7 Reasons Why Apple Cider Vinegar Needs To Be In Your Daily Routine

A glass of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar with "mother".

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) has been a part of my daily routine for a few months now and I know Sam loves recommending this gem to many of her clients as well. I originally started consuming apple cider vinegar to help with my candida and then soon learnt the several other health benefits. 

Here are 7 reasons YOU need to start incorporating Apple Cider Vinegar into your daily routine:

  1. Eliminates Candida – For anyone who has experienced or is experiencing candida- like symptoms, you know it’s not pleasant. Symptoms of poor memory, brain fog, fatigue, irritability and intense sugar cravings are not fun. You need to be consuming foods that are going to help eliminate these symptoms so you can feel your optimal best. The naturally occurring enzymes in apple cider vinegar actually help flush the overgrowth of yeasts from your body making it an ideal candida eliminating ‘supplement.’ 
  1. Reduces Congestion and Stuffy Nose – Apple cider vinegar thins mucus and helps break up any congestion. So next time you have a stuffy nose, try taking apple cider vinegar repeatedly throughout the day to help loosen the mucus. 1-2 teaspoons in warm water throughout the day should do the trick. 
  1. Improves Digestion – Consume a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and water before a meal to help aid in digestion and breakdown food. It stimulates the digestive juices and get’s everything flowing the way it should.
  1. Improves Low Stomach Acid – In today’s world this is a bigger problem than we think. So many people have low stomach acid that studies suggest up to 90% of people suffer from this in North America, which means they are having serious issues with constipation and indigestion. As we age, our stomach acid naturally decreases causing issues with digestion. Top that with the high consumption of dairy products, low quality meat, processed foods, nicotine exposure, antibiotic usage, drinking chlorinated water and stress and you’ve got yourself an impaired digestive nightmare! Apple Cider Vinegar helps correct low stomach acid problems, so drink up.
  1. Boosts the Immune System – Apple cider vinegar has a component called malic acid, which is anti viral. Consuming it regularly is going to boost the immune system, therefore reducing your chances of catching a cold. Improving the friendly bacteria in your gut through continuous usage of ACV also increases the body’s immune function. 
  1. Beautiful Skin – Apple cider vinegar helps balance the skins pH. We tend to be more on the acidic side due to environmental pollutions, consumption of low quality dairy and meat, chemical exposure etc., so it is important to incorporate alkalinizing foods into your diet, ACV being one of them! 
  1. The Liver Loves it – Think detox! The liver simply loves apple cider vinegar and the liver has huge responsibilities in the body. Its job is to practically filter out all of the toxins and waste products from the blood. That’s a big job when we come in contact with the high amount of toxins in any given day. We can give our liver a bit of loving help by consuming apple cider vinegar, which will help cleanse the liver and enhance the detoxification process.

Apple Cider Vinegar should be diluted in a ’10 to 1 ratio’ (10 part water and 1 part vinegar). It is important to use raw, organic, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar with the “mother” to receive the full benefits that this vinegar has to offer. We love and trust the Omega Nutrition Brand, Bragg’s and Eden Organic which you can find at any health food store. 

Stephanie xo

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9 Reasons Why You Need Spirulina In Your Life!

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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Detox Made Easy! Simple Tips to Starting a Detox

Detox! Everyone is doing it!

Detox is such a buzz word and by far, it is the number one thing most of my clients ask me about!

In my video below, I share tips for starting a detox protocol and why you don’t necessarily need a store bought detox kit to give you a kick start.

Plus, I discuss the role of your liver in the detoxification process and what you can do to support the health of your liver!

Have you detoxed before? Are you thinking of starting a detox? I would love to know your past experiences with cleansing.

Please share your comments below, on my Facebook page or connect with me via Twitter!

If you like this video, please check out my YouTube channel and subscribe!

Look forward to hearing from you! 🙂

 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIwsI-wo__k

 

Health & Abundance,
Samantha 🙂

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ONLY $40! DETOX YOGA+NUTRITION WORKSHOP-THIS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5TH

DETOX YOGA+NUTRITION WORKSHOP

IN THIS 2.5 HOUR WORKSHOP, SONI WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH A ROCKIN’ DETOX FLOW, CLEANSING ALL VITAL ORGANS AND SAMANTHA WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS DETOX!

FROM WHAT FOODS TO EAT TO WHAT FOODS ARE WREAKING HAVOC ON YOUR SYSTEM AND SLOWING DOWN THE DETOXIFICATION PROCESS. PLUS WE’LL DISCUSS SUPPLEMENTS, RECIPES, AND HELP YOU DESIGN A PERFECT DETOX DAY!

TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED AT THE END TO ANSWER ALL YOUR YOGA AND NUTRITION QUESTIONS.

JOIN US JUNE 5TH FROM 6-8:30PM FOR ONLY $40!!

SPACES ARE LIMITED!

SIGN UP HERE – holisticwellness.ca/events/

Location – Inspire Yoga City Centre Suite 202 – 626 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. (Just half block east of Mavis)

Mississauga, Ontario 905-848-YOGA (9642)

 

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SIGN UP TODAY! SPRING DETOX YOGA + NUTRITION WORKSHOP

Early Bird special ends TODAY so sign up as spaces are limited!

