Let's Do Lunch! A quick brain, gut, body, and skin-loving recipe.
Self-Care is Whole-Body-Care
Usually when people hear the term "self-care," it has to do with cosmetics, makeup, or pampering of some kind.
But... self-care starts as soon as we wake up until we go to bed. When we think about it,
... self-care really has to do with every decision that we make.
Self-care has to do with our wellbeing and happiness. From our first thoughts and actions when we wake up, to how we brush our teeth and get ready for the day, to how we handle situations throughout the day, to the food we make or eat, to washing up at night, and even what we think about before we go to bed. Even if we're having a quiet day and are less productive than normal, that can be a form of self-care, too.
Like we mentioned in the last blog, self-care can be giving ourselves permission to pause.
All of these decisions and moments add up to you... me... all of us!
What we do is our self-care. What we eat is our self-care. Our ingredients we choose are our self-care. What we watch, read, or scroll through is our self-care. It's the only thing we really have control of. It's self-care!
A Self-Care Shift
Grabbing a tea, fresh juice or a sip of something before or after your day is a form of self-care. Can we make that at home? Yes. But sometimes it's nice to have someone else make something for us, hand it to us, and share a smile and give us what they've made just for us. Yes. That can also be a form of self-care.
What does lunch have to do with self-care? For many, and for me? A lot!
It's not only a time to re-energize and re-fuel, but it's a time to regroup and shift gears for the second half of the day.
I've always been a morning person, and for me they start early. The first hour is my time. It's a workout, a yoga practice, a time to think and breathe, a positive and optimistic reading time, notes or journaling, and it's completely at my pace.
Then the pace starts to increase with dog walking with my husband, breathing in the morning air, seeing other early morning friends and dog walkers, and a green drink and breakfast. Then the pace keeps going and everything from the outside has been brought in. And by now... we're ready for it.
Below: On a dog walk (and mostly carry) with our rescue, Chance, who is 17-ish and a happy little camper. And just like I did when our kids were little, I love to schnuzzle on the back of his furry little head. :)
So... about that lunch.
It's simple, it's crunchy, it's tangy, it's juicy, and if you make a big one, save the other half. The second day, it can even be better.
We buy organic whenever possible, and we keep things seasonal and fun. Here you'll see even these basic ingredients in a salad can be beneficial for our skin and body.
💚 Romaine: High in minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, potassium, and packed with Vitamins K, C, folate, and beta carotene which coverts into Vitamin A. The nutrients and oxygen from potassium help to improve circulation and helps give us that natural glow.
💚 Celery: Minerals include potassium, folate, magnesium, zinc, and Vitamins A, B, C, and K. It's naturally hydrating and a great form of fiber to help remove waste products from our bodies. Zinc is important to help boost skin health after or during skin trauma or upset.
🥒 Cucumbers: Natural anti-inflammatory properties, high in antioxidants Vitamin C, and folic acid to help stimulate new cell growth. Folic acid helps to fight off external toxins and impurities while helping to fight premature aging that can make our skin look dull as well. It can help to naturally detoxify the body and kidneys and helps to regulate internal heat.
🍅 Cherry Tomatoes: A natural source of Vitamins A, B, C, E, K, as well as magnesium, potassium, folate, and lycopene. Lycopene and the antioxidants can help to keep our skin's collagen healthy while improving texture and fine lines.
💚 Raw Sauerkraut: The probiotics and Vitamins C and K2 found in raw sauerkraut can help to keep digestion and our gut healthy. The antioxidants help to protect skin from free-radical damage that can cause premature aging. Acne and eczema can be lessened due to its natural sulfur.
🌱 Fresh Dill: Dill is rich in flavonoids which can help keep our heart healthy and reduce risk of heart disease. It's also been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol levels and is naturally antimicrobial and antifungal.
🍋 Lemon: The juice from lemon added to water or squeezed onto a salad or food can help with digestion. The citric acid helps to break down and digest food by boosting our natural digestive juices in the gut. In turn, this can help to clear our skin as a happy gut is often happy skin, on our faces and on our bodies.
💚 Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Naturally high in heart-healthy fats and antioxidants that are good for the body and heart. Olive oil even boosts our own levels of the antioxidant squalane, which keeps our skin's moisture content even and happy and lessens with time. Rich in Vitamin E that is a natural antioxidant that helps skin retain and produce natural moisture, it can benefit an uneven complexion and fight UV damage.
🍇 Red Wine Vinegar: It's been shown to help lower blood sugar levels and boost heart health. It contains the powerful antioxidant reservatrol from the grapes that can maintain and promote healthy skin and gut health.
🌰 Walnuts: Walnut are high in the good kind of fat, the polyunsaturated fats. They can help lower cholesterol. They're particularly high in Omega-3, which is beneficial for skin and has been shown to help boost our cognitive thinking. Can't beat that! :) It's also high in Vitamin B to help shield against environmental stress while helping to retain moisture in the skin.
💚 Kalamata or Castelvetrano Olives: A hearty source of iron, copper, calcium, Vitamins A, E, and rich in oleic acid, which has links to improving our heart and skin health.
💗 Himalayan Salt: Said to be the purest of salts that we can enjoy, it's lower in sodium than other salts and also contains over 80 various skin and body loving minerals.
We always say that every drop matters in our treatments, and every ingredient in a salad that you throw together can benefit our mind, heart, body, and skin.
You can even take your salad with you! To a large mason jar or glass container, add the liquid ingredients first, layer your salad, cover it and leave a little room, and shake it up when you're ready to dig in.
Below: One of my typical lunch salads. Half today, the rest tomorrow, and it's still just as good. 😋
Cheers! It's a delicious, natural summer tea.
Hot or cold, a little lemon with a berry, some cilantro, or even mint sprigs in water can help excess acid levels in the gut on the inside and help get the natural glow on the outside. Green tea and Matcha are my go-tos, but...
... here's another favorite, especially in the warmer months. Hibiscus leaves with lemon. Organic dried hibiscus leaves, or ground hibiscus leaves, mixed with water and a squeeze of lemon, it's refreshing and doesn't need anything extra added to it. A little garden mint goes great with it, too.
Benefit of Hibiscus: It's naturally a source of hydroxy acids, antioxidants, Vitamin C and beta-carotene that benefit skin by helping to purify the complexion. Together they can help to calm inflamed skin and reduce oxidation and skin damage from the elements.
Below: My organic hibiscus leaves ready to seep and enjoy.
So many ingredients that are good for us and our skin.
The resources and recipes out there are endless. Don't be afraid to spend more time in the produce areas of your local farmer's market or store and mix-up something colorful and tasty.
As we can see from the lists above, even the most common natural ingredients contain a multitude of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. They come in all different shapes, sizes, and flavors!
Let's enjoy these ingredients that don't come with a label on them. Let's keep reaching for those foods that our gardens share and the growers put so much hard work and pride in.
Let's do lunch... it's time to dig in!
~ Lisa, Founder+CEO
~ fresh ~ authentic ~ sumptuous ~
~ non-toxic, organic ingredients, proven, and high-performing ~
~ effective, award-winning botanical treatments made without compromises ~
|
