Red Foods for Lymphatic Flow

Did you know that RED foods help support healthy lymphatic flow? 

 Berries, cherries & juicy plums like this are what do it this time of year! 

Pomegranates are the lymph movers for the fall & beets & cranberries in the winter. 

The lymphatic system drains the waste, debris & toxins out of the body, so we want to do whatever we can to promote this process. When the lymphatic system is congested you may feel tired, stiffness in the morning, have skin breakouts, food sensitivities, bloating around the belly...to name a few. Moral if this story - eat RED foods! 

Ginger Carrots

Fermented foods, they're great for your health. I spend like, LOTS of money on them and I'm totally tired of it. I started making my own. Here is the simple recipe:

Ingredients:

4 cups grated carrots, tightly packed

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

2 tablespoons sea salt

Directions:

1. In a bowl, mix all ingredients and pound with a wooden pounder or a meat hammer to release juices.

2. Place in a quart-sized, wide mouth mason jar and press down firmly with a pounder or meat hammer until juices cover the carrots.

3. The top of the carrots should be at least 1 inch below the top of the jar.

4. Cover with cloth secured with rubber band and leave at room temperature for about 3-4 days before transferring to cold storage.

Meal Planning Makes Life Easy (& Delicious!)

This morning I slept in but I have a busy afternoon/night ahead of me. Luckily I meal planned earlier in the week so I was ready to throw together an uber-nutritious meal within a few minutes. I had some cooked lentils and quinoa in the fridge that I heated up with a few cubes of frozen homemade bone broth. I scrambled 2 eggs and threw it all together over a bed of arugala with a cup of tulsi tea. 

How are your meal planning skills?  This is something that I love to help my clients out with. Contact me to set up a health consultation so that we can get to it!  

Post-It Note Wisdom: Talk about your blessings...

Starting this week off right with this little gem. 

DIY Almond Milk

There's a lot of bull honkey in our food. Even in the so-called "healthy foods" at the health food store. It's not cool.  Almond milk is one of those sneaky places where companies add harmful chemicals and preservatives...and that basically takes the "health" right out of it.

No worries though, making your own almond milk is actually super simple. No one ever believes me when I say that, but I promise!  Here is my super simple, really quick recipe. Brace yourself...

DIY Almond Milk

1 cup raw, organic almonds (soaked overnight)

5 cups filtered water

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Pinch of sea salt

Blend altogether and strain through cheesecloth or a nut milk bag into a large mason jar. Almond milk will keep in the fridge for 5-6 days. 

There you have it.

Strawberry Ice Cream

Ingredients:

1 cup organic frozen strawberries

1 cup almond or coconut milk

½ frozen banana

handful of cashews

splash of vanilla extract

3-4 ice cubes

1 square of dark chocolate

Directions:

Blend all ingredients well (except dark chocolate) in a NutriBullet, food processor or high quality blender.  Add a splash of water if you’re looking more for a shake-texture (or eliminate the ice above).  Carefully using a knife, finely chop the square of dark chocolate and sprinkle on top (optional).  This makes one large serving of homemade “soft serve” style of ice cream, or you can split it with someone to both enjoy!

Benefits of Strawberries:

Strawberries are a unique combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients. It’s why they’re great for cardiovascular support and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, improved regulation of blood sugar, with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes, and prevention of certain cancer types including breast, cervical, colon, and esophageal cancer. They’re a gorgeous seasonal superfood rich with vitamin C!   *Always buy organic strawberries.

Healthy Foods for the Liver

Eating healthy foods for the liver can improve and support liver function on a daily basis. Having a

healthy liver results in greater energy and general well-being.  A poorly functioning liver can result in tiredness, headaches, bad breath, allergies and intolerances, problem skin and weight gain.  Foods that are healthy for the liver fall into two main categories.  First are those that promote the detoxification process of the liver. And second, are those that are high in antioxidants and therefore protect the liver while it's carrying out its detoxification processes.

Garlic and onions

Garlic contains allicin which is a sulphur-based compound needed by the liver for effective detoxification. Garlic helps the liver rid the body of mercury, certain food additives and the hormone oestrogen.

Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage)

These vegetables are very powerful detoxifiers of the liver. They contain chemicals that neutralise certain toxins such as nitrosamines found in cigarette smoke and aflotoxin found in peanuts. They also contain glucosinolates that help the liver to produce enzymes it needs for its detoxification processes.

Freshly squeezed lemon in hot water

Drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice in a cup of boiled water first thing in the morning helps to cleanse the liver and promote detoxification. It also stimulates bile production, cleanses the stomach and bowel and stimulates a bowel motion.

Beetroot (Beets)

It's a blood-purifying tonic that is also capable of absorbing heavy metals.

High-antioxidant fruits

Prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, plums, oranges, pink grapefruit, cantaloupe, apples and pears. Antioxidants help to protect the liver from the high levels of free radicals that are naturally produced during the process of detoxification.

Apples

Apples contain pectin that bind to heavy metals in the body (in particular in the colon) and help their excretion. This reduces the load on the liver and its detoxification capacities.

Artichoke

Increases bile production. One of the jobs of bile is to remove toxins through the bowel, as well as 'unfriendly' micro-organisms. It has been suggested that 30 minutes after eating globe artichoke, bile flow is increased by over 100%.

Bitter leafy salad greens 

Thinks dandelion, chicory and endive. The bitterness of these foods helps to stimulate bile flow within the liver.

LIVER

When you're trying to nourish or heal a certain organ of your body, consider eating that organ from an animal. Always opt for animals that were grassfed, happy and healthy. Check out US Wellness Meats if you cannot find any in your local area. Not a fan of eating liver?  Chop one up into tablet sized pieces, freeze, and swallow the same way you would a pill!