Category: Health

From Infertility to Lessons In-Fertility

On a stormy Tuesday afternoon in late April, and I was in the kitchen mixing the batter for my special oatmeal raisin cookies, hoping to distract myself. It was the day my doctor promised to call with the results of my FSH levels. My daughter, Ellena, was only a year old, and we’ve only been trying a few months, still, at 42, I was told my fertility was waning. I had no time to waste.

The phone rang, and barely catching my breath, I listened to the diagnosis. “The follicle stimulating hormone, FSH, helps the follicles inside your ovaries to develop into eggs. If the level is over 20,” explained Dr. Y, ‘your ovaries are not working as well as they should be, I’ll be referring you to a fertility specialist..”

My FSH turned out to be the same as my age, 42..

Armed with a list of fertility specialists, I began my search for a cure. “I’m sorry,” said the receptionist of the first endocrinologist. “The doctor will not accept you as a patient. Your FSH is too high; he doesn’t think he could help you.”

The five fertility doctors who did agree to see me displayed charts and diagrams with statistics. They showed me how I clearly didn’t have a chance. “No,” they intoned, “we have no documented case of anyone conceiving with these FSH levels.”

Lying in bed at night, I fluctuated between despair and guilt. How could I have been so arrogant and ignored my age? Did I think my biological clock had stopped ticking just because it took me so long to find the right man? “Besides, what is your problem,” asked a familiar voice in my head. “You dare lament with all those childless couples out there? To clamor for seconds before everyone gets their turn?”

My first step into the maze of alternative fertility treatments, was a Native American medicine woman, who opened her consultation by asking if I was having intercourse with my husband, and then proceeded to press down on my chest bones while recounting numerous stories of success. Before my departure, she discreetly motioned toward a small ceramic bowl where I was to leave my $150 in cash.

I tried homeopathy with its tiny white sugary pellets that melted under my tongue, and a month later decided to move on to specialized fertility acupuncture. The four acupuncturists I consulted commanded me to lie on narrow massage tables while they turned my body into a rare breed of porcupine, with needles pointing in every direction.. They also recommended jumping rope “to shake up the organs,” daily hot and cold showers, and making love on bright red sheet. I did it all for several weeks with little measurable change.

A year later I was still not pregnant, and the pile of unpaid bills warned me from any further pursuit of a miracle fertility cure. One day, as I skimmed through a diet book a friend had recommended, it occurred to me that becoming stronger and healthier could, perhaps, rejuvenate my wilting ovaries. Improving my relationship with food was something I had always intended to do. Someday. When my life hardened into a perfect mould, with self-discipline, willpower, and free time pouring in like melted wax. Now, I imagined my baby leaning over the clouds, dimpled hands cupped around its mouth, yelling: “Go, mom, go! You can do it!” Even if I don’t get pregnant, I thought, at least I’ll have the healthiest body I’ve ever had.

With hardly a whimper I bade goodbye to my afternoon cappuccino and cake and ushered in a diet of fertility foods: organic greens, brown rice, tempeh, millet and adzuki beans. Wanting a baby provided incentive to eat or drink anything that promised to improve the odds. More important, moving forward left less time for despair and helped me see myself as more fluid, alterable.

Two months after the initial adjustments in my diet, my sinus headaches disappeared and one day I noticed I was no longer scrambling for extra strength pain killers to quiet my rheumatism.

Inspired I began to look inward, and found an entire chorus of self-defeating voices calling for my attention. Instead of silencing those voices with platitudes of positive thinking, I engaged in conversation with them, and constructed my own fertility healing protocol of imagery exercises, movement sequences, and yoga practice..Fertility acupuncture

For the first time since the diagnosis, I did not look for a fertility expert’s validation. What mattered was that every item on the list of fertility remedies made perfect sense to me.

Six months later, on a scorching hot August afternoon, the voice of the nurse on the other end of the phone announced my reward. “…I-N-D-I…,oh yes, Julia, the test came back positive. Congratulations, you’re pregnant.”

For many of the millions of women and men longing for a baby, fertility treatments offer a welcome alternative path to parenthood. For me, the fact that my fertility doctors knew of no current technique that would fix me turned out to create the most powerful opportunity of my forty two years. After a lifetime of abdicating all decision-making to experts, my elevated FSH levels were a portal toward becoming my own fertility authority

The “Great” Only Child Debate

Parents of Only Children BEWARE: Everyone has an opinion

“If you’re not prepared to have two children, you’re better off not having one at all.”

