Grace Meditation for Negative Thoughts

Raw Earth Medicine: 

Grace Meditation For Negative Thoughts

Our mind is our greatest muscle! We work out the rest of our body's muscles and get massages when we need to relax them. Meditation is like massaging our minds. Consciously focusing on what we want and don't want will sub consciously guide us to our goals! 

MEDITATION:

Find a peaceful place, light a candle or burn sage

Say out loud:

I honor the grace within me

I honor the grace within others

I rid myself of anything negative or diseased with grace, divinity, knowledge and ease!

Now take any negative thoughts you're having and say them out loud in a positive way:

examples:

Thought: I'm never going to finish my book

Out loud: I am going to try harder to finish my book because I know I will 

Thought: I am fat

Out loud: I will focus more on my health because I love my body 

Thought: my mother is going to die because she has cancer and continues to eat a cancer causing diet 

Out loud: I appreciate every moment I have with my mother and must respect how she chooses to live her life. I send her guidance to find her way 

Say all your negative thoughts until you have none left! 

Finish with:

I honor the grace within me

I honor the grace within others

I rid myself of anything negative or diseased with grace, divinity, knowledge and ease! 

Stay peaceful and quiet as long as you like! 

Blueberry Hemp Acai

Blueberry Hemp Acai 

3 cups Frozen Blueberries 

2 tbsp Peanut Powder 

1 scoop Acai Powder

1 tsp Mucuna Pruriens

1 tbsp Maple Syrup 

Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Serve topped with Frozen Blueberries and Hemp Hearts! 

Packed with Omega 3 & 6, antioxidants and an array of beneficial vitamins this Acai Bowl is nutritionally delicious! 

Matcha Green Tea

The best Matcha Green Tea comes from Japan where it is the staple ingredient upon which traditional Japanese tea ceremonies were built in the 12th century. Matcha has many health benefits, and a beautiful, distinct flavor. Matcha is essentially processed green tea leaves that have been stone-ground into a delicate powder. The powder is then sifted and whisked with hot water. .

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What most distinguishes Matcha from other Green Teas is that matcha bushes are covered for up to 20 days prior to harvest to shade the leaves from direct sunlight. This is done to boost the plants' chlorophyll levels, which turns the leaves a darker, more vibrant shade of green, and increases the production of L-Theanine, an amino acid that occurs naturally in the tea plant.  Thanks to the L-Theanine in the tea it will give you both a calming and stimulant affect! .

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Matcha is high in antioxidants, And contains a specific set of organic compounds known as catechins. Among antioxidants, catechins are the most potent and beneficial. One specific catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) makes up 60% of the catechins in Matcha Green Tea. Out of all the antioxidants, EGCg is the most widely recognized for its cancer fighting properties. Scientists have found that Matcha Green Tea contains over 100 times more EGCg than any other tea! .

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Matcha is a traditional delight in Japanese ceremonies while also adding a lot of health benefits. You can make delicious Matcha teas or bake with it as well and your body and mind will thank you! .

Chronic Pain

Last week I was given a devastating blow!  I was told by all medical professionals that I'm currently seeing that basically it's time to just come to terms with the fact that I'm going to need two more surgeries.  A new orthopedic doctor looked at me during a consultation for a pain management epidural and said it's been two years since you were hit by the car, you've had five cervical epidurals already.  If you think that i'm going to give you the six magical epidural that suddenly fixes everything, than I'm sad to tell you, you're sorely mistaken.  He refused to do anything but refer to me to a surgeon for a consultation.  Now, I face having my hip operated on again because I have major symptoms that should be gone by now and they want to slice my neck open through the front to fix my spine!  I'm honestly terrified. I could go through all of this and end up worse or I could have to live like this forever.  I've cried my heart out over it but as long as I keep my stress levels down I can keep the terror from occupying my mind. I don't take any pain medication so the mental strength I use to stay positive is very emotional and very deep. It's like the Ancient Greek mythology story of the man tied to the rock and a bird pecks at him for eternity. That's what it's like living with chronic  pain.  

