Staying healthy with the seasons

 spring

spring...a time for rebirth and new beginnings....

healthy spring foods


Dandelion greens!

I love mixing dandelion greens in my salads. They are so good for you too. I use both the leaves and stems.

Dandelion greens are a great springtime healer. The greens are  particularly a good liver cleanser as well as a diuretic.  

These  greens are slightly bitter but mix well with other greens or even wilted and tossed with a stir fry.   Dandelion tea is another option. Then of course there's "dandelion wine" :) 
Dandelion root extract is being studied for its potential anti cancer properties. 

In oriental medicine they associate different organs of the body and elements of the earth with a specific season.

 "The liver is ruler over the spring. It is the root of life's ultimate action."

Chinese folk medicine

"The liver craves sour flavor"   Nei Ching

Lemons

Lemon is a perfect liver food and body cleanser. 

Something a little unconventional to try

Stanley Burroughs' Master Cleanse

2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice

1-2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/10 teaspoon cayenne pepper

8 ounces water

 If that recipe doesn't suit your taste buds then just try a simple 

spring cooler of carbonated mineral water with some fresh lemon or lime juice


key lime pie!

dessert!!
got to have it sometimes:)

Here's the recipe for frozen key lime pie

3 egg whites

1/2 cup lime juice

1 cup sweetened condensed milk

9 inch graham cracker crust

lime zest (optional)

Beat egg whites til stiff

Add lime juice and beat well

Add sweetened condensed milk and beat again until well mixed. 

Add a little zest ( about 1/4 tsp.) 

Pour mixture in to a 9 inch graham cracker crust and freeze.

Thaw 5-10 min. before slicing.

If you want to make your own crust (probably healthier)
1 cup slivered almonds lightly toasted
2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter 
mix together, best to use food processor > press in to pie pan and bake 350 degrees for about 12 min. 

I had this pie at the Mucky Duck on Captiva Island a couple years ago. The waiter  told me the recipe was on the Internet under Willard Scott's key lime pie.  I did find it and finally  made it  a couple weeks ago. It was verry yummy!

Spring cleaning
Eating lighter and less for a few weeks allows your body to rest a little from all the heavy foods eaten during the colder months and thereby helps  in cleansing and rejuvenating your cells.  Juicing is a  great way to do this along with taking the herb milk thistle.

Taking advantage of farmers markets is a great way to eat seasonally. With all  the conveniences of getting any kind of food we want any time of  the year we can almost forget what's really seasonal. We can get apples from the other side of the planet when they're out of season here.  So an apple a day (all year long) may not be the best thing after all!

Eating with the seasons advocates a natural path that helps us heal from within ~~~

the dandelion flower symbolizes persistence and a strong will 
native Americans would walk miles to gather these and used them medicinally

spring lettuces from my garden

chives

cherry blossoms and leaves are edible and both are used as food ingredients in Japan

Spring.....mud-luscious.... puddle-wonderful...a  time for flowers and gardens and hummingbirds to return!

                                                          inspired by nature   ♥

accidental hope

Last week while I was walking my dog along the same dreary roads and paths in the woods, I couldn't stop grumbling to myself about  how fed up  I am of the cold sunless weather. My whole body felt less than invigorated from the walk. As I turned to head back, I noticed these little flowers peeping out from the vast array of brown and grey.  A hopeful sign of spring! Yes! It was by accident really that I noticed these little beauties almost hidden in an unassuming spot amongst all the trees and leaves.  I turned back for a moment,  and there they were.  Ahh..spring! 

 Something so simple as these little flowers changed my mood. A reminder of spring and all the hopes  and good feelings that come along with this season.  

The  other day I looked up on my bulletin board, and peeking out from underneath some papers was a   card with  a little quote I had pinned up a long time ago...

HOPE

"Of all the forces that make for a better world, none is so powerful as hope. With hope, one can think, one can work, one can dream. If you have hope, you have everything."


Happy spring and hopes for good things this season!

                               Please don't pick us we're smiling at God:)
               

A healthy mesS! 

wellnessinspired

Who would think mixing all this together would taste good, but it does!
The fruits and veggies combine together great.... and the possibilities are endless. As you can see, in the bowl it's only partially emulsified. Obviously not the finished product. With my old blender it looked kind of like that. Now, I use a high powered blender to get a real smoothie. For this particular smoothie   I used a combo of fresh spinach, fresh kale, strawberries, frozen blueberries and organic canned pineapple. I rarely use canned, but on occasion I'll use canned pineapple or canned peaches.

Finished product that was completely emulsified in my blender     
  
♥

It's a smooth thin version with the color and flavor of the berries. I alternate with lots of different fruits and veggies. I also like to add some kind of fat for better absorption of the fat soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K. In this drink I used golden flax seeds as the fat source. Sometimes I use chia seeds, mila, which is a highly absorbable form of chia seeds in powder form, or  shelled hemp seeds. Everything gets thrown in in a high powered blender and that's it...juice!

wellnessinspired

Above is another  combo I used and it turned out great also. This time I used less water so it was a thicker version and verrry green. I've been using a lot of kale lately. I was under the impression for a long time that kale would be too bitter for my taste. Much to my surprise I really like it. There are many different varieties of kale to choose from too, and they all vary in taste a bit. Here I used rainbow kale, which is nice and light tasting. Kale is referred to as "queen of the greens". It's got tons of health benefits. It's high in iron, calcium and vitamins A, C, and K. Vit. K is essential for normal  blood clotting. If you are, however  on a blood thinner, you need to be consistent with the amount you consume. Needless to say all these fruits and veggies have health benefits.

