08.29.2016

Delicious Peppermint Smoothie

Peppermint is one of my favorite flavors!  I have fond memories of indulging in York peppermint patties, Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies, and those Christmas peppermint nougat candies … and, errr, not being able to stop myself from eating more and more and more.

Obviously those aren’t the most healthy food options out there …

BUT, what if you could combine this wonderful peppermint flavor with healthy eating?!!

Introducing: The Magnificent Peppermint Smoothie!IMG_3121

 

Last week I wrote about all the amazing benefits of the superfood kale.  (Click here to read.)  In this article I detail how the nutrients in kale will work for your body to fight against things like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and eye-sight failure, and a myriad of other health conditions.  Today, I want to show you one of the many ways that my family has chosen to incorporate this awesome vegetable into our lives.  Let me share with you our peppermint smoothie!

Ingredients:IMG_2144

  • 1 cup coconut milk (I like full-fat coconut milk because it gives a thickness that resembles ice cream!  Mmmm)
  • 1 Tbsp honey (or more to reach desired sweetness)
  • 1-2 handfuls of kale
  • 30 peppermint leaves or 1-2 drops of Peppermint essential oil
  • Dark chocolate (or carob), chopped or shaved into small piecesIMG_3303
  • A dash or two of salt
  • about 10 ice cubes

 

 

 

 

Directions: 

I love using the Nutri Ninja individual cup for quick and easy blending and cleanup!  (Get yours here.)  You could always use a regular blender as well, but you may want to double the peppermint smoothie recipe to fill the blender a bit higher.

  1. Toss all of your ingredients, except the ice, into the cup and blend for about 10-12 seconds.  This should be enough to incorporate all the ingredients together.
  2. Add in the ice cubes and blend again.  This addition will make the shake nice and thick and ice-creamy!  (You don’t want to add the ice cubes right away, because it can cause the honey to solidify into one big glob, and not distribute the sweetness evenly)IMG_2145
  3. Stir in chocolate pieces or sprinkle on top.
  4. Enjoy this delicious smoothie while delighting in the fact that you’re feeding your body such nutritious food!IMG_3141

 

**Anne Warren is a wife & mother who loves blogging about healthy food (inside & out)!  She has had her own health struggles throughout the years, yet she is thankful that it has brought her to a place of better health.  He health struggles have helped her gain an understanding that the things she puts into her body – both physically and spiritually – will indeed have a huge effect on her overall energy and wellbeing.  She shares with you here today because encouraging others is a great passion!IMG_7579

If you are interested in getting more of her recipes, please check out her blog at www.foodthatsatisfies.com.

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08.22.2016

Kale: Its Amazing Benefits & Why You Should Eat It!

Hi GUTSY readers, I am Anne Warren from Food That Satisfies.  One of my greatest life passions is learning about health and implementing it into my family’s daily life.  This, coupled with a desire to encourage & inspire others, has sparked my excitement for blogging about my journey!  My blog is just a couple months old, but it’s growing fast, and I’m so happy to be able to share with you here today!  Feel free to read my story and then learn all about the benefits of eating kale!

My Story

My own struggles with chronic fatigue, chemical sensitivities, and food allergies led me down a path of whole food eating and natural remedies, for which I am so blessed!  The process, however, also meant that I spent a couple years of my life in the kitchen, during whichIMG_7579 I neglected some of the relationships that I hold dear.  I realized that while I needed quality food for health, I also didn’t want it to rule my life.  Thus, as a wife, mother, daughter and friend, it is so valuable to me to find balance within the context of healthy living.  I want to help you gain health so that you can live out your dreams … not sacrifice them in the process.  It is my hope that my blog posts will reflect that!  If you’re interested in hearing my story, read more about it here.

I am so grateful to Caroline for giving me the opportunity to post here on GUTSY.  We have been friends for a number of years, originally connecting over real food and natural health solutions.  I will be posting on GUTSY periodically during the upcoming months and hope to connect with you during that time.  If you enjoy what you read here, please join me for additional posts at www.FoodThatSatisfies.com!



 

Top 5 Benefits of Eating Kale

If I told you that kale is good for you and you should eat it more often, you’d probably respond with, “Yeah, I know”, and then go on living your normal kale-meager life without a second thought.

BUT … if you really understood just how nutritious and health-promoting kale is, you’d be banging down your grocery store doors trying to get as much of this cruciferous vegetable as you could possibly get your hands on!

So, let me share with you the top 5 reasons that you want to be eating this terrific food!

IMG_8620

1. GLUTATHIONE, GLUTATHIONE, GLUTATHIONE

Glutathione is quite possibly the most important antioxidant in your body.  This substance is found in every single cell of your body, and its overarching purpose is to protect your cells from things that might seek to damage them.  Thus, glutathione fights against free radicals & toxins that might be introduced to your body from chemicals, radiation, or other environmental pollution.

If it’s inflammation you’re trying to soothe, glutathione is one of the very best things you can be putting into your body!  It is terrific for helping both your liver and individual cells detoxify and bring down inflammation.

Due to it’s protective nature, glutathione is considered to be an amazing component both for preventing cancer and helping cancer patients as they undergo treatment.  It is also one of the best preventative methods that a person can take to guard against neurodegenerative diseases such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

Needless to say, getting glutathione should be top priority for anyone who wants to stay healthy and optimally functioning!

“So, how does one get more glutathione?” you may ask.

Surprise, surprise: KALE!  The sulphur-rich amino acids found in most cruciferous vegetables naturally boost glutathione levels in a person’s body.  Thus, you can increase your cellular glutathione by eating any cruciferous vegetable: broccoli, cabbage, or brussel sprouts … however, just wait until you hear about the other great health benefits that kale has packed into it!

2. Amazing Protection for your Eye Sight

In addition to glutathione, kale is chalk-full of other anti-oxidants.  A few of the standouts when it comes to vision and eye health are lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene.  These compounds are called carotenoids, and they are very important to helping maintain a person’s sight.  They protect the body against oxidative stress (caused by a variety of free radicals) and are important in maintaining the delicate eye tissue.

According to brightfocus.org, “As many as 11 million people in the United States have some form of age-related macular degeneration.  This number is expected to double to nearly 22 million by 2050.”  In our western culture, eye problems are becoming more and more common.  Could it be that we have pushed some of these healthy vegetables to the sidelines, causing more issues than we realize?

The carotenoids in kale are highly protective against degenerative eye disease such as macular degeneration, as well as cataracts.  There is officially no “cure” for advanced macular degeneration; however, there are mountains of evidence showing us that we can completely prevent the problem in the first place by putting quality nutrients into our bodies.  Studies show that the levels of lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene in a person’s blood all go up when kale is ingested.IMG_1993

**A key thing to note: All of these antioxidants are fat-soluble, meaning your body needs good fats in order to best process them.  Thus, you will want to be sure to eat your kale with some sort of fat to get the full benefits of these antioxidants.  This usually isn’t too much of a problem since cooked kale is often served with butter or olive oil, and raw kale can be dressed with a vinaigrette in salad, used with coconut milk in a smoothie, or crisped with a little olive oil as a chip.

