Kelp powder

I came across kelp powder last year in the co-op store in my favourite little town in the Kootneys. We do eat kelp in noodle & dried/flake forms but I had never considered it in a powdered form outside of a capsule. As always I was curious to try it. Knowing the health benefits of eating kelp this looked like another great way to incorporate it into many more dishes. After researching on more ways to use the powder option it has become a staple in my house. 

I use it mostly in shakes & oil dressings.

My biggest reason for using kelp powder is to be able to multiply on my daily detox. I believe we should be eating detoxifying foods everyday not just on a once or twice a year program, not to say don't do a couple of big cleanses just keep on top of it. Call it maintenance :). Toxins build up from every angle of our day. For instance I think of breathing in car fumes when I'm riding my bike, cleaning chemicals in a public washroom, inhaling second hand smoke while sitting in a public park. Just simple things we don't always think of or just take for granted. Plus the taste for me is quite pleasant. I've listed more information & great ideas on how to use kelp powder below. Credits on where to find this information is listed accordingly.

Organic kelp powder is a leading source of iodine, a trace mineral that is essential for healthy thyroid function. Ground from dried Atlantic kelp, this nutrient-dense powder is also rich in marine minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. Enjoy the protective health benefits of kelp powder by adding it to your favorite everyday foods.

Taste and Uses

The salty taste of kelp can be described as umami, which means a “pleasant savory taste” in Japanese. It is best to use 1 teaspoon per day mixed with any food or recipe. Kelp powder can add a powerful nutrient boost to smoothies, and it also goes well mixed in salad dressings or sprinkled on top of vegetables. Add the powder in soups, stews, or savory side dishes. Mix it with other seasonings and incorporate it with your favorite recipes.

Health Benefits of Kelp Powder

1) Excellent Source of Iodine: Organic kelp powder is packed with iodine, a trace element most commonly found in plants and animals that live in the sea. Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, which help the body use energy efficiently and are also necessary for brain development. Eating foods rich in iodine can promote metabolism and support cognitive function. An iodine deficiency can result in fatigue, cold extremities, weight gain, and in severe cases, brain damage or goiter.

2) Natural Detox: Kelp powder helps to eliminate toxins from the body. Kelp contains fibrous compounds like algin which absorb toxins and heavy metals in the digestive tract so that they can be safely removed from your system. This prevents the re-absorption of toxins back into the bloodstream.

3) More Mighty Minerals: Apart from being an iodine powerhouse, organic kelp powder is also a rich source of calcium, magnesium, iron, and potassium. Calcium and magnesium work together to build and support healthy bones. Iron helps deliver oxygen-rich blood cells throughout the body, and potassium regulates blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

**( above courtesy of nuts.com ) 

Raw) Kelp (L. digitata) Granules & Powder

A Nutrition-packed Drink: Mix 1-2 tsp. into water, stir and drink as soon as possible (it will form a gel in less than a minute). Chase with juice. Or try mixing directly into juice.

Drink variations: Mix with any dehydrated green, purple, red or orange drink mix. (An example is barley grass drink, which is especially alkalinizing).

Smoothies: Blend 1-2 tsp. of powdered Kelp into any smoothie.

Kelp & EFA’s: Mix 1-2 tsp. Kelp with water and ground flax seeds, ground chia seeds (sold under various names, including "anutra" or "mila"), ground hemp seeds or hemp protein powder. For a broad spectrum of nutrition, include all ingredients in one glass.

Salad dressings: Add to any oil-and-vinegar (or oil-and-lemon juice) based dressing, homemade or premade. It will somewhat emulsify the dressing and make it a bit green. Suggested ¼ tsp. per serving.

Make your own dressing suggestion:
One serving:
¼ tsp. kelp powder
1 tbsp. rice vinegar
2 tbsp. toasted sesame oil
½ tsp. Herb & Duxelles Powder*
Optional: 
½ tsp. Frontier brand chopped dried mushrooms

(non-Raw) Kelp Granules & Powder

Add to beans and other legumes: start with ½ tsp. of Kelp granules or powder per cup of uncooked beans. Add more if you like the flavor. This will turn the broth green and a bit gel-like. For canned beans, add ¼ tsp. when heating. 

