Coping With Stress & Fatigue

Sunday, January 13th, 2013 | Author:

Adrenal exhaustion is, essentially, low blood sugar.  it occurs with high levels of stress.  Cell metabolism increases, causing the body to rapidly burn off essential nutients, leaving a nutritional void that feels like fatigue in the body.

With adrenal fatigue, sugar and processed foods should be avoided.  Fruit in general should be kept to a minimum.  Instead, favor bright colored vegetables like bell peppers and carrots to satisfy sweet cravings.

I created this delicious smoothie to deal with my own adrenal exhaustion.  It combines fat, protein, complex carbohydrates, and a mixture of nutrients that gives the body a steady, constant flow of energy.  The combination of ingredients results in a flavor that reminds me of carrot cake!

Please note, this smoothie is not a cure for adrenal exhaustion, but it will be supportive in the repair and restoration of proper adrenal function.  I highly recommend supplementing with at least 2000 mg of vitamin C per day, a B complex vitamin that is high in B6, Calcium/magnesium, and Vitamin E with Tocopherols.  Ask a physician (preferably a naturopath) what is needed specifically for your condition.

The Adrenal Restorative Smoothie:

6 oz of medicinal tea (Licorice & Ginseng)
6 oz of almond milk
1/3 cup of raw hulled sunflower seeds(preferably sprouted)
1 Tbs. of hemp seeds
Pinch of celtic sea salt
1 bell pepper (red, yellow or orange)
1 carrot
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of maca
1/4 tsp of liquid stevia

Makes about 24 oz.

 

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Juice Fasting And Candida

Monday, May 14th, 2012 | Author:

Juice Fasting and Candida

Several weeks ago I did a week long juice fast, with my main focus on creating some amazing gourmet juice recipes for my latest recipe book.

 

This inspired my indulgence in a lot of fruit and sweet veggies like beets, carrots and fennel. For most people, this would not pose a problem, but for someone like me who has struggled with candida, all those sugars worsened my condition by feeding the yeast and creating a lot of fermentation in my gut. Coming off the fast was even worse for my condition due to eating juicy fruits for several days. I consumed far more fruit coming off the fast than I did during the fast.

So what’s the game plan for someone with candida on a juice fast? Donna Gates of the Body Ecology diet says you shouldn’t juice at all until your yeast problem is completely under control. You should wait until your body has restored a sufficient amount of friendly bacteria colonies in the gut. For most people this would take about 3 months off all forms of sugar. She explains that in removing the fiber from the juice, it is digested too quickly. Most fruits and some vegetables have a high concentration of natural sugars that feed yeast and in the process make your system more acidic instead of alkaline.

Donna Gates recommends that people with candida should add something to slow down the absorption of the raw vegetable juice. She mentions chia seeds and ground flax, coconut oil or flax oil, green protein powders, coconut milk kefir or avocado.

Something I found really interesting is that she recommends that people with candida should NOT juice cruciferous vegetables like kale, collards and cabbage. She explains that these vegetables suppress the thyroid and are too cooling to body. According to Ms. Gates, if your thyroid is underactive, you don’t have the energy you need to heal. I didn’t know this before reading her book, The Body Ecology Diet, but it is difficult for the body to rid itself of yeast if the body temperature is too low. This is very significant for me because I have poor circulation (genentics…thanks Mom!), and it’s difficult for me to keep warm. For this reason I have not been able to maintain the raw food diet during the winter time living in the Northeast the past few years.

After stating all that, there are some things that would be considered safe for someone with candida to juice:
lemons & limes
celery, cucumber & zucchini
romaine lettuce
parsley, cilantro, basil, & mint
ginger & turmeric
and a little bit of granny smith apple
or you could sweeten with stevia to make your juice more palatable

Then there’s the issue of coming off the fast. Most people recommend eating juicy fruits coming off a fast. For candida I would not recommend juicy fruits. Fruit-free, stevia sweetened green smoothies would be my recommendation. Check out my my delicious Candida Cleanse Smoothie

 

Candida Cleanse Smoothie

Base: Make a medicinal tea with equal parts of Pau D’arco, Raspberry Leaf, Sage Leaf, & Licorice (either one tea bag or one Tbs. of loose herbs each).
Cover and let steep until the liquid cools so it is good and strong.