                                           green smoothie

  I love the creaminess of the avocado. 

Since digestion starts in the mouth, it's suggested to swish the juice in your mouth and even simulate some chewing to release enzymes needed for digestion. 

Remember kids benefit from these  too. When my son's one friend comes over he'll ask if I have any of that  "swamp juice". (lovely term originated by my husband:) I get so excited when I see kids drinking my smoothies.   I found if you go heavier on the fruit the kids like it better. (that's no surprise!) My son isn't a big fan, I must admit, but I'm able to sneak in some spinach leaves in a fruit smoothie or even orange juice.  Every little bit adds nutrition. 

With just a little bit of effort the rewards will be priceless. The energy boost and protection you'll receive from all the antioxidants alone are enough. Juicing daily has definitely given me energy I otherwise wouldn't have. I can honestly say these drinks have also given me back some of the health I lost during an illness. I first became inspired  3 years ago after I read a book called "Green for life" by Victoria Boutenko. Shortly after, I purchased my vitamix, (super blender).. and I  guess you could say I'm hooked now because of the way they make me feel!

www.greenforlife.com

Here's the recipe for the green smoothie

1 1/4  cup chopped rainbow  kale

few carrot shreds

1/4 avocado (fat source)

1 kiwi

about 20 grapes

1/2 cup mango

1 1/4 cup water

This is just a guideline. Experiment and replace water with ice for a frothy drink. That's wonderful too.  I focused on using a lot of fruit in these smoothies but sometimes I do a more veggie shake. You can amazingly enough use onions and strawberries in the same drink and they meld together beautifully. I do think adding some kind of green leafy vegetable along with whatever else you choose should be a  key ingredient. I find a lot of people always use bananas in all their smoothies.  I'm not a big fan but it does add a good amount of sweetness and texture. Just  a little suggestion to get you started! Another key thing is to use a high powered blender to completely emulsify all the ingredients. Experiment a little and when you  hit it right,  the  flavors will pop...

 and you'll be amazed how good it tastes!

Can't finish without  a little philosophy:)

"Shall I not have intelligence with the earth? Am I not partly  leaves and vegetable mould myself."

Henry David Thoreau

wellnessinspired

beach plum on
Mount Desert Island

wellnessinspired

wild blueberries

♥

"Our bodies are our gardens_ our wills are our gardeners."

~William Shakespeare

Rosemary for remembrance~

wellnessinspired

"There's rosemary; that's for remembrance

Pray, love, remember."

~Shakespeare, Hamlet

Rosemary has been a symbol of remembrance since ancient times. It's been used as a symbol at weddings, funerals, and other ceremonial gatherings. It's been a symbol of love and promise, not to forget memories of those deceased and the influence they've had on our lives. For me rosemary is my husband's thanksgiving turkeys, health, gardens and yes, remembrance. I especially remember my sister in law and friend today, who died one year ago. I 'm taken back to the  Christmas I gave her a cookbook, called "Stop and Smell the Rosemary." I wrapped the book and attached a sprig of rosemary to the bow. It looked so pretty and smelled wonderful. I can still envision her holding the sprig to her nose and saying how good it smelled. So, today I will have some rosemary, enjoy it's aroma~ in remembrance of her kindness and loving influence she had on our lives.~

wellnessinspired

Some health facts about rosemary

Rosemary has neuroprotective qualities

Carnosic acid in rosemary is being studied for extraction to be utilized to treat diseases such as Parkinson's, ALS, and Alzheimer's  (medscape)

The diffusion of rosemary in the work place has helped improve the quality of memory function  in office workers  (NIH)

The essential oil of rosemary is antiseptic, enhances mental clarity and supports nerves and endocrine balance.

Remember to take time to stop and smell the rosemary~~

I think she would have liked this...a little twist on her mozzarella, basil, tomato salad
Just made this today, so we'll have for dinner   

❤

Simply Words~~~

                "Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but

                            their echoes are truly endless"

                                   Mother Teresa

wellnessinspired

I thought I would post some inspirational things during lent, seems like the perfect time to
do so. I happen to love quotes and just recently read this one by Mother Teresa. I agree a
kind word or complement can lift someone's spirit and it goes beyond that affecting  us
physically too. We feel happier, and happier is healthier, right? Children are most
vulnerable to words, and studies have shown how traumatic harsh words (especially from
peers in middle school) can affect a child. It appears that during this time it's a sensitive
period when brain connections are developing and becoming insulated with myelin. This
results in lasting physical effects on the brain structure. Wow! an example of the mind
body connection.
                                                 

                                                                       

 

Simple words like "How you doing" or "thank you" can mean the world
to someone. I remember reading a book by Ellen Burstyn and in it she
spoke of the time she did an experiment, where she dressed and lived
as a homeless person on the streets of NYC. She wanted to know what
it felt like. How courageous! She said people came up to her and tossed
her some coins, sometimes food, but not one person looked her in the
eye, smiled, or said a word to her. She then felt how the soul can be
silenced through no words of hope or caring or anything at all. Being
forgotten is a much greater hunger than nothing to eat. Kind words are
food for the soul and one kind word can sustain you for long time. It can
give you optimism and hope you didn't feel before, hence you pass it on
to another and so it goes on and on like ripples in the water.




Some of my favorite words by Audrey Hepburn~The tender loving care of human beings will never become obsolete"


Words are part of that tender loving care. Kind words can be music to the heart and food for the soul~




www.psychologytoday.com