Excerpts taken from original article by Lauren Venosta | The Chopra Center |
Ginger is a flowering plant and its official name is Zingiber officinale. The rhizome, more commonly known as the root, is what you are likely familiar with. The root is spicy and peppery in flavor, with loads of medicinal properties. It’s used all over the world in culinary and clinical applications—both for good reason.
Ginger has been called a superfood time and again, but what makes it so powerful? This root has the following superpowers:
1. Stimulates Digestion
...Ginger is your new best friend for supporting digestive health. Ginger may help increase the body’s ability to empty food from the stomach more quickly (known as gastric emptying). With this increased motility in the digestive system, it may be less likely that heartburn or indigestion will occur.
The more efficient your digestion is, the more energy you will have. Researchers have found that approximately 60 percent of your body’s energy goes to metabolism. If ginger can improve digestion, your metabolism may improve and may help to make energy more available.
2. May Help Reduce Nausea
Nausea is no fun. Ginger has also been found to help reduce the amount of nausea you might otherwise experience in everyday life, from motion sickness and beyond.
3. May Help Reduce Mild Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural and healthy response to protect the body. However, when inflammation is excessive or ongoing, it can be very damaging.
The active constituents in raw ginger—gingerol, shogaol, and paradol—are responsible for many of the natural inflammation-fighting powers of ginger. This root may be a great, easy way to help reduce mild inflammation in the body caused by everyday stress.
4. Antibacterial Properties
In oral health, two types of ginger have been shown to have natural antibacterial properties which may help inhibit the growth of pathogens that contribute to gum issues caused by bacteria.
5. Blood-Sugar Regulator
Ginger may help regulate the mind-body system to support balanced blood sugar levels.
How to Use Ginger
Knowing all these benefits of ginger is great, but how can you easily incorporate ginger in your daily routine? Ginger is pretty spicy, so you may not enjoy its taste. Luckily, there are many options for those who love ginger and those who may be new to the root.
Fresh ginger root: This is the most potent form of ginger, but also the most versatile. You can slice it and steep it in hot water for tea, mince it into stir-fry dishes, juice it, add it to your smoothies, or even take a slice and suck on it! Dried ginger or ginger juice is great for a mid day snack.
Ground ginger: Ground ginger can be used in similar ways to fresh ginger. It can be steeped in hot water for tea or added to your favorite recipes. Powdered ginger is also great to use for baking.
Ginger capsules: This is the easiest way to get ginger into your diet—especially if you aren’t a fan of the taste! Ginger capsules, or ginger supplements, are simple. The ground ginger powder is added to a capsule for easy consumption at any time of day.
Ginger tea: As mentioned, you can make ginger tea using fresh ginger or ground ginger. But you can also buy ready-to-go ginger extract tea bags at the store. These are great to have on hand if feel nauseated or want to settle your stomach after eating.
Ginger chews: Ginger chews are like ginger candies and tend to be more mild in flavor and can be taken anywhere. Make sure to check the ingredients to make sure you’re not consuming unwanted ingredients like corn syrup.
Ginger oil: Ginger oil can be taken internally or rubbed topically to treat pain. Ginger essential oil has many soothing properties and is useful to use for massages.
*Editor’s Note: These statements have not been reviewed by the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to treat, diagnose or cure any disease.The information in this article is intended for your educational use only; does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Chopra Center's Mind-Body Medical Group; and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health program.
Two of the blends made by LIFEAID Beverage Co. contain ginger (along with other clean vitamins & nutrients your body needs).
LIFEAID Vitality Blend - to help reduce mild inflammation form everyday stress
IMMUNITYAID Wellness Blend - to help defend & boost your immune system
Excerpts taken from original article by Lauren Venosta | The Chopra Center | Ginger is a flowering plant and its official name is Zingiber officinale. The rhizome, more commonly known as the root, is what you are likely familiar with. The root is spicy and peppery in flavor, with loads of medicinal properties. It’s used all over the world […]
In episode #84 of the Airborne Mind podcast with Misbah Haque, Hinde discusses the powerful impact of learning from the past and discovering your unique abilities, as well as his daily morning rituals and mindfulness practices which he feels have greatly influenced his trajectory in business and life. (69 minutes) Listen to the podcast here.
"Every successful person I know comes from an abundance mindset."
"Today, we are living in a CBD world, with tinctures, ointments and vaping oils popping up everywhere." This article in The Washington Post discusses experiences & studies in order to help uncover the merit of this current trend. Read full article here.
Author Gary Bishop leads readers through a series of seven assertions intended to help you finally lead the life you were meant to have. Check out his book here.
