Cilantro Cashew Dip on Crunchy Jicama

Meet my favorite new crunchy, creamy, low-glycemic snack: Cilantro Cashew Dip on Crunchy Jicama. Have you ever had cashew cheese? It is so delicious, and very easy to make. For those of us with a dairy allergy or sensitivity, it's such a nice option. Even if you're ok with dairy, you'll still love it, and it can be flavored in a number of ways. Moving on, have you ever had jicama? I really appreciate jicama for it's prebiotic fiber. Prebiotics feed the good bacteria in your colon and keep them predominating over the pathogenic bacteria. And if you're fighting candida or are eating grain-free for any other reason, it's such a wonderful crunchy medium for dips like this one, as well as guacamole. I actually ate this with my lunch today and added nitrate-preservative-filler-free turkey (Organic Prairie). And for even more flavor and benefit, I added pickled/fermented beets for a tangy, sweet, probiotic punch! Who says you have to suffer to heal? Certainly not this nutritionist!  By the way, if you'd like to learn how to heal (that includes losing stubborn excess weight) in a way that is nourishing, not depriving, and that gets the root of your issues, read up on my Enlightened Wellness programs. 

Cilantro Cashew Dip

• 2 cups raw cashews soaked in filtered water for 2 – 4 hours (soaking is optional)
• 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup filtered water as needed for desired consistency
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
• 1/2 cup nutritional yeast (optional)
• 2 to 4 cloves fresh garlic minced (depending on preference)
• 1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt or Pink Himalayan Salt
• 2 Tbsp freshly chopped cilantro

1. Place the cashews, nutritional yeast, 1/2 of the water, 1/2 of the lemon juice, garlic and sea salt in the food processor and pulse until roughly blended.
2. Gradually add in more lemon or lime juice, garlic and salt to taste. 
3. Transfer the cheese to a bowl, and stir in the cilantro. 
4. To prepare the jicama, wash it well. To peel it, use a sharp chef knife to slice off the skin. Use a downward motion and just keep turning the jicama until you have all of the skin removed. Easy. Then cut it in half, and turn each half flat side down. Cut  into thin (or thick) slices. For larger, stackable pieces, turn the jicama half on its side, with the flat side facing the knife and slice.
5. This recipe makes a good amount of dip and slices, so you can snack on this for at least 3, if not more, days. A good serving size per snack is 1-2 TBSP of the dip with as many jicama slices as you like. This snack is rich in protein, healthy fat, fiber AND antioxidants. Eaten between meals, it will keep your blood sugar steady, which will also keep your energy, appetite and moods stabilized, setting you up for making nourishing choices at meal times. Enjoy, and feel free to play around with different herbs and spices to vary it up! 

The Sugar Kick: 7 Solutions to Ending Your Servitude to Sugar for Good

If you are tired of being a slave to sugar, and you want to enjoy delicious food without the fear, guilt and disappointment of overindulging, this workshop is for you. End your servitude to sugar by finding out why you crave it and what to do about it, once and for all.
If you're in the Albuquerque area, join me for The Sugar Kick: 7 Solutions to End Your Servitude to Sugar for Good, at Primal Athletics in Corrales.
When: Sunday, January 11, 2015, from 2-3:30 pm. 
Cost: Free for Primal Athletics members and $10 for non-members. 
Wondering if you should come? Check out this 3 minute video for the 7 Red Flags of a Sugar Slave. 

RSVP to Primal Athletics: (505) 726-4738

Your Microbiome and Your Weight

Want to know about what the universe within your gut is all about, and what issues you may be having as a result of an imbalance of microbes living there? Gut microbial imbalances can lead to many conditions, including autoimmune disorders and even weight gain/obesity. In fact, rebalancing the microbiome is a key aspect of the Functional Medicine 5-R Gut Restoration protocol, and it's one of the main reasons why the Functional Medicine approach works for just about everything! My new program, Lighter and Enlightened: The 90 Day Transformation, actually includes a 5-R Gut Restoration Protocol. Why? Because rebalancing your microbes is KEY to attaining not only the health you want, but the weight that you want (and keeping it that way!). There's all kinds of exciting research in this area, and I am thrilled to be coaching my clients toward success by helping them to apply this new, juicy knowledge. That's not to say that it's ALL physiological, though. We all know that there is a huge emotional and behavioral component to weight management, which is why I use the tried and true Transformational Coaching Method to address those aspects. We're really going all in here--Body, Mind and Spirit!

