"Magic" Calming Camomile Lemonade

My 5 year old daughter has a bad case of social anxiety. She is having trouble adjusting to kindergarten. I decided to make a "magic" calming drink for her to help with her shyness and nervousness. Chamomile tea has a relaxing effect which can help with anxiety. It is a safe herb for children but chamomile tea is not very appealing to kids. I made a batch of chamomile tea in a glass jar to store in the fridge. I add some fresh squeezed lemon and a bit of honey to make a "magic" calming lemonade. I think I will let her take a cup to school everyday so when she feels anxious she can drink a little "magic" lemonade.
**Children should only drink 1/2 cup of camomile tea a day**

Vegetarian Experiment

I am not, nor have I ever been vegetarian. When I was pregnant with my 2nd daughter, I read a book about eating right for your blood type, during pregnancy. I am a type A so the book said I should be eating as close to vegetarian as possible but I could include poultry and fish. I felt great! I was still eating meat, in limited quantities. My Doctor expressed concern at my next appointment that my iron levels had dropped and encouraged me to eat more red meat - so I did. Also, my husband is a blood type O so he is supposed to eat a lot of meat, according to the book, and he was not at all happy with my vegetarian based Suppers.

I have been juicing fresh fruits and vegetables for a while now and it feels amazing! I get such a rush of energy and I know I am giving my body the live enzymes, vitamins and minerals it craves. My husband has jumped on board and loves the healthy juices I make. My kids like some of them, just not the green ones. I have encouraged friends and family to start juicing and quite a few are juicing regularly and loving it!

I've been a fan of Dr Joel Fuhrman ever since I saw his special on PBS. I've just started reading his book, Eat To Live, and am feeling quite excited to try out his recommendations for 6 weeks. I don't think that I could give up chicken and fish forever but I am willing to try for a little while. I am curious to see how I will feel and if I can keep my iron levels up with plant based foods. I saw a quote on facebook that really got me interested in trying a vegetarian lifestyle for a while... I can't seem to find it now but it basically talked about how we are what we eat. Plant based foods are "living" while meat is "dead". It's true, animal products in essence are dead.... hmmm makes you think... Anyway, wish me luck, I think I'm gonna need it!

My Stress Busting Juice

We all face stress in our lives. Most people reach for processed, high sugar, low nutrient food, alcohol or cigarettes in times of stress. I have something better! This juice is delicious and very calming.

1 small pineapple- pineapple makes this juice sweet and rich in vitamin C and A
1 cucumber-  the inner temperature of a cucumber is cooler than the outside air, so cucumber juice is cooling during times of tension and stress
3 ribs celery-  celery helps the body utilize magnesium and calcium to calm the nerves 
Handful spinach-  spinach contains phytonutrients and brain protecting-properties

Relax and enjoy!

Tips For Overcoming Anxiety

I have suffered with anxiety and panic attacks since I was 26. I have been on medication, which did help for a time, but medication is only a band-aide, covering the real issues, never solving them. I would like to share a few tips that have helped me tremendously.

Pray I heard this the other day and it touched me deeply. "God ruthlessly perfects who he royally elects". My anxiety always becomes worse when I am further from God. When I feel connected to Him, I am able to cast all my cares and worries on Him. Pray for the peace that only He can give. Ask and you shall receive.

Avoid Alcohol Alcohol seems like a great way to calm down, forget your trouble and ease your anxiety. While this works short term, you will suffer more for it later. I know that when I have a few drinks, the next day is filled with anxiety and panic attacks. It does something to my nervous system and I am unable to feel peaceful.

Avoid Sugar and Caffeine The first thing a Doctor will tell someone with anxiety is to avoid sugar and caffeine. Caffeine is deadly to a nervous person. Switch to green tea! It does have some caffeine which will keep you from withdrawal symptoms and it also has a calming effect (green tea is also great for weight loss). Sugar is like poison to the body. Instead indulge in fresh fruits, sweet and delicious!

Try L-Theanine L-theanine  is an amino acid that has a positive effect on anxiety and mood. It is found in green tea which could explain the tea's calming effect. L-theanine supplements can be found at health stores. I find the relaxing effects of L-theanine last up to 8 hours. Safe and natural!

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy There are 3 books that I have found extremely helpful. From Panic To Power, The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook and Mind Over Mood. The mind is a powerful thing! Learn to change the way you think and you will change your life!

Food: Original Temptation; Original Sin

What caused the fall of mankind? Sin! What did Satan use to tempt us? Food! It all began with the apple (interesting fast: apple seeds contain cyanide!). I believe Satan is still using food to slowly poison us, knowing we would never suspect that he is behind it all. What began as pure nutrition is now processed and poisoned. We've developed ways to grow our food faster and cheaper but we've sacrificed our health in the process. We are so weak when it comes to food. We need food to survive, but what we are eating is slowly poisoning our bodies, minds and spirits. We look at drugs and alcohol as the severe addictions in this world, but I think what we eat is a bigger threat to us. The enemy wants to keep us weak, sick, depressed and hopeless. Unless we start fighting back and making better choices, that's exactly how we will stay. I recommend watching the following documentaries: Hungry For Change, Food Matters, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead, Forks Over Knives and Food Inc. Let's take control over our health, arm yourself with knowledge, knowledge is power!

