Category: Self Help

In 2010, I was on top of the world.

New job, a new luxury apartment downtown, brand new car, the attention and admiration of my inner and outer circle. I just celebrated my 25th birthday on a beautiful beach. After 4 years of college and 2 years of graduate school, I finally graduated from student-dom and had entered adulthood. My job was everything I thought I wanted. I traveled for work and I even traveled on weekends. I was living the life of my dreams.

And 10 months later, it was taken away from me. It was taken from me in a matter of minutes. I lost my job. I lost my glamorous apartment. I lost the admiration of my friends and relatives. I lost the pride and confidence that I had in myself. I lost the freedom that I embraced being 550 miles from home. I returned back home, with no job and little money. I was no longer on top of the world. In fact, I thought the world was against me.

After moving back to my hometown, it took 4 years to get back on my feet. Four very long, humbling, character-building years. Now, looking back, I am proud of what those years gave me. I spent quality time with my family and built a close relationship with my nieces, nephews, and cousins. When my grandma passed away in 2013, I was happy to have had spent many Sunday afternoons with her: learning from her and laughing with her. I met three of my dear friends during those 4 years. Friends, that are like my sisters. Friends, who stood beside me as my bridesmaids, on my wedding day.

So much fun was had during those 4 years: late-night clubbing, followed by early morning breakfast at Waffle House; sleepovers, where my girlfriends and I would stay up all night contemplating life; Meetup Groups; Kickboxing Class; French Class; and I even became apart of Yelp Elite group for 3 consecutive years. I attended concerts, where I met Robin Thicke. I spotted celebrities at the mall. I partied. I danced. I dated. I went ice skating, apple picking. I met new people. I had a ball.

And I even met my husband during those 4 years.

Now, 9 years after the heyday of 2010, I am in a new space. And funny enough, it somewhat resembles my life in 2010. I recently started a new job in a new city. I live in a new home. I don’t drive a new car, but I did just celebrated my 34th birthday at a beautiful beach. I’m married now. Instead of being a new adult, I am now a seasoned adult. I make better decisions now. I save for rainy days because life has taught me that there will always be a rainy day.

But what I haven’t learned to do is to enjoy the ups.

I am so afraid of the down that I am reluctant to truly embrace the up. Spending money gives me anxiety. What if I spend too much now, lose my job and lose everything else? I tell myself:

Don’t get too comfortable with your lifestyle. Things can be taken in an instant. Remember 2010? Don’t get too close to your co-workers. If you choose to leave, that friendship will never be the same. Why put yourself through so much hurt? Don’t get close to your neighbors. Remember the neighbor that foreclosed recently? If that happens to you, the friendships that you made with neighbors would be wasted.

It’s a carousel that my mind takes frequent trips on. Around others, I am constantly down-playing how satisfied I am with my life.

Former Co-worker: Do you like your new job?

Me: Yes, it’s okay. I miss my old job though!

Knowing very well, that I really like my new job. I believe it’s a really good fit for my talents and skills set. In another conversation:

Someone: You have a beautiful home.

Me: Thanks. It’s not in an exciting part of town. This town is a sleeper.

In a discreet manner, I am constantly telling people to not be so happy for me. I’m bracing myself for when it all falls down. My favorite quote is, Be humble or be humbled. So, I try not to put myself in a position where others talk about me, “She thought she was on top of the world. Look at her now!” It’s sad, but we all say such things when someone loses everything after boasting about their good fortune.

It’s good to be humble, but I think the fear that I’m experiencing is crippling. It’s not healthy to anticipate it all falling down. And I acknowledge that. My fear is real. I will address that.

When you are prone to entertaining narcissistic behavior in others, you are a people pleaser, a doormat, or any version of the same, you are probably used to glossing over disrespect in your close personal relationships. It comes with the territory.

GLOSSING OVER DISRESPECT

Here is an example of a typical narcissist / empath interaction:

STEP 1. Toxic disrespect. 

This is where the narcissist, codependent or otherwise toxic person disrespects your personal boundaries. The toxic encounter is one in which the toxic person tries to use you as an extension of themselves by doing things, displaying behavior that shows blatant disregard for your feelings, rights, limits and boundaries. Examples include:

• Criticizing you.
• Giving you unwarranted advice.
• Talking about a subject that is unpleasant in attempt to make you feel negative.
• When a friend or acquaintance reprimands your child in your presence.
• Your parent did something abusive to you repeatedly in childhood. 
• Any abusive behavior.
• Talks about a subject you do not wish to discuss.
• Continues behavior toward you that you have requested they stop doing.
• Tries to talk you into doing something you don’t want to do.
• Talks behind your back.
• Talks down to you.
• Brags to you.
• Makes a promise repeatedly, then lets you down.
• Betrays you in any way.
• Brings up your private secrets in public.
• Makes a post on social media of a photo of you that you asked them not to post.  

STEP 2. You Get Upset / Hurt / Angry

The next part of this toxic interaction is when you get upset due to the actions and behaviors of the toxic person. You are upset because your boundaries have been violated. Your anger and disdain is warranted–that’s what this emotion is for; to tell you when you are being crossed or hurt. 

STEP 3. You Set a Limit 

Next, you let the person know you are not okay with their behavior. You may ask them to stop. You may ask them to apologize, you may set a limit or a boundary. You let the toxic person know loudly and clearly that this behavior is intolerable. 

STEP 4. The Narcissist Stonewalls You

The toxic person doesn’t want to discuss the issue! The toxic person does not want to hear anything you have to say. As far as the toxic person is concerned, YOU are wrong for being angry at them for hurting you. (See how twisted?!?!) The toxic person stonewalls you for daring to challenge their sense of entitlement. 

They feel entitled to act in a way that harms you–they feel entitled to commit personal fouls toward you. In the mind of a toxic person, you have zero rights.  Your only role in their life is to serve as a pleasing mirror, or a fawning doormat. Any reflection that you are individual, different or separate is unacceptable to the toxic person, narcissist or psychopath. 

You’re just not allowed to have your own feelings. Your own feelings are so offensive to the toxic person, they feel abused when you are angry or hurt from their actions!

Some narcissists will covertly stonewall you–not letting you know they are doing it by still being available, or acting remorseful, but not actually feeling what they are portraying. This is a special kind of narcissist, that is of the most hidden type. 

