Recommended Reading 03/08/20

Let's get started with the:

Environment

These articles are all from Globalcitizen.org:

Why the heck is Los Angeles dumping 96 million black balls into a reservoir?  Sounds pretty interesting.

This article is a couple of years old, but still relevant today as it is very important.  We seriously need to do something about our plastic problem:  10 Plastic Pollution Facts 

Ditch the plastic bottles and Save the Environment and drink tap water.  Tap water may not be the healthiest choice, but tap water is 3500 times less expensive than bottled water.  My choice is 1/2 tsp Pink Himalayan Salt , 1 "Zinger" tea bag added to 1 gallon of distilled water.

On the environmental technology side introducing "Tidal" , from the "X" Company.  Humanity is pushing the ocean past its breaking point and soon there will more plastic than fish.

Health and Wellness

Our liver is critical for healthy functioning of our body.  Do you need a liver cleanse?

For your health and the world's: 9 Reasons to Eat More Plant-based Foods in 2020.

This is the only type of seafood I consume, Kelp:The Oceanic Plant with Skin, Health & Thyroid Benefits

Beans, beans are good for your heart, the more you eat...the longer you live! From Blue Zones: A Cup of Beans Every Day.

The foods you choose for breakfast are crucial for giving your muscles and brain what they need to perform at optimal level:  2 Perfect Breakfasts for Blood Sugar Balance.

From the Center for Nutrition Studies: Living a Whole Food Plant-Based Life

Videos

The Amazing Way Bicycles Can Change You

Vegan Bacon Double Cheeseburger!!

LIVE LIKE A PLANT

Fresh air & sunshine

Strong Support Systems

Minimize Weeds & Toxins

Keep Moving & Reaching

You Don't Have To Get There Fast

Have a great week.

Be Kind.

Judd

The Power of Cumin

 Cumin is an age-old seed and spice which originated in India but is used in culinaries around the world.  It is mentioned in the Bible, the Koran and in Sanskrit.  In ancient Egypt, it was used medicinally in the process of preserving mummies.  Cumin is a low-growing leafy plant in the same family as carrots and parsley. Commonly grown in China and India, it is found in Egypt, Eastern Mediterranean and Mexico.  You can find it in many colors in ground and whole seed form at most all grocery stores.  Besides being a very strong flavoring in foods, it has many healthy benefits including:

*May improve digestion: by increasing the activity of digestive enzymes, speeding the digestion process, it increases the releasing of bile in the gut.  By just adding a half teaspoon of ground cumin to organic yogurt helps the gut biome.

*Blood sugar management: supports healthy blood sugar levels and helps in decreasing glucose for diabetics.

*Lowers risk of Iron-deficiency Anemia: 1 tsp has 1.4 mg of iron, a great way to help acquiring your RDA of 17-20 mg.

*Lowers cholesterol: Cumin has lipid lowering agents which maintains healthy levels of cholesterol.  To achieve better results add cumin with lime to supercharge it(homemade Guacamole) 

*Anti-bacterial, Anti-viral: food borne illnesses are becoming more prevalent and the properties of cumin help in fighting infections, acting as a disinfectant.

*Boosts immunity: high in Vitamin C and A, (antioxidants)it stimulates the function of and activity of white blood cells.  All of which helps prevent cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Cumin is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals:

Iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, potassium and phosphorus, riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, A,C,E,K and B6.

For a healthy drink and a great way to flush out toxins, start your day with a glass of Jeera water.

Bring a quart of filtered water and 2 tsps of whole organic cumin seeds to a boil, let boil for 15-20 minutes.  Strain seeds and let set to room temperature. Enjoy.

Don't Medicate! HYDRATE

You probably already know that 70% of the human body is made up of water, and it's absolutely essential to human life.  Water is a liquid shuttle bus that transports elements like nutrients, proteins, hormones and other chemicals to where they are needed the most.  The problem is most everyone is dehydrated.  How much water do we need?  A good rule of thumb is half of your body weight in ounces (140lbs= 70 ounces of water - this should the bare minimum).  Not many of us revel over the neutral flavor of plain water.  There are many ways to not only enhance the flavor but also increase the nutrient value of plain H2O.  In our household we mostly drink naturally infused water or Zinger tea (both pictured above).  Celestial Seasonings offers many different flavors of hibiscus tea, which are very high in antioxidants according to studies.  A glass of cold filtered water with a Zinger tea bag and a half pack of stevia, (if you prefer sweetened) will definitely do your body good. It is a much better alternative to sweetened flavored water drinks like Dasani, Nestle or Sparkling Ice brands which are sweetened with sucralose .  Sucralose, aspartame and saccharin is very disruptive to our gut microbiome. To learn more about how important a strong microbiome is please check out my series on Gut Health.   

