Meditation is a Detox for the SOUL

 

 

 

The Beauty of Meditation

 

Meditation has had a profound effect in my quest for personal wellness. I began practicing guided meditation over 20 years ago. It offered me healing from anxiety and mild depression, without harmful prescription medications.

Throughout my life, I would step away from my practice due to schedule limitations and the hectic lifestyle demands of my roles of wife, mom and entrepreneur. It was only a few years, ago that I returned to a regular committed practice. After studying with Deepak Chopra, who was a vital influence on the Health Coaching curriculum, at Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I found meditation again and all the beautiful benefits.

Meditation brings many cognitive benefits and helps me to focus my thoughts, creativity and manage my busy life. As an Integrative Health Coach, I work specifically with women who are trying to balance their lives in a holistic mind, body and soul approach. Meditation is a key ingredient in my “Recipe for Radiance” program. It acts a foundational detox of the mind to help bring about clarity, confidence, vibrant health, and stress free living.

Studies have shown that the physiological changes in the body, while meditating, offer powerful health promoting benefits. The power of mindful meditation can reduce anxiety, increase focus, increase creativity, reduce pain, reduce depression, decrease blood pressure, reduces inflammation in the body, boosts immunity, lowers systemic cortisol levels,  improves sleep and offers more balance to our emotions. I often prescribe my clients to “meditate before you medicate”.

 If you are new to meditation, I suggest following guided meditations that are available online, you tube or even apps that are available for smart phones. Eventually, you will discover you can meditate anywhere and anytime. I find quiet music or being in nature is my que to begin in gratitude and release thoughts that are weighing me down, focus on slowing my breathing and reflecting on specific mindful affirmations.

Bee Well,

Melissa Humphries

www.queenbeewellness.com

Integrative Health Coach, Nutritional Therapy, Organic Skin Care

Retreats, Workshops and Personal Coaching Programs

 

 

 

Home Sweet Home

It was time to come back home to my little, but much negelected, BLOG. I needed to share a lot of BIG changes. I am currently in Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers) and it seems as though the universe has been drawing me back HOME for some time now. You see, this is my birthplace. I have been gone for over 35 years (yikes that was almost scary to type). I have family here and have always remained infatuated with the natural state. However, life just never presented a realistic opportunity to return... until NOW.

A few years ago, my parents moved back to begin feathering their nest for future retirement and to be closer to their extended family.  Eventually my daughter made a proclamation that she would be attending the University Of Arkansas (at Fayetteville) to begin her Biology (Pre-Med) studies. Several visits later and I was swooning over the weather, terrain and beauty of all that is Northwest Arkansas and the Ozarks. Recently, a few daydreams were had , by my husband and I, that it would feel great to move this way in the next few years. I mean the Texas Oil and Gas economy has not been kind to our family finances and hubby's career and the climate (floods and droughts) and its associated expenses were devastating to our FARM investment--it was time to face that reality anyway. We had already been prioritizing our biggest life STRESSORS, and how to remove them one by one. Fast forward (only a few weeks) to my mother having a breast cancer diagnosis and my needing to be here full time to be her lead "Wellness Warrior" and I am HERE!

Its kind of surreal---in that I am HOME but not really. My husband and son (along with my amazing WWOOF interns) are in Texas and will be getting the farm consolidated and ready to sell. The Queen Bee Goats and Bee's will be going to my best friends ranch in Oklahoma (she is 45 minutes from NWA) and the cow to neighbors in Montgomery and chickens and donkeys will be relocated to other farms in the next several months. We will keep a place in Texas for hubby's work and so I can travel back and forth to visit my teenaged son (who is with his (birth)dad until HS graduation). How can you be following your "plan" and journey and suddenly be re-rooted?  It all seems to be THE right move, but is none the less a bit like being thrown out of an airplane. No worries though- I am a connector and have already been searching out my tribe and planting roots in my NEW community. As strange as sudden change can be...I do feel like I am coming HOME.

My mother had a PET scan yesterday to confirm that the Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, of the Breast, has not spread. We have GOT this and the challenge it brings with it. She is a strong woman and is searching all the best in HOLISTIC treatments. I wanted to bring the blog back as an outlet for me to share, vent and communicate about this NEW chapter.

I will be putting an emphasis on completing my "Recipe for Radiance" (Ingredients for living a BEAUTIFUL Life) program to work with my coaching clients remotely and LOCAL workshop venues here. My Queen Bee Wellness products will be available online for shipping still via my store at www.queenbeewellness.com and at the weekly Bentonville Farmers Market as of August 20th, 2016. I will be sharing on all my social media links as this is developed and events scheduled.

I am off to YOGA and a beautiful walk at my favorite little meditation spot in Bentonville, Crystal Bridges and Compton Gardens. Be good to yourselves and remember to nourish your mind, body and soul --"Wellness is Beauty".

Bee Well,
Melissa

Welcome to the HIVE......!

Well, its been a busy few months (it has only been a few months since I blogged, right?)

There has been so much BUZZ around my life and the farm. You may have noticed that I did a BIT of remodeling, rebranding, and updating on a path back to my roots- literally! My name, Melissa, actually means "Honey Bee" in Greek. So the Queen part is simply my personal message of treating our bodies like ROYALTY. We should each be crowned a BEAUTY queen in our lives by practicing exquisite self care (food, movement, meditation, and skin/body care)

So the QUEEN is born.....As you know, I previously blogged as  "Primitive DIVA" and had thrown off my tiara for more natural living. Well, as a queen, I have put my crown back on and am ready to start a new journey. So, for ANY of you still out there (chirp, chirp.....) I welcome you to the HIVE!

