Whew, we made it through one week and I must say, it hasn't been all that bad! Last night I had a dream that I was stuffing my face full of some yummy, creamy pie-type thing..not sure what, but all I know is that it was GOOD. And I was hiding while doing it. Do you think that's a bad thing? My biggest fear is that when the cleanse is done that I will go into overeating mode and gain back all my Pre-P90X weight (I'm now down 20 pounds). "It's just a fear", is how Daniel coached me this morning, "as long as you don't act on it, it's ok..and you won't". I can't tell you how solid I feel to have someone there to be accountable to and to talk me down off the ledge!
So, as I opened our cupboard this morning, that stupid Box of Protein bars that are sitting up there waiting to be eaten one day leered out at me, and I thought, "I really want one of those and what would happen if I cheated on the cleanse" and then I realized that I would not only be letting myself down, but I'd be letting Daniel down too. That made me not want the protein bar anymore...well, maybe i wanted it still a little!
Anyway, I am feeling great!! No headaches and the yeast die-off isn't half as bad this time as the last time I did the cleanse. Usually the yeast die-off causes bloat, severe spaciness, irritability, and so much more. I've had some of those symptons, but overall I feel great and clear. It feels so nice to not have a "vice" anymore and to need some caffeine-fueled beverage to pull me out of bed. Now it's the GREEN ELIXIR that gets us going. Here's the recipe (but I suggest you make your own concoction up since you may not be cleansing)
1 scoop Greens Powder (Macro Greens are good, or Vitality Greens by Donna Gates)
1 scoop Pure Vitamin C Powder (From a natural food source)
10 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract (powerful for killing bacteria, viruses, great for immunity)
1 TBL Olive Leaf Extract (great anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-yeast)
1 TBL Chlorophyll (for the blood)
Fill glass with water and a dash of Pomegranate juice. If you're not cleansing, I highly recommend using Coconut Water! I can't wait to have coconut water again!! YUM!!
Optional additions:
4 drops Oregano Oil (this stuff is super powerful and doesn't taste so great, so chug it back quick)
So now I have a new vice..a really good one. The Green Elixir of Life! I know that I am getting through the day without any fake boost, aka caffeine. My adrenal glands are loving me right now. Did you know that Caffeine releases Cortisol in the blood which is what happens when your body goes in to "fight or flight" or protection mode?? That means your body is working super hard all day and trying to protect you for no good reason other than from phantom source (caffeine) that puts it into a tail spin! Also, the constant secretion of cortisol makes it hard for you to lose weight. If you will notice, a lot of people under stress hold weight around the middle. This is due to Cortisol release into the blood.
Anyway, yesterday I came up against a wall after I ate my lunch. I was working at Mr Horton's house and I brought my homemade Red Potato Salad over that I was going to eat with a large bunch of Greens. Well, I got so busy, I never got around to getting the greens, so I noshed on the potato salad. (side note: red potatoes are the lowest in sugar of any potato and are ok on this cleanse as they do not give you the same insulin spike as other potatoes). Well, even though they are ok on this cleanse, eating them alone with no other protein source resulted in me hitting the WALL! I was in a major 3pm slump. It was the first time I've experienced that on this cleanse other than general lethargy from my body releasing toxins 24/7. It was hard for me to push through, but I made some hot herbal tea and felt better. At that moment I realized how powerful food is and how what we put in our mouths on a daily basis is so important. How we can go through tremendous highs and lows throughout the day just by what we are eating and drinking. How our mood can be affected. How we can be irritated or angry..and all of this comes from these highs and lows that processed, refined foods and caffeine cause. It's utterly mind-blowing!
So, as you read this, I hope you will think about what you are putting into your mouth. We all metabolize food differently and if you are really interested in knowing how your body metabolizes food, I highly recommend reading "The Metabolic Typing Diet" and taking the test in the book. You can find it at Amazon.com. It's really the only book I have ever found that makes sense about how you eat according to how you metabolize and what your blood type is.
