The Juicing/Smoothie COLOR CHALLENGE - ORANGE

Hi Folks! The juicing/smoothie group on Facebook is off to another adventure!!! Eating and drinking the rainbow is a good way to ensure you are getting a variety of nutrients. So that's just what we're going to do! The first color of the challenge is orange. The goal is to make at least ONE orange colored fresh juice or smoothie this week and post it on the group page (recipe and picture). Click here to check out the group page.

Here's a recipe that I've posted before that may get your creative orange juices flowing!

There are many orange ingredients available in most markets that will provide a delicious, nutritious, power packed beverage.  Note - all ingredient do not have to be orange...but the final beverage should be.

Here are a few orange ingredients:
oranges
clementines
persimmons
pumpkin
butternut squash
carrots
orange cauliflower
golden beets
sweet potatoes

Join us on this week's color challenge! :)


Peace and love!!

Slamming Smoothie Contest - IT'S TIME TO VOTE!

It's been quite a week! I want to say another HUGE THANK YOU to all of the contest participants! I love the variety of the smoothies we've seen this week.  There is something for everyone in this mix! The unique nature of each recipe was also impressive. Hmmmmm....... I wonder if you can tell a lot about a person by the type of smoothies they create. My guess is YES! :)

Here is a recap (click on the name of each smoothie for the recipe):

Jackpot by Kenya Carl

Incredible Hulk 2 by Rona Daniel

Chocolate Breeze by Marrea Thomas

Green Delight by Danike Etufugh

Cherry Berry Heaven by Chansi Coleman

The taste test will be TOUGH all of the smoothies look and sound AMAZING!!

Stay tuned for the recipe and photo winners!

Peace and Love!

Slamming Smoothie Contest - Green Delight

 

Hi Folks! We're on to round number 4 in The Slamming Smoothie Contest! Our next contender is Danike Etufugh and her smoothie is called Green Delight. 

 

Green Delight Smoothie:

Spinach (frozen) 

Green d'anjou pear

Pineapple (frozen) 

Watermelon (chilled

1 tsp super food blend powder (hemp, cacao and maca)

 Almond milk

Chia seeds

 

This smoothie contains the following allergen: tree nuts (almond)

 

Green Delight by Danike Etufugh

Superfood blend - ingredient in the Green Delight smoothie

 

Thanks again Danike! This is a power packed smoothie with vibrant color! I love pineapple and watermelon together.  Add in some greens and maca root and you're truly in for a delightful treat!

 

Stay tuned for more!

 

Peace and love!

The Parasite Cleanse - Part 2

Hi Folks – I cannot begin to tell you how tumultuous these last two weeks have been.  I need a wooo sah moment or just a simple vacation!!!!

I started theparasite cleanse two weeks ago with Well Diva Lifestyle (formerly known as Soul Food Therapy).  On day 2 of the cleanse, I broke rank and had ice cream (it was my birthday after all)!  The following week I had to travel for work.  Traveling has always been tricky because you never know what the food selection is going to be in the airports or at your final destination. Last year I wrote a series of articles that about diet and travel (Airplane Food parts 1 - 5). The difference in last year's saga was that I was not limited to foods parasites hat (FPH).   Most locations I visit are not metropolitan areas with a wide array of health food options.  Plus, I always use traveling as a means to get the naughty treats I normally refrain from (during a stress free week!). 

So here I go on a week long journey out of town, away from my kitchen stocked with foods parasites hate (FPH) and into the realm of foods parasites love (FPL).  I never really paid attention to the food choices (healthy or otherwise) in regards to what parasites hate.  It’s sad to say but MOST of the food available in the marketplace (restaurants and grocery stores) is a  parasite’s dream!  I wouldn’t be surprised if the general population was riddled with parasites based on the components of the standard American diet (SAD) that we consume. 

 

So how did I manage?  Did I give up?  Well…yes…and no.  Let me explain.

1 – I searched for food and snacks that parasites would hate in the airport.  It was quite disappointing and frustrating.  I found some snacks…..but they WERE NOT TASTY! I’m always talking about how healthy food should taste good but I was very disappointed and not eager to continue to torture myself.

