Friday, May 29, 2015

Four Powerful Drinks That Instantly Restore Your Energy


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Too many people are reaching for unnatural sources of energy these days, but energy drinks are terrible for your health. Put down the chemically altered non-sense and benefit from a delicious natural source of energy.

Morning Sunrise


2-3 freshly juice tangerines

1 Juiced Grapefruit

1 Cup fresh or frozen strawberries

Method:

Peel and juice the tangerines with the grapefruit, and puree the juice with the frozen strawberries.

Green Supreme Energy Machine


10 Kale stocks

2 Green Apples

2 Pears

1 Cucumber

Handful of Spinach

Method:

Juice or blend all ingredients together

Mango Blueberry Bliss


1 Mango, peeled and cubed

1-pint blueberries

1 banana, frozen or fresh

1 cup coconut milk

1 tsp Raw Honey

Puree all ingredients together in a blender, and enjoy.

Lavender Tea


6 Lavender Sprigs

4 mint sprigs

Raw Sugar

Lemon

16 oz water

Method:

Boil the water, add in the sugar once the water is boiling and stir until dissolved. Add in the lavender and stir for one minute, and then the mint and let boil for 3 or 4 minutes.

Strain the mixture through a sieve, put in the refrigerator for one hour, serve with ice cubes and lemon, enjoy!

10 Reasons Why We All Should Be Eating Ginger – Recipes Included


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‘This article was originally published on www.TrinitysKitchen.com

Ginger is a well loved, tried and tested, flavoursome spice that has been revered for a myriad of health benefits throughout the aeons. It is mentioned in ancients texts and has been prized by many different cultures as long as mankind can remember. Ginger is zingy and warming, with a distinctive zesty flavour and aroma. It comes in yellow, white and red varieties; we use the underground rhizome part of the plant…
Ginger’s incredible healing effects put it right at the top of my list of go-to plant-foods for medicinal purposes. However, apart from being good for detoxification and cleansing, it can also turn salads, desserts, bakes and juices into delicious, lively culinary delights. In this article, we are going to look at why ginger is so good for us and how you might incorporate it into your daily diet with a few healthful recipe ideas.
So why is ginger so good for us?

Exceptional antioxidant content

An antioxidant is a molecule that is able to inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation often produces free radicals which, then instigate a chain reaction that can damage cells. In extreme cases, leading to cancer. Antioxidants intervene by eliminating these free radicals and preventing damage. Ginger is literally loaded with antioxidants!

Excellent remedy for nausea and motion sickness

Ginger is an excellent natural remedy for travel sickness, morning sickness or nausea; and with good reason. It has a long history in this area, having consistently proven its effectiveness at reducing dizziness and nausea. The active ingredients in ginger are potent, so you don’t need very much of it either. It has a reputation for being safe for pregnant women too, making it a great remedy for morning sickness.

Relieves flatulence and acts as a great digestion aid

Ginger acts as a carminative (prevents flatulence) and an intestinal spasmolytic (which means that it soothes the intestinal tract). This makes it excellent at soothing digestive disorders and calming down flatulence.

Anti-cancer benefits

Studies strongly suggest that gingerols, the active phyto-nutrients in ginger are beneficial against cancer cells. The major down side, is that most of the studies involve animal testing.

Powerful anti-inflammatory

Various studies on people with inflammatory disorders and diseases such as  osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis have shown that ginger has a powerful anti-inflammatory action. Gingerols are the primary active anti-inflammatory agent within ginger and are said to have very potent effects when ginger is consumed regularly.

A natural expectorant to help coughs

Regular consumption of ginger encourages the release of mucus.

Promotes healthy circulation

Ginger stimulates the tissues with the body, whilst lowering the blood pressure. This all encourages healthy circulation. Furthermore, ginger prevents platelets from clumping together in the bloodstream, which thins the blood, reducing risk of atherosclerosis and blood clots.

Helps warm you up when you are cold

Gingers circulatory, perspiration-inducing and stimulation properties mean that it can also warm you up when you are cold. So, when your body wants to start shutting down during the winter chill, bring more ginger into your daily cuisine and enjoy the naturally warming effect.

