Raw Nasturtium Blossom Salad!

1 Comment September 23, 2014 DrD4Health

NASTURTIUM BLOSSOM SALAD
Potent Antibiotic, Potent Satisfaction!

Welcome back to Yummy Yummy Baby!

During long hot summers such as this, I can not help but dream of our family vacation in the Mayan Riviera. I remember the blue waters, the Mayan Pyramids we climbed and the beautiful foliage that surrounded us.

Most of all, I remember the young kids and toddlers that walked around the pyramids, smiling, laughing, playing barefoot and selling little trinkets. I was 5 1/2 months pregnant with my second child, in awe at how these toddlers and kids could thrive without shoes, medicine, vaccinations, while exposed to such elements… These young children were so bright eyed, had perfect smiles and the vision of perfect health.

These kids in “impoverished conditions” are thriving, why is America having such a problem with low birth weights?

We stayed at a very quaint and historic hotel built right on the same grounds as the Chichen Itza Pyramid… It was a dream come true… I was touching, smelling and walking on these historic grounds, somehow wishing that I could go back in time and speak with a Medicine Man for just one day! Well maybe half a day, those were some scary times…

I woke up everyday to the present, but had the fortune of connecting with locals who inspired me! I had not met a Mayan medicine woman/man, but I was given their powerful message… All we need for good physical health is to understand our foods, plants and herbs and how they are here to help us thrive.

One of the most special plants I learned about was the Nasturtium…

Nasturtium is an edible flowering plant that not only has a high concentration of Vitamin C, but also has been considered a fast acting natural antibiotic by Meso-Americans for a very long time.

I also learned that eating a couple of the peppery leaves at the onset of a cold or flu can potentially instantaneously heal. The Nasturtium is considered a gentle and natural antibiotic and is believed to have major healing effects when eating 1 or 2 leaves- three times a day.

These bright, happy, wonderful little flowers originated in South America and were widely used by the Meso-Americans for urinary tract infections, kidney problems and for their general antibiotic action. In fact, it is reported that the Nasturtium was considered such an important part of the medicine cabinet, that no home was without a nasturtium plant if they could avoid it.

The Nasturtium leaf has mild citrus notes with a peppery tang. Although the leaves were very popular, it is the seeds that are considered a prized delicacy.

The Nasturtium inspires me to ask you whether you are truly aware of your Kidney Health? Does your family have a history of poor kidney health? Are you adequately filtering your body ON A DAILY BASIS? Do you know that you should be drinking a minimum of half your body weight in water ounces in order to maintain adequate kidney health?

So for example, if a person weighs 100 pounds, they typically need a minimum of 50 ounces of water per day… yes per day. This water is what is needed to rid your body of 2 quarts of toxins by sifting out 200 quarts of blood.

In honor of your kidneys, I bring you Nature’s gift… Nasturtium Blossom Salad! So yummy for your taste buds, so healing for your kidneys… Mmmm, enjoy before the nurseries run out, for their season is coming to a close!

NASTURTIUM BLOSSOM SALAD!

Potent Antibiotic, Potent Satisfaction!

INGREDIENTS:

6-8 Nasturtium Blossoms

17 small Nasturtium leaves, approx 1-2 inches in diameter

1 head of Organic Butter Lettuce

3-4 cups of Mixed Greens (Organic Radicchio, Baby Spinach, Red Romaine)

1 cup of Organic Raw Fresh Snow Peas

1/2 cup of Organic Raspberries

1/2 cup of Organic Walnuts

1 small Organic Red Onion

Instructions:

Wash, crisp and break greens.

Wash Nasturtium leaves well and pat dry.

Carefully wash Nasturtium Blossoms.

Slice Red Onion in thin slices.

Place greens, Nasturtium leaves, Onion Slices, Peas, Raspberries and Walnuts in a salad bowl and toss lightly with the Balsmic-Coco dressing. Garnish with Nasturtium Blossoms. 6-8 Servings.

Balsamic-Coco Vinaigrette:

3 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 teaspoon of Stone Ground Mustard

2 Tablespoons of Coconut Agave

1/4 teaspoon of Sea Salt

Ground Pepper to taste

1/2 Garlic Clove minced

2 Tablespoons of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions:

Toss all of the vinaigrette ingredients into a bowl and then whisk.

