Recipes: Super {food} Peppermint Mocha

Starbucks hasn't got a thing on this delicious, so incredibly good for you steaming hot drink. Perfect for a morning accompaniment to your newspaper reading or email checking, or a warm drink to make your latest read even better.

Aside from tasting amazing, this warm chocolaty beverage will help you focus, reduce your appetite cravings, calm your growling stomach, curb your sweet tooth, fill you up and help you lose weight (the coconut oil & cacao!!!) "HA!" you must be thinking, but oh no, I assure... would I drink it otherwise? Come on now ;)

I created this recipe specifically because the holiday season is upon us, I am craving my traditional Starbucks Holiday Latte's, and just don't want to make room for that kind of sugar calorie in my diet, nor do I want to risk lowering my immune system while breastfeeding. So here you go. Taste and see that the drink is good!

12 oz Silk (or other brand) Almond Milk (I use original flavor, but its up to you)

3 Tbsp (rounded) Organic Raw Cacao Powder

2 Tbsp Grade B Maple Syrup (you must use grade B for the nutrients, the other is just sugar with no benefits)

1-6 drops of Stevia (I love the dark chocolate flavor of stevia for this OR the pepermint flavor! Note: I use the stevia if I need it sweeter -I usually do, but don't want to add more calories from the maple syrup, so I just sub stevia drop by drop until I'm happy with the sweetness)

1 tsp Organic, Gluten-Free Peppermint extract

1 heaping Tbsp. Raw Organic Coconut Oil

Heat the almond milk on the stove in a saucepan until you reach desired heat. Try to avoid boiling. Remove from heat. In your mug, mix the raw cacao powder with the grade B maple syrup until a chocolate syrup consistency. Add in the stevia drops and the coconut oil. The coconut oil will probably be solid, don't worry about mixing it together with the chocolate syrup.

Add the heated almond milk to your mug with other ingredients, mix until all ingredients are dissolved, including coconut oil. Avoid reheating if possible.

***Note: If you want to turn this into a genuine mocha beverage, which I commonly do in the wee small hours of the morning ;) then simply add 6 oz coffee to 6 oz almond milk, or 8-10 oz off coffee and less almond milk depending on your preference; and there you have it. If you are not a coffee person, this is also delicious with caffeine free peppermint tea, or a plain black tea like Tazo.

Please try and make ALL the coffee/tea you drink organic (and fair trade!!!). Organic coffee isn't treated with the same awful pesticides that regular coffee is. Those pesticides are extremely hard on your body's organs of detoxification; your skin, liver, kidney, etc.

Enjoy!

Namaste,

Recipes: Kombucha -The Making!

I've written about the benefits and power of this tasty and intriguing beverage before, and now I want to share with you how to make your very own! It is so easy, and the possibilities are endless.

Let's start with the basic recipe:

12 Cups of Water

1 Cup Organic, Fair Trade Sugar (raw is best)

3-5 Tea Bags (your choice)

1 Kombucha "Mother"

Bring the water to a boil in a giant pot. Add in the cup of sugar, stir until dissolved. Add in the tea bags, and allow the entire pot to cool to room temperature.

After it's cooled, transfer tea to a large glass bowl. Lay 'The Mother" on top of the bowl, and then cover with either a cloth, or clear wrap with many, many holes punctured in it. You can then cover the top with a cloth. If the cloth won't stay put, I like to use an old Goody hair band to secure into place.

("The Mother")

Allow tea to ferment for 7-9 days, depending on the strength you prefer.

Remove the mother and start a new batch, placing the removed tea in a pitcher, refrigerated.

After a couple of batches you can peel off layers of "The Mother" mushroom and give away or start multiple batches!

The most common tea is just a plain, organic black tea. But you can certainly mix things up! You can add an unsweetened juice of your choice for flavor, grape is my favorite. I will add R.W. Kudson's Just Concord Grape for a bit of flavor, but you can add anything you'd like. Avoid super sugary juices like mango, or purees.

My very favorite variation is "Black & White Mango" Kombucha. I use two 3 mango flavored black tea bags, and two white tea bags.

Another favorite is Pomegranate White Tea flavor. Trader Joe's carries a delicious box of Pomegranate White Tea.

For pregnant or lactating Mom's, use caffeine free tea, such as a Raspberry Flavor, or any other the caffeine free Celestial Teas... all delicious! I like using the Lemon Zinger, and adding some fresh ginger to the tea, that will take the edge off of morning sickness!

