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Food Fitness and Fun – ByCandace

~ Good Health Made Simple

Food Fitness and Fun – ByCandace

Author Archives: ByCandace

The “Healthcare” System

25 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by ByCandace in Books, General

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#appliedknowledgeispower, #bethechangeyouwanttosee, #Constitution, #healthcare, #knowledge+action=power, #makesomenoise, #reform, #sickcare

I believe with all my heart that if people in leadership were focused less on making money and more on doing the right thing the “healthcare” system reform our country so desperately needs would come to fruition. Unfortunately for us…that is not the case.

While once upon a time, I do believe that it was not the intention of people in leadership (aka: government) to screw-up “healthcare”….it now is and has been for a long while.

In my opinion, the federal government has no place and no business regulating and profiting from “healthcare” in this country. I remind you that the federal government was developed to do three things only: 1) govern foreign affairs, 2) conduct war, and 3) regulate currency” (http://www.history.com/topics/constitution). My personal belief is that…we need to break-off “healthcare” and big-pharma from the government placing them into a free enterprise system.

It has been a while since I was in high school….so just as a reminder…”free enterprise is a type of economy where products, prices, and services are determined by the market, not the government. It’s capitalism, not communism……prices go up and down because of supply and demand. Private companies compete for profit without government interference” (https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/free%20enterprise).

I do know that while our “healthcare” system, I call it our sick-care system, is fantastic at acute emergency care…it really really sucks at long-term HEALTH care. The word ‘healthcare’ implies that the system promotes and encourages health. In its current model it doesn’t.

The word “doctor” from its Lain root doc(ēre) means “to teach”. It wasn’t too very long ago that doctors would travel around helping people and teaching people….providing care for people. That isn’t the case these days for sure; the government created system won’t allow it! Doctors are forced to spend approximately 10 minutes (if you are lucky) with each patient and prescribe the latest and greatest drugs that the FDA approved for whatever symptom the patient comes in with or run the risk of losing their license to do business (I can’t even say the word ‘practice medicine’ anymore).

The system is broken and the people of this country are suffering for it. Yet all most people do is complain about it, most people don’t actually do anything. It is a large problem…very overwhelming for the average person to take on. What we have is the Federal Government, Medical Insurance Companies, Big Farma, and the FDA calling the shots, making tons of money while holding our doctors hostage and watching the citizens of this country get sicker and sicker. By the way, this is also where food subsidies comes in, but that is a whole other rabbit hole.

Where is the justice? It will take an uprising to change this big money-making-machine! Is this likely? No. Is it possible? Yes.

I am fortunate to have found (through hours and hours of research) a relatively progressive thinking primary care physician that as actually tested me for nutrient deficiencies and “prescribed” vitamins to me. I currently choose to pay a $225.00 annual fee (per person) to my doctor that allows her to provide medical insurance to her staff and it also allows her the ability to spend 30 minutes with me each time I visit her. I also work with a functional medicine doctor who is also a nutritionist and chiropractor. Most of her services are outside of medical insurance coverage, because the medical insurance providers somehow get to dictate to me what services I need for the money I pay them. She is my true health care….identifying the root-cause of the symptoms I have, not just managing or covering-up the symptom. Be aware that making a symptom go away doesn’t make what is causing the symptom go away.

This is where self accountability comes in. Vote with your dollar. Doing what you need to do to make and keep your body healthy so you are not fully dependent on this broken down sick-care system.

I know how difficult it is; I am presently dependent on the system. My body isn’t fully healthy. You can bet I’m working on it. I’m spending my money and effort where it matters most. I’m doing everything I can to give my body what it needs to heal itself. Our bodies are created to heal and regenerate. What a glorious creation we are.

The sick-care system isn’t going to fix itself. I do not think that we can rely on our government to do what is our best interest. We have to take responsibility for our part in the system and our part in our own health or lack thereof. Do what you need to do for your body to be healthy.

