8 Easy Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Remedy Recipes For Ailments

Apple Cider Vinger (ACV) has been quite the big buzz for sometime now, and there is so much information out there about it all, but recently, a dear friend of mine shared a site with me, namely so, "Healthy Food Team" which had a few of its uses listed on their site, and ding/ding/ding, light bulb moment, I decided to condensify the information even further and place them onto a picture file format list and title it with that funky name that I gave it, per this post title, to simplify finding just what you're looking for in a snap. It's called get to the point already. :  ) I really don't care for long drawn out information. Time is very limited and valuable, and so, I truly get annoyed with those endless scroll articles or posts on blogs and websites alike that goes on for ever and ever it seem like.

Ok, now, let me live by my words here and get to the point. So, if you have sensitives with your enamels or simply just for preventive measures to keep your enamel from eroding, like with consuming anything acidic, you want to ensure that you protect them using a metal or glass straw when consuming apple cider vinegar to lessen that effect. I've found some glass ones here and the brushes to clean them too. For, the metal ones, you can try searching for them on Amazon.

Another caveat is that you don't want to use too much ACV, because (1.) It can deplete our bodies of calcium. So, maybe go for a week or so to get rid of your issue, and thereafter, for maintenance, twice per week might be a healthier way to go, or while consuming ACV to rid your body of an ailment, take calcium supplements and/or consume foods rich in calcium. If unsure, consult your physician and/or nutritionist. (2.) Additionally, too much ACV consumption can reduce your blood pressure below what's normal. So, again, proceed with moderation and see your doctor when in doubt.

Other than that, apple cider vinegar (ACV), I prefer using organic and the Bragg's brand, is a real champion for improving our overall health. It improves our digestion, helps regulate our blood's circulation and is also good for throat ailments. It also aid with the functions of our liver and blood tissues and help fight against heart diseases. It's said to also help with fertility issues. You can even use it to soften and remove dead skin cells from your feet. To do that, soak your feet in warm water, with apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes and that should do the trick I've heard.  Anyhoo, you know the saying, an apple a day keeps the doctors away.

So, without any further chitter chatter, here are those wonderful ACV recipes to remedy the ailments listed on the flyer that I compiled and dolled it up just for you all. It's an 8 1/2 x 11 flyer image. Therefore, you can save it, print it out and stick it on your refrigerator if you will. I hope it'll be of help to you or someone you know. With that in mind, please share this post with your friends and family, for ulitmately - sharing is indeed a sign of caring! Enjoy and be well to yourself and good to each other! :  )

To your health and well-being,
~ San

Breakfast Recipe: Very Berry Gluten Free Toast

This morning for breakfast, I wanted to go light and easy! I wasn't sure as to what I wanted to eat and then suddenly I decided to get a bit creative and just go with the flow. Hence, why I decided on making it really simple and of course healthy is always my way to go, and therefore, I quickly put together a Gluten-free toasts, served up with some in-the-moment homemade berrilicious jam made of raspberries and blueberries and topped it off with some manuka honey!

Here are the ingredients:

• 2 slices of gluten free bread
• a spread of organic raw coconut butter
• 2 tablespoon of raspberries
• 1 tablespoon of blueberries
• 1 teaspoon of manuka honey, with Active 16+ 

Preparation method:

I toasted the bread first and foremost of course. I then spread the super healthy coconut butter over them (see blog post about the many benefits of coconut oil, butter, and water); took the raspberry and strawberry and smashed them while on top of the butter and bread, or you can smash them together in a bowl using a dinner fork - really simple, creating a jam like paste from it and then spread the berry jam on top of the coconut butter. For a finished product, I drizzled the manuka honey over it, and voila - I had a healthy and delciously tasting homemade, blueberry and raspberry bka the `Verry Berry` toast! Delicious! 

Give it a go and let me know how you like it!