Another yummy combination is Blueberry Tea and White Tea together.

The possibilities are endless, and it is so good for your health.

You can find "The Mother" online and order it, or start asking around to see if anyone can peel you off a layer from their mushroom. You'd be surprised who has them! I got my first mother from a guy in my yoga class many years ago. I "fell off the wagon" when I moved, as my mushroom didn't make the move. But my cousin recently provided me with a new fantastic mushroom, and I'm going strong once again!

Making your own kombucha can save you BIG bucks, as they charge upwards of $3-$4 per 12oz bottles in the store.

Namaste,

Trick or Treat: Time to Treat Mom!

Hey, Halloween isn't just about treats for the kiddos! I know there are a million and one festive sweet treats recipes out there, candy and more that will kick your sweet tooth into over drive, but how about something easy and delicious you can enjoy after the kids are in bed?

We all need our "fix" of something sweet every once in a while, I know it better than anyone. To say I have a sweet tooth is a total understatement, but there are solutions for those of us on a gluten free diet who don't want to just inhale loads of our kids candy or (all of) the leftover gluten free cupcakes and festive rice crispy treats.

My newest and most favorite discovery is that of my (old) favorite, ice cream sandwiches! But they are organic and gluten free, and oh-so-yummy! They are Julie's Organic brand, and I found them at a Fry's Marketplace grocery store (which has a fabulous gluten free section, by the way), but I know there are elsewhere as well. They are truly delicious, and will satisfy that childhood craving for a melty-ooey-gooey ice cream sandwich:

Secondly, what is a desert treat without a light, crisp and insanely fantastic glass of wine to accompany it? It would be like peanut butter without jelly! Cookies without milk! Brownies without Nutella! I've recently discovered this delectable, slightly sweet, dry enough and reasonably priced chardonnay that is worth sticking in the fridge for a treat night like we're discussing:

And the fact that it's called "Cupcake" just makes it.

Enjoy the fall festivities, and don't forget to indulge a little bit yourself so that you don't over indulge in all the "gunk & junk."

Namaste,

Mornings Reinvented!

Forget coffee! After drinking this smoothie, you won't need it!

Some days I start with my Incan Warrior Hot Chocolate, but due to the extreme AZ summer heat, terribly hot even at 6am when I start my day, I've been switching it up with this ice blended velvety nectar. Here is the recipe; I go back and forth between this and my green smoothie. I have my green smoothie daily, but sometimes not until mid-morning.

I find this Nana-Cacao smoothie gives me the boost I need to get in a quick morning workout. I drink it about 30+ minutes before my exercise routine or yoga… I follow up my workout with a pinch of local bee pollen, and 1-2 oz of raw aloe vera gel, from my plant, or from the store, whichever I have time for that morning. Enjoy!

Recipe: Raw Nana-Cacao Smoothie

1 Organic Banana
2 Scoops Raw Maca Powder
2 Scoops Raw Cacao Powder
1 Scoop Amazing Grass Powder, Cacao Flavor
1 Tbsp Chia Seeds (more if desired)
2 Cups Almond Milk
Ice Cubes
(As an occasional twist you can add a scoop of Organic Raw Almond/Peanut Butter!)

Blend and enjoy the massive energy boost for breakfast!

Apple Cider What?

Apple Cider Vinegar is some fantastic stuff, let me tell you. And everyone who squirms at the thought of drinking some vinegar for health or even a weight loss aid, I like to remind you that if you are into any vinaigrette dressings, or cooking with balsamic vinegar, this isn’t far behind. Its really not that bad, I promise!

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is made by a fermentation process (remember the Kombucha blog?) similar to how alcohol is made.Sugars in food are broken down by yeast and bacteria (fermenting grapes into wine, rice into sake, grain into whisky, etc.), turning it into alcohol; if it ferments further, you get vinegar (ever had a bad bottle of wine? Tastes like vinegar). The word vinegar is from the French language, meaning “sour wine.” So in the case of apple cider vinegar, you take guess what, yes, apples, pulverize them, and then the sugar in the apples is broken down by yeast and bacteria (referred to as, “the mother”) producing the vinegar. ACV is an effective natural bacteria-fighting agent that contains beta-carotene (helps counteract against damage from free-radicals), pectin (helps reduced bad cholesterol and regulate blood pressure and many vital minerals and trace elements such as potassium (helps eliminate toxic waste from the body), calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, sulfur, copper, iron, silicon and fluorine, all vital to health. ACV also contains malic acid which is very helpful in fighting viral (lots of colds and flu’s lately?)fungal and bacterial infections (struggling with UTI’s pregnant gals?). Malic acid dissolves uric acid deposits that form around joints, and eliminates it, helping to relieve joint pains. ACV also contains acetic acids, which apparently slows the digestion of starch which can help to lower the rise in glucose that commonly occurs after meals (weight loss after baby!). On top of everything, ACV seems to help clear skin conditions, especially blemishes! I have typically clear skin at all times. But last week I noticed a big old zit threatening to arise on my lower jaw. I hit the bottle (of ACV) ;) for a couple days, and that little dude never surfaced and is gone.

