Yes, you read that right…you can eat these popsicles for breakfast and feel good about it.
Your kids will think you're the coolest Mom ever too!
These are so easy to make and they're a perfect pick-me-up on a hot Summer day.
The popsicle molds make them look very pretty but if you don't have molds, you can use ice cube trays or small dixie cups. Improvising in the kitchen can be fun!
RICH AND CREAMY BREAKFAST
POPSICLES
INGREDIENTS:
Plain Greek yogurt, full-fat recommended ( I like Fage)
Organic fruit, thinly sliced (kiwi, strawberries, and blueberries) or fruit of your choice
DIRECTIONS:
1. Add a little yogurt to mold, slide fruit slices down the sides if you want them to show, and look pretty.
2. Add more yogurt and then more fruit until the mold is full.
NOTE: You can also chop your fruit smaller and combine it with the yogurt – then pour into molds and freeze for at least 3 hours.
3. Remove from molds and serve with granola if desired.
Yum!
And remember, you can use any fruit you have on hand. Pineapple, cherries, oranges, peaches and even a handful of your favorite nuts work great!
It's almost Independence Day here in the states and these make a tasty and festive, red, white and blue treat when you include only the strawberries and blueberries. Enjoy!
Did you know that white sugar is one of the most toxic substances you can put in your body? And even though they're touted as “healthy” you have to use extreme caution with most artificial sweeteners because of the harmful chemicals they contain.
In this short video you'll discover my two favorite go-to sweeteners that taste better than any artificial sweetener on the market. And the best part is they are 100% natural!
Let's face it…everyone ages. But did you know that there is FAR more to the process than merely the passing of time?
And in spite of the unique combination of genes you and I have inherited, we can make choices that largely determine whether we will look and feel 10 years (or more) older, or younger than our driver’s license indicates.
Many variables contribute to how old we look and feel. In general, inflammation and oxidative stress are the major culprits that cause us to age faster than we should.
Some of the key variables that contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress include:
A sedentary lifestyle
Being overweight
High levels of blood sugar and insulin
A non-nutritive diet consisting of processed food and sugar
Too much stress
Inadequate sleep and rest
Harmful habits such as smoking and too much alcohol
The inflammation and oxidative damage brought on by the above factors are associated with loss of cognitive function, memory, motor function and balance, the accelerated aging of our skin, and poorer health in general.
There is no substitute for righting those factors listed above.
No special pill or single food can reverse premature aging. However, when we deliberately pursue a healthy lifestyle, it’s helpful to know some of the anti-aging secrets and put them to good use!
One of those secrets is the blueberry.
The blueberry ranks as a superfood due to its high nutritional value. Additionally, those little, deep-blue pearls are brimming with antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals that cause inflammation and oxidative damage.
Color matters! The anthocyanins in blueberries that give them their deep blue color relieve oxidative stress that causes aging.
Blueberries have been shown to slow or reverse cognitive degeneration, reduce inflammation, improve motor function, hinder the growth of cancer cells, and benefit the urinary tract.
The vitamin C in blueberries is also great for your skin, building collagen that keeps skin firm and wrinkle-free.
The compounds in blueberries also help prevent heart disease and stroke, improve eyesight, reduce the symptoms of arthritis, boost your immune system, and ward off Alzheimer’s.
While blueberries are relatively low in sugar, you don’t want to go out and gorge yourself with blueberries! Simply make them a part of your regular diet.
If you're looking for the PERFECT side dish to bring to all of your potlucks and parties this season, I have JUST the recipe for you!
This salad is so satisfyingly creamy and crunchy and you can whip this up in about 10 minutes. Many of you will be looking for a way to use up the abundance of fresh cukes from your garden too!
You might want to double or triple this for a party because this recipe makes 6 servings.
Be prepared to give the recipe to anyone who tastes this refreshing salad. You will hear…'Who made this?” a lot when you bring it to a get together.
That means not only can you enjoy the benefits of clean healthy foods but now you have an opportunity to share them with your loved ones too!
Many of the conventional sports drinks are loaded with sugar, food dyes, and artificial flavors.
As a result, many health-conscious people have been turning to so-called “plant waters” as a substitute for those other sports drinks.
Coconut water was one of the first and most successful of these new, natural sports drinks. In fact, the various brands of coconut waters topped $400 million in sales in 2013!
