Why Estrogen Balance is Important

Why Estrogen Balance is Important
Estrogen

Why Estrogen Balance is Important Estrogen is the name of the class of hormones related to the reproductive cycle.  It includes the three main estrogens called estrone, estradiol, and estriol.  Each of these plays a role in the hormonal balance in women. In healthy premenopausal women, estrogen is made from progesterone and/or from androgens within the ovary's cells. Estrogen is responsible for changes in young women at puberty and gives adult women their shapely curves. During childbearing years, estrogen rises during the first half of the menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy. Elevated estrogen causes water retention and weight gain, and too much estrogen can lead to excess fat…

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Saving time and money at Costco

Whether you have a large family, small business or preparing for hurricane season, Costco is a convenient and cost effective way to shop. That is assuming you have the space to store everything and the discipline to stop buying those fun things you may not really need. Either way, it is an experience. I started this post pre COVID19 so thinking the experience may not be quite as much fun now. We've had a Sam's membership for years and I felt they had a good selection of organics. However, Costco definitely rules in the area of selection and quantity of organic products which is always my goal. Eat…

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Broccoli Cauliflower and Apple Salad Recipe

Broccoli Cauliflower and Apple Salad Recipe

This Broccoli Cauliflower and Apple Salad is a light healthy salad for a picnic or summer holiday event. This recipe contains all raw vegetables and is nutrient dense. As always, use organic. You are worth it. Ingredients 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 1 1/2 cups of chopped broccoli 1 1/2 cups of chopped cauliflower 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 1/4 cup raisins 1 medium gala apple chopped Dressing 2 Tablespoons of sugar, I used coconut palm sugar 2 Tablespoons of red wine vinegar 1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 2 Tablespoon Walnut oil (or olive oil) 1/4 cup Vegenaise 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/4 tsp ground…

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge These jewels are dairy-free, gluten-free and there is no added sugar. I love these for a sweet craving with adding sugar to my diet. The Sync Chocolate powder contains no added sugars, is gluten-free and vegan. As always, use organic ingredients! You are worth it. 1/2 c all-natural almond butter or peanut butter 5 pitted Medjool dates 1 scoop Modere Sync Chocolate Powder (or your favorite plant-based shake) Process all ingredients in a Vitamix or food processor. If your dates are a bit hard, you can soak them in hot water for 5 minutes and drain the water before using. If the mix is…

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Almond Cookie Recipe – Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Dairy Free

Almond Cookie Recipe – Gluten Free, Sugar Free, Dairy Free

After completing a food intolerance test, I learned I was intolerant to all sugars (honey, agave, etc) and dairy so I needed to find substitutes.  My goal was to go sugar free for 4-6 months and at about month three, I wanted cookies! I found a recipe, made a few modifications and finally came up with this! Like pure stevia sweetener, the monk fruit sweetener is highly concentrated so a little goes a long way.  The key is using pure monk fruit to elminate fillers. My favorite is pure organic monk fruit sweetener from Julian Bakery. Ingredients: 1 cup of Almond Flour 1/2 tsp Organic Pure Monk Fruit…

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My 3-day Cleanse Journey – Day 2

My 3-day Cleanse Journey – Day 2

Day 1 is done! So where do you think I struggled most? I caught myself in my daily habit of getting up from my desk to grab a snack. I realized that when I feel stressed, overwhelmed or anxious, I distract myself with a snack. Most of you know I am not grabbing a candy bar or cookie (we eat predominantly whole, clean) but, eating when your body doesn't need food is not healthy! So how did I cope knowing that I couldn't grab a snack? I decided to try some deep breathing and downloaded a meditation app. I believe this is a new healthy habit that I will incorporate…

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My 3-day Cleanse Journey

It's day one of my 3-day cleanse which started with a 2.5-mile walk on July 4th. What a perfect day to celebrate freedom from toxins! Instead of focusing on what I won't be eating, I'm focusing on the benefits such as mental clarity, focus, and increased energy. I prepared my body by eliminating meat and increased my consumption of fresh, raw organic fruits and vegetables. If you consume alcohol, caffeine, or dairy on a regular basis, I  would eliminate these products a few days before as well. Except for an occasional (organic) ice cream, I swore off these vices years ago. However, with dark chocolate, I still have issues!…

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Mango Bliss Balls

Mango Bliss Balls

These treats are delicious for dessert or breakfast! The original recipe called for dried apricots but since I had dried mango on hand, I substituted.  Be sure to use organic for all ingredients as conventional fruits and nuts contains toxic preservatives. Nuts, especially walnuts, can also contain BHT as a preservative which has to been linked to increased risk of cancer. Dried fruits may contain sulphur dioxide (sulfites) which has been linked to respiratory issues.  The #1 Rule is to read ingredient labels and buy organic! 1 c of dried organic apricots or mango 1 c. pitted dates 1/2 c raw organic almonds 1/2 c raw organic cashews 1/2…

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Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice

Sweet & Sour Chicken with Brown Rice

Planning is the key to success when the goal is improving your health. Slow-cooking is an easy way to plan your week with healthy meals. Plan ahead by making one crockpot meal and one stovetop meal on the weekend to ensure you have good options throughout the week. This reduces the temptation to stop and grab fast food. 1 lb chopped organic carrots 1 medium white onion, chopped 6 oz organic skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs 2 cups of chopped pineapple 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 Tbsp nonGMO low-sodium Soy sauce or Bragg's Liquid Aminos 1/4 tsp of pink Himalayan salt salt 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp…

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2 Simple Ways to Love Your Body

So often, we get caught up in loving everyone else—our kids, our spouse, our family and friends—that we forget to love ourself. Take a moment and visualize how that would look—if you loved yourself. How would your outside look? How would your inside look? What if I told you two simple things you could do to love yourself and change your overall appearance from the inside out? Would you do it? The two simple changes you will need to make involve eliminating genetically modified foods and increasing your intake of whole, clean foods, such as fruits and vegetables. Stop eating genetically modified foods because these foods are linked…

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