Natural Remedies Archives - ig2go

Category: Natural Remedies

Probiotic vs Prebiotic Foods – How to Incorporate Them Into Your Diet

Posted on by lindsey Freeman

Gut health affects your overall wellness, and what you eat plays a major role in determining the status of your gut health. Recently, probiotic and prebiotic foods have gained popularity as the savers of your gut health. But what’s the difference between these two, and how can you incorporate them into your diet? 

In this post, we’ll explore the difference between probiotics and prebiotics and give you practical tips on how to add these superfoods to your diet.

Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods – What’s the Difference? 

Probiotics and prebiotics foods are not the same. Probiotic foods contain live microorganisms that improve or maintain the number of beneficial gut bacteria in the body. Prebiotic foods contain non-digestible carbohydrates that serve as food for the beneficial bacteria in the gut.

In short, probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that improve the beneficial microflora in the gut, and prebiotics is the food that gut microflora consume, helping them to grow and thrive. Together, probiotics and prebiotics help support a healthy gut microbiome that is essential for the healthy functioning of the gut. 

How to Incorporate Probiotic and Prebiotic Foods Into Your Diet? 

When you’re taking sufficient probiotic and prebiotic foods, you’ll see significant positive changes in your gut health. If you have no idea which foods are the best to get a good intake of probiotics and prebiotics in your diet, here are some of our favorites:

Sources of Probiotic Foods 

  • Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, and tempeh are good sources of probiotics.
  • Try adding a spoonful of miso to soups, sprinkling kimchi on your rice, or having a serving of yogurt with fruit and honey to boost probiotics in your diet. 
  • Probiotic drinks, such as kombucha, water kefir, and coconut water kefir, also contain a high amount of probiotics. 
  • You can also snack on probiotic-rich foods like probiotic granola bars or probiotic crackers.

Sources of Prebiotics Foods 

  • Fiber-rich foods, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, are excellent sources of prebiotics.
  • Root vegetables like garlic, onions, and leeks also provide a high amount of prebiotics.
  • Foods like legumes, green bananas, and cooked and cooled potatoes can also be consumed to increase the levels of prebiotics in your diet.

Processed foods are low in fiber and often high in sugar, which can harm the beneficial bacteria in your gut. So, it’s crucial to minimize highly processed foods from your diet if you want to experience the positive effects of probiotic and prebiotic foods.

Tips for Adding Probiotics and Prebiotics Into Your Diet 

Here are some tips that you should remember when you start adding probiotics and prebiotics into your diet: 

  • Aim for various probiotic and prebiotic foods in your diet rather than relying on a single source.
  • Gradually incorporate these foods into your diet to allow your gut to adjust.
  • Be mindful of the serving sizes and pay attention to how these foods affect your body.
  • Always consult a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.

Bottom Line 

Excited to flourish your gut bacteria using these probiotics and prebiotics foods? Pin this post as a reminder, and come visit Intelligent Gourmet to enjoy wholesome food that will help you improve your gut microflora with tasty organic meals. 

Natural ways to de-bloat after the holidays

Posted on by lindsey Freeman

First off, we hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend, full of laughter, good company, and excellent food. If you are like most people, chances are your holiday plate was piled a little higher than your average everyday meal (honestly when the food is that delicious who wouldn’t savor every bite?). And if that’s the case, there’s a chance you might feel some lingering bloating sensations from the festivities. There’s absolutely no shame, we’ve all been there, and we know it can take a day or two for your gut to feel normal again. Bloating can be super uncomfortable when it sticks around, and today we’d like to share some of our favorite tips to reduce and get rid it.

What Causes Bloating?

Bloating can be caused by a number of different things, including eating too fast, too much, or eating too much of certain kinds of foods (for instance, overdoing it on your dietary fiber for the day). Bloating can also be caused by carbonated beverages, food intolerances, artificial sweeteners, or hormonal changes. Regardless of the root cause, the feeling of being bloated ultimately comes from sudden changes in your normal digestive harmony that result in excessive gas, solids, or liquids working their way through your gut.

