Potato & Herb Salad

A lot of people these days are cautious about eating potatoes, fearing they are too high in carbohydrates, will slow down weight loss, or are too white in color to have any real nutritional benefits.

This is a misconception. Potatoes are an incredibly healthy food that offer us an abundance of benefits for healing. What we do need to be cautious of is what we choose to put on our potatoes. Typically potatoes are eaten with butter, heavy amounts of oil, topped with cheese, cream or bacon, or alongside a big piece of steak. This is where the problem and the confusion around potatoes stems from.

Potatoes are a nutritious, healthy food that are rich in vitamins A, C, & B-complex and minerals such as manganese, iron, magnesium, copper, and potassium. Potatoes contain an antioxidant called quercetin which has anti-cancer and cardio-protective properties as well as a storage protein called patatin which has been shown to exhibit activity against disease causing free radicals.

Potatoes are an excellent source of B6, a vitamin which is essential for the formation of almost every new cell in the body. Vitamin B6 also is a vital component for the neurological system and for the creation of amines which are neurotransmitters that send messages from one nerve to the next. This makes potatoes an important food for those who are heavy thinkers and those recovering from stress damage and adrenal exhaustion. They are also particularly beneficial for depression, insomnia, sleep disorders, brain fog, and stress related illnesses.

Potatoes are also known to be good for promoting cardiovascular health and are highly beneficial for reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis, and COPD. Potatoes themselves are virtually fat-free and packed with dietary fiber which helps to prevent constipation and protect the colon from polyps and cancer. Their high fiber content also helps to lower blood LDL cholesterol and keep blood sugar levels stable and within normal range.

Today's recipe gives you a simple but flavorful way to enjoy the subtleties of the flavor in steamed potatoes, along with fresh herbs, garlic, zingy lemon and an optional kick from the jalapeño and/or mustard powder.

This recipe is quick and easy to pull together and offers a satiating lunch, dinner or side dish paired with a crunchy green salad. It's also a wonderful choice to bring to gatherings and parties, and tastes wonderful the next day for an easy grab and eat meal of leftovers. Enjoy!

Potato & Herb Salad

Ingredients:
6 potatoes (red, blue, or yellow work great for this recipe)
1 teaspoon olive oil
juice of 1 lemon (or more as desired)
1 teaspoon lemon zest (or more as desired)
2 teaspoons raw honey
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 tbsp finely chopped chives
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup finely chopped dill
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
finely chopped jalapeño (optional)
pinch mustard powder (optional)

Directions:
1. Steam the potatoes until tender and they can be pierced with a fork without crumbling (approximately 30 minutes). Set aside to cool.
2. Prepare the rest of the ingredients.
3. Once the potatoes are cool, add the other ingredients into a big bowl with them, carefully tossing everything together. Taste and adjust lemon and seasoning as desired.

Enjoy this wonderfully easy, delicious and healthy dish!

Crimini mushrooms

Crimini mushrooms, also known as baby portobello mushrooms, are a medicinal powerhouse and contain several unique health promoting compounds. They are a good source of vitamins E, B12, and D and minerals such as zinc, selenium, iron, & calcium. Crimini mushrooms contain potent anti-cancer compounds such as conjugated-linoleic acid (CLA) that are specifically beneficial for breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers due to its ability to prevent high levels of estrogen from circulating within the body.

They also have powerful anti-inflammatory properties that can effectively regulate inflammation in the heart, joints, organs, and tissues making them especially good for those who suffer with arthritis, heart disease, asthma, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Crimini mushroom’s also contain an antioxidant compound called L-ergothioneine which is known to be incredibly important for cognitive function, eye health, reproductive health, and lung health.

Crimini mushrooms are also excellent for strengthening the immune system and can significantly lower the risk of colds, flu, ear infections, bronchitis, swollen glands, sore throats, and chronic infections. They have even been shown to slow down or prevent the onset of tumors in the body. Crimini mushrooms also contain tryptophan which effects serotonin levels in the body and is essential to stabilize mood swings and create a balanced sleep pattern.

Crimini mushroom’s are a delicious and healthy addition to the diet and can be enjoyed raw, steamed, sauteed, or roasted and can be added to salads, soups, and vegetable dishes. The medicinal properties of mushrooms can also be found in capsule, tincture, tea, and extract form online or at your local health food store.

