February 2018 - Journey With Healthy Me

Nachos Style Potatoes

I tried this easy to prepare recipe last week and enjoyed it for lunch. I have been grateful to learn that potatoes are in fact good for us. They are foundational to my plant based diet. It’s always great to find another recipe that showcases this health boosting food.

This recipe is from Thyroid Healing by Anthony William.

These were so good! The potatoes were perfectly cooked, tender on the inside with a crispier exterior. Sliced a bit thinner and I could create my own healthy potato chips. Instead of half a jalapeño, I used 1 small can of chopped green chilies in the salsa, for less heat.

And the garlic cashew aioli was wonderful. The recipe makes enough for leftovers. I can make another batch of nachos style potatoes. Or, it works great as a topping on other veggies. I added a dollop to raw beet noodles that I made with the spiralizer. Store the aioli in the fridge.

I look forward to serving up these “nachos” again soon!

Pick up your copy of Thyroid Healing by clicking link below.

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Red Clover

Today’s featured supplement is a wild food. In fact, this easily found plant is considered by many to be a weed. Although common, red clover is a beneficial addition to a healthy diet.

This medicinal plant is actually a powerful wild herb. It provides support to the lymphatic system, cleansing the lymphatic fluid, and it is effective against cancers. Red clover is diuretic and builds the blood, aiding in disorders such as leukemia, multiple myeloma or toxicity due to the liver or pancreas not functioning properly.

Red clover is loaded with nutrients and disease fighting alkaloids. It contains manganese, selenium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins A and B. Plus red clover’s alkaloids work with amino acids to break up and reduce stored up excess fat so it can be flushed out of the body.

Red clover is great for those feeling tired, fatigued or depleted. One cup of red clover tea can refresh and replenish, nutritionally. And finally, this potent herb cleanses the body of toxic heavy metals and pesticides such as DDT. A cup of red clover tea, drank in the evening before bed, allows the cleansing properties to work over night, pulling toxins from the body so that the liver can process them.

Both the blossoms and the leaves of the plant can be used, and red clover can be taken in capsule form or dried and used as a tea.

Try this delightful blended tea, from Life Changing Foods by Anthony Williams.

2 tablespoons red clover blossoms

1 tablespoon chamomile blossoms

1/4 teaspoon lavender flowers

Mix ingredients together in a small bowl. For one serving of tea, boil one cup of water and add 1 teaspoon of the mixture in a mesh tea ball. Steep for 5 minutes at least.

I currently take red clover in capsule form, although I’ll be visiting my local health food store soon, and I will purchase dried red clover blossoms. I’d like to occasionally have red clover tea.

The next time I see red clover growing in a field or yard, I will pause to give thanks for the health benefits this simple plant provides!

Purchase Red Clover below:

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Cilantro

I had always considered today’s featured food as a garnish or a flavorful addition to salsa and Mexican food. When I switched to a plant based lifestyle, I discovered this herb has amazing health benefits.

Cilantro is a powerfully cleansing food, removing toxic heavy metals from the brain, organs and other body systems. With its mineral salts comprised of sodium, potassium and chloride, cilantro can pass through the blood-brain barrier, pulling toxins from the brain and freeing neurons from toxic metal oxidized residue.

Cilantro is a valuable liver detoxifier and supports the adrenal glands. This herb also balances blood glucose levels, warding off weight gain, brain fog and memory problems. It’s antiviral, making it an effective weapon against Epstein-Barr, shingles and herpetic viruses. Cilantro’s antibacterial properties kill off every form of bacteria and flushes their waste from the body. For any type of chronic or mystery illness, cilantro is an important addition to the diet.

Some people dislike cilantro, experiencing a bad taste when they eat it. Anthony William, author of Life Changing Foods, writes that people who perceive a bitter or harsh flavor when eating cilantro have a higher rate of heavy metal oxidation going on. The heavy metals in their bodies are corroding at a more rapid rate, creating toxic runoff. This runoff makes its way into the lymphatic system and saliva, which results in the bad taste when cilantro is eaten, as it binds onto the oxidative debris. If someone dislikes the taste of cilantro, that could be an indicator that he or she really needs its healing benefits.

