Cabbage For The Win! Cabbage soup may be one of the best foods to keep you healthy through the long winter months. I make a powerhouse cabbage soup, loaded with nutrients from every ingredient. This soup is healing and will get right to work on healing your gut and your health! Cabbage is a wonder food that will help detox your body in more than one way. Because it is rich in sulfur, it helps aid the liver in breaking down toxins. Then it's diuretic properties help rid the body of excess water, flushing the broken down toxins out of your system! Cabbage also has an abundance of nutrients including vitamin C, K, B1, B3 (niacin), B6, protein, fiber, magnesium, calcium, potassium, selenium and iron. All of these nutrients are released into the broth as the soup is simmering, so drinking the broth is very important. The carrots, celery and onion add even more vitamins and minerals, with the carrots providing beta-carotene and the celery providing folate. The broth is just as important, as I typically use 4 cups of organic chicken bone broth and 4 cups of organic chicken broth. Bone broth has healing compounds and minerals that boost the immune system. The important healing compounds in bone broth- collagen, glutamine, glycine and proline- are what give bone broth so much healing power. The collagen from the bone broth reduces intestinal inflammation and heals the gut lining. Bone broth is especially important for people with leaky gut. Drinking a couple of quarts a week could work wonders for them! But adding a quart to your cabbage soup creates a healing, healthy and nutrition filled meal that will benefit everyone! In this recipe I also add garlic with the option to add tumeric and diced organic tomatoes. I don't always put tomatoes in mine, but I know a lot of people like them added. The tumeric is for an added boost, as it will help your body absorb all the nutrients your are consuming! And of course, the garlic. We all know how wonderful garlic is, not just for the taste and added seasoning, but garlic is a great detox and healer itself. If you have a cold or flu symptoms, the garlic will add some extra fighting power to kick it to the curb. This soup is like drinking down straight nutrients that heal you from the inside out! Bon apetit! I hope you enjoy as much as I do! Healing Cabbage Soup Recipe Ingredients 8 Cups of Broth (4 cups organic bone broth; 4 cups organic chicken broth) 1 small head of organic cabbage I small onion, chopped 3 medium-sized carrots, diced 3 celery stalks, diced 3 garlic cloves, minced bay leaf sea salt and cracked black pepper 1 tablespoon tumeric (optional) 3 organic roma tomatoes, diced (optional) Combine ingredients in a pot and simmer for an hour.  These days I'm sure most of us know that eating healthy is essential to staying well. You can tell who eats the hamburgers in life and who eats the fruits and salads. People who eat the hamburgers and fries are sluggish, tired, have trouble focusing and can be easily irritated. Environmental toxins in combination with the toxins found in the foods we eat, produces a pretty heavy load of poison. When you weigh down your body with toxins, they don't just leave your body. A lot of the toxins absorb into the central nervous system, which in turn puts a strain on the digestive system. The livers function is to remove toxins from the body, but if your liver is overtaxed, it will take most of your energy to try to rid your body of said toxins. And, my friends, this will leave YOU fatigued and energy-less. (In other posts, I will share great ways to detox your body of these toxins, along with parasites. Hold tight..). People who eat healthy tend to have more energy, are generally more happy and able to take on more tasks during the day. When we eat dead animals, we are eating something that is energy-less. When you eat fresh fruits and vegetables you are eating something that is alive and vibrating with energy. You are consuming life-force, energy. That energy fuels your body and mind. Eat clean, healthy, fresh, organic fruits and vegetables if you want to be vibrant and full of life. I really like Farmer's Market's to find good fruits and veggies. Or look up a local organic farmer who sells to the community. Please know that I respect everyone's food choices, whether you are a carnivore, vegetarian, or vegan. Everyone's body is different. I am giving healthier suggestions, for many people who eat meat but want to eat healthier, don't really know how to substitute their protein. But there's plenty of protein found in plant based options and there are some very nutrient-dense dairy products such as grass fed, organic, whole milk kefir, butter and cheese products. Good nutrition will prevent 95% of all disease. -Linus Pauling Veggies Dark, leafy green vegetables supply an enourmous amount of health benefits. These vegetables provide minerals such as fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium and folate. Folate is necessary for DNA duplication and repair, which in turn protects against development of cancer. What to buy: Collards, Spinach, Kale, Mustard Greens, Broccoli, Bok Choy and Chard. What to make: Salads, Wraps, Soups, Stir-Fry, Steamed/Sauteed and Omelets. Fruits Berries are a powerhouse of antioxidants