On Saturday during a business call one of my friend's pointed out that I used to do my Monday Monster posts every Monday and it had been awhile. Honestly, I let graduate work take over and haven't done one since. I was slightly annoyed at myself that I hadn't been showing up for people and sharing these Monday thoughts.
For a lot of us Monday can be a rough day, whether or not you like your job or have your own business and love it, there is often something about this day that can bring us down a bit.
Well today, I'm not letting that happen! (this will be the reoccurring theme for now with my Monday posts) I'm thinking the positive thoughts, meditating, journaling and focusing on hope. Hope for a better world, hope for this week to bring in positives and hope for people to find what they can control in their lives that brings them joy.
What's something that's bringing you joy or you feel as if you have control over this week? 😇
Thai Coconut Noodle Bowl
Last week Tim made this delicious noodle bowl for us with some great edits! This dish was flavorful, filling and pretty easy too! We've been blessed to not have too many shortages in terms of food at our Chicago Whole Foods so cooking more plant meals has been fun and exciting 🙂
Recipe:
Serves 1 (so Tim tripled it for his appetite level😉)
1 tsp coconut oil
2 tbsp red chopped red onion
1/3 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
1 tsp Thai red curry paste (Tim created a version of a red curry paste that included cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper and bunches of turmeric)
1 tsp ginger (this called for fresh grated ginger but honestly we find if we buy this not only does it cost more $ but it often goes bad and is a pain to grate compared to just using Ginger vitality essential oil)
1 tsp tamari
1 cup of zucchini noodles
1 bag of stir fry veggies frozen
1 cup of vegetable broth
Basil (again we used Basil vitality essential oil because without fail every time I buy basil it goes bad and I really don't like food waste!)
Lime juice (and for the third time, we used Lime vitality essential oil because often you have to buy a bag of limes and they end of going bad too! plus the ease of tipping a bottle into a pot vs having to juice a lime I'll take any day)
Chop onion, add in coconut oil and frozen veggies to saute in the pot. Then add in zucchini noodles, veggie broth, coconut milk, curry paste, Tamari, essential oils and spices.
Enjoy!
Last week Tim made this delicious noodle bowl for us with some great edits! This dish was flavorful, filling and pretty easy too! We've been blessed to not have too many shortages in terms of food at our Chicago Whole Foods so cooking more plant meals has been fun and exciting 🙂
Recipe:
Serves 1 (so Tim tripled it for his appetite level😉)
1 tsp coconut oil
2 tbsp red chopped red onion
1/3 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
1 tsp Thai red curry paste (Tim created a version of a red curry paste that included cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper and bunches of turmeric)
1 tsp ginger (this called for fresh grated ginger but honestly we find if we buy this not only does it cost more $ but it often goes bad and is a pain to grate compared to just using Ginger vitality essential oil)
1 tsp tamari
1 cup of zucchini noodles
1 bag of stir fry veggies frozen
1 cup of vegetable broth
Basil (again we used Basil vitality essential oil because without fail every time I buy basil it goes bad and I really don't like food waste!)
Lime juice (and for the third time, we used Lime vitality essential oil because often you have to buy a bag of limes and they end of going bad too! plus the ease of tipping a bottle into a pot vs having to juice a lime I'll take any day)
Chop onion, add in coconut oil and frozen veggies to saute in the pot. Then add in zucchini noodles, veggie broth, coconut milk, curry paste, Tamari, essential oils and spices.
Enjoy!
Yesterday was World Vitamin C day. The timing of this couldn't be more perfect to share about vitamin C with what is currently going on in the world. Vitamin C can do a lot for your body! Here is a list of some foods with high vitamin C levels:
👉PS I get the most of my vitamin C from oz of NingXia Red since I'm fiscally and calorically responsible-1oz has the antioxident power of 8 oranges 🍊
Parsley: (I LOVE parsley so much!) contains 10mg of vitamin C per 2tbs serving which is about 11% of the recommended daily value. This herb is a significant source of plant-based, non-heme iron (vitamin C increases the absorption of non-heme iron.)
Kale: Cruciferous vegetable, 80 mg of vitamin C, high quantities of vitamin K and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.
Kiwis: One medium kiwi has 71 mg of vitamin C, or 79% of the daily value and studies have shown that kiwifruit may help reduce oxidative stress, lower cholesterol and improve immunity.
Broccoli: Another cruciferous vegetable! 1/2 a cup of cooked broccoli provides 51 mg of vitamin C, (57% of the daily value) many observational studies have shown an association between eating plenty of vitamin-C-rich cruciferous vegetables and lowered oxidative stress, improved immunity and a decreased risk of cancer and heart disease
Brussels Sprouts: One-half cup of cooked Brussels sprouts provides 49 mg, or 54% of the daily value for vitamin C, Brussels sprouts are also high in fiber, vitamin K, folate, vitamin A, manganese and potassium.(Both vitamins C and K are important for your bone health-vitamin C aids the formation of collagen, which is the fibrous part your bones)
Lemons: One whole raw lemon, including its peel, provides 83 mg of vitamin C, or 92% of the daily value. The vitamin C in lemon juice also acts as an antioxidant.
Strawberries: One cup of strawberry halves (152 grams) provides 89 mg of vitamin C (99% of the daily value). These yummies contain a mix of vitamin C, manganese, flavonoids, folate and other antioxidants. Some studies have shown that strawberries may help prevent cancer, vascular disease, dementia and diabetes.
Oranges: One medium-sized orange provides 70 mg of vitamin C (78% of the daily value.)
