Top 5 Foods to Fight Candida

Top 5 Foods to Fight Candida

by | Aug 30, 2016 | Candida, Uncategorized

So what is Candida? Many have heard of it, but not quite sure what it is. The technical term is Candidiasis, but I will refer to it as Candida. It is a type of yeast that is present in the digestive tract, nose, mouth, and skin of healthy individuals. It is one of the billions of friendly organisms that serve a useful purpose in the body. However, under certain conditions, such as antibiotic use, an unhealthy diet, and unhealthy lifestyle choices, this balance is disrupted and an overgrowth of yeast develops in the body. Candida manifests and becomes a very unpleasant and unwanted houseguest.

When I was diagnosed with Candida and given a list of foods to stay away from, I was at a loss. I was already feeling lousy with my brain fog, fatigue and bloating, and now I was told I needed to stay away from ALL sugars, even natural sugars like honey and dates. I thought I had a pretty good diet; I was confused and to be honest a bit depressed. With such as restrictive eating plan what on earth was I supposed to eat?

Many people end up losing a lot of weight on the first few months of an anti-Candida diet, along with key nutrients. We need to remember to nourish ourselves! While on a Candida diet, the goal is to starve Candida and not ourselves. Starving ourselves is not the way to heal our body. To restore balance in our bodies, we need to nourish our bodies with nutrient-dense superfoods, and aim to create balance and harmony in our digestive system.

Healing can and will take place as long as we adhere to a strict diet, and incorporate the necessary supplements, herbs, and, or prescriptions. I’m not going to lie the first few weeks are challenging, but the results are well worth it. By following a yeast free diet, it will lead to better health by allowing your body to gain strength and build up your immune system.

 

The TOP 5 Foods to Fight Candida!

  1. Coconut oil – it contains a fatty acid, called caprylic acid. This anti-fungal interferes with Candida growth by poking holes in the walls of the yeast cells, causing them to die off. I use coconut oil for cooking, add it to my coffee substitute, and smoothies.
  2. Garlic – it contains allicin, a sulphur-containing compound with natural anti-fungal properties. When eaten raw, this is one of the best anti-fungals. After chopping, or pressing your garlic, let it rest for 10 minutes before eating, or adding to the pan, the more allicin is generated and the stronger the medicinal effect.
  3. Cinnamon – is an anti-inflammatory spice with anti-fungal properties. It appears to damage yeast cells, causing them to change and eventually die off. You can enjoy cinnamon tea, add it to your favourite smoothie, or add it while cooking.
  4. Cruciferous Vegetables – such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, arugula, cabbage, and radishes, contain isothiocyanates, the sulphur and nitrogen containing compounds that attack Candida.
  5. Pau d’Arco Tea – is the bark of a rainforest tree which has active principles, mainly lapachol which is anti-fungal, and very beneficial in helping treat Candida.   You can enjoy up to 4 cups a day. A great brand is Traditional Medicinals.

 

For more information, here is an article written by Dr. Amy Myers: 10 Signs You Have Candida Overgrowth & What To Do About It.

If you do have Candida I want you to be patient with yourself throughout this journey. You are not trying to win, or do this perfectly. You are trying to get in tune, and in harmony with your own body. Please know that many people have successfully healed themselves from Candida, you can too!

Thanks for reading and keep well,

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Declutter Your Life to Declutter Your Mind!

Declutter Your Life to Declutter Your Mind!

by | Aug 16, 2016 | Self-care, Uncategorized, Women over 40

Disorganization can create unnecessary stress.  Organization, on the other hand – “To simplify or get rid of mess, disorder, complications, etc: declutter your life” can increase confidence, productivity, and reduce stress leaving you with more time to spend doing the things that make you happy.

Peter Walsh shows us here how to declutter key areas (kitchen, master bedroom, & home office) in your house in order to help de-clutter your mind. Remember your home is often a reflection of your life.

 

Kitchen – When you have an organized kitchen, your life will feel a little less chaotic, and it will take the guesswork out of meal planning, allowing you to easily find what you’re looking for to make a fast and nutritious meal.  To be honest, having a clean and organized kitchen wasn’t always on my favourite list of things to do, but now I have found it saves me an invaluable amount of time and energy.