Blend:

12 oz. medicinal tea
¼ to ½ tsp of liquid Stevia Extract
3 leaves romaine
1 fistful of basil
1 fistful of mint
2 stalks celery
½ cucumber
1 to 2 oz. E3Live
3 grams Chlorella
1 Tbs. of Aloe Vera Gel
½ avocado (to make it thick and creamy)

I’ve also been adding 1-2 tsp of Ormus SuperGreens by SUNWARRIOR. This is a raw, organic, probiotic green powder made from Alfalfa, Barley, Wheat Grass, Oat Grass, Spinach, Parsley, Yucca, Peppermint and Stevia. You can find it on Amazon.com by clicking here.

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How to Detox Safely on a Juice Fast

Tuesday, May 08th, 2012 | Author:

Juice fasting is a great way to detoxify your body if done under the right circumstances.  Before you embark on a juice fast, you should consider how clean your diet is to begin with.  It is not wise for someone who primarily eats junk foods and processed foods to go on a juice fast.  Toxins are built up in our bodies over time and our bodies find ways to store them in an effort to maintain as healthy a state as possible.  To go from years of polluting your body to a radical state of detoxification can actually do more harm than good.  To understand this you must know how the detoxification works.

Detoxification happens in two stages.  First, toxins are released from the tissues where they have been stored. Next, toxins are eliminated from the body through bowl movements, urination, sweat, and breath.

When toxins are released you want to make sure that they are being safely moved out of the body. Someone who has been eating primarily organic whole foods for an extended period of time is not going to have the same toxic load as someone whose been eating a diet of mainly processed and junk foods.  For a junk food eater, juice fasting may release far too many toxins into the system all at once creating a state of auto-toxicity.  Many times I have heard people talk about detox symptoms on a cleanse, and about feeling terrible.  This is not necessarily a good thing. This is a symptom of auto-toxicity and a message from your body that it is not eliminating the toxins fast enough. For this reason I would highly encourage the junk food eater to go on an organic whole food diet, eliminating all processed foods, before embarking on a juice fast.
For those of you who have been eating mainly organic whole foods there are ways to juice fast safely and to avoid auto-toxicity.

#1.  Get a colonic at the very beginning of your juice fast. 
*   A colonic will help insure that there are no obstructions in your colon that will block the flow of toxins out of your body.
*   Enemas are great to continue throughout the fast to keep things moving but they don’t penetrate as deeply as a colonic does, and usually only reach the descending colon.
*   A colonic will get all the way up to the ascending colon where blockages more frequently occur.

#2.  Start each day with a 32 oz. bottle of lemon water (I use the juice of one entire lemon) with one tsp. of MSM powder.  Add a dropper full of stevia to sweeten it up and it tastes like lemonade…YUM!
*   It’s very important to rehydrate the body first thing in the morning, with good clean filtered water.  *   Adding lemon juice to the water has an alkalizing effect on the body.  Disease thrives in an overly acidic environment, but disease cannot survive in an alkaline environment.  It’s important at all times to keep the body in a slightly alkaline state, so this is a great habit to start on a cleanse and continue once the cleanse is over.
*   Add to this a tsp of MSM powder and you have a great way to prepare your body for a day of cleansing.  MSM is a naturally occurring organic sulfur that’s present in all living things including human beings.  However, we humans are frequently deficient in it.  As a free radical scavenger, MSM has a very detoxifying effect on the body.  It also helps us absorb nutrients better from our food, and is a great addition to any cleanse.

#3.  Dry skin brush daily before you bath.
*   Dry skin brushing stimulates the lymphatic system.
*   Toxins are stored in the body’s fatty tissues.  The lymph plays an important role in immune function because it absorbs fats from the body tissues.
*   The lymph carries toxins from the tissues to the lymph nodes for removal.
*   In the lymph nodes there are large numbers of white blood cells called lymphocytes which produce antibodies and attack any harmful substances.
*   So the lymph nodes act as barriers to infection by filtering out and destroying toxins and germs.

#4.  Drink an 8 oz. glass of water with a Tbs. of raw, unfiltered, organic apple cider vinegar.
*   This is best done on an empty stomach before drinking a juice.
*   Cider vinegar is a powerful intestinal cleanser and is loaded with friendly bacteria that help keep your colon healthy.
*    Although cider vinegar is naturally very acidic, like lemons & limes it has a very alkalizing effect on the body.  It’s the specific mineral content that gives it an alkalizing effect when metabolized the body.

