Liver

Spring is one of my favorite seasons (aside from the allergies that go along with it). It's a time when winter has passed and everything starts waking up from a long slumber. The trees start budding, flowers start sprouting, and wildlife activity peaks. As someone who thoroughly enjoys nature and loves spending time outdoors, spring is the perfect season to start making up for all those days spent inside. Not to mention with the new season comes (can you guess it?) new food!

Chickweed (Stellaria media) is an often-overlooked medicinal weed (or, it’s a weed if you don’t live in Europe or Asia).  “Stellaria” refers to flower appearance while “Chickweed” refers to the fact that chickens and other birds like to eat it.  

As the cool weather is setting in for some of us, now’s the time for some hearty and grounding recipes.

Jaboticaba is a member of the family yrtaceae or Myrtle family of the genus Myrciaria Berg, also known as guava berry, containing the species Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg or jaboticaba. The plant is native to Brazil and is also known as the Brazilian grape tree. For millennia the native peoples used jaboticaba as a snack and for making wine. Its nutritional value has made this fruit a valuable tool in their healing arsenal.

Coconut water comes from the immature fruit of the coconut palm. The coconut palm is a member of the family Arecaceae or Palm family of the genus Cocos L., commonly known as coconut palm P, containing the species Cocos nucifera L. or coconut palm P. The tree has its origins in the region known as Indian Malay.

Bitters are plants that work by activating the bitter receptors on the tongue (and elsewhere in the body). Bitter receptors, in turn, trigger the production of digestive juices and enzymes so that by the time your food hits your stomach, the digestive system is revved up and ready to go.

The lively acidic and fermented beverage that we’ve come to know and love as kombucha has become popularized in the U.S.

Circadian rhythms have been long forgotten since technology slipped into our homes. We were once farmers, each one of our ancestors a direct descendant of an agriculturalist. This is not hyperbole; this is how we made it so far on our human journey.

Edible mushrooms are fantastic for our health. Eating mushrooms is my favorite way to reap their benefits, but at times a stronger dose may come in handy.  This is where mushroom extracts can be handy.  For those who’ve purchased commercial mushroom extracts, you may have noticed that they’re a bit expensive.  Why not learn to make your own?

There’s more to those little red berries on top of that smoothie bowl than you may know!