Blueberry Hemp Acai

Blueberry Hemp Acai 

3 cups Frozen Blueberries 

2 tbsp Peanut Powder 

1 scoop Acai Powder

1 tsp Mucuna Pruriens

1 tbsp Maple Syrup 

Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Serve topped with Frozen Blueberries and Hemp Hearts! 

Packed with Omega 3 & 6, antioxidants and an array of beneficial vitamins this Acai Bowl is nutritionally delicious! 

Matcha Green Tea

The best Matcha Green Tea comes from Japan where it is the staple ingredient upon which traditional Japanese tea ceremonies were built in the 12th century. Matcha has many health benefits, and a beautiful, distinct flavor. Matcha is essentially processed green tea leaves that have been stone-ground into a delicate powder. The powder is then sifted and whisked with hot water. .

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What most distinguishes Matcha from other Green Teas is that matcha bushes are covered for up to 20 days prior to harvest to shade the leaves from direct sunlight. This is done to boost the plants' chlorophyll levels, which turns the leaves a darker, more vibrant shade of green, and increases the production of L-Theanine, an amino acid that occurs naturally in the tea plant.  Thanks to the L-Theanine in the tea it will give you both a calming and stimulant affect! .

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Matcha is high in antioxidants, And contains a specific set of organic compounds known as catechins. Among antioxidants, catechins are the most potent and beneficial. One specific catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) makes up 60% of the catechins in Matcha Green Tea. Out of all the antioxidants, EGCg is the most widely recognized for its cancer fighting properties. Scientists have found that Matcha Green Tea contains over 100 times more EGCg than any other tea! .

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Matcha is a traditional delight in Japanese ceremonies while also adding a lot of health benefits. You can make delicious Matcha teas or bake with it as well and your body and mind will thank you! .

5 Essentials Daily Habits

Here are 5 Essentials Daily Habits to include in your lifestyle to get your health going in the right direction:

1. Exercise: A body in motion stays in motion. Get yourself moving with 30 minutes of exercise at least 3 times a week to start. The more you get moving the more exercise your body will crave and the more energy you will have! 

2. Water: Since our bodies are made up of mostly water and we use water to do many functions like detox and fuel our cells, it's important to replenish and hydrate daily to keep ourselves from getting dehydrated and storing toxins! 

3. Anti-inflammatory: Most pain issues and diseases stem from inflammation. Instead of reaching for the Advil start including a Turmeric based natural Anti-inflammatory into your daily routine. If done daily you will see a continual drop in pain symptoms from inflammatory diseases like arthritis and you will prevent the body from future inflammatory issues! 

4. Daily Elixir: Add an extra line of defense to your nutrition by having a tonic, probiotic or elixir every day.  They add water, vitamins, minerals, good bacteria and boost immunity while feeding your body what it needs to function in good health.

5. Juice: Cold Pressed Fruit and Vegetable juices help make sure that you get the proper amount of nutrients, vitamins and minerals daily.  They can help regulate all of your bodies systems and help support optimum health! 

Changing your habits takes time. By slowing incorporating one of these into your lifestyle you will see improved health and a boost in your energy levels. Take it one at time until you develop the good habits you can maintain and then keep adding more until you've developed a lifestyle you can live with! 

(This is an excerpt from: Eat Well Live Well: Transitioning to an Unprocessed Lifestyle by Amy Michelle Weiss) 

Kidney Detox Juice

Kidney Detox Juice

1 Small Seedless Watermelon

2 Carrots

1 Cucumber

1 bunch Cilantro

(Substitute Mint for Cilantro)

Best cold pressed this extremely delicious and refreshing juice is highly beneficial to the Kidneys. The combination of ingredients works together to super detox the kidneys and body. 

The following are the detoxing benefits of this juices ingredients:

1. Watermelon juice is great for your kidneys, having a highly cleansing effect when you drink it. It helps to flush out ammonia and uric acid and has even been known to help with kidney stones.

2. Cilantro can help cleanse the body of toxic metals.  A small amount of cilantro delivers the full daily value of vitamin A and K and is rich in vitamin C, potassium, and manganese

3. Cucumbers have been used in Indian traditional medicine since ancient times. Known for their antidiabetic, lipid-lowering and antioxidant activity, cucumbers have a detoxifying, cleansing effect on the body and are a great way to prevent dehydration, constipation and overheating.

