Megan Rand

Tag: organic

  • 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 🙂

     

  • My Morning Routine

    My Morning Routine

     

    You do that every morning?!

    This is what I hear whenever I share my favorite daily detox tools and personal care products. It sounds like a lot to fit into a morning, but once it becomes a part of your routine it is really very easy! Being able to do two things at the same time such as oil pull while I am taking a shower definitely helps speed up the process. I am always perfecting and changing my routine, but I will share with you what I am currently doing!

    My Morning personal care routine & detox tools:

    Lemon Elixir

    Depending on my mood, I start the day with either warm lemon water (half of a lemon in a full mug of water) or room temperature water from my Berkey. When I drink room temperature water I add a half of lemon and 1 -2 tablespoons of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). This elixir will warm up your digestion to get you ready for your day and also aids in clearing any toxins that your liver has been working to eliminate throughout the night.

    Note: Because ACV is a ferment with live bacteria, do not heat the ACV or you may kill the live bacteria – be sure to add it to your room temperature water.

    Some people have an aversion to ACV because it makes them feel nauseous. This feeling may go away in a couple of days or it could be a sign that you have a candida or bacterial overgrowth. As always, test what works best for you! If that feeling doesn’t go away or you have a tightness in your chest, ditch the ACV and stick with lemon water. I recommend checking back in every so often to see if you are able to tolerate the ACV

    After my lemon elixir, I have some ME time. I try to wake up before my daughter so that I can do some stretching or writing. This is when I do my most creative work, so I avoid checking my email or social media until later in the day!!

    Tongue Scraper

    Next I head to the bathroom and start with my tongue scraper. I have a Dr. Tung’s Tongue Scraper which is such a good investment in your health at only around $7!

    All night long your body is repairing itself and getting rid of toxins. One of the exit routes for these toxins is on your tongue. If you notice that you have a thick yellow or white coating on your tongue, this is a sign that your body is working hard to try and get rid of extra waste. You can help your body out by scraping this film off instead of swallowing it again and having to get rid of it again the next night!

    Detoxification support is not the only benefit or tongue scraping. It is also great for oral health since you are removing a significant amount of bacteria that can lead to bad breath and dental issues. In addition, by removing this coating on your tongue you improve your ability to taste food, which makes it more satisfying. By reigniting your taste buds, you eliminate the need to add more sugar, salt and excessive spice to the food to make it more flavorful.

    Oil pulling

    Next I put one tablespoon of coconut oil in my mouth and literally pull it through my teeth. You can start with a few minutes and build up to the recommended 15 – 20 minutes. This is a long time to be oil pulling, so starting small and working up is better than nothing at all!

    The antibacterial properties of the oil will pull out bacteria and fungus, alleviating inflammation, congestion and even allergies. It helps with bad breath, bleeding gums, cavities, gingivitis, plaque, sensitive teeth and will make your teeth noticeably whiter. If you’ve ever had any dental work or root canals, this is something you should commit to for at least a month. Make sure you check with your dentist if you have crowns or loose fillings as this can pull them out.

    I leave the oil in my mouth and move on to…

    Dry Skin Brushing

    Dry skin brushing is an amazing detox tool. You can find watch my Periscope on dry skin brushing here  (as well as all my other Periscope broadcasts) or read a blog post about How to Dry Skin Brush. There is an in depth, how-to explanation of how to do this.

    In general, dry skin brushing is spectacular for losing weight, diminishing cellulite, flushing the lymphatic system and overall boost to your immunity.

    You can find a dry skin brush on Amazon or your local health food store.

    After I finishing dry brushing, I hop in the shower and continue to oil pull. When I’m done pulling, I spit the oil in the trash – not in the sink – so that I don’t clog the pipes with oil!

    Brush my Teeth -The Dirt

    I brush my teeth with The Dirt, which is a trace mineral tooth brushing powder. I love this toothpaste (or powder)! My daughter uses the MCT oil toothpaste from the same company which is another option if you can’t get into using powder on your teeth. Most toothpaste (even the “healthy” ones) contain glycerin, fluoride and other chemicals so this is a fabulous alternative. You can get 15% off with this link.

    Fatface Skincare

    Fatface offers clean skin care products that use healthy fats and organic ingredients. They are chemical and toxic free.

