RECIPE > Strawberry Mango Salad Dressing

Want a great spring/summer salad dressing recipe?  Look no further as Just Add Good Stuff is publishing their favorite Strawberry Mango Salad Dressing recipe right here!

Strawberries and mango are a perfect pairing when it comes to flavours, textures, colours and nutrition.  Both of these fabulous and nutritious fruits are combined in this simple and very quick salad dressing recipe that can go on any spring or summer mixed green salad.  Personally, we love the combination of fresh organic spinach, arugula, kale, cucumber and lettuce coupled with this Strawberry Mango Salad Dressing, but it’s really up to you.  Below is our recipe … let us know what you think and how we can improve it!

Strawberry Mango Salad Dressing Recipe

Please share with your friends and family!

Servings: enough for a starter salad for 6-8 people

Preparation Time: 5 to 10 minutes

Here are the ingredients for the Strawberry Mango Salad Dressing:

1 mango (organic, ripe, champagne mangos are preferable)

8 strawberries (organic, ripe and large size, de-stemmed)

1/8 cup almond oil

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup lime juice

1/3 cup mango nectar (organic, no sugar added!)

2 tbsp orange juice (freshly squeezed, organic)

2 tsp lemon zest

1 pinch salt

Here are the preparation directions for the Strawberry Mango Salad Dressing:

Step 1: Wash all fresh ingredients thoroughly

Step 2: Cut the fruit from the mango.  Try to get the least amount of ‘mango hair’ when cutting close to the pit.

Step 3: Add all of the ingredients into a blender or food processor.

Step 4: Blend the mixture until it is completely smooth

Step 5: Empty salad dressing into a serving container or a sealed jar for up to 5 days

Step 6: Serve with a mixed green salad of your choice

Step 7: Enjoy and Share with your friends and family

Remember that cooking is all about experimenting and changing things up all the time.

For instance, this Strawberry Mango Salad Dressing recipe can easily be converted into a spread or dip.  By combining these ingredients along with some banana or avocado, you can easily make this salad dressing recipe into a thicker dip that goes well with gluten free crackers and breads.

Alternatively, the Strawberry Mango Salad Dressing recipe can also be cooked with chia seeds in order to create a jelly or jam spread.  This will be even thicker than the dip and will likely be sweeter as most of the moisture of the fruits will be boiled away.

Of course, Just Add Good Stuff promotes healthy, organic and raw foods as much as possible … so the closer it is to its natural state, the better and more nutritious the ingredients will be for your mind and body.

BLUEBERRY INFOGRAPHIC > Just Add Blueberries! Here’s a look at Blueberry Nutrition

This is the first of our INFOGRAPHIC SERIES on Just Add Good Stuff. The infographics (or infograms) will provide you with interesting facts and figures about various vegetables, fruits, whole foods and general health. From weird and wacky facts to nutritional information per serving, these infographics is a starting point to help you kick start a more healthy and happy lifestyle.  We hope you enjoy them!

 

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!

Just Add Blueberries! Blueberries are one of the best superfoods in the world! Blueberries are high in nutrition, vitamins and trace minerals. All of these aid in our cognitive, circulatory, nervous and digestive systems. Here is a Blueberry Infographic that outlines the Top 10 health benefits of blueberries, blueberry nutrition information, blueberry recipes and some interesting facts about blueberries.  Here is the Just Add Good Stuff Blueberry Infographic:

TOP 10 Health Benefits of Blueberries on the Blueberry Infographic:

1. extremely high in anti-oxidants
2. restores & protects brain cells for cognitive function
3. slows the aging process to keep us healthy & young
4. 32% of recommended vitamin c in a single serving
5. effective anti-depressant to stabilize mood swings
6. ideal dietary supplement to prevent heart disease
7. no known side effects and very few allergies
8. high in fiber which improves digestion
9. fights free radicals against cancer, alzheimers & infection
10. keeps us fresh, active, fit & sharp

Blueberry Nutrition Facts on the Blueberry Infographic

• Serving Size = 1 cup
• Calories = 83
• Calories from Fat = 4
• Total Fat = 0.48 g
• Cholesterol = 0 mg
• Sodium = 1 mg
• Potassium = 112 mg
• Total Carbohydrate = 21.01 g
• Dietary Fiber = 3.5 g
• Sugars = 14.44 g
• Protein = 1.07 g
• Vitamin A = 2% RDI
• Vitamin C = 24% RDI
• Calcium = 1% RDI
• Iron = 2% RDI

Healthy Blueberry Recipes on the Blueberry Infographic

1. Blueberry Quinoa muffins
2. Blueberry Acai Berry dessert balls
3. Mixed Berry flax & hemp seed bread

 
* All of our recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan! Click here for more recipes!

 Things You May Not Know About Blueberries on the Blueberry Infographic

• USDA study ranked wild blueberries as the #1 anti-oxidant fruit
• WILD blueberries contain 48% more anti-oxidants than cultivated blueberries
• You can buy ORGANIC & WILD blueberries at your local grocers
• WILD & ORGANIC blueberries also come frozen
• > 95% of store bought blueberry MUFFINS contain no blueberries
• Use FROZEN wild blueberies in place of ice cubes
• Blueberries are one of the only natural foods that are truly blue
• Blueberries were once called star berries
•  State of Maine is the blueberry production capital of North America

This blueberry infographic (we also call it a blueberry infograph) talks about general blueberry facts and information.  For more details about the health benefits and nutritional information, please contact us and we will find out more from licensed dieticians and medical science professionals.  It is our goal to provide the best information possible and to help inspire you to become more healthy through diet, nutrition and fitness.  The blueberry infographic will be updated whenever necessary, as studies and clinical research provides us with more insight into the health benefits of blueberries which would affect our Top 10 blueberry health benefits on the Blueberry Infographic.  In addition, we constantly experiment with uses of blueberries in various dishes, so our blueberry recipes will also reflect that.  Lastly, if we find any more interesting facts and figures about blueberries in general, we will also update the ‘Did You Know?’ section of our Just Add Good Stuff Blueberry Infographic.

