The Paleo Mama

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DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste

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Six months ago I went to the dentist and found out that I had six cavities. I could not believe it. It didn’t make sense because I eat a very clean, Paleo diet. I pinpointed some of the things that caused my cavities in this post that I wrote, “How I’m Healing My Cavities Without Dentistry.” This post has received a lot of attention and I’ve received many emails and messages about various things that I’m doing to heal my cavities. Well, good news…I went for a 6 month check-up at this dentist a few days ago to see how my cavities looked and to see if the remineralizing process was working…AND…I HAVE ZERO CAVITIES!!! I healed my teeth naturally with proper diet and nutrition and I did not have to pay a hefty dentist bill to have my teeth drilled and filled!

I mention in that post that I use a homemade toothpaste and because I have received so many emails about what that recipe is, I thought I would share my DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste recipe. I was having a hard time finding a toothpaste that did not have certain ingredients in them. When you are trying to remineralizing your teeth, you need to make sure you are not using a toothpaste with glycerin or xylitol in it. Glycerin coats your teeth and counteracts the remineralization process and this article explains why we don’t use xylitol. Our family avoids toothpaste with fluoride and preservatives, as well.

This recipe is great for remineralizing your teeth if you are following the Cure Tooth Decay protocol and have some cavities you are trying to reverse but it’s, also, a wonderful recipe to use just to maintain optimal oral health for your day-to-day life.

DIY Remineralizing Toothpaste:

INGREDIENTS: 

  • 1/3 cup of Bentonite Clay (where to buy)- this comes from pure sources of undisturbed deposits in the ground. What is special about bentonite clay is that it draws toxins out of the body.
  • 1/4 cup of boiling water
  • 1 Tablespoon of coconut Oil (where to buy) – coconut oil is amazing for oral health. It is highly effective with getting rid of viruses and bacteria in the mouth
  • 1/4 teaspoon of Real Salt (where to buy) – real salt is unrefined and full of natural minerals.
  • 1/2 teaspoon of REAL stevia  (where to buy)- this is the dry herb that is green and unprocessed in it’s natural form.
  • 15 Drops of Protective blend Essential oil (where to buy) 
  • 10 Drops of Peppermint Essential oil (where to buy) 

DIRECTIONS:

  • Step One: Put your bentonite clay in a bowl. Heat the water on the stove and then stir in the coconut oil till it is melted.
  • Step Two: With a hand mixer, mix on medium speed the bentonite clay and the water/oil mixture till blended through.
  • Step Three: Add the salt, stevia, and essential oils and continue to blend until it is completely blended.
  • Step Four: Keep in a covered jar!
  • *The mixture will harden a little bit as it sits because of the coconut oil. This makes it easier to add a bit to your toothbrush when you brush.

For more information on healing your cavities naturally, read this post and check out Cure Tooth Decay!

Want a kid-friendly version of this recipe? Check out my DIY Remineralizing Tooth Powder for KIDS! 

 

DIY Toothpaste

5 Foods to Avoid this Holiday Season

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5foodstoavoidholiday

The season – the month – has begun, and people from all over are cooking, baking and stuffing their faces with holiday foods. Did you know that the average person consumes an extra 600 calories a day during the Holidays?! No matter where you live or where you go, you can’t miss it. The Holiday foods will find their way into your belly and when January comes, you are going to be googling Detox diets, Whole 30, The 21 Day Sugar Detox, Weight Watchers, Insanity…you get the picture. But it’s all fun and it’s only once a year. I hear you, I really do. I never claim to be 100% Paleo, in fact I’ve declared that I never will be 100% Paleo. However, when you are splurging this Holiday season and indulging in “junkier” foods, remember what these 5 most terrible foods are and try to avoid them for your health.

5 Foods to Avoid this Holiday Season: 

1. Store-bought Egg Nog 

There’s nothing like a Holiday drink that is loaded with seaweed extract, high fructose corn syrup, and just a little egg. Yes, that is the ingredients of store-bought Egg Nog. You really didn’t think you were going to get a high quality traditional drink from a carton, did ya? The only thing healthy about this drink is the possibility that there are some of the traditional spices in it. However, this picture I snapped didn’t even have spices in it.

eggnog

Make Your Own: 

2. Store-bought Cookies, Pies and Holiday Treats 

Bottom line, these will all contain vegetable oils or vegetable shortening. Not sure why this is bad? I mean it’s made from a vegetable, right? First off, it is loaded with trans fats (found in partially hydrogenated oils) which the FDA has recently declared unsafe for human consumption. GASP! They did something right! And, second, they have nothing to do with vegetables, but are loaded with weird stuff like soy, rapeseed(WTH!) and processed in really unnatural ways.