 

Bedroom – With so much going on in our lives, we often overlook the simple things like a disorganized bedroom, or closet….that alone can create unnecessary stress.  When you have an organized sanctuary, your life will feel a little less chaotic.  Learn how to minimize your things for maximum benefit, don’t overthink it…just let it go!

 

Home Office – Most of us have home offices these days. Sometimes it is where we work in addition to our main office. Other times we are in a home office full time. Are you making your day as productive as possible? Take a few minutes before you leave at the end of the day to clear  your desk and make it presentable. When you walk into the office the next day, you will be able to find what you need and can get down to work right away. There will be no down time, and you will be off to a good start.

 

Before you start having a good clear out, make sure you declutter.  This is a great time to get rid of things you don’t need or want.  Consider donating.

 

In addition to Peter’s tips, it’s a great idea to ditch any products with too many ingredients or ingredients you can’t pronounce.  Also,  check on medications, creams, and ointments to see if they have passed their sell-by date and throw them away.  Ladies, throw away any makeup that’s more than a year old, and declutter your handbag.  Did you know if your bag is too heavy, it can lead to shoulder and neck pain?  Also, a new study revealed “women’s handbags are contaminated with more bacteria than the average toilet,” – click on this link to learn how to get your handbag spick & span.

 

Cleaning can feel like a chore, but make it fun and get the entire family involved.

 

Thanks for reading and keep well,

 

Tara

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Coconut Oil: Demonic or Divine?

Coconut Oil: Demonic or Divine?

by | Aug 2, 2016 | Cleansing, Diets, Self-care, Uncategorized, Women over 40

Coconut oil has been demonized in the past…   because it contains saturated fat.

 

Yes, coconut oil is almost 90 percent saturated fat, but not all saturated fats are created equal. The saturated fat in coconut oil is mostly lauric acid, a medium-chain saturated fatty acid that appears to have a more neutral effect on heart health when compared to longer-chain saturated fats found in meats and dairy products.

 

Coconut oil products are credited with numerous nutritional properties, among them anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory.  It is also said to promote weight loss, a healthy digestion, and provide immunity support. Not to mention a great moisturizer for your skin and hair.

 

Dr. Josh Axe explores the many uses for coconut oil and its benefits in this article.

 

I use this tropical oil for so many things because it has a wide array of health benefits, and it is one of the most versatile and healthiest substances.

 

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I personally use it daily for cooking as it has a high smoke point and it doesn’t go rancid due to its high heat tolerance. It is great for baking, stir-fry’s or as a dairy free replacement for butter. I also add it to smoothies for energy. In addition, I add it to my Chicory Cup (coffee substitute) as a coffee creamer. I know you are probably thinking I have gone mad. Actually, the first time I heard about adding oil and fat to coffee, I’m sure the look on my face was a mix between confusion and disgust. Well, I was pleasantly surprised, it is delicious and it doesn’t dilute the flavour. It provides a rich and creamy consistency. Using a blender or mini bullet blender, blend the coffee or coffee substitute and coconut oil on high for about 5 seconds, and Bob’s your uncle!

 

I also use it to condition my hair. I comb it through my hair and let it sit for about an hour before I shampoo. This is known as pre-poo, nothing to do with your bowels 🙂  “pre-poo” is usually an oil treatment applied to your hair prior to shampooing or conditioning. This adds moisture, helps get the tangles out, add shine and improves the overall health of your hair. You can also add a tiny dab rubbed on your hands and then through hair, it makes a great anti-frizz treatment.

 

Lastly, I use coconut oil for oil pulling (oral detoxification procedure) – I use 1 tbsp. swish it for 15-20 minutes first thing in the morning. Please remember to spit it out into the rubbish bin to avoid any clogged pipes. Then rinse your mouth with salt water to remove any bacteria. Here is a link to learn the benefits of oil pulling.

