Author Archives: liivih

Real Food Recipe: Easy Healthy Plantains in a Pan

Thrive Primal - easy healthy plantain recipe

Have you ever seen those oversized weird-looking bananas at the supermarket? They’re plantains!

A staple in traditional island diets, they’re a bit of a wildcard here in North America. They’re worth learning how to cook, because they have some great nutritional benefits. One of my favourite Paleo/Ancestral practitioners, Chris Kresser, talks about plantains a lot on his podcast. It sounds like has them for breakfast almost every day with his 1-year-old daughter.

Plantains are high in resistant starch, which produces a fatty acid called butyrate in the lower digestive tract. This provides food for beneficial bacteria, improves insulin sensitivity, and may also have anti-cancer properties!

And man are they DELICIOUS. This has become one of our favourite veggie sides that we look forward to.

Easy Healthy Plantains in a Pan

This recipe has lots of good traditional fats as well as anti-inflammatory properties from the spices. Make sure you grab the plantains from the supermarket when they’re still green or just barely yellow, since they start to get more sugary as they ripen and won’t be as beneficial for resistant starch.

Real Food Recipe: Easy Healthy Plantains in a Pan

Prep Time: 2 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 1 plantain for 2 people

Real Food Recipe: Easy Healthy Plantains in a Pan

A simple, easy plantain recipe with healthy traditional fats and anti-inflammatory spices. Prepare yourself, it's delicious!!

Ingredients

  • 1 green or barely ripe plantain
  • 2 tbsp grass fed butter
  • 2 tbsp coconut oil
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne
  • 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt

Instructions

  1. Heat your pan on medium heat with the 2 tbsp coconut oil and 2 tbsp grass fed butter. Ensure it never gets so hot that the oil starts to brown or smoke.
  2. Cut the ends off the plantain, and make a shallow cut along the length just through the skin. Then you'll be able to peel it.
  3. Slice the plantain into rounds about 1/4" thick, and place them in a single layer in the pan.
  4. Sprinkle all the spices and salt evenly over the plantain slices.
  5. Let them cook on one side for a few minutes, checking them until you see they're getting just slightly browned.
  6. Flip them one by one onto their other sides, then mush them gently with a fork, just to break the surface. THIS IS THE MAGIC. Now they will soak up all the delicious butter and coconut oil.
  7. Let them sit until they have soaked up most or all of the oil. You can leave them on low heat until you are ready to eat them.
  8. Have them right away (tastiest!) or they are also good as leftovers. Serving with some good quality sour cream is DIVINE.
https://www.thriveprimal.com/real-food-recipe-easy-healthy-plantains/

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! It’s definitely become a regular part of our rotation. YUM!

Do you have any other yummy plantain recipes to share?! Post in the comments below! :)

Have you had any benefits from consuming resistant starch, or any effect on your digestion? Share below!

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How to keep your feet healthy & prevent or reverse bunions naturally

Thrive Primal - prevent and cure bunions naturally

All the women in my family have bunions. And that freaks the crap out of me.

I don’t want yucky claw feet that look freaky in sandals, and more importantly that hurt all the time!

This is exactly the sort of thing I love to investigate a natural prevention or cure for. We don’t have to be victims to these sorts of conditions. A bunion isn’t something that attacks and we just have to succumb to. Although it’s true that some people are more prone to them (like my family) and some people can wear pointy shoes to their heart’s content and never get them.

But generally speaking a bunion happens over time, and it’s something we can prevent and even reverse naturally.

I want pretty, pain-free feet forever

Probably around age 25 I started to notice my feet would be kinda achey if I wore pointy shoes for the day. The pain was mainly in the big toe joint. Eventually I made the connection that this could eventually result in bunions. I started researching prevention immediately!

When you’re naturally more pre-disposed to getting them, you can’t just avoid pointy shoes, you have to proactively reshape your feet to keep them flexible and youthful.

