Watermelon-Lemon Electrolyte Drink

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Summer’s heat demands a refreshing drink and our Watermelon-Lemon Electrolyte Drink delivers! Why bother with a sugary sports drink when you can get your minerals in this refreshing and beautiful beverage?

Plus, electrolytes- it’s what plants crave.

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Prep time <5 minutes

Ingredients
Watermelon, cubed
Lemon, sliced
Mint sprig, fresh
Rosemary sprig, fresh
1/2 teaspoon of sea salt (Celtic or Himalayan)
2-3 tablespoons honey (we used raw)
Pure, filtered water to fill the container
16 drops trace mineral (i.e. Concentrace), optional

Instructions
Place watermelon cubes, fresh sprigs of mint and rosemary in container. Add sea salt and honey, then fill to brim with pure water. Allow flavors to meld a bit and enjoy immediately or store in fridge until at desired coolness. Keeps in fridge for about 1-2 days. Use: sip during workouts or long days in hot weather.

Recipe: Raw Chocolate Energy Bites

Prep time: 5-10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
• 1 cup raw, old-fashioned oats
• ⅔ cup toasted, unsweetened coconut flakes
• ½ cup creamy peanut or almond butter
• ½ cup freshly ground flaxseed
• ⅔ cup chocolate chips
• ⅓ cup honey
• 1 tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions
Grind flaxseeds first and, in a large mixing bowl, combine peanut/almond butter, honey, and vanilla extract. Mix well and add in remaining ingredients until fully incorporated. Cover and chill for 45 minutes. Roll into balls of about an inch or to preferred size. Wetting hands with water will help with rolling the balls. Store in an airtight container and refrigerate.

“A-choo!” Seasonal Allergy Relief

Source: pollen.com

Yes to the spectacular sunshine. Yes to the breathtaking flowers popping up. Yes to putting the ice scrapers away for 6 months. But a definite NO to spring allergies. Can we get an “A-men” after your next “A-choo”?

It’s estimated that between 10-20% of American adults suffer from seasonal allergies. For reasons not fully understood, the immune system gets a bit confused and starts to react to generally innocuous items.

The first key to reducing symptoms: know thy triggers.

It may be the case that pollen is to blame, but mold or even mites may also play a role in some people’s allergies.

Here are 10 tips to stave off a runny nose and sneezing during allergy season.

1. Follow pollen and mold counts, which are typically included in weather reports.
2. Nasal saline irrigation can help keep your nasal passages clear of irritating allergens. A staple in the Ayurvedic traditions, a neti pot is a nifty vehicle for getting the job done. Ensure you are using quality water (distilled, bottled, or previously boiled) and properly caring for the pot to prevent infection.
3. Though it is tempting to let the fresh air in, consider keeping windows and doors shut both at home and in your car.
4. There’s some anecdotal as well as scientific evidence that raw, local honey may help desensitize symptoms of allergies
5. Consider showering in the evening to help wash away the pollen gathered on clothes, hair, and body before sleeping.
6. Rethink your diet. An anti-inflammatory diet of foods rich with antioxidants and omega-3s can mitigate symptoms. Also evaluate dairy consumption and its role in mucus production.
7. Pollen counts are typically highest late-morning and during the afternoon hours so you may want to stay indoors.
8. Hypnotherapy has been show in studies, such as the one from Switzerland’s University Hospital Basel, to provide significant improvements in symptoms; it can work very well as adjunctive care.
9. Wearing a particulate respirator mask while mowing the lawn can help abate allergy symptoms.
10.  Quercetin is an antioxidant that helps stop cells from releasing histamine. It can take weeks to work so it’s best to start supplementing before allergy season begins.

Other well-known options exist, including over-the-counter and prescription medications as well as allergy shots.

Pretty soon you may find you are more the giver, and less the recipient, of “bless you”, “salud” and “Gesundheit!”

 

 

Recipe: Organic Vinegar Tonic

 

The Organic Vinegar Tonic recipe becomes an energizing and detoxifying morning drink or afternoon pick-me-up. During the colder months, we recommend heating up the water before adding the ingredients.

Ingredients
1.5 teaspoons high quality organic apple cider vinegar
8 oz. glass of warm purified (or reverse osmosis) water
1-2 teaspoons organic honey
1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed organic lemon juice

Instructions
Combine all ingredients and enjoy!

Recipe: Ultimate Chocolate Black Bean Brownies

Kids (and adults) love these brownies; many times they are surprised to find that black beans could be used to make a dessert. Next time you have a bit of a sweet tooth, give these chocolate-y brownies a go!

Keeping with the theme of these recent blog posts, see how many of these ingredients you can make organic (and/or free-range, in the case of the eggs).

Ingredients:

1-15oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup honey
2 tbsp. melted coconut oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup cocoa/cacao powder
1/4 cup ground almonds
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup chocolate chips or 3 oz dark chocolate bar, in pieces

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F and use liners to fill in muffin tin or spray with cooking oil. Add all ingredients to a large food processor or mixing bowl (except the chocolate chips/ pieces of dark chocolate). Process for 2 minutes or until batter is smooth, then stir in chocolate chips/pieces. Pour batter into muffin cups and bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before transferring brownies to wire rack.

Recipe: Bok Choy Apple Slaw & Asian Watercress Salad

Ingredients

6 stalks bok choy (about 1/2 head), thinly sliced
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 granny smith apple, sliced
1/2 cup toasted sunflower seeds

Dressing:
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons honey or brown rice syrup
salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

First make the dressing by combining all the ingredients and whisking well.
Chop all the salad ingredients, leaving the apples until last. Mix in a salad bowl.
Toss salad with half the dressing. Add additional dressing if desired.
Eat immediately, or chill for up to one hour and then add the apples just before eating.

 

Food Focus: Natural Sweeteners

If you’re like me, sweets are something that are hard to avoid. However, if you indulge in the right way, you do not have to avoid them totally. One healthy way to get that sweet taste without all the harmful additives we find in most processed foods, is through natural sweeteners.  But what exactly are natural sweeteners and why are they better than plain sugar? Natural sweeteners are better than refined sugar because their nutrient content is not destroyed. Refined sugar loses the vitamins, minerals, and fiber and can tend to spike blood sugar and actually cause cravings. Natural sweeteners are made in a way that keeps their nutrient content intact. Some good natural sweeteners to use include raw honey, maple syrup, and stevia. When looking for a good honey, try to opt for raw honey because this is the most pure form and contains the most vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Maple syrup is also a good substitute for refined sugar, however make sure you get 100% pure maple syrup with no added flavors. Finally, stevia is also a great substitute for sugar especially in cooking and baking. One thing to take note of when purchasing stevia is to make sure you get the green or brown liquids or powders because the white can be very refined. These natural sweeteners are great alternatives to refined sugar however, just like anything they should be consumed in moderation.