Iced Passion Tea Lemonade

We’ve been drinking a lot of this lately. I carry this everywhere I go. It's fast and tastes so good on a hot day!

Here's what you need:

 

Newman’s  Own Lemonade

One bag of Tazo Passion tea

Water

Fill glass with ice and then fill the glass half with water and half with lemonade. Drop in a tea bag. Put on lid and mix it a little. Don't worry the tea will steep even with the cold ingredients. I leave the teabag in and as I drink it down I add a little more water and lemonade throughout the day. This is a great way to rehydrate.

I cut the lemonade with half water to reduce the sugar but it you want it full strength go for it!

 

 

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for ADHD?

As you know I love Dr. Weil. For me he's the perfect balance between natural medicine and western medicine. 

For those of you that don't know him here's a little bit about him:

Dr. Andrew Weil is an American medical doctor and naturopath, and a teacher and writer on holistic health. He is founder, professor, and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. He received both his medical degree and his undergraduate degree in biology from Harvard University and established the field of integrative medicine which aims to combine alternative and conventional medicine. Weil says that patients should take the Western medicine prescribed by the doctor, and then incorporate alternative therapies such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and herbal remedies, meditation and other “spiritual” strategies.

Dr. Weil just released this month what he recommends for ADHD. Look at the highlighted recommendation...food sensitivities!!!! No wheat, soy, or dairy (& a few others)....we're on to something people!! 

* I don't know if I've ever mentioned it but we don't eat peanuts either.

What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for ADHD?

First, make certain that the underlying cause of your child's disruptive behavior really is ADHD, and that he or she isn't acting out difficulties at home or expressing frustration with a learning disability. Be sure to rule out hearing or vision problems, allergies, depression, learning disabilities, or even boredom in a gifted child. In addition, try these measures:

• Take a supplement that contains omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fats are critical for normal, healthy brain development and evidence suggests they may be present in lower levels in people with ADHD.
• Consider food sensitivities. While there's no evidence that a dietary approach helps in all cases, a 1993 Cornell University study found that eliminating dairy products, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, eggs, chocolate, peanuts, artificial colors and preservatives seemed to decrease ADHD symptoms. An even earlier study showed that a low-allergen diet supplemented with calcium, magnesium, zinc and vitamins produced favorable results.
• Make sure that basic nutrition is sound. Starting the day with high-sugar or highly  processed foods can lead to hypoglycemia in mid-morning and ADHD type behavior.
• Check the levels of ferritin (iron), zinc, and magnesium. Deficiencies of all of these have been shown in some studies to worsen ADHD symptoms.
• Explore Neurofeedback.. This technique helps people learn to control their own brain waves and can teach people with ADHD how to improve their brain wave patterns.
• Exercise: Working out on a regular basis has a natural calming effect; it also raises levels of norepinephrine and dopamine, which facilitates the ability to focus attention. Martial arts including tai chi and karate can improve self-discipline, boost concentration and slow the restless cascade of intrusive thoughts.
• Meditation: Mindfulness meditation refers to the various forms of practice that involve focusing on body sensations, especially breathing. A preliminary study at UCLA trained participants in meditation, and required them to conduct mindful sitting and walking sessions over eight weeks. Result; cognitive tests revealed participants had increased ability to focus even when other stimuli were competing for their attention.
• Make sure your child is getting the appropriate accommodations at school. Sometimes relatively simple school interventions can make a big difference.
• Employ consistent and positive behavior management at home. Children with ADHD are often subject to almost constant ongoing criticism. Focus on what they do well, not just the areas of difficulty.
• For a comprehensive guide, see ADHD Without Drugs by integrative pediatrician Sanford Newmark, M.D. Dr. Weil strongly recommends the book to all parents, relatives, and friends of children with ADHD.

Chicken Marinade

This is my go-to marinade for chicken. I always get compliments on it. The amount below is for 4 large boneless/skinless chicken breasts. I buy mine from Costco and they are really big. 
*I've also used this marinade for veggies too, so get creative!

1/4 cup olive oil

7-10 fresh basil leaves chopped

 2 cloves of garlic chopped

1 lemon juiced

Salt & pepper to taste

Pour olive oil in large ziplock bag. Add chopped garlic and basil. Juice the lemon, right in the bag and then toss in rinds. Add salt and pepper and massage the ingredients a little. Add chicken and let marinate for a few hours. Toss on the barbeque and grill.

