A Clean Home Promotes a Clean Mind

I LOVE TO PURGE YOUR PANTRY!!!

BEFORE:
Messy, inefficient, expired, cluttered

 
What is in your pantry is most likely going to end up in your body.

What unhealthy ingredients, mixes or foods sit on the shelves waiting for you to consume them?

Which items are merely empty calories, processed ingredients and unhealthy choices that can lead to serious health conditions and diseases?

TIP: if you've had it "forever", it's time to say good-bye. The longer it is able to sit on your shelf, the more reason it should not be in your body.

AFTER:
Clean and tidy, visible, product-approved

If you are determined to start eating healthier, one of the best things we can do, is Purge Your Pantry.

It will not only look much better, but you will feel much better just by looking at it!

TIP: There should be more in your refrigerator than on your shelves.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

When I come into homes to undertake this transformation, one of the most important lessons I teach is:

Just because it looks healthy on the front, doesn't mean it's healthy on the inside.
And if it's not healthy inside the package, it certainly won't be healthy inside your tummy!

To find out more about what I can do for you, please visit me at:
My Pantry Purger

Garden Photographs, Step-by-Step

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Friday September 14, 2012

Top 5 Culinary Herbs and Spices

Top 5 Culinary Herbs and Spices

For Your Health and For Your Palate

CAYENNE PEPPER
. . . has copious amounts of vitamin C and carotene. 
Capsaicin heats up cayenne and has many documented medicinal properties including the ability to reduce pain and aid digestion.
Hot capsaicin stimulates effective circulation, making it an excellent food and spice for heart health. 
Cayenne also has fibrinolytic activity, which prevents blood clots from forming.
Cayenne breaks up phlegm, and burns off:
1).  toxins by cleansing the body, and
2).  fats by increasing metabolism. 
Cayenne’s ability to reduce pain actually helps ulcers feel better (by killing bacteria associated with ulcers and stimulating growth of the cells that line the stomach and intestinal walls), especially when paired with turmeric (see below).
TIP: enjoy cayenne pepper in your morning glass of water with fresh lemon juice to promote circulation.

CINNAMON

. . . comes from the bark of a tree native to Sri Lanka that, once peeled off the tree, curls into quills we now call cinnamon sticks (that’s kind of neat, huh?). 
Cinnamon is a carminative spice that reduces bloating and gas.
Cinnamon has been credited for reducing blood sugar (add ground cinnamon to your daily menu and you may reduce fasting blood sugar levels by up to 25%).
Are you ready to hear the plethora of other medicinal benefits of cinnamon? Here we go:

treats arthritis, asthma, cancer, diabetes, diarrhea, heart problems, insomnia, PMS and muscle cramps.
Cinnamon is a powerful: digestive aid, antibiotic and anti-ulcer food.
TIP: adding a cinnamon stick to your purified bottle of water will not only serve as a delicious flavor enhancer but will allow you to receive the healing properties as an added benefit.

GARLIC

. . . 5,000 years of proven effectiveness, garlic has been documented in Sanskrit writings and used by Egyptian, Chinese and Greek cultures as both a popular flavoring agent and a wonderful medicinal aid, often referred to as “Mother Nature’s Medicine”. 
An excellent source of vitamin B6, manganese, selenium and vitamin C, as well as a good source of phosphorus, calcium potassium, iron and copper, garlic ahs been credited with anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial properties – with an added ability to fight yeast infections as well!
Garlic has been shown to help lower blood pressure, keep blood sugar levels steady, and manage blood cholesterol levels (regular consumption decreases unhealthy cholesterol levels by 10%).
TIP: mix fresh chopped garlic into salad dressing and dips – their oil content will help to mitigate the pungency.  If you feel a sore throat coming on – and if you dare – chew on a raw garlic clove!

GINGER
. . . Ayurveda calls ginger a “universal healer” for its many benefits and it is believed to be balancing to all constitutions.
Traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal problems ginger aids in digestion, reduces inflammation and rheumatic pain, arthritis.
Gingerols may explain its dramatic ability to reduce pain and inflammation as they act as natural blood thinners by preventing blood cells and platelets from clogging.
Ginger prevents cholesterol production in the liver.
For motion sickness, airsickness and nausea, including pregnancy-related nausea, ginger effectively eliminates all symptoms.
TIP: drink freshly sliced ginger as tea in hot water, add to your freshly juiced drinks, and grate over grains or fresh fruits and vegetables.

