6 Gut Friendly Foods For Your Kitchen (Plus Anti-Inflammatory Gummies Recipe)

Hey Fit Fam,

Improving gut health doesn’t have to be a difficult feat if you keep gut healthy foods in your kitchen. We all know that gut health is important, but many of us don’t realize just how much of an impact the foods we eat play a role in how we feel, think and behave. Before you plan your next shopping list, read more about the foods that can improve your life in more ways than one.

6 GUT FRIENDLY FOODS FOR YOUR KITCHEN

YOGURT

• Spoon your way to a better digestion with a cup of yogurt. 
• Yogurt contains probiotics, which are a powerhouse for digestive health. Probiotics are live micro-organisms that promote health benefits when consumed and support the "good' bacteria in the gut (3).
• Look for yogurts that contain live cultures-an active bacteria that has been shown to help promote in overall gut health and aid in reducing digestive distress (12.)
  
  (I know it's not some fancy flavored yogurt. But we are talking about GUT HEALTH. Probably the best yogurt on the market for this would be Nancy's.)

CAYENNE PEPPER

• Spice up your day with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper in your meals.
• Research has shown that cayenne pepper can assist in bringing necessary enzymes to the stomach which ultimately aid in metabolizing food (1).
• Also, a great aid for relieving intestinal gas as it encourages peristaltic motion - the movement of muscles located in the digestive tract (2).

AVOCADO

• Avocados are not only a delicious addition to any meal, they are also a one-stop-shop for a wide array of vitamins and nutrients, and are full of potassium, fiber, magnesium, and monounsaturated fats (4). 
• Fiber is largely found in avocados with approximately 4.5 grams per half, which contributes to healthy digestion as a result of its ability to feed the ‘friendly’ bacteria and remove waste in a minimal amount of time (5). 

ROOIBOS TEA

• Gut healthy foods don’t necessarily have to be a food! 
• Steep a warm cup of sweet and flowery rooibos tea for its digestive health benefits. Even add a scoop of Vital Proteins Bone Broth for an added digestive boost.
• Rooibos tea is rich in nutrients such as manganese, iron, zinc, and calcium to promote a healthy inflammatory response. Studies have shown that rooibos tea has the ability to promote improved digestion and abdominal comfort (6). 

QUINOA

• Quinoa is fiber-rich with a whopping 5 grams per cooked cup (8), mostly consisting of insoluble fibers which help to deliver friendly bacteria to the gut (7). 
• Rich in antioxidants–which flush out free radicals from the digestive tract (10)–and other minerals, quinoa boasts, even more, iron, fiber, and zinc over other common grains (9). 
• Magnesium is the star player in quinoa, where one cup can offer 30% of the recommended daily amount (9).

VITAL PROTEINS BEEF GELATIN
(my number one GUT HEALER)

• Gut healthy foods can be made even healthier with an all natural supplement. Maintain a digestive support with supplements such as Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin.
• Gelatin is most beneficial for improving the lining of the digestive tract and combating intestinal damage which ultimately prevents permeability (11). Gelatin is slower to digest, moves through the GI tract further and coats the small intestine.
• Beef Gelatin and Collagen Peptides' nutritional benefits vary only slightly. The main difference is how they're used. Gelatin works best while cooking, or with hot liquids, soups and broths. Both can be used cooking, but Beef Gelatin dissolves well in warm liquids, gummies, parfaits, hot teas, and more.

Anti-inflammatory CBD Gummies

You can omit the CBD if you want or don't have. But not sure why you would! It is AMAZING for inflammation! Check out THIS BLOG on how I am using CBD and am "Healed Not High" and THIS BLOG for any confusion as to what HEMP you should and SHOULD NOT be buying!!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup water
4 tbsp. Vital Proteins Beef Gelatin

1 heaping scoop 1st Phorm Lemonade, Apple or Blueberry BCAAs
3 cups mixed fresh or thawed frozen strawberries, blueberries or apples (pending BCAA flavor)
 *Can omit if you want to get carbs elsewhere or want no carb gummies*

DIRECTIONS:
Add the Beef Gelatin to 1/4c of the water in a small bowl. Stir and set it aside for 3 minutes to let the gelatin bloom.