#5.  Add Spirulina and Chlorella powder to one of your daily juice cocktails.
*   Both Spirulina and Chlorella are high in protein and B12 are great for an energy boost during a day of fasting.  They also have the effect of suppressing one’s appetite.
*   Even more important, Chlorella is a powerful chelator and blood purifier, and is able to safely transport heavy metals and synthetic chemicals out of the body.

#6.  Add some Dandelion Leaves to your juices.
*   Dandelion is a blood purifier, and is also a great liver and kidney tonic.
*   It’s the liver’s job to process toxic substances, neutralizing them before they are moved on to the kidneys.   It’s the kidneys’ job to move fluid waste out of the body and purify the blood stream.
*   Dandelion cleanses the liver, and it’s diuretic properties stimulate the kidneys and help to make sure these toxins are moved swiftly out of the body.

#7.  Add a clove of raw garlic to one of your daily juices.
*   Yes raw garlic can be intense and the taste doesn’t mix well with fruit, but added to a savory juice with the right ingredients, it can taste delicious.
*   Garlic contains over 100 sulfuric compounds, making it potent enough to kill just about any infection causing bacteria.  Garlic, in addition to having anti-bacterial effects, also has anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic and antibiotic properties.
*   One of these sulfuric compounds, Methionine, is an amino acid that helps breakdown fats and also helps the digestive system remove heavy metals from the body.  It also works as an antioxidant inactivating free radicals.

#8.  Do 10 to 15 minutes of deep yogic breathing every day.
*   Deep breathing, using your full lung capacity, is a great way to detoxify your lungs.
*   Kapalabhati & Bhastrika breathing techniques are also excellent for cleansing the lungs.

#9.  Work up a sweat at least once per day!
*   Although most of us like to take it easy when we are detoxing, sweating is a great way to help move toxins out of the body.  If you have access to an infrared sauna or a regular sauna, by all means take advantage of that.
*   Working up a sweat through your favorite form of aerobic exercise is a great way to help move the toxins out.  Nothing too strenuous though.  The goal is to increase respiration, improve circulation, and facilitate elimination.  You will want to conserve your energy during a fast and not add stress to your system.
*    Ginger & sage tea can also help bring on a sweat.
*    And taking a hot bath in Epson Salts can also do the trick.

For a copy of my own personal Juice Fast Detox Protocol along with 20 mouth-watering gourmet juice recipes, click the paypal button below.

 


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The Cacao Controversy

Tuesday, February 07th, 2012 | Author:

 

Cacao

Last night I went to a talk by Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren on Brain Function and IQ, and the topic of raw cacao came up. There were audible gasps in the packed room as we listened to what Dr. T had to say about one of our favorite super foods.

“What are these stimulants doing to us, besides accumulating in our brain and causing brain dysfunction and imbalance?” Dr. T asks us. “They might make us feel good temporarily, but they are masking depression and other conditions we might have, allowing them to get worse as we become more and more addicted to these stimulants. In addition, they are affecting the liver. The liver has enzymes whose job it is to continually clean out toxins and to neutralize them before they can be thrown out of the body by the kidneys. The liver has specific enzymes to break down caffeine and other stimulants that are in chocolate. So whenever we eat it, we are adding to the toxic burden of the liver and causing it to work too hard, which makes it harder for us to get rid of other toxins at the same time. Additionally these substances are effecting our stomach and our digestive tract, and they have a negative effect on the kidneys because of the diuretic effect. So we’re losing nutrients like magnesium and other minerals that we have a need for because of the effect on the kidneys.”

This was tough for me to hear, personally being a big fan of raw cacao. I have heard mention in the past of the addictive quality of raw cacao. And I have used chocolate in the past to emotionally medicate. But I’ve been using raw cacao in moderation for quite some time, so I didn’t seriously consider it addicting. Ironically, my yoga teacher was speaking today about how in our culture we so readily accept that life is stressful, and how we remain most of the time is a state of fight or flight, moving from one stress situation to the next. We are all so hopped up on stimulants to cope with all the stress. It made me think of the times I do use raw cacao, and it’s usually in the morning, after I have pushed myself to the point of physical exhaustion the night before and I’m going on very little sleep. I put some raw cacao in my morning smoothie and I feel so energized I am ready to go full steam on just a few hours sleep. In our culture, doing stimulants, like coffee, in order to function have become the norm. And it’s not uncommon for us to use something else in the evening to calm us back down or deal with the insomnia brought on by all the stimulants. I am thinking that all this cannot possible be good for the nervous system.