Cheers to healthy living!

xoxo ~ San

Body Nourishment: Let's Get Back To The `Root` Of It

When I was a girl growing up on the island of Jamaica where my siblings and I were raised by our grandmother, eating healthy was never a stressful concern for us or anyone there for that matter as it is here in the USA today. Why? Because quite a few of us grew everything we needed to eat in our backyards. For instance, my grandmother, Millie, who was an avid church-goer and made her transition on home to the heavenlies some 8 years ago was quite the expert and professional at cultivating crops and much to her advantage too because that's how she made her living, right from her veranda, with a scale hanging in the front right corner that weighed her goods for the town's people who were frequent customers of hers. And because she conducted her business with much compassion, empathy, and integrity, her loyal customers made it possible for her to make an abundantly healthy source of income from it all - a self made, quite frugal and humble millionaire to be exact!

More importantly, my sisters, brothers, and I were the ones in charge of cultivating the crops: water them, prune them, replanting them, and harvest them in preparation for sale alongside my grandmother's assistance and directions. The crops my grandmother grew and produced were quite a wide range: from lemon to lime to grapefruit and oranges, coconut, breadfruit, banana, ackee, corn, cotton, okra, peas and peppers of all sorts, pumpkin and watermelon, guinep, cherries, skallion, thyme, fever grass, mint leaf, cerasee (a potent blood cleanser), pimento seeds, mangoes, to dasheen (a type of yam from the turnip family), turnip, irish potatoes and sweet potatoes, carrot,  cassava aka yucca, yams of all sorts, and even ganja aka cannabis that grew wild among the crops - perhaps that was a force of nature or that of my uncle's clever doing. He certainly had a field day with that one - making teas from it for its many healing benefits. Afterall, it is an herb that God - our Creator provided and that's been long used on the islands for treating many ailments, such as alzheimers, memory enhancement, spiritual attunement, and now discovered here in the USA as means to treat cancer too. Anyhoo, moving right along, we had just about everything you could think of and that you'd need to supply your daily bread.

Each day, we had a freshly prepared breakfast, lunch, dinner, and supper right from the garden! My grandmother prepared various dishes and teas from all of those all natural fruits, veggies, and herbs also known as organics here in the USA. We didn't have no worries about eating pesticide or hormone filled foods that were polluted or toxic - thus, harmful to the body. Even the meats that she cooked, whether fish, chicken, pork, or beef were freshly bought from the designated butcher, Mr. Greene from around the lane, as we called it or fresh fish that came right off the fisherman's boat or ship from the bay area known as Old Harbour Bay, or fresh bread hot out of the oven from the bakery just up the road and in walking distance from where we lived!

However, my grandmother's favorite foods to prepare were ground foods, that are also known here in America as `root` foods - the kind that grew from under the the dirt and that you had to uproot from it too, with its root attached, namely so, yams of all sorts, turnips, dasheen, carrots, potatoes, etc. She was such a big fan of boiling those in a big stainless steel pot, with cassava or cornmeal mixed dumplings and that were served with a meat or veggie combo of some sort, like ackee and saltfish (Jamaica's National Dish) for example. She considered those the most healthy and that would make for a strong and firm and youthful body. She used to say, "Pay attention to how well anchored and sturdy and deeply rooted they are. It's a symbol or clue for what they will do for your body". Smart lady! I believe I got that sort of sixth sense eye for details and problem solving from her. She really taught us well. As for me, paying attention to details through keen observation was one of my many take away from all that she taught us.

Hence, why I'd like to help you get back to your roots with some root veggies and herbs that are available here in the USA too. They will serve up much nourishment for the body and give you the strength and stamina needed to get through each day and beyond.. Tip: they can be prepared by boiling, sauteing, roasting, served raw, baked, stir fried,  and/or steaming and seasoning them to your liking. You can make soups, stews, homemade fries, some sturdy enough to shred using a vegetable peeler and make as pasta, served mashed or pureed, chips, or slaw. They may not be the most good looking of the foods out there, but they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients and pack intriguing flavors that may fancy your taste buds! See attached chart list for some of the more popular type of root foods that you can explore and serve up some delicious dishes from it all!

