Marvelous Mushrooms

 

Marvelous Mushrooms

A very good friend of mine recently made a very special group of ladies the best mushroom risotto ever! A mushroom is a marvelous vegetable, and can elevate any dish.

 

Button mushrooms, Portobello mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, porcini mushrooms… The list is so varied, each with its own unique taste, property and health benefits. Some people prefer the mild, smooth taste of a button mushroom while others like myself prefer the “meaty,” robust, intense taste of mushrooms that are darker in colour.

 

Our first taste of a truffle was in the Netherlands. It was during a cheese tasting that we could experience the taste of cheese with specks of truffle in. The taste was wonderful, but almost familiar. My husband’s first reaction was, “It tastes like droe wors!” A proudly South African dried meat sausage with spices. I once heard a quote about the truffle being the Mozart of mushrooms. Isn’t that a lovely description!? We’ve had truffle infused olive oil during an olive tasting in Cape Town, South Africa before. But truffle specked cheese was next level for us!

Back home I found a “truffle pesto” at a very affordable price. I think it has more cheese, cashews and olive oil in and about 1% truffle. But it was definitely a step closer to tasting the true truffle. I’m probably unleashing the foodie in you, right!

Let’s get back from foodie heaven into the bare ground…

Ganoderma Lucidum, also known as the “king of herbs”, is seen as the powerhouse of mushrooms. This is a large, dark mushroom with a glossy exterior and a woody texture. The latin word lucidus means “shiny” or “brilliant and refers to the varnished appearance of the surface of the mushroom.

For thousands of years, Ganoderma lucidum has been recognized by practitioners of traditional Asian medicine as the highest ranked mushroom for its potency. In China, the Ganoderma lucidum is also called Lingzhi, whereas Japan the name is Reishi or Mannentake. This mushroom has been used for over 2000 years and was documented in ancient scripts.

Their long brown stems and orange-coloured caps make them a spectacular sight, but because these grow on wood in heavily forested areas, they can be hard to see.

The different components of the Ganoderma mushroom that are used for different benefits are the spores (seeds ready to pollinate), the Mycelium (baby or early harvest) and the lucidum or cap part of the mushroom. This is also known as the mature mushroom and is usually harvested at its peak of maturity, around 8 months of age.

While the mushroom themselves can be eaten fresh, it is also common to use powdered forms of the mushroom or extracts that contain these specific molecules.

Now for my favourite part, the health benefits:

·    Reishi can affect the genes in white blood cells, which are very important for your immune system.

·    May alter inflammation levels.

·    Increases the activity of white blood cells also called natural killer cells.

·    These natural killer cells fight infection and cancer in the body.

·    Improves lymphocyte function, and is an excellent addition for athletes that are exposed to stressful conditions.

·    Improves overall vitality and vigor in both male and female.

Another fantastic beneficial mushroom is the Cordyceps Synensis and -Militaris mushroom. These long slender stemmed mushrooms have been used for centuries to treat fatigue, sickness, kidney disease, low sex drive, aging, asthma and depression. It also helps with improved liver function as well as athletic performance.

Supplements and products containing the Ganoderma lucidum or Red Reishi and Cordyceps extract have become increasingly popular due to their many health benefits.

The actual mushroom is not freely available in the fruit and vegetable section of your local grocery store. That is why it is put in capsule or powder form so that everyone can access it and enjoy the benefits.

There is however not enough reliable information about the safety of taking cordyceps if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

With mushrooms being kept for emperors, kings and only the elite few in ancient times, why not tap into the full benefits where you can also be able to experience the vigor and vitality that was once reserved for royalty.

Look out for my next blog where I’ll be sharing a bit more on this interesting topic!

You can have a peak at some products containing these mushrooms so long…

healthbaristajaco.organogold.com

Blessings.

Lizelle

 

The link between your emotions and disease part 3

 

THE FINAL TRILOGY

THE LINK BETWEEN YOUR EMOTIONS AND DISEASE
(Part 3)

I will be elaborating a bit further in this final article on the link between your emotions and disease. Yes, it has been a touchy subject for some of you. But you cannot always just cover a sore with a plaster and forget about it. It can become infected and inflamed.

Let's take off the plasters, clean out the wounds, and add a loving touch to it. You don't want a breeding ground for germs. Some of your emotional pains and burdens are buried so deep in an attempt to forget about it and cope. It is time for it to surface, I know you can do it!

You might be reacting in a certain way in situations, only thinking that you were out of line afterwards. Why? An emotion, word, smell, person or something that you saw might have triggered a deep emotion connected to the "sore, infected" spot. Once the wound is cleaned, which can be painful, it won't hurt anymore. The "pussiness" won't surface in the form of rage, anger, resentment or bitterness as soon as it is touched on or triggered anymore. It will change the way that you react to circumstances.

