Foods High In Iron

Cardamom and Anise tea is a great way to soothe your tummy  and music is a great way to soothe your mood. Today, I'm sharing both! I know I usually have an easy real food healthy gluten free vegetarian/vegan recipe for you to help nourish your body, save you time in the kitchen, and direct your thoughts to healthier eating,  but today I deviated just a little -  Today I am sharing a cup of quick and easy  homemade cup of Ayurvedic Tea ( See recipe at bottom of post)   and some soothing music I found on a Youtube Video. I was just browsing around Youtube and found this video:  After hearing and watching this music performance on Youtube- I wanted to share it because it is so uplifting and relaxing at the same time!! It's music to soothe your soul.. so beautiful So grab a cup of herbal tea ( see my favorite recipe below)  or coffee- relax- and listen!! Two Choices to Listen to Right Now on Youtube:  Want upbeat, invigorating, and fun- Listen to the ...

I went to visit my kids in NYC last week and on my walk from the train to their place I passed through the famous Garment District- It was raining, but I managed to get a few photos of some of the new sculptures in the " Fancy Animal Carnival " by Taiwanese artist Hung Yi. I don't usually share my outings, but with so many visiting NYC over the holidays, I thought these might be of interest. Garment District Free Art Show through April 2016 The Carnival , which starts around 41st street and ends on 37th street, features eleven large to life whimsical statues each symbolic of bringing luck!  The statues are extremely colorful and big!! It made more 40 minute walk to their place very enjoyable Bryant Park- over 100 fun holiday kiosks I loved this.. In addition, there were many little kiosk type shops that opened up just for the holidays in Bryant Park on West 40th between 5th and 6th Ave- It was so much fun going around the wintery type wonderland with all the little shops ...

Copper toxicity and Panic Attacks and Depression I hesitated to write this post because it is about depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. I am not a medical doctor and certainly am not trying to diagnose or treat disease. I'm sharing information that I've read about, had first hand experience about, and feel it could be helpful to others. I feel that the information about copper toxicity and depression, panic attacks, and anxiety is really important and not always recognized by medical doctors or holistic doctors.  My Friend's Story Recently, a friend of mine became very depressed. So much so that she was not able to concentrate enough to go to work. She was prone to crying all day and exhausted. It was out of character for her. She never had a history of depression and was normally confident and independent. She started to feel helpless and that she couldn't depend on herself. She felt like she was falling apart. My friend went to her family doctor and many specialis...

Did you know that you can freeze whole lemons and limes and always have one handy for fresh lemon juice or lemon zest! I buy organic lemons or limes by the bag at Trader Joe's.  They usually are good for about a week. Sometimes I just don't get to use them fast enough, so they start to spoil. While browsing Pinterest, I found a post that says you can freeze lemons or limes for convenience and ease! Who knew? I love the idea!  Not only does it prevent waste, but you will always have lemon in the freezer if you need some. Frozen lemons/limes defrost quickly and are great to have in a pinch. You can even buy extra organic lemons when they are on sale and keep them frozen until you need them.  How to Freeze Lemons and Limes:  Wash the lemon or lime well and pat dry. Depending on how you want to use the lemons or limes in the future, either freeze the whole lemon/lime just the way it is,  or cut the lemon into quarters. Do not remove the peel. Place in a baggy and l...

According to Dr. Sarah Hallberg of Indiana and Dr. Jason Fung of Cananda,  who are both diabetic medical doctors, Type 2 Diabetes can be reversed. These Board Certified medical doctors ( and many other doctors)  are able to take people off of insulin and medication using a different approach to eating and self care. Too many people that I know are either pre-diabetic or have been diagnosed with full blown diabetes. The abundance and quality of American food is literally making people overweight and sick. Statistics indicate that diseases like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure on the rise to astronomical numbers in the US, despite our sophisticated medical information and medical care. One area that seems to always be in controversy is diet- the food we eat. What is the best way to eat? Does what, when, and how much we eat make a difference?  Those of us who buy gluten free breads, pizza, cookies, cakes, crackers, cereal, etc. need to be particularly intere...