    Every day after my shower I use the Myrrhaculous Face Cream but while I am pregnant I use the one without myrrh (you can mark that on your order and they will send you one without myrrh!). After I give my face some love, I also rub Body Butta  all over your belly and body.  Last winter the Body Butta made all the difference in my skin since, because I HATE dry skin! Last winter was my first winter back East in almost 10 years, and happened to be the longest, driest winter in a while!!!  The Body Butta is also fabulous during pregnancy to help keep form getting stretch marks (if you are wondering about other tips for stretch marks, grab my free Holistic Pregnancy Guide) .

     

    Next it is time for my breakfast and my vitamins. That sums up my morning routine. Now I am off to workout with my trainer Jocelyn (well not really off to workout since she comes to me via Skype!). Don’t forget to keep your lymphatic system moving with some daily exercise!!

     

     

  • Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins

    When my daughter Lily was born, my mom and I made triple batches of a family Morning Glory Muffin recipe and put them in the freezer.  I knew that I would be hungry due to lack or sleep and nursing, but I didn’t know that I would be THAT hungry!!  In the middle of the night when my daughter was up to feed I would get so hungry that I would have eaten ANYTHING.  Luckily, we had lots of muffins (although they only lasted a week or 2!).  I would pop them in the toaster (since they were frozen) and then add some good fat such as butter or coconut oil.  Nursing moms need 500 more calories a day than they did when they were pregnant!  Now I understand why I was so hungry.

     

    As I am getting closer to delivering baby number, I realized that I really needed to make some Morning Glory Muffins.  But, many things in my life have changed since over 5 years ago when I was pregnant that first time.  After Lily was born I had a drastic drop in my overall health and my adrenals and hormones were shot.  Which, to make a long story short, ended up in a major food and lifestyle overhaul as well as a change of career  the field of health and nutrition!  As painful as it was, I really feel blessed in my new career, so I guess things really do happen for a reason 🙂

     

    But, to get back to the point, now with my new lifestyle, the old Morning Glory Recipe wasn’t really within my “healthy standards” now that I am strictly gluten free and avoid refined sugars.  So the recipe needed an overhaul and I don’t have the gluten free baking skills to make that happen, but my good friends Hayley and Bill at Primal Palate definitely do!

     

    Not only did Bill and Hayley redo the recipe to be paleo, free from refined sugar and gluten, they also made me a batch, froze them and mailed them to me!!! That is why I love this community.

     

    It took a few tries to get the correct flour combination for the grain free version which you can read about on the Primal Palate blog and also find all of their other fabulous recipes!

     

    Here is the adjusted gluten free recipe created by Hayley and Bill at Primal Palate:

     

    Gluten-Free Morning Glory Muffins

    Ingredients

    Process

    1. Preheat the oven to bake at 350 degrees, and line a muffin tin with parchment muffin papers.
    2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the arrowroot flour, coconut flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.
    3. In a small mixing bowl, blend together the maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla extract.
    4. Using a box grater, shred the carrots, and apple, and set aside.
    5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and blend with a hand mixer, until the batter is smooth.
    6. Add the shredded carrot and apple to the batter, and blend again with the hand mixer to combine.
    7. Stir in the raisins, crushed pineapple, and chopped pecans.
    8. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the batter into each muffin cup.
    9. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool.
    10. Serve with grass-fed butter or ghee.
    *Primal Palate recipes are created using Paleo, Primal and Gluten-free guidelines. Learn more about our diet and lifestyle at www.primalpalate.com.
    A big shout out to all of the mamas out there who are up in the middle of the night taking care of their little one. It may not be an easy job but it is the most important job in the world.  Try to take some time to nourish and fuel yourself, because a hangry, exhausted, mama is of no use to your precious baby!!
  • Christmas Gifts for your Holistic Friend

    Christmas Gifts for your Holistic Friend

     

    Do you have anyone in your life who embraces a holistic lifestyle? Someone who gets excited about a stainless steel stein that not only keeps your tea hot for 12 hours, but doesn’t leach ANY endocrine disrupting plastic into your drink?  For those of us who geek out over healthy gadgets and nontoxic goodies, this is an amazing list of ideas for Christmas presents.  

     

    Although my family members might be rolling their eyes when they open their presents, I can’t help but want to keep them around a long time – so nontoxic is what they are getting from me!!!

     

    Water Bottles, Tumblers and Pints oh my!

     

    If you have some family or friends who are the outdoorsy type, the Stainless Steel Vacuum insulated Steins from Healthy Human Life are awesome!!!  They come with a carabiner to hook onto your bag and are great for camping, hiking or the beach (for those of you lucky enough to be near one)!  The best feature, in my opinion, as we enter the freezing cold winter season is that it keeps hot beverages warm up to 12 hours!!  I had a tea in mine a few days ago and forgot about it for about 4 hours.  When I opened it up I was amazed that it was piping hot and I actually had to wait to drink it.

