Tag: anti inflammatory

5 Reasons to Drink Beet Root Juice..like the Aussies!

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I was first introduced to the incredible health benefits of beets while living in Australia. They enjoy putting beets on everything! It is a common food that is added to so many of their dishes! Over here in North America we don’t tend to explore with beets as much as the aussies! The Australians know what’s up when it comes to beets, so here it goes… 5 reasons to drink beet root juice like the aussies!

[Photo Credit: Anna Verdina]

  1. Antioxidant Protection – Many foods contain antioxidant protection. However, what is unique about beets is the unusual type of antioxidants it contains! The colour of beets comes from the antioxidant called betalain, an antioxidant not commonly heard of. It also contains other antioxidants such as manganese and vitamin C. Research is only in the beginning stages to determine the effects of these antioxidants on eye health and nerve tissue health. 
  1. Detoxification – This same unique antioxidant called betalain supports the body in its Phase 2 detoxification process. What does that mean? Well, this is the step that our cells use to attach unwanted toxins to small nutrient groups. This link is critical as it neutralizes the toxins and allows them to pass through our urine, being excreted from the body safely instead of remaining in the body. An important link in Phase 2 is the role of glutathione (another super antioxidant). Beets trigger production of  glutathione-S-transferase, an enzyme  which hooks toxins in the body to glutathione for removal from the body. As you can see, Beets lovingly help support the bodies natural detox process!
  1. Anti-inflammatory – Betalains, along with other phytonutrients in beets such as isobetanin and vulgaxanthin (yes, those are a mouthful!) contain many amazing anti-inflammatory properties. These anti-inflammatory benefits aid in the prevention of conditions that are associated with chronic inflammation, such as eczema, diabetes, heart disease, irritable bowel disease and anything ending in “itis,” (ie. Colitis, arthritis, etc). 
  1. Anti-cancer – The combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in beets makes this food a probable option for decreasing the risk of several forms of cancer. Lab studies have even proved this on human tumor cells for colon, stomach, nerve, lung, breast, prostate and testicular cancers!
  1. Fiber – Beet fiber and carrot fiber are two food types of fiber that provide unique health benefits that contributes to the health of our digestive tract, colon health and cardiovascular system. 

 Those are merely some of the top health benefits of beets. Beets are a true nutritional powerhouse and definitely worth adding to your diet!

Try our Sweet Beets & Greens Recipe or our Morning Zinger Fresh Beet & Veggie Juice! 

Stephanie xo

 

Source: www.worldshealthiestfoods.com, The World’s Healthiest Foods

 

 

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7 Ayurvedic Healing Spices that will Change Your Life!

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Spices_picmonkey

Leaves are changing and the temperature is dropping as we enter into my favourite season of the year- fall! I love how our bodies begin to crave warming foods as we come out of the summer season. As we begin to crave more warming and seasonal fall foods, it gives us the perfect opportunity to start playing around with  spices. Spices not only add many flavours to a dish, but they are incredibly healing to the body. If you look back to Ayurveda practices (eastern medicine practiced in India for thousands of years!), they use a ton of spices in their cooking. The Ayurveda philosophy uses spices regularly as their healing method or their “prescription” of choice due to the healing properties that exist in them. I would love to share with you 7 Ayurvedic healing spices that will change your life!