 

McDonald's Chicken McNuggets found to contain mysterious fibers, hair-like structures

From Natural News
(NaturalNews) Today we announce the first investigation conducted at the Natural News Forensic Food Laboratory, the new science-based research branch of Natural News where we put foods under the microscope and find out what's really there.

Earlier today I purchased a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets from a McDonald's restaurant in Austin, Texas. Under carefully controlled conditions, I then examined the Chicken McNuggets under a high-powered digital microscope, expecting to see only processed chicken bits and a fried outer coating.

But what I found instead shocked even me. I've seen a lot of weird stuff in my decade of investigating foods and nutrition, but I never expected to find this...

Update: Natural News has now released a second round of "mysterious fiber" photos of Chicken McNuggets, in addition to the photos you see below.

Strange fibers found embedded inside Chicken McNuggets

As the following photos show, the Chicken McNuggets were found to contain strange fibers that some people might say even resemble so-called "Morgellon's."

We found dark black hair-like structures sticking out of the nugget mass, as well as light blue egg-shaped structures with attached tail-like hairs or fibers.

These are shown in extreme detail in the photos below, taken on August 15, 2013 at the Natural News Forensic Food Lab. The actual Chicken McNugget samples used in these photos have been frozen for storage of forensic evidence.

We also found odd red coloring splotches in several locations, as well as a spherical green object that resembles algae.

We are not claiming or implying that these objects in any way make McDonald's Chicken McNuggets unsafe to consume. We do, however, believe that this visual evidence may warrant an FDA investigation into the ingredient composition of Chicken McNuggets.

In particular, where are the hair-like structures coming from? This is especially important to answer, given that chickens do not have hair. Is there cross-species contamination in the processing of Chicken McNuggets? This question needs to be answered. 

Microscopic photos reveal an alien-like landscape with weird shapes and fibers
Here are the some of the photos from the Natural News Forensic Food Lab:

























Natural News Forensic Food Lab has now released a second round of "mysterious fiber" photos of Chicken McNuggets, in addition to the photos you see above.

Jicama, Cucumber, Orange Salad

This salad is so refreshing! I love the sweet from the orange, the tangy from the lime, and the spiciness from the Tajin.

 

Tajin  is a tangy, spicy "fruit seasoning" powder consisting of chile peppers, salt, and dehydrated lime juice—its’ so yummy.

 

 

1 medium jicama peeled and diced
1 large cucumber peeled and diced
1 small sweet red onion diced
2 orange peeled and diced
1 lime juiced
Salt and pepper to taste
Tajin “fruit seasoning” to taste

Mix everything and put in the frig for about 20 minute before serving.

 

Happy Fourth of July ~Happy Birthday America~

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy July 4th!! A big thank you to all the men and  women who serve and keep this country free!!

July 4, 1776 represents the day the Declaration of Independence was finalized and signed, declaring our Thirteen States separate from Great Britain.  Happy Birthday America.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Gluten Free Blackberry Crisp ~ Happy 4th of July~

Nothing says summer like blackberries. I grew-up picking blackberries so my mom could make jam and cobbler. We would always have a huge blackberry cobbler for the 4^th of July…I remember looking forward to that first bite. I've continued this tradition with my family…my kids loving picking berries and eating them.

This crisp topping is fast and easy and super yummy.

4-5 cups of blackberries (give or take-fill that dish up)

1 1/2 cups gluten free old fashioned oats (not quick oats)

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon (one for the berries and 2 for the topping)

3/4 cup almond flour / meal

1/8 cup chopped dry roasted almonds

1/3 cup coconut oil (refined)

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup raw sugar (to sprinkle over the berries)

 

Rinse and drain berries really well and then spread in to 9 x 13 baking dish. Sprinkle with sugar (I used between a 1/8 to a 1/4 cup depending on how sweet the berries are) and one teaspoon of cinnamon. Set aside.

In a separate bowl mix oats, brown sugar, almond flour, cinnamon, and chopped almonds. Pour coconut oil and syrup over the mixture and mix until well. 

Spread mixture over berries and bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. Every oven is different so keep an eye on this so the topping doesn’t burn. Right when I see the berries bubbling I cook for about 15 min. Allow to cool. I serve it with coconut ice cream.

HAPPY 4th of July!!!