In addition, here are some noteworthy information about `ground or root` foods:

• Root vegetables are high in fiber, which helps reduce excess serum cholesterol. Parsnips contain nearbly double the amount of fiber found in carrots.
• Rich in a range of vitamins -- especially vitamins A, C, and K -- root vegetables also contain a host of minerals drawn from the soil (given the soil is not toxic or polluted), including potassium, calcium, iron, iodine, and phosphorus.
• Root veggies are antioxidant powerhouses. Turnips, for example, contain antioxidants in the form of sulfuric compounds called glucosinolates.
• And some root veggies have a high glycemic index -- parsnips, in particular -- and should be eaten in moderation to avoid blood-sugar spikes. Adding fats like butter, olive oil, and coconut oil helps reduce glycemic load.

Lastly, I would love to know how it all goes in preparing these `ground or root` foods, so please comment below on whether or not you found this article to be an easy read and helpful to you in anyway so that I may be able to better serve you going forward. Remember to share too, because sharing is a definite sign of caring.

Best wishes and love to your health and well-being!

Enjoy!

xoxo ~ San




source: Experience Life Magazine; November 2014 issue; article: "Back To Your Roots", pages: 44-47

Super Food - The Benefits of Organic Raw Cacao Powder

Here's why cacao powder is my absolute favorite super food and belly warmer during and beyond the winter chilled months. It's super rich in antioxidant. As important, cacao has been long enjoyed for its healthful and invigorating properties in South American cultures for thousands of years! It's also a good source of the following nutrients:

• Iron                    
• Dietary Fiber     
• Magnesium       
• Protein
• Calcium
• Potassium

This particular brand that I use is 100% pure cacao powder that is certified organic, kosher, non-gmo, gluten-free and raw. Furthermore, some of you may not know that the bean of the cacao plant is the nutritional as well as the flavorful source for all chocolate and cocoa (deficient in nutrients) products. If you want the true hot cocoa, raw cacao powder is what you should be mxing up in your cup.

Here's a simple, yet delicious recipe that I use to make my own:

• Boiling hot alkaline water
• organic raw cacao powder
• Freshly gratered nutmeg
• A pinch of cinnamon
• A tablespoon of raw/organic honey
• And last, some almond milk or coconut creamer (mix all ingredients together and viola!) 

The only comment there is yummy, yummy, yummy! And as I sip it down, I can literally feel it penetrating my every cellular fiber - no kidding. I'm that in tune with my body. I have even felt a tingling in my face and a liberating invigorating feeling in my brain while consuming it and that left me feeling quite refreshed, clear headed, and in a warm and joyful mood - very soothing! You can even add it to your smoothie and/or to make chocolate ice cream or dessert in your Vitamix or Blendtec blenders - great stuff!

Additionally, cacao is also known to be one of the highest dietary sources of magnesium, flavanols and polyphenols. It's also a good habit to check the package to ensure that the process of extraction or production is cold-pressed, milled at low temperatures to protect its nutrients. If done otherwise by harsh methods that uses high heat and harmful chemicals, most, if not all of the nutrients will have been depleted from the cacao beans.

So, give raw cacao a go! I know it's not the usual overly sweet and nutrient difficient and/or artificially infused nutrients that are harmful to the body cocoa powder, but I can assure you that you can tolerate the mild bitterness if you brew it using my awesome recipe above.

Well, here's to warm tummies, youthful skin, and some clear headed brain acitivity, with the consumption of raw cacao powder.

Oh, just a minor caveat, it would be highly humanitarian and very thoughtful of you to be sure that the brand that you buy does not support child labor for its cacao picking and production. Other than that, it's a real treat to enjoy anytime of the day or for supper at night! Yum! ;-)

Until next time, be exceptionally good to yourselves!

~San

Oil of Oregano Benefits

Hey, Guys!

