Beneficial Foods

FERMENTED FOODS* – Loaded with beneficial enzymes and probiotics, fermented vegetables, fruit and drinks are part of my every day diet.

1.      Kombucha – (pronounced Kom-boo-cha) is a fermented, fizzy tea that tastes more like fruity, herbal champagne than tea.  Sometimes I drink it in a wine glass. Sold in natural food markets and health food stores, Kombucha is a tasty probiotic and enzyme tonic that I absolutely love. There are several brands and a variety of flavors to suit everyone’s palette.

2.     Kefir water  – Right now, I make my own kefired water, kefired lemonade, kefired ginger ale and coconut water.  Here is an easy  recipe for kefired lemonade. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJsRJtQMH48

This recipe is for coconut water kefir. http://realfoodforager.com/videorecipe-coconut-water-kefir/



3.     Fermented Veggies and Fruit  –  raw sauerkraut and pickles are just some of the many types of fermented vegetables or even fruit that have gut supporting enzymes and probiotics. Health food stores and natural food stores carry some fermented products but it is much cheaper (and easy) to make at home. This site offers tips and recipes for fermenting at home. http://www.culturesforhealth.com/cultured-fermented-vegetables-fruits-condiments-articles-videos-recipes



               
My homemade lacto-fermented ginger carrots


I use Pickl-It jars to make my own lacto-fermented vegetables. Lacto, short for the beneficial bacteria, lactobacillus, and other lactic acid bacteria (probiotics), thrive in an anaerobic (without oxygen) environment. Pickl-It jars are specifically designed to create and maintain anaerobic fermentation. This is the recipe for my homemade carrots with dill instead of ginger. http://www.pickl-it.com/blog/186/dilled-carrot-recipe/


4.      Beet Kvass –  a fermented liver and digestive tonic, and blood cleanser - is made of beets and a variety of herbs and/or spices. Originally from the Ukraine, beet kvass is an acquired taste but I have learned to love the earthy, salty drink. This is a great blog that talks all about fermented foods and has  a tasty recipe for beet kvass.  http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/04/52-weeks-of-bad-a-bacteria-week-16-citrus-ginger-beet-kvass/   Click here for another recipe that I also like to make using garlic, bay leaves and allspice berries. Great pictures, too! 

My homemade "beautiful beet kvass"!


*Herxheimer Warning! Fermented foods are beneficial foods containing enzymes and probiotics.  Adding these wonderful foods into your diet can lead to a herxheimer or die-off reaction. Always introduce new foods slowly and see how you feel.






VEGETABLE AND FRUIT JUICING



There is nothing better than having freshly pressed juice first thing in the morning. I juice with organic vegetables and fruits only! Why? I consider this my medicine! They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and antioxidants.  Juicing boosts up your energy and lifts your spirits. And it’s the most efficient way to consume a wide variety of nutritious vegetables.

Juicing is also a safe way of detoxing toxins and heavy metals from our bodies.

 “Thousands of people all over the world freed themselves from the most deadly diseases with juicing, dozens of books have been published on this subject full of testimonies and hundreds of wonderful recipes. Some very big names in natural medicine strongly advocated juicing and used it actively in the treatment of their patients – people like Dr. Gerson and Dr. Norman Walker for example”…. from the book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride

I like juicing with cucumbers, celery, carrots, romaine lettuce, beets, and dandelion. Sometimes I throw in parsley, cilantro and garlic.  Adding some lemon or lime cuts the “green” taste. Ginger adds zing.  Green and red apples, pears, berries, etc.  added to the vegetables, makes your juice yummy! 

“A combination of pineapple, carrot and a little bit of beetroot in the morning will prepare the digestive system for the coming meals, stimulate stomach acid production, and pancreatic enzyme production. A mixture of carrot, apple, celery, and beetroot has a wonderful liver – cleansing ability. Green juices from leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce, parsley, dill, carrot and beet tops) with some tomato and lemon are a great source of magnesium and iron and good chelators of heavy metals. Cabbage, apple and celery juice stimulates digestive enzyme production and is a great kidney cleanser.”… Gut and Psychology Syndrome 



Liver Detox Juice - with beets, dandelion, celery, cucumbers and a green apple

I  love to make liver detox juice with beets, dandelion, green apples and cucumbers. Sometimes I add carrots, celery and either fresh lemon or lime juice. This is the recipe that I used for the liver detox juice that is pictured:

LIVER DETOX JUICE

1 small beet ( with the tops)
12 dandelion leaves
2 carrots
2 stalks of celery
1 cucumber
1-2 green apples

Wash produce well.    Juice and enjoy!

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ORGANIC VIRGIN COCONUT OIL


Coconut oil is probably the most versatile and healthiest oil on this planet. I use cold-pressed organic extra virgin coconut oil for cooking, baking, and as a skin moisturizer. This oil is hexane-free and non-hydrogenated. I buy whatever brand is on sale.

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GARLIC


I LOVE garlic and it is sooo good for you! Garlic, a member of the Allium family,  has been known for thousands of years for it’s medicinal healing and health benefits. I use organic garlic – ONLY! Organic garlic is  nutrient dense, pesticide-free and is non-irradiated.  When garlic is irradiated, the healing bacteria is destroyed, so it is no longer a beneficial food. Before cooking, I crush the cloves and let it sit for about 15 minutes.  This allows the enzymes and healing compounds to multiply. This increases the medicinal benefits.

 Add a few cloves of crushed garlic to a few tablespoons of olive oil. Warm it to make a soothing ear oil which is highly effective for ear aches.


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MANUKA HONEY

I’m a big fan of Wedderspoon’s* Active 16+ 100% raw Manuka Honey. I take one tsp., twice a day whenever I have a craving for something sweet.  Regular honey is fine, too, but it doesn’t have the phytochemical component that makes active Manuka honey an effective antibacterial and antiviral. 

Manuka honey has way more vitamins, minerals, amino acids and live enzymes than regular honey.  This is the only honey that is graded, from 5 to 25, for antibacterial activity. The higher the number, the more potent it is.  Besides being an effective antibacterial and antiviral, Active Manuka honey is also known to have anti-fungal, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. And it tastes soooo yummy!


*I have no financial interest in Wedderspoon Manuka honey.




I am not a health care practitioner. This blog is not designed to diagnose, treat or cure illness. Information on this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. Please check with your doctor or alternative health practitioner before beginning any therapy, starting  new supplements or making dietary changes.

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