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How to prevent & treat bunions without surgery

1. Get some toe stretchers! Mine are called Profoot Flex-tastic Toe Relaxers and they are TOTALLY AWESOME. At first I wore them every night for 5-10 minutes just when I was eating dinner or relaxing for a bit in the evening. I did that for maybe a week or 2.

Now, I only use them every couple of months if I feel a bit of tightness in my toe joint. They feel sort of pressurey when they’re on, but not uncomfortable. And then when you take them off your feet feel oh so flexy and lovely, like you want to do a twinkle toe dance. Very rejuvenating!

Another suggestion for relieving any pain and inflammation is to use some Deep Blue pain-relieving essential oil. It’s great for muscle and joint pain of all kinds. You can also rather conveniently get is as a rub.

We don’t realize how much stress our feet take every day and we should thank them and take care of them! If we don’t they will turn on us and make our lives hell! :)

2. Do some yoga! 

I’m not saying you have to spend an hour every night practicing or get a membership or learn how to do a headstand. I’m just saying use your toes mindfully when they are out of shoes. Use them to balance, spread them and grip the floor, and feel the power of each little tiny hard-working toe.

I’ve noticed since I’ve been practicing yoga semi-regularly my toes get sore a lot less often. I love balance poses like Tree, Chair or twisting lunges and arching upward while in downward dog to really feel the toe power!

Here’s a nice half-hour video with Yoga with Adriene that you can try. See how your toes (and obv your whole body!!) feel afterward!

And finally, yeees, you do want to avoid wearing those pinchy pointy shoes every day. Maybe keep them just for a sexy date night or when you need an extra confidence boost. It doesn’t mean you have to wear granny shoes, but a more natural toe shape that doesn’t literally re-shape you foot into a sad, cramped, diseased state is probably a good call. Your future self will thank you when you can still go for a nice nature hike when you’re 80 ;)

Please share below…

How do you show your feetsies some love? What tricks have you discovered for lasting foot health? Let us know in the comments so we can all help eachother out!

 

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Things I’m Loving in January 2015

Thrive Primal - things i love jan 2015

I want to make this blog a little different in that it’s not just about the serious health stuff. I want to share some fun things too! Maybe even a little fashion, music, and other fun lifestyle stuff.

These things are actually very important for primal lifestyle design, because they play a big role in personal development and the ‘lighter side’ of a primal lifestyle – meaning the social, play-related side.

I also find I’m always curious about the real NITTY-GRITTY of someone’s day to day lifestyle. Like what they ate for breakfast, or what sort of relaxation tools they use. I mean the actual specific things or strategies, not just general philosophy.

So I hope you find the “Things I Love” series fun, useful and insightful! Hopefully we can find even more things to relate to each other with, beyond just our nutrition obsession :) Plus I’d like to strike up a discussion in the comments where we can share our favourite go-to’s, latest discoveries and best tips.

Thrive Primal - things i love jan 2015

 Thrive Primal - things i love jan 2015LISTENING: Asgeir Trausti

Sooo the other night, I listened to Asgeir’s album 3 times in a row in English, then twice in a row in Icelandic, and then once more in English. Obsessed much?? The more I listen, the more I love… Check out his album here or grab a copy here. Plus I totally dig his tats ;) Let me know in the comments what you’re listening to lately!

READING: The 5 Love Languages

Personal development and relationship development is a big part of primal lifestyle design. I had heard that this book is great for understanding one’s partner’s needs and ensuring they feel loved in the particular way that they most relate with and value. I think continuing to consciously cultivate one’s relationship is vital, so Will and I are reading this book this month! Check out a copy here.