I asked Dr. T, “What about the high levels of antioxidants in raw cacao?”

He replied, “There are high levels of antioxidants in poison mushrooms too, but we don’t eat them.”

So what do I think now??? I think that anything that is enjoyable that has questionable effects on one’s health should be used sparingly and in extreme moderation. And if you have an addictive personality, don’t even go there. I am happy to say that out of the 21 smoothie recipes in my book, “The Culinary Alchemist’s Super Food Smoothie Book,” only 2 of them contain raw cacao.

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Superfood Smoothies Recipes – From My New Book

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 | Author:

I am so excited to announce the long awaited release of my eBook “The Culinary Alchemist’s Super Food Smoothie Book,” which is available on Amazon Kindle and will soon to be released TheCopia.com, an eBook store with a social twist! Copia customers are encouraged to “annotate” digital texts, share those notes with friends, and to join or start group conversations about the books they’re reading. Copia makes this social reading experience possible not only through their free Copia eReader, but also via free-apps for Mac, PC, iPad, Sony Reader, Nook, and more!

To celebrate the release of my book, I’d like to give you a sneak peak and let you try one of the mouth-watering recipes. 

Tropi- Kale Smoothie

 

Blend:
1 Young Thai Coconut (meat and water)
3 cups of fresh or frozen Pineapple
1 Banana
2 – 4 Kale leaves
1 tsp of Bee Pollen
½ tsp of Maca
3 grams of Chlorella
1 oz. of E3Live

Let’s take a look at some of our key ingredients!

Young Thai Coconut:

Coconut is one of the most highly nutritious foods and has many health benefits.  Although all parts of the coconut (meat water & oil) have health benefits, it is the oil of the coconut that makes it truly medicinal food.  Acting as a protective antioxidant, it prevents damage from free radicals that cause degenerative diseases.  I recommend using the young Thai coconut because they are easier to crack open and the meat is softer and easier to extract.  You can find the Thai coconuts at most health food stores.  Feel free to substitute with coconut water if you don’t have a Thai coconut.

 

Pineapple:

 

Pineapples are high in Bromelain, which is composed of protein digesting enzymes that aid in digestion and help keep your intestinal tract healthy.  Pineapple has also been shown to be anti-inflamatory and is also high in Vitamin C, the bodies #1 water soluble antioxidant.  It is also a fantastic source the trace mineral manganese, which is very useful for energy production and antioxidant defense.

 

Kale:

 

Kale, as mentioned in a previous blog, is very high in fiber, which of course is good for your colon. AND it’s a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals including calcium, lutein, iron, Vitamins A, B6, C, E and K.  Kale has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and ten times more lutein. Kale’s high sulfur content helps boost the body’s detoxification enzymes, which in turn helps clear carcinogenic substances from the body.  Kale, like other cruciferous vegetables, produces sulforaphane when chopped, chewed, or blended.  Sulforaphane triggers the production of enzymes in the liver that detoxify the body and help prevent cancer.

 

Bee Pollen:

 

Bee pollen is one of nature’s perfect foods, consisting of all the essential components of life.  It contains nearly all the nutrients needed by the human body, filling in the gaps of deficient or imbalanced nutrition.  It is approximately 40% protein, half of which is in the form of free amino acids that can be used immediately by the body.  One of its vital ingredients, rutin, is excellent for blood circulation as it cleans and strengthens the arteries and capillaries.  Research has shown bee pollen to be effective in fighting cancer because it increases levels of cancer-fighting lymphocytes, increases antibody production, and increases levels of infection-fighting and oxygen carrying hemoglobin. It has been used to treat infertility as it stimulates ovarian function and strengthens eggs.  Bee pollen rejuvenates the body, stimulates the organs and glands, and enhances vitality.  It has been shown to improve endurance, extend longevity, help recovery from chronic illness, reduce addictive cravings, build new blood and prevent infectious diseases.  I buy my bee pollen from the RawFoodWorld.com

 

Maca:

 

