You did what with your Placenta?!

I know this isn't my normal kind of post, but I wanted to share some information and my experience with ingesting my placenta after birth. In some cultures this is completely normal and others it is taboo. The placenta is seen, in some cultures, as a nutritional powerhouse, medicine or a sacred organ. Living in a culture where this is seen as taboo, weird, disgusting and off-the-wall, I was open to the idea that other cultures may be on to something. Even animals eat their placenta after birth. I am a big believer in trying everything once and also taking into consideration others experiences with different things.

I had never heard of placenta encapsulation until I moved out to San Diego and had seen an advertisement for a midwife who offered placenta encapsulation, along with a variety of other services. At the time, I was working in a local health foods store and had become much more open to the idea that there are a ton of holistic ways to heal yourself. After seeing that advertisement, I did some research and read a ton on  the perks of consuming your placenta. I was absolutely fascinated with the idea! I have come a very long way from eating only processed foods and taking a handful of pills a day to try to find some balance. In the past 10 years I have gradually changed my lifestyle to incorporate whole foods, no drugs, weight loss and holistic remedies to help eliminate/improve certain ailments. The idea of consuming the placenta postpartum wasn't as crazy as I would have thought in my younger years. Our bodies are amazing and can heal themselves with the right tools/foods/etc. 

Why did I choose to consume my placenta? After a ton of reading and learning about the benefits of consuming my placenta, I decided to give it a try. There are a couple options for consuming your placenta. You can have it made into a tincture, capsules, smoothies, stew or whatever other creative way you can think of. I chose the encapsulation route. 

Some of the benefits include:

• helps increase your energy postpartum
• decreasing the likelihood of the "baby blues" and postpartum depression
• contains a ton of nutrients and hormones
• helps decrease the amount of healing time
• helps increase your milk supply
• can help with menopausal symptoms (in tincture form) 
• helps reduce the amount of bleeding postpartum

How do you encapsulate the placenta? You just dehydrate it, process it to a fine powder and add it to empty capsules. There are at-home kits to encapsulate your own placenta, but I chose to have a specialist prepare mine. I knew I was going to be exhausted, overwhelmed and so engaged in the baby, that I may not have the timed or energy to prepare it myself. It cost me $150 and I truly believe it was money well spent. The specialist came to the hospital, the same day of the birth and returned it encapsulated 2 days later to my home. You can take 2-6 placenta pills a day, depending on your energy levels, depression, etc. I've been taking a steady 2 a day since receiving them. I'm down to my last couple pills and really feel great. Now this is my first child and I don't have any other experience to compare it to, but I feel better than I expected. My mood is great, compared to during my pregnancy (I was really grouchy). It's been almost a month since giving birth to my gorgeous baby boy and I'm truly starting to feel like myself again. 

For more info check out: Placenta Benefits

Have any of you tried placenta encapsulation or something similar? 

Guest Blogger - Liz's Tips for Staying Motivated to Stay Active

Hi! My name is Liz and I blog over at TurnUpTheEat. I am so excited to be doing this guest post for Laurie while she focuses on her new little bundle's arrival! I've been following Laurie's posts and just love her approach to taking her favorite meals and cravings and making them work double duty as delicious and wholesome, good for you recipes. This is also something I try to focus on over at TurnUpTheEat, along with keeping up with some type of a fitness routine. I am here today to share my tips for maintaining motivation to stay active!


We all know it can be TOUGH to always keep that energetic, positive attitude toward exercising. Trust me, this is something that does not always come easily to me either! After working a full 8 or even more hours sitting in a resting state then getting into your car and sitting again during your commute home, it can be hard to get your energy levels up to feel a desire to be active. Not all people have office jobs and sit for hours on end a day, but many do, and those who do not still often struggle with with the time factor. There can be so many other priorities you feel like should come before taking a little time to work out, right? What about your family, your laundry, who's going to make dinner, feed the cat, etc., the list goes on.


I get it, believe me. I don't even have kids and I get it, so I can't imagine how working moms must feel sometimes.