Effective detoxification aid

Ginger is known to promote healthy sweating, which encourages the release of toxins. Add in it’s exceptional antioxidant qualities and other benefits, then you have a top detoxification food.

Other benefits of healthy sweating from ginger

As well as the natural detoxification benefits of healthy sweating, scientists have recently found that sweat contains a substance called dermicidin – a powerful germ fighting agent. Dermicidin is said to be deposited on the surface of the skin to protect against invading micro-organisms.
How to use ginger in your daily life…
How to make fresh ginger tea
Home made ginger tea is more potent and helpful than shop bought tea bags.
The most basic way to make ginger tea is this:
  • Steep some fresh chopped ginger in hot water.
My favorite method for ginger & lemon tea is:
  • Finely grate a heaped teaspoon of fresh ginger.
  • Boil up in a pan with 2 to 3 cups of water.
  • Add a dash of maple syrup and a squeeze of lemon and enjoy through out the day.
Lemon-ginger-tea

Healthy ginger recipe ideas

Carrot & Ginger Wellness Soup
With a healthy infusion of ginger this soup leaves you with a well satiated feeling. It is also jam-packed full of high quality nutritional goodness with it’s carrots, lentils and coconut. As always, I recommend that you use organic produce to give yourself (and the planet) an extra infusion of goodness.
Ginger Beet Salad with Almond Butter Dressing
A super-healthful salad recipe, because you can never eat too many healthy salads. This is the sort of thing I eat regularly for lunch. It serves well as a side dish with rice, potato wedges, millet or quinoa; or as part of a salad buffet medley along with a delicious dip.
Get recipe here: Ginger Beet Salad

Ginger Power Detox Juice
This is my recipe for a deliciously vibrant, detoxification juice using ginger, beetroot, carrots, celery and apple. Ideal as part of a detox or cleansing program or as part of your weekly juicing rhythm.
Check it out here: Ginger Power Detox Juice
Herb capsules
You can purchase ginger capsules of at your local health food store or online.
They vary in quality. I’d recommend a good brand like these here: Solgar Full Potency Ginger Root Vegetable Capsules 
More resources and research on ginger benefits:

Fruits That Supply Your Calcium Needs


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Calcium is necessary for the body to be able to function properly. It is used for all sorts of things; Luckily there are plenty of calcium-rich fruits to ensure you don’t become deficient.

Calcium is needed for blood clotting, nerve function, and even the contraction of both the skeletal and heart muscles. It also makes sure you have healthy teeth and hair.
Calcium makes sure those plentiful bones you have stay healthy, not getting enough calcium will cause osteoporosis. That is a condition that makes your bones brittle and easily breakable. While most people still think that the only way to get enough calcium is by eating meat and drinking milk, they couldn’t be more wrong.
Eating certain fruits will allow you to get your daily calcium intake quickly. This is especially great for those who choose to take the better route and be vegetarians.

Here are some of the fruits that are high in calcium:

Kiwis and Oranges

Kiwis and Oranges are high in calcium; they are also a great way to ensure you get enough vitamin C as well. Simply using these the next time you decide to make a smoothie will help you to have nicer skin and make your bones stronger.

Prunes

Dried prunes can contain up to almost eighty milligrams of calcium per cup! This fruit will make your bones stronger as well as preventing constipation, and making your bowels move on a more regular basis.

Apricots and Figs

Dried Apricots and Figs will give you calcium and make a fantastic trail mix when you add nuts!

Pears and Kumquats

Pears have around sixty milligrams per pear, of calcium. This is a significant amount. Kumquats don’t quite have anywhere near as much calcium in them, but they both contain tons of dietary fibers that can help to keep your intestinal tract free of toxins. This is good because most people let toxins build up in their body’s, and it starts affecting their health before they try ways to get them out.

Mulberries

Mulberries are rather hard to find nowadays, but they offer the body all sorts of benefits if you can come across them. They can have as much as almost sixty milligrams of calcium, and this will dramatically strengthen your bones.

Tangerines

Tangerines being much like oranges are a great source of vitamin D, vitamin C and Calcium. One medium sized tangerine can supply the body with about 33 milligrams of calcium.

