Cactus Pineapple Smoothie

I really want to start eating healthier by adding more natural plant based foods to my diet. It's really hard, but I have been adding more healthy options to my grocery list. I'm not Vegan or even Vegetarian but I believe they both are healthy habits. I just don't want to commit to any strict diets, but instead, just make some better choices in what I put in and on my body. 

Eating healthy has also led me to try new foods otherwise I would turn my nose up too. One of the newest foods I tried lately is (Nopal) Cactus. I read that there are a lot of health benefits hidden inside this prickly vegetable. I am excited to share with you this "Licuado de Nopal" aka Cactus Pineapple Smoothie. It tasted like nothing else I've ever had. Cactus itself taste like a cross between celery and asparagus, if you can imagine. Mixed in a smoothie it's not so bad after all.

Before handling any cactus, make sure to wear gloves. I learned this the hard way while picking through them at the grocery store. I was picking fine thorns from my hands all the way home while my husband thought it was funny. He suggested I use tongs that were available next time. 

Before eating, cut around the outside to remove the edges then take a knife or cactus scraper and scrape off  all the thorns, then wash thoroughly. I took my gloves off at this point and sacrificed my hands to make sure there were not more prickly things on the paddles. Luckily there were none and it was ready to cut into cubes.   

Cactus Pineapple Smoothie

1 cup- cleaned and cubed Cactus

1 cup- cubed Pineapple (I used frozen)

1 cup- of Orange Juice or Water

1 teaspoon- of Turmeric. (tasteless but optional)

add all to a blender and blend until smooth

Enjoy.

Cactus water (or smoothie) is known to help with weight loss, regulate blood sugar levels and improve digestion. It is also an anti-inflammatory. 

Other health benefits of cactus include:

• Great for joint inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Natural detox. Good for the gut. 
• Great for skin.
• Strengthens immune system.
• Lowers cholesterol.
• Help prevent against cancer.
• Helps control type II diabetes.
• Relieves menstrual cramps in women.
• It can also help with inflammation of the urethra and bladder to control bladder infections. 
• And if you get drunk....It's known to help hangovers.

I found most of this info here. (Source). 

The original recipe and more interesting facts can be found here (Source).

How did I like it?

It was pretty good. It was not like drinking a sweet berry smoothie topped with granola and chocolate, but it was good. It had a sweet tart bite too it but yet still refreshing. 

What I think about it?

We ended up making another trip to the Mexican grocery store for more. I have felt good after drinking one of these smoothies and actually had a good night sleep. I think this drink is a good thing and plan to drink one a couple times a week. I hope it helps with the inflammation in my ears associated with my symptoms of Meniere's.  

I have never been afraid to try new things. If it's edible, I’ll eat it. It’s good to experiment with different foods. There is a lot of good foods out there yet to be discovered. You’ll never know unless you try it. 

LiuYX Cervical Pillow

A couple years ago I was in agonizing upper back pain and made a visit to the doctor. I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve and muscle spasms. Those finally subsided but the back pains continue off and on. I made a visit to my Chiropractor last year. He did an x-ray on my back and told me I do not have the normal cervical spine I am suppose to. This resulted in me having a compressed C6 disk and a lot of discomfort.

After several visits to the chiropractor with no positive outcomes, I gave up. My back pains are off and on but always in the upper cervical spine and neck area. I have suffered for years now and have just learned to deal with it. I will relax and change my positions until I'm comfortable. I blame it a lot on the fact I work in front of a computer all day and do a lot of crocheting on my free time.

I was so excited when I received this LiuYX Cervical Pillow. I can finally get the relief I need and hope it adds comfort to the pains I suffer.

The LiuYX cervical back pillow is designed to cradle and support the neck and allow shoulders to relax. It has massage traction for pain relief and cervical spine alignment. It gently suspends your head and neck for a relaxing sensation as your head gently floats on the unique cradling design. The memory sponge padding is not only soft but also allows air to flow keeping your head cool and eliminates sweat.

The LiuYX Cervical Pillow is easy to use. I simply placed it on the back of head and positioned it until I was comfortable. Then I slowly leaned my head back and relaxed. I quickly felt relief.

