I was driving in the car today and looked up into the mirror and whoa I have dark circles...
Now I've been getting enough sleep, juicing, smoothies, and eating really really healthy.  So what could I be deficient in?  Of course I had to do some research and found maybe I'm low in Iron, according to Chinese medicine my Kidney's may be unbalanced, maybe too much sodium in diet, and possibly lacking vitamin c, possible dehydration, or lack of sleep.

I found the highest amounts of iron are in watercress and parsley.  Spinach does have iron too, but also contains oxalic acid, which can prevent some minerals from being utilized by the body.  Remember mix up the kinds of greens you consume!

I made High Iron Kidney Balancing Salad!
1 bunch Watercress-known to help treat anemia
1 bunch Parsley- very high in iron
1/4 cup raisins-iron
1 fennel bulb-keeps kidney healthy
1 teaspoon clove- Kidney balancing
1/4 cup pistachios-Kidney balancing
1 carton organic raspberries-antioxidant, high in vitamin c
1 tablespoon cold pressed olive oil
juice of 1 Meyer lemon
sea salt
cinnamon

This salad is so tasty! I love it!

Raw Foods on E! Entertainment

How can something so good be so good for you?

Party In My Mouth Confetti Salad!

This recipe may be one of the easiest fun ones on the planet!  It's mouth popping flavors get the party started!  You can enjoy this alone or bring to party any make a lasting impression! It's organic corn, organic red pepper(diced really small), a huge handful of fresh cilantro, 4 fresh basil leaves cut small, olives(black botija) cut small, for the dressing I squeezed a half of lemon, some tamari, cumin, and dash cayenne(more if you want it to burn).  The mixture of the flavor of the spice cumin with the fresh cilantro is outstanding!  You be able to put the fork down! True Story!

Some of the health benefits of CILANTRO are-improve digestion, break up mucus, antibacterial properties.  CILANTRO is considered a blood purifying agent and helps with bloating, cramps, flatulence, and indigestion.  CILANTRO is also known to help remove heavy metals from tissues, blood, and organs! Get some! 

CUMIN is a staple in many world wide recipes! CUMIN can be warming on a a raw food diet, it's slightly bitter and full of flavor! CUMIN is an antispasmodic, relieves coughs, diarrhea, indigestion, headaches, and morning sickness!  CUMIN is healthy for the metabolism, it's boost the metabolic rate and facilitates the absorption of nutrients! Many herbalist consider CUMIN to be medicinal and nature's greatest overall body tonics. 

Do you want an overall health improvement and help prevent many diseases?

Start using CUMIN to spice up the party!!

Yum! Night Ya'll :)

Think out of the box...RING FINGER REMINDER! NEW CHALLENGE!!

Think Out of the Box!

Hellos ladies,

Anyone who wears nail polish please join me in my quest to THINK OUT OF THE BOX and try things you've never tried before!!!! 

I was inspired today by my friend Missy when we walked into the nail salon and started picking out colors.. I told her that I always go with my staple neutral color and she said NoWAY you're getting something different today!

Of course I obliged and took a bit further in painting my ring fingers a different color as a reminder to think out of the 4 squares!  Everytime I look at my green finger I will remember to buy a shirt I would never usually purchase, order something on the menu I would never order, use a spice I would never pick up, call someone(not text)and tell them they are wonderful! Whatever is going to tickle my fancy and try something new that I may just fall in love with!

LADIES LADIES LADIES here is your challenge...

On your next manicure polish your 4th finger a different color as a reminder to learn something new about yourself and try new things!

Whatever color you choose can serve a different purpose for you personally whether it be a RED 4th nail as a reminder to show more love to people or one certain person.  It can be GREEN to remember to recycle or eat greens everyday.   It can be yellow to remember to give random acts of kindness to people around you.  Maybe it's a bad habit, a new personal goal, or just simply thinking more positive thoughts.

 Whatever it may be please join me in the fun challenge and post a pic on my wall or on your page showing your color and why!  Plus it just looks cool ha ;)))

YAY!

