By now you have probably heard about soursop tea and the many health benefits it possesses. There are different instructions out there on how to make this tea, but in our opinion there is one way to make this tea, so you can fully reap all of the health benefits. So, keep reading to learn about the benefits of soursop tea / how to make soursop tea.
What is Soursop Tea?
If you haven’t already come across this fruit, then you should know that soursop is one of the latest fruits gaining popularity when it comes to health food craze. To be exact, Soursop Graviola….
The soursop fruit is a unique fruit in every way imaginable, from its outer appearance (spikey look, no worries they are not thorn sharp), to it compartmentalize, cream colored fleshy membranes that house large, dark, brown seeds …this fruit is indeed a unique sight to behold.
Soursop is also known as Guanabana in some areas of the world (i.e. Spanish speaking countries, Central America, parts of south America, some African countries, etc.). You may also encounter this fruit under the name of Graviola in various parts of the world.
But when it comes to making soursop tea, the fruit has nothing to do with the tea making process, instead, the leaves are used.
You can choose to use fresh leaves or dried leaves. We say fresh is always best, so if you can get your hands on some fresh soursop leaves, the better. Otherwise, sun, oven, or dehydrator dried leaves will do.
Benefits of Soursop Tea
There are so many benefits to soursop tea, but we will quickly go over the main ones.
Detoxifying:
Soursop tea is great to use short term, to help detoxify the body.
It’s capability to kill parasites help in aid the body in detoxifying.
Healing:
Soursop tea is great for healing the body and helping detoxify. This tea is so phenomenal at cleaning out the body that it has been purported to be a cancer killer, by reducing and in some cases eliminating cancerous cells in the body.
These cancerous cells can be a result of free radicals causing damage to healthy cells resulting various forms of disease, one of which can be cancer due to cellular mutations going out of control. If the body is unable to correct the issue and rid itself of the growing mutations, then cancerous growths or masses are found.
By including soursop tea in you health regimen, say once or twice a month, you can reduce or eliminate any present free radicals. But do be aware of your body and note any side effects, since there can be some adverse reactions.
Some side effects include low blood pressure (so avoid if you suffer from this issue already). Tremors, nerve damage, Parkinson-like symptoms are some of the side effects that can present themselves if used for an extended amount of time, so use discreetly, over the course of time and discontinue use if any unpleasant reactions occur. Typically, once or twice a month for 2-3 months at time should suffice, especially so if you are drinking it as a precautionary measure or to help with detoxifying the body. Just be sure take a break for at least a month or 2 before resuming.
Also, make sure to consult with your primary physician, preferably a holistic doctor to determine whether this would be right for you, especially, if you are using this tea to treat a disease or condition. And also speak with your physician to determine whether it might pose an issue for you if you are on any medications.
Pain Relief:
This tea helps with pain relief and has an added bonus of soothing the stomach. So forgot the over the counter drugs and give this tea a try.
Inflammation Reduction:
This tea can provide relief for those who suffer from joint pain or inflammation in the body, so this will be worth looking into if you have issues with inflammation.
How to Make Soursop Tea
Knowing how to make soursop tea will help you get as much of the benefits you can possibly get whether you are using fresh or dried leaves.
To start, you will need to prep your leaves – wash them well & set them aside. If you are using dried leaves, you may want to presoak them in warm water after washing them…but this is entirely optional.
We suggest brewing the leaves using 15 or so leaves (if using small to medium sized leaves) for each 40 oz (5 cups or 1,100 ML) of water boiled. You will only need 10 or so leaves, if you are using large leaves to brew 40 oz of tea.
Tip: The best way to get all the rewarding benefits of drinking soursop tea is to use distilled water and bring it to a boil. For best results, tear up your soursop leaves prior to adding them to your boiled water.
Best Way to Make Soursop Tea
Once your water reaches its boiling point, lower the heat and add your leaves directly to the boiled water and let it steep awhile on low for 20 to 25 minutes later, then turn off your heat source.
You want all the leaves to come in contact with the water to get better steeping out of the leaves. So no need to use a tea ball, or tea leaf strainer during the brewing process.
Let the leaves steep for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour if you want it the same day. But we find it best to leave it overnight to steep.
You will see a change in color of tea (it will get darker), there will also be a stronger flavor, and the volatile oils from the leaves will be floating on the surface of the water. Pour this into your cup, carefully not to have get any leaves in there.
Next, strain your tea. You can drink your cup as is or lightly reheat on low until warmed, then enjoy with or without sweetening.
If you are not a fan of the taste, it is less noticeable when drinking the tea cold, so you can try that, as well as, adding in some honey, pure 100% agave syrup, monkfruit sugar or any natural sweetener of your choice.
Note: Be sure to refrigerate what’s left of your tea and drink it within 7 days!
PiP Cooking
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Pot in pot cooking, otherwise, known as PIP cooking is a great alternative to clay pot cooking and without the fuss of maintaining a clay cooking vessel. PIP ensures that nutrients are locked into the food due the method of cooking that it involves, i.e. a sealed vessel, pot, or bowl within a pot. This creates a good amount of pressure and helps not only your food to cook faster, but locks in the nutrients. To put it simply, PIP Cooking is pressurized cooking at its finest (and you don’t need an instant pot to do it…any pot, dutch oven or pressure cooker will do).
One of the Best Stovetop Pressure Cooker for the Job
When it comes to stovetop pressure cookers, the Viking Stovetop Pressure Cooker, is one of the best stovetop pressure cooker for the job. No need to worry about using electricity or having your pressure cooker tethered to one place or touch pads or buttons failing. Or better yet, getting an error message rendering your electric pressure cooker useless.
