digestive system - Manage Stress | Increase Energy |Simple Solutions | Rommy Kirby, Holistic Health Coach, Yoga Personal Trainer, Essential Oil Educator

The Essential Ginger Pickle

Rommy Kirby — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:32:30 +0000

Ayurveda, known as Yoga’s sister science, offers an array of practices for radiant optimal wellness.

The Ginger Pickle is a highly prized, incredibly effective, and taste bud tingling recipe that increases digestive agni, (agni translates to fire). Because of this, it is also a fabulous boost to the immune system.

It’s a ‘trick’ used by brides to help them fit into their dress on their special day…

but it’s also amazingly beneficial to three of your body’s systems.

Have you noticed that when you’re coming down with something,

your digestion gets sluggish,
you feel full and bloated,
and you can’t think as clearly?

That’s because your digestive system, your immune system, and your nervous system rely on each other.

Think of it this way, they are the 3 wheels on your proverbial tricycle.

If one of the wheels hits a hard bump and bends, it becomes wobbly and the other 2 wheels have to work double time to keep you moving.

Adding the Ginger Pickle into your daily or weekly regimen will help you stay healthier because you are digesting better.

It’s simple…

Eat it before meals and enjoy better digestion, less gas and bloating, and improved mental alertness.

Great to boost immunity when you’ve been around sick people
Awesome to warm you up and tame your tummy when you need that extra soothing.
Perfect when on a cleanse or detox.
A tonic for those with chronic dry mouth.

INGREDIENTS

Honey – the best you can get
Ginger Root – organic if possible, otherwise peel it before you grate it
Lemon – squeeze the juice
Salt – I suggest Gray Sea Salt for most people

Optional Supportive Additions

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil – 1-2 drops (supports healthy metabolism)
Lime Essential Oil – 1-2 drops (supports the immune system)
Lemon Essential Oil – 1-2 drops (aids cleansing)

DIRECTIONS

Grate a 2 inch piece of ginger root into a glass bowl.

Add

pinch to 1/4 tsp of gray sea salt

juice of one lemon

drizzle of honey

essential oils to taste

Stir

Now eat it…

Take 1 teaspoon before your meal(s) to increase your digestive fire. Save the rest for later in the day.

Why this works…

There are several elements that make this an effective natural digestive aid.

First there is the 5 elements of taste that help your mouth produce saliva. Saliva is rich in enzymes that begin the digestive process in the mouth.
Second, ginger is renown for it digestive properties that aid all three parts of the digest system, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
Third, an active digestive system is key to greater energy because the system can operate more efficiently.
Forth, the optional addition of essential oils adds supportive chemical properties that are not present in the juice of the the lemon or ginger root.

I adapted my Essential Ginger Pickle recipe from an ancient recipe you can find on Maharishi Ayurveda.

It’s a great recipe to start with for those of you that don’t have quality, safe to ingest essential oils yet. Want to learn about the oils I use and trust? Send me an email.

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Bone Broth Made Easy

Rommy Kirby — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 15:57:11 +0000

“Good broth will resurrect the dead”…

In my quest for optimal health and vibrant radiance I learned about traditional healing foods. I kept hearing about ‘bone stock’.

Frankly, because it sounded like work I wasn’t truly intrigued until…friends took me to a Neiman Marcus restaurant.

We were in Chicago, it was cold, it was windy. I was chilled and travel weary. Sitting in the oh so posh restaurant was a welcome treat.

Once we placed our orders, the server brought each of us the most delicious cup of golden broth. It was warm, full of flavor and just what I needed to make it through the day. In that moment I understood the restorative power of bone broth.

I would have loved a quart that blustery yet sunny day! It revived me and gave me the stamina I needed to have fun and enjoy myself even though it was so very cold.

Then in my New Master Healers classes with my teacher Andrea Beaman, I learned that bone stocks are full of nourishing goodness.

A good stock is loaded with easily absorbable vitamins, minerals and collagen that can repair and heal the digestive tract, especially the lining of the small intestine. Vanity bonus is that it will also improve skin tone, strengthen nails and grow long lustrous hair.

Have you ever wondered why your grandmother gave you chicken soup when you were sick?

Briefly, there are two reasons.