 Tips for Staying Motivated to Stay Active

This brings me to Motivation Tip # 1
1. MOVE FOR YOUR MOOD! A little exercise goes a long way - for your mind, your sanity and your outlook. You don't have to run 5 miles, sometimes even just getting out and doing a 20 minute walk when you can does a lot for you. Breathing fresh air and getting out in the light of the world can bring a new perspective and kind of "reset" things. Plus, doing something is better than doing nothing. This is key on days where you really just can't get there mentally with the whole exercising thing. 10 minutes on an eliptical or just walking is better than laying on your couch eating ice cream from the carton!


Motivation Tip #2
2. BEAT YOUR EAT! Exercising helps control cravings and hunger. I know this to be true. The nights I work out or go for a run I guarantee are not the nights (or even day's after) where I "accidentally" polish off any and all chocolate I can find in the house. They are not the nights that I give in and eat grilled cheese and french fries for dinner because I am too tired or lazy to make anything else. Nope. I always find I am more motivated to make sure I eat healthy and replace my body with the nutrients it needs after a good work out - not a bunch of garbage, processed food.


Motivation Tip#3
3. ENERGY! Behold this scenario: You leave work, wake up on a weekend, whatever. You know you have plenty of time to go to the gym and get in a decent workout or run, and what do you do? Not workout or run. Find 14 other excuses why it just won't happen for you right then. This happens to me after work more often than I like to admit. My energy is zapped, my brain is fried and I just want to go home and put on my pjs and drink wine. Despite my craving for comfort and rest, this is NOT what my body needs. Sure my energy is low but that's just because I haven't actually moved in a few hours! The second I do get moving, the blood gets flowing and I feel that little bounce in my step, like yeah!, I know my energy is on it's way back up. My body was literally just at a resting state for so long and that's hard to come out of.


Motivation Tip #4
4. MUSIC MAKES IT HAPPEN! I honestly do not think I could make it through some tough runs without a playlist that gets me fired up. My go-to music involves a lot of Eminem, Nicki Manaj, and almost any of the new trend hiphop-house blends. I have no idea what that's called. But it could be anything that gets your heart rate up. As long as it's sparking you to get moving that's all you need.


Motivation Tip#5
5. CHANGE IT UP! Don't feel like you have to do the same routine every time you are the gym or run the same route or stick to the same classes. In fact, it's GOOD to involve a variety of different workouts and routines to what you do. It keeps your brain from getting too bored or comfortable and keeps your muscles guessing. I used to love my weekly kickboxing class I took for stength training an then I would supplement this throughout the week with 2-3 mile runs.


The takeaway here is that although it may not always be easy to carve out time for a workout or you may just be feeling drained, it's so good to just suck it up and do SOMETHING. Even if it's just a walk around the block or 10 minutes on a workout DVD. It will make you feel better and you'll be glad you did it. Make it a time that is all your own, with your favorite music and keep it interesting by throwing in a new class or trying a new running route. Act like it's a fun activity and it WILL be a fun activity. The more positive you view being active, the more likely you'll be to stick to something for more than a week.


I am going to go take my own advice now since I just caught myself daydreaming about a nice dinner and early bedtime rather than hitting the gym like I planned. That's not happening today!

What's so great about Juicing?

Benefits of Juicing:

Juicing is a great way to make sure you are getting enough nutrients in your diet, without adding a lot of bulk. Because juicing removes all or most of the fibers from the fruits and veggies, it makes it easier to consume large amounts of the nutrients without feeling really full. For example, take 1 large carrot. You could eat it raw, steamed or how ever you'd like. Diced, it is about a cup of solid veg. But if you were to juice it, you may come out with about 1/4 cup of carrot juice. Making it easier to consume more, without feeling really full. Juicing also helps the body assimlate the nutrients better. Without having to break down the fibers from the fruit/veg, your body gets instant access to the nutrient filled juice. Some fasts, cleanses or detox diets recommend juicing as a way to give the digestive system a break. Your still ingesting nutrient dense calories but without all of the work.

It's also great for anyone who may not have time to properly eat nutrient rich meals, who might not have access to a fully functioning kitchen or someone who may not know how to cook (well). College students immediately come to mind. Just because you don't have access to a stove, have a decent sized fridge or know how to cook doesn't mean you are bound to eating take out every day. Juicing is the simple solution to maknig sure you are getting everything your body needs - no excuses.