EATING: Grass-fed beef bone broth

I’m healing my teeth and keeping my joints and gut healthy this month (and every month) with bone broth! Check out my tips here on how to always some ready to go in the fridge. Find out where to grab properly-raised meat in your area with farmmatch.com or eatwild.com. I know there’s also US Wellness Meats in the states, but haven’t found a good online supplier in Canada. Let me know if you know of one!  Also, you’ll be needing a crock pot! (aka slow cooker). Do yourself a favour and get this pretty one, which won’t be such an unsightly beast in your kitchen ;)

USING: Immunity & Metabolic blends

These doTerra oils are serving 2 important purposes for me this month. Slim & Sassy is helping me cleanse toxins and lose some paunch collected over the holidays. OnGuard is helping us keep our immune systems working optimally. Neither of us have gotten sick yet this season! Despite being around LOTS of sick people, like over Christmas when my little sister was literally coughing germs all over my face. I was just like bring it on! I feel iron-clad! Here’s how to get your paws on these essential oils.

DRINKING: DIY Rooibos Latte

I love crafting deluxe teas and coffees at home. I’m often making fatty coffees on weekend mornings, but I’m always looking for caffeine-free options to enjoy later in the day or as dessert. Rooibos has lots of antioxidants and minerals and I love the flavour. I made Will a latte with a little cinnamon this evening and he said it tasted like ‘baked apples’ – yum! Just heat up some milk on the stove until slightly steaming, then shake it in a jar and pour on top of the tea in a mug. Grab some good rooibos tea here.

WEARING: Big Infinity Scarves

I am basically permanently wearing a big chunky scarf like this in the winter. Like I basically have no neck. It’s so cozy and I love all the textures and colours. Usually I layer a big scarf with a long top or sweater, leggings and boots. Plus a long necklace with some natural stone or amber, and some fun earrings. That’s my winter uniform!

Let me know in the comments what your ‘winter uniform’ go-to outfit is! :)

MOVING: Biking in the snow & Yoga with Adriene

I’ve just made the decision recently to not let the cold weather keep me off the roads with my bike. Public transport in Toronto is frustrating to say the least, so biking is free, faster and keeps me moving! I’m still in the process of figuring out my perfect winter biking gear combo…Let me know if you have any pro tips!

Yoga with Adriene is often my go-to for indoor movement or restful exercise. I love her genuine personality and how she instructs. Oftentimes the way she describes a pose makes me adjust my body slightly and then I go “ohhhh, that’s how that’s supposed to feel!” I love Yoga with Adriene!

RELAXING: Beeswax candles

I absolutely LOVE beeswax candles. They smell SOO nice (like honey!) and they have so many benefits. Turns out regular paraffin candles are pretty darn toxic (!!) since they’re made from the sludge in the bottom of oil barrels and are subjected to various chemical processes, resulting in a carcinogen-emitting abomination. I wish I would’ve known that a long time ago! I totally used to crank through those cheap tealights from Ikea. Anyway! Beeswax is awesome, it purifies the air and helps against allergies. Grab some here and get burning! Using candles at night is great for a calming atmosphere to get away from blue-light pollution and enhance sleep.

Share what you’re loving below

Well that’s a wrap folks? What are you loving this month? Any great discoveries or lessons learned? I’d love to hear from you ;) or share on the Thrive Primal Facebook page!

 

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Real Food Recipe: Primal Gluten free Zucchini Pancakes

Thrive Primal - primal gluten free zucchini pancakes recipe

You have got to try this pancake recipe!!! I whipped it up this morning and man are they tasty…the zucchini adds a little bit of nice moisture to the mix, as sometimes gluten free pancakes are sort of dry and sawdusty (especially with coconut flour because it absorbs so much moisture).

A great bonus is that they actually stay together and you can flip them nicely in the pan without them falling apart. They turned out beautiful!

 

I served them with a sauce made of frozen blueberries and fresh whole cranberries simmered in butter with a tablespoon of honey.

