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Three Salad Recipes for Weight Loss, Detox and Glowing Skin

Saturday, August 7th, 2010

Here are three salads made with cooling, fat-dissolving and green leafy vegetables to detox/cleanse your intestines and circulatory system, improve your kidney functions, lose weight, lower blood cholesterol and high blood pressure, clear your skin, help with menopause problems.

* Watercress with Almonds and Grapefruit Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups watercress

1 cup radishes, sliced

½ silvered almonds or pumpkin seeds or pine nuts

1 cup red grapefruit membrane discarded

½ avocado sliced

1/2 cup Detox Turmeric Dressing

Directions:

Mix watercress with radishes, grapefruit and avocado in large bowl. Add Detox Turmeric Dressing and toss gently. Season to taste with salt and pepper I f needed.

* Swiss Chard with Zucchini and Shitake Mushrooms Salad

Ingredients:

1bunch of Swiss Chard chopped

1 zucchini sliced

1/2 cup green onions chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1 cup shitake mushrooms

4 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Sauté mushrooms in olive oil for 5 minutes, add garlic, Swiss Chard, zucchini and saute covered for 5 more minutes. Add onions and serve.

* Arugula, Summer Squash and Blackberries Salad Recipe

Ingredients:

2 cups Arugula

1 summer squash sliced 2 tomatoes sliced

1 red onion sliced

1 cup blackberries

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

½ tbsp fresh ginger, grated

½ bunch cilantro, chopped

1 cup blue cheese or goat cheese sliced

2 tbsp organic apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp olive oil (you can use Detox Turmeric Dressing instead of apple cider vinegar and olive oil)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients, top with blue cheese (or goat cheese), season with salt and pepper and serve.

Bon Appetit!

P.S. For more recipes listen to the Celebrity Chef Maria Liberati on Healthy Summer Recipes, click to listen.

P.P.S. Click to also listen to award winning nutritionist and cookbook author Robyn Webb on How to Eat to Feel Sexy and Confident.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Posted in Benefits of Whole Foods, Detox, Healthy Recipes, High Blood Pressure Remedies | 1 Response »
Tags: Cooking, Detox, Fat Dissolving Vegetables, Healthy recipes, Salads, Weight Loss Tips and Recipes

10 Reasons to Create Your Own Rainbow Salad Recipe

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Surprise your family with this custom made delicious and nutritious Rainbow Salad recipe. You can let them pick the ingredients, one or two from every section, and then create your masterpiece seasoned with love and appreciation. Rainbow Salad Recipe with Organic Fruits and Vegetables

You can also you use the Rainbow Salad recipe as way for your kids to learn to eat fruits and vegetables, and don’t forget to take advantage of the organic food benefits of organic fruits and vegetables when you make your healthy Rainbow Salad.

Ingredients:

I. Organic Greens – a source of vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, iron, calcium

The darker the leaves are, the more nutrients you will consume.

Pick from: arugula, spinach, Romaine, watercress, baby bok choy, green cabbage.

II. Red organic fruits and vegetables – a source of lycopene to boost your immune system, prevent heart attack and cancer.

Pick from: Red pepper, tomatoes, red onions, pink grapefruit, watermelon.

III. Orange organic fruits and vegetables – a source of beta-carotene and vitamin C to boost your immune system and prevent cancer.

Pick from: carrots, orange peppers, orange tomatoes, pumpkin, papaya, mangos, apricots, pineapple.

IV. Black or purple to enhance brain power: Rainbow Salad to cleanse smart and for detox weight loss.

Pick from: egg plant, purple cabbage, figs.

V. Healthful phytonutrients to prevent cancer:

Pick from: mushrooms, garlic, dried fruits.

VI. Protein to build muscle, speed up metabolism, boost immunity and nervous system :

- Edamame (high source of vitamins A, B and Calcium),

- tofu (lowers cholesterol, reduces Menopause symptoms, reduces heart disease and cancer risk, promotes healthier bones and joints);

- salmon (source of omega-3 fatty acids and B12 for brain function)

- lentils, or beans (high in antioxidants, iron, B vitamins and fiber); help to stabilize blood sugar, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and prevent cancer),

VII. Grains – a source of carbohydrates for energy; rich in fiber, vitamin E, other antioxidants and phytochemicals; help control blood sugar, diabetes, and insulin levels;

Pick from: brown rice, quinoa, barley, millet, buckwheat.

