THE DRUG-FREE SOLUTION TO HEADACHES

Darling Foxy Readers,

When I was in junior high school, I began developing horrible migraine headaches. This was not a surprise to me, as both my mother and grandmother suffered from frequent headaches. I quickly learned that if I did not take a painkiller before the headache was full-blown, I would get sick to my stomach and the only solution would be ice packs, darkness and sleep.

So, like my mother, I was prescribed a high dosage of Motrin (800mg) and began taking that or Ibuprophen every morning to avoid a potential headache later. Taking medication for the prevention of headaches became a norm for me.

In my early thirties, I became vegetarian and began researching natural health remedies. I slowly stopped using all headache medications and started a daily exercise routine. For awhile, the headaches seemed to be stopping.

At the time, I was attending UCLA graduate school full-time and was on the computer all day for the first time since college. By the end of work and class, I tended to have headaches. Since UCLA provided free health care, I made an appointment with a doctor. Naturally, the doctor’s remedy was to give me a stronger painkiller than Motrin. I declined the prescription.

As I was leaving, the nurse who did my initial paperwork pulled me aside. “We’re not supposed to do this,” she said. “But I used to have terrible headaches and the solution was chiropractic.”

“Really,” I asked.

“Go to a chiropractor, sweetie. You won’t need any more painkillers.”

A friend recommended her chiropractor and I quickly learned the headaches I experienced were caused by the neck vertabra putting pressure on the nerves in the spinal chord. After a few adjustments, the headaches stopped.

Now, I only visit a chiropractor if I get a headache and those are rare.

Since I know the cause of the pain is in my neck, I have learned yoga stretches to stretch the neck muscles and realign the vertabra. Now, by stretching or by getting an amazing massage from my man, I can ease the pain myself. [Make sure to visit a chiropractor or yoga instructor before stretching your neck. The neck is fragile and you need to stretch it properly with supervision.]

So the next time you get a bad headache, reach for the phone instead of the medicine cabinet. Call a chiropractor and get healthy naturally!

ASK THE FOX – IS RICE MILK RIGHT FOR YOU?

Hi Fox,

 

I know that Rice Milk doesn’t pack the protein punch of soy or almond milk, but how does it fare nutritionally? Better or worse than soy?

 

Yours,

Dairy Free

 

Dearest Dairy Free,

 

There are three types of dairy-free milks sold in most health food stores today: (1) soy milk, (2) rice milk, and (3) almond milk. All three come in various flavors including plain, vanilla, chocolate, unsweetened, and sometimes, carob. (Carob unsweetened almond milk is hard to find, but one of my personal favorites. Add a little agave nectar and it is just dreamy!)

 

SOY MILK

Soy milk is the only vegan milk that is comparable to cow milk in terms of protein content. Cow milk has 8 grams of protein, and soy milk can have between 8 and 11 grams of protein per serving. So if you are concerned you are not getting enough protein in your vegan or vegetarian diet, you may want to include soy milk as a part of your daily diet.

 

As I mentioned in my blog, Is Too Much Soy Dangerous?, soy may be dangerous for non-Asian women with family histories of breast cancer. However, soy milk is safe if you limit total daily soy consumption to one glass of soy milk a day and one serving of tofu (or other traditional soy product).

 

RICE MILK

Dearest Reader, you are correct when you write that rice milk does not have the protein and good fats that soy milk has. Rice milk is packed with carbohydrates and should not be considered a nutritional replacement for dairy milk because it lacks the fat and protein found in other milks. Most rice milk brands are sweetened with brown rice syrup or evaporated cane juice, which ups the sugar, carbs, and calorie content. However, its sweet taste does make it an excellent replacement for dairy in baked goods.

 

Rice milk is also low in protein content, having 1 to 2 grams of protein per serving. So why would you choose rice milk over soy, cow and almond milk? If you have nut allergies, are lactose-intolerant and/or have a history of breast cancer in your family, rice milk may be the right vegan milk for you.

 

ALMOND MILK

Believe it or not, store-bought almond milk is NOT high in protein. Most brands of almond milk sold in stores have only 1 gram of protein per cup. However, “what sets almond milk apart is its high vitamin E content. According to Blue Diamond Growers’ specifications, one cup of almond milk (240 ml) contains 14.99 IU of natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol). In contrast, the USDA nutrient database reports one cup of soymilk has 3.31 mg alpha-tocopherol and 1.35 mg vitamin E added” (click here to read “Thoroughly Modern Milk”).

