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
The Only 25 Baby Gear Items You Really Need Image: iStockphoto/Thinkstock You’re pregnant! This is an exciting time, but it can also be very overwhelming. Besides the fact that your whole world is about to change, the baby marketers (err, vultures) are trying to get you to buy every baby product on the market. I was very cautious of this because, like many young couples, we were living in a small space when we had our first baby. Must-Have Newborn Items: 1. 18. At about 3 months-old, you will also need: 19. At 6 months old, you will need: 21. Every baby is different. If the crib isn’t set up before the baby arrives it’s not the end of the world because you likely won’t be using it for a while anyway. Top Articles on Buying Baby Gear:11 Newborn Baby Gear EssentialsBaby Buys That Were Actually Worth the Money (and Stood the Test of Time)Gifts and Gear for New Dads That Will Have Them Volunteering to Watch the Baby
Hemp Oil & Hemp Seeds — Are they safe? A couple of weeks ago, Nutiva discovered this site. A few days later, an unexpected box of Nutiva’s food arrived in my mail. I was most excited about the free coconut oil. The rest of the box contained a food I’d never eaten before — hemp. Hemp oil. Hemp seeds. Naturally I wondered, is this food safe? I began by scouring Nutiva’s own literature and website. Hemp Oil Hemp oil is not a traditional oil and relatively new to the human diet (that alone should tell you how I come down on this issue!). And, unfortunately for us, the Standard American Diet (SAD) is just saturated with an excess of Omega-6 fats thanks to our over-abundant supply of subsidized corn & soy. A good ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats is less than 4:1. While it’s true that the balance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats in Hemp Oil rests right at 4:1, I still can’t recommend the oil. Why? But even then, it’s still not a traditionally used cooking oil, so it doesn’t pass my Real Food test. Hemp Seeds What is globulin edistin?
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
15 House Plants You Can Use As Air Purifiers | Air Purifier Reviews Posted by admin on Thursday, February 18, 2010 · 68 Comments Here are 15 plants that could clean your air for just the price of a few drops of water each day. First lets check some of the evidence behind the claim that plants can purify your household air: 1. NASA Research A NASA research document came to the conclusion that “house plants can purify and rejuvenate air within our houses and workplaces, safeguarding us all from any side effects connected with prevalent toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia and also benzene.” Here are the results of the NASA research study: Source 2. In another study made in 1996, a bedroom with no plants had 50% more colonies of airborne microbes than a room which contained houseplants. Source 3. During a laboratory experiment in 1985, Dr. 4. In another laboratory study by Dr. Removal of Formaldehyde from Sealed Chambers for Plants Grown in Potting Soil Source.5 1. Buy Areca Palm Tree 2. Buy Lady Palm Read more… 3. Buy Bamboo Palm Read more… 4. Buy Boston Fern Source 5.
Why Butter Is A Health Food Butter is a health food. There, I said it. I don’t just love butter because it tastes better than margarine. I don’t just love it because I think it’s a healthier alternative than margarine. I actually believe, bones to britches, that butter is good for you. The other day someone left this comment on a Facebook post of mine, “Only an idiot would believe butter is actually a health food. Name-calling aside, let’s use our brains. Butter is More “Heart-Healthy” After years of being told that margarine was more “heart-healthy” than butter, we’re now discovering in long-term studies that the science simply just doesn’t back up the claim. For more on that, read Butter vs. Butter Contains Cancer-Fighting Fats Butter is rich in the short and medium-chain fatty acids that deter tumor growth. We used to believe that high fat diets promoted tumor growth. In this study, researchers showed that both Oleic acid and Myristic acid have cancer-fighting properties. Butter is high in cholesterol.
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
Over 12 Health Benefits of Sesame Seeds and Sesame Oil Mike Barrett, Natural SocietyWaking Times An amazingly healthful food utilized for over 5,000 years, sesame may be one of the most potent, nutrient-dense medicinal foods still used today. Sesame seeds are not only praised for their nutritional content in seed form, but are also highly valued for their rancid-resistant oil. Sesame Seeds Nutritional Profile As mentioned, sesame seeds have a fabulous nutritional profile, granting their capabilities in fighting, preventing, and reversing illness and disease. Manganese – 0.7 mg. 35% RDA.Copper – 0.7 mg. 35% RDA.Calcium – 277 mg. 28% RDA.Iron – 4.1 mg. 23% RDA.Magnesium – 99.7 mg. 25% RDA.Tryptophan – 93 mg.Zinc – 2 mg. 13% RDA.Fiber – 3.9 g. 16% RDA.Thiamin – 0.2 mg. 15% RDA.Vitamin B6 – 0.2 mg. 11% RDA.Phosphorous – 179 mg. 18% RDA.Protein – 4.7 g. Needless to say, the above nutrients, and others, help to make up the numerous health benefits of sesame seeds that have been experienced for thousands of years. The Health Benefits of Sesame Seeds
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
Do You Have Trouble Digesting Fats? Maybe you’ve had your gallbladder removed. Or maybe your stomach just gets a little unsettled when you eat fatty foods. Perhaps you’re pregnant, and the very thought of higher fat foods starts a wave of nausea you have to fight to resist. Whatever the reason, you’re a person who finds digesting fats hard. So when you hear me raving about ways to get more fat in your diet, you think, “Well, that’s nice for you, but I just can’t do that.” But… you just can’t. Good news! Traditional Medicine on every continent has acknowledged the import of these two supplements for many hundreds, if not thousands of years. Ox Bile This is exactly what it sounds like. Bile is what your body produces to help you digest the fats you eat. If, for any reason, you’re running deficient in bile, you’ll have trouble digesting fats. Ox bile is chemically similar to our own bile, and our bodies have no trouble using it alongside our own bile for the exact same purpose. How to Take Ox Bile Bitters (photo by lisbokt)
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.
Don't Use These Oils Editor’s note: we do not approve of the use of palm oil, which goes under many guises/names, and is in just about everything. When you buy a “cold pressed” cooking oil, do you assume that the seeds were pressed safely at a cool temperature to protect the oil from rancidity, trans fats and other toxic processing chemicals? Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth! Modern cold pressing heats the oil multiple times to staggering temperatures, rendering most oils rancid. Additionally, unrefined oils are so delicate that even just one photon of daylight will trigger a chain reaction of free radical damage that creates trans fats and other by-products that experts believe to be even more harmful than trans fats! “How can they sell cooking oils in clear plastic bottles that are exposed to the light?” You will be disturbed to find out what happens to a seed on its journey to become your favorite cooking oil. RBD Oils: Refined, Bleached and Deodorized Cooking Oils—Then and Now About Dr.
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.
Ghee Love: 5 Ways in & Out of the Kitchen. ~ Julie Bernier If you don’t have ghee in your kitchen, you’re missing out. It’s kind of like butter, only better—actually, it’s clarified butter. Making ghee is really simple. You melt unsalted, organic butter and cook it until it smells like popcorn and takes on a beautiful golden color, all of which takes about 15 minutes. Then you strain out the milk solids that have accumulated at the bottom of the pot and voilà! you have ghee. What sets it apart from butter is that ghee has medicinal properties and health benefits. It also improves memory, strengthens the brain, and nourishes ojas– which is sort of like the Ayurvedic equivalent of immunity. Ayurveda has been advocating ghee for thousands of years, but it’s just now becoming trendy in kitchens. 1. Ghee has a higher smoke point than butter and most oils, making it more stable and safer for cooking. 2. You can use ghee anywhere you would normally use butter. 3. 4. Mix one to two teaspoons of ghee with one cup of milk and gently warm over the stove.