 

2 - I stuck to my standard late night supermarket trip to pick up healthy snacks. This time, I included smoothie ingredients and a very small blender ($20).  I had a smoothie EVERY morning for breakfast but it went downhill from there. I did drink ample water and had no elimination issues.  

Late night grocery haul - berries, pineapples, nuts, basil, mint, coconut water, unsweetened peanut butter, celery, blender, water bottles, straws, crushed red pepper, lemons, small knife

 

I'm done.....EXHAUSTED........

3 – I compromised and ate foods parasites LOVE (FPL).  Examples: cheese on my salad with ranch dressing. Yeast rolls for lunch. Veggie nachos for dinner (with grilled veggies, beans, avocado, cheese and corn chips).  I had a stress episode on the last day and ate lasagna…………………and potato chips…..and a donut!

Lunch - salad with ranch and cheese - I added the nuts and pumpkin seeds

Lunch - salad, cole slaw and the forbidden potato salad

Dinner - veggie nachos (forbidden cheese and corn chips)

So I was on the edge and actually jumped in the water.  I felt slightly guilty…and even more disappointed because I did not stick to the program. I’ve rebelled during a cleanse before, but this time it just felt so hard.  Here’s what I learned:

1.       It’s really hard to remain faithful to a cleansing program while away from home.  When your comfort zone (the home kitchen) is stripped away and you are left to protect the cleanse in a “hostile” environment it can get rough.  I had difficulty and temptation even in the grocery store! I was so hungry in that grocery store a box of Nutty Bars was screaming my name!

 



Late night TEMPTATION
 



 

2.      Life happens.  You do the best you can, pick up the pieces and start again. There is no need to feel guilty or beat myself up.

3.      I’ve been exposed to another wellness activity and feel empowered that I can repeat it…..and actually complete the program.

4.      My advice to others is plan to do a cleanse when you don’t have anything else to do…no birthday celebrations, travelling, or visitors.  It can be done, but takes a lot more effort, and when you are away from home, you can never predict what type of food will be available. Granted I could have eliminated the cheese.........

 

Peanut butter and jelly smoothie ingredients (blackberries, strawberries, peanut butter, coconut water)

Pineapple, strawberry and mint with chia and coconut water

 

Infused water (lemon, mint and strawberries)

Next steps:

1.       Continue to pay attention to the foods I eat so that I can have a balance between foods parasites hate and love.

2.      Continue to eat pineapples and pepper along with the other yummy recipes I created while on the cleanse.

3.      Try the parasite cleanse again when there is less excitement in my life.

I'll leave you with key messages that have helped me:  just do your best.  Life is a journey.  Things are not always going to go as planned, but having a measure of self-control still goes a long way.  Will power is key in completing any challenge.  External forces can pressure your resolve.  It’s up to you to manage it, but don’t beat yourself up about falling short.  Just get back up and try it again. 

Even though the parasite cleanse was rocky, I’ve been enlightened on what parasitic symptoms are, how bad the standard American diet is, and how to manage my diet better.

Whew!

Peace and love!

REPOST: More Watermelon Please!

Hi Folks this is an archived article from last summer with added watermelon juice or smoothie recipes.  If you love watermelon, you'll enjoy this article!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Summer time has hit with a vengeance and my favorite fruit to eat, and what I yearn for every summer, is WATERMELON!

I love watermelon.  It's the most refreshing, filling, enjoyable fruit that has come into my life. Nice, cold, sweet, watermelon! Does anyone else drink the leftover juice in the bowl??? That's my favorite part! Although I do not use a "method" to pick my watermelons (thumping, smelling, etc.), 90% of the time I get a pretty good one.  I love the kind that has slightly mealy pulp, sweet flavor,  good color and less than a 1/4 inch of rind.

A few years ago we tried to grow some in our garden.  Watching them grow was like going to a theme park for me! It was amazing to see the growth process (see below).

Watermelon emerging from the vine

Baby melon

Starting to take shape. mmmm good!

Melons in general have an excellent cleansing effect.  They alkalize the body and will hydrate you after a long run or day in the sun better than a sports drink.  My mother always raves about how much energy she received from eating watermelon after a long day working on their farm (in the Dirty South).