You are going to love this healing Nasturtium Salad… it’s absolutely Yummy Yummy Baby!

Sending you Love & Light, Dr. Dee 🙂

Vegan Coconut Nectar Pancakes… Yummy!

2 Comments September 20, 2014 DrD4Health

COCONUT NECTAR PANCAKES

There are many delicious scents, tastes and sounds that remind me of my childhood, but one of my favorites is that of homemade pancakes luring me out of bed… well to be fair, the bacon along side my momma’s pancakes could’ve had a little something to do with the way I floated to the breakfast table.

Like many families, we were all very busy little bees… but the one thing we always did together was gather and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together…

Now that I am a mommy, I do my best to carry on the traditions that brought me comfort… eating together and yummy pancakes!

COCONUT NECTAR PANCAKES

Ingredients

1/4 Cup of Coconut flour
1 Cup of gluten free all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon ground flax seed
1 Tablespoon of Coconut Sugar
2 teaspoons Baking powder
2 Egg replacement
¼ teaspoon Sea salt
2 Tablespoons Coconut Agave Nectar
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 1/2 Cups Coconut Milk (maybe 2)
1 Tablespoon of melted Coconut Oil
1/8 teaspoon xanthan gum (optional)

Instructions:

In a medium size mixing bowl, sift together flour, flax meal, baking powder, sugar, sea salt, xanthan gum.

In a separate bowl, combine Coconut Oil, Coconut Nectar, Vanilla, Egg relacer and Coconut milk.

Slowly mix in half of the liquid into dry bowl, stirring continuously, add the rest… ¼ cup at a time to avoid a runny batter (not all gluten free mixes are the same, adjust as needed).

Mix until you get the lumps out of the batter. You don’t want it to be too thick or too runny.

Usually about 1 cup + 2Tbsp (as needed)

On a greased (Coconut oil), heated griddle over medium heat, begin to cook pancakes approx a ¼ cup of the batter for each one. (Medium)

*Cook 3 minutes until they start to bubble around the edges, then flip. Cook for another 3 minutes.

Remove from pan and serve with Coconut Nectar on top, garnish with Blueberries and Raspberries!

They are sooo Yummy Yummy Baby!

See you soon! Dr. Dee 🙂

*Side note: some people add 1/8 teaspoon of xanthan gum to help them bind and better emulsify… I do without it, but use what works for you!

Dr. Dee

Vegan Coconut Milk Recipe! Yummy!

3 Comments September 19, 2014 DrD4Health

Coconut Milk:

Aloha… For over 2 years my husband and I have been making this Coconut Milk to supplement my breastmilk.

We started giving him the Coconut Milk originally out of desperation, then continued to give it to him for stomach health, brain health and overall good body fat.

Coconut milk has become a staple in our refrigerator and a delicacy for us. I am finally able to truly enjoy milk again, the great thing is… I am enjoying milk that truly is good for me, not because the FDA said so, but because my body continually tells me so…

I hope that this piece inspires you to give it a chance, especially if you have dairy intolerance and sensitivities.

I know you truly are going to find that Coconut Milk is so Yummy Yummy Baby!

Instructions for Silky & Yummy Coconut Milk from Scratch:

First pick out a minimum of 2 Young Thai Coconuts that do not have pink on the bottom. A tiny tiny amount of light pink should be ok, but the more pink, the greater the likelihood of it being rotten or compromised.

The amount of Coconuts will vary because each Coconut is unique, some have a lot of meat and others have a lot of water.

Young Thai Coconuts

Use a the bottom edge of a Meat Cleaver to strike the Coconut. There is a sweet spot that is in the outer-center perimeter of the Coconut- with practice you will find it every time! Follow the perimeter in a Circular Pattern until the circle is completely open. Gently remove the top of the Coconut. Please mind your fingers when striking the Coconut.

STEP 1

Next use a large bowl to pour the Coconut Water into… then transfer it to a glass or cup and save it.

