Tag Archives: nutrition

Smoothie with Grapefruit, Stinging Nettles and Sweet Green Grapes

27 April 2014

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This morning was spectacular in my Danish garden – the sun, the birds, the flowers, the butterflies and an intoxicating smell of spring filled the air. I was out, bare feet in the grass breathing in spring and enjoying the early morning.

Spring

Spring

However, with spring and an abundance of spring flowers, come weeds – dandelion, stinging nettles and ground elder – they invade us and keep us busy all summer, trying to keep them under control….

But actually – weeds, such as stinging nettles are packed with goodness.  They have lots of nutrients, protein, calcium and iron among many other things, and they are so good for us  – read more here.

So I thought –if you can’t beat them, why not eat them!!!? 🙂

I covered my hands with plastic bags and picked some stinging nettles – the aroma of them were somewhat spicy, in a gentle kind of way. Which made me think that they would be amazing combined with grapefruits, in a smoothie.

Stinging nettles

Stinging nettles

Green Smoothie with Grapefruit and Stinging Nettles

A good handful of fresh stinging nettles

A bunch of sweet green grapes

One big grapefruit

One orange

A chunk of pineapple

water

Wear gloves or plastic bags on your hands while picking and cleaning the nettles, they will sting you! Wash them carefully before use.

Add all the ingredients to the blender with some ice cold water and blend into a smooth delicious powerful green drink.

 

Grapefruit

Grapefruit

Sweet Green Grapes

Sweet Green Grapes

Green smoothie with stinging nettles

Green smoothie with stinging nettles

It’s quite easy to become addicted to this drink – the combination is really good. The stinging nettles have this very special beautiful flavour – I loved it and I hope you will too!

Enjoy!

“Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them” –  A.A. Milne

Read more about weeds:

Edible wild weed salad – by Organic Authority

10 weeds worth growing – by Care 2 

8 weeds you can eat –  by Organic Gardening.

Green smoothie with apple and fresh thyme

15 October 2012

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There is something about mixing fruits and herbs – Apple & Thyme – Strawberry & Basil – Peaches & Rosemary – it creates such wonderful flavor combinations. Here, while the autumn rain is pouring down outside my window, I still recall the Strawberry/ Lime/ Basil popsicles we made this summer.

Today’s delicious green smoothie is made with apples and thyme and it is scrumptious!

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Become an active participant in fighting cancer and other diseases in your body

20 August 2012

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Millions are diagnosed with cancer all over the world, every year. We all know people with cancer, we all know people who have died of cancer. Many of us know people with cancer in our immediate family. Some of us even have personal experience with cancer, or maybe even you are fighting the disease right now.

Cancer is everywhere.

“You have cancer”  must be THE most frightening diagnosis the doctor could ever give us. Most of us are rightfully terrified of cancer.

This past year, I have heard of 7 cases in my family and close circle of friends, 7 cases! And more examples come up as I write this post.Even as a young girl I had a boy friend who died of cancer. I cry every time I hear of someone dying of cancer and I ask myself, why? Why is it that so many people get sick with cancer, nowadays?

Is there anything we can do to actively fight and prevent these diseases? I firmly believe that’s possible!

Here are 6 inspiring sources of information that can help you to be an active participant in fighting cancer and other diseases.

During my own healing journey I have come across many incredible stories of people who have healed diseases naturally and it is literally fascinating!

Can we actually do something to create an environment within the body that can help prevent cancer or stop it from spreading? Is it possible to support the body to heal on its own? And hereby add a powerful supplement to what the doctors can do for us?

According to these studies – yes it is possible!

In this post I will look at some very inspiring sources of information. This is information that everyone should know about. Information to help us prevent diseases like cancer and to create the worst possible condition for cancer cells in the body to spread. It is information that brings hope – that we can assist our bodies in healing and be an active participant, by giving it what it needs to fight disease and heal.