3. It’s a Major Cancer-Fighter!

As we discussed at the beginning, glutathione is an antioxidant that is super protective against cancer-causing free radicals.  It reduces inflammation, promotes healthy detoxification (which gets rid of toxins and cancerous growths) and counters the effects of things such as free radicals.

In addition to glutathione, kale contains compounds known as indoles.  Indoles are a class of phytochemicals that have been shown to greatly reduce estrogenic activity.  A majority of cancerous tumors are estrogenic in nature, meaning that extra estrogen in a person’s body will greatly accelerate a tumor’s growth.  Estrogen causes cells to grow, and not being able to efficiently detoxify estrogen provides what is necessary for tumors to grow … and grow … and grow.

Estrogen dominance is a huge problem for females.  It is extremely common in the United States to find women who have a much higher ratio of estrogen to progesterone.   Unfortunately, in our society, hormones are thrown around right and left, without much regard for the delicate balance that needs to be maintained between the great complexity of hormones in a body.  Our bodies are also stressed with high amounts of chemicals, which eventually overloads our detoxification systems.  These are just a couple of the many things that leads to the epidemic of cancers that we are seeing today.

Fortunately, we have a food that specifically targets both the estrogen and the detoxification system! Indoles work by detoxifying (getting rid of) estrogen, so that it isn’t sitting around creating tumors in your body.  It enables your body to do the job it was intended to do – keeping the good and getting rid of the bad!  Just like glutathione, indoles are found in most cruciferous vegetables, so please, PLEASE make these a part of your regular diet!

4. Vitamin K – It Prevents Osteoporosis, Atherosclerosis, and Type II Diabetes
  • Osteoporosis : Decreasing of bone mass throughout your body; it makes a person easily prone to fractures
  • Atherosclerosis:  The build-up of plaque on artery walls, leading to strokes, heart attacks, or peripheral vascular disease
  • Type II Diabetes:  Insulin resistance that, over time, can damage the eyes, kidneys, nerves and/or heart.

The three conditions listed above are some of the most common health issues experienced in our society today.  Millions of people are on expensive medications designed to combat symptoms of these diseases, yet there are so many terrible side effects of the drugs, that it leaves most people sicker than when they started.   Wouldn’t it be great to have something that fight to prevent these conditions, while at the same time improving your overall health?!!

Hmmmm …. let’s see.  What might have the capability of doing something like that?

Yep, you guessed it.  The one and only kale!

The high amounts of Vitamin K that are found within kale help activate a protein (osteocalcin), which binds with bone minerals to build strong, lasting bones, thus preventing osteoporosis.  In addition, the Vitamin K in kale prevents build up and calcification of arteries, preventing cardiovascular disease and everything associated with it.  Finally, studies show that Vitamin K both prevents and reduces the effects of Type II Diabetes.

“Killing three birds with one stone” … or shall I say “Knocking out three diseases with one superfood!”IMG_1493

5. High in Many Other Vitamins & Minerals: Calcium, Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin A

On the heels of Vitamin K, let’s delve into the benefits of calcium that you receive from eating kale.  One of the major problems in osteoporosis is that a person lays down bone without the proper mineral content, leaving bones brittle and weak.  Both Vitamin K & Calcium are huge players in this process.  A majority of the calcium in your body goes toward building bones & teeth, but if there isn’t enough calcium available to your body, your body steals calcium from your bones to use for other vital functions such as blood clotting, nerve function, cell signaling, and activation of enzyme reactions.  Getting a significant amount of calcium that your body can readily absorb is very important in avoiding osteoporosis!

Additionally, iron anemia is something that many women struggle with.  The iron in kale, while certainly not the highest of all vegetables, is also nothing to sneeze about.  It is important that a person consume Vitamin C at the same time as iron, because it significantly increases the body’s absorption of the iron.  Fortunately for us, kale contains high levels of Vitamin C!

The Vitamins A & C, which are also found in kale, are extremely beneficial to a person.  1 cup of cooked kale contains 98% of a person’s recommended daily value(DV) of Vitamin A and 71% of the recommended DV of Vitamin C.  It’s truly amazing how many great nutrients are packed into kale.  In addition to all of these, it is a good source of manganese, copper, Vitamin B6, fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B2, Magnesium and Omega-3 (ALA) fats!

Eat MORE Kale!

In conclusion, kale is a wonderful source of antioxidants & vitamins.  These vital nutrients are protectors in the body, enabling it to fight against things such as cancer, neurodegenerative & cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.  While there might be future research yet to come showing even greater benefits, it is pretty evident at this point that we can’t go wrong adding kale to our diets!  Please check back here in the days to come as we delve into some wonderful kale recipes!  If you are interested in learning more about kale and all its benefits, please check out one of the resources below:

World's Healthiest Foods image                  Kale complete guide book

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**As a side note, some people have troubles digesting kale due to the higher insoluble fiber content.  This often occurs if a person has SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth).  If kale seems to give you problems, this is a great indicator to you that you need to rebalance your gut flora.  Let this serve as a clue to attaining better health!

 

 

 

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10.11.2014

Cavitations: chronic illness that stems from the jaw

Hi everyone! Today I want to share with you a story from my good friend Nicole. She found my blog a while back and learned about cavitations just as I was discovering this issue for myself. She actually went ahead and treated them with a special ozone treatment.  Her story is amazing and I’m lucky to call her my friend. I think Nicole would agree that experiences like this need to be shared, and I’m so grateful she agreed to share her journey with you.

* Update: Nicole has decided to explore treating the “root” of cavitations – Mercury and bacteria. There are several avenues to do this and Ill explain more in my next post about Mercury!)

My wisdom teeth removal nightmare

Practically everyone knows about wisdom teeth extractions, but many are unaware of the complications that can arise after having this “supposedly” routine surgery…

Hi, my name is Nicole and I would like to share the story about my health journey.

I was put under anesthesia to have all four of my wisdom teeth removed by an oral surgeon, and   I awoke pretty strong but very pale. Sometime after the extractions, I began to have extreme chronic pain (mostly focused on my left side, beginning with my left jaw) throughout my entire body. I could barely move without experiencing some shooting pain dancing around inside me. Then there was the brain fog.  If I met a new person one day, I would forget them the next. Yes, it was pretty bad (sorry to everyone, at that time, who was always a “new friend”).

 

Mysterious health issues

However, that wasn’t the worst of it.  I also became extremely fatigued to a point where I was literally a “couch potato.” My sister would trim my nails for me because I was too weak to lift my arm. I actually felt like I was going to collapse at any moment. The MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) intensified even more after my surgery.  I couldn’t be near anyone with perfume because my throat would tighten up and my breathing would become laborious.  The chemicals and smells would also create headaches and more fatigue. My hair was thinning out dramatically (time to cut it short for the new growth I have).

There was also a strange thing that happened…the tendons in my neck disappeared!  I woke up one morning to notice that I could barely breathe through my throat, and I could clearly see the indentation in my neck where the tendons should have been.  Doctors were, once again, baffled when I told them, but, personally, I think this was caused from the bad bacteria trying to overtake my weakened body.

 

Puzzling Doctors

Oh no!  For the frosting on the cupcake (that I cannot eat), I additionally gained MANY food allergies.  Not cool. Doctors were puzzled at my condition and misdiagnosed me numerous times which caused me to take several  harmful medications.   I couldn’t help but wonder about the main cause of the symptoms I was having…

It all started with the wisdom teeth extractions, and I knew deep down inside that there had to be some connection between the two.