ACV is proving to have a positive effect on several areas in health, including diabetes, high cholesterol, blood pressure and heart health, cancer, and (drum roll) weight loss! ACV has the effect of making people feel full for longer periods of time. It also aids in digestion and elimination, easing constipation (Ladies, let’s not be shy, this can be a problem postpartum), and because of the good bacteria it can help prevent UTI’s and aid in strengthening the immune system overall. Other theories are that ACV helps to speed up metabolism, and decreases water retention (also a need in us pregnant and postpartum ladies; ACV was a huge help to me).
With diabetes, studies show that ACV may help lower glucose. One study showed that people with type 2 diabetes who took two tablespoons of ACB before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.
As a personal testimony I can tell you that in all my years of drinking ACV I noticed the most beneficial results postpartum. It has helped alleviate water retention, ease my digestion, keep my skin clear throughout all the hormonal changes (that and my super-superfood diet). And on the rare day when I’m feeling, well, not so smooth, it fixes me right up. So if any of this hits home with you, give it a try! It certainly can’t hurt. Since I am breastfeeding, I make sure to drink it just after I’ve fed my little pumpkin, just in case she doesn’t like taste in her next meal. I asked my doctor about it, and she said, “do you eat a lot of food with balsamic vinegar?” and I told her I most certainly did, to which she replied that it shouldn’t be a problem breastfeeding or otherwise. But please, as I always say, ask your own doctor if you have any concerns. Here’s to your health!

Recipe: Apple Cider Vinegar Purple Elixir

2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (I prefer Bragg’s; you can increase amount as desired, occasionally)
8 oz Purified Water
2-4 oz Organic Concord Grape Juice (just the juice with no added sweetners, like R.W. Krudsons brand: http://www.rwknudsenfamily.com/products/just_juice/organic_just_concord_grape)
1-2 dropperfuls of Stevia OR 1-2 teaspoons of Raw Organic Honey.

Mix, drink, feel the health!

Beer Is Back Girls!

If you're anything like me (a gluten-free gal 4 yrs. and counting), then you have missed having a beer every now and again. I am a huge fan of wine, my husband and I have a great little collection, but since I've had Mia, and my doctor suggested, I have been super into beer again. When I had my first sip of Green's Double Dark Ale, I almost fell over! It was the best thing I'd ever tasted (as far as beer goes). Per doctor's orders, I needed to "have a beer" to promote healthy lactation, which of late, hasn't been so abundant for me.
It worked! I wasn't sure it was going to since gluten-free is, well, gluten-free, but it did the trick just as well as traditional beer would have.

I have been thoroughly enjoying them, and have branched out trying a few others out there (Bards Tale Beer, Anheuser-Bush's Redbridge) but as far as I'm concerned Green's is FAR superior (Green's is an import). They have three delightful brews; Endeavor Double Dark Ale (my personal fav), Quest Tripple Blonde Ale (second fav) and Mission Amber Ale.

Greens Beer’s (http://www.glutenfreebeers.co.uk/) are “allergy free” because they do NOT contain any Gluten, Crustaceans, Eggs, fish, Peanuts, Soya beans, Milk, Lactose, Nuts, Celery, Mustard, Sesame seeds, sulphur dioxide and sulphites. They even carry the Free From Food Award located on their website:

The grains they DO use are: Sorghum, Millet (both high in trace elements such as zinc and barley, but 3x and 2x more, respectively), buckwheat (high in Fagopyrins which decreases blood cholesterol and is high in protein) and Brown Rice.

