4/24/12 What I am up to... The Nourishing Foods Cleanse-Spring Renewal is officially over. For 5 days we removed "inflammatory" foods and "hard to digest" foods. In essence we gave our body a vacation. This gave our organs a chance to relax and renew. We did not feel deprived since we were eating plenty of food. We felt nourished, we cleansed. Woo Hoo!
This was an incredible group of cleansers from London, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Canada and of course all over the United States. We supported one another and shared our ups and downs throughout the week. We are now using some of we have learned each day to look and feel better and better!
This is what some of the members of the cleanse said:
"I enjoyed the cleanse much more than I expected. I was never hungry, The food was delicious and innovative. I loved every recipe I tried. I am going to do the cleanse again next week for five days as well, and then will try to incorporate your nutrition principles into my everyday diet, embracing the greens, the sea veggies and the fermented food. Thanks for your guidance and encouragement."Betsy, Rhode Island "Thank you so much for the last week. It was really terrific and you have inspired me to continue on this healthy path. I felt no deprivation whatsoever. On the contrary, I cannot remember the last time I have felt so incredibly satisfied and even better, not once did I feel that I was on a diet! To repeat one of your clients on your web page: Ingrid, you rock! I cannot thank you enough for your sensible, fun approach. It's been great!"Kirsten, Germany
"Thank you, Ingrid! What a generous woman you are! You have given us a wealth of information and so graciously and attentively supported us. I learned a lot from you about body, food and soul plus got great new, delicious and fun recipes. Most of all had to practice loving compassion with myself. I plan to do the summer cleanse with you." Frances, Oregon
The RESET YOUR HEALTH Free Webinar I gave was a huge success with over 1500 people registered. Everyone learned what they can do to feel, leaner, lighter, stronger and energized without a lot fuss. If you are interested in the replay click HERE to sign up. It will be available for a few more days.
Celery Stalks for Your Cells
Celery is an under appreciated vegetable. Americans don't use celery much. Usually we see it as a edible utensil for consuming dip or hummus. Celery is cheap and has so many nutritional benefits you may want to consider including it in your diet regularly. It can be used in lots of different ways..
Some people don't eat celery because they think it is high in salt. Yes, celery is rich in sodium, but is very different than table salt which can cause many health problems. The sodium that is available in celery is soluble and organic (live), and is essential for the body. This organic sodium allows the body to use the other nutrients that are taken into the body. Every cell in our body is constantly bathed in a salt solution, and if the salt level is not in balance, dehydration occurs. This is why celery juice is a perfect re-hydration drink for athletes. Health Benefits of Celery
Reduces Blood Pressure
Celery contains pthalides, which have been shown to lower blood pressure by lowering the levels of stress hormones in your blood. This relaxes the muscles around the arteries allowing the vessels to expand, giving your blood more room thereby reducing pressure. The calcium, magnesium, and potassium in celery also helps regulate blood pressure.
Lowers Cholesterol
Laboratory studies also indicate that the phthalides, a chemical in celery, may help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol. According to researchers at the University of Chicago, celery reduces cholesterol levels by as much as 7 points with as little as 2 stalks a day. The pthalides in celery may also lower cholesterol by increasing bile acid secretion.
Cancer Prevention
Celery contains coumarins which have been shown to be effective in the prevention of cancer. A study at Rutgers University of New Jersey found that celery also contains a number of compounds that help prevent cancer cells from spreading.
Diuretic
Celery helps regulate fluid balance in the cells. Its well know diuretic effect comes from its balance of potassium and sodium which helps to flush out excess fluid from the body
Anti-Inflammatory for Healthy Joints
Celery provides relief for people suffering from arthritis, rheumatism and gout. Celery is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties helping to reduce swelling and pain around the joints. This is because celery contains a diuretic substance, which help to remove uric acid crystals that build up around joints.
Helps with Weight Loss
Celery will not directly cause you to lose weight, but it is a great aid in weight loss because it is very low in calories and has a lot of filling fiber. Drinking celery juice will reduce your cravings for sweets.