Learning Opportunities – Applied Knowledge is Power

Check out these two articles by Chris Kresser

  1. Healthcare vs Disease Management
  2. Two Reasons Conventional Medicine Will Never Solve Chronic Disease

Article: The American Medical Nightmare: Are We Ever Going to Wake Up? by: Steven Wright

Below are a few books you may be interested in reading:

  • The Primal Prescription: Surviving The “Sick-Care” Sinkhole
  • Doctor Yourself: Natural Healing That Works
  • Spontaneous Healing: How to Discover and Embrace Your Body’s Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself

Podcast: Joe Rogan & Chris Kresser on Paleo and the Modern Healthcare System

If you want to make some noise…..here are a couple of links to contact congress men and house representatives. Keep and email template in your ‘drafts’ box and shoot them out an email every week!

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Recipe: Main Dish – Asian Inspired Lettuce Wraps

21 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by ByCandace in Food

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#30minutemeal, #asianinspired, #avocado, #braggsgingerandsesamesaladdressing, #easyandfastmeal, #fivespice, #ginger, #leftovers, #lettcuswraps, #maindish, #recipe

This is a super easy and fast recipe that I like to make for a weeknight meal. This was the second time I made it and I tweaked it just right to the point that it was so very delicious I want to eat it again and again. Which means…it is so very tasty that I needed to share it!

Writing this all out…it looks complicated, but it is not! It is meat, carrot, rice, lettuce, and sauce. The whole meal only took me 30 minutes to make.

Tools:

  • Chopping Board
  • Knife
  • Large Skillet
  • Spatula or Spoon
  • Small Bowl
  • Whisk or Fork

The Meat:

  • 1 lb of Ground Meat of choice (grass-fed beef, bison, elk, venison, turkey, chicken)
  • Garlic Powder (sprinkle liberally)
  • 1 to 1 1/2 tsp of Five Spice (to your taste preference)
  • ½ – 1 tsp of Powdered Ginger (to your taste preference)
  • 1 – 2 Pinches of Red Pepper Flakes (to your heat preference)
  • 1 ½ Large Carrots or 2 Medium Chopped Finely

Optional Veggie Additions: Finely chopped onion (or the white part of green onions) or julienne red bell pepper

The Sauce:

  • 1/3 Cup of Liquid Aminos or Coconut Aminos
  • 1/4 Cup of Pure Maple Syrup
  • 1 to 2 tsp of Toasted Sesame Oil (to your taste preference)
  • Juice of 1 Lime
  • 1 – 2 Tbs Chopped Pickled Ginger

1 Cup of Cooked Jasmine Rice (I like to cook my rice in broth for added flavor)

Optional Toppings:

  • Sesame Seeds
  • Green Onions (I used homemade dried chives)
  • Cilantro Leaves
  • Chopped Avocado

Directions:

Wash and dry lettuce leaves and place on a plate like tiny bowls. I usually double or triple the leaves to make a secure wrapping surface. Finely pre-chop carrots and set aside. If you are adding finely chopped onion or julienned red bell pepper, pre-chop those as well.

Side Note: You can not only pre-chop all your veggies, but you can pre-cook the rice, and pre mix the sauce. This can be much easier for folks…instead of multi-tasking during the cooking process, particularly if it is the first time you’ve made a dish. This is called Mise en Place (MEEZ ahn plahs) it “is a French term for having all your ingredients measured, cut, peeled, sliced, grated, etc. before you start cooking. Pans are prepared. Mixing bowls, tools and equipment set out.” (Google it).

Over a medium-high heat brown meat of choice in a large skillet (if you use a lean meat you may have to add cooking fat). While browning sprinkle liberally with garlic powder, add the ginger, five spice, and red pepper flakes. Cook through to the point of the meat getting a little crispy.

While the meat is cooking start cooking the rice. If using traditional stove-top rice it takes approximately 30 minutes total. Instructions for the rice I linked to above: bring rice to a boil, stir, cover and reduce heat to low simmer, cook for 15 minutes, turn off heat moving to another burner location, remaining covered…allow to sit for an additional 10 minutes, uncover and fluff with a fork. You can pre-cook rice the day before or you can use a pressure cooker or rice cooker to speed up the rice cooking time.

Once the meat is about ¾ the way cooked, add the finely chopped carrots (and other optional veggies) and continue to cook. Siring occasionally.

