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In this current time of unknowns I feel nature is the healthiest place to be. The woodlands provide abundant fresh air, oxygen, sunshine, and plant friends. I know people are self-quarantined at home in their house, but the air in the house may be stagnant and stale. The carpets, floors, beds and cabinets may be off gassing and so on.
The safest place is in nature, not to mention the bonus benefits of peace and relaxation. There’s room in nature for your thoughts, fears, anxiety, hopes, and dreams. The latest trend is forest-bathing for restoration and renewal but is it really new? It’s more of a remembrance of what our cells already know, are familiar with and need.
When you’re at home crack your windows and let fresh air in. Use non-toxic cleaning products and non-toxic body products. Most of all take a lot of deep breaths – preferably in the woods
Social distancing.
Washing hands.
Avoid touching your face.
I want to also remind you that this is the time to be supporting your immune system and not stressing it out. Excess intake of processed sugar, chemicals, additives, preservatives, toxins, and heavy metals all have negative effects on the immune system.
Right now our immune systems need support and nutrient dense foods. I have an Immune Support Elderberry Elixir up in my herbal shop for sale.
In our home we’ve been eating a large amount of garlic for anti-viral and immune support benefits. We eat fermented food daily for vitamin C. Ferments have 10 times more vitamin C than fresh cabbage. We juice fresh lemons and limes for vitamin C and liver support (there’s still a ton of citrus available in stores). We drink our raw milk for a natural probiotic. We take a tablespoon of raw coconut oil for medium chain triglycerides which helps eradicate viruses. We go to bed at 9pm and get plenty of sleep.
A great way to get more daily immune boosting nutrients is to substitute the water in your coffee for Chaga tea. You simply brew the Chaga tea and then use it instead of water as a coffee base. Chris does this every morning and it’s great!
Self care is so important during this time- especially practices that help you relax and de-stress. Take a long hot herbal bath, walk in the woods, and stay well hydrated.
Remember times of change and uncertainty bring opportunity, possibilities, and rebirth. Let’s prepare for our healthy futures.
Today I was alone at the park with my son thinking- Where is my mom? Grandparents? Aunts? Uncles? Friends? Community? Tribe? Village? Anyone? Help?
Do you ever feel this way in this modern culture of separation and isolation?
I hear many women and mamas expressing this angst and longing for connection and mama friends. Isolated nuclear families is a brand new phenomenon. Hunters and gatherers, not that long ago, lived in tribes, villages and community.
Let’s cultivate community!
I often feel the false and fragmented connections on social media have disconnected and isolated humans. I personally feel the repercussions of this disconnect in today’s modern culture. I’m a stay at home mother whose with my son 24/7 and crave like-minded mamas to connect with, spend quality time with, have eye contact, hugs, touch, and hear the sound of their voice. All the things iPhone connections can’t give me. In person connections keep me healthy- more than sleep, more than water, more than exercise. We are social creatures and loneliness breaks down the immune system just like stress does. Some mother’s have expressed to me a village could be Life or Death for them.
This is where the importance of revillaging comes in. Revillaging is re-creating a village, a community, and in person social connections. It’s similar to the idea of rewilding where you reconnect with nature. It’s getting back to living in a more meaningful connected way with others. Helping each other out, knowing our neighbors, sharing, and giving. I want this so badly. A tribe. A village. Sisterhood and friends.
I feel this longing in my bones and it’s time to do something about it. We must put it in the work it takes to build a tribe and re-create a village. It’s important and valid to feel all the feelings about this but have you ever heard the saying, “When You Pray, Move Your Feet?’ It’s time to move our feet. This means getting out of our comfort zone and actually talking to people.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “It takes a village to raise children.” I feel that so much and believe we must do the work it takes to manifest the community we deeply crave. So I put together some ideas to get us started.
Here are some tips on how to connect at a deeper level with people-
Be present, hold space, validate, ask questions, listen, reflect back so they know they’ve been seen and heard.
Revillaging is vital for our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Yay! Go revillagers.
Comment below and share if you can expand on some ideas for building community.
The leaves are turning color and reminding us that change is a natural and a necessary part of the cycle. As the trees let go of their leaves we can also release and let go of limiting beliefs and behaviors that are no longer serving us. This is a healthy and liberating time of year.
Road Trip
My family has had an adventurous and traumatic fall. On a recent road trip to Montana I experienced an intense miscarriage at 10 weeks pregnant. Life is mysterious and there are events I don’t fully understand. Often people want all their questions answered and there’s wisdom and peace in knowing sometimes there aren’t immediate answers.
Miscarriage is intense and often not talked about enough. I experienced a lot of blood loss, painful cramping, and the release of large clots. I come to find this is okay and normal for some women. Click here to read a recent post on Instagram.
I’m grateful I was equipped for a fast recovery. I was prepared for an unexpected emergency by keeping up with a consistent healthy lifestyle.
Family Vision
Our family vision became more clear on our road trip. Buy land with water, buy silver and gold, plant a food forest with fruit trees, berries, nut trees, vegetables, and herbs, have a big open expansive view of the mountains and sky, have a spring water fed house, have big game animals all around. How does that sound?
Mom Life
On another note, mom life is like working 2.5 jobs everyday. Phew! I want to validate all the moms out there in the fact that it’s a huge amount of work. It’s also the most rewarding and purposeful blessing in my life so far. Our toddler is busy growing, talking more everyday, giving kisses, exploring the world and connecting to nature.
Hunting
Chris has been doing a great deal of hunting so we can eat nutritious wild food from our local environment. I’ve gone along on the hunts and it’s an intimate experience with the land and the most connected I feel to food. The wild squirrel is quite tasty, and no it doesn’t taste like “chicken” ha!
Plant Medicine
I have increasingly become more in love with plants and their medicine. Plants have been around long before antibiotics and I’m so honored to help heal and nourish my family with their support. It’s also wonderful to share this knowledge with you and my community.
When we recently were on our road trip we were feeling ungrounded and run down towards the end. I was relieved to have herbal remedies Elderberry Oxymel and Wild Oregano Tincture on hand for immunity support.
My medicines are potent and they connect people with plants. I feel fortunate I was able to gather so many wild plants this summer to store up medicine for the winter.
Most of my herbal medicine comes directly from the Flagstaff, AZ forest where they grow wild and I work closely with nature.
Here’s a link to current winter wellness herbal remedies.
I trust you’re growing, learning, getting outside, staying aligned with your vision, and staying healthy.
Talk soon,
Melissa
]]>Can we ever have enough raw butter pie videos? Nope!
I made a raw strawberry butter pie video with my favorite little helper. Here’s a link.
Lately I’ve stopped making a crust or frosting for my raw butter pies as you’ll see in the video. Most raw crusts are made from nuts and unless I can find an extremely fresh raw unpasteurized source for nuts I’d rather not eat them. Nuts tend to go rancid quickly when exposed to light, air, and heat. Rancid oils are unhealthy to the body causing inflammation and a myriad of health issues. Rancid nuts are less nutritious because the oxidation destroys the healthy fats and nutrients. Most of my clients who cut out rancid nuts feel much better.
When I do eat nuts, I buy them locally from a trusted farmer at my farmers market. I store them in a glass jar and in the fridge.
So this raw strawberry butter pie is basically the pie filling! All raw fat, raw eggs, and raw fruit!