It's been quite a while since I've updated my blog. I've been so super busy rearranging my life, putting things into its proper perspective in order to get them moving into the right direction - a more meaningful, purposeful, and productive one! Anyhoo, I trust you guys have been great and that all is well with you and yours. Drop me a line or two in the comment section below and let me know just how amazing things are going for you. I'd love to hear about it! By the way, if you've noticed, I've also given my blog a facelift -  woohoo!!! Do you like it or not - comment below and let me know. It would be greatly appreciated! :-)

Well, on to the topic of the day! I decided to start it all off with some essentially good stuff that nature provides us - essential oils that is of course - hint, hint! (smiles) :-) The first being oil of oregano! I can't begin to tell you just how amazingly potent this essential oil is and the awesome effects it has on anyone looking to boosts their immune system, or if you're having any yeast (fungus) imbalance within your body, oregano oil consumption would be great at balancing it out for you!

Hence, why I decided to join up with a company that carries them "Certified 100% Pure Therapeutic Grade" essential oils, meaning you're getting the absolute best in quality, and I'm sure that you know by now that's what I'm all about - quality, organic, and "Of The Green Life" type of products, that are safe for us to consume and/or to use and easy on the environment too! To me, that's a win-win situation that ensures that everyone's well-being is being accounted for - ours and that of Mother Nature's too. We owe it to her as much as we owe it to ourselves!

Here's my independent website address, Essentially Green Living if you'd like more info about "Simply Aroma" and to get a clear understanding of their "Simply Pure" guarantee on delivering to you nothing but quality essential oils that will benefit your health and well-being.

Ok, without any further ado, see the attached information sheet that I've put together for you, showcasing the healthy benefits that Oregano oil possesses and how to best use it. I will be sharing with you on a weekly basis more about various essential oils that'll help us to maintain our wellness and healthy state of being. In addition, some fun and very useful recipes are sure to follow soon! So stay tuned! I'm so super excited about this newly added venture of mine. It's definitely right up my alley!

Ciao, my lovelies!

To your health and well-being,
San - xoxo

Fast Fact Friday #12: Dark Chocolate Amazing Health Benefits

  

Should you be anything like me, you love, love, love dark chocolate, and I mean I really enjoy that bitter taste to my tongue that savors on every cell of my taste buds - spectacularly delicious! It's like fireworks happening within my cells as it touches down to my digestive enzymes within. It's a rapid liberator of my mood and improved pleasure, in that it's a real picker upper for sure - percolates my mind instantly. And why is that you may be asking? Well, the first of the many benefits of dark chocolate and that contributes to raising one's mood on a natural elated type of healthy high is the fact that it boosts serotonin and endorphins in the brain. In addition, it contains several minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Moving right along - other health benefits of dark chocolate are as follow:

1. Contains strong antioxidant properties because of its flavanoids, which are phytochemicals also found in red wine, tea (triple that of green tea), and some fruits and veggies. To note, cacao nibs, organic cocoa powder, and high-percentage organic dark chocolate have the most flavanoids.
2. It consists of stearic and oleic acids, and because of those acids, cocoa *doesn't* raise blood cholesterol levels and may even reduce them.
3. Cocoa polyphenols are also known to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of blood clots, and increase blood flow in the arteries and the heart. 
4. Reduces insulin resistance.
5. Chocolate that consists of at least 60% raw cacao has a good source of dietary fiber

As important, one study has shown that when chocolate is combined with milk, as in milk chocolate; chocolate milk; and chocolate ice cream, the milk binds to chocolate's antioxidants, making them **unavailable** for your body. Therefore, it's totally void of its super food benefits.  So, whenever it's possible, avoid buying milk chocolate - it is seriously deficient of any nutritional value or  at all. Thus, it's best to purchase dark chocolate that is sixty percent or higher in cacao content, as it contains more nutritional benefits, less sugar, and a deeper flavor.

Another great tip for when you're out shopping for chocolate is to look for a glossy or dark-brown chocolate. Be sure to stay away from chocolate that has white spots, small holes on the surface, or an overall grayish tone. As with identifying any other healthy foods, you want to also look for chocolate with a short ingredient list. Look for terms like, "organic cocoa powder", "organic cocoa butter", "organic cocoa", and/or  "organic raw cacao powder" to indicate that it's high quality chocolate.

Dark chocolate is also considered a "Food of the Gods" and rightly so too, considering its superfood powers when in its raw state via cacao nibs - broken pieces of cacao seeds. 

