When it comes to our health, our priorities get mixed up. To be honest, in most cases, we push our health needs to the back of our minds. As a by-product, things escalate rather quickly. There are exceptions to this rule, as with anything else in life. These exceptions tend to be when things are so bad that we fear for our lives or when things can be seen by others. Let’s be honest; we all know the value and importance of first impressions. Given that our physical appearance makes up the majority of our first impressions, we tend to put a lot of effort and attention into our appearance.

Lurking Beneath The Surface

Unfortunately, there are so many health issues that can affect our skin. Take psoriasis, for example; it affects more than 125 million people worldwide. Psoriasis typically affects individuals between the ages of 15 to 35 years old, which is when we tend to fixate on our appearances more than ever. When it comes to our health, far more pressing health issues can take center stage. However, feeling comfortable in our own skin is pivotal to our health and happiness. Plaque psoriasis makes up 80-90% of psoriasis cases, presenting with large red itchy patches on our skin. Not to mention having psoriasis can increase your risk of developing psoriatic arthritis in 30-33% of individuals.

When it Rains, it Pours

Psoriasis alone is more than enough of a problem without any added issues, like additional diseases or illnesses. Given that psoriasis can be seen as an autoimmune disease, it can create a domino effect on our overall health. It is advantageous to reduce as many risk factors as possible. The most common risk factors for psoriasis are smoking, genetics, medications, obesity, and bacteria or viral infections. Some medications linked to psoriasis are lithium, beta-blockers, tetracycline, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and malaria drugs. Psoriasis also increases your risk of developing high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease, eye problems, and other autoimmune disorders.

How To Protect Yourself Naturally

All hope is not lost. There are tons of things you can do to help reduce your risk of developing psoriasis as well as reducing the effects of psoriasis. Hands down, one of the greatest things you can do to help your health is to detox regularly. Like most autoimmune diseases, high estrogen levels tend to be at the heart of the issue. Thus, detoxing regularly to remove any excess estrogen can dramatically reduce your risks. Another key way of reducing your risk, as well as providing relief to anyone dealing with psoriasis, is to make the switch to an anti-inflammatory diet. Other holistic options to help you reduce risk and symptoms are Epsom salt or oatmeal baths, taking omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, using aloe vera topically, using a humidifier, and reducing stress levels.

Multitasking Like A Pro

I love when doing one thing helps in a variety of areas. That is why I love starting with nutrition. Honestly, the phrase “you are what you eat” rings true. The foods we take in directly determine what we are able to make. Nutrition is literally the building block of what makes us who we are. So the simple question becomes, what is it you want to build? Once you determine what it is you want, all you really need to do is provide your body with the building blocks it needs to create what you want or need from it. Our bodies are constantly breaking down what no longer serves us and building a new one. This means you get to pick what you want to be and all you have to do is feed your body the basic materials it needs to create the life and body you desire. So, what is it you want to build?

Mushroom Artichoke Pasta

Gluten-Free, Vegan, Serves 3-4

• 6-8 ounces gluten-free fettuccine
• 8 ounces sunchokes roasted
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 8 ounces portobello mushrooms sliced
• salt and pepper to taste
• Artichoke Sauce:
• 1 1/2 cups can marinated artichoke hearts
• 3/4 cup vegetable broth
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 10 fresh sage leaves
• 1-2 cloves garlic cloves
• lemon juice to taste
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the packaging. Roast the sunchokes in an oven at 400 degrees F with oil, salt, and pepper until fork tender. In the meanwhile, make the sauce by draining the artichokes and placing them into a blender. Add the water, oil, herbs, garlic, salt, and pepper. For a thinner sauce add a little more water. Saute the mushrooms, once golden brown, and add in the cooked pasta un-rinsed. Toss with the artichoke sauce and heat up gently stirring. Add additional seasonings to taste. Top with vegan parmesan cheese.

Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Serves 6

• 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp fresh chopped sage
• 2 Tbsp fresh thyme
• 1 cup white wine dry
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup apple cider
• 2 shallots quartered
• juice of 1 lemon
• 2 Tbsp vegan butter
• 1/3 cup full fat coconut milk
• 1 1/2 cups broccoli chopped
• 1/3 cup vegan parmesan cheese
• 2 cups fresh or frozen peas

Directions:

Into the bottom of a slow cooker, rub the chicken with oil, mustard, thyme, sage, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour over the wine, cider, and lemon juice. Add the shallots. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1-2 hours. Preheat the broiler to high. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place it onto a baking sheet. Turn the slow cooker to high. Stir the orzo, broccoli, and 1 cup of water. Cover and cook 20-30 minutes, or until the orzo is al dente. Once al dente, stir in the cream, parmesan, and peas. Place the butter on the chicken, then broil for 1-3 minutes, until crisp. Serve chicken over the orzo and top with more cheese and fresh herbs.

BBQ Cauliflower Wings

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Serves 4

• 1 large head cauliflower, cut into bite-size pieces
• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 3/4 cup ginger beer
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 3/4 cup G Hughes sugar-free BBQ Sauce Spicy
• 1 tsp baking powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Creamy Honey Mustard:

• 1/4 cup dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp G Hughes sugar-free BBQ Sauce Spicy
• 1/4 cup Honey
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1/4 cup vegan greek yogurt
• salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix the flour, paprika, cayenne, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Add the beer, mixing until just combined. Toss the cauliflower in the batter until evenly coated. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Pretreat a baking sheet with a non-stick option of choice. Transfer the cauliflower and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Flipping halfway through cooking. Meanwhile combine all ingredients for the sauce, mixing until well combined and set aside. Once cauliflower is cooked remove from the oven salt and toss in BBQ sauce. Serve with mustard sauce on the side for dipping.

Brown Sugar Cookie Butter Cookies

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Serves 3

• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
• 1 cup cookie butter
• 3/4 cup coconut flour
• 1 1/2 Tbsp pure vanilla
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Cream the egg, butter, sugar, and vanilla in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add in the flour, cornstarch, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just incorporated, don’t over mix it. The dough should be soft and slightly oily. If too wet or tacky add up to 2 Tbsp of additional flour.  Using an ice cream scoop, spoon about 2-inch cookies. Place onto a plate, flatten slightly, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 5 days. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pretreat a baking sheet with a non-stick option of choice. Place cookies at least 2 inches apart and bake for 8 minutes or until the edges have started to set. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes prior to transferring to cool completely on a wire rack.

Get Started Today

Keeping your body free of toxins and free radicals is necessary to maintain a healthy life and a healthy mind. You can add tons of foods to your regular diet to help your body with its critical detoxifying processes. If you are looking for a safe and all-natural way to detox your body at home, be sure to check out my Balancing Abundance Program. Because detoxing is so important and realistically, everyone should be doing it on at least a seasonal basis, I have put together a program to help you do just that. Here’s the thing, I know working with me one-on-one can seem difficult to get into (due to limited space), and I wanted to be able to give everyone an additional solution that has no limits. You deserve to be happy, healthy, and successful at everything you do, so here are some recipes to help set you up for success!

 Need A Hand?

A happy and healthy life is closer than you may think. We all have to deal with our health daily, which shows when we don’t feel our best. If you are tired of just making it through your day, you NEED to start investing in your health today! You are not alone on this journey. If you need help, I am always here to do that. Even if it is something as small as acting as a sounding board, do you have any questions or concerns I can help you with? Feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or book a one-on-one call with me. Be sure to subscribe to gain access to tons of free goodies, and check back daily for more great recipes and information!