Nourish and Heal
10 reasons to activate your nuts, seeds & grains for better beauty goodness
May 13, 2014
Have you ever noticed that you can keep raw nuts in the pantry for months and months and nothing really happens to them?
Nuts, seeds and grains all contain protective mechanisms as a method of species survival and are designed to pass straight through the gut of animals. These are chemical barriers that include phytic acid, anti-nutrients and enzyme inhibitors that reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients like magnesium, copper, iron and zinc and may also lead to digestive problems, inflammation or nausea.
Since ancient times, our ancestors have understood the limitations to gaining nutrition from grains, nuts and seeds and have practiced many techniques to prepare them for consumption. One of the simplest ways to access more of the nutrition from these foods is to try ‘activating’ them through soaking. For some people, grains and nuts may lead to inflammation and digestive issues with or without soaking and may need to be completely removed from the diet.
This salad is a fast and easy way to sneak a rainbow of colours onto your plate. You may recall this was the focus of my recent post which showed you the vitamins and minerals obtained from different coloured vegetables. It looks beautiful and is a great lunch or afternoon tea option.
Adapt the rainbow plate depending on what you have available in your fridge or garden at home! I made this with a large can of tuna (go for a sustainable brand), but it’s also delicious with sliced free-range chicken breast, grass-fed steak strips or as a vegetarian salad bowl.
As the seasons begin to change, you may notice a few more sniffles in the office or maybe you are a little bit more achy than usual, if so, Lizzy of Primal Junction has the perfect tonic for all our beauties.
Start your day with a dose of this refreshing tonic full of anti-inflammatory gingerols and alkalizing fresh lemon. If you’re used to waking up and having coffee on an empty stomach, try some ginger tonic first to reduce acidity and kick-start digestion.
You may recall Lizzy wrote in depth about inflammation and how anti-inflammatory foods can play a vital role in our recovery and overall vitality. If you missed her post, you may want to check it out here.
Looking outside today, you would hardly believe we are already 2 weeks into Autumn. We are still swimming in the ocean, enjoying the longer days and balmy evenings, that Indian Summer feeling in the air. We can recognise only a few minor signs that a change in seasons is occuring.
But you know what is interesting?
Physically, my body is ready to move into Autumn. If you know how to truly listen to your body and read the signs, it will tell you it’s gearing up for the cooler months.
The signs for me?
My body gets a little more sluggish, my stomach is noticeably upset more often, things start to get a little foggier.