It is beneficial to eat foods with lots of vitamin D, these will help ensure that your body will be able to absorb all of the calcium that it’s taking in. Rather than wasting it, Just try to eat more eggs, milk, salmon, tuna, and mushrooms. Spending more time outdoors can give you lots of Vitamin D as well, 
Thanks to the sun,

So instead of diving into a plate of meat to get your calcium try eating some of these fruits next time!

Thinking About McDonald’s For Lunch? We’ll Give You 10 Reasons To Think Again


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There are days where I just can’t bring myself to cook, which is where fast food can come in handy. But there’s one fast food joint that no one should visit: McDonalds. There are tons of disgusting additives and weird ingredients in that burger you’re about to munch on. Read on:

Ammonium Sulfate

Ammonium sulfate is used to fertilize soil and kill bugs. It’s also in the buns at McDonalds. You’ll be well fertilized and bug free! And also maybe pretty sick. Best to put the Big Mac down.

Silcone Oil

Chicken McNuggets have been shown in labs to contain dimethylpolysiloxane, or silicone oil. Silicone oil is used to produce contact lenses and other medical devices. McDonalds also had to recall a million chicken nuggets recently due to plastic being found in them. How delightful.

Cystein-L

What the hell is this? Cystein-L is an amino acid that is synthesized from duck feathers. It helps to flavor the meat, bread, and pastries apparently. I never knew duck feathers could make fast food taste so much better. Quack!

THBQ

THBQ, or tert-Butylhydroquinone, is a preservative found in 18 McDonalds foods. It can be lethal, but the FDA says in small doses it’s fine. Still though, we stand by our statement that if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t eat it.

Propylene Glycol

This is a chemical found in antifreeze, e-cigarettes, and your McDonalds burgers. Enjoy!

Dimethylpolysiloxane

Say that ten times fast. Almost every fried fast food item at McDonalds contains this chemical, and so does silly putty, caulking, shampoos, heat resistant tiles, and contact lenses. I don’t think that burger will help you see better, wash your hair for you or make you heat resistant. You might try pressing yourself against a newspaper at some point to see if the ink sticks to you though.

Carminic Acid

Have you ever eaten bugs? Hey, I’m not opposed to munching down on some bugs, but the carminic acid in the meat at McDonalds is synthesized from components of the Chochineal beetle. Delish.

Cellulose

Pretty much every fast food item contains this compound derived from wood pulp.

Silicone Dioxide

Also known as industrial sand. This one actually isn’t McDonald specific. This is found in Wendy’s chili to keep it from clumping.

Bon appetite.

6 Vegetables and Herbs You Can Grow Indoors From Scraps


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Sure, you’ve heard that buying organic food over the genetically modified or pesticide exposed versions is ideal for your health, but it can get costly. Due to the limited supply of organic foods as well as the additional labor and maintenance required to produce them, you may be paying 20-100% more for an organic banana!

Fortunately, here are six vegetables and herbs you can grow indoors using parts of the produce you would throw away anyways, and this can save you a pretty penny the next time you go grocery shopping.

Celery

To grow this healthy snack at home, cut off the base of the celery and leave it in a bowl with a little bit of warm water. Keep the bowl in direct sunlight, and in a week, your celery base will start to grow leaves. Transplant the celery in soil and watch it grow!

Romaine Lettuce

Similar to celery, keep the base of your romaine lettuce in a bowl with a ½ inch of warm water. Leave it to sit in direct sunlight, and in a week or two, your lettuce stem will produce fresh, new lettuce leaves for all your great salads. Transplant your lettuce to soil to continue growing. They should be full grown in three to four weeks. This process works for Bok Choy as well.

Garlic Sprouts

Are those tentacles?! Nope, those long green things growing out your garlic are green shoots. You can put them in a little water, under a lot of sunlight and grow a bunch of garlic sprouts. They are milder in taste than garlic cloves, and are great in salads, pastas and as a garnish.

Scallion

You can regrow scallion, (green onions,) in as little as five days. Simply leave at least an inch attached to the roots of your left over scallion, put them in a small glass of water, topping up the water if it evaporates. Your scallions will flourish.