After many hours of research, I changed my diet to grass-fed meats and organic fruits and veggies. This diet change took away the pain in my body, made the tendons in my neck return, and helped me with my major forgetfulness.  What was I just talking about???  Ha.  I’m just kidding around.  My mind is finally starting to become as sharp as a ninja’s sword. 😉

cavitations

The cavitation connection

I came to Caroline’s website one day and realized that she had the same symptoms as me! 😀
Through her,  I discovered the infamous word called cavitations (infection of the jaw), and God has blessed me with a new pathway to healing and, most importantly, He has blessed me with  a new friend.

What created all this awesomeness that you see above? Cue dramatic theme music….CAVITATIONS

 

Cavitations explained

A cavitation is an unhealed hole in the jawbone caused by an extracted tooth [or a root canal or an injury to a tooth]. Since wisdom teeth are the most commonly extracted teeth, most cavitations are found in the wisdom tooth sites. The tooth is attached to the jawbone by a periodontal ligament which is comprised of “jillions” of microscopic fibers. One end of each fiber is attached to the jawbone and the other end of the fiber is attached to the tooth root. When a tooth is extracted, the fibers break midway between the root and the bone. This leaves the socket (the area where the root was anchored in the bone) coated with periodontal ligament fibers.

 

Extractions

Extractions have to be done well. Normally they pull a tooth out, stick a piece of gauze in there and say bite on it. After the tooth is removed, the socket has to be completely cleaned so that complete healing can occur. If tissue such as torn pieces of ligaments or periosteum is left in the socket and covers the bone, the bone will tend to heal over the top, leaving a hole in the bone, and new bone cannot form. This hole can persist for the rest of the patient’s life. It is a chronic infection that is called an alveolar cavitational osteopathosis or cavitation. This means that there is an infected cavity in the bone. These bone infections are only now being seriously researched. If they are fairly easy to prevent by proper socket cleaning, why is this not being done? But many if not most dentists have never heard of cavitations.

(Source: http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=897428)

aaozone

Ozone Treatment

I had my cavitations treated with the combination of Ozone therapy and UBI treatment.

“Ozone is a powerhouse element that effectively stabilizes the healthy cells that exist in the body and simultaneously destroy weak, deformed, or sick cells. These cells have no place in the body, and include organisms such as bacteria and fungi, as well as viruses. Ozone is a natural product of sunlight, and is produced by lightning. This natural element can also be made when high currents of electricity are pulsed through medical grade oxygen. The two elements are quite closely related, actually, with oxygen being O2, and ozone being O3. It is impossible to be allergic to oxygen and/or ozone.”

(Source:http://www.holisticdentistcare.com/ozone+ubi-therapy/)

 

What is UBI?

UBI/UVBI (Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation) UVBI Ultraviolet Therapy has many similar effects to Ozone Therapy. UVBI Therapy is a medical therapy where the blood is exposed to Ultraviolet UVC light as it is removed from the patient’s body, and then reintroduced to the patient’s body. Some of its effects are:

  • Inactivation of toxins
  • Destruction and inhibition of growth of bacteria
  • Increase in the oxygen combing power of blood and oxygen transportation to organs
  • Activation of white blood cells
  • Immunostimulation of cellular and humoral immunity
  • Anti-inflammatory effects
  • Increased tolerance of the body to chemotherapy and radiation
  • Decreased viscosity of blood
  • Cardiovascular protection
  • Powerful anti-infection properties
  • Improved microcirculation
  • Decreased platelet aggregation

See more at: http://drkalidas.com/pathways/ultraviolet.html#sthash.fdxXgG1m.dpuf

 

Here is my [Nicole’s] experience with the Ozone and UBI treatment from a holistic dentist

For the past three months, I have been traveling to La Jolla to see a holistic dentist who specializes in treating cavitations. I would have blood taken from my arm and put in an IV bag (that contained saline). Then the ozone would be injected into the blood/saline mixture. You could see how my blood would begin to change colors, from a dark-sticky mess into a lighter and healthier version of blood.
This beautiful blood would then travel through the little IV tube into the UBI machine where it was cleansed to an even healthier degree as it returned back into my body.
The doctor would then take some of the “cleansed blood” and inject it straight into my jawbone (where all four of my cavitation sites were). Yes, all four of the wisdom teeth extraction spots in my jaw were spongy and full of infection.

 

PROGRESS:

I was sick and fatigued the first month after treatment, but then it has been “uphill” ever since!
My food allergies are now dwindling, I have MORE energy than ever before, my hair is growing back, and my MCS is improving!  Praise the Lord!

Nicole also had a blood culture taken from her jaw too see if the bacteria count was down after the UBI. She got the results back and it seems as if the bacteria count was still high (which is unusual). Her Dr. would like to take another extensive blood panel to see what is going on. I will keep you all updated when I hear back from Nicole and her doctor.

 

Nicole’s Resources:

Below are websites that have info about cavitation of the jaws (looks like I’m not the only research lover!):
http://www.thenaturalrecoveryplan.com/articles/Dental-Cavitations.html

http://www.westonaprice.org/dentistry/dental-cavitation-surgery

http://www.greenhousehealth.com/treatments/intravenous/ozone/

 

Caroline’s thoughts

So as you can see….compared to my experience (you can read about it here) Nicole was able to finish up her treatments and  actually benefit from the ozone. After talking some more to Nicole, my severe reactions to the pure ozone may have been because it was too strong. My holistic dentist did not offer UBI so I don’t know how I would actually do with that treatment. I have several thoughts about cavitations myself after doing extensive research.

 

 

Tooth body connection

Ever since I picked up this book from my holistic dentist’s, I have been fascinated ever since.

……………………………….Screen Shot 2013-11-11 at 3.54.50 AM

Tooth/body chart (printable)–> click here

Interactive tooth-body chart! (really cool!) –> click here

Many people have “Ah-ha” moments after finding out that their tooth is related to a organ that is weak or congested.

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What is a cavitation?

Before I tell you my story I want you to understand a bit more about the cavitations themselves.

A cavitation is a hole in the bone, usually where a tooth has been removed, and the bone has not filled in properly. It is an area of osteonecrosis (dead bone). When a tooth is extracted, in a normal dental procedure, the surrounding periodontal membrane is usually left behind. Theoretically, after a tooth has been pulled, the body eventually fills in the space in the bone where the tooth once was. But when the membrane is left behind, an incomplete healing can take place; a hole or a spongy place remains inside the jaw bone. Experts speculate that this incomplete healing occurs because the bone cells on both sides of the extraction site sense the presence of the periodontal membrane and “think” that the tooth is still there.

-Whole Body Dentistry

My first thought when I started to learn about cavitations was that I had a HUGE hole in my jaw. Im not really sure it is that big, but its big enough to create problems in my body. I have learned over the years that small problems can create big ones regarding your health. I like how Dr. Wilson explains how this little hole can spread into a diseased process.