 

If you make almond milk yourself, and do not strain out the almond pulp, you may get up to 5 grams of protein per serving. Raw vegan enthusiasts say it can be easy to make your own almond milk. Take a cup of raw, organic almonds, soak them in purified water overnight, drain and rinse them in the morning, then blend with four cups of water in a high-speed blender. The milk will be chalky when it is not strained, but it will be full of all the protein , fats, and nutrients almonds are famous for. According to sixwise.com, “Almonds are one of the healthiest nuts you can eat. They’re rich in magnesium, potassium, manganese, copper, the antioxidants vitamin E and selenium, and calcium. Almond milk, then, may be one of the more nutritious milk alternatives on the market.”

 

Vegan milks have no cholesterol or saturated fat and are lower in calories than milk. They are lactose-free, environmentally sustainable, and do not harm animals when produced. Based on your protein needs and your personal family history, I am sure you will find the vegan milk that is right for you.

 

HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE HEALTHY FOX?  EMAIL ME AT thehealthyfox@gmail.com. 

DRINK YOUR VEGETABLES!!

Dearest Readers,

 

A year ago I went ahead and bought my first juicer, the Breville JE95XL. The Breville is dishwasher safe and easy to clean, and after one year of almost daily usage, I cannot recommend a juicer more.

 

Each morning, I make fresh organic vegetable juice for me and my man. When I drink fresh juice first thing in the morning, I have more energy and often lose the desire to drink caffeine. Juice takes all the amazing vitamins, minerals, and enzymes in fruits and vegetables and injects them directly into your bloodstream. When I am juicing, my skin becomes clearer, I work out longer, and I eat better foods throughout the day.

 

The next time you feel tired in the morning or in the afternoon and want to drink coffee, make juice instead! See how much more awake you are after your body is filled with yummy veggie and fruit juices.

 

THE HEALTHY FOX’S FAVORITE VEGETABLE JUICE RECIPES

 

CARROT- KALE JUICE AKA MY MAN’S FAVORITE JUICE

Juice 3 washed organic kale leaves and 6-9 organic carrots (use more carrots for sweeter juice).

Kale is high in calcium, iron, folic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin A, which makes it a good supplemental juice if you are no longer drinking cow milk.

 

APPLE-CARROT-CELERY JUICE AKA THE FIRST TIMER’S FAVORITE

Whenever I pass by a fresh juice bar walking around in New York City, I stop and order an Apple-Carrot-Celery Juice and always feel energized to walk for another hour or more.

Recipe: Juice 1 apple, 2-3 carrots, and 2 stalks celery, bases removed.

 

APPLE-BEET-CELERY-KALE-LEMON-GINGER AKA POWER FOR THE POWERFUL

Nalalia Rose’s cookbook, Raw Food: Life Force Energy, recommends this vegetable juice to cleanse the intestines each morning and fill your body with energy and strength for the rest of the day.

Recipe: 6 to 8 kale leaves, 2 apples (or stevia), 1 whole lemon, 1 whole medium sized beet, 1 head celery and 1-2 T fresh ginger (optional)

Based on her detox plan, I made this juice every other morning for a month and my energy levels really went up!

 

GREEN JUICE AKA SALAD IN A GLASS

Raw food enthusiasts claim that one glass of green juice a day will help fight cancer and even cure depression. It is an acquired taste, but the more I drink it, the more my body craves it. Now, when I drink Green Juice it tastes a lot like a yummy low-salt version of V-8.

Recipe: 6-8 Kale leaves (or Swiss Chard or a combination of both), handful of parsley, one lemon, and one apple (or stevia).

Parsley is high in chlorophyll (what raw foodists say fights depression), vitamin C, and vitamin K (which keeps your skin tight and firm!).

 

BEET-APPLE-LEMON AKA WHEN YOU’RE CRAVING A SUGARY DRINK

My friend from New York sips the Beet Lemonade I just juiced for her. She savors the taste for a moment and looks up at me with a big smile. “Oh my God! It’s delicious. I would never ever think I would like the taste of beet juice but this is amazing!”

Juice 1 medium sized beet, 1-2 apples (more for sweeter “lemonade”), one lemon.

Beets are an excellent source of potassium, iron, calcium, and vitamin A.