Lotus was about 3 months old when I read a book called Baby Led Weaning (BLW). I love the concept of allowing baby to choose when and how they would wean themselves from breast milk, allowing them to chew whole foods without blending it into a puree and without combining different foods. I also loved that the book instructed me to share with her what was on my plate. Starting at 6 months old, BLW suggests that baby starts playing with food. But the moto is "food before one is just for fun!" So at six months I started allowing Lotus to play with bananas and avocados and at first she didn't want to eat them and she didn't know what to do with them so over the next few months she learned to mash them up and put them in her mouth. She really enjoyed the flavors and to this day avocado is still her favorite food. Her first tooth didn't come in until she was 9 months old so until then I only allowed her to eat mashed bananas and avocado and other mashed foods. I even fed her some organic baby food even though this is not what BLW is about, it works for us and she enjoys everything that I've given her to eat. At this point she is not a picky child. I've always encouraged her to use her baby spoon and she quickly learned to feed herself. She is now 12 months old and has 5 teeth. She enjoys many different foods, textures and flavors. I try to avoid giving her anything with too much sugar or salt. In the last month she has shown more of a desire to eat what we are eating and eat when we are eating so she really loves sitting in her high chair at the table with us for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She always has loved sharing smoothies with me since she was six months old when she learned how to suck through a straw. Raising a baby on a plant-based diet is not only easy but it's simple and nutritious and she is thriving. I believe that she will always eat healthy because her parents eat healthy. She already at a young age enjoys green food, green smoothies and green juices, so I know that she will not turn down salad and vegetables as she grows. She will enjoy fruit because her palate is not tainted by excess sugars and candy. Since she is still breastfed, I don't worry about her lacking any nutrients. Because breast milk has all of the vitamins and minerals and essential fatty acids that she needs to grow. In the future when she drinks less breast milk I will increase her intake of smoothies because it is easy to add lots of greens and superfoods to her smoothies. Essential fatty acids are important for her developing brain so I make sure to add extra virgin coconut oil, avocados, flax seeds or chia seeds to our daily smoothies. As she approaches her first birthday she has never been sick and as her mother, I am passionate about herbal medicine and staying healthy by being outside in the sunshine, bare feet on the ground.
0 Comments
Hello friends! Spring has sprung and I feel it is a good time to share our progress on the farm. But first lets go over a quick history of our farm and how it all began. August 2013, my partner Austin and I sold our house in Sacramento California, packed up a UHAUL trailer and our 2 dogs, and headed east to Jacksonville Florida. What brought us to Jacksonville? Well it was a divine coincidence that Austins dad had just bought 3 acres on the outskirts of the city and I had stumbled upon a youtube video about Permaculture in Jacksonville. We decided to take a leap of faith and join the permaculture community in Jacksonville. Austins dad was kind enough to let us farm his land and even helped us build a tiny house to live in. Fast forward 3 years later, and we find ourselves with a baby girl and a thriving food forest. With the help of many friends, we have learned how to grow food, create our own plant-based fertilizers, collect rare seeds, and regrow food scraps. Growing our own food is the most rewarding feeling. Not only do we save money on food, but our homegrown food tastes better, is fresher, and much more nutritious then store-bought produce. The beautiful thing about permaculture design, is that it can be applied to even a small front yard in the suburbs. The following video is an example of how a small yard can be transformed into a food paradise. The first year on our Florida farm was simply laying woodchips all over the soil. This technique would help turn the sandy soil into nutrient dense, fertile soil over time. We also planted young fruit tress such as tropical apples, peaches, nectarines, pomegranates, figs, persimmons and bananas to name a few. We continue to add fruit trees as we go, working to fill in the food forest canopy layer. Amongst these fruit trees we planted nitrogen fixing trees such as black locust, moringa, cassia, in order to add nitrogen to the soil. Another technique called "chop and drop" continues to build healthy soil by chopping tree branches from fast growing trees such as Moringa tree, and letting the branches decompose around fruit trees, giving nutrients to the fruit trees. Next, we incorporated ground cover crops. These crops are different in the summer and in the winter months. Winter crops include, mustard greens, purple top turnips, and daikon radishes. In the summer we plant nitrogen fixing cow peas. These edible plants covered the ground and continued to build soil fertility as they decompose. Now the soil is rich and dense with microbial life. Everything plants need to thrive. Last year we built 12 raised beds to increase food production. In these beds we have, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, collard greens, onions, spinach, a variety of beans, tomatoes, and peppers. We have recently begun to collect a variety of rare seeds from Baker Creek Seed Company. They work with plant enthusiasts such as Joseph Simcox to travel the world collecting rare seed varieties. Below is a video of Joseph's TEDx talk about the future of food and an agricultural revolution. We have recently explored the process of plant fermentation as garden fertilizer. To do this we chop up a bunch of weeds in the garden, the reason for this is because "weeds" have growth hormones that allow them to grow so prolifically in the garden. So next time you weed your garden, try this fermentation method to feed your plants. We add these chopped weeds to a 5 gallon bucket with water, and bacteria in the form of molds. You can acquire these molds from anything that may have molded in your fridge such as moldy fruit or you can add anything with probiotics. Saurkraut, yogurt, kambucha, etc. These bacterias decompose the plant matter and make it digestable for the plants in your garden. Let this mixture sit for about 10 days. (It will start to become anaerobic and stink). You will see a mold beginning to form on top of the mixture. This means its working. Its alive! Finally, dilute the mixture in a bucket of water and aerate it by infusing air into the mixture. This makes it an aerobic atmosphere which the plants can absorb. This easy DIY fertilizer will create the most nutritious organic produce in your own backyard!