It’s a dreamy delight! Every bite taste like heaven on earth.
We eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Raw butter pies are a staple food for my family.
Please let me know if you make this with a tag or comment!
In Gratitude,
Melissa
]]>Hi Friends,
I have a new youtube video up about our wild water, wild food, and sheep harvest adventure.
WATCH HERE
I realize we all make different choices on where we source our food. This photo may be too much for people to see but if we all honor each other’s choices and learn how to gracefully disagree then life will flow better. Because as humans our truths are definitely going to be different.
We value knowing where our food comes from and how it’s processed. So we decided to go to the actual source and be a part of everything which for me is the ultimate connection and empowerment. This sheep was raised humanely 100% organic and grass-finished on a local farm. We went to the farm and shot it ourselves, gutted it, hung it, and butchered it.
I do believe that hunting wild game would be healthier but this way feels better than a grocery store and supporting the middle man. I also believe these skills are necessary to have as a human for survival. Credit goes to Chris for doing most of the work!
Where do you source your food?
I want to catch you up with you and tell you what’s new with me! Currently my main platform for connection on social media is Instagram. I’m on there posting conscious mama photos and updating Instagram stories. Today I posted a bright red smoothie photo and it inspired me to share it here with you.
The best part of waking up is smoothie in my cup! I find the easiest way for me to eat more raw foods in the winter is through smoothies. This smoothie is 1 small raw beet, frozen mangoes, frozen bananas, and goji berry powder. I’m aware this smoothie is high in natural sugar and we don’t make it that often. Today it brightened a dark morning, it was beautiful, delicious and got raw beets in my body. Beets are high in vitamin c, fiber, folate, cleanse the liver and build the blood.
We recently travelled to Costa Rica and got to indulge in fresh life giving foods such as coconuts, papaya and mangoes. I adore all the enzymes in raw foods for health, digestion, and life. Enzymes promote life and keep us alive and well.
Some travel tips I discovered for my next trip are – bring my own sea salt, bring clay (for bug bites to draw out poison), and peppermint essential oil (good for everything, we put on the soles of our feet and to cool off).
I’m creating informative fun photos with my two loves – raw butter and my son. Raw butter is a staple in my families diet and I plan on it staying around for awhile. We are firm believers in raw saturated fats for nutrition, strength, vitality, and satiety. We eat about a pound or more of raw butter per week and love it. No butter, no joy! Feel free to share the photos.
We eat casein A-2 Raw Butter from Guernsey, Brown Swiss and Belgian Blue cows. There are 2 types of milk proteins in cows called A-1 or A-2. To my knowledge A-2 is a healthier milk and easier to digest. A-1 milk is a genetic mutation from cross breeding cows for more milk production. A-2 milk is from old world and heirloom breeds that have not been manipulated in any way. Have you noticed a difference when drinking raw milk products from A-1 or A-2?
What are you eating for your enzymes? Do you eat raw animal foods? Do you eat herbs? What kind of herbs? I ask myself these questions as reminders when I walk through the grocery store.
I trust you are doing things that make you happy, listening to your heart, and of course eating raw paleo foods.
Talk soon,
Melissa
]]>Avocados are cleansing to the liver, a good source of plant fat, satiating, and loaded with vitamins and minerals. I crave an avocado a day when they’re in season.
This nourishing smoothie was a great addition to my diet when I was pregnant as well. Have you ever experienced painful leg cramps at night when pregnant? Avocados have more potassium than bananas and are a perfect remedy to help with cramping.
Avocados are a versatile food that go well with everything. You can pair this healthy smoothie with eggs, salad, or even meat.
Surprise your family and friends with a fresh avocado smoothie and make their meal special and exciting!
Avocado Smoothie
1 avocado
1 cup raw goat milk
1-2 tablespoons raw honey
2-3 ice cubes
I topped my avocado smoothie with bee pollen for an additional healthy boost and flavor. What is your favorite smoothie topping?
In health,
Melissa henig
P.S. When you make your smoothie do it with love as your guest with feel it.
]]>It’s similar to us adults who eat a whole food diet or a diet like our ancestors ate. Whole food baby food is simply whole foods cut up into very small bite size pieces. When babies start eating solid foods that are healthy and not packaged junk food, it’s a whole food diet. My son is currently 10 months old and eating a low sugar high fat whole food diet. He loves eggs, raw cheese, raw goat milk, olives, sweet potatoes, peas, cucumbers, red peppers, and berries.
Oh, and he LOVES meat! He eats chicken, lamb, and beef. When he does eat meat it’s grass-fed and grass-finished because it has 300 percent more heart healthy omega-3’s than factory farmed meat.
Feeding a baby can seem overwhelming but don’t over complicate things. It’s simple if you a eat a healthy diet yourself and then feed your baby whatever you’re eating. It’s known that our babies are always teaching us. If you want to start your baby off on the right track with whole foods, then now is your chance to clean up your diet too. You can eat healthy together!
Remember home cooked meals are the healthiest meals!
I started sharing my plate of food with my baby about 9 or 10 months old when he started getting teeth. I started my son on egg yolks and avocados at about 5 months old.
What didn’t work as baby food?
When we were traveling I bought a jar of carrot baby food for convenience. When I opened up the jar it smelled like a chemical and was a bright orange color. It didn’t smell or look like real food at all. From that day forward I decided if I wouldn’t eat it- I wouldn’t feed it to my baby either.
Another convenient thing I did when traveling was to give him squeeze packs. I recently researched that most of them contain Citric Acid and Ascorbic Acid. These additives turn the whole food package acidic. He started to break out a little around his neck after he ate them.
I still occasionally feed him squeeze packs because I’m not the perfect parent but I do my diligence in reading labels! This goes for food you eat too, read labels.
There are a few brands who use lemon juice and not citric acid to preserve it. Lemon juice isn’t the best thing for the teeth but hopefully better than turning the body acidic.
Some healthy options of squeeze packs are Once Upon A Farm (usually in the refrigerated section of the store) and Earth’s Best Organics.
As adults we have a tendency to want to snack, I know I’m always looking for snacks. Lol. This starts as children when we unconsciously teach them to snack on food in packages such as snack pick up foods. Have you read the ingredients in snack pick up foods for babies? There’s a long list of unpronounceable things. To name a few they have canola oil, msg, autolyzed yeast extract, and “natural flavors.” Remember “natural flavors” can mean up to 300 hundred different things…
Let’s start our babies off right with whole foods. It’s important for them to feel real texture, see true colors and smell freshness. Give your baby the delicious gift of nature!
Here are some things I feed Jeremiah.
P.S. Of course he still drinks a lot of breast milk but he’s still always hungry.
P.S.S. If you found this article helpful please share with friends.
Talk soon,
Melissa Henig
]]>If you live in extreme heat with days over 100 degrees like I do then you may be desiring a cold treat. I’m currently living in Arizona and the heat makes it feel impossible to run to the store and buy a cold treat- homemade ice cream does the trick. Raw ice cream is the perfect remedy to beat the heat and fabulous for a sweet tooth. It’s fast and extremely easy to make!
When you are at the store it’s a good idea to plan ahead and buy a few packages of your favorite frozen fruit. I like to make raw ice cream from frozen blueberries and strawberries. When they are on sale I buy double and I always buy organic!