Maca is considered to be a true adaptogen, a plant that has health benefits without any negative side effects.  Adaptogens enhance the body’s resistance to disease and help it to adapt to environmental conditions.  They help to rebuild weak immune systems and re-mineralize the body.  Maca contains almost 60 phytonutrients including calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, vitamins C, B1, B2, B12, and essential fatty acids.  Its alkaloids help the body assimilate these nutrients where they are needed in the body.  Maca nourishes and calms the nervous system.  It supports the entire endocrine system by providing the nutrients that fuel it and helping the glands to produce just the right amount of hormones.  Some of Maca’s health benefits include increased energy and stamina, improved sexual function and fertility, regulation of hormonal imbalances, and enhanced memory and mental clarity.  Maca stimulates metabolism.  It helps to build muscle and strengthen teeth and bones.  It inhibits the growth of bacteria and fungi like candida ablicans.  And it protects the body from carcinogens.  Maca is also very beneficial for the circulatory system, speeding up the wound healing process and giving the skin a more youthful appearance.  I buy my maca from NavitasNaturals.com.

Chlorella:
Chlorella is a complete protein.  It contains all the B vitamins, Vitamin C & E, and all the major minerals including high amounts of zinc and iron.  Chlorella boosts the immune system and helps to prevent degenerative diseases.  It has detoxifying capabilities, removing toxins that originate from both inside and outside of the body. Chlorella is the best natural detoxifier for heavy metals and synthetic chemicals. Heavy metals are very destructive to the brain.  They invade the central nervous system causing memory loss, loss of concentration, depression and anxiety.  It is highly suspected that heavy metals (especially mercury) contribute to Alzheimer’s.  As a powerful chelator, it is able to neutralize and remove these toxic substances from the body.  Chlorella is useful in the treatment of Candida.  It aids digestion, relieves arthritis pain, and also protects the body from radiation.  I buy my chlorella from the RawFoodWorld.com


E3Live:

E3Live is a super blue green algae harvested from the pristine Klamath Lake in Oregon.  E3Live is more nutrient dense than any other food you could possibly find, providing every nutrient the body needs to function optimally.  It has more bio-available chlorophyll than any other food; four times the amount of chlorophyll than wheatgrass.  This high quantity of chlorophyll is a clear indication of extraordinarily high life force, which helps keep E3Live’s wide spectrum of nutrients at their absolute nutritional peak.  It also contains high levels of PEA (phenylethylamine), known as the Love Molecule which is also found in chocolate.  PEA is a mood elevator because it acts on the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain.  E3Live is anti-inflammatory and helps to alkalinize the body which is very important for optimal health and disease prevention.  E3 Live can be purchased directly from E3Live.com.
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White Christmas Kale Salad

Monday, December 26th, 2011 | Author:

White Christmas Kale Salad

Here’s a beautiful festive looking dish for those of you who want a sweet treat but are watching your sugar intake.

 

One head of chopped raw kale
3 beets marinated in balsamic vinegar
1/4 sweet onion marinated in balsamic vinegar with the beets
1 – 2 Tbs. of chopped fresh dill
2 droppers full of liquid stevia (I recommend NuNaturals brand)
Olive oil to coat greens
Fresh organic goat cheese or shredded coconut (for vegans)

 

Peel beets and cut into quarters.  Boil beets to soften slightly.  You may also eat the beets raw, but I would suggest you julienne them.  The lightly boiled beets will absorb more of the balsamic marinade.  Thinly slice one quarter of a sweet onion (I like vidalia).  Place beets and onions in a bowl and coat with balsamic vinegar.  Let marinate for as long as you like (the longer, the tastier).

 

Rip kale leaves off stems and chop kale.  Coat leaves with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and stevia.  Squeeze and massage kale with your hands to soften and give it a cooked consistency.  Mix in dill, marinated beets and onions.

 

Top with goat cheese and serve.

 

It’s so beautiful…the green and red look like Christmas and the Goat cheese looks like white fluffy snow.  If you’re vegan and don’t do cheese, try sprinkling shredded coconut on top.
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Super Food Cookies

Sunday, August 21st, 2011 | Author:

Super Food Cookies

There aren’t a whole lot of recipes out there for Chia seeds and I had a whole lot of Chia Gel in my fridge that I wanted to use up before leaving on vacation, so I started experimenting and came up with this awesome recipe for “Chewy Chocolate Mint Chia Cookies”

These luscious little creations are reminiscent of the Girl Scout Thin Mints that I ate growing up.  But they are raw living guilt free treats loaded up with 2 amazing super foods, Chia Seeds and Raw Cacao.  Let me tell you about the potent healing properties of these super foods…