STEP 5. You Try to Repair the Relationship 

Feeling fearful, obligated or guilty (FOG), you decide to make steps to re-engage with the abusive person. Maybe you are fearful you will never find a lover so good, or a friend so fun, or maybe you’re afraid of living life without being close to your mother, father, extended family. Maybe you feel socially obligated to be a nice person, or maybe YOU actually believe the gaslighting of the narcissist and think that you are the actual problem…

Maybe you reacted so strongly, that you are blaming yourself for the entire ordeal. Maybe you are questioning your own rights to set limits. Maybe you had a conversation with another unhealed empathy and he or she told you to repair the relationship. Maybe you felt lonely, guilty, or just felt a void from the person missing in your life–so you take the first step to repair the relationship, or you accept the abuser’s attempt to repair the relationship with you. After all, that’s what friendship is all about! Right? WRONG. 

But we’ll get to that later…

STEP 6. You Don’t Deal with the Original Issue

Now you move on, happy-go-lucky, but you never did resolve the original issue. You never came to terms with the narcissist about your right to exist, your right to matter, your right to have feelings, your right to set boundaries. 

As far as the narcissist is concerned, it is 100% okay to disrespect you. You never dealt with the issue. You never called them out directly after your first signal of anger–instead, you chose the higher road and chose to remain friends, or lovers, or family… 

You move on! You feel better! At least you have a friend. At least you have a lover. At least you have a family. Why not let “bygones be bygones?” After all, it is much better to be with a toxic person that to not be with anyone at all. Right? WRONG. 

But we’ll get to that later… 

STEP 7. You Have Signed An Unspoken Contract to Be Less Than 

When your emotions signal that a person is disrespecting you and you let them know, and they ignore you, and then you remain friends without getting square on the original issue that caused your negative emotion, and you do not stand up for yourself, you are signaling socially that you are an underling.

If you are an empath, you know in your heart that there is no true underling, and you will gladly do what it takes to serve and love and get along. However, to the narcissist, your agreement to be an underling puts you in a less than position. It states the following:

Respect in relationship occurs in the flow of defining who you are and how you feel. If you are engaging with someone who refuses to make behavior adjustments In accordance with your moderate emotional comfort, or at least acknowledge that you have a right to feel disappointment, frustration, anger or any of your feelings… This shows a lack of respect for your humanity. This is not okay and is considered unempathetic and disrespectful. Someone who respects you and treats you well is going to make Room for your feelings, boundaries, requests. They’re not going to stonewall, gloss over the subject or demand that they are right. 


A person who is capable of Loving is capable of seeing when they may be wrong. They are capable of self reflection. They can apologize or they can discuss the hurt feelings of another without feeling threatened. Loving someone unconditionally requires that you allow them space to exist Separately from you. You are not responsible for their feelings and when they hurt your feelings you can express yourself safely and be validated by them.They meet your needs to be seen, heard and understood. That is love.

This takes maturity that some people do not have. Some people cannot love because they cannot give you space to be, they must always be right and they cannot see things from your perspective because they don’t have #empathy.

If you come across a person like this it’s better to keep your distance. Wish them well in love and light. You cannot change them or teach empathy. Being in a relationship with a person who does not give you space for your feelings, boundaries, makes you externally controlled; it is #enmeshment–toxic. You are not responsible if your boundaries hurt them. It is your responsibility to take care of your own sense of self and stay on your own side of the fence. You cannot control how other people feel if your existence hurts them. That’s #codependency. Even though it hurts to walk away, you must do so for your own integrity.- Jenna Ryan 8/9/2019

#truth #truthbomb #love #respect#friendshipquotes #friends #lovers#relationshipquotes#relationshipgoals #relationships#selflove #selfloveu

Change Your Mindset Around Health

We believe your health is your wealth!

Did you know that you can change your physical health by changing your mindset? A mindset is a series of thoughts, perceptions and beliefs we hold about ourselves. Our health influences our decisions at every level of being. To improve our overall health, it’s important to recognize how thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, and mindsets can affect our health and wellbeing. The way we think about our health can change our health results.

Our mindset and perception are how we make sense of the world around us. The mindsets we hold create our reality by influencing our attention, motivation, and physiology. These mindsets determine our behaviours, outlook and mental attitude, which is super important for health.

The Body’s Natural Ability to Heal

The body has natural potential to sustain health and wellbeing when it’s functioning at its full potential. However, problems like past traumas, high levels of stress, poor posture, and an unhealthy lifestyle can interfere with the body’s natural normal function. This can limit our ability to reach a thriving physical, mental, and emotional state of well-being.

We believe that traditional medicine doesn’t look at the root of health problems and focuses mainly on symptoms. We take the time to understand your biggest problems and challenges then help you to release the emotional drivers that are held in the mind, that keep these problems in place. If the mind is peaceful and in a truly healthy place, the body will be too. We show you the tools and create a plan that works to restore healthy brain function and emotional wellness.

“If the mind is peaceful and in a truly healthy place, the body will be too ” -Kim Ryder

Make a Commitment to start a New Lifestyle

We believe you can turn your health around quickly when you address the emotional baggage and start introducing new empowering habits. Your health should be your first priority and it’s critical to do all you can to help your body avoid disease and illness naturally.

We know what it takes to maintain a healthy mind and body, and this year we have increased our own healthy habits, because our schedule got busy and we found ourselves sitting for long periods of time. So, we decided to set more time for ourselves every morning, to build our energy, strength, endurance, flexibility, and develop a healthy state of mind and body.

Eliminate Harmful Stress Symptoms

When you are living in stress your focus narrows to symptoms and your attention is on the outer world. You can’t find a good solution if you are trying to solve the wrong problem. Then condition yourself to live with stress as “normal” and “familiar”, which creates bad habits and limited options. Time flies by and you end up with years of regret from being disconnecting living a dissatisfying life.

One of the quickest and most effective ways to eliminate harmful stress and stress symptoms is with Breakthrough Tapping sessions. Just a few sessions can help you to become aware of how you are creating the conditions in your mind and body that produce stress reactions. Breakthrough tapping can profoundly lower harmful stress levels.

Therefore the breakthrough tapping process is a more permanent solution as you begin to learn the art of letting go, and literally change the brain waves, and create profound relaxation. In the process of letting go you recondition the central nervous system to reduce and eliminate stress to bring about equilibrium to the whole mind-body system.

The Most Powerful Mind Body Approach

This powerful mind-body approach draws from research in the fields of brain, mind and body science that includes, neuroscience, quantum physics, human behavior, physiology, biology, modern psychology, neuroplasticity, epigenetics, Chinese acupuncture pressure points and Neuro-linguistic Programming.