A stovetop pressure cooker certainly has the most pros than cons when it comes to electric versus stovetop pressure cookers. Not mention it simply cooks way faster and if you like searing your meat and not wanting to use a different pan or pot to do so, then stovetop pressure cooking is the way to go. Plus it simplifies one pot cooking and ensures simpler and faster meal preps.
The Viking Stovetop Pressure Cooker is our prime choice for stovetop pressure cooking and we are loving all the meals we dole out with this bad boy (check out our video below, it’s not PIP cooking, but just an example of the type of meals you can create with this pressure cooker). Check out the video below for more details on our impression of this pressure cooker and check out our youtube channel or homepage for more videos using this cooking vessel. This pressure cooker made it easy to sear meat and get it to the perfect golden sear, locking in moisture and flavor which was further amplified by the cooking process.
One of the Best Electric Powered Pressure Cooker
In our book, this is one of the best electric pressure cookers out there and it has plenty of alluring features, that come quite close to the bells and whistles that the instant pot offers. If you were in search of an electric pressure cooker instead of a stovetop pressure cooker, then by all means, consider the Mueller line of pressure cookers. In particularly, the one pictured below. It is affordable and has plenty of features that are sure to please.
What Do You Need for PiP Cooking?
A big enough pot will do, but you get the best results with a pressure cooker. Now of course, water is needed to prevent any scotching of you main cooking vessel. So simply fill the main cooking vessel with enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, but low enough to not immerse the bottom of your inner pot in water. A little under a cup of water will be plenty to create enough steam.
Next place your trivet, stand, or steamer rack into your cooking pot or pressure cooker, then place the inner pot onto that stand and start the cooking process. Please note that there is NO need for water in this vessel (the inner pot) – the water and surrounding cooking pot acts as a moisture infuser and an insulation, respectively, and will cook the food to your required doneness.
The level of heat used typically depends on whether you are using open flame/ gas, induction, or ceramic stovetop. If you are using an electronic cooking vessel, then settings and heat achievable will vary. Note: please remember to reference your manufacturer’s manual when using any of the aforementioned cooking devices for appropriate use and cooking time information.
Perks of Cooking Using the PIP Method with a Pressure Cooker
Even though this method gained traction from the Instant Pot craze, it is a method that has been around for quite some time and is a great way to save time when it comes to cooking.
One of the major perks of cooking using the PIP method is that nutrients are sealed or locked into foods due to the pressurized cooking method. And the added method of using an inner pot further increases the effectiveness of locking in those nutrients.
Also, cooking time is even faster, because the effect is like an oven and a steam bath combined. This increases the cooking temperature rapidly, ensuring meals get cooked much quicker.
Since this method is much like using an oven, it can be used as a substitute oven for baking food on the stovetop or countertop if you are using an electric pot or pressurized pot like the Instant Pot, for example.
A wonderful and fantastic reason for using the PIP method with your pressure cooker is that this method of cooking is a great way of reheating foods, especially if you choose not to use a microwave.
Steaming vegetables and other foods are best done this way as well, since there is less nutrients lost when food is steamed in a pressurized vessel, as opossed to a regular ‘ole pot.
Another perks of cooking using the PIP Method with a pressure cooker is that you have the option of making more than one meal all at the same time and in the same pot – one pot meals without having to limit yourself to just one meal…literally.
One more perk of using pot in pot cooking method is that you don’t have to worry about cleaning your pressure cooker, especially if you have an industrial or commercial sized pressure cooker, i.e. less of a hassle cleaning up.
Summary
We hope our quick rendition of pot in pot cooking helps you better understand this method of cooking and consider using it in your everyday cooking ventures or at least on a weekly basis, it truly is a time saver and you will not regret it. Do keep in mind, that you can use this method without a pressure cooker, so do sweat it if you have not venture down the road of pressure cooking – you will just need a little patience and some finessing to make it work as best as possible, hint – use a dutch oven or a tri-ply pot. If you have a favorite pressure cooker you like to use or will simply like to let us know your preference for pressure cookers – stovetop versus electric – be sure to let us know in comments section below.
Best Fruits to Eat When on A Diet
So there are limited choices when you are on a diet and although we are proponents for eating an overall balanced and healthy meal as opposed to following the newest and latest diet trends, we know that we have some inquiring subscribers who would like to know what fruits are best for aiding their diet and weight loss journey. Do keep in mind though that most of these fruits work best fresh and their sugar content is all the sugar you need – it is natural and unprocessed sugar that is easier for the body to process.
1. Citruses
Yes, old faithful – lemon, limes, grapefruits are some of the best citrus fruits you can use to aid in flushing out your system and helping reduce weight. Oranges are also great and can help give a little sweetness to lemon, lime flavored water and or drinks. Just be sure to use fresh, organic fruits, and skip the sugar.
2. Bananas
This fruit is satisfying and can help curb hunger and cravings for sugar. This fruit is chuck full of minerals and vitamins that are highly beneficial to the body and its various functions. But for the purpose of weight loss, they are highly beneficial and can help speed up the weight loss process.
Bananas help reduce appetite and have enough fiber content to help you feel full for a long time, as well as, help get things moving through the digestive system.
An added benefit of eating bananas is that it can provide a much needed boost in energy to help your carry on about your day or give you a nice jolt of energy to make that daily workout possible.
3. Apples
Apples are great all around and when organic, even better. This fruit is great for more than just keeping the dentist away. It provides many health benefits like boosting metabolism of the body, detoxifying the body, and promoting food bacteria flora in the digestive system to aid in efficient digestion and proper elimination of waste.
Apples not only help promote digestion, but can also help reduce overeating by helping you feel fuller for a good amount of time. So they can certainly help when it comes to dietary changes in order to lose weight.