4. Carrots are packed with vitamins; manganese, potassium, B1, B2, B3, B6, vitamin C and can boost collagen. Carrots can cleanse the body of toxins due to the amount of Vitamin A they contain. The Vitamin A works with the liver to reduce bile and to help flush out fat.

Great for detoxing the kidneys and flushing the body of metals this cold pressed juice will wow your taste buds and your organ health!

6 Beneficial Chinese Teas

In the Chinese Culture they use different teas at different times to help them through their day. Jasmine Tea in the morning to help get going and Lychee Black Tea as they start their work day for focus. There are many teas that are used for their medicinal purposes as well. Here are 6 Beneficial Chinese Teas: 

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1. Milk Oolong Tea: Getting its name from its rich milky taste, Milk Oolong Tea supply's iron to the body and can enrich the blood. It's beneficial for our joints. It contains minerals such as manganese, magnesium, calcium, and potassium that are all essential to important health functions within the body 
2. Ginseng Oolong Tea:The tea is derived from a perennial plant root. The major health benefits of tea are due to the naturally occurring chemicals called  ‘ginsenosides’ that are present in this root. The health benefits include a reduced risk of developing cancer, PMS relief, weight loss , improvement of digestive disorders, and a boosted immune system, as well as improving signs of mental distress, asthma, arthritis, and sexual dysfunction. 
3. Jasmine Green Tea: Packed with antioxidants, Jasmine green tea carries numerous health benefits ranging from clearing skin and improving digestion to aiding in weight loss and cancer prevention
4. Lychee Rose Black Tea: Infused with the fresh nectar of lychee fruit and blended with roses this Tea brews a sweet and fragrant cup  Lychee Rose Black Tea is high in vitamin C and trace minerals which improves facial complexion, relieves stomach bloatedness and eases menstrual pain. It's good for circulation, helps with anemia and memory issues. 
5. Pu'er Tea: Although Pu'er Tea has a lower level of antioxidants than Green Tea, Chinese people credit it with many health benefits, especially weight loss, reduction of serum cholesterol, and cardiovascular protection. Unlike other teas, which get stale over time, pu-erh can mellow and improve with age like fine wine. Some pu-erh teas are more than 50 years old.
6. Fruit Tea: There are many benefits of drinking Fruit tea as it is jam-packed with assorted vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It is specifically high in vitamin C which makes Fruit teas ideal for warding off colds and other illnesses by keeping the immune system strong and healthy.

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Through out the centuries Chinese Medicine has long used teas for helping to cure disease as well as prevent it. In Chinese Culture teas have long be used for ceremonial purposes as some teas carry long ancestral roots. Tea can add many benefits to your health so as our days get longer its nice to take a moment to enjoy a delicious and relaxing cup of tea knowing your body and mind will benefit. 

Vegan Steamed Buns

Vegan Steamed Buns 

Filling:

3/4 cup hoisin sauce

1 cup diced Mushrooms

1 cup diced Sprouts 

1 cup shredded cabbage

1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced

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Marinate Filling for 2 hrs then sauté in pan and set aside. 

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Dough:

1 package active dry yeast

1/2 warm water

1 1/2 cups organic unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for kneading

1 1/2 cups organic unbleached cake flour

3 tablespoons Coconut sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup warm coconut or Almond milk

1 tablespoon Coconut or Avocado Seed oil, plus more as needed

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For the dough:

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Sprinkle the yeast over the warm water in a small bowl. After a few minutes, the yeast will begin to foam and bubble then set aside. 

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In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, and baking powder. Make a well in the center and add warm coconut/Almond milk, oil, and activated yeast. Work the dough well then using a floured board knead until the dough becomes smooth, soft, and pliable, about 5 to 10 minutes. Lightly oil the dough ball. Cover with plastic wrap in a bowl and allow the dough to rise undisturbed for 40 minutes to 1 hour. It should double in volume.

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Assembly:

To form the buns, remove the dough from the bowl and roll it into 1 long rope. Cut the rope into 12 equal portions. Roll each piece and set them aside in a bowl. Using a rolling pin, flatten each ball into 4-inch circles, leaving the center slightly thicker then its edges. Put a heaping tablespoon of the filling into the center of each disk and pinch the tops closed to seal. Let rest for 10 minutes

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Fill a bamboo or stainless steel steamer with water and bring it to a boil. Line with parchment paper. When ready to cook, place the buns on the parchment rounds and into the steamer

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Do not overcrowd your steamer. Steam the buns in batches if necessary. Steam for 12 to 15 minutes, then remove the buns from the heat and serve them warm.