In conclusion, it’s important to understand that with awareness and persistence, we can overcome any problem, and release unhealthy states of mind that create stress. Finally when you release unhealthy stress, you can focus on more meaning things in your life. This leads to more empowering states of mind, that lead to feeling good in your mind and body.

Resources and Links:

Address your stress, overcome anxiety, and change your subconscious programs with Tapping Therapy Sessions here!

To see if we can help you, let’s connect head to breakthroughmindsets.com/free-consultation for a free 30-minute consultation. Sharpen your mind, balance your moods, and achieve your personal and professional goals.

Learn more about our Personal Mindset Coaching. A mindset coach provides the targeted support, guidance and accountability you need to create powerful mindset shifts and lasting results in your life. Breaking through limitations and rewire your mind for personal and professional success.

Get the latest mindset videos by joining our YouTube Breakthrough Mindsets Channel Here!

Extraordinary Stress Relief

Being personally empowered is a lifestyle along our lifelong journey, it’s not an event. At Breakthrough Mindsets we utilize and capitalize on how the mind actually works.  Your mind is already working perfectly. All you have to do is learn how to use it in a way that works, that produces extraordinary results.  Like anything else we get good at, with practice, as our skills evolve, so do our results.

This is not just about learning new understanding and awareness. This is about gaining new experience, taking action, and developing new skills with the right guide to produce extraordinary results with lasting changes.

Change Your Conditioning

We begin the process by accepting the challenge of learning and evolving how to create our own experiences specifically, rather than relying on our old default emotional conditioning. Then we all want to feel good about ourselves, lives, careers, and relationships. Furthermore, we want to feel like we are living our full potential, to experience a deep, rich, satisfying life.

Stress Relief Manual For The Brain

Let me ask you, were you ever given a user’s manual for your life?  How about the manual for how the mind works, or emotions, or how the mind-body connection works?  Has anyone ever sat down with you to help explain how to go from where you are to where you want to be?  What about someone ever explaining to you why we act and feel the way we do in a way that makes sense, and more importantly, how to change?  It’s not that we’re broken or defective. It’s that we’ve been using a broken and outdated model of how to live our lives that was never designed to give us what we really want and need.

Most Stress Relief Techniques Are Just Coping Techniques

We condition ourselves and live our lives with this underlying sense of feeling trapped, alone, deprived, and empty. Moreover, we end up spending large quantities of money, time, and energy trying to solve the wrong problems. As a result, we focus on the symptoms of a problem that we can’t quite put our fingers on. Meanwhile, we find ourselves endlessly grasping and trying to get enough so we can finally be happy and enjoy life.

We compulsively hang on to what we do have so that we don’t lose it, even if it’s bad, wrong, or horrible. In doing so, we experience a massive distraction of disconnect, and then feeling fragmented, ineffective and unhappy, pouring all of our energy into trying to get what we want. In like manner, we never get what we want by creating severely unresourceful, attitudes, and states of mind. Meanwhile, we separate ourselves from who we really are, leaving us feeling stuck in a stressful, threatening, combative, and seemingly dangerous world.

A powerful way to create the life of your dreams is to live your purpose and be fulfilled. Our mind is one of the things we all have in common. However, the difference is how we use our mind that will determine the level of success that we have in our lives. Living and acting upon our purpose is a way of having a meaningful, and successful life. Further more, it is a way of using our mind to get what we want and focusing on the most important things that will give us direction toward joy and fulfillment.

Most people believe they don’t have the power to change their circumstances or influence their direction but nothing could be further from the truth.  Likewise, most of the time all they need to do is clear out the clutter in their mind and let go of self-doubt. Therefore, those who have no purpose in life can fall easily into old patterns of worries, fears, and troubling thoughts about the future.

“If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn’t need motivation to speed him up. What he needs is education to turn him around.” – Jim Rohn

My new rule is, if you can’t call a person up to say something, don’t text it. If it’s inappropriate to call and say out loud, then it’s inappropriate to text. The important thing to remember is keeping the relationship intact, or making a level-headed decision to set a boundary, or end it if necessary. You must treat the other person with respect, and you must love yourself enough not to push them away. 

Reacting from anger is a trigger that causes your system to go into fight or flight, and anything you say will only put up walls and trigger the other person to react from their own story. It’s not like the recipient will say, “Oh hey, I suck! You’re right.” 

One of my earliest childhood memories occurred on a playground in summer camp. I was playing kickball and peed on myself at 2^nd base.

I was 8 years old, so I knew better.

I didn’t do it because I was engrossed in the game.

I didn’t do it because I had a bladder disorder.

I didn’t do it because I was vying for attention.

I did it because I was shy.

I stood at second base and peed on myself because I was too shy to ask where the restrooms were.

In some circumstances, I’m still that shy kid who peed herself on the playground. I tell people what they want to hear. I avoid conflict. I don’t do anything that could make others feel uneasy.

The 8-year old me only appears during difficult conversations. Most frivolous conversations we have every day — about the weather, a new work assignment, opinions on the latest news headlines – I speak my mind, with little regard to how my truth makes others’ feel.

But difficult conversations – when I have to confront a friend or respond to a question in a way that may hurt another’s feelings, I am reticent. I imagine the worst case scenario of what could happen if I speak my truth.

Recently, someone asked me to plan her 20th wedding anniversary. I knew it was a big deal for her and her husband. I also know how much work it would require and I was not up for the challenge. But the way she asked – with puppy dog eyes, insisting that I was the best one for the job – I just couldn’t say no.

I am now planning a party I don’t want to plan.

I perpetually avoid conflict. It is a behavior that permeated my 20-something life. I never wanted to rock the boat and make a friend mad at me. So I’d keep my thoughts to myself, letting my them fester within me. Unspoken words have put strains on my relationships.

Now, at 33, I have no time to waste on being phony. There is a goal that I am aiming to achieve. I want to be a better version of myself and I cannot be better if I am not authentic.

The truth sets us free! I am living proof.

In January 2015, I was a Master’s degree holding professional working a minimum wage dead-end job. I had applied to many jobs in my industry, connected with former classmates, friends, former employers, and other associates. I went on more interviews that I could count. I followed all the typical job search tips and still could not land a job in my industry.

Emotionally, I was exhausted. I was lonely. No one could relate to my misfortune and would stylishly blame my mishaps on me. Frustrated and slightly depressed, I shut down, refusing to discuss my job struggles with peers who I perceived to have thriving careers.

