If you have a nut allergy and are cleansing, this is the raw taco meat that you’ve been looking for. This is by no means lacking in flavor, either. You can wrap this mixture in collard leaves or add it to your salads for an added protein boost. If you want to prep a larger batch as part of a raw meal prep, this will keep in the fridge for up to one week.

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The watermelon rind is probably the most neglected edible part of any fruit. The rinds get thrown away because people have been conditioned to throw them away. While it is possible, encouraged even, to crunch on raw watermelon rinds, they are a bit more appetizing when you incorporate them into recipes.

Important Note: The bright green exterior should not be eaten because it typically is covered in a wax coating and pesticides. The rind is the light green flesh that often has bite marks in it.

Much like watermelon seeds, the rind is loaded with health benefits. The rind contains a surprising amount of citrulline, which gets converted into to arginine in the body. This compound is vital for healthy circulation and heart health. The rind is also beneficial for the prostate, it may help reduce blood pressure, and it contains a lot of anti-inflammatory properties. Some of our favorite watermelon rind recipes are listed below. We hope you enjoy them!

Pickled Watermelon Rinds

Ingredients:

• 1 cup watermelon rinds, cut into bite-size pieces
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ½ tsp rice vinegar
• ½ tsp coconut aminos

Instructions:

• Put the salt, rice, vinegar, and coconut aminos in a bowl and whisk until the salt is dissolved. Place the watermelon rinds in a Ziploc bag, pour in the liquid mixture, and seal the bag.
• Make sure that the liquid is coating all of the pieces.
• Let the rinds sit in the marinade for at least 10 minutes, or 20 minutes for a spicier pickled flavor.

Watermelon Rind Kimchi

Ingredients:

• 2 cups watermelon rind, cut into bite-size pieces
• 1 Tbsp sea salt
• 1 bunch chives, cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and julienned
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tbsp Korean chili flakes
• 1 Tbsp raw honey

Instructions:

• Place the watermelon pieces in a large bowl and toss with the salt. Cover the bowl and let this sit at room temperature for an hour.
• If you don’t want the kimchi to be salty, rinse the watermelon rinds after they are finished soaking in the salt. If the salty flavor doesn’t bother you, don’t worry about rinsing.
• Combine the rind with the chives, ginger, garlic, chili flakes, and honey in a mixing bowl. Stir well and transfer to a glass jar with a tight fitting lid.
• Put the jar on the counter and let the kimchi ferment for two days before placing it in the fridge for another three days. It will be ready by then!

Watermelon Rind Coleslaw

Ingredients:

• 2 cups watermelon rind, grated
• 1 red/orange bell pepper, julienned
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped
• 2 Tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

• Combine the grated watermelon rind, bell pepper, grated carrot, green onion, and cilantro in a large bowl and mix well.
• Whisk the apple cider vinegar, mustard, oil, and a little sea salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• Pour the dressing over the slaw and mix to coat all the ingredients. Enjoy!

Sources:

https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/a35807/why-you-should-eat-watermelon-rinds/

https://www.fannetasticfood.com/watermelon-rind-coleslaw/

http://www.halfyourplate.ca/recipe/watermelon-rind-kimchi/

https://www.pickledplum.com/pickled-watermelon-rind-bites/

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When it comes to making food in the morning, you want to make it as easy on yourself as possible. You also don’t want to start you days off on the wrong foot by eating something that is unhealthy. Not only does an unhealthy breakfast, like eggs and bacon or pancakes, make you sluggish later in the day, it also doesn’t inspire you to eat healthy for lunch and dinner. This is why it is best to start your days off with smoothies!

Smoothies are predigested, meaning the body doesn’t have to work hard to absorb the nutrients. Additionally, using a variety of fruits and vegetables in your smoothies can put you on the right track to fulfill your recommended daily intake of a wide variety of vitamins and minerals.

We recommend prepping your smoothies in advance by placing the contents of each smoothie in a sealed bag in the freezer. All you have to do in the morning is take your desired smoothie bag out of the freezer, place the contents in the blender, add your liquid, and blend away! For each of following smoothies, add one cup of water to the blender when you are making them. We hope you like them!