Basil

Got some basil clippings lying around? If they have at least four inch stems, gather them up and put them in a glass of water under direct sunlight. When the stems grow two inches long, you can put them in some soil in a pot and grow your very own basil plant. No more basil shopping for you!

Onions

Unlike the other foods on this list, onions have to go directly in the soil to grow. Take the bottom end of the onion and plant it in a pot or directly in the soil outside. If it’s potted, water it when needed. The more of a bottom you leave on the onion, the better. At three weeks, the onion will develop roots. By the fourth week. It will sprout leaves.

As you can see, most of the procedures follow similar methods: a container of water and direct sunlight. Each process is fairly easy, saves you a lot of money and ensures that you are putting fresh, organic food in your body.


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Pine Needle Tea: Fortify Yourself With This Unusual Cancer Killer And All Around Health Tonic


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Although used for centuries by Native Americans, pine needle tea is not well known by the general public today. But it’s certainly worth becoming acquainted with this unconventional brew if you would like to increase mental clarity, defeat infectious disease and knock out cancer. Interestingly, pine needles sport several times more vitamin C than fresh orange juice and were used by the early settlers of North America to avoid scurvy — a disease associated with vitamin C deficiency. Due to their high concentration of antioxidants, pine needles are also recognized as a potent immunity booster by researchers.

Healing merits

The oil in pine needles, like that found in eucalyptus, protects against a number of health issues and harmful organisms. Dr. Edward F. Group III, founder of the Global Healing Center, lists the following benefits:
Strengthens immunity
Relieves bronchial and sinus infections
Disinfects mildew, yeast spores and Escherichia coli
Protects against the common cold and flu
Neutralizes free radicals
Guards against muscle degeneration, eye diseases and nervous system disorders
Useful for treating eczema, Athlete’s foot, psoriasis, dandruff, acne and boils

Moreover, Rural Survival adds that pine is a good source of vitamin A and helps improve mental clarity, whereas Doug Wallace notes in the article “Another Cancer Killer? Pine Needles” that the plant addresses sclerosis, allergies, kidney stones, hypertension, obesity, depression and tumors.

In fact, research published in Nutrition and Cancer discovered that pine needles exhibit “strong antioxidant, antimutagenic, and antiproliferative effects on cancer cells and also antitumor effects in vivo and point to their potential usefulness in cancer prevention.”

And this study found that pine needles are an exceptional source of proanthocyanidin, a compound that demonstrates strong antioxidant characteristics.

How to (safely) make pine needle tea

The first — and most important — step in brewing a health-enhancing pine needle tea is to identify a safe species. White pine is widely considered the best choice. Next, harvest a handful of young needles with a bright green color. Make sure to only source from trees that haven’t been sprayed and are situated well away from roadways. Strip the brown papery sheath from the ends and roughly chop. Place in a heat-proof container and pour boiling water over the needles. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain, sweeten to taste and drink immediately.

For further information about the wonders of pine, Eat The Weeds offers a compelling and educational video below.

Poisonous evergreens

DO NOT harvest from the following trees since the needles are toxic:
Ponderosa Pine (also known as Blackjack, Western Yellow, Yellow and Bull Pine),

  • Lodgepole or Shore Pine,
  • Common Juniper,
  • Monterey Cypress,
  • Common Yew,
  • Norfolk Pine and
  • Australian Pine.

A final word of caution: Women who are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, should NOT ingest pine needle tea due to the risk of abortion.

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Crops Being Drenched With Cancer Causing Glyphosate Immediately Before Harvest


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Vast quantities of non-organic crops are deliberately doused with the carcinogenic herbicide glyphosate (trade name Roundup) in order to provide farmers with a more profitable harvest.

Roundup is one of the world’s most popular herbicides, and the most widely used agricultural and residential weedkiller in the United States. The adoption of crops genetically engineered to resist Roundup has led to an explosion in its use in the past 20 years.

In March, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IACR) announced in an article published in the journal Lancet Oncology that it had updated glyphosate’s status to “probably carcinogenic,” based on strong evidence from animal studies and “limited evidence” from human studies.