In the midst of my turmoil, my friend called one day and challenged me with these words:

What are you doing at that job? You have a master’s degree. You’re too good for that job. Why don’t you return to school and reboot your life?

She went on to say what I already knew. My current job was never going to promote me. If I stayed, I’d never do anything more than answering the door and accepting FedEx packages.

I was angry when we hung up the phone. I didn’t speak to her for several weeks.

My friend, on the other hand, was unbothered. She knew that my hurt was temporary. She knew the truth would ultimately propel me into the career I deserved.

The conversation occurred four years ago and since then, my life has changed immensely.

I graduated from the program she recommended. I launched a fulfilling career in healthcare administration. My role offers a lot of room for growth. My compensation is commensurate with my education and background. I have the most career fulfillment than I’ve had in a very long time. I am eternally grateful to my friend for opening my eyes and confronting me at my lowest moment.

Truth always pisses me off initially, but after some time to reflect, I usually realize what I needed to do in order to become better.

In the past, I would avoid truth-tellers. They always made me feel uncomfortable.

Nowadays, I seek them. I embrace the truth-tellers in my life. I rely on them to tell me when I am wrong. I rely on them to tell me when I am being a jerk.

I also aspire to become like them, so I can cultivate more meaningful relationships, and perhaps pay forward some of the insight that I’ve acquired from truth-tellers. Afteral,  you have to be cruel to be kind.

So, S&T what’s your relationship with the truth? Are you the truth-teller in your circle? Let’s chat in the comment section below!

Fitness Journey Updates:

Some of you inquired about my fitness journey so I will be sharing my progress at the end of each blog. I have been working out for a total of 10 weeks and quite frankly, the scale has not budged. I gained 2 pounds of muscle and lost a couple pounds of fat. While I welcome a toned physique, I am not satisfied with my progress. OrangeTheory kicks my butt 3 to 4 days per week and I feel that my body doesn’t reflect that. I will spend the next couple of weeks changing my diet. The experts say that weight loss and body sculpting is 80% diet and 20% exercise. I wish I realized that sooner.

An expectant mother’s story of traveling to Malaysia for organic recipes passed through generations, honoring Malaysian heritage, and the art of cooking organic food.

I am expecting my first child and desire only the healthiest food for my family. Join me as I journey to Malaysia to learn the art of organic cooking.

Love, Hannah

Last year I married an amazing Chinese Malaysian artist named Chow Meng Leong originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After our wedding, my new husband hinted to me about his traditional Chinese mothers delicious organic recipes. I pushed his comment to the back of my mind and thought, “Organic? Really? Homegrown? What is the difference?” Soon we were expecting our first child and my entire perspective changed. I wasn’t just eating healthy for myself; I needed to eat healthy for our baby. I began creating new wellness recipes, yet knew I had a lot to learn. What could I do? My only option was to travel to Malaysia and learn from the best!

My mother-in-law, Angeline Chow, was raised in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur. Her mother, whom the family calls “Poh Poh,” survived World War II in 1941 when Japan invaded Malaysia.

Mrs. Chow, a petite woman with a jovial smile, has the work ethic and survival instincts of her mother. She grows her own herbs like her mother did, shops at local fish markets for the freshest poultry, and collects homegrown fruit from her sister-in-law’s fertile trees. “Living off the land,” she says.

Authentic Chinese Malaysian dishes with fish, green veggies, and fruit were commonly served in the Chow household during my husband’s childhood. “I think a person is healthier and has a long life,” Mrs. Chow says about eating green and organic foods, “It’s very exciting to grow your own food. You have confidence in what you are eating.” I was eager for her recipes made from organic and homegrown ingredients. Not just for me but for our future healthy children.

We scheduled our trip for an entire month. I assumed by one month’s time I would be fully equipped with a lifetime of new culinary delights, imagining well documented recipes and upcoming cooking lessons. When we arrived I asked my new mother-in-law, “Will you give me the recipes and teach me how to make your traditional Malaysian dishes?”

“I never write anything down,” she says.

“Uh oh. This will be trickier than I thought,” I told my husband.

So every evening for dinner, I examined my plate and attempted to guess the ingredients inside. “Was this marinated with soy sauce and sesame oil?” I ask.

“Some coriander and a little bit of honey,” she responds, “Maybe some fresh lemon and garlic.”

I began to bring my notebook and pen to the kitchen table every evening. I didn’t want to miss a beat. “If you grow on your own, you eat everything,” says Mrs. Chow, “You will not waste food.”

One evening, after many meals served and one aching wrist from hours of recipe writing, I noticed my plate was different from my in-laws plates. “Why is mine different?” I ask.

“I made you something special tonight,” says Mrs. Chow.

Before my eyes was a gorgeous display of salmon seasoned with fresh spring onions accompanied by a multihued orange salad and drizzled with a sweet dressing. “This is Mommy’s specialty,” says my brother-in-law, Ming Sheng. I had to have the recipe!

“May I have the recipe for your salmon?” I asked.

“I didn’t write it down. Let me remember what goes inside,” Mommy Chow said while clearly in thought, “Hmmm. One salmon fillet is marinated with lemon, rosemary, soy sauce, I think. I am not sure. Come back in 30 minutes.”

After 30 minutes of patience, Mrs. Chow’s memory was restored, I wrote down as much as she was able to give me. I am impressed that she cooks all her dishes from memory, no recipes needed. She definitely has control over the kitchen domain too. “It is her kitchen,” says Ming Sheng, “When my brothers and I try to help cook, she tells us no and to do the dishes after.”

Ming Sheng is right. It is “her kitchen.” I am glad I had an opportunity to learn from her and actually participate in some of the cooking process. Now, I can confidently return home with Mommy Chow’s specialty recipes in hand. I am positive my husbands belly will be satisfied with the notebook full of organic Malaysian recipes I lovingly received from his mother. Thank you Mommy Chow!

Would you like to try Mommy Chow’s recipes? We have featured two of her specialties just for you. Gluten Free Malaysian Salmon and Vegan Chinese Orange Salad.

An expectant mother’s story of traveling to Malaysia for organic recipes passed through generations, honoring Malaysian heritage, and the art of cooking organic food.

I am expecting my first child and desire only the healthiest food for my family. Join me as I journey to Malaysia to learn the art of organic cooking.