After graduating from IIN almost 1 year ago, my wellness coaching style and a passion for a new niche has forever been changed to one that embodies an alchemy of Mind, Body, and Soul integration to create a radiant and healthy life. My message can be summarized in "Wellness Is Beauty"! I have developed new programs like "Recipe For Radiance" (10 steps to reclaiming your authentic beauty) along with a foundational Queen Bee Wellness Therapeutic Skin Care Line that is helping women (and yes, men too) maintain their natural GLOW without harming their health and disrupting their hormones with TOXIC chemical laden products. Its a ROYAL match made in heaven.

I am looking forward to sharing information, recipes, products, and videos in 2016. If you want to visit the Wellness Boutique and see what all the BUZZ is about or visit my Health Coaching site (on the tab above) to schedule a consultation, I would LOVE to chat with you!

Bee Well,

Melissa Humphries CHHC

Queen Bee Founder

Health and Beauty Coach

Do you miss cereal....?

              

Do you miss cereal in the mornings.....? I did too! For those who avoid wheat and a few other inflammatory grains, you will jump up and down with excitement over this new "seed cereal" it's ahhhhmazing! 

Meet Qia, a trio of powerful superfood seeds (chia, buckwheat and hemp )crafted into a lightly sweetened cereal by Natures Path. I tried the cranberry vanilla. It's delicious and loaded with 6 grams of plant based protein, 4 grams of fiber and 1.9 grams ALA Omega 3s. 

I added 4 ounces of raw goats milk and a dash of bee pollen for a little boost and it was a very energizing start to my day. Check out their website www.naturespath.com to find a store near you. Your belly will thank you! 

 

Fermentation Crocks

For those who attended our wonderful fermentation class at Three Goats Farm yesterday, here is the crock that we used for the small 5 Liter kraut batch we started. the pricing has increased slightly since I purchased mine last year- however, still a great bargain. Happy FERMENTING!







The base recipe for the 5 Liter was 4 heads of cabbage at 1 Tbsp salt per head.......from their get your taste buds and seasonal bounty involved in your recipe creation. Now go "get cultured"!

Super charged protein shake

With my history of personal training and being a former gym rat, I have consumed quite a bit of "protein powder meals" As my education, and consequently career,evolved into nutrition over the past 10 years-I became aware of how incredibly toxic these protein powders are and how damaging they can be in the body (in the form of isolates).

I have clients who will inevitably ask- which protein powder do I suggest. My answer is NONE! Pure, clean, WHOLE food and "Primitive" nutrition is ALWAYS best. 

Manufacturers advertise protein powders as a convenient way to get extra protein to boost fitness gains. These products are marketed to everyone from moms to body builders. But recent clinical research has raised some serious questions about the safety of getting extra protein in isolated form.

Most people get enough protein from their diets and an "over consumption" of protein that has been taken away from it's other nutritional counterparts can create imbalance  in the body. Consequently, stressing eliminatory organs (kidney, liver, etc...) There are many other side effects of consuming synthetic processed forms of protein. One of the more dangerous with long term issues is  an increased osteoporosis risk. Due to calcium leached from bones to offset the acidic PH due to over consumption with no other phytonutrients available in synergy to balance.

So, I wanted to take a moment to point out the obvious......a pretty common, moderately priced whey isolate protein supplement on the market has 32 ingredients (of which half are synthetic chemicals, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavors, and milk isolates - like soy and whey. While it boasts 26 grams of protein, it's not really FOOD! 

Let's compare that 26 grams of protein to my GREEN smoothie this morning:

2 Cups Raw Goats Milk( you can substitute Almond or Coconut) -- 17grams

4 Cups Raw Organic Spinach --2 grams

1 TBSP Chia Seeds--3 grams

1/4 Cup Raw Sunflower Seeds--7 grams

1/4 Cup Raw Pumpkin Seeds--9 grams

1/4 Cup Raw Almonds--6 grams

1 Cup Raw Organic Blueberries--1.1 grams

1 Raw Frozen Banana--2.5 gram

 

So my grand total is 47.6 grams of protein that was delivered with all the synergistic nutrients, fats and enzymes that my body needs to assimilate and digest the protein. No sugars, synthetics or toxic ingredients! 

So, next time you want a "protein boost" or a meal replacement choose REAL food. Want to boost your smoothie further......add super foods like an egg yolk, turmeric, maca, kefir, etc...

Ready to blend.......

Green Magic........

What is a Froodle......?

Apple Fig Fruit Leather Roll Ups

Over the weekend, I had the chance to visit my dear friend, Health Educator/Nutritionist  and author of "The Pantry Principles", Mira Dessy . We had a wonderful time chatting while we toured her beautiful Lakeside home. She has the most amazing orchard guild on her property with several Fig Trees that were loaded with fruit.

We decided to do our own little "Food Swap" ......she shared her delicious figs, fresh basil, blackberry bushes and many seeds from her garden FOR my fermented habanero kraut, kefir, kale chips and my herbed goat cheese.

