Homemade Basil Pesto Recipe Pesto is a green sauce originating from northern Italy that typically calls for fresh basil and pine nuts. It can also be made with parsley in place of the basil and walnuts or cashews in place of the pine nuts. Some mint can also be added to the basil. Pesto was traditionally prepared with a mortar with the help of a pestle, but a food processor makes the whole process much easier. If you grow your own basil, you probably know that you often end up with so much basil all at once that you don’t know what to do with it. Followers of a Standard American Diet will usually mix pesto with pasta or put it over toasts, but we can do better and use it on healthy food instead. Fresh pesto will last in the refrigerator for about a week. Makes 1 cup Ingredients 2 packed cups fresh basil leaves;1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil;1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (optional);1/3 cup pine nuts (Cashews and walnuts also make a nice pesto);3 garlic cloves, minced;Salt and pepper to taste. Preparation
Natural Happiness: The Truth About Exercise and... Original post: Exercise and Depression We all want to be happy. But is there anything you can actually do to feel happier more often? Or at the very least... can you limit the likelihood that you'll feel sad and depressed? There isn't a single perfect answer, of course, but research is starting to reveal the incredible connection between our physical actions and our mental health. As an example, let's take a look at the link between exercise and depression. Dealing With Depression: Exercise vs. James Blumenthal is a neuroscientist at Duke University who specializes in depression. The patients were split into three groups. Group 1 was treated with sertraline, an antidepressant drug. Group 2 used a combination of exercise and medication. Group 3 used an exercise only treatment. Here's what happened... Each patient received treatment for 16 weeks (4 months) under the supervision of the researchers and professional staff. Exercise and Depression: The Long-Term Impact What made the difference? Dr.
Coconut Oil Might Combat Tooth Decay By Dr. Mercola Coconuts are among the most nutritionally dense foods on the planet and have been a dietary staple for millennia. "Incorporating enzyme-modified coconut oil into dental hygiene products would be an attractive alternative to chemical additives, particularly as it works at relatively low concentrations. The work also contributes to our understanding of antibacterial activity in the human gut, which helps maintain the balanced flora necessary for a strong immune system. "Our data suggests that products of human digestion show antimicrobial activity. The Many Health Benefits of Coconut Oil Coconut oil offers an impressive array of health benefits. A Traditional Diet Might Not Guarantee You Perfect Oral Health In the 1900s, Dr. Plaque-Busting Strategy No. 1: Fermented Vegetables In the past, I was also challenged with plaque accumulation which resulted in my having to make monthly visits to the dental hygienist. Plaque-Busting Strategy No. 2: Oil Pulling Did You Know?
Pineal Gland Activating Smoothies! 1 ripe avocado 4 cups of organic baby spinach leaves 1 cup filtered water The juice of 1 lime or lemon 1 chopped cucumber 3 stems fresh parsley 5 stems fresh mint 1 piece fresh ginger 2 large ice cubes 1 tsp of Udo’s oil 1 cup of pure water 2 whole peeled limes 4 cups of baby spinach 1 cucumber 1 inch piece of raw creamed coconut crushed ice 6 piece of cucumber 3 medium Kale leaves 1 avocado 1 cup coconut water fresh juice of one lime 1-2 tbsp hemp seeds 2-3 drops stevia 2 cups coconut water 2 cups baby spinach 2 cups frozen strawberries 1/2 frozen banana 2 tablespoons spirulina
Health - Why money can't buy you happiness Hope a lottery win will make you happy forever? Think again, evidence suggests a big payout won’t make that much of a difference. Tom Stafford explains why. Think a lottery win would make you happy forever? Many of us do, including a US shopkeeper who just scooped $338 million in the Powerball lottery – the fourth largest prize in the game's history. Winning the lottery isn't a ticket to true happiness, however enticing it might be to imagine never working again and being able to afford anything you want. One way of accounting for this is to assume that lottery winners get used to their new level of wealth, and simply adjust back to a baseline level of happiness – something called the “hedonic treadmill”. Both of these phenomena undoubtedly play a role, but the deeper mystery is why we're so bad at knowing what will give us true satisfaction in the first place. Picking up points It even seems like the very act of trying to measuring it can distract us from what might make us most happy.
