July Simple Pure Whole Favorites: Health | Lifestyle | Happiness

As a new addition to the updated Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Blog, I want to share some of my favorite healthy recipes/foods/products/links/exercises/inspiration from the past month. I am excited to share with you some of my newest discoveries for a healthy lifestyle as well as new-to-me items that I am incorporating into my regular routine.

I only share resources that I have personal experience with and can therefore recommend without reservation. Remember that each person is unique so check with your health care provider before making any major changes to your diet or lifestyle. This is not intended as medical advice. This post may contain affiliate links. Prices are the same for you and affiliate commission helps to support the maintenance of my blog so I can continue to bring you free, value-filled resources. Thank you for your support!

So without further ado, here are some of my Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Healthy Favorites for July!

Favorite Ingredient: Coconut Water

I love coconuts and find them versatile and valuable in their many forms. I have long been a fan of coconut oil for virtually all of my beauty needs (oil pulling, moisturizer, after-sun lotion, anti-itch cream, lip gloss, etc.) as well as for cooking and also enjoy incorporating coconut flour in grain-free baked goods. I also find coconut milk to be a satisfying non-dairy option and a great addition to a creamy smoothie. 

Most recently, I tried coconut water when a friend gave me a bottle to try. Coconut water is the liquid that naturally occurs inside of a coconut. It contains no fat but is packed with electrolytes like magnesium and potassium along with small amounts of natural sugars. The unique combination of B vitamins, phytonnutrients, electrolytes and vitamin C which naturally occur in coconut water are thought to replenish the body, have anti-aging effects, fight free radicals to help prevent cancer, lower high blood pressure and prevent heart attacks. 

While the most pure way to enjoy coconut water is straight from a cracked open coconut, you can also buy coconut water in cans or in tetra packs. 

Simple Pure Whole Solutions

• Be sure to carefully read the label to find 100% pure coconut water and not those with added sugars, “natural flavors,” sweeteners or from concentrate. Also be aware that young coconuts contain the most nutritious water.
• Try freezing extra coconut water in silicon ice cube trays and adding a few cubes to your smoothies for a post-workout electrolyte boost.

Favorite Health Article: How Walking in Nature Changes the Brain by: Well/The New York Times

I love my daily outdoor walk and find it is the best time for me to calm my mind and reconnect with the present. Being outdoors in nature has so many benefits for our health and science now proves that it actually changes our brains, can prevent cognitive decline and improves mental health.

Researchers studied healthy, adult city dwellers and randomly assigned half of the volunteers to walk at their own pace for 90 minutes through a leafy, quiet park and the other half to walk next to a loud, hectic, multi-lane highway. They asked the subjects to complete a questionnaire to determine their level of morbid rumination and also used brain scans to track blood flow in the brain before and after this activity. They found that those who walked in the peaceful park-like setting had meaningful improvements in their mental health according to their questionnaire scores and were not dwelling on the negative aspects of their lives as much as before their walk. They also had decreased blood flow in the subgenual prefrontal cortex of the brain after walking outside in the peaceful setting suggesting that these brain areas involved in rumination were calmer.

Simple Pure Whole Solutions

• Nature is clearly so rejuvenating! Find a way to recharge and relax outdoors this week. Take a walk by the sea, go for a hike or ride your bike in the countryside.
• Have a water day–run through the sprinkler, go swimming in the ocean, try standup paddleboarding at the local lake or wade in a stream. 

Favorite Farmer’s Market Find: Blueberries

If you follow me on Instagram you know it is hard for me to pick only one favorite find from the Farmer’s Market! Since this is National Blueberry Month and the berries at my local farmer’s market have been delicious this season, I am going with blueberries for this month’s Farmer’s Market Favorite Find.

Blueberries have one of the highest antioxidant capacities among all fruits and vegetables. They are packed with phytonutrients which have been shown to benefit the nervous system, brain and memory. The anthocyanin pigments give these berries their rich color and help to scavenge free radicals in the body. Recent studies suggest that organically grown blueberries have significantly higher concentrations of phenol antioxidants compared to their conventionally grown cousins, so look for organically grown fruit when possible. 

Simple Pure Whole Solutions

Try these delicious gems in these summery recipes:

• BLUEBERRY NICE CREAM with CINNAMON + BAOBAB from This Rawsome Vegan Life
• Raw Vegan Blueberry Apricot Granola Bars from Rawmazing

• Creamy Coconut Blueberry Banana Protein Smoothie from Deborah at Urban Naturale

• No-bake Vegan Berry Swirl Cheesecake from BlissfulBasil

Favorite Quotes:

                    

Which of these powerful quotes resonates the most with you?

This Months Features from The Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Blog

Please let me know if you have tried any of these and 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! 

And be sure to check out my newest product, The Simple | Pure | Whole^TM Nourishment Journal and Guide to Intuitive Eating which helps you monitor, pay attention to and learn to utilize your cravings as wise messages and reconnect with an intuitive, balanced way of eating!

 

 

This post was shared with: Crafty and Delicious Party, Create It Thursday, Summer Family Fun Party, Friday’s Five Features, Weekend Retreat, Family Fun Friday, Motivation Monday, Two Cup Tuesday

Medical Disclaimer: Information provided in this email and related resources is for informational purposes only. 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 health care 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 in this email. This correspondence 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.

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