Have a delicious evening and a Happy NEW Year!! xoxo

Love, Melissa  Raw Food Stylist

I WANT MORE...WATERCRESS SALAD

I Want More...Watercress Salad

Watercress is one of the most highly nutritious vegetables out there so I want to incorporate more!! Watercress can be a bit bitter in taste do I decided to sweeten it up with figs and cucumbers.  I found the figs to be pretty cheap in the bulk section at the co-op, only $3.99 a pound.  For the dressing I used raw honey, fresh squeezed lemon, all spice( a good amount) and some sea salt.  I'm trying to stay away from the oil since gaining a few pounds over the holidays!  Usually some lemon and vinegar and sea salt does the trick but this one needed some honey:)

Check out these insane health benefits of watercress!! 

• Watercress contains anticancer properties.
• Watercress helps protect the eyes because it contains a high level of two carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin.
• Watercress helps to normalize cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Watercress increases sexual energy and enhances fertility.
• Watercress can help improved memory, mental function and to retard ageing.
• Watercress is a powerful cleanser of the body, especially the bloodstream.
• Watercress can help increase production of breast milk
• Watercress is low in calories and high in potassium which is valued for weight loss, as its diuretic action draws excess fluid down and out of the body.
• Watercress helps improve digestion by regulating the flow of bile.
• Watercress is valued for clearing and improving the complexion.
• The chlorophyll-rich leaves are chewed to absorb breath odors.
• Chewing raw watercress leaves can cure bleeding gums.
• Watercress leaves are used as a poultice for the relief of enlarged prostate gland. The poultice can also treat swollen feet and sprained ankles.
• Watercress is a good source of iodine, which is important to the function of the thyroid gland.
• Watercress is rich calcium which can strengthen the bones and teeth.

ENOUGH SAID!! I think I have a crush on watercress!   Make healthy choices:)))

I love the color green! Doctrine of signatures and color therapy!

Has anyone ever heard of the doctrine of signatures? Yea me either. Let me tell you how fascinating this is and mostly it just makes sense. Plus major bonus on why the Skinny Green Cleanse is such healthy nutrient dense way to cleanse! Yay whoooo so exciting. Ok so the Doctrine of Signatures is a philosophy that appears in almost every world culture. Basically it’s the concept that EVERY LIVING THING IS MARKED WITH A “SIGNATURE" that tells its use, function, or role in this world. It may be very subtle but every living thing signature is a function of the organisms feature and environment. If you look at a plant really closely and notice the color of its flowers, the shape of its leaf, and how and where it grows, you then can figure out its place in the universal plan and how it may help heal your body.


For example look at the kidney bean, shaped like a human kidney is really good for the kidneys. Celery is shaped like bones and filled with phosphorus which we need for strong bones. Yep! Mother nature is smart! Walnuts are shaped like a brain and good for brain function. Beets with their blood red color are a blood builder. There are so many more foods that their signature tells exactly the role it can play in our health. It's so fun to discover the connection between the plant and effect!!

Ok, something really frightening?!?! I do believe in the doctrine of signatures so now think about the terminology used with cooking food....fried, charred, crispy, baked, burned, scrambled, roasted, smoked, blackened, seared, scorched, grilled, toasted ahhhhhhh I could go on but I won't. These are all terms associated with pain, loss, dried up things, fire, and destruction. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be dried up and disgusting!
Now think about the words associated with the LIFE GIVING RAW foods.... Alive, fresh, juicy, sweet, natural, whole, crisp, vital, active, organic, beautiful color!!! Oh my gosh I want to eat life giving foods right now. Think about sinking your teeth into a juicy white nectarine Ahhhh goodness those are the best! Have you had one? Try one in season fresh at the farmers market and you may just do a little dance!

COLOR THERAPY
Ok moving along onto why the color GREEN has a radiant reflection of luminous energy and its effect on the body and soul. This pertains more to color therapy of food. Do you know what color therapy is? Color therapy has a conscious impact on our well being and healing. Color is a radiant reflection of all different kinds of moods and feelings in various wavelengths. Color really does have a powerful impact on both body and soul!

Science has shown that blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate decline when exposed to cool colors such as blue, green and black but increased by warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow. Color therapy has been used for years to encourage well being in schools, hospitals, homes, and work places. COLORS in PLANT FOODS let us know certain nutritional value and when eaten give a vibrational energy that can nourish you physically and emotionally.

