The three beneficial HOWs of Turmeric! How does it work? How do you buy it and how do you use it? All answered here by our amazing contributing physician Beth Ricanati, MD.

Looking for a food ingredient that has a tremendous amount of science behind it, tastes good, and keeps us healthy? Let’s talk about the iconic Indian spice, turmeric. Ayurvedic and Indian medicine practitioners have been using turmeric for thousands of years; now researchers have been able to pinpoint what the Ayurvedic practitioners knew all along: turmeric is an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory substance.

Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound that has documented anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin also contains other important nutrients for our health, like magnesium and iron.

Why should you care about curcumin? Simply, many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer obesity and even Alzheimer’s disease, are in large part caused by inflammation in the body. In addition, inflammation is the culprit behind aches and pains like what you might experience with diseases like arthritis, and even just after a hard workout.

1. How does turmeric work? Research shows that curcumin prevents cellular oxidation, which is a fancy way of saying it blocks a molecule in our bodies that turns on the “inflammatory cascade”. No “inflammatory cascade”, no inflammation! Thus, turmeric helps to stop inflammation before it even starts!

2. How to buy turmeric? Turmeric is available in root form, powdered form and in a pill. It’s hard to grind yourself, so buy the powdered form unless you are throwng a piece into a strong mixer for a smoothie! Turmeric as a spice comes from two places in India, Alleppey and Madras. Look for the powdered turmeric from Alleppey; it has more curcumin in it.

3. How to use turmeric? Although most of us recognize turmeric in Indian curries, recently it has been showing up in a diverse array of dishes. I have found it’s great in smoothies, soups and stews. I have even seen it recently in beverages and with just hot water, ginger and lemon. My current personal favorite are dark leafy greens stir-fried with eggs and a hefty dose of turmeric!

Check out our fabulous recipes with turmeric! Indian Butter Chicken and Roasted Acorn Squash Seeds.

The post The Anti-Inflammatory Power of Turmeric. Answers from our holistic MD. appeared first on LoveSelf.

In honor of Spring renewal, introducing our six favorite benefits of asparagus and recipes!

Spring has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere and with it the return of our beloved asparagus. In honor of mama earth renewal and her little green sprouts, we are so excited to share with you the six benefits of asparagus and fabulous recipes!

Asparagus is another of nature’s miracle foods. When Spring arrives so do these amazing little green asparagus spears.

Did you know that asparagus is only recognizable several days each year as the stems we so adore? These delicious green vegetables are the first sign of Spring. The asparagus not harvested will quite rapidly turn into a three to four foot feathery tree.

Ready for the healing benefits of this happy little stalk?!

1) Liver Cleansing
Asparagus is packed with vitamins and minerals and even contains the incredible glutathione known for its liver cleansing properties.

2) Anti-inflammatory
These happy green stalks are an anti-inflammatory and are said to have healing effects on autoimmune disease.

3) Improves Digestion
Asparagus also supports digestive health as an inulin containing prebiotic.

4) Kidney Health
Amazingly asparagus may aid in the prevention of kidney stones.

5) Full of Antioxidants
Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals in the body, which can significantly reduce stress, prevent disease and slow the degeneration of cell tissue.

6) Fabulous Vitamins and Minerals
A serving of asparagus provides the body with nearly 60% the recommended daily amount of Folate. Folate is especially crucial for pregnant and nursing mamas. Folate is also known to support heart health and prevent liver disease.

Pick up a bunch or two from your favorite local farm to create our Cashew Cream Pasta Sauce or Ginger Asparagus Soup.

The post Six Benefits of Asparagus. For the Love of Renewal and Asparagus appeared first on LoveSelf.

How a sticker inspired self-love and a return to the present moment. LoveSelf’s contributor Beth Ricanati, MD offers a simple practice for mindfulness and self-love.

We all need friendly reminders sometimes. I want to share a great reminder that I learned: a reminder to take a deep breath and allow my best self to shine. How? With the help of a little blue dot.   You place one little blue dot sticker anywhere you need a reminder to take a deep breath and return to self-love.

You know what I’m talking about…those little stickers that come in a variety of colors from any supply store. They are packaged in those skinny strips so you can just peel one off at a time.

Perhaps you need to place a sticker on your mirror to remind yourself how beautiful you are. Maybe place one on a snack cabinet door to remind yourself that your body loves raw nuts. Stick a happy dot on the refrigerator to remind you to add awesome greens to your dinner.