Convenience Food is Killing Us!

I get it. I'm a busy mom of 2 young girls. I used to search for convenient, pre-packaged foods that my kids could eat on the go. I myself would grab a granola bar for breakfast in a hurry. Drive-thru's are always lined up with people looking for something fast to fill their belly. The problem is, this stuff is killing us! Our bodies are not getting the nutrients we need, so we are constantly hungry, looking for more. The toxins from these "convenient foods" are making us sick and fat! Is there anything convenient about that?
Fruit is the original fast food. It's portable, it's quick and it DOES give us the nutrients our body craves. Instead of peeling back plastic wrap from a sugar and toxin filled breakfast bar, try peeling a banana. Keep your fridge stocked with organic apples, kiwi, oranges, grapes and berries. For some protein I like to grab a handful of raw cashews or sunflower seeds. It is incredibly satisfying to know you are fueling your body with what it needs and not junk calories. Watch your energy levels increase and your mood improve. My kids love fruit, what kid doesn't? You'll notice that once you start giving your body what it needs, cravings for the junk will disappear!

Superfood Trail-Mix

I carry this trail-mix with me everywhere! A quick, easy, super nutritious snack on the go.

Add a handful each of raw sunflower seeds, raw pumpkin seeds, gogi berries, mulberries and raw cacao nibs.

Enjoy!

Decadent Chocolate Body Scrub

While sugar and (dark) chocolate should only be consumed in limited quantities, they make a great exfoliating moisturizer for your skin! Chocolate's antioxidant properties may help reduce free radical damage and can promote healthy detoxification of skin cells. Sugar is a sweet way to remove dead skin cells and leave the skin feeling soft and smooth. Everyone knows how great olive oil is for the skin, it will leave your skin feeling like silk. And let's face it, covering your body in chocolate is super fun!

1/2 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c olive oil
1/4 c cocoa powder

Store in an airtight container. It will last for up to 6 months. Enjoy!

Healthy "Ice Cream" Treat Kids Will Love

Personally tested these out on my 3 and 5 year old daughters. They LOVED them!

2 ripe bananas
1 1/2 c plain greek yogurt
1/2 c natural peanut butter
2 tbsp liquid honey
2 tsp natural vanilla

Throw it all in a blender and pour into Popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 4 hours. Enjoy!

Juicing A Few Of My Favorites

I started juicing daily about a month ago. I have noticed incredible changes since then. My skin is glowing, I sleep better and wake up feeling energized, my mood is better and I've even lost a few pounds. If you would like to reap the many benefits of juicing, here's a few easy juice combos to get you started. Hint: Always choose organic. If you can't find organic, wash fruits and vegetables well and remove skin.

You can't go wrong with carrot/apple. Even my kids love it!
4 carrots
1 apple

If you like V8, here's the original recipe:
4 tomatoes
4 green onions
1/2 green pepper
2 carrots
2 celery
handful spinach
handful parsley
2 lemons without peel
you can also add ginger and/or galic for a little bang
serves 2

If you like pineapple, you'll love this combo
1/2 pinapple with skin removed
1/2 large cucumber
1 or 2 kale leafs
3 stalks of celery

Here's a delicious way to get your greens
4 carrots
4 stalks of celery
1/2 large cucumber
2 kale leafs
bunch of parsley
1 apple

As I write this, I am enjoying an original V8. The garlic packs a powerful punch and keeps the vampires away ;)
Happy juicing!

Cleansing With Fruit & Veggies

I was feeling rather toxic. Irritable, anxious and tired. I realized that although I'm healthy and fit, something was wrong. I was feeling conviction about how I had been fueling this amazing body that God has blessed me with. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
I decided that for the next week, I was only going to consume what God himself created for us. I started juicing fresh organic fruits and vegetables. That way my body was able to absorb the enzyme rich nutrients immediately. I ate avocados every day. I drank green tea instead of my regular coffee with coffee-mate (that stuff is a slow poison!) I ate raw cashews, gogi berries, fresh fruit and vegetables. For 7 days, I never felt deprived. I was never hungry. I believe that because my body was receiving all the nutrients it required, I had freedom from cravings. I felt more connected to God and His love. I will continue to eat this way. My skin improved, the dark circles under my eyes disappeared, my mind felt clear, I was no longer anxious, I slept great and had tons of energy. I was still irritable but what else is new lol. I blamed it on the toxins leaving my body! :)