Megan Rand

Tag: chlorophyll

  • How to Make Liquid Cod Liver Oil Palatable

    How to Make Liquid Cod Liver Oil Palatable

     

    Who takes liquid fish oil? How do you get it down? If you are the kind of person who just puts it on a spoon and swigs it, I am impressed with you! I switched over to Rosita Real Foods during pregnancy and had always taken capsules prior to that. I was told by a friend that Rosita Real Foods was so clean and smooth that I wouldn’t mind the taste at all….

     

    Not true for me!! My body immediately rejected the fish oil and it wasn’t a pretty sight! So, I had to come up with a way to trick myself into taking the fish oil and keeping it down.

     

    Here is the fishy-flavor cover-up concoction that I came up with that works great to get my Cod Liver down everyday:

     

    Liquid Cod Liver Oil Cover-Up Concoction

     

    1 tsp Rosita Real Foods Cod Liver Oil

    1 tsp Chlorofresh liquid chlorophyll

    1 tsp cranberry concentrate

    Juice of 1/4 lemon

     

    Wondering what the benefits of these ingredients are?

     

    Rosita Real Foods Cod Liver Oil (you can get it here) 

    This is a great source of fat soluble vitamins (namely A and D) in their most bioavailable form (retinol and cholecalciferol). It contains a complete range of fats including Omega-3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 11. It is a rich source of Omega 3’s EPA and DHA which are essential fatty acids meaning that our body cannot make them and we must consume them from food. They are also great for a baby’s or child’s developing brain! I like this brand because it is unrefined, unprocessed, never heated or exposed to chemicals.

     

    Liquid Chlorophyll

    I like to add liquid chlorophyll because it is great for detox as well as helping to bind to and slowly get rid of heavy metals. It is known as an internal deodorizer so maybe if you stick to this habit long enough deodorant will be a thing of the past!

     

    Cranberry Concentrate

    Cranberry concentrate is a staple ingredient in the Detox Elixir that are a part of my seasonal detoxes. It is great to flushing the lymphatic system and therefore beneficial to detoxification and immune system support.

     

    Lemon

    Another ingredient that can help support your liver and detoxification. Not only is this a great way to support your digestion in the morning, it is also the key ingredient to covering up the fishy taste!

     

    So, for all of you pregnant mama’s out there trying to focus on nutrient density but struggling to keep anything down, give this little recipe a try to get some more nutrients in to support your baby’s developing brain!

     

    Periscope Video

    Want to watch an amusing video of my daughter making this drink and trying it for the first time on periscope?  Let’s just say she doesn’t find it quite as palatable as I do!! You can watch the replay of this video (and all of my periscopes!) at katch.me/Gnewtrition.

     

    [image url=”http://gingernewtrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-10-at-12.53.25-PM-300×240.png” raw=”true” alignment=”center” margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ link=”https://katch.me/GNewtrition/v/717c5cbf-7251-3661-bb11-0ff2490cba69″ target=”_parent” width=”300″ height=”240″]

     

  • Cellulite & Detox

    Cellulite & Detox

     

    One of the cool side effects of participating in my own Seasonal Detoxes is that my cellulite disappeared!! I always attributed this to the implementation of daily dry skin brushing, but there are so many different ways during the detox that we are helping to remove toxins that are hiding in our fat cells. After the detox, I have kept the majority of the detox tools as a part of my daily routine.

     

    Cellulite is a sign that your lymphatic system is having a hard time getting rid of the excess toxins. If you are ready to cleanse out the liver, ditch the cellulite and regenerate the cells, then try some of these suggestions.

     

    1. Clean up your diet.  The most important aspect of participating in our seasonal detox is that we are eliminating processed foods and foods that you might be sensitive to.

    2. Dry skin brushing. Cellulite is toxins trapped in fat cells. By skin brushing daily, you can reduce cellulite.

    3. Exercise!!  There is not much that needs to be said about this one.  Exercising is one of the best ways to move the lymphatic system and keep things from being stagnant.

    4. Drink away your cellulite!  Make a carrot, beet and cucumber juice to help flush away the cellulite, consume fresh juices daily or add a super green like chlorophyll to your water. Greens support healthy liver flow and support the release of toxins in the body.

    5. Balance excess estrogen by eating cruciferous vegetables. If you have thyroid issues, you can lightly steam your vegetables.