Got 5 minutes? You can align your energy for better focus, concentration and creativity.  Years ago, I took a weekend energy balancing workshop with Donna Eden at the Institute in Rye in upstate New York. The 3 day class was an in-depth course, and I learned a lot about energy, energy balancing for greater mental focus, and energy techniques for stress management. At the time, I was a high school teacher,  teaching very bright high school students who had ADD and ADHD.  I was interested in the course to see how this energy work might be applied to helping my students with focus, concentration and relaxation. Donna Eden suggested a simple daily routine of energy balancing exercises to help bring your body back into balance and prepare for mental work! The routine was easy and when I shared it with my students, some of found the exercises helpful. ( I think they also like the opportunity to have a physical activity to do in the class and a short break for sitting still). Th...

The new list of dirty dozen fruits/vegetables just came out from EWG! Strawberries were number one on the list for the fruit/vegetable with the highest amount of pesticides! When I read the article , I was sad at how little the consumer really knows about what we are eating. Can you imagine that with every bite of a red luscious strawberry we are eating more than we want in pesticides! It's bad enough for us , but what about our kids? When it comes to strawberries, I guess it's one fruit that need to be organic! From now on, I'll buy organic when it comes to anything on the list from the dirty dozen.  I already always buy organic apples, celery, and spinach. I often buy organic strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and grapes. I need to step it up a little! The EWG has a list of what they consider the Dirty Dozen= highest amount of pesticides 1. Strawberries 2. Apples 3. Nectarines 4. Peaches  5. Celery  6. Grapes 7. Cherries 8. Spinach 9. Tomatoes 10. Bell Peppers 11. Cherry To...

Did you know that you can use chia seeds to replace eggs in a recipe?  You can make a "chia seed egg" ! . These simple egg substitutes are perfect if are allergic to eggs or if you are vegan.  Chia seeds can be a healthy replacement for eggs in most baked products like muffins, cakes, and cookies. Chia seeds add very little taste to the finished product, but they do the job of the egg and also add a powerhouse of nutrients to the recipe. These little seeds become gel like when they are in liquid, making them a perfect base for chia pudding recipes and a perfect egg replacer in baking recipes.  Here is the formula per egg.  If your recipe calls for 2 eggs, double the recipe. According to nutritional charts, chia seeds are nutritional powerhouses.  They have:  7 times  the Omega 3 per ounce of an ounce of salmon.  They have more protein than any other seed Provide  as much calcium as milk  per ounce. Are a complete protein.  In addi...

Growing your own scallions in water on your windowsill is similar to growing your own fresh herbs but easier ; I saw this ridiculously easy idea on Pinterest, and it works!  You can grow a continuos supply of green onions right on your windowsill  starting with  the 99 cent bunch of scallions that you buy in the supermarket. They don't even need soil to grow; They will grow in water in a small glass! You know the white ends of the scallion with all the roots?  ( the part you probably throw away?) After you use your the green part of the scallion, don't throw away the white ends. Those little suckers will grow a whole new scallion, and the scallion will grow quickly like in a week! white ends after they were in water for a week I saw the idea a long time ago , but it wasn't until last week that I thought I'd give it a try. Within one week, I have an entire bunch of scallions all over again. Yes, that quickly. Who knew? Don't store scallions in you...

Beet Kvass is a popular fermented beet drink that is a  blood purifier, liver cleanser, probiotic  and a nutrition booster that can be made rather easily on your kitchen countertop in a 1/2 gallon Mason jar! Although it's becoming popular now, I recently found out that my Eastern European grandparents thrived on this drink! My paternal grandmother from Russia lived to be a healthy 107. You use 3 simple ingredients: beets, sea salt, and whey  ( vegans can omit and follow the recommended substitution suggested in the ingredients )  You simply soak cut of raw beets, some sea salt and some whey-let it sit to ferment for 2 days and then refrigerate. A half gallon of kvass lasts a long time (at least 2 weeks )  in the refrigerator. What is whey ? Whey is the clear liquid that you can separates in the yogurt and you can make your own whey very easily. Don't leave me yet, read the rest- you will be glad you did! If nothing else, everyone needs a good source of probi...