 

Location: Inspire Yoga – City Centre Suite 202 – 626 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. Mississauga, ON. 905-848-YOGA

 

Here’s what we’ll cover in this 3 week workshop:

  • Happy Healthy Digestion – learn how to properly combine foods, beat the bloat, gain energy and build and nourish your cells
  • Detox From Head to Toe – learn which foods help to cleanse your whole body, support the health of your liver and give you vibrant glowing skin
  • Debunking the Diet – understanding what foods assist in weight loss, debunking diet myths and helping you to customize your own weight loss protocol

Plus, enjoy a Rockin’ Yoga Class – get your sweat on, increase mobility, get a deep stretch, detoxify, become aware of your body and gain confidence!

SPRING CLEANING


CLICK THIS LINK TO SIGN UP NOW AND SAVE!

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Post Oscar Detox

Time to escape the world of Hollywood hunks and hotties and get back to reality!! As fun as watching the Oscars can be, it tends to lead most of us into a night….long night….of over indulgence! So…how do we get back on the wagon and start off our Monday morning feeling fabulous!? Well, don’t I have the solution for you?!? Monday’s can always be hard to ‘get back into the swing of things,’ especially when it comes to our diet; so I’ve devised a simple day full of healthy meals and tips to help you feel lighter! It starts the second you open your eyes……..

Detox Solution 1: Take a deep breath. Breathe in slowly through your nose and out through your mouth. It’s important to be conscious of your breathing. Inhaling oxygen nourishes and revitalizes our cells.

Detox Solution 2: Cleanse your liver. Start your morning with a warm glass of water and freshly squeezed lemon. This helps to eliminate toxins from your liver, improves bile flow, and aids the bowels in better, more efficient elimination.

Detox Solution 3: Eat a nourishing breakfast. Our body needs the right fuel in the morning, and it definitely doesn’t get that from sugary cereals or refined bagels! A protein shake or heart healthy oatmeal is a much better option to starting your day!

Heart Healthy Oatmeal Recipe:

Ingredients

1/2 cup steel cut oats

2 1/2 cups water

pinch of sea salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp goji berries

1 banana, sliced

1 tbsp pumpkin seeds

2 tbsp chopped almonds

1 tsp grade B maple syrup

Directions:

Bring water and salt to a boil. Stir in oats. Return to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring often, for 35 to 40 minutes. Top with cinnamon, goji berries, banana, pumpkin seeds, and almonds. Drizzle with maple syrup.

Detox Solution 4: Stay hydrated! Be sure to bring a large glass bottle filled with filtered water with you to work. Add lemon slices, cucmber slices, or even throw in frozen berries! Anything to get you to drink your water! Water is part of every cell. It aids our metabolism, digestion, and improves elimination. Without enough water, we can become constipated, which will effect how we eliminate toxins in the first place! So drink up!

Detox Solution 5: Snack time! This is the perfect time to increase our fruit intake. Fruit of choice- APPLES!! The amazing pectin, an indigestible, soluble fiber, that apples contain; help to maintain great digestive health and keep us regular. Pectin is also great at lowering cholesterol, so eat up!

Detox Solution 6: Lunchtime! Time to load up on veggies and protein, and a large spinach tahini bean salad, will do just the trick! Not only is this salad full of fiber and protein, but spinach contains loads of minerals and antioxidants!

Spinach Tahini Bean Salad

Ingredients:

2 cups spinach

1/2 cup cucumber- cubed

1/2 cup pepper (red/green/orange/yellow)- chopped

1/2 cup tomato- chopped

1 cup white kidney beans (if canned, be sure to rinse and drain)

Dressing:

1 glove garlic, minced

1/2 tsp sea salt

2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon

1-2 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp sesame butter (tahini)

Directions:

Mix veggies together and top with white beans.

Dressing- Whisk together all ingredients and drizzle over salad.

Detox Solution 7: Get Moving! Head outdoors and take in the fresh air! A quick 15-20 minute walk is truly invigorating! It’s keeps our blood flowing, strengthens our heart and doesn’t require any fancy gym equipment!

Detox Solution 8: Dinner! Something light and easy. Baked Salmon with veggies! Salmon is loaded with heart healthy fats and a great source of protein to keep you satisfied. This recipe serves two.

Ingredients:

2 glove garlic, minced

2-3 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp dried basil

1 tbsp fresh parsley

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 6oz salmon filets

Directions:

In a medium glass bowl, mix together garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, herbs, salt and pepper. Add salmon and leave to marinade for 30mins- 1hr.

Preheat oven to 375. Place salmon in foil and cover with marinade. Seal foil tightly. Bake in oven for approx 20-25 mins, or until easily flaked with a fork. Serve alongside your choice of veggies. You can steam, roast or sautee your veggies.

Detox Solution 9: Evening herbal tea. Nothing with caffeine of course! A chamomile tea would do just fine to ease you into the perfect state of relaxation so you can drift blistfully off to sleep!

Detox Solution 10: Early to bed! Sleep is so important for cell renewal and regeneration. Getting to bed at a decent time, (ie. Before 11pm!) is beneficial for heart health, liver health, metabolism, and will improve our performance the following day.

And there you have it! I’m feeling light and fabulous already!

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