4. Soursop
If you are fortunate enough to live somewhere where you can find an abundance of this fruit fresh, then by all means make every effort to include this fruit in your diet as well. This fruit is a fantastic addition to one’s diet and helps in cleaning the digestive tract and body of parasites and this in itself is highly beneficial when starting or embarking on a diet plan or dietary change.
Also known as guanabana, this fruit is an exotic fruit that boasts many helpful and healing properties among which is the reduction of cancer risks and helping in speeding up recovery of respiratory issues.
Guanabana, Soursop, or Graviola; whichever name you prefer to use…has so many uses that can prove very helpful over the course of a lifetime, so don’t overlook this one – leaves, fruit, and even the seeds have been said to be very, very useful.
5. Figs
This is a great fruit to include when on a diet, even though it tends to be a bit too sweet, it is fantastic for getting the bowels moving and ridding the body of toxic waste.
This is one of a few fruits mentioned in the Bible and well, when something is mentioned in the Bible it is often of great importance and benefit to our overall health, so it is certainly worth including in the rotation of fruits we often enjoy.
6. Guava
This is another exotic fruit that much like the soursop, you may be hard pressed to find, and once more if you are blessed to live where this fruit grows in abundance, then by all means, make use of that privilege and add it to your meal choices.
This fruits is highly nutritious and great for overall health and digestion. It provides a nice boost in energy and gives the body a great dose of antioxidants that in turn help keep the body healthy.
This fruit also satiates hunger and provides the body with lots of nutrients and gives a heap of fiber to get things moving through your bowels.
Eating this fruit can also help regulate metabolism which can prove highly beneficial to those who are looking to lose weight. This fruit is so beneficial and it doesn’t just stop with the fruit – the leaves are also wonderful and healing and are certainly worth using if you like drinking tea, but that is a whole other article on its own.
7. Mangoes
Mangoes are a fantastic fruit to include in your diet and will certainly help curb hunger cravings and while providing your body with much need vitamins and minerals and the added bonus of fiber. This seasonal, tropical fruit is absolutely delicious and can be added to smoothies and various exotic dishes/meals.
We chose mangoes to add to the list of fruits best eaten when on a diet because of the satisfaction it gives, even though it may be used in combination with other fruits and ingredients to help with gaining weight. To counteract any possibilities of it helping pack on the pounds we highly recommend eating this, as well as, almost all fruits on an empty stomach that way digestion takes place faster and you are able to benefit the most from the fruits can provide.
Check out this highly detailed article on mangoes if you would like to learn more about this fruit and it rich abundance of nutrients. You just can’t go wrong with this fruit.
8. Avocados
Avocados have been increasingly popular over the past few years and rightfully so…with just enough fats (the good kind), to keep your hunger pangs at bay, this fruit is certainly a must when it comes to maintaining the course of your diet. However, as with most fruits and especially so fruits that supply fats (even though it is the good kind of fats), we recommend eating this fruit on an empty stomach as well, as it will provide the most benefit.
This fruit is loaded with plenty of nutrients and comes in many varieties that can each be appreciated for their unique flavors. Also, known as “alligator pears” mainly due to their shape and rough, bumpy skin, avocado have come to be a delight to many when added to soups, dips, and enjoyed much like butter on some toast. The creamy, smooth, and buttery texture of the flesh of the avocado makes it a great addition to a variety of cultural dishes that will leave your taste buds delightfully satisfied.
9. Pineapples
Pineapples are a wonderful, delicious, and refreshing fruit to include in one’s diet. They are great in smoothies, water and other beverages and can provide the body with plenty of nutrients. Whether you use them in yogurt, salads, or your morning smoothies, this fruit has many benefits from weight loss to helping with digestion. Just be sure to consume this fruit in moderation, especially if you are on medications to avoid any adverse effects.
10. Berries
There is an array of berries that can eaten when on a diet and they boast a considerable amount of antioxidants that are incredibly healing for the body. Unfortunately, there are berries that have earned a place on the dirty dozen list of fruits (for instance strawberries), but if you can grow them organically or purchase from a trusted farmer at your local farmers market, then that would be optimal.
These are great in smoothies, salads, milkshakes, and various other healthy dishes. With so many options to choose from (raspberries, strawberries, goji berries, blueberries, mulberries, etc.), you won’t get bored with the endless combinations you can come up with on a daily or weekly basis.
Conclusion
We hope these and more fruits will make their way into your dietary plans and become a part of your everyday eating to help boost your health in the right direction and provide you with much needed supply of nutrients. When it comes to food, let it be natural and organic and it will be your medicine and much more. If there are any fruits that you enjoy in your part of the world, that you would like to share, as highly beneficial for diets, be sure to include a comment in the comments section below, we would love to hear from you.
Best Alkaline Water
Water is great for the body, but alkaline water is even better. We have sampled several brands and found the best alkaline water out there. It tastes pure and the way water was intended to taste. Keep on reading to find out more about our top pick when it comes to alkaline water.
What to Look for When It Comes to Alkaline Water
Alkaline water is water that has been purified and treated to adjust the pH to a higher pH. The high pH level make it a great addition to any diet, because helps keep the body alkaline; however, there are many other factors that play into maintaining the alkalinity in the body.
When it comes to alkaline water the pH range should be at least an 8, preferably a 9. The more alkaline or higher the pH is (i.e. greater than 7) the better.
Essentia water provides a great alkaline pH, at a pH of 9.5. It is also free of chlorine and fluoride and is neatly packaged in a BPA free bottle. The water packaged by Essentia is purified by reverse osmosis and adjusted for pH and electrolytes added.
Why Choose Alkaline Water Over Regular Water
Regular water is usually at a neutral pH and is typically at pH 7, unless, you have hard water, then the hard water ions can cause pH to vary and be on the lower end of the pH scale, below pH 7. So, as far as pH is concerned, anything below pH 7 is considered acidic and anything above pH 7 is considered basic or alkaline.