You might be sitting with sickness and disease in your life, not knowing where it came from or why it is manifesting. Even something as small as a rash or as big as eczema. Your body is telling you that something is not right. Are you going to put a plaster on it in the form of cortisone cream, or are you going to dig a little deeper?

Bad memories secrete toxic chemicals in your brain. These can make you sick. Good, healthy memories secrete good chemicals that lead to healing and optimal health. One of the deepest buried memories with the deepest heartache is abuse. This can lead to many sicknesses, allergies and auto immune diseases.

Abuse can come in many different forms:

• Emotional
• Verbal
• Physical
• Sexual

These can all have a massive impact on your behaviour. With this comes feelings of guilt, fear, anxiety, resentment, stress etc. Who broke your heart? Were you covered and loved as a child? Did you feel safe and nurtured?

 

Abuse can lead to perfectionism and obsessive, compulsive disorders. Do you have a drivenness to perform? The underlying issue might be that you only experience love based on achievement. Were you only "seen" and "loved" when you performed well?

The starting point is forgiveness. This is not about the other person, but for you to be set free from a life of  being in prison.    Forgive the other person and yourself. Release the different emotions that you experienced and let it go. Ask God to fill you with His love, joy, peace and Presence. Only God can truly heal your heart, but you need to learn to forgive and release. No heartache is too deep for God to heal, renew and restore.

The person that abused you might have had a similar experience, being left with rage, anger, fear, anxiety, guilt and abandonment that was never dealt with. This can form a vicious cycle. You have the power to break that cycle by forgiving, releasing and receiving healing. You can change a whole bloodline by standing in the gap with forgiveness. Never mind getting freed from whatever disease has been caused by it. How many broken, abusive relationships are in your family line?

Many fathers react in a certain way because of how their fathers treated them. How were their relationships with other fathers? Were they absent, maybe abusive, cold or irritated? Where and how did they receive love? A new framework or mindset needs to be created in order to bring total restoration.

Remove the plasters and clean the wounds through a process of forgiveness, releasing those emotions, and asking God to come and fill you with His love, joy, peace and Presence. Aerate those wounds today and get rid of unnecessary sickness and disease in your life.

Lizelle

RECIPES

"Toffee apple" rings

Red apple slices cored.(leave the skins on.)

-Oven 140 degrees Celsius.
-Pack a single layer on a baking sheet with baking paper on.
-Bake for half an hour, turn apple rings over, continue baking another half an hour until crispy.
-Or spread a thin layer of honey on the rings and dip in cinnamon and chopped nuts halfway through the baking process.
-Place back in the oven.
-Keep a close eye on the apples the last 15 minutes of baking time to prevent burning.
-Remove from the oven and let it cool. It will become a little more crispy and toffee like.
-Store in a container. It might soften a bit like dried apple rings.

Rich dark chocolate ice cream(serves 4)
Avo in ice cream???!!! You will be surprised at the consistency it creates! Try it...

50ml-100ml cocoa powder
1 Cup coconut milk
1 Large avo or 2 smaller ones
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
Sweetener choices vary according to desired sweetness;
option 1: 2 Tbsp coconut sugar and 2 Tbsp raw honey
option 2: Xylitol to taste
option 3:Soaked dates

-Blend until smooth and creamy.
-Place in the freezer overnight in an airtight container.
-Thaw slightly before serving.(about 20 min)
-Garnish with sprinkled nuts. 

Lienke's broccoli pasta
Broccoli is not usually at the top of any child's menu! This one was created when our youngest was helping me with dinner from what was available in the kitchen. And it was a huge hit with her!

 

 

1 Head broccoli broken into florets

1 Large punnet cherry tomatoes
1 Small plastic cup tomato paste
Olive oil
Pink salt
Quarter tsp Paprika
1 tsp wholegrain mustard
Gluten free pasta (we used elbow corn pasta)
Avo to serve.

-Cook the pasta according to packet instructions.
-Place broccoli, tomatoes, tomato paste in an oven pan with the rest of the seasoning.
-Drizzle with olive oil and salt.
-Grill until tomatoes start to shrivel, mix every now and then.
-Remove from the oven and cover with foil.
-Switch oven off and place pan back into the oven for 10 min.
-The broccoli stems will soften as it steams.
-Serve on the pasta with avo on top.

 

Bitterness, unforgiveness, offence and disease - Part 2

 

HEALTH AMPLIFIED

Bitterness, unforgiveness, offence and disease.