To recap, we use permaculture design along with a few methods to ensure a productive garden to feed our family throughout the year. These methods include, chop and drop, ground cover crops, and plant-based fertilizers. To learn more about permaculture visit www.permies.com Ingredients
6 cups low sodium vegetable broth 1 large sweet potato, medium dice 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 tablespoons peeled and minced fresh ginger 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon salt 1 bunch curly kale, ribs removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch strips ¾ cup unsalted peanut butter (chunky or smooth. I used smooth.) ½ cup tomato paste Hot sauce, like sriracha ¼ cup roughly chopped peanuts, for garnish Instructions In a medium Dutch oven or stock pot, bring the broth to a boil. Add the sweet potato, onion, ginger, garlic and salt. Cook on medium-low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. In a medium-sized, heat-safe mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter and tomato paste, then transfer 1 to 2 cups of the hot stock to the bowl. Whisk the mixture together until smooth, then pour the peanut mixture back into the soup and mix well. Stir in the kale and season the soup with hot sauce to taste. Simmer for about 15 more minutes on medium-low heat, stirring often. Serve over cooked brown rice if you'd like, and top with a sprinkle of chopped peanuts. Ive gotten so many questions about my decision to do a lotus birth with my 4 week old daughter Lotus Ocean. So I decided to share some information about lotus birth and photos of our placenta burial ceremony. Lotus birth is basically the act of not cutting or burning the umbilical cord but rather leave baby attached to placenta until the cord dries up and falls off naturally. Usually 3-7 days later. There are so many possible benefits to baby and mama by following this tradition we will look at these benefits more later. Your placenta is genetically identical to you. For that reason, some cultures consider the placenta to be the twin of the baby. We all have a belly button, a constant reminder of the connection we once had with our placenta. Our placenta fed us all the nutrients we needed to grow into a healthy child until we were ready to enter the world. Most hospitals in the west today simply dispose of the babies placentas, tossing them out as mere medical waste. Indonesian midwife Robin Lim asks the question, "how did the placenta, central to our survival and future well-being, lose its significance and come to be considered garbage?". So what are the benefits of a lotus birth? According to the World Health Organization, "late clamping (or not clamping at all) is the physiological way of treating the cord, and early clamping is an intervention that needs justification. The "transfusion" of blood from the placenta to the infant, if the cord is clamped late, is physiological, and adverse effects of this transfusion are improbable, but in normal birth there should be a valid reason to interfere with the natural procedure." This means that the delaying of cord clamping allows valuable blood to continue to flow from the placenta to the baby after birth. It is common practice today for the cord to be clamped when the child is on the mothers abdomen and the scissors are handed to the parents to complete the job. Most mothers refuse leaving it up to the father. Some mothers recoil in horror. If the cord is left intact, most mothers instinctively leave it untouched and treat it as tenderly as a tiny finger or an ear of the child. New mothers feel a strong desire to not damage the cord. Pioneer midwives such as Jeannine Parvati Baker, Mary Kroeger and Ina May Gaskin advise against the unnecessary clamping and cutting of the cord. Along with the physiological benefits of not cutting the cord, there seems to be benefit to the child and new mother by allowing them to bond during the first tender days post partum. I enjoyed staying in bed with my dear Lotus for her first four days outside the womb with her placenta by our side. Some may say its inconvenient and it was difficult at times to maneuver her and the placenta while nursing and burping her, but we enjoyed skin to skin contact and I felt no need to dress her or bathe her while the cord was still attached. During the time the cord was attached, I dressed the placenta daily with dried herbs and salt. The herbs of lavender, rosemary, sage and rose petals made for a relaxing aroma. It was a special connection I had as her mother to take such special care of the placenta that took such good care of her while she was in the womb. The final step in the process of a lotus birth is to perform a ceremonial burial of the placenta. We waited until my friend arrived 3 weeks later so she could photograph the special occasion. We set up an alter of crystals and herbs and cleansed the aura of the placenta by burning mugwort, sage and palo santo. We had previously purchased an olive tree to plant with the placenta. The olive tree represents peace and it will forever be her tree that she can return to for meditation and healing. It can be her portal to the spiritual world. When I am asked, "why don't you cut babies' umbilical cords?" I say, "isn't the real question: why do you cut?" It's interesting that those of us on the path of nonviolence are being asked to justify our peaceful non-interventions, by the perpetrators of intemperate protocols. ~~Ibu Robin Lim, CPM