What are the Health Benefits of Alkaline Water
Keeping the body alkaline can help keep diseases and illness at bay, therefore staying hydrated with the help of alkaline water will help the body replenish itself with “healing” water and promote a more productive healing process in the body.
Drinking alkaline water can help elevate the pH of the body overall resulting in a healthier body that is less susceptible to disease that typically thrives in an acidic environment.
Do keep in mind that the pH of your body will determine how effective drinking alkaline water will be for each individual, in other words the more acidic your body, the less effective alkaline water will be and it will take an extended amount of time for you to reap the benefits of drinking alkaline water.
To reap the benefits of drinking alkaline water, it is best to drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, as well as, late at night before going to bed so you help promote healing of the body and reduc acidic confitions that can deter the body from properly healing itself.
The ability of helping in the body’s healing process makes alkaline water also a prime choice when it comes to detoxing the body, as it helps to boost the body as it gets rid of toxic elements and tries to return itself to a healthy state.
The only disadvantage we found with this and most alkaline water (and regular bottled water) is that it is packaged in plastic bottles. If you can find alkaline water packaged in glass or boxed then all the better….
Is Alkaline Water Really Worth It?
The answer is a bold yes and if you venture to try it, then do so for a month and you will notice great benefits. One of which is youthful, glowing healthy skin that is free of blemishes. Based on this alone, we definitely agree that alkaline water is really worth it.
Conclusion
There are so many brands out there that sell bottled alkaline water as it is trending and more than likely to continue trending. So, we hope you enjoyed reading our article. We know our top pick for bottled alkaline water is sure to please. So, be sure to let us know if you try Essentia Alkaline Water and what you think of it. If you have any other brands of alkaline water you would like to include with our post, be sure to leave a comment in the comments section below.
How to Lead A Healthy Life
We are all getting older everyday, some of us though are aging at a rapid rate, more so than others. We are using and abusing our bodies and expecting everything to work itself out within our self. Some of us however, have come to the realization at some point in our lives that our wealth is our greatest asset. Whether you realized this at a young or old age, the fact still remains that you realized it and have more than likely chosen to do something about it. For those who are still working on treating their body as the temple that it is, here are some tidbits on how to lead a healthy life.
Know Yourself
If you don’t know yourself, then how will you know what is good for you? Remember, one man’s poison is another man’s medicine. So get to know yourself! Explore new activities, i.e. hobbies, games…step out of your comfort zone. Test your limits within a logical realm of things.
Finding out how your body responds to foods is one way of getting to know yourself. Testing to see what works for you energy wise is one way to make note of how the foods you put into your body affect you.
One man’s poison is indeed another man’s medicine, because you what someone else claims to boost their energy levels may leave you feeling drained, groggy, or unaffected in any shape or form.
You have to get to know yourself inside and out. The foods you eat do show on the outside, in other words, your skin is a visual representation not only of what is going on inside your body, but also, of what is feeding your body…your cells…. So if you love eating cheeseburgers, but you know that they impact you in a negative way, i.e. bloat, indigestion, constipation, whatever have you, then you certainly need to cut them out, regardless of how good they taste.
Educate Yourself
There is so much information on eating healthy nowadays that it is highly likely that you have come across plenty of health-related articles written on foods you can eat and how you can prepare those foods. So, you should certainly take the time to do your research and find out what foods are considered healthy and will benefit you health-wise.
Not all healthy foods are created equally, so do opt for organic and natural foods as opposed to the alternatives and when choosing premade healthy meals, make sure that the ingredients used are to your liking and are healthy, organic ingredients. And that none of the ingredients used are of undesirable origin or part of your health journey’s excluded list of foods. Which leads us to our next suggestion – make a list of foods that are considered healthy and that you would like eating on a regular basis. And if you come across foods you are not familiar with, then make sure to look them up. Find out what the benefits are and make a choice.
Prepare Yourself
Yes, much like a marathon you have to prepare your body to get ready for the journey it is about to embark on. A healthy lifestyle is not an easy lifestyle to lead, especially with the price of food going up in general, not to mention the high costs of organic and other naturally grown foods. It can prove difficult, as well as, discouraging to venture down the path of healthy eating because one’s budget might not allow.
Budgets and high food prices aside; there is also the issue of taste. Yes, healthy foods can be tasty, but let’s be really a good percentage of the time the tasty of healthy foods takes getting used to and let’s just say there’s a transition period. So, it is best to get one’s self prepared and ready to accept the change.
The most effective way to prepare yourself to have a taste for healthy foods is to fast for at least 3 days. During these 3 days you can choose to drink water, but if you are a stickler for doing things as they should be done, then fast in the true sense of the word by refusing any food or drink. Please keep in mind if you have a healthy condition, then this is not advisable, without consulting your doctor. We know that fasting is not easy, but it certainly can be done.
In order to make your transition into those three days of fasting, you can start reducing your meals per day the week prior to your chosen days of fasting. For example, in the week prior to fasting, the first two days you should try going longer hours between eating your meals. Let’s say you eat 3 meals (if you eat more than 3 meals, then adjust accordingly and your may want to give your self a 2 week adjustment period before your 3 day fast), you can eat breakfast at 8a.m. then wait until 3p.m to eat lunch, and when dinner time rolls by around 6 or 7 pm you can eat lighter and you may even find that you are not even hungry. Basically, what you are doing is fasting intermittently all the while preparing your body to go completely without food for a longer period of time, in this case, three days. You can fast for more than 3 days if you choose, but three days seem to be plenty when it comes to adjusting taste buds, but if you find yourself craving your regular non-healthy food items, then you will need to fast for a longer time.
Fasting will prepare you and help you adjust to new flavors in the healthy foods you choose, as well as, remove cravings for unhealthy foods.