and health benefits. Loads of nutrients can be found in just one cup of berries! High amounts of vitamins A,C,D,E,K and several B vitamins are in berries. Calcium, iron, magnesium, phospherus, potassium, zinc, selenium, folate can also be found in berries. As well as omega 3-fatty acids and omega 6-fatty acids. Must.Put.In.Belly. Citrus fruits will keep you healthy all year round. The high amounts of vitamin C and fiber work wonders for your health and help rid the body of toxins. Juice them if possible or just eat them fresh! Other fruit with essential vitamins and nutrients are bananas, apples and pears. These are good energy-boosting fruits with lots of fiber and potassium with other minerals and vitamins. Great fruit to grab-on-the-go in the morning! One of the best ways to get fruits in your diet is to just add fruit to each meal. If you have a juicer, even better. Juice the citrus fruits and apples. Fruit smoothies with berries are an excellent way to pack the nutrients in and protein shakes with bananas are always good too. We usually buy fruit in our house as a morning starter before breakfast and to snack on throughout the day. Where's The Protein? Protein can be found in many foods. We are taught from a young age that in order to get adequate protein we must eat meat. But most people, unknowingly, have low stomach acid which makes it hard for them to actually absorb all the protein and minerals these meats are supposedly supplying. Not to mention animals are sponges that soak up toxicity. Because a majority of their biological makeup is fat, their bodies can accumulate an excessive amount of toxins. So, when the animals eat a toxic diet and live in toxic environments, these toxins get carried with them for life, and they end up in the food you eat. The hormones used and GMO's are the icing on the cake. No thank you! Here are 25 alternative choices for CLEAN protein. These can be eaten as meals and snacked on throughout the day, making it easier to digest. Listed are the grams of protein per serving. In my recipe section of this website I have plenty of recipes that use these ingredients and combine several of them together. Yummy! Protein Grams per Serving 1. Lentils: 9 grams - 1/2 cup 2. Tofu: 10 grams - 1 cup 3. Black Beans: 8 grams - 1/2 cup 4. Quinoa: 8 grams - 1 cup 5. Amaranth: 7 grams - 1 cup 6. Green Peas: 8 grams - 1 cup 7. Artichokes: 4 grams - 1/2 cup 8. Hemp Seeds: 13 grams - 3 tablespoons!!! 9. Oatmeal: 6 grams - 1 cup 10. Pumpkin Seeds: 8 grams - 1/4 cup 11. Edamame: 8.5 grams - 1/2 cup 12. Tempeh: 12 grams - 1 cup!!! 13. Hemp Milk: 5 grams - 1 cup 14. Spinach: 5 grams - 1 cup 15. Black Eyed Peas: 8 grams - 1/2 cup 16. Broccoli: 4 grams - 1 cup 17. Asparagus: 4 grams - 1 cup 18. Green Beans: 4 grams - 1/2 cup 19. Almonds: 7 grams - 1 cup 20. Nutritional (brewer's) Yeast: 8 grams - 1 tablespoon!!! 21. Spirulina: 4 grams - 1 tablespoon!!! 22. Tahini: 2.6 grams - 1 tablespoon 23. Chickpeas: 8 grams - 1/2 cup 24. Peanut Butter: 8 grams - 2 tablespoons!!! 25. Vegan Protein Shake: 25 grams - 1 scoop!!! Besides protein, these foods also supply iron, vitamins and other minerals that help in the absorption of the protein. One of my favorite ways to eat nutritional yeast (I advise buying from the health food section where you scoop it out yourself, tastes better than the packaged "brands" that are sold) is to sprinkle it on popcorn! I use a tiny bit of olive oil, tiny bit of Bragg's Amino Acids and then top it with a couple tablespoons of brewer's yeast. Delicious!! Tahini and chickpeas are used to make hummus. Great source of protein to snack on during the day! We make "chunky monkey" protein shakes in our household. Chocolate protein powder, bananas, peanut butter and almond milk with ice, blended. With just one banana, two cups of almond milk, two tablespoons of peanut butter, one scoop of protein powder and some ice is 35 grams of protein. So, so good! You can be creative in how you prepare these foods and there are a ton of recipes online! To your health!! Health Is WealthEverything is connected. Our bodies, our minds, our souls, our thoughts, the moon, the people we meet. It's quite a magical thought to think of how the Earth provides exactly what our bodies need to flourish and prosper. It is MEANT to be that way. Our bodies are of the Earth just like the fruits and vegetables that grow for us to eat. Our Creator was so splendid in Her Creation, that when we remove the fruits and vegetables from the Earth, they are STILL ALIVE. This is so that we may consume the Divine energy that is pulsating through the plant. Consuming food that is ALIVE is the key to LIVING longer and being healthy enough to enjoy life! Be THANKFUL for your harvest, for the Creator has blessed you with energizing, delicious food that keeps your body young, vibrant and working correctly. All by Divine Design. Pineapple Juice For The Win One of the best ways to heal up a scratchy throat and cough is to drink freshly juiced pineapple juice. For several years now we have juiced a pineapple every time we get a cough or have a sore throat. And every time it heals us up rather quickly! It usually only takes about 1-2 glasses of fresh pineapple juice to send a cough on it's way out the door. There have been