How to Shrink Blood Sugar Spikes and Stabilize Glucose Levels

“”I have the right to do anything,” you say- but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” -but not everything is constructive.”   1 Corinthians 10:23

In the previous part of this double feature (click here to review) we learned how riding on the blood sugar roller coaster can be bad for your heart, blood vessels, hormones, brain and other organs.

Blood sugar peaks 1-2 hours after eating and returns to normal in 3-4 hours.  The roller coaster involves extremes which are beyond the normal stable ups and downs of blood sugar.

That doesn’t have to be the case. It is possible to lessen the blood sugar extremes keeping our body in a happier place.

How can we do that? Continue reading “How to Shrink Blood Sugar Spikes and Stabilize Glucose Levels”

Cold Frames. February Gardening.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

I asked my husband for cold frames for Valentine’s Day, because that’s just how romantic I am! 😎  Continue reading “Cold Frames. February Gardening.”

Oh, My Aching Back (pt 2): The Adventure Continues

“The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

One month update.

As I sit down today to give an update to my initial post, I have been in physical therapy for one month. From the responses I received Continue reading “Oh, My Aching Back (pt 2): The Adventure Continues”

Why Blood Sugar Spikes are Harmful and How to Moderate Them

 

Blood sugar spikes and crashes can be harmful to your health and should be avoided even if you are not diabetic. Continue reading “Why Blood Sugar Spikes are Harmful and How to Moderate Them”

Beef Goulash

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”  Matthew 5:13

 

Beef cubes are browned and cooked in broth. You can cook the beef in water as well, but the broth gives a richer flavor.

The browner the meat, the more flavor your meat and gravy will have. I remember my dad saying it tasted best when my mom burnt the meat.

You need enough stock/broth to cover the meat.

The sauce is generally used as is, but I added gluten-free flour to mine to make it thicker.

Serve over rice, gluten-free noodles, quinoa or potatoes. I usually skip the starch. I just like a little on the side with a salad/vegetable.

 

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Beef Goulash

  • Servings: 8
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 2T  ghee or oil (dairy-free alternative)
  • 2 lbs beef cubes, trimmed, cut into about 1″ cubes (grass-fed, organic is best)
  • salt and pepper, to taste (to season meat before browning)
  • 3 yellow onions, chopped
  • 2T paprika
  • 1 1/2-2 cups beef stock/broth (can use water as well)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2t salt
  • 1/8t pepper

(if you like it spicy, you can add spicier pepper or other spices you like)

Directions

  1. In a large pot heat 1 T butter/oil. Season meat with some salt and pepper, to taste. Add 1/2 of the meat to the pot to brown on high heat. Brown the meat well on all sides. The darker it is the more flavor your gravy will have. Remove meat from pot and repeat with the remaining butter/oil and meat.
  2. In the same pot on low heat, add the onions and cook until onions are translucent, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add the meat back to the pot. Add the garlic, paprika and stock/broth. Add enough broth to cover meat. Stir to mix well.
  4. Cover pot with tight fitting lid. Simmer over low heat about 2 hours. Stir occasionally. Meat should be tender.
  5. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add any other seasons you would like.

Optional:  make thicker gravy, mix 1/2 cup cold water with 1T gluten free flour mix. Stir until dissolved. Slowly pour into the meat while whisking to avoid clumping. Bring back to a boil for a minute or two.

Serve over rice, gluten-free noodles, quinoa or potatoes.

Confirmed or Busted? Coconut Oil Remedies

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

I have gathered coconut oil remedies from around the web and from books. Do these remedies really work or is it just hype? Let’s determine which myths are CONFIRMED and which are BUSTED. Continue reading “Confirmed or Busted? Coconut Oil Remedies”

This Year’s Garden to Table? Garden Plans Underway.

“Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left…Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”  Matthew 24:40,42

I made my seed purchases today. I have some seeds left from last year as well. I plan on starting cool season crops earlier this year.

I also need to start figuring out how to make a sturdy fence around the garden to keep the deer out that can also be taken down at the end of the season for easy clean up and preparation access.

So what am I planning for this year? Continue reading “This Year’s Garden to Table? Garden Plans Underway.”

Growing Strawberries

Strawberries are one of the most chemically laden foods. Did you know that even the organic strawberries you buy are started/grown in chemically fumigated soil? They insist though that the strawberries don’t soak up the chemicals from the soil. Strawberries are difficult to grow commercially and be completely organic. What a great reason to grow them yourself. Strawberries are one of the first plants I grew when I started gardening. Continue reading “Growing Strawberries”

Don’t Overlook the Importance of Support

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

Don’t go it alone. People with a support community are twice as likely to reach their goals than those with no support. This applies to all sorts of goals-spiritual, financial, personal but since this is a health blog we will discuss health goals. Continue reading “Don’t Overlook the Importance of Support”

My Attempt to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

When you’re a teacher of any age group, staying healthy can be a challenge, especially true since four year olds are not known for their exceptional hygiene skills. Continue reading “My Attempt to Stay Healthy During Cold and Flu Season”

Coconut Oil For Health

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.Proverbs 3:7-8

Coconut oil has become very popular. What makes this oil so recommended? Are there really any health benefits to using coconut oil? Continue reading “Coconut Oil For Health”

Bone Broth

“The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
And a good report makes the bones healthy.”  Proverbs 15:30

I’ve seen quite a few post about the health benefits of bone broth. This is made when you take chicken or beef bones and cook them with vinegar for an extended amount of time, usually 24 (chicken) to 48 (beef) hours. Are the health benefits really worth investing all that time? Continue reading “Bone Broth”