     

    Planning a party or camping trip? The Stainless Steel pints are a great upgrade to those red solo cups.  But they are not just for adults, I think this is a fabulous gift for children!  Since we are a Montessori loving family, we have embraced the idea that kids learn and gain self confidence from being able to independently perform tasks. Having unbreakable pints like these on a shelf or in a drawer that kids can reach to poor their own cup of water not only helps out mom and dad, but gives them great pride.  You might think this is a boring gift for a child, but watch them light up when they learn they can now get their own beverage!  

     

    Even better, Healthy Human Life is offering 10% off Amazon coupon code (valid until 12/31/15).  

    You can just use Discount Code: [highlight background_color=”00fff2″ text_color=”000000″]gingnw10 at checkout[/highlight].

     

    Stein link: http://hhl.life/gingnewsteins

    20 oz Tumbler link: http://hhl.life/gingnewtums

    Pint link: http://hhl.life/gingnewpints

     

    Spiralizer

     

    Have any health conscious, paleo or gluten-free friends in your life?  Making zoodles is all the rage right now.  Zoodles a.k.a zucchini noodles, are a great substitution in all your favorite pasta dishes without the wheat or gluten.  We have zoodles with meat sauce in our house about once a week. I don’t know what I would do without my spiralizer!!

    I have the GEFU which works very well and is really sturdy –  but at the time of writing this this one was on sale for half the price and looked pretty similar (although I have never personally used it!)

    Vitamix – find it here

     

    This would be an amazing gift for someone you REALLY love 🙂  This is definitely not the cheapest item on the list, but I love having an amazing blender on hand for making veggie smoothies (aka: a blended salad), pureed soups, homemade nut butters and nut milks.  Something like this is an investment but when you get a good quality blender it will last for years, which ends up being great for your pocketbook as well as the environment.  How many times have you bought the cheaper version of something just to throw it away the next year?!

     

    Himalayan Salt Lamp – find it here

     

    By now, most of us natural lifestyle junkies have heard that blue light exposure will hinder melatonin production at night, making it harder for us to fall asleep as well as stay in deep sleep.  Upgrading your children’s nightlights or having these around your home for ambience not only supports better sleep and mood but can help you clean up your environment at the same time!  My daughter loves hers and so do I! 

     

    Berkey Water Filter (for drinking)

     

    If you haven’t heard me talk about how much I love my Berkey than you probably haven’t been around me often, because I LOVE my Berkey.  This countertop system has a carbon filters that (according to the Berkey webiste) “remove viruses to purification standards, pathogenic bacteria, cysts and parasites to non-detectable levels, and harmful or unwanted chemicals to below detectable levels”.  That is a great benefit of course but a bonus is that the water tastes amazing and quenches my thirst.  Since I personally struggled with severe adrenal dysfunction, I am always looking for water that still has it’s natural minerals intact.  Restoring my minerals has been very important in recovering my energy and hormone balance.  If you have someone in your life who has been trying to make upgrades in their personal and cleaning products, but hasn’t splurged on they water filter, this would be an amazing present for them.

    Diffuser & Essential Oils

     

    Who doesn’t like yummy smelling things? There are lots of scented candles and air fresheners that might smell good, but at the same time are sending chemicals and endocrine disruptors into the air. Get the best of both worlds by sending a friend a diffuser and some essential oils. Not only will the essential oils make the room smell amazing but at the same time can help clear the air of fungus and bacteria with a blend like On Guard.  

     

    Beeswax Candles

     

    If you are going to give candles as a gift, go for beeswax.    Why not use a candle that helps clean the air while your friends or family are using it? Look for 100% pure beeswax on candles, otherwise just “pure” can mean 51%. Beeswax candles release negative ions when it burns which helps neutralize positive ions that suspend pollen, dust, dirt and pollutant in the air. This can help to reduce indoor pollutants and can therefore help reduce asthma, allergies & hay fever

     

    Nontoxic Skincare – Fatface

     

    How many times have you ended up getting a friend or family some random smelly lotion from the mall just because you needed a gift?  Well, those are the days of the past for me. If I wouldn’t use it on my own body, I don’t give it as a gift!  I personally love Fatface Skincare for all of my nontoxic skincare items.  They only use real ingredients that you could actually eat (although maybe you shouldn’t do that!) .  They follow a nose to tail philosophy meaning that they believe if you are going to kill an animal to eat the meat, than you should make sure to use every single part of it, including the fat!

