Keep The Doctor Away with Apple Cider Vinegar Every Day

If there is one supplement that I would find it hard to live without, it would be apple cider vinegar.  I prefer organic, distilled, fermented, apple cider vinegar for the best health benefits.

Apple cider vinegar increases acidity in the stomach, limits the absorption of fats and carbohydrates,and helps regulate the impact of sugar in the blood stream.  Apple cider vinegar also helps normalize blood pressure and cholesterol and reduces inflammation in the body.

Regular consumption of apple cider vinegar can result in a myriad of ancillary health benefits–from eliminating acne to relieving migraines to aiding digestion. Apple cider vinegar has even been associated with a reduction in the growth of cancer cells.

Although it may take a little getting used to, the benefits of apple cider vinegar can be enjoyed with as little as a tablespoon a day mixed in a glass of water.  If you are new to apple cider vinegar, try starting with half a tablespoon until you develop a taste for it.   And after a few weeks, you can look forward to improved health!

Synergy of Superfoods

Combining superfoods, or foods with a high density of micronutrients and antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, can produce some amazing results.  When you combine superfoods together in the same meal, you get a much more powerful effect than you would have eating them alone.

For example, I like to make a smoothie with the following superfoods:

Almond Milk
2-3 Cups of Greens
Onions
1/2 Banana
Handful of Berries
Carrots
Celery
Cucumber
Flax Seed
Chia Seeds

The resulting smoothie is delicious, nutritious, easily absorbed into the body and super charges your health.

Kefir is Mother Nature’s Keeper

Kefir is a cultured milk that has been fermented with kefir grains made of bacteria and yeast and, unlike yogurt, is not a problem for those who are lactose intolerant.  It can be consumed as a drink, added to a smoothie or even used to make cheeses or dips.

I drink the store bought plain type  kefir because it’s a good source of live probiotics that will help keep your healthy gut bacteria in balance and your immune system healthy.  Kefir helps keep healthy bacteria in the digestive tract, where 80% of the immune system is found. The fermenting bacteria produce lactic acid which heals and soothes the gut lining.

Kefir is a good source of protein, B vitamins and vitamin D, has anti tumor properties, prevents disease and controls toxins and inflammation.  What more could you want in a super food?

I like to drink a glass of kefir before bed as it helps me to sleep better and improves digestion.

Sugar and Spice are Not Always Nice

Herbs, Spices and Natural Supplements can offer health benefits but just  because something is natural doesn’t necessarily mean that it is safe to use or take in large quantities.

Herbs, Spices and Natural Supplements can have side effects, interactions with other foods and medications or simply may not work as intended.  Be sure to consult with your doctor, nutritionist or appropriate health care professional before using Herbs, Spices and Supplements and be careful to follow recommended dosage guidelines.

I personally had a bad experience with senna tea (a natural tea known for its laxative effects) after drinking only 1 cup.  I experienced an erratic and extremely elevated heart beat (most likely due to electrolyte imbalances and fluid loss) and almost ended up hospitalized.  That taught me the importance of carefully researching foods and their side effects and contra-indications  before taking them.

As with everything else, consult with your doctor before using Herbs, Spices and natural Supplements and always use common sense.

And keep in mind the old adage ” too much of anything is not good for you…”

Battle of the Green Juice versus the Green Smoothie

Juicing or Blending.  Which one offers more health benefits?  A lot of people have asked me this question.  My answer would be:  it depends on what health benefit you are looking for.

Green juices are made by using juicing machines which remove the fiber.  Green juices are used for detoxifying, alkalizing, oxygenating, healing and cell regeneration of our bodies.  Refer to my previous posts on this blog for my favorite recipes for green juice, mixed veggies juice and southern comfort juice.

Green smoothies are made by using blenders and include the whole food with the fiber. Refer to my green smoothie post for a favorite smoothie recipe.

Green smoothies can replace breakfast, lunch, dinner or simply a nutritious snacks and supply energy and nutritional needs equal to or greater than a three course meal.