Summer Delight:

• 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 1 peach, pitted and sliced
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced

It Ain’t Easy Being Peachy:

• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 peach, pitted and sliced

Green Machine:

• 1 grapefruit, peeled and cubed
• 1 banana, peeled and sliced
• 1 cup pineapple, cubed
• 1 cup spinach

Berry Blast:

• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup spinach

Digestive Helper:

• 2 oranges, peeled, and cubed
• 1 large carrot, peeled and sliced
• 1 banana, peeled and sliced
• 1 inch piece of ginger, finely diced

Avocado For Breakfast:

• 1 cup pineapple, chopped
• 2 cups spinach
• ¼ cup parsley
• ½ medium avocado, peeled and pitted
• 1 Tbsp agave (you can add when you blend it)

Kiwi Watermelon:

• 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
• 5 cups watermelon, cubed
• 5 cups grapes (green, red, or mixed)

Let us know if you enjoyed any of these smoothies in the comments below.

Sources:

https://livesimply.me/2015/08/17/prep-day-4-simple-ways-to-make-smoothies-in-advance/

https://www.bettycrocker.com/menus-holidays-parties/mhplibrary/seasonal-ideas/6-make-ahead-smoothie-packs?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=08_2015_standard&crlt.pid=camp.cflnucg0tdds

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/97/ef/ec/97efec4f4d643b9cd460be303b33dd64.jpg

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Summer is the perfect season to enjoy a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade. We are talking about real lemonade, of course, and not a sugary drink filled with artificial flavors. Lemon water is also a great beverage option, and it doesn’t have to be summertime to enjoy it!

National Lemonade Day, while a day to enjoy this tangy beverage, is actually intended to teach children about setting up their own lemonade stands and running their own companies. The National Lemonade Day mission is to inspire young people to take chances and become entrepreneurs. This lesson-based program helps teach the youth across America about business planning, sourcing locally, and giving back to the community.

Our very own CEO, A.D. Dolphin, occasionally speaks to aspiring young business owners, sharing his story about how he started Dherbs Inc. A small idea can become a huge success, and A.D. always wants young people to pursue their goals, be they related to business, health, of self-betterment.

While National Lemonade Day is about teaching business lessons to young kids, we can’t talk about lemonade without providing you with some of our favorite lemonade recipes. Whether you are teaching your children finance education by selling these lemonades, or just want to appreciate the taste, we hope you enjoy them; we know we will!

Mint Kiwi Lemonade:

Kiwis are loaded with vitamin C and the mint and lemons work to promote healthy digestion. We used raw agave for this recipe, but you can use stevia if you want to; you’ll just have to use a different measurement because stevia can be powerful. A little goes a long way.

Click here to make the lemonade.

Refreshing Ginger Lemonade:

The beautiful kick of ginger is mellowed by the agave syrup in this lemonade recipe. You essentially have to make ginger tea and cool it before mixing it in with the water and lemon juice. In case you were wondering, yes, this is a Full Body Cleanse approved recipe.

Click here to make the lemonade.

Turmeric Lemonade:

Curcumin was tested side by side with fluoxetine (an antidepressant) in a six-week study that was conducted on patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Over the course of the study, findings revealed that curcumin had a more positive effect than the antidepressant.

Click here to make the lemonade.

Sources:

https://lemonadeday.org/who-we-are

https://nationaltoday.com/national-lemonade-day/

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Potatoes have taken a lot of heat (not just in fryers or ovens) because they have been labeled as bad carbohydrates. Sweet potatoes are often the given a lot of praise, and rightfully so, but regular potatoes are often cast by the wayside. Diet trends, inaccurate health claims, and old research have demonized spuds. The truth is that potatoes are not to blame; rather, it is how they are prepared that matters most.

While this isn’t something to be proud of, the potato is the most consumed vegetable in the Americans diet. Americans do need to eat more greens, but potatoes aren’t that bad. The Journal of Advances in Nutrition published an article stating that white potatoes should be included as a root vegetable in healthy diets. The reason people claim that potatoes are unhealthy is because they are typically prepared with butter, cream, deep-fried, or baked with cheese, all of which increase the fat and calorie content.

Potatoes are classified as high glycemic foods, due to the fact that they can quickly raise blood sugar levels. Diabetics should be cautious when it comes to eating any potato. People without diabetes shouldn’t go overboard with potatoes and they should eat them with low glycemic index, high fiber foods, like lentils, beans, nuts, kale, squash, or avocados, to counteract the sugar spikes.

Potatoes have a bad reputation because of potato chips, a lot of which don’t actually contain potatoes! People also overindulge when it comes to French fries, potato skins, or other unhealthy potato preparations. We feel that potatoes deserve another chance because they contain fiber, B-vitamins, potassium, copper, manganese, and vitamin C. We have some healthy recipes for potatoes below, so try them out and see how you like them.