Let's eat a wide variety of red, blue, yellow, orange, and GREEN foods. Try to avoid plain, dull, whites and beiges since they probably don’t have much nutritional value. Variety of raw colorful foods = optimal health
Simple science if you ask me. This is all common sense.

Finally I couldn't wait to get to this part to tell you about the color therapy affects Greens have!!!
Green is made by combing yellow (wisdom) and blue (spirituality). Green is in the middle of the color spectrum so neither hot or cold. Green is the color of heart center, healing, balance, compassion, love, transformation, growth, generosity, and peace. Wow, pretty amazing wouldn't ya say.

Green is rejuvenating and an anti-inflammatory. Green can help calm anger and improve memory, paranoia and nervous exhaustion. It has an effect on the lungs, heart, thymus gland, and immune system. Use green for backaches, heart trouble, immune disorders, lupus, allergies, head colds, shock, and trauma and to lower blood pressure. Green color in plants means chlorophyll is present. Chlorophyll is life giving! We see green as clean, crisp, healing, life giving and refreshing! Think green, eat green, live green, love green with me!
Have a green day!

Melissa

Thanks Patricia Bragg for the find ;) Take 5 minutes to brighten your day!

Five minutes. True, it's not a heck of a lot of time. But it's just long enough for you to do one thing -- and maybe that one thing that will turn your day around.

In our busy 24/7 universe, it often seems like there's not enough time to do everything you want in a day. But take five and try these 10 simple ways to lower stress and boost your mood and energy levels. They may just help you find the extra spark you need to meet the challenges of the day.

1. Make your bed. Starting off each day with this small ritual can help create a calm environment for you in your bedroom. Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, writes that many people benefit from making this modest step part of their routines. By checking it off your to-do list first thing, you've got one less thing to worry about for the rest of the day.

2. Pack a snack. Before you head out the door in the morning, go into the kitchen and grab a fruit (like a banana, apple or grapes) or a healthy snack (like unsalted nuts or low-fat cheese). This way, when a case of the munchies strikes later in the afternoon, you won't be reaching for a bag of chips or a candy bar from the vending machine out of convenience. Besides, you know what they say about an apple a day.

3. Clear your desk. You may not be able to overhaul your closet in five minutes, but you can manage to tidy your desk at work. From stray papers to scattered coffee mugs, clutter can make you lose focus and curb productivity. Declutter your outer environment and you may feel lighter on the inside and more motivated to concentrate on the task at hand.

4. Pump up the music. Several studies have found that listening to music can help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and boost mood. The right music has the power to change your attitude. So load up your MP3 player and create a special playlist that will make you smile -- whether you're working or working out.

5. Sniff a lemon. For a quick de-stressing trick, turn to an underrated sense -- your sense of smell. Japanese researchers found that linalool; a substance found in lemons, has anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the flight-or-fight stress response. Other scents like basil, juniper, and lavender have also been found to lower stress.  

6. Stretch. You don't have to be a yogi to benefit from light stretching. Lift your arms above your head at your desk. Or better yet, stretch your legs by walking outside. Stretching can help improve your circulation and flexibility, and may help ease the tight muscles that accompany stress.

7. Meditate. Try meditation and deep breathing to relax and turn your mind off. You don't need any special equipment to practice meditation. Find a comfortable position in a chair or on the floor. Meditating on a daily basis, even just for a few minutes, has been shown to fight depression and ease stress.

8. Keep a gratitude diary. Take a minute every day to write down several things you're thankful for, whether they're big or small things. It's easy to vent about weather, traffic, or job woes, but complaining brings negative energy along with it. Being thankful for what you have can make you appreciate all the positives in your life.

9. Turn off your electronics. Just because we live in a wired world doesn't mean you need to stay connected every minute of every single day. Staring at computer screens and electronics all day long can zap your energy and encourage inactivity. So log off your email, phones, and Internet (yes, social networking web sites count, too). This is especially important to allow you to unwind and relax before bed.

10. Prioritize. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you have multiple tasks crowding your mind. Make a list and finish your most dreaded duties first to avoid the anxiety caused by procrastination. Make a list and check off each task as you complete it. At the end of the day, a list of accomplishments is a great visual reminder of how productive you were.