Sharing my tips and things I have learned about living and beauty -- inside and out! I believe in living life to the fullest and being the best that you can be.
Elle's Easy Cod Puttanesca
I am not a big fish person. This recipe has cod, capers and anchovies...which would be all the more reason I wouldn't think I would like it. I LOVED IT!!! I got all my ingredients (except the red pepper flakes which I had in my pantry) from Trader Joe's.
The flavors all marinade with the marinara sauce to meld into something that tastes like you are eating at a high end restaurant. So delicious and, I have leftovers - yeah!
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 anchovy fillets
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
3 C marinara sauce
1/2 C pitted kalamata olives, halved
2 Tbsp capers (rinsed in cold water)
Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in saute pan
Add anchovies & cook till they break down (couple minutes)
Add red pepper flakes
Add marinara sauce and bring to a simmer
Add olives and capers and simmer a couple minutes
Dry cod fillets with paper towels, brush with olive oil and then season with S&P
Pour 3/4 of sauce into a glass casserole dish
Place the cod fillets over top the sauce
Pour the rest of sauce on top
Bake 10 to 15 minutes at 400F
I served this over shredded cabbage and it was delicious and filling. I can't wait to eat the leftovers!
The flavors all marinade with the marinara sauce to meld into something that tastes like you are eating at a high end restaurant. So delicious and, I have leftovers - yeah!
Elle's Easy Cod Puttanesca
4 cod fillets1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 anchovy fillets
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
3 C marinara sauce
1/2 C pitted kalamata olives, halved
2 Tbsp capers (rinsed in cold water)
Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in saute pan
Add anchovies & cook till they break down (couple minutes)
Add red pepper flakes
Add marinara sauce and bring to a simmer
Add olives and capers and simmer a couple minutes
Dry cod fillets with paper towels, brush with olive oil and then season with S&P
Pour 3/4 of sauce into a glass casserole dish
Place the cod fillets over top the sauce
Pour the rest of sauce on top
Bake 10 to 15 minutes at 400F
I served this over shredded cabbage and it was delicious and filling. I can't wait to eat the leftovers!
Curing Sjogren's Auto Immune And Recovering From Being Vegan
UPDATE: I recommend trying my free advice below but, my dr has an online course specifically for Sjogren's and has a >80% success rate. https://drhouston.podia.com/the-sjogren-s-solution/9pq33
I frequently get asked how I am doing with my four autoimmune diseases, including Sjogren's, that I got from being vegan. For anyone that doesn't know, veganism makes it IMPOSSIBLE to be healthy as you can NOT get the vitamins your body needs to function. Yes, I had other factors (stress, lack of sleep) but, if I hadn't been vegan, my body would not have been weak and crashed. Thank goodness I had a great doctor who told me "eat meat" and that started my road to recovery.
I am thrilled to say that I am healed and doing amazing. I get asked if I have been retested to see if I still test positive for Sjogren's and the other autoimmune diseases. No, I have not been retested for a couple of reasons. My dr said it may take several years for me to not test positive for the antibodies and I also don't need to take a test to know that I have zero symptoms and feel great!
In hindsight, I believe that being sick was ALL related to my gut. I threw off my gut by being vegan (lack of fats and protein) and eating a lot of bread and tortillas. Then I also had stress and lack of sleep which my body couldn't handle in it's weakened state. Think about what you may have done to throw off your gut and weaken your body as you need to fix that. If you weren't vegan and don't think it was your diet, have you been around paint, chemicals or mold? Did you get lyme disease?
For anyone who is looking to heal their body, here are the 3 things that I did that helped me to heal:
UPDATE: Two years since I was diagnosed and a year and a half since I started on meat and the supplements, I tested negative for the auto immunes. I was shocked all my markers came back normal. I didn't need a blood test to know I felt great but it was amazing to see my Dr's face - the same Dr who told me there was no cure, only drugs to help me cope with the symptoms - when I said I had healed my body naturally. You too can heal!
