Joy and Fulfillment

The very core of a persons foundation for joy & fulfillment is set by what encompasses their first experiences. When taking my child to experience things like for example a Museum, I noticed that the Museum in itself is not the focus of the experience but rather the snacks & gift store purchases. When I take my daughter to an experience, she eats snacks in the car on the way & when we get to where we are going what we are seeing, learning, touching, viewing and the people we meet are the joy and the fulfillment within the experience. 

To see that birthday’s & holidays at school & how people define joy all mean unhealthy food, drinks & candy that are horrible for a persons health, it makes me step back & evaluate the possibility of how important it is for us as parents to treat the focus of an experience to be about the festivities, dancing, singing, being silly or just the exploration & what unfolds being what joy is derived from instead of the connotation that unhealthy choices in a new environment for another reason are what joy is based on because you can’t achieve fulfillment within that. 

Could shifting the mentality & focus help make it easier for people to create a life of balance & fulfillment because from their very core foundation they were directed to focus on actually being present in the moment & finding joy in singular things as they are. Dancing & singing with your friends at a birthday party without holding a drink or food in your hand but actually just enjoying it as it is. Do we contribute to the likelihood of unhealthy lifestyles as adults by the focus we put on the external unhealthy additions to simple moments. 

I’m not saying delish treats and cocktail splurges aren’t fun additions to a birthday party, I just wonder how different society would be if we tweaked the focus of how we achieve joy & fulfillment.  My intention is to set the foundation for my child not to focus on unhealthy choices but be happy in the present moment, not needing anything as a co dependent to achieve fulfillment & joy by giving her the foundation to easily achieve joy & fulfillment in each singular present moment of life, experiences & celebrations. 

 

The 80/20 Split for a Healthy Life

Foods to eat in Moderation: .

20% of your nutrition can come from this list if you don't want to be full vegan and plantbased! Most people are surprised that they need to limit their intake of these foods. By reducing your intake of animal proteins and fats you highly reduce your risk for: heart disease, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, strokes, diabetes, obesity and Cancer.

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By no means am I advocating that it’s at all healthy to eat animal products as I 100% believe it causes cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, infertility, arthritis and more but I understand human nature. I would much rather see someone reduce their intake and recommend reasonable guidelines on consumption than be staunch and insist all vegan or nothing. Most people have eaten animal products their entire life and it’s not realistic to expect people to give it up over night, it’s a transition so I treat it accordingly

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Eat in Abundance: 

Eat to your hearts content. Your nutrition should be filled with bountiful amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains that feed your body the vitamins, nutrients, phytonutrients, antioxidants, minerals, essential oils and carbohydrates it needs to function in good health and prevent diseases while maintaining a healthy body weight! (Grains After 4 is for the Raw until 4pm Lifestyle)

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Theses foods lower your risk for heart disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, stroke and Cancer. They boost the immune system, create digestive health, provide natural energy to the body, improve skin health, improve vision health, oral health and mental functions. *

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(This is an excerpt from "Eat Well Live Well: Transitioning to an Unprocessed Lifestyle) Available on Amazon :

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https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074P7VHL1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_JshLzb3B8N1Z4

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5 Essential 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!

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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! .

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

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Available in Paperback

Amazon.com/shop/rawearthmedicine 

4 Step Guideline to Physical Therapy

"My style is wild and you know that it still is

Disco bag schlepping and you're doing the bump

Shake your rump" - Beastie Boys

In the last few weeks I've been shakin' my rump and working very hard at reversing the muscle atrophy in my booty and my left leg from my hips surgeries and recovery over the last 4 years. Having my bones shaved twice in an 8 month time period added an extra hurdle to overcome. I have years of atrophy which starts at 2 weeks of inactivity plus 2 years of bone healing from each surgery date ahead of me. By systematically strengthening the muscles and being patient, I am starting to see improvements in the atrophied areas. I've used these 4 steps as a guideline to my physical therapy: 

1. Isometric exercises 

To improve circulation and increase strength in the atrophied muscle. Isometric exercises involve contracting the muscle for a few seconds at a time

2. Range of Motion:

Progressing to range of motion exercises that involve joint movement without adding resistance

3. Light resistance 

Progressing to light resistance such as small hand weights or resistance tubes in order to begin rebuilding your lost muscle mass. Adding resistance gradually to avoid injury or straining .

4. Increasing resistance:

Slowly progressing to adding more resistance, moderately,  include more heavier free weights and weight machines. Start including more functional movements into your exercise program. For example, squats and step-ups will to build up atrophied quadriceps muscles, as well as bicep curls and overhead presses to strengthen atrophied muscles in the upper body.

Recovering from an injury takes patience, time, proper physical therapy and nutrition. If you do the work, in time you will see the results and be able to come out of it even stronger and healthier! 