Kelp and Grains: Add ¼ to ½ tsp. per uncooked cup of any grain. Reduce or eliminate salt. Or sprinkle on already-cooked grain.

Kelp Condiment: Grind with toasted sesame seeds to make a condiment.

Kelp Popcorn: Sprinkle Kelp or Dulse granules or powder on popcorn, with other seasonings. 

**( above courtesy of sea veg.com )

As you can see, there are many easy & creative ways to use this supplement. Always check with your health care professional before taking any supplements. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe for everyone. Enjoy! May you be Nutritionally Well

Juicing for detoxing

Juicing is a great way to eat more fruit and veggies. On top of that the more of them we eat the more essential nutrients we get. All fruit and veggies contain phytonutrients which are very unique which offer a multitude of health benefits. Certain ones help out more with certain ailments. For instance most of these ingredients in this drink offer more in cleansing & detoxing our bodies. Helping flush out harmful toxins out of our bodies so our organs function better. The better we have them working the better we will be & the better we will function.

Top detoxing & cleansing foods 

Examples:

Garlic

Green foods

Citrus foods

Broccoli 

Green tea

Nuts & seeds

Omega 3 oils

Read more on many other foods helping in detoxing & cleansing the body.

oneradionetwork.com/.../36-foods-that-help-detox-and-cleanse-your-entire...

**How else we can help our bodies in detoxing**

Diet is just one component of any well-designed cleanse. In addition with an eating plan, there are other important steps:

1) Enhance Circulation: A lack of physical activity can result in poor circulation of blood and lymph fluid, which can have a negative effect on health and impair detoxification and immune function. The best way to get blood flowing is to exercise. Contrast showers anddry skin brushing are also great because they can be integrated into your regular shower.

2) Promote Elimination: When toxins that are stored in our cells are mobilized, they travel to our blood and must be eliminated from the body through feces, urine, or sweat or they can be reabsorbed and recirculated in our systems. Sometimes our organs of elimination are sluggish because we don’t move (and therefore don’t sweat), are constipation, or don’t drink enough water. Ways to increase elimination include: foods that prevent constipation, herbal laxatives such as senna tea or cascara, increased fluid intake, colonics, or enemas.

3) Improve Digestion: Promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, so that it can keep potentially harmful bacteria in check, otherwise “bad” bacteria can produce toxins that damage the intestinal lining, are absorbed into the bloodstream, and injure cell membranes in the body. The cleanse can often provide the nutrients needed to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. Probiotics can also be supplemented.

Most detox diets call for the removal of foods people are often sensitive to, such as wheat and gluten. A properly chosen diet supports the liver by providing it with protein, antioxidants, vitamin, and other nutrients so that it can detoxify efficiently. Supplements can also be taken, such as protein powder and vitamins, antioxidants, herbs for the liver, or detox teas.

4) Mind/Body Wellness: Stress can impair the body’s detoxification systems and lead to digestive ailments, impaired immunity, and have wide-ranging effects on health. A detox diet is a time not just to let the body heal, but to allow the mind to rest. Try to incorporate mind/body practices into your detox, such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, ormindfulness meditation.

**These four points are compliments of the website below.**👇

Detox Diet - The 7 Day Plan - Alternative Medicine - About.com

altmedicine.about.com › ... › Diets & Superfoods › Detox Diet

by Cathy Wong - Many popular detox diets, such as the 10-Day Detox Diet and the Clean ...5) Top 20 Detox Foods: Want to know what some of the star players of the diet are?

Keeping our organ systems running efficiently will help keep us young and disease free. 

Why not incorporate more of these healing foods into our diets. By juicing or making smoothies will only make it easier to do so. Give these foods a try and eliminate the processed & fast foods we seemed to be stuck on that only create toxic build up, which is what we need to get rid of. 

Let's live healthy and happy and may you be Nutritionally Well.

Detox juice

     Detox, Energize & Rejuvenate!