Love, Hannah

Last year I married an amazing Chinese Malaysian artist named Chow Meng Leong originally from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After our wedding, my new husband hinted to me about his traditional Chinese mothers delicious organic recipes. I pushed his comment to the back of my mind and thought, “Organic? Really? Homegrown? What is the difference?” Soon we were expecting our first child and my entire perspective changed. I wasn’t just eating healthy for myself; I needed to eat healthy for our baby. I began creating new wellness recipes, yet knew I had a lot to learn. What could I do? My only option was to travel to Malaysia and learn from the best!

My mother-in-law, Angeline Chow, was raised in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur. Her mother, whom the family calls “Poh Poh,” survived World War II in 1941 when Japan invaded Malaysia.

Mrs. Chow, a petite woman with a jovial smile, has the work ethic and survival instincts of her mother. She grows her own herbs like her mother did, shops at local fish markets for the freshest poultry, and collects homegrown fruit from her sister-in-law’s fertile trees. “Living off the land,” she says.

Authentic Chinese Malaysian dishes with fish, green veggies, and fruit were commonly served in the Chow household during my husband’s childhood. “I think a person is healthier and has a long life,” Mrs. Chow says about eating green and organic foods, “It’s very exciting to grow your own food. You have confidence in what you are eating.” I was eager for her recipes made from organic and homegrown ingredients. Not just for me but for our future healthy children.

We scheduled our trip for an entire month. I assumed by one month’s time I would be fully equipped with a lifetime of new culinary delights, imagining well documented recipes and upcoming cooking lessons. When we arrived I asked my new mother-in-law, “Will you give me the recipes and teach me how to make your traditional Malaysian dishes?”

“I never write anything down,” she says.

“Uh oh. This will be trickier than I thought,” I told my husband.

So every evening for dinner, I examined my plate and attempted to guess the ingredients inside. “Was this marinated with soy sauce and sesame oil?” I ask.

“Some coriander and a little bit of honey,” she responds, “Maybe some fresh lemon and garlic.”

I began to bring my notebook and pen to the kitchen table every evening. I didn’t want to miss a beat. “If you grow on your own, you eat everything,” says Mrs. Chow, “You will not waste food.”

One evening, after many meals served and one aching wrist from hours of recipe writing, I noticed my plate was different from my in-laws plates. “Why is mine different?” I ask.

“I made you something special tonight,” says Mrs. Chow.

Before my eyes was a gorgeous display of salmon seasoned with fresh spring onions accompanied by a multihued orange salad and drizzled with a sweet dressing. “This is Mommy’s specialty,” says my brother-in-law, Ming Sheng. I had to have the recipe!

“May I have the recipe for your salmon?” I asked.

“I didn’t write it down. Let me remember what goes inside,” Mommy Chow said while clearly in thought, “Hmmm. One salmon fillet is marinated with lemon, rosemary, soy sauce, I think. I am not sure. Come back in 30 minutes.”

After 30 minutes of patience, Mrs. Chow’s memory was restored, I wrote down as much as she was able to give me. I am impressed that she cooks all her dishes from memory, no recipes needed. She definitely has control over the kitchen domain too. “It is her kitchen,” says Ming Sheng, “When my brothers and I try to help cook, she tells us no and to do the dishes after.”

Ming Sheng is right. It is “her kitchen.” I am glad I had an opportunity to learn from her and actually participate in some of the cooking process. Now, I can confidently return home with Mommy Chow’s specialty recipes in hand. I am positive my husbands belly will be satisfied with the notebook full of organic Malaysian recipes I lovingly received from his mother. Thank you Mommy Chow!

Would you like to try Mommy Chow’s recipes? We have featured two of her specialties just for you. Gluten Free Malaysian Salmon and Vegan Chinese Orange Salad.

A story of a mother and her pre-school age daughter working through the challenges of Celiac Disease. Learn how intuition and a mother’s love brought healing to a baby girl.

There is something inherently special about a bond between a mother and a child. There is a connection between the two that goes beyond understanding, beyond anything of this Earth—a spiritual connection. Because of this connection, mothers instinctively sense changes in their children that even a doctor can’t detect.

Meet Kelly Johnson, a loving mother to two beautiful children, Elliana 4 and Luca 2. Kelly is living proof that mother always knows best.

Kelly has always felt a special connection with her daughter, Elliana, from the moment she was born. Kelly believes that the two of them were meant to find each other and journey through this life together. “A long time ago, our souls agreed that she would be my daughter and I would be her mother,” she said. Looking at her daughter, she sees the inherent wisdom she held as a child and feels the tug of her heartstrings as her old soul resonates with her daughter’s.

“A long time ago, our souls agreed that she would be my daughter and I would be her mother.”

As a mother-daughter duo, the two share more than just similar sensibilities; their connection to one another was affirmed by genetics after a diagnosis of Celiac Disease; first in Kelly and then in Elliana.

After Kelly gave birth to her second child, Luca, she really started to notice an increase in her  symptoms. She had suffered for years from migraines, from gastrointestinal issues, frequent ear infections, sinus issues, and countless other ailments. Yet this time was worse. Her acid reflux became so bad that she found herself buying antacids in bulk, trying desperately to get rid of it. She also had issues with her bowel movements, leading the doctor to suspect Irritable Bowel Syndrome. All effort to remedy the issues, through medication and cutting out certain foods like meats, offered her no relief.

At a family gathering Kelly’s relatives began questioning the condition of her health. She had given birth recently and her weight loss had been rapid. The change was dramatic enough that her mother approached her, saying the family was worried she had an eating disorder. Kelly was devastated to hear these words come from her mother’s mouth. She knew she’d been eating and hadn’t realized her significant weight loss had become an issue, not realizing at the time that this was a symptom of Celiac Disease.

She consulted her doctor who ran further tests and discovered that her liver enzymes were high. Still, her doctor was short on answers as to what was wrong, leaving Kelly to search out answers on her own. A friend suggested that Kelly try cutting out gluten and willing to try anything to help ease the gastrointestinal issues, she gave it a shot. After just a week, her symptoms subsided.

A friend suggested that Kelly try cutting out gluten and willing to try anything to help ease the gastrointestinal issues, she gave it a shot. After just a week, her symptoms subsided.

This relief turned out to be the missing puzzle piece she’d been looking for. Armed with her new information, she consulted her doctor about Celiac, but wasn’t immediately presented with a diagnosis. The doctors still thought it was an IBS flare and were hesitant to test for Celiac disease. “It’s often the doctors and the people around you telling you it’s all in your head because you look okay,” Kelly said.  She was frustrated that they weren’t listening to her. She knew her body and, trusting herself, she kept pushing, kept researching, and kept seeing out doctors until she was finally tested for Celiac and diagnosed.