 
Refined or processed coconut oil can be bleached, over-heated, and chemically processed to increase its shelf-life. Processing the oil changes the chemical makeup and the fats are no longer good for you! Make sure you buy extra virgin coconut oil for the greatest health benefits.

 

Thanks for reading & keep well,

Tara

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Healthy and Delicious Brownie Recipe

Healthy and Delicious Brownie Recipe

by | Jul 18, 2016 | Uncategorized

HEALTHY & DELICIOUS BLACK BEAN BROWNIES!!

Are you looking for a fast, healthy, and delicious treat? Are you looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further. Black bean brownies are a delicious and nutritious twist to the traditional chocolate brownie. You might be a bit nervous about baking with black beans, but don’t be, they have a very mild flavour and are extremely rich, creamy, and full of protein. I have made these for many different events and everyone loved them!

Ingredients:

1 (15.5 ounce) tin black beans, rinsed & drained – try and find a BPA free tin, Eden is a good brand.

3 eggs – look for pasture raised, organic eggs.

3 Tbsp. coconut oil.

½ cup organic cacao powder.

¼ tsp. sea salt.

3 tsp. organic pure vanilla extract.

1 tsp. organic aluminum free baking powder.

½ – ¾ cup raw honey.

 

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray an 8×8 square baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Combine black beans, eggs, oil, cacao powder, salt, vanilla extract, and honey, in a blender; blend until smooth.
  • Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until the top is dry and the edges start to pull from the sides of the pan, approximately 25-30 minutes.

 

Nutritional Benefits:

Black Beans: they contain fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamin B6. The fiber in the beans helps lower the total amount of cholesterol in the blood, and decrease the risk of heart disease. Black beans also provide special support for the digestive tract health, and our colon in particular. Traditional cultures took great care to prepare their legumes with a long soak before cooking to enhance digestibility and nutrient absorption. Soaking helps break down phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors that are in your gut causing you gas, heartburn, reflux and other digestive ills.

Eggs: they are an excellent source of high quality protein. More than half of the protein is found in the egg white, along with vitamin B2. The whites also contain selenium, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and minerals such as zinc, iron and copper. The yolks contain 100% of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. The egg yolk is the part of the egg that is the richest in nutrients, with more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, thiamin, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.

Coconut oil: it is high in natural saturated fats. Saturated fats not only increase the healthy cholesterol (HDL) in your body, but also help to convert the bad cholesterol (LDL) into good cholesterols. By increasing the HDLs in the body, it helps promote heart health and lower the risk of heart disease. Coconut oil also contains medium-chain fatty acids. These fatty acids are easier to digest, are anti-microbial and anti-fungal, great for regulating yeast.

Cacao: is loaded with magnesium, fiber, iron, and antioxidants. In addition to carrying oxygen, iron helps make red blood cells and is essential to your immune system. Magnesium helps produce energy and maintain a normal heart rhythm.

Salt: sea salt contains vital minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bromide, chloride, iron, copper, and zinc among other beneficial elements. The health benefits of sea salt include good skin care, improved dental health, relief from rheumatoid arthritis, muscle cramps, psoriasis, and osteoarthritis.

Vanilla extract: contains numerous antioxidants, including vanillic acid and vanillin. Antioxidants protect your body from damage from harmful components, such as free radicals and toxins.

Baking powder: contains baking soda as one of the ingredients. The bicarbonates in baking soda work by immediately neutralizing stomach acid, helping to relieve heartburn, and indigestion.

Honey: it has anti-inflammatory effects and ability to sooth coughs and some believe it can offer relief to seasonal allergy symptoms. Honey is also an excellent source of all-natural energy, and is loaded with antioxidants that may help prevent cellar damage. Honey can be an all-natural cure for the common cold, and just two teaspoons of honey can be the remedy to a persistent cough. Due to its natural antibiotic properties honey can also be used to help treat wounds and burns.

 

Typically, when we think of something that seriously satisfies our sweet tooth, that ‘something’ isn’t the epitome of healthy….well this one is. So now when those pesky cravings hit, whip up a batch of these Healthy & Delicious Black Bean Brownies! Enjoy!!

