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Tag Archives: healthy living
Coconut Morning Pick-Me-Up
I started whipping up this simple drink because I absolutely love starting my day with coconut. The dates give a nice natural sugar boost for morning energy and the spices just make it all that much yummier. -XoXo Raw Girl
Coconut Morning Pick Me-Up
1 Young Thai Coconut (water and meat)
3-4 Dates
Dash of Cloves (optional)
2-3 Dashes of Cinnamon
Blend, serve, enjoy!
Recipe! How to Make Raw Tacos
We are on Day 2, of our 7 Days of Raw Fast! Here’s an awesome recipe that is also versatile because you can use it different dishes. My version of it actually combines a few elements from a few different raw taco recipes I found. The best part about this dish is it takes little to no time at and you can save your leftovers to use as toppings for salads or in wraps. As the ‘taco’ shell you can use romaine lettuce or try collard greens. -XoXo Raw Girl
Raw Taco Meat
1 1/2 cups walnuts (soaked for 1-2 hours or un-soaked work as well)
1/3 cup sundried tomatoes (soak for 30 min to hour in warm/hot water to soften)
1 1/2 tablespoons of organic extra virgin olive oil
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons of tumeric or curry
2 teaspoons Braggs
Taco ‘Shell’
Collard greens or romaine lettuce
Add all ingredients to food processor and blend until you get a taco meat like consistency. Fill in topping to collard greens or romaine lettuce and add additional toppings like avocado, fresh tomatoes etc. Enjoy!
Need a live demo? Check out this past post which features a video of Aiya of blackveganlove.com sharing how to make her version of this recipe.
7 Days of Raw Begins March 1st!
Dearest Veggie Lovers,
If your a fan on the Facebook page you know we are counting down to March 1st, when Blackveganlove.com and I will be hosting a 7 Day Raw Fast. The challenge is completely FREE all you need to do is like the Facebook page and stay tuned to the blog for new updates, recipes, and inspiration to make it through the fast. Spring is just around the corner, so this is a great way to get your all natural glow on, or jumpstart your health goals.
Just in case you are a complete newbie to raw foods, here’s a brief summary by my buddy Aiya of blackveganlove.com:
Raw Food = uncooked, unheated, enzyme active, nutritionally dense, goodness straight from Mother Nature herself. So whether it’s fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, pseudo grains, sprouts etc. none of them are prepared on a stove, in the oven, or heated beyond the 105-120 degree F range in a dehydrator. Vegan Raw Foodists create their dishes by blending, mixing, dehydrating, cutting, juicing, freezing, pureeing and chopping their food to come up with dishes that are both tasty and nutritious.
Hopefully you will be inspired to join in with us! If so, make sure you start planning your grocery list now and start stocking up on fresh organic fare before Saturday. -XoXo Raw Girl
The Art of Eating for Beauty
I’m sure you have at some point in your life heard the saying: “you are what you eat.” If you truly take that statement to heart you realize that with every meal you have the opportunity to reinvent yourself; the nourishment you choose can either fuel your body or leave you feeling and looking like you’re running on empty. When considering optimal health, we have to think about food for the mind, body, and spirit. We all want to feel beautiful or appreciated for the uniqueness that we are but beauty is much deeper than a pretty face. True beauty could be considered the fullest most energetic expression of one’s soul. Below are some simple ways you can step into your true beauty and fill yourself up with spiritual and physical nourishment. -XoXo Raw Girl
Eat Whole, Unprocessed Foods. If you are what you eat do you want to look like a stale bag of salt encrusted potato chips? Or would you prefer to radiate the energy from a fresh bowl of organic leafy greens? Sounds like an easy choice, but sometimes our taste buds get the better of us. Nowadays it is more important than ever to know that what you are eating is actually food, because the majority of packaged and to-go meals out there are full of chemicals, preservatives, harmful additives, or even hormones. Consuming these toxins does not only diminishes your outward appearance, it also has a direct effect on your emotional stability and joie de vivre.