Make Your Own: 

3. Gift Sausages and Other Processed Meats 

I’ve never trusted any meat that require no refrigeration. That’s just plain wacko. Makes me question how they are able last so long. SODIUM NITRATE. Sodium nitrate is a preservative found in many packaged meats that keep the meat fresh and pretty. Rotting meat doesn’t look or taste too good. Sodium nitrate has, also, been linked to cancer. These pretty cancer packages can be found in shopping malls during the Holiday season and inside pretty, little gift baskets. I’m not sure why these make a good Christmas gift…why not try giving something a little less “poisoning” and a little more homemade?

What to give instead: 

4. Those Giant Tubs of Caramel Popcorn 

I know they are sooooo good. Trust me, this is my biggest weakness during the Holiday season. Just one bite turns into 20 bites. But listen, corn is the number one food that is genetically modified. Read this for all the ways generically modified food is dangerous for you. And these tubs of popcorn, aren’t just popcorn. They are saturated with “carmel” sauce that includes ingredients like high fructose corn syrup and artificial flavorings.

Make Your Own: 

5. Stuffing in a Box

The problem with store bought stuffing is that they contain questionable ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and monosodium glutamate, or MSG. MSG has a whole long list of dangerous side effects and is one of the most dangerous additives to food.

Make Your Own: 

 

I hope you all have a fantastic Holiday season and make the best decisions that you can for your health!

 

Jackie

(Photo Credit: WebMd)

 

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Sushi at Home: Tuna Kobachi

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Tuna Kobachi is my favorite dish to get at a Sushi restaurant. Unfortunately, it’s really hard to find and many Sushi chefs don’t know how to make it. If you like Sashimi, you are going to love this dish! It usually comes as an appetizer on a bed of sliced cucumbers or avocados. I love avocados with it cause it just compliments the flavor.

For the tuna, you want to look for wild-caught tuna. I buy mine at Fresh Market and it comes labeled, “Sashimi Tuna” or “Sushi-Grade“. Just make sure it’s wild-caught and you should be good to go!

The Asian spice that goes with this, I found at a local Asian store. It’s called shichimi togarashi and the ingredients include red chili pepper, orange peel, sesame seeds, Japanese pepper, ginger and seaweed. If you don’t have a Asian store near you, you can order it for pretty cheap on Amazon (click here to see it).

You are going to love this dish! For more awesome Paleo-friendly recipes, checkout these Spicy Tuna Rolls by Yuppie Farm Girl and these Salmon Salad Handrolls by Primally Inspired!

Tuna Kobachi

Ingredients: 

  • 3 Tuna Steaks (wild-caught from a local source)
  • 2 TB of Sesame Oil (if you like spicy, you can do a blend of regular sesame oil and HOT Sesame Oil)
  • 1 teaspoon of Togarashi spice 
  • Sprinkle of Sesame Seeds (Black or Natural) – I do a little of both.
  • One bunch of green onions, cut to the white part.
  • Coconut Aminos (Paleo soy sauce) to dip.
  • Squeeze of lemon juice
  • OPTIONAL: Fish Roe/Caviar

**I find most these ingredients for cheap at a local Asian store**

Directions: 

  1. With a really sharp knife, cut the tuna into small chunks. Toss in a bowl.
  2. Add the green tips of the onions, sesame oil, togarashi spice, and sesame seeds.
  3. Taste and adjust seasonings. If you like it spicy, add more togarashi spice.
  4. Squeeze a little lemon juice over the Tuna.
  5. Enjoy sliced cucumbers or avocados on the side and dip in coconut aminos!

TunaKobachi2

Tunakobachi3

 

Soothing Elixir for Cold and Flu Season

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The moment I feel myself getting the sniffles, I grab a few lemons, some ginger, some green tea, cinnamon, and some local, raw honey and I make myself this Soothing Elixir for cold and flu season.  It’s so deeply nourishing and easy to make and helps to boost immunity. 

You can make it in the crockpot and let it simmer all day, ladle a hot glass when you want, or you can make it on the stovetop. Either way works great and there are many “add-ins” you can put it in to add more nutrition.

Soothing Elixir for Cold and Flu Season

Ingredients: 

_MG_8112

Instructions: 

  1. Pour the water in a pot and bring to a boil.
  2. Add the lemons, ginger, tea bags, and cinnamon sticks. Cover and let steep for 20-30 minutes.
  3. Pour the apple cider vinegar into a pitcher or a large half gallon mason jar .
  4. Dump the tea into the mason jar. You can keep the lemons and ginger in, but remove the tea bags.
  5. When ready to drink, warm up, and add in a teaspoon or two of raw honey.
  6. OPTIONAL Add-ins: tumeric, coconut oil, and gelatin.