 
The information on this infographic is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended to nor should it be a substitute for advice, consultation or visits to your health care provider.
‘Nutrition Facts’ provided by FatSecret.com and verified by Just Add Good Stuff.

GOING VEGAN > How Veganism Has Changed My Life

My Vegan Experience > What I’ve Learned by Going Vegan

Since embarking on my vegan journey this year, I’ve received incredible support from family, friends and strangers.  I have to admit that many people, including myself, were very skeptical about veganism and how I could manage without eating my favourite foods that included fast foods, fruit juice and lots of candy.  It’s now been more than 5 months since my vegan experience began and this article serves to talk about things that I’ve learned by going vegan and how my life has changed due to veganism.

My initial goals for going vegan and learning about veganism included the following:

1. Live a healthier and happier life through a vegan diet and vegan lifestyle

2. Educate myself on general health and vegan nutrition programs

3. Become more aware of what I’m putting into and on my body through making tough conscious decisions

4. Debunk myths about veganism or vegans that were unconsciously planted in my brain during my adolescence

5. Continue my ever changing fitness and core training routines

6. Learn to cook (both raw dishes and cooked meals) that follow a vegan diet

7. Talk to and research about vegans or people who have experienced going vegan

8. Watch at least one documentary per week about food, water, whole foods plant based diets, veganism, vegetarianism, physiology or happiness/emotions

9. Inspire those around me to adopt a vegan diet and to experience veganism (for perhaps 1 month at least)

I haven’t felt more physically and mentally strong since going vegan five months ago.  It’s been a life-changing experience so far, and this 1 year experiment may need to last a lifetime.  I’m really enjoying educating myself about veganism and what it means to be vegan in addition to becoming more aware of everything surrounding us when it comes to our food supply, diet and fitness.  All of these things contribute to a healthier and happier life and I’m very grateful to have embarked on this vegan experience at this point in my life.  If you are interested in learning more about my first 5 months of going vegan, please read below.

My Vegan Experience > 10 Unexpected Personal Benefits of Going Vegan

1. Going vegan has allowed me to sleep a lot better.  I’ve never slept through a night before (unless with harmful medication), but now, I get at least 5 to 6 hours of solid sleep a night.  I attribute this to my vegan diet and lifestyle.

2. Simply said: I don’t get painful migraines anymore.  I used to get at least a migraine every other day.  They were painful and crippling both physiologically and mentally.  I couldn’t work, play or relax.  I haven’t had a single migraine since starting my vegan diet!

3. I also used to get allergies throughout the year that were triggered by pollen, temperature or altitude changes.  These allergies were often debilitating, causing an unstoppable runny nose, itchy eyes and migraines.  I still get allergies, but certainly not as bad as before I went vegan.  If I get a runny nose or itchy eyes, I can take a half dose antihistamine and the allergy will disappear completely.

4. Since my vegan experience began, my body weight has continued to be very stable (around 155-160 pounds).  As an athletic person who weight trains, I certainly didn’t want to lose any body weight or muscle mass by cutting out animal based proteins and whey protein powders from my daily routine.  However, I’m pleased to say that I’ve found plenty of plant based natural protein sources to accommodate my protein needs for fitness.

5. Further to my body’s physiological changes, I’ve noticed that my body fat content has actually decreased since going vegan.  I’ve now got a more ‘defined’ body that actually looks ‘more muscular’ even though my body weight hasn’t changed.

6. By switching to a whole foods plant based diet, I no longer have extreme tiredness in the afternoon (I often had to take naps around 2-3pm).  I also don’t have the sugar spikes and troughs throughout the day, which has lead to a more balanced and healthy life.

7. My teeth are whiter than before.  Yes, that’s correct!  My teeth have increasingly become more white since cutting out candy, refined sugars and sugary drinks from my diet.

8. My digestion is better and I’m more regular (enough said).  I also don’t get heartburn, cramps or bloating anymore (enough said there too).

9. I’m a lot less anxious now.  Whether it was too much caffeine or refined sugars, I was always anxious about something: work, schedules, travel and everything else.  Now, I feel like I’m a lot calmer and more patient with everything… which is who I was when I was younger.  It’s nice to get this feeling back. It’s great to have control again.

10. My skin is clearer and my hair is healthier and shinier.  I’ve also noticed that other small things have changed gradually, including healthier looking skin, hair and nails.

My Vegan Experience > 10 Interesting Things I’ve Learned by Going Vegan

1. Never assume anything.  Always educate yourself in what matters most to you.  If it’s veganism or going vegan or health & nutrition in general, self-educate.  It’s a life changing skill, so work on it!

2. My top 10 superfoods include: spirulina, raw cacao, maca, papaya, kale, spinach, chia, hemp, flax, lemon.  These are followed closely by: banana, goji, almond, pistachio, wheatgrass, blueberry, ginger and broccoli.

3. Top 10 food products that are most susceptible to food fraud: milk, olive oil, honey, saffron, fish, coffee, orange juice, apple juice, black pepper and tea leaves.

4. Dirty Dozen fruits and vegetables that are laced with pesticides: apples, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, hot peppers, imported nectarines, peaches, potatoes, spinach, strawberries and sweet bell peppers.  This is followed closely by kale and summer squash.

5. Clean Fifteen fruits and vegetables that are the cleanest and contain the fewest pesticides: asparagus, avocados, cabbage, cantaloupe, sweet corn, eggplant, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, mangos, mushrooms, onions, papayas, pineapples, sweet peas (frozen) and sweet potatoes.