Through out this journey I have found a routine of using alternative measures along with holistic nutrition to take the edge off and make sure that the rest of me is in tip top optimum health. I would like to share with everybody a day in my life combating chronic pain and supporting optimum health with physical restrictions: 

Wake up Marijuana Joint: curbs pain, numb limbs, spasms and stiffness 

Turn on music to keep my mind positive. Pain is less noticeable when you're singing a George Michael song. 

Breakfast: all you can eat! 

Grapefruit: curbs appetite, reduces cholesterol, support heart health, positively influences blood lipid                    levels 

Pineapple: packed with vitamin C as well as other vital nutrients and minerals, it also contains an       enzyme called Bromelain which effectively helps joint pain, arthritis, inflammation and surgical recovery 

Dates:  fiber, potassium, manganese, magnesium, copper, b6 

Cold Pressed Turmeric Latte: mix 1 tablespoon each of honey, cinnamon and turmeric with hot water and cold pressed coffee

Benefits: anti-inflammatory, lubricates joints, pain killer and a little caffeine to offset the sluggishness pain gives you! 

15/30 minutes: Cool Therapy icing to reduce pain and inflammation and get my leg and neck ready to bare the day 

15/30 minutes: Epsom salt bath to reduce inflammation

Now I'm ready to get my blood pumping so the properly functioning parts of my body get some cardiovascular work, so they can support the rest of what's going on. I smoke marijuana prior so I can do this without increased pain. Since I cannot do anything with impact, I will do 1hr of Ballet (cardio barre), stationary bike or mild incline hike as well as some hand weights. My pain is still present during these activities but because of the morning routine, it doesn't increase. While I'm moving, I know it's there but mentally I feel a release I desperately need.

Post "work out"-

Greens Juice: cucumber, kale, collard greens, spinach, celery, cayenne, ginger, lemon and apple. 

Benefits: nutrients, minerals, anti-inflammatory 

30 minutes: Cool therapy Machine to reduce pain 

15/20 minutes: Epsom salt bath 

Now, I have about an hour or maybe two where I try to accomplish a blog post, or office tasks I need to do. It's very hard for me to sit still because it hurts and my body has spasms and ticks and I constantly have to reposition. 

Lunch: 

6 cups or more- Greens (spinach, romaine, arugula): high water content to reduce inflammation, iron, B vitimans, blood health, heart health, protein

Garbanzo Beans: fiber, protein

Cucumbers: high water content to reduce inflammation, detoxes body 

Beets: detox, blood health, minerals, vitimans, mental health, digestive health

Tomato: anti-oxydents, immune system support 

Curry spice: joint lubricant, cardiovascular health 

Dressing: balsamic or red vinegar mixed with sweet hot mustard And pepper...

32 oz home brewed - muscle recovery tea with turmeric

The afternoon is usually a doctors appointment, physical therapy or some sort of treatment to help me feel better or try to fix the issues. I smoke marijuana before any of these activities so I can do them. 

Snack: Green Juice: Greens Juice: cucumber, kale, collard greens, spinach, celery, cayenne, ginger, lemon and apple. 

Benefits: nutrients, minerals, anti-inflammatory 

30-60 minutes Hot tub: increases circulation, jets help sooth spasms and soreness

Dinner:  This is where I get a little break from having to eat to support my issues!  I either eat high fat/high protein or high carb/low fat!  This purely comes down to food combining. If I eat high carb high fat, I swell up and my stomach hurts so I seldomly do that.  So it's either a ribs or meat/veggies or pasta or grains/veggies! Always all you can eat! Sometimes I have an alcohol drink with dinner if I want to.  This is the time where I usually find my pleasure factor with eating. A lot of the time I feel the impacts of these choices immensely the next morning or immediately after but I need the joy that comes with pleasure eating to give my life balance and satisfy my palletes desires. If I didn't have this 20% of pleasure from food I would explode. It's natural for us to want to eat for pleasure so finding this balance has enabled me to maintain a healthy weight, body and mind.

After dinner I usually take a medicated edible that eventually puts me to sleep for about 10 hrs which is the only time I kinda get a break from pain! 