Chickpea And Potato Curry:

Also known as Chana Aloo, this curry from Trinidad is very similar to vegetarian, tomato-based curries from India. The diverse spices truly give this curry an island flavor that you want to keep coming back for after every bite.

Click here to make the recipe.

Potato Wedges With An Avocado Dip:

Whether you want a little snack, side dish, or appetizer, these potato wedges can be a great addition to your recipe catalog.

Click here to make the recipe.

A Raw Take On Mashed Potatoes:

One of the best things about being on a raw foods diet is finding healthier ways to make the unhealthy things you used to eat. In case you want to try a potato alternative, this is the way to go!

Click here to make the recipe.

Sources:

https://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/5-reasons-why-they-say-potatoes-are-bad-for-you-1774673

https://www.verywellfit.com/science-now-says-white-potatoes-are-healthy-3572038

https://nationaltoday.com/national-potato-day/

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This is a savory soup with a creamy, coconutty base. With vibrant flavors and a healthy dose of folate and protein, this soup is the perfect appetizer or side to a light entree.

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Gut health has undergone critical research over the past couple decades because it is incredibly complex. The reason for gut health being a hot topic in the medical community is because research has solidified the link between poor gut health and autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, certain cancers, depression, and endocrine disorders.

A healthy gut is essential for a healthy body. An unhealthy gut can cause a lot of other health problems because everything in the body is connected. Just as we had the power to create an unhealthy gut, we also have the power to undo a lot of the damage and reestablish healthy gut bacteria. There is no one trick fix for an unhealthy gut; rather, you have to approach healing from all angles.

There are many things in life that can lead to an unhealthy gut. Too many stress hormones, not enough sleep, eating too many processed or sugary foods, or excessive consumption of medications/antibiotics can damage the gut. Because all of those things are considered to be normal for many Americans, they may not realize the damage that is being done. To help you better understand when you have an unhealthy gut, we’ve detailed the most common signs below.

Sugar Cravings:

Unhealthy gut bacteria secrete proteins that are very similar to hunger-regulating hormones, which affect cravings and mood. Bacteria feed on sugar, so you are increasing the population of unhealthy bacteria when you consume sugary foods. The bacteria want us to give them the foods they thrive on, causing you to reach for sweet foods when you aren’t hungry.

Skin Irritation:

When you consume unhealthy foods or foods that may not necessarily agree with your body (we call those food intolerances), you can inflame the gut. Too much inflammation can cause certain proteins to leak out of the gut and into the body. This leakage can irritate the skin, often times resulting in eczema or similar skin conditions.

Bloating, Gas, Or Diarrhea:

Often referred to as the hallmark symptoms of poor gut health, bloating, gas, or diarrhea are typically caused by an overabundance of bad bacteria in the stomach, colon, or intestines. Gas, which is commonly caused by food that ferments in the gut, occurs because there aren’t enough good bacteria to break down the food you eat.

Constant Fatigue:

While it may seem odd, an unhealthy gut can often cause irregular sleep patterns, chronic fatigue, or insomnia. Serotonin, which is a hormone that affects mood and sleep, is primarily produced in the gut. If the gut isn’t functioning properly, it cannot produce sufficient amounts of serotonin to regulate your mood and sleep.

Bad Breath:

Halitosis, the medical term for chronic bad breath, is a sign that there is an overabundance of bad bacteria in the gut. These bacteria can make you vulnerable to conditions like kidney infections or chronic bad breath. Having a higher amount of healthy bacteria in the gut helps prevent food fermentation, which can cause foul breath.

Autoimmune Conditions:

More and more research suggests that an unhealthy gut can increase systemic inflammation, altering the way the immune system is supposed to function. When the immune system isn’t functioning like it should, it can begin attacking the body instead of working to neutralize foreign bacteria or viruses.

We hope this information helps you identify when your gut isn’t functioning like it should.

Sources:

https://www.bepure.co.nz/blogs/news/signs-unhealthy-gut

https://extrawellness.net/heal-your-gut/

https://www.healthline.com/health/gut-health#signs-and-symptoms

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-14510/10-signs-you-have-an-unhealthy-gut-how-to-heal-it.html

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This juice helps to naturally cool you down, and it also has powerful alkalizing properties, which work to remove uric acid crystallization in joints. You may notice a little pain when you drink this juice because the ingredients are working to remove those toxins. If the pain is too intense or you have a severe reaction, stop drinking it immediately.

