What can you drink when you have the Flu?

I am on the mend from the FLU (viral meningitis) and a friend of mine was kind enough to bring me some Gatorade and crackers.  Unfortunately, it addition to replacing your electrolytes and hydrating your body it also fills your weakened body with sugar, toxic chemicals, dyes, additives and preservatives.  I really don't want a toxic overload in my body when I am trying to heal and repair it.  So, I came up with an alternative that tastes better and is much better for you.  I call it my homemade 100% Natural Hydrating Electrolyte Replacement Drink or NHERD. Hmm...maybe not the best acronym...well honestly I am a bit of a nerd so we will go with it.  This is not medical advice just a recipe so please consult your doctor for their expertise and advice.

Ingredients:

6 cups of filtered water
3/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (the juice of about 4 lemons)
6 Tablespoons 100% pure Grade A Maple Syrup (NOT maple syrup for pancakes that is actually corn syrup of some type of refined sugar)
3/4 teaspoon of iodized salt

Mix all the ingredients together in a pitcher or container you can stir or shake really well as the salt an syrup will tend to sit on the bottom. 

The lemons provide Potassium, an essential nutrient used to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. A deficiency in potassium causes fatigue, irritability, and increased blood pressure.  The 100% Pure Maple Syrup provides polyphenols which are plant-based compounds that work as antioxidants. Syrup contains essential nutrients like zinc and manganese  Zinc keeps your level of white blood cells up, which is crucial for increasing your resistance to illness.  Manganese protects immune cells from inflammation and damage. Maple syrup also provides calories for energy while your are most likely lacking in caloric intake if you are unable to eat.

Your final product is a delicious, refreshing, hydrating, electrolyte balancing drink.  I hope you will be feeling better soon! 

xoxo ~Shawneen Nicole

Veggie Avocado Brown Rice Sushi

It has been over a year since I have had the pleasure of enjoying sushi!  Isn't that a crime in some states?  I am currently residing in a small Midwestern town where the closest Sushi is almost two hours away. When I lived inSouthern California I always loved to pick up the 
veggie sushi tray at Trader Joe's as a light meal or lunch.  There is no Trader Joe's around here either. So, I decided it was time to make my own Brown Rice Veggie Sushi.  Brown
 rice veggie sushi is a great option for the Eat to Live "Diet" (Lifestyle change).  Making ityourself is idealbecause you can add exactly what you like.  I actually don't care for the
 vinegar or mirin that is usually put in the sticky rice so I left that out and made mine with a little onion powder and cayenne instead.  I chose cucumbers, carrots and avocado for this rollwith the Nori on the outside so you get more of it!  Well, not only are there no Sushi Places here, but there aren't any stores that carry some of the main ingredients.  For this 
dilemma I turned to online shopping and found  Nori toasted Sea Vegetable and pickled ginger.  If you are concerned about radioactive sea vegetables (did I reallyjust type that?) 
 I purchased organic Sushi Nori from Eden Organics whose company has a through detailed description of testing for safety.  So, I am going to take mychances and enjoy it.

Note: All of my longer recipes have a Chronic Pain/Fatigue/Illness Modification at the 
end for those of us who love to cook but are limited physically! 

Now let's get started...
First get all of your ingredients together and take your sushi mat...oops I completely forgot to buy a sushi mat!!!  Never fear I found a new use for my lightweight cardboard postal
envelopes although I highly recommend buying a mat.  

Recipe/Ingredients:My Sticky Brown 
rice cooled (I found an organic faster cooking brown rice, with a 15-20 min cook time.
Cook as the package suggests.  Then add more water (about 2/3 cup for 1 cup rice) at the end and bring to a boil again. Add one teaspoon onion powder and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper.  Leave the lid off and stir until the water reduces down again and you have a moister sticky rice!  Spread on a plate or cookie sheet and let cool in the refrigerator) 
Sushi Nori/Sea Vegetable wraps (toasted tastes best and you can buy them pretoasted) 
CucumbersCarrotsAvocado
Pickled Ginger
Tamari or low sodium Soy Sauce
Wasabi
Tools:Sushi matthick plastic wrap or  zip bagcup of warm watergood cutting knife1.  