Now, let me just say for the record that I am not "promoting" the drinking of alcohol during pregnancy or lactation in any way I am simply sharing with you what I've done/do, and if you are like-minded perhaps it will work for you as well. Don't forget the name of the blog, My Fat-Free Pregnancy and Beyond... and this yummy gluten-free beer is definitely included in my own personal beyond! My husband loves that I sometimes pop open a beer on a Friday night now (after I've given Mia her last feeding and put her down for the night), pour it into the biggest frosty beer mug you've ever seen (that I keep in my freezer for this purpose specifically) and sit down next to him on the couch to relax together. You can now BYOB to BBQ's and more, and simply state your allergy. My husband, a beer drinker himself has even admitted that the Green's beer is very, very good... "for not being real beer" he adds. ;)

I've found Green's Beer at Whole Foods, BevMo (in the import section), and Total Wine (in AZ), along with the Bards and Redbridge.

So enjoy your beer with a tasty gluten-free pizza this weekend, and let me know how you like it!

It's NOT Your Mother's Chocolate!

With all the AMAZING benefits I’ve had with superfood eating the past year, I wanted to relay some highlights about chocolate! Chocolate meaning RAW cacao; this superfood is unbelievable, and as I’m devouring David Wolfe’s book Naked Chocolate for the second time, I must relay some highlights so that you understand how crucial raw chocolate is for your diet as a mom, a wife, female and human being.

That being said, get David Wolfe’s book, read it yourself, and consider checking out some other references as I have… you can actually find the studies he refers to, and if you are a real nerd like I am, you’ll want to see the science yourself, ha! =) Here are some of the highlights from David’s book and cross research I’ve done, that I think is so important, and why raw cacao is a daily part of my diet.

The main difference between raw chocolate and the bars you buy at the grocery store, such as milk chocolate etc., is that raw chocolate is in its most natural form, unprocessed without any additives. Processed chocolate is what causes many of the allergies that people have (mainly from the addition of pasteurized milk –which is what those “allergic” to chocolate are actually reacting to) and unnecessary cravings for more sugar. So, we know that cacao and dark chocolate boost antioxidants, however the addition of the dairy milk completely cancels out the effects of these antioxidants; studies have indicated that the addition of dairy products specifically block the absorption of all the great antioxidants in chocolate. Some studies you can check out to back up this statement are:

-“Plasma Antioxidants From Chocolate” Mauro Serafini, Rossana Bugianesi, Giuseppe Maiani, Silvia Valtuena, Simone De Santis & Alan Crozier
(The highlight of this study I think is that the effects of the antioxidants are markedly reduced when chocolate is consumed with milk or if milk is incorporated as milk chocolate. Milk may interfere with the absorption of the antioxidants and therefore negate the potential health benefits from consuming chocolate in the first place.)
-“Nutrition: Milk and Absorption of Dietary Flavanols” December 18, 2003 Nature 426, 788 (18 December 2003); doi:10.1038/426788a MauroSerafini and Alan Crozier
(The highlight of this study I would say is that pasteurized milk is the NUMBER ONE FOOD that CAUSES ALLERGIES)
-US Naval Academy concluded that there is NO evidence that chocolate causes or exacerbates acne, Acne is likely triggered by the refined sugars added to chocolates; refined sugar can cause hypoglycemia, hormone fluctuations, moodiness and skin outbreaks.

(Incan Warrior Hot Chocolate -I love to start my day with this tasty drink! See recipe at bottom of blog)

“In raw cacao, one essential component is magnesium. Magnesium is one of the most important of all the minerals in the world, and to our bodies. More than 80% of the US population is deficient in magnesium. What magnesium is responsible (of of the many things), is activating the enzyme D6D that converts omega 3 fatty acids into DHA. Deficiencies in DHA have been linked with many neurological disorders including ADD and ADHD, post partum depression, Alzheimer’s and more.
Magnesium and vitamin B deficiencies cause our levels of dopamine to tank. However, “Active vitamin B6 increases the cellular absorption of magnesium and therefore works in concert to increase the production of dopamine. Natural B6 (found in high concentrations in spirulina, goji berries, bee pollen) increases the cellular absorption of magnesium and therefore works in concert to increase the production of dopamine.” Magnesium is crucial to the pituitary gland, which is responsible for transmitting chemical messengers to hormones –hormones which directly influence the production of additional vital hormones. Cacao’s high magnesium levels thus have an amazing effect in supporting BALANCED HORMONE LEVELS. When the pituitary gland lacks magnesium, it causes the adrenal glands to overproduce, thus increasing the heart rate, causing excitability and an inability to cope comfortably with daily challenges, inevitably this leads to psychological, social, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual stress.”
Some other things magnesium is responsible for and helps with:
-Natural laxative
-Sooths menstruation
-Muscle relaxer
-Builds strong bones (Professor L. Kervan, in his book Biological Transmutations)

