RECIPE: Beef Chili with Hidden Nutrition

I'm always looking for ways to increase the number of vegetables I consume each day, and Dr. Cowan's vegetable powders enable me to do that without sacrificing flavor or drastically increasing preparation time.  Every morning, I add his powders to a smoothie, I've used them to make dips and salad dressing, and I've added them to bolognese sauce.  In this recipe, I add them to chili.

According to Dr. Thomas Cowan, anthroposophical doctor and former member of our CSA (before he moved to CA):

"... taking our lead from healthy traditional peoples, we should strive to eat at least 10 to 12 different plants a day: some roots (carrots, beets), some stems (celery, Brussels sprouts), some leaves (kale, chard), and some fruits and flowers (tomatoes, zucchini). Eating different plant parts and colors is the surest way to avail ourselves of  all the nutrients plants have to offer."

In order to save space in my freezer, I pressure can ground beef several times a year.  My canner will hold 7 quart jars and each ones holds about 24oz of beef so I process 10 pounds at a time.  I will sometimes add grated carrots which disappear into whatever dish I'm making.

Easy Beef Chili with Hidden Nutrition

serves: 6

3 pounds canned ground beef*
1 T. ghee, lard, or coconut oil
2 medium onions, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 18oz jar tomato passata
2 T. chile ancho
1 T. ground cumin
1 t. ground coriander
1 t. mexican oregano, crushed by rubbing it between your palms
3 t. himalayan salt
1 t. Dr. Cowan's biodynamic 3-beet powder
1 t. Dr. Cowan's carrot powder
1 t. Dr. Cowan's spinach powder
2 t. Dr. Cowan's low oxalate greens powder
1 t. Dr. Cowan's wild ramp powder
Opt: 1 t. Dr. Cowan's winter squash powder

Garnish: sour cream, grated cheese, chopped onions, cilantro, avocado or guacamole, corn chips

Heat the fat on medium-high and saute the onions until they're translucent, about 5 minutes.

(*If you use raw ground beef, add it here and cook until it's no longer pink.)

Turn the heat to low (to prevent splattering) and add the garlic and tomato passata, then add all the spices and powders.  Stir to combine.

Add the beef, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to med-low and cook until the flavors meld, about 1 hour.  (*If you used raw ground beef, cook until it's tender which could take 2-3 additional hours depending on the meat.)

Serve with sour cream, chopped onions, grated cheese, cilantro, and/or chopped avocado.  My husband also likes to crumble corn chips on top.

If I have it on hand, I stir in a few T. of sweet potato puree.  I don't add it to the pot because my husband doesn't like it.

Cognitive Decline: My plan to avoid it

My plan to avoid cognitive decline

My grandmother died with Alzheimer's.
My mother was diagnosed with Dementia at age 87 and lived with it for another 10 years.
I intend to avoid both of these diseases.

Press HERE for an explanation of the steps I plan to follow.

I will be updating this page with my results and comments as things progress.

Here's what I've done so far:

Preliminaries:

1. Get a personalized diet plan like SWAMI, to determine lectins dangerous for my genotype

• I've been following my SWAMI since 2006  
• In June 2018, if you get this done through COEGM it will cost you $515 
• If you have it done through Dr. Robert Brody it will be much cheaper  

2. Have all amalgam tooth fillings removed by a mercury-safe dentist.

• I had this done decades ago.

3. Have my genome decoded by 23-and-me and  Ancestry.com 

• 23-and-me.com had a loooong turnaround time, 8 weeks  
• Ancestry.com turnaround time (for me) was 3 weeks.  

4. Have Opus 23 analyze results from 23-and-me.com and Ancestry.com

• This cost $515 for my initial 90-minute appointment
• Subsequent 60-minute appointments with Dr. Robert Brody were $300
• You can find a local practitioner HERE. 
• If you use Dr. Robert Brody please tell him I referred you (no, I don't get a commission).

Optimize filtration mechanisms:

1. Insure colon is functioning correctly - as least 2 BM/day, ability to produce diarrhea.

• I now start each day with a green smoothie, and I have greatly increased my consumption of resistant starches (sweet potatoes, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, celeriac, etc...).  I've also reduced my protein intake.  This has made me very regular. 