Cardamom is a wonderful medicinal

Cardamom is a wonderful medicinal spice that has similar health properties as those of cinnamon and ginger. It is rich in minerals such as iron, manganese, calcium, and magnesium. It also contains antiseptic, anesthetic, antispasmodic, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Cardamom is an excellent spice for the respiratory system and works as a natural expectorant in relieving congestion and phlegm from the lungs and sinus passages.

Cardamom is also great for the digestive system and stimulates the appetite as well as ease gas, nausea, indigestion, and cramping. It also helps to kill off any food borne bacteria in the digestive tract which helps to protect against food poisoning and gastric distress. Cardamom pods contain a compound called limonene which is usually found in citrus peels and is known to dissolve cholesterol containing gallstones, relive heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), and prevent against breast, colon, liver, and stomach cancer.

Cardamom also contains several compounds that helps to prevent blood clots from forming in the blood stream, making is an important medicinal for those concerned with deep vein thrombosis, lupus, strokes, or pregnancy. It is also a highly beneficial spice for cardiomyopathy, fibromyalgia, vertigo, tinnitus, halitosis, asthma, urinary tract infections, and spasms or convulsions.

Cardamom works well as a diuretic and can reduce bloating, water retention, swelling, and edema. Cardamom pods can be chewed on in order to relieve tooth and gum pain and prevent infection. Cardamom is often used in sweet and savory dishes and can be prepared as a delicious, warming tea by placing 4 cardamom pods in 2 cups of water and simmer for 30 minutes, sweeten with raw honey if desired.

Cinnamon, ginger, or cloves can be added to the tea for additional health benefits. Cardamom can be found as whole pods or powdered online or at your local health food or grocery store.

Benefits of Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes promote productive bacteria in the stomach, small intestine, and colon, while at the same time, they starve out unproductive bacteria and fungi such as mold that are camping out there. By keeping these microbes at bay, sweet potatoes are standouts at enhancing the body’s production of B12. Also, sweet potatoes help prevent a condition called megacolon—that is, an expansion of the colon due to proliferation of C. difficile, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, E. coli, H. pylori, Chlamydia, and/or other bacteria. Plus, this superfood helps alleviate narrowing of the intestinal tract due to the chronic inflammation that’s so commonly diagnosed as Crohn’s or colitis.

Abundant in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are especially praised for being packed with carotenoids such as beta-carotene and lycopene, and rightfully so. These phytochemicals are extremely powerful. If you are fair and eat a sweet potato daily, before long you’ll see your skin take on a glow, as if it’s been sun-kissed. The lycopene, combined with sweet potatoes’ abundant amino acids, is a recipe for drawing radiation from the body. On top of which, the anti cancerous phytochemicals in sweet potatoes help protect you against skin cancers, breast cancer, reproductive cancers, stomach cancer, intestinal cancers, esophageal cancer, and rectal cancer.

Sweet potatoes are also phytoestrogenic and perform the vital function of ridding the body of unusable, destructive, cancer-causing estrogen that interferes with the body’s hormone function. These estrogens come from plastics, pharmaceuticals, food, and environmental toxins, as well as from the body producing an overabundance of the hormone (due to a diet high in estrogen-producing foods). Because it’s more than the body can use, this estrogen becomes inactive and builds up in the organs, negatively affecting the endocrine system. By purging this excess estrogen, sweet potatoes make room for healthier estrogens to take their place.

Sweet potatoes are also important for regulating hair growth; they stimulate it where needed and prohibit hair when it tries to grow in the wrong places, as in the condition hirsutism. If you struggle with insomnia or another sleeping disorder, sweet potatoes are very useful. They provide a critical form of glucose that stimulates the development of neurotransmitters such as glycine, dopamine, GABA, and serotonin, all of which aid in the ability to sleep soundly. Whether you like orange, yellow, white, pink, or purple sweet potatoes, eat up. Each type holds medicinal qualities that will power you through life.

