Category: Healthy Food

Health, Healthy Food

New Herbal Tea for the Sick AF

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Astragalus reduces stress, boosts the immune system and relieves seasonal allergies. Lemon Balm fights free radicals, reduces stress and inflammation, loaded with antioxidants and has a naturally calming effect. It is also beneficial for cold sores, insomnia and indigestion. Lemon Balm lowers your stress levels, which is important while you are sick with a compromised immune system.

Elderberry promotes a healthy immune system and is beneficial for colds, flu, allergies, UTIs and digestive health. It May reduce cold duration or prevent a cold altogether. I selected Rosehip because it is loaded with vitamin C, important for preventing a weak immune system.

Echinacea reduces cold symptoms and boosts the immune system. It helps combat viruses, infection and speeds up recovery time. Hibiscus boosts liver health and fights bacteria. Also loaded with antioxidants, which help stop or limit damage by free radicals. Free radicals are toxic byproducts that damage living cells.

Chamomile helps with sleep and digestion. It has antioxidants and antiseptic properties, also reducing inflammation and allowing you to rest. Ginger contains zinc, which is important while we recover or prevent illness. It is beneficial for cold and flu prevention, including settling an upset stomach. It improves absorption of nutrients and reduces inflammation.

Lavender soothes chronic pain, inflammation, digestion and insomnia. It can also help with muscle spasms, mood balancing and healing.

Sick AF tea available in my etsy shop!

Follow Wildling Apothecary on Instagram and @mistibluday for updates and giveaways.

Healthy Food

Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Nachos

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If you are like me and enjoy convenient food but still need something fresh and healthy, this recipe is for you. It only takes about ten minutes to throw together. This may be a nacho recipe, but you can also make a burrito and taco version. I absolutely hate finding a recipe that is two pages long with an hour of preparation and 27 ingredients, leaving me wondering why I didn’t just go out to eat.

What you will need:

  • 1 can of organic chickpeas
  • Vegan sour cream
  • Hot sauce
  • Garlic salt
  • Onion powder
  • Vegan butter or oil (coconut, avocado or olive oil)
  • Tortilla chips
  • Spinach
  • Onions (optional)
  • Avocado
  • Lemon pepper

Directions

Drain and rinse a can of organic chickpeas and put the in a pot on medium heat. Add Earth Balance vegan butter and Cholula hot sauce (or your choice or hot sauce) into the pot. I also add a little onion and garlic powder. While that warms up, put your favorite corn chips on your plate and chop up some fresh onions, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions or whatever fresh veggies you enjoy on your nachos. I love shredded spinach because it is a good source or iron and has so much more nutritional value than iceberg lettuce.

When the buffalo chickpeas are heated up, pour them over the corn chips and top them with your freshly chopped onions, avocado, Tofutti sour cream, spinach and salsa. I sprinkle a little lemon pepper on my avocado. If you don’t like too much spiciness or heat, you can use sriracha and honey instead.

End result

Now, you have a gourmet vegan meal that took you only ten minutes to make! This recipe is very versatile and can be created with whatever you have stocked in your kitchen. So, if you are out of chips but have tortillas or lots of spinach, make a taco or salad instead.

My method behind cooking and creating meals is not strict or by the book. I encourage you to relax and cook to the beat of your own drum, get creative and maybe even blast a little music.

Health, Healthy Food

Energy Sprinkles, Healing Sprinkles and My Health Story

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Energy Sprinkles are the energizing sprinkle sister of Healing Sprinkles. Healing Sprinkles were created to help replenish essential minerals and vitamins, balance hormones, promote brain and heart health, reduce inflammation and stress. Energy Sprinkles became a reality after customers asked for a product that would help with energy. This blend is alkalizing, full of electrolytes, flushes toxins, boosts energy and improves overall mood.

Both blends are gluten-free, organ and vegan! Read more about Healing Sprinkles here.

My story:

These are blends that I have personally used over the past two years to heal my body. At the beginning of January of 2017, the 5th to be exact, I almost went into cardiac arrest. With a history of cardiac issues and years of medical negligence and misdiagnosis, my body was going into shock and continued to for months. Every day I worried that is was my last. I lost 30 or more pounds without trying, my skin tone was pale and colorless. I was complimented on my new figure but it was so frustrating because I was very scared. I learned about Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and remembered that I was diagnosed with it as a teen. Because I never had a good cardiologist or medical team on my side, I never learned about it or how to manage it. It was my normal and less scary than my other heart issues like Supraventricular Tachycardia and Neurocardiogenic Syncope.

