Healthy foods that are Acidic

As I talked about in last weeks blog post on being alkaline we want to have an 80/20 balance.  It is in my experience that a body that is coming to this new lifestyle extremely acidic they should begin with a 90/10 balance. 

What is extremely acidic?  Disease already present, lack of energy, mood swings, hormone imbalance, skin conditions, prescription drug use. and the list goes on. DIS-EASE.   This is a body that has been fed poor emotional thoughts, toxic food and uses body products that are also toxic.   

Now, you are in the position to change and we take the steps in my previous blog to reverse this acidness. Tons of leafy greens  gentle cooling foods, plenty of water.  There will be healthy food that you can eat with high quality that are mildly acidic. These foods will be the ones that you will need to minimize until you begin to see your Dis- ease reduced. These are animal products, eggs, nuts,seeds, and beans and legumes.   These will be your 10% acidic.  You might also recognize that these foods are also harder on your digestive system.  As you begin healing your gut and your good food is absorbed more efficiently then your dis ease will reduce.  

As always, remember, our thoughts and actions can also be toxic and acidic and have that effect on our body.  Our skin will also eat what we put on it, which can be acidic.  Be mindful and try to use the best quality you can afford.   

To be Alkaline.

Being Alkaline is not just about drinking water at a certain PH and then thinking it will solve your problems.    Darnit, I know that is the trend lately. I find it so funny the trend also involves said Alkaline water in plastic jugs, even if they are BPA free.  

Improvements will be made of course, just because the body is simply being hydrated.  Improvements will also be made because most people are drinking tap water or close to it water out of plastic jugs that is acidic and at a low PH.  This blog isn't just about water, it is about becoming and staying alkaline.   Water is where I see a lot of people go and think it will solve the problem. Choosing to EAT alkaline will solve the problem.    Dis-ease thrives in an acidic environment.  Candida and parasites love when our body is acidic and giving them a place to grow. 

It is like a broken record but start with leafy greens. Chlorophyll is alkaline. Taking in tons of leafy greens will cleanse the blood and allow us to become less acidic.   We do want some acidness, but this will come in the form of nuts and seeds along with animal products if you choose to eat meat. We can shoot for an 80/20 balance.    

It is also helpful to only pair one acidic thing with your alkaline meal.  For instance, the average plate is meat (acidic) carb (acidic) and salad or veggie side (alkaline).  The goal should be protein and tons of alkaline veggies, that is it.  Fruits and good fats are still in the moderately alkaline state, so having an avocado with a meal is fine. 

Remember to be mindful when you look at your plate, or even before you make your food. What does my body need? Is it serving to help fuel me or just to taste good.  Ideally it is doing both for you.  

You got This! 

Get calm with this flower

Albizia Flower is a Chinese herb that is used to help anxiety and promote calmness without drowsiness.  The way I take this is as a tincture and it is in an alcohol base.  I find it to work fairly instant and has been a wonderful thing to keep in my purse for any moment of uneasiness I may have.  

This flower is actually found on a tree that belongs in the Magnolia family and is known as the tree of happiness. 

Albizia is thought to enhance all aspects of neurotransmitter secretion and regulation. However, because of its blood-moving properties, it is contraindicated for use during pregnancy. I love and trust the Dragon Herbs brand and have included the link below.   

As the month of May nears the end, I still want to draw awareness to mental health and its various forms.  

Mental Health Awareness Month

The month of may is mental health awareness month.  Since the beginning of my practice I have had many clients on anti depressants, anti anxiety and mental health medications.   I will not make light of mental illness but I do want to offer an alternative to the traditional model of counseling and prescriptions.  Counseling being a must if it is an aware therapist that does not want to just medicate. You have to be willing to get to the source and dark part of you that is causing this extreme uneasiness. 

There is a direct correlation between mood and the gut.  90% of our serotonin is housed around the gut and when the gut is compromised then so is our mood and ability to regulate it.  Once this begins to happen then we also find our adrenals being overworked. Once adrenal fatigue sets in then it really is kinda downhill from there. BUT there are ways of eating, food based supplements and herbs along with coping techniques that can aid in relief and also help to get your off of any prescription medication when the time is right. 

I have a personal story I will be sharing through out this education that has prompted me to create a program centered around anxiety relief.  I know it can be embarrassing to have anxiety or panic attacks and sometimes you have no clue they will come up.   I can assure you there are options and ways of coping that will get you down the right path. I have only had small amounts of anxiety creep up on me.  It has been 8 years since my last panic attack.  