Cavitations are pockets of debris and infection left behind after tooth extractions, or from other dental procedures.  They become foci of infection, similar to infected root canals.  Bacteria or bacterial toxins move from the cavitation area into the blood stream, where they can easily cause damage to many organs and tissues.

-Dr. Lawrence Wilson

 

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Do you have a cavitaiton? 

You are probably asking yourself… “I got my wisdom teeth out.. so do I have cavitations?”

“Chronic illness CAN stem from the Jaw!”

If your ligament was not removed by a trained dentist or oral surgeon, there is a chance! From my research it seems like those who develop cavitations are those who have had mercury fillings, weak immune systems, or other heavy metal toxicities because their body could not restore that area properly and the bacteria become unbalanced and the bad ones take over and over grow. The symptom list for cavitations is huge! Because every tooth is connected to an organ so basically anything is possible. I’ll list some common symptoms:

-facial pain

-jaw swelling

-digestive problems

-chronic infections

-heart palpitations

-teeth grinding

-inflammation

-arm or back pain

-pinched nerves

-sinus problems

-spacey or “fast” brain

 

BUT, if I have to narrow it down to just wisdom teeth, here are the organs related to each wisdom tooth.

tooth #16 (left top)

-Heart
-Duodenum/Jejunum/Ileum (intestines)
-pituitary (endocrine gland)
-central nervous system
-limbic system ( emotion & natural instinct part of brain)
-internal ear
-tongue
-Muscles (trapezius)

tooth #17 (left bottom)

-Heart
-Duodenum/Jejunum (small intestine)
-Joints (Ulnar side of shoulder), hand, elbow, plantar side of foot and toes, sacra-iliac (near bottom of spine)
-peripheral nerves
-energy exchange
-middle exterior ear
-tongue
-muscles (trunk, lower and upper extremities)

tooth #1 (right top)

-Heart
-Duodenum
-Joints (Ulnar side of shoulder), hand, elbow, plantar side of foot and toes, sacra-iliac (near bottom of spine)
-pituitary
-central nervous system
-limbic system
-internal ear
-tongue
-Muscles (trapezius, trunk, lower and upper extremities)
-maxillary sinuses

tooth #32 (right bottom)

-Heart
-Terminal Ileum, Duodenum (small intestine)
-Joints (Ulnar side of shoulder), hand, elbow, plantar side of foot and toes, sacra-iliac (near bottom of spine)
-peripheral nerves
-energy exchange
-middle exterior ear
-tongue
-Muscles (Psoas, trunk, lower and upper extremities)

Please refer to this chart for a visual of teeth-body connection 

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Left Behind…

The extraction process that most dentists have learned to do is not ideal for healing of the bone. Read below to understand the “anatomy” of removing the tooth.

Every tooth is connected to its surrounding bone by the periodontal ligament. The tooth receives its nourishment through this ligament. When a tooth is knocked-out (or pulled), this ligament is stretched and splits in half; half stays on the tooth root and half stays on the socket wall.

Wikipedia

I like the analogy Dr. Huggins gives. He is one of the best holistic dentists and shares a lot of his research to educate the public on mercury fillings, dental alternatives, cavitations, etc.

When a woman delivers a baby, she must also deliver the afterbirth. When a tooth is delivered, there is an equivalent of the afterbirth. It is called the periodontal ligament.

Dr. Huggins

Like the above passages state, the ligament is simply left in the bone. Instead of the bone filling in the hole with healthy bone cells, the bone where the tooth was extracted starts to get spongy. I have read stories where the dentists go in to preform the cavitation surgery and find that the cavitation spot is “mushy” and the bone can easily scraped out until a hole is visible (source).

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Diagnosing cavitations

Apparently my holistic dentist could see in my x-ray that I had 5 cavitations when I went in for my first appointment. I have gotten almost a x-ray every  year at the regular dentist and after my wisdom teeth surgery and neither my conventional dentist nor oral surgeon could see or acknowledge these “shadows”. I don’t blame them however because they never learned to even look for cavitations in the first place. Some dentists have no idea what they even are.

I could see a small shadow in the sockets where my wisdom tooth used to be. He pointed to a 5th site on my x-ray. It was the tooth I had pulled when I had my cap taken off at age 16. This tooth (#20) was starting to get infected because it never fell out (I was born without an adult tooth underneath it). It was simply extracted  (like all teeth are) by my regular dentist at age 16.

I have to back up a little bit. Before this appointment with my holistic dentist (I had not always gone to a holistic dentist), I had traveled all the way to St. Louis to see Dr Yu. If you are curious as to why I did and the details read this. I had read his book Accidental Cure which explains how the body is uniquely and intricately intertwined. A complex health issue needs to be looked at from various angles (like in this case allergies and cavitations in the teeth). I had never thought that my health issues could stem form my teeth or jaw bone.

……………………………………..Screen Shot 2013-11-11 at 4.03.15 AM……………..

No doctor in my area knew exactly what was wrong with me and why my health was quickly going downhill despite all my efforts and alternative therapies. Dr. Yu did EDS (electaldermal screening) which can be explained more in depth here. I like to think of it as electronically measuring the meridians “chi” and organ health. It can also be used to detect infections, parasites, and blockages in the body. By simultaneously  touching my tooth socket and measuring my meridians though my fingers and toes, Dr. Yu discovered I had at least 2 cavitations. He told be to check with my holistic dentist to confirm his discovery. Now, Dr. Yu recommends surgery for all his patients, but I will get into the options for “treating” cavitations below.

aasae

What to do now?

That brings up a very debatable topic in the “cavitation world”. What do you do next after you find out you have a cavitation? There a a few options and I think YOU have to look into this topic more if you are thinking your cavitations need some work. Feel free to click on any of the websites I link to  (I used many of these sites to help inform myself on my situation).

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Surgery 

You know my opinion on surgery…it’s the last resort. There is a place for everything though, and your situation may require a more immediate treatment like surgery. It”s something you can talk to your holistic dentist about (which you can find the closest one to you here), but in the end it is your decision. (Remember my natural Dr. suggested surgery and I did my research and was comfortable with the decision not to do it and try other things). I’ll give you a bunch of links I found very helpful. Since I did not go this route, I can’t give you my personal experience, so please read about others!

http://www.westonaprice.org/dentistry/dental-cavitation-surgery

http://www.lovingourguts.com/cavitations-and-my-dental-health/

http://www.lovingourguts.com/update-from-13-days-post-cavitation-surgery/

http://www.lovingourguts.com/cavitation-surgery-my-experience/

http://curezone.com/forums/am.asp?i=1484604

http://www.hugginsappliedhealing.com/dental-dangers.php

 

-Repete surgery- 

Because of the virulence of the disease process in the cavitation area, it may be necessary to repeat surgery to completely heal the lesion. –Groton Wellness clinic

Because of this chance of repeat surgery (especially for those with a low immune system and change for re-infection) I decided to opt out of the surgery. Also it is advised you don’t travel very far after the surgery and stay very close by to the dentists or surgeons office. There was no one close by and my multiple chemical sensitivities made it too hard to find a safe hotel.