As a result, it’s no wonder the beverage companies are scrambling to introduce additional plant waters to quench the thirst of this very profitable market.
Trying to cater to consumers that are increasingly attuned to health and anything “natural,” beverage companies now offer:
♦ Aloe water
♦ Almond water
♦ Artichoke water
♦ Birch water
♦ Cactus water
♦ Maple water
♦ Olive water
♦ Watermelon water
♦ Waters containing various combinations of the above
The manufacturers of these waters make special health claims that some dietitians believe are often exaggerated. You should be aware that we can obtain the same benefits or more by simply eating whole foods.
In particular, those who enjoy regular exercise are looking for alternative ways to replenish electrolytes during and after workouts. Some of these important electrolytes include: sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium.
When electrolytes are depleted through sweating and exertion, cramping, low energy, irregular heart rhythm, and even more serious symptoms can result.
Replacing electrolytes is especially vital for extreme athletes and those exercising in hot and dry or extreme cold conditions.
A problem with electrolyte depletion is that its symptoms mimic those of simple dehydration.
However, if you’re experiencing low electrolytes, but try to remedy that by drinking normal water, the water can further dilute the minerals in your body and worsen your condition.
Can plant waters replace electrolytes?
While many of the plant waters are high in one or more minerals, they may be lacking in others. They also typically fall short in the area of carbs and protein.
Also, remember that just because something is natural does not mean that you can drink it safely to your heart’s content.
Aloe vera juice, for example, carries some serious warnings: it’s a laxative, can deplete potassium levels, cause uterine contractions in pregnant women and contains latex!
Additionally:
♦ Plant waters all contain natural sugars that add to our already sugar-overloaded diets
♦ Plant waters offer poor alternative to their solid-food counterparts
♦ Plant waters are expensive, costing on average $3 per 8 oz.
Instead of plant waters, consider replenishing electrolytes with whole foods:
Now, having said that, drinking all natural plant waters from time to time is fine. Just don't over do it. And don't forget that you're going to get the most nutrition and energy replacing goodness from whole foods.
I'm always saying…you don't have to deprive yourself to lose weight and improve health. It's all about finding healthier options.
There are so many healthy ways to indulge in our favorite treats and this Banana Split Salad is here to prove it!
It's great for a quick snack and a fun treat for the whole family. This takes about 10 minutes and I call it a salad for fun but I would most likely enjoy this one as a dessert or to satisfy a craving.
This recipe is so versatile because you can top it with any fresh fruit you have on hand. Let's get started.
And if that's not ice-creamy enough for you, give my banana nice cream a try too. Nothing quite like a cool tasty treat to bust those cravings and keep you on track to rock your bikini body.
Garlic may give you bad breath, but when you consider its amazing health benefits, it may be worth the risk!
Garlic is one of the most widely prized and versatile herbs for use in both food and medicine.
People across many cultures have relied on garlic’s health benefits for thousands of years. Below are just four great reasons to eat garlic.
Garlic contains a variety of unique, sulfur-rich compounds that provide its broad health benefits (and its odor).
1. Garlic is an anti-viral. Eating garlic can help prevent and shorten colds, flus, bronchitis, and other viral infections. One study conducted during the cold and flu season demonstrated that those who took garlic supplements had 63% fewer colds with shorter duration.
2. Garlic is an anti-bacterial. During WWI and II, before the introduction of antibiotics, the armed forces used garlic to effectively prevent infections in wounds.
There is even evidence to suggest that fresh garlic can kill food-borne bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. And unlike manufactured antibiotics, bacteria don’t seem to be able to mutate to become resistant to garlic.
3. Garlic is an anti-fungal. You can use garlic to treat ringworm, athlete’s foot, and other fungal infections. Garlic is also effective against yeast infections and parasites.
In the case of fungal infections on the skin, one can simply apply the juice of fresh, crushed garlic or olive oil infused with garlic to the infected area once or twice a day.
4. Garlic is an anti-oxidant. A compound in garlic called allicin lowers blood pressure and cholesterol naturally.Ajoene, another of garlic’s powerful components, helps prevent the formation of clots in the blood vessels.
These factors make garlic good for the heart and help keep oxygen free radicals from damaging it. Also, the allyl sulphides found in garlic inhibit the formation of cancer cells in the body.
People take garlic to help prevent breast, colon, rectal, stomach, prostate, and lung cancer and to treat bladder and prostate cancer.