Preventing Bloating From Happening in the First Place

  • Slow down when you eat and chew your food well before you swallow. This gives your digestive system a head start on breaking the food down, and eating slower gives your body more time to recognize when you’ve had enough.
  • Avoid talking while you’re chewing, as this can cause you to inadvertently swallow air, causing increased gas buildup in your gut.
  • Drink your beverages at room temperature, or avoid ice cold or scolding hot drinks
  • Sit up straight while you eat
  • Avoid drinking from straws, which again may cause you to swallow unnecessary air.

Help Bloating After it’s Struck

  • Go for a walk, do some gentle stretching or yoga, and move your body. Nothing extreme, but moving around will help stimulate your digestive tract and move everything along. Do what feels good to create some space and gentle twisting/massaging around your abdomen.
  • Drink plenty of water, especially if you’re bloated from overeating or overeating fiber. Not only is water simply important because your body should be well hydrated, but it also keeps your digestive tract well ‘lubricated’ so things move smoothly. Drinking water can also help flush out excess sodium, which can help ease the uncomfortable bloating sensations.
  • Drink tea, specifically peppermint tea, as it has been shown to ‘calm’ gut bacteria and reduce inflammation, easing the sensation of bloating. Dandelion Tea is also a great alternative and can act as a natural diuretic to help with bloating.
  • Try digestive enzymes, especially if you are sensitive to dairy or certain high-fiber foods. Helper enzymes like Lactaid and Beano can help you boost or support your body’s natural digestive process to speed things up.
  • Try adding some probiotics to your diet, this is good for your long-term gut health too. Probiotics can be found in most yogurts or any fermented food like Kimchi or Sauerkraut.
  • Try a bottle of our De Bloat Juice, specifically made with fruits and veggies that can reduce abdominal discomfort and keep your digestive tract moving

When Bloating Becomes a Problem

If you’re experiencing severe bloating multiple times a month, or it’s persisted for more than a few days, it never hurts to talk to a doctor. Reoccurrence may be a sign of an underlying problem or a food intolerance you might not know about. you may benefit from keeping a food journal and taking note of what foods tend to cause bloating most often.

 

 

Creating Wellness by Cultivating Your Space

Posted on by lindsey Freeman

If you’ve been with us for a while, you know our philosophy on wellness extends beyond just nutrition and good food. Whole-body wellness includes your mental well-being, moving your body, and feeling safe and nurtured in the spaces you spend the most time. Given the state of the news, we thought this week might be a good time to reflect on some ways you can focus on that last point. Here are some ways you can rest and heal your spirit through clearing your space so you can step into each day with a centered mind and powerful intentions.

The importance of your space.

Your space does not necessarily mean your home, your room, or your living area. Your space is an area that you claim as your sanctuary, where you have the room you need to breathe, relax, and express yourself fully. Maybe this is just your desk, maybe it’s your patio, a garden, or even a moment alone in your car on your morning commute.

Often times the rooms and spaces we spend the most time in are both reflections of our inner wellbeing, and hold influence over our inner dialogue and moods. By respecting these spaces, you are also respecting yourself.

Clutter and organization

A ‘perfect’ space looks different to everyone, but I think something we all share is that cleanliness and our preferred methods of organization matter a lot. And sure, it’s common sense that keeping your space clean is important for a number of good reasons. By keeping your space physically clean, you are allowing more freedom of movement and fewer visual distractions. This allows you to focus more on cultivating the things you care about.

You may not notice a little clutter, but when you stop paying attention, it starts to add up. Soon enough, you’re having trouble finding the things you need or things may be in the way when you’re trying to do the things you need to do. But this physical clutter leads to mental clutter as well. Subconsciously you’re spending mental energy to work around the clutter.

Get in the habit of taking that extra 5 seconds or 5 minutes to tidy up every day. Make your bed, pick up the clothes around the hamper, wipe the counters, clean out the trash from your car, and throw out or file any papers taking up room on your desk. These

Leaves to lift you up

Adding a little greenery to your spaces can do wonders for improving your mood, especially if you don’t have regular access to outdoor public green spaces such as parks or gardens. Not only have house plants been shown to reduce stress and improve focus, but they also literally help to purify the air around them. And it’s not just the leaves that are responsible for this, the microorganisms in the soil play an important role in removing airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

If you do decide to purchase houseplants to freshen the air naturally, these are several of the species shownTrusted Source to be most effective:

  • Areca, lady, dwarf date, and bamboo palms
  • Boston fern
  • Rubber tree
  • Spider plant
  • Ficus tree

Energetic clearing

Maintaining your energetic peace is possibly the most important item on this list. Cleaning your space, and investing in some greenery can certainly make it easier to balance your energy, but sometimes you need to take it a step further.