Veggie Udon

Veggie Udon

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1/2 ounce dried woodear mushrooms (Asian grocery store)

1/2 ounce dried morel mushrooms (asian grocery store)

4 ounces Shiitake Mushrooms 

8 scallions

2 Minced Garlic Cloves 

1 small white onion chopped 

1 (4-inch) piece of kombu dried sea kelp

2 tablespoons Liquid Aminos 

2 tablespoons Mirin Japanese Rice wine 

Dash of Himalayan Pink Salt 

1 Red Pepper cut into 3/4-inch strips

1 Orange Pepper cut

1 Green Pepper cut 

2 servings fresh or dried udon noodles

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1. Combine woodear and morels mushrooms in a medium saucepan and cover with 1 1/2 quarts water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then remove from heat and let rest 10 minutes while mushrooms rehydrate. Remove mushrooms with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add fresh mushroom shiitake mushrooms, 1-inch of scallions, garlic cloves, onion, and kombu to pot. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 20 minutes. 

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2. When broth is simmered, strain through a fine mesh strainer and return to pot, discarding solids. Add soy sauce and mirin and season to taste with salt. You should have about 1 quart of broth. Keep warm.

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3. Heat 1 tablespoon Coconut oil or water in a wok or a 12-inch skillet over high heat until lightly smoking. Add peppers and stir-fry until lightly completely tender, about 2 minutes. 

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4.  Cook udon in boiling water according to package directions

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5. Put Udon noodles in a bowl and top with broth and veggies

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Savory and hearty this Veggie Udon is extremely flavorful and good for you! 

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Tiki Masala Curry

Tiki Masala Curry

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1 c cubed organic non GMO tofu 

1 c diced Japanese Eggplant

1 c diced Potato

2 c Green Beans 

2 tbsp yellow curry 

2 tbsp tiki masala spice 

1 tbsp cumin

1 tspn black pepper

16 oz Vegetable Stock (add more if needed) 

4 oz Coconut Milk

1 tsp Chili Oil (to taste) or 1 minced Habanero Pepper

(Optional - dash sea salt)

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Add Chili Oil, Green Beans, Eggplant, Potato and All spices to the bottom of the pot.  Sauté until eggplant starts to sweat. If you do not want to use oil, put an inch of vegetable stock or water in the bottom of the pot, bring to a boil then add veggies and this will steam fry the veggies without oil.

Add Vegetable Stock and Coconut Milk and bring to boil, then lower to a simmer and add tofu. Cover for 2 minutes then stir and serve. 

Serve with brown rice! 

This recipe should take 20 minutes to make! It's nutritious and delicious!

Spring Smoothie

Spring Smoothie

1 plum

1 nectarine

1 white peach

1 cup Blackberries 

1 cup Frozen Strawberries

1 cup Fresh Orange Juice

1/2 cup Fresh Mint

Ice (optional) 

Blend and Enjoy! 

Spring has sprung, there's a lightness in the air with the smells of flowers in bloom!  This spring smoothie tastes like spring feels. Refreshing! With a high level of vitamin c, this smoothies helps protect your body from cancer while strengthening your immune system! 

The Benefits of Orange Juice

The Benefits of Orange Juice

1. Weight Loss: the antioxidants in citrus effectively aid in weight loss. 

2. Vitamin C- boosts the immune system and helps prevent and treat colds and the flu. In Europe, the standard cancer treatment is high doses of Vitamin C which kills free radicals and cancer. 

3. Contains D – limonene - an effective agent against skin cancer, breast cancer, 

mouth cancer, colon cancer and lung cancer. 

4. Maintains Blood Pressure levels: contains magnesium which brings blood pressure levels to normal range.

5. Prevents and treats Ulcer: Aids in digestive health 

6. Prevents and treats Kidney Stones: citrate in orange juice lowers urine acidity 

7.  Promotes healing: contains flavonoids that reduce inflammation and regenerate cells 

8. Reduces Risk of Heart Attack: Oranges contain hesperidin which protects the arteries from being clogged by improving the health of nearby cell.  Consumption of one glass freshly squeezed orange juice ensures lower risks of heart attacks 

9. Treats Anemia: vitamin C promotes the absorption of iron into blood stream

10. Skin Health: the antioxidants with the combination of vitamin C protect the skin cells from getting effected by free radicals. Giving your skin a fresh and glowing look!