While the rice is cooking and meat is browning, assemble the sauce. In a small bowl whisk together the liquid aminos, pure maple syrup, sesame seed oil, lime juice, and chopped pickled ginger. Set aside.

Once the meat is starting to get a bit crispy (the rice should be around 7 minutes from being complete), reduce to a medium heat and pour the sauce over. Stir well. Once the rice is done, turn the heat off under the meat and mix the rice into the meat mixture. This is also the time I added a Tbs+ of homemade dried chives.

Spoon the meat and rice mixture into the lettuce cups/wraps and top with your preferred optional toppings.

Done. Eat. Enjoy.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

With the leftovers, I made a salad with avocado, warmed-up and dumped the meat mixture over the top, and used Bragg’s Ginger and Sesame salad dressing. It was sooooo good!

Leftover Asian Lettcue Wraps

I highly encourage you to Sign-up for Thrive Market.

Thrive Market allows you to shop for all the healthy food items you know and love at discount prices, because they cut out the middle man, and it gets delivered to your door so it also saves you time. Not only to you save money, but for every paid membership Thrive Gives a membership to a family in need.

The second best part, aside from saving money, is that all your favorite pantry items will be delivered to your door and you don’t have to go to stores which also saves you time and energy. And who can’t use more money, time, energy?!?!

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I officially have a hobby!

18 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by ByCandace in Fun

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

#gonekayaking, #hobby, #kayaking, #kayaks, #lowstress, #nature, #onthewater, #strongarms, #vitaminD

I now have a real hobby for the first time in my whole life! I’m so happy and excited about it!

I’ve been wanting to include this hobby in my life for several years and decided this year I was going to pull the trigger and do it!

Here I am – my first time in my kayak.

Kayaks

The fun and benefits of kayaking for me is:

  • Being in nature                         (aka: Forest Bathing – sorta…)
  • Being on the water                    (aka: Lowers Stress – very calming to me)
  • Getting some sun                      (aka: Vitamin D)
  • Great upper body workout         (aka: Strong arms)

I hope that all of you are making time to have some fun too!

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Pressures and Expectations

15 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by ByCandace in General

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#behappybeingyou, #donothaveto, #knowledge+action=power, #liveyourlife, #noguilt, #notdoingitall, #takecontrol

I’ve touched on this subject little in a previous post called “My Thoughts on Feminism”, but after listening to JJ Virgin speak with Sean Croxton on one of his podcasts (which I highly recommend) it got me thinking again about women and myself and what pressures and expectations we perceive to be.

I also wrote a post called “Your Power, Your Control, Your Responsibility”. The intersections of what I wrote in these two posts and the pressure and expectations we perceive is where I believe the magic can happen.

I think that a lot of women if not most women or all women perceive pressure and expectations are put upon us….from society, parents, spouses, children, bosses, ourselves….etc. There is pressure to do it all and do it all well.

BUT, the beauty is we don’t have to! Let me say that again….we (YOU) don’t HAVE to!

In my opinion, this concept is real feminism.

YOU ARE NOT WORTH LESS because you can’t or don’t want to do it all and do it all well! YOU ARE NOT WORTH LESS because you don’t want to conform to others expectations nor succumb to outside pressures.

You DO NOT have to do it all and do it all well!

You do what you can do the best you can do it and the rest will be there tomorrow. Ask for help where you need it to get things accomplished. The unrealistic expectation of doing it all yourself it not only ridiculous but is tearing women down….physically, mentally, and emotionally.

 

It is your choice to accept the pressure and expectations of other people outside of yourself. It is your choice to set your own expectations, your own rules, your own thoughts and feelings. You do not have to accept what others want to impose on you. If you do, that is your choice too.

BUT, if you don’t like what others want you to do, want you to be, want you to say, want you to look like…..then you can choose to politely decline and then go do, be, say, and look whatever and however you choose and want. (caveat: provided none of it causes harm to anyone else around you)

Side thought: You also do not have to explain yourself to anyone you don’t want to. You can simply say no. You have the right to say no; do not feel guilty about that.

Stop giving your power away. Take control of yourself. Be you. Be happy being you.