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HindeSight | No. 2
“Mindset, Business Breakthroughs and Emotional Deposits with Aaron Hinde” In episode #84 of the Airborne Mind podcast with Misbah Haque, Hinde discusses the powerful impact of learning from the past and discovering your unique abilities, as well as his daily morning rituals and mindfulness practices which he feels have greatly influenced his trajectory in business […]
1) Were you an athlete growing up? What’s sports did you play?
I have always enjoyed sports and played basketball, baseball and tennis growing up as well as water and snow skiing.
2) How or what evolved you to a lifestyle of fitness?
Fitness has been a part of my life since day one. The more fit we are, the better we feel and the better we can perform on and off the field. Staying in physical shape also is a great confidence booster and allows me to live in alignment with the best version of myself.
3) What was the ‘WHY’ behind creating LifeAid?
The big beverage companies have gotten a free pass for over a hundred years for poisoning our kids with their sugar water. For every customer we get off the high-sugar, and high-caffeine "sports", energy drinks and sodas, we are permanently affecting their health and life trajectory in a positive way.
4) What similarities come from being underneath a heavy barbell and building a company?
With both you have to push into the uncomfortable zone regularly in order to grow.
5) I heard you speak about alignment as one of your core pillars, can you expand on that and the others?
We all visit the ATM machine when we need to get out money. Life itself is an ATM that will keep "paying" you in perpetuity by following Alignment, Trajectory, Momentum.
Aligment starts with yourself as you look in the mirror. Are you happy w/ the person you see? If everything you did showed up on the front page of the NY Times, would you be ok with that? Alignment extends to our spouse, business partner and team. Henry Ford says "when everyone is moving forward together, success will take care of itself." To me, that is an alignment issue.
6) High-school athletes always seem, as many do, to underestimate the value of recovery; Can you speak about its importance?
You can get away with a lot when you are in your teens and early 20s because testosterone and growth hormone are on your side. That being said, injuries can and will come back to haunt you. If you want true longevity in athletics, emphasis must be put on "prehab" and "posthab" as well as injury treatment and prevention. Nutrition, hydration, stretching, strength and conditioning, ice, therapies, etc. all play a role.
7) If you could go back and tell 16-year-old Aaron one truth you’ve learned from starting a business and/or being an athlete, what would it be?
Be smart with your money. Keep moving forward. Don't underestimate what you can accomplish in the next 5 years, focus on trajectory over momentum. And lastly, buy Facebook and Google stock!
8) Definition of Success?
Have a completely packed church at my funeral. I believe the value you contribute to the world is reflected by who and how many people show up at your funeral.
> > > Live well.
Interview by Tyler Johnson | Feb. 28, 2019 I heard LIFEAID president Aaron Hinde on Jon Gordon’s Positive University podcast and was excited he was willing to be a part of elev8 questions. Find him on Twitter or Instagram. Thanks for reading! 1) Were you an athlete growing up? What’s sports did you play? I have always enjoyed sports […]
We all know that jumping rope is a great way to:
Stay fit & healthy
Improve cardiovascular health, coordination & bone density
Burn calories in a portable, fun way
But how do we get better at this simple exercise with proven health benefits?
In this video, MobilityWOD guru Kelly Starrett provides helpful tips to help improve your "Jump Rope Mechanics" for optimal efficiency and performance.
About MobilityWOD MobilityWOD is the ultimate guide to resolving pain, preventing injury, and optimizing athletic performance. Humans have been evolving for 2.5 million years and the human body is extraordinarily engineered. While people are born with this incredible machine, they aren't born with the right software to run that machine. The MobilityWOD is designed to help you hack your body's mechanics and provide the tools to perform basic maintenance on yourself.
BONUS: Want a free jump rope?
Now during the 2019 CrossFit OPEN, you can receive a FREE RPM Sprint Jump Rope + FREE SHIPPING
with every single order of two 24-packs at LIFEAIDBevCo.com. (Offer valid while supplies last, Feb. 21- March 25, 2019.)
We all know that jumping rope is a great way to: Stay fit & healthy Improve cardiovascular health, coordination & bone density Burn calories in a portable, fun way But how do we get better at this simple exercise with proven health benefits? In this video, MobilityWOD guru Kelly Starrett provides helpful tips to help […]
Adding lighter fare like salads to the usual burgers and fries has meant more options for time-pressed diners. But the meals are largely less healthy now, a new study finds.
“The big picture is that there have been some positive changes,” one researcher said of fast food menus, “but they're small, and over all, the changes have gotten worse.” —Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press
Fast food chains have tried for years to woo health-conscious diners by mixing lighter fare like salads and yogurt with the usual burgers, fried chicken and shakes.