Today I am going to make some soup, but before I do that, I promised a recipe for my Creamy Cauliflower & Carrot soup with Dill. So here it is:
2 TBS Coconut Oil
2 heads of Cauliflower, cut into florets
5 medium carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
1 large yellow onion or maui onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 stalks celery, diced
6 cups water or Veggie Broth
1 tsp. tumeric
Fresh Dill to taste
1 TBS Sea Salt (only if not using broth)
Heat Coconut Oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and celery and saute until soft. Add cauliflower and carrots and stir together to combine. Add water or broth, tumeric & sea salt if using. Stir together, turn up heat and bring to boil. Cover with a lid and turn down heat to low and let soup simmer until vegetables are tender. Once done, stir in fresh dill. Using a blender or blender stick, puree soup until creamy. Top with freshly ground black pepper. ENJOY!!
I'm off for today, so have an amazing day and remember You Are What You Eat!!!
If you want more information on Candida and cleansing, please feel free to email me at missy@karmachow.com
Showing posts with label Whole Foods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Whole Foods. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Just Because You Are Vegetarian Doesn't Mean You're Healthy!!
To many of us, Vegetarianism is a mystery. Becoming a vegetarian is usually a choice that people make for health reasons, ethical reasons or environmental reasons. But most vegetarians and not particularly healthy, per se.
Being a vegetarian takes work. It takes commitment. It takes dedication and it also takes creativity and knowledge. It's easy to be an unhealthy vegetarian, but most people have no idea that they are being unhealthy. The reason is usually due to lack of knowledge. If you go to any grocery store today, there is an array of supposedly "healthy" vegetarian foods, but most of these foods are over processed and contain high amounts of soy, gluten, sodium and other ingredients that wreak havoc on our digestive system.
There are many types of vegetarians according to today's society. But I believe that a true & healthy vegetarian is a person who eats a diet consisting of unprocssed whole foods. Whole foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, healthy fats and the occasional egg. If you think you are doing your body good by becoming a vegetarian while still eating cheese, yogurt, any kind of dairy, white flour, white sugar and processed "vegetarian" foods, you aren't. You might as well still eat meat and chicken for that matter. Those choices are better than most of the heart clogging, high cholesterol cheeses and yogurts or the acidifying processed foods that will cause heart disease and a whole other ilk of health problems down the line.
If it's an ethical issue to you, and you don't care about health, than so be it. Yet anyone who does not care about their health and what they put in their mouth is looking for trouble in the long term. Your body is a temple and the only one you have while you are here. It's important that you treat it with respect so that it works optimally to assist you in a long, happy and healthy life.
Ok, let's talk about the different kinds of "vegetarians" (remember, a true vegetarian does not eat any animal flesh at all). A vegan on the other hand, eats absolutely NO animal products including eggs, honey, white sugar & dairy.
Vegetarian: Eats a plant based diet and does not eat red meat, chicken, pork or any other meat from an animal
Pescetarian: A vegetarian who eats fish
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: A vegetarian who eats dairy & eggs
Flexitarian (this is a newer type of Vegetarian): one who is a vegetarian but will occasionally eat fish or chicken
Total Vegetarian: does not eat any animal products including eggs, dairy, honey and sometime white sugar (some white sugar is processed with the ash of cow bones so it is not considered vegetarian)
Vegan: Eliminates all animal products from their life even clothing & shoes made from leather, wool or silk.
As I said earlier, many vegetarians can be extremely unhealthy and sometimes it takes a lot of planning to have this type of lifestyle. Eating pizza, nachos, or any other greasy foods that don't contain meat is not the path to being a healthy vegetarian. Yes, sometimes those foods are easy to grab on the go, but these foods will leave you feeling bloated & tired, along with an array of other possible health problems. And, you will not get the necessary nutrients you need for your body as you would from eating whole foods.
If you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian or already are one, please remember that what you put into your mouth is the most important thing you can do for your body other than exercise. Be mindful of your choices. Eat lots of fresh veggies and fruit. Eat minimal amounts of processed foods. Take baby steps. Cut out one unhealthy food per week and add in a healthy one. If you are used to the Soy chicken nuggets or the frozen pizza from the freezer section, I urge you to rethink those choices and choose foods that are minimally processed. Make time each week to plan your meals.
Remember, having a healthy lifestyle takes work. It's an investment in your health. You are worth the effort and commitment it takes to be healthy. Before you know it, it will become old hat and you will be feeling and looking better than you ever have in your life! The key to your success is Baby Steps! Have fun!!!
Being a vegetarian takes work. It takes commitment. It takes dedication and it also takes creativity and knowledge. It's easy to be an unhealthy vegetarian, but most people have no idea that they are being unhealthy. The reason is usually due to lack of knowledge. If you go to any grocery store today, there is an array of supposedly "healthy" vegetarian foods, but most of these foods are over processed and contain high amounts of soy, gluten, sodium and other ingredients that wreak havoc on our digestive system.
