The Healing Power of Superfoods & a 25% Sale!!

Supplements have played a key role in my life ever since I went vegan three years ago. Whether you are vegan or non-vegan, getting your daily dose of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and protein is extremely important along with a healthy diet. This weekend, WholeFoods is having a 25% sale off all their supplements, therefore, I decided to share some of my favorite supplements and superfoods with you! A few of these I bought yesterday at WF to enjoy the sale, other’s I have at home. They are my everyday musts! The powders I use in my morning shakes. A teaspoon of each combined with strawberries, bananas, blueberries, almond or coconut milk, and a scoop of my vegan protein. The pills and drops I take as described below. You can find all of them at WF, of course

POWDER FORM:

-Moringa: this is one of the best superfoods out there. It is made from the leaves of the Moringa plant. It is known as the Tree of life, and its name couldn’t suit it better! It prevents diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, anemia, arthritis, liver disease, and respiratory, skin, and digestive issues. It also has seven times more Vitamin C than oranges, four times more Vitamin A than carrots, four times more calcium than milk, three times more potassium than bananas, and two times more protein than yogurt!

The taste: Like green tea.

 -Maca: It is made from the Maca root and found in high regions of South America. Its benefits include: hormonal balance, energy booster, health booster, increased fertility, immune system booster, improved sexual function, and improved memory and focus. It is rich in Calcium, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, iron, potassium, Vitamins B, C and E, and Zinc.

The taste: Earthy and creamy. 

-Camu Camu: It is made from the fruit of a tree that grows in Brazil. The fruit looks like a red version of the Acai. Its benefits include: immune system boost, inflammation reduction, detoxification of the body, and overall body health. It has a massive amount of Vitamin C in it, carrying one of the highest concentrations in any food source. This helps your immune system and acts as an anti-inflammatory.

The taste: Bittersweet.

 -Lucuma: It is made from a fruit native to Chile, Peru and Ecuador containing high amounts of Vitamin B3, calcium and protein. It has a maple-like taste that gives Lucuma a perfect use as a 100% natural sweetener. Use it in your smoothies, desserts, baked goods, nice cream, etc. It is also known for improving skin health, cardiovascular health, and blood sugar levels.

The taste: Like maple syrup.

-Golden Milk: It is the perfect combination of turmeric, dates, cardamon, ashwagandha, vanilla and black pepper. I add 1 teaspoon of it to a warm cup of almond or coconut milk, and drink it in the mornings or right before bed. The flavor is delicious, and it has two of my favorite superfoods: turmeric and ashwagandha. Read below to find out about their health benefits.

-VEGA protein: It is made from greens and grains. I've tried dozens of vegan protein powders and the only one I truly connected with was VEGA. Beside of the delicious flavor, VEGA carries 50% of your daily vitamins and minerals, 20g of plant based protein, omegas, probiotics, fibers and antioxidants. 

The flavors I love: coconut almond, vanilla chai, and chocolate. 

-Cacao: I don't think I need to talk much about Cacao. We've all heard of it and probably LOVE it! It is one of the strongest antioxidant carriers. I use it to create yummy desserts like cacao mousse, or add 2 tablespoons of it to my morning chocolate-mint shakes. Check my daily Instagram stories for recipes :)

PILLS:

-Turmeric (you can also get it in powder form): I take these whenever I have body aches, cramps, headaches, etc. They are 100% natural and vegan. They are made from the turmeric root (looks like an orange-yellow ginger) and traditionally used in Asian foods for taste and color. Turmeric has also been used in Ayurvedic Medicine for years as a natural anti-inflammatory and a source full of antioxidants. It is also known for boosting brain activity and health, lowering the risk of heart issues, preventing arthritis, and fighting depression.

Whether you choose to take it in powder form, golden milk or pills, turmeric is great for menstrual cramps, irritable bowls, headaches, and body aches.

The taste: Strong and bitter flavor. A combination of ginger and oranges.

 -Ashwagandha Root: It is made from the root of one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing: Ashwaghanda. It is used in India to treat stress, fatigue, lack of energy, concentration issues, and a weak immune system.

I take a pill every morning with my breakfast.

DROPS:

-Bach flowers: A combination of water, brandy, and dew from healing flowers. They were developed by Edward Bach who believed in the natural healing properties of flowers. I remember taking these drops when I was little. I’ve always been a hyperactive soul, therefore, my parents used to give me a few drops of Bach flowers to calm my hyperactivity. I now take them during the days I feel stressed, low on energy, or even low on self-love. There are over 38 different flower remedies to choose from.

The taste: Like brandy :p

Oh Holi Medicine! The natural way.

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Oh, Holi Med!