2. Insure minerals are balanced.

• Still working on this as I'm not sure how to determine whether they're off.  I add minerals to my morning smoothie which I hope will correct any imbalance.

3. Get detox pathways working.  

• I am currently working with Dr. Robert Brody on correcting my detox pathways.  He has an AMAZING amount of knowledge in this area and was able to answer every one of my questions without hesitation.  I recommend him wholeheartedly.  If you are in New England and can visit him in person, he accepts insurance.  If not, he's able to work with you remotely via Zoom. 

Dr. Brody agreed that it would be a good idea for me to detox because, as I suspected, I DO have SNPS in several places which compromise my ability to create/clear certain compounds.

I'm not going to share exactly what he prescribed for me because the supplements are specific to MY GENOME and I don't want someone with different SNPs following my protocol.  Here are some of the changes he recommended FOR ME:

Increase dosage of Ashwagandha for adrenal health.
Switch from Berberine to Skullcap for brain health.
Increase dosage of Quercetin for allergies
Maintain dosage of DHA and billberry for eye health
Maintain dosage of Magnesium Threonate for brain health
Eliminate Vitamin D3 and K2 until I have had my levels tested (I was taking too much)

He added the following:

Riboflavin-5-phosphate to correct several SNPs that compromise my ability to create serotonin. 

Topical glutathione, which corrects 7 gene traits, to accomplish the following processes:

• Strengthen the immune system
• Detoxify the body
• Improve the rate of cellular repair
• Boost brain function

After two months on these supplements - which my body will use to clear those compounds that require serotonin - I will add a specific type of b12 which will improve my methylation pathways.  Which type of B12 is determined by my genes.

Concurrently, he prescribed several supplements for brain health:

Klaire Target gb-X for gut-brain axis.  When I questioned the ingredients "maize starch (cornstarch)" and "maltodextrin (sugar)" he said they were there to provide food for the probiotics, and were refined to the point where all lectins had been removed.

Trehalose Complex, 1 t. per day, for healthy brain and nerve function.  You can get this directly from Dr. Brody, or you can get it cheaper via Amazon's Subscribe and Save program .  If you want to save even more money, you can make your own 'complex' using the following 3 ingredients.  You can use other brands but the quality won't be as high.  I add 1 t. to my morning smoothie.

Source: Amazon.com

Mix thoroughly:

• 12 T. (5.5oz) pure Trehalose from Non-GMO corn
• 3 T. (1 oz) SHINE d-Ribose (I use this one)
• 3 T (0.5oz) fractionated citrus pectin (I use this one)

Dr. Brody also approved the use of Gotu Kola, Bacopa Monnieri, Guducci Stem, and Lion's Mane for several other SNPs but I will be adding them one at a time to determine if I have a reaction.

Concurrently,  I've decide to start lining my gut with binders even though I haven't yet done all the other steps.  This should trap any new toxins I ingest before they can be added to whatever is already in my body.  It should make detoxing easier once I get to the 'mobilizing' stage.  In the master list below I've crossed out the ones I'm not going to take until I start mobilizing:

• Zeobind CLINOPTILOLITE - for toxic metals, organophosphates, insecticides, pesticides, dyes, (I use PURE BODY, a liquid spray I can carry with me.  It is as clean as ZeoBind)
• Silica from horsetail - for aluminum and glyphosate 
• Microsilica - for lead, cadmium, nickle, mercury, and barium 
• MetalSweep - microsilica plus vitamin C for prolonged effect along the entire gut
• Chlorella PYRENOIDOSA - a host of toxins that then don't go through the kidneys 
  (I use THIS ONE)
• Activated Coconut Charcoal - for mycotoxins (fungi) except for aflatoxin  
• Calcium bentonite living green clay - for plant and mold based biotoxins including aflatoxin 
• PC Ecklonia Cava - same metal binding capacity as chlorella but a different spectrum
• Sophia FLOW - to clear the lymph nodes in my brain  

UPDATE June 18, 2018:

Yesterday, my friend and I drove down to Dr. Brody's office to have him run a BIA test on us, to create a professional version of SWAMI, and to be registered as a patient so he can order labs under our insurance plan.  We had a WONDERFUL TIME!!!  We were the last patients of the day and spent the entire afternoon with him.  Afterwards, we had a delicious dinner at a restaurant across the street that uses grass fed beef and organic vegetables.  They have an outdoor patio, the temperature was a comfortable 74 degrees, and there were no bugs.  It was an absolutely perfect day.