First, traditionally, chicken soup is made by boiling the left over bones of Sunday’s roasted chicken. Remember, the entire animal was used and nothing went to waste. The bones are not only flavorful, they contain life giving marrow and trace minerals. The joints are loaded with collagen, the building block of protein.

The second reason is that chickens are an energetic animal. Because they are generally always on the move, they have a high metabolism. So energetically, chicken is what you want to eat when you feel the need for more energy. Chicken soup is loaded with vitamins and skin luscious minerals to give your body the energy it needs to heal and recover faster.

One of my favorite and fun Facebook status updates is ‘It’s a bone boiling kind of day’. Hubby likes to joke to his friends that if he ever disappears they should look in the soup.

Today, I am sharing with you my basic recipe for boiling beef bones. Use this recipe as a guide, make it yours by simply changing up the ingredients a bit. You can use it with chicken bones, fish bones or pork bone stock.

You can even saved bones in the freezer until I have enough…which, come to think about it, makes me a bone collector.

So why not just use the broth or stock that come in a can, jar or the tetra box at the grocer?

Because they are just not as nourishing. They are ‘from concentrate’ which means they are diluted with water. Most of the time there are added sugars, MSG and way too much salt to flavor it. And it is just so easy to make your own. (when you do need to resort to store bought, by the best you can and look for the USDA Certified Organic, that’s what I do)

Over the last 12 months, I have been experimenting with different bone brews…I mean recipes. I’ve finally found a base recipe that works.

Basic Bone Stock Recipe

2 Pounds of Bones – the highest quality available to you
1 Large Onion
1 Garlic Bulb
4-6 Stalks Celery
2-3 Carrots
2 Bay Leafs

Other spices I use…

Peppercorns
Cloves
Cardamon Pods

7 Simple Steps

Step 1 – If bones are raw, roast in a 400 degree oven for 1 hour. I like to salt and pepper them. I will even, time permitting, roast the onion (quartered) and garlic (whole) at the same time but it is not necessary.

Step 2 – Place bones, vegetables and spices in 6 quart stainless steel pot.

Step 3 – Cover with fresh clean water to within 2 inches of rim.

Step 4 – Bring to a soft boil over medium high heat, then lower heat to low gently rolling simmer uncovered for 4-24 hours.

Step 5 – Remove from heat, allow to cool. Using tongs remove bones and large vegetables.

Step 6 – Carefully strain into large glass bowl. Cover and place in refrigerator until fat solidifies. About 4-6 hours.

Step 7 – Using a ladle, carefully place your golden elixir into glass jars or even ice cube trays for easy measuring. (I’ve recently found out that you can freeze glass jars as long as you leave room for expansion at the top.)

How to use your liquid gold…

Warm it in a sauce pan and drink it from your favorite mug.

Use it as a soup base.

Add it to stir fry, saute or sauce.

My Number 1 use and favorite quick meal…

Simple Egg Drop Soup

Notes…

You know you have made a truly magical brew if your bone broth congeals. It’s the gelatin that grows strong healthy nails, radiant skin and lustrous hair and heals the digestive system. That’s why hospitals serve jello, though, what they serve has no resemblance to life giving gelatin given to patients in the old days.

I’ve tried using vinegar to pull the collagen from the bones, but have not had success and my broth has been to brightly flavored. I use the French method of per-roasting and long simmers.

You can experiment with your vegetables.

Be open to experimenting with your vegetables and spices. Remember that cooking, unlike baking, is as much art as science. Have fun!

Add additional water as necessary throughout your simmering process.

Every good and thorough detox or cleanse program has a component to rebuild the digestive tract.

The post Bone Broth Made Easy first appeared on Manage Stress | Increase Energy |Simple Solutions | Rommy Kirby, Holistic Health Coach, Yoga Personal Trainer, Essential Oil Educator.

The question I get asked most often is….

Rommy — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 18:05:11 +0000

What do you eat every day?

It’s a good question, it really is. It’s a good question because when you are trying to get in shape, lose weight, increase your energy and feel younger, you want to know what works for people who have done it. It just makes sense to take advice from someone that has the results you want, right?

You see, 6 years ago, I weighed 30-40 pounds more than I do today and I was three sizes larger. Six years ago, I was sick more days than I was well, I had no energy, couldn’t sleep through the night, and I was debilitated by Migraine and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Disorder. I was addicted to sugar, coffee and pity parties, because at the time…well, I felt my life sucked.