“It’s often the doctors and the people around you telling you it’s all in your head because you look okay.” 

Due to her own experience with Celiac Disease, Kelly was able to recognize an echo of her symptoms in her young daughter.  Because Celiac is a genetic condition, Kelly realized she needed to be on the lookout for symptoms in her children. “I honestly wouldn’t have asked to get my daughter tested if I hadn’t felt some of the symptoms myself,” Kelly said.

Like Kelly, her daughter, as a baby, suffered from what they assumed was acid reflux. She was experiencing frequent loose stools and would spend most of the day screaming. As a first-time mom, Kelly had a lot of self-doubt on how she was taking care of her baby, and having her constantly crying made her question her ability to parent. Her husband was a big help, but sleep deprivation and the constant crying pushed her to her limits. Her doctor recommended adding oatmeal to her milk, still unaware that gluten was the problem.

When she noticed that her daughter wasn’t gaining weight, she knew that something was wrong. Once again, doing her own research, she had to be an advocate. This time for her tiny daughter who couldn’t communicate for herself. The doctors, like with Kelly,  were again hesitant to test for Celiac, but her mother’s intuition detected what the doctors couldn’t see. Kelly insisted her daughter get tested for Celiac. When the doctor called with the results of her daughter’s tests, Kelly cried. She cried because she had known, and there was a sense of relief in confirming that her mommy instincts had been right and she was able to help her daughter. “Because of me, we caught it early and she is less likely to develop another auto-immune deficiency.”

Once again, doing her own research, she had to be an advocate. This time for her tiny daughter who couldn’t communicate for herself.

Elliana is now in pre-school and having a child that young with Celiac has been challenging. Kelly is teaching her daughter all about gluten and what foods she can and cannot have. She feels guilty at times because she thinks she’s denying her daughter Elliana a normal childhood. When other families are eating fast food, she has to explain about cross-contamination and why she can’t eat french fries.

Kelly often reminds herself that she’s giving her child the opportunity to nourish her body with healthier options. And Elliana has been a trooper throughout the whole process. She has learned to enjoy the foods that she’s allowed to eat and even reminding adults that she has to eat gluten-free when they offer her something she can’t have. “A classmate brought cupcakes for their birthday, and my daughter told them ‘I can’t have that’ and happily ate her grapes,” Kelly described, beaming with pride at her the wisdom of her four-year-old.

“In being a mom, I found the opportunity to love me and have a voice. Because through my love for me I can love them even more.”

As a parent, trusting yourself and your instincts can be hard. You’re going to make mistakes and challenging things are inevitably going to happen, whether that be discipline issues, arguments, or health scares. “But you can’t know the good without the bad,” Kelly says. You have to trust yourself, as she has learned to do, and love yourself for just being human and keep trying your best, no matter what. That is where the healing starts. Trust your mommy instincts—they’re never wrong.

You have to trust yourself, love yourself for just being human, and keep trying your best, no matter what.

A story of a mother and her pre-school age daughter working through the challenges of Celiac Disease. Learn how intuition and a mother’s love brought healing to a baby girl.

There is something inherently special about a bond between a mother and a child. There is a connection between the two that goes beyond understanding, beyond anything of this Earth—a spiritual connection. Because of this connection, mothers instinctively sense changes in their children that even a doctor can’t detect.

Meet Kelly Johnson, a loving mother to two beautiful children, Elliana 4 and Luca 2. Kelly is living proof that mother always knows best.

Kelly has always felt a special connection with her daughter, Elliana, from the moment she was born. Kelly believes that the two of them were meant to find each other and journey through this life together. “A long time ago, our souls agreed that she would be my daughter and I would be her mother,” she said. Looking at her daughter, she sees the inherent wisdom she held as a child and feels the tug of her heartstrings as her old soul resonates with her daughter’s.

“A long time ago, our souls agreed that she would be my daughter and I would be her mother.”

As a mother-daughter duo, the two share more than just similar sensibilities; their connection to one another was affirmed by genetics after a diagnosis of Celiac Disease; first in Kelly and then in Elliana.

After Kelly gave birth to her second child, Luca, she really started to notice an increase in her  symptoms. She had suffered for years from migraines, from gastrointestinal issues, frequent ear infections, sinus issues, and countless other ailments. Yet this time was worse. Her acid reflux became so bad that she found herself buying antacids in bulk, trying desperately to get rid of it. She also had issues with her bowel movements, leading the doctor to suspect Irritable Bowel Syndrome. All effort to remedy the issues, through medication and cutting out certain foods like meats, offered her no relief.

At a family gathering Kelly’s relatives began questioning the condition of her health. She had given birth recently and her weight loss had been rapid. The change was dramatic enough that her mother approached her, saying the family was worried she had an eating disorder. Kelly was devastated to hear these words come from her mother’s mouth. She knew she’d been eating and hadn’t realized her significant weight loss had become an issue, not realizing at the time that this was a symptom of Celiac Disease.

She consulted her doctor who ran further tests and discovered that her liver enzymes were high. Still, her doctor was short on answers as to what was wrong, leaving Kelly to search out answers on her own. A friend suggested that Kelly try cutting out gluten and willing to try anything to help ease the gastrointestinal issues, she gave it a shot. After just a week, her symptoms subsided.

A friend suggested that Kelly try cutting out gluten and willing to try anything to help ease the gastrointestinal issues, she gave it a shot. After just a week, her symptoms subsided.

This relief turned out to be the missing puzzle piece she’d been looking for. Armed with her new information, she consulted her doctor about Celiac, but wasn’t immediately presented with a diagnosis. The doctors still thought it was an IBS flare and were hesitant to test for Celiac disease. “It’s often the doctors and the people around you telling you it’s all in your head because you look okay,” Kelly said.  She was frustrated that they weren’t listening to her. She knew her body and, trusting herself, she kept pushing, kept researching, and kept seeing out doctors until she was finally tested for Celiac and diagnosed.

“It’s often the doctors and the people around you telling you it’s all in your head because you look okay.” 

Due to her own experience with Celiac Disease, Kelly was able to recognize an echo of her symptoms in her young daughter.  Because Celiac is a genetic condition, Kelly realized she needed to be on the lookout for symptoms in her children. “I honestly wouldn’t have asked to get my daughter tested if I hadn’t felt some of the symptoms myself,” Kelly said.