Do you have a Vita-mix or high speed blender? That’s all you’ll need to make this kind of ice cream. Or some say “Nice” cream. It’s a healthy version of the sugary stuff you find at the store and a guilt free dessert.
Bonus of making this is my 8 month old baby loves it!
How to make it-
I pour one whole package of frozen strawberries into the vita-mix. I add a little raw milk- just enough so the blender will move. Then I blend and use the pusher that comes with the vita-mix to keep pushing the strawberries down and scraping the sides. Wallah you have ice cream!
Here is a you tube video I made of me making the raw ice cream. Someone did ask me, “Isn’t all ice cream raw?” I said most people use cooked milk in their ice cream and chemicals like anti-freeze to keep it from getting too frozen. So, no not all ice cream is raw. Most is actually toxic and unhealthy.
Have fun making this healthy version!
P.S. Feel free to add some raw honey as a sweetener.
Talk soon,
Melissa Henig
]]>I have created a list of high quality foods and products for you. I have noticed that I get frequent emails asking me about food sources. For example, "Where do I find raw milk?" or "What coconut oil do you use?"
So I created a list for you to keep on hand in your computer or phone. It will be conveniently all in one place so you won't have to go looking all over the internet for items.
The list is comprehensive including raw meat, raw dairy, raw eggs, fish, coconut cream, coconut oil, baby items, personal care products, water filters, juicers, probiotics, coffee alternatives, 100% olive oils, cod liver oil, medicinal mushrooms, and much more.
For the past decade I have been passionate about only putting high quality foods into my body. If I fall off track and eat something not up to par I really notice a difference in my body and don't feel as vibrant.
It may sound cliche but - We are what we eat!
I trust this list I have comprised will support you in looking and feeling your best!
Here is a LINK to purchase it.
Thank you and enjoy!
]]>I know the whole concept of it seems strange and uncomfortable but once you do your first one they get easier and easier each time. Its simple and very beneficial!
I find the times I’m really called to do an enema is when I’m cleansing or just feeling bloated and constipated. After I do one any previous cramps, bloating or uncomfortable stomach issue immediately go away. It only takes about a half hour and I feel lighter and refreshed!
We live in a toxic modern world and enemas are a powerful tool to aid in detoxification. On average we hold up to ten extra pounds of waste in our large colon that needs to come out. Yikes!
I made a short video with Chris King on how to do an enema. We cover the basics of the enema bag, the water, how to hang the bag, and the process. You can order your enema bag online for a couple of dollars or invest in a stainless steal enema kit.
I recommend a pure warm water enema for beginners and a coffee enema for more advanced users. Of course only organic mycotoxin free high quality coffee. Since you’re basically drinking it- just through the backend ;).
Let me remind you that staying healthy takes time and effort but feeling vibrant and pain-free is priceless. So make a plan, buy an enema bag, schedule time and get it done.
Feel free to leave a comment if you have done an enema and what you think of them.
Talk soon,
Melissa Henig
]]>It may be time for a cleanse.
Have you ever done a cleanse?
Cleansing helps you release nasty toxins from your body and get you back on track.
Toxins can enter the body through soaps, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, plastic, city water, pesticides, air pollution, heavy metals, additives, fillers, and binders found in food.
There are specific foods and herbs that facilitate the release of these toxins and lighten your load.
Often after a cleanse you lose weight, bring awareness to unhealthy eating habits, and feel refreshed and revived.
Spring time is traditionally the BEST time to cleanse the liver and clear out the winter stagnation. Many nutritionist and healers use cleansing and fasting as a way of healing the body and giving it a much needed break.
There are all types of fasting from intermittent fasting, to water fasting, to dry fasting. I have done them all!
Fasting is a practice where you abstain from food for a certain period of time. Sound extreme? I find cleansing suits me best because it’s sustainable and I get to bring in a variety of nutrients.
I’m hosting a 5 day group liver cleanse and we will be drinking raw lemonade, herbal teas, raw juices, eating raw soups, eating liver, and eating some sauted dandelion and beet greens.
The cleanse runs for 5 days. You receive a menu, a guide, group support, daily emails and videos. Our last group cleanse was great and here’s what people had to say.
“I feel great! Five days is perfect. I lost a few pounds, my mental clarity is sharp, and my energy is good. Thank you for conducting this cleanse. It’s been a helpful and learning experience.” – ArchieWelch
“The five days went so fast! I’m now super excited about raw food again and determined to keep it up. I will keep going. THANK YOU!” – Debbie
“I’m grateful I had the courage to give this a go! It really was awesome, I loved everything I tried. Thank you!!” – Susan Quirk
If this sounds like what you need to start your spring cleaning and want to join us sign up here.
Have a fabulous day,
Melissa
]]>I love raw chocolate! Do you??
As a new mama functioning on no sleep I find my self grabbing for the raw chocolate even more than usual. It’s delicious, comforting, and gives me a boost of energy but my baby doesn’t seem to like it. He is noticeably more fussy when I eat chocolate, even when it’s raw and of high quality!
I’ve decided to start making things using raw carob powder instead of raw cacao powder. So far so good! I haven’t had the nightly fussing at the witching hour and I still get my sweet dessert fix.
Raw carob is the perfect antioxidant, very good for digestion, and helps with weight loss. It’s also high in selenium which is a great nutrient for thyroid support.
I made a Youtube video making Raw Carob Love Balls. It’s totally organic because I don’t have an exact recipe but I walk you through my process. These raw carob balls can be eaten breastfeeding or not. They’re delicious!
I did notice as I was pouring the raw organic nuts in I used about a 1 cup walnuts and 1/4 cup pecans. Also, I used to be very diligent about soaking my nuts before eating them but I’ve relaxed a bit. My personal theory as of now is that when I grab a bag raw organic almonds or walnuts for snacking in the car or hiking and I eat them right out of the back unsoaked and feel fine. The percentage of raw nuts in my diet is so low that I don’t take the time to soak them. If you feel better soaking your nuts, please do.
Enjoy the video
Do you like carob? Comment below and let me know if you make the balls.
Stay Healthy,
Melissa Henig
]]>The raw paleo group cleanse was a success! Cleansing is not always the easiest thing to do but it’s fun doing it with a group. We posted pictures of our meals and people asked me questions in the private facebook group. I also checked in each morning with the group in a daily email.
Here’s what some had to say-
“I feel great! Five days is perfect. I lost a few pounds, my mental clarity is sharp, and my energy is good. Thank you for conducting this cleanse. It’s been a helpful and learning experience.” -ArchieWelch
“The five days went so fast! I’m now super excited about raw food again and determined to keep it up. I will keep going. THANK YOU!” – Debbie
“I’m grateful I had the courage to give this a go! It really was awesome, I loved everything I tried. Thank you!!” – Susan Quirk
For me personally, I feel more energetic and nourished. I often get stuck with food ideas and feel as if I always eat the same thing. These recipes brought in great diversity for the five days. Which means all new vitamins and nutrients from the food. I lost a few pounds as well. I feel like I’m back in my body after pregnancy. Everything gets easier such as hiking, stairs, holding a baby, and just plain feeling more confident as I lose the 44 pounds I gained.
I did get hungry and had to remind myself that being hungry isn’t a bad thing. I love being aware of what comes up around food. How much I need for nutrition? How much is snacking? How much I eat for comfort?