Negative energy can settle in a room, or space, like a fog that clouds your vision, and your thoughts, and it can consume your mental focus to the point where you don’t even feel like yourself anymore.

One of the most common ways to clean your space energetically is to ‘smudge’, or burn medicinal herbs. This tradition stems from the Indigenous cultures of North America, but similar practices can be found in many places around the world. Dried white sage bundles, often called “Smudge sticks” are a common herb to use for this practice. But other herbs or flowers can be added such as lavender, Rose petals, or Rosemary for added benefits. Recent studies have found evidence that burning certain herbs can improve air quality. Beyond just clearing out bad energy, it actually purifies the air. Smudging with Palo Santo sticks and essential oil sprays are also common ways to clear out negative energy and help to purify a space.

We feel it’s important to note that WHERE you get your Smudge sticks and Palo Santo matters. The popularity of these practices has led to mass production and unethical harvesting of these plants. Be sure the items you buy are sourced sustainably, or purchase them directly from First Nation’s people who use sustainable practices.

How to smudge

  1. To burn a smudge stick just light the tip
  2. Blow it out and either wave in air or place in a glass or metal container (one that will not burn) with sand or salt placed therein to hold the smudge bundle upright.
  3. Then wave the smoke around whatever it is you’d like to purify. A feather or group of feathers is a traditional way to do this.
  4. As the smoke moves around and up to the sky, imagine releasing whatever is not in your best interests. Let it go on the smoke. The sacred smoke will take these energies back to the Source, where they will be transformed into positive energy again.
  5. To extinguish, invert smudge into the sand or salt to smother. Smudges put out a lot of soothing smoke.

If you’re interested in adding smudging to your wellness routine, we offer a selection of smudge sticks, herbs, and Palo Santo in our store. We encourage you to stop by and pick one that suits your needs best.

As a woman-owned business, our heart goes out to all of the women that are, and the generations of women that will be effected by the recent news. We urge you to take time to care for yourself this week and reflect on ways you can still take ownership of your wellbeing and your energy. When we take action from a centered mind, we allow ourselves to use all of our power and energy as a singular focus. We believe It’s important in these times to cultivate a community that supports one another, and connect with each other so we can work towards solutions for a brighter and more equitable future.

How to Use Food to Rock Your New Year’s Resolutions, All Year Long

Posted on by Linda Baldwin

This post is NOT about losing weight. In fact, that resolution isn’t even going to be mentioned, because you know why? I’m SICK OF IT! Aren’t you? Of course, you can use food to lose weight (studies show it’s more effective to control your diet than increase exercise if you have to choose), but let’s dig a little deeper this year and go after what we really want to maintain your New Years Health goals.

1. Resolution: Be Happier 

It’s a simple one, but it’s what we’re really after with all the other resolutions isn’t it? Even when you have a great family, work you love, and live in a beautiful part of the country that hovers between 60 and 80 degrees in the dead of winter – you can still feel down more often than you’d like. Stop punishing yourself for being ungrateful – that’s not it. Unless you need to make real changes in your life (maybe you do!), these downtimes are chemical. And that means you can lift yourself back up with food. 

There was an interesting study on PBS recently that linked inflammation with depression. This means that an anti-inflammatory diet could significantly help symptoms of depression. Two especially powerful anti-inflammatory foods (or supplements) you can try are: 

  • Turmeric (curcumin) 
  • Omega-3 (fish, or fish oil) 

2. Resolution: Be Healthier 

Boost energy and fight disease this year by incorporating these 5 foods into your daily life. Yes, daily.

