Ever had Honey Kiss melon?? 😋 It’s nice and sweet with a refreshing crisp crunch! I love to eat melon as my first meal of the day because it’s super hydrating and one of the easiest digestible foods! We have to gently wake up our digestive systems in the morning because we’ve been fasting all night (that’s why it’s called break-fast to break the fast). I like to drink 16-32 oz of water, then have my warm lemon or lime turmeric tea then eat some fresh fruit like melon. I got this at my nearest Wal-Mart actually for $1.98, super cheap refreshing breakfast., great for hydrating the skin 👍 you can subscribe to my Instagram page @ eczema.holistic.healing ☺️
Category: nutrition
Recipes! – Celery Juice!
I got inspired after the live coaching session that Abby & I held the other night for a group of eczema sufferers to get back on that celery juice routine! Abby reminded me about the benefits of drinking it and I started to remember how much I liked doing it every AM and how good my skin felt! I highly recommend adding this to your diet, I’m going to be more consistent with it from now on. Make sure you use organic celery, and you can use the Omega vsj843r slow masticating juicer, which you can find HERE. Making celery juice is super easy and healing for the body, inside and out! This is a Medical Medium practice, make sure to check out his site! http://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/celery-juice
Here’s info about all the benefits of drinking this juice:
- Fresh celery juice is one of the most powerful and healing juices one can drink. Just 16 oz of fresh celery juice every morning on an empty stomach can transform your health and digestion in as little as one week.
- Celery juice also has significant anti-inflammatory properties making it highly beneficial for those who suffer from autoimmune conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Migraines, Vertigo, IBS, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Eczema, Acne, Lupus, Guillain-Barre, Sarcoidosis, Raynaud’s, Meniere’s, GERD, Bursitis, Restless Leg Syndrome, and Gout.
- Celery juice is also strongly alkaline and helps to prevent and counteract acid reflux, acidosis, high blood pressure, joint pain, ringing in ears, tingles & numbness, hot flashes, blurry eyes, headaches, heart palpitations, edema, heartburn, fatigue, dizziness, muscle cramps, sleep issues, constipation, and bloating. It also helps to purify the bloodstream, aid in digestion, relax the nerves, reduce blood pressure, and clear up skin problems. Celery contains compounds called coumarins which are known to enhance the activity of certain white blood cells and support the vascular system.
- Celery juice is rich in organic sodium content and has the ability to dislodge calcium deposits from the joints and hold them in solution until they can be eliminated safely from the kidneys. It is also an effective natural diuretic and has ample ability to flush toxins out of the body which makes it excellent to use on any weight loss program.
METHOD:
Using a juicer, simply just press the freshly washed celery through the juicer and enjoy!
*Make sure to drink once you juice or blend it, you don’t want to really let it sit, but if you do want to store it put it in an airtight glass container like a mason jar.
*Another great tip is to make a chewing motion as you’re drinking it. Whenever you are drinking a blended fruit or veggie juice you want to do this as it signals to the digestive tract that food is coming and to prepare to digest. It also stimulates the enzymes in the mouth to help break down the drink.
Hannah’s Healing Testimony!
I would like to share with you all a new series I will be doing on this website. It’s going to be featuring testimonials of eczema warriors who have battled through the healing process and are doing so great with their skin and overall health! This series is a celebration of their hard work and dedication to their healing journey. Each testimonial will share photos, their detailed healing experience, info about their vegan journey and encouragement for those out there still suffering. With each journey, I want to empasize how important nutrition is in this process. If you aren’t a stranger to my blog, you will know that it is something I’m super passionate about stressing as a huge component to healing. I hope you guys enjoy all of the testimonials to come! Starting off the series is a friend that I met through the facebook topical steroid withdrawal support group. Her name is Hannah, and she is an amazing, kind soul. I was so inspired by her story of strength and faith in God to get her through this process, I just had to ask her to share her story on my site! I hope you all can find encouragement through her struggle and be inspired by the way that she has taken control of her health!
click “continue reading” below for more!
Pineapples!
🍍🍍🍍Get some pineapples in your life!🍍🍍🍍
Pineapples are great for skin health because they are the richest source in the world of the proteolytic enzyme, bromelain which is great for the digestion. Bromelain helps to break down proteins into peptides and amino acids. It can ease the whole digestive process and aids in the symptoms of acid reflux. We need our digestive tracts to be working efficiently for good gut health. The bromelain also acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-swelling agent. Bromelain has been found to speed healing, and the anti-inflammatory benefits in it are similar to OTC meds like aspirin and ibuprofen.
More about the processes of digestive enzymes and also in supplement form HERE!
Additionally when applied topically, the benefits of pineapple include its ability to help in healing cuts, burns, insect bites and to help dissipate bruising and other skin problems.
Another cool fact is that It can also help soothe and relax tense, inflamed muscles and connective tissue; this is why it is commonly used as a meat tenderizer.