    I have always gotten great feedback when I have given the Facial Skincare Kit as a present. I cannot get over the change in the way my skin looks and feels since adding Myrrhaculous Face Cream, Body Butta and my favorite, the Fat Stick, into my life. Check out the Fatface Skincare website for all of their amazing products as well as the holiday boxes! These are not only nontoxic, they also smell great and work extremely well unlike some other natural products that I have tried.  Your friends will be thanking you!!!  

     

     

    Want more information about nontoxic products that we love?  Want more tips and tricks about how to clean up your home environment to be supportive of vibrant health?

     

    Grab the Toxic Home Makeover to give yourself the best Christmas gift of all  – the gift of a nontoxic home environment!!!

     

    [image url=”http://gingernewtrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Toxic-Home-Makeover-Cover-238×300.png” raw=”true” alignment=”center” margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ link=”http://healthyhormonesgroup.com/toxichome” target=”_parent” width=”238″ height=”300″]

  • Chaga Hot Chocolate

    Chaga Hot Chocolate

     

    Chaga mushrooms are a type of medicinal mushroom known as the Siberian Gift to the Gods! They grow on trees and are extremely hard and rigid as compared to most types of mushrooms.   They are consumed by being ground into a powder and can then be made into a delicious beverage.

     

    We all know mushrooms are a superfood but these are like mushrooms on steroids! They are a very dense source of minerals including calcium, iron, manganese. They are also great for detox as they support the kidneys and liver.  A mid-afternoon chaga tea or hot chocolate can give you a boost in energy while supporting the adrenal glands because of the high mineral content.

     

    As if those weren’t enough benefits to want to try this magical mushroom, they also support digestion and are a rich source of pantothenic acid, riboflavin, and niacin. Chaga mushrooms have been used in ancient cultures for 100s of years and people who consume chaga mushrooms on a regular basis are said to live 85-100 years old.

     

    If ground up mushroom powder does not sound that appetizing, it is actually quite delicious when made into this hot chocolate because the chaga powder has somewhat of a caramel flavor! Think Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate! (a hippy nutritious version)

     

    Chaga Hot Chocolate

    2 Tbsp chaga powder

    2 Tbsp cacao powder

    1 Tbsp coconut oil (or as desired)

    1 tsp up to 1 Tbsp raw manuka honey (or as desired)

    ¼-1/3 cup of coconut milk

    ½ inch knob of fresh ginger

    1 Tbsp collagen powder

    1 tsp cinnamon (to taste)

    ½-1 tsp nutmeg (to taste)

    Sprinkle of pink sea salt

     

    Add chaga powder and cacao powder to the bottom of mug. Fill mug ¾ full with hot water. Melt coconut oil into hot water. Add honey and stir together. Put coconut milk, ginger, collagen powder, cinnamon, nutmeg into a blender (we have a Vitamix) that can handle hot beverages (not all of them can, be aware of exploding hot drinks!!). Pour the liquid that you have mixed together in your mug into the blender. Blend on high until well blended and frothy. Pour into your mug and top with a sprinkle of pink sea salt if desired.

     

    Enjoy!!!

     

  • Warm Apple Slices with Coconut Cream

    Warm Apple Slices with Coconut Cream

     

    Apple pie has always been my favorite dessert during the holidays.  I rarely have the time or patience to make a gluten-free apple pie, so this is my busy mom’s version of apple pie.  There are no excuses when it comes to this recipe because this is the simplest dessert ever!  Want something sweet after dinner? You can easily throw this together without much preparation (you just need to have coconut milk in the refrigerator!).

     

    In my practice we try to avoid deprivation. Instead we find a way to upgrade the foods that we lean on for comfort.  If you usually have ice-cream or cookies for dessert, try something like this instead!

     

    Warm Apple Slices with Coconut Cream

    Makes 2 servings

    1 can coconut milk, refrigerated for several hours

    1 teaspoon coconut oil

    2 apples, cored and sliced

    1 teaspoon raw honey

    1 teaspoon cinnamon

    1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

     

    Place a can of coconut milk in the refrigerator for several hours. The coconut milk fats will harden. Scoop this cream off of the top.