It works! I couldn’t believe it, but it actually works. For a while after learning about this, I kept a strip of blue dots with me at work, doling them out as needed. My favorite place: my desktop computer. Every time I sat back down at my desk I was reminded to return to the present moment and breath.

I would take 2-3 slow breaths, inhaling and exhaling to the count of four and most importantly at that time, pausing. In just pausing, I was able to be mindful of what I was doing at that moment – and this simple act helped to refocus me, to ground me, and keep me present.

Why does this work? Our breath is something that we have with us all the time; something that keeps us alive – a built-in tool to help us relax, to be present and focused. We can modulate our breathing – hence, mindful breathing – and therefore modulate our body’s reaction to it. If you are stressed and your fight-or-flight response (sympathetic nervous system) kicks in, there is a pretty good chance that your breaths are shallow and rapid. Conversely, when you are relaxed, your rest-and-digest response kicks in (parasympathetic nervous system) and you are able to breathe more deeply and slowly. Your tense shoulders will drop back into place, your clenched jaw will unclench; your fisted palms will relax ~ in other words, relaxed breathing = relaxed muscles and a happier mind!

It takes practice though. Just like going from casual jogging to running a 10K. Mindful breathing is the same way. The benefit: when confronted with a stressful situation, you’ve got a built-in therapy. And just think, it can all start with a little blue dot!

I want you to place dots all over your kitchen: on your refrigerator, on your cabinets, maybe even on your counters. I want you to place them anywhere that you need a reminder to be mindful. Looking at the dot is a visual reminder to breathe and treat yourself lovingly.

Send us a picture of your favorite place for the blue dot!

The post An Easy Mindfulness Practice for Self Love appeared first on LoveSelf.

Real life wisdom from a woman who overcame depression and is living well with Celiac disease.

Figuring out that Celiac disease was at the root of many of my challenges was only half of the journey. Now that I am off of prescription medication, I am constantly balancing what it looks like to take care of myself and continue to heal. I have discovered there are a handful of tricks that help keep me on board when I feel the waves rocking me.

Below are eleven simple healing steps you can start doing today to improve your life mind, body, and spirit.

1. Eat Real Food

Eating clean, unprocessed and whole foods is key to self-love. There is something sacred and powerful in buying, cooking and knowing all of the food you eat.

The process of discovering the foods that are nourishing for your body can seem daunting but there is a ton of healing and grace that goes along with it. I like to view it as a game! For fun steps check out Rachel’s 8 Things I Learned that Changed the Way I Eat Food. 

2. Drink Water

Did you know that your body is 80% water? Something as simple as making sure I am hydrated is key in my energy and mood levels. Nourishing yourself in this way makes it easier to do all of the other self-care routines. Truly.

3. Exercise

Produce that serotonin and get moving! As a survivor of sexual trauma, I always found exercise difficult and triggering. Once I changed my diet, I found that exercise became easier and brought me tremendous release! I try to move my body for 30 minutes a day at least be it walking, yoga, running, hiking or stretching. 

4. Don’t Skimp on Sleep

It’s amazing what you are capable of when you are fully rested! Getting enough sleep is vital in making sure you have a clear mind and can take optimal care of yourself.

5. Get Outside

My favorite way to get my Vitamin D is to GO OUTSIDE. Vitamin D helps with inflammation and has shown to lower depression. Being in the sunshine helps you with sleep, gives you energy and boosts your mood. Not to mention being in nature is healing in and of itself.

6. Choose Spirituality

Making space in your life to nurture your relationship with spirituality will help you to remember what all of this is for in the moments when you don’t want to run, don’t want to cook another meal, or can’t handle the brain fog. There is something out there that is always able to fill you back up; something so deeply hopeful that you will be enriched and sustained through your journey. Finding spirituality that suits you can look many different ways and is entirely personal to YOU. 

7. Get Creative

Try drawing, writing, coloring, cooking, knitting, or anything that lights you up! Find ways to be creative in your life even if it’s in moments where things feel dull and lifeless. It’s a beautiful tool to help bring magic into the ordinary.

8. Choose Gratitude

Dealing with health issues can sometimes be a drag. In those moments when you want to have a cocktail with friends, would like to exercise but don’t feel well, or would dig having one of those double chocolate brownies. Practicing gratitude can be so inspiring and grounding. Try writing in a gratitude journal!

What are you grateful for right now?