Mix the other 1/4 of the water, bcaas and 1 full dropper of UNFLAVORED IGNITE CBD OIL.

If adding the berries add the berries and sweetener large blender.  Blend on high until smooth.

Pour the berry juice (if used) and BCAA/CBD mixture into a medium saucepan and place over medium-low heat.

Add the bloomed gelatin and continuously until the gelatin is melted.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the magnesium, if using.

Pour into silicone molds or a large glass dish.

Refrigerate until solid, about 2 hours for molds or 4 hours for a large dish.

FREE SHIPPING for all US VITAL PROTEINS orders - HERE
FREE FAST Shipping on all 1st Phorm orders - HERE

**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not receive commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use and stand by.**

Sources
(1) Maji, A. K., & Banerji, P. (2016). Phytochemistry and gastrointestinal benefits of the medicinal spice, Capsicum annuum L. (Chilli): a review. Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine,13(2). doi:10.1515/jcim-2015-0037 (2) “Spices Exotic Flavors & Medicines Chile Pepper.” History & Special Collections UCLA Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, 2002. Accessed 27 Feb. 2017. (3) Guarner, F., Perdigon, G., Corthier, G., Salminen, S., Koletzko, B., & Morelli, L. (2005). Should yogurt cultures be considered probiotic? British Journal of Nutrition,93(06), 783. doi:10.1079/bjn20051428 (4) Lu, Q., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, D., Lee, R., Gao, K., . . . Heber, D. (2009). California Hass Avocado: Profiling of Carotenoids, Tocopherol, Fatty Acid, and Fat Content during Maturation and from Different Growing Areas. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,57(21), 10408-10413. doi:10.1021/jf901839h (5) Naveh E., Werman M. J., Sabo E., Neeman I. Defatted avocado pulp reduces body weight and total hepatic fat but increases plasma cholesterol in male rats fed diets with cholesterol. Journal of Nutrition. 2002;132(7):2015–2018.(6) Gilani, A. H., Khan, A.-u., Ghayur, M. N., Ali, S. F. and Herzig, J. W. (2006), Antispasmodic Effects of Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) is Mediated Predominantly through K⁺-Channel Activation. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 99: 365–373. doi:10.1111/j.1742-7843.2006.pto_507.x (7) Slavin, J. (2013). Fiber and Prebiotics: Mechanisms and Health Benefits. Nutrients,5(4), 1417-1435. doi:10.3390/nu5041417 (8) Repo-Carrasco-Valencia, R. A., & Serna, L. A. (2011). Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa, Willd.) as a source of dietary fiber and other functional components. Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos,31(1), 225-230. doi:10.1590/s0101-20612011000100035 (9) Nascimento, A. C., Mota, C., Coelho, I., Gueifão, S., Santos, M., Matos, A. S., . . . Castanheira, I. (2014). Characterisation of nutrient profile of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus), and purple corn (Zea mays L.) consumed in the North of Argentina: Proximates, minerals and trace elements. Food Chemistry,148, 420-426. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.09.155 (10) How to Help Digestion. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2017, from http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/14432/1/How-to...(11) Cardile, V. (2012). Gelatin tannate reduces the proinflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide in human intestinal epithelial cells. Clinical and Experimental Gastroenterology, 61. doi:10.2147/ceg.s28792 (12) Guyonnet, D., Chassany, O., Ducrotte, P., Picard, C., Mouret, M., Mercier, C., & Matuchansky, C. (2007). Effect of a fermented milk containing Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010 on the health-related quality of life and symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome in adults in primary care: a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics,26(3), 475-486. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2007.03362.x

CBD Consumer Confusion: Not All HEMP Contains CBD

 CONSUMER CONFUSION: Does your HEMP even have CBD? The difference between Hemp Seed and CBD Hemp.

