Hello friends! I’ve been working on some behind the scenes organizational things here at Nourished for Life and I have some really exciting things planned for the year that I can’t wait to share with you!
In February and March we have 4 workshops (2 individual workshops & 2 different workshop series) scheduled. Please check out the Specials and Upcoming Events for all of the details. Sign up for one or all of these opportunities and bring a friend or two with you! They are all going to be so much fun and packed full of amazing info to help you wherever you are in your health journey!
If you follow me here or on Facebook, you know I’ve been “shredding” this month and I have to tell you I LOVE this program and I love how great I feel. Shred 10 is a ten day program to help you detox and jump start your health. We use tons of whole food nutrition, avoid harmful & inflammatory foods, drink plenty of water, eat your last meal by 6 pm to allow your body time to digest and really rest and rejuvenate during the night, get at least 8 hours of sleep and 20-30 minutes of movement every day. Most of our participants feel so great that they stick with it well beyond the ten days.
I am gluten and dairy free and eat real, whole unprocessed foods and avoid sugar and caffeine most of the time. But even I found myself having a few too many cheats and treats over the holidays and in need of a detox program. It doesn’t take very much of these inflammatory foods for me to start seeing signs of chronic inflammation such as really dry, red & itchy skin, breaks outs and joint pain. I started having quite a bit of knee pain and at bedtime on New Years Eve was a bit horrified to see my knees were swollen and black and blue! I’m 41 and have 4 young kids. My youngest is 2 and I plan to be able to keep up with her and dance at her wedding. I also know these symptoms are big red warning flags telling me my body is in a state of chronic inflammation, which will lead to more serious health problems if I don’t do something about it. Chronic inflammation is at the root of so many health conditions and diseases.
So I started shredding January 2 and I’m thrilled that I’m back to feeling great! I even wore a dress that showed my knees and high heel boots to church on Sunday. It’s amazing how even a small amount of inflammatory foods can cause such havoc on our bodies! And amazing how quickly our bodies can heal when we nourish them properly with real whole foods and a healthy lifestyle.
Common signs of chronic inflammation include:
- skin issues (eczema, psoriasis, red, blotchy or itchy skin, blemishes or break outs)
- ongoing swelling, joint or muscle pain
- seasonal allergies and asthma
- IBS or digestive problems (bloating, gas, diarrhea or constipation)
- food allergies and sensitivities
- fatigue or lethargy
- high blood pressure
- blood sugar problems
Please don’t make the mistake of thinking these symptoms are just part of life, or a normal part of aging! Many health conditions and diseases are associated with chronic inflammation, including things like heart disease, cancer and autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, Chron’s disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Please pay attention to your body and take steps to eliminate chronic inflammation.
If you suffer from any of these signs of chronic inflammation, a whole food, plant based diet and healthful lifestyle changes can help. If you want to reduce your risk of disease, feel bettter, have more energy or achieve your ideal weight, the Shred 10 is a great way to get started and see a big difference in your health in a short period of time. The program includes a terrific guidebook with a wealth of info and recipes, private health coaching from yours truly and a private Facebook group for added support, encouragement and accountability. Our last group was amazing and I’m so excited for our new group starting February 6. Please contact me if you’d like to be included or learn more! You won’t be sorry!
A 3 month private health coaching package is also a great option if you need help fighting chronic inflammation through diet and lifestyle changes. Contact me to schedule your Initial Wellness Consultation and take advantage of my January coaching special.
I start almost every day with a green smoothie and since I’ve been shredding, smoothies and shakes have been a big part of my life the past few weeks! You can find my favorite green smoothies here. Today I’m sharing three of our other favorites.
Strawberry smoothies are my oldest daughter’s favorite.
Banana Swirl is in honor of my youngest daughter, who LOVES Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. In one episode Daniel tries some new healthy foods and finds out he likes them! He and his mom make a banana smoothie in the blender for dessert and Mom Tiger calls it “Banana Swirl”. So if you have a toddler, find that episode on Amazon Prime and whip up some Banana Swirl together! Use ripe, already frozen bananas and it can be a smoothie or ice cream, depending on how much milk you add.
My current favorite is my copy cat Healthy Mocha Frappucino. Save your pocket book and your health and make this at home instead of going through the drive thru at Starbucks! If you use protein shakes, I love and recommend Juice Plus Complete, which is a whole food, plant based protein powder that will keep you full, stabilize your energy and help control cravings.
So that’s my smoothie round-up for today. Try them all and let me know in the comments which one is your favorite!
Strawberry Smoothie, Banana Swirl & Healthy Mocha Frappuccino
Ingredients
Strawberry Smoothie
- 1 c. Almond milk
- 1 very ripe banana peeled and frozen
- 2-3 cups frozen strawberries
- 1 scoop vanilla
- Juice Plus Complete
- plant based protein powder optional
Banana Swirl
- 1-2 cups
- full fat canned coconut milk
- 3 very ripe bananas peeled and frozen
Healthy Mocha Frappuccino
- 1 c. Almond milk
- 1 scoop chocolate
- Juice Plus Complete plant based protein powder
- 1-2 cups ice
- Optional -- add 1 shot of decaff espresso or a drop of peppermint extract
Instructions
- When your bananas get very ripe on your counter (partially brown and super sweet) peel and freeze in a gallon size zip lock baggie for smoothies or muffins. Place all ingredients in a high powered blender, like a [Vitamix| http://amzn.to/2jeVVWv], in the order listed. Make sure liquid is in the bottom of the blender. Add additional milk as needed, to get the desired consistency or thickness. We like to eat Banana Swirl as an ice cream, so I tend to use less milk. If you want a smoothie consistency, use more milk. When using canned, full fat coconut milk, shake the can well before opening. If it is cool in your home, the cream will separate from the coconut water and will be at the top of your can. Stir well and use equal amounts of cream and water, or add more of the water for a thinner smoothie. Save the remaining coconut water and/or cream for another use!
XOXO,
Kristi
1 thought on “Healing Chronic Inflammation & 3 Healthy Treats (Strawberry Smoothie, Banana Swirl Ice Cream & Healthy Mocha Frappuccino)”
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