Tag Archives: Gluten-Free
Second-Day Soreness & Cinnamon
FeaturedOne strong indication that I haven’t been challenging myself in my fitness routine is the distinct absence of the occasional D.O.M.S. or Second-Day Soreness. D.O.M.S. (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is the result of athletes engaging in workouts at a higher intensity than which they are conditioned.
It happens when one goes out of their comfort zone…and when it comes to fitness, and life, in general, that’s usually a good thing. The body needs to be continually challenged and surprised. Muscles can actually become lazy and apathetic if they become too comfortable and accustomed to one specific workout, and it could be a precursor to injury. Continue reading
Flowers! Candy! Running in the Rain!
FeaturedWhat’s better than enjoying flowers and candy? How about indulging with guilt-free, organic, earth-friendly versions?
The Flowers:
Organically Raised “Knock-Out” Rose Bushes Continue reading
Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar
FeaturedIf the glass bottle of Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar from my Balanced Gut, Balanced Mind post caught your eye and you’re wondering how in the world vinegar might be beneficial to your health, then this is the post for you.¹
And i
f you’re already well aware of the benefits of using raw apple cider vinegar, then I apologize for being patronizing, but, hopefully, this post will provide you with a platform to contribute your own unique experience using apple cider vinegar.
The information that I’m providing is by no means exhaustive, I’m not a doctor, nutritionist or licensed health professional.² This post is based on personal experience and I’d love to hear how it has personally helped you! So if you already use, or have used, apple cider vinegar in your daily regimen, then please comment below with your experience. Continue reading
Balanced Gut, Balanced Mind?
FeaturedNear the end of 2014, I published a post entitled What’s in My Pantry which explained the difference between Probiotics and Prebiotics as well as how they work in synchronicity within the human digestive system to promote Gastrointestinal and Mental Health benefits.
Because April is Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to revisit this topic.
As was stated in the original post, “there is hard evidence linking conditions such as Autism and Depression to the gut’s microbial residents…” There is scientific proof that the GI environment and conditions like Autism are linked.
“In humans, there is some very early evidence of a link between gut bacteria and mental health. A new study from England found that supplements that boost “good” bacteria in the gut (called “prebiotics”) may alter the way people process emotional information, suggesting that changes in gut bacteria may have anti-anxiety effects”.
Gut bacteria plays a major role in our sanity. Incredible.
Probiotics are the “good” bacteria (live cultures) naturally occurring in the stomach. These active cultures help balance gut flora by reproducing more good bacteria. A good balance helps boost immunity and overall health, particularly the aforementioned Gastrointestinal Health. Probiotics can be used to treat stomach issues like IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), food allergies and lactose intolerance.
Prebiotics are the foods that help the Probiotics along. They are good bacteria “promoters”. Prebiotics and Probiotics work together to achieve Gastrointestinal Health.
Gastrointestinal Health is important for more than just happy tummies. More and more scientific research is pointing towards intestinal bacteria playing an influential role in managing mental disorder symptoms. Continue reading
Vegan or Orthorexic?
FeaturedUnless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know of at least one person who has either tried or adopted the vegan lifestyle.
Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, or poultry. Vegans, in addition to being vegetarian, do not use other animal products and by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics, and soaps derived from animal products. -The Vegetarian Resource Group
I think that when people choose to go vegan and their hearts are truly in the right place about it, it reflects in their behavior, decision making and outward countenance for the better.
When I went vegan between the years of 2007 and 2013, it was for the purposes of restricting. I was basically using the lifestyle as a socially acceptable excuse for my anorexia.
So for ME, Veganism did not make me kind.
Rather, it made me bitchier, more defensive and all the more inconsiderate.
That was the case for ME. I am not projecting that on the experiences of others–everyone is different.
So in examining my experience, it was yet another instance of manipulating circumstance to protect my eating disorder–even if it has to evolve in some way, or so it has been the case over the years. I am and have been, working on that.
There has been a lot of bad press lately about orthorexia & veganism, so I want to address that:
What can happen to some individuals who adopt the Vegan Lifestyle is potentially developing the newly classified eating disorder called Orthorexia. This is when the person becomes so focused upon healthy eating that they begin to eliminate unhealthy, impure or “bad” foods from their diet to the point that it becomes so restrictive that they become malnourished.
The irony is that they are “so focused on being healthy” that they literally begin to sacrifice their health for the sake of it. Before everyone starts shouting at once, please notice I said “Some” individuals and “Potentially” developing.
I want to be clear that Veganism does not cause Orthorexia.
That would be like saying ‘Dieting causes Anorexia’ or ‘Getting the stomach flu causes Bulimia’, you see what I am saying?
Tea & Cookies
FeaturedDespite the mild weather, it still gets pretty chilly at night. 60 degrees is cold! I am staying warm by drinking herbal tea.
I am trying out this (new to me) blend:
Hemp Hearts & Spinach Soup
FeaturedWith the dismal week behind me, I can concentrate on brighter, more positive things.
Like this weekend’s forecast:
And surprise delivery from Manitoba Harvest:
Adventures in Solids-Free Cooking
FeaturedMy last post, under the guise of weekend activity documentation, was essentially just a laundry list of complaints.
I bemoaned my painful, healing mouth and my aching hip: a deadly combination which prevents me from enjoying the pleasures of solid food and running.
My chief grievance, however, was that subsisting solely on yogurt, oatmeal and applesauce was getting mundane. The most creative effort on my part has been making fruit smoothies.
I desperately miss my vegetables!
So I have started experimenting in the kitchen with Solids-Free cooking. Incidentally, my efforts were Gluten-Free as well. Continue reading
