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Category: Healthier Foods/Groceries

Practising Awareness and Choosing Wisely, Promoting Companies who do the right thing and Making our Voices Heard. There is Strength in Numbers – we have been Silent, putting up with Chemicals etc that do us No Favors. Avoid health Risks and be Alert to Marketing Ploys. Leave bad products on the Shelves and teach them a lesson they won’t forget!

Published on Leave a comment on The Independent Health Researcher’s Master Directory: 30+ Years of Pantry Wisdom from Janet

By Janet Vargas - Independent Natural Health Researcher 30+ Yrs
With Assistance from AI (Guided and Selective)

As an independent natural health researcher with over 30 years of experience in the Australian wellness field, I have dedicated my life to looking past clever marketing and scrutinising food labels. We do not need artificial flavour enhancers, toxic loads of refined sugars, or highly processed industrial seed oils to make our food taste phenomenal.

Here is your definitive, master shopping directory of clean, functional, whole-food kitchen staples—many proudly local or easily sourced in Australia—complete with their transparent ingredient lists and deep health insights.

  • The Seasoned Salts, Stocks & Herb Blends
  • Vogel Herbamare Original Seasoning Salt
  • Description: Infused with 12 organic, fresh-harvested vegetables and herbs, steeped in French Camargue sea salt for up to a year before vacuum drying.
  • Ingredients: Sea salt, celery, leek, cress, onion, chives, parsley, lovage, garlic, basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, and kelp.
  • A.Vogel Trocomare Organic Spicy Seasoning Salt
  • Description: The zesty sister to Herbamare, incorporating a clean, warm kick of chili and pepper.
  • Ingredients: Sea salt, celery, leek, cress, onion, chives, parsley, lovage, garlic, basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, kelp, hot pepper (chili), and paprika.
…

Published on Leave a comment on Oloyin Beans (Sweet Beans) What Are They? A Very Beneficial West African Legume!

By Janet Vargas - Independent Natural Health Researcher 30+ Yrs
With Assistance from AI (Guided and Selective)

These are also referred to as Honey Beans.
They are a pleasant Tasty Nutritious Savoury Bean.

Oloyin beans (also known as Nigerian Honey Beans or Ewa Oloyin, a cultivar of Vigna unguiculata / cowpeas) have a distinct protein and nutritional architecture compared to Kidney Beans, Faba Beans, and Chickpeas.

Because Oloyin beans belong to the cowpea/black-eyed pea family rather than the Phaseolus (common bean) or Vicia family, their protein structure behaves differently in terms of digestibility and antinutrient profile.

Protein & Amino Acid Breakdown

Nutrient / MetricOloyin (Honey) BeansKidney BeansFaba Beans
Dried Split Broadbeans		Chickpeas
SpeciesVigna unguiculataPhaseolus vulgarisVicia fabaCicer arietinum
Crude Protein (Dry)22% – 25%~23% – 24%26% – 32%~19% – 21%
Lysine LevelVery HighHighExtremely HighHigh
Methionine & CysteineLow (Limiting)Low (Limiting)Lowest (Limiting)Slightly Higher
Digestibility RateHigh (Easier on gut)ModerateModerate (Skin retards it)

Key Comparisons Across the Four Legumes

1. Faba Beans (The Heavyweight Protein Champion)

  • Protein Density: Faba beans hold the highest raw protein concentration of the four (often hitting 30%+ in split varieties).
…

Published on Leave a comment on Part 3: Rebuilding the Shield – Selecting the Right Probiotics & Gut Healers

By Janet Vargas - Independent Natural Health Researcher 30+ Yrs
With Guided and Selected AI Assistance

Rebuilding the Shield: Selecting the Right Probiotics & Gut Healers

In our last two articles, we mapped out the "Safe Zone" diet to stop the internal wildfire caused by Histamine and Salicylate Intolerances. But living on a restricted diet forever is not a cure. The ultimate goal is to physically knit your Leaky Gut back together so you can safely enjoy a diverse, normal diet again.

To rebuild your intestinal shield, you need the right allies. However, the commercial wellness industry is packed with hidden traps. For a hyper-sensitive gut, standard supplements can cause devastating flare-ups.

Today, we are unlocking the exact, scientifically verified probiotic strains and gut healers that safely rebuild your barrier without triggering a single symptom.

The Probiotic Trap: Why Standard Supplements Fail

If you have food sensitivities, you have likely been told to take a probiotic. But for those dealing with histamine issues, standard shelf probiotics can act like poison.

