Where else are you    

greeted by name and    

you can park near    

the front door?     

April 22nd is Earth Day!  Let's celebrate by paying our respects to our planetary Mother, just as we would our own mother -- contemplating all she does for us, doing some little thing to please her, and resolving to walk more respectfully upon her property.  Look at these rich forests !  The blue ocean!  The blazing sky!  The bountiful rains!  We have so much to be thankful for!  Take a moment this Saturday to pay your respects to Mother Earth!

Our fresh organic produce from United Natural Foods Inc., available Monday, April 24th, is:

And carrots!  Have a great week!

Your healthful food advocate.

B.N.F.

Apple Zucchini Flax Pancakes

(makes 12 pancakes)

Treasure Hunt!

Help us find a seventh board member!  Qualifications:  must be a member in good standing or willing to join.  Also a background in accounting/finance would be ideal.  Call or e-mail Joyce with your nominee.

YRU a BNF member?

Tell us why you joined BNF!  We want to print your response!  (And let us know if we may add your name or not.)  See e-mail link below. 

Upcoming Event

The next educational meeting of Citizens for Emergency Preparedness will be: 

May 2, 2006

Evergreen Bank 

7:00 PM.  

Green Mail

Please send any comments and suggestions to:

bnfnewsletter@verizon.net  

Future Board Meetings

May 11, 2006

June  8, 2006

July  13, 2006

August 10, 2006

Archives

04/14/06

04/07/06

04/03/06

03/26/06

These are light, airy and delicious!

1-1/4 cups unbleached flour or 1 cup whole wheat flour

1/3 cup milled flax seed

3 TBSP. xylitol or turbinado sugar

1 TBSP. baking powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

2 eggs, separated, whites stiffly beaten

1-1/4 cups milk

3 TBSP. extra virgin olive oil

1/2 cup shredded apple

1/2 cup shredded zucchini

In a large bowl combine dry ingredients.

In a medium bowl, lightly beat together egg yokes, milk and oil.

Add liquid to dry and stir only until combined.

Shred apple and zucchini; add to batter until combined.

Fold in egg whites.

Preheat pan to medium heat and lightly grease.  Use a 1/3 cup measure.

from NOWFoods.com

Healthy Essentials

The Major Minerals

Minerals play an important role in the body, maintaining body fluids.  If fluid balance is disturbed, severe illness can develop quickly.  Minerals also help manage acid-base balance (pH) in the body.  Maintenance of body fluids at a nearly constant pH is critical to life.  While all minerals help maintain these balances, each one also has individual functions.  Here and next month we'll explore the role of specific minerals.

Calcium

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, and all but one percent of it resides in bones and teeth, where it plays two important roles.  First, it is essential for healthy bone structure, but once this calcium is deposited in the bones it does not remain there forever in an inactive state.  Bone can release its calcium as ions into bodily fluids for use by other organs, as well as smooth and skeletal muscle, if even the slightest drop in blood calcium occurs.  In fact, the minerals of the bones are in constant flux, with formation and dissolution taking place all the time.  The skeleton serves as a bank from which the blood borrows and returns calcium as needed.   If bone calcium levels are not sufficient as one matures, it may result in the presence of less than the normal amount of bone, or osteopenia.  If the state of osteopenia persists it may result in compromising the structural and functional ability of the skeleton, or osteoporosis.

Both calcium and phosphorous are essential to bone formation:  calcium phosphate salts crystallize on a foundation material composed of the protein collagen.  The resulting crystals, known as hydroxyapatite crystals, invade collagen and gradually give a youngster's maturing bones the rigidity they need to support their body weight.

Teeth are formed similarly:  hydroxyapatite crystals form on a collagen matrix to create dentin, which gives strength to teeth.  Mineral turnover in teeth does not occur as rapidly as in bone, but some withdrawal and re-depositing do take place throughout life.

The remaining one percent of calcium is in the fluids bathing and filling the body's cells.  Though a small amount, this calcium still plays major roles.  It regulates the transport of ions across cell membranes, helps maintain normal blood pressure and helps the blood clot, and is essential for muscle contraction and therefore heartbeat.  It also allows secretion of hormones, digestive enzymes, and neurotransmitters.

Calcium can be found in many different sources including milk, cheese, sardines, turnip greens, tofu, black eyed peas, and broccoli.

Phosphorous

Phosphorous is the second most abundant mineral in the body, though its blood concentration is less than half that of calcium.  Around 85 percent of the body's phosphorous is combined with calcium in the crystals of the bones and teeth.  The remainder is found throughout the body and used in some of the following:  phosphorous salts help maintain the acid-base balance of cellular fluids; phosphorous is incorporated by the DNA and RNA molecules of every cell and making it essential for growth and tissue renewal; phosphorous makes up the phosphate-containing molecules like ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) and creatine phosphate that carry, store and release energy for all bodily functions; and phosphorous forms part of the molecules of the phospholipids that are principal components of cell membranes.

Despite all these important roles, phosphorous needs are typically easily met by almost any diet.  Foods that are typically high in protein are usually high in phosphorous.  While found abundantly in meats, fish, and dairy products such as milk and cottage cheese, legumes, cereals, and grains are also good dietary sources.

From Nutrition Concepts and Controversies by Frances Size and Eleanor Whiteney.