by Christina | Jun 28, 2019 | Member Exclusives, Wellness
The transition phase off of hormonal birth control can be confusing for some, but there are a few simple steps you can take to support your body through the change. If you’re not already familiar with the effects hormonal birth control can have on the body and why many women choose to stop taking it, check out this post.
There are a variety of symptoms a woman might experience when she comes off the pill. Some notice no difference, and some immediately feel better. Others might experience the symptoms of Post-Birth Control Syndrome, which could include heavy bleeding, irregular or missing periods, cramps, acne, mood swings, hypothyroidism, migraines, hair loss, gas or bloating, anxiety, leaky gut, gut dysbiosis, inflammation, or other unwanted symptoms.
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by Christina | Jun 26, 2019 | Member Exclusives, Wellness
This workout is perfect for targeting your upper body and abs if you don’t have any equipment – all you need is your body! You can do this on travel, in your room, or anywhere you’re caught without a gym.
Adjust the rep ranges to your fitness level, and make sure that you’re doing each rep with proper form. If your form breaks down, you’re doing too many reps! Make sure you warm up / prime your body before getting started.
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by Christina | Jun 26, 2019 | Recipes, Wellness
It’s finally starting to feel more like summer in San Diego as the rain stops and the sun peeks out. As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect time for lighter, cooling foods and sweet flavors!
When I think of summer, I think of smoothies, salads, lemonade, and fruit! I personally hardly ever eat fruit, but summer is the one time of year when my craving strikes!
When you’re craving fruit, there’s nothin’ quite like a good jam. Most jams at the store are pumped with artificial flavors or refined sugar, but a well-made jam doesn’t need anything “extra” to make the flavors pop.
I’m all about homemade jam for a few reasons. First of all, it tends to be much healthier! You know exactly what’s going in it, and you don’t have to worry about there being any sneaky ingredients or unnecessary added sugar. 
Second, it tastes so much better. Everything tastes better homemade, but especially jam! It tastes much fresher than anything you’ll find at the store, and that allows the natural fruit flavors to shine through.
Third, it’s a fun activity and a great gift! Making jam is so simple to do, and it’s an easy summer activity that you can turn into a gift for yourself or someone else. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t love the gift of homemade, refined sugar-free jam!
This Paleo Strawberry Rhubarb Jam is the perfect way to switch it up this summer! It’s tangy but sweet, and not your average blueberry or blackberry. If you’ve always wondered what you could do with rhubarb, this is the perfect simple recipe to test the waters. The sweet strawberries compliment the tartness of the rhubarb perfectly!
You can eat this jam by the spoon, or put it on gluten-free toast, on a bagel, in a coconut wrap, over “oatmeal“, or even on a smoothie bowl! I highly recommend making a PB&J or AB&J with this stuff – so delicious. It’s the perfect way to satisfy your sweet tooth without a full-on dessert!
All you need to do is throw a few ingredients in a pot and let the simmering do it’s work to thicken up the mixture! This jam will become a new family favorite, and maybe even a new summer tradition! It’s paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar free. How do you like to use jam?!
Paleo Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Total Time: 1 hour
Yields: 16 oz
Ingredients:
- 3 cups rhubarb, peeled and sliced (about 3 stalks)
- 2 cups strawberries, sliced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup raw organic honey
Instructions:
- Put all ingredients in a pot with a lid. Bring everything to a boil, and then reduce the heat to simmer (light bubbles).
- Take the lid off the pot and simmer for 35-45 minutes, or until thickened. You’ll know it’s thick enough when it thickly coats the back of a wooden spoon and doesn’t drip off.
- Add the jam to a sterile mason jar. Secure the lid and allow the jam to sit at room temperature until it’s cooled.
- Store the jam at room temperature until you open it, and then store it in the fridge.
by Christina | Jun 25, 2019 | Recipes, Wellness
I’ve been told there are a few very specific foods people associate with me, and those include organ meats, celery fries, and FENNEL. Specifically, fennel with the “hair.”
I had actually never even tried fennel until about a year and a half ago, and I very quickly fell deeply in love with it. I’ve toyed around with a lot of food elimination diets over the years, and that’s what led me to finally trying fennel! Whenever I eliminate certain vegetables from my diet, it always encourages me to try new foods I wouldn’t have otherwise!
I clearly remember the first time I bought fennel. I got it from Trader Joe’s, took it home, and had no idea what to do with it. So I chopped it up and sauteed it – I had no idea you could eat it raw. It tasted pretty good, but I could immediately tell it would taste even better roasted.
After that, I started roasting my fennel, and I never stopped! I didn’t try raw fennel until about 6 months ago, and to be honest, I did not like it very much. It tastes like licorice when it’s raw, but when it’s roasted, it has a slightly sweet flavor. It just goes to show how you never really know if you like a food until you try it cooked in different ways!
So I started cooking fennel more, and I also started buying it from other stores. At Trader Joe’s, the fennel stalks are cut off, but they’re not cut off when you buy fennel from other grocery stores. That’s how I discovered fennel “hair.” It’s the thin green, threadlike pieces attached to the top of the fennel stalks.
Roasted fennel hair is probably what most people identify as “my thing.” I’m all about “no food left behind” – so I roast every part of every vegetable I buy. I roast the greens on radishes, broccoli stalks, cauliflower stems, zucchini tops, and definitely the stalks and “hair” on fennel. It’s actually my favorite part!
I call it fennel hair because it really looks like hair after you roast it. It gets crispy and dark brown when you cook it, and people have asked if there’s hair on my plate. Nope, just the top of the fennel. I eat every bit, and I love it!
I figured it was finally time to share a recipe for roasted fennel, because this is one of my most requested posts! Most days, I simply roast the fennel in olive oil and salt, but when I want to spice things up I like to go for this super simple turmeric version! Turmeric truly goes with any vegetable, and I love that it’s anti-inflammatory.
All you have to do is chop the fennel up (EVERY piece of it), toss it in some olive oil and spices, and roast it until it softens up and the edges start to crisp. This recipe is paleo, vegan, and keto-friendly. It’s the perfect simple side dish to serve with any meal!
Paleo / Vegan Turmeric Roasted Fennel
Ingredients:
- 3 fennel bulbs, chopped (include the stalks and “hair”)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (Use code “WELLNESS” for 10% off Kasandrinos olive oil)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 1/4 tsp ginger
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 425*F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Toss the chopped fennel in your olive oil and spices. Spread the fennel out evenly on the parchment paper.
- Roast the fennel for 35 minutes, or until the edges start to crisp.
- Remove from the oven and enjoy!
by Christina | Jun 23, 2019 | Member Exclusives, Wellness
Over 75% of women experience PMS symptoms like bloating, insomnia, headaches, and mood swings, but period cramps are one of the most notorious symptoms women have deal with each month when Aunt Flo’ comes to visit. When it comes to PMS symptoms, though, many women don’t realize that extreme pain and discomfort are not normal for a healthy period.
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