Simple Advice That Will Help You Re-Charge Your Body and Mind!

Want to boost your metabolism, oxygenate your body, aid your digestion, and re-energize? My simplest advice to you is:

1. Drink more water! We often can't think logically, get fatigued, dehydrated, and lazy just because we are lacking water in our system. A lot of times we end up over-eating, because we can't tell when we are genuinely hungry for a snack - often just water would be sufficient. (and no, coffee, juice, and soda don't count)

2. Become more aware of your breathing. Are you taking in enough oxygen? Can you feel your ribcage expanding when you take a breath? Take time and sit upright. Really pay attention to your breath, and breathe until you feel your fingertips and toes tingling with energy!

Superfood Salad! Just What The Doctor Ordered! ;)

My love for healthy food is eternal, can you tell? Since I work during the day, pretty much 9-5, the best food to prepare for next day's lunch is a cold quinoa salad! While this beauty is in the fridge, it marinades in its own juices, and becomes even more flavorful! I wanted to incorporate all the superfoods that boost your immunity, pack a powerful punch of protein, balance the body's pH, and provide you with vitamins, calcium, and brain-healthy Omega -3 oils! Doesn't that sound amazing? Sure does, but it tastes even better! Hope you love garlic!

Ingredients: (I use only organic)

Quinoa 1 cup

Walnuts 1/4 cup

Raw Cranberries 1 cup

Kale 3 cups

Garlic 3 cloves

Barlean's Flaxseed Oil 1 tablespoon

Parsley (garnish)

Pinch of Sea Salt 

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly, and put in a pot with 2.5 cups water. Quinoa is a bit different from rice, and it needs more water to plump up, but still remain flaky, not clumpy and lumpy. After the pot starts to boil, turn off the heat and cover with a lid for 10 minutes.

At the same time that the water with quinoa is taking to boil, heat up a skillet on very low heat, and toss in the walnuts, making sure to keep stirring them with a wooden spatula. Once you see that the walnuts are looking just a bit darker (not brown!), take them out to cool on a separate plate. Place the kale in a deep bowl with pinch of salt and the flaxseed oil, and "massage it". Massaging kale ensures that it is soft, absorbs the oil, and is easy to chew. This is just like kneading a dough, when you squeeze it in your hands. You can also sing while doing this - makes the process more festive. :) Set this bowl aside - you will add the rest of the ingredients to it in a moment.

Lightly oil a pan with flaxseed oil, and add the garlic.  Once the garlic begins to sweat, add the cranberries (really) and toss until soft. Add this mixture to the bowl with the kale, then toss in the toasted walnuts and the quinoa. Mix well, and enjoy hot or cold! I just garnished it with curly parsley, so it looks like a Christmas tree! Delicious and absolutely alkaline! This food will not cause you to gain weight, bloat, have indigestion, GERD, and any stomach upsets! This is my healthy superfood super-secret, and now you know it too!

Check out my new video blog!

Check out my first Video Blog! This is a short tutorial on the ingredients and uses of SAIAN Amino-Lift Leave-On Mask! http://saian.net/product/amino-lift-leave-on-mask/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osw09hHaLrI

Radiation and Our Health

For the past 2 years, I have spent countless hours trying to connect the dots, and find the reason for my mother's sudden illness. She was living an incredibly healthy lifestyle, eating mostly a plant-based, all-organic diet, dancing salsa 3 nights a week, hiking, traveling, singing, lecturing, and enjoying her work as a CEO of a world-famous brand. 

Why do some people get cancer, and what contributes to cancer cells firing? Simply put, cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells. In a healthy body, natural processes control the rate at which cells grow and replace themselves, as well as the body's processes for repairing or replacing damaged tissue. Changes occurring at the cellular level disrupt the control processes, permitting the growth of cancer cells.  A big factor in breaking chemical bonds in atoms and molecules is radiation, that's what makes it such a powerful carcinogen. Radiation causes mutations in the DNA blueprint, and contributes to cancer cells spreading uncontrollably. This became apparent in the early 1900s, when people working around radioactive matter and x-ray equipment began to develop skin cancer. 