6. The United States just approved a pesticide that has been linked to the Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD whilst the European Union just banned the same substance for at least 2 years.

7. Always buy organic, locally grown produce.  Not only are they the safest to consume, but they are also the healthiest when it comes to nutritional value.

8. Almonds, cashews and hazelnuts have the highest nutritional value when it comes to nut nutrition.  This is followed by pistachios and peanuts.  Of course, these nuts should be roasted and not salted.

9. There are always more healthy alternatives and substitutes for unhealthy foods and processed products.  Take for instance… baking and eggs are synonymous with each other.  However, you can easily substitute an egg with 1 tablespoon of flax with 4 tablespoons of water when baking.  Or, you can also substitute refined sugar with organic dates, coconut palm sugar, stevia or honey.

10. Our bodies require a lot less food (in terms of weight/quantity) when we focus on eating nutritious whole foods and plant based foods.  Our bodies are filled with more nutritious calories (versus empty calories) which tell us to stop eating sooner.  Because of this, we spend less money on food now when compared to the pre-vegan lifestyle.  Now that’s food for thought.

My Vegan Experience > 5 Other Funny, Weird and Wacky Things About My Experience Going Vegan

1. It has only been 5 months, but organic wheatgrass has NOT stopped my hair from turning grey, nor has it turned my grey hair back to black.  Perhaps it’s just a myth, or maybe I need to keep growing and eating wheatgrass to see these benefits.  In any case, I’m not taking wheatgrass so that I stop greying … my friends tell me that I look more distinguished and perhaps sexy with grey.

2. I buy all of my organic produce from a local market on my way back from the gym.  It’s a family run Chinese market that sources fresh, organic and beautiful vegetables and fruit that I can’t get anywhere else.  They refer to me as ‘The Papaya Man’.  But lately, I’ve bought more organic kale than papaya, and so they’ve changed my name to ‘The Healthy Kale Guy’.  They’ll probably end up just calling me ‘The Strange Vegan Guy’.

3. Because I wanted a true vegan experience, I decided to start a vegetable garden in my backyard.  One day, the topsoil (essentially, it was shit … but I hate to use that word, but it really was just shit) arrived and they dumped it all in the back lane that is used often by my neighbours.  Unfortunately for me, I had to spend hours shoveling this manure into my vegetable gardens … it was tough work, smelled really horrific, but hopefully it was worth it.

4. While going out with friends and family, I often felt like a ‘social pariah’.  I felt like an outcast and sort of ‘isolated’ from my friends because not many other people were going through my vegan experience at the same time.  In addition, many people often made fun of my vegan diet and veganism in general, which was hard to take at first.  However, as time went by, I realized that these people were manifesting their own fears and doubts about their own diet, nutrition and fitness.  In many ways, there were only trying to justify their unhealthy lifestyle by putting down veganism, which is unfortunate.

5. When I went vegan, I didn’t know what kale, Swiss chard, spirulina, raw cacao or maca were.  No idea.  Didn’t know if they were vegetables or fruits or meat or whole foods.  Things have changed.

I started my ‘vegan’ experience by gradually taking out the ‘bad stuff’ and ‘bad food’ in my diet while continuing to exercise at least 5 times per week.  I didn’t go cold turkey on things like organic meats (mainly chicken and beef), gluten or dairy products.  I did, however, go cold turkey on all candy and fast food from the beginning. It took about 30 days (1 month) to get from a very unhealthy lifestyle to a completely healthy vegan diet and nutrition program.

I understand that many people don’t have the support network, time or commitment to make a full scale life-long change to veganism, and that’s why I started Just Add Good Stuff.  I want to inspire people to take on a whole foods plant based diet as much as possible, but I also understand the complexities of everyday life that are so unique to every person.

Therefore, Just Add Good Stuff, is all about taking the ‘bad stuff’ out of our lives gradually while adding more ‘good stuff’.  By doing so, you can still enjoy life to its fullest … and in many ways, by taking care of your health first, you will be much happier, successful and healthier in everyday life.

I am proud to call myself a vegan.  Now, I challenge you…

GREAT TIP > Here’s the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides … which fruit & veggies are pesticide ridden and which are the cleanest? Find out here!

The 2013 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has just been published!  We’ll try to explain what the EWG calls the Dirty Dozen™ which are the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables in a grocery store in addition to the Clean Fifteen™ which include the 15 healthiest produce products you can find.  The 2013 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™ by the EWG is a perfect way for you to avoid unhealthy produce while taking advantage of the healthiest ones during your grocery shopping visit.

Obviously, it is important to incorporate fruits and vegetables into your clean eating diet.  And most of us understand that many of these produce products are exposed to numerous insecticides and pesticides that are detrimental to our health.  The EWG 2013 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™ is an easy guide for anyone to follow when it comes to selecting foods that will give us the best nutrients while limiting the negative effects of contaminants.  Although the Environmental Protection Agency has tried to restrict the use of some pesticides and chemicals on our crops because of their toxicity and direct/indirect links to health conditions in humans, many of these pesticides are still detected on foods that we think are absolutely safe.  One thing to note is that even if the Environmental Protection Agency bans certain pesticides and chemicals, there will still be residual amounts of contaminants on our food for years to come.  As with last year, the EWG 2013 Shoppers’ Guide to Pesticides™ includes 2 main lists (Dirty Dozen™  and Clean Fifteen™) plus other pertinent details.

Here is the 2013 Dirty DozenTM on the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™:

1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Cherry Tomatoes
4. Cucumbers
5. Grapes
6. Hot Peppers
7. Nectarines – imported
8. Peaches
9. Potatoes
10. Spinach
11. Strawberries
12. Sweet Bell Peppers

The 2013 Dirty Dozen™ on the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™ includes the fresh produce that is the most UNHEALTHY for human consumption.  This is because the Dirty Dozen™ on the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™ includes the most CONTAMINATED vegetables and fruits found on our grocery store shelves. This means that the Dirty Dozen™ has the most pesticides, chemicals and other contaminants and should only be eaten in MODERATION and only have rigorous washing.  They are laced with chemicals that are detrimental to our health and well being.  It is especially important for parents of small children, as these pesticides and residual chemicals can adversely affect a child’s health for years to come.