My BIA scores were 'good' but not 'great' so I will be working to improve them.  We added Membrosia Complex and Fluidizer to my supplements.  I take them with ginger tea and it tastes good.

My new, professional, SWAMI is very close to my old xpress SWAMI except that he emphasized foods to improve my BIA scores.

I'll be going back next month to see whether I've improved.  I'll be getting the B12 supplement at that time, too.  I haven't noticed any changes in the weeks since I've been taking the riboflavin and glutathione except that I'm using the bathroom more frequently.  Dr. Brody says this is because my body is getting rid of wastes, which is exactly what I want it to do! 



UPDATE December 18, 2018:

It's now been 6 months since my last Brody appointment and I've leaned a LOT about my body during that time.  I will post an update after I review my findings with Dr. Brody.






Listed below are links to the other cognitive decline pages on this blog:

Dementia and Alzheimer's Overview

DETOXING - Why it's necessary

DETOXING - How to - PRELIMINARIES

DETOXING - How to - MOBILIZING TOXINS

DETOXING - How to - OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

DETOXING - How to - SYNOPSIS

Review of Dr. Bredesen's The End of Alzheimer's

RECIPE: VERY green smoothie

I have this for breakfast every morning.  It's very 'green' but loaded with nutrients.  Without the lemon juice it's a bit too green for me but with the lemon I crave it.  It's not sweet; add stevia if you need sweetness.

The addition of Dr. Cowan's powders turn this from a healthy smoothie into a NUTRITIONAL POWERHOUSE.  You'll be getting a full day's worth of vegetables in one serving!  You can make it without the powders, of course, but it won't be as healthy.

You can add sea vegetables (thyroid and bone support) or nori (iron, b6, b12) for even more nutrition but they overpower the taste for me.  I have to take them in a capsule (yes, you can make your own!)

Very GREEN Smoothie

makes 3.5-4 cups

3-4 T. fresh lemon juice
1/2 avocado (fat helps the body assimilate the nutrients in the greens) OR 1 ripe banana plus 2T almond butter
1.5 c. packed baby greens (you want a LOT of these - really squish them in!)
1/2 c. packed spinach including stems (stems have more nutrition then the leaves!)
opt: 1/4 c. loosely packed dill sprigs (these make the avocado version taste amazing!)
opt: 2-3" peeled and seeded cucumber
1/2 t. agave inulin feeds good gut bacteria (agave is the most sustainable inulin source)
Dr. Cowan's powders:

• 1/2 t. perennial greens (my favorite Dr.Cowan powder - LOADED with nutrients!)
• 1/2 t. burdock root powder stimulates liver enzymes that promote detoxification
• 1/4 t. ashitaba powder one of the most nutrient dense vegetables on the planet
• 1/4 t. fiddlehead fern powder high in omega 3, niacin, potassium and carotinoids
• 2.5 t. low oxalate greens powder (these smell heavenly)
• 1 t. spinach powder (when I don't have fresh spinach)
• Opt (I add them when I won't be eating these veggies during the day) :
• 1/2 t. three-beet powder liver and gall bladder tonic due due high betaine content
• 1/2 t. carrot powder

1 leaf radicchio - inulin feeds good gut bacteria
1.5 - 2 cups water or tea* depending on how thick you like it

*Instead of all or part of the water, you can use herbal tea.
I use pao d'arco and/or hibiscus-rosehip-lemongrass-oliveleaf

DIRECTIONS

I make one serving in my Nutri-Bullet.  If you don't have a similar machine you can use a blender and make two or three days worth.  Store in a glass container in the fridge.

Load the blending jar in the order listed above.  I pack in as many greens as the jar will hold, sprinkle the powders on top, and put the radicchio leaf in last over the powders to keep them from sticking to the blades. I then pour in water to the 'max fill' line.

Blend until no small bits remain visible.  Transfer to glass and enjoy!

(Rinse blending jar immediately or it will be hard to clean.)

NOTE:  If you make the banana version, it will be thinner than the avocado version.  I alternate them.  The more spinach you use, the greener it will be.  In the photo below I didn't have much spinach so I doubled up on the green powders.  

Green smoothie made with banana and almond butter