Use the front or the back of a spoon to gently but firmly extract the meat from the inside wall of the Coconut. If you press too hard you will scrape off too much of the inner wall and make more work for yourself…

STEP 2

This is what the Extracted Coconut Meat will look like. Do not worry if some of the shell is left on the meat, use your fingers to gently rub/pick it off. You can also use the Coconut Water to bathe the Coconut Meat.

STEP 3

You will also gently remove the Coconut Meat from the top of the Coconut… Depending on how much water the Coconut yielded and depending on how thick or thin you want your milk, you may need to use additional store bought Coconut water.

STEP FOUR

Next you will combine the Coconut Water and Meat. Use a strainer to make sure that you remove any particles from the Coconut Water, especially if you used it to bathe the Coconut meat. Repeat for the second Coconut. (Generally you want enough Coconut Water to fill to the Max line of the Nutribullet or a minimum of 1 1/2 to 2 cups of Coconut Water.

STEP 5

After using the Nutribullet, Vitamix and Ninja, we found the Nutribullet to make the silkiest & smoothest milk. If you are making it for an adult it probably doesn’t matter, but if you are using it for baby formula, I would strongly suggest a Nutribullet. *I have no affiliation with Nutribullet.

STEP 6

Blend it for about 45 seconds. By using soft Young Thai Coconut meat (instead of hard/mature meat) and by using the Nutribullet, there isn’t a need to strain the milk through a cheese cloth… It is instantly silky & creamy. You are ready to add anything you like to it or drink it fresh! Mmmm!

Silky Smooth Coconut Milk

Every other night for 2 1/2 years we made this Coconut Milk for our baby’s Coconut Milk Formula. We also drink it ourselves using various recipes.

Here are a couple of things you can add to the milk before you blend it and make it even more Yummy Yummy Baby:

Organic Vanilla Extract (1-2 drops)
Organic Almond Extract (1-2 drops)
Organic Toffee Extract (1-2 drops)
Organic Banana, Strawberries, Mango… really the list goes on and on!

Add anything that you would normally add to a smoothie, including ice and frozen produce!

Yummy Coconut Milk!

Mmmmm Enjoy… you are going to have a new obsession!

It is so Yummy Yummy Baby!

See you soon! Dr. Dee 🙂

Tasty Tomato Tidbits-Coconut Vegan-Veggie Wrap

10 Comments September 18, 2014 DrD4Health

Aloha everyone! Yes, many of us love tomatoes… but do we all know exactly why they can be good for us? Tomatoes are oh so tasty, but better yet, they contain very powerful healing agents that are Scientifically proven! Today I am sharing why Organic Tomatoes are such a big party of our family’s diet.

Organic Tomato Health Facts:

FOR MEN:

Medical research revealed that Lycopene is the only nutrient that turned out to have SIGNIFICANT preventative value against Prostate Cancer. Due to the high lycopene content in tomatoes, eating Organic Tomatoes in any of it’s various forms more than 2 times a week, can help reduce the risk of Prostate Cancer by 21-43%.

Cooking Organic Tomatoes in oil encourages intestinal absorption and results in a two-to-threefold rise in plasma lycopene concentrations. We cook our tomatoes in Coconut Oil because of it’s other healing properties.

FOR WOMEN:

Lycopene helps women guard against cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia, (CIN), tumorous tissue growth in the cervix.
Lycopene is a powerful inhibitor of the growth of breast, endometrium (inner lining of the uterus) and lung cancer cells.

FOR MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN:

Organic Tomatoes are good for the eyes.

Lycopene, the most abundant carotenoid in the blood serum, was found to be the key antioxidant that guards against ARMD ( Age-Related Macular Degeneration), a condition that may cause blindness.

Tomatoes are high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium and Potassium.

Lycopene is an inhibitor to heart disease.

Organic Tomatoes are perfectly safe and healthy to eat, Tomato leaves are actually toxic.

NaturalNews.Com reported that foods rich in cooked tomatoes may boost your body’s ability to ward off skin damage from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and stave off the effects of aging, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Universities of Manchester and Newcastle, England, and presented to the British Society for Investigative Dermatology.