 Hey Fit Fam,

Several times a week I have people message me telling me they purchased “CBD” or have started “taking hemp” since reading my blog “Healed Not High”. 

While it makes me SO HAPPY to know that people are looking into the amazing healing benefits of CBD, what bothers me is that at least half of the people that message me have purchased a product from their local health store, etsy, or whatever popped up as cheapest in a google search. 9 times out of 10 it's either NOT even CBD or the purity and quality is unknown.

As for PURITY and QUALITY of TRUE CBD .. check out my blog HEALED NOT HIGH where I touch on ALL THINGS CBD!

But lets dive into where a ton of confusion lies. People seem to think that anytime they see the word HEMP .. that means they are also getting CBD. NOT THE CASE!

Hemp Seeds = NO CBD
Hemp Protein = NO CBD
Hemp SEED Oil = NO CBD

Although CBD can be derived from Hemp and neither oils have psychoactive effects like THC ... CBD and hemp oils are made from different parts of the plant and have different purposes.


Hemp derived CBD Oil (often labeled as Hemp Drops or Hemp Oil) is generally used for medicinal purposes, treating inflammation, pain, sleeping disorders and even certain types of epileptic seizures.

Hemp Seed Oil is made by applying pressure to hemp seeds in order to squeeze out the oil. But since there is almost no CBD in hemp seeds, there is no CBD in hemp seed oil!!

CBD is present in the stalks, flowers and leaves of the hemp plant (not the seeds.) Those componants are what is extracted to make things like Hemp Drops, Hemp Oil, Full Spectrum CBD Oils, etc., because they DO contain CBD!

There is substantial confusion in general, but it doesn't help that many companies are marketing hemp seed oils at crazy prices and often implying that the products offered contain CBD - when they do not.

You should carefully read the ingredient label on any food or nutritional product including CBD oil products. Just because a product says ’hemp-extract’ on its label does not necessarily mean that cannabidiol, or CBD, is the extract contained in the product. Considering that there are over 80 compounds contained in hemp, the term ‘hemp extract’ could signify an extract other than CBD. So you may be buying products labeled as hemp extracts under the impression that CBD is contained in the product, when there may be none! READ CAREFULLY and if you are still confused ask the company if it contains CBD. If they say YES .. ask for an an independent lab analysis of their product indicating the presence of CBD and how much! Speaking of "how much" .. remember that if a product does have CBD .. the mg listed on the front of the bottle (100mg/250mg/500mg, etc) is how much CBD is in THE ENTIRE BOTTLE .. not in ONE serving!

Bottom Line .... Hemp has been on store shelves for decades and even in many skin care lines contain hemp (remember the "Hemp Soap On A Rope" by Bath & Body Works) .. but these products are NOT CBD!

Hemp Seeds and Hemp products are GREAT for your health and have their own long list of benefits  but it's important to know that they do NOT contain cannabinoids! So by all means .. consume hemp protein, hemp seeds and slather on some hemp lotion. But if you are looking for the healing/health benefits of CBD .. you aren't getting it from those sources!

Also, remember that CBD isn't a "one and done" type product. You must use it every day! So while it's great that many smoothie shops are offering CBD add-ins (be careful with this as many are calling their hemp CBD when it's just hemp SEED oil as described above) ... you need to be taking it daily! So while it certainly won't hurt ya, one smoothie a week infused with CBD isn't going to provide medicinal benefits! Not to mention, you should ask these places HOW MUCH CBD they are putting in your smoothie! I wonder if they even know?!

There is one company that I currently use that is HC FREE because their CBD is derived from HEMP! SO they can ship to you legally! (read THIS blog for more).

**NOTE THIS COMPANY MENTIONED ALSO OFFERS THC PRODUCTS AS WELL but their CBD products do NOT contain THC**

here is the company I use
IGNITE CBD 

There are MANY other Hemp Based THC Free CBD Companies and products out there and lots of them are legit and trustworthy!

