Natural Ways to Freshen Breath!!

As we know gum and mints can contain aspartame, which we have all learned can be harmful to our health. But there is good news there are some natural ways to freshen breath, and fix the worst bad breath.

Cinnamon Gum

Cinnamon gum contains cinnamic aldehyde, a plant essential oil used for flavoring. This oil doesn’t just cover up bad breath, it actually reduces the amount of bacteria in your saliva by 50%.

Fish Oil Supplement
It may seem counterintuitive, but the omega-3s in fish oil are proven to reduce inflammation and bacteria in the mouth that cause bad breath. Either take a fish oil supplement or incorporate more fish into your diet to experience these benefits. 

Magnolia Bark Extract
This natural ingredient contains the compounds magnolol and honokiol, which have potent antibacterial properties. This extract has been shown to kill most oral bacteria that cause bad breath within 30 minutes. It’s often found in mints and toothpaste.

CeleryCelery is good at fighting bad breath because it’s full of fiber. Fiber-rich foods help produce saliva, which helps to wash away plaque build-up, a cause of halitosis. Carrots and apples are other good, fiber-rich snack options.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C can help prevent gum disease and gingivitis – major causes of bad breath. By eating foods rich in vitamin C, you also create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth. Chow down on citrus fruits like oranges, or grab some berries and melons to get your daily dose of vitamin C.

Black Tea
Black tea helps keep your breath smelling sweet because it is full of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that stop plaque from clinging to your teeth. Plaque build-up leads to bad breath, among another dental problems. Studies have also found polyphenols inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth, thus minimizing the foul-smelling compounds that those bacteria produce.

Bottom line is that natural and chemical free are always the best ways to treat your body. 

Key Lime Pie-The Healthy Version!!

With Halloween this week we thought we would do something sweet for our recipe this week. But don't let this pie fool you, as always we have the healthy twist on an old favorite. This recipe is full of surprising and healthy ingredients, even the crust is combination of nuts, dates and coconut butter making even it healthy.

Crust Ingredients

2 cups mixed nuts 

1/4 cup coconut butter 

1/2 cup medjool dates

Directions

Pulse in food processor until it looks like sticky granola texture. Press into tartlet molds or pie plate. 

Filling Ingredients

3 ripe avocados mashed

Juice of 4 limes

2 tbsp lime zest

1/2 cup Lacuma powder 

3/4 cup of raw agave or raw honey

Directions

Mix well. Pour and spread to fill the crust. Freeze for at least 1 hour.

Whipped Topping Ingredients (optional) 

1 cup soaked cashews

3 tbsp coconut manna 

1/4 cup Greek yogurt

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp Lacuma powder 

2 tbsp raw honey

Pinch sea salt

Directions

Whip it up until fluffy.

Top pie with the whipped topping and garnish if desired with lime zest. 

Enjoy!

The Health Hazards of Black Mold!!!

Black mole is highly hazardous to your health and should be taken extremely serious. Black mole is also known as Stachybotrys chartarum,It can grow on materials that are high in cellulose and low in nitrogen, such as paper, gypsum paper,dust, lint and fiberboard. Constant moisture is needed for its growth, moisture from water damage, water leaks, condensation, excessive humidity, water infiltration or flooding. Mold is very hazardous to your health, and there are numerous health problems associated with being exposed to mole of any kind.

• Skin Problems
• Respiratory Symptoms
• Circulatory Symptoms
• Mental and Neurological Symptoms
• Vision and Eye Problems
• Immune System Problems
• Reproductive System Problems
• Tired and Discomfort
• Hair Loss
• Weight Loss, Anorexia
• Hearing Loss
• Liver Disease
• Coma 
• DEATH

As if these other illnesses arent enough, black mold can cause you to die as well, and whenever there are this many health problems associated with something, including the potential to die, you better take action.

If you think you have mold in your home, and you smell something off your probably right. Mold has a musty, earthy smell, like dirt and rotting leaves. Black mold smells especially strong as well. Black mold is usually a greenish black color and slimy or wet, but can also appear grayish with a sooty, powdery texture. Its really hard to determine what kind of mole it is, but all moles are pretty hazardous to your health, so its your best bet to get it removed as soon as possible. Mold is not something you can take care of yourself, it can't be cleaned or removed by just anyone, so I urge you to make an investment into your health and hire a professional to come and remove the problem for good!

You may be thinking, well I live an apartment, what do I do? Well With a few exceptions, landlord responsibilities regarding mold have not been clearly spelled out in building codes, ordinances, statutes, or regulations. Even if your state or city doesn't have specific mold laws, your landlord may still be liable for a mold problem in your rental. Here’s an overview of the issues. To learn more about the landlord's duty to repair, see the Nolo section Repairs and Maintenance, which includes articles on getting your landlord to make repairs, and your options such as rent withholding, under state law. 

Bottom line is this, Mold is harmful to your health and can even lead to death, So take action TODAY!! Do NOT wait!!

Protiotics 101!!

Probiotics is good bacteria” that can boost your immune system, improve your digestion and much more. Probiotics are important for basic human nutrition. Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms, that are similar to the beneficial microorganisms naturally found in the human gut. These "good bacteria" are used to prevent and alleviate many different conditions, but particularly those that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotics can provide multiple benefts for your immune system. When probiotics are abundant in your body, it's harder for bacteria that cause illness to get a foothold. The following are some common natural bacteria found in your gut.