While I’ve made tremendous strides in the right direction, I still struggle with all this on the regular.  I tell myself exactly what I’m telling you, which turns it around for me. Then I move forward one day at a time, one mistake at a time, one thought at a time. It is in my control. It is in my power. It is my responsibility. It is my choice. To be me. To be happy being me. To live my life how I chose to live my life. Not doing it all!

Here are a few short videos clips by Girls Gone Strong that are so great!

  1. Kelly Coffey – Part 1 The Manifestation of Shame and Blame
  2. Kelly Coffey – Part 2 The Manifestation of Shame and Blame
  3. Neghar Fonooni – Rewrite Your Reality

I pray that each woman reading this post receives this message to change their perspective and take action to elevate any pressure or expectations that they don’t want.

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Recipe: All-In-One-Meal – Roasted Salmon with Crab Meat Topping and Asparagus

11 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by ByCandace in Food

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#allinonemeal, #asparagus, #easyandfastmeal, #paleo, #recipe, #wildcaughtsalmon

Tools:

  • Chopping Board
  • Knife
  • Paper Towels
  • Parchment Paper or Silpat
  • Large Zip Lock Bag or Large Bowl
  • Pan (Short Lip)
  • Small Bowl
  • Spoon

Ingredients:

  • 1lb Wild Caught Salmon – (I found it at Trader Joe’s)
  • 1 Bunch of Asparagus
  • 6 oz. Can White-Lump Crab Meat
  • 1.5 Tbs of Avocado Oil
  • 1 – 1.5 Tbs of Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 4 – 6 Tbs Mayonnaise (to taste and creamy consistency)
  • 2 Tbs of Chives (to taste) – (I used homemade dried)
  • Lemon Pepper (to taste)
  • Garlic Powder (to taste)
  • Salt (to taste)Fish Seasoning Blend of Choice (to taste) – (I used Northwoods Seasoning by Penzeys Spices)

Stuff You Need

Directions:

Pre-heat oven or toaster oven to 375 degrees. Cover a short-lip pan in parchment paper or silpat.

Rinse the fish in cold water and lay on paper towels and then use additional paper towels to dry the fish on the top side. Place dried fish on the lined pan bottom side up and season with salt, garlic powder, and seasoning blend of choice. Flip over (top side up) and repeat seasoning. Set fish aside.

Salmon

Cut the ends off the asparagus, place in zip lock bag, add avocado oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon pepper, and garlic powder (optional) and seal the bag. Shake and rub the mixture into the asparagus. Set aside to marinate.

Asparagus

In the small bowl, mix together the crab meat, mayonnaise, chives, lemon pepper (to taste), garlic powder (to taste), and salt (to taste). Place the crab meat mixture on top of the salmon.

Crab Meat Topping
Top Salmon w Crab

Place the asparagus around the salmon and add small amounts of butter over the top.

IMG_4951

Place in the oven for 20 minutes. Broil for an additional 2-5 minutes at 450 – 500 degrees.

Salmon and Asparagus

Done. Eat. Enjoy

I highly encourage you to Sign-up for Thrive Market.

Thrive Market allows you to shop for all the healthy food items you know and love at discount prices, because they cut out the middle man, and it gets delivered to your door so it also saves you time. Not only to you save money, but for every paid membership Thrive Gives a membership to a family in need.

The second best part, aside from saving money, is that all your favorite pantry items will be delivered to your door and you don’t have to go to stores which also saves you time and energy. And who can’t use more money, time, energy?!?!

 

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Body Types

01 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by ByCandace in General

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

#ectomorph, #endomorph, #looklikeyou, #mesomorph, #somatotype, #yourbodyisyourbody

Your body is your body. My body is my body.

No two bodies are exactly the same.

There are three primary body types and then blends between the three.

  1. Ectomorph – “lack of much fat or muscle tissue”
  2. Mesomorph – “ well-developed musculature”
  3. Endomorph – “preponderance of body fat”

I typically do not suggest people use Bodybuilding.com as an authority or resource for nutrition, but for some things their resources work great. I’m using their page on the three body types as my resource for this information. They also provide a quick and easy test for you to take to determine where you fit into this spectrum and they provide some suggestions for food and exercise. I personally fall as an Endo (38%) Meso (63%) [Ecto 0%].