Fresh Figs and Basil warm from the sun

I had so many ideas of how I wanted to use these beautiful figs. Like the fig and goat cheese tart, that I am making tonight, and a savory jam. But first, in honor of Mira and her "Ingredient Guru" status, I wanted to REcreate something that is a common store bought snack item. One that claims to be a healthy alternative..... Fruit roll ups! (YUCK: loaded with petroleum dyed high fructose corn syrup)

 So, I combined some of the figs with a few organic apples and made a VERY tasty treat. When I was wrapping the roll ups, I decided to play a bit and cut them (with a pizza cutter) into Froodle. This was a snack that I used to make my kids about 5 or 6 years ago. This is a great way to not only preserve seasonal fruit, but to get those picky eaters(Children AND adults)to consume some extra nutrient dense fruits and veggies. Another favorite combination is a banana and spinach leather.....add lemon juice to create a sour patch flavor. Have leftover green smoothies? Mix with an apple or banana,pour and spread onto teflex/nonstick screen, dehydrate at 105 degrees overnight and slice into fruit noodles, using a pizza cutter AKA "Froodle" and enjoy. will keep for a month or more in an air tight container. I have and LOVE my Excalibur 9 Tray Dehydrator- Its 10 years old and still going strong!

This is "Froodle"......!



Hello Monday......!

I hope everyone enjoyed  their long holiday weekend. We stayed so busy working on farm projects for the NEW house, we did not have time to celebrate with the fourth with our friends, family and fireworks. However, we did manage to get away for an evening sunset swim on Saturday. We were invited to enjoy our friends pool while they were away. We enjoyed relaxation and a beautiful bottle of Cab Franc. We went to a movie, on Friday night-- ("Tammy"), it was a total DIVA thumbs up for some silly laughter (best medicine ever for stress). I snuck some garlic pepper cashews and Kombucha soda into the movie, shhhhh......don't tell.  Real foodist deserve to have snacks at the movies too, right?

Hubby made a home made corned beef from a grass fed brisket.....so I did indulge a bit on Sunday with a Gluten Free Rueben, our Three Goats Farm Sauerkraut , raw Swiss cheese, horseradish, olive oil potato chips and a delicious peach vanilla frozen kefir(honey sweetened). And yes, more amazing wine (oops, SUGAR!)

This was a delicious Reuben On GF toasted GF bread (thanks UDI's)

Peach, Vanilla bean and Honey Frozen Kefir (sorry for the poor lighting) trust me that it looked way more beautiful during the few seconds before it was gobbled up.

So, hello Monday and back to my program. I am excited for my workout today-my workout buddy can't make it. So hubby will join me (evil grin). Ya know if you love your Monday, it will love you back!

Breakfast was a very nourishing "balanced breakfast  bowl" ...with high protein Quinoa, egg, spinach, peppers, turmeric,garlic and olive oil! Remember : protein+carb+fat= vitality energy and hormonal harmony!

I will be back later to share some supplement and beauty tips

nourished and ready to rock my week!

In health and happiness,

Melissa The Primitive DIVA

Anti Inflammatory Tea...AKA, Magic!

My workouts this week had left some residual aches and pains....yes, getting old (errrr I mean "older") just takes a bit more magic to recover. I brewed a soothing Ginger, Tumeric, Vanilla Bean and Stevia Leaf Tea. Amazing health benefits of each of these SUPERFOODS! 

In Health and Happiness,

Melissa ~ The Primitive DIVA

Oh, by the way, I found a few benefit summary visuals on Pinterest. I love Pinterest, don't you?  Each has it's source credits listed for you to research further. Thanks for sharing.......LifeHack and Think Healthy Diet! 

MACA Munch Granola

2 cups soaked and rinsed raw almonds

2 cups of finely shredded unsweetened coconut

1 cup soaked (softened) medjool dates

1/2 cup cacao nibs

2 Tsp Himalayan salt

1/4 cup MACA (I used Navita brand* found in my amazon store on right)

Blend all ingredients in food processor by pulsing until chunky but not forming solid "dough". Place on dehydrator tray (screen) and dehydrate at 105 degrees for 12 hours. Place in an airtight container for storing. I enjoyed mine for breakfast with raw kefir and organic blueberries. Munch straight or add your favorite milk and fruit!

ENJOY!

Good Morning Sunshine

2 Egg Yolks (fresh free range)

6 ounces of raw Kefir (mine was goat milk obviously)

1 Tbsp grass fed Butter

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil

2 Tsp Tumeric

2 Tsp Cinnamon

2 Tsp Ginger

2 Tsp Cardamom

1 heaping Tbsp of MACA

What a beautiful way to NOURISH your body! This smoothie is loaded with healthy fats, whole protein, adaptogenic foods, antioxidants, anti inflammatory foods, beneficial bacteria (probiotic), enzymes, endocrine hormone balancing compounds, liver support and MORE!......Let Food Be Thy Medicine

A new twist on one of my favorites!

You guys know how much I love my kale chips. I have been so busy lately, I have only made a batch or two. I did try a few bags of premade ($7-$10, Gulp!)and they were awful. So,while shopping last night, i grabbed a few bags of kale and a .79 bag of TJ's Taco Seasoning. I have discovered an amazing combination that makes the most delicious kale chips ever AND they are so easy. All the ingredients came from my FAVORITE store~Trader Joes! Have I said Thank YOU to the TJ'S decision to build a store in the Woodlands, Texas. I mean, its still 45-60 minutes from me at the farm in Montgomery BUT their selection of organics, beautiful produce, raw cheeses, my kids favorite sourdough, natural cleaning products, organic wines....and of course their prices are GREAT! 