The cleanse was called raw paleo because the paleo part was an optional raw meat meal or raw eggs on the menu. For the most part it was raw vegan though. If you know me, you know I’m all for meat and raw dairy as daily food intake. But this was a refreshing break with easy to digest blended raw veggie soups, detox teas, and raw food dishes.
I’ve grown to become more relaxed when it comes to the food part of health these days. Meaning I’m eating some cooked food such as wild game, organic basmati white rice and the occasional sour dough bread.
So the cleanse was perfect, it was five days dedicated to the raw food aspect of health.
Once I got the food part down I now feel a deep connection to nature, breathing, grounding, community, and being realistic. Don’t worry I’m not eating twinkies.. Do they even make those anymore?
What did I break the cleans with?!
Most health practitioners probably wouldn’t suggest this but I felt it was so rewarding. I broke my cleanse with my favorite recipe of the Raw Paleo Chocolate Pudding.
1/2 pound raw butter (softened)
4 raw pastured eggs
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
2 tablespoons raw honey
Blend in Vitamix until smooth.
I will be putting on another 5 day raw paleo group cleanse in March. I hope you join us!
Until then stay healthy and connected to nature,
Melissa
]]>Hi!
Ok, I know this is totally unconventional.
Most people I know can’t even wrap their mind around this one.
It’s raw chicken my friend. Yes, as a raw omnivore I eat raw chicken.
Ok, let me disclose that I eat a good amount of cooked food these days, but I still love raw animal foods and feel so good after eating them.
I made raw chicken ceviche for dinner tonight and it brought back memories of that calm, relaxed, fulfilled feeling I get after eating it. I imagine the abundant vitamin B6 (very heat sensitive) found in chicken is what makes me feel so good. Heat denatures this vital vitamin so eating it raw is the way to go. Vitamin B6 helps the nervous system function properly and plays an important role in making the happy hormones serotonin and norepinephrine. Feeling this good makes me realize it’s been way too long since I’ve made raw chicken ceviche.
Good news is I can start making it again because I found an organic pasture raised local chicken farmer. Here in Arizona it’s illegal to sell chicken that has never been frozen at the farmers market. So the farmer I found let me come to the farm and pick up fresh chicken. If I’m going to eat raw chicken I don’t want it denatured by freezing it. I also got to see the chicken tractors, the organic feed, and the healthy birds while I was there.
I told him it may sound weird but I plan on eating this chicken raw. He didn’t cringe or think it was strange at all which is another sign he is selling clean healthy birds.
I see no difference in eating raw chicken, raw fish or any type of raw meat when it’s from a healthy animal. Why is chicken any different than other animals? Healthy animals produce healthy food and sick animals produce sick food. Perhaps it’s the conditioning, fear, and psychology we grew up with around chicken.
I took the fresh chicken home and started chopping. I cut the chicken breast into 1/2 inch cubes with a sharp knife. Next, I added the chicken cubes to a glass jar and covered it in lime and grapefruit juice. I usually use lemons but limes and grapefruit work too and they’re in season.
This is technically called “cold cooked” chicken since the acid in the limes “cooks” it. Just like you would use limes to make ceviche with raw fish.
I let the jar of cubed chicken and lime juice sit in the fridge for one day. Then I strained out the lime juice and squeezed the chicken well with my hands to get all
the lime out.
I’m curious. Would you like me to do a youtube video on this?
I finished it off with a recipe from my book but didn’t use exact measurements. I added raw heavy cream, celery, red onion, a lot of fresh basil, cold pressed olive oil, and himalayan salt. It taste just like raw and healthy chicken salad!
I know many people fear salmonella but I’ve never heard of it being found on clean food. I recently found more research from a poultry scientist that salmonella is hardly unique to chickens but in a very rare instance (1 in 30,000 birds and from a factory farm) it showed up on chicken skin and contaminated a cutting board – the chance for it to make it all the way inside the muscle is very rare. The CDC has documented five salmonella outbreaks this year and not one came from eating chicken.
One of my main goals in sharing that I eat raw chicken is to spread light on eating raw foods and eliminate the fear. It also maximizes the health benefits of eating chicken. This is a very healing food, especially for the nervous system.
I would love to know what comes up for you around this topic?
Would you eat raw chicken?
Stay Healthy,
Melissa Henig
]]>The body is amazing and naturally cleanses and detoxes our insides daily. Some people enhance their detox programs with juice fasts, supplements, exercise, and saunas.
I’m aware of the 80,000 man-made chemicals coming at us daily. So I personally cut down on the amount of petrochemically-based toxins coming in through my skin and home that I can control. I recommend removing all toxins from your home including toxic shampoos, soaps, detergents, dish soaps, cosmetics, beauty products, etc. and replacing them with organic and natural choices wherever possible. My mentor Alfredo tells me “If it’s not made by nature, it poisons people and the planet.” Toxins can put a burden on the liver and accumulate as waste in the body.
There’s more to the story though. There’s a spiritual and energetic component of health that needs cleansing too! Do you ever go to a restaurant and it just doesn’t feel right? As if the vibes are off and the place doesn’t feel good to you. Or perhaps you feel “not quite right” in a certain person’s home or negative conversation you find yourself in. You feel like you want to shake off that negative energy and walk away from the situation, some how feeling cleansed and released from it.
In situations like these you are picking up on a feeling that is definitely present but you can’t quite define what it is or where it’s coming from. You are perceiving the subtle energy of the restaurant, house or person. These places can disrupt your personal energetic field—which needs cleansing too.
There are plenty of ways to cleanse your personal energy.
My top 3 are-
I like to sage (smoke or smokeless spray) myself and my space. Burning sage is an ancient practice of using sacred plants to clear energy. This practice is often called smudging. Smudging helps to clear negative energy and start anew. Sage smoke is also anti-bacterial, which is good for the air in your space.
I go into nature and take my shoes off exposing my bare feet to the earth and soaking up it’s free electrons. These free electrons help ground the body which prevents inflammation and relieves pain. This practice is called earthing or grounding. It feels so good!
I cleanse with water by taking a long shower, soak in a hot bath, or jump in a cold creek. Water conducts electricity and transforms your personal energy!
If you’re into this sorta thing ;)… I have made a Smokeless Smudge Spray that’s super convenient to bring anywhere, keep in your car, your home, your office, your bathroom, or your purse.
This Sage Smudge Spray is special because it is infused with quartz crystals and handmade in Sedona, AZ.
You can see each piece of charged quartz crystal floating in the jar. Quartz crystal is known as the master healer and will amplify energy and thoughts. As you release and cleanse old energy you can amplify your new positive intentions. Out with the old, in with the new. With this spray you are making room for new beginnings!
The deer dream catcher on the front of the label will be in your hand for every spray and represents the Native American energy and land that the product is made on. The deer spirit animal has a strong intuition and you have the power to deal with change with grace. You are both determined and gentle in your energetic approach. Trust your instincts!
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Do you Smudge?
Your Health Inspirer,
Melissa Henig
]]>This is not food related but still health related since mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness is a large part of health.
I’m always amazed at the parallels between giving birth and life itself.
I’m envisioning my home birth without leaving a thing out. From that very first contraction in early labor to delivering the placenta and holding and kissing my baby.
We need to have a clear vision of exactly what we want and how it will go. I see myself breathing and relaxing through contractions. I see myself in a squatted position with one knee on the floor in my living room when the head crowns. I see myself reaching down and catching my baby. I see birthday frosting all over my newborn baby a.k.a. the vernix.