Clearing your pantry of unhealthy foods is also essential to making your healthy eating journey a successful one. This doesn’t mean throw out all your food if you have a pantry full of foods that are not healthy. You can simply give yourself time to either “A” eat what is decently healthy or “B” donate to a local food pantry…. It is up to you.
Restock your pantry over the course of 2 to 3 months and have a healthy array of foods that you know or have now discovered and like to eat. No need to rush out and get a bunch of “healthy foods” only to later find out you don’t like say kelp chips 2 months down the road with bags and bags of kelp chip snacks left to be eaten. Nor do you want to overspend in one setting for the sake of eating healthy. Stick to your budget and do take to time to explore and sample healthy foods that you may find appealing before taking the plunge and giving them room on your pantry shelf.
Find Time for Yourself
Finding time for yourself is becoming harder and harder everyday and with so many responsibilities and reasons to be distracted it is certainly no wonder that we often find ourselves running out of steam so to speak. So, do take the time to make yourself feel good and loved. You are a temple and temples that are treasured are well cared for…so take the time and adorn your temple and of course clear out some cobwebs while you’re at it.
What cobwebs? Well, emotional/spiritual clutter and even physical clutter are “cobwebs” that can obscure and hinder us. So clear them out. Don’ t let emotional baggage be your undoing. External factors that clutter our emotional, spiritual, and even physical state of being are just that external! But once we let those external factors become internal factors we find that they can be hard to get rid of and become a nasty cluster of “cobwebs” that keep us from being free and clear.
Meditation is a great way to let go of excess baggage and gives us mental clarity when approached the right way. Do keep in mind though that meditating can also bring about old repressed feelings/emotions that you must be willing and prepared to deal with in order to more forward in your healthy life journey.
Don’t Forget to Pray
From a Christian standpoint, prayer is everything. This is time you set aside to commune with the Father in an intimate way, i.e. getting to know God! If you are a Christian, then your day should always start with communing with God and you will see a vast improvement in how your day goes. Setting aside 30 minutes to an hour in the beginning of each day is doable, even if it means going to bed 1 to 2 hours earlier to make this possible.
Beginning your day with a prayer of thanksgiving and worship is the best way to start your day, followed by ten to fifteen minutes of reading your Bible (you can of course adjust this accordingly and do as the holy spirit leads you).
Throughout your day you should also make it a habit of praying, praising, and worshipping God and at the end of your day, prayer is just as important, as the beginning. This is when you can spend the most time communing with God and letting his presence in fill you. It is also during this time that you should take to the time to meditate on the word of God and or sit in silence after praying so you can hear God speak – this of course will take time to master if you are fairly new to Christianity or if you are not use to praying often.
Prayer alleviates the stresses of the day and provides an outlet what can become emotional baggage, i.e., the “cobwebs” in your temple. So, get in the habit of praying fervently and watch God move mightily in your life.
Sleep is Important!
Some may beg to differ, but in our book sleep is important and we will shout it from the rooftops, because we care! So, you might just be one of those people who can live off of 4 hours of sleep and be the most energic workhorse ever, but not a lot of people can do that, at least not without the aid of caffeine. In steps, the need for those 8 plus hours of sleep. For some 8 hours is just the bare minimum, while for others is just the perfect amount of rest. Well, now this is where knowing yourself comes into play. If you have gotten to know your body and how you react to foods, then you have more than likely chartered into this territory as well – how food affects you sleep and the need for more sleep.
Have you ever noticed that certain foods make you sleep longer? Or that after eating certain foods you feel a deep sleep coming on? Well, discussions of tryptophan aside, the way your body reacts to the foods you eat and their composition will often times determine how bright and bushy-tailed you are throughout the day and even the next day (especially if you eat dinner late). And just in case you may not already know, Tryptophan is the chemical present in certain foods that when present in high amounts often induces the need for sleep after eating such foods (think turkey chicken, nuts…).
Getting enough sleep will help counteract the dip in energy caused by some foods, and can help take you through the day without the need for a nap.
Sleep is most essential because it is a time of rest for the body and enables great healing. The process of healing is what keeps the body healthy and able to function like a well tuned machine. Without the proper amount of rest, healing can’t take place or at least not enough healing takes place and over time that gets compounded resulting in a weakened and even a sick body.
Find out what amount of sleep gets you feeling well rested and energized enough to take on the day and make it happen as often as you can. For some, the magical number is 6 hours and for others it may be twice as much, at a whopping 12 hours. No matter your required sleep amount, you will find that as you go deeper into your healthy eating journey, you may have a new number when it comes to required rest time. That number is most likely to level out over time, as your body becomes fully acclimated to healthy foods and the benefits they bring, but you will find that your sleep is more restful and your body will feel renewed. You may even notice any existing or chronic ailments have subsided or completely disappeared.
Sleep equals healing, so make it a top priority to get your healing rest. Be sure to check out this article on sleep.
Eat Well and Eat to Be Well
Eating well is essential to leading a healthy lifestyle. Take the time and prepare as healthy a meal as you can and do so as often as you can by setting time aside to meal prep for the week. In order to eat well and eat to be well, you have to make choices that may involve sacrificing time spent doing other things such as Instagram, Facebook, or perusing YouTube. Or you may have to sacrifice and indulgence or two whether it your favorite cup of latte or your favorite flavor of ice cream. This is not to say you shouldn’t give yourself an off day or have treats every now and then…we are simply saying regular indulgences that do not benefit your health or contribute to you eating healthy and being well should be reduced to a bare minimum.
Eat well almost always results in being well, so watch what you eat and drink plenty of water.
Water! Water!
Help your body out and keep it hydrated and there is nothing better to do this with than Water! Water, is a must when it comes to living a healthy life and there is absolutely no substitute! Check out this article for reasons why you should be getting your fair share of water and then some.