For maintaining a humanistic and fair-trade approach and purchase, more often than not, it would be most thoughtful that you buy organic and fair-trade chocolate. With that, you're ensuring that you're buying the healthy kind, as non-organically produced cocoa may contain residues of lead and other potential toxins. Additionally, the fair-trade label indicates that the farmers and workers who created the product were fairly compensated. So, it's important to support brands that have that fair-trade seal or label on it. The point we're making with that and want to exemplify is to be fair with our dealings with everyone on all levels. Ultimately, the goal should always be to treat others as we ourselves would want to be treated, with fairness, love, and respect.

Well, guys, it's been fun and another fantastic fast fact Friday of some fast info that may be beneficial to you and/or someone that you may know. Therefore, please be kind and compassionate and pass it on to your friends and/or loved ones. Don't forget to also like, subscribe, and/or leave a comment for this post below. It'll be my absolute joy to give you a reply.

Love you all and be sure to take great care of yourselves until next time. Chow! :-)

Source:

Experience Life Magazine, Be A Rebel - March 2014

Alkalizing, Antioxidant, And Probiotic Green Super Foods!

Hey Guys!

If you know me a bit by now, you'll know that I truly have a green willed mindset. I really prefer and appreciate life in it's natural form and state of being. It's the only way to maintain a healthy lifestyle, one that is free of diseases and ailments that are due to unhealthy, synthetics, and harmful ingredients used to produce our foods today, and it's not a matter of who or which company or country produces it. It's a matter of who's keeping it green and doing us right as people in terms of keeping nature in mind and the harmful effects such neglectful and inconsiderate actions have on her and ultimately us as human beings - as a whole. Thus, I don't mind sharing the jewels that I find along the way, regardless of borders or brand. If it's good, it's simply good - no need to be grudgeful, biased, or hateful because it's another country or non popular brand. I go with and go where it's good and green, and if you're smart enough, in which I'm sure you are, you'd do the same too, as your HEALTH IS YOUR TRUE WEALTH, and you should desire consuming the healthy stuff, in order to ensure that you're taking the very best care of yourself - obviously the leadership within our country isn't, considering the harmful ingredients they allow to make up our foods and water supply, for instance, toxic seeds/foods like GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) - uggghh, I'm so disgusted with it all. Our nation's leadership should look to treat people how they'd individually want to be treated themselves and also think in terms of, *if it's not good for my family, then it's not good for anyone else's either*. We'd have healthier people and planet too if such thoughtful considerations were made, but such is NOT the case or common in the U.S.A. - sad but true.

With that, the "Organic Revolution" is upon us, where sustainability and a healthier you and planet is the end results. Let's be conscious with how we treat nature and ourselves. It's important to know that what you put in your body is just as important as with what you put on it. It all ends up in the same places, in our bloodstream and life stream - nature. Thus, I'm so glad that I've discovered a truly word is their bond integrity fused company - Miessence, where green is truly green and organic. So, you may want to try out their absolutely green brand of organic superfoods concoction: "Berry Radical", "InLiven", and "Deep Green". You can also find so many more green goodies for body, hair, skin, and home care as well, made available through their company. In addition, how reassuring it is to know that all of their products are "CERTIFIED ORGANIC" - can't get any greener or more solid than that....

Anyhoo, here's a bit more info about their line of green super foods: Berry Radical is an antioxidant rich superfood that'll keep you vibrant and youthful for many years to come. InLiven is infused with probiotics which are our body's friendly inhabitants that fight off the bad stuff should it experience a foreign invasion :-), and Deep Green is truly a green beast concoction of the truly great stuff that takes our body to operating at its optimum state of being and wellness - an alkalized one! So, what are you waiting for? Go for the green, baby! :-) Become a *GREEN GOD(DESS)* today. Go here for more info, Miessence. 

Ok, that's all she wrote. Take great care of yourselves until next time. Chow! :-)

PS. Don't forget to subscribe, comment, like, and/or share, for sharing is caring that could truly save someone's life today. :-)