I thought it was very comfortable and relieved some tension in my neck and spine in as little as five minutes. This pillow can be used while sitting or laying down. All you need is a surface to lean back on. However, it is not to be used while driving or sleeping.

Unlike most other cervical pillows, this one is small and discrete. The area you place your head in is about the size of two cupped hands. I love that this special pillow is small enough to throw in a tote and take with me to work or long car rides where sitting a long time can bring on more stress to my back. It is recommended to use 2 or 3 times a day for 15 to 20 minute at a time. Not only have I used it while watching TV or stretching out after a workout, but It actually worked perfect in the tanning bed too. 

Shop Amazon:

LiuYX cervical pillow 

This product was provided to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review. 

All opinions are 100% my own.

Caution:This product is not a medical device and is not used to cure, treat, or prevent any disease.

Homemade Toothpaste with MorningPep Xylitol

I am no tree hugger, but I do believe natural remedies are the best. They are healthier and will save me money in the long run. If it saves trees, then I'll take that as a bonus. With that being said, I've been introducing myself to more natural products lately. I want to be more natural and rid myself of as many toxins as possible.

It is hard to find items and ingredients that do not contain harmful junk in them such as toothpaste. I mean, have you ever looked at the warning label on your toothpaste? There is stuff in there that I cannot even pronounce. Do I really want to use that? It hasn't hurt me in all these years, but really, who knows?

I was just looking at the branded toothpaste the other day and there are warning labels containing statements such as, “If ingested contact poison control." I'm pretty sure we all have eaten toothpaste before. I also read " Do not use more than 4 weeks." So, what are you supposed to do after 4 weeks? Stop using toothpaste? I’ll admit, I do not have real good teeth, but I have brushed my teeth regularly all my life. I’m ready to try alternatives. I believe things are put on this Earth for the good. Therefore, natural is best.

I have been wanting to make my own toothpaste for a while so I began doing some research on natural options and found the perfect concoctions.

One ingredient I used is Morning Pep Xylitol 100% pure natural sweetener (made in the USA).
This sweetener is perfect for coffee and baking as it looks and tastes just like sugar (without the bitter after taste other sweeteners can leave behind). It contains 40% fewer calories than sugar, low carb and glycemic index, making it safe for diabetics. There are also no wheat, soy, dairy, corn, or gmo found in this product. It is also declared safe by FDA.

So why am I using this in my natural tooth paste recipe? Other than adding a pleasant sweetness to my tastes buds, Xylitol also has many dental health benefits. Here are just few just to mention:

• Starves and kills bacteria for better oral health.
• Protects tooth enamel as it has the ability of materialization deep in the layers of enamel. 
• Great for bone health (so remember that when using it as a sweetener for ingestion). 
• Fights yeast bacteria.
• It even reduces inner ear health by killing bacteria in the mouth that can cause ear infections. 

Are you ready for the recipe to this remarkable tooth paste using only 4 ingredients? Well wait no longer. Start bettering yourself with this and other safe natural home remedies.

Natural Homemade Toothpaste

1/2 Cup -Coconut Oil (also kills harmful bacteria)

3 Tbls- Baking Soda (for whitening)

1 Tbls- Xylitol (sweetener with dental benefits )

1 Tsp *Mint Flavoring.

*I used pure mint flavoring but you can also use cinnamon or essential oils.

Melt the coconut oil in a glass bowl for about 30 seconds in microwave.

Once melted, add remaining ingredients and mix until smooth.

Place in a small glass jar with lid and let cool completely before using.

(The oil will separate, so I would just shake the jar a couple times during cooling to keep it mix up 

or you can simply mix it before using. 

Either way makes a nice paste)

To use: Dip toothbrush directly or use small spreader or spoon. 

You can also add the paste to a small silicon squeeze bottle then apply to toothbrush. I found my little bottle at the dollar store. It’s actually a salad dressing holder and it works perfect. 

I will be using this MorningPep Xylitol sweetener in a lot of my baking and as a necessity for my morning cup of Joe. 

So stay tuned for some healthy sugar free recipes coming soon. 

Where to shop:

 Morning Pep Pure Birch Xylitol 

I have been financially compensated for this post. 

The opinions are completely my own based on my honest experience. 

WARNING: Xylitol can be toxic for dogs.