Water is powerful and life sustaining. Did you know you could survive days without food, but only 7 days without water? Of course, this number could be less based on the person. If you are already depleted of water or dehydrated, you would have a hard time surviving beyond 3 days without any source of water. This is because our body is overall comprised of 60 to 70 percent liquid and you guessed it, water is the primary source.
So, make it a priority to stay hydrated, even if it means putting in a reminder on your smartphone, tablet, or watch…and even, your calendar. Water is a must!
There are variety of ways to enjoy water and encourage yourself to drink water so no excuses! Limes, Lemons, a drop or two of Calamansi juice and or tamarind juice are just a few ways to add some flavor to your water, not to mention watermelon or cucumber juices…you have a myriad of options.
Get your water through the fruits and veggies you eat as well – watermelon is one such fruit chuck full of water and amazingly hydrating and so are cucumbers, zucchinis, cantaloupes, coconuts to name a few.
As far as veggies and greens are concerned celery, cabbage, leafy greens like lettuce and spinach are fantastic sources when it comes to obtaining a good daily intake of water.
Conclusion
Leading a healthy life or lifestyle is certainly something that can be done and when armed with the right knowledge base, it becomes even easier to do. Don’t be too hard on yourself if takes a few tries to get it right, all that matters is to taking the steps to a better and healthier life.
Note
Now that you know our tips on how to lead a healthy life, do take the time to share you tips as well or you can certainly leave a comment and let us know if there’s anything we may have left out and do feel free to subscribe to our email list (it’s free) and our youtube channel coming soon. And by the way if you liked reading our article(s) chances are your friends and family might enjoy reading it as well, so be sure to share, like, pin it, link it, and give us a shout out on facebook and don’t be shy to let us know you did, we will certainly check it out.
Spelt Bread Recipe
Here is a quick recipe for making bread from one of the ancient grains, spelt. This Spelt Bread Recipe is super easy to make and is one of our favorites.
Spelt is much like our current day wheat flour when it comes to measurements and in some regards when it comes to texture as well. It does have its own unique taste, but nothing too overpowering or hard to stomach.
Because of its nature and overall characteristics, spelt can often times be substituted on a 1:1 ratio with wheat flour and the end result of baked goods be overall quite similar.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups spelt flour
1-2 ripe bananas (optional)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil or Coconut Oil (or canola oil)
1 tsp salt
2 cups water
1/4 cup agave syrup
2 tsp baking soda
Directions:
- Preheat oven for 10 minutes on 350⁰F
- Combine dry ingredients.
- Mash the bananas, then combine with wet ingredients.
- Mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until thick dough forms.
- Mix dough for 10 minutes.
- Place dough in baking pan or loaf pan.
- Let dough rest for about 5 minutes or
- Place in preheated oven.
- Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted in the center of loaf comes out clean.
- Remove loaf from oven and let the loaf cool for 20 minutes. Then slice and enjoy as a side or breakfast.
Aquafaba A Good Egg Substitute
Whether you use it in your pancakes or to make some delicious homemade vegan mayo, aquafaba is a good egg substitute, better yet a great substitute next to this egg substitute.
What is Aquafaba?
Well, in a nutshell, chickpea water (canned is good), but homemade is workable as well…. It can also be made from white beans and other legumes, but your best bet is chickpeas. So, the next time you cook some chickpeas, or open up a can of your favorite brand of chick peas, make sure to save the water and make good use out of it.
For those not familiar with chickpea, you may be able to recognize it as garbanzo beans, gram, or even Ceci beans. It is a very healthy and nutritious legume that can be used in so many ways.
Chick peas are a good source of protein, especially for those who choose to avoid animal proteins and animal based proteins. They are a great source of fiber and various vita,ins like Vitamin B6, Folate, iron to list a few.
We enjoy chick peas and find that they often pair well with I ther foods.
How to Use It
You may be wondering how to use aquafaba and what sort of recipes pair well with it. Well, in our opinion any baked good that requires eggs (especially egg whites) can be workable using aquafaba.
Take for instance this brownie or a lovely cake recipe or even better, this pancake recipe. Healthy but very tasty.
Simply fold in your whipped aquafaba into your ingredients. Depending on what you are making cake vs brownie, etc. you may have to make some adjustments to quantity you use….
How Do You Make Aquafaba?
Simply drain the water from your canned chick peas and whip it up with your egg beater. You will be pleasantly surprised.
You will have soft white peaks that will get you the fluffy, airy quality often sort after when it comes to baked goods and other egg based goodies like tha vegan mayo you may be thinking about making.
Here is how we make aquafaba:
1-2 cups of chick pea cooking liquid (cooled)
1-2 tsp arrowroot root powder (optional) dissolved in some water
Stir the aforementioned ingredients together or simply whip up into soft peaks.
Add to your recipe that calls for eggs at 2 to 3 Tablespoons for one medium or large egg.
Conclusion
Aquafaba is a great egg substitute and needs more attention than it has gotten. Let us know if you have tried it. And if you feel up to it share some of your recipes with us. We would love to hear from you, so be sure to leave your comments in the comment section.
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Is Taking Nascent Iodine Worth the Risk
Best to ditch the iodized salt and reach for nascent iodine or should you, keep reading to find out, is taking nascent iodine is really worth the risk?
What is Nascent Iodine?
For those who may be wondering what is nascent iodine, it is atomic iodine that is readily available for the body to digest. The body quickly accepts and absorbs this form no of iodine more so than the form available in table salt, but if you can’t find this form of iodine, then go with the table salt or preferably a more natural form of salt.
Why is Nascent Iodine Impotant?
Iodine is very important to thyroid function and the production of thyroid hormones which in turn affects the function of various organ in the body.
