The One Food That Settles Upset Tummies

When my sisters and I were growing up, there was only one food that cured nausea and throwing up.
You’ll laugh when I tell you—that miraculous comfort food is kasha.
That’s right—plain buckwheat stops nausea right in its tracks.

NO! Not Buckwheat from “The Little Rascals,” though I love him too!
THIS kind of buckwheat:

I’m not saying all throwing up is bad.  In fact, vomiting eliminates toxins from the body. Sometimes that’s encouraged.
However, at some point, when a child or adult starts to feel hungry or shaky after a bout of elimination and they can’t seem to hold down anything else—grab a box of buckwheat groats and work some magic!

How does it work?  I’m not really sure!  But it DOES work.

It turns out that buckwheat is a gluten-free super seed, not a grain, with amazing properties.  There is mounting evidence proving that it stabilizes blood sugar levels, helps lower cholesterol, and can regulate diabetes.

Buckwheat contains the eight essential amino acids, including lysine, as well as high amounts of manganese, magnesium, and fiber according to an article in Natural News found below (Three Reasons to Eat Buckwheat).

It also contains two flavanoids: quercitin and rutin.
Quercitin has been shown to support healing in the body.  Rutin is an antioxidant shown to potentially inhibit cancer. Rutin also strengthens the capillaries and circulation, and may reduce painful varicose veins.
When suffering through a stomach ailment where vomiting presents, blood sugar levels usually drop. The stabilizing effect of the kasha brings the sugar levels back into equilibrium.

Don’t you just LOVE how simple natural solutions can be?
I know I do!

Recipe
Here’s the easy recipe on Wolff’s Kasha box that I make for my kids, when needed:

• 2 Cups broth or water (I use Imagine No Chicken Broth)
• 2 Tbs. butter or margarine (Earth Balance margarine is non-hydrogenated.)
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
• 1/8 tsp pepper (I leave this out when treating stomach upset, as it might be harsh on irritation.)

In separate bowl (egg is optional for vegans, so leave this coating part out):

• 1 Cup kasha
• 1 egg or egg white

1. Lightly beat egg in bowl with fork. Add kasha, stir to coat kernels.
2. Heat liquid, butter, and seasoning to a boil.
3. In a separate medium-size skillet, add egg-coated kasha. Cook over high heat 2 to 3 min, stirring constantly until egg has dried on kasha and kernels are separate. Reduce heat to low.
4. Quickly stir in boiling liquid. Cover tightly; simmer 8 to 11 min. until kasha kernels are tender and liquid is absorbed. Makes about 4 cups

For more advice on cooking kasha, check out this helpful link: Cooking Buckwheat.

Related Articles and References:

Cooked kasha. (Wikipedia)

• Three Reasons to Eat Buckwheat
• The Health Benefits of Buckwheat
• Foods That Heal: Buckwheat
• Buckwheat: 9 Great Reasons to Know It, Plant It, Grow It, and Eat It

• Buckwheat For Cooking (buckwheathealth.wordpress.com)
• Buckwheat Can Help With Diabetes (buckwheathealth.wordpress.com)
• Buckwheat for Clearer Skin (buckwheathealth.wordpress.com)

Photo credits: Buckwheat plant (illinoiswildflowers.info), Buckwheat the character (Courtesy of rollingout.com), Buckwheat (Courtesy of dailyperricone.com),

The Breakfast of Champions

I’m always on the hunt for nutritious foods that will prepare my family and me for our activity-filled days. It’s also important for the food to supply sustained energy and enhance (or at least not detract from) concentration levels.

My recent food infatuation is kasha, a.k.a. buckwheat. I already wrote about it here, as a surefire way to settle upset stomach. Kasha offers numerous health benefits such as weight loss, preventing high blood pressure, and being a great source of iron, protein, magnesium, phosphorous, and free radical preventing anti-oxidants.
Because it is so soothing and filling to the tummy, it makes a fantastic breakfast food for kids and adults that keeps them satisfied without the typical highs and lows of sugar cereals. In my humble opinion, it wins as the real breakfast of champions!

I just made a delicious version of it with cream of buckwheat this morning and thought I’d share it with you.
The cream of buckwheat package says use 1¼ cup milk/water/non-dairy alternative to ¼ cup cream of buckwheat but I prefer a thicker cereal and used ½ cup of cream of buckwheat.

What you need to do:

• Bring 1¼ cup milk/water/non-dairy alternative (I used unsweetened almond milk) to a boil
• Add ½ cup cream of buckwheat, bring to boil, then cook while stirring for about 10 minutes.
• Add a pinch of natural sea salt (I used pink Himalayan salt)

Optional:

• Add Cinnamon to taste. I used about a teaspoon, but I’m not gonna lie: I really just shook it over the top and kept adding until I enjoyed the flavor.
• Add one teaspoon organic vanilla extract
• Add organic maple sugar or other low-glycemic sweetener to taste. (Also poured this over the top until reaching desired sweetness. Then mixed it in.)
• Add 1-2 tsp. organic, raw coconut oil (this really makes it hunger-curbing hours after eating)

I’ve been looking for ways to add cinnamon to my diet and skin care because of its amazing health benefits. For more information, click this link for the 10 surprising health benefits of cinnamon.
This breakfast feels like comfort food to me. My youngest daughter is LOVING regular kasha for meals. Her tummy thanks her for it too!

Helpful Mama Tip: Are your mornings hectic and rushed? Make this cereal the day before. When it cools, refrigerate it directly in the pot. In the morning, take out the pot and prepared cereal. Reheat, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. Warning: The enticing scent of cinnamon and maple will cause mouths to water. VOILA! A warm way to start the day!

Photo Credits

1. Courtesy of mazmuse.com
2. Courtesy of cardamom-kitchen.com
3. Courtesy of gfggrocery.com

Related articles

• The One Food that Settles Upset Tummies (ediblefacial.com)
• Breakfast is served… a little late but it’s here!!!! (gluten free recipe) (fighttheinnerfoodie.wordpress.com)
• Chocolate Chia Goodness Pudding (A Portable, Instant Breakfast, Perfect for Travel) (tastespace.wordpress.com)