Orange juice is the healthiest way to start your day! 

Very Green Smoothie

Very Green Smoothie

1 Green Apple

1 Kiwi

10 Green Seedless Grapes

1 Mango

2 cups Spinach

1/2 Cucumber 

1 tbsp Aloe Vera 

1 cup Pineapple Juice or Coconut Water or Water 

Ice (optional) 

Blend all ingredients and Enjoy!

Very Green and very nutritious! This smoothie has a lot of fiber and water content which helps to regulate and detox the digestive system. It's high in iron, protein and essential minerals that keep your blood healthy!

The Very Green Smoothie will help your body run like a well oiled machine and you will feel an increase in energy and libido! Incorporate this in to your nutrition and your body will thank you! 

Figgy Brownie

Figgy Brownie

5 dried Figs

8 Medjool Dates

3 tbsp Cacao Powder

1/2 tsp Lemon Extract 

1 tspn Vanilla

1 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Cinnamon 

2 tbsp Honey or Maple Syrup

1/3 cup Water

3 tbsp Quinoa Flour

Place all ingredients except water and Quinoa flour into a food processor and pulse. Open the top and push down the ingredients on the sides. Once it's nicely blended add the flour and water. 

Options:

Raw: Pour into serving dish and sprinkle with Coconut shreds, place in fridge for 3 hours then serve 

Cooked: Lightly coat baking dish with a cooking spray, pour in mixture, sprinkle with coconut shreds and Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. 

All natural, fudgy and delicious!  Figgy Brownies are so moist and rich they can fulfill even the biggest chocoholics dreams. They contain nothing artificial, no gmos, refined sugars or chemicals. Wholesome and nutritious!  Yum! 

Ulcer Healing Juice

Ulcer Healing Juice 

1 Head Cabbage

5 Carrots

5 Stalks Celery

1 Cucumber

1 Green Apple

1 Bunch Parsley

Ulcer Healing Juice is made cold pressed! Cabbage juice is a long-standing home remedy for peptic ulcers. Multiple medical studies have found that raw cabbage juice, consumed daily by patients with ulcers, provided almost immediate relief from the symptoms and that healing time was a lot shorter than those who didn't use cabbage juice. 

Cabbage juice contains powerful substances  including L-glutamine, S-methylmethionine, glucosinolates and gefarnate which protect and help heal the mucous membranes lining of your stomach and digestive tract.

Cabbage juice is rich in the amino acid glutamine. Glutamine nourishes and repairs the gastrointestinal lining.  Juiced cabbage also contains gefarnate, a substance that protects the lining of your stomach from damage. Gefarnate has been isolated and used as a pharmaceutical treatment, but making your own cabbage juice is a safer way to get a large dose of it for ulcers and other digestive disorders.

The combination of Cabbage and the other ingredients in this juice create an Ulcer Healing and symptom Relief Juice that if taken daily by Ulcer sufferers can work the same as most antacids on the market as well as aid in the rapid healing of the Ulcer and stomach lining. 

(If the taste of the juice isn't your favorite add Pear or Pineapple to the juice for a sweet delightful taste!)

Cranberry Splash Bowl

Cranberry Splash Bowl 

1 cup Frozen Cranberries 

1/2 cup Frozen Blueberries 

1/2 cup Frozen Raspberries

1/2 cup Frozen Blackberries 

1/2 cup Strawberries

2 tbsp Maple Syrup

1/2 cup - Coconut Water or Apple Juice

1 scoop Acai Powder

Blend ingredients and top with Coconut shreds and Walnuts! 

This delicious sour and sweet Cranberry Splash Bowl supports Bladder Health with the Cranberries and Boosts your mental clarity with the Walnuts and Acai!  It's powerfully cleansing with a high ORAC value of antioxidants which helps protect your body from infections, cancer and autoimmune disorders! 

Arthritis Relief Juice

Arthritis Relief Juice 

1 Pineapple

4 Carrots

2 Stalks Celery

1/2 Lemon

1 inch Turmeric Root

1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Hydrating, healing, lubricating and controlling inflammation is the key to reducing symptoms of Arthritis.  

This Arthritis Relief Juice is a powerful anti inflammatory and has a high amount of healing vitamins and nutrients. 

Drink this juice daily for 2 weeks and you will see a marked reduction in Pain from Arthritis and increased mobility! 