Two bags of TJ's Organic Tuscan Kale

1 package of TJ's Taco Seasoning mix (no MSG-woo hoo!)

1/2 cup Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 to 1 Tbsp Sea or Himalayan Salt

1 cup of Nutritional Yeast

A few cloves of crushed Garlic

Mix all together in a large bowl, spread onto dehydrator screen and dehydrate at 105-110 for several hours until crispy OR spread onto cookie sheet and place in a 170-200 degree (or lowest setting) oven until crispy.

 I kept a bowl of the seasoned kale to enjoy as a salad at lunch topped with pico, avocados and some of my goat cheese. 

I hope you try these.....they are very delicious!

The MANY Benefits of Infrared Sauna

Enjoying the benefits of Dry Brushing and Infrared sauna

 

 I found this amazing little place, on the lake nearby, Planet Beach Contempo Spa. One of the services they offer is a 30 minute full detox therapy in a Sunlighten Infrared Sauna. Years ago, I had a sauna in my home and I had  some pretty incredible health benefits from using the sauna daily. The practice of using heat to heal and cure the body has been in place ,for several centuries, throughout the world and many cultures. Native Americans had sweat tents/lodges and Romans had their famous steam bathing, to mention a few.

 

 

I visited the Sunlighten site to do some research on the many benefits of infrared.  Here is a general list of benefits, that you should know. I have a sauna on my WISH list for the new house. In the meantime, I love that I can visit my newly discovered mini spa and enjoy a sauna whenever I like.

 

Infrared Sauna Health Benefits

Infrared saunas are an effective tool for natural healing and prevention. Infrared light has the ability to penetrate human tissue which in turn produces a host of anti-aging health benefits making infrared saunas one of the “hottest” home therapies for overall healthier living. If you want to get yourself back into balance, an infrared sauna may be the ticket to achieving your wellness goals.

Detoxification

 

Sweating is the body’s safe and natural way to heal & stay healthy. Far infrared heats the body directly causing a rise in core temperature resulting in a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where toxins reside.

 

Weight Loss

Studies have shown that an infrared sauna session can burn upwards of 600 calories while you relax! As the body works to cool itself, there is a substantial increase in heart rate, cardiac output and metabolic rate, causing the body to burn more calories.

 

Relaxation

Unlike traditional saunas which operate at extremely harsh temperatures, infrared is a gentle, soothing and therapeutic heat that promotes relaxation and improved sleep. Infrared sauna therapy helps you relax while receiving an invigorating deep tissue sweat, leaving you fully refreshed after each session.  

Pain Relief

Infrared heat penetrates tissue, joints, and muscles to relieve anything from minor aches and pains to chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Pain management professionals incorporate infrared heat therapy into treatment plans to decrease pain and muscle spasms and to speed up recovery time.   

 

Lower Blood Pressure

Infrared saunas induce a deep sweat to make the heart pump faster, which in turn increases blood flow, lowers blood pressure and helps circulation. Scientific evidence shows that using an infrared sauna a couple times a week lowers blood pressure.  

 

Improved Circulation

Heating the muscles with infrared rays produces an increase in blood flow similar to that seen during exercise. Regular infrared sauna use—especially in the mid IR range—can significantly stimulate blood flow up to twice the normal rate.

 

Anti-Aging & Skin Purification

The near infrared wavelength (sometimes referred to as Red Light Therapy) is the most effective wavelength for healing the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. Near infrared treatments stimulate collagen production to reduce wrinkles and improve overall skin tone 

 

Wound Healing

Scientific research has concluded that near infrared therapy greatly enhances the skin’s healing process by promoting faster cell regeneration and human tissue growth. Human cell growth increases to repair wounds and prevent infection

 

Cell Health

Near infrared therapy stimulates the circulatory system and more fully oxygenate the body’s cells. Better blood circulation means more toxins flow from the cellular level to the skin’s surface to improve cell health, aid in muscle recovery and strengthen the immune system

 

So, if you have interest in trying out a sauna for yourself, check into visiting your LOCAL Planet Beach Contempo Spa. Tell them Melissa Humphries- THE Primitive Diva referred you! Hee Hee, maybe I might get a free Sauna or two.

 

 



A little Monday morning RESTORE

Good morning.....felt a little run down last week (sore throat, aches....) My awesome hubby left the country for a 3 week business trip and, well-- its a bit stressful managing all the people and critters around here single handedly. But, whatever it was, I knocked it out with a powerful blend of my favorite Mountain Rose herbal teas, adaptogenic herbs, Genesis specialized nutrients and minerals, DoTerra essential oils and REST!

So, I took it easy over the weekend with lots of reading, long walks,sunshine and some nourishing foods.

Thought today would be a great day for a "mini" RESTORE.  I started my day with a balance of immune builders and cleansing elixirs, while I enjoyed some quiet time and a much needed phone call from my best friend (my hubby). Ahhhh......such a great welcome to a Monday!  I will update my post through the day. But, know that I am busy in the kitchen preparing bone broth, kefir, green juices and raw soups to infuse and build my body with PURE goodness! 

I have a half gallon of raw goat kefir to enjoy today. It will flood my body with enzymes, protein and beneficial bacteria! 

Here is my strawberry kefir, sooo delicious.

I have a pot of bone broth on the stove (24 hours and counting) today's is Two Roosters soup. It is loaded with veggies and every herb in my garden( it smells divine) and yes, two roosters that were misbehaving (sorry, it's a fact of life-- overly "amorous" roosters can mame or kill your chickens. So, boys.....be warned, haha!)