  • The book The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD and Thomas M. Campbell , MD. This book is such an incredibly important book about the relationship between diet and disease. It is the research and story about how we can reverse diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer!! Dr Colin Campbell’s research is ground-breaking and life-saving!
    The title comes from that Dr. Campbell found in his research that certain rule areas in China, cancer is non-existent!  He obviously wanted to find out why and eventually discovered that in some areas the people ate very little or no meat and no processed food. He found that there is a direct link between animal protein and cancer. Chapter 3 in the book is called “Turning off Cancer” – the research in the book is evident. There is a connection between the food we eat and the diseases we get. It is also evident that it is possible to reverse these diseases and we can do that by taking the reins and be active participants in our own healing.
  • Kris Carr is a living testimonial of this. She was diagnosed with cancer in the liver and the lungs!  She was told, “Sorry, no cure”, and given very short time to live . Today it is 10 years since Kris was diagnosed with that incurable disease, Cancer, and she is living proof that it is possible to turn cancer off! She did turn cancer off, and is fitter than she has ever been. As a journalist diagnosed with cancer she documented her very private journey with cancer from the point that she was diagnosed and then her journey onward.  She is also the author of two wonderful New York Times Bestselling books – “Crazy Sexy Cancer” and “Crazy Sexy Diet”. She is an incredible woman, so inspiring she will knock your socks off and I highly recommend her work. She has been and continues to be my hero and my inspiration. An amazing woman!
  • Food Matters is an incredible documentary about the food we eat and the connection between diet and disease. Food Matters have made 2 very powerful documentaries, one is called “Food Matters” and the other “Hungry for Change”. I highly recommend these movies. They are mind-blowing .
  • “Forks over Knives” another incredible documentary based on the work of Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s research – another mind blowing documentary that will change not only the way you look at food but probably your life. It is a documentary that saves lives! It tells how we can reverse diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer!
  • Dr Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in 1931 for his discovery that cancer is caused by weakened cell respiration due to lack of oxygen at a cellular level. He discovered that in the absence of oxygen, the cell reverts to a primal nutritional program and nourishes itself by converting glucose through fermentation. This creates an acidic condition in the body and the cancer cells then begin to multiply. Cancer cells are anaerobic, they cannot live in an environment rich in oxygen. When we eat plant based foods we assist our bodies to be more alkaline – also meaning more aerobic, which cancer cells cannot live in!

This is the trailer for Kris Carr’s inspiring documentary

This is the trailer for Food Matter’s

This is the trailer for Forks over Knives – a documentary that leaves you empowered, because you learn there is so much you can do to heal!

This is an inspiring YouTube about a young lady who cured herself of ovarian cancer

Links to books and relevant websites

The China Study

Kris Carr and her Crazy Sexy Cancer

Crazy Sexy diet by Kris Carr

Food Matters 

Forks over Knives

Victoria Boutenko, Green for Life

This is great news! This means we can be grateful and accept all the doctors can do to help us heal – and at the same time, take the reins and go full power into doing whatever possible, ourselves, to create the very best conditions for the body to heal, by boosting the body with nutrients, healthy plant-based alkaline foods, fresh green juices and lots of green smoothies.

Kris Carr’s books “Crazy Sexy Cancer” and “Crazy Sexy Diet” are full of tips and great advise on how to alkalize your body and boost your health, to create optimal conditions for your body to heal.

I hope this post will inspire you to take the rains and be an activist for your own health – to prevent disease, to heal and to flourish.

A straight shot of health

16 August 2012

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One of the easiest ways to improve your health, is by drinking fresh juice!

It is delicious! One of the most satisfying drinks on a hot summers day, is an ice cold freshly squeezed green juice – I absolutely love it!

It is vibrant and full of goodness – a straight and instant shot of health.

In the green market I found these wonderfully ripe and incredibly sweet pineapples on sale, and in my garden, I have Swiss chard – yellow and red. I love the taste of fresh chard and I use it a lot. In green smoothies and in juice but also gently sauteed with fresh ginger, garlic and a dash of soy sauce. – Today I juiced it with the ripest and sweetest pineapple. No artificial sugar or colors – just pure nature. Served on ice, it is the best summer drink you can ever imagine!

Swiss chard is a great source of anti-oxidant,  vitamin C, vitamin K and a rich in omega 3. it also is a great source of minerals such as calcium and iron.

Along with the pineapple that is rich in vitamin A and C – great source of calcium and copper – this is a power drink full of goodness and great taste.

High cholesterol? Join us when we go plant-wild

20 July 2012

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14 years ago I was diagnosed with high cholesterol – actually sky-high cholesterol. It was the end of my world. I hated hearing that from my doctor. “You have to live with it” he said, as though that would be the easiest thing in the world. Was he crazy?? How dared he just say that in the most nonchalant way?? I was furious!! Did he not understand that I needed my steak and would die without cheese?  “You’ve inherited it – the generic kind” he continued, “and medication is the only way, I am sorry.”

So for almost 14 years now I have been using medication and never believing for one minute that it could be any different.

Today, I am proud to say that I have normal Cholesterol levels and I no longer need medication.

I still eat steak and cheese – but not 3-4 times a day, like I did before. I have changed my ratio from 80:20 ( 80% dairy, cheese, eggs, meat and not to forget cakes – 20% grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables to a 20:80 so that today I eat 80% plant food/vegan and 20% whatever.

And one of the great things is – I didn’t change my diet! It changed me! When I started drinking green smoothies every day I just naturally started craving more green food! It happened painlessly and automatically without my intention ever to change a thing. No challenges, no strict this and that, because of the green smoothies I just all of a sudden fancied more green food. I changed some of my traditional meals with plant food, first for breakfast, then for lunch as well –   I got more energy, started to jog, continued eating more green and feeling better for it all the time.

And one day when I didn’t have any more cholesterol medication – I went to my doctor and I told him: “My life has changed since I was diagnosed with high cholesterol. I now eat 80% plant-based food and I have started jogging. I would like to check and see what my cholesterol is like without medication and with this new way of living?'” He looked at me in disbelief, but he honored my request saying. ” Okay, but this means 2 months without medication before we can take the blood test.”