Date Syrup

Date Syrup:

15 Pitted Medjool Dates

6 cups Hot Water

Options: 

Raw: Place all ingredients in a Mason Jar then in the fridge. Let sit for 24 hours and you can strain out the dates pieces and start using the juice as a sweetener immediately or over 72 hours, shake and stir every few hours forcing the dates to slowly break up to make a thicker Syrup. 

Cooked: Boil the juice and dates until completely liquified and turn off heat. Stir continuously while it cools down to thicken the Syrup. 

Homemade date Syrup is a wonderful way to remove artificial sweeteners and processed sugar from your diet. It's easy to make in large batches and will add a delightfully sweet flavor to any dish, drink or baked good! 

Pineapple Chia Pudding

Pineapple Chia Pudding

2 cups Diced Pineapple

3 tbsp Chia Seeds

1 cup Pineapple Juice

1 cup Coconut Water

1/2 cup Warm Water

1 tbsp Maple Syrup

1 tsp Vanilla Bean or Extract

1/2 tsp Lemon Extract

1 tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Gloves

Cut pineapple in half and gut. Save the skin for later to use as your serving cup!  Place all ingredients into a mason jar, mix well and place in the fridge for 4 - 5 hours until it has formed the consistency of pudding.  Spoon the pudding back into the pineapple and top with fresh berries! 

Light and refreshing, this tropical pudding is low fat, chemical free, non gmo, plant based and packed with powerful anti inflammatories, vitamins, nutrients and Omega 3 & 6.  This pudding will tickle your taste buds while feeding your body what it needs to live in optimum health while protecting you from disease. Delicious and nutritious!

Books: "The Cheese Trap" by Dr. Neal Bernard MD

Dr. Neal Bernard MD has had a major influence on my nutrition studies. His latest book "The Cheese Trap" really depicts how seriously damaging Cheese is to the evolution of the human health crisis.  He poses this question below.... 

"Cheese—a high-fat, high-cholesterol, and high-sodium topping—is nearly everywhere, from K-12 school lunch rooms to elegant dinner parties. It even has its own aisle at the grocery store. Could steering clear from this product, one that’s a linchpin in the standard American diet, be the catalyst to weight loss, optimal health, and disease prevention?" 

What do you think? 

Personally, I cut cheese out of my daily nutrition 3 years ago and anytime I've tried to "splurge" I've not only gotten sick but develop weird cravings for foods I would never eat.  I think the combination of hormones, fat, lactose and mold in cheese is a deadly addictive combination. 

Here's the blog I wrote about cheese in 2016 

"Raw Earth Medicine......Let YOU Be Thy Medicine"

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THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016

Food for thought: Is eating cheese feeding your body positive nutrition?

Raw Earth Medicine: Food for thought! 

Is eating cheese feeding your body positive nutrition or is cheese a very occasional pleasure food? 

Here's some info about how cheese is made:

Cheese is basically moldy milk.  Although not all Cheeses are exposed to mold; the others are exposed to chemicals. Those cheeses not made with mold are made by exposing Milk to rennens, which are made from an enzyme that comes from calves’ stomach linings, and acids which change the texture and curdle the milk. The liquid is drained off (whey) and the solids are preserved (cheese). 

Soft-ripened cheeses such as Brie and Camembert are made by allowing white Penicillium candida or P. camemberti mold to grow on the outside of a soft cheese for a few days or weeks. The mold forms a white crust and contributes to the smooth, runny, or gooey textures and more intense flavors of these aged cheeses. 

Goats' milk cheeses are often treated in a similar manner, sometimes with white molds (Chèvre-Boîte) and sometimes with blue. 

Blue-mold cheeses like Roquefort, Gorgonzola, and Stilton are produced by inoculating loosely pressed curds with Penicillium roqueforti or Penicillium glaucum molds. The mold grows within the cheese as it ages. These cheeses have distinct blue veins and, often, assertive flavors. Their texture can be soft or firm.   

Now, we know that most cheese is derived from milk and is either treated with chemicals or mold in order to be made. One of the biggest problems with cheese besides how it's made is what's in the milk that it's being made with. About one-quarter of cheese that's sold in America comes from cows treated with Bovine Growth Hormone (BGH). The FDA approved its use in 1995 despite findings from organizations like the National Institutes of Health and Physicians Commitee that revealed known health risks from consumption of cheese and dairy products.

