​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 friend, 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. 

​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.

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.  

​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!!

​Everything 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.

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. 

• Cataract prevention via Vitamin A & C, which both play a key role in protecting vision
• High amounts of Manganese which is an essential nutrient that helps protect cells against free radicals and strengthens bones and teeth  
• Very high fiber content helps with constipation and cleansing toxins from organs
• Bromelain reduces inflammation, which in turn soothes pain and swelling
• High Vitamin C content that is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues.  Also helps absorb minerals, maintain immune system, maintains teeth, bones & cartilage and helps in forming collagen.
• Drinking fresh pineapple juice helps remove intestinal worms
• Acts as natural diuretic and helps detox the body of toxins
• Helps in removing dead cells from the skin
• Contains antioxidants that fight skin damage and reduce wrinkles
• Boosts fertility via antioxidants that fight free radicals, which cause damage to reproductive organs
• Facilitates the healing of wounds by quickly repairing cells and tissues
• Helps digestion by providing the enzymes to break down protein, that in turn helps absorb nutrients that are eaten
• Contains copper, the mineral essential for healthy red blood cells. Copper increases cognitive abilities and helps maintain neural pathways, helping prevent neural disorders 

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!