My First Time Using Fresh Turmeric

January 21, 2015 by Barbara Dolan 2 Comments

Yesterday was Produce Day at my house. What a great day it was. I love it when my fridge is full of beautiful organic produce.

I ordered fresh turmeric root for the first time. The picture above is what it looks like. It looks very similar to ginger but has a bright orange flesh inside. The taste is difficult to describe. It is not spicy like ginger but it has quite a strong flavour. But not as strong as dried turmeric and not as bitter. I like it and I encourage you to try it.

Turmeric is most known for its’ anti-inflammatory properties. It is so powerful that it matches and often surpasses the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs….without side-effects.

Some other benefits of turmeric are:Continue Reading

Homemade Vegan Cheese; Who Knew?!

January 8, 2015 by Barbara Dolan Leave a Comment

This post has affiliate links.

Remember we talked about the importance of healthy gut flora and how to improve your digestion a while ago?

I gave you several tips on how to do this and encouraged you to be diligent about caring for your digestive system.

Well, my good friend, Steph Jackson, shared some wonderful recipes with me on how to make your own vegan cheese. It is more of a cream cheese, but cheese none-the-less.Continue Reading

The Miracle of Vitamin C Part I

December 11, 2014 by Barbara Dolan 4 Comments

Vitamin C has long been known to be beneficial to our body.

Vitamin C is

A powerful antioxidant.
It prevents free-radical damage that contributes to aging and degenerative and age-related disease, including cancer and cardiovascular disorders.
Vitamin C keeps other antioxidants (such as Vitamin E and A) potent by preventing them from being oxidized.

Pain in the Ass Parasites

October 2, 2014 by Barbara Dolan 10 Comments

Honestly, I know. Parasites are nasty things that can make your life miserable. But there is hope. They can be destroyed.

It has become apparent that more people are infested with parasites and harmful micro-organisms than previously suspected. In order to have true vitality and strong immunity it is important to understand the nature of parasites, the symptoms of parasitic infection, how parasites spread and to have a healing strategy.

I highly recommend that everyone does a parasite cleanse at least once per year, along with a yeast cleanse.Continue Reading

My Relationship with Candida

September 25, 2014 by Barbara Dolan 4 Comments

My relationship with Candida began in University, many years ago. I felt tired all of the time, especially after eating. I found myself craving breads, sweets and fruits and having very little self-control when I tried not to eat those foods. Overall I felt foggy (I had difficulty concentrating), weak and sad; almost depressed. I decided that I needed to do something about it.

I had the good fortune that my parents had been to see a medical doctor who was open to healing through diet and other natural means and so they suggested that I see him.

Upon meeting him, he was very frank with me. He told me that from my symptoms and from a few other things that were visible to him (white spots on my fingernails, fungus on my toenails), that I had an overproduction of Candida. I had never heard of this before.Continue Reading

Love Your Body. Drink Green Juice.

July 30, 2014 by Barbara Dolan Leave a Comment

Today, I am going to inspire you to drink green juice.

Let me remind you why you want to drink fresh juice in the first place.

Supercharge your metabolism
Fight disease
Improve digestion
Alkalize the body
Boost your energy
Lose weight naturally
Improve your mind and body

Drinking juices made from green vegetables and herbs increases these benefits significantly. Greens are packed with chlorophyll. Chlorophyll has many extra benefits to the above, including the following…Continue Reading

The Benefits of Carrot Juice

July 24, 2014 by Barbara Dolan 2 Comments

I love juicing all kinds of vegetables, especially greens. I know that some people struggle with the strong taste of juiced greens, especially if they are new to juicing or new to eating more raw vegetables. Carrot juice, combined with green juice, makes for a very palatable drink, even for ‘beginners’ and for children.

There is some controversy regarding carrot juice and the fact that is has a high sugar content. Yes, carrot juice is sweet, but in fact, it is a very good blood sugar regulator due to its carotenoid content.

Carrot juice has many benefits, that once you know about them, you will want to include it in your juice regime, regularly.

