Recipe! – Very Berry Smoothie Bowl

4 frozen bananas, 1.5 cup of frozen raspberries, strawberries & blackberries blended with 1/2 water 1/2 almond milk & a spoon of each hemp, flax, chia & 1/4tsp turmeric paste. Topped with blueberries. Packed with antioxidants for healthy glowing skin!

Method:

I like to add the hemp, flax, chia and turmeric paste into the blender first, then the berries and bananas then the liquids and blend! I found that putting the seeds first helps to get them really blended up, and not all over the top and sides of the blender. I use a Vitamix blender so it’s high powered and really blends the seeds into oblivion!

  • Hemp, chia and flax (I use grounded flax seeds) are packed with healthy whole food fats like omegas! Here’s some more info comparing the 3.
  • Raspberries – Potent in Vit C, potassium, calcium, lutein and zeaxanthin. They contain antioxidant carotinoids, ellagic acid and quercetin (quercetin is a natural antihistamine). Researchers believe that anthocyanins — the water-soluble plant pigments that give the berry its vivid color — are responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Strawberries – In addition to antioxidants, they are potent in folate, potassium, manganese,dietary fiber, and magnesium. It is also extremely high in vitamin C!
  • Blackberries – Loaded with vitamin C & A, soluble and insoluble fiber and low in sodium. They also offer the highest levels of some antioxidants – higher than blueberries and strawberries too. The very dark color of the fruit is proof of its high antioxidant level.
  • Bananas – High in potassium, full of iron and bananas act as a prebiotic (stimulates the growth of gut friendly bacteria), produces digestive enzymes to help absorb nutrients easier and gently chelates toxins and heavy metals from the body, due to its high pectin content. They also contain tryptophan (an amino acid), which is converted into serotonin… the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter which can aid in overcoming depression. No wonder why I’m always so happy when I have my daily morning smoothie! 🙂
Why are antioxidants so important?
Well, your skin is your largest organ, so it is important to take care of it with antioxidant rich foods. Antioxidants protect the skin by limiting the production of free radicals, which can damage skin cells.
The human body naturally produces free radicals and the antioxidants to counteract their damaging effects. However, in most cases, free radicals far outnumber the naturally occurring antioxidants. In order to maintain the balance, a continual supply of external sources of antioxidants is necessary in order to obtain the maximum benefits of antioxidants. Antioxidants benefit the body by neutralizing and removing the free radicals from the bloodstream.

External Factors of Oxidative Stress

Free radicals occur naturally within the body, and for the most part, the body’s natural antioxidants can manage their detoxification. But, there are certain external factors that can trigger the production of these damaging free radicals. These factors include:

• Excessive exposure to UV rays
• Pollution
• Smoking
• Eating an unhealthy diet
• Excessive exercise
• Certain medications and/or treatments

Here’s a helpful list of top antioxidant rich foods. Make sure that you incorporate these into your diet in abundance!

Did you know that Blueberries are little anti inflammatory powerhouses? Quercetin is a flavonoid that fights inflammation and even cancer and it’s found in blueberries along with many other phytonutrients. In just one cup of blueberries you will have the DV (daily values) of 36% Vitamin K, 25% Manganese, 25% Vitamin C, 14% Fiber, and 9% Copper.

They are also phytonutrient superstars because they contain significant amounts of anthocyanadins, antioxidant compounds that give blue, purple and red colors to fruits and vegetables.

 

 

 

Summer 2016 healing! 

Can’t take cred for this adorable pic lol

Here it is finally, my summer 2016 healing update! I guess being that today is the first day of fall, it’s better that I get it in today, better now than never! It’s been a little while since I’ve given an update with pictures and such, so here it is!

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What I Eat in a Day – Vegan!

Ugh eating a vegan diet is sooooo hard! Hehehe, just joking! 🙂 This lil blog update is to show what I eat in a day, all vegan, all delicious! Vegan is basically no animal products (meat, eggs and by products like dairy) and all the abundant plant based foods you can eat!

check out my instagram, username: jlh827 for lots of vegan inspiration pics!

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Recipes! – Persimmon Smoothie

  
Persimmons are AMAZING!!! Never had one? Please give it a go! They are super sweet like candy with this ooey gooey texture to them. They look like cute lil tomatoes ☺️ They are mainly in season around this time and when you try them out you gotta make sure they’re super ripe before eating. An under ripe persimmon will have a bitter taste and will leave you with a weird mouth feel. You’ll know when it’s ready when the skin is really soft to where you can almost break the skin from pushing into it. Like when a tomato is getting soft and squishy. Gotta be patient though, these bad boys can take awhile to ripen…but good things come to those who wait, like this delicious smoothie!!!

Persimmon Smoothie

Serves 1…because I like a massive smoothie for breakfast.

  • 1 super ripe persimmon (you can eat the skin too)
  • 4 frozen bananas
  • 1 cup frozen mango
  • 1 date
  • 1/2 cup almond milk
  • about 1 cup or more water (desired consistency)
  • 1 tablespoon ground flax seed 

BLEND & ENJOY! 😋

Recipes! – Banana Almond Coconut Shake!

 

Banana Almond Coconut Shake!  - eczemaholistichealing.wordpress.com
Banana Almond Coconut Shake! YUUUUUUUUM!!!

 

I look forward to drinking my morning smoothies every day.  I guess it’s just that sweet, delicious creaminess that keeps me addicted!  Sometimes I’ll blend them a bit thicker so it’s almost like an ice cream consistency or a little thinner like a milkshake.  This smoothie in particular tasted like straight up dessert…but for breakfast!!

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Recipes! – Sweet Beet Smoothie!

sweet beet smoothie  - eczemaholistichealing.wordpress.com

I love me some beets!  They have this wonderful earthy, naturally sweet flavour.   I use them chopped up raw in my daily salads and sometimes make a little tasty slaw out of them with carrots and onions with a marinade of apple cider vinegar, tahini or avocado and fresh herbs.  I also love to have them sometimes roasted with carrots, potatoes, onions and garlic with dry herbs and baked on parchment to keep it oil free.  It was only until recently that I started using them in my smoothies.  They are super fibrous, so when adding them raw to green drinks, I just put a small amount.  When they are lightly steamed or boiled, they become even sweeter and the consistency is quite smooth.  I love this recipe because it’s so delicious and naturally sweet, you feel like you’re drinking a milkshake for breakfast, but it’s actually healthy for you!

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Recipes! – Pumpkin Pie Superfood Smoothie!

pumpkin pie superfood smoothie- eczemaholistichealing.wordpress.com

Autumn is my favourite season, and when it comes around I like to take advantage of all the seasonal produce like pumpkin!  I will turn this tasty squash into curried soups, roast them with sweet potato, make gluten free muffins with it and most recently add them to a smoothie!  This smoothie is insanely delicious, and you really feel like you’re slurping down some pumpkin pie.  I boosted this recipe with some awesome superfoods like hemp seed, coconut oil, bee pollen, turmeric and ginger!

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