I incorporate the both green juices and green smoothies into my diet everyday because I want the health benefits of both.

It’s important to remember that juicing is only an adjunct to an overall good diet.  We can’t  sustain ourselves on juicing alone because the fiber has been removed.

We need to incorporate enough fiber in our diets to achieve optimal nutrition.  If I had to choose one or the other, it would have to be the green smoothie.

Get Crackin with Coconut Oil

If you buy organic virgin or organic extra virgin coconut oil at your local health food store, you won’t have to crack any coconuts and you can enjoy a variety of  health benefits attributed to this amazing oil.

Coconut oil is a healthy saturated fat containing primarily lauric acid and a smaller amount of myristic acid.

Coconut is thought to have health benefits for the heart and thyroid and is  anti-microbial, anti-viral and anti-bacterial.

I use organic virgin coconut oil on my skin and hair and as a sunscreen for short periods out in the sun.

I’ve noticed a reduction in age spots on my face and less graying in my hair after using virgin coconut oil on a regular basis.

In addition to its many other uses, I also use coconut oil as an underarm deodorant and insect repellent.

Coconut oil has a melting point of 76 degrees and a long shelf life.  So even if you’re not living in the tropics or stranded on a desert island, you may want to go in search of some coconut oil.

Love My Alligator Pear

Avocado, which is technically in the berry family, is a fruit that has a rough alligator like skin with a large seed inside.  The avocado, once called the fertility fruit by the Aztecs, originally came from Mexico.

The avocado contains a lot of healthy fats including omega 3’s and a wide variety of phytonutrients along with an impressive array of vitamins and fiber. Avocados are also a healthy source of insoluble and soluble fiber.

I try to include avocados in my diet at least 4 times/week and enjoy it as a smaller meal or as part of a larger meal.  It’s thick skin protects the tasty fruit on the inside, so if I can’t find organic, I buy the non-organic variety.

Spice It Up With Cinnamon

Cinnamon, a spice derived from the inner bark of a variety of trees, has long been used as a spice for food and for medicinal purposes.

I take cinnamon capsules to lower my blood sugar.  Cinnamon cassia, which is available in capsule form at most health food stores,  has helped me lower my blood sugar numbers by as much as 10 points or more after a meal.

Cinnamon is also believed to decrease inflammation and have antibacterial and antioxidant properties.

Be sure to consult with your doctor before starting cinnamon supplementation as there may be adverse interactions with prescription medications, herbs or other health issues.

 

Kiwi Kool

Kiwi is the small egg shaped green fruit with a fuzzy brown skin that appears in the above photo and it is technically in the berry family.

It doesn’t look like much but the nutrition in kiwi packs a powerful punch.

Kiwi has twice the vitamin  C  per gram as an orange along with plenty of potassium, calcium, magnesium, fiber and vitamin K.  The flavonoids and carotenoids in kiwi contain antioxidants that benefit the whole.

Kiwi also contains the  enzyme actinidin, which assists in digestion.

I can’t say how the kiwi skin tastes but if you do get a hankering for some roughage, the kiwi skin is also edible, so be sure to buy organic and have a toothbrush handy.

Good Old Garlic

My Mom is Italian so I know that everything good begins with garlic.  There’s nothing like the smell of a little olive oil and garlic being heated in a saucepan in preparation for a good sauce.

Garlic contains more than 70 active phytochemicals and phytochemicals are good for you.  For centuries, it has been known that garlic has many health benefits, including lowering blood pressure, decreasing LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), and improving cardiovascular benefits.  Garlic is also thought to have anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

I use a few cloves of fresh garlic in my green juices to boost my immune system.  When I add garlic to my juices, I also increase my water intake because garlic absorbs more water in the body as it helps to flush out toxins.

I find garlic to be especially beneficial in the winter months in helping to prevent and cure colds and the flu and keep me going strong.

I’ve heard garlic also keeps the evil spirits at bay and that’s not a bad thing either.