After three months of eating Organic Tomato Paste, researchers analyzed skin samples from 20 participants and found that volunteers who had eaten the tomatoes exhibited 33 percent more protection against sunburn than those who had taken olive oil alone. They also had higher levels of procollagen, a protein that plays a crucial role in preserving skin structure.

The scientists believe that lycopene neutralizes free radicals that are formed when UV radiation strikes the skin. These free radicals have been linked to cancer and the effects of aging.

The best part of all these studies were the results that demonstrated it did not matter in what form we ate the Tomato, it only mattered that we ate Organic Tomato. The health benefits included, Organic Tomatoes, Organic Tomato Sauce, Organic Tamato Paste and Organic Ketchup. So here I’m including a quick recipe that includes tomatoes. This is one of the recipes that proves Fast Food doesn’t have to be junk food to be Yummy Yummy Baby!

COCONUT VEGGIE WRAP

Coconut Veggie Wrap

Recipe:

Coconut Paleo Sheet, Fresh Tomato Chunks, Fresh Zucchini Shavings, Fresh Coconut Slices, Fresh Carrot Shavings, Fresh Cilantro, Fresh Mixed Greens.

Sauce: Vegenaise, Apple Cider Vinegar, Mustard, Honey, Salt, Pepper (all measurements to your taste)

Fun Fact:

Tomato is a fruit. The confusion arose after the 1890s when the US supreme court named Tomato a Vegetable for taxation purposes. A fruit is the edible part of the plant containing seeds, a vegetable is stem, leaf or root.

Sending you Love & Light, Dr. Dee 😉

References:

Giovannucci, Edward et al., “Intake of Carotenoids and Retinol in Relation to Risk of prostate Cancer,” Journal of the National Cancer Miracle Nutrient That Can Prevent Aging, Heart Diseaseand Cancer,” Advanced Research Press, Inc. 1999. Hauppauge, N.Y.

Tomato Research Council, Article, “Lycopene in the American Diet,” Undated

Hanley, Daniel Q., “Tomatoes, Oranges, Pasta and Soybeans Studied as Cancer fighters,” AP, April 14, 1997

Kumpulainen, Jorma T. et al, “Natural Antioxidants and Food Quality in Atherosclerosis and Cancer Prevention,” Royal Society of Chemistry Information Services and Scheer, James F., “Tomato Power! Lycopene: The Miracle Nutrient That Can Prevent Aging, Heart Disease and Cancer,” Advanced Research Press, Inc. 1999. Hauppauge, N.Y.

Meres-Perlman, Julie A., Ph.D., “Serum Antioxidants and Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Population-Based Case-Control Study,” Archives Ophthalmology, December, 1995, Vol. 113:1518-1523.

Aviram, Michael, Ph.D., “Lycopene and Antherosclerosis,” A publication of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and Scheer, James F., “Tomato Power! Lycopene: The Miracle Nutrient That Can Prevent Aging, Heart Disease and Cancer,” Advanced Research Press, Inc. 1999. Hauppauge, N.Y.

Journal reference: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (DOI: 10.1021/jf0401540)

Coconut Milk Vegan Baby Formula…

27 Comments September 17, 2014 DrD4Health

I love Coconut Milk, Coconut Water, Coconut Meat, Coconut Oil, Coconut Candy, Coconut Cookies, Coconut Cake, Coconut everything! I am definitely cuckoo for Coconuts!

As a child, my mother would repeatedly tell me how great Coconut is for my stomach and my skin. I always heeded her advice about the topical uses, especially for wrinkles and stretch mark prevention, but I never really ate Coconut for medicinal reasons unless she gave it to me. Coming from a Native American mom who would use food, plants and herbs as healing remedies, I came to learn that many of the remedies are now backed by Science.

Upon the birth of my second son, I mysteriously developed a severe stomach bacteria. I was advised to temporarily stop breast feeding if I didn’t want to pass the bacteria back and forth. What was I going to do? I didn’t have a plan B for Breast Milk.

I vigorously started studying every formula out in the market. I couldn’t believe what I found… I consistently found toxic ingredients that are known carcinogens in the majority of the world except the U.S. The majority of countries have banned the use of these ingredients, but we are giving it to our newborns and babies in our hospitals and homes?!?

