• Prevent cancer

Loaded with phytonutrients (beneficial plant components that science is still discovering) the blueberries’ anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, resveratrol, flavonols, and tannins can block pathways that develop cancer

• Lower blood sugars

• Reduce cholesterol

Blueberries are rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants–manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K. A recent study showed that supplementing a plant-based diet with just 2-4% of blueberries, significantly reduced total and LDL cholesterol.

• Improve memory and slow decline of Alzheimer’s disease

Individuals who drank blueberry juice daily or consumed blueberries showed significant improvement in learning and recall, showing that components in blueberries may strengthen and stimulate brain cells.

• Lessen symptoms of depression

• Prevent urinary tract infections

Blueberries contain the same compound found in cranberries that helps to keep away UTIs, by preventing bacteria from “sticking” and developing infection

• Protect and improve vision

• Reduce inflammation

A daily serving of blueberries or juice can help reduce pain and inflammation levels throughout the body, an underlying root of most chronic disease development

With all these amazing benefits, it’s no wonder blueberries are now being named a “super-food” that “increases the body’s ability to heal.”

1 cup frozen blueberries

1 1/2 cups mango

1/2 banana

1 Tbsp flax oil

Ice water or milk alternative (almond, rice, coconut…)

Stevia to taste, optional

Protein powder of choice (whey, hemp, pea, soy, egg white…), optional

___

Blend until creamy, adding water or milk alternative to desired consistency.

1 large cucumber (English are my favorite)

¼” slice red onion

1 garlic clove

¼ tsp sea salt

½ lemon, juiced

½ avocado

___

Blend all ingredients until smooth.  Serve well chilled.  Yield: 1-2 bowls.

Variations:

Add fresh herbs

Sprinkle in Italian Seasoning or fresh pepper

Add small chunks of avocado, fresh corn, peas or red pepper

It seems too easy, but its true! Hugs affect all of us and at every stages of life. We need social, physical contact, that includes touch in any context…from friendship…to family…to the context of intimacy. Look at some of this incredible research that shows the power of touch:

• Skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby has shown such benefit for the baby’s physical and emotional development that placing a diaper-clad infant skin-to-skin on the mother is an practice used for premature infants in neonatal ICUs used worldwide.
• Hugs increase oxytocin and cortisol (especially in women) producing a protective effect on the heart and lowering blood pressure and risk of disease compared to those without hugs who had higher pulse rates and significantly higher blood pressure.
• Lower cortisol levels from hugs also means increased metabolism (helping to regulate weight) from a UNC study.
• Touch therapy from NYU research shows that touch from others stimulates the hemoglobin levels, raising the levels in our tissues and carrying more oxygen throughout our body, leaving us feeling invigorated
• Gentle touch has been shown to help reduce stress, relieve pain, increase coping ability, and general health ratings
• Therapeutic touch as a treatment for pain management in fibromyalgia has shown that participants experienced a significant decrease in pain and reported a significant improvement in overall quality of life than those without.
• Alzheimer’s nursing home residents showed that intervention consisting of therapeutic touch significantly reduces behavioral symptoms (dementia, such as restlessness, searching and wandering, tapping and banging, pacing and walking, and vocalization.) Impressive since the therapeutic touch used in the study was only provided twice daily, for three days, lasting only 5-7 minutes.
• Infants in an orphanage who received an extra 15 minutes of a female voice, massage and eye-to-eye contact, five days for a month, gained more weight and had greater increases in body length and head circumferences for the next 6 months than children without the extra contact.

The power of touch is truly amazing. Although we live in a deeply ingrained society of “individuality,” we truly need each other! So, don’t let a day go by without offering your touch of love!

According to the Field of Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami Medical School, the US is not a very “touchy” culture, compared to Europe.  Touch plays an important role in the release of the “feel good” brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine, along with numerous other benefits to our health and well-being.  Are we missing out?  Simply put:

• Hugs feel good
• Hugs help dispel loneliness
• Hugs open doors to feelings
• Hugs help us overcome fears
• Hugs help build self-esteem
• Hugs curb our appetite
• Hugs ease tension
• Hugs help fight insomnia
• Hugs increase hemoglobin blood count
• Hugs impart feelings of belonging
• Hug effects keep on working, even after the hug is over
• Hugs help relieve physical pain
• Hugs heal
• Hugs are for everyone

Seems too easy, but its true!  Hugs affect all of us…and at every stage of life.  Remember though, hug responsibly!

University of Arkansas Co-Op Extension – http://www.docstoc.com/docs/3411112/Hugs-for-Healing-and-Health

• Eliminate refined foods, sugars, artificial sweeteners, food additives, caffeine (sodas, coffee)
• Add lots of fruits and veggies-especially green leafies-and beans, nuts & seeds
• Lemon juice cleanse drinks – 1-3 days
• Juice fasting - green vegetable juices are best (not fruit juices)
• For deeper cleansing benefits, try supplement programs that can detox, renourish and support the organ systems: Isagenix, Metagenics, Garden of Life, Biogenesis

If you’ve never cleansed before, seek professional advice for safest and best results.