And off to blend up a beautiful green smoothies to enjoy at lunch,with a boost of PURE Greens and Fresh Pomegranate (a fall favorite!)

How are you loving yourself today?

A Time For Renewal (Part 1 of 2)

Obviously my absence and sporadic posts are evidence--BUT, for clarity my life has been hectic and CrAzY this summer. It seems EVERY single week there has been something demanding ALL of my time and energy. The stress of construction and planning, animals, hubby’s travel schedule, my daughters surgery(broken collarbone), my hubby’s "repairs" (chainsaw –vs- finger AND and an abdominal hernia) and well, just LIFE. Don’t get me wrong, I am not whining about my life….I LOVE MY LIFE! We are being blessed seeing our dreams of the farm take shape. But, seriously my type A personality gets the best of me sometimes. I found myself not focusing on “ME” very much as I dug my heels in to take care of ALL the humans and critters I am responsible for nurturing!  I always preach the importance of self care and making a priority of taking care of the care taker. However, neglecting my own advice, I slid into a state of exhaustion and a bit of an “I don’t care” mentality. It is soooo easy to fall into old habits-- indulge in some not so NOURISHING comfort foods, skip my workouts, not have my prayer time in the morning, go for an afternoon coffee to perk me up, instead of an afternoon run……..well, screech. Someone put on the brakes. Who is this woman staring back in the mirror? where did my Diva GLOW go? What happened to my boundless energy? Where did my SMILE go? I found myself desperate for a reset button. Hmmmm….they say,ask and you shall receive, right?

A dear friend of mine, and fellow REAL food advocate at Pura Vida Livin, presented me with a product line that he had been using both personally and with his fitness clients. He knew I was VERY particular about the ingredients of supplements, foods, etc….(as he is also)And don't you guys know, that this knowledge junkie began intense research immediately. The first direction: I went to learn more about the founder and formulator of Genesis PURE , Naturopath and Clinical Nutritionist, Dr.Lindsay Duncan. I had seen a TED talk he did a couple of years ago and was impressed(You can watch HERE) I spent several days sifting through reviews and interestingly enough, I found no negative reviews only great success stories. Next, I began the products slowly and then ventured into the Genesis PURE’s signature DETOX protocol. The ingredients are ALL “ROCK Star” nutrients, adaptogenic and therapeutic herbs. Like….(MB) B Vitamins, Calcium, Iodine, Chromium, Guarana Seed, Garcinia Cambogia Fruit, Yerba Mate Leaves, Bitter Orange Extract, Gymnema Sylvestre Leaves, Rhodiola Rosea Root, Cacao (Theobromine), Coleous Forskhlii Root, Amino Acid Blends of L-Glutamine and L-Tyrosine, Green Tea, Ginger Root, Dandelion Leaves, Chickweed, Uva Ursi Leaves, Gotu Kola Leaves, Cayenne Pepper, Bladderwrack, Kelp, Piper Longum Fruit, Chinese Red Ginseng, Boldo (HANG ON NEED TO CATCH MY BREATH......)Leaves, Nopal Cactus, Trace Minerals.(FS)Aloe Vera Gel, Gentian Root, Wasabi Root, Hawthorn Berry, Betaine HCI, Peppermint Leaves, Pau D’Arco Bark, Milk Thistle Seeds, Eleuthero Root, Fennel Seed, Burdock Root, Suma Root, Licorice Root, Cardamom Fruit, Cayenne Pepper. (IB)Goji Berry Juice, Acai Berry Puree, Sorrel Flower, Schizandra Berry, Maca Root, Noni Fruit, Ashwaganda Root, MSM, Bamboo Stem Extract, Mangosteen Fruit, Ginger Root, Blueberry Fruit, Amla Berry, Harada Fruit Extract, Brahmi Plant, Nepali Shilajit Extract, Puncture Vine Fruit Extract, Fucoidan, Sea Buckthorn, Georgian Snow Rose Leaves, Siberian Golden Root, Velvet Bean Extract, Iron Rich Blackstrap Molasses (AC)Cacao, Magnesium, Oolong Tea, Powdered Hoodia Herb, Cha De Bugre Extract,(CC)Cascara Sagrada, Psyllium Seeds, Fennel Seeds, Cats Claw Root, Ginger Root, Boldo Leaf, Artichoke Extract, Slippery Elm Bark, Basil Leaves, Spearmint Leaves, Dandelion Leaves, Cornsilk, Licorice Root, Alfalfa Leaf, Clove Flower, Dandelion Root, Red Rasberry Leaf, Mullein Leaves, Red Clover Blossoms, Milk Thistle Seeds.(CS)Chlorella,Carrot Root, Fenugreek Seed, Flax Seed, Spirulina, Barley Grass, Pomegranate, Oats, Papaya, Digestive Enzymes, Beneficial ProBiotics, Chelated Minerals, Proteins and well, seriously people…..this is the most comprehensive organically based deep cleanse I have ever seen.

 All of these healing foods, elixirs, extracts and herbs Infused into your body. I added the suggested Alkalizing, anti-oxidant and phyto-nutrient rich herbs, fruits and veggies like berries, apples and citrus, cabbage, broccoli, beets, sweet potatoes, cauliflower.

