Happy Healthy New Year

Let's  begin on the road to living a healthier life.  People always make New Years resolutions but seldom follow through with keeping them.  Even if you stray from the path, you can always find the way back.  Don't give up. It's when we stop that we fail.  

Here is a great way to start you on your journey with an article from Kris Carr.

With flu season upon us, it is very important that we are eating well balanced, immunity boosting and nutrient rich foods.  Kris and I personally do not believe in getting a flu shot for many reasons.  Here two great articles by Darin Olien: "Why you need to rethink getting the flu shot." and "Immunity Boosting Natural Flu Shot".

This week's post is all about "Ginger root".   For centuries, ginger has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat colds, stomachaches, nausea and indigestion.   It is treasured in Asian cuisine with its tangy, lemony and spicy taste.  It is a favored go-to herbal remedy for those who believe in natural healing.  Some who are older may remember our Grandmothers giving us ginger-ale when we had a stomachache.   Back then it actually had ginger in it!  In 1982 it beat out Dramamine in a head-to-head test when blindfolded volunteers were spun in a tilted rotating chair.  It is now considered a nontoxic broad-spectrum anti-vomiting agent in countering nausea, vomiting, motion sickness.  It helps to calm the effects of nausea in pregnancy, chemo, radiation and after surgery.  Ginger has its most effects in late winter.  On cold damp days, a steaming hot cup of ginger tea warms your bones and burns up congestion and mucus.  For congestion in the back of your throat, make a syrup of 1/4 tsp each of dry ginger, turmeric and black pepper mixed into 1 tsp of raw honey.  Slowly lick over 15 minutes, repeating up to three times per day.  When you combine ginger with black pepper and dried pippali it forms an Ayuredic formula called "trikatu".   This formula is excellent for eliminating mucus and congestion in the lungs.

Other benefits include;

*Anti-inflammatory.

*Anti-aging.

*Reduces pain from exercise.

*Assists in weight loss.

*Treats anemia (stimulates production of blood cells).

*Helps manages diabetes (combining honey and ginger reduces oxidative stress).

*Helps to prevent liver disease (gingerols helps improves insulin resistance).

You can find fresh ginger in the produce aisle of most all grocery stores.  Make sure it is firm to touch, not dried out or wilted. For a quick pick me up, peel the skin (if not organic), finely chop about a tbsp and steep in hot water for 2-3 minutes, add some honey and enjoy!

I just started an instagram.com/v_4_veg/, I will be posting on it as much as possible.

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Judd

Power Up with Beets

The wild beet is thought to have originated in prehistoric times in North Africa.   Growing wild on the shores of Asia and Europe it soon became an everyday staple.  The "greens" were the first to be consumed and later the roots became more common when the benefits became known.  The ancient Romans were the first to cultivate the roots as food and then spread throughout Europe as invading tribes spread their use in the 16th century.  Beets grew in value in the 19th century when the first "beet sugar" factory was built in Poland, finally heading to the United States where they now flourish.

Fresh from the farm!

Beet greens are are full of vitamins, minerals and high in fiber.   The  very high amount of vitamin K contains blood-clotting properties, fights aging, supports DNA, helps in preventing osteoporosis, works with building bone strength and may even help fighting Alzheimer disease.   The greens may be used in salads, sauteing with olive oil and are great in green juices and smoothies.

The roots can be eaten raw, roasted and cooked.   But be aware when preparing them as they will stain your hands and cooking utensils.  Here's an easy tutorial on prepping beets.

Beets are a high-antioxidant veggie that contains many nutrients for detoxing and cleansing of our bodies and blood.   The liver is the vital organ that filters and detoxifies the blood that comes through the digestive track before it reaches the bloodstream.   Beets contain a nutrient called betaine which helps the liver eliminate toxins and also pectin, a fiber which clears toxins that have been removed from the liver so they don't reincorporate back into the body.

Benefits of Beets

*Lowers your blood pressure ( high in nitrates).

*Boosts your stamina.*

*Fights inflammation.

*Phytonutrients that help ward off cancer.

*High in vitamin C, manganese and vitamin B.

*Detoxification.

Here's a couple of great recipes:

Beet Quinoa (Powerhouse recipe)

Veggie Beet/Bean Burger  (Plantpower Way)

As we start the New Year let's be the change the world needs.

Have a great week. 

Be kind.

Judd

Year End Housecleaning

We are doing some year-end house cleaning on the blog,
 but we should be back to normal within the year end.

THANK YOU!

Judd

The Gifts of The Magi

The Gifts of The Magi

The gifts of the Magi were carried a long distance from the east (Eastern medicine) to be presented to the newborn Christ.  The gifts of  Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh were highly valuable (and still are) revered herbs that were potent medicines.  The resins of Frankincense and Myrrh have been used for over 5000 years to treat everything from serious infections to spiritual practices. 

Myrrh seems to be brought as a gift for use in an antiseptic purposes for both Jesus and Mary, healing wounds, umbilical cord cleansing etc. We can only imagine the sanitary surroundings of a manger in a stable.  It has many benefits including:

*Heals wounds.

*Skin diseases (ringworm, eczema).

*Gum and mouth ulcers. 

*Stimulates uterine health, relieves contractions and cramping.

*Strengthens the immune system.

*Prevents/helps microbial infections.

*Works as a fungicide.

*Stimulates blood circulation, digestion and nerves.   

Frankincense is similar to Myrrh having some of the healing properties.  Its sweet woody scent has a soothing and calm effect on our mind and body.  Some of its health benefits include:

*Heals and protects skin from boils, acne and wounds.