 

Ozone / UBI

My experience with Ozone was much Different then Nicole’s. Why? Because our bodies are different and no person is the same. Ozone actually is the smell after a fresh rain fall. Its invigoration and natures “cleanser”. But It can be powerful when directly injected into the body. Ozone’s formula is O3 (3 oxygens). Just for a comparison, food grade hydrogen peroxide like this stuff is actually H202 – 2 hydrogens and 2 oxygens (extra oxygen molecule!). Oxygen is a great antimicrobial and ozone can detox bacteria at a rapid rate. For me it was too much but it for a majority of people, its a reasonable option. Ozone is a great alternatives to treat cavities as well! If you want to learn more about ozone, I would suggest you do some research. Ill get you started with a few links!

*Just remember ever author has their own option, and it all really boils down to your situation!

http://www.biologicaldentist.com/1893/supporting-healing-with-dental-ozone/

http://naturaldentistry.us/1672/ozone-therapy-as-treatment-in-dentistry/

http://www.healingteethnaturally.com/dental-cavitation-infections.html

 

Nicole talks about UBI above! 

 

My experience with ozone can be read in my Healing update 7 post.

aahlistic

 

Can cavitations heal themselves?

And finally we reach the big question; Can cavitations heal themselves? When I first discovered my cavitaitons I went on a research binge (researching for days-and-days). I thought I was left with 2 options, surgery or ozone. At first I was positive that surgery was the option. I had read too many sites and natural dentists saying that ozone is only a temporary fix for cavitations. When I tell you I thought hard about it….I truly thought and prayed HARD. Going into my holistic dentists office I was still sure surgery was the option. After talking to my well educated and experienced dentist, my mind was changed. There was NO way surgery was in the future. Read about my thought process in my health story here.

I was kind of relieved to hear that surgery was not going to happen. #1 I could not settle on any one holistic oral surgeon to preform the surgery. The holistic oral surgeons are pretty limited and there are only a handful of reputable ones in the country. #2 It is strongly recommended that after the surgery you stay close to the clinic you had the surgery done at so they can preform alternative healing methods (like ozone, infrared, homeopathics, cold laser, etc). It is also not good to be driving more then a few miles after surgery. #3 I react VERY badly to anesthetic and am in no health to have surgery done in the first place. I think people underestimate “tooth procedures” when really it still is a trauma to the body. #4 Reinfection is possible and I came across a few testimonies that mentioned they needed to have a second surgery because the first one did not recover the full cavitaiton hole.

I decided to opt for ozone and see how it goes. Apparently my body has a mind of its own and did not want to follow through with the ozone. I believe it was to harsh for my already-toxic body (specifically mercury and bacteria). But you can see in the story above that Nicole is already seeing benefits from the ozone/UBI. Every body is different and I hope this post gives you a glimpse of just that.

            While many conventional dentists don’t consider cavitations a problem, they may be an important cause of ill health.  Anyone who has had dental extractions or procedures and is not feeling well afterwards may have cavitations.  Here are some options if you think this is affecting you:

 

1. Consider visiting a biological dentist who understands cavitations and knows how to find them, to assess if cavitations remain and deal with them.  However, the problem with cavitation surgery is that it is messy and bloody.  Also, the dentist occasionally damages the trigeminal nerve or another facial nerve, and this can be a disaster.

2.  A perhaps slower, but in other ways much better and less costly option is to embark on a complete nutritional balancing program.  However, be sure to use a near infrared lamp sauna every day – and no other type of sauna.  Use it perhaps twice daily, for 30-40 minutes each session.

My experience is that the nutritional balancing program will slowly bring up old dental infections and cavitations, and heal them in almost all cases.  It may take a few years, but if you are patient this is the best, as this therapy will bring up infections all over the body and heal them as well.  There are many other benefits of nutritional balancing and sauna therapy as well.

Dr Lawrence Wilson

 

 

The mercury trap

Inside a cavitation, bacteria flourish and deviant cells multiply. Cavitations act as a breeding ground for bacteria and their toxins. Research has shown these bacterial waste products to be extremely potent and result in osteonecrosis. Cavitations can also cause blockages on the body’s energy meridians and can exert far-reaching impact on the overall system. Investigation has revealed that some cavitations are reservoirs of huge amounts of mercury. Cavitations may be a source of low level or high level stress on the entire body.

 -Whole Body Dentistry

 

 

*THE MOST IMPORTANT piece of info in this blog post*

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These are Daunderer’s findings, which clarify a statement I have made for years:cavitations4 in the jaw bone are a symptom, not the cause of disease. Daunderer recommends to not close the surgical site, but leave a gauze strip in place. The jaw bone detoxes itself massively through the open wound (he found up to 20,000 ppb of Hg [mercury]  in the gauze after 24 hours).

-Dr. Klinghardt

 

 Evidence will be presented from the latest research of top German toxicologist Max Daunderer, M.D.2, that the entire jaw bone (upper and lower jaw) has become for most of us a toxic waste dump for the following materials:….read the rest here.

So what does that mean? It means that there is a reason why you have cavitations.. You want to find the root or else you will just keep going in circles around this cavitation thing. Could it be bacteria? Could it be Mercury? Could it be a weak immune system? All of these “roots” can surprisingly be physical, emotional, or spiritual (this could be a whole other post, but I just want to point out that even though Im focusing a lot of the physical part, I have gone through emotional and spiritual healing and I found those equally important for helping my immune system function and detox pathways to start working again (under stress the detox pathways can’t function).

 

Cavitaitons are a symptom 

Finally the part I have been waiting for. You know by now, I am a reserach-junkie and appreciate backing up my ideas and researching with resources. But now I am going to go off the research grid and dive into my own experiences and instincts. Ready, set, go!

You got a glimpse of my story to discovering and *attempting* treating my cavitations. I went though a lot of research, worrying, testing, trying, and praying to decide my “treatment plan” for my cavitations. I was always asking myself “what-if” and concentrating about “fixing” the root problem. I was ecstatic to find out I had cavitaitons and on the plane ride home form Dr. Yu I decided to pursue this road no matter how hard it was going to be. Little did I know that cavitaiton surgery soon would fall out of the question due to my MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) a.k.a. allergic to the world and not being able to stay in a hotel (there was no holistic oral surgeon/dentist who performed the surgery in my state). I look back and believe this “disadvantage” was a blessing in disguise.

I went ahead and scheduled a appointment with a holistic dentist close by. My dentist found 5 cavitations by looking at my x-ray and using kinesology where as Dr. Yu only found 2 using EDS. After that appointment we decided I would do ozone to get rid of my cavitation. The first appointment went terrible (because I reacted to the anesthetic). The second appointment he still used a very small fraction of the ozone and I reacted terribly too. My whole body swelled up and made my body crash to the point where I was sleeping most the day for 3 months straight.

What happened? To be honest, I don’t exactly know. After that appointment, reality kicked in and my MCS got worse. I have not gone back to my holistic dentist to discuss what happened but I think he knows that I could not follow though due to my reactions to the ozone. He knew from the day he met me that my case is extremely unique and things may not go as planned.

From what I know about ozone, its that it is VERY powerful stuff. Even though it is a natural substance, directly dispensing it out a needle is not necessarily “natural”. Too much of something good can easily become not-so-good for the body. I do believe the ozone treatments could have worked if my body was strong enough or if the toxic load was not already high, but that is not where I am at right now.

