Learning new things

Part of health is learning new things -- engaging your mind, body, and spirit to create some new muscle in your brain and body.   One of the neat things about my profession is you meet and get to train some really neat people who do really neat sports.  One in particular does equestrian riding and is competing.  We are now training and wanted me to learn about the sport.  So off I go to a horse barn learn about riding a horse. WOW, was that a fantastic experience.   And pleasantly surprised that there was not a lot of odor.. if you know what I mean, wink, because you know that is the part that "scared" me the most.  But I digress..  This experience allowed me to be in their shoes to understand what is required, and to incorporate that into the training. No wonder riders legs are so strong, I have a new respect for horseback riders. It also teaches you about good energy being around rather large animals and stretches you in good ways, get me out of my comfort zone.

Go and try something NEW!

Spring Time Glow

Have you noticed? It is spring and the sun is starting to be warmer.  Woo Hoo!  Here are a few thoughts about some recent comments I have been receiving as of late.
Despite the fact I just got a case of Rosaca last year, people have been telling my skin has a glow.  Interesting I thought, since the Rosacea is not attractive.

Then upon closer examination, I have noticed a change in my skin over the last couple of years. Last year I thought it odd I still had a bit of color over the winter. I used to loose all color in the winter and glow in the dark, litereally. I was so white I would get "moon burn". 

But, over the last 2 years I have still kept part of the summer glow look, since switching to a mostly living foods plant based diet and juicing veggies. The Carotenoids are at work in my skin, how neat is that?

Here is a great article I was sent and use it to support "eat your veggies"!  This is another great reason to eat them.

Want a NATURAL TAN?

          (1)                        (2)                        (3)

Notice in the picture taken from  http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-greens.html.   While this study describes work in Caucasian faces, the paper also describes a study that suggests this phenomenon may exist across all cultures.

Images show ‘natural’ faces  (1) alongside the differences between the effects of exposure to the sun (2) versus intake of carotenoids (3).  Notice the healthy glow on the last photo (3) from the greens.

Reference:

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-greens.html.   

Really Real Pasta

Here is a food demo we did this weekend at the Living Foods Italian Brunch.

Here is the yummiest pasta ever - and you can eat it guilt free! try it and enjoy.

Shopping list is: Ingredients: 2 zucchini, 4 dates (pitted and soaked), 2 tomatoes, 1 c sundried tomatoes (soaked), 1/4 onion, 1 garlic clove, dash cayenne, 1 TBLS Italian seasoning.

Are you brave enough to try this? 

Green Bananas --- what do you do with them?

Do you have a bunch of green bananas that just didn't quite ripen in the cooler winter months? I don't eat a lot of cooked food anymore, but in times like this, I won't waste whole food so here is my story of what happen recently and here is what I learned ...

Green bananas are still a starch and taste nasty raw... hard, pasty, and leave that film in your mouth if you have even tried to eat one. In places where bananas grow abundantly they are used cooked as a starch, like we use potatoes. So I thought I would try that. It worked great, and they have a neutral starch taste.

Here are some tricks I have learned:

1. wash your green banana, don't peel, cut off the top and bottom, then slit 2 sides with a knife.
2. prepare your pot with enough water to cover the bananas and a bit of oil. don't forget the oil, this will keep the oils from the green skin from sticking to the sides of the pot
3. put your green bananas peel and all in the pot
4. bring to boil, the cover and simmer for about 20 minutes
5. drain the water, rinse, and cool down until you can handle them safely and not burn yourself
6. peel them, save the banana part, discard skins (or save for compost)
7. now use them like potatoes
8. for recipes - use the green bananas warm, once you cool them in the refrig. they do tend to harden a bit. you can re-soften by reheating them in a bit of water.

Creamy green banana leek soup (serves 2 meal, 4 to 6 sides)

• 4 green bananas (prepared as above)
• 3 leeks cleaned, thinly sliced, lightly steamed
• 16 oz of orgainc no salt veggie broth or water
• 2 TBLS extra virgin olive oil (EVO)
• 1/4 c. pine nuts ( more if you like)
• fresh ground black pepper

Optional: sea salt  to taste, organic seasonings, or garlic

Add all bananas, EVO,  and 1/2 of leeks to blender, blend until smooth.  Pour into bowls.  Divide remaining leeks to each bowl, sprinkle with pine nuts and fresh ground black pepper.
Even good chilled a few hours later, and even better a day later.