9. Socialize

Being around people can be super uplifting. When I am feeling blue, I reach out to friends. There is something special and energizing about laughter and community. They can mirror back your progress to you, help you remember what you’re doing all of this or can simply get your mind off of things.

10. Honor your Aloneness

Healing at this level can bring up many different emotions and experiences. Taking time to be alone and to check in with yourself is key. I like to journal, meditate, hike, read, or get crafty

11. Forgive Yourself

When I shifted to an anti-inflammatory autoimmune disease diet, I also started working a spiritual self-study program that is all about changing your thoughts to ones of forgiveness. When you forgive yourself, you forgive the world.

Forgive yourself for everything in the past. It has created a beautiful you.

Forgive yourself for the judgement about your body, forgive yourself when you break and eat something you felt you shouldn’t, forgive yourself when you don’t exercise as hard (or as easy) as you feel would be best. Always remember to forgive! You’re doing the best you can.

I am currently still practicing my dance of balancing self-care and self-love by listening to my body and allowing clarity and peace to move through me. There are still days where I struggle and then there are days when I am so darn hopeful I feel like I am going to burst. This is what it means to be alive! I am so grateful to have gotten to this place I have always fervently hoped for.

I believe in the magic of self-love.

When we love ourselves we can more easily love others. I am so grateful to share my story and hopefully inspire others on their wellness journey. There is hope! You can absolutely do this!

The post How to Love Yourself in 11 Simple Steps. Healing with autoimmune disease. appeared first on LoveSelf.

Sleep is so important to self care. Check out the simple tips from our contributing holistic MD to get better sleep starting tonight.

Sleep. We need it, we covet it, and some of us even dream of ways to get more of it! Every major medical organization recommends 6-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each and every night. Why? Getting enough sleep, and enough good sleep (deep, restorative REM sleep) allows us to have more energy, improves our memory and our moods, lessens our anxiety and even lets our bodies repair themselves.

The good news: you can do something about it right now. Read on for my top three tips for how to get more (and better!) sleep starting tonight.

1. Get the electronics out of your bedroom immediately.

Fact: Smartphones, tablets, and e-readers all interfere with your sleep. The light, noise, and viewing habits on these devices both make falling asleep harder and can disrupt sleep. It is hard to resist the temptation to check your Instagram when you wake up unexpectedly if your smartphone is right there by the bed!

What to do: As soon as you’re done reading this, go and create an impromptu docking station outside of your bedroom. The adjacent bathroom is fine. Even better: set up your chargers in the kitchen or somewhere on another floor if you live in a multi-floor dwelling. If you have to physically get out of bed and walk into another room to check the latest on Snap Chat, then the chances of you actually doing that are going to decrease. And, if you happen to awaken in the night, the chances of looking at a screen if it’s not in your bedroom is not nearly as likely – thereby increasing your chances of actually going back to bed in the first place!

2. Rethink what you’re wearing to bed.

Fact: Behavioral modification works. It just does. Think of preparing for sleep like preparing for any other activity: if you’re going to a yoga class, chances are you’re wearing exercise wear appropriate for that; if you’re hiking up a mountain, chances are you’ve got the right hiking shoes on for that. Your bed – and the activity of sleeping – should be no different.

What to do: I don’t care what you wear to bed. I don’t care if you wear anything at all to bed. I just care that you give it some thought. Why? As you prepare for bedtime, as you brush your teeth and wash your face, and put away your electronics, you are unconsciously sending your body a message: it’s time to shut down. Changing into comfortable bedtime clothes helps with this. Being comfortable in bed is important; many of us toss and turn at night and many of us also feel warmer during the night. Wearing comfortable clothes, and clothes that breathe, can help us get those necessary 6-8 hours of sleep that we all need.

3. Have a sleep-inducing snack or beverage before bed.

Fact: Certain foods can improve sleep, just as certain foods can interfere with sleep. Why? Foods not only nourish us; they actually can pick us up or slow us down! Melatonin regulates our sleep-wake cycle. How? The amino acid tryptophan is converted to serotonin and then converted to melatonin, which is secreted by our pineal gland (just adjacent to our pituitary gland in our brains) at nighttime. Drinks, too, can help us sleep, especially warm beverages like herbal tea, i.e. chamomile tea. One of the oldest known medicinal herbs, chamomile, works as a mild tranquilizer to help kick in sleep.