VIII. Healthy fat (rich in omega – 3 fatty acids, fiber, magnesium) to absorb nutrients, lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce heart disease and cancer risk:

Pick from: olive oil, avocado, walnuts or almonds.

IX. Herbal Cleanse Spices:

Pick from: turmeric, cumin, coriander, oregano, ginger, cayenne.

X. Cleanse Smart Herbs:

Pick from: parsley leaf, peppermint, cilantro, rosemary, dandelion.

Can also be used in detox recipes for detox weight loss.

Directions for Rainbow Salad recipe:

Pick one or more ingredients from every section and mix, season with love and appreciation and serve immediately.

Bon Appetit

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

More Recipes:

Video Tip: Detox Recipes:Super Healthy Tumeric Dressing

Video Tip: Healthy Snacks for Energy, Detox Weight Loss and Better Memory

Posted in Healthy Recipes | 1 Response »
Tags: Cooking, Diet and Nutrition, Home-made Recipes

From Earth Day to Every Day One Step at a Time

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.-- Annie Dillard

Celebrate Earth Day by taking care of ourselves, one step at a time:

Listen to Podcast

1. Detox.

To detox naturally we need to deal with poisons, heavy metals, pesticides, fungicides, cleaning solvents, smog, and many other harmful toxic substances that we don’t realize are leeching into our bodies via our clothing our furniture, and even our carpets. Stay healthy with holistic detox with seasonal organic fruits and vegetables. Don’t forget to avoid chemicals and pesticides not only in foods but also in skin care products, make up, cleaning products, etc.

Detox 101

Easy Detox with Herbal Cleanse

Spring Holistic Detox and Beauty Recipes

Three Simple Detox Recipes

Video Tip: Detox Recipe: Super Simple and Healthy Turmeric Dressing

Detox Recipe: Kale with Cranberries and Sesame Seeds

2. DeStress.

Stress and nutrition are related and a source of stress illness. If you want to be healthier, address your sleep needs, and feel better, use stress reducers to take care of your stress overload first.

Video Tip: Simple Exercise for Holistic Detox, Weight Loss and Better Sleep-Part I

Destress 101

Instant Mood Boosters – MP3 mini-class

Video Tip: How to Fall Asleep Faster and Sleep Longer

What Sex, Garlic and Swearing Have in Common

Video Tip: Three Instant Mood Boosters that Work

3. Cook at home.

The food we put into our mouth goes into our stomach where it gets digested and eventually assimilated into the bloodstream. Our blood is what creates our cells, our tissues, our organs, our skin, our hair, our brains and our thoughts and feelings. Learn to cook high quality food for yourselves and those you love.

Healthier Holistic Recipe Substitutes

Soup Time to Feel and Look Fabulous

Asparagus, Beets and Chicken Salad Recipes

Sweet Eats for More Energy

4. Eat the right foods.

- drink more water;

One Extra Glass of Water to Drink

- start with a healthy breakfast

Video Tip: How to Make a 3-min Nutritious Breakfast to Feel Fabulous All Day

Healthy Breakfast to Feel and Look Fabulous

Healthy Pancakes

- incorporate more organic fruits and vegetables, legumes, beans, grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices into your diet;

4 Reasons to Eat Apples

11 Reasons to Eat Beets

Eight Reasons to Eat Squash

Holistic Detox, Weight Loss, Glowing Skin and Other Reasons to Eat Radishes

Heart Healing Foods

Immunity Boosting Spice Recipe

Easy Detox with Cleansing Herbs

Lentil Recipes to Fight Seasonal Depression

- eat food that has healthy fat; you can find omega-3 fatty acids in olive oil, salmon (choose your source of fish carefully because they can be highly contaminated with toxic chemicals like mercury and PCBs), walnuts, flax seeds;

Salmon and Avocado Recipes

4. Watch what you eat.

Avoid unhealthy processed foods which are super harmful for our health.

Super Foods to Avoid in Order to Stay Healthy

Listen to Your Body and Be Crave Smart

5. Read labels.

We read all labels carefully looking for ingredients we cannot pronounce or don’t know the meaning of. Avoid preservatives, chemicals, artificial colors to stay healthy. Be even more careful with labels on meat and diary products because many of the terms used do not mean exactly what you think.