I know it all sounds like a chore and terrible to have to do day in and day out, I do mix in fun activities but one day away from this take 2 days to get back to bare able. A lot of people think I'm anti social but the truth is when you live with chronic pain you want to be alone a lot so people don't see you hurt. You have to plan and build yourself up for events and prepare for the recovery time from the exertion but this is all better than being addicted to narcotics and having no chance to get better. I have to protect myself from inexcusably stress and all of the things that doctors say can cause us ailments because it's all true and my body and mind are so vulnerable to them. 

I could dwell on what's happened and stop living but instead I choose to use what I can to manage with what I'm faced with until a time comes along where I am better. I know what serves me and what doesn't because I do the work to live the best I can with circumstances I am faced with. 

Benefits of Parsley

Raw Earth Medicine: Benefits of Parsley

1. Bone Health

Parsley is rich in many vital vitamins, including Vitamin C,  B 12, K and A. This means parsley keeps your immune system strong, tones your bones and heals the nervous system, too. 

2. Detox

Parsley helps flush out excess fluid from the body, thus supporting kidney function. 

3. Essential Oil

Parsley essential oil, when massaged into the scalp, may reduce hair loss. Use parsley essential oil daily, and you’ll feel relief from joint pain. That’s because the herb has anti-inflammatory properties.

4. Parsley Tea 

Parsley tea relaxes stiff muscles and encourages digestion.

5. Anti-Cancer

Studies indicate that parsley, especially its essential oil, may have a role in inhibiting cancerous tumors. In fact, scientists have billed it a ‘chemoprotective’ food.  Studies show that myristicin, an organic compound found in the essential oil of parsley, not only inhibits tumor formation (especially in the lungs), but also activates the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, which helps the molecule glutathione attach to, and fight against, oxidized molecules. Myristicin can also neutralize carcinogens like benzopyrene in cigarette smoke that can pass through the body, consequently fighting against colon and prostate cancer.

6. Antioxidants


Parsley is rich in antioxidant including luteolin, a flavanoid that searches out and eradicates free radicals in the body that cause oxidative stress in cells. Luteolin also promotes carbohydrate metabolism and serves the body as an anti-inflammatory agent. Furthermore, two tablespoons of parsley contain 16% of the RDA of vitamin C and over 12% of the RDA of vitamin A – two powerful antioxidants.

7. Anti-Inflammatory 

Along with Luteolin, the vitamin C found in parsley serves as an effective anti-inflammatory agent within the body. When consumed regularly, they combat the onset of inflammatory disorders, such as osteoarthritis (the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone) and rheumatoid arthritis (a disease causing inflammation in the joints).

8. Healthy Immune System


The vitamins C and A found in parsley serve to strengthen the body’s immune
system. Vitamin C is support the production of collagen, the main structural protein found in connective tissue. This essential nutrient AIDS the body’s ability to repair wounds, as well as maintain healthy bones and teeth.  Vitamin A, strengthens and helps to defend the entry points into the human body, like the mucous membranes, the lining of the eyes, the respiratory system, urinary and intestinal tracts. Our immune system depends on lymphocytes, or white blood cells, which rely on vitamin A to fight infection in the body.

9. Healthy Heart

Regular use of parsley can help control your blood pressure. The folic acid in this herb is like a tonic for your heart. Homocysteine, an amino acid that occurs in the body, threatens the body’s blood vessels when its levels become too high. 
Folate (or vitamin B9) found in parsley helps convert homocysteine into harmless molecules. A regular garnish of parsley can help ward off cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis.

10. Vitamin K


Parsley is rich in vitamin K, which is necessary for the synthesis of osteocalcin, a protein that strengthens the composition of our bones. Vitamin K prevents calcium build-up in our tissue that can lead to atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke.  The vitamin K in parsley is essential for synthesizing the fat needed to maintain the myelin sheath around our nerves. Parsley helps support our nervous system as a whole.

Parsley not only makes a plate look beautiful as a garnish but it's also a wonderful herb that supports your entire bodies functions and systems.  We recommend you start incorporating Parley into your nutrition to achieve optimum health.  By eating parsley you're  preventing disease and strengthening your body! It's also delicious! Give it a try and remember to add parsley to your next meal! 

Create a lifestyle you can live with! 

