You may not think of Irish food as health food, but there are many healthy aspects to Irish cuisine. Irish butter is some of the best in the world. Kerrygold Irish salted butter is 80% fat and the unsalted version has added cultures to make it a fermented product with richer flavor and 82% fat. Kerry gold products are available in grocery stores and health food stores. http://tastebutter.com/about_kerrygold_butter.html

This is important because traditional foods, eaten by humans for thousands of years before we had epidemics of cancer, heart disease, obesity and Diabetes, are full of fats and natural probiotics from fermentation.

Corned beef is made the same way pickles are made. It is beef cured in salty brine, which creates healthy probiotics. “Corn” was the old English term for any grain, and the term “a corn of salt” was used prior to the American term “a grain of salt”. So, the corn in corned beef is referring to the salt, not corn that comes from a cob. Corning as a means of preserving beef was very popular during Word War II when fresh meat was not readily available. http://amazingribs.com/recipes/beef/home_made_corned_beef.html

You can click on the link above to learn how to make your own corned beef for a delicious St. Patrick’s Day dinner, with leftovers for Reuben sandwiches (on gluten-free bread, of course!) For more ideas about traditional Irish foods, like Lamb Stew or Bacon and Cabbage click here http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/the-ideal-irish-diet-eat-your-way-to-weight-loss-with-healthy-irish-recipes-136684608-237426341.html Cabbage is a great source of Vitamin C and is a cruciferous vegetable, which means it contains sulfur, vital for Phase II Liver detoxification.

Concerned about eating too many potatoes on a low carb diet? Chris Voigt, head of the Washington Potato Commission, lost 21 pounds in two months on a potatoes-only diet. His cholesterol also dropped dramatically. He did not add milk or butter, always ate the skin, and enjoyed potatoes morning, noon, and night, prepared in every possible way except fried. http://www.irishcentral.com/culture/food-drink/the-miracle-irish-potato-diet-drop-21-pounds-in-two-months-135400958-237743551.html

I don’t advocate the potato-only diet. It wasn’t all that healthy for our Irish ancestors and, with no added fat or protein, might plat havoc with your hormones. But potatoes are one of my personal favorite high-carb choices, weighing in at about 25% carbs. The potato is also a source of Vitamin C, and the skins contain many minerals. So, if you are at a normal weight, potatoes can add some delicious variety to your meals.

Irish cheese is some of the best in the world. When I lived in London I was able to shop at Fortnum and Mason’s world famous cheese department. I wish I could still buy some of the amazing Irish cheeses I found there, but they apparently don’t import the best. Some delicious varieties can be ordered online. Taste them and compare to the finest French cheeses and let me know what you think. http://www.epicurious.com/archive/holidays/stpatricks/irish_cheeses

If you have Irish roots and you would like to feel some extra Irish pride for St. Patrick’s Day, watch this lovely video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wmIZEl1nSo

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you forget to wear green tomorrow, and you get pinched, at least remember to use Arnica. And- wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.