I see myself releasing control, getting out of my own way, and embracing the contractions. I will surrender and let go as the powerful woman that I am. Letting my body work and do what it knows what to do.
I see floods of emotions, pressure, patience, gratefulness, fear, joy, excitement, ecstacy… all that comes with a huge event, transition, and birth.
“Trust and faith remove doubt and fear.”
What vision do you have for your life? Can you clearly walk yourself through the exact path of what you want?
How do I have a vision?
Give yourself quiet time every morning to reduce stress and create a deeper connection to yourself and desires. You can remind yourself by saying “Mornings are for me.”
You can create a sacred place in your home for quiet time, meditation, prayer, breathing, and visualizing.
Set a timer for 10 minutes for your quiet visualization time.
When you are visualizing the life you want don’t leave any details out. See yourself in your new home, with your soul mate on the couch next to you, at your birth, building your business, free of pain, strong and healthy, on your next adventure!
Last but not least- I’ve become a baby! LOL
We have a running joke in our house that I always say “I want my milk (insert baby voice)”
Every time I feel I need fast nutrition or when I wake up really hungry at 4am I go to the fridge and drink my raw milk. Raw milk has bioavialable proteins and fats that absorb right into my cells. Raw milk has a full quota of inherent enzymes and natural probiotics. I feel nourished and satisfied – like a baby – every sip.
“I want my milk” I’m sure this baby stage I’m in of sleeping, eating, crying, and drinking milk while pregnant is giving me compassion for my newborn that’s on the way. A new birth for both of us!
Your Health Coach,
Melissa Henig
If you want to know more about unassisted home births, here is my midwife’s website.
]]>Did our ancestors need science?
Do you need science?
I notice this frequently comes up in the work I do.
People sometimes ask: “Where is her science behind this diet?”
This strikes me as odd that we are so reliant on science.
Knowledge is first hand experience.
Is science fear based? Words over understanding? Sure I can give a lot of scientific words without anyone truly understanding my subject, or feeling the difference in their own body. How can anyone truly understand something until they experience it?
There are times I want to say “I am the science” in answer to those questions. I live and walk this diet everyday for years feeling vital and healthy. But I realize some people want more.
Dr. Mother Nature is my most trusted scientist. Not a laboratory.
How can we believe in science anyway?
Science is ever changing. Science can be flawed, manipulated, controversial, or just plain wrong. One day coffee is good for us and the next its bad. Or recent studies that question “Is it the gluten or the glyphosate causing all the health problems?” Or both? Same goes for saturated fats- for 50 years the government dietary guidelines were telling us saturated fat causes heart disease, until recently they changed the story and gave us the green light to eat all the cholesterol we want!
You can find anything you’re looking for on the internet with some scientific study behind it. Whatever you type in – google will find it suited just for you. Often I ask who’s funding this science? What are they trying to sell or market?
Did the Maasai, Himba, Wodaabe, or Maktiari tribes need science to eat raw animal foods?
My science is the wisdom of our ancestors. The wisdom of isolated primitive people that Dr. Weston A. Price studied who lived cavity free, disease free, and were extraordinarily content and happy! These cultures he meticulously studied ate raw animal foods, organ meats, the whole animal, and some plants. They weren’t exposed to modern foods that included heavy processing, canned goods, frozen foods, refined sugars or processed oils. The part that impresses me most of these nutrient dense eating people is the perfect structure of their faces, and they made “designer babies.” They knew even minor nutritional deficiencies impeded proper growth of the baby.
Trust your body. The body doesn’t lie.
Be your own scientist. Study your body. Try new things. Take things out of your diet. Put them back in and tune in to yourself. This can’t be done in a lab.
Raw Omnivorous Foods
Raw omnivorous foods, unlike cooked foods, have all of their nutritional, chemical, enzymatic, probiotic, energetic, and DNA structures intact. Since these foods are in their original nature-made state your body can easily utilize all of these healthful components found in the food.
Nature intends that we eat foods in the same form that she makes them. She is wiser than the entire scientific community combined!
Dr. Weston A Price said “Life in it’s fullest is Mother Nature obeyed.”
What do you think? Are you a science person or an experience person?
Your Health Coach,
Melissa Henig
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One last thing- Iv’e always been afraid to ask for help but I’m breaking free of that, especially being pregnant! It’s very humbling and kinda fun.
I get a lot of emails from you telling me that you love my book. It would be so awesome if you could help me spread the Raw Paleo message and leave a review on amazon where you bought the book.
Most recent testimony –
I had raw beef with butter, cream and honey yesterday….was great!
I just had raw beef tartar for lunch now. I have never felt so alive! It is like every cell is waking up….like I can feel every cell in my body!
It is incredible the way this makes me feel! And the gut is so happy…I feel so light…but such an intense feeling of vitality! My body feels like it is buzzing with bliss and energy! My energy levels have generally always been good….but have increased so much more now. Thank you!
–Jessica
Thanks so much in advance. Talk soon!
]]>Firstly, I want to thank all of you for your responses to my last email! I read each and every one and I’m working on answering your questions now in my online course. If you missed the email—you can still participate. I’m creating an online course specifically for your needs. What are your questions about living a Raw Paleo lifestyle? Post a comment below and tell me how I can help you.
You won’t find chairs in nature!
We just took a road trip to California. Currently in my third trimester the car ride wasn’t so easy but the camping in a tent I could do. Getting in and out of the low tent door was a breeze- even with a baby on board! I owe this partly to my extra mobility skills developed as a result of our unplanned furniture free home. I say “unplanned” because I didn’t research anything of the sort- we are minimalist and love a simple life that also seems the most natural and healthy. I know “furniture free” is a growing movement. Maybe someday I’ll want a big cushy thing in the living room- nothing is set in stone. But this serves us greatly for this time.
Furniture Free living room
Sunset camping at 7 months pregnant!
Road trip food!
My favorite food to eat on the road is raw milk cheese. It’s stable out of a cooler, satiating, easy to eat, and delicious. It’s also a great way for me to get a raw source of calcium, good fat, and protein. My goal being pregnant is to consume 1500 mg of calcium a day. If I eat five to six ounces of raw cheese along with a few other foods I’m covered. Raw milk products don’t weigh you down like pasteurized cheeses can. Raw cheese is more easily digested due to it’s natural enzymes that help break down the fat. Pasteurization kills these enzymes making your body work harder. After extensive research the caveat I’ve found to eating raw milk products while pregnant is to avoid eating SOFT un-aged cheeses whether raw or pasteurized. I buy clean raw milk and hard, aged raw cheeses.
Me with my raw milk!
Naked Sun Time!
I’ve always been a believer of naked sun time and I still am with a baby bump. This is a great way to get vitamin D when pregnant. It’s best to have as much of your bare skin exposed as possible. I don’t shower after vitamin D bathing because vitamin D is fat soluble and soap strips the oils containing vitamin D off your skin. It’s recommended to wait 24-48 hours to shower. I make a list of top priorities for homes I live in and naked sun tanning in my backyard is one of them!
Baby bump naked sun time.
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If your man takes Pine Pollen you’ll end up like this
Your Health Coach,
Melissa Henig
]]>Hi Friends!
Do you drink your nutrition?
This is the best time of year to add nourishing liquids into your diet. It’s HOT and people are thirsty. Might as well pack a punch with the liquids you drink.