Crops deliberately poisoned, then harvested

The practice of killing good crops with Roundup right before harvest is described in a 2010 paper by Roundup manufacturer Monsanto. The purpose, the company says, is to cause the crops to all die at the same time, thus drying uniformly and providing an earlier and more profitable harvest.

“Uneven maturity and green tissue delays harvest,” the paper reads, directing the reader’s attention to photographs showing the “uniform” and “complete” desiccation of fields of corn and sunflowers killed by Roundup.

Killing crops in this way leads to lower drying times and costs, the company says. It also spares farmers the trouble of having to wait for crops to fully mature before harvesting them.

“By bringing harvest date forward 2-3 weeks growers can more often meet the optimum planting date for winter wheat establishment so maximising yield,” the paper reads.

Strictly speaking, this practice consists of using Roundup as a desiccant, rather than an herbicide (although the plants are still killed in the process).

“Desiccants (or harvest management tools) are used worldwide by growers who are producing crops that require ‘drying down’ to create uniformity of plant material at harvest,” says the Manitoba Pulse Growers Association. “These products may also assist in pre-harvest weed control. In Canada, products such as diquat (Reglone) and glyphosate (Roundup) have been used as desiccants in pulse crops.”

Notably, desiccant use of Roundup is “off-label,” as Canada has only approved Reglone for this use.

Monsanto also encourages farmers to spray their fields with Roundup just before harvest for weed-control purposes.


“Preharvest is the best time for controlling Canada thistle, quackgrass, perennial sowthistle, dandelion, toadflax, and milkweed,” the company says. “A preharvest weed control application is an excellent management strategy to not only control perennial weeds, but to facilitate harvest management and get a head start on next year’s crop.”

Causes cancer, birth defects, hormone failure

Because no records are kept, it is impossible to know the scale at which food crops are being sprayed with herbicides just days before harvest. Sources suggest that the practice is relatively widespread among certain crops, however, such as sugarcane grown in the southeastern United States.

The practice of spraying right before harvest has raised alarm with consumer advocates who fear that such use leaves less time for residues to dissipate before the crop reaches consumers. At the very least, the use of Roundup as a desiccant means that even non-“Roundup Ready” crops may contain exceptionally high Roundup residues, resulting from being sprayed directly with the chemical.

Evidence continues to mount of the dangers posed by Roundup exposure. In addition to cancer, studies have linked both Roundup and specifically glyphosate to organ failure and birth defects. A recent study conducted by scientists from Flinders University in Australia found that Roundup disrupts the endocrine (hormonal) system at levels allowed in drinking water. That study also found that Roundup was more toxic to the endocrine system than pure glyphosate, suggesting that some of the “inactive” ingredients in the herbicide are also toxic either alone or in combination with glyphosate and other Roundup ingredients.

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How To Prevent Lower Back Pain In 10 Minutes Or Less