My heart rate would jump from 40bpm to 160bpm within seconds. I was going into circulatory shock because my heart was misfiring signals due to my other complex cardiac issues. Thankfully, I got a pacemaker six month later after several other opinions and searching for the right doctor. Dozens upon dozens of ERs dismissed me with anxiety. After finally getting an event monitor and a Tilt Table Test to prove my “anxiety” was something else, I was able to get the care I needed. I was so malnourished and my bloodwork was all over the place. I was always told to avoid salt because of my heart but the truth is that I needed to be on a high salt diet to expand my blood volume and raise my low blood pressure.

I also did more research, advocating and begged for more testing and finally found out why I have had a lifetime of heart issues (I have already had four cardiac ablations and open heart surgery), digestion issues, chronic migraines, multiple sensitivities, dysautonomia (dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system), chronic pain, joint hypermobility and subluxations, and so on. I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. I wish more than anything I had the right doctors who were educated and that could have helped me manage my debilitating chronic illnesses much sooner.

It is my mission to help others, to educate and advocate. There are 12 million misdiagnoses per year. My misdiagnosis of anxiety almost killed me multiple times. I am lucky to be here to stand up for our future. I am currently in school to get my prerequisites and finish a degree to get myself into the medical field where I can make the most of my mission.

 

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Healthy Food

Dairy-free Shrimp Lemon Basil Linguini

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What you will need:

Earth Balance Vegan Butter

Follow Your Heart Vegan “Parmesan”

Turmeric

Lemon Pepper

Linguini (Gluten-free or your preference)

Fresh Organic Basil

Onion Powder

Peeled and De-veined shrimp

Olive Oil

Lemon

Instructions:

Boil pasta as instructed. In a separate pan, sauté shrimp in vegan butter with turmeric, lemon pepper, onion powder and juice of one lemon. When the pasta is cooked, strain water and toss back into the warm pot to add a drizzle of olive oil and lemon pepper. Serve pasta onto a bowl or plate and top with Parmesan. Then, pour sautéed shrimp over pasta and Parmesan and top with fresh basil.

This dinner contains less cholesterol, though the pasta is a carb, you can always substitute with an alternative of your choice or even a fresh bed of spinach. If you are vegan, you can substitute with tofu or fresh veggies. If you are enjoying a glass of white wine with your dinner, splash a little in the pan while sautéing the shrimp for added flavor. There are always plenty of ways to customize each dish. Turmeric has a nice flavor but I love cooking with it for the added health benefits: anti-inflammation.

Enjoy and subscribe to my blog!

Healthy Food

Pineapple Fried Rice

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Pineapple Fried Rice

Published in The Beachside Resident January 2019 Issue

Ingredients:

Fresh pineapple

Rice

Edamame

Chopped onion

Turmeric

Ginger

Gluten Free Soy Sauce

Coconut oil

Scallions

Garlic salt

Egg

Sriracha

Shredded carrots

Cashews

Shrimp (can substitute chicken or tofu)

Directions:

I always make enough to feed an army, so I will share the instructions for a large portion. There will be plenty for a dinner party and lunch the next day. Cut the measurements in half if you don’t want to make a large amount.

Boil two cups of rice in four cups of water. In a sauté pan, sauté chopped 1/3 of a white onion and one pound of shrimp with turmeric and garlic seasoning in coconut oil. Steam the edamame; I usually just get the microwavable bag. As I cook my ingredients, I pour them into a large bowl or casserole dish to mix at the end. When the shrimp and onions are cooked, pour in the large bowl and start sautéing the pineapple and carrots. After the pineapple and carrots are cooked or warmed up, toss them into the bowl and add more coconut oil to the pan to toast the cashews. The last step with the sauté pan is to fry the rice after it is done cooking. Toss in gluten-free soy sauce and two eggs and fry until the eggs are fully cooked. Mix everything in the large bowl, then top with green onions and sriracha.

I cook some of the ingredients separately because they won’t all fit in a pan (unless you cook a smaller amount). Everything cooks quickly, so why not break it up instead of having all of the burners going at once. You can also add broccoli, red peppers and other fresh veggies to this dish. I added quinoa in my last batch. You can serve this dish inside the pineapple for a fun presentation.

Body and Beauty, Health, Healthy Food

The Beachside Resident September 2018 Issue

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I contributed to The Beachside Resident for their September 2018 issue. Check it out!

