Is your Chicken just Chicken???

Typically when we go and purchase chicken we do not think to look at the ingredients.  It is supposed to be just that chicken.  However, industry common practice is to plump the chicken.  What this ends up being is chicken injected with either salt water, chicken stalk, seaweed extract or a combination.   What this equates to is to a higher sodium content.  Chicken should have about 75 mg sodium per 4-ounce serving while a plumped chicken may list up to 440 mg sodium for the same serving size.  So next time you buy chicken I would encourage you to read the ingredients.  High sodium intake increases your risk for: heart disease, hemorrhagic stroke, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and stomach cancer.  Oh and one last thing, just because the package says "Organic" or "100 % Natural" does not mean that plumping is not involved.  photo credit: law_keven

Spice it up with Oregano and benefit your health!

Usually we think of Oregano just as a spice that makes our food taste better.  But the herb actually has some health benefits it’s a source of: iron, manganese, dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin C, beta-carotene, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K.  In fact 2 tsp of oregano is just over 20% DV of vitamin K.  Having adequate amounts of vitamin K allows your blood to clot normally and helps protect against osteoporosis.

photo credit: thomas pix