I am thrilled to say that I am healed and doing amazing. I get asked if I have been retested to see if I still test positive for Sjogren's and the other autoimmune diseases. No, I have not been retested for a couple of reasons. My dr said it may take several years for me to not test positive for the antibodies and I also don't need to take a test to know that I have zero symptoms and feel great!
In hindsight, I believe that being sick was ALL related to my gut. I threw off my gut by being vegan (lack of fats and protein) and eating a lot of bread and tortillas. Then I also had stress and lack of sleep which my body couldn't handle in it's weakened state. Think about what you may have done to throw off your gut and weaken your body as you need to fix that. If you weren't vegan and don't think it was your diet, have you been around paint, chemicals or mold? Did you get lyme disease?
For anyone who is looking to heal their body, here are the 3 things that I did that helped me to heal:
- Fix your stomach acid/alkaline balance I have benefited SO MUCH from fixing my stomach acid/alkaline balance. I did a whole blog post on how much this helped me including a simple test to see if your stomach acid is low. I would be willing to bet that you have low stomach acid. Your stomach acid is probably one of the most important fluids in your body. The impacts of your stomach acid being off is huge. You need a strong acid / low ph. Very few people have enough stomach acid as stress, age and other factors deplete your acids. I take Apple Cider Vinegar (which you can take in the pill form if you don't like ACV in your water) and Betaine.
Once you fix your stomach acid you will be AMAZED at how it will fix so many things in your body! Without the right acid balance, you can't absorb the minerals your body needs. Without the right stomach acid, you can't absorb calcium, zinc, B12 or Iron. Some of the side-effects from your stomach acids being off and the lack of these vitamins are:
Anxiety
OCD
Sleeping problems
Hair loss
ItchinessAllergies
Dry Eyes (Sjogren's!)
Dry Mouth (Sjogren's!)
Gait Problems
Burning MouthMemory Problems / Fog
Fatigue (A lot of auto immunes!)
Tingling
Numbness
IBS
SIBO - Fix your gut I had leaky gut. #1 above may address this for you but, if not, I did a video on how I fixed it. In the downbar of that video are links to all the supplements I took to heal. I would try the stomach acid above first (I didn't discover that till later) as having the right acids and having your food properly digest could fix the leaky gut without needing to do the supplements. Once your acidic gut is fixed with #1, then I would recommend avoiding all gluten (I had to do that for almost a year) and possibly taking L-Glutamine
- Finally, fix your diet & lifestyle. I would strongly recommend to cut out all flours/gluten and to eat good proteins and healthy fats. I ate a LOT of steak during my recovery! It could also help short-term to take good gut biomes/biotics as your gut bacteria is probably off from the h-pylori (see the first bullet) I would recommend avoiding all junk food, processed food, antacids, antibiotics (unless absolutely needed), sugar and flour. Try to avoid eating within 4 hours of going to bed. Limit your alcohol. Drink plenty of water. Minimize stress. Minimize toxins (botox, vaccines, etc). Get enough sleep. Eat slower. These things alone will not heal your body from the autoimmune but it will help it to be stronger. You have to fix the root cause of what caused your gut to be out of balance. All of these things will help to make it easier for your body to do it's job. Once your body is healed, you can decide if you can handle the occasional splurge or even reincorporate the items you have eliminated.
UPDATE: Two years since I was diagnosed and a year and a half since I started on meat and the supplements, I tested negative for the auto immunes. I was shocked all my markers came back normal. I didn't need a blood test to know I felt great but it was amazing to see my Dr's face - the same Dr who told me there was no cure, only drugs to help me cope with the symptoms - when I said I had healed my body naturally. You too can heal!
Betaine - A Miracle Cure for Allergies And So Much More!
I have found a NATURAL CURE for allergies for less than $10. If that isn't enough, it also aids with digestion, sleep, clear thinking, energy, bloating and makes me feel so good and healthy. Betaine.
