Hope to see you Tomorrow!!

I am busy preparing for my cooking class tomorrow evening at Pure Bliss. I am so excited to share some of my favorite recipes with you and hope you will find them as delicious as I do!

Thank you for supporting me along my journey. I could not have gotten this far if I didn't have the love and support around me.

More info about tomorrow's event can be found Here: Pure Bliss event

XOXOXOX,

Anika

Food Allergies

 

·        Allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction. Very often we crave that which we are allergic to so pay attention to your cravings! First signs of an allergic reaction include stomach pain, a runny nose, a swollen throat, and phlegm. 

·      Allergy involves an exaggerated response of the immune system.
·      60% of the world’s population has an unknown food allergy.
·      95% of people go undiagnosed.
·      150 million people worldwide are allergic to one or more foods.
·      4% adults and 8% of children, in the European Union, suffer from food allergies.
·      Food allergies have increased 18% in the last 10 years in children under the age of 18.
·      Allergies can develop at any age.
·      Allergies are linked to enzymes shortages; eating more enzyme-rich raw foods are a great long-term remedy for allergies.
 
 

Enzymes

We are born with a limited supply of enzymes which are meant to last throughout our lifetime. Babies are full of enzymes and older folks have lost most of their supply, which is why they become "old." Just as a plant withers and eventually dies, so do we.

The faster we run through the enzymes the shorter our lives become. Cooking our foods, eating non-organic or dead foods, using non-organic household products and body products, as well as drugs and alcohol, all eat away at our enzyme supply. Stress, pollution and chemicals do not help either.

The best way for us to maintain optimum health and to preserve our youth is to incorporate an enzyme rich diet into our life that equates to a larger deposit and fewer withdrawal of enzymes. The easiest way to do this is with more raw foods. Simple.

The human pancreas is 2-4 times heavier and larger than that in an animal, which lives on raw foods, simply because the pancreas has to go into overdrive to produce the digestive juices that are lacking in the cooked and processed foods we eat.

What can you do today to increase your consumption of enzymes?

1. Soak your nuts and seeds for 8-24 hours before you eat them. Soaking your nuts deactivates the enzyme inhibitors in the nuts, which increases nutrient absorption by up to 800%.
2. Sprout your own seeds. It is simple. All you need is a jar, a mesh cloth and a rubber band. Or you can use tupperware with a mesh screen, a sprouting kit, or a cheesecloth. If you cannot sprout your own seeds, buy organic sprouts at the store and eat some at least every other day.
3. Drink more fresh green juices- spinach, lemon, apple and parsley make a delicious combination
4. Eat more sea vegetables.
5. Eat more raw salads with soaked nuts and seeds.

The Beauty of Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives trees, grass, and leafy greens their beautiful green color. Chlorophyll is rich in iron and a great alternative to animal protein. There are so many benefits of chlorophyll greens including the following: proven to protect us from radiation, smoking, pollution, soaking up and excreting toxins and metals from the body (such as lead and mercury) and the ability to prevent cancer.

A list of powerful greens:

• alfalfa
• wheatgrass
• spinach
• kale
• collards
• dandelion greens
• bok choy
• parsley
• swiss chard
• turnip greens
• beet greens
• celery
• cabbage
• bean sprouts

The best way to eat your greens are both juiced and raw and can be eaten in any combination. Carrots, tomatoes and summer squashes are a great combination partner with chlorophyll greens.

Remember that juicing enables the body to quickly absorb a blast of micronutrients of several kilos of vegetables in only a small shot. A great attack on bacteria, disease, or distress in the body!!

Optimal Digestion

I know we don't like to discuss digestion much, but it is a very natural process and how well you digest your food is a good indication if you are on the proper diet. Here are some guidelines as to how you can improve your digestion:

1. Chew your foods thoroughly, at least 15 times, 20 is better and 100, impossible :)
2. Eat raw foods before you eat cooked foods, as they digest quicker.
3. Avoid processed and artificial foods, which clutter your digestive system.
4. Eat no more than 4 or 5 ingredients in a meal. Too many ingredients slow the digestive process.
5. Drink one shot of Apple Cider Vinegar everyday.
6. Eat Flaxseed everyday.
7. Eat at least 35 grams of fiber (both soluble and insoluble) a day. For every gram of fiber you eat, you burn 7 calories, without exercising. 
8. Eat foods, and drink water, that are at room temperature. This eases the digestive process because your body does not have to go into overdrive to heat up your meal or drink.
9. Make sure you are relaxed and NOT in a hurry when you eat.