I’m 7 months pregnant and trying to fit all my calories into my squished stomach doesn’t always work. Eating often feels like a full time job.
I’ve discovered a great way to get more nutrition and minerals into my body. I simply replace plain drinking water with nourishing liquids.
Water is important and necessary but it fills me up fast since I don’t have a lot of room left in my pregnant body.
Drink liquids that pack a punch!
Enzymes make life possible. We can’t function without them. My favorite enzyme liquids are –
You can make juicing easy and fun by not overwhelming yourself. I used to buy so many veggies to make big batches of juice. The process took a long time and I had a big mess to clean up.
Now I juice 1 bunch of celery, 1 peeled cucumber (peel because most cucumbers are waxed), 2 carrots, 1/2 beet, parsley, and 1 organic lemon with peel on. It takes me 15 minutes with clean up included!
I also love replacing water with herbal teas.
I fill a big glass with ice to the top and pour concentrated herbal teas over the top. This keeps it nice and cold and waters it down a bit.
In the mornings I start a 1/2 gallon size of sun tea. I leave this to brew over night, strain in the morning and then refrigerate. It keeps for 3 weeks in the fridge, but never last that long in my house!
These are my favorite 4 herbal teas. I make them in 4 separate glass jars and I add a lot of loose leaf tea to make a concentrate. I add about 1/4 cup of loose leaf tea to a 1/2 gallon jar.
Nettle Leaf – Rich in iron, calcium, vitamin A, C, K, potassium, anti-inflammatory, good for allergies, good for dry skin, stimulates hair growth, and promotes lactation.
Hibiscus Flower – 92 minerals, antioxidants, vitamin A, C, and zinc, helps reduce high blood pressure, great for immune system, improves skin, and digestion.
Raspberry Leaf – Rich in iron, vitamin, A, B, C, E, helps tone the uterus, ease labor pains, improve reproductive health, and increases milk production.
Rose Bud Tea – High in vitamin C, antioxidants, good for constipation, healthy skin, immune support, relieves stress, and anxiety.
Just like anything in life – don’t over do it on herbal teas! It’s nice to find a healthy balance. I like to drink 2 cups a day, a few times a week.
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To Your Health,
Melissa Henig
]]>I know this article may seem counterproductive to mainstream diet articles where people are trying to cut calories, but I’m actually trying to take in more calories.
Lots and lots of calories!
Have you ever found yourself here?
Maybe you’re body building, an endurance athlete, recovering from a raw vegan diet, a teenager wanting to bulk up, or like me -a pregnant woman.
I did some food journaling and I noticed I’m not getting the amount of calories I would like.
Awareness of what we eat is a part of any health plan. Food journaling rocks!
Many nutritional pregnancy programs say pregnant women in the second trimester should eat 2,700 calories a day.
Seem high?
Well I am growing a baby.
I do believe that high quality foods serve me better even if I fall short of that specific calorie mark. Of course I could eat two Big Macs and easily reach that calorie mark in one meal, but that’s just gross!
If you’re like me and don’t eat snacks, empty calories, protein bars, powders, fillers, or a lot of carbs you may also find its hard to get enough calories in.
Besides upping my protein, raw nut butters, and banana raw milk shakes I found it’s all about the toppings!
I top my meals with everything healthy. Check out this dish where I’m topping with ghee, raw butter, avocado, raw cheese, and cold pressed olive oil.
That’s five healthy fats to nourish me and baby. This is great for preconception, pregnancy, nursing moms, your skin, brain, nervous system, and more.
Start topping today! Do you top? Post your favorite topping below.
Talk soon.
Your health coach,
Melissa Henig
Hello from my second trimester!
This time in my life has been so transformative for me. I’m learning to quiet my mind and watch life unfold before me. I’m letting go of all my plans and flowing with what is happening right now. I’m learning to trust my body.
The first trimester was a challenge for me and now my second is a dream. I hear the third is even a different kind of challenge. This is a great analogy to the ebb and flow of life. When things are challenging you may have a dream right around the corner.
Remember, things are happening for you- not to you.
Ok, back to self care. This email may not be for you personally but if you feel inspired to pass it on to the expecting parents please do.
Prenatal Care is Self Care!
The best prenatal care you can give yourself is self care. And the best self care for a pregnant woman is through great nutrition. It’s about the prevention of gestational diabetes, pre-clampsia, and other complications with proper nutrition and a toxic free environment.
Prenatal care in a clinical setting is just like health care. It’s an outside physical experience with testing that doesn’t focus on nutrition, is fear based, and doesn’t look at the emotional or spiritual health of the mama.
Our health and pregnancy is with in us. I don’t need an outside routine practice of weighing me or checking my blood pressure every couple weeks. I believe in my miracle and my body. I do believe in a relationship with a midwife for support.
Self care pregnant or not is the key to a healthy body and mind. Take long walks, hydrate, eat nutrient dense foods, rest, pray, deep breathe, cook for yourself, take alone time, yoga, reading, community, and letting go of things you can’t control.
During pregnancy my body is growing and building a human from scratch and don’t forget I’m also growing a whole new organ – the placenta. With all this marvelous work going on my blood volume is doubling and this requires good nutrition.
This requires calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, probiotics, no processed foods, no refined sugars, and no canola oil.
Probiotics are important daily!
Having a healthy well balanced gut are important for mama and baby. Probiotics along with good nutrition reduce the risks of complications that can take place in pregnancy. Good bacteria will be transferred to the baby during a vaginal delivery- this jumpstarts your baby’s immunity.
I’m taking probiotics in the form of fermented foods, raw milk, and raw yogurt. I eat fermented veggies and drink raw milk everyday. Every single day! Consistency is key.
I prize raw milk and all full fat raw dairy for a healthy pregnancy and healthy well formed baby. Biochemically raw saturated fats make up nearly half of our cell membranes. No need to be afraid of what you’re made of
When choosing to take a prenatal vitamin or not, there is no wrong or right. Do what you’re comfortable with.
Here’s a list of foods you can get vitamins from for a healthy pregnancy.
Calcium: Raw whole milk, yogurt, raw cheese, sardines
Folate: Liver, beans, raw eggs, fish eggs, green vegetables, avocados, spinach
Vitamin B12: Liver, raw eggs, grass-fed meat
Vitamin B6: Raw meat, raw dairy, raw eggs, liver, baby bananas
DHA: Cod liver oil, fish eggs, raw butter, eggs yolks, liver
Vitmin A: Cod liver oil, fish eggs, raw butter, eggs yolks, liver
Vitamin D: Cod liver oil, fish eggs, raw butter, eggs yolks, liver
Vitamin K2: Raw cheese, poultry liver, meat, eggs
Choline: Raw eggs, liver
Zinc: Red meat, liver, fish eggs
Iron: Red meat, liver, raw egg yolks, black strap molasses
Iodine: Fish eggs, wild caught sea food, raw butter, sea veggies
Vitamin C: Strawberries, grapefruit, oranges, kiwis, red pepper, mangos, berries
Probiotics: Fermented veggies and drinks, raw milk, raw yogurt
Please forgive me that I’m not the best at responding to blog post comments. Even though I’m not the best responder to comments- I’m fully present in my health coaching and pregnancy nutrition coaching practice.
Please hit reply to this email for any questions!
