Merry Christmas!



Wishing you & your family a very Merry Christmas!!
Jennifer

"Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn't come from a store." - Dr. Seuss

Wellness Break: Foam Roller Health Benefits!

Over the summer, I started working with a personal trainer. In an effort to remain consistent with my workouts, I worked out at home, during our off days. In doing so, I experienced sciatica and could not move for a couple of days. 

Instead of rushing to a primary care physician's office (as almost everyone around me suggested), I chose to handle my pain a little differently. If you may recall, I began seeing a Chiropractor last year. Since this post, I found a Chiropractor that I absolutely love, whom I did not hesitate scheduling an appointment with on the second day after my injury. For the purposes of this blogpost, I will refer to her as "Magic Hands", which I am known to call her. She adjusted my spine and instructed me to do a series of stretches to ease the pain. The day following my visit with "Magic Hands", I decided to visit my personal trainer, who introduced me to a foam roller! In less than a week, I was relieved of all symptoms and was back to my normal self (though still a little sore)!

After my injury, I decided to purchase this foam roller for use at home and it has been a complete game changer for my spine! There are enormous health benefits to daily stretching for your overall health and the benefits of using a foam roller are endless. By incorporating a foam roller as a daily health regime, you may not only heal from injuries, but prevent yourself from experiencing them, as well.

I purchased mine from TJMaxx for $9.99. There are a variety of textures, such as smooth and the one you see pictured. I wanted the added benefit of feeling like a massage, which is why I picked this one.

Here's a video of a full-body foam rolling exercise. 

Happy rolling!! :-)

Spicy Vegan Thai Coconut Curry Soup Recipe

One of my top 5 favorite food cuisines is Thai and I always order a bowl of Shrimp Coconut Curry Soup! Being that I have been strictly plant-based since November, I am always thinking of recipes to make at home that are not your average, boring vegan meals. With that being said, I thought I would try my hand at a Spicy Thai Coconut Curry Soup recipe for dinner and it was pretty tasty!

Here are the ingredients that you'll need:
  • 20 mushrooms, sliced
  • 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
  • 1 nub of Ginger, minced
  • 1/2 Red Bell Pepper, diced
  • 1 Lemongrass stalk, cut in thirds
  • 3 tbs Olive Oil
  • 2 tbs of Red Curry Paste (I purchased Bright brand, found at my local Farmer's Market)
  • 3 cups of Veggie Broth
  • 1 cup of Coconut Milk
  • 1 tbs Coconut Palm Sugar
  • 3 tsp Braggs Aminos (or Soy Sauce)
  • 1 cup Spinach, chopped
  • Fresh Cilantro
  • Seasonings: Garlic Salt, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions:
In a large pot, season and saute your mushrooms, garlic cloves, ginger, red bell pepper and lemongrass in olive oil. Once your veggies are cooked, stir in the red curry paste and cook for another minute or two. Then add your vegetable broth, coconut milk, sugar and aminos (or soy sauce). Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Lastly, add and stir in your spinach and cilantro. Once finished cooking, serve and enjoy!

*Optional ingredients: I served my soup over brown rice, for a more hearty meal. You may also opt to add fried tofu.

Drink Aloe Vera Juice!


I love drinking Aloe Vera Juice - I'm lying to you! It tastes so much better, added to my freshly made juices, but I do tend to take a shot of Aloe, every morning. 

Here are 12 benefits of adding Aloe Vera Juice to your daily diet:
  • Helps with Digestion
  • High in Fatty & Amino Acids
  • High in Vitamins & Minerals (Vitamin A, C, E, Folic Acid, Choline, B1, B2, Niacin, Calcium, Magnesium and many many more)
  • Aloe is an Adaptogen - helps with stressors!
  • Alkalizing 
  • Detoxifier
  • Improves Cardiovascular Health
  • Boosts the Immune System
  • Supports Clear Skin - got acne, clear it up! 
  • Reduces Inflammation
  • Aids in Weight Loss
  • Anti-biotic, Anti-septic, Anti-fungal, Anti-viral (and any other "anti") :-)

Natural Sleep Aid: Melatonin

Ever struggle to fall asleep when it is time to go to bed? Its a common issue of mine. I suffer slightly from insomnia, due to the fact that I juice throughout the day and have energizing greens in my daily smoothies.

When this happens, I will often take Melatonin as a natural sleep aid. I thought I'd write a blog post regarding Melatonin, because many have asked me if it is "habit forming" and for me, it has not been.

So, what is Melatonin you may ask? 
  • It is a hormone, which is produced in the pineal gland. If you aren't familiar with your pineal gland, I strongly recommend that you do your research. We hear a lot about our other glands, but not much on the pineal gland, which is located in your brain. 
  • It is a muscle relaxer. Melatonin works to relax the smooth muscles, including your digestive tract. Being that I have IBS, this is actually great!
  • It is an antioxidant and protects against oxidative damage, which can lead to cancer prevention.  
Below are some benefits of taking Melatonin:
  • Prevents Seasonal Affective Disorder
  • Assists in Weight Control, balances appetite Hormones
  • Prevents & Treats Cancer
  • Reduces Migraines up to 50%
  • Anti-Aging
  • Protects against Heart Disease, Alzheimer's
  • Strengthens the Immune System
  • Healthier Sleep
Melatonin is great in capsule and tincture form.

Golden Milk - Recipe & Benefits

Cold and flu season is upon us and if you're like me, who prefers to remain healthy - the natural way - you'll love this "Golden Milk" recipe!
Let me first start by telling you that "Golden Milk" is another word for "Turmeric Milk" or known in Hindi as 'haldi ka doodh'. :-) There are variations to the recipe, some preferring coconut milk to almond milk. My personal preference is using freshly made almond milk as my base. 

Here's what you'll need and please trust me, its so delicious!

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups of Almond or Coconut Milk
  • 1/2 tsp of Turmeric (powder or freshly grated)
  • 1/2 tsp of Cinnamon
  • 1 tbs of Raw Organic Honey
  • 1 pinch of Ginger (powder or freshly grated)
  • 1 squeeze of Vanilla Extract
Instructions:
Bring all of your ingredients to a rolling boil. Pour into a tea cup, stir, relax and enjoy!

Last, but definitely not least...the health benefits are incredible! Within the first couple of weeks of my drinking this milk daily, I noticed my somewhat timid acne cleared. This is more than likely due to Turmeric being an anti-inflammatory. There are many online stories of women clearing their skin by applying a turmeric paste, topically.

Here's a blog post I wrote a few years back regarding "Turmeric & Depression". In addition to your mental well-being, other benefits of drinking this milk are good for people with the following health concerns:
  • Cancer
  • Respiratory Infections
  • Arthritis, Stomach Ulcers (anti-inflammatory)
  • Cold & Cough (antiviral & antibacterial)
  • Digestion Issues
  • Menstrual Cramps
  • Skin & Rashes
  • Weight Gain
  • Insomnia