So, fast forward only 7 days: I am down 12 pounds, Hubby is down 15 pounds. My energy is soaring, skin is glowing, digestion is completely efficient. The protocol is designed to focus on ALL 7 pathways of elimination and it has worked beautifully. I incorporated the use of Dry Skin Brushing, Infrared Sauna, Walking and Hydro-Massage for an extra boost to my lymph, adrenals, liver and pancreas.

Here is an overview of the generalized plan. I have also mentioned (below) what foods I chose for the *If needed categories below the chart. I do not believe in extreme fasting so I always elected to include the whole foods when prompted.

1 Complete Shake- Berry, 1 Metabolic Boost, 1 Ionic Blend, 1 Capsule Cleanse, 2 Fasting Solution, 1 Appetite Chew
Breakfast	Mid-Morning	Lunch	Mid-Afternoon	Dinner	Evening (before 9pm)
2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, take 4oz. Fasting Solution and 1oz. Ionic Blend with 8oz. water, followed by 1 Appetite Chew	4 oz. Fasting Solution, 16oz. water, 1 Appetite Chew, fruit or shot of GoYin	2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, take 4oz. Fasting Solution, followed by 1-2 cups *vegetables, or mineral broth if needed	4 oz. Fasting Solution, 16oz. water, 1 Appetite Chew, fruit or shot of GoYin	1 Appetite Chew, 8oz. water, *vegetable or fruit juice mixed with Fruit & Fiber Mix, if needed	*Vegetable/mineral broth, if needed. 1 Capsule Cleanse or more^ with 8oz. Water
2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, take 4oz. Fasting Solution and 1oz. Ionic Blend with 8oz. water, followed by 1 Appetite Chew	4 oz. Fasting Solution, 16oz. water, 1 Appetite Chew, fruit or shot of GoYin	*Vegetable/mineral broth, if needed. 1 Capsule Cleanse or more^ with 8oz. Water	2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, take 4oz. Fasting Solution, followed by 1-2 cups *vegetables, or mineral broth if needed	4 oz. Fasting Solution, 16oz. water, 1 Appetite Chew, fruit or shot of GoYin	1 Appetite Chew, 8oz. water, *vegetable or fruit juice mixed with Fruit & Fiber Mix, if needed
16oz. water, 2 Appetite Chews, blanched vegetables or mineral broth, if needed or shot of GoYin	2 Metabolic Boost with16oz. water. 15-30 min later, eat a *palm-size portion of protein, 3 cups vegetables, 1 cup whole grain or sweet potato, 1 TBSP flax or coconut oil	16oz. water, 2 Appetite Chews, blanched vegetables, if needed or shot of GoYin	Complete Shake (with 2oz coconut water, 4oz nut/seed milk and 4oz water), 8oz. water	2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, Complete Shake (with 2oz coconut water, 4oz nut/seed milk and 4oz water) and 1oz. Ionic Blend	1 Capsule Cleanse or more^ with 8oz. Water
2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, Complete Shake (with 2oz coconut water, 4oz nut/seed milk and 4oz water) and 1oz. Ionic Blend	16oz. water, 2 Appetite Chews, blanched vegetables or mineral broth, if needed or shot of GoYin	2 Metabolic Boost with16oz. water. 15-30 min later, eat a *palm-size portion of protein, 3 cups vegetables, 1 cup whole grain or sweet potato, 1 TBSP flax or coconut oil	16oz. water, 2 Appetite Chews, blanched vegetables, if needed or shot of GoYin	8oz. water, *palm-size portion of protein, 3 cups vegetables, 1 cup whole grain or sweet potato, 1 TBSP flax oil	1 Capsule Cleanse or more^ with 8oz. Water
2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later,1 cup. organic slow-cooked oatmeal with nuts and dried fruit to sweeten and 1oz. Ionic Blend	16oz. water, 2 Appetite Chews, blanched vegetables or mineral broth, if needed or shot of GoYin	2 Metabolic Boost with16oz. water. 15-30 min later, eat a *palm-size portion of protein, 3 cups vegetables, 1 cup whole grain or sweet potato, 1 TBSP flax or coconut oil	16oz. water, 2 Appetite Chews, blanched vegetables, if needed or shot of GoYin	Complete Shake (with 2oz coconut water, 4oz nut/seed milk and 4oz water), 8oz. water	1 Capsule Cleanse or more^ with 8oz. Water