     

    COMBINE THE INGREDIENTS. Add coconut oil to a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the apple slices. Warm for 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to two serving bowls. Top with coconut cream (the hardened coconut milk fat), raw honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

     

    Enjoy!

     

    Photo credit: Primal Palate

  • Hormone Helping Coconut Chips

    Hormone Helping Coconut Chips

     

    As Alex of Dig Primal and I have been working on the content for our Healthy Hormones Group Program for the last few months, my favorite part of the process is that I get to learn the tips and tricks that she uses too! We all have different tools that we pick up along the way and I think that it is important to have a really varied toolbox for my clients. Each person that I work with is so uniquely different in their bio-individual and genetic makeup that often a suggestion that works amazingly for one person will leave another feeling sick. A supplement that gives me energy though the roof might cause you to fall asleep at your desk. That is all a part of the puzzle!! I love learning lots of different options, recipes and suggestions so that we can find the perfect combination for each person.

     

    Alex shared this recipe with me for Hormone Helping Coconut Chips and I can’t get enough! I love incorporating coconut flakes into my diet for a lot of reasons. For one, they have an amazing composition of healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Not only does this combination of macronutrients help keep you full longer after meals (which also helps prevent unhealthy snacking you weren’t actually intending), but fueling your body with such balanced caloric intake is great for the hormonal system. Additionally, the fatty acids found in coconut products directly play a role in healthy hormone synthesis so their presence in the diet greatly increases the success of all your other hormone-helping interventions; after all, it makes sense that if you don’t have the building blocks to create hormones, no amount of adjunctive therapies are going to help your cause in the long term.

     

    The spices found in this recipe work through a variety of mechanisms to help the endocrine and adrenal system along. Since glucose metabolism is a huge problem in people with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction (which is often simply referred to as “adrenal fatigue” but is actually an incredibly limited way to look at the problem since it encompasses so much more than the adrenals…no wonder people have a hard time treating it on their own!), the cayenne, turmeric, and cinnamon are in here to help with the proper use and balance of sugar in the body.

     

    As an added bonus, cayenne pepper and turmeric are incredibly effective in tempering the inflammatory response in the body due to stress, high glucose levels, and underlying hormonal imbalances (see how they all work off each other??), incorporating these spices into meals regularly can be really helpful.

     

    Ingredients:

     

    • 2 cups coconut flakes
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon ghee (replace with coconut oil if you can’t tolerate dairy products)
    • 5 tablespoons raw honey

     

    Steps:

     

    1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
    2. Place your coconut flakes into a medium-sized mixing bowl.
    3. Add in the cayenne pepper, ground turmeric, and ground cinnamon to the coconut flakes and stir well so that all the spices are well distributed (trust me when I say that you do not want a big bite of cayenne pepper down the line).
    4. Place the tablespoon of ghee (or coconut oil) into a small bowl and microwave it until the ghee has melted.
    5. Add the honey and vanilla extract to your melted ghee and mix them all together.
    6. Slowly pour your honey, ghee, and vanilla extract mixture of the spice-dusted coconut flakes. Mix it all together until everything is evenly distributed.
    7. Line a baking sheet with wax paper and evenly spread your coconut flake mixture over the entire area. You don’t want big clumps so take a few moments to spread it all out over the entire baking sheet.
    8. Bake in the oven for 5-7 minutes.
    9. Take out and let cool.
    10. I stored mine in a glass tupperware container.

     

    Want to learn more fun and delicious recipes that can also help support your adrenal glands and balance hormone? The Healthy Hormones Group Program is starting Sept 15th!!!

     

    [image url=”http://gingernewtrition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Healthy-Hormones-Group-Program-Logo.png” raw=”true” alignment=”center” margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”0″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ width=”244″ height=”103″]

     

     

  • Lemon Water Elixir

    Lemon Water Elixir

     

    Good morning!  Do you have any morning routines that you never miss?

     

    Well, for me it’s my morning lemon water. Although I don’t always drink it in the same form, I almost always have one. Sometimes it hot, sometimes it room temperature and sometimes it is a Lemon Water Elixir with apple cider vinegar.  I like to rotate the apple cider vinegar on and off, a couple weeks or a month on and then I take a break for a month.  I have just found that is what personally works best for me and if I continue to drink it every single day I get really sick of it.

     

    Why is this a good way to start your day?

     

    The elixir stimulates and wakes up your digestion, releases toxins from the liver, jumpstarts your digestive enzymes, and is loaded with vitamin C. What else could you ask for first thing in the morning?  This is a staple for the seasonal detoxes that I offer and sometime this change alone can provide drastic results.