Get Your Beauty Vitamins In. Food is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal to alter our physical body, increase our magnetism, and boost our overall sexy factor. As David Wolfe so eloquently sums up in his book “Eating for Beauty,” there are a number of nutrients that are essential for maintaining and cultivating an attractive appearance including vitamin A, C, E, silicon, sulfur, and zinc. In addition to these you’ll want to make sure you get enough magnesium, manganese, iron, and B vitamins which are all essential for the proper functioning of metabolic pathways that convert our food into energy.
Embrace Silence. Meditation, in whatever form you choose to practice, is the ultimate food for the soul. Not only is meditation a stress reliever, it can actually boost your mental performance. Research conducted at the University of California, Santa Barbara found that college students trained in mindfulness performed better on verbal reasoning sections on the GRE and also had improvements in retention of material. The outcome of the study suggests that mindfulness improves overall cognitive function. In addition meditation helps to balance out emotions and moodiness, and has been shown in numerous studies to reduce the risk of depression.
Do Yoga. Not only is yoga is healing modality that can help release bodily toxins, improve flexibility, boost your immune system, and improve blood circulation, it is another incredible way to give your soul the food it needs. On your mat as your learn to focus, breathe, and move through challenges without letting your mental chatter get in your way, you slowly but surely free yourself up to be the fiercest most beautiful version of you, outside in the real world.
Pursue Your Purpose. When someone contracts a serious illness or chronic disease, they expect their doctor to prescribe medication, and if their lucky some lifestyle changes. Often times in addition to those recommendations, the best prescription is to simply find what you love and do it daily. It is far too common to find ourselves living a life that is not our own and neglecting our true passions and calling. To be the best, healthiest version of you, find what it is that makes your heart sing and do it NOW. Not next week, ten years from now, when you have more money etc. When you love what you do and are walking in your purpose you will be happy, and a good dose of happy is an essential ingredient for optimal health.
Want to get your vegan glow on just in time for spring? The 7 Days of Raw challenge begins on March 1st! Like the Facebook Page for details and updates.
5 Myths About Yoga You Should Ignore
memegenerator.net
As a yoga instructor I have tried countless times to win over the anti-yogi’s who have every excuse in the world NOT to do yoga. Here are the top 5 reasons why they say “I do not do yoga!” Along with their excuses I’ve included some compelling reasons why, if you are opposed to yoga, you may want to reconsider. I hope that once you have the scoop you will take a chance with yourself and get on the mat!
1. Yoga is for rich people. While yoga can be very expensive in some areas, there are plenty of yoga studios that offer work-for-trade programs. Karma yoga is a big deal at a lot of these spaces and they often offer opportunities to perform karmic duty in exchange for yoga classes. I can personally say that Karma Yoga at various studios around the city has saved my life and kept a lot of money in my wallet!
2. Yoga is not challenging. One of the most challenging things for most of us to do is relinquish power and control. It can serve as an obstacle for a lot of us to sit comfortably in our vulnerability and just be. For others, it can be a major task to sit in stillness without fidgeting about. Many people are also very surprised at the amount of strength and control it takes to hold certain postures and breathe through them. The great thing is that if you are doing it properly you will be challenged wonderfully (even if just a little bit) during your yoga practice because there is always a way to take your practice to a more rigorous level.
3. Yoga is a religion. Yoga is not a religion. I repeat, yoga is not meant to take you away from your religious practice. Yoga is all about tapping into our sacred source and opening channels within the body for self exploration and thus growing more deeply in your faith. People from all walks of life can practice yoga and make it their own while still engaging in religious activities.
4. Yoga is for girls. B.K.S. Iyengar, Dharma Mittra, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Sting! Need I say more?? Yoga can serve as a full body work out for men since every part of your body is being worked during a well rounded practice. When committed to a regular yoga practice men can also receive improved focus, raised energy levels, and more positive thinking patterns.
5. I am not flexible enough to do yoga. This is really just the worst. If you are not flexible, yoga will increase your flexibility over time. Flexibility must begin in the mind before one can even think of it entering the body. In almost all instances the way we show up on our mats is a direct reflection of our cognitive process. Breath is also a major component in obtaining the optimal level of physical flexibility. When you come to practice with an open mind, the possibilities are endless.