A Smoothie a Day

Improving health and quality of life can be achieved with a morning routine. We are creatures of habit and tend to take up to a month to break and form habits. Starting your morning out with a fresh smoothie can boost your energy and make you feel better. We often have plenty of options lying around the kitchen to make a beneficial smoothie blend from scratch. Skip the preservatives, dyes, artificial flavors and sweeteners and whip up your own healthy batch.I used a banana, handful of fresh spinach, a few slices of frozen peaches, ginger tea and a splash of pineapple juice for the base. I sprinkled in a generous amount of cinnamon, ashwagandha root and local honey. One slice of watermelon and a few ice cubes later, you have a blended brew of beneficial freshness. 
Ashwagandha is an Ayurvedic herb root that has anti-cancer properties, reduces cortisol levels, helps reduce stress and anxiety, improves muscle mass and strength while also reducing inflammation. Local honey fights infection and helps with local allergies.
Watermelon has multiple beneficial plant compounds and is high in vitamin C and A. It is also lowers inflammation. Watermelon keeps you hydrated and can improve heart health. This melon is great post workout because it increases muscle recovery. It has also been know as a natural Viagra. Ginger, yet another anti-inflammatory, can treat indigestion, menstrual pain, muscle aches and nausea.
The beauty of a homemade smoothie is that you can substitute juice for tea, kombucha or even water if you are low on options. I always keep frozen fruit in my freezer. If I can’t eat my fruit in time before it goes bad, I freeze it for a smoothie later. I keep spinach on hand to help with my iron levels. If I don’t have fresh ginger or ginger tea then I go to my spice cabinet. Turmeric is also an anti inflammatory that could work well in a smoothie, though I prefer it it in my meals. Healing Sprinkles is my new spice blend that tastes amazing in smoothies and is loaded with many healing herbs and spices.
You can balance your body and correct deficiencies, imbalances, energy levels, mood and health ailments with what you eat and drink. As you can see, there are many benefits that plants have to offer and it will literally save you a headache not having to process unnatural ingredients.
Healthy Food

The Art of Plant Based Diets

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*From my article in The Beachside Resident November 2018
Mother nature gives us the good stuff. Not only are fruits and vegetables beautiful but they fuel our bodies. I chose super vibrant art inspired food to highlight the juicy details. Check out the amazing benefits from each of these ingredients:
Dragon Fruit: High in nutrients, fiber, minerals and vitamins, low on calories and a great source of antioxidants and magnesium. Ideal for gut health and boosting your immune system. Put it in a smoothie or with your yogurt.
Star Fruit: High in vitamin C and a great source of potassium with anti-inflammatory properties. Also high in fiber. These also look awesome as a garnish on a martini glass. 
Carrots: Rich in vitamin A. Great for your metabolism, promotes healthy skin and reduces vision problems. Reduces cancer risks and lowers cholesterol. Top carrots on your salad or sneak them into your muffins or meals.
Beets: wonderful source of fiber, C and folate. Beets have a plethora of benefits, like boosting your endurance, digestion, brain health and sexual health. Just don’t be scared when you drink a glass of beet juice then next morning when you poop. It’s just beets. Juice them or top off your salad with some beets. They also make a great base for a veggie burger and pairs well with goat cheese. 
Spinach: Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate and it isn’t good for you. In fact, 40% of the population can’t even process it due to the very common MTHFR mutation, which causes many issues, including ADHD, autoimmune disorders, depression, brain fog, anxiety and more. Folate can be found naturally in your leafy greens. I put some in all of my meals and even in my smoothies. Also a great source of tons of other minerals and vitamins your body needs that you can’t get in a bag of Doritos.
Healthy Food

Homemade Shallot Sriracha Salad Dressing

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From my article in November 2018 The Beachside Resident:
Shallot Sriracha Dressing

2/3 cup of Balsamic vinegar 
2/3 cup of Olive oil
1/4 cup of liquid aminos
1 lime juiced
1 tablespoon of Sriracha 
1 teaspoon of ground ginger
Pinch of ground pepper
1 teaspoon of garlic and parsley seasoning (or fresh)
1/2 shallot
1 tablespoon of Local honey

Put all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender. I use my Ninja, the smaller single use container for smoothies. Blend and serve! 

This salad dressing is very simple, natural and fresh. When you realize how easy and delicious making your own dressing may be, you will be spoiled and turn your nose up to the bottled dressings that have the shelf life of your grandmother. You are skipping all of the preservatives and fillers and making something that tases like it belongs in a gourmet restaurant. Go ahead, impress your friends and family with this recipe at your upcoming holiday parties. If you have someone that can’t do spicy, leave out the Sriracha. You can also throw in cashews and a little more honey. I store mine in a mason jar. You can play with different flavors by using a 1:1 ratio of oil and vinegar. Another favorite that I make is olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, shallots, honey, ginger and garlic.
Health, Healthy Food, Sweet Tooth

Sugar – The Silent Killer and a Low Glycemic List of Foods Best For You

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Our blood sugar or glucose levels should be in the 74-100 range. Glucose enters the bloodstream then to your cells. Our pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Chronic high glucose levels will create issues with your insulin levels.