Thrive Primal - primal zucchini pancakes recipe

Real Food Recipe: Primal Gluten free Zucchini Pancakes

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: Enough for 2 people for a large breakfast

Real Food Recipe: Primal Gluten free Zucchini Pancakes

Delicious and nutritious gluten free primal pancakes. The zucchini adds moisture and flavour! Yum! Delicious later on from the fridge as well.

Ingredients

  • 1 grated organic zucchini
  • 3 free-range eggs
  • 3 tbsp coconut oil (soft or melted)
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1 cup white rice flour
  • 1/2 tsp Upgraded Vanilla
  • 1 tsp cardamom
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup whey or milk
  • a pinch each of baking soda and baking powder

Instructions

  1. Mix the eggs, coconut oil, whey and zucchini together first.
  2. Add the spices.
  3. Add the 2 flours and the bs/bp.
  4. Mix well.
  5. Heat up a pan on medium with a good amount of butter. Keep the butter just bubbling but don't let it smoke!! If it starts to turn brown it's too hot.
  6. I used a 1/3 cup measure for each pancake.
  7. Let the cake cook on the first side until you can jiggle the pan and top of the cake doesn't look liquidy, then it's ready to flip!
  8. Serve with grass-fed butter, raw honey, organic berries.
https://www.thriveprimal.com/real-food-recipe-primal-gluten-free-zucchini-pancakes/

If you make this, let me know what you thought! How did they turn out for you? I think the temperature of the pan and the butter is pretty important for getting that nice crispy golden texture.

I’ll be posting instructions on how to get Upgraded (high quality toxin free Madagascar) vanilla and also how to get or make grass-fed organic raw whey at some point soon.

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Real Food Recipe: Natural Hangover Remedy Juice

Thrive Primal - natural hangover remedy juice recipe

I concocted this quick & easy natural hangover remedy juice for Will and I the morning after an office party recently when we weren’t feelin so hot. It definitely made me feel a little less “eugh” – a little lighter and cleaner.

Are you hungover today? Or anticipating potentially being so tomorrow? TIP: collect the ingredients now so tomorrow when you’re stumbling around you’ll be able to throw it together quickly. 

Here is a quick breakdown of why I chose these ingredients. They all have potent healing action, and turns out it also tastes pretty decent as well.

Lemon: is the most useful food for your liver to make enzymes with (aka helps your liver clean toxins out of your body more effectively)

Dark cherries: potent antioxidants plus an effective pain-reliever (via the action of their anthocyanins)

Parsley: is high in phytochemicals and antioxidants like chlorophyll, which help cleanse the blood

Ginger:settles the stomach, help with nausea and is also a strong pain-reliever

Raw honey: rich in enzymes and electrolytes

Pink salt: replenishes your sodium and trace mineral levels 

Real Food Recipe: Natural Hangover Remedy Juice

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 1 tall glass per person

Real Food Recipe: Natural Hangover Remedy Juice

A fresh and tasty juice for when you've over-indulged! Full of active ingredients to bring down inflammation, clean out toxins, settle the stomach and relieve pain.

Ingredients

    Per person:
  • 1 peeled lemon
  • 8-10 frozen dark cherries
  • 1 handful fresh parsley
  • 1 tbsp grated ginger root
  • 1 tbsp raw honey
  • a pinch of pink salt
  • filtered water as needed

Instructions

  1. Chuck all the ingredients in your food processor
  2. Top up with water and blend until smooth
  3. Optionally you could put it in the fridge or freezer for a while to chill before drinking
https://www.thriveprimal.com/real-food-recipe-natural-hangover-remedy-juice/

Other natural hangover remedies

Chicken broth / soup: This will help build your immunity and soothe your gut. See my tips here for always having organic homemade bone broth ready to go! Add some simple chopped veg like garlic, celery, carrots and onions.

Peppermint essential oil: Is amazing for headaches. Sniff from the bottle, rub a drop on your hands and inhale, or dot a tiny bit on your temples and the back of the neck. Back of the neck is my favourite for an awesome cooling sensation, plus it’s away from the eyes so it won’t make them water. Here’s where I get my peppermint oil.