Soothing Elixir for Colds and Flus
Serves 8
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Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
25 min
Prep Time
5 min
Cook Time
20 min
Total Time
25 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 lemons, sliced in circles
  2. 8 Echinacea tea bags
  3. 3 cinnamon sticks
  4. 2 inch piece of ginger, sliced thin
  5. 1/4-1/2 cup of raw apple cider vinegar
  6. 6 cups of water
  7. Raw Honey
  8. OPTIONAL: turmeric, coconut oil, or gelatin.
Instructions
  1. Pour the water in a pot and bring to a boil.
  2. Add the lemons, ginger, tea bags, and cinnamon sticks. Cover and let steep for 20-30 minutes.
  3. Pour the apple cider vinegar into a pitcher or a large half gallon mason jar .
  4. Dump the tea into the mason jar. You can keep the lemons and ginger in, but remove the tea bags.
  5. When ready to drink, warm up, and add in a teaspoon or two of raw honey.
  6. OPTIONAL Add-ins: tumeric, coconut oil, and gelatin.
The Paleo Mama https://thepaleomama.com/

Slow Cooked Pears with Lemon and Thyme

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I’m honored to have Julie from Real Fit Mama over here on my blog today sharing a simple, yet decadent recipe.  Julie loves sharing her passion for fitness, health and well-being and I’m so grateful to have her sharing a beautiful recipe with us. Julie authors an amazing book, Real Fit at Any Age, A Fitness Guide to Optimal Health from 1 to 100. Please give Julie a warm-welcome and be sure to follow her Facebook page to keep up with all she is doing! 

Slow Cooked Pears with Lemon and Thyme

pears

Simple to make, the soft warm pears will melt in your mouth.  A perfect desert for any night, they are naturally sweet and full of flavor without any concentrated sweetener.  The thyme adds just a hint of complexity, and boosts the immune enhancing quality of this dish.  Cinnamon is warming and promotes circulation.  It also helps to relieve cold from the outer layer of the body.  Pears themselves nourish the lungs and moisten the body, enhancing skin quality and large intestine function.  To dress them up, simply serve along side vanilla ice cream or top with homemade whipped cream.

All of this in a delicious dessert? Sign me up! Plus, with the slow cooker, they are so easy to make it’s just ridiculous.  Like all good desserts (in my humble opinion), these pears make an awesome breakfast too.  Slow-cooked pears with some warm homemade pumpkin bread, anyone? Or how about with a big side of bacon? Yes yes yes, please for me!

Added bonus: These pears are an adaptation of a traditional Korean cold remedy.  Cooking them fills the house with a rich soothing aroma that stokes your appetite.  With no concentrated sweeteners, they are naturally flavorful and full of health benefits.  Ready to dive in to Autumn? Here we go…

 Ingredients for Slow Cooked Pears:

  • 6 pears, medium ripe and firm
  • 1 TBS butter
  • 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 2 TBS raisins
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ lemon

ingredients

How to prepare:  

  1. Wash and peel pears.  Then quarter them and remove the cores.
  2. Place in a slow cooker.
  3. Mix juice of ½ lemon with vanilla extract and cinnamon.
  4. Pour over pears.
  5. Sprinkle in raisins.
  6. Add butter.
  7. Place thyme sprigs on top.
  8. Cook on low for 3 ½ or 4 hours.
  9. Serve warm.  Drizzle with juice at bottom of the slow cooker.

pearsincooker

Enjoy!

cookedpears

realfitmama

Julie de Lagarde, Real Fit Mama

Conceived in the belly of my integrative wellness practice, Real Fit Mama was born in early April 2013 as the next generation in my wellness family. I recently started writing and blogging, ready to share what I’ve learned through decades of living and nearly a decade of clinical acupuncture practice. Real Fit Mama has opened doors to allow me a more personal and intimate connection with a broad base of people, based on my experiences as a mom, Real Food eater, athlete, and acupuncturist.  My mission is to inspire and empower people to find connection, joy, and optimal wellbeing.

 

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Paleo Pinterest Party 11/21/13

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pinterest party

Hey everyone! Have you heard of Pinterest parties? It’s when a bunch of girls (or guys…maybe?!) get together and bring a few dishes from a recipe they found on Pinterest. Hey, you might as well put all that pinning to good use!

They sound so fun so I thought I would create a virtual version of a Pinterest party for my Paleo/Primal followers and bloggers! It will help us connect and share fabulous recipes that we have tried!

Are you following me on Pinterest? If not, click here!

Get ready for a Paleo Pinning Party!!! My Paleo Pinning Parties will take place EVERY THURSDAY so be sure to come back next week for some more pinning fun!

BONUS* All recipes submitted will be pinned onto my Pinterest page and the TOP 5 recipes with the most re-pins will be featured the following week on my blog!!

TOP 5 PIN’S FROM LAST WEEK:

  1.  Paleo Sex in a Pan from Grok Grub– really fun recipe! Decadent and delicious for those days when you’re craving a treat.
  2.  Paleo, Gluten Free, Grain Free Mini Muffins from Whole Lifestyle Nutrition
  3. Creamy Buffalo Chicken Pie (grain free) from Beauty and the Foodie
  4. Warming Cabbage Soup from Elston Backyard Farms
  5. Homemade Mini Marshmallows by The Sprouting Seed

To be reminded about this Party every Thursday, please sign up for my newsletter!