Food Friday: Fermented Foods/Herbs

Through foot zoning you can tell the function of every system in the body.  Through the time that I've been zoning clients I've noticed a trend.  More and more people have problems with their digestional system.  Whether it be heart burn, constipation, diarrhea, imbalance in flora or a number of other things it's a more common problem area than most people realize.  Through the use of fermented foods I've noticed a great decline in the problems my clients have.  I continually suggest the use of Fermented Herbs.  NIIR (Nordblom International Institute of Rejuvination) has a number of different fermented herbs you can purchase.  They have many great purposes.  For Food Friday I wanted to talk about the fermented foods and the benefits that they can have on our mental, emotional, and physical self.  I use these with my own family.  They are safe for children when taken in the correct amount.  Here is some information on some different Fermented Herbs

Fermented Echinacea

Fermented Holy Basil

Fermented Ginger 

(currently sold out will be in within a few weeks)

Kombucha

They also have

Fermented Lavender 

(great for helping the bladder and any infection)

Fermented Oregano 

Fermented Oregano is prepared using an ancient unique Kefir Grain ferment. This ferment transforms the carvacrol and other significant phytocompounds in oregano into their bio-forms and also produces bioavailable beneficial organic acids, enzymes and B vitamins, thus providing the body with an effective safe form of oregano now in a whole food form. This will be effective in the treatment of colds, flus, and mild fevers while at the same time supporting the intestinal tract.

Fermented Passion Flower 

Fermented Passionflower is prepared using an ancient unique Kefir Grain ferment. This ferment transforms the significant phytocompounds in passionflower into their bioavailable forms, and also produces beneficial organic acids, enzymes, B vitamins, friendly yeasts and bacteria and micronutrients. The synergy of these nutrients provides the body with a living whole food that may alleviate anxiety and insomnia, while at the same time supporting a healthy intestinal tract.

Fermented Tumeric

Fermented Living Thyme

Fermented Milk Thistle 

 Contains bioavailable phytocompounds which help promote healthy liver function and support detoxification. These compounds also have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in the body.  This is great for cleaning out the Liver.

Coming Soon (In a couple of months)

Fermented Cinnamon

Fermented Garlic

Fermented Yarrow

I'm continually getting more information on all of the fermented Herbs that NIIR (www.goddessofspring.com) carries.  Each time I get more information I will update this post.  If you are interested in purchasing any Fermented Herbs you can contact me for pricing details. Innersoles01{at}gmail{dot}com

Don't forget there are 2 giveaways going on right now.  One is on Twist Me Pretty (ends 3-15) and the other is on my Facebook page, Inner Soles (ends 4-13).  Be sure to check both out and enter to win.  

As always, any questions or concerns that you have don't hesitate to leave a comment or shoot me an email. Innersoles01{at}gmail{dot}com

More Dairy Free

I said diary free was hard.  It is.  There are just some things that you can't find a good replacement for.  That being said being dairy free and soy free some days feels impossible.  Last night my hubby was craving ice cream.  I have to admit that I too was craving something sweet.  I have a horrible sweet tooth.  I blame my father.  C (our lovely 5-almost 6-year old) told us that he couldn't have dairy because it gave him a stomach ache, Jaxson couldn't have diary because it made it hard for him to breathe, and that I get hives when I eat it.  I then said "Ya daddy shouldn't have it either because it isn't good for his lungs or belly either."  My hubs then said "Would you stop making up reasons for me not to eat dairy.  It doesn't bug me."
So he stopped by Burger Stop and got a cheese cake shake.  My thought was well if he's going to get dairy I guess getting as much dairy as possible will be a good test.  You see we haven't really had any dairy in a long time.  Limited amounts of cheese and ice cream but not a full shake worth.  I knew it wouldn't be a good idea but I got a shake as well.  DANG SWEET TOOTH!!!!  I kid you not less than 20 minutes after he finished eating his shake he turned to me and said.... "If I tell you something will you promise not to hold it over my head?"  My first thought was uh oh... what did he do.  LOL!  I said yes and he said something I honestly NEVER thought would come out of my husbands mouth.  "That ice cream didn't sit to well with my stomach."  I seriously about died laughing on the floor!
And now for the kicker.  We went grocery shopping where I bought the hubs a dairy free soy free yogurt to try.  He really likes yogurt so I wanted him to try it.  He didn't touch it for a few days (more than likely because it wasn't "real yogurt") but took it to work with him today.  I got a text around noon saying "Ate the healthy yogurt and it was good.  Would be great with granola."  Again my chin hit the floor.  We are making strides as a dairy free family!  I'm proud of us!  Days like today make me think that Dairy free is not so hard.

With that said.....on this wonderful cold food friday I went on a food adventure.

Tonight for dinner we are having Vegan Crepes with Cashew Cream Chesse and Strawberries.  This use to be a regular meal in our house.  I personally LOVE crepes.  But I only like the fruit kind.  I have a sweet tooth.  I mean a serious sweet tooth so of course I naturally go to the sweet version.  When we went strictly dairy free this wasn't really an option any more.  I couldn't find a good substitute for the cream cheese/whip cream filling that I make.  THAT ENDS TODAY MY FRIENDS!!!!

I am seriously in LOVE with this cashew cream cheese.  I may even venture to say I could actually make a cream cheese icing for a cake (if I ever find a good dairy free/soy free/coconut free recipe) one day.  It is pretty good.

I'm pretty excited about a lot of things from Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom.  I have so much to learn and try and I'm excited for the future of being dairy free, soy free, coconut free and maybe shortly here gluten free.