From a simple muscle strain to slipped or bulging spinal discs, there are a number of things that can cause lower back pain. Unfortunately, one of the more common causes is also most often overlooked: tight hip muscles and jointsight hip muscles and jointscould actually be what's putting stress on your lower back.
See, when a muscle is constricted or tight, it keeps tension on everything around it. If there’s too much tension, it'll actually pull forward everything that’s connected in order to help ease the tension. When your hips are too tight, your body shifts forward and you naturally start to put pressure and strain on your lower back.
So here are a few quick exercises that will not only help you open up your hips, but will also help relieve that pressure in your back. The best part? Each move takes a couple of minutes, so the whole sequence will only run you about 10 minutes a day.
Stretch it out: There are plenty of stretches designed to help you start opening up your hips. Here are a few to get you started.
1. Spinal twist
This move helps relieve pressure by gently relaxing your back muscles as it opens up your hips.
Laying on your right side, pull your top (left) knee up to a 90-degree angle and use your bottom arm to gently hold that knee down so you’re only working the stretch one way.
Drop your head down, take a deep breath in and on the exhale, gently grab your ribs with your left hand and rotate back to the left as far as you can. You should be feeling a good stretch in the low and mid back. You can adjust the knee to feel the stretch at a different spot in your back. As you go down, turn your head so you’re looking over your left shoulder.
After five breathes, drop your left arm to the ground. Try to get your left should to relax and breathe, working your shoulder as close to the ground as you can. Stay here for a minute, then switch sides and repeat.
2. Thoracic bridge 
This move will help stretch and strengthen your muscles at the same time.
Start in a “crawling position” on your hands and feet, knees bent a few inches off the ground. In a controlled motion, lift your right hand and left foot simultaneously, bringing your chest up to face the ceiling. Once your chest is facing up, place your left foot back down so you’re in a modified tripod (right hand is still lifted).
Making sure your left shoulder is engaged, drive your hips up. This will activate the glute, maintain stability in your shoulder and give you a nice thoracic rotation. Come back through and repeat on the other side.
3. Pigeon pose
This is a great stretch that helps open up the hips and stretch the glutes.
Start on all fours, then slide your right knee forward. You'll probably feel a little tension, so angling your knee at around 2 o'clock helps relieve that. Slide your left leg as far back as you can and keep your hips square. Hold for 15-30 seconds (or more if you're really feeling it), and then repeat on the other side.
Or you can follow the instructions here.
4. IT band foam roll
Don’t get me wrong: foam rolling can be painful. But it's also one of the fastest ways to see results. This move works the muscles and fascia around your IT band.
Lie on your side and support your body weight with your arms and legs. Place the foam roller on the upper outside portion of your thigh. Roll and let the foam roller travel down along your leg to just above the knee. Return to your original position. Repeat a few times.
5. Glute foam roll
Sit on top of the foam roller and cross one leg over the other. Lean slightly toward the direction of the side/leg you're trying to stretch. Slowly roll your way down the muscle ... but don't fall off! You don't need to move very far to work this stretch really well.

5 Food "Rules" That Just Might Make You Happier



Are you ready to eat your way happy? Here are some whole-foods approaches that could improve your health and your mood. 
1. Eat like the Greeks.
One longitudinal study looked at several thousand people to see if there was a correlation between depressive symptoms and diet over time. After seven years, they found that those who followed a Mediterranean diet (essentially veggies, fruits, whole grains and fish) were less likely to show depressive symptoms compared to those who didn't eat the diet.
2. Eat your protein.
Taking amino acid supplements has been found to reduce symptoms of depression and mental disorders because they aid in the formation of neurotransmitters in the brain. The good news is that your body automatically produces most of the 21 amino acids required, and the other nine are easily found in common proteins in a well-balanced diet.
Lean meats like beef, ham, and pork are abundant in amino acids, as are poultry and seafood. Eggs and dairy are also high in protein and amino acids, and there are some excellent plant sources including quinoa, soy, soybeans, tofu, beans and nuts. 
3. Supplement with Omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3s are the "essential fats" found in some fish, grass-fed beef, and eggs yolks. A decline in omega-3 consumption has been linked to depression. (Want to learn more about these essential fats and how to be sure you're getting enough? Start here.)
4. Eat carbs.
Paleo and other very low carb diets may be popular, but before you quit bread forever, keep in mind that a diet too low in carbohydrates can exacerbate depression. This is because carbohydrate-rich foods release serotonin and tryptophan, which help regulate mood.
If you're going to eat carbs, focus on the "low GI foods" (this includes most vegetables and fruits, whole grains, etc.). These foods keep us fuller, longer, and don't spike blood sugar as quickly.
Go easy on "high GI foods" (which include candies, sugar, and white bread). These spike your mood rapidly, but what goes up must come down ...
5. Get more folate.
Want to know a surprising way to cheer up? Eat more leafy greens, which are loaded with folate. One study found that many adults diagnosed with depressive issues have low levels of folate.
So how should you eat?
It's pretty simple: eat real food.
Real food means eating plenty of fish like salmon, mackerel and herring, which will give us Omega 3s that we need.
Real food means that we’ll eat tons of veggies like dark leafy greens (spinach, collards, kale), which give us folate.
Real food means we’ll be getting good quality grass-fed beef and good chicken, which give us all the amino acids necessary to build neurotransmitters optimally and keep our energy levels stable throughout the day.
Follow these food rules and you’re well on your way to consuming a “whole foods” happiness diet every day. Of course, please consult your health care practitioner first.