The stories my dentist told me about recovery after ozone made me hopeful that I would soon be “one of those people”. God has other plans for me and decided ozone was not the cure for my cavitations at this time. After I came out of my just-want-to-sleep-all-day phase I started to think about. Now what? I had spent months thinking I found the cure to all my issues (allergies, MCS, declining health) and each step was so productive until the actual outcome was not so much.

It was time to reconsider my health once again (I can’t tell you how many times I have done this). I felt slightly discouraged that once again my method of choice was not going to work. I looked back and it was always ME deciding and directing my healing journey. I decided to hand my healing journey over to the One who designed it in the first place. I believe its important to have faith and hope for anyone with a chronic illness.

This is all part of our life’s journey. I’m sure if you are even reading this, you are wondering yourself why you are in the situation you are right now. Hopefully (Nicole and I) gave you some guidance, experience, and knowledge to lead you in the right direction in your health.

 

What Am I doing now?

After a year of not being able to really get anywhere with my health, Im finally doing better (It’s a Miracle!). Im currently experimenting (or have been for several months) with using essential oils on my jaw and as a mouth rise. I’ll give you a few (at home/DIY) tips below! The best news of all.. These simple tricks are actually working and my energy is up and my jaw is not achy or swollen!

 

Before I begin explaining what has helped me and my immune system and cavitations, I need to make this clear…

**Disclaimer: Essential oils are not meant to treat, diagnose, or cure any disease or ailment. I [Gutsy] do not provide medical advice. I am simply sharing what has worked for ME and hoping my experiences can provide as research for your own choices. These health benefits have not been evaluated by the FDA. Please seek medical advice if needed and use good judgement when using essential oils. 

Specifically essential oils did not “cure” my cavitations. They are just a tool to help my immune system naturally kick in and then my body will heal. Think of it like some one pushing you on a swing when you were little. After you get momentum, your body takes over and will swing higher and higher until you feel free! The oils will allow your immune system to step up a notch, which we all know is important to maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria (everyone has bacteria, its all about keeping it in balance).

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Near infrared sauna

Screen Shot 2014-10-11 at 4.10.25 AM

I also love using my near infrared sauna light bulbs (I have something like this) and sit in front of it (About 18 in away because its the head, you don’t want to overheat the brain) and rotate from my left to right jaw about 10 min each. I can see the swelling go down and it really penetrates the bacteria and reduces inflammation.

Its a very soothing and quick routine. Plus I can use the near infrared lights for over all body and organ health and immune support. I pick a spot , swollen lymph node or organ and shine it 12-24 in away for about 10-20 minutes at a time. You can do this several times a day. If you want to read more about NEAR infrared, click here.

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Clay “patch”

Now this may be kind-a strange. But when you get localized pain or swelling on any area (but we are focusing about the jaw here) I would suggest applying a clay-charcoal mixture. Do you remember my clay bath post? It is the best localized detox I know of and the skin is great at releasing toxins. This way you can bypass the elimination organs and give them a break too. It also gives immediate relief (don’t we all like that?!)

Clay has amazing absorbing properties for all sorts of toxins including bacteria.

Activated charcoal is amazing a absorbing heavy metals (most water filters are actually made of some kind of charcoal to bind to metals)

clay charocal(final)

What you will need is:

-a glass ball  jar with a lid (plastic)

high quality clay (I use this for internal and external use)

– activated charcoal ( I use this brand because it is made of hardwood. I find that it is more potent then the activated charcoal derived from coconut)

– filtered water

 

Directions:

1. Take 3 Tablespoons of clay and pour in some filtered water (start with a few tablespoons) into the ball jar.

2. Screw on the lid of the jar and shake (I find this is easier then stirring, you can always stir at the end- use a plastic or wood spoon). You want the constancy of yogurt.

3. Add 1 Tablespoon of activated charcoal and put on the lid and shake again. If you stir it, it may fly all over the place and stain (**powdered charcoal is very messy!)

4. Once it is all mixed it should be the consistency of peanut butter (add more clay (to thicken) or water (to thin) to get the right consistency).

5. Take some with your fingers and spread on the area you want to “detox” (so the jaw in this case)

6. I like to put on a thicker layer because I don’t like the feeling of dry clay and Its recommended to leave on for at least 20 minutes.

7. You can store extra in the fridge for a week

** If you do spill the charcoal use soap.

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(Easy-Peasy) DIY Thieves mouth wash:

-1 oz filtered water

-1 drop Thieves oil

Shake (I use a small glass ball  jar with a lid) and use it to swish well)

DIY thieves mouth wash (final)

 .

Thieves “achy jaw” spray

I came up with a cool idea that is super simple. When I don’t have a jar and water around, I carry a spray bottle pre-made with thieves oil and water in it. I used the same solution as above. So for this 4 oz spray bottle, I use 4 drops of thieves.

4 oz glass spray bottle

-4 oz filtered water

-4 drops Thieves oil

This recipe is great to carry with you as a mouth freshener or if you have chronically swollen gums or jaw it can be sprayed a few times a day (maybe more at first when the bacteria count is higher). Or you can spray a little on the outside of the lymph nodes or jaw. For me it helped to keep control of tenderness/redness/swelling (which are symptoms of bacteria balance gone wrong!). After a while it seemed like I needed it less and less so it must have worked because my jaw is hardly achy anymore! Yeah Thieves !

 

spray bottle thives( thieves)final

Thieves oily-rub

This is great to use before bed and is pretty soothing and mild. Mixing essential oils with water can be more penetrating and mixing essential oils with oil is milder.

*tip: If you ever put on an essential oil and it burns, simply rub on some oil (what ever you have on hand) to the spot and it will dilute the oil to stop the burning.

– 4 drops of oil (I like to use olive oil & coconut oil (it has to be in liquid state) but some use almond, apricot, or jojoba oil)

-1 drop of Thieves oil

 

Oil pulling (with Thieves)

I also like to use a spoonful of coconut oil with a drop of thieves and oil pull for as long as I can! (learn more about oil pulling here). This also clears the sinuses and head and makes me feel AWESOME!

-1 tsp (or more if you like a bigger mouthful) of coconut oil

-1 drop of thieves on your spoon.

Put it on your mouth and swish for as long as you can 5-20 min. Always spit in the toilet and rise with salt water after (the end spit/oil is filled with toxins and bacteria!)

coconut oil thieves final

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Other Essential oils to use:

Thieves is a young living blend of : Clove† (Syzygium aromaticum), lemon† (Citrus limon), cinnamon† (Cinnamomum verum), Eucalyptus radiata† and rosemary† (Rosmarinus officinalis CT 1,8 cineol). Boosts immune system so you can finally fight and conquer those trouble areas (aka. Jaws if its cavitations you have)

Oregano oil: Great for supporting the body with immune support (a pretty potent one!)

Clove: A “numbing oil” that can help aid in a healthy gums response discomfort, and local swelling.

 

healthy mouth and jawn (final)

 

I *think* Cavitations can heal:

Since I did not follow through with ozone (because of reasons I explained above) I researched other options. I can actually tell a big difference in the swelling around my jaw/lymph nodes and energy overall when I apply thieves oil in any of those forms above.