From the book Placenta the Forgotten Chakra by Robin Lim On September 8 in the middle of the night I awoke to a small release of water soaking my underwear. At 35 and a half weeks it didn't dawn on me that my water could be broken. I thought casually that I may be leaking my mucus plug and this could mean I'm still a few weeks from having my baby. That morning I continued to leak fluid and so I decided to look up online and consult with my doula friend as to what this could mean. I realized my water had broken and I could be going into labor any day. I still was in denial that my baby could be born in the next 48 hours. I worried that it was still too early but I trusted my baby and my body knowing that everything happens at the perfect time. If my baby was ready to come early than so was I. On the night of September 9 at around midnight I was awaken by a strong sensation in my lower abdomen. 'Could this be a contraction?,' I thought. It felt like the most intense period cramp I have ever felt. After a few more strong surges I woke up my partner Austin and told him what I was feeling. The surges continued to get stronger and more intense so I got out of bed and rocked my hips side to side on all fours. Austin began timing my surges. We both quickly realized I was in full blown labor. I didn't know how long this would go on so I decided to try and sleep between surges. Austin stayed up and continued timing them. I began to moan loader and loader as the contractions progressed. I felt myself slip into labor land or a trance-like state between contractions. I let my body lead as I emptied my mind of all thoughts. As the sun rose, Austin began preparing for our planned outdoor water birth. Since we live in a tiny house, we decided to build a screened-in porch separate from the house for me to birth in. The weather here in Florida is perfect for an outdoor birth in September. Even though we thought our due date was in October. Austin cleaned the porch and began filling the birth pool as I labored on all fours in our sleeping loft. I was moaning loudly and feeling rapid progress in my labor so I decided to put my headphones on and listen to my hypnobirthing CD. I sat cross-legged and felt myself melt into a deep relaxation which helped me stay calm during surges. Once Austin told me the pool was ready, I came down stairs and walked outside with my bare feet on the earth before entering the outdoor room where the pool was. I slipped into the warm pool with only a bra on and immediately felt relief from the intense surges. I continued to labor in the pool through the morning hours. It was a beautiful sunny day with only a light drizzle of rain. I felt the connection to mother earth as I was surrounded by trees and birds cheering me on. Austin was my rock and he stayed with me supporting me anyway he could. I continued to vocalize even to the point of screams as contractions turned into strong urges to push. The pushing reflex was so strong it blew me away. Austin reminded me to breathe through surges so as not to force my baby out too quickly. I did my best to breathe but the surges were so strong I felt it was beyond my control. My throat would close and I couldn't help but bear down. Austin entered the pool with me and we made eye contact throughout and in between the contractions. He made me feel so strong and confident, motivating me and complimenting me throughout. I began to feel overwhelmed and told him I couldn't go on like this. I knew these thoughts and feelings meant baby was close. I changed positions desperately trying to find relief. As noon approached and the urge to push continued, I could feel my baby's head bulging at the entrance. I felt a moment of fear as the realization hit me that my baby was about to enter this world. Austin sat across from me and smiled at me as he could sense my fear. I breathed and stayed as relaxed as possible as it felt like my vagina was ripping open. I screamed and looked down to see the back of my baby's head had emerged. Quickly followed by her shoulders and torso. Austin and I both reached down to grab her and noticed her chord wrapped just behind her head. So we gently but quickly removed it and I scooped her onto my chest. She opened her eyes and cried immediately. I was in total shock and amazement of what had just happened. Austin jumped out of the water and grabbed the camera to record this precious moment. I held my baby on my chest, Austin and I looked at each other in total bliss as we had just achieved our dream birth. Our baby was here and after 10 minutes I looked down and saw it was a girl! We were overjoyed that we had a daughter. What a gift from God! I guided her to my breast and she latched immediately. I was so happy to be in this moment I had dreamed about for months. We had the unassisted, home water birth that we had planned. Despite the doubt and fears of our friends and family. We were all healthy and happy. My heart was full of gratitude. After about an hour we called our parents to their surprise we had our baby early. They were all thrilled! We had just made our parents proud grandparents! Since Ausitn and I are both from