Calming
Because of the high calcium content, celery calms the nerves. Also the very special essential oils that give celery its characteristic smell help to regulate the nervous system, and are very calming. Its high magnesium levels help people to relax into a soothing and restful sleep.
Balances pH - Water Containing
Celery juice one of the most hydrating foods we can put in our bodies. Because it is incredibly alkalizing, it equalizes the body's pH, which is vital for peak health.
Supports the Immune System
The high amounts of vitamin C in celery promote a healthy immune system.
Promotes Good Elimination Celery contains special nutrients in the fiber which aid bowel movements. This makes celery a natural laxative that helps relieve constipation
How to Use Celery Grill - Brush celery stalks with olive oil & grill until slightly brown. Serve with sliced olives.
Stir Fry - cut into 2" long matchsticks to add to any stir-fry. You can also use the leaves which are very flavorful.
Braised - serve as a side vegetable with grains, fish or meat (recipe below).
Add to Smoothie - cut up 1-2 stalks, blend into any smoothie for additional nutrition & fiber.
Juice - Celery juice tastes great so it is a great base for any vegetable juice. My favorite vegetable juice is celery, cucumber, green apple, lemon, parsley and romaine.
Stuffed - stuff raw celery stalks with a little almond butter and top with goji berries for a snack to balance your blood sugar (photo above)
Salad - Chop or slice celery, add to salad for extra flavor and a little crunch
Soup - Saute chopped celery with onions for almost any soup Braised Celery with Ginger
2 servings
4 stalks celery, rinsed and trimmed
½ Tb coconut oil
2 cloves garlic minced
1 Tb finely chopped ginger
½ cup stock (veg or chicken) or water
½ Tb dark sesame oil
1 ½ Tb soy sauce or tamari
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Pinch of Celtic sea salt
Use a paring knife or peeler to remove the toughest outer strings from the stalks. Cut into 2 ½" long pieces and then cut into 3- 4 pieces the long way so you get medium size sticks.Heat coconut oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add celery, sauté 3 minutes.Add garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute until garlic & ginger are fragrant and celery is just beginning to soften slightly.Add ¼ cup of the stock, soy sauce, sesame oil and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until celery is beginning to get tender approximately 3 minutes. Uncover raise heat to medium and allow the celery to continue to cook for an additional 5- 8 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated and the celery begins to brown.Add remaining ¼ cup of stock. Stir scraping all the brown bits off of the bottom of the pan. Mix thoroughly so the celery gets coated with the brown bits and stock. Cook until celery is tender another few minutes . Note: Buy organic celery when possible as it is one of the vegetables which is highly sprayed.
It is a very inspiring movie about how you can create a healthy body. This movie helps us realize our health is in our hands, thank goodness.
If you are interested in learning how to incorporate some healthy foods into your diet without a lot of effort or fuss please join me on my FREE webinar:
RESET YOUR HEALTH - 4 Simple Steps to Revitalizing Your Health Date: Tues April 10, 2012 at 5pm ET. Location: Online or on the phone
If you are feeling a little sluggish and want to learn 4 things you can do right now easily so you can feel energized, leaner, lighter and stronger you are not going to want to miss this. Click to sign up
If you can't make it, no problem I will be sending out the recording to everyone who registers.
I am finishing up the details on my Nourishing Foods Cleanse - Spring Edition - A Time For Renewal- April 16-20
Spring is the ideal time to cleanse. In this online program you will be eating lots of delicious food that will CLEANSE and RENEW your body so you feel LEANER and ENERGIZED. This is not hard to do and you will not feel deprived. It is not just juices and smoothies but eating real food all day.