According to research cited in The New York Times, raw cacao beans are super-rich in antioxidant flavonols. Cacao beans contain 10,000 mg per 100 grams of flavonol antioxidants. This is 10% antioxidant concentration level, making cacao one of the RICHEST sources of antioxidants of any food! Cornell University food scientists found that cocoa powder has nearly twice the antioxidants of red wine and up to three times what is found in green tea, for example (you can check this out in the article “Cocoa Has More Phenolic Phytochemicals and a Highter Antioxidant Capacity than Teas and Red Wine” found in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry).
Other important components of raw cacao are:
Methylxanthines: Theobromine & Caffeine
-“Cacao increases your energy intensely. Theobromine and caffeine are very different in their raw forms vs. cooked. Their effects are much milder. Theobromine is milder than caffeine and has about a quarter of the stimulating power of caffeine. Theobromine gently stimulates the central nervous system, relaxes smooth muscles and dilates blood vessels. Theobromine is also a mild diuretic, a cardiac stimulant (in a GOOD way!) and has been used to treat high blood pressure.
As far as caffeine, a 1.4oz serving of chocolate contains the same amount of caffeine as one cup of decaffeinated coffee, approx 5mg.”
Phenylethylamine (PEA)
-The “love” chemical! When we fall in love our PEA levels rise and we become HAPPY and optimistic. PEA is noticeably abundant in the brains of happy people. Those suffering from depression have markedly lower levels of PEA. Raw cacao seems to keep our PEA levels high no matter what is happening around us. From a scientific perspective, PEA is the structural molecule behind catecholamine neurotransmitters such as dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). “PEA increases the activity of brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) in parts of the brain that control our ability to pay attention and stay alert. When the brain is flooded with PEA, the presynaptic vesicles will pull in PEA in preference to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is then blocked from being deactivated and dopamine levels rise. Elevated dopamine levels are associated with increasing mental concentration and a positive attitude. PEA also increases the effectiveness of norepinephrine, which increases feelings of JOY. PEA is found pre-made in abundance in RAW CACAO and BLUE-GREEN ALGEA. These two foods can elevate the presence of PEA in our brain. Blue-green algae works with cacao to help us focus, staying the moment and pay attention even if you suffer from ADD. These foods also help us to be more absorbed by whatever we are doing, and thus is suspected this si part of what makes these foods an excellent appetite suppressant.”
Tryptophan
-“Once in our bodies, tryptophan reacts with vitamins B6 and B3, in the presence of magnesium, to produce serotonin; serotonin function diminishes anxiety and increases our ability to fend off stress. Tryptophan also helps produce melatonin and dimethltryptamine, both associated with sleep (raw cacao typically does not cause insomnia and can be taken in the evening).
So we see that cacao is “one of nature’s richest sources of magnesium, the brain mineral. Cacao is also a great source of serotonin, dopamine and PEA, three well-studied neurotransmitters which help alleviate depression and are associated with feelings of well-being. Cacao contains nutrients and types of neurotransmitter modulating agents which allow serotonin and dopamine to remain in the bloodstream longer without being broken down. This increases feelings of well-being and helps one become younger. Cacao contains anadamide which delivers blissful feelings and anadamide inhibitors which keep the bliss chemical from being prematurely broken down. Cacao also contains a host of B vitamins which are associated with brain health. All this makes cacao a natural Prozac!” Who wouldn’t want to have this product as a part of their daily diet?! I sure do, and it is!
“Chocolate is a perfect food as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power, but its quality must be good, and it must be carefully prepared. It is highly nourishing and easily digested, and it is fitted to repair wasted strength, preserve health, and prolong life. It agrees with dry temperaments and convalescents; with mothers who nurse their children; with those whose occupations oblige them to undergo severe mental strains; with public speakers, and with all those who give to work a portion of the time needed for sleep. It soothes both stomach and brain, and for this reason , as well as others, it is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits.” –German chemist Baron von Liebig (as quoted by the American Walter Baker & Company in the mid-nineteenth century).