Thanks for reading and keep well,

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High Price of Beauty: 17 Ingredients to Avoid Like the Plague

High Price of Beauty: 17 Ingredients to Avoid Like the Plague

by | Jun 28, 2016 | Self-care, Uncategorized

Did you know that we absorb up to 60 percent of what we put on our skin? Did you know that the average woman uses 12 products, containing 168 different ingredients, every single day?
We focus a lot on eating a ‘clean’ diet, but our body washes, lotions, shampoos, skincare products, cosmetics, suntan lotion, and even toothpaste contain countless chemicals that are just as harmful as GMOs or toxic food.

The skin is the body’s largest organ and absorbs what you put on it. Every day we use products that we think are safe, but the truth is that a lot of these products are NOT safe. In a typical day, you might be exposed to over 200 different chemicals, many of which are suspected of causing cancer or wreaking havoc with your hormones.

It’s impossible to avoid every single synthetic chemical, but you can do your part in limiting the amount of toxins your body is exposed to. Educate yourself and do your research before you buy. Be an informed consumer. This article covers the ingredients to avoid when buying your personal care products.

Watch this short video “The Story of Cosmetics” it’s quite an eye-opener!

Be sure to check out the EWG’s Skin Deep Database to research toxic chemicals that could be in your cosmetic and personal care products. Get educated and avoid these harmful, hazardous, and toxic ingredients. Make sure you read your labels and become your own detective.

Thanks for reading and keep well.

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Cook at Home and Tantalize Your Taste Buds

Cook at Home and Tantalize Your Taste Buds

by | Jun 14, 2016 | Diets, Uncategorized, Weight Loss, Women over 40

Cooking your own meals affords you the peace of mind that goes along with having complete control over the type and quality of ingredients in your meals and to control portion sizes. Restaurant and other commercially prepared foods are notoriously high in fat, salt, and sugar. Preparing meals at home also allows you to easily accommodate family members or guests who have allergies or food intolerances.

 

Reclaim your kitchen. Throw away items with high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats or sugar, and those with a list of ingredients that you can’t pronounce. Fill your shelves with real, fresh, whole, local foods when possible. Plant a garden if you have a green thumb, or if you’re like me who unfortunately doesn’t, you can join a local CSA – Community Supported Agriculture – click here for more information on how to do that.

 

Try to avoid frying foods by learning to roast or bake or even by adding more raw foods to boost flavour and reduce extra calories.  Experiment with herbs and spices to reduce your salt intake. You can also incorporate lemons and limes to add flavour.

 

Not only is eating at home kinder to your waistline, but it is also kinder to your wallet.  Eating at restaurants even just a few times a week can easily cost more than a full weeks’ worth of groceries.  The key to maximizing your savings is being organized.  Plan your week’s meal in advance and write a grocery list and remember NOT to shop on an empty stomach. If you don’t have time to eat a meal prior to going to the grocery shop, then make sure you have some healthy snacks. You can make this a family activity. You don’t have to make elaborate labour intensive meals, keep it fast and simple.

 

Cooking at home also teaches you to savor the food you have made.  The act of preparing and cooking your own meals can help everyone who is involved learn to appreciate and enjoy the food.  Learning to savor your food can help you tune into the act of eating, making you less likely to overeat and thereby less likely to become overweight.

 

Children benefit greatly from the ritual of eating meals together.  Family meals provide opportunities for sharing the day’s events.  Cooking meals at home and involving your children in food preparation is the best way to teach them healthy eating habits as found in this article from Dr. Mercola.

 

The most important and the most powerful tool you have to change your health and the world is your fork.  

Dr. Mark Hyman

 

 

Tip:  Don’t forget about left-over’s, they are a great time-saver.  For example, if you make one large pot of quinoa in the morning you can eat it for breakfast to substitute your sugary cereal, mix it with a salad for lunch, and use what’s left to add to a stir-fry for dinner.

 

Please reach out and let me know if there are any specific topics you would like me to blog about. I would to hear your thoughts.

 

Keep well and thanks for reading.

 

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