The big issue is PURITY. The black market for Hemp CBD is a sad reality. So I suggest YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH!ASK FOR LAB REPORTS and stay on top of doing so when you re-order ... to ensure you are using a QUALITY product. Otherwise you risk putting something into your body that is contaminated ... or contains no real CBD and is a waste of your money!

For the above reasons, you must use caution if grabbing CBD at a health store, gas station or grocery store. Legit brands are now starting to carry their products at these locations ... just familiarize yourself with the brand before buying! Many answers can be found with quick google search .. but if you want to be safe ... take picture, call or email the company with your questions, and buy it the next time you go to the store!  Chances are the sales associates and clerks at these stores have not been educated on CBD and would have NO IDEA if the product is pure/tested! Better safe than sorry!


XoXo,
Stacy

** I am not a doctor. I am not an expert. I am not licensed. All information in this blog is based on my PERSONAL opinion and PERSONAL experience using CBD. I am not responsible for anything you all choose to do when it comes to THC, CBD, etc.**

Pot For Pets - How CBD Is Helping My Fur Family

CBD isn't only for humans.

CBD is also healing for our four legged friends

Okay ignore the title. DO NOT GIVE YOUR FUR BABIES POT!!! The journalist in me just makes me a sucker for a good play on words, ha!

It's not really POT that is healing my senior cat at all. It's a chemical component within marijuana (well actually HEMP in this case) that is helping my fur child and may help yours too!

Of course I'm talking about CBD.

I did a very long blog with all the details explaining the difference in THC and CBD, the difference in CBD extracted from the HEMP PLANT .vs. the CANNABIS PLANT, etc. Please check it out if you want to know more in depth detail.

For those that don't want to read a long blog .. here are a few very brief bullet points to clarify A FEW of the biggest confusions when it comes to CBD, how it differs from THC, how Hemp is different than Marijuana, etc.

• BOTH plants (hemp and marijuana) can make/produce CBD products (like oils, drops, tinctures, balms, vapes, etc.)
• This is not a "one and done" type treatment. It's like a flower that needs watering daily. You can't try it once, use it here and there, or use it a short time and be like .. well forget it .. it didn't work. Or even more .. you can't use it ONE day and get benefits the next day. This is something you will need to take and keep taking to see the benefits. You also may need to play with your dosage and the WAY you use CBD (drops, vapes, etc.)
• CBD (short for cannabidiol) acts on the body’s endocannabinoid system, creating physical changes in the body, which can be beneficial in MANY ways.
• CBD is only ONE of the components of the Marijuana and Hemp Plant. There are actually 60+ compounds in the plants. But let's be clear..... CBD is not THC. THC is a separate component of the plant.
• Both Marijuana and Hemp plants actually have THC. But they differ in the levels of naturally occurring THC that they contain. Hemp pants are naturally high in CBD and VERY low in THC. The reverse is true of marijuana plants. The are HIGH in THC. Hemp plants contain only about 0.3% – 1.5% THC. Marijuana plants contain 5% – 10% or more THC.
  This means that the levels of THC and CBD will be different in a CBD product pending if you get CBD produced from marijuana or hemp. If you get CBD from a marijuana plant it CAN have higher levels of THC (but you can get low thc/high cbd that is still derived from marijuana.) But if you get CBD from a HEMP plant it will have very low legal amounts (some even zero) levels of THC (making it legal in all 50 states)
• THC (in higher doses) can make you high. But CBD DOES NOT MAKE YOU HIGH.
  Even CBD sourced from cannabis that has very LOW levels of THC .. will not make you high. Interestingly, research has shown that CBD acts to reduce the psychoactive effects of THC, separating hemp further from marijuana.
• You can only get Marijuana based CBD from a Medical Marijuana Dispensary in a state where it is LEGAL. But ... HEMP CBD is legal in all 50 states and available for purchase (and cab be shipped) from MANY companies! Please read more about this below because YOU MUST BE CAREFUL where you purchase hemp based CB!!! ALL CBD IS NOT EQUAL and many companies are BOGUS and dare I say even DANGEROUS!! This industry (just like the supplement industry) .. is NOT regulated! So you MUST USE CAUTION!