I felt as if I was in the twilight zone! This isn’t happening… this isn’t happening! After studying further, I learned that there are many alternative home made milks that we can make for our babies who have allergies, bacterial infections, intolerances and sensitivities. Coconut Milk and Hemp Milk are similar to Mother’s Milk, they take some work to make, it requires adding various ingredients, but it is Healthy, Healing, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free and Low on the allergy index.

Please understand that I am not saying that Coconut Milk or other milk alternatives replace a Mother’s milk, I am saying you can create a safe alternative if Mother’s Milk is not a viable choice. Most of all, I am saying that Mother’s milk is a life force that can not be replicated by cows, goats or factories. Breast Milk is the sweetest milk I have ever tasted, yes… I tasted it, 🙂 and it is so understandable why babies prefer it, thrive the best on it and receive so many healing properties.

Coconut milk has been found to treat and relieve sore throats and even stomach ulcers, and like Breast Milk, it is very calming to the body and digestive system. The nutrients in Coconut also aid the body in over all immune system health. It’s B vitamins also aid in many immune and nervous system functions.

Unlike other unhealthy fats, the unique properties of Coconut also contain a large amount of MCTs and Lauric Acid, which is the primary fatty acid found in Mother’s Milk. Lauric acid is what makes breast milk so digestible and is believed to protect the body from infection and boost the immune system.

The great thing is that Coconut Milk is great for all of us, regardless of our age!

Home-made Coconut Milk is also a safe alternative for Diabetics who are concerned with the properties in Dairy Milk. Coconut Milk has a Low Glycemic Index and High Dietary Fiber. The human body cannot digest the dietary fiber in coconut, therefore it has no hazardous effects on Blood Sugar. Best of all, Coconut Milk is lower in sugar than Dairy Milk.

It turned out my baby did get the stomach bacteria and became very very ill and lost a severe amount of weight in less than a week. It was a very rough and scary time for us. After endless hours and days of research and consulting with various Naturopathic and Functional Medicine Doctors, we implemented the undeniable research on Coconut Milk, Oil and meat and it worked… It truly worked!

Our baby started to gain healthy weight, improve the quality of his poop and best of all… he began to thrive and heal! I was able to continue breast feeding and we couldn’t be happier! This was done in conjunction with other nutritional support, like probiotics and digestive enzymes, but that is another blog. 🙂

Here is a Yummy Yummy Baby recipe for Vegan Coconut Milk Baby Formula:

3 Cups of home-made Coconut Milk (Its easy after you do it once)
1 Tbsp Unsweetened, Rice protein or Pea protein (we prefer Rice protein)
1 1/2 Tbsp of Grade B Maple Syrup
1 tsp Calcium Lactate Powder
2 tsp of Infant Probiotic powder (we use Klaire Infant Probiotics)
2 tsp Vegan Omega 3 DHA
2 tsp of Extra Virgin, Unrefined, Cold-Pressed Coconut Oil
4 Cups of very good quality water

*Optional 1/4 Ripe banana

Combine all of the ingredients in a Large Cup Nutribullet and blend (you may have to split it in two depending on the size of your Nutribullet, Vitamix, Ninja, etc… Refrigerate immediately and use within 48 hours.
The formula will separate from the oils, so please shake before pouring into a bottle or cup and gently warm for baby.

***We later discovered a formula we felt was not perfect, but pretty wonderful. It is a great supplement once your baby is a Toddler. The Name is Toddler Supreme by Peaceful Planet.

***Important Legal Disclaimer: This recipe is intended to be a supplement for a nursing or formula-fed child’s diet. It is not intended to be a complete replacement, and should only be used when the Mother’s Milk is not available, Allergies to Store Formulas, Sensitivities/Intolerances to other formulas or because you don’t want to give your baby the carcinogens in some formulas…

Again, this blog does not replace the advice of your healthcare practitioner, this is me sharing what worked for my family.

* Next up… How to make Coconut Milk! Mmm! Yummy Yummy Baby!

Dr. Dee

Resources:

http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/