To best remove toxic heavy metals from the body, consume fresh cilantro. It is so much more than a garnish for guacamole. Try adding it to smoothies, juices, chopped in salads and salsas, and sprinkling it on vegetables, curries, and soups.

I had suffered from restless leg syndrome for years. There are several causes for this condition, including a build up of heavy metals in the body. My restless legs made extended trips by car or airplane very uncomfortable. Last year, facing long flights across the Atlantic, I decided to try detox smoothies as a way of easing my legs. Every morning, for 30 days before flying, I drank a detox smoothie, made from 1 banana, 1 cup of wild blueberries, 1 cup of frozen mango chunks, 1 orange, 1 bunch of cilantro, and a teaspoon each of hemp seeds, Atlantic dulse and Hawaiian spirulina. I did not experience restless legs at all on the flight to and from Italy, nor did I later on my UK trip. I drink a detox smoothie at least twice a week, and I have not had restless legs since.

I include this wonder food in my diet as often as I can. For lunch today I sprinkled it on my orange/avocado salad. Tonight I’ll juice it with celery, apple, and ginger. I am grateful for the healing cilantro brings into my body.

You can purchase Life Changing Foods by clicking on the link below:

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Lemon Balm, Fennel & Thyme Tea

This healing tea has become my afternoon hot drink of choice as I undertake a 90 Day Thyroid Rehab. Easy to prepare and full of health benefits from three powerful herbs, I enjoy taking a midday break and sipping on this flavorful tea.

This recipe comes from Thyroid Healing, by Anthony William. Not only is the tea healing to the thyroid and body, it calms and soothes the spirit as well.

Fresh or dried lemon balm and thyme may be used. If you can’t find loose leaf herbs, tea bags may be used for lemon balm, fennel seed and thyme. Just use one tea bag of each.

I grow lemon balm and thyme in my garden. The lemon balm dies back in the fall and returns each spring. I used dried lemon balm and fennel seeds, purchased at Natural Grocers. Thyme survives the winter months. I sloshed out to the garden through pouring rain to snip a fresh sprig of aromatic thyme for my tea.

Lemon Balm soothes the nerves, especially those involved with digestion. Sensitives nerves in the digestive tract can create much discomfort and irritation. They can also trigger nausea and lack of appetite. Lemon balm helps to desensitize the nerve endings and ease inflammation. It is also high in trace minerals, helps to conserve B12 in the body, and has antiviral properties that fight against Epstein-Barr, shingles and herpetic viruses.

Fennel Seed is high in vitamin C and other antiviral compounds that fight off EBV. Fennel seeds contain an aspirin like compound that acts as an anti inflammatory to a thyroid flared up by Epstein-Barr. Calming the thyroid helps to improve its hormone production.

Thyme is a powerful antiviral that cleans up thyroid disease. Its compounds get into the gland and kill EBV, allowing the thyroid to regain control of itself. Thyme knocks down viral loads throughout the body, relieving a multitude of symptoms. This herb is also able to cross the blood-brain barrier, making it an incredible weapon against viruses that are attacking the brain or spinal cord.

In the past, I have enjoyed creating hot teas from each of these herbs. It is amazing, the health benefits, when the three are combined. This refreshing tea is mild yet full of flavor. I prefer it plain, without adding honey.

I look forward to the summer months when I can pick fresh thyme and lemon balm and create this soothing, healing tea.

You can order Thyroid Healing below:

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Ashwagandha

Although I had heard of today’s featured supplement, I have only just included it in my daily health regimen. I spent the afternoon researching this herbal supplement and its health benefits.

