Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric & Ginger Smoothie

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Turmeric and ginger are two incredible roots that are helpful in reducing inflammation. Turmeric has extremely powerful anti-inflammatory effects in addition to it being an antioxidant. It is bright orange in color and will stain just about anything it touches (so beware). I always tell people to eat foods that stain your hands, and turmeric (along with beets, berries, tomatoes, etc.) is a great example of that. The color in fresh fruits and vegetables are powerful antioxidants, so the richer the color the richer the antioxidants! Ginger is known for not only it’s anti-inflammatory properties, but also it’s ability to aid in digestion.

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Both roots have a bittery spiced earth flavor and hearty stringy texture, so eating them raw (or ground) can be a little difficult if you’re not a huge spice lover. I find it difficult to incorporate these medicinal roots into my own diet, so I came up with an awesome smoothie recipe to help myself benefit from their anti-inflammatory effects.

You may intimidated by something that looks like it could be inedible, but have no fear; fresh turmeric and ginger root are super simple to prepare! They can be found in almost all grocery stores in the produce section. They’re usually by the garlic, potatoes, and other non-refrigerated/dry produce. Most all grocery stores sell them both by the pound, so you just can buy as much as you want to have at a time.

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How to Love Your Heart

I’m a little late on bringing some heart health awareness during Heart Health Awareness month, but it’s never too late to give your heart some love!

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February is (was) a month dedicated to heart health awareness. Maintaining good heart health is important when it comes to preventing chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Millions of Americans are suffering from high blood pressure which can lead to heart attacks, stroke, and/or heart disease so keeping blood pressure under control is a great start to preventing health problems down the road.

One easy way to start taking control of your blood pressure is through the foods that you eat. Every day, at every meal YOU have the chance to take control of your heart health.

Here are some easy, and helpful tips to keeping blood pressure low and preventing heart disease:

  • Eat less meat: Reducing your intake of meat helps to lower overall saturated fat intake. Saturated fat can lead to high cholesterol levels, as well as raise blood pressure. Take one or two days out of the week to go meatless, replacing it with other protein sources such as beans, tofu, tempeh, or meat-free alternatives (veggie burgers, plant-based meats, etc.)

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Documentaries Watched In 2015

One of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2015 was to watch at least one documentary every month. I wrote them all down in the back of my planner, and thought it would be cool to share them all with you, and rate each one on a scale from 1-10.

I’m hoping to do the same in 2016, it’s a great way to spend a little time each month educating yourself on different topics and information that’s out there.

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January:

  • Fed Up – 7

  • Breastmilk – 8.5

  • Please Subscribe – 6

  • Sexy Baby – 7

  • Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret -10 (GO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW)

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February:

  • A Place at the Table – 6.5

  • Two: The Story of Roman & Nyro – 6

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March:

  • Dear Zachary – 8.5 (amazing film, but prepare for your heart to be destroyed)

  • Jonestown: A Lost Paradise – 8.5

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Nutritionist vs. Dietitian: What’s The Difference?

Most people don’t see much of a difference between the title “nutritionist” and “dietitian,” but there is actually a huge difference between the two. Anyone that is interested in the health and nutrition world, needs to know the difference, and why titles matter in this field.

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Nutritionist:

Legally, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. I am one, you are one, your mother is one, your father is one, all of your friends are nutritionist. There are no regulations when using that term or title. Someone that says they are a nutritionist may not have any schooling in nutrition, and are not regulated by any sort of organization or accreditation. This can be dangerous, because most “nutritionist” are self-taught and may not get their information, or “advice” rom reliable, evidence-based sources. Continue reading “Nutritionist vs. Dietitian: What’s The Difference?”

My Thoughts: Frozen or Canned?

In the winter time, fresh produce is often difficult to find and afford. Also, our lives can get pretty busy, and we may not have a bunch of time to spend on cutting up fresh fruits and vegetables. So when you can’t get fresh produce or don’t have time to prepare it, what should you do? Buy it frozen, or buy it canned?

 

Here are my thoughts on these two options:

Canned foods may be cheap, but you are losing lots of nutrients when you buy canned foods. Often times the foods are cooked at a high temperature, causing it to lose many of its nutrients. Canned foods are also packed with salt and preservatives in order for it to stay “fresher” longer. Also, canned fruit is usually canned in syrup that has a bunch of added sugars that you don’t need. So, in other words….canned foods are probably not your best option. But things like beans, beets, and pumpkin are fine to buy canned, just make sure you RINSE the beans and beets to remove as much salt/preservatives are you can. Rinsing goes for any canned foods you eat, always always rinse off canned produce! Rinsing removes preservatives, sugars, salts, and other chemicals they may be on the food.

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