TURMERIC

. . . yes – I saved the best for last (plus, it just so happen to fall that way alphabetically!).
My favorite, daily, go-to spice!
Circumin, the main active agent in turmeric, reduces the chance of stroke and is a natural inhibitor of enzymes that cause inflammation, rivaling many prescription anti-inflammatory drugs.
Studies have found that a combination of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) were more powerful at fighting prostate cancer when combined than when taken separately.
Turmeric has been known to aid in the treatment of IBD, intestinal cell function, Alzheimer’s, liver detoxification, heart disease, and atherosclerosis.
TIP: use everywhere – a little sprinkle every day will serve to go a very long way!

~  Adapted from "An A-Z Guide to Healing Foods",  Elise Marie Collins  ~

" . . . but I love cheese!"

If you have a cheese addiction and you are serious about overcoming it, take these three basic steps:

1. GET INFORMED
2. LEARN ABOUT DAIRY ALTERNATIVES
3. JUST SAY "NO" AND BREAK THE ADDICTION

1. GET INFORMED about the adverse health effects of eating cheese as well as the enormously negative impact of the dairy industry on our planet, and of course the terrible toll on the animals exploited for their mammary gland secretions and the tragic fate of their offspring.

http://www.vegsource.com/julieanna-hever-ms-rd/10-reasons-to-ditch-dairy.html

http://www.vegsource.com/news/2010/05/happy-dairy-propaganda-vs-undercover-reality-video.html

http://www.veglov.com/2011/02/white-poison-horrors-of-milk.html

"For an animal that would normally produce just one gallon of milk per day for her baby (not up to 15 gallons for the breakfast of some 30 families of humans), extreme amounts of hormones are introduced into dairy cows in order to cater to public demand for milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, etc...

A dairy cow's udders will bloat well beyond normality, causing severe pain, discomfort and most often, they drag on the ground, leading to sores as well as infections.  Over 50 different antibiotics are used to keep such infections in order.  Each serving of dairy that most humans drink contain these hormones and antibiotics.

A legal cubic centimeter of mil is allowed to contain up to 750,000 animal blood/pus cells and 20,000 living bacteria.  This says nothing of the pesticides, herbicides and dioxins which are common in dairy at up to 200 times what is considered to be safe levels.  Some of the hormones used to keep cows pumping out milk, such as Insulin-like Growth Factor One (IFG-1), have been scientifically linked to breast, prostate and colon cancer in human consumers."
~  The AELLA team  ~

2. LEARN ABOUT DAIRY ALTERNATIVES to milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream.  There are plenty of ways to fulfill your rich and creamy cravings without consuming the milk from another species.

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-health/easy-tips-to-help-you-ditch-dairy/

http://www.thisdishisvegetarian.com/2012/04/cheeseaholics-anonymous-truth-about.html

DAIRY SUBSTITUTES:

Daiya Cheddar Style Shreds and Mozzarella Style Shreds
Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread, Soy Garden Natural Buttery Spread and Vegan Buttery Sticks
Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet Cheese Alternative
Galaxy Nutritional Foods Parmesan Flavor Grated Soy Topping
MimicCream Non-Dairy, Non-Soy Nut Cream
Rice Dream Non-Diary Beverages
Smart Balance Light Original Buttery Spread with Flax
So Delicious Non-Diary Frozen Dessert
Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese and Soy-Cheese Slices
WhiteWave Silk Chocolate Soy Milk
WholeSoy & Co Soy Yogurt

3. JUST SAY "NO" AND BREAK THE ADDICTION.  Once you really understand what you are eating when you choose dairy, cheese, yogurt, butter and ice cream, and you become more mindful of the saturated fat and sugar content you are consuming, you will begin to question why.
REMEMBER: the food you eat is the food you wear.

http://freefromharm.org/health-nutrition/addicted-to-cheese-and-ice-cream-the-opiate-qualities-of-dairy/

There is no doubt: Dairy is Addictive.  As long as you continue to eat it, your body will crave it.  But, addictions like dairy don't have to control you.  Try and dairy fast for three weeks; your taste buds will change and you will find the craving greatly weakened or even gone!  You can take control of your addiction with a little effort and knowledge that allow you to make informed decisions.  And you can take pride in the satisfaction that you are doing something good for yourself, for the earth and for the animals.

