How to use Bee Pollen for Allergies

Stop sniffling and sneezing and get rid of your coughing and wheezing!!! 

This little tid "b"it is especially helpful for those poor asthma sufferers!! Read below!!! 

Bee Pollen is "A"mazing! Bee pollen is a superfood and can be used to promote multiple health benefits as well as prevent some nagging "ailments". Bee pollen is full of vitamins A,B,C,D,E,K,Folic acid, calcium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, selenium, protein and amino acids!! It's the "Bee's Knees"!! Be pollen stimulates ovarian function, treats and prevents seasonal allergies, creates metabolic balance for weightloss, prevents premature aging of the cells, prevents acne and is also said to have anti~cancer benefits. 

One of the best things that I have learned about bee pollen is its prophylactic use in treating and preventing seasonal allergies! You see an "allergy" is a result of our body's response to something it has been exposed to. Usually deemed as a foreign invader. The responses vary in degree from mild to severe! This response is how the immune system attempts to remove or marginalize the impact of the foreign body. With allergies the body can develop a chronic histamine response, resulting in inflammation throughout the body's skin, membranes, tissues and other organs. A majority of people suffer from these "seasonal allergies" and would benefit by ingesting bee pollen daily.

I recommend starting with a few granules then building up to a teaspoon or two every day. Ingesting bee pollen in this way works by desensitiing your body to the pollen that travels through the air that causes your body to react. With a small daily dose 6-8 weeks prior to allergy season your body will build up its defenses to fight off the allergens and avoid a reaction in the future season!!

It is best to buy "LOCAL BEE POLLEN" when possible. These local bees will have all of the local pollens that you are ever so sensitive to! But don't fret if you cannot find local. Many bee pollens carry the same innoculations of most pollens we are "allergic" to. 

So dose yourself up some of this bee pollen goodness! Add bee pollen to smoothie and salads! For maximum results place bee pollen under the tongue for a few minutes in the morning. Start small as I mentioned above! 

Xo {Hayley}

Good mood food!

Good mood food! Oh my gosh all of the health benefits! I like to know the foods that I am eating and how they are Nourishing my body!!  

Dr Andrew Weil just lectured for my school and I love him! Dr. Oz has a good little snippet about the anti-inflammatory diet coined by Dr. Weil a leading Dr in the specialty of Integrative medicine. He believes proper nutrition is the cornerstone to health!

http://www.doctoroz.com/episode/dr-andrew-weils-anti-inflammatory-diet

Know what your foods can do for you!! 

*Lamb : Rich in CLA a depression and stress fighter. This meat will help you reduce stress! This is a great website I found about the health benefits of grassfed organic Lamb! Grassfed provides a significant amount of omega 3 content as opposed to conventionally raised! It was stated in the article  that the meat from a grassfed lamb contains 25% more omega 3's when compared to conventional lambs and 49 % more ALA  the basic building block of omega 3........ 

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=117 

• "Lamb is a good source of vitamin B12 and also provides important amounts of the B vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, folate, biotin, pantothenic acid, and choline. Vitamins B6, B12, folate, and choline are especially important for healthy metabolism of homocysteine and can help prevent unwanted accumulation of excess homocysteine in the body. High blood levels of homocysteine are a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease." ~Interesting info found on www.whfoods.com 

*Avocado: 

*Labelled "A real Super Food" By Dr. Mercola and whfoods.com

*Mood food containing ******serotonin****** a feel good neurotransmitter 

*Vitamin E and healthy good quality fats are amazing for inflammation and more supple looking skin!

*Fiber

*Potassium

*B vitamins 

*Folic Acid great for the mama's!! 

*Sweet Potatoes: Also a *******serotonin******* stimulator!! Sweet potatoes stimulate your brain to produce serotonin a brain chemical that regulates mood as well as appetite and sleep. 

* High in vit b6

*High in vit c

*Vitamin D

*Iron

*Magnesium the antistress mineral

*amazing fiber content

*Rich in beta carotene

*Great source of manganese a trace mineral

*Rich in vitamin E

*Bananas/plantains: Teeming with tryptophan a building block for the happy hormone you guessed it *****serotonin****** This amazing fruit is also packed with b vitamins to combat stress & potassium which enhances mental alertness this is the perfect pick me up!! 

*Dark chocolate: This "feel good food" can tweak your brain chemistry and biologically revamp your mood!! Dark chocolate (I recommend over 70% cacao to receive maximum health benefits) raises the  brain chemicals phenylethylamine and endorphins that produce a natural euphoria! On top of all of all of that feel good we are able to fight heart disease with its rich antioxidants, phytonutrients and cancer fighting properties!! 

Lamb shanks, sweet potatoes, onions, garlic, avocado cups, salad, lemon cucumbers, honey goat cheese and organic popcorn without that nasty canola oil but instead olive oil! I used more clarified butter over the top and I sprinkled some Himalayan sea salt over the popcorn too!! For dessert we had fried plantains (in coconut oil) with melted cacao, almond butter and honey! We also had almond flakes and coconut flakes on top!! Such a fun night with our friends Tim and Janine celebrating the season opener of the Bachelor last night!!! 

Here's what we made! Everything was gluten free, diary free except we always use butter and goats milk! 

*Organic grass fed, free range antibiotic free, hormone free Lamb slow cooker set up serves four:

First I threw the New Zealand Lamb shanks (Trader Joes) into the slow cooker! 