We all know about Chernobyl, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but did you realize that we are receiving large amounts of radiation on a daily basis? Everything, from using your microwave to using your cell phone, to airplane travel, and all sorts of medical procedures. All of this adds up in our system, potentially causing us health problems down the road. 

I want to start by giving you some numbers, so that you may adequately compare the amount of radiation received at every exposure. The effects I will talk about are stochastic effects - meaning low-level long-term effects of radiation that pile up and lead to damage. There are also non-stochastic effects that are instantly apparent after a heavy dose of radiation, such as burns and nausea, and usually death within the next 2 months. 

The scientific unit of measurement for radiation dose, commonly referred to as effective dose, is a millisievert (mSv). Because different organs have varying sensitivity to radiation exposure, the actual radiation risk to different parts of the body from an x-ray procedure varies. The term effective dose is used when referring to the radiation risk averaged over the entire body. Here is a chart which reflects

Plainly said, 5 CAT scans in your lifetime, and the chance of cancer is almost certain. This is the reason why x-rays and CAT scans are very important decisions, that shouldn't be taken lightly. Pregnancy is a contraindication for CAT scans and x-rays, because of high risk of mutation and birth defects.

Lastly, I want to talk about mundane radiation we receive from using our phones, laptops, and iPads, and how to reduce it.

Cell phones and other mobile devices emit radiofrequency (RF) waves, a type of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (commonly called “cell phone radiation”). When you hold or carry a mobile device close to your head and body, you can absorb over half of the transmitted RF energy.

Cell phone radiation level varies from device to device and is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). A mobile device’s SAR rating is used to estimate the maximum rate of RF energy absorption by a user’s head and body when using the device. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets the exposure limit for the general public to be an SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). A mobile device’s SAR rating must not exceed 1.6 W/kg in order to receive FCC certification and be sold in the United States. SAR is measured for placement of the phone next to the head and on the body. For example, the iPhone 6 has a Body SAR of 1.14 W/kg and Head SAR of 1.08 W/kg. 

Furthermore, you may not be aware that the current FCC guidelines allow a device to be tested up to 25 mm away from the user’s body. Distance is a key factor in determining the amount of exposure from a device – the intensity of radiation increases rapidly as you get closer to the device. As a result, when you carry your device directly against your body, you may be exposed to radiation levels that exceed the device’s SAR rating and even the FCC exposure limit. For instance, if you place an iPhone 5 in contact with your body, your body exposure may exceed the FCC’s limit by more than 4 times. That’s why all cell phone manufactures include warnings in their user’s manuals to keep the cell phone a certain distance away from your body for safety concern. For example, you can find RF exposure information for Apple devices here. Apple even includes a proximity sensor in its iPhone 5S, 6, 6Plus and iPads to detect the presence of a user’s body and subsequently reduce the device’s transmitted signal in order to comply with the FCC’s RF exposure limit. - Rong Wang, Ph.D.

This is why you need to protect yourself and your loved ones with a case that directs the radiation away from the head and body, and the case I trust is PONG - you can research it here: http://www.pongcase.com. As you know, I am not affiliated with them, but I believe in sharing valuable information with my friends, and I believe in this brand wholeheartedly. Another important piece of advice I'd like to share with you, is to sleep without your electronic devices nearby. Many people choose to sleep with their phone under their pillow, or next to them on a nightstand, and the same for their laptop. Please disconnect yourself from this habit, and not only will you reduce your radiation exposure, but you will get a peaceful night's sleep with no distractions, rings, or notifications. Take good care of your health and your body, and give it some rest!