* Also note that the 2013 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™ also includes the PLUS List.  According to the EWG, the PLUS category highlights two crops – domestically-grown summer squash and leafy greens, specifically kale and collards. These PLUS crops did not meet traditional Dirty Dozen™ criteria but were commonly contaminated with pesticides EXCEPTIONALLY TOXIC to the nervous system.  So watch out for these two!

Here is the 2013 Clean Fifteen™ on the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™:

1. Asparagus
2. Avocados
3. Cabbage
4. Cantaloupe
5. Sweet corn
6. Eggplant
7. Grapefruit
8. Kiwi
9. Mangoes
10. Mushrooms
11. Onions
12. Papayas
13. Pineapples
14. Sweet Peas (frozen)
15. Sweet Potatoes

The 2013 Clean Fifteen™ is the LEAST CONTAMINATED and therefore healthiest vegetables and fruits you can find at your local grocery store.  This means that the Clean Fifteen™ contains the LEAST amount of pesticides and chemicals. Go Clean Fifteen™.

The EWG Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™ also talks about 3 other important issues surrounding the lists.

Firstly, organic produce will always contain little or no pesticides or chemicals and is therefore healthier than traditional cultivated produce.

Secondly, genetically modified produce (or GMOs as they are commonly referred as) are not usually found in the fresh produce section of a grocery store.  This is because the genetically modified seeds are used in processed foods that are usually in the packaged foods section.  The genetically modified GMO foods are also found in animal feed and biofuels.  Two of these such genetically modified foods that appear in almost everything and anything processed are CORN and SOY. Therefore, many GMOs are not listed in the Clean Fifteen™ nor the Dirty Dozen™ on the Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides™.

Lastly, some genetically modified crops make it to the produce section.  A small percentage of sweet corn and zucchini are GMO but most Hawaiian papaya is a GMO.  Because the United States law does NOT require labeling of GMO produce, a consumer can’t easily tell if they are buying a GMO or non-GMO product.  Therefore, always go with the ‘organic’ choice wherever possible.

More information about the EWG Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce lists are online here.

Rip Esselstyn’s Whole Foods Plant Based Diet Books & Videos!

You’ve probably heard the name before. Your friends may have mentioned Rip Esselystyn in passing or you may have watched Forks Over Knives, an eye opening food documentary about health, diet and nutrition.

Wherever you’ve heard the name Rip Esselstyn is not important. What’s important is Rip Esselstyn’s teachings on whole foods plant based diets. Not only that, but this hunk is also a best selling author with his health/nutrition and recipe book The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter’s 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds, which was also featured on Forks Over Knives. Since then, he is following up with a 2nd book called Rip Esselstyn My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet. Here’s more about this amazing role model…

Rip Esselystyn Background

Rip was born in Upstate New York and attended the University of Texas at Austin on a swimming scholarship between 1982 and 1986. During that time, Rip Esselstyn was an All American swimmer, winning numerous swimming awards during this collegiate years and becoming a household name on the swimming circuit. After University, Rip Esselstyn became a successful triathlete, competing against the world’s best for over 10 years. In late 1990’s Rip retired from being a pro-triathlete and became a professional firefighter and emergency medical technician. Soon after getting his certifications, Rip Esselstyn started working at the Austin Fire Department’s Engine 2.

The Rip Esselstyn Whole Foods Plant Based Diet

As with most people in North America, Rip Esselstyn grew up eating a standard ‘Western-style diet’ which consisted mainly of animal protein, some vegetables and fruit, lots of carbohydrates and starch and of course, fast food and soda drinks. What’s interesting is that during Rip Esselstyn’s triathlete competition years, he switched over to a whole foods plant based diet. He was inspired by some of his dad’s teachings in this subject area and decided to go into an entirely whole foods plant based diet as of 1987, years before he retired from competing in professional triathletes.

In collaboration with Gene Stone, Rip Esselstyn published his first book, The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter’s 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds back in 2009 and it quickly became a best-selling health, nutrition and diet related book of all time. The Rip Esselstyn whole foods plant based diet was based on his personal experiences from switching between a Western style diet to this whole foods plant based routine. Part of the reason why he published Rip Esselstyn The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter’s 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Poundsbook was also because the number of cardiac related emergencies he saw as a firefighter. As we all know, integrating a whole foods plant based diet such as Rip Esselstyn’s The Engine 2 Diet lifestyle will help reduce the risk of cardiac diseases and heart attacks. The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn and Gene Stone appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List and was endorsed by many celebrities, notable public servants and others. You can learn more here: www.TheEngine2Diet.com.

Rip Esselstyn’s whole foods plant based diet book The Engine 2 Dietalso made it onto the highly acclaimed Forks Over Knives documentary. Forks Over Knives is one of Just Add Good Stuff’s most favorite food documentaries and is a must-see! The Engine 2 Diet on Forks Over Knives solidified Rip Esselstyn place as one of the leading role models for a whole foods plant based diet and lifestyle. What Forks Over Knives and The Engine 2 Diet combination did for many people is that someone such as Rip Esselstyn, can live an extremely healthy and fit lifestyle while incorporating many ‘scary’ diet and nutrition related changes to their lives. In many ways, Rip Esselstyn’s appearance on Forks Over Knives showed that it can be done with commitment, awareness and self-education. The movie was quickly followed by Forks Over Knives Presents The Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue with Rip Esselstyn.