Position your Nori square on  your plastic on top of the sushi mat (or postal envelope if you are a blonde who now dyes her hair red and forgot to purchase one online!) Note: If you use a postal envelope better make sure to reuse it for its original purpose so as not to violate Federal Law!
2.  Dip you fingers in warm water and press a layer of sticky brown rice about an inch and a half from the border.  A thinner layer of rice means less carbs and more room for vegetables.
3.  Layer your thinly sliced Julian vegetables (cucumber, carrot,avocado) lengthwise on top of the pressed rice

4.  First take the plastic and use that to wrap the Nori over the vegetables.  Make sure you use that one and one half inches to go over the mound of vegetables and overlap with the other side of the Nori (see below) 
5. Press the sushi into a roll or log shape.
6.  Now go back over the same  roll/log with the sushi mat over the plastic to form a tight roll and release.  
7. Now you are ready for the "Dab and Roll" technique.  Wet your fingers with warm water and dab the water on the rolled Nori with the vegetables and then some on the empty side  and the roll (just and inch at a time) .  Dab more water on the roll and what is left of the empty side of sushi and roll again and seal the edge with a little more water.  This gives you all the nutrients of and entire square Nori Seaweed.8.  Now we are ready to slice the roll. Start in the center, dip your sharp knife in warm water and on a cutting board slice the roll in half, then slice the half into thirds.9. Serve with picked ginger and wasabi mixed with tamari or low sodium soy sauce.  This will keep your tummy felling full and nourished!

Chronic Pain/Fatigue/Illness Modification: 

 Get out all non perishable cooking and food items and leave on counter

*REST 5/10 min

Cook Sticky Rice 

*REST 5/10 min 

while it cools Clean and Chop Vegetables sitting at the table, put back in Refrigerator*

REST 5/10min

Finish Preparing Sushi Roll 

*EAT while RESTING!

For more information on Eden Food Safety visit: http://www.edenfoods.com/articles/view.php?articles_id=199 ~xoxo Shawneen Nicole       Recipe Links:http://vintagedistress.blogspot.com/2012/04/sustenance-smoothie.htmlPosted by Shawneen Nicole at 2:32 PM 

Green Monkey Smoothie

I promise you won't taste the Spinach

Sustenance Smoothie

My  "Sustenance Smoothie" is loaded with antioxidants, it is  energizing, nutrient dense and can enhance your mood.  I sip on this during my morning routine of chores and writing.  I still have varying symptoms but

 it is my opinion that the damage done to our bodies in regards to nutritional deficiency most likely started in the womb. It is going to take more than a few months of "healthy" eating to heal chronic pain, fatigue, and/or auto immune disease, but it is a great place to start! These are some powerful supplements, please check with your doctor if your are taking medication, pregnant, nursing, etc.  I always double check my medications with vitamin and supplement interactions on www. drugs.com as well.  I like to double check what I am told by the doctor and/or pharmacist.  I am my own best advocate and I like to be informed.  I am only using this as a temporary booster since my Immune System has been severely weakened over the past few months.  I am currently reading "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and I am on the fence as to whether or not we can get most of our vitamins and minerals from diet alone. I have done may restrictive diets before mostly for health reasons.  I will talk more on this later, now let's get to my delicious smoothie... 

Ingredients...I use powder supplements in capsules, just open, pour and blend into smoothie. Less pills to take!  I chose ingredients and listed some beneficial properties for my particular ailments.  Of course I could write an entire blog on each of these and have not included an exhaustive list of benefits.

• STRAWBERRIES antioxidants, anti inflammatory, anti cancer 1/2 cup
• BLUEBERRIES antioxidants 1/2 cup
• ACAI BERRY JUICE a nice change in flavor and have powerful antioxidants 4 oz
• COCONUT WATER (not milk) a good source of potassium which many people don't realize they are deficient in, this can also cause muscle pain and cramping and of course electrolyte imbalance which can be especially dangerous if you are taking certain medications.  It also has an interesting flavor. 4oz
• GREEN TEA  adored for its anti cancer properties, I have a jasmine green tea which adds a nice floral element. It is also good for energy and boosts the immune system 6oz (brewed)
• MORINGA this is an amazing plant that has more potassium than bananas, more calcium than milk, more vitamin A than carrots and more Vitamin C than oranges! capsule varies
• YERBA MATE http://guayaki.com/mate/2931/Health-Benefits-of-Yerba-Mate.html  this is a site for the tea but it has some good information.  If you are addicted to coffee or Redbull switching to Yerba Mate tea and energy drinks is great.  I use the powder supplements for this smoothie.  It gives you even focused energy, you don't get the jitters and then crash. capsule varies
• ASHWAGANDHA has the amazing ability to calm frayed nerves while energizing at the same time, boosts immune system capsule varies
• ELEUTHERO an adaptogen repairs adrenal glands, it is sometimes called Siberian Ginseng but it is NOT ginseng.  This site has a good description although I don't agree with the evidence section.  This stuff is strong if you take it too late in the day it will keep you up all night.  capsule varies http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/eleuthero
• NIACIN or Vitamin B3 (get the Flush free kind!) energy, nervous system, adrenal glands/hormones, circulation, possibly helps osteoarthritis and depression  *careful excess can cause liver damage  capsule varies
• MAGNESIUM MALATE (There are several types of magnesium and they all serve different purposes, this is the best for muscle pain.  Whatever you do don't get Magnesium Oxide it basically passes through your system with minimal absorption and it is what most stores sell!)  capsule varies

I blend all of this together in a  personal size take and go blender.  You just take the blender off and it becomes your cup.