(Mini Dark Chocolate Squares with Raw Cacao)

Now for you pregnant gals, go for it! Finnish research indicates that “eating chocolate is good for the baby. Scientists at the University of Helsinki, who asked 300 pregnant women to record their chocolate consumption and stress levels, found that daily chocolate treats had a positive impact on the unborn baby’s behavior. Six months after the infants were born the mothers who had eaten chocolate reported more reactions such as smiling and laughter in their offspring” (my daughter Mia first started smiling at 2 days old; I ate raw cacao throughout my pregnancy on a daily basis, and have continued eating it daily as I am nursing, and she is now 18 weeks and the happiest, smiling, giggling baby I’ve met).
“And the babies of stressed women who had regularly consumed chocolate showed less fear of new situations than babies of stressed women who had abstained,” reported New Science magazine. Katri Raikkanen and her colleagues who conducted the research speculate that the effects they observed could result from chemicals in chocolate associated with positive moods being passed on to the baby in the womb. Nevertheless, high doses of chocolate (i.e. binge eating) should be avoided whild pregnant based on research done on reproductive and developmental risks introduced by caffeine.”
And for us yogi’s (especially Bikram practitioners like myself):
“The magnesium and the MAO inhibitors increase physical flexibility and the methylxanthine stimulants add several hours of additional power and strength (to your yoga practice). Cacao drinks allow the digestive system to relax and the entire body becomes more flexible.”
So there you have it ladies… a million and one reasons to start adding raw cacao to your daily diet!!! I love the benefits and see the results on a daily basis, especially in the sweet and joyful temperament of my daughter (still exclusively breastfed).
You can find raw cacao powder, nibs and beans in many health food stores, including Whole Foods. Or you can order directly from two of my favorite companies, www.NavitasNaturals.com and www.UltimateSuperfoods.com. Navitas Naturals, along with David Wolfe’s books “Naked Chocolate” and “Superfoods” have tons of great recipes for adding cacao into your diet. And once again, I’ve barely chipped the iceberg of information about raw cacao/chocolate… I strongly encourage you to purchase David Wolfe’s book ‘Naked Chocolate’, ‘Superfoods’ and ‘Eating for Beauty’. =)

Recipe: Incan Warrior "Hot Chocolate"

1 Cup Almond Milk (I love the Silk brand, but Almond Breeze is good, any brand you prefer)

1 Cup Yerba Mate Tea, brewed 4 minutes (for lactating Mama's, sub Tazo Decaf Chai Tea)

1 Dropperful Stevia (more to taste)
1 Scoop Amazing Grass Chocolate Green Powder
1-2 Scoops Raw Cacao Powder (to personal preference, I use 2)
1-2 Scoops Raw Maca Powder

1/2 tsp Organic Gluten Free Vanilla

Pour all ingredients into blender, blend, pour, enjoy! (If you'd like to heat the beverage slightly, you may do so in a saucepan on low heat... if you over heat/bring to a boil, you are losing out on the raw benefits of the superfoods).

Krazy Kombucha

I’m not going to say much about this, because the arguments are fierce and many regarding the topic of kombucha, especially recently. I will say this however. Kombucha SAVED ME during my first trimester (and beyond) of icky-sicky-nausea and other pregnancy pains.

Kombucha seemed to be the only thing that settled my stomach, and made me feel like I was 5 years old again with the flu and my Mom poured me a fizzy ice cold glass of ginger ale that made everything “all better.”
The ingredients in Kombucha are simple: Black Tea, the Kombucha “mother” or “mushroom”, and sugar (plus any other herbs or fruit that each individual company adds, see each bottle for details). Some brands like GT’s Kombuch and High Country Kombucha (see websites at bottom).

I love this stuff. I’ve been drinking it for ten years, and my OB/GYN had no problem with it whatsoever (brought in a bottle of it to give to her, she examined it, and said it was fine). There are “trace amounts of alcohol” in the kombucha due to the naturally occurring fermentation process, but it is truly so trace, that it is nothing that I personally feel will cause harm to you or your fetus. But do NOT take my word for it if you are concerned; do your own research and/or discuss with your own doctor.
Drinking kombucha is similar to those who drink apple cider vinegar for health purposes, which is also fermented (check out the website, I’ve been drinking this stuff for years as well: http://bragg.com/products/acv.html?gclid=CPLI-a_bt6MCFQE_bAoddyDdbg).