To learn more about the microbiome and how yours is affecting you, here is an excellent overview, loaded with links to credible resources on the matter, particularly regarding autoimmune disorders. This article is by Gary Rothbard, MD, and is posted on a website that I regularly contribute to, called AutoimmuneMom.com.  There is a new section devoted to the microbiome, where I will have an article coming out later this month on the Gut-Brain Axis and how it relates to autoimmunity.

Check out Dr. Rothbard's article here!

Here's to getting Lighter and Enlightened!
Angie

Coming back soon....Gourmet Healer Health Coaching!

This is it. I can't stay away much longer from one TRUE professional and personal passion--transformational health coaching. I've been on a coaching hiatus while my baby boy has been growing, but I've turned a corner in my thinking. I really can have the Functional Nutrition coaching practice of my dreams AND be a happy, healthy, present-- even hot-- mama! In a few weeks, I'll be rolling out some transformational health coaching packages, so get ready! If you are ready to go "all in" and transform not just your health, but your WHOLE self, you don't have to wait much longer. Stay tuned for more info in the coming weeks!

Why I Don't Use Tylenol (And What I Do Use)

One of my favorite evidence-based alternative medicine websites, Green Med Info, has an extensive list of abstracts on the potential dangers of Tylenol use, particularly in kids. The studies listed examine an array of risks, such as asthma, autism, hearing loss, ADHD (associated with use during pregnancy), blood cancer, toxicity and death. Check it out here. Granted, many of the studies are making associations and not necessarily concluding causation, but the evidence is compelling. Plus, I'm the kind of mom and practitioner who likes to err on the side of caution and reasonable doubt, especially when it comes to man-made, chemical- and sugar-laden "medicine" or food-like products. I steer away from these and opt for natural solutions and real food instead. There is certainly a time and place for modern medicine, but most issues, other than acute life-threatening illness or injuries, can be treated at home with diet, lifestyle and natural medicine. Many doctor visits and hospital stays can be prevented altogether by using natural solutions at the first sign of illness. It is up to each and every one of us to educate ourselves on how to use natural remedies, as well as diet and lifestyle as our everyday prevention and treatment, if we want to live a life of optimal health and fulfillment. As a Functional Medicine Nutritionist/Health Coach and essential oils enthusiast, I am passionate about teaching my clients and readers  how to use nature's gifts in order to keep themselves and their families healthy.

For fevers, the calmative, cooling essential oils like peppermint, lavender or Roman chamomile are excellent. I typically go right to the peppermint for higher fevers. For babies under 1 year, I recommend diluting 1 drop of lavender in 1 tsp of carrier oil, like Fractionated Coconut Oil. A good extra-virgin olive oil, almond oil or coconut oil works well, too. Apply the oil to the back of the neck and upper spine, as well as to the bottoms of the feet. Lavender is a gentle but widely effective oil, which is why it's great for an array of issues in infants, including infection. After 1 year, 1-2 drops of peppermint in 1 tsp of carrier oil can be used when needed, for babies 2 and under. For adults, the oil can be applied directly to these areas with no dilution, otherwise termed as "neat". These fever-reducing techniques work well, and at the very least, will take the edge off of a high fever, without completely shutting down this important defense mechanism. As far as I know, there are no associations between using therapeutic grade essential oils and any of the aforementioned issues associated with Tylenol use. In fact, essential oils work on many levels (body, mind and spirit) to make you healthier when you use them, rather than taxing your system and making you weaker and more susceptible in the long-run. And, of course, they also get the job done. That's my kind of medicine.