Pregnancy nutrition and fetal development

Pregnancy Nutrition and fetal development into childhood development:

What is nutrition?  It’s the cumulative amount of vitamins and nutrients that the cells in your body need to keep your body properly functioning. People really lose site of the purpose of eating and forget that at its very core everything you eat is used to keep your body alive. When you’re pregnant everything you eat feeds the cells of the fetus as it develops. At its simplest explanation, feeding cells is essentially a chemical reaction.  

Many studies have linked artificial hormones and chemicals in foods to a variety of diseases in the human body. A disease at its very core is a chemical reaction that causes symptoms so naturally one would think eating these hormones and chemicals during pregnancy would cause developmental issues with the fetus    It is finally being scientifically proven that what many believe are genetic disorders are actually the affects that the mothers nutrition has on the development of the fetus during pregnancy.  

Many studies on autism have only tried to dispel or prove genetic links or after birth links for the cause of autism.  In a first ever study of its kind the University of Florida, has linked autism to a food preservative. 

“The Study

The study describes how elevated levels of the preservative, propionic acid (PPA)–used to extend shelf life and reduce mold in packaged foods, breads and cheeses—can adversely affect the development and differentiation of neurons in fetal brains in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

In the current study, Saleh Naser, PhD and her team at UCF found that when neural stem cells were exposed to high levels of PPA, the neurons incurred multiple changes resulting in cellular damage and inflammation. One of the major effects of PPA they noted was the overproduction of glial cells , the protective outer cells making up the sheath covering neurons, with a corresponding reduction in the number of neurons themselves. An excess of glial cells may disrupt the connectivity between the neurons and induce inflammation, a common finding in the brains of children with ASD.

While prior studies have suggested the role of genetic factors and environmental influence in ASD, this study, according to the authors, is the first to note a molecular link from elevated levels of PPA, overproduction of glial cells, disruption of neural connections and autism.” -  

Robert Glatter, MD

The study goes on to link the gut

microbiome found in these patients fecal matter to intestinal issues common with Autism Patients which further links that the possible core of the development of brain diseases is simply by products of poor nutrition and the manipulation of our foods.  

Juice Cleanse

Everyone wants to try a Juice Cleanse and ends up starved & dehydrated. Here's a look at how I "Juice Cleanse" which includes eating. You won't be starved but instead fed full nutrition! Your times may vary and this is just a one day example of the structure of how I Cleanse! 

7am: 8 oz - coffee/tea/hot water mixed with Cinnamon, Turmeric and Honey (maple syrup)

#1 Anti Inflammatory Juice + Any Fruit 

1 pineapple

1 head of romaine

1 handful of spinach 

2 inches of turmeric root

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 

10am: #2 Skin & Digestion or any beet/carrot juice 

5 carrots

1 Beet

1 cucumber

1 lemon

1 green apple

Walk for 30 minutes or full work out

1 pm: Meal: Vegan Pho 

Vegan Broth Base: 

48 oz Low Sodium Vegetable Broth or Water

2 cups Chopped Celery

2 cups Chopped Carrots

2 cups Chopped Potatoes

2 cups Chopped Sweet Onion 

1 cup Chopped Parsley

1 tablespoon Black Pepper

1 tablespoon Thyme

2 tablespoons Organic Soy Sauce 

1 inch sliced Ginger Root 

1 inch sliced Turmeric Root

Sweat Veggies in 1 inch of Broth or Water until Carrots soften (10 minutes) then add remaining water/broth with spices and bring to a boil for 5 minutes then lower to a simmer for 15 minutes. 

Toppings: Mung Bean Vermicelli Glass Noodles, Organic Tempeh Cubed, Avocado and Pickled Ginger (make noodles in spectate pot then add to pho)

4pm #3 Clean Greens or any low sugar Greens juice 

1 head of Romaine

2 cups Spinach

1 apple

1 lemon

1 inch Ginger Root

6pm Snack: Brown Rice Veggie Sushi

8pm: # 4 Pure Greens or any low sugar Greens juice

1 head of Romaine

2 cups Spinach

2 cups Kale

1 cup Dandelion 

1 lemon

Please drink a minimum of 64 oz of water

*Please see a medical doctor before making major dietary changes and to make sure you are healthy enough to partake in a cleanse*

Each Juice has a purpose in my Cleanse! We have covered all of the nutrients, vitamins, minerals, essential Aminos, protein, carbohydrate and fat that your body requires to maintain perfect health. We have eliminated anything that could negatively affect the body to Cleanse. Any weight loss from this Cleanse will be actual weight and not water. You'll feel lighter and more energetic! 