Rip Esselstyn My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet

Rip’s latest book was released in mid May 2013 and is called Rip Esselystyn My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet. Not only does it contain a lot of new material, but My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet by Rip Esselstyn but it also has 140 new Engine 2 Diet recipes that are healthy, easy to follow and quick to prepare (as usual). Great tips and recommendations are also made throughout the book and you can easily purchase it on Amazon (hard copy or Kindle) as of mid May. In essence, My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet by Rip Esselstyn is a follow up to his The Engine 2 Diet book. The first book was mainly recipe based, while Rip’s second book, My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet is more about education and dispelling many myths surrounding health and nutrition. Rip argues that many of today’s worst diseases are diet related and therefore, can easily be reversed with the implementation of a plant strong diet, as explained in My Beef with Meat: The Healthiest Argument for Eating a Plant-Strong Diet by Rip Esselstyn. Here is the background information about My Beef with Meat on Amazon:

For the millions who are following a plant-based diet, as well as those meat-eaters who are considering it, MY BEEF WITH MEAT is the definitive guide to convincing all that it’s truly the best way to eat! New York Times Bestelling author of The Engine 2 Diet and nutrition lecturer Rip Esselstyn, is back and ready to arm readers with the knowledge they need to win any argument with those who doubt the health benefits of a plant-based diet–and convince curious carnivores to change their diets once and for all. Rip Esselstyn reveals information on the foods that most people believe are healthy, yet that scientific research shows are not. Some foods, in fact, he deems so destructive they deserve a warning label. Want to prevent heart attacks, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer’s? Then learn the facts and gain the knowledge to convince those skeptics that they are misinformed about plant-base diets, for instance:

You don’t need meat and dairy to have strong bones or get enough protein
You get enough calcium and iron in plants
The myth of the Mediterranean diet
There is a serious problem with the Paleo diet
If you eat plants, you lose weight and feel great

My Beef with Meat by Rip Esselstyn proves the Engine 2 way of eating can optimize health and ultimately save lives and includes more than 145 delicious recipes to help readers reach that goal.

Here are some of his other teachings:

Eating a plant-strong diet is the best way to fight the dangerous fires raging inside us—fires that create all the chronic Western ailments including heart attack, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.

The fat and cholesterol in animal products clogs up arteries and can cause impotence, which research shows may be an early sign of heart disease. But men, you can treat this without Viagra. Instead, eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans.

Some people ask: is Rip Esselstyn gay?  Because Rip is so secretive with his personal life, many people have asked that question at least once: Rip Esselstyn gay?  Most indications is that Rip Esselstyn is NOT gay.  However, many journalists looking for the latest scoop on Rip Esselstyn’s sexuality have always brought this topic up to garner more followers (which to us is disgusting).  For gay men, Rip Esselstyn gay would be unreal.  To them, a gay Rip Esselstyn will break down all barriers in terms of sexuality and masculinity.  So when you ask is Rip Esselstyn gay, who really cares?  He is a role model for EVERYONE … a handsome firefighter dedicated to bringing awareness to health, diet, nutrition and fitness.  He is also a dedicated spokesperson for clean eating whole foods plant based diets.  Yes he’s handsome, well spoken and a great role model … and because of his secretive personal life, this doesn’t mean that Rip Esselstyn is gay at all.  What is means is that there are certainly lots of people who want a gay Rip Esselstyn … and it’s certainly just their dream.

The only nutrient that plant-based foods lack is vitamin B12. But you can get a daily supply by downing a glass of fortified soy milk or a bowl of fortified cereal.

Some trendy diets claim that all carbohydrates are bad guys, yet of the three macro-nutrients that provide calories in our diet (carbs, protein, and fat), carbohydrates are the body’s primary fuel source. They’re responsible for managing your heart rate, digestion, breathing, exercising, walking, and thinking.

RECIPE > Avocado Dill Dip Recipe

Spring is in the air! When spring comes along, we at Just Add Good Stuff just love the smell of dill and other herbs! In addition, it’s the perfect time for avocados … we mean really ripe and organic avocados from the local grocers.

Combining the two ingredients, organic dill and organic avocados, makes for a great Spring dip or spread. Whether you are hosting a lunch/dinner party or just relaxing outside with a book, try the avocado dill dip and spread for a healthy alternative to packaged dips. As you can see, ALL INGREDIENTS are completely RAW and ORGANIC. This easy-to-make and easy-to-follow AVOCADO DILL DIP RECIPE will only take you 10 minutes or less to prepare. And once you’ve tasted this avocado dill combination, you won’t want anything else!

Check out the avocado dill dip recipe below in addition to some top avocado health benefits and dill health benefits below for your perfect Spring snack that is both nutritional as well as filling!

Avocado Dill Dip Recipe

If you are looking for a quick and dirty recipe for an Avocado Dill Dip or Spread, here it is! This Avocado Dill recipe is enough for 2 to 4 people with organic crackers or gluten free bread. Can be used as a dip or a spread, whichever you like!

Please share with your friends and family!