Sugar Cravings Foods

How to Read Labels and Find Hidden Sugar

Video Tip: Sugar Blues – How Much Sugar You Think You Eat

6. Go USDA organic.

Many of the the worst toxins we eat are put into our foods as additives and preservatives? Eat organic fruits and vegetables, organic meat, organic milk … because they are free of synthetic growth hormones, genetically engineered organisms, antibiotics, chemical fertilizers or chemical pesticides.

Why Strawberries, Peaches and Cherries Can Be Dangerous for Our Health

Is Your Mouthwash Cancer Proof

How You Can Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

7. Eat local and in season for organic food benefits .

If you eat and guy local and in season, your purchased food will have been stored for less time before you purchase it. Your organic fruits and vegetable will fresher and more nutritious. Did I mention, that it will be cheaper?

Go local and find Farmer’s Markets near you at www.LocalHarvest.org

Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have.–Winston Churchill

If you feel you might need help with one of my Holistic Health and Nutrition Programs for Women, let me know, and let us talk…

And don’t forget to always breathe, smile and try to be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

eBook “DeStress 101- The Ultimate Guide for Busy Women”

7. DeStress.

Video Tip: Simple Exercise for Holistic Detox, Weight Loss and Better Sleep-Part I

Destress 101

Instant Mood Boosters – MP3 mini-class

Video Tip: How to Fall Asleep Faster and Sleep Longer

What Sex, Garlic and Swearing Have in Common

Video Tip: Three Instant Mood Boosters that Work

8. Detox.

Detox 101

Easy Detox with Herbal Cleanse

Spring Holistic Detox and Beauty Recipes

Three Simple Detox Recipes

Video Tip: Detox Recipe: Super Simple and Healthy Turmeric Dressing

Detox Recipe: Kale with Cranberries and Sesame Seeds

Posted in Benefits of Whole Foods, Detox, Healthy Recipes, Stress Relief | No Responses »
Tags: Cooking, Detox, Earth Day, Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor, Holistic Wellness, Organic Foods, stress, Whole Foods

Healthy Halloween Pumpkin Cookies – Yummm

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Halloween is the time when we have to remember that our kids are not the healthiest in the world and we must protect them from diabetes, obesity and heart disease which are are on the rise among children.

So, I would like to share with you this Healthy Recipe I found at www.foodnetwork.com

Why is it healthy?

Just in case if you don’t know, spices, like ginger and cinnamon boost our immune system helping fight with cold and flu.

Dark molasses are a great substitute for sugar as well as a good source of iron and B vitamins.

As for raisins, they can protect our oral, dental and bone health, be helpful for our vision and beneficial if you have constipation, weight gain or anemia.

Spiced Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients

2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

3/4 cup canned plain pumpkin puree

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup canola oil

1/4 cup dark molasses

1 cup raisins

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3 baking sheets with cooking spray.

Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Whisk pumpkin, brown sugar, oil and molasses in a second bowl until well combined. Stir the wet ingredients and raisins into the dry ingredients until no traces of dry ingredients remain. Drop the batter by level tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies 1 1/2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies until firm to the touch and lightly golden on top, 10 to 12 minutes, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

Bon Appetit!

Don’t forget to breathe, smile and be happy.

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Related Articles, Podcast and Video:

Healthy Gingerbread Cookies

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Posted in Benefits of Whole Foods, Headache Migraine Relief, Healthy Recipes, High Blood Pressure Remedies | No Responses »
Tags: Alternative Medicine, Baking, children, Cold, Cooking, Diabetes, family, Flu, Halloween, health, health tips, Healthy and Easy to Make Recipes, Holistic Wellness, home-made facials, Immune System, nutrition, Obesity, Spices

Simple Detox and Cleansing Spices

Saturday, March 21st, 2009

Incorporate cleansing spices, such as Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander, Cayenne, Ginger, Fenugreek, Clove, etc. into your diet on a regular basis if you want to super simple detox your body. spices-tumeric-tea-salt-etc

Turmeric – contains the flavonoid curcumin, which is known to have anti-inflammatory properties. It helps detoxify the liver, cleanse the blood.