There are many types of vegetarians according to today's society. But I believe that a true & healthy vegetarian is a person who eats a diet consisting of unprocssed whole foods. Whole foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, healthy fats and the occasional egg. If you think you are doing your body good by becoming a vegetarian while still eating cheese, yogurt, any kind of dairy, white flour, white sugar and processed "vegetarian" foods, you aren't. You might as well still eat meat and chicken for that matter. Those choices are better than most of the heart clogging, high cholesterol cheeses and yogurts or the acidifying processed foods that will cause heart disease and a whole other ilk of health problems down the line.
If it's an ethical issue to you, and you don't care about health, than so be it. Yet anyone who does not care about their health and what they put in their mouth is looking for trouble in the long term. Your body is a temple and the only one you have while you are here. It's important that you treat it with respect so that it works optimally to assist you in a long, happy and healthy life.
Ok, let's talk about the different kinds of "vegetarians" (remember, a true vegetarian does not eat any animal flesh at all). A vegan on the other hand, eats absolutely NO animal products including eggs, honey, white sugar & dairy.
Vegetarian: Eats a plant based diet and does not eat red meat, chicken, pork or any other meat from an animal
Pescetarian: A vegetarian who eats fish
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: A vegetarian who eats dairy & eggs
Flexitarian (this is a newer type of Vegetarian): one who is a vegetarian but will occasionally eat fish or chicken
Total Vegetarian: does not eat any animal products including eggs, dairy, honey and sometime white sugar (some white sugar is processed with the ash of cow bones so it is not considered vegetarian)
Vegan: Eliminates all animal products from their life even clothing & shoes made from leather, wool or silk.
As I said earlier, many vegetarians can be extremely unhealthy and sometimes it takes a lot of planning to have this type of lifestyle. Eating pizza, nachos, or any other greasy foods that don't contain meat is not the path to being a healthy vegetarian. Yes, sometimes those foods are easy to grab on the go, but these foods will leave you feeling bloated & tired, along with an array of other possible health problems. And, you will not get the necessary nutrients you need for your body as you would from eating whole foods.
If you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian or already are one, please remember that what you put into your mouth is the most important thing you can do for your body other than exercise. Be mindful of your choices. Eat lots of fresh veggies and fruit. Eat minimal amounts of processed foods. Take baby steps. Cut out one unhealthy food per week and add in a healthy one. If you are used to the Soy chicken nuggets or the frozen pizza from the freezer section, I urge you to rethink those choices and choose foods that are minimally processed. Make time each week to plan your meals.
Remember, having a healthy lifestyle takes work. It's an investment in your health. You are worth the effort and commitment it takes to be healthy. Before you know it, it will become old hat and you will be feeling and looking better than you ever have in your life! The key to your success is Baby Steps! Have fun!!!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Match Your Food to Your Parts!
We all know that eating healthy, unprocessed, whole foods is good for us, but do we really know why? Well, Mother Nature is indeed a miracle worker, because she created some food to look just like our body parts, therefore enhancing and nourishing those specific parts, the more we eat them.
Below is a list of some foods that are great for your parts...eat them as much as you like! It's a bit like playing Match Game, if any of you remember that TV show!
Walnuts: Shaped like a brain, good for the brain! High in Omega 3's which help the brain cells communicate with each other. Omega's are also essential for cognitive performance & memory.
Carrots: As kids we all heard the tried and true wives tale "Carrots are good for your eyesight", well that couldn't be more true. Not only are they good for eyesight, but Carrots are high in Beta Carotene, which converts to Vitamin A when ingested. Vitamin A maintains the health of your eye and helps to protect your eye from germs, inflammation and infection. Slice one open and check out the iris staring right back at you!
Sweet Potatoes: Shaped like your pancreas, and good for it! Sweet Potatoes or Yams slowly release sugars into the blood-stream so that your pancreas won't get stressed!
Kidney Beans: They aren't called Gall-Bladder beans! These red beauties are great for nourishing and healing your kidneys.
Tomatoes: Cut them open and notice the 4 chambers that mimic the heart..even the color coincides. This delicious fruit, filled with Lycopine, is great for the heart and the blood!