Somewhere along your path of life, you are bound to find someone that you don't necessarily get along with. You might find someone that can rub you up the wrong way and offend you. Saying the words; "I am sorry", are some of the hardest words in the world.

What most people don't know is by not forgiving, YOU might be the one to bare the consequences. Yes, unforgiveness can make YOU physically ill. By walking around with unforgiveness in your heart, and not dealing with it, the emotion will roll over into bitterness.

Bitterness and unforgiveness =sickness and disease

Forgiveness helps to break the yoke of sickness and disease, and helps to not give a foothold for the enemy. Many prayers are unanswered due to unforgiveness.

Do you struggle with emotional eating? Are you driven towards the fridge and pantry by those evil emotions of anger, rage, bitterness, loneliness and being defeated? Where are those emotions coming from? Unforgiveness in your heart might just be the root issue of your weight problems. And then you are left with all the feelings of guilt afterwards. What a terrible cycle. Take authority over your life and start working through the process.

The memory part of our brain is made up of tree like structures called dendrons. Good memories literally make flourishing "trees", while bad or toxic memories form thorn like trees with a dark area around it. By dwelling on emotions of unforgiveness and bitterness, you are reinforcing those memories, making the dendrons stronger.

Every time you dwell on those negative emotions and memories of unforgiveness, chemicals are released, and those emotions are basically re-lived. Those toxic chemicals are then released again which can make your body toxic.

Toxic thoughts=toxic chemicals=toxic body

Take some time out this week and keep a piece of paper nearby. Reflect on your life and start recalling memories, situations and people that made your blood boil. Be bold and courageous, start forgiving different people in your life. It is not a weakness. Kick pride in the butt! Release those emotions of bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, hate, anger etc. It doesn't always have to be in person. Except if you feel led and prompted to forgive and release in person.

There is a reason why God says that you must not let the sun go down and go to sleep while you are still angry or in turmoil with someone. This thing settles in and becomes stronger!

By re-living that situation over and over, writing down and keeping record of what that person has done to you, you are making a breeding ground for toxic waste in your memories and body. It is almost as if decay settles in. What are you meditating on?

Life and death lie in the tongue. Unforgiveness, criticism and judgements can bring death to others and your own body. By living a life of forgiveness, joy, peace, and saying "I am sorry", you can bring back life to your cells.

If sickness and disease have taken a hold of you and doesn't want to let go, what negative emotions have you cultivated? It might just be the root of your disease.

Where have you harboured offence in your heart? It might be something small, but it is biting you in the back. Get rid of it! Overcome evil with good. Let God be the judge. Bless those who curse you.  Get your own heart right with God. Forgiving means giving that person to God to sort out.

And yes, many say it wasn't their fault and I was right and they were in the wrong. It is not about that. Humble yourself before the Lord and take time out for repentance, forgiveness and releasing those emotions. It might just take a turn to better health! Part 3 of this series will follow soon.

 

If you feel like you do need some assistance while dealing with all these emotions etc that will be surfacing after you have read this, then AIM does have the Composure product as mentioned in my previous blog.

 

For some mental alertness and improved vision, then don’t be afraid to use GinkgoSense. It is a combination of ginkgo biloba, curcumin, black pepper, ashwagandha, ginger and carotenoids etc. for overall support for memory health. Remember that black pepper aids absorption of the other ingredients.

 

Mag-nificence by AIM provides readily available magnesium. It is a bath additive, so it will be absorbed through the skin. This is a wonderful additive to enjoy after a long stressful day, or if you are going through a rough patch in your life. It helps you cope with stress a bit better!

 

You can find these products on my AIM store.

myaimstore.com/healthamplified

 

Blessings!

Lizelle

 

The link between your emotions and disease - Updated

The link between your emotions and disease.

 

Many of you are in a stage of looking for deeper answers to your ailments and diseases. It can be very frustrating if certain symptoms and ailments keep on surfacing, with a supplement here and there that just isn’t doing the trick anymore. That is why I have decided to re-post “The link between your emotions and disease” with slight modifications that I wrote about a year ago.

Most of my blogs have been about food related illnesses and irritations, how you can apply changes to your dietary lifestyle, and with hopeful improvement on the horizon.

But the penny is dropping as God is taking us into a deeper revelation of how He has put us together. It is not just about how food can affect our health. I did an in-depth study on "Healing through sanctification of the heart" by Dr. Michelle Strydom, and I’m still learning so much! I have definitely found freedom in a few areas.