Having high levels of blood sugar on a constant basis can damage your blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis (the hardening of your blood vessels). In time, this can create the perfect environment for heart disease due to the damage of long term elevated glucose. Sugar can increase the risk of stroke or heart attacks due to ischemia, or lack of blood flow to an organ, just as bad as cholesterol and high blood pressure. Besides heart disease and stroke, the narrowing or hardening of blood vessels can also compromise other organs and cause issues such as kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, vision issues, poor circulation, nerve damage, slow wound healing, and a weakened immune system.

You can run around the gym and count calories all day, but what you put into your body DOES matter. Justifying your workout so that you can eat processed foods with high sugar content or artificial ingredients will not work long term. You may feel fine now and slim down but as you age, these issues will catch up to you.

Foods to avoid:

  • White potatoes
  • White rice
  • White bread
  • Sugar
  • Sports and energy drinks
  • Soda
  • Yogurt with sugar*
  • BBQ sauce*
  • Ketchup*
  • Marinara sauce*
  • Granola*
  • Flavored coffees
  • Sweet tea
  • Protein bars and cereal bars*
  • Canned fruit
  • Bottled or premade smoothies
  • Breakfast cereals*
  • Cocktail mixers

*Check the labels! These can still be good as long as they do not have high sugar content.

The best option, low glycemic:

  • Green vegetables
  • Sugar-free yogurt
  • Raw carrots
  • Berries
  • Kidney beans
  • Chickpea
  • Lentils
  • Nuts
  • Sweet potato
  • Peas
  • Quinoa
  • Watermelon
  • Artichokes
  • Grapefruit
  • Peaches
  • Oranges
  • Grapes
  • Plums
  • Apples
  • Squash
  • Broccoli
  • Tomatoes
  • Corn tortillas

Maple syrup and local honey are great natural sweeteners and substitutes for sugar. Artificial sweeteners and even many natural sweeteners like Stevia are still very processed to the point of losing all natural value. Remember to read the labels and sugar content. We sometimes see products that are marketed as healthy as assume they are okay but are often loaded with sugar.

Every day is a new day. Every hour is a new chance to start over. Many of us mess up and fall off the track, then stay there. Pick yourself back up, and start over. You are worth it. Your future self will thank you.

We are creatures of habit and you will change your habits and lifestyle if you stick to it. Prevent disease and future health issues by eating clean and keeping your body in balance.

Healthy Food

Halloween Festive Party Recipes

mistibludream

October is such a transitional month. Hurricane season is almost over and the tease of a cool breeze is on the way. It’s time to start getting festive and decorating. Food can be fun and still be healthy and delicious. I am offering a spooky dinner dish and side that will be a hit at any party. Everything is also gluten-free, and can be dairy-free as well. Most importantly, none of the ingredients call for scary preservatives, dyes or fillers. You won’t feel like a pumpkin after this meal! It is so delicious that it will haunt you forever with cravings. 

Stuffed Taco-Lantern

1 pack of Gardein meatless crumbles (you can substitute with meat)

1 can of black beans

1 small 4.5 oz can of green chiles

Season with onion powder, garlic salt, turmeric and cumin

Orange bell peppers 

Sriracha 

Spinach

Goat cheese (optional)

Preheat the over to 375. Mix the meatless crumbles with black beans, green chiles and spices on medium temperature, enough to warm it up and mix everything together. Cut the top of the orange bell pepper off and remove the seeds on the inside. With a small knife, cut different jack-o-lantern designs into the peppers and then stuff them with the mix. Top with goat cheese, unless you want a fully vegan dish. Place the peppers and lids on a foil covered baking dish and cook for 20 minutes. Line the plates with fresh spinach and place the peppers on the spinach. Decorate the top of the peppers with a little bit of Sriracha. 

Misti’s Salsa Salad

1 can of black beans

1 can of fire roasted corn

1 large tomato diced

1/3 of a white onion diced

Handful of chopped cilantro

Handful of chopped scallions

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

2 limes juiced

10 generous shakes of Cholula hot sauce 

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and serve with chips. You can also add fresh chopped avocado. 

*Published in www.thebeachsideresident.com

October 2018 issue