Here are some other facts about watermelon:
1.  It can remove toxins from the blood.
2.  It should be eaten between meals - not right after because the water content can affect digestion.
3.  It can be tolerated well by diabetics due to it's low sugar content (but it tastes so sweet!).
4.  It can help fight urinary conditions such as kidney stones.
5.  Eating watermelon is a good way to loose weight.  It fills you up and satisfies cravings for something sweet.

Here are some links to juices and smoothies that contain watermelon:
1. Summer Hydration juice
2. Watermelon Plum smoothie
3. Watermelon Cilantro juice

So, eat up  and drink up this summer season......I know I will!  Most melons in the US are grown in the Southern states and are a watermelon lover's DREAM! Watermelon is Caleb approved and a good way for him to hydrate, especially the days where he refuses to drink pure water.

May I have more watermelon please??

What is your favorite summer fruit?

The Parasite Cleanse!

Hi folks I have been super busy working on some new things!! Since we last spoke I started a PARASITE cleanse.  As you know I’m always looking for ways to improve my body.  Over the last 18 months I’ve participated in the following wellness activities:

·         Dry brush challenge

·         30 Day raw food challenge

·         Liver flush

·         The Daniel fast

Well Diva Lifestyle formerly known as Soul Food Therapy with Renee Simpson RD (registered dietician) is sponsoring this parasite cleanse.  We are on day #3 and I’ve already broken rank.  Today is my birthday (Whooo hooooo!!) and I had a hankering for some Ice cream….so I jumped in and had my fill! It's  my birthday after all!  Give a girl a break! Please no judgment! J

Why is ice cream bad to have during a parasite cleanse?

1.       Parasites love sweet things! The purpose of the cleanse is to expel the parasites from your system…not continue to feed them.

2.       There are other things that one should refrain from while on a parasite cleanse.  Like most detox or cleanses, a diet of clean unprocessed food should be consumed.

3.       Grains like white rice and wheat should be avoided.  Sweet fruits like peaches, bananas, apples, and plums should be benched.

4.       A laxative or colon cleanser is a must to help get those parasite out!

5.       Green leafy veggies, pineapple, papaya, pumpkins seeds, garlic, ginger and hot spices should be widely consumed (among other parasite cleansing foods).

Here is what the cleanse consists of:

1.       The cleanse is for 14 days.

2.       Omit foods parasites love (FPL) and consume foods parasites hate (FPH).

3.       Drink cleansing tea (clove, wormwood, and black walnut hull are a must)

4.       Take a laxative or colon cleanser

5.       Balance gut flora with probiotics

Not so bad right?  Well the summer is my prime time for consumer my all time favorite fruit: WATERMELON.  It’s been hard to refrain from eating it, but there are quite a few options for what you can eat while on this cleanse…and the tea is wickedly bitter!!!

What can you gain by doing a parasite cleanse (besides removing them)?

1.       Decreased bloating

2.       Decreased excessive gas

3.       Increased energy

4.       Better sleep

5.       Better digestion

6.     An end to anal itching

If you consume meat or sushi…..or any other raw food (even fruits and vegetables) – you probably have parasites in your body. 

So far I’ve tweaked my smoothies and juices to meet the FPH criteria, and I’ve created some yummy salads like this spicy black bean salad shown below (IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!!).  Check out more of the foods parasite hate!

Amazing Spicy Black Bean Salad (black beans, tomatoes, peas, garlic, olive oil, onions, cumin, salt, lemon juice, dill, sage, cilantro, parsley)

Grilled vegetable kabobs (pineapple, onions, squash, zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers)

Gazpacho (tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, basil, red pepper)

Parasite tea! YUCK!

Purple Dawn smoothie (blue berries, pineapple, papaya, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut water)

Golden Tango smoothie: papaya, pineapple, banana, peaches, hemp seeds, chia seeds, turmeric powder - I was suppose to omit the banana and peaches......



The Smoothie Journey: 10 Smoothie making tips for Newbies

Since I started the Juicing/Smoothie group I have been a smoothie and juice making monster!  I've created tons of new recipes most of which send me into a satisfying blissful state! I don't like to toot my own horn...but TOOT! TOOT!

Since we've started these challenges we've had 65 people join the group! It's awesome! Some of the folks are dusting off their blenders and juicers and other are buying new ones and embarking on a new journey to better health.

