—homegrown even better. We raised chickens, turkeys, beef cattle, rabbits and a large garden of produce to feed my brothers and sisters.   We all had certain tasks during one of our “putting up” sessions.   Mother was always telling me to be refined, and stop acting like the boys. LOL I had four brothers and two sisters, I think the masculine influence always outnumbered the feminine. We were a large family and we would buy large quantities of whole grains to turn into flour with the grain mill in the basement.   It stood on three legs with a heavy bag underneath to catch the warm flour as it came through
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  Five Tips for Better Gut Health We have talked and talked about why gut health is important.   The good bacteria help to fight off the bad bacteria which can be the reason behind leaky-gut syndrome, IBS, food allergies and even Crohn’s disease. The composition of bacteria in your gut influences not only your digestive health but your weight, your skin, your mental health, immune function, inflammation levels and more.   What can you do to better your gut health? I think, as a whole, Trim Healthy followers desire to do things in a more natural way; through whole foods, supplements and fewer over-the-counter medicines.   So, what are some tangible ways to do this through our diet? 1.       Eat more fiber-rich plant-based foods. You don’t have to be a vegan to enhance the diversity and composition of your gut microbiome, but you do want to up your intake of veggies, fruits, nuts, beans, whole grains and other minimally processed plant-based foods.   Plants are naturally rich in f
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 Superfoods!  Superfoods! What makes them Super, and how can we implement them into our diets. From Coffee to Turmeric, these foods can have great benefit to our health and of course, our Trim Healthy journey.   Check out this Good Housekeeping article to read the benefits of superfoods.   There’s also a section on fermented foods. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a42159185/superfoods-list-2023/?fbclid=IwAR0hDXTHj3vVZEo5_GaNUYtIsnjvAVe8n62c89D2dDsiN3TGOjtT58FWv9I
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  Sprouted Flour and Expensive Groceries We’ve talked about sprouted flour before, how the sprouting process lowers the glycemic index of the whole grain and helps to level your blood sugar. Now you can buy your sprouted flour on-line at Thrive Market (subscription), Vita-Cost, Azure Standard or Amazon.   But did you know that you can make your own sprouted flour? Recently I can across a post by Amber Smith on the main Trim Healthy Mama page describing the process and just how those savings can add up.   She compares the cost of purchasing sprouted flour vs. creating your own.   Wheat berries (kernels) are cheaper than the sprouted flour so if you are able to do your own, you can save money on your grocery budget.   Some specialized household tools are needed, but most you’ll already have: bowls, strainers, an oven or food dehydrator and something to mill the wheat, a grain mill or strong blender will do the trick. Check it out the FB post here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/t
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  Health benefits of eating sourdough. 1.        It’s good for your gut a.        The fermentation process creates properties similar to prebiotics and probiotics b.        The whole grain contains fiber which is gut healthy as well. 2.        It can lead to better digestion. a.        Fermentation-altered enzymes in the bread’s wheat potentially help to counteract adverse reaction to gluten.   Some gluten sensitive people can safely consume sourdough bread. 3.        It promotes healthy aging. a.        Habitual consumption of whole-wheat sourdough bread may help lower the risk of various ailments in older adults. 4.        It can help keep your blood sugars in a healthy range. a.        Sourdough bread has a lower glycemic index and glycemic load than breads that aren’t fermented. b.        Additionally the fiber in the whole-wheat sourdough lowers the glycemic impact on your blood sugar. What does this mean to a Trim Healthy Mama? We can enjoy a variety of wond
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Slow Your Roll, Kefir! Are you overrun with quarts and quarts of kefir? Is it growing swimmingly, and now you’re swimming in it? You can slow down your kefir, with no ill affects on your grains.   This is how! You’ll need: 3-4 quart jars, 3-4 airtight lids for refrigerator storage. 1.      On the weekend, or whatever day you want to slow it down, strain your grains and pour one quart of milk over the top.   2.      Place your kefir grains in the fridge with an airtight lid.   Leave them there until you are ready for another quart of kefir. 3.      The night before you want to start, pull them out of the fridge and place on the counter overnight.   In the morning, look for signs of separation, small “rivers” of whey near the bottom of the jar.   4.      Strain your grains and place your kefir to second ferment if desired.   Then in the “grains” jar, pour a quart of milk over and start it again.   5.      You can do this as many days/times as you’d like, then start over
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Location: Marion, IN, USA
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 Fermenting I've started a new way of life.  Actually it started in 2015, I just haven't written on the blog since a hundred years ago.  Ha!  So, back in 2015 my doctor told me I was in the pre-diabetic category.  So because it is hereditary and I don't want to be dependent on insulin, I decided it was time for a change in my diet.  Controlling what goes into my body is easier than shelling out $$ for medicine. I’ve been a THM mama since 2015. I had a friend tell me about this way of eating when I reached out for help with my elevated blood sugar. The following year, I worked hard at losing weight and had lost over 30 pounds. Some challenging events happened, including my husband having colon cancer and us moving over 1700 miles across the country to start new jobs; and the weight came back on over three years. A year and a half ago I decided that enough was enough and I needed to regain control of the way I was eating. This time around, I paid more attention to the hea
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