Pure Joy

It is pure joy when people taste living food (after being a skeptic) and just are blown away at how great it tastes, and how they feel after eating it.

It is pure joy when people make small changes it their health and feel the difference to keep them focused straight ahead.

It is pure joy to see people living to their full God-given potential.

It is pure joy to have a husband who is a team player.

It is pure joy to help someone a meet a fitness goal!

It is pure joy to watch someone make great lifestyle choices to recover from preventable cancer.

It is pure joy to say - go and work at your passion, and it won't be work.

Yummiest 7 Minutes Ever...

Here is a clip from my Green Smoothie Detox Class. 

Recipe is taken from my book God it's Good! 

Green Smoothies

In light of my Saturday class here are some highlights from my green smoothie detox booklet.

Green smoothies - boost immune system, add more energy, regulate digestion, fewer sugar/salt cravings, fewer mood swings, lose weight, help the skin become radiant, stabilize blood sugars, hair and nails grow faster, balances ph,  adds -- minerals vitamins micronutrients antioxidants chlorophyll amino acids fiber to your diet, and did you know they can double as a meal?  And yes,  they are budget friendly.   Yes they even help to rebuild the body from cigarette damage and alcohol abuse and the help create and alkaline environment for healthy cell to grow (disease loves the acidic environment).

As for sports, green smoothies can increase your sports performance, with quality hydration and electrolyte replacement, balance blood sugar,  long burn energy, and faster recovery.

Smoothie basics

• Keep it simple, think Fruits and Greens for optimal digestion. 
• Try to get greens organic, not only for pesticides, but for higher mineral content because the soil is better.  But any greens is better than no greens at all.
• Add just enough water to make it blend.
• Chew your smoothie instead of chugging.  Saliva in your mouth with help to start digesting it right away.  And that wonderful green nutrients can start to be absorbed right away even right under your tongue.
• Any blender will work, just have to cut up pieces smaller and add them in in batches, then just let it run a bit longer.
• When you first start out, you will tend to a sweeter smoothie.  That’s fine, it is better to have a sweet green smoothie than none at all.  As your taste buds adjust you will naturally cut back on the sweetness.
• Smoothies are so good you can drink them by themselves – best to do that for assimilation – probably going to be full anyway.
• Use a different type of greens everyday to balance the minerals and amino acids.
• Fresh is always best, but they will keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. 
• General rule of thumb (though they both have both vitamins and minerals). Think fruit for vitamins and greens for minerals and protein.
• Add a couple dates in the winter time if the fruit isn’t as ripe.
• Make your own smoothie
• Beautiful thing about smoothies is it is not an exact science. Have some fun with your own combinations.  (see above for the flavors of greens)
• You don’t need to add anything else but fruit and greens. You will have plenty of protein. No need to add a bunch of processed pasteurized milks, yogurt, other additives, sugar, salt, etc…

Super-Duper Quick & Easy

Benefits of the baby greens, is you get a lot of variety in one shot.

• 4 bananas (with beauty spots)  / 3 for women
• 3 to 4 handfuls of pre-wash baby greens or ½ bag pre-washed spinach
• water

Estimated cost:

Organic bananas 29 ¢ each (Trader Joes) x 4 = $ 1.16

Organic greens $1.25  (Costco)

Total:  $2.36

 
Optional:

• ½ inch piece of ginger

Make your own guidelines:

• 50 to 60 percent fruit
• 40 to 50 percent greens
• 1 cup of water (just to get the blender moving, add more if needed)
• If you want it creamier, add 1 or 2 bananas or ½ to 1 avocado

 Add to the blender.  Enjoy.


Cost savings (see above)

Everyone says.. OMGosh it is soooooooo expensive?  I would like to challenge that !  How did spending 3 dollars for greens get expensive when you spend that much on fake butter, dressings, and boxed cereal with no nutrition...  how did eating and drinking alcohol out get cheaper... how did fancy coffee and smoking get cheaper.... how did missing tons of work being sick get cheaper... how did spending a ton on money on doctors, medications (prescription and non-prescription), hospitals get cheaper .... how did having a preventable disease get cheaper...

Also, did you know the healthier you eat the less you eat?