  1. Lemons – Anti-inflammatory, inhibits cancer cell growth, increases “good” cholesterol levels, vitamin C.
  2. Broccoli – Anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting rock-star, vitamin K & vitamin C combo builds healthy bones.
  3. Dark Chocolate – 1/4th oz daily reduces blood pressure & bad cholesterol, and improves your mood!
  4. Salmon/Fish/Flax Seeds/Walnuts – Omega-3 fatty acids help the brain work better, reduce bad cholesterol, and reduce the risk for heart disease. 
  5. Spinach – Anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting, and eye-health-improving. Toss a handful in with your eggs every morning! 

3. Resolution: Spend More Time With Loved Ones 

Invite some friends over to cook a healthy meal together – and schedule these dinners as often as you’d like.  We’re all so busy that if we don’t schedule in time with friends and loved ones, it never happens. So put a few dinner dates on your calendar. Here’s an idea: Make a game of it by inviting a friend to walk through your local farmer’s market with you, choose some “mystery” ingredients, and see what you can do with them when you get back! 

Don’t like to cook, but still want the healthy dinner? We’ve got you covered. Just serve everyone Intelligent Gourmet! 

Share your new years health goals with us! What are your favorite tools and healthy habits?

Diffusing Essential Oils

Posted on by Linda Baldwin

People often ask why I love to diffuse essential oils.

Well being a long time scent junkie or should I say candle-holic, I was sad to learn that my addiction to burning a candle in every room just might not be the best thing I could’ve been doing for my health or for the health of those around me.  I simply had to find healthier and more organic way to satisfy my cravings. THE FACTS:

  • A lot of the candles we burn are made from paraffin wax, when you burn paraffin it forms the toxic substances benzene and toluene both of these are know to be carcinogens.
  • Some candles even have a tendency towards lead core in the wicks, nobody wants to release that in their environment.
  • Because we love beautiful things and the marketplace is appealing to our scenes, many of our candles even the soy ones are enhanced with artificial scents and colored with harmful dyes.

Enough said, I made the decision to my part by not spreading toxins in the air with my burning candles.

Diffusing pure essential oils gave me all of my fabulous scents with the  added benefit of promoting physical and mental health.  Just one of the many gifts of diffusing oil is that you can choose your oils to suit you and create customized blends of the oils to fit your mood or your current situation.

  • Blend them is your work space to create an atmosphere of clarity, energy and stimulate focus.
  • Use them in your home to promote, relaxation, calmness and a sense of general well being.
  • In your bedroom use one oil in the evening for a restful night sleep and in the morning to strength and toning while doing your morning meditation or exercise.

I chose Neal’s Yard Remedies, because I think of them at the pioneers of essential oils. Their oils are all 100% pure and unadulterated.

They believe that wild-crafted and organically grown plants are better for you, the growers and pickers, their communities and the environment. By severely restricting the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are used you can be sure you are getting the best possible product.

To order call us . 813.287.2253 or shop online @ https://us.nyrorrganic.com/shop/ig2go

How to Use Food to Rock Your New Year’s Resolutions, All Year Long

Posted on by Linda Baldwin

This post is NOT about losing weight. In fact, that resolution isn’t even going to be mentioned, because you know why? I’m SICK OF IT! Aren’t you? Of course, you can use food to lose weight (studies show it’s more effective to control your diet than increase exercise if you have to choose), but let’s dig a little deeper this year and go after what we really want to maintain your New Years Health goals.

1. Resolution: Be Happier 

It’s a simple one, but it’s what we’re really after with all the other resolutions isn’t it? Even when you have a great family, work you love, and live in a beautiful part of the country that hovers between 60 and 80 degrees in the dead of winter – you can still feel down more often than you’d like. Stop punishing yourself for being ungrateful – that’s not it. Unless you need to make real changes in your life (maybe you do!), these downtimes are chemical. And that means you can lift yourself back up with food. 

There was an interesting study on PBS recently that linked inflammation with depression. This means that an anti-inflammatory diet could significantly help symptoms of depression. Two especially powerful anti-inflammatory foods (or supplements) you can try are: 

  • Turmeric (curcumin) 
  • Omega-3 (fish, or fish oil) 

2. Resolution: Be Healthier 

Boost energy and fight disease this year by incorporating these 5 foods into your daily life. Yes, daily.