What to do: Eat more foods that pack a melatonin-rich punch, especially before bed. For example, eating a cup of cherries an hour before bedtime increases your available melatonin. Other melatonin-rich foods: pineapples, bananas, oranges and even oats. Also, although you can take a melatonin supplement, more and more research suggests that it’s better to get melatonin naturally, i.e. from food sources. And get that hot water boiling! Herbal teas, such as chamomile tea, sipped approximately 30 minutes before bedtime can help you fall asleep more easily.

The post Three Ways to Get Better Sleep Tonight! appeared first on LoveSelf.

Learn about Ayurveda and determine your healing food dosha!

Ayurveda (pronounced Aye-ur-ve-dah) is a 5,000 year old art and science of balance. Taken apart, Ayu = Life, and “Veda” = Knowledge. Balance according to Ayurveda equals health and wellness. This ancient healing system has a prescription for healing via the foods we eat each day.

There are two words to become familiar with in the Ayurvedic vernacular, and they are “Dosha” and “Sadahana”. Dosha means one’s mind/body/spirit “personality”, and Sadahana means routine. In a nutshell, once we find out what our Dosha personality is, we can then develop routines based on nutrition, fitness, and well-being on a practical basis.

There are 3 categories listed below, and see which group of traits seem to fit you best. Be aware that there will be characteristics of all 3 in all of us, but usually 1 category stands out more.

A.
Physical: either tall or short but with a slender, perhaps underweighted frame. Frizzy, dry hair, dry skin, small hazel or grey eyes, and suffers from arthritis, cold hands and feet, nervousness, and fidgeting.

Mental: quick mind, but quick to forget, curious, but at times to a fault as can lack focus, creative, free thinker.

Spirit: highs are high and lows are low, fearful, well-meaning, and light hearted at times.

B.
Physical: red, blond, or light hair and fairer skin, medium, muscular build, athletic.

Mental: focused, big thinker, and tenacious, perfectionist of self and others, natural leader. Deals with indigestion, headache, fever, and skin issues.

Spirit: hot-headed and touchy, driving, impatient with self especially.

C.
Physical: larger boned, tendency to overweight. Beautiful large eyes and lustrous hair. God or Goddess-like stature.

Mental: calm, mellow, excellent memory, and collaborative.

Spirit: tendency to “cocoon” and hibernate, can hang on to persons or things that no longer serve a purpose out of loyalty, an excellent team player.

We all have a bit of the three Doshas within us. A few lucky individuals have the three Doshas within them in equal amounts. Talk about true balance! But for the rest of us, usually one or two Doshas seem to pop up, and given this information, we can then look at lifestyle choices to make to balance Dosha energy that may be out of balance, or keep on making choices that serve our health well.

If you felt as thought category A suits you, then you are Vata. If B, then you are Pitta, if C, you are Kapha.

So, I have a little “assignment” for you! After you’ve determined your Dosha delve a bit further into what foods and food preparations that are “friendly” to your Dosha makeup or personality. For example, Vata is balanced with luscious dates, figs, and bananas. Pitta needs to avoid almonds and fiery spices. Kapha does well with the spices that Pitta avoids!

Here is a short list of Dosha friendly and not so friendly foods:

Vata: juicy, sweet foods as watery and sweet balance the dry and light characteristics of this Dosha. Vata can enjoy about every spice and nut there is as well as oils and good fats like avocados. Vata needs heavier, denser foods to feel satisfied so lettuces, apples, or crackers aren’t the best choices. So avoid light dry foods like cold cereals (hot, chewy cereals are great), also avoid cold, raw foods meaning take good stuff like lettuces, spinach, carrots, etc., and stir fry them or broil or braise them. The heat will warm Vatas, and provide the heavier “meatier” texture Vata needs to feel satisified.

Pitta: this Dosha is ruled by metabolism so hot, spicy foods will only upset Pittas. Cool, lighter foods like summer soups, good quality breads, herbs like cinnamon, fennel, cardamom, and nutmeg will cool down Pitta. Pitta, please avoid the hot peppers, the cumins, the curries on the hotter side, almonds, wheat grains, and mints. These upset your digestive system, whereas rices, tropical fruits, ancient grains, and nuts like cashews, walnuts, and pine nuts will “cool the fire”.