Gut Connection
I have long known that the gut is responsible for so much in our bodies. If you google "gut biome + auto immune" (or whatever your ailment) you will find there is probably a correlation and they are doing scientific studies on the connection and cure. It is the latest area of exciting scientific discovery. I knew this but this cure proved it to me. I have been struggling with allergies and that led me to learning about gut alkaline vs acid. I had no idea that not only would it cure my allergies but, all the other things it would help including giving me energy!
This product claims to help you sleep better, have more energy, cure allergies, make you regular, aids in digestion, helps with weight loss, aids in absorption of minerals, gets rid of acid reflux / GERD / bloating, helps with Hashimoto's, performs miracles....oh wait. It does do everything I listed except that last one...although if you haven't felt well, it could feel like it does perform miracles to you the same way that it did to me!
Betaine is a natural acid your stomach produces but, due to age, diet, stress and other factors, your body produces less acid and your stomach ends up too alkaline. You lose 1% of your stomach’s ability to produce HCL every year, so by the time you are 60, your HCL is 60% lower than when you were born! Now add in the diet and stress factors!
Think You Have Too Much Acid? Think Again
Even people who think they have too much acid and take Tums or other antacids could benefit from this. When a stomach does not empty correctly due to being too alkaline, partly digested carbohydrates and proteins that have started to ferment in the stomach will back up into the esophagus—this is frequently misinterpreted by uninformed individuals and physicians as too much stomach acid. It is estimated that at least half of people on antacids actually have alkaline stomachs and need betaine acid!
Why Stomach Acid Is Needed?
• Absorption of at least eight essential nutrients are dependent on adequate stomach acid: calcium, vitamins B9 and 12, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin C, and beta carotene
• Absorption of the antioxidant vitamins A and E, putting you at greater risk of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation
• Breakdown of protein for use in tissue and muscle synthesis (have you ever had problems digesting meat or a heavy meal?)
• Activation of enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters
• Prevention of bacterial pathogens from going into the lower GI tract, causing infection, and putting you at risk of disease and stomach cancer
Simple At Home Test
1. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of cold water first thing in the morning n a completely empty stomach
2. Drink the baking soda solution.
3. Time how long it takes you to belch.
If you have not belched within five minutes stop timing.
People with healthy stomach acid will burp before the first 3 minutes. If you don't belch in the first 3 minutes, you have low stomach acid and would benefit from Betaine. .
The above test is not 100% reliable. I think a better test is if mosquitoes bite you. If they do, you probably need betaine. I found it fascinating how once I got my stomach more acidic, that it was almost like an invisible forcefield around me where mosquitoes would hover but rarely ever bit me!
This is the brand of Beaine I ordered (read the reviews - I am not alone in thinking this stuff is incredible!)
To Take Betaine:
Day 1: After a FULL meal (with protein), take 1 capsule. If you notice a warming in your stomach, cut back on your dose. If you don't notice a warming, add an additional pill. Keep doing this till you feel a warming and then cut back by one pill but do not exceed 5 pills (example: if you increase to 4 pills and feel a warming, then your correct dose is 3 pills). Always take with a meal with protein Listen to your body and again, test with urine ph strips to know your levels.
My Results
It has 100% cured my allergies. I no longer take any drugs - no Zyrtec, Benadryl, Allegra, Claritin, nasal spray...nadda! From day one, I have had no hayfever. I originally took this for my hayfever, but now realize how my stomach acid being off impacted my body in so many other ways! I now have loads of energy, sleeping well, clear mind and feel fabulous. For less than $10 a bottle, this may be the best investment I have ever made!
I would recommend not taking probiotics or biome or anything to help bacteria grow until you fix your gut - as otherwise you are encouraging bacteria to grow in the wrong area. Once you take betaine and fix your gut so the digestion gets everything to the large intestine where it is supposed to be, then you can take probiotics etc.
Betaine not only helps allergies but EVERYTHING that is impacted in your body by not getting proper nutrients such as:
Anxiety
OCD
Sleeping problems
Hair loss
ItchinessAllergies
Dry Eyes (Sjogren's!)