  1. Lemons – Anti-inflammatory, inhibits cancer cell growth, increases “good” cholesterol levels, vitamin C.
  2. Broccoli – Anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting rock-star, vitamin K & vitamin C combo builds healthy bones.
  3. Dark Chocolate – 1/4th oz daily reduces blood pressure & bad cholesterol, and improves your mood!
  4. Salmon/Fish/Flax Seeds/Walnuts – Omega-3 fatty acids help the brain work better, reduce bad cholesterol, and reduce the risk for heart disease. 
  5. Spinach – Anti-inflammatory, cancer-fighting, and eye-health-improving. Toss a handful in with your eggs every morning! 

3. Resolution: Spend More Time With Loved Ones 

Invite some friends over to cook a healthy meal together – and schedule these dinners as often as you’d like.  We’re all so busy that if we don’t schedule in time with friends and loved ones, it never happens. So put a few dinner dates on your calendar. Here’s an idea: Make a game of it by inviting a friend to walk through your local farmer’s market with you, choose some “mystery” ingredients, and see what you can do with them when you get back! 

Don’t like to cook, but still want the healthy dinner? We’ve got you covered. Just serve everyone Intelligent Gourmet! 

Share your new years health goals with us! What are your favorite tools and healthy habits?

New Years Health | How to Use Food to Rock Your New Year’s Resolutions, All Year Long

Diffusing Essential Oils

Posted on by Linda Baldwin

People often ask why I love to diffuse essential oils.

Well being a long time scent junkie or should I say candle-holic, I was sad to learn that my addiction to burning a candle in every room just might not be the best thing I could’ve been doing for my health or for the health of those around me.  I simply had to find healthier and more organic way to satisfy my cravings. THE FACTS:

  • A lot of the candles we burn are made from paraffin wax, when you burn paraffin it forms the toxic substances benzene and toluene both of these are know to be carcinogens.
  • Some candles even have a tendency towards lead core in the wicks, nobody wants to release that in their environment.
  • Because we love beautiful things and the marketplace is appealing to our scenes, many of our candles even the soy ones are enhanced with artificial scents and colored with harmful dyes.

 

Enough said, I made the decision to my part by not spreading toxins in the air with my burning candles.

Diffusing pure essential oils gave me all of my fabulous scents with the  added benefit of promoting physical and mental health.  Just one of the many gifts of diffusing oil is that you can choose your oils to suit you and create customized blends of the oils to fit your mood or your current situation.

  • Blend them is your work space to create an atmosphere of clarity, energy and stimulate focus.
  • Use them in your home to promote, relaxation, calmness and a sense of general well being.
  • In your bedroom use one oil in the evening for a restful night sleep and in the morning to strength and toning while doing your morning meditation or exercise.

I chose Neal’s Yard Remedies, because I think of them at the pioneers of essential oils. Their oils are all 100% pure and unadulterated.

They believe that wild-crafted and organically grown plants are better for you, the growers and pickers, their communities and the environment. By severely restricting the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides that are used you can be sure you are getting the best possible product.

To order call us . 813.287.2253 or shop online @ https://us.nyrorrganic.com/shop/ig2go

04.11.17 Neals Yard ad

IS YOUR GUT MAKING YOU CRAZY?

Posted on by Linda Baldwin

We Welcome Guest Blogger and Friend Sarah Bingham founder of Fast Food Healing.

Sarah is a licensed nutrition consultant with a master’s degree and more than thirty-five years experience counseling and lecturing on all aspects of nutrition throughout the country. Her current focus is in family nutrition, helping parents recover their children from conditions like autism, ADD, ADHD, asthma and other learning/behavior issues. She is also a dynamic and passionate speaker who communicates with clarity, humor and inspiration the simplicity of achieving wellness.

Sarah works as the Director of Nutritional Programs for Valle Counseling in Tampa, FL. She is a certified GAPS (Gut and Psychology/Physiology Syndrome) practitioner (see www.gaps.me). Sarah is the founder of Fast Food Healing LLC, a personalized in-home nutrition counseling business. Sarah always addresses body, mind and spirit as they are all critical to a healthy body.

Following is an article Sarah shared with us.  Did you know that 80-90% of your neurotransmitters (chemicals that effect your mood and brain function) are created in your gut? Also, the seat of your immune system is in your gut. Hence, that old saying, “I’ve got a gut feeling” is quite accurate. Hence, what research is beginning to put together is if your mood, mind or behavior are off, you have a very good chance of having a gut that is off and a poor immune system.