Kapha: the tendency here is to partake of foods that enliven and motivate, so the hot, spicy foods that disagree with Pitta completely sing to Kapha. Kapha also needs to avoid dairy as this Dosha suffers from asthma, lung, and throat issues, and needs to hydrate well to avoid bloat and water retention. Kapha, avoid dairy and choose nut milks, ghee (purified butter, and great for all Doshas!) pick a wide array of Ethnic foods (Mexican, Thai, Ethiopian, etc.), and be generous with mints in your cooking and beverages. Kapha needs to “go big” on fruits and veggies, and eaten raw is just fine.

Now that you have some basic lists of Dosha-friendly foods, what are you already eating that made the list, and what are you eating that perhaps should be avoided, or at least cut down on? If you find some foods on the “avoid” list on your plate, can you eliminate at least one of them for a week? See how you feel after 7 days! Sometimes that’s all it takes for one to find out just how these “off the list” foods can affect your health!

In Everyday Ayurveda Tips to come, we’ll create some Dosha-friendly menus that are quick, easy, and really, really good! Go forth and Be Well!

Namaste!

The post Learn about Ayurveda and Determine Your Dosha! appeared first on LoveSelf.

What is the difference between a yam and a sweet potato plus healing benefits and recipes. 

I am often asked if a yam is the same as a sweet potato. Despite what we have been told, yams and sweet potatoes are not the same thing! The majority of the orange potatoes at your local market are sweet potatoes, not yams.

Yes, both are root vegetables, but that’s where the similarities end! Yams are actually related to lilies. They vary from small to extremely large in size, and have a dark skin with white or reddish-purple starchy flesh. They’re also hard to find and therefore not usually in all supermarkets.

Sweet potatoes also range in color and size and are not always orange! Sweet potato skins can be light (think: white or yellow) to dark (think: reddish purple to brown) .The flesh inside is can range from orange to even white or yellow. The two most common varieties that you’ll find in your local grocery store are firm (lighter flesh) or soft (orange flesh).

Does it matter, for my health, if I eat one versus the other?

The good news: both yams and sweet potatoes are nutrient-dense, low fat foods. Most of the differences are subtle; yams are slightly lower-calorie, but sweet potatoes have slightly more nutrients and a little more protein. They are both good sources of carbohydrate and fiber, but sweet potatoes have a bit more of each. Where they really differ: the amount of vitamin A in sweet potatoes far outweighs what’s in yams and are far healthier than the white potato (a whopping 400% of your recommended daily requirement of vitamin A!), Vitamin A is particularly good for our eye health.

Just in case you are not convinced to make the switch to those pretty potatoes, here are four more reasons to include a yam or a sweet potato in your diet.

• Anti-cancer: Proteins in sweet potatoes may contain cancer-fighting properties
• High fiber: Women need approximately 25gm of fiber a day, and men need approximately 35gm. A medium-sized sweet potato with its’ skin on has approximately a whopping 6gm of fiber.
• Phytonutrient dense: Sweet potatoes are loaded with potassium, which is important for maintaining blood pressure.
• Sweet potatoes are relatively inexpensive, and with such a high nutrient content, making them one of the best bargains out there.

We love healing recipes. Check out our Twice Baked Sweet Potato with Creamy Avocado Dressing or for a Yam Smoothie that tastes like chocolate ice cream check out our Yam Cacao Smoothie. Dress up your collard greens with our Sweet Potato Collard Wrap.

The post Deciphering Yams and Sweet Potatoes. Plus Benefits and Recipes! appeared first on LoveSelf.

Five great reasons your body will love healing with chocolate. 

I’ve got some great news: Chocolate is good for you! Seriously. And thank goodness, since I love chocolate. Most of us do, in fact. We’ve been enjoying it in the Americas for thousands of years, as a food and as a medicine, and even sometimes as a currency.

Let me explain: Some chocolate is better than other chocolate. Some chocolate, like raw organic cacao, is considered a superfood! Why? Raw organic cacao, unlike its processed dark chocolate counterpart, is known to contain an extraordinary amount of antioxidants. In addition, since there is no added dairy to interfere with antioxidant absorption, eating raw organic cacao actually can reap all the health benefits.

These health benefits of chocolate depend on the percentage of cacao in the product; the more cacao, the more nutrient-dense the chocolate. Ideally, choose chocolate with at least 70% cacao.

Let’s talk about this superfood, cacao. Cacao, which is from a bean of the Theobroma cacao tree, is quite heart-healthy, and so much more! As a women’s health internist, I am obsessed with our heart health, and anything we can do to improve our heart health.