  1. Cinnamon – By simply smelling this wonderful scent, it increases brain activity. Meaning the scent alone of cinnamon boosts brain function! It also has anti-clotting effects in the body, anti-microbial properties and is amazing for blood sugar control. With the amount of skipped meals, and standard American diets (ie. processed foods) that are high in sugar, I think everyone could use a bit of cinnamon to aid in stabilizing blood glucose levels in the body. My favorite way to enjoy it: Adding it to my homemade hot chocolate and my morning smoothies!
  1. Rosemary – I love rosemary! It is probably my favorite of all spices, if I had to pick just one! Rosemary is anti-inflammatory, boosts the immune system, improves circulation and aids in digestion. Some studies suggest that it increases blood flow to the head and brain, boosting concentration levels. My favourite way to enjoy it: Combine lemon, olive oil and rosemary and brush it on your fish or chicken before cooking it.
  1. Ginger – Ginger has an active compound called gingerols and studies suggest that this compound may inhibit growth of colorectal cancer. It also has anti-inflammatory effects on the body and is an amazing immune booster. My favourite way to enjoy it: Ginger and lemon tea is one of my favourites, especially when I feel a cold coming on! You can make this yourself so it is more bioavailable. Add the juice of half a lemon and two 1-inch pieces of ginger to boiling water. Let it steep for maximum benefit. Or try this flu busting juice recipe HERE.
  1. Cumin – this potent herb is an excellent source of iron, which is a vital component of hemoglobin that carries oxygen to our cells. Cumin has been shown to contain anti-carcinogenic properties (ie. cancer protective substances), and benefits the digestive system by stimulating excretion of pancreatic enzymes. These enzymes are a critical component for nutrient assimilation and good digestion. My favourite way to enjoy it: In soups! This is an amazing spice to toss in your favorite homemade soup recipe, especially this spinach and quinoa soup recipe you can find HERE.
  1. Fennel – contains a host of phytonutrients with strong antioxidant properties. It is also an excellent source of vitamin C, which is the body’s main water-soluble antioxidant in the body. Vitamin C is responsible for offsetting free radicals in the body and without it, it can cause cellular damage, leading to a ton of potential illnesses. Fiber, folate and potassium are also present in large amounts in fennel, which are beneficial for cardiovascular and colon health. My favourite way to enjoy it: Salads are probably my go-to for fennel. I love tossing this in any of my quinoa, spinach or kale salads.
  1. Turmeric – this is an incredibly powerful spice that has been used in the Chinese and Indian medical systems for years to treat hundreds of inflammatory conditions. I am telling you, they know what they are doing over there! It is a safe, natural anti-inflammatory that is effectively used to treat Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Cystic Fibrosis. This amazing spice also inhibits cancer cell growth, improves liver function, provides cardiovascular protection, lowers cholesterol and is a protection against Alzheimer’s disease. All of that in one spice, I know, it is pretty incredible!! My favourite way to enjoy it: I love adding turmeric to my wild and brown rice, giving it color and a wonderful flavor! Or you can even try making this ginger turmeric lemonade. It’s delicious! Recipe HERE.
  1. Cayenne – this spice helps to fight inflammation in the body. There are high amounts of beta-carotene (or pro vitamin A) and vitamin C that when taken regularly is known to boost immunity. It can clear congestion as it helps to stimulate secretions that help clear mucous. This makes it an excellent spice to use if you have congestion in the lungs or nose. Cayenne is also known to increase metabolism, making it a great aid for weight loss. My favourite way to enjoy it: I like to put a dash in my homemade humus to give it a bit of a kick!

These 7 spices are only the beginning! In North America we tend to commonly use salt and pepper as our spices and need to begin experimenting more with all the wonderful and flavourful spices and herbs that are available to us. Not only for improving the taste of our dishes but for the healing properties that exist within these foods. Research continues to show us the many health benefits of spices, and the list above is only the beginning. Its time for you to get creative! Play around with some spices and herbs in your kitchen and have some fun with it!

Happy cooking!

Stephanie xo

 

 

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9 Reasons Why You Need Spirulina In Your Life!

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Spirulina is a blue-green algae and is in fact probably the most well known of the blue-green algae family. There are about 1,800 species of blue-green algae, but spirulina is by far the best selling and the best known!

This powerful superfood has a pretty crazy amount of health benefits and it is indeed a TRUE superfood! This is why I believe sea vegetables and algae’s should definitely be apart of people’s diets.

spirulina

Here are my top reasons why you can’t live without a little spirulina in your life….

  1. Immune Booster – Spirulina contains chlorophyll, which is a natural energy and immune booster. It helps remove toxins from the blood and has the ability to bind to heavy metals and remove them from the body. Many people report feeling more energized once they begin introducing spirulina into their diet.
  1. High in Iron – Spirulina contains subsequent amounts of bio available iron. This is a fantastic and simple way to increase your daily iron consumption.
  1. Amino Acids – It contains all 22 amino acids, which means it is a complete protein product. Ideal for all those vegetarians and vegans out there!
  1. Other Nutrients – Some of the other nutrients present in spirulina include, high levels of calcium (26 times more than what is found in milk!), vitamins A, C, E, D, B vitamins, zinc, potassium, chromium, copper, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, magnesium and sodium.
  1. Enzymes – Spirulina has naturally occurring enzymes that are necessary for healthy digestive metabolism.
  1. EFA’s – It is high in essential fatty acids, containing both omega-3 and omega-6.
  1. Alkalinizing Effect – Every food affects the pH levels in the body. As majority of people eat a highly acidic diet (processed foods, poor quality meat and dairy), it’s important to try and consume less acidifying foods. There are many studies that explain disease can only grow in an acidic environment and the more acidic the body the greater the chance of disease. This goes to show that eating alkalinizing foods more often such as spirulina is important for our longevity and overall health.
  1. Anti-inflammatory – Some studies show the positive effects of spirulina on arthritis because of the anti-inflammatory effect. It is used in many treatments for arthritis to support cartilage production and its ability to reduce swelling.