Overtime I found myself needing less applications of the Thieves oil. Im no scientist but I know how to read my body. My energy started to increase and the swelling (bite marks) inside my left cheek were going down (now gone). This took about 2 months of daily applications in various forms listed above.

Im happy to say that I think my cavitations are “healing” despite others claims that cavitations can’t. A strong immune system, mercury detox, and a healthy bacteria balance are they key points I focused on. Also don’t stress about it! Its one thing to be informed but its another thing to worry and let it control your life. Life is to beautiful to let these things get in the way.

 

–Mercury & bacteria connection–

I do think that detoxing mercury (which I will talk about in my next post) allowed my body’s immune system to “kick” in and fight these deep rooted infections. Where ever mercury is settled in the body, most likely bacteria, fungus, or viruses are sure to share that space. Its a protective mechanism to try and “clean” up the mercury in that space. So as long as you have mercury you can’t get rid of the bacteria. Same goes with candida, fungal infections, etc.

I would get weeks where the metallic taste was terrible and then some “furry” tongue or bad tastes as the bateria would die off. I had joint paints, muscle aches, fevers, itchy mouth along with the detox because as the bacteria died and my immune system kicked in, my body started to go through healing reactions. Was it hard? Yes! Was it worth it? Yes!

If I went back to the holistic dentist he may still find these cavitations or he may not (but I don’t plan on going into that again anytime soon because I don’t have symptoms anymore). God designed our bodies to heal. He does not want us to be sick, and I think essential oils are truly a gift because they are allowing me to heal!

Of course every body is different and whether you are using ozone, essential oils, infrared sauna, etc. I think Its a good idea to look into options before surgery. If you want to ask more about how Im using essential oils for cavitations you are welcome to join my Facebook Gutsy Essential oils group until I get more info on my blog!

 

oils rainbow (final)

The mercury connection

Do you want to know what mercury has to do with cavitations.. Stay tuned!! This post is already too long, so I will be continued with my thoughts on the real cause of cavitations next!

 

~Stay Gutsy, Caroline

 

disclosure 3
12.09.2013

Big December Giveaway: $500 Amazon giftcard

**Giveaway closed**

giveaway4

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♩♪♫♬ I wish you a Merry Christmas. I wish you a Merry Christmas. I wish you a Merry Christmas…And a Happy New Year. Good tidings we bring…To you and your kin…We wish you a Merry Christmas…And a Happy New Year! ♩♪♫♬

.

Let’s Celebrate

That is my little holiday song for you…do you like it? I thought I would start off by celebrating the Christmas season with you. I love December… The falling snow. The twinkling tree lights. The smell of peppermint and cinnamon. The giggles & smiles.

Christmas giveaway

Now I don’t like to put too much emphasis on gifts because I like to focus on the true meaning of Christmas…but I still like to surprise my family members with a special treasure. I love the feeling of handing over a wrapped present and watching my parents and siblings smile in delight. So I decided THAT is exactly what I want to do for one of you.

I would like to offer one lucky winner a amazon gift card for ….. $500!!! Awesome right?! 

Bloggers unite

I have decided to team up with 10 other bloggers to create this awesome big giveaway! It’s a way to say “thank you” to each one of you for reading and supporting us as we blog about our kitchen creations and journeys in life. Enjoy this wonderful Christmas season ❤️

 

Follow these instructions…

ENTER TO WIN $500 AMAZON GIFT CARD 

 

1. Go HERE & look around. In the comments tell me what you would buy if you won.

Incase you need some ideas…here are things I would buy if I had $500 for amazon.

**Please link to your item (copy and paste the amazon URL) in your comments

 

2. Subscribe to my newsletter below. (You can unsubscribe at anytime after the giveaway). Just so you don’t worry…I will not sure your email with anyone. ok!


3. Share away!! You can pin this giveaway on Pinterest (here is my pin), tweet it on twitter, share with friends on Facebook.  Copy and paste this URL ( http://www.mygutsy.com/big-december-giveaway-500-amazon-giftcard/ ) or use my share links to the left.

 

4. Use the Rafflecopter below to confirm all your entries for the giveaway!

 

P.S. Do you see the list of the other 11 bloggers participating in this giveaway below? To get additional entries you can subscribe to each of their newsletters! Go do it!

 

The giveaway will go from 12AM December 9 to 12AM December 21 EST. I will announce the winner on this post and my Facebook page December 21.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

More entries:

Click on each blog below to subscribe to their newsletter and earn additional giveaway entries:

Rooted Blessings

House Barn Farm

Real Food RN

Happy Health Nut

Blue Yurt Farms

Five Little Homesteaders

Hollywood Homestead

Learning and Yearning

Real Food Forager

Food Your Body With Thank You For

A Whole New Mom

 

Giveaway details

No purchase necessary. You must be 18 to enter. The giveaway will begin at 12am on December 9th 2013 end 12 am on December 21st 2013 EST. The winner will have 48 hours to contact Gutsy with his/her full name, address, and phone number (use my contact me tab). By entering you are agreeing that Gutsy will be held harmless if in some way this giveaway/ sweepstakes somehow negatively impacts the winner. Anyone can enter! Void where prohibited by law.

 

~Stay Gutsy, Caroline

 

disclosure 3
11.24.2013

Allergy Free Holiday Recipes

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100+ Allergy Free Holiday Recipes

Alrighty, here is probably the BEST allergy-free holiday roundup out there! It’s filled with over 100 recipes from all my favorite bloggers. I asked several of my blogger friends what their favorite holiday recipes are and I was blown away at the creativity and yummy creations they shared with me. I decided to put together a “round up” to make it easier on you when you are looking for inspirations during the holidays. It’s quite fun searching through all these categories and I promise you will not be disappointed!

Defining “allergy free”

When I say “allergy-free” I am including a wide range of ingredients. All of these recipes are gluten-free. Most are paleo/grain-free but there is the occasional use of tapioca, arrowroot, or rice. I can’t please everyone, but I sure hope you can find at least one you like. Several of these recipes can be converted into GAPS (if they are not already) by using honey instead of maple syrup or the various “safe ingredients” for you. I have experience converting coconut oil for butter in many recipes and I think it turns out quite nice.

Inspiration

Hopefully this list of fabulous recipes is not too overwhelming for you. Several of the “pumpkin desserts” or “apple desserts” would make a lovely holiday breakfast treat as well. You may notice several variations of a certain recipe and that is because each blogger/cook has their own secret and I did not want to limit you to just one kind. Personally my favorite section to look through was the “savory cooked veggies”. It could be because I’m a veggie-lover, but they are so inspirational and colorful. Enjoy!