Namaste.
~ Sihnuu Hetep
To learn more about Sihnuu, click here
Why Biotin is Essential for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
dailymail.co.uk
Are you experiencing hypoglycemic conditions? Do you find yourself sometimes irritable, fatigued, or having brain fog if too much time passes between meals? You may have low blood sugar that could be caused by a range of dietary issues, one being a deficiency in biotin. Our bodies’ convert glucose into the energy in the process of glycolysis. When we run out of glucose and our body either breaks down glycogen (which is stored glucose) to make energy, or converts other available substances to glucose in the process of gluconeogenesis.
During both of these important metabolic pathways, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, there are many important steps that need different types of carboxylase enzymes to continue the processes. All of these enzymes are biotin dependent, meaning they need biotin to be present in the body in adequate amounts to function properly. Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that helps the body transform fat, protein and carbohydrates in your food to energy needed by the body. So if you happen to be deficient in biotin also known as vitamin H or vitamin B7, your body will have problems creating more glucose when it needs it, and thus you experience low blood sugar levels. Pregnant women especially need biotin to ensure the health of their unborn child, and biotin is also a beauty nutrient as it plays a big role in maintaining healthy nails, skin, and hair.
med-health.net
Some good whole food sources of biotin include: swiss chard, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, mushrooms, almonds, walnuts, avocados, bananas, strawberries, goji berries, cranberries, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, coconut water, and egg yolks (if you are vegetarian). In addition to ensuring that you incorporate a wide range of these foods into your diet, it is never a bad idea to find a good B-complex supplement, because all of the B vitamins play extremely essential roles in maintaining optimal body functioning. If you have been exposed to heavy metals like mercury or arsenic these too can disrupt metabolic pathways and lead to hypoglycemic conditions. Remember that true health is never about one vitamin or supplement; however our bodies are so complex and dynamic when we are not giving it all of the nutrients it needs, even the micronutrients, we cannot function at our best. -XoXo Raw Girl
Healing with Acupuncture
Photo from theheartnest.com
Yesterday, I experienced an exceptional Acupuncture treatment with Dr. Shin-Yang Chen in Melbourne Beach, Fl.
I have had acupuncture before, but never like this. The healing energy was palpable the moment I met him and things just got better and better. The key to acupuncture is that there are points along our body meridians that, when stimulated, balance the flow of energy or chi within us. This balance is equal to optimal health. When we don’t have it, our chi is stuck and our blood stagnant, hence we experience disease and ill health.
Dr. Chen took the traditional practice a step further by incorporating Electro Acupuncture where each needle, after being inserted into the appropriate points, is attached to an electrode. A subtle current is turned on and runs through the energy points, further stimulating proper chi flow and balance. It is not painful, though you do feel a pulsing sensation.
As I lay there with those currents pulsating through my body meridians, I truly felt like I was floating off the table. Then, when I thought I could not reach a peace greater, he removed the needles and began a massage of my neck, temples and shoulder blades with deep penetrating strokes and Chinese herbal oils.
Later, I was given a cupping treatment that just put the icing on the cake of the whole experience. This is a suction method where cups are placed on your back and then, through heat or manually, a vacuum is created with your skin that draws out impurities by increasing blood flow.
According to www.cuppingtherapy.info, “Cupping therapy or Hijama has been utilized for centuries to cure illnesses. Hijama was used for thousands of years by Pharaohs and ancient Egyptians. It was also used by ancient Chinese, Greek and all old civilizations. The oldest recorded medical textbook, Ebers Papyrus, written in approximately 1550 BCE in Egypt mentions cupping.”
Our ancestors knew so much intuitively and spiritually that today’s scientific research cannot even begin to understand and decode. The way I felt when I got up from my full treatment, is indescribable. The wisdom of the ages had granted me a healing opportunity of a lifetime. I am still glowing and charged and filled with joy from the lightness my body achieved, due to these detoxifying and balancing procedures. I left with an herbal medicine made for me as well as an exuberant, lithe, happy and peaceful body, mind and spirit.
