April Simple Pure Whole Favorites + VIDEO {Mulberries, Leafy Greens for Brain Health, Dandelion Recipes}

Simple Pure Whole Opportunities!

In April, we celebrated eco-living and a less-waste lifestyle during Earth Week. If you are looking for ways to simplify your life while helping out the earth and protecting your health, be sure to check out my Beginner’s Guide to a Less Waste Lifestyle.

Another delicious way to go green and boost your health is by enjoying my simple, gluten-free, vegan Dandelion Salad with Mulberries, Pistachios, and a Citrus Dressing. This is one of my favorite spring salads and the dressing works well on a variety of salads year-round! 

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In the meantime, check out my favorite healthy recipes/foods/products/links/exercises/inspiration from the past month. My Favorites feature is a regular part of the Simple | Pure | Whole^TMBlog allowing me to share some great healthy solutions with you each month! 

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Here are some of my Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Healthy Favorites for April!

Favorite Ingredient: Mulberries

Mulberries (affiliate link) have a mildly sweet flavor that is similar in taste and texture to figs or goji berries. When dried,  they have a slightly crunchy and chewy texture with a light sweetness.

Dried mulberries contain 12% protein, a surprisingly high amount for berries. They also contain a good amount of fiber, both soluble fiber in the form of pectin, and insoluble fiber in the form of lignin. 

Due to their rich phytonutrient content, mulberries have long been used in traditional medicine for their health benefits. Mulberries are rich in plant compounds, such as anthocyanins and resveratrol, antioxidants that may support heart health.  Additionally, mulberries provide iron, vitamin C, and vitamin K. 

Simple Pure Whole Solutions

• Add dried mulberries (affiliate link) to trail mix or granola in place of raisins or cranberries.
• Soak some dried mulberries in liquid then add to smoothies for a superfood boost.
• Grind up dried mulberries in a clean coffee grinder or bullet blender and add to muffins, oatmeal or cookies for a nutrition boost!
• Enjoy mulberries atop a salad or some quinoa for a flavor and nutrition boost!

Favorite Inspirational Article: Parahippocampal Cortex Mediates the Relationship between Lutein and Crystallized Intelligence in Healthy, Older Adults: Leafy Greens Linked to Crystallized Intelligence in Older Adults

Healthy whole foods like mulberries and dandelion contain unique and powerful antioxidants that support our health in different ways.

A recent study found that one such phytonutrient, lutein, helps with the preservation of “crystallized intelligence.” Lutein is acquired through the diet, primarily through leafy green vegetables, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and egg yolks.

This colorful pigment seems to accumulate in cell membranes of the brain where it is likely neuroprotective. In this way, lutein seems to support “crystallized intelligence,” the ability to use the skills and knowledge one has acquired over a lifetime.

Simple Pure Whole Solutions:

Dandelion is a perennial bitter green which belongs to the Asteraceae family. This classic spring green is so much more than a weed! Larger leaves are delicious sauteed, stir-fried or lightly wilted while tender young leaves make a sensational spring salad.

Dandelion greens provide calcium and iron amongst other phytonutrients. One cup of chopped dandelion greens has 10% of the recommended daily value for calcium, which is even higher than that found in kale. Dandelion greens also rank highly for iron content with 1.7 milligrams of iron in one cup. This iron is more easily absorbed from dandelion greens given that they also contain a good amount of vitamin C. 

Dandelion greens are known to cleanse the liver and gallbladder and support healthy kidney function. They have been shown to stabilize blood sugar levels as well as support healthy cholesterol levels. For these reasons, dandelion has long been touted as a cleansing green and rejuvenating spring tonic.