#booty #shakeyourrump #workout #fitness #healing #recovery #bonehealth #resistancetraining #strengthtraining #physicaltherapy #patience #time #holistichealth #holisticnutrition #holistichealing #werk #🍑#longhair #messyhairdontcare #rawearthmedicine

Mung Beans & Black Rice Recipes

Raw Earth Medicine: 

3 easy Mung Bean & Black Rice recipes with 1 Vegan Base

1 c Mung Beans 

1 c Black Rice 

4 c Water/No sodium vegetable stock

Bring liquid to a boil in pot

Add Mung Beans & Black Rice 

Simmer until soft 

1. Vegan- 

1 c diced Japanese Eggplant 

1 c diced Potato or Lotus 

1 c mint 

3 tbsp yellow curry

1 tbsp cumin

1 tspn black pepper

2 c Vegetable Stock 

Optional: dash of sea salt

                 1 tsp crushed red pepper

As the mung beans and rice start to soften add 2 c of Vegetable Stock and all the above ingredients. Cover for 2 minutes and stir, repeat until potato is softened, then serve. 

Top with basil, diced tomatoes and Avocado

- this meal is a high protein, low fat and nutrient packed dish!  Aside from the avocado you can eat this dish in abundance!  There are no chemicals, no GMO's, it's all organic and wholesome! 

2. Balanced

1 c cubed organic non GMO tofu 

1 c diced Japanese Eggplant

1 c diced Potato or Lotus 

1 c mint 

3 tbsp yellow curry 

1 tbsp cumin

1 tspn black pepper

2 c Vegetable Stock 

4 oz Coconut Milk

2 tsp Coconut cream 

1 tsp Chili Oil (to taste)

(Optional - dash sea salt)

As the mung beans and rice start to soften add 2 c of Vegetable Stock and all the above ingredients. Cover for 2 minutes and stir, repeat until potato is softened! 

Top with chopped basil then serve. 

- by adding coconut cream and chili oil we are adding saturated fat to the dish.  The addition of Tofu, coconut milk and coconut cream adds chemicals to the meal from their processing.  High in protein, nutrients and taste this is a well balanced healthy meal. 

3. Splurge

1 c Kobe beef (seared)

           Or

1 c cooked shrimp, chicken or pork 

1 c diced Japanese Eggplant

1 c diced Potato or Lotus 

1 c mint 

3 tbsp yellow curry (add more for stronger curry)

2 tbsp cumin

1 tspn black pepper 

1 tbsp Coconut Sugar

4 oz Coconut Milk

2 tsp Coconut cream 

1 tsp Chili Oil (to taste)

4 c Vegetable Stock

(Optional - dash sea salt)

As the mung beans and rice start to soften add 4 c of Vegetable Stock and all the above ingredients. Cover for 2 minutes and stir, repeat until potato is softened.

Top with Basil and Red Chili Flakes then serve

    - This yummy curry has many nutrients and is high in protein but adding animal products adds carcinogens to the dish. The coconut milk, beef, coconut cream and chili oil make this dish high in saturated fat. The chemicals, fats and carcinogens contribute to raising your risk of developing cancer, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and heart disease. This dish is a delicious splurge that should be enjoyed on occasion. 

Conclusion:

By learning how certain ingredients can change the health benefits of a dish, we can vary the ingredients to insure we are balanced in our eating. Making the vegan option more often for health centered meals, adding a little something extra for a balanced meal and going all out for a splurge by making educated cooking choices. That's how you create a lifestyle you can live with. Enjoy! 

Products We Love❣: Navitas Naturals Cacao Powder

We love Navitas Naturals Cacao Powder!  There are no GMO's, it's all natural with no chemical additives. There are a wide variety of recipes that you can use Navitas Naturals Cacao powder for like chocolate, cakes, cupcakes, brownies, hot cacao drinks and many other chocolate treats. By replacing Cocoa with Cacao powder you'll be using an unfiltered and more nutritious version of cocoa! Cacao is a super food that has dietary fiber, polyphenols and Magnesuim!  Here's their benefits!

1. Dietary fiber 

Dietary fiber is great for the digestion, helping to maintain a healthy weight and lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease. It's helps to maintain bowel health, lower cholesterol levels and helps to control blood sugar levels. 

2. Magnesuim 

Magnesium helps with cell energy production. Magnesium allows the body to produce more Insulin-like Growth Factor (IGF-1), which is a major contributor to the growth and strength of muscles. Magnesium metabolically aids in the breakdown and distribution of vitamins and nutrients when you eat! Magnesium will also help with sleep issues as Serotonin, which the body secretes for sleep is dependent on magnesium for its production. 

3. Polyphenols 

Polyphenols in Cacao help reduce cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, metabolic disorders, and is used for cancer prevention. Their antioxidant properties may be responsible for many of their pharmacological effects, including the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and the protection of LDL-cholesterol against oxidation, and increase resistance to oxidative stress. The phenolics from cacao also modify the glycemic response and the lipid profile, decreasing platelet function and inflammation along with diastolic and systolic arterial pressures, which, taken together, may reduce the risk of cardiovascular mortality. Cocao polyphenols can also reduce and improve digestion.  Cacao protects against diseases which oxidative stress is a contributor to, such as cancer. 

Try upgrading your baked goods and chocolate nutrition game by using Cacao powder! 

Our favorite recipe using Navitas:

Raw Chocolate:

8 dates (soak for a minute) 

4 tablespoons Navitas Cacao Powder

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest or extract 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean or extract

Dash Black Pepper

Dash Nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

2 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon coconut oil 

Put all ingredients in a food processor and pulse and grind until it forms a log. 

Roll into balls and roll in coconut or nuts

"Create a lifestyle you can live with" - Raw Earth Medicine