Vitae Nutrition and Doula Services – Saskatoon

Saturated fat is bad, unsaturated fat is good, right? Yes. But it can be more complicated than a simple yes or no question. Coconut oil is saturated fat, therefore bad. However, there are some interesting reasons why that may not be true.

Coconut oil is made up of medium chain fatty acids. This makes it different from most oils that consist of long chain fatty acids. Medium chain fatty acids are digested differently than long chain fatty acids. Instead of mixing with bile salts in your intestine, medium chain fatty acids are absorbed into your lymphatic system. About 98-100% of all fats we eat are long chain. It’s no wonder coconut oil has a different effect on our bodies.

Coconut oil has been touted as a cure all for many ailments. I am not going to tell you that eating coconut oil is going to solve all your health issues. Here are some facts to think about. Coconut oil is made up of capric and lauric acids which are anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. Because it is a medium chain fatty acid, coconut oil can be very beneficial for intestinal problems. Coconut oil has also been related to weight loss as well.

Whether you believe the health hype or not, coconut oil can be a great oil to cook with. It is great high heat cooking oil. Unsaturated oils can be damaged when cooked at high heats.

So is coconut oil going to solve all your health problems? Probably not. However, it could be a great substitute for butter in baking and cooking.

Check out these links for more info:

http://naturalnews.com/coconut_oil.html

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/index.htm

http://www.foodmatters.tv/_webapp_199426/What_Oil_is_best_to_cook_with_and_which_oils_should_never_be_heated

One of the most common complaints of pregnancy is heartburn. There are many ways to help prevent heartburn through diet. Unfortunately, not all (or possibly any) of these tips will work for everyone.

Mealtimes: The trick is to keep your stomach from becoming too full; to prevent stomach contents from pushing against the esophageal sphincter. This can be accomplished in a few ways:

• Eat smaller meals, more frequently.
• Drink fluids between meals, not with.
• Chew your food well and eat slowly.

After Mealtimes: Try to stay upright instead of lying down. When bedtime comes, lay propped up on pillows.

Foods: Avoid foods that cause problems for you. This can be hard to determine; just use trial and error. Foods high in fat can cause problems. Fat can slow down stomach emptying and therefore it may be more likely stomach contents will find their way back up.

Drinking milk may help relieve your heartburn. Calcium lowers the acidity of your stomach contents. This is the same way antacids work. These are generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, it is always best to discuss taking anything for heartburn with your care provider.

Clothing: Wearing loose fitting clothing, especially around your stomach, may help ease pressure.

Stress can also play a role in heartburn. It is always a good idea during pregnancy to practice self-care, especially if you have toddlers running around.

As October and fun with Jack-o-lanterns are done. What to do with this massive orange (may go rotten soon) veggie? There are many delicious recipes out there for a variety of pumpkin dishes. If you are like me and don’t have the time (or the inclination at the moment) to test these new dishes out, just roast the pumpkin, puree and freeze. You will have plenty of pumpkin on hand for baking when the mood strikes.

Here was my adventure with a giant pumpkin that I saved from the compost heap.

First, I got out the big knife and chopped the pumpkin into large pieces. It is not an exact science, please don’t cut yourself; I have a scar from an acorn squash incident. I put the pieces on large cookie sheets and placed them in an oven at 350 F for about 40 minutes.

 TIP: I have since learned putting them skin side up gives better flavour.

I cut the pieces into chunks and peeled the skin of from the succulent flesh.

Then into the blender with added water…

Voila pumpkin puree to be proud of!