Such would be my introduction to the fact people have very, very strong feelings on the wisdom and practicalities of single child households.

My wife and I looked at each other, then at Kaia–who was hardly more than four months at the time and sleeping, oblivious to the apparent perils of her pending sibling less future-and then back at the source of such passionate words of wisdom.

He was not a doctor, a child psychologist, an aspiring anthropologist, a friend of a friend or, for that matter, not even so much as an acquaintance.

This was the pool fence guy… in for a ten minute inspection of our backyard deck and pool area so as to give us a quote on what we needed to do to satisfy Queensland’s stringent pool fence regulations.

Suddenly, it seemed, we were getting quite a bit more than we’d been expecting.

Not surprisingly, we’d soon learn the poor bugger was an only child and one, who made it abundantly clear, was still dealing with the traumatic ramifications of the fact.

What those actual traumas were, neither my wife nor I dared ask, though the pool guy was pretty emphatic he was still dealing with them.

Personally, I didn’t know much on the subject at the time, but, even so, I had to agree with him that he had issues; at least if he thought such condemning comments were the wisest path to pursue while simultaneously trying to get our business.

Since that time, however, I’ve come to know better and, it should be added, with very little internet research of my own. Subtle questioning, innuendo and ever so slight shakes of the head from well-intentioned friends, family and, yes, more strangers, over the past couple years have drilled into us what we can expect for… not jumping at the prospect of ‘expecting’ ever again.

The general consensus being, in addition to our being selfish in such single minded thinking, apparently Kaia, as an only child, is destined (some may even say, doomed) to be spoiled, lonely, narcissistic and socially inept. It’s a heavy label to hang on anyone but with China’s one child policy, U.S. Census Bureau figures showing single child household having doubled in the past 50 years and half of British families today comprised of only one child, at least we’re bound to have plenty of company.

Plenty of company with plenty of reasons for propagating the notion that, sometimes, less really is more.

Reasons including but not limited to financial and/or physical health issues, desire to travel, educational advantages, time constraints, fears over pregnancy, advanced age, and infertility. And the list goes on.

As do statistics from various studies pecking and banging away at the long held only child personality trait stereotypes that can be traced back to the late 1800s when prominent child psychologist G. Stanley Hall claimed “being an only child a disease in and of itself.”male therapist

To the contrary, more recent studies strongly suggest only children tend to be excellent students, more motivated, have higher self-esteem, and more gifted socially than those of sibling strapped households.

Of course, the point could be debated ad-nauseam.

However, the point is only children including the likes of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Ted Koppel, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John Updike, Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Joe Montana, Charles Lindberg, Indira Gandhi, Nancy Reagan, Robin Williams, Carol Burnett, Leonardo de Vinci, Bill Bradley, Condoleezza Rice, Steve Allen and countless others like them prove negative stereotypes packaged into clever clichés such as ‘One Child Syndrome’ definitely don’t automatically define one’s destiny.

The plain fact is, sometimes being a kid just isn’t easy regardless of whether you’re an only or not. Just ask my younger brother. Having siblings can be a real bitch. And if he’s still too bitter to speak, I’ve got the physical scars that will vouch for it.

9 tips for beginner yogis

1. Start where you are

It is a good idea to get in touch with the yoga studio and ask them to recommend a type of class that is right for you. Tell them your physical activity history; inform them if you have injuries or limitations of any kind. Even with gentle yoga classes, there are always differences among teachers. The person in charge of the study can help you find the best starting point for you wofs haircut.

The best thing is that you start in a specific class for beginners, where you will learn the basic postures, the alignment and the basics of breathing. If there are no classes for beginners, start in a gentle yoga class. Soft classes move at a slower pace, allowing you to comfortably learn postures and breathing. After this, many choose soft yoga as their main practice, while others will choose physically more rigorous classes. It makes more sense to go calmly when learning a new discipline, than to be pushing yourself into a class for which you are not prepared.

2. Arrive early

Try to arrive about 15 minutes before the class begins. This will give you time to get settled, know where the dressing room is and acclimatize to the energy of the place. If you run into a yoga class you will bring all your anxious energy to the mat. My new students sometimes confess to being nervous when they take their first class, something that is perfectly normal. Try not to increase this beginner’s stress by arriving late.

3. Introduce yourself

Be sure to introduce yourself and let your teacher know that you are new to this discipline. I always try to approach the new students and ask them if they come with any physical or emotional concern. Do not be shy: it’s the best you can do for yourself, talk about what you face. Your teacher can, for example, offer you some postures with useful modifications designed for you.