2 months went by – including 5 weeks traveling and eating out, but I continued jogging, drinking as many green smoothies as I could find (not always easy) and trying to take some of my meals as plant-based. After 2 months I had my blood test, thinking that my cholesterol would probably be too high and I was ready to go back on medication. To my surprise and that of my doctor, he called me and said “your cholesterol level is normal. I see no need for medication – if you continue like this. But, we need to monitor and see”. Subsequent tests have all been positive and I have been free from medication for a whole year now.

Many diseases are directly caused by the way we eat – high levels of cholesterol is just one of them; there is also diabetes 2, heart disease, obesity, etc. By taking ownership of our own health, we can do amazing things. I would not go so far as to say that you can cure anything with lifestyle changes, and I am not suggesting you stop your medication without consulting a doctor! But I do want to flag that we have the power to change! One meal at the time –  a jog, a nice walk – it all makes a difference and adds to improve our health. Every little bit adds to your health!

The whole family is on-board – and that did not happen overnight – however the green smoothies seem to influence everyone. A milestone is approaching as the other day my daughter said: “Mom, I want to go completely vegan for a week” and my son said “Okay, I’ll be a weekend-vegan”  🙂

So next week we go plant-wild for a week – I hope you will join us for a week of fun and great recipes. And there is no need to be 120% – maybe you may just want to change a meal a day, maybe two, maybe you just want to follow us and see how we do – no matter what, you are welcome!!

Aren’t these peaches & blueberries lovely? – it’s a great time of the year to go plant-wild! Next week, there will be more of this:

There’ll be lots of green smoothies and juice – leafy greens and sweet summer fruit, blended and juiced like this

Breakfast may look like this

lunch like this

perhaps a homemade healthy popsicle

Dinner may look like this

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Credit:

The beautiful ceramic dish with the peaches, are made by my friend Malene Foyd.

Click here to go to Plant-wild day 1

Drink your greens

1 April 2012

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Yaay the sun is finally shining here on the West coast of British Columbia! But before I head out to soak up the sunshine I want to share this simple but delicious juice recipe with you!

One of the best things you can ever add to your health routine is drinking green juice and green smoothies – if you don’t do anything else drink your greens!

Before I knew about the green juice and green smoothie trick – I just did not get enough fruit and vegetables. I had vegetables and fruit every day but not a lot. I would always start with eating big portions of meat and potatoes – yes I was such a big  meat and potato kind of girl!! I would load my plate with meat and potatoes and then after filling my self, I would have a tiny little salad or a few of the cooked veggies – I was too full.

Then I started drinking green smoothies and making green juice and the rest is history – by doing that I get so much more veggies and fruit, in fact I get more than I would ever be able to eat and chew my way though and I love it!!

With every green drink I felt like eating more greens and vegetables – my taste buds changed and I got tons of energy.

Here is the juice I made just now.

This one is made with collard greens, apples and a couple of sticks of celery. Served with ice on the rocks, stirred not shaken 🙂 Enjoy!

All or Nothing

11 March 2012

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It is kind of funny that when I tell people: “I eat Raw food and vegan plant-based food”. They usually look at me and say “but then you can’t eat meat or dairy products!” To which I answer: “Of course I can!” I eat everything and I don’t restrict myself – in any way. All I make sure of is that most of the food I eat is plant-based. I do this because I love the way I feel when I eat this way – I have clarity, energy, peace of mind, balance, and I feel content and healthy. Happy Health!

Our diets should be 80/20 alkaline/acidic. However, our typical ratio of acidic to alkaline food is 20/80! – just the opposite! Most of what we eat creates acidity in the body! Things like meat, cheese and milk products, processed food, white bread, soda, energy drinks, white sugar create acidity in the body. Stress also adds to acidity in the body. And, the more acidic the body is the more health problems we have! Disease thrives in an acidic environment! Eating plant-based food or a diet that is high in plant-based foods will make your body more alkaline and will also help to prevent and even reverse heart disease, lower your cholesterol, prevent diabetes. You will loose weight and/or maintain ideal weight, lower blood pressure, improve mental health, and countless more.
Plant foods promote health!

One of my heroes is the New York Times’ food journalist Mark Bittman. His life style lead him to sickness, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, he suffered from sleep apnea, had bad knees and weighed 35 pounds too much. His doctor suggested he tried a vegan diet – sounds like a joke, the man is a food writer 😉 But he had to do something so he invented Vb6! Vegan before 6 – meaning he only eats plant based food during the day until 6pm. In 3 months he had lost 35 pounds, his cholesterol went down and stayed down, “it solved everything” he says. He had so much energy that he started to jog & run – today he runs marathons! Vb6 – think about it!

We need to look differently at the way we eat and take action to save our lives – and the planet. See this Ted Talk, where Bittman talks about how we not only improve our health by eating plants, but we will also reduce our carbon foot print.