California, all our parents are there so we had to send them pictures of their new granddaughter. We had decided to do a lotus birth which meant we were not going to cut the chord but rather keep her attached to the placenta until the chord dries up and falls off naturally. So after about two hours I birthed the placenta we placed it in a bowl and carried her and her placenta into the house and into bed. We dressed her placenta in dried herbs (lavender, rosemary, sage, rose petals and Himalayan sea salt). We kept her naked without a diaper until the chord fell off four days later. It was a peaceful and gentle way to ease her into the world from the womb. It also kept me in bed with her as I adjusted to my new role as mother and allowed me to take the time to heal. We are also practicing the ritual of staying home for the first 30 days to bond as a family and get to know our daughter before presenting her to the outside world. We spend time walking with her in the garden and expose her to fresh air and nature. The bustling city streets will have to wait. We named our daughter Lotus Ocean. We feel the name is powerful and feminine and represents the natural world that she is intimately apart of. We hope she grows to be a strong, confident woman who knows her place in the world and always follows her dreams. Thank you for letting me share our birth story. Namaste.
I have always been an advocate for long hair on both men and women. As a straight woman, I find men with long hair and beards the most attractive. I also have been confused by societies norms when it comes to female body hair. Why is hair in certain areas acceptable but leg and armpit hair should be removed? When I found this article by Yogi Bhajan, I felt like my feelings about the importance of hair was affirmed. This article is one of many on the internet explaining how beneficial body hair can be for the human species. I have proudly thrown away my razors and feel more beautiful in my natural state. From the book Ancient Art of Self Healing which is a collection of excerpts from lectures, notes and classes by SSS Harbhajan Singh Khalsa (Yogi Bhajan) "ANTENNAS OF YOUR BODY Hair is the most potent, purest form of protein in the world. The very root of the hair has the oil of the protein. This oil is enough to support your brain through any activity. One thing Nature knows is that in every part of your body you have to have hair, because they are the antennas for that area of the body. Each cell in the body goes through certain changes, and who is to provide that change in the antennas? Hair. Hair is the pranic antenna. It is energy, pure protein. Take a bunch of cut hair and put it around a tree and see what happens to the tree. It shoots up. VITAMIN PROVIDER God is not just a mischief-monger to give a human the longest hair on the scalp. Its purpose is to work on the brain. The brain needs vitamin D, energy, phosphorus, and metals. The number of units of vitamin D that these hairs provide immediately to the brain is unbelievable. RISHI KNOTS (Jura) AND WOODEN COMBS It is very positive for a woman to wear her hair tied on top of her head on the solar center in a rishi knot. It is obligatory for the woman to wear her hair down at night, loose or in a braid. Braiding the hair at night is one of the most wonderful ways to take care of your most powerful energy antennas. For normal health of her eyes, menstruation cycle and long maintenance of her youth it is obligatory that she use a wooden comb, combing her hair back, forward, back, and so on. This is for circulation of the scalp area. Men tie a rishi knot almost where the soft point was when he was a child. A woman’s hair is supposed to be tied exactly at the solar centers. Why? Well, she doesn’t have a beard and we never asked why. Because of the waning and waxing of the moon, she has to protect her solar centers more powerfully than the male. When a woman’s hair is loose, her identity to submit becomes a hundred times greater. In old times it was a custom that when a woman went to her husband in intimacy, she let her hair down. Unfortunately, now, during the day, everybody has their hair loose. Understand this action in the light of the downfall of sexual values. The old Judaic and Islamic scriptures say that a "woman with loose hair and a mad dog have no difference whatsoever as far as integrity is concerned." Men should also comb their hair with a wooden comb. A wooden comb is one simple thing which does not create any charge or discharge of electromagnetic energy. That’s why we use wood. Wood is surely and definitely a bad conductor of heat and electricity. It is a very healthy thing for combing your hair. HEAD COVERINGS It is written that it is very non-righteous to expose your hair to the cruelty of the change of weather. The Eskimos keep their heads covered all the time. In the tropics, even the basic tribes have their heads covered, just like we tie a turban. BANGS A woman should never wear her hair over her forehead. God can grow hair wherever He likes, but no hair grows on the forehead. The forehead bone, the sinus bones or the frontal bone, is porous because it functions to transmit light to the pineal gland in the brain. An experiment was done in which 40 women covered their forehead area between the eyebrows and the hairline for 