Coconut Oil and Alzheimer’s Disease How worried should drug companies be about supplements eating into their monopoly profits? A lot—as this story will show. Please share it with anyone you know who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or is worried about it. Of course, just about everyone worries about Alzheimer’s. Mary Newport, MD, has been medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit at Spring Hill Regional Hospital in Florida since it opened in 2003. They started him on Alzheimer’s drugs—Aricept, Namenda, Exelon—but his disease worsened steadily. She discovered that with Alzheimer’s disease, certain brain cells may have difficulty utilizing glucose (made from the carbohydrates we eat), the brain’s principal source of energy. But this is the hard way to do it—who wants to cut carbohydrates out of the diet completely? Dr. So Mr. Let’s take a moment to consider what actually happened here. Coconut oil can be found in many health food stores and even some grocery stores. For more information, see Dr.
45 Uses For Lemons That Will Blow Your Socks Off Most people are familiar with the traditional uses for lemons to soothe sore throats and add some citrus flavor to our foods. However the diversity of applications for lemons far exceeds general knowledge and once you read the following list, you’ll likely want to stock at least a few lemons in your kitchen 24-7. 1. Freshen the Fridge Remove refrigerator odors with ease. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. * If you do consume lemon peel, stick to organic lemons to reduce your pesticide exposure. About the author: John Summerly is nutritionist, herbologist, and homeopathic practitioner. Credits: PreventDisease
25 Powerful Reasons to Eat Bananas JB Bardot (NaturalNews) You'll never look at a banana the same way again after discovering the many health benefits and reasons to add them to your diet. Bananas combat depression, make you smarter, cure hangovers, relieve morning sickness, protect against kidney cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and blindness. If you think bananas are just for monkeys, think again. Bananas help overcome depression due to high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin -- the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter. Rich in pectin, bananas aid digestion and gently chelate toxins and heavy metals from the body. Oh, and remember -- bananas make great snacks and delicious smoothies. Creamy Banana & Avocado Smoothie Recipe! Serves 2 Ingredients Method Place all ingredients in a blender. Now you know why monkeys are so happy.
52 Uses for Coconut Oil - The Simple, The Strange, and The Downright Odd! - Delicious Obsessions <<Update 03/20/12 — Make sure you take some time to read through the comments on this post. When I first wrote this post back in January 2012, I thought 52 uses for coconut oil was amazing. Little did I know that my readers would leave double, and probably even triple that many new uses in the comments!>> Really? 52 different ways to use coconut oil? DISCLAIMER: Please note, these uses are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. 52 Uses for Coconut Oil Eat a spoonful when you need an energy boost. Check out the printable list of 122 Uses for Coconut Oil Check out these fun graphics with different ways to use Coconut oil What is your favorite way to use coconut oil? If you’re interested in making your own skin care products, I highly recommend this eBook: “Coconut Oil For Your Skin – Nourishing Your Body From The Outside In“. For lots of health-related information on coconut oil, I have found this book from the founders of Tropical Traditions to be very informative.