Like Kelly, her daughter, as a baby, suffered from what they assumed was acid reflux. She was experiencing frequent loose stools and would spend most of the day screaming. As a first-time mom, Kelly had a lot of self-doubt on how she was taking care of her baby, and having her constantly crying made her question her ability to parent. Her husband was a big help, but sleep deprivation and the constant crying pushed her to her limits. Her doctor recommended adding oatmeal to her milk, still unaware that gluten was the problem.

When she noticed that her daughter wasn’t gaining weight, she knew that something was wrong. Once again, doing her own research, she had to be an advocate. This time for her tiny daughter who couldn’t communicate for herself. The doctors, like with Kelly,  were again hesitant to test for Celiac, but her mother’s intuition detected what the doctors couldn’t see. Kelly insisted her daughter get tested for Celiac. When the doctor called with the results of her daughter’s tests, Kelly cried. She cried because she had known, and there was a sense of relief in confirming that her mommy instincts had been right and she was able to help her daughter. “Because of me, we caught it early and she is less likely to develop another auto-immune deficiency.”

Once again, doing her own research, she had to be an advocate. This time for her tiny daughter who couldn’t communicate for herself.

Elliana is now in pre-school and having a child that young with Celiac has been challenging. Kelly is teaching her daughter all about gluten and what foods she can and cannot have. She feels guilty at times because she thinks she’s denying her daughter Elliana a normal childhood. When other families are eating fast food, she has to explain about cross-contamination and why she can’t eat french fries.

Kelly often reminds herself that she’s giving her child the opportunity to nourish her body with healthier options. And Elliana has been a trooper throughout the whole process. She has learned to enjoy the foods that she’s allowed to eat and even reminding adults that she has to eat gluten-free when they offer her something she can’t have. “A classmate brought cupcakes for their birthday, and my daughter told them ‘I can’t have that’ and happily ate her grapes,” Kelly described, beaming with pride at her the wisdom of her four-year-old.

“In being a mom, I found the opportunity to love me and have a voice. Because through my love for me I can love them even more.”

As a parent, trusting yourself and your instincts can be hard. You’re going to make mistakes and challenging things are inevitably going to happen, whether that be discipline issues, arguments, or health scares. “But you can’t know the good without the bad,” Kelly says. You have to trust yourself, as she has learned to do, and love yourself for just being human and keep trying your best, no matter what. That is where the healing starts. Trust your mommy instincts—they’re never wrong.

You have to trust yourself, love yourself for just being human, and keep trying your best, no matter what.

Healing with the power of paleo and self-love.

Dessert for breakfast? Breakfast for dessert?!

You can definitely have your cake and eat it too with our amazing Paleo Pumpkin Coffee Cake.

Our inspiring person, Melanie, created this gluten free, grain free recipe in honor of her LoveSelf inspiring feature. Learn how she healed from body image issues, an eating disorder, and depression with the power of self-love and food.

Enjoy our gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free, Paleo, Autumn inspired healing delight!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Ingredients for cake:
1 cup raw nut butter
3 cage free, organic eggs
1/2 cup organic pumpkin puree
1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup
4 Tablespoons grass-fed butter (room temp)
1 teaspoon gluten free baking soda
1 teaspoon organic cinnamon
1 teaspoon organic pumpkin pie spice
1/4-1/2 cup gluten free, soy free chocolate chips (optional)

Ingredients for coffee cake topping:
2 tablespoons organic cashew flour
4 tablespoons grass-fed butter (room temp)
2 tablespoons organic, raw coconut sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup crushed pecans or walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Use hand mixer or food processor to combine all CAKE ingredients except chocolate chips.
3. When all ingredients are combined, stir in chocolate chips.
4. Stir together TOPPING ingredients in a small bowl.
5. Pour cake batter into loaf pan and then evenly distribute coffee cake topping onto the loaf*
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes in a greased loaf pan.

*LoveSelf tip. For a crunchier topping, add topping mixture to cake halfway through baking.

Healing with the power of paleo and self-love.

Dessert for breakfast? Breakfast for dessert?!

You can definitely have your cake and eat it too with our amazing Paleo Pumpkin Coffee Cake.

Our inspiring person, Melanie, created this gluten free, grain free recipe in honor of her LoveSelf inspiring feature. Learn how she healed from body image issues, an eating disorder, and depression with the power of self-love and food.

Enjoy our gluten free, grain free, refined sugar free, Paleo, Autumn inspired healing delight!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

Ingredients for cake:
1 cup raw nut butter
3 cage free, organic eggs
1/2 cup organic pumpkin puree
1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup
4 Tablespoons grass-fed butter (room temp)
1 teaspoon gluten free baking soda
1 teaspoon organic cinnamon
1 teaspoon organic pumpkin pie spice
1/4-1/2 cup gluten free, soy free chocolate chips (optional)

Ingredients for coffee cake topping:
2 tablespoons organic cashew flour
4 tablespoons grass-fed butter (room temp)
2 tablespoons organic, raw coconut sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup crushed pecans or walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees
2. Use hand mixer or food processor to combine all CAKE ingredients except chocolate chips.
3. When all ingredients are combined, stir in chocolate chips.
4. Stir together TOPPING ingredients in a small bowl.
5. Pour cake batter into loaf pan and then evenly distribute coffee cake topping onto the loaf*
6. Bake for 40-45 minutes in a greased loaf pan.

*LoveSelf tip. For a crunchier topping, add topping mixture to cake halfway through baking.

Introducing healthy fast food! Gluten free,  paleo, sugar free, non-GMO, and the dietician mom that made it happen. 

For as long as I can remember I have been telling anyone who would listen about my vision for healthy fast food. A place of tasty wellness that rounds out the perfect road trip or a quick and easy option for working families.

Imagine a vibrant colorful storefront beckoning you in the doors. Now envision being greeted by happy people and endless amounts of prepared dishes just waiting for you to take home and gobble up. And the dream doesn’t end there! Suddenly the story gets even better because this beautifully prepared food is not only delicious it is healing. As you enthusiastically explore you find gluten free, paleo, non-GMO, vegan, refined sugar free, dairy free, and so much more. Lasagna! Pancakes! Enchiladas! Oh my goodness!!! Don’t pinch me I may wake up.

Paleo, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, dairy free! Lasagna! Pancakes! Enchiladas! Oh my goodness! Don’t pinch me, I may wake up.

