10 benefits and tips of lovely lemons!

Lemons are incredible little yellow beings of love. While they may seem quite sour and acidic, each one is anything but a crabby little sourpuss. What tastes acidic in lemons, is actually alkaline, creating a balancing affect your body adores.

What is alkaline you ask? Alkaline and acid are the measurements of PH in your body. Optimally, your alkaline and acid ratios are balanced. Unfortunately, most standard diets are causing our internal systems to be too acidic, causing significant ill health and a terrain of disease. Don’t worry. There is good news! Many foods are alkaline and assist your body in maintaining the right levels. And guess what?! Lemons are one such food. In addition to helping us achieve balance, lemons have many other great benefits.

Lemons are anti-bacterial and can protect against many types of infections. Think of these sunshine beings as a natural antibiotic.

Lemons are anti-viral. Starting to feel the flu invading your inner peace? Drink a glass of lemon water every two hours to help deter the virus and increase your immune system.

Lemons can assist in dissolving gallstones. Anybody who has ever felt the ouch of a displeased gallbladder will adore this tidbit. Lemons help dissolve the calcification in your gallbladder and flush them from your system.

These yellow lovers also help improve mental clarity. They act as natural energy boosters and may even assist in improving focus. Do you have a big meeting or a challenging exam? Sometimes just the wonderful citrus smell of a lemon may elevate your concentration.

Lemons assist in detoxifying your liver. Think of your liver as a filtration system for your body. Because lemons are a natural cleanser and anti-oxidant they support the wonderful housekeeping job your liver does everyday.

They can even make you feel happy! Yep, that is right. Lemons are a natural mood enhancer. They can help reduce anxiety, diminish stress levels, and boost those feel good emotions.

Lemon water is a lovely choice. Yet, why stop there? Let the creativity begin!

How about adding lemon to balsamic and olive oil for a great dressing.

Thirsty? Add lemon juice, orange zest, and honey to a glass of warm water for a healthy and fulfilling drink. Take it to the next level with sparkling water and apple juice. Oh so fancy.

Lemons can be squeezed over your favorite protein. For an added kick, combine lemon juice with coconut oil and garlic for a great marinade.

Love your greens? Of course you do! Add lemon to kale with a minced shallot and feel fabulous.

Want more ideas? Sign up for our secret recipe club and receive Rachel’s Paleo lemon cupcake for free. YUMMMMMM.

Enjoy! Healthy is fabulous.

Originally published by Organic LifeStyle Magazine.

The post Loving Lemons! Benefits and Tips appeared first on LoveSelf.

The amazing benefits of avocados, plus recipes!

Over recent years avocados have rapidly developed in popularity. This nutritiously rich fruit is introducing itself to more and more dinner menus and grocery store shelves. Why the spotlight all of a sudden?

1. Excellent source of healthy fat. Fat is the body’s preferred form of energy. Biologically we aren’t meant to utlilize sugar for long sustaining energy. It is critical that we begin to increase our intake of healthy fats. Avocados are a great place to start!
2. Rich in protein and easy to digest which makes them a popular supplement for vegans, pregnant, and nursing mama’s.
3. Increase our body’s ability to take in nutrients. Healthy fats like avocado increase nutrition assimilation in the body by supporting gallbladder function and improving overall digestion.
4. Nourish your brain! Uniquely, avocados are a natural source of lecithin, which nourishes the brain and supports cardiovascular function.
5. Lower blood sugar. Unlike other fruits, avocados are low in fructose, supporting blood sugar regulation and the nervous system.
6. Full of amazing nutrients. This super fruit is a source of revitalizing nutrients such as potassium, copper, folate, and vitamins B and E.

When buying 100% organic is not an option, it is helpful to note that avocados are one of the safest foods to buy conventionally. Avocados protective shell helps maintain nutrients and protect the inside from chemical exposure.

Please check out avocado loveself recipes here!

The post Six Benefits of Avocado appeared first on LoveSelf.

What does it mean to be gluten free? Why is it important to you or your family?

Flour??? “Isn’t that the benign and favorite white stuff that is in all my food?” Well… it turns out for many people flour can have quite a challenging affect on their health.

So, what is it about our favorite bread or pizza crust that may be causing issues? It is the gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, spelt, and kamut. Additionally, it can be found in hidden sources such as malt, soy sauce, many alcohols, beer, and brewers yeast (to name a few).

Think of gluten as the reason your dough gets ‘doughy’. Imagine throwing a pizza crust in the air or picture your favorite bread growing tall in the oven. Gluten, when combined with yeast, is what makes your bread rise. The pull and stretch of the thrown pizza dough is the gluten found in the flour.