     

    Lemon Water Elixir

    1 cup room temperature water

    Juice from 1 lemon

    1 teaspoon Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar

    1 teaspoon honey (optional)

    1/4 in of fresh ginger root os 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (I use Primal Palate spices because the quality and taste are amazing!)

     

    If you feel nauseous or experience tightness in the chest after drinking the morning lemon elixir, please omit the Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar. This reaction can occur from the body’s releasing of bacteria and unwanted toxin. Continue to drink the lemon elixir, omitting the Bragg’s, for at least three days, and then try to re-introduce or use only ½ teaspoon of the apple cider vinegar. If the reactions continue upon reintroduction, continue to only drink the lemon water.  I have had this same reaction happen for clients just by adding lemon to their morning water so you might find that you need to start with a 1/4 lemon and work up if your liver is really struggling.

     

    Note: I have heard some dentists say that having apple cider vinegar daily can be damaging to the enamel on your teeth.  If you are going to be consistently consuming this beverage you might want to consider drinking this through a straw.  At our house we buy either glass or stainless steel reusable straws because who want to be sucking on cheap plastic? (Not to mention filling the landfills!)

     

    Cheers to a healthy liver!

     

  • The Benefits of Seasonal Cleansing

    The Benefits of Seasonal Cleansing

     

    It’s out with the old and in with the new for summer and the same should go for toxin build up in your body. Cleansing should occur at least once a year, but it is also suggested that as the seasons change, a good cleanse can better prepare us for the changes of the seasons. Just like the temperature, the foods we eat during each season changes. Going from spring to summer, the body is working up for some of the busiest months of the year.

     

    Traditionally, cultures all around the world have practiced seasonal cleansing in all types of different ways. Specifically for a liver cleanse, the liver is how the body takes toxins out of the body, and that is how the liver earns the spot of one of the hardest working organs in our bodies! The liver works with many other organs in our body to detox blood, produce bile, hormone breakdowns, and acts as a storage facility for our vitamins and minerals. If the liver is not functioning properly, it affects many other areas of our body.

     

    Some more important functions of the liver include removing old blood cells, helping the intestines process nutrients, chemical production for blood clotting, the breakdown and metabolizing of alcohol and consumed medications, and the production of necessary proteins and cholesterol.

     

    When people hear ‘liver disease’ they typically think of alcoholism, but that is not the only cause of liver disease or liver failure. Some other risk factors associated with liver disease include low potassium levels, drug use, exposure to certain chemicals, obesity, processed foods, viral infections and autoimmune diseases.

     

    Some things you may notice if your liver is not performing at its best include gas or bloating, constipation, heartburn, acid reflux, yellowish tint to skin and eyes, high blood pressure, difficulty losing weight, cognitive difficulties, dark urine, chronic fatigue, poor appetite, and chronic fatigue.

     

    If you want to support your liver there are certain foods you should focus on. These foods include beets, carrots, tomatoes, grapefruit, spinach, citrus fruits, cabbage, turmeric, walnuts, avocados, apples, brussels sprouts, garlic, dandelion root, leafy green vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, green tea, artichoke, olive oil, and alternative grains like quinoa, millet and buckwheat.

     

    There are many diets, supplements, and programs available to detox; you need to find the one that is best for you. Consult your doctor if you have concerns or questions. Below are some general tips that have worked for me:

     

    • Hydrate!
    • Eliminate common food sensitivities
    • Eat clean and organic
    • Exercise regularly
    • Eat a diet high in fiber
    • Take a probiotic
    • Eat light meals more frequently
    • Get the proper amount of sleep
    • Avoid alcohol and tobacco products
    • Avoid processed foods and whole grains

     

    You will find that when you are done with your detox, you should notice that you have much more energy, your digestion has improved, and your skin looks younger and brighter. You will also have better mental clarity and cognitive functioning, along with a boost to your immune system and more balanced blood sugar levels.

     

    Interesting in removing toxins naturally? If you’d like to shed unwanted weight than join us for the next Seasonal Detox!

     

    Health Hormones Group Program starts September 15th (some spots available now)

     

    If you have been considering joining our Healthy Hormones Group Program starting September 15th, I highly suggest that you start with the seasonal detox.  My clients who have focused on their detoxification pathways and liver health for a month or two before trying to balance hormones and support adrenals have been much more successful.  One of the liver’s many jobs is to get rid of excess hormones, so this is an important player in the balancing process.