4. Choose a good place

After working for many years in the field of education, I realized there are many people who feel a natural attraction towards the last row of a class. Those of yoga are not an exception; many first-timers opt for the last row when they just start. But, depending on the disposition of the place and the number of people in the class, that may not be the best option. Better make sure to place your mat where you can listen and see the teacher.

5. Look for an intention

Most yoga classes start with a moment to breathe and focus before moving into postures. Perhaps the teacher presents a topic or an intention or objective for the class. Consider using this time to establish your own intention. For example, you may decide to concentrate on breathing deeply throughout the class or practice not judging yourself or others. Thankfulness for the opportunity to do yoga to take care of your body is another way to give foundation to your practice. Whatever your focus, bring it to your mind whenever you need some inspiration or use it simply to motivate you to come to class.

6. Listen to your body

One of the most common indications in a yoga class is: “Listen to your body.” When I was new to yoga, I was not sure what that meant. But, as you grow in your practice, the connection with your body becomes deeper and it is easier to understand this. Meanwhile, just remember that yoga should not hurt. If you feel a sharp pain, immediately withdraw from the posture or return to what I call a “base of operations” posture: the child’s posture, the mountain posture or the easy posture.

You will find new sensations, challenges or openings in your body; this is completely normal and beneficial. If you ever have doubts about whether what you are feeling is safe for you, sin by caution and get out of the posture. Something else: use your breath as an indicator. If it becomes irregular, unstable or you find yourself holding the air, it may be a sign that you have exceeded your limits. Take a break and take a few deep breaths before returning to practice.

7. The eyes on your mat

When I was in high school, my English teacher asked me to stay a few minutes after class to talk to me. He told me that every time he gave me a job or a test, I looked at my qualification and then stretched my neck to see the qualification of others. “If you’re always comparing yourself to others, you’ll go crazy,” he told me. Twenty years later, I still remember that wise advice.

Yoga is not a competition No grades are given. Nobody wins or loses. We practice progress, not perfection. So, what does it matter if your neighbor can go deeper into the chair position more than you? Maybe it takes more time to practice it or your body is built differently. Keep your eyes on your own mat and focus on moving in a way that is useful to your body and your needs.

8. Enjoy your savasana

For a large part of the students, both those who have just started and those who have been doing yoga for some time, savasana may be the most difficult position in the class. As we are used to being in constant movement, the mere fact of remaining still with ourselves and our thoughts and without movements that distract us, can be a new experience. Once again, start where you are and avoid judging your experience.

It also happens that some new students tell me that they get stressed in savasana because they cannot stop their thoughts. But the idea that one “should stop thoughts” in savasana is wrong. Instead of trying to stop them, just observe them, release them and then return your focus to the breath. You can get stuck in many thoughts during savasana, you just have to go back to your breathing again and again and let your body loosen on the mat.

9. Go back to class

Yoga is a practice of accumulation. With each class you take, its impact on your life will continue to increase. I often see that the faces light up after the first class. But if yoga does not immediately “click” you, then give it more time. Try different styles of classes and different teachers until you find the one that’s right for you. With application and regularity, you will soon begin to reap the many benefits that yoga brings!

My mother no longer sends me messages with questions. On the contrary, he sends me messages of thanks and excitement for the lessons he is learning and the gifts he receives. If you are a beginner, enjoy the lessons that the new always brings. Take into account your needs during the process, look for the support you need and think that everything happens in your own time.

Burn Fat by Controlling your Caloric Level

The caloric expenditure is the amount of energy (calories) that each organism uses per day. Of course this covers a wide range of factors that we will analyze below:

The first energy consuming factor of any living being is the basal metabolism. And it is the most important because it represents two thirds of the daily energy expenditure. And it is that the basal metabolism is the energy consumption of an organism in absolute rest. That is, it is the energy used by tissues to maintain the physiological processes necessary for life. Put another way: it’s about the energy that keeps us alive.

Aspects that influence the basal metabolism

As you can guess from the title of this section, there are factors that affect the basal metabolism to a greater or lesser extent. And is that the metabolism influences differently depending on the person. However, we can differentiate those factors that always directly affect the individual’s metabolism from those that only affect in a timely manner, such as stress.