Cauliflower: 47 mg (77% of the daily value) of vitamin C per cup of cauliflower (100 g). It is also a source of vitamins C & K, the B vitamins, potassium and magnesium.
Cauliflower: 47 mg (77% of the daily value) of vitamin C per cup of cauliflower (100 g). It is also a source of vitamins C & K, the B vitamins, potassium and magnesium.
Thyme: 1oz (28 grams) of fresh thyme has 45mg of vitamin C (50% of the daily value). I learned that gram for gram fresh thyme has 3x more vitamin C than oranges! Adding 1-2tbsp of Thyme into your meal adds 3.5-7mg of vitamin C which has been shown to strengthen your immunity and help fight infections.
Sweet Yellow Peppers: 1/2 cup (75 grams) of yellow peppers have 137mg of vitamin C (152% of the daily value) which is actually double the amount in green peppers! Vitamin C is important for your eye health as well.
What are some of the vitamin C foods that you're lovin' these days?
Hormones. Every human has them and we generally hear a lot about them in regards to women's health. I've been asked a lot recently about how to manage those monthly womanly times between cramps, heavy bleeding, extra emotions, and balancing it all. Every woman's body is different in terms of what they deal with but I compiled some information to share in case you're really struggling! ⠀
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Essential Oils: ⠀
➡️For Cramps: Dragon Time, Valerian, Ginger, Clary Sage, EndoFlex, Progressence Plus⠀
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➡️For Heavy Bleeding: Geranium, Helichrysum, Cistus ⠀
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➡️SclarEssence-helps with balancing in terms of menopause or a hysterectomy ⠀
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➡️EndoFlex-helps with thyroid and adrenal support⠀
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➡️Lady Sclareol-improves mood ⠀
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➡️Progressence Plus-boosts progesterone naturally and can help get those cycles regular⠀
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➡️Fennel-balances cycles and helps with digestion too!⠀
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Foods: ⠀
➡️Avocados- Loaded with beta-sitosterol, which can impact blood cholesterol levels and help balance the stress hormone cortisol.⠀
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➡️Broccoli- Contains phytoestogenic compounds which may promote beneficial estrogen metabolism⠀
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➡️Leafy greens-Contains so many antioxidants, leafy greens help prevent inflammation and lower levels of stress,⠀
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➡️Walnuts-polyphenols, which can protect our heart and cardiovascular system by fighting free radicals in our body⠀
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➡️Turmeric-Ability to ease pain with reducing inflammation ⠀
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This is by no means an exhaustive list but it's a great start! ⠀
I'm also teaching a class this weekend that not only chats about hormone health but about how to use oils in the bedroom 🛏️. The link to sign up is in my linktree in my profile! I'm always here to help 🙏🏻
⠀
Essential Oils: ⠀
➡️For Cramps: Dragon Time, Valerian, Ginger, Clary Sage, EndoFlex, Progressence Plus⠀
⠀
➡️For Heavy Bleeding: Geranium, Helichrysum, Cistus ⠀
⠀
➡️SclarEssence-helps with balancing in terms of menopause or a hysterectomy ⠀
⠀
➡️EndoFlex-helps with thyroid and adrenal support⠀
⠀
➡️Lady Sclareol-improves mood ⠀
⠀
➡️Progressence Plus-boosts progesterone naturally and can help get those cycles regular⠀
⠀
➡️Fennel-balances cycles and helps with digestion too!⠀
⠀
Foods: ⠀
➡️Avocados- Loaded with beta-sitosterol, which can impact blood cholesterol levels and help balance the stress hormone cortisol.⠀
⠀
➡️Broccoli- Contains phytoestogenic compounds which may promote beneficial estrogen metabolism⠀
⠀
➡️Leafy greens-Contains so many antioxidants, leafy greens help prevent inflammation and lower levels of stress,⠀
⠀
➡️Walnuts-polyphenols, which can protect our heart and cardiovascular system by fighting free radicals in our body⠀
⠀
➡️Turmeric-Ability to ease pain with reducing inflammation ⠀
⠀
This is by no means an exhaustive list but it's a great start! ⠀
I'm also teaching a class this weekend that not only chats about hormone health but about how to use oils in the bedroom 🛏️. The link to sign up is in my linktree in my profile! I'm always here to help 🙏🏻
For many years I have read a lot of information on juices vs smoothies. And it continues to be something I'm asked a lot about. To be honest, I go back and forth about how I feel about both in terms of my body's happiness, because really that's all that matters isn't it? How are you feeling with what you're doing? Are you gaining weight you didn't necessarily need to gain (because you're having a lot of smoothies that might not have the best ingredients or having them in addition to large meals) or are you not feeling truly nourished because you're not getting to chew certain meals? (sometimes chewing really does make a world a difference in our mentality when eating!) The way I tend to look at these is simple, juice and blend up a lot of veggies add some fruit in there and you're good to go! But more details below 😊
Juicing tends to have more concentrated amounts of vitamins and nutrients that are more easily absorbed (since the chewing has been 'done' already for you by your juicer). Let's say you're juicing things like cucumbers, romaine lettuce, a green apple, celery and lemon not only does that taste bangin' (at least in my opinion) but it has a whole host of nutrients in there readily available with the sugar content fairly low and primarily coming from the apple.
Smoothies retain their fiber since you're literally blending up the fruits and veggies. Fiber is key in helping with digestion, controlling blood glucose levels and has even been associated with lowering the risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases. Smoothies also have antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and you can add delicious things like hemp, chia or flax seeds which not only provide that fiber but also a healthy dose of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.
What are some of your favorite smoothie/juice combos? I'm always looking for inspiration!