What is Kombucha? Kombucha a living culture of beneficial microorganisms (including Lactobacillus Bacterium and S. Boulardii), cultured and/or fermented to bring out all the amazing properties that benefit our bodies. Kombucha contains billions of beneficial probiotic flora (good bacteria) that helps our digestive system and therefore our immune system greatly. Because of all the pesticides, antibiotics, pollution and more in the environment, it is even more important than ever to enhance beneficial micro-organisims in our bodies to replace the ones that are wiped out on a regular basis. We must replenish our supply via kombucha, or other sources such as kefir, yogurt, etc. There is a great product I like as well, called Bio K: http://www.biokplus.com/en/

Whether or not you decide to drink kombucha, make sure that you are supporting your immune system and digestive system throughout your pregnancy and during lactation. You will 100% better, I promise.

Some things found in Kombucha are:
Live Active Enzymes are generally only found in foods that have not been cooked, processed, or refined. That is why Kombucha is raw and unpasteurized.
Polyphenols which fight off the free-radicals that stress the body and your immune system

Organic Acids which can promote tissue and blood alkalinity and help normalize the natural process of homeostasis throughout the body. Some organic acids are:

• Lactic acid helps maintain healthy digestive action (through the probiotic lactobacilli) and for energy production by the liver
• Acetic acid which acts as an antiseptic and inhibitor of pathogenic bacteria.
• Glucuronic acid, normally produced by a healthy liver, is a powerful detoxifier and can readily be converted into glucosamines, the foundation of our skeletal system.
• Usnic acid has selective antibiotic qualities which can partly deactivate viruses.
• Oxalic acid encourages the intercellular production of energy, and is a preservative.
• Malic acid also helps the liver to detoxify.
• Butyric acid protects human cellular membranes, and combined with Gluconic acid strengthens the walls of the stomach and digestive tract in order to combat yeast infections such as Candida.
• Nucleic acids, like RNA and DNA, transmit information to the cells on how to perform correctly and regenerate.

This same information and more can be found on http://www.synergydrinks.com/home.aspx (GT’s Kombucha website) as well as http://www.hckombu.com/ (High Country Kombucha’s website).

As I always say, make your own decision, but based on my own personal experience, kombucha can be a great “feel better” tool to support you throughout your pregnancy and beyond. Enjoy!

***P.S. Several months after writing/posting this blog, the controversy of kombucha came up in the news: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/whole-foods-pulls-kombucha-teas-citing-alcohol-content/19522361/ Which I thought was ridiculous (thanks A LOT Lindsey Lohan). It is still widely unavailable, so don’t be afraid to look into making it on your own! It is so easy and delightful to have around (http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Kombucha-Tea).

I also LOVED seeing Bethenny Frankel (on her hit Bravo TV show, “Bethenny Getting Married?”) drink GT’s Synergy Kombucha throughout her pregnancy, exactly as I did. =)

My Green Solution for Morning Sickness and Adding on Only Fat-Free Pounds

First of all, who are they kidding when they say “morning sickness?” For me it was all day, every day, all night, and every night sickness for a few weeks.

We all experience different levels of nausea in the first trimester, ranging from none, to queasy, to full on revisiting each meal every single day for weeks. I had nausea. Plain old sickening nausea without the tossing of my meals, well, most of the time; I did have several sporadic days of throwing up, but mostly it was just the persistent, nagging nausea that really got me. I would say that I’d rather of been throwing up, because at least then I’d feel better for a while, but those who tell me they do nothing but throw up would give anything to just be nauseated without the vomiting.

So whatever you are struggling with, either way it is no fun. Also, if you lose weight during the first trimester (let’s be frank, it isn’t disappointing to see the pounds disappear from the scale), don’t worry about it. Those pounds will be back in a jiffy, and you eat properly, you’ll only be putting on nutrient-rich weight that will support your growing baby and come off easily after you deliver. That’s what we all want, right?

I lost about 7 lbs. during my first trimester, and then literally started putting weight back on around week 14. My doctor said that was perfectly normal, and fine. So don’t stress out too much.

If you’re like me, you tried every solution available for nausea. Drinking ginger ale, sucking on a lemon wedge, those Preggie Pops, the ginger candies, the B-Natal vitamins, dry toast or crackers, and nothing worked, right?

Physical causes of morning sickness are hard to pinpoint, but are more than likely a combination of your body getting used to brand new hormones (hCG first, then other new ones as pregnancy progresses) and the initial imbalances that this causes, coupled with a heightened sensitivity to odors, tastes, and a general feeling of “oh my goodness, I’m pregnant, what is happening to my body…”

Some of you lucky girls out there won’t experience a lick of nausea or vomiting, and lucky you! Your body is adjusting well to the new hormones. For the rest of us, let me share with you what ended up being the only “solution” for me, and one I’ve continued to use throughout my pregnancy.

