the wise owl is swooping in! ...


At last, I find myself blogging... 
Although I never intended to blog or really even envisioned myself using such technology to connect with family, friends, and the rest of the world, I now realize this is the 21st century and I am finally ready to swoop in!


My hopes are high and my spirit is full of love for this blog to be an inspirational and educational tool for expression, growth, communication, and expansion. As the soul/sole force behind The Wise Owl, I am here to share with the world my perspective on health, healing, life, and the unknown. No, I am not a doctor....and no, of course I don't know everything. But YES I do care! And yes, I strive to embody my highest abilities and qualities so that I may encourage not only myself, but others to find their path to optimal health. 


Without further adieu....
Let's start with a topic that everyone loves....


MY CURRENT TOP 3 HEALTHY FAVORITE FOODS :


*healthy is an overused term, so when I say healthy I mean full of nutrients, tasty, overall beneficial, and worth the time and/or money to either grow, buy, cook, ingest, and/or enjoy!*


1. Chia Seeds
Ch-ch-ch-chia! That's right....remember the 90's? Well maybe not ALL of the 90's (some weird stuff went down in this decade). Think back to the ridiculously exciting commercials with that catchy jingle for Chia Pets...ya know the ones where you grow sprouts out of a clay figure for no reason other than to waste time and money? I do! My Bart Simpson Chia Pet was totally cowabunga-dude, but totally pointless. If I only knew then what I know now, I would have chosen to eat those seeds instead! Those same seeds happen to be one of the most nutritious foods on Earth!


Even the Mayans in Ancient Mexico once used these teeny, tiny little seeds as currency...now that's impressive!


Not only are they packed with protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals, they are super easy to add to just about anything, even your water! You can toss a couple teaspoons into your smoothie, on a salad or in your dressing, in soups, in your morning oatmeal, or even in baked goods (coming soon....my recipe for Damn-Good-Gluten-Free-Chia-Cornbread). 


Another fun fact about Chia seeds is their mucilaginous properties, AKA they get gooey, chewy, and a bit gelatinous when soaked in liquid. This is a good thing, as they offer binding properties similar to the consistency of eggs. Soaked Chia seeds can then be substituted for eggs in baking and act as a thickener for cooking. Make sure not to actually eat the seeds out of a Chia Pet though...rather, choose organically grown seeds from a quality source. :)


2. Coconut Milk
Shake your coconuts to this delicious and nutritious beverage! Coconut milk is fabulous...hands-down maybe the best thing since sliced bread, except it's naturally occurring and has been around for ages.


Coconut milk contains lauric acid which has been shown to offer anti-viral properties, thus supporting the immune system. Interestingly enough, lauric acid is also found in mother's breast milk....food for thought? I think yes! (Cue to shake your coconuts one more time.)


Coconut milk is also really fatty. Now don't fret! This is the kind of fat you NEED and WANT and can enjoy without guilt! The body is readily able to break down, absorb, and assimilate the fatty acids contained in coconut milk. When we take in healthy saturated fats the body can use them up with ease. When we take in strange, processed, foreign vegetable oils like canola oil, corn oil, and margarine, the body freaks out, gets upset, becomes inflamed, and doesn't know what to do with them.
...SEGWAY... 
Coconut milk also helps decrease inflammation in the body, whereas pasteurized cow's milk increases inflammation in the body. Plus, it tastes great! I prefer to buy Thai brand, full-fat coconut milk in a can. The processed stuff you find in cartons in the refrigerator isle just doesn't cut it. They add unnecessary preservatives and sugars that take away from the goodness coconut milk has to offer. I like to buy the full-fat rather than the lite because you can either 1) use it full-fat and it's completely legit, or 2) double the quantity of a can by diluting it with filtered water. It will still be rich and worthy, even cut down with water. You also save some bucks too! Make sure to store any leftover coconut milk in the fridge for safe keeping.


Try coconut milk in smoothies and soups, as a replacement for dairy and soy milk (soy is a discussion for another day), as a creamer for your tea or coffee, or just straight up if you are brave. I wouldn't drink the whole can at once, however. There is the possibility of loosening up your stools with that kind of move, if ya know what I mean :) 

3. Kale
Most folks are now familiar with this mysteriously popular green, thanks to social influence from experts like Dr. Oz. Even though I don't watch TV, I can appreciate some good publicity for my super star homie, ... KALE! WOOP WOOP!


There are many varieties of kale, all amazing, all of which you should explore. My favorite is Lacinato or Dinosaur Kale. Always stick to organically-grown produce, especially your greens. Dont skimp on the good stuff! Organic kale is still really, really cheap compared to the price of high-blood pressure medication for the rest of your life. Seriously!


Some steps to get your kale ready to eat:
1- wash the leaves thoroughly and whirl around in a salad spinner or pat dry
2 - hold the thick end of the stalk with your right hand, pinch about 1" up the stalk with your left hand, hold tight and pull your left hand away, stripping the leaves away from the stalk in one fluid motion. SWWWIIISH! 
3 - tear into bite-sized pieces 


From here you can do so much the possibilities are almost limitless!
...saute with onions, garlic, peppers, and shiitake mushrooms and combine with organic, free-range eggs; toss a couple of handfuls into your favorite soup, stew, chili, or casserole; lightly steam and toss with a green vegetable salad; bake some kale chips, or again, if all else fails.....toss em into your morning smoothie!


Dark leafy greens, kale in particular, are one of the HIGHEST SOURCES OF CALCIUM ON THE PLANET! That's right folks, more calcium than milk. Even more bioavailable calcium than your grocery store vitamins! Kale also contains the perfect synergy of essential vitamins and minerals. Oh! I almost forgot! Kale contains lots of chlorophyll (what makes a green plant green). The human body is unable to create chlorophyll, but we need it to purify, oxygenate, and build our blood. This is one of many special gifts plants offer to us people. The plants spend some quality time with the sun, water, and soil, they make chlorophyll, and give it to us to keep us healthy! What sweet friends we have in the produce section of our local grocery stores! 




I hope you found this interesting enough to try these foods in your regular diet. Rather than thinking you have to switch to being a vegan or do a 30 fast to get healthy, start by incorporating these nutrient-dense foods into your life on a daily basis and see what happens.
Cheers to love, light, and finding your own path to wellness! 
-The Wise Owl