When infusing your water, there is only two requirement: a glass container of filtered water and creativity!  The combination of fruits, veggies, herbs and spices are endless.  It can be tailored to your own tastes and health benefits you hope to achieve.   

*Berries and fruit- loaded with antioxidants, key vitamins and minerals they help in:

*Balancing free radicals

*Decrease inflammation

*Prevents cancer

*Prevents DNA damage

*Helps to regulate insulin levels

*Citrus- lemons ,limes, oranges and grapefruits all help with:

 *Iron absorption

*Shortens durations of colds

*Helps with detoxing the body

*Inhibits bacteria strain growth

*Ginger and Herbs-

*Helps in digestion

*Reduces inflammation

*Decreases fatigue

*Veggies- Aids in replenishing electrolytes and transferring minerals and nutrients into the water. 

  Use those that have a high water content like:

*Cucumbers

*Cantaloupe

*Celery

*Pomegranate

*Watermelon

Benefits of Drinking Water

*Increases energy & relieves fatigue

*Promotes weight loss

*Flushes out toxins

*Improves skin complexion

*Maintains regularity 

*Boosts immunity

*Natural headache remedy

*Prevents cramps and sprains

*Mood booster

*Saves you money! STOP BUYING CRAP DRINKS

Here are a few blend ideas:

*Lemon, Lime and Orange

*Raspberry and Lime

*Strawberry and Basil

*Lemon, Cucumber and Mint

*Blackberry and Ginger

*Peach, Lemon and Thyme

You will feel the difference once you're properly hydrated.

Have a great week. 

Be kind.

Judd

Is It Time For A Detox?

With our world growing increasingly toxic, the question is not if you should do a detox; its when.  It's true our bodies are built to naturally eliminate toxins.  The problem, however, is that the effects of modern life: pollution, poor dietary choices, contaminates in our food and water, stress and even a sedentary lifestyle will compromise the body's ability to effectively detox the way it supposed to.  The tragic result of this toxic internal congestion is that we develop diseases, gain weight and lose our natural energy and vitality.

While its true our livers are constantly detoxing our bloodstreams, they are not necessarily coping as well as they could be.  From pesticides and fertilizers in our food, to heavy metals in the skincare products we use and the over-eager medicine prescribing, our wonderful modern world is a bit of a minefield waiting to explode.

Here are a few signs you need a 'detox', even when you think you are healthy and can't figure out why you are:

*Constantly Fatigued. 

This could be a sign your body is working too hard to get rid of the toxins you're pouring into it. If your answer is more coffee or something sweet, you're only making the problem worse.

*Constipation.

The intestines get rid of a lot of toxins everyday.  When that is compromised we store up all those toxins.  Allowing them to negatively affect our bodies.  This is related to consuming a lot of processed foods filled with chemicals, pesticides and preservatives.

*Skin Reactions.

Acne, rashes and skin problems may signal a toxic overload.  The skin is our largest organ responsible for detoxification. Get out there and sweat!

*Muscle aches and pains.

Chronic inflammation can be influenced by the environmental toxins we come into contact each and every day. Use only natural skin care products that are free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens and any other potentially toxic ingredients.

*Bad Breath.

Bad breath is often related to digestive issues and can also mean your liver is struggling to get rid of the toxins.

Here is a great article from Dr. Will Cole: 16 Signs its Time For a Detox

Here are some suggestions for healthy detoxing:

*Support your liver with  warm lemon water, dandelion tea, eat more parsley and cilantro.

*Drink more water(I Need a Drink   Thirsty?)

*SWEAT! Exercise at least 30 minutes daily. It gets the circulation going, helping move toxins along.

*Get a good daily dose of probiotics (Gut Bomb) like non-dairy yogurts,kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, tempeh and miso soup.

*Always brush your teeth, even better use a tongue scrapper while brushing.

*Practice deep breathing.

*Choose clean organic whole foods.  Start with these: FoodsTo Naturally Detox Our Body.

CBD Oil has been shown to help in detoxing the liver along with many other benefits: 4 Natural Remedies to Detox and Heal The Liver.  We offer high quality CBD Oil products at www.kristenlee.hempworx.com Please check them out.

BELIEVE IN 

KINDNESS

Have a great week

Judd