I believe in you and your body.
Your health coach,
Melissa Henig
Resources-
Life is amazing and unpredictable. I had it all planned out to start a new chapter and move to Montana and the very morning I was moving I found out I’m pregnant.
Wow! What a huge curve ball. It was quite a process for me to digest but I feel blessed to be given such a wonderful gift as this.
I was shocked, I didn’t think I could get pregnant. Years ago I was married and tried to get pregnant and nothing happened. I had gone for a blood test and was very low in progesterone. This was 15 years ago and my diet and lifestyle was not what it is today.
I contribute this wonderful surprise to my current nutrient dense diet including of a lot of raw animal fat and raw cholesterol.
Here we go- Maiden to Motherhood!
The first trimester can be challenging with morning sickness, body changes, rising hormones, and people projecting personal fears.
Stay strong the second trimester is much easier. I’m savoring every moment of this experience through the sickness, emotional stress, and life changes because it’s truly a miracle.
First trimester tips:
I had always secretly judged pregnant women in my past – thinking to myself that I would be so much healthier than that, etc…
Well now that I’ve walked in the shoes of morning sickness – I get it! I ate anything that helped me with the nausea. I mostly ate bread which was a bad idea because I ended up with a rash and have cut out all gluten since. I find it’s best not to have any judgements in life or on yourself.
You can always get back on track in the second trimester. I did!
Honor your body. Rest if you need rest. This is not the time to prove you’re the fastest hiker, biker, or most flexible. Do what you’re personally comfortable with. There were days I could only make it to the woods for a short walk to enjoy all the vibrant smells and sights.
I carried raw cheese around with me during the day to help with nausea. I would keep it in my pocket and nibble on like a little mouse- but it really helped!
Focus on sending only positive thoughts and lots of love to your baby. By the sixth month the fetus can move to the rhythm of your voice. How beautiful!
I’m loving using the Cave Baby Cream that I make on my growing and itchy belly. It’s a tallow based skin care with no scent that soaks in better than synthetic creams. The organic tallow I make the cream with has fat soluble vitamins A, D, K, and E. It’s like putting vitamins right into your skin. I have repeat customers on their second pregnancy who swear by it helping them not get stretch marks.
You’ll want to find a whole food based prenatal vitamin. I really like the Raw Prenatal by Garden of Life. I’m taking a Prenatal DHA supplement by Nordic Naturals. In my opinion they are the best company for high quality fish oil.
I’m drinking a pint of raw milk a day, eating whole raw eggs and egg yolks, eating raw meat and slow cooked organic meats, fish twice a week, lots of greens for folic acid, probiotics, and some fruits.
Please share this with anyone you know who is pregnant. Do you have any prenatal questions for me?
I’m here for your support.
Your Health Coach,
Melissa Henig
]]>I often imagine my life as it was 10 years ago and I giggle today with my current mission of shifting the paradigm about eating raw meat.
Who knew?
Here I am helping to release the fear and remove psychological blocks about eating raw meat.
Personally I have no fear of eating raw grass-fed red meat, raw pasture-raised chicken, or raw wild caught fish! We can dive deeper into that if you like.
Can everyone interested please comment and let me know if you would like a blog on bacteria and parasite information?
Let’s talk about eating raw meat as a liver cleanse for now.
Raw animal products may just be the next best cleanse you’re looking for!
Yep, I know it sounds crazy, but raw meat builds muscles and repairs cells along with being a wonderful liver detox.
You see, the beauty of eating raw meat is that it sculpts and detoxes at the same time!
Raw meat detoxes the body in many ways due to its high amounts of antioxidants, enzymes, and natural bacteria found on it but today I want to point out the nutrients in the raw meat specifically for the liver.
I like to focus more on nourishing and supporting organs rather than cleansing them and possibly creating nutritional deficiencies.
Our liver is our body’s largest filter and as we age we have years and years of toxins to be filtered out. It’s working hard, let’s nourish it with raw meat meals.
Nutrients found in raw meat for detoxifying the liver
There are two stages for cleansing the liver known as phase one and phase two. High quality protein is necessary for both phases. The complete amino acid profile in raw meat supports phase one and phase two liver detoxification.
Raw meat contains B-complex vitamins which are necessary co-factors for phase 1 detoxification. The B complex vitamins found in raw meat are B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12. B vitamins play a role in neutralizing toxic material in the liver.
Due to the presence of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine raw meat helps the body to manufacture a very important amino acid glutathione. This amino acid is one of the most powerful antioxidants made by the body. Glutathione helps the liver to neutralize toxins and remove free radicals from the body. Raw meat also produces glutathione through alpha-lipoic acid found in raw meat.
*Please note that glutathione supplements cannot compare to raw meat in terms of efficacy in the body. Supplement isolates do not contain the essential synergistic co-nutrients that are found in whole raw foods.
Zinc found in raw meat is required for over 200 enzymatic processes throughout the body including liver detoxification.
Selenium aids in the production of glutathione and works to restore elasticity in hardened liver tissues.
Methionine and Cysteine are sulfur-containing amino acids found in meat which help create antioxidants in the body that help repair a damaged liver. Research shows that chronic liver disease is marked by a deficiency of sulfur-containing amino acids in people suffering from liver cirrhosis. A deficiency of methionine can also lead to inflammation of the liver. The greatest bioavailability of methionine is from animal foods.
Vitamin B12 helps improve liver health and is heat sensitive. So eating meat and animal derived foods in their raw form is important to provide quality vitamin B12.
Raw meat contains natural bacteria as do many other raw foods. The liver is an organ that is dependent on a healthy gut. Many of the livers’ metabolic functions are enhanced by the presence of good bacteria in the gut.
Antioxidants found in raw meat include CoQ10, glutathione, carnosine, conjugated linoleic acid, selenium, zinc, and iron.
Note: Some amino acids are sensitive to heat which means that cooking will alter and/or destroy some of these valuable amino acids.
And last but not least- You can always eat raw liver! (I have a raw liver pate recipe in my book that’s delicious). Traditional Chinese Medicine and homeopathic principles believe “like cures like.” Eating raw liver would have the nutrients to support and heal your liver.
“By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like is cured” Hippocrates (460-377BC)
Have a blessed, motivated, happy, healthy, and awesome day!
Your health coach,
Melissa Henig
]]>I’ve had a really hard time sticking to my diet lately. I don’t like to call it a diet but I will as a reference point to the way I like to eat.
Do you ever go through this?
I’m going to be honest and transparent with you.
Even though I’m still bringing my healthy options with me to the party, I end up not wanting them and following the crowd by eating bites of what is on the table.
What’s wrong with me? I never do this. I’m a leader. I’m the healthy one.
A few nights ago my friends and I were sitting around for hours chatting, playing music, and singing. We were starting to feel ravenous hunger pains as we didn’t leave the house for hours. To our surprise a friend shows up unexpectedly with a huge smile on his face holding 4 large pizza boxes.
Our hero!! You can hear the sounds of claps and cheers through the room.
I imagined him in a superhero suit as he stood there in front of us with our growling stomachs and the aroma of hot, cheesy, good old gluten filled pizza seeping out of the boxes.
How could I not eat it?
And not join in the celebration and delicious satification of this hot food with my friends.
Humans like to justify things. We like to make everything ok. Are the justifications ok? In this blog I’m saying yes they are ok.
