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Ginger Tea Recipe

2/25/2019

I eat a lot of foods with anti-inflammatory nutrients. Research scientists have differing opinions on what causes the severe muscle and joint pain associated with fibromyalgia, but they all agree that widespread inflammation is a significant factor. Reducing the inflammation reduces the pain.

I created this recipe for ginger tea because every ingredient is loaded with anti-inflammatory nutrients: tea, gingerroot, lime, cinnamon, and organic honey. When my fibromyalgia pain was still excruciatingly severe, I drank at least three cups a day. Chronic inflammation is a culprit in a whole lot of illnesses including fibromyalgia, almost all autoimmune diseases, and some types of cancer. Even though my fibro symptoms have resolved, I still drink a cup of ginger tea every morning with breakfast to reduce inflammation and stay healthy.

Ginger Tea Recipe

Peel a one to two-inch slice of fresh ginger root.
Use a microplane grater to finely grate 1 to 2 tablespoons of the fresh ginger. Freshly grated ginger is quite spicy. You may want to use 1 teaspoon rather than 1 to 2 tablespoons and gradually increase the amount of ginger a little bit each day until you get used to the taste of freshly grated ginger. If you love spicy flavors and adore ginger, use the larger amount from the get go.

You can make ginger tea in any mug with any type of tea bag or you can use an infuser tea mug and loose-leaf organic tea. Choose your favorite black or green tea.

If you use a regular mug and tea bag, put the grated ginger into the mug.
Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of raw local honey.
Add the juice from one slice of lime or lemon.
Add 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
Wait for the teakettle to whistle.
Fill the mug half full with boiling water.
Stir briskly to thoroughly mix the ingredients and dissolve the ginger.
Add a single serving size tea bag of your favorite black or green tea.
Add hot water to finish filling up the mug.
Steep the tea for 4-8 minutes depending on how strong you like your tea.
Remove the tea bag and enjoy

I prefer making ginger tea using loose-leaf organic tea in an infuser mug that has an inner removable strainer. If you use an infuser mug, follow these steps.
Put the grated ginger and your favorite loose-leaf organic tea into the infuser.
Add a slice of lime or lemon.
Wait for the teakettle to whistle and add hot boiling water.
Steep the tea for 4-8 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea.
Remove the inner infuser liner and add the honey and cinnamon.
Stir and enjoy.

You can find loose leaf organic tea at health food stores and organic grocery chains like Earth Fare and Whole Foods Market. It is also available in some supermarkets and big box stores. Infuser mugs can be purchased at kitchen specialty stores and tea shops. If you'd rather shop online, check out this infuser mug available at amazon.com in a rainbow of colors Infuser Tea Mug

Find more real food recipes, healthy living tips, effective strategies to improve fibromyalgia symptoms, methods to reduce toxic chemical exposure from common household products, and recipes and resources for creating a personalized healthy living plan in my new book, Practical Priorities for Fibromyalgia Recovery. Now available in paperback and eBook versions at amazon.com. Buy your favorite version today. Buy Kindle eBook. Buy Paperback.

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Fibromyalgia Recovery is a Puzzle I Finally Solved

2/17/2019

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I didn't know what on earth was wrong with me. I had a growing list of weird symptoms: severe pain in multiple muscles and joints, debilitating fatigue, muddle-headed thinking, dizziness, nausea, numbness and tingling on the left side of my body, insomnia, and depression. It was almost a relief when the doctor said I had fibromyalgia. I wasn't bonkers. I had a real disease with a real name. The rest of his news wasn't quite as cheering. Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness. An estimated six to ten million people in our country have fibromyalgia. There's no definitive cure.

No cure? So much for the whole sense of relief thing. I spent the next year feeling sorry for myself while I struggled with severe pain and the other horrible symptoms of this illness. Eventually, I got so sick and tired of constantly being sick and tired that I dragged myself out of the recliner, staggered to the study to retrieve the laptop, and propped up on the couch to roam through cyberspace searching for clues. I was too stubborn to let the teeny tiny fact that fibromyalgia has no known cure dampen my determination to find something that could help me feel better.

It was like trying to work a 2000 piece jigsaw puzzle without the box top. I had no idea what the finished picture would look like.

I found pieces to the puzzle all over the place.

Inflammation increases pain levels.
Exposure to toxic chemicals increases inflammation.
There are toxic chemicals in tons of household products,
The cosmetics and cleaning products I used were unsafe.
There are toxic ingredients in processed food.
Real food with anti-inflammatory nutrients decreases pain.
Real food with antioxidants boosts the immune system.

I had to make numerous adjustments to my daily routine before all the pieces of the puzzle came together to create a picture of healing and restored health. It was worth it. The lifestyle changes I made truly changed my life. My symptoms improved with every change I made until one cold and sunny winter morning I woke up without a single remaining fibromyalgia symptom.

I created practical priorities for healthy living that helped me move away from chronic illness back to well-being. My top three strategies were to make three specific lifestyle changes.

I got toxic chemicals out of my home.
I stopped eating processed food manufactured with toxic ingredients.
I eat lots of real food full of antioxidants that boost the immune system and anti-inflammatory nutrients that promote healing.

If you are currently healthy, these strategies can help you stay that way, If you have fibromyalgia or another chronic illness, hold on to hope. You can get better. I did. I have been symptom free for seven years, two months, and eleven days.

Find more healthy living tips, effective strategies to improve fibromyalgia symptoms, methods to reduce toxic chemical exposure from common household products, and recipes and resources for creating a personalized healthy living plan in my new book, Practical Priorities for Fibromyalgia Recovery. Now available in paperback and eBook versions at amazon.com. Buy your favorite version today. Buy Kindle eBook. Buy Paperback.

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Chicken Fajita Rice Fiesta Recipe

2/2/2019

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Super Bowl Sunday is tomorrow. Even if you don’t like football, the party food alone is reason enough to celebrate. This Chicken Fajita Rice Fiesta recipe is just the ticket for game day (or any day when you crave something spicy.) And it won’t block your goal if you are committed to eating real food this year. You don’t need to measure anything. The operative amount you need for throwing this deliciousness together quickly is “some.”

Put some rice in a rice cooker and switch it on to cook while you create the rest of the fiesta feast.

Coarsely chop some vegetables. Choose from green, red, orange, or yellow bell peppers, onions, garlic, white button mushrooms, baby portabellas, and any other veggies you like.

Slice some cooked chicken into bite sized pieces.

Rummage through your spice collection and pick a few: turmeric, cayenne pepper, chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, cilantro, black pepper, sea salt. Chop up a few handfuls of fresh herbs if you have them. Grab a bottle from your spice rack if you don’t

Peel and slice an avocado or two - or three, whatever

Grab a bag of tortilla chips that contains only three ingredients: corn, oil, salt.

Buy a jar of organic salsa, or at least a brand that isn’t full of chemicals and preservatives.

Arrange possible toppings: black olives, grated cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, and poblanos on a pretty plate.

Cook the vegetables and chicken. It will only take about ten minutes. Pour a few tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet or wok. Crank up the heat to high. When the oil starts to sizzle, toss in the vegetables. Cook and stir for five minutes. Add the cooked sliced chicken. Sprinkle spices over the top to taste. Stir everything until well mixed. Cook and stir for three more minutes. It’s done!

To assemble your fiesta plate:
Put a scoop of cooked rice in the middle of the plate.
Add a spoonful of the cooked vegetables and chicken mixture.
Pour on some salsa.
Pile on your favorite toppings.
Arrange some tortilla chips and avocado on the side.
Dig into the spicy goodness. Olé!