This is the smoothie that saved my life in the first trimester. It was just about the only thing that I could keep down on the days I was really sick, and helped ease the nausea on the rest of the days. It gave me the comfort that my growing baby was getting all the nutrients that she needed despite my nauseated state. I got on the phone through a friend-referral with Jason & Nandi at Dine Alkaline, http://www.dinealkaline.com/ and was given a ton of information on alkaline living and dining. If you go to their website you can sign up for their smoothie report, but I’m also positing the link here at the bottom of this blog.

You can take it from there and do more research etc. as you want, if you want, or if you’re like me, take this smoothie recipe and run with it, it works! I’m living proof. Not only that but it falls right into our goal of having a fat-free pregnancy.

Implementing this smoothie into your daily diet (drinking it throughout the day) will ensure that you don’t have unhealthy cravings or binges on less than desirable foods. Now that’s not to say that just because you have 8oz of smoothie you’re not going to want to eat half a bag of Baked Lay’s in Southwestern BBQ flavor, as I’ve done more than once. BUT, it does help curb those cravings, and helps you choose more desirable foods to “binge” on, I think. Most of all, it kept me alive, well-hydrated and nausea at bay during that first trimester, and beyond. I drink this smoothie daily, although with several of my own variations, and now adding in more of the superfoods I mentioned in my superfood blog entry.

In this smoothie report, there are many recipes, and they all taste pretty good; each are a variation in one way or another, but here are the core ingredients, and you basically alter the flavor of the smoothie depending on which fruit you add.

You can add mango, banana, guava, berries, kiwi, pears, apples etc., whatever sounds good to you on that day. Some days I added some raw, grated ginger root, and that was really helpful. Other days the idea of ginger root was unbearable.

And as I mentioned, I add in superfoods as well. I make a huge blender full of this smoothie, keep it in my fridge and drink it throughout the day, especially a half hour or hour before I was going to eat a regular meal. This really helped. Here is the basic recipe, just give it a try; even though the sound of the ingredients may make your stomach church, it actually tastes pretty good:

Recipe: Super Green Alkalizing Smoothie

1 Organic Avocado
1 Organic English Cucumber (these are seedless) or Regular Cucumber (Peeled If Waxed)
2-3 Cups Baby Spinach
1 Cup Almond Milk (I buy the brand, Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla, with only 40 calories per serving, and you can buy it COLD in your dairy section; Silk Almond Milk is another fantastic one)
1 Cup Fresh Organic Mango, Pear, Guava, Apple, Banana (fruit of your choice; add as much as you need to make it taste the way you want)
1 Dropperful Organic Green Leaf Stevia (to taste, only if free of imbalance and absolutely necessary; ) (see my blog on stevia)
1-2 tsp Super Greens Powder (of your choice; I have to avoid many due to the flax seed which I am sensitive too... but will use it in a jam)
1 Tlbs Hemp Seed or Flax Seed Powder (I prefer the Living Harvest Hemp Protein Powder)
1 T Udo’s Oil or Raw Coconut Oil (I use coconut oil, I think it gives the smoothie a tropical taste)
Several Mint Leaves (a cup or more really eases nausea)
1 Organic Lemon, peeled and seeded (you can also buy fresh lemon juice; this was key in nausea control for me)
Up to 2 Cups of Ice cubes... whatever your blender can hold!

Blend till smooth and drink. Enjoy!

Here is the link for the full smoothie report, and other variations of the recipe:
http://www.dinealkaline.com/freereport/smoothie.pdf

I hope this works for you as it did for me… keep experimenting with it until you figure out a way it works for you. Try not to omit the spinach, cucumber and avocado, as these are very water-rich ingredients that are going to keep you hydrated which is key in controlling nausea and when you’re vomiting.

Regarding the Addition of Superfoods:

As you are able to tolerate the smoothie, begin adding in superfoods. I mix up what superfoods I put in, depending on the smoothie or my mood that day, but I always add approximately 1 tsp of Spirulina Powder though, a Tbsp of Local Organic Bee Pollen, 1 Scoop Raw Maca Powder, a few drops of Marine Phytoplankton and maybe a few Goji Berries. Between sips of smoothie I take a shot or two of Aloe Vera Gel, or gut a leaf from my plant and eat the gel. Again, this is 'hard core' so you may want to wait until the next trimester to start adding in some of these superfoods.