Cacao – Cacao, which is the raw form of chocolate, contains one of the highest levels of antioxidants on the planet, exceeding red wine, green tea, and other fruits and vegetables. These powerful antioxidants help eliminate deadly free radicals from your body. Raw cacao has been shown to be effective for promoting mental well being through the production of endorphins, raise Serotonin levels, and even to act as an anti-depressant.  This is largely due to the ingredient N-Acylethanolamine found inside cacao that acts as a natural bliss chemical to promote feelings of love and satisfaction. Cacoa contains more magnesium than any other food. Magnesium, which is the number one mineral deficiency in the west, is the most powerful stress relieving mineral. It relaxes the muscles and builds strong bones and teeth.  Cacao’s ability to promote cardiovascular health is outstanding. Research shows that it improves circulation, reduces blood clotting, increases HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and lowers blood pressure. With all of those things comes a lower risk of heart attacks and stroke.  Cacoa also inhibits certain carcinogenic processes and may protect the body from cancer.

Chia Seeds – Chia seeds are recognized as a super food, because they are an exceptionally high source of Omega-3 fatty acids. 30% of the chia seed’s oil is Omega 3 oil and 40% of its oil is Omega 6 oil, which provides a nice balance of Essential Fatty Acids for anyone looking to supplement EFA’s in their diet. Chia Seeds are easy to digest and do not have to be ground up like flax seeds. Chia Seeds can absorb over 10 times their weight in water making them excellent for hydrating the body. By absorbing the water we drink, chia seeds hold hydration in our systems longer. Chia seeds also slow down the conversion of carbohydrate calories into simple sugars which can be a great benefit for people with diabetes.  Chia seeds are high in fiber and are great antioxidants.  Chia gel (which is made simply by mixing the seeds with water) can assist in weight loss because it blocks calorie absorption.

So here’s how to make the cookies:

Ingredients
1 cup of raw Almonds (soaked and dehydrated if possible)
1 cup of Chia gel
1 cup of raw Cacao powder
1/4 cup of raw Coconut Nectar (or raw Agave Nectar)
1 tsp of Vanilla extract
1 & 1/2 droppers full of Vanilla Cream flavored Stevia by Sweet Leaf
1/4 to 1/2 tsp of Peppermint Oil (depending on desired minty-ness)

In a food processor, grind the almonds down into a flour.  Then add the rest of the ingredients and process thoroughly until it has a dough like consistency.  Roll into small balls and press into round cookies on a Paraflex sheet on a dehydrator tray.  Dehydrate at 115 for 12 hours or more.
I suggest flipping them after at least 4 hours onto the mesh screen of the dehydrator tray so they dry all the way through.  ENJOY!

How to make Chia Gel:

Chia Gel

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mix 1/3 cup of Chia Seeds with 2 cups of water
Whisk and let stand for 15 minutes
Whisk again and refrigerate

Chia Gel is also great to use in smoothies and for raw granola.  That recipe is coming up next time.

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Rawliciously Refreshing Summer Cuisine

Friday, July 29th, 2011 | Author:

Rawliciously Refreshing Summer Cuisine

 

Summer is such a great time to enjoy raw foods because of the abundance of succulent fresh fruits and vegetable available.  In summer, I love eating foods that are cool and light.  One of my favorite recipes this summer is “Mango Tacos.”

Mangos contain phenols which are powerful antioxidants.  They also are very high in iron which is great for people with anemia.  And they are a great source of vitamins A and E.  If you’ve never had mango with mint and cilantro, you haven’t lived!

 

Mango Tacos

 

Ingredients:  2 Avocados

2 tsp. lime juice

¼ tsp. Sea Salt

¼ of a small Jalapeno, seeded and minced

4 – 6 Romaine Leaves

2 Mangos diced

1 Scallion (white part only) thinly sliced

1 fistful of fresh chopped Cilantro

1 fistful of fresh chopped mint

Mash avocados with a fork.  Mix in lime juice, jalapeno, and sea salt.  Dollop the avocado mixture onto romaine leaves.  Mix the remaining ingredients together in a bowl and dollop that on top of the avocado. Eat with your hands like you would tacos using the romaine leaf as a shell.

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More Green Food For Thought….