• Lactobacillus bulgaricus can be found in many yogurts and soft cheeses. It was discovered by the Bulgarian doctor Stamen Grigorov, hence the name bulgaricus. It helps to convert lactose and other sugars into lactic acid, which may be particularly helpful for those who are lactose intolerant.
• Streptococcus thermophilus has nothing to do with strep throat, which is caused by a completely different bug. These friendly bacteria are also used to make yogurts and cheeses, and they even assist Lactobacillus bulgaricus by making nutrients that assist with growth.
• Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei both convert lactose into lactic acid – also helping the lactose intolerant. Research has indicated that L. Acidophilus may also be helpful at reducing cholesterol levels.
• Bifidobacteria is a family of bacteria that has been studied for its ability to prevent and treat various gastrointestinal disorders, including infections, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation. In addition to making lactic acid, it also makes some important short-chain fatty acids that are then absorbed and metabolized by the body. There is also some experimental evidence that certain bifidobacteria may actually protect the host from carcinogenic activity of other intestinal flora.

If you want to make sure you are probiotics are working at the highest level, you can feed them with prebiotics. Prebiotics nourish the good bacteria in your gut in order to keep them healthy against bad bacteria. They should go hand-in-hand with probiotics. Prebiotics are found in many foods, including bananas, whole grains, honey, garlic and onions. You can try two to four servings of these prebiotic rich foods a day.

3 Day Juice Cleanse!!

Juicing can change your body in dramatic ways, but keeping it for long periods can prove to be very difficult.Documentary filmmaker and health advocate, Joe Cross has developed a 3-day weekend cleanse that you can do with simple ingredients right at home. For 3 days, you will drink a total of 5 juices per day –and eat one meal that consists of only fruits and vegetables. 

Juice Recipes

Breakfast: Carrot Apple Ginger Juice

3 carrots

2 apples

1-in ginger

Directions

Juice. Pour over ice. Enjoy!

Mid-Morning Juice: Mean Green Juice

1 cucumber

4 celery stalks

2 apples

6 to 8 leaves kale

1/2 lemon

1-in ginger

Directions

Juice. Pour over ice. Enjoy!

Lunch: Gazpacho Juice

4 plum tomatoes

1 large cucumber

2 celery stalks

1 red bell pepper

1 small red onion

2 cups parsley (leaves and stems, roughly chopped)

1 lime

Directions

Juice. Pour over ice. Enjoy!

Afternoon Snack: Citrus Inspired Green Juice

6-8 leaves kale

8 leaves Swiss chard

1 cucumber

6 clementines

Directions

Juice. Pour over ice. Enjoy!

Pre-Dinner: Sunset Blend Juice

1 large sweet potato

1 medium carrot

1 red bell pepper

2 large red beets

2 Golden Delicious apples

1 orange (optional)

Directions

Juice. Pour over ice. Enjoy!

Kale Avocado Salad w/ Vinaigrette

Keep the chopped ingredients stored separately in your fridge, and toss with dressing just before eating.

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

4 handfuls kale

1 handful red cabbage, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

1/2 avocado, diced

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp honey

1/2 tspdried basil (or 1/4 cup fresh)

4 cloves garlic, chopped

Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste 

Directions

Cut kale off of stems and chop. (Save stems for juicing!) Chop red cabbage, tomato and avocado. Mix 1/2 of each of the ingredients together in a bowl. Save the remaining 1/2 for tomorrow.

In a separate bowl, mix dressing: blend the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, sea salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon dressing and toss. Save remaining dressing for other salads or as a marinade.

Carrot & Sweet Potato “Fries”

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

2 medium sweet potatoes

2 large carrots

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp sea salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Peel the sweet potatoes and carrots. Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, and slice each halve into 4 equal wedges. For the carrots, cut in half crosswise into two chunks. Slice each chunk lengthwise into 2 pieces, and cut each piece into 2 or 3 wedges, making them roughly the same size as the potatoes.

Put the potato and carrot wedges into a bowl and toss with the oil, cumin, pepper and salt. Arrange on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes or until the flesh is tender and the outside is lightly browned and the edges slightly crisp.

Raw Carrot Ginger Soup

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

3 cups carrot juice (this may require about 20 carrots)

1 ripe avocado

2 tbsp honey

1 tbsp minced fresh ginger

1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper or more to taste

1/4 tsp sea salt or more to taste

1/2 cup cup raw fresh coconut meat (optional)

2 tbsp cold pressed avocado or olive oil (for garnish)

2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Purée the carrot juice, avocado, optional coconut meat, honey, ginger, cayenne pepper and salt in your blender until completely smooth. Taste and adjust the seasonings if necessary. Garnish the soup with a drizzle of oil and the chopped cilantro.

Roasted Acorn Squash Stuffed With Mushroom & Sage

Ingredients

Makes 2 servings

1 medium acorn squash

3/4 tsp plus 1/4 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper

6 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for brushing

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 large portabella mushroom, chopped

1 small onion, chopped

2 tsp fresh sage, finely chopped

Pinch red pepper flakes, optional

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F. Trim off each end of the squash. Stand the squash upright and halve lengthwise. Scoop out the pulp and the seeds and discard.

Brush each squash half with olive oil, and then sprinkle with 3/4 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Arrange cut sides down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast the squash until the flesh is tender and the edges are golden brown, approximately 25 to 35 minutes.

Remove from the oven, flip the squash halves over and set aside. While the squash roasts, heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté 2 minutes, or until the onions begin to turn translucent. 

 

Add the mushrooms, sage, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes if using, and sauté until the mushrooms begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Fill the roasted squash halves with the mushroom mixture and bake again for another 10 minutes.