several articles make the statement that pineapple juice is 5 times more effective than cough syrup, and I can confirm, that this is most definitely the case! In fact, one study performed by the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Meerut Institute of Engineering and Technology in India, confirmed that fresh pineapple juice, with honey and pepper added, was found to be extremely helpful in dissolving mucus of the lungs in tuberculosis. The pineapple's super-power lies within it's naturally occurring enzyme, bromelain, which reduces inflammation. This soothes the irritation of the throat and relieves the coughing. Bromelain is also a proteolytic enzyme, which means it digests protein. It also contains high amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Magnesium, all of which boost the immune system, which in turn helps ward off colds and illness. By triggering the body's production of substances that reduce swelling and fight pain, Bromelain is able to soothe and heal irritated coughs. Benefits Of Drinking Pineapple Juice For A Cough
These benefits will be most enjoyed when drinking fresh pineapple juice, right from the juicer. If you must buy store bought, make sure you get Organic, Not From Concentrate, No Sugar Added, and all that jazz pineapple juice. But you will reap the rewards of pineapples most from freshly squeezed juice! Our personal experience has always been that once we give pineapple juice, no matter how long the cough has been around, it usually tends to disappear in a day or two completely after being given a couple of glasses of fresh pineapple juice. Or anytime I notice one of my children getting a cold, a glass of pineapple juice will ward it off. I keep going with the pineapple juice too, we keep drinking it for a few days just to keep illness away. Remember, natural remedies work best in strong bodies that aren't tainted with poisonous medications. And you know the best part about pineapple juice?? It tastes WONDERFUL!!! My boys like the fresh pineapple juice the best, with a couple of ice cubes mixed in, so you're not drinking warm pineapple juice. It taste's delicious people, and it's so good for you! Cheers! Sources: 1. Bromelain treatment decreases neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation. Publication: Clin. Immunol. 2008 Jul ;128(1)::66-74. :doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2008.02.015. Publication Date: 2008 Jul Study Author(s): Fitzhugh, David J;Shan, Siqing;Dewhirst, Mark W;Hale, Laura P; 2. Oral Bromelain Attenuates Inflammation in an Ovalbumin-induced Murine Model of Asthma. Publication: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2008 Mar ;5(1)::61-9. :doi: 10.1093/ecam/nel110. Publication Date: 2008 Mar Study Author(s): Secor, Eric R;Carson, William F;Singh, Anurag;Pensa, Mellisa;Guernsey, Linda A;Schramm, Craig M;Thrall, Roger S; Institution: Department of Immunology and Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA. 3. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnme/2014/861659/ 4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882156/  The aloe vera plant, Aloe barbadensis miller, has more healing properties than most other plants. The gel found on the inner leaf contains vitamins A, C, E, folic acid, choline, B1, B2, niacin, B6 and B12. There are several minerals found in the aloe plant as well. Calcium, zinc, chromium, selenium, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper and manganese. All of these contribute to a healthy metabolism, activated cellular communication and help produce enzymes. They also contribute to strong teeth, bones and joints. A really simple and fabulous homemade toothpaste would be taking the gel from the leaf and mixing it with a drop of pure peppermint or spearmint essential oil. These two simple ingredients make a powerful, non-abrasive toothpaste that fights bacteria and strengthens the enamel. The aloe vera plant is also anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory. When taken orally (I advise drinking aloe vera juice, I just feel it works better than taking pill-form), it can help with digestion, strengthen the immune system, help with nutrient absorption, reduce inflammation, provides essential amino acids, help treat diabetes, heal stomach ulcers, relieve constipation, detox the body of toxins, parasites and candida and then some. This plant is powerful and a gem of the Earth! You can find aloe vera juice sold in stores and it's best to find pure, whole leaf organic aloe vera juice. That can get expensive though. An easy way to go about this is to buy an organic aloe vera plant to sit in your house, in some sunlight and water it everyday. You can then take a leaf and make your own aloe vera juice. Slice open a leaf and with a spoon, dig out the inner gel. Put the gel in a blender with a little bit of filtered or spring water and blend together. You can add fresh juice (lemon, orange) for added vitamin zing! Besides taking aloe orally, it can be used topically too. Because aloe has a neutral taste, smell and touch, it can be used in several different ways. In our house, we have healed pink eye three different times, in less than 24 hours. We have also healed ring worm. In fact, any time our boys have ever