Pineapples are super rich in Vitamin C (just 1 cup gives you 131% of your daily value!), Vitamin B1, potassium, manganese, fiber and antioxidants. The abundance of Vitamin C in pineapples can help reduce the itch in eczema as it is an anti histamine rich food. One of the main causes of increased histamine levels in the body is a vitamin C deficiency.
Vitamin C has an effect on histamine in your system, and your body’s vitamin C levels also regulate your level of histamine release. Adequate vitamin C consumption maintains relatively low levels of histamine in your system, while a vitamin C deficiency can raise your body’s levels of histamine, according to a study published in the “Journal of the American College of Nutrition” in 1996. The abnormal histamine levels as a result of vitamin C deficiency can have an effect on your overall health. SOURCE SOURCE
Make sure to allow your pineapple to ripen fully, when it smells fragrant, is becoming a nice golden colour overall and the leaves are becoming dry…to where they are coming off without having to pull them out too hard they are ready to eat!
What the Health Documentary
Make sure to add this film to your Netflix queue! The illnesses that plague us today do not have to be a death sentence, we can prevent and even REVERSE disease with a simple change in the way we eat. We don’t have to be a slave to medicine when we can let the food be our medicine. I think we all need to be aware how the gov, FDA and big pharma are all tangled up with their own agenda to keep us sick, we can choose to live consciously, ensure life long health, help the environment, animals and our communities with our forks! Please take the time to watch this documentary and make sure to share with others!
More plant based blog posts HERE
HEALTH IS WEALTH!
The EXMA app
Recently a young man reached out to me with a blog post idea to share a venture he’s been working on to help eczema sufferers. His name is Kerrison, and he’s created an app called “Exma” to help those with eczema to identify their food triggers. I think this is a great idea as our daily meals play a huge role in the heath of our bodies and skin, and finding out which foods can be most aggravating can help lessen flares and even heal the skin. I have a page dedicated to “Food and Allergy Triggers” HERE for more information. Below, Kerrison gives more info about himself and about his app! Make sure to check it out and download it with the link below. If you do give it a go, make sure to leave a comment below on how it worked out for you, and also let Kerrison know @ exmamobileapp@gmail.com
Q & A
1.) Tell me a little bit about your history with eczema; how old are you, where do you live, how long have you had eczema and do you have a history with topical steroids?
- I am 23 years old, I live in Melbourne, Australia, I have had eczema since I was a child, and I have used topical steroids on and off since I was a child as well.
2.) What are you currently doing to treat your eczema?
- Currently to maintain my eczema I’m using Elidel twice a week to try and maintain it, but I know this is not a long term solution. Moisturize daily. Vacuum the bedroom weekly, and use dust-mite proof bedding. I’m also ensuring my diet is healthy and I exercise 2-3 times per week.
3.) Tell me about this app and why you created it.
- The app helps people with severe eczema identify their triggers. I created the app because I couldn’t figure out what was making my eczema worse, and using a pen and paper to track these variables is too difficult. The app currently requires manual input but we are rolling out new features to automate these inputs.
4.) What would you like the users of this app to get out of it?
- My main goal is to help people suffering from eczema identify their triggers so that it’s no longer affecting their life.
5.) What words of encouragement do you have for those suffering with eczema?
- For words of encouragement, I would say to keep trying to figure out what works for you. All these drugs only focus on the symptom and not the problem. They have their place but keep searching for what works for you. And always seek for help because there are a lot of people wanting to help you just like yourself, Jennifer. Understand your triggers and take control of your eczema.
Check out Kerrison’s app, “Exma” HERE
Brazil Nuts!
Get some Brazil nuts into your diet! These nuts are the highest source of the mineral selenium (542 mcg, 774% daily recommended value in just one ounce!!). Selenium in Brazil nuts speeds the cell turnover process, providing a natural glow to the skin & helps with inflammation. Selenium is also a great mood lifter which will help battle depression allowing it to boost the levels of serotonin metabolites. The high levels of antioxidants in Brazil nuts stimulate the production of glutathione, which combats free radicals that damage the skin collagen and helps to prevent skin cancer. The Vitamin E in Brazil nuts also maintains the integrity of the cells of the mucus membranes and the skin.
Brazil nuts also contain copper, a mineral that aids in the production of melanin (a color pigment that protects the body from the harmful ultraviolet rays). I like to consume about 2 raw Brazil nuts everyday along with other nuts and seeds like walnuts, sunflower, chia, pumpkin & flax! Brazil nuts have a propensity to spoil quickly so buy them in reasonable amounts. Look for Brazil nuts that are stored in airtight containers, whole and brown and heavy in the hand. Don’t pick any that are shriveled or in pieces, as they could be already spoiled or contaminated with mold. It’s best to store Brazil nuts airtight in a cool, dark, dry place without exposure to humidity or sunlight. You can also store whole Brazil nuts in an airtight bag in the refrigerator, where they can last for a few months.