Disease, sickness and ailments can be rooted in fear, anxiety and stress, to mention a few. We must be rooted and grounded in God's love for us. Unfortunately, we are not born into a perfect world. As people go through childhood, teenage years, young adulthood and progress through life, our "hearts" get bumped, scratched and bruised, even frightened. People go from one generation to the next, carrying the brokenness and heartache.

These are all captured in the brain, and are stored as memory. Good experiences and memories can make you flourish, while bad experiences and memories can cause a manifestation of many diseases and illnesses that can steal your joy. This can make you a prisoner in your own body. It might have happened in childhood, and only starts manifesting in adulthood.

Some people go through years of searching for answers to their symptoms. Your answer can be an emotion or memory away.

God has created you so intricately. Your brain, emotions and experiences all work together and can have an effect on the body. With your memory almost being the beginning of your health, and having a ripple effect throughout the rest of your body.

Chemicals and hormones are the driving force in your brain. These are constantly being released, enabling different functions in your body. God has made them to be perfectly in balance. But emotions through experiences and circumstances can cause an overproduction or underproduction of these hormones and chemicals, causing your body to be out of sync.

Unforgiveness, rage, rejection, resentment, anger, bitterness, control, fear, anxiety and stress, rebellion, lies and deception, jealousy, loss, fear of abandonment etc. are some of the things that can cause you to be sick with physical and mental illness as a result.

There are many case studies out there where people with debilitating illnesses, sickness and disease were healed as soon as healing was received on an emotional level. The starting point is God. Through a process of repentance and forgiveness, and releasing those situations and emotions back to God, they have been freed from being a prisoner in their own bodies. Then inviting God into that area of your life. 

God does not want us to be heavy burdened for a reason. He does not want His children to be sick!

The following are just some of the sicknesses and diseases that can be rooted in brokenness, fear of abandonment, rejection, fear, anxiety, stress, strife and anger:

• Asthma
• Fibromayalgia
• Osteoporosis
• Cancer
• Allergies
• Acne
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Heart disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Weight gain or not being able to lose weight
• Thyroid problems
• Cysts
• Abscesses

These studies are based on research and testimonies by medical doctor, Dr. Michelle Strydom, Dr. Caroline Leaf and pastor Henry Wright. This gentleman wrote an amazing book called “A more excellent way.” This evidence is also backed by years of emotional and inner healing sessions and courses that I have been through.

 

Abandonment and fear can make you sick. Many cases of asthma have been dealt with by addressing and healing the root emotion. Were you or your own children taken to ICU and placed in an incubator straight after birth? Were you left with a day mother/nursery at a very young age? Or were you sent to boarding school at a young age? Many cases were done where children developed asthma after going to boarding school. Forgiveness is key. Remember, many parents didn’t have a choice at that stage. Did your father maybe leave you and your mother? You may have "forgotten" or learnt to cope in the situation, but the "file" with the emotion is still stored in your body. Allergies can even develop as the body goes into a state of stress.

 

A father/child relationship also plays a very important role in many illnesses. Sicknesses can be rooted in how your relationship was with your father.

 

Did you or your mother, while in a fit of rage or in a hurry, maybe say to your children that you were going to leave without them if they don't hurry up? (I was personally guilty of this one on one or two occasions and had to repent.) 

 

Medically, you get three phases of stress. If you are calm and relaxed and loved, your brain gives off- the correct amount of chemicals and hormones. Phase 2 and 3 are when your body goes into a state of stress, or fight and flight mode. Fight and flight mode is a built-in system that God has placed there for short bursts of energy, for when you are in a dangerous situation.

 

If you have long term stress, anxiety and fear in your life, then you are constantly in phase 2 and 3. High levels of cortisol hormone is then constantly released. Overproduction of this hormone end up supressing your immune system. If your immune function goes down, them something else gets out of balance etc. This means inflammation happens due to long term histamine that is being released. Sickness and disease settle in.

 

Many people have learnt to cope with their sickness and disease, controlling it with medication and elimination of certain things. It becomes a way of life. Your identity should not be rooted and based on your sickness. Your identity should be in Christ.

 

If you are currently in a place of great stress, you should maybe consider using the product “Composure” by AIM while you are dealing with all the emotions that are surfacing. It is a blend of whole herbs and extracts that can help soothe and calm the nervous system while you are in your process of healing.

 

Go to myaimstore.com/healthamplified to find AIM’s Composure.

 

I will be elaborating on this topic over the next 2 weeks. Let this be food for thought for this week.

 

Blessings.

 

Lizelle

Party Pooper

 

Party Pooper

Nobody likes to be called a party pooper! There is an exception though; calling an end to the parasite party in your gut! It is that time of the year for us again. By doing a parasite cleanse a few times a year, twice minimum, it is a sure fire way to get rid of those nasties that can steal your energy, vitality and vigor.