had a "skin issue" or irritation, we grab aloe, rub it on the skin and it's gone the next day. The important thing to remember when using a natural remedy like this to heal an infection or irritation, is to do it several times throughout the day. I cut open a leaf and open it up, then literally rub the inner gel right on top of the skin until ALL of the inner gel has been absorbed into the skin! You do this every few hours! This method has worked for us over and over for healing viral and fungal infections. Living in Texas and having a fair-skinned, redhead, I have also seen the aloe plant work it's wonders on sunburns. A part of the wonder is how quickly it heals! You can get an aloe vera plant at just about any store that sells plants or has a nursery. I picked up a handful of aloe plants at Home Depot and have them sitting around the house. I have two boys so there are a lot of scrapes, cuts, sunburns and a few of other childhood viral/fungal infections that have come through our house. Our favorite plant is the Aloe Vera plant, because it has helped us heal every single time!  Easily Make Delicious, Immune-Boosting Elderberry Syrup at Home
Elderberries are an immune-boosting powerhouse! They've been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years to heal people of illness and to keep people healthy. In fact, black elderberries can be traced all the way back to Ancient Egypt, where elderberries were the main ingredient in several medicines. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, called this plant his “medicine chest” for all the ailments and illnesses it helped cure.
This elderberry syrup is extra potent, as I use 2 cups of elderberries, instead of the usual 2/3 cup or 1 cup. I also smash the berries for quite some time to get all the nutrients from these wonderful berries! Below are the benefits of this nutritious plant!
Elderberries: -Boost the immune system -Protects against bacteria & infection -Slows down the spread of cancer -Moderates the digestive process -Prevents the development of diabetes -Reduces the pain & speed of autoimmune diseases -Helps with weight loss -Lowers blood pressure -Alleviates allergies -Contain vitamins A, B, & C -Provide iron, potassium, phosphorus & copper -Provide fiber & protein -Are anti-inflammatory -Contain antioxidants -Aides digestion -Increases gastrointestinal health
The other main ingredient of elderberry syrup is raw, unfiltered organic honey. And made into elderberry syrup it is pure, yummy, deliciousness! The raw honey is LOADED with nutrients. There are over 80 different vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants found in raw, unfiltered honey! The entire B-Complex can be found in honey, along with vitamins A, C, D, E and K. The mineral content includes magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, iodine and manganese. Raw, unfiltered honey is also an alkaline food, having one of the highest live enzyme contents of all foods! To top it off, the honey is also antimicrobial and antibacterial! As you can see, all of these nutrients, in combination with the nutrients from the elderberries make for a super, immune-boosting syrup! Which is why it is so powerful at kicking the flu, and other illness, to the curb, where it belongs! My recipe makes just a little over a quart. And it will stay good for up to 3 months in the fridge.
Homemade Elderberry Syrup Recipe 1 cup raw, unfiltered organic honey 2 cups whole organic black elderberries 1 tablespoon organic clove powder 1 tablespoon organic ginger root powder 2 cinnamon sticks or 1 tablespoon of organic cinnamon powder 4 cups water (this recipe ^ makes just over a quart of syrup-to make 2 quarts, add 2 more cups of water, and one more cup of honey to the recipe above) Instructions: Boil the elderberries and seasonings in the water for 45 minutes. Let it cool and then mash the berries with a spoon, through a strainer and into a glass bowl. Add the honey and stir. Store in the fridge. I mash the berries for 10 minutes, just to be sure I get all the goodness out of them. Quart sized mason jars are perfect for storing the syrup. Need to make Vegan elderberry syrup? Just substitute the honey with 100% pure, organic maple syrup. And How Will Elderberry Syrup Fight Off The Flu?... Elderberries have antioxidants called flavonoids (vitamin P) which are extracted and contained in the syrup. These flavonoids stimulate the immune system and have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antihistamine properties. Elderberries also have compounds called anthocyanins that have anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-inflammatory compounds found in elderberries are believed to be what soothes aches, pains and fevers associated with the flu. Ingredients are available through my affiliate links below or locate and call a local, natural grocer to see if they carry black elderberries! (please note, if you have any allergies or reactions to honey, any of the seasonings or the berries, for that matter, please do not use this recipe) Resource: http://www.blackelderberry.info/clinical-summary/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848651/ Need Ingredients? Click the links below!
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