It’s finally summer which means the season of the smoothie is beginning! Smoothies are a great way to make sure you’re getting your greens, nutrient boosts, and add in any morning proteins if you are an on the go gal (or guy). Green smoothies are the tried and tested smoothie of the wellness community but my favorite smoothie is one that boosts your immunity and calms your central nervous system in the process. The Mamey and Red Reishi Mushroom smoothie are one to add to the smoothie menu this summer. Mamey and Red Reishi Mushroom are Serious Immune Boosters. First things first, what the hell is Mamey? Oh it’s a…
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Spotlight: My Holistic Beauty Product Stash!
I have a major holistic beauty and skincare stash. Aside from buying high-quality supplements and fancy organic powders, it’s my favorite thing in the world to purchase. I have pretty sensitive skin which is actually my secret weapon in finding the very best holistic beauty products. If my skin doesn’t like it, it’s because there is usually something sneaky hiding in there that irritates my sweet baby skin. Reader requested, here are my go-to holistic beauty products: My Favorite Holistic Beauty Routine for Day (and Night). Oh ya, you read that right. I use the same cleansers and creams pretty regularly for daytime and nighttime wear. One thing I’ve learned- the secret to…
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Healing Alopecia Areata as a Vegan: The Nicolas Huart Interview.
There is a large vegetarian and vegan community out there who suffer from autoimmune issues and are looking for a healing option that coincides with their lifestyle, beliefs, and food choices. After a good amount of vegetarians and vegans reached out to me looking advice I scoured the internet for proof that healing alopecia areata as a vegetarian or vegan could be done. I found Nicolas Huart, who graciously shared his experience with me here at GreenBananaGirl.com. Yes, You Can Heal Alopecia Areata as a Vegan or Vegetarian. (Nicolas Healed His as a Vegan) Most people are familiar with healing alopecia areata using the AIP diet, which is the eating plan…
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Creating Balance with Healthcare and Self-care.
Healthcare is Self-care. Like hindsight, illness can also be 20/20. We realize after the fact that prevention is a huge factor in keeping ourselves balanced and our self-care strategy can sometimes be AS if not MORE effective than our general healthcare. Creating balance with healthcare and self-care is actually a strategy your Doctor will appreciate.
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How to Celebrate the Small Wins During Your Autoimmune Healing.
With an autoimmune condition, it’s sometimes hard to look on the bright side, mostly because it feels as if your body is trying to kill you. The idea of healing through an autoimmune disease is synonymous with the physical manifestation. Even if you aren’t seeing physical or major internal improvements, you may still be going in the right direction. Make sure you are receptive to your progress so you can celebrate the small wins of your autoimmune healing because I promise you, they are there. How to Recognize the Small Wins of Your Big Autoimmune Condition. If you have alopecia like I do, hair growth is success. If you…
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The Alopecia Journey: The Thoughts and Emotions that Come With it.
This is an awareness post for the thoughts, fears, and emotions that people have at some point on their alopecia journey. Out of all the auto-immune dis-eases, alongside Psoriasis, it is one of the most visible because of its very clear physical symptoms. For people who are currently in a stage of new hair loss, noticing a patch, seeing new hair growth, or deciding whether to shave their entire head, there are a lot of feelings that are revealed and concealed when the hair starts to fall. This post is for you. The Beginning of Your Alopecia Journey; When You Realize You Have it: I won’t look good bald. This…
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The Do’s and Don’ts of Reintroducing Foods On the AIP Diet.
Reintroducing foods on the AIP Diet can be tricky, especially when you might not be ready for them yet. After at least thirty days of the strict elimination diet on AIP, AND with a reduction in your overall autoimmune symptoms, you may THEN be ready to reintroduce certain foods. The following do's and don'ts will get you on the road to feeling a little more "normal" again.
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Organic, Natural and More: Misleading Food Labels and What They Actually Mean.
Food companies are getting smarter with their packaging, adding millennial and women targeted customers to their lineup. With the rise of misleading food labels if it looks “green” and “healthy” chances are we are more likely to buy it. Greenwashing is as much as a psychological component as it is physical. Design is everything and lately, the design of the exterior is getting a lot more attention and effort than the design of the actual ingredients. How to Separate the Green From the $reen. Natural This does not mean what I think you think it means. (The Princess Bride reference here!) Natural just means it contains a natural source, not in…
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Following the AIP Diet for Vegetarians and Vegans- Is it Doable?
If you are starting to read or research about the AIP diet or AutoImmune Protocol you know it is a diet that is meant to bring down your inflammation. By eliminating food items such as dairy, gluten, sugar, soy, processed foods, nightshades, legumes, nuts and seeds, AIP rebuilds your gut, balances your hormones and gives you a nutrient dense diet to combat inflammation. If you are a vegetarian or vegan that pretty much cuts out half your food options. So the question then is: Is the AIP diet for vegetarians or vegans doable?
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A Holistic Look at Inflammation In the Body.
If you have been diagnosed with any of the over 80 auto-immune diseases or chronic illness, you are suffering from some sort of inflammation in the body. While inflammation in and of itself is not bad, but actually a natural part of the healing process, if you have chronic inflammation it might be disrupting the quality and well being of your life. Inflammation doesn't develop unrelated to other parts of your body. Here is a holistic view of how your body develops inflammation in the body.