My Favorite Green Juice Recipe

I am a true believer in our food being our medicine - there is nothing healthier than fresh, organic fruits and vegetables to bring our body to it's best, most healthy state! This amazing juice rapidly delivers nutrients to the blood stream, invigorating your cells, and increasing your circulation! You will absolutely LOVE it! I use basic ingredients, with an addition of dandelion greens and ginger to spice it up, and get your body vibrating with positive aura! Make this juice if you struggle with acne, and want to clear up your complexion - it is all-alkaline, and will suppress inflammation that causes candida and yeast. If you don't use dandelion greens and dandelion root tea, I highly recommend them! This is nature's amazing liver and kidney cleanser, that has been know to alleviate even cirrhosis and hepatitis c. Here's a powerful green juice combination that will start your morning right:

4 pieces of organic celery
1 organic cucumber
1 cup organic spinach
1/2 organic Granny Smith apple
1/4 inch of organic ginger
1/2 bunch of dandelion greens
1/4 bunch of Cilantro

Casa Hogar Sion Holiday Trip

Hello beautiful friends! I hope you enjoyed my previous post about my last month's Casa Hogar Sion volunteer visit to Tijuana, Mexico. Here are some photos from yesterday's trip to Casa Hogar Sion. 

This orphanage houses from 80-100 children at a given time, and it receives ZERO funding from the government, just like all Tijuana orphanages. All the money raised by volunteers and donors goes DIRECTLY for essential supplies for the kids - toothpaste, toothbrushes, toilet paper, shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, school uniforms and other essentials. You can help by monetary donations, or by purchasing the supplies, and bringing them with you on the trip.

These kids are beautiful, fun, grateful and full of promise! As you remember, this volunteer trip is made possible by Corazon De Vida which is a non-profit.  The last time I came, I had the privilige of helping out in the kitchen, so I signed up for that task again. It was easy, and a wonderful way to help out.  I hope the photos encourage you to join me on the next trip, or to help me raise some much-needed funds. Remember, the money doesn't go to buy toys or fancy clothing - it's directly feeding the children, and making sure they have enough supplies for daily sustenance.

 

https://www.crowdrise.com/DashasCasaSionFundraiser/fundraiser/dashasaian

Here is the link to help me raise funds for the children. Thank you!

Warm Garlic Quinoa You Will Fall in Love With

Let's talk about quinoa! How many ways can you prepare yours? Ask my friends at www.buyconscious.com , and they will tell you - I just may be the Queen of Quinoa! The Queenoa! :) The Holidays are here, and we sometimes forget to eat healthy. It's so easy to get good quality vegan protein into your diet - just take a look at this easy as pie recipe for warm vegan garlic quinoa! You will want seconds, I guarantee it!

Ingredients: (I only use organic)

Quinoa 1 cup dry

Coconut Oil 2 teasp

Mushrooms 1/2 cup

Raw Cashews 1/4 cup

Garlic 3 small cloves or 2 large

Onion 1/4 cup diced

Cherry Tomatoes 1/2 cup

Yellow Bell Pepper 1/2

Spinach 2 cups diced

Rinse the quinoa thoroughly, and put in a pot with 2.5 cups water and a pinch of salt. Quinoa is a bit different from rice, and it needs more water to plump up, but still remain flaky, not clumpy and lumpy.

At the same time that the water with quinoa is taking to boil, heat up a skillet on low heat, and put in the coconut oil, with onions and garlic. Sweat the onions and garlic a bit, and then add the cashews to soften them up, and then the mushrooms. Once that mix has become caramelized, add the tomatoes and the bell peppers. Keep mixing with a wooden spatula until all ingredients are thoroughly blended. Once you see that the tomatoes have become soft, add the spinach, and take off the heat. The warmth of the quinoa will soften the spinach.

Once the water with quinoa boils, take off the burner and cover with a lid for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes have passed, you will see that the water has evaporated, and now you are left with just the ready boiled grain! Transfer to a bowl, mix in the rest of the ingredients from the skillet, and let cool. The finishing touch was a sprinkling of raw flax seeds, you can also top this beauty with shaved parmesan cheese - it is divine!