Juices can be made and drank at anytime of the day. I like to have my juices early in the morning. It helps my body break from the overnight fasting without upsetting my stomach, since I'm one of those people who can't eat immediately after waking up. The fresh juices I make in the morning help me wake up, give me energy and also kick my day off right. I know if I begin the day eating well, the rest of the day will follow. Plus, if I decide to indulge in something else later, I feel less guilt knowing I've had 5-8 servings of fruits and veggies already. Sometimes I will make a juice during the afternoon to keep me going (mid-day itis). Juices are portable, so making a bit extra and keep it in your stainless steel water bottle, makes it easy to have an instant refreshing energizing drink on hand.

What to Juice:

Any fruit, veggie, root, herb, etc. What's great about juicing is that there is no right or wrong way. It is all about experimentation, creativity and enjoying whatever you make. You can use the whole fruit/veg too. No need to peel anything, just cut it into piece that will allow it to fit into the juicer and done. Easy prep! My favorite ingredients to use in my juices are ginger, kale, carrots, parsley, beets, watermelon and apple. I like to keep my juices on the low sugar side and veggie filled. 

I also want to stress using organic produce when juicing. Since you will be consuming large amount of fruit/veg, it is important to keep your pesticide exposure to a minimum. I tend to save pieces of my produce that I wouldn't use in my cooking (peels, ends, stems, etc.) and juice those. No need to waste the extra stuff - it's still nutrient packed! Those parlsey stems, carrot peels or celery leaves you always throw away are a small dose of extra goodness you could be adding to your next juice. It's a great way to maximize your dollar when you are spending a bit extra on organic produce. 

How to use Juices:

Juices are very versatile! You could be a purist and drink it as is or use those juices in baking, cooking, etc. I personally love to juice fresh pineapple and use it in marinades or cooking rice in. You could also make a nice sangria or use the juice to sweeten your iced tea. Substituting juice for water in certain recipes can really make the dish come to life. 

Juicing for Beginners - juice fruits and veggie you enjoy eating. I recommend starting out with more of a fruit based juice and gradually adding more vegetables over time. Since some vegetables can be bitter, adding a small bit at a time can let you know how much you can handle. Great starter fruits/veg are: spinach, apple, carrot, oranges, watermelon, cucumber, and pineapple. 

Extra tips:

• When you are cleaning out your juicer, use the pulp leftover for compost or adding to a stock pot when you are making veggie/chicken stock. And when you are rinsing the inside of the juice with fresh water - the excess water coming out is a watered down version on what you just juiced. Collect that water and use it to water your plants. It's so much better than those chemical plant foods you find at the store.

• I don't recommend juicing frozen fruits/veg. I find frozen produce doesn't juice efficiently - so stick with fresh.

I use a Hurom Juicer, which I HIGHLY recommend. I've had a few other juicers in the past but they were more of a pain or didn't juice very efficiently. This is gives out the max amount of juice in the produce - making it easier to use less.  

Cheers to Juicing!

- Laurie

It's Summer - So What's in Season?

It's finally summer time!! Summer brings up fond memories of fresh watermelon slices, picnics filled with cool salads and lots of outdoor activities. Grilling is also what comes to mind - unfortunately I live in an apartment building that doesn't allow me to have a grill, but I'll take my grilling elsewhere. Beaches, parks, pools... grilling can be done. Grilling fruits and veggies is beyond delicious. I love that flavor it gives to a simple corn on the cob. If you've never tried corn on the cob grilled - it is an experience to say the least (compared to boiled corn). It goes from "Oh look, corn on the cob" (dull voice) to "This is corn?! OMG" (crazy person voice). By the way - this is me speaking from personal experience. But don't think you are limited to just grilling. Making cool salads is also another way to keep yourself from sweating in the kitchen. With tons of great fruit to use, making an easy fruit salad can dress up any meal. Or making a fresh salsa that can is as easy as putting everything in the food processor and done! 

Living in South Florida can have it's perks. There is always an abundance of fresh produce year round, but especially in the summer time. I'm fairly close to a lot of farmer's markets and a few farms that let you pick your own produce. How awesome is that!?

