Banana Nut “Milkshake”

In my last entry, I discussed my experience with a little spring/summer detox, as well as going without sugar for a period of time. In fact, I attempted a “Sugarless Summer.” Now, it was not a complete failure. I just didn’t follow through the entire summer. It’s not that it was impossible, it just requires effort, consistency, and an open mind to choosing and preparing your food.

Many usually ask me, “What do you eat?” or “Don’t you have a sweet tooth?” I usually answer that last question with a resounding YES! Curbing my sweet tooth had to be one of the biggest challenges I have ever faced (I know dramatic). Cutting out any type of food, especially sweets, is all about your mindset. You have to want to cut the junk in order to do it. It’s not an overnight switch. If you do that, you usually end up failing. Trust me.

So what do I eat? Well, I love fruits, all sorts, specifically lower glycemic ones, such as pears, apples, berries, etc. I’m nuts about brown rice cakes with a bit of almond butter and apple slices on top. I also love an occasional bowl of Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss ice cream (pretend I didn’t write that, but it’s GOOD!). 

Speaking of ice cream, I love trying my take at alternative forms (non-dairy, vegan, etc). A long time ago, I posted an entry about homemade banana “ice cream” using just frozen bananas. Let’s put a spin on that!

Banana Nut “Milkshake”

Ingredients *:

1-1 ½ frozen bananas

3 Tbsp natural/raw almond butter (or nut butter of choice)

2 tsp cacao powder

¼ cup almonds

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp sea salt

2-3 servings stevia (measured with stevia dispenser)

1 ¼ cup almond milk (unsweetened)

This recipe is so simple, there’s no need to create a section for the preparation.

In a heavy-duty blender, nutribullet, or some equivalent, simply blend together all of these ingredients until you receive the desired texture. For a thicker consistency, consider1 ½ – 2 bananas. For a thinner shake, cut the almonds or use less almond butter as that tends to add a lot of texture.

Stevia is very sweet, so be sure not to add more than needed. Some are still confused about this plant-based sweetener. A little goes a long way with this recipe. If you do not like stevia, consider 2 tbsp of brown rice syrup or even monk fruit, which is another natural sweetener.

Sea salt? It only enhances the flavor and gives your shake an extra kick without going overboard.

So, there’s my natural guilty pleasure for sugarless summers, or any sugarless season to come!

Added a little nutmeg on top.

*Most of my ingredients are often organic, non-gmo certified, kosher, etc.

Detoxify, Fortify, and Live!

For many, summer is a long-awaited moment in time which signifies not just warmth, but exploration, new beginnings, and most of all, good food. For those who have read my previous entries, it is quite evident that I’m a bit of a foodie, but also a nutrition nut as of late; I’m always looking to improve my health and wellness!

Six summers ago, I made the decision to give up red meat and pork. This September it will be two years since I threw out the poultry, and this past April, a full year since I denounced dairy, gluten, eggs, refined sugars, and the list goes on. As I said before, summer is a nostalgic moment for many, especially when it comes to eating food. I have not been to a barbecue in years, and I’m fine with that (I’m sure there’s someone out there who grills salmon, asparagus, daikon and brussels sprouts though).

Now, summer represents a time of action and change. This sentiment is shared by others. You know, those who only exercise for that ideal beach body, right? Then, once Fall emerges, it’s back under the blankets with sweets, hot chocolate, and momentum like a turtle. No, for me, these changes must be lifelong. I have made a point to stay mentally strong and remain on the path to a livelier, happier, healthier life.

Lately, I have been giving special titles to the months of the year, such as “Make it Happen May,” “Jubilation June,” “Jump Start July,” and now, “Anti-Stress August.” Hey, I can be pretty corny. Laughs aside, this summer was deemed “Sugarless Summer.” For the month of June, I gave up ALL sugar (including cane syrup, cane sugar, palm sugar, etc). This was similar to what I did in 2013 when I began the Virgin Diet, which involved cutting out sugar and artificial sweeteners. Some recipes will follow.

I must say, for the month of June, I felt absolutely amazing. Some people think that sugar has been given a bad name overtime, but it truly is not good for you, even the healthier forms. Now, I won’t be a hypocrite. For the month of July, I did explore sugar again that was unrefined, but not without consequences. Headaches, joint pain, stomach aches, back pain, lethargy, and mental fog were just a few of the results. I deserved them! Everyone must remember that our bodies speak to us. That may sound insane, and if it does, so be it. Our skin is a mirror to what is inside, and whenever I eat a lot of sugar, I break out. Our heart, stomach, liver and kidneys will also tell us when we are plunging into dietary suicide.