I look forward to sharing with you this week and I would love for you to share, as you feel comfortable how anxiety has effected you and how you have chose to manage it (no judgement here) .

Cacao: Bring the Love In

Chocolate is enjoyed by almost everyone.  Dark, milk, white chocolate most people know their preference when asked.  What many people do not know is that real raw natural cacao is so good for you.   We have been fooled to look at chocolate only as a dessert of treat.  We have not been taught to view it as a pleasurable food that is also a healthy dessert. 

Hershey's screwed it up for everyone, when the general population thinks a bar filled with sugar and milk is chocolate. At the state of a candy bar there is nothing of positive nutritional value in the chocolate they serve. 

Raw Cacao is an amazing superfood that starts out in a pod, each pod has cacao beans inside.  Each of those beans can be crushed to be cacao nibs or made into a fine powder which is cacao powder. It is very dark and biter but full of antioxidants and minerals. 

Cacao contains a high content of magnesium and will stimulate the release of endorphins. This is why cacao is considered a bliss food and also relaxing. It is very good for depression and mood swings. It also contains an amino acid called Theobromine, which will open up the capillaries. Anything that is taken with cacao is absorbed at a higher rate.  This also helps to support the heart chakra.  This is why many believe cacao to be a heart opening food, spiritually.  It allows us to take in more love.   

Do you buy raw cacao powder?  How do you use it?   

Spirulina, and why you should be eating it.

It's hard when changing lifestyles and including all kinds of new foods.  What are the most important things to take daily? Where can I buy them, can I afford them?  

When I started eating superfoods I wanted them all.   I was excited and overwhelmed by the amount of nutrition and healing powder in these foods. 

There are great places online but I found it was hard for me to remember to order and I would be with out.  I chose a few that were easy to get that I would have daily.  Spirulina is one of them.  

Spirulina is a sea vegetable or known as  blue green algae.  It is packed with all kinds of nutrients and minerals.   Loaded with B12 and two grams of protein per teaspoon.  In packs more protein per gram than beef chicken or fish! Spirulina's protein is 80-90% digestible and contains no cellulose so its aminos are almost instantly absorbed, which is pretty amazing. 

Now I have talked about how important chlorophyll is in your diet. It is amazing for your gut and also for cleansing the blood.   Spirulina carries 10 times more chlorophyll than basic salad greens. 

Spirulina also carries a blue pigment that is hard to see, this pigment is phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is what allows sprirulina to aid the body in heavy metal and radiation removal.   It boosts your immune system and is anti viral. 

You can find Spirulina in pill or powder form. I prefer my clients to take the powder. It can be blended into drinks, smoothies or added into my fav homemade raw chocolate.  You can sprinkle in on top of salads or add it into a homemade salad dressing.  Whatever way you can get it in your body!     Below I have included an amazon link to a brand I find to be high quality.  

Let me know if you start using it! 

Ep:15 How Do you Define Pleasurable Eating?

This weeks theme on the blog and newsletter has been choosing things that are pleasurable, outside of food, to not negatively eat.  This video I dive into that a lot more. Let me know your thoughts below! 

Greens and Spring

It is no coincidence that as the flowers bloom and the leaves are on the trees, our bodies begin to crave fresh foods, salads, juices and smoothies.   

If you live in an area where the seasons are always changing you might notice how you eat differently with each season, or you should. Our bodies will adapt to our environment. Women see this when they realize that their cycle can sync with ladies they work with.  We all will do this when it comes to our outdoor environment also.   This is why I will not recommend someone living in a region that is not tropical to eat tropical fruits.  Their taste buds will enjoy it but their body will find it to be somewhat foreign and the sugar spike might be greater for them.  

It is in our best interest to look at each season change as a time of renewal or preparation. Just as animals prepare for winter, we will also. We eat heavier foods, like root veggies and stews, we wear layers with our clothing and our environment around us dies off in preparation for the renewal of Spring.  Spring comes and new growth arises. We plant gardens and crave fresh.  Allow yourself to recognize this time.  Don't just allow the menu to change at your local fast food or sit down restaurant.  Recognize the desire for iced tea over hot tea. This typically happens with the warmer temps and season change.  You begin eating less meat and more greens.  All are a good thing.  

This practice is embraced with Ayurvedic medicine and is a great place to start when . My favorite Ayurvedic practitioner is John Douillard.  He has a great article on the season we are getting ready to move in, Kapha.   It contains a wonderful grocery list. 

Spring is not only great because the weather becomes warmer and the Earth is filled with color again, but it is a great time for the body to cleanse and renew.   Start with leafy greens and work on the rest.  You got this!