Vegetable Layered Lasagna

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Vegetable Layered Lasagna

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4 Zucchini (cut into long strips)

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Fennel Mixture:

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1 Minced Fennel Bulb 

1 Avocado 

1 tsp Coconut Vinegar

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Tomato Mixture: 

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2 Diced Organic Tomatoes

2 cups Mashed Garbanzo Beans

2 tbsp Minced Garlic 

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Mix each mixture well

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In a glass baking dish put a layer of the tomato mixture then a layer of Zucchini then a layer of the fennel Mixture then Zucchini then the tomato mixture then Zucchini then top with the Fennel Mixture, Pine nuts and Fennel Sprigs

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Raw: Chill for 30 minutes then serve

Cooked: Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes

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Raw or cooked this gluten free, low carb and plant based Lasagna is satisfying, hearty and delicious!   

Autonomic Neuropathy

"Autonomic neuropathy is a group of symptoms that occur when there is damage to the nerves that manage every day body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bowel and bladder emptying, and digestion."
Most people with this are too embarrassed to talk about it. This morning as I try to get ready to go do my physical therapy, I am dripping sweat from pores I didn't even know existed. You could put a bucket under my arms and hear a constant flow of droplets. There is nothing I can do but sweat it out. My nerves are so badly damaged that they send false messages to my glands to sweat. Some nights it's only the back of my head is soaked and others I will sweat through both beds at my house and end up sweating it out on the couch. 
I've incorporated  a breathing technique before bed called 7-4-8 that I read about online and was told something similar by a friend. It's helps reduce the night sweats by 30%. Never did I think this would be something I would have to deal with. It's sucks and it's embarrassing but it's part of my recovery and who I am now. 
Today instead of letting the sweating bother me, I'm going to do my best at self led physical therapy and then top off my day, achieving my goal of walking down the isle sans assistance as a bridesmaid at my friends wedding.  It's not going to be the prettiest walk but it's going to be on someone's arm and not on my crutch.  I've worked so hard to be able to do this and I'm not going to let anything dull my sparkle. 





I guess the moral is to always look at the bright side and to take our victories where they come, no matter the size, it's still a win. 

4 Step Guideline to Physical Therapy

"My style is wild and you know that it still is

Disco bag schlepping and you're doing the bump

Shake your rump" - Beastie Boys

In the last few weeks I've been shakin' my rump and working very hard at reversing the muscle atrophy in my booty and my left leg from my hips surgeries and recovery over the last 4 years. Having my bones shaved twice in an 8 month time period added an extra hurdle to overcome. I have years of atrophy which starts at 2 weeks of inactivity plus 2 years of bone healing from each surgery date ahead of me. By systematically strengthening the muscles and being patient, I am starting to see improvements in the atrophied areas. I've used these 4 steps as a guideline to my physical therapy: 

1. Isometric exercises 

To improve circulation and increase strength in the atrophied muscle. Isometric exercises involve contracting the muscle for a few seconds at a time

2. Range of Motion:

Progressing to range of motion exercises that involve joint movement without adding resistance

3. Light resistance 

Progressing to light resistance such as small hand weights or resistance tubes in order to begin rebuilding your lost muscle mass. Adding resistance gradually to avoid injury or straining .

4. Increasing resistance:

Slowly progressing to adding more resistance, moderately,  include more heavier free weights and weight machines. Start including more functional movements into your exercise program. For example, squats and step-ups will to build up atrophied quadriceps muscles, as well as bicep curls and overhead presses to strengthen atrophied muscles in the upper body.

Recovering from an injury takes patience, time, proper physical therapy and nutrition. If you do the work, in time you will see the results and be able to come out of it even stronger and healthier! 

#booty #shakeyourrump #workout #fitness #healing #recovery #bonehealth #resistancetraining #strengthtraining #physicaltherapy #patience #time #holistichealth #holisticnutrition #holistichealing #werk #🍑#longhair #messyhairdontcare #rawearthmedicine

East Meets West creates Raw Earth Medicine

The hardest part of being holistic is finding a balance between Eastern & Western Medicine.  You have to be able to put your ego aside & objectively look at each situation & do what is best for the body so you can live in optimum health.  