But as menus swelled over the past three decades with grilled chicken wraps (McDonald’s) and “fresco” burritos (Taco Bell), many options grew in size and the calories and sodium in them surged, according to new study from researchers at Boston University and Tufts.
The researchers studied 1,787 entrees, sides and desserts at 10 chains — Arby’s, Burger King, Carl’s Jr., Dairy Queen, Hardee’s, Jack in the Box, KFC, Long John Silver’s, McDonald’s and Wendy’s — from 1986 to 2016. In that time, the number of items in those three categories rose 226 percent.
According to the study — published last week in The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — even with lighter items in the mix, fast food menus are less healthy than they were 30 years ago.
ENTREES
Bulging portions at the heart of the meal
The fat and salt content and the sheer size of fast food meals have long been a public health concern. They are often blamed for pushing up the obesity rate among adults in the United States, which rose to 40 percent in 2016 from 13 percent in the early 1960s.
The new study suggests the problem is getting worse.
Across the 10 chains, the researchers found, the average entree weighed 39 grams more in 2016 than in 1986 and had 90 more calories. It also had 41.6 percent of the recommended daily allotment of sodium, up from 27.8 percent.
Customers could be forgiven for not knowing. Local governments have adopted menu-labeling initiatives that require fast food restaurants to list calorie counts for the items they sell, but such measures have faced substantial opposition, including from the Food and Drug Administration.
“The restaurants really haven’t done enough,” Megan A. McCrory, the lead researcher, said. “The big picture is that there have been some positive changes, but they’re small, and over all, the changes have gotten worse.”
DESSERTS
More than just a little something sweet
In 2016, the average fast food dessert weighed an extra 71 grams and had 186 more calories than the average dessert 30 years earlier, the researchers found.
One possible reason is that restaurants are counting on bigger sundaes and cookies as a way of increasing the amount spent on each order and attracting more customers, said Darren Seifer, a food and beverage industry analyst at NPD.
“The majority of fast food traffic is around lunchtime, when people aren’t typically getting dessert,” he said. “But offering larger portion sizes is one way restaurants can promise more value.”
Just last month, McDonald’s introduced “donut sticks” dusted with cinnamon sugar. Six sticks have 280 calories.But you can also order a serving twice the size for less than the cost of two single orders.
SIDES
Adding those extras adds up
The researchers found that there were 42 more calories on average in items like chips, soups and French fries in 2016 than there were in 1986. Sodium content rose to 23.2 percent of the recommended daily allotment from 11.6 percent, even though portion size did not grow substantially.
Consumed together as a single meal, the study found, the average entree and side account for nearly 40 percent of a 2,000-calorie daily diet.
The study mentions several proposals meant to help consumers scale back their fast food intake, including a system that would let them order smaller portions at lower prices.
Whether the industry will embrace such ideas is unclear. In the meantime, menus continue to grow, sometimes blurring the line between entree and side. Jack in the Box is testing Burger Dippers, which the company describes as “the burger you eat like a fry.”
As with those that preceded them, some of the new offerings appear to be geared toward people who want to eat healthy foods. Carl’s Jr. recently added a plant-based burger, the Beyond Famous Star, to its lineup.
Ordered with cheese, it has more than 700 calories.
Sources: Megan A. McCrory, Allen G. Harbaugh, Sarah Appeadu, Boston University; Susan B. Roberts, Tufts University.
Tiffany Hsu is a breaking news reporter on the Business Desk. Before joining The Times in 2017 she covered economic news for The Los Angeles Times and earned an M.B.A. from Columbia University. @tiffkhsu
Source: The New York Times by Tiffany HSU | March 3, 2019 Adding lighter fare like salads to the usual burgers and fries has meant more options for time-pressed diners. But the meals are largely less healthy now, a new study finds. “The big picture is that there have been some positive changes,” one researcher […]
Here are snippets from a recent article on HealthLine.com about the natural properties of Turmeric and Curcumin:
"Turmeric may be the most effective nutritional supplement in existence."
Many studies have shown that it may have major benefits for your body and brain, including the following:
1. Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It is a very strong antioxidant that may help reduce mild inflammation from everyday stress.
TIP: It helps to consume black pepper with it (which contains piperine), enhancing the absorption of curcumin by 2,000% (3).
Curcumin is also fat soluble, so it may be a good idea to take it with a fatty meal.
2. Curcumin Is a Natural Compound That Helps Combat Mild Inflammation
...Scientists now believe that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a major role in many health issues.
Curcumin naturally helps fight mild everyday inflammation on a molecular level...
3. Turmeric Increases the Antioxidant Capacity of the Body
Curcumin has powerful antioxidant effects. It neutralizes free radicals on its own but also stimulates your body's own antioxidant enzymes.