From fermented, sprouted and raw foods, the nutrient content in this drink is amazing. It will help cleanse & detox the body. It will energize you. It will rejuvenate you and nourish you all at the same time. 

1 bottle of Kombucha ( I used third eye-my fav ) 

1 peeled whole lemon

2 inch peice of cucumber

1/2 cup spinach

1/2 cup kale

2 large basil leaves

1/2 tsp sprouted broccoli seed powder

1 packet of stevia ( optional ) 

* use organic when possible 

  For decades we have known that fruits and vegetables are important to our good health. 

We have learnt more about their unique compounds that can help us heal from all sorts of ailments.

In years past, meat & dairy were promoted in abundance for good health & in the prevention of nutritional deficiencies. When chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer & type 2 diabetes rose sky high, meat & dairy were then recommended in moderation. It was then when plant based foods were encouraged more. From slowly it seemed to now, everyone is talking more about juicing and eating more wholesome natural foods & taking more natural supplements to become more healthy and you know the old Hippocrates quote "let thy food be thy medicine" I mean it's not new how our food heals us, it's just talked about more and I believe practised more. More people are becoming more health conscious and it seems now it has become more of the norm. 

  So why is juicing so great! First it's one way to eat your fruits & veggies. It's also a great way to add those extra essential nutrients in a quick & easy digestible form. Eating ( most foods ) raw preserves the foods nutrients. When we cook our foods enzymes are lost therefore making the food less nutritious. 

I do not suggest one replaces their meals by juicing as you would be depleting your self of many other essential nutrients your body needs. Juicing should be in addition to your healthy diet.

So good for you for taking charge of your health. And for those just testing it out, try something new everyday. Take in how clean, refreshed & rejuvenated  you feel after eating foods such as this juice I made above. There are muliple website, books and social networking with recipes and inspirations to inspire you for a life time. 

Enjoy and may you be Nutritionally Well.

As always I like to pass along and support those who work to supply such great research and expertise on the same topics I love to blog about. Here is this website on juicing below. 

Juicing | What are the Health Benefits of Juicing? - Mercola

articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/.../benefits-of-juicing.asp...

by Joseph Mercola - in 1,531 Google+ circles

Nov 13, 2011 - Discover the health benefits of juicing and why you should incorporate it into your diet.

Far infrared sauna detox

                     

   When we first heard about far-infrared sauna's, I thought immediately of our microwave. I wasn't going to cook myself from the inside out. I could not understand how I was going to acheive any health benefits from that. How was it safe? But when I joined a wellness centre they had one and convinced me to try theirs. After realizing how wonderful I felt, I couldn't stop using it.   

  My husband got a little grossed out thinking about everybody sweating in the same sauna over and over again and all the germs & bacteria that came with it. Even though they were cleaned, but really, do we all clean the same way, hmmmm? Plus we hadn't done any research on the safety part of them at this point. But all I knew is that if we figured out they were safe, we were buying one.

    My husband did all the research to see really what the health benefits were and the safety of them.

He spend a long time researching and came to the conclusion that if the far infrared had a low EMF, then it would be safe. Plus having our own would keep me out of the wellness centre one that gave him the heebie jeebies :)

How the far infrared saunas work. 

A far-infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to create heat. "Far" describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turns warms your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you.

Far infrared waves penetrate deep into our body for a deep heating action which allows for the body to activate the sweat glands. The sweat glands offer one of only a few mechanisms that the body has to eliminate toxins and since the skin is the largest organ in the human body it is a very good means for elimination.

The sun is the primary source of radiant energy, but not all of this energy is beneficial. Although life needs energy from the sun, too much sunlight damages the skin. Far infrared heat provides all the healthy benefits of natural sunlight without any of the dangerous effects of solar radiation. 

Another thing about the saunas is that they come in all shapes and sizes with some having light therapy, radios & CD players to make the experience that much more enjoyable & relaxing. 

Benefits of an infared sauna.

It makes you sweat which releases toxins aiding in cleansing & detoxifying the body.

It raises your metabolism to help in weight loss.