40 days. The result was that those women could not look into the eyes of a male. LEGS AND ARMPITS Most women in America shave their legs and armpits. Perhaps if they realize that by cutting the hairs under the arms they are affecting their magnetic field and the sympathetic nervous system and that by shaving the leg hairs they are altering the electromagnetic field of the lower spine, they might think twice about shaving. Women do not understand what those tiny, tiny hairs on their legs do for them. They only know they are bad things. You know how the legs move, right? On both sides of the legs there are hairs. Those hairs create an electromagnetic field which balances the movement of the pituitary. You shave it and it is your problem; they say it can make you insane." My morning smoothie has been a ritual since before I found myself pregnant. Now it is even more important with a growing baby to consume the highest quality nutrition I can. I have found a few simple ingredients added to every smoothie makes for a very healthy mom and baby. I thought I would share these foods with you and comment on some of the benefits of each one.
First, Lets talk about fats. COCONUT OIL contains large amounts of lauric acid, a powerful anti-microbial fatty acid that protects the immune system of the fetus and newborn. Pregnant and nursing mothers should eat coconut oil to increase the quality of the womb environment and breast milk. Coconut oil is an excellent source of fat since it is a medium chain fat as opposed to animal fat which is long chain and much harder for the body to break down. Long chain fat stores will linger a lot longer on our thighs and hips than medium chain fats like coconut oil, which quickly convert to energy. CHIA SEEDS are another excelllent source of healthy fat for babies development. Pregnancy can deplete your body of important nutrients and eating chia seeds can help replace those lost nutrients while providing a much needed energy boost. Chia seeds are easy to incorporate into your daily routine and benefit not only the mother’s health, but the baby’s development as well. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for a baby’s brain development. Most people choose to meet their daily requirement by consuming salmon or fish oil supplements. The mercury content in fish tends to make most pregnant women skeptical, so chia is a great alternative. For such a tiny seed, chia is quite high in omega-3 fatty acids. Typically nuts and seeds with a high fat content have a short shelf life before they turn rancid, but chia seeds are so rich in antioxidants they can be kept in storage for up to four years without deterioration. They’re high in essential minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, iron and niacin. During the final three months of pregnancy, it’s important to get adequate calcium for proper skeletal development. Chia seeds contain almost five times the amount of calcium as milk. An added bonus — they also contain boron, another critical mineral for bone health. High blood sugar makes for a risky pregnancy. It’s been linked to complications such as high birth weight, increase chance of C-section deliveries and preeclampsia. When consumed, chia seeds create a gelatin-like substance in the stomach. This slows digestion and keeps blood sugar levels stable. I cant say enough about chia seeds. They are a powerhouse of nutrients! The next superfood we will talk about is somewhat less common due to its lack of research on pregnant women. LECITHIN found in the form of soy or sunflower seeds, is a substance present in the cell membranes of all living things, contains fatty acids, phosphatides and phosphorous compounds. Proponents of lecithin claim that repeated use of the dietary supplement aids in the treatment of high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease, weight loss, anxiety and liver disease. Kelly Bonyata, certified lactation consultant, suggests that a lecithin-rich diet might help breastfeeding mothers who experience recurrent clogged ducts. The benefits of lecithin also reach out to people suffering from memory loss. Lecithin utilizes Vitamins A, E, K, and D which promote better concentration and memory. It is very beneficial to students and the elderly who wish to enhance their memory skills. Lecithin also cleanses the kidneys and liver which is important to those who are suffering from urinary tract infection and those who love to eat salty and spicy foods. It prevents diseases like gallstones and gallbladder infection. Other benefits of lecithin worth mentioning are its roles in helping our body absorb better essential nutrients and supporting the movement of our body fluids inside and outside the cells. One of the major benefits of lecithin is it protects our spinal cord and brain cells from damages. We all know how important and delicate our spinal cord and brain are for the whole functioning of our body and lecithin can keep them in good working condition. This is also valuable during pregnancy while the babies brain and spinal cord are developing. Next is the humble DATE. Dates contain the following nutrients to support the body. At least 15 different minerals such as Potassium, Calcium, Fluorine (great for teeth!), iron, and Zinc, 14 types of fatty acids, 23 types of amino acids, at least 