I hope your holidays will be filled with joy and peace. Enjoy all the holiday recipe contributions from my creative friends. 🙂

♥ Love, Gutsy

a12

Meat & eggs

How to cook a pastured turkey by Mommypotamus

Perfect moist Turkey by GNOWFGLINS

Sage rubbed turkey breast by A Happy Health Nut

GAPS liver pate by Gutsy

Sweet and sour meatballs by Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Simply divine chicken liver pate by Divine Health from the inside out

Homemade honey baked Ham by Divine health from the inside out

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño poppers by Gluten Free & Other allergen Free Recipes

Lemon, mustard and bacon deviled eggs by Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Honey herb chicken by Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Frog legs by Gutsy

Bacon wrapped dates by Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Bacon, apple & kale quiche cups by Libby Louer

Beef Cuts (prepared various ways) by Gutsy

 done 22

Sweet Veggies

Acorn squash stuffed with spiced pears by Natural Family Today

Honey balsamic roasted carrots by A Harmony Healing

Nourishing sweet potato casserole by Divine Health from the inside out

Bourbon & honey glazed carrots by So Let’s Hang Out

Sweet potato casserole by Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Warm pumpkin and apple harvest salad by The Urban Ecolife

Indian roasted butternut squash by My Heart Beets

Boston Market style sweet potatoes by Read Food Outlaws

 soups 4

Soups

Purple Cauliflower soup by A Harmony Healing

Cream of broccolini soup with pecan, cherry, & feta crumble by Ravenous Venus

Cauliflower soup topped with bacon & basil guacamole by The Sour Path is the Sweetest

Hardy lentil soup by The Organic Kitchen

Creamy carrot chicken soup by Gutsy

Autumn soup by My Heart Beets

Roasted butternut squash soup by Libby Louer

Golden beet soup with roasted garlic cashew cream by With Food and Love

 RAW

Raw Veggies

Spinach salad with white balsamic by The Organic Kitchen

Christmas wreath vegetable platter by Divine health from the inside out

Fermented lemon kale and savory cabbage by A Harmony Healing

Pesto Pea salad by Homemade Dutch Apple Pie

Red Slaw with Fennel by Nourish with Karen

 

cooked

Savory Veggies (cooked)

Paleo Braised Brussel Sprouts by Matthew’s Puzzle

Pimento stuffed Peppers by Homemade for Elle

Sauteed Cauliflower by Homemade for Elle

Very simple Asparagus and peppers by Scratch Mommy

Brussels sprout and sweet potato hash by The organic Kitchen

Roasted vegetables by The Organic Kitchen

Green bean casserole by Divine health from the inside out

Kefir pepper cauliflower mash by Food your body will thank you for

Kohlrabi fries by Little Owl Crunchy mamma

Roasted harvest veggies by The Sour Path is the Sweetest

Roasted cauliflower with garlic and rosemary by The Sour Path is the Sweetest

Garlic broccolini by Gutsy

Shaved brussels sprouts with macadamia nuts by Real Food Whole Health

Easy roasted root vegetables  by Real Food Whole Health

Green beans with mustard and thyme by Real Food Outlaws

 

1asweet2

Fruity sides

Persimmon Chutney by Lisa’s Counter Culture

Cinnamon Ginger Pear butter  by Natural Family Today

Spicy pineapple cranberry chutney by Pickle Me Too

Easy cranberry sauce by Wellness and Workouts

Cranberry cherry apple sauce by Recipes to Nourish

Lacto fermented pear butter by Little Owl Crunchy mamma

Cranberry orange relish with ginger and nuts by Delicious Obsessions

All natural jellied cranberry sauce by Nourishing Herbalist

Cranberry mint mousse by A Happy Health Nut

 BREAD2

“Bread” & sides

Amish Hot pepper mustard by Natural Family Today

Creamy GAPS gravy by Empowered Sustenance

Scalloped Potatoes (dairy free) by Food Your Body Will Thank You For

Paleo “Cornbread” muffins by Empowered Sustenance

Coconut herb flatbread by Gutsy

Thanksgiving bread by My Heart Beets

Chicken bread bites by Strands of My Life

Grain-free Thanksgiving stuffing by Real Food Forager

Paleo sausage stuffing by Hollywood Homestead

Homemade style stuffing (GAPS & paleo) by Mommypotamus

 1choc

Chocolate Desserts

Dark hot chocolate with grapefruit zing by Ravenous Venus

Chocolicious muffins by Lisa’s Counter Culture

Coconut chocolate almond cookies by Natural Family Today

Chocolate pumpkin parfait by Made to Glow

Paleo chocolate mousse by Authentic Parenting

No Bake chocolate macaroons by Red and Honey

Ultimate Dark chocolate truffles by Divine health from the inside out

Cherry chocolate walnut bliss by Divine health from the inside out

Brownie bites with mint buttercream by The Sour Path is the Sweetest

French chocolate silk pie by Paleo Fondue

GAPS chocolate bread by Gutsy

 ffr

Fruity Desserts

Lemon blueberry chia seed pudding by A Harmony healing

Lemon Tart by Strands of My Life

Fresh berry fruit tart by Life Made Full

Orange cloud cake by The Sour Path is the Sweetest

GAPS lemon bars by Gutsy

Spiced cranberry apple cider by 20 Something Allergies

Cranberry ginger smoothie by A Happy Health Nut

Healthy banana muffins by Real Food Carolyn

Upside down cranberry orange bread by Meg’s Vegucation

 1apple

Apple Desserts

Grain free Apple and pear crisp by So let’s hang out

Apple streusel upside down cake by  The Nourishing Home

Best apple crisp recipe by Wellness and Workouts

Apple cranberry crumble by Wellness and Workouts

Salted caramel apple bars by Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Really easy apple crisp by The Sour Path is the Sweetest

Baked molasses apples by Gutsy

Apple pie bites by Delicious Obsessions

 1pumpkin1donePumpkin/squash Desserts

Pumpkin pie spice bliss balls by the Urban Ecolife

Squash pie with ginger whipped cream by Divine health from the inside out

Pumpkin bar recipe by Wellness and Workouts

Creamy pumpkin pie custard by The Nourishing Home

Cinnamon squash sticks with apple butter dip by Libby Louer

Pumpkin pie cheesecake by Healing Cuisine

Apple butter pumpkin pie by My Heart Beets

Dairy free banana pumpkin ice-cream by Real food RN

Paleo pumpkin muffins by Hollywood Homestead

Mini pumpkin parfaits by Meg’s Vegucation

Chocolate pumpkin banana bread by Libby Louer

The ultimate gluten free & vegan pumpkin pie by Meg’s Vegucation

 11cookies

Cookies & Sweets

GAPS snickerdoodles by Gutsy

Dream Cookies by The Nerdy Farm Wife

Almond flour sugar cookies by Nourish with Karen

“Sugar” cookie cut-outs by The Nourishing Home

Wholesome Ginger bread cookie cut-outs by The Nourishing Home

Raw macadamia coconut fudge by Yummy Inspirations

Honey toffee shortbread by The Sour Path is the Sweetest

Sugar cookie cupcakes by The Sour Path is the Sweetest

Rice porridge with toasted black sesame seeds by Little Owl Crunchy Mamma

Cheesecake cookies by Learning and Yearning

Raw cheesecake by Honey Ghee and Me

Cut out cookies with honey almond glaze by Just Enjoy Food

 11toppings

Toppings 

Whipped honey cinnamon cocoghee by Delicious Obsessions

Dairy free coconut milk whipped cream by Gutsy

Homemade sweetened condensed milk by Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Real deal marshmallows by An Organic Wife

Pumpkin pie spiced non dairy creamer  by Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Vanilla honey by Gutsy

GAPS chocolate drops by Gutsy

Spiced coconut cream ice cream by The Aliso Kitchen

 

 

WHOO HOO

 

Stay Gutsy, Caroline

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