Next I cut up the organic sweet potatoes into circle cuts. (Trader) Threw those in ( I used 5 sweet potatoes)

Next I cut up a large onion

After that I tossed in a few cloves of garlic chopped and whole

Then I added Himalayan sea salt and pepper 

Turned on low and cooked for 8!hours. Can use high heat for 4 hours! 

The meat was falling off of the bone and we were all drooling!! 

I prepared the rest an hour before they arrived! 

*Salad:

Organic kale and spring mix

1 stalk of hearts of Palm 

5 organic baby tomatoes quartered

Almonds

1/2 avocado

One organic green apple

Salt and pepper

One large lemon squeezed over the apples and salad ( prevents browning) 

1/4 cup goat feta

Olive oil to taste when ready to serve

Avocado cups:

*Halved avocados

Quartered baby tomatoes

Almond slivers

Chopped Basil from my window garden plant

Tumeric *super food* sprinkled 

Himalayan sea salt

Cracked pepper

Olive oil and vinegar drizzled over top when ready to serve

(To keep the Avos fresh I squeezed a small amt of lemon over each half to prevent browning)!works swell and adds flavor!!

*Goat cheese honey and "Mary's Gone Crackers" I get her crackers at Jimbos here in Encinitas. But I believe Sprouts carries this brand too!! These crackers are all gluten free and a lot of the contain flax and other yummy seeds!! 

*Cucumber lemon pico de gallo!!

One large organic cucumber sliced into circles

1/2 of a lemon squeezed all over cucumbers

Pico de Gallo seasoning.

H. Sea salt

Dessert!! Plaintains with Chocolate almond butter drizzle!! 

2 large plantains cooked till brown in large pan in 3 tablespoons coconut oil

1/2 cup 70% cacao or more (use 1 brick of chocolate) 

2 tablespoons raw or roasted almond butter (trader) 

1-2 tbsps coconut oil

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp raw honey

Be sure to melt together in a small pot on stove or in a small fondue. (Bonus ... My crockpot (I've had for years!!) came with a fondue!!Amazing!!!!!) 

Toppings:

 

Once plaintains are brown and chocolate is melted, section out your bananas into small bowls for you and your family or guests! 

Get creative and sprinkle whatever you like! I used...

Almond slivers 

coconut flakes

more cinnamon

raw honey drizzle

This was a Crowd pleaser !!!

Xo: {Hayley}

Urine pH! Can testing your tinkle be a window to your health and cancer prevention?

Test your tink???? Yep! I test my tinkle on occasion! I'll test my second pee to see if my body is alkaline or acidic! The encouragement for me is seeing that green hue after ingesting more alkaline foods! 

Why does this matter??

*In a nutshell CANCER CELLS CANNOT GROW in an alkaline environment!!! An alkaline environment allows for optimal body function. Nutrient absorption is maximized and "bug fighting" is at its prime   during times of alkalinity. Allowing for a higher blood pH prevents mass replication of your cancer cells. Everyone has cancer cells! Our bodies are our temple. Provide your cells with an optimal living environment!! Test your tink! I got my pH strips at Sprouts! Most health food stores carry them! 

Get busy!! Getting alkaline!! 

*Start your day with a large glass of lemon squeezed into water! (Preferably warm) 

*Eat more greens, fruits and veg!!

*Stop eating processed food!!! 

Take a look at your foods and see where they stand! 

Xo {Hayley}

Easy At Home Coconut Milk Latte!

Well...Happy 2014 to everyone! This New Year's Eve was mellow for us! We went to sushi, I got my new car stereo with Bluetooth installed (I'm a road hazard without it) and we made a delicious pot roast (bone in very nutritious) with broccoli onions and sweet potatoes then fell asleep before 10!! Pretty amazing day ending to a rough 2013 for us!!! 

I wanted to share my at home latte for those of you who only have a coffee pot like me!! If you are like me and don't drink cows milk (unless it's raw & organic) this may change your life! 

It's been such a blessing for me to see the health changes throughout the country! We are becoming more involved in our food supply. Coffee shops are now offering healthy "milk substitutes." My faves are coconut milk and almond milk! You can buy these fantastic lattes and other concoctions with these subs at places like La Costa coffee company and Lofty Coffee Co in Encinitas!! Or save 

$ money $ like me and make some at home!! 

I don't drink coffee often. I stopped in January around the time I started eating meat again. (I will write about why I went from 7 years of veg to meat eater soon!) We went to The Mayan Riviera for our anniversary in October and I couldn't stop the desire for a hot soul soothing cup o'latte!  I usually opt for "coffee like" substitutes such as Teeccino™ Or The Dandy Blend™. Buuuut every now and again I crave that hot cup of energy boosting, heart pattering Java!!!! 

Here are the deets!! 

Need:

*Coconut milk (carton or can)

*Stevia drops  (optional natural sweetener) or raw organic honey 

*Coffee, Teeccino (herbs and coffee like flavor) or Dandy Blend (rich flavor like coffee from the root of a dandelion)! (found at sprouts or Jimbos) 

*Small pot for boiling milk on stove

Do: 

Bring coconut milk and stevia drops (sweeten to taste) to a boil! I like to wait until it almost foams out the top of the pot ;) 

Have coffee ready. Pour the coffee into cup first then strain the milk into cup and pour foam on top! Doesn't foam quite as nice but it tastes fantastic! 

Enjoy!

Xo {Hayley}