Excellent source of vitamins– Vitamin A, C, D, E, K, B1, B6
Rich with minerals– Biotin, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and trace minerals
Contains Carotene – well-known, powerful antioxidant
Tops are nutritious– rich with potassium and protein
Contains phyto-nutrients -help heal various diseases
Very cleansing – gets rid of mucus, reduces inflammation and also detoxes the liver

3 Reasons To Read The Ingredients On Packaged Foods

July 2, 2014 by Barbara Dolan Leave a Comment

Are you worried about the ingredients that are in the packaged foods that you buy?

Why would you want to read the ingredients?

Here are 3 good reasons:

You have the power to make informed choices regarding your health.
You can save money.
You can avoid unnecessary illness and disease.

You’ve Got the Power!

Reading the ingredient list on packaged foods means that you know what foods are going in to your body. You know if this sauce has 17 ingredients, half of which you are unable to pronounce or if there are only 4 ingredients that are all organic and are foods that you may already have in your fridge at home. You can decide what is right for you.Continue Reading

5 Reasons to Eat Asparagus

June 19, 2014 by Barbara Dolan Leave a Comment

Do you enjoy fresh asparagus? I do! And now is the time to be eating it! Right now it is widely available in my local community. I have a friend who brings me fresh asparagus every week. Yummy!

Why is it good for us?

Rich in protein- 1 cup of asparagus is only 24 calories but half of the calories are derived from protein.
Excellent source of folic acid- 263 micrograms/cup. The optimum daily intake is 400-1200mcg. Folic acid is beneficial in a variety of body process but one of its most important roles is that folic acid works closely with Vitamin B12 in the production of genetic material. This is why the folic acid levels of pregnant women is closely monitored.
High in many vitamins- excellent source of Vitamins C, A, K, B6, B2(riboflavin) and B1(thiamin)- all of these needed to maintain a healthy nervous system.
Good source of dietary fiber– as well as niacin, phosphorus, potassium and iron
Historically used to treat arthritis and rheumatism– According to ‘The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods’ by Michael Murray N.D., ‘asparagus has unique phytochemical antioxidants as well as inhibitors of the COX-2 enzyme, which produces inflammatory compounds. Ultimately, this means that asparagus can benefit those with arthritis. Yay!

Of course there are those who are not fond of asparagus because their urine has a strong odour soon after eating asparagus. Well this is just an indication of how well it works as a diuretic. Another yay!

I enjoy finely chopped asparagus added to my salads and also marinated in a balsamic vinaigrette with olive oil.

Here is a different recipe to try…Asparagus Guacamole

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Basic Nut Mylk

June 12, 2014 by Barbara Dolan Leave a Comment

Almonds have many benefits that I outline in the post called ‘The Almighty Almond’. Almond mylk is a tasty nutritious drink that is very versatile and delicious.

Ingredients:
1 cup almonds, cashews, pecans or your favourite nut
Tiny pinch of sea salt
5 cups water (4 cups if you want it creamier)

Procedure:

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth
If you do not have a high speed blender, soak the almonds overnight first
Strain through a nut mylk bag (this is optional when using cashews)
Add to your favourite smoothie recipe or drink as is.
Will keep for at least 4 days refrigerated but you will need to shake it up before use

Adventurous Variations:
-add 1 vanilla bean or 1 T alcohol-free vanilla extract
-sweeten with ½ cup pitted dates or ¼ cup agave syrup or pinch of stevia
-add 3 T raw cacao powder

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Basic Nut Mylk

Author: Barbara Dolan

Recipe type: Drink

Cuisine: Vegan

Prep time: 10 mins

Total time: 10 mins

Serves: 4-5 cups

Ingredients

1 cup almonds, cashews, pecans or your favourite nut
Tiny pinch of sea salt
5 cups water (4 cups if you want it creamier)

Instructions

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender and blend until smooth
If you do not have a high speed blender, soak the almonds overnight first
Strain through a nut mylk bag (this is optional when using cashews)
Add to your favourite smoothie recipe or drink as is.
Will keep for at least 4 days refrigerated but you will need to shake it up before use