Conditions

If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing sweet potatoes into your life:

Megacolon, hirsutism, colitis, Crohn’s disease, skin cancers, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, stomach cancer, intestinal cancers, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, sleep disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), heart disease, kidney disease, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), insomnia, alopecia, sunburn, Asperger’s syndrome, depression, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), psoriatic arthritis, epilepsy, hiatal hernia, adrenal fatigue, neuropathy, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, eczema, psoriasis, shingles, urinary tract infections (UTIs), chlamydia, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, scleroderma, lichen sclerosus, celiac disease, social anxiety disorder

Symptoms

If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing sweet potatoes into your life:

Dandruff, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues, diarrhea, anxiousness, intestinal tract discomfort, inflamed colon, colon spasms, heartburn, scar tissue, muscle cramps, muscle spasms, food sensitivities, heart palpitations, hot flashes, abdominal cramping, accelerated aging, brain lesions, colon spasms, depersonalization, digestive disturbances, abnormal Pap smear results, eye dryness, swelling, age spots, weight gain, scaly skin, intestinal polyps

Emotional Support

When you need some coddling, there’s nothing more comforting than a baked sweet potato. Unlike greasy, fried, or sugar-filled and processed “comfort” foods that leave you feeling bloated, lethargic, and more depressed, a sweet potato has properties that actually give you the sensation that the world around you has shut down. This is an important function that makes you feel safe and soothed, like you’re getting a hug even if no one’s there to give you one, so that you can draw up the strength to deal with hard times.

Spiritual Lesson

Have you ever baked a sweet potato and seen the natural sugars that bubble up and drip down the sides? A sweet potato in and of itself is as rich as anything you could ask for—and yet that doesn’t seem to be enough for us. Popular sweet potato recipes call for butter, cream, brown sugar, or marshmallows. Even though sweet potatoes are sweeter than sweet and already perfect, we adulterate them, obscure their natural qualities, and overindulge. Where in your life are you unnecessarily piling on the extra toppings? Sweet potatoes teach us to evaluate other circumstances where we’ve been handed a pure and complete gift, and out of fear or a lack of appreciation, we’ve felt like that wasn’t enough.

TIPS

* To reap sweet potatoes’ maximum benefits, try to eat one per day.

* If you crave a creamy accompaniment to your sweet potato, scoop out some fresh avocado and mash it in as though it were butter. After you’ve cooked a batch of sweet potatoes (steaming and baking are the healthiest preparations), set some aside to save for later in the fridge. Chopping them up and serving over salad helps your body absorb and assimilate more nutrients from leafy greens. And a few bites of sweet potato when you’re having trouble sleeping in the middle of the night will help you get some rest.

* Try rubbing a piece of raw sweet potato on a scar. It has medicinal qualities that stimulate healing and tone the skin to help reduce scar tissue.

* People often use cucumber slices to get rid of bags under the eyes. For variety, try cold slices of cooked sweet potato instead. This will infuse the under-eye tissue with beta-carotene, bringing back vitality to your appearance.

* When you’re dealing with sunburn, try eating sweet potato to recover faster.

* If you have a lot of internal scar tissue from past surgeries, try a routine of eating two sweet potatoes daily for one week, then one sweet potato daily for three weeks. Repeat every month until your condition improves.

* When you’re scheduled to see a movie you know will be scary or action-packed, eat a sweet potato beforehand. It will support your adrenals as you experience the excitement, fear, and adventure on-screen.

Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Braised Cabbage

A great dish for weekly dinners, the components of this dish can be made ahead of time and assembled just prior to serving. Bake sweet potatoes and cook the cabbage in advance and store them in the fridge for up to four days for a quick, easy dinner that takes minutes to prepare. For best results, make the sauce right before serving and ladle it piping hot over the stuffed sweet potatoes.

4 sweet potatoes
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 red cabbage, shredded
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 lemon

For Sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon raw honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

For Garnish:
4 tablespoons minced parsley

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake sweet potatoes on a baking sheet for 45 to 60 minutes, or until easily pierced with a fork. In a large pan, saute garlic and onions in 1 tablespoon of coconut oil over medium-high heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent and soft. Add the cabbage and sea salt, along with 1/2 cup of water. Cover and cook over medium heat for 30 to 40 minutes until the cabbage is tender, continuing to stir occasionally and adding a splash of water as needed to moisten. Split open sweet potatoes and mash each side slightly with a fork. Stuff as much braised cabbage into the openings as possible.

Make the sauce just before serving the sweet potatoes. (For 4 servings, double the ingredients for the sauce.) Add all the ingredients to a small pan. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it bubbles slightly. Continue stirring for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce is well combined and slightly thickened. Pour over the sweet potatoes, garnish with parsley, and enjoy!