Helps with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Helps with anti aging & skin purification.

Helps with relaxation. 

Helps relieve joint & muscle pain.

Helps with relieving your sinuses from a cold.

Helps to relieve a hang over.

Helps you feel better.

Helps you sleep better.

You can lose quite a bit of calories, however it's mostly water loss. It's very important to drink water before during after. I realized the less water I had in me that it took longer to get a good sweat going.

Being well hydrated is very important. The length of time in one is completely up to each person. We stay in for 1 hour approx 2 times a week. If you get a chance give one a try to see how it makes you feel.

Saunas | Infrared & Traditional Home Sauna - Mercola.com

products.mercola.com/saunas/

Soak up the benefits of far-infrared sauna in the comfort and privacy of your own home – saunas have never ... Far-infrared emitters do not work through clothing.

Benefits of Far Infrared Sauna Heat

www.ib3health.com/products/InfraredSauna/.../FIR%20Benefits.shtml

FIR (Far Infrared Radiation) Sauna heat is clearly rising to the top of health administration requirements. Activated by heat, the FIR material emits FIR energy that ...

Cleansing and Detoxing

                     

                      Cleansing & Detoxing

Why a cleanse or detox?..Tired, brain fog, slow digestive system, prone to colds, poor eating habits, over indulgences, excess alcohol consumption, body is to acidic, heavy metal build up, the reasons why are endless. This website below posted some great reasons for a cleanse.

.www.dawnmarrs.com/21-reasons-to-cleanse-and-repl... 


A few years back when I did my first cleanse, I didn't know much about it, the word wasn't even in my vocabulary and who I thought did them were only those fanatic about natural health.
Even though always being very active and eating well, I wasn't feeling the efforts of it. I heard a friend of mine talking about a cleanse she and her husband do every year together. It made me think that maybe that was the tip I needed.
When I started to research cleansing and detoxing, I began to learn again about the bodies organs and the importance of their roles. I then learnt even the healthiest people need a good cleanse/detox every so often. Everyones system doesn't run at 100% all the time. We breath toxins in everyday, whether from inside air or outside air. Our skin is exposed to pollutants and chemicals from cleaners and topical beauty products. The point is we don't live in a bubble protecting us from everyday life, and our organs and organ systems need a kick start and/or a good reboot every so often to help rid the burden of toxic build up. I was amazed with how much junk came out of me with my first cleanse. For the first time, I felt clean inside. It was truly amazing. As you cleanse more and depending on your lifestyle, you will excrete less and less out of you, however never the less it's still a good habit to continue. Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean you don't have toxic build up.
By eating a healthy diet full of nutrients that our bodies need and not consuming chemical foods is a huge start to lessen the toxins in our bodies. We all know moving our bodies everyday is also key to good health , bring the sweat on and you are eliminating toxins via your skin. Now we can go on forever about toxins and chemicals and how to eliminate them as much as possible out of our lives, but I'm just keeping it real. Most of us do not use 100% all natural products or eat 100% all organic or even eat the perfect diet on a regular bases. It's a fact toxins build up and can hinder our body systems from working at their optimal and in some cases creating disease. Just like our house needs a good spring and fall cleaning, so do our bodies. There are several ways to cleanse and detox.
It can be overwhelming just like anything new. I came across this website
justcleansing.com
while pinning on Pinterest. It gives some great cleanses and recipes for each type.
Another point about cleansing and detoxing is it goes beyond food. We can aid in toxin elimination as mentioned earlier through sweating. The use of saunas, hot tubs, foot baths and massages are also among the many ways to rid ourselves of toxins. So go ahead and relax.
To sum things up,
We can not avoid toxins completely.
Keep in mind the best base to aid in some toxic build up is truly a healthy lifestyle.
The less junk we put in, the less junk needs to come out.
You can find more about this topic on my Pinterest board called  "Cleansing and Detoxing" which are from some other websites I came across. Even better, research about this topic for yourself as there are many websites to explore. Talk to a health professional in this field for some one on one. However or wherever you want to start, it's a good start.