Top Tips For Reducing Inflammation In The Body Most health experts now agree that inflammation is the root cause behind most all chronic illnesses and disease. While there are a variety of causes for chronic inflammation in the body, the outcome is always the same. Over time and left unchecked it leads to premature aging and diminished health. Quite frequently when individuals set out to lose weight the last thing they’re thinking about is inflammation. The focus is all on calories and exercise. In my experience as a fitness coach and weight loss consultant, inflammation is without question one of the most overlooked hidden obstacles that keep people stuck in a plateau. In today’s post we’ll look at inflammation in more detail and I’ll provide you with my top tips on how to reduce it. More after the jump… Inflammation 101 Alright, let’s start with the basics. That “something” could be a chronic infection, virus, injury, excessive toxins like alcohol and nicotine, or an overgrowth of bacteria for example. - all processed and refined foods
45 Uses For Lemons That Will Blow Your Socks Off These 45 health benefits and ways to use lemons will definitely motivate you to keep lemons on hand at all times and maybe even work lemon water into your diet. Credit: Au Feminin Most people are familiar with the traditional uses for lemons to soothe sore throats and add some citrus flavor to our foods. However, the diversity of applications for lemons far exceeds general knowledge and once you read the following list, you’ll likely want to stock at least a few lemons in your kitchen 24/7. 1. Freshen the Fridge Remove refrigerator odors with ease. 2. 3. 4. Credit: Organic Facts 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Credit: Galore Mag 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. Credit: Healthy Food Spirit 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. Credit: Live Science 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. * If you do consume lemon peel, stick to organic lemons to reduce your pesticide exposure. John Summerly is nutritionist, herbologist, and homeopathic practitioner. Credits: preventdisease.com
30 Amazing Uses and Healing Powers of Apple Cider Vinegar Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the most incredible healing tonics you will find anywhere, period. I’m not even exaggerating, I don’t have to. The results that you experience as you put it to use will demonstrate enough that you don’t need a “peer reviewed journal” to tell you that it’s a miracle juice. The proof is in the pudding. Here’s a graphic with 20 uses for Apple Cider Vinegar, but to be honest with you, they’re not even the cream of the crop. Okay, as promised, here are 10 more uses for Apple Cider Vinegar that will forever blow your mind and change the way you see this tantalizing tonic. 21. This is an acidic mixture which is ridiculously strong, which means yes: It is in fact a cleaning agent. 22. Apple cider vinegar can be used as a rinse for your hair after shampooing, and will boost your hair’s body and shine. 23. Rub teeth directly with apple cider vinegar, and rinse with water. 24. 25. 26. 27. The body constantly strives to achieve a state of equilibrium. 28. 29. 30.
wellnessmama I’ve been meaning to write this post for a long time and finally had the time while the kids are napping and I am (ironically) sipping a Chia Seed Energy Drink (recipe below). If you don’t already use chia seeds, you are missing out! Not only are they gluten/grain free naturally, but one tablespoon of Chia Seeds has more calcium than a glass of milk, more Omega-3s than Salmon, and more antioxidants than blueberries. They also give you tons of energy but also won’t keep you awake at night and are supposed to be great for weight loss. Supposedly, the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans used chia as a staple of their diet and as an energy food. According to Mountain Rose Herbs they contain “Essential fatty acids alpha-linolenic and linoleic acid, mucin, strontium, 30% protein, Vitamins A, B, E, and D, and minerals including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, iron, iodine, copper, zinc, sodium, magnesium, manganese, niacin, thiamine, silicon, and anti-oxidants.” Convinced? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
7 Top Health Benefits of Maca Maca, a root that belongs to the radish family, is most commonly available in powder form. Grown in the mountains of Peru, it has been called “Peruvian ginseng.” Maca’s benefits have been long valued, and has recently been popularized as a supplement and food ingredient. There are no serious known side effects of maca, but like any other supplement it should not be taken in large amounts. Maca is good in smoothies, salads, drinks, cooked foods, and juices. Please be aware that other than the nutritional benefits provided by the vitamins and minerals, the other benefits are anecdotal, as maca has not been formally studied. A great resource that includes a lot of information on maca, as well as how to incorporate it into recipes, is Superfood Kitchen by Julie Morris. And if you’d like to compare various brands of maca, you can do so by exploring this page on Amazon.com 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. But be very cautious if you have a cancer related to hormones like testicular and ovarian, among others. 6.