• Lose Weight and Feel Great – Studies show fat cells can hold onto impurities as a mechanism for protecting itself from dangerous impurities. Cleansing aids the body’s ability to flush fat and increase metabolism.
• Strengthen The Immune System
• Aid Digestion and Elimination – Refined, processed, low-fiber foods, animal fats, lack of exercise, dehydration and stress all contribute to an irritable bowel and sluggish elimination from the intestinal tract. Cellular cleansing and replenishing with fiber-rich nutrients can allow for better elimination of impurities and is essential in the prevention of intestinal disorders.
• Restore Normal Sugar Levels – Abnormal sugar levels have been linked to serious health challenges and are often the result of weight gain. Effective weight loss and fueling of the body can aid in the body’s ability to restore normal sugar levels.
• Support Your Liver – Aid metabolism, promote normal thyroid function and much more!
• Support Healthy Brain Chemistry – Reduce food cravings and regulate moods and energy levels.
• Balance Your Hormonal Systems
• Support Your Vital Organs – Liver, colon, urinary tract, sweat glands, skin pores and the lymphatic system.
• Eliminate Unhealthy Cravings – Cleansing and replenishing helps regulate the body, creating cravings for what the body needs.
• Beautify the Skin – Skin is the largest organ of our body. Cleansing and replenishing rejuvenates our skin, making it appear younger and healthier.
• Create Abundant Energy and Better Sleep Cycles – Get more stamina, energy and mental clarity.
• Reduce Stress – and the associated negative health effects.
• Slow The Effects of Aging – Toxins and nutritional deficiency can lead to premature aging on an internal and external level, while cleansing and replenishing can result in a younger appearance and incredible energy.
• Maximize Absorption of Essential Nutrients – Nourish and support all major organ systems (heart, bones and nervous systems, etc.)
• Restore and Maintain Antioxidant Levels – Fight free radicals that damage cells and cause disease.

Enjoy the ultimate quality of life!! Cleansing and refueling the body are a revolutionary approach to optimal health and weight management. Imbalanced diets can rob the body of essential nutrients and only offer temporary results. Find a program that helps give your body the right nutrients, the right balance and the ability to support your organs and maintain a healthy body weight.
from 21 Reasons to Nutritionally Cleanse and Replenish

Because our soils are poisoned with chemicals and pollution and are continually stripped of their nutrient base, many of our foods are not supplying our bodies with the necessary nutrients – primarily minerals – to perform optimally. The nutritionally bankrupt body is an invitation to illness and disease.

America is in a true health crisis and preventable diseases are out of control. Cardiovascular disease is epidemic, 44 million people suffer from arthritis, 18 million have diabetes, 17 million suffer from asthma, 1 in 8 women develop breast cancer and 18 million children are obese. For the first time in history we may be witnessing a decline in the American life-span. “Visceral” fat (fat carried in the abdominal area) poses an even higher risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Supporting our body’s natural cleansing abilities helps combat this problem.

Since 1976, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been engaged in the National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS). In this study, adipose (fat) samples were taken from cadavers and elective surgeries from all regions of the country and the levels of toxins were measured. Twenty toxic compounds were found in 76% or more of all samples! These ongoing assessments have shown quite clearly that it is not a question of if we are carrying too many toxic compounds, but how much and how do they harm us. The ever increasing illness and disease in this country are indicative of how vital it is to cleanse and replenish NOW!

From 21 Reasons to Nutritionally Cleanse and Replenish

Tropical Smoothie

1  cup  milk alternative – almond, soy, rice, coconut milk
1  Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1  Tbsp  ground flax seeds
1  Tbsp  shredded coconut
stevia (to taste)
1-2  cups   frozen fruit blend – pineapple, mango, papaya
1  banana

Blend at high speed until smooth. Add more “milk” for a thinner smoothie OR more fruit for a thicker, fruitier drink.

Variations: Be creative and try your own fruit blend.

Serves 1-2

Coconut oil typically brings to mind all those “bad fat” thoughts, which again, are so far from truth!  The fat’s special structure is a “medium chain triglyceride.  This means it has a smaller size, making it more easily digested by the body, converted into energy and less likely to be stored.  It is primarily known for its use as a processed, hydrogenated oil in highly processed goodies, making it a truly harmful product.  However, “in the raw,” coconut oil has been called “the healthiest oil on earth,” being used for generations around the world because of its wide range of health benefits and healing properties.  In fact, non-Western cultures following years of tradition with high fat and calorie intakes (34-63% fat) had no elevated risk of heart disease  and have some of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world, as well as lower body-fat stores and higher survival rates.  Not until these cultures switched away from their natural coconut oils to Westernized vegetable oils did they show increased rates of heart disease.  Additional research now confirms the benefits and effectiveness of these traditional uses, which may help your body to:

• Strengthen the immune system
• Kill bacteria and viruses
• Support thyroid function
• Increase metabolism
• Reduce body weight
• Lower “bad cholesterol” and raise “good cholesterol”
• Normalize blood sugars
• Improve insulin sensitivity

Cooking?  If you choose to fry, coconut oil is the most healthy, stable oil to use.

Be sure to look for Organic, Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, which is usually found in the “supplement section” of your natural grocery store.

To experience more of these incredible benefits, try adding coconut oil to smoothies, sauces, grain dishes…or use it in cooking… or get it in your dessert from our dairy free cheesecake.