4. Curcumin Boosts Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Linked to Improved Brain Function
Curcumin boosts levels of the brain hormone BDNF, which increases the growth of new neurons and boosts overall brain function...
The Bottom Line
Turmeric and especially its most active compound curcumin have many scientifically-proven health benefits.
It’s a potent antioxidant that may help reduce mild inflammation while also helping to improve overall well-being.
You can also SHOP all of our blends, four of which contain TURMERIC which may help reduce mild inflammation from everyday stress, at LIFEAIDBevCo.com! Join the movement: #ABetterWayToDrink
> > > Live well.
Here are snippets from a recent article on HealthLine.com about the natural properties of Turmeric and Curcumin: “Turmeric may be the most effective nutritional supplement in existence.” Many studies have shown that it may have major benefits for your body and brain, including the following: 1. Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds Curcumin is the main active ingredient […]
SANTA CRUZ — Local beverage company meets consumer needs.
LIFEAID Beverage Co. was founded in 2011 in Santa Cruz, California, by two Santa Cruz natives. Co-founders Aaron Hinde and Orion Melehan met at a CrossFit gym in 2009 and bonded over their shared frustration with the limited healthy, functional food and drink options for exercise and recovery.
A statistic in Healthline Media states that, according to the American Heart Association, men should not consume more than 37.5 grams of sugar per day, and women should not consume more than 25 grams per day. For comparison's sake, a 12-ounce can of Red Bull has 39 grams of sugar while a 12-ounce can of LifeAid has only 9 grams and uses all natural ingredients.
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According to Hinde, 70 percent of people now look at a label before they consume something (people care about what they put in their bodies now more than ever). When the company started, that simply wasn’t the norm.
“Instead of having a one-size-fits-all approach with 20 different flavor profiles, we did the exact opposite — we created just six unique blends to support different lifestyles, providing targeted nutrition within our market,” Hinde said.
If you're new to LIFEAID, the six different blends include:
While ImmunityAid is the company's newest blend, Melehan said he expects it to be their number two or three best-selling drink. Today, FitAid and FocusAid currently rank first and second, according to a company spokesperson.
LIFEAID Bevereage Co. offers six functional beverages with differing ingredients, flavors and use occasions: LifeAid, FitAid, FocusAid, ImmunityAid, PartyAid and GolferAid. (Photo by Elaine Ingalls) .
A Santa Cruz staple, LIFEAID has 67 employees nationwide with more than 30 of those working locally at the Santa Cruz headquarters located on Mission Street. The company sells drinks in 22 different countries.
“We want to really stand true to what Santa Cruz is all about and create clean, functional products for active lifestyles ...With our clean, nutritional blends, we can really have a positive effect on people’s health.” —Aaron Hinde
The Future of LIFEAID
LIFAID is sold at gyms, CrossFit events, natural food & specialty stores, drug & grocery stores, and is branching out to convenience stores. The brand is on its way to selling in all Nob Hill Foods, 11 of 13 Safeway divisions nationwide and approximately 4,300 Walmarts with a grocery component. The co-founders want to expand headcount, dip their toes into convenience store sales and transition from wholesale distribution to direct-store distribution.
The company has a number of goals for 2019. In terms of revenue, the company is growing more than 50 percent per year, on average. Melehan expects an average of 2.5 million cans sold per month this year, up from last year’s 1.75 million sold per month. In the next five years, the company aspires to reach $200 million in sales. While LIFEAID sales were 100 percent e-commerce a few years ago, according to Hinde, 2019 will be the first year that brick-and-mortar exceeds online sales.
LIFEAID currently has seven warehouses nationwide to help handle this growth ...
> > > Above excerpts taken from original article published on Feb. 17, 2019 in the Santa Cruz Sentinel. You can read the full article by intern Elaine Ingalls at SantaCruzSentinel.com.
For more information about LIFEAID Bevereage Co. and the healthy products they sell, please visit LIFEAIDBevCo.com or call 888-558-1113.
SANTA CRUZ — Local beverage company meets consumer needs. LIFEAID Beverage Co. was founded in 2011 in Santa Cruz, California, by two Santa Cruz natives. Co-founders Aaron Hinde and Orion Melehan met at a CrossFit gym in 2009 and bonded over their shared frustration with the limited healthy, functional food and drink options for exercise and […]
Scientists have discovered the dangerous effects Diet Coke is having on your body.
The following article appeared in the UK's The Sun this week, exposing the dangers of drinking Diet Coke, and shocking many with its claims ...
THE SUN — Drinking Diet Coke everyday increases your risk of dying young, experts have warned.