Gauge Girl Training (Christine is a mesomorph) has a YouTube channel with very helpful videos on this subject. I’ve linked to my favorites below.

  • Female Fat Loss By Body Type
  • How to Determine Your Body Type
  • Combination Body Types for Women (added 03/01/18)
  • Embracing Your Somatotype
  • Free Somatotype Assessment

She also has individual videos for each body type you can check out if you like.

I also am a big fan of Jen Heward (who I think is also is a mesomorph). Below are a couple of her YouTube videos.

  • Fat Loss or Weight Gain By BODY TYPE
  • Body Image Short Film

Rant

One of my biggest peeves as of late is ectomorph fitness/nutrition gurus. For example, Heidi Powell (who I actually think is great and she is so sweet and funny) posts “before and after” pictures on Instagram and talks about her perspective and journey, which she has the right and space to do. If you have seen the Powell’s work and client transformations, they have worked with a lot of people and helped them regain their health and fitness.

While I do realize that thin people (aka: ectomorphs) can have body dysmorphia and struggle to keep weight on (oh poor babies), I personally find it quite difficult to take fitness and nutrition advice from someone who has no idea what it is like to live in a body that holds on to body fat.

She talks about how she is 20lbs heavier (all muscle) than she has every been in her life and how great and strong she feels; and goes on to say that we shouldn’t allow the scale to determine our self worth. I agree with that, we shouldn’t allow our weight to determine our self worth and value in the world. I say good for her! Truly! I think that she does look a lot better now than before. I tend to really like muscular looks on women.

But…I wonder if she would still feel the same way and still say all the same things, if her weight gain were 20lbs of body fat and not muscle? For me…it is a hard pill to swallow for an ectomorph to tell me “You are perfect….just the WEIGH you are”.

My Thoughts – Be the Best Body YOUR Body Can Be

  • Body comparison is the death of self-esteem. Stop comparing your body to someone else’s body. Yours is yours and theirs is theirs.
  • You cannot change your body type. It is what it is. Stop trying to change your body type to look like something it will never be able to look like.

Here is a fantastic article by Coconuts and Kettlebells called “Why I Don’t Want Six-Pack Abs“.

Jordan Syatt has videos I like too – here are a few:

  • One Body. One Life. Make it Count.
  • Cellulite is NOT a Flaw (3 “Must Know” Facts)
  • Self Confidence: How to “Just Do It”

I hope you enjoy the resources and videos I’ve linked to and they help you to realize that your body is your body and there is nothing wrong with your body because it doesn’t look like what you see on Instagram, Facebook, movies, or TV.

You should look like you, not like someone else. Love and Hugs

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Recipe: Side Dish – Roasted Cabbage

27 Tuesday Jun 2017

Posted by ByCandace in Food

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#lemons, #recipe, #roastedcabbage

This is one of my all-time favorite recipes. It is easy and delicious!

Tools:

  • Chopping Board
  • Large Knife
  • Short-rimmed baking sheet

Ingredients:

  • 1 head of cabbage
  • 2 – 3 lemons
  • Avocado Oil
  • Butter
  • Salt
  • Lemon Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Herbs of Choice – I like pre-mixed herb or spice blends.

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Pull the first couple of layers of cabbage leaves off and discard. Slice cabbage head in ½ inch slices or as thin or thick as you like them; the thicker they are the longer it will take to cook. Also cut out the core on each middle slice and discard, as it doesn’t cook down well enough to eat.

Spray the bottom half of the cabbage slices with avocado oil and season with salt, lemon pepper, garlic powder, and herbs of choice. Place the slices on the baking sheet bottom side down, then squeeze the juice of 3 -4 lemons all over the topside, spray with avocado oil, season, and top with a pad of butter.

Roast in the oven for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cabbage should be soft all the way through and browned on top and around the edges.

Done. Eat. Enjoy.

Roasted Cabbage 1
Roasted Cabbage 3
Roasted Cabbage 4
Roasted Cabbage 5
Roasted Cabbage 6
Roasted Cabbage 2

This dish is something I usually make at dinner time, but eat it at every meal until it is gone!