Much like the decision to vaccinate your child, you have to look at each illness you face & evaluate if you need Western Medicine or if there is a holistic approach. Knowing that I can’t holistically fight Polio, I vaccinated my child against it.  My goal is to use as few pharmaceuticals as possible but to know when the holistic approach needs to reach for the hand of Western Medicine.

As long as I do my share to try to prevent illness/disease and don’t abuse Western Medicine then I feel okay using it when I see fit.  I don’t reach for an Advil or pain pill for aches & pains because I know a holistic approach works better in longevity. I don’t use an Antibiotic every time I’m sick but I do know when to say when like when Bronchitis is moving it’s way to pneumonia, antibiotics are necessary because my eastern approach needs a hand. 

I think the issue facing and caused by Western Medicine is our abuse of it. Instead of living a healthy lifestyle & eating to prevent disease, most people live a lifestyle & eat a diet that causes disease; forcing Western Medicine to virtually keep them alive. Having to create pills to control cholesterol, blood pressure, circulation, blood sugar, erections, consistency of our blood along with surgeries to control weight, remove fat, unclog arteries and the list goes on and on. These all being things you can prevent & control holistically. 

My wish is for each person to do their share, create health in their lifestyle & within their body without abusing pills & surgeries, allowing Western Medicine to focus on research for the unknown instead of fixing mans created health epidemics.  The goal should be Raw Earth Medicine a balance between Eastern & Western Medicine, each holding tho others hand to keep you living a long healthy life! 

Digestive System Detox Juice

Detox Juice

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3 Apples

1 Beet

3 Carrots

1 Lemon

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Best cold pressed but still great for you in a smoothie! Digestive System Detox Juice is a wonderful blend of fruits and vegetables that help detox the body and push toxins out of the system. On days I drink detox Juice, I up my water consumption to give this juice a little help in flushing out my digestive system. .

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#happyday

Benefits of Ginseng

Ginseng is a big part of Chinese Medicine and Herbology, especially in places like Singapore. It's seems to be a staple in Asian Cultural Medicine! 

Here are 5 health benefits of Ginseng:

1. Energy 

A Mayo Clinic study revealed that ginseng showed good results in helping cancer patients with fatigue. Ginseng has long proven in Eastern Cultures to help with stimulating physical and mental activity among people who are weak and tired.

2. Cognitive function

Ginseng may improve thinking ability and cognition. Research conducted at the Medical School of Nantong University in China, held evidence that this was the case. JinSong Geng, M.D., said that given the results of the study "ginseng appears to have some beneficial effects on cognition, behavior and quality of life." 

3. Anti-inflammatory 

Ginseng has seven constituents, ginsenosides, which may have immune-suppressive effects, according to results of experiments which were published in the Journal of Translational Medicine. Allan Lau, who led the study, said that "the anti-inflammatory role of ginseng may be due to the combined effects of these ginsenosides, targeting different levels of immunological activity, and so contributing to the diverse actions of ginseng in humans". *

4. Cancer prevention: 

There may be substances in ginseng that have anticancer properties. A few population studies in Asia have linked the herb's consumption to a lower risk of cancer. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center researchers found that Ginseng improved survival and quality of life after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

5. Erectile dysfunction: 

A 2002 Korean study revealed that 60 percent of men who took ginseng noticed an improvement in their symptoms from Erectile dysfunction 

Ginseng has many benefits and can be taken in many different forms. You can cook with it or brew it as a tea. With so many different health benefits it should be added to your nutritional front line to prevent disease and help reduce the symptoms of many ailments! .

What you feed your children sets the foundation for their eating habits and health for their entire life

“What you feed your children sets the foundation for their eating habits and health for their entire life” - Amy Michelle 

I want to start by telling other mothers that my intention is not to make you feel judged or bad. My intention is to provide information about what diseases are linked to foods to enlighten & motivate you to read labels & make better choices to create healthy eating habits. I want people to live long healthy lives & never have to experience or witness someone die a horrific death because they ate foods that caused their disease.