Diabetes is Not an Issue 

It is widely held that the primary instigator of diabetes is sugar, which has led to recommendations to eat a low carbohydrate diet and avoid sugar at all costs, including fruit. Sugar and unhealthy carbohydrates from things like pastries, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, and candy are indeed bad for us and should be avoided. However, our bodies need healthy carbohydrates to function, which can be found in foods such as butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, lentils, black beans, berries, apples, and other fruits.

When we eat carbohydrates (regardless of the source), our body breaks them down into glucose (blood sugar), which becomes the fuel that keeps us going—and keeps us alive. When glucose levels rise, our pancreas secretes the hormone insulin. Insulin helps usher glucose out of the bloodstream and into our cells where it can be used for energy, and keeps our blood sugar levels stable. However, this process can go awry if the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin, or if some of your cells stop responding to insulin, which is called insulin resistance. In either case, blood sugar levels remain elevated, putting you at risk for type 2 diabetes.

The Role of Fat

Contrary to popular belief, one factor that is much more likely to put you at risk for insulin resistance and diabetes than healthy carbs such as those listed above is a high-fat diet. There are several reasons for this. First, high blood fat levels put a major strain on your liver, pancreas, and adrenal glands, which work together to manage your blood sugar levels. Your liver has to shoulder the burden of processing the fat you eat, so a high-fat diet can make the liver sluggish and unable to store and release glucose as it should. Excess fat burdens your pancreas because it needs to release enzymes to aid fat digestion.

Additionally, when blood fat levels are high, the adrenals flood the body with adrenaline. While this increases digestive strength to help move fat through your system, excess adrenaline can wear away at the pancreas, reducing its ability to produce enough insulin to keep your glucose levels in check. Lastly, high blood fat levels can prevent glucose from entering cells. This is not to say that all fat, even healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, and avocados, are bad for us and need to be completely eliminated.

Regardless of your chosen diet, fat intake just needs to be moderated to avoid excessively high blood fat levels when you are dealing with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. For instance, if you eat a vegan diet, reduce the amount of fat you take in from nuts, nut butters, seeds, oils, avocados, etc. If you are ovo-lacto vegetarian, cut back on eggs, dairy, nuts, seeds, oils, avocado, etc. If your diet includes animal protein, cut back to one serving of meat per day (even lean meats contain appreciable amounts of fat).

Scaling back on fat in this manner helps ease the burden on your pancreas, liver, and adrenal glands, which goes a long way toward preventing and/or healing from diabetes. If you opt to maintain a high-fat diet (which may normalize your A1C levels in the short-term), it becomes especially important to limit your carb intake, as a diet high in both fat and carbs will tax your bodily systems that much more. Ultimately, reducing dietary fat and including healthy carbs of the kind listed above will help give you the best shot at healing from diabetes and help keep your A1C levels in a healthy range on a more permanent basis.

The Role of Adrenaline

A precursor to type 2 diabetes is hypoglycemia (when glucose levels drop below normal), which is due to a stagnant, sluggish, overburdened, or weakened liver and dysfunctional adrenal glands. In fact, both type 2 diabetes and hypoglycemia typically begin with malfunctioning adrenals. When you experience chronic stress, for example, your adrenal glands secrete copious amounts of adrenaline, which is very damaging to the pancreas. Hypoglycemia can also occur if you don’t eat at least a light, balanced snack—e.g., a fruit (for sugar and potassium) and a vegetable (for sodium)—every two hours.

Skipping meals forces your body to use up your liver’s glucose storage, driving the body to run on adrenaline, which can damage your pancreas and lead to insulin resistance. Too little adrenaline can also impair your pancreas, as it forces it to work overtime to compensate. Adrenal fatigue, in which unstable adrenals alternate between producing too much and too little adrenaline, can also harm your pancreas as it tries to compensate for dry spells of adrenaline and then gets scorched by floods of it. (for more on adrenal fatigue, click here)

Healing Foods

In addition to scaling back fat intake, it is important to incorporate healthy carbohydrates into your diet. Healing carbohydrates such as squash, sweet potatoes, other root vegetables and fruit contain critical nutrients for optimal health, and when the natural sugars in these healthy carbs are bonded to these nutrients, it does not wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels the way processed sugar does.