Parasites are organisms that grow in and feed on other living organisms known as “hosts”. Did you know that there are over 400 parasites! They basically feed on your food in your gut and bloodstream causing disease and ailments. Some of the parasites that can investate a human are hook worm, flat worm, round worm, tape worm and the scabies mite.

You can get these nasties through regular contact with animals and household pets, sandpits, unwashed fruit and vegetables, meat not being cooked properly, pork, contaminated food and water, sexual contact and even through certain insects.

Now AIM has a wonderful all-natural product called Para90 which we are currently using. This contains cleansing herbs with an additional digestive enzyme. Some of the ingredients include ginger root, peppermint, garlic, black walnut hulls, pumpkin seed, thyme, clove and grapefruit seed extract.

The ingredient combination not only kills the parasites, but also helps by providing the right ingredients to help with the elimination process. Calming ingredients help to sooth the digestive tract, and enzymes help to break down existing food and waste material. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use Para90, as well as very young children, very elderly people and people with ulcers should consult a health care practitioner.

How do I know if I may have a parasitic infection?

·    Digestive issues like heartburn, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting and gas.

·    Stomach pains and tenderness.

·    Loss of appetite.

·    Fatigue.

·    Chills.

·    Rashes.

·    Anaemia.

·    Allergies.

·    Sleeping problems.

·    Generally feeling run down incl. aches and pains.

·    Symptoms of dehydration.

Conventional deworming medication is prescribed for only a few days. These chemicals can have side effects. With the Para90 treatment plan, it works out to about a month long treatment. The reason for this is to make sure that you kill and eliminate the parasites in its various stages of growth, from egg up to the adult worm.

There is a “die off effect” that might affect you. Your body will be getting rid of sludge and toxic substances, some of it being chemicals that the parasites give off when dying.

You might have a few body aches and pains, stinging or itchy sensations along your gut, anus or genitals, experience sinus issues, have more “sleep” in your eyes or even feel a bit more emotional. But be brave and push through, you will feel the difference afterwards. Evict the party!

Did you know that parasites can cause emotional issues, especially when resisting being evicted from their “home”, throwing them out of the party? They steal, change or stop our neurotransmittors in order to get what they want. People that have been labelled with depression should also change their diet, and I strongly recommend a parasite cleanse.

Parasite eggs can migrate through the blood to the rest of the body. After this they can move past your blood brain barrier. In other words, from the blood to the brain, thereby altering the levels of chemicals in the brain. Not the best thought knowing that you might have parasites lurking on your brain. Excuse the pun!

Foods that you want to avoid:

·    Sugar – It feeds the organisms in the gut which leads to inflammation.

·    Processed food – It breaks down the immune system and can contribute to irratic emotional behaviour.

·    Alcohol – It also wrecks havoc on all your body systems.

·    Wheat – Many grains are processed and bleached, and gluten can contribute to inflammation in the gut.

·    Pork – Can potentially be contaminated with parasites.

Remember to follow up with probiotics like AIM’s Flora Food to repopulate the gut like kefir, sauerkraut and raw yoghurt. Eat a predominantly plant based, wholegrain diet rich in fruit and vegetables, oatmeal, wholegrain rice, lentils and buckwheat. Nuts, seeds and legumes are also highly nutritious. Don’t forget to drink enough water, rooibos- and herbal teas to help flush out toxins. Try to keep meat to a minimum.

Pumpkin seeds and pumpkin seed oil can also assist your body in your parasite cleanse. It is filled with anti-oxidants and protective compounds. Did you know that it can paralyse the worms making it difficult for them to survive in the intestinal wall?

Coconut oil is also anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. Please add it to your lifestyle where possible.

A last note. Don’t forget your pets! Remember to de-worm them if possible. You can go the natural route by grinding up pumpkin seeds and sprinkling it over their food with some garlic and a little coconut oil. Even olive oil will help nourish their coats. Gourmet dogs…

Wash their bedding and toys using tea tree oil and washing powder. It will help kill any eggs etc.

 

You can go to my AIM store for Para90 and FloraFood probiotic to help repopulate your gut.

www.myaimstore.com/healthamplified

If you feel a bit more adventurous and daring, try our beverages with Ganoderma Lucidum mushrooms to boost your vitality, energy and vigor. These mushrooms can also boost your immune system while parasite cleansing.

healthbaristajaco.myorganogold.com

Let’s put a stop to THIS party ,and get ready to have enough energy to party again…!

Blessings.

Lizelle