Now on to the real point of THIS blog entry...... Pot (cbd) for PETS.

This is my senior cat Hildi (and an OLD pic of us.)
She is 13 years old and has some unknown medical conditions.

Every "symptom" pointed to her thyroid but blood tests say she is all good in that department.

She is showing some very early signs of kidney disease and our vet also believes she has a gastro condition.
So for about 2 months now she has been on a VERY strict veterinary diet where she can ONLY have some rare proteins and very specific food(s).

With the diet alone, the only thing I noticed was she has seemed to gain weight and hasn't had any "flair ups" (she would get these every few months where she hid in the closet, wouldn't eat, was so frail and weak.)

But her vomiting and LOUD HOWLING (mainly post eating and all throughout the night) continued. What causes the howling? Not sure yet. It could be numerous things.. possibly high blood pressure or just the fact that she is old and may have dementia. We aren't sure yet.

I asked my vet about CBD. But because it's not "approved" by the FDA and not much research has been done when it comes to cats/dogs and CBD ... she could not recommend it.

However she said she wasn't opposed to me trying it either. So I decided to give it a go.

I discovered a company that has a line for pets. I did research, exchanged numerous emails and had numerous phone calls with the team (including the CEO.) I asked SO MANY questions and after a couple weeks I decided this company was a great fit for my fur family. The company that I CURRENTLY USE for ME doesn't have a pet line. But it's this one.



We started Hilid on THESE drops.

I give her 1/4 a dropper every morning when I take my drops (THIS is the one I've been taking.) After about a week ... I increased her dose to another 1/4 dropper about 5 hours later and on occasion I'll give her more before bed.

I'm happy to report that since using this CBD she has only vomited ONE TIME and her howling has been cut down by I'd say a good 80%!!

Annnnnd guess what?! Hildi isn't the only member of my fur fam that gets CBD.

My dog Stella gets CBD treats almost every day too!

Stella is only 6 years old and doesn't have ANY medical conditions (thank you Jesus) .. but that doesn't mean that CBD isn't good for her!

She often suffers from a little anxiety (especially if we are going on car rides.) I tested this out when running errands on two different occasions and she had ZERO panting (what she usually does) and was calm and happy as can be!

If you are a skeptic .. just google "CBD and Pets" and you will see NUMEROUS heart wrenching stories from people who had dogs and cats with a wide range of health issues (including cancer) who claim their pet was much better (and some people even claim "cured") by using CBD!

CBD is natural and it has literally SAVED ME! So, as long as I TRUST THE SOURCE, then there is no reason NOT to give it to EVERY member of my family!

Key words there ... TRUST THE SOURCE. I've preached this time after time but the hemp industry is NOT regulated. With it's sudden popularity there are probably more BOGUS companies out there than LEGIT ones. If you don't choose to use the companies that I suggest below .. please do your own research. I give some tips on how to do that in THIS blog. 

For now .. this is the only hemp based that I will recommend for my fur family. I know there are
A LOT more .. but if it's not broke?! Right?! haha! You can also check at your VET OFFICE. I've seen MANY carrying CBD products and I would trust that if THEY trust the brand you probably can too!

Urbal Activ 

There is a Urbal Activ code that gets you 10% off EVERY SINGLE ORDER (not just your 1st order). It is CBD10 .. so use it at check out each time and save money!

As always .... feel free to EMAIL ME or comment here on this post with any questions. I'm happy to help you or if I can't .. I'm happy to point you to someone that can!

** I am not a doctor. I am not an expert. I am not licensed. All information in this blog is based on my PERSONAL opinion and PERSONAL experience using CBD. I am not responsible for anything you all choose to do when it comes to THC, CBD, etc.**

**Some products and links may be AFFILIATE links. Meaning I may or may not recieve commission or product as part of a sponsorship or affiliation with the company. But please know that any product I post about I use 
and stand by.**