If you have any questions about dairy free food options, foot zoning, or essential oils you can contact me at innersoles01{at}gmail{dot}com.

Food Vs. Medicine

J has a rash on his torso that has come out of no where.  We've cut him off of basically everything we can think.  We're going to start a short juice fast with him Monday to see what else we can figure out.  I'm hoping to get somewhere.  I'll keep you all updated with what happens.  In the mean time read these and let them sink in....

Dairy free

EDIT: DAIRY FREE IS HARD!  Just this morning I had a good cry in front of my fridge because what I wanted to make for dinner had cream cheese in it.  I have days where I "quit caring".  On those days I let J and C eat what they want.  For the most part it isn't an issue but there are ALWAYS things that they want (like chocolate) that has dairy in it.  The only problem is that the next 3 days are miserable.  They don't feel good and it's totally not worth it.  Some days I hate it, other days I'm glad I have a solution for a seemingly unsolvable problem. 

source

"Got Milk"

It's statement our entire nations knows.  You hear those two words and an image of some movie star with a milk mustache comes to mind... But is milk really good for you.  Are dairy products all that they are cracked up to be?  I have spent countless hours reading anything I could get my hands on with regards to dairy products.  The things that I've learned have changed me and my family.  It has changed the way we eat and the way we live our lives. When I decided that as a family we needed to go Dairy free it was SO hard.  J has a dairy, soy, and coconut intolerance   So for him, it isn't an option.  He has to eat the way he does for his own health.  For the rest of us, it was optional.  But really to what extent.  I didn't want to have to cook 2 different dinners because J couldn't eat it and then I also didn't want him growing up feeling left out and different from the rest of us. Then I remembered a friend has told me about something called the Milk letter.  I searched for it and read it multiple times... I was blown out of the water.  Everything I grew up believing in one simple (well rather long) article went out the window.  I read things I'd never thought about.  Things that when I read them made PERFECT sense... Like this part 

"If you really want to play it safe, you may decide to join the growing number of Americans who are eliminating dairy products from their diets altogether. Although this sounds radical to those of us weaned on milk and the five basic food groups, it is eminently viable. Indeed, of all the mammals, only humans--and then only a minority, principally Caucasians--continue to drink milk beyond babyhood."   

To me becoming dairy free seemed like a HUGE feet.  In my opinion it was in everything good.  Cake, ice cream, pasta sauces, bread, and countless other things.  The problem is that I've known for a while that dairy and my body don't exactly get along.  When I eat large amounts I break out in hives.  For years I've dealt with hives after eating Italian food or Ice cream and didn't think that much about it.  It was just something that happened and I deal with it.  Then I was shown a documentary called Forks Over Knives.  EVERYTHING that I thought I knew about food and what I was feeding my family went out the window.

We started by making small changes.  We are 90% dairy free (we will occasionally have cheese on things because there isn't a great cheese substitute).  I'm not going to sit here and tell you it's been easy.  It's been the hardest thing I've done in a long time.  BUT with that said... we have noticed a difference.  I haven't had hives in weeks either!
Here is something else to think about from the Milk Letter.  It really makes perfect sense to me.

"Milk is not just milk. The milk of every species of mammal is unique and specifically tailored to the requirements of that animal. For example, cows' milk is very much richer in protein than human milk. Three to four times as much. It has five to seven times the mineral content. However, it is markedly deficient in essential fatty acids when compared to human mothers' milk. Mothers' milk has six to ten times as much of the essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. (Incidentally, skimmed cow's milk has no linoleic acid). It simply is not designed for humans. Food is not just food, and milk is not just milk. It is not only the proper amount of food but the proper qualitative composition that is critical for the very best in health and growth. Biochemists and physiologists -and rarely medical doctors - are gradually learning that foods contain the crucial elements that allow a particular species to develop its unique specializations."

So... In order to prove to everyone that there is still tasty things to eat without eating dairy products I'm going to post my favorite desert.  J downs this like you wouldn't believe it!

Raw Chocolate Pudding
1 lg. avocado
1 c. soaked raw cashews
1/4 c. coconut oil (can be replaced with low heat sesame oil)
1/2 c. agave nectar or raw honey
1/2 c. raw cacao powder
1 TBS vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 c. water (or more to reach desired consistency)
Soak nuts for 4 hrs, then rinse and drain. Put all ingredients in high speed blender and blend until smooth. Taste and add additional honey or agave for sweetness or cacao powder for chocolate. Add one Tablespoon extra water at a time and only add as much as necessary to blend!  Serve with fresh strawberries or my favorite is blackberries.

Diet changes are key in healing our bodies.  While Foot Zoning can do amazing things to help our bodies heal themselves small progress will be made while we continue to put bad food into our bodies.  So I'm going to do something to educate you (my clients and readers) about the healthy way we should all eat.  

I'm going to call it FOOD FRIDAY.

I'll be posting anything from healthy recipes to benefits from eating certain foods.  I'm really looking forward to it!  Hope you are too!  As always, any questions or concerns that you have don't hesitate to leave a comment or shoot me an email.  innersoles01 at gmail dot com

GMO

There is a free screening going of now through February 3rd of Genetic Roulette.  Please educate yourself about what you put into your body!  Click on the Link posted below to watch.

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/posts/genetic-roulette-free-screening-vote-today/

It truly is eye opening!

GMO

Do you know what GMO's are?  I didn't until I did some research and some serious learning.  It's pretty outstanding what we are putting into our bodies!

This is a GREAT video about GMO and explains in depth what they are and how they affect our bodies.

Genetic Roulette