Ashwagandha belongs to the same family as the tomato. The plant is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa and the Middle East. The plump shrub has oval leaves and its yellow flowers bear small red fruits, about the size of a raisin.

This powerful herb has been used medicinally since ancient times. It is well known for its restorative properties and it has traditionally been used to strengthen the immune system after an illness.

Ashwagandha contains withanolides (a steroidal lactone), alkaloids, amino acids and choline. While the leaves and fruit have therapeutic properties, it is the root that is most commonly used.

The healing benefits of Ashwagandha include:

• protects the immune system

• combats the effects of stress

• improves memory

• lessens anxiety and depression

• helps reduce brain-cell degeneration

• stabilizes blood sugar

• reduces cholesterol

• anti-inflammatory benefits

• maintains sexual health and vitality

I purchased Ashwagandha in capsule form and began taking it today. Because tomorrow I begin a 90 day journey with an intentional focus on ridding my body, completely, of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and healing my thyroid. In his newest book Thyroid Healing, Anthony William includes Ashwagandha on the supplement list as a powerful healing herb.

He writes, “While this herb does bolster the thyroid, the main reason to bring it into your life is to minimize adrenal surges that can feed EBV. By stabilizing the adrenal glands Ashwagandha helps prevent them from over producing fear-based hormone blends that give fuel to EBV. ”

On my healing journey I have learned that viruses such as shingles, strep and EBV are responsible for my health issues. It became a two fold strategy for healing: 1) eat healthy foods that support my immune system and 2) kill the viruses by eliminating the unhealthy foods, chemicals and toxins that they thrive on. The viruses also feed on the hormones that flood the body as a result of fear, anxiety and stress. It becomes so crucial to not only eat well but to lower stress. With the way most adults live, under continual stress and anxiety, is it any wonder that we grow more and more sick?

I’m excited to take this next step in my healing journey. I am incorporating several new to me supplements that I will be sharing about in upcoming Sunday Supplement posts. And I will share more about the 90 Day Thyroid Rehab soon. Tomorrow is Day 1!

You can purchase Ashwagandha by clicking the link below:

Onions

I have not previously been a fan of today’s featured food. When ordering salads or burgers in a restaurant I would request “no onions, please”. However, that was my old way of eating. As I have embraced a plant based lifestyle wholeheartedly, I have come to appreciate the many health benefits of onions.

My opinion about onions shifted when I read about them in Life Changing Foods by Anthony William. The info I am sharing comes from the section on this versatile vegetable.

Onions are highly medicinal. They are one of the best foods available for keeping down bacterial overgrowth in the body, making them an important choice for anyone struggling with SIBO, small intestinal bacteria overgrowth.

Onions enhance the body’s production of B12. The sulfur they contain makes them naturally antibiotic. They also help to rid the body of radiation, viruses, pesticides, herbicides and toxic heavy metals. In addition onions ease joint pain, degeneration and discomfort, and help to repair tendons and connective tissue. The sulfur in onions also helps to slow iron loss.

High in the trace minerals zinc, manganese, iodine and selenium, onions rejuvenate the skin and protect the lungs. They help to combat colds and flus that cause bronchitis and bacterial pneumonia. And finally, the anti-inflammatory properties of the onion is good for the intestines, healing ulcers and soothing the intestinal tract.

This powerful veggie has gone from being a food I avoid to one that I include in my meals as often as possible. Almost every dish I prepare starts with sautéed chopped onions. They go into soups, rice and lentil dishes, curries and chili. I combine them with green peppers, carrots and celery to make veggie bowls. The huge shift for me is that I now include raw chopped or sliced red onions in salads and salsas. I even run them through the juicer occasionally along with other fresh veggies.

My attitude toward onions has changed so much that I now keep a good supply of them on hand in my kitchen. I know that if I have an onion, some vegetables, rice, and herbs or spices I can quickly prepare a wholesome, nutritious meal in minutes. I look forward to trying new recipes incorporating this wonder food.