Without a doubt, I strongly encourage everyone to try a month of no sugar. Prior to this, you may even want to try a detox or cleanse for a period of time for optimum fortification. A few months back I tried an excellent 7-day cleanse. From that, I felt as if I removed so much clutter from within, not just physically, but also mentally. Though it was for seven days, the cleanse was not harsh at all! Experts say that a cleanse is necessary for the body, and should be performed twice a year. Imagine that; many have never cleansed at all. A cleanse is not just good for losing weight, but also to combat environmental stress, physical stress, poor diet, as well as harmful health practices.

So, it is my aim to be steadfast on this road to minimal to no sugar. And you know what? My body is happy with that because it remains silent when I eat the foods that are good for me.

Visit NutriDreams for your daily nutritional needs. Find vitamins, minerals, and bulk organic, gluten-free and vegan foods.

Food Matters: A Lifestyle Change

Seaweed

It may seem like common sense, but the food that we eat does have lasting effects on our bodies. About three years ago this summer, I made the decision to stop eating red meat, as well as meats that were not either poultry or seafood. My decision to do so was not for humane reasons, though I do in fact care about living creatures. I chose to put a stop to feelings of being weighed down, overly full, and just plain sick from eating heavy meats. My feelings were only reinforced after viewing the documentary Food, Inc, detailing the harmful effects that the food industry, specifically factory-style farming, has on our lives.

Recently, I had the privilege of viewing another documentary, Food Matters, which focuses on the use of the Earth’s natural resources as a means of medicine, to cure common diseases that plague mankind.

The film opens up with these thought-provoking words, “Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine, And Thy Medicine Be Thy Food.” A quote by Hippocrates, regarded as the father of modern-day medicine, I was prepared for the tone of this film.

Through the words of various physicians, specialists, and experts, Food Matters seeks to alter the perception we have of the foods we eat in relation to pharmaceutical drugs. Diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and the list goes on. All of these “diseases,” these illnesses, have a pill to treat it.

For over a year now, I have worked in retail pharmacy, and have received a wealth of knowledge about medicines for the body. During that time though, I was also privy to the lifestyles of many patients. Those who are on drugs such as Lipitor, Crestor, Lasix, etc, seem to have similarities. A lot of them do not want to change. Instead of these drugs improving their lifestyles, some still eat the same foods that put them at risk in the first place.

For instance, Prilosec and Prevacid, drugs to help treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), are very popular. Some patients take these drugs for months at a time, and some, for longer periods. But, there are ways to manage such problems, or even eliminate them completely, by avoiding fatty foods, spicy foods, chocolate, alcohol, all things we love! The same can be said about a variety of diseases that people take prescriptions for. Virtually, our society has become accustomed to popping pills as a solution for our illnesses.

A friend of mine once said that high blood pressure and high cholesterol are “lifestyle illnesses.” At first, I wasn’t sure what he meant, but it makes sense. In the last 60 years, humans have pushed healthy foods to the back seat, with the emergence of fast food chains. These restaurants fry anything imaginable, and offer food at gigantic portions. There is no wonder why obesity is rampant in America , not to mention the scarcity of physical activity.

The film also echoes the sentiments that doctors and pharmaceutical companies can sometimes be the root of these problems. The healthcare industry, sad to say, profits at the expense of sick patients. This by no means writes doctors off as evil, but questions are left to be answered. I believe that perhaps more interest needs to be placed into educating patients about lifestyle changes, opposed to writing out the latest one-a-day tablet.

Food Matters, also advises its viewers about the power of superfoods, foods that are very high in nutrition, that also provide exceptional health benefits. Below are just a few that the film and its website mentions:

Blueberries: “Blueberries are rich in compounds that help protect the heart and may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. . . “ (http://www.foodmatters.tv)

Seaweed: “Seaweeds are the most nutritionally dense plants on the planet as they have access to all the nutrients in the ocean . . .” (http://www.foodmatters.tv)

Sweet Potatoes: “Sweet potatoes are high in fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, potassium and manganese . . .” (www.foodmatters.tv) 

I still have a long way to go in understanding my body, and the benefits of the foods that I put into it. The saying, “you are what you eat” is so true. We cannot expect to live long, healthy lives, if we are constantly ingesting fake, mass-produced, and processed foods. Food does matter!

Below is a clip to the introduction of Food Matters. I only highlighted a few points. You can also find other clips on YouTube, or even instantly stream it on Netflix!