Servings: 1 medium sized bowl
Preparation Time: 10 minutes (or less)

Here are the ingredients for the Avocado Dill Dip Recipe:

2 Avocados (overly ripe and organic if possible)
½ cup Lemon Juice (preferable freshly squeezed organic lemons)
¼ cup Dill (preferably fresh organic dill)
1 tsp Garlic (organic and minced)
1 tsp Agave (raw and organic … plus, this is optional!)
½ tsp Salt (unprocessed)

Here are the preparation directions for our favourite Avocado Dill Dip Recipe:

Step 1: Get your food processor out and plugged in
Step 2: Wash all of your ingredients
Step 3: Get the avocado meat out (see below section: The BEST WAY to Peel an Avocado > Avocado Preparation guide)
Step 4: Add the lemon juice into your food processor
Step 5: Add the dill (no need to chop it … but take the stems off)
Step 6: Add the finely minced garlic
Step 7: Add the agave syrup (if you want … no need to add agave)
Step 8: Add a pinch of salt
Step 9: Blend using your food processor for about 30 to 50 seconds
Step 10: Serve with crackers and/or bread
Step 11: Enjoy and share with your friends and family

The BEST WAY to Peel an Avocado > Avocado Preparation

It is vital that you learn how to prepare an Avocado via the best way to peel an avocado for your avocado dill dip recipe. A recent UCLA research team showed that in California organic avocados, the greatest concentration of beneficial carotenoids is in the dark green fruit of the avocado closest to the peel. Therefore, it is essential to learn how to prepare an Avocado the right way. To preserve the area with the greatest concentration of antioxidants, you basically want to peel the avocado with your hands, as you would a banana. The BEST WAY to Peel an Avocado in avocado preparation is as follows!

Step 1: First, cut the avocado length-wise, around the seed
Step 2: Holding each half, twist them in the opposite directions to separate them from the seed
Step 3: Remove the seed
Step 4: Cut each half, lengthwise
Step 5: Next, using your thumb and index finger, simply peel the skin off each piece

By following the above best way to peel an avocado, you can ensure the greatest concentration of antioxidant and nutrient levels in your avocado dill recipe.

Avocado Dill Health Benefits

Eating raw and organic avocados, dill and lemons have great health benefits and lots of nutritional value. The key here is that all ingredients are completely RAW and ORGANIC so that they retain all of their nutritional benefits and ultimately their health benefits. Here are some of the most notable benefits for each of the main ingredients in this avocado dill dip recipe.

Organic Dill Health Benefits

The health benefits of dill are well documented and tested. Here are our top 8 dill health benefits that you should be aware of: sleep aid, calming effect, bone health, anti-bacterial herb, fights free radicals and digestive benefits. In addition, other health benefits of dill include the treatment of headaches/migraines in addition to hiccups! Bet you didn’t know that!

Organic Avocado Health Benefits

The health benefits of avocados are also well documented and far reaching when it comes to personal health, nutrition and well being. Here are some of our favourite avocado health benefits in no particular order (there are many more, which we will write about in a separate article): lower cholesterol levels, assist in a healthy heart and circulatory system, control blood pressure (lowers stress) and features anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, the avocado health benefits also include promoting eye health, regulating blood sugar levels (important for diabetics), preventing birth defects and reducing the risk of strokes. Other great organic avocado health benefits include its use in skin care (treatment for psoriasis) in addition to increase in nutritional absorption during meals and a cure for bad breath! Bet you didn’t know this one either!

Organic Lemon Health Benefits

Just Add Good Stuff touched upon some health benefits of lemons in our blog post: WAKE UP AND DRINK THIS! Here are a few more health benefits of lemons that most people don’t know about: lemons can assist in abolishing acne, cure bad breath, help anxiety (lowers stress levels and decrease fatigue), treat canker sores and mouth sores. In addition, other organic lemon health benefits include treating fevers/migraines, treating the common cold or flu, treatment of eczema and healing hypertension. These are in addition to the lemon health benefit that we all know and hear about: balancing our body’s pH levels.

INFOGRAM > 8 Fresh Produce Picks to Lower & Balance Your Blood Pressure

Ever wonder how you can balance or even lower your blood pressure through fresh produce?

 
According to this health infogram, these are the 8 FRESH PRODUCE picks for BETTER BLOOD PRESSURE.

Beets, leafy greens, and other vegetables high in nitrates may help lower blood pressure naturally.  And how is this done?  Vegetables that are high in nitrates relax our blood vessels and improve circulation.  The result: a more balanced blood pressure.

So if you are looking to lower your blood pressure, try eating more of these nitrate rich heart-healthy picks.  Wherever possible, try to eat these vegetables in its organic raw state or as ‘raw as possible’.

1. BEETS are well known for their blood pressure benefits

A new study published in the American Heart Association’s Hypertension journal concludes that drinking a small amount of fresh, raw beet juice not only lowers high blood pressure quickly and effectively but could also be a natural approach to reducing future cardiovascular problems. The research was conducted by scientists at London’s Queen Mary University on red beets, called beetroot in Britain. Beets have drawn attention from nutritional scientists in recent years because of their health benefits. Specifically, beets have been found to be rich in betaine, a nutrient which reduces the blood concentration of homocycsteine, an amino acid linked to heart disease and stroke.

2. SPINACH will lower your blood pressure quickly

A green leafy delight, spinach is low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with heart-healthy nutrients like potassium, folate, and magnesium — key ingredients for lowering and maintaining blood pressure levels. An easy way to eat more of this great green? Try mixing fresh spinach leaves into salads or adding them to sandwiches.

3. CELERY is a surprising blood pressure balancer too!

Three active ingredients in celery promote healthy blood pressure: 3-n-butylphthalide, or NBP; apigenin, a plant-based antioxidant; and omega-6 fatty acids, an essential fatty acid. In his book “How to Prevent and Treat Diabetes with Natural Medicine,” Dr. Michael Murray, a naturopathic doctor, writes that NBP behaves like a calcium channel blocker, dilating arteries and relaxing blood vessels. Apigenin protects your body against cellular damage, decreases inflammation in your arteries and prevents blood clots. Omega-6 fatty acids, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, may help protect your body against hypertension, or high blood pressure.

4. SWISS CHARD … what, never heard of it!

Eating foods with plenty of vitamin E, such as Swiss Chard (which has one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin E in any vegetable) might also reduce the chances of developing coronary artery disease, which can lead to a heart attack or heart failure. Other heart-healthy perks found in chard include vitamin B6 and potassium — which may reduce the risk of heart disease and high blood pressure, respectively. Keeping your cholesterol low by eating good sources of fiber such as chard may lower heart-disease risk even more.