Grapes: Red or Purple grapes are high in flavonoids, which help to protect against heart disease as well as aging and cancer. These heart shaped clusters, that resemble a cluster of blood cells, may also help you control your blood pressure. Best to eat the real thing..but if you must, have that glass of organic, sulfite-free red wine!
Rhubarb, Celery & Bok Choy: Shaped a bit like a fibia, tibula, or ulna these veggies are high in calcium and Vitamin K which is excellent for keeping your bones healthy and strong. Vitamin K assists in activating three proteins involved in bone health as well as increasing bone mineral density. Also a good source of sodium, which your body will pull from your bones if you don't have enough!
FOR THE LADIES:
Melons & Citrus fruits: Ladies..read on! Melons are rich in Vitamin C, which boost our immune system and helps to prevent breast cancer! Oranges are great too!
Olives: Yes, great for the Ovaries! A diet rich in Olive Oil has been shown to lower the risk of Ovarian Cancer.
Avocado, Pear & Eggplant: These three beauties target the cervix and womb! Oddly enough, Avocados take exactly 9-months to grow. They are great for helping to lose weight after childbirth, balancing hormones, and providing essential healthy fats.
FOR THE MEN:
Figs: Hanging in clusters of two, these delicious fruits help increase sperm count & mobility! Gents, go get your figs!!! But make sure you buy this delicate fruit organic!
Remember, eating a whole foods diet will keep your immune system strong and help you to manage stress in your life. Your body uses whole foods as fuel, thereby resulting in more energy and less weight gain!
So..next time you're in the market...match that food to your part! Have FUN!!!
Visit my site at: www.karmachow.com
Below is a list of some foods that are great for your parts...eat them as much as you like! It's a bit like playing Match Game, if any of you remember that TV show!
Walnuts: Shaped like a brain, good for the brain! High in Omega 3's which help the brain cells communicate with each other. Omega's are also essential for cognitive performance & memory.
Carrots: As kids we all heard the tried and true wives tale "Carrots are good for your eyesight", well that couldn't be more true. Not only are they good for eyesight, but Carrots are high in Beta Carotene, which converts to Vitamin A when ingested. Vitamin A maintains the health of your eye and helps to protect your eye from germs, inflammation and infection. Slice one open and check out the iris staring right back at you!
Sweet Potatoes: Shaped like your pancreas, and good for it! Sweet Potatoes or Yams slowly release sugars into the blood-stream so that your pancreas won't get stressed!
Kidney Beans: They aren't called Gall-Bladder beans! These red beauties are great for nourishing and healing your kidneys.
Tomatoes: Cut them open and notice the 4 chambers that mimic the heart..even the color coincides. This delicious fruit, filled with Lycopine, is great for the heart and the blood!
Grapes: Red or Purple grapes are high in flavonoids, which help to protect against heart disease as well as aging and cancer. These heart shaped clusters, that resemble a cluster of blood cells, may also help you control your blood pressure. Best to eat the real thing..but if you must, have that glass of organic, sulfite-free red wine!
Rhubarb, Celery & Bok Choy: Shaped a bit like a fibia, tibula, or ulna these veggies are high in calcium and Vitamin K which is excellent for keeping your bones healthy and strong. Vitamin K assists in activating three proteins involved in bone health as well as increasing bone mineral density. Also a good source of sodium, which your body will pull from your bones if you don't have enough!
FOR THE LADIES:
Melons & Citrus fruits: Ladies..read on! Melons are rich in Vitamin C, which boost our immune system and helps to prevent breast cancer! Oranges are great too!
Olives: Yes, great for the Ovaries! A diet rich in Olive Oil has been shown to lower the risk of Ovarian Cancer.
Avocado, Pear & Eggplant: These three beauties target the cervix and womb! Oddly enough, Avocados take exactly 9-months to grow. They are great for helping to lose weight after childbirth, balancing hormones, and providing essential healthy fats.
FOR THE MEN:
Figs: Hanging in clusters of two, these delicious fruits help increase sperm count & mobility! Gents, go get your figs!!! But make sure you buy this delicate fruit organic!
Remember, eating a whole foods diet will keep your immune system strong and help you to manage stress in your life. Your body uses whole foods as fuel, thereby resulting in more energy and less weight gain!
So..next time you're in the market...match that food to your part! Have FUN!!!
Visit my site at: www.karmachow.com
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