I believe that getting more out of life shouldn't be a difficult task. The intention of my work is to empower others, using simple, holistic & natural wellness methods, to find Inner Peace. Why? Due to the ripple effect, together we can change the world - Inner Peace is World Peace.
7 out of 10 items in grocery store shelves contain ingredients that have been genetically modified. Fruit and vegetables do not come with nutrition labels but they do have stickers (PLU – Price Look Up Code) which contain pertinent information.
Next time you decide to purchase that apple or cut a slice out of that melon, consider the PLU sticker. This sticker will tell you whether the fruit was organically grown, genetically modified, or produced with chemical fertilizers, herbicides or fungicides.
PLU stickers that have 4 digits and begin with a “3″ or “4″: produce is conventionally grown. This means that this produce was sprayed with weed killers and chemical pesticides.
PLU stickers that have 5-digits and start with “8″: produce was genetically engineered (man intervened by manipulating the genes to produce a larger or brighter colored food). This produce may have been chemically treated.
PLU stickers that have 5-digits and start with “9″: produce was raised organically. You can be sure that this produce was not treated with any chemicals.
If you see other variations of code on your produce, you can refer to the following website and look up the PLU code as well as other information regarding this topic: http://www.fruitsticker.com.
Note: the adhesive used to stick the PLU onto the fruit is edible but the sticker itself is not.
Having some origin coding would be great for seeing how far a particular fruit/vegetable traveled but that is something still hidden in our giant supermarkets. Read More
Chi-chi-chi-chia! These seeds, which used to grow the green fur on the novelty Chia Pets are actually packed full of nutrition. Like other super seeds such as flax and hemp seeds, chia seeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and protein. The seeds have a delicate nutty taste that blends well with pretty much any meal or snack you choose.
If you combine chia seeds with water, the seeds form a gel. When you eat the seeds on their own, this reaction takes place in your stomach. The gel slows digestion, so you feel full for longer. It also keeps your blood sugar levels from spiking.
You can find chia seeds at health food stores and some well-stocked grocery stores, depending on where you live. If you cannot find the seeds locally, they are sold on many online stores. The seeds are typically sold whole, though you can grind them and get the same health benefits. Chia seeds have a long shelf life, in part because they are so high in antioxidants. The antioxidants keep the seeds from going bad.
Benefits of Eating Chia Seeds: 1. Omega-3 fatty acids 2. Keeps blood sugar balanced 3. High in minerals 4. Helps with weight loss 5. Full of antioxidants Read More
Dr. Jay’s Note: We’ve been eating chia seeds in the Weber household for a few years now. Powerful & easy addition to any smoothie. My Wonder Woman (the Mrs.) likes to add them to her cold jasmine green tea for a bubble tea or boba effect.
Wonder Woman & I decided to start out our week with a pint of green smoothie for breaky. Despite the color, it was pretty tasty & a great way to recover from my morning trail run.
So you’ve got all these great fruits and vegetables and now we’re going to help you keep them at their freshest with these tips. These tips are from the Berkley Farmer’s Market which is a Zero Waste market! Here is a printable PDF of their original tip sheet. In the works here at Washington’s Green Grocer is a switch from plastic bags (although we use as few as we can get away with, while still keeping your produce from getting battered on it’s way to you) to only recyclable paper and re-useable cloth bags! Read More
One of the easiest and healthiest ways to improve your diet involves something you can do in your own home – sprouting!
Sprouts, also called “living food,” are one of the most nutritionally complete foods you can eat. The Chinese became aware of their nutritional value many centuries ago, and for good reason – sprouts are rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and proteins that are essential to your diet:
Broccoli sprouts contain a high percentage of cancer-fighting agents – in fact researchers have discovered that 3-day sprouts contain 20-30% more of cancer-fighting antioxidants than the broccoli you buy in the supermarket
Sprouts are easily digested and aid in the digestive process
Sprouts are fresh, easy to grow and harvest and are inexpensive
Growing you own sprouts provides you with organically grown salad greens – no pesticides or toxic chemicals to worry about!
Sprouts you can grow yourself can help keep your immune system functioning in tip-top condition
The best types of sprouts to grow include alfalfa, wheat grass, barley grass, buckwheat, garlic, chives, baby sunflower, Chinese cabbage, purple turnip, and curly kale. Read More
Many people avoid eating nuts because of their high caloric and fat content. The problem is, if you’re like most people, once you start eating them, you often can’t stop! But if you can exercise some self-control …the health benefits you derive from eating nuts may be well worth the effort!
How do nuts keep you healthy? Here are just a few of the ways:Read More
Dr. Jay’s Note: Make sure you read all labels & avoid any nuts that are roasted with canola oil (more common that one would think).
Here’s a quick, easy & inexpensive meal. Simply saute extra-firm tofu in olive oil & sea salt (I added a few other spices & a squirt of lime). Put it on a grilled bun, add BBQ sauce (Trader Joe’s has a great tasting sauce that isn’t filled with fake food ingredients), sliced tomato & baby spinach.
This is so tasty that you may want to make extra - even my 5 year old asked for a second serving. Don’t forget extra napkins as this isn’t your typical one napkin meal! :)
During the last several years, juicers have replaced blenders in many kitchens. And for a nation that spends billions a year in fast food restaurants, that’s a very good thing indeed!
Juicing is a super “scrub” for your insides, reaching all the way down to the cellular level, in a way no other cleanser can. It can also boost the immune system and provides energy to the body.
Other health benefits of specific juices… Read More
Dr. Jay highly recommends the Vita-Mix High Speed Blender!
Dr. Jay’s Note: I must admit that I’m typically not a tofu fan. However, with the ongoing desire to eat a healthy & sustainable diet, I decided to give this recipe a try. It was a winner in the Weber household as even the 5 & 6 year old gave it a thumbs up.
I put my own spin on the recipe by using limes from our garden instead of lemon juice & I used Trader Joe’s ‘21 Salute’ seasoning instead of pepper. You can read the original recipe here.
The cutlets were covered with caramelized red onions & served on a bed of white jasmine rice with sauteed green beans on the side = Fantastic