6 vitamins, as well as dietary fiber. There is also anecdotal evidence to suggest that date fruit can contribute significantly to a healthy pregnancy by means of preventing anemia, reducing nausea, controlling blood pressure, regulating blood sugar levels, helping restore depleted calcium, expelling toxins, and increasing strength and immune resistance. So pack them in your lunch and throw a handful in your daily smoothie! LUCUMA POWDER is an exotic tropical fruit with loads of health benefits whether youre pregnant or not. It contains 14 essential trace elements, including a considerable amount of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It also has 92 milligrams of calcium per 100 grams to keep your bones and teeth strong. Phosphorus is important for bone and protein formation, digestion and hormone balance; lucuma provides 186 milligrams per 100 grams. According to My Fitness Pal, 1 tablespoon of lucuma provides 2 percent of the recommended daily value for iron, which may help stimulate the immune system and improve physical endurance while also significantly increased wound closure and promoted tissue regeneration. SPIRULINA is a much more popular superfood due to its much talked about density of vitamins and minerals. Its an easy way to add green protein to your smoothie. The protein in spirulina is considered to be of the highest quality protein, superior to all other plant proteins, including those in the legume family (beans, peas, soy, etc.) Spirulina contains essential fatty acids in the form of linolenic acid, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid. These essential fatty acids aid in protaglandin function necessary for hormonal balance and blood pressure regulation (also important for pregnancy). It contains vitamins A, D, E, K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, B6, B12, Folate and Pantothenic Acid and minerals Potassium, calcium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, selenium, iron, copper, and phosphorus. Because spirulina grows in fresh water, rather than salt water like seaweed, it contains a relatively low amount of sodium. Researchers in Mexico suggest that spirulina may be helpful in treating women with preeclampsia, or preventing it from happening at all. This may be due to its superior nutritional content, but researchers suggest it for another reason. Numerous studies have shown that preeclampsia is associated with increased oxidative stress in both the placenta and vascular system of the mother. NADPH oxidase has been shown to be the number one source for oxidant stress associated with preeclampsia. Phycocyanobilin (PCB) contained in spirulina has been shown to inhibit NADPH. This may help to protect mother and child from preeclampsia. The leading cause of preeclampsia is poor nutrition. This green super food is a complete protein source, as it contains all the amino acids necessary to qualify as a complete protein source. Protein content is 50-70% of its total dry weight. There is a variation in percentage of protein content dependent on time of harvest in relation to daylight. It contains the most protein when harvested in the early daylight. Finally, Id llike to mention a little bit about REISHI SPORE powder as a supplement. It has high claim for many health benefits but still has little research connecting its benefits to pregnant women. I believe it is very beneficial during pregnancy for a number of reasons. In addition to being an effective energizer, reishi is an antioxidant that protects the body from the harmful effects of radiation and free radicals. It contains polysaccharides and other compounds that may combat bacteria and viruses and boost the immune system. Reishi tones the immune system, supports nerve function, scavenges free radicals, protects the liver, and quells inflammation and allergies. According to Hobbs (1996), "reishi has the unique ability among medicinal mushrooms to calm and support nerve function." In his practice, he recommends reishi to people with chronic stress, anxiety, or insomnia. Maitake, shiitake, and reishi mushrooms possess beta-1,3-D-glucan, a type of polysaccharide that stimulates the immune cells. Their immune-boosting power makes them essential for fighting the flu. Reishi is a supreme immune tonic. Because of its neutral energy, it is fine for anyone to take. It treats immune disorders including AIDS as it raises the T cell levels (an index of AIDS and immune disorders). It is also specific for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It inhibits bacteria and viruses, treats cancer and tumors and its adaptogenic quality protects the body against stress. It treats heart disease, reduces cholesterel and lowers high blood pressure. So you can clearly see why I add this superfood in small doses to my daily smoothie. Here is a delicious and nutritious breakfast option great for anyone with little time in the morning to make a healthy breakfast. This variation is based on what I had on hand. So there is a lot of room for creativity with this dish. Start by soaking a cup of raw buckwheat groats in water over night. In the morning, rinse the buckwheat groats very well to remove all the "slime". Blend the following ingredients together in a blender till thick and smooth. Pour into a bowl and add toppings of your choice!