A one-ounce (six kernels) serving of dried, unblanched Brazil nuts contains about:
- 185 calories
- 3.5 grams carbohydrates
- 4 grams protein
- 18.8 grams fat
- 2.1 grams fiber
- 542 micrograms selenium (774% DV)
- 106 milligrams magnesium (27% DV)
- 0.5 milligram copper (25 percent DV)
- 205 milligrams phosphorous (20% DV)
- 0.3 milligram manganese (17% DV)
- 0.2 milligram thiamine (12% DV)
- 1.6 milligrams vitamin E (8% DV)
- 1.1 milligrams zinc (8% DV)
- 45.2 milligrams calcium (5% DV)
- 186 milligrams potassium (5% DV)
- 0.7 milligram iron (4% DV)
Check out more info on Brazil Nuts HERE & HERE (Brazil nuts effect on cholesterol)
Watermelon!!!
WHY DO I LIKE TO START MY DAY WITH WATERMELONS??? 🍉🍉🍉
Well because it’s not only super sweet, refreshing and delish, but super hydrating as it’s about 92% water! It is also soaked with nutrients! Did you know that each juicy bite has significant levels of vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties and amino acids?? There’s even a modest amount of potassium! You can even eat the rind as it has health-promoting and blood-building chlorophyll, but the rind actually contains more of the amino acid citrulline than the pink flesh. Black watermelon seeds are edible and actually quite healthy as well because they contain iron, zinc, protein, and fiber. (In case you were wondering, seedless watermelons aren’t genetically modified, as they’re the result of hybridization.) I have watermelon for breakfast after I’ve had some water first thing upon waking and my warm turmeric tea. Watermelon is the easiest food to digest, and we need to ease the body into digestion upon waking because it has been fasting for 8 hours. This hydrating fruit is like bathing our organs first thing and giving it great fiber as well to get things moving along. It’s packed with electrolytes too, so perfect to enjoy after a workout! I like to also blend it with a nice 2″x 2″ square of fresh aloe gel and a squeeze of half a lime for a refreshing juice! Get some watermelons in your life!!! Your skin will feel more hydrated, your digestion will work better and you’ll be supplying your body with awesome nutrients! 🍉🍉🍉
“Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen”
Here’s a great shopping guide to take with you to the grocery store! The Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org is a wonderful resource on the most pesticide laden AKA “dirty dozen” produce, and the conventional produce that isn’t sprayed with pesticides as much AKA “clean fifteen”. There is an exception with the “clean fifteen” papayas, summer squash and corn can be GMO so make sure to get non GMO varieties of these (and stay away from GMO foods all together). When healing from eczema you want to incorporate A LOT of fruits & veggies into your diet, and it’s best to get them organically grown when possible to ensure that you’re not putting toxins back in your body after working so hard to cleanse them out 👍
Happy Earth Day 2017!
✌️🌍HAPPY EARTH DAY🌏✌️
Don’t think of yourself as insignificant when it comes to taking care of our planet. We make the choice 3x a day on what we eat…choose the compassionate, cruelty free way and not only save the animals lives & the planet, but improve your health as well! 💚🐥🐷🐮🐠Here’s a few statistics to put it all in perspective…
Changing your diet from a meat eating diet to a vegan one reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5 tons per year! 🍒 The meat, egg, and dairy industry produce 65% of worldwide nitrous oxide emissions. 🍊 A meat eating diet creates 7x the greenhouse emissions as the diet of vegans. 🍌 It takes more than 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 lb of meat VS. 1 lb of wheat using 25 gallons. 🍉 1 calorie from animal protein requires 11 TIMES as much fossil fuel as one calorie of plant protein. 🍍 A vegan diet requires 300 gallons of water per day VS. a meat eating diet which requires 4,000 gallons per day! 🍑 You’d save more water by not eating 1 lb of meat than you would by not taking a shower for 6 MONTHS. 🌽 Raising animals for food uses 30% of the earth’s land mass…that’s about the same size as Asia! 🍇More than 260 million acres of the U.S. forest have been cleared to create cropland to grow grain to feed farmed animals. 🍐 The equivalent of 7 football fields of land are bulldozed every minute to create more room for farm animals. 🍎 70% of grain and cereals grown in U.S. are fed to farm animals. 🍋 It requires 16 lbs of grain to produce 1 lb of meat!
*make sure to check out COWSPIRACY. It’s a great documentary on how our diets are effecting the planet and climate change. Stay informed!
More Plant Based Posts to Check Out:
Awesome Food Documentaries to Check Out!
#gofruityourself !
Simple Steps to Going on a Plant Based Diet!
The Great Protein Fiasco
Tips for Optimal Gut Health!
Eczema Holistic Healing 