After the treatment
– Sia
To learn more about Sia, click here
Heartburn – Why it Happens and Simple Solutions
Photo from www. thebabywantscake.wordpress.com
Food goes down the esophagus, through the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and into the stomach. The LES is a valve that normally stays closed after food has passed through. However, there are certain situations where it will open and allow contents of the stomach to come back up into the esophagus, causing burning from exposure of the esophageal tissue to hydrochloric acid (HCl). The esophagus is not lined with mucous the way the stomach is to protect it from HCl exposure as the body does not expect food to come back up the esophagus. All situations where food and HCl come back up into the esophagus thus cause discomfort.
It is commonly believed (and promoted by the medical and pharmaceutical professions as well as the media) that heartburn should be relieved by taking products, which either neutralize stomach acid (HCl) or prevent the body from producing it. Although these strategies may provide temporary relief from discomfort, they are counterproductive to proper digestion and healthy nutrition in the long run, which requires regular and copious production of HCl. Therefore, the emphasis with heartburn should be on first healing irritated esophageal, LES, and stomach tissue with supplements (talk to your holistic health practitioner about how to do this) and employing the strategies outlined below.
What Causes Food to Come Back Up the Esophagus
Consumption of alcohol and/or caffeine can overly relax the LES muscle – causing the muscle to fail to close properly, allowing contents to come up and burn the esophagus.
- Solution: Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
An overly full stomach can put pressure on the LES to open – this leads to stomach contents coming up and burning the esophagus.
- Solution: Eat small meals – stop eating before you feel full.
Food staying in the stomach too long due to insufficient hydrochloric acid production. Natural occasional spasms of the LES open it up very briefly, but long enough for food and HCl to come up into the esophagus when food is in there for too long.
- Solution:Follow strategies for optimal HCl production and concentration: eat in a relaxed state; avoid stress in general and/or learn to manage it; make sure you are well hydrated all the time; avoid drinking more than 6 ounces of liquid during meals; avoid alcohol, sugar and caffeine; and avoid any foods you know you are sensitive to.
Population of the LES by “bad” bacteria from insufficient HCl production– this allows “bad” populations to root and weaken the LES muscle. The LES then fails to close properly, again allowing contents of the stomach to come up into the esophagus.
- Solution:Follow strategies for optimal HCl production and concentration, and consume probiotic foods and beverages daily such as yogurt, kefir (if you tolerate dairy), cultured vegetables, and kombucha.
Excess gas in the stomach created by “bad” bacteria will also put pressure on the LES to open and allow food and HCl to come up into the esophagus. The bacteria feeds on foods putrefying in the stomach when HCl production is insufficient to kill them.
- Solution: Follow strategies for optimal HCl production and concentration, and consume probiotic foods and beverages daily.
Consumption of foods that weaken the LES – fats, chocolate, coffee, mints (especially peppermint and spearmint), sugar, alchohol, onions, and any food you are sensitive to will weaken the LES, allowing contents to come up into the esophagus.
- Solution: Avoid foods you are sensitive to as well as fats, chocolate, coffee, mints (especially peppermint and spearmint), sugar, alchohol, and onions. (Note: Certain prescription medications can also weaken the LES: bronchodilators, NSAIDs, calcium channel blockers, Beta-blockers, Diazepam, Nitrates, and Demerol.)
Consumption of foods that irritate the esophagus, including foods you are sensitive to – this will make heartburn doubly uncomfortable. Common esophageal irritants include: citrus fruits and juices, tomato-based foods, spicy foods, coffee, and carbonated drinks. Common foods that people are sensitive to include: gluten in wheat and other grains and casein in dairy products.
- Solution: Avoid citrus fruits and juices, tomato-based foods, spicy foods, coffee, and carbonated drinks. Also avoid foods that you have noticed you are sensitive to in any way. Do a two-week challenge and cut out the major allergens like gluten and casein, then add them back in and see what changes you notice. Do this with other suspected foods as well and remove them permanently if they are causing problems. (Note: Certain over the counter medications can also irritate the esophagus: aspirin, NSAIDs, Tetracycline, Quinidine, Potassium chloride tablets, and iron salts.)
– Babette
To learn more about Babette, click here