I don’t about you guys, but I’ve always been intrigued by holistic medicine. You see, my grandmother, aka my second mother, my psychologist, my confident, my soul-mate and partner in crime got diagnosed with advanced cancer in her early 70s. When the doctors looked at her chest x-rays they told her she had few months to live and would not make it to a year. According to them, it was a miracle she was still alive. Little did they know she would live for another year and half. I think my family and I have natural medicine to thank for that. And of course, my grandmother’s willingness to live. The minute she got diagnosed, we changed her diet to a vegan diet and gave her natural meds, herbs and teas but the doctors suggested chemotherapy and I’m pretty sure that is what took her away from us. The chemo was so strong and toxic it did not only try to kill the cancer but it consumed her immune system completely. There’s no day that passes by that I don’t ask myself what would’ve happened if we had chosen holistic medicine all the way. It’s been two years since she passed away and besides the silence and loneliness she left in me, she also made me start to wonder more and more about holistic medicine. So… I went to a “holi-doc” and to be honest, I was, and still am, completely shocked with the results. Apparently, being vegan and exercising regularly is not enough. We still need to worry about the pH of the foods we eat! I’ve always heard about alkalinity vs acidity but never put too much attention to it. Consequence? My pH is 6.3 when it should be 7.3 or above. You guys might be asking yourselves “Why the hell is pH so important?”. Here’s a great response to that by Dr Sonja Benjamin: “Our bodies live and die at the cellular level. The billions of cells in our bodies must maintain alkalinity, in order to function and stay alive. The first line of defense against disease is a proper pH balance. Disease can only grow in an acidic body, which makes a condition favorable for the growth of bacteria, yeast, fungus, mold, viruses, and any other unwanted organisms. Cancer always strikes those with an over-acidic body. An acidic state causes a lack of oxygenation at the cellular level. When the pH level falls below 7.4, there is less than the maximum oxygen in the blood. Blood carries the maximum oxygen at pH 7.4 (alkaline). Without proper oxygenation, unfriendly bacteria, mold, and viruses will prosper. When the human body is in an acidic state, it will try to shield itself from the damaging acid by storing the acid in fat cells. The body tries to prevent the acid from eating holes in tissues. When the acid level is high in the body, calcium is also depleted. Your body may make fat cells in order to store unwanted acid for its own protection. This process may save your vital organs from severe damage. By returning to a balanced pH level, you may lose unwanted fat cells.Osteoporosis is an acidic problem. As the body becomes more acidic, calcium is depleted. The body will then leach calcium from bones, teeth, and tissue to make up for this loss. One of the first warning signs is calcium deposits in the body, which come from the calcium in our teeth and bones and not from nutritional calcium.”

Now, back to my story. According to my “doc” my pH was the result of the killer combination of my stress level (apparently, abnormal for my age) and acid food choices. I told him there’s not much I could do about the stress since I work in one of the most stressful industries out there, private banking, so until I have the guts to quit and make my passion my bill-payer I would focus on meditating more and definitely taking charge of my eating habits. He laughed and we agreed on the following: 2-3 months healing process to a better me focused on: less carbs, alkaline water ONLY, less coffee (lowering it from 3 to 1 cup a day), a diet based on 2/3 alkaline foods and 1/3 acidic and of course, no wine (told him that would not happen, like EVER! My family produces wine for a living so I’ve been basically a wine-lover since I was tall enough to grab a glass from the table and serve myself! Luckily, the “doc” knew which battles to choose.) and SUPPLEMENTS! Vegans need supplements more than anyone. I’ve hated vitamins and pills since I was a kid so I avoided them as much as I could. Result? I’m deficient in almost every vitamin out there. The supplements he recommended are 100% natural and VEGAN. Here’s the list in case you guys want to give them a try:

-E3Live Renew Me Body Blend (Strengthens immune system, improves attention and energy levels, supports circulation, etc) I add two teaspoons to my morning shake.

-Diatomaceous Earth (root powder that kills all types of bacteria and parasites) I add one teaspoon to my morning shake.

-Moringa (Superfood Miracle aka Botanical Multi-vitamin)

-Clinic’s Choice Optimal Flora (Probiotic to balance digestive bacteria)

-Clinic’s Choice Protosolve (promotes healthy circulation system)

-Clinic’s Choice Digest Plus (enzymes)

-Osteo-Gest (osteoporosis prevention)

I already started this journey and will visit the “doc” in October for a follow up. I’ll let you guys know how it goes. In the meantime, here’s a link to a list of alkaline vs acidic foods. You’ll be amazed by how foods we thought were so healthy (oatmeal and brown rice) turn out to be acidic! At least, I was.

Love you guys!

http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm

 

http://www.doctoroz.com/article/25-alkaline-promoting-foods