Always remember that in order for any treatment to work for you at its fullest potential, whether it be essential oils, acupuncture, massage, herbs, etc., you must be taking care of yourself on the most basic levels, including good nutrition and hydration and restorative lifestyle practices.



 Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions about how to use these essential oils in your everyday life.

Be well,
Angie

September Detox Challenge!

The 21-day Detox Challenge is a step-by-step, Functional Medicine-based detoxification program.

Participants will receive:

• Daily instructional support via e-mail
• Downloadable tools, including the Dietary Guidebook and Tracking Journal
• Weekly webinar calls with me, Deanna Minich, PhD, with special Functional Medicine guests
• Online support and Q&A led by Functional Medicine practitioners in a private Facebook group
• New expert speaker audio interviews on detox

The Detox Challenge starts September 4, 2014, and ends September 29. September is the new January! Now is the time to register and mentally prepare. There will be a few days in the beginning of the challenge to prepare and shop as well. This is a great way to start transforming your health or to continue on your path to improved and optimal wellness! I am taking this challenge, and I challenge you to do so as well. I encourage you to recruit your family, friends, church groups and other social groups to take the challenge with you. We know that when we surround ourselves with people who have the same desired outcomes, we create the conditions for inevitable success. 

The Detox Challenge is primarily a food-based detox, and is not about deprivation. It's about removing toxic foods and emphasizing foods that are known through scientific research to upregulate detoxification enzymes and support normal detoxification processes.  I highly recommend using doTERRA Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils to enhance your detox and manage stress. The citrus oils in particular, are excellent at helping to round up and clear out chemicals found in plastics and petrochemicals, which we are inundated with on a daily basis. Other oils can be helpful in getting you through any crankiness or food withdrawal symptoms, such as lavender or frankincense for calming and centering, and On Guard, black pepper or clove oil for breaking food or substance addictions. For more information or questions about the Detox Challenge, or if you'd like to set up a wholesale account in order to get the best pricing on doTERRA essential oils for your detox, emotional and everyday needs, please email me, at gourmethealer@gmail.com, or contact your doTERRA Wellness Advocate. I look forward to detoxing with you in September! 

Be well,

Angie

Angie King-Nosseir MS, RD, LD

doTERRA Wellness Advocate 68019

Integrative & Functional Medicine Dietitian 

Wild Mahi Mahi Ceviche

I was asked to a lunch date by my husband today, and instead of going out, I'm taking a homemade lunch to take to him at our indoor soccer arena. Now, we could go out for sushi, but I try to keep that to a minimum. We live in New Mexico, so I'm leery of the quality, especially when most restaurant owners can't tell me where their fish is from. The truth is, most sushi fish is farmed under who-knows-what conditions. That said, we love when we get the opportunity to visit coastal areas and seek out restaurants that are using freshly caught wild fish. That's not our typical reality, though. So today, I'm making Wild Mahi Mahi Ceviche that I purchased frozen and then thawed in the fridge. I'm a stay-at-home mom of a 14 year-old and 1 year-old, and I also work from home (can't put down my passion for nutrition education), so my days are packed. Luckily, this lunch takes no time to make, and it will be divinely healthy and delicious! 



Ingredients:
 1.5# wild-caught mahi mahi, diced
Marinade: 1/4 c raw apple cider vinegar, juice of 1 lemon and 2 limes, 1 tsp toasted sesame oil, 1/3-1/2c minced cilantro, 2 minced cloves of garlic, 1 small minced onion, 1 tsp ground cumin, pinch of ground cayenne, 1/2 tsp sea salt,  1 tsp fresh grated ginger. Also optional, diced mini cucumber, which I added today. 
Instructions:
Mix marinade and pour over fish in a flat-bottom glass dish. Marinate for at least 10 min, up to 10 hours. Fish will turn almost white when "cooked". serve with guacamole on a crunchy medium, like black bean chips or rice cake. Pair with a veggie, such as sautéed collard greens or mixed green salad! Talk about YUM!