Photo courtesy of DairySpot.com

Here's a taste of what's in season:

• Tomato
• Corn
• Watermelon
• Summer Squash
• Zucchini
• Strawberries
• Avocados
• Bell Peppers
• Green Beans
• Blueberries
• Peaches
• Cantaloupe

A few recipes you can make with a some of these awesome fruits and vegetables:
Roasted Summer Squash
Guacamole
Strawberries N' Cream Oatmeal
Chocolaty Avocado Brownies
Skillet Cajun Hash
Roasted Balsamic Peppers and Onions


So many great things to work with - looks like I'm going to be in the kitchen a lot! Keep your eyes peeled for a lot of fruit & veg recipes in the next month or so. I recommend buying your favorites in bulk and freezing some to use throughout the year. Summer is short! So get to the market, stock up on the inexpensive, in-season, super fresh produce that is available before it's gone.

-Laurie

Going Organic, Pt.1

Going Organic. A few people have asked me why organic items are so important to me. Well for starters they are usually higher in quality, safer and more humanely treated. I also don’t have to worry about whether it is genetically modified, or has pesticides, chemicals, antibiotics, etc. I try to incorporate as many organic items as I can into my life. Not just food, but personal hygiene products, clothing and cleaning products as well. I’m going to touch on what is organic produce and how you can incorporate it into your budget.

Organic produce is produce that has been grown without the use of pesticides, ionizing radiation, genetically modified organisms, sewage sludge or synthetic fertilizers. In basic terms, it isn’t being adulterated. It is usually grown in a rich healthy soil that allows the seed to blossom into the tasty, beautiful produce it was meant to become (no interventions). I personally think that organic produce is more flavorful and has a living energy that revitalizes the body.

I’m sure some of you have heard about the “dirty dozen” and the “clean fifteen”. I find these lists to be very helpful when I’m deciding whether to purchase organic or not. The dirty dozen is a list of produce highest pesticide residue, where the clean fifteen is a list of the least amount of pesticide residue. Because I have a monthly grocery budget that I follow, I find it helpful to see where I could save a bit in buying conventional vs. organic.

List provided by: www.foodnews.org

So now that you know which are the highest and lowest in pesticide residue, how can you incorporate more organic produce into your meals? I’ve heard from clients that organic produce isn't unavailable where they shop or buying organic is too expensive, and that’s okay. You incorporate what works for you. If the only organic item available is apples, then apples it is. At least that is one less item that is exposing you to those pesticides. This isn't an all-or-nothing kind of thing. It is about decreasing your exposure to chemicals and increasing your awareness to what you are eating. I always recommend rinsing and cleaning off your produce, whether it is organic or not. You don’t know where it has been and how many people have come in contact with it. Also it helps remove some of the dirt and grit.

A great way to save on organic produce is to buy what is in season. Right now strawberries, carrots, tomatoes, corn and squash are in season. Not only will it taste best in season but it will most likely be on sale. You can find out what is in season by going to www.sustainabletable.org .

Shopping at farmer's markets are also a great way to save money. By cutting the middle man out, you will be saving money and supporting your local farmers. For me, this can be very personal. Getting to know those around you, who's lively hood is based on farming or gardening, can mean a world of different. You can find out about how the produce is grown, where it is grown, and even establish a relationship with these farmers.    

You could sign up with your local CSA (community supported agriculture) and save big. Not only are you supporting your local farmers but you’ll be getting the freshest produce available. Now CSA’s aren’t always organic, but the next best thing to organic is local. Some farmer’s actually raise organic produce but do not have the organic seal due to costs that are involved. How a CSA works is, you pay up front for the produce and every 2 or 4 weeks you will receive a box full of fresh, in season goodies. Some deliver to your home and other you just have to stop by and pick it up. This is a great way to introduce yourself to various fruits and veggies that maybe you haven't tried before. To find a local CSA - check outwww.localharvest.org

Another great way to save on organic produce is to buy frozen organic fruits and veggies. These are my favorite because they are easy to keep on-hand, picked at their peak flavor, and are usually very affordable. I keep my freezer stocked with frozen berries, peas, spinach and whatever else I use regularly. Frozen produce is super convenient and can make putting together a meal very easy. If you have excess fresh fruits and veggies, you can freeze them. There is no point in throwing it away or letting it rot, that's just throwing money down the drain. 

So to sum everything up - incorporate organic produce into your diet. It doesn't have to be expensive and if it is unavailable, then buy local produce from your community. By reducing your exposure to chemicals, you could be not only helping your body but the world around you. 

- Laurie

Photos provided by john's organic world, insight magazine, kaboose and share it fitness