Wild blueberries, papayas, blackberries, apples, and raspberries are top fruits to eat if you have type 2 diabetes or hypoglycemia. Vegetables to focus on include spinach, celery, sprouts, kale, and asparagus. These foods help detoxify the liver, strengthen glucose levels, support the pancreas, boost the adrenal glands, and stabilize insulin. To keep your blood fat in check, it is best to avoid cheese, milk, cream, butter, eggs, processed oils, and all sugars except for raw honey and fruit.

While these recommendations fly in the face of conventional strategies for preventing and managing type 2 diabetes, emphasizing nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables and reducing dietary fat eases the burden on your liver, pancreas, and adrenals, helping ensure that they can perform their duties, including keeping your blood sugar as stable as possible. Make friends with healthy carbs and fruit, curtail your fat intake, and reclaim the healthy life you are meant to live!

Heath Benefits of Gentian

Gentian is a medicinal herb that has long been used for its digestive and healing properties. Gentian has the ability to help stimulate gastric juices and ignite the metabolism which has made it a common natural treatment for anorexia, sluggish digestion, dyspepsia, flatulence, toxic bowels, weak appetite, gastritis, acidosis, bloating, and constipation.

It is also a powerful immune booster and has been shown to support the growth of leukocytes and red blood cells within the body which makes it a great herb for those experiencing colds, flu, sinus infections, or respiratory ailments. Gentian is also an excellent tonic for the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder and is known to be particularly beneficial for hepatitis, jaundice, pancreatitis, and gallstones. It is often recommended to help increase energy and vitality for those who are experiencing mental and physical exhaustion.

Gentian is also known to invigorate the circulatory system and help to build the blood after a chronic or long standing illness. Gentian is also a highly beneficial for sore throats, fevers, thrush, cardiovascular problems, arthritis, and chronic swelling and inflammation. Gentian is an anti-addiction herb and is often found in natural anti-smoking products.

Topically, gentian can be applied to wounds, ulcers, and abrasions for a faster healing response and to help clean and disinfect the wound. Gentian can be taken as a medicinal tea by simmering 2 tsp of dried root in 2 cups of water for twenty minutes. Allow to cool, strain, and sweeten with honey if desired. Sip 30 min-1hr before a meal for best results. Gentian can be found in tincture, extract, capsule, tea, and cream form online or at your local health food store.

Cold Pumpkin Pie

cold pumpkin pie smoothie is like drinking fall in a glass! Skip out on the processed holiday drinks and opt for this instead. You won’t be missing out at all. Top it with a dash of coconut cream to take this recipe over the top.

Pumpkin is packed with antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, beta-carotene, and zea-xanthin which can help prevent age-related macular disease. Pumpkin is also a rich source of B-vitamins such as folates, niacin, thiamin, and pantothenic acid and minerals like calcium, copper, potassium, and phosphorus.

Pumpkin also contains immune-boosting properties which can help the body stay strong and ward off common colds and flus that may be going around. Pumpkin is excellent way to replenish and restore the body after a workout as it is high in potassium which helps to restore the body’s balance of electrolytes after exercise and keeps muscles functioning at their best.

Ingredients:

2 frozen bananas
½ cup pumpkin puree
2 medjool dates
1 tablespoon maple syrup
½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice*
½ - 1 cup of water
¼ cup of coconut cream* (optional)

Directions:

1. Blend the bananas, pumpkin puree, dates, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice and ½ cup of water until smooth. Add more water if a thinner consistency is desired.

2. Top with the coconut cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. Enjoy.

Makes 1-2 servings

Notes:

* To make your own pumpkin pie spice mix together 3 tablespoons of cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of nutmeg, 2 tablespoons of ground ginger, and 1½ tablespoons of all spice.

* For the coconut cream, remove ¼ cup of the heavy top layer of cream from a can of separated coconut milk.

Spiced Apple Cider

Apple cider is a favorite beverage for many, and it's not hard to understand why. With the sweet, familiar flavor of apples and delicious, warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, apple cider brings comfort in a cup.

Apple cider is a great digestive aid and is very soothing to the digestive tract sipped before or after a meal. It also helps to reduce stress damage and keep the body energized and active. Cloves and ginger are especially good for warding off respiratory ailments and any cold or flu symptoms. They also helper relieve headaches, nausea, muscle spasms, tension, & nerve pain. Cinnamon is very good for reducing inflammation in the body making it helpful for people with autoimmune disorders such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Cinnamon also has the amazing ability to stop yeast infections, candida, and menstrual cramps. Star anise is highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism, back pain, shingles, herpes, halitosis, and sinus infections. It is also commonly used as a digestive aid and can help to relieve gas, constipation, cramping, bloating, heartburn, and indigestion.

Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients:
8 cups apple cider/juice (make or buy organic if possible)
4 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1/3 tsp ground nutmeg
1 star anise
1 inch piece fresh ginger
1 orange, cut into slices
1/4 cup cranberries

Directions:
Simmer the cider, whole cloves, ginger, nutmeg, star anise, and orange slices in a pot for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain the cider, top with fresh orange & apple slices & cranberries and serve to enjoy.

Once made, the spiced apple cider can also be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week and served cold, if desired.

Benefits of kale salad 

As far as salads go, this kale salad is a hearty one that will definitely fill you up. It only gets better the next day, so make a double batch and keep half in the fridge for an on the go lunch! Also, don't be afraid to get your hands in there and really massage that kale. You'll be amazed how tender and delicious it becomes!

Kale is a nutritionally packed and contains incredible healing and rejuvenating properties. Kale is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, chlorophyll, amino acids, vitamins A, C, E, K, B-complex and minerals such as iron, magnesium, copper, and potassium. Kale is an anti-cancer powerhouse and contains phytochemicals such as glucosinolates that help protect the body from breast, colon, prostate, ovarian, and bladder cancer.

Kale also contains an exceptionally high amount of antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids which are essential for protecting the body from degenerative diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, prostatitis, osteoporosis, and neurological disorders.

Kale contains an organic sulfur which has potent antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that work to boost to the immune system and provide significant benefits for chronic inflammation and oxidative stress seen in conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, COPD, and irritable bowel disease.

Ingredients:
2 heads of kale
1 cup cabbage, finely shredded
4 green onion stems, chopped
1 cup cranberries (fresh or dried)
¼ cup cilantro
2 tbsp sunflower seeds
2 tbsp almond butter
1 date
1 garlic clove
1 quarter-sized slice of ginger
½ lemon, juiced
1/4 cup water

Directions:
To make almond butter sauce, blend almond butter, water, date, garlic, ginger, lemon juice and cilantro until smooth.

Remove stems from kale and chop finely. Place into a large bowl. Massage dressing into the kale until kale softens and reduces. Toss with cabbage, green onion, cranberries, and sunflower seeds. Keeps well in the fridge for up to three days.

Heath Benefits of Rosemary

Rosemary has had the reputation for miracles for thousands of years. It has been used as an antiseptic, antidepressant, analgesic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant, aphrodisiac, and expectorant. Rosemary has earned praise for alleviating nerve-related conditions, boosting the immune system, fighting off bacterial and viral infections, aiding respiratory ailments, strengthening digestion and improving circulation.

Rosemary contains both caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid which act as a powerful anti-inflammatory making it ideal for those who suffer with auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. It also contains properties and volatile oils that work similarly to anti-histamines and make it very useful to treat conditions such as asthma and chronic migraines.

Rosemary’s diuretic properties have been known to help relieve gout, edema, and kidney stones. Rosemary has the ability to stimulate memory, improve concentration, and help overcome mental fatigue by increasing the blood flow to the head and brain. It is also known to alleviate depression and sadness and can decrease anxiety brought on by stress. Rosemary oil is often added to hair and skin care products due to its ability to cleanse and nourish the scalp and heal and repair the skin.

Essential oil of rosemary can also be used through a steam vaporizer to disinfect the air in your home &/or office which is especially beneficial during cold and flu season. Fresh or dried rosemary can also be taken as a tea, supplement, or simply added to fresh guacamole, salads, soups, or any of your home cooked meals. It is a potent and effective herb that can provide a myriad of health benefits.

Ginger water

Ginger water is helpful in aiding in digestion and assimilation and is widely regarded to help prevent colds, flu, motion sickness, and vertigo. Ginger water can also help to alleviate menstrual cramps, nausea, heart burn, migraines, sore throats, exhaustion, fatigue, and constipation and it is great in providing relief from the stomach flu and food poisoning.