Day 6 - Cleanse	2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, take 4oz. Fasting Solution and 1oz. Ionic Blend with 8oz. water, followed by 1 Appetite Chew	4 oz. Fasting Solution, 16oz. water, 1 Appetite Chew, fruit or shot of GoYin	2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, take 4oz. Fasting Solution, followed by 1-2 cups *vegetables, or mineral broth if needed	4 oz. Fasting Solution, 16oz. water, 1 Appetite Chew, fruit or shot of GoYin	1 Appetite Chew, 8oz. water, *vegetable or fruit juice mixed with Fruit & Fiber Mix, if needed	*Vegetable/mineral broth, if needed. 1 Capsule Cleanse or more^ with 8oz. Water
Day 7 - Cleanse	*Vegetable/mineral broth, if needed. 1 Capsule Cleanse or more^ with 8oz. Water	2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, take 4oz. Fasting Solution and 1oz. Ionic Blend with 8oz. water, followed by 1 Appetite Chew	4 oz. Fasting Solution, 16oz. water, 1 Appetite Chew, fruit or shot of GoYin	2 Metabolic Boost with 16oz. water. 15-30 min later, take 4oz. Fasting Solution, followed by 1-2 cups *vegetables, or mineral broth if needed	4 oz. Fasting Solution, 16oz. water, 1 Appetite Chew, fruit or shot of GoYin	1 Appetite Chew, 8oz. water, *vegetable or fruit juice mixed with Fruit & Fiber Mix, if needed
How to Maximize Your Program
*Vegetable/mineral broth - At the beginning of the DETOX, I made a large batch of Vegetable Mineral Broth with Garlic, Tumeric, Cayenne, Ginger and Savory Herbs.
*Vegetables can be eaten raw, blanched or lightly steamed. Juice should be freshly juiced and not prepared (no V8).I steamed my vegetables (Carrot, Cabbage, Spinach, Broccoli, Beets and Cauliflower with Garlic and Fresh Herbs) As an alternative, I blended my veggies into a warm soup and topped with turmeric and garlic for a satisfying and filling dinner.
^Capsule Cleanse dosage may be increased by one per day until you achieve 2-3 bowel movements per day. May also use Liquid Cleanse in place of Capsule Cleanse.
Fruit should be in season and low-glycemic (LOW glycemic ex: apples, berries, citrus. HIGH glycemic ex: tropical fruits such as bananas, mangos, melons and pineapple.)
Protein should be either plant-based or organic, naturally-raised animal-based (preferably chicken or turkey thigh or salmon, all of which contain healthy fats). However, to achieve a more thorough cleanse, focus on plant-based protein.
Whole grains do NOT include bread or baked goods. Whole grains include amaranth, barley, buckwheat, bulgur, kamut, millet, oats, rice (brown, wild, red), rye and quinoa.
Drink 80-100 oz. of quality alkaline, ionized water throughout the day. May add fresh lemon juice and cayenne pepper to water for flavor and additional cleansing.
For strong cravings for sugar, carbs or fat, try one TBSP organic, raw coconut oil.
Exercise for 20-30 minutes each day (sweating and breathing deeply). Bounce on rebound trampoline or bounce/shake body in place for 5 min daily to move lymph system.
Dry-brush body every morning using a natural bristle brush, making long strokes along limbs and circular strokes around joints, breast and abdomen.
Please refer to the "Golden Rules for Health and Vitality" for more dietary and lifestyle recommendations.
ADDITIONAL GENESIS PURE PRODUCTS: You may use the following additional products during your cleanse.
Cell Water: You may add Cell Water to your purified water when drinking throughout the day.
Control: You may take Control in place of Metabolic Boost.
Coral Calcium: You may take Coral Calcium before bed.
Fruit & Fiber Mix: You can take additional Fruit & Fiber mix if you have constipation issues or need additional fiber in your diet. Recommended daily fiber: 25-40 grams
Green Coffee Bean: You may take Green Coffee Bean with Control or Metabolic Boost before meals.
Noni: You may take Noni to help purify your liver, blood and digestive system.<
Probiotic: You are encouraged to take Probiotic in the morning and/or evening on an empty stomach.
Silver: You may take Silver to help eliminate unhealthy bacteria, fungus and pathogens.<

I will continue to share my experience of my transition to a nutrient dense RESTORE diet and add in more of the SUPER Fruits, Sulfur, Daily Build, Coral Calcium, Cell Water, Alkaline Water and the very cool GPS  sports support products. Well, off to finish drinking my Pure Café, Green Coffee Bean drink and head out to work off some of this PURE Energy! Thank you to my AWESOME friend Jared, for sharing this company with me. I believe in the products so much that it is now part of each nutrition client protocol that I prescribe. Hubby and I are gifting our parents and a few friends with their very own DETOX kits.  If you want more information, please comment below and I will schedule a complimentary Skype consult with you to explain how to start on your journey to a healthy Genesis PURE future~  Have a GREAT day!

In Health and Happiness, Melissa

Easy like Sunday morning.....

Finally.....a slow, peaceful morning in my life to write a few lines and hopefully update those who may be still following my much neglected blog (chirp, chirp,chirp,chirp from the crickets).Still working on transferring to my domain but having to wait on a new intern to catch up with m

Over the next weeks, we are preparing to bring in more power lines, dig the well and pour the slab for our HOME on the farm.....this small and efficient barndominium living has been fun. But our dream has always been to have a place for family and friends to gather,relax and entertain. I will share the construction journey as it progresses. 

Even though we are in transition to our home, permanent barn,etc... it has become official, I am a goat farmer now. Just owning a few goats was simply having my own personal petting zoo. But actually breeding, kidding, milking and bottle feeding is a whole NEW lifestyle. Oh....did I mention that I am in heaven? 

My herd queen Bella, had her first baby, under a FULL moon, about 2 weeks ago. A little Doeling named "Moonshine". This little girl is a spunky little thing and is giving me hours of giggles with her classic baby goat antics. Bella is already blessing us with over a half gallon of milk every day which is keeping "Moo" in bottles of milk and providing cheese, kefir and soap for my family.

Settling into a routine of twice a day milking has been a little challenging. But, as with anything new, it is becoming just part of my daily routine. Hubby and I milked this morning, then bottle fed the baby. Now enjoying homemade sourdough breakfast sandwich made with einkorn ancient grain wheat, grass fed butter, our raw goat cheese and local eggs. What a delicious Sunday morning treat. And of course, it would not be complete without a glass of raw goat kefir....this batch is flavored with vanilla bean and organic maple syrup ( a new favorite recipe). 