DigestZen essential oil: This is a go-to for when your stomach is queasy or you’re feeling nauseous. Just drop a few drops in your hands and smooth over your belly. You can also cup your hands and inhale – the fennel and ginger are very soothing. Grab some DigestZen here.

Share your hangover remedies

What’s your go-to when you’re feeling like a sack o’ poop? Share in the comments so we can all help eachother out!

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NaturalDIY.com is now ThrivePrimal.com!

Thrive Primal square logo-01Hello dear readers,

This is a quick note to say thanks for your patience during this very exciting transformation.

Things will be getting a little more primal and a whole lot sexier-looking around here over the next little while as I go through the re-branding process.

Keep your eyes peeled for lots of great content in the future. Thanks for visiting!

How to wash your hair with DIY egg shampoo (no-poo alternative)

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Over the past couple of years, Will and I have been getting more and more “crunchy”. Eschewing commercial cleaning and self-care products, and instead making our own, or sometimes just foregoing them altogether :)

The time that I didn’t wash my hair for 3 months…

I tried that foregoing thing with shampoo for awhile – I was determined to make my hair self-cleaning. I stuck it out for about 3 months, which I thought would surely be enough to let it adapt. Some days it looked ok, but mostly I looked like a drowned rat and felt pretty darn un-sexy.

The classic no-poo method

Previously to that I tried the no-poo method, which is baking soda mixed with some water and poured onto the scalp to cleanse, (rinse out), followed by some apple cider vinegar mixed with water and poured over the hair as a conditioner to balance the pH.

I didn’t mind this, but felt that after awhile it made my hair kind of dry and brittle. This is a common review if you google around a little bit.

Effective DIY natural no-poo alternatives; aka washing your hair with breakfast

Most blogs I’ve read lately have shared the most success with occasional baking soda/ACV washes, alternating with various natural food-based rinses and cleanses in between.

You could basically walk into a diner and rob some unsuspecting person of their breakfast, smoodge it all over your head, and walk out with clean hair.

You can wash your hair with:

  • kefir
  • rye flour
  • egg
  • coffee
  • honey

And any number of other items. Personally I’ve had great success with both rye flour, and an egg-honey mixture.

How to make DIY non-toxic egg & honey shampoo with essential oils

This is such a quick and easy process, just grab a bowl and get mixing.

  1. crack a free range egg, grab the yolk with your fingers and put it in your bowl. (keep the white for something else if you like)
  2. whip it up a bit with a fork, then mix in a heaping teaspoon of raw honey (if your honey is creamed, you may want to dilute it first with some warm water to soften it)
  3. drop in 2-3 drops each of rosemary and lavender essential oil.
  4. use comfortably warm (rather than hot) water in the shower so the egg doesn’t cook on your head

You will find your hair is silky and infused with protein to make it stronger. The honey is a good gentle cleanser, and the essential oils add strength, cleansing power and a nice scent as well.

My no-poo routine

Lately my routine looks something like this:

  • baking soda/ACV wash once a month
  • egg wash once every 1-2 weeks
  • rye flour wash 1-2 times per week

In between I just rinse my hair with water, or preen it using my natural boar-bristle brush, or use a little dry shampoo (I just use baby powder).

Pretty easy, non-toxic, and it keeps your hair healthy with a variety of different nourishing, natural cleansers and conditioners.

One last tip: coconut oil for hair

If you find the ends of your hair get dry, try this:

  • Wet your hair in the shower
  • Scoop out a little bit of coconut oil and rub just through the ends of your wet hair
  • Continue with your chosen no-poo cleansing method and rinse well

Your ends should be just conditioned and moisturized enough, without getting a greasy ratbag head from too much coconut oil. The key is to put it on the ends only!

How is no-poo shampoo working for you?

