Food Fact #1

"Food Fact: Asparagus is high in glutathione, an important anticarcinogen and is good source of vitamins A, C and E, B-complex vitamins, potassium and zinc. It also contains rutin, which protects small blood vessels from rupturing and may protect against radiation."


(Dr. Mercola)

Paleo Granola

Ingredients

• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup coconut oil 
• 1/4 cup RAW honey (regular honey has no benefits whatsoever).
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 cup dried cranberries or blueberries or whatever you prefer
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon (or more if you're like me)
• Dash of nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon sea salt (optional.  And by the way, SALT IS NOT BAD FOR YOU!)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Add all ingredients in a large bowl and MIX (you will want to heat up the coconut oil and raw honey to melt it down and pour over your goods)
3. Place on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally to help it not burn.  (The longer it cooks, the crunchier it will get).
5. When you pull it out of the oven, mix in dried fruit. Let cool.
6. EAT! And store in a tight lid glass jar and keep it in your pantry for a weeks worth of breakfast YUM.  Have with almond milk or coconut milk (optional).

Fruit and Vegetable Pesticide Loads

Are All Vegetables the Same?

Conventionally farmed vegetables are not your best choice. Organic vegetables are a much better option.   Why?  USDA Organic farmers must use different standards when growing vegetables. These standards include never using:

• Pesticides

• Synthetic Fertilizers

• Sewage sludge

• Genetically modified organisms

• Ionizing radiation

 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers 60 percent of herbicides, 90 percent of fungicides, and 30 percent of insecticides to be carcinogenic, and most are damaging to your nervous system as well. In fact, these powerful and dangerous chemicals have been linked to numerous health problems such as:

• Neurotoxicity

• Disruption of your endocrine system

• Carcinogenicity

• Immune system suppression

• Male infertility and reduced reproductive function

• Miscarriages

• Parkinson's Disease

The following fruits and vegetables have the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy organic:

• -  Peaches
• -  Apples
• -  Sweet bell peppers
• -  Celery
• -  Nectarines
• -  Strawberries
• -  Cherries
• -  Lettuce
• -  Grapes (imported)
• -  Pears
• -  Spinach
• -  Potatoes

The following fruits and vegetables have the lowest pesticide load, making them the safest bet among conventionally grown foods:

• -  Broccoli
• -  Cabbage
• -  Eggplant
• -  Banana
• -  Kiwi
• -  Asparagus
• -  Sweet peas (frozen)
• -  Mango
• -  Pineapple
• -  Sweet corn (frozen)
• -  Avocado
• -  Onion

Why Eat Healthy?

1.  You will feel better, lighter, and more energized.  No more wanting to nap after every meal or that desperate reach for coffee at 3pm.  When you eat optimally, your body performs in response to it.

2.  You will think clearer.  No more of that toxic garbage living inside you.  No more sugar highs and then lows, carb cravings and crashes, affecting your gastrointestinal tract, which affects your hormones, moods, state of being, etc.

3.  You will look better. This is an obvious one and ought not to be your sole motivation, but let's face it, looking healthy is a huge plus.  Clothes will fit better, sizes will go down, and confidence will go up.  When you are beginning an exercise regimen, 70% is nutrition.  You can workout all you want, get faster and stronger, and hardly make a difference in your weight if you don't alter your diet accordingly.