    6. Add sea vegetables such as dulse, nori and kelp to your diet. These may be new foods, but they are powerhouse cellulite reducers and by adding 2 tablespoons 3 or 4 times a week, you will support your thyroid, adrenals and re-mineralize your body. (When adding sea vegetables this is a great source of iodine but make sure to also include selenium in your diet. I like to get mine from 2 brazil nuts a day!)

    7. Add a daily toxin flusher to your diet such as grapefruit, lemon, lime, apple slices and antioxidants like berries.

    8. Eat enough healthy fats like avocado, flax oil, and medium chain fatty acids like coconut oil, as the liver needs fats to flush fat.

    9. Drink tons of water and Natural Gatorade, as minerals and hydration are essential for healthy liver flow and reducing cellulite.

    I hope that these tips and tricks all work as well for you as they did for me!! The true test will be to put them into action after I have my baby 🙂

     

  • Is your clogged liver making you fat?

    Is your clogged liver making you fat?

    Talking about the liver is one of my favorite topics.  I don’t think the liver gets enough press, I mean this organ is pretty darn cool.

    The liver is the largest solid organ in the body and weighs approximately 3.5 lbs! It is a HUGE filter.

    Important functions of the liver:

    • Detoxifies the blood to rid it of harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs.
    • It makes and secretes bile to help your body absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K).
    • It metabolizes and stores carbohydrates, fats, sugars, vitamins (and other nutrients obtained from the foods we eat) for energy and brain function.
    • It breaks down harmful chemicals (bilirubin and ammonia) produced by the body and keeps the body regulated and healthy.
    • It manufactures proteins to help maintain blood purity and proper flow.

    What does this have to do with weight gain?

    If the liver is overburdened with toxic substances day in and out, other important functions such as metabolism will be compromised.  The liver is responsible for helping to metabolize fat through the production of bile.  A compromised fat metabolism leads to weight gain as well as feeling bloated and sluggish.

    Anger and the Liver

    Did you know that anger is the emotion tied with the liver?  Have you ever noticed that alcoholics or people who regularly abuse their liver tend to be angry?

    Signs that your liver can’t keep up with the junk you are sending it:

    • Headaches
    • Don’t feel like eating first thing in the morning
    • Food allergies and chemical sensitivities
    • Dark urine
    • Loss of appetite
    • Nausea and vomiting
    • Diarrhea, and light colored stools
    • Enlarged blood vessels, easy bruising
    • Anxiety and depression
    • Mental confusion
    • PMS
    • Exhaustion and fatigue
    • Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin
    • Impaired libido (sex drive)

    If the signs above point to a clogged liver and you would like to confirm that, there is a lab test we can run.  This lab would also make sense if you have been making a lot of effort to reduce stress on your liver and want to see your progress.

    How will I know if my liver is congested?

    As a Certified Functional Nutrition Practitioner, examining liver function is one of the first 2 lab tests that I complete with a client.  The BH 101 collects data on digestive and detoxification functions by looking at the Urinary Bile Acid Sulfates (UBAS). When the liver cannot filter efficiently the bile acid sulfates spill over and are present in the urine.  A high UBAS is a clue into what is going on within the body.

    How can you support the liver?

    1)      ½ Lemon in 16 oz water in the morning (warm or room temp) – the lemon water will help flush out the liver.

    2)      Increase your intake of greens – dandelion greens, kale, parsley and collards

    3)      Herbs that support the liver – milk thistle, dandelion, burdock root & turmeric (curcumin).

    4)      Avoid eating out– the added chemicals, “natural flavors” and additives in restaurant food (even healthy restaurants) are much higher than in any home cooked food.

    5)      Eat liver – The Native American cultures believed that if you want to support an organ you should eat that organ of an animal.  With 2 wise Native Americans in my house, I am going to take this advice to be true! If you are into eating odd, squishy foods, go for it. Get yourself some liver and chow down. Are you grossed out by the idea of eating liver?  You can also get desiccated liver capsules by Radiant Life and take them first thing in the morning.

    6)      Give the liver a break! Limiting your intake of highly processed foods, dairy and meat and replacing that with vegetables, fresh juices and soups for a few weeks (if not always!).  I like to do this at the change of the seasons.

    In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring is the time of the Liver and the Gallbladder.  This is why every Spring I like to give the liver a break from the toxins, chemicals, alcohol and processed foods. During my 2 week cleanse I also support this liver with herbs, chlorophyll rich foods, and a special detoxifying beverage!

    Resources: liverfact.com