All that has changed for me…

Today, my energy levels are generally through the roof and when they’re not, I have sustainable energy. I know that when I walk into my closet, I can wear anything I want. I’ve maintained a 40 pound weight loss for 5 years. My body is more toned, supple and capable than when I was in my 20’s. I also get lots of compliments on my skin.

So it just makes sense that people ask me what I eat every day. But this question is truly not the best question and I really don’t like answering it.

Here’s why…

We all know there are some basic universal guidelines to creating a healthy body. Like sugar is deadly, caffeine is not only addictive it’s hard on the kidneys, and vegetables are fabulous, right? But there are differences for each and every one of us. AND that’s why there is so much confusion in the nutrition world.

Two sisters can do the very same ‘diet’ and have very different results. One sister may lose 20 pounds and the other suffer through a restrictive diet and not lose a pound, she may even gain weight.

You see, our bodies are bio-individual. That means our life experience has as much to do with how we process food as the food we are eating. Our inner ecosystems are different and constantly changing in response to our lifestyle and the stress we put it through.

Here’s how…

Say sister one, let’s call her Molly, was often sick as a child and was given lots of antibiotics and she developed belly, and later menstrual, difficulty. While sister two, Jennifer, was very healthy, had perfect attendance at school and spent most of her time outside. They have the same parents, they ate the same food and shared most life experiences.

What’s different?

The difference may be that Molly’s body can not efficiently digest the foods that make Jennifer’s body healthy. Her immune system is weakened by the constant challenge to digest so she gets sick. Molly’s immune system is further challenged by the well intentioned antibiotics that kill what little digestive ability she does have. She gets well but her body still struggles to process the same food that Jennifer’s body easily processes. Molly gets sick again.

This creates an inner ecosystem for Molly that is fragile and needs support. Jennifer’s body is thriving on the family’s meals. This isn’t Molly’s fault, it’s her body trying to correct when given incorrect nourishment.

Flash forward 20 years…

Molly and Jennifer decide they will cheer each other on through the diet they saw on Dr. Oz. Jennifer wants to lose 15 pounds and Molly wants to lose 10.

Week one goes by and they are excited, it’s difficult but doable. They are cheering each other on, talking every day, following the ‘diet’ to the letter. They both lose a little and feel validated…they are on to something!

Week two and Jennifer is experiencing gas, bloating and constipation, her energy level is low. But Molly is loving it! Her energy has increased, she has a glow in her eye and her skin looks fabulous. Molly is now down a healthy 2 pounds but Jennifer seems to have stalled…really she gained but didn’t want to tell her sister.

Week three comes and goes and Molly can’t believe how good she feels. She really doesn’t understand why Jennifer, the healthy one is having headaches, crying jags and came down with the flu. Jennifer tells Molly the diet doesn’t work but Molly can see for herself that it does.

Week four, Molly is down 6 pounds and feels great but Jennifer quit last week.

What happened?

The ‘diet’ was more suitable to Molly’s body than it was to Jennifer’s. Jennifer’s body needed different nutrient sources.

That’s why I don’t like to tell people what I eat every day. The food that works really well for me, may not work for you. In fact, it just may work against you. I work very closely with my clients to help them find their optimal food plan. I can’t tell you what I eat daily, but I can give you my 5 universal food principles that I share with my clients.

5 Universal Food Principles

Eliminate Sugar – it isn’t a food, it is highly addictive and it FEEDS cancer
Eat as many fresh vegetables as you can in a day. Let your plate be 80% vegetables. If you don’t have fresh, use frozen.
Chew your food well. Chew it until it is liquid. Your body will be able to process it more easily and here’s a bonus, you will feel more satisfied.
Drink plenty of H2Obviously better skin aka water. Too often we mistake thirst for hunger.
Add fermented vegetables to your diet. Fermented vegetables are things like sour kraut (not vinegar based), Kim Chee and cultured vegetables. These fabulously tart veggies are great for your digestion.

Tell me…

What do you think is holding you back from feeling great and enjoying the body your soul lives in?

Which of these 5 Universal Food Principles will you focus on this week?

Do you know the foods that are right for your body?

The post The question I get asked most often is…. first appeared on Manage Stress | Increase Energy |Simple Solutions | Rommy Kirby, Holistic Health Coach, Yoga Personal Trainer, Essential Oil Educator.