Heart health, your body’s immune system and ability to regulate temperature, as well as, your metabolic rate are affected by your thyroid function. So, you can certainly see that a well functioning thyroid is of the utmost importance and the thyroid is one of the most important organs is your body. So, keep it healthy and happy and you will feel much better and your energy levels will definitely improve.
Disclaimer:
Taking any supplementation should be done under guidance of a family physician that is well versed in your individual health care needs.
Also, Beware that not all nascent iodine are created equally, so do your research and select the best option for you and your health care needs.
It only takes a few drops to get your daily requirements and the benefits are seen in a short amount of time. Benefits such weight loss, increase in energy levels, prevention of goiters. This is a good option when it comes to nascent iodine and so is this supplement.
Other Options to Supplementation Using Nascent Iodine
As with most supplements, nature or natural is best and this can be one of those instances; however, due to the rapid absorption, this may very well be the most feasible option when it comes to iodine intake and correcting thyroid issues in the quickest way. Now, when it comes to hyperthyroidism or any thyroid conditions that may change for the worse if not properly managed, do consult your physician and avoid self treating.
Foods you can eat to boost your iodine intake are whole eggs, tuna (be mindful of the mercury content), seaweed (Wakame, Nori, and most of all Kombu Kelp are great sources of iodine), and seafood like shrimp are great places to start in boosting your iodine. If you have issues with eating shrimp, we completely understand and would highly recommend the seaweed route.
Keeping your diet balanced and in check will help prevent imbalances and of course minimizing your stress levels will keep your thyroid from getting out of whack to begin wit . Thereby, saving your from a whirlwind of issues.
Dangers of Nascent Iodine
There are dangers to using nascent iodine, but most of them exist when used incorrectly, so always choose to follow the recommended doseage unless otherwise instructed by your physician. So, on to the dangers….
Dangers of taking nascent iodine include, but are not limited to the following: you may experience allergic reactions based on your level of sensitivity, facial swelling can be an issue.
Also, inflammation in the joints and thyroid gland can be an issue as a result of excessive intake of nascent iodine.
Other dangers include fluid build up in the lungs, thyroid cancer; and a condition in which an abnormal level of the disease fighting white blood cells know as Eosinophils are present in the blood (which can be the case with severe allergic reactions to nascent iodine or due to the body reacting to resulting cancerous growth.
So, all in all do ample research and consult with your doctor, but most importantly know your body and recognize the signs. So, it so happens that this form of supplementation doesn’t agree with you, then you can you can nip it in the bud and work with your doctor on finding a better alternative.
Conclusion
So, is it worth it to try nascent iodine? Absolutely! But do so only if your have thyroid issues that your physician feels can be corrected through proper supplementation. Just be sure to stay within your recommended dosage or intake to prevent overdoing it and causing negative side effects.
Best Cookware for Cooking & Eating Healthy Foods
So, after some time spent researching this topic, we had an idea to write an article for all our readers out there to quickly go over all the best cookwares for cooking and eating healthy foods. After all, you have made the decision to eat healthy foods and what good is there to lose the nutrients you are trying to get from those healthy foods through using the wrong cookware?
So, Just What are the Options of Healthy Cookware?
If you are remotely health conscious, then you know just how important highly nutritious foods are to maintaining good health.
This brings us to our first pick when it comes to healthy cookware – earthen pots. These pots are most commonly known as clay pots or clay cookware. They are an olden way of cooking, but a goodie. And if it works why change it?
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However, over the course of time, we have seen an upsurge in a variety of cookware from nonstick to a myriad of metal based cooking pots and pans. Some are natural metals, like cast iron and copper. And others are man-made blends that come in coated and non-coated varieties – think teflon coated aluminum pots and pans, carbon steel, stainless steel, and other metal cookware and bakeware. All of which are readily available to the masses.
Most of these metal based cookware provide the convenience of faster cooking, perfect searing, and great versatility which includes the ability to fry and deep fry foods, but at the cost of nutrients.
Earthenware Pots
Earthen pots allow foods to be cooked with the optimum amount of nutrients/ micronutrients locked in, providing a more nutritious meal.
The benefits of cooking with clay are great and far outweigh the cons. One such con being that cooking time is a bit longer, but often times improves over the course of time. Another con is most clay cookware need to be cured before use.
One more con when it comes to clay pot is actually dependent on whether you are familiar with cooking with clay. And if you aren’t, you might find yourself faced with quite a bit of a learning curve. But, it is very easy to overcome and you can become quite the expert when it comes to cooking with clay. So much so, that you will find out that it is certainly worth it to have at least one or two of these pots in your kitchen.
One of the major benefits of using clay cookware is that your food is that much healthier, in the sense that you are able to eliminate some of the toxins in the foods. This really comes into play if you are unable to purchase organic foods and grass fed meats on a regular basis.
The porous nature of clay pots and their negative charge or alkaline nature, enable them to pull toxic substances that may bre present in certain foods. This can be visible in thre form of brownish or blackish sticky bubbling out of these impurities. This allows for more bioavailability of the nutritional elements in your food without the extra gunk.
According to a lab test done in India, food cooked in clay pots retain a higher percentage of micronutrients compared to foods cooked in cookware made from other materials. So, that alone should give you reason to at least give this type of cookware a try.
What Features to Look for when Shopping for Your Earthenware Clay Pot
You may be wondering, what features to look for when shopping for your earthenware or earthen pot; so here are some things to keep in mind.
When looking at earthenware pots or clay vessels, unglazed is best. This not only reduces the likelihood of exposing your food to lead, since it can leach into your food while cooking (the glaze process often times includes the use of lead), but provides you with the benefits of nutrient retention and evenly cooked food. Not to mention the foods cooked in earthen pots are often times more flavorful and taste absolutely delicious. Plus your food stays warm longer (four to five hours later you will be able to have warm, not hot, but warm food).