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Adrenals & Cordyceps

20 Tuesday Jun 2017

Posted by ByCandace in General, Nutrition

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

#adaptogen, #adrenals, #cordyceps, #foursigmatic

I believe that our bodies are created to heal themselves provided the right inputs. I believe that whole unprocessed foods, low sugar, good sleep, stress management, connecting with nature, frequent movement, having some fun with the people you love, and target supplementation will yield a healthy and vibrant body. I talk in more detail about all this in my post: “The Trifecta”.

A piece of my story….

A few years ago, I suffered an adrenal crash (aka: severe HPA Axis Dysregulation), unfortunately at the time it was thought it was just my thyroid. I was given a T3/T4 combination medication called Nature-Throid. Initially it made my symptoms worse (once some time passed the thyroid medicine started to help me). This caused me to start researching about other causes for my debilitating fatigue. This is when I learned about the adrenals. During my research I learned that my hypothyroidism was secondary hypothyroidism caused by my adrenals, as they are in the endocrine system that is tightly knitted together.

After a year of living with severe debilitating fatigue and doing everything I could think of, I finally got tested and learned that my cortisol output was really low, see my results below.

 

If you are really suffering, like I was, and you want to do some testing there are 4 point cortisol saliva test as well as 24 hour urine tests that can be done to test your adrenal function levels. Here is an interesting podcast on adrenal testing.

What is an adrenal?

The adrenals are two small glands located just above each kidney. The adrenals are responsible for the production of DHEA, sex hormones, corticosteroids, aldosterone, adrenaline, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

Dr. Alan Christianson is one of my go-to adrenal experts.

Over the past few years I’ve worked incredibly hard at healing my body and I’m still working on it! Something that I recently found that has been a needle mover for me is called Cordyceps. “Cordyceps is an adaptogen, not a stimulant, so it helps you produce and maintain steady energy levels. Cordyceps helps your body produce its own energy.”

What I’ve done and am doing….

I found Four Sigmantic through Ben Greenfield (who is a BOSS); here is the podcast. I had nothing to lose by trying out their products. Initially, I was afraid of cordyceps because I didn’t know enough about them yet to determine if they were something that I should take considering my adrenal history.

5 Mushroom Blend.JPG

I started with drinking their 5 Mushroom Blend which has benefits of antioxidants, adaptogenic property, liver support, glycemic balance, and immune system support. I found that this one was better for me to use later in the afternoon early evening time to ready me for bed.

10 Mushroom Blend

Then I switched to their 10 Mushroom Blend because it had cordyceps in it along with 9 other super medicinal mushrooms. It has changed my life!

I recently drank straight Cordyceps because they come in easy to carry packets. I used ½ a packet each morning.

What have cordyceps done for me?

My energy levels have been better and more consistent throughout the day. If I don’t take it, I can feel the difference. I’ve been taking ½ tsp daily for a couple of months; I think I can safely increase to the full recommended amount of 1 tsp. However, you can drink it more than one time per day if you need to.

More fantastic resources for you….

According to Dr. Jockers.com, the five benefits of cordyceps are improved kidney and adrenal health, positive effect on sex hormone production, helps with blood sugar control, and better brain health due to the anti-inflammatory properties.

I could go on and on with various resources that discuss similar finds on how healthy cordyceps are for us….but I won’t. If you want to check out what others have to say about it, check out Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Lam, as well as the previously mentioned Dr. Alan Christianson. There is also a very helpful YouTube channel called: Adrenal Fatigue Society.

Here is a podcast that I recently listened to that went into how and why not all cordycep supplements are created equal. I personally am only taking Four Sigmatic’s brand. Here is another podcast with Four Sigmatic’s Tero Isokauppila.

Where to go from here….

I think everyone is under some form or multiple forms of stress these days. It certainly will not hurt you to try cordyceps, since they are adaptogenic they will increase if you need increase or decrease if you need decrease; they adapt to your body’s needs.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the ‘comments’ of this post.

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My Very First Hater

16 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by ByCandace in General

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#hatershate

Logically I know that I shouldn’t engage with haters, because it is a fruitless effort……but since this is my very first one….I figured I’d publicly respond in hopes to avoid this type of thing later.

Below is a comment that I received in response to my “Get to Know Your Coffee” post.