More and more studies are beginning to show that a significant percentage of the population may have sensitivity to today’s wheat. Health challenges from gluten can range from sensitivity (meaning your body just feels better if you don’t eat it) to an autoimmune disease called celiac and a wide spectrum in between.  Naming just a few on the long list of possible symptoms include immune reduction, digestive issues, abdominal cramping, stool issues, skin disorders, joint pain, and fatigue. The symptoms often vary from person to person.

Gluten allergies are likely becoming more commonplace due to the modification of the modern wheat plant and an earth and body damaging chemical herbicide called glyphosate sprayed in copious amounts on the wheat plant. In the interest of keeping your attention and not writing the equivalent of a dissertation, we are keeping this information to the highest level. So, please do your research, ask your natural health practitioner and make the decisions that are best for you.

Starting with the basics: What flours are gluten free?

Our personal favorites are almond flour, buckwheat, teff, millet, and coconut flour.  Additional gluten free flours are potato starch, corn flours, tapioca flour, sorghum, amaranth, and bean flours.  It is worth noting that just because a type of flour is gluten free doesn’t mean it is nutritious. At LoveSelf we understand this and spend countless loving hours making sure your decadent food desires are also the healthiest options.

Almond Flour or Almond Meal – Think Paleo! The difference between meal and flour is simple. The meal contains the skin of the almond. The flour does not. We use almond meal when desiring a heartier result, such as a breakfast muffin or raw treat. Almond flour and meal are full of protein and contains all the benefits of whole almonds. A couple of tips to make baking with almond flour easy. Lower your oven temperature. We never go over 350 degrees when baking with almonds. Add more eggs for soft airy height! If you are vegan, message us and we can suggest alternatives to eggs.

Buckwheat – Buckwheat is not actually wheat. Tricky name! Would you believe it is a fruit seed?! Buckwheat is high in protein, fiber, and full of nutrients. Not sure how to incorporate buckwheat into your gluten free recipes? We love buckwheat pancakes and crepes. Just replace ¾ of your gluten free flour blend with buckwheat flour for an earthy nutritious breakfast.

Millet Flour – Millet flour contains significant vitamins and minerals including high amounts of vitamin B and magnesium. Millet acts as a pre-biotic to aid in digestion and may even increase your serotonin levels. High in protein, millet has a great result in many bread recipes and can often be substituted one to one in your favorite gluten free cookie or muffin recipes.

Teff Flour – We discovered Teff and immediately fell in love. Teff is native to Ethiopia and is a staple in our favorite injera. Teff is one of those super foods; high in protein, calcium, and nutrient with a low glycemic index. It is easy to include in recipes and super tasty. How about this for a great recipe suggestion? Replace Teff with your usual flour in the family peanutbutter cookie recipe. You just amped up dessert and made your kids and your body happy.

Coconut Flour – We saved a personal favorite for last! For all the health benefits of coconut flour, click here. Coconut flour when combined with raw honey makes fabulous cookies. Coconut is also great in raw treat creation. One important reminder with coconut flour. It is absorbs liquid quickly. In other words, a little goes a long way. When baking with coconut flour replace no more than ¼ of your usual flours with coconut flour.

We love to bake with our favorite flours. For recipes check out our recipe page or sign up for our newsletter to join the secret recipe club!

The post Our Five Favorite Gluten Free Flours appeared first on LoveSelf.

Spring has arrived and so have our springtime seasonal favorites. Enjoy the six body loving benefits of asparagus.

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. Asparagus peaks in April in Southern states and May as we travel North. The asparagus not harvested during this time will quite rapidly turn into a three to four foot feathery tree.

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

These happy green stalks are an anti-inflammatory and are said to have healing effects on autoimmune dis-ease.

Asparagus also supports digestive health as an inulin containing ‘pre-biotic’.

Amazingly asparagus can help in lowering type two diabetes risk and even aid in the prevention of kidney stones.

In addition, Nikki Fleck, LoveSelf’s fabulous wellness tips contributor reminds us that asparagus is also a leading supplier 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.

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 this tasty  Ginger Asparagus Soup LoveSelf recipe.

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Steps to inspiration in loving ourselves and each other.

No matter your age stay young at heart.

Have you met Harry? He is a 92 year old organic farmer and grass sandwich extraordinaire. What is the secret to his vitality? He works hard, lives with his connections to the earth in tact, and loves with all of his heart. Not because organic is trendy or because he found his guru. Simply because he knows that living from love and tradition are the right thing to do. Not to mention if you ask him about chemical sprays and GMO he will tell you in his sweet snappy way “those things will kill you!”. Wise words from decades of wisdom.