I decided to put together a quick list of tips for those that are just starting out.  Making juices and smoothies can be a daunting task in the beginning.  From the feedback I've gotten, people are afraid of wasting money on blends that taste horrible and mixing together the wrong ingredients.

If you find yourself in either category hopefully this list will help!

10 Smoothie Making Tips for Newbies:

1. Start with your favorite fruits/veggies, herbs and liquids.

2. Make simple blends with 3 or 4 ingredients. Don't try to be fancy in the beginning, you could end up wasting ingredients.  You cant go wrong with the classic strawberry banana smoothie.

3. Fresh fruit is more juicy...but frozen fruit is good too.

4. If possible add something green to every smoothie. Spinach is a powerhouse that is relatively bland. The flavor can be masked easily.

 

5. Choose your favorite protein soruces

6. Always adjust the blend before giving up and throwing it away (add more ice, water, fruits, etc.)

7. Use a good balance of sweet and sour ingredients. If the smoothie is too sweet, add a tart cherry or plum.

8. Keep dates and lemons on hand.  Dates add sweetness and lemons can balance the flavor profile or brighten it up.

9. Make sure you blend to the consistency you like the most.  Too lumpy can be gross, too thin can be tasteless and too thick can be hard to get down.

10. If you are replacing a meal with a smoothie make sure to add enough protein (hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, almond milk, protein powder of your choice, etc.).

Here is one of my favorites: Blueberry Peach!

frozen peaches, fresh blueberries, 1 banana, chia seeds, hemp seeds, ice, lemon juice

Smoothie on the go!

Can you think of any other tips for the smoothie newbies?

Peace and love!

The Hair Journey: The fungus is baaa-aaaack!

Howdy folks!  I have some terrible news to share! The fungus is BACK! I'm so disappointed and slightly irritated at my dry flaky scalp.  Even if I apply tea tree oil it seems to get worse.  I have come down from my adulation of being rid of this pesky condition.

One thing I've been doing differently is not using and tea tree or dandruff shampoo.  I've been doing more co-washes because I wanted to stop using shampoos that stripped my hair of moisture and changed my curl pattern.  I used apple cider vinegar and did not see any relief.  So now, I'm experimenting with a home remedy I've "heard of" on social media:  onion and ginger juice!  I added aloe to the party because I'm desperate! Take a look.

My scalp - June 22, 2014.  Not pretty - this is 4 days after co-washing.

Step 1 - make the onion ginger aloe juice concoction: I used my juicer...and cried a lot!! Those freshly juiced onions were serious tear jerkers!

I used 6 -7 inches of ginger and two medium sized yellow onions. 

Step 2 - mix the ginger onion juice with aloe vera juice:

Aloe vera juice, spray bottle and ginger onion juice

Aloe vera juice

Final mixture: ginger, onion and aloe vera juice

Step 3 - Apply to scalp, cover and let the anti-fungal treatment begin!  I left the cap on for about 1 hour.  My hair is so thick, I just parted it and applied the juice to each section.  I was boo hooing the whole time (it's the onions...the onions I say).

After spraying before capping

The treatment was working....I could feel tingling....

Step 4 - rinse hair and style.  My style for the day was a free flow afro.

After rinsing (scalp looks free of debris)

Curl pattern

 

Pomade of choice!  Applied before picking. My favorite styling product and you can pronounce all the ingredients!!!!!!!

Picked out afro...free style...no patting into submission...

Shrinkage!!!! Whoa mama!!

After the treatment..my scalp felt good.  I'm not sure how many times I should repeat the process, but I'll do it as long as it takes.  I'm also researching foods and herbs that help eliminate fungus/dandruff.  I want to do it the natural way.....no chemicals.  Onions are recommended a lot in home remedies for hair,  but I didn't understand why.  Come to find out onions are high in sulpher....our hair is full of di-sulfide bonds...so I can see how it can strengthen hair but still not clear on it's anti-fungal properties.  Aloe and ginger both have antiseptic/anti fungal behavior so I understood the use of those ingredients.

The fungus saga continues..........stay tuned for more updates!

What else can I use to combat my fungus parties???


Peace and love!