Dry Mouth (Sjogren's!)
Gait Problems
Burning MouthMemory Problems / Fog
Fatigue (A lot of auto immunes!)
Tingling
Numbness
IBS
SIBO
Things to note/When to stop
My typical dosage was 2 at lunch (the first time I eat) and 3 at dinner. At first I got a really good energy and my mind was clear. It changed about 2 weeks in and I went from good energy to having too much energy. I was waking up after 4 or 5 hours sleep and couldn't get back to sleep. I also got dark under eye circles. These things are a sign that my gut was too acidic. I stopped the betaine and within 3 or 4 days, I maintained all the positive symptoms and the negative symptoms disappeared. I have zero allergies, dry eyes, dry mouth and have good energy with a clear focused mind while being able to sleep soundly at night and my dark circles have disappeared. I am trying to maintain my newfound balanced gut ph by eating beets, cabbage (if you like sauerkraut, that is good for your gut ph but I don't like it lol!) and putting apple cider vinegar in my water and drinking the occasional kambucha. I don't know if I will need to do another round if betaine bi-weekly, once a month, once a quarter or ??? If I start having allergies, dry eyes or mouth then I will do another round. Basically, listen to your body.
I hope that this helps you as much as it has helped me! If you try this, please share your results as I truly hope that it helps others! As always, check with your doctor.
Gut Connection
I have long known that the gut is responsible for so much in our bodies. If you google "gut biome + auto immune" (or whatever your ailment) you will find there is probably a correlation and they are doing scientific studies on the connection and cure. It is the latest area of exciting scientific discovery. I knew this but this cure proved it to me. I have been struggling with allergies and that led me to learning about gut alkaline vs acid. I had no idea that not only would it cure my allergies but, all the other things it would help including giving me energy!
This product claims to help you sleep better, have more energy, cure allergies, make you regular, aids in digestion, helps with weight loss, aids in absorption of minerals, gets rid of acid reflux / GERD / bloating, helps with Hashimoto's, performs miracles....oh wait. It does do everything I listed except that last one...although if you haven't felt well, it could feel like it does perform miracles to you the same way that it did to me!
Betaine is a natural acid your stomach produces but, due to age, diet, stress and other factors, your body produces less acid and your stomach ends up too alkaline. You lose 1% of your stomach’s ability to produce HCL every year, so by the time you are 60, your HCL is 60% lower than when you were born! Now add in the diet and stress factors!
Think You Have Too Much Acid? Think Again
Even people who think they have too much acid and take Tums or other antacids could benefit from this. When a stomach does not empty correctly due to being too alkaline, partly digested carbohydrates and proteins that have started to ferment in the stomach will back up into the esophagus—this is frequently misinterpreted by uninformed individuals and physicians as too much stomach acid. It is estimated that at least half of people on antacids actually have alkaline stomachs and need betaine acid!
Why Stomach Acid Is Needed?
• Absorption of at least eight essential nutrients are dependent on adequate stomach acid: calcium, vitamins B9 and 12, magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin C, and beta carotene
• Absorption of the antioxidant vitamins A and E, putting you at greater risk of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation
• Breakdown of protein for use in tissue and muscle synthesis (have you ever had problems digesting meat or a heavy meal?)
• Activation of enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters
• Prevention of bacterial pathogens from going into the lower GI tract, causing infection, and putting you at risk of disease and stomach cancer
DO NOT TAKE IF YOU HAVE AN ULCER, HIATUS HERNIA OR ARE PREGNANT!
Simple At Home Test
1. Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of cold water first thing in the morning n a completely empty stomach
2. Drink the baking soda solution.
3. Time how long it takes you to belch.
If you have not belched within five minutes stop timing.
People with healthy stomach acid will burp before the first 3 minutes. If you don't belch in the first 3 minutes, you have low stomach acid and would benefit from Betaine. .