Two or more artificially-sweetened drinks a day ups the risk of stroke by a quarter and heart disease by a third, new findings show.
Drinking just two diet drinks a day increases the risk of stroke by a quarter and heart disease by a third. And compared with people who never touch them, the risk of early death is 16 percent higher for diet drink guzzlers.
'Diet drinks are NOT harmless'
Scientists warned their findings should serve as a warning to those on diets.
Dr Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani, lead author of the study at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, New York said: "Many well-meaning people, especially those who are overweight or obese, drink low-calorie sweetened drinks to cut calories in their diet.
"Our research and other observational studies have shown that artificially sweetened beverages may not be harmless and high consumption is associated with a higher risk of stroke and heart disease."
Heart disease is where the blood vessels that supply the heart with blood narrow, increases the risk of a heart attack, angina and stroke.
The new findings are based on a big study of women and show some groups are at even greater risk, with those drinking two or more diet drinks a day who were also obese having more than double the stroke risk.
And African-American women also had a higher risk of stroke.
Dr Mossavar-Rahmani did stress while their findings suggest a link, they couldn't prove diet drinks cause stroke and heart problems.
The research, published in the journal Stroke, included data from 81,714 post-menopausal women (who were aged 50 to 79 at the start of the study) and who were tracked for an average of 12 years.
One serving of diet drink was regarded as 355ml.
Dr Mossavar-Rahmani said the study had not looked at individual artificial sweeteners, saying: "We don't know specifically what types of artificially sweetened beverages they were consuming, so we don't know which artificial sweeteners may be harmful and which may be harmless."
More research is needed
Tracy Parker, senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation said more research is needed to fully understand the link found in the study.
She said: "We're all too familiar with the fact that sugary drinks are not only bad for our teeth, but the excess calories can make us put on weight, increasing our risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke.
"Although this study rightly suggests that diet drinks don't do us any good, it's observational.
"This means we don't know why these drinks might be linked to an increased risk of heart and circulatory disease.
"To definitely understand the link between diet drinks and disease risk, more research is needed.
"But that doesn't mean you're off the hook.
"Put your sugary drink down and swap it for water. Your body will thank you for it."
Cutting calories? Drink water instead
The American Heart Association has recently published a science advisory which found there was inadequate scientific research to conclude that low-calorie sweetened beverages do or do not affect the risk of heart disease and stroke.
But it states that water is the best choice for a no-calorie drink.
Dr Rachel Johnson, professor of nutrition emeritus at the University of Vermont, said: "Unfortunately, current research simply does not provide enough evidence to distinguish between the effects of different low-calorie sweeteners on heart and brain health.
"This study adds to the evidence that limiting use of diet beverages is the most prudent thing to do for your health."
There is a growing body of evidence that does suggest diet drinks are not good for your health.
> > > Read the full article and watch the video from The Sun HERE.
Original article by Lizzie Parry, Digital Health Editor
With these findings in mind, there's never been a better time to ditch the soda and join the LIFEAID movement — #ABetterWayToDrink.
Visit LIFEAIDBevCo.com to learn more about our clean, healthy nutritional blends containing no artificial sweeteners. Only 45 calories per can, each blend is made with essential vitamins and nutrients for your body and mind.
> > > Live well.
Scientists have discovered the dangerous effects Diet Coke is having on your body. The following article appeared in the UK’s The Sun this week, exposing the dangers of drinking Diet Coke, and shocking many with its claims … THE SUN — Drinking Diet Coke everyday increases your risk of dying young, experts have warned. Two or more artificially-sweetened […]
Your team at LIFEAID Beverage Co. has put together a list of their absolute favorite gift and date ideas to help you make this your healthiest and happiest Valentine's Day yet!
Most of them cost little to nothing, but their worth is priceless. Here are some suggestions for making this Valentine's Day an unforgettable one:
1. Get outdoors.
Whether you end up strolling along the beach or going on a day hike to a favorite spot, taking an adventure with someone you love is sure to spark joy. It's romantic and (bonus!) it's free. Go soak up some fresh air and work up an appetite, while basking in the bliss of endorphins as a result of spending time in nature with the company of your partner, family or friends.
2. Throw down.
You may not consider yourself the "artsy" type, but we guarantee your loved one will treasure anything you make (whether it's hand-thrown or glazed pottery, a necklace, etc.). Why not surprise them by taking a local class at a nearby pottery/bead studio? The staff will help you, so — regardless of your skill level — the end result is sure to be both unique and special.
3. Hang with friends.
Who says Valentine's Day is just for lovers? We think it's the perfect excuse for dinner with friends, an afternoon spent downtown, or building a pillow fort and enjoying game night or a good movie at home with the gang. Whatever the activity, being with the ones you love is all that matters — enjoy their company & do something fun with your favorite humans.