Simple Pure Whole Solutions

• Try out the bitter flavor of fresh young dandelion combined with sweet mulberries and tart citrus dressing in my Dandelion Salad with Mulberries and Pistachios.
• Highlight dandelion greens in this Dandelion Pumpkin Seed Pesto from the Kitchn.
• Learn all about dandelion and many other delicious and healthy greens in my Glorious Greens for Great Health Virtual Workshop and Cookbook. This virtual workshop will introduce you to the facts and science about leafy green vegetables and provide simple and nutritious recipe ideas to help you easily incorporate these nutritional powerhouses into your diet. You will discover vibrant health through knowledge and flavorful real food recipes!

This Month’s Favorite Quote:

April’s Features from The Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Blog:

  

Have you tried mulberries?

What is your favorite way to enjoy dandelion? 

Please let me know in the comments below or on Facebook or Instagram if you have tried any of these or if you find something new you love so I can check it out!

If you enjoyed these healthy tips, I welcome you to join my free Insider’s Community for special offers, members-only opportunities, wellness news, recipes and more! 

 

Your Simple Pure Whole Wellness Plan!

Let’s work together to make your home a safer and less toxic place, room-by-room. In my Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Virtual Guided Home Detox we work together virtually to transform your home into a clean, safe sanctuary for you and your family. And if you are planning on building a new house or undertaking a remodeling, I am happy to help you make non-toxic choices and find natural solutions and healthy building materials and furnishings to keep your family safe and protect your health for years to come! Contact me to arrange a custom solution for your unique needs!

• The Whole Cure Lifestyle Transformation Mindset Module one of my most popular online group coaching programs for lasting transformation and meaningful stress management that can shift your entire life! This next group online program is done from the comfort of your home anywhere in the world! Commit to yourself now!

• Since inflammation plays such an important role in so many chronic issues and Spring is the perfect time to cleanse and start anew, I am offering a new, affordable, to-the-point program to help you find balance, heal chronic illness, get to a healthy weight and revitalize! The Simple | Pure | Whole Laser Reset Cleanse will jumpstart the transformation of your lifestyle, diet and body to leave you feeling better than you have in years! Enroll now 

• Glorious Greens for Great Health Virtual Workshop and Cookbook: This virtual workshop will introduce you to the facts and science about leafy green vegetables and provide simple and nutritious recipe ideas to help you easily incorporate these nutritional powerhouses into your diet. You will discover vibrant health through knowledge and flavorful real food recipes!

  Breathe: Guided Relaxation & Breathing Exercises to Help You Find Your Whole Cure is now available!  This special resource will support you in bringing The Whole Cure ((affiliate link) to life! The individually-available breathing exercises and guided relaxation experiences (starting at $0.99!) can be used anywhere, at any time of day. Try using them when you feel panic, stress, anxiety or just want a few moments of calm in your day. They are also helpful for coping with pain and helping the body prepare for rest and relaxation.

• 3-Month Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Wellness Solution Essential Lifestyle Coaching Program! Get personalized one-on-one attention and transformational coaching to address your physical and emotional body, lifestyle and habits with customized virtual transformational wellness coaching! 
• The Whole Cure: 52 Essential Prescriptions for Overcoming Overwhelm, Reclaiming Balance and Reconnecting with a Life You Love!  (affiliate link). Commit to yourself with 52 simple yet profound stress management techniques that you can work on throughout the year to change your mindset and find greater peace, calm and balance!

Simple Pure Whole Opportunities!

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this post and related resources is for informational purposes only. Jennifer Weinberg is not providing medical advice, diagnosis or treatment information. The information is NOT intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. Every body is unique so be sure to check with your healthcare professional before making any dietary or lifestyle changes taking any medication or nutritional supplement or using any treatment for a health issue. Do not use this information provided for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. If you suspect you have a medical problem please contact your healthcare provider promptly and do not disregard professional medical advice based on anything on this website. This website and related resources are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease and do not create a doctor-patient relationship between you and Jennifer Weinberg. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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This post was shared with: Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural” Party Hop, Healthy Living Link Party, Plant-Based Potluck, Thinking Out Loud from Running with Spoons, Friday’s Five Features, Family Fun Friday, Saturday Sharefest