Plant a garden. Learn how to make a grass sandwich and eat one everyday. Love your family. Stand in the sun and touch the dirt. You may just live happily to the best kind of youthful old age.

Surrender to what you can’t control.

Elaina’s son died as a teenager. She describes feeling helpless in the face of such tragedy and was bravely guided by spirit to surrender. Elaina began to know that Dominic’s soul was on a journey. She did everything she knew to heal and love him then she stopped. Stopped at the point where only sadness and desperation would be the outcome. Today Elaina is a stunning international raw food chef and her child is her guardian angel, guiding her highest choices.

We suffer when we attempt to control the uncontrollable. When we choose to fight against the moment of what is. Hug the person you love and allow them their journey. Follow the guidance of your heart and honor your body. Elaina honors her body with raw food and her heart with creativity. How do you honor yourself? What can you surrender to today?

Marry your best friend.

Merle married his dearest buddy. In loving Michele, he didn’t set out to conquer or pursue. Only to assist, support, and adore his kind neighbor with no strings attached. She would call him for anything. Sometimes just to talk. Other times for help around the house or a friend to hang out with. He showed up, smiled, and supported her. As the story goes one day he held her hand and they have never let go.

How do you love unconditionally? What can you do right now for your partner without expectation or return? Today Michele and Merle are non-GMO activists and collaborators in their love for the earth and each other. They follow the call to action of their hearts, not because someone told them to, only because they live from their truth without expectation of return. Michele and Merle support each other and the integrity of our planet. Reach out to them and ask “Why?” They will tell you just for the love of it.

Don’t give up. Know that living your dream requires perseverance.

Have you read Jennifer’s story? After her friend died, she created a non-profit to serve meals and support to those dealing with cancer. We are often told that when we begin our heart journey the world will just open up, and if right, everything will fall into our laps. That isn’t always true. Anything worth having often requires perseverance and tenacity. Jennifer will tell you that she was shocked when she first approached farmers to donate organic food (even just a small amount!) and was told no repeatedly. She stuck with it. Because she knew that she couldn’t quit, the world is now changed one step at a time by her contribution.

What doors do you need to open in your life? Where can you take one more step in the direction of your dreams? Like Jennifer it is time to persevere. You don’t need everyone to say yes to your path. The important parts are that you keep saying yes to yourself even in the face of no.

Normal is overrated.  Go against the grain.

Darrold found himself very sick with unusual symptoms. After multiple doctor appointments and no answers, he realized that gluten was causing his problems. The mainstream response is to go gluten free. While this is a great choice for many with gluten sensitivities, and an absolute requirement for those of us with celiac, he didn’t like the idea of following the usual gluten free diet. A lover and baker of bread, he began researching the science of gluten and learned about the modifications to our modern wheat plant. He took the most unorthodox risk and began experimenting with heirloom wheat. It turns out he can indeed have both his bread and eat it too!

Who is telling you that a goal in your life doesn’t make sense? Are you listening to them or following the beat of your own heart. No one ever changed the world following the usual path. Darrold made his impact by serving the earth and his body well. What can you do today that makes sense only to you?

Know that your worst moments may become your greatest blessings.

Sonia’s story is full of hardship and beauty. She is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, experiences PTSD, and has known the pain of hunger. Rather than live from a place of defeat, she chose to allow her greatest pain to inspire her most brilliant life’s work. Today she grows organic food for the hungry. Her compassion and calling could only have risen from her biggest hardships.

Are you allowing the dark days in life to cover up your light? How can you turn your tragedy into triumph? Only in experiencing powerlessness do we often find our power. In feeling fear we are offered the best opportunity for courage. Start your path to an inspired life by writing down one thing everyday that you learned from the challenges in your life. Next ask yourself how can you open that knowledge to impact other’s lives for the better.

Pay it forward.

LoveSelf was created with one purpose. To pay it forward. We feature those making a positive contribution in food. Everyone highlighted by LoveSelf shares our vision of a world where we love ourselves and each other, eat well, serve the earth with integrity, and follow our dreams. Our inspiring people contribute by following their calling. Send us your inspiring person nominee. They may just get a feature and a hug.

Which brings us to our last inspiring tip.

Take risks.  Have faith. Security comes from living an authentic life.

Our journey is truly about the experiences. When you look back on your days. The question won’t be what did I do, it will be what did I feel.  Love yourself. Inspire yourself and others. The entire world will change.

The post How to Inspire Yourself and Others in Eight Steps appeared first on LoveSelf.