Guess what? Such utopia does exist and not just in our dreams. Welcome to Snap Kitchen and the lovely woman that helps make this dream a reality. Introducing Ms. Andrea Hinsdale, dietician, mom, and the first member of the Snap Kitchen team. 

Snap Kitchen was founded by Martin Berson. Martins’s inspiration came from his desire to help his diabetic wife with wellness food options. His goal of no white sugar or flour, healthy, and convenient options was a revolutionary new concept. .

 

Andrea is part of the Snap Kitchen dietician and chef led foodie-duo. Partnering with Executive Chef Matt Reinhart, Andrea and Matt together create a menu that will forever change your concept of fast food. Recall that enchilada I spoke to you about? Not only is it gluten free, paleo, and dairy free, it is delicious!! The dynamic duo created a cashew vegan cream that will make your taste buds giggle. Do you love meatballs or salmon? How about pancakes or a fruit tart? Cold pressed juice? A stunning quinoa salad? Snap Kitchen has it all! Every item is meticulously selected for its optimal ingredients and as Andrea says, “we keep working until the dishes are perfect”. And perfect they are. No GMO’s. Organic. Bright seasonal ingredients. YUM!

The dynamic duo created a cashew vegan cream that will make your taste buds giggle.

Because she walks her talk, kale was one of the first things Andrea fed to her two young children. She knew that her food wisdom had been heard when her young daughter came home from school and suggested better options for the school lunch menu. Andrea desires this knowledge for all children. She knows that we must teach our kids about healthy food and make nutrition accessible to everyone.

I asked Andrea what makes her heart sing. She spoke of never feeling like she has worked a day in her life because everyday is a contribution. “Food makes us happy”, she tells me. Yes it does!

 

Can’t wait a moment longer? We have a Snap Kitchen gluten free veggie lasagna recipe just for you! Enjoy and happy LoveSelf day!

 

 

 

Introducing healthy fast food! Gluten free,  paleo, sugar free, non-GMO, and the dietician mom that made it happen. 

For as long as I can remember I have been telling anyone who would listen about my vision for healthy fast food. A place of tasty wellness that rounds out the perfect road trip or a quick and easy option for working families.

Imagine a vibrant colorful storefront beckoning you in the doors. Now envision being greeted by happy people and endless amounts of prepared dishes just waiting for you to take home and gobble up. And the dream doesn’t end there! Suddenly the story gets even better because this beautifully prepared food is not only delicious it is healing. As you enthusiastically explore you find gluten free, paleo, non-GMO, vegan, refined sugar free, dairy free, and so much more. Lasagna! Pancakes! Enchiladas! Oh my goodness!!! Don’t pinch me I may wake up.

Paleo, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, dairy free! Lasagna! Pancakes! Enchiladas! Oh my goodness! Don’t pinch me, I may wake up.

Guess what? Such utopia does exist and not just in our dreams. Welcome to Snap Kitchen and the lovely woman that helps make this dream a reality. Introducing Ms. Andrea Hinsdale, dietician, mom, and the first member of the Snap Kitchen team. 

Snap Kitchen was founded by Martin Berson. Martins’s inspiration came from his desire to help his diabetic wife with wellness food options. His goal of no white sugar or flour, healthy, and convenient options was a revolutionary new concept. .

 

Andrea is part of the Snap Kitchen dietician and chef led foodie-duo. Partnering with Executive Chef Matt Reinhart, Andrea and Matt together create a menu that will forever change your concept of fast food. Recall that enchilada I spoke to you about? Not only is it gluten free, paleo, and dairy free, it is delicious!! The dynamic duo created a cashew vegan cream that will make your taste buds giggle. Do you love meatballs or salmon? How about pancakes or a fruit tart? Cold pressed juice? A stunning quinoa salad? Snap Kitchen has it all! Every item is meticulously selected for its optimal ingredients and as Andrea says, “we keep working until the dishes are perfect”. And perfect they are. No GMO’s. Organic. Bright seasonal ingredients. YUM!

The dynamic duo created a cashew vegan cream that will make your taste buds giggle.

Because she walks her talk, kale was one of the first things Andrea fed to her two young children. She knew that her food wisdom had been heard when her young daughter came home from school and suggested better options for the school lunch menu. Andrea desires this knowledge for all children. She knows that we must teach our kids about healthy food and make nutrition accessible to everyone.

I asked Andrea what makes her heart sing. She spoke of never feeling like she has worked a day in her life because everyday is a contribution. “Food makes us happy”, she tells me. Yes it does!

 

Can’t wait a moment longer? We have a Snap Kitchen gluten free veggie lasagna recipe just for you! Enjoy and happy LoveSelf day!

 

 

 

The three beneficial HOWs of Turmeric! How does it work? How do you buy it and how do you use it? All answered here by our amazing contributing physician Beth Ricanati, MD.

Looking for a food ingredient that has a tremendous amount of science behind it, tastes good, and keeps us healthy? Let’s talk about the iconic Indian spice, turmeric. Ayurvedic and Indian medicine practitioners have been using turmeric for thousands of years; now researchers have been able to pinpoint what the Ayurvedic practitioners knew all along: turmeric is an extremely powerful anti-inflammatory substance.

Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound that has documented anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin also contains other important nutrients for our health, like magnesium and iron.

Why should you care about curcumin? Simply, many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer obesity and even Alzheimer’s disease, are in large part caused by inflammation in the body. In addition, inflammation is the culprit behind aches and pains like what you might experience with diseases like arthritis, and even just after a hard workout.

1. How does turmeric work? Research shows that curcumin prevents cellular oxidation, which is a fancy way of saying it blocks a molecule in our bodies that turns on the “inflammatory cascade”. No “inflammatory cascade”, no inflammation! Thus, turmeric helps to stop inflammation before it even starts!

2. How to buy turmeric? Turmeric is available in root form, powdered form and in a pill. It’s hard to grind yourself, so buy the powdered form unless you are throwng a piece into a strong mixer for a smoothie! Turmeric as a spice comes from two places in India, Alleppey and Madras. Look for the powdered turmeric from Alleppey; it has more curcumin in it.

3. How to use turmeric? Although most of us recognize turmeric in Indian curries, recently it has been showing up in a diverse array of dishes. I have found it’s great in smoothies, soups and stews. I have even seen it recently in beverages and with just hot water, ginger and lemon. My current personal favorite are dark leafy greens stir-fried with eggs and a hefty dose of turmeric!

Check out our fabulous recipes with turmeric! Indian Butter Chicken and Roasted Acorn Squash Seeds.