General factors

Body surface: there is a direct relationship. The greater the weight and height, the greater the energy consumption at rest. So when someone begins to lose weight, the basal metabolic rate decreases. This is one of the reasons why evolution stops during the weight loss processes.

Proportion between different tissues

The different tissues have different energy needs. The muscle tissue is the one that has a higher metabolic rate, that is, the one that consumes more energy at rest. This is  one of the reasons why some people can eat very caloric foods  without gaining weight, while others increase easily even following a diet. If your proportion of muscle tissue is greater you will eliminate more calories during rest. Even so, the proportion between these tissues can vary from one person to another depending on their age, sex, genetics, and daily physical activity.

Age

Energy consumption is very high in childhood. In adults it decreases as age increases, and is related to the increase in the proportion of fatty tissue and the reduction of muscle tissue, which is more marked after 50 years. This trend, however, can be modified with the exercise.

Sex

In women the metabolic rate is between 10 and 15% lower than in men, because they have, by their hormonal characteristics, a greater proportion of fat tissue than men (20-25%, versus 15%).

As we can see, the basal metabolic rates differences inherent to the individual are directly related to factors that modify their muscle mass. One of the most important conclusions is that the greater the percentage of muscle mass, the greater the calorie consumption in rest situation. During the exercise, an overweight person with a higher percentage of fat tissue will consume the same calories as an athlete of the same weight, but the athlete will continue to use many more calories when the activity is over.

We hope that all of these tips will help you on your way to burning fat and acquiring new healthy habits. Read more here: Performix SST Reviews

How a CPAP Works

Continuous positive airway pressure

Everything Comes Down to Sleep

My freshman year at college taught me how much I dislike mornings. After a long night of studying (or binge-watching a show on Netflix), I would groggily get up in the morning and rush to my 8:30 chemistry class. Despite studying in Seattle, where a Starbucks is never out of sight, I rarely felt refreshed and ready in the morning. Unfortunately, many other Americans rarely get a good night’s sleep. One of the most common sleeping disorders is sleep apnea, a condition where the tongue blocks the airway while sleeping. Sleep apnea can affect anyone, but the risk is much higher for overweight males. While sleeping, patients suffer apneas (cessation of breathing), triggering the brain to wake you up to restore breathing. Victims of sleep apnea can suffer anywhere from 5 to thirty apneas an hour, making it very difficult to feel rested.

The Components of a CPAP Machine

For over 28 million Americans, apneas frequently disrupt sleeping and can cause very loud snoring. This lack of proper sleep can cause significant mental (depression, hallucinations, and memory problems) and physical (weakened immune system, heart issues, and weight gain) health damage, along with forcing us to rely on a latte to get through the day.

One of the most popular and effective prescriptions for sleep apnea treatment is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. Air from the room is filtered and then passed through the CPAP machine’s blower motor which acts as a compressor. This centrifugal blower, often referred to as a squirrel cage fan, utilizes the kinetic energy of the impellers to increase the pressure of the outside air. In order to deliver the air at the exact pressure required for the patient, a piezoresistive silicon pressure sensor is used. When pressure is applied to the membrane of the sensor, the electrical resistance changes due to the mechanical strain. This change in electrical resistivity is known as the piezoresistive effect.

Once the air is pressurized to a specific prescribed amount (usually between 6 to 14 cmH20) to consistently keep the airway open. In order to keep CPAPs as silent as possible, the blower is dampened and has bearings to keep it running smoothly and quietly. The air then passes through a humidifier to reduce nasal passage irritation caused by an increase in airflow. In cool passover humidifiers, the air goes over room temperature water while heated humidifiers contain warm water for the air to moisten. The pressurized and humidified air travels through the hose attached to the CPAP and is delivered to a mask worn by the patient throughout the night.

A variety of masks are available in order to minimize CPAP noise and help users sleep comfortably. Nasal masks deliver air to just the nose, and nasal pillows are earbud-shaped prongs that have less facial interference than a mask. In addition, there are full face CPAP masks that bring air to the mouth and nose. Although the sleep masks vary in design, they all serve the same purpose of delivering pressurized air to open blocked airways.

Buy CPAP machine devices are fairly simple yet effective devices, reducing or eliminating disruptive breathing for 99% of patients. Using a CPAP can be uncomfortable in the first few weeks and may have very minor yet rare side effects such as dry mouth, claustrophobia, and runny nose. Side effects are usually resolved by using a different mask style that is ideal for the patient. In order to stop sleep apnea symptoms, CPAPs need to be used every night.