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 | Author:

More Green Food For Thought…

 

Call me strange if you like, but I have a love affair going on with greens.  Yes it’s true, I’m a leaf lover.  I could eat them day and night and never get sick of them.  And I love to experiment with all the endless ways of preparing them and seasoning them and mixing them with all kinds of nuts and seeds and fruits.  When I make a salad, it is a real meal.

 

Let me tell you about two of my favorite greens and what they can do for you besides tantalize your taste buds…

 

Kale:

 

Kale is very high in fiber, which of course is good for your colon. AND it’s a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals including calcium, lutein, iron, Vitamins A, B6, C, E and K.  Kale has seven times the beta-carotene of broccoli and ten times more lutein. Kale’s high sulfur content helps boost the body’s detoxification enzymes, which in turn helps clear carcinogenic substances from the body.  Kale, like other cruciferous vegetables, produces sulforaphane when chopped, chewed, or blended.  Sulforaphane triggers the production of enzymes in the liver that detoxify the body and help prevent cancer.  Research shows that sulforaphane helps stop the proliferation of breat cancer cells.

Basil:

 

Basil contains flavanoids which help protect cells & chromosomes from damage.  These flavanoids inhibit the growth of several bacterias which may be resistant to antibiotics (staphylococcus & e.coli among others).  Eugenol, an essential oil in basil, has an anti-inflammatory effect and can be helpful for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or IBS.   Basil is a good source of Vitamin A which plays a critical role in the creation of thyroid hormones.  It contains magnesium which relaxes the heart & blood vessels, improving blood flow.  Basil also includes iron, calcium, potassium & vitamin C.

 

I came up with this luscious combination coincidentally as it just happened to be what I had in my fridge.  I just know you’re going to enjoy it as much as I did.

 

Kale Walnut Salad

 

1 bunch of Kale (finely chopped)

1 fistful of Basil (finely chopped)

1 Tbs of Olive Oil

1 Tbs of Balsamic Vinaigrette

½ tsp of Sea Salt

1 tsp of Raw Coconut Nectar (or Agave Nectar)

1 Pear Cubed

¼ cup of Walnuts

 

Please sign my mailing list to receive my monthly newsletter “Explorations in Culinary Alchemy” and you will get some mouth-watering, revitalizing recipes that will make eating right seem totally hedonistic!

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Green Smoothies

Tuesday, April 19th, 2011 | Author:

What’s all the hoopla about Green Smoothies?

Green Smoothies are probably the biggest craze on the health & wellness scene right now.  What is it about these elixirs that are so appealing?  And what is their healing potential.  Well their healing potential is as limitless as what you can put into them, but let’s explore some of the key ingredients.

#1 Greens!  What’s so special about them?  Chlorophyll!  Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green pigment.  It’s that magical stuff that absorbs energy from the sun and uses it for photosynthesis.  Chlorophyll is the life blood of plants and is essential to a plant’s metabolic functions.

What can chlorophyll do for us?  Scientists have discovered chlorophyll to be high in anti-oxidants, and to have anti-inflammatory and wound-healing capabilities.

Here are some of the health benefits of chlorophyll:

•    It assists the body in repairing damaged tissues and growing new tissues
•    It neutralizes pollution in the air we breath in
•    It helps deliver essential oxygen to our cells and tissues
•    It helps the body assimilate calcium and other important minerals
•    It stimulates our red blood cells to increase oxygen supply
•    It helps neutralize free radicals that would damage healthy cells
•    It helps to prevent bad breath and body odor
•    It helps prevent carcinogens from binding with DNA in the body’s organs
•    It helps heal kidney stones
•    It’s good for the body’s cardio-vascular health
•    It helps to heal infections
•    It helps protect the body against toxins

Some of the best sources of chlorophyll are leafy green vegetables. Unfortunately, if you cook your greens, much of the precious chlorophyll will be destroyed, so it’s best to eat them raw.  The Green Smoothie was made popular by Victoria Butenko who used her creativity to get those leafy greens into her family’s diet, in a desperate attempt to restore their ill health.  She had the brilliant idea of blending leafy greens with fruit in order to make them more palatable.  For many busy but health conscious individuals, green smoothies have become the ultimate breakfast food, because they are fast and easy to make, and so packed with nutrition that they will keep you going full steam until lunch-time.