5. RADISH is more than just a salad topping!

High in nitrites and many other trace minerals, radishes are beginning to get more notice when it comes to balancing our blood pressure and lowering cholesterol.  Many studies are now underway as to additional benefits of radishes when it comes to our circulatory system.  In other words, keep eating them!

6. KALE helps balance our blood pressure

The high fiber content of kale lowers our cholesterol by binding with bile acids that the liver produces from cholesterol for digesting fat. Because many of these bile acids are coupled with fiber, the liver is charged with producing more bile acid to digest fat, and therefore requires more cholesterol to so, ultimately lowering the amount of cholesterol within our bodies.  This in turn helps regulate our blood pressure and in some cases, even lower it.

7. LETTUCE helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol

Eating vegetables daily with a high dietary nitrate content, such as green leafy vegetables (all type of lettuce), will help in lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure by as much as 10%.

8. ARUGULA and blood pressure benefitsd

Arugula has a perfect amount of Vitamin K which has many benefits including bone health and healthy blood clotting. Research has also shown that getting more Vitamin K may reduce the risk of heart disease. It’s also a good source of calcium, magnesium, and potassium to help control blood pressure and preserve bone health. Plus, it’s a decent source of iron to build healthy red blood cells.

This awesome everyday HEALTH INFOGRAM is from our friends at the Journal of Science of Food and Agriculture (Nathan Bryan Ph.D).

WAKE UP AND DRINK THIS!

In our busy lives, we often forget to nourish our mind and body in the morning.  Some of us go directly to the phone or computer to check email.  Some of us need to take the dog out for a walk, or prepare a boxed lunch for our kids.  Whether you are busy or not, there is one thing that you NEED TO DO FOR YOURSELF when you wake up!  And yes, this is BEFORE any work or play or breakfast or coffee or juice or news …

DRINK A GLASS OF LUKE-WARM WATER INFUSED WITH LEMON JUICE AND TOPPED UP WITH BLUEBERRIES!

So why would you want to do that?

Firstly, after having slept for 6 to 10 hours, your body needs WATER replenishment!

Secondly, LEMONS will balance your pH (they are alkaline in the body!) PLUS lemons boost your immune system.

Thirdly, BLUEBERRIES will give you antioxidants first thing in the morning PLUS promote and maintain digestive health throughout the day.

Check below for more lemon health benefits and blueberry health benefits in addition to lemon nutrition and blueberry nutrition breakdowns.

So here it is … quick and dirty version for lemon infused water with wild blueberries:

Step 1: Get a glass/cup out

Step 2: Fill it up with luke-warm to luke-cold water (filtered tap water is great)

Step 3: Get a lemon

Step 4: Cut the lemon in half

Step 5: Squeeze at least ½ of this lemon into your water (ideally, squeeze the entire lemon)

Step 6: Take out the lemon seeds (they don’t taste very good)

Step 7: Get some (wild) blueberries

Step 8: Drop about 15 to 20 (wild) blueberries into the water

Step 9: Enjoy your water infused with lemon and topped up with blueberries

BENEFITS OF LEMON JUICE

1. Lemons help balance our body’s pH (pH balancing)

2. Lemons help boost our immune system

3. Lemons help our digestive system too

In addition to helping our immune system fight off infection and colds and to control high blood pressure, lemon juice is also helpful in maintaining our digestive process.  The luke-warm water in combination with lemon juice helps to stimulate our gastrointestinal tract and the peristalsis.  What the heck is peristalsis you may ask?  Peristalsis is the rhythmic contract of our intestine’s muscles which keeps food and liquid moving through our digestive system.  So lemons and lemon juice actually help in moving things through properly.  Other minerals and trace elements in lemon juice also assist in removing toxins trapped in our digestive system.  Now that’s handy!

4. Lemons clear skin, no matter your skin type

We bet you didn’t know this one! Lemon juice is now gaining popularity when it comes to skin benefits.  In the latest studies, lemon juice has shown that it can reduce both blemishes of the skin as well as wrinkles.  This is an added benefit of the high amounts of Vitamin C found in lemon juice.  In addition, lemons clear our skin by removing toxins from our body and skin.

5. Lemons act as a natural, non-evasive, non-threatening diuretic

Unlike many other diuretic foods and liquids, lemon juice is very gentle.  The latest studies have shown that lemons help flush out toxins and other unwanted substances from our bodies.  How do lemons do this?  Lemon juice increases the rate at which we need to urinate (do #1s) .. which means that more toxins and bad substances are flushed out of our bodies at a faster rate.  It’s really as simple as that!

6. Lemons help in weight loss

One of the key benefits of lemon juice is that it is very high in pectin fiber.  So what is pectin fiber anyways?  Well, it’s a substance that helps fight food cravings.  It’s been well studied and published that people who maintain a more alkaline diet and maintain an alkaline to balanced body will lose weight faster.  So give it a try (if you are trying to lose weight)!

 7. Lemons fight bad breath, especially in the morning

8. Lemons hydrate our lymph system

During the night, our bodies get dehydrated with the possibility of adrenal fatigue.  Because of this lack of water and food, our bodies do not function 100% right away and this may lead to a build up of toxins, stress, constipation and many other negative symptoms. Our adrenals are two small glands that sit on top of our kidneys, and along with our thyroid, help us create energy. They also secrete important hormones, including aldosterone. Aldosterone is a hormone secreted by our adrenals that regulates water levels and the concentration of minerals, like sodium, in our body, helping us stay hydrated. Our adrenals are also responsible for regulating our stress response. So, the bottom line is that we really don’t want to mess with a deep state of dehydration!

