All tagged nutrition
My last blog post was all about what I think makes for a healthy lifestyle and of course number 2 on that list behind sleep, was good nutrition.
Easier said than done, I know!
For this post, I want to highlight the tools in the kitchen that make life easier and help me prep meals faster. Please feel free to share what are your go to tools!
Without further adieu, here are my 5 Must haves and 4 Really, Really Helpful gadgets:
My apologies, to those who drink their recommended amount of water, feel free to skim through.
But, unfortunately you are in the minority.
It is estimated that 75% of Americans are dehydrated, and I suspect Canada and Europe aren’t far behind.
Water is the most important and abundant substance on Earth, it is the universal solvent and the human body is at least 60% water!
Water is the primary component of all the bodily fluids:
digestive juices
blood
lymph
urine
tears
sweat
If you aren’t familiar with this blue-green algae that is considered to be the most nutrient dense food in the world, let me introduce you to Spirulina.
Spirulina is, yes, essentially pond scum, but packs a serious nutrient punch. Used for centuries and grown in fresh, warm alkaline water Spirulina is:
a complete protein
antibacterial
has high levels of antioxidants
is 60% protein by weight, in fact by weight, spirulina has 3X more protein than beef
is an easily assimilated source of iron, perfect for vegetarians, vegans or people who don’t eat much meat
is an effective detoxifier, including heavy metals, due to its high chlorophyll content
high in omega 3, even the hard to get GLA, which is known for it’s anti-inflammatory properties
has 4x the antioxidants of blueberries
Sometimes our bodies can’t always digestion foods, even ones that are good for us, like onions and garlic.
Onions and garlic are very powerful antioxidants, very detoxifying and pretty tasty to cook with but some people have a hard time with them.
Instead try substituting for onions:
Green Onion Tops
Leek Leaves
Chives
And for Garlic:
Garlic Infused Oil
Every body is different and will react differently, so try these substations and let me know they work for you.
Let’s talk about inflammation and how it affects your health.
Major illnesses like cancer, heart disease, arthritis, insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity, mental heath issues and asthma can all be linked back to chronic Inflammation and, many of these diseases are within your control, through a balanced wholesome diet and exercise.
So how do you avoid chronic inflammation?
Firstly, inflammation is a natural biological response and is a good thing. We definitely need our inflammatory response when it comes to fighting infection or getting a cut or injury, this is ACUTE inflammation. This is how the body protects and heals.
Inflammation becomes a major issue when there is CHRONIC inflammation in the body.
Symptoms of Acute Inflammation are:
redness, swelling, pain and heat. Acute inflammation usually clears within a few days. Think about when you cut yourself, this is acute inflammation.
Symptoms of Chronic Inflammation are:
exhaustion, fatigue, insomnia, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, joint pain, weight gain, frequent infections, digestive disorders and excessive mucus production.
Now that you know about how to spot inflammation, here are 6 common causes of chronic inflammation that are controllable.
Our bodies are very smart and they are trying to tell us what is happening all the time, we just may not be aware of what they trying to say. Here is a brief list of some of the basic and most common ailments and their nutrient deficiencies.