You can happily and healthfully go from saying, "I love cheese" to "I loved cheese".

After all, are your taste buds really worth this kind of suffering?:

Antioxidant Awareness

Carotenoids support the immune system and act as a powerful antioxidant.
Carotenoids convert to Vitamin A, which plays a key role in vision, reproduction, bone growth, tissue repair, and cell function.  They also help to stave off infections.   

Carotenoids and Vitamin A are found in:
apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, mango, peaches, peppers, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watercress, winter & butternut squash.

Flavanoids inhibit tumor cell growth and detoxify harmful substance. 
Flavanoids are found in Vitamin C, which is necessary for the formation of collagen, the protein that makes skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels.  Without it, wounds would not heal and cartilage, bones and teeth would break down.
Flavanoids and Vitamin C are found in:
blackcurrants, broccoli, cabbage, citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges), cranberries, green leafy vegetables, green peppers, kiwi, mango, parsley, papaya, peaches, pomegranate, purple grapes, strawberries, tomatoes.

Vitamin E has strong antioxidant properties which may play a key role in immune function, tissue healing, skin health, metabolic processes and repairing DNA. 
For these reasons, Vitamin E is used to protect against disease.
Vitamin E is found in:
apples, avocado, carrots, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, tomatoes, whole grains.

Anthocyanins destroy free radicals.
Anthocyanins are found in:
blueberries, plums, purple grapes

Lutein has been shown to protect against cataracts and macular degeneration by eliminating excess estrogen and carcinogens.

Lutein is found in:

broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, kiwi, spinach

Lycopene is an antioxidant associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and sun damage to the skin.

Lycopene is found in:

guava, pink grapefruit, tomatoes and tomato products, watermelon

Selenium interacts with proteins to manufacture antioxidant enzymes called selenoproteins, which may help regulate thyroid function and support the immune system.
Selenium is found in:
garlic, whole grains

Fresh From the Farmers Market

Fresh Air, Fresh Produce, a Fresh Perspective on Food:
Nothing here is processed, chemicalized, denatured, depressed, devoid of nutrients.
Everything is fresh, local, made with love and care.
Please enjoy this series of photographs I took on my most recent visit to the local Farmer's Market!

Fabulous Fruits and Flowers:
Peaches, Plums and Nectarines brought home, washed, and eaten almost immediately (too good)!

 Apricots:

 Blackberries and Blueberries:

 Strawberries:

 Edible flowers - what could be more beautiful???

Gorgeous Greens:
Arugula Micro-Greens:

 Romaine Lettuce (I also bought spinach):

 Assorted Sprouts and Shoots:

A Variety of Vegetables: 
Summer Squash:

 Eggplant, Peppers, Zucchini:

 Tantalizing Tomatoes:

Adorable Mother and Daughter vendors:
Day Dream Farm:

A Very Vegan Stand:
MUST visit their website, check 'em out:

Meet Stephanie and Justin:

 Vegan Cheese Sauce AND Oil-Free!

 Delicious, Savory Soups:

THE JOYS OF JUICING

Blend your own fruits and vegetables for delicious liquid refreshment, concentrated antioxidants and pytochemicals, and plant enzymes that aid in digestion.

CLICK HERE to follow my cleanse and for further recipes

Soothing Indigestion and Easing Inflammation: 

Papaya and Pineapple juices contain the enzymes papain and bromelain (respectively) that ease pain in the upper abdomen:

CLICK HERE for further details and some simple recipes
Preventing Cancer: 

Red Pepper and Carrot cocktail is rich in sources of antioxidants beta carotene and vitamin C:

CLICK HERE for another great site and some more super recipes
Absorbing Iron: 

Fresh Citrus juices make ideal components to greens as they contain plenty of vitamin C which helps the body absorb iron from foods: