Say Hello to the Morning with Cabbage

I was cutting my cabbage for one of my morning drink recipes and looked down and saw a heart, see it?!.  I thought, hmmmm.....how fitting for a Valentine's Day post :)

Day 23: Say Hello to the Morning with Cabbage

Did you know that cabbage offers a multitude of health benefits?  For those of you that have followed my posts know that I believe food can be used as a healing power to cure our body.  I am a big believer in anti-inflammatory foods to help keep my Hidradenitis Suppurativa in remission, as well as, focusing on foods high in antioxidants.  Well you guessed it, cabbage is both!

Research suggests that inflammation in our body can wreak havoc on our immune system leading to many autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease.  Additionally, more and more research is suggesting that chronic inflammation leads to Hidradenitis Suppurativa. So, here is why I eat cabbage.

Cabbage: As mentioned above, cabbage is very rich in antioxidants.  It contains a large amount of vitamin C and vitamin K.  Vitamin K has been shown to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease as well as the risk of getting diabetes. Not to mention, numerous research studies have found cabbage to be one of the top cancer prevention vegetables.  Cabbage also contains polyphenols which provide anti-inflammatory properties.  Other studies have suggested that consuming cabbage can help heal your digestive tract (leaky gut) and promotes healthy kidney function.  Consuming cabbage can also be a natural detox removing toxins from the body.  Cabbage is also a great food source for a healthy complexion and has been shown to increase energy levels.  

I have an amazing friend that bought me a NutriBullet.  I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this thing.  What a great way to incorporate your fruits and vegetables in your daily routine.  Here is what I made for my cabbage drink.

Ingredients

1 cup of chopped cabbage (or enough to fill 1/2 NutriBullet)

1/2 red apple

1 lemon

1 tbsp. ginger 

• Blend until smooth and enjoy :)

There are different types of cabbage such as red, green and Savoy so eat your cabbage in a variety.  

Start My Morning Off Right!

How do I start my morning off right?  Enjoying some fresh brewed coffee at a local diner!

Start My Morning Off Right!

When I was first diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, I avoided coffee for more than 6 months with the fear that it would cause a flare-up!  Mind you, I used to add cream and sweetener which I completely avoid now.  After reaching out to some other HS suffers that drink coffee daily, I thought I would give it a whirl.  Knowing that creams and sweeteners could be detrimental to my HS, I started drinking my coffee black.  It took me a little getting used to (acquired taste), but now I can't live without my morning coffee.

My only advice would be to avoid too much coffee.  In general, caffeine dehydrates the skin which can lead to flare-ups.  Coffee has been known to be a trigger for some HS sufferers so make sure you know your body and be aware of your triggers.  If coffee is not a trigger for you, drink up!  More and more research suggests that there are several health benefits of coffee including being a powerful antioxidant which has been said to serve as a preventative for many diseases.

Lazy Day with Dandelion Green Tea

As a Hidradenitis Suppurativa sufferer, I understand the frustrations that come with trying to find the true 'causes' of this disease.  If you have been following my blog, you have read about tips and tricks that have worked for me.  I can happily say that January 2015 will be 2 years for me, flare-up free!


Changing my diet has been a major result of this!  However, I know that there have been many other triggers known to cause flare-ups, such as stress.  I have found a lot of ways to de-stress and add joy to my life.  For 2015, I thought I would be more diligent about sharing the foods I eat, ways I choose to de-stress and other things that I believe have helped me with my Hidradenitis Suppurativa!  Ultimately, it is about improving our quality of life and this is my attempt to spread a little joy and work towards Hidradenitis Suppurativa healing!

So here's to 2015!

Lazy Day with Dandelion Green Tea

My New Year was brought in celebrating with some great friends. We all were up late and enjoyed a few cocktails so today has been a very lazy day.  I am enjoying the beauty of the Colorado snow and relaxing with some Dandelion Green Tea to help my body detoxify.  If you have not heard of using dandelion's (yes, the flower) for tea, you will be amazed at the health benefits.  

Dandelion Tea: Dandelion tea is a powerful antioxidant containing vitamins A, C and D.  Dandelion tea is also an anti-inflammatory which is beneficial in disease treatment and prevention.  It can also be used as a detoxifying agent for the liver and promote liver health.  Dandelion Tea can also be used to help regulate blood sugar levels.  

Favorite Drinks

I was never a big soda drinker so finding things to drink that would be "okay" for my Hidradenitis Suppurativa did not seem too challenging.  However, I thought it may be helpful to list my favorite drinks.

#1.  Water!  I drink a lot of water.  I believe it is very important to stay hydrated.  Some HS sufferers actually notice a correlation between dehydration and flare-ups.  We have all heard that water helps get rid of toxins in our body so drink up.

#2.  Chia Water!  I have fallen in love with Chia water.  Let me explain why.  Chia seeds have so many health benefits.  Chia seeds are loaded with Omega-3 fatty acids.  Omega-3 fatty acids act as an anti-inflammatory and may help reduce the risk of several diseases.  Chia seeds are also a great source of protein and help stabilize blood glucose levels.  They are rich in antioxidants that help protect our bodies from free radicals.  Chia seed water is an excellent cleansing, detox drink.

Ingredients
1 tsp. Chia Seeds
Juice of 1 lemon or lime
Water

• Mix together juice of lemon or lime, chia seeds and water.  Let sit for at least 10 minutes to allow the chia seeds to create a gelatinous effect.  

#3. Green Tea!  Green tea is a very powerful antioxidant which has so many health benefits.  One of the most potent compounds of green tea is something called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG).  Studies suggest EGCG may have potential benefits to skin health.  Research has also proven that the polyphenols in green tea fight against harmful bacteria that have been found in Hidradenitis Suppurativa flare-ups.  

***When I was first diagnosed with HS I was drinking a TON of green tea.  I started getting really bad headaches.  Sometimes you learn the hard way!  I was drinking way too much caffeine.  Now I drink a green tea (with caffeine) in the morning.  When I drink additional cups of green tea, I make sure they are decaffeinated.  

#4.  Red Wine!  Yes, I do indulge.  Okay, lets use caution here.  Remember, it is important to stay hydrated!  Studies have shown that in moderation inflammatory molecules have been lowered with the consumption of red wine.  Red wine contains antioxidants due to the polyphenols from grapes; however, you can get the same antioxidant effects from eating blueberries.  So, please do not start drinking red wine if this is not something you currently enjoy.  I should also caution that alcohol seems to be a "trigger" for some HS sufferers.  

#5.  Coffee!  I drink coffee every single morning, black.  Good or bad, I do make sure to drink plenty of water throughout my day to rehydrate.  Coffee is another drink that is loaded with antioxidants.  Believe it or not there are nutrients in coffee such as riboflavin, manganese, and magnesium.  Once again, I am not promoting coffee!  I am simply letting you know that I drink coffee daily, but keep my body hydrated and it has not posed a problem for my Hidradenitis Suppurativa.  

Parsley Tea

As promised, along with changing my diet, I have found several things that help with the HS healing process and help prevent future flare-ups.  Did you know that parsley is not just a garnish?  Parsley tea has been recommended for several conditions.  I live by it.  I drink parsley tea at least once a week, sometimes more depending on my mood.  If you currently have a flare-up, start drinking parsley tea every single day until the flare-up is gone.  Why?  Let me explain!

There are so many health benefits to parsley, but more important for HS sufferers is parsley has anti-inflammatory properties.  Parsley contains natural chemicals called phytonutrients, specifically flavonoids, which help prevent unnecessary inflammation throughout the body.  The oil in parsley has been known to decrease swelling and pain.  Parsley also contains histidine, an amino acid which helps with wound healing and helps repair tissue damage.  Parsley is also high in mineral content such as magnesium and zinc.  Magnesium is a common mineral that is lacking in our bodies.  A diet deficient in magnesium can cause inflammation.  Zinc has many anti-inflammatory benefits such has helping remove substances that cause inflammation in the cells.  Parsley is also high in vitamin C which boosts the immune system.  A strong immune system helps fight inflammatory disorders.  There are many more benefits, but I think you get the point!

Ingredients
Approximately 1 cup parsley, chopped
Water

• Heat water in tea pot.  Chop parsley and add to French Press JCPenney.com Click on the link to purchase a French Press.  Once water is heated, add to the French Press.  Let steep for approximately 20 minutes.   

I love using a chopper/scraper to chop my parsley.  You can purchase the one below by clicking on the picture.  Are you in need of new measuring cups?  You can also purchase these measuring cups to measure out your parsley.

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