     9.   Decreased Hunger – When you begin adding spirulina regularly into your diet, you will most likely find your hunger becoming suppressed. This is
            because of the high amount of nutrients found in the algae. These nutrients meet the nutritional and biochemical needs of the body. You are feeding
            your body what it needs which equals the feeling of satiation! How cool is that?  

How to Enjoy Spirulina?

An easy way to enjoy this nutrient dense food is to toss it in your smoothies or juices! Start with 1 teaspoon and work your way up to 1 tablespoon or more, if well tolerated. If you don’t have time to throw it into a smoothie you can simply put a tablespoon in a nice tall glass of water, mix it up and drink it (I actually enjoy the taste, but you may have to work your taste buds up to it!). You can even try putting it in your salad dressings. Alternatively, if you don’t like the powder form, you can buy spirulina in tablets.

Contraindications

There are high levels of vitamin K present in spirulina, therefore is not suited for individuals on anticoagulant medications or treatments. Spirulina does contain trace amounts of vitamin B12, however not suitable as a single only source for individuals with B12 deficiency.

How do you enjoy your spirulina? What does this superfood do for you? We’d love to hear from you. Share with us below!

Health, Happiness and Spirulina!

Stephanie xo

 

References
Staying Healthy with Nutrition, Elson M.Haas, MD
The World’s Healthiest Foods, George Mateljan 
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Curried Butternut Squash and Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins for Meatless Monday

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I love curry! And although I’m not a master at making a true homemade curry blend, I opt for an organic curry powder that always does the trick; especially when I’m short on time! This delicious and aromatic dish takes no time to cook and is perfect served over leftover brown rice or quinoa for a quick weeknight meal! Aside from being delicious, curry contains a high dose of antioxidants, mainly from turmeric, the spice that lends curry its beautiful golden colour. Turmeric, which contains Curcumin-the most active constituent of turmeric, is a potent anti inflammatory, a powerful antioxidant, improves liver health and aids in digestion. I recommend sprinkling turmeric powder on your eggs, add it to your spice rubs, add it soups and stews and saute your veggies in it for an extra kick!

Curried Butternut Squash
Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds butternut squash
2 tbsp organic butter
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp minced or grated ginger
1 tbsp organic curry powder
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves for garnish
1/4 cup chopped scallions for garnish
1 lime, quartered, for serving
salt and pepper

Directions
1. Cut both ends off squash and cut into 2 sections. Peel squash using a knife, being careful not to take off to much of the flesh. Scoop out seeds and stringy pulp with a spoon. Cut squash into 1 inch chunks.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and ginger, stirring occasionally, until soft. Add the curry powder and stir until it becomes fragrant, just 1 minute or so.
3. Stir in squash, coconut milk, salt and pepper. Turn the heat to high, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a gentle boil. Cover and cook, stirring once or twice until the sqaush is tender, about 15-20 minutes.
4. Garnish with cilantro, scallions and serve with lime wedges.

Gluten Free Blueberry Muffins
Ingredients

6 tbsp coconut oil, melted & cooled
1 cup packed organic light brown sugar
1/2 cup almond milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups Bob’s red mill gluten free all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 cups wild blueberries

Directions
1. Insert oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400ºF. Insert liners in muffin cups.
2. Whisk together coconut oil, brown sugar, milk, and egg in a bowl until combined well. Whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Add milk mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in blueberries gently.
3. Divide batter among muffin cups and bake until golden brown, approximately 25 – 30 minutes.
4. Toothpick test: muffins are done when a toothpick inserted into the centre of muffin comes out clean

Enjoy the YUMMY goodness!
Happy Monday!

Health & Abundance,
Samantha 🙂

 

 

 

 

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