BENEFITS OF BLUEBERRIES

* Please note that we highly recommend that you pick-up organic WILD BLUEBERRIES (they can be found fresh or frozen in most grocery stores now).  Wild blueberries are different than cultivated or farmed berries.  A 2004 USDA study ranked wild blueberries as the number one anti-oxidant fruit, with 48% more antioxidants than the cultivated kind. Anti-oxidants fight free radicals in the body, which help build our immunity.

1. Blueberries fight disease

2. Blueberries help lower your cholesterol

3. Blueberries reverse the sign of aging

4. Blueberries aid in our urinary and digestive health

5. Other Blueberry benefits

RECIPE > Quinoa Coconut Vegetable Main Dish

Quinoa-this and quinoa-that … all we hear about today is people cooking, eating, baking and preparing quinoa.  I must admit that I was one of those skeptics.  I didn’t know what quinoa was or how it tasted or even why there was so much fuss about it.  Never grew up eating it and I can’t imagine that my parents would know what it is to this day.  But there it is … quinoa is prevalent in grocery stores, restaurants and your friends’ place.

Before we get to the recipe for Quinoa Coconut Vegetable main dish, we wanted to talk about quinoa itself, because it is fascinating.

Quick Facts about Quinoa

Firstly, quinoa is gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, vegan, vegetarian and paleo sensitive.  That’s a mouthful!  In other words, there isn’t a better superfood than quinoa when it comes to specialized diets.

Secondly, 1 single serving of quinoa (usually 1/4 cup of quinoa before cooked) will give you almost 50% of your daily magnesium requirements for your body!

Thirdly, as most people are sensitive to the breakdown of the nutrition, quinoa nutritional value is amazing.  Approximately 70% of quinoa nutrition through its calorie ratio is carbs, only 14% fat (good fat, that is) and about 16 per cent is pure protein (much more than rice). Yum.

Fourthly, quinoa is native to South America and there are many varieties.

Lastly, most quinoa recipes are quick and dirty.  These fast quinoa recipes make your life that much easier … especially in today’s fast pace world.  If you are a single mom or a professional couple … or a growing family or retiree, cooking quinoa literally takes 15 minutes or less.  So yes, most quinoa recipes are quick and will take you less time than waiting in line at a drive-through burger joint.

Quinoa Coconut Vegetable Recipe

If you are looking for a quick quinoa recipe to follow easily, here is our new Quinoa Coconut Vegetable recipe that won’t disappoint!

Servings: 1 as a main dish (or 2 if served as an appetizer or side)

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Cooking Time: 15 minutes

Here are the ingredients for the Quinoa Coconut Vegetable dish:

1/2 cup Quinoa (preferably organic)

1 cup Coconut Water (with pulp)

1/4 cup Coconut Meat (use fresh, young coconut – optional)

1 Carrot (organic, medium sized)

2 bunches of Kale (organic leafy or dinosaur Kale)

1 handful of Spinach (organic)

10 Beans (combination of organic yellow and green beans)

1 Lime (organic)

1 tsp Cumin Seeds

1 tsp Chilli Flakes

Here are the cooking directions for the Quinoa Coconut Vegetable recipe:

Step 1: Rinse the quinoa in a fine sieve until the water runs clear, drain and transfer to a medium pot.

Step 2: Add the coconut water into the pot and bring to a boil.

Step 3: Cover, reduce heat to medium or medium low and simmer until most of the water is absorbed. This should take about 10 minutes.

Step 4: Add the carrot, kale, spinach, beans and young coconut meat (optional).  Cover and keep heat on medium or medium low for another 3 – 5 minutes.

Step 5: Set aside off the heat for 3 minutes; uncover and fluff with a fork.

Step 6: Transfer to a serving bowl.  Add cumin and chilli flakes.

Step 7: Squeeze at least 1/2 lime into the dish.

Step 8: Garnish with a slice of lime and ENJOY!

Nutritional Information for the Quinoa Coconut Vegetable dish:

Kale Chips – The Perfect Snack Before Bedtime or Anytime!

Kale Chips > The BEST Bedtime Snack? We think so…

Are you looking for that perfect snack that will fill you up, help you sleep and nourish your body at the same time?  Look no further than kale chips!

First of all, here’s some background information about kale.  Kale is a green or purple vegetable that is similar to cabbage and spring/collard greens. There are many types of kale that are classified into different kale families depending on their leaf type.

Kale is packed full of nutrition and is often called a ‘superfood‘.

All forms of kale can be easily prepared, whether eaten raw (within a salad) or juiced or boiled or cooked.

One of our favourite ways to prepare curly-leaf or dinosaur kale is by making them into kale chips.  It’s fun, easy, quick and tastes really great!  Kale chips are also an ideal snack for the entire family.  Below is our kale chips recipe that will take you less than 20 minutes!

Kale Chips Recipe > An easy kale chips recipe for you to follow…

Recipe makes 1 serving (great for up to 2 people) and will take roughly 20 to 25 minutes to prepare.  Here are the ingredients for the kale chips recipe:

• 5 large leaves of Curly Leaved or Dinosaur Kale (about 1 bunch)
• 1 tsp coconut oil
• sea salt

The kale chips recipe method is:

• Wash and tear the kale into chip sized pieces
• Drain water off the kale pieces
• Melt the coconut oil
• Toss the kale in the coconut oil
• Put the kale onto a baking sheet
• Sprinkle sea salt onto kale
• Roast at 350F for about 15 minutes

Keys to the kale chip recipe:

1. The kale will shrink, so make sure your pieces are not too small
2. Don’t drench the kale in the coconut oil … just toss it
3. Sea salt is not necessary, but gives the chips a great flavour
4. Roasting time depends on your oven so take the kale chips out when crispy
5. Once crispy, take the kale chips out and put onto paper towel to soak up excess oil

For those who have troubles falling asleep, kale chips are the perfect bedtime snack as they help kick-start the production of your sleep hormones!