I was telling myself the repercussions of eating pasturized dairy and gluten are ok because I’m breaking bread with friends, building bonds, memories, and I’m happy…
And it was damn good!!
So now what?
I’ve eaten the pizza. I’m feeling a bit tired. I’m feeling a little guilty. I’m noticing my stomach is large and gassy.
I’ve decided to enjoy, relax, and give the gift of presence.
I told myself-
Let it go.
Eat healthy food tomorrow.
Start tomorrow morning with a green juice.
Have compassion on yourself.
Everything is ok.
Everything is perfect.
Things in life ebb and flow.
If you go weeks of keeping an exceptionally healthy diet and eat some pizza- it’s ok.
It’s Christmas! A time for holiness, happiness, and cheer!
Celebrate life, celebrate yourself, celebrate your friends and family.
I’m grateful for you!
Your Health Coach,
Melissa Henig
]]>Have you ever heard the idiom “The devil is in the details.” I get it. It’s when something seems simple but the details complicate it and cause problems.
I was inspired to change things up a bit after hanging out with a friend over Thanksgiving and brainstorming with her on why she can’t seem to lose weight.
The Angel is in the Details!
When it comes to reading the ingredient list on packaged foods, we need to stop and look closely at the details. It only takes a minute to pick up the package and read and decide whether it’s clean and gum free.
Oh those gums! Guar gum, Xanthan gum, Vegetable gum, Gellan gum, Carrageenan…
I seem to find them in everything!
Emulsifiers, stabilizers, gelling agents, and thickeners added to foods may be the details for explaining weight gain.
They are a major source for inflammation in the intestines and horrible for digestion as well.
Let’s take a look at one detail of her morning that can be upgraded.
I watched her pour what she thought was a healthy choice of organic almond milk into her tea as a creamer.
Ah Ha! This could be the culprit, a small daily detail, innocently unnoticed going into your body everyday.
This ingredient list is full of gums!
…and Carrageenan
The World Health Organization Agency for research on cancer has determined Carrageenan as a carcinogen. A carcinogen is a substance that can cause cancer.
I understand life gets busy and we zig zag but it’s time to get back on track.
There are a couple of things you can use instead of a boxed almond milk or dairy creamer in your morning tea or coffee.
Here’s an amazing drink that is so delicious and fun to make – it should be sold in coffee shops across America.
I use a roasted dandelion tea or Dandy blend for a flavorful base. You can use organic coffee if you’re a coffee drinker.
Brew the tea.
Add raw coconut butter, raw cacao butter, raw vanilla bean powder, and maple syrup to a Vitamix blender.
When tea is finished brewing pour into Vitamix blender and blend all together and you will have a delicious frothy morning beverage. YUM!
This is a healthy way to stay away from additives and chemicals and you are fueled with clean healthy fats.
Here’s what my raw cacao butter looks like. I use about a teaspoon in the drink.
If you make this drink please share it with friends! Share your little secret of raw cacao butter as your new creamer.
Have a beautiful day and remember The Angel is in the Details
Melissa Henig
P.S. There’s a paradox here…
Is it the devil or the angel in the details?!
We could go deeper and deeper on this.
]]>It happens from time to time and I would say most people grab a coffee to perk themselves up.
I was having one of those mornings where I have so much do to and couldn’t find the motivation to start my work.
I try to keep my motto of “think raw” and out of the normal easy addictive grab and go mindset. Because I know raw foods keep me feeling amazing and looking good.
So I bought a real coconut and had them open it up at my local co-op. If you want to feel the live food working don’t buy the canned pasteurized coconut water.
WOW! I felt like I was having an instant blood transfusion of electrolytes, potassium, enzymes, antioxidants, hydration, and good energy.
Coconut water is also a great weight loss drink because it’s low in calories and the enzymes boost fat metabolism.
I raised my vibrations by drinking raw coconut water
So how am I going to get you to remember to buy the real thing and not a canned coconut water? How am I going to remind you to opt for the coconut and not a coffee?
Many people falsely believe that “knowledge is power.” Napoleon Hill talks about knowledge is potential power. It only becomes power when it is organized into a definite plan of action.
To help you organize and use the knowledge of the raw coconut water this week I have an assignment for you.
Homework:
I want you to comment below with the day, time, and what store you will go buy yourself a real coconut water.
Yes! I’m so excited for you to feel the good energy in the coconut water.
Practice:
Think Raw
Your Health Coach,
Melissa Henig
P.S. Please hit reply to set up a coaching call. Talk to you soon.
]]>Have you tasted my raw butter pie or have you made it?
Raw butter pie is my favorite food and I could solely live off of it. There have been times it's all I've eaten for days!
I don't think of raw butter pie as a dessert but a complete meal and full of inherent enzymes to digest it.
Another bonus I get from eating raw butter pie is the raw butter is so healing to the gut due to the high amounts of butyric acid in it.
It's perfect!
I have a raw food service where I make food for people and everything goes into glass jars except the raw butter pie. Well today I ran out of plastic containers so I put the pie into glass jars. DUH! Why haven't I always used glass jars for this? The pie is perfect, but I'm not. ;)
A 6oz glass jar is just right for the pie. I made the pie with the same recipe that I use for the pie pan but instead layered it into glass jars. My body and the environment will thank me for this change.
Plastic is never really safe or nontoxic. I have bought BPA-free plastic but the BPA is actually replaced with toxic additives and other chemicals that are absorbed by the body.
Some BPA-free plastics even release synthetic estrogens.
~ Plastics are linked to a long list of health problems. ~
This reminds me of the "gluten free junk food" trend with added sugar, powdered starches, additives, and it's usually not very nourishing. Often times people think it's safe to eat just like BPA-free is safe.
~ BPA-free does not mean safe. ~
Plastic is a substance that the earth cannot break down. Plastic never goes away!
From this day forward raw butter pie will only go into glass jars!
Here's the Raw Banana Cream Butter Pie Recipe from my book.
Step 1: Crust
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Use a food processor (not a blender) to mix the walnuts, almonds, butter, and honey until it reaches a smooth consistency. Press the mixture into the bottom of 6 oz glass jars or whatever size jar works for you.
Step 2: Filling
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Add the banana, butter, eggs, pitted dates, vanilla bean powder, lemon juice, and honey into a Vitamix blender and blend until it reaches smooth and runny consistency. Pour the mixture into the glass jars over the crust but don't fill to the top. Put the lid on the jar and refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
Step 3: Frosting
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Place the cream and honey into a glass bowl and whip with a hand mixer until it's whip cream consistency. Take the jars out the fridge and top the pie mixture with whipped cream. Serve and enjoy!
~ Raw Butter is a traditional staple. ~
Decades of empirical evidence and updated science now show us that raw butter is not only safe to eat but udderly beneficial.
It provides many health benefits such as strong bones, supple joints, healthy skin, supports the balancing of hormones, sustained energy, and proper brain function.
When raw butter is grass-fed it has strong anticancer properties, is antimicrobial, and is full of probiotics especially when you eat the cultured version.
Oh yes, raw butter is our friend!
Practice:
- Use glass jars.
- Say "no straw please."
- Bring reusable items with you- bags, cups, utensils.
- Say no to disposable plastic.
- Eat more raw butter pie.
Your Health Coach,
Melissa Henig
Please hit reply for any health coaching help. Lots of love to you all!
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