With that being said, as I navigate through motherhood the trend that I notice is feeding children, for lack of better words, like they’re little idiots. Giving them anything of convenience, that they’ll eat. Anything that won’t cause a struggle or time. What parents seem to overlook is that children are born with a clean slate. What you offer them from the beginning is what is going to determine what they gravitate towards their entire life. If they never taste a processed food they will never have the pallet to eat that over a whole food. They will actually reject it.

Foods like Doritos, McDonalds and even cereals have additives, preservatives and chemicals designed to create a chemical reaction in the brain & on the pallet that enhances the taste of the food. This makes the brain think the food tastes incredible & gets the person high from eating it. When you feed your child this it sets an unrealistic foundation making wholesome natural foods taste bad because they aren’t enhanced to cause the mental high that processed foods do. The purpose of processing foods like this is to cause a mental

addiction to the high of eating the food.

These chemicals, pesticides & preservatives are linked to cancer, digestion issues, adhd, behavior issues, obesity & many other diseases. Feeding your children these foods not only sets them up with life long struggles with bad eating habits but a foundation for disease to develop in the body. Eating these foods 10 times isn’t going to cause toxic build up, but 10 years of it will.  Check out these charts that show you what to look out for & why! Let’s feed to succeed! 

Smokey Hummus

Smokey Hummus

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16oz Organic Garbanzo Beans 

4 oz  Aquafava 

3 tbsp Organic Tahini 

1 tbsp Liquid Smoke

1 tbsp Smoked Paprika

2 tbsp Minced Garlic

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Blend all ingredients in a food processor! Serve with pita, cucumbers and tomatoes. .

This delicious Smokey Hummus is oil free making it 2/3’s less fattening than your average Hummus. Using the aquafava instead of oil gives this Hummus the same smooth creamy texture without the unnecessary saturated fat in oil!  It’s also a great versatile base for plant based pasta sauces!  Nutritious and delicious!

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Serrano Margarita

A little holistic nutrition drinking tip: Avoid a hangover by staying hydrated. If you’re like me, drinking water while having cocktails usually eludes me so I add muddled cucumber or high water content fruits to my drinks to offset the dehydrating affect of alcohol!  Cheers! .

Serrano Margarita

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4 oz fresh lime juice 

4 oz Club Soda 

1.5 oz Tequila 

1 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice 

3 slices of Serrano Pepper 

1⁄4 cup Diced cucumber 

2 sprigs of cilantro or basil

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1. Muddle Cilantro/Basil, Cucumber, Serrano Pepper and Lime Juice. 

2. Add Lemon Juice, Tequila, Club Soda and Enjoy!

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Spicy and Delicious this margarita will spice up your festivities without the hangover. Adding cucumber increases the water content of the drink and the absence of added sugar helps make this drink less likely to give you a hangover, within reason of course!  Have 2 and you’ll feel divine but if you have 9 obviously the next day you won’t feel fine. Stay hydrated and drink responsibly! Cheers! 

Healthy Vegan Vs Unhealthy Vegan

RANT: Its been a mix of emotions as I watch the rise in plantbased restaurants and people opening their minds up to cutting out animal products from their diet! .

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It’s wonderful to see groups like @physicianscommittee who are doctors educating people about the negative affects of animal products on our health while giving great healthy plant based whole food recipes and meal plans. .

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Then there is the other side with @vegnews  @eatdrinkvegan @gmweho @thekindsage @vegfestla  boasting mostly fried, junky, sugary and overly processed foods as the prime example of vegan foods. These festivals and restaurants have only a few examples of whole natural unprocessed healthy plantbased options. .

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While I understand that there are people who are only vegan for the ethical treatment of animals but the animal they’re forgetting to care about is Humans. Eating fried, fatty and processed foods with chemicals in them is so harmful for our health and leads to so many diseases that being  plantbased should protect you from developing but instead they’re creating dishes just as bad as eating animal products. .

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I think it would be wonderful if there could be a balance between the two but it seems that most restaurants and festivals are more inclined to serve oily, fried, fatty and processed foods to appeal to the masses instead of creating vegan meals that are prepared in a healthy way for the ethical treatment of the human body!

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