Green smoothies can be as simple as a fistful of leafy greens, a piece of fruit, and a cup of water.  I like to take it up several notches to the realm of super foods, because I want to pack as much nutrition in there as possible so that my energy can take on super woman proportions.  Meet the other key players in my morning smoothie:

E3Live:


The most nutritious food on the planet!  E3Live is a super blue green algae harvested from the pristine Klamath Lake in Oregon.  E3Live is more nutrient dense than any other food you could possibly find, providing every nutrient the body needs to function optimally.  It has more bio-available chlorophyll than any other food; 4 times the amount of Chlorophyll than wheatgrass.  This high quantity of chlorophyll is a clear indication of extraordinarily high life force, which helps keep E3Live’s wide spectrum of nutrients at their absolute nutritional peak.  It also contains high levels of PEA (phenylethylamine), known as the Love Molecule which is also found in chocolate.  PEA is a mood elevator because it acts on the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain.  E3Live is anti-inflammatory and helps to alkalinize the body which is very important for optimal health and disease prevention.

Chlorella:
Chlorella is a complete protein.  It contains all the B vitamins, Vitamin C & E, and all the major minerals including high amounts of zinc and iron.  Chlorella boosts the immune system and helps to prevent degenerative diseases.  It has detoxifying capabilities, removing toxins that originate from both inside and outside of the body. Chlorella is the best natural detoxifier for heavy metals and synthetic chemicals. As a powerful chelator, it is able to neutralize and remove these toxic substances from the body.  This detoxifying capability is due to Chlorella’s uniquely thick cell wall which is very absorbent and resistant to breakage; enabling it to absorb the toxins and transport them safely out of the body.  Heavy metals are very destructive to the brain, invading the central nervous system causing memory loss, loss of concentration, depression and anxiety.  It is highly suspected that heavy metals (especially mercury) contribute to Alzheimer’s.  Dentists use chlorella as a detoxifying agent when removing mercury fillings.  Chlorella is useful in the treatment of Candida.  It aids digestion, relieves arthritis pain, and also protects the body from radiation.

Sprouts:
In addition to being an excellent source of nutrients, sprouts contain concentrated amounts of phytochemicals that can defend the body against disease.  Canavanine, an amino acid analog found in alfalfa, has shown curative effects for pancreatic, colon and leukemia cancers. Alfalfa also contains saponins, which lower the bad LDL cholesterol but not the good HDL cholesterol. Saponins help prevent arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. They also stimulate the immune system by increasing the activity of natural killer cells such as T- lymphocytes and interferon.  Sprouts contain plant estrogens which increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis. They also help alleviate hot flashes, menopause, PMS and fibrocystic breasts tumors.  Sprouts are high in active antioxidants which protect the body’s DNA from free-radical damage and minimize the effects of aging.  The really cool thing about sprouting seeds is that their nutrient content keeps increasing as they sprout.  Sproutman Steve Meyerwitz states, “It wouldn’t be inconceivable to find a fountain of youth here, after all, sprouts represent the miracle of birth.”

And now a special treat from the Culinary Alchemist…

Super Food Sunrise Smoothie

Blend:
8 oz. coconut water
1 whole mango
3 or 4 collard leaves
Fist full of your choice of sprouts
Fist full of fresh mint leaves
1 to 2 oz. of E3Live
3 grams Chlorella

Smoothie Lovers, keep an eye out for my new book:
Chef Moon’s
Medicinal Super Food Smoothie
Recipe Book


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In my soon to be released book…
*  Learn all about the top Super Foods, the most beneficial healing herbs, and the potent healing properties they possess.
*  Discover how to artfully combine these life-giving ingredients to not only taste delicious, but also to deliver powerful healing to your body.
*  Find natural remedies to common ailments that address the root of the problem and not just mask symptoms.
*  Enjoy the incredible vitality you will feel when you treat your body to the high density nutrition it craves.

In my Recipe Book on Medicinal Super Food
Smoothies you will find…
The Super Food Sunrise Smoothie
The Ultimate Immuno-Green Smoothie
The Berry Antioxidant Smoothie
The Brain Power Smoothie
The Blood Builder Smoothie
The Adrenal Resorative Smoothie
The Tummy Tonic Smoothie
The Candida Cleanse Smoothie
The Moon Cycle Smoothie
The Respiratory Relief Smoothie
The Mint Chocolate Chip Charger Smoothie

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”
Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine

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“In this food I clearly see the presence of the entire universe supporting my existence.”  Thich Nhat Hanh

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