Maybe I have food allergies and have no idea. Maybe it's because I have only been vegan for a year and a half and consumed a lot of dairy products leading up to the start of my vegan journey. I am not sure the reason, but frequently I have been waking up with nasal congestion and throat congestion. In another blog I talked about digestion problems and a skin rash that I had all the way up until I became vegan. After I became vegan, they both cleared up within a matter of weeks and never returned, but the nasal and throat congestion has been a lingering and aggravating nuisance. Several studies show that wheat or gluten can cause the congestion a well. 

One of the major components of Dr. Sebi's plan is eliminating mucus from the body. He states, "Mucus is the cause of every disease." He also discusses how eating too many acidic and not enough alkaline foods causes the production of mucus in the body. So, I carefully studied his list, and started my seven day plan to see if I would notice a difference in my system.

During the seven days, my diet mostly consisted of peaches, melons, walnuts, lettuce, garbanzo beans, cucumbers, avocados, and tomatoes.These are all on the list, and on the first day, I made a large amount of walnut "meat" and guacamole and ate this on lettuce wraps for several days. It is a delicious and simple vegan recipe. When I was not eating the wraps, I was eating bowls of fruit, homemade guacamole and cucumbers, or snacking on walnuts. 

​ I also started every morning with a cup of warm water and lime juice. This is said to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, and it also alkalizes the body and helps maintain a higher pH balance. 

On day three I was more congested than usual. It was like my body was trying to eliminate in overdrive, and I really felt it. I had to keep a box of kleenex on hand throughout the day, and this was very frustrating. I was wondering if it would go away, but on day four I woke up with very little congestion at all. I kept eating my meals and snacks, drank plenty of water, and I really started feeling a huge difference. One of my go-to snacks was homemade guacamole and sliced cucumbers. I also enjoyed mango with cucumber slices as well.

Days five through seven were smooth sailing. On day five, I did deviate from the plan and had some raw pumpkin seed bars with my peaches. My daughter loves them, and I ended up buying a few of them for myself when I was getting some for her.

Overall, I have to say that after day three the congestion was minimal. I do think I need to take an allergy test just to see if I am unknowingly causing all this stuff that could easily be prevented. I do know that I am going to be more mindful about trying to make sure I include more alkaline than acidic foods in my diet and in the family meals I prepare. Will I stick solely to Dr. Sebi's plan? No. However, I will incorporate many of his principles into my lifestyle and continue to enjoy my vegan journey!

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If you browse through the various vegan recipes on my site you will see everything from vegan quesadillas to salads. Although there are many types of recipes, they often have one thing in common: beans! I include beans in my weekly meals and recipes because they not only taste good, they are good for you. A recent article by Thrive Cuisine highlights the amazing benefits of beans. The article is fascinating and goes in depth about the scientific research as well as some important health information as well. There are so many reasons why we should eat beans, but in this post we will look at four.

Number one: Studies show that consuming beans could positively impact resting heart rate and also combat cardiovascular disease.

 Number Two: Studies show that regular consumption of low glycemic index foods like beans, may be beneficial in preventing and managing of Type 2 diabetes.

Number Three: Beans can help you lose weight! They are one of the only foods with protein, fiber and complex carbs. This combination slows digestion and delays the onset of hunger so you stay full for longer.

Number Four: Eating beans can make you less gassy. Many people avoid beans because of this very issue, but according to the Thrive Cuisine article, "The more beans you eat the better your body gets at breaking down the resistant starches which in itself has several benefits such as colon cancer prevention."

So grab your grocery list, and if beans are not on there, you many want to add them!

For more information, check out the full article "The Benefits of Beans: We Explore the Scientific Research" here.

It's that time of year...cold and flu season. When you have a preschooler, it takes on a whole new meaning. Last year was my daughter's first year in school. Before she started, she was rarely ever sick. We kept her at home. Then she started preschool, and it hit us like a freight train. Her doctor said, "It's not uncommon for a preschooler to be sick six or more times during the school year." She was not kidding! It seemed like there was a cold every two or three weeks, but it did get better. School has been going on for about two months now, and there have already been a few colds and stomach bugs making their way around the classroom. Fortunately, we have not had to deal with the onslaught like we did last year, but we have had a couple of bouts. In fact, we are going through one right now. There are several things that I learned during the process.

​Fresh fruit naturally boosts the immune system.

Fruit is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber and water. Consistently eating fresh fruit fortifies the immune system without the harmful side-effects of traditional cold medicines that often times contain artificial sweeteners, artificial colors, and GMOs. These are things I don't want to ingest, and I definitely do not want that for my child. The side effects are very troubling. Let's take a look at children's acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Inactive ingredients: anhydrous citric acid, butylparaben, D&C red #33, FD&C blue #1, flavor, glycerin, high fructose corn syrup, microcrystalline cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose sodium, propylene glycol, purified water, sodium benzoate, sorbitol solution, xanthan gum.

Studies have shown that blue #1 aggravates asthma, red #40 can lead to hyperactivity and lower IQ, and sleep disturbances; high fructose corn syrup, which is genetically modified and can potentially lead to a whole host of complications. Sodium benzoate, can cause nausea and vomiting.

Doctors also love to prescribe antibiotics. There are numerous studies and reports about the dangers of antibiotics, and the Centers for Disease Control recently released a study saying "1 out of 3 antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary."

Dr. Joel Fuhrman recommends fresh fruits and vegetables to naturally boost your child's immune system. 

Check out my plant powered plate below. Read about the health benefits of the ingredients in this blog post.

According to Healthy Habits Pediatrics, "During infancy and the preschool years, the average child gets seven or eight colds each year. During the school-age years they average five or six colds each year. Finally as teenagers they reach an adult level of approximately four colds per year."

Thankfully, numerous studies show that a plant based diet is the way to go!

​This is one of my typical meal prep meals!