Take advantage of garlic’s healthful properties
To obtain these health benefits of garlic, you can:
take garlic as a supplement
eat a fresh garlic clove with meals two to three times per day, or
add it to your favorite foods.
For applications that require allicin, fresh crushed garlic is best because this action releases and offers the most allicin. Many of the garlic supplements designed to eliminate the garlic taste and odor have processed most or all of the allicin out of them.
Fresh garlic offers a wonderful addition to salads, soups, vegetables, dishes and meats. One great way to introduce garlic into your diet is to create a salad dressing. Using a garlic press, crush a few garlic cloves and mix with extra virgin olive oil; add salt and other favorite spices.
Garlic is considered a safe herb, but it is strong, and if you eat too much it can cause intestinal distress. One clove of garlic equals approximately 1 gram. For medicinal purposes, a person may wish to take 1 to 4 grams of garlic per day.
And if you’re still concerned about garlic causing bad breath, let me leave you with this medieval poem:
Since garlic then hath powers to save from death, bear with it though it makes unsavory breath. – Salerno Regimen of Health
What is the ONE most important factor in maintaining a strong immune system? Maintaining a healthy gut!
Obviously, problems like gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and intestinal discomfort arise from an unhealthy gut.
But the gut, and especially the bacteria that create a healthy environment, provides your primary defense against diseases of all kinds.
As incredible as it sounds, your gut is home to more than 100 trillion bacteria that represent over 400 known species. But among those bacteria, you’ll find the “good, bad, and the ugly.”
The good bacteria perform a wide variety of functions crucial to our well-being and are responsible for 75% of our immune system.
Bad bacteria create havoc in our bodies, emit harmful chemicals, and throw our immune system out of kilter. Some bad bacteria like salmonella and E. coli can even be life-threatening.
Below are some ways that you can promote a healthy culture of flora in your gut, while avoiding the invasion of the bad bacteria.
4 Things You Can Do to Optimize Healthy Flora in Your Gut
1. Avoid things that harm healthy flora. Foods high in sugar and trans-fats fall into this category. They promote unhealthy bacteria and deny the good bacteria the nutrition they need.
Prescription and OTC drugs can also be hard on your gut. Whenever possible avoid antibiotics (they tend to kill both the good with the bad bacteria), acid-blockers, and anti-inflammatories.
Too much alcohol also harms the flora in your gut. In general, think of your gut like a garden that you want to nurture and feed properly. Avoid those things that would degrade its integrity and turn it into more of a toxic swamp!
2. Eat whole foods containing natural fiber. Fiber is plant-based and cannot be digested by your body. But fiber is crucial for gut health, acting as a probiotic feeding the good bacteria.
Foods high in fiber include: whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables, berries and fruits. Conversely, processed foods contain little fiber and are usually high in sugar.
3. Eat fermented foods. Before refrigeration and all the preservatives found in foods today, our ancestors relied on a process called lacto-fermentation to preserve foods.
When a food goes through the process of lacto-fermentation, bacteria feed on the sugars and starches in that food and create lactic acid. This results in foods rich in enzymes, B-vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and a variety of probiotics. Real, cultured foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha all go through lacto- fermentation.
These foods provide your best resource for probiotics. If you find you cannot eat these foods often enough, you may wish to supplement with a probiotic.
4. Reduce stress. One of the first places we feel the impact of stress is in our gut. Stress chemicals like cortisol and adrenalin suppress the immune system and negatively influence gastric secretions.
If you’re feeling stressed, take steps to simplify your lifestyle and especially tend to your relationships. Relational-induced stress is one of the most prevalent and caustic of all stresses.
Extend forgiveness to those who have harmed you and pursue peace with the people in your life.
The single most significant thing you can do to maintain a healthy immune system is to cultivate a healthy gut. Doing these four simple things, will help you optimize healthy flora yielding a strong immune system.
My skinny blueberry blast smoothie is packed with the sweet, juicy flavor of one of the world's most popular and powerful superfoods.
It's a delicious way to start your day or to boost energy before a workout. Your body and your taste buds will both take great delight in this quick and easy smoothie recipe.
Blueberries are so full of flavor and are definitely proof that good things come in small packages. This one is a favorite around my house and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!
Yours in Health,
Danette
P.S. Please feel free to share this recipe with your loved ones and I always welcome your comments below.
