Bovine Collagen

In your body there is a large network of proteins and other molecules that surround, support and give structure to the cells and tissues.  These proteins can be considered building blocks.  In this matrix, collagen is the primary (or main) structural protein found in the body's various connective tissues.  As the principal component of connective tissue, collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals which includes (amongst about 42 other categories) humans, dogs, cats and for the purposes of this article Bovidae: cattle, bison, buffalo and many more.  This family is known as bovid or bovine.

This naturally occurring protein, which is made up of 4 major amino acids in collagen, makes up from around 25% to 35% of the protein content in the whole body.  Over time as we age, collagen production in our bodies diminishes in these connective tissues and may lead to joint pain in different parts of your body.

Comparatively speaking, bovine collagen is the most similar to human collagen – more so than that of chicken or marine collagen sources.  In short, if you are going to consider taking collagen supplements the similarity of bovine to human collagen will reduce your chance of an allergic response and provide you with the greatest benefit.

Additionally, Type II bovine collagen supplements can provide health benefits on several levels including joint health as well as anti-aging effects.  It may also help stimulate the body’s own production of Type I collagen and provide improved skin elasticity, bone strength and a healthy gut.

Learn More

You can learn more about this and other topics related to bovine collagen from a leading US manufacturer of bovine collagen here.  Additionally, you can learn more about why undenatured or native collagen is superior to collagen powders, aka collagen peptide products, on the market today.

Many Thanks to Dr. Allan Kramer, PhD, President of SBEDGE  for the information in this article

https://sb-edge.com/ 

CBD & Knee Pain

About 5 years ago when I was in my mid 40’s, I began having some knee pain when I would bend down to pick things up, namely a golf ball out of the hole, the woods, the water, or wherever else it landed.  When playing golf, I would either tolerate the pain or would take some Ibuprofen or something to get through the round.  Enter CBD.

The 2018 US Farm Bill was a life changer for me.  CBD became available in my small town shortly thereafter and friends of mine started to talk about its effects.  Although expensive at the time, I chose to give it a try as mild knee pain became a daily occurrence.  After a few days of use, my knee pain subsided, and I finally got my dosage dialed in to where I was taking just enough to alleviate the pain but not waste any product due to the cost ($150 for a bottle of 1500mg strength at the time).

I continued using CBD for knee pain over the following years as it became more mainstream.  I changed brands several times always looking for a lower price.  Third party certifications and testing became more prevalent and of importance due to the rise of some products that may have been made in someone’s bathtub.  I stuck to the reputable brands as they seemed to work better than the B list products.

As I always had trouble shutting my brain off at night (I do some of my best thinking when I am supposed to be asleep), I changed the time of day I took CBD.  Instead of taking it in the morning, I started taking it just before bed.  I discovered the second benefit of CBD in the fact that I could actually fall asleep much faster, and I still did not have any knee pain.  Wonder drug, maybe.  I will definitely continue to use the product as it is a great natural alternative to over-the-counter drugs.

Shawn Sutton, President and Managing Partner, Naturally Restored Inc.

History of  English Toffee

Crunchy, savory and oh-so sweet. English Toffee is a time-honored treat loved by many around the globe, but have you ever wondered about its origin? What is English Toffee and where does it come from?

It’s understood by most food historias that toffee likely originated in Wales and rose to prominence during the early 19th century during an abundance of butter imports. The word “toffee” entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 1825, and is a derivative of the word “taffy,” making the confection’s introduction relatively recent. However, there’s others that believe the word derives from “tafia,” a West Indian Rum that was commonly used to inexpensively flavor confections.

What is Toffee?

Toffee is a hard, crunchy candy made with sugar mixed with milk, butter or cream. Much like it’s texture, creating English toffee is a tough process due to its temperamental nature. Important factors like humidity are crucial when heating and cooling this confection. Some enjoy it on its own, but toffee is commonly coated and mixed with chocolate, nuts and other ingredients.

What makes toffee English?

There are two different types of toffee that most Americans consume and more often–confuse. The English Toffee typically found in America is actually called buttercrunch. The difference between the two (literally) boils down to its ingredients. English toffee uses pure cane sugar, brown sugar, or molasses as its base, while buttercrunch uses granulated white sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Traditional British toffee always involves chocolate, but does not contain any type of nut. Buttercrunch contains a variety of different nuts and flavorings.

Why do we call Buttercrunch toffee English toffee?

The specifics aren’t known, but it’s thought to be due to mass marketing. English Toffee sounds more rich and sophisticated than buttercrunch, therefore making it more appealing to buyers and consumers. Either way, English toffee and buttercrunch are here to stay.

At Chocolate Storybook, we hand-craft our Valentine's Day English Toffee with a special recipe that stands the test of time. Crunchy, butter-rich toffee sandwiched between layers of milk chocolate and fresh roasted pecans, who could ask for more? Share a box of Valentine’s Day English Toffee with a loved one this season.

Author: Sabrina Shearer - Chocolate Storybook

If you are like me, you enjoy food and things that keep you healthy. The problem is that many blogs are merely ads for products or health products and tend to be biased. I wanted to gather information and articles that protray the different and unique items, recipies and restaurants out there to discover. We do not receive or post articles because we have received a gift or financial incentive. My wife and I are both into a healthy life style but we also enjoy gourmet food and especially cooking. I hope you will enjoy these articles and invite you to email me suggestions at nealr@mfgpr.org.

Life's Too Short,,,, Stay Healthy but Enjoy Food!