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Standing outside and absorbing the sunlight is probably one of the easiest things you can do. Oh wait…sitting outside absorbing the sunlight is probably easier, or maybe lying flat is the easiest. Anyways, up to 90% of American adults are believed to have mild vitamin D deficiency. If that percentage shocked you, it is thought that one billion people worldwide have low levels of vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency may not seem like a big deal, but having low levels of this nutrient can lead to a variety of health complications. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to several autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, hypertension, and various infectious diseases. People who work indoors or people who live in northern regions of the world, where year-round sunlight isn’t as prevalent, are at a high risk for developing vitamin D deficiency.

What Is Vitamin D?

Every cell in the body has a vitamin D receptor, and our bodies make most of the vitamin D on their own, as opposed to relying on food sources. Vitamin D is stored in the liver and fatty tissues, but excess body fat can absorb vitamin D and prevent it from being used. This is why overweight people tend to have lower levels of vitamin D.

When UV-B sunrays hit the skin, a substance in the skin converts them into vitamin D3. Vitamin D becomes a hormone in the body, specifically a precursor to a steroid hormone. It helps to protect us from certain cancers and has a beneficial impact on blood pressure, mood, brain function, and immune function.

The Problem With Fortified Vitamin D Foods:

Most foods that are fortified with vitamin D or other dietary supplements contain ergocalcifero, which is a type of vitamin D2 that cannot be absorbed by the body. Additionally, the body cannot convert vitamin D2 to do what it needs.

Vitamin D in Mushrooms:

Mushrooms are unique, in regards to vitamin D. They are one of the only plant-based sources of vitamin D, which is usable and easily absorbed by the body. Mushrooms mimic human skin in the way that they absorb more vitamin D when exposed to the sun. Portobello and maitake mushrooms are excellent shources of vitamin D.

Symptoms Of Vitamin D Deficiency:

Identifying the symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can be difficult because they are often subtle. Muscle weakness or bone pain can indicate vitamin D deficiency. Sometimes, however, people will not experience any symptoms, which can be harder to detect the deficiency. Causes for vitamin D deficiency are detailed below.

Sunscreens:

Doctors encourage people to use sunscreen, due to the rise in skin cancer cases in recent years. Even if you put on SPF 8 sunscreen, the body’s ability to make vitamin D from sunlight is decreased by 90 percent. Additionally, the standard, doctor-recommended SPF 30 sunscreen reduces the body’s ability to make vitamin D by roughly 99 percent. We aren’t saying that you shouldn’t put sunscreen on, especially if you are in the sun all day, but we are saying that you should use a natural, safe brand that doesn’t harm your skin or the ocean.

Lack Of Sun:

This is somewhat linked to the excessive use of sunscreen. It is important for the skin to receive direct sun exposure. More people are also spending more time indoors than outdoors. Exercise happens in the gym, people work indoors, and a lot of people spend their free time relaxing in their homes, movie theaters, or places that are shielded from natural sunlight. People are not getting enough sun exposure!!! The human vitamin D system begins with the skin, so get out in the sun.

Recommended Sun Exposure: People with pale skin are recommended to have 15-20 minutes of direct sun exposure every day. People with darker skin need to spend about 40 minutes in the sun every day to maintain healthy vitamin D levels.

It’s integral to get sufficient sun exposure every day because vitamin D deficiency has been linked to the following health problems:

• High blood pressure
• Arthritis
• Insomnia
• Heart disease
• Chronic pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Autoimmune diseases
• Osteoporosis

Sources:

https://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/vitamin-d-deficiency#1

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms#section1

https://draxe.com/vitamin-d-deficiency-symptoms/

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The second Dherbs 180 Challenge recently came to a close and the results nearly brought us to tears. After 40 days of cleansing and 20 days of maintaining the weight loss, we saw many success stories. Hundreds of people experienced significant weight loss, improved digestion, higher self-esteem, lower blood pressure, and have made permanent lifestyle changes for a healthier future.

After a voting process and much deliberation, the grand prize winners have been determined. Congratulations to our male winner, Gerry, who lost 24 pounds, and our female winner, Angela, who lost 47 pounds! These two individuals are proof that eating a plant-based diet, in conjunction with using the Dherbs Full Body Cleanse, can drastically improve your health and help you lose weight.

While there will not be another 180 Challenge this year, you can take part in next year’s 180 Challenge that will begin in January 2019. There will be some drastic improvements to the challenge, including more exercise tutorials, meal prep videos, and more! You have the power to lose weight, improve your health, and turn your life around; the 180 Challenge just gives you that extra encouragement.

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