Ingredients: 1 cup soaked buckwheat groats 1/2 cup almond milk or any other non-dairy milk you have 1 TBS chia seeds 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 2 TBS liquid sweetener, such as agave or maple syrup 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon Optional Toppings: Fresh or dried fruit, I used organic Fuji apples Chopped nut/seeds, I like walnuts and pumpkin seeds Nut/seed butter, I added a couple spoonfuls of raw hazelnut butter Dried shredded coconut Granola Coconut yogurt This recipe is inspired by Oh She Glows Breakfast Porridge recipe. It is full of protein and essential fatty acids. This meal will give you clean burning energy throughout the day! This recipe comes from the Rouxbe Cooking School plant based certification course. It is a savory and mouth watering, hearty dinner for steak lovers and veggie lovers alike. It can be prepared in a variety of ways including this Asian inspired peanut sauce with rice. The meaty texture of the cauliflower makes it a perfect alternative to heavy steak dinners.
Ingredients for Peanut Sauce:
To make the sauce, preheat a fry pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the oil, followed by the shallots. Let cook for a minute or so and then add the ginger, garlic and chilies. Cook for another 30 seconds or so then add the reserved lime juice mixture. Next add the green onions and toss to combine. Let cook for another 30 seconds. Once done, remove from the heat and add the fresh herbs and peanuts. Toss to combine and taste for seasoning. Ingredients for Cauliflower and Broth:
To bake the cauliflower, first preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). *NOTE: Do NOT core the cauliflower. The stem is needed to keep the 'steaks' intact. With the cauliflower sitting on its stem, cut in half through the middle. Trim the outer edge of each half to form a thick steak-like piece of cauliflower. Each piece should be approximately 1 1/2 inch thick. In a 9x11 baking dish, mix together the garlic, stock, vermouth, bay leaves and salt. *Note: The amount of salt you add will depend on how salty your stock is to begin with. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary. Place the cauliflower into the liquid and cover tightly with foil. Carefully transfer to the oven and let bake for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Ultimately, the time will depend on how thick the 'steaks' are and your oven. Test the 'steaks' periodically. When a knife goes in somewhat easily the cauliflower is done. Note: The cauliflower should be cooked through, but still a bit firm. If it's too soft, it will fall apart during frying. Once the cauliflower is ready, carefully remove the foil from the baking dish, making sure you don't burn yourself from the steam. At this point, remove the 'steaks' from the liquid and place onto a plate lined with paper towel. Blot the top of the cauliflower with paper towel as well. This step helps ensure you get a nice golden crust. Next, heat a large fry pan—or better yet, a cast iron skillet—over medium heat. Once hot, add the oil, followed by the cauliflower. Let the cauliflower cook for about 4 to 6 minutes, or until golden brown on each side. Try not to fiddle with the pieces too much, otherwise the 'steaks' will start to fall apart. To finish the dish, place a spoonful of peanut sauce onto the a plate and spread out to form a round. Place a cauliflower 'steak' into the middle. Top with the warm sauce and serve immediately. My dear friend Emma @zenailurophile on Instagram has created the most luscious vegan salted caramel latte. I had to share it with you!
Ingredients: 1-2 cups fresh coffee 1 TBS coconut oil 2-3 dates, pitted (or more for sweetness) 1/4 tsp vanilla extract, powder or 1/3 piece vanilla bean a pinch or 2 of rock salt Blend till smooth and add vegan milk as desired or pour over ice for an iced latte! |
Archives
May 2015
Categories
All
|