Black Bean Quinoa

Black Bean Quinoa

If you are looking for two great sources of protein, black bean quinoa is it. We are not vegan but do choose to have several meals each week that are meatless. We substitute meat protein with plants such as quinoa and black beans. The best part of quinoa is that it is a complete protein! Meaning you receive all the necessary amino acids from it unlike other plant proteins. As always, use organic products when possible to reduce pesticide/herbicide exposure. We are not overweight, but we are over toxic! We served this at our Grand Opening of my wellness center this week (June 2014) and it was a huge…

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Who is Sabotaging Your Happiness

Who is Sabotaging Your Happiness

Have you considered who is sabotaging your happiness? Or who is preventing you from your ability to find joy and peace or think positively? Some of you would argue that you feel you are a happy person. However, I’m learning that after digging in deeper, people are shocked to find out that they truly aren’t living a life of joy. They are being tricked into thinking they are by those who want them to believe it’s for their good to be skeptical, cynical, or judgmental. Many of us may blame the government, the economy, world leaders, schools, spouses, etc. I agree they are making life a bit more…

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Understanding the 24 Hour Urinalysis

Understanding the 24 Hour Urinalysis

Understanding the 24 Hour Urinalysis is key to balancing the body and reducing stress from tissues and organs. The key insight is determining optimal digestion.  I work primarily with women who typically want to balance their hormones and lose weight. The number one insight to understanding their health is that it is extremely difficult to balance the hormones until we balance the gut. Truly, balancing the gut is the first step before working towards rebalancing the body from any health condition. The 24-hour urinalysis collection provides information on what a person can absorb, assimilate and digest as well as nutrient deficiencies.  The test is prognostic, not diagnostic. These…

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Day 3 of My Detox

Day 3 of my detox has been another new experience. The headaches have subsided, except for one very brief one. However, my tongue was heavily coated and white. It was quite disgusting and now I wish I had taken a photo of it. The hunger wasn't a problem at all but, I was sick of drinking the same thing. I realized I'm such a variety girl. I don't do well eating or drinking the same foods over and over.  I love all juices but was losing my desire for these quickly. I made it through each of them deciding to pass on the final Mean Green juice. I…

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The Dangers of MSG

The Dangers of MSG

The dangers of MSG.  Some people think MSG or Monosodium glutamate is a preservative or that it contains a nutritional value. MSG is used in the food industry as a flavor enhancer. If you have to enhance the flavor of something, maybe ask yourself why would they need to enhance it. Maybe it's not real food. Real food shouldn’t need much enhancement. In fact, chemically MSG is an "excitotoxin"  or neurotoxin that has a negative impact on the brain and nervous system. Some of you may remember  we learned that "according to Neurosurgeon, Dr. Russell Blaylock, M.D. these have been labeled excitotoxins because they over stimulate neural (brain) cells…

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How Deodorants Cause Disease

How Deodorants Cause Disease

How Deodorants Cause Disease? It sounded a bit crazy to me as well when I first learned this. Did you know that where we place deodorant there are over 20+ lymph nodes? WHY is this a concern? What is the Lymph Node's purpose: Lymph nodes filter substances that travel through the lymphatic fluid, and they contain lymphocytes (white blood cells) that help the body fight infection and disease. Axillary lymph nodes are commonly involved in breast cancer because of their proximity to breast tissue.  The body's cells and tissues dispose of waste products in lymphatic fluid, which lymph nodes then filter. During this process, they catch bacteria and…

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Strawberry Energy Bites Recipe

Strawberry Energy Bites Recipe

The hardest part for my clients is giving up sugar, sweets, and desserts. So I like to offer alternatives to dessert that contains cleaner ingredients. Most cakes, cookies, or any sweets contain either genetically engineered corn syrup or hydrogenated oils on top of high amounts of sugar. Strawberry energy bites are a wonderful healthy guilt-free treat you can feel good about putting in your body! Incorporating fruit or other plants is always the best choice with desserts. Strawberries contain a broad array of nutritional benefits. Strawberries are packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C and K, folate, potassium, manganese, and magnesium. They are low-calorie, fiber-rich, and abundant…

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Corn and Cod Chowder

Corn and Cod Chowder

We found this Corn and Cod Chowder recipe, and it was delicious. We used organic milk products, but I still ended up feeling miserable (bloated, heavy) after consuming dairy. I learned a few years ago that I'm lactose, casein, and whey intolerant.  So we made adjustments by replacing the dairy products with plant-based milk. As always, we use organic ingredients with almost everything especially the potatoes (on the EWG dirty dozen), broth and bacon. If you are gluten-intolerant, you can use GF flour as well. This recipe is especially delicious when corn is in season. Ingredients 3 slices organic bacon, halved 8 scallions or green onions, thinly sliced,…

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Quinoa Celery Cranberry Salad

Quinoa Celery Cranberry Salad

My absolute favorite go-to lunch is quinoa celery cranberry salad. Since it uses dried cranberries, these are typically ingredients you can easily keep on hand. You could also use dried cherries or even raisins but I really love the tartness of the cranberries. I typically make the quinoa in advance but it cooks in 15 minutes so this is still a quick lunch or supper. This recipe is naturally gluten-free and contains complete protein from the quinoa. It also digests well for most people. As a Digestive Health Specialist, I like to keep that in mind! I use all organic ingredients as well as I feel it is critical…

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What are the Key Components of Gut Health – Listen to Your Body

What are the Key Components of Gut Health – Listen to Your Body

What are the key components of gut health? Remember to listen to your body as it leaves us clues.  The gut is the cornerstone of wellness. GI discomfort is often the primary issue or a secondary result of other problems within the body. How do you know if your gut is out of balance? Your gut is most likely out of balance if you experience gas, bloating, belching, stomach pains or soreness, constipation, or diarrhea. There can be numerous other signs but these are the most common. GI discomfort seems to grow as changes in our environment, stress, eating and drinking habits, food supply, medications all impact the…

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