In addition to just opening the airway, many modern CPAPS now use software to analyze breathing and sleeping patterns, giving patients daily reports of their sleep habits. CPAP software can also track therapy progress and the overall effectiveness of the device in reducing apneas.

An increasingly common alternative to the CPAP is automatically-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) therapy. As mentioned, CPAPs only deliver air at a specified pressure determined from a CPAP titration study. However, APAPs have specified low and high range pressure settings to maintain an ideal air pressure for each breath. The APAP has a complex algorithm that determines the ideal pressure at any given time. Unlike CPAP, the APAP machine can also adjust the pressure if the patient gains or loses weight. Aside from the fluctuation of pressure, APAP and CPAP machines are essentially the same.

CPAP and APAP devices are prescribed to patients suffering from sleep apnea. Although there are alternative therapies for sleep apnea, CPAP is the most common and effective treatment. When properly used, the machine can help people get the sleep necessary for humans to function.

Performix SST Review | Top Fat Burner Supplement Reviews

Performix SST is a fat burner that has extremely appealing packaging and product design, which almost makes you want to buy it immediately. Take a step back and look at the facts before getting too wrapped up in how cool the product looks. Read this review to see why Performix SST failed to make our list of the Top 10 Fat Burners, despite the fact that the product design is probably the coolest we have seen.

The Claimed Benefits of Performix SST

  • Enhances performance
  • Strength and stamina may be increased
  • Decreases total body fat

How Does Performix SST Work?

Performix SST uses a proprietary blend that consists of natural ingredients, which have been pretty thoroughly researched with regard to their fat burning abilities. It would be ideal if you could use something safe and natural in order to lose weight rather than something dangerous like a steroid, and that’s the theory here.

Natural fat burners like this one work through increased stimulation of fat stores, which can help to release the fat into your bloodstream where it can then be converted into energy. There are plenty of natural substances that are believed to work, but what separates the top fat burners from the average ones are the dosages and the overall formula comprehensiveness.

Another way in which fat burners like this one can work is through decreasing your calorie intake. Certain ingredients can help to suppress or reduce your appetite, which can lead to you eating less often. The key to weight loss is placing equal focus on fat burning and fat gain prevention.

Lastly, fat burners like Performix SST can work through the use of stimulants. Stimulants like caffeine are what can help you work out harder and for longer periods of time, which will ultimately get you burning more calories.

Our main issue with this particular fat burner is its use of a proprietary blend, and the fact that the blend isn’t as potent as it could be. Due to these issues, we don’t recommend Performix SST and would encourage you to browse our other reviews of the top fat burners.

Performix SST Reviews

An important part of the process for determining whether or not a supplement is worth your money is reading the reviews submitted by people who have actually used it. The Performix SST reviews were generally positive, which is a good sign. Very few reviews of Performix SST were negative.

Article Source : http://thesupplementreviews.org/fat-burners/performix-sst-review/

Lift Your Libido by Lifting Weights

With all the hype about body building, balanced diets, and healthy living, it isn’t a wonder why these factors are always connected with a man’s sexual health. There may be dozens of products in the market that aim to make a guy manlier, sexier, and more virile in bed. But the truth is, it can all start with creating better fitness habits!

Take a look at the aspect of exercise, particularly weight lifting and best male enhancement pills. Did you know that adding this regimen to your daily fitness routine can boost your libido and possibly improve your sex life? It is a matter of hormones – testosterone to be exact – and regular exercise can boost the levels of this male sex hormone. The more testosterone your body has, the better your libido will be.

What are the symptoms of low testosterone levels?

The Journal of Family Practice (JPF) stated in an article about the dangers of having low testosterone levels, which is applicable for both men and women. Behaviorally, one can expect the patient to be depressed, irritable, and easily susceptible to stress. In terms of body changes, people who have low testosterone tend to gain more body fat, feel weaker or less energetic, and may have mild anemia.

There are also sexual factors that are greatly affected by abnormal hormone levels. For men, this can lead to a decreased volume of ejaculate, erectile dysfunction, and of course, an overall decrease in libido. For women, low testosterone translates to lower sexual sensitivity and even difficulty achieving orgasm.

How does weight lifting help?

Lifting weights is only one type of workout that can boost testosterone levels. AskMen.com, however, explains that testosterone can increase if the workout routine is well planned and is appropriate for the person doing it. The important thing to note is to avoid overdoing it, as this can not only contribute to injury but can also affect the body’s hormone levels.