Benefits of the Nourishing Foods Detox for Beginners clearer skinmore energyfeel, leaner, lighter and healthier within days!Lean about foods and recipes that you will use beyond your week of cleansing! remove built up toxins Hear what others are saying about the Nourishing Foods Detox for Beginners:
"Ingrid, your Nourishing Foods Detox Program for Beginners was phenomenal. After being sick and under the weather for months, you've cured me. I can truly appreciate nutrition and total body care now that I've felt all the positive effects (not to mention lost my little belly fat). My body will forever thank me for the changes I'm now making in the foods I eat and how I eat them. Thanks for all the attention, support and deliciously appetizing recipes that I will be using over and over again. You ROCK!"Daniella E Click for more information & to sign up
BONUS OFFER: As a member of my newsletter community, you are very special to me. So if you sign up for the program by
April 1 and get a friend to sign up with you, YOU will get the program for half price. If you get 3 people to sign up YOU will get the program FREE. Doing a cleanse with friends is fun and inspiring. You can even share the food preparation.
Spring means Dandelions yeah! They are delicious and so great for your body.
Dandelion A Spring Green with Lots of Energy
I love the energy of the dandelion. No matter how hard we try to destroy them they keep coming back. That persistence is something we can all appreciate. Of course they also want to be loved the way the French love their dandelions greens and not disliked the way many Americans feel about the weeds in their lawn. So love your dandelions and go pick them from your own backyard but only if your lawn is organic, you wouldn't want to eat any pesticides or herbicides. You will also find them in many supermarkets and health food stores.
Health Benefits of Dandelion GreensDandelions are among the most nutritious leafy greens that you can eat. They have more beta carotene than carrots, more iron than spinach, an abundance of vitamins.. One cup of dandelion greens contains 15 percent protein, 112% of our daily recommendation of vitamin A, 32% of vitamin C, and 535% of vitamin K, a magnificent 218 mg potassium, 103 mg calcium, and 1.7 mg iron Dandelion greens are an outstanding bitter tonic for the entire digestive system The chlorophyll acts as a fertilizer for good bacterial growth in the intestines to prevent proliferation of yeast, parasites and bad bacteria. The bitters have an antiseptic effect on the kidneys and liver improving their function.The French name for dandelion is piss-en-lit. This literally means wet the bed, speaking to the diuretic properties of the bitter green helping our body remove excess water.Dandelion greens are anti-inflammatory. They help to reduce swelling which is the root cause of many chronic diseases. It can purify the bloodstream and liver, and it can stimulate the manufacture of bile which helps break down fat.
How to Use DandelionsThe young greens can be eaten raw, in a salad, alone or mixed with other spring greens. The older greens should be parboiled to cut the bitter flavor.You can add a little dandelion greens into a vegetable stir fry. This is an easy and palatable way to incorporate bite-size pieces of the beneficial green into the whole family's diet.Dandelion greens sauté beautifully with garlic or onions.The dried root is used for making a medicinal tea.For a spring treat try dandelion tea; boil chopped dandelion leaves & flowers in water for 5 minutes, add a pinch of salt, strain and drink throughout the day. The bitter flavor actually grows on you! The yellow florets of just opened flowers have a honey-like flavor. They can be eaten on top of salads, pasta or rice dishes. The flowers that have gone to puff, should always be used for making wishes.
Sautéed Dandelion Greens The sweetness of the olive oil offsets the bitterness of the greens. Always be sure if you are picking your own dandelions that they haven't been sprayed. Wash well. 1 bunch dandelion greens, tough lower stems
discarded and leaves cut crosswise into 2-inch
pieces
2 Tb extra-virgin olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Celtic sea salt to taste
2 Tb extra-virgin olive oil for finishing
Bring a pot of salted water to boil add dandelion greensCook them uncovered for 10 minutes until tender. Drain, cool and squeeze out the waterHeat olive oil in a sauté pan on medium lowAdd garlic and red pepper flakes sauté 30 seconds until slightly goldenAdd dandelions and sea salt. Increase heat to medium-high, then sauté until coated with oil and heated through, about 4 minutesFinish by drizzling 2 Tb of extra virgin olive over the greens and serve.