4. Build-your-own bouquet.
This year, skip the store-bought (often over-priced) bouquets. Instead, visit a local farmer's market or flower shop and pick out your own arrangement of just a few fresh flowers specifically for him or her. It'll feel way more personal (plus, you'll probably save yourself some serious cash, too) Bonus: Add a thoughtful handwritten note and you'll have them swooning in no time!
5. Get physical.
Hugging for 20 seconds is known to increase levels of the "love hormone" oxytocin (nature's anti-depressant) in the body! Physical touch (including holding hands) also helps you stay healthy by reducing cortisol levels, lowering blood pressure & heart rate, and reducing stress. Plus, it's just a great way to stay warm on these cold winter days.
6. Be crafty.
Glue sticks and crayons are not reserved solely for school children. A little bit of time and a few simple craft supplies can go a long way when it comes to showing a loved one you care. We're a fan of making our own valentine cards. Handwritten notes are priceless, and all you need is some colorful craft paper and pens.
Your loved one(s) will treasure the time you spent making something just for them.
7. Heat things up.
Before your mind wanders to the bedroom ... Consider heating things up in the kitchen by cooking a meal together. Fact: Daily life is hectic. Slow down, put on your favorite record, pour some wine (or your drink of choice), and take your time really enjoying the process of cooking a meal together from scratch. Note: We know this may require some helping hands if you have little ones.
So plan ahead and get a babysitter, or — if they're old enough — let the kids join in the fun, and make an evening of it for the whole family!
8. Buy flours (instead of flowers).
If your loved one has a sweet tooth, head to the kitchen and bake them their favorite treat or try a new recipe. Tip: Use valentine-themed cookie cutters, pink & red frosting or a ribbon to sweetly finish it off. Adding a special note will, of course, be the "icing on the cake."
9. Pick up the phone.
Many of us may not be able to be with loved ones this Valentine's Day, so set aside some time to pick up the phone or send a special note to someone you love. Don't forget about the relatives in your life who may be feeling especially lonely — simply hearing from you would be the best giftof all.
10. Share the LIFEAID love.
(You knew it was coming!) At LIFEAID, we truly are passionate about helping others live their best, healthiest life. What better way to show someone you care about their health than with a case of LIFEAID Daily Blend, great for helping to reduce inflammation from everyday stress and thrive in life.
OUR JUST FOR YOU :
This Valentine's Day, enjoy 20% OFF all cases of LIFEAID Daily Blend!Offer valid for 24 hours only — shop this Thursday (Feb. 14) to save some dough for your valentine! (Discount taken at checkout.)
Whatever you do, we want to wish you & your loved ones a happy and healthy Valentine's Day — you are loved.
Your team at LIFEAID Beverage Co. has put together a list of their absolute favorite gift and date ideas to help you make this your healthiest and happiest Valentine’s Day yet! Most of them cost little to nothing, but their worth is priceless. Here are some suggestions for making this Valentine’s Day an unforgettable one: 1. […]
The impact of food on inflammation is clear—but actually incorporating those foods into your daily life can be easier said than done. Here are 25 foods that are scientifically proven to help fight inflammation, and how I use them in my daily life:
I choose wild blueberries whenever possible, which have higher levels of antioxidants and are thus more potent inflammation fighters. I keep a stockpile of frozen ones on hand and use them to make blueberry pancakes (my favorite easy recipe is here) and to use in smoothies (they play especially well with almond butter and cacao).
Continually cited by doctors as a top-inflammation fighter, bone broth has become a staple in my cooking. I either make a batch or keep some frozen Bonafide Provisions stocked. I'll keep some in larger containers to use as a soup base or to make grains taste umami-rich and delicious (you can use it wherever a recipe calls for stock), but I'll also freeze some in an ice cube tray, then pop the frozen cubes out and store 'em in the freezer in a large zip-top bag. These smaller servings can be used to deglaze vegetables or to add a quick hit of gut-healing flavor to dishes.
New favorite dessert alert: When you're craving something sweet post-dinner, cut an apple into cubes and saute it a skillet with some ghee, cardamom, cinnamon, a pinch of salt, and a dash of vanilla extract until the apples soften and begin to brown. It's like apple pie filling, but it's ready in seconds and is packed with inflammation-fighting ingredients.
I love using raspberries in smoothies (you can find one of my go-to recipes here), but honestly, the sweet-tart fruits are one of my favorite stand-alone snacks. I like to stuff chocolate chips (I use Santa Barbara Chocolate Company's coconut sugar ones) in their cavity and treat it like a decadent truffle.