Have you been experimenting with any DIY non-toxic natural shampoo alternatives? What’s working for your hair type? Are you finding balance in your routine? Please share so we can all help each other out!

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Real Food Recipe: Delicious 5-Ingredient Wintry Pea Soup

Thrive Primal_5 ingredient easy pea soup real food recipe

Ok people, this recipe is seriously delicious. Will and I whipped it up basically by accident last night to use up some leftover pork, and then re-heated it for dinner this evening. As it was warming up on the stove, I was seriously drooling even though I wasn’t even that hungry. It smells DIVINE. Like a platter of fried chicken and BBQ pork all smothered in tastiness.

And it is —SO—EASY—. 5 ingredients, that’s it! Heaps of veggies hidden in there, plus the super healing and immune-boosting nutritional punch of chicken broth. The one catch is you want to try and make your own good organic chicken broth if you can.

The easy way to have homemade bone broth in the fridge at all times…

We are in the routine of collecting all the bones from any good organic meat and fish that we buy. We put them in the freezer in containers sorted by type, and as they fill up, once or twice a week we just chuck one type in the slow cooker. Top it up with water and a splash of apple cider vinegar, and leave it on until the next evening.

We usually start it on High overnight, and the next morning turn it down to Low for the day. When we get home later, we scoop out the bones with a ladle or slotted spoon, and pour the broth into jars or containers. So easy, and you end up with lots of broth to keep in the fridge or freezer.

If you’re not up to making your own broth, just snag some good clean organic chicken broth from the store. “Clean” meaning no additives!

Real Food Recipe: Delicious 5-Ingredient Wintry Pea Soup

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

Real Food Recipe: Delicious 5-Ingredient Wintry Pea Soup

A quick real-food dinner to whip up on wintry evenings. It stores or freezes really well so make lots and store in containers for easy future meals.

Ingredients

  • 3 big organic pork servings, or 3 big slices of ham (we used leftover pork shoulder from a Christmas dinner; you can use any type but just make sure you can chop it up into small-ish cubes)
  • 2 cups homemade organic chicken stock
  • 2 cups organic celery
  • 2 cups organic carrots
  • 1.5 cups dried split peas
  • 2-3 cups water
  • pink himalayan salt to taste

Instructions

  1. If your pork is not already cooked, cut into cubes and cook it a bit in the bottom of your pot with some butter.
  2. Measure the peas into the pot and add 2 cups water, 2 cups chicken stock. You may need to add more water if it begins to look dry as it cooks.
  3. Finely chop or food-process the carrots and celery and add to the pot.
  4. Bring the whole thing to a boil, then down to a simmer and leave it for 30 minutes or so, until you can sample a pea and it's cooked soft.
  5. Add salt to taste, and serve. Yum!

Notes

RECIPE TIP: Add some chopped garlic, a bay leaf or some herbs such as marjoram, thyme or sage for even more savoury flavour.

KITCHEN TIP: Prep this recipe really quick and then get other stuff done while it simmers! Pack breakfasts, lunches and snacks for work, get the dishes done, do some squats, clean the litterbox, etc! So it really only takes 15 minutes of "active" cooking time!

https://www.thriveprimal.com/real-food-recipe-delicious-5-ingredient-wintry-pea-soup/
 

I do realize the picture doesn’t look that appetizing…but what picture of soup ever looks that good? It always just sort of looks like mystery mush. You’ll just have to trust me on this one!

A note on split peas and carbs

I’m not sure about the paleo or primal-ness of split peas; I’m guessing they fall fairly low on the list, or in a gray area. They’re sort of a vegetable, sort of a legume. But based on stuff I’ve heard from Daniel Vitalis and Arthur Haines, I feel that primal hunter-gatherer types at least in the Americas seemed to gather a lot of wild grain and legume type foods. And lately I’m making a point of not being afraid of carbs. Not going overboard either, but having a healthy serving of lower-GI carbs in the evening is just fine. 

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