It also contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols and is a powerful painkiller which makes it especially beneficial for those who suffer with joint, muscle, and nerve pain. Ginger water has incredible immune-boosting and germ fighting abilities and has even been shown to help provide protection and relief from E.coli, Staph infections, and Candida albicans.

Ginger Water

Ingredients
1-2 inches of fresh ginger root
2-3 cups of water
1/2 lemon
raw honey

Preparation
Grate the 1-2 inch piece of ginger root. Add 2-3 cups of water and a squeeze of lemon. Sweeten with raw honey. Strain, and enjoy warm or cold. Sip this throughout the day for its powerful protective properties against illness.

Nutritious vegetables, herbs, & spices

Healing Broth is a powerful mineral-rich liquid that carries the essence of vitally nutritious vegetables, herbs, & spices in a way that is easy for the body to digest, assimilate, and utilize. You will find this recipe as comforting as it is nourishing. The ingredients of this simple recipe help to provide tremendous healing benefits to both the body and soul.

Carrots help to lower blood pressure, reduce edema, relax muscles, steady nerves, and balance cognitive function. Onions & garlic have powerful antiviral & antibiotic properties and can help eliminate heavy metals and parasites from the body.

Parsley & shiitake mushrooms contain an excellent bioavailable form of iron which helps to keep your blood strong and prevent anemia and are also rich in zinc which is highly beneficial for treating viral issues and strengthening the immune system. Ginger & turmeric root helps reduce inflammation and improve liver function and aids in keeps your hair growing strong and skin healthy and vibrant.

This incredibly healing broth can be made in advance & stored in the fridge. Simply heat up only what you need and place in a thermal mug for warm sipping throughout the day. This broth has the miraculous ability to be both healing, cleansing, and nourishing all at the same time and is a wonderful addition to any health regime.

Healing Broth

Ingredients
4 carrots, chopped or 1 sweet potato, cubed
2 stalks of celery, roughly chopped
2 onions, sliced
1 cup parsley, finely chopped
1 cup of shiitake mushrooms, fresh or dried
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 bulb of garlic (about 6-8 cloves), minced
1 inch of fresh ginger root
1 inch of fresh turmeric root
8 cups of water
Optional: Chili peppers or red pepper flakes

Preparation
Place all the ingredients in a pot and bring to a gentle boil. Turn heat down to low and allow to simmer for about an hour. Strain and sip for a mineral rich, healing and restorative broth.

Horsetail, also known as shavegrass

Horsetail, also known as shavegrass, is a wonderful medicinal herb that grows wild throughout much of the world. It is packed with vitamin C & B-complex as well as minerals such as silica, calcium, magnesium, iron, and manganese. Horsetail contains powerful antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and astringent properties that are known to benefit multiple health concerns.

It is excellent for strengthening brittle bones, teeth, hair, and nails and it can improve bone density, enhance bone flexibility, and heal fractured bones, pulled hamstrings, and dislocated joints. It has also been shown to aid those with type 2 diabetes by significantly lowering their blood glucose levels within 1.5-2 hours. Horsetail contains natural diuretic properties that can reduce edema, bloat, swelling, water retention, and kidney stones.

It is a great source of silica which has been shown to strengthen the connective tissues of the brain, nerve cells, and spinal cord thereby improving memory and helping to prevent memory loss. Horsetail has also been shown to be effective against incontinence, bladder weakness, and urinary tract infections.

It is also well known for its anti-aging, anti-wrinkle properties due to its ability to help form collagen and repair damaged skin to produce a more youthful glow. Horsetail is commonly used as a mouthwash as a natural remedy for tonsillitis, gingivitis, canker sores, and bleeding gums. It also works incredibly well to help heal foot infections such as athlete’s foot and to help treat frostbite, boils, carbuncles, cracked and blistered feet.

Horsetail tea is a delicious medicinal tea that can be made by adding 2 teaspoons of dried herb to 1 cup of boiling water and allowed to steep for at least 15 minutes or more. This tea can also be cooled and then soaked with a cloth and applied to skin for a gentle and effective compress or used as a hair rinse, mouthwash, or foot soak

Never underestimate the power of an apple. 

This fruit’s anti-inflammatory properties make it a top pick when you’re faced with practically any illness. Encephalitis (brain inflammation), IBS (intestinal inflammation), and viral infection (which can result in nerve inflammation) are just a few conditions in which apples can play the critical nutritional role of calming your system by reducing viral and bacterial loads that create inflammation.