Arugula is one of my favorite types of greens. It has a peppery, bold flavor and is widely available. I love it in salads, but I find that, because of its bite, you want to make sure that salad has really strong flavor and textural elements. The perfect way to eat arugula, in my opinion, is in a healthier grilled cheese, with sourdough bread (better for your gut!), pastured cheese, some type of sweet jam or jelly (raspberry chia jam works great), a generous layer of arugula, and a crack of fresh ground pepper and a sprinkle of sea salt. I heat it all up in ghee until it's crispy on the outside and the cheese is perfectly melted and then eat the best damn weeknight dinner around.
I'm not one to play favorites, but let's face it, pistachios are the best nut. With a vibrant green color and a meaty, hearty texture, they add oomph to salads, make a delectably decadent nut milk, and make the best nut butter I've ever had. Just throw some shelled, raw pistachios in a food processor with cardamom, a bit of avocado oil, and some honey—I use the results on toast (ideally with some fresh crushed pistachios on top for crunch), thinned with a bit of water and drizzled on fruit for dessert, and in the world's best PB&J (that's pistachiobutter and jelly, and it's far superior to its basic peanut butter counterpart).
I don't actually love using spinach in salads—it's flat surfaces don't give the body, fluff, and heft that's ideal, and you end up with a clumpy, dressing-slicked pile at the bottom of the bowl. They are, however, the perfect greens for smoothies—you can add a ton without tasting it at all. So do it—add a ton! The main mistake I see people making with green smoothies is using a lackluster quantity of greens, so really heap 'em in there. Here's an easy formula, plus my current favorite go-to to get you started.
I have a recipe in my upcoming cookbook for what I consider the world's most delicious two-minute salad, which eschews dressing for a mix of lemon juice and zest, garlic, and olive oil. Garlic has such a potent flavor and can be used to elevate everything from greens to stir-fries. The big change I make when cooking with it? Chop it when you first start cooking—like, before you do anything else—to let the healing properties activate (they need about 20 minutes). Then add it toward the end of whatever you're making, giving enough time to mellow its bite but keep all of its therapeutic powers intact.
There are two ways to use turmeric: embracing its earthy, slightly bitter flavor, or hiding it. I do both: I'll often wind down from the day with a turmeric latte or make a turmeric sauce to top vegetables and salads. I'll also just sprinkle a bit into everything I eat, from smoothies to stir-fries. (Always remember to consume it with black pepper and fat for maximum bio-availability.)
LIFEAID Daily Blend also contains turmeric to help reduce inflammation from everyday stress. Simply crack open an ice-cold can to get your daily dose of turmeric!
Lycopene, the anti-inflammatory compound in tomatoes, actually increases when the fruit is cooked, so, while I can often be found popping sun golds in the summer, I rely on canned tomato paste as my main form of the inflammation-fighting ingredient. The paste is inexpensive (usually around $2 a can) and adds mega-umami depth to any tomato-based dish. I mix it with dried spices and a bit of water to create a quick and easy pizza sauce, or mix it with bone broth as a perfect tomato sauce for pasta.
Ah, cacao, how do I love thee. Cacao is what we wellness folk eat when we want to have our cake and literally eat it too. Simply chocolate in its purest form, it makes everything you use it in taste like dessert. I keep two kinds of cacao (usually from Navitas Organics, which I've found to taste the cleanest) on hand: Powdered, which I use in smoothies, brownies, and to add depth to tomato-based dishes (you just need a pinch!); and nibs, which are the perfect crunchy topping for desserts, a surprising salad mix-in, and the perfect sub for chocolate chips in any cookie dough dishes.
The widespread availability of pre-shredded Brussels sprouts has, without exaggeration, changed my midweek life. Pan-fried with some avocado oil in a skillet until brown and crispy (which happens in minutes, because of the increased surface area), they can quickly turn into tacos, a stir-fry, a warm salad, or a delicious side. I flavor 'em with whatever spices I'm feeling that day: Herbes d'Provence if I'm feeling French, curry if I'm going for an Indian vibe, harissa if I want more of a North Africa feel.
I love fresh ginger, although honestly, I'm often pretty lazy and will just settle for ground, which has a much less piquant, spicy flavor. I'll use either in stir-fries or to make a soothing tea (a go-to if my stomach is at all upset).
I have a seafood aversion, so I rely on grass-fed meat to get my proper omega balance. I always have ground beef (I get mine shipped frozen from Thrive Market or ButcherBox) ready to make tacos or Bolognese, although I always try to flip the ratio of veggies so they outnumber the animal protein (my Way More Veggies Bolognese was the runaway hit among recipe testers for my new cookbook).