Some reasons to reach for those raw cacao beans or nibs (the broken, smaller pieces of the beans)  include:

Heart health: Think lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol levels (both HDL and LDL). What’s the magic? Cacao beans contain high levels of flavonoids, anti-oxidants that work on the cellular level. Research shows that these compounds may in fact alter cell-signaling pathways, lowering our blood pressure and decreasing our risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol and decreasing inflammation and improving platelet (clotting) function.

Cancer health: Emerging research indicates that the antioxidants in cacao may help protect against cancer by limiting free radical damage to our cells. Cacao contains some of the highest levels of antioxidants in measured in foods.

Gastrointestinal health: Cacao is both an anti-inflammatory and loaded with fiber. Both of these are critical for our gastrointestinal health and wellbeing. Laboratory research shows some benefit for ulcerative colitis and treating h. pylori infections, too. Women need a whopping 25 gm/day of fiber and men need 35 gm/day; fortunately, a serving of cacao nibs contains 9 grams!

Mental health: Chocolate has long been used to boost one’s mood and improve cognition by triggering the release of some of the neurotransmitters in our brains. In particular, cacao boosts our serotonin levels, which helps to level out our moods and induce a sense of calmness.

Bone health: Cacao is seriously nutrient-dense, loaded with minerals like magnesium. Magnesium is needed for so many reasons including osteoporosis protection!

The post The Five Healing Benefits of Cacao appeared first on LoveSelf.

Tips and Benefits of GInger. Five Ways Ginger Can Spice Up Your Health

Ginger is an incredible versatile (and tasty!) ingredient and is not limited to use in the ktichen. One of the oldest natural medicines, ginger is frequently used in Ayurvedic medicine, aromatherapy, naturopathy, and herbal therapy.

Since ginger is so widespread in use, it is well worth knowing what this little root can do for our health.

Ginger is a great source for heart healthy magnesium, vitamin B6 and potassium, as well as copper and magnesium. The best way to consume ginger is fresh, and the ginger root should be firm, shiny and smooth. Most frequently you will find mature ginger, which has a tough skin that requires peeling. Young ginger is another version, that is typically available in Asian markets and does not need to be peeled.

Here are five ways ginger can help spice up your health:

1. Ginger promotes digestive health

Ginger can help reduce bloating and gas, as well as helping with nausea, especially motion sickness and vomiting related to pregnancy. It can ease a variety of gut issues, such as ulcerative colitis and acid reflux.

2. Ginger helps fight cancer

Ginger has been known for its ability to shrink tumors, and to be more effective than many cancer drugs! The ginger works by blocking the cancer from growing, thus preventing its ability of spreading. It has shown to be particularly effective in fighting ovarian and breast cancer, as well as prostate cancer.

3. Ginger has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties

Ginger contains gingerols and shogaols, which are anti-fungal components of the ginger root and helpful to fight against candida, as it will help support your liver while it detoxifies.

Did you know ginger has been shown to be more effective against staph infections than antibiotics?

4. Ginger is an anti-inflammatory

Ginger has shown to help people with osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and other muscular dysfunction, reducing their pain and improving their mobility when eating ginger regularly. Ginger can also help relieve muscle soreness after working out.

5. Ginger helps reduce cholesterol, controls blood sugar levels and prevents blood clots

Ginger may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Ginger can also help relieve migraines, menstrual pain and fights colds and the flu…. Pretty amazing, right?

Here are 5 ways to enjoy ginger: 

1) Saute them and use to flavor vegetables, legumes and rice dishes.

2) Slice fresh ginger and add to your hot lemon water in the morning for a detoxifying, healthy start to your day.

3) Add sliced or chopped ginger to salads, dressings, and sauces along with tamari, garlic and sesame oil.

4) Add freshly grated ginger to your smoothie or juice.

5) Make a flavorful curry!

Hopefully these points and tips have encouraged you to run out and buy some ginger and incorporate it into your diet – your body will thank you!

Contributed by Sunny Gandara. 

The post Five Tips and Benefits of Ginger appeared first on LoveSelf.

We adore featuring mind, body, and spirit wellness in our True To You Wellness Tips. We highlight inspired tips ranging from the fabulous benefits of lemons to how to love yourself through heartbreak.

Check out our latest turmeric tips created by our our contributing physician, Dr. Beth.

Do you have wellness tips you would like to see featured? Questions regarding self love and healing food?! Reach out. We love to hear from you.

The post Turmeric and Self Love Wellness Tips appeared first on LoveSelf.