Food Shopping & Saving at Vitacost!

I learned early on in the fibro diagnosis that I did not want to go the prescription route and wanted to stay as all natural as I could, and started down the path of vitamins and supplements. I found an excellent online resource - vitacost.com - and they have started to also offer excellent food products that fit into my healthy eating (gluten free) and my budget! I am so glad specialized food products are becoming more mainstream and affordable. Here are some of my favorites to order and keep on hand:

TULSI TUMMY - Tea for soothing digestive support -- all the Tulsi teas are excellent tasting and healing, this one is a great alternative to coffee in the morning

ANNIE'S HOMEGROWN MICROWAVABLE GLUTEN FREE MAC N CHEESE -- whats not to love, gluten free mac n cheese!!

MARY'S GONE CRACKERS -- Organic gluten free crackers

NATURE'S EARTHLY CHOICE FALAFEL WITH QUINOA -- Original Recipe (I gotta try the garlic flavor next!), cooks in minutes, lots of protein

PERKY'S CRUNCHY FLAX -- free of the 8 common allergens, great as cereal or on top of yogurt, gotta love the fiber :)

LUNDBERGS CINNAMON RICE CAKES -- I love cinnamon!


At these prices you can load up your cart and try a variety of different foods. Free shipping over $50, and unlike Whole Foods, sometimes I find it hard to get to that $50 mark, and when I do I have SO many items for my money! And how great, shopping from my couch, shipped right to my door :)

Grow Your Own Healing Herbs

What fun to grow your own herbs! And good for your budget, too :)

AARP features awesome articles, read more details here on how to grow, how fast they grow, and even some great recipes!

http://www.aarp.org/health/alternative-medicine/info-06-2010/grow-herbs-feel-better.html?cmp=NLC-WBLTR-CTRL-031811-FT2-81&USEG_ID=14670470844

Peppermint - Settles upset stomach; eases muscle cramps
Lemon Balm - Dispels anxiety; improves mood
Valerian - Acts as sleep aid; has sedative effects
Sage - Eases sore throats; freshens breath
Rosemary - Increases memory; reduces joint pain

Coffee, Tea and Supplements in the Morning

Love my morning coffee, love my morning supplements :) But just read an article suggesting not to take together, because coffee (and tea) could contain tannins which can block the absorption of some nutrients.

Supplements are effective when taken any time of day with food, so I guess is better for me to have my morning supplements when I have my oatmeal and fruit.

Good to know, will be hard to get used to :)

http://newhope360.com/delicious-living/delicious-living-magazine

Therapeutic Teas

I LOVE the Traditional Medicinal teas! My favs are EveryDay Detox, Peppermint, and the Nighty Night. (For a limited time they have free shipping on orders over $65 at their website.) But you should be able to find these at your local supermarkets, a wide variety available at Whole Foods.

Here is their online store:

http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/

Anyone else have any favorites they enjoy?!

Burdock!

A while back I posted some Detox Tea recipes, one used Burdock, which I had never heard of. I found out what it is!


http://adayinthelifeoffibro.blogspot.com/2010/08/detox-tea-recipes.html

What Is Burdock?

Often touted as an herbal detox remedy, burdock is a daisy-family plant that grows as a weed in the United States and several other countries.

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine sometimes blend burdock with other herbs to soothe sore throat and colds. Some proponents claim that burdock can benefit people with arthritis, diabetes, eczema, psoriasis, and cancer.

Where to Buy Burdock

Many health food stores offer burdock supplements, as well as dried root powder, tinctures, and liquid extracts. Fresh burdock may also be found at grocery stores and farmers markets.

Read more here:

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/burdock.htm?nl=1

Detox Tea Recipes

These are good, I found them here:
http://www.life123.com/health/weight-loss/detox-diet/detox-tea.shtml

There are a nice variety, and I think I can find most of the ingredient in my grocery store (does anyone know what Burdock root is?!)

Sipping on some detox tea is a great way to gently help flush your system of harmful toxins. If an item is supposed to help in detox, it is made to help detoxify your body for better general health. Detox teas take a gentle and slow approach to this process, as opposed to the harsh detox pills and powders available. They use herbs and spices that act as natural antioxidants and body cleansers to flush your digestive tract.

Green Ginger Detox Tea Recipe
Ingredients You Will Need
1 tablespoon dried mint
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon ground ginger root
1 teaspoon dried Burdock Root
2 cups - Boiling Water
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Add the herbs to a tea strainer. Place the strainer in boiling water, cover the cup and let the tea steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea strainer from cup and stir in lemon juice. Drink and detoxify.

Lemon and Cayenne Pepper Detox Tea Recipe
Ingredients You Will Need
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon honey
Stir all ingredients together in a mug. Do not strain cayenne pepper from water. Drink and detoxify.

Green Peppermint Detox Tea Recipe
Ingredients You Will Need
1 bag peppermint tea
1 bag green tea
2 cups boiling water

Place the tea bags in the boiling water, cover cup and let tea steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags, mix the tea, drink and detoxify.

Lemon, Lime and Cranberry Mint Detox Tea Recipe
Ingredients You Will Need
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup cranberry juice
1 bag peppermint tea
Pour lemon juice, lime juice and cranberry juice together in a microwavable mug. Heat tea in microwave until hot. Remove mug from microwave and place mint tea in mug. Cover mug and let tea steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea bag from tea and stir tea. Drink and detoxify.

Licorice Ginger Detox Tea Recipe
Ingredients You Will Need
1 tablespoon crushed, dried licorice root
1 teaspoon ground ginger root
1 1/2 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Add the roots to a tea strainer. Place the strainer in boiling water, cover the cup and let the tea steep for 10 minutes. Remove tea strainer from cup and stir in lemon juice. Drink and detoxify.

The Benefits of White Tea

If you are into getting your antioxidants, check out white tea. It has even more antioxidants than green tea, and less caffeine, and is also less processed:

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/whitetea.htm?nl=1

The Healing Powers of Elderberry

For you Grandma Bernie :)

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/herbsupplementguide/a/elderberry.htm?nl=1

Elderberry may help boost immunity by increasing the body's production of cytokines (proteins involved in regulating the immune system's response to disease and infection), according to a 2001 study on the elderberry extract Sambucol. The study's authors suggest that Sambucol may deliver an immune-enhancing effect when administered to people with cancer or AIDS, but this theory still needs to be tested in clinical trials.

Has anyone every tried Elderberry? Tea?