The same report from AskMen states that weight training also increases your strength and endurance. These are two factors that are vital when it comes to having sex. If you’re not strong enough or if you can’t keep up, then your partner will definitely notice it.

What other treatments can increase testosterone in the body?

The JPF report mentioned that a deficiency in zinc affects testosterone production. So it is recommended to supplement the diet with added zinc. This can either be through diet or with the help of pills.

In other cases, testosterone replacement therapy is necessary. These are a series of procedures that aim to boost the levels of the hormone in the body, and it is done with men and women alike. Examples of some medications that are used include topical gels, transdermal patches, and also oral medicines.

AOL Health recommends changing some aspects of lifestyle to avoid any dangers that can harm hormone levels in the body. For instance, choosing to buy organic products instead of those containing pesticides is a smart way to safeguard men’s health. Even chemicals like dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) present in various products like rubber, some types of water, and gardening products, can affect male fertility, so it is best to be wary of them.

Currently, many scientific groups are exploring alternative methods for increasing testosterone levels in humans. Most studies are done on laboratory animals, to safely assess the effectiveness of such treatments. The Brazilian Journal of Urology reported a study where tribulus alatus extracts helped improve testosterone in rats.

Remember, nobody is getting any younger. And as scientific sources explain, testosterone levels naturally tend to decrease with age. So it is nigh time to get active, live healthier, and do something about it! Your sex life is at stake.

Article Source: http://www.maleenhancementblog.com/blog/lift-your-libido-by-lifting-weights/

FREEZE-DRIED FOOD AS A MAINSTREAM MEAL OPTION

Last week stank. One daughter had her tonsils removed Monday. All of the rest of my family – including me – were suffering through nasty colds. And my husband’s been out of town. I could barely leave the house.

To feed my family, I relied on food storage, especially products like freeze dried food stew and freeze-dried vegetables that were fast and easy to cook.

This TV news story, from a Houston ABC affiliate, said freeze-dried food isn’t just for natural disasters or astronauts anymore. It’s also showing up in everyday cooking, as people discover that freeze-dried foods are convenient and save money.

Preparing a freeze-dried meal takes less time than going out to a restaurant or ordering something in. It also costs less than a restaurant meal – even a fast-food one.

It’s fast. Add boiling water to a freeze-dried meal pouch, stir a couple of times, and 10 minutes later, dinner’s ready. As more people have discovered freeze-dried foods, the variety of food available has increased too.

“Basically, anything that you would normally cook can be freeze dried,” Alissa Rumsey, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told ABC 13.

Or, if you’re Misty Marsh from the ABC 13 news story, combine ingredients from separate cans of freeze-dried meat and vegetables to make a quick soup.

Freeze-dried ingredients are already washed and cut, so you don’t have to do it yourself. I’ve tossed reconstituted freeze-dried hash browns into a recipe that called for potatoes. I’ve done the same for freeze-dried corn.

Like other prepared foods, freeze-dried food is more expensive than canned or fresh food. However, it can still reduce your food budget, not just your dining-out budget.

American families throw away about a quarter of the food and drinks they buy, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. That costs a family of four an estimated $1,365 to $2,275 annually.

The NRDC attributes much of this loss to factors like poor planning, spoiling and waste from past sell-buy dates.

Freeze-dried food can help with all these issues.

You should be rotating food storage anyway. So, plan meals using food storage items, then replace them as they get used up. This will help reduce the hit to the wallet from food waste. It will also allow you to spread out food storage shopping throughout the year, so you can buy items when they’re on sale, instead of when you run out.

Have you ever lost a zucchini or bunch of spinach in the refrigerator? And discovered it three weeks later, a soggy, mildewed blob?

Freeze-dried vegetables and fruit last longer, so they’re less likely to spoil than fresh ones. If you’re keeping more of the food you buy, because it doesn’t spoil, you’re saving money.

Freeze-dried food has a much longer shelf life than canned or frozen food – 25 years and more, if left unopened. I recently cleaned out my food storage and removed some really out-of-date cans. (2013, anyone?) What a waste of food and money. I could have bought freeze-dried food that would still be good.

Freeze-dried foods take some practice. The first time I tried tossing reconstituted freeze-dried hash browns into a casserole, they came out soggy. I learned if I fry them just a bit before I toss them in, they hold together more like fresh potatoes. Also, different brands have slightly different flavors. So experiment. In the long run, you’ll save time and money.

Article source: https://beprepared.com/blog/freeze-dried-food/