What do I mean by “off”? Your gut is loaded (about 4 pounds) with good guy bacteria. This good guy bacteria keeps in check the potentially bad guy bacteria that is also present. All of these microbes have important functions, like creating B vitamins, neurotransmitters, and anti-cancer substances. When the good guys are winning, your mood and ability to think are in great shape. Your immune system is also in good shape. But, when the bad guys are winning, you could be suffering from any one of these conditions: Irritable bowel, reflux, ADD, ADHD, asthma, autism, bipolar disease, food allergies and intolerance, depression, dyslexia, autoimmune disease and more.

What causes your gut to become out of balance? Antibiotics, stress, the birth control pill, most prescription drugs and a diet high in processed foods. So, take a mother to be who has eaten a processed diet her whole life, has had a few courses of antibiotics and is now pregnant. Her gut “flora” or bacteria are more than likely out of balance. A baby’s gut is sterile until going through the birth canal. At this point, the baby swallows some of the mother’s vaginal fluid, which is reflective of her gut balance or imbalance. Thus, the baby’s gut is inoculated with either good guy bacteria or bad guy bacteria. And the cycle begins again.

Sometimes it’s easy to bring your gut back into balance using probiotics, lactic acid fermented foods and good whole foods and sometimes it takes a major effort to accomplish a rebalancing of the gut. When I look out at our society with lots of depression, rage, anxiety, immune dysfunction and irritable bowel, I think we all need a major revamping of our gut flora. As Hippocrates said back in 400 BC, “All disease begins in the gut.”

love your gut

Reduce Inflammation & Improve Digestion with Easy To Make Bone Broth


Posted on by Linda Baldwin

Remember how soothing chicken soup is whenever you have a cold? Well, it turns out that broth, and especially bone broth (made from simmering bones and cartilage) really do have medicinal properties. I’m always on the lookout for foods that both nourish and heal your body, and while studying at the Institute of Integrative Health and Nutrition I was turned on to bone broth as a way of improving digestive symptoms such as bloating and pain.

Bone broth is experiencing a revolution right now, and for good reason. It can reduce joint pain and inflammation through chondroitin sulphates, glucosamine, proline, arginine, and glycine which all have anti-inflammatory effects. It promotes strong, healthy bones through high amounts of calcium, magnesium, and additional nutrients that play an important role in healthy bone formation, and promotes healthy hair and nail growth thanks to the gelatin in the broth. It may even help you sleep better due to the calming effects of glycine. Wow. No wonder superstar Kobe Bryant is drinking it daily and it’s even gained a cult following in NYC!

Another important component of both broths are that they are rich in Humic + Fulvic minerals! What are those you ask and why should I want them?
Research is just beginning to show us the important role that fulvic minerals play and the information is amazing! These minerals like others support the body in a variety of ways including cellular health, brain health and digestion by helping the body absorb nutrients from food.
In a perfect world, our food would naturally contain high levels of minerals from the soil, but this is not usually the case with our modern food supply.

Ready to try this out? You can make bone broth at home (recipe below!) by simmering chicken, beef, or pretty much any type of bones in water for 6+ hours. At Intelligent Gourmet we use this recipe as a base in most of our stocks and it’s just plain delicious! No single theory of health is right for everyone, but we’ve seen bone broth work well for some people and not cause adverse symptoms for anyone, therefore we feel it’s safe to approve as a food that promotes digestive health.
Intelligent Gourmet’s Bone Broth Recipe

Ingredients

4-5.5 lbs. of Beef or Chicken bones (including joints, knuckles, necks etc.)
2 gallons Cold Water or enough to cover your bones (Why cold water? On a chemical level, it actually promotes the extraction of protein, helping to up the nutrient quotient of the stock.)
1 large Onion, coarsely chopped
2 Carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
3 stalks of Celery, coarsely chopped
4 cloves of Garlic, peeled
2 Bay Leaves
2 Tbsp of Vinegar* (such as Bragg’s Raw Apple Cider Vinegar)
1 bunch of fresh Parsley
Optional: Thyme + Rosemary (I like to add thyme, bay leaf, and whole peppercorns, with maybe a sprig or two of rosemary. If you’re adding herbs and veggies to the broth, be sure to add them toward the end of cooking, especially if you’re doing a marathon stock making session.)