Many common bacterial strains are "histamine factories." They enter an already inflamed gut and actively pump out histamines, triggering the exact flushing, brain fog, anxiety, and bloating you are trying to fix.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Humble Little Legume Linked To Better Brain, Heart and Eye Health

When my Son was young, we had a mealtime Guest come home from School. We were having Steamed Veggies. He said quietly "I don't like those little Green Things".......most Kids LIKE Them a Lot, hey?
We have "Smiled" occasionally right through the Years about that)

By Amy Glover from MSN

I don’t know about you, but when I think of so-called “superfoods”, I imagine pricier produce like goji berries and spirulina. 

However, not only do some longevity experts disagree with the idea of “superfoods”, but humbler offerings like plums, onions and apples bring pretty significant health benefits too. 

So, perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that peas are pretty great for us, too. 

Peas Are Great For Our Health - Have 3 Helpings A Week

Here are just four of the health benefits they may bring:

What are the health benefits of peas?

1) They could help to improve your heart health 

Peas are technically legumes, a higher consumption of which is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

They’re also high in plant polyphenols like phenolic acids and flavonoids, types of antioxidants. Researchers have described plant polyphenols as the “heart’s best friend” because they seem to help protect the organ against conditions like ischemia, hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure and cellular damage.…

Published on Leave a comment on Settling The Matter About Peanut Paste: Is It Nutritious Or Anti-Nutritious? Depends What You Buy OR Make!

By Janet Vargas - Independent Natural Health Researcher 30+ Yrs
With Assistance of AI

I'd like to share with you some INFO I found today with an AI APP named Chat GPT I have commenced working with for part of my Research. I have to watch it with some things, but it is Good to Very Good with most things I've searched so far - especially for Gardening.

I asked CHAT the Questions in Red and what I'm Adding for You is in Italics - OK?

Because Peanut Paste is all the rage in recent months and people are adding it to all kinds of Recipes from Savoury to Baking to Sweet, I think I should advise people against the Commercial Jars of it (that have Nasties) and at-least direct them to the Natural one without Nasties from Aldi, and from Health Stores - Freshly Made.

If you're using Peanut Paste regularly, compare the ingredient lists. Some products are simply 100% peanuts, while others contain Added sugar, oils, salt, emulsifiers, or other ingredients. Choose the version that best matches your Nutritional Goals.

Almost always, when Oils are added to Ingredients in Commercial Foods/Products, they are the Nasty ones like Canola, Sunflower Oil, Vegetable Oil (most times is SOY Oil) Safflower, Corn or Grapeseed Oil.…

Published on Leave a comment on Smart Frozen Veggie Picks For Managing Inflammation – Fresh Veggies Too!

I would like to show you, there are better ways to go with Food than Takeaways and Premade Meals - especially if you have certain Health Needs that need to be addressed with REAL FOOD that has proper Nutrients . Some people's Health is in not a good way because they keep having Takeaways and Premade Meals. I just found this Article to place in the Blog for you. I generally have 50/50 Frozen and Fresh Veggies and the same with Fruits.

Tasty Veggies With Nutrients Locked In
Ditch The Premade Meals

Smart Frozen Veggie Picks For Managing Inflammation

By Mie Moller Bie  - MSN

Frozen vegetables aren’t just convenient. Many of them are loaded with Inflammation-Fighting Nutrients that can support Gut Health, Immunity, and long-term disease Prevention.

According to Dietitians and Research-backed sources, these Freezer staples are just as Nutritious as Fresh and make it easier to eat well every day.

1. Mushrooms

Frozen mushrooms are a great source of beta-glucans and phenolic compounds that help reduce inflammation and support immune function says MDPI Nutrients. They’re easy to toss into stir-fries, pasta, or soups.

2. Kale And Collard Greens

According to EatingWell, these leafy greens retain their nutritional value even after freezing.…

Published on Leave a comment on More About Kiwi Fruit: So Good For You – New Variety Ruby-Red Berry Delicious!

By Janet Vargas Independent Natural Health Researcher 30+ Yrs

Hi Folks, I posted an Article about Kiwis in Mid-March, they are So Good for Us. I just found out they are Good for Our Eyes, in addition to their other Benefits. And when you look at this according to Food Signatures (Key Benefits found in certain foods, referred to as the Doctrine of Signatures by the Greeks many years ago when they resemble a specific part of our Body) a Carrot when sliced resembles the Iris in our Eyes AND so does a Kiwi when sliced, hey? So from that perspective, it is not too surprising to hear a Natural Health Scientist mention Kiwi's Benefit for Our Eyes in a YouTube Video recently, never-the-less pleasantly surprising.