Hater

In Response

Hi MinaMac,

Thank you for taking an interest in my blog site. Each blogger has a specific audience, perhaps you are not mine and found yourself on my page by mistake? Feel free to not come to my page and read nor comment. My page is my outlet to disseminate information that I find important and helpful to those who want it. If you do not find my information valuable, again feel free not to come and read my page.

You wrongly assumed that I am not or have not ever been financially distressed. You are also assuming that I do not shop at regular stores for my food, which you are wrong again.

We each do the best that we can when and while we are able. When people find themselves in financially trying times, my advice is to make the appropriate trade-offs within their budgets that still allow them to put their health as a top priority.

If that means that people cannot afford coffee that has not been sprayed with pesticides that poison their body, then perhaps they should not buy coffee or trade it for something that is more in line with their budget. For example, you can buy lots of lemons and raw honey and drink warm lemon honey water every morning instead of coffee. Just because someone doesn’t have a lot of money doesn’t give them an excuse to not prioritize their health, particularly if they are single parents.

An example of a trade-off I’m currently making: I have chosen to not purchase manicures and pedicures nor get my hair done in 8 months because I am choosing to reallocate my funds to my food and supplements that promote my health.

There are plenty of whole food health bloggers out on the web that focus on budget friendly options that still prioritize health. You do not have to have a lot of money to choose health.

Side Note: It’s not a practice of mine to get online and hate on others. While my blog site is public, if you feel the need to post negative comments that you wouldn’t otherwise say in-person, think twice; it demonstrates a tremendous amount about who you are and what your character is.

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Get to Know Your Coffee

16 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by ByCandace in Lifestyle, Nutrition

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#10mushroomblend, #certifiedorganic, #coffee, #collagen, #focusonquality, #foursigmatic, #knowledge+action=power, #organicheavycream, #stevia, #VitalProteins, #votewithyourdollar

Between 50% – 60% of Americans drink coffee. These coffee drinking Americans drink on average between 2 – 3 cups of coffee per day. (all stats provided by Googling articles) Folks….that is a massive amount of coffee being consumed every year in this country.

According to Healthy Organic Woman, “250 pounds of chemical fertilizers are sprayed per acre on non-organic coffee beans”. Coffee Review says that if someone is concerned about unwanted chemicals in our coffee (which I am), we should buy coffee that is “free of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, and other potentially harmful chemicals”, buy coffee from “Yemen, Ethiopia, and Sumatra Mandheling”, and look for the word “sustainable” on the label.

Coffee Questions to Ask and Consider:

  • Is it Certified Organic?
  • Is the process being monitored by an independent agency?
  • Where is it grown?
  • Is it grown in the shade?
  • What altitude is it grown at?
  • Is it from a single origin?
  • Is it sustainably grown?
  • Is it Fair Trade?

There is a lot of back and forth on the web about whether mycotoxins in coffee is something we should worry about. It seems unlikely this is a major issue, but I think…better safe than sorry….so buy the best quality possible.

Side Note: Please think about not using coffee pods. Do you really want to be drinking coffee made through heated plastic? Do you want to fill-up our earth with used coffee pods? Purchasing coffee beans and grinding them yourself produces a very fresh yummy cup of coffee.

I challenge you to spend to little time on the web researching coffee brands and how their beans are grown and processed. This action can yield for you peace of mind and better long-term health. I hope you choose to spend the time to get to know your coffee.

As you may have noticed there are themes throughout my blog posts….quality matters…even/particularly with your coffee, vote with your dollar, and knowledge is power!

 My morning coffee…

Right now we are drinking coffee made from Certified Organic Fair Trade beans from Peru that we purchase at Sprouts. We grind our beans fresh every day and set a timer on the coffee pot so we have fresh yummy coffee every morning.

Coffee Cup

I LOVE coffee, however I choose to drink only one 8oz cup per day in the morning.

My Coffee Additions

  • 1 Organic Stevia Packet by Sweetleaf
  • 1/2 – 1 scoop of Pasture-Raised Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides by Vital Protein
  • 1/2 – 1 tsp of Four Sigmatic’s – 10 Mushroom Blend
  • Enough Organic Heavy Whipping Cream to create the taste and color I like

 

 

 

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