You can order Life Changing Foods below.

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Zucchini Noodles with Basil Pesto

As promised last week, after I introduced my fun new veggie spiralizer, today’s Try This Tuesday post features a basil pesto recipe. I’m including a bonus second recipe as well, because options are good, right?

This easy to prepare recipe is so good! I’ve enjoyed zucchini noodles with basil pesto twice in the last week. And today I topped my noodles with marinara sauce that included sautéed vegetables.

You can read about using a spiralizer HERE.

One medium sized zucchini makes one bowl of noodles. For more servings, simply spiralize more zucchini, or any form veggie of choice.

This recipe, from Thyroid Healing by Anthony William, makes two servings:

Mildly flavored zucchini noodles pair well with sautéed veggies or marinara sauce.

Here’s my favorite home made marinara sauce. This makes a big batch that keeps well in the fridge for a week. I like to sauté green peppers, celery and carrots to add to this basic sauce. The red pepper gives it a bit of a kick. It can be omitted or increased!

I discovered today that marinara sauce with sautéed veggies over zucchini noodles is yummy as well. I added hemp hearts. Now I’m ready to try some different vegetables in the spiralizer!

Order Thyroid Healing and your own spiralizer by clicking the links below:

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Ester C: The Better Vitamin C

This week’s featured supplement showcases a better way to get vitamin C. This crucial nutrient can be found in foods such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes and dark green leafy veggies. However, most of us do not get enough vitamin C naturally, making this a popular supplement, especially during the winter months when cold and flu season is at its peak.

Traditional vitamin C tablets are acidic, and can be hard on the stomach. Additionally, this vitamin passes through the body rather quickly. Ester C is non acidic, making it a better choice for those with sensitive digestive systems. It is a pH neutral product containing naturally occurring vitamin C metabolites. These metabolites activate the vitamin C molecules, making it easier for the body to transport them from cell to cell, increasing the health benefits.

Ester C stays in the white blood cells for about 24 hours, providing long lasting immune system support.

Vitamin C is essential to our health. Sailors discovered this truth years ago, while on long ocean voyages. The shortage of fresh produce and citrus fruits created conditions such as scurvy, a result of severe vitamin C deficiency.

Ester C provides this vitamin, which is necessary for the manufacturing of collagen. Our bodies need collagen to create healthy blood vessels, connective tissues, muscles, bones and ligaments. Vitamin C promotes brain function, and helps the body absorb iron, which is needed for red blood cell production.

Ester C strengthens the immune system, helping to protect the body from infections. It flushes viral toxins from the liver, lowers high blood pressure, improves blood vessel dilation and protects cardiovascular health.

This powerful vitamin minimizes the risk for stroke and a variety of cancers, improves eye health, reduces blood lead levels, improves mood, controls asthma and aids the body in healing wounds.

Because of its many health benefits, beyond preventing colds and flu bugs, I take an Ester C capsule every day, year around. Look for packaging with “Ester C” written on it, to get the maximum benefits!

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Apples

For many of us, an apple is one of the first fruits we remember eating as a child. They conjure up warm feelings and fond memories…crisp apples on a cool autumn day, picking apples in an orchard, bobbing for apples at a fall party, toting apple slices to school in a lunchbox. They symbolize family values, as in apple pie and gifts for school teachers. And, they represent health. We can all recite the old adage, An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

It’s good to know that apples can promote health and well being. Because that saying is more that a cute rhyme. I’ve discovered in the past couple of years just how incredibly powerful this little fruit is!

Apples play a crucial role in fighting inflammation of all kinds. They calm the systems of the body by reducing viral and bacterial loads that inflame the body. In addition, the phytochemicals in apples feed the neurons of the brain and increase electrical activity. That makes them brain food!

Red skinned apples are especially beneficial. The pigments that create that rosy color have anti-obesity properties and strengthen the digestive system. They are the best colon cleanser. Pectin from an apple rids the intestinal tract of bacteria, viruses, yeast and mold. It also helps to eliminate debris that clogs pockets in the intestines.