The above test is not 100% reliable. I think a better test is if mosquitoes bite you. If they do, you probably need betaine. I found it fascinating how once I got my stomach more acidic, that it was almost like an invisible forcefield around me where mosquitoes would hover but rarely ever bit me!
This is the brand of Beaine I ordered (read the reviews - I am not alone in thinking this stuff is incredible!)
To Take Betaine:
Day 1: After a FULL meal (with protein), take 1 capsule. If you notice a warming in your stomach, cut back on your dose. If you don't notice a warming, add an additional pill. Keep doing this till you feel a warming and then cut back by one pill but do not exceed 5 pills (example: if you increase to 4 pills and feel a warming, then your correct dose is 3 pills). Always take with a meal with protein Listen to your body and again, test with urine ph strips to know your levels.
My Results
It has 100% cured my allergies. I no longer take any drugs - no Zyrtec, Benadryl, Allegra, Claritin, nasal spray...nadda! From day one, I have had no hayfever. I originally took this for my hayfever, but now realize how my stomach acid being off impacted my body in so many other ways! I now have loads of energy, sleeping well, clear mind and feel fabulous. For less than $10 a bottle, this may be the best investment I have ever made!
I would recommend not taking probiotics or biome or anything to help bacteria grow until you fix your gut - as otherwise you are encouraging bacteria to grow in the wrong area. Once you take betaine and fix your gut so the digestion gets everything to the large intestine where it is supposed to be, then you can take probiotics etc.
Betaine not only helps allergies but EVERYTHING that is impacted in your body by not getting proper nutrients such as:
Anxiety
OCD
Sleeping problems
Hair loss
ItchinessAllergies
Dry Eyes (Sjogren's!)
Dry Mouth (Sjogren's!)
Gait Problems
Burning MouthMemory Problems / Fog
Fatigue (A lot of auto immunes!)
Tingling
Numbness
IBS
SIBO
Things to note/When to stop
My typical dosage was 2 at lunch (the first time I eat) and 3 at dinner. At first I got a really good energy and my mind was clear. It changed about 2 weeks in and I went from good energy to having too much energy. I was waking up after 4 or 5 hours sleep and couldn't get back to sleep. I also got dark under eye circles. These things are a sign that my gut was too acidic. I stopped the betaine and within 3 or 4 days, I maintained all the positive symptoms and the negative symptoms disappeared. I have zero allergies, dry eyes, dry mouth and have good energy with a clear focused mind while being able to sleep soundly at night and my dark circles have disappeared. I am trying to maintain my newfound balanced gut ph by eating beets, cabbage (if you like sauerkraut, that is good for your gut ph but I don't like it lol!) and putting apple cider vinegar in my water and drinking the occasional kambucha. I don't know if I will need to do another round if betaine bi-weekly, once a month, once a quarter or ??? If I start having allergies, dry eyes or mouth then I will do another round. Basically, listen to your body.
I hope that this helps you as much as it has helped me! If you try this, please share your results as I truly hope that it helps others! As always, check with your doctor.
Easy Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
I make these so incredibly simple - no breading - but they taste fabulous. Since they are so simple, I find I don't hesitate in throwing them together for a quick appetizer for Happy Hour on the back patio. I don't like mine too spicy so I remove the seeds and membranes. I also like mine a little soft so cook them closer to 10 minutes
Easy Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
Half jalapeno and, if desired for less spicy, remove seeds and membrane
Fill with cream cheese or any other soft cheese (laughing cow works well)
If desired, you can add bacon bits, green onions, etc.
Top with grated cheddar cheese.
Cook in air fryer at 350F for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how soft you like the jalapenos.
Simple and tasty!
Easy Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers
Half jalapeno and, if desired for less spicy, remove seeds and membrane
Fill with cream cheese or any other soft cheese (laughing cow works well)
If desired, you can add bacon bits, green onions, etc.
Top with grated cheddar cheese.
Cook in air fryer at 350F for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how soft you like the jalapenos.
Simple and tasty!
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