Cumin – contains oils that are effective in helping to detoxify the liver and aid digestion

Coriander- contains oils that are effective in helping to detoxify the liver and aid digestion

Oregano – liver and gallbladder cleanser

Rosemary – colon cleanser, may help reduce levels of the carcinogenic heterocyclic amines

Fennel – colon and liver cleanser

Fenugreek - cleanses the stomach, bowels, kidneys and respiratory tract of excess mucus

Clove – parasite cleanser

Ginger- stimulates circulation, relieves congestion

Cayenne - blood and tissue purifier

Detox Dip / Dressing Recipe

Ingredients:

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp plain yogurt

¼ tsp turmeric

1/5 (or less) cayenne pepper

1 tbs almond butter

kelp with sea salt to taste

Directions:

Mix all ingredients thoroughly. You can use it as a dressing for salads, as a dip, with fish, meat, etc.

Curry Recipe

2 tbs turmeric
2 tbs cumin
2 tbs coriander
1 tbs ginger powder
1 tbs pepper
2 tsp cardamom
2 tsp mace
1 tsp mustard seed
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp cinnamon
Mix well and place in airtight container.

Bon Appetit!

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Posted in Detox, Healthy Recipes | No Responses »
Tags: Cooking, Detox, Detox Recipe, Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor, Spices, Women's Health Programs

Sweet Eats For St. Patrick’s Day

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

Here is a Roasted Parsnip and Sweet Potato Recipe you can cook for St. Patrick’s Day or any time you feel like having something healthy and easy to make. It will boost your energy and immune system level and help beat your sugar cravings.

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato

3 medium parsnips

3 tbsp dill chopped

1 clove of garlic minced

salt and pepper to season

2 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

Peel potatoes and parsnips, and cut them like for French fries. Sautee in olive oil till soft, add garlic and sautee for 3 more minutes. Add dill and season with salt and pepper or Immunity Boosting Spices.

Bon Appetit!

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Posted in Healthy Recipes | No Responses »
Tags: Cooking, Energy Boosting Recipes, Healthy recipes, Holiday Recipes, Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor, Sugar Cravings

3 Detox Recipes to Feel and Look Fabulous

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Try these Healthy Recipes to detox the body and beat sugar cravings. They will also help you to lose some weight, boost your energy level and balance your hormones.

Ginger-Carrot Breakfast Cookies

Ginger promotes circulation, stimulates lymphatic flow, detox the body.

Carrots help to beat your sugar cravings as well as improve your eyesight, lower cholesterol and prevent heart attack and stroke.

This recipe was adopted from the Self-healing Cookbook by Kristina Turner.

Ingredients: cookie

¾ cup rolled oats

½ cup oat flour

¼ cup brown rice or barley flour

2 cups cooked millet

1 and ½ tbsp olive oil

1 cup shredded carrots

1tsp. vanilla

1 tsp grated ginger

¼ tsp sea salt

1 tbsp sunflower seeds

½ cup water

Directions:

Lightly roasted oats and flour by stirring over medium heat in skillet, until toasty smelling but not browned. Mix all ingredients and add just enough water for a moist, (not mushy). Shape into cookies on an oiled baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min.

Fennel and Orange Salad

Fennel stimulates the liver, improves fat digestion, contains essential oils that help get rid of excess fluid.

Orange, rich in vitamin C helps to boost your immune system, as well as uplift your mood (zest of oranges).

Onions cleanse/detox the liver and skin and have antiseptic properties.

Ingredients:

2 oranges, sliced

1 bulb fennel, sliced

1 red onion sliced into rings

juice of 1 orange

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

zest of 1 orange

mint or parsley to garnish

Directions:

Place a layer or oranges, then a layer of fennel and then a layer of onions. Mix orange juice with apple cider vinegar and drizzle over the salad. Add orange zest and mint or parsley to garnish.

Detox Beet and Apple Juice

Try this delicious detox juice to feel and look fabulous.

Beet stimulates the liver and helps to detox/cleanse digestive system and blood.

Apple adds sweetness and fiber which helps to detox the body. juice

Spinach contains antioxidants to fight free radicals which helps boost our immune system.

Ingredients:

1medium beet

1 large apple

1 carrot

1 cup fresh spinach leaves

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in the juicer or blender and process. If you wish, you can dilute with filtered water to taste.

Bon Appetit!

P.S. If you think you might need help with one of my Holistic Health and Nutrition Programs for Women to learn how to have more energy, beat your cravings, detox your body and maintain the weight you want,

contact me and let us talk…

Breathe, smile and be happy.

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

NaturalCounselor.com

Posted in Healthy Recipes | 3 Responses »
Tags: Cooking, Detox, nutrition, Prevent Cancer, Sugar Cravings, Weight Loss Tips and Recipes