This powerhouse of a fruit helps to pull heavy metals from the body and detoxifies the brain of MSG. They hydrate the body at a cellular level, providing trace minerals and salts and electrolytes, making them ideal to consume after exercise or a stressful day.

There are so many flavorful ways to enjoy the healing benefits of apples, without baking them in a pie or covering them with sticky caramel.

Slice them up and eat them plain, or pair with celery sticks and dates for a snack that supports the adrenal glands. I like to dip apple slices in organic, no sugar added peanut butter, for a mid afternoon treat, or make a healthy “caramel” dip by combining 6 dates, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and a little water in the blender. Yum!

Chopped apples can be added to any salad, for extra flavor and a crisp texture. And they are great for juicing. Apples add sweetness naturally to juices and can be added to other fruits or greens for a refreshing drink. One of my favorite hot beverages combines apple juice with spices, orange slices and cranberries for a soothing cider. Or, if craving something sweet, apples can be sliced in two, cored, and the center filled with walnuts and a dollop of 100% pure maple syrup. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake about 20 minutes, then serve warm. What a delicious and satisfying dessert.

Try adding an apple a day, or two or three, to your diet and see how your body and health responds.

Apple slices with a sauce of blended dates and cinnamon.

Pick up your copy of Life Changing Foods by Anthony William below, and learn more about apples and 49 other health boosting foods.

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Zucchini Noodles Made with a Spiralizer

I have wanted to try a spiralizer, a kitchen tool that creates mounds of noodles from fresh, raw vegetables, since I began this plant based journey. The problem was, I didn’t own a spiralizer! Thanks to my daughter Elissa, who gave me an Amazon gift card for Christmas, I purchased the Zalik 5 blade spiralizer recently and tried it for the first time for lunch today.

I have seen beautiful photos of noodles made from zucchini, cucumber or beets for months. I love trying new recipes, and with veggies being such an important part of my diet, a spiralizer seemed a must. I looked at a variety of models, from very inexpensive to fairly pricey, and settled on a mid priced unit.

The Zalik comes with five interchangeable blades and a brush for cleaning those blades. The unit is made of heavy plastic and it comes apart for easy cleaning. I purchased organic zucchini for my first attempt at making raw veggie noodles.

I cut the ends off of the zucchini and popped it into the unit where it is held securely by prongs. As I turned the handle, while applying slight pressure to keep the zucchini moving forward, noodles curled into the waiting bowl. I used a 2mm blade.

I was like a kid with a new toy! This was fun, turning one medium sized zucchini into a bowl full of noodles. The whole process took less than a minute. And the spiralizer was a cinch to clean up and pack back into its box.

I followed a recipe in Thyroid Healing, by Anthony William, to complete my lunch. I will share the Pesto Zucchini Noodles recipe next Tuesday. Veggie noodles can be tossed with basil pesto, topped with marinara sauce, or combined with cooked or raw veggies.

I added organic cherry tomatoes, freshly made basil pesto, and sprinkled on hemp hearts, sea salt and black pepper. This colorful meal was perfect for lunch. The zucchini noodles were very mild, and soft and pliable, more like pasta noodles than raw veggies. I loved the light fresh taste. Any firm vegetable could be used in place of zucchini.

I am excited to make noodles out of other vegetables and also to make veggie chips and curls, using the different blades. I grow vegetables during the summer months and lots of basil. I look forward to picking fresh basil from my own backyard to create pesto. Homemade potato chips anyone? Sweet potato curls? Cucumber or yellow squash noodles topped with pesto? I’m going to have fun with this spiralizer…and eat well at the same time!

You can order your spiralizer below! And check out Thyroid Healing for amazing recipes and crucial health info.

I am an Amazon Affiliate and may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for considering making a purchase of this product, or any other items, through my Amazon link!