Let's evaluate the positive attributes and the health risks of eating dairy: 

BENEFITS:

1. Vitamins:   

Dairy products, including cheese, provide vitamins A and D. Vitamin A maintains healthy vision, the immune system and red blood cell production. 

2. Minerals: 

Cheese also provides two important minerals, calcium and phosphorus, which support the growth and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth, and can lower your risk of developing osteoporosis. Calcium also plays a role in the health of your nervous system.

3. Protein: 

You need protein daily because protein is a part of every cell in your body. Cheese provides significant amounts of complete proteins, or all of the nine essential amino acids that you need for good health. Firm cheeses such as cheddar contain more protein than softer cheeses such as blue cheese. The human body only requires 46g for women and 56g for men of protein daily. 

4. Pleasure:

Cheese provides a delicious taste to most recipes. It makes most people very happy and it goes well with wine. 

HEALTH RISKS:

1. Cancer:

According to a study published in the "Journal of the National Cancer Institute," cheese and other dairy products may actually raise the risk of breast cancer. A study published in "Nutrition and Cancer" also came to the same conclusion. Other studies link cheese to lymphoid cancers and lung cancer. 

2. Digestive Diseases:

The Physicians Committee on Responsible Medicine warned in "The New York Times" that cheese can contribute to the development of colic, allergies and digestive problems. Past the age of 2 years old human beings don't produce enough of the enzyme lactase. 

If you do not have enough of the enzyme lactase in your gastrointestinal tract, you might have problems when you consume dairy products. Most people are told they  are lactose intolerant but the truth is that those who can consume dairy without a problem are lactose tolerant and the rest of the people are normal human beings. Aside from a little lactose, dairy can also cause some gut damage due to the way it inflames the gut lining. It’s one of the worst to cause and irritate leaky gut syndrome, which can lead to autoimmune disease and other health issues over time. Dairy consumption is known to cause issues such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or even long-term IBS. Many people who suffer from more serious disorders such as Crohn’s disease find that once they ditch dairy, healing naturally begins. 

3. Heart Attacks:

The Center for Science in the Public Interest warns that the consumption of cheese is giving heart attacks to many Americans because of its high-fat content.  

4. Cholesterol: 

Dairy and cheese can also contribute large amounts of fat, sodium and cholesterol to your diet. Between 15-30 percent of your daily calories should come from fat. The over consumption of dairy and cheese leads to too much fat or cholesterol which can cause you to gain weight, develop heart disease and develop certain cancers. The amount of fat in a cheese depends on the fat content of the milk that was used to make the cheese.  

5. Chronic Inflammation

Dairy is highly acidic, despite it containing high amounts of calcium that acts as an alkaline agent by nature. Milk is rich in natural acids that can cause calcium deposits to build up and potentially cause arthritis and long-term inflammation. It also doesn’t necessarily keep our bones strong as we once believed. Most plant-based foods do a much better job (such as chard, kale, almonds, figs) and don’t contribute to chronic inflammation.

Although cheese and dairy do have some beneficial attributes like vitamin A, calcium and phosphorus, it's quiet apparent that if we eat too much of it we are headed down the road to inflammation, cancer, heart diseases and many other digestive problems. 

There is no argument that cheese and dairy products are delicious but now that we know that the health risks far out way the benefits of eating dairy and cheese, how do we find the balance between feeding our body for optimum health while still enjoying the pleasures in food like dairy and cheese. 

Tips for balancing your nutrition:

1. Be honest with how much you're really eating dairy and cheese. Make it a special meal and something you will savor. Make it worth it and not just a habit. 

2. Buy from locally sourced farms who don't use hormones or chemicals in their dairy production 

3. Eat the real deal with full fat made from whole milks. The reduced fat, non fat or processed  versions of cheese are far worse for you than eating the full fat version because the processing to make it low fat or non fat adds more chemicals and health risks 

4. Use cheese alternatives like nutritional yeast or almond cheese which is healthy to give foods a cheese flavor for times you're eating for nutritional health and not pleasure 

5. Find ways to make your favorite cheese dishes without cheese so you can have them regularly and only occasionally with cheese. 

Being healthy means being aware and finding your balance in life and with food.  Knowing what our risks and benefits are with foods makes knowing what's pleasure food and nutritious foods easier. The more we know about nutrition the more our decision making about what we eat becomes an intellectual decision for our health and long term wellness. That's how to create a lifestyle you can live with!