If you haven’t done so, try cooking beans in your earthen pots, the taste is absolutely fantastic! Even rice tastes more delicious when cooked in clay.
Stoneware Pots
Much like Earthenware Pots, this cookware is also made of clay and heats evenly. The main difference; however, is that this clay cookware is fired in the kiln at a much higher temperature than regular clay or earthen pots. This results in a less porous cookware and a slight difference in the level of flavor acquired during the cooking process.
Soapstone or Steatite Cookware
When it comes to Steatite Cookware, better known as soapstone, this cookware, much like earthen or clay cookware gives not only even heating, but retains the nutritional benefits when used to cook your food. Also, it doesn’t react or leach into foods and is a great way to prepare healthy foods and will last for a lifetime when used properly.
Although naturally a softer stone, once cured, cookware made from this stone is highly durable and can provide you with peace of mind when cooking your healthy meals.
Just be sure that the stone used for your cookware is not sourced from California as it tends to contain some strands of asbestos engrained in the rock. Which might pose a health hazard when there is damage to the pot or if it breaks and particles become airborne.
You can always take the added step of checking with the pot manufacturer (or even the retailer) to determine where the rock is sourced and whether there are tests done to ensure there are no asbestos strands occurring within the rock.
Cast Iron Cookware
When seasoned well these can bring added depth of flavor to meats and veggies. For the perfect seared steak, cast iron is certainly the way to and is one of two metal cookware we are willing to recommend.
Unlike clay cookware, this cookware can react with certain foods, especially acidic foods like tomato sauce or paste when not well seasoned.
As far as leaching is concerned, the amount of iron transferred to your food is minimal and is thought to be not so readily available or lacking bioavailability. I however, believe it can be useful to the body.
The only ways you will encounter a large amount of leaching is if you are cooking on bare, unseasoned cast iron; cooking very acidic foods; or letting your food sit in iron vessels for a long time – neither of which we would recommend.
Copper Cookware
If you love making jams and would like to avoid using pectin, copper is the way to go. It reacts with fruits to naturally thicken jams and jellies for wonderful homemade treats.
Now, there is debate as to the safety of copper pots and the potential of leaching into foods; however, copper is a metal that is useful in the body, and the body doesn’t make it own, so an external source is needed….
Conclusion
So, whatever cookware you choose from the aforementioned list is truly up to you, but we highly recommend one of each or at least the following: a clay soup pot, a cast iron skillet, a cast iron Dutch oven, and a copper pan. These pots and pans should get you well on your way to cooking any meal you so desire with little to no health concerns.
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Thanks for reading!
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Engaging Your Kids When it Comes to Eating Healthy Foods
When it comes to eating healthy, it is highly important for kids especially since they are still growing. As parents we all know it can be difficult to get our children to eat healthy especially if we are dealing with picky eaters. So, here are a few tips to help even the pickiest of eaters and that can help with engaging your kids when it comes to eating healthy foods.
Introducing Your Kids to A World of Healthy Eating
Try getting your kids into gardening at an early age, especially if you like tending to a garden. It is not only a great pastime, it is also fun and adds to quality time spent together. Plus you get a good workout while you are at it.
For little kids, cutting fruits and veggies into fun shapes can make for a smoother transition to healthier snacks or substitutions. It sparks their curiosity and makes healthy eating less of a battle.
Plus you can enlist their help by handing them the butter knife, yes, I said butter knife (a flat, rounded knife with no sharp edge) . It may not be proper etiquette, but for safety reasons it certain will do the trick (believe me, its personally tried and true and prevents accidents). We have tried my butter knife method to cut many fruits and some vegetables and it works just fine even with apples; however, I would recommend limiting its use to just soft fruits.
Cookie cutters also make for a good, quick way to safely cut fruits into fun shapes and make for healthy fast food.
Dinner knives like this with a thin serrated edge also work as well. Also, it helps your kids feel good about themselves when they can help mommy or daddy cut up those fruits for their fruit salad or snack time.
You can also add vegetables your kids favorite meals, spaghetti is a great one for incorporating fresh veggies whether you choose to dice them up into tiny pieces or simply puree a variety of veggies and add it into the spaghetti sauce (half a cup to a cup of mixed veggies usually makes for a tasty addition to plain spaghetti sauce or even one already packed with veggies).
To Dip or Not to Dip
Adding tasty (and healthy) dips can also make healthy foods fun for kids.
Next time, try a little bit of plain yogurt with a bit of agave syrup and or honey as a slightly sweetened dip for some fruits (apples, melons, pineapples, cantaloupes, pears, are just a few) and even vegetables (think carrots). This dip goes very well with these and will encourage your kids, especially the wee little ones to finish their fruits and veggies. Just be sure to not make it sugary as that will take over the taste and take away from the healthiness of eating fruits and veggies.
You can also switch things a bit and add a small amount of caramel for an added treat every now and then.
Fruit preserves or a simple blend of fruits are a great addition for creamy dips and yogurt blends and help make healthy snacks more appealing.
Tips for Making Healthy Snacking Work
Take it slow when introducing new fruits especially when it comes to exotic fruits not just for the sake of allergies, but to give them time to get used to the taste. You can add a couple of pieces along with their favorite fruits or vegetables and see whether they notice.
If they don’t notice, you can always make it into a game of what does it taste like and guess that new vegetable (or fruit).
Wrapping It Up
Hope you find these toys and tricks helpful in engaging your kids when it comes to eating healthy foods. If you find this article helpful, don’t forget to like and share on Facebook and other social media outlets. If you have other tips or tricks you would like to share or have us add to our article, please do take the time to post them in the comments section below we would appreciate it.
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