Well off to track down a cow that seems to have taken up residence on our property. Has left quite a few, ummmm patties all over the place. I already asked hubs if I can keep it if we can't find it's owner-haha. And then while we are cow hunting, we are on the lookout for our neighbors Emu that got loose last night! What does your day hold? 

Here is my delicious einkorn sourdough using ancient grain flour from Jovial in Italy. It is crusty and delicious.

Raw goat kefir with maple syrup and vanilla bean- my recent obsession!

And lastly, Moonshine(1 hour hold) and her friend ,6 month old , Ellie Mae......Awwwwww!

Summer Salsa

I have had several requests this week for my Salsa recipe. We are officially in Tomato season in Texas and loving our local bounty but needing to get creative with preserving these beauties. So today I am sharing my recipe for the BEST salsa ever (If I do say so myself). Later in the week, we will share a fermented ketchup recipe that my hubby is working on.

 Fermented Summer Salsa

(Makes 1 qt)
6-8  Fresh tomatoes
2- 3 green onions, chopped
1 large size chopped jalapeno(seeded)
6-8 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped or pressed
1 bunch cilantro
juice of 1-2 limes
2 T. sea salt
1/4 c. filtered water with tsp of salt (This is the brine)

Pulse in food processor until it reaches a consistency that you enjoy. Some prefer a "chunkier" salsa. Place in a quart-sized, wide-mouth mason jar. Press down lightly until the juices rise up; if there is not enough liquid to cover the vegetables then add a little brine water. The top of the vegetables/liquid should be about an inch below the top of the jar. Cover with a loose jar lid OR a towel, place jar in a bowl to catch any expansion overflow and keep at room temperature in a dark and undisturbed area for about 5 days before sealing and transferring to the fridge.
A note about timing: that “5 days” is a very subjective figure. It depends on a number of factors.  The temperature of your kitchen is also a factor. I like the flavor that develops at 5 days BUT have gone several weeks before.

 How do you know when it’s done? Taste it every single day. Twice a day if it’s really warm in your kitchen. Open it up, press the vegetables down, and give them a taste. When it tastes really good (slightly effervescent) it’s done. As you can see, there is pretty much no way to get this wrong.
If you use the no whey-extra salt method, like I do, you’ll know it’s done when it starts to taste less salty.

 I don’t know that I’d let this one go TOO long… probably better slightly fermented than sour-kraut-level fermented.

NOTE: We had a recent batch of salsa that we let ferment until it was practically explosive. It had fermented for 2 weeks in Texas summer (78-80 degrees in my kitchen at times). Anyway, it tasted good, but it is very bubbly.  Almost like a champagne salsa which is a very refreshing flavor. If you personally want to avoid this, transfer to your fridge before the “exploding with bubbles” stage. There’s a lot of variation in this process, and with practice you get better and better at it. Give yourself the permission to experiment and fail, and you can’t go wrong.

There are MANY variations with salsa.....experiment with a few of your favorites. Add a variety of fresh peppers, fruits, carrots, etc... My favorite Salsa Verde would substitute the tomatoes with tomatillos and an addition of cucumber. VERY refreshing and light!

 ENJOY!

Nuno Felting

No, I am not writing about food, fitness or beauty today. But, I am sharing a bit of creative therapy that I had the opportunity to explore today.

 

I enjoyed a break in my schedule for a class on Nuno Felting....! It is truly a primitive art form, using natural fibers such as mohair, alpaca, silk, wool, etc... I hope you enjoy this brief history of Nuno and some pictures of the scarf I created today.

 

 

"Felted fabric is thought to predate woven or spun fabric. Among the oldest examples of felt are 3,500 -year-old hats found in Scandinavia..." It's not hard to imagine the use or almost necessity of felt in colder climates, but nuno felt was developed with just the opposite in mind. "When Polly Stirling codeveloped nuno felt with her assistant Sachiko Kotaka, her intention was to create a cooler, wearable felt for the warm climate of Australia, where she lives part-time." For me, that was a big draw too. Living in the humid subtropic of southeast Texas.



"Nuno is Japanese for fabric or cloth." It's the word that became associated with this technique during the collaboration of Stirling and Kotaka. "Today they are widely credited with popularizing the technique, although northern Europeans developed a similar technique about a decade earlier. Their term 'laminated felting' is preferrred by some feltmakers, since Nuno is also the name of a textile design company in Japan."

"To create nuno felt, very small amounts of wool are layered on a pre-existing fabric, usually silk or cotton. During the felting process, the wool fibers migrate through the weave of the cloth and entangle, pulling the cloth along with them as they shrink. The result is a fully integrated and highly textural fabric..... Nuno...gathers in all directions rather than just one, making the fabric appear bubbled. ..... Nuno felting strips things down to the bare bones, making use of wool's alchemic power even when using so very few fibers. When we experience the total transformation of so few bits of wool on cloth, somehow the power of the process is more starkly revealed to us. ..... nuno felt is also very practical as a wearable fabric. It is incredibly lightweight and drapes the body beautifully. Not only is it gorgeous, but it also completely takes people off guard when they hear how it's created."

Here is a close up of the laying down or placement of my natural fibers onto my cotton muslin.



(Above is the scarf, before the felting process began) Wetting, soaping, rolling and tossing....it was a workout over the course of this 3 hour class. But the scarf turned out beautifully and I am not sure whether to wear it OR hang it on my wall.

If you get a chance, research this technique.Its so beautiful. I plan to do a larger project for an art piece in my new home and maybe even a few scarves for Christmas gifts. I am hooked!