Today, I had a wonderful experience when shopping in one of the Aldi Stores - a discovery that there is a Ruby-Red Kiwi Fruit available from a company called Zepri in New Zealand in addition to Sungold Kiwis. They are selling here in Australia and Internationally now.

Zespri Ruby-Red Kiwifruit
Berry Delicious!

It's Interesting to note that each one of these Kiwi Fruits have different Nutrient Profiles and Benefits (Variation-Wise) in addition to their Colours.…

Published on Leave a comment on Kiwis: An Overlooked Fruit Gaining Popularity In Nutrition Articles For Impressive Benefits

Hi Folks, again I heard about Kiwis just yesterday from an Eye Surgeon over YouTube yesterday - how they are Beneficial for Our Eyes. Then an Article on MSN today. I've placed two Articles for good measure here, including one that Informs us about the difference between the Green Kiwis and the Gold Kiwis.

Kiwis Come To Light For Health Benefits

Kiwi Unpeeled: How Two A Day Could Be The Key To Fresher Skin Health and Better Sleep
By Meike Leonard – Daily Mail

Tart, green and fuzzy, they may not always seem the most appealing snack. 

But experts say the humble Kiwi comes with a whole host of Benefits – for our Mood, Digestion and even Skin. 

Native to China since the 12th century, Kiwi were traditionally used for Medicinal Purposes. 

The fruit was administered for stomach issues as well as to aid digestion, ancient records show. 

In the early 20th century, after horticulturists brought the plant's seeds to New Zealand – where it was renamed for its resemblance to the country's furry, brown national bird – the Kiwi became a popular snack amongst stationed US servicemen.

Today, the fruit is one of New Zealand's defining agricultural products – making more than NZ$1billion in export revenue. …

Published on Leave a comment on The Wonderful And Nutritional Benefits Of Almonds – Do Read!

Hi Folks, some Good Nutrition Related News here. Almonds as a Functional Food.
And please remember these should be Raw Almonds OR Activated Almonds OR Soaked Almonds, not Baked, Roasted or Salted, in order to get the Nutrition and Benefits from them.

Also, I learnt years ago that my Sister's Rosacae could be relieved if she stopped eating Almonds. They do not agree with some people's Natural Chemistry because there is a predisposition towards the Rosacae disorder. That disorder only affects some people, so most of us Benefit from Eating Almonds - they are so good for us, hey? My Sisters Cheeks started returning to normal when she stopped her Fad on Almonds. Shall we go?

Almonds Are Great For Our Health

How Almonds Can Affect Your Body If You Eat Them Every Day
By Ida-Marie Palm Varbaek

Almonds are a popular snack that is easy to take on the go and packed with nutrients.
According to nutrition experts, a daily handful of almonds can have several positive effects on the body.
Here are some of the things that may happen if you eat them every day.

Almonds Are Packed With Nutrients
Almonds are described as a nutrient-dense food because they contain plant-based protein, dietary fiber, healthy fats, and several vitamins and minerals.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Leaky Gut Syndrome – The Permeable Intestine and How To Deal With It – Some Answers For Better Health!

You can blame most of this on the Highly Compromised  Food Industry where So Many Foods are not Real Food – they are Highly Processed… Ultra-Processed…Foods and Fake Foods…Laden with Cane Sugar or Sweeteners and ALL Manner of Chemical Additives. No wonder our Gut Health is going Crazy because most of the FOODS are CRAZY and Our Body can’t handle it.

This truly Is Important to Restore Gut Health Our Body depends on to experience GOOD HEALTH.
The pursuit of So Many in Our Time!

Our intestine comes into contact every day with the material from no time - in the form of food, bacterial fragments, pollutants. Between our body and the outside world, it is constantly decided which substances the body absorbs, which are not processed and excreted. In this process, a properly functioning intestinal mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract is required and of enormous importance for our health.

The symptoms of Leaky Gut syndrome can be very diffuse and diverse, such as:

  • Joint pain and muscle pain
  • Chronic muscle pain
  • Concentration disorders
  • Bloating, diarrhea, constipation
  • Headache / migraine
  • Mood fluctuations up to depression
  • Eczeme /acne
  • weakened immune system
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Food intolerance (food intolerances)
  • Irritable bowel complaints

Many of the symptoms mentioned are not necessarily associated with a sick intestine.…