* Eliminates germs (antiseptic).

*Promotes urination to purify the body of toxins.

*Relives body pain, headaches, toothaches and reduces fevers.

* Strengthens absorption of nutrients.  

*Regulates estrogen helping PMS.

As for the "gold" gift, scholars note that the word gold was often used interchangeably for the golden spice turmeric.  The gold the Magi gifted to Jesus may well have been turmeric.  All three were highly prized for their powerful medicinal properties.  Here's two great articles on turmeric benefits and Golden Milk.

These gifts can be used by us today also.

 As the year comes to an end, lets all make a choice to live a healthy and "wellthy"  life.

Have great week. 

Be kind.

Be yourself.

Judd

Wellness Gift Guide

Wellness Gift Guide

This week's post is a guest post from our daughter Bree.  With the holiday season upon us here are a few suggestions for gift ideas.   You can check out her own blog at Young Sophisticate.  We are so proud of her accomplishments and of the many more to come.

Pursoma Jute Dry Brush 

A dry-brush makes for a great, simple gift for anyone interested in wellness and beauty. The jute brush from Pursoma is high quality and beautiful to look at---a perfect combination.

Essential Oil Diffuser

For an envy-inducing gift, present a sculptural diffuser along with a set of essential oils like lavender, sweet orange, and eucalyptus.

Whole Foods Gift Card

I don't know anyone who wouldn't love this gift. You may think groceries are boring but for health-food lovers, an extra $50-$100 to spend at Whole Foods is a godsend.

French Coffee Press

Create a wonderful gift set by pairing this beautiful french press with a selection of organic teas or fair trade coffee.

Moon Juice Sachet Sampler

Moon Juice dusts are a wellness cult favorite and the best way to determine which ones you like best is with a sachet sampler box which includes 12 single-serving packages, 2 of each variation.

OXO Vegetable Spiralizer 

Since zoodles are huge right now, a great, affordable kitchen gift is a spiralizer from a brand such as OXO. The recipient can use this to make noodles from their favorite vegetables for a healthier take on pasta.

Have a great week.

Be kind. 

Be yourself.

Judd

Pepitas

Pepitas

Pumpkin seeds are nutritional power houses packed in a small package!  Just one cup of seeds gives you almost 12 grams of protein and  500 mg of potassium, which makes it a great post heavy workout treat.  The additional potassium from the seeds will re-balance your body's electrolytes faster.  This allows muscles to repair faster and function better,  Plus one cup also provides the complete RDA of magnesium, which helps control blood pressure and prevent sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack and stroke. They are a go-everywhere snack that doesn't need refrigeration. 

They are an amazing source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids and have been very effective in supporting men's prostate health, because of their high zinc content.  Most of us know that turkey has the amino acid trytophan, which has a bad rap of making you sleepy on Thanksgiving. (Most experts agree that it is the carb-heavy overeating that does that, not the trytophan.)  But pepitas  have it also, and you NEED trytophan which your body converts it to serotonin.  One of the major ingredients to a better sleep and a good mood booster.

Other benefits include;

Reduces LDL(bad) cholesterol.

Cancer prevention(beta-carotene).

Rich in Natural Phytoestrogens helping in PMS.

For the optimal benefits they should be raw, soaked and sprouted then used on salads , soups, smoothies, oatmeal and consumed alone as snacks.  You can slowly roast the seeds on low heat to preserve the healthy fats. Lightly oil with coconut oil, sprinkle with Himalayan Sea Salt and roast at 150' for about 15-30 minutes. Stir once or twice.

  

Eat more seeds!

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Be yourself.

Judd

The Miracle of Moringa

The Miracle of Moringa

Not very well known, Moringa has been used in Ayurveda Medicine for thousands of years.  Native to India, Pakistan and Nepal it is said in India's ancient tradition, that Moringa can prevent over 300 diseases.   Modern research has confirmed that the whole plant is in fact a nutritional powerhouse.  It has been used in Eastern medicine to treat and prevent diabetes, heart disease, anemia, arthritis, liver disease, respiratory, skin and digestive disorders.

In fact, in 2008 the National Institute of Health called moringa (moringa oleifera) the “plant of the year,” acknowledging that “perhaps like no other single species, this plant has the potential to help reverse multiple major environmental problems and provide for many unmet human needs.

NIH March 21, 2008

Sometimes called the "miracle tree" its small round leaves are packed full of  calcium, protein, beta carotene, vitamin c, and potassium.  This fast growing tree can be planted in the worst of soil and growing conditions and still be harvested many times per year.  In Third world countries these "miracle trees" can be a valuable source of nutrition.  In these dry, semi-arid  areas these "weed-like" growing plants can be life savers.  They can be grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the world.  

Reasons why Moringa is being hailed as a superfood:

*9 times the protein of yogurt.

*10 times the vitamin A of carrots. 

*15 times the potassium of bananas.

*17 times the calcium of milk.

*12 times the vitamin C of oranges.

*25 times the iron of spinach!

Moringa powder can be found online or many health food stores and can be used in smoothies, teas and green juices.  The leaves can be eaten in salads or steamed like spinach.  The seed pods are being used as water purification filters with amazing results in impoverished areas to treat unclean water sources.  Even better results then normal filters.  It seems that entire plant is a "miracle tree".

Here is a short video on its benefits:

Also a great article from Wellseek:

Have a great week.

Be kind.

Be yourself.

Judd