For a healthy outing, Shameer and I went for a walk in Santa Monica. It was a little chilly, but plenty of people were still out even with less than perfect weather. Finding a place to eat that is healthy can be a little tricky, so we headed off the main path by the beach and went to One Life Natural Food Market. I got a 32 ounce green juice for only $8.95, which I think is a really great price for all that nutrition. In my juice was lemon, parsley, spinach, and cucumber. If anyone is in the area, I highly recommend checking out this small health food store. Thanks Salma for introducing me to this place.
Favorite Kitchen Tools: Under $20
Vegan: Cauliflower & Yellow Lentil Dal Curry
I love curry! This is one of my favorite anti-inflammatory comfort food dishes. You can choose to eat this with rice, but I prefer it as a soup or stew. I tend not to measure things, as most of my recipes are adjustable to taste. I did however measure the spices when I mixed together my curry spice powder. I used this recipe from Whole New Mom. This one is nice and mild, which is good for sharing your food. Not everyone likes things as spicy as me! You can also use any curry blend of your choice, or adjust her recipe to taste, or just guess and test which is what I usually do if I don’t have a blend pre-made.
- ¾ lb yellow lentil dal
- curry powder to taste
- ¾ of a cauliflower or just add in as much as you wish
- himalayan sea salt to taste
- Soak lentils overnight with a little bit of lemon juice. This will help get rid of the phytic acid in beans, and prevent the gas.
- Rinse, then boil beans in pot of water for about ten minutes. When it's mush, it's ready.
- Add in curry powder to taste.
- (Optional) Bulk up dish without adding calories by adding chopped cauliflower, then continue to cook until cauliflower is at preferred level of mushiness. This is a great substitute if you prefer potatoes in your curry.
- Add some cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or spicy chutney to the dish to give it some heat.
Mood and Gut Bacteria

Many people are now aware of the numerous ways in which our intestinal bacterial balance affects our overall health. Candidiasis/Gut disbiosis have been linked to a myriad of health concerns including autism, cancer, autoimmune diseases and many other serious ailments. Even many conventional allopathic medical practitioners recommend taking a good probiotic supplement when they prescribe antibacterial drugs to a patient. Eating habits, drug consumption, activity level, and stress all impact our inner ecology. I find that I have a natural tendency to focus more on the importance of what I am eating rather than deeply appreciating and reminding myself of the good I do for myself when I relax, laugh, and let go of guilt for not having the “perfect” diet. The past month or so I have been making an active effort to whole heartedly appreciate what experiences come my my way with less judgement. While I know I still have quite a way to go, I’ve been enjoying the break from worrying if I am eating/exercising/sleeping/living adequately. Although I can’t see all the probiotic buggies in my tummy, I definitely notice relief in my symptoms.
Book Review: The Magnesium Miracle
As someone who deals with chronic pain, getting my muscles to relax is extremely important. I’ve found Epsom Salt baths too time consuming, plus I prefer showers, so I wanted to do more research on this mineral to make sure I was taking the right dosage, as well as the right type of magnesium. I flipped to that section, and found that information pretty easily. I chose to go with a chelated magnesium glycinate/lysinate because it doesn’t have a laxative effect on the body.
Then, I read it cover to cover to understand the role magnesium plays in the body and with different diseases. I like how it was organized by different diseases as it could be a quick reference to someone with a busy schedule. It also showed recommended dosages for each disease, which I found to be extremely helpful.
She does provide a list of magnesium rich foods, but magnesium is a mineral that is often deficient in our soil, therefore, deficient in our food. That’s why I prefer this mineral in supplement form, although I think the information regarding a magnesium diet is still valuable. Since “many Americans remain dangerously deficient,” this book is a valuable read for everyone, and is easily understood by a reader without medical background.
Hope this helps, Later health nuts ; )
Spandex Love
I found these really cheap on ebay and put them on my health wish list. I try and walk 2 to 5 miles a day. Not only is walking great for digestion, it’s also great for a bathing suit butt, cheaper than a gym, and reduces stress. I like listening to new bands, or a health-related audio book when I walk. Then, not only am I getting a workout, but I’m also learning about an awesome band, or the latest health information. I also like this Pedometer app, so I can keep track of how long and far I walk. The app I linked is free, but I upgraded because I liked it, and I wanted more GPS features, plus it keeps track of your walking history.