The phytochemicals in apples make them a true brain food, feeding neurons and increasing electrical activity. Apples with red skin contain anthocyanins and even traces of malvidin (a type of anthocyanidin), which are partially responsible for the red color. These pigments have anti-obesity properties and compounds that increase digestive strength, encouraging weight loss. Apples also have traces of flavonoids, rutin, and quercidin—phytochemicals that are responsible for heavy metal and radiation detoxification—as well as the amino acids glutamine and serine, which help detoxify the brain of MSG. This fruit helps cleanse and purify the organs, improve circulation in your lymphatic system, repair damaged skin, and regulate blood sugar.

Apples are the ultimate colon cleanser. As the pectin from an apple moves through your gut, it collects and rids your body of microbes such as bacteria, viruses, yeast, and mold. It also gathers and expels putrefied, impacted protein and debris that’s been hiding in intestinal pockets and feeding colonies of harmful bacteria such as E. coli and C. difficile. This makes apples an excellent antiproliferative for healing SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and other digestive disorders.

Apples are also hydrating on a deep, cellular level. They provide precious trace minerals such as manganese and molybdenum, as well as electrolytes and critical mineral salts that help the body rehydrate after exercise or stress of any kind.

Conditions

If you have any of the following conditions, try bringing apples into your life:

Kidney disease, liver disease, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis (MS), thyroid disease, hypoglycemia, diabetes, transient ischemic attack (TIA), urinary tract infections (UTIs), adrenal fatigue, migraines, shingles, mold exposure, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), osteomyelitis, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), acne, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Lyme disease, obesity, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), anxiety, tinnitus, viral infection, vertigoSymptoms

If you have any of the following symptoms, try bringing apples into your life:

Ringing or buzzing in the ears, diabetic neuropathy, dizzy spells, room spins, balance and equilibrium issues, heart palpitations, acid reflux, hypoglycemia and other blood sugar imbalances, mineral deficiencies, body odor, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, rib pain, fatigue, bloating, gas, constipation, nervousness, anxiousness, frozen shoulder, weight gain, back pain, blurry eyes, brain fog, body pain, confusion, ear pain, body stiffness, brain inflammation, dandruff, menopause symptoms

Emotional Support

The apple is an ancient food that brings us back to the source. It is one of the very first foods to have comforted us, and so apples connect us to a sense of sanctuary. This makes them ideal for when you’re feeling depressed, alienated, invalid, powerless, useless, worthless—you get the idea. If the time ever comes when you feel you aren’t being validated, eating apples can help change your course.

Apples open up a part of you and change the energy within and around you to attract happier and brighter things. They can bring back your vibrancy, elevate you, lighten your spirit, and make you more energetic. This is because for thousands of years, we’ve stored apples to get us through the winter months. The fruit is a ray of hope that puts us in touch with the good life. It’s instilled in our bodies that when the outside world seems bleak, an apple can reconnect us to life, rebirth, sunlight, and summertime.

Spiritual Lesson

Apples teach us not to get burned by the frost of insensitivity from others. Unlike crops that risk damage from autumn temperatures, many apple varieties continue to grow and ripen through the cooler months, protected by their frost-resistant skin. When a cold front from a friend, lover, or colleague comes upon you, take heed from the apple and draw a protective shield around yourself until conditions improve.

Tips

* Red-skinned apples with the most color are best.

* Try eating three apples a day. If you commit to this routine, you could see your health improve in unexpected ways.

* At least once a year, go to an organic orchard that allows you to pick apples yourself. As I discussed in further detail in my first book, the skin of fresh, unwashed, pesticide- and wax-free produce contains elevated microorganisms that are critical to the health of your gut and immune system. The act of picking fruit is also one of the most powerful, grounding meditations that exists.

RECIPE

Apples with Caramel Dip

This is the perfect snack to have waiting when your kids get home from school: crispy apple slices laid out alongside a gooey caramel dipping sauce. You may want to double the recipe, because this dish will disappear before you know it.

1 large apple, sliced
6 dates, pitted
¼ teaspoon cinnamon

Arrange the apple slices on a plate. Blend the dates and the cinnamon with a splash of water until combined. (If working with dry, firm dates, soak them in water for 2 hours beforehand until they are softened.) Spoon the mixture into a serving cup alongside the apple slices.