Caffeine stokes my anxiety, so I rely on tea as a way to distract me from snacking throughout the day. Rooibos is my go-to—I sip it plain or with a bit of almond milk foamed in.
Contrary to popular belief in the wellness world, you can actually cook with high-quality olive oils, and they have some of the best anti-inflammatory properties of any cooking oils. It does have a less neutral flavor than avocado oil (another go-to), but I love using it as a base for salad dressing and to pan-fry eggs, a trick I learned in Spain that leads to some of the best scrambles around. It also captures and diffuses flavor—one of the reasons it's so revered in Italian cooking, where they start many meals by warming aromatics in the oil—which I take advantage of by making a quick flavor-rich popcorn topper with garlic and whatever fresh herbs or dried spices I have around. I like Lucini and California Olive Ranch, both of which are widely available and reasonably priced.
Eggs are one of the healthiest foods around—if you choose pastured eggs from hens that have been eating bugs and grasses. Vital Farms makes some of the most widely available ones (the bright-orange yolks are glorious), and I'll also pick some up at my local farmers market if I find myself there on Saturday morning. My go-to way to eat eggs is as a breakfast-for-dinner situation, which is the easiest, laziest way to get food on the table after a long day. I'll do a quick soft scramble, top it with any leftover sauces I have in the fridge (pesto is my fave), and serve the whole thing on top of sourdough toast. Heaven.
If you're not on board the collagen train by now, you're missing out. I mix Vital Proteins into my smoothies on most days, and my skin, hair, and nails have never looked better (my nails actually grow annoyingly fast now).
Warning: Dandelion is super bitter. I mitigate this by stir-frying it in some avocado oil or ghee with chili flakes and garlic (chopped at least 20 minutes ahead of time, per above!). The result is a savory, spicy, piquant side that'll be your new addiction.
I became addicted to rose water and orange blossom water when I was traveling in the Middle East and have since used them to upgrade much of my cooking, especially in the dessert realm. Available online, in the international section of grocery stores, and at many liquor shops, rose water serves as the perfect base for rose lattes, one of my favorite anti-anxiety drinks. I also love it splashed on a bowl of fresh berries with a bit of vanilla for the perfect feels-fancy-but-takes-seconds dessert.
I don't actually love the flavor or texture of traditional culinary mushrooms, but I've long wanted to take advantage of their myriad health benefits. When Four Sigmatic and Om came along with their medicinal mushroom blends, I gingerly dipped a toe in before diving into the deep end. I swear by Om's immunity blend when I get sick (I just mix it into smoothies), and Four Sigmatic's reishi hot chocolate is my go-to de-stressing drink.
I'm obsessed with herbs—I use them not only in savory cooking but in smoothies (lemon zest and fresh thyme make an amazing smoothie, as do strawberry and basil) and crisps, with the herb acting the perfect counterpoint to the sweet fruit.
Chia is one of the most used foods in my kitchen, due to its ability to act as a high-protein thickener in any number of recipes. I'll use it to add bulk, protein, and healthy fat to smoothies, and, when I'm feeling a bit backed up, I'll make chia pudding (right now, I'm all about that pumpkin pie flavor), which Terry Wahls, M.D., cites as one of her go-to constipation recipes.
The new darling of the grain-free world, cauliflower has been turned into everything from dinner rolls to pizza crust, with varying degrees of success. My favorite is cauliflower rice, which I buy pre-made or quickly pulse in a food processor, and Trader Joe's Cauliflower Gnocchi, which lives up to its cult-favorite status with a delightfully chewy but fluffy texture. Mixed with some tomato paste and bone broth or a bit of canned pumpkin, pan-fried sage, and ghee, it's a perfect 10-minute dinner.
While I think starting every day with lemon water is slightly overrated (not to mention bad for tooth enamel!), lemon is a key ingredient for culinary and anti-inflammatory success. Often, when dishes feel like they're missing a sparkle or pop, they're missing acid, and lemon is one of my go-tos. I use it to finish soups, salad dressings, stir-fries, fruit crisps, and more.
Note: All original content and photography is the property of Liz Moody and MindBodyGreen.com. LIFEAID Beverage Co. does not sponsor or endorse any specific products or sources referenced in Liz Moody's article, nor is Liz Moody associated with LIFEAID its products. We just happen to love what she does, and are happy to share it with you here!
Source: Click here to read the original article on MindBodyGreen.com by Liz Moody.
According to a recent article on MindBodyGreen.com written by food director Liz Moody … The impact of food on inflammation is clear—but actually incorporating those foods into your daily life can be easier said than done. Here are 25 foods that are scientifically proven to help fight inflammation, and how I use them in my daily life: […]