*A Note on Vinegar: This is not an optional ingredient. Not only is it ideal to combine fats with acids like vinegar, when it comes to making broth the goal is to extract as many minerals as possible out of the bones into the broth water and vinegar really helps to leech all those valuable minerals out of the bones. Bragg’s raw apple cider vinegar is a good choice as it’s unfiltered and unpasteurized.

Preparation

In a large stockpot, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to-low and simmer for 6 to 24 hours (the longer you simmer it, the more intense the flavor). Add water as needed to keep ingredients submerged. Strain stock into a clean pot or heatproof plastic container and discard solid ingredients. Let cool and refrigerate overnight. Leave the solidified fat on the top while storing as the fat acts as a protective layer and delays the formation of bacteria. Immediately prior to use, bring the bone broth to a gentle boil. Makes about 12 cups.

You can use this broth as a base for soups like we do at Intelligent Gourmet, or you can drink it straight as a restorative concoction.

Interested in learning more about foods that promote healthy digestion? Here are a few I can recommend:

Bananas
While all fruits and vegetables are generally good for digestion, bananas in particular are great because they don’t irritate the stomach. That’s why they’re part of the “BRAT Diet” (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, dry Toast), which has been suggested for folks suffering from vomiting or diarrhea.

Water
Water (which most people do not drink enough of) is excellent for the digestive process as it helps move things through the intestines. Drink an extra glass of water in the morning and evening, or carry a refillable water bottle that you can sip from throughout the day.

Ginger, Turmeric, Peppermint
Spices and herbs like ginger, turmeric and peppermint are great for settling an upset stomach. Try drinking ginger or peppermint tea, or sucking on a peppermint lozenge.

Yogurt, Kefir, Sauerkraut, Kimchi
Probiotic-containing foods like yogurt are good for the digestive system because they contain good bacteria that crowds out any bad bacteria that you may have in your gut. You want to look specifically for foods that contain live bacteria, such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.

Asparagus, Oats, Onions, Lentils, Whole Grains
Prebiotic foods like asparagus contain a type of fiber that probiotics feed off of to multiply, so it’s good food for your good bacteria. Prebiotics are found in foods such as asparagus, onions, lentils and whole grains.

Soup

Drink More Green Juice, Build More Resistance Against Pollutants

Posted on by Linda Baldwin

Kale Juice

In 2012, Tampa’s air quality was graded “F” for ozone pollution – and “F” doesn’t stand for “Fun.” Some environmentalists say that Tampa has the worst air quality in all of Florida (don’t feel too bad – we’re still ahead of Los Angeles and Atlanta). But what can you do if the air you breathe is toxic?

A lot.

I’m excited about  a recent clinical trial that proves what I’ve been saying all along: Juice is a powerful way for your body to cure itself! In the study, 300 Chinese adults drank either broccoli sprout juice for three months, or pineapple and lime juice for three months. Researchers tested the urine of both groups for two harmful chemicals found in air pollution (China has one of the worst air pollution levels of any country in the world) and found that the broccoli-imbibing group excreted much more benzene and acrolein than their pineapple-sipping pals.

Yes, Broccoli Juice effectively detoxes your body of two of the most common air pollutants.

Although broccoli was the hero of this study, the same compounds responsible for detoxing are also found in kale and cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, bok choy). The magic ingredient is glucoraphanin, which when eaten, causes another compound, sulforaphane, to flush out pollutants from the body.

The Best Part

The longer participants drank broccoli sprout juice, the more they excreted those pollutants – the rate of excretion of benzene increased 61 percent, and acrolein excretion increased 23 percent over the 12 week study. One of the researchers, Thomas Kensler, was quoted by NPR as saying:

“We thought the pathway might respond initially, and then the [compounds] would wear out their welcome and the body would tune out, but the effect was just as vigorous at the beginning as at the end, which suggests that over one’s lifetime, you could enhance this preventative activity in the body [with food].”

It’s official: The more green juice you drink, the more effective it is. Stock up today! 

 

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